A fun yet creepy tale that has the CMC finding their way to a carnival. Though it is not what they are hoping.....
One day, the CMC decide to become the "Cutie Mark Crusader Myth-busters". The only problem is that there is no myth to debunk. That is until a rumor spreads around the school discussing a mysterious carnival deep within the forest. When the girls arrive at the carnival, they are greeted with the clever feline Catherine! Will her carnival be a fun experience for the crusaders or will it leave each of them literally breathless?
It was a sunny morning in Ponyville. Everypony was bustling through the busy streets of the market, happy as can be. This was considered a boring life for some though, namely three fillies. Sweetiebelle, a white unicorn with a purple and pink curly mane and a beautiful singing voice. Applebloom, a yellow earth pony with a red mane and a pink bow; and Scootaloo, an orange pegasus with a love for speed on her scooter. That morning, the purple-maned pegasus was feeling extra adventurous than usual, and sped around town until she reached the schoolhouse. Sweetie and Applebloom were waiting for their orange friend to arrive and greeted her with a usual, "So, what kind of crusading do we do today?" On a normal day, the three would always have to think about what they should do to earn their cutie marks for a while. But today, Scootaloo had already came up with a plan. "How about....We become Cutie Mark Crusader Mythbusters?" Applebloom smiled and said, "Mythbusters! Of course! Why didn't I think of that? So, what myth do we bust?" Scootaloo's smile turned into a frown."Oh, I didn't really think of that. Oh well! We'll find one later!" That moment the school bell rang and Ms. Cheerilee called for the students. "All right My little Ponies! Time for class!" A few groans emitted through the yard, but all of the foals entered and sat down. Cheerilee sat down and announced, "Today, we'll be learning about......" Then the usual school day happened. Very few foals actually listened as the others whispered the daily gossip. "Did you hear about that filly's clothes? So stylish!" "I heard that we're having beets for lunch today! Yuck!" "Did you hear the rumor about this carnival in the Everfree forest?" The last part caught the Crusader's attention. A mysterious carnival? they thought together. Sweetie mouthed to her comrades.That would be the perfect myth to bust! The three softly clapped their hooves together when the teacher's back was turned.
Applejack grunted as she lifted a heavy bucket of apples onto her back. She wiped the sweat of her hot face and brought the bucket to the barn. "I bet these apples will earn us some bits today!" She told her brother. The red colt replied with a simple "Eeyup" and continued working. After there were enough apples, Applejack put the many buckets on a cart and rode into Ponyville market, and, as she predicted, she made a lot of money that day. Applebloom had arrived home at her usual time, deciding to keep her new crusading plan a secret. "Hiya sis!" Applejack greeted and hugged her sister. "I made a lot of bits today! Isn't that great?" Applebloom nodded and walked up to her room. When she got inside, she quickly locked the door and got out a drawing paper and pencil. She moved the pencil on the paper, this way and that, until at last, it formed her greatest desire. A cutie mark!
Sweetiebelle got home and was greeted with a usual "Remember to wash your hooves, Sweetie!" From her big sister, Rarity. Rolling her eyes, Sweetie walked up stairs to her room and locked the door. She took a deep breath and sang, "If there is a mystery, we'll bust it! We'll do it you can trust it!" And hummed her way to sleep.
Scootaloo had decided to live with Rainbow Dash for a while, and asked a pegasus to fly her to the house. When arriving, she hugged her adopted big sister and complimented the cyan pony about her awesomeness. Afterwards, she walked up to her room and buzzed on her scooter, until breaking a pot by accident. Quickly sweeping the bits away, she got into her cloud bed and lulled asleep.
The sun glittered softly the next day. It was the weekend, so the Crusaders had a perfect chance to solve the mystery of the carnival. Sweetie packed her saddlebag for things the girls may have needed. Snacks, a map, ect. She then walked downstairs to the door only to be stopped by Rarity. "Where are you going?" The fashionista asked her sister. Sweetie's eyes focused on the floor instead. "Oh um..... Me, Applebloom and Scootaloo are going to crusade some more. We, uh, are helping a pillow fluffer fluff pillows." She lied. Rarity gave her sister a frown, but then shook her head and continued a dress she was making. Sweetiebelle then opened the door and headed for Sweet Apple Acres, where the girls were meeting. She first made a stop in the market to buy some more snacks, but then continued for the farm. "Applebloom! Scootaloo! I'm here!" She called up to the window and then walked up to Applebloom's room. Then the girls shut the door and sat on the bed. "Ok, I convinced my sister we were going to water plants." The earth pony replied. "I convinced Rarity we were fluffing pillows." Sweetie giggled. "I never needed to convince anyone!" Scoots laughed. "Ok girls, let's get ready to Water plants and fluff pillows!" She winked as the three walked outside. On their way to the forest, Scootaloo asked a question. "Do you think we need bits to enter the Carnival?" Applebloom shrugged. "Who knows if there even IS a carnival? Thats why we're entering here." She said and pointed to the forest entrance. The three gulped and slowly trotted into the dark forest.
"S-So, what do you think we might see at the carnival? " Sweetie asked softly. "Probably games and rides. I just hope there isn't a tunnel of love there. Yuck!" Scoots made a face mentioning the word "love". "Girls! I told you! There may not even be a carnival!" A.B snapped. "We're just meant to see if the rumor is true or not! I want to get out of the forest as soon as possible." Scootaloo poked her worried friend. "Psh, stop being such a scardey pony Applebloom!" Suddenly a flash of light bolted through the sky and Scoots shrieked. Applebloom giggled. "Who's the scardey pony again?" Scootaloo shook her head as the girls continued.
Applejack finished her weekend apple bucking and knocked on her sister's door. "Applebloom! Are you finished helping Mr. Green Leaf?" The worker got no reply. "She must still be with the gardener I guess. I'll go visit to see how she's doing." When she arrived at Mr. Green Leaf's house, she asked the colt if Applebloom was still working there. "That filly never visited me!" He said. Applejack nearly yelled "What?!" and quickly raced back home. She pounded on the filly's door again. "APPLEBOOM? APPLEBLOOM!" the door creaked open and she stepped inside. Spying the picture on the desk, she moved some of the papers around until she found a slip of paper from a journal.
Dear Journal, Scootaloo, Sweetiebelle and I are going to visit the mysterious carnival in the Everfree forest. We're hoping we can earn our cutie marks by busting this myth!
It had been about a half an hour since the crusaders had journeyed into the Everfree Forest, and they were beginning to get bored. Sweetie suggested for a quick snack break, but was declined and she just ate it while walking. The girls continued walking until suddenly Applebloom shouted. "Girls! I see a carnival gate!" What the Earth Pony said was true. There, in the lightning storm, was a grey slightly rusted gate. Laughing nervously, the yellow filly shifted her hooves. "Ok! We found it!Mystery solved! Time to go gals!" She turned around and headed for back home only to be grabbed by Scootaloo. "Oh come on! We can't just leave it without exploring! You want to get your cutie mark in being a wimp?" Applebloom shuddered and shook her head. "O-Okay, but only for a minute. Applejack is probably worried sick about me!" The three opened the gate and stepped inside. A crazed cackle echoed through it as a yellow pony with a grey mane and a spider dress stepped out of a shadowy haze. "Welcome to my carnival my little fillies! Stay with me and be left breathless!
"Big Macintosh!" Applejack stopped her brother before leaving with the weekend sale cart. "Applebloom and her friends went into the Everfree forest!" Big Mac practically dropped his bag of apples. "We have to save them, brother!" Macintosh '"eeup!"ed in agreement as the two headed out for the forest. Applejack was ahead, wasting barely any time for a breath. "Oh Applebloom! Please be safe!" Because of their sped time, the siblings found the gate quicker than the crusaders did. "They must be in,... There!" Macintosh had decided to go ahead, in case there was any danger inside. Applejack followed behind, the two heading for the inside. CLANG! Applejack gasped as the gate closed itself, and left her on the outside! "Don't worry," she told her brother. "I'll be back for help. You go ahead and find them." Big Mac nodded and hurried further in the carnival.
"Who are you?" Scootaloo asked the mysterious pony. "Do you own this carnival?" "Why, I do! My name is Catherine, and I hope to have fun with you three today! But," She frowned. "IF, you cannot have fun, then you're dead as a doorknob! Understand?" The three fillies nodded with a shudder. Catherine then returned to her slightly creepy yet cheery self. "Good! Now, over there is a ticket booth, feed it quickly please! It gets hungry and loves to eat gold bits!." Applebloom found it as a joke and went over to the booth and tossed in a bit. The cat was not lying. The CMC gasped as the tent then ATE her bit. Literally! Catherine in reply then giggled. "Oh, he's such a charmer, isn't he? Look over here! I have many parasprites, and they love children. Usually baked, though." "We used to have parasprites that invaded our home." Said Sweetiebelle. Catherine nodded. "I know. I know everything. Even the future!" The CMC's mouths dropped. "You mean, you can predict when we're getting our cutie marks?" Applebloom asked with wonder. Catherine smiled deviously. "Yes, but I'd rather you wait. They're surprises! Here, I want you to meet some friends of mine." In a flash, a horrifying group of ponies showed up. There was this shadowy figure named Sludge, a Merry-go-round pony named Springy because of her one springy eye, a short two-legged creature named Batty, and a small devil horned pony named Devia. All of them seemed like they wanted to eat the children except Devia. She just stared at them sadly and sighed. All three of the crusaders had seen enough, and were ready to go home. Scootaloo decided to speak for them. "Ok, miss Catherine, I think we've seen enough of your lovely carnival! I think it's time we go home." Catherine chuckled. "No, no! You promised you would have fun here," She said, walking over to a lever. "You didn't keep your promise then!" After she pulled the lever, a giant cage swept up the crusaders and left them hanging in a cage. "Hang on! I'll be right back!" She and her friends then left the Cutie Mark Crusaders there, as the three huddled together and fear. "Oh Celestia! What have we done!" Sweetie cried.
Big Macintosh slowly trotted into the forest.He was upset about entering the carnival, not just for the risk of the crusaders being in trouble, but the fact that he hated carnivals in general. The reason, he wouldn't tell. "Girls? Girls! Where are you?" The farmer called. His voice had stirred some of the residents of the carnival, including Catherine. She followed the voice. "Who could that be? Do those girls have more friends who followed them?" She hid behind a tree and looked over. Macintosh had not noticed Catherine, but she noticed him. The stallion had stolen her dark heart. Macintosh heard the sound of a small giggle and stopped. "Aww, are you missing your friends? That's too bad!" Catherine asked. "I'll help you find them, don't be sad." She pushed Macintosh with her onto a boat. "Follow me, don't be shy. I'd never hurt a fly." The boat started moving, and, as Scootaloo hoped not, a tunnel of love was their destination. The cat started her rythamatic tone again. "Come with me, let us set love free~ Happiness is my guarantee! I ask for a sweet kiss, or you will be left friendless."
Catherine continued her poem, explaining how she and Big Macintosh could be so happy together. He didn't feel the same way. As the boat came to the end stop, Macintosh stepped out only to notice the crusaders in a cage in front of him. "Big Macinthosh!!" Applebloom cried. "Quick you got to get us out of here, before she comes back!" Before he could act, Big Mac was grabbed by Sludge as the shadowy figure changed the Exit sign to a different sign. Catherine's Coaster. Sludge changed her form to the base of a roller-coaster while Catherine joined Mac in the same seat. "Now that you're with me, just sit back and relax!" Catherine giggled. "I have much to show you, so listen, hear the facts. Your old home is doomed, right for you to see! It cannot be stopped unless you listen to me. If you give yourself up and let your love set me free, your friends will be spared their souls freed from me. There's just one way to spare their life, let me be your little wife!"
Though Big Macintosh refused the offer, he was taken to a wedding ceremony to be wed. The priest had began speaking. "Do you, Big Macintosh, take this mare-" Catherine shot an angry glance at him. "I- I mean cat, to be your lovely wedded wife?" "Eeeenope" "Well to bad, you're married now!" The Crusaders tried to reach Sludge, who had been controlling the priest."And do you, Miss Catherine, take this colt to be your husband?" Catherine beamed evilly. "I do!" A crowd of odd creatures cheered, all except Devia. She just sat looking on the floor.
