MLP FIM: Season 4 Rise of the A.M. (a what if story)

Chapter 9: The Everfree Looter

It was just another day at school for the Cutie Mark Crusaders; or at least it would have been. Their teacher Ms. Cheerilee introduced the class that morning to their new classmate, an Earth Pony. Her mane and tail were a dark and misty blue while her coat was white. A curtain of hair covered her left eye as the other showed an ocean blue.

“Everypony this is you’re new classmate, Star Dust. She and her family just moved to Ponyville from out of town,” said Ms. Cheerilee as an uproar of interest took over at this piece of information. “Star Dust, would you like to say something to the class?”

“H… he… hello.” said Star Dust looking at the ground. “M… My name is Star Dust… My Cutie mark is that of a shooting star.”

She turned her side to the class so they could see the cutie mark. The star itself was big and yellow with trail of silver and yellow falling behind. Even though it wasn’t necessary to state a cutie mark as an introduction Ms. Cheerilee smiled warmly at the new student and had her sit behind a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. A red haired, orange eyed filly named Applebloom. She however was watching the pink pony next to her. Her blue eyes were observing the new student as if to examine every inch before becoming satisfied. A mischievous grin started to form as her investigation came to the cutie mark. The teacher was too busy with the lesson to pay any attention.

“Stop it Diamond, I know what your up to!” Applebloom hissed over.

“What ever do you mean?” the pony asked with innocents that didn’t fool her.

“Don’t play that card! As soon as you find out something about her you’ll…”

“Do what? She’s fine. She’s not like you and the rest of your blank brigade.”

Applebloom’s face grew red with embarrassment and rage.

“We’re in what year school and you still don’t have a cutie mark?”

“Is that true?” asked the white pony, but she kept her eyes on the lecture. “Do you really have no cutie mark?”

Before Applebloom could respond, Diamond Tiara butted in and told Star Dust to not pay any attention to the what she called the blank blanks; insisting that the two of them should hang out sometime. Applebloom was so mad that her two friends sitting behind her could feel the heat of flames growing. When recess started Diamond Tiara put a hoof over Star Dusts shoulder and introduced her to a grey pony with glasses named Silver Spoon and together they headed outside with the rest of the class. The rain from last night had formed puddles in the playground leaving students to try and keep the activities down a notch. Applebloom sat with the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders rubbing the ground with her hoof making the line deeper with each pass. Meanwhile, Star Dust was being asked what her talent was by the students. She started to back up when one of her back legs touched one of the puddles making her jump onto the bench.

“What’s the matter? Afraid of water?” asked Silver Spoon raising an eyebrow.

“Uh, yes you could say that,” replied Star Dust.

“Can you swim?” asked one the onlookers.

“Yes,”

“It must be the mane,” said Diamond Tiara simply and hopped on the bench.

“My mane?”

“Of course. Just look at it. You must have spent quite a while on making those curves on the back.”

“Yes you’re right, I suppose I did.”

“See,” said Diamond Tiara. “Nothing to worry about.” and she leaped off hitting the puddle and made the water splash on Star Dust. “Oops, sorry about that, but where did you expect me to land?”

Star Dust having been drenched shook off the water and with a smile said it was all right.

“What is your talent then?” asked one the students again.

“It’s uh… star gazing. Yes, I can look up at the stars at night and point out constellations.”

The class started to talk excitedly amongst one another. Star Dust gave a sigh of relief and just then someone shouted,

“Where’d her cutie mark go?!”

This caught the attention of the crusaders as they turned to look at the scene unfolding before their eyes. Star Dust grew tense and glanced back to the spot where her cutie mark had been. She gave the smallest of squeaks and hid the area with her tail.

“What are you talking about Snails?” asked Silver Spoon leaping onto the bench. “Her cutie mark is right hera-aaaah!”

When Silver Spoon had lifted Star Dust’s tail she saw that water running off the bench was yellow and where the cutie mark should have been was what looked more like a smudge than anything else.

“You, you’re a fake!” Silver Spoon said pointing a hoof at Star Dust.

“A liar eh? Ha, I had a strange feeling that something was wrong!” said Diamond Tiara with an all too familiar tone to the crusaders.

The amount of eyes seemed to be growing. Enclosing Star Dust in a corner filled with nothing but watchers. She could hear them laughing at her, teasing her. Just when things were going just fine she was back where she had started.

“Stop it Diamond Tiara!” shouted one of Applebloom’s friends.

At once the three crusaders had burst into action and came to Star Dust’s aid.

“It doesn’t matter if she’s got no cutie mark to show yet. I mean, look at us.”

For a moment she stared at the crusaders bewildered, but then smiled at them challengingly.

“Seems to me that you, the Blank Brigadiers have found a new recruit to add.”

“Ya know Diamond, for once we agree with each other,” said Applebloom.

“Oh really? Because it looks like your new member sees things differently.”

The three fillies turned to see Star Dust going back inside the classroom, her mane shielding her entire face. Without a backwards glance they hurried after her. The bell rang once again signaling the class to come back inside. Applebloom and her friends agreed that when school was over they would have a chat with Star Dust. When Ms. Cheerilee ended their last lesson of the day the students got up and left. Star Dust put her things away as slow as possible to avoid more ridicule in a crowd of marked ponies.

Applebloom approached her and asked with a cheerful smile, “Do ya need any help?”

Star Dust didn’t answer, she only closed her ruff sack, tossed it over her back and made to leave.

“Um… Excuse me? Ah don’t think ah introduced myself to ya yet. My name’s Applebloom.”

The white pony stopped in her tracks and gave a soft. “Hello.”

The three sighed in relief having succeeded in getting Star Dust’s attention.

“Hello Star Dust, I’m Sweetie Belle.”

“And I’m Scootaloo. And together we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“The what?”

“We’re like you!” said Sweetie Belle happily.

“Like me?”

“That’s right,”

And together they showed her the blank spots where their cutie marks would be if they had them. Star Dust stared at the three before her.

“But, I thought…”

“That you were the only one?” said Scootaloo. “So did we at one point. We were about to head over to our clubhouse. Would you like to come?”

“I… I really need to get home,” said Star Dust turning her back on them and galloped off leaving them behind.

“Well it was worth a shot,” said Scootaloo shrugging and before they were about to head over to their clubhouse fast hoof steps came toward them.

“Wait!” It was Star Dust she cleared her throat and said, “I… I guess I can join you, but just for a little while.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse just so happened to be a tree house at Sweet Apple Acres. It used to be a place where Applebloom’s big sister, Apple Jack used to go to when she was little. Now at days, it was the official Cutie Mark Crusaders base of operation. At first Star Dust didn’t think to much of the trio, but after a while of them telling her the purpose of the crusaders and letting her in on a few of their club’s plans for cutie marks, she started to like the idea of this group. It was hard for her to explain the feeling she had. Even when the crusaders failed at their efforts she could tell that they would never give up and more importantly they seemed to have fun executing their activities; and so did she. It was like she had finally found someone who understood her and she didn’t want that feeling to go away.

“Say Star Dust,” began Applebloom when they were back at the clubhouse “Who painted that cutie mark on you? It looked so real.”

“Oh, that? My big brother’s an artist his mark is a paintbrush and paint.” said Star Dust, but then her face flushed with embarrassment. “I sort of asked him to paint one on me.”

“He sounds lie a nice guy if he’s willen to do something like that to help his sister fit in.”

“Yeah? He wasn’t too fond of the idea at first. He told me that I shouldn’t be ashamed for having no cutie mark. I guess he was right.”

She suddenly noticed how late it was getting and said that she should go home.

“Wait!” said Scootaloo holding a hoof up. “You forgot this.”

She tossed her what looked like a long red cloth, but when she unfolded it, she saw a stitched in golden filly.

“It’s a cape!” said Sweetie Belle. “We thought you would like to become a fellow member of our club.”

Star Dust looked at the cape given to her as a smile started to form on her face and she replied, “Yes.”

Star Dust arrived home, having her parents ask her how the first day of school was as if they expected the same gloomy response they had always received. Instead when she answered cheerfully they were taken aback and asked again incase their daughter had misunderstood the question. Star Dust answered again, her smile still edged across her face.

“See,” her father said excitedly to his wife as Star Dust climbed the stairs to her brother’s room. “I knew this time would be different. The third time time’s the charm as they say.”

The light was on and showing through the door cracks in her brother’s room. She knocked and a voice called out stating that he was busy. She opened the door slightly too look inside. Her brother was sitting at his desk working on what looked like a letter. With a quill held tight in his mouth he dipped it in ink and continued writing. When he had finished, he wrapped the letter up and put it away in his drawer.

“Did you need something little sister?” he asked.

“No,” replied Star Dust. Coming inside her brother’s room. “I just wanted to say thank you for what you told me yesterday.”

His room was a light grey color with paintings placed on the walls that he had made while his desk was littered with sketches and unfinished works. His bed was beside the window, the covers unfolded.

“Oh?” he said taking out a piece of artwork and began working on it.

“Yes, you were right. I’m not the only one after all! I met three others today in school with the same problem!”

Her brother turned in his seat and smiled at her. He was a brown earth pony with a curly red mane and tail and yellow eyes. “Good, I’m glad to hear that.”

“Steel Brush, what’s wrong? You look tired,” said Star Dust noticing the black circles under his eyes.

“It’s nothing, I just stayed up last night working that’s all,” replied Steel Brush.

“Does this have to do your project?” Star Dust asked.

“As a matter of fact yes,” said Steel Brush.

“I know, I’ll help you!” said Star Dust excitedly.

“No need, some ponies that I’ve met are helping,”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. So, you said you met three others just like you?”

“Yep! They’re great and they even made me a part of their club! See, here’s the cape.”

Her brother nodded his impression at the cape and made to stand when Star Dust said in an enthusiastic tone; “Now I’m a part of a group just like you! That is why you have a cape right?”

“I thought I told you to not go snooping around?” said Steel Brush his voice going sounding disappointed.

“I only saw the color,” said Star Dust. “I don’t get it. Why won’t you let me see it?”

“Because I told you so,” said Steel Brush. “That should be enough. Just don’t do it again all right?” and without another word he got up to get a glass of water from downstairs.

As his hoof steps died away, Star Dust took the time to get her brother’s letter from the drawer and put it in her ruff sack before he returned. Her brother was one to lend a helping hoof to others in need, but had a hard time when it came to asking others for favors. She thought that helping her brother with his project would be a good way to repay him back for his help. Instead of one letter, she found several. Taking a guess, she took one and left. That night when everyone was asleep she took the letter out and began to read it.

A small hut stood deep inside the Everfree Forest. Smoke came from the chimney indicated that the wise and mysterious zebra, Zecora was making herself dinner or was busy concocting another one of her many brews.

“Ah,” said Zecora knowledgably as she stopped stirring the liquid her cauldron and read what was to be added next.

A wooden bowl with herbs crushed inside was pored in. The water singed and bubbled as each flake hit the surface turning from crystal clear to red. Humming a soft nursery rime to herself she stirred the brew clockwise a few more times before sniffing the fumes to make sure it was ready.

Zecora glanced over at the book she was using to make sure nothing else was to be added and when she proclaimed herself satisfied she pored a spoon full into a cup of tea she had recently made herself. She watched the tea closely as if expecting something to happen to it. When nothing did she sighed, her darkest fears were coming true. This must have been how the mysterious group called the A.M. had attempted to get ponies from far away towns to do their dirty work for them. By brainwashing them. Just then a howl of wind came sweeping across the Everfree Forest. It was quite common for that sort of thing to happen here. Unlike Ponyville and Canterlot who relied on the weather Pegasi to make their forecasts on a daily basis, the Everfree Forest did not. The branches from trees danced in the wind as vines tapped ever so often on Zecora’s window. She paid no mind to this and made to poor a bit of her potion into a container before getting rid of the rest. Washing out her cauldron proved to be more difficult than usual for she did not want to take any chances of their being the slightest hint of the potion left.

A knocking at the door interrupted the process. She left her task behind to answer the door to find no one there. Glancing from one side of the forest to the next she went back inside closing the door behind her. Before she had even got back to the sink an uneasy feeling took over her. She felt like she was being watched and quickly looked over at the glass free window to find no one was there. Even as she was washing the cauldron, Zecora’s feeling of being watched never left. Still she was not about to let her nerves get the best of her and made herself another cup of tea before turning in for the night.

“Oh, Zecora,” she said to herself as she drank her tea. “What has gotten into you? Sleep is what you need. For worrying will do nothing except be a waste indeed.”

The next day Zecora went on one of her visits to Ponyville to shop for ingredients for brews she had yet to make. Amongst the many ponies was Applebloom. Zecora considered her as a dear friend. It was thanks to her that she was accepted in Ponyville. Accompanying her was a filly she did not know; she looked up at Zecora who smiled at her.

“Applebloom, what brings you to me this time?” Zecora asked.

“Ah told my new friend here that ya might be able to help her.”

“Eh?”

“Yes mam,” said Star Dust trying to figure out how to ask her the question. “I was wondering if you had ever heard of an Alicorn Amulet?”

Zecora eyed her seriously before answering, “Dear filly, you should be carful with what you seek. Some things should stay unseen and out of reach.”

Star Dust looked at Zecora curiously and wondered what she was talking about.

“I’ll take that as a no then,” she said disappointedly.

“What I give you are words of wisdom. Perhaps if you understood the history behind such an object you might think twice before looking for it.”

Zecora brought the two fillies to Twilight’s tree house where both she and Arthur were undergoing a series of spell casting. When Zecora told them what Star Dust had asked her they exchanged looks.

“What I would like to know is where she had heard of the amulet,” said Arthur.

“I came across it in a book.” said Star Dust.

“That must have been quite a book to have an artifact like that in it.”

“Zecora, was right to bring you here,” said Twilight. “Spike, can you find the…” But before she had finished her request, Spike the dragon had already found the book and was holding it up to her. “Thank you Spike, the Alicorn Amulet will be on page forty-six. I think it would be best if I explain it to you.”

“No need,” said Applebloom quickly.

She knew that once Twilight started explaining what the Alicorn Amulet was she would want to go over every single detail.

“Ah… What Ah mean to say is, we’ll skim through it.”

The three older ponies raised their eyebrows skeptically at Applebloom.

“You have ma word princess, we will look through it before doing anything else.”

Twilight hesitated for a moment before using her magic to levitate the book to the filly in front of her. Applebloom took the book in her mouth, bowed in appreciation with Star Dust and left. When Twilight’s door had closed the three broke into chatter.

“Is anypony else starting to wonder why she brought up the amulet?” asked Arthur seriously.

“I understand your concern Arthur,” said Twilight agreeing with him. “Zecora you didn’t tell them?”

“Tell them what?” asked Arthur.

“Twilight, have no fear,” said Zecora “The amulet may be near, but trust me, it is locked away.”

“You have it?!” exclaimed Arthur.

Zecora nodded.

“I think we might want to tell Apple Jack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash about the situation,” said Twilight thoughtfully. “Just incase they are tempted to look for the amulet.

“They?” said Arthur questionably.

“Appleboom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. They are a small group called the Cutie Mark Crusaders. You see, since none of them have their cutie marks yet, they try to find out ways to earn them every now and then.”

“We might want to get started right way then,” said Arthur realizing what this could mean.

Star Dust told Appleboom that she could manage from here. The response wasn’t what she had counted on. Applebloom insisted that she, Scootaloo, and Rarity’s little sister, Sweetie Belle, help her and if the Alicorn Amulet sounded intriguing enough, then it would be their new quest for their endless plans to get cutie marks. Star Dust reluctantly agreed much to her friend’s delight and once they had found Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo they met at the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. When Sweetie Belle had asked what they were brought there for, Applebloom dropped the book on the wooden floor and began looking for the page Twilight had said the amulet would be on. The book gave them full details and even had a picture of the Alicorn Amulet at the top of the page.

“The Alicorn Amulet,” began star Dust. “A powerful artifact crafted by the ancient Alicorns. Who ever wears it will be blessed with untold powers.” The four exchanged looks of interest. “Even though it provides immense power, through time it will corrupt the user. The amulet has a magical lock imbedded on it there for, the wearer is the only one who can take it off. “

There was a moment of silence while the three crusaders took in what they had just read. It wasn’t at all like they ha expected or did they? The way Twilight and Arthur were acting was almost as if they knew more than they were letting on. And what of Zecora? Why was she so eager to discard the matter so quickly? Star Dust thought back to the letter she read about the amulet requesting that if her brother knew anything about it or knew where it was, to write back at once. It was indeed an odd letter. Something told her that she might want to write back and tell the messenger what she had learned before going any further. So, that night she wrote a letter in response making sure to leave it under her brother’s name and left the subject alone. It didn’t take long for a reply to reach him. On it was a short reply stating that he or she thought the letter they had received was troubling, but never the less, they requested that if he should happen to come across it, write back to them at once, telling them where it was. She began to wonder why there was so much interest in the amulet and thought if she should write back and ask. Something told her that the response would probably be something like studying the amulet’s origins or just to see it for them selves. Once again the way Zecora reacted when she had asked about the amulet crossed her mind. There must be something she didn’t want her to know.

It was decided the afternoon after at the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse that they would pay the zebra a visit. Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle would distract Zecora while Star Dust, and Scootaloo would poke around looking for any sign of a lead on the artifact.

“Just think girls,” said Applebloom excitedly, “If we pull this off, we might get a cutie mark of exploration. Oh, I would so much like mine to be a compass. All though, I wouldn’t mind a hat neither.”

“Stay focused,” said Scootaloo. “We haven’t even begun yet and we need you and Sweetie Belle to talk to Zecora in order for this to work.”

Before they had even begun their mission Applebloom’s big sister Apple Jack approached them with a serious look on her face. When she asked where they were headed off to, Sweetie Bell was about to spill the beans when Applebloom stuffed her hoof in her friends mouth and told her sister that they were off to do more crusader business. Amongst further questioning and reassuring her sister that it had nothing to do with the Alicorn Amulet she allowed them to go about their business.

“Why did you lie to your sister like that Applebloom?” asked Star Dust.

“Because, Ah think that the grown ups are hiding something from us. And if we go around telling them what we’re up to then they won’t hesitate to stop us. Besides you saw the way she was questioning me. That just proves it. They are definitely hiding something and we’re going to get to the bottom of it.”

They were about to reach the edge of the Everfree Forest when Rainbow Dash and Rarity were seen wondering around in search for them. Acting fast the crusaders galloped into the forest before the two spotted them. The forest was just as dark and gloomy as ever. Trees surrounding them gave off eerie appearances, the mossy ground was soaked making squishy sounds when stepped on. Bats hanging on nearby branches slept soundly as crickets sounded off to one another. Zecora’s hut came into view and the crusaders approached it. Applebloom knocked on the door and a few seconds later it opened.

“Ah, Applebloom what brings you here?” asked Zecora allowing the three to enter.

“Just passing by Zecora,” replied Applebloom. “Ah was wondering if you had anything you were working on that we might be able to help out with.”

“But of course, now that I come to think of it,” said Zecora she had Applebloom follow her to a shelf. “As you can see I have many ingredients. If you four can lend a hoof, it would be most appreciated.”

It was easier than they had originally thought. While Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were helping Zecora with her brew Scootaloo asked where the bathroom was and when told she and Star Dust snuck around to the back of the hut. The walls had masks hanging all around the walls, long wooden spoons and pots were settled in one spot while dishes were stowed in separate cabenets. Thinking that this must be the kitchen, Scootaloo and Star Dust backtracked and found a closed closet door. Luckily it was unlocked and Star Dust opened it. The door made a short creek making them look around to see if Zecora had heard anything. When no sounds of hoofsteps were heard she went inside bringing a lantern with her while Scootaloo stayed behind to be a watcher. The closet turned out to be a storage filled with the curious artifacts. A number of Cases, scrolls, small chests, and jars laid on shelves. Making her way through the treasure trove, Star Dust held the lantern up to make out what she was seeing. At the end of the closet she found a black chest that was locked. She put the lantern on the shelf to pick up the chest and held it up to the light. There didn’t seem to be anything different about it, but curiosity took over and she began to look around for a key. The last place she would think to look would be in Zecora bedroom. Scootaloo switched jobs with Star Dust and went into Zecora’s bedroom. Her bed sheets were white and covers brown. A desk stood in the corner of the room a mirror stood on top of a desk with a come. Thinking that Zecora must be wondering where she had gone off too, Scootaloo began to search through the drawers and came across a single key. Making her way across the hall she gave Star Dust the key and she hurried back inside the closet. The key fit and when turned there was a click and when opened Star Dust was looking down at a black and red colored amulet with a ruby at the center. The black Alicorn’s tiny red eyes glared at her. This was it, she had found the Alicorn Amulet.

From outside Scootaloo heard Zecora’s voice.

“Thank you for stopping by to help. Now where did your friends wander off to?”

“Star Dust hurry up Zecora is coming this way!" Scootaloo said poking her head inside the closet.

Feeling that there was no time to place everything back to it’s original state Star Dust closed the chest, relocked it, and left the key still intact and the lantern was still on. She did however make sure that Scootaloo closed the closet door and they found themselves looking at Zecora’s appearing figure.

“Now, now little ones,” she said walking over. “There are few rooms in this hut, and only one you mustn’t trust.”

She moved the two fillies away from the closet and lead them back into the living room.

“You have quite a collection of masks Zecora.” said Star Dust.

“Yes, I think that having tokens from ones homeland makes moving to new areas feel like you never left don’t you?”

“I guess.” Replied Star Dust.

They spent their time with Zecora helping her finding extra ingredients from the forest and once they said their farewells Applebloom asked her fellow members if they had found what they were looking for. Star Dust did tell her and Sweetie Belle that she did find the amulet and was going to tell her brother that she had helped lighten his workload. He however took the news as a sign of relief meaning he hasn’t lost his mind owing to the fact that he couldn’t remember sending those letters and frowning in disapproval that his little sister would sneak around his back just to write responses under his name.

“I did tell him all that stuff already about the Amulet and that he should leave it alone.” He said shaking his head. “You didn’t write back to him about this yet didn’t you?”

“No not yet.” said Star Dust truthfully.

“Good, just please don’t do something like that again all right?”

“O.K.”

Star Dust’s big brother wrote a letter describing where his sister had found the Amulet and headed out to send it in the mail.

Zecora’s hut was quiet that night as she went to bed early. The morning after she awoke with an uneasy feeling. She checked the drawer where the key was, to find nothing in it. She rushed out of her room and saw that her kitchen and most of her house had been ransacked and the closet door was open. The jars broken, the cases and small chests opened, scrolls unrolled and the chest with the Alicorn Amulet and key were gone. A knife held a note up on the front door, on it was:

Thank you for your serves…

Signed A.M.