One morning in Ponyville Elementary, everypony was in class talking to eachother. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were thinking of ways to earn their cutie marks.
"How about sky diving?", suggested Scootaloo
"Tried it", replied Applebloom
"Dancing?", suggested Sweetie Belle
"Tried it", replied Scootaloo "We've basically done everything"
"C'mon girls", said Applebloom "Im sure there's something. It's not like were gonna be blank-flanks forever"
"I think you will", said a voice
Applebloom looked over and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
"Can you two go one day without making fun of us?", asked Applebloom
"Hm…nope", replied Diamond
Her and Silver Spoon laughed as they went back to their desks. Then, Cheerilee walked in.
"Good morning, my little ponies", greeted Cheerilee
"Good morning, Miss Cheerilee", replied her students
"We have a lot things to do today, but first I have great news. Anypony wanna guess?"
Several foals raised their hooves.
"Yes Applebloom?", called Cheerilee
"Your getting married", said Applebloom
"Applebloom, I was going to announce that later", said Cheerilee
Everypony gasped and cheered.
"Yes, Big Macintosh and I are getting married", announced Cheerilee "But the wedding would be imcomplete if I didn't have all my wonderful students there"
Everypony cheered once again.
"The real news is that we have a new student", announced Cheerilee walking to the door "C'mon in sweetie"
A little filly walked in. She was a blue pegasus with a grey and silver mane. But instead of pegasus wings, she had bat wings, and fangs. She also had no cutie mark.
"Um…hi", greeted the filly "Im Moonbeam"
"What kind of pegasus are you?", asked Diamond raising her hoof
"Yeah, cause Im pretty sure that normal pegasi don't have weird wings like those", added Silver Spoon
"Im actually a...thestral", explained Moonbeam
"No wonder why your a blank-flank", said Diamond
"Huh?"
"It's cause your a freak"
"That's enough, Diamond", ordered Cheerilee "Now Moonbeam, why don't you sit next to Scootaloo"
Moonbeam started walking to her desk, but was tripped by Diamond.
"Oops", teased Diamond
Scootaloo got up and helped Moonbeam up.
"Thanks", said Moonbeam
"No problem", replied Scootaloo
After Moonbeam sat down, Cheerilee began her lesson. After a couple hours of learning, the belle rang, and the foals ran outside for lunch and recess. Moonbeam tried to look for a place to sit, but no luck.
"MOONBEAM! OVER HERE!", called a voice
Moonbeam looked over and saw the crusaders waving towards her. So she walked to them.
"Can I help you?", asked Moonbeam
"Yeah, we want you to sit with us", explained Scootaloo
"R-really?", asked Moonbeam
"Yeah", replied Sweetie Belle
"Ok"
Moonbeam sat next to them.
"My name's Applebloom"
"Scootaloo's the name"
"And Im Sweetie Belle"
They continued to eat their lunch, until Applebloom spoke up.
"Whatcha eatin?", asked Applebloom
"Turnips", replied Moonbeam
"Wait, I thought thestrals drink blood", said Scootaloo
"We use to", explained Moonbeam "But eversince my father and the other thestrals decided to become Princess Luna's guards a thousand years ago, we decided to go vegan"
"A THOUSAND YEARS AGO?!", asked Sweetie Belle "How old is your Dad?!"
"4,618", explained Moonbeam "But Thestrals are immortal so…"
"How old are you?!"
"Im only 8"
Then, Applebloom looked at Moonbeam's flank.
"Like what you see, Applebloom?", joked Moonbeam
"Oh no, I just noticed that you don't have your cutie mark", explained Applebloom
"Yeah, I know it's embarrasing"
"No, it's not, because were blank-flanks too"
"Really? I thought I was the only one",
"We thought so too before we met eachother", explained Scootaloo
"Hey Moonbeam, wanna be a Cutie Mark Crusader?", asked Applebloom
"A what?", asked Moonbeam
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders. It's a club devoted to helping ponies earn their cutie mark"
"Sounds like fun"
"It is", said Sweetie Belle
"Who's in it?", asked Moonbeam
"Well just three, but my cousin Babs Seed is in charge of the Manehatten branch with two other members. So six so far", explained Applebloom
"Make that seven"
"Really? You wanna join?", asked Sweetie Belle
"Yeah"
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!", cheered the crusaders
Cheerilee signaled the children to come inside. After school, the crusaders and Moonbeam walked outside.
"There's my father", said Moonbeam
She was pointing to a black thestral stallion with a red mane and a drop of blood as his cutie mark.
"DADDY", cheered Moonbeam
"Hey there Moony", greeted the stallion "How was school?"
"It was great. I made three new friends"
"That's great"
"Father, these are my friends Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetiebelle. Girls, this is my father, Count Bloodworth"
"Pleasure to meet you", said Bloodworth
"You too, sir", replied Sweetie Belle
"What kind of cutie mark is that?", asked Scootaloo pointing at Bloodworth's flank
"I got it after completing my first kill", explained Bloodworth
"K-kill?", asked Sweetie Belle shaking
"But don't worry my little ponies", assured Bloodworth "I got this about 3,000 years ago before we became Princess Luna's guards. After that, I convinced the other thestrals to go vegan that so we don't hurt anypony"
"Nothing less from the Ruler of the Thestrals", said Moonbeam hugging her dad
"RULER OF THE BATPONIES?!", asked the crusaders
"That's right", replied Bloodworth
"Does that mean Moonbeam is a princess?", asked Sweetie Belle
"In a way, yes. But she's still my little princess"
"Father", said Moonbeam embarassed "Anyway, can I hangout with my friends today? Their gonna make me a Cutie Mark Crusader. It's a club that'll help me earn my cutie mark"
"If she joins, then she'll be the first thestral to be a crusader", explained Scootaloo
"Well...I don't see why not", said Bloodworth
"YAY THANK YOU DADDY", cheered Moonbeam hugging him
"I'll pick you up later"
"Should I tell you where it is?", asked Applebloom
"No need", assured Bloodworth "I can just find her on my own"
"How?", asked Scootaloo
"Thestrals have instincts that can help them find prey. We use the instincts to find other ponies", explained Moonbeam
"Whoa"
"C'mon girls, let's go", said Applebloom
"Bye dad", said Moonbeam
The girls walked through the apple orchard.
"Where exactly are we going?", asked Moonbeam
"You'll see", replied Applebloom
They kept walking, until they reached the clubhouse.
"Now Moonbeam, feast your eyes on THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADER CLUBHOUSE", announced Applebloom
"Whoa", said Moonbeam "Did you guys make this?"
"Actually, this use to be my big sister's before she gave it to us. I just gave it a few improvements"
"Cool"
"Ok, now stand outside until we say you can come in"
"Why?"
"Just do it", said Scootaloo
The three crusaders walked into the clubhouse and left Moonbeam behind. A few minutes later, Sweetie Belle walked out wearing the crusader cape.
"You may enter", said Sweetie Belle
Moonbeam walked into the clubhouse and saw Applebloom at the podium and Scootaloo on the drum. Then Applebloom pulled out a scroll.
"We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, elect Moonbeam to join us as a sister, friend, confidaynte, alley, boss-om buddy, gal pal, compader, chum of chums...", read Applebloom
"We really gotta change that speech", thought Scootaloo as Applebloom continued reading.
"Homegirl, Amiga, and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader!", read Applebloom "You are solemnly sworn in, here this day, in witness of your fellow sisters, friends, and fellow crusaders"
Sweetie Belle walked up to Moonbeam and gave her a cape.
"Your cape" said Sweetie Belle
When Moonbeam put on the cape, her friends cheered. Then, Applejack came in holding a tray of apple fritters on her back.
"Howdy y'all", greeted Applejack "I made y'all a little snack, and who's this?"
"This is Moonbeam", introduced Applebloom "She's the newest member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Moon, this is my big sister Applejack"
"It's nice to meet you, sugarcube", said Applejack
"You too ma'am"
"You don't have to refer me to fancy terms. Applejack is fine"
"She's also the first member to be a thestral", explained Scootaloo
"And a princess", added Sweetie Belle
"A princess thestral?", asked Applejack
"Well my father is Ruler of The Thestral so technically I am a princess", explained Moonbeam
"Oh I see. Well if y'all need anything, just holler. I'll be with Caramel in the barn"
With that, Applejack left. The Crusaders continued to chat.
"So are you guys excited about Cheerilee getting married?", asked Sweetie Belle
"Miss Cheerilee's getting married?", asked Moonbeam
"Yeah, she told us that before you walked in", explained Scootaloo "Actually, Applebloom told us"
"And were all invited to the wedding", added Sweetie Belle
"Who is she marrying anyway?", asked Moonbeam
"My big brother, Big Macintosh", explained Applebloom
"Whoa, that means Cheerilee is gonna be your sister"
"I know, Im so excited"
"Hey Moonbeam, do you have any siblings?", asked Scootaloo
"I have an older sister named Rarity", explained Sweetie Belle
"And I have an adopted older sister named Rainbow Dash", added Scootaloo
"Well, only an older brother. His name is Shadow Wing and he's the Captain of The Night Guards"
"How old is he?"
"Believe it or not, only 21"
"Really? Does he have a marefriend?", asked Sweetie Belle
"Yeah actually, he just started going out with this pegasus named Raven and she's super nice. I wouldn't be suprised if they got married. It sure would be great to have a special somepony"
"I have a coltfriend", said Sweetie Belle "His name is Button Mash"
"Isn't he that colt who plays videogames?"
"Yup"
"Im going on a date with Rumble and Applebloom has a crush on Pipsqueak", added Scootaloo
"DON'T TELL HER THAT!", yelled Applebloom blushing
Suddenly, there was a knock at the clubhouse.
"Moony, time to come home", called Bloodworth
"Coming Father", replied Moonbeam "I'll see you girls tomorrow"
Moonbeam flew outside of the clubhouse and flew away with her father.
"You have really interesting friends, Moony"
"Yeah, I know"