Author's Note

Hey everypony
first thing is to NOT FREAK OUT ABOUT THE STORY BEING ON HIATUS! I'm going to see family for a week down south so I wont get the time write.
Also my editor had some problems and I had a writers block so that's why the chapter's a little late and i'm not on of those people who puts a story on hiatus because he doesn't feel like writing anymore, I will not forget. So don't think this is the end.

Crusaders

“I call this meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders to order.” Shouted Applebloom.

“You don’t need to announce it every time Applebloom.” Scootaloo pointed out.

“Ah know, but it makes me sound so…in charge.”

“Does not.” Sneered Scootaloo.

“Does to.”

“Does not.”

“Does to.”

“DOES NOT!”

“DOES TO!”

“Enough girls.” Sweetie Belle said as she climbed into the treehouse. “What we want to know is how we’re going to earn our cutie marks.”

“Yea I agree.” Said Applebloom. “Sorry for aruguin with ya Scoots.”

“It’s okay.” Replied Scootaloo. “So Applebloom, did you think of anything we could do to earn our cutie marks?”

“Well, since Nightmare Night is coming up, we could try and make our own Nightmare Night costumes.”

“But my sister is out at Canterlot for the day.” Moaned Sweetie Bell.

“That does complicate things.” Informed Scootaloo. “Maybe Fluttershy could help us. Rarity taught her how to sew.”

“I dunno Scoots.” Argued Applebloom. “She ain’t the bravest pony on the planet. I don’t think she’d like it if we went over to her house and asked her to help us make scary costumes.”

“Yea, but it’s worth a try, she probably would help us.”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try and see if she would help us.” Shrugged Applebloom.

“So shall we try Fluttershy?” Asked Sweetie Belle.

“You bet.” Scootaloo replied cheerfully.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER NIGHTMARE NIGHT COSTUME MAKERS YAY!!!” They all yelled in unison as they zipped off towards Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Let’s see what survived the trip.”

Riley was inspecting the ammo bag to see if anything was damaged or broken. He had already checked his backpack and computer, which Erin was using to watch a movie.

“Erin, what movie are you watching?” Asked Riley.

“I dunno, it’s an anime though.” She replied.

“Look at the file name.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“I’m not having you watch a movie where every bloody person gets ripped to shreds by some demon thingy.”

“Aww come on Riley.” Coaxed Erin. “It’s not like its real or anything.”

Riley sighed.

“Fine, but when you have nightmares from that scary shit, don’t come running to me.”

“Not sure if this is right.”

She continued to watch her movie through her headphones.

“Smartass.” Riley thought to himself.

He pulled out all of the things that were inside the ammo bag. He had a shotgun with about 80 shells for it. A 9mm handgun with about 12 ammo clips and his dad’s old Remington revolver that had a sack full of loose bullet’s for it. Riley had owned that handgun ever since his Mum and Dad were killed and it’s the only thing that he has to remember him.

Riley stroked the smooth wooden handle of the revolver, feeling it for any damages to its surfaces.

“Lucky everything is intact.” Riley thought. “One cracked shell and the whole bloody house could’ve gone up.”

Riley shuddered at the thought of houses blowing up. He decided to go and test the guns later and see if they still worked.

“I think I’ll clean the revolver though.” Thought Riley.

He grabbed the revolver and a little tool bag that he kept at the bottom of his bag and sat down at the kitchen table, preparing himself for the gruelling task ahead. Riley started to disassemble the revolver. He undid the screws that held the chamber of the gun and worked his way down from there.

“Gory.” Erin murmured to herself as she finished her movie.

She closed the window that was playing the movie and read the file name.

“Akira?” She thought to herself. “Huh, it’s got a weird name.”

Erin closed the laptop down and got up. She decided that she needed a little bit of fresh air so she went outside to have a little stretch and throw a ball around. Erin dug through Riley’s bag and found his footy.

“I doubt Riley will mind if I borrow this.” Erin thought to herself.

Erin grabbed the football and proceeded outside to kick it around for a little bit.

“I wonder if Fluttershy has any new animals.” Scootaloo pondered as she walked with her friends to Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Ooh ohh, maybe she found a pet snake.” Said Applebloom.

“Eeeeew!” Screeched Sweetie Belle. “I hate snakes.”

“Hey have you two heard about those creatures that the princesses were hunting for.” Said Scootaloo.

“Yea, mah sister went huntin for them the other night.” Replied Applebloom.

“So did mine.” Exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “It’s all over the newspapers. I’ve heard from school gossip that they’re from another world.”

“Even if they are, I bet Rainbow could kick their flanks round Equestria and back easily.” Bragged Scootaloo as she hoof-pumped into the air.

“Whatever you say Scoots.” Applebloom said as she rolled her eyes.

The three of them laughed at Applebloom’s wise crack.

“I still think that she could.” Rebutted Scootaloo.

“Sure sure.” Mocked Sweetie Belle.

They continued down the road to Fluttershy’s cottage while laughing.

Riley’s head perked up as he heard the sound of faint laughter. At first he thought it was Erin but the laughing grew more in tone and sounded more like a group than a single person. Riley looked out the window to see three tiny ponies approaching the cottage.

“Oh fuck.” Riley thought to himself.

He rushed into the living room to find Erin, but she wasn’t there. Riley started to panic and burst out the back door to find Erin kicking a ball around with some of the animals. Among them was a bear, two cats, a dog and a bear, all kicking the ball around and having fun.

“Erin. I need you in here, NOW!” Riley yelled.

“Okay okay. I’m coming, jeez.”

Erin grabbed the football and proceeded inside, while the animals all returned to their homes in Fluttershy’s backyard. Erin went into the kitchen to find Riley peering outside the window with the curtains drawn.

“Is the world coming to an end?” Joked Erin.

“It might as well be.” Riley replied coldly.

“What do you mean?”

“Look.”

Erin peered out the window to see three little ponies coming down the road.

“Oh shit.” Erin murmured under her breath.

“Come quick. Help me get our bags upstairs.” Commanded Riley.

“What about the revolver?”

“No time, lets go.”

Riley ran into the living room and started to pack his laptop back into its bag. Erin followed Riley into the living room, grabbed the ammo bag and her backpack and bolted upstairs to hide the bags. Riley followed her with his pack and laptop bag and hid them along with the other bags. They quickly jolted downstairs to hear the doorknob turning. Thinking fast, Riley’s wings came into action. He swooped Erin up and flew to the ceiling, where he placed himself between the rafters with Erin in-between him and the roof.

“Mmph MMMMPH.”

“Shut up Erin, they’re inside.”

“HELLLLLLOOOO, ANYPONY HOME?!” Scootaloo yelled out.

“I don’t think she’s home Scootaloo.” Interjected Sweetie Belle.

“We could always try it ourselves, what could go wrong?” Shrugged Applebloom.

“What, NO!” Snapped Sweetie Belle.

“Whoa, calm down Sweetie Belle.” Exclaimed Scootaloo. “I’m sure Fluttershy wouldn’t mind.”

“I dunno Scootaloo, didn’t Miss Cherilee teach us not to touch other ponies things without permission.”

“But were using her sewing things to earn our cutie marks! I’m sure Fluttershy would understand.”

“Ugh fine.” Moaned Sweetie Belle. “Let’s go find her sewing machine.”

“Uh girls.” Applebloom called from Fluttershy’s kitchen. “You might wanna come look at this.”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo went into the kitchen and found Applebloom leaning over Fluttershy’s table on her hind legs.

“What is it?” Asked Scootaloo.

“This is the weirdest thang I’ve ever laid mah eyes on.” Said Applebloom, wide eyed.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood up at the table and saw the mysterious device in all its glory.

“What is it?” Scootaloo said, wide-eyed.

“I dunno, but it’s really weird.” Commented Sweetie Belle.

“Should we touch it?” Asked Applebloom.

Riley could hear the small ponies in the next room.

“No no no.” He thought, sweat dripping from his brow. “Don’t touch it.”

“C’mon girls, ah don’t think we should me touchin it.”

Riley sighed a breath of relief.

“Let’s check the lounge room.” One of them announced.

Riley’s blood ran cold. All he could do is stay still as he heard them trot into the room.

“Seriously girls. Should we really be in here without Fluttershy.” Implied Sweetie Belle.

“Stop being such a worry pony Sweetie Belle.” Drilled Scootaloo.

“Fine.” Whined Sweetie Belle.

Applebloom trotted over to a cupboard at the back of the room. She opened it and found the sewing machine.

“Thar’s her sewin machine girls!” Yelled Applebloom.

“These ponies have sewing machines.” Riley murmured to himself. “Maybe I underestimated the advancements of this world. Wow, saying that makes me feel like a professor at a university.”

“One that can’t even solve twelve times twelve.” Erin replied in a raspy voice.

“Hey, at least I can fly.” Riley sneered as quietly as he could.

Erin tried to kick Riley in frustration, but instead flailed around in Riley’s iron grip.

“Nice try.” Riley whispered.

Erin turned her head the slightest bit to stick her tongue out at Riley, and froze. Riley’s hat was about to fall off his head.

“Riley, your hat is gonna fall off.” Erin whispered in a panicked tone.

Riley let go with his left hand and grabbed his hat to stop it from falling off.

“See all fi…”

Riley felt his right hand start to slip.

“Shit, I’m gonna slip!”

“I found the fabric too.” Applebloom yelled out to her friends.

“Yeah, now we can start to earn our cutie marks.”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSARDERS NIGHTMA…”

“Shit, I’m gonna slip!” A mysterious voice yelled.

“What in the hay was that!” Exclaimed Applebloom.

“Whoever is out there, show yourself.” Scootaloo demanded, trying to make herself sound tough.

A blackish leather hat suddenly fell at Scootaloo’s hooves, causing her to jump back from the sudden shock.

“Jeez, relax Scootaloo.” Chuckled Sweetie Belle. “It’s just a…where did that hat come from?”

The three of them looked up at the ceiling to get the shock of their lives. Hanging onto the rafters of the roof was a strange creature that they instantly recognised as the creature that the papers had been talking about, the monsters. They all just stood there in terror until Sweetie Belle finally snapped out of it and screamed, “MONSTERS AHHHHHHH.”

“WHAT THE FUCK!” It yelled as its grip slipped from the ceiling, causing it to plummet towards the floor.

Scootaloo tried to gallop away in terror, but she wasn’t fast enough and got the lower half of her body being crushed by the creature as it fell on her.

“SOMEPONY HELP ME!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

“SCOOTALOO!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both yelled in unison.

They galloped back towards their friend to free her from the creature's grasp, but there was no prevail as the creature didn’t even budge.

“Don’t worry Scootaloo, we’ll go an get some help.” Said Applebloom.

“Hang on guys. Don’t leave me alone with this…”

Her two best friends were already out the door.

“...thing.” Scootaloo finished under her breath.

The creature began to stir and get up. It stood up on two legs and turned around to face Scootaloo.

“Please don’t eat me mister monster.” Begged Scootaloo.

The creature reacted by jumping back out of shock.

“Jesus Christ. You scared the shit out of me.” It blurted out.

“Y-you can talk.” Stammered Scootaloo.

“Yep, and I suggest not getting up and sprinting out this room if you know what’s good for ya.”

Scootaloo didn’t listen to the thing and got up to bolt out the door, as soon as she did however, she fell to the ground wincing in pain. Her back right hoof was pointing the wrong direction. It was broken.

“And that is why listening to instructions is so important.” It spoke sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

The creature started to approach Scootaloo, causing her to shuffle back away from it.

“Get away from me.” She threatened, weakly.

“Relax. I’m not gonna eat ya, show us your leg.” It asked.

Scootaloo decided to obey the creature.

“Ohhh, nasty one this is.” It spoke. “Looks like your leg’s broke.”

“It hurts.” Whined Scootaloo. Tears running down her cheeks from the pain that had caught up with her.

“ERIN!” It yelled, scaring Scootaloo.

A second creature that Scootaloo presumed to be Erin, came down from the ceiling and zipped like a bolt of lightning, no she WAS a bolt of lightning. Scootaloo’s jaw dropped at the sheer awesomeness of it.

“Grab Fluttershy’s medic kit.” He (Scootaloo assumed it was a he judging from his voice) asked Erin.

Erin nodded and zipped away and back in under a second with a first aid kit in her hands.

“Thank you, go upstairs and play my laptop if you want.” He offered.

Erin bolted up the stairs even before Riley could finish.

“Teenagers.” He murmured to itself.

He turned back to Scootaloo, whose jaw was about to fall off from the awesomeness.

“That. Was. So. AWESOME!!” Scootaloo squealed.

“Whoa, stop fidgeting. Your leg needs to be completely still.” He commanded.

Scootaloo obeyed as he began to straighten her leg out and secure it in place.

“So, um. How did your, friend do that speedy, lightning thingy?” Asked Scootaloo.

“She’s my sister, and she can control lightning.”

“Can you do something like that?”

“My element is fire.”

Scootaloo gasped. “You HAVE to show me that.”

“Later.”

He continued to work on Scootaloo’s leg.

“Well, my name’s Scootaloo. What’s Yours?”

“Name’s Riley, pleased to meet ya.”

Riley stuck his hand out to give Scootaloo a hand/hoofshake. Scootaloo accepted the gesture and shook his hand.

“Can I ask you a few questions?” Scootaloo said, feeling as curious as Twilight.”

“Fire away, we got all the time in the world while I’m fixing your leg.”