Chapter 1 – The New Colt
“Awwnnnnhhhgh. Five more minutes Applejack,” pleaded Applebloom. “Ah don’t want to git up yet.”
“Sorry Applebloom, but you have ten minutes to git to school,” replied Applejack.
“Ten minutes!” cried Applebloom who was now frantically searching and gathering up her things for school.
“There’s some muffins and apple cider on the table in the kitchen if you want some breakfast,” said Applejack.
“No time for breakfast,” Applebloom replied galloping down the stairs. “Ah was supposed to meet the girls fifteen minutes ago to plan our afternoon of crusading.” The girls Applebloom is referring to are Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Together these fillies make up the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The group works together to try and receive their cutie marks, which are images that are found on every adult ponies’ flank.
“Have a good day sugar cube!” Applejack called after Applebloom as she left the house. The orange earth pony sighed as she put on her infamous hat over her tied up blonde mane. Thinking about all the work that had to be done on the farm that day made Applejack wonder what it would be like if she was still a filly; so innocent, conceited, and not a care in the world.
A leaf fell slowly in the chilly November air after being blown off a tree by the wind. It drifted lazily in the air, doing some twists and flips and then completing Pits journey by settling at the hooves of two ponies, before being blown away by another gust of air.
“Hi Applebloom!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said in unison.
“Howdy!” replied Applebloom.
“Why are you late, if you don’t mind me asking?” asked Sweetie Belle.
“Oh, Ah overslept, and Applejack had to wake me up,” answered Applebloom.
“Well there goes our planning!” said Scootaloo visibly irritated.
“It’s okay Scoot, we can make our plans at recess,” Applebloom said.
“Fine, but we should get going. School will start any minute and it’s freezing out here.” Scootaloo replied.
“Should have worn a jacket,” Sweetie Belle said, afterwards giggling softly with Applebloom.
“Welcome class,” started Miss. Cheerilee. Cheerilee is the teacher at the Ponyville Schoolhouse. “We have a new student with us today!” announced Miss. Cheerilee. Everypony began talking to one another about this new pony and didn’t notice the colt walk in. “Class? This is Mist Chaser. He’s from Baltimare.” Mist Chaser posed for the class and raised his wings. Mist Chaser is a light blue pegasus with a dirty blonde mane. The most interesting part about him is that he doesn’t have a cutie mark; just like the CMC. The other ponies talked excitedly and greeted him while he took a seat that is between Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and behind Applebloom. “Okay, class; quiet down. We need to start the lesson on Equestria history…” Miss. Cheerilee started and proceeds to teach in the background.
“Hey! I’m Scootaloo.”
“Hi, I’m Mist Chaser.”
“Hiya, Mist Chaser, I’m Sweetie Belle.”
“Nice to meet you,” he replied.
“Howdy Mist Chaser, Ah’m Applebloom,” she said while turned around to face him.
“Applebloom! I asked you a question,” declared Miss. Cheerilee.
“Uhhh… Could ya repeat the question Miss. Cheerilee?” she asked sheepishly.
“What forced the 3 groups of ponies, Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns, to find a new area to call home?” Miss. Cheerilee asked.
“Uhhh, umm…”
“A blizzard that was actually caused by Windigoes, who caused the storm by feeding off the hate between the pony tribes,” answered Mist Chaser, saving Applebloom the embarrassment for not knowing the answer.
“Very good, Mist Chaser!” exclaimed Miss. Cheerilee. “Class, it seems that we have a very bright pony, you could learn from his behavior and intelligence.” Miss. Cheerilee continues the lesson in the background.
“Thanks,” whispered Applebloom to Mist Chaser.
“No problem,” he replied. Applebloom felt something deep inside her, but she didn’t no what it was. She stared into his eyes thoughfully and thought she saw a twinkle of something… something.
The school bell rung, signaling the start of recess and the ponies filed out of the classroom rather quickly.
The sun had appeared in the sky after the clouds had been moved by the weather team a while ago, heating the ground and the air with its glow.
“Isn’t he, like, the coolest colt you’ve ever seen,” asked Scootaloo with her wide. The Crusaders had sat down somewhat near Mist Chaser, watching him hang out with some other ponies.
“He says he’s from Baltimare. I can see it in him. Colts from there are always interesting. and cute.” Sweetie Belle said, keeping the last part to herself.
“He's so modest and athletic. Ah can’t wait to spend more time with him,” Applebloom said, blushing when she acknowledged what she had just said. “Ah mean as a friend,” she sputtered.
“You like him don’t you?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“No, no, Ah just…”
“It’s okay,” Sweetie Belle said. “Hey, where did Scootaloo go?” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked around the schoolyard, finally seeing the orange pegasus hanging around Mist Chaser and talking to him. “Oh no! I thought we were going to plan our afternoon. What is she doing?” said Sweetie Belle with a tinge of jealousy.
“Let’s go git her,” declared Applebloom. They trotted towards the group of fillies and colts that had gathered to talk next to the schoolhouse. Mist Chaser was in the middle loving the attention of everypony.
“Soo.. Mist Chaser, do you, uhh, want to hang out later? I could introduce you to Rainbow Dash, the best flier in all of Equestria.” Scootaloo asked while her faced reddened with slight nervousness. Scootaloo idolizes Rainbow Dash immensely.
“Sure Scoots,” Mist Chaser responded.
“Omygoshomygoshomygosh! He called me Scoots! He gave me a nickname. He must like me! EEEEE!” Thought Scootaloo with a smile while she looked up at him. Being a colt, Mist Chaser was half a head taller than Scootaloo.
“Scootaloo, come on. We need to plan our crusading this afternoon,” Sweetie Belle demanded.
“Oh, umm, sorry guys, I kinda just made plans to hang out with Mist Chaser this afternoon. We’re gonna go see Rainbow Dash!”
“Scootaloo!.. But we were going to try and get our cutie marks.” Applebloom whined, feeling jealousy rise in her.
“We can do that tomorrow, this is more important,” Scootaloo confirmed.
“Fine. Me and Applebloom will hang out at Sweet Apple Acres if you want to join us,” Sweetie Belle said jealously.
The school bell rung again, this time signaling the end of recess and the beginning of the afternoon teaching. The ponies hurriedly went inside the school house, eager to finish and head home. Or, like some, attend other plans.
“Only two hours and thirty minutes until me and Mist Chaser can have some alone time. I mean, we’re just gonna hang out and go see Rainbow Dash, but maybe, just maybe…” Scootaloo thought happily.
