Legacy of the Alicorn: Part I ~ Legend of the All Mother

Chapter 4
The Crusaders March

Early the next morning, as the birds of the forest sang their first songs and the critters began to stir in their burrows, The Sprit of Harmony had much fan fare surrounding it as many ponies came to see off the heroes of Ponyville.

“I’m gonna miss you so much!” Apple Bloom cried as she hugged Applejack. Big Mac stood off to the side with Granny Smith, holding back tears.

“Our little Applejack’s going off to save the world.” Granny Smith said proudly, believing the bravery of her grandmare came from her.

“Now y‘all, I’m not going off to save Equestria; just going on a mission for the princess. I’ll be ripe as peaches, and be back before you buck the entire orchard.” Applejack looked rather embarrass. The filly at her feet was pouring tears into her coat, “Now Apple Bloom. You got to look after Big Mac and Granny Smith for me you hear?”

“But…” the filly whimpered, looking up at her big sister.

“Now see here missy. You’re getting old enough to take on more responsibility. And who knows. Maybe you’ll get your Cutie Mark out of it.” Applejack winked. The sisters embraced was so loving that Big Mac could no longer hold back the tide, and broke down in a fit of sobbing.

“Well Sweetie Belle. I hope you will look after the shop while I am gone. Please do not touch or brake anything.” Rarity said nervously, she was very uncomfortable leaving the boutique in the hands of her little sister.

“Leave it to me Rarity! I will keep it in the best’est shape you have ever seen!” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“I don’t know… it’s a lot of responsibility…” Rarity looked around to see if any other pony would be more qualified. Her searching was interrupted by a sudden hug from her little sister, “I’ll miss you Rarity.”

Rarity felt a lump leap up into her throat. She picked up her sister in a big embrace, “Oh I’ll only be gone for a little while!” Realizing that she was doing this in front of dozens of ponies, she quickly ended it, “Um… yes well… I will be back soon, Sweetie Belle. Take care.” She hurried off up the ramp to the ship, holding back her emotions.

“Scoot! Come on… it’s just a little trip!” Rainbow attempted to join Rarity on the ship, but was being held back by her filly admirer. If only her wing was better then she would just take off and hide somewhere. Trying to shake the little orange pegasus was no use as her grip was a lot stronger then her wings.

“Please don’t go! You promised to train me!” Scootaloo begged.

“I always say that!”

“But you meant it last time!”

“Oh, Scoot!” Rainbow finally bucked the little filly off her, “I’m sorry, but we all can’t have what we want…” she looked up at the sky feeling that her dreams will have to be put on hold… again. Scootaloo looked over at the blue Pegasus with big eyes. Rainbow sighed exasperated and wandered over. Having never had siblings of her own, it was hard to deal with another pony’s problems.

“Look Scoot. I have to go on this, mission… uh, thing. I’ll be back soon. Until then, why don’t you go off on your own adventure? That’s how I learned how to fly. When I come back, I promise I’ll help train you.” Rainbow put her hoof around Scoot.

The filly looked up at her hero, “Do you Pinkie Pie Promise?”

Rainbow placed her hoof over her eye, indicating that she would gladly take a cupcake to the eye if the promise was ever broken. Scoot accepted the terms and hugged Dash. Watching her head up the ramp, Scoot could not shake the feeling that Dash’s return would not be as exciting as she was hoping.

“Thanks for all of the advice doctor.” Twilight shook Dr. Whooves’ hoof, having just spent the last four hours learning the ins and outs of The Spirit of Harmony. Neatly set in her bag sat the four hundred page manual for the carrier, outlining all of the components and devices on the ship. Something only Twilight would be interested in reading.

“Take good care of it. It is the entirety of my work so far.” The doctor replied a bit nervous. He glanced up at the ship feeling like he wasn’t going to see it again.

“Don’t worry! It is in capable hands.” Twilight cheered. The brown stallion gave a small smile, but had the uncomfortable feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong. He shook it off as just nerves. It is a far price to be able to pitch his research to the Princess.

“Good luck Twilight!” Sparkler said. Twilight nodded and walked up the ramp with Applejack. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were already on the ship. Pinkie happily waving down at all the ponies below her, feeling completely elated that she was on the largest airship ever built. Fluttershy on the other hand, was below decks huddled on a soft bed trying to control her anxiety. While she could handle flying on her own, being on a huge ship was just too much for her.

As for their farewells, the Cakes already said their goodbyes to Pinkie by baking many goods for their adventure and providing more supplies to supplement what they were already bringing. Fluttershy left her cottage in the care of Lyra and Bon Bon who both agreed, on the condition that they could live there until she got back. Something about Bon Bon’s apartment getting to small for them. Spike, was nowhere to be seen.

“Fare well brave adventurers, as you embark upon a great crusade across the world to see lands yet untouched by pony kind!” Dr. Whooves called out. All the ponies on the ground waved up at their departing family and friends.

Twilight stood up on the bridge and flipped a switch, releasing the grappling moors that the doctor and Sparkler installed last night. The ropes snaked up with great haste into their holsters, the ramp also pulled into the deck by an automatic device. The Spirit of Harmony lifted off the ground, free from the invisible bonds of earth. The engine roared to life, the needles in the bridge flicked to max power as the Carrier floated off on its maiden voyage. The ponies on the ground watched as it climbed higher and higher in the sky, disappearing beyond the clouds.

Scootaloo revved her small wings, trying to chase the ship, but only successfully hovered a few inches off the ground. Defeated, the filly landed on her flank staring at the ground. Around her the other ponies headed home leaving her to sit in the field alone. The distant rumbling of the carrier’s engines slowly fading away.

Scoot looked up with a heavy sigh where the Carrier was last seen. Every word Rainbow Dash ever spoke to her was reverberating around her head like little flies yelling at her. But the loudest where the ones she just said, “Why don’t you go off on your own adventure?”

Scoot stood up, emboldened to take action, “Rainbow Dash wouldn’t just sit around moping! She would go off on an adventure!”

“Uh who are you talking to?” Scoot turned to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looking at her.

“How long have you guys been there?” the orange filly’s cheeks became flush.

“Long enough. Anyway, it sounds like you’re up for a little adventure.” Apple Bloom looked at the other two. Sweetie Belle nodded, “I don’t want to stay at the boutique forever! It’s time to go exploring!”

“And Big Mac can look after the farm without me.”

“And we may just get our Cutie Marks!” Scootaloo revved up her wings again in excitement.

“Alright crusaders! Roll out!” Apple Bloom led the charge back to town.

***{Legacy}***

Spike sat next to the window looking out at Ponyville. Many ponies were out and about shopping or talking with their friends. “Huh… friends.” Spike thought to himself. The emptiness of the library was enough to show how he felt about that subject.

Twilight did not sleep last night, being so overly excited about her adventure, she began packing right when she got home and read every book she owned about the creatures and places outside of Equestria. She was somewhat peeved that she could not find any information about Dream Valley or the other continent that the Princess spoke of, but figured she could write one instead. So she packed extra note books just in case. Spike ignored most of it, feeling that she was purposefully leaving him out of her adventures.

But then again… it’s his fault for falling asleep when Nightmare Moon returned. And he did help fight Discord… sort of. All he really remembered was becoming Rainbow Dash and feeling very, very sick after burping up all those letters. Maybe he was overreacting a bit. But then why would she not want him? She mentioned that the Princess only wanted the six of them to go. But why not have an extra hand to help out? Why is he to be left behind?

Having watched the airship fly over and out of sight, Spike left the window and walked downstairs to the library. All the books that Twilight had read last night were neatly put back on the shelves in the exact place where they were taken from. The room seemed very empty besides being so crowded with stuff. Over by the window he noticed the sun shining on Twilight’s desk, an empty parchment lay unraveled across it. Owlowiscious sat on his perch watching Spike, as he always does.

“Looks like Twilight forgot to put away the parchment.” Spike said approaching the desk.

“Whoo?” The owl responded.

“You know Twilight? She lives here… oh right.” Spike fell for it again. He swiveled around on the stool in front of the desk stopping to face it. Little Peewee chirped over from his nest in the corner.

“I know, I miss her to.” Spike responded as if Peewee was actually talking to him.

“Whoo?”

“Never mind…” the dragon stared at the parchment before him feeling that he will not get to write down anything for a long while. He really did miss Twilight when she was gone. She was like his older sister, always taking care of him and teaching him the ways of being a scholar. Was she starting to forget about him? Was she moving on away from him? He picked up a quill and mimed writing words on the parchment. For all his life he never felt different from the ponies, having been around them all the time. When he met the other dragons on his quest to find his origins, he realized that he did not have to prove himself a dragon if it meant being a bully. He was quite content with living with ponies.

But the seed was planted and he could not dig out the thought of where he came from. Without realizing it, he found that he had actually written words on the parchment.

“Huh. Guess I’m so use to writing that I do it without even thinking.”

“Whoo?”

Spike shook his head and looked back at the words he wrote…

Where did I come from? Who am I?

Peewee chirped again. Looking at the little Phoenix, Spike was reminded of when the princess brought her phoenix Philomena on a visit to Ponyville. Perhaps one day Peewee will grow big like that. Then it hit him. Why did he not think of it before? He quickly ripped off the portion he had written on and re-inked the quill. Returning to the parchment he began writing his letter…

Dear Princess Celestia,

This is Spike. I’m writing to you because I have been wondering about something. I mean I’ve been meaning to ask you, where did I come from? I mean my egg. Where did it come from? Twilight told me that dragon eggs are very rare, so I was wondering if I… my egg was lost or abandoned or something. Twilight also told me that dragons live for a very long time, so are my parents still alive, or did they die in some epic battle? Which would be awesome. I mean sad… Whatever your answer is I just want you to know that I will still stay with Twilight, because she is the closest thing to family that I know. Well, I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Spike

Spike rolled up the parchment and tied it with a green ribbon. He propped open a window and held the note up to his face. Instead of magically burning it so that it would teleport to Celestia, he found that he was just staring at it.

“Do I really want to know?” he thought to himself. The question burned into his thoughts until it consumed him. “What if my parents are alive? Will I want to find them? Will Twilight let me? Or she might even go with me! What if Celestia lies to me to protect me or something? But why would she do that? Do I really want to know?”

He looked hard at the letter in his hand as if it was the most important letter he had ever written in his young life. “Maybe I should wait and ask Twilight when she comes back.” He said aloud, bringing his hand down beside him.

“Whoo?” Owlowiscious cooed.

“Whose asking who what?” Spike looked out the window to see a beaming Scootaloo looking back at him.

“What the heck are you guys doing here?” the dragon asked, seeing Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom behind their friend.

“We’re lookin for a map!” Apple Bloom said cheerfully.

“A map? What for?”

“Where going on an adventure!” the white unicorn squeaked. Spikes eyes widened, “Can I come?”

“Sure… ow!” Scootaloo said, having just been hit over the head by Sweetie Belle.

“You feather brain! This is a secret adventure!” the unicorn exclaimed.

“Yeah, he might tattle on us.” Apple Bloom said; a hint of nervousness hidden in her determination.

“Yeah, but you just told him we were going on an adventure!” Scoot yelled angrily.

“Well, if I go with you, how can I tell anyone?” Argued Spike. If he can do this adventure, then he can prove to Twilight and everyone else that he can hold his own and maybe go on more adventures. The three fillies looked at one another. His logic was sound.

“Alright, you can come.” Apple Bloom decided. Spike happily ran up to the bedroom and grabbed his nap sack. He packed food, a compass, and a map of Equestria from the book Modern Cartography. He started tying up the sack when he noticed the letter he had written to Celestia. He picked it up and looked hard at it, considering taking it with him.

“Come on Spike! We don’t have all day!” Scoot’s voice echoed from downstairs. Spike placed the letter on Twilight nightstand, “I’ll send it when I get back.” He tied up his sack, lugged it over his shoulder and marched downstairs.

***{Legacy}***

“Alright Crusaders! Are we all set to go?” Apple Bloom looked around at her friends sitting before her. Their hideout at the back of Sweet Apple Acres was the perfect place to get ready for their adventure. Each of the ponies had their own bags strapped over their backs, full with some essential and not so essential supplies for their trip.

“What the heck are you brining an umbrella for?” Scoot asked Sweetie, pulling out one of Rarity’s fashionable umbrellas.

“Well, Rarity always brings one when she goes out, it might be useful. What did you bring?” the unicorn asked.

“I got my scooter, my helmet, goggles from Rainbow Dash and a bag full of snacks!” the little Pegasus motored around the hideout mimicking her hero.

“Snacks? How the hey are you going to survive off of snacks?” Apple Bloom said.

“Well what are you bringing?”

“Apples! Lots of them! My work boots and my sleeping bag.”

“Why would you have a sleeping bag?” Scoot asked.

“And work boots?” Sweetie added.

“Well… I just want to be prepared.” Apple Bloom turned to Spike who shrugged. None of them have been on an adventure before. What the hay do you bring?

“Well. I think we have enough stuff to last us for the trip there and back.” she went on.

“Where exactly is there?” Spike asked. Apple Bloom pulled out the map from school and placed it on the wall. The intricately designed map had three lines that looked like routes of some kind drawn in red, blue and black ink. All of the routes started at Ponyville and ended at a red circle around Tartarus.

“Holy cow! We’re going to Tartarus!” Spike yelled, almost falling over in surprise.

“Yep! We speck because Twilight did it, we should be able to as well!” Apple Bloom said happily.

“But… that’s Tartarus… It’s like the most dangerous place in Equestria!” Spike looked at the others who all seemed to be completely fine with the idea. They clearly did not know what they were getting into.

“What’s wrong Spike? Chicken?” Scoot said, hovering next to him.

“Not as much as you are.” Sweetie Belle said, giggling to herself.

“Hay! I’m not a chicken!” the Pegasus yelled.

“Girls! Sema’ down! We still need to figure out how we’re gonna get there.” After restoring order, Apple Bloom stood next to the large map holding a branch she was using as a pointer, “Now we’ve come up with three roads to take.”

She pointed to the red one, “This one goes around the mountains by going north, but looks to be the longest.”

She pointed to the blue one, “This one goes round the mountains to the south, but we have to cross this here lake.”

She pointed to the black one, “And this one goes straight over the mountain looks like the most direct and shortest.”

“I say we got the red road!” Scoot said. She was clearly the one who drew out that route.

“No, we should go over the lake! We can build a boat to get to the other side.” Sweetie Belle said, putting in her idea.

“I think we should get there as soon as possible and just go over the mountain.” Apple Bloom added. The three fillies turned to Spike, “What about you Spike?”

The baby dragon looked back and forth to the three ponies hounding him. He did not want to upset any of them, but he clearly was the tie breaker here. Examining the map, the roads leading to Tartarus all seemed to be equally bad; in such a way that the whole idea just seemed to be bad. Spike had heard stories from guards who were stationed at Tartarus of ghostly sounds and eerie fogs that roll in suddenly bringing with it darkness and cold winds. No guard has ever spent longer than six months at the outpost overlooking the prison. Many called it Midnight Post for the cold darkness that lingers over the valley.

But this adventure would defiantly prove that he is by no means useless when questing is involved. Making it to Tartarus and back will show Twilight that he can handle long journeys that threaten life and limb! He just wanted to do it as fast as possible.

“Well…” he looked at the three fillies getting closer to him, their eyes wide with anticipation, “I would like to take the fastest way, just in case everyone gets back quickly.”

“Woo hoo!” Apple Bloom cheered. The other two ponies looked dejected as their path was rejected.

“It’s settled then! We go over the mountain!” the excited filly cheered again.

“I think it’s over here!” came a voice from outside. Everyone gathered around the window to see who was invading the privacy of their hideout. Just outside of the tree line, Pipsqueak and Dinky Doo stopped a few meters away looking up at the three fillies and the baby dragon in the clubhouse.

“What the hay are you two doing here?!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“Yeah! This is the secret hideout of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Scoot yelled. Sweetie Belle smacked her on the head again, “You feather brain! You gave away our secret!”

“Uh, you girls know that everypony knows where your hideout is right?” Dinky said, looking amused.

“Yeah! Applejack told us when we came asking for you guys a few days ago.” Pip joyfully said in his Trottingham accent. Scoot and Sweetie looked at their friend who seemed to recoil back with an awkward smile. Spike was not paying attention to their glaring, “Would you guys like to join us on an adventure?”

“Spike! What are you doing?” Scoot whispered, “We don’t what to bring the whole town with us!”

“Well why not bring them. The more the merrier right?”

“An adventure sounds fun!” Pip said, his companion nodding in agreement.

“My mommy and daddy always go on adventures. I always wanted to have one myself!” Dinky added.

“Then it’s settled!” Spike said, before being tackled to the ground by the three fillies. As they rolled around the floor fighting, Pip and Dinky made their way up and watched the fighting for a bit. After a few minutes, the three fillies and the dragon stopped having nearly exhausted themselves in the process.

“Well, now that, that’s over. Where should we start?” Pip asked.

“I guess we should make them crusaders right?” Apple Bloom looked at her friends.

“They don’t have their Cutie Mark’s, so they qualify.” Sweetie Belle pointed out.

“Alright! You three line up!” Scoot ordered. Spike walked over and stood next to Pip and Dinky. Scoot paced in front of them like a drill sergeant, eyeing them closely. She stopped in front of Spike, “Why do you want to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

“Because I seek adventure!” Spike yelled out like a soldier in line. Scoot nodded her head approvingly.

She stopped in front of Pipsqueak, “What will you bring to the Crusaders?”

“I am a brave, hard working pony who seeks to journey across the world!” he replied. Scoot nodded her head again, feeling that he would be useful.

She stopped in front of Dinky, “What will you bring to the Crusaders?”

“I have been known to do some cool things with magic.” Dinky replied, rather lamely. Scoot looked back at her friends who shrugged.

“Like what?” the drill pony asked.

“Well… I can’t do it all the time. It’s kind of random, happens when I least expect it.”

“How is that useful to us?!”

“I don’t know…” Dinky replied, her eyes welling up with tears. Pip jumped in front of her, shielding her from the meanie Scoot, “Give her a chance! She’s just learning how to control it!”

Apple Bloom leaned over to Sweetie Belle, “Well at least she can do magic.”

“Hey! I can do magic! Just not so good.” The white unicorn argued. She had never gotten any formal training in magical arts besides a few lessons from Rarity which was mainly to do chores.

“Well, I guess she can stay…” Scoot decided. Pip returned to his post after comforting Dinky. When all was back to normal, Scoot stamped her hoof down hard making everyone jump.

“I will now recite the Thee Marks of a Crusader!” she bellowed, turning even more into a drill sergeant. She rounded on the three contenders, eyes narrowed.

“Will you always stay true to your friends, even in times of great danger?”

“We will!” the three repeated.

“Will you always work hard and help a friend in need?”

“We will!

“Will you continue to fight, never giving up, no matter how crazy the idea, until you get your Cutie Mark?”

“Uh… I don’t get a Cutie Mark…” Spike said quietly. All the ponies in the room looked at one another, wondering what to do. It’s hard to be a Cutie Mark Crusader when you can’t get a Cutie Mark.

“I know! Once you find your special talent. We’ll give you an honorary Cutie Mark!” Apple Bloom said, looking at the others. They all nodded. Spike felt a rush of joy. He may not be a pony, but he was enough of one to be honored a Cutie Mark.

“I know pronounce you, members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Scoot announced. Everyone cheered. Sweetie Belle opened an old cabinet that Applejack gave them which contained their Crusader Capes. After their bout with the Cockatrice, and permission and help from Rarity, Sweetie Belle fashioned new capes for the Crusaders and made several extras just in case of an accident. She handed the new inductees their capes who all gladly put them on. Now in their matching capes the six Crusaders were ready for action.

Apple Bloom happily looked at her friends, all of whom had big smiles on…

“Crusaders! March!”

***{Legacy of the Alicorn: Part I ~ Legend of the All Mother}***