Lightning Rod was in Ponyville park, practicing his keepie uppies, when he spotted Apple Crumble watching him from behind a tree. Smiling he waved at Apple Crumble who backed away into the trees. What is with that foal? Wondered Lightning Rod, stomping over to the tree. "Do you want something?" he snapped.
Apple Crumble looked at him "what was that thing that you were doing?" he asked looking up at the taller colt.
Lightning Rod frowned "I was practicing for hoofball." Apple Crumble looked just as blank. "Don't you know what hoofball is" asked Lightning Rod incredulously. Crumble shook his head slowly.
"No, what is it?"
"Apple Crumble" said Lightning Rod, like he was speaking to a newborn foal "hoofball is where you kick a ball with your hooves and try and get it into the net on the other side. Have you ever played sport before?"
Lightning had meant it to be a rhetorical question,but Apple Crumble scuffed the ground with one hoof and admitted "no"
"What! How could you not of have played sport before!" demanded Lightning Rod, then froze remembering his back leg. "Well that doesn't matter, you don't need a hind leg to play hoofball,you use your front hooves. I can show you if you want."
Apple Crumbles eyes lit up "yes please!"he said, beaming.
* * * * *
Lightning Rod spent two hours teaching Apple Crumble passes, tackles, kicks and the basic rules of hoofball. He was surprisingly good, almost as quick as he or Pecan Pie [who had gained her mothers speed, and Celestia knows where teleportation.] Because his back left hoof was twisted, his other three legs were strong beyond comparison. Lightning Rod wondered if Rainbow Dash, the strongest mare alive, could win in a hoof wrestling against Apple Crumble.
His weakness was actually obvious, jumping. If Crumble so much as hopped, he would be in unbearable pain in a second. Other than that, he caught onto the game pretty quickly, even managing to keep up with Lightning Rod, who noticed that some colts and fillies were looking at Apple Crumble in awe. Lightning Rod felt a brief spark of jealousy but he pushed it down. I should be happy for Apple Crumble, he thought, he can't do other sports, as most of them, like hoofball include jumping.
As it were, Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash were walking through that very same park. The had just reached the hoofball pitch and they saw fillies and colts gathered around "Hey squirt, what's this all this here whispering about?" Apple Jack asked. The filly pointed at the hoofball field.
Lightning Rod was galloping towards the goal, eyes squinting slightly. Just as he was about to score, Apple Crumble tackled him and took control of the ball. Turning it around, he gave it a good solid kick. It flew into Lightning Rods goals.
"Looks like your son might have some competition there R.D" teased Apple Jack nudging her friends shoulder.
Rainbow Dash frowned. She knew Apple Jack was just teasing, but still. She opened her mouth but was refrained for coming up with a witty comeback when her son shouted "oh look, there's my mom! Bye Crumble!"
Apple Crumble,looking slightly bewildered at his new nickname, waved back and yelled "bye! Hey maybe we can try out for the hoofball training tomorrow together!"
Lightning Rod frowned. I have been training my whole life for this, and he thinks that he can just walk in and instantly get accepted. But aloud he said "okay!Great!" The two mares dragged their colts in separate directions.
* * * * *
"Okay sport! A thousand wing up now!" commanded Rainbow Dash marching forwards and back in front of Lightning Rod. Lightning Rod did it without complaint. It was his big day, and even if he were getting double the usual excersises, it was worth it. "Eighty laps! Lets go!" Lightning Rod ran the eighty laps no problem. "Catch!" his mother yelled throwing a beanie ball high into the air.
There were two types of hoofball. One earth pony hoofball, which is what Lightning Rod played, was on the ground,which was just fine for Lightning, and perfect for unicorns and earth ponies. The other type was where there were ninteen beanie balls thrown up eighteen to ninteen miles straight up into the air. Four ponies had to get as much as they could then pass it to another four ponies, whose job it was to score through hoops. Rainbow Dash believed that Lightning Rod would be able to join the pegasi hoofball once he was older.
Lightning Rod flew as fast as he could, so he could catch it before it went to high and he had a panic attack. "Oh ,and Lightning Rod. One last thing" Lightning turned to look into his mother red eyes "do you want to be on this hoofball team?" Lightning Rod nodded. "Then don't let your friendship with Apple Crumble get in the way of that."
Lightning Rods jaws gaped and he sat up straight. His mother! The element of loyalty, telling him to not let friendship get in the way of his wishes. "But why?" he asked, bewildered.
Rainbow Dash sighed "when me and my friends were saving the crystal empire, we had to entertain the crystal ponies. Me and Fluttershy did jousting. I couldn't go hard on her, but I couldn't go easy or else ponies might think that is my weak spot, or something. In hoofball, the second they see the advantage they use it. Remember what happened to Silver Stone?"
Lightning Rod winced. Crystal Stone was disliked by his school's bullies, but as he was incredibly strong, they could not do a thing to him. So instead they picked a fight with Silver Stone, Crystals younger and a whole lot weaker brother. Silver Stone had a black eye, a concussion and three broken legs before somepony stepped in. Crystal Stone. The bullies went to jail, one of them completely paralysed from the neck down.
Lightning swallowed "you think somepony would do that to Apple Crumble?"
Rainbow sighed "I know they would.Just try to act to him like the others would okay? You can explain everything to him later."
* * * * *
"Okay" Coach Snails looked at his clipboard "Lightning Rod, Silver Moon, Cracked Marble and Night Fury, team A. Team B, Apple Crumble, Silver Bearing,Bread Loaf and Sun Stream.Ready?Okay, go!"
Lightning Rod got the ball first and was making his way down to the other opponents goal, when Apple Crumble stole the ball from him. Spinning on his one good backhoof, he turned the ball around and gave it a quick kick, sending it straight into the goal.
Lightning Rod twisted his face. He could not let that happen again. Team A got the ball first, since Team B scored. Again Apple Crumble tried to steal the ball, but this time Lightning Rod put his hoof down on his tail,causing him to stumble. Ligthning Rod scored. In revenge, Apple Crumble nipped him on the ear to make him lose his concentration.
It went back and forth like this, until the last few minutes, where all of Lightning Rods pent of rage unleashed and he hit one of his legs to knock Apple Crumble over. The back right leg. In seconds, Apple Crumble was on the grass, howling in agony. Lightning Rod backed up, ears flat against his head in horror. He stared at his screaming friend with dilated pupils. He had gone to far.
Coach Snails galloped over and talked into a microphone on his ear. In seconds, Nurse Redheart and her assistant were loading Apple Crumble up into an ambulance carriage. Lightning Rod sat still in shock and horror. He became aware of his mother, whispering comforting words in his ear. Lightning Rod wasn't listening. He didn't care anymore about his mother. He only cared about his friend
* * * * *
Lightning Rod was sitting in the waiting area dejected,listening to Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash talking.
"It's my fault, I told him not to go easy on Apple Crumble."
"It's not your fault Sugarcube, Apple Crumble could of have just ignored it or asked what he was doing."
"He had no idea! Oh A.J I am so sorry...."
The other Cutie Mark Crusaders burst through. "We heard the news. Is Apple Crumble alright?" asked Sunbeam concerned. Lightning Rod hung his head.
"He's fine" Rainbow Dash answered for her son, shooting him a sympathetic glance. "He's not hurt just in shock."
Nurse Redheart walked through into the waiting room. "Apple Crumble is going to be alight" she said. The others started talking, so she held up a hoof for silence. "He would like to talk to Lightning Rod alone please."
* * * * *
"Hey, Crumble" said Lightning Rod softly, closing the door behind him.
"You don't need to talk to me like I'm made of glass ya know" Apple Crumble responded, flicking through a magazine. "So how did tryouts go after I left?"
"I was chosen" admitted Lightning, thinking how happy he should of have been, instead of guilty.
"That's great! Or-" Crumble frowned "isn't it? Why so sad?"
"Because I cheated!" yelled Lightning Rod, tears brimming his eyes.
"And so did I. I could of just said something in half time but I didn't. This is my fault just as much as it is yours."
"I-Its just that my mother told me that if I wanted to join, I couldn't show weakness, and I was jealous and-"
"Ah so that's were you learned to kick so hard. Jeez if that's your mother, whats your father like?" joked Crumble.
Lightning laughed. "So ou forgive me?" he asked.
Apple Crumble shrugged "nothing to forgive."
Nurse Redheart poked her head out the door. "Lightning Rod, Apple Crumbles family would like to talk to him in private please."
"Okay. Bye, Crumble."
Apple Crumble WAS kind of cool. And since we are the only colts in the CMC, it's best we stick together, thought Lightning Rod
"Bye Lighting" Lightning Rod smiled at the nickname and walked out to join the other CMC. He couldn't wait to tell
"Pecan, dear,hurry up! Or you'll be late for your first day!" her mother's voice called. Pecan Pie woke up and leaped out of bed, literally. She jumped from her bed straight into the bathroom.
"It's a brand new day!" she sang at the top of her voice. After cleaning her teeth, she quickly raced for the door. Halfway down the stairs, Pecan Pie suddenly screamed "Super Sliding Stairs!" and slid down the rest of way via banister.
"Hey honey" greeted Cheese Sandwhich, her father "you ready for the biggest, bestest day of your life?"
Pecan's light red eyes widened "I don't know? Am I? Oh no, what if they don't like me, what if they laugh at me and I die!"
Cheese tilted his head slightly "why would you die?" he asked.
Pecan frowned "because that's what happens, if you get embarrassed, you die" Chocolate explained.
Pinkie Pie gasped "is it true Cheese? Is that true?"
Cheese winced "well kind of you see-" he couldn't speak anymore as loud shrieks interrupted him.
"I don't wanna die!" said Pecan Pie, rocking herself back and forth. Pinkie Pie was doing the same.
"I don't want to have another one!" she sobbed, blowing her nose "one was enough!"
"I-it's just an expression. It's just an expression" Cheese Sandwich corrected himself quickly.
Pinkie and Pecan Pie smiled "oh why didn't you say so? I am NOT going through that again" Pinkie shuddered.
".... Anyways, ready to go to school?" asked Cheese, getting back on topic. Pecan nodded enthusiastically.
"Race ya!" she called, racing out the door so fast that the chair she was sitting on two seconds earlier,exploded into wood chips.
Pinkie Pie sighed "where does she get all this energy from?" she wondered.
Cheese raised an eyebrow "really?"
* * * * *
"Wake up Lightning Rod! First day of school, Squirt!" Lightning Rod was up in a flash, standing in military position.
"Nice form, kid" Rainbow Dash complimented her only son. "Are you sure you don't want to fly to the school?"
Lightning Rod shuddered "no, mam" he responded, imagining being so high up that everything below him were just tiny dots. He imagined his wings failing, him falling... He shuddered again.
Rainbow shrugged. Lightning Rod was only five years old now, he would grow into it. After all, Scootaloo was seven when she first learned how to fly, and now look she was married with.
Lightning Rod knew that was what she thought, but she could never be more wrong. He could fly, faster than most full grown pegasi. After all, his father was Rapidfire of The Wonderbolts, of course he would be able to fly quicker.He just really hated high places
"Okay then, well, you might be happy to know that there is a opening for a Quarter Horse in a hoofball club nearby" Rainbow said casually.Lightning Rod perked his ears up, light blue eyes lighting up in excitement.
"Really?!" he asked doing a small hop in the air. His mother had started training him for the Wonderbolts when he was just three years old. Fighting techniques, running forty laps a day and wing ups, made Lightning Rod incredibly fit for his age.
He hadn't even known about hoofball until one day he saw a couple of foals playing it. One of them noticed him peeping over the fence and grinned.
"Hey there" he said, in a thick Manehatten accent. "You wanna play?"
Lightning Rod flew easily over the fence. "I don't know how" he had admitted, blushing slightly.
The foal from Manehatten smiled "its simple here's how you play..."
When his mother and two sisters, Storm and Tornado came out to call him in for dinner, they were shocked to find ten colts in their backyard, all kicking a ball. Their mother at first thought it was stupid, until she saw how physical it could get, and was a fan in seconds. She even incorporated it into her lessons. Lightning Rod never saw those colts again, but he owed them a lot.
Rainbow Dash laughed "yep! I'll take you there later if you want!" Lightning Rod nodded then trotted off to school with his mom.
* * * * *
"Wait! Apple Crumble! Let me help ya!" Apple Bloom called, putting down her daughter Apple Tree.
"It's alright Aunty Apple Bloom!" Apple Crumble called back "I can manage!" Apple Bloom looked on worriedly as he carefully lowered himself down onto the ground.
The second he reached it, she smiled "so excited for your first day for school?" she asked.
Apple Crumble sighed "I guess" he looked down at his back legs sadly.
Apple Bloom winced. Apple Crumble had been born with a back leg that was slightly twisted, meaning he couldn't do any farm work. Nonetheless, his mother, Apple Jack always tried to give him something to do. He didn't mind all that. What Apple Crumble hated was the fact that when he stepped into Ponyville, other foals would whisper and point at him,like he was some kind of freak. The fact that he didn't have his cutie mark didn't help matters.
"You'll do fine" Apple Bloom assured him. "Hey! Maybe you can start up a new Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
Apple Crumbles ears pricked and he brushed the purple mane out of his light yellow eyes. "But who would want to start up a club with me in it?" he wondered.
Apple Bloom frowned "now you listen 'ere, okay? When I was your age, I didn't have a cutie mark and was mocked for that by Diamond Tiara. I was being bullied for something I couldn't control anymore than you can control what happened to your legs! Now I have my cutie mark in helping others and Diamond Tiara is now my closest friend.I married Button Mash, Sweetie married Featherweight and Scootaloo married Pipsquek, and we are darn happy about that. Me, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle still help others when we're not looking after our foals. But in Manehatten, your aunt has her own branch of The Cutie Mark Crusaders, and one day, we will be to old for this. Just because you are different does not mean you are weird, alright?"
"Then why does everypony look at me like I'm a freak" whispered Apple Crumble, flattening his ears.
Apple Bloom sighed and pulled him in for a bone crunching hug.
"They just have to get to know you that's all."
Just then, Apple Jack burst into the room. Her eyes fell on Apple Crumble and she smiled. "Hey are y'all trying to steal my son from me or something?" she questioned Apple Bloom smiling. "Oh yeah that reminds me, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are coming down later and their bringing Wheels and Sweet Drop."
Apple Bloom grinned "ooh yay, more foals"
Apple Jack turned to her only child "ya ready to go now Apple Crumble?" He nodded dejectedly and plodded out the door, dragging his back left hoof slightly.
* * * * *
"Princess Sunbeam, it is time for your first day at school" Spike said, peering around the door as his best friend, Twilight's daughter.
"Huh? Uh okay" Sunbeam stumbled out of bed and started brushing her yellow mane and tail, keeping it straight like her mothers so ponies could see her horn. Despite the fact she was an Alicorn, she liked to keep her wings hidden .
"Hey, you ready for the next best few years of your life?" Twilight asked her daughter, her violet eyes sparkling.
"Yep!" Sunbeam said, her light green eyes glowing. She loved learning.
Twilight had been delighted when she was able to read the whole Daring Do series when she was just two years old. Sunbeam also did maths, just for fun.
They set off. Many ponies stopped and stared at them,whispering and pointing in awe. "The Princess of Friendship and her daughter" they told each other.
It was ironic, Sunbeam reflected, how her mother was The Princess of Friendship and yet Sunbeam had no friends. It wasn't that she didn't want them, she would love to have some, the problem was that most ponies became friends with her to meet royalty or to show off to their friends. Sometimes Sunbeam wished she had a normal life.
Like right now, staring at the giant carriage that was taking them to school, while other ponies walked or flew, if pegasi. Sunbeam wasn't able to walk out on her own. Her father Flash Century, just before leaving for two weeks, a few days ago, had gotten a note threatning The Princess of Friendships Daughter. He was rightfully annoyed at that.
Even if Sunbeam did want to walk, she had at least twelve bodyguards tailing her at all times. The only thing that kept her sane was the stories her mother told her about, all of their friends. She sometimes saw them, they told her they had foals her age, but she had never seen them. Sunbeam liked Rainbow Dash the best, she always had interesting stories to share.
Still, it wasn't the same as having friends your age. And as she stared out the window, Sunbeam wished she could live a normal life.
* * * * *
"Come along now Flutterstep" her mother said softly. Flutterstep looked up at her mother. "Coming!" she said cheerfully, hopping to her hooves. "Sorry Angel, maybe next time" she apologized to the albino bunny, who nodded his head.
The second they set hoof in town, Flutterstep heard someone mutter to somepony "that's Fluttershy, the shiest pony around. The filly there is her daughter, exactly alike in personality and looks, as you can see."
Flutterstep stopped in her tracks, annoyed. It was true, she and her mother looked alike. In fact, they could of have been twins. Many ponies commented on how it was weird for her to be Big Macs foal. But not in personality. Would Fluttershy sing every single nursery song she knew in front of a crowd,even though her voice was flat and uneven? Would Fluttershy dare to stand at the highest point of the house and howl at the moon for fun? No,to all of those, no.
Flutterstep flattened her ears and gave them a threatening glare. The one who had spoken turned back to his friend "she's been like this ever since her father died."
Flutterstep froze, her blood turning to ice. How dare they? She took a step forward,intending to give them a piece of her mind, when her mother stood right in front of her, blocking her way. Fluttershy gave a quick shake of her head, proving she had heard him. Fluttershy set off in the direction of kindergarten once again. Flutterstep sighed and marched after her, frowning all the while.
* * * * *
"And I can't stop thinking about you" Chime sang to herself while brushing her dark purple mane.
"Did you say something Chime?" her mother, Rarity asked.
Chime flattened her ears "no" she sighed. Rarity watched her in concern. When Chime was younger, she had tripped and fell and hurt her voice box. The best she could do now was whisper slightly.
"Are you ready for school? First day and all, it's good to make a good impression" said Rarity, admiring her daughter's work. Her usually curly mane was pinned to one side of her head with an emerald hair clip. Her dark violet coat was fluffed up and beautiful.
"Hey Rarity, I think you have some competition" joked Sweetie Belle, watching Sweetie Drop carefully.
"Yeah,you better watch out mom" giggled Chime. Rarity laughed.
"Oh the horror! To be bested by my own flesh and blood! What is the world coming to?!" Rarity exclaimed, throwing a hoof to her forhead.
"Well, I best be going if I want to see Scootaloo and Apple Bloom" Sweetie Belle picked up Sweetie Drops and started toward the door.
Rarity blocked the way. "You don't say "I best be going" you say I must be going" she corrected her little sister.
Sweetie Belle shrugged "potato, potato" she said. Rarity gasped, and Sweetie Belle brushed past, grinning at Wind Chime. "Enjoy your first day at school squirt."
Rarity staggered " "I best be going?" "Squirt?" Have you been hanging out with Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash?" she cried.
Sweetie smiled as she closed the door behind her "who knows?"
Rarity muttered something about how Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash were going to pay for poisoning her little sister with slang, then said "you ready Chime?"
She was too far away to be able to hear Wind Chime, so she just nodded. "Great" Rarity smiled "lets go"
* * * * *
The school in question had expanded since The Cutie Mark Crusaders graduated. It now had four new extensions and a hoofball field for training.
The teacher, Miss Cheerilee wrote her name on a blackboard then turned to the fillies and colts. "Welcome students to kindergarten. You might as well get to know each other, your going to be together for a long time. Okay rolecall"
"Silver Coin? I taught you mother, you know."
"Here" a silver filly said
"Diamond Ring? Same with Silver Coin."
"Here" a light blue filly with a diamond ring on her flank said.
"Blooming Flower?"
"Right here" a light yellow filly with a flower like Cheerilee's called
"Falling Leaf"
"Here mam" whispered a light green foal with a light green mane and tail splotched in dark green.
"Apple Crumble"
"Here" a light orange foal with a purple mane and tail and no cutie mark called. Looking closer, Cheerilee saw that one of his back legs was twisted. She could of sworn that she heard somepony mutter freak under their breath. And from the way Apple Crumble shrinked slightly, it was clear he heard too.
"Shining Plaque?"
"Here!" a bronze colt with a white mane and tail, strode forward.His voice sounded remarkably similar to the voice that called Apple Crumble a freak.
"Sunbeam?"
A hush fell. Everypony had heard of Princess Sunbeam , Twilight Sparkles daughter. They hadn't known she was in this class. "Here" a timid voice spoke up. Cheerilee saw a white alicorn with a red and white mane and tail. Everypony stared at her for a couple of seconds.
"Lightning Rod?"
A light grey foal with a dark grey and blue mane and tail and lightning blue eyes raised his hoof, not saying anything. Cheerilee noticed that he seemed quite fit for his age. Rainbow Dash's kid, she thought, remembering Storm and Tornado.
"Flutterstep?"
"Right here!" a filly with a light yellow coat and light pink, slightly curled mane leaped to her hooves. Cheerilee raised her eyebrows. That's Fluttershy's daughter? She thought.
"Wind Chime?"
"Here" a dark purple filly with a indigo mane and tail croaked. Miss Cherilee frowned then looked at her clipboard. Under Wind Chimes name there was a special note about... Miss Cheerilee's throat tightened in sympathy.
"Um.. Okay then, finally...." she squinted hoping against hope that the last filly wasn't the daughter of who she thought it was "Pecan Pie?"
"That's me" a light pink filly with a pink mane,tied into a a pigtail, gasped, before somehow appearing on top of the desk. "Hello everypony! My name is Pecan Pie and I am the daughter of Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich,the bestest party ponies ever!" she announced, bouncing happily around on her desk, before appearing again beside Flutterstep. Miss Cheerilee put her head in her hooves.
"Why me Celestia? Why me?" she pleaded.
* * * * *
The bell had finally rung ,signalling break time, and Lightning Rod was finally free. He was walking down the halls when he heard a loud noise. He raced towards a corner and peered around it.
The tiny orange pony, Apple Crumble was being shoved up against the wall by Falling Leaf, while Wind Chime, the one with the strange voice, was being sat on by Shining Plaque. "Please let me go" she croaked.
"What was that? Can't hear you, speak up" Shining Plaque put a hoof behind his ear.
"She said "let her go!" a voice behind Lightning Rod said. Turning around, he saw Flutterstep and Sunbeam standing right behind him.
Shining Plaque smiled "with pleasure"and he threw Wind Chime into some janitor equipment, including a bucket of water, soaking Wind Chimes beautiful coat.
Another pony,not from their class, joined Shining Plaque, just as Sunbeam and Flutterstep raced at them. Falling Leaf threw Apple Crumble behind him and charged them as well as Shining Plaque and the third pony.
Lightning Rod quickly caught up with Sunbeam and Flutterstep. He could sense their confusion on how he had joined the fight, they probably thought he was on their side. In seconds it was a full on brawl, hooves flying everywhere, Flutterstep against the strange new pony, Sunbeam against the leader, Shining Plaque and Lightning Rod against Falling Leaf.
It was over in seconds, Lightning Rod had been trained for this by his mother. Looking around, he could see his allies losing. The third pony, a pure white stallion had some training in fighting, and Shining Plaque clearly was an experienced fighter.
In one punch, Princess Sunbeam was on the ground.
Shining Plaque was just about to deal the finishing blow when a voice spoke up "what are you doing?"
They all turned around to see the pink filly, Pecan Pie.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" grunted Shining Plaque "I am about to finish off this weakling, now buzz off."
Pecan Pie just smiled "you don't have to fight, why can't you guys just be friends" she asked, starting to sing "why can't we be friends" and somehow grabbing a huge forty layer cake out of thin air.
Shining Plaque frowned "weirdo" he hissed, and kicked the cake, causing it to splatter all over Pecan Pie.She froze for a second then licked it all off with just her tongue.
"Hmm that was good, but you" she narrowed her light blue eyes "are not." Run kid, Lightning Rod wanted to scream, run and keep running. Shining Plaque loomed over Pecan Pie and even though she lived with her parents in a party shop that had a deal with Sugarcube Corner, she was actually quite skinny. Shining Plaque had at least ten pounds on her.
Shining Plaque punched Pecan Pie right in the face. Even Falling Leaf and the silver pony winced. Even henchponies have a line. Pecan Pie stumbled back and smiled.
"My turn" she whispered. Pecan reached to the side of her and bought out... a cannon almost exactly like Cheese Sandwiches, only slightly smaller. She pressed a button and the barrel moved down to face directly at the bullies. "I am going to give you three to the count of five" she said cheerfully.
"She's bluffing" Shining Plaque said, stretching out his neck
"Five.." Pecan Pie started counting down
"Hold ground" muttered Plaque
"Four.." she giggled
"Uh Shining? What if she's not?" asked Falling Leaf nervously.
"Uh guys.. Little help here?"
"Three" said Princess Sunbeam. Pecan Pie smiled at her.
"Thanks! I'm not good with numbers"Pecan admitted,then turned back to the bullies."Two!"
"Run!" shrieked Falling Leaf, setting them all off, running for cover.
"One!" Two seconds later, the whole hall was covered in decorations.
* * * * *
"I am so glad you agreed to come to me today" said Cheerilee to the Mane 6.
"What did my filly do that you had to call all of us?" asked Rarity.
Miss Cheerilee tapped a crystal ball filled with blue and green light. "At break time, two of my students, Falling Leaf and Shining Plaque, as well
as Shooting Star, were bullying Wind Chime and Apple Crumble."
The Mane 6 except Apple Jack and Rarity stared at one another in confusion. The only foal all of The Mane 6 had seen was Sunbeam. Other than that, they were never able to catch glimpses of them.
"My son" said AppleJack
"My daughter" said Rarity.
The Mane 6 who had looked angry before, now looked outraged. "How dare they pick on my best friends foals. Why would they even do that?" asked Rainbow Dash
"When Wind Chime was two, she slipped and fell down a mountain, damaging her vocal cords, if my notes are correct. She can only whisper" said Cheerilee.
Rarities friends, especially Fluttershy, were horrified at this, giving their condolences to Rarity who only seemed to hear that someone was bullying her daughter.
"And I noticed that Apple Crumbles back hind leg was twisted, meaning he can't walk. A birth problem?" she looked at Apple Jack, who nodded.
"Anyways" the crystal ball made a picture of Sunbeam and Flutterstep appear running down the hall. "Sunbeam and Flutterstep stepped in to break up the fight." Fluttershy and Twilight smiled at each other.
"However it was three against two" Twilight and Fluttershy's grins wiped off their faces. "They probably would of have been beaten if not for Rainbow Dash's colt, Lightning Rod stepping in to join the fight."
Rainbow thumped her chest "chip off the old block" she boasted.
Fluttershy frowned "wait, do you mean they were fighting? I told Flutterstep not to pick fights unless in dire situations!"
"That's funny" Rainbow Dash snorted "I told Lightning Rod the exact opposite."
"Shining Plaque was about to give Sunbeam a black eye" Twilights horn flared. Cheerille continued quickly "when Pecan Pie joined the fight, and lets say they had a. . . HUGE advantage.
The Mane 6 gasped when they saw the giant cannon. "Ain't that Cheese's?" asked Apple Jack .
"I am guessing this is your daughter?" Rarity raised an eyebrow at Pinkie.
Pinkie nodded "yep! Got her that cannon for her birthaversery!"
"She told the bullies that she was going to shoot them if they didn't leave. They listened, but not before the cannon went off and they were turned into clowns. As punishment for this, your colts and fillies are cleaning up the hall, besides Apple Tart and Wind Chime, of course."
"So what do you want us to do? Punish them?" asked Fluttershy.
Mrs. Cheerille shook her head "just make it clear, that next time, just get help. As for Chime and Tart, talk to them okay?"
The six ponies all nodded and began discussing what had just happened with each other.
* * * * *
"Well, I think that's the last of them" said Lightning Rod,searching for any more banners.
"So... what do we do know?" asked Flutterstep,looking around.
Pecan Pie giggled "we become best friends, and go on adventures and stuff, duh!"
Sunbeam frowned "hang on, we defended another foal, that does not make us friends!"
"Sure it does! When my mommy first became friends with Twilight, she hated my mommy because of how loud of the party she was throwing!"
"Wait, Pinkie Pie is your mother? Rainbow Dash is mine!" exclaimed Lightning Rod, throwing out his wings proudly.
"I am Fluttershy's daughter" offered Flutterstep. Lightning Rod looked her up and down, then shrugged.
"And I'm Twilight Sparkles daughter!" gasped Sunbeam. "You guys are the foals that Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie talk about when they visit me!"
"Hey all we need is the daughter of Rarity and son of Apple Jack and we're all set" laughed Flutterstep.
"I guess that would be me" said a voice behind them. Apple Crumble was peering around the corner nervously. "Apple Jack is my mother, but since I have a twisted back leg, I can't do much" he explained.
"And I'm Rarities daughter" said Wind Chime, coming up to join Apple Crumble. "When I was two, I hiked up a mountain, slipped and my voice box is now badly damaged."
"Hey, you know what we need?" asked Pecan Pie.
"Please don't say what I think your going to say" groaned Sunbeam, remembering past experiences with Pecan Pies mother.
" A song!" cheered Pecan, before launching into a song about cupcakes. When she was finished , she turned to the others and asked "who's next?"
Without warning, Chime broke into a song. It wasn't very loud, thanks to her voice box, but had a haunting melody to it. The second she finished, the others stamped their hooves and wolf whistled.
"Thanks" said Wind Chime, embarrassed. "Hey. none of you guys have your cutie marks either!" she said, surprised.
The others checked out the foals beside them flanks. All blank.
"You know Auntie Apple Bloom told me stories about how her, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo started a club called The Cutie Mark Crusaders" said Flutterstep.
"Wait Apple Bloom is your aunty too?" gasped Apple Crumble "who's your father?"
Flutterstep closed her eyes "Big Mac" she answered sadly. Apple Crumble wrapped his hoof around his newly found cousins shoulders.
"Wait a second" interrupted Lightning Rod, holding up a hoof " are you suggesting that we set up our own Cutie Mark Crusaders? How? When? Where?"
"It can be open to all ponies without Cutie Marks" suggested Chime.
"We can have club meetings every... Sunday?" asked Sunbeam, looking around. The others looked at each other and nodded.
"The clubhouse Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom used to use is falling apart and rotting, we can't use that. We can ask Apple Bloom to make us a new one, she's good at that sort of thing."
"But there are only three capes and there are six of us" fretted Apple Crumble.
Wind Chime winked "you just leave THAT to me, darling" doing an incredible impression of her mothers voice.
"You see! I told you we would become best pony friends forever!" bounced Pecan Pie. Sunbeam raised an eyebrow. Oh yes, I can see she will be a very special sort of friend, she thought.
* * * * *
"Wind Chime, darling, time to come home now!" called Rarity as she and the other Mane 6 walked down the halls.
"Give me a second mom! I have to talk with my new friends!" The Mane 6 winced, hearing the small and frail voice.
"Apple Crumble?" Apple Jack looked around for her son.
" Same as Wind Chime!" he called back. The Mane 6 turned around the corner where the voices were coming from and gasped. It was all their children, laughing and playing together. Apple Crumble turned around. "Mom look! These are my new friends!They are the kids of your friends as well! And one of them is like me!"
Twilight recognized the voice as Apple Crumble, the one with the lame leg. Rainbow Dash, in particular, looked sympathetic to the energetic young foal, especially now that she learned he couldn't run. Apple Jack tried to find the sad and nervous colt she had seen leaving for school in the morning.
Apple Crumble didn't seem to mind his injury anymore.He nodded to a unicorn filly, who trotted up to meet the others.
"Hello!" she said, winking at them "I'm Wind Chime!" The Mane 6 looked shocked at her outright way of talking, even if it was nothing more than a whisper.
"I'm Lightning Rod, best hoofballer in all of Equestria" boasted Lightning Rod puffing out his light grey chest.
"Sure you are. Flutterstep" nodded Fluttershy's daughter. Twilight blinked. She didn't seem shy, in fact the way she had talked back to Lightning Rod was something Fluttershy would never do.
"Oh" Apple Crumble scuffed the ground slightly, realizing there was somepony with his mom. "I-I'm Apple Crumble" he shrunk down,like he was expecting something.
"Delighted to meet you Apple Crumble, I'm Rarity, Wind Chimes mother" greeted Rarity warmly.
"Hey there! I'm Pecan Pie! And me and my best friends here are starting up The Cutie Mark Crusaders again!" said a pink filly.
"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle will be thrilled!" laughed Twilight.
"Okay guys" said Sunbeam "meet up at Apple Crumbles barn tomorrow and we can sort out the details!" The other colts and fillies nodded and raced out of the building, their confused parents behind them.
* * * * *
"Really?" asked Apple Bloom, face lit up.
"Really" confirmed Apple Crumble, smiling slightly.
"Really?" Scootaloo asked.
"Really" Lightning Rod told her.
"Really?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"REALLY! FOR THE LAST TIME REALLY!" shouted Flutterstep, standing on her front hooves.
"Well then" said Apple Bloom, glancing at her best friends "we better get to work."
Two Weeks Later
The six foals looked in awe at their new clubhouse. Light green with a red roof and door and beautiful glass windows. It was amazing Apple Bloom managed to build this in such a short space of time.
Even Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle contributed. From Sweetie Belle, a circular rug with every color of the rainbow and a worn out couch, from Scootaloo posters and some special Cutie Mark Crusader paper to record what they have tried.The best gift was The Cutie Mark Crusaders famous wooden podium.
"Hang on!" squeaked Chime rushing out of the clubhouse, The others exchanged looks and shrugged. Two seconds later, she came back with six light green capes with a silver lining on the inside. On the bottom corner of those capes was a yellow circle with a pony rearing up inside of that.
"You know what we need?" Pecan Pie said, after everypony had gotten on their capes. They all looked at her expectantly." A clubhouse picture!" she announced triumphantly.
"Ready everypony and.... pose!" cried Sunbeam as the camera clicked. Spike made two copies, plastering one into a scrapbook titled The Cutie Mark Crusaders Scrapbook and sent the other away in a puff of smoke.
In Canterlot, Celestia blinked when a picture materialized right at her hooves. It had been years since she had gotten a friendship letter from Twilight. Celestia used her magic to pick it up, curious, Luna gathering behind her. It was a picture of six fillies all wearing a green cape and with a caption saying The Cutie Mark Crusaders Reborn.
