Crusadin' Across Equestria
Applebloom was climbing a mountain.
She could almost see the very top. The air was thin, and she was getting slightly lightheaded.
"Almost...There..." she grunted
Cold wind whipped through her cherry colored mane as she looked up. There was a bright light coming from the peak, outshining even the sun. It was calling to her, telling her to come, telling her to keep climbing-
RIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGG
Applebloom's eyes popped open. She was in her bed. With no mountain, no wind, no mysterious light. Of course. It was a dream.
"Ah wanted to see what that light was." she grumbled, hitting her alarm.
She checked her flank, as usual, to see if she got a cutie mark in her sleep, but as usual, her flank was blank as ever. Sighing, she trotted downstairs.
"G'mornin'!" Applejack's cheery voice greeted her in the kitchen. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah." Applebloom grabbed a pancake. "Had a funny dream, though. It was 'bout-"
She was interrupted by a loud crash from outside and a yell of pain.
"What in the hay was that?" Applejack exclaimed, then ran outside, with her sister close at her heels.
Derpy Hooves, the local mailmare, had her head stuck in a tree. A small trickle of blood ran down her forehead.
"What happened?" Applebloom gasped.
The grey pegasus just gave a moan.
"Applebloom, help me get her outta here."
The two sisters tugged at Derpy's backside, trying to get her out....
HALF AN HOUR LATER
Applebloom sat at the table nibbling on a cold pancake, while Applejack bandaged a cut on their clumsy friend. After a few minutes of pointless pulling on Derpy, they had decided to grab a saw and just cut her out of the tree. The apple tree suffered unfortunate side affects, and probably wouldn't bear anymore fruit, but the important thing was that Derpy was safe.
"How did ya manage to get stuck in our tree?" Applejack asked as she applied a band aid to the pegasus' wing.
"Uhhhh... I don't remember." Derpy cocked her head. "Oh, yeah! I was gonna give you your mail and I crashed into the tree."
"We'll, ya should be more careful next time." Applejack shook her head. "Ya got some nasty cuts and bruises."
"I will," she promised, then grabbed a few letters and a newspaper from her saddlebag. "I gotta go now, thanks for fixing me!"
The silly pony raced out the door, without opening it, leaving a large hole.
"Sorry!" She called after them.
Applejack facehoofed, then walked outside, presumably to get something to fix the door,
Applebloom leafed through the mail, looking to see if there was anything interesting.
"Bills... Ads... Bills... Oh!"
Her eyes fell upon a National Geographic magazine.
"Better than nothin'." Applebloom said as she grabbed another pancake.
She looked at the table of contents to see if there was something exciting. One title caught her attention.
EXPLORE EQUESTRIA: A Filly's Journey To Find Her Cutiemark
"A filly crossed Equestria to find her cutiemark?" Applebloom marveled. "What a great idea!"
She grabbed the magazine and her saddlebag, ran out the hole in the door, and almost crashed into her Applejack.
"Whoa! Where ya goin' little filly?"
"It all fits!" Applebloom cried. "The dream, the magazine, it's a sign!"
"What do you-"
Applebloom ignored her sister then ran off to find her fellow crusaders and tell them about her wonderful idea.