In the Dark

It was one of those mornings. The kind Sweetie Belle hated. Her mom forgot to get her favorite cereal from the store. Sweetie Belle was forced to eat waffles, which she had to make because both her parents were busy doing boring adult things. She was glad there was one frozen waffle in her freezer, but even that came out of the toaster nearly blackened. The orange juice was on the highest shelf in the fridge and being the small filly that she was, she couldn't reach it. "Just my luck," she said aloud. After some quick thinking, she grabbed a chair and climbed on it. With a sigh, she poured her orange juice into a glass, and sat down to an empty table. Unsurprisingly, her waffle was a crunchy, tasteless thing. She barely managed to choke it down. Quickly, Sweetie Belle packed her saddlebag and left for school. It was the thing she looked forward to most.

The path to school was laden with mud due to last night's rain. Sweetie Belle trotted along it deep in thought, just as she always was when walking to school.

When she arrived at school, she was surprised to find a new student among the so many already familiar faces. But there was something odd about him. Sweetie Belle searched for the colt's cutie mark, but was surprised to find it blank. She was excited at the thought that The Cutie Mark Crusaders, would soon have a new member. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were already teasing him about his blank flank. "Sweetie Belle," said Applebloom. "Heard anything bout' the new blank flank?"

"Nope," mumbled a distracted Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle was too focused on the colt's reaction to the teasing to really pay attention to what her friend had just said. The colt didn't seem bothered by it all that much, but Sweetie Belle could tell he was faking it.

"Hey, where's Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked, just so she could break the awkward silence between them. Turning her head away from the colt, Sweetie Belle could just make out Scootaloo on the cloudy horizon.

"Late as always," she joked, with a small grin on her face. The moment after she spoke, it was time to head into class.

"I would like to introduce our new student!" Ms. Cheerilee announced. The brown colt slowly walked to the front of the class. "His name is Cocoa Cake." Nobody gave the usual applause. The Cutie Mark Crusaders found themselves clapping for Cocoa Cake alone. A slightly disappointed Ms. Cheerilee suddenly said "Okay then class. Time to get on with our day."

Sweetie Belle couldn't help but notice how sad Cocoa Cake looked. All alone, in a place so foreign to him. She thought about what it would be like if that ever happened to her. She had always wanted to explore new places, but her home would always be here in Ponyville, where her parents, her friends, and of course, her sister lived.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the school bell, signaling that it was time to go home for the day. She hadn't paid any attention at all. "What was the homework again?" she asked Applebloom.

"We don't have any. It's Friday. Remember?" replied Applebloom. Sweetie Belle really wasn't thinking today. At least she had the weekend to look forward to. Did she? Maybe something else slipped her mind and she forgot all about it and,

"Sweetie Belle!" Both Scootaloo and Applebloom yelled at nearly the exact same time.

"Yea?" said a slightly confused Sweetie Belle.

"We were gonna ask Cocoa Cake if he wants to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders," answered Applebloom. "Where is he anyways?" Their search led them far and wide across the land called school. They looked in every corner, every crack even, but they just couldn't find him.

"Looks like we're gonna have to give it up for today," informed Scootaloo.

"Aw man! That really stinks," whimpered Applebloom.

"So, what next?" asked Sweetie Belle. She silently hoped that her friends would say that there was nothing left to do and she would get to go back to her house, but no, that's not what happened at all.

"Just kidding! Calm down Applebloom," began Scootaloo. "We still have to check the rest of Ponyville, more or less." Sweetie Belle was mad that they ignored her question.

"Where do we start?" questioned Applebloom.

"We'll start at Twilight's library, and then check the area around Sweet Apple Acres, Oh yea, we also have to search the more open area around Fluttershy's cottage."

God, help me. thought Sweetie Belle. She thought searching the school was tiring. By the time they finally came across Cocoa Cake, her legs were aching so bad she could barely stand. She had to fake a smile just so Scootaloo wouldn't bother her about being a wimp.

"Cocoa Cake?" blurted Applebloom.

"What do you want with me this time? I'm awfully tired of being teased today. If you're here to make fun of me just back off. Okay?"

"No, that's not at all what we're here for. You see we're blank flanks too. We're in a club called the Cutie Mark Crusaders." explained Scootaloo

"Mind telling me what the Cutie Mark Crusaders are?" inquired the brown colt.

"It all started when....."

Sweetie Belle just wanted this torture to end. How much more could she take? Now, right at this very moment, she wanted more than anything in the world to go home, relax on the couch, and watch some television. Although it pained her very much, she bared through the story, along with countless interruptions by Cocoa Cake.

".....That is the story of the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Finished Scootaloo.

"So, you interested in joining?" said Applebloom.

"Eh, I guess," Cocoa Cake mumbled awkwardly.

"Alright then, we'll find you again tomorrow, and we'll give you a tour of our clubhouse." cheered Scootaloo, out of breath from the terribly long story she just told.

Another search was all Sweetie Belle needed.

"I'll see you guys later. I've got to go find Rainbow Dash." blurted Scootaloo as she dashed off.

"Yeah, and I've got work to do at Sweet Apple Acres." continued Applebloom.

Ah, finally Sweetie Belle could go back to her house. This wasn't like her though. Why did she want to go home so bad? What was at her house that was so important? She didn't understand at all why she felt this way. "Cocoa Cake?" she began "I just wanted to say, I'm sorry. I feel kind of bad for you. I would never be able to take the pain of being separated from everything I ever knew. You're a lot braver than I am. My name is Sweetie Belle by the way." There was a pause. She didn't even understand why that came out of her mouth.

"Life's just so hard for me," sighed Cocoa Cake. "Anyways, thanks again for inviting me to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It really means a lot to me." There was another pause This time, it was a lot more awkward. "I should get going then." added Cocoa Cake.

"I'll see you around, I guess." whispered Sweetie Belle. She walked home feeling sad.