WHY DO I HAVE HOOVES?!

Chapter 6 The Crusaders

Lunch with Fluttershy was... interesting, first we had to coax her out from under her bed where she had hidden from the shock wave caused by the Sonic Rainboom. Then we had to convince her that nothing was going to hurt her before finally reminding her that she offered lunch. We sat at the dining room table as Fluttershy prepared the food while humming a cheerful tune. Rainbow made an offer to help but Fluttershy politely declined saying something about us being guests but in a whisper neither of us could quite make out.

A few minutes of waiting later and Fluttershy had brought out a fancy salad for the both of us as well as a few fruits. Normally I'm not a big vegetable eater but I'll have to give greens another shot when I get home! When we had finished eating Fluttershy told us that Angel wanted to really apologize this time, the small white bunny stood in the doorway a look of burning defiance on his face. As we approached his gaze softened and he gave a little bow before straightening himself and giving a smile.

"What the hay did you do to him Fluttershy? He's never done this before." Angel hopped to the side and waved a paw out the door as if to say you may go.

"Um I didn't do anything Rainbow." We stepped outside and stretched our wings taking a deep breath of the fresh air. Before getting a carrot to the back of the head. We looked back to see a smirk from the rabbit, Rainbow smirked back.

"I was wondering when that was coming, later Fluttershy!" Rainbow took off in a flash a dust cloud left behind in our wake.

'So Rainbow, what have you got planned for today?' Rainbow stopped and raised a hoof to our chin.

"Well, I don't know. Usually I'd practice for the Wonderbolts and then take a nap."

'Hey, who are they anyway?'

"If I didn't know you were from another world and currently trapped in my head I'd kick your flank. The Wonderbolts are the most premier flying team in Equestria!"

'So kinda like the Blue Angels but pegasi?'

"Who?" She shakes our head. "Anyway, it's been my dream to one day join them."

'A noble goal, I hope you make it.'

"Thanks, but if I win the Future Bolts Competition I'll be sure to make it in!"

'When's that?'

"A few days from now."

'Then let's get practicing! You have a competition to win!'

"Yeah!"

"YEAH!" A shout from below drew our attention to a burly white pegasus.

"How's it going Snowflake?" He smiled and waved before trotting away.

'Oo...kay?'

"Welcome to Ponyville." She grinned. "Crazy town Equestria." When I didn't respond she went back to flying. We flew over Ponyville circling the town from way overhead, a gentle breeze blew through our mane as we went giving me the feeling of complete relaxation from her. 'It's no wonder she loves flying so much, look at this view. And this feeling it's just so free.'

"Hey wanna see a few stunts?"

"Yeah!"

"YEAH!" Rainbow stopped and turned around to face Snowflake as he had come up behind us while we flew.

"What the hay!" He grinned sheepishly and flew away quickly.

"Don't say that word anymore." Rainbow whispers. "Anyway here we go!" Before I could say anything else Rainbow was off, she flew up into the cloud layer spinning around them at high speed. As the clouds spun with us they began changing shape to look more like a floating white pillar. After setting up several cloud pillars she set up another cloud forming it into a disk before punching a hole into it to form a ring. A few minutes of work later she had set up a homemade cloud obstacle course.

'Whoa.' Wiping the sweat off our brow she smirked obviously enjoying my amazement.

"And that is the warm up. Ready for the show?" A small cry of excitement from below attracts our attention.

"Woohoo."

"Oh boy Rainbow Dash is gonna perform!"

"This is sooo exciting!"

"Darn tootin!"

"Hi Fluttershy! Hey kids! Watch this!"

'Rainbow, let em have it.' Rainbow just grinned enjoying the feeling of entertaining a crowd. She took off, flying at high speeds as we flew a slalom course through the pillars and hoops. Adding in the occasional barrel roll and a loop here and there she kept the excitement of the fillies down below rising. A few more minutes of acrobatic flying later several more ponies arrived to watch, and Rainbow began her finale flying straight into a cloud and bursting it in a spray of water she flew faster and faster before coming to a stop a few feet from our audience a rainbow forming from the droplets. A panting Rainbow Dash landed softly in front of the cheering crowd that had gathered to watch.

"Thank you thank you I know, i'm awesome." The cheering crowd finished their hoof stomping and went back to their business.

"That was the most amazing performance you've ever done!"

"Scootaloo you say that every time she performs."

"That's because it's true!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Break it up you two. She's standin right here."

"Hey Fluttershy taking care of the CMC?"

"Oh yes we were just going for a delightful walk when we saw you setting up the clouds."

"What's the CMC?" The three fillies froze at the new voice looking around quickly for its source before finally resting their eyes in the amulet around our neck.

"Rainbow. Who said that?"

"Oh that's just Kevin, don't mind him he's just visiting until Twilight sends him home."

"Don't worry about me I"m not scary at all I'm just borrowing some of Rainbows unused space in here."

"Is that supposed to mean something?"

"Just that it's pretty roomy in here."

"Hey!" I chuckle and the fillies laugh a little too.

"But really, what's the CMC?"

"Ahm Applebloom!" Said the yellow filly with a red bow in her mane.

"I'm Sweetie Bell!" Sqeaked the white filly with a pink/purple combo mane.

"And I'm Scootaloo!" Said the orange filly with a purple mane.

"And together we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" They shout together.

"Oh, well that makes sense. What's a cutie mark?" Everypony comically fell over but quickly got back up.

"You mean to tell me Twilight didn't lecture you on all that stuff?"

"Well... no." Rainbow decided to become more acquainted with our hoof and left a mark in the process.

"A cutie mark is something everypony earns when they discover what their special talent is. It will then reveal itself as picture ah some sort on your flank."

"So that's what those are. I just though they were tattoos."

"What's ah tah tooo?"

"Uh it's where they use a needle to inject ink under your skin to leave a permanent image."

"That sounds painful."

"It is."

"Do you have a cutie mark Kevin?"

"Well no I don't. See where I come from we don't have magic so cutie marks don't work there."

"Don't work! But then how do you know what your special talent is?"

"You guess."

"Girls I think we need an emergency meetin!" The three fillies huddled together to whisper about something. After coming to a decision they turned back to us.

"We have decided that Kevin can join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

"I don't know about that."

"Aw come on Rainbow what's the worst that could happen?"

"Well okay just so long as I don't have to do anything."

"Yay! We get a new crusader! We get a new crusader! We get a new crusader!" They sang as they bounced in circles around us. "Come on we got to get to the club house!" The girls grab hold of us and almost drag us along into the orchard. A few minutes of walking later we found ourselves standing before a tree house, leading us inside they took up positions behind a lectern.

Sweetie Bell pulls a parchment out from under it and begins to read. "We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, elect Kevin to join us as a brother, friend, confidaynte, alley, boss-om buddy, pal, compader, chum of chums..." Sweetie Belle stops reading and stares at Scootaloo.

"I thought you were going to change this?"

"Oh, uh, yeah..."

"Homeboy... Amigo... blah blah blah blah blah. Oh, yes, here. ...and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader! You are solemnly sworn in, here this day, in witness of your fellow crusaders, friends, confidantes... boss-om buddies... compadres...-"

"Congratulations!" Scootaloo said chuckling quietly.

"Cool, hey do I get a cape too?"

"Ah course, we'll ask Rarity to make one for ya."

"But a cape will just be extra drag!"

"But it will look really cool."

"Eh but..ohh fine." Fluttershy caught up but didn't interrupt instead just standing in the doorway as the crusaders came together for a group hug.

"Aw Kevin now ya got me being all sappy." Rainbow said trying to act tough through her smile.

"Aaapplebloooom!"

"Aw shucks I gotta go Applejacks a callin. Remember we got a meetin tomorrow bright an early."

"Sweetie Bell, are you in there? It's time to go home deary."

"Coming Rarity! Don't worry I'll be here. Bye girls!"

"Guess that means it's time for me to go home. Mrs. Fluttershy will you walk with me?"

"Oh yes lets get you home."

"Bye Rainbow Dash! Bye Kevin!"

"See ya tomorrow squirt." Rainbow said as everypony went their separate ways.

"Guess we should be heading back too huh?"

"Yep." 'I wonder.'

"Yeah!" In the distance we can make out a faint "YEAH!" "Oh that is too perfect." I say as we laugh. Rainbow goes out and takes to the sky heading for the now familiar cloud home floating in the sky against the setting sun. A quick thrust of our wings and a burst of speed later we land at the doorstep. 'Back in time to feed Tank. Heh if I stay here much longer I might start to think of this place as home.' Rainbow feeds the tortoise and heads for the stairs.

*Yawn* "Oh i'm beat. All of that flying wore me out."

'I feel you, literally.' We share a quiet chuckle as she hops into the bed.

"Tomorrow we can check up on how Twi's doing on that spell. *Yawn* Goodnight Kevin."

'Night Rainbow.' Rainbow sighs and is out like a light. 'That was fast.'