Crusade to the stars - Chapter 4
Hello everybody, it's me again! So I tried to do some changes for the last chapter, but my stupid computer kept having problems with the Wi-Fi! So I don't know if it'll change or not, but if it didn't, I'm most likely bound to do so right after I post this chapter. Also, check out my picture for what the crusaders will look like in my story: art/Cmc-in-the-Crusade-to-the-stars-518446264
"Is she gonna be okay?" "I need some bandages!" "Hang in there Sweetie Belle." Sweetie Belle groaned. All these foggy voices echoed in her head, it was like she was underwater. She tried to open her eyes but it was all fuzzy. "Ow…" she groaned. Her head hurt like a stampede of buffalo. Once her vision cleared, she recognized the orange ceiling as the one in Bucky's ship, but how… "She's wakin' up!" Sweetie Belle tilted her head towards a door and saw Bucky, Jenny and her friends rushing through. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ran to her left while Bucky and Jenny walked around to her right. Sweetie noticed that Scootaloo still had her new wings on as well as her ear piece. "How are you feeling?" she asked. Sweetie Belle groaned, "Like a piano just fell on my head." She rubbed her forehead just under her horn. "What happened?" Jenny held her hoof gently, "Don't you remember? You protected me from Toadborg." Suddenly, memories washed over Sweetie Belle. The invasion, the cyborg, using her magic. She rubbed her head again, "Yeah, I remember." She mumbled. Bucky smiled, "We'll leave you to rest. Feel free to come out when you're ready." He offered. He lead Applebloom and Scootaloo out, but Jenny stayed by her side.
"Sweetie Belle? About what you saw… my magic…" "It's a secret isn't it?" Sweetie smiled lightly. Jenny was shocked, "How did you know?" Sweetie sat up more, "If it wasn't a secret, you would've used it during the battle before Scootaloo made that giant cloud. But instead you used a gun one of the toads dropped." She explained. Jenny smiled, "So, you won't tell anyone?" "Of course not. I'm just glad you're alright." Jenny smiled. "If you want, I can help you with your magic." Sweetie beamed, "Really?! That would be great! Thank you!" The little filly wrapped her hooves around the young lady. Jenny chuckled, "Come on, let's get you back on your hooves." Sweetie nodded, getting out from the covers. It took her a while to stand due to her head spinning, but it soon passed and Sweetie began walking. She came out to Deadeye's station to see Scootaloo talking.
"So there I was, beatin' up toad after toad, wind was rushing past my mane and whistling in my ears. Those toads never stood a chance against my new wings. Thanks again Blinky." The android nodded. "So then, just as the toads surround me, ready to tackle me to the ground, I skyrocketed upwards, flew around them, and sucked them into a tornado that I made myself and destroyed with ease. Ya know, so there wouldn't be any more chaos than there already was. After that, I stood proud, looked behind me and POW!" she raised on her front hoofs, showing a symbol of an orange, yellow, and purple blaster on her flank, "This baby appeared right before the toads ran off in pure terror." Sweetie Belle smiled and trotted in, "Wow, you got your cutiemark!" she smiled. "Yeah, and so did you." Scootaloo pointed with her hoof. "I did?" Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow and looked, surprised to see a pink ruby behind a bright green note. "I did! Wow! I have a cutiemark!" she squeaked. "Do you girls know what this means?" Applebloom smiled. "It means we're no longer blank-flanks!" Sweetie Belle cheered. "And we all have our talents!" Scootaloo added. "CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS!" Applebloom raised her hoof. "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!" The three high-hoofed each other and cheered.
After settling down, Bucky approached them. "Hey girls, follow me. There are some people who want to see you." He said, leading the way to the exit. The three fillies all followed confused. Once everyone was there, Bucky opened the door to reveal cheering crowds. The crowds were held back by metal boarders that lead a way to the steps of the city capital where all the councilmen were standing. The crusaders stepped out and were awestruck. Were they all cheering for them? "Come on girls!" Bucky gestured them to follow him, "You deserve this!" The girls followed, looking around at the many animal people who clapped for and smiled at them. Once they got to the top of the steps, the head councilman stepped forward and shook Bucky's hand. "Bucky O'Hare! We would like to thank you and your team for saving Genus from destruction." He looked down at the fillies, making them recede just a tiny bit. "And as for you three, the councilmen would like to present you with these Medals of Honor!" Another councilman walked up to his side, holding a fancy pillow that bore three bright green medals in the shape of rabbit heads. The head councilman took one and set it around Applebloom's neck, "For the devotion…" Then he did the same for Scootaloo, "bravery…" and finally he did Sweetie Belle, "And compassion you have shown to protect our fair city. Thank you and congratulations." He clapped and soon enough, the rest of the entire city clapped too. The crusaders felt so honored that their entire cheeks went red with blush as they looked over and waved to the crowd. Bucky and his team clapped as well as they took great pride knowing the three were going home with quite a story to tell.
Hours later, Bucky got his team ready for the back to Equestria. Though the girls were nervous about returning, they knew they had to return at some point, so better late than never. After her recovery, Jenny helped Sweetie Belle with the basic magic skills, such as small attacks and levitation which the filly remembered from her lessons with Twilight. But due to the damage Genus took during the invasion, Bucky was needed in the city for a while. Currently, the girls were outside of the ship playing cards, waiting for trip back home. "Hey Sweetie Belle," The girls looked to see Deadeye at the ship's entrance, "I need your help with something." The filly walked up to the ex-space pirate, "What's wrong?" "Nothin' much, but I spoke with Bucky and he said we could be here a while. So how about you help me send a message to your sisters." Sweetie rose an eyebrow, "How would we do that?" Deadeye walked into the ship, "Just come with me, it'll be quick." Sweetie Belle shrugged and went in. Deadeye looked up a ladder to the ship's controls, "We're ready Jenny!" he shouted. Just then, the ship took off into the atmosphere. "I thought we weren't going yet." Sweetie belle said confused. "Oh you don't understand, we ain't leavin', we're just gonna blast some of those asteroids so you can make a picture of you and your friends." Deadeye explained, "Then, the picture will go past Equestria and your sisters will take it as a sign that you're okay." Sweetie Belle thought for a second, "I guess that sounds reasonable." Deadeye walked over to his chair and gripped the maser controls. "Exactly. Now get up here and let's make that picture!" Sweetie smiled and did what she was told. Jenny maneuvered the trio through an asteroid belt where Deadeye blasted the rocks for sweetie belle to use. After a good while, they were done. Jenny steered the ship back to Genus as Sweetie took one last look at her "art" before it carried off to Equestria.
Twilight and her friends gathered on the edge of Ponyville. It was the crack of dawn, yet none of them slept. "Found anything yet?" She asked. The mares all shook their heads. "We've been lookin' all over the place, but we haven't found a clue." Applejack explained. "Oh, I hope they didn't get hurt." Fluttershy squeaked. "I still don't understand. Why would they run away like that?" Twilight asked. "Must've been those ponies who picked on them at school." Rarity noted. Rainbow growled, "Grr, Diamond Tiara. I swear to Celestia, when I get my hooves on her-" "LOOK!" Pinkie interrupted and pointed to the sky. The girls looked to see three familiar faces shimmering in the heavens. The mane six stared at the sky, tears welling in their eyes. "They… They can't be… they couldn't be…" Applejack muttered. Rarity covered her mouth, trying to hold back her wail of sorrow. "All our work… for nothing?" Rainbow asked. After a few more seconds of silence, Twilight finally sighed, "'I'm sorry girls…" she stared back at the sky where the fillies' faces still lingered, "We're too late." After a second of silence, the mares broke down in tears. Rarity's mascara started to smear, Applejack cried into her hat, Rainbow Dash was pounding the ground, Fluttershy whimpered as tears forced themselves out, and Pinkie Pie had no problem crying harder than she had ever cried, causing puddles to form around her. Twilight simply hung her head low in silence. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Mayor walking through town. Twilight approached her, "Madame Mayor," she said gaining her attention. "Gather everyone in Ponyville to the gazebo in town center. We have some unfortunate news to tell."
After hours of helping fix Genus, Bucky and his crew were finally able to blast off for Equestria. The team would miss the girls entirely, but they knew it was the right thing to do. Bucky and Jenny were at the main controls in utter silence when Jenny sighed. "Something wrong Jenny?" Bucky asked. "I'm gonna miss them Bucky." She muttered. Bucky nodded, "Yeah I know. We all will. But a rebellion wasn't a place for children. Besides, they have families looking for them back home." Jenny nodded. "Bucky! Jenny! Yee best be comin' down here! There's somethin' ya gotta see!" Deadeye chuckled from down below. Jenny and Bucky looked at each other, set the ship on autopilot, and then headed down to Deadeye's station. Once there, they were greeted by a scene that warmed their hearts straight to the core. The three fillies were fast asleep on the ground, Applebloom curled up with Scootaloo's head on her stomach. Scootaloo was using Applebloom's tail as a blanket. Leaning against Scootaloo's back was Sweetie belle who was snuggling her own tail. Jenny smiled, "Well bless my heart, they must've been exhausted after today." She walked over to the bunch and gently lifted Sweetie Belle into her arms. Deadeye did the same for Scootaloo, and Bucky for Applebloom. "Come on team," he whispered, "let's get them to a proper resting place." The three walked into the room where the crusaders hid in the closet and Deadeye, since he had an extra arm that was free, activated the couch. Jenny set Sweetie Belle over the right arm of the couch furthest away from the door, Deadeye placed Scootaloo upright in the middle against the back, and Bucky gently put Applebloom on the left arm. Jenny set a large, light purple blanket over the bunch, afterwards Scootaloo shifted her position so she was resting her head on Sweetie Belle's back. The three adults sighed happily and quietly left the room. First Jenny, then Deadeye, then-
"Dad?" Bucky froze. He turned to Applebloom, still fast asleep. She must've been dreaming. Bucky smiled, she was too innocent, too pure, too perfect. He walked over to the filly, brushed her bangs backed, and kissed her forehead. He smiled, "Sleep tight Applebloom." He whispered. The filly shifted, a small smile forming on her muzzle. Bucky left the room, turning the light off behind him. He then climbed back to the main controls and sighed as he sat in his seat. "You alright Bucky?" Jenny asked. "Those three are real special Jenny." He spoke up, "I hope they won't forget us." "Them? Forget us?" Jenny asked, "Bucky, we helped them get their cutiemarks. There's no way they could ever forget us." She smiled. Bucky turned to her and smiled back, "I suppose you're right. We'll have to visit them once this war is over." Jenny nodded, "I think that's a great idea Buck'."
Meanwhile, within the damaged Toad Mother ship, the Air Marshal was hiding underneath his desk, watching Toad TV. Suddenly, "AIR MARSHAL!" Komplex shouted as he appeared on the screen. The Marshal jumped, hitting his head under the table. He crawled out and saw an even bigger screen with the evil lord's face on it, "Why was I informed your mission was a complete and utter failure?!" "Um, uh, well, you see…" The air Marshal trembled trying to find his words. Then he remembered what some of his troops reported. Young ponies, one winged, another horned, and the final with neither. They each helped Bucky and his team fight against his armies. Why not stretch the truth a bit? "L-Lord Komplex. I fear Bucky O'Hare has three secret weapons which aided him in the battle!" The screen got closer to the toad, "Secret weapons?" the lord asked. "Y-Yes. They seem to be new recruits from another planet. I-I was informed that one took out numerous toads, another put Toadborg in critical condition, and the final fought alongside Bucky himself!" Komplex's face went blank until a heinous smile appeared. "If Bucky had recruited new allies, they are our enemies. Track down the Righteous Indignation! I want you to find out more about these new recruits." "How… How do we do that?" Air Marshal shook. "Steal them from Bucky and take them to a slave factory. That pesky rabbit already lost his planet, why not take his new friends as well?"