THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS

APPLE BLOOM WALKED UP THE RAMP TO THE TREEHOUSE HER SISTER Applejack had built for her and her friends some time ago. They'd been using it as the clubhouse for their group, the Cutie Mark Crusaders-a trio of fillies determined to find their special talents and earn their cutie marks. They were the only three in their class with blank flanks. It was embarrassing, but they were determined to get their cutie marks. Apple Bloom even went so far as to use a plant called Heart's Desire while visiting the zebra Zecora, but that backfired horribly when she developed the Cutie Pox, a condition where many cutie marks appeared, forcing her to do whatever talent they represented-spinning plates, hang gliding, lion taming; too many to count.

Apple Bloom shuddered as she reached the door of the clubhouse, trying not to think about the Cutie Pox.

She thought back to the reason she was here. Sweetie Bell had told her and Scootaloo to meet here, said it had something to do with the human found outside of town this morning.

Apple Bloom opened the door and was greeted by the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders.

"About time you got here," Scootaloo said. She was a young Pegasus pony, light brown in color with a dark purple mane and tail, totally contrasting Apple Bloom, who was bright yellow with red hair and a darker red bow in her mane.

"Sorry, gals," Apple Bloom said. "You know how Granny Smith gets when she starts telling one of her stories. Had to wait for her to fall asleep before I could leave."

"Well, since we're here, time to tell you the news about the human," Sweetie Bell said.

"Yeah, we know," Scootaloo huffed. "A human girl found near the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash thinks she came from there."

"Well, I just learned that she didn't," Sweetie Bell said. "And I've also learned that she's not the only human here."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo just stared at Sweetie Bell, their jaws hanging open.

"More humans?" Scootaloo gasped. "How the heck did they get here?"

"The one human in red said something about a interdi-thingy portal thingy brought them here, and unitl another one opens-however the heck that works-they're stuck here for a while," Sweetie Bell explained.

"That could be forever," Apple Bloom quietly said. "We're gonna be stuck with the humans forever?"

"Well, they seem pretty nice," Sweetie Bell replied. "And that girl's daddy seemed to be really worried about her."

"Her daddy?" Apple Bloom replied. "Her daddy came looking for her? That's so sweet."

"Hey! I just go an idea!" Scootaloo suddenly screamed. "Maybe there really are more humans in the Everfree Forest! We should go and find them!"

"But it's in the Everfree Forest," Sweetie Bell said. "The scariest place in all of Equestria."

"Sweetie Bell, we've gone through the forest so many times we practically know that place like the back of our hooves," Apple Bloom said. "Besides, Zecora lives in the forest, and she's not scary."

"Yeah, but that's all the further we've ever gone into the Everfree Forest," Sweetie Bell replied. "What about the rest of the forest?"

Scootaloo turned and made her way to the door. "Well, you two scardey ponies can stay here if you want. I'm going human hunting. Besides, maybe that will help us get our cutie marks."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell both looked at their flanks. No cutie mark. They'd been waiting too long to find their special talents, even though every older pony kept telling them to be patient. But they all had their cutie marks; some of them got their cutie marks before they were even the Crusaders' age. Maybe Scootaloo was right; maybe this would help them get their cutie marks.

"All right," Sweetie Bell said. She and Apple Bloom started to follow Scootaloo. "Let's do this."

No matter how many times the fillies had gone into the Everfree Forest, they always felt a bit of trepedation and anxiety. While they all knew the way to Zecora's hut, the forest was populated with all sorts of creatures that wouldn't hesitate to gobble up a couple of young ponies-dragons, manticores, water serpents; heck, even the trees looked demonic.

Just remember what Pinkie Pie told us, Apple Bloom thought as they walked. When something scares you, just laugh at it and it will go away. Not sure how well that will work, though. But if it works for her, it should work for us, right?

"Humans! Humans, where are you?" Scootaloo called, snapping Apple Bloom back to reality.

"Do you think a human would even hear that?" she asked.

"They might," Scootaloo replied. "You never know. Humans! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"

"Do you really think this will help us get our cutie marks?" Sweetie Bell asked. "And if it does, what do you think our cutie marks will look like?"

"A human all hog tied with rope?" Apple Bloom guessed.

"Maybe just a picture of a human?" Scootaloo suggested. "We'll never know until it shows up."

Sweetie Bell stopped walking. She could have sworn she'd seen something on the trail just up ahead. She squinted, trying to get a better look at whatever it was in the dark forest. It had the same shape as the humans back in Ponyville. Maybe it was a friend of theirs.

"I see a human!" she cried. "Up ahead!"

"Cool!" Scootaloo said. "Let's go get it."

The three fillies charged at the human, its features getting easier to view as they got closer. The human was male, about the same size as the human with the spiky yellow mane and the large sword-one of the humans who had jumped off the train as it went through Ponyville. This human's mane was much longer and silver in color. He, too, had a big sword, but it was skinny and really long, almost as long as the human himself.

He didn't even see the three fillies come running up to him; he had his back turned. The fillies skidded to a stop behind him, just out of reach of the tip of his long sword.

"Okay, human! We're here to wrangle you up!" Apple Bloom said.

"We'll catch you and get our cutie marks," Scootaloo added.

"Yeah, what they said," Sweetie Bell said.

The human remained quiet, at least for a moment. And then he spoke, his voice calm and deep.

"You three." He turned around, pointing his sword at the fillies. "Who are you?"

The fillies jumped back, surprised. Scootaloo started pawing at the ground. "We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders," she said. "And we're gonna catch you and get our cutie marks."

"I see," the human calmly said. "So you must be denizens of this world."

"What's a denizen?" Sweetie Bell asked.

"Do I look like a dictionary?" Apple Bloom shot back.

The human smiled. "I get it. You are of this world. In that case..." He raised his sword above his head. "You three shall be the first to die."

The fillies' eyes grew wide in shock. This human was going to...kill them?!

"Uh, girls?" Scootaloo squeaked. "I think now would be a good time to..."

"RUN!" they all shouted.

The fillies ran as fast as their short legs could carry them, getting out of the way just as the human's sword cut through the air, barely missing them. They ran past him, hurrying down the path. They didn't know where the path led, but right now, they didn't care.

"Don't look back!" Apple Bloom yelled as they sprinted. "Keep running!"

Sweetie Bell couldn't help herself-she looked back. The human was just watching them, and she heard him say something that made the mane on the back of her neck stand up.

"Run if you wish, my little ponies. This world has already been resigned to darkness."

Sweetie Bell sped up, trying to keep pace with her friends as they continued to run away.