Apple Jack's P.O.V

We get off the train, and we enter the Crystal Empire. "Let's split up so that we can find Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo," I said.

"Good idea," My friends said in unison as we split up.

I quickly run to one of the streets, and my other friends went seperate ways. One of the ponies pass by, and I stop to talk to them. "Have you seen those little ponies- you know, like fillies?" I asked them.

The blond mare shakes her head in response as she enters a shop. "Aw come on! I think you're keeping something from me. Well..." I said as I notice a group of stallions walking to the train station.

"You! Have you seen Apple Bloom and her friends? They're young, like possibly five or six years of age. They are small like other foals," I asked the stallion.

"I may have seen them, but I'm not entirely sure," He replied as he continues walking.

I'm getting frustrated. How long do my friends and I have to ask the ponies about Apple Bloom and her friends, until something terrible happens to them?! It's like they're testing my patience, but it's best to be honest when somepony asks you about something.

I trot to another part of the city, and I stop as I notice three small figures heading towards one of the buildings. "Stop there!" I shouted.

The figures gallop away, and then my friends appear beside me. "Did you see them?" Rarity asked.

"Yes. They were over there, and they seem to have entered one of the buildings!" I replied as we rush towards the buildings.

The figures once again gallop, this time into the Crystal Woods. Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle rush ahead with their wings, and they attempt to stop the figures in their path. "Well, not so fast! You've been gone from Ponyville, and you worried all of us!" I stated.

The fillies take off their disguise to reveal their true selves. "Apple Bloom! Seriously? You're in big trouble," I concluded.

"We should have a talk once we get home, Sweetie," Rarity told Sweetie Belle.

"And if I was your legal guardian, I would have been appalled," Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo, "Despite the fact that I'm not your guardian, I still feel that way."

"Seriously? How did you know?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Fluttershy saw you entering the Everfree Forest one night," Twilight Sparkle said.

"Well, we were just curious about... You know, the old castle in the forest... And also the Crystal Palace," Sweetie Belle said.

"I can tell that you're not speaking the truth," Rarity replied in a serious but firm tone of voice.

"Okay, okay! We snuck into the Everfree Forest, explored the old castle, and hopped on the train to get to the Crystal Empire!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"I'm sure your curiousity made you enter the Crystal Palace. So did you enter the palace?" I asked.

"Yes," Apple Bloom replied.

My friends and I lead Apple Bloom and her friends to the train station. "You are clever enough to sneak out of Ponyville, but not clever enough to avoid getting caught," I said.

"So?" Apple Bloom replied.

"If you and your friends leave Ponyville without anypony knowing one more time, then there will be no more 'crusading' for you. We were extremely worried about your safety," Rarity warned Sweetie Belle.

We get onto the train, and then the train starts moving.

"And you should also know that education is more important than skipping classes," Twilight told the fillies.

"You'd rather allow us to become blank flanks as adult mares?" Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo demanded in unison.

"That's not we are saying! The only way to get a cutie mark is to have patience and learn a skill. Cutie marks are not achieved by crusading, but by learning," I replied.

"Or it can be something that ponies like to do the most and are very good at," Pinkie Pie said, "I love to party, and I'm good at throwing parties. Apple Jack does her work by pounding the trees to get the apples- and she enjoys doing the work. Fluttershy is good at taking care of animals. Rainbow Dash is really good at races, and hopes to become a Wonderbolt."

"Well, I love designing clothes- and I hope to someday become an elite fashion designer," Rarity added in, "And Twilight used to study magic. I still wonder why she became a princess, though."

"But some ponies in my class already have cutie marks! Won't Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tease me and my friends for still not having cutie marks?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Don't worry about them- they're just bullies, and they will stop teasing if you just stand up to them and then ignore them. I'll say that they are secretly insecure about themselves," Rarity replied.

"Maybe so," Rainbow Dash agreed.

"You ever heard of an attention seeker? Well, those fillies are seeking attention. A reason why attention seekers want ponies to like them is because they may be ignored by their family and are never given anything a filly needs- love, comfort, and understanding," Twilight said to the fillies.

"She may be right. When I was just a filly, I used to be teased a lot for not being good at flying. Rainbow Dash defended me from the bullies and even challenged them to a race," Fluttershy said.

"The bullies from Cloudsdale may have insecurities too," I said.

As the train stops in Ponyville, we get off the train a minute later.

---

The following evening...

---

Sweetie Belle's P.O.V

"I haven't seen you for a few days, and that got me worried. I don't know how you got out of the house- and everypony was fast asleep at the time. You seem a bit tired- and did you go through the Everfree Forest during the night time?" Rarity said.

"I did go through the forest with my friends during the night," I admitted.

"Really? The forest's much more dangerous at night! A few ponies disappeared in there. There are some reports of zombie ponies chasing the poor victims through the forest and also cornering them. Also, the town in the middle of the forest may seem cheerful at first, but at night time it gets really scary."

"Apple Bloom went with Twilight to the forest one time."

"I know. She did have a bit of PTSD two years ago."

"What's PTSD?"

"I'll tell you later. I'm just telling you not to go off without permission! Our parents are barely in Ponyville, so it's my responsibility to keep you safe."

---

Apple Bloom's P.O.V

Cheerilee walks in, her face showing a range of mixed emotions. She glances at Apple Jack, and starts to speak. "Apple Jack, I know you wouldn't let Apple Bloom go off without permission, but I'm not sure how you allowed her to-" She said.

"I didn't really allow her to do so," Apple Jack replied.

"My friends and I used a disguise to fool everypony," I said.

"Yea, but my friends and I aren't fooled by the disguise," Apple Jack told me, "If the crusading missions into unexpected and dangerous places continue, then my friends and I will shut down your club for good and we may possibly destroy the clubhouse."

---

Scootaloo's P.O.V

Rainbow sighs in disappointment as she glances at me. "You have gone too far in your crusading, and it's time that you and your friends lay off for a bit. The only way to get a cutie mark is by patience and learning something," She said.

"What do you mean 'lay off?' And you can't really tell me what to do, for I'm not the little filly anymore," I retorted.

"Well, but what if one day you were crusading with your friends and I wouldn't be there to save you when you were about to get hurt or even get killed by a monster?"

"You don't need to be so overprotective. Sheesh..."

---

Hope you enjoy the story so far. Well, the Cutie Mark Crusaders don't get their cutie marks yet, but they may someday. Any reviews/comments appreciated! And also review if you see a bit of the "Story of the Blanks" reference.