Vivian was not a happy cub.

Her dad went loopy because of some bad guy with a lot of power or something the grown-ups didn’t feel comfortable telling her about, despite her background, so for the past week he’d been gone entirely when before he was just largely absent due to him secluding himself with whatever he was up to and the two-month quarantine before that.

That left her with Shampoo, who, while an okay mare she guessed, Vivian didn’t care for how vain the huge mare was about hair and talking about opening her own beauty salon in town. She was happy for the former villainess, but didn’t care about all the frou-frou stuff.

Then there was that insufferably adorkable Button Mash who just, would, not, NOTICE her! She even fluffed up her feathers, preened and pressed her wings, styled her plumage like one of his favorite videogame characters, nothing seemed to work! Not even casual skinship which set her heart pounding by leaning on him as they played Joyboys together got little more than an acknowledging hum out of him!

It was enough to send a prepubescent hen into a rage!

In private.

Right now, she was with her friends, which meant the object of her affections and her still-immature ‘colts are gross’ friends would be privy to her feelings if she flew into a squawking mad rant. Especially in the confines of their new official club house.

Applejack had been totally cool, and gave the CMC her old clubhouse, which while initially a pile of scrap wood after years of neglect, Applebloom had single-hoofedly restored it in a single afternoon all on her own. They were all completely baffled that such a feat had not earned Applebloom a carpentry cutie mark, which confused AB when it was brought up, asking why she would have carpentry as her talent when every Apple was good at it.

This then made the children consider something; they each were already good at something, but why wasn’t it their talent?

Bloom asked her family, and they said there wasn’t a reason she couldn’t get a carpentry cutie mark. Scootaloo pondered how she didn’t have some sort of sporty mark already from how awesome she was with her scooter. Sweetie Belle realized she truly had an amazing singing voice, but didn’t know why she didn’t have a musical cutie mark. Button for gaming. And Rumble for, oddly, cloud shaping.

“So does anypony have any idea, why any of you don’t have these marks?” Vivian asked from up on the podium they used to direct meetings, it even had an actual gavel Mayor Mare parted with since it was worn and about to snap at the handle, which Applebloom remedied with tree resin and sawdust, which made a really good wood epoxy.

“Look, Viv, I don’t get why you’re making such a huge deal about this. They’re just hobbies, not something we wanna do for a job.” Scootaloo excused, getting the fierce little hen to leer at her with her sharp, vibrant red eyes.

“It is a big deal! You all have amazing talents already! What is with pony marks and being so fickle?” Vivian pleaded to nopony in particular. “I mean, we’ve done almost everything that can be done in Ponyville. Hay, we even found out there was a dangerous giant squid in Saddle Lake. We were awarded for that discovery even.”

“Well what about yer Sight? You were Robin the Hen Wonder! Why aren’t yer eyes the right color?” Applebloom asked, everypony nodding with her since Button and Rumble were informed of her past at about the same time as the fillies were.

“I told you already. I was born with red eyes. The only way I can tell if these are my Sight eyes is if I asked a griffon Seer, and I’m not about to travel all the way to Griffonstone on my own. Besides...if it turns out I already have my Sight, I can’t go crusading with you….” Vivian admitted sadly, and Button Mash was surprisingly the one to pound his hoof like a gavel on his spot.

“What sort of backward nonsense is that! That’s like saying Paladin Pony isn’t a hero because he’s no longer a member of the Templar Order! You can still help us even if you already got your Sight.” Button defended, and everypony agreed with him while Vivian’s white feathered cheeks flushed so red she felt like her feathers would burn.

*knock, knock, knock* “Hello? Crusaders? Is this your clubhouse?” Hearing the voice of their teacher, Miss Cheerilee, Sweetie Belle rushed to the door and opened it up to see the smiling face of their beloved school teacher. “My, what a wonderful place. It’s almost as comfortable as a home. May I come in?”

“Uh…?” Sweetie droned as she looked to her friends, who all shrugged and gestured for her to come in. “Yes.”

“Pardon the intrusion My Little Ponies, but Miss Sparkle has told me that you six have all been running around and doing dangerous things for quite a while now, trying to discover your talents.” Cheerilee cheerfully said as she entered, but with a worried expression on her face. “I wish I had known sooner, there are ways ponies, and I suppose, griffons, are supposed to go about these things without endangering themselves.”

“Don’t worry, we can handle anything!” Rumble assured their teacher with a flex of his admittedly strong wings, for his age anyhow.

“Yeah! We fought that giant squid! And that manticore! Oh! And remember the time we got that hydra to knot it’s necks together-mmph?!” Button gushed about their far, far more dangerous excursions which Vivian led them on in secret. Said hen was desperately holding her love-interest’s muzzle shut with a talon as she beamed innocently at her horrified teacher, her friends all trying to blast her with puppy-dog pouts, but to no avail. Cheerilee frowned. And they flinched as if struck.

Cheerilee never frowns….

“I was afraid of this. I had hoped that the reformation of the Cutie Mark Crusaders wouldn’t be as dangerous as it was back in my youth. I should’ve intervened sooner.” Cheerilee sighed sadly. “Girls, boys. I’m sure somepony told you about the original Crusaders, correct?”

“There were Crusaders before us?” Scootaloo asked in surprise, her friends all sharing her shock as Cheerilee nodded solemnly.

“Indeed. I was a member of the group myself. I, and five of my friends who all did not get our marks while all our peers got theirs, banded together to seek our marks. We sought out any challenge, any potential we had for our talents. Just like you six have now been doing.” Cheerilee said fondly, until her happy nostalgia rapidly plummeted into despair. “But then...one day...the worst came to be….”

“W-what happened?” Applebloom asked worriedly, and Vivian gulped as she let go of Button’s muzzle, hugging him in growing apprehension for what she thought her teacher was going to say, the colt, without her noticing, began to blush as the hen squeezed him to her.

“We each found our marks, of course. But...after we all had our marks, we...drifted apart.” Cheerilee finished with a sad undertone, getting everypony present to wilt and look at each other worriedly, while Vivian sighed out in relief as she let go of Button.

“Whew, I thought you were going to say one of you died.” Vivian said, getting everypony to gasp at her. “What? I couldn’t have been the only one thinking of it.”

“Well, while we did come quite close to biting the dust more than once, we were smart enough to learn from our mistakes. While I highly frown upon you all taking such risks, what is life but an adventure? Just don’t go actively seeking danger My Little Ponies, and griffon.” Cheerilee advised, before smiling again. “But, regardless. I have something that might help you on your journeys of self-discovery.” Cheerilee turned her head around and reached into her saddlebags, taking out a flyer and laying it on the floor.

“A Talent Contest!” Applebloom cheered upon seeing it, everyone crowding to read the details.

“Yes indeed! If you six band together to create a show, I’m more than certain that, even if you don’t find your marks, or your Sight, that you will have fun, and be all the wiser for it.” Cheerilee encouraged, and the children all beamed at each other.

[@]

“Excuse me, pardon, sorry.” Spike apologized for the umpteenth time to somepony he nudged past with his huge frame, Rarity casually reclining on a fainting couch balanced on his back by his wings.

“I thank you so much darling~. You pamper me so much. I didn’t even ask you to do this.” Rarity beamed down at her beau with great appreciation.

“It’s nothing milady. Here we are.” Spike cheesed with gentledrakely charm, getting Rarity to titter at her dragon’s endearingly sweet behavior as he found the spot near their friends and he laid down, still supporting her and her couch at the back of the crowd they had to cut through to reach their friends.

“Spike, I thought I told you to stop spoiling her. It’ll only make her more difficult.” Twilight teased from her seat next to Trixie, who snorted in amusement while the others, from Rainbow Dash to Fluttershy were all smiling in anticipation.

“So has anyone heard what the Crusaders are doing?” Rainbow asked everyone, who all shrugged or shook their heads.

“All I know is Vivian was very excited about it, but she was rather tight-beaked about it.” Shampoo said from her self-made hair hammock.

“Sweetie was as much silent on their plans.” Rarity included as she jumped down and levitated her couch to the ground. “As lovely as being on your back is dear, I’d rather not trouble you with it for the show.” Rarity said to Spike before she stood on her hind legs to peck him on the snout, getting him to blush and grin.

“Ah’m afraid Applebloom’s been just as secretive. She didn’t lie or nothin’ just didn’t mention more than they was doin’ a show.” Applejack mentioned as she and Zecora leaned into each other, the Twins Pink doing the same next to them, Pinkie bouncing a little while Pinka was stone still and resting her eyes.

“Oh my. I hope it isn’t something overboard.” Fluttershy stated softly as Butters gnawed on his seemingly invincible wolf plushie.

“Relax, if something goes wrong, there’s more than enough of us who can stop anyone getting hurt.” Gilda placated to Fluttershy gently, the griffon had been getting much more in touch with her gentleness with her regular anger management sessions with Fluttershy really being a huge help, and Trixie even forgave her for the maiming when they first met, citing it was why she ended up meeting Twilight and let it go.

“Shush, the show is starting!” Pinkie gushed as Cheerilee approached the mic on the stage that had been set up outside Ponyville Elementary for the show.

[@]

“Is the cowl on straight? Is the black dye shiny enough? Is the mask convincing?!” Vivian fretted to her friends backstage, her talons nervously tending to the unique shape her feathers had been starched into.

“For the last time, YES!” All of her friends shouted at the same time, save Button who was nervously tweaking an acoustic guitar and checking the fit of his cowpony hat and his bandanna mask.

“I’m sorry! It’s just, I’m not too sure how accurate the costume is anyway! Batcolt ditched the blue before he adopted me, so I was never familiar with it over his gray and black which helped him blend into the night better.” Vivian bemoaned, only for Scootaloo to back-hoof her, which was far less painful than a normal hoof to the face.

“Keep it together hen! We’re the one’s you’re gonna be beating up, so if anypony should be worried, it’s us!” Scootaloo reminded as she tugged on the tie of her fake tuxedo.

“I-I don’t know about me being the musician guys! I’ve only ever played the ukulele!” Button fretted himself only for Rumble to make him look him in the eyes.

“Go forth. And bring them music.” Rumble intoned with complete confidence and faith, and Button’s eyes dilated a bit, before he nodded, and Rumble nodded back in affirmation.

“And that was Snips and Snails and their...wonderful magic act!” Cheerilee announced, getting the Crusaders to quickly scramble to their positions backstage, while Button took calming breaths as he approached the curtains.

“You can do this Button. You can do this...they’re counting on you….” Button psyched himself up, taking another cleansing breath before putting his red bandanna over his muzzle, and when he opened his eyes, they were filled with Determination.

“Next, we have the Cutie Mark Crusaders! Performing; the Ballad of Batcolt~!” Cheerilee announced, and everyone applauded, but were a bit confused when only a masked Button Mash came out from the still closed stage curtains with a guitar, and he easily adjusted the mic down to his level, before plugging the amp cord coming out of the stage floor into his guitar for any said occasion requiring it, and he did some quick tuning to test the acoustics.

The curtains parted to reveal a poorly-made cityscape background with Vivian fully dressed and rather well at that, as Batcolt, even having her wings dyed black and shaped like bat wings, hoof boots over her talons, and a scowling fake gray muzzle over her beak, her tail covered in a short silver pony tail wig of sorts.Then, Button began.

“There was a colt from Trotham, in the batmobile he rode.

Defending the defenseless, it's to him I sing this ode.

With his hammers of justice, he struck down every foe.

Safety for our families, it's this to him we owe.

Gray and blue~, gray and blue~. The colt from Trotham, wore the gray and blue.

He fought the vilest villains, too numerous to list.

Rendering his verdict, with bat-wing covered fist.

Descending from the night sky, his scalloped cape would flow.

Those who broke the law deserve, the punches he would throw.

Gray and blue~, gray and blue~. The colt from Trotham, wore the gray and blue.

But beneath the mask, he was just a colt, same as you and me.

His true face he could never share, a secret identity.

But why endure this lone crusade, fight a fight you just can't win?

If asked, the bat would tell you, "Someone's gotta stand up to all this sin".

Gray and blue~, gray and blue~. The colt from Trotham wore the gray and blue.

Gray and blue~, gray and blue~. The colt from Trotham, wore the gray and blue.

The colt from Trotham, wore the gray and blue~!”

Button finished playing with a satisfied grin, and sighed before looking out over the audience, and feeling a little nervous at all the gawking faces. “W-what? Was I that bad?” Button asked, only for a blue hoof-boot to tug him around to see the amazed faces of his friends, who only looked slightly roughed up compared to what their choreography practice for this would have indicated.

“Where did that come from?!” Vivian demanded as she pulled off a hoof-boot and used the freed talon to pull back her cowl and take off her mask.

“I don’t know. I just...Played….” Button meekly replied, before a flash near the floor got everyone’s attention, and they all gasped, but especially Button when they looked to the source, and saw a Cutie Mark stamped on his formerly blank-flank. It was a green Joyboy with the screen having a smiley face and music notes in it. “Ohmigosh I got my Cutie Mark! But what does it mean?! I wasn’t Playing videogames when I got it!” Button fretted as he stood up and twirled around as he inspected it.

His and his friend’s celebrating was interrupted by the whole crowd going berserk and cheering with words of congratulations and applauding his song as Cheerilee came on stage. “I am so proud of you Button Mash! I’m glad that this talent show could help you find your talent.”

“But Miss Cheerilee, I haven’t!” Button countered in horror, getting the teacher to balk a bit. “I don’t know what my mark means! I wasn’t Playing videogames when I got it, I was Playing the guitar and singing!”

“Yeah! If anything, he should’ve gotten a microphone, or an instrument Cutie Mark! Why did his talent end up being his hobby when he wasn’t even doing his hobby when he got it?” Sweetie Belle asked their teacher, who just smiled knowingly.

“My Little Ponies, you need to remember. Cutie Marks are mysterious, and can be as abstract as anything. Now, you said you were Playing, right Button?” Cheerilee asked as she looked at his new mark carefully.

“Yeah! Isn’t that what you do when you Play an instrument?” Button asked, and Cheerilee giggled.

“Button. Your Talent is Playing!” Cheerilee insisted, and Button gawked at his mark, before realizing the implications, and began cheering as he pranced about.

“Playing?! You Play so many things! I’ve gotta-I have to try this with things like acting, or other types of games I haven’t tried yet!” Button then looked to his friends. “You guys are so great! I’ll be even happier when you find your marks and your Sight Vivian.” Button gushed to his friends who all seemed a little melancholy. “Hey, what’s with the faces?”

“Well...you have your Cutie Mark now….” Scootaloo said morosely.

“That means ya don’t need us no more.” Applebloom emphasised, but before they could continue this line of thought, Button stamped a hoof.

“*Angry stream of Humgonian*-You really think that?! I’m not leaving the Cutie Mark Crusaders until you all have your marks, and Vivian gets her Sight! We already said that we Crusaders would stick together!” Button reinforced, getting his friends to all beam at him, before Cheerilee moved to the mic to announce the awards.

[@]

“Ah can’t believe we won best Music Act!” Applebloom gushed to her friends as they all gathered with their guardians or siblings, Button was off to the side getting a ridiculous amount of snuggles from his mom; Tender Loving Care, so he was indisposed at the moment. Each of them had a gold music note medal, despite that Button did everything, and once he’d gotten started they’d stopped their own part of the act to gawk at him themselves.

“To be fair, Button has enough talent for five ponies.” Vivian countered as she looked at her crush with adoration and sighed wistfully. “With a talent like that, he could do anything if he considers it playing.” Vivian’s behavior got her four currently gathered friends to look at each other, missing Spike growling when Thunderlane got a bit too close to Rarity.

“Is she…?” Scootaloo asked with implication and a hint of disgust.

“Ah think she is….” Applebloom mused.

“Aw, dang it….” Sweetie Belle muttered, getting her gal pals to look at her in surprise. “Oh, c’mon, you have to admit, Button’s got charm.”

“Girls, I’m a colt too in case you forget?” Rumble mumbled to them, and they looked at him like he was dumb.

“Uh, duh? We’re talking about Button though.” Scootaloo replied, getting the pegasus colt to huff in annoyance.

“What? So I’m not cute, or, something that Button is?” Rumble asked defensively, and the fillies all looked surprised, before he stomped off in a tiff.

“What’s with him?” Applebloom asked in confusion.

“Is he jealous?” Sweetie pondered.

“I don’t know….” Scootaloo pondered, but as she watched him strut away to his big brother in a mood, Scootaloo suddenly felt her face get a bit warm, her wings buzzed, and her heart fluttered, before she caught herself. “Oh no! The Cooties! You gave me Cooties Sweetie Belle!” The orange and purple pegasus accused of her friend, who denied it, then came the pointless childish arguing which Vivian ignored as she continued to adore her crush from afar.

“Oh Button Mash...you adorkable lug~.” Vivian whispered to herself before TLC took him home. “I hope you can feel the same way….” Vivian sighed before going up to Shampoo, it was time to go home. And get dye washed out of her feathers….

Author's Notes:

I am finally back in the saddle, sorta. The song selection was what got me on this one, and I wanted there to be a sense of progression, so no "NO CUTIE MARKS FOR FIVE SEASONS" here.

It was between Rumble and Button, I chose the dork in this case.

As for where Bronze is, you'll find out, eventually.