It was another bright and sunny day in Ponyville. Celestia’s gift of constant sunny days was being enjoyed by all who went about their daily lives. The bell at Ponyville school sounded it was lunch, with three hungry Crusaders looking to fill their hungry stomachs with food.

All three agreed a nice big oak tree would be a wonderful location for today’s lunch break. With a smile on their faces three little fillies made for the biggest tree in the school. “This spot looks nice for lunch,” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“An’ guess what girls?” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle gave Apple Bloom their full attention, hoping it would be a nice surprise. “Applejack gave me some apple juice fer y’all ta enjoy,” she announced with a huge smile on her face.

“Apple juice, sweet! Your sister makes the best apple juice,” Sweetie Belle chirped, licking her lips at the thought of some tasty juice.

Apple Bloom unpacked her saddle bag, pulling out a big bottle of the tasty juice her sister was famed for making. The other Crusaders also got their lunch out and proceeded to start eating.

“So, we going to start this meeting?” Scootaloo asked impatiently.

Sweetie Belle got her notepad and pencil to take down notes. She titled the top, “Crusading Ideas”, and made a list of dot points, ready to write new ideas down. “So, who got ideas?” She was hoping either of her friends had some, as she was drawing a blank on fresh ideas for crusading.

All three Crusaders scratched their heads. Per normal with planning sessions, they had no new or fresh ideas that didn’t enter the crazy category. “Come on y’all, we need ta think of somethin’ new ta try.” Apple Bloom hoped her words would inspire some ideas from her friends. She certainly wasn’t going to have any new ones.

For the next fifthteen minutes, all three Crusaders could only slowly eat their lunch, scratch their heads and only come up with half-brained ideas that would not really be viable. All three drooped down on their bellies, saddened by the fact not a spec of inspiration could come their way.

“Why do you three look so down?”

Three Crusaders looked up and saw a cream-coated filly with a curly orange mane. “Hey…Twist,” all three sobbed in union. They couldn’t even lift their heads high enough to look her in the eye.

Twist now feeling the awkwardness was lost for words. “Hey…come on…what’s wrong?” she asked, hoping to dispel the silence that befell the Crusaders.

Sweetie Belle stood up and in a huff of frustration, as she flung her forelegs around in the air. “We can’t get any new ideas for our cutie marks! We been at this for nearly two years now, and…nothing!” she yelled out, finishing with a raspberry.

“That bad, huh?” Twist asked, already knowing full well from their expressions she was right on the money. All three nodded together, drawing circles in the ground with their hooves.

Twist thought for a moment. She wanted to help, she really did. But her afternoon activity involved cooking some sweets. She knew from past experience that the Crusaders have already tried that. Twist even remembered the last time they tried. The kitchen was in need of remodelling after those three had finished with it. “I know you three have tried before, but would like to help me make a few sweets? I’m sure they will make you smile!” she let out with a little too much energy, more than the atmosphere around her would allow.

“We would love ta, Twist. Really we would. But y’all member what happened last time, right?” Bloom asked, the rest nodding in agreement with her. Wasn’t just Twist that remembered the last time they all had a cooking session together.

Twist let out a depressed sigh. “Oh come on now, Twist. Cheer up. I know we’re busy a lot of the time with Crusading, but how about we make it up to you by letting you join us on a few crusades?” Sweetie Belle offered, trying her best to cheer Twist up.

“I would love to, guys, but after that cooking incident, Miss Grim Order has told me I’m not allowed to hang around you lot anymore unless she is supervising.” Twist let a few tears drop. To her, Miss Grim Order was the worst.

Sweetie Belle especially felt sorry for Twist. “Well maybe we could just come for a visit…”

Sweetie Belle was cut off by a surprise outburst from Apple Bloom. “No, we can’t Sweetie!” she yelled. Apple Bloom turned with a saddened face towards Twist. “Ah’m mighty sorry Twist, but me an’ the girls have chores ta do back on the farm befo’ we can do any crusadin’ this afternoon.”

“What, we do?” Scootaloo groaned.

Apple Bloom gave her orange friend an unhappy stare. “Yer not weasellin’ yer way outta this one, Scoots. Ya promised ta help me an’ Sweetie get the apple buckets for Scribble…‘member?” she threatened, closing the distance between herself and Scootaloo.

Twist was a little confused at this name. “Who is Scribble?”

“That’s right, ya probably don’t know o’ him yet,” Bloom explained. She took a seat on the grass, taking another bite of her apple. “He moved in wit’ ma family a few weeks ago so my sis could help him sort out his life. She brought him from somewhere down south…Err, where was it again…?” Apple Bloom trailed off trying to think of the location.

“Trot About Creek, wasn’t it?” Sweetie suggested.

“Ya, that’s the one,” Apple Bloom chirped up.

Scootaloo chimed into the conversation with a question of her own. “Oh, wasn’t he the same new pony who ran away from Pinkie’s party?”

“Ya, that’s right Scoots. He was that same new…” Apple Bloom froze in place and mid speech. “New…new…new…” She slapped herself over the head with a forehoof. “Oi girls! He is a new pony! A NEW PONY!” she yelled at her fellow Crusaders.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and even Twist looked confused. “Ya, so what about it, Apple Bloom?” Scootaloo asked, impatiently waiting for Apple Bloom to spit it out.

“Don’t ya two get it? He is a new pony in town, with a cutie mark we ain’t seen befo’!” Apple Bloom revealed, smirking.

In an instant Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo caught onto what Apple Bloom was saying. “WE CAN ASK HIM ABOUT HIS CUTIE MARK!!!” all three Crusaders screamed at once. Twist was literally blown back by the force of their combined determination.

“Why didn’t we think of this before?!” Sweetie Belle declared.

“I know, right? Let’s hurry right after school is over and ask him,” Scootaloo agreed.

“So if we’re all agreed girls?” Apple Bloom raised a forehoof towards the middle of the trio. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo added a forehoof each to the pile. “One, Two, Three.”

“Cutie Mark Crusaders, Go!” all three yelled in union. The school bell to finish lunch signalling its agreement.

“Come on girls! One more session o’ class, than our new cutie marks await!” Apple Bloom announced running into class, followed by her two friends. Twist was left alone, simply stumped. “Oi, hurry up, Twist, o’ ya’ll run late fer class!” she yelled back at Twist.

It has been a week since the tragic events of Pinkie’s surprise party. Things on Sweet Apple Acres and around Ponyville have begun to settle down, with life returning to normal. Applejack, Big Mac and Scribble were working the orchard as per usual during harvest season.

“Ah jus’ don’t know, Mac. It’s like he is a soulless machine again. Anytime he gets hurt, he turns away any help o’ communication wit’ everypony.” Applejack pointed a hoof towards the Scribble machine working in the field over yonder. “Ah plum outta ideas ta help him. Jus’ what can we do, Mac?” she asked, hoping, praying her brother would have an answer.

Big Mac pondered the idea while watching Scribble work away an apple tree. “Ya’ll have ta find out what is wrong wit’ him. Until he opens up ta somepony, not much we can do. We will jus’ have ta be there fer him till he is ready, AJ.”

Scribble, as per his machine ways, just bucked, picked up left overs and took apples to the barn, then repeated the process over and over again. Scribble had spent the whole week since the party in silence. He ate in solitude and could barely sleep. Who knows where Scribble was drawing energy from to apple buck, but he wouldn’t let up, working from dawn ‘til dusk every day.

Applejack was fed up of Scribble not responding to any form of help. The only thing he did respond to was orders to work and sometimes break times if he was feeling really hungry. Applejack marched right up to Scribble, who was soullessly working another apple tree. “Oi Scribble, ya need ta tell me what’s goin’ on, an’ ya need ta do it right now!” she ordered, holding his face up to hers and yelling at him muzzle-to-muzzle.

Scribble’s expression was unchanged, simply giving Applejack a blank stare. Nopony was home in Scribble’s soul. No feeling, no personality, no identity what so ever was to be found in him, just a soulless lifeless machine.

Applejack had reached her limit with Scribble’s despondence. She grabbed the him by the neck and shook the lifeless machine, trying to bring any form of life back into him. “Ah’m sorry Ah can’t help ya! Ahm’ sorry that everythin’ ain’t turned out the best!” She continued to shake Scribble violently now. Tears rained down from her eyes. “DAM IT, SCRIBBLE! HOW CAN AH KEEP YER PROMISE IF YA NO LET ME IN!!!” she screamed out at the top of her lungs, still shaking him for all he was worth.

A red hoof grabbed Applejack on the shoulder and pulled her of Scribble. “Applejack, that’s enough!” her brother commanded.

Applejack, still crying, settled down. She again directed her attention at Scribble. “Ah’m sorry, Scribble. Ah jus’ lost control o’ ma self fer a moment.”

Scribble was also letting out the tears, they fell from his face like a waterfall in monsoon season. He gave Applejack a saddened look for an answer before looking away to the left. Scribble had no strength left to look Applejack in the eyes. More than could be said was exchanged between Applejack and Scribble with a simple look from the heart. Scribble was lost to the world, lost from any form of salvation.

Scribble slowly trotted towards the nearest apple tree and commenced his apple bucking duties again. Applejack and Big Mac returned to the farm house depressed and defeated. Maybe time could help Scribble out of his drought.

A storm of dust clouds were on the horizon, they closed in on Sweet Apple Acres with such speed and ferocity. Three speeding forms of ponies appeared from within the cloud, getting ever closer to the gates of the farm. It was just after three in the afternoon and only three ponies could’ve made this much of a fuss to get back to the farm on such demand.

Applejack looked towards the gate to see the incoming storm. “What in tarnation is that?” But it was too late, before she could size up the incoming storm it passed right by her, spinning her till she was dizzy as it steamed pass like a train with no brakes.

After a few seconds she finally regained her bearings and yelled at the offending dust cloud. “APPLE BLOOM!” The dust cloud came to a stop in front of the barn. Three frightened fillies slowly turned around. “Apple Bloom! What the hay y’all doin’ chargin’ right inta the barn?” she demanded, stomping a forehoof on the ground.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders all froze in their hooves, uncertain what Applejack would do to them. “We’re sorry, sis! We got a great idea fer gettin’ our marks is all,” Apple Bloom revealed.

The older sibling let out a sigh. “All this effort over a cutie mark, shoulda known. Jus’ don’t forget ta do yer chores first.”

“We won’t, sis! Our chores part o’ the marks,” Bloom declared. Applejack looked confused, but decided against questioning their motives. It was maybe for the better she lived in denial of knowing the logic that drove those three fillies.

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle bolted into the shed without a second to spare, and with a blur, were gone again, buckets in tow as they made for the orchard. “One day Ah must ‘member ta ask that little filly what goes through her head sometimes.”

“Hurry girls! Come on, hurry up”, Scootaloo demanded impatiently.

“We’re hurrying, we’re hurrying, Scoots,” Sweetie managed to let out, almost out of breath from constant galloping and now hauling apple buckets.

“Come on, girls! How badly ya want those marks?” Bloom encouraged, all three finding new strength and resolve to get their cutie marks.

Scribble was still out in the field bucking apple trees when a dust cloud ascended on him. He was shocked, missing his next buck on the apple tree. He stood there speechless, falling over from pure shock. “What the heck?”

The dust cloud dissipated just in front of Scribble with three excited fillies replacing the once-approaching dust cloud. “Oh, Apple Bloom, don’t make me lose my butterflies over something as simple as chores, please,” Scribble begged the fillies.

Sweetie Belle looked confused at Scribble’s comment. “Lose your butterflies? What does that mean?”

Scribble paused to catch his breath a second. “It means I was scared silly. It’s native slang from my part of Equestria,” he explained. Scribble took a seat on the grass and shook his head along with the last effects of being scared half to death by the Crusaders. “Now what do ya girls need, I’m a tad busy here, as ya can see.”

“We have chores ta deliver ya some more buckets fer buckin’ apples,” Bloom said with way to much excitement, making Scribble wonder what, if any, motives the girls truly had.

“Well…thanks girls, I can take it from here. Cheers for the help.” With his thanks given, Scribbled turned back to the apple tree to continue his distracting labour. He bucked another apple tree and apples fell in all their glory into the buckets prepared for them. But something was amiss. Scribble looked back around and saw three fillies sporting smiles, still sitting there like they were waiting for something.

He gave the girls an odd look. ‘Those three are way too excited. What’s gotten into them, I wonder?’ Scribble was so worried about the girls, he forgot he was bucking apple trees, but some apples landing on his head soon brought him back to Equestria. The three fillies fell over laughing at poor Scribble who had a new lump to his head. “Okay girls ya can stop laughing now.”

“We’re sorry Scribble, it was jus’ so funny!” Bloom snickered, slowly coming to a stop with the laughing onslaught. Her friends were not as fast to stop, and got a swift kick to the flank each from Apple Bloom.

“So, what do ya fillies want? Ya wouldn’t just hang round to watch me buck apple trees.” Scribble trotted up to the girls and parked his rump on the grass in front of them. Giving the fillies a weak smile, he tried his best to be normal around them. They were after all, just little girls.

“Ah’m sorry ta ask, Scribble, but we want jus’ a little favour please?” Bloom asked. The girls all dawned puppy-dog eyes and let Scribble have a full does of cuteness. Scribble cringed at the six gazing puppy-dog eyes staring him right in the face. “Could ya please tell us how ya got yer cutie mark, please?” she begged, pouring on all the cuteness she could muster.

“My cutie mark?” he sighed. Scribble got back up and headed back to the apple trees to continue his work. “Sorry girls, I’m way too busy to…”

Scribble was cut off by three begging fillies.

“PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE SSSCCCRRRIIIBBBLLLEEE!!!” all three fillies begged together.

“… But…”

“PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE!!!” with every last bit of cuteness they could muster.

Scribble let out a sigh of defeat, kids were one weakness he could never say no to. Making them happy was just one thing in his life he had to do. “Okay, okay girls, ya win. Just please, save my bark from those eyes of yours,” he begged the fillies, finding it hard to even look them in the eyes.

The Crusaders jumped up and down with pure excitement. “See Ah told ya it would work girls,” Bloom exclaimed. The fillies gave each other a huge group high-hoof for their efforts.

“Ya all had this planned from the start, didn’t ya?” Scribble deadpanned, annoyed three fillies got the better of him.

“Yup, that’s right. An’ it worked like a charm,” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“Cute kids, the only weakness of Scribble Script. Fine. Take a seat, little ones. I’ll explain my mark for y’all,” Scribble sobbed in defeat, patting his cutie mark as an indication of their prize.

The fillies took front-row seats as Scribble turned back around and got comfortable on the grass. He faced sideways so the girls would have a clear picture of his mark. His mark, the full proof of his storytelling and writing skills, engraved on his flank for all to see. Giving his cutie mark a rub to make it shine, “Where should I start?”

The fillies waited with baited breath, clinging to every word Scribble said with the greatest attention and anticipation. This was it, a chance for new ideas and inspiration, a cutie mark like none they had laid eyes on before was right before them. “This fountain pen represents my abilities as a skilled writer, while this book tells of my love for reading and prowess to tell amazing and thrilling stories.” Scribble had a little pride in him explaining his mark, despite the sad state he was in. Just for a small moment, he could forget his troubles and think of something else.

Six pairs of eyes all turned to light bulbs, the Crusaders giving each other knowing glances. They all turned towards Scribble with cunning looks and cheeky faces, all thinking the same idea. ‘This can’t be good,’ Scribble gulped, a little paranoid of what the fillies were planning.

“Tell us a story!” they yelled.

Scribble put his forehooves up in defence, shaking them wildly. “Hey now, I don’t got time for that! I got work that has to be completed here,” he explained, pointing a hoof towards the unbucked apple trees.

All impatient CMC members jumped up and down in protest. “Story, story, story!” they screamed.

“Come on girls, be fair. I need to..”

“Story, story, story!” they continued to chant, ignoring and resisting any excuse Scribble offered up. Scribble tried a few more excuses, none of which worked in the least bit.

“But girls…”

“PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE!!!” they begged, putting on the cute faces and puppy-dog eyes again.

Scribble was completely defeated, his back against the wall and out of options. He couldn’t say no to such a cute group of little fillies pouring on the charm like they were. “Fine,” he admitted with defeat.

Again the CMC members were victories. They danced around in a little victory dance to celebrate.

“Gather ‘round little ones, an’ I will tell ya the thrillin’ tale of Tremor Force, the underground explorer who found the lost temple of Hoof Rock.” The fillies gathered around and got comfy, this was going to be a tale they would not soon forget.

Tremor Force was a proud member of the Venture League and a veteran underground explorer. The Venture League was an experienced group or explorers and adventurers from all over Equestria and beyond. Their members would be hired out for jobs that normal ponies would have no chance of doing, from escorting travellers through the dangerous Ever Free Forest, to finding lost cities and civilizations. Nothing was impossible for these hearty ponies.

Tremor Force was the best archaeologist the league had. Plus, being an Earth Pony, she was also the premier underground explorer for the league. If anypony could handle an underground mission, it was her.

This particular adventure, she was following some clues to what could be the lost ruins of Hoof Rock. Said to be an ancient Earth Pony temple from way back before Equestria was even formed, legend has it that it holds untold amounts of Earth Pony history and information. Anypony who could find it would be the crown jewel of explorers everywhere.

Tremor’s lead had her poking about caverns deep under Equestria, rumoured to go on for ever. They were known as the Lost Caverns. Anypony who ventures in, never returns, they will be lost for eternity. But Tremor was no ordinary Earth Pony, her skills and knowledge of archaeology were more than enough to handle this situation.

Sweetie Belle decided to interrupt the story to make an inquiry. “Um…excuse me Scribble. What is archaeology?” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo too both wanted to know.

“It’s the study of pony history, little ones. An archaeologist is a pony who learns more about our past by studying ancient ruins and artifacts.” Scribble was starting to enjoy himself for the first time in a long time, even smiling as he told the story of Tremor Force for the excited fillies.

“Cool,” was the reaction of three fillies who were getting more pumped every minute they listened to the story.

“Maybe we could be Cutie Mark Crusader Archaeologists!” Scootaloo screamed raising a hoof into the air. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom struck the hoof in agreement, while they all screamed ‘YAY!’ “Sweetie Belle, make sure you write all of this down,” she ordered as Sweetie Belle pulled out her pencil and notepad.

“Oi! Do ya want me to finish the story or not?” Scribble asked, himself wanting to finish this tale he was making up. The three fillies imminently stopped what they were doing and returned to their comfy positions in front of the avid storyteller. “That’s better. Now, where was I?”

The deep dark recesses of the caverns were pitch-black in darkness. But Tremor didn’t carry torches or any form of lighting. She could see in the dark. Her special eyes had perfect twenty/twenty vision and the special trait of seeing in this pitch-black cave. She saw the dark underground world as clear as we see the bright blue sky in the middle of the day.

Using her special skill, she ventured bravely forth into the unknown, following the clues she had obtained of Hoof Rock. Tremor had with her an old journal describing the journey another pony took five hundred years ago to Hoof Rock. She followed the path dictated by the journal deep into the Lost Caverns. Once you enter the Lost Caverns, you must follow the true path, one that can only be found by witnessing the natural beauty of the caves.

“Well that wasn’t too hard a clue. If the rest of these instructions are any easier, I might make finding Hoof Rock a test for new Venture League members.” Tremor closed the book, putting it back in her saddle bag. She looked up to the cave roof and saw glowing blue lights. These were lights that can only be seen when no other source of light was present--in other words, when you enjoyed the natural beauty of the caves.

She followed the glowing rocks for what hours on in, twisting and turning through the maze of caverns and caves. Tremor did not tire one bit. She was a well-trained veteran member of the league, able to go the distance with her level of endurance. She only paused when a weird sound could be heard from down a long corridor of a very largely-sized cave.

She stopped to listen, the constant drip of water signalling an underground spring. Tremor galloped with excitement towards the dripping water and found it to the starts of a small stream. She pulled out the journal to read the next clue, clearly remembering from studying the book before that the second clue had something to do with water. Find the room of waterfalls, flowing freely untouched for hundreds of years. To enter the rock, you must take a leap of faith. Falter for even a minute and you will never make it out alive.

Tremor followed the small stream until it became an underground river. As she drew nearer her destination, the roaring of water filled the caves with echo and mystery. She arrived at a huge underground pool of water with eight mighty waterfalls pouring into it. The spectacle was a sight to behold and hear, the roaring sound of the water combined with the misty falls themselves as they emptied into the pool below. What struck Tremor as odd was, where was all this water going? The water level never rose higher. All this water had to be going somewhere?

“Well, think you three could guess what the next clue means?” Scribble asked.

The three fillies thought the clue over, taking into mind the description of the waterfalls and pool they fell into. For five whole minutes, the scratched their heads and discussed the clue. But not one of them could figure it out. “Please could you tell us the answer?” Sweetie begged, putting her cute face back on.

“Shame none ya could figure it out. Ya will have to study a lot harder if ya wanna become Cutie Mark Crusader Archaeologists,” Scribble giggled, getting a little payback on the girls for being forced to tell the story. The fillies were now all pouty over the matter, giving Scribble unimpressed faces. “Okay, okay, I was joking I swear,” he admitted, putting his forehooves up to show his honesty.

“Just continue with the story,” Scoots impatiently ordered.

Scribble rolled his eyes before the amazing adventures of Tremor Force continued.

Tremor jumped down onto a little rocky outcrop that was above water level to one side of the pool. She investigated the center of the water and noticed an anomaly. Bubbles were sometimes coming up in the center of the water. Something had to be underneath the water. A pocket of air, an underground cavern or maybe something else lay down there.

Tremor sat down and pulled out her notebook to do a few calculations. While she was writing the faintest of sounds could be heard, the sound of water being forced down a tube. Least that is what Tremor came to the conclusion of. Tearing a page from her notebook, she tossed it into the water and watched with great interest what would happen.

The page slowly floated towards the center of the pool, drifting with some kind of tide. True, the waterfalls would make waves, but the page was only moving in one direction and not all over the place. Once it made it to the center of the water, the piece of paper was yanked underwater. “I knew it! How clever of the ponies who found this place to use this as the entry into Hoof Rock,” Tremor declared with a smile on her face.

The hearty explorer took a huge deep breath and dived straight into the middle of the pool. Without any hesitation, she aimed right for the center of the rocky floor. Sure enough, was a small tunnel where water was flowing into. The current flowed down the cave like a roller coaster at a theme park. It gushed left, then right. Up ,then down. Tremor kept her hooves close to her sides and flowed with the current down the spiralling tube. She rode that water like it was the best ride she had ever been on, enjoying the thrill a little too much.

The ride only lasted for a minute, after which it shot Tremor Force out like a shotgun of a smaller pool of water at the other end. She landed on the sand with a perfect summersault. “Huh, if judges were here, it would be a perfect ten,” the cocky explorer said to herself, proud she made a great landing.

Shaking herself dry, Tremor pulled out the journal for the next clue. Through the door made of rock and stone is what you seek. But opening it can’t be done unless you are one with the earth. Those who are not attuned will face the wrath of the mighty guardian.

She closed the book and put her supplies down to see what she had to work with. “Great, now I got to fight something. Just great,” she mumbled. Looking at what tools she had to work with, there was little in the way of anything useful to open that door. She huffed in frustration and packed the supplies back up. “Looks like I will have to try out my new ability. Well, no time like the present for a field test.”

Tremor approached the door putting all four hooves on the ground in a sturdy manner. She concentrated and waited. She closed her eyes as the world around her could be seen without the use of her eyes. Tremor listened to the earth as it pulsed like a heartbeat. It pulsed in time with her own heart, giving off fluent, even beats.

Tremor continued to keep her mind silent as the pulsating beats revealed what was on the other side of the door. She could see above, below, to the left and right of her present location. This amazing sense was Tremor’s sixth sense, developed and named after her. She called it Tremor Sense, the ability to feel vibrations of the earth and use hearing to visualize a picture of the world around you.

“WWWOOOWWW!” the Crusaders exclaimed.

“Ya can see underground and behind walls with that stuff?” Bloom asked, too excited to keep a normal face. She jumped up and down in front of Scribble, wanting to know more. The other CMC members were the same, trying themselves to feel vibrations of the earth.

“Hey now, I didn’t say it was something you could really do. Don’t forget it’s only a story…”

The Crusaders were not listening, too indulged in their attempts to gain a Tremor Sense ability of their own. Scribble tried to settle the over-excited fillies down, but they were to noisy that anything Scribble said was simply not heard.

The noise coming from the fields prompted Applejack to investigate, having to stop her apple bucking in order to do so. She was none too happy at the interruption of her routine work. “Now, what in tarnation could those fillies be fussin’ over this time? Them wit’ their cutie marks crusadin’ an’ all.” Applejack let out a sigh and made off in the direction of the noisy fillies.

“Oi, oi, settle down ya ankle bitters! Ya want me to tell ya what’s behind that door or not?” Scribble snickered, he knew he had the girls now. The three fillies clamed up real quick and plopped back down on their flanks in front of Scribble for the story’s conclusion. “That’s more like it.” He grinned, giving the girls a raspberry.

The cheeky girls decided to return their own raspberry back at Scribble. “Hey, who said you could give us a raspberry?” Sweetie Belle demanded.

“Yay” Scootaloo agreed, again giving Scribble a return raspberry.

“Oh, so ya don’t wanna hear how Tremor gets in the door?” Scribble teased.

“NNNNNOOOOOO!!!” the fillies pleaded. Scribble simply smiled, he had the girls in checkmate.

Tremor used her new ability to scan the area around the door, finding three pressure pads in the floor near the door. She also found two of the switches opened trap doors in the floor, while a third was a lever to open the big stone door. “So this is what the clue meant, huh? One with the earth, indeed,” she chimed, happy her new skill was just what the doctor ordered.

Tremor trotted up to the left most pressure plate and slammed it with a forehoof. Gears and cogs could be heard behind the door as it slowly started to open. A golden glow shun through the cracks as the door opened ever wider. A ringing from a golden bell in the center of the room chimed the entrance of another pony to the temple. Tremor had done it she had found Hoof Rock, ancient temple of the Earth Ponies.

“Ah will see what mischief those girls be causin’ this time.” She trotted towards the fields Scribble was working to investigate the loud yells from before. As she drew closer, she could her laughter and what sounded like Scribble talking in a happy mood. ‘Ah must be hearin’ wrong…Scribble is happy?’ Applejack quickened her pace, desperate to see with her own eyes if her ears were telling the truth.

Applejack got closer to the three Crusaders and Scribble, it sounded like he was explaining something to the girls, and enjoying doing so. She decided to sneak up on them to investigate for herself, using a nearby apple tree to hide behind. She listened in carefully to assess the situation, before moving in to inquire what was happening.

“Tremor looked ‘round the huge golden room. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever laid eyes on. Lush water fountains decorated the floor under the hanging golden bell in the middle of the room. Nicely-carved rocks adorned the sides of the room, while the walls, roof and floor were pure glowing gold.” Scribble was so happy telling the girls his story, while the fillies were stunned and amazed at such an exciting tale of mystery and adventure. “An’ that, little ones, is the tale of Tremor Force and how she found the amazing temple of Hoof Rock,” he concluded, finishing his story for the girls.

“So, what did ya girls think of that story? Good enough to prove my mark?” Scribble asked the shocked girls while he rubbed his cutie mark, making it shine in the afternoon sun.

“That was an’ amazin’ story! Tell us another one,” Apple Bloom cheered.

“Ya, tell us another amazing adventure. PLEASE!” Sweetie Belle begged.

“Come on girls, I got work I have to wrap up here,” Scribble pleaded.

The girls wouldn’t take no for an answer, tackling Scribble to the ground and begging for another amazing story. Scribble couldn’t help but smile at the silly fillies, they only wanted more amazing stories. ‘This is just like when I use to tell stories for the kids at that orphanage. They always wanted just one more, those cheeky foals.’ Scribble was lost in the moment, for the first time since he came to Ponyville he was smiling and enjoying himself along with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

“Well, had Ah known sickin’ my little sis on ya was all it took ta make ya happy, Ah woulda done it weeks ago,” the voice from behind the tree said. Scribble and the three fillies froze in their tracks, petrified as they saw Applejack come out from behind the tree.

“App..App..Applejack!” Scribble muttered. “Just where the heck did ya come from?!”

“APPLEJACK!!!” the fillies screamed.

Scribble quickly got off his back, bouncing the fillies off his stomach. Applejack slowly trotted towards all four of them, intent to kill written all over her face. “So, who’s gonna explain all this?” Applejack demanded to know.

“Sisssss! Sis! Don’t blame Scribble! We begged him ta explain his cutie mark ta us, then we kinda forced his hoof inta tellin’ us a story to show his skills,” the little bloom explained, stuttering a little.

Silence befall all in the orchard for a minute. Nothing but the wind and four scared ponies starring into Applejack’s eyes were present. They all wondered what Applejack was going to do with the lot of them.

“Well, normally, Ah would say it’s bad o’ y’all ta force anotha’ pony ta do somethin’ they no wanna do, girls. But this time, Ah will let y’all of with a warnin’. In fact, Ah’m mighty proud o’ ya, girls. Ya really helped Scribble outta a pinch,” she said, stunning all the others.

“You mean, we’re not in trouble?” Sweetie Belle bravely asked.

“Not this time. Ah’ll explain it a little later ta y’all. Now, all three of ya, get movin’. Ah need ta talk with Scribble fer a little bit.” The three fillies obeyed Applejack’s orders and started making for the farmhouse.

“Thanks again for the cool story, Scribble. We will defiantly want more soon,” Scootaloo said before racing off.

“Ya, thanks Scribble,” Sweetie chirped, following Apple Bloom and Scootaloo towards the farm house.

Applejack laughed as she took a seat on her flank next to Scribble. “Well…didn’t see that one comin’,” Scribble admitted.

“Ah’m jus’ glad yer happy fer a change. This is the first time Ah seen ya fer who ya really are, a happy, fun lovin’ pony who enjoys a good story.” Applejack’s smile was from cheek to cheek. Ever since Scribble came to Ponyville, he was a soulless machine. Now it seems the Cutie Mark Crusaders found a way to breathe life back into him.

“What can I say AJ? I have huge weakness for kids,” Scribble let slip.

“A weakness fer kids, huh? Interestin’. Ah will have ta remember that.” Applejack gave Scribble a slightly sinister smile. She now had ammo to use against him, and it was Scribble’s own stupid fault. He slapped himself in the face, making a mental note for later to find some dirt to use against Applejack.

Applejack thought it was now or never to try and find out what Scribble was hiding deep within his heart. What it was that had caused all this sadness and grief to consume him? “So Scribble…”

Before Applejack could even ask, Scribble gave his answer. “Okay Applejack, ya win. I’ll tell ya what happened to me during my life, if ya really want to know that badly?”

“How in tarnation did ya do that?” she asked, completely confused as to how Scribble know what she was going to say.

Scribble’s answer was to simply stare at her, waiting for an answer to his question. ‘Note ta self, look inta how the heck he does that later.’ Applejack shock her head free of conflicting thoughts and got herself ready for what was sure to be one heck of a story. “Okay Scribble, Ah do want ta know. If Ah’m goin’ ta help ya Ah need ta know.”

“I warn ya AJ, this is probably the hardest and saddest story ya will ever hear. Ya sure ya want to hear me out on this one?” Scribble sternly asked.

Applejack shook her head, while putting a comforting hoof around the back off his neck. She wiggled up beside Scribble and made herself nice and cozy. Both of them were graced with a beautiful evening as Celestia’s sun was on the horizon. “Ah’m ready ta listen Scribble, jus’ like Ah promised. Fire away, partner,” Applejack said, letting comfort and warmth fill both their hearts.

Scribble took a deep breath and started explaining his terrible past. “My life started with such promise and hope. A lovin’ family, great place to grow up an’ all the promises of a fulfilled life. That all ended once I started School, Applejack.”

“I got no idea what I did wrong or what I didn’t do right. But, for some reason I was imminently an outcast. Nothing I said or did would make anypony accept me, let alone be friendly towards me.”

“As the years drew on, even in the town, I found it hard to simply be accepted as one of the gang. Sure, if I went shopping ponies would speak to me or give me a friendly greeting. An’ most ponies didn’t go out of their way to make my life miserable. But that is where anything ended. I simply existed, I wasn’t accepted. I couldn’t make any friends, find any love…Heck, the only social interaction I ever had with anypony minus my family was to simply exist. If I needed to buy food, or hoof in an assignment at school, that was the only time I ever was social.” Scribble was starting to cry, letting Applejack go so deep into his heart. It Looked like Scribble was right about one thing, this was the saddest story Applejack had ever heard. She was starting to feel saddened inside her own heart over the information Scribble was revealing.

“I even used to have a daily existence test, where I would greet some ponies from my school. Best result was they would look at me awkwardly while trying their best to make a quick excuse to leave. Worst result they didn’t even acknowledge my presence. I was all alone, Applejack. Being all alone is all I have ever known since the day I was born into this world.” The sun was getting lower as Scribble continued to reveal more about his past, Applejack paying full attention to every detail, making many mental notes.

“Sure, I have my family, but that’s it. An’ I can’t burden them with all my problems in life. I heard when ya in trouble, ya learn on ya friends for help. An’ when they have it tough, ya stand by them. Ponies were not made to live a life of solitude. We need each other. So that must make me a curse on Equestria, Applejack. ‘Cause the only time I have ever come close to a friend, I got him burnt…literally. Now my family is gone, the only pony I have ever known in the slightest is laying in hospital in a coma, an’ I have done nothin’ but bring misery on your whole family ever since I arrived here,” Scribble sobbed, scolding himself for making Applejack and her family suffer his existence.

“Now, hold on jus’ one cotton-pickin’ minute! Ya have not been a burden ta me o’ ma family. If ya were, Ah woulda given ya the boot already,” Applejack stated, trying to reassure Scribble he was not so useless.

“YOU’RE LYING!!!” Scribble shouted.

“AH’M NOT!!!” Applejack snapped back. “Ah’m the Element of Honesty! Ah wouldn’t lie ta ya!”

“But…but…but. Ya can’t be telling the truth! Nopony has ever accepted me…an’ nopony ever will!” Scribble cried, the pain in his heart was reaching boiling point. His eyes were bloodshot and his water works factory in full swing as the tears poured out.

“All I want in life is a chance to be like everypony else. To have friends, fall in love…TO EXIST!!! But…I’m scared, Applejack. I can’t take that chance anymore. Everytime I try to open my heart up to others, I get rejected. Ya know how crushing that is when ya suffer it ever day of your life. So your either lying, or you’re going to reject me later down the beaten path.” Scribble had finally released his deepest fear to Applejack. The ball was in her court, and Applejack would need to play all the cards to bring Scribble back from the brink of being lost forever.

She scooped Scribble up in a tight, embracing hug. “Ah promise ya Scribble, Ah will always stand by yer side. Ah will always be there fer ya. Ah promise Ah will aknowledge yer existence,” Applejack declared.

Scribble pushed her away. “Lies…all lies!” He looked away into the fading sunset, not strong enough to look Applejack in the eye.

Applejack grabbed Scribble’s head with both forehooves and forced him to stare her directly in the eyes. They were muzzle-to-muzzle. Scribble could feel the strong presence of Applejack all around him. Try as he might, he couldn’t escape Applejack’s grasp, she was more determined and stronger than him.

“Look me in the eye an’ tell me Ah’m a lair,” Applejack ordered, forcing Scribble to look her directly in the eyes. Into those unflinching, unwavering eyes of truth. Try as he might, Scribble could find no rejection, no pity, no lies in her eyes. Instead all he could see was Applejack’s fierce determination to prove she was telling the truth.

For the first time in his life Scribble could see light at the end of the dark winding tunnel. It was orange with a trade mark Stetson hat, and it was right in front of him waiting with open hooves. Scribble quickly wrapped his hooves around Applejack. She returned his hug holding him tight. Scribble let the waterworks flow freely. For what seemed like hours he held her tight, refusing to let go. He had grasped that which he wanted most in life. He was not letting go so easily.

Time seemed to stop for the two new friends sitting in the orchard. Evening turned to night as Luna put on a bright and glowing night sky to celebrate the newest friends in Equestria. Scribble finally let go, and said two simple words straight from the depths of his heart. “Thank you.”

“Yer welcome. Anytime ya need me, Ah will be there,” she said with a smile. “But Ah hope that if Ah need help, ya will be one of the first ta jump in, right?”

Scribble nodded and smiled.

“So, ready ta give life anotha’ try?” Applejack asked, wiping the tears from her own face.

Scribble was finally able to stop crying and followed Applejack’s lead, clearing the tears from his face. “Ya know what, I think I am,” he gladly admitted.

“Perfect. Ah know ya will have loads of friends in no time.” Applejack paused for a moment choosing her next words very carefully. “But Scribble, Ah want ya ta promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“If ya ever have a problem, o’ ya feel depressed ever again, ya have ta come an’ talk ta me ‘bout it, right away. Ya hear?” Applejack had that same look in her eyes from before, letting Scribble know she meant business. She spat in one of her forehooves and stretched it out towards Scribble, waiting for his answer.

Scribble looked at her eyes, then down towards her soggy hoof, before returning his gaze back to Applejack’s eyes. He thought for a few seconds on this new deal, it was something he always wanted, but could he truly trust Applejack?

Scribble decided he would give trust one last try in life, and stake everything he had on Applejack. He spat in his own hoof and banged it against Applejack’s. Both ponies stood there, with two spat on soggy forehooves joined between them. “Okay Applejack, ya got a deal, mate.”

“Good ta hear,” Applejack said. She looked into the night sky and know it was time to head in. “Well Ah’m hankerin’ fer some food. What ‘bout yerself?” she asked, knowing full well Scribble was hungry, his rumbling stomach gave him away.

Scribble blushed a little, cursing his stomach for ratting him out. “Sure, some tucker would hit the spot right ‘bout now.”

Both ponies turned around and started towards the farm house, strolling through the beautiful orchard on such a perfect night. Scribble took in the view. It seemed having a friend made him see the world in a whole new way. He gazed at the night sky with wonder, thanking Luna for a wonderful show.

“Say Scribble, Ah do got a suggestion fer ya.” Applejack’s statement snapped Scribble out of his star gazing as he gave Applejack a curious look. “What ya say ta lettin’ Pinkie Pie try that welcome party fer ya again? Will give everypony a chance ta get ta know the real Scribble Script.”

Scribble hesitated for a moment, his old memories flooding his head again. Applejack put a forehoof around his neck to comfort him. “Ah will be there wit’ ya, every step o’ the way,” she said.

“Okay Applejack, if ya got my back, I will give it a shot,” Scribble said with some level of confidence.

“Good, now hurry up! Dinner is gettin’ cold an’ last pony in does the dishes,” she said, leaving Scribble in the dust.

“Oi, no fair. Get your little apple flank back here!” Scribble shouted, taking off after Applejack.

In some nearby bushes three plotting fillies stirred. “Did y’all hear all that,” Apple Bloom asked.

Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded. “We need to help Scribble…but how?” Sweetie Belle proposed.

“We can think about that later you two. If we don’t hurry we will be in trouble for being out after dark. Let’s go already,” Scootaloo insisted, bolting for the farmhouse. The Crusaders took off into the night, hoping to beat Applejack and Scribble Script in for dinner.

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the delay on this chapter. It was long, and I've been busy lately.