Cutie Mark Crusaders Royale Chapter Twelve

Pen Pal Problems

It was another morning in the castle. Miracle got out of bed and went to breakfast. She couldn't help noticing that neither Vito nor Pureblood were present. Vito's absence wasn't too odd (he liked to sleep in), but Pureblood was always so punctual.

After breakfast, she ran into Hurricane (who had just arrived) and Vito (who had just come down from his and Pureblood's room).

"Hey, guys!" Hurricane smiled. "Good morning!"

"Morning." Vito yawned.

"Have you seen Pureblood today?" Miracle asked. "He wasn't at breakfast."

"All I saw was the back of my eyelids." Vito declared.

"I think that's him outside." Hurricane pointed at a window, where Pureblood could be seen moving shiftily, carrying something in his mouth.

"What's he sneaking around for?" Vito narrowed his eyes.

"Let's find out." Miracle declared.

The trio rushed outside, catching Pureblood as he walked down the courtyard.

"Hey PB, whatchya doin'?" Hurricane asked.

"Uhh, nothing." Pureblood claimed, hastily trying to hide the paper.

"What's that you've got there?" Miracle asked.

"What?" Pureblood shrugged.

"That piece of paper you're trying to hide from us." Vito answered.

"Oh, it's nothing." Pureblood smiled weakly. "Just writing to a pen pal."

"Who?" Hurricane asked, trying to sneak a peek.

"Nopony." Pureblood said anxiously. "Just some filly."

"We'll see about that." Vito smirked, pulling the letter out of Pureblood's grasp with his magic.

"No, don't!" Pureblood yelped, as Vito started reading.

"'Dear Strut Step, I'- Wait, Strut Step?!" Vito grimaced. "The filly you've been writing to is Strut Step?"

"That know-it-all hoity-toity filly from chapter three?" Hurricane added.

"Don't you mean the fashion show, Hurricane?" Miracle asked.

"Um, yeah, chapter three, just like I said." Hurricane nodded.

"One question: How?!" Vito snarled.

"Well, while you guys were on stage, Strut and me started talking." Pureblood explained. "It turns out we have a lot in common. Since she travels around Equestria a lot, we decided to be pen pals."

"Why would you want to be pen pals with that stuck-up prima donna?" Miracle asked.

"She's not so bad, once you get to know her." Pureblood smiled.

"I'm not sure I want to be around her that long." Hurricane quipped.

"You may not have choice." Vito declared, skimming the rest of Pureblood's letter. "'I'm really looking forward to your visit on Saturday'."

"Saturday?" Miracle frowned. "Isn't that the day we were going down to the lake to try for Cutie Marks in diving?"

"Lemme guess: You were going to pretend to be sick, so we'd go without you, and not even know Strut was here." Vito glared at Pureblood. "Pretty sneaky, bro."

"I'm not happy, PB was planning on tricking us, but I wouldn't mind an excuse to not see her here." Hurricane declared.

"Come on, guys." Pureblood groaned. "Strut's not so bad. She's just a little... larger than life."

"More like 'completely full of herself'." Vito snorted.

"So?" Pureblood asked. "You're completely full of yourself."

"Exactly." Vito nodded. "We don't need two big egos around there."

"For once, Vito's right." Miracle nodded. "I have no interest in seeing Strut, or hearing her snarky comments again."

"Well, she's coming, whether you like it or not." Pureblood declared. "And it'd mean a lot to me if you'd at least try to get along with her."

The others shared looks.

"Okay, we'll try." Miracle nodded.

"For you, bro." Vito sighed.

"But if she makes a crack about my mane..." Hurricane growled.

"Um, why would she do that?" Pureblood asked. "She never said anything before."

"I dunno. I just pictured it in my head." Hurricane frowned. "She does fit the character archetype, doesn't she?"

"The point is, you can count on us to be friendly." Miracle nodded. "Right, guys?"

"Right." Vito agreed.

"Left!" Hurricane pumped a hoof.

"Thanks, guys." Pureblood smiled.

Saturday soon arrived as the four Crusaders awaited their guest's arrival. And soon enough, Strut Step, dropped off by her mother, burst into the main hall.

"Hello, Canterlot Castle!" She announced. "Strut Step has arrrrived!"

"Just a little larger than life, right?" Vito whispered to Pureblood.

Choosing to ignore Vito's comment, Pureblood moved to greet Strut.

"Hey, Strut." He smiled.

"Hi, Pure." Strut nudged him playfully. "Good to see you in pony again."

"You too." Pureblood chuckled. "You remember the others, right?"

"Sure." Strut nodded. "Miracle, Vito, and... Horace?"

"That's 'Hurricane'!" Hurricane growled. "I'm the daughter of Daring Do!"

"Who?" Strut asked.

"Daring Do." Hurricane repeated, as Strut looked at her blankly. "What, have you never read the Daring Do books?"

"Can't say I have." Strut shrugged. "I'm not really much of a reader, and besides, those books are so passé."

"Passé?!" Hurricane growled. "Why, you..."

"Welcome to the castle." Miracle stepped in front of Hurricane. "Hope you enjoy your visit."

"Thanks, princess." Strut tossed Miracle a hair clip. "You oughta try something new with that mane, BTW. The braided look is out."

"Thanks, but I happen to like the braided look." Miracle said defensively.

"Why am I not surprised?" Strut rolled her eyes.

"So, Strut, I hear you and my bro have gotten pretty close." Vito smirked.

"You could say that." Strut winked at Pureblood, making him blush.

"Nice. Didn't know he had it in him." Vito smiled. "I'm usually the ladies' colt around here."

"Really?" Strut smirked. "Never would've guessed."

"Thank y- Wait, what?" Vito spluttered.

"Come on, Pure, what say you take me on the grand tour?" Strut wrapped her wing around Pureblood.

"S-sure." Pureblood said nervously. "Right this way."

As the two walked away, Hurricane finally let out her frustration.

"Oooooh!" She growled. "Who do she think she is? Calling my mom's books 'passé'..."

"And implying I've got a bad manestyle..." Miracle added.

"And I'm not sure, but I think she just insulted me." Vito finished.

"Still, we promised Pureblood we'd try to get along with her." Miracle sighed. "Let's just tough it out until she leaves."

"If we can." Hurricane sighed.

Meanwhile, Pureblood was showing Strut the castle, when they ran into Blueblood.

"Hello, son." Blueblood smiled.

"Hi, dad." Pureblood smiled back.

"And who's this?" Blueblood turned to Strut. "Hold on, you're-"

"Strut Step." Strut nodded. "Nice to see you again, your highness."

"Well, well." Blueblood chuckled. "You sly dog, Pureblood. Looks like you inherited your old dad's way with the ladies!"

"It's not like that, dad!" Pureblood blushed. "We're just... pen pals."

"Sure you are." Blueblood smirked as he walked away. "Well, you 'pals' have fun."

"Smooth, Pure." Strut giggled. "The red cheeks really sold it."

"Funny." Pureblood deadpanned, as his blush started to fade. "Let's go the kitchen next. I could use a snack."

"Me too." Strut nodded.

After helping themselves to some food, Pureblood and Strut continued the tour of the castle. They soon found Caboose at his usual post.

"Hi, Pureblood." Caboose smiled.

"Hi." Pureblood grinned. "Whatchya doin?"

"Oh, just making a brief cameo appearance." Caboose shrugged. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Strut Step." Pureblood declared. "Strut, this Caboose, lieutenant of the Royal Guard, and Hurricane's father."

"I had a feeling those two were related." Strut smirked. "You gotta admit, there is a certain resemblance..."

"No doubt about that." Pureblood chuckled.

As they walked around the gardens, Pureblood and Strut came across Miracle, Vito and Hurricane, who were playing croquet.

"Hey, guys." Pureblood waved.

"You about done with your little tour yet?" Vito asked. "If diving really is our special talent, I'd like to find out sometime this year."

"Seriously?" Strut asked. "Trying something you have no idea how to do? Didn't you amateurs learn your lesson the last time?"

"We won't know if we don't try." Miracle declared.

"Well, I sure know what'll happen." Strut snorted. "And I bet it won't be pretty. I'm surprised Pure lets you drag him along on these crazy schemes."

"Who are you callin' crazy, crazy?" Hurricane glared. "I've half a mind to talk to the reader about how mean you are!"

"I rest my case." Strut smirked.

"Easy there, Strut." Pureblood tried to smooth the tensions.

"Why do you even hang out with these guys?" Strut asked. "I know they're family, but still: One's nuts, one's in love with himself, and the other has terrible taste in manestyles."

"Okay, that's it!" Miracle shot forward. "Who do you think you are, talking down to us? You think just because you're famous-"

"You mean famous for something other than being born?" Strut glared. "I had to work hard to get where I am! I knew what I wanted to be, and I went for it!"

"Again with the 'me'." Hurricane seethed. "It's all you ever talk about."

"And she says I'm in love with myself." Vito snarked. "Look who's talking!"

"They're right." Miracle agreed. "You're nothing but an egotistical show-off!"

"Why you-" Strut glared.

"ENOUGH!" Pureblood yelled. "All of you, just stop it!"

"Pure..." Strut gulped.

"Strut, I can't say I approve of what you're saying to the others." Pureblood declared. "Vito, Miracle, Hurricane, you didn't have to take it that far. This is not how I expected you all to get along."

"I... I'm sorry, Pure." Strut sighed. "It's just... with all the travelling around and shows that I do, I don't really spend much time with ponies my age. And the fashion world is pretty cutthroat. There are criticisms everywhere you go. Guess I soaked up some of that."

"More like a lot." Vito muttered, earning a glare from Pureblood.

"That's still no excuse." Miracle added.

"They're right." Pureblood nodded. "I know you're a nice filly, Strut. You just need to let that side of you out more often."

"I'll try." Strut agreed.

"An apology wouldn't hurt." Hurricane huffed.

"Yeah, I guess I'm sorry." Strut shrugged. "I didn't mean to take it that far. Nopony's nuts, in love with himself, or has terrible tastes in manestyles, okay?"

"I guess that'll do." Hurricane sighed.

"And we kinda did overreact a little." Miracle admitted. "We should have known better then to let an old grudge get to us."

"Besides, if PB likes you, then I guess you can't be all bad." Vito sighed.

"Ditto." Strut smiled.

"How about we start over?" Miracle offered. "Want to join us in croquet?"

"I've never actually played croquet before..." Strut admitted.

"No problem." Pureblood smiled. "I'll show you the basics."

"You and Pureblood can be on Hurricane's side." Vito pointed. "That way, we'll be about even."

"Works for me." Hurricane nodded. "Let's play!"

The kids enjoyed quite a rousing game of croquet.

"Nice swing for a model." Miracle complimented Strut.

"Not so bad yourself, princess." Strut grinned.

Afterwards, while waiting for Strut's mother to pick her up, the group saw Dusty come by.

"Oh, so this is Strut Step." She smiled. "A pleasure, truly. Ooh, I can't believe my little guy finally has a marefriend!"

"Mooom!" Pureblood cringed, while the others snickered.

"Come by any time." Dusty told Strut.

"Oh, I will." Strut giggled.

Strut's mom arrived soon after.

"There's my ride." Strut noted. "Thanks for the fun day. You Crusaders aren't so bad after."

"Likewise." Vito nodded.

Strut planted a quick kiss on Pureblood's cheek.

"See ya soon." She purred.

Pureblood stroked his cheek, gazing into space as Strut departed. Hurricane waved her hoof in front of his face.

"I think he's broken." She declared.