Oscar the Fateless in Equestria

>This is it..
>You are Oscar of Astora, and your Hollowing has just "begun".
>You sit in the small cell, the death rattle of the Asylum Demon long since been roared
>The Bell of Awakening, rung so long ago.
>You hang your head, staring at your shield and sword
>At least you managed to find the Chosen Undead, you even got to meet them.
>You close your eyes, and let out a large exhale
>What would it be like..
>To go Hollow?
>To lose your sanity?
>You look back up..
>You weren't in the cell.
>Nor in the Asylum.
>Instead, you're in a forest of some kind.
>The trees, they look so ..
>Alive .. Some even producing fruit.
>Not many things could be considered "Living" in the Asylum
>You stand up, your strength is back.
>You feel better than ever, but, where were you?
>This was no forest you've seen before.
>You press on, and eventually come to a small..
>Fort?
>It's been build on a tree, a ramp leading to a small door.
>Something could be living here.
>You call out
"Who's in there?"
>You can hear something..
>It's not a sound you've heard in.. a VERY long time..
>It sounds like laughter.
>Genuine, Happy, laughter.
>You smile, you've never felt so.. Happy?
>You call out again, only louder
"Greetings!"
>The laughing stops, and you can hear talking a shushing..
>The door opens, and three small animals walk out.
>Oh.. Yeah.. Hollowed..
>You turn around, disappointed.
>Such a shame it wasn't actual laugh-
>"Wait-!"
>Huh?
>You turn around, still just the animals.
>You remember the Forest Hunters, and how they were supposedly lead by a talking cat..
"Yes?"
>The orange one opens its mouth and speaks
>"What are you?"
>So you aren't insane.
>Might as well answer it, even if you did lose your sanity.
"I am Oscar of Astora, and what are you?"
>They burst out in unison
>"We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
>Crusaders huh?
>What's their purpose? A Crusade for what?
"What is your Crusade?"
>They look at one another in confusion.
>"Whaddya mean?"
>Do they not know what a Crusade is?
"Your Crusade, what is it's purpose?"
>The orange one speaks up again
>"We're trying to get our Cutie Marks!"
>Cutie Marks?
>Were you speaking to children?
"What is a 'Cutie Mark'?"
>The white gasps.
>"You don't know what a Cutie Mark is?!"
>The Yellow one hushes at the White one
>" 'Course he doesn't, he ain't even ah pony."
>So that's what they were..
"You have yet to tell what a Cutie Mark is."
>Whatever it was, it must be important if they are willing to make a Crusade for it.
>The dedication they must have.
>A purpose..
>Sigh..
>"Well, a Cutie Mark.."
>They turn around, and begin to whisper
>Did they not even know themselves?
>"A Cutie Mark defines someponies Special Talent!"
>So.. Their Crusade is looking for a Purpose or 'Talent'?
>It would have taken you SO much longer to go hollow if your purpose was to find your purpose..
>That's how it worked, right?
"So, you look for your purpose?"
>They turn around again, whispering.
>They turn to face you once more
>"Pretty much."
>Hmm..
>Perhaps..
"Could I join you? In your Crusade?"
>They looked at each other, then stepped down from the Fort
>The orange one speaks
>"Depends..What can you do?"
>Uh..
"I'm a Knight,, I uphold-"
>The yellow interrupts
>"Ah Knight huh?"
>They start to circle you.
>No way they were planing to attack you-
>You feel something jump onto you, pushing on your back
>You start to spin, trying to shake it off
"Stop at once!"
>It jumps off of you, but not without leaving you dizzy.
>They still circle you.
>The white one asks.
>"What ARE you?"
>Followed by the orange
>"Can you even GET a Cutie Mark?"
>And lastly the yellow.
>"Why do ya want tah be a Crusader?"
>You sat down, still somewhat dizzy
"I.."
>Wow, this was harder to say than you though..
>You look down in shame.
"I have no purpose..."
>".."
>They eye each other and sit down before looking at you
"No goal, No ambition, and if I join you, I will finally have a reason to continue on.."
>They seem to Pity you..
>"Hmm.."
>They turn around and speak privately.
>You think about this..
>What if they WERE like children, and give up after a week?
>Did they even know the meaning of dedication?
>They turn around, heads up high, acting as if royalty.
>"You can become a Crusader.."
>It may not seem like much, but this was the best you're gonna get if you want a purpose.
>It felt.. as if you were being Knighted all over again, like a great honor has been bestowed upon-
>"As long as you make us Knights!"
>By the Lord Gwyn..
>"And show us how to use those!"
>They spoke in unison, and pointed at your sword and shield
>This..
>You couldn't.. The training.. The time it takes..
>The dedication..
>This would prove if they knew what dedication was, and if their "Crusade" was not just childs-play.
>But.. They seemed so young..
>Was this your purpose? To Knight these 'youngsters'?
>"Hellooo~?"
>You shook your head, and look back up at the three.
>"Is that a no?"
>Their stature sunk into a sad hanging of their heads.
"No, it.. Yes, I will train you.."
>They looked up with smiles you haven't seen in years.
>"Cutie Mark Crusader Knights!"
>You start to regret this, but..
>What's the worse that could happen?
>You finally had a purpose..
>And that's to train these young-lings to be proper Knights.
>You think back at your training, how you started, the ceremony and sword training.
>But, where would you stay?
>What was edible, and what was poisonous?
"Is there an Inn or a place to eat?"
>They looked at each-other.
>"Oh.. About that.."
>The white one backs away, letting the other two speak for her
>"Nopony'd be.. or ehr.."
>They look at each-other.
>"You're kinda... Strange.."
"How-so?"
>"Others might think your a monster.."
>The yellow one bursts up.
>"AH KNOW!"
>The other two turn to her.
>"What is it Apple Bloom?"
>So that's her name.. Apple Bloom..
>"Mahbe we can intro-duce him to mah family, or Twilight, and make ery-body get to know him!"
>The orange one walks forward and looks at you, you're still on the floor, sitting the same way you sat in the cell.
>Curse that place..
>"You mean like how you got everybody to warm up to Zecora?"
>Zecora?
>"Yup!"
>"But, he's not even a pony!"
>They turn around again, and bicker on what their next move will be.
>You stand back up and look around.
>The fruits are probably edible, seeing as how they are so close to children.
>The make-shift fort wasn't to small, if you laid down, you might be able to fit between the front and back walls.
"What if I stayed here?"
>They turn around, quickly, surprised.
>"Well, why'ah'd you want tah stay here?"
>You point at the trees' fruits, and then at the fort.
"I could eat those, and rest in the fort."
>The white one walks up to you.
>"That's a great idea, but what will we do about Apple Jack?"
>Apple Jack?
>You turn around and look down at the orange one.
"That reminds me, I never quite got your names.."
>They line up, side-by-side like how they stood in the fort.
>The orange one points to the white.
>"She's Sweetie Belle,"
>'Sweetie Bell' smiles and waves at you.
>She then points to the yellow one.
>"She's Apple Bloom."
"This I knew.."
>She then points to herself.
>"And I'm Scootaloo!"
>You run that through your mind.
>Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom..
>Shouldn't be to hard-
>"Are ya'll doin' alright out 'ere?"
>Apple Bloom freezes in terror.
>She starts to shove on your knee-plates.
>"Move, move move!"
>She's trying to stay quiet, so you whisper aswell.
"What is it? Is it a Demon?"
>Demon..
>No, you would not let that same fate come upon these young ones.
>They may have yet to become undead.
>And you intend to stop them from becoming undead.
>You pick up your sword, and raise your shield.
>No demon would endanger these young Knights.
>You use your shield to move some brush, searching for your opponent.
>Where was it..?
>You turn around and face the trio.
>You shrug, nothing was there-
>You're sent a short distance and into a tree.
>You could hear the trio shout your name, but you ignore it for now.
>The blow just below your breastplate.
>You haven't felt such a pain in a long time.
>Your cycle of death made you so used to it.
>But why did it hurt now?
>It never did before, so why now?
>You find yourself leaned against the tree the same way you had sat in the pile of rubble in that cell.
>No..
>Not again..
>You stand up, you were nowhere near death but the pain..
>Trying to stand, you fall to your knees.
>"Ya'll alright?"
>That wasn't one of the trio, but it sounded friendly.
>But it wasn't directed to you.
>You look up and see another, larger, pony.
>Presumably one of their mothers..
>Probably Apple Blooms.
>The way she and the little one spoke sounded nearly the same.
>You manage to stand up again, and lean on your sword and shield.
"I'm.. I am sorry.."
>The larger pony turns around and faces you.
>"Ya'll better be sorry fer tryin' tah hurt Apple Bloom.."
>She walks closer before turning around and kicking your supports from under you.
>You fall to the ground, the pain in your side excruciating after landing on the ground.
>"And what do ya hav' this for?"
>She picks up your sword with her mouth, and throws it in-front of the trio.
>You manage to get to your knees, able to eye the pony on an even field.
"As I said.. I am-"
>"What exacly are you?"
>Apple Bloom steps forward, and gets in front of you.
>"Sis!"
>Sister?
>"Apple Bloom, stay away from that thing, it's probably dangerous!"
>You reach for your shield, and Apple Bloom pulls it to you.
>"His name's Oscar, Sis.."
>You lean against the shield, and stand upright.
"Of Astora.."
>You let out a cough before continuing.
"And I truly meant the three no harm.."
>She looks down at Apple Bloom, a stern look clear on her face.
>Apple Bloom stands her ground defiantly.
>"Sis..?"
>Apple Bloom is still standing tall.
>"Apple Jack, he's sayin' the truth.."
>So this is Apple Jack.
>'Apple Jack' looks you right in the face.
>You reach up and lift your helmets face-guard.
>You stare into Apple Jacks eyes, you may be at her mercy, but you wouldn't be seen as weak all because one lucky hit.
>She backs away, still stern, and looks down at Apple Bloom.
>"Awright. I believe you."
>Really?
>That's it?
>"But Ahm gonna get Twilight.."
>She turns around and leaves through the brush.
>The three Crusaders quickly surround you once more.
>"Are you alright?"
>"Ya'll feelin' fine?"
>"Do you need anything?"
>You shake your head and answer them.
"Yes, I'm fine, but.. Who is Twilight?"
>They all hang their heads, and say in unison.
>"She's gonna try and send you home.."
>Back to the Asylum?
>Back to Astora?
>Neither we good places to call home, and this place seems untouched by what has happened in your world.
>And..
"I will not leave.."
>They all look at you, confused.
"First lesson of being a Knight, keep your word.."
>They tilt their heads in confusion.
"And my word is that you three will be Knights before I leave.."
>You let out another cough, but the Crusaders seem to be cheered up..
>And they.. Hug your legs..
>You nearly forgot what a hug was until just a moment ago..
>"How are you going to hide from Twilight?"
>You though about it for a moment..
>Face them, and try fighting or reasoning..
>Or hide, and try to stay out of anyone's knowledge..