My Little Pony: Friendship is Laughter

by MONSTERmama

Cutie Mark Cruelty

Applebloom suddenly wished that the earth pony Scootaloo had not spoken. Sure, Applebloom may believe it—one always believes the most convenient truths—but there was no need to say it so loud!

The room was deathly quiet. Sweetie Belle’s always crystalline voice squeaked in slight fear. The unicorn filly bowed her head in shame. Her peers… what would they think?

“Do you really think we peaked too soon, Scootaloo?” Diamond Tiara asked, stepping forward. Her face was hard. “Applebloom, surely you know better. Sweetie Belle, doesn’t your sister teach acceptance and openness?” Silence answered the pink filly. She stomped a hoof in frustration, tearing up. “How would you three, you three who can pick and choose everything, even begin to understand things like this?!” Tears openly flowed down her cheeks. “You have every freedom, so don’t talk to me about selecting the easiest choice and—and being stuck!” The filly’s mouth held a bit of foam. She was enraged. “You have never been stuck in your lives!”

Applebloom cowered back a bit, whimpering. Yes, she knew her complaints were childish. Her sister Apple Laurel had told the yellow filly more than once to watch her brash little tongue. Scootaloo was a true friend, sharing that monstrous trait.

Silver Spoon recovered, putting a hoof on Diamond Tiara’s shoulder. The pink filly brushed it off.

Pink Crush looked down at the three fillies, then two the brooding Apple Laurel. “Um, maybe they should…?”

Apple Laurel nodded. “Applebloom, go home. I’ll talk to you later. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, I doubt your parents want to know what happened here from me, so you have an hour to go tell them before I do.” The steely green eyes of the heiress arrested the trio of fillies. Two backed away, but stubborn as her clan, Applebloom remained.

“But—“

“Go!” Diamond Tiara this time shouted. She crumpled into a teary mess. Silver Spoon comforted her. The various party guests—once loyal followers of Applebloom—hesitated before joining Spoon in comforting the devastated celebration child.

Applebloom exited Sugar Cube Corner, face red in shame.

The yellow filly stood before her sister and brother. Granny Smith had long left to go smooth things over with the offended Riches. While the Riches were fairly new money and therefore not quite yet a clan, they were extremely close with the Supports, most of whom lived in Canterlot. The fact that Silver Spoon lived with Diamond Tiara as a sort of promise child between the two houses was evidence enough.

“I cannot believe what you have done,” Apple Laurel hissed. The farming unicorn whinnied in frustration. “All of the foals in town saw that! They told their parents! They’ll remember that, Applebloom! They will always remember! What will you do when you’re an adult, hopefully having gotten your cutie mark, and they look at you and say, ‘There goes that pony who broke the heart of a filly on the day she celebrated entering adulthood’ ?!”

Big Macintosh stood, placing a hoof on his quivering sister. Unicorns were almost always smaller than earth ponies; Big Macintosh was huge for an earth pony, even. Their combined stature served to amuse when one considered the true power roles. “You can’t banish your sister.”

“We could send her to our Manehatten branch clan,” the heiress bitterly noted. “I’m certain Babs Seed, who has actually been persecuted for her lack of cutie mark, would appreciate your uppity attitude.”

“Ah don’t wanna go anywhere!” Applebloom shouted, accidentally slipping into the accents of the less learned relatives who shared the farm here.

“Perhaps if I send you away, you’ll learn to speak correctly as well!” the orange mare threatened.

“Please, Apple Laurel, please…”

Just then, luckily for Applebloom, Apple Fritter walked in, escorting Rock ‘n Roller, mother of Scootaloo. She owned the local skating rink. Her filly slinked by her side.

“Apple Laurel, if you would consider it proper, what punishment are you serving Applebloom? I’ve informed Scootaloo that since she thinks it so proper to let another pony think for her, then that pony should set her sentence.”

Apple Laurel wanted to bite something. Well, there went her exile plan. She turned her back to Roller, thinking. A brilliant idea hit her. She smilingly turned back. “I think I’ve got an idea. Will you leave Scootaloo here with Big Macintosh? I’ve got to go find Victory Belle so I can ask him what he thinks of my plan…”

Roller nodded. She glared down at her foal. “Scootaloo… oh, you’ve gotten yourself and me into a heap of trouble, young filly!”

About an hour later, Apple Laurel returned with Sweetie Belle. The pegasus filly sported a tanned hide. The heiress made sure all three fillies were present. Granny Smith had since returned, but had retired early with the help of Red Gala.

“Here is your punishment,” the orange mare began. “You are to try a different activity from this day forward until you get your cutie mark. You are to report directly to Rainbow Joy on your progress; I know she has enough knowledge on activities to be able to tell what you’re making up and what you’re not. This will be profitable for everyone. You will learn that a cutie mark is not just a sign of fate, but the symbol of a pony who has done enough soul searching to discover where their best place in life is and what they should do from here on out. You will also help with Rainbow Joy’s extensive research. There’s very little work out on the exact process of cutie mark acquisition.”

Applebloom’s face fell. Chores, social exercises, school work, and this?! She would never have any free time again. All the work she had done into building a name for herself was ruined and now she doubted she would have time to work on it ever again.

Scootaloo only nodded passively. She wasn’t missing much, though she feared that as time wore on she would grow desperate for the freedom her little scooter provided.

Sweetie Belle was the most upset. She normally spent the afternoons learning her sister’s trade. She doubted Special would let them in her shop during their punishment. It could be years before Sweetie Belle actually worked at Carousel Spa again!

“Dismissed,” the heiress nickered. “Big Macintosh, please see that Stem escorts our guests home safely.”

“Eeyup,” the red stallion muttered, turning to herd the two non-Apples away.

Applebloom slowly climbed the stairs that led to her room. Winona didn’t even lift her head from her basket to note the yellow filly’s passing.

Comments

[MONSTERmama]

ALRIGHT~ heads up on the new chapter. Somethings are left up to your imagination on purpose.
And, nooooo~ Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon aren't the victims, it's more like... uh well...

[DarthPony]

ANOTHER MANE 6 ARE SWICHED WITH EACH OTHER FIC. DOESN'T THIS SITE HAVE ENOUGH ALREADY?

Obviously the answer is HELL NO!!!!!

I'll read it and I'll (hopefully) love it!!!

[Grey Warden]

I will read later got to get to class.

[MONSTERmama]

1732954

Wat. Not sure if angry...?

[DarthPony]

1733709 I'll give you a challange: Google Translate Portuguese to English this: (Eu gosto da fic. Vou ler)

[MONSTERmama]

1733762

... /translate
...!
Okey dokey lokey~