Chapter 3: The Competition
Time has passed throughout the summer. Apple Bloom was able to continue her apprentice job with Zecora with no further trouble. With the zebra's permission, the filly begins introducing her skills with her tools and potions to work on a mystery potion: a project called a "Cutie Mark Predictor" which has the power to predict what foal gets cutie mark before he or she even gets it.
Apple Bloom put potions in some parts with Zecora pushing up panels onto a big metal machine on it. The mare puts in doors to use to make an entrance and exit for ponies to get out of. The machine's power? It's friendship!
As time drags off, things happened with the Mane Six and Spike being busy. First they were dealing with bad guys from another universe and then dealing with a variety of supposed "emergency calls". And trust me folks, they are still recovering from the Dark Water incident.
Fortunately, thanks to help from their friends, the Mane Six recovered fully, now able to continue their task of helping Equestria and spreading friendship throughout Equestria.
Soon the time has come for the tinkering competition. Big Mac helped in pulling the project to the auditorium where the tinker's competition towards the end of summer is taking place. Apple Bloom smiles in anticipation. All her hard work has indeed built up for this!
Both siblings as well as Zecora look in the auditorium. More tinkerers are there with their projects, all of them are eager and determined to show off their hard work.
"Man, this looks like we got a tough competition this year. I don't even know if we can score 3rd place, even much less to get 1st place." Apple Bloom spoke with worry in seeing the fierce tinkerers & their works; maybe they might not reach the top three best tinkerers.
"Do not feel discourage, my little friend. Whether we win or lose, it’s how the game is played." Zecora spoke in rhyme, to say something to calm the mind.
"I'm not following." Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow in what she heard.
"To help a friend, is a friend indeed. I simply wish to offer my service to help any friend in need." Zecora simply says this, in what may be the way to follow through.
"So you want to show everyone at the competition cause you wanna be supportive than just winning?" Apple Bloom slowly was saying in what she was following.
"What is fair for me, is what is fair to other. If what you bring is something you feel is good for you, then it's better to share for others with compassion than simply doing it for profit." Zecora pointed off to say this as she wishes to share what she has for everyone to bear-witness, then others that wanna make quick cash.
"Thanks Zecora, that's a really nice way to picture it." Apple Bloom smiled to nod in agreeing to what the girl was saying.
"Try your best, Apple Bloom. Applejack and I will be in the audience." Big Macintosh said to Apple Bloom with a nod as he unhook himself before heading off.
"Oh, I will, Big Mac, I will."
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As the competition started, Rumble was the first to show his project.
"Mr. Rumble, what do you got for us?" A Pegasus judge asked curiously.
"I called it a "Wind Blaster", instant wind without Pegasus power. Watch." Rumble said as he pushed the switch.
Without warning, a blast of wind blasted everyone back. Some flew or teleported to avoid getting blown away. Rumble struggled until he could shut it off.
"Uh, good, good display." The judge said bewildered as he brushed his mane back to normal.
The audience applauded their hooves as Rumble and his invention left.
"All right, now then, next is Mr. Tender Taps." The judge said, bringing in the next contestant.
Apple Bloom grinned as a friend she and her friends once helped came up with some sort of robot.
"This is something I made called a "Dancing Bot"." Tender Taps announced proudly as he gestured to a robot that looked oddly like Apple Bloom. "It helped foals who want to dance!"
"Hmm, interesting." The judge said, interested at what Tender described, "But does it work, I wonder?"
Tender smiled as he flipped the switch. The robot came to life and began to tap dance. Tender Taps smiled as he danced along.
The audience and judges watched as Tender Taps and the robot dance just like the colt did on the day he got his cutie mark. The demonstration looked impressive.
When it's all over, the robot slid with Tender Taps in front of the audience, making a big finale that earn applause.
"Most impressive!" One of the judges exclaimed with a smile.
Apple Bloom gulped, getting nervous. Zecora patted her apprentice, saying, "Courage, my friend. Courage."
"Next is Miss Apple Bloom." The judge said.
Apple Bloom breathed in and out and pushed her machine out onto the stage. It's show time.
The filly cleared her throat and spoke to the audience, "Folks. Ever done be curious what your foal's cutie mark could be? Even by guessing? Well, my Cutie Mark Predictor has the power to predict what foal gets cutie mark before he or she even gets it. Now Ah need a volunteer from the audience."
"I'll do it!" says a voice. It came from a cream-colored Pegasus filly with a white muzzle and a short orange mane and tail who wore an orange shirt and blue bow as she came onto the stage.
"Ah, yes. We never done met before, right?" Apple Bloom asked the filly with a smile.
"Nope." The filly giggled. "My name is Creamy Dreamy, I just moved here with mommy."
"Miss Dreamy, who I never worked with until now has agreed to assist me in this." Apple Bloom explains. "Will you hope onto the platform, Creamy?"
Creamy nodded as she got onto the platform, facing the entrance.
"Nice hopping." Apple Bloom commented.
"Thank you." Creamy said with a cute smile, which reminded Apple Bloom greatly of her friend Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom pushed a button. Creamy finds herself pushed by the sliding walkway into the machine.
"Now then, Creamy will appear in this window." Apple Bloom explained, motioning to a window on the machine. Creamy appeared in the image, waving. "Now, Creamy? Ah will activate this thing. You will feel something tingly but nothing harmful. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Apple Bloom." Creamy said with a nod.
"And now..." Apple Bloom motioned to Featherweight who flew in, he was asked to assist in this. "Pull the lever, Featherweight."
Featherweight nodded as he pulled the lever....causing a trapdoor underneath Apple Bloom to open before she fell in.
"WRONG LEVEEEEERRRRRR!" Apple Bloom is heard screaming before a crashing noise is heard.
"Huh?" Featherweight asked, confused by this as everyone else is.
Apple Bloom came back in, dusting herself off while groaning, "Why did I even put in that lever? Excuse me, Featherweight."
Featherweight moved aside as Apple Bloom pulled the right lever. The machine came to life as potions got pumped in. Creamy paused, yelping as she felt some tingles in her. Fortunately, it wasn't harmful.
The audience gasped as Creamy shined a bit, before a flash appeared. Soon, what appeared to be a blue character was shown on her flank. The audience applauded excitedly for this.
"Wow! My cutie mark!" Creamy exclaimed in excitement.
"Folks, according to this, Miss Dreamy is destined to care for whatever this little guy." Apple Bloom said, chuckling as the cutie mark disappeared. "Of course, as Twilight told me, magic doesn't help give you a cutie mark. It must be earned or discovered. But Miss Dreamy will one day find that destiny."
"Wow! After seeing this, I think I want to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Creamy said excitedly.
"Well done, Miss Bloom, well done." The judge said, applauding with everyone. "This could help many future cutie mark finders for centuries to come."
Apple Bloom gave a proud squee. Looks like her demonstration was a hit!
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Soon the show is over, the awards are given out. Apple Bloom grins as she left the auditorium with her ribbon: "First Place". The cutie mark machine was a big success that there has been some offers to manufacture one. Though Apple Bloom refuses them all because, to her, it's a once in a lifetime event.
"Great work, little sis." Applejack said, hugging Apple Bloom proudly. "I'm done proud of ya."
"Eeyup!" Big Macintosh said with a nod of agreement.
"Shucks, thanks, big sis." Apple Bloom said with a giggle. "I got a good teacher and some good help."
"Hey, Apple Bloom." Creamy Dreamy giggles as she comes over. "Thanks for that demonstration that I am happy to be a part of."
"Same here. Hey, listen. We're done always looking for some new Cutie Mark Crusaders. So tomorrow, my friends and I can get you in."
"Really?! Oh, thank you!"
"Come on, sis." Applejack chuckles as she motions her sister away. "Time to go on. You had one busy day."
"Hang on, I will catch up with you." Apple Bloom said. She just spotted her mentor Zecora preparing to head on home. The little filly heads on over, the zebra stops long enough to give her a hug. "Hey, thanks for everything."
"You're welcome, Apple Bloom." Zecora said with a smile. "It's great you won first place without doom."
"So wait, you're rhyming again?"
"I decided to give it another try. Best not to ask me why."
"I won't." Apple Bloom said with a smile. She pauses, giving a thoughtful look. "Say, out of curiosity...can I still help you out after school sometimes?
Zecora smiles, hugging Apple Bloom as she said, "It will be a pleasure, my friend. Let's hope this friendship never ends."
Apple Bloom giggles as she heads off with her siblings. Zecora smiles as she heads off to her home in the Everfree Forest. Looks like it will be another eventful Equestrian year.
The End