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// Cutie Mark 
// Story: Element of Courage 
// by AmbitiousPony 
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Cutie Mark



1 Year later


Cutie marks, branded on each older ponys' flanks marking the special talent of said pony. The lesson became central on this topic, how ponies got them and what they symbolized. Violet glanced at her blank flank with a face of disappointment and fear. 
"What if i don't have a special talent? Maybe my parents dying caused my cutie mark to never come out." she thought silently. Her eyes glanced frantically around the classroom spying the other fillies' and colts' flanks, noticing everyone in her class, including her friends, had their cutie marks. 
Grape saw Violet's wide eyes and looked at her curiously, wondering what in the hay she was looking at. She followed her eyes and found her own flank with her wine glass cutie mark, Grape met Violet's eyes and whispered, "Are you alright?" Violet's thoughts were interrupted by the question and she focused on her friends' concerned looks. 
"O-of cour-rse, I'm f-fine guys!" she stuttered. "W-why wouldn-n't I be?" Grape and Cocoa looked each other and back at the shaking unicorn. "Violet, you are not fine. What are you so afraid of?" Violet's eyes widen in realization. She was afraid, afraid of not getting her cutie mark and being different from the others. 
The teacher, Miss Sugar, noticed Grape's and Cocoa's worried looks directed towards their friend. "Is there something you wish to add, Grape and Cocoa?" Miss Sugar asked, cutting through the silent conversation going on in Violet's head. "No, Miss Sugar, we were just wondering how does somepony figure out what their talent is?"asked Grape. Miss Sugar smiled at the question, but wondered why they would be asking, "Well ponies usually find their talent doing something they're good at or what they know how to do." 
Violet pondered the answer, "Do I have something i'm good at? The only thing i'm good at is not talking and i have been doing that forever!" She silently shouted. "But why may I ask why you're asking? You two already have your cutie marks." asked Miss Sugar. Grape glanced over at Violet, who looked lost in her mind, wondering if she should tell the teacher or not. 
"Well, Violet doesn't have her cutie mark yet and i was wondering if Cocoa and I could help her get her's." Suddenly every pair of eyes were on Violet and her flank. Violet's thoughts were stopped by a feeling of apprehension flooding her senses. She realized that all eyes in the classroom were on her and her flank. 
"She's a BLANK FLANK!" shouted a filly in the front, making the whole class laugh. Miss Sugar, Grape, Cocoa, and Violet sat in shock as the laughter echoed throughout the room. Violet sank into her seat, trying to disappear from sight. "HEY!" Shouted Cocoa, "Don't laugh at Violet, you were blank flanks too!" The laughter immediately stopped and everyone just stared at the almost-as-quiet-as-Violet filly. 
Violet whispered quietly, "It's okay Cocoa, i don't mind being a blank flank. It just means i can still find what I'm good at." She smiled a fake smile at her friend. Everyone then became silent once more. The rest of the class realized that was their cue to go back to the lesson while Grape peered at her friend recognizing the fake smile and began to question her quietly again.
"So after school, do you want to go try to find out what your good at? It could be anything! Maybe Singing or Dancing or  Acting!" whispered loudly by Grape. Violet's eyes moved quickly around the room for an escape but sadly found none. 


After Class


Violet raced out of the classroom, hoping to beat her pursuers, in the concrete jungle that is Manehatten. She looked behind her in hopes of them being far behind but was met with a sight that surprised her. Her Pursuers were down the street but quickly gaining, Violet willed her eyes forward in an attempt to find a hiding place. What she found was the forest on the edge of the big city, a forest that terrifies young ponies, like Grape and Cocoa. 
The Everfree Forest was like her secondary home, besides the her room at the orphanage, this was the only other place that she felt completely safe. She had traveled several times in there, almost reaching the town on the other side, apparently named Ponyville. She sprinted the last remaining feet into the trees, bursting through only to be met by a terrifying sight.
Grape saw Violet jump through the foliage of the forest and knew she must continue her pursuit of the easily scared pony. The only thing that was stopping her from doing so was Cocoa who was absolutely petrified at even the name of the forest. She took a quick look to her accomplice and knew that even though Cocoa was scared she would still follow her friend. They dove through the bushes and quickly found Violet. 
Violet stood frozen, staring at some unseen danger, hidden in the deeper part of the forest. She felt bodies beside her and notice her friends had caught up with her. "No, they can't be here! I've put them in danger!" she scolded herself silently while her friends tried to get her attention.
"Violet, what's the matter?" asked a concerned Grape. "What is it? A G-G-GHOST!?" shouted a terrified Cocoa. Violet suddenly began to turn to her friends and as she opened her mouth to speak, a low growl was heard from where she stared.  Two white eyes peered out from the shadows, cast by the trees, looking fierce and hungry. "RUN!" shouted Violet and the two friends turned to start but was suddenly pinned by a massive paw that had jetted out from the darkness. 
Petrified, Violet stayed in place a couple feet away, staring at the now frantic fillies, trapped under the translucent paw. "A Canis Major!" she gasped internally. A Colossal wolf formed with the paw, shining in the sunlight, now aware of the two young ponies trapped underneath it's paw. Another growl was heard and the wolf began to apply pressure to the paw, squishing the two ponies. Violet began to look around frantically for something to distract the gargantuan wolf. She hoped- no, wished, to find something to make the wolf leave.    
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared and a gigantic rainbow filled the sky, making the wolf and the distraught pony look to the sky. The light from the rainbow reflected off every shiny object in the vicinity, making a particular one stand out to Violet.
A sword laid in the grass, a couple feet away from the little pony. Violet thanked Celestia for hearing her wish and began to use magic on the sword to lift it. The wolf, momentarily distracted by the burst of light, now had his focus back to his paw, making the small fillies whimper and cry out in pain. The sword stayed where it sat until a cry from Cocoa drove Violet to lift it with all her might. A purple aura surrounded the sword and it levitated off the ground. Violet smiled and pulled the sword next to her, preparing to swing. 
Fear then engulf her heart and made her pause. "I can't do it. I'm too afraid of the creature." she told herself. The sword dropped with a clang. She began to search inside herself for something to make the fear go away. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." she heard echoed through her brain. Violet lifted the sword once again and above her, ready to charge. 
"Alright Dad, don't let your words of wisdom let me down!" She shouted out loud which made the wolf notice her and relieve the pressure on the ponies. She galloped straight for him, the sword brought back in full swing, it reached out and hit the wolf on the leg. Pain exploded from the leg which made the wolf lift it in the air in hurt, Violet returned the growl to the wolf who crouched in fear of this tiny but formidable opponent. Grape and Cocoa limped to her side and safely retreated behind her. 
"Now Mr.Major, do you have anything you wish to say for yourself?" shouted a enraged Violet who still had the sword pointed at the Wolf. "You attack my friends and hurt them, only to have your leg hit by a sword! I'm sorry for hitting you but you really have to pay attention on who you attack. They were just little ponies who couldn't hurt a fly!" Violet lowered the sword down to the ground. "Now say you're sorry and go back to your family, i'm sure they are worried sick about you." she said at last. The wolf stood and whimpered an apology which afterwards took off into the deeper parts of the forest. 
Violet who now no longer had control of the sword, dropped it, her face contorted in sadness and fear. Grape and Cocoa just stood and stared at the brave hero in front of them. "Violet..." She heard her name and turned to see her friends surprised faces. "You saved us! and you faced a Canis Major just to save us!" shouted a shaken but excited Grape. "You use this sword and hit the wolf right in the leg! POW! You even stood up to him and told him to apologize!" Said a ecstatic Cocoa. 
"Yes she did." said a calm, regal voice who belong to none other than Princess Celestia, herself. The three ponies gasped at the sight of the beautiful white coat and multi-colored mane which flowed just right. They bowed to the Princess who stood waiting. "Violet Flame, you showed Courage in the face of danger and faced a formidable enemy who threatened the very lives of your friends, your actions will be remembered throughout time." Celestia said to the shaking unicorn. 
"You saw the whole thing, Princess?" asked Violet. "Of course, my little pony, I was over in the meadow when i saw the Wolf and your friends. I meant to intervene when i saw you charge the wolf with a courageous look on your face. When i paused to look, you had already struck the creature and told him to go away." smiled Celestia. Violet smiled and stood straighter in pride. 
"Violet! Look! Your Flank!" Shouted her friends. Her eyes followed theirs to her flank and there, she saw a sword that looked like the one she used but with a purple flame shooting out from the handle to the tip. "My Cutie Mark!" Violet screamed. "I got it! It's a sword!" She shouted with glee. Celestia smiled and peered at the unique cutie mark as well. "What do you think it means?" asked Violet to her friends who looked on with confused faces. "I don't know." said Grape who scratched her head. Violet looked at Cocoa but she seemed unknowing as well. 
"It's a cutie mark to symbolize your ability with swords." said Celestia who scanned the filly's face for realization. Violet's smile widened at the knowledge. She was good at swords, of course, no wonder she couldn't figure out her talent, it was with a weapon! Celestia realized a great opportunity for this young pony. "Violet, with your new cutie mark, it is only fitting that I ask you to come to Canterlot with me and train to become part of the royal guard. Not many places in Manehatten could offer that kind of training to you." 
Violet jaw dropped at the offer now presented to her. She could become somepony! She could finally have someplace to belong! She was about to shout yes when Grape interrupted her. "Wait! You want Violet to go away with you?! No way! She belongs here!" Grape glared at the Princess. Violet looked from her friends to the princess. She had to go to Canterlot, it was a great opportunity for a pony like her. But she couldn't leave her friends. She was Torn between the two decisions! If she didn't go, she would be miserable but if she went, they would lose her! "Hold on!" said Cocoa who looked at Violet with wonder and hope. "If she stays here, Grape, she'll be miserable! She lives at the orphanage and she gets made fun of by the rest of the class! It's like asking her to give up on her dream!"
Celestia's eyes widen at the new information. "This filly lives in the orphanage! She would have a much better life, in a home with a the guards." Grape absorbed the knowledge that she would be making Violet miserable, just to keep herself happy. "Violet, don't listen to me. Go with the princess. If your happy there, I'm happy." smiled Grape who eyes now filled with tears. Violet hugged Grape and Cocoa, saying her goodbyes. "Alright Princess, I accept your offer." Violet beamed at the princess who lovingly smiled back.
As the sunset, Violet stood next to the princess who prepared to teleport to Canterlot, Violet smiled seconds before the flash of magic thinking that her life was about to change forever.