Team Harmony

by Norwegian boy


Cutie Mark Is What She Wants

A cutie mark, it represents a pony talent. They usually get early in life or they get it later in life, I think age twelve. I don’t really care about this stuff, considering I am not a pony. But, it’s important for the ponies in Equestria and it’s important for the young generation.

It’s been two weeks since the winter wrap up and spring is here, yay. When I introduced Falco to the girls it was mix reactions; Sunset, Twilight and AJ actually like him, which is good. Rarity didn’t like his attitude, which I counted on. He scared Shy, I knew that. He actually got along well with Ace, I didn’t see that coming. Pinkie like him, I did see that coming. Then we have Dash, those two did not get alone. As soon as Dash brag that she was the best flyer in Equestria Falco question her logic, he ask if she had challenge every pony in Equestria and won, Dash didn’t have any reply for that and they were enemies, in way. Pinkie threw Falco a party, there were no alcohol so he didn’t like the party.

Shadow wasn’t that happy that Falco was staying with use, but I assured her that he wasn’t dangerous, it help a little. When it comes to Shadow, she had to start school and there is where this story start, on the way to school.

When I told Shadow that she had to attend to school, she wasn’t that happy. She had try every method to not go to school, I won’t tell everything but what happened now was probably the worst. I was walking through the town, I was trying to. Shadow was clung to my leg for some reason. “Please Fox, I don’t want to go to school, why can’t Sunset and Twilight teach me?” She have been saying that for most part since we left.

“For the last time Shadow, you have to school. Education is important and besides, those two aren’t qualified to teach you.” I have been saying that ever since we left the house. I stopped, and she let go of my leg, I bent down, so I could see into her eye. “Listen Shadow, I am your legal guardian and that means I am responsible for you. You may think that school and education is a waste of time, I thought so when I was way younger that you.”

That got her attention. “You did?” I nodded. “Did you go to school?”

“Yes, there was something I wanted to be when I was old enough that needed an education. I didn’t like but I went to school, I got my education and eventually I achieved my dream.”

“What was your dream?”

“Even if I told you, you might not believe me. But back to the school part.” That made her groan. I had to think of something and then I got an idea. “Tell me, you want to be a Lunar guard when you are old enough, am I right?” She nodded. “Then you need an education, I don’t think they will take inn a bat pony who didn’t go to school.”

She thought about what I said. “I never thought about it that way.” She then look down on the ground for a couple seconds and then back to me. “Okay, I will go to school.” That made me smile. “But I don’t know anypony there.”

“That’s not true, Applebloom will be there and you are friends with her.”

She rubbed her arm. “That’s true.” She said with a smile.

“Come one.” I said while getting up. “You don’t want to be late for your first day.” And white that we walked towards the school.

When we arrived at the school, we could see Cheerilee standing outside the school house, we walk to her. “Hello Cheerilee, we aren’t late are we.”

She gave us a smile. “No, you are the last one.” She then look at Shadow, who was hiding behind me. Cheerilee gave her a warm smile. “Hello Shadow, my name Cheerilee and I am your teacher.”

Shadow didn’t answer her, so I nudge her. “Come on Shadow, say hello.”

“Hello.” She said it so love that she could be Fluttershy’s little sister.

“I’m sorry, I guess she a little shy.” I decided to push her in front of me, then I bent down. “Try and behave today and I promise that I will wait for you outside the school when it’s over and we will go and by something at Sugarcube corner.” I told her.

“Do you promise?”

“I always keep my promises.” I told her with a smile, then she did something I didn’t think she would do, she gave me a hug. I did the only thing I could do, hug her back. “You better.” I could help but chuckle off what she said.

Fox let go off Shadow and said goodbye to her and Cheerilee as he walk towards the town, leaving Shadow alone with Cheerilee.

Cheerillee look at Shadow. “Ready to go inside?”

Shadow wasn’t ready. “Not really.”

Cheerilee put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, you will be fine. Now, let’s go inside.” They went inside.

Once inside, Shadow looked around and what she saw was a bunch of different kids. She saw Applebloom, who waved at her, Shadow waved back. She didn’t know the rest of them, then she saw a purple earth pony with a tiara on her head. Shadow couldn’t help but question why she was wearing a tiara and how stupide it looked on her, and somehow Shadow knew right away that she would be trouble.

“Alright class, settle down.” Then all the kids looked at Cheerillee and Shadow, Shadow just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappeared when all eyes were on her. “This is Shadow, and she will be starting school today, I hope that you all will welcome her with open arms.” All the children look at her with curious eyes, Shadow just wanted to leave. “There’s a free seat beside Applebloom, why don’t you take a seat, so we get started.” Shadow just nodded and walked towards her desk.

As she walked to her desk the children gave looks and started to whisper between themselves. Shadow knew that bat ponies wasn’t infamous because they supported Luna a thousand years ago, but she didn’t know it was so bad. She sat down on the chair, put her bag bedside it and just rested her head on the desk. She didn’t even notice Applebloom worried look.

Applebloom was about to ask if she was okay but then Cheerillee started to talk. “Let’s quiet down please, we have a very important lesson to get to.” She told them while walking to a board, the children became quiet. “Thank you, today, we are going to be talking about cutie mark.”

When Shadow heard that she lift her head up from her desk, just as Applebloom, Shadow didn’t have hers and she want to learn everything she could how to get one. “Boring.” Shadow look to her left to see who said that and it was the pony with the tiara on her head. Shadow didn’t understand why learning about cutie marks could be boring. She then saw Applebloom find a pen and some paper, probably to take notes. Shadow just decided to watch.

“You can’t see my cutie mark but as all ponies, I wasn’t born with one.” She then showed them picture when she was little.

“Awwwee, sheth tho prehious.” Said a filly who was sitting in front of Applebloom, she was white whit red hair.

“Then one day, when I was about your age, I woke up to find that a cutie mark had appeared.” Then Cheerillee showed them another picture, this time Cheerillee was older, about Shadow’s age.

Shadow couldn’t help but giggle when she was her hair, it was sig saget and she was wearing bracelet on her teeth.

“Look at her hair.” Said a filly, then the class erupted in laughter. Shadow was glad that she wasn’t the only one that thought it was funny.

Cheerillee just rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know, but that’s how everypony was wearing their mane back then.” She then showed them a picture with three flowers with smiles faces. “This is my cutie mark and when I got it I decided to become a teacher, the flowers symbolize my hope to help my students bloom if I nurture them with knowledge. The smiles represent the cheer I hope to bring to the ponies while they were learning.” Shadow notice that Applebloom was writing on the paper, she also saw the filly on her right was just bored, she was looking at her nails. Shadow just rolled her eyes off her behavior. “Now, can anyone tell me when a pony gets his or her cutie mark?”

The filly in front of Applebloom raised her hand. “Ooh, ooh, when she dithcoverths that her thertain different from every other pony.”

“That’s right Twist. A cutie mark appears on a pony’s flank when he or she finds that certain something that makes them different from every pony.”

Shadow was trying to listen to Cheerillee but then she heard some noise to her left, she saw the pony with tiara hand something to Applebloom, it was a note. Shadow didn’t understand why but then saw the pony on her right wanted that note.

Applebloom took it and was about to pass it on to her when Cheerillee said something. “Applebloom, are you passing a note?” Applebloom dropped the note, she then had trouble saying something. “What could be so important that it couldn’t wait until after class.” Cheerillee asked her while walking towards her, she then picked it up. “It’s blank.” She walked back to her desk with the blank note.

Then the pony with tiara started to laugh. “Remined you of anypony.” Then the hole class started to laugh of Applebloom, Shadow just look at the pony with a shocked expression. Why would someone do that? They only thing Shadow could think of is that the purple pony had cutie mark, either way, that was just wrong. It was official, Shadow did not like that pony.

When it was lunch time, Shadow tried to see if she could find Applebloom. She saw her sitting under a tree with a sad face. Shadow walk over to her. “Hey, Applebloom. You okay?”

Applebloom shocked her head. “No, I don’t understand why Diamond Tiara did that to me. passing me blank note.”

Diamond Tiara, so that’s her name. “I think she did that because she already have gotten her mark.”

That made Applebloom’s eyes widen. “She already got her cutie mark?” She then threw her arms up in frustration. “Oh, come on.” That was the wrong thing to say.

Meanwhile on other side of Ponyville.

I had found one of the local restaurant to have a cup of coffee, I would have chosen Sugarcube corner, but I need some free from Pinkie. I have nothing against her but sometimes I need some time off her, she can be a pain in my ass sometimes or all the time.

I was enjoying my coffee when someone talk to me. “Hello Fox.” I looked up and saw Blitz standing not far from me, I just waved at her considering I was drink from my cup. “May I join you?”

I put my cup down. “Sure, I have no problem with that.”

That made her smile. “Thanks.” She walk to my table and sat down on the other chair, she put down a bag down beside the chair. She leaned her back and let out a heavy sighed. “Shopping for food is so exhausting.” I couldn’t help but laugh a little of what she said. She then looked at me. “So, what are you doing here?”

“Just killing time until school is finished, I promised Shadow to take her to Sugarcube corner when school is over.”

Blitz smiled when heard that. “Ah yes, I remember my first day. I was not popular, that’s for sure.” Then a waiters came over and asked if Blitz wanted something, she just order a glass of water. “It can’t be easy when you are a bat pony.” I know that bat ponies help Luna a thousand years ago, thanks to that they aren’t the most popular ponies in Equestria. It can’t be easy for Shadow.

“No, it can’t be easy for her or others, but I have a feeling how she feels.”

She tilted her head to the side. “What do mean?” She then put a hand to her mouth. “Oh right, that day you arrived here in Ponyville.” I nodded. “Applejack and Rarity told me about it, that couldn’t be easy.”

“No, it was not. But they warmed up to me instead of chasing me out of the town.” After that I didn’t want to talk anymore, I paid for my coffee and walked off. Blitz was confused when I walk off, that’s for sure but I didn’t care. I decided to walk around town before I was to pick up Shadow at school.

Once school was over Shadow, Applebloom and a pony named Twist was out of the schoolhouse, Twist was chipper while Applebloom hang with her head, Shadow was worried for her.

“You want some thweeths? I got thome peppermint thticks. I made them myself.”

Applebloom just shook her head. “Mm mm.”

Twist tried again. “They make you smile.”

“No.” Applebloom said with sadness in her voice.

This worried Shadow. “What’s wrong Applebloom?”

Before she could answer, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon came walking up behind them, talking. “I don’t see why we had sit through a lecture about getting a cutie mark. I mean, waiting for a cutie mark is so last week. You got your.” Silver Spoon held her head high as soon as Diamond Tiara said that. “And I just got mine, we all have them… well, almost all of us.” She just gloated over Shadow and the rest, it made her sick. “Don’t worry you three, you’re still totally invited to my cutecinera later today.” Shadow wondered what the hell was a cutecinera.

Silver Spoon. “It’s going to be amazing.”

“It’s going to be a party to celebrate me and my fantastic cutie mark. How can it not be?” Said Diamond Tiara. Shadow didn’t listen to them anymore, she was ready to throw up.

“Give me a break.” Applebloom said under her breath.

Silver Spoon said goodbye as she and Diamond Tiara started to walk off. “See you this weekend. Blank flanks.” They said that last part together while looking back at Shadow and the others.

Little did they know that they walked right into something, they stumbled back a little. “Hey, watch were…” Diamond Tiara’s word died in her mouth when she saw who they had pump into, Fox McCloud.

“What do we have here? A couple of bullies? That can’t be right, this town should be a place with nice ponies.” I place a hand under my chin to ‘think.’ “So, what are you two doing?” I look at the two brats in front of me and they were scared of me which is weird, considering I had normal face and not a scary one. I didn’t talk in a threatening voice.

Diamond Tiara recover fast. “What do you want fox? This doesn’t concern you.” Brave one, this one is.

“Oh really?” I bent down and grabbed both of them by their sweater and pulled them closer to me. “Now you two listen to me, I heard that you two decided to make fun of my daughter and her friends and there one thing I can’t tolerate is bullies. If you two don’t want me to do something I regret I suggest that you stop bulling them, got it?” I said everything in a threating voice but not to threating, they are still kids. It worked, both of them was terrified.

“Are you threating me? do you know who my father is?” Diamond Tiara is braver than I thought.

“I am fully aware who your father is and I don’t care, what I care about is when someone is bulling. Now, get lost.” I let go of them and they ran away, probably to tell their parents. Did it feel good to threaten children? No. I just hate bullies.

Then Shadow and the other came walking towards me, Applebloom had a big smile on her face. “That was awesome Fox, you really showed them.” Her smiled dropped when she saw that I didn’t smile.

“That wasn’t awesome Applebloom, nothing good comes out when you bulling others.” I don’t think that they understand what I said, they were just confused. “Enough of that, ready to go to Sugarcube corner Shadow?”

“Actually, I was wondering if I could hang out Applebloom.”

I did not expect that. “Sure, as long as you home before it gets dark, I don’t mind. Did you get any homework today?”

“No, we don’t get homework on the first day.” I should have seen that one coming.

“Okay then, let me take your bag and then you can have fun with Applebloom.” She gave me her bag and they went their separate ways. Twist went home to help her mom while Applebloom and Shadow went to Sweet apple, leaving me alone and a little hurt. I had actually looked forwards to spend some time with Shadow, I guess that’s not going to happened. There’s one thing I could do, so I walk off to do that.

After arriving at my destination, which was a house, I knocked on the door and waited. It didn’t take long before it Blitz opened the door, she was surprised to see me. “Fox, what a surprised, what are you doing here?”

“I am here to apologize for what I did before, I shouldn’t have storm off like I did.” Then I bowed. “I apologize.” After few seconds I lift my head a little and saw that Blitz gave me a confusing look, she was wondering what the hell I was doing. “What? Did I do something wrong?”

She shocked her head. “No, I just didn’t expect that kind of apologize, that’s all.” I got up. “What are you doing here anyway? You told me that you were taking Shadow to Sugarcube corner.”

“That was the plan but the plan chance when Shadow wanted to hang out with Applebloom.” She nodded in understanding. “Do you want to come with me to Sugarcube corner instead?”

After that, Blitz gave me a joyful smile. “My, are you asking me out on a date Fox McCloud?”

I knew she was teasing me, and I hate it when other do that to me, I just looked at her with half lid eye. “No, I thought I should buy you something to eat after what I did before, but if you don’t want to, that’s okay with me.” I started to ‘walk’ away.

“Wait.” I didn’t get very far. “I would love to join you, just let me get my keys.” I watch her disappeared into the house and while I was waiting, I kept think how beautifully she was. I haven’t have a real date since I broke up with Cheerilee and that was about eight months ago. I wanted to date someone again, but I am afraid to get hurt again and I haven’t have the best date record. Maybe I should try again and hope that I have better luck this time. “Here we go.” She said while walking out and locking the door, she then walk to me. “Let’s go.” I just nodded, and we walk towards Sugarcube corner.

Meanwhile on Sweet apple acers, Applebloom had dragged Shadow there and she had complained all the way there. Eventually they found Applejack and her little sister still complained.

Applejack was picking up apple’s from the ground and putting them in a basket, Shadow was helping her, Applebloom one the other hand. “It’s not fair, it’s just not fair.”

“Don’t get your mane in a tangle, you’ll get your cutie mark, everypony get one eventually.” Applejack told her sister.

It didn’t help. “But I don’t want one eventually, I want one right now. I can’t go to Diamond Tiara’s cutecinera without one and neither can Shadow.”

Applejack look at Shadow to find out what a cutecinera was. “Diamond Tiara it’s holding a party to celebrate that she got her cutie mark.” Applejack nodded.

She turned to her sister. “Off course you can go without a cutie mark. You know, I was the last one in my class to earn a cutie mark and I couldn’t be prouder of it. I knew my future was to help to run Sweet apple acres and my cutie mark seal the deal. Come to think about it, Granny Smith was the last one in her class to, so was Big Mac.”

That did not help Applebloom’s mood, she was walk to the basket and kicked an apple on the way there. “I really don’t see how that’s supposed to make me feel better.” She sat down and laid her head in the basket. “It probably means that being the last one in your class to get a cutie mark runs in the family.” Shadow had just watch and felt bad for Applebloom, then her friend lifted her head and Shadow could see that Applebloom had an idea. “Runs in the family? Runs in the family.” She got more excited with each time she said that. “Runs in the family.” She got up and ran to her sister. “You got apples for your cutie mark, Granny Smith has an apple pie, Big Macintosh has an apple half, my unique talent must have something to do with apples.” She then started to jump up and down while saying. “Apples, apples, apples.” She then knocked over the bucket with apples that AJ and Shadow had collect. “Apples.” She then ran over to Shadow. “What about you Shadow? Maybe your cutie mark has something to with apples too.”

Shadow started to panic when she heard that. “What? I don’t a want a cutie mark that contains an apple, I’m a bat pony, don’t want to live on a farm for the rest of my life.” She looked at AJ. “No offence Applejack.” AJ just shrugged it off.

Applebloom had a selfies smile. “Oh right, I forgot.”

Applejack walked over to her sister and put a hand on her head. “If you really want to try getting your cutie mark with an apple, let’s try it.” That but a big smile on Applebloom. “I have to go into town and sell apples, let’s try that. You can come to Shadow.” Shadow wasn’t sure what she would be doing there, but it wasn’t like she had anything ells to do.

Meanwhile outside Sugarcube corner had just Fox and Blitz taken a seat with one tables there, it was so nice outside that they decided to sit outside, that and they wanted to get away from Pinkie.

“I’m telling you Fox, Rarity was wearing green clothes when she was younger.”

“Oh really, where’s the evidence? I want to see it before I believe it.” I asked Blitz while putting my food on the table and taking a seat on the chair.

“You can’t see the evidence, Rarity has burn the photos.” Blitz said while doing the same thing.

“And that’s why I don’t believe you, I have lived here almost a hole year and I have never seen Rarity wear anything green, until I see it for myself, I can’t believe you.” After that I took a bite of my hotdog. Yes, they have hotdogs here.

Blitz just watch in disgust as I ate it. “How can you eat that? Do you know what it comes from?”

I blinked a couples of time. “What? I am a carnivore, I need meat, or I can get sick, it’s not like I eat meat all the time, I also can eat vegetables and fruits.” She just looked at me for a few seconds and then she just shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of her cupcake.

Why Sugarcube corner has hotdogs? I asked them to sell them to me, I know, selling them for just me isn’t the best they could do but I was desperate. I could not catch any fish, I blame Shy for that part. Anyway, I said that I would pay for everything, they were a little hesitated at first but when they heard that I would pay everything they agreed, weird. But hey, I’m not complaining.

“So, Fox. Where are your parents here? Do they live in Ponyville or somewhere ells in Equestria.”

Not the question I would like to hear, I guess is best to give her the truth. Something tells me she is going to find out in the future. “Both are dead.” Her eyes widen when I said, I guess she didn’t expect a direct answer like that. “My mother died when I was eight year old and my father when I was fifteen.”

Her ears dropped. “I’m sorry to hear that, it can’t be easy to lose your parents like that.”

I just shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t think about it anymore, I have accept their dead long ago. There nothing I can do to bring them back.”

Again, she started at me with widen eyes. “That’s a grim way to look at it.”

“That’s only way I can look at it at the moment, they are both dead and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“I guess so.” She took a bite off the cupcake she had bought. “Maybe you are the lucky one.”

This time it was my time to react. “Why the hell did you say? Why are I lucky that my parents are dead?”

After I said that, Blitz put both hands on her mouth. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I…” She started to panic.

I better calm her down. “Blitz, relax and give me an explanation why you said that I was lucky that my parents are dead. Just so we are clear, that explanation better be a good one.” It better be.

She manged to calm herself down. “You see, my mother died two years ago.” Mow I felt bad for yelling at her.

“Sorry to hear that, how did she died?” I hope I didn’t say anything wrong now.

“She died of lung cancer.” I did say anything, I just let her continued. “We both were effect by her death, but my father were effect more than me, he buried himself in his job and he almost never slept.” Wow. I could hear every word was filled with sadness. “But then she came along.” Sadness was replace with venom.

“And who is she?”

“His new marefriend, a unicorn. Six months ago, she just walked into his life and now she is taking advantage of him.” I could hear the anger in her voice, she must really not like this mare.

“How do you know she is taking advantage of him?”

Blitz slammed her hand in the table, scaring some of the other ponies around us. “Because, when she want’s something my father just by to her, she is spending all off his money and she don’t care.” She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. “I tried to tell my father that she is using him but all he says is that she makes him happy.” She then snorted. “Yeah right.”

“Maybe it’s true.” She looked at me and tilted her head to the side. “Maybe she is making your father happy, why be angry at that. Your father is happy, isn’t that enough?”

She blinked a couple of times and then she sighed. “Maybe your right, maybe I am overreacting.” She took a bite of her cupcake, she just chewed, probably think of the whole thing. I decided not to say anything, jest let her think.

It didn’t take long before she decided to chance that subject. “Enough of me and my misery.” Your misery? Really? “How’s it going with you and Shadow? is doing alright whit you?”

“You can say that, she hasn’t called me dad yet, which is okay. Other that, she is doing well. Maybe still a little shy from time to time.”

“Give her time, she will come around.” Blitz then look at something behind. “Speak of the sun.”

I didn’t understand why she said that, so I decided to tool behind me and coming towards us was Shadow. She was dragging her feet with her and her head was hanging low, she also look sad.

“Hey kiddo, I thought that you were with Applebloom.” I asked her when she approached me.

She look at me with sadness. “I was but then she had to try and gey her cutie mark.”

Okay, that confused me. even Blitz was confused by that. “What do you mean by that?” I had to asked her.

“The whole thing started at school, but it really took off when we were going to help Applejack with selling apples…”

Shadow and the others had arrived at the marked in town to sell apples, well, Applejack and Applebloom. Shadow was just watching. They had set up shop not far from Sugarcube corner. Both sister was wearing a white apron.

Applejack was calling out to the ponies to buy. “Get your delicious nutritious apples here.”

Applebloom was just as enthusiasm as her sister, maybe even more. “Delicious and nutritious, and sooo many uses.” She tossed one apple up and then ate it with her mouth. “You can eat them, play with them.” She then took another apple and a tennis racket, where she got that from. She then threw it up in the air and then she hit the apple with the racket, unfortunately she hit someone. “Hey, watch it.”

She then took another apple. “Create fine art.” Threw it at blanked canvas, which a stallion was trying to paint, he was not happy for what just happened. “You have to be crazy for getting a bushel of your own.”

After that, Applejack pulled her back to her side. “She is so creative.”

Then a brown stallion walked by them, Applebloom sprang into action. “You sir.” She ran after the stallion. “Want some apples?” She asked with enthusiasm.

The stallion wasn’t interested.” No thanks.” He just keep on walking.

She then appeared in front of him. “Why not?”

The stallion was a little shocked that she appeared right in front of him. “I have plenty at home.” He told her while backing up.”

Applebloom appeared behind him, making him bump into her. “Are you sure?” She asked the stallion who started to get a little annoyed.

“Yes, am I pretty sure.”

He tried to walk away but Applebloom was right in face. “You are pretty sure, but you are not absolute positively super-duper sure are you.”

The stallion had had enough. “Alright already, I’ll by an apple.” He tossed some bites to Applejack who cladly took them, he then grabbed an apple and walked off with irritation on his face.

Applejack notice something, he paid too much. “You forgot your change.” It was to late, the stallion was already gone.

Applebloom cheered. “Woowoo, that is how you sell some apples and get a cutie mark.” Applejack look at her little sister with displeased, Applebloom didn’t notice. She was too busy. “I wonder what kind of cutie mark I got.” She open her pant to have a look, there was nothing there. “What? I didn’t get one? But I sold an apple.” Shadow, who was standing by the cart was not surprised. Applebloom place a hand to her chin. “Hmm, maybe we need to increase our sales figures first.” She walked over to Berry Bunch who was looking through some apples in a basket. Applebloom got in her face and managed to scare her at the same time. “You touch it you it, we take cash or credit.”

Applejack came up to a frighten Berry. “I am so sorry Berry.” I was no use, Berry ran away. “BERRY.” AJ sighed. “Now Applebloom, you can’t just…”

While AJ was talking, her sister was busy fill up Bonbon’s bag with apples. “That’s will be four bits.” Shadow just slap a hand on her face by the way her friend acted.

Bonbon wasn’t really happy by what Applebloom just did. “I didn’t put those in my bag.”

Applebloom gave her a suspicious look. “Likely story, four bits.”

Before her sister could say anything more, Applejack but both hands over her little sister mouth. “Applebloom.” She turned her attention to Bonbon. “I am really sorry about that, she is new. You just take those, no charge.” Bonbon was happy with that and walk away.

Once she was gone, Applejack look at her little sister with a disappointing look. “What?” Applebloom ask in confusion.

“I am sorry sis, but your selling days are over.” After she said that she grabbed the apron from her sister.

Applebloom was in shocked. “What? But how else are I am going to get my cutie mark?”

“Applebloom, home, now.” AJ stomp with one of her hoof on the ground with force, Applebloom just huff. AJ decided to try and say something. “Listen sugar cube, I know it’s hard to wait for your very own cutie mark, but you can’t force it. Besides, you’re not that grown up just yet. Aren’t there other fillies in your class that without one? Like Shadow.” Both look at the bat pony as she walked over to Applebloom and put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a smile.

“Twist doesn’t have her cutie mark yet.” Shadow told her.

Applebloom brighten up a little when she heard that. “There you go, you two can go with her at the party.”

“You are right sis, me and Shadow can go to the party with her. Come on Shadow.” Before Shadow could say anything, Applebloom grabbed her hand and dragged her towards Twist’s house.

When they arrived at Twist house, Applebloom knocked on the door and it didn’t take long before Twist opened the door. Well, the upper door. She gave them both a smile. “Oh, hey Applebloom and Shadow, whatth up?”

Applebloom was the one who answered. “So, we were think, maybe we could go to Diamond Tiara’s cuteciners together. We don’t have our cutie mark and you don’t have one.”

Then Twist started to look nervous. “Well, um…” Twist went back in and came back with a photograph that showed that she had gotten her cutie mark, it was cutie mark of two candy canes. Applebloom was in shock when she saw it while Shadow was just glad that she had panties on her when they took it. twist opened the rest of the door and walked out. “Ithny my cutie mark thwell, I’ve alwaythd loved making my own thweeth, but it took me thome time to dithcover it was my thuper thpecial talent.” She said with a big smile. “Pretty thweet huh?”

Applebloom’s mood drop when she saw and heard that. “Yeah, pretty sweat.”

Applebloom was maybe sad that her friend had gotten her cutie mark before, but Shadow was happy for Twist. “Nice work Twist.”

Twist smiled again. “Thanks Shadow.” Twist look at Applebloom who was sad. “Hey, this doesthn’t mean we can’t go to the cutcinera together, you’re still gonna come to the party, aren’t you?”

As on cue, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walk by. Diamond Tiara was the first to say something. “Of course, they will.”

Then Silver Spoon continued. “It’s not like being the only two ponies without a cutie mark will be like, most embarrassing thing ever.”

Applebloom became even more sad, if it was possible and Shadow had enough of those two. She ran in front of them blocking their path. “What is wrong with you two, just because you have cutie mark doesn’t mean you can look down on those ponies who hasn’t got one.”

Diamond and Silver looked at Shadow then each other then, then they stared to laugh. “Just what a blank flank would say.” Said Diamond between laugh.

That made Shadow even more angry. “Stop calling me that.”

Silver wipe away some tears. “Do bat ponies even get a cutie mark?”

“Of course, we get a cutie mark.”

Then Diamond got an evil smile. “Oh really? Have you seen other bat ponies that have gotten their cutie mark?”

Shadow became very unsure what to answer to that, she was the only bat pony in Ponyville, so she couldn’t confirm anything that bat ponies got cutie mark. “No, but…”

“There you go, bat ponies don’t get a cutie mark. Come on Silver Spoon, let’s leave these blank flanks alone.” They walk past Shadow while laughing.

Shadow was just standing there, her entire body was shaking, and tears was coming out from eyes. She was angry and sad at the same time, every word that those two said hurt her to the core. Could bat ponies even get a cutie mark? She didn’t know. Could she get one? She didn’t know.

She then felt a hand on her shoulder, it was Applebloom and she had a concerned look on her. “You okay Shadow?”

Shadow look at her, still crying. “No, I am not okay. I am sick of those two mocking us, so what if we don’t have a cutie mark, that doesn’t make us less important than other ponies.” She took a few breath to calm herself down. “I have to go, I need to calm down. Don’t expect to see me on this party Applebloom, I don’t want have anything to do with those two anymore.” With that, Shadow walk away leaving Applebloom alone with Twist.

“And then I walk for a while and I ended up here.”

I was in shocked after hearing Shadow tell her story. “What’s wrong with those two? And what is a cutecinera?”

“Diamond Tiara is celebrating that she got her cutie mark.”

“Let me get this straight, Diamond is holding a party because she got her cutie mark?” Shadow nodded. I looked at Blitz. “Do ponies do that?” I asked her.

Blitz just snorted. “Maybe, I didn’t have a party when I got my cutie mark, my parents gave me ice cream and that was all I needed.”

Then Shadow asked something I had also wondered. “Say Blitz, what’s you cutie mark like?” That was a good question, I didn’t know that.

“t’s a pegasus wing and it’s on fire.” She said with a smile on her face, I could tell that she was proud off her cutie mark.

“That’s so cool.” I had to agree with Shadow on this one.

Blitz leaned forward on the table. “Listen Shadow, you should never rush when it comes to a cutie mark. I know how it means a lot to a young pony but when you find your talent, it will be worth it. Trust me on this.”

After blitz said that I looked over to Shadow to see if she understand it and it look like it. “Thanks Blitz, I just wish that Applebloom could hear you said that.”

“Well, it looks like I can tell her.” Me and Shadow gave her a confusing look after that, she nodded her head in the direction of the entrance Sugarcube corner.

We both look there, and we saw Applebloom walk in with Pinkie? “What the heck are those two up too?” I decide to find out. Shadow and Blitz followed me.

Once inside the store, I could not find those two anywhere. I decided to ask Mrs cake who was manding the store, I walk towards her with Blitz and Shadow behind me. “Excuse me Mrs Cake.” She look at me with a smile. “Have you seen Applebloom and Pinkie?”

“Yes.” She look towards the back. “They are in the kitchen, they said something about eating cupcake.” She looked back at me and the smile have been replaced with confusion. “Do you know what they mean Fox?”

“Not sure but if I have to guess, Applebloom is trying to get her cutie mare in earing cupcake.”

Mrs cake look at me as raised brown. “A cutie mark eating cupcake? Is that something the kids do?”

I just shrugged my shoulders. “Apparently, is possible we can go back there? To make sure that nothing bad happened.”

She guested her hand towards the kitchen. “Be my guests, the last thing I need right now is to clean my kitchen.” I hear that.

When we entered that kitchen, we saw Applebloom taking out some cupcake out from the oven, they were burned.

Then Pinkie walked over to them. “Ohh, those look much better than the last batch.” She then took one and eat it.

“Pinkie, what the hell are you doing?” She just gave me a confused look. “You can’t eat them like that.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Why not? They taste delicious.”

I slap a hand on my face. “You can get sick eating them like that.” I let my hand slide down my face. “Sometimes I wonder if you take anything seriously.” I then looked at Applebloom. “Might telling me what you are doing? Getting a cutie mark in eating cupcake?”

Applebloom kick the floor with her hoof. “I just want my cutie mark, that’s all.”

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, I wish I could say something to make her better but what? I am no pony and I can’t get a cutie mark. Then Blitz walked over to her, she bent down and but her hands on her shoulders.

“Listen Applebloom, I know how you fell. I was like you when I was your age, I wanted a cutie mark so bad, but my parents told that I takes time. You have to understand that you can’t rush it, why didn’t you listen your sister?”

Now it was Applebloom time to be confused. “How do you know what my sister told me?”

“Shadow told me.” Applebloom look over to me and she wasn’t happy, I didn’t understand why but then I saw that Shadow was hiding behind me. Blitz then turned her attention to Pinkie. “And you.” She walk over to her. “You are supposed to be the adult her and still you let her do this, why?” Pinkie opened her mouth to say something nothing came out. “PINKIE:”

That worked. “I did because Rainbow Dash was helping Applebloom to get her cutie mark.”

Why am I not surprised. Blitz couldn’t believe what she just heard. “You did because Dash did?” Pinkie nodded. “How old are you Pinkie?”

“Nineteen.” Doesn’t look like it sometimes.

“Then act like it. You coping what Dash did, only five years ponies does that. Grow up.” Blitz said all that in a little threating voice, it help, Pinkie became a little scared.

Then a new voice said something. “What’s going on in here?” It was Twilight.

“Pinkie has been helping Applebloom making cupcakes.” I told her while picking one up and crushing it in my hand. “it didn’t work.” The cupcake crumple into pieces.

That just confused her. “Okay? Why did Applebloom make cupcakes?”

I was about to answer when Applebloom walked over to Twilight. “Twilight, you have to help me.” You have to be kidding me.

“What’s the matter?”

Applebloom took a deep breath. “Diamond Tiara’s cutcinera is today and everypony in our class will be there and they’ll all have their cutie marks and I want to get my cutie mark but I am no good at selling apples or hang gliding or making cupcakes and I want to go to the party but how can I go the part if I don’t have my cutie mark which Blitz says it takes time.” How she manages to say all that in one sentence, I have no idea.

“Then just don’t go to the party.” That new voice scared all us. We looked behind us and there stood Falco.

“Falco, are you trying to give us a heart attack?” He just gave me a sly smile. “And how long have you been standing there?” I can’t remember seeing him in the shop. Come to think about it, I didn’t look around the shop.

“I have been standing here since the whole thing started and the solution here is, don’t go to the party. You are not going to get your cutie mark by doing random thing and I am guessing you are about to ask Twilight to use her magic to get one, that’s not going to work either.”

Wow, just wow. Falco isn’t the smart I know but he have his moments. “Falco is right.” We looked at Twilight. “I can’t use my magic to help you get your cutie mark.” Applebloom was about to say something but Twilight cut her off. “And I doubt that Sunset will help you, she will agree with me on this one.”

Applebloom hang her head in defeat. “I guess none of you want to help me.” She started to walk towards the door, before she walked out she look at Shadow. “Some friend you are.” She then ran out before anyone us could say anything.

Falco. “What a brat.” I gave him a glare after that. “What?”

“Don’t say that about Applejack’s sister.” I told him.

He just waved his hand. “Whatever, I just have one question; what the hell is a cutcinera? I heard that kid talk about it.”

“It’s a party to celebrate Diamond Tiara’s cutie mark.”

Falco blink a couple of times. “Are you serious?” I just gave him a nod. “I take it back, Applebloom isn’t a brat, this Diamond Tiara is.” He then turned around and started to walk out of the kitchen. “You aren’t going to that party, are you?” He didn’t answer me, just threw up an arm and waved it. Oh brother.

I then felt Shadow thug my arm. “Can we go home now?”

I gave her a comforting smile. “Sure.”

Blitz. “I am heading home to, thanks for the date Fox.” Before I could say anything, she had ran out of the store, laughing the hole way.

Pinkie and Twilight just looked at me with amusing smile. “Not a word.”

Twilight. “As much fun this have been, I think I will walk around before this party started.”

Me and Shadow was about to join Twilight out the door, but we didn’t get far. “Hey, who is going to help me clean this up before the party?” We look around and it was a mess her, floor on the floor and other stuff lying around.

“You are responsible for this Pinkie, you clean it up.” Her mouth fell to the floor when I said and before she could say anything we were out the door. Once outside I could see that Twilight was giving me disappointing look. “What? Did I do something wrong?”

“You could have help Pinkie.”

Now it was my time to ne disappointing. “Really? Are you angry at me for that?” I pointed at Sugarcube corner. “She made that mess she can clean up.” I just sighed. “Come Shadow, let’s go home before I get blamed for other stuff.” We walked away before Twilight could say anything.

On or was back, we walked in silences until Shadow decided to ask me something. “Fox.“ I was a little disappointed that she didn’t called me dad. She told me that it didn’t fell right to call me dad yet and I will respect that. “Do think I can ever get a cutie mark?”

“Don’t tell me what Diamond Tiara said affect you that much?” She nodded. I stood her and got down, so I could look her in the eyes, I was going to look her into her eyes but it’s a little difficult when you have only one good one. “Don’t listen to her, I might not be the leading expert in cutie mark, but I don’t understand why you should get one like the rest. You are a pony like the rest in this town, just be patience and it will come.” That sadness I saw was replaced with a hope. “Just hang in there.” I said while ruffing her hair.

We started to walk again. “What do you think I should about Applebloom?” A question I hope she would not asked.

“That is something you two should figure out yourself.” I know that was not the answer she was looking for but what should I say? Give up her friendship with Applebloom? What happened before is something they had to figure out.

Later that evening I was sitting in the living room reading a Darling Doo book, Shadow was up in her room and Falco was out doing, I don’t know what the hell he is doing, you can never tell what he would do. And besides, I am not his babysitter neither do I want to be. Anyway, I was getting to the god part in the book. Darling had just entered a temple deep in the jungle and then someone knocked on the door. I look over my book, hoping that I heard wrong and then someone knock again.

I couldn’t help but let out a frustration groan. “Why does this always happened at the most exciding part?” I placed the bookmark where I was in the book, place the book on the table and got up. While walking towards the door I wonder it was this late.

When I opened the door I was surprised, it was Applebloom and to be honest, I wasn’t too happy to see her. Not after what she said to Shadow. “What do you want Applebloom?” I said while crossing my arms.

She look down on the ground and kicked the ground. “Is Shadow here?”

I raised an eye brown. “Why do you want to know?”

She look up to me and I could see regret in her eyes. “I just want to talk to her.”

“Why? Why should I tell her that? After what you said to at Sugarcube corner.”

She started to cry after I said that. “I feel bad for that and I regret saying that, I don’t want to lost Shadow as a friend.”

I let out a sighed while pinching my nose, I hope I don’t regret this. “Okay, I’ll ask her if she want to talk but, if she don’t want to talk you will respect that. Got it?” She nodded. “Good, you can wait in the hallway while I go and ask her.” I let her in while I walk up to the second floor.

Once there I knocked on Shadow’s door, she answered right away. “Who is it?”

I just rolled my eye of the answer. “It’s Fox, you have a visitor downstairs.”

“Is it Applebloom?” Not bad.

“Yes, she want to talk to you.”

“Tell her that I don’t want to talk to her.” Somehow, I knew that answer would come.

“Don’t be like that Shadow, do you really want to lose her as a friend?”

She was silenced for a little while, then the door open and she walk out of her room. “No, I don’t want to lose her as a friend.”

I gave her a smile. “Good, she is downstairs.” We both walk down.

Once down stairs we could see that Applebloom was leaning towards the wall, when she saw us she got off the wall. Then they just started at each other, awkward. “Well, I’ll let you two talk. I be in my room reading my book.” I walk over to the table, gapped the book and bolted upstairs.

Once Fox was gone, Applebloom and Shadow just kept staring at each other. Then Shadow decide to speak. “Well, you want to talk, talk.”

“Right.” Applebloom took a deep breath. “I am sorry by the way I acted at Sugarcube corner, I just so frustrated that I didn’t get my cutie mark.” She hung her head. “I’m really sorry.”

“I forgive you for what you said.”

Applebloom looked at Shadow. “Really?” The bat pony nodded, that made Applebloom smile. “Thanks. I also have good new.”

Those words made Shadow a little scared. “What’s the good new?”

“At Diamond Tiara’s party I meet two ponies that also don’t have their cutie mark, so me and Rarity’s sister Sweetie Belle and Holiday niece Scootaloo is staring the Cutie Mark Crusaders. And I want you to join.” Applebloom said in an exciting voice.

Shadow didn’t know who Sweetie Belle was, but she knew who Scootaloo was. Scootaloo was an orphan that live the orphanage with Shadow, until one day she was adopt by her aunt. Shadow never knew Scootaloo, considering no of the children at the orphanage talk to her. When it came to Applebloom’s proposal, Shadow was a little concern off how excited Applebloom was.

“And what exactly are we going to do in this Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Shadow ask Applebloom.

“We are going to find our cutie mark, no matter what it is.”

“Let me get this right, you and two other’s are going to try and get your cutie mark by doing different things? Random things?”

“That’s right.” Applebloom said with a big smile.

Shadow couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Are you kidding me?” Applebloom’s smile disappeared and was replaced with confusion. “This is what your sister tried to tell you, what Blitz tried to tell you. You can’t rush when it comes to a cutie MARK.” Shadow didn’t mean to shout the last part but right now she was so frustrated by Applebloom. “To answer your question, I will not be joining your Crusaders. I will find my cutie mark my way and I will like you to leave.” She pointed at the door.

Applebloom was in shocked when she heard this. “What about or friendship?”

“I think that you care more about getting your cutie mark then our friendship and besides, you have two new friends you can bother with when it comes to your cutie mark. Now leave.” Shadow said in an aggressive tone.

Applebloom wanted to say something but when Shadow was in this mood it was impossible to reason with her, she decided to leave. Before she opened the door, she decided to say something. “Just so you know, I value our friendship more then getting my cutie mark.”

“It didn’t look like that today.”

Shadow was right, she cared more about getting her cutie mark then Shadow today. Applebloom storm out of the house with tears in her eyes.

Shadow watch as her former best friend ran out of the house, she just started at the door wondering if she did the right thing. Applebloom was her first friend ever and now she might have lost her, but what she supposed to do? The entire day Applebloom care about one thing and that was getting her cutie mark. All Shadow wanted was to spend time with her friend. She was confused. She decide to head up stairs.

Up on her perch, Vixy had seen and heard it all. She wasn’t that found of other ponies but in this case, she felt bad for what happened so Shadow. It couldn’t be easy to lose her best friend like that.

I was just lying in my bed with the book on my chest. “Wow, what an ending.” I had just finished it and I was still impressed by it, the writer know what he/she is doing. I was brought out of my ‘world’ by someone walking up the stairs, the footsteps sounds heavy. I got up, walk to the door and opened my door and what I saw was Shadow, she was crying. “Hey kiddo, what happened?”

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I just lost Applebloom as a friend.”

You can say I was shocked when I heard that, when those two first they became friends right away and, this was Shadow’s first friend, EVER. I bent down to give her a hug and she returned it, she started to cry on my shoulder. I guess she needed a hug. “I’m sorry to hear that, what happened?” I had to ask, I didn’t know.

“She care more about getting her cutie mark then our friends.” She told me between the crying.

I didn’t know what to say to her, so I just let her cry. Eventually she broke the hug and went into her room without saying anything, I hope that she will be okay.