//------------------------------// // Rthö Dœf- Mark This Day // Story: CYCLED // by The REAL Mister Pkmn //------------------------------// A week and a half had passed, and Maestro had kept his word- he had popped by a few times in the interim just to spend time with everyone. He seemed to be more dedicated than ever before to making sure that he connected with their mutual friends. Twilight smiled at the thought that Maestro was making an effort with this cycle, because it was her belief that they needed to pull out all the stops to ensure that this was the last. Sure, she didn’t know that for sure- but, it was wearing on Maestro’s mind. If he stayed aware and things cycled back again… She didn’t know if he would remain sane after that. So this time had to be the last- no matter the cost. She shook herself out of her thoughts when she saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders come into the library to ask her how she got her Cutie Mark. She gave them much the same answer as last time; but her thoughts were elsewhere afterward. The trio had cropped up a few days ago, thick as thieves- and already known for getting into trouble. Last time they’d grouped up much later- but by this point such things seemed less relevant. She found herself going to Sugar Cube Corner, and the girls were all there- and Rainbow told her story to the Crusaders. Just after the group celebrated their connection, The door to Sugar Cube Corner opened- and Maestro came inside. “Hello, all! Did I miss something?” The girls were still not used to him, and half-debated excluding him. However, Twilight remembered that they had done so last time- and Maestro was rightfully upset about how he’d been ignored for so long. So she instead smiled. “We were telling the Crusaders here our Cutie Mark stories. We’ve all heard each others- so why not tell us yours?” At first, Maestro blinked. Nobody had asked that question in… wait, had anyone ever asked it? He was unsure. He pushed those thoughts away, and nodded slightly. “Well, it’s been a while since anybody’s asked me that, but I don’t see why not. Though, it’s a long story. I suggest that you all take a seat.” Once everyone in the room had complied, Maestro cleared his throat. “Let’s see… how did it go again...? Ah, yes! “When I was much younger, I always had a fascination with art in all its forms. During any spare time that I had back then, I would pick up an easel and any sketching supplies I could scrounge up. I would spend my time sketching and occasionally writing a song when I put away the easel. For months I was on the same sketch, trying to figure out what I was missing. Even when humming the tune I was trying to write, which helped me focus, nothing was coming of it. After nine months of work, I was nearing the point where I was starting to have doubts, and felt that I should give up. The day that I was most considering hanging up my art for good was a bleak one, with dark clouds overhead. I’d headed outside to try and get some sort of new vantage point on it. I was struggling with the piece as I usually was, pretty much ready to tear out my hair and break the easel and give in. But then, at the moment when my stubborn pride and hope was about to give out, I noticed rays of light coming through the dark clouds above. I rose my head gradually to help my eyes adjust to the sudden light from above that cut through the darkness, and when I was properly adjusted to it, I was amazed at what I saw. Cast through the skies was something I thought that had been eliminated long ago: an honest-to-goodness natural rainbow sporting all seven colors in vibrance like nothing else I’d ever seen before. At that very moment, I felt something stir inside, a fire like nothing I had felt before blazed to life as I turned to my work, knowing what it was missing. My control was sure, my focus immovable. I finished the piece in  a flurry, and went to another, and another, and so on. I couldn’t stop myself; there were so many ideas in my head that I just had to capture them all. I was so consumed in my work that I didn’t even notice the mark appear. I only noticed it later that day, after my energy and excitement had worn down. Suffice to say, I was surprised and enthralled when I saw it there- the mark that I had pursued, the mark that I wanted more than anything in the world, and it was mine.” Maestro smiled. “And so ends the story of how I forced my destiny to bend to my will. Any questions?” Sweetie Belle raised a hoof, and Maestro chuckled a bit as he pointed to her. After being given the go ahead, she asked a strange question. “Miss Cheerilee said that each pony is meant to find a certain talent, and will always eventually find it. So, how can you say that you forced it when you were likely to get it anyway?” Shaking his head, Maestro spoke in a somber tone. “Your teacher was mistaken. If one thing that night changed, I would very likely have ended up in a very different situation, with a different talent altogether. I may have settled in a single place, never having reason to travel the world. I may have never met Twilight and the others, at least in the circumstances that I did. If things had gone a certain way, I may have wound up being a foe to Twilight and the girls- and the possibilities are positively endless as to what else could change. There is something you should remember: you have control over your destiny, you just have to assert it. Find something that you love to do, that you are good at doing, and work tirelessly in that pursuit. Doing this, I am fairly certain that you too might force the mark to be what your heart desires most.” The trio of fillies were hanging on his words, but he had to give them one last piece of advice. “However, know this. This method is only fit for the dedicated, the determined, and the persistent. If you do not have the drive for such things, you will fail. This path is not for everyone. Consider carefully if you wish to pursue this path, for once you do, it’s succeed… or fail.” The weight of his words hung in the air for a moment, until Rainbow asked the question on everyone’s minds. “So you didn’t see the Rainboom then? How is your mark connected to ours, then?” At this, Maestro let out a hearty chuckle. After a solid minute, he calmed down. “Oh, Rai. Don’t be silly! Just because I’m not connected through your Rainboom doesn’t meant that we’re not connected! Connections are stronger than just silly same-day Cutie Markings. If that wasn’t the case, nobody would be friends with anyone that didn’t get a Cutie Mark on the same day! Sure, it’s a nice sentiment and all, but is it really all that important? The character of the people you connect with should mean far more than a shared Cutie Mark day. I may not have gained my mark on the same day, but I chose to connect myself to you guys through my own volition- I didn’t have to, mind you. I could have ignored you girls outright. But I chose not to. I forged a destiny where I became friends with all of you, and I believe that is what makes the difference.” The discussion went on for a while, and Maestro answered as many questions as they had. Twilight smiled at knowing that Maestro’s efforts were not being ignored this time. He really was starting to connect to them- and this is what made Twilight more certain than ever that things would be different this time. She even managed to convince all of the girls to have a sleepover with her- though Maestro declined, saying that he had to get going. After all, he had an expo he had to get to. While she was a bit put out, Twilight understood. Maestro was a very busy person- she couldn’t expect him to just drop something that important. They made their farewells, and Maestro left for Las Pegasus. Though, for whatever reason, Twilight had a bit of a hard time getting to sleep. The girls had already tired themselves out due to the activities, but Twilight was wide awake. She should be tired, but she didn’t feel it. There was this strange, uncomfortable knot inside that she just couldn’t place. She forced herself to ignore it, and eventually managed to get to sleep.