//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Morning Glory 
// by MorningGlory 
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It was the start of Morning Glory's third day within Ponyville and she was already thrilled for the end of the week. Not only were she and Pinkie Pie concocting the food for the royal couple's anniversary, but she was also going to be spending some time with Fluttershy. At the current moment, Morning was baking with Pinkie and Fluttershy was in the market, gathering food for Angel Bunny and the other animals at her cottage.

As the shy yellow pony trotted through the market, she was absently humming, mumbling 'sorry' whenever she almost bumped into somepony else. Eventually she paused at a carrot stand for Angel Bunny and bought a few juicy carrots, sure that her furry friend would be delighted in the treats that Fluttershy was thoughtful enough to get him. As she turned around and replaced her bits into her bag, she bumped into a very solid stallion. She squeaked and shrank back and looked up apologetically at the stallion. He was large, towering the mare and his large pegasi wings were folded on his back though slightly ruffled from the sudden collision. His coat was black with almost a highlighting of silver that gave him a rigid outline against the colorful marketplace. His sky-blue eyes were looking at her curiously. "Oh... Oh my... I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to..." She trailed off her apology.

The stallion nodded though he looked as though he were about to crack a smile. "No harm done. Have a good day, Fluttershy," he said before trotting off and seeming to disappear into the shadows, but not before his eyes flickered to something behind her.

Bewildered, the confused yellow pony turned around to see a familiar tan mare trotting forward with a bright smile. "Mornin' Fluttershy," Morning greeted warmly, then stopped at the look on her friend's face. "What's wrong, Shy?"

"Oh, uh, nothing. I had just bumped into a stallion and he didn't even give me proper time to apologize. I really should pay more attention," the quiet mare admitted, looking almost sheepish.

Morning shook her head and frowned. "I think I saw that stallion. He looked like he wasn't payin' much mind to anything else either. I'm bettin' it was fifty-fifty so don't you go feelin' guilty," she gently scolded, a smile on her face.

Fluttershy nodded, but couldn't shake the confusion that fell over her. I've never seen that stallion before in my life. And he said my name before he looked at Morning and disappeared. Was he the one that has been looking at her? He seemed to be going towards her... Shaking the unnerving thoughts away, she listened intently as Morning began to talk about the mayhem that happened at Sugar Cube Corner. Soon, the mysterious stallion was forgotten and Fluttershy was giggling as Morning demonstrated the antics the mares performed while baking.

***

That afternoon, Morning found herself back at Sugar Cube Corner with AJ, Pinkie and Twilight. The mares were smiling fondly at the three-layer crazy cake that the tan and the pink earth pony had thrown so much work into. There were colors that Morning didn't even know existed as well as a beautiful top of the Prince and Princess' picture on their wedding day, Cadence smiling up at Shining and the stallion smiling dumbly as though he had won the jackpot.

"Girls, this is amazing," Twilight said in sheer awe. She could only imagine how thrilled her brother would be to see the delightful cake her friends made in honor of the one year anniversary of their exciting wedding.

"Amazing?" Pinkie Pie snorted. "You mean splendiferous, amaz-tastic, yummy-delicious goodness!"

Morning shook her head, certain the words were made up for the most part. Despite that, however, they seemed to perfectly describe the cake. She smiled and nodded. "It is lookin' pretty good," she admitted.

Applejack threw her forehoof around Morning's neck and hugged her cousin. "Mornin', it looks right dandy if you ask me. You're pretty talented at bakin'."

The mare flushed. "Me? Naw. Mom 'n' Granny taught me at reunions and I just added my own twists as I got older."

Twilight smiled at Morning before shaking her head. "Your cutie mark should have been a cake, Morning. Though I had been meaning to ask you about that. What is your special talent, exactly?"

Morning smiled sheepishly as she glanced at the symbol on her thigh. "Well... Actually, it kinda does have somethin' to do with bakin'. I mean, obviously cause of the apple it involves my family but... I got it at the family reunion while I was helping to bake the pies. My momma said I was the sunniest Apple she ever saw in the kitchen. Before I knew it, Mac came in from playin' and pointed at my rear and there it was, shinin' like a bright, red apple hangin' on a tree." She shrugged slightly, smiling more. "I realized that my place was cookin' and carin' for my family."

The others nodded solemnly while AJ nuzzled the mare. "I told ya that yer place was with the family, just like mine."

Morning then frowned and shook her head. "No, I think it means I'm supposed to be a momma one day." She snorted and rolled her eyes. "Lotta good when I don't even have a coltfriend."

The sarcasm dripped and it caused the other two mares to snort while the farmpony playfully shoved her cousin, the smiles on their faces wide, though Morning's didn't quite reach her eye.

The rest of the day seemed to just drag onward, and Morning began to think about the stallion that Fluttershy had met that morning. He was a handsome stallion. For a pegasus, anyway. He looked very muscular and his cutie mark was very distinct. A grey cloud with one single lightning bolt ripping through it and two silver drops of rain falling from both edges of the cloud. It was a unique mark and she found herself wondering about her own. The stallion certainly would know what his destiny meant. Applejack knew hers, as did the rest of the Elements of Harmony. And just about everypony else, it seemed.

But just what, in Celestia's great world, was the single mare's destiny? And why was it so unclear, even now when she was an adult?