Episode 9:
The Cutie Pox
On a fine day in Ponyville, the Cutie Mark Crusaders along with the young honorary members of the Guard all make their way towards town with excitement written all over their faces as they prepare for a day of fun along with their friends as the three fillies prepare for another attempt at obtaining their cutie marks.
“Today's the day, Cutie Mark Crusaders! I can just feel it!” Apple Bloom expressed as she pressed a big red shiny six-pound ball as the other fillies having the balls in their bowling bags as they all arrived at the bowling alley together. “Today's the day we are all gonna get our cutie marks in... bowlin'!”
“Whoo-hoo!” Scootaloo cheered along with Sweetie also cheered but couldn’t say it clearly due to having the strap from her bag in her mouth to which she quickly spit out the bag so she can properly cheer.
“I mean, yaay!”
“Why, after today, we won't even be the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore! We'll be the... the Three Strikes!” Apple Bloom declared.
“That makes us sound like we've struck out.” Scootaloo pointed out.
“Mmm.” Apple Bloom then thought of another name. “How 'bout the Pin Twins?” She proposed.
“But there are three of us.” Sweetie Belle pointed out again.
“Okay then... Um... the Bowlin' Dolls!” Apple Bloom proposed again.
“The Bowling Dolls! That's it!”
“Perfect!”
Her friends liked the idea as third time’s the charm this time.
“All righty then! Let's bowl 'em over!” Apple Bloom stated as they prepared to walk inside only to be stopped by the sounds of their friend’s voices.
“Hold up!”
“Wait for us!”
Their ostrich and baboon friends called after them as the others along with Beshte who was carrying their bowling balls on his back caught up with them.
“Don’t forgot us.” Kwato reminded them.
“Sorry.” The girls apologized.
“No worries.” Shauku replied as they all caught up with them.
“Hakuna Matata.” Mtoto added. “As long as we all get to have fun together.”
“You said it!” Beshte agreed as they all walked inside the bowling alley where they meet ponies and Pride Landers are all getting together inside.
The elephants and hippos which drew at least a third of the lanes as they all were all naturally talented at the sport with their raw strength as not a single one of them scored less than a 200 and every one of them has even managed to score a perfect 300 with every one of the herd members pictures on the wall in the alley’s Hall of Fame.
Beshte and the kids managed to get two lanes reserved for the afternoon so they could be next to each other when they bowled.
Predictably, most of the kids had a difficult time of generating enough momentum needed to knock the pins down as some manage to knock down a few pins at a time like Kwato, Kambuni, and Gumba to none at all like Shauku and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The three fillies have all managed to still hit gutter balls every time they have tried mixing up their throwing technique from using their hooves and their noses to try to generate enough momentum but didn’t quite have the control to properly steer the balls to hitting the pins. Beshte and Mtoto however were faring quite well as Mtoto was managing 100 score games while Beshte due to being far stronger and more balanced nearly scored a 200 in one of his games.
“Yes!” Mtoto exclaimed upon hitting a strike for the first time at the same time Beshte got another strike too.
“Way to go, Mtoto!” Beshte complimented.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah good job.” Kwato congratulated them.
“As always.” Gumba added while hiding his slight annoyance of how they dominate every game they’ve played in so far.
“It’s okay.” Kambuni assured there are no hard feelings. “Not everyone is a natural at everything as she takes her turn at bowling as she rolls her ball with the right amount of force and precision as the ball curves from the right and into the center to knock all ten pins down. “Oh, how about that.” She said rather delighted and surprised she managed to achieve that. “My first strike.”
“Poa, Kambuni!” Beshte commended. “Just like what I taught you.”
“Aw, thanks.” She returned before getting her point back across to their friends. “Just like Beshte said the key to this game is a strong arm and proper steering and direction.”
“Exactly!” Beshte nodded. “And you all are still doing your best since this is your first time.”
“True.” Guma replied accepting that along with Shauku as they see Sweetie Belle roll another gutter ball yet walked away with a smile feeling she deserves an “A” for effort.
Scootaloo went next as she tried kicked her ball down which ended up flying into the wall and bouncing around the room before it landed on the gutter on the opposite side of the room leaving everyone in the room staring at her for her crazy stunt who can only quickly force an apologetic and nervous grin before retreating.
Apple Bloom took her turn as she stepped forward with her ball as she examined of a new approach to rolling her ball before resorting to using her teeth to do it. With a good aim and throw per Beshte’s advice as manages to send it straight down the middle...
At the same time a similarly red-colored ball managed to hit and knock down all of the pins to which everyone present all cheered at the sight leading to Apple Bloom feeling she actually succeeded in earning her cutie mark…
…Until she saw that it was another pony with a sky blue mane with a white stripe on it wearing a black bowling shirt.
“But... but... what about my ball?” Apple Bloom wondered as the others eye her ball just stopping in front of the pins.
Even with the right advice she couldn’t generate enough momentum to knock the pins down which left the poor filly very disheartened at the thought she actually pulled it out before the reveal at the last second she actually didn’t. And her friends all didn’t know what to say to make her feel better.
“Sorry, Apple Bloom.” Kwato spoke as Kambuni placed a comforting wing on her back which did little to help brighten her mood as she sat back down with the sudden lost drive of wanting to play anymore.
Shortly a good few hours of bowling, the group all left the alley as Apple Bloom’s frown still remained as she was still upset from what happened earlier.
“That bowling sure was fun, even if all I got was gutter balls.” Sweetie Belle expressed.
“It sure was something.” Shauku expressed that he too had fun.
“Yeah, at least you were able to keep your ball in your lane.” Scootaloo commented as she rode on her scooter and then raced ahead to leap over a few rocks. “I don't think Mr. Kingpin is ever gonna let me play again!”
“Maybe at least not until you get the hang of bowling…” Gumba replied differently thinking otherwise. “…or at least enough hang to not hurl a ball at someone’s head.”
“Hey, maybe I could get my cutie mark in demolition!” Scootaloo then thought of another idea to which everything else all laughed together…
…Well all expect for the distraught Apple family pony as she just walked by the group.
“Aw, come on, Apple Bloom.” Scootaloo tried to cheer her up.
“It’ll be okay.” Beshte assured. “You’ll find your special talent someday.”
“I know just what you need to put the bloom back on your apple.” Sweetie Belle recommended as she thought of just the thing for sitting frowning filly as they head on over to Sugarcube Corner where her unicorn friend gives her a grenn-frosted cupcake. “A treat from Sugarcube Corner will cheer you up.”
“No, it won't.” She refused as she gently pushed the treat aside to which Kambuni quickly helped herself to as they turn to the master of bringing joy and smiles into everyone’s hearts with a good laugh…
…Pinkie and Bunga as they both put up a little special set-up for the crew.
“A party will cheer you up!”
“Come now, where’s that smile!”
The two happily exclaimed as the former placed a party hat on the filly’s head while the latter flipped her head upside down expecting a smile from her face as their friends blew party horns together.
“No, it won't.” Apple Bloom replied which left everyone especially Pinkie and Bunga falling backwards in complete and stunned shock that it didn’t do the trick as Rarity takes a turn in trying her one of her latest fashion creations upon being escorted on over there.
A bright purple hat with a bright green stripe, a white rose, with purple, orange, and green toucan feathers, and bright blue peacock feathers to which was placed on the filly’s head as she sat on the table
“A lovely new chapeau will cheer you up.” Rarity attempted as the feathers from it lowered at the same time her ears lowered to as for the third time in the row the attempt to cheer her up failed.
“No, it won't.” She said as she walked out of the shop and out and away from Ponyville for a little while.
“Come on, Apple Bloom, it's just a cutie mark!” Scootaloo tried to insist her to let it go.
“Or lack of a cutie mark!” Shauku added to which didn’t help matters.
“Shh!” Sweetie quickly covered his mouth.
“That's not helping!” Scootaloo added as the filly trotted off into the Everfree Forest alone.
“Apple Bloom! Where are you going?!” Mtoto called out to her as she ignored and pressed forward inside.
“Apple Bloom, come back!” Kwato called out to her as she still refused to listen to reason as goes inside the forest against the other’s wishes for her to move on.
“No problem.” Beshte reassured her friends. “Kion will make sure to watch after her. He always does whenever someone wanders in there.”
True to form, Kion who was just visiting Zecora while checking up on Kyoga’s mental well-being just happens to come across the filly who had just tripped and fell face first into the ground after crossing paths with a root she didn’t see due to being too depressed to look to where she was going.
“Apple Bloom!” Kion called out as he and Zecora approach her.
“Well, who is it that we have here? Why, it's Apple Bloom, my dear!” Zecora greeted.
“Ow...” Apple Bloom groaned in pain as she placed a hoof on her jaw as Kion helped her up.
“What has happened to you, youth?” Zecora asked as the filly opened her mouth so she can examine the source of her pain. “Ah, you've gone and chipped your tooth. Come with me, I have just the trick that will fix you up quite quick.”
Zecora led the way back to her hut as Kion places a paw on her back as she guides her over there to ensure she doesn’t break a hoof on the way to which she didn’t even protest as she licked the chipped part of her tooth before explaining to the young lion of what happened earlier in the day along with her previous struggles of trying to find her special talent as Kyoga listens on to their conversation.
“I've tried everything, Zecora, and still no cutie mark! Well, I'm gonna be as old as Granny Smith and still have a blank flank!” Apple Bloom finished her story as she complained of her troubles with a slight lisp due to her chipped tooth
“Your frustration is well understood, but one must be patient for all things good.” Zecora advised.
“Ugh, I've heard that from every pony I know! And now from every zebra I know! I'm just too impatient to be patient. I just want my cutie mark and I want it now!” She further complained nearly making the zebra drop an excess content of one of her special ingredients into the cauldron to which Kion quickly reached over as he caught it with one paw as the two glare at her who then nervously and apologetically before backing away from them.
“Listen…” Kion calmly began. “…I get what you’re saying and it is hard to be patient. But discovering who you want to be when you grow up in life takes time as much having to deal with situations where you have thinks through before acting.”
“Exactly.” Kyoga added. “As much as I wish to get better, I’m not complaining with how much time is needed for a full recovery.“
“Indeed.” The zebra agreed with the wise assessment while fetching a ladle so she can pour her a bowl of purple liquid for her to heal her ailing tooth. “For your cutie mark, you will have to wait. We must fix that tooth before it's too late. Now drink down every little drop, and this mixture will mend that chip on top!”
Apple Bloom does what was asked of her as she drinks every last drop of the brewed potion before looking at herself in the nearby mirror. It took a few seconds before the potion’s magic did its work as she sees that her teeth are back to its former glory.
“Oh my star apples, you did it, Zecora!” She gratefully expressed her gratitude as she formed her usual kid friendly grin before looking on at the various potions on the carious shelves inside. “Golly, you have tonics that heal all sorts of ailments. Bad bones, bad back, bad breath...” She read the labels of a few at her eye level.
“Yes little one, it is true, I have many a healing brew.” She replied.
“And not only stuff that fixes the bad, but stuff that brings the good! Good health, good hair... good heavens!” She marveled at the sight before thinking of an idea. “Hmm... I bet you can mix up a brew to fix... anything.”
“Don’t even think about it, Apple Bloom.” Kion warned from getting any ideas as she gestures her eager grin and baby like face to offer her a potion that can give her a cutie mark. “It’s not worth it.”
“There are many mixtures in this room, but none for what you want, dear Apple Bloom. A magic potion does not hold the key. For a cutie mark, time is the only remedy.” Zecora once again advised.
“Fine.” She relented as the zebra worked up another mixture with green spices and blueberries. ”Whatcha got goin' on there?”
“I am brewing up another mix for a rooster and his chicks.“ She answered as she went over to a pot to fetch a large magneta flower from inside of it. “It seems the rooster has lost his crow, making mornings very slow.”
“Hey, I've seen that flower bloomin' in Ponyville!” She mostly recognized. “What is it?”
“It is one we call 'Heart's Desire'. A dash will ignite the rooster's fire.” She replied as Apple Bloom greatly admired the creation as Kion could tell what she is thinking of. “With Heart's Desire, his talent comes into view, and he'll give a mighty cock-a-doodle-doo!”
“Zowie! Heart's Desire, huh?”
“Oh no.” Kyoga said to herself as Zecora looks around for something else but can’t seem to find what he is looking for.
“Ay me, but what is this? I have run out of amethyst. I must go get this purple flower for my brew to have full power!” Zecora then said as she walked outside to fetch herself that flower.
“Yeah, you go, you go.” Apple Bloom encouraged her so she can secretly take it behind her back.
“Apple Bloom!” Kyoga sternly eyed her to warn her not to do it.
“Oh all right.” She again relented.
“Good. Now let’s focus on getting you home.” Kion advised as he led the way out of the hut and towards Sweet Apple Acres as Apple Bloom smirks while stealthily snags the mixture with her tail before walking out so the Lion Guard’s Fiercest can take her home while unaware of the devious act that the little filly has just committed to which Kyoga did notice as soon as she turned her back.
“Always gotta learn the hard way don’t you?” Kyoga said to herself about the impatient filly as she pulls out a book so she can open up to the page of the flower Apple Bloom took home with her and what she has just gotten herself into.
The next day at school, while the kids from the Pride Lands are all playing pretend Lion Guard with some of the other fillies, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are both conversing nearby the swing set.
“I'm so hungry.” Sweetie expressed.
“Yeah, I can't wai—“ Scootaloo also expressed a desire for lunch until spotting Apple Bloom walking ahead very proudly before flashing her new cutie mark, a light silver ring which briefly flashed the girls in the eyes.
“Apple Bloom! You got your cutie mark!” The two exclaimed very proud for her as everyone gathers around her.
“Um, Apple Bloom... what is it?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yeah! Is it an 'o'? Is your talent spelling?” Scootaloo also guessed.
“Or is it a ring? Are you a jewelry maker?” Sweetie guessed again.
“Or is it a powdered donut? 'Cause that sounds delicious.” Twist asked as she got raced in between the other Crusdaers.
“No, it's a loop-de-hoop!” Apple Bloom corrected as she presented a big gray hop around her body to which she flawlessly performed as Scootaloo brightly gasped with a smile.
“A what now?” Scootaloo then asked in confusion.
“A loop-de-hoop!” Apple Bloom clarified. “'Least, that's what I always called it. Applejack made it for me from an old rain barrel when I was littler! Who woulda thought that loop-de-hoop would end up bein' my special talent?”
“Wow, Apple Bloom, that's amazing!” Sweetie Belle complimented.
“That's it? That's your talent?” Diamond Tiara voiced with contempt.
“Spinning a hoop around your waist? Puh-lease.” Silver Spoon added in a condescending manner.
“Oh, you ain't seen nothin' yet.” Apple Bloom stated as she performs a series of moves that involve swinging it around her body before sending it flying up to the flag post where it would roll all the way down towards her as she flings it back up into the air where she then jumps up into mid-air to catch it.
Everyone all cheered for her accomplishment as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both were left proven wrong and jaw-dropped at what they have seen.
“I don’t know how to tell you this but…” Gumba began as he appeared on Diamond’s back.
“Burn!” Shauku stated as he shouted in the fillies ears before laughing along with the rest of their friends.
“Apple Bloom, you're super-duper-loop-de-hooper!” Scootaloo proudly complimented as she flapped her wings.
“Thanks, everypony!” She said to everyone as the school bell rang signaling the start of class.
“All right, my little ponies, time for class!” Cheerlie called out to everyone as she and Rafiki come outside of the building and see that everyone is aweing at the sight of Apple Bloom to the point that didn’t hear a word she said.
After glancing at each other in confusion the two walk over towards the crowd.
“Apple Bloom?” Cheerlie called out to her with a serious expression.
“Uh oh.” Mtoto silently expressed to the others.
“Sounds like trouble.” Kwato added as she too noticed the stern tone she was addressing her in.
“Yes, Miss Cheerilee?” Apple Bloom nonchalantly replied.
“I want you to take your loop-de-hoop into the yard...” Cheerlie began as the other kids cringed with what they think of what she is about to say until she added… “…and give us all a lesson in your amazing loop-de-hooping!” in excitement as everyone all cheered in delight.
“That was unexpected!” Kambuni whispered to the others.
“Who cares?” Gumba replied as he really got very interested in the filly’s new talent. “A whole day of learning fun!”
“Aw, well. Hakuna Matata.” Rafiki just let it slide as everyone watched as Apple Bloom performed for everyone.
So with that Apple Bloom was walking in front of the class who all had hoops of their own so they can try their luck at it.
Snips ended up losing control of his ring which sent it flying away until Apple Bloom caught and sent it right back at him who blushed to thank her.
Both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon tried their luck at it yet it didn’t take long for them to lose control and fall over to which the Pride Landers silently giggled to themselves as they enjoyed every moment of karma inflicted on them for the way they have been treating the girls for not having cutie marks.
“Don't worry, gals. Keep at it and you might get to be half as good as me!” Apple Bloom reassured them with a back hoofed complimented to which the girls growled in response to that as the other Pride Landers laughed at them.
“BURN!” Gumba and Shakku exclaimed to them as they both pouted to which the mongoose and baboon shared a high-five together as they along with the other Crusaders try to get the hang of it.
“Great job, girls!“ Apple Bloom complimented them for their efforts even though they really are struggling with it.
“You're too kind, Apple Bloom.” Sweetie returned feeling they don’t deserve it.
“Yeah, we stink.” Scootaloo agreed.
“Nah, you just need a little practice.” The talented filly said otherwise. “Soon you'll be able to...” She added as she spun the hoop around her legs before kicking it up into the air so she can jump over it. “…hoop and bop! Hoop and hop! Hoop and skip! And hoop and flip!” She added as she used the hoop as a jump rope along with doing backflips on it.
Everyone but the jealous glaring rich girls all cheered for her as she continued spinning the hoop around her waist.
“Show us some more, Apple Bloom.” Cheerlie asked of her.
“Well, all right, just a few more tricks.” She agreed. “But be warned! These are advanced moves, not for beginners. Got that, Diamond Tiara?” She added as she got in the filly’s face as both Shakku and Gumba stated in her face…
“BURN!” For the third time as she growled back at them as they high-five each other.
“I call this one the hoop-la!” She presented to everyone as she spun the hoop around her tail as fast as a helicopter’s propellers and carried her up in the air.
Then suddenly another cutie mark appeared on her flank with her sudden talent in performing tricks with the hoop suddenly vanished and caused her to plummet back into the ground.
Thankfully, Mtoto caught her before she could hit the ground as everyone eyes the new sight on her flank.
“Another cutie mark? Hah!” Diamond wasted no time in pulling the trigger at her. “I guess that last trick was a lot of hoopla. Those cutie marks are fake!” She accused in her direction as everyone gasped.
“What? No they're not!” Apple Bloom protested.
“And how would you know?” Kambuni said in her friend’s defense. “Do you even know what your special talent is?”
“Does that even matter?” Diamond dodged answering it as she turned to their teachers. “Miss Cheerilee, Mr. Rafiki, have you ever heard of a pony with two cutie marks?”
“I must say that I never have, but maybe Apple Bloom has two special talents!” Cheerlie could only say as Rafiki could only scratch his beard as he thinks something is off here.
“Can’t say that I have.” Rafiki could only say as he pondered the thought.
“Oh yeah? Then let's see you do that!” Silver Spoon challenged the filly as Mtoto turned to face her.
“Come on, now! There’s no need to gang up on her!” Mtoto insisted of her to back off as Snips and Snails went ahead and tossed her sticks and plates for her to spin.
“Spin plates!”
“Yeah!”
The two encouraged her as she immediately got the hang of it much to everyone’s astonishment.
“Two cutie marks?”
“Two talents?”
“Aw yeah!”
The girls expressed their wide-eyed amazement at this discovery.
“Our friend is the most...” Sweetie began as she and Scootaloo declared together that Apple Bloom is...
“...special pony ever!”
“Alright, everypony, You ready for a real show?” Apple Bloom offered as she lead the whole class into town while Rafiki doesn’t join them as he feels something is really strange about all of this.
In town is where the whole class watches in amazement of Apple Bloom’s wonderful abilities as the whole town of nearby ponies come over to watch the show of her mixing balancing spinning plates and balancing on her silver hoop. She rode on her hoop on her front and back hooves while having the plates spin themselves while she uses her tail to spin her hoop before using it cutting the cloud Rainbow Dash was sleeping on perfectly to the point she is just sleeping on a clear cut circle undisturbed.
When Twilight, Kion, Rarity, Fuli, and Sweetie Belle arrived, Apple Bloom tossed her hoop right at Twilight’s mane styling it just like Rarity’s who greatly admired it while Spike looked with heart-stricken eyes while Twilight herself wasn’t very amused as she returned an annoyed glance at her friends as Kion and Fuli giggled from behind.
Pinkie Pie who was happily walking through town when Apple Bloom approached from behind to which the pink mare then tripped over upon noticing her while Apple Bloom bounced over her and keep going just as the rest of the Apple Family arrived.
She spun her hoop around as she got side by side with her grandmother as Applejack whistled and bucked a table of pie plates with multiple pies sent her way for her to balance with to which she used her skills to serve everyone apple pie slices she sliced herself to which everyone enjoyed.
A pony with two cutie marks is quite a sight to behold. In fact, actually, probably a little too much to behold as she is unaware the problem is going to worse from there.
Later that night, the Apple family went back to Sweet Apple Acres to retire for the night.
“Yee-haw, little sis! Congratulations on gettin' not just one, but two cutie marks!” Applejack said to her little sister as she now has tired eyes yet the energy in spinning the hoop and spinning plates is still running high. “We're mighty proud of you, right, Big McIntosh?”
“Eeyup.”
“I've never seen anythin' like it. Have you, Big Mac?“
“Nnnope.”
“Why, the way you were a-hoopin' and a-hoppin' and kickin' and spinnin' reminded me of when I was a spry young filly.” She demonstrated as she stretched her only get a painful cramp on her sides. “Guh, charley horse, charley horse!” Big Mac quickly pressed a hoof on the sore spot to fix that. “Ooh, that's better.”
“Why, Apple Bloom, I think you're ready to hit the rodeo circuit right now!” Applejack then said to her little sister seeing of how tired she is looking yet still going.
“Actually, I'm ready to hit the hay right now. I'm plum tuckered.” She replied ready for sleep herself. “I'll see y'all in the mornin'. Night!”
“Night!” Applejack called after her as she went to bed. “Oh my, little Apple Bloom has finally blossomed, hasn't she, Big Mac?”
“Eeyup!”
Later in the middle of the night while Applejack was sleeping she suddenly heard rapid tapping sounds from the other room which woke her up.
“What in tarnation is that?” She wondered what is going on as she wakes herself up and leaves her room and sees the source is coming from her little sister’s room. “Apple Bloom…” She called out to her as she entered her room. “…what is all that awful... tapping?“ She then said with her annoyed expression turning into a more surprised one as she sees the girl undergoing nonstop tap dancing, plate spinning, and hoop spinning at the same time with a pair of red tap shoes on her flank. “Three cutie marks?!
“Help me!” She cried as she can’t stop herself from doing it as her bigger sister slightly winces her right eye at this startling display seeing that something is now definitely wrong. “Help me!”
“C'mere, you!” Applejack tried to snatch the hoop away from her tail but through some force of nature she got repeatedly smacked in the face by it and was shaken off when she tried to hold her in place to no avail. “Ow! Ow! Whoa!”
“I'm sorry, Applejack! I dunno how to make it stop!”
“Well, I know somepony who might!” Applejack resolved as they quickly make their way over to Twilight’s library who had Spike, Kion and Ono with her at the time.
“Hevi Kabisa! Three cutie marks. Three talents.” Kion noted.
“Hapana! I've never seen anything like it!” Ono noted just as mind-boggled as everyone else as Twilight makes her way over to her books.
“I was just reading something about unusual equine illnesses. What was it?” She wondered as she looked for the right book.
“"Perplexing Pony Plagues", perhaps?” Spike suggested with said book on hand.
“Yes, Spike, you're amazing!” Twilight thanked him as he landed on her back
“Yes, well, I do have some talents.” Spike boasted as he placed the book on her night stand.
“Hay fever... the trots... “ She examined as she gasped at finding what she was looking for. “Cutie pox!”
“Cutie pox?!” Applejack, Apple Bloom, Spike, and Kion all asked in unison.
“Of course!” Ono remembered from his earlier research. “I remember that!”
“Cutie pox. This puzzling pony plague afflicted a population of ponies back in the Paleopony Period!” Twilight explained to everyone as she read the book word for word.
“Heh, say that ten times fast!” Spike joked finding saying that funny as Twilight glared at him before continuing.
“Random cutie marks appeared all over the ponies' bodies, causing them to perform all the talents that came with them!”
“Just like me!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.
“Yes, but what's the cure? What's the cure?!” Applejack desperately asked before it gets worse as Twilight kept reading but found something surprising to which caused her jaw to drop and lower her ears as she regretfully answered.
“It says here there's no known cure!”
“No known cure?!” The others exclaimed in shock hearing this.
“The cause of the breakout was never discovered, and the cutie pox disappears as mysteriously as they arrived!” Twilight honestly explained to everyone as she reads the book word for word.
“Oh, no!” Apple Bloom said as another cutie mark appeared on her flank. “Sacré bleu! Plus de marques de cutie! Qu'est-ce c'est?! Je parle Français?!”
“My sister's speakin' in fancy!” Applejack exclaimed to Twilight seeing this is getting worse and worse by the second.
“Not just fancy! French fancy!” Ono corrected.
“She needs help!” Kion stated.
“I know she needs help!” Applejack stated back. “We can't just wait for this to go away! We gotta find somepony to mix up a cure! And fast!”
“Tout de suite!” Apple Bloom stated in French as Twilight thinks of someone they can turn too.
“Not some pony... some zebra!” Twilight stated as Applejack gets the idea.
“Zecora!”
“Ne vous inquiétez pas, Apple Bloom! Zecora saura quoi faire! Attendez!” Ono told the little filly as they all urgently make their way out the door. “I read a book about that language during my time reading with you, Twilight.” He then explained in English.
“Cool!” Twilight said with an impressed smile as they all head out to find Zecora.
The two ponies race ahead with Spike riding on the unicorn’s back with Ono flying ahead to find Zecora as Kion tries to urge the filly to pick up the pace as her tap dancing is causing her to lag behind.
“Hurry, hurry!” Applejack urged her.
“Dépêchez-vous!” Apple Bloom stated back as another cutie mark appeared and forced her to take a jackhammer to carve up a statue of a mare covering her personal parts with her long flowing beautiful mane while standing on a tree stump over a sea shell.
As soon as that happens another cutie mark appears to has her cleaning the chimneys before another cutie mark has her playing an accordion and then another cutie mark appears as she is taming and fighting off three fully grown lions by herself.
“Hevi Kabisa!” Kion just noted as they all see the cutie pox is now rapidly spreading as the cutie marks that appear on her body expand to playing chess and fencing while sharing a worried glance with Twilight and Applejack while Spike just sits back and helps himself to popcorn as he enjoys the show.
“She's cursed!” One pony stated as she is now walking on a tight rope.
“Hexed!” Another pony stated as she is now flying on a glider.
“Enchanted!” Another pony added as Spike decided to step forward to correct them.
“No, she's not.” She told the huddling mares who all sighed in relief until he said. “She just has some weird mysterious disease with no known cure called cutie pox.”
“Cutie pox?!” Everyone exclaimed before screaming and panicking as they all run back inside their houses leaving the entire town completely bare expect for the main cast as Ono, Zecora, Kyoga, and Rafiki arrive on the scene.
“Nice to see one thing everyone here has in common with all of the animals back in the Pride Lands.” Ono sarcastically remarked as Zecora approaches them.
“I thought I had removed their fear the last time that I visited here. But doors are barred and shutters shut. Guess I should've stayed inside my hut.” Zecora commented at the sight.
“It’s not that.” Kion quickly assured the zebra it’s not that case.
“Apple Bloom has cutie pox!” Twilight urgently pointed to the filly now writing down and solving complex math equations. “We were just on our way to see if you had a cure!“
“I see you got Ono’s message.” Applejack added as the bird saluted.
“Yep.” Rafiki nodded. “I was just wondering myself while little Apple Bloom suddenly had two cutie marks before I decided to bring the subject up to Zecora.”
“Indeed, it was a special flower that I needed found. I thought I picked enough to fix all the potions I had to mix, but after my visit from Apple Bloom, some had mysteriously left my room.” She answered as she turned to the filly in question with a stern expression as she is now lifting heavy weights with her tail. “Apple Bloom! What do you say? Did this flower just walk away?”
“I, um...” She remained hesitant to speak the truth as she is now scrubbing windows to which freaked the ponies inside into putting hazard masks on to protect themselves.
“Oh for Celestia’s sake.” Ono just smacked his wing on his forehead at this sight even though they are inside.
“A cutie pox cure I have forsooth, for healing power is in the Seeds of Truth.” Zecora said as she presented a few seeds from her pouch
“Well, well then give 'em to her! Quick!” Applejack urgently pressed her to do so.
“These seeds must be planted in the ground. With the truth, they'll grow, and the cure is found.” Zecora calmly replied as the others share a confused expression with each other.
“Come again?” Applejack asked.
“The Seeds of Truth do hold the cure, but one must speak words, true and pure.” She explained while eyeing that towards the filly for her admit what she has done if she cares to cure herself as she nervously gulped in response upon seeing that she knows the truth too.
“Well then let's get to it!” Applejack wasted no time in seeing to it that they are planted. “Alright, they're planted, now somepony tell the truth!” She then demanded as Apple Bloom continued performing the several cutie mark talents.
“Somepony! Anypony!” She called out to everyone nearby as no one would as they were all too afraid to do so while Pinkie and Bunga look on nervously as sweat drips from their foreheads as Apple Bloom is now spun around in tornado fashion.
“Yesterday I told Mrs. Cake that I ate two corn cakes, but I really ate three!” Pinkie confessed as the three nearby the plant all eye the seeds for something to happen but nothing did.
“Okay, okay, six! We each ate six corn cakes!” Bunga confessed as still nothing happened.
“Make it stop! Oh, make it stop!” The two desperately cried as they are both out of confessions to make as Kyoga just rolls her eyes as if anyone cares about that.
“Apple Bloom, are you sure you have nothing you want to say?” Rafiki calmly asked her.
“Because you look like you want to get something out.” Kyoga added.
At that point, Apple Bloom decided to come clean.
“Wah, I can't stand it anymore! It's me! I admit it! I didn't earn my cutie mark! They're all fake!” She admitted as the tornado spinning stopped as the seeds slightly grew. “I figured the Heart's Desire would help me get what I wanted most! So when Zecora left her hut, I mixed up a special potion and put the rest of the Heart's Desire in it!” She further confessed as the ponies nearby poke their heads out in time to see a flower growing and blooming from Apple Bloom’s confession to which sparked awe into everyone’s eyes as Apple Bloom quickly eats it.
Once that happened, all of the cutie marks had disappeared, thus curing her from the Cutie Pox.
“Apple Bloom!”
“Are you okay?”
Her Crusader friends asked as they approached her.
“I'm great, and I've never been happier to be a blank flank.” She expressed her relief before lowering her head in shame. “But I'm awful sorry I lied, 'specially to you gals. I was so desperate for my cutie mark, I just got carried away.” She apologized as she turned to Zecora to do the same. “And I'm really sorry I snuck those flowers from you, Zecora. Why, I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted me to come by again.”
“Now, Apple Bloom, do not be silly. You are always welcome, my little filly. With each mistake you learn something new, growing up into a better you.” Zecora assured there are no hard feelings and it’s all part of growing up and learning life lessons along the way as Twilight, Applejack, and Kion all smile proudly for her to let her know that she is now cured and that’s what really matters before seeing that she just disappeared in an instant.
“Hapana!” Ono exclaimed. “How did she do that?!“
“Who knows.” Rafiki replied with a shrug along with Kyoga. “It’s a mystery.” He laughed.
“Apple Bloom, would you mind writing to Princess Celestia and telling her what you've learned?” Twilight then asked of her.
“I'd be happy to, Twilight!” She happily replied. “Spike?”
“Ready!” He stated as he presented a paper and quill pen.
“Dear Princess Celestia,
Waiting for what your heart desires can be really hard. So, you may try to take a shortcut. But this dishonesty never works, because you didn't earn what your heart desired. The only cure is being honest with yourself and others. And that's something every heart desires.”
“I sure am proud of you, sis.” Applejack commended. “Seems like you finally learned the importance of patience.”
“Yup! All good things come to those who wait.” She happily replied before instantly deciding… “Well! I've waited long enough.”
“Actually, that was way too long.” Scootaloo agreed as surprise sparked in their older friends eyes and faces.
“What?!” Applejack asked in shock.
“So what are we gonna do today to earn our cutie marks?” Apple Bloom asked her friends.
“Well, I was thinking, for a pony who's never mixed up a potion before, you sure stirred up something fierce.” Scootaloo proposed.
“Yeah! So what if your talent is potion making?” Sweetie agreed and thought.
“Oh my gosh, totally! Let's go talk to Zecora, now!” Apple Bloom eagerly said as she led the way back to the Everfree Forest.
“Yeah!”
“Woo-hoo!”
The other two girls cheered as they raced ahead with Kion pursing them.
“Girls! Wait for me!” He called out to them as the others just shake their heads somewhat disapprovingly at the sight of an important lesson going in one ear and out the other.
“Someday soon they will get it.” Rafiki assured everyone else. “They are all still young.”
“True.” Kyoga agreed. “Since they learned it enough they might as well go ahead and break a hoof out there.”
Everyone all shared a laugh together at her sarcastic quip finding it pretty funny and that she actually managed to crack a joke.