My Little Pony: Nine Elements Book 1

by BlueBioWolf

Chapter 12: Call of the Cutie (S1:E12)

It was the second week of school in Ponyville. The school bell rang and various students were seated at their desks, one of which was Applejack’s young sister, Apple Bloom. The students were talking amongst each other until the schoolhouse teacher, Miss Cheerilee, walked up from behind her desk and up to an easel close by. Miss Cheerilee was an earth pony mare with a coat of moderate cerise, a mane and tail of pale, light grayish rose with light ceriseish gray stripes, grayish harlequin eyes, and a Cutie Mark depicting three smiling flowers.

“Let’s quiet down, please,” said Cheerliee to the students. "We have a very important lesson to get to." The students’ chatter faded away. "Thank you. Today, we’re going to be talking about Cutie Marks.”

“Bor-ing,” A voice rang from the crowd. Miss Cheerliee glowered at a pink earth filly with purple and white streaks in her mane and tail. The filly subsided.

“You are all roughly around the age where ponies start to earn these special marks and I see most of you have them already.” She gave a look of pride to some of the young fillies and colts. She then shifted to a sterner tone. “However, don’t think it’s escaped my notice that some of you use this as an excuse to harass those who haven’t.”

The pink filly tried to give an innocent look, but, Miss Cheerliee just gave a threatening one right back.

“Now, can anyone tell me when a pony gets his or her Cutie Mark?” asked the teacher.

Another filly, with a bouncy red mane and tail and an off-white coat, raised her hoof. Miss Cheerliee nodded at her. “When he or she discovers that certain something that makes her special!”

“Very good, Twist,” smiled the teacher. “A Cutie Mark appears on a pony's flank when he or she finds that certain something that makes them different from every other pony. Discovering what makes you unique isn't something that happens overnight, and no amount of hoping, wishing, or begging, would make a Cutie Mark appear before its time. As for when I got my Cutie Mark, when I was a filly, I was helping my little cousin learn her ABCs.” She showed a picture of herself, roughly the age of her class now, and a three year old foal beaming at her older cousin. In the background is a filly that looks identical to Miss Cheerilee, though, with a less tidy mane and tail.

Puppy Dog Tails raised his hoof. “Miss Cheerilee?”

“Yes, Tails?” Miss Cheerilee said, acknowledging the colt.

“Would I be correct in assuming that filly in the picture that looks like you is related to you?” he asked.

“Very good eye, Tails,” Miss Cheerilee answered. “Yes. The one with the messier mane and tail is my twin sister, Cherry Blossom.”

This time, another filly raised her hoof.  She was an earth pony with a lavender coat color, a turquoise mane, light turquoise eyes, and a pillow Cutie Mark. “Yes, Aura?” Miss Cheerilee acknowledged.

“Why does Cherry Blossom have a funky mane?” the little filly asked.

“Cherry Blossom is something of a tomboy,” Miss Cheerilee explained. “That means that while she’s a mare, she’s more interested in stallion activities such as wrestling.”

Some of the fillies couldn't argue with that.

Sounds like mah sister n’ Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom noted to herself.

“I, however,” Miss Cheerilee continued. “Preferred to participate in more feminine and scholarly activities. Cherry Blossom makes a living as a masked wrestler now. But, that's part of the beauty of us being different. It unlocks new possibilities. And always be on the lookout. You never know when your Cutie Mark will show or what new meanings could be behind your Cutie Marks you have now.”

Later, it was recess. The fillies and colts eagerly hit the playground. Well, almost all of them. Apple Bloom glanced back at her flank. She was one of the very few students in her class that didn't have a Cutie Mark. She knew there were at least two or three others, but, she didn’t interact with them outside of Twist, who also had no Cutie Mark.

“Want some of my peppermint sticks?” she asked. “I made them myself. I’ve been taking lessons from my big sister, Bon-Bon.”

“Thanks anyhow, Twist,” Apple Bloom said. Puppy Dog Tails approached them, carrying a book in his mouth.

“Is it okay if I sit with you two fillies?” he asked.

“That’s okay with me,” Twist said with a smile.

“Tryin’ ta get away from yer brothers again?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Yes,” the colt answered. He then took a seat. “I envy how you two have better sibling relations.”

“Well,” Twist said. “It’s all about getting to know one another. We may not always get along, but, we would never really hurt each other.”

“I know my brothers as well as I ever wanted to,” Tails scoffed. “Their shenanigans leave me a nervous wreck.”

“Siblin’s are supposed ta drive ya crazy,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s kind o’ their job.”

At that moment, the pink filly from earlier walked up with another earth filly. This one had a cornflower bluish gray coat, a mane and tail in two shades of light azure-ish gray, moderate violet eyes, pale opal glasses, and a Cutie Mark depicting a spoon adorned with a heart. This duo was known as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “And here come the upper class twits,” Tails snarked.

“I wouldn't use foul language if I were you,” snarked back Diamond Tiara. “Your relatives wouldn't approve.”

“You know,” Tails said, not the slightest bit intimidated. “My parents may not be around much, but, they’re still better than yours.”

“That lesson on Cutie Marks was so dull,” Diamond Tiara said aloud, changing the subject all too eagerly. “I mean, learning about Cutie Marks is so last week. Silver Spoon, you just got yours a few days ago. I just got mine today. I mean, a lot of us already have ours.”

“Is this going anywhere,” Tails asked. “Or are you here to gloat about how your mom’s head of the PTA and buying your way into good grades?”

“Why yes, it is going that way," grinned Diamond. "I'd give you an A+... if I were in charge of the school." Silver laughed along with her friend.

“No thank you,” Tails responded. “I prefer to legitimately earn my good grades instead of having them given to me for free like a lazy brat.”

“Oh, and everyone is invited to my cute-cenera this weekend."

"It's going to be totally amazing," grinned Silver.

"It's a party celebrating me and my fantastic Cutie Mark. How could it not be?" The two fillies started to do a secret shake. "Bump! Bump! Sugar-lump, rump!"

“Frankly,” Tails said. “I have a million better things to do than dignify the idea of validating your already swollen ego.”

“Like hang out with your silly stepbrothers?” asked Silver Spoon. “They’re invited too.”

Tails closed his book with an angry expression. “Okay,” he said. “I may be annoyed with my brothers, I may lose my temper when they do stupid things, but, I will NOT tolerate anypony questioning our blood relations! Rest assured, I intend to report this to Miss Cheerilee. She’ll deal with you.” At that, he stormed off, clearly vexed.

“So,” Diamond Tiara said to Twist and Apple Bloom. “I can expect to see you two at my cute-cenera.”

“Is this some kind o’ joke?” Apple Bloom asked.

“My dad told me I could invite anyone,” she answered. “If it was a joke, I wouldn’t want you there at all. But, he told me that all of my classmates are invited.”

“Yer fixin’ ta mock me n’ other students without Cutie Marks that go fer not havin’ a Cutie Mark, ain’t ya?” Apple Bloom asked in a deadpan voice.

“Apple Bloom,” Diamond Tiara said in feigned shock. “This is us you’re talking to.” She then shifted to smugness. “Of course we are.”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon cackled deviously until Miss Cheerilee approached them. “Diamond Dazzle Tiara and Silver Shine Spoon!” she declared. That shut the two fillies up immediately. They turned to see a stern Miss Cheerilee. “I've warned you before about playing these sorts of pranks on Apple Bloom, but, you seem to refuse to listen. I've given you double-detention for two weeks last time - including two straight Saturday AND Sunday detentions. Looks like I'm going to have to resort to suspension for a month this time. One of these days, you are going to get it through your heads that just because Diamond's mother is the head of the PTA, her father is the richest pony in town, and Silver's parents have high society connections doesn't give you the right to bully these other kids. I don't care if Spoiled DOES try to have me fired - AGAIN. I'll beat it like I did the last three times I stood up to her.”

Diamond Tiara looked with disdain at Tails, who stood his ground. He then turned his attention to Apple Bloom and Twist, who looked amazed with what they witnessed. He gave them a kind smile. “Thank you for telling me, Tails,” Miss Cheerilee said. “Apple Bloom, Twist, are you two okay?”

“Ah am,” Apple Bloom answered.

“Me, too,” Twist answered.

“Just remember,” Miss Cheerilee said. “If you two or another classmate are ever facing trouble from bullies, please tell me or another grown pony you trust.”

“We will,” the two fillies answered.

With that, Miss Cheerilee left. As soon as she was out of earshot, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon went back to teasing.

“So, we’ll see you two this weekend at the party,” Diamond Tiara said. The two giggled before doing their ultimate taunt.

“Blank flanks~!” they said together. Then they walked off laughing to themselves. This left the two fillies looking very sad.

“You know, I think I’ll go after all,” Tails said. “Just to see them crash and burn.”

“Are you sure,” Twist said. “Even though you don’t like them?”

“True,” Tails said. “But, I do like seeing them get their dose of comeuppance.”

“Okay,” Apple Bloom said. “If yer sure ‘bout that.”

Later, at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and Caramel were picking apples when Apple Bloom arrived.

“Hi, Apple Bloom,” Applejack smiled before she noticed her little sister’s downhearted expression. “Rough day at school today?”

“Eeyup,” replied the dismal filly.

“Sit down here n’ tell me about it,” Applejack said warmly.

Apple Bloom sat on a haybale. “Diamond Tiara got her Cutie Mark today,” she said. “She’s havin’ her cute-cenera this weekend.”

“Did ya not get an invitation?” Applejack asked.

“No,” Apple Bloom said. “The whole class was invited. That’s the problem.”

“Ah don’t really see why that would be,” Applejack said.

“Ya know how she made fun o’ me just fer livin’ on this here farm?” Apple Bloom asked.

“That still bothers me that she says that,” Applejack said. “‘Specially since her pop is a trusted client.”

“Well, it’s gotten worse now that she has her Cutie Mark,” Apple Bloom explained. “She’s invitin’ me n’ the other students without Cutie Marks just so she can make fun o’ us more.”

“Well,” Applejack said. “If the idea bothers ya that much, ya can choose not ta go.”

“Ah tried that,” Apple Bloom said. “She said that if ah don’t go, ah’ll be a nopony just like mah family o’ inbred hicks.”

Applejack looked clearly angered from the statement. She then took a deep breath and continued to talk to her sister.

“Now,” Applejack said. “Ya shouldn’t listen ta that nonsense. Yer the first member o’ the Apple Family since aunt Citrus ta go ta school full time.”

“It’s true,” Caramel said. “Applejack and I met when we were foals and I didn’t see her go to school much. Instead, she was mostly homeschooled. At least, I think she was.”

“Ah was, Caramel,” Applejack confirmed before turning back to Apple Bloom. “Ah only went ta the schoolhouse once a semester. Mah edumacation don’t really stretch beyond apples.”

“Don’t ya mean education?” Apple Bloom asked.

“See what ah mean?” Applejack said. “Ah don’t got good grammar.”

“That’s noticeable,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah suppose yer ‘bout ta tell me yah were the last in yer class ta get a Cutie Mark?”

“As a matter o’ fact,” Applejack said. “Ah was. Ah knew that ah would work on the apple farm for a long long time n’ these bright shiny apples sealed the deal.”

“That ain’t really helpin’ me feel better,” Apple Bloom said in a deadpan voice.

“Big McIntosh was the last in his class,” Applejack said. “So was Granny Smith.”

“Yer not even tryin’ are ya?” Apple Bloom said. “Ah’ll pro’ly be the last pony in mah class to get my Cutie Mark. This pro’ly runs in the family!” She huffed as she turned around. “See if ah ask ya fer help again after this.”

“Sorry, sugarcube,” Applejack said sadly. “But, y’all will get yer Cutie Mark, don’t ya fret.”

“When you do, it’ll probably follow the family theme of apples,” Caramel said, hoping to be more helpful before accidentally burying himself in apples. “I’m okay.”

Caramel’s statement caused Apple Bloom’s ears to noticeably perk up.

“Wait,” Apple Bloom said, growing more excited. “Apples… that’s it! Applejack’s got apples, Granny Smith’s is an apple pie, n’ Big McIntosh’s is an apple half! Mah Cutie Mark’ll pro’ly be apple-related, too!”

“Maybe you can start by digging me out of these apples?” Caramel suggested.

Apple Bloom chuckled sheepishly and helped to get the apples moved. Applejack helped as well.

The next day, Apple Bloom was with Applejack and Caramel at market after school.

“Get yer Sweet Apple Acres apples here~!” Applejack called. “Juicy, sweet, n’ perfect for any treat~”

Apple Bloom got a little too eager with her sales pitch.

“There are a lot o’ great uses for apples!” She called. “Ya can eat ‘em, play with ‘em, n’ even make fine art with ‘em!”

On that last point, she kicked an apple to a canvas about to be painted by a unicorn stallion with a grayish-purple coat, dark goldenrod and pale yellow mane and tail, green eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a yellow star surrounded by multiple white five-pronged smaller stars.

“Hey!” Exclaimed the stallion.

“Sorry ‘bout that, Ponet,” Applejack said to him. “She’s new ‘n a little too eager ta please.”

“I’ll take my artistic vision elsewhere, plebeian,” Ponet said snootily before levitating his canvas and easel and walking away.

“Apple Bloom,” Applejack said. “Ah appreciate ya wantin’ ta help, but, ya might want ta take it down a notch.”

At that point, Apple Bloom noticed a grayish amber earth pony stallion with light cobalt blue eyes, a dark gamboge mane and tail, and an hourglass Cutie Mark. “Doc Whooves!” the filly cried.

“Yes?” answered the stallion, whose name was Doctor Whooves, though, he also answered to Time Turner.

“Care ta buy some apples?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Oh, no thank you,” he politely responded.

“Why not?” the filly asked.

“I have plenty at home,” he said.

“Are ya sure?” Apple Bloom pressed.

“I-I’m pretty sure,” stammer Doctor Whooves, quickly growing overwhelmed.

But, Apple Bloom continued badgering him. “Yer pretty sure, but, yer not absolutely super-duper completely sure, are ya?”

This girl’s as stubborn as her ancestors, the stallion noted. “Look, I have projects to work on, so, if I buy some apples, can I be on my way?”

Apple Bloom’s stern face turned to one of delight. “Ya got it!”

Doctor Whooves quickly grabbed a few apples. “Will four gold bits be enough?” he asked Applejack.

“Yeah,” she answered. “But, ya might need yer change.”

“Keep it,” the stallion said as he paid the bits and ran off with the apples.

“Whoo-hoo!” Apple Bloom hollered. “Ah made mah first sale! Ah’ll be sure ta get mah Cutie Mark in no time!” She tried looking at her flank. “See anythin’ yet?” Her flank was still bare. “Maybe ah need ta increase mah sales figgers.”

She then noticed Berry Punch looking the available apples in a nearby bucket. “Ya touch it, ya buy it!” Apple Bloom’s outburst frightened Berry Punch.

“Terribly sorry, Berry Punch,” Applejack apologized.

Berry Punch breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s okay. I have an overeager little sister, too. I know how it goes.”

Applejack turned her attention back to Apple Bloom, who at that moment, was pouring apples into Bon-Bon’s bag.

“That’ll be four silver bits,” Apple Bloom said.

Bon-Bon noticed this and looked annoyed. “I didn’t put those in my bag!”

“Likely story,” Apple Bloom retorted. “Four silver bits.”

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack scolded. “That’s no way ta talk ta a customer!” She then spoke kindly to Bon-Bon. “Ah’m so sorry, Bon-Bon. She’s new.”

“You don’t say,” sneered Bon-Bon.

“Here,” offered Applejack. “Accept these, no charge.” She put more apples in Bon-Bon’s other bag.

“Thank you,” Bon-Bon said. “I’m sure Twist and I can work through these.” She trotted off, though, her pace was slower with the unplanned weight of the apples.

“Y’all come back now, ya hear~” Applejack called to Bon-Bon. She then turned her attention to Apple Bloom, clearly not happy with her being too assertive to the customers. “Ya clearly ain’t ready ta sell apples just yet.”

Apple Bloom sadly sighed and gave her apron back to Applejack. “So much fer earnin’ mah Cutie Mark in apple sellin’,” she said.

Caramel stepped up. “It’s okay, Apple Bloom,” he comforted. “You were just a bit too eager is all. Look, a Cutie Mark isn’t something you can rush. I don’t even remember what mine’s supposed to mean. Of course, I can’t remember last week, so, there’s that.”

“Gee, thanks, Caramel.” Apple Bloom said.

“Look, do any other ponies in your class not have Cutie Marks?” Caramel asked.

“Well,” Apple Bloom explained. “There is Twist. There’s also Featherweight n’ two other fillies. Ah don’t know the last three too well.”

“You could go to the cute-cenera with Twist,” Caramel suggested. “That way, you can have fun together on common ground.”

Applejack nodded. “Yeah. N’ the party can also be a chance ta get ta know them other three foals.”

“Now, go along, Apple Bloom,” Caramel said.

“Ya sure ya don’t want me ta stick around ‘til the end o’ market?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Hey!” said an earth pony stallion with a light tan coat, brown mane and tail, dark blue eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a tennis racquet obscured by yellow shorts. “Who’s been using my racquet?”

“Yes, we’re sure,” Caramel said. “We have some explaining to do for Ace Point.”

Apple Bloom nodded and walked over to Bon-Bon’s house.

She soon approached the location and knocked on the barn door. Twist opened the top barn door and saw Apple Bloom.

“Hi, Apple Bloom!” Twist said happily.

“Ah was thinkin’,” Apple Bloom began. Twist politely listened to her friend. “Well, since we both don’t have our Cutie Marks, maybe you n’ ah could go together as friends.”

Twist winced a bit. “Uh, actually…” she began, opening the bottom door. On Twist’s flank were two pink and white candy canes forming the shape of a heart. Apple Bloom gasped in surprise.

“When’d ya get that?!” she asked.

“About half an hour ago, actually,” Twist explained. “I always enjoyed making my own sugary treats, but, it took me until just now to realize it was my super special talent! Kind of sweet, huh?”

Apple Bloom, however, felt discouraged. “Yeah,” she said dismally. Twist immediately took notice of Apple Bloom’s sadness.

“I’m sorry, Apple Bloom.” Twist said comfortingly. “This doesn’t mean you won’t come to the party, does it?”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were walking by at that moment. “She will if she wants to prove she’s not an inbred hick,” the pink filly said.

“Don’t feel too bad, Apple Bloom,” Silver Spoon said. “I’m sure you’ll have fun with us as we admire Diamond Tiara’s Cutie Mark.”

Puppy Dog Tails was watching the scene and snidely said, “Diamond Tiara always did like others kissing her plot.”

“Ah’ll see ya then,” Apple Bloom sadly sighed. Then she moped away to wallow in self-pity. A dark cloud floated above her. Literally.

“Whoa,” a raspy voice said overhead. “Sorry about the dark cloud, kid.” It was Rainbow Dash. She then tossed the cloud away higher into the sky. “So, what’s eating you?”

Apple Bloom took a deep breath and explained in one breath. “There’s a cute-cenera and everypony in mah class is invited, but, ah really want ta go, n’ ah want ta have mah Cutie Mark ‘cause almost everypony in mah class has them already, n’ Applejack n’ Caramel say I can earn mah Cutie Mark eventually, but, ah don’t want one eventually… Ah want it now!”

Rainbow processed the information. “I see.” Rainbow said. “Well, if you want a Cutie Mark, maybe I can help you.”

“How?” Apple Bloom said. “Applejack said ah have ta wait fer it ta happen.”

“She also said that two plus two equals appleseeds,” Rainbow snarked.

Meanwhile, Applejack and Caramel were packing up shop when Applejack suddenly stopped short. “Ah don’t know why, but, ah suddenly feel like kickin’ Rainbow’s flank tomorrow.”

Back with the sad filly, Apple Bloom was about to comment on that, but, after thinking a bit, she simply said. “Good point. The only math questions she could get right had ta do with apples.”

“Besides,” Rainbow said. “I was first in my class to get a Cutie Mark.”

“Ya were?” Apple Bloom asked, a new sense of hope coming back to her.

“Yep,” Rainbow said. “Ten years ago, actually.”

“Then,” Apple Bloom said. “Maybe ya can help me!”

Later, Apple Bloom was doing push-ups.

“Okay,” Rainbow said, now wearing a gray sweatband on her head. “The quickest way to ensure a Cutie Mark is earned is to try a lot of things quickly. Are you ready?!”

“Ah’m ready!” Apple Bloom said.

“I SAID, ARE YOU READY?!” Rainbow said louder.

“AH’M READY!” Apple Bloom responded.

“Good!” Rainbow explained. She then tossed three bouncy balls over to Apple Bloom. “Juggling! Go!”

Apple Bloom tried juggling the balls with her front hooves. She did okay briefly, but, she eventually started to fumble with them. She ended up falling on her chin as the balls landed on her head.

“Ow,” she simply stated.

“Hang-gliding! Go!”

Apple Bloom started to run with a hang glider. She tried to take off, but, she stumbled and didn't even make it off of the cliff.

“Karate! Go!”

Apple Bloom, in full gi, prepared to kick a training stand, but, it was so heavy that she didn't leave a dent in it.

“Kite-flying! Go!”

Apple Bloom began to run with the kite’s string in her mouth. But, she ended up getting tangled in the string. “How’d this even happen?!” the filly complained.

“Ultra Pony Roller Derby! Go!”

Apple Bloom found herself roller skating with Spike and Ash.

“How did she even talk us into doing this?” Ash asked.

“And why are we proceeding to do this?” Spike asked.

“Whoa~” Apple Bloom hollered as she tripped over her own hooves.

“Look out!” Spike called.

Ash and the opposing three ponies crashed into a dust cloud, which Spike and Apple Bloom emerged from with the former on the latter’s back. “Yer a li’l heavy, Spike,” the filly groaned.

“I’m not used to being carried by a filly, either,” Spike groaned. “Not much to grab onto.”

Apple Bloom sighed.

The next day, Rainbow, Spike, and Apple Bloom were by a tree close by Carousel Boutique. Rainbow was looking for something they hadn’t tried.

“Is getting a Cutie Mark really worth all this?” Spike asked Apple Bloom. “At the rate you’re going, you could get hurt.”

“Ah guess not.” Apple Bloom moaned. “But, there has ta be somethin’ ah can do ta get it.”

“Why do you want to get it so badly, anyway?” Spike asked.

Apple Bloom took another deep breath and explained the situation. “There’s a cute-cenera n’ everypony in mah class is invited, but, ah really want ta go, n’ ah want ta have mah Cutie Mark ‘cause almost everypony in mah class has them already, n’ Applejack n’ Caramel say ah can earn mah Cutie Mark eventually, but, ah don’t want one eventually… Ah want it now!”

Spike processed the information. “Okay,” he said. “That answers one question, but, raises a couple others.”

“Sorry,” Apple Bloom said. “When ah saw that Twist got her Cutie Mark, too, ah got upset.”

“Isn’t Twist that bespectacled filly who speaks with a lisp?” Spike asked.

“Uh-huh.” Apple Bloom nodded. “She got hers yesterday. Now, ah’ll pro’ly be the only one at Diamond Tiara’s cute-cenera without a Cutie Mark.”

“Rarity mentioned Diamond Tiara when me and Twilight first came to Ponyville,” Spike remembered. “Is it true she’s the daughter of the richest stallion in town?”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said. “It don’t really explain how ya know about Twist, but, okay.”

“Me and Twilight saw her whenever we went to Bon-Bon’s candy store to get some rock candy,” Spike explained.

“Ah see.” Apple Bloom said. Suddenly, they heard the sound of giggling. Apple Bloom gasped and she hid in a nearby bush.

Spike saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon leaving Carousel Boutique with a wrapped box on the former’s back.

“I love your new outfit,” Silver Spoon smiled.

“I know,” Diamond Tiara said smugly. “It totally shows off my Cutie Mark.”

“I love how special you are~” Silver Spoon said.

“Hey!” Spike said. “She’s no more special than anypony else who has a Cutie Mark.”

Apple Bloom peeked to see Spike standing up to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Both fillies laughed. “That’s rich coming from you, lizard boy,” Diamond Tiara said.

Spike wasn’t the least bit intimidated. “If you’re trying to put me down for being a dragon like those Canterlot snobs,” he said. “You’re going to have to try harder. Heck, you’re going to have to try, period.”

The two fillies scoffed. “You’re lucky that we have other things we need to do,” Silver Spoon said. And they walked off to where they needed to go. When they were out of earshot, Apple Bloom made her way out of the bush.

“Spike,” Apple Bloom said in awe. “That was amazin’!”

“They’re just spineless cowards,” Spike said. “They pick on those lower than them because they think they won’t fight back. I call ponies like them jerkwads.”

“Ah wish ah could stand up ta ‘em like that,” Apple Bloom said. “But, ah still have this problem.” She pointed to her flank.

“You look like you’d be good at eating cupcakes!” chirped a voice from behind Apple Bloom. It was Pinkie Pie, who was out and about.

“Eatin’ cupcakes?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Eating cupcakes~” Pinkie repeated in a singsong-like voice.

“Uh, I’m not sure that qualifies as a talent,” Spike pointed out.

“It might be, Spike,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah never saw somepony with an eatin’ cupcake Cutie Mark before, so, what if ah’m the one ta get it?”

"Then again…" sighed Spike. "Dragons don't get Cutie Marks, so, who am I to judge that?" He followed Pinkie and Apple Bloom to Sugarcube Corner. As soon as they left, Applejack came up and kicked Rainbow in the rear with her back legs.

“That was fer yesterday, Rainbow Dash!” she said.

“What did I do?!” Rainbow asked.

“Ah don’t rightly know,” Applejack said. “But, somethin’ told me ta kick yer flank!”

Inside the bakery, Apple Bloom looked around the kitchen. “Where are those cupcakes? Ah’m ready ta chow down!”

“I don’t have any cupcakes,” Pinkie said.

“Then, why did you invite us here to eat them?” Spike pointed out.

“Because she looked like somepony who would be good at eating cupcakes” Pinkie said. “And, she also looks like the kind of pony who can be good at helping me make some!”

“Okay, making cupcakes sounds more like a legit talent,” Spike said. “I mean, how do you compare who’s better or worse at eating cupcakes?”

“Eating contests,” Pinkie said. “Come on, guys. Let’s get baking!”

Pinkie then happily put chef’s hats on Apple Bloom and Spike.

“Well, ah guess a makin’ cupcakes Cutie Mark would work,” Apple Bloom said. Then, Pinkie started to sing a little song.

“All you have to do is take a cup of flour,
Add it to the mix
Now just take a little something sweet, not sour
A bit of salt, just a pinch!

Baking these treats is such a cinch
Add a teaspoon of vanilla
Add a little more and ya count to four
And you never get your fill-a~
Cupcakes, so sweet and tasty
Cupcakes, don’t be too hasty
Cupcakes,
Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes!”

The next day, Apple Bloom and Spike were back at Sugarcube Corner with baking lessons with Pinkie. Both pulled out batches from the oven. Spike’s batches looked better while Apple Bloom’s looked burnt.

“Ah guess ah’m not cut out fer gettin’ a baking Cutie Mark, neither,” Apple Bloom said sadly. “Why’re yer batches better n’ mine, Spike?”

“I’ve baked with Twilight and her family before,” Spike said. “It just takes practice and watching your bakes.”

“On the plus side,” Pinkie said. “These look better than your last batch.”

“Thanks,” Apple Bloom said. “But, it still don’t help me ‘cause ah’m not goin’ ta get my Cutie Mark fer makin’ burnt cupcakes.”

“Where do you keep the brooms, Pinkie?” Spike asked.

“They should be in the cupboard over there,” Pinkie said.

“Thanks,” Spike said as he opened said cupboard, only to end up buried in brooms.

“Spahke!” Apple Bloom exclaimed as she hastened to help him. “Are ya okay?!”

Spike emerged from the pile of brooms. “This isn’t my first broom-alanche,” he said.

Apple Bloom helped Spike to put the excess brooms away, leaving only the broom he was going to work with. As he began cleaning, Twilight entered.

“Hi, Pinkie,” Twilight said. “Rainbow told me that Spike was here.”

“Right here,” Spike said, sweeping up dried batter. “Before you ask, I decided to clean up on my own.”

“Alright,” Twilight said. “I can see you guys were doing a bit of baking.”

“They were,” Apple Bloom said.

“Apple Bloom did some baking, too,” Pinkie said happily. She then presented one of Apple Bloom’s batches. “Want to try one?”

“It’s okay ta say no, Twi,” Apple Bloom said. “They’re not that good.”

Twilight didn’t like the look of the cupcakes. “I’m good, thanks,” she said.

“Ah don’t blame ya,” Apple Bloom said. “Pinkie offered me ta help n’ Ah took it as a chance ta earn mah Cutie Mark. As ya can see, it didn’t really work out.”

“She’s trying to get her Cutie Mark so Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon won’t mock her during her cute-cenera today,” Spike explained.

It was then Apple Bloom got an idea. “Wait, maybe ya can help me with that, Twi!” Apple Bloom said excitedly. “Y’ALL can give me a Cutie Mark!”

“That’s not how it works,” Twilight said.

“Ah know,” Apple Bloom said. “But, there has ta be somethin’ ya can do! Oh, please, please, please, please, PLEASE~!”

“You may as well try it, Twilight,” Spike said. “She’ll just keep asking if you don’t.”

“Alright,” Twilight said, finally conceding. “Hold still please, Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom did as she was told, but, she was still visibly excited at the idea. In a flash of magic, a Cutie Mark depicting a cart full of apples appeared on the filly’s flank.

“Thanks, Twi!” Apple Bloom said happily. “Ah knew ya could-” But before Apple Bloom could finish her sentence, the fake Cutie Mark faded away.

“I’m sorry,” Twilight said, “But, I told you it wouldn’t—”

“Try again!” Apple Bloom said eagerly. Twilight sighed and tried again several times. After each attempt, the results were still the same. This disheartened Apple Bloom even more.

“I told you,” Twilight said. “Not even magic can make a Cutie Mark appear before its time.”

“Maybe ah better just not go,” Apple Bloom said sadly. “Ah don’t care if Diamond Tiara says that mah family is full o’ inbred hicks. Ah can’t go ta that party n’ face bein’ mocked.”

“I’m sure Diamond Tiara wouldn’t say that,” Twilight said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Spike said. “She says that those without Cutie Marks aren’t special.”

“Oh, Spike,” Twilight said. “It is important for a pony to get their Cutie Mark, but, she probably doesn’t know the amazement of trying new things.”

“For her, trying would be a start,” Spike said.

“Ferget it,” Apple Bloom said as she made her way out of the kitchen towards the Sugarcube Corner entrance/exit. “There is no way ah’m goin’ ta that-” She stopped short as she saw that she walked right into the party. She nervously gulped. “How could ah have forgotten about the time? How could ah have forgotten that Pinkie was hostin’ the party at Sugarcube Corner?!”

Pinkie put a party hat on her head. “Don’t forget your party hat,” Pinkie giggled. “As long as you’re here, you can try to have fun!” She skipped off as Spike approached the filly.

“You okay?” Spike asked.

“No,” Apple Bloom said. “Ah need ta get out o’ here.”

“If you need me to create some sort of distraction,” Spike said. “I can do that.”

Apple Bloom gratefully hugged Spike. “Ah don’t know how ta thank ya, Spike!”

“You don’t have to,” Spike said. He then saw a trumpet on display. “You may want to cover your ears.”

Apple Bloom obliged and did so. Spike went to the trumpet and began playing it with impressive skill despite frequent sour notes. Various foals crowded around Spike and were amazed with what they heard. This gave Apple Bloom a chance to sneak towards the front door of Sugarcube Corner while the others were distracted.

However, Applejack and Caramel entered before she could get out the door. “Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Caramel happily. “You made it!”

“After Caramel n’ ah heard o’ Twist,” Applejack explained. “We were afraid ya weren’t goin’ ta show up. But, we’re glad ya came ta yer senses about this Cutie Mark thing. These things happen when they’re s’pposed ta happen.”

“Ah need ta get out o’ here before Diamond Tiara makes fun o’ me,” Apple Bloom whispered frantically.

“What’s that?” Caramel asked.

“Get out o’ mah way!” Apple Bloom said slightly louder. And she hastened Applejack and Caramel away from the front entrance. She was just about to part when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s voices caught her attention.

“Looks like blank flank Apple Bloom made it with her hick sister,” Diamond Tiara said.

“Why don’t we go say hi?” Silver Spoon said.

Thinking quickly, Apple Bloom grabbed a pink tablecloth from a small table and adorned it into a makeshift skirt.

“Looks like you’re becoming something more than an inbred hick,” Diamond Tiara said, either not knowing or not caring that Applejack was in earshot. “So glad you could make it.”

“Nice dress,” Silver Spoon commented.

Apple Bloom grew nervous. “Oh, uh, thanks,” she responded. “It’s somethin’ ah, uh, threw together last minute.”

“It totally shows off your Cutie Mark,” Diamond Tiara mocked. “Oh, wait, you don’t have one.”

“Oh, yeah,” Apple Bloom said, clearly making something up on the fly. “That’s done on purpose. Ya see, ah got my Cutie Mark earlier, n’ it’s so amazin’, ah didn’t want it riskin’ ya not gettin’ attention fer yer Cutie Mark.”

Secretly, Apple Bloom hoped her bluff would work on the egotistical filly. Sure enough, Diamond Tiara grew nervous about the idea of being shown up at her own party.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Diamond Tiara said, rolling her eyes. “It’s probably stupid like you anyway.”

“Well, ah’ma go mingle,” Apple Bloom said. “Catch ya later, DT, n’ enjoy yer party.” She walked off, silently congratulating herself on a successful bluff. Unfortunately, she tripped over the bottom hem of the tablecloth skirt and she fumbled onto the ground, knocking over the phonogram and stopping the music. All could see that she had no Cutie Mark. “Oh, no…” Apple Bloom could only say to herself.

The two bullies seized the opportunity to belittle Apple Bloom further.

“Wow~” Silver Spoon said in a condescending manner. “That is an impressive Cutie Mark~”

“Nice try,” Diamond Tiara said.

“Blank Flank!” they taunted together before cackling.

What no one seemed to notice was Puppy Dog Tails standing by a table holding a punch bowl. He directed his attention to two fillies underneath it. “Are you going to let them get away with this,” he asked. “Or are you going to tell them off?”

“We’re going to tell them off,” said one of the two fillies underneath the punch bowl. Then louder, she said. “You got a problem with blank flanks?!”

At this, the bullies stopped cackling.

“What?!” said Diamond Tiara.

"I said, ‘you got a problem with blank flanks?’"

There were the white unicorn filly with purple and pink mane and tail and the orange pegasus filly with a dark pink mane and tail. Apple Bloom glanced over at the duo, a vague familiarity about them present in her mind. Why do they look so familiar, she asked herself.

“The problem is,” Silver Spoon scoffed. “They’re, like, totally not special!”

Tails laughed in a deliberately condescending manner. “There’s the pot calling the kettle black,” he said. “You’re no more special than they are!”

“Besides,” said the unicorn filly. “Her not having a Cutie Mark means that she’s full of potential!”

“She’d be great at anything,” retorted the pegasus filly before saying in a way that mocks the two uppity fillies. “The possibilities are, like, endless~”

“Yeah,” Tails said. “She might end up being your boss someday because the way you’re carrying on now, you’ll be lucky to get a job flipping hayburgers.”

"Or," said the white filly. "She could be a great scientist, an amazing artist, or a famous writer. She could even be mayor of Ponyville someday."

"Well, Mayor Mare did preside over mah parents weddin'," said Apple Bloom.

“And unlike you two,” the pegasus said. “She doesn’t need to coast on her family’s wealth and cheat at life.”

"Why are you two on her side?" scoffed Diamond.

The two fillies turned their sides toward the crowd, showing…

"Yer blank flanks, too?" Apple Bloom gasped. "Ah thought ah was the only one!"

"We thought we were the only two!" the orange filly chuckled.

“What am I?” asked a disgruntled, scrawny pegasus colt with a cream coat, brown eyes, and a brown mane and short tail. “Chopped liver?”

"Oh!" Apple Bloom and the other two looked over at the colt. “Sorry, Featherweight.”

"You three are very lucky, darlings," said a voice.

"Rarity!" the white filly rushed toward the white mare, hugging her.

“Seriously?” said Featherweight, clearly annoyed at being ignored again.

“Lucky?” Diamond Tiara gasped. “How could they be lucky?!”

"These little ones have the chance to really discover who they are," said another voice.

"Aunt Holiday!" grinned the orange filly. "Auntie Lofty!"

"You can be anything you strive to be, slugger," Lofty grinned, ruffling the orange filly's mane.

“And they have all the time in the world to figure it out,” Caramel said.

“Not just an afternoon,” Applejack added with a wink.

Before long, other fillies and colts were admiring the ponies without their Cutie Marks.

"Do you think you'll be mayor someday, Apple Bloom?" asked one.

"I would love to be a scientist," added a gray pegasus filly with a tornado Cutie Mark.

"Maybe I got my mark too soon," a third remarked.

Diamond Tiara wasn’t pleased with the turn of events. Tails, however, had a satisfied grin. “Revenge is underrated,” he said. “I feel great!”

“This is supposed to be my party!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed with a huff. “Everypony is supposed to be paying attention to me~”

“Oh, please,” Tails said. “You have ponies kissing your plot all day. You can survive a few minutes without it.”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon scoffed and walked away. By that point, Spike stopped playing the trumpet, winded from doing so. “Whew~” he panted. “I sure know how to play a distraction.” He noticed Apple Bloom was still there and thought all the fillies around her were ganging up on her. “Leave her alone, you cowardly little parasites!”

“No, no, Spike!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “It’s okay! They ain’t bullyin’ us!”

“Oh,” Spike said in embarrassment. “In that case I–” He suddenly fully registered Apple Bloom’s statement. “Wait, ‘us?’”

The two fillies waved at Spike and properly introduced themselves. “Name’s Scootaloo,” the pegasus filly said.

“I’m Sweetie Belle,” said the unicorn filly.

“Ah’m Apple Bloom!” She said happily. “Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, this is mah friend Spike.”

"Oh!" Smiled Sweetie Belle. "So, you were the dragon that Rarity was telling me about."

"R-rarity spoke of me to you?" Spike blushed. He cleared his throat. "That's nice of her. Well, now, you finally met the clumsy dragon.”

“I never said anything about that,” Rarity said. “I only told my sister the good things about you.”

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “You really are as kind and loyal as she said you are. I especially like the story about how you talked sense into my sister and her friends about Zecora.”

Spike modestly blushed. Rarity also blushed, but, from embarrassment. Suddenly, Spike noticed something. “Wait,” he said. “I think I’ve seen the three of you together before.”

“You have?” Scootaloo asked.

Spike carefully looked them over and snapped his claws. “Now, I remember!” he said. “You three clung to each other in fear when Nightmare Moon showed up!”

“Oh, yeah!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Ah wondered why y’all two looked familiar ta me!”

“Hey,” Scootaloo said. “I remember that, too!”

“And me, three!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed happily. “Now, it looks like we’re finally getting to know each other.”

“Hey, don’t you three go to school together?” Spike asked.

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle said. “But, we’re in different classes.”

“But, doesn’t the Ponyville Schoolhouse only have one classroom?” a confused Spike asked.

"No," said Scootaloo. "There's so many fillies and colts in this town, do you think we could all fit into one classroom?"

Spike thought about this. “Well, no,” he admitted. “Truthfully, I’ve never actually been inside the place.”

“But, in pony years,” Sweetie Belle said. “You’re ten years old. Shouldn’t you be going to school?”

“That school’s for ponies,” Spike said. “Not dragons. Besides, with the education Twilight’s been giving me in Canterlot, I’d be a graduate by Ponyville’s academic standards, so, it’s kind of a moot point anyway.”

“Fair enough,” Sweetie Belle admitted.

Later, the three new friends were sharing some of Spike's cupcakes at a table.

"So, now that we're friends," said Apple Bloom, "Uh… we are friends, right?"

"Of course!" grinned Sweetie Belle.

"Totally," agreed Scootaloo. "Think about it, girls. We don't have our cutie marks…"

"And Diamond and Silver drive us crazy!" added Sweetie Belle. The three giggled. "We could form a club!"

“Just what ah was thinkin’!” Apple Bloom said. “We can form a group n’ together, we’ll find out who we’re meant ta be! Now, what do we call ourselves?”

"The Cutie Mark Three?" Scootaloo suggested.

"The Cutastically Fantastics?" Sweetie Belle put forward.

"How about… the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I vote Apple Bloom's!" Scootaloo grinned.

"I like hers, too," added Sweetie Belle.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders, it is!" Apple Bloom high-hoofed her new friends.

Twist stepped up. “Hey, girls,” she said. “Want some peppermint sticks?”

"Yes, please," Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo eagerly agreed as they began to take a bite.

“Sorry about leaving you, Apple Bloom,” Twist said. “I felt awful for doing it.”

“That’s okay,” Apple Bloom said. “Ya were just excited ‘bout gettin’ yer Cutie Mark. Hey, we'll have ta have a cute-cenera fer y’all!”

"Oh yes!" Sweetie Belle smiled. "We can't let that slide."

"We can help Pinkie organize it!" smiled Scootaloo. "Maybe we can get a party-planning Cutie Mark."

"Another cute-cencra?!" Cried Pinkie. "I can whip it up! Just tell me the day and time, Twist. This will be super fun!"

Twilight and Spike watched over the fillies. “Ready to write a friendship report, Spike?” Twilight asked.

"Ready." Spike got out his quill. Twilight cleared her throat.

“Dearest Princess Celestia,
I am pleased to say that one of your youngest subjects has learned a valuable lesson about friendship. Sometimes, the thing that you think will cause you to lose friends can actually be the thing that helps you form your closest friendships and realize how special you are.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle”

The sun princess read the letter to her sister and Canis. “That was beautiful, Aunt Celestia,” the plush said.

“Indeed it was a brilliant lesson to learn,” Princess Luna said. “Yon Twilight doth learn much.”

“You’re right on that, sister,” Princess Celestia smiled.

The two sisters looked nostalgically at the tapestries depicting their Cutie Marks.

End of chapter.