Chapter 58: Sparkle School
In Maretime Bay, Sparky is running through the streets excitedly as he ran under a couple of stallions, who were trotting as well as Sparky giggled and turn as he went through a couple of bushes and pas a pegasus stallion, who got startled from Sparky’s appearance.
And then from near the ocean, ponies are cheering, including Misty and Sunset, who Sunny let her have a break to teach Misty some unicorn magic while also showing her some fun, while Windy is in the lead of some kind of race that needs to be trotting on hooves, since the Pegasi can’t use their wings since it would be cheating.
“Whew! I've done it!” Windy cheered as she was close to the finish line. “I've do—” She was cut off when Sparky’s dragonfire hit the finish line as it burned up and made the ponies look in shock while Windy stopped n startled. “Hey!” She called out in disappointment from what Sparky did as the baby dragon started whooping as he ran past her.
“Sparky?” Sunset asked in surprise at seeing the baby dragon. “Oh boy. Not again.” She said, knowing that Sparky kept doing this as she turned and saw Hitch coming. “Hitch?”
Hitch was trotting across the crowd of ponies as he turned to them. “Sorry!” He apologies as he jumped over the Pippsqueaks. “Excuse me!” He called out before he ran into a two-stack cake with strawberries on top between the baker and the pony customer when he wasn’t looking. “Ow!” He cried out in slight pain as he got the cake on his face, which startled the two ponies from that as he started panting with some cake frosting on him with the bottom part on his head as he trotted in front of a family who were facing a camera. “Cheese!” He said with an embarrassed smile as the picture was taken. “Gotta go!” He said to the surprised family as he trotted to his baby dragon. “Sparky!” He called out happily with a wide smile.
Sparky cheered happily at Hitch as he then jumped over Sunny’s smoothie’s stand, where Sunny is blending a smoothie as Sparky grabbed an orange from a fruit bowl on the stand as he jumped up while Sunny was surprised to see Sparky from that.
Sparky flew up but fell right into Hitch’s hooves as he tossed the orange into the air and blew his dragonfire at it as it turned into french fries as they fell from the sky.
“Aw, Sparky!” Hitch said in joy as he looked at his baby dragon with a smile. “You know fries are my favorite!” He added as he and Sparky caught some fries that landed in their mouths. “You're the best little buddy ever!” He said to Sparky as he nuzzled his cheeks as Sparky cooed, what Hitch didn’t know is that his Cutie Mark started to glow.
Misty and Sunset smiled at Hitch and Sparky at the sight as they saw Hitch’s cutie mark as Misty gasped. “Wow! Hitch's cutie mark! It's so, so sparkly!” She excitedly said as she placed her hooves on her cheeks while her eyes had heart shapes on them.
“Yeah, that's pretty much how it works every now and then, Misty.” Sunset explained with a smile. “Whenever a pony acts like themselves or cares for those deeply, they’re cutie marks begin to glow as bright as their sparkles. As well as surprising new magic developments as well, still trying to figure out how that’s possible.” She said to the Unicorn.
“Really? That is amazing!” Misty said excitedly as she then down expression as she looked at her cutie mark. “Hmm... Mine has never sparkled like that.” She said in a thoughtful tone.
“Really? It hasn't sparkled like that before?” Sunset asked in confusion.
“No. Not even close to the other times it tried.” Misty answered as she think back to the times when her cutie mark tried to sparkle.
Flashback.
When Misty joined Zipp on beach day, she was surfing in the waves as Zipp surfed next to her as the two smiled and hooftap each other as Zipp surf past Misty.
Misty then saw her cutie mark flickering, but lost her focus as she then tripped from her board and fell into the water.
In Mane Melody, Misty is helping Pipp stack some supplies as she levitates them into the cabinets, but is having trouble since she is still new to her new unicorn magic as Pipp smiles in support.
Misty gave a small smile as she is getting pretty good as her cutie mark starts flickering again as she looked at it, but then she lost her focus as one of the boxes fell on something as Jazz gives a yelp as Misty cringe as she saw the box she was levitation fell on Jazz’s head as the Earth Pony stylish look around in confusion with the box covering her face.
And then in the Brighthouse, a couple of bunnycorns are giving Misty a blueberry cupcake as she places it back on a snack tray with Sunny, Hitch, Sunset and Sparky with her as Sparky looks at the snacks with sparkly eyes as Hitch gives a laugh.
Misty turn and look at her friends as they saw Misty’s cutie mark flickering again as they look at it wonder, but then Sparky and a raccoonicorn grabbed a couple of cupcakes as Sparky giggled as he and the racoonicorn ran off with them.
“Sparky!” Hitch called out as the four ponies turned away from Misty’s cutie mark as they trotted after the two critters.
End of Flashback.
Misty then turned away from her cutie mark as Sunset gave her a sympathetic expression.
“Well, you can’t always expect it to sparkle that quickly.” Sunset said softly. “You just have your cutie mark for weeks already. You are still new at this thing.” She reminded her.
“I know. But it’s still hard to even get it to glow for at least one second.” Misty said in a down expression.
And then Izzy appeared as she surprised Misty with a hug and nuzzled her cheeks. “Hey, Misty-Twisty! Hey Sunset-Setty!” She cheerfully said as she broke the hug as Misty turned to her in surprise as Sunset gave a chuckle.
“Hi, Izzy.” Sunset greeted the cheerful unicorn with a small smile.
Izzy then saw Hitch and Sparky as she placed her hooves on her cheeks as she had sparkles in her eyes. “Awww! Hitch and Sparky are totally the cutest, aren't they?” She asked the two as they turned and smiled fondly at Sparky and Hitch sharing french fries with each other.
“Those two are adorable together.” Sunset commented with a smile.
“Yeah.” Misty said in agreement. “And look at that cutie mark. It's so bright.” She commented as Hitch’s cutie mark kept glowing as her expression changed when she looked at hers in sadness. “I don't think mine works right. It never shined like that.” She added as Sunset gave her sympathy look while Izzy looked on in surprise.
“Whaaaaat?” Izzy asked in confusion as she gave a small smile. “Sure it has, Misty.” She assured her.
Misty however just shook her head. “No, but it's okay.” She assured with a smile as the three looked back at Hitch and Sparky, who tossed the baby dragon onto his head. “It probably just doesn't work like everypony else's because I got it so late.” She said as she frowned.
“She just got her cutie mark after years of not having one, Izzy.” Sunset said for Misty. “She just managed to get it a few weeks ago and is still getting the hang of it.” She added.
Izzy now understands what they are seeing as she places a hoof over Misty. “Awww.” She said with a smile as she dragged Misty away as Misty gave a startled yelp from that as Sunset watched in surprise. “It's never too late to get your cutie mark magic flowing, Misty.” She said cheerfully as she moved as she grabbed Misty’s hoof and dragged her around while doing a tango dance. “Ah! We just have to figure out what really gets... it... going! Listen closely to me. Finding your sparkle is just like poetry.” She said happily while heart shapes form in her eyes after saying the sparkle word.
“I don’t think that’s how it goes but that sums it up.” Sunset commented with a raised brow.
Misty was confused on what Izzy meant by that. “Uh, poetry?” She asked in confusion as she gave a nervous smile. “Um, Izzy, I'm not sure I understand—” She didn’t finish as Izzy grabbed her hoof again as she leaned back as Izzy kept doing the tango. “Oh!” She called out in surprise.
“My thoughts exactly!” Izzy said cheerfully while Misty felt uncomfortable. “Come on, Misty. You're one of us now. And best friends always help you sort stuff out.” She said as she and Misty twirled around.
“They do?” Misty asked in confusion since she’s still new at the whole friendship thing.
“Of course.” Izzy answered with a smile.
“She’s right, Misty.” Sunset answered with a smile. “Friends do help each other out and help them with their problems. That’s how we do things around here.” She added.
Misty smiled before Izzy twirled her around. “Whoa!” She called out and landed on Izzy’s scooter as Izzy levitated a helmet on Misty’s head.
“And all you need is a little bit of sparkle school!” Izzy announced as she hopped on next to Izzy. “Wanna join us, Sunset?” She asked the Alicorn.
“I would love to join you two, but I need to get back to Sunny.” Sunset said while pointing to the smoothie stand. “My break is almost over and I need to help Sunny out with the sales. I’ll catch you two later, okay?” She said with a smile.
“Sure thing, Sunset. We understand.” Izzy said with a wide smile.
“And remember, the sparkle has to be something that fits you, Misty. You just need to find it.” Sunset advised with a smile as she walked up to the smoothie stand.
“Okay, Sunset!” Misty called out with a wave.
“See ya later!” Izzy waved next as she gave a smile to Misty. “Let's do this!” She announced as Misty smiled as the two drove off.
At the Brighthouse, Izzy took Misty to her workspace as the first thing to help Misty find her sparkle.
(Up Song:)
(Misty)
Take a look a little closer now (closer now)
Things turned out a little different than how I thought
I thought they would
Izzy put on her welding helmet as Misty did the same as she used her welding tool on a piece of metal as her cutie mark started flickering, which got Misty attention as she focus back on the welding, but then her welding tool got a bit too strong as she started shaking around while yelping. Once she turned off her welding tool, she fell face first as Izzy’s workspace is all torched up while Misty got her head up while looking dizzy.
And then sometime later at the Sheriff Station, the two unicorns went to Hitch and Sparky as the sheriff was doing some paperwork while Izzy and Misty smiled at Sparky as the baby dragon giggled at them excitedly.
(Izzy)
If you have hope, then let me hear it (hear it)
If you have sparkle, we can cheer it (cheer it)
Misty turned away and closed her eyes as Izzy gestured Sparky to hide as the baby dragon excitedly ran off.
After searching a bit, Misty opens the cabinet with a smile as she finds Sparky. “Boo!” She excitedly cheered as the baby dragon giggled excitedly.
It ain't over when you have each other
After searching for Sparky again, Misty checks the drawers. “Gotcha!” She cheered as Sparky popped up as her Cutie Mark flicker again as she turned and looked at it as it stopped flickering as she gave a sad look.
And then after visiting Sparky, Misty is on some roller skates while wearing a helmet. “Whoo-hoo!” She cheered around Maretime Bay with Zipp following her in her roller skates as well.
If you're down, down, down
Just look up, up, up
You know that I got you
Even when it's tough
Zipp got in front of Misty and did a jump and a twirl as Misty did a jump. “Yeah!” She cheered as she gave a laugh as she looked at her cutie mark again as it was flickering a little stronger, but then when she got distracted, she hit face first in a cart full of apples as she slumped.
The apple cart happens to be Fifi’s as the pegasus looked in shock by this as Izzy and ZIpp went to Misty in concern at her crashing.
If you're down, down, down
Get back up, up, up
In Mane Melody, Misty is in the storage back room with Pipp as the two ponies are mixing some makeup and glitter ingredients.
Never on your own
'Cause you've got us
Misty put the final drop into the batch as it turned orange as Pipp spread her wings with a smile as Misty smiled at their work as her cutie mark started to sparkle as she drew her attention to it with a smile.
But in her distraction, Misty accidentally put another drop into the bowl as Pipp gasped as Misty turn to see the bowl started to glow as it exploded, covering the two ponies in orange glitter with their manes blew back from the reaction as the two just stood there with wide eyes.
At the smoothie stand, Izzy thought they tried the stand with Sunny and Sunset to help Misty find her sparkle as there are a ton of ponies all around the stand while Misty is feeling overwhelmed.
“Uh, okay! That's one Strawberry Dream. No-no-no, I mean, uh, a Dreamy Ripple?” Misty corrected herself as she tried to get the orders right while Sunset and Sunny walked around.
“Are you sure you got this, Misty?” Sunset asked in concern as she blended some smoothies. “Because you never really had experience of this kind of thing before.” She pointed out.
“I saw you and Sunny do this a thousand times, Sunset. I think I got it.” Misty assured as she then turned with a smile. “Oh! Order up! Here you go!” She then was about to give the smoothies to a stallion, but she accidentally splat them on his face and some on her mane. “Ah! Sorry!” She said sheepishly as the stallion gave her an irritated look.
Shortly after, another batch of smoothies were made, but Misty tripped. “Aah!” She called out as two more smoothies flew off as a few more ponies kept splashing with smoothies each time Misty tried to pass them down. “Oh, no!” She called out.
And then multiple smoothie flavors then covered the entire pony crowd, including Misty as she covered in multiple flavors while Sunset and Sunny were busy making more smoothies to even notice.
“What is wrong with me?!” Misty questioned herself about her screw ups at making her cutie mark sparkle. “What was I thinking?! I can't do this!” She cried out as she started to tear up.
Outside the stand, Izzy was about to enter to see how Misty is doing, but then the door opened itself as Misty started trotting off in despair, which surprised Izzy as she saw Misty running off covered in smoothies while Sunny and Sunset were finishing the smoothies.
“We've got two Dreamy Greenies all ready, Misty.” Sunny said with a smile as she put the straws in the smoothie cups as she and Sunset turned and saw many cubs on the ground and Misty in sight. “Misty?”
“Where’d she go?” Sunset asked in concern before she called out before she and Sunny saw Misty running off. “Misty! Wait!” She called out.
“Misty! Come back! It's okay!” Sunny called out next as she and Sunset went up next to Izzy as they gave sympathetic looks to where Misty trotted off.
Sunset then turned to Izzy with a questionable look. “Izzy, what lessons did you give Misty to help her find her sparkle?” She asked.
“All I gave her is how to Unicycle, playing with Sparky, doing some stunts with Zipp and mane styling with Pipp before heading to you and Sunny for the smoothie sale.” Izzy explained as she gave a sad look. “I thought if she tried out the things we usually do that help us find our sparkles, then her cutie mark would glow and for her to find her place. I don’t know what went wrong to make her feel this way.” She added.
Sunny and Sunset looked at each other in concern as Sunny spoke. “Izzy, those are things we do, not what Misty would do.” She pointed out.
“What?” Izzy asked in confusion.
“Izzy, our cutie marks glowed because we were ourselves and did the things we liked.” Sunset started. “We do those things because they are a part of us. But Misty is still finding her place. She only just got her cutie mark and her magic not too long ago, but she still needs to find the very thing she’s special at. The lessons and activities you've been giving her are not her, that’s us. You should’ve helped her find the very thing that she wanted to do, not what we do.” She added.
Izzy looked down in thought as she never considered it. “I-I didn’t know that.” She said in guilt.
“Izzy, you may be an expert at seeing through pony’s sparkles, but you have to consider that their sparkles work differently than other ponies.” Sunset continued.
“She’s right, Izzy.” Sunny said in agreement. “How about instead of letting Misty try out the things we do, let’s do the things that she wanted to do that she’s good at.” She suggested.
Izzy thought for a moment as she gave a smile. “Yes. Let’s do the things Misty would want to do. Her own ways this time.” She said in agreement.
“Then let’s find her.” Sunset said with a confident smile as she then looked at where Misty trotted off to. “Fortunately, Misty’s left a smoothie trail for us to follow. But once we find her, how about we talk, Izzy?” She asked the cheery unicorn.
“We are the ponies who would understand what Misty is going through right now.” Sunny said, knowing what Sunset is talking about.
“Okay, girls.” Izzy nodded in understanding as they trotted off to gather their friends and find Misty.
A little bit later, Misty is still running in tears as a Pegamouse flew by after hanging on a tree branch like a bat.
“Ugh. Even with everypony trying to help me, my cutie mark still doesn't work.” Misty said in despair as she shook the smoothie content off her and wiped her tears. “Who was I kidding? I'll never fit in with these ponies.” She said in sadness.
And then multiple eyes from within the trees started appearing around Misty as they gave hissing sounds while Misty looked scared.
“And now you're in some super spooky woods all alone.” Misty continued while looking scared as the eyes were watching her. “Good one, Misty. Can't you do anything right?” She questioned herself while giving an irritated look, even when scared in the woods, Misty still fell down for her cutie mark not glowing.
And then suddenly, Sunset and Sunny appeared in front of Misty. “Misty.” Sunset greeted first.
“Hey.” Sunny greeted her next with a smile.
“Aah!” Misty gave a startled yell as she waved her hooves at them as she placed one on her chest.
“There you are.” Sunny said in relief.
“Thank you for leaving a smoothie trail, Misty.” Sunset jokes while gesturing to the smoothie trail that dripped from Misty. “It really helped find you really easily.” She added in amusement.
“Sunny? Sunset?” Misty asked in surprise. “W-What are you two doing here?” She asked in confusion.
“We came to give you some comfort, Misty.” Sunset said softly with a concerned look.
“We were worried about you.” Sunny added in concern as well. “We’re sure today wasn't easy.” She added.
“Izzy told us the things you did today, which is really rough for you.” Sunset added in sympathy.
“Yeah.” Misty answered as she sat down and gave a down look as Sunset and Sunny sat down next to her. “Sometimes I feel like I just don't belong here.” She admitted while looking sad.
“We can relate, Misty.” Sunset said in agreement, knowing that feeling well.
“Really?” Misty asked in surprise.
“Yes. You know, when I first returned to Equestria, I found out how much has changed and how all my old friends and family are gone.” Sunset started as she looked at the necklace Twilight is in. “I was just trying to visit my old friend, Twilight Sparkle, but once I saw her legacy tarnish and Equestria changed with no magic. I felt out of place and in an unfamiliar world that was forged from my old one. But it wasn’t until I met Sunny and the others that we rebuilt that legacy and brought back the magic. That’s when I found my place and made new friends and made a family and brought back my friend.” She said with a smile as Twilight appeared from the necklace.
“And it’s good to be back, Sunset. And you and the others have done so much for Equestria by bringing back the magic and friendship. And I am proud of it.” Twilight said with a proud smile.
“What are friends for, Twilight?” Sunset asked with a smile.
“Wow, that must be tough for you to go through that, Sunset.” Misty said in surprise.
“True, but I learned to carry on and make new friends and form a family together.” Sunset said while smiling at Sunny, who smiled back.
Sunny then spoke after Sunset. “As for me, when magic first returned and I became the Alicorn alongside Sunset, I felt, well, a little lost.” She started as she remembered the times when she first got her Alicorn magic and the times when she transformed into them or failed attempts in the past. “And because Sunset and I were the only Alicorns, I thought that nopony would understand. Until Sunset was there for me to help me get through it and help me practice my magic to learn how to control it.”
“That sounds really hard.” Misty said in sympathy as she then started glowing. “You two must've felt so alone, girls.” She added as her glowing became brighter.
“We did feel alone at first.” Sunny admitted with a small smile as Sunset smiled at them as a sparkling light then circled around the three ponies as she remembered the times she and her friends were there for her on their adventures. “Then I learned that I'm only alone if I keep all my worries to myself. But if I share my worries with ponies who care, they will always be there for me. And Sunset was there for me most of the way as she is like a sister to me.”
“And Sunny is like a little sister to me too.” Sunset continued with a small smile as she placed a hoof on Sunny’s shoulder. “I may be a mentor to her, but I see her as my sister. Not just because we’re Alicorns, but we also understand how each other are feeling and have something in common. We look out for one another and always care for each other. Never to be alone again.” She added.
“Kind of like how all you ponies were there for me today.” Misty said as she remembered the things Izzy and the others showed her to help her find her sparkle. “Everypony tried so hard to get my cutie mark to sparkle.” She said with a smile as she stood up as she was glowing brighter.
Sunny, Twilight and Sunset can see that Misty is opening herself up more as Sunny continues. “Exactly.” She said with a smile as she and Sunset stood up.
“We are there for you, Misty.” Sunset spoke next. “You don’t have to be alone, Misty. You have friends that will always be there for you.” She said with a smile.
“It’s alright to let others know how you feel and let them help you through it.” Twilight added with a smile.
.
“Because that is what friends do.” Sunny added with a smile. “And you know what? Even if you didn't have a cutie mark at all, you would still belong here with us.” She said as she gave Misty a hug as Misty smiled. “Ponies stick together.” She added.
“We always look out for one another.” Sunset added as she hugged the two ponies as well as the light kept circling them. “No matter what or who we are, we will always be together.”
“Really? You both mean that?” Misty asked them with a smile and tearful look. “Hoof to heart?” She asked as she placed a hoof on her chest as tears began to form.
“Hoof to heart./Hoof to heart.” The three ponies said together with a smile as three ponies, since Twilight is a spirit, gave each other a loving nuzzle as they began to shed tears of joy together.
And then suddenly, Misty’s cutie mark began to glow more brightly than before as it brought out a magical image of itself as Sunny, Twilight and Sunset saw this.
“Misty, look!” Sunny called out with a wide smile.
“Your cutie mark is finally sparkling!” Sunset cheered while pointing at Misty’s flank.
“You finally found your spark!” Twilight cheered happily.
Misty turn her head and look at her cutie mark as it was sparkling as it created a magical image of a butterfly as it flew up above the ponies as Sunset’s and Sunny’s cutie marks began to glow as well as they created magical images as well as they flew up along side Misty’s cutie mark as the two latter circled the butterfly around as the butterfly mark gave off magical sparkles as the four ponies watched in awed with sparkles in their eyes as the three cutie marks shine bright as they returned to their rightful owners.
“Amazing.” Sunset said in awed.
“I’ve never seen any cutie marks do that before.” Twilight said in awed as well at seeing what the cutie marks just did.
“They are full of surprises.” Sunset commented with a wide smile.
The rest of the Mane 7 came out of the bushes after witnessing what they just saw as they started cheering to Misty.
“Wow!” Zipp said in awed as she walked up to Misty. “How'd you do it? It was the parkour, wasn't it?” She asked with a smirk.
“Well…” Misty started with a sheepish smile as she was trying to find the right words to explain it.
“Not exactly, Zipp.” Sunset answered for Misty. “Misty did it because she wanted to be herself and be with her friends. She wanted the love and friendship she wanted, and we showed how much we care for her as she cares for us. That’s what made her cutie mark to glow, of being a true friend and showing support to them by pure heart.” She said while smiling at Misty.
Misty gave a smile to Sunset as she nodded her head in confirmation. “It was something like that, but yeah. I think that was it.” She said before Izzy cheerfully placed a pink glitter graduation hat on Misty’s head as said unicorn turned to her in surprise. “Izzy! What's all this for?” She asked her cheery unicorn friend.
“It's your sparkle school graduation celebration, silly!” Izzy explained cheerfully as she twirled around and glowed up her horn. “Pew-pew!” She cheered as fireworks were made from her magic as they exploded as she got between Sunny and Misty as they and the rest of them smiled at each other.
“That’s Izzy!” Sunset shrugged playfully.
The Mane 7 then laughed and cheered together as Misty and Izzy gave each other hoof taps, happy that Misty finally found her sparkly and got her cutie mark to glow as she is really happy to be with her friends.
End of Chapter 58.