//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Alicorn Cutie Mark // by Dashea Rayne //------------------------------// When she finally got back to Sweetie Belle's cottage, Aurora Belle was surprised to find her aunt was home. Afraid her aunt would be mad, she was relieved when the Unicorn mare said, “Actually, that was one of the things I was going to suggest,” before explaining how she might not always be home, how having friends would be a good thing, and ending with, “My friendship with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom actually is one of the things that helped me get my cutie mark.” Curious to hear more, Aurora Belle begged to for her aunt to tell her, but was disappointed when Sweetie Belle said, “That is a story best saved for later,” as she led the young Unicorn upstairs and into what would be her room. From the moment she awoke the next day, the rest of the week fell into a sort of pattern. When she awoke, her aunt was often already gone, leaving Aurora to get ready for school. The few times she was home were the times the filly got to know not only Sweetie Belle, and how she got her cutie mark, but also meet Scootaloo, Featherweight, Silver Dart’s parents, albeit briefly, Zecora, the resident Zebra who made her home in the Everfree Forest, her other cousin Rarity, and several others, like Starlight Glimmer and Fluttershy. Yet, it was not always getting to know her aunt and meeting others the Unicorn mare knew, had helped in some way, and was friends with. When her aunt wasn’t home, Sweetie Belle left Aurora tasks for the young Unicorn to work on. Most of them the filly was able to complete on her own, but some had stumped her and she had to ask Apple Pip and Silver Dart for help, when she could get a hold of them. Then there was school. After a couple classes Aurora Belle found out that though she was strict and often spoke down to the students, Diamond Tiara was a good teacher. The lessons she taught the class were confusing at first, but once the Unicorn filly figured out what she was being shown, she soon realised that the stuff was easy and that most of it was things she had already learned, though slightly different. As for the others in her class, she found that, except for the Dragons Crumble, Flashfire and Backdraft, her classmates were easy to work with and get along with. Kept busy with everything, to the point she did not have any of her odd nightmares, Aurora Belle breathed a sigh of relief when of the end of the week finally came. Figuring she could spend the whole weekend hanging out with Apple Pip, of whom she had seen very little after their introduction, and Silver Dart, who she saw, outside of class, only a couple times, mostly because his dad kept planning activities in an attempt to help him get his cutie mark. Awaking early, and finding Sweetie Belle had already left, the filly thought about the day ahead and wondering if Silver Dart had come up with any ideas, she looked to see if her aunt had left any cutie mark exercises. When it became apparent she had not been given any tasks, Aurora figured Sweetie Belle must have decided to give her the weekend to herself. Smiling as she fixed and ate breakfast, the young Unicorn went back to thinking about the day ahead, finding Silver Dart, and seeing if he had decided on what their first task would be. She had tried, once or twice, to talk to him about the subject. But, if he had any plans or knew what to do, the Pegasus colt was mum and usually replied in short sentences that left Aurora Belle feeling a need to change the topic. Finishing her meal, she cleaned her dishes and hoped that this time, when she broached the subject, Silver Dart would be more open. Breakfast done and cleaned up, the young Unicorn took one final look around the cottage to see if she missed anything that her aunt might have left her. Not seeing anything, she rushed out the front door, thinking about where she might find Silver Dart as she did. Deciding to try his house first, she galloped in the direction of where he lived. Not even part way there she slowed when she spotted Apple Pip. Hailing the other filly, she asked, “Have you seen Silver Dart?” the moment her friend had drawn close enough that the two could hear each other properly over the din of the crowd. A quick shake of her head and the Earth Pony replied, “Nope. Ah only just got away. Figured to try and look for him at his place.” “That’s where I am heading now,” Aurora explained as they began walking. Some time later, the two stared up at Silver Dart’s home, each with a discouraged look on her face. Having spent the last couple minutes called up, and getting no response, the Unicorn filly eventually glanced over at Apple Pip and inquired, “You don’t suppose he went somewhere with his parents?” “Ah thought his mom was still away on business for Princess Twilight?” This was news to Aurora Belle and commenting, “I did not know that,” she wondered where their friend was. “Come on,” Apple Pip soon said and when the young Unicorn asked where, the Earth Pony replied, “Ah don’t rightly know. But it sure as heck beats standing here, looking up at what’s clearly an empty house.” Aurora Belle, unable to come up with a reason as to why they should wait, looked at their friend’s home before following after Apple Pip. Heading back the way they came, the two discussed what they could do if they couldn’t find Silver Dart and places the colt usually hung out. Since Aurora hadn’t known him that long, this fell to Apple Pip. Trotting toward Ponyville’s town square, the two fillies figured they should at least look for their friend before going off to do something else. Struggling through the thick crowd, Apple Pip soon asked, “Do you reckon we should split up? Or stick together?” as she glanced at the various denizens, searching for the familiar face of Silver Dart. Before the young Unicorn could reply, a familiar voice called out, “Aurora Belle. Apple Pip,” and looking in the direction of the speaker, the two watched as Silver Dart forced his way toward them. Several Griffons, a couple Dragons, and a Pony or two giving the cerulean Pegasus displeasing looks, the colt ignored them. Instead, as he got closer, he explained, “I just came from your place, Aurora. But, finding nopony home, I decided to try Sweet Apple Acres to see if Apple Pip was around. Or, if somepony knew where you might be.” “We’ve been looking for you,” the Earth Pony told him as the young Unicorn explained that they had, only moments ago, been over at his place. Silver Dart Nodded at this, then explained, “I left as early as I could. My dad’s pit crew arrived late last night and I didn’t want to stick around to be wrangled into another attempt to get me interested in racing,” and nickering in agitation, he looked over Apple Pip. A mischievous look crossing his face, he posed the question, “So what we gonna do?” The Earth Pony, who knew exactly what her friend was up to, shrugged. As she did this, she started to say, “I dunno,” but stopped and with the serious look never leaving her, she suddenly belted out, “Hey, now don’t start that again!” A number of creatures glanced in their direction, including a stallion wearing a fez with an hourglass on his flank accompanied by a Pony with a poufy, frizzy blonde mane and tail with a blue book stamped with a question mark for a cutie mark. Ignoring the quizzical stares the two were giving her friends, who had dissolved into peals of laughter, Aurora guessed what they had said must be a shared joke. Deciding she wasn’t offended, she waited until their laughter started to falter and die out before inquiring of Silver Dart, “So have you come up with anything we could try?” The Pegasus colt used his wing to wipe his eyes, hiccoughed, then said, “I think so,” and making a motion for the two to follow, he began making his way through the crowd. Curious to know what her friend was up to, Aurora Belle glanced over at Apple Pip. The Earth Pony offered a shrug before following after Silver Dart and, not wanting to be left behind, the young Unicorn trotted after. Catching up to her friends, she matched their pace as Silver Dart led them through Ponyville. Eventually they came to the edge of town and gazing at the forest beyond, Aurora Belle tried to recall if Sweetie Belle had said anything about the woods. As Apple Pip slowed and came to a halt next to her, the Unicorn filly thought to herself, “Like maybe what, besides Zecora, lived in it, or if it is dangerous,” as she studied the trees and tried see whether there was anything moving about close by. Next to her, an expression of worry on her young face, the Earth Pony squeaked out, “We aint ah going into the Everfree Forest, are we? Aunt Apple Jack says it ken be dangerous. And mama says I ain't ta go in unless accompanied by another.” Wary, Aurora Belle continued to stare into the forest, still searching for the tiniest hint of anything moving or even coming toward them. Not seeing anything, but refusing to relax, she listened as Silver Dart explained, “We should be fine. We’ll stick to the path, like my dad said, and be only going as far as the Treehouse of Harmony.” “What about cockatrices? Or Star Spiders? Or other creatures that could attack?” Apple Pip asked in a shuddering tone. Aurora Belle, who was wondering what the Treehouse of Harmony was, snapped her head in the Earth Pony’s direction. About to inquire if such creatures did live in the forest, she never got a chance to when Silver Dart explained, “It’s not really cockatrice season. And besides, as I said, if we stay on the path, we should be fine,” in his usual sombre tone, then, his wings dropping, he abruptly said, “You know what. Never mind. It was probably a terrible idea. I’ll come up with something else.” Shocked by what she was hearing, Apple Pip quickly shook her head and said, “No way. Let’s try your idea. Besides. Mama said I should only venture into the Everfree Forest with another. Having you and Aurora Belle I guess would count.” “You still haven’t said what we are doing,” Aurora Belle announced suddenly as she continued to gaze at the woods with trepidation. A heavy sigh from their colt friend and then he told them, “My idea, well, I wanted it to be a surprise,” and then, to the Unicorn’s amazement, he said, “It was actually you, Aurora, who gave me the idea.” “Huh? Me?” the Unicorn filly responded in astonishment and looking at the colt, she listened as he explained what he was talking about. “My dad and mom are always trying to get me interested in adventure and exploration and stuff like that. And, truthfully, I thought I didn’t like that. But then, when I was selected to go first, it got me thinking. “I wasn’t sure what we should do and almost gave up. But then I went back to what you, Aurora, and I were talking about, when we were talking about our families. This got me to wondering if it isn’t so much that I dislike exploration and adventure. Maybe I don’t have any interests in the things my mom and dad are always trying to get me to do. “From this, I was once again unsure what to do. Then it came to me. I heard somewhere tales about what the Treehouse of Harmony is sitting on. This got me to wondering if maybe I could test whether or not I had an interest in exploration. And, if it didn’t work out for me, maybe it will help one of you, or both, get your cutie mark.” It was the most either of the fillies had ever heard their friend say at one time and for a moment, both stared at him with open mouths. Slowly working over her shock, Apple Pip finally ventured, “So we’re goin’ to do somethin’ involvin’ the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters?” A flick of his wings to indicate a shrug and Silver Dart said, “Wanted it to be a surprise. Though, now that I think about it, I don’t know why I wanted this. Why it was so important to do it this way,” then sighing, he fell back to what he had commented earlier by saying, “You know what. Never mind,” but added, “Let’s do something else. One of you pick something and I’ll come up with something else.” “I’m curious about your idea,” Aurora Belle instantly commented. “And if nothing comes of it, I would like to see this Treehouse of Harmony, the ruins, and hear more about both of them.” Apple Pip nodded and uttered, “Yeah,” then explained, “That’s the point of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, to find out not only what we’re interested in, but also what we are good at, as well as exploring and learning,” and taking a couple steps in front of the two other Ponies, she turned to face them and announced, “I say we try Silver Dart’s idea. Who’s with me?” The young Unicorn cast a quick glance at her Pegasus friend and nodded before volunteering, “I am. As I said, if nothing comes of it, at least the two of you showed me something new,” before giving Silver Dart a look that matched Apple Pip’s as they waited to see what the colt would do.