//------------------------------// // Cutie Mark Crusaded Part One // Story: A Day In Ponyville // by FelixTheBrony //------------------------------// Cutie Mark Crusaded Part One “Spike! Hurry up!” Twilight called up to her assistant, as he started hanging up a Jack-o-Lantern. “I'm hurrying! I'm hurrying!” Spike called down, hooking it onto the attached hooks...Which were on the ceiling of the library for no reason really. “I don't know why you didn't just get Pinkie or Cheese to help!” “I told you, Pinkie and Cheese are visiting her family this week!” Spike whistled. “Jeez, a whole week at a quarry, how will they cope?” Meanwhile, at said quarry, Pinkie was sat in one go-kart with Cheese behind it while Inkie was sat in another with Blinkie behind it, Maude standing before them with a flag. “Okay. First ones to the bottom gets to go first on the Apple Bobbing. On you're marks. Get set. Go.” Maude said, flatly, waving the flag as the Pinkie and Inkie raced off once they were pushed by Blinkie and Cheese. “So Cheese, how comes Pinkie's other friends don't come round?” Cheese shrugged. “Pinkie says your dad doesn't like it when too many ponies come round and they just kinda assume it'd be boring here.” He kicked a small stone from beneath his feet and pulled out a packet of balloons from underneath. “Now to make a rhino!” “They'll be back before they bore to death, I'm sure.” Twilight answered, using her magic to put the rest of the banners up, as well as dust the shelves, and set up the punch bowls. Spike's jaw dropped. “...If you could do all that on your own, why did you need to make me hang these up one at a time!” Twilight rubbed the back of her head, sheepishly. “Um...I forgot that I was supposed to get you to cook the food...Sorry?” Spike sighed and walked towards the kitchen, grabbing his frilly pink apron on the way. “You don't pay me enough for this job...” Twilight rose an eyebrow. “I don't pay you at all.” “Exactly!” “Howdy Twi!” Applejack announced as she and Applebloom trotted in with Applebloom carrying a box on her back and another on her head. Twilight smiled at them and greeted them back. “Hey girls.” She then turned to the kitchen. “Spike! Applejack and Applebloom are here!” “Hey Applejack! Hey AB! Can't talk, trying to balance cooking trays!” They then heard a loud crash from the kitchen. “...and failing!” “Ah'll go see if'n Ah can help.” Applebloom said, placing the two boxes on the ground and rushing into the kitchen. Applejack shook her head. “How haven't they started started datin' sooner?” Twilight shot her a curious look. “Hey pot, this is kettle. You're black.” “Why does everypony keep sayin' that? An' what do ya mean by that!” “Everypony keeps saying it because you're constantly being a hypocrite, and what I mean by it is that you and Soarin had been skirting around each other for about two and a half years before Rainbow and Mac practically forced you two together!” Applejack blushed, and shot her a half hearted glare. “Shut up...” “INCOMING!!!” They heard just before they cringed as the sound of a window shattering in the distance rung in their ears and Rainbow landed on the couch in the centre of the room. “Would it kill you to use the door, Rainbow?!” Twilight scolded, looking in her direction, causing her frustration turn to confusion. Rainbow was dressed in a tan coloured vest with a tan pith helmet, a whip wrapped around her wing. “Um...You might want an explanation...” “Nah. This seems pretty normal...” Applejack stated. Twilight giggled a bit before guessing. "Nightmare Night Costume?" “Yup!” Rainbow cheered, flipping onto her hooves, and dusting herself off. “Can ya guess who I am?!” Twilight put a hoof to her chin, pretending to think about it. “Hmm, let's see. Pith helmet. Vest. Whip...Oh who could you possibly be?” “...An adventurous masochist?” Twilight turned to gawk at her friend. “Where did you get THAT idea from?!” Applejack blushed and rubbed her forehoof with the other. “Well...Me an' Soarin thought things were getting' a little repetitive in tha bedroom...So...” “I don't want to hear it!” Twilight interrupted, before turning to Rainbow Dash to try and change the subject. “And yes, I know you're dressed as Daring Doo. But why are you dressed up now, you're supposed to wait until night time!” “Well, I couldn't wait to try this on! I look really badass!” She cheered, pumping a hoof in the air. “Plus, Mac decided to come as Ahuizotl, so our costumes will match!” “Um...But, isn't Ahuizotl, Daring Doo's arch nemesis?” Rainbow shrugged. “Eh, I ship 'em. You know, opposites attract and all that junk.” Twilight rolled her eyes before smoke started to come out of the kitchen. Rainbow smiled a bit. “I didn't know Sweetie Belle was here!” “Spike! This book said set ta three hundred degrees Fahrenheit! What did you set it too?!” “Fahrenheit?! I thought it said Celsius!” “This oven doesn't even go ta three hundred degrees Celsius!” “I know, I had to blow fire into it!” Rainbow sighed, and walked out the library. “I'll get a fire cloud...” “So we just need tha one Potato?” Applebloom asked, walking with Twilight towards the store. “Yeah, it's for my dinner tonight before we go to Canterlot the next day. So you buy that, and I'll grab the cheese.” Twilight confirmed as they entered the store and split up. Applebloom went towards the third isle and found the potatoes. However, the potatoes were in packets of two. “Well...Twi only wants one...Plus, we are goin' ta Canterlot tomorrow...” Applebloom thought to herself, remembering that they were heading up to a Farmer's Convention in Canterlot for the week after tonight. So, the filly took the packet of two, and found an employee. “Um...Excuse me miss.” Applebloom asked an Earth Pony mare wearing a blue shirt over her green coat, matching her blue mane. The mare turned with a smile. “Yes. How can I help you?” “Uh. Well, Ah jus' want one potato.” “I'm sorry ma'am, but they come in twos.” Applebloom rose an eyebrow. “No they don't. You did that...” The mare recoiled a bit. “I'm sorry?” “Potatoes come in ones, it's one potato, two potato, three potato, four. Not two potato, four potato, six potato, flippin' eight!” Applebloom argued. The pony shook her head. “Oh sorry...What I meant to say is that we only sell them in twos. Can't you just buy the two and have the other one another time?” “Well yeah, Ah would normally, but me an' mah friends are goin' ta Canterlot tomorrow, mah friend's goin' ta have a jacket potato fer dinner an' Ah'm pretty sure she can nail first time.” Applebloom stated, knowing that Twilight can handle such a simple meal. Spike was staying with her tonight since his room was being used for apple bobbing so they were going to find something in her house. “I'm sorry?” “Look, mah friend ain't no Doughnut Joe, but she can handle this. She don't need a contingency potato in case it all goes wrong! An' Ah'm also sure she don't want it fer breakfast tomorrow neither!” “Um...” The mare stuttered, trying to think of a way to appease her customer. “Why don't you take it with you?” “...You want me ta take a potato with me ta Canterlot?” Applebloom asked, incredulously. “Oh sure, Ah'll tell mah sister she can't come because Ah'm takin' a potato instead!” “I didn't mean instead of your sister!” “What ya want us ta take it with us on a business trip ta Canterlot?!” Applebloom asked. “Oh sure, if'n tha ponies ain't convinced ta buy anythin' by us, good ol' potato should surely seal tha deal, hey?” “Oh, I didn't know it was a business trip...” “What does it matter what kinda trip it is?! Even if me an' mah boyfriend were goin' on a romantic break, Ah probably wouldn't take tha potato with me!” “Um...Why don't you just give the potato away?” “Of course, what was Ah thinkin'?!” Applebloom exclaimed, sarcastically. “It's mah brother's birthday next week! An' he was so disappointed with last years cabbage! An' now tha butter an' beans Ah got 'im Heart's Warming may actually make some sense!” “I didn't mean as a present...” “What? So ya want me ta wait here in tha unlikely chance that another pony in tha same situation as us comes in wantin' jus' one potato so we can split tha pack with him!” Applebloom asked, raising her eyebrow. “Don't think Ah'm doin' that again, last time Ah was here until three in tha mornin' tryin' ta get rid of tha yellow pepper out of a pack of three...” Twilight had come into the aisle just as the argument started to escalate and quickly intervened. “Um...Don't worry, I'll just eat the two...” Twilight said, sheepishly pulling Applebloom away from the relieved mare. “Twilight! Ah was winnin' that argument!” “C'mon Scoots! We're gonna be late!” Rumble called, glancing, anxiously, at the clock on the wall. “I'll just be another minute Rumble! Can you feed Cluckworth for me though?” Rumble rose an eyebrow at the stairs. “Who's Cluckworth?” “He's my rooster!” “...Since when did you have a rooster?” “I got him last week! I bugged my dad to get me a pet until he caved and gave him to me!” Rumble glanced down and jumped when he saw said rooster before him, staring at him blankly. “Um...Hi Cluckworth?” Rumble said, waving. Cluckworth tilted his head to the side and clucked a couple of times. “So...You know where your food is?” Cluckworth nodded and started to walk to the kitchen where Tank was seen, eating a few cauliflower leaves. Cluckworth then pointed his beak up towards the bag of chicken feed on the counter. Rumble grabbed the bag and started to pour the bag into the bowl next to Tank's. Cluckworth clucked a couple of times and started to eat up. “Thanks Rumble!” Rumble jumped at the voice behind him, before he turned to see Scootaloo wearing a Wonderbolt uniform, grinning at him. “Mom got it for me! Pretty cool, huh?” “Yeah.” Rumble agreed. Scootaloo rose an eyebrow at him. “What?” “Where's your costume?” Rumble glanced up at the propeller hat on his head. “I'm wearing it.” “You're supposed to dress up as someone you're not.” Scootaloo argued. “I am!” Rumble declared, producing some tape to make his wings blend in with his fur and strapped them onto his wings, also grabbing his Nintendo gamehoof. “I'm going as Button!” Scootaloo giggled at him, slapping him, gently, on his side. “Alright, alright! I give.” She responded, heading towards the door. “Just gotta stop by AJ's to feed Winona and we can get going.” “C'mon Spike!” Applebloom said, trying to coax Spike out of his room. “No Applebloom! I look stupid!” “Aw c'mon, Ah think ya look adorable!” “I don't WANT to look adorable! I have an image to maintain!” Applebloom rose an eyebrow. “...Of wearin' a pink apron an' dustin' shelves all day?” “...Wow, way to make me feel good about myself...” “Ah didn't mean it like that Spike! C'mon, plenty o' costumes look a bit silly. Besides, Ah'm wearin' tha same one.” Applejack and Twilight walked up the stairs, looking worried, before they spotted Applebloom and looked physically relieved. “See AJ, I told you they wouldn't be doing...THAT.” Twilight said, to which Applejack rose her eyebrow at her. “Yer tha one that brought it up!” “Urg...Fine...” Spike conceded, leaving the room, revealing himself to be wearing a pink, bunny costume to match Applebloom's blue one. Twilight and Applejack stared at him for a few seconds, before they burst out laughing at him. He spotted them and growled, menacingly, a flicker of green fire escaping his lips. “Careful. I wouldn't want anything to happen to your manes...” The two immediately ceased their laughter, less they be bald for the week...much like the last time someone made Spike angry... Applebloom and Spike were walking through the park on their day off, both with an ice cream, Spike hold her's in front of her as they walked. Just as they rounded a corner, a grey hoof and a pink hoof knocked the ice cream's into their faces and the two soon had a wafer cone with the sticky substance stuck on their foreheads. The two hooves, attached to the two school bullies, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, started laughing at the pair. “Nice new look, Blank Flank!” “Yeah, dirty and grubby! Then again, that's how you usually loo...” Diamond didn't get to finish her sentence as she and her friend had to duck as a jet of green flames shot towards them. Spike cut of his fire and smirked back. “Nice new looks you got there, Baldies.” The bullies looked at each other and screamed in horror as they saw that there was not a single hair left on their scalps. They ran away, covering their heads the closest thing they could find...namely a couple of discarded paper bags. Spike cut off his smirk and gave a concerned glance towards his fillyfriend. “You okay, AB.” Applebloom nodded, licking the melting stream of the sticky, melting, pink ice cream. “Eeyup.” She then giggled, pointing at her forehead. “Check it out, Ah'm a Unicorn!” “It was surely a bad day to be them...” Twilight thought to herself. Spike was almost sued by the two as well until It was revealed that, technically, they did strike first. And, one known thing about Dragons, is that once they've been 'challenged' they have an in-built mechanism to fight back. Hurting Spike's pride is just another way of challenging him and she doesn't feel like making her big speech at the farming convention tomorrow wearing a wig. “Sorry Spike. But really, it's not too bad. Remember, your favourite character from The Jungle Romance was a rabbit.” Spike gave her a deadpan look. “Hoppity Hop was brown...And I still can't believe that was a real book!” He glanced down at himself and flinched. “This is really all you could find?” Applebloom looked apologetic. “Ah'm sorry Spike. This was tha only costume Ah could find that was made with someone bipedal in mind.” “Why didn't you just ask Rarity?” Applejack asked, giving a little twirl in her Clover the Clever costume. “She did great wit' mine.” “She seemed a bit busy when Ah went...” Applebloom said, having seen Rarity in the window, looking at thirty different mannequins with very different costumes on, with a couple of her mane hairs sprung out of place, her eyes twitching every now and then. “...Yeah good point.” Applejack then rose an eyebrow. “An' Ah heard about ya argument about tha potato...Don't ya think ya took that a bit too far?” “Ah jus' don't know why they're sold in twos!” Applebloom responded, suddenly looking a little peeved. “Ah woulda split tha pack mahself if'n it was too difficult fer her!” “Applebloom!” Spike said, suddenly forgetting about his costume at her words. “You could be arrested for that!” Applebloom rose an eyebrow at him. “An' charged wit' what? Separatin' potatoes?” She snorted. “Ah woulda been out in six months wit' a good lawyer!” Applejack looked at her sister with pride. “Ah knew we'd git yer stubbornness out again one way or another!” Applebloom looked at her, confused. “Wha'cha talkin' 'bout, AJ?” “Ah mean Ah haven't seen you or yer friends go out Cutie Mark Crusadin' fer a while.” Applebloom shrugged, looking nonchalant. “Well we've been a bit busy ta go crusadin', ya know? Between school, farm-work, homework and Spike Ah've barely had time ta breathe.” “Is school really getting' that hard?” Applebloom gave her a deadpan stare. “You tell me! You were there yerself a couple o' months ago!” Applejack thought ot herself before nodding. “Yeah, Ah guess it was kinda hard...” “Besides tha school term has ended, so we'll git some things crusaded in that time!” Applebloom said, confidently. “Sweetie Belle!” Rarity shrieked as smoke began billowing out of her kitchen. Button and Thunderlane, who were sitting in the sitting room, also got up. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop trying to cook?!” Sweetie Belle, however, couldn't hear her as she was singing one of Pinkie's on the spot songs that she couldn't get out of her head. “My name is Sweetie Belle~~ And I am here to say~~~ That I'm here to make you smiiiile just to brighten up your day~~~” The sound of her voice actually made the three stop in the doorway. Her voice had a nice melody to it that somehow managed to carry over, even to one of Pinkie's up-beat songs. “It doesn't matter...EEEEP!” She exclaimed, dropping a bowl to the ground, somehow making the dough inside of it catch alight. She was not expecting to have audience and embarrass herself in front of her sister, Rarity's coltfriend and her own coltfriend. She was blushing in embarrassment, expecting for the three to start laughing at her. Again, she was taken by surprise when the three start to clap. “WOW! You have a great voice, Sweetie Belle!” Button complimented, causing her blush to deepen. “Yeah! Why've you not sung on your own before?” Thunderlane asked, remembering hearing her sing with her friends before on Hearts and Hooves day a few years ago...Or the day that should not be named to most. “Um...I never thought I was all that good...” Sweetie Belle admitted, sheepishly. “But thanks...That's really nice to hear...” “Sweetie Belle, you must have more confidence in your abilities!” Rarity scolded, hugging the filly. “You must enjoy singing if you were doing it in here.” “Y-yeah...I guess it is kinda fun...” Suddenly, a light flashed over her flank for a few seconds before calming down revealing Sweetie Belle's cutie mark for the first time. Sweetie Belle blinked and turned to look at it with a giant, open mouthed smile on her face, taking in a large gasp. The mark revealed itself to be a silver bell with a couple of pink notes coming out of the bottom of it. “MY CUTIE MARK!!” She cheered with glee, hugging her sister, happily. “I got it! I got it! I got it!” Rarity hugged back, proud tears spilling out of her eyes. Button cleared his throat, pointing his hoof towards the kitchen. “I hate to interrupt the moment here, but you may want to do something about that...” They turned and saw that the fire had started to rise a bit higher. Thunderlane sighed and trotted towards the basement. “I'll get the fire cloud...” “C'mon Fluttershy...Ah'm sure there isn't anythin' too bad out tonight!” Braeburn called to her as she hid under their bed. Fluttershy just screwed her eyes shut and shuffled under the bed a little more. “I-I don't w-want t-to...I don't like it out there! There are monsters that could eat me! Or daemons who could take over my body and make me do bad things to other ponies!” “Ah told ya not ta watch Tha Exorcist alone...” Braeburn sighed, before shaking his head. “Welp, budge over!” He said, shuffling his way next to her, grinning when he saw her face. “Howdy!” “Um...What are you doing?” “Welp...” Braeburn explained, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. “Ah figure that, if'n ya don't wanna go out tonight, Ah'll stay here an' protect ya! Me an' Angel will be ya personal bodyguards tonight!” Fluttershy's eyes lit up in joy, suddenly feeling so much safer with her special somepony by her side and she nuzzled her muzzle into the side of his cheek back. “Oh thank you...I feel so much safer with you here.” Braeburn gave his usually, confident grin as he led Fluttershy out from under the bed. “No problem, Sweetheart. Tis mah duty as a stallion ta protect tha mare Ah love anyhow.” He declared proudly. Fluttershy giggled at his tough guy act, inside she knew he was just a HUGE softy and a big cuddler. “Sorry Ah'm late!” Big Mac declared as he walked in with his costume that resembled Daring Doo's main antagonist, causing Rainbow to grin widely at how accurate it was. Rarity does miracles! “Ah had trouble wit' tha zipper. Ah woulda asked Scoots ta help, but she had just left wit' Rumble...” “Sorry 'bout that Mac, Ah asked her ta feed Winona...” Applejack replied, sheepishly. “By tha way, ya haven't seen Soarin, have ya? He said something about goin' ta Cloudsdale...” Suddenly her vision was blocked out as she felt two hooves cover her eyes. “Guess who?” “Um...Ditzy?” Applejack asked, kinda confused. The pony covering her eyes rose an eyebrow, bemused, and took his hooves away. “I know you're bad with names, AJ, but that was just awful.” Soarin said, grinning as he stood in front of her. “What do ya think?” Applejack stood there, mouth agape at what she saw. He was basically wearing a black version of Braeburn's outfit with a belt with a pretend hoofgun in the holster. “Yeah, I had to get it delivered to the Wonderbolt Headquarters so it wouldn't ruin the surprise...So what do ya think?” Applejack just grinned, seductively and planted her lips straight on his, much to his surprise. Before could even think to return it, she pulled back and winked at him. “Ah think you should wear this more often...Ya definitely pull of tha sexy, cowpony look...” “Blegu...” Soarin let out, certainly at a loss for words. Rainbow and Mac glanced at each other and rose an eyebrow, before Rainbow smirked and made a motion with her hoof, mimicking a whip lashing at the blue colt. Mac chuckled and nodded in agreement before the two gave each other a nuzzle in greeting. Applebloom bit her tongue in in concentration as she carved an eye out of one of the pumpkins in front of her. Spike sat beside her, mouth agape at how quickly and accurately she managed to use the tool, then glanced towards the other six pumpkins that she had already carved. “How are you so good at this?!” Spike asked, looking at his own Pumpkin that looked a bit like someone had smashed it in with a hammer rather than trying to get shapes out of it with their claws. “Huh?” Applebloom said, glancing at her work. “Ah dunno. Guess Ah'm just good wit' tools or somethin'...” Just as she said this, there was a sudden, bright flash in the room that momentarily blinded the two, and caused the others in the home, Rainbow, Mac, AJ, Soarin and Twilight, to rush into the kitchen, concerned. When the two finally got their sight back, Applebloom had a sudden look of realisation. So, hoping this wasn't one of the tricks of Nightmare Night, she glanced back at her flank before realising that it was covered by her bunny costume and started pulling the zipper on the front of her costume down, slowly. Spike blushed and looked away, feeling like he was violating her privacy. When the five adults rose their eyebrows at him, he remembered that Ponies are usually naked and turned back. Though, he had to admit, her removing clothes like that was a bit sexy. She finally pulled the costume off of her and, just as they assumed, there was her cutie mark. Standing proudly on her flank, imprinting a picture of a red apple with a hammer and screwdriver crossed over it onto her behind. She was overjoyed at seeing it at last, but she did have to ask. “Ah already tried carpentry before though? Ah whole bunch o' times! It became a bit o' a hobby really...” “Maybe it's not specifically carpentry?” Spike suggested, pointing at the pumpkins. “I don't think that really counts as carpentry. Maybe it means that you're just good with tools, regardless of the situation?” Applejack and Big Mac finally shook out of their little stupor and whisked their younger sister in a hug, proud that she had found her special talent after so long. “We're so proud o' ya, AB!” “Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed, sniffling a bit. Applejack paused at the sound and looked over to him. “Are you crying, Big Mac?” Big Mac nodded, but clarified. “Ya just kneed me in tha crotch...” Applejack glanced down at her leg and realised that it had rammed, forcibly into his red, furry underside. She chuckled, sheepishly, and moved her hoof away. Just as the two stood back, Mac limping a bit at the pain he still felt, Spike kissed Applebloom on the cheek, giving her a hug as well. “I'm proud of you too, AB...” Applebloom smiled, widely, and hugged back. “Thanks Spike. Thanks everyone...” “APPLEBLOOM!” She heard Sweetie Belle exclaim from the doorway as she suddenly ran in front of her. “I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!!” She said, before turning to show it off. “That's great Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom responded, bumping her flank against Sweetie's. “An' check it out! Ah got mine too!” Sweetie Belle smiled, widely, and crushed her friend in a hug. “That's awesome! The three of us are Cutie Mark Siblings!” “...Three of us?” “Oh yeah! Button got his too!” Applebloom looked surprised while Sweetie Belle explained. “Well, we went to his house so he could tell his mom I got my cutie mark and we went to his room for a bit!” “Uh...Any reason?” “He said he wanted to show me something!” Sweetie said, grinning. “It turns out he wanted to sho me his joystick!” The group looked at her with wide eyes. Twilight then leaned over to Rainbow and whispered. “Uh...Did Sweetie Belle just get to third base?” Rainbow looked back, surprisingly innocent and asked. “What's that mean?” “Uh...you know? Did the hanky panky?” “They're twelve Twilight. They're way too old for that.” “No...Not the dance! They did the nasty.” “I can't see them doing anything nasty...At least not intentionally...” “Sex! Did they have sex?!” Twilight asked, frustratedly and, unfortunately, out loud. Sweetie Belle blushed, visibly. “What?! No! I meant his gaming joystick...” “What's sex?” Rainbow asked, surprising everypony else, except Mac, in the room. She flinched under their gazes. “What?” “...Rainbow, did you ever learn about the birds and the bees?” “Of course I did! Birds are feathery creatures that don't have arms that flap around and sing in the morning and bees are those insects that make honey, right?” Twilight ignored the abridged and generalised explanation of birds and bees and shook her head in disbelief. “...Rainbow, even Spike, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle know what sex is! How do you not know?!” “Why would I need to know?” “Don't you have sex with Mac or anything?” “This hasn't ever come up!” The group turned to Mac, who shrugged. “Ah never wanted ta force her inta nothin'.” “You guys have been dating for three years!” Soarin exclaimed, shocked. “You've got some serious self restraint Mac! Have you never gone into heat or anything, Rainbow?!” Rainbow growled and glared at the ground. “My doctor said my cervix was damaged and I can't have kids, so thanks for bringing THAT up again!” “...Oh right...” Soarin replied, ducking behind Applejack in fear. “...So you know where babies come from...But not how they're made?” “I just kinda assumed that you just wish for the baby during times of heat and it'll be there.” Twilight sighed and nudged her out the door. “C'mon...I can't believe I'm saying this but we've got to have...The talk...” After they left, Sweetie Belle shrugged and continued her story. “So, as it turns out, he was making his own Indie Game and I tried it out! It was really good and after I complimented him for a bit there was a flash of light and suddenly, there was a gamepad on his flank! He got his cutie mark!” She then gasped in realisation. “And his mom is taking us to get a milkshake to celebrate! See you tonight!” She then rushed out the door, leaving behind a wide eyed Applebloom. “...Jeez...Ah sure hope Scootaloo an' Rumble take this well...”