Ponyville was busy today. Ponies and their Pokémon companions were out and about this fine sunny day. Celestia's sun rose and was at the highest point of the day signaling the afternoon. Derpy delivered mail along with a flock of mail pidgey. Their little mail bags swung in the air as they flew behind the wall eyed mare like ducklings would their mother. Bon Bon made her candies while Lyra played with a filly unicorn and her azurill, and Nurse Red Heart passed by with two chansey in nurse outfits following close behind like a marching band with bright smiles on their faces. All was right with the world as everyone went on with their day.
For Trixie and her eevee companion, Charlie, it was a special day. It marked their one year anniversary since they began dating after her failure to rule Ponyville with the Alicorn Amulet. Since then, they managed to salvage her reputation and even earning a certain amount of fame alongside with it. Her love for Charlie grew as they performed together with his sisters as a traveling magic show. Trixie got along with the sisters very well, but Charlie often butted heads with his older sisters due to conflicting view points. Charlie loved Trixie, he loved his sisters too. They were just hard to talk to sometimes, considering their personalities.
First there was Swift and Lea, a jolteon and leafeon, both were brash and loved a good prank. They were the wild and youngest of the four sisters to Charlie. Swift was most reckless and often did things without thinking what the end results would be, while Lea was a bit more conservative in her approach to things she did. Sometimes she’d think things through, but more often than not she wouldn’t. The two often played pranks with Rainbow Dash and often got into a lot of trouble with the mayor.
Then there was Tiffany who was a sylveon. Despite her delicate name, Tiffany was a massive brute. She easily stood as tall as Big Mac and had the strength of two strong Royal Guards. She was a muscle head and cared not for strategy in anything she did. She often relied on brute strength for everything she did. As fate would have it, that strength came with one major flaw, she had a very nasty temper. Out of the four sisters she was the most unreasonable of the lot arguing over the simplest of things. Combined with her short temper she would go off and destroy anything she came across. Now, everywhere Tiffany goes she's escorted by one of Princess Twilight's guards much to her disdain.
Finally there was Sally the eldest sister and a glaceon. Graceful, dainty, refined, and completely vain. She was best friends with Rarity, though some suspect they were together. The two loved fashion as much as they loved being pampered. The two went to the spa with Fluttershy and her bunnery every Saturday at 11am sharp. She loved dresses and making them for others. She was very thoughtful in everything she did. She never did anything without giving it considerable thought. Sometimes she'd think to hard that it leads to inaction on her part. In her dress making this lead to a few conflicts even with Rarity who was just as bad as she was at times.
In spite of all the obvious differences they had the four siblings had one thing they all agreed on, their brother and his dislike of evolution. They for the life of themselves couldn't wrap their minds around the fact he didn't want to evolve into something greater. 'Why wouldn't he evolve? What was he afraid of?' they would ask him only for him to shrug them off and walk away. They confronted him so many times that he now just ignored them whenever the subject was brought up. 'Why won't you evolve and become stronger?' Tiffany asked him once when they worked at Sweet Apple Acres. ‘Why won't you make something of yourself? Everypony knows being average is no way to get along in life.' Sally said to him once.
In spite of all this he still loved them and they loved him.
He often thought of the times they had before his sisters evolved. They were so similar back then it was uncanny how different they were once they changed. It's like they were completely new Pokémon altogether. That change is what made Charlie fear evolving. For one he feared he'd grow to either dislike Trixie, or she would dislike the change it could make to him. Another reason is he liked the way he was and thought he didn't need to evolve to prove anything. Trixie made it clear once when his sisters were over that he didn't have to evolve for her to love him, and if he didn't or did it'd never change her opinion of him.
Trixie did her best to be there for him, but his depression only grew as time went on. Ironically that was how they met. After one of his 'talks' with his sisters, he stormed off heading to Zecora's hut when he encountered Trixie on the road. After she apologized to Twilight for her misdeeds Trixie left heading into the Everfree Forest hoping to go back to the rock farm she worked on that's when they met.
They became close friends and as time went on they developed a passion for one another. The three youngest sisters were happy for him, but Sally didn't approve of Trixie at first. With time they got to know each other and became friends. Trixie eventually became friends with many ponies in Ponyville and became a citizen of it.
Today she was going to watch the Cutie Mark Crusaders after school with Charlie. For now they were in her travel trailer enjoying a wonderful lunch he'd made them consisting of dandelion sandwiches and berry bon bons.
"Mmm. This is delicious Charlie. You spoil Trixie like this all the time she might just stop cooking forever." the blue mare grinned nuzzling him.
Charlie leaned away from her, his wooden chair creaked as the old wood was put under stress. "Stooop Trixie!" he whined, pushing her away. "You'll make me drop my bon bon."
"Humph! You care more for your bon bons than Trixie's affections?" the mare scoffed in mock anger, crossing her arms.
Charlie sighed putting down his bon bon and leaned over kissing her on the cheek. "You are much better than any old bon bon." he cooed into her ear.
Trixie blushed pushing him away trying to keep up her angry look at him. He gave her a cute stare, his charm was intoxicating. it made it hard for her to stay mad at him even if she was only pretending. She buckled under his cute gaze and pulled him into a hug. "Fine, Trixie forgives you."
He smiled rubbing his nose against her cheek. The two finished lunch and after a quick cleanup they made their way to Ponyville Elementary. When they go there it was ten minutes to 1pm and school was already out by the time they arrived. Ponies and Pokémon alike were heading home alone in groups or with family. Trixie giggled as a tiny ponyta ran by with a group of fillies wearing matching saddlebags.
Trixie and Charlie approached the school house to find the teacher Miss Cherliee closing desk for the day. She looked up to see the two approaching her. "Ah, Trixie Charlie how are you two?" She greeted them with a smile.
"We're fine Miss Cherliee." Trixie responded to the instructor. "We're just here to pick up Apple Bloom and her friends. Are they here?"
"Oh, I think they're on the play ground with a few of the other children." She tapped her hoof thoughtfully. "Yeah, I remember they were on the swings earlier."
"Thanks Cherliee!" Charlie said waving to the mare.
He and Trixie exited to see if they could find the trouble prone fillies. It didn't take long to find out where they were. A high pitched voice screamed. Sweetie Belle. Trixie frowned looking at Charlie who nodded. The rounded the school building to find the school bullies, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and a young ponyta, fighting the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
[A few minutes earlier]
"And here I thought you three couldn't get any lamer!" Diamond Tiara laughed at the CMCs circling them with Silver Spoon and a ponyta.
"Yeah! Like you totally should have gotten your cutie marks by now! Maybe your just soooo lame you'll never get a cutie mark." Silver Spoon chimed in.
The ponyta walked up laughing. "Hah! Good one, Silver! Maybe they'll get their cutie marks for being lame instead!" She laughed her fiery mane flowing in the wind as her red dress and skirt ruffled.
"Aww thanks Ember." Silver Spoon replied nuzzling her affectionately.
Diamond gagged. "Come on you two enough of your love dovey stuff!"
Ember was about to retort when suddenly Silver Spoon found herself on the floor he nose bloodied as Scootaloo ran up decking her in the nose with a hoof punch. The other two ran to help their friend. Ember helped Silver up while Diamond stood between the CMCs and her friends. Sweetie Belle screamed in horror and Apple Bloom stood there holding Sweetie.
"The heck is your problem you psycho?!" The pink filly yelled at the orange pegasus.
"The heck is your problem with us?!" She replied charging Diamond Tiara.
The two butted heads. Despite being a snob and bully, Diamond was surprisingly strong. She pushed Scootaloo back with minimal effort and shoved her to the ground. Apple Bloom let go of Sweetie Belle and ran into Diamond head first. The yellow filly hit Diamond right in her rib cage and sent them both flying to the ground. Apple Bloom stood up kicking the down filly, Scootaloo joined in.
Diamond covered her face as she screamed in fear as the assault continued. She reached out grabbing Apple Blooms hoof and pulled with all her might sending the earth pony to the ground with her. She then threw dirt into Scootaloo's eyes blinding her.
"That's fighting dirty Diamond!" Apple Bloom said kicking her opponent in the face making it swell.
A flash of flame came between them as Ember. She leaned over kissing Silver Spoon making her smile as she choked trying not to cry anymore.
"You'd know all about fighting dirty wouldn't you?" the flame pony stomped the ground. "Two on one is hardly fair! Hitting a lady and my fillyfriend! Why don't you try that against somepony who CAN fight? Unless you're a bunch of cowards!"
"You're not a real pony!'Scootaloo yelled pointing to her. "You're a fake pony!"
Ember’s eyes twitched as anger built up inside of her. She reared p on her back legs flaring her manes and tail as fire enclosed around her body.
"SHUT UP!"
Embers mane came to life as her anger swelled inside her, no one hurt her friends! Especially not a bunch of blank flanks! Her body was engulfed in flames as her body hurled towards the two assailants, leaving Sweetie Belle alone, creating a small explosion. As the dust settled Trixie stood between them with a pink aura shield around her.
Ember gasped stepping away from the mare who looked at her angrily. Charlie helped the Scootaloo and Apple Bloom trying to comfort Sweetie Belle who was now crying. Ember retreated to her friends shielding them. Trixie sighed shaking her head.
"What is going on out here?!" Cherliee screamed running out after the explosion. Seeing the burnt ground she immediately looked over to the flaming pony Pokémon filly. "EMBER! Did you do this?!"
Ember stood over Silver Spoon who hugged onto Diamond. Cherliee saw the condition of Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Running over to them she inspected them. Gasping at the injuries, though superficial, she still hurried everyone into the school house and tended to the injured ponies with Trixie's help.
"Thank you Trixie." The teacher pony said wiping Silver Spoon's nose with a bloody cloth.
Ember sat beside her fillyfriend petting her mane affectionately as she was tended to. Cherliee glared at Ember who looked away in shame. "And you young lady have some explaining to do." she scolded Ember. "What happened and why did you attack your fellow students? And I want the truth."
Ember fidgeted looking to Silver Spoon who nodded for her to go on. Nothing was said, but the look in Silver Spoon's eyes said it all. "I- that is we, Diamond, Silver, and I were bullying the Cutie Mark Crusaders for being blank flanks..." Cherliee glared at the filly making her feel uncomfortable before she added, "again."
The maroon pony sighed facehooving. "Why? Why do you six always do this? Why must all of you fight? If you actually tried not bullying the girls you'd probably find you have more in common and be good friends."
Scootaloo scoffed leaning towards Apple Bloom. "Yeah right? What do we have with that fillyfooler?" She pointed to Silver Spoon who looked offended. Ember growled stomping the ground, Cherliee and Trixie both looked angrily at the pegasus filly. Apple Bloom was taken aback.
"Scoots! What a thing ta say!" she exclaimed. "You know Sweetie Belle is that way right?"
"Scootaloo! That tanks it! Detention for the rest of the week and I'll be having a word with your parents after this!" Cherliee scolded her student. She then looked over the six of the fillies. "Where did I go wrong with all of you? The only one that seems sensible out of you six is Sweetie Belle! She never struck another in anger or aggression! Nor has she ever really insulted anypony as far as I know! What is wrong with all of you?!"
The sudden outburst startled everyone in the room. Trixie and Charlie backed into the corner with Diamond and the CMC's while Ember and Silver Spoon dared not move. Nopony moved for a while until Trixie did.
"Miss Cherliee, if Trixie may?" she asked taking the distraught mare to her desk sitting her down in the seat. "Let us handle this, just rest for a moment to calm yourself."
She sighed conceding to sit as Trixie suggested. Trixie then turned to the six fillies and herded them together. Once they were bunched together, much to their disdain, Trixie sat on the ground in front of them with Charlie by her side.
"Sit." she ordered them. Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Ember, and Sweetie Belle sat down obediently leaving Apple Bloom and Scootaloo standing. "Sit." Trixie said firmly causing them to sit. "Now then, what happened?"
The stories were told from each filly’s perspective and not to everyponies surprise, each criminalized the other for wrong doing first. When Ember and Silver Spoon told their stories however, they were not damning to the CMC's, but to themselves.
"-that was when Scootaloo hit Diamond." Ember said hugging Silver Spoon. She returned her gaze to Trixie and Charlie who were listening. "I got angry and attacked them, calling them cowards for hitting already and ganging up on Diamond Tiara. We never hit them, so when they hit my friends that's when I attacked them. I'm sorry you three."
Each of the cutie mark crusaders had different reactions. Sweetie Belle ran up hugging the two fillies and looked over to a outing Diamond Tiara. She walked up and hugged the pink filly. "I'm sorry, you got hurt Diamond." she said hoping this was a good start to mending the rift between all of them. Much to her surprise, Diamond Tiara scoffed and hugged her back.
"Humph, like whatever. I forgive you. It's not like you hurt me or anything." she said to the other two.
Trixie, Cherliee and Charlie all sighed in relief that someone in the group was being sensible. Though the other two weren't so easily persuaded. Charlie decided it was his turn to speak.
"Just what is it that you there don't like about them?" he asked Diamond, Silver, and Ember.
The three looked at each other, Ember and Silver looked uneasy, but Diamond just blurted the first thing that came to her mind. "They're blank flanks." she said mindlessly as if rehearsed.
"Diamond Tiara!" Cherliee exclaimed. "That's not a nice thing to say or do to another pony. Have you really learned nothing? Have none of you? Do you remember your cute-ceañera?"
The pink rich filly frowned crossing her arms. "Yeah, I remember. I remember a couple of blank flanks ruining it!"
"Hey! You're the one who was being a mule!" Scootaloo retorted. "As if we needed to do anything with you and Silver being a couple of snob bitches!"
"SCOOTALOO!"
"Shut your damn mouth you flightless chicken!" Ember yelled shielding Silver Spoon in her arms. "You leave her out of this you ugly horses ass!"
"EMBER!" Cherliee was absolutely livid by this time. "That's it you all get detention! And if I hear any whining I'll add a day each time! Is that understood?" Sweetie Belle raised her hoof slowly. The teacher pony snapped her head to her causing her to lower it without a word.
"I'm sorry to hear that Diamond." Charlie said walking up to her. "But you know that doesn't give you the right to bully them, right?"
The filly looked up at the brown Pokémon. She clearly didn't understand as she gave him a blank stare like he was crazy. "Why not? They're blank flanks."
"So?"
"SO?! They're below us! Not as special." She said like it was the most obvious thing.
Charlie looked over to Ember pointing to her. "She's a blank flank."
Diamond opened her mouth to speak but closed it. It took her a moment but she had come up with a response. "She's a Pokémon. Like you. You don't get cutie marks!"
Charlie gave her a thoughtful smile. "True. But did you know her kind evolves?"
Now, Pokémon evolving was not a foreign concept. In fact evolving was like earning a cutie mark for Pokémon. Not many saw it that way, but to the ones who did, like Charlie's sisters, it was a rite of passage. To some it made them feel privileged and better than others. The very reason Charlie despised evolving himself.
He looked over to Silver Spoon who was glaring at him, holding Ember protectively. "You big jerk! Leave Ember alone!" she yelled at him.
Cherliee and Trixie were about to scold the filly but Charlie held a paw up stopping them. "It's OK, she's just standing up for her friend." He said lowering his paw. "In a lot of ways you three are like my sisters."
The bullies looked at one another before looking up to him, as did the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Your sisters? Why do we remind you of them?" Silver Spoon asked.
"Like you three, they feel that me not evolving is an embarrassment and makes me less then them. They love me as a brother but treat me like a lesser being sometimes because of it. They don't mean to but they constantly tell me that I am wasting my talents by not evolving. Like you three holding your cutie marks in such high regard and look down on others who don't have them." He walked over to Ember patting her head gently. "You have great potential in you. As do you." He pointed to Silver Spoon. "And you." He pointed to Sweetie Belle, causing her to blush. "As do all of you." He waved his arm around gesturing to all of them.
Scootaloo scoffed again looking at Diamond Tiara. "Her? Potential at what? Being a rich bit-"
"Scootaloo," Cherliee said in a serious tone making the filly stop her insult before it left her mouth.
"You say that but do you understand what potential is Scootaloo?"
The filly remained silent not sure exactly where he was going with this. "Potential is what we all have? It's like... being able to do something that you're good at?" she ventured a guess.
"A good guess but that's not quite what it is. Potential means you have room for improvement and growth to better yourself. We all have it and I can say with absolute certainty that a cutie mark or evolving has nothing to do with it." Everyone stared at him, Trixie incredulously. "OK, so evolving does have something to do with it, but the point is that even if you don't evolve or have a cutie mark it means you can still be anything you want! You don't have to let destiny dictate what you become." he sighed looking to Silver Spoon and Ember. "You two are friends. Yet you don't judge Ember because she didn't evolve and she doesn't have a cutie mark. To many ponies and pony like Pokémon she's worse than a blank flank. Am I right Ember?" As he finished a thought passed through his head, and in a moment he had a look of revelation. I need t speak to my sisters after this. He thought keeping his thoughts to himself.
Ember looked down with shame written on her face. It was true. Many ponies didn't understand that Pokémon didn't get cutie marks, specifically the equine Pokémon. Back in Canterlot Ember use to get a lot of rap for being a pony without a cutie mark, mostly because the ponies couldn't tell she was a Pokémon but thought she was just a pony. She was one of only a handful of ponyta in all of Equestria.
"So why do you of all ponies and Pokémon bully these girls for being something that you are? Better yet, why do you bully them knowing it hurts them for you to do so, having been on the receiving end of said bullying yourself?" Trixie added.
"I- I uh, I." Ember stumbled over her words trying to come up with a good reason why. But nothing did. She had no good reason other than she'd become a bully. A thug. Just like the others from Canterlot. "But Silver Spoon and Diamond don't! Silver Spoon even loves me!" She suddenly said as if in desperation.
Trixie stood beside Charlie looking at the fire pony. "Why didn't she judge you?"
Ember looked to her friends. They looked hurt and saddened. "Actually, they did at first. But when I explained to them I was a Pokémon and didn't get a cutie mark it made them stop. We started talking occasionally and eventually we became friends." She finished lowering her head.
Silver Spoon nuzzled her and Diamond came over to hug them both. "I'm sorry, we ever bullied you Ember."
"I'm sorry, too." Silver Spoon said sandwiched between the two.
Sweetie and Apple Bloom d'awwed at the sight. Scootaloo frowned.
Charlie and Trixie smiled with Cherliee at the sight. The former bullies reconciled with their friend. The three of them looked over to the fillies they bullied. Neither side made a move.
Cherliee stepped forward. "Well, despite the facts I'm still going to have a word with your parents Ember. And I'll be expecting you to join everypony in detention. Understood?"
"Yes, Miss Cherliee." the pony Pokémon sighed in defeat.
Silver Spoon nuzzled Ember before turning to glare at Charlie. Cherliee gathered Ember Silver, and Diamond to take them home while the CMCs stayed behind with Trixie and Charlie.
"Now then," Trixie said walking between everyone. "Time for us to take you three to your homes. Your families must be worried sick."
A short while later Trixie, Charlie and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were heading off in one direction with Cherliee and the Bully Crusaders walking in the other direction.
Charlie and Trixie wrapped their tails together as they walked with the girls in tow. Once they'd dropped the girls off, Charlie thought back to what he said about his sisters. He needed to talk to them about him evolving. Something he didn't want to do but with Trixie by his side he knew he'd be able to pull it off.
He was so deep in thought that they didn't hear Trixie talking to him.
"Charlie?"
"Hmm? What- sorry Trixie." he said sheepishly, seeing her intense glare.
"Trixie asked what you are planning on doing with the rest of your day?"
"Oh, well I just want to spend the day with you love." He said rubbing his nose to hers.
They both smiled at the cool touch of their noses touching. A light chuckle from behind startled them and they separated looking to see Charlie's sisters laughing at them. At least two of them. Swift and Lea both fell over gripping their sides in laughter, Sally was busy scolding them, and Tiffany held a disapproving look.
Trixie and Charlie both were embarrassed beyond compare, their faces red as tomatoes.
"-and you shouldn't belittle others feelings of love you two!" Sally finished yelling at her two siblings.
Sally composed herself and gave the two a warm smile and walked over to hug them both.
"We saw what happened out at the school earlier." The blue Pokémon said kissing her brother on the head. She then donned a serious look. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Trixie held the brown Pokémon tightly, worried for him. This was what he needed and she was there to support him through it. This was something he'd been avoiding for years, now he had to face it. It was for the best.
"I didn't-I didn't want to disappoint all of you." He gestured to them all. Swift and Lea finally stopped laughing and paid close attention with serious looks listening intently. "You always said I was wasted potential. That I should evolve to become better and make something of myself. Yet, I feared the changes that came with that."
He pointed to Swift and Lea. 'You two became trouble makers since you evolved and I don't want that." He then looked over to Tiffany. "You became a thug." He said flatly making his big pink sister angry. He fur bristled and she growled at him. Sally put a paw to her chest, calming her sister instantly.
"Please continue, Charlie."
The brown Pokémon leaned over to Trixie rubbing her neck with his nose. This was stressful for him and he used her as a buffer to keep calm. Just her being there made things a million times easier.
"I fear evolving because I might not love her anymore. I'm afraid I won't love Trixie anymore or she'll dislike the change in me."
The unicorn frowned, swatting him on the head. He grabbed the top of his brown head rubbing it.
"What was that for?"
"You think Trixie would give up on you so easily when you're the center of her world?" She asked him sticking her nose up. He was about to retort when he felt her embrace him. 'Trixie will always love you no matter what happens to you. Whether you evolve or not, Trixie will always love you."
Sally, Swift and Lea all circled around the two into a big group hug. The sisters kissed their brother affectionately as he swatted them like a kid. Then Sally put a small armband on Charlie's left arm. It was a leather band with a small white stone in the center. He gasped at the sight of it.
"Is that?"
"An everstone." Sally said rubbing his head.
"Now you don't have to worry about evolving ever." Lea piped in.
Swift tapped it. "Turns out Rarity had one this entire time thinking it was quartz or something. She made it for you after we told her about what you did at the school for the girls."
Charlie blushed looking down at it. He thought about what he said and suddenly he realized they heard everything he'd said. "So, does that mean-"
The sisters hugged him together. "We love you Charlie. We always will."
"You don't have to evolve. We did some thinking and perhaps we were wrong about you." Lea stroked her leafy mane.
"Yeah, you were great and inspirational out there. The way you reasoned with those fillies." Swift added grinning. "You should be a motivational speaker or something." She nudged him with an elbow.
They all turned to see Tiffany but by the time they did she was gone. Charlie frowned. He'd hoped to get through to them all, guess Tiffany would have to wait. But for now, he was happy to just have his sisters accept him for how he was. Tiffany would have to wait. One day, maybe he'd get through to her. Until then their differences in opinion would be what set them apart.
For now, he was embraced by his other sisters and Trixie and he wouldn't have traded this moment for anything else in the world. He was where he needed to be. He was what he needed to be, and that was good enough.