Truth of the Cutie
The trail. The road. The journey. Pretty much the best things about Trixie's chosen occupation. The long treks throughout the world, with nopony else around, sometimes even for days at a time. An opportunity to just take in the sights, let the mind wander and forget about one's worries. That was, of course, if one was sure they were alone.
Trixie wasn't. She couldn't quite explain how she suspected something was amiss. Was it her ears telling her some rustling or distant noise did not belong? Was it that unnamed, unexplored extra sense, the one that seemed to always know she was being watched? Whatever it was, her eyes saw nothing but pretty nature whenever they scanned the area for danger.
She had to stop and look several times before she finally pinpointed the culprit. While the scenery changed, one thing remained the same. A small, green bush, just at the outskirts of the tree line. She tried to remain nonchalant and kept walking, her mind racing for an answer. She wasn't sure she was equipped to deal with sentient shrubbery of any sort. Or was it some sort of predator in disguise, cunningly using the forest to their advantage? Only one way to find out.
Swiftly, the showpony spun around and faced the bush, catching it mid-movement. Her horn glowed as she prepared an offensive spell and shouted:
"Show yourself, fiend!"
"Woah, we give, we give," came a strangely familiar voice from the leafy pursuer. It talked to someone else, "Ah told ya' she'd find us."
"Guess stalking isn't it, either..."
Three fillies appeared from the deceitful shrubbery. One was very much familiar, with her light yellow coat, red mane and frankly unmistakeable pink bow. The other two Trixie had never met, though they were obviously partners in crime. In a playful tone, the showpony said:
"Well, if it isn't Apple Bloom and friends."
"Welp, ya' sure got us. Ah knew a lil' bush wouldn't fool ya'."
"Have you been following me all the way from Ponyville? As in, for a good four hours now?"
"Yup."
"While I do love my adoring fans," they giggled, "everyone must be worried at this point. Applejack most of all, I think."
"Yup. Oh, Ah don't think you've met my friends. These are..."
"Allow me."
The trio gazed in wonder as she slowly walked around them, taking in all the important details. Trixie then sat back down in front of them, looked each in the eyes and continued, starting with the unicorn:
"Now then, the snow-white shade of your coat is quite familiar. The way you walked out was fairly graceful, undoubtedly practiced. Furthermore, your mane is just lovely! Someone undoubtedly helped you get it done so stylishly, most probably an expert in the craft. You are none other than Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle!"
She literally hopped from excitement, said purple-pink mane maintaining its shape despite the activity. Rarity knew her sister well, that much was certain. Her voice was a bit squeaky, all thing considered, but it had something to it that Trixie couldn't quite put her hoof on. Something that made it very pleasant to listen to:
"Oh, wow! That's awesome!"
With a smirk, Trixie turned her attention to the final member of the trio:
"And you. Orange coat, unkempt, purple mane. Small bruises and scratches all over. No doubt an adventurous filly, used to trying just about everything. And while your wings may be just a bit on the small side for now, I bet you'll tear the skies asunder one day. Rainbow Dash's favourite little flyer-in-training, Scootaloo," her wings flapped rapidly as she hovered in the air for just a moment, with a smile, "and together, you are the infamous Cutie Mark Crusaders."
The trio clapped their hooves and Trixie bowed with a smirk. Apple Bloom asked:
"Are ya' a detective in disguise or somethin'?"
"Oh, no, I just notice the important things. Speaking of which, what in the hay are the three of you doing, following me?"
Sweetie Belle took a deep breath and spoke, as if she was their official representative:
"It was not on our own accord, in our defence. Pinkie Pie finished making a few cheesecakes shortly after you left Ponyville," gently, she nudged the young farmpony, who nodded and ran to their bush, "in that way only Pinkie can, she asked us if we would be willing to bring you a few slices for the road."
"Yeah," Scootaloo continued just as Apple Bloom returned with a small basket in her mouth, "and then I had the idea that we could hit two birds with one rock. So we scrounged up some camouflage and followed. And, well," they all smiled sheepishly, "I guess we lost track of time in the excitement."
"And lose track you did, indeed," she looked up to the sky. The sun was already beginning to dip into the horizon, "it'll be dark soon. I'll need to find a good spot for us to camp for the night."
"Wouldn't it be best if we jus' get back real quick?"
"Travelling at night is dangerous. Many dangerous creatures are nocturnal. A small campfire is all we need to keep them away, thankfully. Now, let me do this."
A glow surrounded her horn and her eyes flashed. A small bolt of arcane energy shot into the air and vanished in the distance in the blink of an eye. Sweetie seemed to be the most interested in the display:
"Wow, what was that?"
"A little communication spell that Twilight taught me. I let her know the three of you are okay and we'll return tomorrow. Now, come on. You will help me set up camp."
"Yes, Trixie!" they replied like good little filly scouts. She couldn't help but smile.
Good little filly scouts, her plot. The trio more than lived up to every harrowing tale she had heard. The crux of the issue, Trixie thought, was in the unique blend of traits the fillies possessed.
Apple Bloom was a filly of action, headstrong and courageous to a fault. Coupled with her ability to always cut to the point and being able to keep the other two in line, if need be, she was the closest thing the crusaders had to a leader.
Scootaloo had energy to spare for several fillies and spent every free moment on stunts or more tame acrobatics. She was taking after her idol, to be sure. It never took long for her to make up another sly jest or wisecracking comment.
And then there was Sweetie Belle, a demon in angel's clothing. On the outside a stylish, well-behaved little filly, she was however just as energetic as her friends, if not more so. Her curiosity was unmatched and her hearing... her ears could pick up on tones in one's voice and other verbal cues easily. Coupled with her devious little mind, she was most certainly not to be underestimated.
But the more she walked next to them as they hopped, dashed, chatted and asked ever-more-cunning questions, the more she could make out their good sides. While undoubtedly a handful, the three were friends to the core, united and driven by their singular mission. There was a passion in them she couldn't help but admire. Fillies would be fillies, in the end, and these three had found perhaps the most important things in the world. Each other.
Finally, they came across a decently-sized clearing where they could camp for the night. And not a moment too soon. As soon as they finished making a fire, the crusaders gathering the required twigs and branches in record time, a howl filled the evening air. Scootaloo and Sweetie immediately grew nervous and the disguised devil asked:
"W-was that a t-timberwolf?"
Trixie chuckled to herself, though Apple Bloom beat her to the answer:
"Nah, ya' dummy. Timberwolf howlin' be a lot more raspy and deep. 'Sides, we ain't even in the Everfree. That there was a regular ol' wolf."
"Which does not mean it wouldn't love to snack on some naughty little fillies," they collectively yelped and she chuckled, "which is why we have the fire. Not only that, we also have cheesecake!"
They cheered as the delicious creation was shared around the campfire. Smiling as they were, the trio was reaching dangerous levels of cuteness. To prevent a possible overload, Trixie asked a question that had been on her mind for a while:
"You know, I've wanted to ask, why is it that you search for your cutie marks in the way you do?"
"Whaddaya' mean?" replied Apple Bloom, between bites.
"You make use of, how would I say it, a rapid-fire method? Try as many things as fast as possible?"
"That was my idea," came the ever-vigilant Scoots, "it's real simple, really. The more things you try, the more likely you are to find your special talent. It's fool-proof!"
The showpony at first just giggled. Then, she snortled. Finally, she let out a heartfelt laugh. Her acquaintances were obviously not in on the joke and Scoots asked:
"Ummm, what's so funny?"
She managed to contain herself and met gazes with the filly:
"That you still think it's all so simple. Has nopony ever talked to you about this?"
Sweetie was quick to blurt out:
"No. Well, that is," she gave it more thought, "I don't think we ever listened."
"Somehow, that does not surprise me. Listen to me now, then. To demonstrate my point... Scootaloo."
"Yes?"
"What is Rainbow’s special talent?"
"Oh, I know that! It's... it's..."
The filly's eyes grew wide as she found herself at a loss for words. Trixie smirked, before resuming her strangely expository dialogue:
"You can't say, because your view of it is too simple. A cutie mark is not just some badge or tattoo, proclaiming to the world: 'Hey everypony, I'm pretty good at this!' It is much more complex than that. It's a sign that a pony has found their true calling, their place in the world."
Her horn glowed as a tiny, helpful puppet materialised above the campfire. It was a likeness of Rainbow Dash, perhaps not too dissimilar to something a practitioner of voodoo could have used. Trixie continued:
"Take Rainbow. She is defined by adrenaline. The rush and thrill that only speed and adventure may provide," the image looped around the fire in a second flat, "but her desire is tempered. She never leaves her friends behind, no matter what. In the thick of things as much for herself as for others."
Suddenly, the puppet landed in front of Apple Bloom. Its wings vanished, its coat and mane taking on shades of orange and blond, respectively. The filly squeaked excitedly:
"Sis!"
"Yes, good old Applejack. Not just some 'farmpony'. A mare built on ideals of hard, honest work and family. Looking out for others, perhaps to a fault, she'd give everything she has to make sure her friends and family alike stay together, strong as the healthiest apple trees."
The doppelganger flickered, its mane twisting into a bold, well-groomed display. Snow-white and violet. Even with minimal detail, she was a dashing display. It walked over to Sweetie Belle and bowed, as Trixie continued:
"Eye-catching Rarity. Oh, she does love her fancy outfits and gems, but is that all she is? One needs to take but a glance at her during her work to know otherwise. In the end, she is there for others. Her creations are dazzling, yet personal. With all the right touches and intimate details, she tries to bring out the best in you. And I must say, she always succeeds."
The three were quiet for an unfathomably long moment by their standards. The stylish filly asked:
"How can you tell that just by looking at the cutie mark?"
She had to fight a snortle again, then replied:
"You can't. A cutie mark is important, but it's still just that. A mark, a picture. At best, it gives you a hint," at worst, it served only to confuse, like that one mailmare, Ditzy, "that's why you should never just assume something about a pony with just a look. Talk with them, get to know them. Truth be told, it's easier for some ponies than others."
With an unnecessary, purely dramatic stomp of a hoof, the clone suddenly split in two. One was a chaotic jumble of various shades of pink, the other a mix of creamy yellow and... still pink. While the graceful imposter remained composed, the pink one somehow ignored her careful commands and hopped onto a nearby rock, then started dancing. Nothing could ever remain normal with that mare involved, could it?
Apple Bloom said:
"Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy!"
"Indeed. On the surface, night and day. Yin and yang. Yet, when you get to know them, they are similar in so many ways. Both simply want to make others happy, in any way possible. They perfectly complement each other. Where Fluttershy gets along well with the animals, but her shy nature makes her distance herself from other ponies, Pinkie simply covers their world in smiles. She'd be just as likely to frighten animals with her antics as make them smile, though. Together, they make everyone feel great."
The campfire flickered, starting to get dangerously low. Trixie got up to add a few twigs to it. Fake Fluttershy vanished with a polite nod, while Mini-Pinkie finished her routine before jumping into the ground. Trixie turned to her miniature audience:
"Do you see what I mean?"
Still, they just sat there in silence, before finally, the farmhand said:
"Ah guess. Gettin' a cutie mark be a real important thing."
"It shows that you know what you want to be. What you were born for."
"Whether it's something cool and awesome, or well... not as much."
"Very good," she clapped her hooves with a smile, yet they did not seem to share her enthusiasm, "what's the matter?"
Scootaloo replied:
"Well, it's just," her tiny wings flapped a few times, slowly, "we had all these things set up for Cutie Mark Crusading. And now, well, I think we don't know where to go from here."
"Oh, come now," the showpony grinned, "a bit of realism can't possibly hold back the Cutie Mark Crusaders! You'll just have to put some more work into your ideas, tailor them to what you think would work best. Most importantly, however, keep that bond you share strong. It is rare to see a friendship as strong as yours."
The trio giggled and one by one, they said:
"Ah think we can do that."
"We'll try our best, Miss Trixie."
"It'll take longer but we can do it, because we are..."
In unison, they shook the forest around them and frightened would-be predators:
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
She waited for the trees to stop swaying before commenting:
"Oh, don't worry, you have all the time in the world. Why, I've only had my cutie mark for a few years now."
Their jaws dropped. Sweetie Belle was the first to recover:
"You got it so late?"
"Uhuh."
"How?"
"Well..."
It all happened shortly after I had to leave Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. After some debts were paid, I was not left with much in the way of bits. I needed to find a way to make some, quick. An idea then came to mind, deviously great.
You see, even though I never finished my studies, I was still far better than the average unicorn when it came to magic. I reasoned, therefore, that I could make a little magic show. Make some quick bits before I find something more permanent. Luckily for me, I even had an outfit, the same one I wear these days.
On that fateful night, the moon shone brightly, reassuringly. The crowd wasn't too large and even so, I was used to public performances. My show was nothing like what I do today with my little illusory helpers. It was more an ensemble of tricks and other magic, simple by most standards, yet effective nonetheless. The ponies cheered and I loved it.
Then there was that one pony, you know the sort. Stands up from the crowd, all proud and mighty, and says something derogatory, usually targeting your production values. I can't quite recall what he had said, but I do recall my retort was witty enough to make him sit back down with his face looking like a tomato.
The rest of the performance went swimmingly and at the end, a few of the attendees even stomped for me! I was ecstatic, you can imagine. I simply adored being... well, adored. A few chanted my name, and my heart skipped a few beats. I bowed with a wide smile and vanished. I heard them clapping from backstage and almost couldn't contain myself.
And later, when I looked into a mirror, I finally saw it. A strange image of the crescent moon and a magic wand. It was a neat cherry on top of it all, I can tell you that.
She caught herself gazing into the fire as it crackled. Her mind had wandered, creating a simplified replica of the entire scene. She snuffed it out of existence in the blink of an eye, then turned back to the crusaders:
"Afterwards, I packed my things and knew what I wanted. What I didn't do is use any self-control. I was too ambitious about the whole ordeal, I think. Eventually, I considered only myself and nopony else," she frowned, "and you know how that went."
"Yup," Apple Bloom put on a bitter smile, "Twilight beat ya'. But now the two of ya' are best friends, so it don't matter anymore, do it?"
"No," Trixie smiled, "not anymore."
"Hey," Scootaloo's ears perked up, "you gave us a little summary about everyone except Twilight! What can you see in Twilight?"
Her mind was immediately flooded by so many memories and images. Sifting through all the information, she started forming a response:
"Hmmm, Twilight Sparkle. What can I say that you don't already know? Incredibly smart, amazing at magic," owner of the most adorable giggle, "born leader, even though she sometimes hates to admit it," owner of such beautiful eyes, "and all around, just a great pony to know. Kind, understanding, forgiving. She is," a one-of-a-kind pony, "the best friend one could wish for. Just amazing, overall, don't you think?"
She finally noticed they were staring downwards, near the fire. A new doppelganger stood there, mimicking the alicorn princess. But where the others were overall simple, essentially just tools to get her point across, this one was... crafted. While small, it possessed life-like detail, down to the smallest little mannerisms or touches. The showpony smiled and the clone smiled back at her, in that way that always made her heart skip a few beats.
"Miss Trixie?"
She snapped out of her trance and Twilight vanished. Turning to Sweetie Belle, she said:
"Sorry, got lost in my thoughts there. In any case, it is getting rather late. I have a bedroll in my bag, so you can sleep on that one."
"What about you?" came from Ponyville's energetic pegasus.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll cast a little spell to keep the fire going, then I'll sleep on the ground."
The trio shared a look. Without needing to say anything, they nodded at each other, then turned back to her, speaking in unison:
"We've got a better idea."
She wished more of life's problems could be solved by applying geometry. The bedroll, while rather small, now housed all four of them. Even better, laying on her side, she could keep an eye on all three of the little devils at once, curled up next to her. And mischievous little demons though they were, when she looked at them then, she saw only three little angels taking a nap. Looks could be so deceiving.
******
Twilight smiled when she saw the curious group in the distance, alerted her companions, then waved. Sweetie Belle returned the wave from Trixie's back, while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo hopped around them. Applejack and Rarity released a joint sigh of relief, while Rainbow simply chuckled.
As soon as they got closer, the three troublemakers dispersed to their respective responsibles. Scoots was the only one to not receive an intense scolding, rather, she was very briefly lectured in that laidback way only Rainbow could muster. Nonetheless, at the end of it, the little pegasus seemed to be the most affected. Idols had a profound influence, that much was certain.
Princess and showpony met gazes and Trixie said:
"Well, here you have them, safe and sound."
"Thanks for taking care of them. I know how much of a handful they can be."
"I will have you know we actually get along just fine," she turned to her cohorts, " crusaders, assemble!"
As if through magic, the trio assembled into an orderly line, saluted, then called out:
"Yes, Trixie!"
"Good! Now, you said you had something for me, cadets! And I want to see it, on the double!"
Scootaloo took a step forward:
"Ma'am, an honorary title, ma'am! It shall be presented at the clubh... I mean, at HQ, ma'am!"
"Very good! Lead the way, cadets!"
They marched once again in an orderly line as alicorn and companions just stared with their jaws open. The showpony shot them a smirk:
"What? I'm good with devils."
The mock-soldiers travelled through Ponyville, earning themselves quite a few gazes. The drill chant they shouted one by one certainly helped in that regard:
"I don't know what you've been told!"
"We know that we are quite bold!"
"Questing for our cutie marks!"
"With no rest like hungry sharks!"
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A good one, yeah.
The lone green bush made me think instantly of a certain comedy sketch.
How Not to Be Seen
"The CMCs have learned the basics of how not to be seen. However, they have chosen a rather obvious bit of cover." Bush asplodes!
6263040 One of Monty Python's finest, if I do say so myself.
6264693
Yup, yupers!
I've enjoyed the story so far!
ah another great chapter!!!
6264686 I blew up the CMCs in the bush...
*Alondro has gone totally mad at last... he must be injected with the secret ingredient, Fraudulin, before the not-white car reaches the wall to attain 100% protection from cavities and engine deposits!*
6268347 Trixie does love a dedicated fan! May your artistic skill continue to flourish!
6265089 Why, thank you!
And thank you for your continued adoration of the one-and-only Trixie!
Well. that was cute. Trixie's take on the Mane 6 personalities was fairly cool.
I guess being a late bloomer to her Cutie Mark inadvertently makes her a role model to the Crusaders.
6276221 Ahah! Someone spotted my mildly hidden reference! I applaud you, good sir/madame!
And thank you for your patronage!
6272971 We are glad you liked our brief foray into the minds of the six chosen ponies!
And that was exactly the angle we were hoping to show!
I'm pretty sure that is in fact a rule. Especially for stories that are aling the lines of episodes of the show. Does make me wonder though... have you read Bad Mondays by Handyman?
6797354 I cannot say I have and, after a brief search which showed a truly intimidating number of chapters, I may never do so. Limited time and all that.
I do applaud such dedication to one's work, however.
It is a rule.
Rule number 6: Thou must haveth a CMC chapter in Thy Fanfiction. No exceptions! [Insert Luna icon]
Loved this chapter.
6984451 I only now notice this site lacks a Luna emoticon. Disgraceful.
Thy patronage hath filled Our heart with glee, however. We areth most... oh, to hay with this.
Thanks for reading, still! Trixie adores it, yes she does!