2 - Gaining Purpose
Prickle tried to hurry home as soon as Cheerilee allowed them to go, but there was a smiling Apple Bloom to stop her. "Hey! Are ya busy?"
Prickle glanced left and right. "I should make sure my mom knows where I am..."
Sweetie popped up beside Prickle. "Scootaloo's already going to tell her you're with us."
Prickle blinked softly. They were the Cutie Mark Crusaders. When they got their eye on something, it was practically impossible to shake them. She pointed at her saddlebag before she moved towards it. "Let me get my things." They didn't stop her as she got it on. "Where are we going?"
Apple Bloom grinned just a little too wide. "That there's a secret, but ya'll find out when ya come wit' us. It'll be fun, promise!"
"Yeah!" gushed Sweetie Belle, clopping her white hooves before the two of them started trotting away.
Prickle followed after them, a little resigned. "Are you gonna make fun of me?" That would be something the old Diamond Tiara would have done without hesitation.
Sweetie looked over her shoulder. "What? No! That'd be just... incorrigible!" She slowed down to let Prickle catch up and threw a leg over her neck. It was quite surprising that when she tried to pull Prickle closer, she was the one that ended up being pulled right off her hooves and hanging there as Prickle walked along, entirely unfazed by the weight.
Apple Bloom quickly noticed her friend being carried along with a shocked expression on her face and giggled at the sight. "Yer amazin', Prickle. Why would anypony make fun of ya fer that?"
Prickle's ears dipped a moment. She wasn't used to ponies being so friendly. Sweetie was even hanging off of her. Were they trying to be... nice? "Aren't you... disgusted? I'm a big terrible freak!" She shouted the words far louder than she intended and went red in the face as she came to a stop.
Taking advantage of the stop, Sweetie let go and flopped to the ground before rolling back upright. "You're a hero!"
"A super hero," added Apple Bloom, her brows waggling suggestively. "Just like in tha comics!"
Prickle had not read many comics, and puzzlement was written clear on her face. "So... you don't think it's icky?"
Apple Bloom waved the way forward. "C'mon! We got lots t'talk about."
Soon they approached the Apple Farm, and the clubhouse of the Crusaders. Prickle looked up at it with a concerned expression. "I'm allowed inside?"
Sweetie Belle threw her hooves wide, sitting on her haunches. "You saved me! Of course you're allowed inside."
Prickle moved for the stairs and put a hoof on it. She pressed down to test it and her hoof burst right through the wood as if it were wet paper, wood splinters flying in a light spray around her. "Sorry..."
Scootaloo peeked over the edge from the top of the stairs. "What was that? Oh, hey girls! Hey Prickle! Come on up!"
Apple Bloom gave an encouraging smile. "Let's try that again, gently this time, please."
Prickle took a slow breath that she held in, her chest bulging with air as she set her hoof back down as gently as she could. Step by tortuous step she ascended the ramp, trembling with the abject terror that she might cause more harm. Only when she brought up the last hoof to the platform above did she let it out with a loud sigh. "Made it."
The others came up behind her much more swiftly. Sweetie was glancing down at the neat hoof-shaped hole that had been made in their ramp. "You really are strong. I mean, not that I doubted you." She raised a hoof to her neck where she had felt the immense weight Prickle had so effortlessly hefted. "We had a question for you."
Prickle winced. She tried to prepare herself for the moment when they'd tell her just how much of a freak she was.
Scootaloo pointed at Prickle's flanks. "What does your cutie mark mean?"
All three of them were looking at Prickle, making her squirm self-consciously. She glanced back at the hedgehog that graced her pelt. Why would anypony ask that question, out of the blue? Then she remembered that she was dealing with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Of course they would ask, if anyone would. "I... got it saving a little hedgehog." She smiled at the memory. "He was trapped under a huge log. That was a very scary day."
"Go on," encouraged Apple Bloom, ushering all the fillies into the club house and arranging a pillow for Prickle to sit on. "We wanna hear all about it!"
So Prickle told them.
I was out walking in the forest. Not the Everfree! Mother taught me better than that. It was nice and sunny where the sun could get through all the leaves and there was a nice little breeze. I was having fun exploring.
I should have been paying more attention where I was going, because I wandered right off the usual path to a dark part of the forest. There were trees knocked over here and there, but not enough to let the sun in. I stepped carefully around and over them and then I heard him.
He was squeaking and crying, and I rushed towards the sound. The noises were coming from under a log, so I just... picked it up. It wasn't that heavy, not for me, but there was a little hedgehog underneath. He had been pinned between the log and the boulder underneath. He squeaked. I couldn't speak hedgehog, but he seemed very happy to not be being squeezed by that log.
The wood must have been old, since as I held it up, it broke in half and the two pieces fell on either side of me with a crash, but I heard something else.
The hedgehog curled into a little ball. He was scared, and so was I, but I wasn't gonna let someone else hurt my new little friend. I turned in place, looking for the source of the faint scratching sounds, and then I found it!
This great big monster rushed at me right out of the dark! I screamed, I was so scared! I turned away and bucked out a hoof, bam! I hit it right between the eyes.
It fell over, its tongue hanging out, knocked dizzy. I felt a little tingle and there it was. That hedgehog was right there on my flank. I wished him, the real one, good luck, and we left each other.
Scootaloo shook her head slowly. "You just... kicked it?"
Prickle bobbed her head. "As hard as I could!"
Sweetie paled a little at the thought. "Wow..."
Apple Bloom was all smiles. "See! That proves it. You're a super hero." She pointed to the hedgehog mark. "Your mark. You got it for your first rescue. That goes an' proves th' whole thin'."
Prickle rubbed a cheek with a hoof. "I'm no hero..."
Sweetie burst into giggles. "Lots of heroes say that."
"Those are the best ones," agreed Scootaloo. "You saved Sweetie Belle, so it's our job to help you out."
"I need help?" Prickle tilted her head faintly.
"Sure ya do." Apple Bloom nodded slowly. "Ya have to realize yer potential, and we're here to make that happen!" She thrust a hoof out and was quickly met by the other two. She looked to Prickle, smiling and waiting.
Prickle was slow on the uptake before she started. "Oh!" She thrust forward her hoof with a terrific clop as they all collided. The other three fillies were sent sprawling. "Sorry..."
Sweetie clambered up to her hooves again. "It's alright." An idea leaped into her head. "Let other people do the touching."
"What?"
"Put out your hoof."
Prickle looked at her right forehoof before she extended it forward.
Sweetie quickly put out her hoof to meet it with a gentle clop. "See? You just let other ponies do the moving and no problem."
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were quick to join in the safer meeting of hooves. Scootaloo smiled at their newest friend. "There're so many things we have to do!"
"Like what?" Prickle pulled back her hoof and set it down. "I mean, thank you, all of you." She dipped her head a little. "I've never been part of a club before."
Apple Bloom tilted her head. "Yer not technically in the Crusaders. Yer a client, and one we're lookin' forward ta helpin'. Yer also a friend, I hope?"
Prickle's smile grew just a little. "I'd like that." She glanced back towards the door. "You're really not mad... about the hole?"
Apple Bloom thumped her chest. "Ya just leave that t'me. Ah'll have it fixed in no time. Jus' haveta get some wood."
Scootaloo bobbed her head. "She's great at fixing things, and making potions too. We all have our talents, and we're not going to give up until you're doing yours and having a good time at it."
Sweetie Belle pointed past Prickle before she moved past and threw open the door. "There are tons of ponies out there that could use a strong hoof just like yours. They desperately need your help, but they don't know it, yet."
Scootaloo seemed to get an idea suddenly. "Hey, now that we're official, have you tried showing what you can do to Bulk Biceps? He'd probably pass out."
Prickle paled faintly. That sounded like just about the worst thing. "No! I... Can we keep this a secret? I don't want to scare ponies."
A sudden huge grin spread over Sweetie's face. "I know precisely what you need. For today, you should head home and relax. We'll call you back when we're ready."
The other two were clearly unsure what idea had come to Sweetie Belle, but they supported her in wishing Prickle a great day and promising to see her the next, at school.
Prickle decided not to take the stairs, scared of hurting them again. She went down just enough to get to the edge, then casually tipped right over and flopped to the ground with a resounding thud from the impact. She was unharmed and soon back on her hooves. "See you all tomorrow!" They all shared waves, and she began her hike home.
She had friends. Those weren't her first friends, no, but they knew she was strong, and didn't seem to mind. She was still a freak, but... "It's alright," she said to herself as she trotted. She would just have to be extra careful not to hurt her new friends, especially since they seemed quite intent on making her act strong.
Prickle hoped it wouldn't be anywhere public. "Regular ponies just aren't this strong..." She had plenty to compare against. Even Bulk Biceps, the pony who's very destiny it was to pick up heavy things... At least he looked like he should be strong, but she had seen him struggling later in the day moving the same bar she had wrenched off of Sweetie Belle.
It was the start of something, maybe something amazing. It was definitely a little scary.
atreon
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7919690 I saw the episode. Surely you aren't suggesting that every plot element in the show makes sense?
I so want to introduce my head to a wall with how the CMC thought before they gained their cutie marks. They once again misunderstood the lesson about earning a mark and applied the wrong meaning behind it. At least Sweetie knew that Prickle was uncomfortable and acted accordingly.
wasn't at all
Taking advantage of the stop (Unless this is 5E. :P)
Being strong does not make you heavier.
might
told
"him" or "the sound"
He...He
looked
Biceps
Why would Prickle expect the Crusaders to be mean to her? Everyone at that tiny school knows everyone else, and the CMC never bully anyone.
This one's going to be a tough nut to crack, but I have confidence in the Crusaders' ability to help Prickle make peace with her abilities. I'm just not sure how they're going to go about doing it.
What do you get when you combine cider and hedgehogs.
7919746 Typos fixed, thanks for reporting them.
You must have lived a blessed life to have never even seen a child being picked on for excelling. She also has a mother that, while caring, is also encouraging her to keep her strength a secret to not invite such bullying.
Ultimately, it's what the show literally gave me, and it's not like the CMC aren't literally agreeing with you.
So you're strong, so what? That's awesome! They all say in jubilant agreement.
That doesn't make Prickle magically fixed. That takes time, care, and dedication.
I'm not sure what you're asking. It feels like you want me to scold the show and break canon, instead of what I'm doing and addressing it within the context of the canon already given. She's scared of showing her strength. This has been made 100% clear in that wonderfully brief moment she was in the show. That must be assumed to be true and arguing it shouldn't is not constructive to telling a story.
So far, I don't think a single pony has acted poorly, except maybe Prickle for thinking they would act poorly, but we're allowed to be wrong. Friendship is solving this problem that seems tailor made to be solved with friendship.
7919787
I was home-schooled, but if public school is really as bad as you all make it look, only a crazy person would let their kids ever set foot inside.
The show did not depict her breaking anything, nor did it imply any lack of fine control.
There are less than 20 foals in Cheerilee's class. If she doesn't know what's going on after the incident with Sweetie, she is the worst teacher ever.
Scary monster tries to eat you? Kick the spooky in the face!
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/9/9c/FANMADE_Seems_legit.png/revision/latest?cb=20130705210400
7919817 The show neither gave or denied any level of control. So about the parts it did make clear?
7919932 She picked up a building while simultaneously showing the control to scoop out the ball and not damage the building.
7919938 She tried. She failed. Diamond Tiara interrupted the event and she let the building come down with a slam.
What does Sweetie have in mind for our young hero who has to be carful of getting out of the tree house... Is the CMC really friends to her or just another gang of bullies like the Diamond duo?
Will the monster come back for round 2?
Tun in next time to find out in...
Hedgehog Pick!
7920022
Sounds like a mystery for the CMC!
had seem him - had seen him
One left!
I have to wonder if and hope that we will find out who has told Prickle that she's a monster, where this sense fo guilt comes from.
7920602 Fixed! I also dropped you a message on Discord.
7919716
I'd put it to you that it's not so much that every plot element make sense as that every plot element has a story behind it that, with a little imagination, is worth telling.
That's an excellent picture.
Undyne would be proud!
The dorblz! THE DORBLZ!
Waahwn PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHWNCH!
I'm going to have to turn off my brain to read this story otherwise I would be completely over analyzing everything. For instance the hole she made testing the stair. To make that kind of hole she would have actually had to try. Just walking or stepping on it shouldn't have damaged a stair step unless she was also really heavy. If she was really heavy and/or dense ponies would just run into her and be knocked over like they have been so far in the story. Yet I get the feeling if she stepped up onto a scale she would weigh more or less the same as a similarly sized pony. And if she really isn't that heavy she should be getting knocked around by ponies only a little less than the others. A person no matter how personally strong is still subject to inertia. If someone runs into them while they are standing there unbraced they will move. You know what? Screw it. It's her magic that's defying physics. I'm just going to go try and find the off switch for the logic centers of my brain so I can enjoy the story as it should be enjoyed.
8163998 She did press down, far too hard.
8163998
When climbing stairs, people (and ponies) press down with more force that they would need just to stand. Sometimes, that is a lot of force, especially if you are the type that climbs stairs quickly. Essentially, you are jumping from step to step without actually leaving the ground.
So if you aren't used to your own super-strength, that is an entirely possible outcome. Though if she always had this strength, I would think she would have already started to step as lightly as possible.