> Talent Finders > by iLikeMuffins > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Invitation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Applejack... Will we ever see mom and dad?” Applebloom asked her sister, Applejack, who is looking up to the stars. Applejack looked down at her younger sister, who is five years old, and give her a smile. “I don't think we would be able to see them now. But when time comes, we will be able to see them in the sky where the stars are always shining.” “That sounds wonderful. I wish I could be there with them.” Applebloom said softly, and fell asleep on Applejack. “Goodnight, Applejack.” Applebloom yawned and fell asleep. Applejack smiled at her sleeping sister, “Goodnight Applebloom.” Applejack tucked Applebloom onto her bed, and covered her body, and left the room. “One day, you will bloom into a wonderful mare. I just know it.” She whispered softly. Years passed, Applebloom was now ten years old. She was slowly blooming into a teenager. But not yet, for there are a few more years to come. “Morning, Applejack.” Applebloom said happily, greeting her sister. Applejack waved at Applebloom, who is running down the stairs. “Ah see ya had a good night rest.” Applebloom nodded. “Well, is there any apple bucking today?” “Nah. We just need to sell them at the market. Care to help me and Big Macintosh move the buckets of apples to the market?” Applejack asked, as she drags the bucket of apples indoor. “Sure, why not. Ah'm not doing anything today. At least, ah don't think so.” Applebloom said, as she begins to carry a bucket of apples onto her back. The apple family, including Granny Smith, brought all the apples to the apple market, and they set the apples down. “Woo-whee! Thanks for your help, Big Mac, Granny Smith, Applebloom. Ah don't think ah can do it without y'all.” Applejack said, as she wiped a sweat. “No problem, big sis!” Applebloom said. “Ah'm going to school now. Bye!” Applebloom trotted along, as she saw her family waving at her. She reached school just in time, and Miss Cheerilee was standing outside, about to close the door. “Oh, why Applebloom. You're just in time, as usual.” Miss Cheerilee said. Applebloom nodded. “Here ya go. Fresh red apple from Sweet Apple Acres.” Applebloom passed a bright and fresh red apple to Miss Cheerilee, and she putted it at the corner of her desk. “Thank you, Applebloom.” Miss Cheerilee thanked Applebloom, who is now at her place. “Okay class, today is Diamond Tiara's birthday, and she will be hosting her party at Sugarcube Corner. Everypony is invited to her party, so feel free to join.” Miss Cheerilee announced. Applebloom glanced at Diamond Tiara, she seem to be extremely proud. “Well, of course everypony is invited. After all, I am the most popular filly around.” Diamond Tiara bragged. “Even though some certain pony doesn't have a cutie mark, you're lucky you're still invited.” Silver Spoon continued, laughing and giggling with Diamond Tiara. Applebloom frowned, and looked at her flank. She wasn't really surprise with her flank at all. It's not really anything amazing like Diamond Tiara an Silver Spoon's. “What if your talent is polishing tiaras and spoons?” Applebloom mumbled. Diamond Tiara overheard Applebloom's mumbling. “What did you just say?” She asked furiously. “Girls! What are you both discussing about that can't wait until class ends?” Miss Cheerilee asked politely. “Urgh! Miss Cheerilee, this pony said that my talent is polishing tiaras and Silver Spoon's talent is polishing spoons. That is so insulting!” Diamond Tiara said dramatically, glaring at Applebloom. Miss Cheerilee thought for a moment. “Well, your cutie mark is a silver tiara, and by the looks of it, polishing could be your special talent. I don't really know, but please discuss this after class.” Miss Cheerilee left and begins writing on the blackboard. “So, today we will be learning about cutie marks. You see, cutie marks won't just appear when you're born. You have to find them.” Miss Cheerilee showed a picture of herself when she was a filly, and flipped through the next page, where she was a teenager. “I found my cutie mark when I was a teenager. My cutie mark is being happy like a flower, and being able to teach ponies without upsetting them.” Miss Cheerilee said. Applebloom took note of what Miss Cheerilee was talking about, and suddenly, Diamond Tiara poked her. “Psst!!!” Applebloom ignored her at first. But Diamond Tiara isn't going to give up just yet. “Psst!!!!” “What?!” Applebloom shouted softly. Diamond Tiara handed a note over to Applebloom, and Applebloom looked over to Silver Spoon who seem to be shaking her hoof, like she was waiting for the note. Applebloom picked up the note, and Miss Cheerilee saw her doing so. “Are you passing notes?!” Miss Cheerilee walked over to Applebloom, who just dropped the note. Miss Cheerilee flipped the note over. “It's empty!” “Like the blank flank she is! Ahaha!” Diamond Tiara laughed, along with everypony in the classroom, except for Miss Cheerilee and Applebloom. Applebloom looked down at her flank, and she frowned. Few minutes have passed, the class have ended. Applebloom and her friend, Peppermint Twist, walked out of the school. “Oh come on. Don't be sad.” “Thanks for your comfort, Twist. But the only thing that can cheer me up is a cutie mark.” Applebloom sighed. Diamond Tiara trotted over to Applebloom. “Yeah! Don't be sad! You're lucky that you're still invite to my party.” She bragged. “We actually wanted you to beg us to go to the party.” Silver Spoon continued. “What makes you think ah'll do that?!” Applebloom shouted. “Ah don't even want to go to your party in the first place.” “Urgh! You're so annoying!” Silver Spoon said. “We invited you to entertain us or something.” Diamond Tiara said, spiraling around Applebloom with Silver Spoon. “It's not like we wanted you to enjoy your time at the party anyways.” “Yeah. We just want you to entertain us popular ponies. Because we are certainly so much better than you.” Silver Spoon continued. Diamond Tiara stopped. “Well, I hope you'll be there. Because everypony else is going to go, and if you don't show up, that means you're a coward.” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon do their usual bump, and they went off laughing and giggling. “Uh... I have to go now. Meet you at the party?” Twist asked. “Sure, why not.” Applebloom said sadly. She have to get a cutie mark in one day, is that even possible? She don't even know. “Applejack, I need to get my cutie mark by today, and I don't know how. Is that even possible? I don't even know!” Applebloom whined, walking around in circles almost forever. “Now, cheer up. It doesn't matter if ya have a cutie mark or not, it's just that ya had fun, and that's all.” Applejack said comforting her little sister. Applebloom stopped walking, and stood up. “But the two ponies will laugh at me because ah'm a blank flank!” “Oh, come on now, sugarcube. There is nothing to worry about. If they want to laugh at you, let em laugh. But what they don't know, is that you are kind on the inside.” Applejack comforted her little sister. Applebloom sighed. “But I need my cutie mark now!” “Hey, isn't your friend Twist a blank flank too? Why don't ya hang with her in the party? At least ya won't be lonely.” Applejack said as the customer paid five bits for the apples. “Hey, you're right. Twist is also a blank flank. I should hang with her in the party. Thanks, sis! And bye!” Applebloom waved to her sister, and her sister waved back. Applebloom ran over to Twist's house, which is only around the corner block. She knocked onto the door, and Twist opened the top door. “Oh, hey Applebloom.” She answered. “Hey Twist. Ah was wondering, since me and you don't have a cutie mark at all, do ya wanna hang out at the party?” Applebloom questioned nervously. “Oh... Eh... Well...” Twist stammered as she went to open the bottom part of the door and revealed her flank to Applebloom. On Twist flank was two peppermint candy making a form of an ‘X’. “I got my cutie mark when I was making some of my candies. Who knew it was my special talent?” Twist said excitedly. Applebloom looked on the ground, frowning. “You're still coming to the party, aren't you?” Twist asked. “Of course she is. She would be the only blank flank there. Aha!” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon laughed as they passed Twist and Applebloom. Twist just looked over at Applebloom, who was sadly staring onto the ground. “Ah'm just going to go.” Applebloom dragged herself over to a well. It seems to have a dark cloud over her head. She doesn't really seem to care. “What if I never find my cutie mark? What happens if none of my friends want to be my friend anymore?” She thought sadly. “Hey, are you Applebloom?” A voice said. Applebloom looked up, and she was shocked with what she saw.