Sweet Apple Aches was as busy as usual. From outside the farm you could hear the sounds of hard working ponies getting on. Applejack and Big Macintosh were bucking apple trees as usual. Winona the dog was indoors in her dog bed, watching over her adorable border collie puppies as they slept beside her. Granny Smith, who was advanced in her age and wasn't as energetic or hyper as she used to be, was resting in her favourite arm chair.
In the barn, Applebloom was fixing up the family's beloved apple cart. The Apples had used the cart for generations, mainly because it had so much history which the family liked to keep alive. Being an old cart, it often got broken or worn down, and it was Apple Bloom who had the job of making sure it stayed in good condition.
Apple Bloom had a natural talent for carpentry and decoration. Ever since the Cutie Mark Crusaders had disbanded years ago, Apple Bloom had stayed on the farm to practice and perfect her talent. Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had gotten their cutiemarks; Sweetie earning hers through singing while Scootaloo had become the best of the best with her scooter riding. She was famous for her skills with the scooter and even did live performances throughout Equestria. Sweetie Belle also had fame, now and again going away to do performances, but she preferred to stay in Ponyville. This was mostly because she had started a family with her husband, Button Mash. It was also partly because she didn't want to leave her friends, being the sweet friendly mare she was.
Applebloom, however, still didn't have hers. This was surprising considering she had such a talent in stuff like carpentry. The CMC had disbanded because only one member still had yet to find her cutiemark, and also because they all had matured and had lives to lead. Applebloom's blank flank embarrassed her, which was also the reason why she preferred to stay on the farm. Applebloom often got frustrated because of this. Her family tried to comfort her about it, telling her that it runs in the family to be late bloomers, but Applebloom knew that she alone was the only Apple to grow up and still have no cutiemark.
Diamond Tiara and her best friend Silver Spoon had for years teased the Cutie Mark Crusaders about being blank flanks. However, as the duo grew older they became more mature and stopped being bullies. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had all eventually befriended them as the duo became nice and friendly mares. In fact, once Diamond Tiara had discovered that after all those years Apple Bloom still had no cutiemark, she even comforted her and told her no to lose hope.
However, despite Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's sourness fading away, Applebloom feared that somepony out there would not be so kind towards her and complete and utter humiliation would strike after exposure. So Applebloom kept her blank flank secret, confining the truth to only her most closest and trusted friends, as well as close family. Applebloom was determined to keep her lack of a cutiemark secret.
