My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Call of the Cuite

A/N: (Dede42 and Derpy are working on the prologue for the first of many adventures for Dr. Whooves, when there is a rapid knock on the door before it is open and Apple Bloom bursts inside.)

Apple Bloom: Dede42, when are you going to post the next chapter?!

Dede42: (jumps) Ah! Jeeze, Apple Bloom, calm down, it'll be posted soon.

Apple Bloom: How soon? How soon?!

Applejack: (enters the writers studio) Take it easy, sugarcane. Dede42 will post the next chapter soon. You just have to be patient.

Apple Bloom: You say the same thing about my cutie mark. I don't want to be patient. I want to read the new chapter now!

Dede42: I assure you that the new chapter will be post soon, Apple Bloom.

Derpy: Yeah, so just be patient a little bit longer.

Apple Bloom: (pouts) Oh, all right.

Applejack: Come on, Apple Bloom, let's go and let them work. (And they both leave.)

Derpy: Is it always like this around here?

Dede42: You have no idea.

Read, review, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from My Little Pony: Magic is Friendship. I just own any and all characters that I just happen create.


CHAPTER TWO: APPLE BLOOM'S FAILURES

The next day, which was a Saturday, Applejack and Apple Bloom had their apple cart set up in the square for market day to sell their apples, and Apple Bloom had a plan of how to get her cutie mark.

"Get your delicious, nutritious apples here!" Applejack called out while wearing a white apron to hold the money she earned.

Apple Bloom was balancing an apple on her nose and she was also wearing a white apron. "Delicious and nutritious, and so many uses!" she announced while tossing the apple into the air and caught it in her mouth, eating it. "You can eat 'em." She swallowed and grabbed another apple, tossing it into the air and hitting it with a tennis racket she'd found, splattering pieces everywhere and getting protests from several nearby ponies. "Play with 'em."

"Hey, watch it!"

Oblivious, Apple Bloom grabbed another apple from the cart and kicked it into the air. "Create fine art for your home with 'em," she continued as the apple spattered against a blank paper that a blue unicorn had been about to paint on. "You have to be crazy not to get a bushel of your very own."

Applejack quickly grabbed her sister and hid her behind her. "Heh… she's so creative, heh." 'What the hay has gotten into Apple Bloom?'

Zipping around her big sister, Apple Bloom ran and jumped in front of Dr. Hooves, who had grayish amber skin, light blue eyes, dark brown mane and tail, and he had a gold hourglass for a cutie mark. "You, sir, care t' buy some apples?" she asked eagerly.

Dr. Hooves was taken aback by this and shook his head. "No thanks," he said politely with a British accent and turned to go.

"Why not?" Apple Bloom inquired, having managed to block his way a second time.

"I have plenty at home," Dr. Hooves assured her, trying to get away from her, but the filly wasn't letting him leave.

"Are you sure?" Apple Bloom questioned.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure I…" Dr. Hooves began.

"You're pretty sure, but you're not absolutely positively completely super-duper sure, are you?" asked the filly, still keeping him from leaving.

Dr. Hooves began to panic. "Y…ah… If I buy some apples, will you please leave me alone?" he pleaded.

Apple Bloom cheered with delight. "All right!"

Dr. Hooves immediately threw some bits into the pocket of Applejack's apron, snatched up a bag of apples, and he fled.

"You forgot your change!" Applejack called after him, and then glared at her little sister.

"Woo-hoo! That's how you sell s'm apples and get a cutie mark!" Apple Bloom squealed, and then she peered at her flanks, trying to see if she'd gotten her cutie mark. "So, what does my cutie mark look like? A shoppin' bag full of apples? A satisfied customer eating an apple?" She frowned when she didn't see anything. "Hmm… maybe I gotta increase my sales figures first." She then scared a pony who was peering at a basket of apples with interest. "You touch it, you buy it! We take cash or credit." And she was disappointed when the pony feld.

Applejack tried to get her to come back. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Ma'am! Aww… Now Apple Bloom, you can't just…" she began, turning to confront her sister, and groaned when she saw the latest stunt being pulled by said sibling.

Apple Bloom dumped a basket of apples into the bag of Sweetie Drops, who wasn't paying attention, and then she held out her hoof. "That'll be four bits."

Blinking, Sweetie Drops looked at the apples that hadn't been there a moment ago, and frowned. "I didn't put those in my bag."

"Likely story," Apple Bloom sneered. "Four bits, lady!"

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack exclaimed, clamping a hoof over her sister's mouth and shoved her behind her before turning to the glowering Sweetie Drops. "I am really really sorry about that. She's new. Here, take these. No charge. And these. And these." And she filled the other saddlebag and placed a basket of apples on the pony's back, and she watched as she hauled away the apples. "Y'all come back now, y'hear?" She turned back to her little sister and she was furious since they were out of apples and had barely made any money.

"What?" Apple Bloom asked innocently.

Glowering Applejack took awake her sister's apron, having had enough. "Sorry, little sis, but your apple-sellin' days are over."

"What?" her sister yelped. "But how else am I gonna get my cutie mark?"

Applejack pointed toward the farm. "Home. Now," she ordered and her sister pouted, making her sigh. "Ugh. Listen, sugarcube, I know it's hard to wait for your very own cutie mark, but, you just can't force it," she reminded her sister. "Besides, you're not that grown-up just yet. Ain't there other fillies in your class without one?"

Apple Bloom considered that for a moment. "Well… Twist doesn't have hers yet."

"Do you think you'd feel better if you went to the party with her?" Applejack asked encouragingly.

Apple Bloom nodded. "Mmm-hmm."

"Well there you go," said Applejack. "Bet you and Twist would have a great time together. Now run along and find your friend."

Apple Bloom nodded and started to leave, but then she stopped. "You're sure you don't want me to stick around 'til the end of th' market?" she asked.

"Hey!" shouted Ace Player, who was holding the tennis racket from earlier. "Who's been using my racket?"

Applejack sighed while her sister flushed. "Yeah. I'm sure."


Slipping away before anypony could tell Ace Player that she'd used his racket, Apple Bloom headed over to the home of Twist and knocked on the door, and the upper half opened to reveal her friend.

"Oh, what's up, Apple Bloom?" Twist asked when she saw her friend.

"So I was thinkin'… maybe we could go to Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera together," Apple Bloom suggested hesitantly. "I don't have a cutie mark, you don't have a cutie mark."

Twist flushed a little. "Well, um…" she opened the lower half of the door to reveal that she had her cutie mark: two pink candy canes forming a heart, and Apple Bloom gasped. "Isn't my cutie mark swell?" she asked proudly. "I've always loved making my own favorite sweets, but it took me some time to discover that it was my super-special talent. Pretty sweet, huh?"

"Yeah, pretty… sweet," Apple Bloom agreed dejectedly, her ears drooping.

"Hey… this doesn't mean we can't go to the cute-ceañera together," said Twist when she saw her friend's reaction. "You're still gonna come to the party, are you?" she asked, just as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walked past.

"Of course she will," Diamond Tiara sneered.

"It's not like being the only pony there without a cutie mark would be, like, the most embarrassing thing ever," Silver Spoon added with her own sneer, and they both walked off laughing while poor Apple Bloom felt worst then ever.


Over at the Apothecary, Sunrise Blossom was restocking some of the shelves when the bell over the front door dingle and she turned to see the sad Apple Bloom enter. "Hey, sweetie," she said, immediately concerned. "What's going on?"

"I don't have a cutie mark, that's what going on," Apple Bloom replied and told her the whole thing, having concluded that if anypony could relate, it was the orange unicorn, who she'd considered to be a second big sister for the past four years. "…and the thought of going to the cute-ceñera without a cutie mark scares me," she concluded. "Especially with how both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon treat me for being a blank flank."

"Hmm, have you talked to Applejack about how they're treating you?" Sunrise Blossom asked, having had her own experience with bullies in the past, and she knew that some full-grown ponies didn't realize how serious bullying could be.

"I did and she promised she would talk with their parents," answered the young filly, "but that doesn't matter since I still don't have a cutie mark and nearly all of my classmates have theirs. Twist just got hers today."

'Bullying isn't the biggest problem, but it's a factor in this,' Sunrise Blossom thought. "Apple Bloom, I get that you're upset that you haven't gotten your cutie mark, I had similar feelings when I was your age," she said empathically. "But like you were taught in class yesterday, you can't force your cutie mark to appear, and believe me when I say that I knew fillies who didn't get their cutie marks for several years, just like myself and Twilight."

Apple Bloom pouted. "I know, I know, but why does it take so long to get one?"

"Well, it varies from pony to pony, Apple Bloom," Sunrise Blossom admitted. "You know, if you really want to get your cutie mark that badly, let's see if Rainbow Dash can help, and if not, then you and I can try out some potions that Zecora showed me how to make," she suggested.

Apple Bloom brightened up at the thought. "Ok! But can we try those potions first?"

"Sure."


After trying out the potions, which did result in some explosions that left Sunrise Blossom and Apple Bloom laughing, and cleaning up the workspace, they left the Apothecary, and went in search of Rainbow Dash, who was clearing away some clouds on the outskirt of town.

"Hey, Rainbow," said Sunrise Blossom, getting the blue pegasus' attention. "Mind coming down here for a minute? Apple Bloom needs your help with something."

"Sure," said Rainbow Dash, landing next to them and noted that the filly was looking down. "What's the matter, kid?"

"I'm trying to get my cutie mark because there is a cute-ceañera this afternoon and nothing I've tried so far has made my cutie mark appear," Apple Bloom explained. "Applejack said it will happen eventually, but I don't want to be the only filly to be at the party without a cutie mark."

Rainbow Dash blinked and gestured to Sunrise Blossom to step aside so that they could talk without the filly hearing them. "Just give us a minute, Apple Bloom," she requested before turning to the orange unicorn. "What's really going on here, Sunrise? Is this just because of the whole cutie mark business, or is there something else going on?"

Sunrise Blossom sighed. "It's a mixture of her wanting to have her cutie mark and that certain classmates are bullying her because she doesn't have her cutie mark yet," she explained. "So far, she's tried to sell apples that left Applejack frustrated with her, and we tried out potions earlier. Think you can help her since I need to get back to the Apothecary to finish up restocking and work on a backlist of orders?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, seeing the bigger picture. "Sure thing."

Relieved, they went back to Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom, Rainbow is going to help you out while I've got to get back to work," the orange unicorn told the filly, who looked mildly disappointed. "Don't worry, if anypony can help you, it's Rainbow."

"Ok."

After the orange unicorn left, Rainbow Dash focused on the filly. "So, ready to make your cutie mark appear by trying a whole lot of stuff?" she asked. "'cause, that'll be the fastest way to do it."

"Absolutely!"


For the next few hours, Rainbow Dash had Apple Bloom trying a lot of different activities to see if one of them would lead to her earning her cutie mark: Juggling, Hang-gliding, Karate, Kite-flying, and Ultrapony Roller Derby, etc. were all tried, but nothing panned out. While Apple Bloom recovered from the roller derby disaster, Rainbow Dash was going over a checklist to figure out what to do next, having marked off the ones they already tried.

"Tried that one… tried that one… tried that one…" the blue pegasus muttered. 'Man, who thought getting a single filly her cutie mark?' She was pulled from her thoughts when she heard voices coming from Carousel Boutique, and she turned to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon exit with a package while Apple Bloom hid herself in a bush. 'Hmm, those must be the fillies that'd been bullying Apple Bloom.'

"Your new outfit is, like, perfect for the party," Silver Spoon gushed.

"I know," said Diamond Tiara gleefully. "It totally shows off my cutie mark."

Silver Spoon sighed happily. "I love being special."

"Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to be… not special?" Diamond Tiara wondered with a mocking tone.

Silver Spoon made a show of shuddering. "I don't even want to, like, think about it."

Rainbow Dash watched them go, made a mental note to help Applejack have that talk with their parents, and then turned to the bush that was shaking a little. "They're gone, kid, you can come out."

Apple Bloom came out of hiding and it was clear from her expression that she'd heard everything single world. "I'm doomed. Doomed!" she wailed. "I'll never find sumth'n I'm good at."

Just the, Pinkie Pie popped up. "You look like you'd be good at eating cupcakes."

"Eatin' cupcakes?" Apple Bloom repeated.

"Eating cupcakes?" Rainbow Dash repeated skeptically.

Pinkie Pie nodded excitedly. "Eating cupcaaakes!" And she bounced off, heading for Sugarcube Corner.

Feeling hopefully, Apple Bloom turned to the blue pegasus. "I really appreciate all your help, Rainbow Dash," she told her gratefully. "You're a really great coach, just like Sunrise Blossom is a great teacher when it comes to potions, and I really learned a lot from you and I'm sure I can learn a lot more but… I've got some cupcakes to eat! See you at the cute-ceañera! Hold on, Pinkie Pie, I'm comin'." And she hurried after the pink pony.

Rainbow Dash watched them go and shook her head. 'Well, if anypony can help Apple Bloom, then it'll probably be Pinkie Pie.'


"I can't believe I didn't think of this," Apple Bloom remarked, entering the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie Pie was setting up ingredients and cooking supplies. "A cupcake-eating cutie mark, it's sooo obvious." She looked around for the cupcakes. "Now, where are those cupcakes? I'm ready t' chow down!"

"I don't have any cupcakes," said Pinkie Pie, glancing at the filly.

Apple Bloom's ears drooped and she was disappointed. "Oh."

Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped and planted a chef hat on the filly's head. "But you look like you'd be good at helping me make some."

"I guess, uh, making-cupcakes cutie mark could work too," Apple Bloom guessed, realizing that she'd been tricked into helping the pink pony.

Thrilled, Pinkie Pie started dancing around the kitchen, singing as they started mixing up batter for the cupcakes. "All you have to do is take a cup of flour! Add it to the mix! Now just take a little something sweet, not sour! A bit of salt, just a pinch! Baking these treats is such a cinch! Add a teaspoon of vanilla! Add a little more, and you count to four, And you never get your fill of… Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty! Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty! Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!"


Several attempts later, Apple Bloom was busy using the mixer to mix up more batter when the timer on the oven went off, and she hurried over. She opened the door, backing into a flour bag, and she coughed a little when a cloud of flour puffed out. She then took out the tray of cupcakes. "Hot, hot, hot!" she yelped, dropping it.

Pinkie Pie came over to look at the tray of blacken and burnt cupcakes. "Oooh, those look much better than the last batch." And she ate one of them, chewing it with a delighted expression. "Mmm…"

Apple Bloom made a face. "Ugh! I guess I'm not cut out to be a baker either," she muttered, sighing and she started walking away. "I just have to face it, I'm gonna have a blank flank forever."

"What about that?" Pinkie Pie asked, pointing to a white splotch on the filly's flank.

"What about what?" Apple Bloom asked, and looked at her flank in the reflection from a nupside-down bowl. "Is there something on my flank? Is there, is there, is there?" She gasped when she saw it, and she tried to guess what it was. "A cutie mark! It's a… a measuring cup? No. A mixin' bowl? No… Are those cupcakes? A tower of cupcakes maybe."

Pinkie Pie came over and blew it away. "Flour. It's flour! Yay! I guessed it," she said cheerfully, thinking that they had been playing a game. "What game you wanna play next? Please say bingo, please say bingo."

Twilight Sparkle entered the kitchen and she blinked when she saw the mess in the kitchen. "Whoa, what's been going on in here?"

"We've been making cupcakes, wanna try them?" Pinkie Pie offered her a tray full of the - um – cupcakes that Apple Bloom had made.

"Nnnno thank you… not that they don't look, heh, delicious," Twilight Sparkle politely declined.

Apple Bloom ran over to the purple unicorn with a pleading expression. "Twilight, you have to help me!"

"What's the matter?" Twilight Sparkle asked, concerned.

Apple Bloom inhaled and began speaking rapidly. "Tiara's cute-ceañera's today and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I want to get my cutie mark but I'm no good at selling apples or making potions or hang-gliding or making cupcakes, but I wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I don't have my cutie mark, which Pinkie Pie says I can't just make appear, but I need it to appear, right now!"

Twilight Sparkle blinked, having only gotten a few words here and there. "Uhhh… I don't follow," she confessed. "How can I help you?"

"You can use your magic to make my cutie mark appear," Apple Bloom suggested with a hopeful expression.

"Oh no, Apple Bloom," Twilight Sparkle protested, knowing that magic did have its' limits. "A cutie mark is something a pony has to discover for herself."

"Please Twilight, jus' trah," Apple Bloom pleaded.

Twilight Sparkle shook her head. "I'm sorry, but-"

"Oh please, please, please please please!" Apple Bloom begged.

Twilight Sparkle sighed. "All right, all right!"

Apple Bloom was thrilled and she positioned herself. "Oh thank you thank you thank you." She watched as the purple unicorn zapped her flank and a cart filled with apples appeared. "Yes! I knew you could do… it," she began and trailed off, disappointed when the mark disappeared.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but I told you-" Twilight Sparkle began.

"Try again, try again!" Apple Bloom pleaded, and the purple unicorn used her magic repeatedly.

Twilight Sparkle summoned all kinds of marks, which disappeared immediately, and she finally had to stop, drained by the amount of magic she'd used. "Told you that not even magic can make a cutie mark appear before its time," she said, panting.

"It's hopeless, hopeless!" Apple Bloom wailed and she walked toward the doorway that led into the main room. "I just won't go to the party, I can't go. Everyone will just laugh at me and make fun of me and call me names. It will be the worst night of my life."

"I'm sure it won't be as bad as all that," Twilight Sparkle reassured her, following the filly.

Apple Bloom shook her head. "Forget it, there's no way I'm going to that" she looked up and gulped when she saw that she was at the party and there were already ponies and fillies there "party."


A/N: So much for avoiding the party. Oh, and since I have a early shift at the movie theater tomorrow, I won't be posting a chapter. Later! R&R everyone!