Chapter 7: daw, that's cute
the next couple of months were uneventful other than the episodes that unfolded each week. I did my best to stay uninvolved with the events, although I still interfered with a few, I never gave out any spoilers. I had told Twilight that the episodes ended with her letters to Celestia, and gladly answered most questions she had about my world and what it thought of them. Gilda was a total bitch and I was glad when she finally got kicked out. I enjoyed Trixie's magic show, although I despised her boasting on every level, she still had a spectacular show. I downright refused to come along when Dragonshy unfolded, no pony got hurt in the avalanche in the cartoon but this is currently reality and I didn't feel safe dodging boulders. I came down with a cold when Zecora showed up so I couldn't really meet her and I recovered just in time to deal with the parasprites. I knew winter wrap up would be a challenge on my body so I had conditioned myself for the weeks leading up to it. I was settling down, becoming happy. I was more accepted in the community, especially the Apple family. I knew many of the background ponies, although Doctor Whooves still eluded me. I thought little of home, it seemed like an origin story rather than my old home. Not a single morning went by that I woke up without the same four questions in my mind .Through it all I had never, not once, figured out what my passion was. I still had no cutie mark and that was beginning to worry me. That all changed when Applebloom came home looking down.
I was bringing in a couple baskets full of apples when I saw her. She had her eyes glued to the ground and was obviously sad about something. I walked over to her, racking my brain for what the next episode was.
"hey Applebloom, whats wrong?"
she stopped and looked up at me, "the fillies at my school are making fun of me because I don't have my cutie mark yet."
"so? cutie marks take time, why should you feel bad about not having one."
"because they're having a party for everypony in the class that has their cutie mark."
"well that's dumb! If it makes you feel any better, I still don't have my cutie mark either." I could not, for the life of me, remember what episode this was. Now that I thought about it, I could only really remember season two.
"you don't?"
"yeah haven't you noticed?"
"I knew you didn't have one when you got here but I never bothered to look since then, I never really thought about it."
"fair enough, well I don't have one so if you need any help I would be glad to help you."
she suddenly perked up and had a smile, "could you help me get a cutie mark?" she said enthusiastically.
"sorry but no, cutie marks are based off of your passion, your calling, and I don't even know what mine is."
"oooooh." she slumped down a bit and walked into the house. I continued to think of what episode this was, it was on the tip of my tongue but I couldn't remember what happens exactly. I continued picking up apples, applebucking season was over and the trees were barren of any apples at the time, but there was many old and rotten apples left over that covered the fields. I remembered from the show that Applejack and Applebloom did this together, but I offered to do it for free as a thanks for taking me in. I didn't need to earn money due to my efforts during applebucking season. After a couple hours I finally finished cleaning up the fields, I had been working away at it for all week and I was glad to have it finished. I decided to check on Applebloom before going off to practice flying. I walked into the house and asked Applejack if she was okay. I knew that she did something this episode but I needed to know what if I had any chance of keeping tabs on it.
"I tried taking her to sell apples with me and that turned into a disaster. I'm just worried that she'll get hereself into trouble."
"dont worry about I can go find her if you want."
"that would be kind of you."
"I won't stop her from trying to find her cutie mark but I will be sure to bring her home for dinner."
"couldn't you try to talk some sense into her?"
"no, I don't know how that would even work," I was starting to recall the episode, "besides it's really better if she tries to find her cutie mark."
I reached the door before remembering the scene with Applbloom selling apples.
"wait, Applejack,"
"what is it?"
"when you were selling apples did Applebloom pester a brown stallion with a spiky mane to buy some apples?"
"yeah, I believe so, why? How did you know about that?"
"because that pony is Doctor whooves and I havent been able to find him anywhere."
"oh, alright then."
while I avoided saying things that I only know from the show, it does slip out occasionaly. They know that I watched most of the show and that I wouldn't say anything important before it happened and ignore it mostly. I walked into town and thought of where Applebloom went first. I checked sugarcube corner to see if she was there. Ms. Cake said that she hadn't come by today. I left thinking of where she went before now. Rainbow Dash! She went to her first and they did some stuff, so she should be busy for awhile. I walked out into the open field where I practice flying. Patches of dirt were sticking out of the grass here and there from the hard falls that I had. I took off and flew around in search for Rainbow Dash. I couldn't find her and after a couple of hours I checked back in with Ms. Cake. She said that they had just left after baking some cupcakes. I hurried off, trying to figure out where she went last. I remembered where she went finally. I ran to the library and managed to arrive just as Twilight's attempts had failed. I came in, out of breath. Twilight was a bit startled at this. I didn't run often, and when I did I was either training, in a race, or something big was going down.
I started talking in between breaths, "Oh, (pant) my god, (wheeze) you wouldnt believe how long I've been trying to find you Applebloom."
Applebloom was a bit worried at my state, "why were you trying to find me?"
"because I promised Applejack that I would bring you home for dinner."
Twilight calmed down at this, Applebloom was a bit confused, "you ran all over town just for that?"
"heh, what do you think I am crazy? I mostly came to back you up at the party."
"I'm sorry about this but I don't think I want to go to the party today."
"oh yeah, you decide not to go. I forgot what happened next in this episode but I think it's best if I just let it run it's course from now on. I will see you later Applebloom."
"okay..." she seemed a bit skeptical and left.
Twilight walked up to me, "thats not the end of it for you is it?"
"oh I'm going to the party alright, I will mostly be making sure that what is supposed to happen happens."
"I thought you kept a strict "no interfering" rule."
"I wanted to be there for her this one time, plus I think this might lead into me getting my own cutie mark."
"I thought you didn't care about not having one."
"thats mostly true, but cutie marks are still a bit about who you are and I don't like not knowing what my passion is."
"have fun at the party and good luck with your cutie mark."
I left and tried to think of where the party was. I couldn't remember where it was, my only hope was to stumble into where the party was. I felt hungry. I wanted to have some lunch but I had already promised, if only to myself, to stand up for Applebloom at the party. I couldn't ignore being hungry for much longer and my thoughts were being taken over by my lunch options. I headed to my favorite snack place to pick up a quick bite before continueing. It was the only one in town and they had some of the best crackers I've ever had. I walked in only to find the party in full swing. I mentally slapped myself for forgetting where the party was. I scanned the room for Applebloom and managed to find her. She had a tablecloth on to strategically hide the fact that she didn't have a cutie mark. I found a corner and sat down to watch the scene. Applebloom was being questioned by the two stuck up fillies hosting the party. I watched the scene unfold. the tablecloth was off, she was embarrased and- shit, she saw me. She's calling out to me back her up like I said I would. I didn't know whether helping her would keep her from meeting Sweete belle and Scootaloo. I wanted to remain an observer, fuck it, I will introduce them to each other if need be but I was backing her up. I walked over to her. I must have been quite a sight, I was three times as tall as any of them. I would quickly turn intimidating if I didn't counter act it, I spoke to Applebloom in my best imitation of Fluttershy, "is something wrong?"
"you said you would support me."
the two fillie's hosting this snickered, I heard one of them in a hushed tone call me "blank flank". Now, I don't care about bullies, they can sound off all they want but the worst they can do is annoy me. However, something about having two little fillies call me a cheesy insult sparked my temper. I looked at them and spoke harshly, "is there anything wrong with not having a cutie mark? just because we don't have one doesnt mean that we are any less than you!" I was yelling at this point, "the only thing it means is that we haven't figured out what our calling is yet. If anything WE are the lucky ones because we can do whatever we want, Applebloom could become a doctor and get a medicine cutie mark! She could invent stuff and get a cutie mark there! What could you do? Your cutie mark is a tiara! What I'm terribly but there's only two princesses in equestria and the only royalty you are is a royal pain in the neck." I finally stopped, content with my speech. the entire party was looking at us, more specifically; they were looking at me. I felt like a dick for yelling at them at their own party, even if they had it coming. Luckily attention was drawn away from me when Scootaloo and Sweete belle appeared out of nowhere. The scene began to progress as normal and I began to slide off into the background. I watched the cutie mark crusaders form before I made my way back to the farm. As I went I felt as happy as could be for standing up for Applebloom. I had the weirdest urge to stand up for someone else. I wanted to solve all the problems in the entire town. I was feeling the most amazing mix of pride and joy. Finally, I made it back to the Acres and walked into the house. It was late now and dinner would be done soon. I found that Applebloom had made it home before me. She was sitting at the table waiting for dinner to be finished. I walked past her to go into the kitchen, she looked at me and her jaw dropped. I wonder what her deal is tonight? I walked into the kitchen to find Applejack and Granny Smith making dinner. Applejack looked over at me, "hey there sugarcube!" that word hit me like a sack of bricks.
"hi Applejack."
"I take it you had fun at the party."
"yeah, why?"
"Applebloom told me all about it and I just want to say thanks fer standin' up for her."
"yeah sure anytime."
Applebloom walked into the kitchen, her mouth still wide open. Applejack looked back at her, "what's wrong Applebloom."
she didn't say anything, she simply pointed at me. That was a little concerning for me, "what, is there something on my back?"
I looked back and I saw it, a little iron shield, sitting on my flank. I should've felt proud, happy, amazed. The only thought I had was, "huh, that kinda figures now doesn't it?"
Applejack moved to take a look at it, she smiled when she saw it, "look's like one of you got their cutie mark."
"must've been Applebloom cause this is a manly mark." The dinner was nice, I took heavy part in the conversation and even managed to crack off a few more jokes. After dinner I went to bed. Today was the first time in weeks that I was a major part of the episode. I was glad to finally have myself a manly mark, and even more glad that I was a part of this world in the first place. I had a quick thought of earth, I wondered what would happen if I went there as I am now. It didn't get past that and I continued thinking of what would happen next week. The next episode I watched was with Pinkie Pie's twitches and I knew that was atleast a month away. I decided to go along with the next few weeks as normal. Hopefully I won't screw anything up. I was still deathly scared of having to deal with discord. If he got a hold of what I know then he might win. I need to get out of this before it happens. The only question was, would I be willing to go home after all of the things that has happened. I feared for that day and I feared for that decision and I had nightmares of a triumphant discord and a never ending chaos.
Author's notes
today I had a MASSIVE wave of inspiration and I couldn't stop typing. Overall I'm happy with the chapter and I'm happy to have made it to chapter 7. I've been looking though the story traffic and this story has been getting more attention than I could have hoped. I also noticed that there were a few consistent readers in italy So this is a shout out to you since I like Italy so much.
