S2 E6 Everypony! May The Best Pet Win is up next!

One day found Malibu hanging out with the CMCs again, this time at a bowling alley to see if his little friends would get their cutie marks here. Applebloom looked excited for the challenge. "Today's the day, Cutie Mark Crusaders! I can just feel it! Today's the day we're all gonna get our cutie marks in… bowling!" She gestured to the bowling lane behind her.

Malibu watched the others cheer, Sweetie Belle holding her bag in her mouth, spitting it out and cheering better. "Yay!"

"I hope you really do get them here this time, and I've never played bowling before," Malibu said, feeling somewhat eager to try this out. Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "You serious?! Have you been living under a rock or something?" Malibu blushed, Applebloom stepping in front of him. "Not ta worry, I can show him how. We can show him how and maybe get our cutie marks finally!"

The teal alicorn liked that idea. "But, when you get them, you won't be called the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore," He pointed out. The three fillies realized he had a point. Applebloom had a name idea. "Yeah, we will be… the Three Strikes!"

Scootaloo frowned. "That makes us sound like we've struck out," She said grumpily, Malibu wondering what that meant, but then had baseball back from Manhattan come to mind. Applebloom thought some more. "Hmmm… how 'bout The Pin Twins?"

Malibu didn't quite get that name either. "Uh, there's three of you," He said, making Applebloom flush, coming up with something else again. "Ok, then. Um. The Bowling Dolls!"

The other two fillies cheered for that name. "Perfect!" Scootaloo complimented, Malibu looked forward to trying out this 'bowling' thing. "Alrighty then, let's bowl 'em over!"

…

Inside it was busy. He could see other ponies playing in their own bowling lanes. The group got their bowling lane and balls.

Malibu lifted up his with his magic. "So… what do I do?" He asked. Scootaloo pointed down the lane to the pins. "Just roll it down the aisle and hit those pins down there." The alicorn/gargoyle gulped a little, nodding, using his magic and threw the ball down the lane.

He watched it making its way along, eyes wide, but it wound up being in one of the gutters, not hitting the pins at all. Malibu's ears lowered. Applebloom patted his shoulder. "Good try, Mal. Sweetie, your turn!" Sweetie Belle nudged her ball with her nose, but that one didn't hit anything either.

Scootaloo kicked her ball that nearly hit other players, and ended up in the gutter. Malibu felt really embarrassed, everypony else looking at them like they were the worst bowlers ever, hoping Applebloom won't miss.

Applebloom picked up her ball with her mouth that looked heavy. She staggered along, spitting it out down the lane, and the group heard it hit the pins, startling Malibu. It was a strike.

He felt himself smiling, as everypony cheered, Applebloom looking excited as another pony spoke up. "Cool! A bowling cutie mark!" Applebloom looked around. "I did it! I did it!" But Malibu didn't see anything. "Uh, AB? Don't see a cutie mark," He said in a somewhat disappointed voice. Her face fell. "Still blank?"

They all saw another colt showing off his bowling ball and pin cutie mark, looking rather pleased with himself. "But… But… what about my ball?" Malibu tilted his head over to their lane, and she saw it rolling ever so slowly. Malibu cringed, seeing it lightly bump against the pin. Not too good.

"Sorry," He tried to apologize to his little friend, but Applebloom had a very depressed look, wandering out of the alley, not wanting to play anymore. Malibu, rather disappointed he couldn't play further, knew his friend's feelings came first so he followed her, Sweetie and Scootaloo out.

Scootaloo rolled along beside them on her scooter. "That bowling sure was fun. Even if all me and Malibu got were gutter balls," Sweetie Belle complimented, nudging their caretaker who grinned sheepishly. "Guess so."

Scootaloo grinned. "Yeah. At least you were able to keep your ball in your lane. I don't think Mr. Kingpin is ever gonna let me play again!" She told Applebloom, doing a cool move on her scooter that reminded Malibu of Rainbow Dash's great skills, even if Scootaloo couldn't fly like the other pegasi.

Her eyes suddenly shone. "Hey! Maybe I can get my cutie mark in demolition!" The CMCs laughed, as well as Malibu, except for Applebloom. He put a hoof around her. "Don't let this get you down, AB. How about we try to cheer you up?"

Sweetie Belle nodded. "I know just what you need to put the bloom back on your apple!"

They went to Sugarcube Corner first, where the gang tried giving Applebloom a cupcake, Malibu munching on a chocolate one himself. He could never get tired of Mrs. Cake's baking. "A treat from Sugarcube Corner will cheer you up!" The little unicorn tried. Applebloom shook her head, pushing it away, not hungry. "No it won't."

Frowning, Malibu went to get Pinkie Pie, and asked her to throw a cheer up party for Applebloom. She bounced around, grinning. "A party will cheer you up!" Malibu put a party hat on Applebloom while Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo blew party whistles.

Applebloom threw off the hat. "No it won't!" Pinkie Pie fell to the floor, her face depressed. Malibu helped her up. "Thanks for trying, Pink," He said, a sad smile on his face. She shrugged. "Hope she gets better!"

Next was Carousel Boutique; where Malibu told Rarity of the situation and she set off immediately to make something to cheer the young earth pony up. "A lovely new chapeau will cheer you up!" The hat fell down over Applebloom's eyes. "No it won't," She muttered, walking out again.

The others walked next to her. "Hey, don't let this get to you, AB. Like AJ said, these things take their time." Applebloom glared at him. "And there ya go, quoting my sister! You're supposed to help us!" Malibu flinched a little from her words, Sweetie Belle speaking. "Come on, Applebloom! It's just a cutie mark!" Malibu bumped her, shaking his head. "That's not helping!" Scootaloo snapped, making her blush.

Applebloom didn't even listen to her friends, continuing to walk towards the Everfree Forest. Malibu somewhat guessed who she was going to see but didn't want her to be hurt, trying to follow Applebloom in. She turned, glaring. "Don't follow me! I need to be alone!" She growled. Malibu stopped, backing up. "O-ok. Just be careful please," He said shyly, wanting to respect her wishes.

Malibu when going to visit Twilight at the Golden Oaks Library, got a surprise from Spike. "Hey, Mal, a special delivery from your mom!" He was waving a book with his red cross cutie mark on it.

"Huh? What is that?" Malibu asked curiously. Twilight was curious too. "And why didn't I get one?" The alicorn shrugged when suddenly feeling the book buzz, and glow with magic. Tilting his head, he opened it up with his magic horn, gasping a little when seeing words magically showing, in his mom's writing.

Twilight's eyes widened in surprise at the sight. "That-that's a magic journal!" She proclaimed. "It's so amazing!" They both read inside:

Dear son:

I am giving you this journal in case you ever need to speak to me more not just in your letters. It will help you not have to feel too lonely without me here.

Love, your mother Celestia.

Malibu felt tears in his eyes, heart feeling warm inside. This was the best gift from his mom ever. Twilight herself was a little jealous but was happy for him. "That's nice of the Princess to give you something like this, Malibu. But what was happening with your time with the CMCs earlier?" It made the teal alicorn cringe a little but spoke.

"They're just a little upset about not getting their cutie marks yet. I try my best to help them but nothing seems to be working, and I don't know what to do," He said softly, swishing his tail. Twilight put a hoof around him. "I understand how they must be feeling, but they will get them, I know they will."

Suddenly the two heard cheering outside. Spike himself was curious too. The three friends opened the door and looked out into the town, a large crowd gathered watching something.

"What's happening?" Malibu questioned in curiosity, and wondered if Applebloom had gotten over her depression. But what he saw; she clearly had.

For Applebloom looked better than ok, looking quite happy; performing tricks with a hoop and some spinning plates. Malibu raised his brow, wondering what had happened while she was gone.

But when she got close, his eyes widened in surprise when seeing that Applebloom, somehow got her cutie mark. Two of them to be precise. He never saw anypony with two cutie marks before! And he figured they were for the hoop and spinning plates for her talents.

Applebloom trotted by him and he called out to her. "Applebloom, when did you get your cutie mark?!" He yelled. She gave him a big smile. "Isn't this great? With two cutie marks I'm the most special pony!" Applebloom did a flip on her hoop, throwing the plates into the air then catching them on her nose.

Malibu's jaw dropped. How did she learn all these skills in just a few short hours? It was impossible. AB also threw her hoop at Twilight who stood next to Rarity, causing Twi's mane to look like Rarity's. Spike's eyes filled with hearts, making her frown and Malibu grinned a little, but still was too baffled to comprehend at how Applebloom got them in the first place.

Applebloom continued to impress the townsfolk with her talents, Applejack whistling and throwing an apple pie, her sister tossing up her hoop to cut it somehow, landing on plates for some of the townsfolk to enjoy.

Now this is definitely suspicious. She had to have cheated somehow, Malibu suspected, rubbing his chin, while everypony else cheered, Applebloom smiling so big, looking rather prideful about her new talents. The teal alicorn would for sure ask her tons of questions.

….

Later that evening he returned with the Apples to the farm, feeling rather exhausted from the day. And so was Applebloom too, still twirling her hoop and spinning the plates. Malibu wondered why she hadn't stopped doing that.

Applejack was quite proud of what had happened. "Yee haw, little sis! Congratulations on gettin' not just one, but two cutie marks! We're mighty proud of you, right Big Macintosh?"

Big Mac grinned. "Eyup!" Applejack glanced at the cutie marks. "I've never seen anything like it, have you, Big Mac?"

"Nope!" The big stallion stated in his usual simple manner. Malibu though sprouted the question he had nagging him. "AJ, this all seems too good to be real." He turned to Applebloom, who grinned awkwardly. "So, what's your story?"

The little filly swallowed. "Uh, heh…" Granny Smith however interrupted, looking proud too. "Why, the way you were a-hoopin' and a-hoppin' and kickin' and spinnin' reminded me of when I was a spry young filly." When she tried to kick she stretched one of her muscles, making Malibu wince from the sight. "Oh! Charlie horse, charlie horse!" Big Mac went to fix her leg, and Granny sighed in relief. "That's better!"

Before Malibu could ask anymore questions Applejack also spoke. "Why, Applebloom, I think you're ready to hit the rodeo right now!"

Applebloom shook her head. "Actually, I'm ready to hit the hay right now. I'm plum tuckered. I'll see y'all in the mornin'." Malibu glared at her, seeing his little friend quickly rushing up the stairs to avoid talking to him. This was even more suspicious if she didn't want to give any answers.

"Night!" She called once more, the rest of her family watching from the stairs. "Oh, my. Little Applebloom has finally blossomed, hasn't she, Big Mac?"

Big Mac grinned again. "Eyup!" Malibu humphed, not believing this new Applebloom, hoping she will give him answers in the morning as he went to his own room. Thinking for a moment, Malibu decided to pull out his new journal and a quill.

He wrote inside to his mom.

Dear Celestia;

My friend, one of the CMCs named Applebloom had gotten her cutie mark. And not just one, but two. Have you ever seen a pony like that before mom? She wouldn't talk to me about how she got them in the first place.

Malibu waited with bated breath, seeing how the writing he did was glowing a little. Soon he got a reply, writing but with no pony else writing it for him.

This is something I've never seen happening to anypony ever. But I advise to watch over her and ensure that this isn't some kind of bad enchantment she received. I wish to ensure the safety of even the smallest of my subjects.

A smile came to the former gargoyle clone's face, as he yawned, happy that his mom was worried for Applebloom as much as him. After writing a good night, he put his journal away and curled under his blankets, eyes shut under his Aunt Luna's moon which shone over Ponyville.

But Malibu's peaceful slumber didn't last long. He was woken in the middle of the night from hearing a strange tapping sound. Groaning, Malibu got out of his bed, meeting Applejack along the way who looked just as annoyed.

"W-what's goin' on?" Malibu mumbled sleepily, Applejack shaking her head, not sure either. The two checked on Applebloom. "Little sis, what is all that…"

Their eyes popped when seeing Applebloom had for some reason begun tap dancing randomly, her face looking scared. Malibu's jaw dropped at the sight of a third cutie mark for a tap dancing shoe.

"A-are you seeing this?!" He cried out. "Three cutie marks?!" Applejack yelped, her own face just as scared. Applebloom whimpered. "Help me…!" She said in fear. The two of them were appalled by all this, and scared, too confused at how quickly she got that third mark.

Applebloom kept tap dancing non stop. "Help me!" She screamed again. Applejack narrowed her eyes. "C'mere, you!" She tried to get the hoop first but kept getting struck in the face. "Ow! Ow! Malibu! Try to hold her down!"

Malibu jumped, trying to grab her legs, but was shaken about. Applebloom whimpered again. "I'm sorry, Applejack and Malibu! I don't know how to make it stop!" She wailed. The teal alicorn felt panic arise inside him, afraid for Applebloom's wellbeing. "What do we do, AJ? I don't know how to fix her!"

Applejack suddenly had an idea. "Well, Ah know somepony who might!" Then Malibu knew she was referring to Twilight. Nodding, they all brought Applebloom to the Golden Oaks library to diagnose what was wrong with her.

Twilight was just as in shock as them. "Three cutie marks; three talents. I've never seen anything like it!" Malibu swished his tail frantically. "But why did this happen to her?" He demanded, while she looked through the shelves. "I was just reading something about unusual equine illnesses. What was it?"

Spike suddenly pulled out a book. "Perplexing Pony Plagues, perhaps?" Malibu felt impressed of him finding the book even during this dire situation, hopping onto Twilight's back. "Yes, Spike! You're amazing!" Twilight praised, Spike looking pleased with himself. "Yes, well, I do have some talents!"

Twilight began to read through the book. "Hay fever, the trots…" She gave a loud gasp when landing on another page, the others wondering what it was. "Cutie Pox!"

"Cutie Pox?!" The other three shouted, Malibu having not heard of this ailment before, which bewildered him. Twilight nodded. "Cutie Pox. This puzzling pony plague afflicted a population of ponies back in the paleopony period!" It caused her friends to feel confused by that tongue twister, Spike giggling. "Say that ten times fast!" Glaring Twilight bucked him off.

She continued to read through the book, Malibu feeling anxious to find a cure. "Random cutie marks appeared all over the ponies' bodies. Causing them to perform all the talents that came with them!"

Malibu knew he would have to ask his mom later if she had ever seen anypony in Canterlot be affected by this disease. "But, what's the cure? What's the cure?!" Applejack asked in her panicky voice. Twilight brushed through the words, but her face fell. "It says here there is no known cure."

Now that scared Malibu to the core at the idea, remembering in earth when learning about the incurable disease from Maggie called cancer. He didn't want Applebloom to drop from exhaustion from all these cutie marks or worse, get hurt from ones that have dangerous special talents! "No known cure?!" They all screamed in horror.

Twilight nodded. "The cause of the breakout was never discovered, and the Cutie Pox disappeared as mysteriously as they arrived!" Malibu's eyes glowed red. "This doesn't ease Applebloom's anxiety, Twi! She needs a cure, or she'll die from doing too many talents!"

"Oh, no!" Sobbed Applebloom, a fourth cutie mark appearing, which made her start speaking in French. "Sacrebleu! Plus de marques de cutie!" She gasped, wondering how she suddenly spoke that language. "Qu'est-ce c'est?! Je parle français?!"

Applejack's face was one of pure fear for her sister's life. "My sister's speakin' in fancy!" Twilight's face was just as scared. "She needs help!"

Malibu stomped his hoof again. "We know she does, and we can't wait for this to end! Somepony needs to fix up a cure!"

"Tout de suite!" Cried out Applebloom, still tap dancing. Then Twilight had an idea, a smile on her face. "Not 'somepony'. 'Some zebra'!"

Both Applejack and Malibu realized what she was talking about; recalling their zebra friend Zecora. It all made sense, she could whip up a cure in no time! They all eventually raced out to get to the Everfree forest before it got worse for Applebloom.

It was slow going for her hence the tap dancing. AJ looked behind. "Hurry, hurry!" Applebloom struggled to get control of her legs, Malibu watching in pity. "Dépêchez-vous!" More cutie marks then began to make their appearance all over her skin, making her perform all the talents each one represented, even a lion taming cutie mark, in which lions for some reason appeared out of nowhere, Malibu watching mystified at this.

The flower ponies were observing in fear at what was happening. "She's cursed!" Lily yelped.

"Hexed!" Rose put in, while AB did hang gliding with a cutie mark representing it. "Enchanted!" Wailed Daisy. Spike shook his head. "No, she's not."

All three sighed in relief, before Spike spoke again. "She just has some weird mysterious disease with no known cure called Cutie Pox!" He explained, a smile on his face. Malibu glared at him when everypony in town screamed. "CUTIE POX?!" They all either locked their doors or ran out of town, as to not get infected from Malibu's POV but he doubted this disease could be contagious.

Zecora had happened to appear in town to do her shopping at this time, her face confused. "I thought I had removed their fear the last time that I visited here. But, doors are barred and shutters shut. Guess I should've stayed inside my hut."

Malibu shook his head. "No, it isn't you, Zecora. It's Applebloom. She has Cutie Pox!" He pointed to her, who was drawing on a blackboard. Zecora was stunned from seeing it. "We were just on our way to see if you had a cure!" Twilight explained. Applejack smiled. "But magically you're here! Was your zebra sense a tinglin'?"

Zecora furrowed her brows. "My 'zebra sense' did not bring me 'round, it was a special flower that I needed found. I thought I picked enough to fix all the potions I had to mix, but after my visit from Applebloom, some had mysteriously left my room." Malibu noted Applebloom looking a tad nervous from her words, now wondering what had happened while she visited Zecora.

"Applebloom, what do you say? Did this flower just walk away?" The little filly laughed nervously as a window washing cutie mark appeared. "I, um…" She began washing the windows, Malibu seeing two ponies putting breather masks on. A little overexaggerated much.

Zecora looked through her bag. "A Cutie Pox cure I have forsooth, for healing power is in the Seeds of Truth." She balanced the seeds on her tail. Applejack's face looked flustered, and Malibu's was too. "W-well then, give 'em to her! Quick!"

The Zebra shook her head. "These seeds must be planted in the ground. With the truth, they'll grow and the cure is found." Malibu didn't really understand one word of that rhyming sentence, AJ just as confused. "Come again?"

"The Seeds of Truth do hold the cure. But one must speak words true, and pure." Malibu watched Applebloom look nervous again, now wondering if she had been the one to cause this upon herself.

Applejack took the seeds. "Well, then, let's get to it!" She managed to plant the seeds into the ground. "Now somepony tell the truth!" She shouted to the village. Everypony there was too scared to come out of hiding, Pinkie Pie who happened to be nearby was looking nervous too, right as a tornado cutie mark showed on Applebloom, making her spin rapidly, Malibu's heart aching for her.

"Please! My friend's life is in danger!" Screamed Malibu desperately, wanting anyone here to be able to have the seeds grow to cure Applebloom. Pinkie then spoke up. "Yesterday I told Mrs. Cake that I ate two corn cakes, but I really ate three!"

The three friends looked down at the ground but there wasn't anything sprouting, both glancing back at her in worry. "Ok, six! I ate six corn cakes!" Pinkie squealed, but it still didn't make the seeds of truth grow. Malibu's tail swished in panic, Pinkie Pie winding up giving up on her truth telling.

That was when Applebloom spoke. "I can't stand it any more! It's me! I admit it! I didn't earn my cutie mark! They're all fake!" She stopped spinning from those words, Malibu's eyes widening. So Applebloom really did have this infliction implanted into her herself! She kept talking, while the seeds began to sprout.

"I figured the Heart's Desire would help me get what I wanted most! So when Zecora left her hut, I mixed up a special potion and put the rest of the Heart's Desire in it!" Applebloom finished, Malibu knowing that he would have to ask Zecora what the heart's desire was, the seeds finally sprouting into a beautiful white and pink flower.

His eyes were filled with awe at the sight of it, along with the other townsponies, until Applebloom ate the flower whole. She swallowed it, sighing in relief, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. The cutie marks began to disappear, until she was a blank flank once again.

Malibu quickly ran forward to give Applebloom a big hug. She was crying a little while hugging him back. "Don't scare us like that ever again, Applebloom!" Malibu said harshly but not sternly. "Ah, know, I know I was selfish!" She whimpered, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle coming forward too.

"Applebloom! Are you ok?" Scootaloo asked. She nodded, wiping her eyes. "I'm great, and I've never been happier to be a blank flank. But I'm awful sorry I lied, especially to you guys. I was so desperate for my cutie mark, I just got carried away." She looked at Zecora in shame. "And I'm really sorry I snuck those flowers from you, Zecora. Why, I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted me to come by again."

Zecora still smiled, a hoof under Applebloom's chin. "Now, Apple Bloom, do not be silly. You are always welcome, my little filly. With each mistake you learn something new, growing up into a better you." But to their surprise she had suddenly disappeared from town. Malibu wondered how she did that.

Twilight glanced at Applebloom. "Applebloom, would you mind writing to Princess Celestia and tell her what you learned?" The filly nodded. "I'd be happy too, Twilight! Spike?"

Spike was already ready with a quill and parchment. "Ready!" Malibu sat down to hear what she had to say.

"Dear Princess Celestia,

Waiting for what your heart desires can be really hard, so you may try to take a shortcut. But this dishonesty never works, because you didn't earn what your heart desired. The only cure is being honest with yourself, and others. And that's something every heart desires."

Malibu nodded. He agreed with what that said in the letter, which is pretty much learning a honesty lesson. Lying could never take anypony anywhere, no matter how small. Spike sent the letter, as well as Malibu knowing he had to talk to his mom about this cutie pox situation later too.

Applejack looked proud. "I sure am proud of you, sis. Seems like you finally learned the importance of patience." Applebloom smiled. "Yep! All good things come to those who wait!"

A few minutes pass, but then she spoke. "Well, I've waited long enough!" Malibu blinked slightly at that, and shook his head. Guess she would still try things to get her real cutie mark. "Actually that was way too long!" Scootaloo complained.

"What?" Applejack asked in surprise. Malibu nudged her. "Just go with it," He whispered. "So what are we gonna do today to earn our cutie marks?" Applebloom asked. Scootaloo thought for a bit. "Well, I was thinking for a pony who's never mixed up a potion before, you sure stirred up something fierce."

Sweetie Belle was excited looking, Malibu deciding to follow them to ensure an episode like this would not happen again. "Yeah! So what if your talent is potion making?" Sweetie Belle asked. Applebloom now looked excited too. "Oh, my gosh! Totally! Let's go talk to Zecora! Now!"

The three of them cheered, running to the forest, Malibu running after them. Who knows when these three will earn their cutie marks for real. But only time would tell.

Two more Rainbow Dash episodes coming along!