Chapter 24: Call of the Cutie
A couple of weeks went by after the whole event with the Parasprites and everything seemed to be going back to normal as all the damaged buildings were repaired, businesses were going back to normal as they got replacement goods from food to the destroyed furniture, and everyone seemed to have calmed down. It was a Friday afternoon and Spyro was walking down the dirt road towards the towns local school house, which was on the outskirts of the town and the classes were taught by a mare called Cheerily and, though he never got to meet her personally, Apple Bloom was always talking about her and all the fun lessons she has for everyone.
he approached the school and heard the bell ringing in the distance, classes being dismissed for the weekend and every filly and colt was cheering in excitement as they ran out the door of the school, running around and having fun. A moment later, he saw Apple Bloom coming out of the school, but she was looking down at the ground with a depressed look and next to her was a cream colored earth pony filly with a curly red mane and wearing purple glasses.
"Hey AB, what's with the long face?" Spyro asked, trying hard not to laugh at the dumb pun he accidentally made. "It's the weekend. I thought you'd be happy like the other foals."
"Sheth's being picked on in classth." The earth pony said, having a lisp. "She wasth caught being passthed a note from Diamond Tiara and it didn't;t have anything on it. She then got picked on for not having a cutie mark, which made her very upset."
"Oh, bully problems." Spyro said. "I know those all too well." He remembered the time in school where he was picked on for being different and being made fun of for easily being offended by harmless jokes. "Don't let them get to you Apple Bloom. They'll eventually get bored of picking on you and move on. Just ignore them and that'll happen."
"Not these two bullies." Apple Bloom grumbled, walking past him. "Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are very rich and can cause trouble, getting away with it every time."
"Oh, two of them, that's worse." Spyro said, picking up the little earth pony and giving her a gentle hug. "Don't worry, if I understand karma correctly, it's catch up with them, eventually. Let's head down to town and get some candies and ice cream for the two of you. Maybe that'll cheer you up."
"Yay! Icthe cream!" The cream colored filly said. "And with the Princth too, bestht day ever. I'm Twistht by the way."
"Nice to meet you Twist." Spyro replied. "Come on, let's get going."
"Ugh, why did we have to listen to that boring lecture about cutie marks?" A filly asked. Spyro looked over to see who was talking and saw two more earth pony fillies walking out of the schoolhouse, one of them has a pink coat with a purple mane and was wearing a diamond tiara with a cutie mark of the same kind on her flank. The other one had a grey coat with a silverfish-grey mane wearing blue glasses with a silver spoon on her flank, taking a wild guess that they were the bullies Twist was talking about. "Why do we, who already have our cutie marks, have to sit through that lesson just to learn about them?"
"Knock it off Diamond Tiara!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, fed up with the teasing, tears about to roll down her cheeks.
"It is just sad that you and Twist are the only two in our class that don't have their cutie marks left." Diamond Tiara said. "It just means you're talentless and worthless, like all Blank Flanks!" Before she could continue, Spyro stepped forward, getting in front of the depressed filly while wiping her tears away with his tail, looking down at the two bullies with a serious look. "Oh look, it's the strange hybrid who came to Ponyville and deemed himself a prince!"
"Actually, it's the princess who announced me as a prince." Spyro corrected. "And you two are Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. The two bullies who were picking on Apple Bloom today."
"So? Why should you care?" Diamond Tiara responded. "Even if you are a prince, you're just some freak of nature with a giant key that you call to probably just to unlock the pantry."
"Yeah, and your mark, what are you even good for anyway?" Silver Spoon asked. "Does it mean you are good with making locks for doors or are you just good at opening them? Lame!"
"Plus, why would somepony of royalty even hang around these blank flanks?" Diamond Tiara asked. "It just means that they are talentless and will forever be talentless! Always being a looser!"
The rich fillies laughed as they made the joke, which didn't faze him, but he could sense that Apple Blooms spirit was being shattered, sensing she was on the verge of tears. He turned his attention back to the fillies, continuing to laugh at what they said as they went back into town, laughing all the way there while they left a disheartened Apple Bloom, close to tears. Not wanting to see her cry, he wiped her tears away and gave her a warm smile.
"Hey, don't pay any attention to them." Spyro said. "They brag about their marks on their flanks, but I bet they don't even know what their talent is. I mean, come on, an actual diamond tiara and a silver spoon? Does that mean their talents are their names? That's not a talent, that's just their names printed on their flanks." He could sense Apple Bloom was feeling a bit better, but knew he could do better. "And if their families are rich, bet ya that those are just a couple of tattoos that got from a tattoo place just so they can brag about them. 'Oh, look at me, I'm Diamond Tiara and my cutie mark is a diamond tiara, I don't know what it means, but it means I'm better than eveyrone else.'" Apple Bloom then started to laugh at his horrible impersonation of Diamond Tiara, but decided to kick it up a notch. "She just needs a good whooping, but I bet her servants take the lashes for her cause she's just a spoiled brat who thinks she can get whatever she wants without consequences. Makes me want to cover her in molasses and feathers and make her run around Ponyville clucking like a chicken."
As soon as he mentioned that, Apple Bloom burst out laughing, imagining if that really did happen to Diamond Tiara as Twist joined in, everyone laughing so hard that they were crying. When they stopped laughing so hard, they went into town and went to Sugarcube corner and once there, he got them some cupcakes and Sea Salt Ice Cream, which proved to be a massive hit in the cafe and in the local Ice cream Parlors as everyone in the town said it was the number one flavor. As they sat down and ate their sweets, he could still feel Apple Blooms feelings of sadness, still letting what Diamond Tiara say get to her.
"Hey, just let it go." Spyro said. "Back where I come from, we have an old saying, 'Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but names will never break me.'"
"What doeths that mean?" Twist asked, eating her ice cream.
"It means you shouldn't let words bring you down low as it is a way from bullies to feel better about themselves." Spyro said. "So what if they have their marks, it doesn't mean anything. They haven't discovered their talent, despite the mark."
"And neither have we." Apple Bloom said, looking at her ice cream. "It ain't fair! Ah want mah cutie mark now! Why does she get one and not know what it means?"
"Things happen for a reason." Spyro replied. "But because you don't have one, it just means you have limitless possibilities of what your talent might be. You just need to be patient and let it come to you."
"Ah don't wanna wait." Apple Bloom said. "Ah want one now. Ah want mine before this Sunday."
"Why the specific day?" Spyro asked.
"Diamond Tiara invited us to her cutie-ceañrea." Apple Bloom replied. "She only invited us to make fun of us for not having a cutie mark."
He didn't know what this cutie- whatever-it-was was, but it seemed to be something important to her, but knew that being impatient and trying to find your mark right away wouldn't help.
"I wish I could help. Truly I do." Spyro said. "But you need to be patient. Trying to force it and complain about it won't make it come to you faster. You don't want to end up with one like Diamond Tiara's where it is an image of your name, right?" Apple Bloom looked up at him, shaking her head that she didn't;t want one like that. "Then be patient and take things one step at a time. You'll find your talent someday and maybe, it'll be superior to that of those two bullies."
"As special as yours?" Apple Bloom asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Maybe even better." Spyro replied. "But if you're just going to be a sour puss all the time, I might as well finish your ice cream off."
"Hey, that's mah ice cream!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, laughing as Spyro messed with her mane.
He was pleased he could lift her spirits up and hoped she wouldn't let Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoons bullying get to her in the future, but knew better than that as a bully won't give up so easily. The next morning, he had the day off, so he was at his Gummi Garage creating plans for a new ship he had in mind, but didn't have the blocks for it, though the garage can make them, he needed specific blocks in order to make it, but the only blocks it was capable of making was protect-g blocks and some of the wing Gummi's, but none of he better blocks. A moment later, there was an incoming call, so he moved the plans aside and answered the call, a holographic image of Sid appeared in front of him.
"Oh, morning Sid." Spyro said.
"Is it morning?" He asked. "Man, I kind of lost sense of time while coming here. I've been flying for over three weeks just to deliver these blocks you ordered."
"Yeah, sorry about that." Spyro said. "Should have warned ya about that."
"Ah, no sweat." Sid said. "Anyway, I have all the blocks you ordered and I have a lock on your signal. I'm coming in now to deliver."
A minute later, he could hear the engines of Sids ship, looking up as the garage door opened up as it does for him when he lands. Sids ship was the vessel from Kingdom Hearts 1 from when Ghepetto designed ships for Sora and on its underneath was a massive red container that he knew had what he ordered. The floor underneath them opened up and a large platform ascended towards the delivery ship, just a couple of inches from the red box when Sid dropped it on the platform, the box being lowered down below the floor as it closed, the delivery complete as a list of all the Gummi's appeared on his screen, please with everything being there.
"Thank's Sid, I really needed these blocks and accessories." Spyro said, looking back up to the hologram.
"No problem kid." Sid replied. "You just take care now. And put those blocks to good use."
Spyro nodded his head as the transmission ended, the roof closing as Sid took back off into the sky and back to Radiant Garden. A moment later, Applejack and Apple Bloom came in after seeing the massive ship, thinking it was his, but seeing he was still in the garage.
"What was that?" Applejack asked. "Whose ship was that?"
"That was Sid." Spyro replied. "He just delivered the Gummi Blocks I ordered."
"Oh." Applejack replied, looking between her sister and the stallion. "Well, since it's the weekend, Ah'm gonna take Apple Bloom with me to sell some apples in town."
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom exclaimed excitedly. "And maybe Ah'll get a cutie mark in selling apples."
Both the teen ponies shook their heads at Apple Bloom, who seemed very excited to do something and took off to the town, not waiting for her sister to catch up. As Spyro was getting ready to begin construction, Applejack walked up the toe console, smiling as she approached the stallion prince.
"Ya know, Apple Bloom thinks the world about ya." Applejack said. "She doesn't stop talking about how amazing ya are and how she wished ya were an actual member of the family."
"But I'm a herd leader, that means we are practically married." Spyro said, getting a chuckle out of her.
"Maybe." Applejack said, a blush appearing on her face. "But, Apple Bloom told me what ya'll told her and I was happy ya said that because she really listens to ya and adores ya so much."
"Well, she needed someone to listen to her." Spyro said, moving some Dispel-G blocks to start the body of the ship. "She's been having bully problems at school and she needed someone support and some laughs. But, I fear she will still let Diamond tiara get to her. And I won't always be around to support her." Just as he said it, Apple Bloom came by the garage entrance again, looking in to see if Applejack was coming. "I think she's waiting for you."
Not wanting to keep her little sister waiting, Applejack gave Spyro a kiss on the cheek and went out to meet her sister, making him smile as he watched the farm mare walk out of the garage. Spyro got back to work on designing the new ship, painting it orange and red with a special touch to them on the cockpit s he was designing everything. After he finished with applying the weapons and engines, and other necessary accessories, he smiled at the ship he designed and activated the workshop, letting the arms get to work on building the ship while he looked at the time, finding it was getting close to lunch time, so he let the garage door its job and walked into town to get something to eat.
As he was walking into town, he kept an eye out for any good places to eat when he heard something that sounded like buzzing heading his way, looking forward he saw something moving towards him at a dangerous speed while riding a scooter. It was an orange filly with a purple tail and who was moving dangerously fast, but was thankfully wearing a helmet as she would need it if she ended up crashing, which he wished he was wrong about. The filly has zoomed right past him, time seemingly slowing down as their eyes met as she went by, both moving their heads to watch the other when her scooter hit a small rock, sending her and her scooter flying into the air. The filly was about to crash into some trash cans, but Spyro deactivated his bracers and zipped over it the front of the cans, catching the filly on his back while using his aura to catch the scooter, saving both from hitting the can and being covered in garbage.
"That was close." Spyro said, looking back to the filly and helping her down. "You ok there little daredevil?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She replied, removing her helmet to reveal her mane was cut as short as Rainbow Dashes, but when she got a better look at him, her eyes widened in shock. "Y-your majesty!" She was trying to bow, she slipped and fell face first into a bit of mud, grumbling to herself.
"Hey, you don't need to bow to me little one." Spyro said, helping her up and cleaning off the mud. "Hey, you look familiar. Have we met before?"
"Well, no we haven't." She replied. "But I remember you from when you saved me from that cage the ghost was shaking!"
As soon as she said that, his thoughts went to the Prison Keeper and the cage he shook to try and get Sweetie Belle and a pegasus filly out of it to power itself up again after rescuing Apple Bloom. But when he thought about it, the pegasus he rescued looked a lot like the one in front of him, a light bulb lighting up in his head.
"Oh yeah, now I remember you." Spyro said. "You were the pegasus filly who the Prison Keeper had in his cage."
"Yeah! The way you fought them was awesome!" The filly said. "I'm Scootaloo by the way."
"I'm Spyro." He replied.
He found it a coincidental that her name was referenced with a scooter, looking over to the one he had placed down nearby, but as he returned his attention to the little filly, he noticed she was staring at him, amazed by how he looked and looking like a star struck fan.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" Spyro asked, picking at his teeth.
"No, no you don't." Scootaloo replied. "I just wanted to ask if I can see your key weapon."
"Oh, sure." Spyro replied, calling his Keyblade for the filly.
"Awesome." The filly said. "How do you call it? What's it made of? What kind of magic does it use?"
"Easy there little daredevil." Spyro said, dismissing his weapon. "I don't know how I call it as I only think of it and it comes to my side. It is also made from a material made from pure light, hence why it is able to destroy Heartless. And the magic it uses I am unsure, but its power, combined with mine, makes it a force to be reckoned with."
As he talked, he noticed she didn't have a mark on her flank, meaning that she hasn't found her talent either as she went over to get onto her scooter.
"You are awesome and all, but not like Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo said, getting his attention.
"Oh, and how so?" He asked, feeling hurt by the fillies words.
"I mean, you are awesome when fighting those things, but you aren't as fast or as cool as Rainbow Dash." Scootaloo replied. "She's the fastest flier in all of Equestria, maybe the fastest flier in the whole world!" She then put her helmet on and got back onto her scooter, her wings flapping very quickly as she was warming up. "Maybe I might get a cutie mark like hers and, maybe become a Wonderbolt like her when she becomes one."
"Well, good luck to ya then Scootaloo." Spyro said. "And do be careful will ya?"
Smiling, the little orange pegasus zoomed off down the road, leaving behind a trail of dirt and dust as she went, impressing him with how fast she was on the scooter. As he was reaching a place where he could get something to eat, he noticed Apple Bloom running away from town, sprinting away as fast as her little legs could carry her, tears about to roll off her cheeks again. He couldn't help but follow her, flying after the depressed filly as she ran to a nearby well, laying down on her stomach as tears were on the verge of falling when he noticed Rainbow Dash nearby, seeing the same cloud.
"Wow, looks like somepony's got a dark cloud over her head." Rainbow Dash said, trying to lighten her mood.
"Rainbow, not now." Spyro said, using the Force to move the cloud away. "Apple Bloom, what's wrong? Why the long face?"
He then hoof smacked himself for making the same dumb pun a second time, but Rainbow Dash just laughed at it, finding it amusing along with his reaction to be even funnier. When she had stopped laughing, Apple Bloom went on a tangent about how everyone in her class has a cutie mark, now including Twist, how everyone will be there, Applejack saying to just be patient like he said to her, and how Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were saying how embarrassing it was if somepony came without a cutie mark. Sensing her distress, he laid down next to the unhappy filly and wrapped his wing around her, which she just moved closer to him and pressed her head into her shoulders, tears finally rolling down her face.
"Pfft. That's all?" Rainbow Dash said. "If you want a cutie mark that badly, you gotta make it happen instead of waiting for it."
"B-but Applejack said-" Apple Bloom said.
"Hey, who are you going to listen to?" Rainbow Dash said. "Applejack, or the pony who got their cutie mark first in her class?" Spyro could sense where this was going and wanted to stop her, but she just leapt over him and landed on the opposite side of where she was standing. "Sometimes you gotta get out there and discovering for yourself. It wasn't until I had my first race that I found the need for speed. And, BOOM!" Spyro had to look away as she raised her flank up, trying not to look at her rear. "This baby appeared as swift as lightning."
Spyro was about to try and discourage the little filly from doing something like that, looking down to see she was gone and walking up to Rainbow Dash, groaning as he knew this was going to end terribly.
"Nice work Rainbow Dash, ya got her wanting to do the opposite of what AJ and I advised her not to." Spyro said, getting up and walking over to them.
"Relax dragon boy, I know what I'm doing." Rainbow Dash said, walking up to him. "I promise, I'll be careful with her."
"Please, just nothing dangerous ok?" Spyro asked. "I don't want to see her in the hospital or anything like that."
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to her." Rainbow Dash said, wrapping her neck around his, surprising him. "I promise."
She unwrapped her neck from his and walked with Apple Bloom to somewhere else, confused by the sudden affection Rainbow Dash had just shown him as he thought of her as not being the kind to show such things. Not wanting to dwell on it, he left to find some food, going through the business district of the town and finding a suitable establishment, finding Rarity there as well looking exhausted.
"Hey Rare, you look beat." Spyro said, getting her attention.
"Oh, Spyro, it's you." She replied, looking mentally drained.
"Is something wrong?" Spyro asked, sitting across from her. "You kinda look depressed and exhausted."
"Oh, it's Sweetie Belle." Rarity replied. "She was invited to Diamond Tiara's Cutie- ceañera and she is obsessing over how she doesn't have her cutie mark yet."
"Her too?" Spyro asked.
"Yes and she is afraid of being picked on." Rarity replied, looking down at the menu. "She says she's the only filly in her class who doesn't have her mark and her constant obsession is driving me crazy. I can barely focus on finishing an order for a dozen dresses with her constantly talking about it, distracting me from constant complaining."
A minute later, a waiter came over and got their orders, taking the menu's away as he went to place their orders.
"She's not the only one." Spyro replied. "Apple Bloom was also invited and she doesn't have her mark yet and she's worried about being picked on."
"Well, it seems we both have the same dilemma." Rarity said, looking up at him. "And there is nothing we can do to help them.I told Sweetie Belle she just needed to wait for her mark to appear on it's own, but she just won't listen."
"Same with Apple Bloom." Spyro replied, their food arriving. "And if my brief encounter with Diamond Tiara told me anything, she isn't going to let up on the bullying."
They ate in silence, each of them thinking and worrying about the two fillies who they knew were going to be miserable at the party, knowing full well that the two of them would be unhappy. As they finished their lunch, he and Rarity left the restaurant, Spyro paying for it for her, and they went to the Boutique together, their two of them talking about what to do and then having a laugh at how he made fun of the bullies to brighten Apple Blooms spirits, which worked for a little while, making her happy.
"You certainly have a way with foals." Rarity said. "You sure you don't have any siblings?"
"Nah. I'm an only child." Spyro replied. "When I was younger, there was a daycare where I grew up where all the kids from my school would go to until their parents came and picked them up after work. I was among them and helped to keep them from causing trouble, playing with them, having as much fun as I could."
"So, you helped to foal sit?" Rarity asked, Spyro nodding his head. "Well, I have a favor to ask you. When I'm finished with the last dress, I'll be out of town for the night. Can I ask you to foal sit Sweetie Belle tonight? I would as the others, but I'm not sure how Sweetie Belle would react around them."
"You really trust me to keep an eye on her?" Spyro asked.
"Oh yes, after all, she thinks the world about you after you saved her from that grotesque creature on the Summer Sun Celebration." Rarity replied.
"Well, if it's alright by you, then I can do it." Spyro replied, immediately getting hugged by Rarity.
"Thank you so much darling." Rarity said. "You are doing me a huge favor."
They parted ways as Spyro turned to return to Sweet Apple Acres where Applejack was pulling the business cart and putting it into the barn, looking upset and frustrated.
"AJ, what happened?" Spyro asked walking up. "Why do you look upset?"
"It's Apple Bloom." She replied. "She was being too pushy with selling apples, hoping to get her cutie mark."
"Oh." Spyro said, the farm mare walking up to her.
"What am Ah going to do with her?" She asked. "She's so gun-hoe about getting her cutie mark that it's driving her and me bonkers. Ah keep trying to tell her to be patient, but she won't listen."
"Sometimes we need to just get out there and find what we're good at on our own." Spyro replied, surprising Applejack. "Even though she needs to be patient, she also needs to get out there and discover her talent as well."
"Never thought Ah'd hear that from you." Applejack said. "Usually, you're one of the most patient ponies I know and sometimes the wisest, despite your random episodes of being a goof."
The two of them had a laugh together, both going into the farm house to see what Granny Smith needs them to do until evening arrived, Apple Bloom came home down int he dumps and covered in a bit of flour, not wanting to talk about it. Spyro had told them he promised to foal sit for Rarity and flew into down, finding that Rarity was walking out the door with a couple of large packages with her as he landed, the white unicorn mare happy to see him.
"Oh, Spyro darling, right on time." She said. "I told Sweetie Belle you'd be foal sitting her for the night and have laid out everything you need to help take care of her." She the passed him a note with some writing on it, a list of things he'd need to do while taking care of Sweetie Belle. "This is a lists of does and don't with her and some of the things she likes to eat."
"Don't worry Rare, I got this." Spyro replied, walking past her and giving her a peck on the cheek, surprising her. "See you tomorrow."
He went in the boutique, leaving a stunned unicorn behind, who reached with her hoof the cheek he kissed, feeling her own heart beat against her chest as her face turned red from the sudden affection. After a moment, she walked towards the train station to travel to where her client lived, her mind wondering between her little sister and Spyro, feeling her heart skip a beat everytime she thought about him.
In the boutique, Spyro walked through the main room and saw Sweetie Belle coming down the stairs and running towards him, excited to see him.
"Spyro!" She shouted, jumping up onto his back as he lowered himself down. "I'm happy to see you again! Rarity said you'd be staying for the night! What are we going to do first!? Are we going to play a game!? Will you take me up into your ship!?"
"Wow, easy there Sweetie Belle." Spyro replied. "One thing at a time." He looked down at the list of things Rarity gave him and found a bunch of don'ts and not a lot of do's, rolling his eyes, he folded the paper and put it on the counter, deciding to ignore it. "We're going to have a lot of fun tonight without this silly list. Now, what do we want to do first?"
He turned his head to look at the young filly, but could see she wasn't happy about something, sensing she was upset, he walked into the living room and knelt down again, letting hope down and go to the couch, jumping onto it.
"Is something bothering you?" He asked. "You seem to be upset?"
"It's nothing." She replied. "Just..."
"You're worried about tomorrow aren't ya?" Spyro asked, knowing what she was going to say. "About Diamond Tiara's little party?"
"Yes, I am." Sweetie Belle replied. "It's a party for her to show off her cutie mark and she only invited me to make fun of me for not having a cutie mark. I'll be a laughing stock!"
Knowing what she is going through, he walked over and sat down on the couch next to her.
"Rarity told me." He replied. "And you aren't the only one either."
"I'm not!?" She asked, surprised by what he said.
"That's right. You're not the only one." Spyro replied. "I know another filly about your age who's also going and has the same problem. And here's what I told her. Don't let what Diamond Tiara or her friend Silver Spoon get to you. They say those things to make others feel weaker and make themselves feel better about themselves. If you let what the bully say get to you, then they will continue to pick on you for life and never stop. I'm positive you'll find your talent someday and, maybe, just maybe, you and Apple Bloom can find your talents together."
After hearing the reassuring words, Sweetie Belle hugged the prince, happy that he was there to make her feel good and he hugged her back, making her feel better about herself, but decided to have a bit of fun with her. Without her knowing, he pulled a couple of feathers from out of a nearby box that Rarity had open and with his aura, tickled the little filly, making her laugh uncontrollably as she jumped down and ran away, Spyro chasing her as he wanted to keep tickling her. For the remainder of the night, they played all sorts of games from Hide and Seek to a few board games Sweetie Belle had with her, enjoying their evening like they were brother and sister. As it was getting close to bed time for the little filly, Spyro could see Sweetie Belle was fighting to stay awake, but ended up loosing the fight, falling asleep on his back as he carried her upstairs.
He looked around a bit and found Sweetie Belle's room thanks to her name on the door, opening it to find her room was about the same as Rarity's when he entered her heart, but in Sweetie Belles room she had a large rug in the shape of a flower with a chest full of toys and a small dresser with a closet next to it. He walked over to her bed and used his aura to gently lift the sleeping filly off his back and it her in bed, covering her up with her blanket. He was about to leave, but then pulled out one of the stuffed rabbits she had and put it next to her, which she hugged immediately and smiled, smiling at the sleeping filly as he quietly walked out.
The next morning, Rarity was walking up to her Boutique, dog tied as she had to get the early train home and was about to enter when the door opened on it's own where Spyro was waiting for her, smiling as he looked at the tired mare.
"Morning Rarity." Spyro said.
"Morning Spyro." Rarity said, yawning as she spoke. "How was last night?"
"We had some fun last night." Spyro replied, moving out of the way.
"I do hope she wasn't too much of a hassle for ya darling." Rarity said, yawning again. "She can really be a hoof full around here."
"Nah, she wasn't too much trouble." Spyro replied. "But you look like you haven't slept a wink.
"Oh, sorry, I had to catch the early morning train to get home." She replied. "I just need to get a little rest."
A second later, Sweetie Belle was walking down the stairs, seeing her sister home and ran up to her, the two sisters hugging. Spyro was smiling and turned to leave, opening the door when he heard Sweetie Belle run up behind him, stopping right next to him.
"What's wrong Sweetie Belle?" Spyro asked. "Is there something you need?"
"No, just... heading to Sugarcube Corner, that's all." She replied, walking past him as she left.
He could sense that she was upset and scared as she walked to the pastry store and away from the boutique, her head hung low as she walked. Rarity walked up next to him, watching her little sister go towards the cafe.
"The party for Diamond Tiara is at Sugarcube Corner." Rarity said. "She must be going to confront her bullies."
"Maybe." Spyro said, sensing uncertainty in the unicorn. "I better go there as well. Just to make sure she's alright."
He flew after the upset filly, flying to Sugarcube Corner as ponies were walking through the door to enjoy the party. He landed on the ground and walked through the door, finding a lot of foals around and a lot of adult ponies who came to have a good time with their kids. While Spyro walked around, being bowed to and talking to some of the party guests, he noticed a frantic Apple Bloom trying to find a place to hide until she hid underneath the table with the punch bowl, somehow lifting it to where she was walk along with it to hide. Before he could call out to her, he noticed a familiar little filly all alone at the edge of the room with a small cup of punch, moping alone in the corner.
"Hey Sweetie Belle." Spyro said, making the fillies head shoot up.
"Spyro?" She asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to check on you." Spyro said, sitting across from her. "What are you doing here all alone? Why aren't you enjoying yourself?"
"I just don't want Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to see me." She replied. "As soon as she sees me, she'll poke fun of me." She put her head on the table, depressed and sad. "I don't want to be here at all."
He knew what she felt and wished he could help until he sense something else, turning around to see a table, but under the table was a familiar purple tail and could sense that the one it belong to was very familiar. Smiling, he got up and motioned for Sweetie Belle to follow, the two of them approaching the table and pulled up the cloth, scaring the filly and she turned around.
"Thought I recognized that tail." Spyro said, helping Scootaloo up. "So, you also trying to hide from Diamond Tiara?"
"Hey, I'd rather be anywhere else than here." She responded. "Besides, it's not easy being the only filly without their cutie mark."
"You sure about that?" Spyro said, confusing the pegasus filly until she saw Sweetie Belle. "Scootaloo, this is Sweetie Belle, Sweetie Belle, this is Scootaloo. And the two of you have something in common. You both don't have your cutie marks."
As soon as he said it, the two fillies looked at each other and then to their flanks, smiles creeping on their faces as they started conversing with each other. But a moment later, he could sense more anxiety coming from close by, looking to the center of the room to find that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were in front of Apple Bloom, sensing her fear skyrocket. Both the bullies were wearing dresses, which ruined the point of the whole party as it was meant for them to show off their cutie marks, not hide them. As for Apple Bloom, she was wearing a table cloth around her flank, trying to hide her rear from prying eyes, but when she slipped and fell, the cloth coming off to reveal her cutie markless flank.
"Wow, nice cutie mark there, Blank Flank!" Diamond Tiara said, she and her friend laughing and repeatedly calling her that name.
Spyro had enough of the girls continued bullying and was going to give them a lesson in manners, not realizing his eyes turned to Sith eyes.
"You got a problem with Blank Flanks!?" Scootaloo shouted, making everyone turn to look at them, even making Spyro's Sith eyes go away.
"Yeah, they are pathetic and talentless." Silver Spoon replied. "Nothing special about them at all."
"So, you say all fillies without a mark aren't special? If that means Apple Bloom isn't;t special, then that means these two fillies aren't either, right?" Spyro asked. The two fillies turned to their sides, revealing they didn't;t have their cutie marks either, which made Apple Bloom gasp in surprise, realizing she wasn't the only one who didn't have he cutie mark. "And you're wrong about one thing, Diamond Tiara. Everypony is special, with or without their marks. Those without their marks are far more special as it means the possibility of their talent is endless, so they can possibly be anything."
"Yeah, like a stunt double!" Scootaloo said.
"Or a writer." Sweetie Belle said.
"But the one thing they shall never be is a spoiled rich brat who takes pleasure in putting others down." Spyro said, sensing the anger in Diamond Tiara rise. "Besides, this is supposed to be a cutie-ceañera, a party where you're supposed to show off your mark, so why are you hiding it behind a dress in the first place? And, what's your special talent again? Being a spoiled brat?"
Everyone started to laugh as he was talking, Diamond Tiara's temper about to boil over and charge, but Spyro just stood there, happy to see the bully for once being laughed at until he felt something outside, looking over to see what he felt, but saw nothing. Before he could investigate, eveyrone was crowding around them, laughing and having a good time with Apple Bloom and her new friends, which brought a smile to his heart and to him, looking up to Diamond Tiara, who looked angry and furious, walking away from her own party. For the rest of the day, everyone was enjoying themselves, with Spyro being with the three fillies at a table to themselves, but he couldn't help but think back to what he felt as it was a kind of darkness he didn't feel before, it was far angrier, more fearful and filled with rage.
"Now that we're friends, we should form our own group." Scootaloo suggested.
"Yeah, like our own secret group." Sweetie Belle said. "We can work together to find out what our special talents are.'
"But what will we need a name of our group." Scootaloo said. "We could call ourselves The Cutie Mark Three!"
"Or, maybe the Cutastically Fantastics."
"Nah, both of those don't sound right." Spyro said. "How about, The Cutie Mark Crusaders?"
"That's perfect!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. :The Cutie Mark Crusaders. friends 'til the end!"
Spyro was smiling, happy that Apple Bloom had some new friends she could play with and was happy she was no longer depressed. A second later, he heard hoof steps approaching them and turned to see Applejack and Twilight coming to them.
"Hey Spyro." Twilight said. "Didn't think you'd be here."
"And Ah didn't think ya'll would get under Diamond tiara's skin like that." Applejack said. "She's angrier than a nest f hornets fending off a bear."
"Well, what can I say, I hate bullies." Spyro replied, grabbing a nearby cupcake. "Anyway, let's not dwell on the rich kids and celebrate Apple Blooms new friendship with these cupcakes."
"No wait!" Apple Bloom said, trying to stop him, but was too late as he took a bit.
His face turned from delight, but turned into absolute disgust as he took a bite of the cupcake and spat it out in the closest trashcan, recoiling in horror at the taste.
"Ugh, remind me of those cupcakes AJ made during Applebuck season." Spyro said, everyone but Applejack laughing at the memory.
"Yeah... Ah kinda made those yesterday." Apple Bloom said. "Ah wanted to get a cutie mark for makin' cupcakes and... those were what came out."
"Well, one thing's for sure, you ain't getting a cutie mark in baking." Spyro said, throwing the horrible pastry away. "Please tell me you didn't make the cookies."
"Nah, Pinkie made those earlier today." Apple Bloom replied.
"Good because if the cookies were ruined too, I am going to break something." Spyro said, everyone laughing at his comment.
As the party was ending, everyone was leaving the store, Spyro looked around to see where that darkness was coming from, but didn't feel it again when he was outside, making him worry. He then looked to everyone leaving, seeing all the happy faces and decided to let it go and not spoil his and everyone else's day. He walked back to Applejack and his friends, smiling in contempt when he noticed something missing, or rather somepony. He looked around and saw that Scootaloo was getting onto her scooter, but looked at the families, sensing her unhappiness and left, feeling bad.
"Hey Spyro!" Apple Bloom shouted, getting his attention. "Ya coming?"
"Yeah, give me a minute." Spyro said. "I felt something off in town and want to check it out before heading back."
Without waiting for a word, he took off into the air and tried to follow the scooter riding pegasus, but lost her when he passed through a bunch of clouds, loosing sight of her. He stopped and hovered in the air, looking around to find her again, but no dice and gave up until he spotted their teacher Ms. Cheerilee, an earth pony mare with a Carissa colored coat with a mane colored Azalea and Vanilla Ice with three smiling flowers on her flank walking through town with a basket full of groceries. He landed just in front of her, startling her so bad that she nearly dropped her groceries as she bowed to him.
"Your highness." She said. "I am honored."
"Please rise Miss Cheerilee." Spyro said. "I need to talk to you about somepony."
"Oh, who?" Miss Cheerilee asked, walking home with the prince next to her.
"I think you might know her." Spyro replied. "She's a little orange pegasus filly by the name of Scootaloo."
As soon as he mentioned the fillies name, he could sense some sadness in the teacher, her eyes looking down in sadness as if a bad memory came back to her, putting her basket on her back to talk freely.
"It's best we talk somewhere more private." She said. "My place isn't too far from here. We can talk there."
The two of them walked together to her house, drawing eyes from the crowd as they walked together, hoping to get the answers he needs about the young filly and why she seemed sad after the party.