Twelve Lil' Fillies

Apple Bloom was whining, lifting up two heavy buckets of apples on her back. Applejack was next to her, about to buck off the last apples of the last tree in the whole orchard of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Hold right there, sugarcube," soothed her big sister, Applejack. "just about... urr... ten more apples to go." She arranged her bucking position and WHAM! The apples flew right off of the tree and into the bucket. Apple Bloom fell onto the ground, with the two buckets in the air, luckily landing on a crate of cider.

"Aah, yes, the buckets knew! Why don't we have something to eat?" asked Applejack. "I'm pretty sure Apple Fritter visited... Let me go check." Applejack walked into the barn, which was followed by a faint squeal of joy. "Yep! She's here! And she brought some of her delicious Apple Fritter!" Apple Bloom's eyes widened, but only to be followed by a swift pinch on the cheek. Her face changed completely to look like a Diamond Dog with no gems.

"Let me guess, she put that stuff I don't like in it?" Applejack nodded. "Why can't she make it without cherries? I've seen her do it before but she hasn't made any without cherries ever since." Her big sister walked over to the Kitchen.

"She 'dun want ya eating the whole thing!" Applejack said it as if Apple Bloom was crazy, but she didn't lighten up one bit. "Now don't you do that face at me, I've seen it quite enough today. Do I need to tell Big McIntosh on you?"

"Grr... No." Apple Bloom growled, but Apple Fritter interrupted her.

"The apple fritter's at the table! Served with a gob of maple!" she sung delightedly, but Apple Bloom thought it was a tad interesting.

"Hey, Zecora speaks like that! She likes to rhyme all the time!" Applejack facehoofed herself and dragged Apple Bloom out of the barn. "Well, while I'm out here, I may as well do something useful." She looked at the wide expanse of trees, but one wasn't the same. It had a red speck on it. An apple! Apple Bloom trotted over to the tree, thinking to herself how she could get to it. She tried bucking it down, but her little hooves were far too weak. She tried using unicorn magic, but she forgot that she was an earth pony, and blushed slightly. Then she saw a ladder leaning against the tree. She pushed the ladder over to the side and climbed up wearily.  She picked the apple, but something was flashing on her rear. Apple Bloom squinted her eyes, but still couldn't see through the strange strobe light on her flank. Then she realised what was happening. As soon as the Mark appeared, she glanced at it and yelled at all of Equestria.

"I JUST HAD TO PICK AN APPLE? THAT'S ALL I HAD TO DO?" Apple Bloom calmed down. "I could've done that when I was two! My destiny can't be picking apples... no... no..." she grapped her flank and tried to rip the Cutie Mark right off, but it wasn't magic, paint, not even a prank from Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash. It was a true Cutie Mark.