Unsupervised Cutie Marks

by Tallrascha

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders
Length: 2655

After the Cutie Mark crusaders prove what they learned at 'Twilight Time' Twilight lets the go use their newfound skills. What on earth could go wrong?

After the Cutie Mark crusaders prove what they learned at 'Twilight Time' Twilight lets the go use their newfound skills. It's not like anything bad can happen, right?

This is my first story
it was written for Equestria Daily's Writer's Training Ground #009: "Twilight Time"
any constructive criticism would be highly appreciated.

Published 2014-02-28 00:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-28 00:00:01 UTC

Chapter 1

It was early afternoon as Twilight reached the market. She had had some ‘Twilight Time’ planned with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, but after they had shown just how skilled they had become Twilight had suggested they should try to see what they could do with their newfound skills. She would have to find some new things for them to learn before their next meeting.

To be honest Twilight was amazed how much progress those three fillies had made in the past few weeks. Especially since they had all but wasted two of those weeks. Oh well, at least they learned a valuable lesson in the progress.

“Hey Twilight” a voice behind Twilight said. She turned and saw Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down.

“Hi Pinkie. What’s up?”

“Oh nothing much. But I did get this really big carrot, which made me think maybe I should try to make carrot cupcakes or maybe carrot muffins. Last time I tried carrot cupcakes they didn’t taste very good but maybe if I use more sugar.”

Twilight looked around but couldn’t see any carrots. “Pinkie… I don’t see any carrots.”

“Well duh.” Pinkie pie said rummaging in her mane. “I can’t bounce if I don’t have my hooves free.” She exclaimed happily pulling a carrot that was almost as long as she was out of her mane.

“But… How… Where did you-” Twilight took a deep breath. It was just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie. Do NOT question it.

“I bought it from Carrot Top over there” Pinkie said stuffing the carrot back into her mane. “She was selling them for only five bits for a carrot.”

“Ok, thanks Pinkie.”

The pink party pony bounced off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. Moving through the crow she made her way to Carrot Tops stand. As she got closer she realized there was a large group of ponies surrounding the farm mare’s stand. Twilight squeezed her way through the crowd. She could barely move for the sheer amount of ponies there. There were even two ponies with unicycles trying to ride through the crowd, not that they could even make it into the crowd. Some ponies just didn’t seem to have any common sense.

The crowd was soon getting on Twilights nerves but before she could Teleport herself to the front a loud voice screamed over the group. “QUIEEEET!” Instantly everything became completely still. In the front Carrot Top could be seen nostrils still flaring. “For the last time, I am out of giant carrots! Now anypony not wanting to buy please leave.”

Grumbling the crowd disperse leaving Twilight alone. Carrot Tops ears drooped, mourning the loss of so many customers but her eyes brightened as she realized Twilight had stayed.

“Hi Twilight, what can I get you today?” Carrot top asked eagerly.

“Hi Carrot Top. I would like something that no other pony in Ponyville can offer me.”

“Then how about a purple potato?” The farm mare said revealing the same purple potato she always offered Twilight.

“I was actually thinking of something with livelier colours.”

“So the usual?”

Twilight gave a quick chuckle at their usual banter, “Yes please.”

The mare gave a small laugh as she packed some carrots into a bag and set them on the table. Twilight put them into her bags and levitated some bits out.
“So where is spike? I was expecting him today.” Carrot top asked taking the bits.

“Well, after the whole nacho incident last week I promised him I would take care of the groceries.”

“Nacho incident?”

“Don’t ask…” Twilight sighed, „by the way, where did you get those giant carrots?”

“I actually don’t know. I was just minding my own business when suddenly one of my barrels burst open spilling them out.”

“Well… that’s fortunate.” Twilight said worried that Applebloom might have gone overboard.

“Sure is. I’ve been having trouble getting sales since the Apples won that contest.”

Twilight said her farewells and made her way to the Apples stand. She would buy the nachos later, for now she wanted to check up on Applebloom. The carrot thing was probably the fillies potions at work, and it did help Carrot Top. It’s not like that filly would do anything to drastic, would she?

At the Apples stand Big Macintosh stood selling apples.

“Hi Big Mac. Have you seen applebloom?” Twilight asked.

“Nope.”

“Ok, how about Scootaloo or Sweetie Bell?”

“Yup.” Big Macintosh said pointing to a scooter so large, even he could have used it.

“Oh, did Scootaloo give you that?”

“Yup.”

“How nice of her.”

Big Mac gave an annoyed sigh as he pointed behind him. There his cart stood, but two wheels where missing.

“Oh…” Twilight said wide-eyed, “I’ll go find her and we will get your wagon fixed.”

“Thank you.”

Twilight hurried off to find Scootaloo. At least nothing big has gone wrong. She thought to herself. I just have to find that filly before she does anything that couldn’t be fixed.

“AAAAAAHHHH”

Twilight froze. That was Rarity. Something horrible must have happened. She galloped to Carousel Boutique as fast as her hooves would carry her. She burst through the door. Rarity stood in the centre of the room, frozen.

“Rarity, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked full of worry.

“Of all the things that could happen, this is the WORST POSSIBLE THING!” Rarity screamed pulling up a couch and mock-fainting into it.

Twilight gave a sigh of relief. It couldn’t be that bad if Rarity could still be so theatrical.

“Rarity, you scared me half to death. What is wrong this time?”

“My herbs, they are gone!”

“Your herbs?”

“YES!” Rarity exclaimed lifting an empty container. “I always stored it up on the rafter.”

“Why do you have herbs stored up there?”

“They were some rare herbs I bought for my tea.”

“Oh no… Please tell me you didn’t have any bluebell seeds!”

“Actually, Zecora brought me some this morning.”

“Oh no… I have to go.”

Twilight teleported herself into the Library. “SPIKE!” she called panicked.

“Ugh…” Spike grunted climbing out of a pile of books. “Twilight, what’s wrong?”

“No time to rest Spike,” She said looking through the books. Finding ‘Advanced growth Recipes’ she gave a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”

“Um Twi… do I have to write Princess Celestia again.”

“Oh, sorry Spike.” Twilight said with a bashful smile. “I just thought the girls were making a potion out of this book.”

“Oh yea, Applebloom was here a few minutes ago. The alchemy set is still set up over there.”

Twilight trotted to the alchemy set. Carefully she inspected the assorted beakers and vials. She did a quick check, noting all the used ingredients. Levitating the book out she quickly found the potion that had been brewed.

“Oh no…” She said dropping the book on the floor.

“Everything okay Twilight?”

“No… I have to go find Applebloom.”

Twilight ran out of the Library only to trip over a scooter that somepony had carelessly put in front of her door. “I don’t have time for this…” She grumbled as she teleported herself to the nearest rooftop. With a series of short flashes she jumped from rooftop to rooftop searching the town for Applebloom.

“Twilight, come quick!” Twilight spun around. Behind her Rainbow dash hovered a panicked expression upon her face.

“Oh what now!” Twilight yelled in frustration, “What’s wrong?”

“The generator at the clinic is broken!”

“Ok… I can fix this… Rainbow, go to the Library and tell Spike to get ‘A simple guide to generator repair for every mare’.” Twilight said before she teleported herself to the Clinic.

The halls were full of doctors and nurses rushing through the halls. Doctor stables was standing in the centre of the hall doing his best to organize the chaos. He directed her to the cellar where the generator was. Twilight was expecting something bad. What she saw was worse. Scootaloo sat in front of an open hatch fumbling with small nuts and bolts. Smoke was rising from the machine and puddles of oil marred the pristine floor.

“Scootaloo!” Twilight called.

The filly turned to Twilight tears welling up in her eyes. “Twilight!” she cried running up to the purple mare and burying her face in her chest. “I’m so sorry! I just wanted to fix it. Some ponies said the generator was making weird sounds and it looked so easy in the book.”

Finally Twilight noticed the book lying beside the open hatch. She scanned the open page and noticed the displayed schematics were of a different generator model. Taking a deep breath Twilight embraced Scootaloo and brushed her mane, “its ok. Let’s just get this fixed for now.”

“Ok.” The filly said through her sobs.

Twilight and Scootaloo sat down and began working on the generator. When Rainbow arrived Twilight sent her off to get some more books. Within minutes they were surrounded by a multitude of books. Under Twilights watchful eye and with Rainbow Dashs encouragement they quickly made progress. Before half an hour had passed the generator let out a rumbling as it finally started up again. Both Twilight and Scootaloo stretched and did their best to wipe the grime off of themselves. With a sigh of relief Twilight was just preparing to lecture the little filly when a sharp scream punctuated the air.

“Oh, please don’t be Applebloom.” Twilight said not wanting to even think about what was going on outside. “Rainbow, can you take Scootaloo to the library?”

“Got it Twi.” Rainbow answered giving Twilight a salute with her wing.

Twilight stormed out of the library only to stop in her tracks. In the next street a giant daisy loomed. It was at least twice as tall as her library, but between the petals there was an enormous mouth large enough to swallow a pony whole. It stretched and contorted before fixating on Twilight. Ever so slowly it bent to her opening its giant maw. The purple mare froze up. She didn’t know what to do.

Just before the maw engulfed Twilight the plant reared back and from it erupted a deep, horrifying roar.
“Giddy up big daisy!” A light orange mare hollered riding the daisy like a baby dragon riding a bucking stallion.

Twilight, finally snapped out of it, took to the air. “Applejack! What are you doing?”

“Having a gosh darn rodeo!” Applejack called back, “Now how about lending a hoof?”

“Oh… Um…” Twilight said, her mind racing. There had to be something she could do. “Aha! Got it”

Twilight landed on the gravel in front of the plant. Vaguely she noticed a pony standing near her mumbling, “My daisies…”

Concentrating her magic she cast a relatively simple spell. Gathering enough magical energy she unleashed a torrent of magic cutting the giant plant cleanly in half just above where Applejack hung.
“Well ain’t that something.” The orange mare said letting out a low whistle, “If that wasn’t easier than I thought it was going to be.” Suddenly from the cut two new stems sprouted extending into the sky. From each a new mouth unfolded at the head. “Whoa Nelly” Applejack shouted as the plant thrashed back and forth even stronger than it had before. The orange mare bit into the rope only barely catching herself before she was flung of. “Twi, I think we need a new flan!” she said through clenched teeth.

Twilight was stumped. How was she supposed to stop this thing? Looking around for something, anything, she saw Applebloom cowering under a table. With a bright flash she teleported to the young filly.

“Applebloom! What did you do?”

“I’m sorry Twilight! The book said it would make the plant strong, and daisy said her plants looked so week. I didn’t know this would happen!”

“It’s okay Applebloom, just what was in that potion?”

The young mare recited a list of ingredients and Twilight instantly knew what had happened. “Applebloom, did you grind the bluebell seeds?”

“I powdered them.”

“Ok… Applebloom, when you powder bluebell seeds the hormones in the seed stay intact.”

“Oh, so that means the…”

“Exactly!” Twilight exclaimed happily, “do you know how to fix it?”

“There was a potion in the book for it.”

“Very good, I’m going to teleport you to the library. Hurry up and brew that potion. Tell Rainbow to bring it here when you are done.”

Without waiting for an answer a bright light enveloped Applebloom. She turned to the giant daisy, or now rather the giant daisIES. For the better part of five minutes Twilight flew around the flower distracting it as much as possible. With both her an Applejack they were able to stop the plant from destroying too much before Rainbow arrived. After giving Rainbow quick instructions she gathered all her magic and held the plant in place. Rainbow flew strait at it at full speed only rearing away at the last second throwing the potion into its gaping maw. Letting out a painful screech the plant shrank until it was just barely as big as Twilight herself.

“Thank goodness that’s over.” Twilight said sighing with relief.

“Mind telling me what that was all about?” Applejack asked.

“I’ll explain It later, first I have to find Sweetie belle before anything else happens.”

“Sweetie?” A voice behind Twilight asked. Turning around she saw Rarity standing there confused. “She went to the optician a while ago. She said something about wanting to help that old stallion.”

“Oh no…” Twilight said before she bolted.

Galloping through the town she soon found the opticians. Carefully she opened the door fearing what she would find inside.

“Good day.” A happy, elderly Stallion said from behind the counter. “Oh hello Princess. How can I help you today?”

“I was actually looking for a friend of mine. A small filly named Sweetie Bell. Have you seen her?”

“Oh, the little one.” The old stallion said with a warm smile. He walked out from behind his counter revealing a cast around his left foreleg. “Sweetie Belle, could you come out for a minute, a friend of yours is here.” He called warmly.

Sweetie Belle came out. She looked exhausted but happy. “Oh, hi Twilight. I was just helping Mr. Cornea sort his inventory.”

“So you didn’t do anything else today?” Twilight asked raising her eyebrow?

“Well, I did help Applebloom get some stuff for her potion.”

“Sweetie Belle, you can’t just take things without asking.”

Sweetie Belle looked at the floor, her ears pressed against her head. “I’m sorry, but Applebloom said she needed the seeds to make the daisies strong again.”

“Sweetie, I’m going to let you stay here, but later, you are going to tell Rarity what you did. Ok?”

“Ok Twilight.”

Twilight left the store and made her way to the Library. Sweetie Belle hat surprised her. If Applebloom and Scootaloo had caused such problems, she had expected the little unicorn to blow up a house or something. As she entered the library she was greeted by three angry mares glaring at her.

“What were you thinking?!” Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash yelled. Twilight stumbled back surprised at her friends outburst.

“Darling, you know you can’t leave those three unsupervised.” Rarity said.

“I’m sorry girls. I know, I was just so proud of them.” Twilight said ears drooping, “They made such progress and I wanted them to see what they could do. I shouldn’t have left them alone. Wait… where are they?”

“We sent them home sugar cube.” Applejack said, “That is after we gave them a little talking to.”

“Good. I’m sorry girls, I’m really tired. Do you mind if I lie down a bit?”

“Sure thing Twi.” Rainbow answered.

“But don’t think we are not going to talk about this.” Rarity interjected.

The girls left the library. Twilight went upstairs and laid down in bed. She had had an exhausting day and soon fell into a deep sleep.