Inkwell's Origin

I fallow Derpy through town, very unsure about the place called Sugarcube Corner. I mean, why do they call it something so sweet and cute? Well, this whole world is cute...so...I really should've expected a name like Sugarcube Corner to exist in a world like this.

Suddenly we stopped at probably the most mouth watering building I ever laid my eyes upon. In fact, I think it is the only building that I would actually want to eat at this point!

"Here we are!" Derpy exclaimed.

The building looks just like a real life gingerbread house, like the one from Hansel and Gretel. It looks so real I want to take a bite out of it right now! But of course, I knew better.

The two of us go inside and we are greeted by two adorable foals, one a boy pegasus, the other a girl unicorn. They were messing around with some toys, a rattle and a toy butterfly. They were so adorable.

"Aw..." Derpy went up to them, "Hi Pound Cake! Hi Pumpkin Cake! she crouched down as the two foals ran to her giggling. Derpy giggles back, "Now, where are your parents?"

Just as Derpy ends the sentence, a pink mare with a bouncy curly mane bounces to the cash register from the doors of the kitchen.

"Oh! Mr. and Mrs. Cake went out for a few seconds, they'll be back!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

Derpy grinned and approaches the counter and I fallow, "Hiya Pinkie Pie!" I smile at Pinkie and wave to her as Derpy put three gold coins on the counter, "I'll take a blueberry muffin with extra cinnamon," she points to me, "And my friend over there would like a-" Derpy was cut off by Pinkie Pie gasping at the sight of me and dashing away.

I am now confused, "What was that about?"

Derpy giggles, "Oh don't worry about it! She's just being Pinkie Pie!"

This made me even more confused, "Okay...?"

Suddenly a couple, a blue mare with a pink hairdo and an orange colt enter the store. They take their positions at the cash register without a second thought, "Oh dear, where is Pinkie?" the blue mare asks.

Derpy pointed to the door, "She left a few seconds ago Mrs. Cake, she'll be back."

The orange colt took the two foals by the scruff gently and took them to another back room. A play room by the looks of it.

Mrs. Cake sighed, "Oh that Pinkie Pie, I assume she saw your new friend," she said while looking at me. Mrs Cake extended her hoof to me, "My name is Mrs. Cake!  My husband, Mr Cake, is putting the foals down for their nap!"

I shake her hoof as she pulls out a notepad and a pen, "So, what will it be for you two today?"

Derpy smiles, "I'll take the usual!"

I look over the menu for a few seconds before deciding, "I'll take an apple muffin please."

Mrs. Cake scribbles down our order before looking at me and adding, "Good choice! We are receiving a fresh shipment of apples from Sweet Apple Acres today, so the muffins will be fresh from the oven!" With that, she retreats in to the kitchen.

Derpy and I take our seats at a table and wait for a good long while.

"So...any luck getting your memory back?" Derpy asks.

I shake my head, "No…"

Derpy smiles, "Don't worry, I'm sure your memory will come back!"

"I hope so too, because all this thinking is really hurting my head!"

Derpy was thinking to herself for a few minutes, finally she says, "Well… Did you look at your cutie mark?"

Cutie Mark?

"Um...a cutie mark?" I ask, shortly it is a very important thing.

Derpy narrowed her eyes, "You really hit your head, didn't you?" she points to my flank, "A cutie mark is a mark that stands for your talent! Take mine for example!" she points to her own flank.

I look at it closely, there was a picture of seven bubbles on her flank. It was very fascinating.

"My cutie mark is bubbles! I forgot what it stands for, maybe it's because of my bubbly personality!" Derpy explains, "So, what is your talent?"

I take a look at my own flank, to discover that it was blank! "I....I don't have a cutie mark...!"

Derpy looks at my flank and gasps, "You don't! You're a blank flank!"

I had heard that name before, it's what the Flim Flam Brothers called me. I ask, "What's a blank flank?"

"A blank flank is what they call ponies with no cutie mark, it essentially means that they have no talent. It's a pretty big insult!" Derpy explains.

I look down at my hooves which were rested on the table, "Oh...so... In order for me to discover who I am, and avoid being picked on, I have to get a cutie mark?" I look at Derpy, "So... How do I get a cutie mark? Do I go to some special store or do I draw it on?"

Derpy stifled back a laugh, "You don't buy a cutie mark, silly! You earn it!"

I laugh at my own embarrassment, "Oh... So how do I earn it?"

Derpy smiled and explains, "Well, first you need to find your talent! You can do anything, but your cutie mark will appear on your flank when you discover what you were meant to do!"

I smile, "That seems hard, but it could hold the key toward my past..."

"Yeah! It really could!" she narrowed her eyes, "And I know just the group to help you!"

My ears prick up, "Group?"

Suddenly, an orange mare with a cowboy hat and three apples for a cutie mark entered the store with three crates of apples tied on a rope.

"Mrs. Cake? Ah got the apples ya ordered!"

"Mrs. Cake enters with Derpy's muffin, "Oh yes, Applejack! Put the apples on the counter! I'll be with you in a minute!" she comes over to our table and gives Derpy her muffin, who began eating it immediately. Mrs. Cake goes to the counter, takes the crates of fresh fruit, gives Applejack a small sack of coins, "Here you go dear! Have a nice day!"

"You too Mrs. Cake! See ya!" Applejack then started to walk out the door.

Suddenly, Derpy stops Applejack, "Hey Applejack! You got a minute?"

Applejack looks our way and trots over to us, "Of course Derpy! What do ya need?"

"My friend here is new here in town, she seems to have lost her memory and she has no cutie mark..." Derpy explained.

Applejack looked at me, "Aww...I'm sorry to hear that sugarcube..."

Derpy looks at me, "Yeah..." she looks back at Applejack, "Anyways, do you think the Cutie Mark Crusaders could help a mare out?"

Applejack grins hugely as she replies, "Well, I think if me and your friend talk to Applebloom, ah'm sure she'll help out!"

"Great!" Derpy glances at me, "I would love to help out more, but...I have somewhere to be in an hour...." she points to Applejack, "You listen to her, and you'll be okay!"

I nod as Derpy stands up and trots to the door, "Okay Derpy...can we hang out later...?"

"Sure!" and with that, Derpy left.

Mrs. Cake serves me my muffin, and I eat it quickly so me and Applejack can leave.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

After some more walking, we reach a vast land filled with acres upon acres of apple trees!

"Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! The first farm in Ponyville!"

My jaw drops, "It's so huge!" I exclaim.

Applejack lets out a laugh, "Breathtakin', isn't it?"

I nod, it definitely was!

Applejack takes me all the way to the red barn, where an old green mare with a pie cutie mark was sitting in a rocking chair on a porch.

Applejack approaches the mare, "Granny? Have you seen Applebloom anywhere?"

The only response was a loud snore, it was clear that Granny was asleep.

Applejack rolls her eyes, "Granny!" she shouts.

"Hm...? What now?" Granny snaps awake.

Applejack plants her hoof on her forehead before turning to a red stallion with a green apple cutie mark pulling a wooden cart of apples, "Big Mac? Where is Applebloom?"

Big Mac points to the inside of the barn, the hey loft, and the two of us head inside.

Applejack looked around, "Applebloom?" Ah need to talk to ya about something!"

A young southern voice answers the call, "Yeah Applejack?"