Unicorns: Ponies that have the ability to use magic. The horn on their forehead enables them to tap into ethereal forces that enable them to manipulate the world around them. Star Swirl the Bearded is renowned as being the most powerful unicorn to have existed, creating over one hundred spells….
Shadows crept down the windowsill towards my desk. They danced about as the wind brushed against the small branches of the two trees outside my window. Those shadows had lengthened quite a bit since I awoke earlier that morning. While the sun continued its ascent into the sky and the shadows on my lengthened, my eyes glanced over each passage in the book that I was assigned for Ms. Cheerilee’s class.
Pegasi: Ponies who are graced with the ability to fly. They are most noted for their innate magical abilities to manipulate weather with the added ability to stand and walk on clouds. Several, if not all, are born with a fondness for the sky, which some believe instinctual….
Pieces from each page caught my eye, and I jotted them down; off to my right, the notes had the appearance of a miniature novel. Though our homework wasn’t due for three days, it seemed to be one of the few things that kept my mind pre-occupied.
Earth: Ponies born with longevity, strength, and knowledge of the ground beneath their hooves. It should also be noted that they have an innate talent to communicate with animals. Notable creatures that are possibly beyond this influence are mythical beings such as the rare, dangerous, unpredictable Ursa Major….
While I tried to overlook the knock on the door to my bedroom, I couldn’t ignore the tomb that now levitated in front of me. The pencil in my mouth was removed as well. Though she believed in my studies, I remembered my unicorn mother’s words about a well rounded “equine” needing equal work and play. My bag floated into the air. The book placed inside. My black pencil tucked inside as well.
“Go outside and play. Your homework will still be here when you get back.” My unicorn mother said with a gentle smile. She levitated the bag to the hanger on the back of my door, one she knew I couldn’t reach.
I descended the two small steps at the chair of my desk. Tomes lined the four shelves of two bookcases near the foot of my bed, and the three shelves of the two bookcases off to the right of my desk. A few scrolls were in the lower cabinet. All of them were borrowed from the Ponyville library. As the smell of fresh toasted wafted through the doorway to my room, I proceeded down the short hallway to the table.
My earth pony big sister wasn’t there. Her cheery grin seemed natural. She would always give it to me when we passed one another when she was home. The modeling job in Canterlot always demanded the best. Today, my mother seemed to be the only pony home since she had vacation time from Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.
A swift pat came to my head. I looked up. My pegasus father reiterated something similar to what my mother said while he put me on his back and took me to the front door. He brushed me outside with his soft, strong wing. With that final pat to my head, I turned to see the door close behind him. The cloud overhead received a heavy blow as my father gave a final flap of his wings, propelling him towards the horizon; he rocketed towards his job at the Wonderbolt Academy.
As I meandered through the streets of Ponyville, my namesake on my back, tree limbs swayed in the gentle breeze. A gentle breeze came down from the mountain where Canterlot resided while clouds drifted in the calm wind. My usual spot under a shady tree near the fountain was open. Day after day I found it open. The spot appeared chosen for me.
I could see my classmates chat, laugh, and play with one another. Today was a perfect day. Today, I guess, would be the perfect day if I were a pony like my fellow classmates. That is if I could call myself their classmates.
It had been the twentieth time I read that book for Ms. Cheerilee’s class. I refined my notes each time I read the book. One passage stuck in my mind. I didn’t need the book in front of me to remember it.
One thing unites all ponies in Equestria: their innate talents and abilities manifested in the form of a mark on their flank. A pony’s ‘Cutie Mark’ symbolizes a special time in their lives. Earned in fillyhood or colthood, the symbol helps to guide them throughout the rest of their journey.
I remembered that passage in particular. Like a stubborn splinter, it stuck in my mind. Maybe it was more like the thirtieth time I read those passages about unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies since I received the medium sized book. All ponies are special in their own right, yet they’re united. They’re all equal in the common fact they earn something special in their lives.
Even with this calm air I cannot grasp it. Those fillies and colts play with each other. They’re all happy. Each of them is “content” with their fates spread out before them. A pegasus and unicorn; a pegasus and earth; a pegasus, unicorn, and earth. I can’t shake all the times I’ve seen these fillies and colts that play with one another despite their differences. The fact—
“Hi!” An energetic voice said to me. She ran, headed towards the fountain.
Diatomaceous, right she likes to be called Dia, waved at me as she stopped for a quick second. She turned. The filly darted towards the others that played near the fountain. I’m surprised Dia noticed me. Did she? Yup, she got it. That’s another one down. Now she’s bolted towards another group at the fountain. I can see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in the class ahead of us being thrilled as ever.
Why should I care? Those things, those cutie marks – I guess that a donkey, a short donkey like me will never understand.
“Mind if I take a seat?” A voice said. The old donkey tapped down on his blond colored hairpiece. With a stretch he sat down while I my eyes re-fixated on the fountain. “I’m Cranky. Well, I used to be a crank anyways. What’s your name, kid?”
“Soapbox,” I said, letting out a slow yawn. Dia continued to smile from what I could see. She had a happy demeanor about her, even towards me. To earn a cutie mark, what would mine be? It’s ignorant for me to think about such things. I’ll never earn one no matter what I do. Rubbish.
“Your name is Soapbox?” Cranky said. “Where did you get a name like that, kid?”
I reached my left hoof over the side of the box I laid on and tapped on the logo. I guess my mother was being cute. She joked about how I always stood on it when I wanted to make a point, even when I was little. Or, I should say when I was littler than what I am now.
“I know that look all too well, kid. These are just the words of an old codger, take em as you will, but you should step. Or take two steps back. Examine life and more than what is in front of you. It will only cause trouble if you fixate on something for too long.” Cranky said, after giving a slow and quiet “o” sound to me.
“What does it mean to earn a cutie mark?” I said. I glanced over at him then turned my gaze back towards Dia. I watched her continue to frolic about, beaming with delight at her new destiny; a rock with a shovel embedded into it.
“Don’t know. I don’t have a use for one. Even if a donkey could earn one, what would they do with it?” He said. Both of us saw another donkey walk up, a shawl draped around her neck. “Hello Matilda. Did you get the new plates?”
She nodded at him. A small snap broke the silence. Matilda smiled, gave a gentle sigh, and then pressed on Cranky’s back.
“Thanks Honey.” He said. “Look, Soapbox, just take my advice.”
“What advice would that be?” Matilda said.
“I just wanted to know what it means to earn a cutie mark, ma'am.” I said, trying to be polite.
Matilda gave a semi-stern look to Cranky, who slinked back a bit, before she turned to me, giving a kind smirk. As he took the plates from her and headed off, she sat beside me. “Don’t mind Cranky. He’s still a bit cantankerous, but I love him.”
It seems that even princesses have their cutie marks. They ponies rise above all others; like that one unicorn did in Ponyville when she became a princess. I guess all ponies are happy. They’re lucky. Even the sad ones are happy on the inside, having magic to help them out.
“Ahem”
That stern was now directed at me. Matilda nodded as I raised my head. “I have several friends here in Ponyville. One of my best friends is a mare named Pinkie Pie. We’ve known each other for longer than I can remember. Do you think she cares if I have a cutie mark, or if I’m a pony like her?”
I shrugged. “It’s just that my big sister, mother and father all have theirs. What does it mean to earn one?”
“As Cranky more than likely said, ‘I wouldn’t know.’ I do have one thing to ask. What would it do for you that can’t be done on your own?” Matilda said. Her pearls of wisdom given, their color not like the white near translucent ones around her neck, she gave a final smile before she departed. Down the street, a pink mare waved at her before the pony darted towards her. I guess that’s the “Pinkie Pie” she talked about.
Questions were stubborn weeds in that endless field of my mind, little answers to get rid of them. I slinked down off my box and headed into Ponyville. The other ponies paid little to no attention to me. Griphons are gifted with flight like Pegasi ponies. Minotaurs are strong creatures from the tales I’ve read. Zebras have their natural talents with potions and incantations from the new text books we were given at school; I witnessed that with my own eyes when Zecora performed those magnificent tricks during Nightmare Night.
That monster with the red face and hooves, I’ll never forget him. I watched that essence fly from my family, yet I remained untouched. My mother told me to hide. The monster overheard. He me. He looked down on me with those fierce golden eyes that glowed hotter than the sun.
“It has nothing. Not a shred of magic in its body. Even if it did, that thing wouldn’t have enough in it to conjure up a tooth pick to pick my teeth with.” He said to me. The creature left with that misshapen entity behind him, the weird entity eating a butter soaked popcorn bag.
I still can’t understand. I knew I was different, but, how, just how is it possible that a pegasus stallion and a unicorn mare conceived a donkey?!
The streets through Ponyville continued to twist and turn til I found myself at the old site of the library I borrowed books from. Though I found myself spooked, that dragon did help me get my library card. His expression was kinda funny, I guess. Those eyes widened, and he gave the blankest stare towards me. It was comical when he asked me to repeat my request for so many books, about twenty five in total. Took me close to an hour but I dragged all of them home. Glad I managed to do something right when I told Spike I still had all those books kept safe in my room, including the extra ten or so he let “slip” by and got yelled at for.
Those three fillies passed by; the “Cutie Mark Crusaders” they called themselves, always had some scheme. Though Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom don’t have their cutie marks, each of them possess the chance to earn one. Pegasus, Unicorn, and Earth pony united in one common goal.
“Why should I care?” I mutter to myself in a hushed breath.
Another thing that ponies seemed graced in are their dreams. I overheard the cutie mark crusaders. Scootaloo received a visit in her dreams from Princess Luna, same for Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom said she would receive one since all ponies get a visit from her. Of course, “all ponies” being the word. Those words my mother tells me of Princess Luna taking away my woes when I shut my eyes are just nonsense. She would never venture into my dreams. Well, if I had any dreams to speak of since I closed my eyes to darkness and awake to chirping birds.
*** *** ***
The house was quiet. My mother came from behind the corner, nuzzled me, and proceeded towards the kitchen. She levitated the box off my back. With it placed in the corner, all of us sat at the table. My big sister was home for a brief week of recess before she had to return. The young mare slid tickets to my mother and father, then a final one to me.
“Front row seat as usual, ‘soapy.’” She smiled towards me.
“Thanks,” I said. My false smile could fool a con-artist, or a lawyer.
With the dinner polished off, we headed towards our rooms. I moved up those steps towards my desk. The book, pencil, and my notes were back on it. That all too familiar knock came to my door and I turned.
“May I come in?” A voice said. Shocked would be an appropriate word as I saw Spike enter. “I’m here to pick up those books. I mean, if you don’t mind.”
“No,” I said. After I pointed out each one, he darted towards them. All of the books were put onto the floor before my mother entered. I watched her nod while the horn on top of her head illuminated with that same cyan colored glow. All of them disappeared with a flash, a faint light emanating from outside my window. “Thanks for letting me borrow them.”
“That saved me a load of work.” Spike said. He darted off but stopped. The little dragon turned around and said, “Thanks for keeping them safe. Also, thanks for the help Mrs. Tome.”
My mother and I watched the dragon struggle, staring at him through the window of my room that faced the road leading towards Ponyville. I resumed my studies as my mother vanished, appearing outside to help Spike.
The clock in the dining room chimed nine times. After I closed my book, I hopped down off the desk chair, slid it back into position, and headed towards the bathroom. I soon found it time to “wake up” with everything winding down for the night. My heavy eyelids slipped, and I found myself in the darkness once more. Soon, I awoke to those same chirping birds outside.
I guess it’s time for school, time to learn about how “special” every pony is in Equestria.