Chapter Five: We Are The Cutie Mark Crusaders!

When I awoke, I still didn't have anything planned. I asked Mrs. Cake if I rolled out of my bed again. She shook her head and smiled, saying that it was pretty uneventful. I sat down at one of the chairs and pondered what I could do. After I saw a transaction occur, I realized I should get a job. What better place to get one than here? I asked Mrs. Cake if I could work here, and she seemed relatively overjoyed at the prospect. “Why, you don’t need to if you don’t want to. I wouldn't want to trouble you!” Denying any trouble that the job could possibly give me, Mrs. Cake proceeded to hand me a schedule. I didn't start work until next week, and I shared shifts with Pinkie Pie. She assumed that I also didn't have any cash, so she handed me fifty golden coins, known as Bits. It appeared this was the only type of currency in this world. Satisfied, I left the Café, and decided to visit Marshmallows Boutique.

Along the way, I ran into three particularly annoying small ponies. I had the unfortunate misfortune of crossing their path. All three of them stared at me. “Muh…Mister?” asked the yellow one with the red bow. “Why don’t ya gotta’ cutie mark?” I didn't know how to reply to her question, considering I had no clue what a cutie mark was. Attempting to sound as polite as possible, I asked her what a cutie mark was. She gulped, and then said “Well, yah see…it’s this little…”, she made a shrinking motion with her hand, “…mark ya get on your thighs. It signifies what your special talent is!” She pointed to herself and the other two fillies. “We call ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” The other two beamed at me.

“Ah…that’s very nice.” I said. “What are your names?” The white one with a curly mane that was colored white and purple spoke up first,

“I’m Sweetie Belle!”

The yellow one with the red bow said “I’m Applebloom! And that…”, she motioned to the orange one with the purple mane “…Is a chicken!”

Getting a strong feeling that was a joke, I said, “Why, it’s very nice to meet you, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and…chicken”

The Chicken got red with embarrassment and said “My name is Scootaloo!” The other two laughed playfully and Scootaloo, after a while, began to laugh as well.

“But, seriously, Mister, where is your cutie mark?” Applebloom persisted. I looked at my thigh, and then at the thighs of some passing ponies. They were right. I didn't have one. I told them that I guess I might have an invisible one, but that made them think they should try to get an “Invisibility” cutie mark, like mine. They zoomed off. I smiled at the three crazy fillies and entered the Boutique.

“Uh…Marshme-“ I began, just as soon as she appeared from a corner. When she saw me she beamed at first, then glared at me.

“Spi-? Oh, it’s just you.” She said vindictively.

Oh crap! Maybe she heard me call her Marshmallow! I thought, beginning to sweat.

“Err…Yes, so I was wondering what you have for sale?” She trotted over slowly, eyeing my entire body, before realizing that I was nervous.

“Oh my, deary am I scaring you? Sorry, I've just had a woefully bad day, and I was expecting someone else…” she chuckled lightly “…What can I do for you?” I sighed a breath of relief and asked her what she had for sale. She brought out a clothes rack all-lined with gigantic hats.

They were hideous.

And extremely feminine.

“Ah…Do you have anything for…stallions, and not for mares?” I asked.

“Oh, but of course! I apologize dear, most of my in-store costumers are mares.” She paused when she went to switch racks, and looked back at me “…actually, all my customers are mares.” I just said screw it at that point and I bought a gigantic black and purple hat emblazoned with amethysts and sapphires. I almost paid for it when she reminded me “But I gave you a coupon, didn't I?” She had indeed, but I completely misplaced it. I told her that I must’ve lost it and she shook her head. “No, No, No this will not do. Take the hat for free! I gave you a coupon that you didn't get the chance to use!” I was entirely dumbstruck by her Generosity. Never in my life had I met anyone as generous as her. I initially tried to protest, but seeing as how she had her mind set on giving the hat away for free, I thanked her tremendously and went on my way. Realizing I had not gotten out of town since my arrival, I trekked out into the nearby forest, only to find a home. I saw a yellow pony with a pink mane tending to some animals.

I trotted up to her and said hi. This action was met with her flying ten feet up straight into the air and crashing back down into the ground. She quickly turned to face me and cowered. “Oh…I’m sorry. Did I frighten you?” I asked, slightly raising my hoof.

She whimpered in response and said “N-No…I’m sorry. I’m just really shy.” I hadn't heard her, and asked what her name was. “It’s Fluttershy” I simply shook my head in reply, and asked her if she owned this house. She whimpered again in response. Realizing I wasn't getting anywhere, I left and began to explore a different area of the countryside and found a large, dark, forest. I was about to step in when a voice called out “Wait! Don’t go in there!” I turned around to find a purple pony with her wings spread.

“Oh! You must be Twilight Sparkle” I asked her. She closed her wings and looked up with a defiant face. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, yes that’s me!” I then asked her why I shouldn't go into the forest, and she promptly told me that was the EverFree Forest, a place where dark and dangerous things lie in wait. I nodded and once she departed I left the area as well. I noted a castle far off in the distance. That must be Canterlot. Deciding I’d go there tomorrow, I trotted back to the Café and went to bed.