Author's Note

Okay I know: This doesn't make sense with Miracle Mystery Cure where they don't know what to do with their Cutie Marks but that's what its telling them but this is an Alternate Universe. Alternate meaning things change. This universe changes the confusion of the CM stuff.

The Idea

It was early in the morning and Applejack was walking with Applebloom over to the school house. It was a cool morning in Ponyville. Very few clouds in the sky and a few dead leaves scuttled across the ground as a gentle breeze blew. Applejack looked tired but Applebloom was wide awake. Applebloom sighed and looked at her flank. "...Sis?" She said.

Applejack looked over to her sister. "'S wrong sugarcube?" She asked. Applebloom looked up at her.

"...Y'think I'll get my cutie mark soon? I mean... I know I'm worrying every day but... I had a bit of a nightmare last night..." Applejack looked back forward.

"Was it the same one where Big Mac's gone and you're about my age still with a blank flank?" She glanced back at her sister. Applebloom nodded blushing. "Ah hell... Don't worry that bad about it y'all're gonna get your cutie mark! It just takes time and the right stuff." Applebloom groaned. "I swear you complain once and I'm swattin' ya on your behind!" The little filly gave an 'eep' and kept her mouth shut. Applejack took a deep breath and sighed seeing two of her sister's friends come on the road with their siblings. Ryder had to carry Scootaloo who looked like she was misty eyed. Sweetie Belle was at Rarity's side head hung low and sad looking. "Mornin' Ryder. Rarity."

Ryder looked over. "Morning girls..." He said giving a yawn. "...I take it your sisters are talking about cutie marks too?"

Rarity and Applejack gave a nod. "Yes and its getting quite annoying..." Rarity said looking at Sweetie Belle. She looked over at Ryder. "I take it that's why Scootaloo is crying?" Ryder nodded.

"Uhuh... She's been telling me morning after morning about not being able to get her cutie mark or getting one she'll get laughed at for and today I had to yell at her... Didn't like it but... It happened..." Rarity huffed.

"I had to snap at Sweetie Belle time and time again about the complaints and today was the final straw. When she's with me I'm having her stay quiet unless it's REALLY important!"

Sweetie Belle looked up at her sister. "But my cutie mark IS important!" She said. Rarity looked down at her sister.

"SWEETIE BELLE! Your cutie mark is important but it wont kill you to go ONE day without talking about it!" She grunted. "And all these stupid things that you think of like Pegasus Flight Instructors aren't going to work!" She looked over to Ryder and Scootaloo. "No offence there Scootaloo! I'm sure you'll get off the ground one day!" Ryder took Scootaloo off his back and set her on the ground making her walk on her own as they started to get close to the school house.

"C'mon stop crying and hurry to school!" Ryder said nudging his sister.

Scootaloo sniffled. "...S-stop pushing me... I'm going... I'm... I'm going!" She said just before running off with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle behind her.

Applejack sighed. "Have a great day at school girls!" She said. "We'll be by to pick ya up!" Their sisters waved back at them as they ran into the school house as the bell rang. She looked at Rarity and Ryder. "You two up for a little breakfast at Sugarcube Corner?" Both ponies at her side nodded. They turned around and started down the road again. Ryder sighed.

"...I swear if Princess Twilight gets on me about work today..." He said mumbling to himself a bit after.

Rarity yawned and looked over to Ryder. "....You know if you snapped at Twilight she'd tell Shining and you'd be out of a job while your sister is with me or AJ while you're recovering in the hospital..." She said.

"Well I'm fucking cranky until I get my morning soda and donut..." He glanced over looking slightly mad and saw Applejack giving him a quizzical look. "What? A guy cant have a soda at...." He stopped in thought. "What time is it right now?" The school bell chimed out.

"Seven thirty." Rarity said looking back forward. "I for one don't have any problem with something like that. You're looking at a mare who has a wine at nine o'clock in the morning! You both are welcome to join me for a glass if you'd like."

Applejack blew part of her mane from her eyes. "Sorry Rarity but I'd rather be havin' an ale with my brother and Ryder here but since Ry stopped drinking for Scoot's sake I cant stomach makin' small talk with Big Mac." She said. "You know how hard it is to make small talk with somepony who lives with you? It's near impossible even with that somepony already using a word a minute." Rarity huffed.

"PUH-leez! Sweetie Belle is always talking nonsense! I can never keep up with that new music she listens to... What's that's colts name that sounds like a mare when he sings?" She thought for a moment with Applejack. Ryder didn't even try and think. "Meh... Doesn't matter. His music is just the WORST! I'd listen to that trash Ryder listens to than what my own sister listens to!"

Ryder flew up in front of Rarity. "HEY! GEMS N TULIPS IS NOT TRASH!" He snapped mad. "It's better than that stupid crap you listen to! It's so slow it sounds almost like a lullaby!" Rarity got in Ryder's face.

"BETHOOVEN IS NOT CRAP! IF BETHOOVEN IS CRAP THEN METALLICOLT IS THE MUSIC OF THE MENTALLY INSANE!!" Ryder gasped.

"You take that BACK!"

"NOT IF YOU DONT TAKE BACK WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT BETHOOVEN!"

Applejack pushed her friends apart and brought Ryder to the ground. "WOULD YOU TWO JUST STOP?!" She said pissed off. "Look at you two! Y'all're both deprived of sleep and you're just stressed out by your sisters just gettin' on your nerves about their cutie marks! Both of you apologize to each other RIGHT NOW! Otherwise SOMEPONY might have to tie ya both to a chair when we get into Sugarcube Corner! Y'all want Pinkie Pie to feed your sorry asses like she does Pumpkin and Pound Cake?" Both Ryder and Rarity sighed.

"...Sorry I said you had bad taste in music..." They both said to each other. Applejack let each pony go.

"Now hug it out!" She watched as Rarity and Ryder hugged each other with a smile on their faces. "Good! Now lets get goin! I'm startin' to digest myself..." Her stomach gurgled as they continued on. Ryder stretched as he flew up again.

"...Sometimes I think mom and dad are lucky they don't have to deal with this..." Applejack looked over to Ryder.

"Well surely ya don't mean that sugarcube! Big Mac always tells me that our parents are watchin' over us and he says they wish they could take up that task you've been given. How would you feel if Scootaloo went to Dash for cutie mark advice? You'd be hurt that she cant or didn't go to you for that. Right?" Ryder sighed getting a bit misty eyed.

"...Guess you're right AJ... I'm... I'm actually glad I have her... Princess Twilight should uh.... Give me a bit of slack now right?"

Just then another set of wings sounded coming in from behind the three ponies. "Hey guys!" A familiar voice said. The three ponies looked back and saw Rainbow Dash. She looked wide awake like she just chugged an energy drink. "You guys going to get some breakfast at Sugarcube Corner?" Ryder gave a nod and wiped his eyes away.

Rarity smiled at her friend. "I take it you're thinking we should invite you and Twilight along so we don't seem like gluttonous pound packers?" She asked.

Dash gave her friend a weird look. Applejack sighed. "What she means is that you are welcome to join us if Twilight's in with us so we don't look like fat asses." She said. The rainbow maned mare smiled nervously.

"Oh uh... Well Fluttershy's on her way to Twi's castle to get her so she'll meet us there." She looked over at Ryder who looked half asleep as he flew and grabbed his hoof. "C'mon sleepy head try and stay awake long enough to get there!" He gave a hesitant nod. She didn't really know if it was a nod meaning 'I'll try' or a nod meaning 'fuck this I'm so close to gone I'm just gonna sleep.' Her answer came quickly as moments later Ryder just passed out yet still kept himself in air. "Jeez is Ryder okay? He looks like he barely slept last night!"

Applejack huffed. "Scoot probably kept him up late." She said glancing over at him. "Either that or he was on a marathon binge again of that one movie where ya got ponies fightin' each other nearly taking another guys head off. He just loves that movie. Any reason he's still up and running even while he's asleep?" Dash looked over at Ryder and hummed.

"Well... That's one thing I have NO clue about... He's been doing this since we were foals." She looked back at Applejack. "Lets just let him sleep for now. We'll wake him up when we get there." AJ nodded.

They walked on for a while and soon came to Sugarcube Corner. Inside they could see Pinkie Pie sitting with Fluttershy and Princess Twilight. Applejack opened the door letting Dash and Ryder in first. Rarity followed. Fluttershy looked up from a glass of chocolate milk and giggled seeing Ryder sleeping. Pinkie saw him as well and snickered. She got a party favor ready and blew it right into his ear. He yelped waking up and shot up hitting the roof before slamming back down. All the mares laughed at him while Pinkie went and helped him up. "Oopsie! Only meant to wake you up..." She said. "You alright?"

Ryder nodded rubbing his head. "Yeah... Just... Ah... Get me some ice... please!" He said. "I need a donut and a lemon lime soda before work... Princess Twilight is going to KILL me...." Applejack cleared her throat as Pinkie hurried away. He looked to her and saw her pointing across the table to Twilight who was looking a tad smug. He screamed a bit and fell out of his chair. He scrambled to his hooves bowing in respect to her. "PRINCESS! I'm sorry if I'm late to work PLEASE don't fire me! I-I was taking my sister to school and- and-"

Twilight laughed a bit. "Don't worry Ryder you aren't in trouble!" She said picking him back up with her magic. "And enough with the formalities here. Yes I'm a princess but I just want to be treated like a normal pony like everypony else." Ryder sat down shaken.

Applejack sighed. "Sugarcube I'd listen to what Twi is sayin' otherwise she might just send ya to Celestia the way you're actin'." She said sitting next to Ryder. "Everyone in Ponyville is a friend to Twilight but some just get a little too caught up in the fact she's a princess. Just treat her like she was Rarity!"

Pinkie came back with an ice pack, a box of donuts and a few drinks on a tray. She gave the ice to Ryder and he set it on his head. "So Ryder." Fluttershy said. "Is there any reason why you came in here sleep flying?"

Ryder nodded a bit. "Yeah... I was kept up half the night by Scootaloo crying about her cutie mark, talking about mom and dad and I had to wait for her to run out of energy..." He said. He yawned.

Rarity sighed. "Applejack and I had a similar problem." She said. "Our sisters just never shut up about their cutie marks and we cant really take it anymore!"

Pinkie opened the box of donuts. "You aren't the only ones they go to for that." She said.

Rainbow Dash huffed taking a donut from the box. "For once I agree with you!" She said. "Scootaloo wanted me to drop her from a cloud onto a ramp she and the crusaders made which wasn't stable at all!" Pinkie giggled a bit.

"Stable... Classic!" Everyone gave the pink pony a weird look. "What? Cant a pony make a stable joke?" No one answered.

Fluttershy averted her gaze. "Those sisters of yours came to me wanting to try lion taming." She said. "I had to lie and tell them the lion I had to take care of in that week was sick but then they wanted to try and be veterinarians for the lion but then I just told them all to go home and I really felt bad about it."

Twilight sipped from a glass of juice. "Applebloom came to me seeing if I could use my magic to GIVE her a cutie mark after her little friend Twist got hers." She said. "All of us..." She looked to Ryder. "...almost all of us didn't complain about wanting our cutie marks... Ryder how ever was fourteen when he got his."

Ryder blushed and averted his gaze. "Well... That's because my dad never let me play with his tools but when he was out one day I just started messing around with a wrench and I ended up fixing an old record player." He said. "A-and I didn't complain! I just fought back when someone teased me!"

"So we all have a problem with the Crusaders bugging us about their cutie marks right?" Everyone around Twilight nodded. Even Ryder who had his face deep in the donuts he had in front of him. "Everypony meet me at my castle in an hour." Twilight looked to Ryder, Applejack and Rarity. "You three might need to come a little sooner. Say about a half hour just giving Ryder enough time to get in to his armor. A guard near a princess without armor looks a tad suspicious."

Rarity gave a nod as well as Applejack. Ryder just chugged his soda. "Uh Twilight?" Fluttershy said looking over at her friend. "Why is it Pinkie, Dash and I have to come if it's their sisters? I mean... I have things to do for my animals and I'm sure Pinkie has to start baking stuff for the cakes and Rainbow Dash...." She thought for a moment. "She might just want to help me with my animals..." Twilight looked over at Fluttershy.

"Sorry Fluttershy but I need everyone to be there. One mistake and somepony could be off in a corner crying." Twilight glanced over at Ryder who was blushing a bit as he chewed his donut. "Now I'll go and I expect everypony to be there!" She took a few donuts from the box and got up from her seat walking out of the sugary sweet shop.

Ryder huffed. "Okay I'm not sure what's going on but I think I'm about to get ambushed..." He said.

Applejack looked to Ryder. "And why's that?" She asked. "Just cuz she told ya to come in your armor and she's been pickin' atcha a few times doesn't mean y'all're gonna be ambushed like outlaws ambushin' a train!"

Dash sighed. "Yeah Ry I start shit with you from time to time but do you see me wanting to sneak up behind you and sucker punch you!" She said. "If ANY of us wanted to ambush you it'd probably be AJ since she's one to ambush! I still haven't forgotten that snowball fight where you had an ice ball and gave me a black eye!" Applejack face hoofed.

"...I told you that was a total accident! Besides I was practicing for when Big Mac was gonna shovel the yard!" Dash rolled her eyes.

"Yeah that was an accident... My hoof up your ass is an accident..." Applejack got in Dash's face.

"What was that?!"

"I said let's get out of here! Getting to Twi's castle early might spare us the wrath of being just a second late."

Ryder sighed giving a loud burp the moment before. "Yeah." He said. "She doesn't go too heavy with punishment if you're in the guard. You just have to do a book report that ISNT on Daring Do... It feels like I'm back in school..." He looked to Pinkie. "How much do I owe you for the donuts and the soda?"

Pinkie thought for a moment going behind the counter picking up a calculator and pushing buttons on it. "Four bits for your donuts, one bit for the soda, a bit for Twilight's juice and five bits for her Bear Claw!" She said. "BUUUUT I'll only charge you for your stuff! So five bits!" Ryder took a bag braided in his tail and pulled five bits. He left them on the table and got up.

"There. Now we gotta leave.... Could've swore I was gonna have to pay for Twilight's stuff..." He mumbled to himself as he left.

After a while he arrived at Twilight's castle. He had his armor on as he stood out front. The golden armor he wore glistened in the sun. He looked up and down the road waiting. Waiting for Applejack and Rarity. Just then Ryder's flank was poked startling him. He bucked clipping something. Somepony cried out in pain. Ryder turned around and saw Spike, a little purple dragon and Princess Twilight's personal assistant holding his arm looking a bit. "Okay.... I should NEVER startle a guard..." Spike said looking at his arms for any scratches. Nothing but a scuff.

"Spike! I am so sorry!" Ryder said helping him up. "Are you okay there Spike? I wasn't paying attention to everything! Please don't tell Princess Twilight this happened." Spike gave a smile.

"No worries! It's just a scratch, no big whoop! Twilight just sent me out to find you. Why aren't you inside?" Ryder sighed.

"I'm just waiting for Applejack and Rarity. They haven't showed up yet."

"Yeah they have! They've been here for about half an hour now!" Ryder huffed.

"...Why does no pony tell me this shit?! As if I didn't have enough to deal with.... And how did I not fucking notice....?" He lowered himself. "Hop on." Spike nodded and climbed on to Ryder's back. He gripped to his neck as he flapped his wings and lifted off the ground. He flew up high around the castle looking somewhere to enter. He saw a balcony and went for it. He landed on it and let Spike, who was whimpering scared, off his back. He looked inside and saw the throne room of the castle with Twilight, Applejack and Rarity inside. He looked down at Spike who was shaking scared. "You just go calm down. I'll uh... I'll be here if you need to blame me."

Spike gave a nod as Ryder entered. Spike followed him and ran off. Twilight looked up from her friends and saw Ryder entering the ring of thrones. He bowed in respect. "There you are!" She said. "Did you take the long way up with Spike again? You know what happened last time!" Ryder sighed raising his head.

"I apologize princess. I just wanted to get upstairs fast and maybe give Spike a lift to the top. I honestly had no idea you already had them already here." Twilight sighed.

"It's fine Ryder but you might have to take the next week or so off." Ryder tilted his head.

"Why? This... This thing I did isnt gonna mess with my pay is it? I've got a sister to feed!"

"No no! If anything you'll still be paid but you wont have your cutie mark. In fact.... None of you would."

Rarity's heart, Ryder's heart and Applejack's heart dropped. "T-twilight darling surely you cant take my cutie mark!" Rarity said. "I have so many clients that need outfits and I'm not yet done with them!" Twilight looked over at Rarity.

"I've hired on Trenderhoof to handle your orders so you wouldn't have to deal with it." She looked to Applejack. "It's obvious Big Mac would handle your job but MAYBE... Just maybe your sister would do some work too. Trenderhoof is going to have Sweetie Belle as an apprentice to grab gems for him. Scootaloo would be working in the castle with a few guards watching over her so she doesn't get hurt and Applebloom has to work somehow! I'll give you each time to talk it over and think about it. I'm gonna go make sure Spike isn't too freaked out to step down a few stairs...." Ryder blushed a bit as Twilight flashed away. Applejack and Rarity walked over and sat next to him.

"... Seeing our sisters get their cutie marks is one thing but seeing them get ours... That's a very VERY different story..." Rarity said looking at her flank.

Applejack looked to hers as well. "...I feel like we got a lot of thinkin' to do..." She said looking up at Ryder who was just staring blankly at the Princesses empty throne. "Ryder? You alright there sugarcube?" She waved her hoof in front of his face. Not even a flinch. "...Eeyup... He is GONE!" Rarity looked over at AJ.

"Gone? What do you mean gone?"

"I mean his mind is off pickin' Pineapples off a pickle tree!"

"So... He's losing his mind isn't he??" Applejack nodded. "Well... I do hope he comes back because I'm not doing this unless both of you do it!"

"I aint doin' it unless Ry here does it! And I aint lettin' his sister get near mine IF'N HE DOESNT SNAP THE HELL OUT OF IT!" Applejack slugged him in the arm causing him to yelp and fall over onto Rarity.

Rarity huffed and picked Ryder up off of her. She set him on his flank and held his hoof as he whimpered. At that moment Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy came in with Pinkie behind them. "Hey guys!" Dash said. "You guys seen Twi around here?"

Fluttershy looked at Ryder and saw his teary eyed expression. "Is he okay? Did you talk about you-know-who?" She asked.

Pinkie started to hop around Ryder. "Come on Ryder! Smile buddy you're with your friends!" She said. "You're gonna go home! You're gonna be with your sister! You'll even be able to play board games with AAAALLLLL your GREAT friends!"

Applejack gave a sigh and grabbed Pinkie by the tail sitting her on the ground. "Pinkie I'm gonna save ya from Ryder's wrath from him tellin' ya to shut it." She said. "He's just bein' a little baby cuz I hit him trying to get him to snap out of some sorta trance."

"Trance? Did Twilight hypnotize him or something?"

Rarity sighed. "I wish it were a hypnotizing spell but the reality is Twilight is suggesting to have us give our sisters OUR own cutie marks!" She said.

The three mares before them gasped. "WHAT?!" They said.

Dash grabbed Ryder. "You suggested this! I know you're stupid enough to drag us into this shit!" She said.

Ryder whimpered and hid his face with his. "DASH!" Fluttershy said pulling her friend off her cousin. "You apologize to him right now! He had NOTHING to do with this!" She looked to Ryder. "Didn't you hear Rarity talking about Twilight suggesting this? For THEIR sisters? Honestly Dash you need to open your ears and listen more!" Dash blushed and averted her gaze.

"... O-oops... Sorry Ryder.... You just.... You look like you're guilty of doing something."

Ryder moved his hooves away from his face revealing tears running down his cheeks. "... J-just... Please... Leave me alone..." He said. Fluttershy cuddled him and shushed him.

"Dont worry... I've got you..." She said softly.

The sound of hooves walking in came to everypony's ears. Everyone looked to the door and saw Twilight returning with Spike on her back. "Okay so Spike's alright." She said. "And everyones here now! Even better!"

Rarity walked over. "Twilight we seem to have a problem with Ryder..." She said looking back at Fluttershy. "He's freaking out more than I do when somepony wears something that does NOT go their mane color!" Twilight sighed and went around to her throne.

"Okay Ryder, Rarity and AJ you guys go home and think about it. Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie you guys stay here. I need to talk with you!" Rarity and Applejack nodded. Ryder pushed away from Fluttershy who kissed his forehead before letting him go.

As they walked out of the room Ryder looked to his flank. "...I... I cant be going back to being a blank flank..." He said. "...So many bullies... So many... H-harsh words..."

Applejack sighed. "Ry, you're among friends here." She said. "I was pushed around by EVERYONE when I was a young'n. Lord the names were worse for me. Lil sonofabitch in my class always called me 'my brothers baby girl' just because momma n daddy came from Appleoosa with Granny! I mean just cuz somepony's from a desert town with a sheriff and not just UGF don't mean that our families commit incestuous acts with kinfolk." She looked to Rarity who looked a tad lost. "I mean we don't fuck our family!" Ryder nudged Applejack causing her to look over at him. "Ya need somethin' sugarcube?"

"You uh... You think we can go back to your place? I need a drink..."

"Good lord Ryder it aint even noon and ya already want a fuckin' beer or something!"

"No not that! I just mean a soda! Although... Might help me get my mind off of this convoluted idea." Applejack looked back to the hallway as they approached the stairs.

"As convoluted as it is I say we do it just to show why rushin' into finding their cutie marks is a bad idea. I want Applebloom to be crampin' up after she's done in the orchard."

Rarity huffed. "As much as I hate to say this I might want Sweetie Belle to stick herself a few times with a needle and possibly get dirt so deep into her mane she would want to dye!" She said. Applejack and Ryder gasped. Rarity looked over. "What? I said 'dye' as in 'dye her mane' not die as in I want her dead! Everyone knows I treat my Sweetie Belle as if she were my life! In other words if she goes I go too!" Applejack sighed.

"...Okay... That calls for somethin' to calm the nerves and forget whatcha just said..." AJ looked over at Ryder who was shaking a bit. "Now I think Ryder needs somethin' to get that off his mind as well." Rarity looked to Ryder.

"Ryder I surely hope you aren't thinking about your sister in any situation... If you are I'm sorry I put that thought in your head! Just take a deep breath and come with us to have a drink!" Ryder closed his eyes and flew up to take a few breaths. He still followed Applejack and Rarity down without drifting higher or falling lower than he was.

Once calm Ryder carefully landed on the stairs. "There we go..." He said. "...Anyone mentions something about dying or suicide or... what ever I am NOT going to talk to them again... just give me a fucking moonshine... I want my mind erased!"

Applejack looked back at Ryder. "ONE moonshine and that is it!" She snapped. "If you get drunk off just that I'm makin' Big Mac putcha down like you do rowdy criminals! A head butt and they are out like Winona fresh outta the kennel in the mornings."

"If I'm out you're stuck with Scootaloo until I wake up if I'm not dead! Better me passing out from being drunk than being knocked out! Who knows how long I could be out if Big Mac did that... That guy could KILL me..." Applejack thought for a moment.

"Alright then get yourself drunk! I'll get Big Mac to watch our sisters while we talk this amongst ourselves. They hear what's said and who knows what they'll do."

About an hour later Ryder was sitting outside under a tree at Sweet Apple Acres drinking from a jar. Rarity sat next to him with a mug of water. "Ryder are you sure you want to drink that stuff?" She asked. "I mean... If you belched near a fire you'd be burning anything nearby! Besides that stuff must taste horrid! I'm surprised you have a stomach to take it!" Ryder didn't answer. Just sipped his moonshine. "Well at least answer me! I don't want to feel like I'm to blame for your freak outs!"

Ryder took the jar from his mouth and looked to Rarity. "...What about that whole 'End of The World' crap you gave me a couple years back?" He asked. "I spent an entire day in a storm cellar with my tail between my legs! I had to be coaxed out with a few CD's, a new radio and my mom and my dad ready with Shining and a stretcher with straps just so I could get a massage and a few granola bars in me because I spent the few days before puking my guts out refusing to eat anything that didn't come from a can!"

"Okay look I'm sorry I was talking about a movie! Besides if Celestia really wanted to ram the sun into Equestria there would have to be some huge problem that couldn't be fixed by magic! But it wasn't my fault for causing you to freak out about those animatronics at that pizza place that had to be shut down due to those stupid health code violations... Their Seven Cheese Square was delicious with a few basil leaves on top..." Ryder sighed a bit.

"Okay that was Big Mac who put that fear of the animatronics coming to life to feed off the living or... something like that but you still did have me freak out about Sweetie Belle going missing! She didn't even say you were here! She just grabbed her things when I was taking a nap and left!"

"Alright that's something I need to talk with Sweetie Belle about but... Something is really bothering me about Twilight's 'cutie mark idea'... It's not the worry about my business or our sisters but... It's you. Why were you so freaked out when Twilight said we'd be giving our cutie marks to our sisters? Do you not want to see Scootaloo grow up too fast?" Ryder beckoned Rarity closer. She leaned in.

"Yes that's one part. Scootaloo growing up too fast means I've got less time with her than anything. The other is..." He averted his gaze a bit. "...I actually lied about my dad leaving the house leaving me alone with his tools... I never got my cutie mark at 14... I got it a few years before I came back here... I was 19, every time I stepped out of the house I'd be laughed at, I'd get shit thrown at me, even grown ponies will look at me like I've seriously got something wrong with me like I have some sort of mental issue preventing me from getting my cutie mark..." He looked back at Rarity starting to tear up. "...No pony knows this... Not even Scootaloo..."

"But... What of your parents? Surely they knew!" Ryder sniffled.

"They did... I had my uncle paint a cutie mark on my flank... My parents had to send me money when I was staying with my aunt and uncle in Cloudsdale! Scootaloo didn't see me much because of that... I was too embarrassed to come and see her... I thought she'd have her cutie mark and I... I still wouldn't..." He started to sob lightly leaning onto Rarity just as Applejack came from the house with Big Mac behind her.

Applejack huffed seeing her friends hugging. More from seeing Ryder crying. "Dammit... What the hell's he cryin' about now?" She asked. "He didn't see a spider now did he? He aint one to go to anyone unless that's a damn spider he saw!"

Big Mac stepped up and looked up in the tree and ran his hoof through the air over the stallion. He hummed a bit. "I don't feel no spider web..." He said. He looked to his sister. "Besides wouldn't we hear him scream and wouldn't there be a mess of some kind we'd have to be cleaning up?" Applejack hummed looking around.

"...Yeah you're right... Not to mention half a jar of Granny's moonshine aint enough to get him drunk... Somethin' stinks here and it aint Big Mac for once!" Big Mac looked to his sister.

"Hey that was one time and a skunk sprayed me! You know I bathe regularly!" AJ looked to her brother.

"As regular as it is you need to lay off them green beans! That's what I'm talkin' about!" She looked back to Ryder and Rarity. "You didn't do anything to upset him didja Rarity?" Rarity shook her head. AJ looked to Ryder. "Sugarcube you sure you don't need somethin' else to drink? It didn't taste weird did it?" Ryder sniffled and shook his head. "Well why dontcha both come on inside? Sittin' out here aint gonna do ya any good." Both Rarity and Ryder gave a nod before getting up grabbing their drinks.

They both looked to each other as they lagged behind a bit. "Are you sure you just don't wanna tell them?" Rarity whispered. "It may make them go easy on you... I wont make you but it is your call." Ryder nodded sipping his moonshine.

Once they were inside Rarity sat on the couch setting her mug down. Ryder sat next to her and sighed. Big Mac sat next to Ryder and Applejack on the recliner. "Alright!" Big Mac said. "So we were gonna tell ya the plan about our little sisters and Twilight but we got a bit caught up with a snifflin' stallion!" Ryder blushed and averted his gaze. The red stallion slung a hoof over his shoulder. "Hey dontcha worry there! I'm gonna take good care of your sister! Y'can just pick em up from school, get a bag ready and I'll handle everything for tomorrow. You just gotta keep your hooves to yourself and I wont say nothin' about that fake cutie mark crap!"

Ryder's heart dropped. He hesitantly looked up at Big Mac. "...H-how did you know?" He asked. Big Mac chuckled.

"I take it you don't remember that night you n I drank ourselves silly?" Ryder shook his head. "Well... Since it's out there Ryder and I got drunk in Fillydelphia for his birthday and well he told me he wasn't even 20 when he got his damn cutie mark. Told me he had it spray painted onto his flank or something."

Rarity quickly grabbed Ryder and hugged him as he started to cry as if he just wet himself. Applejack huffed getting up. She walked over and pushed her brother right off the couch. "Dammit Big Mac!" She said hugging Ryder. "Now ya see why no one trusts you with secrets!" She looked to Ryder. "Sugarcube is this the real reason you were freaked out back at the castle?" Ryder hesitantly nodded. "...C'mon no pony here would've laughed at ya... Well... No pony but Dash but no pony in this house is gonna laugh atcha!" She looked back at Big Mac. "NO PONY!"

Big Mac nodded scared. Rarity sighed and held Ryder close. "Calm yourself Ryder!" She said. "You know Scootaloo wouldn't want to see you crying!"

Ryder sniffled. "B-but she isn't here!" He snapped. "SHE ISNT HERE! MOM ISNT HERE AND NEITHER IS DAD!" He started to cry harder into Applejack's shoulder. Rarity growled a bit and quickly grabbed Ryder. She smacked him across the face a few times for both cheeks.

"RY-DER YOU STOP CRYING THIS INSTANT!" Applejack jumped behind her hiding behind the side of the couch. Almost the instant she hid, Ryder stopped crying. Rarity used her magic to keep him facing her. "Look! Your secret is out! Big FUCKING deal! It's either you buck up, tell Twilight and own up to it or I will talk her into giving you a pacifier to suck on while you work! Now are you going to be a big baby and cry about it? I swear I will force you into diapers, make you a bonnet and hoofy pajamas to wear while you suck on a pacifier!"

Applejack poked her head up onto the arm of the couch. "Rarity... I think ya may need to calm down sugarcube..." She said. "Any more fear into him's gonna make him-" Suddenly Ryder fainted and fell off the couch. "...It'll make him do THAT! Dammit! This is ALL Big Mac's fault!" She came out and started to move the coffee table. "C'mon help me get him on my back. We gotta get him somewhere before he wakes up to Big Mac stompin' on him..." Rarity took a big breath and sighed before getting up and helping Applejack move the coffee table away from the stallion wet and sticky with his spilled moonshine. Lucky for him the jar didn't break.

"Okay I admit I... Did go a little over board chastising him... But it was for a good reason! He has to come clean with Twilight!" She used her magic to pick Ryder up off the floor and helped Applejack put him on her back.

"Yeah if he did that and started crying I don't think Twi would want him doin' that. If we give our sisters our cutie marks Scoot's gonna push this boy to a heart attack! Now lets get him up to my bed. Boy needs his rest." Rarity huffed following Applejack to the stairs.

"I could've sworn he had gotten his sleep on his way to Sugarcube Corner but it might've not been enough..." She followed her friend up stairs keeping Ryder on AJ's back. "...Would it be too much to just swap his cutie mark while he's out?"

"Eeyup. He wakes up not seein' a thing on his flank and he actually might just hide away somewhere in Everfree leavin' Scoot alone with one of us until someone finds him. Best we just wait. Y'think y'can wait till we can try n convince him to try and give it a shot?" Rarity sighed.

"Last time I convinced him for something I had to bribe him with a new outfit just for a movie he refused to watch! He was just lucky I 'accidentally' overcharged Rainbow Dash for a childish prank she pulled on me and Fluttershy during our morning tea time." Applejack sighed as she opened the door to her room and went inside. She lied Ryder down on to the bed.

"That girl can never keep her nose clean. Y'kno she actually made Big Mac walk in on Braeburn and he ended up having a threesome just because he cant say no to Braeburn."

Both Rarity and Applejack laughed and left the room leaving Ryder alone. He was out for hours until Big Mac woke him up. He groaned as he sat up feeling a bit sweaty in the warm room. He saw Big Mac sitting next to him on the bed. "...Big Mac...? What the hell happened?" He asked. "...Why am I up here? ...Don't tell me AJ drugged the moonshine and did things to me..."

Big Mac sighed and looked over at Ryder. "Nah... Nah it's not the moonshine..." He said. "...I just said something about your cutie mark, you started cryin' and Rarity yelled atcha causin' ya to just pass out..."

"...It was the 'Pantie Mark' huh?" Big Mac nodded. Ryder sighed. "...Well... It's okay it just... it needs to come out... I came out to you when you found out I was bi while fucking Brae when he was in town... Now this is just out there..." He crossed his arms a fell back in the bed. "...Speaking of AJ and Rarity where are they?"

"Well they went to get your sister from school but they wanted me to talk with you about that th8ingyou're doin' with our sisters."