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."
Applejack, Rarity and Ryder have gotten fed up with their sisters going crazy about their cutie marks, Princess Twilight had a plan for them to give their sisters the challenge of having their cutie marks and Ryder was freaking out. Ryder ended up going back to Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack and Rarity when Big Mac let a secret slip out causing him to cry. Rarity yelled at Ryder trying to get him to calm down but he ended up fainting. Applejack carried him upstairs and put him in her bed and left Ryder alone with Big Mac who was sitting next to him and woke him up. "...Why am I up here?" Ryder asked. "...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 thing you're doin' with our sisters." Ryder huffed.
"...Of course..." He sat back up and wiped his fore head. "Can we get something to cool me down? I don't know why somepony didn't open a window..." Big Mac nodded and got up from the bed along with Ryder. They walked out of the warm room and came out into cooler air. Ryder sighed. "...Jeez... I needed that nap." He stretched as Big Mac started down stairs. "Is it wrong to want to thank Rarity for making me faint?"
"Dunno but you should focus for a minute. Rarity and AJ really wantcha to go and give Scoot your cutie mark. I'd give my cutie mark to Applebloom but I aint the one bein' annoyed by her. She knows I'd swat her if she complained but Applejack's too damn nice to even hit her. She was there for 'Bloom just like you were for Scoot. Granny went and she was right there for her." Ryder hopped onto the couch as Big Mac went to the kitchen.
"...Maybe after cleaning my sticky, dry gullet I can get a shower... You didn't have to clean up any uh... bodily fluids did you?" Ryder blushed a bit. Big Mac looked back at him.
"Eenope. Butcha did spill your drink. AJ had me mop it up as part of my punishment. The other part is watchin' our sisters while you just enjoy your last night with a cutie mark for a while. So you want a can of lemonade or some cider?"
"Lets go with that cider... fucking anything wet and cold sounds good.... Wait that sounded wrong..." Big Mac laughed as he tossed over a can of lemonade. Ryder caught it in his wing and set it in his hoof before cracking it open. "Well... Just start talking, tell me what's gonna happen." Big Mac came over and sat next to Ryder.
"Alright... Here's what's gonna go down. Applejack n Rarity aint gonna do anything if you don't. And they mean they wont do a damn thing for you! Neither will I. I was given instructions if you didn't do this. First I'd kick you out of the house and drag your ass back to your place by your tail. Not only I'd do that I'm breakin' somethin' inside ya courtesy of Rarity. So it's either do it or spend a few weeks in the hospital. I'm pretty sure Dash would take REAL good care of Scoot 'till ya recover. And you do know not just one thing gonna be broken when I start smackin' ya you know?" Ryder nodded sipping his lemonade.
"Eeyup. Now what's in it for me if I do?"
Over with Applejack and Rarity they were walking with all three crusaders down the road. Scootaloo looked a bit bummed as she walked between Rarity and AJ. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle walked on the other side of their siblings. "...Why couldn't Ryder come and get me today...?" She asked. "...There isn't anything wrong with him is there...?"
Applejack looked down at the Pegasus filly. "He's fine other than some hurt feelin's." She replied. "Trust me if anyone is to tell ya somethin' happened with Ryder it'd be Dash. I aint one to deliver bad news since eh..." She glanced over at Applebloom for a second and stopped herself.
Rarity sighed and looked at Scootaloo. "Well if Dash couldn't say anything I'd actually step in and say what ever it was... I do promise that." She said. "But let's hope it will not come to that! Now Big MacIntosh has agreed to watch all of you while Ryder, Applejack and I spend some time together tonight. Tomorrow you three will not be at school for 'Doctors appointments' and you may not be back at school for a week or... how ever long that 'doctor' is planning on doing the check ups."
Applebloom whimpered a bit. "...Y-y'all sure this is a legitimate doctor and not one in a back alley with some 'candy' or something...?" She asked. "It sounds a bit sketchy.... I aint goin' to no doctor tomorrow if you're takin' me to that guy..."
Sweetie Belle whimpered a bit. "I'm not going either! Please don't take me to a back alley doctor!" She said scared.
Applejack and Rarity stopped. "Girls just shut up, let us tell you what's REALLY happening!" They both snapped. The three fillies scrambled to each other before the two mares.
"Alright look you aint goin' to no doctor tomorrow!" Applejack said. "We're gonna take you three to see Princess Twilight!"
"...What for?" Scootaloo asked. Applejack looked over at Rarity.
"Oh just a surprise but you HAVE to wait till tomorrow!" Rarity said. "Now come you three we're almost there. We aren't going to carry you!" The crusaders nodded and broke off of each other starting off with Applejack and Rarity again.
Not long later they were outside Sweet Apple Acres. Each crusader looked frightened as they thought what was going to happen to them at the castle tomorrow. Rarity and Applejack kept their gaze forward as they approached the door. Scootaloo couldn't help but hurry to the door and open it. She ran and hopped onto the couch where Ryder sat. "Ryder! Ryder please don't tell me Princess Twilight is mad at us for doing something!" She said cuddling up to him scared.
Ryder looked to Rarity and Applejack. "What the hell did you say to them!?" He asked as Sweetie Belle and Applebloom went to Big Mac.
Applebloom looked back at Ryder. "They was talkin' about takin' us to a back alley doctor and then to see Princess Twilight!" She said. "They acted like we was in big trouble! Are we in any trouble with the princess?" Ryder sighed and pried Scootaloo off setting her on the floor. Big Mac did the same with Applebloom and Sweetie but sat with the fillies as Ryder went to Applejack and Rarity's side.
"You three aren't in any trouble with Princess Twilight but you are with us."
The crusaders gasped shocked getting all teary eyed. "...B-but why...?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Rarity huffed. "It's because you three are going insane trying to get your cutie marks!" She snapped. "You three have been driving EVERYPONY insane! We love you three but we do not want to have any of you get into the hospital through your attempts at getting a cutie mark!"
Applejack stopped Applebloom from hugging her. "No! You deserve this!" She said. "If you three want cutie marks you'll get OURS! But then you're gonna get the responsibilities that comes with it! So that means Applebloom's gonna work in the orchard with Big Mac." She looked to Rarity.
"Sweetie Belle is going to help somepony make clothes by gathering gems in the field."
Rarity looked to Ryder and stared at him for a moment. She nudged him. "Wait what? OH!" He said snapping back to reality. "Scootaloo you'll work inside of Princess Twilight's castle with a guard watching over you as you fix anything that breaks and everything that's already broken! If any of you get hurt, that's FUCKING life!"
Each crusader whimpered and hugged each other. Sweetie Belle started to cry. Big Mac sighed. "Well I think that's a sign each of ya should skedaddle and get somewhere to relax." He said. "And Ryder I'd watch that mouth of yours before we get Twi to tie ya down and shove soap in your mouth!" Ryder rolled his eyes.
"Fine, sorry I just do NOT want any more whining! Fed up with all of it." He huffed and turned around.
Scootaloo ran up and grabbed her brothers back leg. "PLEASE DONT DO THIS TO US RYDER WE'RE SORRY WE WONT DO IT AGAIN!" She screamed. Ryder shook her off and turned back around.
"Scoot sorry isn't going to cut it! If I have to get up to you crying about your cutie mark and I fall asleep at work I could get fired! Do you want me to get fired?" Scootaloo shook her head sniffling. "Good. Now stay here and get to your homework!" The filly hung her head as her brother turned around and started off out the door with Rarity and Applejack.
Applejack sighed. "...Sweet fucking Celestia on silver shoes they do not know what they're in for..." She said. "C'mon lets just get down to your place Ry. I just need some place quiet to actually hear myself think..." She looked to Rarity. "I need to ask this sooner or later and since now is the best time why the hell did you use that moronic 'doctor's appointment' crap?"
Rarity gave Applejack a dirty look. "Well we certainly wouldn't want to say 'oh we're taking you to the doctors' but have no reason what for!" She said. "Those crusaders are smart enough to know what's going on and what isn't going on. They knew they weren't going to the doctors but that was the easiest thing I could think of!"
"But you messed it up by saying something about going to that 'doctor' for a week straight! Unless somepony needed daily medicine only a doctor could provide they wouldn't need to go to a hospital every day for a week!"
Ryder gave a sigh. "It would've been better than not telling them anything." He said. "Trust me I was trying to concentrate on something that had to do with the sink or something and she asked a question but low and behold I have my music in because working in silence then a sudden scare not a good thing. Scoot actually thought I was mad at her when I put her to bed that night."
"Them fillies need our cutie marks and an asswhoopin' if it's okay to swat em over complaints." Applejack thought a moment and looked over at Ryder. "Maybe y'wanna go back and apologize for yelling at our sisters? I know Big Mac's gonna put Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo in my room since I aint gonna be home tonight. You yellin' at em's gonna make em piss the bed and piss me off." Ryder shrugged.
"They're gonna piss the bed anyways! I mean they're scared of Princess Twilight saying 'don't do this or I'm gonna do this to you' if they get our cutie marks. If you were their age wouldn't you be afraid to go up to a princess, have them give you somepony elses cutie mark and threaten them with something they couldn't handle?"
Rarity hummed. "Isnt that what we're already doing?" She asked. "They don't know how tough it is having a cutie mark yet. We're threatening them to get hurt." Ryder looked over at Rarity.
"I was threatening for them to get hurt. I needed to vent my rage somehow. I mean... Big Mac just told something private to AJ and... Well I just didn't want anyone else to know... I told him... and... You Rarity... But I was worried Applejack would blab... Honesty Element of the elements of harmony and.... Well honesty means nothing but the truth comes out right?" He looked over at Applejack.
Applejack shook her head. "Eenope!" She said. "I tell a few lies but I can make other ponies tell the truth. But it weren't my doing's back there. Big Mac did that on his own." She looked over at Ryder. "But you coulda told me. I can keep secrets until I earn my grave. I wouldn't even laugh atcha. Everypony gets their cutie mark at one age or another. Big Mac got his when he was five. I got mine when I was seven. Rarity's... what a few months younger than me? She got hers the same day I did. Same with Pinkie, Fluttershy, Dash and Twilight. Who knows maybe a few other ponies got theirs the same day as well!" The stallion sighed.
"...Guess you're right..." He looked back at his cutie mark. "...I got mine at twenty... Somepony could've gone with a blank flank for all I know..." He looked back at Rarity and Applejack. "So... You wanna spend the night at the castle or Rarity's? I know any of us wouldn't wanna be drunk at my place. Don't want to wake up knowing I knocked one of you up somehow..." He blushed. "...Wait... Rarity's would be a bad idea too...." He huffed a bit and flew up.
Rarity looked up at him. "Ryder the castle is fine." She said. "If we can get Twilight to have the others there to make sure we don't do anything stupid we'll be fine. Twilight's doing this for us, she should make sure we don't lose our minds. At least a few drinks for each of us and a few guards on stand by just because somepony here is a bit of a mean drunk and the others are a bit... well... sloppy and a bit wet at times." Applejack and Ryder blushed looking elsewhere.
Applejack sighed. "...So uh... Race you to the castle?" She asked nervously. Before anyone had a chance to answer Ryder and Rarity ran off. "...Just my damn luck... HOLD UP YOU TWO I WAS JOKIN'!"
Neither Ryder nor Rarity listened. Ryder was the first to arrive at the castle. He wasn't winded at all. Rarity who came up a few moments after was. Applejack was last and was barely breaking of sweat. "'Bout time you guys showed up. I was doing barrel rolls and laps around the castle for a while!" Ryder said jokingly. Applejack sighed.
"Yeah. Really funny jokester. Why dontcha just lead us on in?" She asked. Ryder rolled his eyes and nodded before going to the door. He saluted the guards waiting at the door and entered with Rarity and Applejack.
Rarity wiped the sweat off her fore head. "...My daily jogging is actually paying off." She said. "I was actually faster than Applejack getting here! Usually she would've passed me almost immediately."
"Please I'd've caught up if'n ya hadn't ran off on me! Besides I uh... I aint near my A game today. Dammit Applebloom..." She fixed her hat as she followed her friends up stairs. "...y'all think Dash n the others are still here? I think they might be able to help our cause of spending the night here drinkin'."
"Don't worry. Twilight lets me crash here when Scoot's sleeping at one of your places." Ryder said. "...I get lonely in that house alone... Why else do you see me sitting around your guys' place till I have to leave??"
Rarity looked at Ryder. "I never actually thought about that." She said. "Why wont you stay with Dash or Pinkie? Perhaps Fluttershy could use somepony to talk with other than all those animals. She has to be pretty lonely to talk with all her animals about things they probably don't understand!" Ryder looked back at Rarity as they came to the top of the stairs.
"As much as I love a dog sleeping next to me in a bed I don't really wanna walk around and step in some 'land mines'." He looked forward. "Aaand to the dining hall we go. Lunch time for Twilight. Always in her dining hall after the fucking McHoovians incident... She asked for no pickles and they give her extra pickles. Boy you do not know how hard the cashier cried after she left that place." Rarity looked to Applejack and shrugged following the stallion.
Not even a minute later they walked in to the dining hall where Twilight sat at the far end of the table with Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie. She looked up and saw Ryder and the two mares at his side. "Back so soon?" She asked. Ryder nodded. Same with AJ and Rarity. "Ah well come have a seat. You cant just be here to visit."
Dash looked at Ryder. "Something tells me they're looking for somewhere to stay and drink without any problems." She said.
Applejack looked at Dash a bit confused. "...How'd ya know that?" She asked. Dash shrugged.
"Lucky guess?"
Rarity looked over at Twilight. "Wont you please let us stay here?" She asked. "You know Big Mac is watching our sisters, Ryder cant deal with being at home alone, I cant drink without getting violent and snapping at somepony and well... No pony here needs a foal just yet."
Fluttershy hummed a bit. "....Well ... I wouldn't say I'd need a foal...." She said blushing a bit. Everypony looked at Fluttershy a bit worried.
Ryder took a deep breath. "Okay! I'll say it! I get horny when drunk and I need to be restrained during my sleep!" He said. "Exactly why I wanna be here instead of alone with Rarity and AJ. The guard's here can make sure I don't fuck up!"
Dash leaned over to Fluttershy. "...Like he always does..." She whispered. Fluttershy giggled. Ryder looked across the table and blushed.
"...I'm gonna believe I didn't hear anything...." He looked to Twilight. "Princess can we please spend the night here? We don't trust ourselves by ourselves!"
Twilight sighed. "Alright you can stay." She said. "I'll have a few guards get rooms set up for you and put in a few prevention items in each room. For now lets just keep to soda, water and juice. I'll give notice when we can drink." Ryder, Rarity and AJ nodded. "So who's hungry for pizza? Had some ordered just for us! Don't worry it's cheese!"
Rarity looked at her flank. "Well... I need a treat for all my exercise I've been doing..." She said looking back at Twilight. "So yes pizza would be nice. And... About some drinks?" Twilight looked to Ryder.
"Only this one time Ryder get some drinks for everypony. No alcohol though!"
Ryder got up taking a deep breath. "Yes. Right away Princess!" He said hurrying towards the kitchen door.
Dash turned back to her cousin. "Grab me a diet cola Ry!" She called out. She looked back at the mares at the table. "So Twi you want to wait till Ryder gets back to hear what we have planned?"
Applejack looked across the table at Dash. "Plan? I thought we had the only plan!" She said.
Twilight gave a sigh. "We had to have a plan because we had the idea you guys would go a tad crazy without your cutie marks." She said. "I've assigned each of you a buddy to help keep your mind off your cutie marks. Dash is with you AJ, Ryder has Fluttershy and since Rarity's a hard pony to entertain I'm assigning Pinkie to her!"
Rarity sighed. "I guess it's what I get." She said. She looked over at Fluttershy. "I really hope you and Ryder don't go and wake up with each others feathers in your manes.... Trust me waking up with somepony's feathers in your mane and mouth makes it look like something out of a horror movie." She gave Dash a worried look.
Dash blushed. "Sorry I have a condition where I preen in my sleep!" She said. She looked to Fluttershy. "But in all seriousness please try and drink lightly Fluttershy! I don't wanna see you crying over the toilet throwing up during some stupid morning sickness!"
Fluttershy blushed a bit. "...Uh.... Well I guess I could just have one appletini tonight and some juice the rest of the night..." She said. "Uh... Twilight can you uh...." The yellow mare averted her gaze blushing hard.
Twilight sighed. "Don't worry Fluttershy I'll have my most gentle guard help you with that tonight." She said giving a smile. "Would anyone else want precautions done to help keep them happy during the night?"
The sound of an open door and hooves came to everypony's ears. "....Uh... I may want something like that princess...." Someone said. Everyone looked back and saw Ryder walking towards the table blushing a bit with an embarrassed look on his face. He had a tray full of drinks. Each in a unique glass and chilled mug. Each having a cutie mark of who had each drink. "Well uh.... Let's see...." He looked to his back as he passed by each mare. "We have a lemon lime soda for Dash, a water for Fluttershy, Pinkie has... a strawberry and blueberry milk shake for some reason with chocolate whipped cream..., For the princess a chocolate milk, AJ gets apple juice and Rarity gets a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade while I get a frosty mug of root beer with NO ice!" Twilight and Rarity used their magic to distribute the drinks to their rightful places.
Applejack grabbed her mug and sipped from it. "Ah... Nothin' like squeezed juice from an apple to wet mah whistle." She said as Ryder claimed his seat. She looked to Ryder. "So why does it feel like there aint gonna be nothin' but tears from both parties tomorrow when we give our sisters their 'well deserved' cutie marks?"
Ryder shrugged taking his root beer and sipped it. Applejack looked across the table at Dash as she gave a burp. "Well somepony here might hate to see his little sister grow up." The cyan mare said. "And the fillies kinda might think you guys hate them or might be getting the raw end of the deal having to do your jobs. Maybe Twilight should swap Scootaloo's cutie mark and Applebloom's. Scoot isn't much of a fighting filly if I remember right and Applebloom's tough when it comes to getting hurt in a scrap or if she falls off something."
"Y'kno that does sound like a good idea... Every Pegasus guard that'd pass by Scootaloo would remind her about Ryder and make her think he's gonna snap at her or something. I mean Big Mac is sweet on that sister of yours Ryder. He knows how it is to lose loved ones. Had to go through three times."
Fluttershy gave a loud burp and blushed. "Ooh! Excuse me!" She said. She looked to everypony as they giggled a bit. "Well I do remember Scootaloo and Ryder both do need comfort and care to stay calm. If Big Mac can go easy on Scootaloo there wont be a problem. Ryder needs a little more care that Scootaloo does. It doesn't make sense hearing it but it helps just to see." The yellow mare set her drink down and flew over the table landing next to Ryder. "Ryder is like a wolf in some ways. Always travels with friends or those of his kind being like the guard, he doesn't like looking for things on his own such as food, he doesn't like getting cornered and if he needs to fight it's for his pack. In that pack is his friends and family!" She pulled a chair next to Ryder and sat next to him hugging him. "Not to mention he likes to be scratched behind the ears." She scratched just behind Ryder's ears and he blushed.
Pinkie laughed a bit after swallowing her drink. "I'm surprised we aren't turning him into a little wolfie just for Scootaloo to play with!" She said.
Twilight used her magic and clamped Pinkie's mouth shut. Even kept Ryder's hoof from hammering against the chair leg. "Alright I'll think on it tonight." She said. "I'll think of all the different cutie mark combos with each filly. Sweetie Belle most likely will do Rarity's thing with finding gems but I'll seek some possibilities with how each filly might react to the cutie mark. But for now somepony should go downstairs and make sure the pizza guy isn't getting stopped by the guards. Ryder? Dash? You two wanna go?" Ryder groaned a bit setting his mug down. "Ryder I promise this will be the last thing I ask of you today! Cross my heart hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye!"
Ryder gave a nod and got up still keeping his drink with him. Dash sighed leaving her drink behind. "I guess one of us has to carry that pizza up." She said. "....And don't worry I'll check so it doesn't have any peppers Twi. If it does I'm sending it back. If Ryder gets pizza and only him I'm making him take four hooves to the flank for a cutie mark!"
Ryder flew around Dash sipping his drink. "Yeah like I can eat a huge pizza by myself..." He said sarcastically. "Lets just go before the other guards get the pizza. If no pizza everypony's paying me for a hayburger... Not to mention I'm gonna raise hell at that pizza place..." Dash looked at her cousin as they went out the door.
"Yeah that should get us a free pizza and something more... Put it on behalf of Twilight and we might own that place."
Later that night Ryder sat in the TV room with everypony. Rarity and Applejack sat at his side. Dash, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Twilight sat behind them as they watched some show from their childhood. Loaded Stable. Applejack glanced at Ryder. "I don't see why the hell you like this old crap." She whispered. "I mean... the writin's good but its all fuzzy when it gets those fly by's of Manehattan and when they're out somewhere doin' what ever... Why they usin' that name brand crap too?"
Dash squeezed between Ryder and AJ. "Look it's a TV show from the late ninety's just be quiet or maybe change the channel. Fluttershy and I already saw every episode!" She said. Applejack sighed getting up.
"Sorry but I cant help snappin' at everypony. Somethin' inside me is tellin' me not to put our sisters through what we go through..." Dash sighed.
"AJ do you want the girls to keep going to anypony they can to bug the fuck out of them for their cutie marks? I don't want Ryder coming to my door in the middle of the night saying Scootaloo and the fillies ended up in the hospital because they all tried something and hurt themselves! Would you wanna hear from someone saying Applebloom busted her skull open trying to be a lumberjack?" Applejack shook her head. "Great! Now is it time for booze Twi? I'm dying for something to just trash me!" She looked back at Twilight.
The princess gave a deep sigh. "Not for you!" She said. "You, Pinkie and Fluttershy are the sober party tonight. Ryder, Applejack, Rarity and I are the ones who are getting drunk!" Dash gave her a pissed look.
"Why can you get drunk and we cant? This is as stressful for us as it is for them!" Twilight grinned.
"My castle. You're just guests here!" Dash sighed while Twilight gave a laugh. That laugh died down and she sighed. "Well does everypony remember who's with who tonight?" Fluttershy pulled Ryder to the side and nuzzled him. Pinkie pulled Rarity away and hugged her while Applejack sat with Dash who looked pissed. "Perfect! I'll have a guard, not Ryder for once, get us that mobile cocktail bar!" She got up and started for the door.
Rarity looked to Pinkie. "If you're going to hold me like that while I drink you are going to need a tighter grip." She said. Pinkie smiled nervously. "...You don't have intention on letting me go are you...?" Pinkie shook her head. She looked to the others. "Uh.... Ryder? Fluttershy? Dash? AJ? Any of you perhaps have a crow bar on you?"
Fluttershy looked over at Rarity keeping Ryder under her wing LITTERALLY. "Why would anypony need a crow bar in our work?" She asked. Ryder cleared his throat. "Oh uh... right sorry Ryder..... I forget you're a fixit guard..."
"Just ignore my comment I'll handle it on my own..." Rarity glanced at Pinkie. "...You better know when to grip and let me go.... Now would be the time to let me move around!" Pinkie smiled and let go of Rarity backing away from her. Rarity looked to Ryder and Fluttershy. "Fluttershy you be careful with Ryder. Make sure each of his restraints are TIGHT and... Please don't try and take advantage of him. He's horny and wet when drunk. Don't want him having an accident inside."
Ryder blushed averting his gaze. "....That was one time Rarity... And it wasn't my fault you were drunk too!" He said. "....Still don't know how you remember that..." He looked to Applejack. "...Any input with you AJ?"
Dash rolled her eyes. "Please she doesn't have anything to hide. Well... Other than her episodes of waking up either on her roof, or up a tree yet no pony really knows how she gets up there." She said. "Ryder knows how awesome I am when I drink."
"Really? You aren't awesome when you drink. You drink ALL fucking night, you try and start things with anypony with you, you pull some stupid dares and force who ever to just do what ever you say. Why else did you find someone shitting on your doorstep? I was pissed off because I was pissed ON!"
Fluttershy groaned a bit. "Cant we just stay away from each others throats?" She asked. "I don't like it when you guys yell at each other!"
Applejack huffed. "Fluttershy's right, all this is doin' is raisin' each others blood pressure." She said. "When Twi gets back, we're putting on a bit of music, and drink to our hearts content!" She looked over to Ryder. "And yes Ry it's gonna be that hippie stuff y'like so much. No one likes drinkin' to my country music, Dash's dubstep, Rarity's classical and sorry Flutters your calming flute music aint gonna work with us either... Trust me it wasn't that tea that put me to sleep a few weeks ago it was that music." Fluttershy smiled a bit.
"It's okay. That was my sleepy time mix anyways. I forgot to change it to my yoga music. I was planning on working out but you were welcomed to join me. Too bad it put you to sleep."
Hours later Ryder was being shackled to a gurney with a chastity belt on. He was passed out but with a bloody nostril. Fluttershy and a few guards helped push the gurney into a bedroom. As the guards put the bed against the wall they sighed as they put the breaks on. "There we go Miss Fluttershy." One said as the others left the room. "He should be fine. Applejack's lucky he has a sister to take care of. No charges are going to be pressed but if you need a guard just call for a guard." Fluttershy nodded.
"Will do. Thank you again for strapping him down. I didn't want to think about him being on top of me when I wake up... Not good if he's just all sticky while he's inside me..." She glanced at Ryder. "Um... Maybe we should pad him up just so he doesn't ruin any equipment..."
"Well why don't you just go on to bed. I'll handle it. Just... Sleep lightly... Rarity went onto a tirade on Pinkie but instead of being intimidated she just laughed.. Weird mare she is..." The guard turned back around and left the room as Fluttershy climbed into bed.
Over with the Crusaders they were all sitting inside of Applebloom's room hugging each other scared. Big Mac was changing Applebloom's sheets. Applebloom was amongst the hugging fillies crying embarrassed as well as scared. "Look girls I know you're all scared but this is ALL for your own good!" Big Mac said. "All of your siblin's still love ya, they just don't like it when you do all this crazy stuff trying to get your cutie marks. Lion taming, sky diving, extreme rock climbin? I mean all that stuff could've gotten ya killed."
Applebloom sniffled. "...W-we're just tired of all them bullies callin' us names..." She said.
Sweetie belle looked up at Big Mac. "...Yeah! Scootaloo nearly knocked Diamond Tiara's teeth out!" She said. "Her and Silver Spoon have been calling us that since we were five!"
Scootaloo looked to Sweetie Belle. "...Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara has only been in our class since two years ago..." She said. Sweetie belle blushed averting her gaze.
"...Right... I used to live in canterlot with mommy and daddy before I had to live with Rarity... Diamond used to be my neighbor at one point... She got her cutie mark and just... stopped talking with me..."
Big Mac hoisted up side of Applebloom's mattress and set it down on it's side before plopping it on the wet stained side. He huffed at looked back at the fillies. "Alright look at me. You three get downstairs and hop into my bed." He said. "Before you do I need each of you to use the toilet. I don't want AJ thinkin' I was drinkin' on the job with you girls! Scoot I know what your brother would do if he caught me drinking with you around and I'm pretty sure Rarity'd do the same thing. Now just go. I'll be in to make sure no more accidents happen." The fillies nodded and hurried out of the room with Applebloom lagging a bit.
The next morning the crusaders rode in a red wagon as Big Mac pulled it with a rope in his teeth and tied to the handle of the wagon. The fillies looked to the castle as they approached. The cool morning air almost made it seem like it was snowing for each filly as they shook scared, wondering if their siblings were just joking or if they were as serious as a drill instructor. Scootaloo swallowed as she held her friends close. "...B-Big Mac...." She said. Big Mac glanced back at the fillies.
"'s wrong Scoot? Gotta use the can again?"
"No... I j-just wanted to ask if you were going to come up with us.... I don't want Ryder to yell at me..." Big Mac sighed.
"Scoot your brother doesn't like to yell after a night of drinking. Last time he did I nearly sent him into the hospital. He should be as quiet as Fluttershy."
With that he was right. When they got to the castle they were all escorted inside by other guards and into the throne room. Twilight sat in her throne. Applejack, Rarity and Ryder stood in the center of the ring of thrones. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie sat behind them. Watching as the crusaders stepped in front of Twilight and hesitantly bowed. "Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle. Applebloom." Twilight said. "You three stand here in front of me today for complaining about your siblings and everyone else having a cutie mark after multiple times of being told everypony gets their cutie mark at different times. We've devised a plan and agreed on who's getting what cutie mark from the ponies behind you. Applebloom. Instead of getting Applejack's cutie mark you'll be given Ryders. Scootaloo will be getting Applejack's since Ryder doesn't trust any other guard to watch over his sister."
Applejack stepped forward. "Yeah. Since you can handle yourself better a guard should be tied up faster than you could finish fixing something." She said.
Ryder stepped forward and turned his sister around. "...Scoot some guards here have guilty pleasures they get away with and I want them nowhere near you with your back turned." He said almost in a whisper. "I trust you more with Big Mac than I do any of the other guards. Unless Shining Armor was here you cant have my cutie mark." Scootaloo whimpered and hugged her brother. He pried her off and turned her back to Twilight. "Princess... I think it's time we get this done and over with... Head is killing me..."
Twilight nodded getting up from her throne. "Ryder, Sweetie Belle. Step forward." She said. "I can only do two at a time... plus I think Ryder has the worst hang over out of all of you." Applejack and Rarity nodded as they pulled Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo aside. Applebloom went to Ryder's side. "Alright you two... Join hooves. The cutie mark needs a surface to travel over." Neither pony said anything. They just took each other's hoof. Twilight took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her horn glowed and so did Ryder and Applebloom. They floated up and in a ball of light the two ponies disappeared. Everyone but Twilight looked at where the two ponies were shocked. "...Give it a second. This spell is strange but I did test it on a few guards last night while everyone was asleep."
Dash tilted her head. "So I think I knocked out Ryder for NOTHING?!" She asked. Twilight shushed her.
Just then the ball of light reappeared and spat Applebloom and Ryder out before disappearing again. A closer look revealed Applebloom had Ryder's cutie mark and Ryder had a blank flank. Well.... Ryder was passed out scaring Scootaloo as Applebloom came to. The Pegasus filly ran up to her brother. "Ryder!" She said jumping on him. "Ryder! Wake up please wake up!"
Applejack came up and pulled Scootaloo away. "Don't fret none Scoots!" She said hugging the filly. "He's just tired. Fluttershy told me he woke up about ten times during the night. Guess he's a very active drinker and a night owl but don't worry he'll be fine." Scootaloo looked up at Applejack tearing up.
"...A-are you sure...? He could be really hurt..."
"He's alright... Maybe just a bit in shock from being... Somewhere..." She looked to Twilight. "Where the hell did that send em?"
Twilight gave a bit of a smile. "Don't worry it's just a cloaking to hide the process of the transfer." She said. "I wouldn't know what it's like in there but maybe someone could help me figure out what's in there. Any volunteers?" Sweetie Belle raised her hoof hesitantly as she clung to her sister scared. "Alright then! Sweetie Belle! Rarity! You two are next!" Rarity took a deep breath prying her sister off with her magic as Applejack pulled Ryder away. Applebloom stepped away looking at her flank. No emotion whatsoever. Sweetie Belle took her sisters hoof and whimpered. Rarity sighed and pulled her sister in for a hug feeling sorry for this. She still knew she had to do this but Sweetie just needed comfort. Twilight sighed. "...Well I guess that works too.... Now... Sweetie Belle you do this I'll help you find your first batch of gems! Okay?" Sweetie Belle looked up at Twilight and nodded wiping a few tears away. Twilight's horn glowed again and the unicorn siblings were enveloped in an orb of light. Sweetie Belle looked around and found herself in another dimension with her sister close at her side. She saw colors of the rainbow, colors she hasn't seen before, cutie marks of the unknown and even a few runes. She looked to her sisters cutie mark and saw it cross over from Rarity's flank to hers. It almost tickled on the way over. Almost meaning it pinched a bit as it fused to her flank.
Not even a second after receiving her sisters cutie mark everything disappeared. She looked around taking deep breaths. She saw everyone. Twilight, Ryder, Scootaloo, Rarity, Applebloom, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. Twilight used her magic pulling Sweetie Belle away from her sister. "....That.... Really wasn't as bad as I thought..." The little filly said. "...I thought it was gonna hurt or something..." Twilight smiled as Rarity went over with her friends.
"Well? What did it look like in there?"
"...Kinda... What's that word Ryder uses a lot...? Psychodalek?"
Applejack approached with Scootaloo clinging to her back. "That's psychedelic sugarcube." She said. She looked to Twilight. "Alright sugarcube... Let's get it done and over with... I've bucked my last buck for a while.. Gonna miss it but hey... As long as something gets done about these fillies."
Twilight nodded. In the back behind the action Dash shook Ryder awake. "C'mon! Wake up!" She snapped. Nothing. "Fucking..." She looked over to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy can you help me here? I want him to see Scootaloo get AJ's cutie mark." Fluttershy glanced over and shushed her friend. "Alright fine he sleeps but when we get the chance to put him in a bed...."
Cutie Marks swapped over, drinks have been drank, someone got drunk. So much yelling. Hope this goes well....