"It didn't work!" I cried. I looked at my typically bare flank, stretching my back legs about as though it would appear out of nowhere.
"I guess that baking just isn't meant to be your special talent." my mother said with a shrug. She fixed her golden eyes on me, setting a hoof on my shoulder. "But you are pretty good with these. " she says in an attempt to cheer me up.
Discouraged, I set my half eaten muffin on the counter, hanging my head low as I hop off the stool she pulled out for me. "But I still haven't found it." I say. I walk toward my room.
"Oh, Dinky, it's okay, you'll find it soon."
'And just when is soon Mom?' I wanted to ask her 'I'm the last filly in class, and I still don't have a cutiemark.' But instead I reply with, "Sure." before shutting the door to my room. I flattened myself on top of my bed, stretching out as I let tears start to brim over my eyes again. 'This is what, the fiftieth time I've cried this year?' I asked myself. I rubbed at my eyes and continued sniffling until the tears finally slowed.
I didn't need a mirror to know my eyes were red and puffy, but it was with those red eyes of mine that I glanced to my right. Where my book shelves stood. My Dad was always getting books for me in the library about destiny, in an effort to help. But that was months before, and they still sat there, collecting dust.
I sniffed another time before sliding off the mattress, making my way to the shelves. I picked the first one, a book with a purple cover that red, Destiny 101, the first book my father had gotten for me. I blow away whatever dust it had collected and walk back to my bed, switching on my lamp before cracking it open to the first page.
What many foals and ponies don't know, is that your destiny doesn't determine the creature, the creature determines the destiny... it read. I raced through that book from cover to cover until I had finished it. With one simple book, my world had already opened to new possibilities.
Ever since that day, I ad been studying the subject of destiny, and it's meaning. I had learned how personalities, how interests, and how other ponies and their choices can determine just one pony's destiny. As years progressed, and my peers went on to pursue their passions and their destinies, I was still stuck trying to find my own.
I devoted much of my time to finding my special talent, if I wasn't trying, I was researching, if I wasn't practicing, I was reading. I devoured whatever knowledge was within my grasp of the subject, and I devoted much of the time I had to trying to achieve it.
In school, once a pony graduated, they often had the choice to pursue a career or become more educated with their special talents. When that time came for me and my peers, I was a completely different story.
No matter how much I worked, no matter how much I tried, with all of the magic I practiced, and the things I tried, I still hadn't pulled it off. Everywhere I'd go I'd end up being stared at by other ponies. There would always be whispering, and laughter. But I had to ignore it.
"It's going to come with time." My father would tell me, whenever I decided to confront him with my problem. "it just takes longer for some ponies than others."
Mom would often quote, "The longer a pony awaits their destiny, the greater their destiny will be." she'd say.
But even after all of the work, I was still barren of any cutiemark. I grew frustrated with my studies and stopped them completely. It wasn't until I caught sight of three certain fillies, who go by the name the Cutie Mark Crusaders, that I decided to try, one last time.
'Of course!' I thought as they continued on. The trio was laughing about something, and seemed to be enjoying a joke or two. 'Why did I never think of it before! I can ask these three for help.' I thought. With that, I rushed off after them, before stopping in my tracks.
'But what if they can't help me? What do I do then?' I asked myself. I looked to the ground, trying to think of an answer. But in truth, I didn't have one.
To my surprise, I caught their attention. "Hey Dinky," Apple Bloom called out. She gave me a winning smile and moved her braid away from her face. She, with the other two, started trotting my way.
'Oh crap.' I thought. I resisted the urge to turn around and bolt and instead stood in my tracks, trying to give my best casual look. "Hey."
It must've worked too well, because instead of smiling and turning back around like I had hoped, she started to engage in conversation with me. "How's it goin'?" she asked.
"I'm fine, I was just, passing through." I say, trying to chuckle casually.
"Do you want some help with anything?" Sweetie Belle asked.
'How did she know that?' I thought. "Well, yeah." I admitted.
"You don't have to be so hesitant you know, we're always willing to help a friend out." Scootaloo said with a wink.
'Friend?' I thought. The question took me by surprise. "Well," I begin, recovering from my shock. "I really need your help! I've been trying for years and I still have no cutiemark! Can you please help me?" I ask.
"Sure, of course we can, we're more than willing to help you." Sweetie Belle said.
"Yeah, you could've asked anytime before." Scootaloo added.
"I didn't think to before, I tried finding it on my own, but I just...couldn't." I say.
"It's alright, we can help you right now if you'd like." I couldn't help but smile with relief.
"Thank you." I say.
I didn't think it'd be like this. I never thought I could feel so helpless, yet they tell me that I'd be helping.
'Equestria's future is at stake' she says. But what would she know? If you ask me, they probably would've been better off if I hadn't been chosen. I'm no help. I'm only doing what I feel is right. And even after all of that, here we are, staring at what could only become a new empire, in Equestria's place.
After all the challenges, after all the tears. After all the terror and the evils I never could've imagined, that I'd end up here. It's up to us, the six of us. Ponies I never thought I'd be considered apart of. Ponies I never would've thought to be so close to.
Yet within a matter of...was it only a few days? What feels like a thousand lives with the challenges we had to overcome. And here we are. The mixed sound of sickening laughter, the angry eyes of everypony around me. And the taste of what could be victory, or what could be defeat mixed the flowing tears.
I guess I'd better start explaining myself huh? How within a matter of days, my life, my world, everything, flipped and changed in ways only chaotic minds like Discord's could ever think of.
Our story begins with five little fillies, and one lunar princess. Five of the six of them, discovered their destinies. One did not. That one filly, was me. Dinky Hooves.
But it is I, who will tell you, about the Elements and their bearers. No, not the Elements of Harmony, but the Elements of Destiny.
And it all starts, in a simple town, by the name of Ponyville.
