Capes can't cover everything

prologue

"WOW!" Raspberry eyes widened as her friend, Taffy Tops wiggled her plot, showing off her flank. "Cool, huh?" She gazed happily at her cutie mark, which was a chocolate hearts. "I never knew that my super special talent was making delicious chocolate!"

" That's so cool." Raspberry grinned. She turned to look at her blank flank." I hope mine would come soon." She sighed.

Her friend placed a comforting hoof on Raspberry shoulder. "Don't worry. I bet you will get yours soon. And it will be so awesome that everypony will stop and look. You will be famous!"

Raspberry playfully gave her buddy a poke. " Yeah right!" She laughed. " And pigs will be able to fly and mice can dance!"

Taffy rested her hoof on her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. " Maybe...." She stretched her wings and darted skywards. "Last one who reaches school has puny wings!"

Raspbeerry giggled as she took off, chasing after the brown pegasus. "No fair!"

~

"Omigosh! You got your cutie mark!" One of the classmates gave a surprised yelp as Raspberry and Taffy landed onto the Manehattan Institute for Young Ponies school grounds.

The other fillies in the class gathered around Taffy, as if she was famous.

" You are so lucky!" one said.

"Your cutie mark is so cool."Another remarked.

" How did you get it?" A thin and bony unicorn, Pickle, asked curiously.

Taffy flashed a smile, enjoying the attention. Pretending to be a popular star, she tossed her long auburn mane and struck a pose. " I was helping my mum whip up some hoofmade chocolate truffles yesterday," She paused for dramatic effect, " And when I took my apron off, there it was, right on my flank!" She bursted out laughing, and the others followed, finding her impression hilarious.

"Come on class." The teacher, Mrs Inkwell, beckoned her students to the classroom. " Why why! I see somepony has already earn her cutie mark." She nodded at Taffy, who raised her head up high proudly. " That means all of you will be getting your soon."

~

Mrs Inkwell was right. Well, mostly right. The day right after that, two overjoyed fillies came to school with their recently earned cutie marks. The week after that, six of Raspberry's classmates were no longer blank flanks. By three months, the whole class had received their cutie marks. Except for Raspberry.

~

Raspberry ran up to her mother, tears welling up in her eyes.

Her mothers face creased with worry. " What is it dear?" She asked, while cradling her one year old foal in her hooves.

"Mum, why haven't I have my cutie mark yet! It is taking forever!" Raspberry whined, as salty wet tears rolled down her cheeks.

" It will not take forever, but it will take time. Everything has its own time for everypony." She assured her daughter. The foal in her hooves opened his mouth and started to howl. "Oh dear, I guess your brother is hungry."

~ Four years later....

"Why don't you have a cutie mark? Is it a birth defect or something?" The pony next to Raspberry commented, sniggering as she stared at her still cutie mark less flank.

"I....I don't know." Raspberry mumbled under her breath, her head hanging low in embarrassment and covered her face with her hooves.

Blank flank, Blank flank.... These words taunted Raspberry non stop. And it followed her everywhere she went.