I woke up in the morning, taking a moment to survey my surroundings, my unfamiliar surroundings that is. Where am I?

Oh yeah! I’m in Applejack’s family’s house, because I spent the night, now I remember. I got up and stretched, then walked downstairs to the living room.

There, I saw Applejack and Big Mac and Granny Smith all huddled up, looking at an old picture book.

Granny pointed to a photo. “Boy howdy, I remember when we built that house. It was the first one in Ponyville. Now look how big the town is!” She said with a smile.

They then looked up and noticed me. Granny smiled. “Hey youngster, bout time ya woke up! We were about ta wake you up.”

I chuckled. “Sorry everypony, I just was way too tired after yesterday. It was a lot of hard work plowing the field of snow.” I then looked at Applejack. “And save a certain somepony’s life.” I said with a wink towards Applejack, making her blush slightly and groan.

Right then, somepony burst through the front door. “APPLEJACK, where’s my saddlebag, I’m late for school!” It was Applebloom, in a mad dash to find said bag.

I noticed it was next to the coffee table and grabbed it.

“Here Applebloom, it was right next to me.” I handed it to her and she gave me a big smile. “Thanks Jordan! Hey, can I ask a favor? Would ya walk me to school? I’d feel a lot better having somepony with me.” I was going to reject, but… She gave me those big eyes, and that adorable smile. My heart MELTED. How could I turn down that adorable face?

“Of course Applebloom. AJ, is it ok?” I looked to AJ and she gave me a prudent nod. But, she walked over to me and pulled me aside.

“Listen here, sugarcube. PLEASE watch her. Applebloom’s my only sister, and if anything happens to her I’ll never be able to live with myself.”

I nodded in understanding. “You know you can count on me, don’t worry about it AJ.” I then walked towards Applebloom and smiled.

“Want a horseback ride Applebloom?” She chuckled at the joke and nodded. “Big Mac used to let me ride on him all the time!”

I smiled and lowered my head down, scooping her up and allowing her to get comfortable on me. I then started walking out.

“Bye everypony, see you after school!” Applebloom hollered as she waved. I smiled and walked towards the direction of the school house.

Applebloom, being the curious, silly filly she is, started right in on the questions. “Hey, Jordan? Why were ya at our house anyway?”

I chuckled. “Well, don’t tell her I said this, but your sister is awful clumsy. I kinda… saved her from drowning yesterday.”

Applebloom opened her eyes wide. “Really?! You saved her?! Wow, you’re my hero, Jordan!” Applebloom then planted a smooch right onto my neck, making me chuckle.

“Thanks, Applebloom. Anyway, I walked her home, and she asked me if I wanted to stay the night since you weren’t there last night. So, when you walked in I’d just woken up.”

“Ok, next question. Were you and my sister gettin cozy last night?”

WHOA, WHAT?! Her question made me stop right in my tracks, almost flinging Applebloom off of me. Ok, first off, how does a kid make that kind of accusation!? Second, does she know what she’s asking, or what that term means?

“Applebloom, sweetie, do you even know what you’re asking?”

She chuckled and giggled. “Yep!”

I scoffed. “Well, for your information, we didn’t do nothing last night. We were in separate rooms. Now… let’s stay off the personal stuff for now, ok sweetie?”

She groaned, but nodded in agreement. But she piped up again with another question.

“Hey, Jordan, why don’t you-“ I cut her off.

“We’re here Applebloom, time to head to class.” I told her as we walked up to the school house. She got off of me and hugged me.

“Thanks Jordan, see y’all later!” She said as she ran to the door of the school house. I wanted to make sure she was ok, call it a parental/brotherly/close friend instinct. So I followed her.

Cheerilee was there, hooves folded. “Applebloom, you’re late for school again! What do you have to say for yourself?”

Applebloom hung her head sadly, and I stepped in. “That’s my fault Cheerilee, I lost track of time when she and I were playing this morning. Blame me.” I made the lie on the spot to cover Applebloom. I gave said pony a quick wink, showing her that I had her back.

Cheerilee nodded. “Very well. Applebloom, get inside.” Applebloom nodded and skipped merrily inside the building. Cheerilee looked at me with a grin on her face.

“Nice work protecting Applebloom like that, Jordan. I knew you weren’t telling the truth, but it’s very sweet you jumped in to save her like that. I can see you care about her.”

I was stunned silent that she knew I was lying, but then I chuckled.

“Applebloom’s a very nice filly. She asked me to walk her to school this morning.”

Cheerilee nodded, then gasped. She turned her head in a way so she was staring at my flank.

I got a bit uncomfortable. “Uh… Mrs. Cheerilee?”

She gasped again and went back to her normal pose. “Sorry, but I just noticed you don’t have a cutie mark! That’s very strange, almost all adult ponies have a cutie mark by that time.”

I gave her a look that showed her I was just as confused. “I have no idea why I don’t have one, I guess I never found out my special talent.”

Cheerilee then smiled at me. “Jordan, today I was going to teach my students about cutie marks. Would you like to attend the class so you can learn about cutie marks?”

I gave her a confused look. “But… I’m an adult, Mrs. Cheerilee, and this is a kids’ school. Won’t it seem a bit odd?”

She shook her head. “Not at all, I have adult ponies coming to help me teach all the time, an adult studying a lesson will be no different.”

“In that case, I’ll come in and attend.” I said with a smile. Cheerilee smiled too and turned around, walking inside. I followed behind her.

As we walked in, Cheerilee hushed the class. “Class, we have a very special guest attending our class today. Please say hello to Jordan, one of the newer residents of Ponyville!” She said with a smile. The class murmered, saying things like hi, welcome, things like that.

“Jordan is actually going to be attending today’s lesson, for it’s something he doesn’t know very much about, like most of you. Jordan, have a seat at my desk in the back of the room, since it’s the only one that you can fit in.” She said as she pointed to the desk. I nodded and went to the big desk, sitting at it.

Cheerilee then began the lesson. “Today we are going to be talking about cutie marks, everypony!”

A filly near Applebloom sighed. “Bo-ring.” I then noticed that she already had her cutie mark.

“You can all see my cutie mark, can't you? Like all ponies, I wasn't born with a cutie mark. My flank was blank.” She explained as she showed them her flank, with her cutie mark.

A pony with orange hair spoke. “Aww...! She's so precious!”

Cheerilee continued. “Then one day, when I was about your age, I woke up to find that a cutie mark had appeared.” I was thinking deeply… huh. Strange, it just happened literally overnight? Cheerilee then showed a picture of herself in some groovy clothes and such.

The children all giggled at her ridiculous appearance in the pictures. “Yes I know, but honestly, that's how everypony was wearing their mane back then. I had decided to become a teacher, and the flowers symbolized my hope that I could help my future students bloom if I nurture them with knowledge. The smiles represented the cheer I hope to bring to my little ponies while they were learning. Now, can anyone tell me when a pony gets his or her cutie mark?”

The red haired pony shot her hoof right up. “Oh! Oh! Oh! When she discovers that certain something that makes her special!”

“That's right, Twist. A cutie mark appears on a pony's flank when he or she finds that certain something that makes them different from every other pony. Discovering what makes you unique isn't something that happens overnight, and no amount of hoping, wishing, or begging, would make a cutie mark appear before its time.”

As Cheerilee was talking, I saw a pony wearing a tiara bothering Applebloom, and she passed her a note. Cheerilee saw it, and thought Applebloom was the note passer.

“Apple Bloom! Are you passing a note?” Cheerilee asked in a very strict tone of voice.

Applebloom was lost on how to answer. “Uh, I... Um...”

“What could be so important that it couldn't wait until after class?” Cheerilee said in a rage, before she grabbed the note and gasped. “It's blank.”

The tiara’d pony laughed. “Remind you of anypony?” She laughed again, and some school ponies whispered amongst themselves.

“Diamond Tiara, you know I don’t tolerate any form of harassment or bullying in my classroom! Yes, Applebloom’s flank is still blank, but that doesn’t make her any different from the rest of us.” Cheerilee reprimanded the young filly, and then the bell rang. Cheerilee gasped.

“Class, I forgot that today was only a half day, class dismissed! Jordan, can you come see me up front please?” As the class all sprinted out of the school house, I muscled through the crowd to her desk. I looked at her.

“Yes, Mrs. Cheerilee, what is it?” I asked in curiosity.

She gave me a playful, yet serious look. “Jordan, we’re both adults, you don’t have to call me Mrs. Anyway, I just wanted to ask a favor.” She gave me a very serious look. “Please, look after Applebloom today, ok? Diamond Tiara is having a cute ceanara to celebrate getting her cutie mark. I fear she might be a bit too… proud of her cutie mark, and it might get to Applebloom. Just watch over her, ok? Applebloom’s such a bright young filly, and I care about her.” Cheerilee said with her ears drooped down slightly.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “Mrs… I mean, Cheerilee. I care about Applebloom too. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to her. I promise. Class dismissed, teacher?” I said with a laugh. She laughed also.

“Class dismissed, see you around, Jordan.” She said as she got up and started erasing the whiteboard. I walked out the door of the school house, and I saw Diamond Tiara and a pony who I assumed was her friend talking to Applebloom and Twist.

I decided to walk behind the duo silently, not letting them know I was there, and listened to them talk to Applebloom and Twist.

“I don't know why we had to sit through a lecture about getting a cutie mark. I mean, waiting for your cutie mark is sooo last week. You got yours, I just got mine. We all have them already.” She then gasped in an exaggerated way as she looked at the two. “I mean, almost all of us have them already. Don't worry, you two, you're still totally invited to my cute-ceañera this weekend.” Diamond Tiara boasted to Twist and Applebloom.

The other filly then cut in. “It's going to be amazing.” She boasted.

Diamond Tiara then piped up again. “It's a party celebrating me and my fantastic cutie mark. How could it not be?” She asked in a rhetorical fashion.

Diamond Tiara and the other filly then giggled. “Bump! Bump! Sugar-lump, rump!” They finished with a laugh.

I then stepped in. “Yes, now why don’t you two fillies skidaddle and go on your merry way? Stop your bragging and boasting.” I told them.

The two of them just laughed. “Oh please! You have no power over us!” Diamond Tiara said as she laughed.

I then gave her a weak grin. “Well, you’re only half right. Keep messing with them, and I may go to Mrs. Cheerilee.”

That stopped them dead in their tracks, literally. They stopped walking away and turned to me.

“You can’t do that!” Diamond Tiara cried out in despair.

I smiled in a comical way. “Oh? Keep messing with Applebloom then, you’ll see.”

While I figured that would put them in their place, Diamond Tiara huffed and glared at me. “You don’t have a cutie mark either! How is that even possible, you have to be twice our age and you’ve never found your special talent. You have no right bossing us around, BLANK FLANK!” The two giggled as they walked away, leaving my jaw dropped and speechless.

Applebloom then rubbed against my back leg in a cute way. “Thank you, for standin up to them Jordan! They were really getting on mah nerves.” Applebloom said with a smile.

Twist smiled too. “Yeah, thanks! Want a peppermint stick, I made them myself!”

I shrugged, unsure. “Uh…. Sure, why not. Applebloom, let’s go home. Twist, you walk home safely, ok?” I said as she handed me a stick.

She nodded. “Yes sir!” She said as she walked down the trail.

I half-heartedly smiled at Applebloom. “C’mon, let’s go to the farm. I’ll walk you home.”

She sighed sadly. “Ok…” She hung her head as she followed me on the trail.

But… I got the feeling something was wrong. Should I talk to her about it? What if it’s something only she can handle? Oh well.

“Hey, Applebloom? Are you alright?” I asked in a loving, concerned tone, putting my own worries and thoughts aside for the time being.

Applebloom shook her head. “It's not fair! It's just not fair!” She cried out in despair.

I looked at her a bit confused. “What’s not fair, honey?” I said with my caring tone of voice.

“I want mah cutie mark. I don’t wanna wait! I want one right now! I can't go to Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera without one, I just can't!” She cried out as she and I walked onto the farm. Applejack was near the gate, waiting for us and chuckled.

“'Course you can. Y'know, I was the last pony in my class to get my cutie mark, and I couldn't be prouder of it. I knew my future was to run Sweet Apple Acres, and these bright shiny apples sealed the deal. Come to think of it, Granny Smith was the last one in her class, too. Huh, same as Big McIntosh.”

Apple Bloom groaned. “I really don't see how that's supposed to make me feel better. It probably means that being the last one in your class to get a cutie mark runs in the family.” She said sadly. But then, she gasped. “...Runs in the family. Runs in the family! Runs in the family!” She cried out. “You've got apples for your cutie mark, Granny Smith has an apple pie, Big McIntosh has an apple half, my unique talent must has som'n to do with apples! Apples apples apples!” She shouted. But she knocked over an apple bucket in her excitement. “Oops... apples.”

I chuckled softly as her antics. “Well, it was fun Apples, but I think I should be heading home. Thanks for everything Applejack. And Applebloom?” I said as I leaned down onto her level.

“Don’t worry about getting your cutie mark, ok? I don’t have one, and I’m not worried. So don’t sweat it.” I was trying to comfort her, but this was almost a complete lie. I’m very worried!

She smiled and hugged me. “I won’t. I promise!” I smiled and hugged her back. I eventually got up.

“Good. See you all later.” I said as I waved and walked back towards town. On the way, I was deeply in thought.

First, what if Diamond Tiara is right? I mean, I’m 18, lived in Ponyville for months, and I don’t even have a cutie mark. Does that make me less of a stallion? What will my cutie mark be, how will I get it? I’m so lost, so nervous, so anxious!

I decided to go to the library, so I could process my thoughts a bit more. But, when I got to the door, Spike ran to me.

“JORDAN, JORDAN, letter from the princess!” He said as he handed it to me, out of breath. I cautiously took the letter and opened it, reading it.

“Dear Jordan:
I request your presence at my castle in Canterlot, as soon as possible. I have both a proposition for you, and a question for you. Also, come alone.
-Celestia.”

I looked at the page the letter was written on in a hint of shock for a few seconds, before I looked at Spike and cleared my throat.

“I need to head to Canterlot, Spike. See you soon, ok?” I gave him a quick bro-hoof, and walked out the door towards the train station.

I walked up to the pony at the counter, and paid him 25 bits for a ticket to Canterlot. I got on the train and sat down in my seat.

But, a few minutes later, I heard the conductor on the loudspeaker.

“Sorry everypony, but it looks like this train ride is going to be delayed due to a failure in the engine. Please talk to the ticket pony for a refund.”

I was in shock for a few seconds before I felt an anger rise in me. “SERIOUSLY?! I need to get to Canterlot, and this happens?!”

Next thing I knew, I felt my horn spark. But then, everything became a blur. I could see what was happening, but it was all happening so fast. My horn sparked… I was in midair… the train got over turned. There was lightning overhead… I had absolutely no clue what had happened.

When it was all over, I was back on the ground. I looked around to see a scene of devastation around me. Ponies were hurt, the train was wrecked, etc.

I had the biggest look of shock ever. I surveyed the damage, all of it, before speaking to myself.

“I… I did this!? But how!? What the friv just happened!?” I then saw some ponies sprinting up the road. I gasped. I had to get out of here, nopony could know what I did, I’d be locked up!

I sprinted away as fast as I could, into the forest nearby. I was dashing away as fast as I could, past all the trees and things in the forest. I kept running until I was deep within the forest, the part where hardly and sun shown through due to the thick tree canopies.

Suddenly, though, I tripped on something, a rock or something. I fell and did a tumble roll forward. I stopped finally, and sighed.

I saw a tree nearby, and I crawled to it. I leaned against it, and I started to think in the cool, damp shade of the forest.

“Ok, so let’s go through what happened. I was on the train, and the conductor announced the train was cancelled. Then I got angry, and next thing I knew… yeah. Could I have anger problems? No! No way, I’ve never gotten angry like that, there must be an explanation!”

I sighed and looked at the ground, surveying some ants nearby. Looking at the ants, a thought crossed my mind. Ants are amazing insects. They’re tiny, and seemingly insignificant, but they’re not. They can lift items ten times their size, and they all work to feed their queen. They all have a purpose… what will my purpose in life be?

Suddenly, I heard a voice. “That question must be answered for yourself.” I yelped in fright and turned to the left, where the voice came from. I gasped at the pony I saw.

It was the princess. She had a solemn, yet stern look about her. “I heard everything you said just now, Jordan. I have the ability to read pony’s minds. I know you’re very worried about where you’ll fit in, but that must wait for another time. We must discuss the incident at the train station.”

I looked at her in a bit of shock, before I looked down at my hooves. “Princess… I have no idea what happened there. I don’t remember anything, I just remember sitting on the train, then there being wreckage and havoc all around me. I ran, I… I was so afraid.”

Then, something unbelievable happened. My horn glowed dimly, making me look up at it in curiosity. Then, it sparked violently, and the next thing I knew, a surge of energy left it, without me doing anything!

The surge of energy hit a nearby tree branch, and for some reason, it turned into a gigantic peppermint stick, like the one Twist gave me… but bigger.

I looked at this in disbelief before growling in frustration. “What the hay is happening!? First the train, and now this!? Princess, what is going on?!”

She walked towards me and put her hoof on my shoulder, to try and get me to calm down. “I do not know what is happening Jordan, but I do know that whatever problem you are having with your magic will not just simply go away… For now, I think you should ignore it, and study it as it comes and goes. It’s all you can do for now.”

I nodded at her. “That makes sense. So… if you want to banish me to the moon for what I did, I completely understand, Princess…” I said sadly, as I looked towards the ground with me ears drooped sadly.

She let out a chuckle. “Jordan, why would I banish you for something you didn’t mean to do? Did you MEAN for this accident to happen? No? Exactly my point. They’re called accidents for a reason. I just wanted to get your side of what happened.” She sat next to me, against the tree, I guess to make me feel like I was talking to a friend, and not a royal alicorn princess.

So, I told her everything. The train being delayed, me being angry, and then everything blacking out until it was all over.

“So you see, that’s what happened. I ran from fear of the guards…” I said sadly.

Celestia had her hoof to her chin in thought. “I see. I have a possible answer for why this is happening, but I cannot say for certain yet…”

I sighed. “I know the feeling of not being certain, that’s for sure. Hey, why did you want me to come to Canterlot anyway, your highness?” I said curiously.

“Oh, I had forgotten about that. My proposition was simple. I had heard from Twilight Sparkle that you have started to feel uncomfortable at her home. I was going to ask you if you wanted your own home, in Ponyville. If we go to my castle, you can design it, and choose the plot of land you want it on.”

Well, that threw me for a loop. I was not expecting that in a million years. My own house!? That would be amazing. But, now might not be the best time.

“Princess, I’m truly amazed by your offer, and I’d love to take you up on it some other time. But now’s not the right time. One of my friends’ little sister is having a hard time, and I have a feeling she needs me. Will another day work?”

She smiled and nodded. “Of course. Just come to Canterlot whenever you’re ready, Jordan. I must return to Canterlot, see you soon.” With that, her horn glowed and she disappeared.

I chuckled softly as I stood up. It’s funny how life works sometimes. I was just so upset, and the princess just turned that all around, with the most generous, amazing offer of my life. I have the opportunity to have my own home now! To be my own pony!

But before all that can happen, I really think I need to go back to town and check on Applebloom, to make sure she’s ok. I started to walk on the road back to town, taking a side route to avoid the train wreckage and all.

Then, I walked into town. Thankfully, nopony saw the wreckage and nopony knew I was responsible, so I got no awkward looks. I saw Applebloom and Applejack talking.

“Sorry, little sis, but your apple-sellin' days are over.” Applejack said sternly.

“What? But how else am I gonna get my cutie mark?” She asked in desperation.

Applejack glared. “Home. Now.”

Applebloom huffed, and Applejack sighed.

“Ugh. Listen, sugarcube, I know it's hard to wait for your very own cutie mark, but, you just can't force it. Besides, you're not that grown-up just yet. Jordan doesn’t have a cutie mark, remember?”

Applebloom nodded. “Well... That’s true…”

Applejack smiled. “Do you think you'd feel better if you went to the party with him?”

Applebloom nodded, and I surprised Applebloom by coming up behind her and hugging her. “We’ll go together, Applebloom. It’ll all be ok, I promise.”

Applejack smiled at us both. “Well there you go. Bet you and Jordan will have a great time together. Now run along, you two, you’ve got a party to get to soon.” Applejack then walked back to her stall in the market to sell some apples.

I smiled at AB. “Come on, Applebloom, let’s leave your sister to her work. Wanna go get a treat at Sugarcube Corner?”

Her eyes widened, ears perked up and she gasped. “YES! That sounds amazin!”

I chuckled. “Ok, ok, settle down. Come on, let’s go, my treat.”

I walked with her over to Sugarcube Corner, and ordered both of us a slice of cake. I of course got red velvet, and Applebloom went for a Dutch apple pie sort of cake.

We were sitting down and eating, when all of a sudden I heard a voice.

“Yeah, I’m here to see if the cupcakes for my cute ceanara are ready! And they better be absolutely perfect!”

It was Diamond Tiara, yelling at Mr. Cake like she owned the place! Who does she think she is?

After she finished talking to Mr. Cake, she walked by us and snickered. “See you later, BLANK FLANKS!”

Applebloom immediately got sad, and hung her head down. Oh Diamond Tiara, I just got her to cheer up!

Applebloom sighed. “What if I never get mah cutie mark!? What if I get made fun of at the party!?” She asked in rhetorical exclamation.

“Applebloom, calm down. I’m going to the party with you, remember? Nopony will make fun of you, I promise.”

She sighed and got up from the table. “You don’t know the ponies from school!” She said as she ran out of the building.

I ran to the door. “Applebloom, WAIT!” But it was too late, she was gone. I decided it was probably best, she needs to process her own feelings. Me, or Applejack, or Big Mac, none of us can live her life for her. There’s some things she needs to do and realize on her own.

And speaking about that, what about me? I don’t have my cutie mark either. Won’t I look out of place at the party today?

I walked out of Sugarcube Corner, and looked around for Applebloom. Even if she had to think about this on her own, I shouldn’t leave her alone completely.

I saw her sitting down next to a building, with a nasty rain cloud over her head. I walked over to her.

“Applebloom… please cheer up. I don’t like seeing you so sad.” Before she could reply, Rainbow Dash appeared.

“Wow, looks like somepony's got a dark cloud hanging over her head. Let me do something about that. “ Rainbow proceeded to move the cloud away from Applebloom, then landed. “What's the matter, kid?” She asked in concern.

Applebloom inhaled. “There's a cute-ceañera this afternoon and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I wanna get my cutie mark but I'm no good at sellin' apples but I really wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I don't have my cutie mark which my big sister says I'm gonna get eventually but... I WANT IT NOW!” She finished dramatically.
Rainbow Dash grinned. “Cutie mark? I can get you a cutie mark like that!” She boasted.

Applebloom shook her head. “Applejack says these things take time. I have to just wait for it to happen.” She proclaimed.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t convinced. “Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen?”

Applebloom was confused. “But Applejack says th...” Rainbow cut her off.

Rainbow Dash “Hey, who are you gonna listen to, Applejack, or the pony who was first in her class to get a cutie mark? I always liked flying an' all, but I was going nowhere in a hurry. It wasn't until my very first race that I discovered a serious need for speed, and KAZAM, this sweet baby appeared as fast as lightning.” She pridefully boasted.

Applebloom sighed. “Ok, ok, I get it. What your big idea then?”

“Follow me, and I’ll show you!” Dash said as she flew to a nearby field. I looked at Applebloom.

“I’m going with you, just in case Applebloom.” And with that, we walked together to the field where Dash landed.

“Ok, now I want you to put this outfit on!” Dash said as she handed Applebloom an athletic outfit.
Rainbow Dash then told Applebloom to stretch. “That's right, stretch out those legs. Gotta be nice and loose. The key here is to try as many things as possible as quickly as possible. One of them is bound to lead to your cutie mark. Are you ready?”

“Dash, is this such a good idea? I mean-“ I was cut off by Applebloom.

“I'm ready!” She shouted.

Rainbow Dash grinned. “I said: Are! You! Ready!”

Applebloom shouted louder. “I'M READY!”

Rainbow Dash blew a whistle. “Juggling, go!” She said as she threw Applebloom some objects to juggle. Applebloom did ok for a few seconds, but lost her balance and dropped them.

“Come on, hang gliding time!” Dash said as she scurried with her to the cliff.

“Hang-gliding, go!” Dash said as she blew the whistle.
Applebloom crashed pretty quickly. In the next while, we tried karate, kiteflying, roller derby and so much more. None of them got her cutie mark.

Rainbow Dash sighed as she looked at her list. “Tried that one... tried that one... tried that one...” She droned on. Right then, Diamond Tiara and her friend appeared.

“Your new outfit is, like, perfect for the party.” Her friend said.

Diamond Tiara giggled. “I know. It totally shows off my cutie mark.”

“I love being special.” Her friend said all snooty like.

“Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to be... not special?” She said towards us. I glared at them and walked over to them.

“You two need to stop this bragging and boasting of yours. I have a newsflash for you. What you’re doing to Applebloom and I? It’s bullying, and I can report you to Cheerilee for it. Now get out of here!” I demanded in a firm, yet still calm and collected manner. The two fillies scoffed and left without a word.

Applebloom sighed. “I'm doomed. Doomed! I'll never find sumth'n I'm good at.” She said in pure despair.

Pinkie Pie then appeared out of nowhere. “You look like you'd be good at eating cupcakes.” She suggested.

Applebloom pondered. “Eatin' cupcakes?”

Rainbow Dash was just as confused. “Eating cupcakes?”

Pinkie Pie smiled. “Eating cupcaaakes!” She cheered out.

Applebloom smiled at Rainbow. “I really appreciate all your help, Rainbow Dash. You're a really great coach and I really learned a lot from you and I'm sure I can learn a lot more but... I've got some cupcakes to eat! See you at the cute-ceañera! Hold on, Pinkie Pie, I'm comin'.”

“Me too!” I yelled as I ran behind her and Pinkie. We ran into the bakery, to the kitchen.

Applebloom “I can't believe I didn't think of this. A cupcake-eating cutie mark, it's sooo obvious. Now, where are those cupcakes? I'm ready t' chow down!” She said happily.

Pinkie Pie shook her head. “I don't have any cupcakes.”

Applebloom looked down. “Oh.”

Pinkie gasped. “But you look like you'd be good at helping me make some.” She suggested.

Applebloom. “I guess, uh, making-cupcakes cutie mark could work too. Jordan, will you help?” She asked as she looked at me. I smiled.

“Of course. I helped Pinkie bake cupcakes for a party a while back, it should be fun.” I said as I walked to the table/counter next to Applebloom.

Pinkie started to sing as she got ingredients.

“All you have to do is take a cup of flour!
Add it to the mix!
Now just take a little something sweet, not sour!
A bit of salt, just a pinch!
Baking these treats is such a cinch!
Add a teaspoon of vanilla!
Add a little more, and you count to four,
And you never get your fill of...
Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty!
Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty!
Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!” She finally cried out as we had finished making our cupcakes, taking them out of the oven.

Applebloom coughed. “Hot, hot, hot!” She cried out. We then looked at the cupcakes we made. They looked awful…

Pinkie gasped. “Oooh, those look much better than the last batch.” She grabbed one and took a bite. “Mmm...”
I sighed. “Sorry, Applebloom… I must have forgot how to make them properly.” I said as my ears dropped sadly.

Applebloom groaned. “Ugh! I guess I'm not cut out to be a baker either. I just have to face it, I'm gonna have a blank flank forever.” She then sat against the wall, and I joined her as I sighed.

“Me too…” I said sadly. But then, Pinkie pointed to her flank.

“What about that?” Pinkie asked.
Applebloom gasped. “What about what? Is there something on my flank? Is there, is there, is there? A cutie mark! It's a... a measuring cup? No. A mixin' bowl? No... Are those cupcakes? A tower of cupcakes maybe.” She said very excitedly.

Pinkie blew on her flank. “Flour. It's flour! Yay! I guessed it. What game you wanna play next? Please say bingo, please say bingo.”

I cringed slightly as I saw how sad and upset Applebloom was… it made me hurt inside to see her so sad and hurt.

Twilight then walked inside. “Whoa, what's been going on in here?” She asked as she looked at the mess around the kitchen, with flour and things everywhere.

Pinkie ate a cupcake. “We've been making cupcakes, wanna try them?” She handed Twilight a cupcake and Twilight winced.

“Nnnno thank you... not that they don't look, heh, delicious.” She said sarcastically.

Applebloom ran to Twilight. “Twilight, you have to help me!”

Twilight looked at her. “What's the matter?”

Applebloom inhaled. “Tiara's cute-ceañera's today and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I want to get my cutie mark but I'm no good at selling apples or hang-gliding or making cupcakes, but I wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I don't have my cutie mark, which Pinkie Pie says I can't just make appear, but I need it to appear, right now!” She said in desperation.
Twilight was confused. “Uhhh... I don't follow. How can I help you?” She asked confusedly.

Applebloom smiled. “You can use your magic to make my cutie mark appear.” She suggested.

Twilight shook her head. “Oh no, Apple Bloom. A cutie mark is something a pony has to discover for herself.”

Applebloom gave pleading eyes. “Please Twilight, jus' trah.”

Twilight sighed. “I'm sorry, but-“ She was cut off.

“Oh please, please, please please please!” Applebloom asked in desperation.

Twilight, I guess, felt attacked/crowded, and gave in. “All right, all right!”

Applebloom smiled. “Oh thank you thank you thank you.” Twilight charged her horn and hit Applebloom with a spell. “Yes! I knew you could do... it.” Applebloom said sadly as she realized nothing happened.

Twilight looked sympathetic. “I'm sorry, sweetie, but I told you-“ Applebloom cut her off again.

“Try again, try again!” Applebloom demanded. Twilight was going to do it, but I stepped in.

“Applebloom. Enough. You’ve bothered Twilight enough. There’s no way to make your cutie mark appear, ok?”

She sighed and looked down, and Twilight left.

Applebloom groaned. “It's hopeless, hopeless! I just won't go to the party, I can't go. Everyone will just laugh at me and make fun of me and call me names. It will be the worst night of my life.”

I rubbed her shoulder. “I'm sure it won't be as bad as all that.” I said.

Applebloom shrugged me away. “Forget it, there's no way I'm going to that-“ She had walked into the main room of the bakery, right into the party! “Party.” She finished in shock.

Applebloom was in despair. “How could I have forgotten the time? How could I have forgotten Pinkie Pie was hosting the party? How could I have forgotten it was at Sugarcube Corner?”

Pinkie Pie put a hat on her. “Don't forget your party hat, Forgetty Forgetterson!”

Applebloom looked at me. “I have to get out of here before anypony sees me.”

Diamond Tiara was at a cake on the table. “Hey! It's my cute-ceañera, I'm supposed to get the first bite at cake.”

I saw Applebloom scurry to the door. Then Twist showed up.

“Applebloom, I got my cutie mark, look!” Twist showed us her flank to reveal a cutie mark, two candy canes intertwined.

“Wow Twist, it looks great!” I said as I looked at it. Then, Diamond tiara appeared.

“Well well well, look who's here.” She said snarkily.

Her friend chimed in. “Nice outfit.”

“Just sumt'n I, uh, pulled together last minute.” She tried to defend.

Diamond Tiara snickered. “It really shows off your cutie mark. Oh wait, that's right, you don't have one.”

Applebloom’s eyes shifted left to right as she spoke. “Uh, I have a cutie mark.” She lied.

The filly was confused. “Eh, what? Since when?”

Applebloom gulped. “Since... Um... Earlier today.”

Diamond Tiara sneered. “Oh really? Let's see it.” She demanded.
Applebloom was nervous she’d be found out. “I shouldn't. I couldn't. My cutie mark is so unbelievably amazing, I'm afraid that if I show it off, everyone will start paying attention to me instead of you. Outshined at your own cute-ceañera. Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be?” Diamond Tiara seemed to agree.

“Uh, forget it, I didn't really want to see it anyway.” She said as she looked away.

Applebloom sighed. “Okay, well, I'm gonna go mingle. Enjoy your party.” As she walked away, her outfit got ripped off, revealing her blank flank.

Applebloom gulped. “Oh no.”

The grey filly laughed. “Wow, that is an amazing cutie mark.”

Diamond Tiara sneered again. “Nice try... Blank flank!”

Then suddenly, a filly in the crowd spoke. “You got a problem with blank flanks?” The orange Pegasus asked. When she got no response, she asked again. “I said, you got a problem with blank flanks?”

The grey filly got huffed. “The problem is, I mean, she's like, totally not special.”

Another filly who was white with a beautifully colored and styled mane spoke up. “No, it means she's full of potential.” The filly defended.

The orange once spoke again. “It means she could be great at anything. The possibilities are, like, endless.” She said in a satirical tone, mocking the duo.

The white filly nodded. “She could be a great scientist, or an amazing artist, or a famous writer. She could even be mayor of Ponyville someday.” She suggested.

The orange one piped up. “And she's not stuck being stuck-up like you two.” She insulted.

Ponies around the room laughed at Diamond and her friend, and Diamond got angry.

“Hey, this is my party, why are you two on her side?” She asked angrily.

“Because...” The orange one said before they both revealed their flanks, revealing that they too were blank flanks.

Applebloom gasped. “You don't have your cutie marks either?”

The orange one nodded. “We thought we were the only two.”

I stepped in. “Make that four.” I said as I showed them my blank flank, making the unknown fillies gasp.

Twilight appeared. “I for one think you are four lucky ponies, all of you.”

Diamond Tiara scoffed. “Lucky? How can they be lucky?”

Twilight smiled. “They still get to experience the thrill of discovering who they are, and what they're meant to be.” She told Diamond Tiara.

Applejack stepped in. “And they got all the time in the world to figure it out, not just an afternoon.” She suggested, and ponies around us agreed.

Some fillies and colts walked up to Applebloom and talked to her. Diamond Tiara started to feel very left out.

“Hey, what's everypony doing? This is my party, everypony is supposed to be paying attention to me.”

The other filly, who I was just told is named Silver Spoon scoffed. “Whatever. We still think you're losers, right, Diamond Tiara? Bump, bump, sugar... lump...” She tried, but Diamond Tiara wasn’t in the mood.

The orange filly introduced herself. “Name's Scootaloo.” She said.

The other filly did the same. “And I'm Sweetie Belle.”

“Apple Bloom. And this is Jordan.” She said as she introduced us, with a smile.

We all went to a table nearby and sat down.

Applebloom smiled. “So I was thinking, now that we're friends... I mean, we are friends, right?” She asked, and the two fillies nodded.

“How could we not be? We're totally alike. We don't have cutie marks, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon drive us crazy—“ She said. “Totally crazy.” Sweetie Belle added.

Applebloom giggled. “Well, now that we're all friends, what if the three of us work together to find out who we are and what we're supposed to be?”
Sweetie Belle gasped. “Ooh! Ooh! We could form our own secret society.” She suggested excitedly.

Scootaloo grinned. “I'm liking this idea.”

Applebloom smiled. “A secret society. Yeah. We need a name for it though.”

Scootaloo thought. “The Cutie Mark Three?”

Sweetie Belle tried. “The Cutastically Fantastics?”

Applebloom suggested. “How about... The Cutie Mark Crusaders?”

Scootaloo nodded. “It's perfect!”

Sweetie Belle agreed. “This is gonna be so great!”

Applebloom laughed. “We're gonna be unstoppable!”

Scootaloo looked at the food. “What do you say we celebrate with some of these delicious cupcakes?”

Applebloom shook her head. “Not the cupcakes. Trust me.”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “Let's see if there are any cookies.”

Applebloom nodded. “Yeah! Come on.” They said as they ran to the desert counter. I decided to stay and munch on a muffin, thinking about things. Twilight came over to me.

“What do you think about my friendship letter, Jordan?” She handed the paper to me and I started to read.

“Dearest Princess Celestia,
I am happy to report that one of your youngest subjects has learned a valuable lesson about friendship. Sometimes, the thing you think will cause you to lose friends and feel left out can actually be the thing that helps you make your closest friends and realize how special you are.”

I nodded in approval. “This one is great, Twi. She’ll love this one.”

Twilight smiled at me and went to Spike to have him send the letter. Then the Cutie Mark Crusaders came up to me.

“Jordan Jordan Jordan!” Applebloom said frantically. I looked at her. “Yes?” I asked.

She smiled. “Well, we were thinkin, since you don’t have a cutie mark either, would ya like to join our club?!” She asked full of excitement.

I sat upright for a second and put my hoof to my chin in thought. I did that for a few seconds before looking at my flank and sighing.

“I have no idea what my special talent is, and I hate not knowing. Being in your club might be fun. Besides, I’m sure you’ll need an adult like me to make sure you don’t do anything to hurt yourselves. Count me in, Crusaders!” I said as I stood up next to them. They cheered.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders forever!” They said as they hugged me.

In the next few hours, we all finished up the party and enjoyed it, but it was later in the night and time to go home. I said good night to the fillies and went to the library, getting cozy in my bed.

While I was there, I started to think pretty deeply about everything that happened today. The things with the Crusaders, the train wreck, my weird magic… the offer from the princess. I don’t know what the future is going to bring, but all I can do is try my best to remain happy and positive in the face of danger and sadness, if not for me, then for everypony who depends on me. Like Applebloom.

I rolled onto my side and stared out the window at the starry night sky, as I felt my mind shut down and go to sleep. Then I was in the dream world, sleeping peacefully.

Author's Note

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one is another OC chapter i made. See you there!