Cadence stood there in shock as her daughter showed her the cutiemark that had appeared on her flank. "Mom, I got my cutiemark!"
It should have been an exciting moment. Her daughter had finally gotten the one mark that would determine her place in Equestria's balance. It should have been a moment to celebrate. Though, as she stared at her daughter's flank she had just one thought and it wasn't one of congratulations. Turning to her adviser and making sure she wasn't overheard by her daughter, Cadence whispered. "Get Twilight. NOW!"
A couple of hours later, Twilight entered the throne room. Cadence ran up to her, and the two greeted each other in their typical fashion. "Sunshine, Sunshine, ladybugs awake..."
All guards present suddenly felt a lift in their spirits as the two royal Princesses did their dance. "Cadence it's great to see you but why did you summon me?"
Cadence's face took on a morbid expression. "Twilight, my daughter got her cutiemark."
Twilight looked excited, failing to see the look on Cadence's face. "Oh that is wonderful!! Where is she? What was it? Celestia, Luna, Starlight and I have a bet on what it'll be. I bet on a crystal heart. Is it a crystal heart?"
Cadence shook her head. Her voice sounded hesitant. "She is currently in her room. No, it's not a crystal heart. Twilight it's-"
Twilight stamped a hoof, as if annoyed. Again she failed to notice Cadence's distress. "Darn, guess I lost then. Princess Celestia bet on a broken heart. Is it a broken heart?"
Cadence's voice sounded a bit frazzled and she snorted. "No it is not a broken heart; it's"
Twilight stroked her chin with a hoof. "Well at least she lost too. Is it a rubber ducky?"
Cadence just stared at Twilight in disbelief at such a thought, as the latter shrugged and said. "That was Luna's guess. I thought it was pretty weird too...It isn't a rubber ducky is it?"
Cadence spoke much louder. "No Twilight it isn't a wretched rubber duck! It's an apple!"
"Oh that is so exci-wait a minute...did you say an apple?"
Cadence wrapped her wings around her face to hide her blush. "Yes, my daughter, Princess Flurry Heart of the Crystal empire has an apple for a cutiemark! My daughter, a Royal Alicorn, has an Earthpony cutiemark!"
Twilight began laughing and fell to the ground as her legs gave out. "Ha ha ha ha! You can't be serious!"
Cadence glared at her. "Stop laughing!"
Twilight ignoring her and trying not to faint from laughter turned to Spike and said. "Spike take a note. Dear Princess Celestia, you won't believe this. Flurry Heart got her cutiemark! Bring Luna and come to Cadence's throne room. Your Faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
Cadence looked at Spike with a severely angry expression. "Don't you dare!"
Twilight grinned and wheezed out. "Spike, send it."
Cadence flared her wings, shouting at Spike. "Don't do it!"
Spike breathed an emerald flame on the scroll and shrugged. "You're not my mom, but she is!"
Rocking back and forth in manic hysteria, Twilight shouted. "Oh this is gonna be glorious!"
Twilight was still giggling as in a flash of light the royal Cestial Princesses appeared. Celestia and Luna looked around in excitement, completely ignoring the angry Princess of Love. In unison they spoke to Twilight, asking. "Where is she? What is it?"
Twilight grinned and pointing at Celestia said just one word. "Apple"
Luna broke out into a wide smile, and she too began rolling on the floor in laughter. "No way! This is too good!"
Celestia angrily stamped a hoof. "Oh you have got to be bucking kidding me."
Celestia vanished in a flash of bright light. Her angry voice could be heard from her destination. "Curse you to Tartarus, Starlight!"
Cadence upon hearing the angry scream, looked confusedly at Twilight. "I don't understand what is so funny about my daughter having an Earthpony cutiemark, and why is Celestia so mad?"
Getting to her hooves Twilight grinned and said after taking a deep breath. "Starlight bet it was an apple. Princess Celestia said there would be no possible way and if it did happen she would give Starlight anything she asked for in that moment."
Cadence looked surprised. "well what did she wish for?"
Meanwhile in Sweet Apple Acres
Hearing a loud knocking on the door, Applejack opened it and stood there speechless at the sight before her. Princess Celestia stood there in patched overalls, a straw hat and a hayseed between her teeth as she said. "Applejack, Celestial Apple reporting for apple bucking duty."
Back in the Crystal Empire
Cadence began laughing as well now. "My Aunt Celestia, doing physical labor? You can't be serious right now."
Twilight fell to the floor laughing again. "No joke! An entire day on the apple farm working for Applejack!"
Cadence glanced at Twilight. "You have to be joking. No way would she ever do an Earthpony's job!"
Luna laughed. "don't forget the no magic for one day part!"
The Crystal Kingdom's ruler stared in shock. "I don't believe it."
Luna grinned mischievously. "They say seeing is believing after all."
Cadence laughed. "Okay, that makes this worth it. We have to see this! Let me grab my daughter."
Starlight sat in a lawn chair under the shade of the barn roof, sipping a stein of ice cold cider, the smuggest grin upon her face, as a bright flash occurred beside her. Twilight, Luna and Cadence were greeted with. "Hey there girls, come to watch the greatest show in Equestria?"
With those words she gestured at the scene before her with her left fore-hoof.
There, as the princesses stared in absolute disbelief and amazement, The Princess of the Sun, used her hindquarters to buck apples. Starlight grinned trollishly and shouted. "You missed a tree there country princess!"
As she slammed her powerful hind legs into a tall apple tree, Celestia roared at them. "Oh go ahead and laugh! I'll get you for this Starlight!"
