Cutie Mark Cry Babies

It was another beautiful day in Ponyville as the day went on like any other.

Ponies bustled about, going about their business as usual. It was mid afternoon, and many ponies were finishing up their work day and heading home to enjoy time with their family and friends.

Just on the outskirts of Ponyville, three young mares were doing the same.

Nestled in the fields of Sweet Apple Acres the Clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders resided, and as of late had seen a fair bit of visitors.

Ever since the crusaders had gotten their cutie marks the three friends had been busy as could be, helping ponies both far and wide with their cutie mark problems.

The three mares had just finished their last appointment for the day and were packing their bags up to head to their respective homes.

“How’re ya’ll feeling about the history test tomorrow?” Asked Apple Bloom as she threw her saddle bag over her shoulder and onto her back.

“I’m feeling ok. I’m still gonna study a couple hours more tonight though. What about you Scootaloo?” Asked Sweetie Belle as she put some supplies away on a shelf in the corner.

“I’m not so sure. I’m probably gonna need to study a good bit. You two know I’m more of a math and science pony.” She said as she put her own things into her saddle bag and pulled it onto her back.

She was about to head to the door with her friends when she noticed a piece of paper laying on the floor not too far away from her, walking over and picking it up in her hooves.

“Hey girls! Check this out!” She said, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom wandering over to see what Scootaloo had found.

In Scootaloo’s hoof was a picture of the three crusaders, the three smiling at the camera inside Sugar Cube Corner. Decorations and balloons were in the background, showing a party going on and the three pony’s flanks were blank.

“Hey! Isn’t that from Diamond Tiara’s cuteceañera party?” Said Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah! That’s where we first meet.” Said Apple Bloom.

The three smiled happily at the memory, Scootaloo taking the photo and sticking it on the podium for them to figure out what to do with later.

The three then took their leave and began walking back toward the main road, chatting as they went.

“Hard to believe we use to have some much free time on our hands huh?” Said Scootaloo as they walked along.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom agreed.

Whereas before the three of them had lots of free time to come up with fun things to do to get their cutie marks, their schedules were now mostly full.

Between their schoolwork and helping with cutie mark problems, the three didn’t really do much else.

They were glad they had started getting paid to offer their services, Princess Twilight helping them get signed up as an essential service provider and allowing them to be paid by the local government so they could focus their time on crusading and not have to find jobs to help support themselves in other ways, but even so, the three did miss just relaxing and having fun together.

“Yeah. Sometimes I wish it could be like when we were younger. No responsibilities. Just going out and having fun together.” Said Apple Bloom.

“Especially when there was no school. We had the whole day just to ourselves.” Said Sweetie Belle.

The three knew those days were now behind them. Soon they’d be finished school and would be crusading full time, likely even busier as they would likely have to travel all around Equestria to fillies and colts that required their services.

“Ya’ll ever wish we could just have no responsibilities? Nothing to worry about but just doing noth’in all day?” Asked Apple Bloom.

Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded. The three agreed they had been working hard lately and would have to plan a break to just do things they wanted to do. Maybe even organize a little vacation away somewhere.

Finishing their conversation, the three said goodbye and headed off to their respective homes.

Unbeknownst to any of them however, the three of them were not the only ones that had been privy to their conversation.

In a flash, as soon as the crusaders had left, a draconequus appeared by the road, hovering just above it.

It was none other than Discord, the lord of chaos.

He had been flying around Ponyville, trying to find something of interest to get into, when he had spotted the crusaders from above and decided to listen in to their conversation.

The creature laid down in midair, stroking his goatee as he pondered what the three young mares had said.

It was suddenly that Discord had an idea, a mischievous grin appearing on his face.

If those three wanted a vacation with no worries and doing nothing all day, he had just the idea on what to do for them.

After all, they had been working so hard lately and earned it. Plus it would keep him entertained for a few days.

With a snap of his powerful fingers, a strong magical wave passed over Ponyville, unnoticed by anypony.

Discord chuckled as he made his way home into his dimension. Tomorrow was going to be a fun day.

“Apple Bloom! Rise and shine! It’s time for breakfast!” Yelled Applejack upstairs to Apple Bloom.

Her eyelids fluttered open at being woken up.

Why hadn’t her alarm gone off? Applejack hadn’t had to wake her up in years.

She got up, brushing her mane and grabbing her saddlebag before heading downstairs for breakfast.

The rest of her family was already there, digging in to their own food.

Apple Bloom was surprised to find her plate already waiting for her at her spot at the table, and even stranger, her pancakes we already cut up for her.

“Uh, Applejack? Why’d you cut up my food? I’m more then capable of doing it myself.” She said as she took her seat at the table.

Applejack looked at her sister with a knowing look. “I know sugar cube. But I figured you could just use a little help is all.” Said Applejack as she sat down herself and dug into her own breakfast.

Apple Bloom looked oddly at Applejack and the rest of her family, surprised nopony else found it a little odd.

She decided to let the issue go and ate her breakfast. She’d have to get to school soon.

Once she had finished her breakfast and washed her dishes she said goodbye to her family and was about to head out the door when Applejack stopped her.

“Hold up there Apple Bloom. Wait for me to finish.” Said Applejack as she went and washed her own dishes.

“Why Applejack? I really have to get going. School will be starting soon.” Said Apple Bloom, by now getting a little frustrated with her older sister.

“You know you ain’t supposed to go through Ponyville unless me, Big Mac, or Granny are with ya.” Said Applejack as she put her dishes on the drying rack and joined her sister by the door.

“What? Since when? I haven’t had you take me places since I was just a little filly.” Said Apple Bloom, not believing what her sister was saying. Had something happened to make her overprotective again?

Applejack just chuckled. “You’ve sure got an active imagination don’cha? Now come one! Let’s get you to school.” Said Applejack as she made her way out the door.

Apple Bloom followed behind her, too tired early in the morning to argue the issue. Whatever was going on it could wait until after school.

She did feel a bit weird having Applejack escort her through town to school though.

Soon they arrived at the gates of the Ponyville Schoolhouse and Apple Bloom made her way inside, heading to her classroom.

She had just gone inside when her teacher stopped her.

“What’re you doing here little filly? This isn’t your classroom.” Said Miss Cheerilee.

Apple Bloom looked at her puzzled. “What’re ya talk’in bout Miss Cheerilee?” I’ve been in your class the last few years.” Said Apple Bloom.

Ponyville Schoolhouse was divided into four rooms, each designed to teach a category of lessons for each age group.

Miss Cheerilee’s was the final room before ponies graduated and set off to find their place in the world, and was meant for ponies fourteen to seventeen, give or take a year depending on when the pony started their schooling.

Cheerilee walked over to Apple Bloom and began to ease her out the door.

“It’s not nice to fib sweetie. Now are you going to go to your class with Miss Wayword or do I need to take you there?” She asked Apple Bloom as she stood there looking at her a bit annoyed.

Apple Bloom sighed and left, heading toward Miss Wayword’s room.

She hadn’t been there since she was a filly, the room being designed for five to nine year olds.

She had no idea what she was going to tell Miss Wayword when she got there and told her Miss Cheerilee had made her come to her room insisting it was where she belonged.

As she entered the room Miss Wayword, a mare with a pale yellow coat, golden mane and tail, and a book on her flank greeted her.

“Good morning Apple Bloom. Go ahead and take your seat. We’re just about to get started.” Said Wayword as she turned back to her notes on the table.

Apple Bloom was thoroughly puzzled at this point. Why was everypony treating her like a little filly today? Was it some kind of joke? Was there some kind of magic at play?

She turned to find a seat open at the usual spot she sat in Cheerilee’s class, and even stranger, Scootaloo in her usual spot to the left of her and Sweetie Belle behind Scootaloo.

Both her friends looked as confused as she was as she took her seat.

Apple Bloom would’ve loved to chat with her friends about what was going on, but she knew it would be pointless.

She knew from a young age teachers didn’t tolerate talking in class and that there was no way Miss Wayword would let all three of them try to go to the bathroom at once to try and talk there.

She had no choice but to sit there with her friends around her as Miss Wayword taught lessons they had already learned.

It was pretty boring since they already knew all the answers.

The day drifted idly by until finally, three thirty rolled around and the ponies made their way out the door in a sea of little fillies and colts a fair bit shorter than them.

The three were eager to get to the clubhouse and talk, but were surprised to find Applejack at the school gate waiting for them, there to escort the fillies to Sweet Apple Acres with all the other younger ponies big siblings, parents, and caretakers.

Questions they asked Applejack as they went were written off as active imaginations as they asked her why they were being escorted around and treated like children.

It was a frustrating and hopeless cause and once the three made it to Sweet Apple Acres they eagerly ran off to the clubhouse to try and get some privacy and figure out what was going on. Applejack called after them to be back at the farmhouse in a couple hours so Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle could be picked up.

Upon getting inside, the girls were surprised to find the clubhouse looking a bit different then when they left it.

The pictures on the wall of all the ponies they’d helped were gone and a few toys and dolls were scattered around the floor.

Luckily there were still crayons and paper to write on.

“Do either of you have any idea what’s going on?” Asked Apple Bloom as they made their way inside and shut the door.

“No clue. I just woke up this morning and Aunty Lofty and Aunty Holiday had made me breakfast and cut it up for me. They’re never up that early.” Said Scootaloo.

“Same thing happened with me and Rarity. She woke me up, made me breakfast, and walked me to school.” Said Sweetie Belle.

“This seems way to elaborate to be a joke. It’s gotta be some kind of magic going on.” Said Apple Bloom.

“Yeah. And it only seems to have affected us. Nopony else seems any different.” Said Sweetie Belle.

“Maybe Twilight or Zecora could help us out?” Suggested Scootaloo.

“Are you kidding? Did you see how Applejack dismissed us on our way over here? I doubt they’d believe a word we said to either of them.” Said Apple Bloom.

“Uh, girls? Take a look at this.” Said Sweetie Belle.

The two looked over and saw Sweetie looking at a full length mirror on the opposite wall.

It had been something they had hung up to make sure they didn’t look too disheveled before going out to meet with ponies.

This time however, Sweetie’s reflection looked a bit different.

Reflected back at her was an image of herself, but younger.

The image of herself as a filly with a blank flank greeted her, and moved in time with Sweetie’s movements.

Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom found the same thing happened when they stepped in front of the mirror.

“This is super weird.” Said Scootaloo as she moved her own body about in front of the mirror.

“You think? We gotta figure out how to fix this.” Said Apple Bloom.

Despite the three of them doing their best to try and figure out a solution, the best they could come up with was trying to sneak into Twilight’s castle and find a book with a spell that could fix their problem.

Even that plan sounded fruitless, since everpony saw them as little kids. Even if they managed to sneak away from their families they’d likely be spotted by one of the town ponies who’d let their families know where they were, or Twilight or Spike would likely spot them if they even made it inside the castle.

By the time they headed back to Apple Bloom’s house for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to be picked up, they found themselves no closer to solving their predicament.

The three resolved to meet again tomorrow to try and figure something out.

As the three crusaders spent the night being fawned over like little fillies do, being watched over constantly and reminded to wash themselves and brush their teeth before bed, they each hoped things would somehow be back to normal when they woke up the next day.

They all just hoped things wouldn’t get any worse.