The Jedi Prince

Along the edges of Ponyville, there stood a building that marked the halfway point between the main town area and Sweet Apple Acres: The schoolhouse. A place where young ponies come and be educated in the skills they needed to find their future careers as well as how to put their cutie mark talents to good use. The school bell rang at the top tower, as the students inside chat about various topics and subjects, waiting for their classes to begin. Several of the young ponies already had cutie marks on their shoulders. Miss Cheerilee, whose cutie mark was three happy flowers, stood before the chattering students. She also wore a white and brown shirt and a green skirt with her cutie mark on it, and had an F-cup rack.

“Let’s quiet down please,” Cheerilee said. “We have a very important lessons to get to.”

It wasn’t long before all the students settle down, giving her their full attention.

“Thank you,” She replied. “Today we are going to be talking about cutie marks.”

“Bo-ring!” A filly sighed.

This was Diamond Tiara, recognized by her soft pink fur, a lavender mane with white highlights, a diamond tiara on her head, as well as a yellow minidress.

“You can all see my cutie mark, can’t you?” Miss Cheerilee asked, continuing her lesson. “Like all ponies, I wasn’t born with a cutie mark. I was a blank.”

She showed a picture of herself as a little baby. A young filly named Twist found the photo adorable. She was a cream-colored pony with a red mane and tail that could rival Pinkie’s in terms of cotton candy poofy-ness. She also had a pair of blue thick-rimmed glasses that added to how cute she was… but not as cute as Cheerilee’s baby picture.

“Aww…! She’s so precious,” She replied, with a strong lisp.

“Then one day, when I was about your age,” Miss Cheerilee continued. “I woke up to find that a cutie mark had appeared.”

Miss Cheerilee then showed a picture of herself with her cutie mark and an attire that clearly screamed her days as a teenage rebel, some of the little ponies just laughed.

“Look at her hair!” A young pony pointed out.

“Yes I know,” Miss Cheerilee said, with a discreet eye roll. “But honestly, that’s how every pony 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 nurtured them with knowledge. The smiles represented the cheer I hope to bring to my little ponies while they are learning…”

Some ponies were listening attentively with smiles on their faces, others looked bored and were just staring at their arms. Some, like a certain tiara wearing pony, were annoying other ponies since they flat out didn’t care about what Miss Cheerilee was saying.

“Now can anyone tell me when a pony gets his or her cutie mark?”

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” Twist raised her hand. “When they discover that certain something that makes them special!”

“That’s right, Twist,” Cheerilee said. “A cutie mark appears on a pony when he or she finds that certain something that makes them different from every other pony…”

By now Apple Bloom and Rex had each grabbed a pencil in their hands, just taking notes as Cheerilee continued her lecture.

“… Discovering what makes you unique isn’t something…”

“Pssst!”

“… that happens overnight, and no amount of hoping, wishing…”

“Pssst!”

“… or begging, would make a cutie mark appear before its time.”

“Pssst!”

By this point, Apple Bloom was getting frankly annoyed at all the noise-making.

“What?!” Apple Bloom and Rex snapped.

Diamond Tiara held a note in her hand, gesturing to Silver Spoon, a grey pony with a whitish grey mane in a braid, a pearl necklace, and some red horizontal oval-shaped glasses on her face, was motioning for the note. Apple Bloom thought nothing less and just grabbed the note. Silver Spoon also wore a purple shirt and a pink skirt.

“Apple Bloom! Rex!” Miss Cheerilee called out, sternly.

All three fillies pulled apart, but poor Rex still had the note in his hand. Diamond Tiara pout on an innocent smile on her face.

“Are you two passing a note?”

“Uh, I… Um…”

Poor Apple Bloom and Rex couldn’t explain themselves, while Diamond watched with a vicious smile on her face as the note hit the floor.

“What could be so important that it couldn’t wait until after class?” Miss Cheerilee asked.

It was then she noticed that the note had… nothing on it.

“It’s blank.”

“Remind you of any pony?” Diamond chuckled, out of the blue.

Apparently, Apple Bloom and Rex hadn’t earned their cutie marks just yet. The other students began to chuckle, whispering to each other as the yellow filly and half-colt prince sunk into her seat, very embarrassed.

Soon the school bell rang, signaling the end of the first school day, every pony made their way out of the building. Apple Bloom was feeling rather glum, still embarrassed at being put on the spot earlier that day despite Cheerilee dealing with Diamond Tiara for teasing them. Rex was just frustrated as he was not intimidated by the two rich fillies like he was by Blueblood. Their friend Twist was in high spirits, mimicking Pinkie’s bounce.

“Want some sweets?” Twist offered, “I’ve got some peppermint sticks. I made them myself.”

“Mm-mm,” Apple Bloom answered, but clearly not listening.

“They’ll make you smi-i-le,” Twist offered again.

“No…” Apple Bloom replied, depressed.

Rex sighed with frustration, for he hated when the two rich fillies got into his friend’s head. It was then a certain tiara-wearing pony, along with her best friend, decided to make themselves known as they walked in front of the three friends.

“I don’t know why we had o sit through a lecture about getting a cutie mark,” Diamond Tiara complained to Silver Spoon. “I mean, waiting for your cutie mark is sooo last week. You got yours, I just got mine. We all have them already.”

She gasped, only it was clearly not a sincere one, as she looked at Twist, Apple Bloom, and Rex.

“I mean, almost all of us have them already,” Diamond Tiara continued.

Twist looked indignant, while Apple Bloom and Rex just kept a curious look on their faces.

“Don’t worry, you three, you’re still totally invited to my cute-ceanera this weekend.” Diamond Tiara said, then turned to Rex giggling, “Especially you, Rex. You handsome prince.”

“It’s going to be amazing,” Silver Spoon added.

“It’s a party celebrating me and my fantastic cutie mark,” Diamond Tiara bragged.

Rubbing it in their face, she displayed her cutie mark, which was a five pronged tiara, as if she weren’t conceited enough wearing one on her head.

“How could it not be?”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon soon began their small dance together.

“Bump! Bump! Sugar lump, rump!” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon sang.

They finished their dance by smashing their back ends into each other, showing off their cutie marks with a laugh.

“Gimme a break,” Apple Bloom muttered, with a long face.

“They didn’t have to rub it in our faces,” Rex added quietly.

“See you this weekend…” Silver Spoon said.

“Blank Flanks!” The two wealthy ponies said together.

The two fillies laughed, as they walked away… until they ran right into Cody, who looked very upset. He gave the two a blank stare. Silver Spoon took a step back, while Diamond bravely glared back at him.

“What are you doing here?” Diamond asked snootily. “Shouldn’t you be making your deliveries to my father or geeking it up at the Library?”

Since the day Cody met Diamond Tiara, he had taken a polar disliking to her. Diamond Tiara seemed to snob him every time he came by. Naturally, Cody tried to be kind, but eventually he stopped trying to make conversation with her… unless he knew she was up to no good.

“On the contrary, I’ve already made my delivery,” Cody answered plainly. “And I’ll have you know there’s more to life than just studying.”

“Tell that to Miss Cheerilee,” Silver Spoon replied, rolling her eyes.

This actually made Cody chuckle since he found Silver Spoon ‘tolerable’. While she didn’t have issues trying to be friendly with him, Cody could see the bad influence Diamond Tiara had the way Silver Spoon treated others. Frankly, he couldn’t understand why she’d resort to being mean to save face, or reputation, or whatever’s on her mind.

“Trust me Silver, it will be worth it in the future,” Cody said.

“You won’t cause any trouble at the party this weekend, right Diamond?” Rex asked sternly.

“And why would I cause trouble?” Diamond Tiara asked angrily.

“I happen to be a mutual friend of Pinkie Pie, who’s planning and hosting your little cute-ceanera,” Rex replied. “Apple Bloom also just happens to be my best friend if you catch my drift.”

This was his ‘big’ hint that he heard what they said. While Silver Spoon turned away, Diamond kept glaring before she rolled her eyes at him.

“Whatever,” She muttered.

Diamond Tiara stomped away with her nose in the air, while Silver Spoon followed and kept her eyes away from Cody. The stallion watched them disappear before approaching Apple Bloom and Twist.

“Why were y’all talkin’ to them?” Apple Bloom asked curiously.

“I saw what they were doing,” Rex replied, glaring back at them. “I know what it’s like being bullied. But at least Diamond and Silver don’t scare me. Just so you know, if they ever give you too much trouble, you can always let me know. I got your back, Apple Bloom… same for you Twist.”

Twist just smiled, but Apple Bloom was still too glum to fully appreciate the extra moral support.

Later that day, Cody was kind enough to escort Twist home before bringing Apple Bloom back to Sweet Apple Acres, with Rex in tow. While Applejack was hard at work in the orchard, Apple Bloom was still fuming.

“It’s not fair!” Apple Bloom complained, pacing about. “It’s just not fair!”

“You’re telling me, Apple Bloom,” Rex replied while also pacing.

“Don’t get your manes in a tangle,” Applejack said. “You’ll get your cutie mark. Every pony gets one eventually.”

“But I don’t want one eventually!” Apple Bloom retorted. “I want one right now! I can’t go to Diamond Tiara’s cute-ceanera without one, I just can’t!”

“Course you can,” Applejack said.

“Are you sure about that?” Rex asked. “Take it from some pony who’s been at the receiving end of being picked on by his pompous prince of a cousin back home in Canterlot.”

“Ponies like that exist everywhere, sugar cube,” Applejack replied. “You just gotta learn not to take their words to heart and spoil yer day or yer fun at a party.”

“Easier said than done, Applejack,” Rex replied.

“But very true nevertheless,” Cody added.

“Y’know,” Applejack spoke. “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…”

As Applejack continued to talk, Apple Bloom and Rex continued to pout and pace about nearby.

“Come to think of it, Granny Smith was the last one in her class,” Applejack gasped. “Huh, same as Big MacIntosh.”

Eventually Apple Bloom and Rex sat down and leaned their arms onto a bucket of apples.

“I really don’t see how that’s supposed to make me feel better,” Apple Bloom sighed. “It probably means being the last one in your class to get a cutie mark runs in the family. Runs in the family. Runs in the family! Runs in the family!”

Apple Bloom excited rushed over to Applejack, peeking out from behind her.

“You’ve got apples for your cutie mark,” Apple Bloom pointed to Applejack. “Granny Smith has an apple pie. Big MacIntosh has an apple half, my unique talent has som’n to do with apples! Apples, apples, apples!”

Apple Bloom began to hop and jump about excitedly until…

*CRASH!*

She landed in a bucket of apples, knocking all its contents all over the grounds.

“Oops… hehe, apples,” Apple Bloom smiled sheepishly.

Applejack sighed to herself. Just then, Rex helped his friend up.

It wasn’t much longer till Applejack had Cody, Sal, and Rex transport some apples, this way she, Rex, and Apple Bloom could sell them to the customers in the town’s marketplace. Apple Bloom was eager to start selling, with Rex’s help, as she had a white apron on along with her sister. Cody and Sal just watched the two sisters and Rex do their work, with their part of the work done this meant the two boys could ‘supervise’ for the time being.

“Get your delicious, nutritious apples here!” Applejack called, to ponies nearby.

“Delicious and nutritious, and so many uses!” Apple Bloom added.

She balanced an apple on her head before tossing it into her mouth, gobbling it up.

“You can eat ‘em…”

She then swallowed the apple.

“… Play with them…”

She tossed an apple in the air, grabbed a nearby racket and swung the apple away with a ‘SMACK!’. The apple splattered onto the racket and the rest towards a random passerby.

“Hey, watch it!”

“Create fine art for your home with ‘em,” Apple Bloom continued. “You have to be crazy not to get a bushel of your very own!”

She bucked an apple onto some pony’s art canvas, the pony using the canvas just glared. Applejack looked rather embarrassed.

“Heh… she’s so creative, heh,” Applejack replied sheepishly.

Just then Apple Bloom approached a nearby stallion, whose name was Time Turner.

“You, sir, care t’ buy some apples?” Apple Bloom offered.

“No thanks,” The pony answered.

“Why not?” Apple Bloom asked, taking a step forward.

“I have plenty at home,” Time Turner replied, taking a step back.

“Are you sure?” Apple Bloom asked directly.

Without question, this was making the stallion very uncomfortable.

“Yes, I’m pretty sure I…” Time Turner tried to answer.

“You’re pretty sure, but you’re not absolutely, positively, completely super-duper sure, are you?” Apple Bloom questioned.

“Are you absolutely, positively, completely super-duper sure?” Rex added.

The poor stallion found himself backed into a corner, so to speak.

“Y… ah… if I buy some apples, will you two please leave me alone?” He asked feebly.

Apple Bloom’s stern look flipped instantly.

“All right!” She replied cheerfully as she and Rex fist-bumped.

Time Turner only grabbed one apple, tossed a few coins into Applejack’s front apron pocket, and took off. Needless to say, Cody and Sal looked worried.

“Well… that’s one way to force a sale,” Cody remarked.

He and Sal knew Rex and Apple Bloom’s sale tactics were stirring some trouble.

“You forgot your change!” Applejack called out.

But it was too late. Time Turner had already gone, and there was no way he’d be back anytime.

“Woo-hoo!” Apple Bloom cheered, pleased with herself. “That’s how you sell s’m apples and get a cutie mark!”

Apple Bloom began walking around in circles, like a dog chasing its own tail.

“So, what do our cutie marks look like? A shoppin’ back full of apples? A satisfied customer eating an apple?”

Apple Bloom and Rex noticed that their hips… were still blank.

“Hmm… maybe I gotta increase my sales figures first.”

She soon noticed some pony checking out the apples on the stand.

“You judge it, you buy it!” Apple Bloom said sternly.

Her words unintentionally sent the pony reeling back and rushing off. Apple Bloom soon noticed some other pony looking about.

“We take cash or credit.”

“Or gems.” Rex added.

The second pony just looked indignant, as Applejack pulled Apple Bloom out of the pony’s face. Cody slapped a hand over his face, shaking his head.

“Ooh karabast…”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Applejack apologized, before facing her sister. “Aww… now Apple Bloom, you can’t just…”

But once again, Applejack was too late. Apple Bloom dropped some apples into Bon Bon’s saddlebag.

“That’ll be four bits,” Apple Bloom said plainly.

“I didn’t put those in my bag!” Bon Bon answered.

“Likely story,” Apple Bloom replied sternly, “Four bits, lady!”

Applejack grabbed Apple Bloom by her shoulders, drawing her away.

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack scolded, before addressing Bon Bon. “I am really sorry about that. She’s new. Here, take these. No charge.”

Bon Bon just looked, as Applejack gave her a few more apples… and the former just glared.

“And these,” Applejack offered.

But even with more apples in the second pocket of her bag, Bon Bon just kept glaring. Applejack sighed.

“And these,” Applejack replied.

She gave Bon Bon another bucket loaded with even more apples into her arms. Bon Bon groaned as she gave Applejack a strained smile, carrying all the apples away. Seeing the entire apple stand now nearly empty, Cody and Sal sighed.

“There goes today’s profits… and on the first day,” Cody told himself. “Some pony is definitely getting fired.”

“Y’all come back now, y’hear?” Applejack called out.

She then then gave Apple Bloom a glare, finally having enough.

“What?” Apple Bloom asked cluelessly.

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

She quickly pulled off her little sister’s apron.

“What?” Apple Bloom exclaimed in disbelief, “But how else am I gonna get my cutie mark?”

“Home. Now,” Applejack spoke sternly.

But unlike before, Apple Bloom didn’t leave. She grabbed her apron back and pouted while holding the apron. Seeing this sad sight, Applejack decided to try a different approach.

“Rex! What the heck were you doing?!” Cody said, “I’ve seen better sales than this, even the salespeople on Tatooine didn’t do what you just did!”

“I’m sorry, Cody. I just wanted to help Apple Bloom get her cutie mark, and maybe get mine too,” Rex replied.

“Ugh. Listen, sugarcubes,” Applejack spoke gently. “I know it’s hard to wait for your own cutie marks, but you can’t just force it. Besides, y’all are not that grown up just yet. Ain’t there other fillies in your class without one?”

Apple Bloom pondered, as she sat hunched to the ground.

“Well… Twist doesn’t have hers yet,” Apple Bloom said.

“Do you think you’d feel better if you and Rex went to the party with Twist?” Cody inquired. “You three seem like pretty good friends.”

“Mmm-hmm…” Apple Bloom nodded.

“Well there you go,” Applejack smiled. “Bet you, Rex, and Twist would have a great time together. Now run along and find your friend.”

Apple Bloom nodded, turned to leave, but stopped as if she just remembered something.

“You’re sure you don’t want me to stick around ‘til the end of th’ market?”

While Applejack knew her sister’s intentions were genuine, she knew keeping her sister around would do more harm than good. Especially when a pony named Ace Point arrived, with a messy racket.

“Hey! Who’s been using my racket?” Ace Point demanded.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Applejack answered wearily.

“Sorry about that, dude. My girlfriend’s sister was enthusiastic about her first time selling apples,” Sal apologized.

Apple Bloom and Rex quietly knocked on the door… the top half opened revealing Twist’s face.

“Oh, what’s up, Apple Bloom and Rex?” Twist asked curiously.

“So we was thinkin’…” Apple Bloom said slowly, “Maybe we could go to Diamond Tiara’s cute-ceanera together. Rex and I don’t have a cutie mark; you don’t have a cutie mark.

“Well, um…” Twist replied slowly.

The filly opened the bottom half of the door. Apple Bloom gasped when she noticed that upon Twist’s flank was a pair of candy canes, shaped into a heart.

“Isn’t my cutie mark swell?” Twist asked excitedly. “I’ve always loved making my own favorite sweets, but it took me some time to discover that it was my super-special talent. Pretty sweet, huh?”

“Yeah, pretty… sweet,” Apple Bloom replied.

Unfortunately, there was no hiding the sadness in her voice. Apple Bloom sat down, looking a bit stunned… if not glum.

“Hey… this doesn’t mean we can’t go to the cute-ceanera together,” Twist reassured, “You’re still gonna come to the party, are you?”

As if the situation couldn’t get any worse for the yellow filly and half-colt, two particular wealthy fillies walked by. They had seen and heard ‘everything’.

“Of course they will,” Diamond Tiara said smugly.

“It’s not like being the only ponies there without a cutie mark would be, like, the most embarrassing thing ever! No matter how handsome one of them is,” Silver Spoon added spitefully.

As the two rich fillies laughed, poor Apple Bloom and Rex bit their lips and their eyes grew big, looking like they’d burst into tears at any moment.

The day of the party arrived, and the depressed filly and half-colt just sat quietly by themselves near one of the town’s water fountains. It wasn’t too long before a certain blue Pegasus appeared from above them.

“Whoa, looks like some pony’s got a dark cloud hanging over their heads,” Rainbow remarked. “Let me do something about that.”

The day of the party arrived, and the depressed filly just sat quietly by herself near one of the town’s water fountains. It wasn’t too long before a certain blue Pegasus appeared from above her.

“Whoa, looks like some pony’s got a dark cloud hanging over her head,” Rainbow remarked. “Let me do something about that.”

Rainbow literally moved a huge black cloud above Apple Bloom’s head. She then made her landing just beside the discouraged little filly.

“What’s the matter, kid?” Rainbow asked.

Apple Bloom looked at her sadly before inhaling deeply.

“There’s a cute-ceanera this afternoon and every pony in my class will be there and they’ll all have their cutie marks and I wanna get my cutie mark but I’m not 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!”

Apple Bloom said all that in one breath, with a loud whine at the end. Surprisingly, Rainbow just soaked everything in.

“Cutie mark?” Rainbow replied. “I can get you a cutie mark like that!”

She flicked her tail to make the sound of a finger *SNAP!* as she finished her sentence.

“Applejack said these things take time,” Apple Bloom said, “I just have to wait for it to happen.”

“Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen?” Rainbow suggested.

“But Applejack says th…” Apple Bloom began.

“Hey, who are you gonna listen to, Applejack?” Rainbow interrupted, mocking the orange pony’s face and pose. “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.”

Apple Bloom smiled, clearly impressed, and determined to follow in Rainbow’s example.

“It’s different for everypony, Rainbow. Although you and Applejack both make good points, as it’s good to know what your talents are by trying out new things,” Rex said.

“Good point. Come on, Rex,” Apple Bloom replied.

Soon after trying out various sports, Apple Bloom and Rex reclined under a tree near Rarity’s boutique. Rainbow Dash went through her clipboard containing a long of list of things they tried to do to find Apple Bloom and Rex’s cutie marks. By Rainbow’s count, it wasn’t looking good for the two foals.

“Tried that one… tried that one… tried that one…” Rainbow read aloud to herself.

It was then Apple Bloom and Rex heard two familiar voices nearby. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, just coming out of Rarity’s boutique. Diamond Tiara had a large package in her arms.

“You’re new outfit is, like, perfect for the party,” Silver Spoon said, as they walked by.

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

“I love being special,” Silver Spoon sighed to herself.

“Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to be… not special?” Diamond asked, out of the blue.

“I don’t even want to, like, think about it,” Silver Spoon retorted.

While the two fillies walked out of sight, Rainbow was so busy with her list she didn’t even hear the two fillies go by.

“Tried that one… tried that one…” Rainbow continued.

Poor Apple Bloom was feeling miserable, as if they knew she and Rex were in the bushes the entire time.

“I’m doomed. Doomed!” Apple Bloom cried out to the world, “We’ll never find sumth’n we’re good at!”

“Think positive, Apple Bloom. These things take time, as everyone keeps telling us,” Rex replied, “Even my mom told me that cutie marks can’t be rushed, not even with magic or use of the Force.”

“We really appreciate all your help, Rainbow Dash,” Apple Bloom said. “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… See you at the cute-ceanera!”

Apple Bloom and Rex zoomed away, leaving a stunned, indignant Rainbow behind.

“We should just head to the party, I reckon no pony will make fun of us except for Diamond and Silver. Besides, I can keep them away from you,” Rex said.

“I wish I had your confidence, but there’s no way I’m going to that… party…”

Apple Bloom and Rex gulped when they realized that by walking out of the kitchen, and into the main room of the shop, they walked smacked dab into the middle of Diamond Tiara’s cute-ceanera party. Cody could see their distress all the way from the kitchen. He went to save her, only for Twilight to stop him.

“Cody, please stay put,” Twilight advised.

“Twilight, you don’t know how those two fillies are,” Cody rebutted sternly. “They are like gundarks ready to devour their next meal… and Apple Bloom and Rex are their prey!”

“Cody, I know you want to help Apple Bloom and Rex, but they need to learn to stand up to bullies on their own,” Twilight explained.

“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to them,” Cody sighed sadly, “I was hoping that Rex would make more friends here in Ponyville, since he has none back home in Canterlot. I just hope he has some luck at all.”

“I know you mean well for them,” Twilight smiled, sympathetically. “But I assure you Apple Bloom and Rex won’t be alone. Applejack is aware of how those fillies are; she’s taken many measures to ensure they will have a good time at this party. Trust them, okay?”

Cody gave Twilight a reluctant nod, hoping that his best friend is right.

Back outside the kitchen, several ponies continued to chatter amongst each other as Apple Bloom and Rex realized where they were. They saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, dressed in their outfits and talking to every pony arriving for the party. Ponies from her class, as well as older ponies (Possibly parents, siblings, and family friends), were there as well. Some of the younger ponies brought gifts too. One pony had taken a bite out of one of the cupcakes, only to spit it out. Apparently, Pinkie Pie put out the cupcakes Apple Bloom made and decorated them for the party.

“How could we have forgotten the time?” She asked herself, panicking. “How could we have forgotten Pinkie Pie was hosting the party? How could we have forgotten it was at Sugar Cube Corner?”

“Maybe we were lost in our ranting a while back,” Rex replied.

Apple Bloom and Rex quickly noticed a chocolate statue and hid behind it when Pinkie put a party hat on their heads.

“Don’t forget your party hats, Forgetty Forgettersons!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

Once the pink pony bounced away, Apple Bloom zipped back behind her hiding place and quickly dashed toward a tall cake.

“We have to get out of here before any pony sees us!” Apple Bloom said.

“If you say so,” Rex replied, with a sigh.

Just then they saw Snails approaching, the lanky unicorn took a huge bite out of the tall cake. Apple Bloom and Rex saw themselves in plain sight and dashed for another hiding spot.

“Hey! It’s my cute-ceanera, I’m supposed to get the first bite of cake!” Diamond complained.

But Snails just smiled, clueless to her rants. Apple Bloom and Rex relocated behind a bunch of balloons… till a random unicorn appeared and mindlessly popped all the balloons as they danced. The two foals ducked under the punch table, peeking out from underneath the tablecloth and noticed the exit to Sugar Cube Corner. Apple Bloom and Rex quietly tried to tip-toe toward the exit from beneath the table, stopping only when a pony went for a quick drink… straight from the punch bowl. Apple Bloom and Rex just reached the exit, seemingly home free, until…

The farm pony walked right inside just as the two of them were about to leave.

“After I heard about Twist, I was afraid you wouldn’t show up. I sure am glad you came to your senses about this whole cutie mark thing. These things happen when these things are supposed to happen. Trying to rush ‘em just drives you crazy. I’ll let you be, looks like your friends want to talk to you.”

The friends she was referring to happened to be Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who saw Apple Bloom and Rex desperately trying to leave. Applejack pushed Apple Bloom further from the door. Both rich ponies had malicious smiles on their faces as they approached the yellow filly. Applejack and Sal headed towards the kitchen when Cody was about to walk out.

“Applejack, Sal, you can’t possibly be that clueless to…”

Applejack and Sal cut off Cody with a smile and a look that said, ‘Hush and trust me’. Cody conceded, but kept a discreet eye on the three girls watching as Apple Bloom began to panic and managed to successfully pull the pink tablecloth from under the punch bowl without spilling or dropping it. She then arranged the cloth, making it resemble a makeshift cloak.

“Well, well, well, look who’s here,” Diamond Tiara spoke too sweetly, before turning to Rex, “Hi, handsome.”

“Nice outfit,” Silver Spoon added, with the same tone.

“Just sumt’n I, uh, pulled together last minute,” Apple Bloom replied.

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

“So what if neither of us have one yet. It’s not something one should be embarrassed by or boast about,” Rex replied, “Unlike my sleemo of a cousin, Blueblood, you two don’t scare me.”

That truly struck a nerve for Diamond Tiara, as she suddenly lost her composed demeanor for a moment.

“Okay, well, I’m gonna go mingle,” Apple Bloom replied. “Enjoy your party.”

Apple Bloom breathed a sigh of relief… till one of her hooves snagged a part of the cloth, tearing it off of her, and sent her rolling forward into the record player with a…

*CRASH!*

The player made a loud scratch and the other ponies gasped. Apple Bloom and Rex’s worst fear was becoming a reality: Every pony staring at her and, as Cody said before, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon right up front like gundarks ready to kill their prey.

“Oh no,” Apple Bloom groaned.

“Karabast,” Rex moaned, feeling bad for his friend.

“Think you can try and hide from us with that tablecloth for a cloak?” Silver Spoon said.

“Nice try…” Diamond Tiara added.

“Blank!” They said in unison.

All the other ponies began to mumble and talk to one another, young and adult alike. This was not helping Cody’s increasing anxiety.

“Stop pestering us, you sleemos!” Rex retorted.

Unable to take it anymore, Cody was about to take move forward to save Apple Bloom and Rex until…

“You’ve got a problem with blanks!”

Cody stopped upon hearing the voice of a raspy voice, reminding him of Rainbow. He turned as the younger ponies gasped in unison. A young, orange pegasus filly, with a magenta mane and tail, emerged from underneath a table. With her was a white unicorn filly with a curly lavender and soft pink mane and tail. The unicorn filly’s attire was a pink striped shirt and yellow skirt and the pegasus filly was dressed in a black hoodie and green shorts.

“I said, you got a problem with blanks?” The filly pegasus asked again.

“The problem is, I mean, she’s like, totally not special,” Silver Spoon retorted.

Apple Bloom looked sad, till the two fillies stood between her.

“No, it means they’re full of potential,” The filly unicorn said.

“It means she could be great at anything,” The filly pegasus added, “The possibilities are, like, endless.”

That last part purposely mocked Silver Spoon’s attitude.

“She could be a great scientist, or an amazing artist, or a famous writer,” The filly unicorn added, “She could be mayor of Ponyville someday.”

With each and every suggestion, Apple Bloom and Rex’s smile grew.

“And she’s not stuck being stuck-up like you two,” The filly Pegasus added.

The other ponies laughed at that remark.

“Hey, this is my party!” Diamond Tiara protested, “Why are you two on her side?”

“Because…”

The filly Pegasus and the filly unicorn showed off their shoulders, which were just as blank as Apple Bloom’s. The yellow filly gasped with shock.

“You don’t have your cutie marks either?” Apple Bloom asked, surprised. “I thought Rex and I were the only ones.”

“We thought we were the only two,” The filly Pegasus replied.

Twilight Sparkle allowed Cody to come out of the kitchen with her, the latter smiling with satisfaction.

“I for one think you are four very lucky foals,” Twilight added.

“Very lucky indeed,” Cody nodded, facing the two fillies, “Nice to meet you two!”

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

Now it was Twilight’s turn to glare indignantly.

“They still get to experience the thrill of discovering who they are,” Twilight answered, “And what they’re meant to be.”

“And they got all the time in the world to figure it out,” Applejack added. “Not just an afternoon.”

She gave her little sister a wink, as if proving her point.

The other young ponies were most impressed.

“Wow Apple Bloom!” A young colt named Tornado Bolt said, “I wish I could be a scientist!”

“Do you really think you could be mayor?” A filly named Pina Colada asked.

“Maybe I got my cutie mark too soon,” A pony named Coronet replied.

Diamond Tiara suddenly noticed that all the ponies began chatting with the four of them and completely ignored her.

“Hey, what’s every pony doing?” Diamond Tiara demanded. “This is my party, every pony is supposed to be paying attention to me.”

“That’s funny considering you wanted to make Apple Bloom the center of attention,” Cody remarked. “Looks like your plan worked, Diamond Tiara… just not the way you expected.”

Cody walked away, as Diamond Tiara formed a very sour look on her face. Silver Spoon tried to save some pride for her best friend.

“Whatever,” Silver Spoon spoke up, “We still think you’re losers, especially one handsome loser. Right, Diamond Tiara? Bump, bump, sugar… lump…”

Silver Spoon soon realized her efforts to cheer up her best friend were futile, as Diamond Tiara kept pouting.

“Not now, Silver Spoon,” Diamond Tiara replied bluntly.

Back with the four foals, the filly Pegasus and filly unicorn introduced themselves to Apple Bloom and Rex.

“Name’s Scootaloo,” the Pegasus said.

“And I’m Sweetie Belle,” The unicorn said.

“Apple Bloom,” The yellow filly answered.

“I’m Rex Ando,” The half-colt prince added.

“Like Prince Blaze Ando?” Scootaloo wondered.

“He’s my dad, and Cody is my big brother,” Rex replied.

“Does that mean you’re a prince, too?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“It’s true,” Rex replied.

It wasn’t long before every pony was back to enjoying the party… except Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Diamond just sat near the top of the staircase, glaring bitterly at every pony as they enjoyed themselves. Silver Spoon watched as well, only more concerned about how to make her friend feel better more than anything else. Part of her wished she could go down and join the fun, but at the same time she didn’t want to leave Diamond Tiara alone. It was quite a predicament for the rich filly.

“This song is so super!” Twist said.

The little pony tossed herself high into the air, while the rest of the young ponies continued to dance. Applejack, Twilight, and Cody shared a toast of some punch together. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Rex sat together at a nearby table, chatting amongst themselves. Rex told them about his father’s accomplishments and about Equestria’s place in the galaxy, as well as about the Force, the Jedi, and the Sith.

“So I was thinking,” Apple Bloom pondered, “Now that we’re friends… I mean, we are friends, right?”

“How could we not be?” Scootaloo replied. “We’re totally alike. We don’t have cutie marks. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon drive us crazy—”

“Totally crazy,” Sweetie Belle agreed.

“Well, now that we’re friends,” Apple Bloom repeated, “What if the four of us work together to find out who we are and what we’re supposed to be?”

“Ooh! Ooh!” Sweetie Belle bounced excitedly, “We could form our own secret society.”

“I’m liking this idea,” Scootaloo agreed.

“A secret society,” Apple Bloom pondered, “Yeah. We need a name for it though.”

“The Cutie Mark Four?” Scootaloo proposed.

“The Cutastically Fantastics?” Sweetie Belle offered.

“How about… The Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Apple Bloom offered.

“It’s perfect!” Scootlaoo smiled.

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

“We’re gonna be unstoppable!” Apple Bloom added.

“What do you say we celebrate with some of these delicious cupcakes?” Scootaloo suggested.

The Pegasus went for a bite, only for Apple Bloom to make her drop it on the table.

“Not the cupcakes,” Apple Bloom protested, “Trust me.”

“They’re burned,” Rex added.

“Let’s see if there are any cookies,” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“Yeah! Come on!” Apple Bloom gestured.

The three fillies got up to look but didn’t need to search long.

“Some pony call for cookies!” Cody called out.

He proposed a plate of rather large, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies before them. Soon the four foals started grabbing a cookie.

“Oh wow!” Scootaloo smiled. “Thanks Prince Cody!”

“Rex, I need to tell ya somethin’,” Apple Bloom spoke up.

“What is it, Apple Bloom?” Rex asked.

“Since you first came to Ponyville, I’ve had a crush on you,” Apple Bloom replied.

“I figured, since Cody saw how you look at me. Besides you’re cute, pretty, and sweet, and that’s what I like about you also, Apple Bloom,” Rex said blushing.

Apple Bloom pressed her lips onto his. Rex was surprised at her bold move, and returned her kiss. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle got on both sides of Rex linking their arms with his, then Sweetie Belle spoke up, “Rex, I think you’re handsome.”

“Yeah, you’re cute,” Scootaloo said.

“Thanks, girls. I think you two are cute too, and pretty,” Rex replied.

The two fillies kissed him on his cheeks, Rex blushed at the attention he was getting from his three friends.

“Do you two also have a crush on me?” he asked.

“Yes!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle blurted out.

“I might want to give you two a chance also, but I want to get to know you two and Apple Bloom some more before we go on any dates,” Rex said.

“Good idea, ‘cause Sweetie Belle and I just met you and we don’t want to rush things,” Scootaloo replied.

Sweetie Belle just giggled with a light blush on her cheeks. Neither of them noticed a certain high-class filly with glasses shooting daggers at the two, especially when Sweetie Belle offered Rex a dance. Twilight smiled from afar, pleased to see every pony enjoying the party. Especially when the three fillies danced together with Rex, even Twist and Cody. As the party came to an end, Twilight Sparkle began writing her letter to Princess Celestia.

Dearest Princess Celestia,
I’m happiest 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.

Princess Celestia read the letter aloud. By the time she finished, she gazed toward her own cutie mark with a sigh. All that was needed to know about it was this: When a pony finally gets their cutie mark…

The wait is always worth it…