Cutie Marks Are Confusing

Miss Cheerilee stood in front of the chalkboard as she wrote something on it that Dinky honestly didn’t really understand as she sat drawing little trees on her homework with a bored expression.

To her left sat Ruby who was equally bored looking, Apple Bloom to her right, Button Mash behind her propping his head up with a hoof and Sweetie Belle in front of her paying attention intently.

“This is boring,” Ruby whispered and rolled her marker back and forth along the top of her desk in an attempt to entertain herself.

“Got that right,” Rumble agreed and Cheerilee turned around, fixing them with a stern frown as she set her ruler down on her desk.

“Would the two of you like to share your discussion with the class?” Cheeerilee called out and a few students laughed. “No laughing you all or you’ll be in detention after school today.”

The few laughing promptly shut their muzzles as Cheerilee turned back to her niece and Rumble, patiently waiting with a frown.

“I see. I will be talking to your parents when they come to pick you up this afternoon,” Cheerilee turned away and Ruby cursed under her breath. “I heard that.”

A loud ooooh came from her classmates till Cheerilee shot the students another dirty look and they shut up once again. Dinky spit out her marker and gave a tired sigh as she tried to pay attention to the lesson.

Dinky briefly watched as Featherweight turned in a circle to examine his cutie mark as a few classmates crowded around as Cheerilee watched proudly and Dinky turned away with a sigh, kicking a rock down the road.

“Why don’t I have my cutie mark yet?” Dinky wondered aloud as she trotted over to the swing set. The swing set was her favorite on the play ground.

“Ah know how you feel,” Apple Bloom sighed as Dinky glanced at the earth pony laying on the ground on her back next to the swings. “It’s lame.”

“Got that right,” Dinky agreed as she jumped up onto the swing and wrapped her hooves around the metal chains, idly pushing her hindlegs back and forth to start moving. “I haven’t really tried to get my mark but still. Everypony else is getting one. Why not me?”

“Ah ain’t got one yet. Nor does Sweetie, Noi, Button, Scoots, Ruby and a few others,” Apple Bloom blew out some air to push some of her mane out of her eyes. “Dinky, right? The mailmares daughter?”

“Uh huh,” Dinky confirmed and eyed Apple Bloom cautiously. “You’re not gonna make fun of me or her, right? Diamond Tiara is a jerk about her. Wish I could bop her in the nose one day.”

“Heck no. Ah ain’t like that. They bully me and the other two just as much, if not more than anypony else,” Apple Bloom rolled onto her belly and pushed herself up. “You wanna come by the farm and Ah don’t know, hang out or something?”

“Really?”

“Yeah sure. You don’t got a mark, ah don’t either. You’re pretty nice and friendly, ah always like making new friends. Ah think AJ and Big Mac will be done in the fields when we get there.”

Dinky looked around for a brief second. School was out, after all. If she just told Miss Cheerilee where she was going, she could always tell her mom for her. Dinkys mom was fond of the Apples and was often taking about Big Mac and AJ being trustworthy.

“Yeah sure.”

Dinky stared out of a window in the kitchen, staring at the rows and rows of apple trees with wide eyes. She didn’t really come out to this side of Ponyville well, ever to be honest.

“So many trees,” Dinky muttered in awe as she rested her hooves on the window sill as Applejack and Apple Bloom chuckled. “It’s like they go on forever.”

“It sure seems like that when you’re small like you two,” Applejack folded up her newspaper and set it on the coffee table before adjusting her hat. “Dinky, ain’t it?”

“Yes Miss Applejack,” Dinky tore her gaze away from the apple trees and Applejack chuckled, smiling at her.

“Just Applejack, AJ or Jack is just fine with me Dinky. Ah’m pretty close to your Ma,” Applejack leaned back in her chair and stretched out her legs. “What you two been up to today other than school? Does Derpy know you’re here?”

“Yes. Miss Cheerilee told her for me. We’re just hanging out after Featherweight got his cutie mark,” Dinky answered and jumped up onto the the faded yellow couch next to Apple Bloom. “Just yet another classmate getting their marks before us. This sucks.”

Apple Bloom nodded her agreement as she laid flat on her couch, her mane hanging over the edge with her red bow resting next to her and Dinky.

“These things take time sugarcubes. You can’t rush fate, after all no matter how much ya wanna. Ah got my cutie mark late too. Just like Cheerilee did. Cheerilee was the last pony in our class to get her cutie mark,” Applejack told the two fillies. “In fact, Berry Punch got her cutie mark before her two sisters did. She made a grape juice as a project in front of us all one day to try and boom, she got her mark. Cheerilee and Cherry Berry were mighty jealous of her for a long time.”

Apple Bloom and Dinky both shared a look. That didn’t sound like the Cheerilee they both knew. Cheerilee almost never got upset or jealous over anything. If she did, it certainly wasn’t in front of them.

“Ah know what you’re thinkin. Cheerilee was a bit different back then. Same nice pony. Very softspoken then. Kinda like you are Dinky,” Applejack reached out a hoof and messed up Dinkys mane. “Yall’s marks will come when the time is right. Not before, not after. Dinner is soon. Are you gonna be staying to eat with us?”

“I wouldn’t mind but I gotta go home. Mom is probably waiting for me,” Dinky jumped off the couch. “Thanks for inviting me Apple Bloom and thanks for letting me stay AJ.”

“Anytime sugarcube. You’re welcome whenever,” Applejack nodded at her. “Big Mac! Make Dinky something to take home to her mom and Sparkler.”

“We always have our guests leave with a plate,” Apple Bloom clarified at Dinky’s confused look. “Can I walk Dinky home?”

“Sorry Bloom. Big Mac will,” Applejack answered and climbed off the chair as Big Mac trotted in with his saddlebags on and Dinky’s backpack on his back.

“Eeyup. Right after you, Miss.”

Dinky waved before trotting out the door with the stallion following after her.

Dinky glanced at the setting sun and idly wondered if she could convince her mom to let Apple Bloom come over later in the week.