"’Cutie marks are widely common in Equestria. The majority of the population have them, most of which are ponies. Zebras living in Equestria have similar marks on their flanks though it’s unsure if this is a cutie mark or part of their culture, as no records currently exist on zebra tradition.
Ponies are not naturally born with with cutie marks. A cutie mark appears when a pony discovers her special talent, that unique characteristic that sets her apart from everypony else. The mark appears on a pony’s coat and not their skin, so a few criminals have used this fact to hide from authorities by shaving themselves completely. Several experiments and a few reported incidents have proven that magic cannot make a mark appear prematurely. The meaning of a cutie mark is not always literal; for example, Starswirl the Bearded’s cutie mark was a swirl with stars at the edge, yet he was a master of the magical arts instead of astronomy.
There have been rare cases of multiple cutie marks on one pony, but these have mostly been due to dissociative identity disorder. Another case resulted from a disease called ‘Cutie Pox’, which afflicted a population of ponies back in the Paleopony period. Random cutie marks appeared all over the ponies' bodies, causing them to perform all the talents that came with them. For more information please refer to Perplexing Pony Plagues.
Cutie marks also hold some social implications in some areas. A cute-ceañera is an open-invite party held for fillies and colts who have recently gained their cutie marks. Some ponies have even taken to calling ponies without cutie marks ‘blank flanks’, a usually offensive term based on the markless flanks of a pony.‘"
Twilight Sparkle looked up from the book at the three fillies seated in front of her and added "Sorry it's so short, but does that help at all, girls?"
Scootaloo had fallen asleep after the second book, and Sweetie Belle was beginning to nod off as well. Apple Bloom sat straight up on her cushion and nudged the unicorn filly next to her. Sweetie Belle jolted awake.
“Huh? OH! Yeah, really helpful, Twilight. Thanks!”
Twilight stifled a giggle. The Crusaders had come to ask Twilight if she had any books about cutie marks, but they hadn’t expected her to pull out every resource she had on the subject. That was four hours ago, and the town clock tower rang to signal 2 PM.
Scootaloo jolted awake at the noise. “Oh crud! Rainbow Dash promised me she’d give me flying lessons now! Sorry everypony, I gotta go!” Before anyone could react the orange pegasus shot out the door and the sound of her hummingbird wings could be heard speeding away. The remaining Crusaders watched her go until Applebloom broke the silence.
"Anyways, thanks for yer help, Twi. We'd better go back to the clubhouse and get started. Seeya later!"
"Bye Twilight! Bye Owloiscious!" Sweetie Belle added as she followed her friend out of the library. The owl waved them goodbye with a wing, then continued sorting the books. Twilight magically shut the door behind them and looked back at her second assistant. "Thanks again for covering for Spike, Owlowiscious. Hopefully his date with Rarity goes over well for him." The two of them exchanged chuckles before returning to their work.
------
Spike arrived shortly after in a literal huff, his nostrils streaming a sickly smoke. Twilight and Owlowiscious cocked their heads at the little dragon before asking, "You're home early. What happened?"
Spike glared at her. "Twilight, you DID tell Princess Celestia not to send any letters, right?” Twilight simply nodded in response. “Well halfway through our picnic, I burped this up-” He held up a scroll sealed with the royal crest. “-and Rarity decided we should end our picnic early so I could take this back to you.”
The drake tossed the scroll to Twilight, who guiltily let it bounce off her head before catching it with her magic. “I’m so sorry Spike. I’m sure Rarity will be willing to reschedule...”
“Yeah, whatever...I’m just gonna go lie down...”
Twilight watched her assistant trudge up the stairs and out of sight, then turned to the scroll. Strange, the princess used to always help ponies with matchmaking when I was staying at Canterlot... she thought to herself. what could be so important?
The wax seal split apart as Twilight opened the letter, the reason for the interruption making itself apparent as soon as she began to read. The hoofwriting on the letter didn’t match at all with Celestia’s and the signature was not that of a sun. She quickly read and reread the letter, taking in every detail.
The librarian let her magic fade out as the scroll dropped to the ground. The room sat in absolute silence for a while, before Owlowiscious hopped over and pecked her for a response.
“IneedtogettoCanterlot.”
The space around her exploded, sending the feathery secretary crashing up the stairs. Twilight materialized at the side of her bed, catching Owlowiscious before scampering around gathering things. Spike looked up from his pillow.
"Twilight? Where's the fire...?" He asked, ducking as a set of saddlebags shot overhead.
"Spike, something's happened!" came the answer. The mare filled the bags and secured them on her back before continuing. "The letter wasn't from Princess Celestia, it was from Princess LUNA! We're needed at the castle. Can you get some tickets at the station then tell the others?"
"Yeah, sure..." the dragon yawned. "Let me just get some more sleep..."
"NOW!"
Spike leapt from his bed and sped out the library, returning for some bits. Twilight watched him go before summoning a quill and paper.
"Dear Princess Luna..."
It was raining by the time Twilight stepped out into town. An overhead shield kept her and the letter dry, much to other soggy ponies' dismay. As she began the long trot down Stirrup Street, Spike ducked under the shield along with Rarity and Applejack.
"Twilight, we came as soon as we could! What's going on?" The fashionista asked as she squeezed water out of her tail.
"I'm not entirely sure. The princess’s letter wasn’t very specific, only to come to the castle as soon as possible. Where’s the others?”
Pinkie came out of nowhere and began to shake herself dry under the shield, getting her friends soaking wet. “Hey guys, sorry I’m late! I went to ask Fluttershy to find Rainbow Dash but nopony’s seen her since this morning and Spike told us that you told him to get ALL of us and since Spike can’t fly yet I figured it would make sense that Shy would know where to find her!” The others glared at the pink pony before acknowledging her info and continuing on their way to the train. Twi took this lapse in action to have Spike send the reply for the Princess.
“So what DID the Princess’s letter say, sugahcube?” Applejack questioned as they passed the town hall. “Musta been pretty bad to get you in such a panic.”
“It’s a long ride to Canterlot, and I’d like for everyone to be here when I tell you. Is that alright?"
"Yeah, I s'pose that makes sense...Ah, there's the others!"
Rainbow Dash was pacing along the top step of the station, her face that of worry and anger. Fluttershy was seated on a nearby bench, watching her prismatic friend. They looked up when AJ began calling out for them.
"Hey girls! What took you so long?" Dash asked as the damp friends stepped into the station. Rarity immediately began drying them out as Twilight responded "Sorry, got a little rained on. Where were you?"
“Raining on you.” Dash replied matter-of-factly. “The weather station got an order to cover the entire sky in an unscheduled thunderstorm. I asked the district head, and apparently all of the stations across Equestria got the same order.”
The sky boomed, echoing Rainbow's statement and sending Fluttershy ducking under the bench. Applejack brushed past to try and coax the paralyzed mare out. "So what's the deal, egghead? You seem to know what this is all about."
"Only bits and pieces, but now I'm worried the Princess' letter and the mass storms might be connected. We need to get to Canterlot soon."
Just then, the conductor's voice echoed down the platform. "All aboard!!! The train bound for Canterlot leaves in two minutes! All aboard!!!” The group stepped aside as several ponies ran into the station and onto the train.
"We'd better get going too." Twilight added. "Spike, do you have the tickets I asked you to get?" The little dragon smiled and pulled out a cluster of tickets.
"Here you go, Twi! Seven tickets, one for each of us!"
Twi frowned. "Seven? Sorry Spike, but I need you to stay here and watch after the library..." The drake's spines began to droop before Twilight hastily added, "and the town still needs someone to keep it safe, too. I wouldn't trust anypony else for the job."
Spike looked back up at Twi. "Really?!"
"Absolutely! Besides, I'll make it up to you and treat you at the Waffle Cone shop. Pinkie Promise."
The assistant beamed as the unicorn made the appropriate guestures. "ALL RIGHT!!!" he cheered before dashing off, leaving his ticket behind. Rarity caught it with her magic and slipped it to another pony who had lost theirs.
"C'mon girls. Canterlot's waiting!"
Propelled by Twilight’s words, Spike raced back to the Golden Oaks Library as his mind turned over all the different ice cream combinations.
“Okay, so maybe two party cake scoops with an emerald mint in the middle, or a sapphire berry triple scoop! Oh man, that sounds AWESOME!”
The door to the library swung open and the little dragon strode in. Owloicious turned from his perch on one of the desks.
“Who?”
“Nah, just plain old me. Twilight’s gonna be gone for a few days, so it’s up to us to watch the library. Got it?”
“Who.”
“Good.”
Satisfied, Spike moved toward the stairs to return to his bed. He didn’t get two feet, however, before a knocking came from the door. The air around Spike grew somewhat hotter before he stormed back to the door. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming!” he called as the knocking continued. “What do you...want...?”
“What is the matter, my scaly friend? An interruption I did not intend.”
“Zecora! What are you doing here?”
The zebra smiled and stepped into the library, pulling the hood down on her drenched cloak.
“A visit with Twilight Sparkle was my intent, but I did not expect the rain’s descent. Now, where is that bookish mare? I have a warning she must beware.”
“Twi? Well she and the others left for Canterlot just a few minutes ago. Why? What’s happened?”
Zecora’s smile faded. “A malicious hoof has take flight to deliver Equestria a deadly blight. I hoped to warn the Bearers six, but now it seems my plan is nix.”
The room stood silent for a few second before Spike cocked his head. “Uh, I’m afraid I don’t follow...”
"I cannot say for sure the threat, but so far it is not here yet.” The shamaness walked along the wall of books. “Child, may I use these assets? My mind needs rest from its regrets...”
“Um...sure. I mean this library IS open to the public. Read as long as you want!”
Zecora smiled again and pulled a book out at random. Spike looked over at his fellow assistant nervously, before they both went about their work. The zebra's words still lingered in their minds, and at one point Spike leaned over to Owloiscious and whispered, "What do you think she meant by 'deadly blight'?"
The owl merely shrugged and continued his re-shelving job.
As the six friends passed from one train car to the next in search of an empty cabin, a pony stumbled and bumped into Twilight. “Oh! Sorry missy...I’m not feeling all there...” he mumbled,
Twilight simply smiled and replied, “Oh, don’t apologize, I’m sure it was my fault.”
“Bless ya, little missy. It’s always nice to bump into a good soul...enjoy the ride!”
And with that he trudged on to the other car, leaving the friends to their search. Pinkie watched him go with an intent gaze. "Pinkie?" Fluttershy inquired, "Is something wrong?"
"I dunno." She replied, still watching the door. "Cinder Swirl seemed a bit...different..." She then turned and trotted after her friends as they ducked into a cabin for the long ride.
