Chapters Like most small towns, Ponyville had a daily bazaar where ponies could buy and sell food, home-made crafts and services. Food sellers had booths organized in rows and sections according to what they sold: Flowers and ferns were given their own rows, as were root vegetables, as were fruits, as were grains, and so on. Artists, crafters and service providers weren't as organized, having to rent spaces within the second lot. The early arrivals often took the most desired spaces, leaving the later arrivals to pick from what was left over. By the time the bazaar opened at 8 each morning, the remaining spaces were often the ones that were tucked in the back of the lot, promising little hoof traffic and lots of free time.
While Cheerilee had become an early riser during her term as one of Ponyville's teachers, the last few years had changed that. She would have gradually adopted her marewife's habit of sleeping in, but then they took on motherhood. The newborn foals often woke their parents with inarticulate demands to be fed, changed, or simply to be cuddled and comforted. And when Cheerilee was given time off to take part in raising her daughters, she slipped out of her old habits.
Rather than worry about getting back into a set schedule, she decided to change her role in the education system by applying to be a private tutor. She was interviewed, tested, given a background check, and had to provide references to vouch for her ability and character. Fortunately, the process had only taken a day.
But being self-employed meant that she had to go out and advertise her services. While she had contacts and word of mouth, that would only go so far. So at eight am on a weekday morning, she was setting up a table in a 5 stride/side square area at the back of the lot. She spread out stacks of flyers and pamphlets detailing her services, letters of recommendation, and what she specialized in. A display board set behind the table showed the awards and certifications that she had earned during her term as a teacher.
8:05. Cheerilee browsed through a copy of Twilight Sparkle's recommendation. Through the lavender unicorn's habit of using polysyllabic words and recording minutiae, the 'letter' was more correctly termed an 'infodump'. However, every word of it was the truth, and Cheerilee found it a bit flattering that she was given this much zeal.
8:10. Still no customers, but a couple of neighbors. Across the path and a few spaces to the left, a couple of crystal ponies who were setting out a thin blanket on the bare grass. They had a cart of straw hats with heart-shaped brims. To her imediate right, was Berry Punch, setting out pamphlets for the local chapter of the 'Ponies with Problems' support group.
"Need a hoof, Berry?" Cheerilee asked.
"Yes, that would be appreciated." Berry replied. Cheerilee trotted over, then moved the pamphlet stacks around to create an eye-pleasing display. "Wow, you certainly have the touch of an artist."
"Part of it comes from being a teacher." Cheerilee replied. Berry Punch grinned.
"Ruby's told me about how much she's admired you. She's thinking of becoming a teacher after high school."
Cheerilee nodded. "Well I hope I'm as good of a parent as you." Berry Punch embraced the other earth pony.
"I haven't always been good, but I'm getting better every day." The violet mare whispered into the magenta mare's ear. She ended the embrace then turned to her table. "And thank you." she added.
Cheerilee patted her on the shoulder. "Just let me know if Ruby needs help with anything. I know some of the material they teach in high school can be tough."
"Yeah, sure. I'll take one of your cards." Berry moved over to Cheerilee's table and took one, along with a service chart that listed Cheerilee's specialties. "Just as a matter of curiosity, how is your marewife doing?"
Cheerilee moved over to her own table. "She's adjusting. Sometimes she feels overwhelmed and panicky, but it's nothing compared to the night terrors she had when we first came back." She bowed to Berry Punch. "And I can't thank you and your associates enough for helping her through that."
Berry Punch smiled and blushed. "That's what we're here for." She stated.
Cheerilee noticed that a few other local residents had set up their displays during her conversation. "Looks like a pretty diverse crew back here." She said.
"Since we get few customers back here, we usually sit around and talk." Berry replied. "Oh, that reminds me. Some of your former students frequently come back here and look around."
"Oh? Which ones?" Cheerilee rubbed her head trying to recall each of the students that had been under her guidance since 997.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo."
"Oh, those three. They were some of my more interesting students." Cheerilee chuckled. "What are my little crusaders up to?"
"You could ask them directly." Berry Punch pointed down the walkway. The trio of fillies were approaching her table in a casual stroll. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle wore matching denim jackets that were decorated with buttons and pins. Some with witty phrases from current youth culture. Scootaloo also had a pin on one pocket flap that resembled Rainbow Dash's cutie mark.
Applebloom wore a length of silk cloth wrapped around her barrel and fastened in a few places to keep it from falling off. The fabric had zebra-like motifs on a light orange background, and phrases written along the border in indelible black ink, conveyed hopes and well-wishing for AppleBloom's future happiness. Cheerilee recognized four of the writing styles as Bloom's own, Applejack's, Big Macintosh's and Granny Smith's shaky scrawl. A fifth phrase was written in Zebrican tribal lettering, which she guessed was Zecora's message, and a sixth written by an unknown hoof. Around the filly's left front cannon were a pair of bracelets: An onyx band and a carved white wood band. A golden thread was looped around and woven between the rings, linking them together. The ends of the thread melded with a gold panel embossed with a likeness of Zecora's Cutie Mark.
"Hey Mrs Cheerilee." They called out.
"How long's it been?" Scootaloo added. "Three years?"
Cheerilee trotted around the table to greet them. "I've been very busy girls. Raising foals of my own and all that."
Sweetie belle draped herself over Scootaloo's back. "Hey, maybe we could be Cutie Mark Crusader foalsitters."
Cheerilee smirked. "Still trying to get your cutie marks? I thought you'd have them by now."
"Nah, we just haven't had much success with most of the activities we'd tried." Applebloom lamented. She turned to browse the papers on Cheerilee's table. "Oh, you're teacher for hire now?"
"Indeed I am." Cheerilee replied. "I have to earn bits somehow. I imagine that you three would be looking for jobs soon yourselves."
"Chillax teach." Scootaloo said while holding out a hoof. "I've been doing a weatherpony course. A goverment job'll pay the bits while I prep for Wonderbolt camp."
"Planning to follow in Dash's hoofsteps, I take it?"
Scootalloo nodded vigorously. "Yeah yeah. I'm gonna be a Wonderbolt. Already been through flight camp."
"Any problems with bullies?" Cheerilee asked.
All three fillies looked to the ground. "Yeeeaaahhh..." Sweetie Belle muttered.
"That's why we've been back here, looking for things to help us get our cutie marks." Scootaloo said.
Cheerilee rubbed the back of her neck. "I'd like to help, that is, if you want it."
"No offence, Mrs Cheerilee." Scootaloo looked her in the eye. "But what can you tell us that's not written in a book?"
"Scootaloo. I know many things about many things." Cheerilee replied with a wide grin. "And being self employed means that I don't have follow a lesson plan decided by a committee."
"You mean you can tell us things that you weren't allowed to before?" Applebloom asked with amazement. "Why didn't ya say so?"
Cheerilee passed them a flyer. "My standard rate is -B- 12 an hour. Would you like to make an appointment?"
Scootaloo grinned. "And we have you to ourselves for as long as we want?"
Cheerilee chuckled. "As long as you can pay for it."
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle searched their pockets, while Applebloom opened a bitbag. The trio pooled their money together and passed it to Cheerilee. "Here's twenty four." Scootaloo stated.
The magenta mare took a schedule book from a bag under the table. "Alright, When did you want to make your reservation? And what subject is it for?"
"Ummm, now, and we wanna know about Cutie Marks." Scootaloo replied. Sweetie Belle whispered something in her ear. "No, change of plans. This weekend, and we'll buy more time from ya."
Cheerilee wrote the date in her book. "Alright. I look forward to seeing you."
"Great. We'll come back early Sevenday morning." Scootaloo stated.
The rest of the week was like a blur. The trio had told their families about their plans, and kept busy with chores to earn a few extra bits. The work was tiring, but it was worth it to spend time with a favorite teacher.
At dawn of Sevenday, the trio got up early and headed to the bazaar. As they passed by the railroad depot, they heard somepony call out "Hey girls! Over here!"
All three looked over and saw Mrs Cheerilee approaching from the other side of the tracks. She checked for trains, then crossed and trotted over to them. "Have you eaten yet?"
"No, we were hoping to grab some pastries from Sugarcube Corner's booth." Scootaloo replied.
"Then we can grab something on our way, follow me please." She looked up and down the tracks again, then crossed, following a tamped dirt path that lead west. The Crusaders followed. After passing through a gatehouse, the group boarded a waiting carriage. Cheerilee leaned over to the earth pony pulling team. "Could you take us to the beach?"
"As you wish, Matron." The team leader replied before they began pulling the carriage along the cobblestone path. They turned onto a path leading south. After a few minutes, the carriage stopped amidst a cluster of buildings at the edge of a beach.
"Thank you, we'll be here a while." Cheerilee told the pulling team as she and the crusaders disembarked.
"Alright. You folks have a wonderful day now." One of the pullers replied, before the group took the carriage back up the path.
Cheerilee turned to the crusaders. "Do you girls like crepes?"
"Oh yeah." Scootaloo replied. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle added their approval.
"Good, because we're getting some." Cheerilee lead them to one of the buildings where ponies were eating.
After eating their fill, the fillies checked their remaining money. "Ok, So we have another -B- 24 for you." Sweetie Belle passed the money to Cheerilee. "I think four hours will be enough to get some idea on how to find our Cutie Marks."
Cheerilee took a notebook and a pen from her saddlebag, and hooved it over to the group. "I suggest you take notes, because there is a lot I want you to know."
Applebloom took the book. "I remember you telling us that you got your cutiemark for educating students."
Cheerilee chuckled. "That's the short version. What really happened was that I wove a lesson into an elaborate story, and presented it to my peers when I was in high school."
"So education through entertainment?" Sweetie Belle asked. "That's like the specials that they sometimes show on t.v.. But you don't seem to be as obvious about it."
"Anyways, moving right along." Cheerilee headed outside. "I hope they still teach proper journalistic procedure in school."
"Ya mean like asking who, what, why, and how?"
"Also when and where." Cheerilee added.
"Yeah, we got that." Scootaloo replied. "So. What is a Cutie Mark?"
"Wait, back up a bit, Scoots." Sweetie Belle protested. "We gotta start with the who."
"Right right. Who gets a Cutie Mark?" Scootaloo corrected herself.
"I know ponies and zebras do." Applebloom replied. "Not buffalo or dragons, or Diamond Dogs though."
"Cows don't, and donkeys don't. Changelings don't get one naturally, but they can mimic one." Sweetie Belle added.
"Let me stop you right there." Cheerilee pointed a hoof at Scootaloo. "Would you clarify what you mean by 'ponies?'"
Applebloom wrote while Scootaloo listed the types. "There's Pegasi, Unicorns, and Earth ponies. Oh, and Merae. So can we get on with this?"
"All in good time, Scootaloo." Cheerilee replied, heading to a nearby rocky pier. "It's a shame that the Board of Education never allowed me to arrange a field trip here. You girls have never met the Merae."
"Well no. but we've seen them swimming about outside of the wave zone of the public beach." Sweetie Belle replied.
"Then let's introduce you to them." Cheerilee balanced carefully on her hindlegs, then placed her front frogs next to her mouth. "Shooby doooo! Shooby doooo!" She called in the direction of the water.
"Shoop shooby doooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Came a reply. Within the space of half a minute, several figures could be seen swimming under the water in their direction. The figures surfaced, revealing themselves to be colorful seal-like equines: Their front limbs were flattened fins ending in four stubby fingers, and their rear legs were fused to make a tapering tail with horizontal flippers on the end. The Merae settled in the shallow water, mere strides away from the group. "This a tour group?" One of them asked.
"No, these are friends of mine." Cheerilee replied, settling on all four hooves again. "This is Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom." She introduced each of the fillies.
"Hey, vos ami sont nos ami." The aquatic pony replied.
"What did she say?" Scootaloo looked to Cheerilee.
"She said, my friends are their friends." She replied. Approaching the Merae, Cheerilee spoke. "They want to learn about Cutie Marks, so I thought I'd begin by having them look at yours."
The group chuckled as they arranged themselves in rough uneven rows and settled on their bellies. The Crusaders noted that a few of the younger Merae were unmarked, but the adults all had one. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle interviewed a few for their Cutie Mark story, which Applebloom wrote down.
"Are we done with this peep show?" One of the Merae remarked. A few others chuckled.
"Trench!" Cheerilee snapped.
"Whaaaaat." The dark blue Merae shot back. "She was looking at my tail." Trench pointed to Scootaloo.
"Oh you think everypony's looking at your tail." One of the other Merae retorted.
"I can't help it, Coral." He flexed. "When you look this good, ponies can't help but look at you. It's a curse."
"Don't mind him." Coral said to the Crusaders. "He's new around here."
"Yep. came up from the shores of the Free States." Trench replied.
" The Free States down south? I've got family there." Applebloom replied.
"Heh, small world." Trench replied. Cheerilee cleared her throat. "Oh, sorry." He blushed.
"Now, what I want point out. What common factor do you notice about their Cutie Marks."
"They're all things that you find in or around oceans and rivers." Sweetie Belle replied. "That one's got a starfish, this one's got a frog. She's got a tidal wave.
"What about Trench? His is a couple of rusty gears." Applebloom said.
"How does rust form?" Cheerilee asked her.
"Oh, when metal gets wet."
All three fillies had a moment of realization. "So all their cutiemarks are related to water." Sweetie Belle stated
"That's right, Sweetie Belle." Cheerilee praised her. "And why do you suppose that is?"
"Cause they live in the water?"
"Ooooh, so close." Trench replied with a grin. "Wanna take another guess?"
"So it's not cause you live in the water." Applebloom stated. "Can we get a hint?"
"The reason they live in the water, and the reason they get water-related Cutie Marks, are linked by a third factor." Cheerilee answered.
"Ooh." Scootaloo raised a hoof. "I know! I know!"
"Go ahead. Scootaloo." Cheerilee smiled.
"Is it cause they control water?"
"Almost there."
"Connected to the water?" Scootaloo perked her ears.
"More specific please." Cheerilee replied.
"Water...water...It's their magic, isn't it?" Scootaloo grinned widely. "They're attuned to the water."
"Check out the big brain on Scootaloo." Trench chimed in. A round of snickering followed.
"That's correct. So here is what you should write down." Cheerilee began. Applebloom readied the pen. "Every pony is attuned to a specific type of mana, and this influences their Cutie Mark."
"Wait, then that means-" Scootaloo began.
"-that we won't all get the same Cutie Mark." Sweetie Belle finished.
"Do you expect to all have the same talent?" Cheerilee asked.
"Well no, but..." Scootaloo began, but left the thought hanging.
"We done here teach?" Trench asked. "Cause I'm drying up over here."
"Yes. You may go." Cheerilee waved them off. As the Merae departed, the Crusaders thought over what they had learned. "Come along." Cheerilee requested as she began trotting over to the path. "Our next stop is up at the mansion."
After another carriage ride, the group walked up the steps leading to the LaRoulette mansion. Though Cheerilee had taken them to one of the Canterlot gardens, and the Crusaders had watched a theatre play in Celestia's castle, the fillies were still amazed at the grand building. Though built during the time when ponies were taking a renewed interest in the time between Discord and Nightmare Moon, it was constructed in the elaborate whimsy style that had emerged at the beginning of the 8th century.
Looking at it from the front, the central portion was a tall square column, with bay windows on either side of the entrance. The right wing had noticeably fewer windows than the left, but they were wider, letting in more light into the rooms. At the end of each wing was a broad circular tower with a conical blue roof, separate from the sloped roofs that covered the rest of the building.The outer walls were decorated with inset square panels, rounded edges, and molded plantlike projections around the windows; ornamentation that had been derided in the 800s as needlessly frivolous.
Entering the front parlor, the fillies gazed upon more of the decorative architecture. The twin ramps that led up to the 2nd floor made a broad curve as they spanned between the floors, with the railing made of wood carved and cut in ornate sweeping patterns. The wallpaper was faded white with pastel pink stuttered curves. A few paintings and busts were on display, with plaques underneath providing information about the ponies they depicted.
"Wow. You really live here?" Applebloom was the first to break the silence.
"Indeed I do." Cheerilee replied. "But the property tax is complicated."
"Really? How so?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"It depends on a number of factors." Cheerilee replied. "One of which is because it's considered part of Euzald County instead of Greater Canterlot County."
"That's stupid." Scootaloo said. "Why do grown-ups have to make everything so complicated?"
"Getting back on topic." Cheerilee headed up the ramp. "There's a pony I'd like you girls to meet." She lead them down one of the hallways then into a small parlor. Sitting on a padded chair was a lean blue earth pony stallion, who looked to be about a hoof-length shorter than Big Macintosh. He was dark blue with a red mane and tail, and wore a gold vest with a black tassel attached to one of the pockets. "Lanzenreiter, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine."
The stallion stood up and walked over to the group. "Greetings young ones. I trust that you have been enjoying your time here."
"Oh yeah." Scootaloo replied. "This place is amazing. And Cheerilee's helping us with our Cutie Marks."
"It's a lesson plan that they asked me to design for them." Cheerilee added.
Lanzenreiter smiled. "Education is important. What are we learning?"
"We were learning about Cutie marks, but then we got something about how it's connected to mana." Sweetie Belle replied.
"That's an important step in understanding them." Lanzenreiter replied. "Most of the time, your breed determines what mana flow you're tuned to. Terrans to earth, Merae to water, Pegasi to air, and Unicorns to fire."
"Most of the time?" Scootaloo prodded.
"Yes. You've heard of wild talents, right?"
"Yeah, like Derpy, or Pinkie Pie. They've got talents that would make more sense for unicorns." Applebloom replied. "And Fluttershy's good with animals, which is more of an Earth Pony trait.
"There are exceptions to the general guidelines." Cheerilee said. "It's possible for a pony to attune to a mana type outside of their breed's standard.
"So you mean any of us could learn to use air mana, or water mana?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"You could, but it would take a long time and lots of effort to do so." Lanzenreiter replied. He held out a hoof. "You could always go the other way, and make a deeper connection to your innate mana."
"Mr Lanzer sir." Scootaloo began. "We wanna hear about your Cutie Mark."
The stallion chuckled. "Right to the point." He turned and presented his flank. His mark was a sword with the blade curved back so that the tip touched the hilt.
"Wow, that's a wicked cool Cutie Mark." Sweetie Belle commented. "What's it symbolize?"
"It symbolizes my ability to redirect hostile action back on my opponent." The three fillies rubbed their heads and looked to each other. "I'll make it easy for you. Someone tries to attack me, they end up hitting themselves."
"Oooohhhhhh." All three replied in understanding.
"While that's my talent, I didn't get my mark until I got a job as an equinal bodyguard." Lanzenreiter replied. "Before that, I thought that my talent was in martial arts, so I studied and trained in several. Never made black belt in any of them because I couldn't get through the endurance training."
"Wait, so you became an adult without a mark?"
"That's right." Lanzenreiter replied. "But my studies weren't in vain. I learned some things that were very useful as a bouncer. Like how to dissuade others from attacking in the first place."
"My first attempts didn't work out either." Cheerilee added. "I thought I would be a fiction author."
"You wrote books?" Scootaloo asked. "What kind? Sci-Fi? Adventure? Horror?"
"At first I did stories based on the t.v. shows and movies from when I was a filly. Then I tried a few serious novels. None of them earned me my mark."
"But wouldn't your talent work only when others read your books?" Scootaloo gave her a puzzled look..
"Here is your second lesson, girls." Cheerilee began. She waited until they were ready to write. "Your special talent is one that can be used both at will, and as a reflex."
"So it's not something that requires a lot of preparation and time?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"That's correct." Cheerilee replied with a smile. "And thank you, Lanzenreiter."
The stallion waved her off. "It was my pleasure, Matron." He replied.
As the group headed back into the hall, Applebloom turned to Cheerilee. "How come ponies keep calling ya 'Matron?' That sounds so old fashioned."
"It's because I'm the head of this household now. I'm in charge of the property and all the businesses in it."
"Oh. That makes sense." The filly replied.
As Lanzenreiter departed, the Crusaders looked over the first page of their notes. "So we got the who and the what. When and where don't really matter; a Cutie Mark could happen anytime and anyplace. Now we need the how and the why." Scootaloo said.
Sweetie Belle looked to Cheerilee. "At the risk of sounding stupid, how do ponies get Cutie Marks?"
Cheerilee smiled. "You don't sound stupid at all, Sweetie Belle. Curiosity and inquisitiveness are signs of intelligence. And to answer your question, ponies earn their Cutie Marks by realizing what their special talent is. I suppose that would be your next line of questioning."
The young unicorn chuckled. "Ok then, how do we find our talents?"
Cheerilee took a tulip from a nearby vase. "There is no simple formula for finding your talent. However, there is a logic to it." She plucked one of the petals and chewed it before continuing. "Talents are not unique. It's possible for multiple ponies to have similar talents, but diifferent Cutie Marks. For example: Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, and Lady Lyra. Scratch is good at composing electro music, Octavia provides the base rhythm for her quartet, and Lady Lyra keeps the old Ipponian and Etrotscan songs alive."
"So they all have talents relating to music, but their Cutie Marks are different." Sweetie Belle added.
"Hey, you forgot to mention me." A purple pegasus complained. "I also have a musical talent."
Cheerilee chuckled. "You girls remember Starsong, don't you?"
"Of course we remember." Scootaloo replied. "You're one of Rarity's fillyhood friends."
Starsong cantered into the room and sat on one of the empty seats. "Scoot's dad owns a game and comic store, and I used to play some of the games with Scoots and 'Belle."
Scootaloo crossed her front legs together. "Yeah, until Raindrops drafted her for a season of weather duty."
"Hey, maybe we can start that again." Sweetie Belle offered. "I mean, we could add it to our list of things to do."
Applebloom looked to Starsong. "We're learning about Cutie Marks. Can ya tell us about yours?"
"Oh sure." Starsong shifted position to expose her Cutie Mark. "Whatcha wanna know?"
"I was just explaining about how different talents can be related." Cheerilee added. "So why don't you tell them about yours."
"Yeah, I heard you talking about that. While those other ponies are good with the musical side of things, I can get the audience to feel the emotions within the song."
"It also has the side effect of allowing you to understand the intent behind other's words." Cheerilee added.
"What?" The three fillies looked confused.
"I'm a living translator." Starsong clarified. "I can speak and understand any language. Doesn't apply to reading or writing though."
"Kinda like how my Sis can detect when a pony's lying?" Applebloom prodded.
"Not quite like that, but things like code words, slang terms, and ambiguous phrasing, don't work on me."
"So it's always on?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Yep, and I've gotten into a little trouble because of it. Used to argue with my literary teacher about the meaning of the stories she had us read. She kept trying to pass off her interpretation as the author's message."
"But that has been helpful." Cheerilee added. "Starsong's frequent conflicts with our teachers gave me an idea of how to teach, by avoiding the mistakes they made. You three have mentioned numerous times how I'm not like other teachers."
"Yeah yeah." They nodded.
"You try to present the lessons in a fun way." Applebloom added. "And you encouraged creativity. Even if someponies were sticks in the mud."
"I take it that you have some fellow students who aggravate you?" Starsong asked.
"They used to." Sweetie Belle replied. "Diamond and Silver mostly ignore us now. They have other ponies to focus on."
"Your third lesson, girls."
"We're ready."
"One's special talent is fueled by their innate mana, which connects with the external mana of the world."
They scribbled out the words, then looked to Cheerilee. "Can you simplify that?"
"Allow me Cheerilee." Starsong stepped over to the group. "Like most pegasi, I use wind mana. Since my talent is always on, I'm tapped into one of the manastreams of the world. Side effects include a windy demeanor, weather influenced mood swings, and feeling the flow."
"How does it feel?" Scootaloo asked.
"Ever been whitewater rafting? Imagine standing in a shallow spot while the water is rushing past you."
"That sounds exciting and a little bit dangerous." Sweetie Belle stated.
"Yeah, but it's a thrill that I never get tired of."
"Can ya unconnect?" Applebloom wondered.
"Disconnect." Sweetie Belle corrected. Applebloom glared at her and the unicorn offered a conciliatory smile.
"I could, but why would I want to?" Starsong replied. "I've gotten used to it."
"So there you have it." Cheerilee replied. "Your talent is one that draws upon your mana."
"So that covers the how." Scootaloo scribbled out the notes. "Now we just need why."
Starsong chuckled. "Why do ponies get Cutie Marks? A better question would be why do Cutie Marks exist."
"You see girls." Cheerilee began. "There was a time millenia ago, when ponies didn't have Cutie Marks."
"This changes everything." Applebloom replied. "Maybe it's connected to Cutie Pox." She said to her friends.
"Perhaps we should have somepony look into that." Cheerilee replied. "But what I wanted to mention was the history that I've learned."
Scootaloo set the pen down. "Mrs Cheerilee, do you really think that would help?"
The magenta mare grinned. "Scootaloo, I am telling you things that you won't find in any book, because they aren't in books." She held out the flower. "The Merae have records carved onto slabs of granite. These slabs are kept in a palace near one of the ocean gyres. The oldest records speak of how all of ponykind was once a single breed."
"So there weren't such things as unicorns or pegasi?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"And everypony was an earth pony, except that they didn't have a connection to the land." Cheerilee added.
"So how did the breeds gain their magic?"
"Now we get to the root of the issue." Cheerilee finished the flower. "How did the breeds come about? When did ponies gain their magic? Why do we get Cutie Marks? Why ponies, and not other species? These questions are all connected."
"We're all ears." Scootaloo said, picking up the pen again.
"Way back in the Paleopony period, Ponykind was nomadic, wandering the land and keeping a simple foraging lifestyle. Without going into too much detail, we had the basics of survival and communication."
"So this was back before civilization?" Scootaloo asked. "Cutie Marks go back that far?"
"Not quite." Cheerilee replied. "Back in those days, we didn't have control over the world like we do now. The whole world was like the Everfree Forest."
"So how did we get control?" The pegasus filly prodded.
"As ponykind gradually settled into mobile communities then started making settlements, we also began mapping the boundaries of our territory. At the southwestern region of the known world, we found that the land rose up to the clouds. A few brave explorers found paths that lead up. We found a vast field high above the clouds, untouched by the predators that we feared. In the center of this land above the clouds, was a manifestation of mana. Because it gave off a soft light, and emitted an ear-pleasing tone, we called it the Glow-Song."
"'Glow-Song.' Got it."
"Ponykind quickly learned how to tap into it, and use it to change their environment. No longer did we need to forage. We could cause the plants to grow as we wished. We began to change the weather and the seasons to suit our preferences. And we reached out to the Sun and Moon themselves, and moved them. And so began the Neopony age."
"So this Glow Song allowed us to control the world. Then what happened?"
Starsong made a motion to quiet the inquiry. "Let her finish."
"The first rule of magic. The Law of connection. We touched magic, and it touched us in return. Those who moved the weather grew wings. Those who reached out to the lights grew horns to channel their wills. Those who tended the land formed a connection to it. And those who worked with the water, adapted to dwell in it. That's how the pony breeds were formed. These were considered gifts. There were still ponies in the lands below who didn't form a connection with the Glow-Song. They were called the un-gifted. As the years passed, the breeds developed their more unique traits The horned tapped directly into the manastreams to use magic. The winged gained the ability to walk on clouds, the land-bonded learned how to grow minerals, and the flippered grew gills to breath in water. As the Gifted prospered and grew in numbers, we developed skills and talents that brought benefit to their Empire. This lead to the development of special talents and the creation of Cutie Marks to go with them. With a special talent, every citizen was able to contribute, and the Cutie Mark showed what we were skilled at. "
"So we got Cutie Marks because we were civilized?" Applebloom asked. "What about Zebras?"
"All in good time." Cheerilee replied. "Secure in our remote location, the gifted became complacent, then haughty. But remote didn't mean isolated. While we kept in touch with our kin below, the gifted considered them as lower in stature. When the ability to control the mana flow began to have consequences on the world below, the un-gifted came and spoke of problems that plagued them. At first these reports were dismissed at lies, but as more and more ponies showed up, they were joined by cows, donkeys, and other hooved races. It wasn't until zebras came to the empire to complain, that the Gifted finally returned to the world below."
"So it was the zebras that finally talked some sense into them?"
"Yes, and it's a good thing that we listened. The careless use of mana had devastated the world below. Ashamed of what we had done, the Gifted broke the Glow-Song into pieces. The largest fragment was given to the zebras. The rest were hidden away and buried in the most remote locations that we could find."
"So that's why zebras get their their Cutie Marks." Applebloom realized. "They have a piece of this Glow Song."
"Yes Applebloom." Cheerilee smiled. "That's why zebras get their Cutie Marks. Though they call theirs Spirit Marks."
"Your Cutie Mark means that you're in tune with the world around you." Starsong said. "You know your talent, and you're willing to use it responsibly."
"Because we're connected to the manastream?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"That's right." Cheerilee added. "We're the Gifted. We keep the world going because we owe it to the other races. They can't do it."
"Whoa, heavy." Scootaloo commented.
"But don't get discouraged." Cheerilee offered. "You have a gift and a responsibility. It may seem immense, but you can do something that no other race can."
"And what's our lesson for this story?" Applebloom asked.
"Your Cutie Mark manifests the first time you consciously tap into the manastream."
"I think I get it!" Scootaloo exclaimed. "C'mon girls, back to the clubhouse, I have a plan!"
"Shall I refund your last hour?" Cheerilee asked, counting out the coins.
"Yeah, we could use that money." Sweetie Belle replied. She took the -B-12, then the group dashed out of the room.
Starsong looked to Cheerilee. "Looks like your first job was a success."
"Time will tell, Stars." Cheerilee replied as she stood up. "I wish they would have stayed to hear how Cutie Marks have changed over time."
"Anyways. We just got a delivery of mooncakes."
"Alright, I'll come down and get a slice." Cheerilee followed her out of the room.
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were seated on one side of a small table, while Scootaloo stood on the other side. "Here's my idea." Scootaloo began. "You know how I've been complimented on my 'nice moves?' I'm thinking that's my talent. I'm gonna put on a stunt show. And I need you two to help me prepare."
"We haven't done a show in a long time." Applebloom replied. "We've done stunts, but not for a crowd. Maybe our talents are being showponies."
Sweetie Belle rubbed her hooves together. "I think I can help. As long as everypony's looking at you and not at me."
"Alright then." Scootaloo pointed to Applebloom. "I'm gonna need somepony to make the presentation. That includes flyers, a rocking playlist that I can perform to, being an announcer, and working the crowd."
"Can do," the earth pony saluted.
Scootaloo pointed to Sweetie Belle. "I'm also gonna need a few cool outfits to wear. I'm gonna use my scooter, a skateboard, a bike, and a set of skates. Oh, and a stunt track to perform on."
"I'm on it," the unicorn replied.
"CUTIEMARKCRUSADERSSTUNTSHOWPERFORMERS!!!" They cheered, bumpng hooves together.
"I'm gonna go practice." Scootaloo said as she dashed out the door. Applebloom leaned over and whispered something in Sweetie Belle's ear. The unicorn grinned, then gave an approving gesture.
= = =
Next Sevenday, a small crowd gathered in a field outside of Whitetail woods. In the center of the field was a wooden construction consisting of various kinds of curved and straight ramps connected to flat surfaces; the whole thing forming a track of sorts. On one platform, an orange pegasus filly wore a rivet-studded bright white flight-suit under protective gear. "Thank you all for coming." She spoke into a portable microphone. "I promised that this was gonna be a dynamite show, and I intend to deliver, so without further ado." She tossed the mic aside, hopped onto a bicycle, then pedaled it down the ramp and along the track as a high energy music track blared over the speakers.
Following a carefully rehearsed routine, the filly stopped at certain locations along the track to perform dextrous feats with the bike: wheelies, jumps, skids, and spins, all arranged to coincide with changes in the music. After five songs, she returned to the platform then switched the bike for her scooter. Later on she switched to a skateboard, finally wrapping up with a set of hoofskates. Each one had their own list of songs and sequence of stunts.
The crowd watched and cheered, enjoying the show. There was an occasional 'oohh' or 'ahhh' whenever Scootaloo pulled off a particularly tricky stunt. While Sweetie Belle helped Scootaloo with costume changes, Applebloom was running a small stand off to the side of the seating area, where she sold treats from her family farm.
After the show, Scootaloo removed the skates, then Sweetie Belle passed her the microphone. "You know, as awesome as that was, I couldn't have done it alone. I have to give proper respect to those that helped me. First, to my best friends. By my side .the wonderfully talented Sweetie Belle, who put all of this together." She draped a leg over the unicorn's back and pulled her in for a hug. Sweetie Belle blushed as the crowd cheered. "And the hardworking Applebloom, for getting you all here and keeping you here." She pointed to the snack booth, and Applebloom waved.
"Next to my coach and trainer, Rainbow Dash of the Wonderbolts.." She indicated a blue pegasus who was seated near one end of the track. The pegasus stood up and motioned for the crowd to cheer louder, then directed the attention back to Scootaloo. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle had slipped away, met with Applebloom, and the pair snuck into the audience and cajoled a certain pony into following them. "And last, I want to thank the pony who inspired me to actually put on this performance." Sweetie Belle and Applebloom could be seen guiding a magenta mare onto the platform. "Missus, Cheerilee, LAROULETTE!" Scootaloo twirled then pointed to the mare. "Give her a round of applause everypony." The crowd stomped their hooves against the ground, creating a sound similar to that of a stampede. "Thank you, thank you verah much." The pegasus drawled, her words partly drowned out by the cheering.
