It's been a week and a half since Flare opened his new business. His business is still very successful. Even people from Canterlot and Cloudsdale ask for pizza. Bon Bon, Lyra Heartstrings, and Derpy Hooves have been doing an excellent job in the business.

One morning, at the Apple house, Apple Bloom wakes up and walks down for breakfast. Granny Smith is cooking some eggs for the family.

"Mornin' Apple Bloom!" said AppleJack.

"Mornin' Family! Sleep well?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Yeeup!" said Big Macintosh.

"Me too, I had a dream I was lassoin' dem bulls at the rodeo." said AppleJack. "What did you dream about, sug?"

"What do you think? Getting my cutie mark!" said Apple Bloom hoping.

"What was your cutie mark in your dream?" asked AppleJack.

Apple Bloom paused and thinked for a second. "I don't really remember all that much. But in the dream, I saw a pony... a red pony. It was a unicorn. I don't remember everythin'." said Apple Bloom confused.

"A red pony, huh? Was it Big Macintosh?" asked AppleJack.

"Nope! She said unicorn." said Big Macintosh.

"Oh... hm, let's see... I seen lots of red unicorns around. Can't ya give more detail, sug?" asked AppleJack.

Apple Bloom started to think again, with her hoof on her chin. "Hm... brown mare?"

AppleJack smiled and said, "Ah see now! It's much more clear! You must be talkin' about mah friend Flare!"

Apple Bloom smiled and put her front hooves on the table. "Yeah, it was him! Maybe he has somethin' to do with me getting mah cutie mark!"

"Maybe, sug. Maybe. Why don't ya go and see him later?" asked AppleJack.

Apple Bloom jumped out of her chair and started running to the door. "Yeah! I'll go get Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo..."

AppleJack then interupted her. "Now hold yer bridges there, sug! School first!" she said giving her a mischievious face.

"Aww!" whined Apple Bloom sadly.

A few hours later, at the school house, the bell rung and the fillies started running out of the school. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo walked out after everypony else.

"You know what girls?" asked Apple Bloom.

"What? You have an idea about us getting our cutie marks?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Yeeup! Ah had a dream last night about getting mah cutie mark." said Apple Bloom.

"Oh really? What was your cutie mark?" asked Scootaloo.

"Ah don't remember really, but ah saw a pony in mah dream." said Apple Bloom.

"Who was that pony?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"You know that new pony, Flare?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Yeah, he's pretty awesome!" said Scootaloo. "I heard he had fantastic advanced technology from his hometown!"

"He's also the manager of the pizza parlor at the park." said Sweetie Belle. "I have to say, the food he makes over there delicilious!"

"So ah was thinkin'. If Flare was in mah dream after ah got mah cutie mark, then that could mean he was responsible for gettin' it!" Apple Bloom said excitied.

"Maybe we can all get our cutie marks with Flare's help too!" cried Scootaloo. "So we all going to see Flare?"

"Yeah!" cried Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Then they all said at the same time; "Cutie Mark Crusaders away!" Then they all start running to Flare's shop.

Over at Flare's shop, Flare gives Derpy the next delievery order.

"Sup Derpy?" asked Flare. "Listen, we have two hay and shroom pizzas need to get delievered to Berry Punch, capeesh?" Flare hands Derpy the pizzas.

"You can count on me, Flare!" cheered Derpy as skipped to the door with the pizzas, but then she banged into the wall. Flare giggles and nodes at Derpy. Derpy giggles along with him, and walks out the door. Then the Cutie Mark Crusaders walk inside the shop and to the counter where Flare is.

"Hah, Flare" said Apple Bloom with a smile.

"Well, well, well! What do we have here? We have Bloomed Apple, a bell that's sweet, and the pegasis that can't fly! ROFL! J-K J-K! I didn't mean it like that Scottaloo." said Flare.

Scootaloo gave Flare an ugly look. "That wasn't funny Flare."

"LOL! Sorry about that little sis!" said Flare. "Now what could your uncle Flare did for you three?"

"Well, ah had a dream last night! And you were in it!" said Apple Bloom.

"Oh really? Happy face! That is so intresting! Flare's happy face that you thought about him in your sleep! Winky face." said Flare as he winked.

Apple Bloom giggled, "Wow, yer the funniest pony in Ponyville!" said Apple Bloom as she blushed. "Anyway, the dream was about me getting mah cutie mark. So that gave me a clue! Maybe you're responsible for me getting it!"

"Yeah, and possibly Scootaloo and I too." said Sweetie Belle.

"Oh hey, you rhymed! Scootaloo, and too. Maybe your cutie mark will be something to do with making poetry!" said Flare.

"So can you help us?" asked Scootaloo.

"I-D-K. CAN I help you? Of course I can! I help all my friends in need! LOL Sweetie Belle you're so silly! Silly willy! Praise the wizards!" said Flare.

"So what can we do to get our cutie marks?" asked Apple Bloom.

"How about answering this question first. What came first, the dragon or the egg?" asked Flare.

The crusaders got confused and started to think. "Uhhh... the egg?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Then who created the egg?" asked Flare mischieviously.

"Then it's the dragon!" said Scootaloo.

"Then where did the dragon come from? LOL!" asked Flare, then he giggled.

"What's the answer then?" cried Scootaloo.

"Exactly! There is no real answer! Like the question I keep asking, why do they name Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with a four in it?" said Flare.

"That's true." said Apple Bloom.

"So if you silly fillies want to earn your butt tattoos, then maybe you can do some work around here for me! You three can earn them, and also I'll give you all community service hours to give to your school!" said Flare.

"Sounds good! We need those if we're going to collage!" said Apple Bloom.

"Or flight collage!" said Scootaloo.

"Oh, and you think you're going to be over there anyway, figuring that you can't fly?" asked Sweetie Belle, then her and Apple Bloom laughed. Scootaloo gave them both an ugly look.

"Time to get on the edge of glory and start getting your butt tattoos!" said Flare. He hands Sweetie Belle a mop and a bucket. "Here Sweetie, you're sister loves to clean stuff, maybe you can help by mopping the floors."

"Seriously, Flare? Mopping the floors? I thought we were going to be cooking pizza with you!" whined Sweetie Belle.

"You three are not yet ready for the kitchen. Time to start off small. Maybe your what-call-it mark will be cleaning floors! That'd be awesome, huh? Lion face." said Flare.

Sweetie Belle gets upset and starts mopping the floor. Then Flare looks at Apple Bloom. "Now for your awesome job!" he says to her.

"Are you sure it's going to be awesome?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Well it's waaaay better than cleaning that teak-wood floor!" said Flare.

"What do you want me to do boss?" asked Apple Bloom with a smile.

Flare takes out some bathroom cleaning supplies. "The lavatories are nasty right now. That kid Snails ate a bread stick off the floor and got sick, so... I don't want to mention it. Get on it, girl! I have faith in you! Smiley face." said Flare with a smile. Apple Bloom wasn't happy though, so she walked into the bathroom with the cleaning supplies.

"Time for your job, little Scootie!" said Flare.

"I better not be cleaning anything!" cried Scootaloo.

"Oh no! You won't be cleaning a thing! I got the perfect job for you! And trust me, it's going to be waaay more better than Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle's jobs." said Flare.

"Oh really?" asked Scootaloo.

"Really, really!"

"WOW! I can't wait to do it!" Scootaloo said hoping. Then a little later she was outside wearing a pizza costume, holding up a sign saying; "Buy 1 get 1 free sale at Flare's Pizza Shop!" Scootaloo didn't like it, she had an annoyed look on her face. Diamond Tiara and her friend Silver Spoon, which are two ponies from crusader's school came up to Scootaloo.

"Well, well,well! If it isn't Scootaloo!" teased Diamond Tiara.

"More like stupidloo!" teased Silver Spoon, and they both laughed.

"Wow, you sure look delicious! Does it come with extra loser?" teased Diamond Tiara, and they both laughed. Scootaloo got very mad.

"Hey, at least I have a job! I'm going to get volunterring hours and you won't!" said Scootaloo.

"Who needs volunterring? The collage I'm going to doesn't need it. It's perfect for rich fillies, like myself." said Diamond Tiara.

"C'mon Diamond, cut her some slice!" teased Silver Spoon, then they both laughed again. Scootaloo really got mad, then she started beating up Diamond Tiara. The other crusaders and Flare saw what was going on, and they went outside.

"Stop it! Stop it right now! Holy Wizard of Hope, what's going on here?" asked Flare as he broke up the fight.

Diamond Tiara stood up with sad looking eyes, she started to tear and she said; "Well... *sniff* ... I was going inside your shop for a nice healthy pizza, and then your employee here started beating up a fellow custumor for no reason!" whinned Diamond Tiara, then she started to fake cry.

"NO!" cried Scootaloo. "She's making that all up! She started to tease me, and I couldn't help it! You know how easily annoyed I can get! She was teasing me and this costume!"

Flare was in shock. "Surprise face!" said Flare, then he looked at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. "This costume is not stupid! You tease this costume, you tease me, and Rarity! She's the one who made it!"

"No, the costume's fine, sir! It's just... uhhh..." said Silver Spoon, but she didn't know what to say.

"Crystal Hat? Golden Fork? Please aplogize." said Flare.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon felt guilty and applogized to Scootaloo. "Sorry, Scootaloo." they said.

"What? Oh, I didn't mean aploigize to Scootaloo, I-D-C what you girls you in your free time, I wanted you to aploigize to the costume." said Flare.

Diamond and Silver looked at eachother confused. Then they said, "Uhh, sorry costume?"

Flare patted Silver on the head. "There, there! Now that wasn't so hard right? What's that costume? He says he excepts your aplogy." said Flare.

Silver and Diamond looked at eachother again.

"Now that we're all friends now, how about some pizza? Buy one get one free sale is going on! Let's have some pizza! Praise the Wizards!" said Flare.

After a few hours went by, it was closing time. As Flare was locking the door, the crusaders come up to him and complain.

"We did all you said, Flare, and we still don't have our cutie marks!" complained Apple Bloom.

"Patients young ones!" said Flare. "No patients leads to the dark side, and you'll never get your cutie marks while you complain."

"Ooookay, so what do we do now?" asked Scootaloo.

"So the Pizza shop isn't your destiny. But there's lots of cool junk back at my place. How about come over and I'll show you how the Flarester likes to roll! And I promise I won't go all Pedobear on you. ROFL!" said Flare as he laughed.

"What's a pedobear?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Trust me, you don't want to know. Forty-five degree angle mouth face." said Flare.

The four of them walk to Flare's trailer, and Spike waits outside his trailer.

"Sup brah?" said Flare.

"Flare mah man!" cried Spike. They gave eachother a bro-hoof. "Hey crusaders! What are they doing here?"

"Flare's going to help us get our cutie marks by teaching us how to play video games!" cheered Sweetie Belle.

"Really? Well if it's video games you want to learn, you've come to the right place! Mah bro Flare here is a pro at the games!" said Spike.

"To tell the truth, Spike here actually learned my video games pretty quick. He's turning into a pro on the XBOX himself!" said Flare patting Spike on the head.

"Wow, if playing video games is easy, then we'll for sure get our cutie marks!" cheered Scootaloo.

Flare turns off his security system and they all walk inside. They head inside the lounge where the XBOX is.

"Wow! Sure is pretty awesome in here! As awesome as an earth pony in Cloudsdale!" said Apple Bloom.

"Yeah it's pretty uber, huh?" said Flare. "Come get a bean bag chair and I'll show you how to play some games!"

"Ooh! Play this one!" said Spike holding one of Flare's games.

"Halo: Reach! Leet choice brah!" said Flare. He takes the Halo: Reach box and takes out the CD and puts it in the console.

"What's this game about?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"An alien race known as the covenant is at war with the humans. They attack one of their planets. One planet is called Reach. The covenant came to attack, and YOU, meaning Noble 6 who is Reach's main character, has to save the planet and kill all the aliens!" explained Flare.

"Killing? Isn't killing... bad?" asked Apple Bloom.

"It's only bad if you do it in real life. Never kill in real life! Killing in a video game however is a different story. Lion face." said Flare.

"I dunno about you girls, but I'm in!" said Scootaloo. She tries to pick up one of the XBOX controllers, but can't because she has no fingers. "How do you hold this thing? I don't have a horn like you!"

"Oh right, I forgot." said Flare. "See that closet over there?"

"Yeah." said Scootaloo.

"Look in there and see if you can find some of those robotic fingers. It'll help you play this game." said Flare. Scootaloo walks to the closet and grabs two pairs of fingers. She sits back down on the bean bag and picks up the controller.

"Wow, this thing is so much easier to hold!" said Scootaloo. Flare starts to giggle.

"What's so funny?" asked Scootaloo.

"Nothing, nothing. Forget it." said Flare.

"So what do I do now?" asked Scootaloo.

"Choose your own avatar. It means you can decorate a model for yourself when you're on XBOX." said Flare.

"Cool! Like decorating?" asked Apple Bloom.

"Just like my sister!" said Sweetie Belle.

So Scootaloo creates her avatar, and they start up the main menu on Halo: Reach.

"What do you want to do, Scootaloo?" asked Flare. "Oooh I rhymed! Praise the Wizards!"

"What's there to do?" asked Scootaloo.

"There's campaign mode, where you save Reach from the aliens. It's singleplayer, which means you'll be by yourself. Unless we're doing co-op mode. Then you get a partner to play along with you!" said Flare.

"What's Forge?" asked Apple Bloom.

"It means you can edit maps on Reach to make it more suitable for your battles on multiplayer. It's also good for machinima!" said Flare.

"Multiplayer? Does that mean you save Reach with mulitple players?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Not exactly. You actually fight your partner in-game. It's pretty fun. Spike and I do it sometimes." said Flare.

"But if you have the internet connected, you can play other players from around the world!" said Spike.

"No you don't." said Flare.

"What? But I thought you said..." said Spike confused.

"J-K LOLOLOLOLOLOL!" teased Flare.

"Wow dude, really?" said Spike.

"Wow really? You can fight other players from around the world?" asked Scootaloo.

"Yep! You can team up too if you want. But I must warn you, fighting players is not like fighting NPCs from singleplayer." said Flare.

"NPCs? I thought we were killing aliens?" asked Sweetie Belle.

"NPCs are non-player characters. They're easier to fight, depending which difficulty you're in. NPCs are like robots. They do what they're programed to do." said Flare.

"Wow! Robotic aliens!" cried Apple Bloom.

"Yeah, something like that." said Flare. So Flare starts the game. They play slayer mode, playing the Spire map.

"So how do we do this?" asked Scootaloo.

"Move the left joystick to walk. Move the right joystick to look around. The back top-right buttom is to shoot..." Flare explained the controls to Scootaloo. It took alot of practice, but she finally got the hang of it. Although she kept on dying. Everytime she dies she gets more and more angry. She even eventually screams and throws the controller at the soda machine, then a Dr. Hooves soda came out.

"NICE Scootaloo! I never thought you can get a soda like that!" cried Flare.

"This game is so stupid and hard!" whinned Scootaloo.

"I wanna try it! But I wanna do singleplayer. You said it's easier." said Apple Bloom.

"Alright! Good choice! Video game cadets should always take it slow before going into the front lines!" said Flare.

After hours went by. Neither Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo did well on the game. They even tried some other of Flare's games too, but that didn't work. Nopony even got a cutie mark. Soon they tried the PC games, but that didn't work. The crusaders eventually got really stressed out. So Flare took them to his fish tank. After a few minutes watching Flare's fish, they finally calmed down.

"Oh Flare, we tried everything you love to do, and we still don't have our cutie marks! Maybe mah dream was just a dream, it wasn't the future at all." Apple Bloom said very sadly.

"There there, Apple Bloom! There there!" said Flare putting his left hoof on Apple Bloom's back. "I know one day you'll get your butt tattoos. You just have to wait. Like I said, you have to be patient, otherwise it's down the dark side you go!" said Flare.

"You know Flare, you're right!" Sweetie Belle said putting a smile on her face. "Even though we can't wait for our cutie marks forever, but someday we'll get them, we just need patients!"

"And who cares if everypony in all of Ponyville has cutie marks before we do, we'll get them one day! We just have to keep tryin' and not give up!" said Apple Bloom putting a smile on her face.

"You guys should write a letter to the princess, tell them what you've learned!" said Spike.

"Alright! Thanks for everything Flare, you're the best!" said Sweetie Belle.

"If you have anyother awesome stuff to teach us that you think we'll be good at, let us know. The video games are just not our thing." Scootaloo said.

"Hugs?" asked Flare holding up his arms. "Where's the love? The love? The love? Lion face."

The crusaders went to Flare and gave him a hug. Spike was wanting a hug too, so he held out his arms and started to walk to them.

"Hey! This is a hug between me and the crusaders! Stay outta it!" said Flare.

"Whatever, I didn't want a hug anyway!" Spike teased and laughed.

"Bye, Flare! Thanks for everything!" they all said, and they walked out of the trailer. As they were walking out to the streets of Ponyville, it shows signs on each of them's backs. Scootaloo's sign says, "Forever a dodo." Sweetie Belle's sign says, "I'm bad at cleaning floors." and Apple Bloom's sign says, "I wish Flare was my brother instead of Big Mac."

Flare and Spike giggled as they watched the crusaders head home, then gave eachother a bro-hoof.