The Cutie Pox

Pony's Log Number 206: Finding your true purpose can be quite frustrating and even disheartening at times, but being impatient for one can have severe consequences...

Today was great day...for some bowling. In their never ending quest for their cutie marks, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were eager to try their skills at the Ponyville Bowling Alley.

"Today's the day, Cutie Mark Crusaders! I can just feel it!" said Apple Bloom with determination and her bowling ball in front of her, "Today's the day we get our cutie marks in bowlin'!" Apple Bloom raised her fore-hooves in the air as Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Mario arrived, each with a bag that had their own bowling balls in them. Mario had been a last minute addition since Sweetie Belle bumped into him on her way to meeting up with Scootaloo.

"Whoo-hoo!" Scootaloo jumping into the air.

"Whoo!" Sweetie Belle shouted with a muffled voice before spitting out her bag, "I mean, yay!" Sweetie Belle added as Apple Bloom noticed Mario behind them.

"Wha'chu doing here, Mario?" Apple Bloom asked in surprise.

"Sweetie Belle invited me," said Mario, "Cutie Marks or not, it never hurts to learn how to play, you do have more fun when you can actually see yourself get better." Scootaloo mock mouthed his remark as Sweetie Belle glared.

"Well, I've never played before so I'll take all the help I can get," Sweetie replied, giving Scootaloo a glare. The young Pegasus just rolled her eyes.

"Well, I feel good about this one," said Apple Bloom, "Why, after today, we won't even the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore! We'll be the...the Three Strikes!" A dynamic background appeared with three bowling balls above them.

"That makes us sound like we've struck out," Scootaloo pointed out.

"And it sounds more like baseball," Mario added.

"Mmm," Apple Bloom pondered, "How 'bout the Pin Twins?" A new background shows an arc of hearts surrounding two bowling pins.

"But here are three of us," Sweetie Belle said indignantly.

"I think you meant Pin Triplets, Apple Bloom," Mario remarked.

"Okay then...Um..." Apple Bloom thought a little harder, "the Bowling Dolls!" This background featured a silhouette of the three fillies with a bowling ball above their heads.

"The Bowling Dolls!" said Sweetie Belle, "That's it!"

"Perfect!" Scootaloo said in agreement as she fluttered in the sky a couple of seconds.

"What about me?" Mario asked skeptically, but he was only teasing.

"Our minion?" Scootaloo proposed.

"Our Assistant?" Apple Bloom suggested.

"Our Secretary?" Sweetie Belle said.

"Very funny," Mario remarked as the girls giggled.

"All righty then! Let's bowl 'em over!" said Apple Bloom excitedly. Mario smiled, but deep down he hoped it would be the pins they bowled over, not the other ponies.

Inside, various ponies and pony bowling groups were already playing. The three fillies and Mario were getting ready to play.

"Hey, Mario, why don't you go first?" said Scootaloo, "Show us how it's done." Mario could sense the challenge, but still smiled cheerfully.

"Very well," said Mario, "Thought I'll admit...I am a little rusty. It's been years since I've bowled with my old friends back in Canterlot."

"I didn't know Twilight could bowl," said Scootaloo.

"She doesn't," said Mario as he pulled out a shiny yellow bowling ball that had star outlines patterned on it, "But Spike and I had some friends who did." Mario then got on his hind legs and held his ball with his fore-hooves. With some rather quick but graceful steps, he approached the line and tossed his ball with the trademark bowling pose, the ball curved out and then curved back in for a perfect tenpin.

"Whoo! Who says I still don't got it?" Mario told the girls as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom clapped.

"Lucky shot," said Scootaloo with a smirk.

"Sez you," Mario remarked, "let's see you do better!"

"She can wait," said Sweetie Belle, "I wanna go first!" Sweetie Belle then put her blue bowling ball in front of her. She then used her head to push it forward. The ball started rolling straight but then curved towards the right and into the gutter. Sweetie Belle just smiled and headed back to the benches. The other two fillies cringed, but smiled at Sweetie Belle when she walked by.

"You might find it easier to use your forehooves to push the ball, Sweetie Belle," said Mario, "That will prevent your ball from curving into the gutter." Sweetie Belle smiled as Scootaloo took her turn with a purple bowling ball. Scootaloo had decided to buck her ball. However, she struck her ball so hard that it ricocheted about the Bowling Alley and passed other ponies before landing in the gutter several lanes away. Everyone all just stared at Scootaloo, who just smiled and laughed nervously before ducking behind Mario to hide was a rather embarassed look on her face. Mario chuckled.

"Hmm, for today's Mario vs. Scootaloo mini-challenge," Mario replied as he marked the scores on a piece of paper, "Mario: 30, Scootaloo: A big plain donut."

"BLEH!" Scootaloo remarked before pouting in a corner as Apple Bloom went to take her turn. The yellow filly narrowed her eyes at her goal and then looked at her red ball before grabbing it with mouth. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went agape and even Mario was worried.

"Careful, Apple Bloom," Mario warned uneasily, "I've seen ponies actually swallow their ball using that technique."

"Really?" said Scootaloo surprised.

"Yeah, but trust me, it's not pretty," said Mario wearily. Apple Bloom wobbled over to their lane.

"Phpoo!" said Apple Bloom as she spat her ball towards the pins. The ball rolled smoothy and with a definitive STRIKE, Apple Bloom ten-pined! The other ponies nearby cheered excitedly.

"Cool! A bowling cutie mark!" said a pony named Sea Swirl.

"I did it!" said Apple Bloom excitedly, "I did it!" But then her excitement was shattered when she found her flank was still blank.

"Blank?" she remarked confused until she noticed another filly a couple of lanes away, now sporting a brand new cutie mark as the other ponies continued to cheer. Apple Bloom was more puzzled than ever.

"But...but...what about my ball?" Apple asked.

"Umm...over there," said Mario gently, pointing a fore-hoof at their lane. Apple Bloom, as well as the two other fillies, noticed that Apple Bloom's ball was thrown nice and straight, but at not enough power. The ball slowly came to a stop and barely tapped the center bowling pin. Apple Bloom felt very dejected as she lowered her head sadly, even her beautiful bow went limp as well. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo just looked at her with rather worried looks on their faces.

(Main theme)

After their game of bowling was done, Mario was escorting the three fillies away from the bowling alley. Aside from a few more incidents involving Scootaloo's lack of power control, they had enjoyed themselves. Everyone accept for Apple Bloom, who was still feeling very depressed and frustrated. Mario had offered to carry their bowling balls back and Scootaloo was riding her scooter as they headed through town.

"That bowling sure was fun," said Sweetie Belle, "even if all I got was gutter balls."

"They weren't all gutter balls, Sweetie Belle," said Mario as he adjusted a newly acquired Brown Fedora on his head, "you did manage a pin or two once I showed you a better way to roll your ball."

"True," said Sweetie Belle with a giggle.

"Yeah, at least you were able to keep your ball in your lane," said Scootaloo, "I don't think Mr. Kingpin is ever gonna let me play again! Hey, maybe I could get my cutie mark in demolition!"

"Just be sure to try it outside of town," said Mario, "I'd hate to see you destroy something you weren't supposed to." The two fillies and Mario laughed.

"Did you have fun with us, Mario?" Sweetie belle asked.

"Yeah," said Mario, "I'm just glad I was able to bowl as well as I did."

"No kidding, Mister 300," said Scootaloo, "Never thought I'd be friends with a pony who could pull that off."

"Now will you admit that I'm awesome?" Mario asked. Scootaloo pondered.

"Fine, you're the second most awesome pony I've ever met," said Scootaloo. Mario hummed.

"I'll take it," said Mario, for he already knew who her number one pony was. It was then they had taken notice that Apple Bloom was still depressed, even her bow was hanging limp on her red mane. She hadn't said a word since she saw that other filly get her cutie mark.

"Aw, come on, Apple Bloom," said Scootaloo.

"I know just what you need to put the bloom back on your apple!" said Sweetie Belle. They quickly headed to the Sugarcube Corner with the depressed Apple Bloom sitting before a table as Sweetie Belle pushes a cupcake near her.

"A treat from Sugarcube Corner will cheer her up," said Sweetie Belle as she, Scootaloo, and Mario stood on their hind legs to add a bit more pizazz as the cupcake was presented.

"No, it won't," said Apple Bloom as she pushed it away. They then headed towards upstairs where Pinkie had set up a little party for the yellow filly.

"A party will cheer you up!" said Pinkie as she popped up near Apple Bloom's left side and then her right. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Mario appeared around the yellow filly and blow some party whistles and kazoos to make her smile, but it was no good.

"No, it won't," said Apple Bloom in the same dreary tone, which erased everypony's smiles and Pinkie tumbled to the floor with a thud. Their next try was at the Canterlot Boutique, where Apple Bloom was still sulking as Rarity plopped a rather large feathery hat on her head.

"A lovely new chapeau will cheer up," Rarity proposed, but as if the feathers on the hat sensed Apple Bloom's sour mood, caused them to go limp on her head.

"No, it won't," said Apple Bloom more sternly as stomped away. Apple Bloom continued to stomp away without stopping as Scootaloo, on her scooter, Sweetie Belle, and Mario followed her in pursuit.

"Come on, Apple Bloom, it's just a cutie mark!" Scootaloo called out.

"Or lack of a cutie mark!" Sweetie Belle added.

"Shh! That's not helping!" said Mario and Scootaloo together. Scootaloo and Mario both stop once they see where Apple Bloom is heading.

"Apple Bloom, where are you going?!" Scootaloo called out, "Apple Bloom, come back!" Apple Bloom just froze for a second before she continued to walk right into the Everfree Forest.

"I'll keep an eye on her, you two just head back into town okay," said Mario. Unlike other grown up ponies, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had learned that when Mario asked them to stay behind not to disobey him...mostly, but they knew he really did look out for them and believed they were capable of being helpful. So without another word, they turned around and headed back to town as Mario followed a safe distance away to keep an eye on Apple Bloom. The yellow filly was still sulking to herself that she hadn't seen an exposed tree root until it was too late and tripped over it.

"Whoa! Ah! Ooh! Ow!" Apple Bloom grunted and groaned as she tumbled down a steep slope and landed hard on her jaw.

"Nnnn..." Apple Bloom groaned to herself as a sharp pain entered her mouth. Mario had seen her trip and was going to help when he noticed a familiar zebra make herself known.

"Well, who is it that we have here?" said Zecora, "Why it's Apple Bloom, my dear!"

"Ow..." Apple Bloom whimpered again as she kept her mouth closed painfully.

"What has happened to you, youth?" Zecora asked as the little filly opened her mouth, revealing that one of her front teeth had been damaged. Apple Bloom licked the uneven surface with her tongue, "Ah, you've gone a chipped your tooth. Come with me, I have just the trick that will fix you up quite quick." Zecora then noticed Mario and gave him a wink to assure him Apple Bloom would be alright. Mario gave her a quiet smile before leaving them be as Zecora headed back to her house. Apple Bloom followed timidly behind her.

"I've tried everything, Zecora, and still no cutie mark!" Apple Bloom vented, her chipped tooth giving her a bit of a lisp, "Well, I'm gonna be as old as Granny Smith and still have a blank flank!"

"Your frustration is well understood," Zecora replied as she grabbed a few bottles from her shelf, "but one must be patient for all things good."

"Ugh, I've heard that from everypony I know! and now from every zebra I know!" Apple Bloom retorted indignantly, "I'm just too impatient to be patient. I just want my cutie mark and I want it now!" Apple Bloom's last outburst was right next to Zecora, causing her to drop a small bottle into the brew she was mixing. This caused a rather loud POOF from the pot. Zecora just glared as Apple Bloom gave an apologetic smile before quickly backing away from the pot so Zecora could finish her work.

"For your cutie mark, you will have to wait," said Zecora as she scooped up some of the brew with a ladle and poured it into a cup, "We must fix that tooth before it's too late. Now drink down every little drop, and this mixture will mend that chip on top!" Apple Bloom just looked at the mixture suspiciously before she drank it up in one go. Apple Bloom froze stiff for a moment before she rushed towards a nearby golden pot where she could see her reflection. As she opened her mouth, she saw her tooth was instantly restored, evening her teeth back to normal as she gave her reflection a wide smile.

"Oh my star apples, you did it, Zecora!" said Apple Bloom happily as she jumped up and down, and then noticed all the other bottled potions and remedies on her shelves, "Golly, you have tonics that heal all sorts of ailments. Bad bones, bad back, bad breath..."

"Yes little one, it is true," Zecora replied with smile, "I have many a healing brew."

"And not only stuff that fixes the bad," Apple Bloom continued as she names some of the other potions and remedies, "but stuff that brings the good! Good health, good hair...good heavens! Hmm...I bet you can mix up a brew to fix...anything." Apple Bloom gave her a suggestive smile as she wiggled her back end. Zecora just looked rather annoyed. It didn't take a genius to see what Apple Bloom was trying to ask.

"There are many mixtures in this room, but none for what you want, dear Apple Bloom," Zecora answered as her direct answer made Apple Bloom step back a bit, "A magic potion does not hold the key. For a cutie mark, time is the only remedy."

"Fine," said Apple Bloom, begrudgingly, when she noticed a bowl with filled ingredients on a table, "Whatcha got goin' on there?"

"I am brewing up another mix for a rooster and his chicks," Zecora answered as she stuck her head into a pot and pulled out a rather elegant flower, "It seems the rooster has lost its crow, making mornings very slow." As she spoke, her voice was muffled as she held the flower in her mouth.

"Hey, I've seen that flower bloomin' in Ponyville!" Apple Bloom remarked, "What is it?"

"It is one we call "Heart's Desire"," Zecora explained as she shook the flower, so the petals fell into the mixture, "A dash will ignite the rooster's fire. With Heart's Desire, his talent comes into view, and he'll give a mighty cock-a-doodle-doo!" Apple Bloom just watched before Zecora stuck her face into her own to imitate a rooster's crow. Apple Bloom looked unamused but then eyes the mixture suspiciously.

"Zowie! Heart's Desire, huh?" said Apple Bloom.

"Ay me, but what is this? I have run out of amethyst," said Zecora after she searched about some more bottles and headed towards her front door, "I must go get this purple flower for my brew to have full power!"

"Yeah, you go, you go," said Apple Bloom, waving her off with a fore-hoof and eyeballing the potion and the flower deviously.

Next morning, a bunch of young ponies were busy chatting with each other just outside the schoolhouse. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were there just chatting with one another.

"I'm so hungry," said Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah, I can't wai-" Scootaloo's train of thought as well as their little conversation were interrupted when Apple Bloom arrived with her head held high and a satisfied smile on her face as she walked past them. Something was different about Apple Bloom and they could see it...on her flank.

Apple Bloom had a cutie mark!

Apple Bloom just smiled at them as she shinned her new cutie mark in the sun, nearly blinding them for a moment.

"Ahh!" They groaned before saying in shock, "Apple Bloom! You got your cutie mark!" The other ponies took notice as Apple Bloom smiled proudly. Her cutie mark look like some sort of grey ring or circle.

"Um, Apple Bloom..." said Sweetie Belle puzzled, "what is it?"

"Yeah! Is it an "o"?" Scootaloo guessed, "Is your talent spelling?"

"Or is it a ring?" Sweetie Belle guessed next, "Are you a jewelry maker?" It was then Twist pushed her way between them.

"Or is it a powdered donut?" Twist suggested, "Cause that sounds delicious."

"No, it's a loop-de-hoop!" Apple Bloom told them as she effortlessly rotated the grey ring with her body. Scootaloo gasped.

"A what now?" Scootaloo asked curiously.

"A loop-de-hoop!" said Apple Bloom, "Least, that's what I've always called it. Applejack made it for me from an old rain barrel when I was little! Who woulda thought that loop-de-hoop would end up bein' my special talent?"

"Wow, Apple Bloom, that's amazing!" said Sweetie Belle impressed.

"That's it?" said Diamond Tiara as she and Silver Spoon came into view, "That's your talent?"

"Spinning a hoop around your waist?" Silver Spoon added, "Puh-lease." Diamond Tiara snickered to herself, but Apple Bloom was up to challenge.

"Oh, you ain't seen nothin' yet!" said Apple Bloom. She immediately stood on her hind legs and began to rotate the hoop around her neck. The two wealthy fillies looked rather unimpressed as Apple Bloom then rings her hoop into the flag pole. As her hoop comes down, she uses her nose to fling it back up. As the ring flies into the air she jumps up at a height that most ponies thought only Mario could reach to catch it, front flips, and then lands on her hooves as she continued to rotate her hoop. The other young ponies cheer as Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's jaws literally drop. Apple Bloom continued to twirl her hoop around her neck when the bell rang and Cheerilee came out of the schoolhouse.

"All right, my little ponies, time for class!" Cheerilee said aloud, but then noticed that several young ponies were oohing and awing at Apple Bloom as she rotated her hoop with a forehoof while laying on the ground. She was using her tail to rotate her hoop when Cheerilee arrived.

"Apple Bloom?" Cheerilee asked in a stern tone.

"Yes, Miss Cheerilee?" Apple Bloom replied as she continued to rotate her hoop with her tail.

"I want you to take your loop-de-hoop into the yard..." said Cheerilee sternly before adding excitedly, "and give us all a lesson in your amazing loop-de-hooping!" The other young ponies cheered excitedly in agreement. It wasn't much longer before everyone was in the yard, each pony was given their own hoop to use as Apple Bloom served as instructor and Cheerilee supervised. Apple Bloom just walked by the group as she continued to rotate her hoop with her tail when Apple Bloom was stopped by a runaway hoop. Snips gave a sheepishly smile since that hoop had been his own. Apple Bloom just tossed it back to him before she turned and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon grunting as they struggled to rotate and control their own hoops. Eventually they both tumbled over since they couldn't keep their balance.

"Don't worry, gals," said Apple Bloom, "Keep at it and you might get to be half as good as me!" The two wealthy fillies just growled at her as the yellow filly went to see how her best friends were doing. Sweetie belle and Scootaloo were struggling with their hoops as well, but had managed to keep their balance and not lose their hoops.

"Great job, girls!" said Apple Bloom.

"You're too kind, Apple Bloom," said Sweetie Belle sadly.

"Yeah, we stink," Scootaloo added in the same tone.

"Nah, you just need a little practice," said Apple Bloom, "Soon you'll be able to... Hoop and Bop!" Apple Bloom then set her hoop down and started to rotate it with one hind leg and jumped over it with another. While Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked rather envious, the others were amazed.

"...Hoop and Hop..." Apple Bloom tossed her ring into the air and jumped through it.

"...Hoop and Skip..." Apple Bloom's voice was rather muffled as held the hoop with her mouth and jumped over it like a one-pony jumping rope.

"...and Hoop and Flip!" Apple Bloom finished by bouncing on her hoop like a spring, performing a few flips before she jumped off. She made a pose on her hind legs and her hoop rebounds perfectly as it lands back around her waist. The two wealth fillies is grinded their teeth as everyone else gave Apple Bloom a loud cheer. Cheerilee gave a laugh.

"Show us some more, Apple Bloom," she requested.

"Well, all right, just a few more tricks," Apple Bloom replied as she lightly tossed her hoop with her tail, "But be warned! These are advanced moves, not for beginners." Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle get excited. Diamond Tiara gave her a stern glare...until Apple Bloom got into her face.

"Got that, Diamond Tiara," Apple Bloom said smugly, startling the filly before pulling away and leaving Diamond Tiara growling at her menacingly.

"I call this one the hoop-la!" said Apple Bloom as she began to twirl her tail, which made her hoop rotate around it very quickly and created a large gust of wind. Some of the young ponies watching felt rather frazzled by the strong winds as Apple ascended into the air with the noise of a helicopter. As Apple Bloom reached a certain height, a bright light appeared on her flank, revealing a second cutie mark.

"Huh? said Apple Bloom as she lost her momentum and came crashing back down to earth with a THUD, "Oof!" Apple Bloom looked at her flank and noticed what her second cutie mark was, which was a spinning plate being balanced on a stick.

"Another cutie mark?" said Diamond Tiara, "Hah! I guess that last trick was alot of hoopla! Those cutie marks are fake!" Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Twist all gasped at once as Apple Bloom looked at everyone nervously.

"What? No, they're not!" said Apple Bloom.

"Miss Cheerilee, have you ever heard of a pony with two cutie marks?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"I must say that I never have," said Cheerilee, "but maybe Apple Bloom has two special talents." Two cutie marks in all honesty was certainly never heard of before, but kudos to Cheerilee for not letting Diamond Tiara have her little moment of petty satisfaction and for letting Apple Bloom prove herself.

"Oh yeah?" said Silver Spoon, "Then let's see you do that!" The grey filly pointed at Apple Bloom's second cutie mark.

"Spin Plates!" said Snips.

"Yeah!" Snails added as they tossed two plates and two sticks towards Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom was startled for a moment before she managed to get both sticks to land in a V shape on her nose and spin the two plates on the sticks effortlessly. Everyone gasped, including the two wealthy fillies, as Apple Bloom made the trick look easy.

"Two cutie marks?" said Sweetie belle in amazement.

"Two talents?" Scootaloo added in the same tone.

"Aw yeah!" said Apple Bloom, impressed with her own skills.

"Our friend is the most..." Sweetie Belle began as she stood on her hind legs.

"...special pony ever!" Scootaloo finished with the same pose as Sweetie Belle as Apple Bloom proudly walks by balancing the plates and rotating her hoop on her tail.

"Alright, everypony," said Apple Bloom, "You ready for a real show?"

It wasn't long before she lead Cheerilee and the rest of the young ponies into town. Some ponies standing about noticed Apple Bloom as she tossed her plates and hoop into the air. She caught the plates with her nose, but now the balanced plates were stacked on top of each other and her hoops was being rotated with one of her hind legs. Cheerilee and the other young ponies smiled excitedly as other ponies wandering town took notice as Apple Bloom balanced on her hoop and held the spinning plates with her fore-hooves. She then flipped over so she was now balancing the spinning plates with her hind legs and uses her fore-hooves to balance on her hoop. She even managed to hop around and dance while keeping the spinning plates balanced on the ground next to her. The other ponies begin to cheer as Apple Bloom returned to rotating her hoop with her tail and then jumps into the air and rotates the hoop with her head while still spinning her plates with her fore-hooves.

Apple Bloom then noticed Rainbow just snoozing lazily on a cloud above her. With a determined look, she tossed her hoop at Rainbow's cloud, shaping it perfectly into a circular disk cloud as Rainbow just continued to snooze, completely unaware that her cloud is been cut down in size. As Apple Bloom spins her hoop with just a single fore-hoof, Rarity, Twilight, and Mario arrives and both their jaw drop in surprise. Mario took special notice of the fact that Apple Bloom's flank had not one but two cutie marks.

What the...? Mario thought to himself, I haven't seen anything like that since...no...there's no way Apple Bloom would have...oh who am I kidding...those three fillies would do anything to get a cutie mark, and not bother to think things through... Mario's train of thought was interrupted when Apple Bloom tossed her ring at Twilight, curling the front of her mane so it had an identical look to Rarity. Rarity smiled impressively as Spike appeared between then with hearts in his eyes as Twilight looked annoyed. Mario growled at Spike jealously.

"Mario, down!" Twilight commanded as Mario looked rather embarassed as Rarity snickered to herself.

In another part of town, Pinkie was just taking a leisurely stroll when Apple Bloom came by balancing on her hoop. Pinkie was quickly startled and overwhelmed when she suspected someone was behind her as she dropped to the ground and Apple Bloom jumped over her. It was then Granny Smith, Applejack, and Big Mac caught sight of Apple Bloom near their apple cart. Apple Bloom headed over to Granny Smith, leaning herself against the elder pony as she rotated the hoop around both of their necks. Applejack cheered as she put a fore-hoof to her mouth and whistled loudly and then bucked an apple pie and some plates toward her sister. Apple Bloom caught all the items, tossed the plates into the air as she used her hoop to cut up the pie. The plates perfectly arranged themselves onto a pair of picnic tables as a slice of pie landed on each plate. Ponies sat by the tables eyeballing the slices of pie, including Pinkie. Apple Bloom just smiled triumphantly as she went back to balancing the plates on her nose and the hoop with her tail as ponies young and adult cheered for her. Mario was still eyeballing her suspiciously. This situation was definitely was getting familiar to him, but not in a good way.

"Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered to himself.

It was well past sunset by the time the Apple family had returned home. Applejack was still full of energy and excitement. While Apple Bloom smiled, bags were under eyes and her slow paced walking showed that she was clearly tired out. Despite this, she was still twirling her hoop with her tail and balancing the spinning plates on her head.

"Yee-haw, little sis!" said Applejack, "Congratulations on gettin' not just one, but two cutie marks! We're mighty proud of you, right, Big Macintosh?"

"Eeyup," Big Mac answered.

"I've never seen anythin' like it," said Applejack, "Have you, Big Mac?"

"Nnnope," said Big Mac.

"Why, the way you were a-hoopin' and a-hoopin' and spinnin' reminded me of when I was a spry young filly," said Granny Smith, trying to imitate Apple Bloom, only to tweak her hip and making both Apple sisters gasp, "Gah, charley horse, charley horse." Big Mac wasted no time using a fore-hoof to poke Granny's hip, which removed the tweak.

"Ooh, that's better," Granny replied as she sighed with relief.

"Why, Apple Bloom, I think you're ready to hit the rodeo circuit right now!" Applejack suggested.

"Actually, I'm ready to hit the hay right now," said Apple Bloom tiredly, "I'm plum tuckered. I'll see y'all in the morning. Night!" Apple Bloom headed upstairs to her bedroom.

"Night! Oh my, little Apple Bloom has finally blossomed, hasn't she?" Applejack said giddily.

"Eeyup!" said Big Mac in agreement.

As the night dragged on, Applejack was trying to sleep peacefully on her feet. She suddenly can hear what sounded like tapping of some sort. Applejack tried to ignore it, grunting as she tried to get comfortable and fall asleep, but it was no good as she finally got out of bed.

"What is tarnation is that?" said Applejack as she traced the location of the tapping from Apple Bloom's room.

"Apple Bloom, what is all that awful...tapping?" Applejack gasped as she entered Apple Bloom's room. There was Apple Bloom tap dancing as she rotated her hoop and balancing her spinning plates on her nose. Yet what shocked Applejack was the fact Apple Bloom had now a third cutie mark.

"Three cutie marks?!" Applejack exclaimed. If that didn't cause her some concern, she could see by the look on Apple Bloom's face that she wasn't dancing...on purpose.

"Help me!" Apple Bloom cried out as Applejack looked at her with worry and concern.

"Help me!" Apple Bloom cried out again.

"C'mere, you!" said Applejack as she tried to approach Apple Bloom, "Ow! Ow! Whoa!" Unfortunately, Applejack's attempts to get close to Apple Bloom got her smacked in the face twice with the hoop. She then tried to grab Apple Bloom's hooves, but her hooves literally shook Applejack about until she vibrated away from the little filly.

"I'm sorry, Applejack!" said Apple Bloom sadly, "I dunno how to make it stop!"

"Well, I know someponies who might," said Applejack with firm look, "wait here!" Applejack rushed into her room and grabbed a dark blue pipe and her stenson hat. She headed back into Apple Bloom's room and put the pipe onto the floor. It wasn't long before Mario popped out, still snoozing before he landed hard on his back.

"UGH!" Mario groaned as he sat up and rubbed his back, "I seriously need to get some sort of alarm when ponies use that thing..."

"Sorry, sugarcube," said Applejack, "but we've got an emergency." Mario turned around and his eyes enlarged for a second as he saw Apple Bloom and her three cutie marks.

Oh no... Mario groaned to himself.

"Let's get her to Twilight," said Mario as he used her magic to pick her up. Applejack groaned.

"Well that's certainly a better way to carry her," the orange pony groaned.

"Got hit?" Mario asked sympathetically as Applejack just nodded, "Don't worry about it." Mario used another green pipe to transport everypony right inside the Library. Mario immediately filled Twilight, who woke up from their arrival, in on the situation as she examined the little filly.

"Three cutie marks," said Twilight, "Three talents. I've never seen anything like it! I was just reading something about unusual equine illnesses. Ironically, it was Mario who recommended it to me. Talk about convenient..." Mario blushed a little as Twilight gave him a shy smile. Apple Bloom looked rather sadly.

"So much for being my prince," said Apple Bloom.

"Huh?" Applejack asked curiously.

"Nothing!" Apple Bloom said to herself.

"Now for that book, what was it?" Twilight pondered as she searched her book shelves.

""Perplexing Pony Plagues", perhaps?" Spike suggested as he held the book and landed on Twilight's back.

"Yes, Spike, you're amazing!" said Twilight.

"Yes, well, I do have some talents," said Spike proudly as he set up the book for Twilight to read on her pedestal. Twilight read the book as Spike just sat on top of her head.

"Hay fever...the trots..." said Twilight and then gasped as she found the page, "Cutie Pox!"

"Cutie Pox?!" said Apple Bloom, Applejack, and Spike together. Apple Bloom even managed a hop in the air hearing that.

"I was afraid of this," said Mario wearily.

"Cutie Pox," Twilight repeated as she read the description, "This puzzling pony plague afflicted a population of ponies back in the Paleopony Period!"

"Heh, say that ten times fast!" said Spike with a double finger snap. Since Spike was still sitting on her back, she bucked him off and sent him crashing in the background.

"Random cutie marks appeared all over the ponies' bodies," Twilight read aloud, "causing them to perform all the talents that came with them!"

"Just like me!" said Apple Bloom.

"Yes, but what's the cure?" said Applejack worriedly as Spike looked rather concerned as well, "What's the cure?!"

"It says here there's no known cure!" said Twilight.

"No known cure?!" said Apple Bloom Applejack, and Spike said at once.

"The cause of the breakout was never discovered," said Twilight, "and the cutie pox disappeared as mysteriously as they arrived!"

"That's what I remember reading about it when I had it," Mario said to himself, but a little too loudly.

"What?!" said the other ponies and Spike together. Mario just felt rather shy and insecure suddenly.

"Mario," said Twilight slowly, "if you know something about this disease, we need to know. It could help us with Apple Bloom." Mario just looked nervous for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

"I had it once as a young foal," said Mario, "but I'm sorry to admit that I can't remember what the cure actually was. Plus Mom is tending to pony negotiations in South Equestria for the week so we can't ask her! She was one who provided me the cure."

"Oh no!" said Apple Bloom when she felt another flash of light on her flank as another cutie mark appeared on her flank. This cutie mark resembled a symbol that meant a pony was proficient in speaking French. [English Translation in bracket]

"Sacre bleu! Plus de marques de cutie!" Apple Bloom remarked when she realized how she was speaking, "Qu'est-ce c'est?! Je parle Francais?!" [Oh my goodness! More Cutie marks! What's this?! I speak French?!]

"My sister's speakin' in fancy!" Applejack remarked as she and Twilight gasped.

"She's not speaking fancy, she's speaking in French," said Mario, "I learned French as a second language...as well as Italian...for some reason that one really spoke to me."

"Vraiment?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. [You do?]

"Oui," said Mario, "Viens me parler et je peux traduire ce que vous dites a tout le monde." [Yes. Just speak to me and I can translate what you are saying to everypony.]

"Merci!" Apple Bloom replied. [thank you]

"If you're done, Mario," said Twilight sternly, "She needs help."

"I know she needs help!" Applejack snapped, "We can't just wait for this go away! We gotta find somepony to mix up a cure! And fast!"

"Tout de suite!" Apple Bloom cried out as she danced before them.

"Apple Bloom facile," said Mario, "Si mon intuition est correcte, votre manque de patience est ce qui vous a eu cette maladie! Serait-ce vrai?" [Easy Apple Bloom. If my intuition is correct, your lack of patience is what got you this disease! Would that be true?] Apple Bloom just gave him a nervous smile.

"Je ne sais pas ce que vouz parlez," Apple Bloom answered timidly. [I don't know what you are talking about.]

"If you're done showing off Mario," said Applejack sternly, "We need to figure out if somepony would know a cure." Mario glared indignantly since he wasn't showing off, just communicating with Apple Bloom.

"Not somepony..." said Twilight, "some zebra!"

"Zecora!" said Applejack. It was then Applejack, Mario, and Twilight, with Spike on the purple pony's back, began to head out of town, but poor Apple Bloom was toiling far behind.

"Hurry, hurry!" Applejack called out to her sister.

"Depechez-vous!" Apple Bloom shouted. [Hurry yourself!]

"Essayez d'utilser votre cereau saut astuces pour avamcer plus vite!" Mario suggested. [Try using your hoop jumping tricks to move faster!]

"You do know she can still understand English right?" Twilight asked annoyed as Mario glared.

"Nopony appreciates my talents," he muttered bitterly. It was then another cutie mark appeared on Apple Bloom hind leg. Apple Bloom quickly presented a hammer and chisel and created a pony version of the artwork, The Birth of Venus. Two ponies nearly look at the filly and the art work with agape looking faces. Then another cutie mark appeared and Apple Bloom got the uncontrollable urge to clean a chimney. Once she was finished, an accordion cutie mark appears, making Apple Bloom start playing one as he bounces on one hind leg. It isn't long before Apple Bloom's random, and yet rather proficient, antics starting drawing attention to the other nearby ponies. Especially when she got a cutie mark that let her tame some roaring loins and then another cutie mark that allowed her to defeat an old colt quickly in a game of chess in just seconds, making him pout and look away.

"Oh no, now their coming at high speed now," said Mario as Applejack and Twilight, as well as other ponies, watched Apple Bloom face off against another pony in a fencing match. They all had worried and horrified looks on their faces. Spike was the only one being calm as he leaned against a haystack eating popcorn.

"She's cursed!" said Lily Valley as Apple Bloom performed a balancing act on a tightrope.

"Hexed!" Rose shouted as Apple Bloom rode a giant hang glider.

"Enchanted!" Daisy added as Rose and Lily Valley held each other for dear life.

"No, she's not," said Spike casually as the three ponies breathed a sigh of relief.

"She just has some weird mysterious disease with no known cure called cutie pox," Spike added, despite Mario waving his fore-hooves at him to shush before slapping a fore-hoof to his face.

"Cutie pox?!" everyone shouted before they all began to scream and panic.

"She's got the cutie pox!" another pony screamed as some ran inside of their houses and others just fled right out of town.

"Oh for crying out loud!" Mario bellowed, "It's not that serious everypony! I had it! And I survived!"

"So what's the cure?" one pony asked as they creaked their door open and others did the same.

"I...don't remember," said Mario as the other ponies shut their doors in reply. Applejack and Twilight were still recovering from all the commotion as the inner streets of Ponyville now resembled a ghost town. The four ponies could even hear the sound of a hawk cry as a lone tumbleweed drifted past them. It was then Zecora arrived.

"I thought I had removed their fear the last time I had visited here," said Zecora, "But doors are barred and shutters shut. Guess I should've stayed inside my hut." Zecora turned to leave when Applejack, Twilight, and Mario appeared before her.

"Zecora!" said Twilight, "Apple Bloom has the cutie pox! We were just on our way to see if you had a cure." Twilight pointed towards the filly as she was now doing advanced math on a chalkboard.

"But magically you're here!" said Applejack, "Was your zebra sense a-tinglin'?"

"My "zebra sense" did not bring me round," Zecora explained, "it was a special flower that I needed found. I thought I picked enough to fix all the potions I had to mix, but after my visit from Apple Bloom, some had mysteriously left my room. Apple Bloom! What do you say? Did this flower just walk away?" Apple Bloom looked at her nervously as she was lifting a 1000 pound dumbbell with her tail.

"I, um..." she stuttered, now able to speak in English again, before another cutie mark appeared and she started to wash and clean a pony's windows. The pony inside looked at her fearfully as they put a hazmat mask over their face.

"A cutie pox cure I have forsooth," said Zecora as she pulled out the seeds from her saddle bag with her tail, "for healing power is in the Seeds of Truth."

"Well, well then give 'em to her!" said Applejack, "Quick!"

"These seeds must be planted in the ground," Zecora explained, "With the truth, they'll grow, and the cure is found."

"Come again?" said Applejack puzzled as she started at the zebra blankly.

"The Seeds of Truth do hold the cure," said Zecora, "But one must speak words, true and pure." Zecora gave Apple Bloom a glare, one that only Mario noticed.

"You're right Zecora," said Mario, "I remember this being the cure to Cutie Pox now!"

"I bet you do, since you once had to be cured to," Zecora replied with a smile. Mario just chuckled sheepishly. The yellow filly just gulped as she continued to lift her dumbbell with her tail.

"Well then let's get to it!" said Applejack as she quickly made a hole, tossed the seeds in and buried them for planting, "Alright, they're planted, now somepony start telling the truth." Mario gave Apple Bloom a glare to speak up. The yellow filly just looked uneasily until another cutie mark appeared that made her start spinning around like a mini-tornado. Ironically, Pinkie had started to get a little uneasy.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Apple Bloom cried out as she spun about. Zecora and Mario just watch her unamused as Applejack and Twilight grow more worried.

"Should I speak up?" Mario whispered to Zecora, "Even I know only Apple Bloom can make this flower grow."

"No Mario," said Zecora, "on her own, little Apple Bloom must learn or suffer a bad stomach churn."

"Somepony! Anypony!" Applejack pleaded but no pony would speak up. Even Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who had been listening in on the conversation, were watching from a distance. They were worried about their friend. Pinkie began to sweat as she felt more and more uncomfortable.

"Yesterday I told Mrs. Cake that I ate two corn cakes," Pinkie blurted out, "but I really ate three!" Mario just rolled his eyes as AJ and T looked at the flower but nothing happened.

"Okay, six!" Pinkie spluttered, "I ate six corn cakes." When nothing happened, Pinkie felt her composure slip.

"Make it stop! Oh, make it stop!" Pinkie pleaded. As Apple Bloom was spinning about, she reaching a point where both the spinning and the guilt were becoming unbearable.

"Wah, I can't stand it anymore!" Apple Bloom cried out, "It's me! I admit it! I didn't earn my cutie mark! They're all fake!" It was then the spinning finally stopped and Apple Bloom plopped into her stomach before she began to dance again. The seeds buried under the dirty bulged, but nothing grew just yet.

"I figured the Heart's Desire would help me get what I wanted most!" Apple Bloom continued, "So when Zecora left her hut, I mixed up a special potion and put the rest of the Heart's Desire in it!" As Apple Bloom confessed, other ponies began to peak out of their hiding places. Others were slowly removing their hazmat gears and smiled at her. When Apple Bloom was finished the Flower of Truth fully blossomed. Applejack, Mario, Twilight, and several other ponies awed at the sight of the flower before Apple Bloom grabbed the entire flower with her teeth and gobbled it up. She had barely swallowed it when she plopped to her stomach as her cutie marks disappeared one by one.

"Apple Bloom!" said Sweetie Belle as she and Scootaloo raced up to her.

"Are you okay?" Scootaloo asked.

"I'm great, and I've never been happier to be a blank flank," said Apple Bloom with a smile before looking at them sadly, "but I'm awfully sorry I lied, 'specially to you gals. I was so desperate for my cutie mark, I just got carried away." Her two friends just listened before they gave her a smile that all was forgiven. Apple Bloom then approached Zecora.

"And I'm really sorry I snuck those flowers from you, Zecora," Apple Bloom told the zebra, "why, I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted me to come by again." Zecora just smiled.

"Now Apple Bloom, do not be silly," Zecora replied, "You are always welcome, my little filly. With each mistake you learn something new, growing up into a better you." Applejack smiled and gave her a wink as the Twilight and Mario smiled at her as well. Then Applejack silently gasped when she noticed that Zecora has mysteriously disappeared.

"Apple Bloom," said Twilight, "would you mind writing to Princess Celestia and telling her what you've learned?"

"I'd be happy to, Twilight!" said Apple Bloom, "Spike?"

"Ready!" Spike replied as he held a sheet of paper and a quill in his hand.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Apple Bloom recited, "Waiting for what your heart desires can be really hard. So, you may try to take a shortcut. But this dishonesty never works, because you didn't earn what your heart desired. The only cure is being honest with yourself and others. And that's something every heart desires." As Apple Bloom spoke, one could see the castle in the distance and as the view returned to Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are smiling behind her. Once she finished, Spike sent the letter on its away as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle watch it disappear.

"I sure proud of you, sis," said Applejack as she approached the young filly, "Seems like you've finally learned the importance of patience."

"Yup! All good things come to those who wait," said Apple Bloom and there was a brief pause before adding, "Well, I've waited long enough."

"What?!" Applejack exclaimed.

"Saw this coming," said Mario with a discreet eye roll.

"So what are we gonna do today to earn our cutie marks?" Apple Bloom asked her friends as they ran between Applejack, Mario, and Twilight.

"Well, I was thinking, for a pony who's never mixed up a potion before," Scootaloo thought aloud, "You sure stirred up something fierce."

"Yeah! So what if your talent is potion making?" Sweetie Belle suggested.

"Oh my gosh, totally!" said Apple Bloom, "Let's go talk to Zecora, Now!"

"Yeah!" said Sweetie Belle.

"Woo-hoo!" Scootaloo added. Mario just watched them disappear, chuckling to himself.

"If those three think Zecora is going to let them even come near her potion ingredients, they've got a surprise waiting for them," said Mario to Twilight and Applejack.

"Apple Bloom's got another surprise waiting for her when she gets home," said Applejack sternly, feeling rather annoyed that her sister apparently didn't learn her lesson at all.

"Ease off AJ," said Mario before looking in a direction and glaring, "when you being bullied for being a blank flank, wanting a cutie mark as soon as possible can make you desperate because you get tired of being picked on all the time for it." AJ and Twilight looked in his direction where two wealthy fillies had been watching everything from afar. Mario gave them a "I've got my eyes on you" gesture with a fore-hoof as Applejack and Twilight glared at them as well. The two fillies just smiled before running off and out of sight.

"Is that why you ended up with the cutie pox as a foal?" Applejack asked curiously.

"And I'm guessing you had to confess tampering with a heart's desire flower to cure yourself," Twilight added. Mario nodded.

"Yeah, not my greatest move," said Mario sheepishly.

"Tell you what," said Applejack, "You tell us the whole story about your cutie pox experience and I'll spare Apple Bloom." Mario just sighed.

"Oh alright," said Mario, "Let's head to the library. I'm hoping I don't need to tell the entire town about this."

"Of course not," said Applejack, "We just wanna learn more about our best friend." Mario smiled, but deep down he knew this was going to be a long night.

I apologize in advance if the French dialect is not as grammatically correct as it should be. I used a translator software, not google translate, for those parts.

Sorry for the long update too, I needed to slow down a bit from writing.

Peace Pony Fans!