“So what are we going to do now?” asked Scootaloo desperately.

The three Cutie Mark Crusaders™ had summoned an emergency meeting in the club house. Tirek had been defeated the day before and Equestria was now trying to grapple with the fallout. Although the  Elements had cast the rogue back into Tartarus, their power had been insufficient to undo all the evil that had been wrought. Hillocks had been shattered, part of the Everfree forest simply razed by the tough fight between Twilight Sparkle and Tirek. Twilight’s library was gone, nothing subsisted but charred splinters of wood and scattered pieces of paper bathing in filthy mud. But more important, the magic resources the baleful creature had fed upon could not be restored; it seemed that the magic of the Elements, on the one side, and all the magic of the ponies, on the other side, had been like the two poles of a magnet, or matter and anti-matter: they had canceled out each other perfectly, as if the precious gems had sucked in all the power of Tirek, before expending the last drops of energy to send him back in Tartarus. Now they had shriveled: no more were they the delicately cut, bright and colored jewels worn by the six mares, but had reverted into shapeless, gray and inert pebbles.

No unicorn—and none of the alicorn too—had witnessed their magic come back. The sky was, since then, equally split between day and night, the Sun and the Moon both suspended midway in their respective course.

And all the ponies had been deprived of their cutie mark.

“I think we better give up the hope of gaining our cutie mark anytime soon,” sighed Sweetie Belle. “Until somepony figure out a way out of this quandary, that is.”

“But who will?” wondered Apple Bloom. “Even Princess Celestia has not been able to regain a spark of power. Twilight said she had no idea how long it would take to bring things back in line, if ever.”

“Uuuh!” wailed Sweetie Belle loudly. “I want my cutie mark back!”

“You never had one in the first place,” observed Scootaloo wryly.

Sweetie Belle’s squeals suddenly broke off. “You’re right,” she acknowledged. “Uhhh… I want my future cutie mark back!” Scootaloo face-hoofed.

“Let’s look on the bright side,” proposed Apple Bloom. “Now nopony can make fun of us because we’re blank flanks anymore. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are out of luck for a while…”

“That won’t save our club!” protested Scootaloo. “Without cutie marks, the Cutie Mark Crusaders club has no reason to exist. Crusaders without a crusade, that’s rather silly. I’m sure we will get hectored once more if we do nothing!”

“Girls,” said Apple Bloom, “I’m sorry to interrupt this amazing brainstorming, but I’ve got to go. Applejack and Big Mac are waiting for me to help store all the apples that yesterday’s tussle made fall. Zillions of them. I’m not sure the afternoon will be enough.”

“Maybe we might help?” exclaimed Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle at the same time.

“Sure! The more the merrier! Let’s go girls!”

⁂

It was evening now. Sweating and puffing, the three fillies were seating in the cellar, amidst rows of carefully stowed crates. They had toiled during endless hours under the preternatural sky, picking up apples, stowing them in huge baskets that they had carried back and forth to the farm where Granny Smith was waiting, ready to store them in the various boxes and cubicles that had been prepared. And, despite their diligence, there were still a lot left to do for the next days.

“I’m pooped,” sighed Sweetie Belle, almost staggering. “I think I won’t be able to see an apple for the next week or so!”

“Me neither!” confirmed Scootaloo. “Not even in a cobbler!”

“We couldn’t let all these apples rot on the ground,” explained Apple Bloom. “We already barely eke our living out every month, I don’t even want to know what would happen if all this raw material was just wasted.” She reached for the nearest crate, grasped a ripe fruit and bit it squarely. She glanced around, as if to proudly contemplate once more the result of all their labour, until she felt a blow on her rump, followed by the faint, but unmistakable sound of an apple crushing on the ground.

“Eh?!” she exclaimed. “Who’s done that?” She wheeled, but her two chums were looking elsewhere, and softly whistling. “Hummmm… Let me decide…” she said, squinting as a nemesis. She hesitated a short while and then chose to throw her apple to Scootaloo. The projectile flew and hit the young pegasus right on the muzzle.

“Ouch!” squeaked Scootaloo. “Eh! That’s not fair! It wasn’t me, featherbrain!” she protested. Sweetie Belle plopped on the floor, all her body shaken by spasms of laughter. Apple Bloom flushed.

“Oops! Sorry! But since you were obviously in cahoots, I had to make a random–” She did not finish, because an other apple alighted on her head.

“Retaliation! An eye for an eye and an apple for an apple!” yelled Scootaloo with a grin.

Apple Bloom started to feel really snappish. “That’s no fun!” she grumbled. She gazed at Sweetie Belle, still squirming in her fit of chortle. Sizing an other fruit, she flung it at the unicorn and hit her right in the stomach. The white filly stopped laughing at once, and winced in pain, coughing. “Now enjoy your comeuppance!” sneered Apple Bloom.

“Why did you hit her so bad?” asked Scootaloo disgruntled. “That was mean.” She took another apple and threw it at Apple Bloom, who dodged it. “Missed, you big clumsy oaf!” she gloated. But at the very same moment, she was caught in a sudden rain of Pink ladies: Sweetie Belle had seized a whole crate and was firing apples like a machine gun. Grumbling, Apple Bloom stoop, scooped up two projectiles that she pelted back at Sweetie Belle. One missed, and the other impacted right on the horn, before splitting asunder. Sweetie Belle stroke back using more vegetable shells, and for a short while the cellar aerial space was filled with red round-shaped missiles that flew here and there, crashing randomly on the floor, the ceiling or the various boxes, until one fateful projectile smashed into a big tottering stack of crates that swayed for a few seconds before collapsing noisily, scattering all its contents on the floor.

“Oh no!” squeaked Apple Bloom, contemplating the disaster. “What are we going to do now? It will take hours to fix that!”

“Let’s clear out!” said Scootaloo. “Quick, before your sister comes and see us there!”

“But what about the mess?”

“You can just pretend it’s not your fault, that the heap collapsed by itself,” answered Scootaloo. “After all, it was not build that sturdy. Things like that happen from time to time! Come on!”

The three fillies left the room precipitately.

⁂

Apple Bloom was comfortably tucked in her bed, her big sister at her side. The shutters had been tightly closed, to blot out the curious steady light radiated by the sky.

“Apple Bloom,” said Applejack, after finishing reading a story, “I want to thank you for helping us this afternoon with all the chores.”

“Aw shucks!” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “It was obvious you needed a hoof. And it was a snap with the help of the others.”

“It’s just a pity that a stack fell down…”

Apple Bloom stifled a twitch. “What?” she chirped, faking surprise.

“When I visited the cellar two hours ago I found that a pile of crates had collapsed. Probably we failed to check that it was correctly balanced. Big Mac and I had to gather all the apples strewn on the floor and put them in a rack.”

“That’s such a bad luck,” said Apple Bloom with a tinge of regret in her voice.

“That wasn’t a big deal, except that after a day like this, we’d have preferred to unwind, rather than spend one extra hour to fix this mess.”

“I understand. I am sorry I wasn’t here to give you a hoof.”

“No worry, little sister, you already did your share. Time to snuff the candle now. Sleep well!” Applejack pecked her sister, puffed on the taper and padded to the door.

“Good night, so to speak! I wonder if tomorrow your cutie marks will be back…” responded Apple Bloom.

Applejack turned around, grinning. “Who knows?” she said. Then she waved with her hoof and closed the door. Treading lightly along the corridor, she thought she hadn’t brought up the fact that she and her brother had found numerous splotches on the walls, ceiling included; that was hardly explainable by gravity alone… let alone the apples crushed to the core. With honesty riveted to her bones, the fact that her sister had obviously lied—or at least that she had deliberately omitted to mention something—was profoundly flustering. I’ll have to watch her more closely, she decided. Especially if she persists; I don’t want to condone this kind of behavior. She reached the door of her bedroom, opened it, and her mind switched to other, more crucial problems, especially how her trees would react to this unusual stellar configuration.

⁂

But the next “morning” saw no noticeable change. The Sun and the Moon had not moved by a jot, and no cutie mark had popped up during the night. Apple Bloom stood up, throwing carelessly the bedclothes back, and shuffled somewhat lazily to the kitchen. “Mornin’!” she said, yawning, as she entered the room where Applejack was already busy kneading some dough.

“Mornin’ kid!” answered Applejack merrily. “You’ve got to hurry. Mayor mare is supposed to give a speech at Ponyville’s town hall in about one hour. Big Mac and I intend to go, so you will have to accompany us, too.”

“Uh, a speech? What for?” asked Apple Bloom still drowsy.

“I suppose she wants to inform the people about the latest developments of this… hum… strange situation? Mayhap we can get some useful information?”

“Sounds like a drag,” grumbled Apple Bloom.

“I’m sure you will meet Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle there. I’ll give you some bits to buy candies or cakes at Sugar Cube Corner when it’ll be over. It shouldn’t last that long.”

“Okay, okay, fine. I suppose I’ve little choice anyway…” Apple Bloom trailed away, as she poured herself a cup of milk.

“None, indeed!” giggled Applejack, and the two resumed their respective occupations without exchanging any further word.

⁂

The speech had been going on for a while now. Everypony in town had gathered on the grand square surrounding the town hall building. Mayor mare, atop a rostrum, was, as usual, alternately melodramatic and garrulous. Nopony seem to notice, or, at least, all were polite enough to withstand the torture in total silence and perfect stillness.

Apple Bloom sighed. She had more or less listened during the first five minutes, then quickly had let her attention wander away, tired of the droning. “How long are we going to have to be put through this?” she asked to Scootaloo, with eyes full of despair.

“I don’t know,” replied Scootaloo, grumpy. “But I am about to keel over for sure if this carries on.”

“So am I!” confirmed Sweetie Belle. “Why do we have to listen to this claptrap until the end?”

“Because my sister promised me some bits to have a cake at Sugar Cube Corner right afterwards.”

“Guess what?” squeaked Sweetie Belle. “Mine too!”

There was a hush, then Scootaloo whispered: “Eh! We don’t have to wait until the end of this pain. We can go to Sugar Cube Corner right now and get something to eat and drink. I’m sure the door has been left opened. And when we’re finished, we rush back here and pretend we did not move. Just let a note for the Cakes saying you’re going to stop by later to pay them, with the bits your sister’s gonna give you!”

“Great idea!” approved Apple Bloom. “You come Sweetie?”

“Of course! You don’t want me to die here, do you?”

⁂

As Scootaloo had predicted, the door of Sugar Cube corner was indeed opened. The three fillies entered and found the place deserted, although a sweet scent of hot butter was clearly betraying the presence of freshly baked pastries. They closed the door behind them and set out to explore the room. Soon they had located sundry delicacies, among which cobblers, pies and fritters. Each picked up one of those, and filled a glass with an apparently freshly brewed apple juice. Using a platter, they carried their victuals to the nearest table, seated, grasped their respective quarry and began chomping. The silence, in a room usually crowded from dusk to dawn, was almost eerie, but all were way too eager to replenish their stomachs after the long and dreary experience of the last minutes that they did not care.

So it took not long until all that remained in the platter was nothing but sparse crumbs. They lolled on their chairs with glee. Apple Bloom belched.

“Eh!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “That’s gross!”

“Oops. Sorry!” apologized Apple Bloom. “But you’re so prim sometimes.” Her eyes roved around momentarily. “So what do we do now?”

There was no answer. In the distance, the voice of the town’s head pony was seeping as a faint, dampened, monotonous whimper. Apple Bloom was thinking about her siblings, obliged to withstand this endless rambling without being allowed to escape it.

“I don’t know about you,” said Scootaloo, breaking the silence, “but I am still hungry.”

“I certainly do still feel a mite peckish,” approved Sweetie Belle.

“There’s nobody around. Let’s have another serving of those toothsome dainties!” proposed Scootaloo.

“Ey!” protested Apple Bloom. “I won’t have enough bits to pay an extra round!”

“Who cares?” shrugged Scootaloo. “Do you think the Cakes will tally their pastries upon their return?”

“I guess not… But–”

“So consider you won another one gratis. It’s settled then!” And Scootaloo scuttled off to the counter to grasp more yummies.

⁂

“Uh!” said Scootaloo hiccuping. “I guess we’ve gone a tiny bit overboard.” She smirked and looked at the window behind which the delicacies had been exposed. Had been, for all that was left was a lonely and miserable cupcake; in a way, the vacuity that surrounded it was like a foil, and Scootaloo found it difficult to avert her eyes from it. “Practically, there is nothing left!” she added wryly.

With the reality dawning on them, the two other fillies were now panicking. “What are we going to do? We ate almost twenty pieces, never will my sister accept to pay for all this!” squealed Apple Bloom.

“Neither mine!” shrilled Sweetie Belle in turn.

All of a sudden, a loud noise rose in the background. Applauses. Claps. Some hoots.

“Mayday!” yelped Apple Bloom. “The speech is over, they will be back in a few seconds!”

“Let’s scram!” ordered Scootaloo. “Unless you want to be upbraided right away?”

“No way!” said Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in unison. And the three were off like a streak, leaving the front door slightly ajar.

They hurtled through the deserted streets and were back in the grand square just in time. Obviously the end of the speech had been followed by a short Q&A session; it was over now and the throng was loosely breaking up amid the humming of soft conversations. Applejack, Rarity and the others bearers—except Twilight that was gone to Canterlot to discuss with the royalties—made their way out of the crowd.

“I’m sorry for this,” said Applejack. “I really did not reckon it would take so long.”

“Oh, don’t worry!” replied Apple Bloom. “We managed to have some fun anyway.” She looked to her chums somewhat sheepishly.

“What did you do?” asked Rarity suspiciously. “Zip-lining again? Something still more silly? There is no use fighting for your cutie marks anymore, until further notice, you know…”

“Errr…” began Sweetie Belle with a grin. “Well—”

“We just had some fun in the park with the swings and the seesaw!” cut in Scootaloo.

“Hmmm…” said Rarity. “You three playing with swings and seesaws during a full hour? That would be a first!”

“Oh come on Rarity! We are not that puckish!” protested Sweetie Belle.

“You can be real imps sometimes,” Rarity replied. “Remember when you cut the thread of—”

“Okay, okay, OKAY!” interrupted Sweetie Belle. “I know, that was unseemly,” she concluded in a lower tone.

“Not only unseemly, but also unsavory,” remarked Rarity.

“Hey Rarity, let bygones be bygones!” said Applejack. She delved into her saddlebag and drew out some coins. “Here are the bits I promised you. Go get something to eat!”

“Well… In fact…” bumbled Apple Bloom, embarrassed, “I feel more worn out than hungry. I’d rather go back home and have a nap. That nosh can wait, no?” She yawned and slouched against Sweetie Belle.

“Uh, that’s right. I too feel fatigued!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle. “That extended play in the park worn me out!”

Applejack, Rarity and the other mares exchanged puzzled looks.

“Aw come on!” braid Rainbow Dash in her usual manner. “It’s not even eleven a.m. How could you possibly be pooped?”

“I couldn’t really sleep,” explained Apple Bloom. “There was too much light. And then we had a hard day yesterday slogging away to pick up all these fruits.”

“Me too, same thing,” approved Sweetie Belle.

Rainbow Dash pouted. “Scootaloo! Do you want to come with me? My treat!” she proposed with a wink.

“Err… no thanks!” Scootaloo answered with an abashed grin. “Maybe later? I just have… … An urgent errand I forgot, that’s it! I really have to beat it! Goodbye everypony!” She turned around, straddled her scooter, flapped her stunted wings and rushed off.

Rainbow Dash was stuck jaw-dropped. “What’s the matter with her? Par for the course, she is always after me…” she muttered, as if for herself.

“She must have been unsettled by the aftermath of Tirek’s devastation,” Fluttershy put forward. “We all are, and my animals have become very restive and unpredictable. Give her some time to unwind.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right!” replied Rainbow Dash with a shrug. “Too bad for her, anyhow.” She looked up. “Time to tend that crazy sky a bit. So long girls!” And she flew away.

“Well,” said Applejack. “Apple Bloom, you coming?”

“Yep!” replied Apple Bloom. She tottered. “I feel so weak. Could you carry me?”

Applejack rolled her eyes, then nodded. She kneeled and her little sister hauled herself on her back. Standing up, both waved goodbye and Applejack slowly cantered away, accompanied by Big Macintosh who had been placidly waiting apart.

“Please big sister, can you carry me too?” entreated Sweetie Belle with supplicant eyes.

“I am sorry my dear,” protested Rarity crisply, “but I am neither a mule nor a draypony. You’ll have to hoof it to the boutique, Sleepy Belle! Come on! Rally yourself.”

“Pffff…” answered Sweetie Belle with a crumpled face. Reluctantly, she turned around and scuffed off, followed by her sister. The other mares, finding no reason to stay here any longer, greeted each other and drifted away.

⁂

But at some distance, a young, rose-coated, blue-eyed filly was softly sniggering in her hooves…