Season: Z

Episode: D

Missing Mark

(By: Flame Runner)

Scootaloo was blazing through town on her scooter. She just barely missed a fruit stand, filled to the brim with cherries, and then dodged swiftly around Derpy. Everything looked clear ahead so she took a quick glance behind her. She had done very well at this new top speed. One tree was a little scuffed up, but all the shops were fine, even if their owners were a little shaken from a close call or two. Scootaloo turned back around and promptly crashed into a hay cart. “Oof.” She landed in the soft hay while the scooter skidded into a ditch. Scootaloo picked herself up and went over to retrieve it. She grabbed her ride and lifted her head. Her eyes grew wide in shock. She was staring not at the Everfree Forest, but at a pony walking into the Forest. The pony was a fully grown stallion without a cutie mark.

(Insert Theme Music Here)

* * * * * * * * *

“Apple Bloom!” shouted Scootaloo as she sped into Sweet Apple Acres, “Apple Bloom!”

“Over here!” replied Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo rode over to the large barn where Apple Bloom was standing.

“Hi Scootaloo,” said Apple Bloom.

“Apple Bloom, you’ll never believe what I saw today.”

“What?”

“I was riding by the Everfree Forest and the strangest thing happened.”

“What?” Apple Bloom asked with even more enthusiasm.

“I saw a pony without a cutie mark.”

Apple Bloom got a little annoyed, “Scootaloo, we’ve seen plenty of ponies without cutie marks. We don’t even have ours yet.”

“No, this was different,” defended Scootaloo, “It was a fully grown stallion without a cutie mark.”

“Really? You sure you didn’t just miss it?”

“I’m telling you, this pony had no mark. Apple Bloom, what if we end up like that? Fully grown with no cutie marks.”

“Is that possible?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to get Sweetie Belle.”

Scootaloo hopped on her scooter and rode off.

“Wait for me! I’m comin’ too!” shouted Apple Bloom.

* * * * * * * * *

The three Cutie Mark Crusaders met in their tree fort to discuss Scootaloo’s findings.

“Do you think it’s possible to get no cutie mark, even when you grow up?” asked Apple Bloom.

“I hope not. I really want my cutie mark,” Sweetie Belle chimed in.

“Girls, this could be a matter of life or death,” Scootaloo said dramatically.

“What? Really?” Sweetie Belle sounded scared.

“Well, no, but if we don’t get a cutie mark then I don’t know if we’ll be able to go out into public when we’re all grown up. Just think about how Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon treat us now and then think about what could happen if we grow up without a cutie mark,” Scootaloo replied.

Sweetie Belle closed her eyes and imagined her future without a cutie mark. “Aagh!” she screamed as her eyes flew open, “I want to get a cutie mark!”

“Now hold on a minute,” piped Apple Bloom, “Scootaloo, you’re the only one who saw this pony, and from a long distance too. Before we get all scared I wanna make sure that this pony really doesn’t have a cutie mark.”

“Ok, so how do I prove it?” asked Scootaloo.

“I want to see that pony for myself,” answered Apple Bloom.

“Me too!” responded Sweetie Belle.

“I know what to do. We’ll have a stakeout by the Everfree Forest and watch for him to come by again,” Scootaloo offered.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Apple Bloom agreed.

“Um…I don’t know. Don’t you remember what happened the last time we were in the Forest? Fluttershy almost got turned to stone,” Sweetie Belle said nervously.

“We’re not actually going into the Forest. We’re just camping close to it,” answered Scootaloo.

“Yeah! Plus, I’ve been in the Everfree Forest plenty of times to see Zecora and I’m just fine,” Apple Bloom said encouragingly.

“Well…ok, as long as we don’t go into the Forest.”

“Great, then it’s settled. Let’s meet here at around noon. Then we’ll see if the pony shows up,” Scootaloo said definitively.

The meeting closed and the three friends went off to pack and prepare for their stakeout by the Everfree Forest.

* * * * * * * * *

The fillies had been watching the Forest for a little under an hour without any results. They were already starting to get tired of waiting.

“This is taking forever,” Sweetie Belle complained.

“Do you want to see the mark-less pony or not?” Scootaloo asked a little irritated.

“Yeah,” mumbled Sweetie Belle.

They decided to set up in the ditch where Scootaloo had crashed the day before. Scootaloo brought a pair of binoculars, Apple Bloom brought some snacks, which they had already eaten, and Sweetie Belle brought some large pieces of fabric to sit on. The fillies also used some of the fabric to make a small lean-to. Apple Bloom currently had the binoculars and was looking intently around.

“I know what we can do!” said Apple Bloom, “Let’s play a game of I-spy, but we can only use the binoculars to find the objects.”

“Yeah! Maybe we can get a ‘keen eye’ cutie mark or something,” answered Scootaloo, “and I’ll find the first object.”

“Hey, that’s not fair. I’ve got the binoculars so I should start, plus it was my idea anyway.”

“Well, they’re my binoculars so I should start.”

The two argued for a little while but Scootaloo ultimately won.

“I spy with my little eye…something…checkered red and white,” she said as she looked around.

The other two started spinning around and looking every which-way to find the elusive object.

“Is it that sign?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“That sign isn’t checkered,” responded Scootaloo.

“Is it the picnic blanket that those ponies are sitting on?” Sweetie Belle asked again.

“Nope.”

“Is it…” Sweetie Belle was cut off.

“It’s that shop over there, isn’t it?” Apple Bloom interrupted.

“That’s it! Did you get a cutie mark?”

The fillies looked, but no cutie mark was to be found.

“Too bad, but it’s still your turn Apple Bloom,” said Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom grabbed the binoculars and tried to find a good object.

“Ok, this object is white.”

“Is it…the roof on the house over there?” Scootaloo pointed to the roof.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Come on, we need more than just ‘it’s white’,” Scootaloo said.

“Alright, it’s white and fluffy.”

“Ooh ooh! It’s that cloud up there!” voiced Sweetie Belle enthusiastically.

“That’s it! Nice work Sweetie Belle. Did you get a mark?”

They all looked, but nothing was there. Apple Bloom handed Sweetie Belle the binoculars and Sweetie Belle began her search. She looked high and low for just the right object. When her eyes hovered by the Everfree Forest, she saw something moving. It was a brown colored stallion without a cutie mark.

“There! Right there!” she shouted happily while jumping and pointing.

“What’s right there?” asked Scootaloo.

“It’s the pony without a cutie mark!”

“Really?” Scootaloo grabbed the binoculars and took a look. Sure enough, it was the same stallion from the day before, “Here, Apple Bloom, take a look for yourself!”

Apple Bloom grabbed the binoculars and took a good, long look. The pony appeared to be just a little older than her sister, Applejack, and most definitely had no cutie mark. He quickly disappeared into the Everfree Forest and the Cutie Mark Crusaders lost sight of him.

“Do you believe me now?” asked Scootaloo.

“Yeah, but what does it mean for us?” Apple Bloom wondered aloud.

“I’ll bet Twilight knows! And, even if she doesn’t, she has all those books,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Let’s see if Twilight can tell us anything then,” replied Scootaloo as she hopped on her scooter.

* * * * * * * * *

Knock! Knock! Knock! The Cutie Mark Crusaders pounded loudly on Twilight’s door. “Hold on!” They heard a muffled voice inside. The door opened and Spike, not Twilight, was there to greet them.

“Hi girls,” he said. “What are you up to today?”

“Spike, is Twilight around?” asked Apple Bloom.

“No, she’s gone to Canterlot for the week with Rainbow Dash and Rarity.”

“I didn’t know Twilight was going with my sister,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Now how are we supposed to figure this mystery out?” Scootaloo sounded annoyed.

“Figure what out?” asked Spike.

“Today we saw a fully grown pony without a cutie mark,” replied Apple Bloom in a hushed voice like she was telling somepony secret.

“That’s all? I don’t see what’s so big about not having a cutie mark. I mean, you three don’t have yours yet and I’ll certainly never get one.”

“Spike, you’re a dragon. Of course you wouldn’t get a cutie mark,” said Scootaloo, “and the big deal is that if one pony doesn’t have a cutie mark, then we may never get one either.”

“Ok, calm down. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Do you have any books about cutie marks?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“I don’t know, but we can find out. Owloysius? Could you help me look for some books?” Spike called to Twilight’s owl helper. “If you girls want to look you’re more than welcome.”

“We’ll help you look for it. After all, we’re the ones who want to figure this thing out,” replied Apple Bloom.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike, and Owloysius went to work. They searched high and low for a book about cutie marks and found many, but none which spoke about not having a cutie mark. After a while, the girls began to give up hope of ever finding what they were looking for, however; they continued until the entire library was a mess.

“No luck,” said Scootaloo agitatedly. “We searched through every single book and found nothing. I don’t know what else to do.”

“Sorry girls, the only other place I could recommend would be the library in Canterlot, but you have no way to get there.”

“That’s ok Spike. Thanks for the help anyway,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Hey, wait a minute!” chimed Apple Bloom, “That pony went into the Everfree Forest.”

“Yeah?” asked Scootaloo curiously.

“Well, I’ll bet Zecora knows somethin’ then!”

“Zecora! Of course!” Scootaloo was thrilled.

“Wait a minute; I don’t like the Everfree Forest much. Do we have to go in there?” asked Sweetie Belle hesitantly.

“I told you before; I’ve been to Zecora’s plenty of times. We’ll be just fine. Come on let’s go!”

Apple Bloom rushed out the door with Scootaloo right behind her. Sweetie Belle followed at a slow pace, not particularly fond of the dangerous Forest they were about to enter.

* * * * * * * * *

The three were fortunate enough to arrive at Zecora’s without any problems. Sweetie Belle was starting to feel less nervous while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were busy firing questions at Zecora.

“Yes, I know the pony of which you speak,” answered Zecora. “Last time I saw him was by the creek.”

“Zecora, do you know why he doesn’t have a cutie mark?” asked Apple Bloom.

“That pony has a mark you three; ask him yourself and answers you will see.”

“So, how are we supposed to find him?” questioned Scootaloo.

“He will come to my house around one; come back here when hot is the sun.”

“Thanks Zecora!” said Apple Bloom as they left.

The three were walking home and talking about the day’s events.

“What did she say again?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“She said that the pony had a cutie mark and that we need to ask him about it ourselves,” replied Apple Bloom.

“How did you figure that out? She always confuses me.”

“I’ve talked with her a lot,” was all Apple Bloom could think to say.

“Ok, let me get this straight. We come back to Zecora’s at one tomorrow if we want to figure this out?” recapped Scootaloo.

“Yep, that’s pretty much it,” agreed Apple Bloom.

The three fillies came to the edge of the forest and headed their separate ways.

“Bye Scootaloo! Bye Sweetie Belle! See ya both tomorrow!” Apple Bloom headed back to Sweet Apple Acres as the sun set over the horizon.

* * * * * * * * *

Apple Bloom arrived home quite late. She opened the house door and light spilled upon the ground.

“I’m back!” said Apple Bloom.

“Apple Bloom! Where have you been?” asked Applejack sternly. “We were just about to start lookin’ for you.”

“I was with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.”

“Ok, but you were gone for hours and you didn’t tell nopony where you were. We were gettin’ worried.”

“I’m sorry sis.”

“Oh…that’s ok. Just tell somepony next time, alright?”

“Ok.”

“Now, what were the Cutie Mark Crusaders doin’ today?”

“You wouldn’t believe it! Scootaloo told us that she saw a stallion walk into the Everfree Forest, but he didn’t have a cutie mark.”

“No cutie mark? That’s peculiar.”

“Yeah, so we asked Zecora about it and she said to come back tomorrow if we wanted to find out what was goin’ on.”

“Sounds like a plan, but you sure Scootaloo didn’t just miss the mark somehow?”

“I asked her the same thing, but earlier today we waited by the Everfree Forest and both me and Sweetie Belle saw him. He definitely had no cutie mark.”

“Wait, so you saw him? What did he look like?”

“Well…he was brown, a little older than you, and he didn’t have a cutie mark.”

“You’ve never seen him before?”

“Nope.”

“Apple Bloom, I think I know who you’re talking about…”

“Really?”

“…but he has a cutie mark.”

“That’s what Zecora said too!”

“Yeah, well his name is Phil and he just moved to Ponyville recently. I’ve only seen him in the market once.”

“What kind of name is Phil?”

“He’s not from around here, ok? You must have just missed his cutie mark somehow. Look, stop worrying so much about your cutie mark, you’ll get one.”

“Alright, but I’m still going to Zecora’s tomorrow. Ok?”

“Sure, just be careful.”

The two sisters said their “good nights” and went off to bed.

* * * * * * * * *

The next day arrived with warm sunshine and few clouds. The Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered outside the Everfree Forest.

“Ready to find out about that missing cutie mark?” asked Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo, both my sister and Zecora said he had a cutie mark.”

“I know, but you saw him for yourself; he didn’t have a cutie mark.”

“Yes, but my sister is usually right about these kinds of things and so is Zecora.”

“Well, mark or no mark I’m going anyways,” said Scootaloo triumphantly.

“I’m coming too,” remarked Sweetie Belle.

“I didn’t say I wasn’t coming, just that we should be prepared for anything,” Apple Bloom defended herself.

The Crusaders trudged into the cool shade of the Forest. After some time of walking they came to Zecora’s house. They could hear voices coming from inside. One was Zecora, but the other was unfamiliar to the girls. The fillies gathered up their courage and knocked on the door. Zecora opened the door and stood with a big grin on her face. “You three are right on time; I’d like to show you a friend of mine.” The three Crusaders entered the house and, standing before them, was the mysterious pony they had seen earlier.

“Hello, my name is Phil. Zecora has told me all about the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I hear you have some questions.” The three were ecstatic, finally they had found the pony without a cutie mark, or had they? They looked and he most certainly had a cutie mark; it was an explorer’s hat emblazoned in white. Phil saw the shock on their faces, “What’s wrong?” They didn’t know how to respond, but finally Scootaloo spoke up.

“We thought you didn’t have a cutie mark,” she said sheepishly.

“Oh! Is that what this is about?” asked Phil. “As you can see, I have a cutie mark, but you’re not the first ones to mistake it.”

“How could anypony mistake it? It’s plain as day,” said Apple Bloom.

“Wait a minute!” chimed Sweetie Belle, “If he has a cutie mark, then we’ll get ours someday!”

“Hey, that’s right!” said Scootaloo happily.

Phil interrupted their celebration, “Well, of course you’ll all get a cutie mark someday.”

“Hey, if you have a cutie mark, then how did we miss it? I’m positive that we would have seen something as obvious as yours,” asked Apple Bloom.

“Now that’s a good question,” he remarked, “let me show you.”

Suddenly, his cutie mark started to fade until nothing was left but a slightly discolored round spot where the mark had previously been. The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood wide eyed at this new revelation.

“This is my actual cutie mark.”

“Wait…what?” asked Scootaloo.

“I don’t entirely know myself. The best I can figure is that my great grandmother was a unicorn and, although I’m an earth pony, I must have a little magic in me. You see, my mark is unique,” As he said these words an open book began to materialize as a new cutie mark. “What I do determines what my mark becomes for the day. I can take it away, but I can’t put one there. Whatever I choose to do becomes my special talent for the day. When I go to bed it disappears and I have to start all over again.”

“Wow, that’s really cool!” said Scootaloo.

“What does that mark mean?” Sweetie Belle pointed to the new mark.

“What?” Phil looked around, “Talk about fast! It usually takes a lot longer for me to get a new one. I think that’s a learning mark, when I learn something new or teach something it comes up…I know exactly what I’m supposed to do today!” Phil got excited, “I can see that you three don’t have cutie marks yet and that’s why you were so curious about mine. Like I said, don’t worry about getting a cutie mark, you’ll get one. I can’t tell you how confused I was when I found my cutie mark only to have it disappear the next day. But, I figured out that the cutie mark doesn’t matter all that much. Everypony has talent and a cutie mark only helps to define what special talent you have. What really matters is the things you do with the talents you have. I mean, I have to figure out what to do every day. So don’t be worried about what your cutie mark will be or when it will come, just enjoy the talents you have and use them.”

The three Crusaders talked with Zecora and Phil for awhile longer and then said their good-byes.

“What are you going to do with your talents Sweetie Belle?” asked Apple Bloom.

“I still don’t know what all my talents are,” answered Sweetie Belle.

“I know what I’m going to do,” declared Scootaloo. She hopped onto her scooter and took off through the forest, nimbly dodging trees, rocks, and roots. “Scootaloo! Wait up!” yelled Apple Bloom as she ran through the Forest in hot pursuit.

* * * * * * * * *

The Cutie Mark Crusaders gathered in the library as Spike grabbed some paper and a quill. “Ok girls, ready.” The three knew they had learned a valuable lesson today and, as with all lessons learned, they were going to write to Princess Celestia.

“Dear Princess Celestia,” started Sweetie Belle.

“Today we learned that not having a cutie mark isn’t the end of the world…” continued Scootaloo.

“But that it’s what you do with your talents that really matters,” finished Apple Bloom.

“Even though we don’t know exactly what our talents may be…” Sweetie Belle started.

“We won’t stop trying to find what our talents are and use them wisely.” Apple Bloom finished again.

“Signed, the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” They all declared triumphantly.