((Prompt: I don’t think your cutie mark means what you think it means.))

Darling, you look positively exhausted! Come, sit down with me for a minute.

Just leave it, it won’t go anywhere. You’ve made a good start for now, now come rest for a moment.

There you go. Can I get you some water? I—

cough, cough!

—oh, excuse me.

Hm? Oh no, I am quite alright, don’t worry about it. There’s no need to fetch Nurse Tenderheart, it’s just a tickle in the throat. I’ve had it for years; it’s perfectly harmless. Now, about that water.

No, go on, drink up darling, you’ve been working yourself to the bone! You ought to take a break now and then, or you’ll end up old before your time like I am!

Aha, that’s very kind of you, dear.

No, I’m not thirsty. You go ahead and drink the rest of it.

Well yes, that is what the mark on my flank is about, so it stands to reason I would be good at it. Still, having a special talent is only a small part of the journey. You just keep at it, and you’ll be running this place before you know it!

Ah, I don’t believe I have told you the story of how I got my cutie mark, have I? Don’t worry, it’s not too long of a story.

See, back when I was a filly, I didn’t know what direction my life would take. I entertained all kinds of wild fantasies; marrying into royalty, running a dress shop—yes, I know, can you imagine, this grizzled old face selling dresses to ponies?

Anyway, I just imagined once I found my special talent, I would have it made. So I was terribly excited when one day my horn flared to life for no good reason. Clearly, it was destiny calling me. The magic all but dragged me out of my parents’ house and into the wilderness. For a day, and a night, and most of another day I was led by my fate deeper into the wilds. Finally, when I was beginning to wonder what I was going to do about food and water, my journey came to a stop.

I was right before a rather unimpressive lump of rock. Needless to say, I was upset. I sat there for hours, as though I was waiting for some kind of explanation to come thundering out of the sky. That never happened, of course. So in my frustration, I gave the rock a kick as hard as I could. Much to my surprise, it split open, revealing a trove of precious gems!

Can you imagine, a little filly kicking a rock apart with her bare hooves? Of course, now I know it was weakened by compound microfractures, but back then I thought I must have been the strongest filly alive!

Looking over the gemstones, I realized something about destiny. It might guide you to where you need to be, but if you expect it to hand you anything on a plate, you’ve got another thing coming. Fate is only part of the picture. The rest is putting the work in to make it happen. From then on, I knew that my destiny was—well, you’re looking at it.

It’s a good life, once you get used to it. Plenty of travel, and of course the pay is good. I’ve never much liked all the dirt, but that seems natural enough. My cutie mark isn’t three dirt clods, after all!

I suppose there are downsides. For one, I look like somepony ran a clean white rag across a chimney.

Oh, that’s very kind of you to say, but I’m quite aware of what I look like. Oh, I know it might sound vain, but sometimes I like to imagine that if I didn’t spend all my time down here chipping my hooves against rocks and ruining my mane with all the grime and humidity, I might be the sort of mare to really turn heads.

Ha ha ha, oh you are such a charmer! Your name should be Silver Tongue! I don’t even—

cough, KOFF-cough… cough.

Oh, dear, I am sorry about that.

No, I assure you, I am fine. But I suppose we have had enough time resting. You look much better.

Let’s get back to work, shall we? Those diamonds won’t mine themselves!

Author's Notes:

This is one that, due to my work schedule, I wasn't able to officially submit to Thirty Minute Ponies. But I still wrote it up when I got the chance anyway.