S1 E12 Call of the Cutie! Fall Weather Friends is up next!

.....

Malibu walked to the Ponyville schoolhouse late that afternoon. He was asked by Applejack to walk the little filly home that day. At first Malibu wasn't sure if he would since he never spent time around young kids. But since deep down in his heart despite his growth acceleration Malibu still sometimes behaved like one.

I suppose this is good timing for further bonding with Applejack's little sister, he decided, a little grin on his face, finally reaching the school as the bell rang. Malibu and Applebloom have occassionally had little talks between each other; both being able to become friends over time. She seemed to enjoy the strange alicorn's company too. One thing about Applebloom too is that she didn't have her Cutie Mark yet, which often had her feel out of place.

Malibu looked for his young friend as all the fillies and colts left their final class, all chattering. One filly with a bright red mane and glasses named Twist who also had no Cutie Mark came out, as well as Applebloom, though she seemed less cheerful than Twist did.

"Want some savory sweets? I baked them myself!" Twist offered. Applebloom shook her head. Malibu figured she still felt upset over not having a Cutie Mark. "They'll make you smile!" Twist proclaimed, her own grin present. Applebloom sighed. "No..."

That was when Malibu knew to come up. "Hey, AB," he called, grinning. Twist looked up, gasping excitedly. "Ah! The Alicorn!" She squealed, looking him over. Malibu flushed. He had incidents like this before with the little ponies here where they gave him too much attention about being an alicorn while living here.

Applebloom came to his rescue. "Take it easy, Twist. He's just like everypony else around here," she defended. Malibu smiled appreciatively. "Thanks. AJ sent me to walk you home again," he said. Applebloom nodded with her ears having fallen again.

But then two others showed, a gray filly and a pink filly named Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Malibu encountered them a time ago when first visiting the school house but they didn't pay him any mind which he was fine with. They didn't seem so friendly anyway.

"I don't know why we had to sit through a lecture about getting a cutie mark. I mean, waiting for your cutie mark is sooo last week." Smirked Diamond Tiara. Silver Spoon showed hers off. "You just got yours. I just got mine." Diamond continued. "We all have them already." Then she noticed Twist and Applebloom. "I mean, almost all of us have them already," she sneered. Diamond glanced at Malibu too who swallowed. There was just something about this filly that made him nervous.

"And you, you were just lucky to mysteriously appear in Canterlot with a cutie mark already there? What makes you so special besides being an alicorn reject with no true born royal status?" She mocked. Malibu flinched from her harsh words. Applebloom glowered. "Ya leave him alone!" She shouted. But Diamond Tiara ignored her words. "But don't worry, you three are still totally invited to my cute-ceañera this weekend." Diamond proclaimed, a little smirk.

Malibu was confused. "Uh, AB? What's a cute-ceañera?" He muttered. Diamond Tiara heard him and answered. "It's a party celebrating me and my fabulous cutie mark!"

Silver Spoon nodded. "It's going to be amazing!" Diamond smiled at her 'friend'. "How can it not be?"

Then the two did the most ridiculous thing Malibu had seen and wished he could unsee it.

"Bump! Bump! Sugar-lump, rump!" They said, laughing and making Applebloom roll her eyes. "Gimme a break..."

Malibu didn't know if he wanted to attend the party now if she was being haughty about it. "I-I actually have a lot of things to do this weekend. Don't know if—."

Diamond gave him a look. "If what?" She asked. The way her eyes stared accusingly at Malibu made him give in. "O-of course I'll be there," he stammered, smiling weakly. She nodded in approval. "As everypony should. See you three at the party, blank flanks and cutie mark reject!" She leered, walking off laughing with Silver Spoon. Malibu glared after them. I seriously hate those two, he thought, then walking with Applebloom back to Sweet Apple Acres.

They met up with Applejack who was bucking apples. Applebloom looked ready to spew out complaints. Malibu mostly sat under a tree to wait for it to end since he heard this before.

"It's not fair! It's just not fair!" Applebloom whined, kicking an apple. AJ smiled at her. "Don't get your mane in a tangle. You'll get your cutie mark. Everypony gets one eventually."

Applebloom just frowned. "But I don't want one eventually. I want one right now! I can' go to Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera without one, ah just can't!"

Malibu then remembered how Diamond insulted him even though he had a cutie mark. "Applebloom, Diamond Tiara says that my cutie mark mysteriously appears even though I really don't have a talent. You shouldn't have to-"

AB interrupted. "Not helpin'!" She snipped. Malibu's ears fell, but Applejack just shook her head. "Of course you can go, cutie mark or no cutie mark. Ya know, I was the last one in my family to get a cutie mark, and I couldn't be prouder of it. Ah knew my future was to run Sweet Apple Acres, and these bright shiny apples sealed the deal. Come to think of it, Granny Smith was the last one in her class to get hers too. Huh. Same as Big Macintosh."

Malibu couldn't help the cringed look on his face, seeing Applebloom more depressed. "I don't see how that's supposed to make me feel better. It probably means that being the last one in your class to get a cutie mark runs in the family."

Suddenly she perked up. "...runs in the family. Runs in the family!" Applebloom zipped up to Applejack. "Runs in the family! You got apples for your cutie mark! Granny Smith has an apple pie, Big Macintosh has an apple half. My unique special talent must have somethin' to do with apples!" Malibu began to chuckle at seeing the little filly bouncing around. "Apples! Apples! Apples!" She then crashed into a barrel, laughing nervously. "Heh, apples..."

"What do you think you want to do then if you think your talent is apples?" Malibu asked when helping her up. Applebloom thought. "Ah don't even know. Maybe, sellin'?"

Applejack wasn't sure at first but eventually agreed to help her set up the stand in Ponyville. Malibu helped in his part anyway he can. After the stand was ready Applebloom began her selling apples voice.

"Get your delicious and nutritious apples here!" Called Applejack first. Malibu decided to leave the selling to the two since he wasn't a good seller. Applebloom though had gone a tad overboard with her marketing; even using a tennis racket to hit an apple with.

One male pony with an hourglass cutie mark walked by. Applebloom went up to him.

"You sir! Care to buy some apples?" She asked. The pony shook his head "Uh, no thanks," he replied.

"Why not?" Applebloom questioned.

"I have plenty at home."

"Are ya sure?"

Time Turner (the pony's name) looked a little nervous now. "Yes, I—"

"You're pretty sure, but you're not absolutely positively completely super-duper sure, are you?" Applebloom demanded, glaring. Even Malibu himself felt a little off from that, which seemed a bit too demanding. Time Turner was sweating. "Uh, if I buy some apples, will you please leave me alone?" He then tossed her two bits and she gave him an apple, having Time Turner run off after. "Ya forgot yer change!" Applejack called after. Applebloom cheered.

"Woo-hoo! That's how you sell s'm apples and get a cutie mark! So, what does my cutie mark look like? A shoppin' bag full of apples? A satisfied customer eating an apple?" Malibu raised his hoof. "AB, maybe—." He got cut off.

"Hm, maybe I got to increase my sales figures first." Another mare walked to the stand, looking over the produce. Applebloom zipped up to her. "Ya judge it, ya buy it!" She leaned on the barrel. "We take cash or credit!" Suddenly she felt herself being lifted by Malibu's magic. "Hay!" Applebloom exclaimed as Malibu gave her a disappointed look. But the other mare was already scared.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." The mare ran off. "Ma'am!" Applejack tried apologizing. She glared at her sister. "Now, Applebloom, you can't jus'—!"

Malibu noticed that the little filly wasn't near him anymore and saw she put a whole dozen apples in another mare's bag nearby. "That'll be four bits!" The mare looked mad more than scared like the last one. "I didn't put those in my bag!" Applebloom narrowed her eyes. "Likely story. 4 bits lady!" She demanded rudley which somewhat surprised Malibu since he knew Applebloom to be nice. Perhaps selling things just wasn't her calling.

"Applebloom!" Snapped her sister while looking apologetic to the pony. "I'm really really sorry about that. Here, take these. No charge." She had placed some more apples in the bag. The other mare kept frowning. "And these," Applejack added, adding even more. "And these." Finally, she put the whole bucket of apples on the mare's back, causing the former gargoyle clone to cringe from having her handle all that weight. She could use the help, he thought.

"AJ, I wish to help her carry those. I'll meet up with you guys later," he said. Applejack nodded to Malibu who trotted off to the other mare's same direction.

He walked next to her. She glanced at him gruffly. "What? Never seen a mare with huge bundles of apples on her?" She grumbled, staggering. That was when Malibu used hus magic to levitate the bucket off into the air with a little smile. She blinked a couple times. "Uh, thanks I guess... who are you?"

Malibu blushed a little. "Er, Malibu. Adopted son of Celestia," he introduced, pawing the ground a little. The patched pony's eyes rounded. "Whoa, Lyra has told me about you! And that you hadn't been to Canterlot since taking the assignment!" She added. Malibu just now hadn't thought of that, a memory plaguing him that he and Twilight neglected Moondancer's party. He hoped she wasn't mad but didn't feel like facing her yet.

He cleared his throat. "C-could we maybe not mention that again? And tell Lyra that I will see her soon? Please?" The mare nodded. "And, who are you?" Malibu questioned next. "How rude of me!" The mare said. "I'm Bon Bon! It's nice to meet you, Malibu! I didn't think we could have an alicorn right here in Ponyville!"

That made the gargoyle flush darker. "I'm not as majestic as mom, though. Just a normal pony here, trying to ignore my dark past of being manipulated by an evil gargoyle clone who created me." He said sadly, kicking the dirt. Bon Bon frowned slightly in concern. "But you seem happier here with us," she stated. Malibu nodded. "Just hope that devil doesn't come after me again and forget about me," he said shakily. Bon Bon halted and put a hoof on his shoulder.

"Hey, it's safe here in this place. And I can always talk to you if you want," she invited, though Bon Bon herself had a small secret of her own she didn't tell Lyra. Malibu smiled then, nodding. "Thanks. Oh, you're house," he said, seeing the building coming into view.

Bon Bon pointed a hoof. "Just set the crate there, I'll deal with these bags," she said. "And thank you again." Malibu rubbed the back of his head. "It was nothing, really," he said sheepishly. "I got to go now." Bon Bon waved. "See you around!" She called, as Malibu waved back, going to find Applebloom to ensure she didn't get into more mischief for her Cutie Mark.

At first he found Applejack who said that Applebloom was willing to go to the party without her cutie mark but only if Twist tagged along. Malibu thought that was a good idea, then turning to venture to Twist's home to check on them.

He found the two talking, but to his shock; Twist had a Cutie Mark now, two candy canes! Oh no... Malibu thought in sadness, ears having fallen. Twist smiled. "Pretty sweet, huh?" She asked when getting closer. Applebloom sat down, ears fallen. "Yeah... pretty sweet."

Malibu just sat down with her, unsure what to say. Twist saw their saddened looks. "Hey, this doesn't mean we can't go to the cute-ceañera together. You're still going to the party, aren't you two?" Malibu tried to speak back but couldn't. He didn't feel like going to the party of a bully. But then Diamond showed up. "Of course they will." Taunted Silver Spoon. Diamond spoke next. "I mean it is not like being the only pony there without a cutie mark and a not well earned cutie marked alicorn at our party would be like the most embarrassing thing ever!"

He felt his eyes glow red again. "Just leave us alone!" Malibu snapped in a shaky voice, but Applebloom looked worse, just running away from that, the two bullies laughing meanly. Twist cringed from this, hating them still. "I am sorry," she apologized again but Malibu shook his head. "Don't be, it isn't your fault. Just need to be by myself for a bit," he said, getting up. Sure he could find Applebloom but figured she needed to be alone too.

Malibu walked along until he found a tree to sit next to, just lying there and wondering how he and his little friend could deal with this. Why did cutie mark diversity have to be a thing in this world? He gave an unhappy sigh, feeling very tired from all this. Eventually his eyes closed, falling asleep.

...

He was wandering around in a void which felt like an endless maze of dark green tunnels that looked like the inside of a slimy hive. Malibu felt nervous, lighting up his horn, wondering how he could get out of here.

"H-hello?" Malibu asked in a quiet voice, stepping carefully around the place, sometimes hearing light buzzing noise like bug wings.

The alicorn turned gargoyle shivered terribly, wishing his friends could be here and to be back in Ponyville already until he came to another corridor that looked different but disturbing.

The walls had cocoons which glowed green and held ponies; all asleep in there. It had Malibu's ears flattened in fright at the sight of them all. But then he spotted a familiar one. With rainbow hair.

"No! Rainbow!" Malibu screamed, trying to break her out, but the buzzing came closer and closer, as well as an evil chuckling that sounded horribly familiar. Malibu swallowed, turning around, crouching down in fear, for he knew that laugh.

Red eyes glowed though he couldn't see who it was. "I'm coming, little creation... I'm coming for you..." it purred sweetly but evilly. Malibu whimpered, covering his eyes. "Ah! Go away! No!" More cackling surrounded his hearing, both male and female, until he woke up.

....

Malibu jerked awake, sweating all over from that terrible dream, but saw himself in Ponyville; safe and sound, giving a hoarse sigh of relief. But then he remembered Applebloom, and knew he had to find her, wondering why he fell asleep at all, getting up to get his filly friend.

Upon finding Applebloom she was with Rainbow Dash who was looking at a list. "Tried that one... tried that one..." Malibu tilted his head. What had happened while he was napping? Applebloom herself looked more upset than ever and Malibu then knew it had to do with cutie marks again.

He stepped up to the two. "Uh, hi, what's been happening?" Rainbow jumped slightly but then smiled at seeing her close friend. "Been tryin' to help Applebloom get her cutie mark—" she began but Applebloom interrupted. "But so far nothing's been working!" She said in anxiety. Malibu really didn't know what could fix this now. But then felt himself get pulled into a bush, hearing Diamond and Silver Spoon come by.

"I think your new outfit is like perfect for the party," Malibu heard Silver Spoon say. Diamond smirked. "I know. It totally shows off my new cutie mark."

"Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be to be... not special?" Diamond Tiara asked then, which made Malibu's ears fall a little, imagining himself not being special before meeting his mom. "I don't even want to think about it!" Silver huffed as they went on their way while Rainbow kept reading her list. "Tried that one..."

Malibu went over to Rainbow after stepping from his hiding spot. "Hey, Dash, maybe you shouldn't overwhelm Applebloom with too many things to try out. Not saying you aren't helpful or anything," he said, as she gave him a somewhat sad look and Applebloom lowered her head. "Am doomed! Doomed! I'll never find something I'm good at!" She gave a small whimper when sitting down.

Pinkie showed up at that moment. "You'd look like you would be good at eating cupcakes!" She suggested. Malibu stared, brow raised. How was that a cutie mark talent? Applebloom though looked excited. "Eatin' cupcakes?" She said. Rainbow looked disgusted. "Eating cupcakes?" She asked too. Pinkie jumped up and down. "Eating cupcakes!" She then zipped off to Sugarcube corner.

Applebloom backed up from Dash. "I really appreciate all your help, Rainbow Dash. You're a really great coach and I really learned a lot from you and I'm sure I can learn a lot more but... I've got some cupcakes to eat! See you at the cute-ceañera!"

She ran off to join Pinkie. "Hold on Pinkie Pie! I'm comin'!" Rainbow looked pretty let down at what happened but Malibu gave her a wing hug. "Hey, it's alright, I'll go keep an eye on her but we can hang later once this gets sorted out, k?" He asked. Rainbow gave him a smile. "Sure, Mal. That be fine." Malibu flushed from his nickname again before trotting after Applebloom.

....

They entered the back door to the kitchen. Malibu glanced at the filly. "Are you sure, Applebloom?" She nodded. "Uh, yeah! I can't believe I didn't think of this; a cupcake eatin' cutie mark! It's so obvious!" Applebloom checked every drawer and the oven. "Now where are those cupcakes? I'm ready to chow down!"

Pinkie came over with a chef's hat. "I don't have any cupcakes." She revealed. Malibu scratched his head. "No cupcakes?" Before suddenly she placed a chef hat on Applebloom. "But you may be good at helping me bake some!" She squeed. Applebloom looked nervous now. "Ah suppose a makin' cupcakes cutie mark could work too..."

Suddenly Pinkie Pie began to sing, Malibu just staring as the baking chaos began.

"All you have to do is take a cup of flour

Add it to the mix

Now just take a little something sweet, not sour

A bit of salt, just a pinch

Baking these treats is such a cinch

Add a teaspoon of vanilla

Add a little more, and you count to four,

And you never get your fill of...

Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty

Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty

Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!"

They placed the cupcake batter in the oven and after a few minutes the timer rang. Their first batch during the song didn't look well but Malibu prayed this next one was a winner. Applebloom pulled the pan out but yelped when it burned her. "Hot! Hot!" She cried out. To Malibu's disappointment; the cupcakes were brown like before, not the good way.

"Ooh! Those look much better than the last batch!" Pinkie said, as she took a bite. Malibu shuddered but he hadn't tried one yet so took one as well. As he expected it tasted burned and awful, making him and Applebloom splutter and spit them out. Applebloom looked ready to cry then. "AB?" Malibu asked in a worried tone. She began walking away.

"Ah just have to face it; I'm gonna be a blank flank forever!" But then Pinkie noticed something. "What about that?" Applebloom perked up, seeing her reflection in a bowl. "What about what? Is there something on my flank? Is there, is there, is there? [gasp] A cutie mark! It's a... a measuring cup? No. A mixin' bowl? No... Are those cupcakes? A tower of cupcakes maybe."

Malibu had felt excited before Pinkie then blew a bit of flower off Applebloom's flank. "It's flour! Yay! I guessed it! What game you wanna play next? Please say bingo, please say bingo!"

Not again... Malibu thought, wondering if Applebloom would ever get her cutie mark. Twilight had appeared in the other door from the shop area. "Whoa, what has been going on in here?" She exclaimed. Malibu's face turned red again. "Er, uh..." Pinkie zipped forward with the tin of cupcakes. "We've been making cupcakes. You wanna try some?" Twilight cringed. "Er, no thank you. Not that they don't look delicious..."

"Twilight, we can explain..." Malibu started before Applebloom cut in. "Twilight, ya gotta help me!" The mulberry unicorn tilted her head. "What's the matter?"

And like before Applebloom took a deep breath. "Tiara's cute-ceañera's today and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I want to get my cutie mark but I'm no good at selling apples or hang-gliding or making cupcakes, but I wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I don't have my cutie mark, which Pinkie Pie says I can't just make appear, but I need it to appear, right now!" She finished. Twilight was still confused. "Uh, I don't follow. How can I help you?

Applebloom suddenly looked excited. "You can use your magic to make my cutie mark appear!" She suggested. Malibu's ears fell a bit. He was certain that didn't sound safe. Twilight shook her head. "Oh, no, Applebloom. A cutie mark is something a pony discovers for themselves," she stated, glancing at Pinkie Pie's. Malibu glanced at his which was Thailog's mark; the red cross, making him cringe again. He wished he wasn't a clone with this mark that his creator forced on him.

"Please Twilight! Just trah!" Begged Applebloom, hooves on Twilight's chest. Twilight's ears fell. "Well..." "Oh please, please, please please please!" AB repeated erratically making Twilight give in. "Ugh, alright alright!"

It made Malibu chuckle softly after Applebloom thanked her. Twilight pointed her horn at Applebloom's flank and shot magic, making a teddy bear mark appear. Malibu's eyes rounded. Did it work? Applebloom was happy. "Yes! I knew you could do-" her mark faded at that. "-it..." she lowered her head. Twilight looked sorry for her. "I'm sorry sweetie, I told you-"

"Try again! Try again!" Applebloom encouraged. Twilight sighed then kept on casting the spell, each cutie mark not staying permanent. Malibu never felt more sorry for Applebloom before. Applebloom seemed devastated even more than ever.

Twilight panted a bit from repeating the spell over and over. "Told you that not even magic can make a cutie mark appear before its time." She said sadly. It made Applebloom sigh and move to the entrance of the kitchen, Malibu following. "Thanks for helping, Twi," he said as she nodded.

"It's hopeless, hopeless! I just won't go to the party, I can't go. Everyone will just laugh at me and make fun of me and call me names. It will be the worst night of my life!" Applebloom whined. Twilight tried to smile assuringly. "I'm sure it won't be as bad as all that."

She shook head, but then Malibu noted where they were. "Er, AB?" He said nervously at hearing the chatter of many ponies. "No, forget it. There's just no way I'm going to that there- what?" Malibu tapped her shoulder, pointing. Applebloom finally noticed; that the party was actually being hosted at Sugarcube Corner. They were screwed.

Applebloom swallowed, as did Malibu. "Party..." she finished.

Malubu's ears fell. They had to get away! The two hid behind a chocolate pony sculpture. "How could I have forgotten the time? How could I have forgotten Pinkie Pie was hosting the party? How could I have forgotten it was at Sugarcube Corner?" She said quietly, while Malibu gazed at his cross cutie mark and gulped at the thought of it getting laughed at again. He never paid mind when with his mother but without her strangers were sure to judge him bad.

Suddenly Pinkie had placed hats on the two. "Don't forget your party hats, forgetty forgettersons!" She giggled, bouncing off into the party. Malibu inclined his head towards the door, as the two began to try and sneak their way out.

They hid under the fruit punch table and were just barely making it when who would appear at a bad time: Applejack.

"Applebloom, you made it! And Mal too! After I heard about Twist, I was afraid you wouldn't show up. I sure am glad you came to your senses about this whole cutie mark thing. These things happen when these things are supposed to happen. Trying to rush 'em just drives you crazy. I'll let you be, looks like your friends want to talk to you."

Malibu swallowed again at the sight of their rivals coming along. He knew he couldn't hide his mark but Applebloom hid her flank with the table cloth. Diamond grinned. "Well well, look who's here; the rejects. I see you still have that loser cross mark," she mocked Malibu whose ears fell a little as Silver Spoon saw AB's 'outfit'.

"Nice outfit!" She said. Applebloom looked nervous. "Uh, just somethin' I put together last minute!"

Diamond huffed. "It really shows off your cutie mark. Oh wait, I forgot! You don't have one!" Malibu really wanted to leave this place now, but it got worse when Applebloom pulled out a white lie. "Uh, Ah have one!" She said. Malibu hoof palmed himself in the face. Diamond raised her brow. "What? Since when?" Applebloom looked nervous. "Er since uh, earlier today!"

Malibu whispered. "You know that- ouch!" He winced, Applebloom kicking his leg. Diamond looked suspicious. "Oh really? Let's see it!" Malibu gave Applebloom a disapproved gaze as she tried to think of something.

"I shouldn't. I couldn't. My cutie mark is so unbelievably amazing, I'm afraid that if I show it off, everyone will start paying attention to me instead of you. Outshined at your own cute-ceañera. Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be?" She stated, much to Malibu's surprise. It wasn't that bad, to be honest, but was still a lie. Diamond looked away. "Uh, forget it. I really didn't want to see it anyway!"

Malibu's mouth dropped a bit. It worked? AB smiled. "Oh, well, I'm gonna go mingle. Enjoy your party!" She began to walk away. Malibu gave a nervous smile to the two before joining his friend.

"You know Applejack wouldn't approve of that lie, right?" He muttered softly. Applebloom nodded. "I know but we're nearly- Whoa!"

At bad timing again, she had tripped on the cloth, tripping and falling into the record player, the music stopping and the cloth falling off her flank. Malibu knew it was over now, just sitting down and looking at the floor, the bullie's laughs ringing in his head. "Oh no!" Applebloom said softly.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon snickered meanly at the two. "Wow, those are amazing cutie marks! Nice try, blank flank and mark reject!" They taunted, causing some other ponies to start laughing too. With this crowd, Malibu had a hard time standing up for himself even being an alicorn, ears falling lower.

But suddenly a new voice spoke. "You got a problem with Blank Flanks?" Demanded the voice, making everypony gasp. Malibu's ears perked at it, eyeing a pair coming into the circle; a light brown pegasus filly with a purple mane and small wings, with a white unicorn filly who had purple streaks in her curly mane. They were both glaring.

"I said; have you got a problem with blank flanks?" The pegasus demanded again. Silver Spoon huffed. "Like the problem is is that they're so not special!" The unicorn moved near to Malibu and Applebloom. The former gargoyle clone smiled shyly at the pair. "No, it means she and him are full of potential!" The white filly claimed.

The brown pegasus nodded. "It means they could be good at anything. The possibilities are like, endless!"

The white unicorn spoke up then. "She could be a great scientist or an amazing artist! She could even be mayor of Ponyville someday!" The filly put a hoof on Applebloom's shoulder who smiled. "And she's not stuck being stuck up like you two!" The pegasus teased. Diamond was shocked.

"Hey, this is my party! Why are you two on their side?"

The brown filly grinned. "Because..." they both turned to show their blank flanks, startling AB and Malibu. "You don't have your cutie marks either? I thought I was the only one!" Applebloom said in happiness.

"We thought we were the only too," said the brown filly. But Diamond wasn't done yet, next giving Malibu a dirty look making Malibu cringe again, ears flattened.

"And him? What does he have that we don't when his cutie mark isn't special?" She snipped, making Malibu's ears fall again. The brown pegasus glared at the two. "Malibu is Celestia's adopted son, and an alicorn, therefore the possible future new alicorn Prince of all of Equestria one day! He doesn't deserve these insults to put him down!" She argued back. Silver Spoon scoffed.

"Yeah, sure, 'adopted'. Only a true blood royal could rule all Equestria!"

Malibu felt himself eventually stand up, glaring now. "Mom took me in because she saw potential in me even though I wasn't born a pony. And no pony like yourselves have the right to judge others because they aren't as 'perfect' as you are!" He growled. "So leave us alone!" Twilight nodded, stepping next to Malibu. "And I for one thing you three are very lucky fillies. They still get the experience to the thrill of discovering who they are and what they're meant to be."

Applejack nudged her sister. "And they've got all the time in the world to figure it out. Not just an afternoon!" She said, winking to her.

Other fillies and colts came up to the trio of blank flanks. "Wow, Applebloom!" "I wish I could be a scientist!" "You really think I could be a mayor?"

Another with a gold crown cutie mark spoke. "Maybe I got my cutie mark too soon!" This made Diamond upset. "Hey! What's everypony doing? This is my party you're supposed to be paying attention to me!" No pony listened but Silver Spoon rolled her eyes. "Whatever. We both think you four are still losers. Right, Diamond Tiara?" She began to do their hoofshake. "Bump, Bump, sugar—! ...lump?" Diamond Tiara hadn't joined in. "Not now, Silver Spoon!" She grumbled, going upstairs.

Malibu smiled at their new little friends. "And what may your names be?" He asked, still a little shy. The brown filly looked at him. "The name's Scootaloo!" The white one nodded. "And I'm Sweetie Belle!"

Applebloom looked happy. "Applebloom! And you already know Malibu!" Malibu was confused. "How'd you know me when I never met you two?" Sweetie Belle winked. "Rarity's told me about you constantly!" The clone gargoyle's mouth fell open. "But, then you're..." Sweetie Belle giggled. "Yep! I'm her little sister!" The two then gave a small hoofshake to each other before eventually going to find a table.

As the four group of friends sat there they discussed what they should do now. Applebloom spoke up. "So, now that we're friends..." she paused. "Ah mean, we are friends, right?" Scootaloo nodded, making Malibu grin at the idea of more friends which he felt he needed. "How could we not be? We're totally alike! We don't have cutie marks, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon drive us crazy-"

Sweetie Belle cut in. "Totally crazy!" They all laughed. Malibu turned to Scootaloo. "Uh, thank you, for defending me back there. I would do it but I'm just someone who needs more assertiveness," he stated, ears flat. Scootaloo shrugged. "Was happy to do it," she said as Applebloom continued.

"So now that we're friends, what if the three of us work together to find out who we are and what we're supposed to be? With Malibu's help of course." Sweetie Belle looked excited now. "Ooh! Ooh! We can form our own secret society! We need a name for it though..."

Scootaloo thought of one. "The Cutie Mark Three?" She asked. Malibu tilted his head. Sounded fine but not quite right. Sweetie Belle had another one. "The Cutastically Fantastics?"

"Uh, don't think so," said Malibu. The name had made him cringe just slightly. But then Applebloom had the best one. "How about: The Cutie Mark Crusaders?"

The others smiled; it seemed perfect. Malibu nodded. "Sounds cool!" He stated, while his little friends cheered over it. Scootaloo brought a cupcake out. "Let's say we celebrate over some of these delicious cupcakes?" She was about to eat it then Malibu recalled the cupcake incident and figured some of the bad ones got out here somehow. Applebloom stopped her though. "Not the cupcakes! Trust me!"

"Let's see if there's any cookies!" Sweetie Belle suggested. Malibu agreed about the cookies after feeling a little nauseous about the burnt cupcakes. Happy music played with the others dancing as the little group went to find their reward.

Later that day Twilight had written to Princess Celestia about the Crusaders's friendship lesson.

"Dearest Princess Celestia, I am happy to report that one of your youngest subjects has learned a valuable lesson about friendship. Sometimes, the thing you think will cause you to lose friends and feel left out..."

Back in Canterlot...

Celestia finished reading the letter, still missing having her son snuggled to her nearby. "...can actually be the thing that helps you make your closest friends and realize how special you are." She gazed then at her sun cutie mark and hummed in thought, hoping her beloved son was still doing well in that little village of Ponyville.