A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

Next Lessons: Cutie Pox

S2 E6 Everypony! May The Best Pet Win is up next!

....

One day found Malibu hanging out with the CMCs again, this time at a bowling alley to see if his little friends would get their cutie marks here. Applebloom looked excited for the challenge. "Today's the day, Cutie Mark Crusaders! I can just feel it! Today's the day we're all gonna get our cutie marks in... bowling!" She gestured to the bowling lane behind her.

Malibu watched the others cheer, Sweetie Belle holding her bag in her mouth, spitting it out and cheering better. "Yay!"

"I hope you really do get them here this time, and I've never played bowling before," Malibu said, feeling somewhat eager to try this out. Scootaloo's jaw dropped. "You serious?! Have you been living under a rock or something?" Malibu blushed, Applebloom stepping in front of him. "Not ta worry, I can show him how. We can show him how and maybe get our cutie marks finally!"

The teal alicorn liked that idea. "But, when you get them, you won't be called the Cutie Mark Crusaders anymore," He pointed out. The three fillies realized he had a point. Applebloom had a name idea. "Yeah, we will be... the Three Strikes!"

Scootaloo frowned. "That makes us sound like we've struck out," She said grumpily, Malibu wondering what that meant, but then had baseball back from Manhattan come to mind. Applebloom thought some more. "Hmmm... how 'bout The Pin Twins?"

Malibu didn't quite get that name either. "Uh, there's three of you," He said, making Applebloom flush, coming up with something else again. "Ok, then. Um. The Bowling Dolls!"

The other two fillies cheered for that name. "Perfect!" Scootaloo complimented, Malibu looked forward to trying out this 'bowling' thing. "Alrighty then, let's bowl 'em over!"

...

Inside it was busy. He could see other ponies playing in their own bowling lanes. The group got their bowling lane and balls.

Malibu lifted up his with his magic. "So... what do I do?" He asked. Scootaloo pointed down the lane to the pins. "Just roll it down the aisle and hit those pins down there." The alicorn/gargoyle gulped a little, nodding, using his magic and threw the ball down the lane.

He watched it making its way along, eyes wide, but it wound up being in one of the gutters, not hitting the pins at all. Malibu's ears lowered. Applebloom patted his shoulder. "Good try, Mal. Sweetie, your turn!" Sweetie Belle nudged her ball with her nose, but that one didn't hit anything either.

Scootaloo kicked her ball that nearly hit other players, and ended up in the gutter. Malibu felt really embarrassed, everypony else looking at them like they were the worst bowlers ever, hoping Applebloom won't miss.

Applebloom picked up her ball with her mouth that looked heavy. She staggered along, spitting it out down the lane, and the group heard it hit the pins, startling Malibu. It was a strike.

He felt himself smiling, as everypony cheered, Applebloom looking excited as another pony spoke up. "Cool! A bowling cutie mark!" Applebloom looked around. "I did it! I did it!" But Malibu didn't see anything. "Uh, AB? Don't see a cutie mark," He said in a somewhat disappointed voice. Her face fell. "Still blank?"

They all saw another colt showing off his bowling ball and pin cutie mark, looking rather pleased with himself. "But... But... what about my ball?" Malibu tilted his head over to their lane, and she saw it rolling ever so slowly. Malibu cringed, seeing it lightly bump against the pin. Not too good.

"Sorry," He tried to apologize to his little friend, but Applebloom had a very depressed look, wandering out of the alley, not wanting to play anymore. Malibu, rather disappointed he couldn't play further, knew his friend's feelings came first so he followed her, Sweetie and Scootaloo out.