A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

Map Lessons: Bloom and Gloom

In the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse, Malibu along with his CMC friends all gathered again for one of their usual meetings.

Applebloom knocked her hoof on the stand they had. "Hear ye, hear ye! This meeting of the Cutie Mark Crusaders is now in session! Who wants to do a roll-call?" She asked.

Malibu, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo all looked around, confused since there weren't that many of them. "Er, I think this is about all of us available." Malibu said with a grin.

Sweetie Belle nodded. "Applebloom, what's this all about?" She asked. Applebloom gave a little grin. "Oh, nothing..." She held out a surprise paper note, her eyes excited. "Except this letter from Babs Seed saying she's got her cutie mark!" She squealed. The other three stared, Malibu remembering Babs Seed from the Apple Family Reunion. This was a shocking surprise for him. "Wow, really?" He exclaimed, Applebloom nodding.

"Yeah, she says it's a pair of scissors." Applebloom revealed, showing an image of the cutie mark on the note.

Scootaloo stroked her cheek, obviously really confused. "So... she's good at cutting stuff?" She asked, making Malibu chuckle. "It means she'll be a mane stylist." He explained, making her nod in understanding.

Sweetie Belle had a really big grin on her muzzle. "Of course! She was always fussing with her bangs and tail! I'll bet she'll grow up to be a celebrity stylist!" She squealed, now almost fan-girling.

Applebloom though was now looking a little skeptical even though she liked her cousin getting a cutie mark. "But, if she spends all her time cutting hair, who's gonna run the Manehattan CMCs?" She asked, worry on her face.

"That is gonna be a bit challenging." Malibu realized, hoping that the other colts in Manehattan will somehow do okay without their CMC helper. Scootaloo shook her head. "Well, not Babs. She can't be a Cutie Mark Crusader if she's already got her cutie mark." She stated.

Applebloom got down from the stand, sitting on her haunches. "Oh, wow, I guess you're right." She breathed, her ears falling.

Sweetie Belle herself was also looking worried. "I'm glad she's happy, but I sure wouldn't want to be up to my flank in mane hair all day. Can you imagine getting stuck with a cutie mark you didn't like?" She asked.

Applebloom's fell from that, sitting down, letting some small fear grow inside her from the thought. "Uh... no. or at least I hadn't." She admitted softly, rubbing her foreleg.

Sweetie Belle tried to cheer her up. "Don't worry, Applebloom. Most of your family has apple-related cutie marks. I bet yours will be too. And what's not to like about apples?"

Before Malibu could stop her, Scootaloo began to answer almost instantly. "There's the core, and sour apples, and rotten apples, and apples with worms in them—." Malibu nudged her gently, shaking his head no. "What?" She asked. "Seriously not helping." Malibu said, gesturing to Applebloom who was now shaking hard, frozen.

"Congrats, guys, you just gave her a meltdown." Malibu snapped, stepping closer to Applebloom, the other two looking guilty. Sweetie Belle though had a question. "What about you, Mal? You just came into this world with a cutie mark, do you even know your special talent?" She asked.

Malibu glanced down at his red cross cutie mark, shrugging. "Dunno. This has been a part of me since Thailog created me. I guess now in this world it represents my Element; love." He said, a little smile on his muzzle.

The other two CMCs looked at one another before going along with his words. "Well, at least you aren't that fussed." Scootaloo commented.

The teal alicorn began to lead Applebloom back home, who was still shaking. "Gotta get this girl home, but I'll see you guys later." He said, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo waving in response.