>>122775629“Okay,” said Sweetie Belle, banging her forehoof on the clubhouse podium. “Uh, first order of business… are we officially the worst at getting cutie marks?”
“What do you mean?” Asked Scootlaoo, looking a little offended.
“Well, it’s just…” Sweetie Belle sighed, “Out of everyone in our age group, what’s the latest anyone else got their cutie marks?”
“Uh, it was that karate guy, right?” Said Applebloom.
“It’s pronounced karate gi,” said Scootlaoo, rolling her eyes.
“No, I mean that colt with the martial arts cutie mark,” said Applebloom. “He was, like, fourteen I think?”
“Exactly,” said Sweetie Belle. “Ever since we were fillies, we’ve done nothing but try and get our cutie marks, Except for those eighteen months where we figured, "maybe trying too hard was the problem," and we all stopped caring about our cutie marks. That didn’t work either! And now we’re all - well, Scootlaoo’s nineteen, but Applebloom and I are eighteen, so…” She threw up her forehooves. “Aren’t you two as embarrassed about it as I am?”
“Well, a little,” said Applebloom. “But my family’s been real supportive. I mean, us three ain’t lazy or dumb or nothin’ - and heck, even dumb and lazy ponies usually get their cutie marks on time, give or take. Whatever’s wrong with us, it ain’t really our fault. No more’n it’s a pony’s fault for needin’ glasses or a wheelchair.”
“That’s… a really good attitude, Applebloom,” said Sweetie Belle. For a moment, she just stared out the clubhouse window, then she looked back at the podium. “Okay,” she said, “Well, today we’re talking to Spike. There’s still a lot ponies don’t know about dragons, and Spike’s been sort of a liaison to Dragon Lord Ember, so maybe we can get cutie marks in… dragon studies, dragon biology or culture… something like that!”
