Bramble Rose

"such hard working ponies... would you guys like some ice cream?" * BrambleRose nods happily. "Oh, yes please!" * Skye licks his lips. "Oh, certainly!" Oh yeah, sounds tasty! *snickers a little but quietly* * Djemba shakes her head. "I'll pass." 'You got any blueberry?' Blue Moon... Blue Moon is one of my favorites... I'll take some Passion Fruit if you have any~ * Skye oohs! "A double on Blueberry too, if I may?" "allright! just lemme go get my cart.." Sherbet trots outside towards her cart and tries to pull it close tot the entrance, but finds it much heavier than usual. "...what the hay?" the filly walks up to the door and lets out a loud scream, due to the fact that a giant polar bear's head pops out! * MudBuggy blinks at the polar bear. * BrambleRose jumps up and spins around as Sherbet screams, ready to help... ... ... Whu? *snickers and trots off* *walks out and sees the bear* Holy guacamole! * Skye frazzles and dashes back inside the bathhouse! * MudBuggy grins and tackles the polar bear. the white bear lets out a light grunt, clearly not pleased with his current situation "oh no! what happened to you, snowflake?" * Robikku-Pegasus watches from his front door with a small look of bemusement, before shrugging and heading back inside... THAT'S little ol Snowflake...what happened * MudBuggy blinks as she's sat on Snowflake and looks at the polar bear and then Sherbet. 'This is yours?' * Sherbet nods. "he's my friend and helper...but I don't know how he got so big all of a sudden!" Snowflake tries to look up at mudbug *looks around* Hey...wasn't DC here a bit ago? * MudBuggy blinks down at Snowflake. * BrambleRose steps forward, pickingup the last bottle of the poison joke cure. "Good thing he took off, cause this morning used up the whole supply!" *pours it over the polar bear's head* Knowin DC though I'm sure he'll be back Snowflake lets out a few grunts towards Sherb, as if communicating with her. the filly tilts her head in confusion. "huh? what do you mean this happened after eating some of the ice cream?" she notices bramble pouring the bottle onto the polar bear's head, who suddenly shrinks back down into his normal size. the sudden size change would have dragged mud into the cart if she was not fast enough. I hope not! He got me with poison joke *twice* this morning! * MudBuggy falls into the cart and pulls her head out, eyes swirling. That kid keeps a stash of that stuff *shakes head* I just want to...gah....he really ruffles my wingfeathers. * BrambleRose offers MudBug a hoof. "Are both of you fillies all right?" * Sherbet gasps lightly "so it was poison joke?" she offers to help mudbug out as well. snowflake suddenly climbs onto mud's back, as there wasn't much room to get out. * MudBuggy makes her way out with Bramble's house and rubs her head. 'M'fine.' *watching from the woods* * BrambleRose sighs. "I guess that means the ice cream got all ruined by polar bear squishing it..." *to himself in the woods* Blast, scratch that idea off the list, stupid bear * Robikku-Pegasus comes back out from his own house, and stretches both back and front legs before shaking himself down and looking around for a brief moment. " Guess I should see what everypony else is up to...not like I'm doing much as it is. " * Sherbet peers into the cart and shakes her head. "most of the ice cream got smooshed... the rest seems to have been covered with that poison joke stuff..." she sighs. "all that ice cream..." * BrambleRose awwwws... "Tasty ice cream isn't worth the poison joke..." What a waste... Better that it got smooshed, had that gotten out, coulda been trouble * MudBuggy pouts faintly. *pats Muddy* Would you rather have eaten some poison joke ice cream I guess it was a good thing... I would have gone out of business if that heppened!

*flips end over end* OOF! * Inkwell smiles and waves at Mudbug. "Never thought I'd see you here!" * MudBug glances over at Djemba and DC. 'Is he acting up AGAIN?' * MudBug waves at Inkwell. * Djemba buries her face in her hooves. "Sadly, yes, Muddy." When isn't he acting up? *pops his neck and shakes off the makeup, splatting a large amount onto Mudbug* 'The spa asked if I could find some mineral mud and I was all too happy to help -that- way.' * Skye trots out of the bathhouse. Or at least, something vaguely peryton-shaped does. It's hard to tell what his original color was, he seems to have them all. * Inkwell oohs. "Interesting." * MudBug blinks at the makeup splatted one her and shakes herself like a dog. * Djemba glances at Skye and does a doubletake. * Djemba bursts out laughing. "Skye! You're a rainbow Peryton!" * Skye glances down at himself. "Oh, ponyfeathers. This is going to take -ages- to get out." he looks back to the shop and fairly wilts. "Oh, the lotus sisters are going to kill me." Hmph, *sneaks and pours some Poison Joke extract into Sherbet's Icecream Cart when nopony's looking* * MudBug blinks at Skye and raises a hoof to politely stop herself from laughing. * Inkwell smiles and does the same. * Skye hangs his head and looks incredibly embarassed. * Sherbet , now cured from her poison joke and covered in mud, lets out a light sigh. "ah... that feels much better..." she looks at herself. "but now I'm all dirty!" * Djemba puts a hoof on Skye's shoulder. "I'm certain we can clear things up." * Skye ends up with a good hoof-shaped smudge on his shoulder, and now Djemba's got a loud of random colors on the bottom of her foot. "At this rate, I'd be happy just to be opaque!" * MudBuggy glances around the Spa fearfully for a moment. * Djemba leads Skye back inside to the bath. * MudBuggy goes outside and gives herself a well earned dust bath. * Skye follows back inside. Of course, getting -him- clean is a drop in the bucket compared to what's going to have to be done to the bathhouse! He certainly hopes there's enough water nearby, every time he gets in, he turns a slightly different color! * Djemba watches Skye. "Hmm, I rather like the purple on you." (Skye chased DC into the spa, ran into a tower of freshly-delivered make-up, of course spilling it everywhere. Skye sneezed. The Spa looks like a Picasso.") *brushes off the last of the makeup* Feh, useless creature *shakes dry* * Sherbet shakes as much mud as she could and goes to get her (joke-filled) cart, pulling it towards the spa. she then leaves it outside and walks into the establishment. "where do I ask fo-..." she tilts her head, unsure of what happened in there. * MudBuggy peers at DC. * Skye looks down as the water changes random colors, the deep royal purple fading to a lighter lilac. "You think so? But it's so embarassing being a whole different color." * BrambleRose steps inside with everyone else, looking aroundwith wide eyes.. "Oh dear..." he says... "This is a mess..." *makes faces at the ponies who went in to clean up the spa* * MudBuggy whistles slightly at all the colours and moves to mop up some with her tail. See ya Ink! *kicks back under a tree and watches the ponies cleaning up and laughs* * BrambleRose picks up a cloth and starts scrubbing alongside Muddy. Despite DC's laughing, he actually seems rather content to be helpful like this. ( Thus why she thinks Bramble looks pretty? ) * Skye fidgets. "Oooh, when I get my hooves on that colt, I...I...I dunno what I'm gonna do, it's hard when he won't sit still!" he steps out of the tub now his original blue, though with a huge white smudge between his eyes. "Oh dear." he looks around. Hopefully they can clean this up before the Lotus sisters get back from...wherever they went! * MudBuggy nods to Bramble and moves to the door, flicking her tail clean outside with a long spray of makeup aimed at DC. "oh my... what a mess... what happened here?" she looks at the other ponies in the spa. ACK! *jumps out of the way as the spray of makeup hits the tree* WATCH IT DUSTBUCKET! * Djemba turns to Sherbet. "It's....a long story." * MudBuggy snickers at Dark Core and trots back in to scrub the rest of the floors with her tail. * Skye grabs a mop with his teeth and begins helping clean up the mess as best he is able. Somewhat awkward, working with tools meant for ponies, but he manages. * BrambleRose smiles and giggles at MudBug's antics... he noses something out of his saddlebags and tosses a tiny seed at MudBug. it lodges into the mud in her hair, and blossoms into a lovely flower growing in her mane. *peeks into the spa* Woooah, looks like I missed a groovy party You don't know the half of it, Dub. * MudBuggy blinks in suprise at the flower in her mane and chuckles.

* BrambleRose meets Djemba and Sherbert on the way to the spa. He puts down the basket and greets them with a smile. "Hey there, fillies! I picked up something for you! Anti-joke!" *offers bottles* Hooray! My hero! *hugs Bramble* What did the Poison Joke do to you? * Inkwell emerges from the spa looking like a million bits. * BrambleRose blushes at the hug... then blanches at the question. "You ... didn't notice any difference?" he asks... * Sherbet eeeps as she suddenly dragged my djemba, leaving a trace of sweat as she was pulled. "I don't wanna turn into a pony puddle! oh what a horrible way to go!" I didn't see you earlier, no. What did it do to you? * BrambleRose *ohs* "Um... it's... not important... " * Skye heys! "Get back here, you!" he turns and starts to chase Darkie down the road. "Yer getting a bath, too!" Although....I did see another filly earlier. *shows Djemba the pic he snapped earlier* That's what happens to 'her' *snicker* ACK! *runs off from Skye* Wait a sec....that was you! * Djemba suppresses laughter. "Well, that Poison Joke sure knows how to joke around." * Skye doesn't actually -catch- Darkie, of course, but the thrill of the run is easy to get caught up in. "Woo hoo hoo!" he cries from behind the colt. "I'm gonna getcha, gonna getcha, then I'm gonna wetcha!" * BrambleRose *squirms* and ducks his head, the delicate little colt writhing in embarassment... *skids and turns, using Bramble as a jumping board* * Skye bounds over Bramble in a single graceful leap, flaring his wings to catch himself in a bit of a glide before landing again and continuing the chase towards...the spa? * BrambleRose *acks* and finds himself face-planted into the dust. * Djemba hugs Bramble. "It's okay, we all have embarrassing moments." *comes to a skid outside the Spa* ACK! *turns and tries to run again* * Inkwell sighs, enamored with his shiny, fragrant mane. "I simply must visit again." * Djemba smiles. "You did look quite beautiful earlier as a filly, though, I must say." That can be arranged *runs by and pours some extract on Inky* * BrambleRose blushes some more. "Ah... I... um..." He has *no* idea how to respond to the hug and the compliment... * Skye ends up running into DC, bowling him over as they tumble into the doors of the spa, a blue and white whirlwind clattering and tussling. Of course, somewhere in there are giggles. * Inkwell perks his ears. "Who are you talking ab-" His eyes snap shut again. "SON OF A MARE!" *flails* GET OFFA ME YOU CREEPY DEER! *kicks and flails to no use* * Djemba facepalms "Not again." * Skye ends up in yet another pile of...more blush. Now they both end up looking like Rainbow Dash, covered with foundation and multicolored powders. Skye sneezes, sending sparks. Sneezes again! Bah *coughs and hacks* * Skye starts to inhale deeply, of course, getting more of the powder in his nose. This one's gonna be a doozy! * Inkwell furrows his brow and marches up to DC. "Young colt, just what do you think you're doing?" Too bad he's looking ten feet away from him. * Djemba trots over to Inkwell and pours one of the bottles over his head. That should solve things. GAH! *covers his face as Skye preps a sneeze* * Inkwell blinks and wipes his face. "Much obliged." * Skye sneezes. Of course, from outside, that's not what it looks like. Suddenly, where the spa was, is a technicolor nightmare that appears to be celebrating its own fourth of July. When the dust clears, the building is unharmed, but both Skye and DC are -covered- in the stuff. * BrambleRose *whews* as he no longer has the filly telling him how beautiful he was as a filly, himself... *last* time that happened, he ended up in frills... he picks up another bottle of anti-joke and pours it over Sherbert... bah gack huff *wheeze* * Skye rubs his nose, smearing the powder everywhere, but at least the sneezes have stopped for the time being. "Excuse me." *kicks Skye in the shin then runs out of the spa* * Djemba confronts DC outside You little monster! * Inkwell looks around at the proceedings and blinks a few more times. A small giggle escapes him. *Skids to a halt* Flattery will get you everywhere! *turns to run again* * MudBug (Mibbit@91.105.100.12) has joined #EquestriaForums * Djemba tackles DC Hey guys ^^ GACK! *is pinned* * Sherbet is still sweating, trying to look around under her drenched mane. "can't anyone help me? I can't stand this heat!" And where do you think you're going? Away, where else *struggles* * Djemba sits on DC. "Skye's done this before, and now it's my turn." * MudBug blinks at Sherbert and chucks some mud. 'Here!' 'Mud is the -best- way to cool down.' UGH! GET OFFA ME! YOU'RE HEAVIER THAN HE IS TOO! *flails and laughs* * Djemba sighs and lets him up Now calm yourself!

.....You need a breath mint * Skye just keeps staaaaaaaaaring. Ever seen a deer blink? Outta my face *bops Skye in the eye* * Skye ows! "Hey! That wasn't nice. And here I was, going to buy you a muffin and everything." Creepazoid * Djemba hits DC over the noggin with a drumstick. "Don't do that to Skye!" OW! *holds head* * Djemba harumphs. "Serves you right." * Skye shakes a hoof at DC. "Ooh, if I had fingers, I'd give you such a pinch!" Psh, whatever, Miss Couldn't-hold-a-beat-in-a-bucket, heheheh, and shoo you creepy thing *kicks dust at Skye* * Sherbet starts sweating even more. "gyah! it's even hotter out here!" she runs about the area, unable to see due to her drenched hair over her eyes. "help! I'm meeeelting!" Hey! I'd like to see you be a drummer, DarkCore! Then we'd see who can hold a beat * Skye reaches out and nabs DC's tail! "Aff It! Off er oo ond iff oo!" Drummer is the lowest rank in a band's hierarchy~ Argh, perhaps later, though. *grabs Sherbet and hauls her off to the spa* Did I say that I was just a drummer? I can also play guitar, keyboards, and flute. If there were four of me, I could be my own band. Oooh so your multi-talentless * Djemba grrrrs. "Don't...tempt....me...." * Skye starts to drag DC towards the pond he was dancing in earlier. Of course, he's not exactly the -biggest- deer there is, but surely even he's got a coupla pounds on Darkie. Hahahahah *yanks his tail out of Skye's mouth* GET OFF!

* Inkwell got turned around and is heading roughly spa-wards. * BrambleRose helps Inkwell get to the spa... * Inkwell smiles and follows Bramble. "Thanks. So I got hit with Poison Joke, then?" * BrambleRose mmm-hmms. "We both did," she replies. "Just gotta get a good bubble-bath. Lady at the spa says business is booming... whoever's spreading the Poison Joke around lately is a real hero!" * Inkwell snorts. "Blinding me is hardly a heroic action. * BrambleRose hehs... "Well, her words, not mine." She stays touching up against Inkwell's side so she can guide him along the streets. *laughs* Ahhh the sweet sounds of chaos~ * Inkwell chuckles. "Naturally. If only the cure was getting your portrait done, I'd share her opinion." Oh? You do portraits? * Inkwell nods. "I'm an artist, darling. I draw and paint for a living." He turns his head. "Feels like we're indoors now." * Djemba runs up to Inkwell. "I think I saw some of your pieces in a gallery once." * BrambleRose *nods* "Yup!" *guides Inkwell to a bath." Another two, Lily! *lets Inkwell get in first* "And I hope I can see your paintings once you can see again!" * Inkwell smiles and blushes. "That was a red letter day for sure," he says as he lowers himself into the bath. He dips his head below the surface and opens them a crack once he reemerges. "Ah, sweet sight, how I missed you." * BrambleRose *giggles*, and then the little filly jumps into the bath next to Inkwell. The colt comes up, gives his mane a shake. "Ahhh... back to myself again." * Inkwell drapes his forelegs over the side of the tub. "I suppose I might as well get the full spa treatment as long as I'm here." * BrambleRose hops out of the tub, smiles up to Inkwell. "You do that. I gotta get this stuff back to the others..." *picks up a small basket full of bottles, prances on out of the spa*

Prior antics to this log involves Poison Joke getting spread all over. Dark Core turned pink and fluffy. Skye kept dancing everywhere - but didn't gain the skill to go with it. DubStep couldn't talk over a whisper without his voice cracking. Bramble Rose turned into a filly. The spa was visited, and all were cured. *pours some extract on Skye, Bramble and Djemba* * Skye suddenly perks right up. "Suddenly, I'm delicious!" * BrambleRose *aiyeeeeees* "Nuuuu! Why do you keep hitting me with that stuff!?" she cries. * Skye goes around and starts licking himself until his tongue is purple. * Inkwell get some blown on him too, thanks to a sudden draft. He blinks, and finds himself unable to open his eyes again. "Oh dear." *cackles like a madpony* Wait, what's on me? * Djemba shakes it off what's going on? * Skye starts licking DC, too, adding random purple swaths. Of course, whatever he happens to injest, ends up on the colt, too.. GAH GET OFFA ME! *flails* * Djemba tries to drum, but can't hold a beat. "NOOOO" * Inkwell tries to walk and stumbles. "Where is everypony?" * Skye moves on to licking the trees. "Mmmmph! Feefs Treefs Are Deficiofs!" * Djemba raises hoof. "Curse you, Poison Joke!" *turns pink and fluffy again* BLAST IT ALL! Now I have to steal more bubble bath! * Djemba runs to the spa to get bathed Heeeeee * Inkwell heads in the direction of the voices he hears and nearly runs into DC. "Oh, pardon me!" * BrambleRose runs along with Djemba! Watch it! *pushes Ink towards Bramble* * Sherbet hides in her ice cream cart, unsure of what is going on * Skye follows along, licking things along the way. The rock, a fence post, an apple or two, Miss Mayor, the fountain *splush*... * Inkwell collides with Bramble, rising unsteadily to his feet again. "So embarrassing..." *runs to the spa and steals some more bubble bath* * Skye dunks his head in the bubble bath. *comes back normal* Hmph... * Inkwell wanders off in the wrong direction, towards Sugarcube Corner. * Sherbet pokes her head out of her cart. "is the apocalipse over?" Heh, as long as I'm around HAVOC SHALL REIGN! hide your foals, hide your mares, hide your stallions, cause they're joking everybody out there! * Skye comes back, his head an atrocious wet mess, but at least he's not licking anything anymore. Eyes DC. *sneaks and pours some Poison Joke on Sherbet* * Sherbet eeps and hides back inside her cart, but not before being coated by the extract Don't hurt him Skye! * Skye shakes his head dry. "Oh, I wouldn't -hurt- him..." * Skye trots up to DC and just stands there. Staring at him. Give him the lazy eye! *glances at Skye* How's it goin twinkle toes * Skye just stands there, and keeps looking at DC. "Oh, quite nicely, Princess. You?" * Skye 's got that deer eyes thing going. @_@ ...Shoo you're creepin me out * Skye doesn't move, though. Sloooooowly turns his head one way. * Sherbet jumps out of her cart, wet and sweating "why is it so hot in my freezer?!" she pants. *glares at Skye* You're a real creep you know that.... * Skye turns his head around, and looks at DC upsidedownishly, before turning back the other way. All the time, keeping his eyes on the colt. Edges sloooooowly closer. Go bug someone else *shoos* * Skye turns his head back around the right way, but in the process ends up being nose to nose with DC. Looking. Right. At him. "Behave yourself."

Ah. I haven't watched the cartoon... just thought it'd be the superboy that could fly with his tactile telekinesis.

Sweetie Belle's entire form sagged with disappointment. "But I was actually *good* at this one!" she said sadly. "I had fun with it, and even made a song for it and everything!" She let out a regretful little sigh and trudged out of the mud pit. "Ah well... better get back to the boutique, my big sister's going to help me get some stuff together for the Cutie Mark Crusaders picnic!" She smiled back to MudBug and ducked her head slightly. "Thank you for letting me help you with the garden!" she said cheerfully, then turned to prance away energetically, little bits of mud falling from the usually immaculate lil' foal as she headed in the direction of the even more immaculate Carousel Boutique.

Great to meet you, Inkwell! Met you in chat, looking forward to seeing you in the RP section of the boards!

Not a problem. I don't personally mind if people draw it all differently, but when folks actually say they want to - hey, I'll share thoughts!

Heh... great work there! One question, though - Shouldn't Supes be a Pegasus, what with the flying and all?

*snrk*snicker*snrk* Yup. What buxy said.

Sweetie Belle shook her head. "Nuuooooooo, she just doesn't think I can help!" she pouts. She gives a good, solid *stomp* in the mud, sending splatters up all over the place, totally unaware that MudBug was caught up in a terrifying daymare of feminine entrapment. But at the comment of the mud, she was reminded suddenly of why she was doing this in the first place. "Oh! That's right! Did I get my cutie mark?" She turns around, trying to get a good look at her flank. "Look, look!" she cried excitedly, quivering with anticipation. "There's something muddy there! What is it, what is it, what is it!"

Sweetie Belle's song ended with a startled *squeak* at the clopping for her silly little song, and MudBug's energetic praise. "O-oh," she mumbled. "Ah... I ... " her cheeks flushed pink with her embarassment. "Oh, it's... just a little something I ... just made up. It's nothing." She squirmed with shyness. But at the next question, she let out an exasperated sigh. "No, my big sister won't let me help at *all*! She just tells me to go stand over somewhere 'out of the way'!" She gave the cutest little pout at that. "How am I supposed t'grow up to be a big fancy fashion designer just like her if she never lets me help?"

Well,thta's sure the opposite of what I'm used to seeing with pony art! I think Twilight looks best as a Pheonix.

I like the design, and the lines are nice and smooth. Since you mentioned 'pony anatomy' - the 'notches' in the back legs should be higher up. Also, pegasus wings are smaller - four primary feathers, three secondary feathers. Only the Royals have wings as you drew them.

Sweetie Belle smiled happily at Scootaloo's support. Somehow, she always felt better, braver, when Scootaloo and Apple Bloom were around, and helping. She still felt scared, and worried, but she could deal with it. She smiled up to the mare who brought Grim up to them. "Oh, well, it wasn't so much 'invited' as he happened along! We're planning how to get our cutie marks, and he doesn't really need to worry about that, but he certainly can have half of one of our cupcakes for helping us out and being so brave against that big bully! There's always plenty to share!" She let out a bright and happy smile directed towards Grim, the little white unicorn always happy to meet new friends. "And besides, my big sister says that a proper lady is always ready to act as hostess to any guest who might come along!"

Sweetie Belle pranced merrily through the mud, and she had to admit that it was kinda fun, squishing through the wet gooey muck in nice neat rows. She nodded, listening politely, but what was really running through her head was a little music, turning it into a song, the words tumbling over each other much like the globs of mud flying from her hooves. She didn't even mind when MudBug smeared mud all over her side. And as usual when a song bubbled up inside her, she just *had* to open up her muzzle to sing it softly. o/~ Blub glub plop, little squishy mudpit, squelch underhoof as I trot all around! Blub glub plop, little squishy mudpit! what is as fun as this wet sticky ground? Blub glub plop, when the rain has fallen, your soothing gloop sends your worries away Blub glub plop, while the sun is burnin' you still stay wet and and cool all the day! Blub, glub, plip, plop! o/~ Her hooves squished through the mud in merry counterpoint to the song bubbling softly up from her throat, her eyes lightly closed as she just enjoyed the warm sun, the cool mud, and the merry music that was always a part of her.

Oh my! ** And Sweetie Belle is *completely* unaware of *any* of this!

Hrm. then you'll want neutral shoes... picturing blue jeans above those shoes... best with blue jeans would be Luna's or Twilight's. I think Twilight's would look best for those who don't know what the shoes mean.

How do I pick which shoes are best when I don't know what you're going to wear them with?!

So, we're all MLP fans here, we're unashamed of our love... but how do you tentatively probe RL to see if there's any kindred spirits out there? For instance, at work the other day, someone brought in cupcakes. I took one of them, enjoyed them, thanked them for the cupcakes, and then said, "Could use some hot sauce." Just passed it off as a joke when they didn't catch the reference. And, of course, "20% cooler" is a sure-fire code-word.

Sweetie Belle couldn't help but giggle at MudBug's quiet comment, her nose ducking and her shoulders hunching up sweetly. She stopped as her front hoof squelched into the mud, and lifted it up, the hoof covered in brown muck. She lowered her head to peer uncertainly first at her hoof, then at the churned, wet garden patch. She lowered her hoof once more, feeling the mud squish beneath her hoof. "My name's Sweetie Belle!" she informed MudBug cheerfully, as she took another step into the mud, then another. Once all four hooves were muddy, though, she seemed to lose her reservations, prancing daintily through the mud. The little foal kept her head high, and her posture pristine, as she traipsed through the mud, making 'getting muddy' seem proper and lady-like.

Sweetie Belle looked up at Dark Core in confusion, her little brow furrowed. "But... you did..." she sniffles, confused. "You called me useless... " She let out a whuffle, shook her head. Then she straightened up, taking a deep breath. "You stay away from the cutie mark crusaders!" she cried, suddenly feeling stronger now. She wanted her cutie mark, true, but she wasn't the most sensative about it. Apple Bloom, depsite how tough the little farm foal was, had been far more hurt at not having her cutie mark. And she wouldn't let him hurt her friends! "Apple Bloom doesn't need you making her feel bad just because she doesn't have her cutie mark, either! You come near Scootaloo or Apple Bloom and I'll... I'll... I'll give you such a kicking!" She turned her back on Dark Core, kicked her hind hoof at the dirt, sending up a little puff of dust, and dismissed him with a toss of her stylish mane. "Come along, Miss ... um ... " she said. As usual, when times were tough, she resorted to trying to act like how she imagined Rarity would act. "Miss whoeveryouare. We are ladies, and a lady does not allow a bully to make her lose her composure. You were telling me about your gardening work?"

Sweetie Belle sniffed sadly, pressing up against MudBug's leg, her head tucked underneath the larger mare. "I'm not useless!" she pouted. She was used to other foals picking on her like that, but she'd never had an adult tell her she was useless, before... "Why do the bullies always say we're useless just 'cause we don't have our cutie mark yet?" She sniffled again, then her back stiffened. "Well, I'm *not* useless!" Her voice raised as she yelled at the departing Dark Core, her tiny hoof stamping the ground petulantly, her stylish pink and lavender mane bouncing with the ferocity of her tiny rage. "You're just a big bully! A big bully just like all the other bullies who pick on us for having a blank flank! Well, I don't care! Cause I could have *any* cutie mark! Any cutie mark I want! And when I get it, it'll be awesome! You were probably *first* in your class to get *your* cutie mark! And that's why you're so mean!" Then she ducked her head and hid under MudBug again, sniffling. "I'm not useless..." she mumbled...