The Late Cutie Marks (Sign up)

[MinorityBat]

Twilight's ears perked up at the arrival of another visitor. "Wow. I can't remember the last time this place was so busy!" With a knowing look, Spike got the door. "Before you say anything," he said to them in earnest, "Yes, we're open."

All of a sudden, Zakona noticed something. Whoever this new stallion was, he was a unicorn, and without a cutiemark at that.  The capony blinked, astonished. Until this moment, she had never been around so many ponies who shared the same anomaly as she, and she found it to be quite the incredible coincidence.

Three ponies without cutiemarks? What the hay is going on?! She thought, observing the newcomers at a frantic pace.

Oh well. At least I can finally sing the song of my people.

Eventually, she wondered how Twilight Sparkle and Spike were reacting and turned to face them. The alicorn looked like she was having a tough time processing the scene, and the baby dragon looked no better. An awkward silence filled the room, but the earth mare was too busy dealing with her own insecurities to break it.

"Um..." Twilight murmured, casting her gaze around the room. "So... all of you didn't get your cutiemarks?"

Zakona finally decided to speak up, regretting her awkwardness the second it became apparent in her voice. "I guess so."

"Hey, Twilight... do you know of some way we could... fix that?"

"Well..." The princess began to pace the library floor as she puzzled over the situation, narrowing her purple eyes in concentration. "Aw, not again," Spike sighed. "I'll go call the contractors." He disappeared into the next room. Contractors? What... Suddenly, Twilight giggled, interrupting Zakona's reverie. "He was referring to the time I paced so much, I put a groove in the floor." She turned to the remaining members of the group, an apologetic look on her face.

"I'm sorry, everypony, but I doubt I'll be much help. I was thinking of the time I tried to assist my friend's kid sister, Applebloom, in getting her cutiemark. Magic didn't work. And we found out potions didn't either, thanks to her." Twilight smiled. "All I can do is give you all a book on cutiemarks and... tell you to be patient. It may not have appeared when you were little, but there's no saying it won't appear in the future."

Soon enough, everyone in the room was examining a book that Zakona knew, on some level, would educate them, but also make them feel worse about being the few ponies in Ponyville, and all of Equestria, for that matter, without cutiemarks. But the capony was willing to be patient. She had been patient for the popularity and customers that never came, but at the very least, this would come in the end.

[Dark Hooves]

Razor walks inside and starts looking for a book on cutie marks.

Where is it?

[zendayafan111]

Electric levitates the book and turns around, just finding out just about how many blank flanks there are in the library. She drops the book in shock and surprise. im not the only one! she thought to herself

[Dark Hooves]

Razor notices a mare turned around looking at him and the other ponies.

Hello there.

[zendayafan111]

Oh! Hello.

[Dark Hooves]

I'm trying to figure out my special talent, my life is so hard since everypony with their cuite mark teases me about not having mine.

[zendayafan111]

Mine too.. mumbled Electric as she picked up her book.

[MinorityBat]

Zakona watched as the two cutiemarkless unicorns chatted with each other and felt a bit left out.

Another blank flank with feelings standing right here, guys...

Analyzing the situation, she found it rather strange that this still bothered her. The capony had endured years of isolation and being excluded from others, especially on her friends part. Shouldn't she have been used to it by now?

It's because I'm an earth pony, isn't it?!

Just kidding.

Feeling silly that she had become jealous over something so trivial, she decided to pretend she had been thinking about getting another book and began to search the library's shelves.

-

"Here you go," Twilight said, levitating one last book over to the unicorn stallion. "Say, I didn't catch your names... what are they?"

[Dark Hooves]

My name is Razor Fang, a pleasure to meet you Princess Twilight. Bows respectfully.

[MinorityBat]

"No need to act so formal. I may be Princess Celestia's successor, but I'm still the same ol' Twilight Sparkle." The princess smiled at the gesture. "But thank you, Razor Fang. Perhaps you'll get your cutiemark in politeness."

Hearing the scene unfold behind her, Zakona thought a cutiemark in politeness was rather redundant, moral as getting one would be. Who would want to spend the rest of their days being kind to others, especially in situations when it didn't help? Was it even possible? She knew that was a bit unfair of her to claim, since having commendable manners was practically a must in this society. But her opinion still stood.

The capony continued searching the shelves, focusing on the books before her. Besides the book on cutiemarks she had scored, nothing else seemed to be on the subject.

Let's hope I don't find something educational that turns out to be a children's book.

Fortunately, she didn't come across anything like that. That's because she eventually came to the decision that there were no other books on it and gave up. Zakona decided to look for something else.

It was then that she came across something that looked interesting.

Treasure Trove: A Collection Of Adventure Stories And Myths, the title read. The earth pony placed the book she was holding on the ground and pulled the novel out, taking care not to knock over the surrounding contents of the bookshelf.

It was a large book, but it wasn't that hard to hold up and examine. On the maroon cover was an art deco styled picture of a pegasus stallion running through a vibrant jungle. He was wearing gear that made Zakona think he was an archaeologist, and he'd put a hoof over his hat, presumably to keep it from falling off.

Come to think of it, he reminded her of... Indiana Pones?

"What's that you've got there?" Zakona turned around just in time to see Twilight Sparkle trotting over. "Would you mind showing it to me?" Zakona nodded and Twilight levitated it out of her hooves.

"Oooh! I love this one. It's about archaeological findings and historical tales related to them, as well as myths like the tales of Shieldred Rondache. It's an extremely fascinating, fun read!" The alicorn squealed, hugging it to her chest. Suddenly, she seemed to realize where she was and composed herself, blushing sheepishly. "Eh heh... sorry."

"That's okay, Twilight," Zakona smiled, taking Treasure Trove back. "Er... who's Shieldred Rondache?"

Twilight pointed to the picture on the cover. "That's Shieldred, the star of some of the myths. He's an archaeologist as well as a museum curator, and he frequently goes on adventures." She giggled. "He reminds me a lot of Daring Do."

"Personally, I prefer the historical accounts over the false ones, but who knows? You might find his a lot more interesting."

Zakona was a fan of the Daring Do and Indiana Pones series, as well as the adventure and historical genres in general. On top of that, seeing the princess's enthusiasm made her want to get the book even more.

"I'll take it!" She said, picking the book on cutiemarks up.

-

After she had checked her books out, Zakona felt better than she had before. If her emotional uplift was becoming a pattern (and she hoped it was), she liked her odds.

Being in a good mood made her go want to talk to the unicorns, despite her sheltered ways of living. So she did, walking towards them with ease she hadn't felt in awhile.

"Hi," she said to Razor Fang. She knew that was his name because she figured the male voice from before belonged to him.

[Dark Hooves]

Hello madame.

[MinorityBat]

Zakona realized she had just sauntered right on up to them without having anything to really talk about. She faltered, wondering what she could discuss.

"Uh... my name is Zakona," she offered tentatively, introducing herself. "How are you guys doing?"

[Dark Hooves]

What is your name?

[MinorityBat]

"...I already said my name. Uh, do you mean my full name?

It's Zakona Kat."

[Dark Hooves]

My name is Razor Fang, it is an honor to meet you madame Zakona.

[zendayafan111]

Electric read the book, nothing about having a late cutie mark..... Dang.... nothing here.... she mumbled as she put the book away.

[MinorityBat]

"It's a pleasure to meet you too," Zakona commented, smiling gently. Maybe I shouldn't condone this niceness thing... it's rare that anypony's ever that kind to me.

She turned to the grey unicorn, who had just returned her book to the shelves. "And what's your name?"

[zendayafan111]

Electric soon turned her attention to Zakona. Hm? Oh hi! Im Electric Gamer, nice to meet you!

[MinorityBat]

"Hi. Nice to meet you too," Zakona replied. She relaxed. Razor and Electric seemed to be pretty friendly.

Electric Gamer, huh? Maybe she'll get a cutiemark for playing video games...

One thing that baffled the open-minded denizens of Equestria was the fact that parents named their children something that always related their cutiemarks, even before they found their special talents.

Zakona didn't know what hers might be, but that didn't keep her from guessing. Her 'rents had named her after a crystal called a zirconia, and her name was a play on the word. On top of that, as far as she could remember, she'd been fascinated with minerals. Maybe her cutiemark would have something to do with that?

That would be awesome!

But Zakona wasn't a geologist at heart. She was a talented artist, and she was certain that if she did have a special talent, then that was it. Why she hadn't gotten a cutiemark yet, however, she could not imagine.

...Since I'm a capony, maybe I'll get a pawprint. Something with cats. I dunno.

Zakona cleared her throat. "Cool name. Think you'll get a cutiemark for playing video games?"

[zendayafan111]

Electric just shrugged, I dunno, im pretty okay at video games but im a pretty good artist, and writer. I think i dont have my cutie mark yet because i have so many talents and interests.