OK! Let's see how you still life's comin' along, Kettle Corn.
Well, that certainly is…
round.
I can make it rounder!
I am afraid that's all the time we have today.
We'll try something else tomorrow.
But I like circle painting.
And on the way to figuring out what you're meant to do,
you'll find a ton more stuff you like.
That's what makes looking for your cutie mark so great!
Sorry, everypony. We're closing up shop.
We'll have to help y'all tomorrow.
I don't know if we can help them tomorrow.
Working with blank flanks one at a time takes forever!
If only there was a way we could help the whole herd of them at once.
That would be perfect!
We'd save time, and they could help each other.
Just like we used to!
Oh, but it'd have to be somewhere big enough to handle all those blank flanks.
Somewhere outside,
with tons of activities to try.
Are you two thinking what I'm thinking?
Cutie Mark Day Camp!
And I know just the place.
Applejack used to go there when she was little.
Camp Friendship!
Oh, sorry.
I thought we were all going to yell that one, too.
Attention, all blank flanks!
And blank flank affiliates!
Come to our Сutie Mark Day Camp
to find out what you're truly good at.
Bond with other blank flanks and find out what you're meant to do together.
Hey, Rumble!
Oh, hey, crusaders.
Look, I can't stop.
Gotta meet my brother for…
something.
No problem.
Just wanted to make sure you heard about our Cutie Mark Day Camp.
The first session's tomorrow.
What you got there, little brother?
What?
Oh, nothing.
Come on.
I wanna show you a new dive roll I'm trying.
Come one, come all!
Cutie Mark Day Camp is for blank flanks of all kinds!
Welcome, cutie mark campers!
Who's excited to be here?
We are!
Me! Me! Me!
Well, we're excited, too.
At Cutie Mark Day Camp,
you'll be able to try all kinds of things.
Kayaking!
Horseshoe tossing!
Circle painting!
You can try 'em all,
but the most important thing is that you'll be trying them together.
That's what worked for us.
Then I bet it'll work for these little guys, too.
I thought you said we were gonna go practice
for the Wonderbolts Ponyville extravaganza show.
I'm going to Wonderbolt practice.
You're going to cutie mark practice.
And we're glad to have you.
I can't believe your own brother is a Wonderbolt.
Rainbow Dash is practically my sister, and she's a Wonderbolt, too.
Do you know Spitfire?
I know she'll be mad if I'm late.
Now you have a good time and try some stuff.
Who knows what you'll be good at?
All right.
Looks like we found the first activity of the day,
the horseshoe toss.
Well, wish I could stay and play, but it's time to fly.
Have fun!
Come on, Rumble.
Step on up and show us how it's done.
No way he's as good as his brother.
Whoops.
Aw, I guess I won't be getting my cutie mark in the horseshoe toss.
Don't worry about it, Rumble.
Hardly anypony finds their calling on the first try.
Eh, I wasn't worried.
Good, 'cause there's a ton of other stuff to try.
We'll find you something you're good at.
Whoops.
Whoopsie.
Whoops.
The first and last lines
Have five syllables, but the
middle has seven.
It's called a haiku.
Whoops.
I've tried it all.
Time to tell my brother this camp isn't for me.
Come on, Rumble.
Isn't it fun just trying stuff?
Not really.
"Haiku cutie mark,
and I never would have tried
without Skedaddle."
That's what Cutie Mark Day Camp is all about.
Working together and helping each other.
But I can still come back, right?
And maybe paint some circles?
Of course.
Let's all meet right back here tomorrow.
Hooray!
Wow. I can't believe we got a cutie mark on the first day.
Yep.
This camp was a pretty swell idea.
Everypony's really enjoyed it.
Everypony except Rumble.
He didn't have much luck with anything.
Trying to find out what you're meant to do can be frustrating.
You remember how long it took us to get our cutie marks?
I remember the nightmares.
Well, we can't let Rumble quit camp
just because he didn't find something he's good at yet.
We'll just have to convince him to come back and try harder.
Hey, Rumble.
What are you all doing here?
We just wanted to apologize for not finding anything you liked today.
Oh, whatever.
It's fine.
It's not fine.
It's frustrating, and we know what it's like.
I'm not frustrated!
It's okay.
We've all been there, but we won't give up on helping you.
We know you'll get your cutie mark.
Everypony does.
Actually, I don't need your help
because I don't want to get my cutie mark!
What?!
I… I must have hay in my ears.
Because I thought I just heard Rumble say…
You heard right!
I don't want my cutie mark!
He said it again!
Not wanting a cutie mark is like not wanting to breathe.
Everypony wants to know what they're meant to do.
Not this pony.
Why?!
Because cutie marks are silly!
And… and they just force you into one thing your whole life!
That's silly.
Having a cutie mark doesn't mean you can't do other things.
Yeah.
Our cutie marks are in helping ponies with their cutie marks, but…
I still like making potions with Zecora.
And when was the last time you did that?
I… I… I think it was…
Well, we've been pretty busy helping other ponies lately.
Oh, you mean doing the thing you got your cutie mark for?
The thing you're stuck doing for the rest of your life?
Okay, maybe we will be doing that more than anything else,
but we love being Cutie Mark Crusaders.
Well, that's fine for you, but I'm not gonna be put in a box!
A blank flank who doesn't want a cutie mark?
That's got to be the strangest thing I've ever heard.
Granny always says, "Some ponies have to find their own hay."
Are you sure she didn't mean "find their own way"?
Oh. That would make more sense.
I can't believe Rumble isn't interested in getting his cutie mark either,
but we can't force him.
And we've got a whole camp full of ponies
who are interested in cutie marks.
Here he comes…
The fastest, most elite flyer in Equestria.
Thunderlane!
I was gonna say me.
You're not the only pegasus in the family, you know.
Oh, sorry, little brother.
You're right.
You might be the most elite flyer in Equestria someday,
but for now, you should try other things, too.
Speaking of which, aren't you supposed to be at camp?
That camp is for losers who can't do anything.
Great! So there's no pressure!
You can try everything and not be worried about looking bad.
I'm not worried about that.
I just don't want to get a cutie mark in any of their ridiculous activities.
Well, you're still going back tomorrow.
You can't be a blank flank forever.
All right, cutie mark campers, that's it for jam-making!
But this is fun, and I didn't get my cutie mark yet.
What if I'm not good at anything else?
You don't get a cutie mark just because you're good at something
or even because you like it.
There's more to it than that.
I'm real good at painting circles,
but I got my cutie mark in haikus.
Which is what I like! But…
I'm still a blank flank like you.
So you can't get a cutie mark in something you like?
Now, we didn't say that.
You don't have to!
Rumble, you came back!
Say bye-bye to painting circles.
You'll be too busy haiku-ing from now on!
But…
I like circles.
Come on, Rumble,
that's not how cutie marks work.
So that's how cutie marks work?
Am I speakin' Old Ponish?
I've just said it wasn't!
"Cutie marks are great," they say.
Yeah, right!
They make you special in your way,
But that special mark that's just for you
Will erase the stuff you like… to do.
So… no more painting?
No more haiku?
Rumble, stop!
That's just not true!
So you're good at charming snakes.
Too bad!
Or you bake delicious cakes.
Oh, well!
Maybe there are lots of things
That you like to do.
Well, the odds will get pretty stark
Once you got that cutie mark.
Blank flanks are better:
Nopony to tell you who you have to be.
Blank flanks are better:
Keep your spirits soarin' free.
So listen up 'cause I ain't lyin'.
Do need no mark, so why keep tryin'?
If you like just bein' you,
Then keepin' that blank flank blank
Is the thing… to do!
Blank flanks!
Cutie marks don't limit you.
Blank flanks!
They only show you what you can do.
Blank flanks!
But… what if you can't do a thing?
Blank flanks!
These cutie marks are frustrating!
You say there's nothing you can't do?
Yeah, exactly!
A blank flank is the way for you.
It's no work to just be who you are,
No hunt to be some cutie star,
You're perfect just being you.
Don't bother with what you cannot do.
Blank flanks
…are better!
Nopony to tell you who you have to be.
Blank flanks
…are better!
Keep your spirits soarin' free!
So listen up 'cause I ain't lyin'.
Do need no mark…
…so why keep tryin'?
If you like just bein' you,
Then keepin' that blank flank blank
Is the thing to do!
Blank flanks!
Forever!
That's it, blank flanks!
Blank flanks!
Forever and ever!
Be proud of who you are!
Blank flanks!
Forever!
You don't need some phony pony
Blank flanks!
telling you you're just one thing!
Forever and ever!
Blank flanks!
Blank flanks! FOREVER!
Forever!
Blank flanks!
Forever and ever!
Blank flanks!
Now wait just an apple-picking minute, Rumble.
Where do you think you're leading our campers?
They're not your campers anymore.
I'm starting a new camp.
Everypony on this side of the line
is in camp Blank Flanks Forever!
You can't be a blank flank forever.
That's just the kind of talk I'd expect to hear from camp Cutie Mark,
which is why blank flanks need a camp
where we can enjoy being blank flanks
and appreciate our blank flankiness
without feeling pressured to get a cutie mark!
Now hold on, everypony.
Blank flanks forever!
What just happened?
Has everypony gone mad?
In a word…
yes.
I just can't see what we did wrong.
I thought everypony was having fun.
They were until that Rumble came and made a mess of things.
What are they doing now?
It looks like whatever they want.
Honestly, it's not all that different from what they were doing here.
Then what was the point?
The point is that Rumble is a mad pony who must be stopped.
Now calm down, crusaders.
We just need to talk to him again.
The key is to remain calm.
Cutie marks!
Make you!
Special!
By putting you in a special little box!
Special!
Box!
Come on, Sweetie Belle.
I think you've "remained calm" long enough.
Kettle Corn, you covered your cutie mark?!
I'm blank flank again,
keeping my options open.
I'm more than haikus.
You just haiku'ed right then!
Don't let them get in your head.
You're an open-ended question.
Blank flanks forever!
You're cracking great!
Thanks!
Oh, no.
What if I get a cutie mark in it?
Then you'll be stuck doing it forever.
Blank flanks, no more potential cutie mark activities!
Well, Cutie Mark Day Camp is a bust.
No, it isn't.
It's a swell idea.
We just can't seem to talk any sense into that…that…
Rumble.
Maybe we can't,
but I bet I know somepony who can.
Let me get this straight.
My little brother upended your entire camp?
How in Equestria did he do that?
Well…
It started when he couldn't toss a horseshoe
or paddle a kayak or shoot an arrow or use a pencil,
and we felt bad that he wasn't good at anything,
but now he doesn't want a cutie mark at all
because he's afraid he'll get stuck doing something
he doesn't like forever, you know?
No, I don't.
Rumble's good at all that stuff.
Well, that doesn't make a lick of sense…
Unless…
he was being bad at stuff on purpose.
I was afraid of this.
Afraid of what?
Ever since I became a Wonderbolt,
Rumble's either watching me
or trying to fly like me.
He won't do anything else.
That's why I thought your camp was such a good idea.
I don't understand.
If Rumble wants to be a Wonderbolt someday,
what's wrong with that?
Not a thing.
But right now, he isn't even giving anything else a chance.
Sounds to me like Rumble isn't afraid of being put in a box at all.
It doesn't?
Nope.
I think Rumble's already picked out a box.
He's afraid he'll get a cutie mark that'll keep him from it.
I don't know how to say this, Rumble…
But…
Blank Flank Forever camp is kind of…
Boring?
If we wanna stay blank flanks we can't risk doing stuff.
What if I get a cutie mark in being bored?
Attention blank flanks of Cutie Mark Day Camp!
The Cutie Mark Crusaders are pleased to announce today's special guest!
Thunderlane!
Hey, everypony!
It's me.
Anypony, who's interested,
get around for a day of camp activities
with the genuine Wonderbolt.
Sorry, Rumble, but…
cutie mark or not…
I'm not missing out on this!
All right, campers.
It's time for our last activity of the day…
A Wonderbolts obstacle course.
Just like the one they'll fly through in their upcoming show.
But on the ground, since not everypony has wings.
Thunderlane, aren't you gonna run the course?
Nope. I know I'm a wonderbolt,
and my cutie mark is all about moving fast,
but I really like to cook.
Since when?
We take turns making the meals at Wonderbolt H.Q.
I didn't want to at first,
but now I love it.
I just wish I tried it sooner.
You do?
Of course.
There's more to me than just flying,
and I bet there's more to you, too.
Obstacles are fun.
Running free through mud and dirt
beats circle painting.
That haiku pretty well sums it up.
Looks like Thunderlane was right about the obstacle course
getting Rumble to come back over.
Hey, Rumble!
Aren't you gonna do our Wonderbolt course?
I'm cooking today.
Maybe I'll do the course tomorrow.
So, you're coming back tomorrow?
You're not worried about getting your cutie mark?
Nah.
I already know I'm a good flier.
It kind of runs in the family.
I guess it's time to see what other stuff I can do.
SCHASTLIVY PONEC
anon2anon sunnysubs.com