(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
“Oh my sweet sprout” Berry Butter chuckled, looking at her youngest son from the doorway of the cottage. The little colt seemed ever so dedicated to this endeavor, however, the garden hose was quite easily winning this fight. Teacup grumbled, shaking his hoof hopelessly to once again free himself from the tangle. At the sound of heavy hoof beats approaching he lifted his head. The determination in that pout could melt any pony’s heart. “Oh Teacup” Berry lowered her large frame, a gentle smile on her features as she untangled her son from the mess. “Nooo” he whined “I wanna help” The very tip of his tiny horn flickered with unsteady, pale green light, attempting to retrieve the hose from his mother’s hoof. A futile effort. “The flowers have all been watered, my love. You don’t want to drown the poor things” Teacup released his magic grip with a defeated sigh. His longing glance out past the fence did not go unnoticed by the mare. “Ah I see” Without warning she lifted the little unicorn from the cobblestones and placed him over her back. He gave no protest. The view from this much higher vantage point allowed him to see his brothers out in the fields. Three hulking figures who, despite their size, stepped delicately through the berry bushes as they worked. “You want to help the lads with their chores, that it?” Teacup nodded enthusiastically, hoofs shifting to make sure the enthusiasm didn’t send him tumbling. “I can help too” he insisted. “Teacup…” Berry sighed looking over her shoulder “You’re just too small for that sort of thing yet.” She cut off his disappointed whine with a quick kiss on the end of his nose. “No I’m not” he argued anyway “Little sprout, you’re no taller than a bramble. You’d get lost in the fields and break your Mum’s heart.” “So… when I get big like you Mum, or, or like Marmalade, then I can help?” Berry’s mouth opened to answer but she paused. Her gaze drifted out across the fields back to her older sons. She couldn’t help but wonder if this teeny tiny unicorn she loved so dearly would ever grow as tall (or wide) as those mountain sized earth ponies. “Tell you what, why don’t you come inside with Mum and you can help ME out today” It sounded like a suggestion but already she was heading inside with her passenger. “I can help?? Really?” Teacup asked excitedly, hooves tip tapping against his mother’s shoulders. “Sure can. First things first, let's get those hooves washed up then Mum’s gonna need your help whipping up a morning tea to keep them boys going. Sound good?”
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Truly my own cutie mark story isn’t much more thrilling than the managers. One morning my mother and I were preparing morning tea and well somewhere between putting the kettle on and helping to lay out the cups and biscuits something just felt right. I like to believe the tea leaves on my flank represent something less literal and more the spirit of contentment one feels from sharing a snack with loved ones. ~Teacup