The Sound of the trumpets caught No Mark by surprise. Banging his head against the copper pipes he swore softy under his breath. He spent all last week fixing up a house near the center of town. The plumbing being one of the last things to be done. Crawling out from underneath the newly refurbished home. His plain brown coat was covered in caked on mud and dust. Looking around, he could see the townsfolk around the town square.<br/><br/>"now I wonder what's going on."<br/><br/>He wasn't told why he was fixing up the old place, simply to do it. He reached the edge of the crowd. Not taking notice of all the fancy trappings the other ponies were wearing. Craning his neck he could easily see over the other ponies. What ever it was, was drawing lots of attention as the crowd whispered amongst themselves.<br/><br/>"Who's that?"<br/><br/>The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular but an elder pony remarked all the same as he reached to see.<br/><br/>"Where have you been? That is Princess Luna."<br/><br/>"Princess Luna?"<br/><br/>No Mark Repeated the name as he looked. The Elder pony looked to see who could have made such a remark.<br/><br/>"No Mark, I should have known."<br/><br/>The elder pony looked at the condition of the larger pony next to him. large clumps of mud slid off to fall on the grass below.<br/><br/>"Look at you. Have you no self respect. Course Having no Cutie Mark. I am surprised you would walk around in public much less in plain view of the Princess."<br/><br/>No Mark didn't answer. It was known fact around these parts that he had no Cutie Mark. He didn't think much about it. Right now he wanted to be laying under his favorite shade tree by the river.<br/><br/>"No Mark!"<br/><br/>a shrill voice hissed so as not to be heard by anyone beyond a few feet away. No Mark turned to face an old mare addressing him.<br/><br/>"Yes Ma'am?"<br/><br/>"Look at the state of the Garden. Do you think Princess Luna would approve?"<br/><br/>The old mare pointed back to a weed infested Garden just behind the House that He was under not 5 minutes ago.<br/><br/>"But Flower Petal was to take care of the Garden"<br/><br/>The Old Mare was fuming. More out of frustration of some ponies shirking their duties to play than any real anger towards No Mark.<br/><br/>"Well she isn't there, so get it done before the princess sees that mess."<br/><br/>"Yes Ma'am"<br/><br/>No Mark began to walk back to the House. Shaking his coat to get some of the mud and Dust off. Much to the aggravation of the others around him. Reaching the Garden. No Mark set about pulling the weeds up. Much of them growing around the thorny rose bushes.