The Cutie Mark Chronicles

"This town is full of ponies who have their cutie marks. Why don't we ask them how they did it?"

- Apple Bloom

The Cutie Mark Chronicles is the twenty-third episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic  season one. In this episode, the Cutie Mark Crusaders seek out the other ponies in order to learn how they acquired their cutie marks.

Episode summary
The Cutie Mark Crusaders: Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle continue their attempt to find their special talents by trying their hooves at zip-lining at a suggestion from Spike. Unfortunately, they only reached the middle of the line and stopped before it broke, causing them to crash through a nearby tree. Once again, there was no cutie mark; just a covering of pine needles and tree sap. Scootaloo suggested a plan "B" involving a cannon, but quickly dismissed it. While cleaning up, Apple Bloom remembered there were plenty of ponies in Ponyville with their marks, and thought to ask how they discovered them. The Crusaders take off in their cart and wagon to search for answers, starting with Rainbow Dash, who Scootaloo suggests is the "coolest, bravest, fastest" flier from Cloudsdale.

Along the way, they stop in front of a group of rabbits that have swiped some of Applejack's apples. Coincidentally, they bump into Apple Bloom's older sister seconds later. The Crusaders decided to ask AJ about how she got her cutie mark.

Applejack: The City
Before she became one of her family's best apple gatherers, she was more interested in the sophisticated life. AJ left the farm and headed to the big city of Manehattan to join her Aunt and Uncle Orange, who promised to shape up the little filly into that of elegance. During an evening get-together with some of the other regal Equestrians, AJ tells them how much she loves the city with her new high-society accent, but she causes a raise of eyebrows when she mentions the life she left behind. She quickly grows disappointed of the city life and became homesick, missing her simpler farm life and wondering what her big brother and grandmother were up to. Just then, she sees a beautiful rainbow across the sky that points towards Ponyville. Applejack makes up her mind and returns home. Accepting her old farm life, her cutie mark appears: a trio of red apples.

Just as she finishes her story, she sees the rabbits and chases them once more. With the exception of Scootaloo, the others love the sweet story, and so they continue their trip to find Rainbow Dash.

They come to an abrupt stop near Fluttershy, who is helping a family of ducklings across the road. Hearing what the fillies were up to, she states that she earned her cutie mark because of Dash.

Fluttershy: The Fields
When she was a filly, Fluttershy was virtually the weakest flier in a summer flight camp. In fact, she could only flutter for a few seconds before falling. As she fell from trying to fly over one of the cloud rings, two male pegasus started making fun of her. A blue pegasus with rainbow hair stood between them and told them to leave the poor flier alone. The duo then challenges her to a race. All three make a quick start, but accidentally knocks Fluttershy off of the clouds and towards the earth below. She was saved by a giant swarm of butterflies, carting her into the fields where she gazes upon the wonder of so many creatures. She had never been so close to the ground before, and started singing about this new sensation, making her wish she was here sooner. She then hears an explosion behind her. Looking up, she sees a gorgeous wave of colors throughout the blue sky. She gathers the forest animals that were frightened by the blast and calms them. Her new love and communication of all animals earned her a cutie mark showing three pink butterflies.

Scootaloo is now more anxious than ever to find Dash, since Fluttershy was not there for the remainder of her friend's race (and especially before Fluttershy starts singing again). Sweetie Belle suggests they might ask her sister Rarity about it. Somehow, they end up helping Rarity with her latest work. Hearing their continuing pursuit of their cutie mark, she recalls the time she got hers.

Rarity: The Rock
Rarity was in charge of costumes during a school play. She was praised by her teacher by calling them "very nice", but it wasn't enough. They needed to be spectacular. Obsessively trying to craft the perfect clothes, she wonders if her dream of being a fashion designer is fading. Her horn glows soon afterward, literally pulling her away from her house, away from the outskirts of Ponyville. To where, she had no idea. However, she knew that unicorn magic happens for a reason, and it may lead her to her true destiny. After being dragged through the desert and up and down mountains much like a rollercoaster, her mysterious journey ended with her stopping in front of... a giant rock in the midst of a plateau. As she furiously laments about why her horn led her all the way to this area, she soon hears a blast, followed by a sight of vibrant colors in the air. The shock waves split the boulder in half, revealing a vein of gems. She used this pile of crystals to decorate the costumes. At the night of the play, the audience watching were in awe of the fillies wearing the bejeweled set. Rarity's inspiration, not to mention her new ability to track down hidden gems, gave her a cutie mark of three blue diamonds.

Scootaloo pushes her friends out of the shop, tired of Rarity's "namby-pamby" story. She hopes to find Dash and hopefully hear a more exciting tale. The moment they run into Twilight, however, they end up listening to hers.

Twilight Sparkle: The Exam
Twilight was eager to join the festivities of the Summer Sun Celebration that took place in Canterlot. Seeing the ruler of Equestria raise the sun inspired her to study everything there is about magic. Her parents noticed their daughter's interest and enrolled her into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. The only thing in the way of her dream was an entrance exam she was required to pass. The test was to hatch a dragon's egg, which Twilight failed to perform under the pressure of the exam. Just as she gives up and apologizes for wasting the testers' time, she hears a boom from outside. Inexplicably, her magical energy is triggered. The egg hatches, revealing a purple and green baby dragon. However, she soon loses control and causes chaos inside the exam room, causing the judges to levitate, turning her parents into potted plants, and making the dragon grow to immense size. Princess Celestia, having seen the event from outside, stands next to Twilight and places her hoof on her, making Twilight's magic wear off and returning everything to normal. Celestia compliments Twilight on her raw power, but reminds her that it requires focused studying to control it. She offers to take Twilight under her wing as her new protege. With her parents silently encouraging her to accept, Twilight says "yes" ad bursts into cries of happiness, but Celestia adds one other thing -- she points out to Twilight that a cutie mark, a violet-colored star with five small white stars surrounding it, appeared on her flank. Twilight soon hops around the princess, even more excited than ever.

The Crusaders leave a cheerfully-skipping Twilight before hoping on their cart to find Dash once again. Unexpectedly, Pinkie Pie appears inside their cart, complete with riding helmet, and she suggested they could find her at Sugarcube Corner. She offered to tell them how she earned her cutie mark if they joined her in the bakery, to which the fillies reluctantly agreed.

Pinkie Pie: The Party
According to Pinkie Pie, her life was not always as happy as it is now. She worked at a rock farm with her family outside of Ponyville. No one played, or talked, or even smiled. They just worked. After her family went inside for the day, she heard an explosion from the sky, followed by a blast of wind, messing up her straight hair. She then saw a wave of colors, turning the gray world around her blue. It was the first time in her life that she ever felt pure happiness. She was so overwhelmed by the colorful rainbow, that she wanted to "smile forever" and, even more so, wanted to spread this happiness. The next day as her family was going out, she called them into the silo. Her mother questioned what she's doing, revealing that Pinkie's full name is Pinkamena Diane Pie. Inside the silo were party decorations, balloons, streamers, music, and cake. However, as she saw them look at the scene strangely, it almost seemed as if they didn't like it. Taking a second look, she saw their smiles slowly, but surely, reveal themselves and they danced with her. With new-found joy, Pinkie's cutie mark appeared, showing a set of blue and yellow balloons.

Pinkie finished her story by saying "And that was how Equestria was made" and, much to the Crusaders' confusion, told them that she would tell them how she received her cutie mark on the way back home. Sweetie Belle assured Scootaloo that it was just Pinkie "being Pinkie". Reaching Sugarcube Corner, the Cutie Mark Crusaders finally find Rainbow Dash, along with the rest of her friends. Having heard of the fillies' interest in her cutie mark, the Dash tells them her story, much to Scootaloo's relief.

Rainbow Dash: The Race
Taking place where Fluttershy's story left off, Dash and the two bully pegasi began their race. They were to fly through the cloud rings toward the finish line. Rainbow Dash was already in the lead, and soon one of the bullies crashed into a cloud-pillar. Dash was bumped by the other bully and veered off course, but caught up and took the lead again. She tells the Cutie Mark Crusaders about how she found a love for the adrenaline and excitement of gaining so much speed. Her desire to win helped her beat the bullies, and most of all, perform the ultimate trick that was only told in legends: the sonic rainboom. She won the race, and obtained her mark; a rainbow colored lightning bolt.

As the story ends, Dash's friends suddenly remember hearing, or seeing, that very blast from their stories. Eventually, an epiphany forms: Rainbow Dash's race led to the inspiration of their goals and helped them earn their cutie marks. It appears as if they were destined to be friends, even before they knew each other. They gather for a group hug, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle pull a slightly irate Scootaloo into a group hug of their own. As Fluttershy leads them all into a song, Scootaloo cries out in despair.

By the end of the day, Spike writes Twilight's latest report of how one's connection can lead to a future friendship, while sarcastically commenting about the letter's sappiness. She simply replies, "just write it, Spike."

Notable events

 * The Cutie Mark Crusaders consult Twilight and her friends on how they got their cutie marks.
 * Cloudsdale is revealed to be Fluttershy's hometown.
 * Twilight's parents and Pinkie Pie's family are shown for the first time in this episode.
 * Pinkie Pie's full name, Pinkamena Diane Pie, is mentioned by her mother.
 * It's shown how Twilight became Celestia's pupil, and how she met Spike.
 * The sonic rainboom during Rainbow Dash's race led to the events of the other ponies earning their cutie marks. Twilight suggests in her friendship report that they were always linked to each other.
 * Princess Celestia's role in raising the sun in the Summer Sun Festival is shown.

Quotes

 * Scootaloo: Tree sap and pine needles, but no cutie mark.
 * Sweetie Belle: Plan "B"?
 * Scootaloo: Yeah... You know where we can find a cannon at this hour?


 * Scootaloo: We can start with the coolest pony in Ponyville...
 * Apple Bloom: Applejack!
 * Sweetie Belle: Rarity!
 * Scootaloo: No, you guys. I said "cool". You know what I'm talking about. She's fast. She's tough. She's not afraid of anything.
 * AB/SB: Pinkie Pie?
 * Scootaloo: No! The greatest flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale.
 * AB/SB: ...Fluttershy?
 * Scootaloo: NO! Rainbow Dash!


 * Fluttershy: You'd never guess, but when I was little I was very shy. And a very weak flyer.


 * Rarity: I had no idea where my horn was taking me, but unicorn magic doesn't happen without a reason. I knew this had to do with my love of fashion, and maybe even my cutie mark. I knew that this was... my destiny !


 * Young Rarity: A ROCK?!! That's my destiny?! What is your problem, horn?! I followed you all the way out here for a rock?! *growl* Dumb rock!


 * Princess Celestia: Twilight Sparkle, you have a very special gift. I don't think I've ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities.
 * Young Twilight: Huh?
 * Princess Celestia: But you need to learn to tame these special abilities through focused study.
 * Young Twilight: Huh?!
 * Princess Celestia: Twilight Sparkle, I like to make you my own personal protégé here at the school.
 * Young Twilight: ...HUH?!!
 * Princess Celestia: Well?
 * Young Twilight: (looks at her approving parents) ... YEESSS !!!


 * Twilight: YEEEEESSS! (stops leaping around, looks embarrassed)
 * Cherry Coke: Are you okay?
 * Twilight: (laughs nervously)... Um, yes!


 * Scootaloo*: Why don't we ever smash into Rainbow Dash?!
 * Pinkie Pie: You're looking for Rainbow Dash? If I was her, I'd be at the Sugarcube Corner! Of course, if I was anyone I'd be at the Sugarcube Corner. Hey! I have an idea. Wanna go to the Sugarcube Corner?


 * Young Pinkie Pie: Surprise! You like it? It's called... a party !


 * Pinkie Pie: And that's how Equestria was made!
 * Scootaloo: Wha... Huh?
 * Pinkie Pie: Maybe on the way home, I can tell you how I got my cutie mark. It's a gem...
 * Sweetie Belle: Oh c'mon. She's just being Pinkie Pie.

Trivia

 * Before the episode premiere, the viewers had been presented with a trailer and a chance to vote on how they think Rainbow Dash earned her cutie mark. The results had no effect on which ending would be aired, but were simply a guess on which was the most accurate. There were three possibilities:
 * Sonic Rainboom - Rainbow Dash challenges Fluttershy's bullies for a race. She enjoys it so much, that she almost forgets about winning. Trying to catch up with the competitors, she breaks the sound barrier and performs the first sonic rainboom ever. (This was revealed to be the true story of Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. She mentioned her "first race" in Call of the Cutie, and the Sonic Rainboom was mentioned in the episode with the same name).
 * Born to Fly - Rainbow Dash practices to impress the Blue Thunders with her flying tricks. She doesn't get into the team, but discovering her true talent is good enough.
 * Dash of Lightning - Rainbow Dash retells the Arthurian legend about retrieving the Lightning Bolt in the Stone. Nobody believes her until they see that she indeed got a lighting bolt cutie mark (This story would not have worked, as another pegasus has the same cutie mark of a regular lightning bolt).
 * One of the fillies that young Rarity designs a costume for appears to be a young Cheerilee.
 * Two of the fillies wearing young Rarity's costumes are re-colors of Applejack and Pinkie Pie.
 * There's a reference to the black monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, complete with a Thus Spake Zarathustra sound-alike fanfare, which occurs when Rarity is mysteriously drawn to a... giant monolith.
 * The aforementioned monolith (called "a rock" by Rarity) suddenly breaking up as a result of a huge shockwave caused (it would later be revealed) by Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom and then revealing to Rarity its point (the gems within) might be a reference to the 2001: A Space Odyssey-based monolith cartoons from Sesame Workshop's 1970s TV show, The Electric Company.
 * Twilight Sparkle's mother resembles the original Twilight from the first generation of My Little Pony.
 * "Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns" is similarly named to X-Men's "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters".
 * The ponies on Twilight Sparkle's entrance exam board refer to her as "Ms Sparkle", implying this is her family name.
 * The blackboard on the wall behind Twilight features the same diagram and the same equation as the blackboard in Call of the Cutie.
 * The music that plays during Pinkie Pie's first party is the same music used in Swarm of the Century to take the parasprites back to the Everfree forest.
 * This episode explains how Twilight and her friends were fated to meet each other and become friends in Friendship is Magic, part 1 and part 2, which leads to them becoming the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, creating a better bond between the six main characters.
 * Rainbow Dash's first ever Sonic Rainboom is seen in this episode. She mentioned that event in Sonic Rainboom. She has both front hooves out in front of her in Sonic Rainboom, just as when she successfully performs it in this episode.
 * Fluttershy during the flashback is noticeably taller and more gangly than the other fillies of the main cast. Also her wings fold like those of an adult pegasus and not like those of a filly like Scootaloo, or young Rainbow Dash, supporting her mention that she is one year older than Pinkie Pie, and possibly older than the other ponies too.
 * In Fluttershy's flashback, she waves a checkered flag to start the race. This flag is actually used to mark the end of a race; she should have used a solid green one instead.
 * The timeline of Rarity's flashback is inconsistent. During the rehearsal, young Rarity mentions that the performance is "tomorrow". Later, as her horn is pulling her to the gems, she's seen traveling for so long that the sun has set and the moon has risen, meaning the performance would have already been playing and she'd have missed it, without even accounting for the time it took her to travel back. This can be explained by assuming the time-shift was used for comedic purposes.
 * As a filly, Applejack travels to Manehattan, a play on Manhattan, a borough of New York City. New York City is also known as the Big Apple.
 * The music Applejack's city relatives were listening to (Waltz from Swan Lake) was the one used by Rarity during her performance in Sonic Rainboom.
 * There is an animation error in the Pinkie Pie party scene. Just after Pinkie Pie's family enters the silo, she is momentarily seen with her cutie mark, which was only supposed to appear later.
 * In both Fluttershy's and Rainbow Dash's flashbacks, at the starting line of the race, two earth ponies and two unicorn ponies are seen as spectators despite the fact that only pegasus ponies can walk on clouds (much like Lyra did in Sonic Rainboom)
 * Derpy Hooves is seen in numerous times in the ponies' stories. She is an adult pony even though she should be a filly.
 * In Twilight's flashback, just when it's starting, you can see Derpy Hooves on every seat in the ferris wheel, in the sky, and every seat on the spinning ride. She's also in the crowd [and derp-eyed] as Princess Celestia flies up and when she's in the air and it shows the crowd [you can see her perfectly to the left].
 * The scene were Twilight Sparkle goes insane with power in her flashback is similiar to an episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender due to her glowing eyes and Princesse Celestia putting her hoove on Twilight's shoulder to calm her down.