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Gem was a filly and a late bloomer. Everypony else in her class had their cutie marks, but she did not. It was as frustrating as it was embarrassing. She knew what she wanted to be. Why wouldn't her cutie mark appear? It was her destiny to become a royal guard, then a knight, and finally a paladin! She would become a champion in golden armor! She already trained every day. She was the largest pony in her class, by both height and muscle. Everypony knew she was going to become a great soldier. It was obvious. So why???

Gem was alone on a hiking trail, part of her usual training, but she wasn't feeling very motivated. She wasn't really hiking as much as she was just stomping down the road, glaring at every speck of dirt and helpless pebble that dared to linger in her path. If a rock was larger than an eraser she kicked it as hard as she could. Which was enough to send it flying with how strong she was.

Despite being full of energy the filly came to a stop by a bench along the trail. For a moment she simply stared at it. Then she eyed her still blank flank. She growled. She spun around. A tear began to leak from her eye. It wasn't fair. She should have her cutie mark already. It didn't make sense. She was so angry. And so confused. What else could her destiny be than what she wanted most?

Gem turned her gaze toward the horizon. She was half-way up the mountain so her view of the sunset was unobstructed and beautiful. Yet it didn't make her feel better. She gazed down upon her home town and knew she was supposed to protect them. But how could she without her mark?

With a sigh she turned back towards the trail, ready to head home to her mother's loving hooves. But she hesitated. Then she glanced up towards the mountaintop. Maybe she should finish her hike first. However, that would take at least another hour. And she wasn't feeling up to it right now anyway. But with a scoff she shook her head. No, she couldn't think that way. If she gave up on her training she'd NEVER get her cutie mark.

So the filly turned around again, intent on climbing the mountain before she went home.

"If only this mountain were smaller," she grumbled quietly to herself in frustration.

Suddenly there was a flash of light that could only have come from one place.

Gem froze, eyes wide, lip trembling. She swallowed. It couldn't be, could it? Slowly, as though afraid a ghost was waiting behind her, she looked back. Back at her flanks. Where a cutie mark had just appeared. For the briefest moment relief and joy completely overwhelmed her.

Then she tilted her head in confusion.

Her cutie mark was a picture of a rock with a pony silhouette standing on top of it.

"What... what is that supposed to mean?" she mumbled, now unsure if she should be happy or not.

In time Gem would learn that there were two kinds of cutie marks. The kind that when manifested increased an individual's natural talents in the area of their greatest desire. And those that changed the individual's body itself. Hers would quickly turn out to be the latter. Because, from that day on, her height began to soar. By the time she was 20, she was 10 times the size of a normal pony.

And she quickly became a legend in the Equestrian military, just like she always wanted...

The End

Author's Note

So this was partially inspired by a certain giant royal guard mare oc, but honestly, this was mostly inspired by something that had nothing to do with macro at all. It was just a picture of a pony standing on a rock, however, when I first glanced at the image while I was browsing I thought the rock was supposed to be a mountain. Then I realized my mistake and felt a little silly. Not every piece of art is going to feature giant ponies. But that picture would have made for a great cutie mark.