How To Get Your Cutie Mark

Chapters

Rainy Day, Sunny Disposition
Red Streets of Manehattan
The Class Viewing

Rainy Day, Sunny Disposition

The following is a basic understanding of Cutie Marks.

Cutie Marks are forms of dormant magic, the type of magic found in all living creatures. (See p.41) However, only in the genus Equus, specifically, does this dormant magic ever take physical form. Cutie Marks are the result of the combinations between mental, magical and physical triggers that react to the coercion with the dormant magic in a living body. Cutie Mark’s can be split into three groups. Complacent, Potential and Composite. These three classes can be split again into many subcategories. To help get an understanding of what a Cutie Mark means to a specific individual, these three groups will make it less difficult to define the exact type of the Mark

This segment will go over each group and what their titles mean.

First of the three is Complacent. This is the most commonly known type of Cutie Mark. This type of Cutie mark is obtained when the triggers forming the magical cohesive properties, are in…….

“Ugh…” The young mare resignedly closed her book with a sigh. This is not getting me anywhere. She thought. She groaned with her head lying on the book she was reading.

“The Science Behind Cutie Mahks.” She said aloud, her Maressachusetts accent lazily rolling off her tongue, sounding rather disappointed. “Fehh..” She stood up and looked around the empty school grounds. “Nopony wanted to eat outside today, I guess.” She said to herself. Made sense, it wasn’t really ideal weather for an outdoor excursion. She glanced up towards the sky. Overcast and gloomy, giving the outside world a grey haze, like a watercolor of a rainy day.

“No Suh….” She murmured in mock disbelief, a hint of excitement in her voice. It seemed as though the first possible drop landed in front of her, onto her latest study guide. She blinked, surprised. She briefly shot her mistly blue irises up toward the dull sky. She froze for a moment before brightly smiling as her horn glowed a very gentle blue, levitating her book into her saddlebag, her magic almost invisible against the similar color of her surroundings.

This is Clearglow.

She beamed brightly as she, once again, looked up at the sky, this sight may well have been gloomy for others, but most definitely not in her case. The young mare, threw her saddlebag over her back, almost skipping in excitement getting up from her seat at the picnic table. She was pleased to find the first fall rain was drizzling onto the stone floors of the lunch area.

Isn’t she a cutie? An atypical Maressachusetts mare, full of confidence and energy. A beaming smile adorning her face, with her favorite beanie covering up her short scraggly mane. She is now ready to take the future head on.

She chuckled as a few drops of rain landed on her nose. After taking another breath, she began trotting toward her next class. She lifted her black-tinted muzzle to the sky, trying to catch a few drops of rain. The moisture dripped down from her black muzzle to her white coat. She was in a good mood.

“Thanks, pegasi of Maressachusetts!” She merrily shouted to the air, breaking into a gallop toward the main school building.

But Clearglow has a slight problem.

She galloped towards the clear glass doors, as she got closer she slowed to a stop. She froze in place for a minute. The now, very wet pony cautiously made her way towards the doors. “Please Celestia let this be just a feeling.” She thought to herself, warily walking up to the doors and pushing them open with a wince……Clearglow breathed a huge sigh of relief and trotted her way into the school. Shaking herself off some of the water on her coat trotting her way past a few study rooms.

“Well iffit isn’t the lady hahself, What’s doin, Clearflank?” A voice said, emerging from one of the empty rooms behind Clearglow.

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. She didn’t even bother to reply in any way. She trotted a few more feet before breaking into a gallop down the halls.

A smirk made its way onto the colt’s face as he saw her gallop. He immediately galloped straight after her accompanied by a few more colts of the same age, their snickers echoed down the empty halls as they chased her.

Clearglow glanced back at them and to her annoyance, saw they were catching up. “Dahnit!” She increased her pace.

Which didn’t turn out to be the best plan. Clearglow took another quick look back at the oncoming ponies before….POW!!

“REALLY??” She shouted aloud to nopony in particular. She had lost her footing and tripped on the water she had brought it from the rain. She saw the colts catch up to her. She threw her head back and rolled her eyes.. “Oh, I cahn’t wait fuh this!!” She managed to rattle sarcastically before the colts finally reached their destination….

Clearglow has a slight problem.

She’s missing her Cutie Mark.

But don’t worry Clearglow, this is completely normal.

Clearglow slowly walked into the classroom, making sure to keep quiet and made her way to her usual seat. Top row, middle section, next to the yellow mare with the black mane. She sat down with a sigh, she had missed out on nearly half the lecture. She set her saddlebags on the desk.. “Hey Pro-jo…”

“What kept you??” A sweet sounding but hushed voice, came from the familiar mare beside her. Her voice was befitting of her original given name Promised Joy, a small, slightly chubby mare with a Cutie Mark depicting two feathers in a cross. She looked worriedly at her friend.

“Take a wild guess.” Clearglow said with surprisingly little aggravation, gesturing with her head toward her flank.

Promised Joy leaned back on her haunches from the desk, looking at the point of interest. The yellow earth pony let out a small squeak. Somewhere between a gasp and a mouse’s tail being stepped on. “Well…it suhtainly is….ahtistic.” She cocked her head while gazing at her friends flank. There was a crude drawing of a unicorn head, only a phallus-looking object was replacing the horn. “I’m sorry Cleahglow, If I was a little bit toughah and also biggah I’d kick theyah..heinies for you.” Promised Joy stopped before she said “butts.” The short stubby mare, winced at her near use of a bad word.

“You know, I think it’s pretty wicked.” Clearglow said, glancing with false affection at her equally false Cutie Mark.

“Na-ah!” Promised joy giggled with joking protestation.

“Ya-huh! I think it means I’ll be populah with the ladies.” She said sarcastically, smiling.

“Onna countah that??” Clearglow’s life-long friend blushed while trying to hold back small chuckles.

“Yea, I’m shu-ah it’ll help my dating life. Won’t it?” Clearglow smiled back at her friend, elbowing her suggestively.

“Quiet, please!” The professor shouted up towards them, shooting them a stern look. The two mares smiled awkwardly as they shrunk under his gaze, they lowered their voices to whispers, waiting for the professor to turn his back again.

The lecture continued for a few more minutes with them chatting intermittently.

“I hate to ask, Pro-jo, but do you think I could copy offa you faw today?”

“I nevah do mind. Do I?.” Promised Joy happily hoofs her notes to Clearglow, smiling brightly. “I awso have something to fix the chick-magnet aftah class.” She gestured towards the crude drawing on Clear’s flank.

“Thanks. So catch me up Pro-jo… I don’t undahstand these notes.”

After a bit of a hushed schooling, the two mares listened to the rest of the lecture, conversing every now and then about non-importance in their lives, every time they were shushed by the professor. So they sat, hovering over their notebooks in comfortable silence in the company of friends. They figured whatever the subject….it could wait a little while.

“Everypony turn to page 42 in your hoofbooks.”

The class almost as if in unison turned or opened their books. Ready to open their minds, lazily disregard or drift off into a daydream. It seemed as if today, Clearglow was ready to do all three.

Red Streets of Manehattan

Personality classifications in GenCut (General Cutie Mark)

Class C-20

Ponies that have potential in the ranges of 50-40 are able to trust others and generally accepting of a set of rules or guidelines put to them. These ponies are usually socially accepted and are more likely followers than leaders.

Class C-21

Such ponies are fairly conservative and often are more intelligent. Carefully considering actions before performing them. Generally more inhibited. Often very reliable.

Class C-22

Individuals with low potential scoring 10-20 in regards to (GenCut) are most likely to be impulsive and unreliable and often have a difficult time trusting others. They are not usually followers. In studies, shown to question rules or guidelines. Usually socially accepted. They often express a very high level of rebelliousness.

“WOOOHOOO!!!!” A blur of red zoomed past a couple of shocked ponies on the streets of Manehattan. A, bright red Pegasus zoomed past the citizens…Holding a paint brush and a bucket.

This is Stripeshot.

He was currently attempting “The most spectacular feat in Equestria.” A few more shouts of protest from the onlookers only made Stripeshot’s cocky smile even wider as he gave another powerful flap of his wings, sending him even faster through the streets. He blazed past a few mares carrying a few bags, before stopping to go back and wink at them, triggering involuntary giggles from the blushing ponies. He sped off again, dipping his brush every once in awhile in his bucket full of red paint and taking it out to brush the ground.

“That should do it!” He shouted, changing his direction towards the sky. He flew up for awhile before reaching a dark cloud. He trotted gently on the cloud. After making sure the cloud was soft enough he sat, fluffing up the cloud slightly with his hooves, and admired his work.

“You painted a giant face on the city??!!!!” The disturbed father of the criminal trotted back and forth in the room, accompanied by the frowning mother and two very serious looking police ponies with Stripeshot sitting comfortably on a chair in between them.

“Not the whole city,” Stripeshot said, with amazing apathy. “…That’s for next week.” He added, nudging one of the officers, causing his mother to frown profusely. The father looked almost too angry for words. “I was just kidding……..it takes a lot more time to plan than that.”

“His face to be more precise, Sureshot.” One of the officers gruffly but familiarly addressed the father through gritted teeth. His coat was partially splattered with red paint.

“Which fit the description of all 173 witnesses who bombarded the department with calls this morning.” The shorter officer chimed in, trying to wipe the same red paint off his horn.

“Ya have wings underneath those uniforms Chief? Kinda hard flapping your hooves for flying isn’t it? Couldn’t have seen my art without wings….” Stripeshot looked the officer up and down suspiciously. “Unless…gasp…You’re an Alicorn!!” Stripeshot looked incredulously at all parties in the room. Each of them giving him their respective look of disapproval.

“The daily weather patrol brought it to our attention, you little delinquent.” The taller police, earth pony said, heatedly. Trying to stay professional was proving difficult.

“We are so sorry about this…” Stripeshot’s mother chimed in, bowing her head slightly to the officers.

“Don’t worry Miss…..Listen, Sureshot.” The taller officed approached Stripeshot’s father. “After all your years on the force with us I have come to think of you as part of my family, and I’m more than happy to cut you some slack because I know you can handle anything, be it troublesome boys…” The officer glanced back towards Stripeshot. He was eyeing his unicorn companion suspiciously, mock-looking for his wings. “Ugh…and he is troublesome… but there’s only so much I can do. This is the last time we can cover for him.”

“Trust me. He won’t be causing you guys any more trouble.” Sureshot said, with finality. He shot an angry look at his son, who smiled innocently, before looking back towards the officer with a sigh. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Don’t you touch an officer of the law!” The shorter officer smacked the colt on the hoof, Stripeshot had been poking at his back making doubly sure that wings weren’t there.

Sureshot sighed deeply, while seeing the two officers out. “Why don’t you guys buy a couple rounds of Cider at Joe’s. Tell them to put it on my tab.”

“Hey, thanks Sureshot.” The unicorn officer trotted out of the household, finding time to fire a glare back at the culprit, who waved merrily as the officer left.

The earth pony officer lingered at the door for a minute. “Next time it’ll be impossible for me to do anything, he might even end up in juvenile hall. I hope for you sake that you can do something Sureshot.” The officer whispered to the father, not wanting the mother to be any more concerned than she already was.

“If I have to borrow the strength from Celestia and Luna themselves, I’ll do something about this. Have a nice night fella’s Tell Mags I said hi.” Sureshot said, with another sigh.

“Bring Maggie over for dinner sometime, won’t you?” The mother said from across the room, smiling at the close family friend.

“I will, See ya later Stripeweave.” He tipped his paint-soaked hat to the lady of the house and left. “Later, Sureshot!” He said, already a little ways off. Sureshot nodded briefly before closing the door slowly….a soft click a polar opposite of what was to come next.

“I OUGHTA CLIP YOUR WINGS AND MAKE A HAT OUT OF THEM!!! WHAT IN CELESTIA’S NAME WERE YOU THINKING??!!”

“Being a criminal doesn’t make me deaf, Sureshot!” Stripeshot, snapped back at him, suddenly losing his cheery disposition.

“Don’t talk to your Father like that!” The mother stood by her husband’s side, as if readying for a fight.

The three ponies stood in apprehensive silence. They were all ready to tear each other apart. A few moments passed and Stripeshot cracked a small grin. “You’re not really mad are you?”

“Of course not, you didn’t kill anyone did you?” The father said plainly. Both parents started calmly walking into the kitchen, both had content smiles. “Come on dear, dinner’s ready. I’m curious to know how you did it. It must’ve taken a lot of work.” The mother said.

Stripeshot chased after them, catching up just as they were sitting at the table. “Well it wasn’t easy, I had to make tags all around a map of Manehattan then I had to take it to scale. Took me roughly a week and a half to do it. I mean this face is hard to replicate ain’t it?” He grinned confidently, making a pose.

“Just because you’re drop dead gorgeous like your father doesn’t mean you have to flaunt it son.” The mother said with a hint of pride. The father raised his glass to this. Her horn glowed a dark blue, magically spooning some tossed salad into Stripeshot’s bowl.

Stripeshot simply shrugged and began eating his meal. “Hey guys, I know you wanna keep up appearances and all but one of these days I’m actually gonna believe….” He was stopped by a spoon smacking on his head. It was lingering above his head in levitation, his mother giving him a half-stern look.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” She said, going back to filling her husband’s plate.

“Sorry.” He shrunk back and noisily chewed his food. His mother, satisfied with this, dished out the remaining food in the bowl onto her plate. There was a comfortable silence as he finished chewing the the mouthful of leaves. His father slowly took a sip of coffee and his mother sat down at the table.

“Oh Stripey, do you have to do that at the table??” Stipeweave said, shooting him her signature, disapproving look.

“What?? I’m not talking and chewing. What do you want from me?” Stripeshot said, his mouth full of food as he did.

“Ahem…” Stripeweave gave a pointed look towards her son’s flank, both sides were covered by his wings.

“Oh yeah, sorry. Force of habit” He removed his wings from his flank, revealing nothing but a bright red color behind them.

Stripeshot had no Cutie Mark.

“That’s better. How was school today?”

“It was good.”

“You got grades today didn’t you?”

“A, A, B, C , A, A.”

“What was the ‘C’?”

“Geometry.”

All three of them laughed at this. A fourth party would’ve been clueless. The family’s regular conversation continued, settling into a familiar talk of work, school and the occasional Wonderbolt stats discussion. Before long, they each finished their respective meals and the mother started levitating the dishes to the sink.

“Hey dad, do you ever miss flying??” Stripeshot glanced at his father’s back. There were two stubs where wings should’ve been on the dark red pony that sat before Stripeshot.

“Not as much as I used to. I think in a way it’s help me accel as a pony. If it weren’t for the accident I wouldn’t have joined the force. “ He sat back in his chair, tossing a few manners aside for after-dinner conversation.

A deliberate cough came from the kitchen, a few, almost-indiscernable words thrown into it. “CoughwouldnthavemetmeCOUGH!” Stripeweave turned and winked at her husband, before returning to washing the dishes.

“You should do something about that cough, sweets.” The husband winked back before continuing. “Besides, son. I’d gladly trade my wings for a SMOKIN HOT MARE any day.” Sureshot finished, he growled at his wife across the room, she unenthusiastically growled back.

“Ever heard of four walls, a floor and ceiling?” Stripeshot cringed at his parents. They were never very subtle in expressing their affection for eachother.

“You’re just jealous, Stripey.” Stripeweave nonchalantly said, drying a dish.

“Stop being jealous, son.” His father wagged a hoof at Stripeshot. Mock reprimanding him.

“I’m not jealous of anything. I have….” Stripeshot froze for a moment before he slammed his front hooves on the table. “What time is it????”

“You’re probably late. Go.” His father sipped his cup of coffee, coolly.

Stripeshot needed no further convincing, as he flapped his wings, hovering in the air for a second before speeding out the door.

“No no no no no no no no no……” Stripeshot flew as fast as was pegasusly possible, his shouts, echoing into the streets of Manehattan.

The married couple looked at eachother and smiled. “I’m worried, sweets.” Stripeweave said, looking towards the open door. “He wasn’t really himself tonight.”

“I know, it seems he has something more important on his mind than girls and school.” Sureshot looked with apprehension toward his wife. “That doesn’t happen often.”

The two parents sighed heavily, almost in unison as they pondered their son’s strange behavior. Of course a normal pony might not have been able to tell. Seemingly small little changes may escape an aquaintance or maybe even a long time friend. Not them. They were parents, after all and when something is wrong with your child. You just know.

The Class Viewing

Foreword written by Sweetie Belle:

When Jontyjig first came to me about writing the foreword I was a little hesistant. As one of the publicists responsible for the "How-to" project. I guess it’s kind of fitting that I describe what a terror and absolute pleasure this project was. The terror being; I did not realize what a flop it would be among among my fellow equestrians, even some of my closest connections were hesistant about How To Get Your Cutie Mark. One problem we kept running in to was how unappealing the title was to the common pony audience, we (Jonty and I) kept being pushed to change the title but that was a thing Jonty would never ever change and I really do agree with his reasons. Much how I stand by every aspect of the message Jonty sends with this book. It’s hard with several other ponies breathing down your neck about it. However, part of my job was to get How To out there and this was an important project to me. After several attempts at the office. Running into the title problem and the infamous intentionality of the rough opening. Nopony would even give it a second glance. I really did believe it was a novel that needed to be published and once I realized what we weren't tapping it became amazingly clear that this needed to be released in a different process. Months passed and I spent many nights pounding my head against the wall, trying to think of a solution. Luckily it came to me. Jonty was in the middle of another re-write at the time until I called up and told him "Stop! Right now! We need to bring this to the schools!" Immediately, Jontyjig was on board and the whole Journey of How To really began. The message it sends to fillies, was especially strong and getting them on our side proved to be something absolutely vital. We released How To in schools as a “Contemporary example of a controversial flop.” As part of the writing curriculum. This was surprisingly easy, as it turns out if schools are given anything even resembling new texts or books, they’re completely on board. The popularity of the book in the school process was giving me the tiniest hope. Even though ponies were reading it for the reasons I had not hoped. They were reading it. If there was any of this crazy ride I remember the most. It was the moment my old schoolteacher called me and told me she had recently done a project for school. She gave the fillies of her class an assignment to read of book of their choice and write to the publisher of why they enjoyed it. Nearly 30 out of the 40 letters that arrived in the office of Rich Publishing were practically singing praises about the book. This, had gotten their attention. I got a call the very next day asking to send it in. Before I knew it, the very next month, How To, finally got its 2 seconds in the media. Mares, Colts and even full-grown adult ponies were giving the thumbs up. The message (as I have always believed) is one that everypony could relate to. Me, especially. Getting my Cutie Mark was something that I could re-live a million times. The only novel that ever came close to describing my experience was How To. Jonty and I had worked so hard for it. We both gave ourselves a pat on the back because now everypony wanted to read the Unnofficial Hoofbook of How To Get Your Cutie Mark.

..........

…..

Welcome to You and Your Cutie Mark. This step-by-step hoofbook and video tutorial is to help YOU further understand the fundamentals of Aspiring, Aquiring and getting Accustomed to your Cutie Mark.

We’ll call these The Three A’s. That being said, this book and video will cover some of the questions a young filly like YOU might ask regarding your A’s. Questions like; Why aren’t I getting my Cutie Mark? How will I know what makes me special? How can I make my Cutie Mark appear faster?

Whoa there! That’s an awful lot to cover, isn’t it? Let’s get some help, shall we?

This is Clearglow.

“Hi!” A little white fillly appears.

Now isn’t she a cutie? A typical filly, full of confidence and energy. A positive smile adorning her face and her favorite bow atop her head full of beautiful long, brown mane, she is now ready to take the future head on!

“Yea!”

But Clearglow has a slight problem.

“I do?”

She’s missing her Cutie Mark.

“Oh yea.”

But don’t worry Clearglow. This is completely normal.

“It is?”

Of course it is! You don’t think that everypony gets their Cutie Mark right away do you?

“But everypony in my class already has theirs!”

We read you loud and clear, Clearglow. Often times we can feel like we have to get our Cutie Marks when everypony else is getting theirs because it’s what makes us fit in. We sometimes feel pressured by classmates or what’s “In” and sometimes even YOU.

“Me?”

Yes, you. But there is no need to rush it. Did you know some ponies don’t get their Cutie Mark’s until much later in their lives? In fact there are some who don’t get theirs years and years after they were fillies.

“Really??”

Yes, Applebloom. Some ponies like yourself go on to do some of Equestria’s greatest feats with nothing but the coats on their backs. Take, Prance De Leon, for example.

“Prance De-la-who now??”

Prance De Leon. One of the greatest explorers known to ponykind. Did you know he discovered half of The Extrinsic Equestrian borders by himself??

“Oh! That guy! I read about him in class!”

Why don’t you tell us what you know Clearglow?

“Prance De Leon with an original group of 5 ponies, went to explore the outer regions of Equestria. He discovered almost half of what we call Extrinsic Equestria.”

Very good Clearglow! Looks like somepony has been doing her homework. Do you know what his Cutie Mark is?

“Uhm, I think it’s a rolled up map with a sword across it!”

That’s right! But, did you know Prance De Leon didn’t get his Cutie Mark during his exploring career at all??

“Really?!”

Really! It was only after Mr.Leon finished his expedition and settled down that he discovered his passion for smithing and sword craft.

“But why does he also have the map on his Cutie Mark if what makes him special is his sword craft?”

That’s a very good question Clearglow. You see, this is what we call a Composite Cutie Mark.

Everypony turn to page 12. Chapter titled: Classes of Cutie Marks.

“A Composite Cutie Mark.”

Yes, you see Clearglow. When somepony gets their Cutie Mark it’s common knowledge that whatever that Mark is, directly relates to what they do or what makes them special. Although a Class A Composite Cutie Mark is very rare, it shows you not only what makes that somepony special. It also shows you how they impacted or possibly changed other ponies lives. In Prance De Leon’s case, he mapped almost more than half of Extrinsic Equestria. Opening up several trade opportunities between Extrinisites and the Equestrian people. Prance De Leon’s courage and love for adventure may have very well changed Modern Equestria for many years to come. Impacting thousands upon thousands of pony settlers.

He had a dream to explore and he did that. Is that what made him special though? There were so many things about that specific pony that made him very unique indeed. His uncompromising leadership skills, survival techniques and his charm and etiquette that made communication with even a foreign country possible. He most definitely was special even without a Cutie Mark and if it wasn’t for the fact that he often observed and admired the beauty of smithing in countless other foreign cultures, we imagine his Cutie Mark would look very different. Prance De Leon found his Mark in the world not only because of what he did but also because of where he went and what he saw.

Although some of us won’t go on to discover foreign countries. We should never question the fact that there is some higher magic at work that will give us a gentle nudge in the right direction when the time comes.

We know that when our Cutie Mark comes to us, it will make perfect sense.

Everypony turn to page 14 for a list and references regarding types of Cutie Marks