How To Get Your Cutie Mark

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.

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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