The Cutie Mark Chronicles

The Cutie Mark Chronicles is the twenty-third episode of the first season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. In this episode, the Cutie Mark Crusaders learn how each of the Mane Six acquired their cutie marks.__TOC__
==Production==
Before the episode premiered, visitors of Hubworld.com were 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 the episode; voters simply guessed which was accurate. There were three possibilities:
*Sonic Rainbow - 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.
*Born to Fly - Rainbow Dash practices to impress the Blue Thunders with her flying tricks. She doesn't get into the team, but discovers 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.
Fluttershy in her flashback is noticeably taller and more gangly than the other fillies of the main cast, and her wings fold like those of an adult Pegasus and not like those of a filly like Scootaloo or young Rainbow Dash. This is consistent with her saying that she is one year older than Pinkie Pie in Griffon the Brush Off. The show's developer, Lauren Faust, suggested that Fluttershy might have gone through an "awkward phase."
Lauren Faust has suggested that there is more to Princess Celestia than has been depicted of her in the series. She says, in relation to the events of the flashback, Celestia sensed that Twilight Sparkle is connected to the Elements of Harmony and arranged the dragon-hatching test for her. Celestia then raised and trained Spike, and assigned him to be Twilight's assistant.
The scene when Twilight hatches Spike reappears in Memories and More.
==Summary==
===Cutie Mark Crusader Zipliners===
 Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle try out zip-lining in the forest in an effort to gain their cutie marks. Excessive cable sag causes them to get stuck midway, however, and the built-up heat of their carabiners burns through the rope. They tumble to the ground unharmed but are upset to find themselves still with no cutie mark. While washing themselves off, Apple Bloom proposes that they investigate how other ponies in Ponyville got their cutie marks, and Scootaloo suggests asking Rainbow Dash first.
===Applejack: The city===
Scootaloo tows Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in a wagon behind her scooter as they head back to Ponyville. They screech to a halt when three bunnies suddenly appear in the road, only to be tackled by Applejack moments later when she leaps from the bushes in an effort to catch the bunnies for stealing her apples. Apple Bloom gets the idea to ask her older sister how she got her cutie mark, noting they could use all the help they can get.
 Applejack recounts how, when she was a filly, she left Sweet Apple Acres for the metropolitan city of Manehattan to live "the sophisticated life" with her Aunt and Uncle Orange. Despite learning some city mannerisms, Applejack has trouble adapting to the new lifestyle, and before long she starts missing her family and life on the farm. While pining for home one morning, she hears a loud explosion and sees a rainbow stretch across the sky towards Ponyville. She takes this as a sign and returns back to the farm, whereupon her cutie mark appears. Applejack finishes her story just as the three bunnies from before show up to taunt her. As she takes off after them, the Cutie Mark Crusaders resume their journey toward Ponyville to find Rainbow Dash.
===Fluttershy: The ground===
The fillies pass near Fluttershy's cottage and once more screech to a halt when Fluttershy leaps into the road to protect a line of ducklings as they cross. She admonishes them to be more careful and asks why they are in such a hurry. When the girls mention their plan to ask Rainbow Dash about her cutie mark, Fluttershy remarks that she wouldn't have gotten hers without Rainbow's help.
 Fluttershy tells the girls she was a weak flier as a filly and recalls how she tripped and fell one day at summer flight camp. As two male Pegasi begin to tease her, Rainbow Dash suddenly appears and demands they leave her alone. The bullies challenge Rainbow to a race, but just as the race begins, Fluttershy gets knocked off the clouds and plummets downward. She is unable to regain flight but ends up landing safely atop a dense swarm of butterflies just above the ground. Having only lived high up in the clouds, Fluttershy sings a song expressing amazement at all the land-dwelling fauna around her. A sudden loud explosion and burst of light frightens the animals, but Fluttershy manages to calm them, discovering an innate ability to communicate with animals on a "different level" just as her cutie mark appears.
Since she missed the race, Fluttershy is unable to answer when Scootaloo asks what happened to Rainbow Dash. Sweetie Belle suggests Rarity may help the Crusaders locate Rainbow, though they end up being enlisted as assistants when they arrive at the Carousel Boutique. When they mention their continuing pursuit for cutie marks, Rarity recalls how she got hers.
===Rarity: The geode===
 At one point as a filly, Rarity was put in charge of producing the costumes for a school play. Her teacher calls the designs "very nice" during rehearsal, but Rarity wants them to be "spectacular" and tries to remake the costumes. The effort proves unsuccessful, though just as she questions her dream of being a fashion designer, her horn suddenly glows bright with magic and drags her far across the land straight into a large boulder. She complains about the seemingly pointless journey before a loud explosion accompanied by a bright light splits the boulder open, revealing a cavity filled with multicolored gems. Inspired by what she finds, Rarity bejewels her costumes for the school play, impressing the attendees and causing her cutie mark to appear.
Scootaloo bemoans hearing another "namby-pamby" story and pushes the Crusaders out of the boutique, only for them to end up in front of Twilight Sparkle at an outdoor table as she tells them the story of her cutie mark.
===Twilight Sparkle: The exam===
 After witnessing Princess Celestia use her magic to raise the sun during a Summer Sun Celebration, young Twilight decides to learn as much as she can about magic. Her parents eventually enroll her in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, though she must first pass an entrance exam. Tasked with using magic to hatch a dragon's egg in front of a panel of judges, Twilight becomes overwhelmed with nervousness and ends up unable to complete the exam.
Just as she gives up, however, the sound and light from a distant explosion come through the window and cause Twilight's horn to charge with magical power that cracks open the egg, revealing baby Spike inside. Twilight is overtaken by the magic and begins casting spells uncontrollably around the room. The commotion attracts the attention of Princess Celestia, who enters the room and calmly dispels the magical outburst. Celestia remarks how she has never seen a unicorn with such raw ability and offers to make Twilight her personal protégé. As she excitedly accepts the offer, the princess points out that a cutie mark has appeared on her flank.
Twilight blithely continues reenacting her excitement after the story ends, leading the Crusaders to head back to the scooter and continue their search for Rainbow Dash.
===Pinkie Pie: The party===
As the three fillies travel across town, Pinkie Pie suddenly appears in their wagon and suggests they visit Sugarcube Corner. They explain that they're on their way to ask Rainbow Dash about her cutie mark, though Scootaloo begrudgingly agrees when Pinkie offers to share her story while they travel.
 Earlier in her youth, Pinkie lived a quiet, solemn life with her family on a rock farm outside of Ponyville. One day, while preparing to join the rest of her family indoors, Pinkie witnesses a bright rainbow light emanate from the shockwave of a distant explosion and is overcome with joy such as she had never experienced before. Wanting to spread this joy but knowing that rainbows don't often appear, she spends a day preparing a party in the silo and invites her parents and siblings inside once it is ready. Their initial shock on seeing the various decorations and refreshments gives way to joyous smiles, and as everyone starts dancing to the party music, Pinkie's cutie mark materializes on her flank.
Pinkie finishes her story just as the group reaches Sugarcube Corner. The Cutie Mark Crusaders enter the bakery to find Rainbow Dash amidst the rest of the Mane Six. Having heard of the fillies' interest in her cutie mark, Rainbow tells them her story.
===Rainbow Dash: The race===
 As Fluttershy described, Rainbow Dash agrees to race the two bully Pegasi when they challenge her during summer flight camp. The race starts, and though Fluttershy is knocked off the clouds, Rainbow manages to take the lead just as one of the bullies crashes in a cloud-pillar. The other bully takes a shortcut and tries to bump Rainbow off course, but she quickly pulls ahead once more in an intense desire to win. As she flies downward toward the last bend in the race, her immense speed creates a sonic rainboom that leaves a rainbow trail in her wake. She ascends back upward and crosses the finish line just as her cutie mark appears.
 As Rainbow finishes her story, the rest of the Mane Six come to realize that her sonic rainboom was the explosion that led each of them to gain their cutie mark. They gather for a group hug, and as Scootaloo tries unsuccessfully to exit amidst the emotional display, Fluttershy suggests they all sing a song. Later, Twilight Sparkle dictates a friendship report to Spike about how everyone has a special connection with their friends.
==Quotes==
:Apple Bloom: See anything?
: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.
:Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle: Pinkie Pie?
:Scootaloo: No! The greatest flier to ever come out of Cloudsdale.
:Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle: ...Fluttershy?
:Scootaloo: NO! Rainbow Dash!
:Fluttershy: You'd never guess, but when I was little, I was very shy. And a very weak flyer.
:Young Hoops: You're going down!
:Young Rainbow Dash: In history, maybe! See you boys at the finish line!
: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?! Dumb rock!
:Princess Celestia: You have a very special gift. I don't think I've ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities.
:Young Twilight Sparkle: Huh?
:Princess Celestia: But you need to learn to tame these abilities through focused study.
:Young Twilight Sparkle: Huh?!
:Princess Celestia: Twilight Sparkle, I'd like to make you my own personal protégé here at the school.
:Young Twilight Sparkle: HUH?!
:Princess Celestia: Well?
:Young Twilight Sparkle: 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?
:Pinkie Pie: And that's how Equestria was made!
:Scootaloo: Wha... Huh?
:Apple Bloom : Look we're here!
: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.
:Fluttershy: Hey, how about a song?
:Everyone sans Scootaloo: [Oh yeah! Definitely!]
:Scootaloo: NOOOO!
==Gallery==
==References==
ar:تاريخ العلامة المميزة
de:Schönheitsflecken-Geschichten
es:Crónicas de la Amistad
id:Sejarah Cutie Mark
it:La Storia dei Cutie Mark
ja:キューティーマーク物語
ko:큐티마크 연대기
pl:Z kronik Znaczkowej Ligi
pt:As Crônicas das Marcas
ru:История знаков отличия
sv:Cutie Mark krönikorna
Category:Cutie Mark Crusaders-centered works