Head canon no 1

Figured I might as well use this for something other than pointing out how slow I am at working on, well, everything.

So I decided I might start writing about some head canons I have, be they common, uncommon, rare or one of a kind.

First up, is possibly a mixed bag - Cutie Marks, and specifically in relation to obtaining them.

Yes we're going to be discussing the opening to show stoppers here. It is inevitable...

*WARNING - OPINION BEYOND THIS POINT*

Firstly, let's clear up one thing - When asked to describe what her mark is for, Cheerilee describes what each individual part of her mark means. It's a symbolic thing, not a literal thing, which means the meaning (and thus the mark) is tied to the individual, not to the talent itself.

So, gaining a Cutie Mark - what exactly is involved?

Well, the key first step is pretty obvious:

1) Talent - To gain a Cutie Mark, you need to be good at something. Be that highly potent magic, looking after animals, or throwing the same party everyday (Sorry, Pinks, but they do all kinda blur together...), it doesn't really matter. As long as you're good at something - and I don't always mean amazing. Just good will suffice.

Now, show stoppers shows our favourite chaos making crusaders with a talent already. Does this mean that their going to get cutie marks in those talents. No. Do I want them to? Chekov's gun says yes. And I agree with it for the most part.

However, for at least Scootaloo and Applebloom we have seen other talents presented - Scootaloo's mechanics, and Applebloom's potions and synchronised swimming.

Sweetie Belle... I'm not exactly sure how impressive her levitation is from Twilight Time, so I'm hesitant to include it, especially given she has trouble even getting her magic to work until that episode at all.

Actually, come to think of it, all three of them seem to have pretty weak versions of their racial magic compared to other ponies there age... another bullet loaded to the gun, perhaps?

But that's another head canon, methinks...

Anyway, no matter what you think, some talent is required, but the CMC already have displayed at least one each. So that's clearly not the issue.

So, step 2:

2) Realisation - To have a Cutie Mark in a talent, the pony themself must realise that they are indeed talented in this area.

It's no good just being... well, good at something, if you never notice it, and don't pursue it. And here is the first major stumbling block of the CMC. They work as a team, sure. But almost always as a team. They seem to be trying to all get a Mark for the same thing, which could happen, I guess, but it's highly unlikely. And, until then, if one of the things they've tried is right, they'll never realise, because the individuals talent is masked by the other two's lack of talent...

Wow, friendship may be magic, but it really sucks for being good at things...

Anyway, this is a stumbling block all three of the CMC have run into - see the show stoppers opening. All three clearly have a talent on display, the other two can clearly see it, but the one with the talent passes it off as not that great.

In my personal Head Canon, in regards to the show stoppers talents, have passed stage 2. Any other talents, I'm not sure.

The next two stages are a little less clear on placement in my head canon, but for ease, this is probably the regular order:

3) Enjoyment - How could something be your talent beyond all others, if you can't stand it. (Seriously, guys, it's a kids show. You're not going to be doomed to do something you don't really like for the rest of your life.)
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4) Acceptance - You need to accept that your special talent IS your special talent, not just another.

So, what do I mean about regular order?

Well, what happens if somepony enjoys something, but doesn't accept it's their special talent?

Most likely, they keep doing it, and either acceptance comes further down the road, or they move on to a different talent.

What happens if they know what their one talent is, but refuse to enjoy it?

What happens if they can't?

What happens to a pony who's special talent is singing, but they have stage fright so bad, that they purposefully sing very badly in front of anyone they're not extremely close with?

Yep, thats exactly what I'm saying - I think Sweetie Belle already knows what her special talent is, and she doesn't like it. Which means it is actually possible she won't get a mark.

At least, not until she can cure her stage fright. Which will take a long time.

Applebloom and Scootaloo, at least, are just stubbornly refusing to accept what their talent is:

Applebloom, who could quite possibly raise an entire barn by herself, given the tools, materials and time, doesn't. Why?

Most likely because she already knows what her talent is, and how much work she'd be taking on if she actually got a carpentry Cutie Mark at Sweet Apple Acres. She enjoys her work now because it's not work. She's just a filly. Give Applebloom time, and I'm fairly certain she'll reach acceptance just fine.

Scootaloo... is a problem...

Her desire to fly, and for a 'cool' Cutie Mark, leads me to believe that she possibly knows what her talent is, but that it will do two things.

1) Ground her;

and

2) Give her a lame or girly Cutie Mark. (Bear in mind, she's a kid still, so she most likely has no idea that she has the most say in what her mark is.)

Which suggests that she knows what exactly her talent is, and will refuse to accept it until she can fly, and has enough of a reputation that no matter what her Cutie Mark, she'll always be accepted as cool.

Which might never happen. The one thing I've not said, that is probably the main point of this headcanon?

Given what we've seen in the show, and my interpretation of said evidence?

We have not seen Scootaloo using her special talent yet.