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// Cutie Marks Are For Chumps 
// Story: Unintended Consequences 
// by Daedalus 
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        It was one of those days when the weather is nice but things are happening. Important things. You know what I mean. Shining Armor was very pretty that day and defending an important research outpost from hostile forces that wanted to do bad things with the experimental spells produced at the "Big Dome", but that doesn't matter to us, even if Shining Armor was at sparkling levels of prettiness. 
Anyhow, Aristotle was playing "anthropologist and put-upon unpaid intern" with Spike by attending a cutie mark acquisition party. The idea of magically appearing tramp stamps signifying a pony's particular natural talent was fascinating. Sadly, the filly of the hour was Diamond Tiara, one of the most xenophobic ponies that side of Appleoosa. Moreover, Applejack's sister, who had proven to be one of the least xenophobic ponies that side of Appleoosa a while back, was getting picked on for her own lack of a cutie mark. Aristotle was about to step in when two other fillies with unmarked hips jumped in and mooned Diamond Tiara and supported- Apple Bloom was her name, yes. Those three bore watching. The research team moved out.
Apple Bloom was excited to have friends who were also blank flanks. She wasn't alone anymore! And they could look for their cutie marks together! This was the best thing that had happened to her in a long time. Then Twilight's tenants-that was the right word, wasn't it?- walked in on the three. Aristotle started speaking to all three. "I see none of you have those tattoos that are so important to everyone around here. Can any of you tell me why they're important? Oh, and what are your names? I probably should have asked that first, huh? I'm Aristotle, by the way. And don't say you saw me in the newspaper. I get that enough already."  After giving the answers to his questions and explaining some bits of what they wanted from life, the newly-formed Cutie Mark Crusaders were shocked to hear Aristotle laugh and proceed to explain how people find their place in the world and that Scootaloo clearly had wings that were too small to fly. While this gave them some new, more long-term ideas for getting their badges of placement in society and put Scootaloo's life into a very different perspective, the fillies were still dead set on finding the easiest solution to their problems, so Aristotle suggested using body paint or tattooing by a certified professional. This suggestion was carefully considered.
Since the idea had been floating in the back of his mind, Aristotle also proposed forming a band. The Cutie Mark Crusaders collectively went, "Sure, why not?" and only realized later that they were going to be putting in a more serious time and effort commitment than they had expected if they wished to pursue that avenue of Cutie Mark Acquisition, but Scootaloo was adamant that she would sing in a rock band, by the Princesses!, so the others agreed to it, which would seem surprising for Sweetie Belle, but she was hoping it would be more of a studio band, and Aristotle made it sound like that was the case. And so, Apple Core was formed and began holding regular practice sessions in the Bro Cave. Also, the Big Dome was successfully defended by Sparkling Armor, but that's not important right now.