Chapter 1
As all ponies know, cutiemarks are a symbol that represents you. They can mean multiple things, personality traits, life goals, destinies, talents, but how does one get a cutiemark? Normally, a cutiemark is earned by doing something great. Doing something that defines as you.
Such as an artist doing their first painting. Or a writer publishing their first story.
Cutiemarks are usually earned during the ages 6 to 14. Rare cases even being even 18 or older.
Cutie marks can be predicted more accurately depending on race. Such as earth ponies working on farms, pegasi working in the weather industries, or unicorns having a magical talent.
We know they are a symbol that is unique to a pony, but we still are unsure of what a cutiemark is. There are multiple theories of how a cutiemark takes form. Some say it is just magic, but still there is science behind magic.
Magic comes directly from the cerebral cortex part of the brain. Where thought is made and sent to the unicorn horn directly above. The bone in the horn is triggered and activated. Sending surges of power throughout the body and often a change in emotional state. Magic can be caused by emotional state and if left untreated or strengthened may become dangerous. (Anger can cause a variety of problematic situations.)
But unicorn magic has no true connection to cutiemarks. As stated by facts, no amount of magical power, not even alicorn, can forcefully cause a cutiemark to appear on ones flank.
After many years of study on cutiemarks I have come to an idea. Many ponies seem unable to enjoy, or are capable of doing a proper task because they are not destined to.
I once spoke with a book store keeper who was unable to do simple tasks like cooking. Another time I met with a mare who was destined to foalsit, who had trouble speaking or communicating properly with ponies her age. But one important character I met was a pegasus, who had a storm cloud for a cutiemark, who was to work on the weather team his whole life. He told me that before he discovered his cutiemark, he had loved and gotten quite good at dancing. He did many concerts and impressed many, but the day he got his mark, he immediately lost his skill in dancing, and now had a talent in something he only did once.
I was curious about this, and asked many other ponies about their childhoods before discovering their destiny. At first, I thought it was a from a lack of courage or hope, but it turned up with many others. Saying they too loved something when they were young that they had immediately lost interest in.
I have heard of multiple ponies disliking their talents. Some cases ponies have suicided because of the symbol on their flank. I feel that a cutiemark takes control of us. It whispers in our minds what we should do, what we have to do. We are like slaves to the marks. They wrap around a prey and destroy it like a snake.
To further my study, I talked with young fillies who had not yet discovered their cutiemarks. They explained that they had talents and interests, but wondered why they still had not earned their mark.
Yes, it is true that in many cases, ponies do get a cutiemark in something they love and have always loved. They become good at something and earn that symbol. To do it for the rest of their life.
Even if we do enjoy our destinies, it still clings to us. Eventually we tire out and may lose interest.
That mark never changes, never disappears. What we are destined to do, forced to do, is what we must do forever.
A cutiemark is caused by magic, and where that magic comes from is still a mystery to this day. Many still ponder how a cutiemark will match up with a name. What I have come to thought, is that the pony is not born with that talent, that gift. The cutiemark will discover this pony with this name and match it to it's rightful owner. Causing the pony to immediately have knowledge about that subject.
We do not find or discover the cutiemarks. They discover us, and when they do discover us. They take hold of our mind and body, whispering to us and controlling our every move, our every thought. Shifting and molding us into something we never thought we would be. Something we should not be. We should be able to be free, to do what we wish and have as many talents and likings as we please. But the cutiemarks restrain us, keep us from our loved ones and keep us from enjoying life as it is. They are chains around our throats and hoofs.
We should not be praising them, we should be figuring out how to rid our world of them. Because the cutiemarks do not belong, they do not love us as we love them. They almost have minds of their own.
We are unable to make our own decisions, we only repeat what it has told us, we only think what it demands us to think. We only move the way they want us to move.
They have the control. We do not.
Twilight set down the book on the oak desk. The pink glow of her horn enwrapping the book faded and died, while the bright glow from her candle continued to illuminate the book and Twilight's concerned expression.
Is that what really killed them? Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, had died mysteriously after earning their cutiemarks, and had been acting very strangely. Twilight had read every book in the castle library on cutiemarks, even visited the ruins in the Everfree Forest, to give her some clue on what had truly happened.
This was the only book that fit.
This was the only one that gave off something dark and disturbing, and made shivers go down her spine.
Was this true? She had never thought she felt forced to do one thing, but her mark meant a variety of destinies and magical talent. She could do almost any spell because she was destined to. She had never felt that feeling of coercion. But she had met ponies who had.
She suddenly realized she had met many ponies who were saddened in not being able to do something properly. But later had seemed fine and overly happy about the few things they could do. Which until now, hadn't seemed all that strange.
Twilight looked at the ceiling of the castle in thought.
She now feared her own destiny more than anything, as she heard a unfamiliar, yet familiar cold voice.
The author is full of lies. You love what you are.
But the voice, was not hers.
I just had to write a sequel! Don't forget to follow me if you want to see more stories like this, and maybe even suggest some ideas for future stories! 
Also LikedSimilarAuthor
- InkHeartBrony · 3.3k words · 158 6 · 8.3k views
- RazgrizS57 · 2.8k words · 63 2 · 1.7k views
- Waxworks · 9.1k words · 95 1 · 2.7k views
- Alyssa Hartwick · 1.3k words · 150 6 · 5.8k views
- Phantom Dragon · 2.8k words · 12 3 · 949 views
- Sparrow9642 · 4.2k words · 81 5 · 4.1k views
- Rinderin · 1.5k words · 114 6 · 5.2k views
Stats
Page generated in 0.093 seconds
Total duration
741 users online
908,490 hits today, 1,822,946 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
So, first and foremost: apostrophes, dammit.
Anyway...
Generally not a good idea to open with a bunch of exposition, especially when it's not particularly interesting exposition to start with. "As we all know," (or in this case, "As all ponies know,") is a pretty big red flag for this.
Also, either do another editing pass or grab yourself an editor, there's a bunch of mistakes and weird sentences here.
Oh, and general consensus is that 'cutie mark' is two words, apparently. The more you know.
I quite liked it. Sure it has a bit of flaws here and there but still grabbed my attention
8183267
Thanks!
This starts to address what I found the weakest point in the one-shot. I figured that Twilight would have figured out something was up and start researching. There was too much going on to be coincidence.
Well... the cutie mark in Twilight's case is more like something that fit what she was already like. Even before she got her cutie mark, she was already studious and wanted to know magic. The cutie mark just... eased that along.
Much better than the one-shot, much better in description. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Jesus Christ, that had shivers rolling all over my person. Weirdly enough coming from my knees. Well done muh dude
8216556
Thanks! Happy to freak the hell out of people! :twilight smile:
Hey, Ink Heart. Throughly enjoyed these two stories! It was a great twist of perspective on Cutie Marks, something that really makes the reader think. I did a reading on the two stories, check em out if ya want. https://youtu.be/hB3qngLS1ro
Great job, one of the better stories I've read!
Sorry that it took me so long to get around to this.
This fic was not pointless, but it seems to set the stage for something bigger that it never really reaches. It's hard to say my thoughts on it because I didn't dislike it per se, but I think it is far inferior to its counterpart, which was a great, fully developed story. This sounds to me more like the prologue of a longer story, yet the only story here is really Twilight reading a book, questioning her talent, and hearing a mysterious voice.
All in all, not a bad fic, but not a very noteworthy one. It does, however, leave me craving more, so that counts for something.
Like last time, I spotted a few mistakes:
"was from"
"represent you"
"come to think,"
"do discover us, they"
"an unfamiliar"
8481002
This story and the first one were one of my first stories up here. I know they are not very well written, and at the time of writing them I didn't know how to get editors or proofreaders. I know it was lacking, I have some trouble expressing my ideas, so I may write an improved, and edited version of both in the future.
8482339
It's certainly good to know that you've continued to pursue writing. Best of luck with it!
The feeling when you realize you gave your OC a portal cutie mark and already wrote that she hates staying in one place since she loves to travel
Will this go somewhere? I just pray the CMC are resting in peace. I suppose, even in death, they are never apart. But will this curse affect their EG counterparts?
Good idea this.
8482339
Same here with the trouble with expressing ideas that I have.
As others have stated, this feels like it should be the prologue to a longer story, maybe going so far as to make manifest the "author's" goal of getting rid of cutie marks. I was a little weirded out by the prospect of the CMC being bound together for life and the subsequent double murder/suicide (but then again, horror and grimdark are pretty much my least favorite genres (but for some reason this year, what with Halloween being around the corner, I feel compelled to read a few of the gruesome and ghastly stories). Anywho, you have shown a lot of promise with this idea and I look forward to seeing what you do with it.
I guess Starlight was right after all
I wonder how AJ and Rarity will come to odds when Rarity wants to track down Apple Bloom and avenge Sweetie Belle.
And if RD would want it too.
Unfortunately, this "sequel" got a little too specific and the later seasons of MLP contradict it, but I like it as an alternative universe.
(obviously alternative cuz CMC don't die, but that story could've still played out after season 5)
Love this, and "Can't Stand to be Apart" just heard and read the two.
10069351
This could be an alternate universe, you know that?