[school bell rings]

[students chatter happily]

Cheerilee: Let's quiet down please. We have a very important lesson to get to. [class quiets down] Thank you. Today we are going to be talking about cutie marks.

Sweetie Belle: Bo-ring. [sigh]

Cheerilee: You can all see my cutie mark, can't you? Like all ponies, I wasn't born with a cutie mark. My flank was blank.

Twist: Aww...! She's so precious!

Cheerilee: Then one day, when I was about your age, I woke up to find that a cutie mark had appeared.

[offscreen: Look at her hair!]

Cheerilee: Yes I know, but honestly, that's how everypony was wearing their mane back then. I had decided to become a teacher, and the flowers symbolized my hope that I could help my future students bloom if I nurture them with knowledge. The smiles represented the cheer I hope to bring to my little ponies while they were learning. Now, can anyone tell me when a pony gets his or her cutie mark?

Twist: Oh! Oh! Oh! When she discovers that certain something that makes her special!

Cheerilee: That's right, Twist. A cutie mark appears on a pony's flank when he or she finds that certain something that makes them different from every other pony. Discovering what makes you unique isn't something [Diamond Tiara: Pssst!] that happens overnight, and no amount of hoping, wishing, [Diamond Tiara: Pssst!] or begging, would make a cutie mark appear before its time.

Sweetie Belle: Pssst!

Silver Spoon: What, matey?

Cheerilee: Silver Spoon! Are you passing a note?

Silver Spoon: Uh, I... Um...

Cheerilee: What could be so important that it couldn't wait until after class? [gasp] It's blank.

Sweetie Belle: [laughter] Remind you of anypony? [laughter]

[students whisper]

[theme song]

[school bell rings]

[students chatter happily]

Twist: Want some sweets? I've got some peppermint sticks. I made them myself.

Silver Spoon: Mm-mm.

Twist: They'll make you smi-i-le.

Silver Spoon: No...

Sweetie Belle: I don't know why we had to sit through a lecture about getting a cutie mark. I mean, waiting for your cutie mark is sooo last week. You got yours, I just got mine. We all have them already. [gasp] I mean, almost all of us have them already. Don't worry, you two, you're still totally invited to my cute-ceañera this weekend.

Apple Bloom: It's going to be amazing.

Sweetie Belle: It's a party celebrating me and my fantastic cutie mark. How could it not be?

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom: Bump! Bump! Sugar-lump, rump! [laughing]

Apple Bloom: Gimme a break.

Apple Bloom: See you this weekend...

Sweete Belle and Apple Bloom: Blank flanks! [laughing]

Silver Spoon: It's not fair! It's just not fair!

Sugarcoat: Don't get your mane in a tangle. You'll get your cutie mark. Everypony gets one eventually.

Silver Spoon: But I don't want one eventually! I want one right now! I can't go to Sweetie Belle's cute-ceañera without one, I just can't!

Sugarcoat: 'Course you can. Y'know, I was the last pony in my class to get my cutie mark, and I couldn't be prouder of it. I knew my future was to run Bloomin' Cherry Farms under great-grandma's legacy, and these shiny cherries sealed the deal. [gasp] Come to think of it, Granny Cinch was the last one in her class, too. Huh, same as Pokey Pierce.

Silver Spoon: I really don't see how that's supposed to make me feel better. It probably means that being the last one in your class to get a cutie mark runs in the family. ...runs in the family. Runs in the family! Runs in the family! You've got fireworks for your cutie mark, Granny Smith has an abacus, Big McIntosh has a pin, my unique talent must has som'n to do with cherries and spoons! Cherries and spoons! [crash] Oops... apples.

Sugarcoat: Get your delicious, nutritious cherries here!

Silver Spoon: Delicious and nutritious, and so many uses! [chomp] You can eat 'em. [gulp] Play with 'em. [groan]

[offscreen: Hey, watch it!]

Silver Spoon: Arrgh! Just never carry much!

Sugarcoat: Heh... she's so creative, heh.

Silver Spoon: You, matey, care t' buy some cherries?

Dr. Hooves: No thanks.

Silver Spoon: Why not?

Dr. Hooves: I have plenty at home.

Silver Spoon: Are you sure?

Dr. Hooves: Yes, I'm pretty sure I...

Silver Spoon: You're pretty sure, but you're not absolutely positively completely super-duper sure, are you?

Dr. Hooves: Y...ah... If I buy some apples, will you please leave me alone?

Silver Spoon: All right!

Sugarcoat: You forgot your change!

Silver Spoon: Woo-hoo! That's how you sell s'm apples and get a cutie mark! So, what does my cutie mark look like? A shoppin' bag full of apples? A satisfied customer eating an apple? Hmm... maybe I gotta increase my sales figures first. You touch it, you buy it! We take cash or credit.

Sugarcoat: I'm sorry, ma'am. Ma'am! Aww... Now Apple Bloom, you can't just...

Silver Spoon: That'll be four bits.

Sweetie Drops: I didn't put those in my bag.

Silver Spoon: Likely story. Four bits, lassock!

Sugarcoat: Silver Spoon! I am really really sorry about that. She's new. Here, take these. No charge. And these. And these.

Sweetie Drops: [groan]

Sugarcoat: Y'all come back now, y'hear?

Silver Spoon: What?

Sugarcoat: Sorry, little sis, but your apple-sellin' days are over.

Silver Spoon: What? But how else am I gonna get my cutie mark?

Sugarcoat: Home. Now.

Silver Spoon: Hm.

Sugarcoat: Ugh. Listen, sugarcube, I know it's hard to wait for your very own cutie mark, but, you just can't force it. Besides, you're not that grown-up just yet. Ain't there other fillies in your class without one?

Silver Spoon: Well... Twist doesn't have hers yet.

Sugarcoat: Do you think you'd feel better if you went to the party with her?

Silver Spoon: Mmm-hmm.

Sugarcoat: Well there you go. Bet you and Twist would have a great time together. Now run along and find your friend.

Silver Spoon: You're sure you don't want me to stick around 'til the end of th' market?

Ace Point: Hey! Who's been using my racket?

Silver Spoon: Yeah. I'm sure.

[knock, knock, knock, knock]

Twist: Oh, what's up, Silver Spoon?

Silver Spoon: So I was thinkin'... maybe we could go to Sweetie Belle's cute-ceañera together. I don't have a cutie mark, you don't have a cutie mark. Well, mateys like Sweetie and Apple be callin' us blank flanks.

Twist: Doesn't matter. Well, um...

Silver Spoon: [gasp]

Twist: Isn't my cutie mark swell? I've always loved making my own favorite sweets, but it took me some time to discover that it was my super-special talent. Pretty sweet, huh?

Silver Spoon: Yeah, pretty... sweet.

Twist: Hey... this doesn't mean we can't go to the cute-ceañera together. You're still gonna come to the party, are you?

Sweetie Belle: Of course she will.

Apple Bloom: It's not like being the only pony there without a cutie mark would be, like, the most embarrassing thing ever. [laughter]

Indigo Dash: Whoa, looks like somepony's got a dark cloud hanging over her head. Let me do something about that. What's the matter, kid?

Silver Spoon: [inhales] There's a cute-ceañera this afternoon and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I wanna get my cutie mark but I'm no good at sellin' cherries but I really wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I don't have my cutie mark which my big sister says I'm gonna get eventually but... I WANT IT NOW!

Indigo Zap: Cutie mark? I can get you a cutie mark like that! [snap]

Silver Spoon: Applejack says these things take time. I have to just wait for it to happen.

Indigo Zap: Why wait for something to happen when you can make it happen?

Silver Spoon: But Sugarcost says th...

Indigo Zap: Hey, who are you gonna listen to, Sugarcoat, or the pony who was first in her class to get a cutie mark? I always liked flying an' all, but I was going nowhere in a hurry. It wasn't until my very first race that I discovered a serious need for speed, and KAZAM, this sweet baby appeared as fast as lightning.

Indigo Zap: That's right, stretch out those legs. Gotta be nice and loose. The key here is to try as many things as possible as quickly as possible. One of them is bound to lead to your cutie mark. Are you ready?

Silver Spoon: I'm ready!

Indigo Zap: I said: Are! You! Ready!

Silver Spoon: I'M READY!

Indigo Zap: Juggling, go! [whistle blows]

Silver Spoon: Ah!

Indigo Zap: Hang-gliding, go! [whistle blows]

Silver Spoon: Whoa!

Indigo Zap: Karate, go! [whistle blows]

Silver Spoon: Hi-ya! Ee...

Indigo Zap: Kite-flying, go! [whistle blows]

Indigo Zap: Ultrapony Roller Derby, go! [whistle blows]

Roller ponies: [growl]

Silver Spoon: Whoaaa! Whoa...

Indigo Zap: Tried that one... tried that one... tried that one...

Apple Bloom: Your new outfit is, like, perfect for the party.

Sweetie Belle: I know. It totally shows off my cutie mark.

Apple Bloom: I love being special.

Sweetie Belle: Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to be... not special?

Apple Bloom: I don't even want to, like, think about it.

Both: [laughter]

Indigo Zap: Tried that one... tried that one...

Silver Spoon: I'm doomed. Doomed! I'll never find sumth'n I'm good at.

Lemon Zest: You look like you'd be good at eating cupcakes.

Silver Spoon: Eatin' cupcakes?

Indigo Zap: Eating cupcakes?

Lemon Zest: Eating cupcaaakes!

Silver Spoon: I really appreciate all your help, Rainbow Dash. You're a really great coach and I really learned a lot from you and I'm sure I can learn a lot more but... I've got some cupcakes to eat! See you at the cute-ceañera! Hold on, Lemony Zest, I'm comin'.

Silver Spoon: I can't believe I didn't think of this. A cupcake-eating cutie mark, it's sooo obvious. Now, where are those cupcakes? I'm ready t' chow down!

Lemon Zest: I don't have any cupcakes.

Silver Spoon: Oh, barnacles.

Lemon Zest: [gasp] But you look like you'd be good at helping me make some.

Silver Spoon: I guess, uh, making-cupcakes cutie mark could work too.

[Lemon Zest]

All you have to do is take a cup of flour!

Add it to the mix!

Now just take a little something sweet, not sour!

A bit of salt, just a pinch!

Baking these treats is such a cinch!

Add a teaspoon of vanilla!

Add a little more, and you count to four,

And you never get your fill of...

Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty!

Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty!

Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!

Silver Spoon: Barnacles! [cough] Hot, hot, hot!

Lemon Zest: Oooh, those look much better than the last batch with some lemonade. [chomp] Mmm...

Silver Spoon: Barnacles! What in Davy Jones's Locker for eternity's name this is! I guess I'm not cut out to be a baker either. [sigh] I just have to face it, I'm gonna have a blank flank forever.

Lemon Zest: What about that?

Silver Spoon: What about what? Is there something on my flank? Is there, is there, is there? [gasp] A cutie mark! It's a... a measuring cup? No. A mixin' bowl? No... Are those cupcakes? A tower of cupcakes maybe.

Lemon Zest: [blow] Flour. It's flour! Yay! I guessed it. What game you wanna play next? Please say bingo, please say bingo.

Sunset Shimmer: Whoa, what's been going on in here?

Lemon Zest: We've been making cupcakes, wanna try them?

Indigo Zap: Nnnno thank you... not that they don't look, heh, delicious.

Silver Spoon: Twilight, you have to help me!

Sunset Shimmer: What's the matter?

Silver Spoon: [inhales] Belle's cute-ceañera's today and everypony in my class will be there and they'll all have their cutie marks and I want to get my cutie mark but I'm no good at selling apples or hang-gliding or making cupcakes, but I wanna go to the party but how can I go to the party if I don't have my cutie mark, which Lemon Zest says I can't just make appear, but I need it to appear, right now!

Sunset Shimmer: Uhhh... I don't follow. How can I help you?

Silver Spoon: You can use your magic to make my cutie mark appear.

Sunset Shimmer: Oh no, Silver Spoon. A cutie mark is something a pony has to discover for herself.

Silver Spoon: Please Sunset, jus' trah. I'd never be plunderin' ye for nothin'. Even yer decision be a double-edged sword one.

Sunset Shimmer: I'm sorry, but-

Silver Spoon: Oh please, please, please please please!

Sunset Shimmer: All right, all right!

Silver Spoon: Oh thank you thank you thank you. [pwing] Yes! I knew you could do... it.

Sunset Shimmer: I'm sorry, sweetie, but I told you-

Silver Spoon: Try again, try again!

Sunset Shimmer: [sigh]

[pwing] [pwang] [pwing] [pweng] [pwung] [pwing] [pwung] [pwong] [pwing] [pwing] [pwung] [pwing]

Silver Spoon: [gasp] Barnacles!

Sunset Shimmer: Told you that not even magic can make a cutie mark appear before its time.

Silver Spoon: It's hopeless, hopeless! I just won't go to the party, I can't go. Everyone will just laugh at me and make fun of me and call me names. It will be the worst night of my life.

Sunset Shimmer: I'm sure it won't be as bad as all that.

Silver Spoon: Forget it, there's no way I'm going to that [gulp] party.

[ponies chatter]

Silver Spoon: How could I have forgotten the time? How could I have forgotten Lemon Zest was hosting the party? How could I have forgotten it was at Sugarcube Corner?

Lemon Zest: Don't forget your party hat, Forgetty Forgetterson!

Silver Spoon: I have to get out of here before anypony sees me.

Snails: [chomp]

Sweetie Belle: Hey! It's my cute-ceañera, I'm supposed to get the first bite at cake.

[pop] [pop] [pop] [pop] [pop] [pop]

Silver Spoon: Okay, Silver Spoon, almost there.

Sugarcoat: Silver Spoon, you made it. After I heard about Twist, I was afraid you wouldn't show up. I sure am glad you came to your senses about this whole cutie mark thing. These things happen when these things are supposed to happen. Trying to rush 'em just drives you crazy. I'll let you be, looks like your friends want to talk to you.

Silver Spoon: [grunt]

Sweetie Belle: Well well well, look who's here.

Apple Bloom: Nice outfit.

Silver Spoon: Just sumt'n I, uh, pulled together last minute.

Sweetie Belle: It really shows off your cutie mark. Oh wait, that's right, you don't have one.

Silver Spoon: Uh, I have a cutie mark.

Apple Bloom: Eh, what? Since when?

Silver Spoon: Since... Um... Earlier today.

Sweetie Belle: Oh really? Let's see it.

Silver Spoon: I shouldn't. I couldn't. My cutie mark is so unbelievably amazing, I'm afraid that if I show it off, everyone will start paying attention to me instead of you. Outshined at your own cute-ceañera. Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be?

Sweetie Belle: Uh, forget it, I didn't really want to see it anyway.

Silver Spoon: Okay, well, I'm gonna go mingle. Enjoy your party. [sigh]

[record scratch]

[everyone gasps]

Silver Spoon: Oh no.

Apple Bloom: Wow, that is an amazing cutie mark.

Sweetie Belle: Nice try...

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle: Blank flank!

Mango Dash: [offscreen] You got a problem with blank flanks, no-good scoundrels?

[fillies gasp]

Mango Dash: I said, you got a problem with blank flanks, scoundrels?

Apple Bloom: The problem is, I mean, she's like, totally not special.

Diamond Tiara: No, it means she's full of potential.

Mango Dash: It means she could be great at anything. The possibilities are, [mocking] like, endless.

Diamond Tiara: She could be a great scientist, or an amazing artist, or a famous writer. She could even be mayor of Ponyville someday.

Mango Dash: And she's not stuck being stuck-up like you two. Cardboard cut-outs!

[ponies laugh]

Sweetie Belle: Hey, this is my party, why are you two on her side?

Mango Dash: Because...

Silver Spoon: [gasp] You don't have your cutie marks either? I thought I was the only one.

Mango Dash: We thought we were the only two.

Sunset Shimmer: I for one think you are three very lucky fillies.

Sweetie Belle: Lucky? How can they be lucky?

Sunset Shimmer: They still get to experience the thrill of discovering who they are, and what they're meant to be.

Sugarcoat: And they got all the time in the world to figure it out, not just an afternoon. Rushin' be fer the weak, matey.

Sweetie Belle: Ridiculous!

[ponies chatter]

"Tornado Bolt": Wow, Apple Bloom, I wish I could be a scientist.

"Piña Colada": Do you really think you could be mayor?

"Coronet": Maybe I got my cutie mark too soon.

Sweetie Belle: Hey, what's everypony doing? This is my party, everypony is supposed to be paying attention to me.

Apple Bloom: Whatever. We still think you're losers, right, Sweetie Belle? Bump, bump, sugar... lump...

Sweetie Belle: Not now, Apple Bloom.

Mango Dash: Name's Mango Dash.

Diamond Dazzle: And I'm Diamond "Tiara" Dazzle.

Silver Spoon: Silver Spoon, mateys!

[music]

Twist: This song is so super!

Silver Spoon: So I was thinking, now that we're friends... I mean, we are friends, right?

Mango Dash: How could we not be? We're totally alike. We don't have cutie marks, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom drive us crazy--

Diamond Dazzle: Totally crazy.

Silver Spoon: Well, now that we're friends, what if the three of us work together to find out who we are and what we're supposed to be?

Diamond Dazzle: Ooh! Ooh! We could form our own secret society.

Mango Dash: I'm liking this idea.

Silver Spoon: A secret society. Yeah. We need a name for it though.

Mango Dash: The Cutie Mark Three?

Diamond Tiara: The Cutastically Fantastics?

Silver Spoon: How about... The Cutie Mark Crusaders?

Mango Dash: It's perfect!

Diamond Tiara: This is gonna be so great!

Silver Spoon: We're gonna be unstoppable!

Mango Dash: What do you say we celebrate with some of these delicious cupcakes?

Silver Spoon: Not the cupcakes. Trust me.

Diamond Tiara: Let's see if there are any cookies.

Silver Spoon: Yeah! Come on.

Sunset Shimmer: Dearest Princess Luna,

I am happy to report that one of your youngest subjects has learned a valuable lesson about friendship. Sometimes, the thing you think will cause you to lose friends and feel left out...

Princess Luna: ...can actually be the thing that helps you make your closest friends and realize how special you are. Hmm...

[music]

[credits]