I'm with Kegisak on thinking that the cutie mark simply represents a natural affinity for something that isn't necessarily a clear limit on their abilities. I think they get a few spells that they can perform intuitively, while other spells have to be learned. Take Rarity's gem-finding spell for example: she can do that spell more or less automatically because she has a natural affinity for gems and other fabulous things. Twilight can learn that ability, but she can't just do it by default. Think of it like learning a musical instrument. I'm pretty sure that almost anyone could learn to be competent at just about any instrument if they put the time into learning it, but most people tend to pick the one that they're best at or enjoy playing most and focus on it. Someone who's naturally gifted at playing guitar isn't automatically incapable of playing piano just because they don't have a gift for it, it just means they have to practice more.

EDIT: Pagetopper.

edited 3rd Jan '12 1:40:18 PM by JapaneseTeeth

I kinda hope the fact that Twilight doesn't focus on a particular type of spell comes back to haunt her at some point.

Well, by definition, she can't.

Ooh, I got one, Rainbow Dash faces off against a rival — a pegasus whose cutie mark is flying.

So, pretty much the same as hers.

No, hers is speed.

Isn't it racing via flight. The whole thing definitely implies flight with all the sky imagery.

@Rich I mean in terms of practicing. After she learns a new spell she never seems to go back and use it again.

You still have things like maneuverability, stamina, and what else have you.

Well she seems pretty manoeuvrable (definitely pulls very tight turns). And she never get's tired even when doing almost nothing but flying ("She's tried that trick 100 times")

Exactly. Which is why it would be interesting to have a rival with those same talents. Different, but similar.

A unicorn on Twi's level would be interesting to see.

btw, is it just me. Or do I get the image of Trixie practicing the same spells dozens of times in her stable every night

What about an ep where Twilight realizes that she physically CAN'T do simple magic. Comparable to how Dexter in Dexter's Lab at some point couldn't figure out what 2+2=

edited 3rd Jan '12 1:55:49 PM by gingerninja666

She can make moustaches appear. How much simpler can you get?

Additionally if she'd bothered to learn that spell before the Nightmare Moon thing that would have been really useful.

XD

She does simple pretty darn fine. Turning pages in a book probably doesn't take much.

edited 3rd Jan '12 1:58:29 PM by Kayeka

GAH!!!!

Well what about an ep where she trains so hard and studies so much that she reaches some kind of critical mass and her magic becomes too powerful for her to use safely. A bit like the episode of Xiaolin Showdown where Omi absorbed all of the elements.

y'ever see what happens when Twi crams for a test?

edited 3rd Jan '12 2:01:59 PM by gingerninja666

Like in Cutie Mark Chronicles but as an adult?

Cue the patented Applejack and Rainbow Dash take down manoeuvre. Applejack will tie her up and Rainbow will get Applejack there past the crazy magic and stuff.

Ropes are Twilight's Kryptonite after all.

She flunks it? The only test we've ever seen her cram for she passed by a fluke (and Rainbow's awesomeness)

edited 3rd Jan '12 2:03:30 PM by Badwolfwho

Oh, for the record, I'm Atticus, on a different account. I expect it will stay that way.

I meant that her cramming is what triggers her super charge mode.

I can imagine her trying to levitate a teacup and crushing it accidentally XD

edited 3rd Jan '12 2:05:21 PM by gingerninja666

No wonder she didn't have any friends in school. Her eyes were constantly glowing with eldritch energy!

Ok Rainbow Factory. I'm reading it.

Rainbow Factory ain't THAT bad. Never felt believable to me though

Once again just a quick post before goin' to bed!

@Ginger: (regarding Trixige) You're welcome! All the pony trailers from Brony Vids are awesome, ch-ch-check 'em out! And yes, Apple Bloom is Michael Caine in all of them, and Mike Myers in Inglorius Ponies.

Goodnight, Fell.

I expected it to be worse.

Honestly, the Nightmare Fuel page is really disappointing me.

edited 3rd Jan '12 2:29:57 PM by Badwolfwho

I don't think it's possible for someone with Twilight's level of natural affinity (and, more importantly, her amount of practice) to study herself stupid, as I'm going to perhaps oversimplify Ginger's proposal. I agree with JTeeth that unicorns with magic-related cutie marks probably know their 'chosen' spell intuitively; they can learn other spells, too, but it takes more time and might be harder for them. Since Twilight's cutie mark is simply Magic, though, her mana reserve is much higher, she has less difficulty learning new spells, and she can probably learn more, period.

Of course, that doesn't mean she can upstage other unicorns in their special talents. Rarity's calling and talent isn't finding gems; it's design and dressmaking, which Twilight is patently useless at. And even if Twilight could learn Trixie's storytelling spells (assuming they're mostly spells and not just smoke-and-mirrors-style stagecraft), she doesn't have the knack for presentation that Trixie does. For all her strengths, she has plenty of shortcomings to make up for it.

inorite.

Found any good Nightmare fuel pictures though? (I dislike grimdark stories, I don't mind grimdark pictures)

edited 3rd Jan '12 2:36:02 PM by gingerninja666