What really happened on Cutie Mark Chronicle day?

[Wingnut 7,018]

If you've never seen this before, this is a very cool video.

Rainbow Dash gets the credit for the sonic rainboom and causing the other five ponies to get their cutie marks and, seemingly, their talents.  But there's more to the story than that.  At least two ponies were already using brand new abilities:

-Rarity, who could not yet use basic telekinesis, spontaneously executes a gem finding spell.
-Fluttershy summoned a swarm of butterflies to break her fall.  

And what about Rainbow Dash's performance?  She was a very good flyer for her age which we'd expect.  Most world class athletes start out strong from when they are small.  But for a little filly to break the sound barrier like that?  That's as likely as a 10 year old going to the summer Olympics and winning the 100 meter dash.  Other than admitting "I've never flown like THAT before," nothing is said about the inexplicable burst of power she displays during the race.  Only when RD reached physical maturity was she able to do the rainboom again.  

For what it's worth, the only other pony to have her cutie mark accompanied with an enormous amount of pure energy was Twilight Sparkle.  The others are subtler and easily understood, with the possible exception of Pinkie Pie.  What  was she doing in that barn all night?  Playing around with her new cartoon-like powers?  Did she pull all of those balloons and party decorations out of hammerspace?  

For the record, no, they don't need to make an episode that explains the origin of their extraordinary abilities.  If they were going to, they would've explained this by now.  It's more fun to discuss and speculate with fellow fans.  As far as I know, nobody was bitten by a radioactive spider or zapped by gamma rays.  Most likely this was the day the Elements of Harmony chose them to be their future holders.  As always, other theories are welcome.  No ideas are too silly, it's only a cartoon!  
 

[Lost Profile 644]

It was all fate!

 

The elements knew that thoes six ponies would become the elements... So that's why... Butterfly's saved flutershy... Raritys horn dragged her to the rock...

 

But... Other then that... I don't know what to say

[XrosOver 613]

I don't mean to sound like a person who results to this being the ultimate answer for everything but...it's magic. Magic in that reality is anything and everything. Based on that logic, rarity's magic was more of a subconcious effort that her magic reacted to. As for Fluttershy, all of the animals in Equestria show forms of a higher intelligence than our animals. The butterflies must have notice the frail, falling pegasus and assisted her to prevent her unavoidable death (you should go say thanks to those butterflies). For Rainbow Dash... I can't explain that one but it was definetly a good thing that she was able to pull off a sonic rainboom. And finally Pinkie Pie... I don't need to explain the reality defying mare of pastries and parties.

Edited December 9, 2012 by XrosOver

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Perhaps the Rainboom was a massive surge of power indicative of Dash's potential similar to what Twilight did at the exam? That's my theory for the moment.

 

But yeah, there are loads of unanswered questions about that episode.

[MatrixChicken 879]

Here we go...

 

Rarity clearly states she didn't know what was going on with her "gem finding spell". So it wasn't something she herself did, it was, as some already mentioned, a subconscious effort.

 

"Fluttershy summoned..." I laughed when I saw these words. xD Fluttershy did nothing to cause those butterflies to catch her, besides, well... Fall. The butterflies must have seen her falling, and decided they'd rather not let an innocent young filly such as Fluttershy die so horribly.

 

As for Rainbow Dash, people (ponies) can do very unexpected and seemingly impossible things when they need to. Rainbow knew that she HAD to beat... Whoever his name is... In order to prove her awesomeness, and to protect Fluttershy from the bullying.

 

And for Pinkie... Well, no need to explain. She's pinkie!

[Akemi Homura 7,682]

As it's implied, talents are essentially either innate or deviously set so that it takes real heart in order to discover them, not like, say, working on a skill and deciding to pursue it as a career just because it's rewarding. Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom obviously gave the Mane Six that "push" they needed to discover said talents, and the theme of friendship speaks volumes here because none of them could really do it without each other, in the end.

[Zygen 6,066]

There are many questions about that episode. I think that it was just a fate thing, it was time for them to discover their talents, so the things they needed to learn were just kinda obtained, and when Rainbow dash did a sonic rainboom, it helped to seal the deal and have the others obtain theres.

 

Also I always wonder if pinkies cutie mark story is real or not.. I mean it was referenced in S3, so maybe it is. I've always been a bit iffy on believing her story though.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,308]

Simply put, I think it was fate, too. Everypony was at the right place at the right time to discover their talent (and in the case of RD, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie, really also display their roles in the Elements of Harmony...kinda wish Rarity's and Applejack's did to the same degree).

 

Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom was just the trigger-mechanism that moved everything into motion. I am kinda curious to wonder though if she did it all under her own power...or if the fates gave her a boost, knowing the importance of that day.

Edited December 10, 2012 by Sky Nomad

[Tall_But_Short_37 236]

There are many questions about that episode. I think that it was just a fate thing, it was time for them to discover their talents, so the things they needed to learn were just kinda obtained, and when Rainbow dash did a sonic rainboom, it helped to seal the deal and have the others obtain theres.

 

Also I always wonder if pinkies cutie mark story is real or not.. I mean it was referenced in S3, so maybe it is. I've always been a bit iffy on believing her story though.

 

What makes you be skeptical about it? I feel like it made it pretty clear that making people laugh and smile was her special talent, so making her uptight family smile with her party was when she realized her true potential. What reference is S3 are you talking about?

[Wingnut 7,018]

OK, I'll try to keep this a little shorter than a term paper...

 

@@MatrixChicken

 

I agree on Rarity. That's what I meant when I said spontaneous...it just happened with no voluntary thought or effort on her part.

 

But, you're going to laugh at my hypothesis about Fluttershy, huh? Squeaky Belle has something to say about that...

 

 

Hahahahahaha! All kidding aside, no, I wasn't saying Fluttershy can summon animals the same way Aquaman can summon fish. She was in danger and the butterflies were able to answer her distress call by whatever means it was made. Magic, telepathy, osmosis, whatever. Alternatively, the butterflies on Equestria may well have a role as a safety net for pegasi falling out of Cloudsdale. Considering how easy it is for an immature pegasus to plummet out of Cloudsdale, they'd be crazy not to have some safety measures.

 

And regarding people doing the impossible in a moment of crisis, that brings to mind stories of ordinary men and women lifting cars to free trapped loved ones. But it wasn't Fluttershy's life on the line, only her honor. It's not the same.

 

@@Zygen

 

If they really wanted the sonic rainboom to be the catalyst for uncovering the all other five's cutie marks and abilities, it would've been easy to do.

 

Let's say the butterflies catch Fluttershy anyway because they are the appointed safety net for falling pegasi. If Fluttershy was still just an ordinary pony with no affinity for animals, they would've started flying off after saving her. Fluttershy would've then said, “Wait, I want to thank you! Please don't go!” BOOM Then she saw not only the butterflies but all the other forest creatures running for cover. With her latent abilities finally awakened by the sonic rainboom, she then would proceed to comfort all the animals, romp with them, and sing So Many Wonders. Rarity's cutie mark flashback can be reimagined in a similar way if the writers genuinely wanted the rainboom to precede all other talent manifestations.

 

@

 

For what it's worth, I'm sure Rainbow Dash would've won the race against Hoops and the other boy with her natural ability. But watch how she dove with such acceleration her wake almost killed Hoops just before executing the rainboom. And consider that she wasn't able to do it again until she was grown. Yup, a greater power was intervening on this day.

Edited December 11, 2012 by Wingnut

[windy_prance 114]

The better question is how many OTHER ponies were effected by Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom on that day...positively AND negatively?

[Wingnut 7,018]

The better question is how many OTHER ponies were effected by Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom on that day...positively AND negatively?

 

That's a very good question.  In the immediate vicinity of Cloudsdale, everypony saw and heard it.  It wouldn't be surprising if a number of other ponies, primarily pegasi, were stimulated into getting their cutie marks and talents.

 

But the thought of how many other ponies could hear and see the sonic rainboom raises another important question.  In real life, sonic booms can't be heard hundreds of kilometers away from their source.  Most of us have seen the basic map of Equestria and if Equestria is roughly analogous to North America in size, there is no way a sonic boom in Cloudsdale could reach Canterlot, Manehattan, and Ponyville.  Not unless Rainbow Dash did a victory lap that had her fly over all these locations at supersonic speed.  More than likely, this sonic rainboom was a physical and a metaphysical event.  Because the Mane 6 embody the Elements of Harmony, the rainboom was bone jarringly real for them but it is possible that, in remote locations, they were the only ones able to see and hear it. 

 

I can imagine a few other ponies, especially those closest to the Mane 6, were able to sense it too.  For instance, Twilie probably told her parents about the boom she heard just before her powers went crazy.  They just laughed and said, "Twilie, you were the boom!"  But later that night, Shining Armor told Twilie about the strangest thing that happened today.  He told her about this explosion which caused him to assume a duck and cover position.  But all the other cadets were dumbfounded because he was acting like he had just lost his mind.  Twilie glomped her big brother, so glad to know she wasn't the only one who experienced it.  Awwwww! 

[Faceless 101]

IT WAS TROLLESTIA!!!

 

There is a conspiracy people! And we must open our eyes to the facts!! Celestia did not want to be the bearer of the EoH so she put the mane six together!
 

WE KNOW OF YOUR PLAN!!!

 

HASHTAGTROLLESTIACONSPIRACY

 

(This is meant as a joke)

[Shift 4,274]

Well that solved most of my problems. And the butterflies were there because of fate, Fluttershy can't summon animals at will.

[Dusty Soul 2,614]

It was more or less fate or destiny. I mean the world of equestria is a magical place so I guess things like that just happen. They were connected before they even met.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

That's a very good question.  In the immediate vicinity of Cloudsdale, everypony saw and heard it.  It wouldn't be surprising if a number of other ponies, primarily pegasi, were stimulated into getting their cutie marks and talents.

 

But the thought of how many other ponies could hear and see the sonic rainboom raises another important question.  In real life, sonic booms can't be heard hundreds of kilometers away from their source.  Most of us have seen the basic map of Equestria and if Equestria is roughly analogous to North America in size, there is no way a sonic boom in Cloudsdale could reach Canterlot, Manehattan, and Ponyville.  Not unless Rainbow Dash did a victory lap that had her fly over all these locations at supersonic speed.  More than likely, this sonic rainboom was a physical and a metaphysical event.  Because the Mane 6 embody the Elements of Harmony, the rainboom was bone jarringly real for them but it is possible that, in remote locations, they were the only ones able to see and hear it. 

 

I can imagine a few other ponies, especially those closest to the Mane 6, were able to sense it too.  For instance, Twilie probably told her parents about the boom she heard just before her powers went crazy.  They just laughed and said, "Twilie, you were the boom!"  But later that night, Shining Armor told Twilie about the strangest thing that happened today.  He told her about this explosion which caused him to assume a duck and cover position.  But all the other cadets were dumbfounded because he was acting like he had just lost his mind.  Twilie glomped her big brother, so glad to know she wasn't the only one who experienced it.  Awwwww! 

I hadn't thought about the distances between the mane 6 at the time, but you do bring up a good point about that. One thing to keep in mind though is that a Sonic Rainboom in Equestria isn't necessarily analogous to a real life sonic boom. A Rainboom could be significantly more powerful (or... LOUDER! to quote Rainbow Dash). That is curious though.

 

The thing I'm currently curious about is whether her other Rainbooms had any interesting side effects, although her first one seemed to be especially significant due to destiny.

[Tall_But_Short_37 236]

Also, who else (if anyone else) has been able to preform a Sonic Rainboom in history? Is Rainbow the first? Was it done be great legendary pegasi of old?

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Also, who else (if anyone else) has been able to preform a Sonic Rainboom in history? Is Rainbow the first? Was it done be great legendary pegasi of old?

It seems to be legendarily rare, but the concept at least existed, so it's possible that someone has done it other than Dashie, even if Applejack said that she was the only one ever to accomplish it.

 

My headcanon is that the first Rainboom ever done was performed by either Commander Hurricane or a time traveling Rainbow Dash, and that's how the legend began.

[Zygen 6,066]

What makes you be skeptical about it? I feel like it made it pretty clear that making people laugh and smile was her special talent, so making her uptight family smile with her party was when she realized her true potential. What reference is S3 are you talking about?

Well, i dunno the whole And thats how equestria was made thing is a bit of something. I guess it was just Pinkie maybe. The whole rock farm concept was a bit strange to me to, but it is a cartoon.

 

Idk I'm probably just over analyzing it.

 

And the reference I'm talking about is in S3 E5 where trixie is talking about having to work on a rock farm, and then pinkie interrupts. With something like"You should be lucky they let you work on a rock farm!" or something like that.

 

 

@@Zygen

 

If they really wanted the sonic rainboom to be the catalyst for uncovering the all other five's cutie marks and abilities, it would've been easy to do.

 

Let's say the butterflies catch Fluttershy anyway because they are the appointed safety net for falling pegasi. If Fluttershy was still just an ordinary pony with no affinity for animals, they would've started flying off after saving her. Fluttershy would've then said, “Wait, I want to thank you! Please don't go!” BOOM Then she saw not only the butterflies but all the other forest creatures running for cover. With her latent abilities finally awakened by the sonic rainboom, she then would proceed to comfort all the animals, romp with them, and sing So Many Wonders. Rarity's cutie mark flashback can be reimagined in a similar way if the writers genuinely wanted the rainboom to precede all other talent manifestations.

 

The problem I have with the theory is that it really only could've akwaken something in Fluttershy and Twilight. Rarity already had her horn lead her to the rock, the sonic rainboom simply opened it. Twilights is pretty obvious it triggered something inside her. Fluttershys I could maybe see being true, but maybe it was just because she had never met animals like them or something(Are there even animals in cloudsdale anyways?)

 

Applejacks, and Pinkie pies where both not any real form of awakening a power from them. The rainboom just lead Applejack home and made Pinkie smile. Neither awoke any power from then though.

 

The only problem I have with the theory is that it isn't really ultra consistent.

[Wingnut 7,018]

@,

 

Very good point. Physics in Equestria's universe probably does vary from our own. Either it may be possible for a sonic boom's sound to travel farther or, for whatever reason, a sonic rainboom differs more from a sonic boom besides the addition of a light show.

 

@@Tall_But_Short_37,

 

Because no one has come out and declared Rainbow Dash the fastest pegasus alive today, there are probably other flyers who can go supersonic but their results aren't as colorful. Wonderbolt Academy may shed some light on that. I'm guessing the legend of the sonic rainboom requires the combination of two very rare qualities: A supersonic pegasus with rainbow colored fur. Commander Hurricane was possibly another, maybe the only other, rainbow colored pony to break the sound barrier.

 

@@Zygen,

 

I disagree on Pinkie Pie.  I think the sonic rainboom did more than curl her hair and make her smile.  While 30 seconds of flashback is very little to go on, Pinkamena appeared to be an ordinary land pony.  More than likely she did not have her wacky cartoonish talents before the rainboom. 

 

I know I am over-analyzing MLP:FiM, but hey, that's what fans do sometimes. A lot of science fiction and fantasy franchises lend themselves to endless study and debates about how this or that was accomplished. Star Trek, Star Wars, Transformers, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter are a few examples. MLP is a simpler, lighthearted cartoon that was never meant to undergo so much research. In fact, that is one of the lessons taught in Feeling Pinkie Keen. Twilight wracked her brain trying to figure Pinkie Pie out until she realized that not all of life's mysteries require a solution. It is what it is, just go with it and enjoy!

[pinkieshyrose 58]

maybe rainbow dash represented loyalty like her element all other mane six didnt use there elments other than the exception of twilight but ive always thought the sixth elment was "the spark of friendshp" so maybe yeah dash was the first one that represented a elment making a chemical reaction that caused the sconic rainboom