Applejack's talent isn't applebucking

[Loona 287]

This is something that I've thought of.

 

So you know in the episode where the CMC are asking the Mane 6 how they got their cutie marks, and Applejack says that when she returned back to the farm, hers appeared?

 

She didn't get her cutie mark by bucking apples, or doing anything apple related. She came home to her family.

 

What if her cutie mark is supposed to represent the Apple family, and her talent is something to do with the saying "home is where the heart is"? Heck, maybe her talent is family. She brought all the Apples together to have a good time in Apple Family Reunion.

[Zygen 6,066]

I think her talent is just general working on the apple orchard. And general work with her family business basically.

 

I think its just she realized thats where she belonged and thus got her cutie mark, she didn't have to have any actual applebucking skill.

 

Of course she certainly got some over the years.

 

Maybe I'm wrong though who knows.

[pinkiefan1287 610]

I'm pretty sure that her talent is working on the Apple Farm with her Family.

 

Besides, family isn't really a talent that you can use.

[Scootadress 361]

I'm pretty sure that her talent is working on the Apple Farm with her Family.

 

Besides, family isn't really a talent that you can use.

I don't think its more on "talents" than "who you really are". I feel it does represent her fairly well if it represents family. Its not a skill per say, but who said a mark has to be a skill?

 

For example: 

Pinkie Pie had a knack for making ponies smile. In fact, one can argue that she had her cutie mark due to making her family smile and not the actual party. She never gained her mark for making parties, which is what everyone says she has a mark for, but more, she loves the smiles she gets from them. Not the parties. Her whole backstory alone showed this. Her family never had an ounce of love or happiness. They never smiled and never showed joy, they were bland ponies. Her party was fun and all, but the smiles she received would be more important than the parties. 

 

See? Not all cutiemarks must be based on skill. 

[Gigapony 650]

I don't think its more on "talents" than "who you really are". I feel it does represent her fairly well if it represents family. Its not a skill per say, but who said a mark has to be a skill?

 

And I think this is a big reason that the CMC haven't got their cutie marks yet, actually. They're bent on thinking it's only based on a skill you can do, and that's why no matter how many skills they try to master, none of them will ever get their cutie marks, because it's not who they are; it's not their passion in life.

 

Going back to Pinkie Pie, one can assume she was at least as decent a rock farmer as the rest of her family, but that ability never gave her a cutie mark because her heart wasn't in it. It took her finding her true passion in life before she got her mark.

[Scootadress 361]

And I think this is a big reason that the CMC haven't got their cutie marks yet, actually. They're bent on thinking it's only based on a skill you can do, and that's why no matter how many skills they try to master, none of them will ever get their cutie marks, because it's not who they are; it's not their passion in life.

 

Going back to Pinkie Pie, one can assume she was at least as decent a rock farmer as the rest of her family, but that ability never gave her a cutie mark because her heart wasn't in it. It took her finding her true passion in life before she got her mark.

 

Her passion being to make everypony not take for granted that happiness that not everyone can get in life. I think that's where she managed to gain her mark in. She wanted to express her emotions, her feelings to make the same thing happen to the family. That's not a skill anyone can acquire, its who you are. That's why Apple Jack's mark isn't with farming, she might not have had the in her heart since she did that all her life, but more so, I think her love of family and the responsibility she had towards Ponyville made it more worth it to her. That's why its wrong to believe apple bucking is her cutiemark.

Edited July 9, 2013 by Scootadress

[pinkiefan1287 610]

I don't think its more on "talents" than "who you really are". I feel it does represent her fairly well if it represents family. Its not a skill per say, but who said a mark has to be a skill?

 

For example: 

Pinkie Pie had a knack for making ponies smile. In fact, one can argue that she had her cutie mark due to making her family smile and not the actual party. She never gained her mark for making parties, which is what everyone says she has a mark for, but more, she loves the smiles she gets from them. Not the parties. Her whole backstory alone showed this. Her family never had an ounce of love or happiness. They never smiled and never showed joy, they were bland ponies. Her party was fun and all, but the smiles she received would be more important than the parties. 

 

See? Not all cutiemarks must be based on skill. 

 

You make a good point, but Pinkie Pie had to develop different skills to make ponies happy. Parties aren't always going to be an option. She makes ponies smile from baking, singing, jokes, or just being there for others, and all kinds of other things. Which are all skills used to make others smile.

 

Besides if AJ cutie mark does just mean family and not apple bucking, then what is she suppose to do with her life? She can't just stand around all day and do nothing. Besides if her cutie mark is the apple family, then she has to do what the family is doing and thats bucking apples and farming.

[Scootadress 361]

You make a good point, but Pinkie Pie had to develop different skills to make ponies happy. Parties aren't always going to be an option. She makes ponies smile from baking, singing, jokes, or just being there for others, and all kinds of other things. Which are all skills used to make others smile.

 

Besides if AJ cutie mark does just mean family and not apple bucking, then what is she suppose to do with her life? She can't just stand around all day and do nothing. Besides if her cutie mark is the apple family, then she has to do what the family is doing and thats bucking apples and farming.

I'm sure AJ knows more than just farming, and she mainly is with her family. She's the one that encourages others. She's the one that tries her hardest for the family she has. Not only that, but, its for her family outside her family. Remember how Apple Jack said her friends were like family? Maybe her home town is like her family too, and she's been trying her hardest to support this "family" with her apples and her help. One can't simply be the most dependable of ponies and not have other skills. Family isn't what makes you up by blood, its also who you let in. She's doing something for other parts of the family, its not shown though since she barely gets attention.

[Shanks 10,816]

I think that ones cutie mark have an implicit secondary meaning that says not just what their talent is but also the very core of who they are and we know this from how the mane 6 all got their cutie marks. Applejack's cutie mark does represent her talent that is obvious but it also represents her being true to herself. She got her cutie mark after she realized that living with her Aunt and Uncle Orange was not for her, that by doing this she was trying to be somepony else and that she had to be herself. 

 

The other mane 6 cutie marks also have some deeper meanings to them Rainbow Dash for example got hers after performing a Sonic Rainboom but it was her determination and her desire to stand up for her friend Fluttershy and some luck that cause her to sucessfully perform what most ponies thought was only a myth. So Applejacks talent is apple bucking but the meaning of her cutie mark while it may reference apple bucking is about her honesty and integrity.

[Saddle ~ Arabia 118]

Your brief description of her talent is correct. When she told the Cutiemark Crusaders of her cutiemark story she explained how she knew that Sweet Apple Acres was her real home and she realised straight away that she belonged there with Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. That just brings me to the fact that she sounds more loyal than Rainbow Dash. But anyway in Apple Family Reunion  episode she did bring all the Apple Family together and made sure that working together to clean up the fallen barn would bring all of them total success. Afterall, two heads are better than one. All of this made me knew that Applejack was the kindest, modest and caring pony in the group.

[hawkflame 3,310]

I think that a cutie mark isn't just about the talent, but rather about their passion. I agree with others in that it's less about what they do and more a mark reflecting who they are.  Applejack's talent may be bucking apples, but her passion, and an innate part of her self identity, is in working the family farm.  Fluttershy's reflects who she is as a lover and caretaker of nature.  Pinkie Pie's talent is in making parties, but her core passion is in making others smile.  And Rarity's reflects less her gem finding ability or even her talent for making dresses, and more symbolizes the artistic inspiration she got from finding those gems.  She always loved making dresses, but it wasn't until she was hit with inspiration from those jewels that she got her cutie mark.

 

I think that Scootaloo here hits on the real meaning of a cutie mark without even realizing it:

 

"These namby pamby stories aren't getting us any closer to our cutie marks.  "They're all about finding who you really are, and boring stuff like that!"

 

"Finding who you really are."  Not "finding what you're good at" or "finding what you like to do". 

[Loona 287]

@EarthbendingProdigy

 

That makes a lot of sense actually. I think that they could have always known their talent, but they really needed to realise it.

[Concord 1,982]

Hello!

 

Applejack is one big applebucker!

 

If you haven't noticed. All the ponies who are in the apple family tree have cutie marks that have to do something with Apples. Her talent is making the most out of these apples, the farm. She also represents the talent of Hard work, because let's face it, not all of us have the talent to get up and work .

[DiscordAnarchy 770]

I don't think its more on "talents" than "who you really are". I feel it does represent her fairly well if it represents family. Its not a skill per say, but who said a mark has to be a skill?

 

For example: 

Pinkie Pie had a knack for making ponies smile. In fact, one can argue that she had her cutie mark due to making her family smile and not the actual party. She never gained her mark for making parties, which is what everyone says she has a mark for, but more, she loves the smiles she gets from them. Not the parties. Her whole backstory alone showed this. Her family never had an ounce of love or happiness. They never smiled and never showed joy, they were bland ponies. Her party was fun and all, but the smiles she received would be more important than the parties. 

 

See? Not all cutiemarks must be based on skill. 

 

 

 

 

I dare say that proclaiming the notion that Pinkie's family did not know Love is rather cruel. They may be a bland group of ponies who did not smile but that does not mean they did not love their family or each other. They have a difficult life, one that is probably hinged upon their daily duties least they lose all they own. Combine that with having 3 daughters to raise and it is a stressful life indeed. I daresay that while the may not laugh, saying they do not love is EVIL!

Edited July 11, 2013 by DiscordAnarchy

[Scootadress 361]

 

 

I dare say that proclaiming the notion that Pinkie's family did not know Love is rather cruel. They may be a bland group of ponies who did not smile but that does not mean they did not love their family or each other. They have a difficult life, one that is probably hinged upon their daily duties least they lose all they own. Combine that with having 3 daughters to raise and it is a stressful life indeed. I daresay that while the may not laugh, saying they do not love is EVIL!

LOL Sorry wrong wording. I meant they showed no happiness more so then not. They care for their own, but they do not know much more. They aren't exactly bland; I would call them something similar to discorded. (Where as the ponies acted weird. They didn't show themselves without Twilight needing to show them. Its like that to a point.)They need to be shown happiness, since they were deprived.

[Twi Rubix 726]

I was always a little curious as to what AJ's cutie mark specifically meant. Like alot of others said here, it could be finding who you truly are, or what your destiny is. Cutie Marks are somewhat of a "destiny" type of thing.

 

Twilight's cutie mark for example. 

Now, this is more or less speculation, but It's got five small stars that center around one big star, probably representing the Elements of Harmony, and the star in the middle is her element: Magic. That shows she was destined to be the bearer of the Element of magic, and become Celestia's star student.

 

 

Rainbow Dash is another example. Her cutie mark is a rainbow colored lightning bolt, meaning she is quick, nimble, strong, and has amazing agility. She's an athlete, and wants to train to join the Wonderbolts, flyers who perform spectacular stunts. Both of which require the attributes she has.

 

Applejack's cutie mark is... Well, apples.

 

This could mean alot of things, but it probably means she is destined to be close to her brother and grandmother, and they all work and live together. We've seen how determined she is to keep the farm and her family safe. (Best example would be the Super Cider Squeezy episode.) If you notice, Big Mac and Granny Smith have some kind of apple related cutie mark. (Apple pie and the inside of an apple.) Applejack's cutie mark is three apples, probably representing her, Big Mac, and Granny. (Apple Bloom didn't exist at the time.) Speaking of her, I'm willing to bet Apple Bloom has some kind of Apple Cutie mark in the future as well.

Edited July 12, 2013 by Twi Rubix

[Ihei 714]

Well, getting your cutie mark is finding your destiny. When Applejack went back to he farm, she found out her destiny was to work at the apple farm, thus making it her talent.

[spacestorm 183]

I just wanted to add that already has been said in the show that these cutie marks have a deeper meaning (in Call of the Cutie episode). If one does not remember it, here is a quote from the MLP wiki:
"Cheerilee explains that her cutie mark, smiling flowers, is symbolic of her desire to make her students bloom and learn cheerfully".
Literally one would think that her cutie mark is related to her passion for horticulture.
So I think that relating AJ cutie mark with her family and work in the orchard to be the most accurate.

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

It would be nice to have a Cutie Mark about family, but since all of her family's cutie marks are about apples, that could imply that they are all about family, which would mean that it's a very common cutie mark.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Her talent is probably just about her relationship and her strong bond that she has with her family which explains the three apples. So, her talent probably connects to her family.