Meeting somepony more talented than you can lead to many unpleasant feelings. Perhaps they’re an excellent flier, or possess a green hoof (whereas you struggle to locate the business end of a watering can). Even worse is when you share special talents, and have to deal with ego-crushing feelings of inferiority. 

Often, individuals will choose to outright avoid these Ponies of Outrageous Talent (herein referred to as "POT"). Regardless of whether you’re an earthpony, pegasus, or unicorn, befriending a POT can be a real challenge. 

The authors of this publication understand the struggle of living in the shadow of an [s]immortal alicorn Princess-goddess[/s] incredibly gifted individual. Below you will find tips on how to find, interact, and live with ponies who are simply [i]better [/i]at your talent. It is our hope that this guide can assist you on your quest to be second-rate. Because if you choose to befriend ponies more talented than you, that’s what you’ll be.

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[center][u]You Will Never Be First[/u] 
[i]M.Dancer[/i][/center]

Perhaps you are a filly when you first encounter your POT. It’s your first day at Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, and there are plenty of talented ponies in your classroom. 

When class begins, however, it is quickly apparent that some ponies are academic [i]superstars.[/i] You may be drawn to how your prodigy eagerly and correctly answers every question--even the hard ones. The teacher looks impressed.

You might begin to raise your hoof, to volunteer answers yourself. This will likely result in her participating even [i]more,[/i] until the teacher leaves you both in a corner with a worksheet, to let everypony else catch up.

She will finish the worksheet first. She will finish everything first. Your friendship may feel like a competition, but it isn’t. 

If she is first, it is because she is leading the way to greatness. Follow her.

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[center][u]You Will Never Be Right[/u] 
[i]S.Glimmer[/i][/center]

Perhaps you don’t encounter this individual until later in life, after you’ve established a place and a name for yourself. You might have spent your entire life believing you are a powerful unicorn, and intended to spend your life basking in the utopia you've created with your own magical cleverness.

Then one day, [i]she[/i] saunters in. Bold, talented, convinced of her own moral superiority--she wastes no time in turning your friends against you. She upends everything you hold dear, and suddenly nothing you know is right. Your view of the world, your view of yourself--somehow, she’s morally superior as well as more magical.

She will teach you, of course. You can dig your hooves and plug your ears--because you don’t want to be [i]right[/i], you want to be [i]you[/i]--but she will still teach you. 

It will hurt. You will be ashamed at [i]how much[/i] you do not know, how much there is to learn. You are not as talented as you thought, and she will show you that you aren’t as indomitable, either.

Listen anyway. You might just teach her something in return.


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[center][u]You Will Never Win[/u]
[i] T. Lulamoon[/i][/center]

High-caliber individuals (such as yourself) must occasionally prove their exceptionalism. This can be accomplished through two easy steps:

      1) Find the most powerful unicorn in town 
 
      2) Best them in single combat*

If you find yourself unable to best your POT horn-to-horn, don’t allow their seeming superiority to dampen your Great and Powerful self-confidence. Even if they [i]do[/i] drive you out of town, ruin your business, and slander your mighty name--you can’t allow any scrap of doubt to tarnish your belief in your superiority.

Certainly, the little goody-goody Princess might [i]seem[/i] to be more powerful. And she might have an entire [i]castle[/i], and a student, and the undying love of a whole nation. And maybe she is smarter, and pretty, and has lots and lots of friends while you had to shoot yourself out of a [i]cannon[/i] to make just one… 

[i]So what[/i] if you have no chance of beating her? [i]So what[/i] if it’s an uphill battle? [s][i]Cheat[/i][/s] Challenge her anyways! If the mighty must fall, let them fall at the hooves of [i]legends[/i]! You’ll probably fail, but greatness does not come from playing [s]by the rules[/s] it safe.

After all, is it better to lose to the best, or triumph over the rest? 



[quote][u][i]The [color=#9426af]GREAT[/color] and [color=#26a4af]POWERFUL[/color] 🌙☄✨ [b][color=#6aaadd]TRIXIE[/color][/b] ✨☄🌙 says[/i][/u]: Why not both?
Learn how to unlock your full potential in [i]Ancient Amulets: Asserting Your Dominance in an Age of Alicorns. [/i]Available now at your nearest bookstore![/quote]

*Results may vary