The Cutie Mark Crusaders decide to ask ponies around town where they got their cutie marks, specifically Rarity, who has perhaps the most profound, odd cutie mark of all. On their quest to figure out how a unicorn became a weatherpony, however, they encounter many of the other ponies who have odd tales of their own to share. How did Pinkie Pie join the Apple Family? How did Rainbow Dash become an animal caretaker? Why is Applejack a fashion designer? How did Twilight become Celestia’s student? What made Fluttershy decide to dedicate her life to bringing joy to others? And how did Rarity become a weatherpony, a role so outside a unicorn’s skillset? It may be that everything in Equestria is not kind and peaceful after all.

Six months before the wedding of Cadence and Shining Armor, Spike meets the queen by chance. Taken aback by her quirks, Spike tries his best to become friends with her, to some success.
However, all things, good or bad, must come to an end, and Chrysalis's eventual actions at the wedding make that clear.

Spike has, in his hands, the ability to redeem this seemingly evil queen. Because... maybe she isn't as evil as everyone thought.

(Reluctantly toting the OC tag because of Chrysalis's disguise, and because of the fact that there will eventually be a true OC designed to help push the story along. AKA I didn't write the story around the OC, I wrote the OC around the story. I'm really paranoid about this pushing away potential readers, if you can't tell. ^^;)

(Character list have been further adjusted to mark what the story will become. The majority and focus of the story is the "encore", and, while it will have a "slice of life" feel, there will be important consequences to the actions taken; hence, it is an adventure.)