Today is the second day of the new year. Twilight Sparkle and her friends are in the Friendship Map throne room having a meeting. Sunset Shimmer, Discord and Fiery Flames are not present. They're off having a fun day with each other. The Friendship Map has all the Cutie Marks of Twilight and her friends at a remote town that is on the northwestern side of Manehattan and south of the Crystal Mountains. Twilight and her friends boarded on the only train that heads towards the village. A few hours later, the girls have gotten out of the train but there is no train station. Just an end of the track. As Twilight looked at the map, the train went in full reverse out of the area. Twilight said that from their position to the village is 5 miles away. The girls will have a lot of distance to cover. As the girls went along their way, Pinkie Pie became very stealthy. She would hide under the rocks letting the others know when to move and if its safe. After walking 5 miles, they spotted the village filled with ponies but something wasn't right. All the ponies had the exact Cutie Mark with an equal sign. They also have a particular smile on their faces. Not allowing any other emotion to be expressed. Pinkie Pie did not like it one bit. She felt very uncomfortable about the ponyfolk. She can sense it. Twilight and the group discussed among themselves on how to handle the situation at hoof. They decided to trot into the village and see what they can find.
Twilight and her friends received a lot of welcoming from the ponyfolks in the village until a certain pony came up to them. She had different emotions than the rest of them. Finally, somepony who isn't acting weird or crazy. Her name is Starlight Glimmer. Starlight Glimmer was pleased to see a new form Alicorn in her presence. It enlightens Starlight in various ways. She decided to show Twilight and her friends what true friendship is all about. After a while, Starlight entrusted Double Diamond to assist Twilight and her friends with anything they may need during their visit.
Pinkie Pie did not like any of this one bit. Fluttershy seems flattered by the scenery but Pinkie sucked the fun out of Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie is somepony who doesn't do that unless she senses something that is not right. All ponies with the same Cutie Marks, all have the same smile and looks like their possessed by a demon. Fluttershy is enjoying her time here in the village while Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were having mixed reactions especially when everypony kept on staring at them. The stores they had were all the same. Nothing new whatsoever. It made them sick to their stomachs. A pony known as Sugar Belle came up to the girls. She asked if anypony were hungry for muffins. Twilight originally ordered 6 muffins but Pinkie doubled it because she was hungry. Sugar Belle went into her shop and began to bake muffins. Sugar Belle overhears Twilight and the other bickering among themselves. It's been a while since she saw what friendship actually is. When she came back outside and gave the girls their muffins, she has a conversation with them as Pinkie Pie started to eat the muffins. Turns out that the muffins were not pleasant for Pinkie. She hated the distaste in her mouth. No flavor whatsoever.
Pinkie Pie suffered eating all of the muffins she ordered. She felt sick to her stomach. Sugar Belle made it clear to the girls before she went to the basement that there is something for them to hear. Twilight and her friend made it down the stairs as Pinkie Pie fell down complaining about having better tastebuds eating cardboard than those stale muffins. Sugar Belle, Party Favor, and Night Glider loved the Cutie Marks that Twilight and her friends had. They wished they can have their back but Starlight keeps them in the vault. Sugar Belle mentioned that Starlight uses the Staff of Sameness to extract the Cutie Marks to become the same as everypony else in the village. This intrigues Twilight and she wanted to know more about the vault. Starlight had no problem with showing them girls the vault. It gave her a real good reason to steal the Cutie Marks away from them. Replacing it with an equal Cutie Mark for her domain.
Starlight Glimmer showed the girls about the vault and how nopony ever leaves without leaving something behind. Starlight Glimmer trapped the girls and removed their Cutie Marks. As the magic was fading away, Discord felt a disturbance in the force. He can no longer sense Twilight's Alicorn magic nor her friend's magic. It bugged Discord out a lot as something wasn't feeling right. Sunset Shimmer and Discord decided to check on Twilight and her friends. Unfortunately, Discord has no idea where they could be. The magic that's fading away is being blocked by a magic barrier he wasn't familiar with. He then decided to pay a trip to the Castle of Friendship with Sunset to find Spike.
"Spike, where are you?" Discord shouted.
"I'm here listening to the game on the radio in the throne room. What's up Discord?" Spike asked.
"Do you know where Princess Twilight Sparkle went?"
"Here," Spike pointed where their friends are at. Discord took a good look at the map.
"Alright then. Thanks for the directions. We'll take things from here."
"Also Spike, can you watch Fiery Flames while we're out?" Sunset asked.
"Sure thing. I have a natural talent when babysitting animals."
"Thanks, Spike."
"No problem Sunset. Have fun." He waved as Discord teleported himself and Sunset to the train station. From there, they'll hop on the train heading towards the equalist town.
"Hope you like flaming hot paper that Twilight won't mind sharing," Spike said holding out a book Twilight was reading. He then breathes fire at the book and holding a plate for the papers that had flames for Fiery. Fiery began to eat his meal as Spike watched the little guy.
A few hours later, Twilight and her friend's special talents were fading away. Each of them struggled to keep up with their personalities. Applejack had a hard time talking like she used to. Pinkie Pie losing her fun cheerful spirit. Fluttershy is unable to speak with the birds. After a while, Twilight came up with an idea. Since Fluttershy is already accepting the ponyfolk before her Cutie Mark was taken away, she'll be the perfect scapegoat to see if there's a way to get their Cutie Marks back from Starlight Glimmer. Starlight Glimmer welcomed Fluttershy to join the family. For all new friends that join in the village, they are allowed to stay at her cottage until one is built for them. As the night time progresses, Fluttershy did a little snooping around. Fluttershy was able to see Double Diamond bringing Starlight the Cutie Marks that Starlight stole from her and her friends. She then makes a quick discovery that Starlight Glimmer never released her Cutie Mark. It's been painted in black. Fluttershy knew what to do.
Around that same time, Discord and Sunset saw the village behind a big boulder. Discord was able to see and hear everything Fluttershy had to say to herself.
"Wow, talk about crazy. Here I thought I was demented but hearing Fluttershy speak like that about somepony, this Starlight Glimmer tops everything that I used to do."
"Same here. Sure I turned a group of students into mindless zombies but damn. Changing the personality while she kept hers is pretty insane. So how should we handle this Discord?"
"We wait and see when an opportunity presents itself. Then we can lend our friends a hoof to turn the tides of this conflict."
"Alright then. Let's wait and see."
As morning arrived, Starlight Glimmer wanted to give Twilight and her friends an opportunity to give in but they wouldn't. Fluttershy offered to lock them back but as she came closer to Twilight, she let her know everything including a plan to expose Starlight as the fraud she is. Twilight then turned back to Starlight and decided to join Starlight's friendship proposal. As soon as the two emerge in conversations, Fluttershy tried to throw a bucket of water at Starlight but completely missed her target. Starlight knew she was tricked and readying herself to take Fluttershy down. All of a sudden, clouds were forming around the village. It began to rain. Starlight couldn't react quick enough as the rain washed Starlight's equal Cutie Mark. Exposing herself to everypony. They all looked at Starlight. Horrified that her Cutie Mark is a fake. Sadness and disbelief reigned throughout the crowd.
"You know, for somepony to have a demented idea of controlling everypony, I give you an A for effort." Discord said appearing right behind the crowd.
"What the?!" Starlight said as she was nearly startled to death.
"Don't forget lying and taking away something precious is more like somepony who wants to neglect real friendship," Sunset said next to Discord.
Starlight could only stare at the two as everypony else in the village turned as their feelings were rising up. Twilight and her friends glared at Starlight. Twilight tried to let Starlight know how special Cutie Mark talents are until she was silenced by Starlight. The ponyfolk decided to take back their Cutie Marks as Starlight ran towards her cottage. Away from the scene. Double Diamond led the charge for everypony to get their Cutie Marks back. Sunset Shimmer and Discord decided to follow the rest of the ponies to see if they can help. Twilight and her friends went after Starlight Glimmer.
Discord and Sunset Shimmer saw the ponies trying to break the vault. Double Diamond using the staff to try and break the vault but to no avail. Discord used his magic and shattered the glass of the vault. Allowing all Cutie Marks to return back to their host. Ponies were able to rejuvenate themselves once more with their special talent. Discord and Sunset headed back to the village to check on everypony. Party Favor, Sugar Belle, Double Diamond, and Night Glider decided to head back and help Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy gain their Cutie Marks back. Rainbow had little faith as she complained about not being as fast as she should be right now. Fluttershy and Twilight believed that they could pull it off.
Starlight Glimmer had a rough time handling with 4 other ponies and their natural talent. Each of them gave Starlight problems as she creates tougher obstacles as she heads towards the cave. With the help of Night Glider giving Starlight a care package, Double Diamond was able to cut off Starlight Glimmer's path. Her magic that was carrying the Cutie Marks broke as Twilight and her friends were able to change back to normal. Starlight saw everypony coming closer. Even Discord and Sunset came by. They wanted to help apprehend Starlight. She then teleports herself out of harm's way. Discord and Sunset went into the caves to search for Starlight. Everypony was happy to have their Cutie Marks back so they decided to have their own party. To celebrate a new foundation in friendship taught by Twilight Sparkle and her friends.
The Cutie Marks glowed on Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack indicating them as their friendship quest is now over for the time being. They decided to stay awhile and party with the rest of their new friends.
Right now, Discord and Sunset Shimmer are tracking Starlight's dimmed magic in the caves.