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// Opportunities 
// Story: Unmarked Once More 
// by gamernerd717 
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The Cutie Mark Crusaders had just finished helping another pony find their purpose, and it was a delight to see. As the young filly thanked the Crusaders for their help and went off to show their friends and family, the Crusaders couldn’t help feeling proud of what they had accomplished ever since acquiring their beloved cutie marks on that fateful day of the class election.

“You know Crusaders, with all the success we’ve been havin’ with helpin’ ponies, sometimes even I can’t believe it”, Apple Bloom said.

“You said it”, Scootaloo replied.

“Yeah, especially with how clumsy we used to be at trying to get our cutie marks in the first place”, Sweetie Belle jokingly added. 

The Crusaders all laughed at the reminder of their past failures. While the goal of obtaining their cutie marks had been a tiring and frustrating one, it was also one rife with so many ridiculous failed attempts, that one couldn’t help but chuckle at how crazily some of their attempts had backfired. 

“Well, we don’t have to worry about that now, Sweetie. We actually do have our cutie marks now, and nothing will ever change that”, Scootaloo confidently proclaimed before hugging her two best friends.

If Scootaloo had known about what would happen later that day, she’d have never opened her mouth. None of the three fillies could’ve known, nor would they have wanted to in the first place. To say she’d have to eat her words later on would be an understatement.

Elsewhere, a sorcerer in a black and purple longcoat, magical cane in one hand, nothing in the other, was carefully gathering information on the place called Equestria. All the ponies had lived there as far as he knew, but this place in particular had been the source of quite a few interesting developments.

The sorcerer’s interest was already piqued, but it would only grow when studying some of the ponies that lived there. In particular, a set of three fillies: A white unicorn, an orange pegasus, and a yellow earth pony. The fillies looked rather unremarkable at first glance, but on their flanks were a set of three matching cutie marks that were identical in color, with only a picture in the center separating the three marks from one another. He needed to get a closer look to study them, and could only think of one easy solution. 

He had heard of a pony who wreaked havoc by magically taking away cutie marks before, but now it was his turn to cause trouble and add his own little twist on things.