Meanwhile in Ponyville, Cheerilee led Shadowstealth and Thick to the clubhouse where the Cutie Mark Crusaders hung out.
"This is it, right here," said Cheerilee. "Applejack's old clubhouse. Apple Bloom told me that it used to be a wreck until she repaired it and gave it a makeover."
"Sweet!" said Thick. "That must be her special talent!"
"Well, she has yet to realize that. Otherwise, she would have received her cutie mark some time ago."
"That doesn't seem plausible," said Shadowstealth, rubbing his chin. "How can a pony be so good at something and not realize it's his or her special talent. There must be more to it than just that."
"Well anyway," said Cheerilee. "Shadowstealth, I believe you wanted to introduce Thick to these three fillies."
"Certainly," he said. Inside the clubhouse, the Cutie Mark Crusaders sat around looking somewhat bored, but mostly sad.
"Maybe everythin' we ever did... this whole Cutie Mark Crusaders thing..." murmured Apple Bloom. "Maybe it was all a mistake."
"All we wanted was to find our cutie marks," said Sweetie Belle. "We never imagined that we would take things the wrong way."
"This stinks," sighed Scootaloo. "Now look at us. We're total wimps hiding in our clubhouse expecting somepony to come along and do something bad to us again."
"Well, ah reckon nothin' can go wrong if we just stay right here," assumed Apple Bloom.
"Except that those snotty bullies Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon know where we are," said Sweetie Belle, shaking slightly. "And that they pick on us especially."
"And if we fight back, we'll only get into trouble ourselves," said Scootaloo. "It's not fair!" There was suddenly a knock on the wooden door, making the three fillies cringe and grab hold of each other in fright.
"Hello?" It was the voice of Shadowstealth. "Don't be afraid in there. I'm a friend of Miss Cheerilee. I want you to meet a new friend. Can she come in?" The Cutie Mark Crusaders were puzzled. Someone wanted to see them? The door opened and in came the adorable little filly Thick, who looked just as nervous as they did. She slowly walked over the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"A-are you the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" she asked.
"We are!" said Apple Bloom, starting to light up.
"At least we were," mumbled Scootaloo.
"We still are," insisted Sweetie Belle. "Looks like you have yet to earn your cutie mark as well. Would you like to join our group?"
"C-can I?" asked Thick.
"Sure ya can!" said Apple Bloom. "Hey, Scootaloo! We got a ceremony to set up!"
"I don't feel like it," murmured Scootaloo.
"Why not?" asked Apple Bloom.
"What's the use? We're just a bunch of silly fillies who only get into trouble and it's never worth it."
"I wouldn't be quick to give up like that if I were you." Shadowstealth himself walked into the clubhouse along with Cheerilee. "The problem is that instead of even trying for your cutie marks, you actually enjoy yourselves doing daily activities and having fun as little fillies. If you really want to earn your cutie marks, then as a start, you can't just try out for the same thing. Every pony has a different special talent. It's what makes us all unique."
"Really?" said Scootaloo.
"Why else do you think you haven't earned your cutie marks yet? Because you haven't yet figured out what has been destined for you. In other words, you need to think back to not just things that you like doing, but things that you are good at."
"What if we don't have any special talents?" asked a worried Scootaloo. "I can't even fly and Diamond Tiara decided to have everypony in Ponyville acknowledge that I was just a useless Pegasus. I imagine she and Silver Spoon are probably forming their own secret society dedicated to stamping out blank flanks or something like that."
Meanwhile, at the Rich's manor, a group of young ponies with cutie marks had gathered in Diamond Tiara's room.
"Welcome, friends," said Diamond Tiara. "Welcome to our first meeting of... the Diamond Cutters!"
"We'll do anything for mistress Diamond Tiara!" said Snips. Apparently, he and Snails were part of this group.
"Yeah, Diamond Tiara knows best!" Snails agreed.
"Excellent!" said Diamond Tiara. "As you all know, our organization is to ensure that those ponies who are blank flanks stay blank flanks! After all, what good is a pony without a special talent? What good is a pony who can't even figure out his or her special talent might be? So it's our job to keep things that way... especially for those Cutie Mark Crusaders!" The group of young ponies chuckled, except for one... Twist. Instead, she looked guilty, as if to say that the only reason she joined Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon was because she was too afraid of them to stand up for her friend Apple Bloom any longer. "Soon..." Diamond Tiara continued. "This town of Ponyville will be divided in two. There will be ponies with cutie marks and ponies without cutie marks. And they will be divided... forever!!" She laughed maniacally.
"Uh... Diamond Tiara?" asked Twist, feeling slightly brave enough. "About that."
"Hm? Yes, Twist? You have something to say?"
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It doesn't, huh? Well, what doesn't make sense?
"Remember what we learned in Miss Cheerilee's class? All ponies are born without cutie marks and they earn them in their youth days. I think your proposal means eventually separating even foals from their parents. Is that what you really want?" All the young ponies except for Diamond Tiara gasped. Diamond Tiara looked like she definitely had something to think about, but she seemed determined not to let it bother her.
"You know what I think?" she finally said. "Why should foals even be born without cutie marks?! Our special talents are meant to be destined for us! So why shouldn't foals be born with them?"
"Now, l-let's not be too hasty, mistress Diamond Tiara," said Snails.
"Yeah," agreed Snips. "Wasn't there a time when you didn't have your own cutie mark yet?" Diamond Tiara growled at this.
"Me? A blank flank?! I will never accept that! Blank flanks are useless! That's why we're all here! To prove it! As Diamond Cutters, we will torment them. We will smash their dreams to pieces! We will divide them from ponies with cutie marks! Because they deserve it! Cutie marks are everything! Does anypony else want to disagree?" There was silence. "No? Good. Because our mission... begins now! And we'll start... with those Cutie Mark Crusaders!"
Back in Canterlot, after Shining Armor and Cadance went back to the Crystal Empire to round up their guards, the royal guards serving Celestia and Luna were preparing to make their first move, willing to do whatever it took to keep Equestria's throne safe from tyranny. Inside the castle, Twilight and her friends remained with Celestia and Luna, trying to figure out a way to go around Martinet's high magic level.
"This is gonna be Trixie with that Alicorn Amulet all over again!" complained Rainbow Dash. "It was bad enough that we were unable to stand up to her and protect Twilight, but now this?!"
"It's okay, Dashie," said Twilight. "We'll find a way together. Remember, no magic can break the bonds of our friendship."
"Well, I'm not sure what good that's gonna do. Oh, man! Discord had better get his act together and help us for pony's sake! Agh, I can't believe those words came out of my mouth!" Despite the dire predicament Canterlot was facing, Twilight had to let out a small laugh at that. Celestia then approached Twilight to talk with her.
"Twilight Sparkle," she said. "Again, I'm most terribly sorry for having to put you and your friends through what could be the most dangerous mission of your lives."
"Princess," insisted Twilight. "My friends wanted to do this with me. You didn't force them or anything. And besides, I love Equestria as much as you do. And I want to help protect it. It's not because I'm a princess and I feel that it's my royal duty to do so. It's because this is my home. It's everypony's home! I don't want to think about what horrors Martinet will do should he win."
"We can't let him win no matter what," said Celestia. "Because Martinet does not understand friendship like you do. And now, I'm afraid he never will."
"We'll do what we have to," answered Twilight. "For Equestria."
"Twilight," said Spike. "I'm scared."
"Oh, Spike," murmured Twilight. "So am I. I'm hoping that things will be all right in the end."
"I just don't want to lose you." Twilight and Spike hugged, with Spike not wanting to let go.
"C'mon, Twi," said Applejack. "Let's go get the Elements of Harmony back. Ah reckon the Tree of Harmony wouldn't mind if we just borrowed them momentarily, 'specially fer a noble cause."
"Yeah," agreed Twilight. "We'll be right back, princesses!" Twilight and her friends left the castle, intending to take the next train back to Ponyville.
"Going somewhere?" A gruff, masculine and angry voice suddenly spoke to them. No sooner did Twilight and her friends leave the castle gates, they found themselves surrounded by a group a rugged-looking ponies, sniggering diabolically.
"Wha... I don't... How did they...?" stuttered Twilight. And then, 'he' appeared before the eyes of Twilight and her friend. Martinet, the Shadow General himself, made his way through the crowd of his own ponies to confront the six friends personally.
"Well, well..." he boomed. "What have we here?"
"You're him!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "Martinet! What do you want with us?!"
"Rainbow Dash," muttered Twilight through gritted teeth, hoping that Martinet wouldn't hear what she had to say. "Don't make any sudden moves."
"What's going on?" said Celestia, stepping outside the castle. She gasped upon seeing that Canterlot was already being invaded, with Martinet right at the castle gates. "Martinet!"
"Princess Celestia," sneered Martinet. "You tyrant scum! Your reign is officially over! Equestria belongs to me, a more worthy ruler!"
"I don't understand," said Celestia. "What happened to the guards? What happened to Luna's guards?" The dark-coated ponies snickered.
"Guards?" one of them said. "What guards?" Twilight's friends and Celestia all gasped.
"No... you couldn't have... There's no way... What have you done?!" bellowed Celestia.
"You mean these guards?" said another roughneck pony, revealing that Celestia's guards who had been preparing were turned into either infants or old geezers clad in armor, unable to even fight back.
"You snake!" roared Rainbow Dash.
"SILENCE!!" shouted Martinet, with a voice ten times louder than Rainbow. "I will have your head!" Without warning, he fired a blast of crimson red magic at Rainbow, but she easily dodged it and it struck a part of the castle, leaving a gaping hole in its wall. "Foolish girl! I will rule the world! Equestria now belongs... to the bronies!!" He then cut loose with an evil laugh that grew louder and louder, making Twilight, her friends, and even Celestia cringe. This could be the end for all of them and all of Equestria.