Accursed Mark.

"Princess Twilight, the map has summoned us again!" The Cutie Mark Crusaders burst through the door leading into the room that holds the Cutie Map with their usual vigor as they enthusiastically show off their glowing cutie marks signifying that they have been selected for a friendship mission.

"That's great girls and look who's joining you." The Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, pointed at her pupil, Starlight Glimmer, whose cutie mark is also glowing.

"I don't believe we've ever got to work together before." Sweetie Belle pointed out.

"Nope, I think this marks the first time." Starlight concurred.

"So is the map sending us to Mount Aris again?" Scootaloo asked Twilight with a hint of anticipation in her voice. "I wouldn't mind getting to swim underwater in Seapony form again."

"Sorry Scootaloo, but the map is actually you four to Vanhoover." Twilight displayed the area of the Cutie Map where the four cutie marks hovered over a city called Vanhoover.

Everypony--aside from Scootaloo, who is mildly disappointed in not getting to reexperience the feeling of flight that swimming in Seapony form provides her with--looked upon the location with curiosity. "I've never been ta Vanhoover before." Apple Bloom confessed. "Do ya know anythin' about it, Twilight?"

"I only know that it's a city that lies on the northwest coast of Equestria." Twilight provided as much information she had to offer. "I'm afraid I've never visited there myself, so I can't tell you anything beyond that."

"That's OK," Starlight replied, "it's nothing that a tour guide can't help."

"Now before you all head off to your mission, you better pack up and settle with your responsibilities." Twilight turned to Starlight. "You need to find a substitute to fill in your responsibilities as school counselor." Then she turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "And you three need to let Cheerilee know that you'll won't be at school for a few days."

Understanding perfectly well that a friendship mission is not a vacation from their daily routines, the mare and three fillies each went about settling their personal responsibilities exactly as Twilight instructed them to.

...

"You want The Great and Powerful Trixie to do your job for you?" The aforementioned Trixie raised some doubts over Starlight's nomination as her substitute.

"Why not?" Starlight responded. "You're already going to be the new school counselor when I become the new Headmare, so this could be a perfect opportunity for you to get use to your soon to be new job."

"Hmm, you do make a fair point. Oh what the hay, I've been needing to take a break from performing magic shows anyway."

"Thanks again, Trixie. But before you get settled into my office, can you help me with my packing?"

...

"The three of you are being sent to Vanhoover?" Cheerilee asked her three students.

"I know this is out of the blue," Apple Bloom answered, "but when the map sends you on a friendship mission you can't really decline."

"This wouldn't be an inconvenience for you by any chance, Miss Cheerilee?" Scootaloo wondered.

"It's no problem at all girls." Cheerilee assured them. "Just try not to stay stuck in Vanhoover for a week or so."

"We'll finish the mission faster than you can say cherry pie!" Sweetie Belle declared. "Now if there's nothing else you need to tell us Miss Cheerilee, we all need to head home and get packing."

...

Packing up for the friendship mission ended up taking all day for everypony, but by Monday morning, everypony was able to reach the train station in time. Starlight arrived with her saddlebags carrying her favorite plant, Phyllis, on one side, and tour guide for Vanhoover and some bits in the other. She was surprised to find the Cutie Mark Crusaders had reached the station before her along with their respective guardians.

"Good mornin' Starlight!" Apple Bloom waved to the pale pink unicorn. "Betcha never thought we'd get here before you, huh?"

"I certainly was not anticipating this." Starlight admitted. "And I see a few ponies have come to bid you farewell."

"Naturally," said Rarity, "you can't expect us not to make sure the girls arrive on time."

"Oh Starlight," Scootaloo caught the unicorn's attention, "you haven't met my aunts before, but they'd like to speak with you."

Once the orange filly stepped aside, a pale light amber coated earth pony mare with a mane that's a mix of scarlet and tangelo wearing a baby blue scarf, and a pale yellow coated pegasus mare with a mane that's a mix of artic blue and light cyan wearing a purple sweater approached Starlight.

"Hello, I'm Holiday and this my wife, Lofty. Our Scootaloo has told us a lot about you last night, and it is so nice to get to meet you."

"Likewise." Starlight returned the favor.

"When our niece told us she and her friends were going to Vanhoover," Lofty explained, "I almost she and her friends were planning on running away. But then she tells us that it's for a friendship mission and that you'll be accompanying them; after finally getting a good look at you, I'm relieved to know our Scootaloo will be in good hooves."

The sound of the approaching train made everypony stop their conversations as they all patiently waited for the train to come to a complete halt as all the passengers got off and the next destination to Vanhoover was announced. Before anypony even got inside, the sudden appearance of Rainbow Dash landing in front of everypony gave them all a mild shock as the blue pegasus frantically said, "I got through my morning drills as quickly as possible, please tell me Scootaloo hasn't left before I got to tell her goodbye!"

"I'm right here, Rainbow," Scootaloo made her presence known, "and I'm glad that you came to me off."

After hugging her sister figure and her two aunts goodbye, Apple Bloom was receiving her own goodbye from her sister, Applejack. "What do ya do if a strange stallion tries anythin' funny?"

"Kick him in the family jewels and run like the wind."

Upon receiving her goodbye hug, Apple Bloom joined Scootaloo and Starlight while Sweetie Belle is still waiting for her sister to finish her goodbye. "Now Sweetie, it's important that you stay close to Starlight at all times and never under any circumstances wander off in Vanhoover by yourself. Now hug me one more time before you get on board the train." Fulfilling her sister's wish, Sweetie gladly hugged Rarity and was about to head inside the train until she felt herself being wrapped by Rarity's forelegs again as she said, "Last hug."

With that taken care of, the four ponies made it to their seats where they were able to wave goodbye to the ponies who bid them farewell as the train began to slowly but surely move away from the station as it carried all passengers to the city of Vanhoover. Upon presenting their tickets to the passing conductor, the four ponies now simply had to stay put on the train for three hours until they finally reached their destination. Fortunately for Starlight, this provided her with an opportunity to read over the tour guide in order to provide herself with an idea of what to expect from Vanhoover; the same could not be said for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were forced to curb their boredom by either looking out the window, sway their bodies back and forth, or in Scootaloo's case, stare at the potted fern plant that lied in Starlight's saddlebag.

"I hope you don't mind me asking," Scootaloo delicately broached the subject, "but why do you have a plant with you?"

"Oh, you mean Phyllis?" Starlight elaborated. "Well I normally like to keep her on my desk in my office when I'm at the school, but I couldn't trust Trixie to take care of her seeing as how she dumped her in a waste basket last time. And besides, Phyllis provides me with comfort."

"You mean like the same way that a plushie of Spike brings comfort to Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo thought of an example.

"Scootaloo, Starlight doesn't need to know about that!" Sweetie huffed while her cheeks blushed in a crimson red.

"Well you do have a plushie of him," Scootaloo retorted, "even though I can't figure out why you would have one in the first place."

"That's none of your business!" Sweetie reacted defensively. "I would appreciate it if we can change the subject."

Sensing the tension in the air, the only thing Starlight could think of was to share some trivia about Vanhoover. "According to this guidebook, Vanhoover was discovered by a famous fisherpony named Baron Von Hoover and the city's entire economy is built around fishing due to it being located near a coast where other fisherponies are able to amass quantities of fish for the market. There's also a recommended hotel called the Hoofton we'll have to check the second we get off the train; when Trixie and I traveled across Saddle Arabia, we spent so much time waiting in line to gather supplies that every hotel ran out of vacancy before we could check in. (So we definitely won't be making that mistake again.) Oh, and also..."

...

"...It's highly advised to all tourist that nopony must ever attempt swimming in the ocean water in Vanhoover as it will result in anypony getting a fungus infection that will last for a year. Ah, looks like we finally made it."

With a screeching halt, the train finally brought the four ponies to their destination. Upon stepping off the train, the ponies were able to catch a glimpse of Vanhoover; and they all found it to be a rather lackluster sight to say the least. Vanhoover possessed none of the splendor of Las Pegasus, or the rampant rancor of Manehattan. It was simply a quiet city where its citizens go about their mundane days without causing much of a ruckus.

Not wanting to linger for too long, Starlight asked a nearby pony for directions to the Hoofton, and the four ponies soon found themselves heading towards a roundabout where a large fountain holding a statue of Vanhoover's founder stood in the middle. There were various buildings that encompassed the roundabout, including the Hoofton. Stepping inside, the four ponies were just in time to check in with a hotel clerk.

"Hello ma'am," Starlight spoke, "do you have room for four?"

"Wait a second," the mare clerk responded, "your name isn't Starlight Glimmer by any chance?"

"Actually yes it is, but how would you know that?"

"This might sound crazy, but a letter from Princess Twilight appeared out of thin air explaining that a unicorn named Starlight Glimmer would arrive here with three fillies for some sort of mission. The Hoofton is always proud to provide service to any friends of any princess in Equestria, which is why we'll let the four of stay in the Princess Suite free of charge."

The last three words were music to everyponies ears, and it got even better when they were escorted to this Princess Suite. Upon opening the door to their suite, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were in awe of the splendor this suite had to offer; to the pristine bathroom which held a bathtub large enough for four ponies, and the vast bedroom fitted with gold carpet flooring and gold wallpaper which holds two luxury double beds and round table for room service. As the girls were relishing in this free luxurious suite, Starlight took the moment to ask the clerk some questions.

"You wouldn't happen to know of any ponies in this city who are experiencing any friendship problems?"

"I can't really say for certain." The mare clerk admitted. "Most ponies here tend to mind their own business, so I wouldn't even know a pony with problems if I ever saw one."

Once the clerk took her leave, Starlight entered the suite in time to catch the girls fighting over the telephone to try and call room service, only for Starlight to encompass all three of them in her magic aura to catch their attention. "This is not the time for taking it easy girls. There is a pony in this city who is in need of our help, and we're going to find that pony even if it takes us all day."

Letting out groans of disappointment, the Cutie Mark Crusaders begrudgingly followed Starlight out of their luxurious suite and back to the hotel's entrance. The steps provided the four with a convenient vantage point of seeking out potential ponies in need of assistance; just like what the clerk told Starlight, many of the citizens mostly kept to themselves as they went about their business with an occasional greeting here and there. It was looking as if finding out the problem the map sent them to solve may take the whole day, until Apple Bloom spotted a pony that seemed promising.

"Hey, do y'all see that unicorn carryin' crates of fish with his magic?"

Following the direction where the yellow filly's hoof pointed, the others spotted a unicorn stallion with brownish-gold fur and a red mane lifting five crates of fish towards a grocery store. "I see him," Starlight confirmed, "but what's so special about him?"

"His flank is blank."

Taking the chance to peer at the stallion more closely before he entered the store, each of the ponies were able to catch a glimpse of his flank which was indeed sans a cutie mark as Apple Bloom claimed.

"Maybe he needs help finding his hidden talent." Sweetie Belle suggested.

Eager to fulfil their life's purpose, the Cutie Mark Crusaders galloped towards the grocery store with Starlight trying her best to keep up. Upon entering the store, the four ponies scanned around the environment in search of this grown blank flank; thanks to Scootaloo's perception, they were able to spot the stallion exchanging his fish for a fair amount of bits. Keeping his bits safe inside his fisherpony's hat, the stallion was surprised to find a grown mare and three fillies standing in his way.

"Can I help you four with something?"

"Well actually sir, we're the ones who can help you with something." Starlight explained.

"Help me?"

"We figured you must need help with earning your cutie mark." Scootaloo answered.

"Oh no youngin, I do have a cutie mark; I simply paint it over for my sons' sake. He's been developing a bad temper ever since he earned his cutie mark, and nothing angers him more than seeing a cutie mark. So my wife and I simply paint over ours, so he doesn't become livid."

"And does your son have problems with making friends?" Sweetie Belle inquired.

"Oh yeah, and something tells me he's always gonna have problems when it comes to friendship."

"Then it's a good thing we found you!" Starlight triumphantly declared. "I'm Starlight Glimmer, and this is Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. We've been sent on a mission by Princess Twilight to help out a pony in Vanhoover who has a friendship problem, and it seems like your son is need of our aid Mr...?"

"Sea Worthy's my name, and if the four of you truly traveled all this way just to help my boy, then I'm in your debt. I'll take you all to my home."

...

The trip to Sea Worthy's home didn't take too long; the advantage of living in a quiet city like Vanhoover is not having to get around crowds of ponies in drawn carriages. Upon arriving to Sea Worthy's humble abode which rested on a hill which gave a breathtaking view of the ocean, the stallion led the four ponies inside as he called out, "Sea Breeze, I've brought some guests with me!"

While Sea Worthy trotted into the kitchen in search of his wife, the four ponies took notice of rows of family portraits that displayed the brownish-gold stallion along with his pink coated and aquamarine maned unicorn wife and his purple coated and green maned unicorn son. The photographs showed his sons' progression from foal to teenaged colt, and everypony was able to spot a discernable pattern of the sons' smile from when he was a baby slowly devolving into a frown as he grows older. Before they could ponder this any further, Sea Worthy finally reentered the living room to introduce his wife to the ponies who could help their son.

"This is my lovely wife, Sea Breeze; and hon, I'd like to introduce you to Starlight Glimmer, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. They've apparently traveled all the way from Ponyville to help out our son."

"Really? Well that's mighty kind of the four of you to offer aid for ponies you never met." Sea Breeze voiced her gratitude.

Just as Starlight was about to say something, everypony flinched when their ears were ringing by the sudden cry of "BUCK!" that could be heard from upstairs. "I'm assuming that was your son?" Starlight guessed.

"You assume correctly." Sea Breeze said. "He's been more of a sailor mouth than even his father ever since he gotten his cutie mark."

"Not ta worry ma'am," Apple Bloom chimed in, "my friends and I are professionals when it comes ta cutie marks. I'm sure we'll get ta the bottom of his friendship problem once we chat with him."

"You all may go up and talk to Sour Grapes if you'd like." Sea Breeze granted them permission to see her son. "But I must warn you that he can be easily angered, you might even find yourselves hating him the second you get close to him."

"We'll be sure to tread carefully when speaking to your son." Starlight assured her. "Come on girls, lets meet the pony who needs our help."

Without wasting anymore time, the four ponies trotted up the stairs to meet with this temperamental colt known as Sour Grapes. Upon reaching the top, the four ponies turned to a corner where a door holding a keep out sign stood across from them. Seeing as how it must be Sour Grapes' room, the ponies cautiously opened the door and peered through to find a bedroom littered with scrolls and a frustrated colt about Sandbar's age who swiveled his gaze to meet these four unexpected guests.

"Who the hay are you?!" Sour Grapes rudely replied.

Sheesh! You kiss your mother with that muzzle? "I'm Starlight Glimmer, and this is Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Your parents told us you have a friendship problem, and we came to see if we could help you."

"Wait, did you say Starlight Glimmer?" Sour asked with piqued interest. "As in Twilight Sparkle's pupil?"

"Yes, I am that same Starlight Glimmer. I had no idea you heard about me."

"Of course I've heard about you, you're the main focus of my research! And now that you're standing right before me, I can finally ask you a favor that I've only been dreaming of asking you."

"And what would you like me to do for you?"

"I want you to remove my cutie mark."