Plot

Applejack's little sister Apple Bloom is driven to get a "cutie mark" after most of her classmates receive one.

After a lesson in cutie marks at school, Applebloom is sad that she still doesn't seem to have hers. The mood isn't helped when classmates Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon make fun of her, and display their own that they have gotten. Even so, the two have invited Applebloom to Diamond Tiara's 'Cutecinera.'

Applebloom angrily tells how she is upset at not having her cutie mark, and Applejack claims that she took time to get hers too. Hearing this, Applebloom assumes that maybe she needs to help her sister to get hers. However, her many attempts to help sell apples just annoy other ponies to the point, that Applejack sends her away.

Pinkie Pie asks for Applebloom's help in baking, but the results offer no results.

Twilight Sparkle comes by, and knowing of her magical powers, Applebloom begs Twilight to make a cutie mark appear. However, no magic can make a cutie mark appear before its time, and all of Twilight's attempts quickly fade.

Rainbow Dash even puts Applebloom through all sorts of sports, but each attempt brings about nothing.

Eventually, Applebloom goes to the Cutecinera, but wears a make-shift skirt to hide her blank-flank. However, when she gets it caught and the skirt comes off, she is made fun of by several of the kids (including Diamond Tiara), when two voices suddenly come to Applebloom's defense.

The two fillies are Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who also do not have cutie marks. Applebloom then decides to create a club with the girls, called the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with the attempt to find out what their special talents are.