In the episode's present day, the Cutie Map sends Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash to solve a friendship problem in Griffonstone. When they arrive, they discover the city to a small, shabby-looking town populated by rude griffon citizens. According to Gilda's grandfather Grampa Gruff, Griffonstone used to be a grand city of proud and united griffons thanks to the Idol of Boreas. However, sometime during the reign of the fourteenth king Guto, a monster named Arimaspi attacked and stole the idol. The idol was eventually lost when Arimaspi fell into the Abysmal Abyss, causing Griffonstone to fall into a state of misery.