Fall of the Butterflies

“Rise and Shine, everypony!”

The megaphone blared the message around the cartridges in the train, though at this time only one could be described as occupied. The mane 4 groaned and stretched in their bunk beds as the conductor continued his speech in the front of the train.

“We have reached the end of the railroad track. Thank you for using the Ponyville Express! Make sure that none of your belongings are left behind, and have a nice day!” He exclaimed cheerily.

Spike leaped out and starting pulling the curtains from the windows, causing the sunlight to flow into the compartment.

“You heard him. Come on girls, we need to go!”

“Urgh…are we’re there already? It seems like the place Rainbow went to is further than we thought…” Twilight yawned.

“Well, it’s far enough for a whole day train ride…Ow!” Rarity winced. “I think that I have a cramp on my shoulder! Spike?”

“That shouldn” be the issue right now. The point is that we”re here. I’m just about ready to leave…Y’all leave when Rarity” done.” She finished, watching Spike massage the unicorn.

“Aw…but I’m hungry…Hope the town has snacks!” Pinkie quipped.

After the massage was done, they bid farewell to the conductor and set off into the plains. It took quite some time to reach the town, having to cross through wooden bridges, raging rivers, and over a mountain before the five reached their destination.

And what a surprise it was.

“What…is…this?”

The town, as it was seen in the map, was exactly the same, with no differences. Literally. It did not look new, nor did it look worn-out, the streets, and the colors, even the houses, were unchanged.

“This…this is where the map located Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark?! It looks like the place where she’ll never step foot in!” Rarity remarked.

“I have to agree. It doesn’t look exciting, dangerous, or adventurous to any extent. In fact, it’s a perfectly normal town! Which is the complete opposite to her character!” Twilight admitted.

“Um…well…it looks ok. At least it” habitable.” Applejack stated.

“I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit!” Pinkie grimaced.

They stared at Pinkie. Her attitude had gone from carefree to serious once they had been in sight of the village.

“What do you mean, Pinkie?” Spike questioned.

“Just…Just look at them!” She snapped.

“The ponies living there? What’s wrong with the residents?”

“Look at their smiles! They’re so unnatural and weird…it’s like they don’t have a motive to smile yet they do it! It’s just not right, and the way they do it creeps me out!” Pinkie grunted.

“Well looking close it does look like…wait…Girls! Forget the smiles, look at their cutie marks!” Twilight observed.

“Huh? They all have the same cutie mark! And it’s an equal sign!” Spike marveled, puzzled.

“An equals sign? Why would they have an equals sign instead of their own individual mark?” Rarity gasped.

“I don” know Rarity. But if we need to find Rainbow Dash we have to go in and find out for ourselves.” Applejack replied.

“Applejack’s right. Prepare yourselves. I have no idea what we’re going to face, so stay alert.” Twilight warned.

“You bet we will! I can’t wait to find out who’s behind all this…and when I do…” Pinkie growled.

“How do you know that someone’s behind all this?” Twilight asked.

“Just a hunch.” She giggled. “But those smiles are bad news.”

One by one the villagers turned and grinned at the ponies as they walked into the entrance of the strange area.

“Welcome!”

“Welcome!”

“Welcome!”

The phrase was repeated each time they passed one of the townspeople. They did not run or attack, rather just standing in their position and smiling continuously to the visitors presented in front of them. In a way, it was more dangerous than the other two scenarios.

“This place is giving even me the creeps...” Applejack cowered.

“Me too…let’s just find Rainbow Dash and quickly get out of here. The sooner we leave the less chance of danger.” Twilight said quietly.

“Oh…I really should have stayed at home…” Rarity complained, then cursed. “Grr…Rainbow Dash! If we find that you don’t have a good reason to be here I swear I’m going to…”

“Welcome!” A sudden voice came from behind.

“Ahh!” She shrieked, and fell onto the floor.

“And you are?” Pinkie demanded aggressively.

“Why hello there! My name is Party Favor, and I welcome you all to our humble village…Oh my…Forgive me for my accidental implication, but are you an alicorn?” He asked, staring at Twilight.

“Yes she is…the princess of friendship, if you must know.” Applejack scoffed, looking at his absurd behavior.

“Well you ponies sure have come to the right place for friendship!” He reckoned strongly.

“I doubt that…” Pinkie murmured, then fell quiet as another pony came up to the group.

“And my name is Double Diamond! What brings you to town?” He burst out, speaking in the same level of awkwardness.

“Um…we need to find a pony named Rainbow Dash…Is there a chance that you may have seen her?” Twilight asked.

They looked to each other, and then shook their heads in unison. “We don’t have a Rainbow Dash here, but we do have a bunch of new friends! There’s Blueberry, Sunrise Spark, Rodd Gain…”

“Well…shoot. I guess we should go now. I don’t think that she’s here…” Spike said before being shoved aside by Party Favor.

“But we never even took you on a tour of our village! You are all our special guests! Especially since you have such unique cutie marks!”

“Um…thank you…but…”

“And we haven’t even shown you our beloved founder, Starlight Glimmer! You must come with us!” Double Diamond pleaded.

The mane 4 and spike looked at each other desperately, and without warning quickly formed a circle to isolate them from the two colts.
“I’m telling you that Rainbow’s not here! Why would she be? This place is both boring and creepy!” Spike whispered.

“I’m totally with Spike. This place is just dreadful…Horrible even!” Rarity quickly fretted.

“We don’t know what’s wrong here, and I’m not willing to bite off more than we can chew.” Applejack implied.

“Me too! These townspeople are just so…awkward!” Pinkie nodded.

“…There’s no other way to find where Rainbow is. I know how you are all feeling right now. But the map led us here. And Fluttershy doesn’t have that much time left, remember?” Twilight concluded.

“…I guess you’re right. Fine, we’ll meet the founder, get Rainbow Dash, and go home as soon as possible.” They nodded, and broke out of the circle, facing the still smiling ponies.

“We’re ready. Could you take us to your founder?”

“Why of course! Follow me!”

“Actually, that won’t be necessary, Party Favor.” In the top of the village, stood another pony, her purple blue mane shining slightly in the light of the afternoon sun.

“Starlight! We have new visitors! And one of them is a princess!” Double Diamond greeted happily.

“I see. An alicorn…how very delightful!” She gloated softly, walking around the ponies and ignoring Spike.

“Do you know of a pony named Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked again, this time cautious.

“Why I don’t, Princess…”

“Twilight. These are my friends. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike the dragon.”

“Pleased to meet you all! I’m Starlight Glimmer, the founder of this peaceful and wonderful residence, where everyone here learns true friendship and true happiness!”

“What do you mean by that?” Pinkie suddenly snorted.

“Allow me to show you!” She grinned. Turning around, she took out a whistle and blew it, causing all of the townspeople to go out of their homes and march out in perfect fashion. And without even allowing the group to react, she started singing.

♫ Life is so great in our town♫
♫ We're always filled with cheer♫
♫ We never have to look around♫
♫ To know that there’s no fear♫

The citizens surrounded the founder and started singing as well, their tune as distorted and similar to her own.

♫ In our town, in our town♫
♫ There’s no fear or hate♫
♫ We find out that our destiny♫
♫ Is just to emulate♫

“Let's see those big, happy smiles!” Starlight shouted.

♫ Life is a smile in our town♫
♫ Our cutie marks the same♫
♫ Because we don’t differentiate♫
♫ Ourselves by more than name♫

♫ In our town, no showdowns♫
♫ We dare not compete♫
♫ Winning only breeds the worst♫
♫ Ego-filled conceit♫

“You see? Now everypony’s happy!”

♫ Life is a breeze in our town♫
♫ We're all equal here♫
♫ No one is superior♫
♫ And no one shakes in fear♫
♫ In our town, in our town♫
♫ We work as a team♫
♫ You can't have a nightmare♫
♫ If you never dream♫

“Wait…What!” Pinkie yelled.

♫ Other ponies argue♫
♫ Do you ever wonder why? ♫
♫ When you think your talent's special♫
♫ It leads to fear and lies♫
♫ There's just too many differences♫
♫ That lead to disarray♫
♫ But when you learn to act as one♫
♫ You find another way♫

♫ In our town, with no frowns♫
♫ We don't complicate♫
♫ When you learn to simplify♫
♫ Life is oh, so great♫
♫ Join in our utopia♫
♫ Come out of the dark♫
♫ Banded by equality♫
♫ By our cutie mark!♫

The symbol of equality flew across the mane 4 by a giant banner, and the citizens cheered together as one.

“So…do you get it now? Join us, and be perfectly happy without your cutie mark!” Starlight cheered.

“Um…ah…er…Huh?” Twilight freed herself from the absurdness of the whole song as she looked at one member of the population. Although her mane was the same style as everypony else, the color was grey…too grey. She could have sworn that she saw a flash of rainbow light that attracted her attention to this one pony.

Twilight poked her friends and pointed towards the odd pony out. Looking at them, it went inside and closed the door behind itself.

“You think that’s…” Twilight placed her hoof in Pinkie’s month and turned to Double Diamond. Meanwhile, catching her signal, the rest of the mane 4 turned to Starlight and began to chat.

“Excuse me, Double Diamond. But do you know the name of the pony who lives in that house?” She said, pointing at the particular hut.

“Oh, that’s Rodd Gain, our newest member!” You want her to be your friend?” He asked excitedly.

“Rodd Gain? That not only sounds like the name of a colt, but it doesn’t sound like a pony name at all!” Twilight exclaimed. “Wait a second! Where have I heard that name before…Rodd Gain…Roda Ding…Daring Do!” She gasped.

“Rainbow Dash is one of the equalists!”