I lay on my side, protecting my swollen belly with my hoof. My husband sleeps next to me on the cold stone floor. His snoring sounds peaceful, making me wonder what kinds of dreams he might have in this horrible place. His light blue wing is stretched over me, protecting me and my unborn foal against the night chill.
"To excel is to fail."
I groan at the ever present voice coming from the speaker. How long have we been in here? The light of the full moon illuminates a pile of books, all containing the same symbol over and over on each page.
"Special talents only lead to misery."
I place my free hoof over my head, attempting to block both of my ears with it. I want to scream, but dare not wake Cloudshaper. My poor husband, all he ever wanted was a good life for our family. How could things turn out so wrong? I close my eyes and try to blank out my thoughts. Surely exhaustion will get the better of me, and finally I can get some sleep.
"All foals are born equal."
The voice... it never stops. Could I come to believe it? Could Cloudshaper? I cannot raise a foal in a place such as this! In the morning, we will leave this place. Starlight Glimmer, she promised that we could leave, that we'd get our cutie marks back.
"Free yourself from special talents."
Yes, tomorrow we leave this place for good.
I was painting a view of the Fillydelphia skyline from the largest window in our small apartment when my husband returned home. Excited as I was for the news, it was the only thing I could do to relax. I smiled at the familiar sound of his hoofsteps coming from behind me.
"You seem in a good mood today, Radiant," he said.
I turned around and smiled at him. He was taking out his white work coat, hanging it next to his white hardhat.
"Well, I did the test again today," I replied as I stepped towards him. I gave him a short kiss, welcoming him back home.
"Oh? Any news?" he asked excitingly. I could see the apprehension in his green eyes, even through his thick glasses. I could barely contain my own excitement myself.
I gave him the warmest smile I could as I embraced him. "It's positive! We're going to have a foal, Cloudshaper!"
"Oh, Radiant Wish, this is wonderful! I'm... I'm going to be a dad." I could feel his heartbeat racing as I lost myself in his embrace.
We stayed in each other's hooves for some time, savoring the moment. There was no other stallion I would have wanted to start a family with. I buried my face in his light orange mane for a moment, taking in his scent, before letting him go.
We both sat down on our old couch. I looked at my own magenta hooves, wondering how to approach the next subject. A glimpse at Cloudshaper's eyes told me what I needed to know.
"Amethyst Rain refused you again, didn't she?" I asked.
My husband shook his head. "She said my sight wasn't strong enough to work in the snowflake workshop, the same excuse she gave me for the weather patrol. It seems I'll be stuck on the cloud line for at least another six months."
I placed a hoof on his shoulder. "It'll be fine. Sure, we could use the money, but your chance will come."
"I know, Radiant," he replied, raising his head and looking at me," but I'm just tired of these stupid eyes keeping me from getting promotions. We have a foal on the way! I want to be able to support our family."
"And you will," I said with a smile. "You're an honest, hard-working pony. I can still try to sell a few paintings for now, it should cover the expenses. I know how frustrating it is for you that Amethyst doesn't see your potential. One day, she will, or somepony else in the weather patrol will. Worst comes to worst, we can always move to Cloudsdale. There's no shortage of work there. I hear it's becoming easier and easier to find a unicorn who can enchant an Earth Pony such as myself to walk on clouds."
Cloudshaper shook his head. "It wouldn't be fair to you. The city is built for pegasi, a lot of areas aren't even accessible without wings." He took a long breath. "Either way, you're right. We're going to be a family. This is amazing news, no reason to spoil it with worries for now."
We both kissed and snuggled on the couch. Who cared if my husband's boss didn't see him for the wonderful pony he was? His poor vision never troubled me, and regardless of what happened, I knew he would make a wonderful father.
"You are no longer a slave to your cutie mark."
I wake up to the sun's rays shining through the windows. I did not realize I had even fallen asleep. Cloudshaper is still snoring lightly next to me. I gently move his wing away and slowly make my way for the water trough. My purple mane doesn't seem as vibrant as usual in my reflection, on top of being disheveled from a night spent sleeping on the ground. I groan as I lower my head to drink the stale water.
"Special talents only lead to misery."
I finish, and find my husband looking at me, without his glasses. "You are so beautiful," he says, tears falling from his eyes.
I sigh at him. "I'm not really in the mood, Cloudshaper. We need to get out of here."
"To excel is to fail."
He shakes his head and smiles at me. "You don't get it, Radiant, you are beautiful. Starlight took my glasses, yet I can see you!"
"That's impossible," I reply, looking down. "I know you want it to be true, but remember what the doctors said, no amount of magic can give you your full sight back."
"And yet I see you! Starlight promised that everypony here is equal, that I could see again if I sacrificed my cutie mark. She was right!" He smiles excitingly at me, almost bouncing with excitement.
"All foals are born equal."
"Even if you can see, what about our foal?" I plead, tears forming in my eyes. "You don't need to get your cutie mark back if you don't want it, but we can't deny our little colt the opportunity to find out who he is!"
The door opens, denying my husband the opportunity to respond. Starlight Glimmer walks in, her smile oblivious to the torment she has forced us into. "Come outside, your new friends are waiting for you!" she happily announces.
I begrudgingly trot outside, the sun's rays piercing my eyes as I leave the damp, dirty shed. The entire village is there, staring at my husband and I. Every mare, stallion, and foal smiles eerily at us. I turn towards my husband, only to see a similar grin on his face.
"Good morning, friends, I hope you had a pleasant night," Starlight offers, gesturing toward the village with her hoof.
"You locked us up and subjected us to this incessant recording," I immediately reply, glaring at her. "I did not have a pleasant night. We want to leave, now!"
"I do apologize if our methods seem cruel," she explains, her hoof to her heart, "but it is not enough to simply take away your cutie mark. You must forget what made you unique, to truly become equal."
I stare her down "We never agreed to this! We said we'd consider your way of life and decide later."
"It seems your husband disagrees," she retorts with a smug grin.
I turn around and see him smile innocently. "Radiant... I can see."
"Of course you can," Starlight says, offering him her hoof. "Everypony is equal here, in every way."
I sigh. "Look, I am grateful for giving my husband his sight back. If he doesn't want his cutie mark back, I will respect his decision. We are leaving though, and I'll be reclaiming mine."
"You can't leave us!" a stallion's voice from the crowd protests.
"Can't you see how happy we all are?" a mare adds.
"I cannot let you leave without giving you the opportunity to truly let go of your past and explore equality," Starlight continues, placing her hoof on my husband's back. She turns her head towards him. "Besides, what use would a pony without his cutie mark be in the outside world? You can only be accepted here. Your foal can only grow up without pain here."
"I refuse to believe that!" I scream, pushing Starlight away from Cloudshaper.
"Wait," Cloudshaper says, interjecting himself between Starlight and I. "Maybe it's not so bad here."
"You can't be serious. They locked us up!" I stare at him, my mouth gaping wide.
"I agree, Radiant, and normally I'd want to leave too, but what else do we have? Nopony will hire me, not with my bad eyesight. Our son will get a life here. We won't be stepped on by anypony."
"Except by her!" I reply, pointing at Starlight.
The pink unicorn giggles as she smiles patronizingly at me. "You sound like you need more time to think. I tell you what, why don't you live with us for a few days, Cloudshaper. Radiant, take this time to think about what's best for your family. If you both want to leave after this time, then you'll both get your cutie marks back and can be on your way."
"They won't let us out otherwise," Cloudshaper says as he walks back towards me. "I'll see what they have to offer, and I'll get you out, I promise."
"Please, don't abandon me," I plead as my eyes start to water.
"I won't, I promise," he says, taking me in his hooves. "I'll learn what I can, and find a way to escape," he whispers in my ear.
I slowly drag myself back inside the dirty shed, Starlight immediately locking the door behind me. I lay back, the extra weight of my pregnancy becoming too much to bear.
"Free yourself from special talents."
I cry softly to myself. All I wanted, all my husband wanted was a better life for our family. We have nothing left. Even after we escape, how can we possibly support our baby? A life without the things that make us unique, however, this isn't something I can accept. My little colt deserves the joy of discovering who he is, I will not deny him that.
"All foals are born equal."
I knew something was wrong when Cloudshaper arrived home in the early afternoon. I was busy cleaning up our small apartment, and at first didn't hear him come in. His hoofsteps were soft, his movements hesitant.
"You're home early, is something wrong?" I asked him, dropping the broom I had in my mouth.
He looked down at his hooves. "They've reorganized the weather process. The clouds will now all be delivered from Cloudsdale, fully shaped."
I brought my hoof to my muzzle. "You can't mean..."
"Amethyst fired me, said she didn't have another position for me," he said with a deep sigh.
"Cloudshaper, I... I don't know what to say..."
"What can you say?" he continued, now gritting his teeth. "They have no use for a pony like me. I can barely see, even with these glasses!"
I walked towards him, embracing him in my hooves. "It doesn't matter to me how well you can see. We'll find you another job, move to Cloudsdale if we have to."
"You're six months pregnant, Radiant," he said as he gently pushed me away. "We barely have the bits to make due as it is. Who knows how long it would take to find another position, let alone one that pays enough to support a family."
"We'll make due, we always have!" I argued, meeting his eyes. "Maybe I can try to sell more paintings. We can ask around, sometimes farmers need somepony to customize clouds for their crops."
He shook his head and looked down. "It'll always be the same, nopony wants a pegasus who can barely see. There's only one place I heard about where we might have a chance at making things work."
"Oh?" I asked.
"It's just a rumor," he sheepishly admitted, his head still down. "Some ponies have been talking about a village a few leagues north of Fillydelphia, a place where everypony is equal."
"Everypony equal? How does that work?"
Cloudshaper finally raised his head and gave me a weak, hopeful smile. "It's a place where it doesn't matter what your cutie mark is, what you can or can't do. Apparently nopony ever wants for anything, as they are all given what they need. No more, no less."
I frowned. Something sounded fishy about the whole idea. "I don't know, where did you even hear about such a thing?
"One of the delivery ponies," my husband immediately answered. "They travel a lot, hearing all kind of stories. He said a few ponies mentioned it. Apparently the train even goes there - it's at the end of the line."
"And you really think this is what we should do? Go to the ends of Equestria over rumors of some strange village?" I asked him, shaking my head. "Even if it's real, how do we know the place is a good one to raise our son?"
Cloudshaper took a deep breath before meeting my eyes again. "We don't. Maybe we can ask some of the train conductors about it and get more information. I'm not saying we blindly gallop into the unknown, but shouldn't we consider it? We both want what's best for our family. Maybe an egalitarian society is our best option for happiness. There's only one way to know."
I sighed as I considered my husband's request. He did have a good point; our duty as parents is to provide the best environment for our child. As much as I adored Cloudshaper, I knew first hoof how difficult it was for him to find employment with his handicap. Could our son inherit it? Perhaps a more accepting society would be a better place for us.
"You're right," I said with a smile. "We should at least check it out before we decide."
Everything is gray. I trot in a field of monochrome grass, so tall it tickles my belly. Silhouettes soar in the cloudy sky, all flying in unison to a distant drum beat. Shouldn't there be colors? I can't remember what colors look like. Something breaks from the aerial formation and lands on the horizon. Could it be important? I want to reach it, but my hooves are heavy. Every step add more weight to my own body. Why can't I move? Why does the grass feel so cold?
"All foals are born equal."
I groan as my eyes open. How long was I asleep? It's hard to get any rest with this incessant voice repeating the same things over and over. A ray of sunshine comes through one of the small windows. If it weren't for them, I could not tell night from day in this unchanging room.
"Free yourself from special talents."
I drag my body towards the water trough. A quick drink will help me eat the tasteless hay waiting in a second trough. My son kicks as I lower my head to drink. Can he hear this cold voice like I do? On some level, does he know how what's happening?
"To excel is to fail."
I take a moment to bring my hoof to my belly before moving towards the hay trough. My foal is getting excited. I need to get out of here. I can't allow him to be born in a place such as this. Cloudshaper, please hurry and get me out!
"You are no longer a slave to your cutie mark."
I take a few bites of the bland, soggy hay before my stomach turns. Even my son seems to complain as he kicks again. Nausea threatens to make me vomit what little I ate. "Not now, please, not while I'm all alone here."
"Special talents only lead to misery."
I slowly walk toward one of the windows, breathing in what fresh air manages to seep in. The stench wafting from the one bucket where I'm allowed to relieve myself makes my stomach turn. Even with my head resting on the window's frame, I cannot ignore it.
"Exceptionalism is a lie."
Foals are playing outside. They're kicking a ball in a circle, each pony sending it to the next. The gesture seems almost mechanical. Each pony gets the ball the same amount of time. None of the foals kick it faster, harder, or higher. I look at a smaller filly, awkwardly pushing the ball to the colt next to her. He immediately passes it along, imitating her clumsy technique. Without a word, every child in the circle repeats the motion. They smile as they play. No giggles can be heard, not even a squeak. Just the large smiles that seem to accompany the actions of everypony in this town.
"All foals are born equal."
I want to smile for this filly, but how can I when she will never be given the chance to improve? Cloudshaper, please find a way out of this place soon!
"Welcome, friends, I'm so glad you've come to visit our little village!" the pink unicorn mare said with a warm smile as she gestured toward the rows of identical houses.
I leaned against my husband, tired from the long walk from the train station to the village. He placed his hoof around me as he answered the mare. "Thank you, we both learned a lot about this place."
"Good things, I hope?" she replied as townponies came out of their homes and joined her.
"Mostly rumors," my husband admitted. "We heard ponies are treated equally here, that it doesn't matter if you're talented or handicapped."
I looked around as Cloudshaper talked to the mare. One pony had a strange cutie mark, an equal sign. I turned my eyes to the next one, her mark was identical. Another stallion, two pegasus mares coming out of a shop, everypony had an equal sign on their flank.
Ignoring what the pink mare was about to say, I gasped loudly. "Your cutie marks, they're all the same!"
"Of course, we're all equal here," the mare said with a smile. "We have all abandoned our special talents in order to better accept each other. Friendship and acceptance are freely given here, not earned through magical talents."
"A life without cutie marks..." I pondered to myself.
The mare interrupted my train of thought. "Either way, I should introduce myself first. My name is Starlight Glimmer, and I'm the leader of this village. I take it you're looking for a place to settle and start your family?" She asked as she looked at my swollen belly.
"Maybe," Cloudshaper suggested. "We would definitely like to have a look around your village and see if this is the kind of life we want for our son."
"A colt eh?" Starlight said. "My congratulations to you both. I didn't catch your names, by the way."
"Oh, sorry," he replied. "This is my wife, Radiant Wish. I'm Cloudshaper. I worked at the weather treatment factory in Fillydelphia."
Starlight led us towards a nearby bench, inviting me to sit with her hoof. I eagerly accepted, allowing my body to rest as she turned back towards my husband. "You said you worked at a weather factory. I take it that's not the case anymore?" she asked.
I turned my head towards my husband and found him looking down at his hooves. "He lost his job," I explained. "It's always been hard with his bad eyesight."
"Ah yes, the world can be cruel," Starlight replied, comforting Cloudshaper with a hoof on his back. "This is definitely something that would never happen here. There is no such thing as good or bad eyesight, good or bad workers, rich or poor. By giving up what makes us special, we also give up anything that could make us weak."
I saw a smile come back to my husband's face, just as a frown formed on mine. "What if I like my special talent?" I asked. "I'm a painter, I'm good at it too. I can't imagine giving it up."
"Trust me, I know how scary it is," Starlight continued, taking a step toward me. "But in the end, it's a small sacrifice to make for unconditional friendship and acceptance. Where else could you know for sure that your foal will always be accepted?"
"But we'd have to abandon our cutie marks, and he would never know the joy of finding his," I replied, placing a hoof on my belly protectively.
"Let me make you a proposition," the unicorn mare said with a warm smile. "Why don't you stay here for a few days? See if the community is to your liking, then decide if you want to leave or stay. You have nothing to lose."
I turned towards my husband. I could see the concern in his eyes, even through his joyous smile. "Can we talk about it for a moment?" I asked.
"Of course, of course, just let me know once you've made your decision," she said as she trotted away, immediately waving at another couple taking a stroll with their own two foals.
I took a long breath, slowly taking in the sights. Every house was the same, every smile identical. Even the ponies had similar manecuts.
"I'm not too sure about this, Cloudshaper," I told my husband plainly.
He frowned and looked around. "I do agree, something is strange, but we can't deny what Starlight is offering. She can promise us a house and everything we need to raise our son."
"At the price of everything that makes us unique, everything that will make him unique," I completed.
He took out his glasses and held them in his hoof. "What makes me unique isn't all that appealing to me," he admitted, hints of tears forming in his eyes. I rarely got to admire them without the glasses, but my husband had beautiful green eyes.
I paused and took a deep breath, again placing my hoof on my belly. "You want this, don't you? You want to see if we can make it work?"
"She said my sight wouldn't matter, Radiant," he continued, visible tears now falling down his cheeks. "All my life I've struggled with it. You're one of the few ponies who sees me and not the glasses. It is selfish of me to see the good in this?"
I shook my head and looked down. "Starlight said we could stay a few days and give it a try." I raised my head and smiled at him. "I suppose there's no harm in giving her a chance."
Yesterday, I saw my husband walk in front of the window. He turned towards me, and I thought I saw regret in his eyes. It only lasted a moment, as he turned back towards another stallion. I tried screaming at him, but he didn't hear me. I know he hasn't abandoned me, surely any moment now, he'll find a way to get me out.
"Exceptionalism is a lie."
The constant jabbering of the speaker breaks me out of my reverie. Sometimes, I can almost forget about it, enough to have a thought that might have been my own. It always comes back though, never stopping. Sometimes, I can't imagine life without it. I know what it's going to say, I can talk to it. "I love my cutie mark."
"You are no longer a slave to your cutie mark."
Now that I think about it, what was my cutie mark? I know I enjoyed drawing, or was it painting? Yes, that's it, I was a painter. I hope I can paint a portrait of my son once he's born. I made such pretty portraits. I wonder if I can do it again.
"All foals are born equal."
I pick up some hay from the trough, eating a bite in the process. I have to keep up my strength, I have a foal on the way! Now, what can I do, how can I arrange them so it'll look pretty?
"Special talents only lead to misery."
I know I used to be able to do this. Let's see, if we make a circle, it can be a face. Maybe I can use these smaller bits of hay to make a muzzle? No, no, no, it looks all wrong! I throw everything back in the trough. I have to start over.
"To excel is to fail."
Maybe I should start with the body. I place the hay in a larger oval. Doing well so far. These longer bits, I can use for the legs. A vague form for the head. Ears, muzzle, eyes, if I can only get the shape right. No, this won't do, I need to add details. I know what I can do!
"All foals are born equal."
I trot towards the bucket in the corner. The smell doesn't even bother me anymore. The baby kicks, making me stop for a moment. "Don't worry there, mommy will make a beautiful painting, and everything will be alright." I grab the bucket and drag it to the middle of the room, next to my hay pony.
"Exceptionalism is a lie."
I dip my hoof in. Was my mane brown? It will have to do for now. I give details to the eyes, add in the nostrils. Can't forget the tail! I have such a beautiful tail. I paint the features one by one, dipping my hoof in the bucket again when I need more paint. I can't forget you, baby boy! A little bump on the belly. Does it look good or is it just a smudge?
"All foals are born equal."
Something's missing? What is it? Ears, nose, mane, mouth, they're all here. It's not the hoof, the knee or the tail. Is it the flank, or something on it? Of course, the cutie mark! I can't draw a pony without a cutie mark.
"Free yourself from special talents."
What was my cutie mark again? Was it a broom, a brush, or a bushel. Was it a cat, a crate, a cucumber, or a cactus? What was it? It's on the tip of my tongue, if this voice could quiet down for a moment, maybe I could remember. My cutie mark... It was... What was it...
"You are no longer a slave to your cutie mark."
Why can't I remember? I know it was important to me. I look at my drawing. Does it look good or not? Why can't I tell? Is it a masterpiece, or is it ugly? Is it happy or sad? If I knew how to draw, how come I can't tell if it's beautiful or not?
"All foals are born equal."
The baby is moving. Who cares about the drawing? He will be beautiful! My beautiful son, nopony will be able to deny how wonderful he is. Not even that voice!
"All foals are born equal."
I look at my drawing again. Why did I even bother? I take the bucket and throw it on the wall. Its content mixes with the hay in the trough. Now, it's all one big mess.
"All foals are born equal."
How can I raise a foal if I can't even tell if my drawing is beautiful or not? I can't even remember if I really was ever good at it. Will I be a good mother or not? Will I even know? I fall on the ground, holding my head under my hooves. I can't think anymore.
"All foals are born equal."
What's this sound I'm hearing? A grating, creaking sound, like a door opening, but that's impossible. There is no door. Wait, there was something, a reason I was waiting.
"All foals are born equal."
I open my eyes. A mare stands before me. She has a pink coat, a purple mane, and she smiles at me. Her smile is so warm. "Come, the others want to meet you," she says as she waves me over.
"All foals are born equal."
A great window stood before my husband and I. Behind it, a series of cutie marks, each locked in a glowing blue frame. Starlight Glimmer stood in front of it, eyeing a wooden staff that rested on a stone pedestal.
I looked at my husband and gulped. Many of the townponies stood behind us. While I was grateful for their help in climbing the hill to reach this cave, I suspected they wouldn't let us leave, should we have a change of heart.
"So what is so important about this place that we had to climb all the way here?" Cloudshaper asked Starlight as he gave me a look of concern.
"These," Starlight explained as she motioned towards the cutie mark collection, "are the former cutie marks of every villager. We keep them as mementos of how difficult and miserable our lives used to be. This is also the place where we perform the cutie unmarking ceremony, freeing ponies from what makes them unique so they can experience true equality."
"Hold on," I said, "we agreed to stay for a few days, not to give up our cutie marks."
The unicorn mare shook her head. "I simply cannot allow you to stay in our village with your cutie marks, even for a single day. It would disrupt our way of life, the very core of our beliefs."
I immediately turned toward my husband. "Cloudshaper, we can't just give her our cutie marks! How do we know we'll even get them back?"
I noticed him sigh to himself before he turned towards Starlight. "No deal, we'll just return to the train station." I could hear his voice shaking, even as he stared down the unicorn. I placed a comforting hoof on his back and offered him the most genuine smile I could.
Starlight took a short breath and tilted her head to the side. "Are you really so afraid of change that you'll give up your one chance to see how beautiful your wife is without those glasses, Cloudshaper?"
"I... I already know how beautiful she is, and I will not take away something she loves for my own happiness," he announced, answering my smile with one of his own.
"Foals love their home and are always afraid to leave it on their first day of school," Starlight explained. "Yet, after a few days, they love the new friends they've made there. You've both traveled all the way to this town, hoping for a peaceful place to raise your foal. Will you give up this easily?"
"You're asking a lot of us," I argued, my eyes locked on her.
"Am I? Is giving up your cutie marks for a few days any harder than dealing with shortsighted ponies who will refuse to even see how much of a wonderful pony your husband is? Ponies who might treat your son the same way simply because his parents don't make as many bits as they do?"
I shared a look with Cloudshaper. Even through his thick glasses, I could see the pain in his green eyes. "If we agree to your offer, Starlight," I asked firmly, "do you promise that we'll get our cutie marks back should we choose to leave?"
"Of course, Radiant," she answered, her hoof to her heart. "We only wish to help ponies here. You have my solemn word that you'll both get your cutie marks back, should you not find happiness with us."
I turned towards my husband, who nodded once. "Alright, how do we proceed?"
She picked up the wooden staff with her magic and smiled. "It's easy. You only have to stand right here as I use the staff's magic to free you from your cutie marks."
I gulped as I held my husband's hoof. He extended a wing and placed it around me. "This won't hurt my foal?" I asked.
"He won't feel a thing," she said with a wide smile as she pointed the staff in our direction.
A ray of light met my husband and I. I was blinded by the flash of magic and closed my eyes. I could not help but shed some tears as a part of me was stripped away. "Do it for Cloudshaper, do it for your family," I thought to myself.
"You can open your eyes now, Radiant," I heard my husband's voice say.
I slowly opened them and saw Cloudshaper stand in front of me. His blue coat seemed somehow lighter than usual, and his cutie mark was replaced by the equal sign covering everypony's flanks in this village. I quickly turned around to see the same symbol on my own body.
I placed my hoof on my belly. The baby gently pushed back. "He's alright," I said, looking at my husband, "Our son is alright."
"Of course he is," Starlight replied, walking towards us. "I promised, didn't I? Now, as I also promised, we have a house where you can both stay for a few days."
Cloudshaper nodded. "Good, I think my wife should rest a bit."
"Follow me, then."
Starlight and all the villagers started back toward the village, keeping a slow pace for my benefit. I leaned against my husband with a sigh. The trek back was not something I looked forward to.
Going down the hill proved easier than going up. We returned to the village shortly, random townponies waving at us as we passed them. Starlight led us to one of the many identical houses. She opened the door and invited us in.
It was dark inside the house. "Come on, don't be scared," she said.
We both walked in hesitantly. The accommodations were austere at best. A water trough, another filled with hay, a limited collection of books. "What is this?" I asked. There wasn't even a bed.
I heard the door lock behind us. "No, what are you doing?" Cloudshaper screamed as he banged his hoof on the door.
I fell down to the cold stone floor. "What have we done..." I whispered.
A voice could be heard from a speaker in a corner.
"Exceptionalism is a lie."
The light of the sun blinds me as I walk out of my prison. How long as it been since I've been outside? I look around. Endless rows of identical smiles stare at me. Cloudshaper? Where is Cloudshaper?
Starlight helps me stand. She says something but I cannot hear her.
"My foal, my beautiful foal," I mumble to myself.
"Every foal is beautiful," she replies.
"All foals are born equal."
"Radiant!" I hear a voice say. I turn and see my husband galloping towards me.
"C...Cloudshaper?" I ask, slowly making my way toward him. I feel tears falling down my cheeks. My heart beats faster.
"Yes, Radiant, you can come out of this place, I have something amazing to show you!"
I take him in my hooves, allowing him to support me as I cry softly. The smell of his fur, the beating of his heart, they're just as I remember them. "Does this mean we can be a family again?"
"You are with your family, Radiant," Starlight says as she approaches us. "Look around you, all of these ponies are your friends"
I move my eyes from one pony to another. They all smile and move away, all pointing towards a house at the end of a line of identical houses.
"I... I don't understand."
"Radiant," my husband says, "it's our house, everypony in town helped build it."
I stare at it and take a few hesitant steps. I turn my head and look back at the house I had been imprisoned in. We could raise our foal in a house. Not just some dirty Fillydelphia apartment, but an actual house!
"All foals are born equal."
"Please come back to me, Radiant. We can raise our foal together, knowing he will grow up to be happy."
I press my hoof to my belly again. My son is sleeping calmly. Whatever happens, I know my husband and I will love him. I look around at the crowd, at my new friends, and I can tell that they will love him too. They cheer as I smile back at them.
"Let's go home"
