Part 1 - Equality is Magic
Author's Note
Takes place before the season 5 finale.
Part 1 - Equality is Magic
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahhh
My Little Pony,
I used to live uniqueness every day,
My Little Pony,
Until Starlight Glimmer showed me the way,
Mild ventures,
Not much fun,
Identical hearts,
Do right not wrong,
One in sameness,
It’s an easy test,
‘Cause E-QUAL-I-TY is the best,
You have My Little Ponies,
Do you know we’re all exactly the
Same…
Twilight peered out of her window into the warm-blue morning sky. The sun’s rays shot bright over town. Cubic-shaped clouds were strung across the sky—each in parallel with one another—hanging lazily in the still air.
“What a beautiful day today,” Twilight said with a beaming smile. “I’m so happy our benevolent overseer, Starlight Glimmer, decided to bless us with such a wonderful morning.” Neither a peep nor a squeak was heard from outside. Everything was quiet and calm. Everything felt at peace in Ponyville.
But something intrigued Twilight. Despite the gorgeous day, there was nopony outside to enjoy it. The roads by her home were empty and devoid of any movement—even the grass seemed to stand still. She was tickled by the thought that she seemed completely alone there by the windowsill. That no matter what she did right now, nopony would notice.
But she knew she was watching.
“Heh heh,” Twilight attempted to chuckle, her smile pushed her cheeks aside as she stepped away from the windowsill. She looked down at her flank, faintly illuminated in the light from the window. An equal sign, plain and grey, had once again replaced her stars and sparkles cutie mark. “I’m so happy to have this back.”
She stood still on the second floor of her new cottage. Well, new might be overstating it. Despite how much the sun’s rays tried to breach the only window into her home, it could not prevent the place from seeming dim and lifeless. The muddy brown walls didn’t help the matter much. Nor did the brown ceiling and the dark brown floorboards or the one feature of that room other than the window: a tan-colored hay mattress for a bed. But this was her new home now. Overseer Starlight assigned her to it. And now everypony had a home like hers to live in.
Twilight walked down the wooden stairs, each step slightly lopsided and crooked. Her eyes twitched as each step she took caused the stairs to creak in agony. She paused every few moments to stretch her spine. Last night was rough. Regardless of how innocent her hay mattress looked, the hay within it was so brittle and pointy that it filled a night of tossing and turning into a parade of needles wanting to play tag with her as she slept. At least the mattress could act as dinner if you were under house arrest like Mayor Mare was yesterday. Assuming you liked cold prickly hay that is.
As she entered the bleak room below, she wondered if her friends might be enjoying the sunshine today. She imagined them giving each other wide smiles… standing there… outside. She couldn’t think of what else they might be doing. Not much seemed to happen in Ponyville these days. Nothing exciting anyway.
“Alright,” Twilight said to herself, a gleaming smile in the darkness. “Do I have everything with me?” She squint her eyes around the first floor of her cottage. At its center was a shoddy wooden table that had tipped over to one side. One of its legs had broken off before she could put anything on it to weigh it down. At least nothing spilled off when it broke. Towards one side of the room was a dusty-brown cabinet that had its frame fitted in such a way that it overlapped the slots of each drawer. It was impossible to open. Nothing worthwhile in there; not that she had opened it to know. On the other side of the room was bookshelf with twenty copies of Obedience, Equality, and You—Overseer Starlight’s finest work. According to Starlight herself, the book keeps getting better and better, even through the fiftieth read-through. Twilight was so glad this was the only book she had here; it was the only book she would ever want to read. She smiled through the single tear that slid down her cheek.
“Yep. I’ve got everything with me.” There was nothing worth bringing. She took a moment to let out a long happy sigh. There was nothing like living in a home where its premier attraction was its bruised brown wooden floorboards. Even Spike got his own cottage to sleep in. Twilight appreciated how most of the floorboards weren’t overlapping each other. Only some were.
She shook her head. “I still cannot believe this place was built yesterday… by Sweetie Belle… with a hacksaw.” Twilight allowed her head slump down and her jaw to rest a moment as a frown. She took a deep breath and slowly walked her way over towards the door, hanging her head there a moment to let her internal grimace subside. “I just need to get to my friends,” she whispered. She puffed out her cheeks and took one final breath. “Let’s do this.”
She burst open the door and greeted Ponyville with a smile so bright it would work as a reading light. “Thanks unto to our gracious overseer, Starlight Glimmer, for this spectacularly beautiful morning.”
The town remained silent.
“How are you today, Starlips?” Twilight asked the turquoise and purple star-patterned tulips lining the front of her cottage.
The Starlips stood motionless, undisturbed by the still air, their buds slumping over slightly as if tired and heavy. Each of the brooding flowers seemed discontent but nonetheless diligent in their posture. With their stems straight as a pole, a single leaf bent upward towards their bud placed them in the petrified stance of a salute.
“Glad to hear it,” Twilight said looking away from the clash of colors. She began trotting down the street towards the center of town, her smile still stretched across her face.
Around her were many similar looking cottages to hers. Each one was squeezed together in a uniform formation that flanked the street. All of them had their own little gardens of turquoise and purple Starlips which gave each brown house a style that just could not please the eye.
The thatched-roofed cottages peered over her. Their single windows on the second floor glaring at Twilight with every hoofstep she took. Looking back, all she could see was a dark and empty void. She wondered if there was anypony in those houses. This neighborhood was recently constructed onto the edge of Ponyville—One of Starlight’s many planned renovations—it would make sense that ponies had yet to be assigned to them.
On her way into town, Twilight saw Bon Bon in the front of her own home. She too had an equal sign as a cutie mark and wore a massive smile. Despite how bright and sunny the day was, she managed to look dimmer than usual.
“Hi there, Twilight,” Bon Bon said waving a watering can she held in her hoof. It appeared she was about to caress her Starlips with a gentle sprinkle of Starlight approved purified river water. Not all river water was equal after all. Not until Starlight approved it.
“Careful there, Bon Bon.” Twilight held up a hoof. “You don’t want to make the same mistake Lyra did.”
“I would never imagine doing that.” Bon Bon gave a gleeful smile and a little chuckle. “I wasn’t about to forget the most important step… uh, which is equally important to every other step, of course.” She hunched over nervously.
“Do you need any help-”
“No, no, no need to trouble yourself, Twilight. I’ve got my Glimmer Beaker right here.” She pulled out a beaker half her height that had Starlight Glimmer’s star and streams cutie mark emblazoned on it.
An invention of Starlight’s, the Glimmer Beaker is a device to ensure every measurement was made equal through the measurement of Glimmers. A Glimmer is the exact measurement of one amount. It works for every conceivable type of measurement regardless of what is being measured or how it is being measured. One example was the cottages in the neighborhood. Each has its dimensions set precisely to thirty-three Glimmers by twenty-two Glimmers equaling out to exactly two-hundred and two square Glimmers. Twilight recalled how Big Mac questioned the mathematics of that measurement. She also recalled how she hadn’t seen him for the past few days.
“Glad you have your Glimmers covered,” Twilight said. “I love your Starlips by the way. I have the same ones in my front yard too.”
“So does my neighbor. Aren’t they just the prettiest flowers?” Bon Bon’s head made an involuntary jerk as she appreciated them. She picked up her watering can and poured it into the beaker measuring out exactly half a Glimmer: the precise amount of water an obedient Starlip needs. “Any plans for today?”
“Oh Bon Bon.” Twilight waved a hoof. “You know we’re not allowed to have plans.”
“Right,” Bon Bon said, a few beads of sweat were forming on her forehead. “Of course.”
“Though I am on my way towards Apple Acres for no particular reason, and definitely not because my friends might wind up there as well.”
“That would be a coincidence that in no way could have been arranged beforehand.”
“Precisely.”
The two of them stood there staring at one another, neither daring to make a motion. Bon Bon grew more flustered and her hooves became more jittery the longer they waited. After a few moments, her eyes retreated back to her beaker to double-check her Glimmer measurement. After she was satisfied, she began to pour every drop of approved water onto a single Starlip.
“I best be on my way,” Twilight said.
“I’ll see you later, Twilight.” Bon Bon waved her hoof goodbye. Then she held it close to her chest, her smile faltering. “Um… Twilight.”
“Yeah?”
Bon Bon gave a nervous chuckle. “If you do by some random circumstance run into Lyra—who is probably just around town somewhere—” her laugh died down and she put her hoof over her mouth “—would you let me know you saw her?”
“Of course,” Twilight said continuing her trot towards town. “Why wouldn't I?”
As she approached Ponyville proper, Twilight could see her castle standing pristine and majestic in the distance. It seemed it could sprinkle the sun’s rays all over Ponyville; that is if it wasn’t for Starlight’s recent safety precautions. Around her castle now stood a tall grey-stone wall with a moat around its perimeter. A few piranhas snapped as they jumped out of the water. Around those was an invisible magical barrier followed by a visible magical barrier just in case ponies didn’t see the first one. All of which was surrounded by one last deterrent: a particularly sharp white picket fence with a sign that said NO TRESPASSING.
“Glad I don’t live there anymore,” Twilight said aloud to herself. She strained to maintain her smile.
She continued her trot through the more familiar places of Ponyville. Many of the houses had yet to undergo Starlight’s renovation projects. Every structure that was not up to her equality standards was covered foundation to roof in yellow caution tape. Even though they were inaccessible, each house still had packs of Starlips planted in front of them.
There were more ponies commuting through town square. All of them wore bright beaming smiles and sported their own equal sign cutie marks. Junebug and Amethyst Star seemed like they were having a delightful conversation by the well, which was almost entirely covered up in yellow caution tape.
“Hello, friends,” Twilight said through a small gap between her teeth as she passed.
Junebug turned towards her, her smile gleaming in the sun’s light. “Hi Twilight. Say, you wouldn’t happen to have seen Octavia around have you?”
“Didn’t you hear?” Twilight slowed her stride. “She was incarcerated for free thinking.”
Amethyst Star shook her head with the same smile plastered on her face. “The nerve of some ponies, thinking they can undermine our gracious overseer like that.”
“I’m glad they brought her to justice.” Junebug widened her smile as she waved to a pair of guard ponies; each sharing her smile. Unlike the royal guards, these guards were hoofpicked among Ponyville’s populus to take part in Starlight’s new Peace Force. Their mission was to maintain harmony in the town and to alleviate anypony who might try to free others or themselves from her true harmony. Along with their equal cutie marks, each guard pony wore a light purple vest and a harness full of peacekeeping items such as pepper spray, a baton, and smiley face muzzles; however those worked.
“Stay harmonious,” one of the guards said as they passed. “And praise be to our gracious overseer.”
“Praise Starlight Glimmer.” Twilight smiled. She waited for them to leave before turning back to Junebug and Amethyst. “You’ll see her soon,” she said through gritted teeth.
Junebug and Amethyst both looked away as if not to notice what she had said. They struggled to maintain their smiles as worry seeped into their faces. Twilight continued on her way towards the apple orchard. She hoped they could hold out just a bit longer.
Even as Twilight trotted away from the town into the country, the sides of the path were crowded with purple-turquoise Starlips. She looked away from the weeds only to find they were above her in potted plants hanging from the trees. “Just a little farther until I reach Apple Acres,” she said to herself.
Applejack’s former farm had undergone some changes recently. For starters, Starlight changed the name of Sweet Apple Acres to Apple Acres. Thankfully she had noticed the farm’s sheer prejudice towards sour apples. That was sweet of her. Afterwards she had the brilliant idea to organize a community effort to give the barn some extra glimmer. The aftermath of which was plain to see. Twilight covered her eyes with her foreleg as the extreme radiance of the barn assaulted her. She tried to work out the rest of the way by memory, slowly feeling her way towards the farm’s gate, but she couldn’t manage to think straight in the barrage of light. She opened her eyes a smidge to orient herself but was nearly blinded by the pure radiance emanating from the farmhouse.
“I just don’t know ya’ll.”
“Applejack, is that you?” Twilight called out.
“Uh, we’re this way Twilight.”
“Here?”
“You can open your eyes, sugarcube.”
Twilight opened her eyes and saw Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash all staring at her. The blazing shine of the barn was less intense under its roof where they stood. Regardless, her friend's overbearing grins kept her feeling unsteady. “Hey girls. How are you all doing on such a blindingly gorgeous morning?” Twilight began to see her friends more clearly. They too were dimmer than usual and had their cutie marks replaced with equal signs as well.
“As equally fantastic as always,” Pinkie said with a massive grin. Even her expression looked fabricated. “I assume the same is true with you.”
“Of course.” Twilight’s smile went slightly crooked.
“We were just talking about you, Twilight,” Rarity said. Her cheeks competed against her eyes for room on her face.
“Really?” Twilight said. “What about me?”
Rainbow Dash waved a hoof with glee. “About how alike we all are, of course.”
“Sounds like I missed out on quite the conversation.”
“That’d certainly be the case,” Applejack said, her mouth trembling in her attempt to maintain her grin.
They all stood there staring at each other. Each of them exchanging happy glances as they waited for the next pony to say something. The only sound to be heard was the slight shivering of the apple trees that rustled the leaves on their branches. All else was silent.
Twilight gazed across her friends. “Soooo… what have you guys been up to?”
“Oh you know,” Rainbow said, “the usual stuff.”
“Neat.” Twilight nodded. She had hoped for a longer conversation.
“We spent all ‘er yesterday spiffing up the barn,” Applejack said.
“Yeah.” Pinkie Pie gave a short hop. “Isn’t it just the glimmeriest? The whole town got together and lent a helping hoof as our gracious overseer Starlight demanded. Although...” Pinkie put a hoof on her chin and looked into Twilight with a deep smile. “I didn’t see you here yesterday. Were you busy helping to make that massive statue of Starlight?”
“Actually,” Twilight said, “I was just moving into my new home- there’s a statue of Starlight being made?”
“Indeed there is, Twilight,” Rarity said. “It will be marvelous in both size and majesty; at least, according to what I’ve heard. Why, when finished it will be the epitome of her gracious selflessness that has blessed all us ordinary ponyfolk.”
Applejack stiffly shook her head. “I still can’t believe they’ll be replacin’ your old boutique with that there statue they're buildin’.”
Rarity slowly turned towards Applejack in jittery motions. “Neither can I, Applejack. Neither can I.” Her eye twitched. “It’s such an honor really. Especially after she decreed a banishment on all my sequins.” A large cackle broke out of her, shortly interrupted by her stuffing her hooves over her mouth. Each of them glanced over their shoulders to see if anything had taken notice.
“Why were your sequins banished?” Twilight asked, her grin falling on one side of her mouth.
“I must agree that they did clash against her... glimmer,” Rarity said. “It’s important that nothing as paltry as sequins mess with her branding. I for one am glad they could be disposed of posthaste.” She winced as she gave a slight awkward laugh.
“Plus, we put them to good use.” Rainbow Dash managed a wink.
Twilight gazed up at the beaming roof. “I see.”
Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves together. “You know what. I’m really impartial to this discussion we’re having. Let’s continue it elsewhere so that everywhere has an equal opportunity to hear our chatter that in no way stands out compared to any other chatter.”
Rarity nodded her head. “That’s a splendid idea, Pinkie Pie.” Each pony gave her a troubled stare. “I-I mean, what a wonderful… train of thought you had… not that we were thinking anything in particular. Err, well, what I meant to say was what a delightful course of action we are all going to take that has none of those unforgivable ideas associated with it, because what pony would conceive of such disharmonious atrocities such as those… heh heh… heh.” Rarity gulped. “Praise Starlight.” She snapped her mouth shut. Her eyes darted around in paranoid distress.
Each of them stood stiff, only occasionally daring to look over their shoulders for anything that might be looking their way. After a few moments, they all gently trotted into the farmhouse, slightly jittery as they did so. They peered out the door one last time and saw nothing but the lonely gateway glistening in the sparkle of the farmhouse. Applejack timidly put a hoof on the knob and shut the door behind them.
“I can’t take this no more!” Applejack stomped her hooves on the floor. “I ain’t gonna take anymore of Starlight’s equality nonsense.”
“Here here,” Rarity said, lifting her head.
Twilight took a deep breath, relishing the moment to stretch her jaw. “I suppose it’s a bit late to ask, but you’re sure it’s safe to talk in here?” Twilight gazed around the barren place that was once the apple family’s dining room. Every chair, table, and countertop had been removed leaving the place desolate. No doubt Starlight planned to use it for storage later. Together they sat in the dark of the Applejack’s former abode with only small slivers of light peeking through the edges of the drapes stretched over the windows.
Applejack began soothing her chin with her hoof. “The safest place this side of Ponyville, I reckon. The barn’s so bright, I doubt Glimmer herself would look this way.”
Rarity grimaced. “It was at great cost.”
Rainbow shuck her body in a rapid vibration to ease her stiffness. “At least we took care of two demands at once.”
“But did we have to use all my sequins?” Rarity pouted. “That was at least forty Glimmers worth of sequins.”
Applejack glanced towards Twilight. “How are you holdin’ up?”
“I’m fine,” Twilight said stretching out her wings. “But I don’t think I can hold up for much longer. I could barely keep my smile going out there.”
They all looked down towards the floor as they tried to bring their muscles back to life. There was no longer a smile among them.
Rarity began rubbing circles in her cheeks. “I know I may not look the part, but I am glad to be with you all here.”
“Me too.” Applejack managed a slight grin.
“I’m glad you all got my notes to come here,” Twilight said.
“Yeah,” Rainbow said with a quick belch. “But couldn’t you have used tastier paper?”
Twilight frowned. “It was all I could get my hooves on. And we had to make sure nopony else saw what was written on them.”
“Wait, we were supposed to eat the message?” Rarity looked unsettled as she produced the note. It read, Meet at the barn; noon tomorrow; eat after reading.
Twilight gave her a dull look.
“I didn’t think it meant literally.”
Twilight stretched her legs to the side. “Whatever, what matters is that we’re here together.”
Applejack cracked a sore in her neck. “I take it you got a plan for dealin' with Starlight.”
“I do.” Twilight groaned as she stretched her spine. “Just give me a moment.”
“Yes,” Rarity agreed. “Let us enjoy this brief respite while we have it.” She slumped down to the floor. “My apologies, Pinkie Pie, but I may not be able to give a genuine smile for at least a week.”
Each of them looked around the empty room a moment.
“Pinkie Pie, where are you?” Applejack called out.
“Yeah yeah, keep talking, I’m working on something,” Pinkie called from the second floor. “I’ll be with you in a bit.”
Rarity shugged. “At least she can remain energetic at a time like this.” She turned towards the others. “Remind me again how we can be so sure nopony is listening to us here.”
Rainbow Dash began violently flapping her wings, stretching them to their extremes. “It’s those dumb Starlips.”
“We all—” Rarity yawned “—know those flowers are grotesque and clash with the brown finish of Starlight’s rather horrid architectural flair. But what does that have to do with somepony listening in on us?”
“When Octavia was talking about how much she wished she could perform one last ballad with her cello, I saw their buds move and point at her. Next day, she's nowhere to be seen.” Rainbow Dash whipped her tail. “Starlight must use those Starlips to catch anypony ‘expressing free thought,’” she mimicked Starlight’s voice.
“You mean to say those Starlips have been listening to us.” Rarity began fanning herself. “I did have some rather harsh criticisms I just about told them.”
“That would explain why they’re all over town,” Applejack said. “Starlight’s guard ponies must take away anypony those things spot.”
“So there aren’t any around here, right?” Rarity asked.
“Don’t worry.” Rainbow Dash gave a flick of her hoof. “I made sure none of them got planted while I was dumping sequins all over the barn.”
Rarity glanced to the side and sighed.
“Good thing too,” Applejack said. “’Cause after the barn shinin’, I yelled a what-for in here so loud, it’d shake the wool off a herd of sheep.”
Rainbow dash groaned and began flying circles in the air. “Five days of smiling around Ponyville, doing nothing and talking about nothing.” She landed with a pound on the floor. “I’m all for Ponyville being in danger and all, but I never thought danger could be this boring.”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “I don’t know if I can agree with you, but if we’re going to do somethin’, we best do it soon. I don’t think Ponyville can take much more of Starlight.” She turned towards Twilight. “You ready to let us in on this here plan of yours?”
Twilight was on her back trying to work out the cricks in her body. “Sorry. It was a long night.” She stood herself up. “Well first, there’s one thing I still don’t get. Have you noticed how things are different from last time?”
“Like how Starlight is way more direct with controlling everypony than she was before?” Rainbow asked.
Twilight gave a tired glare. “Well that too. But besides that?”
Rarity glanced at the equal sign on her flank. “Indeed I have, Twilight. Despite having my cutie mark taken away, I am still able to notice the aesthetical atrocity that has plagued this town.”
“And I can still fly super fast.” Rainbow Dash made some rapid figure-eights in the air, leaving a muted rainbow trail along her path.
“And shoot,” Applejack said, “I can still spout more phrases than a pony who stepped on a mousetrap.”
Twilight lit her horn in a pinkish-lavender glow. “And I can still use my magic. But why? We have the same cutie marks Starlight forced on us before. It doesn’t make sense.” Twilight noticed her friends were looking uneasy. Each of them had a nervous expression on their face. “Is something wrong?”
Rarity looked towards her. “I don’t get it either, darling.”
“I’m just hopin’ there ain’t some insidious reason for it,” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Maybe Starlight was in such a rush to equalize the town, she forgot to take our talents away from us.” She rubbed the back of her head, still unsure.
“Maybe.” Twilight wasn’t satisfied. “Regardless, we have our talents and we can use them to put an end to her tyranny.” She began pacing around the room. “I can’t imagine taking over Ponyville has been easy for her. She’s trying to make everypony equal in a town that has uniqueness expressed all over it.”
“Everypony has been quite afraid to show their uniqueness now,” Rarity said. “We all worry we may disappear if we do so.”
“Exactly.” Twilight pointed towards her. “She’s gotten everypony in town to fear her.”
Applejack opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind. “Never mind, continue.”
“What we need to stop her—like how we stopped her before—is a town of ponies refusing to play into her game. If we can get everypony in town to stand with us in opposing her, what can she do about it?”
Applejack looked unsure. “Those ponies are more nervous than a pack of gazelles. Are you sure they’d listen to us.”
“And what about her guard ponies?” Rainbow Dash said. “Even if they’re our friends, they don’t seem like themselves right now.”
“Your right, Rainbow,” Rarity said, “and if we start an uprising, the ponies could get into a scuffle with the guards.”
“I don’t want nopony getting hurt ‘cause of what we might do,” Applejack said. “They’re innocent in all this.”
“Don’t worry,” Twilight said, “nopony will be hurt."
"How can you know?"
"Because we’re not going to gather a crowd outside where the guard ponies are watching. Instead, we’ll break free everypony she has imprisoned." The others raised a surprised eyebrow at her. "I’m sure they’d have nothing more to lose by joining us, and given how many ponies have been taken away, I’d imagine we’ll gather quite the crowd. A crowd so large, nopony will have to fear rallying with us against her.” Twilight puffed her chest forward. “And I know just where they’ve been taken.”
“You know where they’ve been taking ponies?” Rarity said.
“You know where Fluttershy was taken?” Rainbow snapped.
Each of Twilight’s friends gazed deep into her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “According to a pony—who wishes to remain anonymous-“
“Applebloom?” Applejack lowered her head.
Twilight was stunned. “How did you know?”
Applejack glanced away and sighed. “She came up to me two days ago more panicked than a jackrabbit.” She closed her eyes. “I tried to calm her down and talk some sense into her, but—” she took a deep breath and winced. “A... guard pony came by and snatched her away from me.” She fought back her tears. “I just had to smile there and take it. Just watch her being taken away.” Beads of water began dripping down her cheeks.
Twilight was taken aback. It never hit her that Applebloom may have been taken away too. “I’m so sorry, Applejack.”
Applejack sniffed and opened her mouth to respond, but she couldn’t get any words out.
Twilight lowered her head and continued. “She told me that she saw a pair of guards taking two other ponies into town hall. Afterwards, only the guards walked out. Wherever Starlight has been imprisoning ponies, it must be somewhere from within town hall.”
“Did she manage to say who was taken?” Rarity asked.
Twilight hesitated. “Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.”
“They have my sister!” Rarity gasped.
“They took scoots!” Rainbow snarled.
“And poor Applebloom too.” Applejack hung her head.
“Speaking of sisters,” Pinkie said hopping back into the room, “Maud was visiting me this past week. Bet you didn’t know that because I haven’t seen her at all these past few days.” Everypony stared at her. A moment passed before Pinkie collapsed onto the floor and began bawling. “How could you do this to us, Starlight? You promised us harmony but all you gave us was deceit and lies!”
Twilight put a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Don’t worry P-”
“LIES!!!”
Everypony backed away and stood motionless for a minute. Twilight shook her head straight and continued. “Listen girls, we all know that the harmony Starlight claims is a lie. It's all a lie.” She shot her arm forward. "But we’ll get Fluttershy, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Maud, and everypony else Starlight has taken away out of her prison.”
“But how are we supposed to break them out?” Applejack asked, wiping away a tear.
“That’s easy.” Rainbow Dash shot up into the air. “We still got our stuff.”
“And I don’t think Starlight counted on that,” Twilight added. “The only way she can remain in power is if she keeps everypony separated and afraid. Once we rally everypony and escape her prison, we’ll convince the rest of the town to stand with us against her.”
“Just like her last town I suppose,” Applejack said nodding.
“Exactly,” Twilight said. “Without everypony doing her biding, her system falls apart. And against so many of us, she won’t be able to do a thing about it.”
“Hoowee, Twilight. Leave it to you to figure out a plan like this.” Applejack lowered her voice. “I hope you ain’t wantin’ to lead this stampede on your own.”
“Of course not,” Twilight said. “I could use all the help I can get.”
“Then one jailbreak coming up,” Rainbow said, grinning with excitement. “What do you say, Rare?”
Rarity sat there pondering, looking up towards the ceiling deep in thought.
“Rare?”
“Oh yes, I’m up for it as well, darling. But I do wonder if Princess Celestia has noticed what has been transpiring here. It’s been nearly a week and Starlight isn’t particularly subtle in her takeover.”
Meanwhile, on a balcony extending from Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia looked down at the turquoise bubble force field surrounding Princess Twilight’s castle. There appeared to be a stone wall around the bubble as well. “That can’t be right,” she said to herself. The structures below looked strangely yellow and there was a particularly bright light coming from one side of the town, as if a star had decided to take residence there.
Celestia pulled out a device named the Smileogram—it was a gauge that indicated the percentage of smiles in a given area—and pointed it towards Ponyville. The needle on the device vibrated at one-hundred percent. It shook violently, as if it was trying to breach beyond that limit. She gave a sigh of relief. “I guess everything’s fine. Twilight must be performing some experiments down there.” She took a moment to ponder about the wonders of being young. “I might as well let her have her fun, especially with how she helped me last week.” She smiled and continued on her day.
“I just wonder how she hasn’t noticed anything,” Rarity continued. “Should we have Spike send her a message in case things go wrong?”
Twilight shook her head. “I would, but I don’t know what cottage Starlight assigned him to. And it would appear too suspicious to go looking for him; especially with all the Starlips around that part of town.”
“So I take it it’s all or nothing.” Rainbow gave a smug. “I work better under pressure.” She rubbed her hooves with excitement. Then she raised an eyebrow towards Pinkie Pie. “What’s up with that?” She pointed at Pinkie’s cutie mark which had the equal sign they all had but with a curved line on one side of it that made it look like a pair of eyes and a smiling mouth.
Pinkie perked up and looked where she was pointing. “Oh yeah. I drew those while you were talking.” She pulled out a can of black grease and gave a cheeky smile. “Now our cutie marks look like smiley faces.” Each pony looked at their own flanks and they too had curved black lines beside their cutie marks.
Applejack investigated Pinkie's work. “Heh, that’s mighty sweet of you, Pinkie, but don’t we need to be discreet on this mission?”
“Covert this is not,” Rarity remarked as she roamed a keen eye over her cutie mark. “Though I will say the proportions look well balanced, and variety is in this season.”
Twilight groaned. “Pinkie, these cutie marks will give us away before we can even get close to town hall.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Pinkie said with a wave of a hoof. “We need a symbol so we know what ponies are on our side, right? Plus, it’s a smiley face; the exact opposite of what Starlight promises us.”
“Not like we haven’t had enough of those.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
Twilight reconsidered what Pinkie said. “Maybe your right. We’ll only be exposed on our way into town hall. Once we’re there, it might be nice knowing who we can trust when we start breaking ponies loose.” She walked over to the door. “We best get on with this. Is everypony ready?”
They all took a moment to relish in one last deep breath before giving the widest smile they could give. “Ready!”
“Yep.” Pinkie Pie patted her tail. “I’ve got the party bomb all packed up and ready to go.”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “Wait, what?”
Pinkie hopped with excitement. “Let’s storm this castle!”
