The Broken Element of Loyalty

Rainbow Dash knew that she ate too many muffins. Sugar Belle's muffins were too good to resist. Many ponies around her seem to be thinking the same. Being the typical Rainbow, she barely listened to the long speech about the previous pony's speech about moving away. She decided to listen to Starlight's though... Or part of it.

Starlight stepped onto the podium, "Thank you for your speech. First, I would like to thank all of you for coming here. This means a lot to our town. Our founders created this sanctuary for us in hopes that we would learn from our mistakes and have a place to call home. Despite their wishes, we let our talents get in front of us. Our talents decided what we are. Cooks, athletes, etc. We need a sense of equality to balance everything out. I am currently creating a spell that could contain a cutie mark to make us equally talented." Then Rainbow Dash zoned out. After twenty minutes, Starlight bowed and the speech was finally over.

The celebration lasted for the entire night. The previous leader left and Starlight took her place. She gave the cheesiest smile Rainbow had ever seen. Rainbow shuddered when it was flashed by her, although she told herself to remain calm and stay cool. Perhaps Starlight was just nervous about this day. She knew that she would be, although she would never admit it to any pony. Rainbow made an excuse to hit the hay early and did the best to not throw up all the muffins she ate.

The next day, somepony knocked on the door, "Rainbow?"

Rainbow grumbled, "5 more minutes."

"It's important!"

She finally got up from the uncomfortable earth pony bed and opened the door, "What is it Starlight?"

The unicorn replied, "It's time for a town meeting."

Rainbow yawned, "I'll be right there." She washed and walked to where the other ponies were gathered.

Starlight cleared her throat, "Hello everypony. I have great news today. I have found a staff that takes away a pony's cutie mark and makes us all equal! No longer shall you be judged about who you or, but by the spirit of this town." Rainbow continued to listen to Starlight talk about how evil cutie marks were and eventually won just about every pony's favor over. Rainbow was not convinced. Everyone would be bad at everything if their cutie marks were gone. Starlight had also mentioned that whoever didn't believe in her philosophy had to leave since the town was just beginning to become what it would be in the future. Dash didn't want to give up her cutie mark, so she turned and left the village, not noticing the town ponies staring at her.

Twilight's eyes widened, "So Equestria wouldn't be defended. This is really bad."

Princess Celestial said, "As my student, I prefer for you to use bigger words than 'bad'. Next time, use devastating or something similar."

Applejack chuckled, "So that's where Twiligh' gets it from."

The princess raised a hoof, "I am giving all of you an assignment to find Rainbow Dash and to try to convince her to become the bearer of the 6th element once more."

Twilight nodded, "I won't fail you Princess." She dipped her head and the others did after Twilight did it. They raced out the door, with the princess nervously looking out the window. When one was undone, the rest would unravel sooner or later.

Twilight and her friends went to Twilight's treehouse. They caught their breath before all of them looked at Twilight for instructions.

She sighed, "The princess is counting on us to find Rainbow. I have a map of Equestria and I know most of it. Fluttershy, you knew her the longest. Where do you think she would b?

Fluttershy stammered, "R-Rainbow and I th-thought that we would stay together forever so w-we never talked about it. She could've went to the G-Griffin's place though."

Twilight's eyes lit up, "Griffins?! That's a good possibility, not to mention the time I could write about a report on it. Let's leave now." She levitated books, snacks, extra books, quills, paper, extra books, extra paper, extra books, extra paper, extra quills, drinks, and a sleeping bag for each of them.

Fluttershy murmured, "But what about Angel and all the other animals in my cottage?" As usual, no pony heard her and they went to Twilight's balloon. Although they were a little overpacked, they managed to get the balloon to take off.

Pinkie Pie squealed, "Wanna play a game? I know! How about 10000 questions? You think of something and I'll guess it. Is it pink? Is it purple? Is it me? Is it Twilight? Rainbow? Is it blue? Is it a cupcake fountain with little sprinkles on top sprinkling around it? Is it Gummy? Is it white? Is it-"

Applejack sighed, "We're not playing that Pinkie!"

Pinkie continued, "-A book that's about magical unicorns? How about alicorns?"

3 hours later...

"Is it fire? Is it water? Is it a bobble head lollipop that tastes like chocolate? Is it a duck? Is it Fluttershy? Is it me? Is it the sky? Is it the ground? Can it fly? I used up all my questions. What was it?"

Twilight thought quickly, "It was a... a..."

Rarity smiled, "A spa!"

As she saw the stares, she asked, "What? I noticed that your getting a little out of hoof. Perhaps a spa could clam you down and help you relax."

Pinkie Pie thought for a minute, "I am pretty sure that I asked that on question 435."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Twilight sighed, "Rarity, you do know that it's impossible to win an argument with Pinkie right?"

Rarity sighed, "You're right Twilight. I suppose that it's impossible. Still, a spa could do wonders on you. We should take Rainbow on a spa trip to show our apology?

Applejack snorted, "Yeah. As if she likes those treatments. I would say that letting us boast about her would be what she wants."

Twilight sighed, "I think she already learned that boasting is why we did this in the first place. It would be too weird to boast."

Fluttershy murmured, "Girls?"

Rarity said, "None sense. Spas are the best thing that Equestria invented. I don't think I could live without them."

Fluttershy tried again, "Girls?"

Applejack said, "Well, sometimes ya have to. Remember when Discord made ya think that the rock was a diamond? Ah didn't see ya run to the nearest spa."

Rarity clenched her teeth, "I told you to never speak of it again."

Fluttershy murmured, "We're here."

Applejack said, "I never did promise."

Fluttershy muttered, "Girls? I think that we should tie the rope onto the ground so the balloon doesn't fly off."

Pinkie laughed, "True! Rare, would an element of honesty ever lie?"

Twilight exclaimed, "We're here! Tie the rope onto the ground so this balloon is secured to the ground."

Fluttershy sighed, "That's what I've been trying to tell you."