Author's Note

I must apologize for all of the time skips. I don't like to do it to much, but I usually only do it if it isn't that relevant to the story. If you want to know what happens between those times, let me know and I will add them.

If you see any grammar or spelling mistakes in the chapter, let me know! Constructive criticism is always welcome!

Chapter 4 - Protect Her

"She wasn't afraid of what was in front of her because she knew who was standing behind her..." - Unknown

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[Almost 1 year later]

Starlight and I were casually not arguing about who cheated in Ponopoly in the dining room when we heard a knock on the front door. Starlight froze as I darted into her shadow, but she quickly calmed down and walked towards the door.

"Starlight, we have some new visitors."

Starlight opened the door and I relaxed a bit at the sight of Double Diamond and Party Favor, but tensed up again when I saw this new group of ponies.

There was a purple alicorn with a darker purple mane and tail, a streak of pink and blue shooting through them. On her haunches sat a purple star with small, white sparkles surrounding it. To her left was a white unicorn with a dark purple mane and tail, both fashionably styled. Her cutie mark was three blue gems. On Purple's right was a orange earth pony with a blonde mane and tail, a cowboy hat sitting upon her head. Three red apples for her cutie mark. Next to that one was a pink earth pony with a darker pink, cotton candy-like, mane and tail. Three balloons, two blue and one yellow, sat on her haunches. Coming in through the door was a cyan blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail, a cloud with a rainbow lightning bolt marking her. Following up the rear was a yellow, almost cream colored pegasus with a long pink mane and tail. Three pink butterflies on her.

Great, more ponies to give me a colorache. Ya know, a headache from too many colors.

"Welcome! I'm so pleased to have you here!" Starlight greeted, getting a groan from Skittles and an eye roll from me.

"This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle," Wow, straight to the introductions, huh Double Diamond?

Starlight eyed 'Twilight' up and down, causing the alicorn to nervously fidget her wings, "Forgive my bluntness, but I'm assuming it's Princess Twilight Sparkle? We don't get may Alicorns around here."

"Yes, but Twilight is fine," I narrowed my eyes at the nervous princess. For royalty, she was informal.

"So! How did you hear of our little village!?" Geez, tone down the enthusiasm a bit, alright Glimmey?

"It's kind of a long story... Let's just say we found it on a map!"

"Technically, it's a tree chest castle map!" Pinkie blurted before suspiciously glaring at Starlight, slinking back to her spot in the group.

"Well, however you found us we're happy to have you! We're happy to have any pony who wants to experience true friendship for the first time!"

"Say what?" Applejack gave Glimmey a 'seriously' look, and I had to try to hold in a laugh.

"Oh indeed, that's what's so unique about our village. You see, around here we don't flaunt our special talents because we don't have and special talents to flaunt!" Starlight smiled, adjusting an equal sign picture frame.

"Is that why you all have those cutie marks?" Twilight pointed at Starlight's powdered haunch, apparently not catching the glare Glimmey directed at it.

"Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!" Starlight smiled, walking towards the door with the ponies trailing behind her. Devil, don't tell me she's going to-

"Heads high ponies, marching proud!" She burst through the door, marching past a few ponies and encouraging them to join her.

Damn it, she is going to-

"All together now. Every one of you!" Starlight began marching down the street, ponies gathering around her. "No pony left behind!" She cried through a pony's door, said pony coming out to march.

"Life is so grand in our town..."

What's with ponies and singing?!

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Rainbow burst into laughter, "Your kidding right?! Give up our cutie marks? No way!

"Rainbow Dash, don't be so rude," Fluttershy gently scolded, "I don't think we should judge them. They all seem perfectly happy with their choice," Fluttershy smiled at the gathered ponies, each giving her their own fake smile.

Pinkie seemed to appear out of nowhere to scream in the yellow pegasus' ear, "Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy."

Twilight walked to the front of the group, silencing them, "I'm sorry, I guess we're all just a little confused by all of this."

How is it possible for royalty to be informal, yet formal at the same time?!

"We have no judgements here in our village. Each of us was confused once as well, blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks." Damn it Starlight,

"Woah woah woah, is she for real?" Stuck-up Rainbow...

"When we were sent to this village, we assumed it was to help in some way but... Well, it doesn't seem like you need any help." Sparkles....

"Have you considered perhaps that might have been sent here so we could help you?" Starlight....

This was pointless talk. You sure know how to take your time Glimmer. No wonder everypony who came here ended up staying.... Plus the brainwash shack works pretty well.

Besides that, I'm tired. Sorry Starlight, but you're on your own until I wake up.

I jolted awake by a strong sense of excitement coming off of Starlight, then I understood why. Twilight Sparkle had come out of the brainwash shack, Fluttershy awkwardly standing beside her. Huh, figured she'd be one of the firsts to turn.

"....But I just want to be sure. If I agree to leave my cutie mark in the vault, I'll really be happier?" Sparkles gave Starlight a look of confusion.

Why do I always miss the important stuff?!

"Just look around!" Starlight motioned to the rest of the town, "Equality has given us more happiness than you've ever known.

"And you wouldn't just let me live here in the village with my old cutie mark?" Twilight lifted her wing to gaze at her equalized flank, giving it a look of reluctance.

"Out of the question. A pony with a different cutie mark in our midst would destroy our entire philosophy! We are all equal here!" Starlight smiled, the ponies gathered murmuring their agreement.

"Then how do you explain this?!" Fluttershy threw a bucket of water at Starlight, showing surprising signs of courage.

I jumped into action, rising from Starlight's shadow and blocking the water with my shadow like body. Black smoke billowed from my solid yet misty form, the only thing seen through it being my red eyes and teeth (if I chose to smile). My eyes narrowed at the shocked, scared ponies.

"What is that?!" One shouted.

"Will it hurt us?!" Another questioned

"It's a demon!" Twilight cried, taking a step back.

I smiled, my sharp teeth gleaming, "Bingo. Now, you're both going to go back in there and sit there for..." I turned to Starlight, "How long do you think they should stay there?"

Starlight smiled up at me, "Let's go for five weeks. If they don't want to be our friends by then, they'll stay there for a month."

I nodded, stepping out of Starlight's shadow and allowing my shadowy form to fade. I looked about as normal as a demon could get among a bunch of ponies. Bolting forward, I plucked Flutters out of the air and tucked Twilight under my arm. I nudged the still open door even wider, throwing the two in like a sack of potatoes. The fear radiating off of their friends was intoxicating, and it took everything in me to turn, shut the door, and lock it behind me.

"Starlight, why do you have a demon with you?" Double Diamond asked, ears flattening as I made my way back to the unicorn.

"I needed help. It's not easy running a town on your own, and I needed an assistant. It just so happened to be a demon," Starlight smiled at the nervous pony.

"But aren't you worried he'll destroy everything we've worked on? Destroy our equality?"

Glimmey snorted, "Of course not. We made a deal. Plus, he doesn't have a cutie mark to faun about. In fact," Starlight looked up at me, "Adding onto your role as assistant, I order you to be my personal body guard as well. You are not to leave me unattended until I tell you so."

My eyes flashed purple, only getting a flinch out of me this time, before I nodded and straightened my posture.

"Good. Now, let's continue," She turned her attention back to the shack, "They should be turned soon. Everypony eventually is. Back to your daily duties everypony! Everything is okay!"

The equalized ponies gave her a look of uncertainty before heading off to their respected jobs, the day starting back into motion. Starlight and I walked down the dirt road, stopping at the door before she turned her gaze up at me.

"You can terrorize them in the night, if you wish. After the stunt they tried to pull, they deserve a little insanity."

I nodded, trying in vain to hide the grin that spread across my lips.