My Little Pony: Harmonic Nine

Ren's POV

It's been three weeks since Twilight gained her Castle of Friendship and since Sarah became the Queen of Harmony. Twilight had moved into her new castle along with Spike. The castle was absolutely gorgeous in the inside. It had many, many rooms like the Princesses palace.

Speaking of which we were entering the throne room now, “Let’s go through this one more time.” Twilight began as she rubbed her hoof under her chin causing Rainbow Dash to groan to aggravation as apparently Twilight has talked about this multiple times now.

“We've been over it like a million times, Twilight! We unlock the chest, defeated Tirek and Sarah defeated Void and you got this sweet castle! End of story!” Rainbow Dash quickly told Twilight of what had just happened in a quickly summed up fashion.

“Yeah, bookworm, there’s not much to it.” Jack said as he sat on his throne.

“Yes, but why?” Twilight acknowledged but can’t help but question why she isn’t getting all of this so sudden after turning herself around.

“We don’t know why. I said.

“I dunno, sugarcube. Maybe it's just your new house and there ain't nothin' more to it than that.” Applejack answered as she moved to sit in her chair. As soon as she did the cutie mark on her chair glowed.

The others and I sat in their thrones and we our cutie marks started to glow as well. Hmm... wonder what's going on with the chairs. Probably nothing.

“I must say, speaking strictly on aesthetics, there really doesn't need to be more to it. It's all simply divine!” Rarity added as she sat down on her chair causing the cutie mark on her chair to glow too while saying all that’s important is that the Twilight they all know and loved is back.

“I agree with Twilight. And Rarity. And Applejack. And Rainbow Dash. And Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy chimed in as she sat down on her chair with her cutie mark on her chair glowing too. “Oh, and probably Spike.” Fluttershy added as if she almost forgot to include as she turned to him who is still sleeping and snoring on his chair.

“As princess, I’ve been chosen to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria and Sarah has been chosen to spread harmony across Equestria as well as the Queen.” Twilight continued to speak her mind as she paces around the center of the room.

"Twilight, stop worrying about it." Sarah said to her

"But Sarah, the Tree, aka your surrogate mother, obviously sees you as some kind of student to it, so why would it want us to sit in a castle in Ponyville? It doesn't make any sense.” She concluded as she sat down on her chair causing her cutie mark to glow along with the mark on her chair.

Everypony takes notice when the cutie marks on the chair glow as the beams of light they produced all shined onto the star in the center of the room causing crystal rocks to form as a crystal table starts to appear from the center of the room causing Spike to awaken from hearing this who then looks surprised at the sight that had just formed in the middle of the room.

“Is that new? I like it.” Spike commented just as surprised as everypony in the room.

“HOLY HELL!” I yelled.

“The chairs made a friggin map!” Jack added in shock.

It’s beautiful..” Kaede said.

Nicole and Rantaro looked at the map with their calm expressions.

Spike walked on the table and looked around it as what they are seeing is a map of all of Equestria. “This is incredible! It's got all of Equestria!” Spike commented in amazement.

“Hi, Mom and Dad!” Pinkie happily commented as she looked at her parent’s rock farm house.

Spike at that moment would end up stepping on the model house causing Pinkie’s eyes to water up as if she thought her parents were killed.

Suddenly, our cutie marks and the Mane Six’s cutie marks on their flanks and they glow as projected images of them circling around Twilight’s cutie mark and they hovered above the map from where Ponyville is to some town near the mountains.

Twilight, wanting a better look, used her magic to drag Spike off the table so she can examine this.

“But if this is Ponyville, why are our cutie marks over there?” Fluttershy commented wondering what this meant.

“I don't know.” Twilight honestly answered. “But it seems like the map wants us to find out. The Tree, Sarah, this castle, and now the map. How can we not follow it?” She questioned her friends.

“We must investigate that unmarked area.” I suggested.

“Y'know what?” Rainbow Dash flew in close examining some places on the map. “There's a ton of room for dangerous adventure along that route. Count me in!” She quickly put her hoof forward to join Twilight on this trip.

“Me too!” Jack exclaimed, rubbing his gut.

“Aw, shoot, I reckon you're right.” Applejack responded in agreement.

“Fine, I’ll come along to for protection.” Mason added.

“Well, I was planning on organizing my baking sheets, but okay!” Pinkie answered sounding reluctant at first before happily agreeing too.

“Very well.” Rarity reluctantly agreed too with a smile as she and Pinkie turn to Fluttershy expecting her answer wanting her to come along to with Rainbow Dash joining them as well.

“Um, maybe I'll just stay here with Spike.” Fluttershy nervously responded not wanting to come.

“Awesome!” Spike happily responded as he wore a drinking hat and a foam finger. “Me and Big Mac have a huge weekend ahead of us talkin' hoofball, and... and trading hoofball cards, and arguing about hoofball stats...”

Hearing all this causing Fluttershy to make weirded out expressions as she sees is signing herself up for activates that only guy and stallions would like.

“O-o-on second thought, m-m-maybe I'd better go with them. In case they need me.” Fluttershy quickly answered to show that she has changed her mind as she turns to Rainbow Dash who smiles in response to her answer.

“Eh, seems like a waste of time to me.” Rantaro stated, but Sarah hovered a bag of coins in front of him which he happily took. “Nevermind!” Nicole just sighed at his behavior.

Soon, we were all on our way to the unmarked area. We all exited the train as it backs away to depart from the dead end stop as Twilight looks the map she made herself for a moment before rolling it up and walking ahead in the direction of the nearby town with us right behind her. We crossed a wooden bridge and then reached our destination, a small village down below the mountains.

“That's it! That's the place on the map!” Twilight pointed out as Rarity fumbled with the dust in her hair.

“Looks like a small village.” I stated, seeing how small the village looked.

“Right. Let's get down there and find the spa.” Rarity spoke prepared to head on down before being stopped by Twilight who magically teleports in front of her.

“Wait.” Twilight stopped Rarity in her tracks with a hoof on her chest. “We don't know why the map sent us here. We shouldn't just walk right in. It could be dangerous.”

“Yes!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in excitement at the mention of danger she thrives of engaging in it.

“Stay behind me, everypony! I'm on it!” Pinkie spoke as she stood on her rear hoof while placing her front hoofs in front of Twilight and Rarity with a serious expression.

“Careful, Pinkie!” Applejack called out to Pinkie as she rolled down the mountain and ducked to a nearby rock as she peeks from the corner who motions the others to follow her lead as she stealthily makes her way to town by ducking under nearby rocks while the others walk up behind her as she scoots herself under a huge rock before she and the others peeked at the village as they now got a closer look.

“This is where the map sent us? It looks like the most boring place in Equestria.” Rainbow Dash commented as they watch every pony chatting and walking around.

“It's just an ordinary village full of ordinary pony folk.” Applejack voiced her thoughts.

“It could certainly use a few more architectural flourishes. Or any architectural flourishes.” Rarity commented seeing that the village could use some more fashionable taste of decoration.

“I think it's lovely.” Fluttershy responded seeing there is no problem with what she is seeing.

“I don't like it. I don't like it one bit. I know smiles. And those smiles? They're just not right.” Pinkie suspiciously commented at the sight of the continuously smiling ponies.

“I agree.” Twilight shared the same suspicion as she eyed the marks on everypony’s flanks. “Look at the cutie marks.” She pointed out that everypony had equal signs on their flanks.

“Okay, that's weird.” Rainbow Dash commented in agreement with Twilight.

“Equal sign cutie marks?” Kaede said with confusion.

“An entire village with the same cutie mark? How can that be?” Twilight questioned the very possibility of that.

“I bet there's some sort of horrific monster behind it.” Rainbow Dash suggested as she watched the village from afar.

“What makes you say that?” Twilight asked.

“'Cause fighting a horrific monster would be super-awesome!” Rainbow Dash excitedly dreamed of.

“I reckon we just ought to head into town and talk to some locals, find out what's goin' on.” Applejack suggested.

“Great idea, AJ. Let's go!” Rainbow Dash said and raced off.

Pinkie Pie was still frowning. “Those smiles are bad news.”

We started walking into the strange village. Boy, this just gives me bad memories when my home country was part of the USSR.

All of the ponies still keep up their friendly smiles as they approach us.

“Welcome.” A gray earth stallion with brown eyes greeted.

“Welcome.” A female Pegasus mother with two fillies by her side greeted.

“Welcome.” A blue unicorn pony with green eyes greeted.

“Welcome.” A pink unicorn with pink eyes and pigtails greeted.

“Welcome.” A blue pony with gray eyes and mane greeted.

“Welcome.” A brown pony with a blonde mane and pigtails greeted as her children walked with her.

“Welcome.” The fillies walking with their mother greeted.

“This must be the most pleasant place in Equestria!” Fluttershy positively commented as she flew by as another peagsus with gray fur and a white mane flew up to greet her.

“Welcome!”

Fluttershy giggled at the friendly greeting.

“Ugh. Thanks a lot, map.” Rainbow Dash groaned in boredom.

“Welcome! Pardon my forwardness, but are you an Alicorn?” A light blue furred unicorn greeted as he approached the group and questioned Twilight and Sarah who grinned humbly.

“That there's the Princess of Friendship and the Queen of Harmony!” Applejack introduced them to him.

“Well, you've certainly come to the right place for friendship.” He further greeted the alicorn.

“What brings you to town?” A white pony with a matching mane and blue eyes questioned Moonshine.

“We're not entirely sure.” Twilight honestly answered.

“I see. Well, all are welcome here in our little village.” The white stallion further welcomed the six before introducing themselves as he directs a hoof towards himself and at the pony next to him. “My name is Double Diamond, and this is Party Favor.

“Howdy, Double Diamond. I'm Applejack, and this here's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Sarah Gem, Ren, Kaede, Jamie, Jack, Rantaro, Nicole, Carrie, Mason and Skye." Applejack introduced the whole group by pointing her hoof at each pony around her. Double Diamond them looked down at Twilight's cutie mark.

“And you all have your own unique cutie marks.” Double Diamond observed her and Pinkie’s cutie marks.

“If you don't mind, has there been any sort of... trouble here, lately?” Twilight quickly questioned.

“Trouble? Why, I don't think we've ever had trouble in our little village.” Double Diamond answered while still smiling.

“It's true. You'll see. Hm.” Party Favor added in agreement.

“Perhaps you'd care to speak to our founder Starlight Glimmer.” Double Diamond offered as they lead her in her direction.

“I wish everypony in Equestria was as friendly as these ponies are.” Fluttershy hopefully wished as she faced her friends.

“I've got my eye on them. Something's rotten in... whatever the name of this village is that we're.” Pinkie suspiciously told her as she saw the smiling ponies following them.

“Agreed.” Twilight agreed with Pinkie in the same tone. “Something is definitely suspicious around here and I think this pony we are about to meet is behind this.”

“Yes, those ponies eyes were filled with unhappiness.” Nicole said. “Like they've been brainwashed.”

Double Diamond and Party Favor approached a door and both knock on it at the same time.

“Starlight, we have some new visitors.” Double Diamond told the pony inside as all eight ponies walk inside.

“Be ready to fight. We don't know what's gonna come through that door.” Rainbow Dash warned Applejack in a whispered tone as the pony opened the door in front of them and out from the room is a pink unicorn with a purple mane with light blue streaks and blue eyes.

“Welcome! I'm so pleased to have you here.” Starlight happily greeted the Mane Seven.

Rainbow Dash groaned in disappointment as if she was expecting somepony more dangerous.

“This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Sarah Gem, Ren, Skye, Jack, Jamie, Rantaro, Nicole, Kaede, Carrie and Mason.” Double Diamond introduced the Mane Seven to Starlight as she inspects Twilight and Sarah closely.

“Forgive my bluntness, but I'm assuming its Princess Twilight and Sarah ? We don't get many Alicorns around here.” Starlight questioned Moonshine, who still grins nervously.

"Ha! Sarah’s not just an alicorn. She's the Queen of Harmony." Rainbow bragged, earning a hard nudge from Applejack. "Ow!"

"A Princess and a Queen what an honor." Starlight stated.

“Yes, but "Twilight and Sarah" are fine.” Twilight humbly and nervously responded.

“So! How did you hear of our little village?” Starlight eagerly questioned while still smiling a little creepier this time.

“It's kind of a long story. Let's just say we found it on a map.” Twilight explained the short and straight to the point way.

“Technically, it's a Tree-chest-castle-map!” Pinkie Pie happily added before her face turned back to her suspicious face as she moved away from Starlight.

“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.” Starlight spoke with pleasure in her voice as the group eyed each other in confusion by what she meant.

“Say what?” Applejack questioned out of confusion.

“Oh, indeed. Starlight said. “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 any special talents to flaunt.”

“Is that why you all have those cutie marks?” Twilight asked, pointing to her Equal Sign on her flank.

“Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!” Starlight said, grinning just like the ponies outside.

She stepped forward towards the door as she addresses everypony in town.

“Heads high, ponies! Marching proud! All together now! Every one of you! No pony left behind!” Starlight Glimmer marched throughout town wanting everypony still smiling to follow her lead as she begins to sing.

"Life is so grand in Our Town

We're always filled with cheer

We never have to look around

To know that we're all here.”

Starlight sang as she marched forward and then turned towards all of us as the town ponies circle around us.

“In Our Town, in Our Town

We don't have to wait

To find out that our destiny

Is just to emulate.”

The towns ponies sang as they marched around us.

Sarah watched this and she felt something was definitely wrong here.. but she couldn't place her hoof on it.

“Let's see those big, happy smiles!” Starlight instructed everypony to continue keeping up their wide smiles.

“Life is a smile in Our Town

Our cutie mark's the same

Because we do not separate

Ourselves by more than name.”

Starlight sang as the town ponies marched into single file formation.

“In Our Town, in Our Town

We dare not compete

Winning only breeds the worst

Ego-filled conceit.”

The town ponies sang as two Pegasus ponies flew up to Rainbow Dash to lower her back down to the ground leaving her exasperated and insulted that these ponies see competition for ponies with overinflated egos and that it brings out the worst in ponies win or lose.

“You see? Now everypony wins!” Starlight told Rainbow to encourage her that her approach to friendship is better this way leaving Rainbow uncomfortable with that idea.

“Life is a joy in Our Town

We're all equal here

No one is superior

And no one shakes in fear.”

Starlight sang as she marched upfront and used her magic to make sure one of the mares has her mane tied up pig-tail style which Twilight took notice of.

“In Our Town, in Our Town

We work as a team

You can't have a nightmare

If you never dream.”

The town ponies sang they marched in rows of four in front of the Mane Seven.

“Other ponies argue

Do you ever wonder why?”

Starlight sang as she trots around Pinkie and Fluttershy as the former is more warm-welcoming while the latter is still frowning very suspicious at their smiles.

“When you think your talent's special

You don't see eye-to-eye.”

“There's just too many differences

That lead to disarray

But when you learn to act as one

It's like a holiday.”

Starlight sang as the town ponies danced around.

“In Our Town, in Our Town

We don't complicate

When you learn to simplify

Life is oh, so great.”

The town ponies sang as Fluttershy started dancing to the tune to which Pinkie which frowns at her to get her stop to which Fluttershy recoils in submission.

“Join in our utopia

Come out of the dark

Banded by equality

By our cutie mark!”

The town ponies sang as they formed up in single file and row and row formation with the peagsus ponies flying through with an equal sign banner.

“You're kidding, right? Give up our cutie marks? No way!” Rainbow Dash laughed off the very idea.

“Rainbow Dash, don't be so rude.” Fluttershy scolded her. “I don't think we should judge them. They all seem perfectly happy with their choice.”

“Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy.” Pinkie quickly warned Fluttershy against trusting them.

“I'm sorry, I guess we're just a little confused by all of this.” Twilight politely told Starlight.

“We have no judgments here in our village. Each of us was confused once as well, blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks.” Starlight assured Twilight nopony holds any judgement on them.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is she for real?” Rainbow Dash questioned as if all of this is a huge joke which earned her a glare from Twilight.

“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.” Twilight explained her reasons for visiting while still politely smiling.

“Have you considered perhaps that you might have been sent here so we could help you?” Starlight suggested as she placed a hoof on Twilight's chest. “After all, nopony has ever come to our village and wanted to leave. Why should you be any different?” She questioned the Mane Seven who look at each other in confusion.

“But that is entirely your choice. Please enjoy our little corner of Equestria. We're all quite fond of it. No doubt you will be as well. Double Diamond, please help our guests with whatever they might need.” Starlight instructed him to help them feel accommodated for their visit.

“Of course.” Double Diamond obliged to Starlight’s request who continues grinning at the Mane Seven who all look uneasy by this gesture as Starlight trotted off

As we walked forward with Double Diamond right behind us, more town ponies greeted them while still sporting the same smiles.

“A cutie mark is a representation of a pony's unique talents and skills. How is it possible to—“ Twilight questioned the very possibility of all of this before being interrupted by Rarity’s gasping.

“What in the name of Equestria is that?!” Rarity exclaimed as she pointed a hoof at ragged brown cloaks.

“Welcome! Care to sample some local fashion? We've got cloaks this month!” The brown stallion offered to which Rarity resisted the urge to throw up.

“Wha— Ooh, er, perhaps another time, good sir, thank you.” Rarity awkwardly and politely told him as she nervously backed away as the group proceeded to sit on a nearby table “No wonder nopony's wearing anything!” She whispered to her friends.

“Really, girls!” Fluttershy scolded the girls in a hushed tone. “They may do things a bit differently than we're used to, but that's no reason to be rude.”

“No, the reason to be rude is that they all keep staring at us!” Rainbow Dash commented feeling the need to correct Fluttershy.

“Need something?” Double Diamond asked the Mane Seven from a table.

“Uh, no! We're good!” Moonshine politely told him before turning back to the girls in a hushed tone. “Fluttershy's right. If we're going to get to the bottom of why the map sent us here, we'll need the help of these ponies.”

“I think we ran off to the end of Equestria before we even knew what that map was!” Applejack complained that this is all a waste of time.

“If we were at the end of Equestria, we'd be sitting on a big 'A'!“ Pinkie Pie giggling joked as she raised her hooves up. “Get it?”

"Girls, the my surrogate mother is a whole lot smarter than it looks. It made my Element and saved my, Ren and the others lives by teleporting us to Equestria. Do you really think it would send us here for no reason?" Sarah pointed out. The girls looked at each other and they had to agree. The Tree of Harmony has done so much for Sarah and all of us. We shouldn't really doubt its ability.

"Sarah’s right. There's something definitely wrong here." Twilight agreed.

“Is this a bad time?” The waitress pony who had been listening to their conversation politely chimed in.

“We shouldn't be bickering like this in front of our new friends. Really, Applejack, you're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy continued to defend the villagers while scolding Applejack.

“Don't drag me into this!” Rainbow Dash objected to Fluttershy’s comment.

“Is your friendship ending?” The waitress questioned as she faced Rarity.

“What the hell does that mean?” Jack asked.

“Are you crazy?! We'd never let a disagreement get in the way of food!” Pinkie Pie energetically exclaimed.

“O-kay, well, my name is Sugar Belle.” The waitress introduced herself and used her magic to lift up a notepad ready to take their order. “What can I bring you? We have: muffins... “

The group expected more items off the menu to be offered but her awkward silence clues them in that muffins are the only thing she can offer.

“Then I guess we'll take six muffins!” Twilight told her.

“Make that twelve!” Pinkie Pie eagerly exclaimed as her friends gave her weird looks. “What? I'm hungry!” She defended herself.

“Come on, girls. We've got to stick together. It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now.” Twilight spoke to her friends in a hushed tone to ensure nopony else is eavesdropping on their conversation.

“I guess you're right.” Applejack accepted. “And the sooner we figure out why, the sooner we can go home.”

At that moment Sugar Belle came back with a plate of muffins she placed in the center of the table.

“Forgive me for overhearing” Sugar Belle mentioned. “But just a moment ago you were disagreeing, and now it sounds like you're... agreeing.”

“Uh-huh...” Applejack responded with crossed hooves.

“Well, you had such differing opinions – and cutie marks.” Sugar Belle continued to speak with confusion.

“We have differing opinions all the time, darling.” Rarity answered as if it is no surprise to them.

“But you look like you're friends.” Sugar Belle pointed out.

“We are friends. A simple disagreement wouldn't change that.” Twilight positively responded which led to Sugar Belle smiling nervously at that statement before frowning as she again speaks her mind.

“I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding. Different talents lead to different opinions, which lead to bitterness and misery.” She explained before turning her frown back into a smile. “So... why aren't you bitter and...?”

Sugar Belle is quickly interrupted when Pinkie Pie chokes and spits out a muffin she had just ate “Blech!” She quickly corrects herself by faking a smile to feign politeness. “Mmmm... good...”

“It's all right.” Sugar Belle assured Pinkie she holds nothing against her for not liking her muffins. “I know I'm not a very good baker.” She admitted. “At least, I know I'm not any better than anypony else in the village.” She took a glance behind her directed at Double Diamond and quickly darted back with a sense of anxiety. “Well, I... hope you enjoy our little village!”

She began walking inside the shop as Pinkie loudly scraped the bits and pieces of muffin off her tongue. Sugar Belle quickly stopped between Twilight and Pinkie to address before.

“Come inside before you go! Meet me downstairs!” Sugar Belle told them in distress before sporting a grin before heading inside.

“Okay, that was weird too.” Rainbow Dash commented as she stretched out her hoof across the table.

“Let's all sit here and eat these muffins and act normal.” Twilight instructed the others in a hushed tone as she eyed everypony around them suspiciously. “I think we're being watched.” She points out to everypony still wide smiling at them while doing their daily business.

“You think?” Rainbow Dash sarcastically replied.

“No, not like that!” Twilight corrected. ”I mean somepony here doesn't want us talking to Sugar Belle.” She added as she pointed her eyes at Double Diamond who is watching them while biting into a muffin.

“I got an idea.” Applejack offered an idea. “But you gotta eat all of them muffins, Pinkie.”

“Me?! Why me?!” Pinkie protested.

“You got a stronger stomach than any of us, and that filly in there might be our best chance at findin' out what the hay is goin' on round here.” Applejack reasoned with her who reluctantly sees her point as she proceeds to bite into and eat all of the muffins and by the time she finally manages to eat them all her face is now sickly green.

“I can't believe you ate all our muffins, Pinkie Pie!” Applejack announced as the others look at everypony with forced smiles. “We'd best go inside and get some more!”

The group immediately head downstairs per Sugar Belle’s instructions.

“Nice work, Pinkie.” Twilight commended Pinkie as they headed downstairs as Pinkie Pie bounced downstairs with a balloon belly.

“I've accidentally eaten cardboard tastier than that...” Pinkie sadly commented over being forced to literally stomach in all of those muffins.

“Hello? Sugar Belle?” Twilight called out.

“Thank you for coming!” Sugar Belle spoke up as she emerged from the dark and sported another wide smile.

“Why did you want us to come down here?” Twilight asked.

“So nopony could see what's about to happen.” Sugar Belle answered with a smirk as some of the ponies gathered around them ominously causing Twilight to ready her horn to attack in self-defense until Party Favor leaned in like a fan pony.

“Are you really the Princess of Friendship?” Party Favor questioned.

“Do you know Princess Celestia?” Night Glider questioned as she leaned in towards Twilight.

“I love your cutie mark!” Sugar Belle commented as she touched Pinkie’s flank.

Night Glider looked at Ren and the other’s cutie marks. “Wow, how did you nine humans get those cutie marks like that. I thought only ponies could.”

“How can you be friends with different cutie marks? Don't you end up hating each other?” Night Glider questioned as she flew in front of Rarity and Fluttershy.

“Oh, look at this one! This one's great too!” Sugar Belle commented on Fluttershy’s cutie mark as she touched her flank. “I'd love to have my special talent back even just for a day! Make something besides those disgusting muffins...” She added sounding depressed.

“So what's stopping you? Go get your cutie marks back.” Rainbow Dash responded wondering why it’s so hard to do so.

“Daydreaming is one thing, but you mean actually having it put back on? That seems extreme.” Party Favor answered as he spoke. "I was still afraid to go near them.

“I'm not sure Starlight would like that. She wants us all to be happy in our sameness.” Sugar Belle mentioned.

“How do you take somepony's cutie mark anyway?” Twilight asked.

“The cutie unmarking is a beautiful experience!” Night Glider answered and recalled. “Starlight uses the Staff of Sameness to magically take them away and replace them with these.” She explained as she pointed towards the equal sign marks on her and the other’s flanks.

“But nopony should keep you from your cutie mark. It represents such an essential part of who you are.” Twilight spoke from experience.

“Yeah, it like taking away what made you special.” Jamie added.

“No one should keep you from that.” Kaede added.

“Oh, we're not kept from them.” Night Glider quickly responded. “They're in the vault up in the caves. We can visit them any time we like to remind us of the heartache of a life with special talents.”

"Wait... how come you don't have a cutie mark?" Double Diamond asked, pointing to Sarah’s blank flank.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess I didn't figure out my special talent yet." Sarah replied honestly.

"But don't you friends hate you cause you don't have a cutie mark?" Night Glider asked.

"Of course not! Just because she doesn't have a cutie mark doesn't mean we'd stop being friends with her." Rainbow stated.

“Yeah, Skittles it right. So Newbie does have cutie-patootie mark, we’re still friends with her.” Jack added.

"Yeah, Sarah is just as special as the rest of us, even if she doesn't have a cutie mark." Pinkie added. The three ponies looked at each other, confused.

After a moment of thinking Twilight asked them. “Can we visit this cave?"

Soon, we were lead into a mountain cave behind the village and down a tunnel. Once they got to the end of it, they all gasped seeing a large vault with multiple cutie marks locked inside of it. "Behold! Our cutie mark vault!"

"I've never seen anything like it!" Twilight exclaimed in shock.

"And here is the Staff of Sameness. It was one of the great Mage Meadowbrook's nine enchanted items. We are incredibly fortunate to have it here. This is the tool that allows us to free ourselves from our marks! I'm curious – how did the subject of the vault come up?" Starlight asked.

"Oh, I was just wondering why everypony had the same cutie mark. Ponies can still be friends with different cutie marks like my friends." Sarah stated.

"Well, w-we certainly didn't intend to cause any disruptions to your charming little—" Rarity said nervously.

"Good. Let's just make sure of that, shall we?" Starlight Glimmer questioned as some ponies came out of the shadows. "It's a trap!" Twilight exclaimed.

I took out my Hacking Gun at the ponies while Mason and Jack readied their fists. She teleported out of the circle and readied her magic but Starlight used her Staff and blasted Twilight, holding her in place and forcefully removing her cutie mark! "Twilight!" Sarah cried in horror as she fell to the ground.

The Starlight did the same with her friends! Removing their cutie marks by force and locking them in the vault!

“Aw. I don't blame you for what you tried to do here today. You've spent your whole lives thinking those marks are a good thing.” Starlight gloated still trying to make the whole situation still sound positive.

“You can’t do that, you maggot!" Skye exclaimed.

“Give them back!” Twilight demanded.

“Well, now you can spend the rest of your lives here with us! And we'll teach you just how much better life can be without your cutie marks!” Starlight responded as she put her staff away as the ponies who gathered inside of the cave gather around them.

"Not I have anything to say about it..!" Sarah growled as she readied her magic. Starlight blasted her with the Staff of Sameness too.. However Sarah’s Element of Hope activated and created a shield around her!

"What?!" Starlight growled.

Sarah then unleashed a shockwave, knocking Starlight and the other ponies back.

Sarah quickly flew over and blasted the pieces of glass with her friends cutie marks and they returned to their owners, returning their abilities and talents to them. Starlight got up and snarled in anger at what Sarah did. Sarah then took off her Element of Hope and threw at Twilight who caught it in her magic,

"Guys! Get out of here!" Sarah called.

"What?! But Sarah..!" Twilight exclaimed but Sarah yelled, "GOOO!" before Starlight struck her with magic, freezing her in place. Twilight knew she had no choice and she teleported all of us out of the cave.

"I've done a lot to give these ponies friendship and you're not going to ruin it!" Starlight yelled at her before she took out a jar. Suddenly, Sarah felt a strong and painful tug in her horn and she grunted and groaned in pain as Starlight removed her magic and placed it in the jar!

Whens she was done, Starlight dropped her on the floor. Sarah felt so weak that she could barely keep her eyes open. "You may not have a cutie mark, but you will be valuable to my cause..." Starlight said with an evil smirk before everything went black for Moonshine.

Starlight Glimmer carried an unconscious Sarah into one of her buildings and just dropped her on the floor. Starlight smiled evilly at her as she gazed at the jar filled with her stolen magic. "Foolish Alicorn, challenging my philosophy? Hehehe... big mistake."

Starlight used her magic to create a chain and tied it around Sarah’s left back hoof and attached it to a stack in the house. "Hehe... still.. I'm sure those 'strangers' will come and rescue you, but they won't get far, cause I'll be ready for them.. and once I have their cutie marks all of Equestria will know what I'm trying to accomplish."

Starlight then walked out of the building and slammed the door shut and ordered two ponies at the door to guard it. "Perfect... now..." Starlight looks at the jaw with Moonshine's magic inside of it. "Let's see just how powerful her magic is..."

]

We were hiding outside of the village, over looking it from a hilltop. "Alright girls, I think that made it pretty clear about why the map sent us here.." Twilight said to her friends.

“That was friggin obvious!” Jack yelled. “That brat took our cutie marks and tried to force us to join her village!”

"Yeah, Starlight Glimmer is forcing everypony to give up their cutie marks so they can have her version of 'friendship'." Applejack stated. "If it weren't for Sarah steppin' in like that, we would have been in the same situation."

"Oh... I hope she's alright." Fluttershy cooed with worry.

“I’m sure she’s fine..” Rantaro dismissed.

“Rantaro, Sarah gave her Element to Twilight, that was her only protection against Starlight. Without it, who knows what she did to her.”

"Yeah, let's go get her back!" Rainbow exclaimed, but before she could fly into town, Twilight caught her by the tail. "Rainbow! You can't just barge into town like that. Starlight might have some kind of trap waiting for us." Twilight scolded.

"Twilight's right. We need a way to figure out if Sarah is alright." Applejack stated. "But how..?"

Suddenly Discord appeared, "Oh for Scorpan's sake, why didn't you call me when you found a pony causing her own kind of chaos?" he whined.

“What the-?!” Ren exclaimed.

"Discord? What are you doing here?!" Twilight exclaimed, shocked to see the Spirit of Chaos.

"Oh isn't eavesdropping not the way you figure out what your dear friends and daughter are doing?" Discord questioned with an innocent look earning a 'No!" from Twilight and the others.

"Oh well." Discord shrugged. "If you want to see from all the way out here, then.." Discord snapped his fingers and he made some binoculars appear. "These should help..."

Twilight took the binoculars in her magic and looked through them. "Woah... these have X-Ray vision, I can see right through the buildings.." she said in awe. She looked into the building that was guarded by two ponies and gasped, "Sarah..!"

"Twilight, what's wrong?" Applejack asked.

"Sarah’s unconscious in one of the buildings and..." Twilight then looked at the building at the end of the village and saw Starlight Glimmer holding a jar with magic inside. "Now let's see just what this Queens magic can do. With such power, I'll be able to remove the cutie marks of everypony all over Equestria and everypony will understand my version of harmony.. hahaha...!" Starlight laughed evily, making Twilight gasped in utter shock.

"What is it?" Rainbow asked.

"Starlight Glimmer stole Sarah’s magic! And she's going to use to so she can take the cutie marks of everyone in Equestria!" Twilight exclaimed and the rest of us gasped in horror.

“Oh dear..” Discord said in worry.

“Discord, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“Well since Sarah’s magic is taken that also means that the power we used to create her is stolen as well. The meteorites’ power is like her life force. If the power is out of her for too long well... “ Discord moved a finger across his neck.

“Wait, wait… you mean… Sarah will die if she doesn’t get her magic and power back!” I exclaimed in horror.

Discord nodded and the group was horrified and knew this was more serious than ever.

"We gotta stop her!" Rainbow exclaimed, knocking her hooves together.

"But how? That pony probably got a hole bunch of ponies on the lookout for us." Applejack reminded me. "We need a sneaky way to get in, save Sarah and get out, while showing everypony that what Starlight is doing is wrong..."

Sarah’s POV

Uhh.... w-what...?

I began to come to and I felt a major headache. "Ugh...." I tried to move my legs but they felt like jelly. I weakly lifted my head. W-Where am I...? All I remember is... the Cutie Mark Cave and.... just then I heard the door opened and I saw Starlight Glimmer with a tray on it with an apple and some water.

Her....

"Hello Queen Sarah... I decided to bring you some food.." Starlight stated in a nice voice, but Sarah didn't buy it.

"G-Give me... back my.. magic..." I growled as she weakly staggered to her feet.

"Hello Princess... I decided to bring you some food.." Starlight stated in a nice voice, but I didn't buy it.

"G-Give me... back my.. magic..." I growled as I weakly staggered to her hooves.

"I'm afraid you're in no shape to make demands." Starlight smiled wickedly and I turned and saw the chain on her my hoof. "You... can't keep.. me here... forever..." I stammered, trying to sound as serious as I could.

"Oh.. I think I can.." Starlight smirked. "Without your magic, my guards at the door, there's no way you're leaving.."

"My... friends will.. come for me..." I replied.

"Ah yes those strangers. All different ponies and those... other creatures who believe that they were something special with their cutie marks." Starlight growled with an angry expression. "They don't have any real friendships. They are just blinded by their cutie marks."

"Their friendship.... is real... and their cutie marks and differences make their friendships stronger." I replied, gaining a little strength back.

"This coming from the pony who doesn't have a cutie mark! Let alone a Alicorn Queen! Your friends would be ashamed that you don't have a cutie mark and yet you stand up for those who do!" Starlight yelled at me.

"My friends would never be ashamed of me. They would be proud that I'm standing up for what I believe in even if it means going against what you have to say.." I growled at Starlight. Starlight had enough and blasted me sending me slamming into the back wall. "Ugh..!" the impact made the glass of water spill onto Starlight's flank.. revealing her actual cutie mark! It was a stream of blue magic that was attached to a purple star!

"You still have your cutie mark..." I narrowed her eyes at her.

Starlight gasped,"Oh shoot."

"If you say everypony is supposed to be equal in this town? Why do you still have your cutie mark?"

Starlight sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry. That was my fault. I should have been more careful." She neatly folded the towel and placed it on top of a flat surface. "It looks like I'll have to find some sort of spell in one of my books that'll wipe your memory of what just happened here. Maybe it'll wipe your whole memory. Who knows."

"Wha…what?" I stammered.

"Forgive me. But if you're to stay, I must do it for the sake of the village." She brought out some makeup and covered her cutie mark. Then, she brought out a stencil and used the makeup to brush back on her fake cutie mark. Afterwards, she prepared to continue leaving.

"Don't worry. I'll wait until our little mess is over and done with." She opened the door and walked out. However, she peeked in before completely leaving. "Remember, don't try anything dumb, okay? I'd really hate to end up having to take some drastic measures." She shut the door and locked it.

I knew for sure now! It wasn't the staff that took away the ponies cutie marks. It was her magic! "I.. have to get this info to Twilight and my friends... but how...?" I pondered before I spotted a piece of paper and a pencil.

I was able to reach it, despite being chained up and I wrote down a message on the paper before I folded it into a paper airplane. "How can I get this to Twilight and my friends...?" I wondered before... a small mailbox came floating over to me that said 'Please place inside for Twilight Sparkle'.

I blinked at it, confused as to how this managed to get in here, but seeing that it may be my only chance, I placed the letter inside and the mailbox vanished in a bright flash, and I hoped that it would get to her friends.

Ren's POV

Meanwhile, the mailbox poofed up in front of Twilight and her friends. "I can't believe that actually worked, Discord." Twilight said, taking the letter out of the box.

"Well of course it worked. I made it.." Discord bragged. The girls, save for Fluttershy and Pinkie, rolled their eyes as Twilight read the letter out loud.

"Guys, Starlight Glimmer's cutie mark is fake! She covered it up with makeup. It was her magic that was used to removed your cutie marks before I stepped it. It was never the staff. You have to get the townsponies to realize this. Use Water, it'll wiped off the make up easily."

“That lying bastard!” Jack said.

“She deceived everyone.” Nicole narrowed her eyes.

"I knew something was wrong with her!" Twilight exclaimed.

"That mare was nothing but a faker!" Applejack added.

"Yeah, and now she has our friend and her magic captive. We've gotta do something now before we lose our friend forever!" Rainbow added.

"Hmm... I think I know what we can do..." Twilight smirked while looking at Discord.

Sarah's POV

Soon, I was being lead out of the building by Starlight with all of the townsponies watching. "I trust that you've made your decision, Princess?" Starlight asked with a smirk. But I just narrowed my eyes and looked away. "No? Hmm.. maybe another day will help change your mind.."

"Stop!" a voice came and everypony saw the all my friends walking into the village. "Ah.. so the strangers have returned, huh?" Starlight smirked.

"Yeah, we're here for our Queen and her magic.." Rainbow growled, "So give 'em up!"

"Yeah, you can't force anypony to give up their cutie marks or what makes them special. It doesn't work like that." Applejack added with a glare.

"What are you talking about, we're all equal here." Starlight stated innocently. "Well except for you six. Those cutie marks have blinded you of real friendship."

"No they don't, Starlight." Twilight stated. "Cutie marks make our friendship stronger. It doesn't matter if we're different what matters is that we're all friends which is what really matters."

Starlight laughed mockingly, "My village is a place of equality and friendship. Friendship that is stronger than whatever you six have."

"Equality, you say...?" a voice came before a small dark cloud came above Starlight. "Well what do you have to say about this..?" and then it started to rain on Starlight. "Hey!" she exclaimed as she got soaked.

Then the cloud stopped its small downpour and Starlight shook herself clean and everypony in the village gasped, seeing her real cutie mark!

Starlight noticed then and widened her eyes extremely in shock as she covered her flank with her tail. "Wha... What are you looking at?! They're the problem, not me!" She said pointed towards the Twilight, Ren and the others and laughed nervously.

"You lied to us…?" Party Favor questioned with an expression of devastated shock.

"How could you?" Night Glider asked.

"You said cutie marks were evil!" Double Diamond joined in. "You said special talents led to pain and heartache!"

"They do! Don't you see?! Look at them!" She was clearly desperate now. "Look at what they're doing to us! We were perfectly fine and happy before they came to town!"

"Then why?" Sugar Belle grew the confidence to confront Starlight. "Why did you take ours and not give up your own?"

"I..." Starlight Glimmer was sweating now. "I-I-I…" Her eyes clenched shut and her eyebrows furrowed. Tension squeezed out from her face before she reopened her eyes. "I had to, you fools! How could I collect your cutie marks without my magic?!"

"But the staff has all the magic we need!" Night Glider retorted.

"The staff is a piece of wood I found in the desert!" Starlight Glimmer finally confessed. "It's my magic that makes all this possible! You'd all still be living your miserable lives thinking you're better than everypony else if it weren't for my magical abilities! I brought you friendship! I brought you equality! I created harmony!"

"The only thing you created was your own version of Communism." Nicole said with her eyes narrowed.

"You lied to us!" Party Favor answered back.

"So what? E-Everything else I said is true! The only way to be happy is if we're all equal!" She stated that last part with confidence as if everything would go back the way it was.

"Except for you." Sugar Belle pointed out.

Starlight was prepared to shoot a fiery glare back at this pony before Moonshine stepped forward and spoke up.

"Everypony has unique talents and gifts, and when we share them with each other, that's how rea—"

"QUIET!" Starlight Glimmer bellowed out, only to receive a tackle from me!

I kicked Starlight away from my friends and she skidded across the ground. "You can't have a cutie mark, Starlight! Either we're all equal, or none of us are!" Sugar Belle asserted.

Everypony slowly began surrounding Starlight, leading her to anxiously turn her head around to see her becoming cornered.

Starlight Glimmer's eyes began shooting daggers at me. Uh oh! Her eyes closed shut and a bubble began to form around her. Her horn glowed with magic, and we were soon pushed aside, giving her space to run through.

Starlight then shot another ray of magic at me and everything went black for me!

Ren's POV

Holy cow! Starlight blasted Sarah with her magic and knocked her unconscious before she carried her in her magic and ran in the direction of the building she had been keeping her. "Sarah!" I exclaimed in horror.

“Newbie!” Jack exclaimed in horror.

"You ponies get your cutie marks! We'll handle this!" Twilight directed the others and followed behind.

As soon as the ponies reached the door, Jack, Mason, Applejack and Rainbow began banging the sturdy wood loudly, "Open the door, Starlight!" Applejack exclaimed.

We could hear things being moved around and shuffled inside. "You think you can come to my village and take everything I worked so hard for and destroy it just like that?!" Starlight's voice angrily sounded through. "Let's see how you like it when I take something from you!"

"Not if we have anything to say about it.." Rainbow Dash flew backwards and she used her speed to kick down the door. the girls immediately galloped inside and searched for any sign of Starlight.

"Where are they?!" Fluttershy asked with worry

"Look! Up here!" Twilight called from up the stairs. We all came upstairs and entered a bedroom. However, the bed had been merely thrown to the side and revealed some kind of secret escape in the floor. "Come on.." Twilight said and we all rushed through the escape door and they came out on the other side of the tunnel, outside of the village near a path towards snowy mountaintops.

"Look!" Rainbow Dash pointed out in midair.

"She's headed for the pass!" Twilight added. "If she gets into those mountains, we'll never see her and Sarah!"

Rainbow spread out her wings. "We need to stop her!"

We all familiar roar and saw a Light Fury flying over head with two pokemon on her back. "Snowflake..!" The girls cried happily. The Light Fury cooed at us before we saw her flying over to where Starlight was running.

"Come on..." Twilight called.

"Wait for us..!" the girls turned and saw Party Favor, Sugar Belle, Double Diamond and Night Glider running and flying towards them, joining the chase, now with their cutie marks and colors restored.

Starlight ran down the path and saw Snowflake flying towards her, "Back off Dragon!" she growled and fired a blast of magic but Pikachu countered with Thunderbolt.

Starlight growled and Snowflake fired a plasma blast in front of her, causing her to fly back and she fell on the ground. Snowflake blocked her path and snarled at her as we all blocked the backway.

"All of you! Nopony move! One step and I'm sending this little filly down this cliff, and I can promise you she'll never be found again!" Starlight Glimmer aggressively threatened, holding Sarah off of the path along with the jar of her stolen magic. "Don't try any magic either." She added, eyeing especially at the ones with horns. "I can promise you won't have enough time to help the Queen before she disappears never to be seen again."

"Think about what you're doing, Starlight!" I exclaimed. "What are you getting out from doing this? You do anything to her, you'll surely find yourself being banished from Equestria! Is that what you want?"

She scoffed loudly. "You think I care about banishment? You want to know how hard I worked to raise that village you all so easily destroyed in a matter of minutes?! I had to go through so much! I had to lose so much to get to where I was, and you all took that away from me! If anypony should be banished, it's you all! I won't be satisfied until I see the look on your faces when you lose something so dearly like I did!" and then she let Sarah and her jar of magic fall!

"Sarah!" Twilight gasped in horror but Snowflake and Rainbow dove down at great speed and Snowflake grabbed Sarah in her claws while Rainbow caught the jar with her magic.

"Gotcha!" Rainbow smiled as she and Snowflake flew back up to us and placed Sarah and her magic on the ground.

"Is that how you treat somepony who gave you a loving and unjudging home?!" Starlight angrily asked Double Diamond, Party Favor, Sugar Belle and Night Glider who stood at the front of the group.

"You always said we had to be equal." Double Diamond answered back. "But what I realized is that we had to be equal on your terms. Not something that everypony agreed on!"

"Yeah!" Night Glider added in. "We were always scared of thinking of something and being punished by you for it! If you ask me, that's not equal at all! Just like Queen Sarah said."

Aggressively tightening and scrunching her eyes, Starlight proceeded to fire a spell towards these four ponies. However, Twilight immediately jumped in front them and protected them all with a strong steady magical barrier.

"Wh– I studied that spell for years!" Starlight argued to this surprise. "How can you—?"

"I studied magic for years too!" Twilight countered. "But what I didn't know then was that studying could only take me so far. Each of my friends has taught me something different about myself! It was their unique gifts and passions and personalities that helped bring out the magic inside of me! I never would have learned that I represent the element of magic without these guys! And I certainly wouldn't be here to stop you now!"

Starlight blocked out the lecture coming from Twilight's mouth and rolled her eyes. "Spare me your sentimental nonsense! I gave these ponies real friendships they never could've had otherwise!"

“What you gave them was a false life to live under, Starlight Glimmer.” Nicole said with a narrowed look. “You forced them into your own version of Communism, where everyone was the same under your rule. But you failed at that.”

"How do you know that?!" Double Diamond exclaimed. "You never even gave us a chance!" Completely outraged by this, Starlight fired up a shield-looking aura around her, making everypony back away. But with a snap of his fingers, Discord made Starlight disappear? What the-?

"Discord, what did you do?" I asked him.

"I simply put her in Tartarus. Hehehe. In a magic proof cage if I may add.." Discord smirked.

"We just have to hope that when she's had a chance to think it over, she realizes that you all have taught her something." Twilight stated.

"It's you who have taught us something." Party Favor said as he approached Twilight. "We all came to this village because we were searching for something missing from our lives. We thought Starlight had given it to us, but now... now it seems it was in front of us all along. It's us!" He regrouped with the other three and they all shared a group hug.

"Does that mean you'll stay in the village?" Twilight asked.

"It's our home. I'm not going anywhere." Night Glider responded both firmly and proudly.

"This is a chance for all of us to get to know each other again for the very first time!" Double Diamond smiled.

"And I finally have a chance to bake something besides terrible muffins!" Sugar Belle exchanged gleefully. Everypony laughed aloud before Snowflake cooed, nudging her unconscious friend.

"Okay girl.." Twilight smiled and Rainbow nodded before she smashed the jaw holding Sarah's magic and it flowed back into her horn. Sarah stirred as she opened her eyes, "W-What…?”

“Easy Newbie..” Jack said as he helped her up.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“I.. I think I’m okay…” Sarah said, rubbing her head. Snowflake, Pikachu and Zoura came over to her and nuzzled her.

Twilight chuckled, "She's just fine."

Back in the village, the group saw all the villagers, smiling and enjoying the small party they put together in celebration.

"Now those are real smiles." Pinkie Pie described as the villagers enjoyed the party.

Soon enough, a sound emerged from everyone and they saw their cutie marks glowing and shimmered as well.

"I'll never get used to that…" Applejack admitted.

“I don’t think any of us will..” Mason said.

"I think it's divine." Rarity sweetly objected.

"Does that mean that the map is calling us somewhere else?" Fluttershy questioned Twilight.

"I have a feeling it means our work here is done." Twilight settled with.

"Looks like you were right, Twilight. The map did have a reason for sendin' us here." Applejack brought up. "We brought real friendship to these here ponies. Guess that's why you're the Princess of Friendship." She ended with a wink.

"But the map didn't send me. It sent us." Twilight humbly included. "You're a part of me, all of you. And there's no doubt you're a part of my mission to spread friendship too."

The rest of them squealed and giggled as she shared a group hug.

"We don't have to go home right away, do we?" Pinkie Pie asked. "That Sugar Belle can bake!"

Discord then popped up, “Oh goodie! Some quality time with my dear old daughter, how about that.” he smiled. The group sighed at his presence.

"I don't see any harm in staying for a little while longer." Twilight mentioned. The girls cheered as they all entered the town to enjoy the festival.

To Be Continued...