It hadn't been that long since Twilight Sparkle had moved into a giant crystal castle shaped like a tree. Her old home: The Golden Oak Library had been unfortunately destroyed during a battle against Lord Tirek, and it was the one thing from his destructive rampage that couldn't be restored or fixed. The young alicorn princess was still coming to terms with the sudden loss. But for right now, her thoughts were turning to the castle that had literally sprung up from out of nowhere after Tirek was defeated and sent back to Tartarus.

The castle had come with a throne room, which included six large thrones that displayed the cutie marks of Twilight and her friends, as well as having a smaller throne for Spike. And that detail struck her as most odd. Why would the castle come with such thrones, even considering it had been a gift from the Tree of Harmony?

The studious alicorn didn't know why. So she opted to call all her friends over to the castle and bring them into the throne room to see if any of them had some idea about what the thrones might be for.

So it was that the six mares assembled in the throne room, all the while Spike was snoozing happily in his own little throne that he had opted to move closer to Rarity's throne.

"So, why'd you call us all here, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash questioned. "Something on your mind?"

Twilight nodded ever so slowly. "You could say that," She put a hoof to her chin. "Ever since this castle appeared, I've been thinking a lot about it," She then proposed. "Maybe we should go over this one more time."

Rainbow groaned, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Seriously, this again? We've been over it almost a hundred times already! What more is there to discuss?!" And she quickly explained. "It's simple: We found all six keys to that chest, defeated Tirek, and you got this sweet castle as a reward! End of story!" Then she swished her tail before sitting down in her own throne.

"Yes, but why? Why did the castle come with these thrones?" Twilight protested in question. "It still doesn't make sense. There must be a reason, but what?"

Applejack could only shrug her hooves as she moved to sit down in her own throne too. "I dunno, sugarcube. Maybe Rainbow Dash is right. Maybe it's just your new home and there ain't nothin' more to it than that."

Rarity was quick to chime in with her own sentiments. "I must say, I agree with Applejack and Rainbow Dash. There hardly seems to be a reason to think about such things," Her eyes then lit up like stars as she plopped down into her own throne as well. "And speaking strictly from asthetics, there really doesn't need to be more to it. It's all simply divine! You should feel privileged to have such a splendid castle all to yourself!"

Pinkie Pie added (having long since sat down in her own throne). "I gotta go with Rarity and Rainbow Dash, and Applejack too. This castle is amazing! No sense looking this gift horse in the mouth!" She giggled. "I mean, can you even look a castle in the mouth?"

Fluttershy then climbed into her own throne, and offered up her own opinion as she sat down. "I have to agree with Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Oh, and maybe Spike too. I'm sure he doesn't think this new castle is anything other than a place to live."

Twilight still wasn't convinced. She even seemed to frown ever so slightly. "I'm not so sure, girls. Something just doesn't seem right," She began to trot over to her own throne and climb onto it. "As the princess of friendship, I made it my life's purpose to spread the magic of friendship all across Equestria, maybe even beyond. So why would the Tree of Harmony want us to just sit in a castle in Ponyville? It doesn't make any sense." Yet as soon as she had sat down in her own throne, something unexpected happened! Without warning, the thrones all began to glow as the symbols displaying the cutie marks lit up!

There came an audible rumble that stirred Spike from sleep, just as a large and splendid table made of solid crystal rose up into the center of the throne room! And on the table was a huge map that seemed to depict all of Equestria, shining brightly in the process. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. "Is that new? I like it." Little did he or the ponies know that the map was only the beginning of what was going to be a mysterious, exciting, and even dangerous adventure. One that would bring them face to face with a threat they never would've suspected.

Once the initial shock of seeing the table map had worn off, Spike climbed onto it and looked all around. "This is incredible! It's got all of Equestria!"

And indeed it did, even the smallest of places that might not have shown up on other maps was present. This included the rock farm just outside of Ponyville where Pinkie's parents lived. "Hi Mom and Dad!" She called, either not knowing or not caring that they obviously wouldn't be able to respond. She even whimpered and teared up a little when Spike stepped on the rock farm's location with one of his feet a moment later.

Then, suddenly, the map glowed even brighter! And when the light had faded, it displayed the cutie marks of Twilight and her friends over what appeared to be a small village far away from Ponyville. That struck the ponies as most odd, none of them could ever recall hearing anything about such a village.

"So, if this is Ponyville," Fluttershy pondered as she looked at the map's center point. "Why are our cutie marks all the way over there?" She turned her attention to the village over which her and her friends' cutie marks hovered.

"I don't know," Twilight willingly admitted. "But it seems like this map wants us to find out. The Tree, the chest, this castle, and now this map. How can we not follow it? It can't be a coincidence!"

Rainbow Dash needn't no further incentive to join. "Y'know what? There's a ton of room for dangerous, exciting adventure along that route. So count me in!"

Applejack quickly made up her mind as well. "Aw, shoot, I reckon you're both right. The only way we're gonna find out what's goin' on with that village is if we see it for ourselves. No way am I lettin' you all rush off to danger and adventure without me!"

Pinkie Pie chimed in with her own sentiments. "Well, I was planning on organizing my baking sheets today, but okay!"

Rarity sighed and lamented. "Very well. If you're all going, I'm going too."

Fluttershy, however, was rather hesitant. Even though all her friends had more or less made up her mind, a part of her really didn't want to journey out to a village in the middle of nowhere without knowing what could be lying in wait there. "Oh, I don't know," She sheepishly admitted. "Maybe I should stay with Spike. You girls can handle any trouble without me, right?"

But Spike stood up and protested. "No way am I missing out on this adventure! I'm going too! If there's danger or trouble, I want to do my part to stop it! Bad things always seem to happen to you girls when I stay behind, especially to you, Twilight."

"Are you sure that's wise, Spike?" Twilight asked with understandable hesitance. "We don't know what's out there. I'd feel a lot better knowing you're safe here at the castle."

The little dragon would hear nothing of such an argument as he jumped down from the table! "I'm going with you and that's final! I can take care of myself, Twilight! I'm not a baby!"

The young alicorn princess sighed, but nevertheless relented. "If you really feel that strongly about it, Spike, I guess I can't stop you."

And just like that, Fluttershy lost had excuse or argument she might have had about staying behind. "On second thought," She nervously declared. "I guess I'll go with all of you. Safety in numbers, you know." And just like that, Spike and the six mares were off on a trip out the mysterious village they'd only just now learned of. None of them knew what to expect.

There were no trains that led directly to the village. It was only by a stroke of good fortune that Twilight and her friends learned that there was a station (and tracks) not too far away from the village's location. It was still a long journey to get there. And when they left the train upon reaching the station, their journey was still not over. They had to wander over a rope bridge and trot for what seemed like miles and miles, before at last they could see the village in the distance. Oddly enough, it seemed like all the buildings in the village were exactly the same and had been lined up perfectly in two straight rows on either side of a path.

"That's it!" Twilight happily exclaimed when she laid eyes upon the village! "It's just like we saw it on the map!"

"Great!" Rarity proclaimed as she ran a hoof through her mane. "So what are we waiting for? Let's get down there and find the spa. They've got to have one!"

Twilight, however, was much more hesitant and cautious. Before Rarity or anyone else could take even a step towards the village, she protested. "Wait a minute! We don't know why the map sent us here. We shouldn't just walk right in. It could be dangerous."

Pinkie Pie then darted forth, proclaiming in a dramatic tone of voice! "Stay behind me, everypony! I'm on it!" And she began zipping from place to place, even briefly hiding underneath a rock!

"Careful, Pinkie!" Applejack cautioned, worried that her fellow earth pony would give away their presence somehow, or otherwise run into the danger Twilight was so concerned about.

Fortunately, Pinkie didn't trot into the village. She stopped just outside it, taking cover behind the same rock she'd been hiding underneath. And she quickly gestured for her friends to come and join her, all the while she kept watching the village with suspicious eyes.

Rainbow Dash took one look at the village, and immediately frowned. Everything about it seemed perfectly ordinary, even the coat colors of the village inhabitants were dulled. "This is it? This is where the map sent us? You've gotta be kidding me! It looks like the most boring place in Equestria."

"Well I think it's lovely." Fluttershy admitted with a bright smile.

Pinkie Pie, however, could only narrow her eyes and remark in an unusually angry tone of voice. "I don't like it! I don't like it one bit! Something is definitely wrong here!" She quickly pointed a hoof and explained, drawing everypony's attention to the seemingly innocent smiles plastered on the villagers' faces. "I know smiles. And those smiles?" Furiously shaking her head from side to side, she added. "They're just not natural. Those are fake smiles if I ever saw 'em! The kind you wear when you want to seem happy, but you're actually not."

Twilight, however, found her attention drawn to a more ominous and puzzling detail. "Forget the smiles, Pinkie," She whispered. "Look at their cutie marks." And soon, all could see that the villagers appeared to be wearing the same cutie mark, a black colored equal sign.

"Okay, that's weird," Rainbow Dash admitted. "What's up with that?"

Twilight gulped a bit in spite of herself. "I have no idea. An entire village where everypony has the same cutie mark? I've never heard of such a thing. How can this be? Who or what could be responsible for such a thing?"

Rainbow replied as a smile crept across her face. "You know, I get the feeling there's probably some kind of horrific monster behind all of this."

"And what makes you say that?" The alicorn princess questioned. "Know something we don't?"

The brash speedster shook her head. "Not really, just a hunch. But fighting a horrific monster would be really awesome! I'll bet you anything that this is another one of those ancient evils the princesses never told us about. Boy will they be surprised when they learn we defeated one without they ever needing to tip us off about them."

Applejack shook her head from side to side. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Rainbow Dash. The only way we're gonna find out what's goin' on in that village is by goin' down there and askin' the locals."

"Besides," Fluttershy pointed out. "They seem to be perfectly fine as they are."

"Whatever," Rainbow retorted with a huff. "Applejack's got the right idea! Let's go down there and see what's going on for ourselves! Now who's with me?!" And one by one, all of her friends agreed (except for Fluttershy, who remained rather hesitant).

The ponies and Spike nevertheless left the rock they'd been hiding behind and headed down to the village. But Pinkie still couldn't help but mutter to herself. "Those smiles are bad news, I just know it."

As soon as the six mares and Spike had taken their first steps into the village, they were immediately bombarded by friendly greetings from the village inhabitants. All of them spouted "Welcome!" over and over again, albeit in noticeably stilted tones of voices. And all the while, their smiles did not fade or falter in the least. They didn't seem the least bit surprised by the fact that there strangers in their village.

"Gosh, this must be the most pleasant place in all of Equestria!" Fluttershy said to herself with a giggle. She was starting to regret her earlier hesitancy. She'd had nothing to worry about.

Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, was quite upset by how peaceful and friendly everything seemed to be. She could only groan and mutter to herself. "Thanks a lot, map."

Then, suddenly, two stallions approached the group. One of them was a unicorn who had eyes a shade of light cobalt blue, a light grayish-blue coat partially covered by a worn, light brown cloak, and a mane and tail two shades of a dull grayish-blue, both of them abruptly cut short. The other was an earth pony who had eyes a slightly more dazzling shade of cobalt blue, a snow white coat, and a light grayish-white and white mane and tail styled just like the unicorn's.

The unicorn stallion was the first to speak. "Welcome, strangers! We here in Cutie Markless are glad that you've chosen to visit our humble village," He greeted, before eyeing Twilight with what seemed like interest. "Pardon my forwardness, but are you an alicorn?"

Applejack took the liberty of answering for Twilight. "You bet your boots she is! In fact, you're lookin' at the official Princess of Friendship!"

The unicorn stallion's smile seemed to grow brighter as he declared in a tone of voice far too stilted not to sound menacing. "Well, you've certainly come to the right place for friendship, your highness."

The earth pony stallion then questioned. "So, princess, what brings you and your entourage to Cutie Markless?"

Twilight somewhat nervously and vaguely replied. "Well... we're not sure, actually."

"I see," The earth pony stallion with a snow white coat replied, apparently not bothered in the least by the lack of a firm answer. "Well, you'll be happy to know that all are welcome here in our little village," He pointed a hoof to himself. "My name is Double Diamond," Then he gestured to the unicorn stallion standing beside him. "And this is Party Favor. It's our job to welcome all who arrive in Cutie Markless. You'll soon see that the name is most fitting," He cleared his throat. "But enough about us, tell us your names, honored guests."

Applejack took the liberty of doing the greetings for the whole group. "Howdy there, Double Diamond. I'm Applejack, and this here's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle. Oh, and the little dragon with us is Spike, who's more or less Twilight's adopted son."

Double Diamond smiled. "I see. Well, this is certainly a first. Not only do we have a princess and her friends visiting us, but the princess' son as well, who just so happens to be a dragon," He then eyed Twilight and her friends flanks, taking noticing of something that he thought was hard to miss. "Ah, and you all have your own unique cutie marks. Fascinating." He either didn't notice or didn't care when Pinkie moved to block view of her cutie mark with her tail.

"What is it with you and cutie marks?" Spike questioned. "Doesn't everypony have a unique cutie mark?"

"Maybe in other parts of Equestria," Party Favor spoke up with a nod. "But around here, we all proudly wear the same cutie mark and have done so since the day our village was founded. We all chose to give up our cutie marks in order to live a better life."

"Well, that aside," Twilight inquired. "Has there been any sort of... trouble here, lately? Anything suspicious or alarming?"

Double Diamond blinked ever so faintly, but his overall expression and tone of voice did not change as he answered. "Trouble? Why, I don't think we've ever had trouble in our little village. Right, Party Favor?"

Party Favor seemed to hesitate for a moment or so, then he quickly seemed to correct himself as he spoke bluntly and stoticly. "Right, Double Diamond. There's no trouble here in Cutie Markless, never has and never will be."

Then the snow white coated stallion proposed. "Perhaps you'd like to speak to our founder, Starlight Glimmer? Perhaps she would know if something's going on."

Twilight nodded, suspecting nothing. "If you wouldn't mind."

Double Diamond and Party Favor bowed their heads, then led their guests away. "Come with us." They said in unison.

As he followed his friends as they were led through the village, Spike couldn't help but think to himself. "They seem a bit too friendly. I'm starting to get a bad feeling about all of this."

The two stallions led their guests through the village as the other inhabitants stood by and smiled, spouting "Welcome!" again and again as if it was all they knew how to say.

At last, Double Diamond and Party Favor brought Twilight and her friends to a cottage that seemed to be larger than the others. They knocked on the door, calling out. "Starlight, it's us, your loyal and humble helpers. We've got visitors who wish to speak to you."

An unfamiliar voice from the other side of the door called back. "Bring them in, I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, Starlight." The stallions said in unison and led their guests inside. They were soon brought before a door within the cottage interior, which was dimly lit but looked not the least bit suspicious.

Even so, Rainbow Dash looked across to Applejack and huriddly whispered. "Be right to fight, we don't know what's gonna come through that door!"

The door swung open but a moment later, revealing an innocent looking unicorn mare about the same build as everypony else in the room. She had a pale, light-grayish pink coat, blue eyes that looked innocent but also cold, and a two toned purple mane and tail with dull bluish-green highlights streaking throughout. Most noticeably of all though, her mane and tail were styled perfectly and evenly on both sides. They were "equal", you might say. But even though she had the same black equal sign as the other inhabitants of the village, her coat, mane, and tail had not lost their luster at all.

"Welcome!" The unicorn mare happily proclaimed with a bright, cheerful, and seemingly innocent smile. This was clearly the Starlight Glimmer that had been mentioned earlier. "I'm so pleased to have you here."

Rainbow was anything but pleased with the sight of this unicorn who seemed not at all out of the ordinary. "Oh no, not this again!" She complained to herself.

Double Diamond, meanwhile, trotted up to Starlight and gestured a hoof in order as he listed off the identities of the visitors. "This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle. And the little dragon they've brought with them is Spike."

Starlight trotted forward, eyeing the ponies and dragon with interest. In particular, Twilight Sparkle seemed to command her attention as she asked the alicorn. "Forgive my bluntness, but I'm assuming it's Princess Twilight Sparkle? We don't get many alicorns around here. In fact, I believe you're the first alicorn to visit my humble little village."

"Oh, is that so?" Twilight blinked in surprise and stepped a back. "There's no need for dramatics or fanfare, this isn't an official royal visit. I'm just here with my friends," And she quickly insisted. "And please, just call me 'Twilight'."

"Very well then, Twilight," Starlight replied. "May I ask how you heard of this place? Of Cutie Markless?"

The alicorn hesitantly answered. "Well... it's kind of a long story, really. Let's just say I found it on a map."

"Yeah, a very special map." Spike quickly pointed out, but said nothing more.

The unicorn mare with mane and tail split equally on either side didn't seem to find such statements at all unusual. Her smile did not falter or fade, and her tone of voice stayed pleasant and cheerful as she just said. "Well, however you found us, we're happy to have you here! We're always happy to have anypony who wants to experience true friendship for the first time." It was not hard to notice how her eyebrows were briefly raised as she spoke those words.

Applejack found Starlight's statement to be quite odd. "Say what now?" She questioned. The unicorn's comment about friendship seemed highly skeptical.

Starlight briefly laughed. "Oh, indeed. It isn't hard to understand. 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. We've opted to live without them, and we couldn't be happier for it."

"So is that why you all have those... strange cutie marks on your flanks?" Twilight somewhat hesitantly inquired.

Starlight Glimmer nodded back. "Indeed it is. But perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!" And before any of her guests could object, she trotted out of her cottage and began calling out to the villagers around her! "Heads high, ponies! Time to roll out that welcome mat and give them a big, warm, Cutie Markless welcome!" She quickly began rounding up the villagers, barking out orders to them. "All together now! Every one of you! No pony left behind!" Then, in the blink of an eye, she was leading the entire village not unlike the way you would lead a parade. And she started singing happily:

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.

The other villagers then began to sing, with Starlight not so subtly watching and encouraging them:

In our town, in our town,

We don't have to wait,

To find out that our destiny,

Is just to emulate.

Starlight stopped the singing only briefly to instruct. "Come on now, just like we practiced! Let's see those big ,happy smiles!" Then she sang louder and prouder than before:

Life is a smile in our town,

Our cutie marks the same.

Because we do not separate,

Ourselves by more than name.

Some of the village pegasi began flying close to Rainbow Dash, and saw fit to bring her down to the ground to stand with the rest of her friends, all the while smiling and singing:

In our town, in our town,

We dare not compete.

Winning only breeds the worst,

Ego-filled conceit!

"You see? Now everypony wins!" Starlight boldly declared, then sang again while not so secretly correcting a villager whose mane hairs were not in the same style as the others:

Life is a joy in our town,

We're all equal here.

No one is superior.

And no one shakes in fear.

Several of the villagers marched and paraded past, timing their movements so that they all marched together. And as they did so they sang:

In our town, in our town,

We work as a team.

And you can't have a nightmare,

If you never dream.

Fluttershy seemed to be delighted and enchanted by the display, bobbing her head in time to a beat that it seemed ony she could hear. But she stopped as soon as Pinkie Pie shot her an angry and disapproving look.

Starlight Glimmer, having seen this non-verbal disagreement, opted to not so subtly trot up to the friends and sing:

Other ponies argue,

Do you ever wonder why?

When you think your talent's special,

You don't see eye-to-eye

Having briefly locked eyes with Twilight and forcing the alicorn down to her level, Starlight then turned her attention back to the villagers as she made one who was dancing off-rhythm from the others correct her movements. And all the while she was proudly, triumphantly singing:

There's just too many differences,

That all lead to disarray.

But when you learn to act as one,

It's like a holiday!

The song drew to a close as the villagers marched around and encircled Spike and the ponies, forming two rows that resembled the equal sign they all wore on their flanks (which they proudly displayed for all to see). And they wrapped it all up by singing:

In our town, in our town,

We don't complicate.

And when you learn to simplify,

Life is oh, so great!

Come join in our utopia,

Come out of the dark.

Banded by equality,

By our cutie mark!

When the song ended, some of the pegasi flew a banner that displayed the equal sign cutie mark in bold detail. Then the villagers all stood at attention, waiting for a response.

"Well, what do you think?" Starlight Glimmer asked her guests. "Please, don't be shy. Give me your honest opinions. Surely, my little demonstration has convinced you, no?"

But Rainbow Dash immediately burst out laughing in defiance! "Are for you real?! Give up our cutie marks?! Why would we ever do a thing like that?!"

Fluttershy snapped back, glaring at her fellow pegasus. "Rainbow Dash, there's no need to be rude!"

"Hey, they asked for my opinion," Rainbow retorted. "I couldn't care less if they wanna live their lives this way. But I'm quite fine with my cutie mark. I think we all are."

"But we shouldn't judge them for their decision," Fluttershy pointed out. "They all seem happy with it."

Pinkie Pie didn't seem to think so. "Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy! They're too wide, they're not real at all!"

Twilight, however, saw fit to apologize. "Forgive my friends, they're just a little bit weirded out by this. And maybe a little bit confused. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't as well."

Starlight just replied. "Oh, you needn't worry. I don't judge you, none of us do. It's natural you'd be confused. We were all the same once: Lost, confused, hope foresaken. But here in Cutie Markless, we've made a fresh start for ourselves! Now we can see that our cutie marks were simply leading us to false promises."

Applejack snorted. "Are you for real? A cutie mark's what you make of it. It doesn't have to define you."

"Sure, sure, that's what we all thought once," Starlight insisted as her tone of voice seemed to change ever so slightly. Her smile started to feel a lot less welcoming and a lot more sinsiter as she then not so subtly proposed. "Have you ever considered that maybe you were sent here so that we could help you? You all seem to think a life with cutie marks is fine and dandy. But what if you're wrong? After all, nopony who's ever come to this village has wanted to leave."

Twilight nearly jumped back in surprise! "Is that supposed to be a threat, Starlight?"

The unicorn mare quickly recovered. "Oh no no no, forgive my forwardness! I was getting ahead of myself. It is entirely your choice what you wish to do with your time. Feel free to look around to your heart's content as you enjoy our little corner of Equestria. We're all quite fond of it, and no doubt you will be as well," She then gave a whistle. "Double Diamond, please keep an eye on our guests for me. Help them with whatever they might need."

"Of course, Starlight. Your wish is my command." Double Diamond said with a bow.

"Excellent!" Starlight smiled as she trotted back to her cottage. Once she was certain nopony was around to hear she, she began to talk to herself. "Well, this is my lucky day! Once the rest of Equestria sees that a princess gave up her cutie mark to join my cause, they'll all finally understand what I'm trying to accomplish! I will build a better Equestria, a better world!" If one had been watching, they might have briefly seen her eyes narrow and a sinister smirk spread across her face.

The six ponies and Spike trotted around the length of the village after Starlight Glimmer's departure. Everywhere they went, they saw more of the same: Ponies with equal signs for cutie marks and with smiles that no longer seemed friendly and inviting. Something about them felt off for lack of a better term, though none knew why exactly that was.

Twilight, for her part, was also perplexed by another puzzling detail. If what Starlight had said was true and all the village occupants had once had cutie marks, how they had been taken away? "A cutie mark representation of a pony's unique talents and skills. They have magic all their own," She commented to the others. "So how it is possible to-"

But the alicorn's speech was abruptly cut off as Rarity beheld a sight that made her shriek! "What in the name of Celestia is that?!" She exclaimed and dramatically pointed a hoof to where a bulky unicorn stallion was displaying several of the same tacky looking cloaks that Party Favor wore.

"Welcome," The stallion greeted in a jolly, booming tone of voice as he puffed up his own cloak to show it off. "Care to sample some local fashion? We've got cloaks this month! You'd better act fast, these things are selling like hot cakes! But I'd be more than happy to offer one to you at a discounted price!"

Rarity gagged and had to resist the urge to puke as she slowly trotted away. Trying to keep her disgust from showing, she attempted to politely decline the offer by saying. "Ooh, er, perhaps another time, good sir, thank you," Then she hurridly whispered. "No wonder nopony's wearing anything. Even in Ponyville you see much better fashion than that."

Fluttershy, however, protested back. "There's nothing wrong with the way they act or what they choose to wear! That's no reason to be rude, girls!"

Rainbow Dash then pointed out! "Yeah, the reason to be rude is because they keep staring at us! It's starting to get on my nerves!"

Ignoring the criticism, Double Diamond kept a watchful eye on the ponies and Spike as they all sat down outside a small bakery. "Need something?" He called out to his guests.

Twilight hastily but politely replied. "Uh, no! We're good!" Then she turned to the others and whispered. "Fluttershy makes a good point, though. If we're ever gonna get to the bottom of things around here, we'll need the villagers' help. That'll be a lot harder to do if we keep acting hostile and suspicious. The map sent us here for a reason, I'm sure of it!"

Applejack humphed and let out an impatient huff, swishing her tail in visible frustration. "Well I say we rushed off to the end of Equestria before we even knew what that map was or what it was for! You were the one who thought it meant somethin'!"

Pinkie Pie couldn't help but snicker. "Ah come on, guys. This can't be the end of Equestria. If it was, we'd all be sitting on a big A! Get it?!"

Rarity scoffed and retorted. "Please, Pinkie Pie! This is no time to be joking! Applejack is right: We've come all this way and for what?"

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that everypony in this village apparently decided to give up their cutie marks?" Spike remarked. "That can't be a coincidence, especially not with the way Starlight was talking earlier. It sounded like she thought cutie marks were a bad idea. Can't imagine what would make her think that."

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Twilight hastily insisted. "She may have a very good reason not to like cutie marks. It would be wrong to judge her before we know everything. Maybe something's happening here that even she isn't aware of. Just because she says there isn't trouble doesn't mean there can't still be something wrong in this village."

"Yeah, that and two bits'll get you a cup of cider." Applejack grumbled.

As the friends began to discuss and debate whether it was a good idea to have come out to this mysterious village, a unicorn mare wearing a dusty, scratched white apron started to whisper to them. "Excuse me, is this a bad time?"

Fluttershy still seemed to believe there was nothing at all off-putting about the village, and saw fit to scold her friends for their suspicions. "We shouldn't be bickiering like this in front of them, they just want to be our friends. Honestly, Applejack, you're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash!"

"Hey, don't drag me into this!" Rainbow snapped back!

The unicorn mare from before then spoke up in a slightly more audible tone. "Is your friendship ending?" It was now possible to see that she had reddish-violet eyes that seemed innocent and unsuspecting, a coat so light a shade of pink that it almost seemed void of color all together, and a dark gray mane and tail styled the same way as Double Diamond and Party Favor's manes and tails.

Pinkie Pie quickly retorted! "Are you crazy?! We'd never let a disagreement get in the way of our friendship, or food."

The response seemed to satisfy the unicorn mare, who cleared her throat. "O-kay, well, my name is Sugar Belle. What can I bring you?" She lit up her horn, casting a dull pink glow as she held up a note pad and a pencil while informing the patrons. "We have: Muffins." There was a long pause as she did not list anything else, indicating that muffins were all she made and all she sold.

"Oh," Twilight blinked in realization. "Then I guess we'll take seven muffins."

Pinke spoke up in protest! "No, we'll take thirteen! Make it a baker's dozen!" And when all her friends looked at her, she replied with a simple and innocent. "What? I'm hungry!"

Sugar Belle, for her part, just smiled and went to bake the muffins. That left her customers outside to further discuss things among themselves.

The self-proclaimed and self-annointed Princess of Friendship looked to her friends, and in a hushed tone of voice she sought to encourage them. "Listen, all of you. This is no time to be fighting amongst ourselves," She firmly insisted. "We've got to stick together. It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now."

The stetson wearing earth pony let out a sigh and relented. "I guess you're right, Twilight. You tend to have a good sense when it comes to these things. The last time we doubted you, it didn't end well for any of us," She then added. "Besides, the sooner we figure out why that map sent us here, the sooner we can go home."

At that very moment, Sugar Belle returned. And she seemed rather surprised by what she was hearing. "Forgive me for overhearing, but just a moment ago you were all disagreeing, and now it sounds like you're... agreeing."

"Uh-huh." Applejack nodded.

The baker unicorn blinked as she seemed to lose her cheerful and innocent facade. "Well, you had such differing opinions – and cutie marks. Heck, one of you doesn't have a cutie mark. But you're acting like it's no big deal."

"Because it isn't," Rarity pointed out. "Why should Spike be treated any different just because of who he is? Besides, we were just having a disagrement, that's all. We have differing opinions all the time, darling. It's part of who we are."

Sugar Belle only seemed to grow more confused by the minute. "But you look like you're friends."

Twilight nodded back. "Because we are friends. Even a heated argument or two won't change that. Friends can disagree sometimes, it doesn't mean we can't get along. Sometimes, we argue because we're concerned about each other, that's all."

The baker unicorn had to shake her head as she tried to recover. "I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding. None of that is what Starlight told us. She was quite clear when she founded this village:" She recited with stern determination and focus. "Different talents lead to different opinions, which lead to bitterness and misery."

At that very moment, Pinkie Pie spat out one of the muffins that she had just bitten into! But it quickly turned out it had more to do with the taste of the muffins than because of any reaction she might have had to Sugar Belle's remarks. As all eyes turned to her recoiling in visible, audible disgust, she tried to save face by adopting a sheepish smile and muttering through teeth stained with crumbs. "Mmmm... good..."

Spike eyed the muffins, only now taking notice of how poorly made they appeared to be. They did not look appetizing at all. "Those are some... interesting muffins." He said as he tried to avoid upsetting Sugar Belle's feelings.

Sugar Belle didn't seem to be hurt by the feedback, she just said with a nervous smile. "It's all right. You don't have to lie. I know I'm not a very good baker. But at least, I know I'm not any better than anypony else in the village," As she finished speaking those lines, she happened to look across to Double Diamond who was watching her with suspicion and disapproval. His stern glare conveyed more than words that he wasn't happy with her behavior. She hastily began to back away as a result. "Well, I... hope you enjoy our little village, for however long you decide to stay!" Yet before she disappeared completely into her bakery, she hastily whispered. "Come inside before you go! Meet me downstairs! I'll be waiting!" And she slammed the door to her cottage quite loudly behind her.

"Okay, that was weird too," Rainbow Dash couldn't help but remark. "Just what's up with her?"

"I don't know," Twilight said in reply, before adding in a hushed tone of voice. "But for now, let's just sit here and eat these muffins quietly. I think we're being watched."

"Ya think?" The rainbow maned pegasus pony proclaimed, drawing attention to the fact that everypony in the village appeared to have their eyes drawn towards the bakery all of a sudden.

The alicorn princess protested. "That's not what I meant! I think somepony here," She gestured to Double Diamond (who was eating a muffin rather ominously while fiddling with a newspaper held in his hooves). "Doesn't want us talking to Sugar Belle. We have to find a way to go inside without attracting any more attention to ourselves."

"And how are we supposed to do?" Rarity debated. "I think they might be onto us, waiting to report us to Starlight. Who knows what she'll do to us if she thinks we're causing trouble in her village?"

The freckled earth pony pondered the predicament for a moment, then suddenly a thought struck her. "I have an idea!" She proclaimed, then turned to the pink party pony sitting next to her. "But you gotta eat all of them muffins, Pinkie."

"What?! Why me?!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in horror, shaking and shuddering visibly at the idea.

"Sorry, but you've got a stronger stomach than the rest of us," Applejack pointed out. "And that mare back there," She gestured to the door behind her. "Might be our best chance of figurin' out what the hay's goin' on around here."

Spike then offered. "I'll try to help too, Pinkie. But you are the one who ordered the baker's dozen."

The pink party pony reluctantly agreed. "Fine," She sighed as she resigned herself to her fate. "I'll do it. But I won't like it."

Somehow, Pinkie managed to stomach and down most of the muffins. Spike tried to help too, but he quickly found he had very little appetite for them and could only manage at most three before he was certain he could eat no more. "Sorry, Pinkie," He whimpered as he started to briefly turn green about the gills. "It's all up to you. You've got to eat the last one."

The pink party pony and part-time baker managed her difficult task, even as she felt certain she was going to more or lose her lunch. Her face was such a sickly, pale shade of green that it looked like a miracle she hadn't already gotten sick to her stomach. With a great deal of straining and visible disgust, she swallowed the last foul tasting mouth and groaned and moaned with displeasure.

Applejack, for her part, tried to sound as sincere as possible as she said loudly. "I can't believe you ate all our muffins, Pinkie Pie! We'd best go inside and get some more!" And she and the others mares quickly rose from the table to do just that. Spike and Pinkie Pie followed them inside, albeit at a considerable slower pace.

"Good job, Pinkie," Twilight said afterward. "And you too, Spike. You took one for the team."

"I'm never doing that again!" Spike protested. "Those muffins were the worst thing I've ever eaten!" And he had to pause and wait for his stomach to settle.

Meanwhile, a very pudgy (and still very sickly looking) Pinkie Pie stumbled down the steps into the basement of Sugar Belle's bakery. And after tumbling off the last step she lamented. "I've accidentally eaten cardboard tastier than that..." She trailed off as she felt herself start to retch. Fortunately, she recovered quickly, even though she wished she had something to wash the foul taste of the muffins out of her mouth.

Once Pinkie and Spike had recovered, Twilight looked all around and called out to the darkness within the basement. "Hello? Sugar Belle? You wanted to see us?"

Sugar Belle trotted forward, maintaining a smile that didn't seem innocent even if she wanted it to be. "Yes. Thank you for coming! I was hoping you would!"

Nervously, the alicorn princess questioned the baker. "Why did you want us to come down here? Is something wrong?"

"Oh no, nothing's wrong," Sugar Belle giggled, before ominously added. "I wanted you down here so that nopony else could see what's about to happen!" She then turned to the darkness and gave a whistle. "It's okay, guys, the coast is clear." She called.

Suddenly, from the darkness emerged not only Party Favor but also a pegasus mare who sported sky blue eyes, a white and whiteish-blue mane and tail, and a very dull grayish-blue coat. They joined Sugar Belle in quickly approaching and surounding the unsuspecting visitors, smiling as they did so.

Twilight took a step back and began to stutter, certain that she had unknowingly gotten herself and her friends in trouble! "W-we're sorry, really!" She tried to plead! "We didn't mean to cause a fuss back there! We'll go home now, and we won't tell anypony about this place! We promise!"

However, the three smiling ponies quickly broke from their cheerful facade as they started laughing quite audibly and nervously. "Relax, we're not going to hurt you," Sugar Belle insisted. "You already know Party Favor, and the pegasus with us is Night Glider, a friend of ours. We're all friends."

"Yeah," Party Favor chimed in. "Double Diamond has no idea. He only works for Starlight because he's known him longer than the rest of us. He was one of the first ponies to come to this village, back when it wasn't even established," He then proceeded to ask the alicorn standing before him. "Are you really the princess of friendship? Are these ponies really your friends? Is Spike really your son?"

Night Glider saw fit to ask a question of her own. "Do you girls know Princess Celestia? Did she send you here to investigate this place?"

Sugar Belle then pressed herself up against Pinkie Pie's flank, excitedly exclaiming! "I LOVE your cutie mark! It kinds reminds me of the one I used to have."

Night Glider then inquired. "I don't get it. How can you all be friends with such different cutie marks and personalities? Don't you ever end up hating each other? It sounds like you fight a lot, but you always stick together."

The baker unicorn, meanwhile, continued admiring the cutie marks of the six mares who had yet to give theirs up. She seemed utterly fascinated by them, especially as she audibly fawned and awwed over them. "Oh, look at this one! It's so colorful! And this one's great too! They're all great!" She let out a sigh and lamented. "What I'd really love is to have my cutie mark and my special talent back, even just for a day! It'd be nice to make something besides those disgusting muffins I'm forced to bake..."

"At least you actual know what your special talent is supposed to be," Party Favor glumly remarked. "Night Glider and I had no idea what to make ours, and Starlight convinced us we were better off without them. It sounded like the right idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure it was."

Rainbow Dash skeptically remarked. "Well what's stopping you? If you guys miss your cutie marks and special talents so badly, go get them back! Why would Starlight be opposed to that?"

"Because she's in charge around here. You do what she says, and nopony gets hurt," Party Favor retorted, kicking at the ground. "Trust me: You don't wanna know what happens if you get on her bad side. More than once she's had to 'correct' villagers who've stepped out of line. As long as she's around, trying to get your cutie mark back once you've given it up is a huge no no. Plus, how would we even put them back on? There's no way Starlight would agree to that."

"That's Starlight for you," Sugar Belle unhappily sighed as she hung her head in dismay. "She wants us all to be the same, even in our misery. For the longest time, I thought that was acceptable as long as everypony else was happy. But now I'm starting to wish I'd never listened to her. All she did was replace my cutie mark with a feeling of hopelessness."

Twilight saw fit to question. "So Starlight convinced you all to give up your cutie marks? But why? And more importantly, how do you even take somepony's cutie mark away? Magic can't make a cutie mark appear, so how can it make it disappear?"

Night Glider's eyes briefly seemed to light up as she explained. "Well, the cutie unmarking as Starlight calls it is a beautiful experience! A real lights show! Starlight uses an enchanted item called the Staff of Sameness to magically take away our cutie marks, and replace them with these." She gestured to her flank, pointing to the equal sign emblazoned upon it.

The alicorn princess could only shake her head in disbelief. Nothing about that process sounded right to her. "But nopony should ever keep you from your cutie mark. It represents such an essential part of who you are."

The pegasi pony then proclaimed. "Oh, we're not actually kept from them. All our cutie marks are stored in a vault up in the cave nearby. And we can visit there any time we want, but only if we wish to remind ourselves of the heartache of a life with special talents."

"So, what, you want us to go up to that cave and take back your cutie marks?" Twilight questioned with concern. "How would we even do that without Starlight finding out?"

"Please, you have to find a way!" Sugar Belle pleaded as she all but threw herself at the princess' hooves. "Starlight has made our lives so miserable and hopeless! We thought we could live without cutie marks, but we can't! You have to get them back for us so we can get out of this place!"

The young, studious alicorn could only sigh. She could only think of one way that would even begin to make what Sugar Belle wanted possible. "I don't suppose we could ask Starlight to let us 'visit' the cave?"

Party Favor put a hoof to his chin. "Well, you could. She's always happy to give guided tours of it. Maybe you can get her to spill the beans about how she's able to take away cutie marks, and force her to undo it. If there's anypony who can do that, it's got to be you girls. You're not like the others who've come here, there's something special about you, I just know it!"

"Then I guess that's what we'll do," Twilight decided. "One way or another, we'll get Starlight to talk and get her to return your stolen cutie marks. I just hope she'll understand that what she's doing is wrong."

"Great!" Party Favor happily exclaimed as he kicked his back legs! "I'll pass word along to Double Diamond, and he'll pass word along to Starlight! And don't worry, I'll make sure not to tell either of them about this secret meeting we had!" He ran off to do just that.

Night Glider then commented. "You're gonna have to stick around for a while, though. It's getting late, and Starlight is probably not gonna give you a tour of the cave until morning."

Spike snorted, a flame escaping his nostrils. "Well there's no way I'm sitting around, waiting! I at least have to see for myself what that Starlight Glimmer is up to!"

Twilight became anxious. "Spike, that's not a good idea! Let's just wait until morning before we try anything! Starlight doesn't know anything about us yet. Let's not do anything that would tip her off!"

The little dragon would not be persuaded for even a moment. "Twilight, relax! I don't have a cutie mark, so she can't take it away. And no matter what she might try, I'll never talk! But it won't matter, because I won't get caught! I'll be fine!"

"Just please promise me you'll be careful," Twilight pleaded with Spike. "The one time I tried to solve a problem on my own, it backfired on me. I don't want the same thing to happen to you."

Spike gave a salute. "I promise, I'll be as careful as I can be." And with that, he slipped away to carry out his little mission.

That night, while the six mares stayed at a small cottage provided for them on the outskirts of the village, Spike carefully crept along as he slowly but surely made his way up to the cave that Sugar Belle, Party Favor, and Night Glider had all mentioned. He had no idea how it might be connected to anything Starlight was planning, but he aimed to find out as best he could.

At last, as the little dragon drew close to the cave, he could see it giving off a bright glow that illuminated its interior. He crept closer, and his green eyes beheld a truly unbelievable sight! A magnificent vault made of solid glass stood at the back of the cave, displaying a variety of different cutie marks in neat little boxes. No doubt, all of them belonged to the villagers. But which ones belonged to whom, he couldn't tell. What really drew his attention, though, was a long stick that had two prongs at the end of it. Was that the "Staff of Sameness" Night Glider had mentioned?

Before the green spined dragon could do anything or even think about what his next move should be, he was surprised to hear an ominous yet familiar voice calling out to him. "Well well well, what do we have here? Seems like a nosy little mouse snooping around," From the darkness emerged none other than Starlight Glimmer, who did not look the least bit happy to see Spike. "You should be careful, little mouse. Or you might step on a trap."

Spike jumped back, trying not to show how frightened he was. "I... I'm sorry!" He tried to apologize. "I didn't know about the vault or about the cave, really! I just stumbled across it by accident!"

Starlight wasn't fooled, she just trotted forward with narrowed eyes and a disapproving frown. "Likely story. This vault is a well kept secret, not just anyone can find it," She approached the little dragon and picked him up with her magic, pulling him close. "Now, you're going to tell me how you learned about this place, and who sent you. I can't have anypony in my village trying to undo my carefully crafted plans."

Wiggling and squirming in vain, Spike still defiantly shouted at the unicorn! "I'll never tell you! NEVER!"

The unicorn mare with an equally styled mane and tail could only shake her head in disapproval. "Well that's too bad. I guess that means you'll never see those pony friends of yours ever again," She then smirked as she eyed the vault and the staff, a rather sinister idea was starting to come into her mind. "Perhaps they will give me the answers I seek. Unlike with you, I know a way to make them talk!"

And the very next morning, Starlight approached the six mares with a smile. She pretended to have no idea about why they had asked to be shown the vault. "I'm delighted that you've taken an interest in our cutie mark vault," She said as she led them along. "We hope someday everypony in Equestria will make a pilgrimage here to our little village to have their cutie marks removed too."

Twilight, however, began to whisper to her friends. "This must be the reason why the map called us here."

"To make a pilgrimage?" Pinkie Pie whispered back in confusion.

Twilight shook her head and whispered again. "No, helping those ponies get their cutie marks back. That's what we promised Sugar Belle and her friends."

Fluttershy saw fit to question in a whisper. "Are you sure that's a good idea, Twilight? They said they all gave up their cutie marks willingly. I doubt Starlight will return them if we ask."

"That's not our only problem," Twilight replied in an even softer whisper. "Spike didn't return last night. Starlight's probably got something to do with that. We have to be on guard, we can't let Starlight know we're on to her! There's no telling what she might be capable of!"

"Ah, here we are. Just through here," Starlight Glimmer called as she brought the ponies before the vault in all its glory. "Behold! Our cutie mark vault! Our pride and joy!"

Twilight and her friends had their eyes widen in surprise! The vault was unlike anything they'd ever seen before!

Meanwhile, with an exceptionally bright smile, Starlight trotted over to a nearby wooden object and held it aloft with her magic. "And this 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!" Then, even as her tone of voice didn't change in the slightest, she saw fit to ask. "I'm curious: How did the subject of the vault come up? Who told you about it?"

"Oh, well someponies were telling us how much they missed their cutie marks," Pinkie Pie unintentionally started to say. "And so they-" But then she clammed up as she hastily realized her mistake! "I mean... forget I said anything!"

But it was too late, the secret had slipped out! And to say that Starlight was disappointed by the news would be an understatement. "Really?" Her overall expression started to change: Her posture became much grumpier, her eyes narrowed, and a frown formed on her face. "Well, I can't have that. It seems like you inspire all sorts of free thinking. It can't be a coincidence that some of my villagers started getting ideas after you showed up."

Rarity gulped and started to back away slowly. "W-well, we're ever so sorry. R-really," She stuttered. "We certainly didn't mean to do anything to your charming little-"

Brandishing the Staff of Sameness and pointing it towards the six mares, Starlight growled in a low tone of voice. "Good. But let's just make sure of that, shall we?"

Twilight quickly unfolded her wings. Like it or not, her hoof had been forced! "This has gone far enough, Starlight!" She furiously demanded! "Can't you see you're making life miserable for everypony in that village?! You tricked them!"

"I did no such thing!" Starlight coldly hissed! "It's you who've been lying to them, making them think that their lives are better off with cutie marks than without them! I won't have you ruin everything I've worked so hard to build up! I'm creating a better Equestria!"

"Enough, Starlight!" Twilight pleaded. "Please, there's no need for anypony to get hurt. We don't want any trouble. Just give the villagers back their cutie marks and leave them alone. Just because you think cutie marks are bad doesn't mean you can force that opinion onto others."

Starlight just flashed an evil grin. "You're in no position to be making demands, princess. After all, I have something that you want."

A horrified look flashed in the alicorn princess' face as the realization dawned on her! "You didn't!"

Sure enough, Starlight brought up Spike who was all tied up and bound within the hold of her magic. The little dragon squirmed and sighed. "Sorry, Twilight."

To make matters worse, several of the villagers started amassing around the cave, blocking off the exit! And before Twilight or her friends had a chance to react, they were struck by a blast from the Staff of Sameness! In the blink of an eye, their cutie marks were pulled right off their flanks and thrust into empty slots in the vault. Meanwhile, their cutie marks were replaced on their flanks by the black equal signs, which dulled the six mares' coats, manes, and tails, and prevented them from flying or using magic.

With a satisfied smirk, Starlight Glimmer said to the six mares. "Aw. I don't blame you for what you tried to do here today. Really. You've spent your whole lives thinking those marks are a good thing. Well now you can spend the rest of your lives here with me. You'll learn to see it my way soon enough: Life is better without cutie marks! Everypony will be equal, whether they like it or not!"

Author's Note

I'm not necessarily opposed to redoing "The Cutie Re-Mark" eventually now that leaks have confirmed what the original plans for it were, even though I'm quite proud of how I rewrote it all the way back in 2017. In the meantime, I'll settle for finally rewriting Starlight's debut.

Aside from maybe a few instances of the mane six's personalities being on display as reminders, this two parter (particularly in it first half) is pretty solid. My decision to add Spike was a personal one since, even knowing he'd get a big role in the next two two parters, it kind of feels odd to have him excluded here. Then again, I could see why he'd be removed since without a cutie mark it'd be harder for Starlight to do anything to him. I tried to work with that here.

The only other detail that seems off is that Night Glider is not named on-screen, and no reason has surfaced as to why that is. Plus, not only does Starlight raise a red flag unintentionally that goes ignored, but Fluttershy repeatedly refuses to see how the villagers might not be cheerful even after she's presented with direct evidence that they're not happy with their lives. And there is the fact that the village is never given a proper name.

Lastly, for clarification for those of you who are new to this series, I've written Twilight and Spike as having a mother/son bond ever since my rewrite of Owl's Well that Ends Well all the way back in 2015 (the rewrite can be found here if you're interested). Keep in mind that this was long before "Sparkle's Seven" clarified their bond as sister/brother. I've been trying to tone down on its inclusion in more recent rewrite volumes, including it only when I feel like it will be relevant.

~~Stare Master~~
~~Pinkie Apple Pie~~
The Cutie Map, Parts 1 and 2
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone
Hard to Say Anything (Bonus Chapter)
A Health of Information
Uprooted
The Royal Apologies (The Point of No Return)
The Big Mac Question (Bonus Chapter)