Twilight asked “Who is this mare you looking for?”

Sunset crossed her arms “Starlight Glimmer, a friend of Sunburst. From what I could tell from my brother's letters she had even greater raw magical power than I did. I was quite jealous, I never saw her at the school with him. Now I know she ran off to create a village in the middle of nowhere.”

Twilight frowned “Is that why you said it could be dangerous?”

Sunset frowned “A mare living that far out alone for that long could have become mentally unstable and with that power who knows what she has done.”

Before they could continue the train stopped in Ponyville only for Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie entered taking seats except for Rainbow. Sunset scanned their energies, stopping for an extra second on Pinkie.

Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight “So, what happened in Canterlot and why are you with her?”

Twilight responded “Well the threat has been dealt with by Sunset here but we are heading to solve something else. It might be dangerous?”

Rainbow pounds her chest with her hoof “Danger is my middle name?”

Applejack nodded “Well we ain’t the type to leave a friend to go into danger alone.”
Fluttershy gave a soft smile “Yes.”

Pinkie jumped up “I will throw the victory or new friend party after we are done. Onwards.”

Rarity smiled “Tone down the excitement, we are around a very powerful individual here.”

Sunset chuckled “Relax, I have little interest in formality. Rarity was it?’

Rarity frowned “How do you know my name?”

Sunset turned to her “Well I read your minds for names, it’s easier then asking and saves time, don’t worry I didn’t go further.”

Rarity frowned “Next time, ask first before doing that. It is rather rude to invade another’s mind.”

Applejack added “Not to mention dishonest.. That seems like a liar’s trick.”

Fluttershy raised a hoof “Relax, girls. She didn't do it with malice. Now let it go, we might have a new friend here.”

Sunset shrugged “I’m not exactly the next at friends but I guess I can try. What do you girls do for fun?”

Rainbow smirked, “I am the fastest flyer in Equestria, I could beat you in a race.”

Sunset shrugged, “I might test that another time.” She then turned to Rarity “You’re a dress maker, I might want some dresses commissioned. Some simpler designs and others more complicated, I don't exactly have fur to cover my more private areas.”

Twilight blinked “So that’s why you are wearing clothes?”

Pinkie interjected “Well I plan parties, I’ll throw you one when we return to Ponyville as well.” Sunset felt three energies within the pink mare, one incredible source of positive energy and two dimmer sources of energy, one neutral, and one dark.

Soon they arrived at the last station and headed towards a small town in the middle of nowhere with houses arranged in an equal sign formation. Sunset raised an eyebrow at the smiling ponies “They seem to be golems, I have never seen ponies so uniform before. That would explain the housing, you don’t need fancy homes to house golems.”

Pinkie frowned “I still feel something is wrong with them.”

Rarity commented “It could certainly use a few more architectural flourishes or any flourishes.”

Rainbow looked around. “This has to be the most boring place in Equestria.”

Applejack shrugged, “Seems pretty normal to me.”

Fluterhsy whispered “I think it’s nice.”

As they entered, multiple ponies said to them “Welcome. Welcome. Welcome.”

Sunset nodded “Definitely golems, they repeat the same words as each other.”

One of them commented “We’re not Golems?”

Sunset then scanned before a flicker of horror that was quickly masked “Your living ponies. I want words with the one who did this?”

Another laid their eyes on Twilight “Welcome. Pardon my rudeness but are you an Alicorn?”

Sunset growled “Yes, she is. Now tell me who did this to you!”

They responded “Nothing is wrong, our founder Starlight Glimmer has made us very happy.”

Sunset froze “What. She stole a piece of your soul and you're happy about it. I must have a word with her. Where is her home?”

Then Starlight emerged “Sunset I heard about you from my brother. I'm surprised you’re here alongside the Princess of Friendship?”

Sunset chuckled, “I’m surprised you’re out here stealing pieces of innocent ponies' souls.”

Starlight shook her head “I am just helping them embrace true Friendship. Maybe a tour will assist you.” The town began 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

Sunset frowned, this was going to end in disaster she knew it.

In Our Town, in Our Town
We don't have to wait
To find out that our destiny
Is just to emulate

Starlight encouraged “Let's see those big, happy smiles!” Sunset could point out so many flaws.

Life is a smile in Our Town
Our cutie mark's the same
Because we do not separate
Ourselves by more than name

In Our Town, in Our Town
We dare not compete
Winning only breeds the worst
Ego-filled conceit

Starlight gestured to everypony “You see? Now everypony wins!” Sunset sighed.

Life is a joy in Our Town
We're all equal here
No one is superior
And no one shakes in fear

In Our Town, in Our Town
We work as a team
You can't have a nightmare
If you never dream

Other ponies argue
Do you ever wonder why?
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

In Our Town, in Our Town
We don't complicate
When you learn to simplify
Life is oh, so great
Join in our utopia
Come out of the dark
Banded by equality
By our cutie mark!

Rainbow Dash began laughing “Your kidding, right? Give up our Cutie Marks. No Way!”

Fluttershy frowned “Don’t be rude. While I wouldn’t do it. They have made a choice. We can’t judge them on that.”

Twilight smiled embarrassed. “I'm sorry, I guess we’re just a little confused by this.”

Starlight explained “We have no judgements here in our village. Each of us was confused as well, blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks.”

Sunset crossed her arms “I would like to discuss this further while allowing the others to continue their exploration of your little town.”

Starlight smiled, “Come and join me.”

They entered Starlight’s humble home, Sunset frowned “Forgive me but I can see some problems with your little town's functionality. I might be a bit crass about it.”

Starlight raised an eyebrow “Go on.”

Sunset frowned “You take away their gifts, their talents. Doesn't all that do is make them shit at everything?”

Starlight frowned “What do you mean?”

Sunset grimaced “They are useless, incompetent. This town is barely sustainable for ten ponies yet alone thousands.”

Starlight frowned “I have made plans for that I assure you. Now if you’ll excuse me I have some things to attend to. I’ll be back.”

After Starlight left, Sunset chuckled to herself “She thinks he has me fooled. I will fix this shortly.” Ten minutes later, Sunset heard the sound of hooves.

Sunset stood up and walked out only to see Twilight and the others missing their Cutie Marks. Starlight held up her staff “This is the Staff of Sameness. It is one of the Great Mage Meadowbrook’s Nine Enchanted Items. This allows us to remove Cutie Marks, which we have used on your friends. Now it’s your turn.”

Sunset chuckled as the blast of magic hit her and bounced off “I studied under Celestia, I have even learned about things he didn’t want me to know. Meadowbrook only made eight enchanted items.” Sunset clicked her fingers, the staff burning up as the ink Starlight was using to hide the truth of her Cutie Mark vanished.

All of the ponies around her glared at her “You lied to us.”

Starlight exclaimed “I had to. Only my magic could help you become equal, to stop thinking you're better than everypony else. I bought Friendship. I brought you Equality. I brought you Harmony. The only way for all of us to be happy is if we are all Equal.”

One of the townsfolk that Sunset discovered their name was Party Favour, stepped forward “Except for you.”

Starlight responded “Once I had spread Equality to all of Equestria I would place my mark in that Vault too.”

All of the Townsfolk glared at her as Sunset clicked her finger releasing all the marks from the Vault returning them to their owners. Starlight burst into a gallop teleporting away, Twilight and the other ponies began chasing her as Sunset watched.

As they arrived at the caves one of the villagers named Double Diamond shook his head “We’ll never find them in there.”

Twilight gritted her teeth “No, I need to find out why she did all this.” Twilight barreled into the cave teleporting after the renegade Unicorn.

Starlight screamed “You ruined everything!”

Twilight screamed back “I just want to know why you did all this! You must have a reason! As she continued to chase her, they both grew tired.”

Twilight’s greater stamina won out as she caught up to the exhausted unicorn. Starlight spat fine “My friend, my best friend, Sunburst left me because he got his Cutie Mark and I didn’t. His family sent him to Canterlot and I never saw him again. I never tried to make another friend because I was scared a Cutie Mark would take them away.”

Twilight held out a hoof “How do you feel about meeting him again? I am willing to help you, please. Just take my hoof, I’m willing to help you and you may even make some new friends along the way.”

Starlight looked at the Twilight “You would do that for me after all I’ve done to you. Why?”

Twilight smiled “Because you need help, because you’re a sad little filly who lost their only friend and lashed out at the world. I’m willing to help.”

Starlight began tearing up, taking her hoof “Okay.” Twilight helped the exhausted Unicorn out of the caves. Outside the cave the stick that was so called Staff of Sameness glowed turning into the final key.

Sunset smirked as she returned with the final key “It seems you were better at this that I am. That’s why you're the princess and I’m the warrior. Now let’s get you all home.” It was not long before a train took them all back to Ponyville.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I had to figure out some way to bring the Castle in to the story, this is my attempt.