//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Honest to Everypony 
// Story: Equal Equestria Enlightenment 
// by stupidhand14 
//------------------------------//


Shining Armor's Log Day 392

We left this morning at Dawn, with Celestia's sun lighting our path. The group was broken off into teams of three, with each team consisting of one pegasus, one earth pony, and one unicorn. I put Spike in charge of the messaging system of our force, while I went out looking by myself. I started at the train station, to find out exactly where they went.
I approached the pony I assumed was the boss. He was a medium sized earth pony, with a dark blue coat. His cutie mark was a burning piece of coal.
"Excuse me, sir," I started. He turned to look at me before his eyes went wide.
"Wait! I swear, my tax report is correct! I didn't lie about nothing!" he shouted at me.
"I'm not here to talk about your tax report," I told him with annoyance dripping from my voice.
"You're... You're not?" he asked incredulously before laughing. "By Celestia, I thought you was one of them tax ponies, coming to point out some flaw I did make."
"I can assure you, I am not here for that."
"Well, what can I do for ya'?"
"I need to see your records of ticket sales. I'm looking for six ponies that may have become lost."
"Shoot, that'll be easy! Follow me," he commanded as he walked into a nearby doorway. After about five minutes of walking down many stairs, I saw the record room where the train ticket purchases were stored.
"Now, when did you say they bought their tickets?" the pony asked me.
"They should have bought them around three weeks ago," I answered. The pony began to whistle while searching through the files. It was uncomfortably hot in that room, especially since I was wearing my armor still. After several minutes of boiling heat, he finally found it.
"Six ponies who all bought tickets at the same time heading for the same place. I think these are who you're looking for?" he asked as he showed me the tickets. They were my sister and her friends' tickets.
"Yes, these are them. Thank you for your assistance," I told him as we were walking out.
"It was nothing. Anything for the guard." I gave him a farewell and took a look at the tickets. They went to the literal end of the line for the train. From what the ticket, and later research, showed, it wasn't even a station. The train went out of its way to go to the furthest track to the north east. I know where the search is going to start. I bought 51 tickets for the train going to the end of the line.




Starlight Glimmer's Diary Day 393

Another pony has been enlightened by our philosophy. While I did have to take some extra effort, it was worth it.
It had been over three weeks since the group of six arrived in our little town. Still, despite our best methods of enlightenment, the princess, the farmer, and the rainbow one continued to resist our ideals. The princess would not turn as long as she had two other ponies supporting her, which meant I had to break the weakest link. After looking at the mental states of the two candidates, I decided that Applejack would be the easier one to break.
Her cell was like all the others, a small space with a few books and megaphones speaking our philosophy. That is no environment to have a reasonable conversation, so I decided to have her brought to my cottage to speak to her. Luckily the council was otherwise preoccupied that day, so I could speak to Applejack alone.
She came stumbling in, her hair a mess. We had taken her hat away until she saw the truth, so her hair was completely undone. She was dirty, which was to be expected after almost five weeks without a bath.
"Hello, Applejack," I greeted her in the friendliest tone I could muster.
"What da ya' want?" she responded with clear anger.
"I just wanted to speak with you, nothing more."
"Well I don' wanna speak with ya'."
"I thought you'd be difficult," I muttered under my breath. "Listen, if you speak with me for ten minutes, I'll let you speak with your other friends for a bit. Sound fair?"
"I suppose it does," she said while sitting down onto a cushion.
"If I may ask, why is it that you refuse our ideas?" I asked bluntly.
"'Cause they're as wrong as a two... fiddled... herder..." she said, starting to trail off. "Ya' know what I mean!"
"Who's to say that they are wrong?"
"What are ya' talkin' 'bout?" she asked, confused.
"I mean, you say my ideas are wrong, yet you are unable to explain to me why they are wrong. I don't lie in my beliefs, since they are beliefs. It is my opinion, so they could not be wrong."
"Now ya're just speaking crazy talk. Anypony can be wrong, even in ideas."
"While I grant you that, you seem to just say we are wrong and you are right. That is, in itself, wrong. You cannot prove that either of us are wrong, so we must both be right."
"Stop tryin' trick me with your words. I know what I know. There ain't nothing no pony can do to change that."
"Applejack, I believe you need to talk with some of your friends. Maybe they can make you understand better than I," I said as I trotted to the door. Outside, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy were waiting. Before I could call them in, Double Diamond walked up.
"Hello, Starlight Glimmer," he greeted me.
"Hello, Double Diamond. What are you doing here?" I asked.
"The council needs you to come to the western outskirts of the village. There has been an issue. I will stay with these ponies until you return." Of all the possible things to happen, this was probably the least expected.
"Alright. Watch them closely," I commanded Double Diamond before galloping to the western outskirts.
Upon arriving, I saw that the other council members were there, along with Paradise Rose, one of my old classmates and informant in Canterlot.
"Starlight! Finally! I have something important to tell you!" she called out to me from a distance.
"Hello Paradise," I greeted as I approached. "What do you need to tell me?"
"The Captain of the Royal Guard has been sent to find where Princess Twilight Sparkle has gone, and will be coming to your village... probably," she said happily. "This is your perfect chance to---"
"QUIET!" I shouted at her. "You're telling me that the captain of the Royal Guard with the power of the Equestrian military is coming here?"
"Yes... I thought you'd be happy," she said, on the verge of tears.
"No... no, you're right. I'm sorry, Paradise. I didn't mean to snap at you, it's just... been a busy time lately."
"I--- It's okay."
I turned to the council members. "We have to get everything going. This has happened faster than I expected, we need to get everything prepared for the arrival of the guards." I turned to Paradise Rose. "Here's your usual pay." I tossed her a bag of bits that I always kept on me. The rest of the return trip was planning the reception for the Captain of the Royal guard.
"If he's looking for Twilight Sparkle, they will find her," Fire Hammer noted. "If that happens, our perfect record will be broken."
"Not to mention our town will get a bad reputation," Forest Embers continued.
"Yes, I understand the problem," I said, getting rather annoyed. "I will think of something. Just  give me some time."
After saying our farewells, I returned to my home. By this time, Luna's moon was out in its glory. Inside my house I saw something surprising; Applejack was smiling.
"Howdy, Starlight," she greeted me.
"Hello, Applejack. What are you still doing in my house?"
"Isn't this where the new ponies stay until their homes are done?"
Double Diamond came out of the back room. "Hello, Starlight. Applejack is one of us now, she is a new friend."
"This presents a problem, Double Diamond," I said as seriously as I could. "We'll have to fix it tomorrow."
"What problem would that be?" Applejack asked, worried.
"We need to tell the other townsponies about your realization. We need to celebrate," I answered with a smile.
After a bit more talking, and confirming Applejack did believe everything she was saying, I retired to my bedroom. I have a plan to finally make Twilight Sparkle see the truth... Hopefully I have enough time.