//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Denial 
// Story: Equal Equestria Enlightenment 
// by stupidhand14 
//------------------------------//


Starlight Glimmer's Diary Day 395

It is only a matter of time until our town is put into the public spotlight. I had hoped to bring everypony to see the truth before that happened, but fate is against me us. The preparations are taking much longer than I had hoped for. While our pastries were good, we were lacking some fruit. I made the decision to use some of the town funding to buy a shipment of apples from a town not too far by train. Sadly, they won't arrive in time for the captain of the Royal Guard to enjoy them.
However, food wasn't the only item we were lacking in. Formal clothing is also in short supply, so I have set Rarity, Cloth Mender, and Forest Shaper to making formal attire for all of the ponies in our town. Once again, this is coming out of the town funds. I will have to raise taxes by a percent or two to help balance the budget. However, like everything else, something could go wrong at any time. The main issue lies with our four new friends, and the two soon to be friends.
I was making my rounds through the village, making sure everything was going right, when I heard a voice.
"Um... excuse me, Starlight Glimmer?" said a quiet, almost timid voice. I turned to see that it was Fluttershy that had called out to me.
"Yes? What is it, Fluttershy?"
"I was just wondering... can we go see our cutie marks?" This was not a strange request. Often, after the cutie unmarking, many ponies visit their cutie marks to say goodbye again or just make sure it's there. It usually provides closure to the pony that it concerns, but then again this is one of the... trouble ponies.
"Who is this 'we'?"
"Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and me."
I thought about it for a few moments. "I suppose you could go to visit the cutie mark vault, but I'm afraid you'll have to have an escort, as will everypony else that will be going," I decided.
"Thank you," she said before turning and trotting off. With her leaving to the cutie mark storage, it reminded me of a certain pony that needed a reminder.
I found Party Favor speaking with a few other ponies near the bakery. I motioned him to come over and talk. He excused himself from the other ponies and galloped over to me.
"Hello, Starlight Glimmer. What did you need?" Party Favor asked.
"I just came by to remind you to not tell any outside ponies about the cutie mark vault."
"I learned from my mistake. I swear by Celestia, I did," he said in an almost fanatic tone.
"Good. Let's not make anymore mistakes like that, yes?"
"Of course."
With that errand done, I decided that Twilight Sparkle needed my personal touch. I had her brought to my house, making sure that I had some refreshments ready. She looked more ragged and dirty than Applejack did.
"Hello, Twilight. How are you?" I greeted her.
"I have barely slept for the last three weeks and had constant brain washing for the same time. I've had nothing to do except think, and only the barest essentials for life," she answered in a very dry tone.
"I am sorry Twilight, but you are doing it to yourself. If you could just see how happy everypony is without their cutie marks, you'd see that this is true friendship."
"A pony's cutie mark is a representation of themselves. You cannot just strip that away!"
"Equality is what makes true friendship. Special talents cause fighting, competition, and feuds. Without them, everypony would be kinder, more honest ponies."
"T-- Th--- That's not true," she said in a small voice.
"Of course it is. Why else do you think your friends changed their minds? They saw the truth, so why won't you?" Twilight was quiet for a few moments.
"You won't make me change my mind. I know what is true. I learned and used friendship to save Equestria from many threats. That was true friendship, not whatever it is you are trying to push on us as friendship. I will resist you forever if I must." There was a tense silence for a minute.
"I think you should be going back to your house now," I told her before giving her back to the guards. 	
She continues her resistance, and the guards are closing in on her location. I have to come up with something to stop her from ruining everything... but what?
I returned outside to find Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack waiting for me.
"Hello... what can I help you with?" I asked them.
"We was hopin' to see our cutie marks today," Applejack answered. "Fluttershy says ya' want us to have escorts before goin' there, so we're here."
"Right, I did promise her that, didn't I?" I said with my head still spinning. I looked around to see that every other pony was busy preparing for the festival. "I'll just have take you to the vault myself."
The trip to the cutie mark storage area took about an hour, which was a bit longer than I'd like to leave the town without a mayor. On the way there, I thought I saw a small streak of gold and white going south east, but I hope it was nothing. Upon reaching the vault, I noticed four ponies waiting outside. They were the three members of the council, and one other pony.
"Hello... what are you all doing here?" I asked as we trotted over to the entrance.
"Hey. We were just thinking about the security of this area.," Fire Hammer answered.
"Thinking about the security? Why?" I asked.
"We were thinking of posting a few guardsponies here, to make sure nopony breaks the glass open," Forest Embers answered.
"Well, I am glad that you are here. You can help me watch these four," I said, indicating the four ponies who were now looking for their cutie marks in the vault.
"Why did you bring them here if you don't trust them?" Double Diamond asked.
"I don't distrust them, but I have to be cautious."
The ponies looked at their cutie marks for over an hour before finally agreeing to return to the town. 
The return trip was far more boring. The banquet's preparations are going well, with most of the decorations already done and hung up. This should be something that brings everypony's spirits up.




Shining Armor's Log Day 396

Since I am the commander of the search force, I am forced to stay behind. As all the teams broke off, I had to set up a camp to await any results they might have found. Years of training for the military have made it possible for me to create a suitable camp anywhere in Equestria, and most places outside of it as well.
It was just after lunch when I heard the flapping of wings. I looked up to see a pegasus flying towards me. She landed a few dozen feet from my camp, but even at that distance I could see her eyes were bloodshot, and her walking was unsteady.
"What happened to put you in such a state?" I asked the pegasus.
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't help appearances right now. I was ordered to get a message to you as soon as possible," she responded.
"What is it?"
"We may have found where your sister is," she said.
Before she could say a single word, I asked, "Where is she?"
"We don't know where she, personally, is, but we saw her friends in a village to the north east. We successfully identified Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie in the crowds, and we believe Rarity as well, but we couldn't get a clear look."
"Alright. One second," I told her, before grabbing my breastplate.
"Everypony, we have found the targets. Return to the base camp," I said through the mental connection that the armor allowed.
"Alright, done," I told the soldier who was practically dead on her feet. "You just missed lunch, but I am sure I could make somethi---"
"NO! I mean, no thank you sir. I'll just have some dry rations," she said before trotting off to a cushion I had brought. I couldn't help but sigh. My bad cooking reputation preceded me it seems. Now even common soldiers I don't know think I am a bad cook.
That doesn't matter though. My sister was found, and excitement is sure to follow. I couldn't ask for more.