In 'Our Town' most mornings were pleasant for everypony. But today even though everypony was smiling they were worried. They saw the horse halter that Starlight Glimmer had held in her magic. Twilight's friends were wondering why Starlight would need such a thing, but they were so committed to their new beliefs that they didn't question it. But Double Diamond and his friends didn't like it. What was Starlight planning? Everypony knew that horse halters had been banished. Things were going too extreme for Double Diamond and his cohorts. Starlight Glimmer went into the reformation hut, she saw Twilight who could just barely open her eyes. The barrel of mushed up food had done it's work, Twilight was weaker. The last container was empty. She smiled and said: "So, how are we feeling today? Are you ready to leave this shack and begin your training Twilight?" The only noises she heard were groans from the weakened princess. Starlight Glimmer removed the tube from Twilight's mouth and asked: "I'm sorry, what did you say?" She regretted that she had, had Twilight fed the sleeping herbs and every container of food. Twilight was barely able to stay awake. She said again: "Are you ready to join our community? If you're not, there's plenty more of the herbs that I put in your food. And will continue to do so if you don't start getting smart."
Twilight was tired and sleepy. But she managed to say in a groggy voice: "Yes. I am willing to start training." This delighted Starlight Glimmer. She said: "Good. I have to put this on you. I want to keep you close to me." She began to put the halter on Twilight. She tried to struggle, but the herbs that were in the tasteless food she was too weak to resist. And of course, the Equal mark didn't help either. She was grateful for the fact that this halter did not have a bit, but it have a lead rope! It was humiliating to say the least, for the young princess. She knew that Starlight Glimmer was going to be her leader for as long as she was in this strange town. When she got out of the shack she noticed that no pony greeted her. They just looked at her. Most did not think that Starlight was right in what she was doing. After all, for a pony who claimed to be 'The Princess of Friendship' was rejecting true friendship! What hurt her most was that her friends were shaking their heads as well, as If they disapproved of how she had been acting. But if anypony could teach her that, it was Starlight Glimmer.
Starlight Glimmer didn't even bother to show her how the town worked. She just took her straight to her shack. Once inside she tied the lead rope to the post of the guess bed and the spare room. Starlight looked at her 'guest' with a very uncomfortable intensity. She did not speak to Twilight for a half hour. That made Twilight worry. What did this tyrant want with her. Meanwhile, the Equal cutie mark continued to glow off and on. Finally Starlight spoke: "You know, you are a curious pony. The only alicorns I know of are Celestia and I have heard of princess Luna's return. So, what makes you so special? Why is there a princess of friendship? You obviously don't know everything about friendship or you would not be trying to resist my teaching of true friendship. You really hurt your friends by not wanting to join them you know."
Twilight just listened. She was practically asleep. Starlight saw this and asked: "Will you answer my questions willingly, or will you continue to be difficult?" Twilight said : "I won't answer your questions." She didn't notice that Starlight had taken a needle out of a box. Starlight said: "I was hoping that you would say that." After saying that she struck the needle in Twilight's flank. She didn't do it none too gently either. It hurt. And it helped to wake up Twilight a little more. She looked at Starlight. Starlight explained: "That is why I tied you with the halter. In case you tried to fight. I didn't realize how sleepy you were. Anyway, you will talking to me and telling me everything that I want to know. You see,the medicine in the needle is a truth serum. You will tell me everything that I want to know about you and who might have trained you." Twilight really didn't want to talk, but the effects of the serum were too strong, and once Starlight started asking questions the answers spilled out. When she got to the part about being Celestia's personal student, Starlight was furious! She started saying how her friend Sunbust left for Celestia's school once he gained a cutie mark.
"I lost a friend because of cutie marks. That's why I started this town. And starting teaching about how equality is better. But would Celestia fight you if she came here?" Twilight said no. And that got Starlight into thinking how she could use Twilight against the princess and her friends should they ever change their minds.
Meanwhile, Double Diamond, Party Favor, and Sugar Belle were meeting secretly at Sugar Belle's restaurant. They didn't like how things were going. Sugar Belle asked: "Why is Starlight using a halter on the princess? Aren't they illegal?"
"From what I heard they are." Double Diamond commented "Problem is though that everypony is afraid of being put back into the reformation shack. That is why they don't say anything."
"But why don't Twilight's friends do anything? Sugar Belle asked
"Because they went through 'special' training too." Double Diamond explained "I don't know exactly what, but I don't like it mates."
"I wish there was a way to get to anypony else who is Twilight's friends." Party Favor remarked "The thing that puzzles me is that she is an alicorn. A pony just doesn't just become an alicorn. I have a feeling that this Twilight has friends in high places. And if I'm right, Starlight might just have bitten off more than she can chew."
The other two ponies didn't say anything, but felt Party Favor was right. Starlight might have been wrong to try and convert these six ponies. They seem to be special for some reason, and if they did have powerful friends Starlight Glimmer was surely in for trouble.