Elkia couldn’t stop fantasizing about the horrible place he would end up in, and his fears didn’t let him sleep without worries. In his dreams, he worried about himself, about Alces, and, now that some new rescue operation was promptly created, about Strawberry Blonde and Syntax too.
When he woke up, he reckoned he was in a new place now, perhaps even the final destination, as there was no more total darkness around him. He was still in a cage, but inside somewhere, inside a house. There was some simple wooden furniture in what looked like a living room, tables and chairs and stools. A look through a nearby window showed the sun glaring in the sky. It was hot, very hot. Elkia found himself covered in sweat and panting a little. Slowly, he raised his head, until the shape of a pony filled his vision.
The pink pony with the purple mane and the hard eyes walked towards the cage, holding a half-empty glass of water in her hooves. ‘Ah, you’re finally awake. Good, good. I’ve been dying to get to know you.’
‘Where am I?’ Elkia said.
But the pony ignored him. ‘Your tutor had many things to tell about you. He and I had a long conversation, where he constantly brought up the many stories and poems you created. You’re a busy little writing bee, aren’t you?’
Elkia said nothing.
‘Aw… Come on, it’s okay to feel a little pride. You don’t get to be chosen as my personal propagandist every day, you know? That function is very exclusive and important, and I have only given few the chance to prove their worth to me. I hope you won’t disappoint me.‘ She fixed him with a stare. ‘Will you?’
‘How can I disappoint you if I don’t even know who you are,’ said Elkia. He was a lot less afraid of this pink pony than the guards he had pissed off in the bubble, during his fiction-like escape.
‘Oh,’ the pink pony said. She did a step closer towards the cage and stared her vicious, almost savage stare at Elkia. Suddenly, Elkia reckoned he was wrong. There was some ambiance, some aura radiating from the pony’s cold eyes that seemed more dangerous than a thousand angry guards. After a pause, she continued. ‘My name is Starlight Glimmer, the great leader of a society full of happy ponies, and the founder of Scribblers’ City and the town you’re in now. It is a pleasure to meet you.’
Unwillingly, Elkia scooted further back into the cage. He discovered that he was stuttering now. ‘I-I-I wish I could say the same, but I’m in a cage and you are staring me down.’
Starlight Glimmer shifted the glass of water in her hooves, and took a small sip. It seemed as if she were torturing Elkia, as she took her time drinking. ‘Don’t worry, I will let you out as soon as I can. As soon as you are willing to provide a helping hoof.’
‘Doing what?’ Elkia said.
‘Doing what you were made to do in this world, my dear—oops, pardon the pun—writing, making propaganda for me and the happy inhabitants of my glorious society.’
Starlight Glimmer was talking to Elkia as if she were talking to a little foal, much like Strawberry Blonde had done. But where Strawberry’s words had been soft, gentle, and maybe even a bit teasing, Starlight’s words were cold, calculated, as if she followed a tight script. Silently, Elkia wondered how many propagandists she had had before him. ‘So what exactly do you want me to do?’
‘Very good, very good,’ Starlight said, nodding as she spoke. ‘I see you’re looking forward to a life in my service. I see you are eager to create. Yes, I can see that flame in your eyes, that urge to make something beautiful.’ She cleared her throat, as if she were going to say something official. ‘As my personal propagandist, you will be making all kinds of stories, posters, pamphlets, flyers, and, if you’re up for it, our proud newspaper “The Equalitarian.” You will help spreading the idea of equality in my—or our—cutie-mark-less society.’
Even though he had been essentially doing the same in Scribblers’ City, Elkia felt horrible about what Starlight Glimmer told him. Back in Scribblers’ City it had been different. Back in Scribblers’ City, he wrote for fun. Back in Scribblers’ City, he had Strawberry Blonde, and his happy, carefree life. Here, he was locked up in a cage. He didn’t like this whole appointment one bit. ‘No,’ he blurted out.
‘I beg your pardon?’ Starlight narrowed her eyes, only adding to her stern appearance.
‘I said no. I will not be your personal propagandist. You can go and find someone else.’ And to show he was serious, Elkia plucked up a little bit of courage and turned his back to Starlight.
Elkia couldn’t see Starlight’s grim smile, but he could feel it well enough. ‘Oh my, when your mentor said you were naïve I didn’t believe him at first. Writers are usually chatterboxes, headstrong, and know what they want. They are also clever, but I can tell you that I am a little disappointed in you, Elkia, because apparently you aren’t so smart as you look.’
‘Why does everyone keep telling me I’m naïve?’ said Elkia irritably.
Starlight let out a few small chuckles—small enough to remain serious. ‘Because you are, little elk, and you know what? It’s adorable.’
So now his captor was verbally abusing him? Elkia had no idea what to think of this. He didn’t turn around.
Starlight Glimmer paced around the cage, rattling her glass against the iron bars. ‘You should think before you speak, Elkia. You cannot refuse. If I want, I could leave you in this cage forever, and no one would know or care.’
Suddenly, Elkia jolted, as he felt something on his shoulder. At first he thought it was a big spider or a nasty scorpion, but when he looked he saw it was Starlight’s hoof. His gaze travelled from the hoof to the dictator’s eyes, and slowly, he turned himself around. He couldn’t help it. It was as if Starlight Glimmer could steer the essence of his very soul, as if she were as powerful as a seer. His hairs stood on end.
Pouting her lips, Starlight said, ‘But that’s not what I want to do, my dear Elkia. I haven’t hoof-picked you from all the other writers so I’d let you succumb to hunger and thirst in some rotten cage. I have picked you, because I saw your potential. I know you and I, we can create something powerful together, something that lasts longer than either you or I live. You can take your place in my society, and be a vital piece in the puzzle, or a cog in the machine. Think about that, Elkia. Without you, my regime isn’t complete.’
Elkia realized she was right. How could he have been so dumb as to refuse? She could easily starve him to death. In fact, Elkia was already feeling hungry, and thirsty too. He felt his stomach, traced his tongue over his dry, cracked lips, and then turned his attention to his captor once more. ‘So your society here is like Scribblers’ City?’
Feigning surprise, her eyes big for a second, Starlight said, ‘Yes, exactly. I love to see how quickly you changed your mind. Wise elk. You will be a part of my glorious regime, preaching equality and the denouncing of those vicious things known as cutie marks.’
For a moment, Elkia’s gaze wandered. It traveled downwards, as he searched for something. Yes, he could see it. Starlight Glimmer also had the equal sign as her cutie mark. Elkia blinked. Despite the heat, a shiver went through him, as he remembered what Strawberry Blonde had told him about her own equal sign cutie mark. ‘A-a-are you going to unmark me?’
That question seemed to amuse Starlight. She grinned. ‘Why, of course not. Why would I want to take away your remarkable writing skills? You would be useless to me, and I would have dragged you out of Scribblers’ City for nothing.’
An idea nestled itself in Elkia’s subconscious. Apparently, Starlight didn’t have a cutie mark. He had no idea what a unicorn without a cutie mark could do, but he reckoned that it couldn’t be much. Well, that’s what he hoped. His mind worked and worked. His eyes strayed. Maybe escape was possible after all. If he’d pretend to go and help her, he might gain an opportunity to run away or something.
Starlight’s horn glowed, and she closed her eyes. Her ears moved around, as if she were trying to pick up a faint and distant sound somewhere far away. Yet, that was not the reason why. ‘Don’t think about doing anything funny, Mister Elkia,’ she said, her grin gone, her voice once again icy. ‘Some things are not what they seem.’
‘Wait, how did you kno—’
‘Mind reading spell,’ said Starlight, pride radiating from her voice. ‘It took me a long while to perfect that particular piece of magic, but I have done it. I can read the mind of one or two ponies, if they are close. You have no idea how useful such a spell is to flush out any insubordinates and other-thinkers.’ While she talked, she turned around and disappeared into another room. Splashes of water could be heard. When Starlight returned, she showed Elkia her real cutie mark. ‘Don’t think for a second that I am weak without my cutie mark, because I still have it right here. My magic is stronger than anything you’ve ever seen or will see, and my eyes are sharp. I know what you’re going to do before the foolish thought enters your mind. Don’t mistake me for a fool, Elkia, for I have power, and I am power.’
Gasping, Elkia regarded Starlight Glimmer’s cutie mark. It resembled a double star, one white, and on top of that a purple one. The stars emanated two trails of cold, shimmering vapors, which glimmered in the sunlight. It truly looked like a symbol fit for a leader. A powerful leader.
‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ Starlight said. ‘Sometimes you don’t even need to be strong to have power. You don’t really need to make yourself better than the rest, if you can make the rest weaker. Yet I have done both, and the result is simply stunning, as you can see.’
‘But…’ Elkia’s voice seemed tiny and insignificant next to Starlight’s boasts. Yet, Elkia had already seen the gaps in her theory. ‘But if you want to create a cutie-mark-less society, and you still have your cutie mark, then you will never reach your goal.’
Starlight frowned. Whether it was in anger or thought, Elkia couldn’t say. Maybe a bit of both. ‘I have actually thought and philosophized about that for a long time,’ she said. ‘Yes, I will never reach my goal, and yet I have already reached it. You see, it’s not so much as to actually create a cutie-mark-less society. It’s more like building the illusion and nourishing it.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Glad to see you’re interested in philosophy, Elkia. Maybe you are not as naïve and silly after all.’ Starlight sighed. ‘No, it will not be a cutie-mark-less society. Yet, when every single pony without a cutie mark believes that they are living in a cutie-mark-less society, then the illusion lives. They are not living a lie, because they believe. They believe that everypony—including me—has given up his or her cutie mark. And if they believe that to be the truth, if every single pony—including me—believes that is the truth, then who are you to keep this truth from them? They wake up with the illusion, and they go to bed with the illusion. They are in the illusion at home, at work, at school—everywhere. And, if you give it time, the illusion will become a part of them. They will get used to it so much that they will deny whatever somepony else tells them. They won’t know any better.’
‘Then you’re lying to them,’ Elkia said.
‘I’m keeping the illusion alive, because it creates stability. Imagine if fifty percent of the ponies think cutie marks are good, and fifty percent think they are bad. What have you then? There will be fights, riots, quarrels, skirmishes, and you know why, Elkia?’
‘The illusion is broken.’
‘Exactly,’ Starlight said, jabbing a hoof at the cage. ‘I am here to keep the illusion alive, because the illusion creates order. The illusion creates life. The illusion is life. The illusion consists of what all my humble subjects think, and I determine what my humble subjects think. That is how I nourish the illusion.’
‘Still, it seems unfair.’
Starlight stomped her hoof on the ground. She grabbed the bars of the cage and rattled her hooves against them. ‘Then you are not listening. Sheep need a shepherd, and ponies need leaders, strong leaders. I can’t be the leader they want—the leader they need—without my cutie mark. Think of the chicken and the egg. Which came first? It’s a vicious cycle. I can’t unmark ponies without my magic, so unmarking myself would mean the end of my society. See? I need my cutie mark.’
Elkia scratched his goatee. ‘Do others not need them, then?’
‘Of course they don’t,’ Starlight burst out. She paced around the room, as if she were a teacher trying to teach a stubborn child. ‘Cutie marks are totally unnecessary. The ponies in my village—and the ones that have been unmarked living in Scribblers’ City—live perfectly happy lives without their cutie marks. Cutie marks only mean differences, which cause chaos and strife.’
‘Like how?’
Elkia could actually hear Starlight’s teeth grinding. He was pushing it. ‘I… no, wait, I…’ she was so angry, she had to start over a few times, as the rage left her speechless. ‘I have my own reasons to believe that. Finding your one true talent might be nice for you, but it will only create misery for those around you, those that you leave in the dark because you shine too brightly.’
Elkia opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Starlight shouted, ‘ENOUGH! No more about cutie marks.’
But Elkia wasn’t done yet. Despite the fear for his life, he felt as if he were having a healthy discussion with a friend. Perhaps he could learn something from this discussion, discover a weakness of Starlight for example.
‘I have no weakness,’ Starlight called.
‘You read my mind again, didn’t you?’ said Elkia, putting on the driest expression he could conjure up, if only to mask his fear for a second or two.
‘I did, because I can.’
‘Then you know what I’m going to say now, don’t you?’
‘I do.’
‘Shall I say it anyway?’
Starlight sighed. ‘If you must.’
‘I was just wondering, now that you explained the “cutie-mark-part” of your whole society, where does the “equal” come in?’
‘Explain, elk,’ Starlight hissed. ‘I will find arguments for whatever you have to say.’
Elkia’s fear ebbed away a little. He actually shuffled closer to Starlight Glimmer, and dared to look into her eyes between the bars. ‘Well, you keep telling me that you are powerful, but if you are powerful, and your subjects are powerless, then how is that equal?’
‘As I said, sheep need a shepherd, and I am the shepherd that will guide their lives, so everyone has an equal chance to live happy, fulfilling, and useful lives.’
‘But what about Scribbler’s City? I’ve seen for myself how the poor ponies without creative abilities or with divergent opinions are treated.’
‘That’s different,’ Starlight snapped.
‘How so?’
‘Those ponies are not only useless—they are a threat to the regime. Tell me, Elkia. If you were to create a beautiful society, and you see that there are certain individuals—like timber wolves—who only want to see it fall. What would you do?’
That was below the belt. Elkia gasped, and blinked hard. ‘How did you know that? About the timber wolves?’
‘Wild guess,’ Starlight said. ‘I didn’t even need to do my mind reading spell for that. Everyone knows about the relationship between predators and prey.’
‘There is no relationship,’ Elkia said, swallowing hard. He was not going to cry now. ‘Timber wolves are cruel creatures, made of pure dark essence. They don’t—’
‘They don’t belong in your society?’ Starlight finished for him. ‘Then your society isn’t equal either.’
‘But it’s not fair. Timber wolves don’t want to enter our society.’
‘Have you ever asked?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘So they are the enemy?’
‘Yes.’
‘And there you have your answer,’ Starlight Glimmer said. ‘Timber wolves don’t belong in Elkish society, and criminals and other-thinkers don’t belong in mine.’
‘But… but it’s still different.’
‘Yes, because my regime is better.’
Now it was Elkia’s turn to say, ‘I beg your pardon?’
Starlight managed a small smile. She knew she had won the argument. ‘As you know, everyone first coming in contact with Scribblers’ City is asked if they want to join. This is what happened with you, when that lovely pony—what was her name again? Strawberry Blonde?—showed you around and explained to you what Scribblers’ City could do for you, and what you could do for Scribblers’ City. You could have said no, and if you had, you would have been branded an enemy of the regime, and end up with your brother Alces underneath the magical bubble, working and working and working.’
‘I don’t believe it,’ Elkia said. ‘How do you know all of this? All those names?’
‘I simply asked, darling,’ said Starlight Glimmer. ‘I know everything about you, as I’ve talked not only with your teacher, but also with the guards, and with your friend Strawberry Blonde.’ She smiled a sly smile. ‘It wasn’t hard for me to find out your intimate relationship, actually. You could read it off her face.’
Elkia grabbed the bars and shook them. ‘You will leave Strawberry Blonde alone!’
Starlight waved her hoof, as if she chased away a fly. ‘Don’t worry, Elkia. She is not an enemy of mine. She will continue to live her happy, peaceful life. She’ll move on, even from you.’
‘Strawberry Blonde has showed me nothing but goodness, and yes, love too.’
‘Even when she lied about your brother?’ Starlight said. The smile didn’t leave her face.
‘I… eh… yes. M-m-maybe, no! Yes,’ Elkia stuttered. He ended his awkward answer with, ‘I think so.’
‘You think so, hmm? Well, you know what I think, Elkia Deerling? I think you will come to like my society here. The ponies living here are honest, and don’t keep secrets—not that they can. And you know what the best part is?’
She was obviously waiting for Elkia to say “what?” Instead, Elkia said nothing.
‘The best part is that everyone is the same. You know one of those little towns where everypony knows everypony? Well, here it’s actually true. Thanks to the illusion, they are scared of other-thinkers. Most of the time I don’t even need to talk with them or do a quick mind-reading, for they hand me over the traitors and divergent ones all by themselves.’
‘It sounds horrible.’
Starlight Glimmer still smiled, but Elkia saw how it wavered a bit. ‘It’s lovely, Elkia, believe me. You will like it. In fact, you have no choice.’
That was not an answer that satisfied Elkia. He fidgeted with his hooves.
Starlight finished her water. ‘So now that I made my introduction, and we got to know each other a bit more, it’s time for you to meet the townsfolk. You will see just what I mean, and that everything I told you is true.’ Her smile turned cruel and challenging. ‘But first, I’m going to give you something…’
Elkia didn’t like the tone of Starlight at all. He was already thinking about many horrible things she could mean by that. Was she going to unmark him after all, or brand him on the flank so nopony would see his cutie mark?
‘Stick your neck through the bars, elk,’ Starlight said.
This was it, this was the end. Starlight was going to chop off his head! A burning feeling spread like wildfire through Elkia’s body. Fear played his nerves like a guitar. Suddenly, when the fear in his heart reached the climax, Starlight Glimmer burst out in laughter.
‘Haha! Are you seriously thinking that, Elkia? Oh my, you have a strange but wonderful mindset. I’m only going to give you a gift, not—’ a burst of chuckles forced Starlight to pause—’not cut off your head. Hahaha!’ Still laughing, Starlight retreated. When she returned, she floated something behind her in a magical haze. It looked like a ribbon, and it made a funny sound.
‘What is it?’
Starlight waved the ribbon around in the air. ‘Just a little gadget I made, to make sure you will play by the rules. Come on, stick your neck through the bars.’
Still not entirely comfortable, Elkia did as he was told. He closed his eyes. The ribbon felt like silk, as Starlight slipped it over his head. With a little magical tinkle, it tightened and locked. Elkia opened his eyes. It was over. He shook his head, and a little bell rung.
‘It is tuned to your ears, Elkia,’ said Starlight Glimmer, ‘so only you and I can hear it. In my house, the collar will turn green, as you may say and do whatever you want here. Outside, in my village, the collar will turn yellow. And when you go too far away to my liking, the collar will turn red, and then… Well, why not make it a surprise? If you were ever dumb enough to stray far or run away, you’ll see what happens… with the collar.’
‘Why the bell?’
‘So I can hear where you are, silly,’ Starlight said. She had regained her playful tune, as if she were sharing a beautiful present or a beloved toy.
Starlight’s horn glowed again. The cage opened with a squeaky noise. ‘Now come. There is one last thing we have to do before you can make your grand entrance in public.’ She retreated to another room. Elkia swallowed, and then followed her.
‘Let me reveal to you the secret of my cutie mark,’ she said. They stood in a hallway, probably the front porch. In front of Starlight was a bucket with pink paint, and on a little cupboard there were some brushes and other painting tools, amongst which was a mold in the shape of an equal sign.
‘Are you going to paint your cutie mark?’ Elkia said.
‘Watch and learn.’ With a flash of magic, a brush moved through the air all by itself. It dipped into the bucket with pink paint, and then the brush carefully, with practiced motions, stroked over Starlight’s cutie mark until it was completely covered, as if she were a blank flank. Then, the brush dipped into black paint, the paper mold flew beside her flank, and so Starlight painted the equal sign at precisely the right spot. She looked at Elkia, who had followed everything carefully, and said, ‘Now it’s your turn.’
‘Wait, what?’
Starlight nodded towards another bucket, this one with brown paint, precisely the color of Elkia’s fur. ‘I’m not going to paint your flank, Elkia. Imagine how awkward that would be. You have a long neck, so I’m sure you can do it yourself.’
Elkia frowned, but did as he was told. In the blink of an eye he painted his flank and put the equal sign on it. ‘Done.’
‘Very good.’ Starlight grabbed the handle and opened the door, revealing the outside world, something Elkia had reckoned he’d never see again. He knew Starlight wanted him to go outside, so he made for the doorway. Before he could set a hoof outside, however, Starlight barred him the way. Their heads were inches apart, and it made Elkia very uncomfortable.
‘I will read your mind when you return, Elkia,’ Starlight whispered. ‘Don’t think about doing anything funny, exposing your cutie mark, or tell them I still have mine, or I will make sure your collar becomes red and stays red as long as you’re here. Do we have a deal?’
Despite still not knowing what that meant, Elkia nodded. Together, they walked out the door.
Before them, there was a single street, with small brick houses lining it on either side. And that was it. There was a market going on, and stalls were scattered throughout town. Many ponies were busy buying things, yet, when Starlight Glimmer appeared, they all stopped doing what they were doing—some even dropped whatever they were holding—and turned to face their leader, all at the same time, as if they had practiced it. It was an uncanny thing to see. Slowly, they walked towards Starlight, curious about what she was going to say. Some small fillies and colts noticed Elkia, pointed, and took shelter behind their parents’ hooves. Elkia reckoned it was an odd thing to see, an elk from the boreal forest which now stood in a desert, sweating and panting and dying of heat.
‘Behold, everypony!’ Starlight shouted. She waved her hooves around, and ended her motion at Elkia. ‘I have made a new friend, all the way from Scribblers’ City. Say hello to Elkia Deerling.’
‘Hello, Elkia Deerling,’ said everyone, precisely at the same time.
Blushing, Elkia waved his hoof a little.
‘He will be here to assist me and write all kinds of beautiful things,’ Starlight said. ‘That’s right everypony, learn his name by heart, because you will get to know him very well, when you read his bestseller novels and cute little children’s stories.’
‘Aw…’ said everyone, precisely at the same time.
Once again Elkia blushed, which was not helping to cool him down. He only felt hotter with all the attention drawn to him.
‘Please, give this special creature a warm welcome, and let him have a place in your hearts,’ Starlight continued. Then she turned around to leave.
‘A-a-aren’t you coming too?’ Elkia said.
‘Of course not,’ Starlight said. ‘Being a leader is a full time job. And besides, I think you will get along with everyone just fine. See you later.’
And with that, the door closed, and Elkia was alone with the crowd. He smiled a shy smile, and giggled a bit. ‘H-h-hello.’
As if on cue, the crowd moved towards him, and formed a tight circle. In ten seconds flat, Elkia was surrounded by curious eyes and wondering minds.
‘Wow, you’re so tall!’ one stallion said to him.
‘And fluffy,’ added a little filly, stroking Elkia’s fur.
‘Where did you come from?’ a mare asked.
‘What animal are you anyway?’ said another mare.
‘Aren’t you supposed to have huge antlers?’ asked another.
Elkia got bombarded with questions, and he had no idea which one to answer first, or if he was allowed to answer them in the first place. He tried to avoid the gazes, shy as he was, but found that he was surrounded by eyes. Elkia fell silent and looked around him, taking in the different ponies, the new faces and the diversity of colors. But to his shock, he discovered that they were not so different at all.
Every mare had the same manecut, and so did every stallion. The mares had plain braids or ponytails, while the stallions all had the same neat, short, practical mane. Their eyes and hides were the only features that were different about them, but even those were equal in that they were duller than the pastel colors the ponies of Scribblers’ City had borne (the ones with cutie marks, that is). But the most striking thing was their smiles. Elkia was surrounded by big, happy smiles which everypony, young or old or big or small, wore on his or her face. It was as if a painter, out of inspiration, had copied his same handiwork over and over again, and pasted it on everypony’s face. Elkia saw that everypony was wearing a mask. Surely not every single one of them had to be brimming with excitement, right? Sure, an elk was probably a rare sight, but there must also be ponies who were indifferent or not interested at his appearance. Yet, here they all were, questioning him, looking at him with big eyes, and smiling at him.
‘How did you grow so tall?’
‘What a strange goatee you have.’
‘Why are your ears so large?’
‘Your lip is funny.’
‘Where is your tail? It can’t be that short, right?’
‘Do you know my brother’s friend Emiria? She’s a deer too.’
‘Are you a deer or a moose?’
‘No, you’re a reindeer, right?’
The questions didn’t stop. Elkia squeezed his eyes shut and flinched. He felt as if he were in a nightmare. These ponies, all the same, this village, this dictator—all seemed to belong in a nightmare, or a really strange and scary story. Yet here he was, standing in the middle of the crowd. He had to do something. He had the feeling that every second he spent with the townsponies drove him crazier. But he wasn’t going to shout, of course. At last, he shook his head and raised his hoof in the air, just as he had seen Starlight do. It worked! The ponies fell silent all together at the same time.
‘I’m really sorry, everypony,’ Elkia said, ‘but everything is so… overwhelming. You seem like a friendly bunch, but I really need more time to get used to you all, this town, this weather and… well… my new life.’ He paused to lick his lips. ‘And besides that, I am terribly thirsty.’
Everypony was still quiet, but suddenly, a mare the color of blackberries raised her hoof.
Elkia remained silent and stared at the pony. Was she waiting for him to give permission to speak? Elkia nodded towards her.
‘If you’re thirsty, why not head over to my lemonade bar?’ said the pony. ‘I’m sure I have something that will taste good, even for reindeer.’
‘Elk, actually,’ Elkia said.
‘Oops, pardon me,’ blackberry pony said, producing a strange chuckle. ‘Shall we go?’
Elkia took this as an opportunity to leave the mob behind. The circle opened up, the ponies standing apart like a machine, offering Elkia a straight pathway through. He followed blackberry pony through the pathway. When Elkia reached the end, he turned around, and found that everypony was still staring at him. Elkia didn’t want to be rude. ‘Eh… it was nice meeting you all. Maybe I will get to know you all personally later. But for now, I say goodbye!’
‘Goodbye, Elkia,’ said everyone, precisely at the same time.
Elkia followed his rescuer through town. They headed towards one of the brick houses, which had a sign shaped like berries hanging on a branch. There was a little terrace with wooden chairs and tables and—something Elkia was really grateful for—a parasol which offered some hard-needed shade.
Elkia sat down in the shade, while the blackberry-colored pony stood by his side. ‘What can I get you?’
‘Some lemonade would be fine, if you please,’ Elkia said, sighing and enjoying the shade. ‘Any flavor will do.’
‘Alrighty! Be right back,’ the pony said, and then she disappeared through the door.
A minute later she reappeared with a glass of colorful juice. She put it down before Elkia’s nose. He really wanted a sip, but then he realized something. ‘Oh no! I don’t have anything to give you in return! No Bits or gems or anything else.’
‘Oh, that’s quite alright,’ the pony said, waving a hoof in the air. ‘A friend of Starlight’s is a friend of everyone, including me. This one is on the house.’
‘Wow, thanks,’ Elkia said. He tried to keep a hold of himself, but thirst took over. He grabbed the glass with both hooves, put it at his mouth, and emptied it in one big gulp. That was a mistake.
The juice tasted horrible. It almost tasted like muddy water—and it didn’t even have the color of muddy water. Elkia flinched, and it took him quite some effort to paint a smile on his face, a smile similar to all the other ponies: fake. But he had to, for he didn’t want to be rude. ‘Eh… that was… good?’
‘I have some more if you want,’ said the pony.
Now Elkia faced a tough dilemma. He was terribly thirsty, yes, but he wasn’t sure he could stand another one of those lemonades. He thought he found a solution. ‘Do you have another flavor, perhaps?’
‘But of course,’ said the pony, who kept smiling. Elkia was sure she could hear his revulsion, but she kept her face the same, smiling and perhaps a tad curiosity mixed in. She disappeared again. While the pony was gone, Elkia wondered how in Equestria somepony could mess up lemonade. It was only water with a bit of flavor! He was tempted to ask for the recipe, but decided it would perhaps be better not to know. The pony returned, with a red liquid this time. Elkia nodded, grabbed the glass, and emptied it.
He had no idea lemonade could taste so sour! And what was wrong with it? It was as if someone had tried to make lemonade with the pits and seeds of the berries still in it. This was insane.
‘Better?’ the pony asked.
Elkia gulped up the last of the strange liquid. ‘Better,’ he managed to cram out of his mouth. He swore himself he wouldn’t take a third glass. Maybe the next flavor would be even worse!
‘I’m so glad there’s someone new in town,’ said the pony. ‘My name is Blackberry Mélange, by the way.’
‘Elkia Deerling,’ Elkia said, when the last of the “lemonade” swirled through his throat. Then, he looked behind himself at Starlight’s home, as if he knew she was spying on him. Should he ask that what he wanted to ask? Yes, he had to. He couldn’t resist, however dicey the question was. He swallowed, feeling a faint and horrid aftertaste of the lemonade, and then spoke. ‘Why is everyone so…’
‘Happy? Content? Cheerful?’ Blackberry filled in for him. ‘Well, isn’t there any reason not to be? We live in a beautiful village, governed by a leader with a heart of gold. And on top of that, we always have sunny weather!’
‘Yes… great,’ Elkia said, although he didn’t agree entirely. ‘But are you never sad to see how things go here in town? Are you never discontent? I mean, giving up your cutie mark must have been a hard decision to make.’
‘It was the price of admission,’ the pony said, ‘a rite of passage. Sure, it might have seemed a bit… well… extreme, but until now, only good things have come from it.’
‘Like what?’ Elkia said.
The smile disappeared for just a second or two. ‘Eh… well…’ But then Blackberry found the right, politically correct words. ‘Like, look at us all? We all gave up our cutie marks, and we never suffer from that. The bakers still bake bread, the smiths still make horseshoes, the tailor still makes clothes, and the juicers still make lemonade.’
Elkia took a good look at Blackberry’s face, but he couldn’t spot anything that would unmask this seemingly happy pony. For all he knew, she genuinely seemed happy to have given up her cutie mark. Elkia blinked and furrowed his brows. He was not going to get an honest answer out of this pony. Perhaps she had been living in this town for too long.
‘And I mean, who needs a cutie mark to make tasty lemonade, right?’
Should Elkia be honest and tell her the truth? Two elks fought in his heart, a gentleman and a cold rationalist. ‘It sure was… well… something.’
The gentleman won.
‘And there you have your proof, Mister Deerling,’ the pony said. ‘We can live perfectly happy and content lives without our cutie marks. Sure, maybe it feels strange at the beginning, but… well…’ Then she pointed to Elkia’s flank. ‘Can I be honest with you, Mister Deer?’
‘Yes, please,’ Elkia said. At least there was someone being honest.
Once again the smile faded for a second, but then sprung right back onto the cheery pony’s face. ‘I myself found it very difficult in the beginning, and I know you feel so too. I guess you have been unmarked very recently too, am I right?’
No. ‘Yes,’ said Elkia.
Blackberry sat down opposite of Elkia and looked into his eyes. ‘In the beginning, I asked a lot of questions too. I too, felt uncertain of that big, huge, giant decision. And I may have even’—she looked over her shoulder—‘I may have even wondered if it was the right decision after all.’
Now Elkia was getting at the juicy stuff. This was what he wanted to hear. ‘Please, continue. I’m listening.’
‘I just wanted to give you this piece of advice, Mister Deer. In the beginning, it might feel as if you lost something, but in the end, you will realize that you have gained something that is worth much more than just a symbol on your flank.’
‘And what is that?’ Elkia said.
‘Why, a loving, caring family of course,’ said Blackberry, more enthusiastic than ever.
‘Really?’ said Elkia.
‘Certainly,’ said Blackberry. ‘Everyone who lives in town has been there. Everyone made the same beautiful yet difficult decision to give up his or her cutie mark. But I say it makes us stronger together. It is as if we’re not just a community, but a family who cares about each other, laughs with you about funny things, and cries with you about sad things.’
‘Ah, now I see,’ said Elkia, although his face and his tone betrayed disappointment.
But Blackberry wasn’t done with her grand speech. ‘In a sense, we are all one, unified in equality and sameness. Trust me, Elkia, you will love it here.’
Elkia nodded, but in reality, he was deep in thought. Although he still had that faint feeling that the smiles were all a fake, he couldn’t help but feel at least a little bit moved by this random pony’s speech. Was she talking about the illusion now, or did she genuinely mean what she said? Or maybe it was a bit of both. Maybe this pony had accepted the illusion as the truth, and couldn’t distinguish between the two anymore. Yet, the pony seemed honest enough. Maybe she truly was happy after all, even if she lived in the illusion. Elkia wasn’t sure if he should laugh or give an applause on the spot.
‘I know you’re flabbergasted, but you’ll see that if you ask somepony else your striking but strange questions, he or she will give you the same answer.’
Elkia didn’t doubt that for a second. ‘I suppose you’re right.’
She stood up and took Elkia’s glass. ‘More lemonade.’
Wide-eyed, Elkia shook his head. ‘NO! I mean, no thank you. I’m not thirsty anymore.’
‘Okay then,’ said Blackberry. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to go and organize some things around the bar, but you’re welcome to stay and relax, of course.’
‘Madam, please wait,’ Elkia said. ‘Just one final question, and then I’ll be on my way.’
‘Sure, go ahead.’
Once again, Elkia looked at Starlight’s house, but he couldn’t even see the shape of her behind the windows. Elkia swallowed. He knew he was pushing it, and was already wondering how he’d cover up this last question with other thoughts when Starlight would read his mind. Yet, he asked what he wanted to ask.
‘Do you never want something to change around here? I mean, equality and sameness seem jolly, but wouldn’t you like to see some… well… change?’
Blackberry had to think for a while, but soon the happy smile reappeared on her face again. ‘Well, today something changed, right? You came today. Isn’t that something to be cheerful of?’
‘But you don’t even know me. You gave me free lemonade—twice—and you don’t even know me or anything.’
‘I don’t need to know you to see that you will fit in perfectly well in our little slice of heaven,’ said Blackberry. ‘And besides, who says you can’t change anything for us?’
For a second, just a tenth of a second, Blackberry nodded, and winked at Elkia. It was just the barest hint of an expression, but Elkia saw it. Did she mean something with that last sentence? Surely that was not orthodox to say, and yet she had said it.
That last sentence didn’t leave Elkia alone as he walked back through the main street towards Starlight’s home. He reckoned he had seen enough of the town. Everything was the same anyway. He tried not to mull too much over Blackberry’s words, and pushed them out of his mind as he entered the house.
Who says you can’t change anything for us?