//------------------------------//
// Chapter One: Unmarking 
// Story: In Sameness, There Is Peace 
// by kleia 
//------------------------------//

1011 AC (After Conversion)

The alarm on Night Aura’s desk blared, the dark coated filly groaned, turning to light her horn and turn off the fiendish device. She grumbled at herself for inventing such a thing. Her magenta mane was a mess, her bangs defying gravity. She grumbled, but started with her usual morning reading. 

She lit her horn, a small magenta orb at the tip. The room lit just enough for her to see her stack of books on the bedside table. She floated over one titled Star Swirl: The Theories of the Arcane. She set it aside, reaching out for the one beneath. 

The next book she lifted was titled The Tome of Converts. It was her own personal copy. The hardcover book had her name hoof printed on it in beautiful gold leaf, and the cover was fit with a pair of emboldened parallel lines; an equal sign. She reveled in the idea for a moment that the First Converts once lived, thousands of years ago. 

She flipped open the book to her favorite passages. With each line she read, she felt a surge of pride through her body. 

"To excel is to fail. Twilight Sparkle could feel her failure as she defeated the vile Trixie in a duel of magicka. The fiend was vanquished, but not without the expense of her friends.” Psalm 12:36 

“Exceptionalism is a lie.” Paragon Starlight 1:11

“Free yourself from your mark.” Paragon Starlight 1:66

Then she remembered. With a start, she leapt out of bed. Today was the day! It was show and tell day at school! She could finally show off just what she had learned from Starswirls ancient arcane theories! 

By now, the sun had risen above the horizon, kissing her neighborhood in a lulling, golden glow. She looked out her window, opening it and taking in the crisp morning air. Today would be a great day. She could feel it. The sun warmed her face, and she took a moment to appreciate the neighborhood around her. 

All homes were built to look uniform, but you could tell who’s home was who’s by the garden out front. Many gardens had flowers or home grown foods, and their own personal touch of the ponies that lived and thrived in their homes, all made equal. 

Night Aura took a moment to count her blessings and give a quick prayer to Starlight, the Paragon of Equality. She trotted over to her mirror, levitating a brush to her mane and spending a few minutes wrestling the strands into order, before tying it back into a ponytail. Her bangs were too short to stay in the ponytail, but at least they weren’t defying the laws of gravity this time. 

She gave her mane and tail one last once over, frowning down at her blank flank. No cutie mark meant no spiritual awakening that was Unmarking. She huffed and turned away, stepping out of her room, down the hall to where her mom had been preparing breakfast. 

The smell of freshly made waffles wafted into her nostrils, drawing her lips up in a smile. 

“Good morning, mama!” Night Aura said cheerfully, finding a comfy spot on the couch. 

“Good morning, my little pony. Are you ready for your show and tell at school?” she asked. Her voice was gentle as she nuzzled the tiny mare’s cheek. 

“Yep! I got up early to re-read the theories, and say my prayers, of course!” she said excitedly, leaning into her mother’s soft nuzzle. Her mother was also dark colored, though her mane wasn’t bright like hers. From outside, she could see her brightly colored father working the garden. It was him she could thank for her mane. 

Dark Aurora and Berry Pop were her parents, two polar opposites. Her mother was delicate, quiet, and liked to keep to herself. Her dad was always boisterous, excitable and loud at the best of times, he reminded Night Aura of one of the first Converts: Pinkamena Diane Pie.Though he also had a horn, where Pinkamena was an earth pony. 

The two nuzzled each other. “You smell of the garden, dearest, clean up and I’ll finish up breakfast.” she said, smiling at him. He nodded eagerly, and trotted off to the kitchen to wash up. When he returned, Berry was already serving up the fresh waffles, and it was time to eat. 

In front of Night Aura was a plate stacked high with the fluffy discs of goodness, topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a juicy red strawberry on top. She grabbed the fork in her magic, and dug into the mouth-watering pile. 

“So,” her dad started, between mouthfuls of food. “What spells will you show off today?” he asked. He loved the way Night Aura’s face lit up when they talked about magic and spell work. 

“Well, I’m going to start with some simple stuff, and work my way up to something like teleportation or transfiguration!” she said, her mouth also full. He raised his eyebrows in excitement. 

“I bet your class will love it, now come on, go get ready for school!” he said, taking the plates in his own magic. Night Aura nodded, getting up and rushing to the shower after checking the time. She sped through her shower and dried off, rebrushing her mane and tail and redoing her hair. She couldn’t believe she forgot to shower this morning. Actually, she could. She was so wrapped up in her magical theory reading, it must have slipped her mind. 

Her dad awaited her at the door with her saddlebags, handing them off to her. She could feel a freshly packed lunch and her school work inside. It was a little heavy, but when was it not? She always packed a few extra things with her, like the book on Starswirl’s magical theory. He must have grabbed it for her.
 
She stepped out the door excitedly. Show and tell was today, after lessons of course. She had practically trotted all the way to school, her dad panting trying to keep up. “I’ve never seen you this excited to learn!” he said, a smirk on his face. She scowled at him, her lips pursing. He let out a laugh. “You know I’m kidding sweetie. You love school and are very smart. I’ll be back to pick you up, my little pony.” he said, smiling gently at her now. Night Aura couldn’t help but smile back. She gave her dad a nuzzle and trotted inside.





School was never dull for Night Aura. She loved learning about everything the teacher taught, but today, the day felt like it was passing by in slow motion. She couldn’t wait for show and tell, but it was after the last lesson of the day. She swore her teacher, Daisy Tail the pegasus, was taking her sweet time on purpose. She wasn’t the only foal jittering in excitement. Some had props and other things with them, and she was excited to see what everypony else was going to do.
 
But finally, show and tell came. She had a bit of a “later in the alphabet” type of name, so she had to wait her turn, but at least now class wasn’t at the crawling pace it was before. One foal showed off a few card tricks he had learned, asking the mare he clearly liked to be his volunteer. She giggled and picked one, looked at it, then gave it back. When he pulled her card, she blushed and nodded. The colt whinnied in a sort of foalish glee, and strode back to his desk. Foals and teachers alike clapped for him, and then a few others went before Night Aura.
 
One filly did a pretty ballet dance with a ribbon, another showed off his sweet painting skills, and before long it was finally Night Aura’s turn. She walked to the front of the class, all eyes on her. She could feel them burning into her. She shook her head. No! Now was not a time to be nervous.
 
She inhaled and focused. “Today, I will be showing you the magic I’ve learned! The first spell is easy; levitation.” she said, lifting a stick of chalk off of the holder and doodling a little stick pony on the board. She then grabbed a few various objects around the classroom, swirling them around herself. “Now, combined with another, easy spell…” they could hear the struggle in her tone as she focused hard.
 
She could feel the weight of everything she was lifting. Behind her, a light shone brightly, the objects swirling around her as she lifted herself in front of the shining light. She could hear the oohs and aahs of her classmates, and she smiled, setting herself down gently, and placing everything back where it belonged..
 
Night Aura wasn’t finished yet. ”Next, is transfiguration! May I have somepony volunteer an object?” she asked, looking around at her classmates. One rose a hoof. 

“Can you make my pencil into an apple?” the stallion asked. She nodded, levitating the pencil over, and an empty desk in front of her.
 
She focused on the pencil, gathering up her magic within her horn, as a tight pressure built in her head. As she envisioned the pencil turning into an apple, her horn glowed brightly, a whine of magic could be audibly heard. She felt the pressure begging to be set free, so she did. She blasted a laser at the pencil, and with a flash, it was an apple. Her class audibly gasped.
 
The stallion who offered his pencil’s jaw had dropped, almost literally. Then he frowned. “Wait, that was my only pencil!” he realized. Night Aura and the rest of the class giggled, and with some focus the apple was once again a pencil, and returned it to him. His jaw had dropped again.

Night cleared her throat, and called out to her class. This was it, the big finish. She had to get this right!
 
“And finally, teleportation! This is the last spell I’ll show you today, but it is a great one, and useful too! It is easy to explain, basically, you just envision where you want to go with intention and magic behind it and pop! You’ll be teleported. To start, I’ll pop right to the back of the class, so keep your eyes there, okay?” Night Aura explained, injecting her words with a theatrical flourish . The class murmured with excitement as they all turned towards the back.

Again, as she envisioned where she wanted to go, a pressure built in her horn, until her skull was nearly buzzing with the arcane energy. As she released the pressure with a sharp crack, there was a moment of nothingness, before she was suddenly plopped back into the world on the other side of the classroom. Then the cheers reached her ears and she turned to look at her classmates with a proud grin..

But, for some reason, all of their eyes were trained down at her flank. Confusedly, she follows their gazes down, her own eyes going wide at what she saw.  
 
She had earned her cutie mark! It was a yellow sparkle with a dark magenta trail that matched her mane colors, and little white sparkles as accents. She felt a wide grin spread across her lips, and a squeal came from her throat. 

Her teacher gasped audibly, a mare with a mint green coat, and snow white mane and tail, streaked with a mustard yellow. “Well class!,” she started. “Do you know what this means for Night Aura?” she prodded the class with the question. Night Aura made her way back to her desk, skipping giddily, while the rest of her class thought. 

One foal raised a hoof. “Yes, Starshine?” the teacher said gently. The stallion was shy but spoke his answer in confidence. 

“Night Aura can now be Unmarked!” he answered, and the teacher nodded.

“That’s right! The staff of Sameness will make her in Paragon Starlight and the First Convert’s image, stripped of her cutie mark to achieve a new level of enlightenment! After she finishes school with us, she’ll then get to move on to the next chapter of her life! She’ll get to be repurposed into a path that suits her skills, so she can serve society as a true Equal!” The teacher paused and turned slightly and gestured the dark gray equal sign on her flank. “Night Aura, is there any specific path you want to choose?” she asked, eyeing the filly.
 
Night Aura answered almost immediately. “Yes! The Repurposing of the Clergy of Starlight, specifically, the Order of Equality!” she said, her voice brimming over with glee. 

“And what a wonderful path that is! I know you’ll be a perfect fit, Night Aura.” the teacher said, “Now, can anyone tell me, aside from you Night Aura, just what the Order of Equality does?” she quipped again at the class.
 
Another classmate shot a hoof in the air, a little filly named Sunny Day. “It’s the Order that goes out on pilgrimages all around Equestria to spread the word of Paragon Starlight Glimmer, and the Tome of the First Converts,” she said with confidence. 

The teacher nodded, smiling. “Yep! You’ll get to see a lot of Equestria, my little pony.” Daisy Tail nodded to Night Aura, who smiled in reply. 

The rest of class went by quickly. She couldn’t wait to get home and show off her cutie mark, and plan her cutie Unmarking ceremony with her family. Once school was let out, she practically galloped outside, where lo and behold, her parents were waiting. Her mom was a welcome surprise!
 
“Mom! Dad! You’ll never believe what happened today!” she said, bouncing up and down as she raced over. Before her parents could utter a word, she turned to show them her flank, where her cutie mark sat. They gasped, smiling brightly at each other, then her, then her teacher.
 
“She’s chosen the Order of Equality,” Daisy Tail, her teacher, walked over. She fluffed her wings at her sides. “You have a very bright, brave young filly to be proud of. As a teacher, it’s part of my duty to offer you the resources for her next steps! I can mail you the forms for the Holy Theocracy of Equestria Unmarking ceremony. The next one is this summer, after Miss Night Aura here finished her classes with me.” she said, smiling politely at Night Aura’s parents.
 
Many rich ponies, such as House Spoiled Rich, were able to afford their own private Unmarking, though the government did still offer a ceremony for free, as a mass gathering of other foals there to receive their enlightenment. Night Aura’s parents nodded back at her teacher. “We would love that. We couldn’t be more proud of her choice of re-education, thank you, miss Daisy Tail.” Berry Pop had said. Daisy Tail nodded and flapped off, returning to the classroom.
 
“Mom? Dad? Can we go to the chapel? I’d like to give Paragon Starlight and the First Converts my thanks.” she said, her tone was soft but pleading. “Of course dear,” her mom said in reply, smirking as she started to trot towards the chapel. With glee, Night Aura and her dad trotted in tow, racing each other.
 
The chapel wasn’t far, and was a beautiful structure. One of Night Aura’s goals was to perform her own Unmarking ceremonies on other, new converts one day, here at this very chapel. The building was beautiful, cut from alabaster stone. The front had a large pair of wooden doors, dark oak fitted with polished brass handles, a pleasing contrast to the stone. The steeple rose far above them, boasting a massive stained glass visage of Paragon Starlight Glimmer’s cutie mark, over top of an equal sign. Night Aura realized that her cutie mark was similar to Starlight’s, and it filled her with a sense of belonging.
 
Night Aura pushed the doors open gently with her magic, and she stepped into the chapel. Quiet pipe organ music played in hushed, ghostly tones, but it was relaxing, and reminded Night Aura just how safe of a space this was. The main part of the church had rows of pews split by a walkway that led to the front altar and the lectern with a microphone attached.
 
On both sides of the building, there were three statues each, a total of six, each was one of the First Converts. The two closest to the altar were Convert Rarity, and Convert Princess Twilight Sparkle. After them were Converts Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, and then the Converts Applejack and Pinkamena. At the back, behind the altar, was a statue of Starlight, the First Convert, and coveted Paragon. Behind her statue was another stained glass, though it was only an equal sign. Night Aura figured it was to represent Paragon Starlight’s own journey to freedom from her mark.
 
Each statue was in an endearing pose, showing some of the Converts true colors, but also to show their delicately carved equal signs on their flanks. Princess Twilight’s head and horn were delicately posed to look at her flank, her wings flared open.  Rarity showed off her latest fashion, but not without a subtle lift of a back leg to show her flank. Rainbow Dash was portrayed in flight, the curves of her wings, windswept mane and tail all led anypony’s eyes to her flank. Fluttershy had a bunny on her rump, just above the equal sign on her flank. Pinkamena was mid leap, both back legs positioned so that her flank was in perfect view. Applejack was bucking, hind legs bent mid buck, and she was looking behind her at whatever she was bucking, eyes just slightly looking down at her flank. Paragon Starlight’s statue at the back was a parallel opposite. She stood stoic, staring down at you as if you were born a sinner. Her face was a delicately carved neutral, not giving or showing anything.
 
She knelt at the front of the church, offering up her praises to each Convert and Paragon Starlight, thanking them for her cutie mark and upcoming Unmarking Ceremony. She and her parents spent a little time at each statue to pray, then headed home.
 
A few days passed, and the paperwork and info on the government given ceremony arrived. Night Aura eagerly helped her parents fill it in, making sure to specify the holy site they wished for the ceremony to take place; the First village. The paperwork was sent off, and the last few months of her classes went by swiftly.

Only a few weeks before, a letter arrived with a date for her Ceremony, and even included congratulations on being one of the foals selected to be Unmarked at Paragon Starlight’s first Village of Converts, as well as what she was to wear for her Unmarking. 




It was a hectic morning, the day of her Unmarking. Night Aura was quick to shower, eat, and dress herself in the special robes she was provided. Her’s were made to fit. The robes draped gracefully over her shoulders, and down over her tail, with a split at the flank to show her cutie mark. The robes themselves were colored to look like the First Convert: Paragon Starlight herself, a light purple, with a trim of dark purple and teal.
 
 She was so nervous they were going to miss the train. “Calm down, Aura.” her mother had said, trying to catch the filly in her front hooves. 

“But, Mama, what if we miss the train!” she said, frantic. Her mother simply laughed gently. 

“Honey, it’s only a 15 minute walk, and the train doesn’t leave for another hour. I promise we’ll leave soon.” she said. It was just enough to quell the anxious young filly for now.
 
A few last preparations later, and finally, they set off. Many ponies they passed watched Night Aura with pride, seeing the robes that she wore, and what they meant. She beamed at each pony that waved or called out supportive words to her. She tried not to act too boastful, but it was quickly becoming one of the best days of her life.

Along the way, they passed the town center. There held headquarters of many Orders, and was also a place of public punishment. That day, there were three ponies displayed in pillories, two with their rears to the street. It wasn’t to show off anything improper, but to show that they had been re-marked. It was a sore sight. Nopony ever wanted to be re-marked after being Unmarked. Those two having it back must have meant some very weighty crimes.
 
Chances were, they would spend the rest of their lives in a cell, or worse. Night Aura didn’t want to guess at what they did to be re-marked. Sometimes, you would only be re-marked for a few days, but re-marking could last as long as the rest of your life. Oftentimes, ponies would simply die of the shame of being re-marked for life.
 
The one pony that did face the street had his head held low. He was gray in coat, and a dark auburn in mane, with drooped wings at his sides. The stallion’s ears twitched at the sound of hoofsteps on the paved sidewalk, but he didn’t lift his head. To a degree, she was thankful he didn’t look up. She didn’t want to meet his eyes. 

As they made their way past the town center, her ears twisted back to a voice. “Congrats,” a stallion had said, in a tired tone. She turned around to say thank you, when she saw it was the stallion who had initially held his head hung low.
 
There was something strange in his eyes, a sort of look, as if he wished to say more but was unable. She hesitantly nodded her thanks and turned on her heels back towards the train station. She tried not to seem as though she was turning her nose up at him. He, at least, still bore his equal sign.
 
The walk was as long as her mother said it would be, and they arrived at the train station in perfect time. They had time to rest and eat, before getting onto the train. At the station itself, there were plenty of other foals dressed in similar robes to her own. Each cutie mark was beautifully unique, and she could hear plenty of murmurs regarding Unmarking. Every foal was excited, if a bit nervous.
 
The train opened its doors and everypony stepped on board. The train started with a screech, and the travel was to the very end of the line.
 
In her history lessons, Night Aura knew that at first, there was barely even a small cubby of an office for this stop, but now, it had a full station. While nopony was allowed to live in Paragon Starlight’s First Village, it still held incredible importance, and Night Aura was thrilled to be one of the foals selected to be Unmarked in such a holy place.
 
They shuffled off the train with bags in tow, they didn’t take much as they weren’t staying overnight. The family walked over to the start of the trail leading to Paragon Starlight’s First Village, smiling at Night Aura, who hesitated. “This is really it…” Aura said, looking beyond the path, beyond her parents. 

“Yes, sweetie, it is. And we’re so proud of you.” her mother’s voice had said. That was the only courage Aura needed. She had to force herself not to sprint to the village.
 
It was an hour walk from the train station to the village, but arriving filled Aura with pure glee. Looking around, the village was a piece of history, frozen in time. Two even rows of homes that looked similar to her own, one slightly larger one at the back. In front of the larger home was a stage, a podium, and held in glass, the Fabled Staff of Sameness. An excerpt from the Tome of Converts echoed in Aura’s head.


“In Sameness, There is Peace.”


Chairs were beginning to fill at the base of the stage, and each family sat alphabetized by foal’s name. Night Aura sat somewhere near the back middle. She just had to be patient. It wasn’t long that chairs were filled up, and an older unicorn dressed in Clergy robes stepped onto the stage. His robes were similar to what each foal wore, but more regal and well kept.

The murmurs in the crowd silenced as he stepped to the podium, clearing his throat. “We are gathered here today to witness many young foals be Unmarked and step into the journey of Repurposing! You will each be called by name, Unmarked, and asked for your re-education plans. It is with sincerity I offer each of you my congratulations! Remember why we go through the Unmarking Ceremonies, my little ponies. In Sameness There is Peace.” He said. The crowd uttered it back. “Before we start, you may feel odd during the process and after! This is common, and you should feel better by the end of the next day. Our only rule is not to speculate as to where we keep your marks. It is for your safety and well being.”
 
The first pony stood, overjoyed, and nearly stumbled onto the stage. From the glass, the old stallion unicorn levitated the Staff of Sameness. “Before you is the Staff of Sameness. Do you accept its purification?” the old stallion asked. The foal eagerly nodded, bowing.
 
With a flash, magic burst from the staff, striking the young foal. He raised off the stage, a glow emanating from his cutie mark. It was a constellation of sorts. It peeled off, almost like a sticker, a thin line of magic trying to tether it to his flank. The tether snapped audibly, and in its place an equal sign appeared. The foal looked pained, and Aura tried to ignore his expression. It would only make her nervous.
 
The foal stood back on the stage when his cutie mark had been removed, and placed in a glass container on the stage. “Now, young boy. Tell me, where do you wish to re-educate?” the old unicorn asked. 

The young stallion didn’t hesitate to answer. “I wish to serve under the Clergy of Starlight, specifically, her Order of Kindness.” he said, smiling widely. The unicorn smiled and offered the foal one last congratulations, before politely showing him the way off the stage.





Before long, it was Night Aura’s turn. She squeaked with joy and strode up the stage steps with pride. “Night Aura. Before you is the Staff of Sameness. Do you accept its purification?” he asked. 

Just as eagerly as the foals before her, she nodded with a quick “Yes!,” her face reddening lightly at her obvious excitement.
 
The stallion nodded, the staff lighting up. She lifted off the stage, and suddenly, she could feel her body ablaze with the staff’s magic, coursing through her body, pulsing in her horn, and then finally, the feeling of peeling on her flanks. It felt? Draining. She remembered the first-to-go’s pained expression, and now knew why he and the others had all made the same face. She inhaled through her teeth as she could feel the last tether of magic trying to keep her cutie mark on her. She furrowed her brows and forced the tether away, the snap of it louder than anypony else’s.
 
She felt her hooves meet with the stage, and felt weakened. “Miss Night Aura. Tell me, where do you wish to re-educate?” the old unicorn had asked. She shook her head of the weakness she felt, and answered. 

“I wish to serve under the Clergy of Starlight, under the Order of Equality.” She smiled at the old unicorn. You could see in his smile, a sense of pride. While it was the hardest order to get into, it was highly revered and honored, and she guessed he served under the Order she aspired to. 

They carried on Starlight’s work, and she couldn’t wait to do the same. He nodded and beamed with pride as she stepped off the stage, looking longingly at her new found equal sign.