Silver and I moved into an apartment in Canterlot. He got a job as an assistant to a scientist while I studied day and night. Every day I would learn a new spell, developing my magical ability even further, until one day when I knew I was close to my goal.
I started to write a spell that could take away the cutie mark of a pony, and replace it with an equal sign. It took a while, but I finally understood the science behind the marks. Simply taking away the cutie mark of a pony would cause the pony to lose all their magic. However, if I could give my equal sign cutie mark, they would be strip from everything that made them unique. They would walk the same speed, have the same amount of magic and be no different from any pony else.
As I finish the spell, Silver walks through the door. ‘Hey Aria! How’s studying?’
‘I told you to call me Starlight. I don’t want anyone to know I was a siren. They might recognize the name Aria Blaze’ I say, ‘and my studying has been going great. How is work?’
Silver looked upset when I mentioned work. ‘Is everything alright?’ I ask
‘It’s just that I don’t feel important at work. It feels like I am just some kid to the professor.’
‘So…you don’t feel…equal?’
‘Exactly! I’m so glad you understand.’
This gave me the perfect opportunity to test out my spell. ‘You know what? I think I’ll go for my hourly stroll now. I need to give my legs some work too.’ I say.
Silver didn’t seem to suspect a thing. ‘Okay. Be back soon!’
I grab my saddlebag and head outside. I trot down the streets until I see the lab that Silver Comet works at. When I enter, I see a stallion working on some invention.
‘Hello? Would you happen to be the professor?’ I ask
The stallion turns around to reveal his yellow coat, curly white mane and beard and his brown vest. That is definitely what I imagined him looking like!
‘Yes? I am the professor’ the stallion replies.
‘Hi. I am Starlight Glimmer and I was hoping that you could help me with something: an experiment I am working on.’
‘I would be happy to help.’
‘Great! Could you stand still for a moment?’
The Professor stands in place. I take out a glass jar from my saddlebag and lay it on the table nearly.
‘What kind of experiment is this?’ asks the Professor.
‘It is hard to explain. You’ll see’ I say.
I start to concentrate all my magic into my horn. Once it fully charges, I shoot the beam at the Professor, my eyes fixed at his cutie mark. Slowly but surely, his cutie mark starts to peel of his body like a sticker. Once it is completely removed, I fill the empty space on his flank with an equal sign and drop the cutie mark into the glass jar, making sure to tighten the lid so that it doesn’t get out.
The professor collapses on the ground while I bask in the glory of my first equalized friend. I finally did it! I turn to the table and start to admire the cutie mark trapped inside the jar. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
‘Professor? Sorry but I left my-‘says the voice
I turn around to find myself facing Silver ‘Aria? What are you doing here?’
I didn't know what to say. His eyes shift from me to the equalized professor to the jar on the table. ‘Aria, what have you done?’
‘I removed his cutie mark!’ I say with excitement, ‘Now you both can be equal’
His eyes look into mine with horror. ‘Are you CRAZY! This isn't what I wanted!’
I take a step back. I notice his eyes shift somewhere else. I follow his eyes to find myself looking speechlessly at my flank. Is this…my cutie mark?
‘You got your cutie mark…by taking someone else’s.’ Silver says in disbelief.
I couldn't tell if he was happy or angry, but he was definitely dumbstruck. He shakes himself out of his shock, ‘Aria, how did you take someone’s cutie mark away?’ he asks, worried.
‘Isn't it amazing? This is what I have been studying since we moved to Canterlot!’
‘THIS is what you have been using up all your time for?!’
My smile starts to disappear, ‘I thought you would be happy.’
‘How could I be happy?! You took the very individuality of some pony!’
Before I could reply, he charged at the table, knocking down the jar and releasing the cutie mark, which makes its way back to the professor.
‘What did you do THAT for?’ I ask, ‘My plan was working!’
‘Plan?! Aria, snap out of it! You don’t need power. We could live together, right here in Canterlot ’ Silver runs to the professor, helping him off the floor.
‘I got this cutie mark for a reason. Your cutie mark shows your talent in inventing and experiments. Mine shows a gift in magic. This is my path, and if you won’t follow it with me, stay out of my way!’
Before he could say another word, I run out of the building. I get to my apartment; shove whatever I think I would need into my saddlebag and race out.
I head to the train station as fast as possible and get on the nearest train I could find.
‘Excuse me but do you know where this train is leading to?’ I ask a pony sitting near me.
‘This train is going to Neighagra Falls.’
What will I do once I get there?