//------------------------------// // ACTUAL equal Friendship? // Story: Pony POV Princess Twilight's Lightly visits to Grim Worlds // by Alex Warlorn //------------------------------// 'Testing, testing, 1,2,3? Dear, can you hear me?' Diamond blinked looking around. Silver was currently sleeping while she kept watch, they had plans, but they needed to rest like anyone. "Hello?" 'Good! You can here me!' "Who are you?" 'It is I, the one and only Spirit of Chaos and Supreme giant hat, Discord! Long story short, Diamond, we have a bit of a link, and even while in this statue, I can speak with you.' "Hey! Since when can he do that?! You were saying 'no new powers'!" "It's not NEW, Discord has a link to Diamond because she's descended from his mortal mother Shady, he's just never had REASON to use it...until I implied he could..." "So now Discord is going to reveal he was never locked up and break free and curbstomp everypony, right?!" "No, he still needs HELP to be free." 'Oh good! You have plans to put Little Miss 'Everything Must Be Equal!' out of business. We are OH so on the same page. I do hope in the end Celly let's ME be the one to decide her punishment! Allow me to give you a little advice dear: before you head north, there are a few things I think you can do to throw a gigantic wrench in her plans...' --- 'Hey! No fair! We're supposed to be the one to let them save the day!' 'You really don't understand our ACTUAL job, do you? --- Diamond and Silver, with guidance from Discord, exploited one thing about THIS kind of utopia: paranoia. And if there was one thing the Spirit of Chaos knew how spread a little disorder. The next morning, the group found the local 'Re-education' chamber burned to the ground (the pony who'd happened to be in it missing). Diamond Tiara had enjoyed doing that. That horrid place that'd replaced her parents with those smiling strangers. The guards of the local Cutie Mark vault, having been brought down to the lowest common denominator, had been tricked into leaving them chamber for the moment it took for whoever had done this to steal a number of Cutie Marks. Starlight Glimmer wasn't sure what to think that HERS had been among them. On the wall had been left a note. It told how the perpetrator had kidnapped the pony who'd been in the Re-education Chamber along with two foals named Diamond and Silver Spoon with intent to 'teach them a Cutie Mark wasn't something to be ashamed of' and that 'we're still with you'. And loaded with so many red herrings it looked like there wasn't one pony in town that wasn't a suspect. While Ponyville became a Witch Hunt, the two little fillies that'd escaped fled north, their Cutie Marks back where they belonged, several others in their hooves. Some they had no intention of using, some they did. Dinky Do walked with them. Even with her mother 'normal', even without the teasing, without the pain...the filly had NEVER stopped saying how this was wrong...Derpy had been special. She'd been her mother. Now her mother loved her 'equally' as everypony else...her mother wasn't her. Her REAL mother would never have let her be put in that awful Re-education Chamber. EVER. That smiling face wasn't her mother. And she was right. Dinky had insisted they try to reach her mother before they left (keeping it secret they were working along and not with somepony else)...in the end, it turned out that her daughter saying those words to Derpy was all it took to break her free of conditioning and north with the fillies. "If being normal...if not being made fun of...if it means my little girl can't recognize me anymore, then this isn't RIGHT...I'd rather be a good mother than be normal," Derpy told them, crying heavily. Derpy took back her talent...along with rejecting the 'equality' she'd traded it for. And not one part of her regretted it. Though it had taken some changes to the note... Starlight had always underestimated one possibility: that she might not be correct. That love and friendship could exist with difference...or that somepony would rather be different and have the love that meant most to them than be the same as everyone else. "Why did you have us steal Cutie Marks we don't even know who they are?" Diamond asked, her team already aware of that fact. It'd been strange...but then again, this was DISCORD. 'Simple, dear. The 'perpetrator' would naturally steal back their OWN mark, so with more missing, that means they don't know where exactly to point their hooves. The more ponies they think they CAN'T trust, the longer our little distraction will keep them occupied.' "I guess that make sense. But why steal that witch's mark?" "Simple: she took Fluttershy from me, your parents from you, so we're taking a little something from HER to see how she likes it...plus, once we manage to turn the tables and free dear Fluttershy and her friends, she won't be able to use that stupid spell of hers on her own to cheat back. That, and with as paranoid as that Starlight Glimmer is, her Cutie Mark having been taken should ensure quite a few nights without sleep...speaking of which..." "I got them too," said Diamond Tiara, looking back to see two Cutie Marks, one of a sun, one of the moon. 'Good, now follow my instructions exactly...' Somehow, with Discord's aid, the three children managed to write messages on the Princesses Cutie Marks and release them. "How did we write messages on their Cutie Marks?" Dinky asked. "I don't know, Discord told me how...and he's Discord..." The next day, the re-education chamber the Princesses had been in was found blown to atoms, the two had escaped. And another note casting more confusion on everything left behind. - Deus bounced in place like Pinkie on a sugar high. "Finally, some action! Okay, so now can the princesses use their super princess powers and fry all the bad guys?" Amicitia groaned. "Why, of course they could... or maybe they wouldn't, because that would be *totally out of character*!" The teenage Alicorn blinked several times, pointing a hoof. "Um, you have a..." Amicitia sighed. "Soapbox. I know..." "Not that!" said Deus more urgently. Amicitia looked over her shoulder, then gasped, teleporting out of the way of a vicious swipe of claws. "You?! What do you think you're doing?" "I am doing what I was reborn to do," said the large grey wolf with the terrifying grin full of sharp fangs, and the Equal mark branded on his flank. "No more, no less. Why should I treat Alicorns any differently?" "Um, good doggie?" said Deus hopefully. "How is this even possible?" said Amicitia, her mind racing as she tried to think of places to escape on one hoof, and possible distractions on the other. An idea came to mind... "And don't you think this is just a teensy bit hypocritical, you being a lone wolf with all those powers?" The wolf smiled a notch more, somehow. "I begged my Princess of Sameness for that very blessing, but she would not let me become a mortal pony. Until every threat to equality is erased, the Equal Wolf will still be needed. Now, hold still while I delete all of the things that make you falsely believe you are wiser and more special than other ponies. The two of you will be the Princesses of Sameness for your own worlds." "Bad doggie!" cried Deus. "You're a bad dog!" She grinned naughtily. "Suddenly, there were ten million zillion Gundams there, ready to punish the bad doggie!" "GUNDAMS AREN'T EVEN A PART OF THIS SETTING!!!" - The Equal Wolf calmly swiped his claws, removing the gundams from existence. "Go, Fixer Sue. Stop the bad dog!" A neon pink alicorn that was also half-changeling and part draconequus with all the powers of Celestia, Luna and Discord lifted a keyblade and- The Wolf just erased it as well. "STOP HIM!" Some sort of strange amalgam of Equestrian creatures that hurt even Amicita's eyes to look at flew/ran/swam at the wol- It was erased in the same instant. "You're going to get fat if you keep eating them like that!" It was a childish taunt, but it was the only thing Deus had done that the Wolf couldn't erase. "I do not get fat from erasing these things," he smirked a bit. "Though they do taste good." His expression turned much more serious. "Now, enough of this nonsense; my goddess will greatly reward me for stop you." He charged forward, only to run headlong into a barrier of magical energy. Amicita, her face scrunched up in concentration, had her mind cycling through every minor variation of the shield spell she knew. And, as the concept of magic, that was quite a large number. "Stop this, you are in violation of your duty to Rota Fortuna!" "I have long since severed ties with my mother," there was a twinge of sadness in the Wolf's voice as he spoke. "She could not understand, what I was offered... I made my choice." He slammed against the barrier once more, actually managing to phase partially through it before Amicita could find a variation he hadn't been stopped by before. "Give up, accept your new destiny; embrace Equality and become-" "CELESTIA OUT OF BUCKING NOWHERE!" "What?" Before the Wolf could say more than that, a pair of white hooves slammed into his midsection and kicked him away from the shield bubble. True to Deus's scream, Princess Celestia herself (minus her usual gold barding) now stood between the two of them and the Wolf. The princess actually spared a smile, a genuine and knowing one, for Amicita before she turned back to the Equal Wolf. "I- What- She- HOW?!" Amicita looked toward Deus, who was smiling like mad and practically dancing in place. "I did it! I did it! YATTA!" Amicita, her mind still reeling, looked to the story world, checking a few minutes back. ---------- "Are you sure you trust him, Sister?" Luna, lacking her usual royal apparel, stood beside her similarly naked sister. Before the pair of them was a swirling pool of chaos, one they were both considering entering. "He didn't have to help us if he wanted us out of the way, Luna." Though her old confidence was returning, Celestia couldn't quite shake her own doubts. "And, if what he tells us is true, then their efforts will be for naught unless we play our part." "Discord has betrayed us in the past," she pointed out. "And, with out us, it would only leave Cadance to stand against him. She is not ready for a battle like that. And, even if he were being entirely truthful in what he said, we would no longer be able to assist our subjects until things are corrected." Celestia nodded, looking at the portal a moment longer. "So many ponies have faith in us, Luna. I think it's time we had a little faith in them." And, with that, she flew into the portal, leaving this level of reality behind for the moment. ----------- Amicita blinked, turning back to see Luna appearing now as well, then looking at Deus. "Well... he was just erasing anything I could make, so I figured I could bring in them to help... and you never actually said what the notes Discord's group left on their cutie marks actually said..." Amicitia blinked again, then slowly smiled. "No, no I didn't." - Celestia wished she had time to say some wise words to the foolish and childish incarnation of her former student Deus Ex Machina and words of encouragement to Amicitia for talking the line Celestia herself walked every day. "This is madness Wolf, you are supposed be beyond the command or corruption of ANY concept. We MADE YOU that way so none of us could use you as a tool for our own designs." - The Equal Wolf paced restlessly, growling. "You made me mighty and immortal... but I am not one of you. I can choose!" He turned aside, head low, snarling. "I can regret. I regret the thousands upon thousands of years I spent with a heart of stone, without a single friend. Mother did not make me that way, but she considered it my choice. So long as I did my job." He rolled his eyes, jaws still locked in that ghastly grin. "What changed, Sir Wolf?" said Luna, in a tone strangely calm and quiet for her. She spread her wings, and cool soothing clarity seemed to spread through the aether, touching all of them. "They changed me," the Wolf muttered quietly, looking off into the distance again. "Twilight Sparkle... her magic, her enchanted castle found me. Applejack told them truthfully that I meant no harm to them or Equestria. Rainbow Dash promised to kick my flank if I played them false. Rarity gave me the benefit of the doubt, Fluttershy treated me kindly, and Pinkie Pie... never gave up trying until she got me to smile. What was I to do, when they came back from *that place*, promising a wonderful gift for me and all of their friends? How could I refuse?" Celestia came to stand beside her sister, gently projecting warmth and life. "And those unique qualities you saw in them, that allowed them to become your friends... do you still feel them now?" "No!" said the Wolf, shuddering. "I do not even know them now! I..." The Equal Mark on his flank glowed brightly, making him howl in pain. "Stop me... Please!" "There will never be another Wolf in another world line anywhere across time and space that suffers the fate of you. You have my word," Celestia said. Amicitia whispered, "You're worried, if you erase your equal mark, the splash damage will erase your friendship with them, since it was your friendship that left you open." - The Equal Wolf look at Amicitia, his eyes full of pain and anger and regret. "You know I am, you know what friendship is; that wondrous, beautiful thing, worth more than anything I have ever been offered in my duties. I can't risk it... I can't... I can't lose their friendship!" Madness slowly seeped into the Wolf's gaze, only offering two final words to the gathers alicorns. "I'm sorry." With a howl that rivaled the most bitter and violent of harsh, winter winds, the Equal Wolf charged forward through the comforting waves of the two princesses. It was only a timely shield from Amicitia that kept him from sinking his innumerable teeth into them; however, even as vast as her knowledge as the concept of magic was, there were still only a finite number of variations she could use on the same spell to keep the Wolf at bay... and that number was shrinking far more rapidly than she was comfortable with. Deus, meanwhile, was basically trying to do her best to hide from the Wolf. She didn't know any more magic than Amicitia did, and anything she could make up had been erased by the Wolf time and time again. She'd hoped that bringing in the princesses would solve the problem, since she still remembered her time as Twilight; learning under Celestia and befriending Luna. They had always seemed to have the answers when she didn't know them... but now... She didn't want to think about it too hard. Instead, she just looked back to the world they had been trying to save. It had provided inspiration for her actions once already, but maybe it could again. "Why did you have us steal Cutie Marks we don't even know who they are?" Deus blinked, that one line sticking out to her, then glanced back at the Equal Wolf. As a being outside of most realities, she was aware of the various incarnations of the semi-existent pony known as 'Snow Bound'; the form the Wolf took whenever he wanted to interact with ponies not aware of his normal existence. And, he was aware that -- as a pony -- he also had a Cutie Mark of his own... and getting one back had been enough to break the princesses free of their 'reeducation'... And, as with the notes on the princesses' Cutie Marks, it had never been established what they ones they carried were... But it couldn't be that easy a fix... could it? The being in question was Discord after all, and his influence had already let her bend the rules just enough to get the princesses here... and keep the Equal Wolf occupied. And, while she could probably just send another Fixer Sue with him busy with the other three alicorns, he would be able to undo anything her Sue could accomplish if he popped back into the world while the four of them were stuck here. He couldn't erase something that was already established in the world. Deus gulped, then looked back at the 'battle' to keep the Wolf at bay... they didn't have a lot of options. So, using the same technique she'd seen Amicitia use before, Deus whispered into the ear of Discord. "Time to let another one go." She just hoped it would be enough. - "Let another one go," echoed Discord's voice in Diamond Tiara's ear. In the secret rebel base... well, an abandoned house in Canterlot, really, Diamond tore her gaze from the chaos portal and considered their bag of liberated cutie marks. "Why? Which one?" "Oh, just pick any of them. It'll be the right one." An overly dramatic sigh went through her head. I'm going to owe my sister for this, I just know it." So Diamond Tiara reached blindly into the bag and pulled out a mark that looked like a wagon wheel with fancy magic runes and four slash marks. She tossed it in the air, and instead of flying out the window, it sailed into the portal and vanished. "Was... that supposed to happen?" asked Silver Spoon. Outside reality, Amicitia’s last shield popped. Celestia and Luna stepped in front of her, Luna summoning an ice barrier and Celestia reluctantly ready to burn the Wolf to ash… And suddenly, the missing mark shot through the other side of the portal, arced towards the Equal Wolf, and struck home. A brilliant glow lifted the Wolf up, then burst in a blinding flash. While the four Alicorns squinted and blinked, the Blank Wolf stood transfixed, his fur once again snowy white. “They were not good friends to me that day,” he murmured, as if he was just now realizing it. “I trusted them, and they betrayed me. Why, then…” He clenched his forepaws, claws scraping bits of the “ground” out of existence. “Why do I want to give them another chance? So they can betray me again? Why do I still want to save them?” Then he froze, because Deus had just run up and glomped him in a great big hug. "Don't worry, Mr. Wolf! Whatever happens, I'll still be your friend!" "You are a foreign presence. I am the Wolf.” He twitched, then shouted, “Are you insane?!" loud enough to blow her mane back. Deus smiled warmly, shaking her head. "I know I mess up a lot. I just want so much for everybody to stop being all dark and sad that I skip too many steps and a Wolf says no and I have to start again and try a lot harder, but I won't give up and I won't stop trying, because I'm the Princess of Friendship, you know?" The Wolf gently slipped loose from Deus’s hug and patted her on the head with a huge paw. “I will remember that. I might yet lose my first friends, but I will not if I can help it.” He glanced aside. “Forgive me, Mother, but I cannot return to my proper duties just yet.” Back in the rebel hideout, Celestia and Luna emerged from the portal, and then one more pony followed before the portal sealed itself shut… a stark white earth pony stallion with a jet black mane, wearing the wheel and slashes mark on his flank. He carried a bag in his teeth, and he set the bag down on a table before turning to Diamond Tiara and nodding respectfully. “Thank you, young one,” he growled. “I am Snow Bound. In that bag are the cutie marks of the Princess of Sameness and her council. I was given those marks to hide them far away from Equestria. I now entrust them to you.” - Deus looked on. "So...what now?" "Simple...the ball is in Discord's court," said Amicita, watching. Inside reality: 'Now, dears, what we need is something to deal with the weakened Elements, Rainbow Powers, what have you.' "But what else is there? They're the ELEMENTS?" Diamond questioned. 'Oh dear dear dear, you're insulting the Elements of Harmony with that comparison. The 'Elements of Equality' are watered down versions powered by extremism, not TRUE friendship. Even I can see that. Dangerous, yes, but as powerful? Not in the least. We just need the right kind of magic to counteract them. Perhaps a little blast from the past is what's in order...Tell Celly and Lulu we're going to need some other artifacts of amazing power since I'm presently out of action.' While the group departed, they burned down another 'reformation' clinic. Discord had learned from his brother that a rebellion needed to spark more rebellion and what better sign of rebellion than burning down the symbol of oppression. And leaving another red herring filled letter. - Amicitia thought about how she and her friends, brainwashed, had insidiously and efficiently indoctrinated Ponyville, Starlight herself now just another brainwashed Equal Pony. And with how the ponies had Discord, and the princesses on their side, Amicitia was SINCERELY perplexed why they weren't just going for the throat since the average in anything and everything with no strengths or weaknesses indoctrinated ponies had failed in every regard to halt one VERY determined spoiled filly and her friend and now had three gods on their side. Except...Amicitia remembered that the brainwashed Equal Six began transforming ponies into Alicorns, the goal being to create an entire world of Princesses of Sameness. Cheerilee would be just the first. Still, at this point, it was rather transparent than the Equalist hold on Equestria was a straw dragon. And it was doubtful the freed gods would sit around waiting for nothing until Concepts of Equality, Sameness, Conformity, etc, were churned out like robots on an assembly line. Whatever the case, it was rather transparent that the Equality's days of rule were numbered. Amicitia didn't want to admit it, but Deus Ex Machina HAD saved her, and in a way that didn't contradict what had been established. Where was she anyway? Amicitia noticed she was next to another world line...it looked like, she had CREATED a new one...And...she was crying? "Deus...what happened?" "Hoops, Score, Touch-Down . . ." "...Did you have something horrible happen to them for how they've acted?" "No...that...that was problem . . . I...I thought I could just make a world where they'd never been bullies and . . ." I looked. Nightmare Moon had ruled a chilling Equestria for years. A moon now as strong as possible with the stars still visible and nocturnal plants and animals reigned supreme. Spitfire and others chaffing over their new title 'Shadowbolts.' (And Spitfire thought the purple and black uniform was garish). Their new commander was...RAINBOW DASH!? Who'd brag all day about how better she was than everypony around her? Discord had rampaged through half of Equestria...until he was stopped by Cadence...at which point Nightmare Moon stuck as her 'replacement' and imprisoning the exhausted Temperance Arcana Alicorn. King Sombra ruled the north and the Crystal Empire with it with an iron hoof. The crystal ponies themselves wondering if an insane goddess who demanded constant worship and unconditional love was better than the combined sum of their worst fears given a form and Ego. Chrysalis and her changelings had CALLED OFF their invasion of Equestria, leaving only a hoofful of spies in place, Equestria no longer the land of milk and honey to conquer. And Tirek...Amcitia shuddered. Amicitia didn't want to see how his rampage would be different. She thought she saw Nightmare Moon using Cadence as a living weapon against hi regardless of her odds. Or Nightmarae Moon and Tirek making out, Amicitia didn't know which was worse. There were rebel groups...Hoops, Score and Touchdown being major players among them. And there was Gilda there as well. And, STARLIGHT GLIMMER?! Apparently there was nothing equal abut endless night and tyrants ripping apart Equestria for themselves. Sunset Shimmer...she'd never bow to anypony...She'd been trapped on this side of the mirror with Sombra, and had become the rebel leader of the Crystal Ponies. But never once had she lost sight of her goal of becoming the new sun, rather than rescuing the old sun from Nightmare Moon's seal. Applejack...was Nightmare Moon's reluctant but obedient little mouth piece among Equestria's elite, never having left Manehatten. Pinkie Pie had never left the rock farm. Fluttershy's cutie mark wasn't of butterflies. Twilight Sparkle was just an archivist. Rarity was a sculpture, her talents noticed by Nightmare Moon and made her personal artesian. Trixie had been Princess Celestia's apprentice, along with Spike...they were also part of the rebels. But Trixie didn't try very hard to say who she was. She blamed herself for her second mother's vanishing more than any other. And Gilda and Fluttershy had NEVER been friends with Rainbow Dash. But they had been close friends with each other. After all, socially abused wall flowers had to stick together. "Dues...WHAT DID YOU DO!?" "I DIDN'T MEAN ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN! I PROMISE! I JUST! I JUST made Hoops, Score and Touchdown not turn out to be such big bullies! I thought it would make the world a better place." Amicitia looked along the world lines. "...Oh no. With the trio not teasing Gilda, Rainbow had no reason to come to her rescue. Nor stand up for Fluttershy if they never teased her. And never have the Sonic Rainboom! Rainbow Dash is always her best when she can think of it as a competition, rivalry or confrontation...without the sports trio to have as her opposite number, she never developed her heroic qualities...and there was no reason for the pegasus race, and so, no Sonic Rainboom...So Twilight never became Celestia's apprentice." "PLEASE!!! FIX IT!" Deus cried. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO CREATE ANOTHER WORLD LIKE THIS!" "Okay. Let me think. We need a reason for the Pegasus race and the Sonic Rainboom to still happen. But we also need an opposite number for Rainbow Dash to be set up against so she can develop her instinct for protecting those who can't protect themselves. But that would still leave her not friends with Gilda or Fluttershy." "I couldn't have made it better myself. I don't get she's so upset, I'd give her a medal." "Nyarlathotrot." Amicitia seethed. "Come on, AT LEAST tell me you appreciate the irony that Equestria being the land of lollipops and rainbows hinged on three colts being jackasses to one emotionally fragile filly." - Amicita's horn shown brightly as she stood between Deus and Nyarlathotrot. "You have no right to-" "I have every right, Amicita!" Nyarlathotrot's darkness actually seemed to draw the light away from her horn, dimming its glow. "That world is a perfect example of everything I am; it is you who has no right to be here any longer!" Black tendrils slithers and writhed toward Deus Ex Machina, whose coat was slowly losing it's color. "And now I think it's time for our little friend here to learn just what I have to teach her." A shining shield actually sliced off the tentacles before they could reach her, causing Nyarlathotrot to recoil with a shrieking hiss. Amicita popped into existence between him and the younger alicorn. "You won't touch her, Nyarlathotrot! And this world isn't beyond saving!" Nyarlathotrot actually laughed at this. "Such arrogance, Amicita; then again, you are still a young concept. You haven't learned what it's like to fail in your duties yet." The darkness deepened once again. "I suggest you study closely." Deus, still watching the world she had tried to make a better place, barely seemed to hear any of what was going on behind her. She was too lost in her own failings and was silently sobbing over how badly she'd managed to screw up. 'Well, this is quite the mess, isn't it?' She almost jumped, but her current mindset didn't lend itself well to sudden influxes of emotion, even ones like panic. "Great," she mumbled to herself. "Not only am I a failure, I'm going crazy." 'I've never found anything wrong with a little insanity; but, no, that's not what's happening, Deus.' "I'm talking to myself, that sounds pretty crazy to me." 'I'm not you, though I do enjoy your work. Let's just call me a friend.' Hope flickered somewhere in Deus's heart. "Does that mean you'll help me kick Nyarlathotrot's butt and save the world?" 'Not... exactly; see, I'm kinda his friend too. I enjoy his work as much as I do Amicita's and Fillimon's.' "Who?" 'You'll meet her eventually, I think you'll like her. But that's not important right now. I like you, so I'm going to help you; just not in a way that completely erases this world.' "But... but..." she shook her head, tears flying off her cheeks as she tried to comprehend why this... voice would leave such an awful, horrible world as it is. 'Because it has merit, Deus Ex Machina. Maybe not the kind of merit that those who see it may enjoy, but merit none the less. There are stories to be told here, heroes to be found, and problems to be solved. Nyarlathotrot's influence saturates it, but -- as much as he likes to claim otherwise -- he can not prevent a happy ending.' The voice chuckled slightly. 'Don't tell him I said so, but I think he makes happy endings all the more worthwhile. Light a candle in the deepest darkness, and it shines all the brighter.' Light a candle... Deus looked along the worldline, back to when Fluttershy and Gilda had only been friends a short time, her eyes widening and her color seeping back in. 'Now you're catching on.' -------------- "Stupid flight camp, stupid slowpokes, stupid parents for making me do this." Lightning Dust had never been known for an award winning attitude; the child psychologist her parents had sent her to described her as being 'narcissistic', and he had been being polite. He had also suggested that they should try to socialize her with other members of her age group as soon as possible, or the problem would only get worse as she aged. Which meant every summer, much to her grumbling, she was forced to attend flight camp with other pegasi, despite being well above average for her age. Today was just another of the long and boring days, forcing her to sit through pointless lectures about things she already new how to do, time trails she had to sit and wait her turn for, and such basic 'tricks' that she ace the tests in her sleep. However, as she flew around in her spare time (which she had a lot of, not needing to practice nearly as hard as the other foals), her eyes happened to find the school's one gryphon student, and the wallflower she was known to pal around with. Ordinarily, not something she'd give much though to; but the wallflower was trying -- and failing -- to fly a simple course through the cloud rings. The gryphon was encouraging her, but even she winced with the wallflower actually managed to trip and fall into a cloud. It honestly boggled Lightning's mind how anypony even could trip in air! I could do better than that with my eyes closed, she though with a scoff. 'Why not show them how it's done?' It was an offhoof thought; but, then again, she hadn't had a chance to really show off in a while. Might as well have a bit of fun. "You call that flying?" The wallflower curled up into herself as Lightning Dust flew over, while the gryphon just glared. Not the least bit deterred, the braggart smirked at the two of them. "THIS is flying." She shot off so fast, a trail the same color as her mane followed in her wake, actually taking on the appearance of a lightning bolt as she zigged and zagged through the simple course. The expected completion time was about a minute and a half; so, naturally, Lightning was done in about forty seconds. She arrogantly grinned at the stunned looks on both their faces as she landed, brushing off a hoof like the attempt was nothing at all. "Let me know if either of you want to learn how to do some real flying sometime." She went to take off. "Um, I'd like to learn!" Lightning Dust almost faceplanted on the cloud in shock, and even the gryphon seemed surprised; the wallflower... had spoken! "You can talk?" "Um... yes... I just... don't usually. I, um, don't have a lot to say. Except to Gilda, and, I'm- that is- I'm very... shy." The gryphon, who Lightning had to assume was Gilda, put a talon on the wallflower's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it, Fluttershy. You don't have to say a lot." She turned to glare at Lightning Dust now. "And you don't have to put up with her just to learn how to fly." Before Lightning could retort, the wallflower -- Fluttershy -- spoke up again. "But, she's such a good flyer; one of the best in the camp." "Hey, I'm THE best in the camp, and don't you forget it." "Right, um, THE best in the camp. Maybe, um, if she doesn't mind that is, she could... teach us some things. Maybe? Please?" Lightning Dust blinked at the hopeful smile on Fluttershy's face. She would have usually said 'No' and that would have been the end of it... but, then again, her teachers were boring and constantly told her to hold back for the benefit of the other slowpokes, and she needed to burn off all the extra energy she had just to get to sleep most nights. Why not do it with somepony around who could appreciate how awesome she was? "Yeah, sure, I could show you a few things." She chuckled. "Stick with me, and I'll have you flying better than any of these old bags could in years." Fluttershy moved with surprising quickness for a pony who struggled to fly, latching on to Lightning Dust with a hug. "Oh thank you! Thank you so much!" Gilda made her way over a bit slower, still eying Lightning as she did. "Still not sure we're on the same page," she told the turquoise pegasus, "but, if Fluttershy is in, so am I. Somebird has to keep an eye on her." "That's... great." Lightning Dust shifted awkwardly, still being hugged by Fluttershy. "Um... mind getting her off me? Please?" ------------ Deus gulped as her minor alteration rippled through the timeline, unsure what would actually happen when it reached the present. 'Game on, Nyarlathotrot. Let's see just how badly you want to hold onto this world.' Meanwhile, Amicitia had been left arguing with Nyarlathotrot. "I find this rather difficult to believe. How can those three be so important, when Rainbow Dash herself isn't absolutely necessary?" She focused her magic and conjured spot views into many other worldlines. In one, Gilda flew into a power dive after Fluttershy, becoming the first griffon in history to perform a Sonic Rainboom. In another, Lightning Dust dove after Fluttershy, creating what would become known as the Sonic Thunderboom. In a third, a pink and yellow pegasus named Sunder Sky dove after her shy friend Rainbow Sash. Even with so many differences, there was still a rainbow explosion, still six steadfast friends. "Tisk, tisk," said Nyarlathotrot smugly. "Haven't you figured out by now that antagonism is what makes the plot go round?" He brushed each of the bubbles with a oily, dripping tentacle, and now they showed Hoops, Score, and Touchdown calling Gilda a loser pony-wannabe, teasing 'Lightning Bust', laughing at Rainbow Sash for wearing a stylish dress to flight camp. Amicitia frowned sharply. "Then we'll just have to bring out Rainbow Dash's competitive spirit without a bunch of bullies. She needs... a rival." She blinked. "Like Lightning Dust! It could work... We'll need to plan this carefully." A fresh checklist and a quill pen appeared, ready for action. Deus tapped Amicitia's shoulder with a hoof. "I... kinda did that already." "Each independent variable needs to be carefully tracked for the optimum chance of success and... and, you did that already." Deus cringed. "I'm sorry!" Amicitia sighed, then grinned, shaking it off. "Then I guess we're doing this by the seat of our pants." Nyarlathotrot grinned wickedly with a dozen mouths. "I once made a world where ponies actually wear pants. All the time. Want to see it?" "NO!" Before Amicitia could get the full explanation, she sensed something and turned to the timeline next door. "Oh no." What she saw was the Sirens, drawn to Canterlot High by the massive pulse of Dark magic that'd come when Sunset opened the gate back to the ravaged Equestria. Like sharks to blood, the coven came. Thankfully, they were too late to find the portal...but not too late for a Battle of the Bands. Finding an all you can eat buffet laid out for them by Sunset Shimmer before she returned and began leading her rebellion against Sombra, the Sirens chose to stay for a meal and for old time's sake...and happened upon a convenient truth: pop stars in this reality were EXPECTED to have a legion of adoring fans that nearly worshiped them. And teenagers? They were expected to be rowdy by nature. A few arguments and fights were EXPECTED. And that gave Adagio an idea. One brainwashed record company executive (getting an addition was child's play, and would've been even if they hadn't had their weakened magic), and the Dazzlings were on a world tour...and no one gave a second thought to their adoring fans who practically worshiped them. A few rowdy teenagers getting aggressive was nothing too worrying. And only the most paranoid tried to link the coven of sea witches to a rash of riots and civil strife that happened to occur near them. And while it couldn't feed the Sirens directly, recordings of their music carried a trace of their spell, spreading their corruption further, if in a weakened state. Even if the remixes didn't hold their spell, Sonata WAS happy to see such things. While a war or riot was a bigger meal, the time between them meant they couldn't GAIN power, merely get surges to sustain them for a time. While their concerts gained them less at one time, as the shorter time between them ensured their power would GROW, not just FADE. Until finally, one concert, the dam broke, and the Sirens regained their full might. "We will be adored, You'll tell us you want us We won't be ignored, It's time for our reward! Now you need us, Come and heed us, Nothing can stop us now!" No one blinked at the finned wings they gained during that show, believing they were just effects. 'Effects' that they'd make frequent use of...but their power now spread more and more, and even if anyone expected a thing, they were truly unstoppable as it stood now. Even being at the center of a nuclear weapon strike wouldn't kill them, after all, a solar flare couldn't. And that was just as far as they'd gotten. Amicitia saw images of a global war, with the now fully powered Sirens ruling like deities over what remained. Amicitia shuddered. "If Sunset doesn't brings magic to the human world, there will be nothing that can stop the Sirens..." Grimdark himself laughed maniacally. "Two universes for the price of one! Well done, Deus." And it only got worse with Sunset, if she overthrew Sombra and/or Nightmare Moon (a VERY harder task now that Tirek stood alongside her as her personal lover and bodyguard), she'd only replace them, her magic at being able to raise the sun making her the ideal 'new and improved' ruler of Equestria, who'd become the NEW mad goddess demanding blind worship and machine-like obedience from her subjects. "Deus...what did you do with Lightning Dust?" Deus whimpered, then gulped. "I...I made it so she befriended Fluttershy and Gilda in Rainbow's place." Down below, while she got a butterfly in flight for her mark, Fluttershy never lost her kind heart, and still adored animals when she met them years later. "That's...actually good...I think I can work with that!" Amicitia replied. 'Sunset NEEDS an Element to steal...We need six Elements in Ponyville...Applejack's in Manehatten, but her brother is..." "Wouldn't it be the unstallion-like thing to let a unicorn go into Everfree alone?" Big Macintosh took his sister's place as Element of Honesty in Trixie's circle, Trixie herself being Magic. In fact, his honesty that she could trust him was part of why she opened up at all. Amicitia then blinked. "Why were the Wonderbolts having a show in Ponyville that day?" Deus blushed. "Um...I might have whispered a little something in Spitfire's ear about how good it'd be to put on a show for Princess Celestia's in Ponyville...Lightning Dust is STILL a fan and so are Gilda and...well, Fluttershy follows THEM around." Amicitia watched as time filled in, Lightning Dust choosing to go after Twilight, a lifetime of friendship with her 'students' leaving her very loyal to them, and refuse to abandon them for fame. Fluttershy was just as kind as always and still soothed the Manticore. Gilda? She'd was an invaluable ally, but ultimately it was a Generous Dragon who claimed the Element of Generosity, sacrificing a cape the ever hammy Trixie had convinced him to make for HIMSELF (a fact he took great pride in) years ago to repair the Sea Serpent's mustache. Fire forged friendship began to form, but the circle wasn't completed. "That just leaves a Laughter..." Nytholotrot roared in fury. "No! I'm not going to let you!" Amicitia looked to Deus. "Deus, I'll keep Nythy busy, you find a Laughter and find SOME way to get him or her to meet Trixie! Remember, their hearts have to CLICK." Deus gulped as light collided with dark behind. She focused, trying her hardest to find SOME pony who fit the bill. Someone who could possibly do the job. 'Think think think think...wait!' Ponyville needed a ray of laughter, and no Pinkie Pie needed SOMEONE could fill that role. Someone who might have a talent for it but felt he had no place. Someone who existed and just needed a little nudge to be in the right place. After all, he'd become friends easily enough if time progressed as it would have had she not meddled. Nythy roared out as a flash of light erupted outwards, driving him back. "What did you do?!" The deities looked down at the world below. Trixie Midsummer Lulamooon, Celestia's student and Element of Magic. Lightning Dust, egotistical, but ultimately loyal to the friends who got through her shell, the Element of Loyalty. Fluttershy, a shy but kind hearted pegasus, would become the Element of Kindness. Big Macintosh Apple, a pony of few words, but each one honest and true, represented the Element of Honesty. Spike, a dragon with a rarity among his kind, a generous heart, would represent generosity. And Party Favor, who in this reality had moved to quiet little Ponyville as a foal when his mother 'had a nudge' that she and her child would thrive so much better in rural Ponyville, and who had brightened the town up beyond belief with his seemingly limitless amount of tricks with his balloons, would complete the circle with Laughter. "But...but that's not FAIR! Party Favor is meant to be in STARLIGHT'S corner!" Nythy screamed in fury. "Surprise," Deus said, giving a smile. "Nothing said he COULDN'T be, or that when he's not he can't be in Ponyville. Starlight got ponies who didn't have a place to feel their talents were important, or that felt theirs alienated them, so I put him somewhere he'd feel he BELONGED. He did the rest from THERE." "...And she didn't need one jerkflank to do it, Nythy," Amicitia said with a smile. "The sports Trio get their good end too." - "Just a moment, Nyarlathotrot," Amicitia said as she dropped into another worldline. "I think I see more of your handiwork to undo." Scootaloo closed in on the bound Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, hate a cold joy in her heart. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle watched, their eyes wide, more terrified of her in that moment than they'd ever been of Diamond and Silver as they saw their pegasus friend holding a machete in her mouth. "But we'll get our cutie marks -- and get even, too!" Scootaloo told her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders earlier that day. Part of her wondered where the idea was coming from, Dash didn't let her watch horror movies (much), but something about this felt so right. Every memory of abuse and mockery at their hooves filled her mind as she told her friends, "We'll fillysnatch Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, tie them up, and pretend we're gonna kill them!" "Huh?" Sweetie Belle blinked. "Did we hear ya right?" Applebloom said. "Scarin' em is one thing, but that's going kinda far, ain't it?" "Naw! This is just," she thought about the phrase she'd heard Twilight and Dash use, "'scaring them straight'. See, we PRETEND that we'll hurt them unless they apologize. Then when they do we let them go and tell them this was for their own good." Her friends looked skeptical, so she said, "Hey, didn't your big sisters ever tell you that right before they spanked you when you did something wrong? And if, I mean when it works, we'll get our cutie marks." "Ah ain''t so sure Ah'd want a cute mark for this," Applebloom said, but by pure stubbornness and veiled threats Scootaloo got them to agree to trying it. And so it lead here, with the two bullies tied and helpless before them and staring in horror at every edged weapon and tool they'd been able to find. "Please! Scootaloo! Sweetie and Applebloom!" Silver Spoon wriggled against her bonds, stinking where she'd soiled herself. She pleaded as she had for the past few hours, "I, I swear I'll never call you names again if you let us go! Diamond will too! Please!" "The hay I will!" Diamond Tiara snorted at the fillies. Se raged as she'd been raging and hurling insults ever since they caught her. Her ears were flattened in fear and anger as she said, "I'll be even worse to you freaks after this! I'll, I'll, I'LL TELL YOUR BIG SISTERS!" Scootaloo froze, she saw her friends shudder, and Diamond grinned. "I'll tell the Princesses and everypony! My father will sue your families! You're gonna be in SO MUCH TROUBLE! I bet you'll get put in the crazy --" she gulped, shivered, said, "In the royal prison! Or get sent to the moon! Or get turned into stone like nasty old Discord!" She laughed as Scootaloo dropped the machete . "Just think what your sisters are gonna be treated like when everypony knows they have three crazy blank flank fillies for little sisters!" 'Dash will never get into the Wonderbolts', Scootaloo thought, feeling like a pit was opening at her hooves and the choice lay between jumping and falling in. 'Applebloom's family will lose their farm, Sweetie's sis Rarity will never get to work in Canterlot like she wants! And we'll be turned into stone and ponies will be throwing rocks at us for a thousand years!' But not if Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon can't tell anypony, dear! That sick gleeful voice continued to hiss advice as Scootaloo slowly picked the machete back up. That's it, Scootaloo! Save your friends! Save their big sisters and yourself! Nopony would miss THESE two! You have no choice! Strike and save everyone you love! And maybe you will get your cutie mark from this, after all! "I..." Scootaloo forced the words out as she approached the two brats, raising the blade high, "I... have to do this... I have to... save my frien --" Scootaloo, NO! Scootaloo froze as the words of, what, her conscience? A good angel? Said inside her head: "If you do this, you really WILL ruin everypony's lives, yours as well as your friends! They've taunted and teased you but they never, ever, tried to KILL you!" "B-but they said they'd tell... We'll get in trouble..." The trouble you get in for frightening them is nothing next to what will happen if you murder them! And even if you get away with it, do you want to hear them screaming for mercy for the rest of your life inside your memories? Shivering, Scootaloo threw the machete beside and began untying the two bullies. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom helped her, stepping back once they were free. Scootaloo just sat there, head down, too sickened at what she'd been about to do to even care. "You freak!" Her head snapped back as Diamond Tiara hoofed her in the eye. She then ran out of the clubhouse, followed by a terrified Silver Spoon. They didn't run far. Their parents and Rarity and AJ and Dash were out looking for the fillies. The two panicked bullies told everything, and a moment later Sweetie Belle and Applebloom followed to confess what madness had briefly possessed them to their horrified sisters. Back in the clubhouse, Scootaloo sat alone and lost. "They'll hate me." She began to sob, falling on her belly. "Everypony will hate me forever, and they'll be right to do it." No, Scootaloo, that voice said to her, gentle and reassuring. They won't be happy, and it'll take time for them to forgive, but they won't hate you. Not forever. She won't. Scootaloo looked up and saw Rainbow Dash at the door of the clubhouse, her ruby eyes filled with grief and concern. "It takes time, and a lot of work, and support from her loved ones, but Applebloom and Sweetie Belle and especially Scootaloo are able to move past the sickness that ate holes in their minds. Their families love them; their friends support them; and even Princess Luna shows them in their dreams how to become stronger from this. And... I suspect that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon did get an idea of how far they'd gone and stopped going down their trail to destruction as well." "Once again, Nyarlathotrot, you lose." - Amicitia looked at Deus Ex Machina. "Now I guess the question is what to do with you." - Deus was peering into the world that had started all this... "Shh! I wanna see how this turns out..." -- Twilight and her original circle of friends stood on the steps of Canterlot Palace. Each of the six had wings and horns, and their coats had faded to nearly identical shades of pearlescent gray. "We are ponies," they spoke in unison. "Because none of us are special, all of us are special. We have no differences, no divisions. We ARE harmony. Prepare yourselves to join with us." A small herd of rebels stood at the foot of the stairs, led by six unlikely heroes. Time Turner, the Doctor to his friends, had near miraculously evaded every sweep of Ponyville, and now he wore purified Deceit, the Element of Clever Schemes. Derpy Hooves stood beside him, wearing purified Greed, the Element of Sacrifice. Dinky Do nuzzled against her other side, smiling up at her mother. Gilda had come armed for war. Attempts by the equal ponies to convert Griffonstone had only woken the fierce pride of the griffons, something which even most griffons had thought was long since burned out. Gilda wore purified Cruelty, the Element of Discipline. Snow Bound wore purified Anger, the Element of Righteous Wrath. "Surely there's been some misunderstanding," the pale pony muttered, glancing from side to side. "I can't use this. There's no way..." Silver Spoon wore purified Treachery, the Element of Free Will. She still wasn't sure whether it was for sticking by Diamond's side, or for being such a good little rebel. Discord had muttered something about six being an annoyingly large number of slots to fill. And Diamond still wore a tiara, just a fancier version of her cutie mark. Tragedy had brought her here... no one had rushed to turn her into an equal pony because she'd had no friends who'd cared, other than Silver, and she'd resisted attempts to turn her because she had no close bonds with others to exploit. Diamond grinned slyly. "I'm not some big expert on friendship and harmony and all that mushy stuff, but I know now... you equal ponies? You're not it." She opened a satchel and shook its contents out. Six cutie marks flew free, zipping through the air and leaving brilliantly colored trails. Instead of rushing to their owners, though, they assembled into a hexagon formation, and a dense magical seal formed between and around them. "Fire away!" "Harmony," intoned the equal alicorns. A uniform gray beam arced upwards from them, moments away from crashing down on the rebels. The bonds among Diamond's group... some friends, most not quite friends, but joined in common cause... resonated, and a torrent of chaotic rainbow light poured into the circle of cutie marks... which magnified the blast tenfold. The rainbow punched through the gray light like it wasn't even there. - During the cascade of chaotic power, the Six corrupted bearers saw a pony stand before them. Twilight saw Moonlight Sparkle, Pinkie saw Pa Pie, Applejack saw a stallion with her own stetson...which she'd gained a hatred of due to the brainwashing Free Will was doing its best to drive back. Each saw their own father. The entity looked at them. "Fear of losing your parents, fear of losing your friend, fear of losing your daughter, fear of losing yourself, fear of losing what makes you special, fear of evil triumphant. Fears that bind the hearts of Six creatures that stand against this, blech! Perverted order." The ponies who were presently being purified wanted to speak, but fear seemed to suddenly seize their tongues. Fluttershy saw her father look to her through disapproving eyes. "I thought better of you six...especially you, Fluttershy. I am aware Buddy's Wife doesn't make personal appearances to all who are hit by HER Rainbow, but I feel this calls for a special touch..." Havoc clapped his hooves together. Each of the six fallen heroes witnessing a different fear. Scootaloo's now deeply, FORCIBLY suppressed, but all too real fear of her 'big sister' being replaced by a smiling stranger. Applebloom's and Sweetie Belle's of the same. Twilight the fears of Princess Celestia at losing another precious student she'd loved to evil. Fluttershy of Discord, fearing his friend wouldn't be saved, even if he would never admit it. Pinkie Pie felt the fear of all those who's lives she'd touched in her life, who now feared her loss. Especially two little foals who wondered why their Auntie Pinkie Pie wasn't the mare they'd grown up loving. These fears and more cut through Starlight's conditioning swifter than the Elements that were currently defeating them ever could. "Fear of being rejected. A fundamental fear. One all beings possess. But not one that RULES over all beings as it does over Miss Starlight Glimmer's mind like a false idol. It has its uses...but the secret to fear, my little ponies? Fear Uncontrolled Is Fear THAT Controls, Fear Heeded Can Be A Great Teacher. But Fear Controlled Is A World Class Co-Pilot, Guiding And Motivating But Never Controlling." None of them could reject this truth. It was. "Starlight Glimmer is a mare controlled by her idol of fearing rejection, both for herself and others. She is controlled by fear, that fear controlled you, now you are free...the question is, My Little Ponies, what are you going to do now? You damaged the world, are you simply going to let it stay damaged." The Six Elements of Harmony, basking in the glow of their dark twin, reverted back to their proper form as Fear Himself retreated back into the collective that had called down his power. - Diamond Tiara said, "All right, time for these six to rediscover the TRUE magic of friendship." With that, the six cutie marks went back to their respective owners, returning them to normal. Time Turner then said, "Oh, and Starlight Shimmer, in case you're wondering how five separate ponies and a griffon managed to overcome the power of equality like that, it's BECAUSE we're all so different. Sure, sometimes these differences cause friends to disagree with each other, but every time that happens, they're able to bounce back, and their friendship becomes that much stronger. Compared to that, your magic of equality is about as strong as wet tissue paper." "She's...she's not here..."Twilight said, looking at her five friends, still with horns and wings, Alicornfication remains a one-way street. "She's just part of the horde now." "Horde?" Time Turner asked. "We've got BIG problems." Rainbow Dash got to her hooves, her legs shaking, Gilda helped her stand. "We . . .have a lot of company coming...us getting the lobotomized pieces of our souls back triggered a red flag." "Cutie Mark Crusaders Equalist Alicorns! Yea!" "You all need to be taught a lesson equal treatment." Smiled the Equalist Princess Cheerilee as she teleported onto the top of a roof. "I love all you mares equally." Said a Equlist Ryujin Prince Spike, spreading his wings, casting a shadow over the heroes. "You will be assimilated into the equals collective and have cake, which shall be baked! Ha! That joke is as good as any of yours." Equal Prince Cheese Sandwich laughed. "Now Silver Spoon." "Now Diamond Tiara." "Stop this nonsense and GROW UP and be equal to your fellow ponies instead of spoiled elitists." Said Four Equalize Alicorns that made Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara's blood breeze. "No more fighting over tastes in music that can drive friendships apart." Equals Princesses Octavia and Vinyl. "You will be right in the head. Once all conflicting thoughts are dead." Equals Princess Zecora. "We serve and obey." Said Equalist Princess Starlight Glimmer. "No more making other ponies feel inferior with better or worse fashions being 'in' or 'out.'" Equals Princess Coco. "No more divisions of wealth between the haves and have nots." Equals Princess Mayor Mary Mare. "Why do you seek to destroy paradise?" Equalist Princess Twilight Velvet/Starlight Sparkle. And the horde kept coming. "And we...are in for the fight of our lives." Rainbow Dash said, her horn glowing. - "This might not be a good time to fight," Time Turner said. "Sometimes you need time to plan things out." "Stay close to Mommy Muffin," Derpy stepped in front of her daughter. "Princess Twilight, you had that Rainbow Power. You were everywhere when you beat Tirek and were giving ponies their magic back." "It might technically be within us. But I'm not sure how to activate it other than the original way." Diamond Tiara and SIlver Spoon had recovered from their shock, near identical haughty looks appeared on their faces. "I don't see what the big deal is," Silver Spoon said. "These nouveau equalists have already shown they're just poseurs." "Right, Silver. I mean the blank Flanks still think of themselves Cutie Mark Crusaders. And Miss Cheerilee still trying to force lessons down ponies throats. No pony cares Miss Cheerilee. And those two," Diamond gestured at Octavia and Vinyl," still all about music." "You shall care. All shall care. All shall care equally." Princess Cheerilee said, her face and emotions not reacting at all. "And you should know better than to try your bully tactics on a teacher little one. Now I'll have to give you a time out." Twilight teleported Diamond Tiara out of the way before she could be blasted into a stone statue. "Don't underestimate 'em," Applejack said, "Since there can only be one Alicorn of somethin', we let 'em keep tiny traits of themselves before we were gonna 'remove the inperfections.' And that makes them much more dangerous." - "So, they're hypocrites then," Time Turner observed. "Always wonderful to have to deal with them. Everyone is equal, everyone has shed their former selves, but everyone still keeps a bit of the stuff they want to get rid of." "Actually," Twilight said, "It's like say Sugar Belle being Our Town's baker, it's her job, but she's no more good or bad at it than any creature." "We didn't create the rules of alicorn transformation," Mayor Mare said. "What are you the alicorn of...?" "Bureaucracy, " Twilight provided as she tried to come up with a plan. "Hey, Princess Twilight, is my father the Alicorn of me?" "What? No, Diamond Tiara, I'm fairly certain he's the Alicorn of Business transactions. There's so many it's hard to keep track." "Thank you," Diamond Tiara's voice shifted from a whisper to a whine. "Daddy! Miss Cheerilee tried to turn me to stone!" "And you say you rejected Equality based simply on your daughter?" Rarity whispered to Derpy. "Perhaps we can reach our families that way." "Apple Bloom," Applejack shouted. "Ah am speaking to you as both your sister and the Element of Honesty. Yah know that a fake Cutie Mark can make yah do all kinds of stupid stuff. Yah seen it happen with me, and yah had it happen to you. That mark on yer flank ain't nothin's but a real specific type of Cutie Pox!" - Applebloom looked like her mind was about to crash. "But...but sis, yah said..." "Ah know what Ah was said...Ah was wrong," Applejack said, opening her wings to reveal an eye in each one, looking into it. "Ah did you wrong, Ah did Granny wrong, Ah did Big Mac wrong. And that ain't a lie." Rarity simply teleported up to the Alicorn of Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle, hit me." The little Alicorn blinked, taking a step back. "W-What?" "It's what you came here for, isn't it?" Rarity said. "...But just know this...I hurt you. I FAILED as a big sister. I did the one thing no big sister should ever do. I made you LESSER...and I'm sorry...and if equality is perfection, how could you ever call THAT perfect?" "Squirt!" Rainbow Dash called, tears in her eyes, looking at Scootaloo. "...I failed you..." Scootaloo looked like she'd just seen the moon during the day. "R-Rainbow Dash? You're...you're crying?" "I'm crying because I told you I'd be your big sister and instead turned into the very thing I promised I'd never be: the bad guy! I said I'd never betray the Princess, but I DID. I said I'd never betray you but I DID...You always wanted to be awesome, and the truth is I WANT you to be. I'm SORRY...please let me be loyal to you again..." Scootaloo gasped. The one before her who's word she'd spent her whole life thinking of being gospel say words that she'd wanted to hear her whole life. Suddenly, Cheerilee fired a petrifying bolt at Rainbow while she was distracted. Scootaloo felt like time was slowing down. Equality was good...being able to fly as good as anyone was good...but... Scootaloo raced at high speeds towards Rainbow. As she flew, the equal mark on her flank began to CRACK APART, the outline of a butterfly forming beneath it. Finally, the equal sign cracked away into nothing, revealing a pink butterfly. The ENTIRE group, Equalist and Rebel alike, was suddenly floored by a shockwave as the little alicorn flew forwards at blinding speeds , grabbing Rainbow Dash and taking her out of the way, leaving an orange and purple 'rainbow' in her wake. Rainbow Dash gasped in shock. "S-Scootaloo, you...you did a..." Rainbow Dash hugged her tight. "...I don't need to be equal to fly, and even if I did...you're the best, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo replied, nuzzling her. "A lot better than that smiling stranger." Starlight Glimmer, watching this, naturally expected the other two Crusaders to become jealous of their friend. Or feel the stab of betrayal. After all, Scootaloo was no longer equal. And friendships could not last if they were not equal. "Scootaloo! You got your Cutie Mark!" yelled Sweetie Belle and Sweetie Belle, smiling. The two looked to one another. "...Ah...Ah'd forgotten...this...THIS is why we formed the Crusaders in the first place..." "Because we wanted to help each other get our marks." "...And we knew in the end..." "We'd be proud and happy for each other..." Silver Spoon didn't need to be told, instead leaving Diamond's side for a moment, putting her hooves on Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. "Free Will!" Her Element of Chaos glowed, and the two equal signs shattered like glass. Starlight Glimmer, and her herd, all stared in blind shock as the two blank flanks hugged their friend tightly, then tearfully hugged their siblings, having just lost three members of their number for reasons completely opposite of any semblance of logic their conditioned minds knew. How could two friends turn away from Equality BECAUSE their friend got their Cutie Mark? "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ALICORN PRINCESSES! YAY!" - "Princess Twilight, you have to stop this!" Starlight Glimmer suddenly exclaimed. "You are the Princess of Sameness, The First Among Equals. You gave us greater Equality than I ever could." The Equalists shaking off their stupor were almost shocked back into it at this. Every pony knew equally that selfish Cutie Mark bearing ponies could not be reasoned with in the open. They would babble on about individuality and specialness as though they were not all equally individuals, and when they weren't doing that they were searching for ways to escape. They needed to be contained to learn the lessons of Equality. And now Starlight Glimmer, founder of the movement was doing this? "Oh my," Fluttershy whispered. He friends who had gotten used to her speaking equally as loud as anyone else almost missed it. "Hey Twi, don't listen to her. This isn't all on you," Rainbow Dash said. "We were right there with you, screwing this up." "First among Equals?" Time Turner questioned. "I never claimed that title for myself. I've never even heard it before."