//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty One: The Town Of Equality // Story: A Displaced Dragon // by Prince_Zodiac //------------------------------// Chapter Twenty: The Town Of Equality {Alduin’s POV/Dragon Pony Form} I was in Twilight’s castle. It had been two days since we had gotten back from the human world, and not much had happened since then. I was walking around, still exploring Twilight’s castle. I have to say, the place was a little empty. I eventually made it to the throne room where Twilight and her friends all were. “Hey Alduin.” “Hello Twilight. So, any adventures planned for today?” “Are you kidding me? I’m still exhausted from our adventure in the human world. I mean, first there was the Sirens, then you died!” Twilight sighed. “I just, need a break still.” “I still can’t believe that you died darling.” I nodded. Rarity sat on her throne, and the cutie mark above her seemed to glow, but I just wrote it off as a trick of the light. “Yeah, what did it feel like?” I turned to Rainbow as she sat on her throne. The cutie mark on her throne definitely started to glow. I wonder. “Well, I’ll tell you one thing it certainly didn’t feel good.” “Ah can imagine.” Applejack sat on her throne. The cutie mark on her throne started to glow. “Indeed. Imagine your mind getting split in half.” They all nodded. “Okay, well that’s about a tenth of what I felt.” They all shuddered. “Well, um, at least you were brought back, right?” Fluttershy sat on her throne. The cutie mark on her throne glowed. I nodded. “Yes, I’m thankful for that.” “Hey, at least you got a kiss from Twilight afterwards and had that awesome party!” Pinkie sat on her throne. The cutie mark on her throne glowed. Only one left. I turned to Twilight, who was blushing at the fact. “Yes, and I must say that it was one of the best kisses that I’ve ever received." Twilight blushed even more. I walked over and nuzzled her. She nuzzled me back. “So, what do want to do on this, relaxing day?” “Well, I don’t know.” Twilight began to walk to her throne. “Maybe go to the park?” She sat down, and her throne’s cutie mark glowed. Suddenly, beams of energy shot up from their thrones and landed in the center of the room. The beams stopped, and a table grew out of the ground. Once it stopped, an illusion appeared that made a three dimensional map of Equestria and some of the surrounding lands. Twilight and her friends were shocked at the at the table’s sudden formation. “Huh, thought something might happen.” Twilight looked at me. “What do you mean?” “Well, whenever one of you sat down on your respective thrones, the cutie marks on them would light up.” “And you didn’t tell us this why?” “I thought you knew!” Twilight just shook her head and inspected the map. The cutie marks on the thrones glowed again, and the cutie marks of Twilight and her friends appeared on the map. The cutie marks floated all the way over from Twilight’s, to a spot on the edge of the map. “What do ya think this means Twi?” “Well, if I had to guess, I’d say this is the tree of harmony’s doing. I’m the princess of friendship, and it’s my job to spread peace and harmony all across Equestria. Maybe, I’m supposed to start there.” “You really think so darling? I mean, I know that spreading peace and harmony is supposed to be your job, but why start there? There’s nothing out there.” “Whatever the reason it is, obviously the tree wants you six girls to go out there.” Then, another mark appeared. It was a dragon that had a small body, a long tail, two horns, and large wings. It looked like the amulet that I had on. It too, went from Twilight’s castle, to the outskirts, joining the other cutie marks. “And apparently me as well.” “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go bring some smiles!” With that, Pinkie rushed out to the train station, and we followed. After a long train ride, we eventually came to our destination. We stepped out, and had to walk a little ways before we saw the small little town that we were supposed to spread friendship to. I stared at the town. Something seemed a little, off, about it. I just shrugged it off as the reason why we were here. “Well that looks like a nice little town.” I turned to Fluttershy, and nodded. “Yes, it does, but looks can be deceiving.” “Yeah, that’s why we need to be on our guard!” Pinkie rushed up to a nearby rock. As the rest of us just walked to the town, Pinkie just kept going from rock to rock, like she was on a mission. We eventually came to a closer cliff that overlooked the town. We then notice some strange things about the town. First, all of the buildings were exactly the same, and looked like they had been hastily built. Second, the unnatural smiles of everypony. They seemed forced. Third, and possibly the most unnerving part, was that they all had the exact same cutie marks. Not only that, but they all mostly looked the same. “What? Why do all of those ponies all share the same cutie mark?” “I do not know Twilight, but something is obviously wrong here.” The rest nodded. We continued walking, until we were in the town. As we walked in, the locals started to welcome us. “Welcome.” “Welcome.” “Welcome.” Every, single, pony, said that in the exact same tone. After a couple welcomes, another pony with a bluish gray, more gray than blue, coat and a bluish gray, more blue than gray, mane walked up to us. “Welcome! Pardon my forwardness, but are you an alicorn?” “Ee’yup. That right there is Twilight Sparkle, the princess of friendship” “Princess of friendship? Well you’ve certainly come to the right place if you’re looking for, friendship.” “What brings you to town?” interrupted a pony with a white coat and a cyan mane with streaks of white. “Um, we’re not too entirely sure.” “I see. Well all are welcome in our little town. My name is Double Diamond and this is Party Favor.” “Hello Double Diamond, I’m Applejack. This here is Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Alduin.” Party Favor and Double Diamond looked at me quizzically. “Well, I’ve never seen a pony like you before. Might I ask what kind you are?” I nodded. “I am a dragon pony, half pony, half dragon.” The two stallions nodded. Double Diamond then took a closer look at us. “My, you all have your own cutie marks. Well, except for you Alduin.” “My scales cover it.” The ponies nodded, seeming to believe that. “If you don’t mind, has there been any sort of trouble around lately?” “Trouble? Why, no. Not in our little town. Perhaps you’d like to speak to our founder, Starlight Glimmer.” We nodded and began to follow the ponies to the one house that stood out from the rest. The girls were talking amongst themselves, but I wasn’t paying attention. “Laas, Yah Nir.” The shout I used allowed me to see everypony’s auras. What I saw, shocked me. Everypony’s aura’s were trapped under, some sort of magical energy. This was not right. “Alduin, are okay?” “Pinkie was right Twilight. Something here, is terribly wrong.” We finished our trek to the house we were being led too. The two ponies knocked on the door. “Starlight? We have some new visitors.” We stepped inside, just as another door at the end of the hall open to reveal a pinkish purple mare. She had a purple mane, with turquoise highlights. “Why hello! I’m so glad to welcome you here!” As Double Diamond began to introduce us, I tried to figure out what could be going on here. I had no idea what could possibly be going on. No hint, no clue, nothing. “Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!” As we stepped outside, the ponies started singing. As they did, the twins unfused from me as Epidemic. However, Epidemic was not in his dragon form. He was in his own version of the dragon pony form. Actually, he looked like me, but his scales were black. He had blood red eyes, and a blood red mane. “Hm? What is it Epidemic?” “Dad, have you noticed that pony’s aura?” When he spoke, he had the voice he had from the human world. I guess the combined voice of the twins only comes when the twins are mad too. He gestured to Starlight glimmer. “No, why?” “Well, her aura is completely normal.” “Your point?” “ That is my point! Everypony’s aura is being trapped by some magical force. Hers however, is not.” “Hmm, that is strange. Come on, we need to be on our guard.” Epidemic nodded, and we went to Twilight and her friends as they were sitting down at a table with muffins. Pinkie was trying to eat one, but looked like she was getting sick. “Hello girls.” Twilight turned to me. “Oh hey where'd you go? And when did Epidemic get here?” “Just now. Wait, why is Pinkie eating those muffins when she clearly doesn’t like them?” “So we have an excuse ta go back inside.” Epidemic just looked at the pile. Suddenly, his jaw unhinged and he devoured all of the muffins at once. He chewed quickly, and swallowed. “There, finished.” “Thanks Epidemic.” Epidemic just nodded at Pinkie. “Oh mah Celestia. I can’t believe you ate all of those muffins Pinkie, we should go in n’ get some more!” We all then walked into the shop and went to the basement. It was, strangely dark. I then saw a mare walk up. “Um, why did you want to meet us down here?” I started getting uneasy. “So nopony could see what would happen next.” The mare smirked and Epidemic and I took defences stances. Out from the shadows, a stallion, Party Favor, and another mare, a dark blue one with a white mane, walked up. They slowly came toward us. Twilight started to charge up her magic, until Party Favor spoke. “Are you really the princess of friendship?” Then the dark blue mare. “Do you know Princess Celestia?” Then the first mare. “I love your cutie mark!” she said as she looked at Pinkie’s cutie mark. They continued to admire the girls cutie marks. “Looks like some of these ponies still want their cutie marks.” Epidemic nodded.We turned back to the group. “How do you even lose your cutie marks?” The three ponies turned to Twilight. “The cutie unmarking is a wonderful experience. Starlight Glimmer uses the staff of sameness to get rid of our cutie marks and replace them with these.” The three ponies turned and displayed their equal cutie marks. “So, looks like I was right to think there was something different about that mare.” I nodded. “We need to confront Starlight about this. But first, we need to find the cutie marks. She should know where they are, so we get her to lead us to them, then attack.” Epidemic nodded. I turned back to the girls. They had decided to ask Starlight if they could see the cave the cutie marks were kept in. We walked along as Starlight led us to the cutie mark vault. Behind us, making sure we wouldn’t go anywhere, was Double Diamond. Eventually, we made it to the cave. “Come on now! Just a little further!” We followed Starlight into the cave, and then saw, the vault. “Here it is, the cutie mark vault! Where all of the cutie marks we’ve gathered are kept.” The vault was a huge glass wall with a bunch of frames. In each frame, was a cutie mark. In front of the vault, was a stick. “This is the Staff of Sameness, one of Mage Meadowbrook’s nine enchanted items. We are incredibly fortunate to have it here. This is the tool that can free us from our marks!” Starlight then looked at us questionably. “By the way, how did you all learn of our vault?” “Well someponies wanted their cutie marks back and so-” “PINKIE!” Pinkie looked at Twilight apologetically. “Really? Well, you all seem to be great at sprouting free thinking ideas, don’t you?” “Oh well, we’re terribly sorry darling. We didn’t mean to cause any disruptions to your sweet little town an-” “Oh I’m sure you didn’t. Lets just make sure of that shall we?” Suddenly, ponies started to come out of nowhere. Tons, of ponies. “IT’S A TRAP!” We tried to get out, but ponies blocked our way. I was about to knock them away, but then a beam of magic hit Twilight. “AHH!” “TWILIGHT! NO!” I could only watch as her cutie mark was forcefully taken from her body, and she collapsed. I tried to run to her, but the magic beam hit me next. “AHH!” I was lifted into the air, and my magic was stolen from me. My ability to shout, my dragon strength and flight speed, I could feel it all slipping away. My magic came out and formed what looked like my amulet, and floated towards the vault. When it was done, I too, collapsed. Twilight’s friends were next. I could only watch as their cutie marks were easily taken. Epidemic was trying to get to us, but the ponies blocked his path. “Get out of my way or I’LL KILL YOU ALL!” “Oh there won’t be a need for that.” I looked at Starlight. She had Twilight and her friend’s cutie marks floating around her. She charged the staff again, and blasted Epidemic. {Epidemic’s POV} The beam of magic that had struck down Dad and the others finally hit me. I could feel the magic trying to take mine, but failing due to my magic’s strange nature. The failing spell was doing everything it could to grab my magic, and it was causing me pain. My pain however, wasn’t alone. “AH! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!” “EPIDEMIC MAKE IT STOP!” This bitch of a mare was hurting the twins! I was going to make her pay! My anger flared, and my rage form came out. My scales became non existent, and became my Symbiote substance. The center of each part of my body was dark red, but the outlines of my body were blood red. I grew a second head, a second tail, and the two horns on my heads became four. I stood up, and roared in fury, blasting the magic away. Everypony was shocked to see me like this. I slowly walked up to Starlight Glimmer. She was shaking with fear. “W-What? Why didn’t my magic work?” I sneered. “Because, you’ve never messed with magic like mine before.” When I spoke, I had a deep demonic voice. “You cast a spell that hurt Twilight, that hurt her friends, that hurt my father, and that hurt me. But, worst of all you hurt the twins, and for that, YOU MUST SUFFER!” “W-What are you?” “I, am pure, intelligent, rage.” I was about to pounce on her pathetic form, but then father jumped in the way. “No Epidemic.” “Get out of my way father.” “This is not the way to handle this.” “I SAID GET OUT OF MY WAY!” “KILLING OTHERS IS NOT RIGHT!” “Not right? NOT RIGHT?!?! THIS FOOLISH BITCH OF A MARE HARMED PLAGUE AND AMNESIA! I WILL NOT LET THAT SLIDE!” “AND NEITHER WILL I! But killing her won’t do anything. We need to bring her to court so she can pay for her crimes by justice!” “SHE DOES NOT DESERVE JUSTICE! SHE MUST SUFFER!” “DO YOU THINK THE TWINS WOULD WANT HER TO SUFFER?!?! HUH? DO YOU?!?! BECAUSE I CERTAINLY KNOW THEY WOULDN’T! They would want her to face justice, NOT DIE BY YOUR CLAWS!” I paused. He was right, the twins wouldn’t want this. This would scare them, and I don’t want that. My rage slowly calmed, and I split into the twins. {Alduin’s POV} As Epidemic calmed down, he split up into the into the twins. They immediately fused with me and fell asleep, tired from Epidemic’s rush of anger. I turned around to face Starlight Glimmer. She was crouched, hooves over her eyes. I looked to her cutie mark. Part of it looked like it had gotten rubbed off. But, that wasn’t possible, right? I walked over to one of the unconscious ponies, knocked out from the magical blast. I grabbed his cloak, and walked back to Starlight. I used it to see if her cutie mark was real. The cutie mark came right off, revealing her true mark. “Hey, what are you doing?!” “Showing everypony that equality doesn’t exist in your town.”All of the ponies started to wake up, and they all saw her cutie mark. “Hey, why does she have a cutie mark?” “I thought we were all equal!” “Aren’t cutie marks supposed to be bad?” “Well I um..” Starlight backed up slowly. She then bolted out of the cave. “Let’s get our cutie marks back!” The ponies ran at the vault and tried to bust it open. One pony picked up the Staff of Sameness which, upon closer inspection, had no magic at all. The pony threw the staff at the wall, and broke the vault. All of the cutie marks returned to their rightful owners, well, except for Twilight’s, her friend’s, and mine. Starlight had taken those with her. Some ponies went after her, and I went to Twilight. “Twilight, are you alright?” “Ungh. Yeah I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” “Yeah, I’m good. Where’re our cutie marks?” “Starlight Glimmer has them. Some ponies went after her.” Twilight nodded. “Well let’s follow them and get our cutie marks back!” I nodded and we all ran outside to try and join the chase. That didn’t really happen though as we were too slow to catch up. After a few moments, the cutie marks returned to the girls, and my dragon powers returned to me. I quickly took off to join the chase. Twilight teleported herself and her friends to catch up. After a few moments, we had Starlight cornered, the only escape was the maze of caves behind her. “Starlight Glimmer! You must pay for what you’ve done. If you surrender now, I can convince Celestia to give you a more merciful sentence.” Starlight looked to me, then to the cave entrance behind her. She smirked, and used her magic to create a blinding light as a way of escape. Once the light stopped, Starlight was gone. Double Diamond was about to give chase, but I stopped him. “No, those caves are a labyrinth. If she gets lost in there, she’ll face a fate worse than what any court could give her.” Double Diamond nodded, satisfied with this. I walked back to Twilight and her friends. “Well that could have gone better.” “Ah agree with Rainbow on this one.” “Well, at least we figured out why we came here.” We all nodded and started to walk back to the town. As the girls began to talk amongst themselves, I walked up to Twilight. “So, how’d you like your relaxing day?” Twilight gave me a look. “What?” “You know that a day like today isn’t exactly relaxing. When we get home, I don’t care if the map is calling us, I am taking a day off.” “Can princess's even take days off?” “I don’t know, but this one is.” I chuckled at her statement. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, the laziest princess of all.” “Yeah well, I’m your lazy princess.” I just laughed and nuzzled her. We got back to town for a thank you from the whole town, and a small celebration. After that, we all headed back home where Twilight took a lazy day, for the rest of the day.