"Oh please Sir, please let me keep my cutie mark, I feel miserable and worthless without it." pleaded a nervous stallion to his guest across the kitchen table from him. "She doesn't have to know about this, I can just paint over it and she'll never know."
"I'm sorry, but you know the rules of this village, every pony must surrender their cutie mark the moment they decide to settle here." explained the guest as he drank a bottle given to him by the nervous pony across from him, a sign of good intentions from the host. "Nice milk, you milked this yourself?" the guest inquired.
"My cutie mark is a bottle of milk for a reason Sir, I earned it after growing up on a dairy farm with my family before coming here." he explained. "Just let me keep it Sir, my life has no meaning without it."
"You do not need a cutie mark to give your life meaning, my species does just fine without them, so yours can too." continued on the guest. "Are you willing to let a mark dictate how to live your life?"
"You don't get it sir, a cutie mark to a pony is their identity, it's their purpose in life, without it, we're useless and aimless, we're better off dead." pleaded the stallion.
The guest placed the bottle of milk down on the table. "I'm sure you can produce great milk without your mark Mr. Lactose, you don't need a mark to be good at it."
"But sir, a mark not only tells you your talent, but it also helps you become good it, without it, I'll be mediocre at it, my skills would regress."
The guest stood up on his two legs without a word. He gave a serious look to the pony before him. "It's just a mark, and nothing more, don't be a slave to one." he warned. "I'm sorry Mr. Lactose, truly am." he politely nodded his head and walked out.
"But Mr. Gray, please..." the stallion pleaded one last time to the human as a tear formed in his eye.
Adam gave the stallion a look of pity before he got up and left. Immediately afterwards, several guards came in and dragged Mr. Lactose to a prison carriage, to be transported to get his cutie mark removed. "What's the point of equality without identity!" he yelled as he was thrown into the carriage, much to Adam's concern.
It has been three months since he left Ponyville in shame, he believed he could find happiness in a place where ponies are not bound by their talents, but instead found something completely different. He sadly walked away to tell his boss of the news.
"Oh Adam, darling, don't be so hard on yourself, you were only showing that pony a better path." explained his boss, as she sat on her makeshift throne with her staff and wall of stolen cuties marks behind her. "He'll learn his lesson during his cutie mark removal tonight." she got off her throne and seductively walked over to the human. "Besides, I know how to cheer you up." she said in a flirtatious tone.
"Please Miss Glimmer, I'm not in the-"
She used her magic to grab Adam by the shirt collar and bring her face up against his. "That's not what you called me last night."
Adam tried to look away in shame. "I'm sorry Mistress Starlight, I did not mean to turn you down."
"Exactly, nopony turns Starlight Glimmer down, because she knows what is best for everyone in this town, and she always, ALWAYS, gets what she wants." she warned.
"I just don't want romance-" he was swiftly interrupted by a hoof covering his mouth.
"Who said anything about romance?" she smirked. "You and I both know that I'm just using you to fulfill my physical needs and nothing more." she then pulled the human into a lustful kiss. Adam did not bother in fighting it for fear of upsetting her any further.
Chapter XXX
The Village
Part One
It was a typically sunny day in Ponyville as all its citizens went about their daily routine. At the spa, Twilight got her mane done by the Spa Twins as Spike sat by as he read his favorite comic book. "So then, Captain Marvel with a 'zoom' and a 'bam' defeated the evil Lord Helmet and saved the city of Caballus once again!" Spike dramatically read to Twilight.
Twilight just stared off into the distance as the Spa twins continued their work. Things have been tough lately since Adam self-exiled himself away from Ponyville. Fluttershy rarely leaves her home, Rainbow Dash has been hanging around with Rarity more often, while both Dash and Applejack refuse to speak to each other, and Pinkie is still, well, Pinkie.
Suddenly, Spike began to feel a serious case of indigestion set in. "Uh oh." and with a loud belch and much green flames, he burped out a rolled up scroll of parchment. "Ugh..." Spike held his chest as he recovered from the ordeal. "That was unexpected."
"What is it Spike?" asked Twilight with concern for the dragon.
The dragon picked up the scroll to see it was stamped with the official royal seal. "It's a message from Princess Celestia."
"Really? What does it say?" the unicorn was not expecting a letter from her mentor so soon. What could it be?
Spike opened the letter and began to read.
"My faithful student,
There is a grave friendship emergency that has just come to my attention that I need you and your friends to fix at once. I also have reason to believe that your human friend Adam is involved in this somehow. Attached is a map to the location, please be careful, for this might get very serious, but I have every faith you.
Sincerely, HRH Princess Celestia, Co-Monarch of Equestria."
"That's odd, I don't see a map anywhere on this-" Spike was quickly interrupted by another belch of green flames as a map materialized out of them. "Ugh..."
Twilight ran out of her chair to grab the map. "Hey! We're not done!" yelled one of the Spa Twins with annoyance.
"Put it on my tab!" the unicorn said in response. She quickly grabbed the map and looked at it. "That's strange, there wasn't a village in that location before." she commented.
"So, what are you going to do Twilight?" wondered Spike.
"We gather our friends and we leave tonight!" Twilight answered. Spike looked up to see that Twilight's mane was completely different.
"Maybe you should've waited for them to finish your mane first." Spike grabbed a mirror and showed it to the mare.
Twilight saw her reflection and could see that her mane was short. "AHHHH!" she screamed with frustration.
"No...no...I can't be...this will ruin everything!" said Rainbow Dash to herself as she looked at the results. She immediately dreaded everything she has ever done in her life up to that. "I'm...not...ready..." she mumbled. Her train of thought was interrupted by a loud knock on the bathroom door.
"Dash, darling, you okay in there?" Rarity asked from behind the locked door. "You've been in my bathroom for an awful long time."
"Oh, I'm fine, just taking longer than I thought." Dash nervously chuckled. "I'll be out in a minute." the pegasus quickly disposed of any evidence into the garbage can. "No one must ever know." she said under her breath.
Rainbow Dash nervously walked out of the bathroom and saw Rarity making her dresses. To her surprise, she has been spending more time with the unicorn lately, but at least it beats being with that no-good stallion taker Applejack.
"You okay Dash?" asked Rarity while she worked.
Before Dash could answer, a letter suddenly materialized in a flash of green flame in front of the mares. It unceremoniously floated down to the floor. Both the unicorn and pegasus knew what that meant; Twilight needs their help.
At the same time, Twilight was in front of Fluttershy's cottage. The unicorn knew that Fluttershy would refuse to answer the letter that was sent to her, especially if it involved Adam. "Fluttershy! We need you! It's an emergency!" she pounded.
The door opened to reveal a green coated mare with a bandanna and red dreadlocks, her eyes clearly bloodshot. "Like, Flutters is SO not interested in going on this, like, mission dude, she has too much to deal with already, she's too spiritually drained and-" Twilight rolled her eyes and shoved the mare out of the way. "HEY!"
"Damn hippies." Twilight mumbled under her breath, she has no patience left to deal with Fluttershy's friend. She walked into the living room to see Fluttershy on the couch eating potato chips. "Fluttershy, we need your help."
"Why?" asked the yellow pegasus with suspicion. "So you can see me be miserable? To tell me that what happened was no big deal?" she began to snarl. "Well boo-hoo, that human is dead to me." she crossed her forelegs in disgust.
Fluttershy's attitude changed for the worst after Adam left three months ago, she barely ever left the cottage and the only pony she would hang around often was with that hippie that smelled of smoke and mane grease.
"Shy, Adam could use our help!" Twilight pleaded. "We can't do this with just the five of us, we need you!"
"If you care about him so much, why don't you buck him like you almost did months ago!" she snarled.
"That was a one time thing and it didn't go all the way!" Twilight exclaimed.
"JUST LEAVE!" she yelled as tears formed in her. "Just leave you...you...hussy!"
The unicorn was stunned into silence. She just sighed with disappointment and reluctantly walked out the door. "At least with Adam you were happier and more self-confident. He made you a better mare and now you are worse than before...I'm sorry he meant so little to you..." she said one last time before she left.
Fluttershy said nothing as the weight of what Twilight said hit her, but she stayed put and refused to go.
The train ride to the village was tense to say the least, Fluttershy's absence was glaringly obvious and Applejack and Rainbow Dash refuse to talk or even acknowledge each other. Twilight and Pinkie tried to keep the mood bright, but it did not help much.
"So what is this village exactly Twilight?" asked Rarity.
"I don't know, it just got founded recently and there's a friendship emergency we need to help solve that Celestia find serious enough to send us there." Twilight explained. "And that it involves Adam..."
"Thin's haven't been the same since Adam left..." commented Applejack. "Apple Bloom has been depressed lately..."
The other four mares silently agreed. "Well, Adam has been there for us, so it's only fair that we be there for him." stated Rainbow Dash with confidence.
Outside, the sky turned a depressing shade of gray and the landscape turned into pine forest. An obvious sign that they are nearing the north of Equestria.
After a three hour long train ride, the train immediately stopped next to an empty shack by the train tracks in the middle of dense pine forest. "Andefenham, Equality Hamlet!" yelled the conductor. The five mares quickly got off the train with their belongings to find themselves in the middle of nowhere. The train immediately left them behind. The five friends looked around to find nothing but a pine forest, a single train track and an open empty bus shelter with a sign reading "Andefenham, the Hamlet of Equality." on top.
"So now what?" asked Dash with suspicion.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as the gray sky grew darker. "I think we wait until somepony comes to us to guide us to the village." answered Twilight.
A downpour fell in the forest, the five mares huddled under the shelter for warmth. They only thing they could find in the shelter was a kerosene lamp that they hung to provide some light source. It felt like they have been waiting for almost two hours.
"Well...this sucks..." commented Dash.
"Really? I think it's cool, enjoying the sounds of nature and getting lost inside one's mind." randomly commented Pinkie as she made a positive of the situation.
"You must be the new arrivals I am guessing." said a new voice. The five looked to see a cloaked pony strapped to an empty carriage with a kerosene lamp attached to him. "Welcome our Hamlet of Equality, my name is Party Favor, and I have been tasked with transporting you to our town." he explained. The five mares looked at each other without saying a word and go in the carriage.
Rain continued to fall as Party Favor lead the mares down a path in the dense pine forest. Twilight poked her head out the window to talk to this mysterious unicorn stallion. "So, we were sent here to take care of a friendship emergency and-"
Party Favor just gave a forced and dry laugh. "There's no such thing as 'friendship emergencies' in our town, in fact, our town is where friendship thrives!" he explained with a toothy and forced grin. He continued to pull the mares down the path.
Suspicion and paranoia hit Twilight, thing were not making sense to her. "Well, uh, is there by any chance that a human is living among-st you?"
"You mean Mr. Gray?" he clarified. "Why of course, he's the second-in-command in our town, he is the one that makes sure everyone is happy and equal, and that everypony will never be constrained by their destiny." he explained with the same amount of forced cheerfulness.
Twilight did not quite get what any of that meant. Soon, the pathway opened up into a large clearing, and in the center of the clearing, was the village itself, a village where all the houses are lined up into two neat rows along either side of the pathway. "We're here!" Party Favor announced.
The rain stopped and the gray skies brightened up slightly just as the group arrived at the village entrance. The five mares looked around to see all the villagers wearing cloaks, large grins and to their surprise and confusion, an equals sign as a cutie mark.
"Equal signs? All of them?" Twilight was even more confused. The entire village looked like an Old Equestrian village with all the houses exactly the same. "Why do you all have equal signs?"
"To symbolize that ALL of us are equal, no one pony is better than the rest, everypony is now free to pursue what ever destiny they so choose without a cutie mark forcing a destiny on them and unfairly setting them apart from others." the stallion continued.
"This place is givin' me the creeps." muttered an uneasy Applejack.
All the villagers grinned at the new arrivals. "More ponies who want to be like us, oh joy." they cheered. "Soon they'll learn what it is like to free from the shackles of destiny and finally feel free."
"Can you please take us to Mr. Gray first?" asked Twilight.
"Don't you want to meet our great leader first?" asked a confused Party Favor as the carriage stopped in front of a house at the very end of the path, the only house not attached or identical to the others.
"Oh Miss Glimmer, we have new arrivals!" he yelled at the small cottage.
The five mares disembarked as the front door of the cottage opened and a single pink coated mare with a purple mane walked out, she levitated a wooden staff with her and also had an equal sign for a cutie mark.
"Welcome new arrivals to my village, our hamlet of equality, welcome to Andefenham." she announced to the five. "I am the lord mayor and founder of this town, Miss Starlight Glimmer, the mare who is saving all the citizens here from their cutie marks." she explained. "What shall I call you five mares?"
Twilight stepped up first. "I'm Twilight Sparkle, me and my friends have been sent here on a friendship emergency, and we're wondering if you know-"
Starlight chuckled. "Friendship emergency? Why, this town is one of the most friendliest places in all of Equestria now that everyone is the same and happy." she stated. She pointed to the various stalls and meeting places, showing the citizens, both adult and foal, enjoying each other's company and being polite and happy with each other. "You five must be mistaken."
None of the mares, especially Twilight, were buying it. "Well, we heard that Adam Gray, a human, is living here, is that true?"
"Why, he's the one that helped me started this village, but he doesn't live here, he lives in a small cabin in the forest, but he makes sure that everyone is happy and equal." Starlight explained.
"Good, can you take us to him?"
"Patience my dear Twilight Sparkle, I'll send a messenger to him soon enough, but first, we must show you around town." she turns to the crowd. "Citizens, show these mares around our town and make sure they are impressed!"
"Yes ma'am!" the exclaimed with agreement. They gathered around the mares and lead them to the local cafe and bakery for some food and refreshments.
Twilight and her friends reluctantly went along with what is happening.
"Her cutie mark will make a fine addition to my collection." mumbled Starlight with a smirk as she stared at Twilight's cutie mark. "About time his friends came here to look for him."
"Here are your cupcakes." announced a mare who served Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie their food. The five mares looked at their cupcakes with suspicion, they do not look appetizing at all.
"Uh...thanks..." said Applejack to be polite.
Pinkie looked at her cupcake with disgust. She knows a bad cupcake when she sees one. "Not much a baking talent I see."
"In this town, no pony has a talent in any one thing, we are all talented in this we want to be talented in, and not because of some mark." explained the baker.
Twilight knew that a cutie mark is important for a pony to excel in their talent, if not, they would remain mediocre at it without any room for improvement. She wanted to say something, but she bit her tongue in order not to cause trouble. Once the baker left, Twilight looked around to make sure no pony else is within earshot. "This whole 'no cutie marks' thing is not right, doesn't Miss Glimmer realize that cutie marks are important in a pony's life? It's what gives us a sense of purpose, a sense of worth."
"But there's nothing we can do Twilight, everyone seems content about their situation, we have no choice but to support them." explained Rarity. "Although this place could use some brighter colors, or at least a sense of style."
Rainbow Dash suddenly felt her stomach act up and feelings of nausea overtook her. "Uh...I'll be in the little fillies room." she quickly flew off to the cafe restroom.
The rest looked on with some worry.
"I don't know Treehugger, I miss Adam a lot, yet I also hate him, I feel like I am being torn apart by my feelings." explained Fluttershy to her friend.
"You just need to relax and let the herb speak to you, let mother nature decided what you should do with your feelings for that human." explained Treehugger. "He may have cheated on you, be he sounds like the most righteous dude I have ever heard."
"Well, I always felt more confident and open whenever he was with me, more outgoing..." she confessed. "I gave him my virginity because I always felt that he was the one."
"Well, answer me this, what lead you to be together in the first place?" her friend asked.
Fluttershy quickly thought back to when they first met, back almost a year ago. "Adam..."
Back at the town, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie were waiting for Rainbow Dash to finish in the bathroom. "Excuse me ladies, I have to go check on Dash." excused Rarity as she walked to the bathroom.
At the same time, Starlight Glimmer walked in, the entire building went silent. "Ah, there you are Miss Sparkle, Adam is ready to meet with you." she announced as she walked up to the group.
"Just me?" asked a confused Twilight.
"Oh, he just still feels a little guilty from all that mess before he ran away, the only one he's willing to face is you." explained Starlight. Twilight looked on with suspicion, she had a bad feeling about this, but has no idea what it is. "He's over by the caves."
"The caves? Why not his cabin?" the purple unicorn was confused.
"I don't set the meeting locations Miss Sparkle, I'm just telling you what he said to me." Starlight explained.
Twilight gave a reluctant sigh. "Lead the way Miss Glitter." she said. She turned to Applejack and Pinkie and gave them a nod.
Starlight gave a smirk. "With pleasure." she then happily lead Twilight out of the cafe and out of the town.
"Ah have a bad feelin' about this Pinkie." muttered Applejack.
"Tell that to my pinkie sense."
Starlight happily lead Twilight to a nearby cave just outside of town. "The human should be in here waiting for you." she instructed.
"I have a bad feeling about this." muttered Twilight, unsure.
"Don't worry, I'll follow right behind." the pink mare assured her. Twilight reluctantly went into the cave.
The two unicorn mares walked deeper into the cave until they reached a large chamber inside, one wall glowed bright blue and in front of the wall, was Adam himself.
"Adam!" exclaimed Twilight with relief, she quickly ran up to the human and wrapped him a hug. "You are okay! We were worried you got involved in something bad." the relief was short lived when she noticed Adam did not react at all. She looked up to see his face, only to be met by a face full of shame a guilt. "Adam?"
"I'm sorry Twi...I'm so sorry for this." Adam said with shame, he looked up at the glowing wall. Twilight, curious, did the same only to see the most shocking site of her life; the wall was full of stolen cutie marks.
"What is this?!"
"Progress Miss Sparkle, Progress." smirked Starlight was she walked in with her staff. She turned to Adam. "Don't you agree Adam?"The human could only give a nod. "Now don't be so modest Adam sweetie." she sashayed over to the human. "All of this was OUR idea from the start, first this town, and later, all of Equestria." Starlight then used her magic to force Adam's hand to her mouth. "You have no idea how magical these fingers are." she said with smug satisfaction before she sucked on one of Adam's fingers. "Mmmm...no wait, I bet you already do know." Starlight let Adam's hand go and gave a chuckled.
Twilight gave a look of shock and confusion. "What's going on?!" she slowly stepped back.
Adam did not give a response, to ashamed to speak. "Just two things Miss Sparkle," Starlight began. "first, me and your human toy are now lovers, and second, you and your friends will be free of your oppressive cutie marks." she laughed as the wooden staff began to glow.
Adam watched as tears formed. "I'm sorry..." he mouthed to himself before Starlight activated the staff and a magical beam scored a direct hit on Twilight's rump.
"AHHHH..." she screamed as she saw her cutie mark get peeled off her skin. "No...that's mine!" she felt almost all her knowledge and talent symbolized in her mark slowly drain away. She watched as her cutie mark float over to Starlight before it was captured in an empty jar by Adam himself.
"One down, five more to go, good job Adam." smiled Starlight with sick pleasure. She took the jar over to the wall of marks and pointed the jar lid at it. She quickly opened the lid and Twilight's cutie mark quickly placed itself on the wall with all the others. "Now knock her out and hold her somewhere until her friends are taken care of."
Twilight felt betrayed, violated, robbed, she laid on the floor in tears from the loss of her identity, the thing she earned that faithful day. In the old mark's place, a new cutie mark appeared; an equals sign.
Adam suddenly placed a rag over Twilight's muzzle and the mare suddenly felt her world grow dark. "Adam..." was all she could think about before her mind was flooded with sounds of Starlight's crazed laughter.
To Be Continued...