In sameness, there is peace. Exceptionalism is a lie.
Rainbow Dash grunted as she slammed into the door, groaning in frustration as it refused to budge. She slid down to the floor, her back against it. The others were all spread out across the room, with an eerily quiet Floyd sitting in the corner, staring at the ground.
Difference is frustration. To excel is to fail.
Be your best by never being your best.
“Ugh,” Twilight groaned, turning to glare at the loudspeaker, which was constantly blurting out propaganda. “We've got to find a way out of here! I can't take much more of that voice!”
“Oh, this is horrible!” Rarity wailed, her makeup starting to run.
Fluttershy frowned, moving over to her ailing friend, placing a hoof on her back. “There, there, Rarity... It’s not so bad...”
“Yes it is!” Rarity snapped, causing Fluttershy to flinch. “Look at those drapes!” she commanded, pointing with a hoof. “I have no idea if they’re tacky or not!”
“Well, I think they’re nice.”
Rarity’s new equal mark pulsed. “So do I!” Rarity shrieked, starting to cry harder. It went like this for a while, with each realizing that they had lost what made them special.
...Choose equality as your special talent. Difference is frustration. To excel is to fail. Be your best by never being your best. Conformity will set you- A scream of rage cut off Starlight’s recorded voice. The girls all spun around to catch Floyd leaping through the air and grabbing onto the loudspeaker. Shouting out various obscenities, she managed to rip it out from the ceiling, landing on three hooves. She continued to go beserk, repeatedly smashing it against the ground, screaming at the top of his lungs. He finally stopped when it was mangled beyond repair, taking a moment to breathe. A split second later, he turned on Twilight, her eyes burning with a look of fury.
“You!” she growled, stepping forward, causing Twilight to quickly backpedal. “THIS. IS. ALL. YOUR. FAULT!” he punctuated every word with a forceful poke at Twilight’s chest. “I fucking told you what would happen if we came here but nooooo! Twilight and her idiot friends had to play the heroes!”
“N-now Floyd,” Rarity stuttered, holding her hooves up, “J-just calm dow-” She was cut off as Floyd whipped toward her, growling.
“Don’t tell me to be fucking calm!” he hissed, “I fucking knew this was going to happen! Shut up Pinkie! We’d be out of this mess if you had just let me stab her but no! You had to be my conscience!”
The girls just watched in horror as Floyd screamed at the air, jabbing her hoof around frantically.
“I don’t care if that makes me a murderer...” As soon as that last word left his mouth, Floyd froze, staring off into space. A tense moment passed before Floyd collapsed into a heap, crying his eyes out. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” she cried, covering her head, sobbing loudly.
“What... just happened...?” Rainbow asked carefully, staying in the air in case Floyd went nuts again.
“That was mighty scary...” Applejack commented, taking a tentative step toward Floyd, “I ain’t never seen Pinkie like that before...”
Fluttershy didn’t say anything, simply moving over to the sobbing mare and pulling her into a hug. Floyd latched onto Fluttershy, crying into her shoulder.
“I... I think I know what’s going on...” Twilight said finally, having been quiet since Floyd blew his top. She studied Floyd for a moment, a frown on her face.
“Well?” Rainbow asked, “What’s wrong with her?”
“I noticed it rather early,” Twilight started, sitting down, “Floyd hasn’t been acting like someone in her situation should.”
“She’s had a lot of...” Rarity gestured with her hoof, trying to find the right words. “Freakouts.”
“Yes, but that just hints at the problem,” Twilight countered. “I think her more... dark emotions have been suppressed by Pinkie.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Applejack asked, scratching her head.
“I know it sounds cruel but it’s really not.” Twilight shook her head, giving Floyd a sad look. “No pony wants to hurt but, the only way we can grow is to face our problems and come to terms with them. Pinkie has been keeping Floyd from doing that, though I don’t think she was doing it consciously. Part of her probably just wanted to protect Floyd...”
“And the freakouts?” Rarity asked, rubbing at her own eyes.
“Those must have been Floyd venting those emotions before they became too much.”
“So... what do we do?” Dash asked, landing. She shot Floyd, whose mane had deflated, an unsure look.
“Do our best to help her past it.” Twilight moved over, joining in the hug. Rarity, Dash and Applejack all shared a look before moving over, each of them hugging Floyd as tightly as they could, hoping to impress upon him the fact that they were there for her.
Despite everything, despite the horrible emotions that whirled around in his head, Floyd couldn’t help but give a teeny, weeny little smile.
“I trust you had a pleasant night?” Starlight asks with that happy little smile of hers. I want to punch that happy little smile right off her face, I want to make her suffer the way she’s making us suffer... but at the same time, all those violent thoughts... they scare the shit out of me. This isn’t me, at least I don’t think it is. Have I always been like this and just never noticed?
“This way, please. There are some friends who'd like to see you.” Starlight gives us her smile again before walking out of the house. The girls share a look but I just follow Starlight. After my... episode last night, I feel... better? Maybe better isn’t the best word but I don’t think I’m going to flip out again anytime soon. To be honest, I want to curl in a corner and cry my eyes out, and just... I dunno... die?
“Don’t think like that Floyd, we can get past this... we just have to hold on...” Pinkie gives me a smile but I know she’s in as bad of shape as me. I feel horrible just looking at her. While the unmarking hasn’t seemed to affect me, besides turning me into an emotional wreck, each time her new mark pulses, she loses a bit more of herself, and it makes me angry. So very, very angry...
I take a deep breath, slowly letting it out. I won’t lose control again, I can’t. The whole plan will come apart if I do. I just have to tough it out, she won't break me, I have to do this, for the girls. For Pinkie.
“Gather round, friends, gather round!” Starlight calls, drawing the smiling cultists close. “We’ve come to ask if any of you are ready to join us! There are so many friends to be made once you realize you don’t need your cutie marks or the talents that come with them!” She smirked, getting into Twilight’s face.
Double Diamond goes on about a welcoming ceremony, which Rainbow Dash and Applejack reject. Good, there’s still some fight left in them.
The crowd shouts encouragements, practically begging us to join them in their sameness. As I stand there and look into their roller-blind eyes and empty smiles, a horrible, insidious idea sprang out of the maelstrom of emotions that was filling my mind: What if this was one of those universes where they DON’T turn on Glimmer, even after she gets exposed?
“That sounds like a terrible future!” Pinkie gasps, before her expression drops. “Eh... it’d be okay...”
No, it wouldn’t be okay. Fuck the plan, we need to do something. Put as much doubt in them as possible. Do you trust me, Pinkie?
“Of course I trust you, Floyd,” Pinkie smiles, sitting down next to me. “Just tell me what you need.”
I need you to be strong Pinkie. I’m going to speak my mind and I need you on my shoulder, in case I start to lose it again.
“It’s all right, everypony,” Starlight assures the crowd, “This is a perfectly normal part of the equalization process for those who haven’t...” she casts a glance at us, “quite seen the light yet. We’ll try again tomorrow once you’ve had a bit more time to consider our philosophy!” She nods to the guards and the girls start to walk back into the cottage. Not me though, I have a few things I need to get off my chest.
“You can do it Floyd, I believe in you,” Pinkie encourages, giving me a ghost hug.
Thanks Pinkie. I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
Starlight notices my lack of movement, her smile growing. “Oh? Do we have a convert?” She looks at me, that smug smile never leaving her face.
I look at her, making sure my mane is covering one of my eyes. I don’t speak, collecting my thoughts. I lock eyes with her, saying the one thing that perfectly sums up the situation. “A man chooses, a slave obeys.”
The phrase seems to throw her for a loop and her smile diminishes. “I’m not exactly sure what you mean by that.”
“It’s not that hard of a concept really,” I retort, never losing eye contact, “A man chooses, a slave obeys. And while I may not be a man at the moment, the point still stands. I choose. I won’t be your slave Starlight, no matter how much you try to brainwash me.”
“I’m not trying to brainwash you!” she protests, her smile wavering ever so slightly, “I’m just trying to enlighten you!”
“No, you’re not.” I walk closer, masking the trembling of my legs. “If your cultists, and yes they are cultists, this entire place is a cult, aren’t slaves, then why can’t they have dissenting opinions?”
“We’re all equal here!” Starlight growls, not taking kindly to my argument. I bet no one has ever actually questioned her before.
“Are we? If we were, you wouldn’t have stolen our cutie marks.”
“I freed you from their grasp! You’ve spent your entire lives under their lie!” she screams, her mask starting to slip. I smirk at this, getting into her face.
“Actually, I’ve spent the last twenty years without one, but that's beside the point.” I look directly into her eyes. “My point is, if we’re all equal, then we all have the equal right to choose. Who are you to deny those who want their cutie marks back?”
“I brought them friendship, I brought them harmony! You’re just a violent, delusional, ruffian!” She takes a breath, bringing herself back under control. “But don’t worry, we’ll help you see the light.”
“That would be all well and good...” I get up close, my muzzle only inches away from her ear. “If you weren’t a hypocrite.”
She recoils, as if physically struck. ‘W-what are you talking about!?”
I just laugh, turning my back to her, heading into the cottage. “I know your seee~cret~” I singsong in the creepiest voice I can manage before slipping past Twilight and Fluttershy. Once out of visual range, I collapse into a heap, letting out a long, shaky breath, and stare up at the ceiling.
“You did a good job Floyd,” Pink comments, lying down next to me. I hope so Pinkie... I really hope so. I close my eyes, thankful that the loudspeaker was gone. I slowly drift out of the waking world and into the realm of dreams.
“I've got a good feeling about today!” Starlight smiles, looking at us, all lined up in front of the cottage, Fluttershy by her side. “So, do any of you have anything you'd like to say?” None of us answer, just glaring at her. “Aw, pity. Well, let's try this again tomorrow, shall we?” She gestures to the guards, who start to lead us back in No new friends today, I'm afraid!”
“Wait!” Fluttershy calls out, “I'd like to lock them in.”
Starlight beams at this, her smile brightening. “Marvelous, Fluttershy! That's the spirit! Party Favor, will you join us, please?”
Party races out of the cottage, groveling at Starlight’s hooves, shouting apologies. I lock eyes with Starlight, giving her a flat look.
“Yeah, totally not a cult, Starlight.”
She glares back at me. “You’re getting on my last nerve.”
“You should probably get some more then, can’t imagine nerves are expensive.” I smirk. It must be so infuriating for her, to have someone who doesn’t seem to be chafing under her damn propaganda. I just wish I had the Pinkie powers back, I’d totally annoy her into submission.
“Obvious self promotion is obvious,” Pinkie monotones, giving the fourth wall a flat look.
I ignore that, letting out a gasp. “They’re eating her and then they're going to eat me!” I shout, dramatically pointing with my hoof. “OH MY GOD!!!”
“What?! Who’s being eaten!?” Starlight whips around frantically. I smirk, pulling out the busted loudspeaker and chucking it at her head. It sails through the air, smacking into her skull with a loud crack! Disoriented, she stumbles around until she falls into a water trough.
“Ugh...” she moans, pulling herself out of the trough, landing in a heap on the ground, her true cutie mark exposed.
“See?” I smirk, pointing at it. “Total hypocrite! Been lying to you guys since day one!”
“I-I can’t believe that actually worked...” Dash mutters out. Sure, it hadn’t been the plan we had come up with but hell, this feels SOOO much better. I grin real wide, my mane poofing back up.
“You should trust me more, I totally know what I’m doing.” I smirk. I look back at Starlight, only to be blasted back into the cottage by her magic. “Ow...” I groan, having been knocked into the bookcase.
“Floyd, I believe she’s angry.”
“Yeah Pinkie, I can see that...” I groan, trying to get the stars to stop dancing around my head. I get to my hooves, wobbling to the door just in time to see Starlight dash into her house.
“Floyd! Y’alright?” Applejack asked, rushing over, letting me lean on her for support.
“Yeah, I’m okay... you guys just go get our cutie marks back, I’ll stay here and uh... pray I don’t have a concussion...” They sit me down against the wall, taking off to go get the cutie marks.
“Looks like it’s just us.” Pinkie sits next to me. “Do you think they’ll do it?”
“You know, you should never, ever, ever sound like Maud. I’m really surprised the universe hasn’t imploded yet,” I joke, wincing as my head throbs.
“You should be more careful, when you get hurt we both feel it.”
“I really can’t wait for you to go back to normal. I miss happy Pinkie Pie...”
“Happiness is a warm gun.”
I stare at her, giving her an unamused look. “Now you're just trolling me.” She was about to respond when streaking out of the sky came her, our I guess, cutie mark. I smile as it moves toward us, only to frown as it splits into two. One goes to Pinkie, restoring us to normal. The other one just... circles me. A quick check of the flank shows that it’s blank, the equal sign gone.
“Floyd? Why is our cutie mark just floating there?” Pinkie asks, sharing my dumbfounded expression as she looks between her ghostly flank and mine, well, her real one.
“I dunno Pinks...” I quickly pull a jar out of my mane, scooping it up and sealing it in tightly. That's a lie really, I know exactly what's going on... and it’s my fault.
“What do you mean you're not coming back to Ponyville?” Dash practically screams at me, flying up in my face.
“Look, Pinkie and I already discussed this on the train up here, we’re going to the rock farm to see her-OUR family,” I explain as we make our way back to the train station.
“Floyd, I don’t think you should just make decisions like this,” Twilight adds, frowning a little. “You don’t even have your cutie mark back.”
I sigh, not looking back at them. “Look, this is something we have to do, okay? I don’t expect you to understand, but I expect you to respect our decision.” With that I trot off, not even looking back at them.