“It’s time to wake up,” a voice called out to Azure Moon. She was still asleep, trying to capture another few minutes. Looking up, Azure saw it was still relatively early. She could sleep another couple of minutes, surely. A couple more minutes wouldn’t hurt her, in fact, it would make her more awake. Just a few more minutes in the nice warm blankets would be all she needed. Unfortunately, the pony above her had different ideas.
Sighing, Double Diamond grabbed Azure’s blanket and pulled. Immediately, light streamed onto the pony trying to hide. After several seconds of adjusting, the unicorn’s eyes opened and she peered up at her current mentor.
“Good morning,” Double Diamond said with a smile. “I have something to give to you.”
Double Diamond led Azure over to his packs and pulled out one small tin besides two tall ones and three brushes. Azure eyed the objects curiously as Double Diamond finally revealed the contents: Makeup and a piece of paper missing two parallel rectangles. They were three different colors, one to match each of their coats and a dark grey one.
“Makeup?” Azure asked flatly. After all of these grand gifts, his grand finale is makeup? The thought seemed ridiculous to her..
“It’s to disguise your Cutie Mark,” Double Diamond explained, grabbing one of the brushes and the small can of white makeup. “This one is for me, though I’ll only use it until tonight.”
“Why do we need this stuff?” Azure levitated the cylinder with her color in it. “We’re not, exactly, trying to hide out here.”
“We’re heading back to Our Town today in about 30 minutes.” Double Diamond applied the makeup to his flank, hiding his cutie mark. Grabbing the remaining brush and black makeup, he applied the paper to his flank and brushed lightly. Revealing a fake equal sign. Looking at his artwork, he passed the stencil and black makeup over to Azure.
“I’m gonna be honest,” Azure said, her voice trying to retain some confidence, “I haven’t really used makeup before.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Double Diamond assured, placing the make up in her hooves. “You don’t have to be accurate. It’s a very rough tool.”
It was at this point Azure noticed that the bandages around Double Diamond were missing.
“What happened to your cuts?” Azure asked, pointing a hoof at him.
“They healed, one of the perks of being an Earth Pony,” he replied.
Azure turned her head to look at the Cutie Mark resting on her flank. Taking a breath to settle herself, she began to apply her makeup. After a few touches, the blemish had been removed, hidden from sight. Grabbing the black and stencil, she attempted to replicate a perfect equal sign, but failed. A bit of black was above the rest, showing where the makeup had gone above the stencil.
Double Diamond eyed her results, noticing the slight flaw in the disguise. Licking a hoof, he removed the offending piece of black.
“Perfect!” he announced happily. “Now hurry on and pack up, we have some walking to do.”
Twenty minutes later and the two began their trek back to Our Town. It was just as long, yet felt easier to both ponies. They were faster, stronger, and had more endurance, though neither would admit to the fact. It was around three hours past noon when they finally got back into the village.
Their return was met with many ponies waving, but no huge uproar. Nopony knew they were unequal, Azure thought in astonishment. They couldn’t tell on sight. When would they find out?
“Do you mind if I…” Azure began before Double Diamond turned away.
“Go on ahead,” he said, his head turning back to her. “Just be ready by 6:00. You’ll be unveiling the project there.”
Smiling, Azure turned away and began to walk to her home. However, before she could get more than 20 meters, she was stopped.
“And where have you been, Ms. No Show?” came a familiar feminine voice. Azure turned with a wide smile to the voice. Flying slightly behind and above her was a tan pegasus with dark brown hair.
“I robbed Double Diamond of all his bits,” Azure answered. “What have you been doing all weekend?”
“Funny, I was in the mayor’s house on Sunday and didn’t see you.” The pegasus landed next to her now, looking her directly in the eyes.
“Why were you in the mayor’s house?” Azure’s smile grew, a few teeth showing. She knew what a knack for trouble her friend usually got into.
“Why do you think?” Tempest Glide demanded, a touch of hostility entering her voice. “I was counting on you to be my lookout, and you didn’t show!” Azure’s smile fell as realization dawned on her.
“Oh my Celestia, Tempy, I’m so sorry!”
“Because of you… because of you…” her voice trailed off for a second, the fire she had quenching. Her eyes lowered, no longer looking at Azure.
“What happened?” Azure asked, getting closer to her friend. Tempest looked up at Azure again, their eyes meeting.
“I could only…” Suddenly, Tempest’s voice lowered considerably, “snag 2 cupcakes for something special tonight.” Her hoof came up holding one of the cupcakes, pressing it into Azure’s stunned hoof.
“You really got something then?”
“You know it!” Tempest’s grin extended from ear to ear. “They weren’t expecting me, and apparently they have a lot of baking to do for something tonight.”
“Do you know what’s going on?” Azure asked, taking a bit into her cupcake.
“No, nopony does. Double Diamond ordered a big feast for tonight, and called everypony from the outlying area in. Though… there are rumors.”
“Rumors?” Azure asked, her mouth full of cupcakes.
“Yeah, some ponies think he’s going to give up the mayorship, others that he is giving up on Our Town.” Noticing Azure’s mood souring, Tempest quickly changed the subject. “Others are saying that Starlight is coming back today, though, so it could be something good.”
“I’m sure it’ll be good news,” Azure said without conviction. The announcement, would it change how other ponies viewed her? Would Tempest still be there? Shaking her head to clear thoughts, she stuffed the remains of the cupcake into her mouth.
“Wow, you were really hungry, weren’t you?” Tempest said with a smirk. “Hope you enjoyed it, you owe me.”
“What about that time I helped you out with repainting your room?” Azure pointed out, trying to keep free of any debts.
“What about it?” Tempest asked, her smile still showing. “You did that for that time I helped you with a gift for your mom’s birthday.”
Grumbling incoherently, Azure waved to her friend and continued on her way home. Entering, she found her mother sitting at the table, looking at a variety of papers.
“Hey, mom, I’m back,” Azure announced as she walked in, her saddlebags falling away with ease. Her mother looked up from the paper she was writing on in red pen. Setting aside the tools of her trade, Violet Glow got up and walked calmly over to her daughter. Looking her in the eyes for a few moments, a smile broke out as the two hugged.
“How was the trip?” Violet asked, still hugging her daughter tightly.
“It was fine,” Azure answered, hugging her mother just as tight. After a moment of thought, however, she realized something. “I can’t tell you about it, though.”
“That’s fine, Moonie.” Finally breaking the hug, Violet looked at her daughter again.
“Mom, please don’t call me that!” Azure begged, looking slightly mortified. Violet continued to examine her daughter, until a sudden realization came upon her.
“Let me get a better look at you,” she commanded. Looking over Azure fully, Violet couldn’t tell what was wrong. After a few more seconds and a couple proddings, she gave up.
“What was that about?” Azure asked, her eyes showing what she thought of the situation.
“I don’t know, you just seem… different. More vibrant, did you eat something…” Violet trailed off, staring at Azure’s face. “Icing? Where did you get icing?”
“Well, you see, I was just---”
“You spent the bits I gave you on sweets before leaving, didn’t you?” Violet demanded in a tone that spoke of calm anger. She hadn’t moved a muscle since she saw the icing.
“No!” Azure cried out. “I didn’t, I mean, I only spent the bits on food I needed.”
“Then where’d you get icing?”
“Tempest Glide gave me a cupcake on my way here,” Azure said, trying not to reveal too much. Unfortunately for her, word spread fast.
“You mean she stole two cupcakes from the bakery?” Violet looked ready to run out of the house, probably straight to find Tempest. Suddenly, a thought came to mind and her gaze returned to her daughter. “Did you know about any of this?”
“I had no idea,” Azure lied. She didn’t want her mother’s rage focused on her.
“That better be the truth, or I will make your punishment far worse than hers was.” Her mother sighed, a smile returning to her face. “But enough about that. You must be hungry.”
After a small snack, the two mares went outside to see tables awash with food and everypony milling around. It lacked music, and most ponies were simply talking. At the far end of the town was Double Diamond, talking to another pony. Azure broke off from her mother, intent on walking over to Double Diamond. On her way, though, she noticed Tempest, enjoying a cupcake.
“Where did you get that?” Azure asked as she approached.
“It was one I was saving,” Tempest answered through a mouthful. “Most ponies thought that I had already eaten it.”
“Smart.” The two talked for many minutes before a bell rang out. Everypony quieted down and looked at Double Diamond, who stood proud in front of all his friends.
“As you are all aware,” he started, “these past few years have been hard for all of us. We have lost friends, some to the lie of Cutie Marks, others to more natural causes. It has not been easy, and most of us know that we can’t continue the way we have, we have nopony to remove a Cutie Mark. We are without a guide, without Starlight Glimmer. I have tried my best, but I can only do so much. That is why, I’d like Azure Moon to come up here.”
Everypony turned to her. She wilted under their attention, clearly uncomfortable. Why couldn’t her legs move? Why was her breathing getting faster? Why was her heart rate skyrocketing? Why do they keep staring? Why can’t she move or do anything? Fortunately for her, Tempest gave her a push towards Double Diamond, and muscle memory handled the rest.
Standing before Double Diamond, Azure peeked at the crowd of ponies behind her, watching her. She could feel their stares, each one judging her as questions raged in their mind. Before she could get caught up in her worries, Double Diamond continued.
“Azure Moon, Starlight Glimmer has commanded that you take up her role as the Remover of Cutie Marks, as a pony that will aid this community. Now, I have something to show everyone.”
Double Diamond dabbed a cloth he had on the table behind him into water and wiped away the makeup hiding his Cutie Mark. A collective gasp came from the crowd, each one remembering an incident over 10 years ago. He passed the cloth to Azure as he continued speaking. Oh we are so bucked, Azure thought as she grabbed the cloth.
“I have reattached this Cutie Mark in order for Azure Moon to demonstrate the removal, to prove she can do it.” He turned to Azure, who had revealed her own mark. “Now, please, remove this affliction from me.”
Concentrating her magic and remembering the amount of each aspect of the spell, Azure cast the spell. Again, she felt the phantom lingering on Double Diamond. Feeling more at ease with the spell than before, she began to pull at it until she remembered Double Diamond. Dividing some attention to keeping him on the ground, she once again pulled and found her own strength made it easier. The Cutie Mark came off easily.
Smiling, Azure guided the floating Cutie Mark into a jar that was off to the side. Closing the lid, Double Diamond held up the jar for everypony to see. A stunned silence came from the crowd. The first pony to react was Tempest, who stomped her hooves in applause. Some other ponies joined her, but many did not.
Smiling to the crowd, Double Diamond put his hoof around her shoulders.
“As you can see, Azure Moon has the ability to remove Cutie Marks. It is what we need, what everypony needs. From this point on, she will help lead more ponies to the truth, and help them experience true friendship. She will bear the curse of a Cutie Mark, for all of us.”
Throughout his small speech, many ponies opinions began to sway. By the end of it, the majority was convinced of Azure’s role, though there were still a few that did not.
“Now,” Double Diamond whispered into Azure Moon’s ear, “I am going to explain the situation to them. Why don’t you head back home and try to catch some sleep. I’m sure you’ll be busy tomorrow.” Nodding, she obeyed and took the long way home.
On the way, Azure heard a flap of wings and a soft thud behind her. Turning, she once again saw a tan pegasus behind her, a frown on her face.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Tempest asked quietly.
“I was told not to,” Azure explained, moving closer to her friend. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, but I couldn’t.”
“We’re friends, Azure, and you lied to me!” Tears began to form in her eyes as anger raged through her. “Why? Why would you keep this a secret from me?”
“Please, I had to. Double Diamond didn’t want me telling anyone, and I didn’t have time.” These are all just her excuses. Why had she hid this from her closest friend? She had to make it up to Tempest. Looking at her friend with renewed determination, Azure pulled her into a hug.. “I’m so sorry, please forgive me.” Tempest sniffed away some tears.
“I’ll forgive you, as long as you don’t hide anything from me.”
“I promise,” Azure said, making an oath in her heart to keep the promise.
The two mares continued hugging for several minutes before Tempest finally pulled away. Without a word, the two walked to Azure’s house. Tempest waved goodbye as she flew across town to her own home to get some sleep. Inside the house, waiting in the kitchen, was Violet Glow.
Once again, she was sitting at the table, a red pen and papers in front of her.
“Hi, mom,” Azure greeted with a false smile on her face.
“Going to bed?” Violet asked while reading through one of the papers. Making a mark, she looked up at Azure.
“Yeah,” Azure answered. The two stared awkwardly for a few moments before Azure broke the tension. “Are you going to ask about it?”
“No,” her mother replied. “I trust Double Diamond’s intentions and idea. I think it’s a good one, and I can’t think of a better mare to do it.” At the end, she smiled at her daughter, who was blushing slightly. “Now, get off to bed Moonie. You need your sleep for tomorrow.”
Azure began to make her way upstairs before stopping. “What do you mean about tomorrow?”
“Oh? Double Diamond didn’t tell you? Well, I can’t ruin the surprise. Just know you’ll be up early,” her mother finished with a devious smile. “Good night.”
“Good night,” Azure moaned as she continued to her room. Falling into bed, she was asleep in a matter of seconds.
On the other side of the small town, Double Diamond was staring out of his upper floor window. A drink in hand, he looked over all that Starlight had built, and what he had been able to keep together. Staring out, his thoughts began to wander. He remembered Starlight, her laugh, how she looked, and everything she had done. From the beginning, he had been by her side, all the way to the end.
Turning away from the window, he walked back to his bedroom. Removing a floorboard revealed a small letter, Starlight’s final words, the original. Lifting it in tender hooves, he read over it one more time, tears forming like every time he had read it before. Steeled in his resolve, he got up and replaced the letter, bringing out instead a small drawing of Starlight that he had made.
“What you wanted, it’s almost here,” he said, tears still coming down. “I… I wish you could…” He couldn’t continue, sobbing finally breaking any coherent sentences. After a few seconds, he regained his voice.
“Why?!” he shouted, slamming his hoof against the floor. “Why did you have to die? You were just doing what you believed, what you knew was the truth, and they killed you for it!” Releasing more anger into the floorboards and his tears, Double Diamond drained away all his emotions. After several minutes, he stood, more calm.
“I won’t let what you did be in vain, Starlight. I swear it. I will make your dream a reality… For you, Starlight, I would do anything.”