Chapter 4 - Fade Away
The sun sinks behind dark misty mountains like a stone falls into water.
Two halves of the same mourn for their daughter.
For you were the sun that shined brighter every day
Though it pleased a dark cloud to take you away.
Three sisters, three balloons, smile their best
Because we know in our hearts, in heaven’s arms you rest.
As long as laughter is heard, your spirit will never die
From Maud, to you, my sweet sister Pinkie Pie.
“Whaddaya mean, you don’t know?” Rainbow demanded.
“Yeah,” Pinkie breathed, unable to take her eyes off the brand new cutie mark. “Fruit just appeared on your butt!”
Applejack swished her tail in slight annoyance. “It ain’t my fault!”
Twilight winced slightly at the grammatical error. “Isn’t.”
“What?”
“It isn’t your fault. This calls for an investigation.” She pulled out a notebook and pencil and started writing things down.
Rarity slowly began to panic. “This is awful! What would mom say? You brought a...a cutie mark into this house! This is a disgrace!” Applejack’s ears flattened. “Maybe if I could make a dress or something to cover it up—"
“No,” Applejack said firmly. She winced as she sat up, letting the washcloths slide off her back. “No more lies. It’s best if I tell her. She’s gonna find out sooner or later.”
Fluttershy clutched at Applejack’s foreleg. “B-But…what if mommy…”
Applejack fixed her with a glare, stopping Fluttershy short. “No more lies,” she stated firmly. “Lyin’s what got me into this in the first place…” She looked down at her cutie mark and turned away in shame. “M-Maybe she could fix it. Make it go away.”
The girls stopped to consider this. Applejack was right. Maybe mom could fix the cutie mark, and then everything would go back to normal.
“I guess so…” Twilight said carefully.
“What’s it like?” Pinkie blurted suddenly. This time, no one reprimanded her for even entertaining the thought of having a cutie mark, because everyone was secretly thinking the exact same question.
Applejack thought for a moment. “I don’t feel any different. It’s just there, I guess.”
“Well, you sure talk funny,” Rainbow said with a bit of humor.
Applejack gently rubbed her throat. “What happened to my voice? Maybe cutie marks automatically change your voice when you get it.”
“Cutie mark….causes ….voice change….” Twilight murmured as she scribbled it down on the sheet of paper. She stopped and looked her sister up and down. “Other than those things, you haven’t changed at all. Do you feel it on you?”
“Nope. I might have felt a weird tingle, but that was it.”
Rarity squinted her eyes. “But what does it mean? Three apples? That doesn’t make any sense!”
“Mom says that ponies get a cutie mark when they know their special talent,” Rainbow reminded them. “Maybe she’s an apple taste tester.”
“That’s a terrible job!” Applejack said, wrinkling her nose. “I don’t even like apples that much. They hurt my teeth!”
“Well your name is Applejack,” Fluttershy suggested. “Maybe that means something?”
“That’s actually a really good point, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, jotting it down. “Maybe it’s name related.”
Pinkie beamed. “Oooh! Maybe my cutie mark will be something pink! Sunsets are pink sometimes. Maybe my special talent is chasing sunsets! That’ll be fun!”
“I’m good at…being shy,” Fluttershy said.
“That’s every day,” Applejack pointed out.
“But... that doesn’t mean it would be any less good than yours.”
Rainbow looked at her own flank and scratched her head. “Uhh…maybe I…discover rainbows? Or…dash to places?”
Rarity snorted. “Some talent.”
“Oh, like your invisible talent? It’ll be rare alright!” Rainbow shot back.
Twilight stomped her hoof before Rarity could retort.
“That’s enough! Don’t you see what’s happening? Look at us! Already, we’re fighting over what kind of talent we’ll have! Just like mom said we would!” The girls stood in shocked silence and lowered their heads. “Soon, we’ll tear each other apart, our friendship ruined, and for what?” Twilight looked around at her downtrodden sisters. None of them dared to look her in the eye. “What?” Twilight repeated angrily.
A single tear ran down Fluttershy’s cheek. “I don’t know what came over me…”
“Cutie marks need to be stopped,” Rarity murmured. “It turned us against each other in just minutes! I’m sorry, Rainbow.”
"Me too, Rares."
“Girls! Time for dinner!”
Applejack felt her stomach churn. “I guess this is it, then.”
“Don’t worry A.J.," Pinkie said as they made their way to the main room. “Mom’s gonna fix everything, you’ll see…then you’ll be just like us again.” Despite her positive words, her voice lacked its usual enthusiasm.
Rainbow narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “By the way…you don’t think you’re better than us, do you?”
Applejack sighed. “No. In fact, I feel worse. Who knows what else this mark is capable of.”
They trailed into the dining room where Starlight waited beside the dinner table. “Dinner’s ready,” she announced, looking at her daughters expectantly. The girls ducked their heads and looked anywhere but at her, cringing slightly.
Starlight frowned in confusion. “Is there something wrong?”
Her only response was the nervous shuffling of hooves. Starlight straightened up. “Is this because of what happened this afternoon? If so, do not go about thinking that punishing you is something I personally enjoy. I want you girls to know—"
“Mom,” Applejack squeaked, stepping forward. “I did somethin’ terrible.”
Starlight’s heart dropped into her stomach, and her coat turned three shades lighter. Her voice. Her southern accent. How? “W…what did you say, Applejack?”
With watery eyes, Applejack turned to the side, revealing her cutie mark. Starlight gasped and stumbled backward into the dinner table, knocking over a bowl of lukewarm soup. The girls visibly flinched at the sound of broken glass, shattering the atmosphere.
For the first time in years, Starlight felt hard cold fear wash over her. It’s not possible! I erased everything! EVERYTHING! Well…except for their knowledge of their own names…but even so, they shouldn’t be able to get their cutie marks back! It can’t be done! She nervously glanced at the other fillies, looking fearful and anxious. But most of all, they looked curious and expectant. The unicorn started to breathe heavily. What am I going to do? What am I going to...
Her eyes focused on Applejack and saw tears running down the filly’s face. “Why are you crying, Applejack?”
The young girl looked up, her eyes filled with regret and shame. “I…I’m sorry, mama. I didn’t mean to get…this. I don’t know how it happened or why…I…I….” Applejack flung herself into Starlight’s embrace and buried her face into her chest. Her tiny body wracked with sobs as she struggled with her words. “I’m sorry! P-Please don’t kick me out! I don’t wanna be different! I wanna be equal…I’m no better than anypony else…”
Starlight’s eyes widened slightly. Maybe…maybe this wasn’t for naught after all…it seems I still have her mind…but what about her heart? If I can convince her…make her see….
She gently pushed her daughter back and sat down on her haunches, gazing into Applejack’s red puffy eyes. “Do you truly wish that, Applejack?” she asked seriously, her expression slightly hopeful. “Are you truly willing to accept Equality into your life? Do you see cutie marks as I see them?” She took Applejack’s face in her hooves, brushing a strand of blonde hair out of her eyes. “I can help you, Applejack. My little sunshine. But only if you are willing.”
Applejack nodded quickly, her face still cupped in Starlight’s hooves. “Yes, mama! Please! Fix this! I’m not special. I know I'm not! We all are…with cutie mark, we’re different…and disagreeing…and fighting. I don’t want any of that...honest.”
An odd sound cut through the air. Before Starlight could open her mouth, Pinkie squealed. “Look!”
Everyone gasped as the three apples on Applejack’s flank morphed into an equal sign. Applejack’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she collapsed to the floor.
“Applejack!” the fillies shrieked.
Wasting no time, Starlight quickly scooped her up and placed the unconscious filly onto her back. “Twilight, keep them here,” she called, racing inside her bedroom. She slammed the door behind her and locked it with her magic. She gently placed Applejack on her bed and felt for a pulse. Starlight sighed upon knowing that Applejack was still alive. Still, her pulse is weak. She paced around in a circle, breathing heavily. Beads of sweat started to form underneath her bangs.
That transformation nearly killed her. How is any of this possible? I mean…them being equal is what I’ve always dreamed of, but I’M supposed to give them the mark…when I decided they were ready. But she developed one of her own…. She turned to look at Applejack’s her eyes wide with realization. Because she believed in it. “Of course!” she said out loud. Noticing how loud she was, she lowered her voice.
“She gave herself the mark. Because she now knows the truth. But nopony can do that…although, she’s still an Element of Harmony. And from what I’ve read, the Elements of Harmony can defy all odds, defeat all those in its path….” A slow smile crept across her face. Except for me. I’ve changed their way of thinking, given them a new purpose in life…
Starlight sat on the bed and stared at Applejack for a long time. After a while, she slowly reached down and stroked Applejack’s cheek.
…But at what cost?
“I’m scared, mommy,” Rarity said quietly, her bread untouched. “What if she never wakes up?”
Starlight sighed and rubbed her temple. She had been asked that difficult question several times. Not knowing the answer made it worse for all of them. Applejack had been unconscious for three days now; the only sign of her being alive was her slow and steady breathing. Not one twitch, grunt, or even a snore.
The dinner table had quieted down considerably, and even though that silence during meals was a rare treat, Starlight found herself almost missing the noise. “I don’t know, Rarity,” Starlight said tiredly. “Your sister’s just…sleepy. That’s all. Just think of it as a long nap.”
Twilight silently watched her mother from across the table. She couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy when Starlight said that.
That’s not true, a little voice said inside her head. Not all of it, at least. Applejack’s in a coma. You know what coma means. Tell them. Tell them what you’ve learned. Tell mom you can read, and write, and count, and spell. You can even sound out big words now!
Twilight immediately pushed that thought to the back of her head.
I’m not better than anypony else. I’m average, and that’s a great thing to be.
“I wish I could sleep for days,” Rainbow Dash said, her voice cracking slightly. “Then I wouldn’t be bothered all the time.” She swung her hind legs under the table, swallowing the lump in her throat. “A.J.’s fine. You’re all worry warts.”
Fluttershy, who had been sitting silently throughout the entire dinner, pushed her plate back. “I’m not hungry,” she murmured. Everyone watched as she quietly slid off her chair, pushed it under the table, and slunk to the girl’s bedroom where Applejack slept.
“I’m done too,” Twilight said succinctly, using her magic to clear her plate. Rainbow was quick to follow.
“Me too.”
“Me too.”
One by one, the girls picked up their still full plates and left the table, save Pinkie.
Starlight sighed heavily and buried her face in her hooves. What am I doing? Although she would like to think of her daughters the same, she couldn’t deny that Applejack was the most level headed filly in the house. She was the glue that held the group together. Now she could see that her sisters were lost without her. Lost without each other.
Pinkie took one look at Starlight and got off her chair. She crossed over and placed her tiny hoof over her mom's. Starlight lifted her head and looked down at the five year old in surprise. A bright and reassuring smile adorned her little face. “Don’t cry, mommy. Applejack’s gonna get better soon. We just need to keep hoping. She wouldn’t want us to be afraid. She’d want us to be strong…just like her.”
Starlight stared at the pink filly, her mouth half open. Without warning, she pulled Pinkie to her chest and buried her face deep into her mane; she was ruining the filly’s braids, but didn’t care.
Twilight stared at the cover of her book, the one she had kept secret for a whole year.
Star Swirl’s Properties of Magic.
She inhaled through her nose and opened the secret door in the living room. While mom was still busy in the dining room with Pinkie, she took the opportunity to get rid of the book for good. As much as she cared for it, it made her an individual. Something that set her apart from the family. It was hard, not just for her, but the others as well. It was the only secret the little Glimmers had shared. They had learned to read and write, and it was the only colorful thing they owned. But after what happened with Applejack….
Twilight squeezed her eyes shut. Books don’t make me smarter at all. It only made me a terrible sister.
She opened her eyes and put the book back and concealed the opening for the last time. She gave a broken hearted sigh, but deep inside, she knew she had done the right thing.
Applejack galloped through the dark forest, bumping and crashing into twisted trees that towered high above her. The wind howled over her terrified cries for help. Up in the darkened sky, high above the branches, storm clouds swirled around above her like an upside down whirlpool. The outline of a terrifying creature with wings and a horn appeared behind the thickness of the clouds and grew sharp teeth as it screamed her name. Applejack gasped in horror and ran faster, avoiding golden coins that scattered along the path. As she went deeper into the forest, her ears suddenly perked up.
“Applejack!”
She skidded to a halt and whirled around. “T-Twilight? Is that you!?”
“Applejack! Help me!”
The filly reared back and ran towards Twilight’s frightened voice. “I’m comin’ Twilight!”
The creature, the storm, nothing else mattered anymore. What mattered was getting to her sister. She came to a clearing that had a long cliff at the end of it. Twilight desperately hung on to the edge, her eyes wide with terror. “Applejack!” Her hooves began to slip, but Applejack dove forward and grabbed her hooves before she could go over the edge.
“I gotcha, Twi,” she grunted.
“Applejack,” Twilight strained, glancing over her shoulder at the bottomless void below. “What do we do?!”
“I’ll think of somethin’. Don’t you worry, sis. I’ll get us out of this!”
“Are you crazy?!” Twilight shrieked.
Applejack was surprised by Twilight’s words. “Whaddaya mean? If you got a better idea, I’d love to hear it!”
Twilight looked at her, but this time it was not an expression of fear. It was almost like her face had been erased of all emotion. Before Applejack could question, Twilight spoke, her eyes clouded. “We’re slipping.”
Applejack blinked in confusion. “What?” Then, a split second later, Applejack said something else. But it wasn’t her, it couldn’t be. She didn’t even feel her mouth open and her lips didn’t form the words. She wouldn’t, couldn’t say those awful words, even if they had no chance of surviving.
“Let go.”
Applejack’s scream lodged in her throat as Twilight tumbled down to the sharp rocks below.
“Applejack!”
“Applejack!” Twilight shook her crying sister. “Applejack, wake up! Wake up!”
Applejack’s eyes snapped open and bolted upright, gasping. “It’s alright!” Twilight said shakily, hugging the trembling filly. She made soothing sounds as she stroked Applejack’s mane, which was damp with sweat. “It was just a dream. Only a dream.”
Applejack slowly pulled back to look at Twilight. Her wide eyes drank in every bit of the little unicorn’s face. “You’re…you’re okay?”
Twilight blinked and let out a laugh. “Of course I am! It’s you we’re so worried about!”
“…We?”
She looked past Twilight and saw the rest of her sisters standing two feet behind with frightful expressions. Applejack raised an eyebrow. “What’s eating you guys?” The young girl was immediately blown back by joyous screams; countless hooves wrapped around her body, squeezing the life out of her.
“You’re alive!”
“Are you okay?”
“CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME?”
“You must be awfully hungry!”
“Ugh! Give her room, everypony!” Twilight grunted, squished in between Fluttershy and Pinkie. The fillies backed off sheepishly, but only by a few inches.
Rainbow gave a weak grin. “You really had us going there, doofus,” she said, messing up Applejack’s bangs. “Don’t ever do that again, okay?”
Applejack smirked and poked her in the chest. “Wouldn’t count on it, brainless. But…what happened?”
“Ooh! Ooh! Lemme tell her!” Pinkie shouted before anypony else got a word in. “Remember when we accidently broke the stick and mom found out about it and everything?”
Applejack nodded.
“During naptime, you earned your cutie mark—"
“Cutie mark!?”
“Yeah, but after you told mom it disappeared! I guess she made it go away with her super eyeball powers, she’s that good! But then afterwards, you were like ‘Uuuugh’ and fell to the floor, and then we were like ‘Aaaaah!’ And you didn’t wake up for like three whole days—"
“Three days!?”
“Uh huh, and were really really scared!” She crawled forward and nuzzled her lovingly. “But you’re okay now, Applejack. I knew we wouldn’t lose you.”
An odd expression etched the other girl’s features. “What did you call me?”
The girls glanced at one another. “Uhhh….Applejack?” Pinkie repeated unsurely.
“What are you talking about? I’m not Applejack. I’m Sunshine, remember?”
“You see, mom?” Rainbow said, gesturing to Applejack. “She’s a total whack job!”
Starlight directed a stern gaze towards her. “What did I say about name-calling, Rainbow?”
“I’m sorry mom,” Rainbow said in a high, somewhat pleading voice, “But she’s acting like one!”
“Why do you keep calling her that, mom?” Applejack asked. The other fillies noticed that the accent from before had gone away. “You know her name’s Prism.”
“Yow not making any sense!” Rarity said exasperatingly, her lisp slipping in. “I’m stawting to think you hit yow head too hawd!”
“APPLEJACK,” Pinkie shouted, gripping said girl’s shoulders. “IT’S ME, PINKIE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH!?”
Twilight irritably pulled her off. “She just lost her memory, she’s not deaf!”
Starlight, who had been silently watching them, finally spoke. “And your mark?” she inquired carefully. “You don’t find it…odd?”
Applejack glanced at her flank and looked up with a curious expression. “You mean this? I’ve always had this…didn’t I?”
The other fillies stood in shocked silence. They had never seen their sister this way. Her demeanor hadn’t changed, but she had a very confused way about her. Applejack was still here, yet she wasn’t. Some threw Starlight anxious looks, silently pleading her to do something—anything to heal their sister.
Starlight ignored them all, and walked over to Applejack, her hoof caressing her face. “Sunshine…why don’t you go to your room and lie down a bit, okay?”
Applejack stared at her mother and nodded. “…Okay. Maybe I do need a nap,” she mumbled, rubbing her head as she turned away. “I don’t feel too good…”
“It’s official,” Rainbow sighed as soon as she disappeared down the hall. “She’s lost it.”
Fluttershy’s ears flattened against her head. “I feel so bad for her…I wish there was something we could do…”
“There is something we can do,” Starlight said suddenly with her back turned.
The girls shared a surprised look. “There is?” Twilight asked hopefully.
“Yes.” Starlight turned to face them, smiling oddly. “Come with me, children…single file…”
The girls formed a line behind their mother without hesitation and followed closely from behind. “We’re going to mother’s room,” Fluttershy whispered. “We’re barely allowed in there.”
“Then it must be serious,” Rarity said quietly.
“Don’t worry,” Rainbow said to her. “Mom always knows what to do.”
Starlight opened her bedroom door, letting the girls inside. “Come right in, my starlings. Mommy’s going to make everything better.”
The girls drank in every bit of the room as much as they could. It was the only room in the cave that was off limits to them. It was quite simple with a bed, a side table, a closet, and a picture frame with an equal sign inside that hung above the bed. Everything about the room was very big and adult-like to them.
“It even smells grown up,” Rainbow whispered to Fluttershy.
Starlight wordlessly closed the door and turned to her five daughters, all lined up against the wall. She crossed over to them and let her eyes fall on each filly, one by one. “I’ve…I’ve been a good mother to you, haven’t I?”
The girls shared confused looks, perplexed at their mother’s odd question. “Well, of course you have,” Twilight answered with a smile. “You’re the best mom a girl could ask for!” The others nodded, backing up her words.
Starlight shifted slightly. “And…do you truly understand what it means to be Equal? Do you believe it with all your heart?”
“We understand, mommy,” Fluttershy said. “We know that equality brings peace to the world, even though not everypony understands that yet.”
“And that cutie marks cause hate,” Rainbow added. “Nopony sticks up for each other.”
“Differences bring selfishness,” Rarity said. “Equalness helps us be better ponies.”
Twilight nodded. “Everypony has the same talents, and the same strengths. It makes us stronger, being together.”
“And,” Pinkie chimed in, “We always, always, always greet each other with a grin, because it’s so much better knowing that you’re just like everypony else! That’s something to smile about!”
A wide grin traveled over Starlight’s face as symbols began to flash upon their flanks. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
A burst of blue light shot up from Starlight’s horn; a surge of magic swept around them, growing larger in size as it swirled about. The girls cried out and huddled together, some clinging to each other as the magical storm intensified.
“M-Mommy?!” Twilight shrieked. “What’s happening? What are you doing!?”
The mare stood with her eyes rolled back in euphoria, her calm yet crazed grin chilling Twilight to the bone. “I’m making it better, dear Twilight. Just like I promised.”
“I’m scaaaared!” Pinkie wailed, her face masked with tears of fright. Rarity and Fluttershy screamed at the top of their lungs.
“Don’t be afraid, my starlings,” Starlight smiled, tears running down her own cheeks. “You’re serving a higher purpose for your country….Equestria….will thank me.”
The five fillies latched onto one another and held on.
“I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”
“F-Fluttershy…”
“Let me guess. You’re Rainbow Dash.”
“THE one and only!”
“Oh, yes! Sparkle always does the trick, does it not? Why Rarity, you are a talent!”
“Surprise! Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie, and I threw this party just for you!”
"I love you, Twily..."
Twilight opened her eyes, droplets of tears soaring skyward. “….Who are we?”
“Sleep, my dears. A new era is coming…”
Eight years later
Moonlight turned to her sister with a deadpanned expression. “You must be joking.”
But Pearl’s hopeful expression immediately trumped that idea. She was actually serious. Moonlight rolled her eyes. “Pearl, you know full well that we’re not allowed outside the cave walls.”
Pearl scuffed her hoof against the kitchen floor. “I-I know, but…we’re thirteen now. We can take care of ourselves!”
Moonlight went back to stirring her pot of porridge with her magic. “Our birthday was last week. Besides. Thirteen, eighteen doesn't matter. Mother would never allow it. We have everything we need right here, Pearlie. We have each other, that’s all that matters. Pass me that salt, please?”
The pink pony sighed and handed her the small glass container. The salt did nothing to improve the food, it was always fun to add…at least it used to be.
She trotted out of the kitchen and made her way to the bedroom, where she found Prism napping. The pegasus turned over on her bed and threw her an annoyed but sleepy glare. “Don’t you ever knock?”
“It’s my room too, you know,” Pearl replied, secretly happy that she disturbed Prism’s nap. She bounced over to Prism’s bed and leaned in. “I’m planning to do something that’s really dangerous, but exciting at the same time!”
Now, Prism was awake. “Yeah?”
“Mmm-hmm. I’m going to ask mom if we could go with her outside the cave.”
Prism snorted, shaking her head. “Yeah, right. You won't have the guts!”
“I am! And I will! Now that we’re teenagers, she’ll have to say yes!”
“You do remember the last time we asked, don’t you?”
“Well, that was a long time ago. Aren’t you the least bit curious? Don’t you want to know what it’s like outside?”
Prism leaned back onto her pillow and shielded her eyes with her forearm. “Of course I do. But rules are rules, Pearls.”
Pearl turned her head and gazed outside the window. The brilliant pink and violet sky stretched out for miles over the snowy ice capped mountains. Birds soared towards the sun, free as spirits.
“Dinner’s ready!” Moonlight called.
Prism leapt out of bed and scampered out the door. “Finally!”
Pearl slowly followed suit, but not before stealing another glance outside. "I am going to ask. At dinner. Just wait and see."
Yo! Finally back from camp, and it feels great to be back writing again. Starlight had figured out how to change their names, through their now firm beliefs, and their elements. She drew out the last bit of core memories they had, giving her more power over them. Starlight, you crafty villain, you. As I said before, I kept the mane six's names for a reason.
I'll try to update soon, though college welcome week is coming up next week. But my schedule is pretty rad, with three classes on Mondays, and only two classes for the rest of the week. I'm sure that'll give me more writing time then 
This is pretty much the turning point for the whole story arc. Next chapter, we're going into a whole new atmosphere, as hinted at the end of this chapter...but not in the way you think.
Thank you!
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Starlight..... your day of reckoning will come soon.
yay! more?
Eh
6326019 Of course
Man, seeing Starlight get her way like that just utterly infuriates me. That's not to say I'm not enjoying this story, I just REALLY hope she gets comeuppance at some point. Like, HEAVY comeuppance.
6326087 thank you! i give you pinkies as gift to help!
6326145 me too and i hope too
…But at what cost?
That line right there, suggests that Glimmer's maternal instinct is finally showing.
I wonder if when AJ wakes up she'll be referring to herself by the name Glimmer gave her rather than her former self at this point.
Ironically, AJ getting the equal mark on her own defeats Glimmer's own argument. That cutie marks do nothing but enslave ponies, that they trap them in one role in life, that the waste management cutie mark will be always subservient to the 'raise the sun' cutie mark because that's ALL those ponies can ever be. That your cutie mark was decided for you when you were born and that is that. That she's a hero fighting against their tyranny.
I imagine the reality is that ANY pony can change their cutie mark if they make the conscious decision to be truly different from how they were. (I doubt Screwball's insanity cutie mark is what she got as a foal.).
That transformation
Format typo, the 'th' isn't italic.
being alive was her slow and steady breathing. Not one twitch, grunt, or even a snore.
They're gonna have to start finding a way to feed and give her water unconscious at this rate.
"Starlight stared at the pink filly, her mouth half open. Without warning, she pulled Pinkie to her chest and buried her face deep into her mane; she was ruining the filly’s braids, but didn’t care."
I wonder if there's a part of her that's now THANKFUL Twilight blocked her shot at her four former friends and stopped her from becoming a murderer. Since this entire thing has at least reawakened her EMPATHY.
It's ironic, on the other hand, it's FITTING that AJ, or rather, Sunshine is the first to crack, family means everything to her, even at the core of her soul, whether that's apples or equality. In an VERY IRONIC way, Applejack's/Sunshine's cutie mark hasn't truly changed, it's simply expressing itself that fits with her new life.
I wonder if the big storm was Luna physically searching for them in the dreamscape.
So does Sunshine still have the equal mark? Still Pinkie Pie said it 'went away'.
I still imagine at the end of this, Celestia telling Glimmer that her victory in raising the girls different with different marks, defeated her own argument that cutie marks that collars that enslave ponies' fates.
I honestly imagine that dream was Sunshine making the unconscious decision of her own will to reject her old self.
And ironically, Glimmer did the one change to her way of thinking that made it much more powerful and dangerous, she gave her daughter a choice.
Much like at the end of the Matrix trilogy, it was revealed that humans would inherently reject the Matrix every time if it was forced on them, but if they were given a choice, even an unconscious one, they'd prefer to be used as batteries in a VR civilization than live in the dung heap that earth was.
her super eyeball powers,
Super eyeball powers?
Ironically the fillies perhaps understand Glimmer's vision better than she does.
Starlight smiled, tears running down her own cheeks.
I get the idea those are NOT tears of joy.
Twilight opened her eyes, droplets of tears soaring skyward. “….Who are we?”
WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT SPELL!?!? I am so totally confused!
we’re thirteen now.
Shouldn't then it have been 7 years later instead then?
The irony is that they aren't acting like the perfect little 1984 ponies from Our Town.
And hopefully Glimmer knows keeping six teenagers under control isn't something's really possible, she can only hope to keep them from doing anything TOO stupid or self destructive.
I imagine at this point, Starlight just doesn't want to lose her family, after 13 years of raising them, unless she's the world's biggest sociopath (see Trueman show). I wonder when she'll realize, and question JUST WHEN, her foals became more important than her vision.
I ironically imagine Moonlight deciding the Alicornification spell is the PERFECT WAY to bring equality to the NEXT LEVEL!
Ah, good to see you back, summer dancer. I've been awaiting this update and you did not disappoint. It was worth the wait.
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Starlight does indeed come closer to having what she wants, a family who will continue her philosophy whether she's incinerated by a dragon, mauled by bears, tortured for eternity+1 by Discord, cut in half and banished forever to the moon and sun forever, or not.
Personally. I loved this chapter.
The fact the girls were able to assimilate their elements into Glimmer's way of thinking, suggests they'll create a more balanced view of her vision than her.
6326146 I luv them!!!
Welp, back to writing!
WHOOOHOOOO!
Man, first we start of with a blow to the feels with Maud's poem, then to "whaaaaaat?" by the end. You devious writer.
soo elements of harmony become elements of equality?
nice the link has been cut off
Geez and I thought sword art online had big time skips.
They have their first kiss and then BOOM they have a baby
Also like sword art online, GREAT STORY!
I can imagine how hilarious it would be to hear Juicy J saying this. Or even Wiz!
I spot a continuity error! They were five when they were transformed, and ten years passed, so they should be fifteen by now.
Also, why is it that Luna hasn't found them in the dreamscape yet? I'm not going to pretend that there's a standard way of handling the dreamscape, but it's definitely not something to forget about.
Hopefully Starlight will realize she can't keep her foals bottled up forever.
Like all visionaries, Glimmer has to face the reality that the vision ultimately takes on a life of its own.
It would be ironic if Glimmer's daughters protected HER from Discord, and Discord realizes he can't fight Fluttershy. (Same with Spike.)
If Glimmer died by random fate rather than as her defeat, her daughters WOULD have to venture out. Or if she became critical ill and they chose to agains her wishes.
6327764 Nope, she has that power. She even says that the stick is just a cool looking piece of wood that she found.
The funny thing is, I once read a story by 6326191 , about Starlight winning and brainwashing everypony into being equal. It was interesting. But now whenever I read another Starlight wins story, the outcome is always the same. Starlight's magic erases a pony's talents, strengths, and personality traits. She tries to turn everypony into the exact same gray-coated pony. At that point the only thing interesting about them is those creepy smiles. That's why I only like Starlight when she's reformed or a good guy in the story.
Now that Twilight has been turned into Moonlight and so on, I can't actually tell who these new ponies are now. Maybe I need to write their names down somewhere. Although, how different are they allowed to be now, if Starlight tries to remove all differences in personality and character?
Well, I still have hope for the Elements of Friendship. 6326303 has the right idea. Gothel raised Rapunzel as her daughter until she was a teenager too, but Rapunzel still wanted to leave the tower. And once Rapunzel found out that Gothel had LIED to her for years, it didn't matter if 'mother knew best' since 'mother' was an evil witch. If Rapunzel could escape and reclaim her real life then that means the Mane Six will too.
6329740 Sorry if I confused anypony with the names
Let me help you out:
Moonlight - Twilight
Sunshine - Applejack
Sapphire - Rarity
Buttercup - Fluttershy
Pearl - Pinkie Pie
But yeah, I've noticed these things in Glimmer fics as well, so I decided to change things up a bit. Thanks for taking interest in this story!
6327816 Pfffft, now I can't that Erryday line out of my head
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It was in your head even BEFORE you heard this song. Welcome to the world or marketing and music theory. Create something catchy enough and say it enough times, you'll never forget it.
6329740 I noticed that too. That's what I love about this fimfiction so far. The fact that their being re-raised up to be believers in Equality and yet, still seem to maintain their distinctive personalities..I think I might know why actually. Before, ponies who had their cutiemarks forcefully removed, all became the same because of the brainwashing techniques that Starlight used, in order to make them think and believe the same.
Since the Mane 6 are now naturally, becoming believers in Equality; they're not victims, but acolytes. Because of this, even though they now believe in equality; they still have parts of their personality that makes them, them.
Though I do hope, that we still get lots of big, toothy smiles in this fimfiction. I love it when that happens :)
Oh boy.... Pearl...
Night
6329740 I remember feeling unsatisfied with that movie, pretty much for that reason. Gothel seemed to strive so hard at the beginning to be a genuinely loving, albeit manipulative and controlling mother. Then she quickly reverts to your standard Disney witch, complete with incredibly clichéd Disney death, and seemingly forgotten immediately by Rapunzel. I really hope Starlight Glimmer has a different fate in store.
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That makes sense. From my perspective, Gothel loved Rapunzel's hair more than Rapunzel (just look at how often she runs her fingers through that hair) but after several years of raising her, Gothel must have felt some love towards her. Maybe she could have given Rapunzel back to her parents and still be 'Auntie' Gothel. That way she still gets Rapunzel and her hair. So maybe Starlight will actually love the Mane Six instead of just wanting to use them to further her own 'equality' agenda.
I can't decide whether I want to see Starlight punished or forgiven at the end of this story. Really, I just want to see the Mane Six regain their memories so that they can make an informed decision. Remember when Starlight said that the Mane Six living in the village was entirely their choice? Maybe she was lying at the time, but it really should be their choice. They should be allowed to have their real mothers, fathers, and friends back and still keep Starlight. I mean, Starlight talks about freeing yourself from your cutie mark but when you think about it that equal sign on their flanks IS a cutie mark. Makes me wonder if Starlight could have just made everyone blanks flanks instead. The CMC seem fine without their marks; they don't have a special talent yet but they still have other talents.
6331990 It should definitely be their choice. I'm not sure how I feel about Starlight either. She definitely deserves punishment, but I suspect that Applejack out of all of the mane 6 is likely to push for her forgiveness. Starlight has done many terrible things, but she has also given AJ a mother again, and I think that is why on some level it seems like Applejack is resisting less than the others.
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You make a good point there. Still, to gain an adoptive mother by losing her beloved grandmother, brother, and little sister doesn't seem like a fair trade. I really hope that Applejack remembers her old family so that she can make the choice for herself. Same for all the Mane Six.
6333714 True, I'm not saying Applejack got a good deal, she's just the only one that didn't entirely lose out here.
What makes this story different from standard issue 'Glimmer wins' stories isn't how her foals are CHANGING HER, and how her children are what the next generation always does with ideas of the previous one, adapt them.
6334989 That's precisely why I love this story!
I can't believe I haven't read this chapter yet!
It's one of the best, and I love it so much!
I still can't decide if I hate Starlight or love her, but I can see her points and reasons.
I can also see how her children are her children.
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Yeah, while Starlight clearly decided to 'start over' by age regressing them back two years as a "do over" the irony is that most parents WOULD likely take that option if given to them . . . okay, not all of them . . .but at this point, after ten years, I think Starlight wouldn't be able to bring herself to do it again (I hope) because at this point, her foals are indeed her foals.
The real conflict now isn't the mane six heroically struggling to regain their old identities, it's between Starlight's children adapting the SPIRIT of what their mother has taught them, compared to Starlight Glimmer herself who still thinks the best way to make equals is to LESSEN everyone. I think her foals might actually understand Starlight's philosophy better than she does!
Hopefully, unless Starlight is the world's biggest sociopath, she is reaching where she loves her foals more than being right . . . we can HOPE she's reaching it.
The great irony is how each one was applying their virtues to Starlight Glimmer's way of thinking . . . where before it was heartless.
I hate these kind of fics. Where starlight wins and everyone is the same. These kind of fics scare me because we are about how we should all be treated equal but now that I see these kind of fics I don't want to be equal anymore. I just want to be me.
YAY!! The ponies have new names. Fabulous... Let's see where we go from here...
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This story seems to be taking a special twist to it.
I hope the story ends with the girls getting their marks and their personality back. :) Nice chapter
Good story so far. Cant wait for more.
My only question is, how has Discord not found them yet? While it can be argued that he is not omnipotent he has shown sighs of atleast being sem-omnipotent, also thanks to "Twilight's Kingdom" we know Discord can sense magical vibrations and figure out who it belongs too. Every time Rarity or Twilight used their magic should have been something that would have triggered Discord's senses, I mean how else does he know where the Mane 6 are when none of them told him anything? Yes it could be written of as their magic not being strong enough for him to tract but it should still be enough for him to hold on to the belief they are all alive or at the very least Twilight and Rarity are. Also I really do hope we see characters like Discord or Luna appear and what they would do to Starlight when they learn what she has done.
Maud made me cry.
Yep, not going to get any sleep tonight. Why do I keep having to find really good fanfics late at night!?!
I had to think about Ronaldo Kuriki from Shin Megami Tensei Rekord Breaker 2 ("Equality/Justice?) ending, he spoke similar to her.
Can you tell us who is who again? I try to look into it myself later, I just thought it woud go faster if I ask, since I stopped reading this a while ago, however I don´t remember why.
nice she can do more then just take marks away she can engrave them. as well
6333714 I hope they dont return to their old selves. why because that is a boring story
. well the happy ending is how most all story end it the default ending. I like being surprised .i want a new spin to it. I want to see them take a new path from the life they had before be it for the better or the worst. 
So now our heroes have transitioned into this: Mane Six Equalized
This is a quote from applejack you'll never hear her say in any other circumstance. Lol
This is a good story. This is a good chapter. But after this, I feel like I want to die inside. I just....I don't want to read this anymore. I'm sorry.