Chapter 1: The Cutie Map, Part 1
It was another beautiful day in Ponyville. For the most part, the citizens of the town seemed to have gotten adjusted to having a giant crystal castle just outside the town area. Inside the castle, the Mane Seven entered the main room where all the thrones were located.
Inside the throne room, Spike was just snoring peacefully on his throne. Pinkie wasted no time bouncing over to her throne and taking a seat on it. She or any other pony hadn't even realized that the cutie mark on it began to start glowing as soon as she sat down it. Rainbow had just hovered over to her throne when Twilight and Chase approached.
"Let's go through this one more time," Twilight asked.
"Oh, come on, honey." Chase groaned and even Rainbow face-hoofed herself.
"We've been over it like a million times, Twilight!" Rainbow retorted annoyingly, "We found all seven keys, found all seven power hearts, defeated Tirek, and got this sweet castle! End of story!"
"Yes, but why?" said Twilight.
"I mean, we know Tirek blew up our home and we needed a new one and such," said Chase, "But even my wife would agree that a castle is a bit much for a replacement."
Twilight nodded in agreement.
"I dunno, sugarcubes," said Applejack as she took a seat in her own throne, "Maybe it's just your new home and there ain't nothin' more to it than that."
"I must say, speaking strictly on aesthetics," said Rarity as she took a seat in her own throne, "there really doesn't need to be more to it. It's all simply divine!"
Chase and Twilight just discreetly looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"I agree with Twilight and Chase," said Fluttershy as she took a seat in her own throne, "And Rarity. And Applejack. And Rainbow Dash. And Pinkie Pie. Oh, and probably Spike."
Spike just snored in reply.
"By the way, where's Sokka and Clay?" said Twilight to Applejack and Clay before adding with a smirk, "I thought your new husbands would be with you."
Fluttershy and Applejack blushed. It was still a dream come true for the young Pegasus and Earth Pony. They were now a married Pegasus and Earth Pony. They were happily wed to the stallions of their dreams. Fluttershy and Applejack just giggled happily as their cheeks stayed light pink.
"Sokka's still unpacking his things back at the cottage," said Fluttershy.
"Same with Clay at the Sweet Apple Acres." Applejack added. "And Nyx is helping Clay out."
"Well, now that we know where husbands are, what do you think we have for our important roles, honey?" Chase asked his wife with a confused look as he sat on his throne, causing his cutie mark to glow along with his chair.
"As Princess and you as Prince, honey." said Twilight, "We've been chosen to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria."
Twilight sat down on her chair causing her cutie mark to glow along with the mark on her chair.
Everypony takes notice when the cutie marks on the chair glow as the beams of light they produced all shined onto the star in the center of the room causing crystal rocks to form as a crystal table starts to appear from the center of the room causing Spike to awaken from hearing this who then looks surprised at the sight that had just formed in the middle of the room.
"Is that new? I like it." Spike commented just as surprised as everypony in the room.
*Main theme*
"This is incredible! It's got all of Equestria!" Spike then commented in amazement.
"Hi, Mom and Dad!" Pinkie happily commented as she looked at the image of her parent's rock farm house.
Spike at that moment would end up stepped on the model house causing Pinkie's eyes to water up as if she thought her parents were killed.
That's when Chase heard a humming as he turned to look at his cutie mark glowing. Suddenly, he had a realization as he turned to his wife.
"Honey, open your wings!" Chase said.
Twilight gave Chase a funny look before opening her wings and saw that her cutie mark was glowing. Then Pinkie saw her was glowing as well, followed by Fluttershy. As the rest noticed their own glowing cutie marks, images of all seven cutie marks floated into the air above the table. Chase and Twilight's cutie mark were close together while the other five ponies' cutie marks were rotating around them. The seven cutie marks floated across the map before they hovered over a particular area. It was then Twilight used her magic to pull Spike off the table map so she could get a better look.
"But if this is Ponyville," said Fluttershy as she pointed at the correct area of the map, "why are our cutie marks over there?"
"I don't know," said Twilight, "But it seems like the map wants us to find out. The tree, the chest, the castle, and now the map. How can we not follow it? Right honey?" Chase pondered for a second before nodding in agreement.
"Yeah." Chase said. "Looks like we're off to another journey across Equestria!"
"Y'know what?" said Rainbow as she hovered above the location, "There's a ton of room for dangerous adventure along that route. Count me in!"
"Aw, shoot, I reckon you're right," Applejack added. "I better let Clay know that we'll be off."
"Well, I was planning on organizing my baking sheets," Pinkie pondered, "but okay!"
"Very well," said Rarity in agreement as she sighed to herself.
Then Pinkie and Rarity stared at Fluttershy with smiles on her faces. Fluttershy tried to look away but turned to see Rainbow hovering and starting at her in the same manner. She was beginning to wish she had told Sokka to come with her after all.
"Um, maybe I'll just stay here with Spike," said Fluttershy firmly, "Besides, I don't want to be away from my new husband right now. I'm gonna miss him too much."
Rainbow glared at her, but Fluttershy took no notice.
"Awesome!" said Spike, wearing a sports jersey, beverage hat, and a number one sports glove, "Me, Big Mac, Clay, and Sokka have a huge weekend ahead of us talkin' hoofball, and...and trading hoofball cards, and arguing about hoofball states..."
Fluttershy winced.
"O-o-on second thought," said Fluttershy sheepishly, "m-m-maybe I'd better go with them. In case they need me. Just let me say goodbye to my husband before we go okay?"
"Sure thing, Sis," said Chase as he appeared beside Rainbow.
"Look like it's time for a road trip," Twilight said as she stood next to her husband and the seven ponies made their way out of the castle.
"Road trip! Road trip! Road trip! Road trip!" Pinkie, and Rainbow chanted as they walked.
"Cool it you two!" Applejack scolded the two as they gave her a raspberry.
"Well, suit yourself," said Spike as he walked forward a bit to watch the group leave, "But Big Mac's got a Hock Fetlock rookie card I plan to sweet-talk right into these hot little claws. And I hear Sokka's got shiny cards...and they will soon be my shiny cards..." Nopony was listening anymore.
(Scene changes)
Once Fluttershy had bid her husband goodbye, (and found out that Sokka knew nothing about hoofball or being invited to spend time with Spike, Clay, and Big Mac), the Mane seven boarded the train and took a long ride to the end of the line. The Mane seven then made their way off the train as Twilight used her magic to examine the map with Chase standing right beside her. The two alicorns conferred with each other before they led the rest of the Mane Seven on their way. They crossed a rope bridge and soon reached the top of a hill. Down below them was a small village containing a single street surrounded by identical houses and a single house at the right end of the street.
"That's it!" said Twilight, "That's the place on the map!"
"It looks like it." Chase agreed.
"Right," said Rarity as she marched ahead, "Let's get down there and find the spa." Twilight quickly teleported in front of the marshmallow mare.
"Wait," said Twilight, "We don't know why the map sent us here. We shouldn't just walk right in. It could be dangerous."
"Yes!" said Rainbow with a hoof-pump but then blinked and glared at Chase, "Will you let go of my tail!"
"Sorry, just making sure you don't charge in there all gung ho and get yourself into trouble," said Chase before releasing her tail and walking up to Twilight and Applejack. It was then Pinkie got in front of Twilight, Applejack, and Chase with her fore-legs spread out.
"Stay behind me, everypony!" said Pinkie sternly, "I'm on it!"
"Careful, Pinkie!" said Applejack.
Pinkie rolled down the mountain and ducked to a nearby rock as she peeks from the corner who motions the others to follow her lead as she stealthily makes her way to town by ducking under nearby rocks while the others walk up behind her as she scoots herself under a huge rock before she and the others peeked at the village as they now got a closer look.
"This is where the map sent us? It looks like the most boring place in Equestria." Rainbow Dash commented as they watch every pony chatting and walking around.
"You know what they say, Dash." Chase said. "Never judge a village by what's going on at the surface."
"Who say's that?" Rainbow asked.
"Daring Do, book 9," said Chase. Rainbow looked baffled. She knew all the Daring Do quotes by heart. It blew her mind that she actually missed one.
"It's just an ordinary village full of ordinary pony folk," said Applejack as she saw an adult with a little filly walking side by side of each other.
"It could certainly use a few more architectural flourishes," said Rarity.
"It's just an ordinary village full of ordinary pony folk." Applejack voiced her thoughts.
"I think it's lovely," said Fluttershy, "Sokka would have loved to have come with us to see this village."
"Yeah, and Clay too." Applejack said.
"Maybe." Chase said to himself, a little unsure about this place.
"I don't like it," said Pinkie sternly as she narrowed her eyes and saw two more ponies talking to each other, "I don't like it one bit. I know smiles. And those smiles? They're just not right."
"Forget the smiles," said Twilight, "Look at the cutie marks." The group noticed that all the ponies of the town had equal signs for cutie marks.
"Okay, that's weird," said Rainbow.
"You can say that again," Chase remarked as the rest of the group had worried looks on their faces before they quickly ducked behind their rock.
"An entire village with the same cutie mark?" said Twilight, "How can that be?"
"It's quite a mystery, honey," said Chase, "A mystery we just might need to solve."
"I bet there's some sort of monster behind it," said Rainbow.
"What makes you say that?" Twilight asked.
"'Cause fighting a horrible monster would be super-awesome!" Rainbow replied.
"Will you get your head out of the clouds?" Chase remarked, "we've got a real situation here!"
"Chase's right," said Applejack, "I reckon we just ought to head into town and talk to some locals, find out what's going on."
"Sounds like a game plan to me, Applejack." Chase agreed.
"Great idea, AJ," said Rainbow, "Let's go!" The three ponies headed toward the town before Twilight and the others followed, except for Pinkie, who was still glaring at the ponies.
"Those smiles are bad news," said Pinkie before she sank behind the rock and joined the group. The Mane seven casually walked into the town. The ponies then turned to give them rather large and very ominous smiles.
"Welcome," said a pony named Sunny Song.
"Welcome!" said a random Pegasus mare.
"Welcome!" said a random unicorn stallion.
"Welcome!" said a pony named Bacon Braids.
"Welcome!" said a second unicorn stallion.
"Welcome!" said a pony named Offbeat.
"Welcome," said a unicorn filly, a pony named Cotton Cloudy, another pony named Princess Erroria, and another pony named Ruby Pinch said all together.
Despite all the warm greetings, the group had mostly weary looked on their faces except for Pinkie and Fluttershy. The former kept glaring while the latter was enjoying all the hospitality. Chase couldn't help but walk very close to his wife. All those smiles were making him feel very uncomfortable.
"Honey?" Chase said nervously.
"Yes dear?" Twilight asked, noticing how close Chase was to her.
"Does it seem a little creepy that they are looking at us like that?" Chase asked.
"Maybe a little bit." Twilight agreed with her husband.
"Welcome!" said a pony named Night Glider who hovered in front of the yellow Pegasus. Fluttershy giggled happily.
"Ugh, thanks a lot, map," Rainbow grumbled. It was then a stallion with a pale blue coat with a cerulean mane and tail appeared before them.
"Welcome!" said the pale blue stallion as he looked at Twilight and Chase, "Pardon my forwardness, but are you two alicorns?" Chase and Twilight smiled sheepishly.
"That there's the Prince and Princess of Friendship!" said Applejack. "And actually Chase is an alicorn master of jiu jitsu."
"Well, you've certainly come to the right place for friendship," said the pale blue stallion.
"You don't say..." said Chase skeptically.
"What brings you to town?" asked an all white stallion standing beside the pale blue one.
"We're not entirely sure," Twilight answered.
"I see," said the white stallion, "Well, all are welcome here in our little village. My name is Double Diamond, and this is Party Favor."
"Howdy, Double Diamond," said Applejack, "And this here's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Chase Young."
"And you all have your own unique cutie marks," said Double Diamond as he looked closer at Twilight and Pinkie's cutie marks. The latter took offense and used her tail to cover it.
"O-kay..." said Chase slowly, feeling a little uneasy about Double Diamond's interest in their cutie marks. He resisted the urge to cobble him for sticking his face into his wife's flank.
"If you don't mind, has there been any sort of...trouble here, lately?" Twilight asked.
"Trouble?" Double Diamond replied, "Why, I don't think we've ever had trouble in our little village."
"It's true. You'll see. Hm," Party Favor said in agreement. Chase looked at the two skeptically. There was no such thing as a village that was always 100% problem free. Unless they had something to hide...
"Hmm, you don't say," said Chase plainly.
Watching the scenery from a house at the end inside was Starlight Glimmer. She was secretly viewing them from a window inside her house with an evil smirk.
"Well, looks like he's finally here after all with his friends." Starlight said sinisterly.
"Perhaps you'd care to speak to our founder, Starlight Glimmer," said Double Diamond.
"After you," Chase replied politely as the two stallions lead the group to their founder's home.
"I wish everypony in Equestria was as friendly as these ponies are," said Fluttershy happily.
"I've got my eye on them," said Pinkie, "Something's rotten in...whatever the name of this village is that we're in right now." The fact some of the smiling ponies were following them.
"I'm with Pinkie," said Chase, "Those smiles don't feel friendly. They give me the creeps."
It was then the two stallions appeared before the cottage that was placed between the two rows of houses and knocked on the door twice.
"Starlight, we have some new visitors," said Double Diamond before the door opened and the two stallions walked inside and the Mane seven followed them.
"Be ready to fight," said Rainbow to Applejack, "we don't know what's gonna come through that door." It was then the door opened and there before them Starlight came out.
"Welcome!" said Starlight, "I'm so pleased to have you here." Rainbow just groaned to herself as Chase gave the blue Pegasus a discreet death glare.
"This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Chase Young," said Double Diamond. Twilight smiled sheepishly while Chase smiled more casually. Starlight looked at the two alicorns curiously before stepping forward.
"Forgive my bluntness," said Starlight, "but I'm assuming it's Princess Twilight Sparkle and Master Chase Young? We don't get many alicorns around here."
"Yes, but "Twilight" is fine," said the purple pony, "and you can just call my husband "Chase"."
"So!" said Starlight, "How did you two hear of our little village?"
"It's kind of a long story," said Twilight, "Let's just say we found it on a map."
"Technically, it's a Tree-power heart-chest-castle-map!" said Pinkie as she got in front of Twilight and Chase before sinking off screen, giving Starlight the stink eye. Chase just gave the pink pony a stink eye of his own.
"Well, however you found us, we're happy to have you!" said Starlight, "We're happy to have anypony who wants to experience true friendship for the first time." Applejack gave the lilac unicorn a skeptical look.
"Say what?" said Applejack.
"Oh, indeed," said Starlight Glimmer as she walked over to a crooked picture that had an equal sign on it and straightened the frame, "That's what's so unique about our village, you see. Around here, we don't flaunt our special talents because we don't have any special talents to flaunt."
Chase took noticed that Starlight made a face before it quickly disappeared into a smile.
"Is that why you all have those cutie marks?" Twilight asked, pointing at Starlight's equal sign.
"Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!" Starlight suggested.
"Oh no." Chase groaned.
"Heads high, ponies!" Starlight announced as she marched out of her cottage and several smiling ponies gathered around her, "Marching proud!" It was then some whistling was heard.
"All together now!" Starlight instructed as some ponies exited their home and followed her, "Every one of you! No pony left behind!"
[Starlight - she lead the march of the ponies, showing off a smile and then scoping the area before turning around.]
Life is so grand in Our Town
We're always filled with cheer
We never have to look around
To know that we're all here
[Citizens - the ponies began to march around the Mane seven, who looked rather uneasy at being surrounded as Pinkie and Chase looked at them skeptically. Starlight just had a smirk on her face and moved her head up and down as the other ponies sang.]
In Our town, In Our Town
We don't have to wait
To find out that our destiny
Is just to emulate
"Let's see those big, happy smiles!" said Starlight as she marched before some ponies, making them give even bigger smiles.
As she sang, two smiles appeared side by side as they molded into an equal sign. Then four ponies with the equal cutie marks marched in sync and then smiled boldly.
Life is a smile in Our Town
Our cutie mark's the same
Because we do not separate
Ourselves by more than name
[Citizens - Two Pegasi got next to Rainbow as they sang, making the blue Pegasus feel uneasy. Then they brought Rainbow to the ground and walked away, leaving the blue Pegasus baffled and stunned.]
In Our Town, in Our Town
We dare not compete
Winning only breeds the worst
Ego-filled conceit
"You see?" said Starlight, startling Rainbow, "Now everypony wins!"
Rainbow looked very frazzled before she rushed over to Chase and held him for dear life. Chase held her protectively while looking at Starlight with a glare on his face.
[Starlight - She marched before some smiling ponies. Starlight then stood beside a smiling unicorn mare, braiding her mane with her magic, and then walked away.]
Life is a joy in Our Town
We're all equal here
No one is superior
And no one shakes in fear
[Citizens - The Mane seven watched as ponies marched past them heading to the left in sets of four. Twilight and Rarity looked at them uneasily. Pinkie and Chase glared at them. Pinkie then continued to give them the stink eye while Fluttershy was just smiling and watching the performance.]
In Our Town, in Our Town
We work as a team
You can't have a nightmare
If you never dream
[Starlight - She walked up to Fluttershy, then walked backward as she appeared between Pinkie and Fluttershy. She then smirked as she stood between Chase and Twilight and then looked into Twilight's eyes for a moment and held her chin. Chase rolled his eyes at Starlight. Then four mares started dancing but one pony was off routine. Then Starlight appeared and the mare corrected herself began to dance in sync with the others. Starlight then stood on her hind legs and threw her head back.]
Other ponies argue
Do you ever wonder why?
When you think your talent's special
You don't see eye-to-eye
There's just too many difference
That lead to disarray
But when you learn to act as one
It's like a holiday
[Citizens - As the ponies sang, the Mane seven stepped forward. Pinkie and Chase kept glaring. Twilight looked worriedly to Applejack and Rarity. Rainbow, now recovered, still looked a little disturbed. Fluttershy smiled and watched the performance. She was soon swaying her head and smiling cutely until Pinkie got in her face, giving the yellow Pegasus a death glare and shook her head. Fluttershy cowered down with large eyes until Pinkie looked away and Fluttershy backed up a bit as the others watched the performance. The villager ponies then circled around them again but they were separated in a special way so when they straightened out they looked like an equal sign from above. Starlight then stood between the two lines as the ponies stood in profile position to show off their equal signs. The view then zoomed out as several Pegasi hovered into the air, two Pegasi held a banner with the equal sign on it as the flew toward the foreground.]
In Our Town, in Our Town
We don't complicate
When you learn to simplify
Life is oh, so great
Join in our utopia
Come out of the dark
Banded by equality
By our cutie mark!
The song had barely finished when Rainbow burst out laughing.
"You're kidding, right?" Rainbow chuckled as she showed off her cutie mark, "Give up our cutie marks? No way!"
"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy scolded in her soft voice, "don't be so rude. I don't think we should judge them. They all seem perfectly happy with their choice."
"Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy," said Pinkie sternly as she got into the yellow Pegasus's face.
"Need I repeat myself when I say those smiles are kind of creepy," said Chase as Fluttershy gave him a glare.
"I'm sorry," said Twilight as she walked forward with Chase standing beside her, "I guess we're just a little confused by all of this."
"We can understand the desire to want peace and tranquility amongst our fellow ponies and such," Mario added, "But is getting rid of your cutie mark really the best solution? I mean all the power to you if it has, but..." Mario was at a loss for words. Unlike Pinkie, he knew saying anything offensive could cause trouble. He feared what might happen if he told Starlight that he found the villager smiles creepy.
"We have no judgments here in our village," said Starlight as three ponies smiled and nodded in agreement, "Each of us was confused once as well, blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Rainbow, "Is she for real?" Rainbow got a glare from both Twilight and Mario.
"When we were sent to this village," said Twilight as she and Mario walked away from Rainbow, "we assumed it was to help in some way. But, well, it doesn't seem like you need any help."
"At least it appears that way from the surface," Mario muttered quietly to himself.
"Have you perhaps considered that you might have been sent here so we could help you?" asked Starlight as she walked up to the royal couple, making them look a little stunned.
"After all, nopony has ever come to our village and wanted to leave," Starlight added smugly as she walked away a bit, leaving all but Chase with stunned looks on their faces.
"Really." Chase said suspiciously, sensing a hidden message behind the context of that statement.
"Why should you be any different?" Starlight continued as the group exchanged looks with each other, "But that is entirely your choice." Starlight then walked past them.
"Please enjoy our little corner of Equestria," said Starlight with a smirk on her face, "We're all quite fond of it. No doubt you will be as well. Double Diamond, please help our guests with whatever they might need."
"Of course," said the white stallion as he stood before them with a large smile on his face.
"Thank for your hospitality, Starlight," said Chase politely. The lilac unicorn smiled then walked away.
"Well, this will certainly provide a boost to our little community," said Starlight to herself as she walked away, "When the rest of Equestria sees that a princess and prince gave up their cutie marks to join us, they'll finally understand what we're trying to accomplish." A devious smile appeared on Starlight's face, but nopony saw it.
(Scene changes)
Starlight made her back inside her house as she closed the door behind her and walked downstairs to a basement.
She uses a cloth to wipe the equal cutie mark off her flanks to reveal the compass along with the swirly line.
"Looks like Chase is going to be in for a real surprise once I have it instore for him." Starlight said sinisterly before she heard a chiming sound as she turned around to see a purple amethyst glowing with a combination of purple and orange.
Walking over to it, she used her magic to answer it as some smoke appear in the center of the basement and a figure stood in the center of the smoke. It soon cleared up a bit, but the smoke still flood in the center as the figure revealed to be Zhao.
"Master Zhao." Starlight greeted the Quinkan leader with a bow.
"Report." Zhao said.
"Chase and the girls you spoke of are already here. They have also taken the bait." Starlight informed her master with a smirk.
"Good." Zhao said, very pleased with this. "Once those ponies have their cutie marks stript away from them, bring them to me so I can take the powers I need for my plan."
"I have it handled your majesty, and I assure you. I'll take care of Chase for you once I perform the age spell on him so he will be nothing more than a colt." Starlight responded back, sinisterly.
Zhao gave her an evil smile.
"Good. Now, have everything ready once you have those seven ponies into your trap." Zhao said. "I want them out of my way since I have already begun the next part of our invasion plan in Equestria soon enough."
With that said, Zhao disappeared from the mist and it flowed right back into the amethyst crystal.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, the Mane seven continued to walk about the town. Yet their visit was still awkward since no matter where they went, they were bombarded with ponies giving over the top smiles at them.
"Welcome," said a third unicorn stallion.
"Welcome!" said a pony named Ivy Vine.
"Welcome!" said a pony named Sunny Song.
"A cutie mark is a representation of a pony's unique talents and skills," said Twilight to her husband.
"Yeah, I've worked far too hard on all my talents and martial arts skills to throw them all away like these ponies have," said Chase.
"The biggest question is," said Twilight, "How is it possible to-" Their train of thought was interrupted when Rarity gasped dramatically.
"What in the name of Equestria is that?!" Rarity exclaimed as she pointed at a collection of some ragged looking cloaks hanging on a rolling coat rack.
"Welcome!" said a stallion named Burlap, "Care to sample some local fashion? We've got cloaks this month!" He then flicked the side of his cloak and smiled widely.
"Yeah, more like art deco old fashion." Chase added quietly to himself.
Rarity looked like she was going to be sick but quickly recomposed herself.
"Wha-Ooh, er, perhaps another time, good sir, thank you," said Rarity as she squatted low and walked away from the racks backward.
Twilight and Chase smiled sheepishly as they walked away. Rarity didn't stop walking backward until she, Twilight, and Chase rejoined the rest of the group at a nearby table.
"No wonder nopony's wearing anything!" Rarity whispered to Applejack.
"Really, girls!" said Fluttershy sternly in a hushed tone, "They may do things a bit differently then we're used to, but there's no reason to be rude."
"Fluttershy, that may be true. But appearances can fool any pony. This is more paranormal than ever." Chase said, not taking any chances.
"No, the reason to be rude is that they all keep staring at us," said Rainbow as several ponies kept looking at them with their over the top smiles.
"Need something?" Double Diamond called out from a table on the other side of the street.
"Uh, no! We're good!" said Twilight with a nervous smile on her face before speaking to the others in a hushed tone, "Fluttershy's right. If we're going to get the bottom of why the map sent us here, we'll need the help of these ponies."
As Twilight was speaking, a pale skinned unicorn mare with grayish purple mane tied up in a bun appeared at the table with an over the top smile and wearing one of the ragged cloaks around her neck.
"I think we ran off to the end of Equestria before we even knew what that map was!" Applejack retorted and tapped her fore-hoof on the table.
"If we were sitting at the end of Equestria," said Pinkie, "We'd be sitting on a big "A". Get it?"
Pinkie giggled to herself. Chase wanted to face palm himself, but he didn't want to startle the mare that had unintentionally had become part of the conversation.
"Oh, please, Miss Pie!" said Rarity indignantly, "this is hardly the time for jokes! We've come all this way and for what?"
The mare looked a little uncomfortable and walked away. Mario watched her walk away and stood between Applejack and Fluttershy.
"I don't think this trip was all for nothing," said Chase.
"Maybe you're right," said Twilight in a quiet tone, "But we're here now, and it sure feels like something's wrong."
"That and two bits'll get you a cup of cider," said Applejack indignantly.
"Is this a bad time?" the mare finally asked.
"We shouldn't be bickering like this in front of our new friends," said Fluttershy sternly, leaving the mare unheard, "Really, Applejack, you're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash!"
"Don't drag me into this!" Rainbow snapped as she got into the yellow Pegasus's face, making Fluttershy wince and lean away.
The other ponies were now staring at the group. Fluttershy was wishing once again that she had asked Sokka to come with her. At least he could keep Rainbow out of her face.
"Is your friendship ending?" asked the mare as she stood beside Rarity.
"Are you crazy?!" said Pinkie as she got into the mare's and Rarity's face, making them both wince and lean away, "We'd never let a disagreement get in the way of food!"
"Don't you mean our friendship?" Chase pointed out.
"Same thing," said Pinkie, making Chase roll his eyes.
"O-kay, well, my name is Sugar Belle," said the mare as she used her magic to hold up an order pad, "What can I bring you? We have...muffins..."
The other ponies waited but it seemed as if muffins was the only thing being offered on the menu. Applejack and Rarity share looks with each other, followed by Fluttershy and Rainbow, then Twilight and Chase exchanged their own awkward looks with each other.
"Then I guess we'll take seven muffins!" said Twilight.
"Make that twelve!" Pinkie shouted as Sugar Belle walked away, earning a glare from the royal couple, "What? I'm hungry!"
"Come on guys," said Twilight quietly as Pinkie leaned forward on the table, "We've got to stick together. It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now."
"And I think we can all agree that our work here in this town ain't finished yet," said Chase in the same tone.
"I guess you're both right," Applejack conceded, "And the sooner we figure out why, the sooner we can go home."
"I hear ya, AJ." Chase said in agreement.
As they shared a hoof-bump, a plate of plain looking muffins appeared on the table.
"Forgive me for overhearing," said Sugar Belle, "but just a moment ago you were disagreeing, and now it seems like you're...agreeing."
"How...observant..." Chase said slowly as the others, minus Fluttershy, gave Sugar Belle skeptical looks.
"Uh-huh..." said Applejack with her fore-legs crossed.
"Well, you had such differing opinions - and cutie marks," said Sugar Belle.
"Again with the cutie marks..." Chase muttered to himself.
"We have differing opinions all the time, darling," Rarity replied.
"But you look like you're friends," Sugar Belle pointed out.
"We are friends," said Twilight, "Well, Chase and I are married of course, but that is just another type of friendship." Chase nodded in agreement, "A simple disagreement wouldn't change that. I mean married couples have disagreements all the time and our love for each other comes out stronger than ever."
Twilight was unaware that Double Diamond, despite appearing to be reading, was listening to the conversation attentively. He and Sugar Belle exchanged glances with each other.
"I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding," said Sugar Belle sheepishly before saying bluntly, "Different talents lead to different opinions, which lead to bitterness and misery." The rest of the group just looked at her blankly as Pinkie tried eating a muffin.
"So...why aren't you bitter and..." Sugar Belle was then interrupted and looked back before noticing that Pinkie had choked on a muffin.
"Bleh!" said Pinkie before getting glares from everypony else, "Mmmm...good..."
"It's all right," said Sugar Belle kindly, "I know I'm not a very good baker. At least, I know I'm not any better than anypony else in the village."
Sugar Belle nervously bit her lip and noticed that Double Diamond was giving her a dirty look. Chase took notice of the exchange between the two ponies.
"Well, I..." Sugar Belle stuttered, "hope you enjoy our little village!"
She then quickly headed inside as Pinkie spluttered and wiped off the crumbs of the bad muffin from her tongue. Sugar Belle then reappeared and rushed between Twilight and Pinkie.
"Come inside before you go!" said Sugar Belle, "Meet me downstairs!"
Sugar Belle than gave Double Diamond a huge smile before she zoomed back inside. Mario hummed as he rubbed his chin with his fore-hoof.
"Okay, that was weird," said Rainbow.
"Let's all sit here and eat these muffins and act normal," said Twilight as she and Chase picked up a muffin with their magic, "I think we're being watched."
Twilight and Chase discreetly turned to see several villagers were giving them over the top smiles.
"You think?" said Rainbow.
"No, not like that," Twilight quietly, "I mean somepony here doesn't want us talking to Sugar Belle." She tilted her head to the side where Double Diamond was just eating a muffin.
"It's clear as day that conversations with us might be limited out here," said Chase, "especially if they think we're a threat to their way of life." Applejack pondered as the others remained silent for a moment.
"I got an idea," said Applejack, "but you gotta eat all of them muffins, Pinkie Pie."
"Me?!" Pinkie exclaimed as she pulled on her mane, "Why me?!"
"You got a stronger stomach than any of us," said Applejack, "and that filly in there might be our best chance at findin' out what the hay is goin' on round here." Pinkie looked at the pile of muffins dreadfully.
"Why can't Chase do it?" Pinkie whined, pointing a fore-hoof at the alicorn stallion.
"Sorry, Pinkie, but there is no way I can eat all those muffins," said Chase, sternly.
Pinkie cringed before she got to work.
(Scene changes)
By the time she had finished, she wasn't looking too well as she forced down the last muffin and cleaned the plate.
"I can't believe you ate all our muffins, Pinkie Pie," said Applejack with an over the top voice as the others minus Pinkie had over the top grins on their faces, "We'd best go inside and get some more!"
The Mane seven quickly got up from their table and made their way inside Sugar Belle's house.
"Nice work, Pinkie," Twilight told the pink pony as they made their way downstairs.
Pinkie, her stomach now having visible bulge, honked and thumped as she bounced down the stairs behind the rest of the group.
"I've accidentally eaten cardboard tastier than that..." Pinkie groaned.
"Here Pinks, this will help you feel better," said Chase as he reached into his saddle bag and fed Pinkie a refreshing herb.
"Mmmm, minty," said Pinkie with a sigh of relief as her stomach felt better, "Thanks Big Brother."
Chase smiled in reply.
"Hello? Sugar Belle?" Twilight called out as the rest of the Mane seven looked about the room.
"I think this could be a trap," said Chase nervously.
"Thank for you coming!" said Sugar Belle as she appeared with an over the top smile on her face.
"So nopony could see what's about to happen," said Sugar Belle with a smirk that was borderline devious.
The Mane seven flinched when they saw Party Favor and Night Glider appeared with creepy looking smiles approached them with Sugar Belle.
"I knew it!" Chase exclaimed, "It's a trap!" The Mane seven took a few steps back when Twilight and Chase readied their horns on defense.
"Are you and Chase really the Princess and Prince of friendship?" Party Favor asked getting into Twilight's face.
"Do you both know Princess Celestia?" Night Glider asked as she stuck her face into Chase's. Both alicorns looked a little uneasy.
"I love your cutie mark," said Sugar Belle as she grabbed Pinkie's back end, startling the pink pony.
"How can you be friends with different cutie marks?" Night Glider asked as she hovered before Rarity and Fluttershy before landing, "Don't you end up hating each other?"
"What is it with cutie marks being a bad thing for friendship?" Chase asked but nopony answered him.
"Oh, look at this one!" said Sugar Belle as she looked as Fluttershy's cutie mark, startling the yellow Pegasus, "This one is great too! I'd love to have my special talent back for even just for a day! Make something besides those disgusting muffins..."
"So what's stopping you?" Rainbow asked, "Go get your cutie marks back."
"Daydreaming is one thing," said Party Favor, "but you mean actually having it put back on?" He, along with Night Glider and Sugar Belle, winced, "That seems extreme."
Rainbow was most annoyed.
"I'm not sure Starlight would like that," said Sugar Belle, "She wants us all be happy in our sameness."
"So...Starlight doesn't like it when ponies miss or want their cutie marks again?" said Chase, "That's...an interesting fact to know."
"How do you take somepony's cutie mark anyway?" Twilight asked.
"Oh! Good question honey," said Chase.
"The cutie unmarking is a beautiful experience!" Night Glider explained, "Starlight uses the Staff of Sameness to magically take them away and replace them with these." She, Party Favor, and Sugar Belle turned to their side to show their equal signs.
"Staff of Sameness huh?" said Chase to himself quietly, "Never heard of such a spell. Nevertheless...the fact a pony could uncover such a spell is...frightening..." Chase winced.
"But nopony should keep you from your cutie marks," said Twilight, "It represents such an essential part of who you are." Chase nodded in agreement.
"Oh, we're not kept from them," said Night Glider, "They're in the vault up in the caves. We can visit them anytime we like to remind us of the heartache of a life with special talents."
Twilight and Chase narrowed their eyes as they exchange looks with each other. They could both agree that something about this cutie mark removal didn't sound right at all. Nor did the idea that a life with your special talents meant living in misery.
"Can we visit the cave?" Twilight asked with a smirk on her face.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't long before they got their answer. Later that day, Starlight was leading the Mane seven toward the cave.
"I'm delighted you're interested in our cutie mark vault," said Starlight to the others, "We hope someday everypony in Equestria will make a pilgrimage here to our little village to have their cutie marks removed too, and our message of perfectly equal friendship can finally be spread across the land."
While the Mane seven listened, Chase and Pinkie were inwardly rolling her eyes.
"This must be the reason we're here," Twilight whispered to the others while Starlight continued talking.
""Pilgrimaging"?" Pinkie asked innocently.
"No," said Twilight firmly, "helping those ponies get their cutie marks back."
"Agreed," said Chase.
"Oh, are you sure, Twilight and Chase," said Fluttershy, "Maybe they missed them a little, but even they didn't seem all that unhappy."
"Open your eyes, Fluttershy," said Chase, "the smiles on those ponies aren't genuine. They look forced. Plus I can't accept the idea that any pony would be willing to give up their cutie mark by their own decision. And that Starlight feels like a prime suspect."
"Are you suggesting that maybe Starlight tricked them into giving up their cutie marks?" Applejack suggested.
"From what we've heard," said Chase, "Starlight is looking like the guilty party. Just the way she talks and interacts with other ponies is very suspicious."
"Chase does have a point," said Twilight as she looked at the overly happy Double Diamond and then at Starlight, "why did they want to meet us in secret? And why did they ask us not to tell Starlight who told us about the vault? Something's not right."
"Just going to this cave doesn't feel right," said Chase. It was then the group approached the entrance to a large cave.
"Just through here!" Starlight announced as she walked inside the cave. Chase glared at the cave suspiciously.
"This has got trap written all over it," said Chase.
"Well, lucky for us, we're super good at springing out of them," Rainbow bragged as the rest of the group followed Starlight inside.
"You're recklessness continues to amaze me, Dashie," said Chase, "Hey! What the?!"
Chase then was startled when he saw Double Diamond snatch his katana swords
"You won't be needing these anymore." said Double Diamond in a very creepy tone. Chase wanted to protest, but decided to keep cool. He had plenty of defensive tricks up his sleeve without his saddle bags.
"Very well," said Chase slowly as he followed the group inside the cave.
"Behold!" said Starlight proudly, "Our cutie mark vault."
Twilight and Chase's jaw hit the floor as they looked what appeared to be just that. A tall, glowing locker filled with cutie marks from top to bottom! Though Chase took notice that some spaces were empty.
"I've never seen anything like it!" said Twilight.
"Who knew cutie marks could be stored away like this?" Chase remarked, feeling more and more uneasy, "it's like the bank of cutie marks or something."
"And here is the Staff of Sameness," said Starlight as she walked over to a stone like staff that looked like a two-pronged fork and showed it to the Mane seven, "It was one of the great Mage Meadowbrook's nine enchanted items."
Twilight and Chase exchanged stern looks at each other as the rest of the Mane seven started at the artifact in awe.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have it here," Starlight continued, "This is the tool that allows us to free ourselves from our marks!" She then paused for dramatic effect. "I'm curious - how did the subject of the vault come up?" Twilight and Chase glared at her sternly. They could tell Starlight's tone was anything but innocent.
"Oh, some ponies were telling us how much they missed their cutie marks, and-"
"Pinkie!" Twilight and Chase said sternly.
"Oops... " said Pinkie, covering her mouth and backing away once she realized her mistake. Starlight gasped.
"Were they?" said Starlight as she twirled the staff and had a rather devious smirk on her face, "Well, it seems you inspire all sorts of free thinking, don't you?"
She gave them all a glare, leaving Rarity and Fluttershy baffled. Twilight and Chase continued to stare her down.
"I didn't know missing your cutie mark was a crime," Chase remarked, "In fact, as I recall, all your villagers did chose to have them removed by choice. Didn't they?"
Starlight glared and said nothing. Rarity could feel the tension in the air and chuckled nervously.
"Well, w-we certainly didn't intend to cause an disruptions to your charming little-" Rarity tried to explain, but was cut off when Starlight got into her face.
"Good," Starlight replied sinisterly, "Let's just make sure of that, shall we?"
Rarity backed away nervously until she bumped into Double Diamond. Then several more ponies with over the top smiled surrounded the Mane seven.
"It's a trap!" Twilight shouted.
"I knew it!" said Chase as he glared at Starlight. "Listen Starlight. We don't mean to cause you or your village any trouble. Just let us go and we'll leave your village in peace!"
"I'm afraid that's no longer an option," said Starlight. Chase glared.
"If you lay one fore-hoof or magic blast on my friends..." Chase warned.
"Oh, please," said Starlight dismissively, "You think you're so special because your cutie mark means you can do just about anything! Well, here's some cold hard facts for you Chase! Without your cutie mark, you. are. nothing."
Then she shot a beam at Chase, holding him captive.
"Hey! W-What the heck are you doing?!" Chase demanded before Starlight stuffed him in a big brown bag.
"Chase!" Twilight shouted as Starlight used her magic to zap the bag with Chase inside of it.
When the light cleared away the bag fell on the ground with a big lump.
The others gasped as Twilight lit up her horn and took to the air to attack, but then Starlight fired the Staff of Sameness at her, which actually managed to immobilize her. Twilight groaned painfully as the magic peeled off her cutie mark as well. Starlight smirked in triumph as she tossed Twilight's cutie mark into the vault. Once the cutie marks were sealed in, an equal sign appeared on Twilight's flank, dimming her mane, tail, and fur coloring, before she plopped to the floor unconscious. Starlight then fired the staff at the rest of the Mane seven, who groaned painfully as their cutie marks were peeled off one by one and stored into the vault. Unlike Twilight, they managed to remain conscious, but they all had sad looks on their faces as they saw the equal signs appear on their flanks.
"Aw, I don't blame you for what you tried to do here today," said Starlight in a very condescending tone, "You've spent your whole lives thinking those marks are a good thing." By now Twilight had recovered.
"Give them back!" Twilight demanded as the rest of the Mane seven glared at Starlight.
"Well, now you can spend the rest of your lives here with us!" said Starlight as she walked away and then looked back at them, "And we'll teach you just how much better life can be without your cutie marks!" The other ponies surrounded the Mane seven into two perfect rows, the ironically resembled an equal sign.
To be continued…
Author's note: Well, here we are, guys. Season 5 is here. Here are two chapters I have already made with a little funny scenes to them with a little different pieces in them.
I hope you like them! Peace out!