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Chapter Text

PROLOGUE

The light of the vault is swaying and pulsing, a flickering wave of blue that licks the cave's stone walls. The only sound for miles is shallow, stunned breaths that echo faintly through the crevasses and across the curved walls. Every breath hitches to a stop at the sound of hooves stepping measuredly across stone. A long shadow stretches across the floor, shrinking with each step taken by its caster. Every eye drags away from the magnificent light and locks onto the unicorn passing expressionlessly through the crowd. A single mare releases a breath with a surprised 'pahf!', unable to hold her air any longer.

Starlight stops in front of the great light, stares for a moment, and turns. Some in the crowd can't help but gasp.

“This; my loyal, patient friends--is what you've all been waiting for! Today is the day; the holy and ceremonious day of your purification!” She announces, her heavy voice carrying across the entire hollow. The small crowd cheers feverishly.

She raises, with her magic, a piece of wood she found in the desert. 

“This will be the very tool that changes Equestria. Now that I have shaped, honed, and perfected my talent; I may give it away for the betterment of pony kind!” She holds her head high, one hoof to her puffed chest. The pounding of excited hooves rattles the ground.

“All of you are burdened by the restrictive cages that are your cutie marks. Your entire life has been condensed into an image. An idea! A single, materialistic thing! This is not destiny! Your true destiny is to see beyond the illusion of the cutie mark, and embrace equality.” She preaches, her powerful words booming louder than the fervent worship.

“I am the bringer of destiny! I am your salvation! And with this staff!” She begins to hover, within the thralls of her own spell. She glows. “I! Starlight Glimmer! Will-” she screams, her body starting to seize and shine with white light. “Bring!” her cutie mark slowly, beautifully, excruciatingly peels away from her flank. “EQUALITY!” she cries a guttural wail, her silhouette obscured by a cocoon of blinding light as her own awesome power rips away from her.

She falls to the ground, her magic starting to flicker out, but manages to thrust her floating mark into the staff, combining the two and infusing the object with her very magical essence. As the two elements complete their wildly unnatural fusion, Starlight finally slumps down and lets go, smoke coming off from her horn. 

The crowd, in shock and half-blinded, are only beginning to process what just happened as Starlight's blank flank--raw, hairless and smoking--glows gently, and is then bestowed a new mark--an equal sign.

Starlight lays there for a while, weak and groaning in pain as her followers murmur and ogle the staff. It's hovering, shifting slightly up and down in an idle position. It ripples with power. Starlight grunts. Starlight groans. Finally, she wills herself to stand up. Legs shaking, she takes the staff and aims it at her very first subject; Double Diamond.

The others step away from him as the staff eerily points. He stiffens with fear, but has half a mind to reject this. He lifts his head high and braces himself. The staff jolts with blue magic and beams the spell at him. He hovers, just as Starlight did. He screams, just as Starlight did, as his cutie mark strips off his skin, glowing and hovering like a bubble in the air.

Double Diamond hits the ground with a slap while Starlight seizes his mark, thrusting it into the glowing vault chamber. She carefully bars it in the stone’s glassy husk, sealing it off from its owner forever. 

“This…is the beginning…of destiny.” Starlight begins, her voice barely a whisper. “I welcome you all…to the future of Equestria.”

And the crowd erupts with praise louder than ever before.

“Excellent work, Double Diamond.”

Starlight takes the crate of jars–glimmering with magical light–and leads her top disciple inside.

“Of course. But, I don't understand why you wanted me to bring them here. Fluttershy is one of us now. Surely she can be trusted.”

Starlight lifts the jar which possesses the brightest glow. “This one belongs to a princess;” she declares, “it could be very important to our cause.”

Double Diamond isn't so sure. “...But if Twilight Sparkle becomes our friend, then what do we care about this old cutie mark?”

Starlight smiles pleasantly despite her irritation.

“I just want to keep them close until everything is…settled.”

The stallion shifts nervously.

“You may go, Double Diamond.”

Dismissed, he slowly turns and leaves the founder’s cottage, his head heavy with doubt. Fluttershy quickly ducks behind the house as he triapses away into the night.

Fluttershy is horrified. How will she ever get the cutie marks back now? 

A crash from upstairs catches her attention. Quietly, she flies to the second story window to observe Starlight. She’s crashed into something—splashed water on herself.

“Agh, Starlight you clumsy fool!” The unicorn hisses, taking a nearby towel to dry herself. Fluttershy watches her, mind racing for answers to her problem.

After an awkwardly long time the pegasus decides that spying on Starlight isn't going to give her anything more to work with, so she sneaks back down the chimney and into her bed. If she were a braver pony, she might have the sense to go for the jars when Starlight sleeps, but Fluttershy knows she is a coward. So she sleeps, helpless to change her fate.

Finally, she's fallen asleep. 

Starlight can't begin to guess what would possess Fluttershy to spy on her. Well, she has a few ideas. The pegasus hasn't truly converted—that much was obvious from the start. A cult leader would have to be an arrogant fool to think they can take anypony overnight. 

But what’s going on with this spying?

Starlight guesses she’s scraping for intel or weakness or something of the sort. Well, she's not going to find it. Starlight is a true and good leader. The prophecy demands it to be true, and so it is. She is the Harmonizer. The savior of Equestria; fated to free all of ponykind from the illusion of their Cutie Marks.

Her, of course, and her fated bride.

The holy bride character, Starlight admits, makes a bit less sense after her amendments to the old prophecy (considering that Sunburst the stallion turned out not to be the true prophet), but how can she just write it off without proof of its obsolescence?

She shouldn't be sure, but she is. There's just something about the pegasus. Fluttershy is in the prophecy too, and she's come to help Starlight complete it. Fluttershy has come, with a lovely royal gift, to become Starlight’s bride.

She just doesn't know it yet.

“I’ve got a good feeling about today!” Starlight announces cheerily as the town crowds around the Equalization cottage.

At her gesture, the guards let the prisoners file out one by one. They all line up, sullen and defeated. A much more subdued entrance than yesterday. Progress!

“So! Do any of you have anything you’d like to say?”

She doesn't really give them time to think about it, but she gives off the illusion of choice just by asking.

“N’aww, a pity. Well! Let's try this again tomorrow, shall we?” Starlight glances at Fluttershy, gauging her reaction. It's very important to get a grasp on the pegasus’ emotions if she wants to…form them into useful thoughts.

Fluttershy’s smiling, but she's barely hanging on to it. Not nearly as impressive a poker face as Starlight’s. She can read the anxiety easy as pie. No scheming glances between her and the prisoners, though. Good.

“No new friends today, I’m afraid!” Starlight announces to the town. They all frown, as she assumed they would. A perfect way to save the day with her next announcem—

“Wait! I’d like to lock them in.”

Well, this is interesting.

“...Marvelous, Fluttershy! That's the spirit!” She is quick to praise this behavior, whether it’s real or not. It’ll all count once she starts to turn.

Oh, right. Her next announcement. “Party Favor, will you join us please?”

The stallion rushes to Starlight, as she knew he would, groveling at her hooves. 

“I’m sorry, Starlight! I’m sorry, everypony! I’ve seen the error of my ways! I never want to look at my cutie mark again!”

She smiles. This level of worship and neediness is refreshing after all the conversion troubles. 

Starlight addresses the crowd. “It seems there’s cause for celebration after all!”

“Hooray! Hooray!” The crowd cheers. Oh, how wonderfully predictable they are.

“They tried to break me!” …Is he still talking? “They wouldn't stop talking about how different they are! And that somehow makes their friendship stronger?”

She tuts. “Such…backwards thinking.”

Party Favor stands. “But I didn't listen! I knew what they were up to, and I didn't listen!” Sweet Celestia, will this stallion ever shut up?

“Well done, Party Favor! We welcome you back with open hooves!”

Starlight lets the happy sounds of her people calm her. At least his brain is fully washed. He’ll be more annoying, but the last thing he’ll be anymore is a threat.

“Uh, Starlight? I think we might have one more friend joining us today.”

Starlight’s eyes just about pop out of her head. The princess? Now that’s a catch! Fluttershy is already useful and she isn't even done converting yet!

Starlight pushes Party Favor aside. “Is this true?”

The alicorn speaks up. “I…I think so? But I…just wanna be sure. If I agree to leave my Cutie Mark in the vault…I’ll really be happy?”

Starlight grins. She couldn't have worded it better herself! Agree to? What an illusion of choice! And such a perfect opening to reinforce the philosophy!

“Just look around!” She gestures widely. “Equality has given us more happiness than you’ve ever known.”

“And you wouldn't let me just live here in the village with my old Cutie Mark?”

Fluttershy must be a good luck charm.

“Out of the question! A pony with a different Cutie Mark in our midst would destroy our entire philosophy! We are all equal here!” Praise from the crowd. She deserves a nice dose of worship. This is a damn good morning.

Twilight and Fluttershy exchange a long glance.

“...Okay.” The alicorn says weakly. “If this really is true friendship, then I’m willing to accept it.” The crowd erupts with cheer. Starlight is certain that she and the pegasus are scheming something, but it doesn't matter. She’ll have them under control in no time.

Fluttershy can't mess this up. She really, really can't mess this up. She’s made it to the cave. Okay. Good. Now all she has to do is liberate her friends and the townsponies…right? No matter how much Twilight has reassured her that they’re helping these ponies, she can't help but feel guilty destroying the vault. 

“I mean…they seem…happy…” she mutters to herself, fiddling with the jars. Maybe she should just release her and her friends’ Cutie Marks, and leave the townsponies be. 

She can't keep dawdling like this. Think about Twilight, for Celestia’s sake! Taking the fall for the whole jar-snatching thing. Who knows what Starlight is doing to her?

Starlight is above senseless violence. But she believes in creative encouragement. 

“I don't blame you for trying to take your Cutie Mark back.” She starts, pacing up and down the basement floor. “You've spent your whole life blinded by its false promise.”

She takes a deep breath. 

“But that doesn't give you a license to disturb my way of life, does it?” Starlight approaches Twilight, lifting a thick rope. It’s makeshift, she’ll admit, but it’ll work just fine.

Twilight doesn't respond, so Starlight whips the rope at her until she crumbles to the ground. 

“I can't send you back to Equalization…that would hinder my image as an inspiring leader. I’ll keep you down here. Say you’re…sick, or something.” She decides. 

Starlight continues pacing. 

“Where are they?” she finally asks, lifting the rope again. Twilight still doesn't speak.

Furious, she raps at the alicorn relentlessly.

“WHERE ARE THEY!”

She abandons the rope and starts kicking. Using her hooves is much more satisfying.

“It’s too late.” Twilight chokes out. Starlight doesn't care anymore. She’s not going to get answers, so she's going to figure it out herself.

She beats the useless princess until she’s broken and sobbing, and leaves her locked down there. Time to freshen up and make an announcement.

Fluttershy is doing it. Oh sweet Celestia, she’s doing it. She picks up the crate of jars, hooves shaking, and chucks it forward at the vault. 

Glass breaks. So much glass. Shard in her wing. Shard in her leg. Worry about it later. So much light. Glowing. Bright. Beautiful. The Cutie Marks start floating. They start flying around like untied balloons. For a moment Fluttershy thinks she’s saved everyone.

And then the staff starts to float. 

Fluttershy’s heart drops as the staff starts to jostle and jolt. It starts to glow with little thunderbolts of blue light. Before a single Cutie Mark escapes the cave, the staff grabs onto them. 

Blue, leechlike tendrils seize every mark from the air and drag them into the staff, infusing it with their magic. Fluttershy is stunned. Fluttershy is horrified.

Fluttershy finally unfreezes and reaches for the staff as it sucks up the last Cutie Mark. She, not knowing what else to do, snaps the stick in half hoping it will release all the cutie marks.

A blinding white light steals her vision for a moment. She blinks her eyes open to see, instead of Cutie Marks, a single stream of white light flowing from out of the broken Staff and out of the cave towards the town. What in Equestria?

Starlight is all freshened up, and all the townsponies have been gathered.

“Friends! Today I have a very special announcement. Today is a very special day. We have joined with the Princess of Friendship. I have made the princess see the light. And that means something very special for us.” She begins. She’s still not entirely certain how she’s going to spin this, but she knows it’ll be brilliant.

“Today-” she can’t finish the thought, because all of a sudden she is struck by an overwhelming magical force. The townsponies stare in awe as she starts to float in the air and glow. Hey, this feels familiar.

And then with a gasp she realizes this is familiar! It's her cutie mark! It's coming back on! Somepony broke the staff!

But this isn't right. This isn't her power. This is more than her power. It’s so much more. In fact, it feels like a whole town’s worth of Cutie Marks.

It’s so much magic she can't even physically handle it, and then–

The white light cocoons her as it did once before. Starlight feels pain. Pain everywhere. She screams, but the hum of magic is so much louder. She feels something pulling on her back. Sprouting. Sprouting…wings! The alicorn! Her magic!

Slowly, she floats back down to the ground. Her ears are ringing so loud she can barely hear her townsponies cheering. She stumbles in place, and then does something so unexpected that the sensation feels almost phantom.

She unfurls her wings.

Starlight Glimmer…is a princess.

Chapter Text

INDOCTRINATION

It’s been a couple of weeks and the others still haven't come around. Twilight went back on her false promise and is probably keeping the others on her side too. Visiting the prisoners isn't a daily gathering anymore. Princess Starlight decided it was too much disappointment for the townsponies. She visits them privately after curfew now.

Princess Starlight has promised that, despite this hesitation, they will come to see the light, and then they will understand.

Maybe then they will forgive her.

Fluttershy did the right thing joining Starlight. These townsponies are happier now. Nopony is mean to one another. Nopony here gets teased for being different. Perhaps that is supported by the fact that nopony here is different.

Fluttershy doesn't have to mask around these ponies. All of a sudden, she finds that fitting in comes naturally to her.

“Choose Equality as Your Special Talent.”

That sentiment seems to be literal, because her new mark has certainly given her the push she needs. She has become a little less shy, and she finds that everypony else has gotten just a little less chatty since her indoctrination.

At first she didn't fully understand, but now she does. Now that Princess Starlight has shared with her the secret of the prophecy. 

Long ago, it was foretold that one pony would rise to rescue Equestria. To take the blindfolds off of everypony’s eyes and beholden them to the truth. 

Cutie Marks hold ponies back. They condense one’s identity into a single thing. They distract one with alluring “talents” which cradle their egos and make them feel special.

The scripture states that the prophetic savior–The Harmonizer–should one day come and free Equestria of the illusion of Cutie Marks. That they will come and make everypony equal. And may everypony live together joyously in harmony, freed from the false promise of their Cutie Marks.

Fluttershy wouldn’t believe it if it weren't for the existence of the Staff of Sameness. She witnessed its power firsthoof. 

When Starlight denounced her Cutie Mark and fused its magic with its rightful owner–the matter of nature–the staff became able to use her power in ways so specific, so controlled, so miraculous, that it’s impossible to deny that it was destiny.

And how, in its destruction, would the magic know to go to Starlight and not to the ponies it “belonged” to? Destiny. Irrefutably.

How could anypony’s special talent be taking Cutie Marks away if it weren't meant to be? If the prophecy were not true, destiny would never allow for the taking of Cutie Marks to happen. Not unless they needed to be. 

Upon learning that Starlight is the Harmonizer, and especially since her ascension to princess status, Fluttershy couldn't help but see her in an entirely new light.

Starlight is the salvation that Equestria needs. Starlight is the holy, destined Harmonizer. Starlight is a healing power. Starlight is here to bring equality to all. Fluttershy just wishes her friends could see that.

“No, you can't talk to them.”

Princess Starlight is very adamant.

“But, Princess-”

She holds up her hoof to silence her top disciple.

“You cannot force them to listen. That's not what we do. We must wait for them to accept us—truly accept us—only then can we enlighten them about the prophecy. They won't believe it otherwise.”

Fluttershy sighs, exasperated. Starlight smiles at her with infinite patience and puts a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

“I understand you’re eager to have your friends back. To teach them the truth. But tell me. Would you have honestly believed in the prophecy if it, in its entirety—while you were still fully against us—was thrown at you in one go?”

Fluttershy deflates, her conviction gone. Now she just feels silly. 

“N- No…” she says, ashamed. “No, I guess I wouldn't.” 

Starlight gently plays with Fluttershy’s hair, undoing the neat ropes of her braids. Fluttershy gasps and leans away.

“But…Princess, my-”

“Shh. We can always braid it again. And please…call me Starlight.” She smiles warmly, setting Fluttershy’s hair free and running her hooves through it.

This feels wrong. It's unequal not to have one of the few acceptable manestyles. But, it’s like Starlight said…she can always rebraid it…

Fluttershy finds that she’s sitting now, next to Starlight. How did that happen? Starlight has her wing around Fluttershy’s back. Fluttershy can see her reflection in the amulet. 

Since the Cutie Marks struck Princess Starlight, and the destruction of the staff, the princess has had to rechannel the magic into another medium. This time the power resides in an amulet, the gem of which is used to remove and replace Cutie Marks like the staff once did.

“I understand that you miss your old friends.” Starlight says apologetically. Her expression looks…thoughtful.

The princess carefully calculates her words. “But I hope that, until I restore them to you, you can focus on your new friends. The ones who have accepted the prophecy.” She says, lifting Fluttershy’s chin with an encouraging nod.

Fluttershy smiles and nods back, feeling grateful for Starlight’s wisdom and grace.

“I’m working on them.” She continues, twirling a lock of Fluttershy’s mane with her magic. “They're very resistant…especially the alicorn…” a flicker of irritation crosses her expression, but she banishes it.

“but I’m going to get them to see the light. I’m going to get them on our side, Fluttershy. They may be a little…confused, but they’re good friends. Fearsomely loyal to their values. I can admire that. They just have…not quite the right values.”

Fluttershy nods.

“I’m going to fix it.” Starlight promises, looking Fluttershy intensely in the eyes. The pegasus sighs, letting herself be comforted and reassured. Starlight will fix it. Starlight fixes everything. Starlight makes everything better.

Starlight makes her…almost forget to ask!

“Oh, by the way…” Fluttershy starts.

“Yes?”

She freezes, suddenly nervous. Suddenly shy. A pulse comes from her “Cutie Mark”. She finds that courage suddenly takes her.

“I was wondering…why I haven't been built a cottage yet.” 

Starlight looks very thoughtful at that. She sighs, releasing Fluttershy’s hair and pulling away. Fluttershy finds that she misses the touch.

The princess stands up and starts to pace. “There’s something about the prophecy…that…I haven't told you yet.” She admits. “Because you weren't ready to hear it. The others…they know, but they know to let me be the one to tell you.” Starlight glances at Fluttershy.

“Tell me what?” Fluttershy asks, trying to sound less vulnerable than she feels. Having her mane undone somehow makes her feel exposed in some way.

“That…well…” Starlight sighs. “Okay…the truth is…you are part of the prophecy.”

A heavy silence claims the air for a long moment. Fluttershy laughs breathlessly, in denial.

“Well…ev- everypony is! We're all..part of the-”

Starlight stops her. “You're…explicitly mentioned…in the prophecy. You're tied to me directly. That's why we feel this connection.” She declared. Fluttershy is reeling, but she can't get a word in.

“That's why you came here, actually. I mean, you didn't know it, but that was the reason. To come to me. To complete the prophecy.” Starlight explained.

Fluttershy still doesn't get it.

Starlight sighs. “You are…connected to me…as it was foretold. You came to me, with gifts, as it was ordained—those gifts being your friends—in order to…make all the pieces come together.” 

Fluttershy finally speaks. “So I’m…connected to you how? And why are me and my friends pieces of the puzzle? Is it because we're the elements of harmony? If so, why am I specifically-”

Starlight stops her again.

“I don't think you're ready for the full truth just yet…” she says, apologetic, “but…there is a reason why you in specific are so connected to me.” She explains, walking back over to Fluttershy and gently taking her head in her hoof.

“You are the pony who caused me to become an alicorn. That was no accident. You are the pony who brought me the elements of harmony. You thought they belonged to you six. They were gifts for me. You, Fluttershy…are my…” Starlight trailed off, a strange longing in her eyes. “…my top disciple.” she sighed. 

It clearly isn't the full truth, but Fluttershy isn't going to pry. This is a lot to take in already. She doesn't need any more information.

“Okay…” she nods slowly. “Okay.”

Starlight smiles. She brushes Fluttershy with her wing. “I knew you'd understand. I promise I’ll tell you when the time is right.”

Life in the conversion cottage is about as you’d expect. Quiet, boring, stressful…

…tense…

Starlight had done some research on Twilight and learned about the whole elements-of-harmony trick. The rainbow lasers, as Dash calls it.

Her fear of this possible outcome is what led to the creation of the carousel. The cottage has been renovated. Not only is it bigger, but there are now separated cells going in a circle that keep a maximum of two ponies together at a time.

Every so often, the turntable floor maneuvers the prisoners into the next cell, shuffling the ponies in the stable like a deck of cards. There’s five of them, so the setup at any given time is always two-two-one. Starlight calls it the turnstable; but its prisoners know it as the carousel.

“In sameness, there is peace.” Oh great. The speaker has come on again. 

Twilight has gotten good at tuning it out, but it’s harder when you're alone. She just hopes the next switch is soon. It's been an unusually long time, and she’s running out of hay and water.

The bucket could use an emptying, too.

As if in answer to Twilight’s prayers, the carousel floor shifts her into the next cell. After a bump and a settle, she sees Rarity sitting before her.

“Oh, Rarity!” The two immediately embrace. “I missed you!”

Rarity holds and nuzzles Twilight like she might never get to again. You never know in this place.

“I missed you deeply as well, darling. I was stuck in there with Pinkie Pie for hours.” She laments. Twilight strokes her back comfortingly with a wing.

“Did she…say anything?” Twilight asked, although she knew the answer. Rarity just solemnly shook her head.

Pinkie took Fluttershy’s abandonment the hardest. The girl broke her heart. The usually bubbly pony’s mane has deflated, and she’s even greyer now than she’d ever been before. She hasn't spoken a word in weeks.

Everypony knows that Pinkie had been in love with her. Everypony except for Fluttershy. She was always oblivious when it came to that. No matter how obvious Pinkie made it, she seemed forever stuck in the friendzone, always losing the battle to Discord (hey, what ever happened to Discord?). She was happy for Fluttershy either way, suppressing her disappointment. Apparently it all came crashing down when she left, and the party pony finally let herself be crushed.

Twilight could do little more but sigh and mope and wait for the next visitation. She dreads it and looks forward to it at the same time. Sure, she has to listen to Starlight talk, but at least she gets to see the sky. The night sky. Always. Twilight hasn't seen the sun in so long.

Sun…Celestia. She misses Celestia. Celestia and Luna. Night. Luna. Perhaps she could manage to have a lucid dream. Get Luna’s attention. Tell her what's happening. 

Twilight sighs. It’s a major shot in the dark. Not like she ever gets good sleep, anyway. 

At least she has Rarity. Rarity is always a comfort. “I’ve tried just about everything. They’ve definitely fixed the gap thing. We've got no hope of escaping.” 

Twilight nods. “I tried that too. I guess someone caught us testing it out. I can't help but wonder if, had we been a little braver, we might've been able to get out through that gap.”

Rarity puts a hoof around her shoulder. “They would have captured us, anyway. We know that.”

Twilight sighs and sinks into Rarity, letting herself be comforted by the embrace. In such a helpless situation, there is seldom reprieve from the dread of reality.

Eventually Twilight finds her eyelids becoming heavy, and slowly drifts asleep on the unicorn.

She starts to dream; an overwhelming sense of being halfway somewhere and halfway nowhere, accompanied by fleeting thoughts and feelings from deep within the mind. Thoughts and memories bloom, and then they fade.

It feels like the dreams have only just started when Twilight is startled awake. She squints her eyes in the moonlight. MOONLIGHT!

Starlight smiles down at her from the hatch above, then casts her gaze across the entire turnstable.

“Good evening, all.” She isn't speaking all that loud; but her voice carries in the silence of night. Twilight prepares herself for the same speech she gives every night.

“I’ve come to ask if any of you are ready to join us!” She says for the twenty-eighth time. “Fluttershy has accepted the truth—so why won't you join her? Fluttershy wants you all to give in to this. She wants you to see the light! Give up your stubborn old ways and embrace harmony! Don't you hate this degrading life? Don't you want to be equal?”

They all know better by now than to answer back. None of them want to admit how much better the offer sounds every day, but somehow it feels like she knows.

“Hmm?” Starlight cranes her neck to observe the entire carousel and examine her captives’ expressions. “No takers? Such a shame. And here I thought you all were…” Here it comes.

“Loyal… to your friend?” She gestures to Rainbow Dash. “And can't you sense my Honesty…when I tell you that the Magic of harmony is only true when we can be so Generous as to give up our selfish talents?”

Every pony in the stable seethes at the misuse of their elements. Everypony except for Pinkie Pie. Starlight hasn't mentioned her element for a while now. 

Rainbow Dash poises to fly out of her pen and attack Starlight, but Applejack pulls her back. Starlight is nothing but amused.

“Hmm…fine then. Suit yourselves.” Strange. Starlight never says anything when she locks them up. Routine changes never happen for no reason.

“But I’d just hate for you to miss Fluttershy’s wedding.” She smirks and shuts the hatch.

“WHAT!” It comes out of Pinkie Pie like a quack. Her voice is hoarse, unused to speaking. After days of being quiet and unmoved, Pinkie bursts into sobs. Everypony in the carousel sits solemnly as they hear their friend’s wails through the stable walls, each of them processing this information in a similar state. Shock.

The time didn't need to be right. Not…critically, anyway. All Starlight really had to do was make an offer Fluttershy couldn't refuse.

She’s been…planting the seed in Fluttershy’s mind for days and days now. The pegasus doesn't seem to think much of it, but Starlight is certain her subconscious is fully aware of what is to come.

Starlight usually has amplitudes of patience—I mean, just look at the elements, for harmony’s sake—but it seems for this she just can't wait. She has to have Fluttershy, and she has to have her now. She is incomplete without Fluttershy. Who even is she without her?

And so; Starlight arranges a…special-occasion town meeting that only Fluttershy is unaware of.

The townsponies’ instructions are crystal clear.

“I’m so glad you decided to walk with me this morning.” Starlight says, as she and Fluttershy return to town from their walk.

“Of course. I’d never miss an opportunity to spend time with you, Starlight.” Fluttershy answers, smiling. Perfect.

Starlight gives the signal: a single flap of her right wing. An unnoticed gesture by Fluttershy, but the keystone that sets the next arching events in place.

“That's…comforting to hear.” Starlight says, leading Fluttershy in front of her cottage. The gathering townsponies pretend to be busy around the two, but every eye is watching. “Fluttershy…can I tell you something?”

Fluttershy seems slightly apprehensive, but she’s ever so obliging. “Of course. Anything.”

Starlight takes a deep breath. “Okay…well…I need to tell you that…” she begins to feel choked up. This moment is already so beautiful.

“That…you are such an important part of- of- not just the prophecy…” composure, Starlight, composure… “...but…of my life.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widen. “...are you say-”

“Shh. Fluttershy. The truth is…the prophecy states…that a mare with coat and mane which glows in the morning sun, that a mare with eyes deeper than the abyss, that a mare with the holy destiny level enough to match up with the Harmonizer…should-” she sniffles. “-should appear in her life…and the two should join together…”

Starlight steps down and kneels, revealing a ring she’d been concealing behind her wing.

“And that they shall be married, ruling side by side, in an ultimate equilibrium of power.” She can't help the tears that stream down her face. 

Fluttershy steps back, looking shocked. “...St-”

“So, Fluttershy…”

The pegasus is just noticing that somehow everypony and their mother is watching all of a sudden.

“Will you marry me?”

Fluttershy is stunned, lost between disbelief and admiration. Her apprehension and shock is being tainted with the excitement and giddy anticipation of the other townsponies.

“Starlight…” She glances at all the ponies watching. She feels doubt for only another moment. A pulse comes from her mark,

“...of course I will.”

And the crowd’s cheers overpower any hope of hearing one’s own thoughts.

Chapter Text

MATRIMONY

“What does she MEAN wedding?” Rainbow Dash demands, as if anypony knows.

“Calm down, Rainbow Dash. Maybe she just…fell in love with one of the townsponies?” Rarity suggests.

“FELL IN LOVE? IN THIS PLACE?” Rainbow slams herself against the wall. It's just for show, of course. She wouldn't really hurt Rarity if they were in the same pen right now. Probably.

“Stop it. Just stop it. You're all upsetting Pinkie.” Twilight scolds, comforting the sobbing pony in her arms.

“It dudn’t matter what we talk about, she’s still gonna cry! We could talk about-! piglets in a…barrel of- sweet Ceee-lestia I miss my countryisms!” Applejack furiously bucks the wall.

“Stop hitting the walls. Both of you. You're going to get us in trouble.” Twilight wishes she could glare at them through the walls.

She wishes she could do a little more than glare, actually.

“I. don't. care! What are they gonna do? Smile at us some more?” Rainbow hisses.

“You and I both know that they're capable and willing to do more than that. Especially Starlight. She certainly does more than just smile.” Twilight shrinks a little, remembering the beating she took from the cultist.

She shudders and tries to shake the memory off, to the dismay of Pinkie Pie.

“We're losing the plot here.” Rarity adds, taking the risk of talking again. “The point is…Fluttershy is getting married here.” 

Pinkie Pie wails. Applejack whacks Rarity with her tail.

“Ow! It's true! I mean, what does this mean for us?”

Twilight interjects. “It means nothing. She's lost her way, she's doing crazy things, she's not our problem anymore until we can get out of here.” She shuts the conversation down before anypony can mention Fluttershy’s name again. Pinkie Pie’s wails settle into whimpers.

Twilight huffs. It’s not just Pinkie who’s hurt about Fluttershy. Twilight took a pretty big risk for her, and what did she do? She abandoned years of friendship for some…some…

No. She mustn't think that way. Friendship is all about flaws, mistakes, forgiveness…forgiveness. She must forgive. She must forgive… 

There's silence for a few more minutes, but of course Rarity just can't let it go.

“You know…when Starlight told us about Fluttershy’s wedding…” Rarity starts.

“Stop it.” Rainbow hisses. They all saw it. They all noticed. It's supposed to be one of those unspoken things, because saying it aloud makes it a possibility, which might as well make it true.

“No, I will not!” Rarity is oddly chatty today. Normally talking is good–keeps you sane–but now Twilight wishes she wouldn't. Whispery conversations are one thing, but arguing is a big risk.

“She looked like she was proud! Like she’d done something! Like she had something to do with Fluttershy’s-”

“STOP it!” Rainbow crashes against the wall again. “SHE’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, ALRIGHT?”

“SHOUTING THAT WON’T MAKE IT ANY LESS TRUE!” Rarity slams herself against her own wall. This time the whole carousel shakes. The disharmony amongst the remaining elements has been getting stronger and stronger lately.

“Stop. it.” Twilight growls, but it’s too late.

The door creaks open. Everypony goes silent. 

Sunlight. They're too terrified to properly enjoy finally seeing sunlight. The top hatch of the carousel is still closed, but the yellow light peeks through the cracks and spills across the floors. The ponies inside have to squint, although the light is gentle. 

“I hear some noises in here…” The voice is a whisper, so it’s hard to tell if it’s her.

Closer hoofsteps. An eye peeks into a hole in the wall. A green eye. 

“Not her!” Rainbow says with relief. Everypony else sighs and relaxes. 

Rainbow tries to jam the sharp stick she whittled into the eye, but it moves away. She slams the wall in frustration.

“I certainly hope you all aren't trying to break out of here…” the whispering pony continues, “Princess Starlight certainly wouldn't like that…”

Fear is reinstilled at the mention of the princess’ name.

“No more noises…” the whisperer whispers. “Join us soon. We love new friends.” The door creaks open again. She’s leaving.

“And we would hate for you to miss the royal wedding.”

He scrawls into the paper slowly and without much motivation. Just mere days ago his claws would scribble feverishly across the pages in urgency and panic. Now he writes sluggishly and in a manner more subdued.

He squints to see the words he writes. It’s still not light outside although it is morning time. He seals the scroll and sends it away, to the elusive Celestia, and wipes the ink off his talon.

Spike misses his mom.

The dragon stretches and crawls down from his bed, taking the pillow in his teeth and dragging it down the halls.

He stalks, his four claws tapping against the cold castle floors as he finds his way into the throne room.

Spike misses her a lot. He curses himself every day for not paying attention when she and her friends were sent on their friendship mission. He curses himself for leaving to trade hoofball cards with Big Mac.

When he had returned, the little cutie mark symbols that are supposed to blip the elements’ locations were gone. They were just gone.

He has to convince himself it doesn't mean they're dead.

She can't be dead.

He’s about to move forward when a scroll hits him. Celestia hardly answers anymore. He picks it up and unfurls it.

Dearest Spike,

I understand that you are struggling with your loneliness in Twilight’s castle. I am suggesting once again that you come to canterlot. My sister and I will take care of you better than those maids and servants. 

The disappearance of my pupil and her friends is hard for all of us, but I cannot imagine how it must be for you. You may think you are a tough and hardened beast, but you are only little. You need to be properly taken care of. Just give me the word and I will send a chariot.

Awaiting your presence,

Celestia.

Spike huffs and fire comes out of his nose. He wants to burn the letter up, but he knows that will just send it back to her, so he just crumples it and shreds it with his claws.

He picks the pillow up again and crawls up to Twilight’s throne. He throws the pillow on, climbs up, and settles into place.

This is the only place Spike can slumber, here on his mother’s throne. He knows Celestia will probably end up sending a chariot even if he doesn't answer. That wasn't a request, it was an order.

Spike wishes she would stop worrying about him and worry more about finding Twilight. He can sense himself and the others losing hope.

He senses a feeling of inevitability, like everypony will eventually just forget about them and move on. Yet beyond that, there’s another stronger feeling that a revelation—a big, terrifying one—is just around the bend, rising slowly like the morning sun.

The sun peeks over the hills, bathing the land in orange light. It climbs lazily up the sky, a little late for morning.

Celestia releases the sun with a sigh. Somehow lately, the job seems to feel harder every time. It just gets heavier and heavier.

She retreats from the balcony and walks past the dining hall. She hasn't been able to bring herself to eat for days.

Celestia goes straight to her throne and waits for her sister. This has become routine since they both started skipping breakfast, to the concern of their advisors.

Princess Luna eventually enters, walking dizzily up to her throne. Dark circles sag under her eyes. She wasn't getting good sleep even before the disappearance. Now it's a serious issue.

“No luck.” Is all she says. No ‘good morning’. It’s not a good morning. She’s been swimming tirelessly through the dreams of equestria in search of the missing ponies. 

Occasionally she catches a fleeting glimpse, but it's never enough to get to talk to any of them.

“I…I’m sure they'll turn up…”

That gets Celestia a look.

“Well, what do you want? I'm just trying to be positive!”

But Luna knows better. “You're just lying to yourself. You're in denial of how serious this is.” She retorts. Then she softens.

“I know you sense it too.”

Celestia is startled. “Sense what?”

“Oh, don't act. We can all sense something.”

Celestia sits up, defensive. “Stop it. It's cruel to joke like that. This is serious.”

Now it’s Luna’s turn to get defensive. “What’s cruel is ignoring it! Something big is coming. Something really…important…is happening, and it's happening soon.” She shudders from the sheer, visceral intuition.

Celestia goes quiet and looks down. She’s not arguing it anymore.

“Very soon.”

The ceremony won't be traditional. Traditions of old are futile, anyway. They are unworthy. Since there is no higher authority–not in all the world–Starlight must officiate her own wedding.

This is fine. In fact, this is just the way she likes it. She has ultimate control of her special day. No bridesmaids nor groomsmen. That would set the common folk apart. No maids of honor, no best men. Least of all flower girls.

If only the other elements could have seen the light by now. Starlight really wanted them to be there for this. But no matter. She must and will persevere. She is the harmonizer. She’s going to act like it.

Starlight isn't completely sure what Fluttershy’s role as the bride will be, considering that in the old attestation the role was mostly to bear the harmonizer’s children. That was, of course, back when they thought he’d be a stallion.

Starlight supposes she could make it happen…magically, perhaps. But it’s too much of an uncertainty to promise straight away. But then how will she make the marriage seem essential?

Sure, those ponies will believe and support anything Starlight does, but they'd believe it a lot more if it was undeniable.

She’s good at crumbling doubt, debunking falsifiers and ultimately revealing the cold, hard, irrefutable truth. She simply has to find the truth in Fluttershy.

Element of kindness. Elements. Elements of Harmony. Yes! Perfect! Fluttershy, as Harmonizer’s bride, is the one who showed Kindness to Starlight and brought all the other Elements of Harmony into the collective through marriage. That is to be her purpose.

It’s not an idea. It’s a revelation. This was always the plan–always the prophecy–and revising the attestment is a discovery and not an invention. Discovery, not invention. Discovery, not invention. Discovery, not invention…

“Um, princess? You're muttering to yourself…” Double Diamond peeks in halfway through the door.

Starlight stops in her tracks. She’s been pacing a ring into the floor.

“Uh, haha, just…nervous about the wedding!” She smiles nervously. She hates it when she’s caught being anything but composed.

Double Diamond is worried, but he also seems strangely giddy. Like he can't wait for Fluttershy’s role to change so he can be top disciple again. It’s not like it's an official position. It’s more of an unspoken thing.

“Oh, well, that's natural. There’s a lot expected of you.” He mentions. She couldn't possibly agree more.

“I have it all under control.” Starlight added, trotting to the door so Double Diamond doesn't get any ideas about coming in. “Well, thank you for checking on me, but I really do need to get ready.” She nods to him and closes the door.

Starlight returns to pacing. Okay. She’ll say…she’ll say…that something-something glorious day something finally the bride has arrived? something-something elements of harmony as a gift…as her purpose…to help…spread the truth across equestria. 

Starlight will have to get the other elements on board soon. Their sheer amount of resistance is starting to make her look bad. She doesn't want their resilience to influence her people.

She might have to threaten them somehow into just integrating already. Make them at least pretend to be one of them. So that way, it will seem as if the marriage sets off the integration of the other elements.

So how will she threate-

“Starlight?”

Fluttershy has started down the stairs. She coyly covers her face in her veil, literally glowing in her white dress. Starlight is nearly brought to tears. She’s so incredibly moved by Fluttershy’s beauty, her grace, and most of all her devotion.

“Oh…Fluttershy…” she can barely contain herself. “You're…you're…breathtaking.”

Fluttershy shuffles down the rest of the stairs. “I thought we weren't supposed to see each other. Not before the ceremony, anyway. So why-”

Starlight stops her. “Those are the old ways. These are the new ways. And new ways say we must see each other as often as we can!” She beams, adjusting her amulet. The gold is a bit of a contrast from her blue dress, but it’s not awkward. Plus, the little cyan gem ties it together.

She’ll admit, she’s usually better prepared for these things, but time flies when you're in love. 

Should Starlight force the elements into place before or after the ceremony? She really wants them to be there, but on the other hand it needs to be a cascading of events. Maybe they should even come in one at a time.

Descisions, descisions. Life as a leader is stressful, but she wouldn't trade it for the world. Not when that’s something she can eventually have anyway.

She’ll wait till after. Too much of a distraction, and they might try to escape. 

“Starlight?” Fluttershy startles her, although she’s been standing right there for many minutes. “You alright?”

“I just…” She figures Fluttershy deserves the truth. Or at least…something that isn't a lie.

“I just need everything to be perfect.” She admits. Fluttershy nods and rests her head on Starlight’s shoulder.

“It will be.”

It comforts her, but it doesn't help her with any ideas. She could use Fluttershy, maybe, to threaten them. But then, she would be bluffing. She needs something she's actually willing to do. Or perhaps she doesn't need to do anything.

Could she use pure intimidation? If she makes it seem like she can just decide to make them, maybe they will assume she can—and then she will.

She could try that. They are afraid of her. Yes. Violence is not a negotiation tool, after all. It is only to be considered when absolutely necessary. And she knows just where to start.

“Come on, Starlight. It’s starting soon.” Fluttershy nudges her.

The music purges all of Starlight’s thoughts when the ceremony starts.

♪ Here comes the bride, all dressed in white… ♪

The piano plays by itself via magic. Nopony should be singled out to play the song.

♪ Sweetly, serenely in the soft glowing light ♪

♪ Lovely to see, marching to thee, ♪

♪ Sweet love united for eternity. ♪

Fluttershy is so beautiful it hurts. Starlight thought she was above things like love, but what else could this overwhelming obsession be?

“So here it is, today,” she finds herself saying as she removes her bride’s veil, “that my long-awaited bride has come to me.”

Gentle cheers. Just as it should be.

“She has come to join us together with the elements of harmony and the former matriarchal embodiment of friendship.” She takes Fluttershy’s hooves.

“And so, Fluttershy, do you swear by all that is holy that you will henceforth be forever bound by this union to fuse your and the other elements of harmony to me and my cause in holy matrimony?”

Fluttershy doesn't hesitate this time. “I do.”

“And I, too, swear by all that is holy that I will receive and bear responsibility over the elements in order to spread our message of equality and destiny across equestria. In the holy matrimonial promise, I say, I do.”

Starlight carefully slips her ring onto her horn. She then pokes the thread of gold through the hole of Fluttershy’s ring and ties it carefully around her neck. Now the crowd cheers as loud as they like, thumping their hooves on the ground and celebrating joyously.

As the big moment comes to a close, Starlight’s thoughts start to drift away from Fluttershy. This isn't the end goal, she has to remind herself. This is only the beginning.

She even finds herself excited for the end of this day; not because it's unsatisfactory, but because there's so much more for her which starts tonight.

Starlight knows that she’s going to create something very big. Very soon, she’s going to shake equestria. She can feel it vividly. 

She wonders if anypony else can sense it.

Chapter Text

OBLIGATION

Starlight has an obligation. She must remember that.

Sometimes she loses herself in the power and the decisions and even…love, but she must remember her promise to the prophecy.

She's getting too comfortable. The new marriage and the fervent success has almost made her forget about her latest plan. Her latest duty.

She must start the systemic integration of the elements.

She isn't entirely sure of the order yet. She only knows so far who’s going last. That difficult, depressed earth pony.

Twilight cannot go first. Twilight cannot go last. Both of these placements would insinuate that she is somehow more important than the others. She needs to go third or fourth. Fourth is second-to-last. That's cutting it a little close. Third, definitely.

Right. So if Pinkie is last and Twilight is third, where do the other three go? She needs to at least figure out who’s going first so that she can actually start.

The unicorn is unpredictable. The other earth pony is stubborn.

The pegasus, however… She's cocky. She genuinely thinks she's better, cooler, more awesome than other ponies. Breaking Rainbow Dash will make the perfect example.

Now comes her second problem. What will she use against them? Her only bargaining chip so far has been Fluttershy, and that hasn't exactly worked. Talk about shallow. Those so-called “Elements of Harmony” really won't give up a little pride for their friend? Such selfishness.

No, no. Starlight mustn't think that way. Friendship is all about correction, harmony, forgiveness… Forgiveness. She must forgive. She must forgive…

She knows they must fear her. Perhaps she could convince them all on her own. It would certainly help the process if they didn't have any dirt to use against her. Using a serious threat and lying about it could stir up issues with the townsponies.

Starlight sighs heavily. She's actually pacing a ring into the dirt. She's been out here in front of the E-center contemplating for Celestia knows how long. Nopony else is out here. Curfew and all.

Starlight gazes up at the moon and stars.

She needs hope. She needs guidance. She needs solid, unshakable confidence.

“...What should I do?” She asks into the sky. The stars twinkle. The moon lies still. She stands and waits for a revelation.

It comes to her in the next second. She knows why she feels so uncertain! Earth has sneakily taken her over. That's why she's been so peaceful and distracted!

Heaven and Earth are the two guiding voices in Starlight’s head. They are her two halves; they are subjects mentioned in the prophecy; they are many things…but they are not in harmony.

Harmony between Heaven and Earth will be achieved when Starlight takes over Equestria and all, but boy are they annoying on the daily.

How Earth acquired the driver’s seat in Starlight’s mind undetected remains a mystery, but it's no matter because now the problem is solved. Starlight just needs to unleash Heaven. Once She’s in control, everything will become clear, and logic will overtake all these silly emotions.

Starlight takes a deep breath. She closes her eyes. She imagines them. She sees them clear as day—Heaven and Earth. The voices in her head. They actually remind her of Celestia and Luna in a way…only better.

She finds her way around the labyrinth of her mind—wrestling with the angels on her shoulders—and eventually, she senses and finds that Heaven is now the voice that speaks.

Starlight stands tall, and she bursts through the door, filled with confidence and power.

She opens the top hatch—the circular covering of the turnstable lifting up like a drawbridge. The ponies inside are all frozen with fear, as they usually are.

…All of them except Pinkie Pie. Damn sad sack of-

“Hello everyone!” Heaven takes the words out of Starlight’s mouth. She mustn't be distracted. She must be the one in power here, not the voices, as much as she respects them.

She hops up on the borders, walking across the tops of the walls and looking down at the ponies in their cells.

“You're probably wondering why I’m so late…and why I’m not giving you the usual spiel.” Starlight begins, prancing gaily across the beams. 

She knows how badly the ponies down there want her to fall. Like balancing over a pack of hungry dogs. It's thrilling, save for the fact that she’s still completely in control.

“I’ve tried to be kind to you, but it seems that doesn't work. You must really not care about your Fluttershy…” She muses. Somepony growls with rage.

“I’m not going to wait around anymore, and I’m certainly not going to give you the courtesy of asking.” 

Starlight takes great pleasure in the fearful gazes that gets her.

“You five ARE going to join us, whether you like it or not. I really wish I didn't have to do it this way, but you've left me no choice.” She declares. 

Any opposition? She looks around. The ponies down in their cells look enraged, but they seem to be accepting this as an unpleasant truth. It greatly pleases Starlight to see how much they believe in her. Because that's what this is. They simply don't know that yet.

“Now don't worry. Many of you will get plenty of time to adjust to this new situation. I’m going to be integrating you one at a time.” She stalks across the beams until she stands directly over Twilight and Rainbow Dash. She loves that the ex-princess herself will get to witness this.

Rainbow dash stands up and gets in front of Twilight. She opens her wings protectively.

“No way!” She yells. “You're not taking her!”

Starlight laughs.

“Ding-ding-ding! You got it right! I’m not taking her. I’m taking you.” She picks Rainbow up by the wings with her magic.

She knows it’s wrong, but she takes great amusement in seeing the pegasus struggle so awkwardly in the air. Kicking and trying to flap…hurting herself more with every tug…Starlight can't help but laugh. The other ponies don't find it very funny.

“Oh, stop it! You're making a fool of yourself.” Starlight commands, shaking Rainbow slightly. “Now…just stop fighting it, and it won't hurt.” She makes sure to get eye contact.

“I promise.”

Starlight sits down, watching the pegasus defiantly fight her hold. That really must hurt. She would feel nothing but a slight strain on her back if she’d just let herself go slack.

Starlight doesn't speak. She just lets the prideful pegasus be forced into humility and give up the fight. She hangs limply in the air, her magic-bound wings spread ignobly above her.

“Good.” Starlight stands, pleased. It only took her ten goddamn minutes. “Now…just hold that defeated, subdued attitude and let me turn it into gratitude. I’m really being quite graceful to you. You'll understand.” Starlight walks back across the beams, leaving and dragging Rainbow out with her. The remaining four are left in stunned silence, able to do no more than hope they won't be next.

Starlight now has a living, breathing reminder of her duties which need to be done. She may have hesitated before, but…she has her job now, and it's crystal clear.

She’s going to remember that.

Rainbow Dash has an obligation. She must accept that.

For as long as the mare can remember, she’s been unbreakable. Wild, messy, untamed and free. She's always been confident, and has always had the skills to back it up.

Now she has none of those things. In just two short days Starlight has set the foundations to turn her damaged pride into thriving humility. To turn her growing doubt in her skills into a certainty that she belongs.

It's hard to resist the ideas when they’re healing your pain instead of causing it.

The pegasus paces up and down the basement floor, her eyes sweeping across the walls. They're covered with motivational art and texts. The sheer boredom of solitude has forced her to consume the content.

Some of the sentiments written on the walls are the same as the ones on the loudspeaker.

“Difference is frustration.”

“Conformity will set you free.”

“Accept your limitations, and happiness will follow.”

“Choose Equality as your special talent.”

“You're no better than your friends.”

All verbatim the loudspeaker loop. But some of them are different.

“Princess Starlight is your salvation”? What does that one even mean?

“Are you smarter than a filly? See past the illusion of the cutie mark today!”

Yes, Rainbow Dash is smarter than a filly.

“Throughout the great shifts in Equestria, the dragons notably resisted change. Ponies adapted. Exactly who rules Equestria?”

That one made Rainbow shiver. Does she really need to just adapt? That is how survival works, isn’t it?

“When everypony agrees, you’re always right!”

Rainbow sure likes being right…

“Different talents lead to different opinions which lead to bitterness and misery.”

Isn't that what that muffin lady said? Her happiness did seem to depend on…faith…

Rainbow Dash shakes her head. She’s so confused by all of this, she can barely tell what’s right anymore. Her sense of direction flicks on and off between moments.

I must not give in to this…I must give in to this…I must not give in to this…

She feels like a schoolfoal playing ‘he loves me, he loves me not’! And it feels as though she's starting to run out of petals.

Hoofsteps. Rainbow stiffens.

The door creaks open. Light spills into the dark basement. 

“Good morniiing…” Starlight sings, her voice gentle. She prances down the stairs and magically turns on the lamp. Rainbow is certain that's the only way it turns on.

“Is it morning? I couldn't tell…”

The princess laughs softly. “Today is your third day, my student. And I have a good feeling about this day. Third time’s the charm, is it not?” She starts to pace, making a wide semicircle around the pegasus.

“You know…I wasn't going to say this…I thought it would go to your head…” She begins, her attitude strangely coy.

She glances at Rainbow and smirks. She can see that the pegasus is hanging on her every word. Damn her.

“But…you're making so much progress so fast…that I’m genuinely impressed. You're blossoming much faster than my usual students.” Starlight tells her.

Rainbow is disturbed with the fact that that feels good. That shouldn't feel good. How dare she exploit her weakness like that?

Starlight reads Rainbow easily, and she doesn't even hide that she’s doing it. Oh, Rainbow knows that look. Here comes the speech.

“I understand your frustration. The Markbearer in you should be furious. It doesn't want you to move on. But should a caterpillar resist its metamorphosis? No, of course not!”

Starlight pauses only for a breath. 

“The mortification and rejuvenation of your soul is a process of pain and beauty. You only need to let go to stop the pain. Just like before, remember?” Rainbow definitely remembers. Her wings still ache from that humiliating display.

Starlight looks down at Rainbow, but not with the scorn or disgust she once did. She looks at her with genuine hope. With the pride of a teacher. She seems almost motherly. It frightens Dash, but…she can't deny the comfort in it.

Starlight lifts Dash’s head with her hoof, looking her directly in the eyes as she speaks.

“I know it's a little early, but…I’ve decided that you have really proven yourself, and it would be nothing short of criminal to hold you back. I truly trust that today, your graduation, will be a good experience for you. The best martyr is the reluctant one, after all. They set the most powerful example.”

Rainbow wishes she had the same apathy she did forty-eight hours ago, but she simply does not. She's actually moved by these words. A single tear even invades her eye.

“Today at long last you will see the sun. Finally you will be reunited with Fluttershy, your dear friend. Not only that, but you will be welcomed by civilization once more. No longer will you be a prisoner. Today…you are an Equal.”

Rainbow Dash can't help it. She ugly cries, and Starlight soothes her, one hoof around her shoulder and the other wiping her tears. The pegasus hardly notices that, as she cries, the princess takes her free hair and wraps it up in a bun. One of the few manestyles worn by the townsponies. Now more than ever does she truly feel like one of them.

When she finally calms down, completely broken and ripe for rebuilding, Starlight nods at her, gets up, and trots away, leaving her with only posters and thoughts.

Rainbow Dash is just seeing the princess in an entirely new light as the sound of the door locking clicks in her mind.

She has a lot of adjusting to do. It's not a question of resilience anymore. Even if she fought it before…

She’s going to accept that.

Fluttershy has an obligation. She must understand that.

She's only recently been introduced to the idea that she has this role to play in the prophecy. So far it's been all about Princess Starlight and how great she is and how everything in Equestria is for her and…all that business.

But to imagine that she could be so important? It boggles the mind. 

Despite the shock of it, Fluttershy must persevere. She must do this for Starlight. For her friends. For the destiny of Equestria.

It's also a nice consolation that she's kind of already done her job. She got married to the Harmonizer. Huzzah. Now that supposedly gives Starlight the right to the elements and makes her able to use their symbol as a beacon to spread the message of…yeah, Starlight’s department. Not her responsibility.

So…her only responsibility, really, is just to be Princess Starlight’s loyal wife…and that’s it. That's what makes her so special. All she had to do was say “I do”, and boom. Immortalized. Second only to Starlight. For eternity.

How does she deserve that? 

Well, Starlight swears there’s more to it than that. More secrets. More things she has yet to discover. Yet to understand. 

Fluttershy has too many feelings. Much too many thoughts in her head. That’s what Starlight says. Starlight was always so good at purging those pesky thoughts. Fluttershy’s mind is a moldable clay which she lets be shaped and kneaded however Starlight pleases. Thoughtlessness is the first step. Then replacement of thought.

Sure, it sounds a little creepy, but it's okay because the new thoughts are right and helpful. They save ponies. 

Why was she even worrying? About the prophecy? The prophecy is wonderful! The prophecy has reasons for all problems and answers for all questions. Princess Starlight is its translator and its spreader of word. What a noble purpose. Everypony in equestria deserves to experience her majesty’s careful attention.

Fluttershy has so much to be grateful for. Most of all, Rainbow Dash is to be released today! She's so excited she can hardly contain herself!

Rainbow has accepted the philosophy, so surely she’s been told about the prophecy. What else would she be “studying” down there in the basement? Oh, she can't wait to talk about it with her!

Fluttershy talks about it with the townsponies, sure, but it will be so different coming from a freshly-introduced friend. An old friend. A fellow element.

Or, Fluttershy supposes, ex-element. The six of them were only temporary placeholders, existing simply to keep the relics alive but dormant until Starlight had the power to use them. Fluttershy finds it comforting that, no matter what she was doing her whole life, she was doing a great job at her true purpose. She just didn't know it yet.

...So is Fluttershy no longer the element of kindness?

She doesn't know how she feels about that. Best to wait for Starlight to tell her. She doesn't want to start spiraling into too free of thought.

“Fluttershy.”

The pegasus jumps at the sound of her wife’s voice, but then relaxes.

“Oh, hello Starlight. Is…is she ready?” She asks tentatively.

Starlight chuckles. “I believe the thought of you is what did the trick. She’ll be coming out very soon now. I was coming to collect you for the ceremony.”

Fluttershy takes a deep breath and clears her mind. That gets easier every day.

Starlight smiles proudly at her, as if she can see every microthought in her head, and approves.

“Come along now, dearest. Your friends are waiting for you.” Starlight drapes a wing across her back and walks her out to the town, where ponies are gathered in anxious anticipation of Rainbow Dash’s arrival.

Fluttershy stares into the crowd. She almost starts to think, but decides she doesn't like where thoughts take her. She sees that Starlight gestures for her to join the crowd, so she does.

Starlight goes inside to collect Rainbow Dash while Fluttershy shuffles in with all the others.

Not set apart. One of the crowd. Moving all together. Acting as one. So many voices, but only one message. Equal.

The cheers and applause echoes around her. She vaguely thinks of bees in a hive. Well, here comes the queen.

Starlight emerges from her cottage with a very subdued pegasus behind her.

“Behold!” She announces. “The product of my hard work and dedication! The result of our support and friendship! All bear witness here today to the transformation of Rainbow Dash, former element of loyalty, from cocky Markbearer—to our humble equal!”

The cheers get so loud. Ow, ow, Fluttershy’s ears. Doesn't matter. Rainbow Dash. Yay, yay, Rainbow Dash. Hooray. Hooray. She doesn't even realize she’s cheering the words aloud like everypony else. Do any of them realize?

“I, Princess Starlight, formally accept the surrendering of the second relic by Rainbow Dash in order to reveal the true purpose of the Elements of Harmony to be used as our beacon for the cause, amen.” 

“Amen.” All repeat.

Then she goes from serious to happy and bubbly on a dime. “Now it's time to build her cottage, everypony!”

“Hooray!”

All the townsponies hurriedly get to work, leaving Fluttershy standing alone where she was just in a crowd. Rainbow Dash, who also hadn't moved, peels her eyes away from the sun and sees her.

“Fluttershy?” Rainbow mumbles weakly, leaning slightly forward. “FLUTTERSHY!” She starts charging toward her.

Fluttershy barely gets two paces in before crashing into the other pegasus. They share a tearful embrace while Starlight silently supervises.

“Oh I missed you so much!” Fluttershy cries. Then she catches a glimpse of Starlight.

“I misse-”

“Let's go.” Fluttershy rises, smiling almost…blankly. Rainbow looks a little frightened.

“Go?” Rainbow repeats.

Now is Starlight's time to intervene.

“Yes! Let’s! Everypony has to help with the cottage, after all. Come along now. You can catch up while you build. And then you can enjoy all our little village has to offer.” She herds the pegasi along to the other end of the village where a cluster of ponies hovers around some foundations.

Starlight assigns the two reunited friends into separate teams and takes her post at the blueprints, directing everything. The separation and the busyness leads Fluttershy to suddenly not care so much about catching up.

Rainbow Dash is one of us now. That’s all that matters. Even if I didn't fully grasp it before...

…I'm going to understand that.

Chapter Text

CONVENTION

Our Town is three years old. 

For such a young community, there have been a surprising amount of notorious little eras within the early stages of its development.

Currently, as has been explained by Starlight, Our Town is going through one of these changes. 

It's all in the latest town pamphlet – Our Town’s sole source of news and local media distributed by hers truly. Due to the influx of (very important) new friends which will be steadily coming in, some recurring customs are coming back into effect to encourage a high-morale learning environment for these blossoming newcomers.

One of these customs includes the new schedule, which is written out in one of the first pages of the pamphlet which reads as follows.

SECTION 1, PAGE 3: ALTERED SCHEDULE SYSTEM.

5:00 A.M.: AWAKEN. GOOD-MORNING SONG, MORALE SONG, AND DAILY PLEDGE ALONG TO SPEAKER UNTIL 5:30 A.M.

5:31-6:00 A.M.: ROLL CALL, MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS, IMPLEMENT GENERAL SPEAKER LOOP.

6:10-7:00 A.M.: PAUSE SPEAKER LOOP, MORNING RATION, WORK CALLS. (DO NOT COMMENCE FRONT GROUP ORGANIZATION. PRACTICE IS OBSOLETE. CONSIDER ALL FRONT GROUPS DISBANDED.)

7:10 A.M-4:10 P.M.: CONTINUE SPEAKER LOOP, OBSERVE WORK (SUCH AS PHYSICAL LABOR, MARKETRUNNING, TEACHING) AND STUDY (SUCH AS ATTENDING SEMINARS AND PHILOSOPHICAL DISCUSSIONS). 

4:30-5:30 P.M.: PAUSE SPEAKER LOOP, AFTERNOON RATION, OBSERVE SOCIAL HOUR (FREE TIME).

5:40-10:00 P.M.: RESUME SPEAKER LOOP, WORK CALL PONIES RETURN, RESUME WORK & STUDY. (LEISURE TIME IS PERMITTED FOR WORK CALL VOLUNTEERS AT THIS TIME).

10:10-11:00 P.M. : RELAXING AMBIENT NOISE LOOP, CLEANUP, SHOP CLOSINGS.

11:30 P.M: SHUT OFF SPEAKERS. CURFEW. LOCK HOUSES.

Fluttershy wasn't initially sure if all of this was completely necessary, but the town’s earliest member – Double Diamond – has assured everypony that this is a normal and practiced regiment which has worked effectively in the past, and is only temporary.

So, for the past three days, the town has been following a rigid and learning-intensive schedule. Fluttershy doesn't know what she thinks of it. She hasn't been doing too much thinking lately. Much too busy with the scheduled activities and the business and the noise to think.

Despite the fact that all this fuss is currently over Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy has hardly seen the pegasus since she got here. This unusual subject makes her do something uncommon.

It makes her think. And then, for the first time in several days, she does something that doesn’t serve Starlight's wishes.

She pays attention to Rainbow Dash.

It’s currently 5:30-something, which means that pretty soon it will be time for the morning ration. It’s absurd that Fluttershy hasn't seen Rainbow at one of those yet.

See, the ground levels of all the residences (besides Starlight’s) are entirely communal, having large kitchens and dining rooms to house about a dozen ponies at a time. Personal living spaces and bedrooms are upstairs.

Every morning, all the townsponies are sectioned into groups and sent randomly into cottages to dine together, encouraging camaraderie and harmony.

Fluttershy had previously been hovering around the speakers since the schedule was implemented, drowning her own thoughts out with comforting doctrine, but today she stands away from them and thinks.

What are the odds that in three days—making six meals, two work shifts and one seminar, Fluttershy has not once been shuffled into a group with Rainbow Dash? Not for rations, not for work, not for study…it just doesn't make sense! Can it really be a coincidence?

So when the comforting voice above cuts to feedback and ponies gather to be grouped up, Fluttershy pays attention.

She’s put in a group of ten in a cottage that’s in the row closest to Starlight and hers. Again. It's just a coincidence that she’s never gone farther than two cottages from her own for rations. She’d be selfish to think it was on purpose, and selfishness is the most grave sin.

Before they all go in, she scans the crowds, squinting to find Rainbow Dash. The pony used to be easy to spot in a crowd, with her bright rainbow mane and perpetual state of flying. However it takes Fluttershy a while to realize that her friend is being coaxed into a cottage not only far from hers, but on the opposite row.

Huh. How subtle.

No, no, that would be too obvious. Starlight would never intentionally separate her from her reunited friend…without a good reason.

As she dines on the usual oatmeal with her peers, Fluttershy continues to contemplate. She understands why Starlight implemented these rules…but could it really be that simple? Is she really trying to divide her own subjects? Does that not go against everything she preaches?

Sudden guilt ensnares Fluttershy. How dare she doubt her own beloved? She can't lose her way like this right when things are turning around! That settles it. She’s going to ask Starlight about it. Get an explanation.

Because Princess Starlight always has the right answer.

Fluttershy’s plans take a turn, however, as the day progresses.

“Work calls!” Starlight rings the bell vigorously to call her subjects. Sure, she has speakers, but the bell is tradition. It reminds her of the old days, before the fancy systems were set up, when she had to rely on a bell.

“Work calls! Gather for work calls!” She calls again as the last stragglers leave the cottages.

She addresses the strange ponies and their wagons behind her.

“I have gotten a hold of our neighboring villages, and we can begin actually following our new schedule now that we’ve reinstated our deals! I offer them labor, they give us back funds and resources!” She explains to her newer members as the more seasoned ones size up the outsiders.

The recruiting ponies of the neighboring towns look mildly concerned, like they don't want to be there. They're obviously disturbed, but they have some sort of deal with Starlight that forbids them from saying anything about Our Town’s…unique tastes.

“Now, let's see. Can we get…a team of six for harvesting? Harvesting job! Team of SIX, crop collection, go with wagon ONE!” 

Starlight shouts and gestures with a practiced regality, commanding ponies with an eerie sense of grace.

Eventually six subjects take the job, all of them earth ponies. The recruiters wagon out of there in an ungraceful hurry.

“Right. Now we need…ah! House building! TEAM OF TEN! Wagon TWO, ponies! I know you all have experience!” She jives cheerily, waving her hoof like it can shape the air.

Ten ponies go to the work call. They're all either big, strong stallions or unicorns. Lucky for them that the basic power of lifting things isn't reduced as much as their other abilities.

“Great. Final call! Cloud busting, team of eight! Team of eight, cloud busting! Where are my pegasi? Wagon THREE!” She calls.

Fluttershy watches one pegasus get in the wagon. Then another. And then another. She watches them with a learned mindlessness.

Then something snaps her out of it. Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy isn't much of a flier, let alone a cloud buster, but if this is her only solid opportunity to get close to Rainbow Dash, Celestia-damn-it she’ll take it!

Fluttershy skirts behind pony after pony, avoiding Starlight’s gaze for some unknown subconscious reason, and hops into the wagon. She is the seventh volunteer. Almost didn't make it.

“There we are! Bye-bye now!” Starlight waves them off as the recruiters very suddenly break into a run, leading them away from Our Town and off towards who-knows-where.

Fluttershy's heart is racing. She feels like she's somehow breaking the rules. Doing something wrong. Something forbidden.

It excites her in a way she knows she'll have to confess for later.

She shuffles through the crowded wagon and finds her.

"Rainbow Dash?" She whispers, tentatively approaching. The desaturated pony immediately embraces her.

"Fluttershy! I was hoping I'd see you again!" She hugs her friend tightly, like somepony might snatch her away.

"Me too. It's…" Fluttershy considers her words. "It's just been so busy…I guess." She decides, shrugging it off. She isn't making excuses for Starlight. Starlight never needs to be excused. She's merely…putting it in a nutshell.

"…Yeeeah." Rainbow seems uncertain.

In just a few short minutes, they're at the place. This town really does need some cloudbusters.

"We have no pegasi here in our village," The recruiter explains as she leads the fleet to the outskirts of town.

"Yeah, there was some, but somehow they all decided to move to…your town…which we now rely on…" She adds. Her partner gives her a warning glance, like she wasn't supposed to say that.

"W-Well! Just…clear our skies and…get back to it. Thanks." She and her associate leave quickly after that. Fluttershy wonders why the mare is so anxious.

She and the other seven take to the skies and get to work. Usually even a small team of pegasi would take out this tangle of clouds in a matter of minutes, but with their reduced magic, it's significantly more of an ordeal.

She's about to get started when Rainbow Dash 'psst's her and leads her away.

"Found a real dark one. Cloud press?" She whispers. Fluttershy nods. "Cloud press."

Cloud pressing is the act of two to five pegasi laying on one especially dark cloud, with a weaker and lighter one beneath it, so that the excess water gets all evened out and they end up with two perfect clouds.

It's usually an excuse to laze around, but in this case it's also an excuse to chat.

So the two pegasi lay down on a cloud they're supposed to be destroying to have a talk.

"So…um…how are you adjusting?" Fluttershy awkwardly asks.

Rainbow Dash sighs. "It's…not terrible. The ponies are nice…I just…" she looks away.

"I don't understand how…this…is our 'destiny'. I thought our purpose as the elements was to save equestria, not to live in some village." Dash laments.

Fluttershy is surprised by this. Surely she sees the importance of the prophecy. Unless…

"But…what of…the prophecy?" She carefully asks. Cold realization hits her with Rainbow's confused look.

"The what now?"

Fluttershy gasps and puts a hoof over her mouth. "Oh goodness. You haven't been told. Oh, I really shouldn't have mentioned it. I- I'm sorry."

Rainbow raises her brows. "Woah, woah…calm down. What's the prophecy?"

Fluttershy shakes her head. "I can't tell you! I thought Starlight already did. Oh, and I've simply ruined the moment. Me and my big mouth."

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Rainbow assures her, "nothing's spoiled, nothing's ruined. I mean…if hearing it in full the first time is so important…why don't you just tell me about it?" She shrugs.

"No. Starlight's instructions are very clear. Once a new friend is properly adjusted, she herself, and ONLY her, tells them the secret of the prophecy. It ensures a perfect curve in learning and implements the sense of belonging at a critical time, and SHE has to be the one to do it." Fluttershy protests.

Dash thinks about that. Then she smirks.

"Well, yknow…I could just pretend like I'm hearing it for the first time. When she tells me." She suggests. "Because honestly, now I'm way too curious to just drop this."

Fluttershy is about to protest, but Dash continues.

"You can tell me now, and then we just act normal, and then when she tells me, I just pretend to be surprised. No biggie. It's not like she'll ever know."

Fluttershy pauses for a long moment. Rainbow Dash is her friend. She's been itching to talk about the prophecy with her. And…Starlight would probably understand…

"Mmm…okay!" She shrills, a jolt of excitement making her shiver. She's being so bad. This is exhilarating.

Rainbow Dash chuckles. "Alright, alright, so spill. What's the deal with this prophecy?"

Fluttershy's passion overtakes her, and she gives Rainbow Dash an enthusiastic speech more powerful than even Starlight herself could give.

It, like everything, Fluttershy realizes, is how this was meant to happen. There are no mistakes. Destiny has zero misjudgments. It only makes her more fervent in her explanation, doing everything in her power to move Rainbow with her words.

Dash stares at Fluttershy in awe.

"That…is the prophecy." She says blankly.

Fluttershy nods, desperate for approval.

"This is what you and all the townsponies believe."

"Uh-huh."

"This is what we're all working for, right now."

"Uh-huh."

"This is what you married Starlight over."

"Uh-huh."

"This is what we were all imprisoned and degraded for."

"…Uh-huh…"

"…For Starlight to take all the cutie marks in Equestria…because an ancient scripture said she would."

"…"

Fluttershy hadn't thought about it like that. She thought this would be her fertilizing Rainbow's belief, not Rainbow uprooting hers.

"Well I…it makes…it…" She stammers for a moment, and then sighs. "There's a reason Starlight has to do it."

Rainbow nods in understanding. "Yeah. I'm glad you told me first. Now maybe when she tells me…I won't fall for it."

Fluttershy's wings flare. "Fall for it? It- it- There's nothing to fall for! It's not a trick, Rainbow!" She blusters.

Rainbow regards her with understanding. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult your…beliefs…" she pats Fluttershy's shoulder.

"I just…find it hard to see how you…don't see the…well, the ridiculousness of it."

Fluttershy huffs and stands. "It's not ridiculous, Dash. It's the truth." She wishes it wasn't going like this, but she can't stop it.

"You can't just write it off as made-up just because it sounds silly to you, or because it sounds like an excuse to control ponies. I understand that it's hard to adjust, but you don't get to call the most beautiful and fulfilling purpose that you have the honor of serving 'ridiculous!'" She whisper-shouts, which is her version of real shouting.

She expects Rainbow to get angry, to storm off, and maybe to even report her. She's okay with that. She deserves that. She can accept that. What she can't accept…is the look of pity Rainbow is currently giving her.

Pity. That's the worst insult of all.

"I know this isn't your fault. And I… I hope we can have you back one day, Fluttershy." She says, her voice warbling with tears. She stomps out the cloud and flies away, joining the others and leaving Fluttershy flying in place, stunned.

The new schedule is quite busy. Busy, busy, busy. Starlight doesn't find herself having a moment of rest until worktime starts for her subjects. Once all ponies are assigned and accounted for, the harmonizer finds that she deserves some time for leisure.

She trots cheerfully into her cottage, the front door locking automatically behind her.

"Beloved! I'm home!" She calls out for her wife. Odd, the pegasus is usually right there in the main room waiting for her.

"Beloved?" She calls again, having a confused look around. Has she started work early? Surely not. Starlight specifically requests that she stay in the cottage while the others get their assignments.

"…Fluttershy?"

After a quick (and completely calm) sweep of the house, Starlight comes to the conclusion that Fluttershy is not in the cottage.

Okay. That's okay. That's fine. She just forgot, or, got swept up in a crowd or something. Yeah…caught in the swarm. That would be ok. At least then she'd be doing something right.

Starlight emerges from her cottage and approaches Double Diamond, her unofficial deputy.

"Double Diamond."

He jumps, then settles. "Greetings, Starlight!" He beams.

"Did you happen to see where Fluttershy went?" She tilts her head, feighning casualness.

He pretends to think about it, but Fluttershy was one of the two ponies he was implicitly ordered to track.

"Yes, she went on a work call. Cloudbusting." He answers.

Starlight takes a deep breath.

"You let her go?"

Double Diamond leans back. "Is she…prohibited…from work calls?"

Starlight sucks in air through her teeth. "No, no… she's just…thank you, Diamond, you tr-"

"Oh, and so did Rainbow Dash."

A moment of silence.

"What."

Double Diamond's ears droop. "Sh- um…Rainbow Dash? She also went? On the work c-"

"They went together?" The leader was finding it increasingly harder to hold up her happy facade.

Double Diamond gulped. "I- um…yes? Is that a problem?"

Starlight needs to calm herself down before she says something she'll regret. She walks away from Diamond and paces down the road, trying to collect herself. Subjects smile at her as she walks. Mendacious little deceits, all of them. Each and every one.

Starlight can't seem to make up her mind on whether her subjects are a bunch of rotten, lying phoneys or her perfect little angels. It all depends on whether or not they seem to truly believe in the prophecy. She's sure some of them have their doubts. She's sure quite a few of them do.

It's hard not to think in black and white. If there's a flaw, there's corruption. Rot. Rotten. All of them. Rotten.

Starlight realizes she's grimacing at her friends and scaring them, so she hurries back into her cottage to isolate herself. Now she feels lucky to be alone — she's a danger to ponies right now.

Calm down. Calm down. She just needs to be calm. Her subjects are loyal, her subjects are true, and she cannot think them all traitors just because of one measly incident.

"Think about it, Starlight. Rationalize! You love rationalizing! Would they all—and I mean all of them—do all of this just to keep the lie going? No. Surely not. They'd turn against you. I mean, they outnumber you vastly." She talks to herself.

"But…they're also probably terrified by your abilities. You contain all of their magic. But, then again…an amulet is pretty steal-able…" She begins to argue with herself.

She huffs. "Now you just stop it, Starlight Glimmer. You do this every time something slips even slightly out of control, and this is irrational, unacceptable behavior for the savior of all of Equestria to display!" She scolds into the mirror. Then she realizes she's talking to herself, and calms down. She'll just…have a chat with Fluttershy when she gets back. A diplomatic discussion.

Now… what can she say to make the pegasus understand that she should have known not to go on the work call? She didn't exactly disobey her. And it's part of the schedule…and it makes sense…

But it's not her place to take work calls. She has different duties! Just because everypony is equal doesn't mean that they all have the same duties. That would just be lunacy. All of her subjects, even those in the inner circle vs. the outer circle vs. everone else, have equal rights and opportunities.

As Starlight's bride, it is not Fluttershy's place to do the work of the average townsponies when she should be focused on the inner circle. Why did she even do that anyway?

Starlight sighs.

To get closer to that…free-spirited pegasus. The princess seethes, but she quickly reminds herself that's not how the future ruler of Equestria behaves.

Not how her wife behaves, either.

Right. She'll have a civil discussion with Fluttershy later.

Fluttershy is already dreading the conversation with Starlight. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't confess, but destiny knows she doesn't want to. She's ruined everything. Not only has she spoiled the prophecy, but she's completely destroyed Rainbow's potential to believe in it.

But Starlight will fix it. Starlight will fix everything. Starlight will forgive her, and this experience will ultimately have a meaning that she does not yet understand.

She knows that this is her destiny. She doesn't yet understand why destiny has her making these terrible mistakes, but she has to trust in fate to carry her onward.

What in the world would she do without Starlight?

Perhaps she could have done fine had she never met Starlight, and went on her whole life not knowing that she was leaving the prophecy incomplete, but now that she's had her…she could never be away from Starlight.

The wagon comes to a stop, and the pegasi hop out, dispersing into the town as the recruiters quickly depart. Rainbow doesn't even look at her. She flies away, off to do who knows what.

She deserves that. And she deserves whatever punishment is to come for her actions.

Fluttershy thinks about what led her here. She thinks about a time where she could never even think of having these worries. She thinks about her freedom.

She thinks about her animals.

Tears prick the corners of Fluttershy's eyes. She must not think about her past. She must not think about freedom. She must not think about her cutie mark. She must not think about her animals. She must not think about her friends, locked up in the E-center.

She must not think about…about… must not think. Must not think. Must not think.

Fluttershy lumbers like a zombie toward her and Starlight's cottage, a dull ache of dread tugging on her heart. She must not let fear rule her, and she must not have cowardice and hide the truth.

She takes a deep breath, and opens the door.

Starlight was waiting for her. She sits across the room, facing Fluttershy, who has just entered. She stands up and stares blankly. Fluttershy already looks guilty. Well. Now she may not need the speech.

The pegasus weakly approaches, unable to hold Starlight's gaze.

"I…I'm sorry…" She chokes out, barely audible.

Starlight inhales sharply. Words are a powerful tool, yes, but actions are absolutely critical. She waits until FLuttershy looks at her.

When she does, Starlight turns her face away and simply raises her hoof, not just dismissing Fluttershy — but sending her to the basement.

The pegasus whimpers and cries quietly, pathetically as she shuffles toward the cellar door. It's incredibly difficult, but Starlight holds her stern expression, refusing to look back as her wife shuts the door and starts down the cold stone steps.

Starlight releases a breath she didn't know she was holding. She stares wistfully at the basement door, but she knows it will take some time before she can go down there and have the talk they both need to have. Apparently Fluttershy understands what she did, which means she purposefully went against her wishes.

Starlight finds that she feels a little…hurt. She trusted in Fluttershy, and yet she strayed from the beautiful path laid out for her. The princess collects herself. Love always comes with pain. She's already learned that lesson. It's up to her to keep her loved ones close. To nurture them, to connect to them. To make them depend on her. So that they will never leave her.

That's the functionality of friendship, after all. The magic, if you will.

Chapter Text

INNOVATION

Silly Starlight! How forgetful is she? Such a haybrain! She's messed up the lineup. Almost ruined the order. Luckily, she caught her mistake before it could ruin the process.

The princess rips papers off the wall of her secret room. It was a big closet, but since the basement became a place of frequent occupancy, her private planning needed to go somewhere.

So, one cloaking spell and a "what do you mean, dearest? we never had a closet there! are you feeling alright?" later, and voila! New planning space.

Starlight removes Applejack and Twilight's pictures and sticks them back in each others' places. She replaces the frizzled-out yarn with a fresh batch.

Fluttershy was the first. She had forgotten about that. Which means Rainbow Dash is the second, and Twilight...

Twilight is the third.

Which means she is the next.

Oh, Starlight can't believe she almost missed that! It's a most exciting revelation. She's been waiting for this.

"Oh, Twilight...you stubborn, stubborn horse..." Starlight touches the photograph. She has a lot of feelings about Twilight. Excitement, for she simply can't wait to turn her. Frustration, for the subject is an alicorn, which makes things so much harder.

Jealousy...no. Not jealousy. Such feelings simply do not exist in Starlight's Equestria. She is the leader. Twilight's wings don't change that.

Although...perhaps it would be beneficial to keep her from getting any ideas...perhaps she should become a unicorn once again...

Now, now. Starlight isn't going to mutilate anyone! Not without significant cause! She'll just...discourage the use of those wings until it's as if they aren't there.

Unless, of course...there comes an incident.

Ideas, ideas! Starlight feverishly writes down her ideas. She tacks note after note onto Twilight's section of the wall, stringing them up with red yarn and connecting them to her picture.

So she'll take Twilight, keep an eye on her, and then she'll throw Applejack in—what a treat that will be for Rainbow—and then that dreadful unicorn will have to come along.

At least she isn't as bad as the blasted party pony, if you can even call her that. Honestly, she's about as entertaining as a busted lamp. Starlight still doesn't know how she's going to fix that mess.

Well, no matter. She has plenty of time to worry about that. For now her focus is on keeping her pair of unruly pegasi in check. She'll give Fluttershy a healthy dose of guilt, followed by a bit of love. And for Rainbow...more doctrine. That seems to tame her spirit.

Satisfied, Starlight sets down her notes and comes out of the closet. Cloaking spells are even easier than doors. You simply have to walk through the wall! Genius spellcasting. Starlight is so great.

She checks the time. 4:44 A.M. Just enough time.

Starlight loves this part of the day, where she goes out and unlocks all the houses while her subjects still sleep. It's almost as good as when she locks them for curfew. Nopony has a key to their house. Nopony except Starlight.

She has four keys. The one to her cottage, the one to the Equalization Center...the other one...and the key for everyone else. They're color coded.

Once all the cottages are open, she goes back to her own. One last lock to undo.

The cellar.

She checks the time. 4:53. Time to start.

She slowly turns the black-painted key, and turns it again. The wooden door creaks as it opens. Light spills into the dark room. Fluttershy hates the dark.

Starlight steps down the cold stone steps, and shuts the door behind her as she reaches the cobblestone floor. Silence. Breathless silence.

A whimper.

Starlight turns on the light. Fluttershy is solemn in the corner. The stone around her is saturated with tears.

Starlight's heart aches, but she remains stern.

"Having to send you down here hurts me more than it hurts you." She begins, slowly pacing toward Fluttershy, who cowers.

She kneels down and runs a hoof through her hair.

"It shocked me to my core when I learned that you not only changed the routine without my awareness, but you also left the village. Left your duties."

Fluttershy's expression is a mix between guilt and confusion.

"Work call? Come on. You know those aren't your responsibility. Nor was it your intention to help Our Town. You meant to get close with Rainbow Dash."

Fluttershy deflates. She looks down, her teal eyes glossy with tears. Starlight takes a deep breath.

"I know you want to be around your old friend, but you clearly understood my intention to only keep her around new friends until she was better adjusted. Your presence messes with the effect. Throws off my balance. And I know you knewjust what you were doing because you hid from me. You snuck onto that wagon because you knew you weren't allowed!"

She didn't mean to raise her voice, but now Fluttershy is completely broken and blubbering. Starlight pulls her closer and comforts her.

"You poor thing. Misguided. Desperate. Doubtful. I don't blame you for having these feelings." She speaks to the pony like she might shatter.

Fluttershy snivels. "You don't?"

"No...of course not." She uses her magic to brush and re-braid Fluttershy's hair. "But I do wish you would have come to me with your damaged faith instead of messing with Rainbow Dash's development trying to resolve them yourself."

"I'm sorry." Fluttershy cries. "Oh, Starlight, I'm sorry! I- I'll never act upon my doubt again! Oh...you always know- you- you-" Sweet Celestia, she's pathetic. Starlight would find her groveling sickening if she didn't love her so much.

"Shh, shh. I forgive you, dearest. You know I do. Oh, my poor darling..." She hushes Fluttershy, silently wishing she'd stop soaking her coat with tears.

Time! What's the time? Oh right, no clocks in the basement. Starlight hurriedly leads Fluttershy out of the cellar and checks the time.

5:00!

"RAINBOW DASH!"

A groan comes from the living room.

"NOW!!"

"I'M COMIN', I'M COMIN'!"

Starlight quickly pretties herself up with a little help from the amulet and rushes outside. Two beams of magic later, and the speakers start up. Music booms powerfully through the air, and the townsponies emerge from their homes directly on cue.

Starlight feels a tear prick one of her eyes, suddenly hit with a wave of happiness and gratitude. Oh, how she loves her life!

Rainbow Dash hates her life so much.

She wrestles with the blanket on the floor (she fell off the couch) as Starlight directs the ridiculous song and dance outside and Fluttershy rushes her to get ready.

Rainbow gets up and stares at Fluttershy.

She knows what happened. If the still-wet tear marks on Fluttershy's face and not having come downstairs with Starlight weren't enough, the key sticking out of the cellar doorknob like a tattletail was stone hard evidence. Starlight had locked her in there. All night.

She doesn't know why she's surprised. If she'd lock her prisoners in there, why not her wife too? It still disgusts Rainbow to her core. She'll never understand how Fluttershy can just live like this.

Whatever mind games Starlight pulled to make Rainbow tolerate her before are as good as undone now. She's been sobered, and is determined not to crack like that again.

"Come on, Dashie, seriously. We've gotta go." Says Fluttershy. She's barely audible. Regressed to her unassertive and unconfident self.

Rainbow Dash glares, but she can't hold on to it. She can't stay mad at a pony who's just brainwashed.

And so she begrudgingly trods outside to the sonorous chorus and their disturbingly well—coordinated ritual. They sing in unison like carolers while dancing in the same way Lord Sombra's slaves would march.

It's sickening.

After all the fanfare and pledging is over, she gets in line for roll call. She tries to stand beside Fluttershy, but that White Diamond guy or whatever his name is gets in the way. He invites literally as many friends as possible to come stand by him, effectively separating Rainbow from Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash isn't making excuses. She's openly suspicious. She is prepared to become a problem for Starlight, no matter what the consequences are. She'd rather make a difference and be imprisoned with her real friends again than succumb to this madness. She watches with hatred as Starlight goes down the line with her stupid little clipboard, calling names like it's school.

"Rainbow Dash?"

She loathes the way attendance is recorded.

"...here..." She barely hears herself say it.

"That's not right. Let's try it again." Starlight smiles.

"Rainbow Dash?"

Sigh.

"Yay."

"I can't heeearr youuu!"

"Yay."

"Let's help her." Oh no.

"YAY, RAINBOW DASH!" Everypony blares at once, stinging Rainbow's ears.

She continues down the line as Dash recovers from the crude shift of perspective. Okay. So maybe Starlight's authority is real. Doesn't make it any less opposable.

"Double Diamond?"

"YAY!"

Somepony's enthusiastic.

Despite the long and torturous way every part of the day drags on, they also file past one another at an alarming speed. She soon finds herself sitting with her stranger-friends eating dry oatmeal. She wonders again how her life came to this.

Then she remembers exactly how, and is filled with a vengeance enough to power her through whatever work gets assigned of her. She hobbles out of whatsherface's cottage and prepares to be assigned.

But no. Of course not. Today just had to be the day, didn't it.

"What do you want, Diamond?"

The stallion is all smiles.

"Oh, it's not what I want. Starlight wants to have a private meeting with you." He says it as if it's something to get excited about. Rainbow Dash just grimaces.

"Come on, that's not a-"

"Yeah yeah, save it for somepony who gives a damn." She huffs, trying to storm off, but the saddened stallion apparently has to escort her. She dreads everything already. This is going to be the worst day.

She is so excited for everything already. This is going to be the best day!

Now now Starlight, keep it together. You must uphold your form even in such an elated state. Set an example for those keeping even harder emotions reined in.

Double Diamond gives two knocks on the door.

"Send her in." She says, putting forth as much regality as possible.

Rainbow traipses in. Starlight grins.

"Hello, my blossoming graduate."

The pegasus is glaring. Apparently Starlight picked just the right time to do this. Even when she's careless she's perfectly executed!

She looks down at Rainbow from her 'throne'. It's not made of gold or anything silly like that. Simply a fancy chair that's just high enough off the ground not to be awkward but to show her place as the founder.

"I have a final lesson to give you." She says, while her magic closes all the curtains and locks the windows and doors. She sits up a little straighter and slightly raises her head. Rainbow's wings flare.

"You see...there is a good reason why you have to stay here. And after today, you'll understand why I was so..." She lets the memory hang in the air. "...anxious not to let you go."

She pulls power from the amulet into her horn to summon a light spell. Her magic sparks. Darkness consumes the cottage, replacing the morning light. It startles Rainbow. She then produces light from her horn, illuminating herself. Presentation makes all the difference, after all.

"Right now, you believe that you are the spirit of the element of loyalty. One of the six most powerful artifacts in Equestria. My my, how important and superior you must feel." Starlight's words are laced with amusement. The kind you get watching a toddler fail to understand the simplest of concepts. Starlight relishes in the way it makes Rainbow burn.

"You aren't too far off...but, see, what you are is a placeholder. As is Fluttershy. As are all six of you. Think about it for a second." Starlight stands up and steps out of the throne, circling Rainbow.

"If your entire being, and therefore your life purpose, was actually and purely to be the element of loyalty...wouldn't your cutie mark have had anything to do with it?" She starts, pointing at the equal sign on Rainbow's flank.

"Destiny would have given you a cutie mark relating to your element if it were supposed to be your 'purpose'. But instead your mark was merely one just like any other pegasus. A good flyer. Your life purpose was going to be making rainbooms in the sky if it weren't for your being chosen as a placeholder. Aren't you lucky."

Rainbow holds steadfast. Right. If she won't unravel slowly, then Starlight will just have to throw her in the deep end.

"I'm going to explain to you something called...the Prophecy."

Is she seriously rolling her eyes right now? Oh, no matter, she'll be well and properly wowed when it's over.

Starlight produces, with her magic, an ancient tapestry in the light. It's a ginormous thing, with beautiful depictions sewn into it.

"Cutie marks, as we know them, are a lie. An illusion. A distraction. They condense a pony's magic——a pony's identity——into a single thing, and give them a false joy in their 'life purpose'. All they really do is stop you from reaching your full potential." She points at the depictions and the old ponish words etched on the ancient thread.

"But it was foretold long ago that a pony from Eldra Holh——now known as Sire's Hollow——would see beyond the illusion..." She seems to skip over a few words and trail her hoof to the main part of the tapestry.

"and that she would be bestowed by destiny with the power to free ponies from their marks. She will use this natural power to remove hers and every other cutie mark in equestria."

She stops only for a breath.

"But who would believe or follow a mage from a little kook town and her grandiose ideas? Nopony. And so, the Harmonizer needs a tool. She needs a beacon. She needs something to gather and command the attention of Equestria. She needs...the Elements of Harmony." She points higher, at the depiction of the artifact.

"It starts..." She smiles, deviating again from the tapestry, "with marriage. By marrying the element of kindness, comes the start of the binding between the Harmonizer and the artifacts. When all of the placeholders surrender their connections with the elements, then the Harmonizer can claim the right to them, in order to then use them as her beacon, drawing ponies in.

"Every single markbearer will be shown the light and turn. Then, and only then, will the raw and pure power of all of that magic be rechanneled through them, and all will reach their potentials and more, experiencing a wondrous power that they never could have imagined——let alone possessed without the Harmonizer!" She finishes, lifting the tapestry over her head so that she replaces the embroidered image right as she says those words.

Her horn glowing, her wings unfurled, her head held high — Starlight knows this must be an absolutely religious experience for Rainbow Dash. She floats back onto her throne, putting the tapestry away, and waits.

The pegasus looks utterly dumbfounded. Then she seems to...realize something. Or have some sort of idea.

She rushes forward, dropping dramatically into a kneel and bows her head to the floor in a sudden display of worship. Starlight is filled with joy.

"Please, please. There's no need for that," Even though she expects no less, "we are all equal here."

"Oh, not you! Clearly you are...you're like...Celestia!"

The mention of the alicorn's name slightly dampens Starlight's joy, but she doesn't say anything.

Rainbow Dash crawls closer and kisses Starlight's hoof. This is starting to get weird, so Starlight quickly dismisses the freshly-enlightened subject and relishes in her own greatness. Every new idea Starlight has is better than the last. Why did she ever doubt the little birdy? Nopony can resist the prophecy. Nopony.

Literally how does ANYPONY believe that crap?!

Having to pretend to be moved by that ridiculous nonsense was one of the hardest things Rainbow has ever had to do. Perhaps she overdid it, but Fluttershy is the only pony she's been talking to, and she's barely gotten to do that, so her frame of reference is pretty wack.

Placeholder? Who does she think she IS?! At least Rainbow represents something REAL.

Right. Right. At least now she knows what the big idea is. She finds it pretty ridiculous, but at least it's easy to disprove. When she gets her friends back, they'll be able to undo this mass brainwashing more easily than she thought. Especially since she's certain quite a few of them would forget about all this loyalty if they had the chance to get their lives back.

But, just...how will they do it? Realistically, without cutie marks or the elements, will they still be able to friendship-is-magic her?

Plus, Fluttershy has really turned over...and Pinkie is a useless sadsack. Rainbow huffs. Really, where are the princesses when you need them?

Starlight emerges from her cottage.

She didn't mean she wanted that princess.

"Rejoice, all! For our friend Rainbow Dash has been shown the light and now believes in our prophecy!"

"HOORAY, RAINBOW DASH!"

The pegasus hasn't been so full of hatred since Tirek took over. She forces herself to pretend like she cares about this ridiculous celebration before she gets to work building her...

Her new home.

The reality of the situation really starts to sink in. Rainbow Dash and all of her friends are trapped here in the middle of nowhere in some little hick town. They have no elements or cutie marks, and one of them is completely brainwashed.

No one in Equestria knows where they are or even where they might be. It'll probably be too late before anyone manages to find them. So, basically, no one is coming to save them.

And this is her new home.

These are her new friends.

This is her new princess.

Suddenly choked with tears, Rainbow quietly looks up at the beautiful sun and bows to it.

Rainbow was never one to fawn any more over her princesses than she had to, but in this moment she finds herself with the need for hope. She gets down on her knees, and she begins to pray.

Dear Princess Celestia...save our souls.

"What are you doing?"

Rainbow Dash jumped, standing bolt upright.

"Nothing!" She put forth, for the first time, that ridiculous smile that all the townsponies do, only to realize it was Fluttershy who had approached her and not one of Them.

"Oh, it's you." She sighs with relief.

"I heard...um...that Starlight..." Fluttershy starts tentatively, digging her hoof in the dirt, "showed you...the light?"

Now is the moment where Rainbow Dash makes a choice between being true to Fluttershy and trusting her, or continuing to put forth a facade in order to protect herself. Would Fluttershy realistically rat her out?

It disheartens Rainbow Dash to realize that she honestly doesn't know.

"Yeah..." She looks at the ground. "I...I get it now." She looks back into Fluttershy's eyes. "I'm sorry."

She really is sorry, just not for what Fluttershy thinks she is. Fluttershy thinks that Rainbow has been shown 'the light' and is remorseful for her previous detestation.

But she stands by that. She's only sorry she has to deceive her friend. But it's for the greater good.

"Oh, Dashie, I'm so glad to hear that." Fluttershy briefly embraces her, but pulls away just as quickly out of slight paranoia.

They both look back at the almost-finished cottage being worked on. They both think about what it means.

"I'll miss you." Fluttershy mumbles.

"What do you mean?"

The pegasus looks down.

"I mean- I'll miss you living in the house with us. Made it easier to...stay close." Her voice slightly warbles, but she holds it back.

Rainbow will miss it too, she realizes. As much as she's happy to get away from Starlight, she won't get to see Fluttershy nearly as much.

"Well...um...at least you won't be lonely for very long. Starlight is gonna do this to all of us, right? You'll have company for a good long while." She shrugs, placing a comforting wing on Fluttershy's back.

Fluttershy just smiles sadly and quietly gestures for them to get to work. They both work particularly slowly that day, as if trying to draw out the process of the cottage being built, but Starlight's village makes for an elite workforce and their stalling makes little difference. The cottage will be finished in less than a week.

This is the precedent now, but it will become routine. And she will get used to it. They will all get used to it. Once again, Rainbow Dash suddenly isn't so sure about whether she, or any of them, should resist the process.

Chapter Text

INSECURITY

Rainbow has really blossomed these last two weeks. Her cottage has been completed for three days now, but she's only moved in today. The celebration went well. Timing is really on Starlight's side——the pegasus starts behaving herself right when she leaves the nest of close inspection.

The world has truly been kind to Starlight lately. It feels very good to know that the universe, that time, that destiny is on her side, guiding her path and protecting her from harm.

Starlight is protected. The prophecy spells out her fate. It's been known since before she was born that harm would never come to her outside of the trials that only push her closer to success.

As Starlight ambles across the street, casting long shadows over the cold ground, the voice of Heaven speaks to her and fills her soul with power.

The spirit in her head whispers tell of the great power she possesses. The immunity she has from succumbing to failure and folly. It fills her with hope and bravery.

Starlight produces a purple key. She tries to open the cottage quietly, but the night is so silent that even the small and delicate sound of metal clicking echoes outward.

The reality of what she's signing up for only truly hits Starlight as the door creaks open. She's about to have an alicorn in her house.

She buries the flicker of Badness that sparks in her mind, but burying a seed only makes it take root.

No matter. No matter. Nothing can stop her, least of all a pair of wings. They mean nothing. Starlight didn't need to be given wings to be a leader of ponies. Twilight did. She was nothing before Celestia bestowed her with power in that shameless display of nepotism. Starlight had already mastered the art of leadership by then.

Starlight can hear the ponies in the turnstable starting to stir, so she gets started. She slams open the hatch to startle them awake and swoops on top of it, spreading open her wings for some weird instinctual reason.

She silently strides across the top, peering into the sections and sizing them up as if she hasn't already made her choice. They cower in fear, much to her satisfaction. All of them except for Twilight, who holds steadfast. She stands tall and stares bravely into Starlight's eyes, daring her to try it.

The princess takes a deep breath. She approaches. Rarity cowers and hides under Twilight's legs like a filly. Starlight makes a point to stare at her and not the alicorn. Now a hint of fear shows in Twilight's eyes. Starlight was always good at finding weaknesses.

Starlight seizes Rarity with her magic...

And pulls her away, favoring Twilight. Without a word she lifts the alicorn up and carries her away. By instilling the fear of taking away Rarity, she's shown Twilight her power, her unpredictability——and she's also made her feel relieved that she is being taken (instead of Rarity). She will associate the memory of being taken by Starlight at least partially with relief and gratitude. Some would think it doesn't matter, but Starlight knows better. She knows it makes all the difference.

The moon, a wordless spectator, watches over as Starlight carries Twilight down the street and quietly into her cottage.

Starlight has been going strong for two weeks now, but she can feel the foundations crumbling in her head. Twilight challenges her undisputed power. Brings doubt to the concept of her invincibility. The prophecy never mentioned there being a new princess. For the first time since the great revelation, there is something in Starlight's life that she wasn't prepared for.

As she locks up the house and opens the cellar, Starlight stares back at Twilight, looking for a fearful expression to reassure her.

The look of bravery she receives sends her into a rage.

Starlight throws Twilight down the stairs and takes mild satisfaction in hearing her surprised yelp of pain. She starts down the steps, locking the door behind her.

"You think you're better than me. Huh? Is that it?" She summons a baton and whacks Twilight with it, hard. Twilight groans and tumbles all the way down the stairs. Starlight continues whacking, coaxing her into the middle of the room.

"You think you're the princess of friendship, huh? The bringer of- of magic to Equestria? The sixth 'element of harmony'?" She sneers, beating on Twilight's wing with the baton. She is cold with rage. Not hot. Cold.

There is no fire in her chest, only sharp, piercing ice. She trembles with the force of this sudden fury.

"ANSWER ME!" She hits, and hits, and hits Twilight across her back and over her head with reckless abandon. When she finally stops, Twilight chokes out words.

"I...am...the prin- cess-"

Starlight brings the baton down on her wings again, this time earning a scream. She loves to hear the sound, but doesn't want anyone else hearing it.

"Silence. Be still and accept retribution." She hisses, transforming some cloth in the corner and muzzling Twilight like a dog.

She didn't plan for it to go this way, but Starlight's body acts independently from her mind. As rage expresses itself physically, calmness is born in her mind. She hardly sees herself beating the alicorn senseless. She's hardly aware of the warm blood coating her hooves, or even the fact that she's ditched the baton for simple stomping and kicking.

What she does hear, pulling her from the trance, is the snapping of bones as her weight comes down on Twilight's wings. The alicorn screams into her makeshift muzzle. Oh. Oh no. No. She didn't mean to do that.

"No, no, it's okay! Look at me! Look!"

Twilight's eyes start to flutter. Starlight keeps her attention the best she can. She must stay conscious. Starlight can help her! Okay. Okay. She can fix this. There are healing spells in the amulet somewhere.

But...should she...

No, Starlight! She'll take those wings if there's ever an incident. Right now what she needs is a powerful impression.

She lowers her head, touching her horn to Twilight's broken wing and drawing power from the amulet.

"I say..." she begins, "ġehǣle hwíle ond strongelich," she whispers in broken old ponish. It does the trick anyway, and the wing cracks again as it heals. Starlight makes sure to make eye contact as her magic takes away the injury. She stands up tall, looking down at the trembling alicorn on the floor.

"I have decided to leave you with the use of your wings." She declares, as though delivering grace to Twilight.

"But let this be your first lesson, my student," she lifts Twilight's head with her hoof, "if ever there happens to be an...incident...you will lose that liberty. Celestia pawned power off on you unfairly. Now you have a chance to earn your wings. You are not to use them. You are not even to unfold them as long as you live under this roof." She says sternly, lifting up the baton again as a warning.

A poof of magic, and the weapons and the muzzle disappear. Shakily, Twilight stands up.

"That is to say...you earned yours?" Her voice is a weak whisper. Starlight's wings flare.

"Yes! I did!" She shrills, offended. "I had been a leader! A good one! For years! I alone had brought you six to us and started the process! I had just marked the beginning of the new era! I was announcing my feats when my wings were bestowed upon me!" She paces along the floor as she lectures.

"It was us who found you." Twilight retorts. She's bold to argue with Starlight.

"It was I who called out to you through your talisman!"

"You only got those wings because you absorbed my power."

"Nonsense! Alicorns are sacred!"

"Then how can I not have earned my status?"

"Because Celestia disrespected the sanctity!"

"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"

Twilight activates her horn, and Starlight quickly neutralizes it.

"How dare you threaten me in my own house." She growls darkly.

Twilight shrinks back. Starlight steps forward.

Something tells her she's going to be using that healing spell quite frequently.

She knows.

She's not deaf, after all. She'd probably have found out regardless. But...she didn't. She found out intentionally.

Fluttershy was having trouble sleeping. Routine change, probably. Lack of Rainbow's presence. So she stayed up. She watched, out the window, as Starlight locked the houses. And then...stopped, at the Equalization Center. And went inside.

Fluttershy watched oh-so innocently as Starlight brought Twilight home. She felt like a child peeking at their Hearthswarming presents.

Fluttershy then listened in silent horror as Starlight beat her. Smacks, thuds, screams, then muffled screams, then distant talking...

The sounds got much worse after that.

She lied awake that night as her wife snuck back into bed, and she continued to lie there stunned as the princess peacefully snored away. How can she just go to sleep? How can she just rest so soundly after beating another pony?

It's only gotten worse from there. Even four days since, Starlight hasn't told her that Twilight is in the basement; least of all what happens down there. She thinks Fluttershy doesn't know, and is choosing to hide it.

Fluttershy's faith has taken a pretty hard blow, and guilt hasn't been enough to mend the wound. Starlight has taken Twilight in secret, and she beat her. It's completely messing with Fluttershy's head.

Why...why would she do that? Did she hurt Rainbow, too?

Would she hurt...

Fluttershy shudders to think that Starlight might do that to her, too.

It's Friday. Dinner with Starlight. Though this time, she actually wishes she were at one of those crowded tables.

The married couple sit across from each other at Starlight's dining room table, quietly eating oatmeal. Fluttershy is sick of oatmeal.

Normally, she'd never do this to Starlight. She wouldn't even think of it. But she's been spiraling for days now. She's actually gained a (very wrong and sinful) sense of confidence in having this knowledge; like it gives her power. She needs to cleanse herself of it somehow, doesn't she?

Oh, screw it. It may be wrong, but she has this confidence, and it wills her to speak.

"So..." She begins, giving the most casual tone possible.

"When were you gonna tell me Twilight lived with us?"

Starlight chokes on her oatmeal. She gasps and coughs and sputters for a minute before she collects herself.

"What?"

Fluttershy stands up.

"I know she's here, Starlight. And I...I heard everything."

...

...

"Sit you down, my beloved."

"How can you-"

"I said sit."

Fluttershy sits.

...

...

"You spy on me now?"

"You can't just-"

"Or should I say again? Because I saw you that first night we met."

...

...

Starlight wipes her spill with a napkin and takes another bite of oatmeal.

Fluttershy glares with a hatred she didn't know she had in her as the princess slowly chews, as if the food isn't already mush.

Starlight swallows.

"So how long have you been spying on me?"

"Wh-! You're comple-"

"How long?"

"...Only the once, but-!"

"Only the twice." She adds. "So you've just been harboring this for four days?"

"YOU have been-"

Starlight raises a hoof to silence Fluttershy. It enrages her that she reflexively obeys.

"To answer your question..." Starlight begins decidedly, "I was going to tell you once she was safe to be around."

That perplexes Fluttershy.

"That 'everything' you heard was not a beating." Starlight says, looking almost pained to say it. "It was a fight." She looks down.

Then she looks somewhere else, and gains conviction. "Yes. It was a fight. A struggle of power. That alicorn resisted me. She threatened me. I had no choice but to defend myself." She looks at Fluttershy with an uncommon honesty in her eyes. She truly believes what she's saying, even though she looked doubtful just moments ago.

"It was a terrible fight, and yes, I did turn to the offensive, but I was afraid and riled up and lost myself in it. And it's already been bothering my conscience, so I don't appreciate your accusatory tone." Her gaze darkens, and Fluttershy deflates. She feels ridiculous. She's such a terrible wife.

"I...I'm sorry, I-"

Starlight stands up. She pushes in her chair, picks up her bowl and throws out the rest of her oatmeal, then sets the dirty bowl on the table.

Starlight takes a deep breath. "You...were doing what you thought was right." She says decidedly, still clearly hurt. Fluttershy feels like such a fool. When has she ever been right to doubt Starlight? Never! Why would it be different now? Because of scary sounds? Oh, she's such a featherbrain...

Starlight turns and heads wordlessly up the stairs. Fluttershy sighs and begins to clean up. Table wiped, dishes in the sink, dishes washed. No matter how thoroughly she tidies, the cottage never feels clean. Probably because she ruins everything with her big dumb mouth. Her and all her treasonous ideas. Why can't she just be good?

Fluttershy realizes, with a sprinkle of gratitude, that guilt is always enough to ground her and her outlandish nonsense. It just has to be Starlight who gives it to her. She's endlessly forgiving; she could have lessened the guilt, but she chose to give Fluttershy a proper understanding. This is a gift, and she should be grateful.

Perseverance. She must remember. Perseverance.

Twilight had accounted for Starlight to get physical, but she hadn't accounted for how far she'd go. 'Leave her with the use of her wings'? As if she planned to remove the use of them? This mare is even more unhinged than she originally thought. She's more than just a cultist, she's a full-blown nutcase.

But...it's okay. Everypony can be redeemed. If the lord of chaos can learn to behave, so can Starlight. The magic of friendship conquers any threat to Equestria, and she needs to give Starlight grace now so its easier when she does come around. Because she will. Twilight just needs a plan.

The princess paces across the basement floor, racking her mind for answers. She finds it hard to come up with any useful thoughts in the dull, isolated silence of the sad little room.

Reading keeps the mind sharp, even if the material is...questionable. Twilight has read every paper, poster and scrawl on the walls trying to get a better grasp of Starlight's message. Her motivation. She's gathered so far that, basically, conformity good, self-expression bad. Therefore, cutie marks bad. Or maybe cutie marks are the cause of the badness, not the effect. They seem to have an obsession with removing them.

She's sure Starlight will tell her more about it in the morning, if she isn't still a violent tornado of whips and clubs. How barbaric.

"No no, Twilight." She chides herself. "You mustn't think that way. She...is your friend now, whether you like it or not." She sighs. She doesn't like it, but she must uphold herself even in the face of this degradation.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Announces a satisfied Starlight.

Perseverance. Perseverance. Find it, Twilight.

She keeps herself calm and swiftly approaches the stairs, looking up at her captor, who has a ring of light around her that streaks into the dark room.

The illuminated alicorn starts down the steps, so Twilight backs up. Light spills into the cellar, making Twilight squint with the force of it.

"Now then," She begins, using a spell to rise a part of the stone floor and create a stool and lectern for herself, "sit you down, my student. I am going to teach you." She says, eyes glowing with pride.

Twilight apprehensively sits, not revealing her intrigue in Starlight's teachings. Starlight looks down oh-so-pretentiously at her, but Twilight can put anything aside for the greater good. As much as she dislikes hearing Starlight talk, she needs the information on this belief system if she's going to break it down. Besides... if there's anything Twilight is good at, it's being a good student.

"...Right then. Good." Starlight lifts her head confidently, clearly enjoying the situation she's put Twilight in. Then she begins lecturing. Twilight listens intently, paying close attention and taking mental notes while also attempting to appear uninterested and indignant. It takes much brainpower, but she doesn't mind. She's actually grateful to exercise her mind again.

After maybe half an hour, Starlight concludes her lesson and leaves, dissapearing the stone lectern and leaving Twilight to her devices.

Twilight immediately gets to work. She flips the papers and posters on the walls around so the blank sides face her and whittles the staining black rock she found in the corner into something like a pencil. She writes down notes over the regime and prepares a setup to write a plan of overthrowing it. She has to be careful about this, considering a situation where Starlight shows up during her planning. Using her magic, she can turn the papers back around pretty quickly, but can she also hide the pencil and wash the black dust off before Starlight opens the door and gets down those steps? It's a risk she has to take. Perhaps she'll rehearse it and perfect her pace.

She can only guess how long Starlight will keep her here. Maybe the amount of resistance she displays has an effect on her sentence. The baseline could be a week, a day, a month, who knows? That has yet to be determined. For now, all she can do is write her plans and practice hiding them. The princess turns to one of the papers and begins to write a list. Oh, how Twilight missed writing lists. She jots down her potential plans in brief and effective bulletpoints, while thinking dreamily of her near future. She'll follow a life of study again, if only briefly and under unfortunate circumstances.

The prospect of studying and formulating and planning once again fills Twilight with the perseverance to move forward.