Let's go through this one more time.
We've been over it like a million times, Twilight!
We found all six keys, defeated Tirek, and got this sweet castle!
End of story.
Yes, but why?
I dunno, sugarcube.
Maybe it's just your new house and there ain't nothin' more to it than that.
I must say, speaking strictly on aesthetics,
there really doesn't need to be more to it.
It's all simply divine!
I agree with Twilight… And Rarity.
And Applejack. And Rainbow Dash. And Pinkie Pie.
Oh, and probably Spike.
As Princess, I've been chosen to spread
the magic of friendship across Equestria.
So why would the Tree of Harmony want us
to sit in a castle in Ponyville?
It doesn't make any sense.
Is that new?
I like it.
This is incredible!
It's got all of Equestria!
Hi, Mom and Dad!
But, if this is Ponyville,
why are our cutie marks over there?
I don't know. But it seems like the map wants us to find out.
The Tree, the chest, this castle, and now the map.
How can we not follow it?
Y'know what?
There's a ton of room for dangerous adventure along that route.
Count me in!
Aw, shoot, I reckon you're right.
Well, I was planning on organizing my baking sheets,
but okay!
Very well.
Maybe I'll just stay here with Spike.
Awesome!
Me and Big Mac have a huge weekend ahead of us
talkin' hoofball, and… And trading hoofball cards,
and arguing about hoofball stats…
O-o-on second thought,
m-m-maybe I'd better go with them.
In case they need me.
Looks like it's time for a road trip.
Well, suit yourself.
But he's got a Hawk Fetlock rookie card
I'm planning to sweet-talk right into these hot little claws.
That's it! That's the place on the map!
Right, let's get down there and find the spa.
Wait, we don't know why the map sent us here.
We shouldn't just walk right in.
It could be dangerous.
Yes!
Stay behind me, everypony!
I'm on it!
Careful, Pinkie.
This is where the map sent us?
It looks like the most boring place in Equestria.
It's just an ordinary village full of ordinary pony folk.
It could certainly use a few more architectural flourishes.
Or any architectural flourishes.
I think it's lovely.
I don't like it. I don't like it one bit.
I know smiles. And those smiles?
They're just not right.
Forget the smiles. Look at the cutie marks.
Okay, that's weird.
An entire village with the same cutie mark?
How can that be?
I bet there's some sort of horrific monster behind it.
What makes you say that?
'Cause fighting a horrific monster would be super-awesome!
I reckon we just oughta head into the town and talk to some locals,
find out what's going on.
Great idea, AJ! Let's go!
Those smiles are bad news!
Welcome!
This must be the most pleasant place in Equestria.
Welcome!
Thanks a lot, map!
Welcome!
Pardon my forwardness, but are you an alicorn?
That there is the Princess of Friendship.
Well you certainly come to the right place for friendship.
What brings you to town?
We are not entirely sure.
I see. Well all are welcome here in our little village.
My name is Double Diamond and this is Party Favor.
Howdy, Double Diamond. I'm Applejack.
And this here is Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity,
Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.
And you all have your own unique cutie marks.
If you don't mind, has there been a sort of…
trouble here, lately?
Trouble?
Why, I don't think we've ever had trouble in our little village.
It's true. You will see.
Perhaps you'd care to speak to our founder,
Starlight Glimmer.
I wish every pony in Equestria was as friendly as these ponies are.
I've got my eye on them.
Something is rotten in...
whatever the name of this village is that we are right now!
Starlight. We have some new visitors.
Be ready to fight.
We don't know what's gonna come through that door.
Welcome!
I'm so pleased to have you here.
This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie,
Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.
Forgive my bluntness, but I'm assuming it's Princess Twilight Sparkle?
We don't get many alicorns around here.
Yes. But Twilight is fine.
So, how did you hear of our little village?
It's kind of a long story.
Let's just say, we found it on the map.
Technically, it's a tree-chest-castle-map.
Well, however you found us, we are happy to have you.
We are happy to have anypony
who wants to experience true friendship for the first time.
Say what?
Oh, indeed. That's what so unique about our village, you see.
Around here we don't flaunt our special talents
because we don't have any special talents to flaunt.
Is that why you all have those cutie marks?
Perhaps, it would be easier to understand
if I gave you a tour of the village.
Heads high, ponies! Marching proud!
All together now! Everyone of you!
Nopony left behind!
Life is so grand in our town
We're always filled with cheer
We never have to look around
To know that we're all here
In our town, in our town
We don't have to wait
To find out that our destiny
Is just to emulate
Let's see those big, happy smiles!
Life is a smile in our town
Our cutie marks the same
Because we do not separate
Ourselves by more than name
In our town, in our town
We dare not compete
Winning only breeds the worst
Ego-filled conceit
You see? Now everypony wins!
Life is a joy in our town
We're all equal here
No one is superior
And no one shakes in fear
In our town, in our town
We work as a team
You can't have a nightmare
If you never dream
Other ponies argue
Do you ever wonder why?
When you think your talent's special
You don't see eye-to-eye
There's just too many differences
That lead to disarray
But when you learn to act as one
It's like a holiday
In our town, in our town
We don't complicate
When you learn to simplify
Life is oh, so great
Join in our utopia
Come out of the dark
Banded by equality
By our cutie mark!
You kiddin, right?
Give up your cutie marks? No way!
Rainbow Dash don't be so rude.
I don't think we shouldn't judge them.
They seems perfectly happy with their choise.
Don't belive their smiles, Fluttershy.
I'm sorry, I guess we're just a little confused by all of this.
We have no judgments here in our village.
Each of us was confused once as well,
blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks.
Whoa whoa whoa!
Is she for real?
When we were sent to this village,
we assumed it was to help in some way.
But…
Well, it doesn't seem like you need any help.
Have you considered perhaps that you might have been sent here
so we could help you?
After all, nopony has ever come to our village and wanted to leave!
Why should you be any different?
But that is entirely your choice.
Please, enjoy our little corner of Equestria.
We're all quite fond of it.
No doubt you will be as well.
Double Diamond, please help our guests with whatever they might need!
Of course.
Well, this will certainly provide a boost to our little community.
When the rest of Equestria sees that a princess gave up her cutie mark to join us,
they'll finally understand what we're trying to accomplish.
Welcome!
A cutie mark is a representation of a pony's unique talents and skills.
How is it possible to-
What in the name of Equestria is that?!
Welcome!
Care to sample some local fashion?
We've got cloaks this month!
Perhaps another time, good sir, thank you…
No wonder nopony's wearing anything!
Really, girls!
They may do things a bit differently than we're used to,
but that's no reason to be rude!
No, the reason to be rude is that they all keep staring at us!
Need something?
No! We're good!
Fluttershy is right.
If we're going to get to the bottom of why the map sent us here,
we'll need the help of these ponies.
I think we ran off to the end of Equestria
before we even knew what that map was!
If we were at the end of Equestria, we'd be sitting on a big 'A'!
Get it?
Oh please, Miss Pie! This is hardly the time for jokes!
We've come all this way and for what?
Maybe you're right.
But we're here now, and it sure feels like something's wrong.
That and two bits'll get you a cup of cider.
Is this a bad time?
We shouldn't be bickering like this in front of our new friends.
Really, Applejack, you're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash!
Don't drag me into this!
Is your friendship ending?
Are you crazy?!
We'd never let a disagreement get in the way of food!
O-kay, well, my name is Sugar Belle.
What can I bring you?
We have muffins…
Then I guess we'll take six muffins!
Make that twelve!
What? I'm hungry!
Come on, girls.
We've got to stick together.
It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now.
I guess you're right.
And the sooner we figure out why, the sooner we can go home.
Forgive me for overhearing,
but just a moment ago you were disagreeing,
and now it sounds like you're… agreeing.
Uh-huh.
Well, you had such differing opinions – and cutie marks.
We have differing opinions all the time, darling!
But you look like you're friends.
We are friends!
A simple disagreement wouldn't change that!
I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time understanding.
Different talents lead to different opinions which lead to bitterness and misery.
So…
why aren't you bitter, and…
Good…
It's all right.
I know I'm not a very good baker…
At least, I know I'm not any better than anypony else in the village.
Well, I… hope you enjoy our little village!
Come inside before you go!
Meet me downstairs!
Okay, that was weird too.
Let's all sit here and eat these muffins, and act normal.
I think we're being watched.
You think?
No, not like that!
I mean somepony here doesn't want us talking to Sugar Belle.
I got an idea.
But you gotta eat all of them muffins, Pinkie!
Me?!
Why me?!
You got a stronger stomach than any of us,
and that filly in there might be our best chance at findin' out
what the hay is goin' on round here.
I can't believe you ate all our muffins, Pinkie Pie!
We best go inside and get some more!
Nice work, Pinkie.
I've accidentally eaten cardboard tastier than that…
Hello?
Sugar Belle?
Thank you for coming!
Why did you want us to come down here?
So nopony could see what's about to happen.
Are you really the Princess of Friendship?
Do you know Princess Celestia?
I love your cutie mark!
How can you be friends with different cutie marks?
Don't you end up hating each other?
Oh, look at this one! This one's great too!
I'd love to have my special talent back even just for a day!
Make something besides those disgusting muffins…
So what's stopping you?
Go get your cutie marks back!
Daydreaming is one thing,
but you mean… actually having it put back on?
That seems extreme.
I'm not sure Starlight would like that.
She wants us all to be happy in our sameness.
How do you take somepony's cutie mark, anyway?
The Cutie Unmarking is a beautiful experience!
Starlight uses the Staff of Sameness
to magically take them away and replace them with these.
But nopony should keep you from your cutie mark.
It represents such an essential part of who you are.
Oh, we're not kept from them.
They're in the vault up in the caves.
We can visit them any time we like
to remind us of the heartache of a life with special talents.
Can we visit this cave?
I'm delighted you're interested in our cutie mark vault.
We hope someday every pony in Equestria will make a pilgrimage here to our little village
to have theirs removed too,
and our message of-
This must be the reason we're here.
Pilgrimaging?
No.
Helping those ponies get their cutie marks back!
Oh, are you sure, Twilight?
Maybe they miss them a little, but even they didn't seem all that unhappy.
Then why did they want to meet us in secret?
And why did they ask us not to tell Starlight who told us about the vault?
Something's not right.
Just through here!
Behold!
Our cutie mark vault!
I've never seen anything like it!
And here is the Staff of Sameness.
It was one of the great Mage Metalbrook's nine enchanted items.
We are incredibly fortunate to have it here.
This is the tool that allows us to free ourselves from our marks!
I'm curious, how did the subject of the vault come up?
Oh, some ponies were telling us how much they missed their cutie marks, and-
Pinkie!
Oops…
Were they?
Well, it seems you inspire all sorts of free thinking, don't you?
Oh, we, we certainly didn't intend to cause any disruptions to your charming little-
Good.
Let's just make sure of that, shall we?
It's a trap!
I don't blame you for what you tried to do here today.
You've spent your whole lives thinking those marks are a good thing.
Give them back!
Well, now you can spend the rest of your lives here, with us!
And we'll teach you just how better life can be without your cutie marks!
Timing adjusted by: Rossa89