I was laying down on the bed in my own house, my eyes were wide open and staring at the ceiling.

Some time had passed since Twilight got her own castle after we defeated Tirek who was the toughest opponent we ever had. We all had our own seats in the center of the castle, as if we were all members of a council. Nearly everypony in Ponyville has tried to come in for a visit, but they have been stopped by a personal guard that Princess Cadance insisted on Twilight having. He has his own room in the castle and so does Spike, most of the other places are filled with a six bedroom floor, a huge library, a big kitchen and a huge bathroom as well.

I was offered to have my own place in the castle as well, but I declined knowing that Rarity and I will be looking to get a place of our own together when the time was right and right now wasn't exactly the time. After thinking of it some more, I got off my bed and grabbed some lunch, I looked across the window to the Castle outside town.

It's awesome that she has a castle of her own, like Celestia and Cadance do, but the memories of her treehouse has gotta be playing on her mind as well. She lived in that for over four years and nearly everything in there was destroyed and worst of all, Owlicious went missing for a few days before we went out on a search party and found him in the dragon cave where Fluttershy got that red dragon to leave those years ago and was brought back safe.

Then a knock was heard on my door and all thoughts flew away instantly, I answered it straight away to see Twilight.

"Hi Bond, mind if you could come to the castle, we need to go through something important." she asked.

"Hi Twilight, sure, I could use a walk to clean my head a little. " I answered slightly hesitantly.

"Clean your head, is there something wrong?"

"It's not that important, but before you ask, if you really want to know, I'll tell you and the others when it's right to do so."

"Okay Bond, let's go."

I then left my house with Twilight and walked over to the castle and just outside the entrance, the others were already there.

"Howdy Bond, mighty fine to see ya again" Applejack greeted first.

"Yeah, it's only been a week, but it always feels wonderful to see you, girls." I replied, trying to smile.

"Especially when your love is here too, eh?" Rainbow smirked, nudging me on the shoulder.

"Rainbow dear!" Rarity slightly intervened, "Let's not embarrass him just because he's in love with me."

"Awww, I'm sure Rainbow was just kidding." Pinkie assured in her happy way.

"It's perfectly normal to be embarrassed." Fluttershy added.

"Anyways, we have to go on in." Twilight reminded as she entered the castle and the rest of us followed.

It was quite easy to know that the council room was in the center, when we walked in, we noticed Spike sleeping away in his chair next to Twilight. I took my seat next to her with Rarity on my right. We did look like an impressive council, although it would've been even cooler if our Council was something like off Star Wars, but none of us are Jedi's, nor did we have the powers of the force...in some way.

"Okay, let's go over this one more time." Twilight said.

"Ugh!" Rainbow facehoofed, "We've been over this a million times already!"

I then suddenly remembered the previous days, so I knew what Rainbow meant.

"We found the seven keys, defeated Tirek and got this sweet castle! End of story!"

"Yes, but why?"

"Ah don't know, sugarcube." Applejack replied. "Maybe it's just your new house and there ain't nothin' more to it than that."

"I must say, strictly speaking on aesthetics, there really doesn't need to be more of it. It's all simply divine..." Rarity paused before she looked at me. "...especially when my fiance with right here with me."

I blushed slightly. "Well you know me, love, I do my best to keep myself in top condition with appearances and such."

"Oh darling, you really don't have to sell yourself short, we know that we love you so."

"I agree with Twilight and Rarity, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy said before noticing Spike who was still asleep. "Oh and probably Spike."

"Shall we play a prank on him?" I asked sneakfully.

"Uhhh, let's not." Twilight disagreed as she stood in the center of the room. "As Princess...and you as well, Prince Bond, we have been chosen to spread the magic of friendship. So why would the Tree Of Harmony want us to sit in a castle in Ponyville? It doesn't make any sense."

She then got on her chair and it began, with all us on the chairs at once, some bright light appeared above her chairs with the cutie marks on them. After a moment of trembling, tiny crumbled shards appeared and a huge shaped cylinder of the Equestrian world appeared in the center. This of course woke Spike up who looked in astonishment. I had to admit, this was awesome looking.

"Is that new?" Spike asked. "I like it."

"So do I." I added. "A shame you can't play Age Of Empires with this map."

"This is incredible!" Spike said as he began walking on the cylinder map. "It's got all of Equestria!"

"Hi mom and dad!" Pinkie called when she looked at the rock farm before Spike stepped on it.

This caused Pinkie to start creating tears which was my part to step in, I lifted Spike away with my magic and towards Twilight. All the while, our cutie marks appeared in the center in the map, they then formed a circle shape and shrunk smaller until they landed on a mountain part of the map which from my angle was pointing towards the North East.

"But if this is Ponyville, why are our cutie marks over there?" Fluttershy asked.

"I don't know, but it seems the map wants us to find out." Twilight replied. "The tree, the chest, the castle and now the map, how can we not follow it?"

"By becoming a dragonborn?" I asked randomly which none of them noticed.

"You know what?" Rainbow asked as she slowly flew around the map. "There's a ton of room for dangerous adventures along that route, count me in!"

"Ah shoot, ah reckon ya right." Applejack agreed.

"Well, I was planning on organizing my baking sheets." Pinkie intervened sarcastically. "But okay!"

Rarity sighed happily. "Very well, anything to be...with you" she then trotted over to kiss me.

We then looked at Fluttershy who wasn't sure, but we understood why.

"Umm, maybe I'll just stay here with Spike." she said.

"Awesome!" Spike replied as we looked at him having a cap on with straws above crystals and a big foam claw. "Me and Big Mac have a huge weekend ahead of us."

"Wait, where did you get those from?" I asked.

"From Applebloom, remember when...oh wait, you were having a week off, right?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, well anyways, Big Mac and I are gonna be talking about hoofball and trading hoofball cards and arguing about hoofball stats."

"On second thought, maybe I better go with them, in case they need me." Fluttershy said.

"Looks like it's time for a roadtrip." Twilight announced.

"Sweet!" I replied. "I'll get us one of George Foreman's lean mean grilling machines so we can eat on the road!"

The other giggled, even Twilight was smiling.

"Now that was a good time to be random." she complimented. "But seriously, we should get going."

"Well, suit yourself.."Spike replied. "But he's got a hog-fed love rookie card I plan to sweet talk, right into these hot little claws!"

We then left the council room and as the others walked out of the castle, Rarity and I stopped to have a loving hug.

"Are you alright darling?" Rarity asked me worryingly.

"I'm feeling a lot better after your announcement a week ago." I replied as I held her closely.

"Have you thought about telling the others yet?"

"I have, but I don't think it would be wise to tell them whilst we're on this quest. I'd much rather tell them when it's right."

"I feel the same way, Bond, I just hope that we get to tell them before my...stomach grows, cause they'll get a little suspicious about it then."

"Don't worry, we'll tell them together once this big ordeal is over...for us and for our little one."

"Thank you darling, this is why I love you always."

"And it's also why I love you always as well, my fiance."

We then started kissing passionately before we felt a whoosh landing by us.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Rainbow said. "Why are you two still standing here, let's go!"

She then whooshed away, we giggled slightly and then left the castle where the others were waiting.

"So Twilight, are you sure this personal guard will be able to keep this castle safe?" I asked.

"Princess Cadence approved this guard, so I wouldn't worry, this place will be very secure." Twilight replied confidently. "And Spike will be around the area too."

"Yeah, when he's not playing the hoofball game with Big Mac." Applejack smirked.

"By the way, how are the other relationships going?" I asked.

"Oh my umm...is working nicely." Fluttershy replied, blushing away. "Big Mac is such a romantic stallion."

"That's caused he learnt from the best which was our Pa." Applejack said, proudly.

"Mine has been a little on the awesome side so far." Rainbow answered. "Soarin and I plan to catch up on some time together after this little quest."

"And the same will apply to us as well, darling." Rarity added as she looked at me. "Don't forget that."

"For you, Rarity, I wouldn't forget at all." I replied in my sultry low voice.

"Okay ponies, let's catch a train to the North East!" Twilight said.

We all began our walk to the station and a train came along by after a while, we got on board and it was going to where we needed to be. We left Ponyville, sat back on the couches with me and Rarity snuggled up together and enjoyed a wonderful moment of peace for the duration of our journey.

When the train stopped, we looked out to see a buffer, looks like we came to the end of the line in a desert.

"What the...how many deserts does this world have?" I asked.

None of them replied as Twilight was busy looking at a small map. We then got off the train and began walking across the desert, the trail ended after a moment and walked along a grass field, followed by a long wooden bridge to the other side and across a hill before we found a small village in the center of a huge barren area.

"That's it, that's the place on the map." Twilight said, pointing out the obvious.

"Right, let's go down there and find the spa." Rarity responded as she began walking.

"Uhhh, I don't think there's a spa from where I can see it." I replied.

Twilight teleported in front of Rarity to stop her instantly.

"Wait! We don't know why the map sent us here, we shouldn't just walk right in, it could be dangerous."

"Dangerous? A village like that in the middle of nowhere, North East?" I asked.

"Yes!" Rainbow exclaimed.

Pinkie then whooshed up in front of us.

"Stay behind me everypony, I'm on it!" Pinkie said with a determined look.

"Careful Pinkie!" Applejack warned.

Pinkie then tipped over the edge and began rolling down to the bottom and hiding behind a rock.

We then followed her downhill via a small pathway, but I took Rarity on my back and she held onto me and I flew down to the bottom. We regroup shortly and saw Pinkie hiding underneath a big rock, she had it lifted up but it was about to crash on her before Twilight lifted it out of the way.

After gaining our bearings, we looked onwards to see the village in a closer view to find lots of ponies out and about.

"This is where the map sent us?" Rainbow asked. "It looks like the most boring place in Equestria."

"I'm not sure." I replied. "Some of them look really happy to be there."

"That's just an ordinary village, full of ordinary pony folk." Applejack replied.

"Could certainly use a little architectural flourishes, or any architectural flourishes" Rarity added.

"I think it's lovely." Fluttershy said.

"I don't like it, I don't like it one bit." Pinkie intervened. "I know smiles and those smiles, they're just not right."

"I have to agree, girls, they seem a little on the creepy side." I replied.

"Forget the smiles, look at the cutie marks." Twilight said.

We had a look at one of the ponies, who had a cutie mark of a double dash sign, we then looked at several other ponies who all had the same.

"Okay, that's weird." Rainbow said.

We then hid behind the big rock to keep ourselves out of sight.

"An entire village with the same cutie marks?" Twilight asked. "How can that be?"

"I bet there's some sort of horrific monster behind it." Rainbow replied.

"What makes you say that?"

"Cause fighting a horrific monster would be super awesome?"

"Ah reckon we all just head into town, talk to some locals and find out what's going on." Applejack suggested.

"Great idea, AJ, let's go."

We began walking towards the village.

"Those smiles are bad news." Pinkie said quietly.

"I don't think it's normal at all, but we're gonna have to go to find out why." I replied. "If trouble is involved, remember that we can stick together and overcome anything."

"Quite right, my dear." Rarity replied as she held my hoof.

As soon as we walked into the village, nearly all of the smiling ponies stopped to look at us.

"Welcome." a grey stallion greeted.

Soon, nearly all the other ponies said the same word, now this was getting more weird.

"This must be the most pleasant place in Equestria." Fluttershy commented.

"Ugh. Thanks a lot, map." Rainbow sighed.

"Welcome!" one said close to us. "Pardon my forwardness, but are you two Alicorns?"

Twilight suddenly beamed with a smile.

"That there's the Princess of Friendship!" Applejack replied.

"Well, you've certainly come to the right place for friendship."

"What brings you to town?" another asked.

"We're not entirely sure." I replied. "Oh and I'm the Prince of Friendship, second in command."

"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's Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Bond Racer."

"And you all have your own unique cutie marks."

"If you don't mind, has there been any sort of...trouble here, lately?" Twilight asked.

"Trouble? Why, I don't think we've ever had trouble in our little village." Double replied.

"It's true. You'll see. Hm." Party added.

"Perhaps you'd care to speak to our founder, Starlight Glimmer."

"I wish everypony in Equestria was as friendly as these ponies are." Fluttershy said.

"I've got my eye on them." Pinkie replied quietly. "Something's rotten in...whatever the name of this village is that we're in right now!"

"We know that, we just gotta keep up this appearance until we find out what's going on." I whispered back.

We walked to the end of the village with a house bigger than the others, the stallions knocked on the door.

"Starlight, we have some new visitors." Double said as we walked into the house and we looked around.

"Be ready to fight." Rainbow whispered. "We don't know what's gonna come through that door."

A door on the other side of the room opened and out came a mare unicorn.

"Welcome! I'm so pleased to have you here." she greeted.

Rainbow groaned.

"This is Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle and Bond Racer." Double said.

"Forgive my bluntness, but I'm assuming it's Princess Twilight Sparkle and Prince Bond Racer? We don't get many Alicorns around here."

"Yes, but Twilight is fine." she replied.

"So! How did you hear of our little village?"

"It's kind of a long story." I replied. "Let's just say we found it on a map."

"Technically, it's a Tree-chest-castle-map!" Pinkie corrected.

"Well, however you found us, we're happy to have you!" Starlight said. "We're happy to have anypony who wants to experience true friendship for the first time."

"Say what?" Applejack asked.

"Oh, indeed. That's what's so unique about our village, you see. Around here, we don't flaunt our special talents because we don't have any special talents to flaunt."

"Is that why you all have those cutie marks?" Twilight asked.

"Perhaps it would be easier to understand if I gave you a tour of the village!"

I then heard marching drums as she walked out of the house, looks like a song is about to start...oh goody.

"Heads high, ponies! Marching proud!" Starlight exclaimed to the ponies around the village. "All together now! Every one of you! No pony 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

The other ponies joined in whilst we looked with concerned expressions.

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!" Starlight yelled.

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!

The song was then over, I then vowed to never hear that song again.

Rainbow laughed, "You're kidding, right? Give up our cutie marks? No way!"

"Rainbow Dash, don't be so rude." Fluttershy scolded, lightly "I don't think we should judge them. They all seem perfectly happy with their choice."

"Don't believe their smiles, Fluttershy." Pinkie warned.

"I'm sorry, I guess we're just a little confused by all of this." Twilight said.

"We have no judgments here in our village." Starlight replied. "Each of us was confused once as well, blinded by the false promise of our cutie marks."

False promise? I thought to myself.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is she for real?" Rainbow asked.

"When we were sent to this village, we assumed it was to help in some way." Twilight said. "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?" Starlight asked. "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." Double replied.

Starlight then walked away and back into her home, we walked around the village and were greeted by more ponies.

"A cutie mark is a representation of a pony's unique talents and skills." Twilight said. "How is it possible to-"

Rarity gasped, cutting Twilight off. "What in the name of Equestria is that?!"

"Welcome!" A shopkeeper greeted. "Care to sample some local fashion? We've got cloaks this month!"

Rarity almost vomited at the sight, "Ooh, er, perhaps another time, good sir, thank you." she replied.

We then sat on a bench and looked around with more curious concerns.

"No wonder nopony's wearing anything!" I added.

"Really, Bond!" Fluttershy hushed, "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!" Rainbow protested.

"Need something?" Double asked.

"Uh, no! We're good!" Twilight replied before whispering to us, "Fluttershy's 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."

"Ah think we ran off to the end of Equestria before we even knew what that map was!" Applejack said.

"If we were at the end of Equestria, we'd be sitting on a big 'A'!" Pinkie giggled, "Get it?"

" Oh, please, Miss Pie!" Rarity scolded. "This is hardly the time for jokes! We've come all this way and for what?"

"Maybe you're right." I replied. "But we're here now, and it sure feels like something's wrong."

"That and two bits'll get you a cup of cider." Applejack added.

"Is this a bad time?" a mare asked beside us.

"We shouldn't be bickering like this in front of our new friends." Fluttershy said. "Really, Applejack, you're almost as bad as Rainbow Dash!"

"Don't drag me into this!" Rainbow intervened.

"Is your friendship ending?" the mare asked again.

"Are you crazy?!" Pinkie replied. "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..."

All of us looked worried and tried not to show our faces, but we failed miserably.

"Then I guess we'll take six muffins!" Twilight answered.

"Make that twelve!" Pinkie added. "What? I'm hungry!"

"Says the mare who still has doubts about this village." I smirked.

"Come on, ponies. We've got to stick together." Twilight hushed. "It doesn't matter what happened before, we're here now."

"Ah guess you're right. And the sooner we figure out why, the sooner we can go home." Applejack said as a tray of muffins was placed on the table.

"Forgive me for overhearing, but just a moment ago you were disagreeing, and now it sounds like you're...agreeing." Sugar said.

"Uh-huh..."

"Well, you had such differing opinions – and cutie marks."

"We have differing opinions all the time, darling." Rarity said.

"But you look like you're friends."

"We are friends." I said. "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...?"

Pinkie suddenly spat out a muffin she ate, I had a look and they didn't look healthy to me.

"Mmmm... good..." Pinkie said, trying not to lie.

"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!"

She then left us and stopped before whispering to us. "Come inside before you go! Meet me downstairs!" She then whooshed back inside.

"Okay, that was weird too." Rainbow said.

"Let's all sit here and eat these muffins and act normal." Twilight said.

"Act normal?" I asked quietly. "I don't think that'll help knowing that we're being watched."

"You think?" Rainbow asked as we looked over at Double chomping on food.

"Ah got an idea." Applejack whispered, "But you gotta eat all of them muffins, Pinkie."

"Me?! Why me?!" Pinkie asked.

"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."

Pinkie then began to eat the muffins and her face was getting more green by each muffin, until she ate the last one and looked completely worse for wear.

"Ah can't believe you ate all our muffins, Pinkie Pie!" Applejack exclaimed. "We'd best go inside and get some more!"

"Nice work, Pinkie." I complimented. "Don't worry, I'll get Derpy to make the best muffins when we get home."

We then walked inside and downstairs to a basement.

"I've accidentally eaten cardboard tastier than that..." Pinkie sighed.

"Hello? Sugar Belle?" Twilight asked.

"Thank you for coming!" Sugar replied as she showed up in front of us.

"Why did you want us to come down here?" I asked.

"So nopony could see what's about to happen."

Just then, Party Favor and a pegasi showed up, we felt really creeped out. Twilight was about to use her magic, but she was stopped with a question.

"Are you really the Prince and Princess of Friendship?" Party asked.

"Do you know Princess Celestia?" Night asked.

"I love your cutie mark!" Sugar complimented.

"Why err thanks, I'm glad you didn't say that you really like my mane." I replied. "There's a filly we know back home who has the same problem."

"How can you be friends with different cutie marks?" Night asked. "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!" Sugar said. "Make something besides those disgusting muffins..."

"So what's stopping you? Go get your cutie marks back." Rainbow said.

"Daydreaming is one thing, but you mean actually having it put back on? That seems extreme." Party replied.

"I'm not sure Starlight would like that. She wants us all to be happy in our sameness." Sugar added.

"How do you take somepony's cutie mark anyway?" Twilight asked.

"The cutie unmarking is a beautiful experience!" Night replied. "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." I said.

"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?" Twilight asked.

"Sure, just go to our leader and she'll take you there." Party replied.

"Say no more, we're going...and in some way, we're gonna make everything right." I declared proudly. "Just wait and see..."

We then left the shop and walked back to Starlight's home and after a moment, Starlight was more than happy to take us there. We left the village and onto a rocky hill with a cave in sight.

"I'm delighted you're interested in our cutie mark vault." Starlight said. "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 perfectly equal friendship can finally spread across the land."

"Girls...Pinkie's sense may be rubbing off on me, but I have a bad feeling that we're walking into a trap." I whispered.

"Oh, are you sure, Bond?" Fluttershy asked. "Maybe they miss thier cutie marks a little, but even they didn't seem all that unhappy."

"Then why did they want to meet us in secret?" Twilight asked. "And why did they ask us not to tell Starlight who told us about the vault? Something's not right."

"And when somepony like Double who's behind us, it makes it even more suspicious." I said.

We came across a cave entrance after a few minutes.

"Just through here!" Starlight said as we walked in. "Behold! Our cutie mark vault!"

We all stared in shock, we saw a huge wall full of cutie marks and some sort of staff in the middle, held on a pedestal.

"Please girls, let me build up my magic and strength...I've got an idea." I whispered.

"Alright Bond, if anything goes down in a moment, just use your shield and teleport combo spell and do whatever you can." Twilight whispered back."

I smiled and then activated my stealth shield barrier.

"And here is the Staff of Sameness." "It was one of the great mage Meadowbrook'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?"

We all knew Pinkie was gonna blurt the answer out, so I prepared myself for trouble that was about to happen.

"Oh, some ponies were telling us how much they missed their cutie marks." Pinkie replied.

"Were they? Well, it seems you inspire all sorts of free thinking, don't you?"

Starlight then used her magic to levitate the staff, this was about to get ugly in a hurry.

Rarity began to laugh nervously. "Well, w-we certainly didn't intend to cause any disruptions to your charming little-"

"Good. Let's just make sure of that, shall we?"

Then more ponies turned up from among the corners of the cave.

"It's a trap!" I exclaimed in a familiar voice.

Twilight then flew up and began to attack, but she was stopped by Starlight's staff who caught her and I stared in shock as her cutie mark was lifted off her flank and into the staff. Starlight then used the staff to fly the cutie mark into one of the empty slots on the vault and it sealed shut.

"And now for you, Prince Bond!"

She then proceeded to launch the staff at me, but thanks to my build up, I teleported fast and appeared outside the cave. All I could do was listen to the screams that were going on inside the cave, no doubt thier cutie marks were being taken away as well and replaced with those equals.

Next Chapter: The Cutie Map Part 2. Estimated time remaining: 6 Hours, 9 Minutes