//------------------------------// // Chapter 1. Homeland of the Revolution // Story: Equestria of Universal Equality // by Communist_Egor //------------------------------// "That's it! The place on the map!" Twilight pointed to the village below. The friends noticed that all the villagers had gathered by the stage adorned with posters and red flags, where ponies were performing and singing songs. Everyone was cheerfully shouting, whistling, and stomping. "Wow, looks like they're having a festival there! Let's join them quickly!" Pinkie suggested, already eager to rush down. "I've never seen so many red flags!" Rarity observed. "Oh, we are completely unprepared for festive events! I didn't bring a single dress!" the unicorn panicked. "Relax, Rarity! It's not the Grand Galloping Gala: I don't see any ponies in dresses," Rainbow reassured her. "Girls, don't forget: we need to understand why the map sent us here!" Applejack reminded them of the purpose of their visit. "At least, I'm glad we won't have to fight another monster. I still get chills when I remember Tirek," Fluttershy shivered. "Well, I wouldn't mind a good fight. But if the map sent us here to relax as a reward for all our deeds, I'm all for it!" the rainbow pegasus replied. "When are we going there?" Pinkie was burning with impatience. "Girls, please, let's calm down!" Twilight attracted the attention of her friends. "We don't exactly know why the map sent us here. So, we need to stick together until we figure everything out." "Okay!" the friends agreed, and they started descending to the village. Taking a closer look, Twilight noticed golden equal signs on the red banners. "I've never seen such symbols. I wonder what they mean?" the alicorn pondered, unaware of how their visit would end. *** Our friends approached the crowd near the stage unnoticed, where a musical group had just finished their performance. The ponies enthusiastically stomped their hooves, bidding farewell to their favorite band as the musicians left the stage. Then, the hostess appeared. "With that, the musical part of our festival has come to an end. Let's thank our comrades for participating in the concert once again!" the violet unicorn suggested. The audience supported her with thunderous applause. "But before we move on to the second part of our festive program, I have an important announcement for you!" declared the hostess, capturing the attention of all the residents of the equality village. "What does Starlight Glimmer want to say? What is our leader going to talk about?" the ponies whispered to each other. "So, comrades! Since childhood, we have been taught that Harmony reigns among the three pony races as long as we are ruled by the wise Princess Celestia. But we know the truth: it's all a lie! While almost all the Earth ponies work on farms all day, and pegasi monitor the weather and the safety of the country, unicorns from famous noble families live in luxury in Canterlot and throw parties every day at our expense. While the princess talks about the well-being of all ponies, Fancy Pants and other close ponies to the throne become richer every day! "It's unfair! These arrogant scoundrels don't deserve their wealth!" shouted from the crowd. "Moreover, recent events have shown that Celestia cannot ensure our safety without the help of the Elements of Harmony. Six ponies risk their lives every time for Equestria, protecting the country and Ponyville, while Celestia sits in the throne room. But what if they lose one day?! Who will protect us then?! Discord?! Entrusting our safety to the spirit of chaos was the most irresponsible decision by the princess! If Tirek hadn't betrayed Discord, Twilight Sparkle and her friends would have had no chance of winning. But what infuriates me the most is that, aside from temporary magic deprivation, Discord faced no punishment for his betrayal! Do our lives mean nothing to Celestia? " Starlight asked. "No! Down with Celestia!" the ponies replied. "Furthermore, the princesses themselves are to blame for almost all the attacks: instead of killing villains on the spot, they prefer to imprison their enemies in stone, in ice, in Tartarus, or on the moon. But a thousand years have passed, and the villains have returned. And if, in the case of Nightmare Moon, there was a chance to free Princess Luna from the forces of darkness, then the so-called 'mercy' towards powerful villains almost ruined us! The leader's duty is to make difficult but necessary decisions for the safety of the country! But Tirek is back in Tartarus, and Discord is still free. Can we allow these villains to threaten our safety again? "No!" "Can we trust a princess who should have retired a long time ago? "No!" "Will we allow the noble unicorns to profit from our labor? "No!" "Do we need a monarchy? "No!" "How about a Soviet republic, where everyone will be equal? "Yes!" "Do we need to reform the entire socio-economic and political system of Equestria? "Yes!" "Are you ready for a revolution? "Yes!" everyone shouted in unison. Only the six friends stood in shock. The heroes of Equestria were facing for the first time the fact that ordinary ponies not only criticized Princess Celestia's rule but also wanted to overthrow her as a tyrant. The friends wanted to argue with the villagers, to tell them they were mistaken, that Celestia wasn't evil, that she did everything for the safety of ponies, and that there was no racial inequality in Equestria. But then, the friends realized that Starlight was telling the truth: the families of Apple and Pie worked all day, while the unicorns of Canterlot threw parties every day. The crises that threatened Ponyville and Equestria were deadly serious. Discord did betray everyone and faced no punishment. All the villains, except Chrysalis, were already defeated by the princesses a thousand years ago but nearly took over Equestria again. Even a loyal student decided to question her mentor upon returning. "Girls, I understand why the map sent us here. We must stop this madness!" Twilight addressed her friends with a subdued voice. "But for now, let's wait for the end of the event, listen to the entire speech, and later, we'll find out from Starlight Glimmer herself how Princess Celestia offended her!" Twilight decided. The friends silently nodded in agreement. "Even if Celestia made a couple of mistakes, it's no reason to incite a rebellion against her!" Princess of Friendship was indignant, but with sheer willpower, she remained outwardly composed. Meanwhile, Starlight continued: "So, I'm happy to announce, comrades, that we, the Revolutionary Elements, have found a way to end racial inequality! Newly arrived, meet my friends!" ponies started appearing on the stage, as Starlight called them. Their appearance was accompanied by thunderous stomping. "Party Favor – the element of laughter!" A light blue unicorn with a blue mane and tail, and a badge featuring a dog made of balloon shapes, somersaulted onto the stage from behind the curtains. "Happiness and laughter – for everyone!" Party Favor teleported red balloons with the equality symbol to each pony using his magic. Joyful ponies immediately released them into the air. "Night Glider – the element of loyalty!" Suddenly, a dark blue pegasus with a white mane and tail, and a badge featuring a crescent surrounded by two curved feathers, dived straight onto the stage. "I serve not princesses but Equestria!" the flyer proudly proclaimed. "Sugar Belle – the element of generosity!" Smiling, a light pink unicorn with a violet mane and tail, and a badge featuring a cupcake with a cherry on top, came out from behind the curtains. "No rich, no poor!" Sugar Belle declared. "Double Diamond – the element of honesty!" An earth pony with a white coat, mane, and tail, and a badge featuring three blue snowflakes, turned to the audience. "It's time to expose the lies of the princesses!" Double Diamond called. "Sunburst – the element of kindness!" On the stage appeared a yellow unicorn with an orange mane and tail, and a badge featuring a disc with rays of magic. "You shouldn't abandon friends in need!" Sunburst declared. "And Starlight Glimmer – the element of magic!" the five friends pointed their hooves at the hostess. "With the help of an enhanced spell, Star Swirl, combining the magic of the ancient Pillars of Equestria for the alicornization of Celestia and Luna, and the magic of our friendship, not inferior in strength to the faithful princesses' Elements of Harmony, you, our comrades, can become alicorns! I'm not talking about superpowers or immortality. I'm talking about universal equality: all ponies will be able to fly and use magic. The titles of noble unicorns and princesses will be a thing of the past. And we will be liberated from the shackles of the old regime! Let the revolution begin!" Starlight proclaimed, and under the joyful cheers of the crowd, she pulled out a scroll with the spell. "What are they talking about? Celestia and Luna became alicorns thanks to Star Swirl? Elements of Harmony can represent not only us? Can their friendship magic compare to ours? Who are they? Can they turn us into alicorns?" the friends asked Twilight. But the Princess of Friendship herself was in shock. Meanwhile, the friends on stage hugged each other. Suddenly, they rose into the air: a sphere of pure energy enveloped them, and their eyes shone with a bright white light. "Always dreamed of seeing us from this perspective!" enthusiastically commented Rarity. "But this is impossible! Only we can do that!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. Suddenly, a beam of rainbow magic passed through the scroll with the spell of ‘enhanced alicornization, ‘ after which a rainbow wave swept through the village, dazzling everyone for a moment. "What happened? Girls, are you okay?" Twilight asked, focusing her vision. And when her sight was restored, the princess saw her friends. She almost fainted: like all the villagers, her friends became alicorns. "What?! How is this possible?" Twilight's scream was louder than the admiring exclamations of the villagers. Immediately, all ponies stared at the princess and froze. For a couple of seconds, complete silence reigned, until Starlight Glimmer, also transformed into an alicorn, ordered: "Seize the infiltrators!"