//------------------------------// // Mixed Thoughts // Story: A Gifted Pony, with a Life-Changing secret. // by StarShooter174 //------------------------------// The young dragon blinked his eyes open. He and his friends had taken shelter in a cave at the foot of a mountain while a storm passed. He lifted his head and looked around at his friends, Hope was still asleep beside Stark and Star. But the pegasus, who's name was Rainbow Dash, puzzled him. She had joined them when they escaped the Princess of Night, and she kept waking up earlier than anyone else and staring outside, as if she was waiting for someone to come. As he got up, being careful not to disturb the Changelings, she turned around. He walked over and sat beside her as she turned back around and stared off into the plains. She squinted her eyes and walked out a few steps into the soft, rippling grass. "Is that...?" She was staring at something, so he got up and looked out too. At the sight his hopes for them being left alone plummeted. It was RD's friends, and they weren't happy. They raced along the plains, getting closer by the second. The young dragon snapped into action, he turned around and carefully put his other friends on his back. As he did, Stark woke up, along with Star. Stark got up immediatly. Him and the young dragon, Nexus, had made an emergency plan incase they were found, this was that plan. They had all been flying for hours without a break, Hope was still sitting on Nexus's back, but wide awake and a little scared. Star had troubled thoughts as everyone fled from Rainbow's friends, herself included. Star stopped flying and flapped in place. 'If I just leave they'll be safe, I could even get them to follow me and keep them even safer,' She thought. She turned around, she wouldn't let any creature or pony hurt her friends. She had to do this, but they couldn't know. She couldn't tell any of them, or else they wouldn't let her do it. She flew in the oppisite direction of her friends, and flew until she spotted Rainbow's friends. She flew down in front of them. They were wearing their Elements and in fighting position, she wasn't getting out of here without a fight. "Where is Rainbow Dash," Twilight demanded. "She decided to help us for reasons unknown. It was her decision, and I'm here to make sure Hope doesn't get hurt. Or any of my friends for that matter," Star spoke without fright in her voice which made her more confident. Until she saw another five ponies that had once been her bestest friends, but were now her worst enemies. Berry Twist walked up in front of everypony else and stared Star into her eyes as she spoke, chilling Star to the bone. "You lied to not only us, but the Elements of Harmony and THREE princesses! The Princess of Fire, Princess of Water, AND Princess of the Night. You're right to run and hide, you're right to be afraid, but no one will ever forgive you. No one will ever feel sorry for you or any other Changeling! Including that dragon." Star didn't move or shake, but she stood there. She had done that, she had lied to everyone that was a friend. She heard something above, she dared to look up. And froze with terror. The last three ponies she wanted to see were right there, looking down with hatred. Shimmerflame, Glimmerwater, and Luna. She didn't dare to move. Her terror only grew as she looked behind her. It was the very last pony she wanted to see, the one that could easily order her to be killed. The one who mentored the Element of Magic. Celestia stood right there. She couldn't think straight at all, there was no where out this time. Not even with a fight, not with a clever escape plan. Not with anything. She was surrounded and helpless. She couldn't think of anything to do, there were the Elements of Harmony, her own friends, and four princesses. That was, until Chrysalis showed up with about one hundred Changelings behind her. Star couldn't make anything possibility on what was about to happen. Were there two sides? Was everyone on a side but her, she was viewed as a traitor and a lier from both sides. She was on her own here, Nexus, Stark, and Rainbow Dash weren't here. And everything became worse and full of confusion did what they do best. Transform into other ponies, screw up, and lay on the ground, twitching. As the battle suddenly began without warning, Star was immediatly tackled by AJ. She could sense all of the hatred coming off of every one. The Changelings, the ponies, the princesses, everyone! She fought with AJ, she leaped out of the way just before she bucked. She flew up as high as she could and hovered. As she looked down, it was like some sort of massacre. There were blasts of magic, dive kicks, and even confettie everywhere. She could tell the Elements or her friends from Changelings. Nexus and Stark and Hope weren't even here. Star suddenly felt alone and hopeless. Would she even see them again? "Star! What are you doing?!" Star whipped around and saw Nexus and Rainbow, but not Stark or Hope. She flew over and hugged Nexus before telling them what happened. The battle was still going on below them. Rainbow seemed she hadn't even been listening as Star spoke. She was just staring down at the battle, for once, Rainbow didn't boast or call Star or Nexus crazy. She just hovered there, silent. "RD, is something wrong?" Nexus was anxious to leave already, he wanted to get out of here before they were pullred into the battle. But Rainbow didn't reply. She kept silent and didn't even look at them. Next thing the three knew, Shimmerflame was infront of them. She wasn't happy at all, Star sensed that all of the anger was, of course, aimed at her. She couldn't take this anymore, everyone hated her and wanted her gone already. Before Shimmerflame spoke a word, Star transformed back to her pony form and flew off fast. But not away. Up. She couldn't take the hatred, the fighting, or the danger anymore. She flew up even farther than she did in the Labyrinth, and let herself fall. She formed like an arrow and prayed that this would stop the fight, if it didn't end the fight, it should at least end her life. As she dived, she thought of her life. She blinked her eyes open as Stark shook her to wake up. "What is it Stark," she asked as she stood up. "We have to leave today. Hope is old enough to leave, and I have the perfect plan. No one will know we're gone." Echo couldn't smile, or frown. She stared at him blankly, this HAD to be too soon. The Queen would notice before they were even yards from the exit. Hope was snuggled up in the small blanket, it was barely able to cover her. But it would have to do. Stark watched the horizon. They had escaped about two weeks ago. The Queen was clueless. "I'm Berry Twist! I run the library on the next street." Echo nodded, but, what was a library? She would have to go and see it sometime. She had to increase her vocabulary before any of the ponies grew suspicious. "Heeey!!! Twisty Twist! Who's that?" A bubble-gum colored bounced over. 'Twisty Twist' must be some sort of... What do they call it? Nicknames? Whatever, that doesn't matter now. The pony turned to her, "What's your name? Do you like candy? I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOVE CANDY!!!!" This pony was certainly hyper at the moment. 'To much candy.' Echo guessed. She spoke in a confident voice, "My name is, er... Star Shooter!" She had just made that up, besides a star just shot across the night sky, she thought these ponies could make the perfect friends. She teared up, that was the best memory she had. The moment she met those ponies. The moment she met them, she knew they would become friends. But that was behind her now. That was the past. She dove at the speed of sound, everything was just a blur. She dove faster and faster and faster... The last thing she saw before blacking out was.... Hope?!