Starlight Chronicles

by WanderingPhysicist

Replacement Coefficient

Main Characters: Starlight, Satsuma, Apple Bloom
Cameos: Cheerilee, Applejack, Big Macintosh
Original Start Date: September 26, 2012 (almost a year after their father’s first chapter)

---

The new assistant at Ponyville Library stares at the shelves. He quickly scans across each of the titles. Apple Bloom comes in from a back room with some books on her head. She gives Starlight a confused look.

‘Y’all need some help findin’ somethin’?’

‘Yeah. I am looking for something good to read.’

‘Well, Ah have kept the titles up t’ date better than yer mother did. We have jus’ near anything ya would want t read.’

‘I doubt that... I mean, you only have pony authors. Don’t you have anything else?’

‘We have a large selection o’ non-pony authors in the other wing.’

‘No, what I mean is, where are your Atlantean books? Or Kryptonian? Or Capircan? Or Wookiee? Or Skrull? Or Vulcan? Heck! You don’t even have any human books!’

‘Y’all know there ain’t such thin’ as humans, right?’

Starlight sighs and pats Apple Bloom on the head. ‘If you weren’t so beautiful, I would get upset at your silliness.’

‘Ah hate ya so much right now.’

Starlight is having a tough time adjusting to his new life. In the years since his first encounter with Apple Bloom, he had gotten used to time travel and the adventures it brought. In just the past week of sedentary life, he has been at wits end looking for things to do. As the new pony in town, he has been getting a lot of attention from the long-time residents trying to find out more about him. Rei has been more than willing to get to know her younger brother, but Satsuma has been avoiding Starlight. The one thing that has excited Starlight is living with his beloved Apple Bloom.

Starlight lays on the stairs reading four books at once. Apple Bloom looks up at the bored stallion and groans. There is a knock at the door. Apple Bloom gets up to answer, but the door magically swings open as she gets there. The young mare growls at her coltfriend before turning to her guest. Cheerilee smiles at her hosts and enters.

‘How may Ah help ya, Miz Cheerilee?’ Apple Bloom asks with a smile.

‘I’m in a bit of a fix, Apple Bloom,’ Cheerilee replies. ‘I have to go out of town soon, and none of my usual substitutes are available. Are you free to...?’

‘I’ll do it!’ Starlight says, teleporting between the two mares.

‘I don’t know, Mr Starlight. I don’t know your background very well. Apple Bloom was one of my best students and graduated with honors.’

Starlight puts a foreleg around Cheerilee’s neck. He laughs nonchalantly. ‘Miss Cheerilee. I am the son of Twilight and James Sparkle. I think I am more than smart enough to handle anything you give me.’

‘Oh geez,’ Apple Bloom groans.

‘You’re Mr Wanderer’s son?’

‘Indeed I am.’

Cheerilee grins evilly. ‘I think I found my new go-to substitute.’ She steps back and extends a hoof. ‘Glad to have your help, Mr Starlight. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning to go over the lesson plan.’

Starlight shakes the hoof. ‘It is my pleas... What was that about “early” and “morning”?’

‘See you then!’ Cheerilee calls as she trots out the door.

Apple Bloom sighs and goes back to what she was doing. ‘Y’all don’t know, but yer pa was the pony she always made watch her class when she needed some time off. Have fun!’

‘Seriously. What was that about “morning”?’

Outside of the schoolhouse, the foals are playing before class starts. Pound Cake flies around the yard with his friends. Pumpkin Cake is shows off her new hoofball trick to her teammates. Satsuma and a couple others sit under a tree and share books with each other. The bell rings, and the students file into the classroom. There is a bright blue flash as Starlight teleports in. A second later, there is a pop and his glasses land on his muzzle. He yawns, adjusts his glasses and checks his mobile.

‘Good. The temporal shield is holding.’ Starlight turns to the class. ‘If anypony, especially Apple Bloom, asks, I was here at this hour, not still sleeping in bed.’

The foals stare at the strange unicorn. Satsuma groans and lays his head on his desk.

‘Anyway! I am Starlight Sparkle. I will be your guest teacher for a bit while Cheerilee is out,’ the young stallion introduces. ‘Uh... So what do I do now?’

‘Cheerilee usually lets us go to recess right away!’ a colt shouts from the back.

‘Nice try,’ Starlight counters. ‘How about you tell me what you are interested in learning? Yeah, give me your name and your favorite subject. That will give me an idea of what to cover.’

Starlight points at the first student.

‘I’m Pound Cake, and I like science.’

‘Oh, I like you already.’

‘Pumpkin Cake, and PE.’

‘I know some interesting sports to try. Gonna have to get some brooms and a Golden Snitch... Anyway! Next?’

Satsuma glares at the guest teacher. ‘I am Satsuma, and I study everything.’

‘You and me both, brother.’

Satsuma grumbles as Starlight continues through the class.

After school, the foals are galloping from the schoolhouse to begin their afternoon adventures. Starlight uses his magic to clean up. Satsuma finishes packing his saddlebag and follows his friends out.

‘Yo, Satsuma. Wait up a moment,’ Starlight calls after his brother.

The young colt shudders and turns back. ‘Yes?’

‘I just wanna chat. I mean, I have been here a week (and live in your favorite haunt), but we have barely spent any time together.’

‘Yes. That is true.’

‘Don’t be like that. We can be bros. I’ve always wanted a little brother.’

‘Technically, I was born first. You would be my little brother.’

The older brother ruffles the younger’s mane. ‘You’re so silly when you act all smart. Come on. You should get along with your family.’

‘I get along fine with my family. Uncle Mac, cousin Braeburn, cousin Babs and all of the rest. We’re good. Even Aunt Apple Bloom and I get along well enough, given how she wasn’t even speaking to my mother just over a week ago.’

‘I noticed you left two important ponies off that list.’

‘Well, I barely knew Granny Smith while she was still with us. And if you are referring to our sister, I see Rei all the time when I visit her shop or The Power Block.’

‘Hmm. Right. What about me? Don’t you want to bond with me, too?’

Satsuma glares. ‘Go bond with yourself.’

Starlight teleports to stand over the young colt. He glares intensely into his brother’s eyes before teleporting away. Satsuma groans and leaves to find his mother’s stall.

‘Ah can’t believe ya said that t’ ‘im! He’s yer brother!’ Applejack yells at her son.

Starlight told Applejack about his earlier conversation. The mare was so upset that she closed shop early and dragged her son straight home.

Satsuma cowers. He has rarely seen his mother this upset. ‘I’m sorry,’ he whimpers.

‘Ya better be. Yer gonna apologize t’ ‘im first thin’ befer class.’ The mare turns away from her son. ‘Ah can’t believe ya would act that way t’ yer own brother.’

‘Not like I wanted a brother...’

‘Excuse me! Family is family, even if ya don’ get along. Ah thought Ah taught ya that.’

‘It isn’t like you were the best example these past years.’

‘Ah always treated Apple Bloom like family even if she didn’.’

‘Whatever.’

Applejack trots over and looms over her son. ‘Go t’ yer room. No electronics. No books. No nothin’. Ah want ya t’ jus’ sit there and think ‘bout what family means t’ ya.’

‘Yes, mom...’

Satsuma groans and goes up to his room. Applejack snorts, takes a calming breath and gets out her mobile.

Starlight grumbles to himself while he mopes at the kitchen table. At the counter, Apple Bloom works on making an apple pie.

‘The thin’ ya gotta understand about Satsuma is that he got his social skills from yer father,’ Apple Bloom advises. ‘He’s a little too blunt fer his own good, but he’s a good kid underneath.’

‘But, it is me!’ Starlight declares. ‘Everypony loves me! How can somepony not love me? Me!’

‘Ya jus’ can’t be friends with everypony, but Ah said Satsuma takes time. He’ll come t’ ya when he’s ready.’

‘That’s just crazy talk. We’re brothers. We should be the best of friends already. Just look at me and Rei. Boom! Instant friends.’

‘She’s friends with everypony. ‘Sides, y’all were goin’ t’ her store fer years befer ya revealed who ya were.’

‘I don’t see how that is relevant. I mean, we slept together years before I came back last week.’

‘We didn’ sleep t’gether! We jus’ camped out in mah clubhouse!’

‘Your secluded clubhouse, if you are getting where I want to hang out this weekend.’

Apple Bloom turns and glares at her coltfriend. He smiles, winks and kisses towards her.

The young mare sighs and goes back to work. ‘Anyway, if thin’s don’ work out durin’ school, AJ has invited us over fer dinner tomorrow. He’ll behave in front o’ his mother fer sure.’

‘Ooo! I have heard rumors of your sister’s cooking. If your amazing cooking is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat.’

‘Darn tootin’!’ Apple Bloom laughs, then pauses and turns around. ‘Speakin’ o’ which, why am Ah the only one slavin’ away over here?’

‘I’m doing my part!’ Starlight defends. He points across the kitchen. Knives are slicing onions, carrots and cucumber into a bowl. A spoon stirs a pot. A skillet fries a dish on its own. ‘I figured since you had dessert covered, I would make the other courses for a full meal.’

Apple Bloom stares in shock. She smiles and kisses Starlight on the cheek. ‘Y’all jus’ have t’ show off, don’ ya?’

Satsuma sits under a tree and reads during his lunch break. All around him, the other foals are playing games, with the Cakes tag-teaming all challengers at basketball. Other foals are reading too, but they are spread around the yard. Satsuma turns the page, but he is interrupted when his glasses are levitated from his face.

‘Think we can sue him for giving us his bad eyes?’ Starlight asks, examining his brother’s glasses.

‘I don’t know. I don’t care,’ Satsuma grumbles. ‘Ask Miss Derpy if you want to know.’

‘That’s not a nice thing to say.’

Satsuma reclaims his glasses. ‘Don’t care. Reading.’

Starlight sits by his brother. ‘Listen, I know I come on strong, but I am used to making new friends right away whenever I visit a new planet. I am just a little upset that I cannot be best friends with my brother. That is all.’

‘I have plenty of friends already. I don’t need one more.’

‘How about a brother? Need one of those?’

Satsuma glares up at his brother. He packs up his book and trots to the schoolhouse. ‘I’ll be in here until lunch is over, teacher.’

Starlight takes a deep breath and sighs. His horn glows, and a basketball stops centimeters from his head. He shoots it back, sinking the basket and hitting Pound Cake on the head.

Applejack gallops around the kitchen. She is making a feast for her guests. She has three pots stewing and two items in the ovens.

‘Big Mac! Hurry and get the table set. They’ll be here any moment.’

‘Eeyup.’

The large stallion trots around the dining room table. He sets plates and bowls out for five ponies. He puts a fork by a plate.

‘Wrong side.’

Big Macintosh looks around and moves the fork. He puts a wine glass at a setting.

‘We’re too young for that. Just fruit juice would be fine.’

The stallion looks around again and finds nopony. He snorts and places a bowl down.

‘Well, that might work, if you were going off of Luna’s etiquette rules.’

Big Macintosh spins around. He is the only pony in the room. Satsuma enters and sees his confused and angry uncle. The young colt scans the room. He sighs and steps forward only to be lifted by somepony.

‘Look harder. Told you it was the eyes,’ Starlight laughs. He smiles at Big Macintosh. ‘Hello, good sir! We have arrived!’

Apple Bloom rolls her eyes and trots past. ‘Put mah nephew down.’ She gives her brother a hug. ‘Good t’ see ya again.’

The stallion returns the hug. ‘Eeyup.’

Starlight levitates Satsuma to the ground and takes a seat. ‘Ah. I see you favor the Luna school of etiquette. Interesting choice.’

Big Macintosh glares at the young stallion before going to the kitchen. Applejack pops her head into the dining room.

‘When did y’all get here? Ah didn’ hear ya coming.’

‘Starlight teleported us as soon as Ah was ready,’ Apple Bloom replies. She gives her sister a hug. ‘Had t’ look nice.’

‘Yes, twenty minutes picking out the right bow and settling on the one I recommended first.’

‘Ah still say ya cheated and peeked at the answer.’

‘I wouldn’t put it past him,’ Satsuma snorts.

‘Yer one t’ talk, mister,’ Applejack laughs. ‘Ah know somepony who searches the house fer presents every birthday and Hearths Warming.’

Satsuma blushes and tries hiding at his seat.

‘February thirty-first,’ Starlight blurts out.

Everypony stares at the young stallion. Satsuma hits his head on the table.

‘My birthday. You were just about to ask.’

‘Uh, there ain’t no February thirty-first,’ Apple Bloom corrects.

‘Really? Well, I have no idea when I was born, being in the time vortex and all.’

‘We should come up with a birthday fer ya,’ Apple Bloom suggests.

Starlight shrugs. ‘I guess, if you want. If you do, put it, like, between Rei and Satsuma. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of them. Although I could wait until after Pinkie has her foal so I don’t interfere there, too. Hate to get in the way of my little sibling.’

Satsuma snorts. ‘Since when do you care about that? Besides, technically, you are my little sibling.’

‘Well, if you want to get really technical, Rei won’t be born for about another decade in her world. Are you going to start saying you are older than her now?’

‘Maybe I should!’

‘Whoa. Whoa. Hold up here,’ Applejack interrupts. ‘What was that ‘bout Pinkie?’

‘Yeah. Even if they did... ya know... It’s only been a week,’ Apple Bloom adds. ‘How can ya know she is pregnant?’

The brothers look at each other then at the sisters. ‘Its our dad. We know.’

The sisters groan and go into the kitchen to finish dinner.

Starlight and Apple Bloom are thanking their hosts for the meal. Everypony is standing around the front door. Apple Bloom is hugging her siblings.

‘Thank you so much for having us over,’ Starlight says. ‘The rumors of your cooking are vastly understated.’

Applejack blushes. ‘Thank ya kindly. It was nice gettin’ t’ know ya better.’

‘Even if ya didn’ shut up once,’ Apple Bloom groans.

‘Eeyup.’

‘I can’t help it if I have a lovely voice that must be shared with the world,’ the young stallion defends.

Satsuma groans at the comment.

‘Anyway, we should do this again sometime,’ Starlight suggests. ‘Gotta get as much time in with my future in-laws as possible.’

‘Starlight!’ Apple Bloom blushes.

‘Yeah... You’re not the only one sickened by that,’ Satsuma snipes.

‘Satsuma!’ Applejack glares at her son.

‘Anyway, see ya around, AJ, Big Mac. See ya in the morning, little bro.’

‘Love ya,’ Apple Bloom adds while hugging her brother.

‘Eeyup.’

‘Don’ be strangers, ya two.’

Everypony pauses for Satsuma to say something. After a nudge from his mother, he snarls and looks up at Starlight.

‘No. It wasn’t good to see you. Why don’t you stay out of my life! I don’t like you! I don’t like you at all! I don’t care if I get in trouble and get all of my books taken away, but I cannot stand you! I don’t want to be related to you at all! I HATE YOU!’

The young colt gallops to his room and slams the door. Everypony stands in shock.

‘Well, that escalated quickly,’ Starlight comments.

‘Eeyup.’

The next morning, Starlight tries to continue class as usual. He is taking attendance with a big smile on his face. Satsuma glares at his brother with intense hatred. The older brother finishes roll and trots before the class.

‘So, while Cheerilee is still away, I have a bit of wiggle room in your curriculum to do a bit of a special lecture on topics you still have to cover.’

The class groans.

‘Don’t worry,’ Starlight assures. ‘This is going to take the form of a story. You just have to sit back, relax and open your ears and minds to the wondrous sounds you are about to hear.’

‘You sound like Pound after he has been playing with his chemistry set all day,’ Pumpkin moans.

‘Mr Starlight, what is “Breaking Bad” and why does everypony say we should do that?’ Pound asks.

Starlight stares at the colt before returning his attention to the class. ‘Anyway! On with the story!’ The young stallion clears his throat. ‘This is a story of two ponies. Siblings no less. As all siblings do, they had some disagreements. The one that was born first was smart and publicly friendly, but the pony was mean to the sibling that was born second. The second-born tried everything to be as popular as the first-born. Then, the second-born got an idea. What if the two siblings shared everything? That way, both siblings would be well-liked, and they would get along forever. The second born took this idea to the first-born, but the first-born hated the idea and bullied the second-born to the point where the second-born accidentally hurt the first-born. The first-born was so furious about the accident that the pony did something horrible to the second-born, and they didn’t speak for a thousand years, allowing the anger in the second-born to build until an unstoppable force was needed to mend the rift between the two ponies.’ Starlight sits back. The class stares at him in awe. ‘Now, can anypony tell me what that story was about? Satsuma?’

The colt growls. ‘That was a colorful reinterpretation of the historical version of Luna’s banishment a thousand years ago.’ The whole class ‘oh’s at the realization. ‘You deliberately worded it like that to mirror our situation. Why not just rip off the nonfactual legend and say that the younger (me) was the aggressor and that the older (you) had to put him in his place publicly?’

‘Either way, the first-born or the younger pony, take your pick, was the one who was acting like an insufferable jerk!’

‘Well, if the second-born or the older pony was never born, everything would have been perfect!’

The two brothers growl at each other. The rest of the class watches the fight in shock.

‘You have detention,’ Starlight snorts. ‘Consider yourself banished.’

‘You can’t do that! You’re just the substitute!’

‘As long as Cheerilee is in Bermuleda, I am in charge! You have detention.’

Satsuma growls and sits back in his seat.

Starlight turns away from the class and takes a few deep breaths. ‘Just go to recess,’ he mutters. ‘Give me a moment alone.’

The class quickly scampers from the room, Satsuma looking back at his brother.

After school, Satsuma finishes writing something on the board and spits out the chalk. He looks up to see ‘I will be a good brother.’ filling the blackboard. He snorts and wipes the chalk from his mouth.

‘Finished.’

‘You missed a spot,’ Starlight snorts.

‘Where?’

The board is magically erased. ‘There.’

‘That’s not fair! Stop doing that!’

‘Fine. I’ll just call your mother and have her come pick you up. I am certain she will love hearing why she is called away from her stall.’

Satsuma holds back a scream. After getting yelled at the first night and having his mother try to talk with him last night, the young colt does not want to face Applejack again. He just takes a deep breath, sighs and looks away. ‘Whatever.’

Starlight frowns and looks towards the door. ‘Go home.’ He levitates his brother’s saddlebag to him. ‘We can pretend this didn’t happen.’

Satsuma nods and trots to the door. Starlight gets his pack and follows.

‘See you tomorrow, little brother.’

Something inside Satsuma snaps. He plants his forelegs and raises his hind legs. ‘Stop calling me that!’

The young colt bucks backwards as hard as he can. He catches Starlight in the chest and sends the unicorn flying across the room. The older brother picks himself up from under a destroyed cupboard. He growls and a glow surrounds his horn. The younger pony is lifted and slammed into the wall. In an instant, Starlight is across the room and pinning his brother up by the neck with a foreleg.

‘What the hell is your problem!’ Starlight shouts. ‘I have tried to be nothing but nice to you! Even when you were being a total flankhole, I did my best to be friendly! You just had to keep pushing me away, didn’t you! What is it that I supposedly did to you! TELL ME!’

The smaller pony struggles under the pressure placed on him. Starlight growls and presses harder. Satsuma barely gets a foreleg to his brother’s.

‘You’re... hurting... me...’ the young colt rasps.

Starlight snorts and drops Satsuma to the ground. The young colt gasps for breath.

‘Get the frak out of here,’ Starlight snarls. ‘I’ll ask Apple Bloom to take over tomorrow. With any luck, we will never see each other again.’

Satsuma picks himself up and adjusts his glasses. He stares at his older brother.

‘Get lost before I do something stupid again! You don’t want to know the kind of spells mom doesn’t know that I know. You don’t want to know what dad would do if he hears about what just happened.’

‘... I might want to know...’

‘What? You want to see me in trouble! If you think your mother yelling at you is bad, that is only the tip of the iceberg with our father when he is angry! I have seen him literally rip whole planets apart to save my mom! I’ll be lucky if he ever lets me out of the TARDIS again if he found out I hurt you...’

‘No... I don’t want to see you hurt. I...’ Satsuma starts crying. ‘I just want to know about dad...’

‘What?’

‘You got to spend so much time with him. You got to grow up with him. I only met him the one time, a week ago!’ the younger pony sobs. ‘Mom and Rei and Apple Bloom... All of you got to spend so much time with him. I’m jealous. I am jealous that you get to know dad, and I don’t.’

‘Really? That is why you have been so upset with me?’

Satsuma nods and wipes his tears.

Starlight sighs and looks at the floor. ‘I guess it really would suck not being able to get to know your own father... But it is not like you couldn’t have asked any of us. Sure, I’ve spent more time with him than Rei, Applejack, Pinkie, Lucas and Apple Bloom combined, but mom and Celestia have spent even more time with him than me. You could have asked any of us about him.’

‘I guess... I guess I was too scared to ask.’

‘We're family. You have nothing to worry about.’

‘My whole family changed practically overnight. It feels weird and strange.’

‘Just give it a few months and it will get weirder with Pinkie’s child.’

Satsuma grimaces. ‘Don’t remind me.’

‘Hey. I know some spells... We could...’

‘No. I... I don’t want to cheat and build my picture of him from displaced experiences. I want to hear about him from you.’

‘I’m honored.’

‘You and everyone else. I want to hear everypony’s version of him. That way I am sure to get the most complete version.’

‘I can arrange that. Well, maybe not me exactly.’ Starlight gets out his mobile. ‘Hey Pinkie? Think you can get everypony who knew my father together tonight? Satsuma and I want to ask everypony a few questions. … Thanks. And no, you are not eating too much candy.’

Starlight hangs up, and the brothers laugh at their secret knowledge. The older brother helps Satsuma to his hooves, and they trot from the schoolhouse.

‘Hey Starlight...’

‘Yeah?’

‘Thanks, big brother.’

Starlight smiles and ruffles his brother’s mane.

Author's Note:

Starlight Timeline: First time teaching at the schoolhouse.

Satsuma Timeline: Accepts Starlight as his (older?) brother.

Story Timeline: One week since The Master Game.

Story Event: The title is a reference to Variable Substitution, the first time TWP taught at the schoolhouse.

Comments

[VedaQuila]

Brotherly love. Siblings can be the most annoying, arrogant, self-centred, stupid and crafty beings ever, but they can also be caring, hospitable, funny, wise, 20% cooler, a friend and overall just perfect. But pretty much all the time they're the first list.

[Djerid]

went through this chapter, understood why i did not like starlight straight away, also, you do not describe cutie marks, or lack thereof in any of the characters i have checked in this time.i was kinda lucky to get a decent description of satsuma in the first place i checked(the master game), plus a image from google. its these little details that annoy me if i try to draw your characters.

[WanderingPhysicist]

3410859

Noted. Adding links to my art blog on tamblr and on Deviant Art to each story description now.

Except for RoH Razzly, every character should have their pony and humanized form sketched with their cutie marks (or future cutie marks) on their humanized versions for now and a slow trickle on their pony versions in recent sketches. Warning: Contains spoilers and peanut products