Winter Heat
Main Characters: Starlight, Del
Cameos: Night Light, Perfect Score
Original Start Date: October 25, 2013
Del presses her face against the airship window, agape. The changeling stares at the serene tropical scenery below her. Beside her, Starlight works on his mobile while Night Light reads a book.
‘This is so exciting,’ Del cheers. ‘I’ve never been to Bermuleda before.’
Night Light turns a page. ‘One of the perks of being the head of the Equestria Teacher’s Association. I get to schedule these meetings wherever I like. I figure it is a nice change of scenery from a wintery Equestria.’ He smiles. ‘Though we will have meetings, I arranged plenty of time to take in the beaches.’
‘A few years ago,’ Starlight begins, ‘mom and dad took me to a planet that is all beaches. It was around their anniversary. They left me in my hotel room while they were out doing something. Their loss. They didn’t get to meet all the cool crab people.’ He laughs. ‘Mermen.’ He sighs. ‘What could my parents have been doing to miss such a fun time?’
Del looks at Night Light. The older stallion turns another page. ‘They’re your parents too. Enjoy that realization for yourself.’
The changeling shudders. ‘Thanks, grandpa.’
Starlight looks up from his mobile. ‘Grandpa?’
Night Light keeps reading. ‘You didn’t know? Right before they left on their honeymoon, Twilight adopted Del as well. She’s as close to can being your sister without being a blood relative. … Or even the same tribe as any of your family.’
Del laughs and nuzzles Starlight. ‘Don’t worry. I love my big brother a lot.’
Starlight laughs as well and turns back to his mobile.
Starlight and Del chat in a hotel lobby. Most of the other patrons avoid the changeling. Some give her dirty looks. Night Light comes over, levitating a pair of keys. He gives one to Starlight.
‘Hope you two don’t mind sharing a room,’ the grandfather says. ‘I figure you’re both grownups.’ He pauses. ‘Starlight, are you making faces at other travellers?’
The younger unicorn raises an eyebrow. ‘No.’
‘Oh. Then your face is always like that.’
Starlight groans while the others laugh. A green unicorn trots past them.
‘Actually taking time off for this?’ Night Light comments.
Perfect Score stops and turns back. ‘My school is perfectly fine without my glorious leadership for a few days.’
‘Hey, Prefect!’ Starlight waves. ‘Do you know where your towel is?’
The other unicorn shudders. ‘What is that thing doing here?’
‘Del isn’t a “thing”. She’s my sister.’
‘I was talking about you, but that explains a lot too.’
Del bares her fangs at Perfect Score.
Night Light steps between his granddaughter and Perfect Score. ‘Settle down. Cheerilee is busy. Del is a new teacher in the district, and Starlight is showing her the ropes.’
‘First him. Now a changeling.’ The green unicorn turns away. ‘What’s next? Hiring a Diamond Dog to teach a magic class?’
Del growls at the leaving unicorn. Starlight sticks his tongue out.
‘Come on,’ Night Light sighs. ‘Let’s get to our rooms. We’ll have plenty of time to deal with him when the conference starts.’
At the first meeting of the Equestria Teacher’s Association, the new guests are doing their introductions. Some of the other instructors and administrators whisper to each other while Del talks.
‘...And I guess chewy chocolate bars too...’ Del thinks. ‘I guess I like all types of candy. As for...’
‘Thank you, Del. That’s enough,’ Night Light interrupts. ‘I think we all know you well enough now, as well as knowing your love of candy… Now, I believe we are all well acquainted. This will make our meetings the next couple days go much smoother.’ He stands. ‘I know this was a short first meeting, but it is best to get this sort of bookkeeping done first.
‘I still don’t see why you would let that thing in here,’ Perfect Score grumbles.
Night Light turns to the younger unicorn. ‘I remind you that she did mention that she was adopted by my daughter and her husband. I would suggest refraining from such inflammatory comments again.’
‘I’m just saying that it is a little dangerous letting a changeling so close to our nation’s foals. It could be a ruse to feed off the love and respect foals have towards their educators.’ He glares at Del. ‘Though how anypony could love you is beyond me.’
‘You’re lucky I’m nonviolent or else you might be missing a trachea right now,’ Del snarls.
‘Very charming attitude. I am completely reassured.’
‘Just because she is a changeling, it doesn’t mean Del will harm anypony,’ Starlight argues. ‘You know as well as I that Celestia granted changelings equal rights to ponies.’
‘I am not arguing rights. I am just saying that it might not be the safest profession for her, and, from what I can tell, she seems less qualified than you to be teaching. Who hired her anyway?’
‘I did.’
Perfect Score rolls his eyes. ‘That is a big shocker. Only you would allow a terrifying beast near foals.’
‘Enough!’ Starlight shouts. ‘Del is not a monster! She is a kind, intelligent and beautiful young mare! I am proud to call her my sister, and I love her with all my heart. I doubt you understand what that emotion is, but I am sure she could teach you.’
Perfect Score rises to argue, but Night Light magically muzzles the other other unicorns.
‘That is enough,’ the older unicorn barks. ‘Del has proven herself as a teacher based on the Education Department’s guidelines. Her tribe is not an issue and never will be. I suggest we drop the subject and move on or you will be finding the next airship out of here, both of you.’
Perfect Score sits. ‘Yes, sir.’
Starlight frowns. ‘Sorry, grandpa.’
Del pats her brother’s back.
Night Light shakes his head and sighs. ‘As I was trying to say before we got distracted, this meeting is over for today. Enjoy the rest of your evening. We will meet again in the morning.’ The older unicorn bows and goes to the door. He mumbles, ‘Now to find the bar...’
The other instructors and administrators leave the conference hall. Del sits with her brother while he waits for Perfect Score to leave. The young unicorn gets up in a huff.
‘Let’s go to dinner,’ Starlight snorts, leaving.
Del sighs and follows her brother.
…
Starlight and Del give their orders to a waiter. Other diners look over at the changeling dining near them. The siblings ignore the whispers around them. The waitress nods as she writes the order.
‘Oh! And can I get a big glass of apple juice too?’ Del asks.
‘Of course, ma’am.’
‘Thank you!’ Del smiles widely.
‘And thank you for not ordering meat.’
The changeling frowns. ‘I don’t eat meat.’
The waitress trots away. ‘Of course you don’t.’
Del grumbles.
‘Forget her,’ Starlight says. ‘She just doesn’t know you.’
‘Nopony outside of home knows me… Everypony hates me...’
‘Excuse me?’
The siblings look. A young filly stands by the table holding a magazine.
‘Are you the model?’ the filly asks. The magazine shows Del modeling a dress. ‘You’re really pretty.’
Del blushes. ‘Th-thank you.’
‘Can I get your autograph?’
Del nods and signs the magazine.
‘Thank you! I hope I can be as pretty as you one day.’
Del blushes brighter than her mane. The filly returns to her table and proudly shows her parents the autograph.
Starlight smiles at his sister. ‘See. Not everypony judges you by how you look. … Okay. That was a bad example because you were just admired for being beautiful.’
The changeling whispers, ‘I’m not beautiful.’
Starlight takes Del’s hoof. ‘You are beautiful. You really are a smart and beautiful mare. Other ponies either don’t know you or are jealous that you are such a wonderful pony.’
‘Thank you, Starlight. You remind me a lot of dad when you say that.’
‘It is the truth. If you ever need a reminder, don’t be afraid to ask.’
Del looks at her brother and smiles. ‘Can you call me beautiful again?’
Starlight laughs and continues complimenting his sister.
The siblings return to their room late in the evening. After dinner, they explored the resort, even catching their grandfather lounging by the pool. Back in their room, Del finishes a fourth dessert while Starlight does some work in bed. The stallion yawns and stretches.
‘I think it is time we hit the sack,’ Starlight says. ‘Gramps is going to keep us busy tomorrow.’
Del moans as she takes the last bite of her snack. ‘Fine...’
Starlight puts his mobile away and stretches out. Del smiles and crawls into bed. She lays on top of her brother, nuzzles him and kisses his cheek.
‘Del?’
She rubs her head on him more. ‘I love you, Starlight.’
‘I love you too, Del, but can I have some space?’
Del sigh contently. ‘I really love you.’
The changeling purrs as she falls asleep on top of her brother. Starlight groans and tries sleeping too.
Starlight yawns as he trots to the meeting in the morning. Despite his larger sister sleeping on him and scratching her fangs on him when she nuzzled his cheek, the young stallion is relatively well rested. His grandfather greets him near the meeting room.
‘Good morning, starshine,’ Night Light greets.
‘Very funny.’
The older unicorn laughs and checks his mobile. ‘Hopefully this will be a short meeting. I want to get in some windsurfing later.’
‘Windsurfing? You?’
‘If it is anything like sky diving, I should be a natural.’
‘What?’
The older unicorn smiles. ‘What? Did you think your mother was the only one who’s done some flying?’
‘Just hard imagining you jumping from an airship for fun.’
‘Who said it was off an airship or for fun?’
The younger unicorn looks surprised. Del trots up with a box of donuts. Night Light tries taking one, getting a flash of fangs as a warning.
‘You seem to be in good spirits,’ Night Light notices.
Del nuzzles Starlight. ‘I spent the whole night with the cuddliest little brother ever.’
Before Starlight can say anything, Del licks his horn. The unicorns’ eyes go wide in shock.
‘Del, why did you just lick me?’
The changeling smiles. ‘I used to see daddy do that to mommy all the time. Doesn’t it mean that I love you?’
Starlight coughs. ‘Y-yes, but it also… I mean...’ He looks at his grandfather for support.
Night Light rolls his eyes. ‘What he is trying to say is that you shouldn’t do that again without his permission.’
Del frowns. ‘Okay.’ She kisses Starlight. ‘See you inside.’
The changeling enters the conference hall. Starlight looks at his grandfather and whines. Night Light shakes his head and follows his granddaughter. The younger unicorn sighs as he enters the conference hall. Perfect Score watches disapprovingly.
…
The educators gather their belongings at the end of their meeting. Before anypony can leave, Perfect Score stands.
‘Excuse me,’ the unicorn says. ‘There is one last matter I would like to address today.’
‘What is it now?’ Night Light sighs.
‘I want to address some inappropriate behaviour of two of the attendees at this conference. Specifically, the relationship between Starlight and Del.’
‘Dude. She’s my sister,’ Starlight groans.
‘Which raises the question of why she was licking your horn.’
The other educators start whispering.
Starlight hangs his head. ‘Lay off it.’
‘I could tell you the same thing.’
The younger unicorn magically slams Perfect Score into a wall.
Night Light uses his magic to free Perfect Score. ‘Okay. This meeting is over. Everypony out. Now.’ -- everypony starts filing out -- ‘Score, Starlight, Del. Stay.’
The four ponies wait until everypony has left.
Night Light looks at the others. ‘Perfect Score, I don’t care what anypony does behind closed doors. It is their personal life. Bring this sort of crap up again, and I will bar you from all future meetings. Understood?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Get out.’ Night Light waits until the other unicorn leaves to turn to his grandchildren. ‘Del, what you did was highly inappropriate for a public display. Even if I hadn’t seen it, it would have still been wrong since Starlight is your brother. If I find out that either of you do something like that again, I don’t care what hell your parents raise, I will kick you out of the family.’ He picks up his pack. ‘Excuse me. I need to cool off for a bit.’
Night Light leaves his grandchildren alone. Starlight continues packing in silence.
‘Starlight, I...’
‘Del, I love you, but this made us both look really bad. I appreciate your affection, but can you tone it down a bit?’
‘I’m sorry.’
Starlight lifts his bag. ‘I’m going to need some time too, but I will see you later, right?’
Del nods, staring at the ground. Starlight sighs and trots away. The changeling whines once she is alone.
Del sits in the resort bar. A large glass of fruit juice sits untouched next to her. She lets out a sad moan. A sea green earth pony mare with light grey mane sits next to her.
‘Rough day, right?’ the mare asks.
‘You don’t know the half of it,’ Del sighs.
‘Actually, I do. Perfect Score is a major ass.’
Del look up. The mare smiles and extends a hoof.
‘Winter’s Howl. I am a spell engineer for Trottingham U.’
‘But you’re...’
Winter’s Howl rolls her eyes. ‘And you should have heard Perfect Score’s ranting during my first conference when I told him my profession.’
‘He’s a meanie.’
The other mare laughs. ‘That is one word for it. So, you and your brother?’
Del growls. ‘Shut up.’
‘Sorry,’ Winter’s Howl chuckles. ‘Barkeep! Get us something good and leave the bottle.’
‘But I’m not...’
‘With fangs like those, who’s going to argue?’
A pair of glasses and a bottle are set in front of the mares.
Starlight paces his room, staring at his mobile. The door opens, and Del stumbles in.
‘Del! Where have you been? I’ve been so worried about you!’
The changeling grins seductively as she staggers to her brother. ‘I’m right where you need me, handsome.’ She licks his cheek. ‘Are you going to be where I need you?’
Starlight backs away. ‘Del, are you drunk?’
She titters. ‘Maybe a little. Now, are we going to do this or what?’
‘Do what?’
Del’s grin grows. ‘Me, of course.’ She changes to look like Apple Bloom. ‘Ah can be anypony ya want me t’ be.’
‘Del! Knock it off! I’m going to see if I can stay with our grandfather if you don’t start behaving.’
Del changes back to normal and pouts. ‘I’m behaving as normal as any changeling is supposed to be.’ She sloppily climbs onto the bed and wiggles her rump in the air. ‘Now, are we going to do this or not?’ She simpers extra seductively. ‘I am a creature of love, you know.’
Starlight shakes his head. ‘No, Del. You’re my sister and drunk. This is so many shades of wrong that I don’t know where to begin. I mean, for starters, you’re...’ -- a loud snore comes from the bed -- ‘asleep.’
Starlight sighs and tries pulling a blanket from under his sister. He gets one free and lays down on the couch.
‘Wub vu,’ Del mumbles in her sleep.
‘Love you too, Del,’ Starlight moans. ‘Love you too...’
Del lets out a loud yawn and stretches as she wakes up. She looks around the room, finding Starlight eating breakfast at the table.
‘Morning,’ Del says with a smile.
‘Hey, Del,’ Starlight replies. ‘I didn’t know what you wanted so I ordered the sugariest cereal they had with chocolate milk on the side.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Del, about last night...’
‘I was drunk. Forget about it.’
‘But...’
‘And the other day, I was just tired from traveling and didn’t get enough sleep the first night. I was delirious. I wasn’t acting myself.’
‘I’m not sure I can believe you right now. You just got up from being drunk, you know.’
Del laughs nervously. ‘Changelings react to various foods differently than ponies. I was able to work out most of the alcohol last night.’ She looks away. ‘Twice. Over the balcony.’
Starlight cringes. ‘I hate to have the room below us.’
…
Perfect Score stretches as he gets up. He looks out the window at the wonderful new day greeting him. He sees the swim trunks he left on the balcony to dry overnight covered in a dark green slime. The unicorn grumbles angrily as he gets out of bed.
…
‘But, still, Del. The things you said...’
Del shakes her head. ‘I wasn’t in my right mind. You have nothing to worry about.’
Starlight gets up and heads towards the washroom. He stops and kissed Del on the forehead. ‘Thanks, Del. I believe you. Let’s get cleaned up. Maybe we will have enough time to get you another box of donuts for you not to share with the rest of us again.’ The siblings laugh. Starlight enters the washroom. He quickly ducks out. ‘No peeking, okay?’
Del smiles. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t do anything inappropriate.’
Starlight smiles and closes the door.
Del frowns. ‘No matter how much I want to...’
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I thought starlight already knew that del was his sis? Was this really The First time that it had Been Mentioned?
Like to vote for Another Perspective chapter.
EDIT: since it appears i cannot vote for my own comment, i add one to this tally
Like to vote for no Another Perspective Chapter
3469827
Starlight knew Del was adopted by his father, but he didn't know Twilight also adopted her as well. If I had them talking about both parents before, then I totally spaced when writing that moment and completely apologize for messing up.
3470762 that clears it up entirely, thanks.
im predicting Del is not in her best mind, either by forces outside or biological. this chapter, when read in this context, does seem odd for her. outside that context it can make some modicum of sense.
Two other's.
Who else got muzzled?