> The Story of Starlight (Rewritten) > by Starlight Dash > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: A Gift or Mistake? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: A Gift or Mistake? Celestia stood staring at a yellow orb her eyes low with sadness as she casts the final protection spell upon the orb which was lodged deeply in the center of a pedestal of gold. She turned to leave. Before she left she sneaked another look at a black Alicorn with a pink mane and tail which was contained within the globe. "Forgive me." she says the sadness trailing through her body and up to her throat. Celestia leaves; closing the thick magic seal doors behind her and locking them tight with her own magic. -Present Day- Twilight trots happily throughout the castle saying hi and waving to everypony she passes; being careful not hit them with her wings. She continues her lovely trot through the Canterlot gardens. "I'm gonna take the maze this time a little change of scenery never hurt anypony!" Twilight trots along through the maze which was much easier considering she had her horn and a pair wings this time around. Twilight observed the maze as she trotted noticing something strange at one point in her walk the leaves on one part of the maze began look slightly grayer than the other around it. "Weird." Twilight said. Instead of freaking out over the matter Twilight continued on, but something in her brain gnawed at her telling her something wasn't right. Twilight pushed the thought far away from her mind and carried on. ------------------------- Celestia one of the rulers of Equestria walks through the halls of her castle quietly in the dark night. She stops at the door to her sisters room. The princess opens the door with her magic. The room was darkly lit with blue and black candles and crystals along with the decor. Celestia's sister Luna stands at her balcony staring at the maze as her mane flows in the cold crisp wind of the night. Princess Celestia walks up to the side of Luna. "I'm going to visit her again." Luna stays silent. Celestia pushes again to get a response. "Would you like to come with me Luna?" Luna speaks up. "I'm sorry sister but it is too painful to face a foal we have corrupted." "Luna that wasn't your fault and you saved her life!" "We have caused her to feel the sadness of being torn away from her mother and this world!" Celestia backs off slightly. "I understand then." The sun goddess leaves her younger sister to mourn alone. "Goodnight Luna." Celestia leaves and starts her long trek to the middle of the maze -The next day- Twilight casually walks through castle saying hello to everypony just like yesterday, but instead today she has decided to check on what has been gnawing at her brain for hours, the part of the maze where she first noticed the discolored leaves. Last time she simply wrote it off as some dying plants, or mishap with the pesticides. "I need to know for sure." Twilight was always set off by the littlest of things and sometimes that was good at times her instincts have helped Equestria in the past, but sometimes they have caused more trouble than good. Twilight thrusts her thoughts away as she arrives at the same spot she found the decaying leaves yesterday only to find a hole through the hedge to the middle of the maze. "What in Starswirls beard is going on here!" Twilight says shocked. Twilight walks through the hole to the middle of the maze which was covered in dead leaves except for a circle in the middle. "Strange. This part isn't cover by leaves" Twilight says as she walks over to the circle. The circle begins to glow white then black for a few seconds. "What the?" Twilight touches the ground. It begins crumble away like it was thousands of years old. Everything in the hole looked old except for a white crystal star in the middle. The star was white then black almost like it was fighting for control. Twilight levitates the star up to her face to examine it closer. There was a white and black side each fighting for control of the star. Twilight goes to touch the and is shocked being thrown backward as little images and memories flow around her. Twilight lands on the ground as the star levitates still above the ground. She struggles to stand having understand the stars purpose. "I-I understand now." Twilight regains her strength grabbing the star and rushing back to the castle as fast as she can. "I have to get to the castle." Twilight rushes past guards and the princess of the night. Twilight arrives at the said location of her target but, there was nothing here but a dead end. "I don't understand. Its supposed to be here!" The star starts to glow as Twilight searches for a hidden door of some kind anything at this point. The star shines then releases a blinding light the wall starts to peel away and dissolve revealing a door looking almost good as new. "I see." Twilight runs her hooves across the door taking in every feature. It was purple with a golden trim at the edge with a star shaped indent in the middle. Twilight takes out the star and wastes no time putting the star into the slot. The star falls and shatters on the floor as Twilight fails to catch it. The door begins to open the magic that was once contained in the star was now coursing through the door powering it. Twilight rushes inside horn ready only to discover everything was not as it seemed. The room looked brand new like it has been watched over for quite some time but that wasn't the kicker, there in the middle of the room was a yellow orb which was lodged deeply in the center of a pedestal of gold with two rings one slightly smaller than the other they were rotating all around the orb which held a black Alicorn with a pink mane and tail. Twilight goes to touch the orb mesmerized by it. "Twilight stop!" Celestia yelled. Twilight turned around happier than ever. "Princess Celestia your ok!!" Twilight says rushing to her. "Yes I am perfectly fine why wouldn't I be?" Celestia says embracing Twilight into a hug. "The star it showed me images of you writhing in pain being hurt and tortured." Celestia looks over at the now shattered star. "I see now. The star can show the holder good or bad memories to attract other ponies here." "What is this place and who is that pony?" Twilight blurts out. Celestia holds up her hoof calming Twilight down. "This place was made to hold that pony." "But why?... She looks so young." Twilight says staring at the floating pony. "Something...happened a very long time ago and she had to be dealt with.. for the safety of Equestria." Celestia looks down saddened. Twilight looks at her teacher, she was hardly ever sad but this was something else. She was hurt a long time ago and it was related to this one pony. The princess perks up "Come Twilight maybe we can discuss this over some snacks?" Celestia asks smiling slightly. Twilight shakes her head "I'm sorry princess it's getting late and a princess needs her sleep!" "Of course goodnight Twilight Sparkle. I shall be here attending to...her." Twilight walks away slowly trying not to make eye contact with Celestia or the other pony. Twilight arrives at her room finally she was quite tired after a long day of exploring. "I'm sure this will all blow over tomorrow and everything will go back to normal." Twilight says slivering into the covers. Twilight tosses and turns in the middle of the night as she has nightmares about the mysterious pony. A hoof shakes Twilight lightly, when she doesn't awake it shakes her much harder making twilight shoot up panting in cold sweat. "Twilight Sparkle." the pony whispers Twilight looks around. "Who's there?" Twilight focuses harder. Twilight soon realizes that the pony standing beside her was Princess Luna. "Princess Luna what are you-" Twilight's speech is cut short by Luna's hoof. "We need to be quiet. We are getting her out." Twilight immediately knew who Luna meant. Twilight gets out of bed peeling the wet sheets off her body. "Luna she was crying for help. She... She was so alone no pony to hold her or comfort her." Luna looks down saddened. "We both should have been there for her." Twilight looks into Luna's eyes. "Luna what happened? Who is that pony?" "Her name is Starlight. Now come we don't have much time before sunrise." Instead of answers Twilight was left with more questions, she finally decided to follow Luna after cleaning herself up. Twilight walks into her bathroom and runs cool water over a washclothe. She ran the cool washclothe across her body as she cleaned off her fur. It made her feel good and refreshed like she was ready for anything. After cleaning up she follows Luna to the room she found the pony in before. Starlight was still there floating lonely. The room was dark and had an eery feel causing a shiver to go down Twilight's spine. Luna steps in front of Twilight. "Here is what I need you to do. I need you to pull her out when I break through the bubble shield." Twilight nods then walks over standing next to the pony. Twilight waits as Luna takes her stance a few feet away. All of sudden there was a clop of hooves coming from the hallway. Twilight looks down it to find Celestia racing toward them. "Luna! Twilight! Stop!" Luna wastes no time just as Celestia reaches the room Luna's magic hits the shield this causes a violent explosion knocking all of them out. After a certain time passes Celestia opens her eyes to find Starlight standing over her. "Mommy?" > Chapter 2: Starswirl No More? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2: Starswirl No More? Celestia stares in awe as possibly the most dangerous pony in all of Equestria was standing on top of her calling her mommy. "Mommy is something wrong?" Celestia says nothing as she hears the clop of hooves emitting from the hallway. Guards ran through halls to discover what had caused the explosion. The guards stop and stare as they see the younger Alicorn standing over the Princess. They use their first instinct and pointed their horns at Starlight. "Back up!" "Hooves to the wall!" Starlight with a worried expression on her face backs up as they ask. Starlight eventually hits the wall and falls on her butt, she closes her eyes and prepares for the end till Celestia speaks up. "Enough! Leave her be." Celestia says struggling to stand up. The guards leave Starlight and help Princess Celestia up on her hooves then go to tend to the other princesses. Starlight runs back over to her mother. "Mommy did I do something wrong?" Celestia bites her lip then speaks. "um uh honey why dont you go play?" Starlight jumps up "Ok!" she says smiling with her eyes closed. Starlight runs off as Celestia begins to attend to the foals mess. "We need to get a clean up crew in here as well as construction workers." Starlight runs through each all smiling as if she knew where she was going. She stops at this large wooden door and pushes it open. "Starsw-" Starlight stops backs up and runs out of the room as soon as she arrived. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Celestia directs ponies on individual projects while she observes blueprints on a desk. She stops as she hears Starlight yelling. "Starlight?" She yells back. Celestia abandons the desk and runs after the sound of her daughters voice. She runs into Starlight right as she rounds the corner exiting the long hallway. They both fall on their butts, Starlight hops right back up as if it was nothing and begins blurting out. "Mommy mommy Starswirls rooms gone and I cant find Starswirl anywhere!!!" Celestia stops and freezes. She eventually regains her composure then attends to the problem at hoof. "Starlight um sweetie pumpkin... Starswirl is. hes not um." Celestia looks at Starlight who is eagerly awaiting answer. Celestia takes a deep breathe. "Starlight Starswirl is no longer with us." Starlight gasps and begins to tear up slightly. Celestia comforts Starlight as she begins to cheer back. "Hes in a better place right mommy?" "Of course sweetie I'm sure hes looking down smiling at both of us." "Wait a minute! Starswirl? As in the Starswirl the bearded?! How long has this foal been around for?!" Twilight says walking over Celestia sighs. "Come we shall discuss this elsewhere." As Celestia walks away Starlight follows bounding ahead. Celestia takes Twilight arrive to the royal gardens whilst keeping a close eye on Starlight. They both sit down at a marble table residing in the grass. "Where to begin." "How about from the start Princess?" "Yes. Starlight was well meant to protect Equestria if the Elements of Harmony were to ever failed, but as time wondered on I grew attached to her." Celestia struggles on that last part. "But how could one normal pony protect all of Equestria?" "She's.. She's not normal she made purely from magic. Specifically mine, Lunas, and." Celestia gulps. "Nightmare Moons..." "W-what?" Twilight says slightly afraid. "On the longest of day of the year. Years after the imprisonment of Nightmare Moon. I had taken a walk with Starlight to help me forget the horrible tragedy that happened that date.. But something happened." Celestia struggles to say the words. "Princess?" "Starlight ran away from me thinking playing a game would cheer me up. S-she strayed onto the Canterlot stations train tracks." The Princess was on the verge of tears at this point. "Her body was still developing getting stronger as it was supposed to be, but it wasn't strong enough to stop a full on train. A train came and slammed into her running her over. I took her to the hospital. The nurses said she was going to die." "What happened?" Twilight presses. "A miracle.. Nightmare Moon appeared by her bedside and offered the chance to save her. Any good my sister had left that night was displayed as she had healed Starlight with dark magic. I don't know how she was able to appear I always assumed it was some sort of illusion magic Luna was always an expert at it." Celestia says calming down slightly. "How did she get sealed up?" Twilight asks. "I sealed her up when she was released from the hospital. I was afraid she would grow evil and corrupt just as Luna had." Starlight runs over to Celestia levitating flowers above her head. "Mommy mommy I picked these for you!" Starlight says levitating the flowers over. Celestia smiles. "Thank you dear their beautiful!" Twilight interrupts. "Wait wait this doesn't explain how she knows Starswirl the bearded!" Celestia chuckles slightly. "Starlight has been around for hundreds of years. It was Starswirl who had helped developed the spell to create her. He was her magic tutor. Starlight was always such a fast learner just like you Twilight." Twilight looks over at Starlight who just smiles. "Maybe its time we head back I'm sure Starlight would love to play with Auntie Woona?" Celestia says hinting at the Woona part. "Auntie Woona is no longer scary?!" Starlight says in disbelief "She was cured long ago sweetie and I'm sure she would love to see you!" Starlight runs back to the castle at blinding speeds. "WOOOONAAA!!!!" Starlight says giggling. Twilight looks toward Princess Celestia. "Princess what are you going to do now?" Celestia looks at Twilight. "Give somepony a chance like I should have." By the time Celestia arrives back to her room she notices a bump in her covers. "Hmm I wonder where Starlight could be?" Celestia walks over to her bed and removes her covers to find her extra boots and crown and not a black and pink foal. Starlight falls from the ceiling on top of her mother. "I got you mommy!" She says giggling. "Indeed you did! Your such a smart little foal!" Celestia begins tickling her daughter. From the doorway Luna and Twilight stand staring. Luna is smiling widely as she watches her sister have a tickle war with Starlight. "I knew this was the right choice." Luna turns to Twilight. "Thank you Princess Twilight for all your help now our sister can be happy again." "Anytime Princess Luna." Twilight parts ways with Luna and goes to her room to finally have a good nights rest. -5 hours later- Celestia wakes up groggy and tired. It was late at night apparently she fell asleep after the tickle war. She looks over to her left to see a Starlight asleep but shivering. She puts the covers over the foal and kisses her on the head. "Good night baby girl." Celestia snuggles back under the covers and falls asleep. > Chapter 3: First Threat > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3: First Threat Starlight yawns as the sun tries to wake her from her slumber. "Mommy turn down the sun.. Five more minutes." Starlight says puling the covers over her head. Starlight opens her eyes to find her mother was gone and she was alone... again. Starlight gets out of her mothers bed and makes the bed with her magic. She begins her long trek through the castle which was strangely empty. "Mooooooommmmmyyyyyy. Wooooooonaaaaa." Starlight hears a shuffle echo through the castle. "Mommy? Woona is that you?" Starlight runs backward passing a few corners then jumps out into the open. "Boo!" Starlight stops. The room had the basic castle design but this one had a large staircase in the middle, but that wasn't the sight that took her breathe away. It was all the countless guards littered across the floor. Starlight runs over and tries waking one of them. He was a Pegasus standard gold armor plate and helmet. she pokes him. He groans. "What happened? Wheres my mommy?!" "Princess up there." He says pointing to the staircase before fainting. Starlight rushes upward as fast as she can. ------- Celestia struggled to stand as she was weak from the multiple hits by her attacker. "You are a tough one aren't you princess?" "Surrender now and I won't hurt you." Celestia slips falling slightly before regaining her struggled stance. "Now I don't think your in the position to make demands." Starlight reaches the top and tries the door but it was locked and covered in a purplish blue aura. She begins to pound on it. "Mommy are you ok?!" "Starlight go leave get far away from here!" Celestia yells. "I didn't know the so called protector of Equestria is back. No matter she was never meant for such a task." The assailant levitates Celestia off the ground in purplish blue magic and begins to choke her out. "AT LAST I CAN FINISH WHAT LUNA COULD NOT!! AHAHAHAHA!" The Pony shouts. All of a sudden the glass ceiling of the room shatters as Starlight comes striking down between the pony and her mother. "Get away from her!" Starlight gasps at the pony. "N-nighty." "Hello pretty girl nice to see you again." "You're supposed to be gone! Mommy told me Woona was no longer scary!" "Dear child I am no longer bound to that pathetic pony. I am now my own physical form!" "Starlight please go get of here!" "Silence!" Nightmare Moon yells slamming her hooves into the ground. "Don't worry mommy I can take her." Starlight prepares a battle stance. "Ahahahahaha you little foal you really believe you can take on somepony who bested your own mother and your aunt!?" Starlight charges forward at blinding speeds. Nightmare casts a single lightning bolt upon her but Starlight flips over it then jumps on Nightmare Moons head and into the air. She uses her wings to flip facing Nightmare and fires a large beam of magic at Nightmare. "AH!" Nightmare says falling slightly. Starlight uses her magic to allow her to stick to the wall and run around the room barraging Nightmare with bolts of magic. Starlight as the finishing blow jumps off the wall spinning forward. Starlight's tail begins to have a thin coat of crystal form around it. She then hits Nightmare across the head and lands then spins around slamming it into the side of Nightmare Moon causing her to crash through the wall and fall to the depths below. Starlight stands looking over the hole her face full of slight angry and sadness. "S-starlight." Starlight runs back over to her mother to tend to her. The Princess had slashes, cuts, and bruises all over her body. She also had a cracked horn and her wing was bent awkwardly. "Don't worry mommy it will be ok." The door crashes open as a mix of lunar and celestial guards fill the room. Starlight's horn glows as she prepares for another battle. Twilight comes racing in and sees Celestia in her current state. "Princess!" A doctor comes in after and begins his analysis on Celestia. Luna comes through the doorway her wing was bandaged as well as her right hoof and her horn. She walks up behind Starlight. "Come lets leave the doctor to his work." Starlight turns to Luna. "I can help Luna please! I can help mommy!" Starlight runs and jumps but is stopped by Luna's magic. "Mommy! Let me go! Mommy!" Starlight yells tears forming. -5 hours later- Luna lays outside her sisters hospital room on a blanket, a daring do book by her side and a sleeping Starlight under her wing. The doctor comes out lowering his mask with his magic. "She'll live. She was in a poor state anymore abuse and she would not have lived to see another day." Luna looks down at Starlight. The doctor kneels and puts his head to Luna's level. "You can go see her if you like." "Yes thank you doctor. Do you mind watching her?" "Not at all Princess." Luna walks in to see her sister laying in a hospital bed. Celestia turns her head to Luna. "Luna." "Hello sister." "How is she?" "She's tired but fine. She's asleep now." "She saved me Luna." "What?" "Starlight saved me from Nightmare Moon." "Nightmare Moon is back?! How?!" Luna asks frantically. "I do not know but that is not important now." Luna stops and calms back down. "Luna please take care of her till I get back. I want her to be safe. She never asked for this." "Of course sister." "I'll see you tomorrow then." "Goodnight sister dear." "Goodnight Luna." Luna leaves turning off the light. When she gets back out she finds that Starlight is sucking a pacifier and the blanket draped over her. "She was having nightmares. We use the pacifiers to help calm foals who have them." "Thank you. If there is anything you need please let me know." Luna levitates everything into her saddlebags and the pacifier back over to the doctor. "Please keep it." Luna puts it into the saddlebag. She places the bags on and Starlight on her back. Luna begins her trek back to the castle where she lays Starlight down on her sisters bed. Luna puts the comforter over Starlight and gets into her own bed. "Goodnight little one you deserve a good rest." Luna turns out the light and goes to sleep. > Chapter 4: Training > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4: Training Starlight jumps along in pure daylight above her levitating a box of chocolates and flowers. "I wonder if mommy will appreciate the chocolates and flowers? What do you think Woona?" Luna giggles. "I'm sure your mother will love them!" Starlight gallops along as she enters the Canterlot hospital Luna not far behind. Ponies bow in the presence of Princess Luna the pony of the night, but Starlight was another story ponies just stared at her weirdly. Starlight stops at Celestia's room waiting for Luna. She knocks as Luna arrives. "Come in." Starlight bursts in screaming "SURPRISE!!!" Celestia giggles not scared at all. "Hello Starlight." Starlight runs and flies onto the over sized hospital bed. "Mommy look what me and Woona got you!!" Starlight says levitating the chocolates and flowers over to Celestia. "Oh my thank you they're beautiful" Celestia says putting them on the table next you her oversized hospital bed. "Mommy when are you coming home?" Celestia stops, she finally speaks up again after. "Starlight could you give me and Luna a minute? Maybe go look at all the sleeping foal!" "Ok!" Starlight says running off. Once gone Luna's expression turns more serious. "Something wrong?" "Starlight needs training." "But sister I thought she wasn't-" Luna was cut of my Celestia raising a hoof. "She needs to go to the Crystal Empire to train with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor." "She just got you back and you want to send her away again!" "I'm sorry but if Nightmare Moon is truly back we a strong pony to help defend Equestria and I really hate to say it, but Starlight is that pony." "I...I understand." Starlight comes rushing back. "Mommy! One the foals waved at me!" Starlight stopped talking obviously knowing something was wrong. "Mommy is something wrong?" Celestia begins talking her voice a little broken "Starlight we.... I think it's time you were sent away to train." "Is it something I did?!" Celestia pulls her close "No no! You did nothing wrong, but Nightmare Moon is back and mommy can't protect Equestria like she used to. That's where you come in! Mommy needs to be the strongest you can be physically." Celestia points at Starlight chest "and mentally." Celestia points to Starlight's head. Starlight sniffles. "Ok mommy!" Starlight backs up and stands tall "I promise to become super duper strong!" Celestia smiles "Good." Starlight says her goodbye's to Celestia as Luna take her homes. When they arrive back Starlight walks to her room not saying anything. "Poor Starlight." The rest of the night was uneventful mostly packing things for Starlight and the pony herself sleeping. When it came time Starlight put on her saddlebags Luna escorted her to the train station. "I hate this place Woona." "I know you do, but I can't fly you there I have to stay and watch your mommy." Luna hugs Starlight tightly. "You'll do great! I'm sure your gonna love Cadence and Shining Armor!" "Woona am I the only pony who can save us?" Luna looked down at Starlight smiling sadly. "Yes you are." The train arrives and Luna gives the pony one more hug before Starlight departs onto the train. Starlight stared at Luna as she waved goodbye while the train began its departure. Starlight look back from the window and noticed many ponies staring at her. I guess it was weird for an Alicorn to be using a train especially one of her size regardless she ignored them and sat back enjoying the ride. She eventually fell into a deep sleep. In the dream Starlight dreamt of her mother when she was a filly and Luna wishing she could have been born with them and avoid this accursed fate. A bump from the train woke Starlight up it was raining outside. "I must have been out for awhile." The train conductor speaks through the intercom "We shall be arriving at the Crystal Empire shortly please be sure to gather all your belongings and we hope you have had a pleasant trip." Starlight sits and cracks her back levitating her saddlebags on. The rain began to disperse as the ground become a bright green field and the skies were a rich blue with no clouds at all. "Wow this is beautiful... Time to grow up Starlight." Starlight got as the train stopped some ponies tumbled over by accident Starlight was unfazed and began her walk off the train. Starlight raised her hoof in front of her face as the sun gleamed down upon her. Starlight looked around for awhile not knowing where to go till she finally decided to ask somepony. She grabbed a glimmering random pony by the shoulder. "Excuse miss! Do you know where I could find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor?" The pony was about to speak, but a pony grabs her shoulder from behind. Starlight without thinking spins around her tail crystallized and slams a guard across the crystal road. Starlight's face goes from readiness to worried. "Oh no.." She runs over to the guard. "I am so sorry are you ok?!" The guard was limping now the second guard that was apparently with him comes to his aid and supports him. The second one speaks up. "Go up the stairs that are at the one of the legs to the giant dome castle." The guards walk and limp off leaving a very shamed Starlight alone. Starlight flies toward the stairs and walks up them which lead her to a crystal lobby with two large doors the larger ones to her left and smaller to her right. Beyond the larger doors she could hear talking. She sneaks to the doorway and peers around it to get a closer listen on the situation. "I see... Another missing pony. Send more search parties I will alert the family." Starlight lightly sneezes thus revealing herself to Cadence. She quickly ducks back into hiding. "You shouldn't hide from family." Cadence chuckles Starlight comes out from behind the door. "I don't think we have ever met but I am Celestia's Niece Princess Cadence." "Hi I'm Starlight! I was told to find you." Cadence walks up putting a wing over Starlight. "I'm sorry what you have to go through it isn't fair to you." Starlight jumps at the comment "I'll take anypony on that hurts others and make sure they never hurt anypony again!" "That's brave of you, but I think once Nightmare Moon is gone again everything will be peaceful." "If not I was made to do this!" Cadences strokes the foals mane with a somewhat sad face. "Why don't we go get you settled in then?" Starlight nods and follows Cadence to her room. The rest of the night went by peacefully till in the morning. Starlight peacefully sleep her worries melting away as she rests in the comfortable bed. Cadence comes in her crown and boots off. She walks over to the sleeping foal. Cadence rocks the foal slightly. "Starlight. Time to wake up." Starlight immediately got up and shot past Cadence. She was obviously excited to learn new spells and how to help rid the world of the evil that is Nightmare Moon. Starlight continues to run until running into a white pony with blue and light blue mane. "Whoa calm down there." "Starlight! Sorry Shining dear. Shes just a little excited." Cadence looks down. "Hey it's ok! This will be all over soon when shes ready." Cadence snaps "She shouldn't have to be ready Shining!! This isn't her fight! She shouldn't fight in it!" Shining Armor nuzzles Cadence "Listen I don't like it anymore than you do, but Princess Celestia said it was all up to her." Starlight sits there idle just watching the two. "Boring! Let's do this!" Starlight says running and jumping out the window. At this point Starlight jumping of ledges was normal. Shining Armor kisses Cadence then puts on his cap and begins his walk to the courtyard. -2 weeks later- Starlight's training was well spent as she learned many new and lethal spells. Starlight excelled like no other pony in learning magic and flying. Cadence was less than happy with all the training and refused to help in anyway, but not at the cost of ignoring Starlight. She tried her best to make her feel like a normal pony that had a normal life. Starlight had other ideas and constantly practiced her till her abilities were worn out for the day. The final day came and Starlight had to leave Cadence and Shining Armor, but not because she had to go back home. It was because something was wrong. --------- Starlight stood on the balcony overlooking the Crystal empire. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor both walk over to Starlight. "Are you really sure something is wrong?" "Yes. My mother is in trouble I can feel it." Starlight turns around "I must thank you both for all that you have taught and given to me." "I just wish you didn't have to fight a fight you didn't start." Cadence says looking away. "Well somepony has to do it and that pony is me!" Starlight turns around looking outward. She takes a deep breath as she prepares for what could be hers or Nightmare Moons final day on Equestria. > Chapter 5: Goodbye Celestia > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5: Goodbye Celestia Celestia struggles standing over Luna as some sort of shield. Nightmare Moon simply chuckles. "I must say Celestia you have quite the endurance, but even that won't save you from me." "I will fight and defend all that I love from somepony such as you!" Celestia spats. Nightmare Moon wipes a single bit of spit from her face frowning. "I grow tired of this game don't you think?" "I don't." Starlight says Nightmare Moon turns around to find Starlight standing amongst the two in the royal garden. "This ends Nightmare Moon." "HAHAHAHAHA doesn't the foal have somewhere to be?" "I'm not foal anymore." Starlight smiles as she disperses into a bright flash of pink energy. This reveals to Nightmare that it was a clone. She turns around and summons up a blue shield blocking the real Starlight's crystallized tail. The two part their attacks matching each others strength. Starlight flies backward doing a mid air flip. While Nightmare Moon slides back. "You've gotten stronger?" They exchanges blows again. This time Starlight speaks up "Oh? You noticed! I am so touched." She says sarcastically. Starlight splits into lines off energy and forms around the back of Nightmare taking her off guard. Starlight stomps the ground creating a violent shockwave which sends Nightmare flying through the maze that Twilight found the star in. Starlight smiles lowering her guard which was a bad idea. Nightmare phases from under Starlight lifting her up and blasting her with a large magic beam. Starlight flies upward and then begins an accelerating decline. Starlight tries to flap her wings and slow herself down, but Nightmare appears above and quickens her approach to the ground. A large crater forms as Starlight's body meets the dirt and grass. "Give up! You cannot beat me!" Nightmare stomps on Starlight's left wing and crushes it. Starlight coughs. "I just did." Starlight thrusts up causing her wing to dislocate and break. She thrusts her horn into Nightmares chest and fires a magic beam straight through the demonic pony. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO." "Check..mate." "If I am going to go down I am going to take you with me!" Starlight knew that her time was ending, but a sudden flash and Celestia grabbed Nightmare and flew up into the sky. Nightmare moon exploded in a bright dark blue sending dark blue sparkles to the land below. Starlight's eyes widened "MOMMY!!!" She reached her hoof out. Starlight collapsed. ------------ Days had passed since the incident involving her sister and her sisters daughter. Though Luna was doing fine running Equestria on her own it didn't help keep her mind off her sister. Celestia sacrificed herself to save her daughter. She wasn't even her daughter, Starlight was just some jumbled up mix of magic that happened to appear. Luna began to get angry, but slowly calmed herself back down. She was hurting, but nowhere near as close as Starlight was. Again Starlight had no true parents. She wasn't born the way other foals were. Celestia took her in and loved her. She was the foals mother and to see ones mother blow up into bright dark blue particles is mortifying. Though Luna's train of thought was elsewhere she was focusing on Starlight's dream which she had invaded. Starlight was doing nothing just sitting in a raining forest her head down. Luna didn't move one inch. She had no idea what to do, no clue on how to act upon the dream. This was one ponies dream she couldn't correct. "Poor Starlight." The next day Luna observed Starlight practicing her own magic. Luna knew what she had to do and immediately began work on it. Starlight stopped practicing and fell to the ground on her back. Her mind flashed back to the moment Celestia gave herself up. Tears began to flow slight before they were cast away by her hoof. "Why did you have to go. It wasn't your job...It was mine." The rest of the week passed by slowly. Starlight's grieving was a painful process as she lost the closest person to her. The only thing she was ever concerned with was her studies. There was one thing she was preparing for. Starlight stood infront of the ruined castle. Her first home before Canterlot now falling apart. Her mind flashed back to a promise that was made. Celestia stands upon the Tree of Harmony Starlight by her side. "Starlight when the times comes. I will die. It is an inevitable. If you are still alive I want you to come here. You must give yourself to the Tree of Harmony." "But why mommy?" "That I cannot tell you, but." She turns around and picks up Starlight's head gently with her hoof. "I know you will come seeking answers for things you do not agree with or understand. This tree will help you. Do not fear it. It is your savior." The word savior echos on in Starlight's mind as she opens her eyes. She now rests looking at the tree. It's bright white branches that hold the most powerful weapons in Equestria. The Elements of Harmony. "I guess this is it." Starlight goes toward the tree center. She touches the base of the tree. It responds by violently summoning a flower below Starlight and trapping her in the petals. The flower now closed summons a vine which attached it to the ponies horn then lulls Starlight into a deep sleep. > Chapter 6: Picking up the Pieces > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Story of Starlight Chapter 6: Picking up the Pieces Starlight awoke to nothing, but bright multicolored surroundings. She stood up and walked forward. As she did so images began to pop up. They were hers. She was remembering all she had done and encountered. Nothing made sense. This continued until a pony. Blue and transparent. It was her mother. Starlight tried to speak, but to no avail she was muted. Starlight tried getting her mothers attention. The tall alicorn though just stood there. Finally Starlight stopped. Her mother kneeled almost pointed her horn at Starlight, but not in an aggressive way. Starlight knew almost by instinct what she had to do. The two touched horns. All the images floating around Starlight flowed into her horn at high speeds. Starlight's eye's shot open as she exploded the flower and zipped off as fast as she can. Almost at rainboom speed Starlight races back to Canterlot blasting through the doors causing them to explode in a wave of splinters. She knew everything and what her place was in Equestria and how she could get her mother back. Starlight raced home past Luna who was dazed for a few seconds, but raced after the young-ling. She managed to stop Starlight in her tracks. Though considering how jittery Starlight was she knew it wasn't for long. "Starlight what is going on?!" "Luna I know everything! I know it all. What Celestia wanted me to protect!" Without a word more Starlight raced off again. Luna following her lead. Starlight was found in Celestia's own bedroom. "Starlight what do you mean you know?! I'm afraid I don't understand." "You'll see." Starlight raised her horn. A yellow aura know as her mother's magic shot out into the ceiling and caused circuits in the room to glow and activate. Luna her face full of surprise allows the foal to continue on. A small circular section of the floor detaches and descends the two below in the bowels of the castle. Luna began panicking while Starlight smiled at her. "How can you be calm and collected at a time like this?" Starlight looked at her. "Because this is what your sister. My mother wanted me to protect and find." Light soon began to flicker on as they reach the bottom of the shaft. Once the elevator stopped Starlight stepped onto the metal floor. Luna was shocked beyond words. A metal room containing various objects and things she has never seen before. "Starlight." She paused "What is this place?" Starlight picked up a pair of see-through shades that immediate spawned a holographic HUD with various indicators on it. "Remember when she told me to go to the tree?" "Of course. It was supposed to hold vast power to help empower you into defeating all your foes." Starlight shakes her head. "It contained information about this." Starlight motions her hoof to all the items in the room. "All of this technology is hundreds if not thousands of years ahead of our time!" "W-what?" "My mother and many ponies discovered and created this all throughout the years. She kept it secret so that no pony could use it for bad. She didn't have a proper savior for Equestria yet. She didn't feel as if the world was ready for this technology yet." "By Starswirls beards.." Luna muttered "Like this thing for example. It's for pegsi races! It tells how fast your going, your body condition, how many laps you've done. Everything!" "You think all of Equestria is ready to be ushered into a brand new age of technology so quickly?" "I don't think. I know we are!" Starlight guides Luna to a large pylon. Starlight goes over to a holographic panel and brings up a display of her mother. "Um hello is this thing on?" "Sister!" Starlight goes over to Luna. "It's not her. It's only a hologram." An unknown pony speaks from the outside the picture range. "It's on princess." "Yes right. Ahem! Starlight if your hearing or actually seeing this then I am dead and you have sought out the Tree of Harmony for answers to rectify this. I will say I am truly not dead." "What?" "But that's not what's important at this moment in time. You now possess the knowledge of how to use all the machines in this room. I want you to decide whether Equestria is ready for a step into a new age. I believe you are strong enough to stop whatever evil may arise from this decision. You are my greatest creation. You were never some accident that occurred. I meant for you to be this way. Equestria needed somepony to guide and protect it from everything that could possibly destroy it." "Wrap it up princess." "I am found within an underground bunker in a cryo chamber at-" The pylon shuts down. Luna stands up. "What happened?!" Starlight had tears streaming down her cheeks. "She's alive. My mother is alive. This means I didn't fail." Starlight coughs up a happy laugh. Luna is too busy trying to turn on the pylon again to notice Starlight crying. Starlight sniffles and stands. "The recording ended. We have to find her on our own." "So it seems." Luna looks down in disappointment. "Luna." The blue pony looks up to Starlight "I will find her and I will bring her home. For both of us!" Luna smiles. "Well Princess Starlight what shall we down now?" "We begin anew and get to manufacturing all this so all ponies can benefit from this!"