In the Castle of Friendship, Starlight levitated a pencil in her aura, deliberating over what she wanted to write, and thinking back to what had already been written. She had reread the first paragraph of her letter a couple of times, but found it to be lacking in substance. Scowling, she levitated the pencil towards her muzzle and began to chew on the end.
So, brain, let me tell you why you need adjusting. I could have made any friend, any in the world! I mean, I'm hardly in the wrong place for it, am I? But no, you had to screw this up for me, didn't you brain? Oh, let's befriend Trixie, let's spite Twilight. Let's get emotionally invested in a pony that's never freaking here. Good job brain!
As Starlight continued to review her letter, which detailed the current mundanities of castle life, as well as her strong desire to go on a long trip around Equestria, she couldn't help but laugh. This was not the first time that she had dropped Trixie a strong hint. Starlight had been making it clear to Trixie in every way (apart from directly stating it), that she would love to go on tour with her for about a month now. Despite this, Trixie had never even acknowledged the idea, much to Starlight's annoyance, and eventually, slight amusement.
I'll just come out and suggest it one day. Worst she can do is say no, right? Starlight frowned at her letter. If I ask and she says no, I know it isn't going to happen. If there's a possibility of her saying no, I don't want to ask. I'll just whittle her down a little more first.
You know, looking at this letter, my hoofwriting has improved drastically over the past few months. Of course, I know exactly why. Between the letters I'm always sending to Sunburst and Trixie, and the friendship reports I'm constantly writing for Twilight, I'm surprised I'm not writing in my sleep by now. Seriously, if I had wanted to be a scribe, I would have taken lessons from Spike instead.
Starlight turned her attention to the window with a swift movement. The weather appeared calm and pleasant, as expected. She slowly cranked her head back to the letter, deflated. Would it be so much to ask for a thunderstorm or something? Well, I suppose without Rainbow here to break it up, the weather team wouldn't be likely to start producing dangerous storms. It's a shame, honestly.
Starlight stood, turning away from the letter. She was desperate for something else to do, if not just to alleviate her boredom for a few seconds. She thought of her other friends, all in Manehatten, doing something or other. They had not been especially specific at the time as to what they were doing, but Starlight was sure it had to be more fun than this.
Maybe I should just go somewhere for a while. I'm not bound here, after all. Canterlot, maybe? I've got enough bits to get a train there and back, and I could shop about a little while I'm there. It'd hardly do me any harm to get outside for a while, would it?
This thought served to calm Starlight, who was already considering whether or not to take her larger saddlebag. She decided she would finish her letter once she was on the train, as she may have more to write then, rather than sitting around and attempting to force out a few more sentences. As she was about to leave, however, there was a soft rapping against her bedroom door. Starlight recognised the clacking sound as one of Spike's knocks, and bade him entry.
Spike opened the door, an easy task for him, his claws almost as pliable and dexterous as magical manipulation, but not quite as practical. He appeared to be in good spirits, waltzing about to an invisible tune. He sounded upbeat in his tone when he spoke.
"Heya, Starlight! You going somewhere?" he gestured towards the saddlebag upon her flanks.
Starlight smiled, already growing a little excited for the trip. It wouldn't be exciting, per se, but it would be liberating. "Yes actually, Spike, I'm planning on going to Canterlot for the day."
"With Trixie, I'm guessing?" Spike replied.
Starlight lightly shook her head.
"Then with who, Starlight?" Spike leaned closer to Starlight, his eyes furtive. "Are you meeting a special somepony?" he whispered.
Starlight couldn't help but laugh, though she tried not to sound patronising in doing so, most likely failing. When she had recovered from the small fit of giggles, she decided to at least grace Spike's question with an answer. "No, Spike, why would you think something like that? I merely want to get away from the castle for a little while, that's all! I mean really, when would I have met somepony special in Canterlot anyway?"
"Well, you could have met them in Ponyville!" said Spike, a little defensively. "Besides, isn't it a little sad to spend the whole day out, all alone?" Spike bit his lip directly after blurting his last sentence.
Starlight didn't seem fazed at this comment. She turned and started to put her unfinished letter and pencil in her saddlebag, talking all the while. "Well, first of all, Spike, if I had met a special somepony, you would be one the first dragon to know, considering we live together." And, you're the only dragon I know. She let out a small sigh before continuing. "Second, to answer your question, yes, it is sad. Though not as sad as how amusing I find the idea of me going on a date with somepony. I wasn't just laughing because you were acting clueless, Spike, honestly."
This response must have taken the wind out of Spike's sails entirely, as he appeared to fidget, while his lips hovered between an presumably coherent response and silence. The result was completely inarticulate. A few seconds later, just as Starlight was about to reassure him that he hadn't offended her, Spike spoke up.
"Anyway! The reason I'm here is that Twilight sent for you. Not in like, an official way, or anything, she just wants to see you. She's got a friend visiting right now, and she wants to introduce you both. She thinks you'll get along pretty well."
This intrigued Starlight greatly, who thought she knew all of Twilight's friends already. In fact, she was interested enough that she forgot about Spike's comment, and her own insecurities, for the time being at least. "Who is this pony, then? Why haven't I met them before?"
"Welllll, technically she doesn't live very close by. Technically." Spike made sure to repeat.
Starlight gave him a blank look. "I don't follow. Explain?"
Spike shuffled a little in place, looking unsure what to say once more. This time, however, it didn't last. "It's better if you just meet her, Starlight, really."
"Oh, how cryptic." Starlight deadpanned. Way to deflect the question, Spike. She adopted a friendlier look, afraid that she might ruin Spike's mood further. "Well then, shall we?"
Spike began walking in the direction of the library, some of his previous gusto having apparently returned, as Starlight moved in tandem.
As they approached the library doors, Spike managed to quickly say: "By the way, you'll like her. Well, I think you will, anyway." Before Starlight had a chance to respond, Spike opened the door (with the same ease he demonstrated earlier), and entered, Starlight alongside him.
I won't walk behind him, it makes me look nervous. I learnt that from meeting Sunburst. Starlight stole a glance at the two ponies on the other side of the room, one her good friend and exhausting mentor, and the other an amber-gold unicorn with a wavy red and yellow mane. Speaking of Sunburst, is she his long lost twin or something? They look pretty damn alike.
As they approached, the two looked up and their way, both smiling, although the amber unicorn appeared a tad tremulous. When they had arrived, only a few paces away from where Twilight and her friend sat, Twilight took the initiative and made to introduce the pair, as the other pony hadn't yet said anything. Neither had Starlight spoken; although she was less nervous than she had been when confronted with Sunburst, this pony resembled him, and that alone put her slightly on edge.
Twilight motioned to her friend, then to Starlight. "This is Starlight, who I was telling you about earlier. She's my good friend, and an apprentice of sorts. But you already know that, don't you? Starlight, this is Sunset. I kind of met Sunset in the same way that I met you, Starlight, by getting off on the wrong foot with her! Thank goodness for friendship, right?"
Starlight couldn't help but look Sunset up and down, out of pure curiosity. Okay, that's uncanny. Not only do they look the same, but they both have 'Sun' at the beginning of their names? They've got to be related somehow.
Starlight let her speculations get the best of her. "It's lovely to meet you. Is Sunset your full name?"
Despite the strange question, Sunset did not protest, but proceeded to state that her surname was Shimmer.
"H-hold on, Shimmer?" Starlight choked back a laugh. "Your name is Sunset Shimmer, and mine is Starlight Glimmer?"
At this point Sunset saw the connection and began to join in, raucous laughter filling the hall. "Ah, jeez! That's pretty hilarious. Hold on, Barfight Winner will be here in a sec, and we've got Candlelight Dinner on her way too!"
During the commotion brought about by the two ponies, Twilight simply sat in confusion. "I don't remember inviting a 'Candlelight Dinner' here? I'd know if I did, in fact I don't think I've even met a pony with that name! Sunset, what are you talking about?"
Sunset took a moment to calm herself, wiping an errant tear from her eye before responding. "Oh, Twilight, they're joke names! You never heard a joke before?"
Twilight looked at her, still struggling to see the correlation, and shrugged, nonchalant. "I dunno. When you've been around Pinkie Pie for as long as I have, I think you kind of become desensitised to jokes."
Sunset began to laugh once again, slapping her hoof against the coffee table she sat by. "See, that was funny! How can you have such a hard time with jokes when you make them so often?"
Twilight still looked equally confused. "Hold on, I made a joke just then?"
"Uh, yes?" Sunset replied.
Starlight looked between the pair, then said: "I don't think Twilight was joking, actually. If you knew Pinkie Pie, then you would most likely understand."
Sunset tilted her head. "But I do know Pinkie?"
"Okay, seriously, how have I never heard of you until now? Believe me, that mare talks about everything, so I'm sure you would have come up in conversation sooner or later."
"Well, that's complex. I mean, what I actually mean to say is that..."
"Go on?" Starlight pressed.
"Well to put it simply, I live the same place as you, except I kind of don't. This is hard to explain, and quite a bit to take in, but I'll try. Have you ever heard of parallel dime--"
Sunset's explanation was cut off by another voice, one that didn't come from the library, and wasn't in any way tangible. The magically amplified voice was as deep, gruff, and condescending as it was intimidating.
"Princess Twilight... I have returned to take back what you took from me... Imagine my anger and distress when I found that ultimate alicorn magic could be trumped by the power of friendship." Tirek, for that is who the voice belonged to, sounded as if he had spat the word 'friendship'. "What you took from me then, you, and all of the creatures of Equestria shall pay back to me tenfold. This, is my first decree. I have waited until now, this very moment in time, when your fellow element bearers are all so far away, to bring vengeance upon you, and your kingdom. It is with much pleasure that I will--"
Twilight had taken the time that Tirek had spent speaking to get over her fear and shock, and had begun to grow annoyed. She turned to the other two ponies in the room, both of whom appeared completely off-guard, not to mention stupefied.
"No time to wait, plan now." Twilight barked, getting the other's attentions. "Spike, send a letter to Celestia, now."
"What should I say in it, Twilight?" Spike asked, visibly worried.
"Oh, gee, I don't know. Why not start with what I had for breakfast this morning, and then detail the visit from Sunset, and what tea we drank, and what I think of the latest book I read, and then oh! Maybe, just maybe, you could mention the pissed off centaur freshly broken out of Tartarus?! If you could manage that, and of course send my regards, I would be very grateful, thank you, Spike."
"Alright, Twilight! There's no need to bite my head off, is there?" Spike yelled.
Twilight spun to face him. "What are you still doing here? Letter to Celestia, now!"
Spike scampered away as quickly as he could, shaken, but determined to still be of some use. Tirek had finally finished talking, stating that Twilight had twenty minutes to meet him on the northern outskirts of town, or he would start to demolish buildings, whether or not ponies were inside.
Sunset turned towards Twilight, looking significantly more nervous than she had. "I'll assume you recognise that voice as Lord Tirek, from what you said to Spike?"
Twilight took a shallow breath before responding, her tone a little less scalding than before. "Yep, it's him. No doubt about it."
"Well, what the heck are we gonna do about it?" Starlight chimed in.
Twilight raised her eyebrows, letting out a scornful laugh. "Do about it? Starlight, we're gonna try our best to entertain him for a little while, so he doesn't treat us like a light snack. If we can stall him long enough, word can get to the princesses, and we can get some back up."
Starlight shook her head, glancing sidelong at Twilight. "I know how Tirek works and so do you. The longer we wait to fight him, the more power he absorbs from the ponies in his way! Twilight, we have to stop him now, before he can do any more damage." Starlight switched her eye's focus. "Sunset, can you fight?"
Sunset struggled to answer, chewing the inside of her cheek between words. "Well... I'm a capable mage, I suppose. But this is Lord Tirek, the wandering siphon. How are we meant to put a dent in him? My offensive spells are less powerful than Twilight's, and she couldn't finish him off last time."
"But he might not be as powerful this time!" Starlight growled in response.
"You really wanna find out?"
"Stop!" Twilight exclaimed. "Listen, both of you, there may be a way, but it's risky. You were right Starlight, we do need to stop him now. My friends are too far away, and the princess was no match for him last time. It's best if we attack him now while he's not as powerful as he was before. Coming here so soon was a bad tactic on his part. First off, he doesn't know how strong I am without Celestia, Luna and Cadence's alicorn magic, but I'll bet you he's assuming I'm pretty weak. I think this is just a revenge thing. Also, he doesn't seem to have any clue you two are here, which gives me an advantage." Twilight stopped to smile at them both before continuing. It was a weak smile, but a genuine one. "You two are both extremely powerful unicorns, but you won't be able to stand up to Tirek alone, just as I couldn't last time. Tell me, do either of you know how to perform the fusion dance?"
Sunset grinned. "Well of course! I mean, I did go to Celestia's school for pete's sake. I've not done it in a while though, it can be a little invasive with the wrong pony."
Starlight was once again shocked by this revelation. "Hold on, you went to Celestia's school?"
"I was her personal student at one point."
"HOW HAVE I NOT HEARD OF YOU?" Starlight looked at Twilight, presumably to ask more questions, then did a double take, then realised what Twilight had just asked them both. "Hold on... Who's gonna have to fuse?"
"You two." Twilight said solemnly.
"What?!" Starlight shouted. "Why do we have to do it? I mean sure, I like her and all, but it's so personal! You're asking me to literally combine body and minds with a total stranger! Why can't you two do it? Or I do it with you?" To her relief, Sunset looked equally perturbed by the idea of fusing with her.
Twilight rubbed a hoof against the side of her head as she spoke. "Look, when I said there's a way, I didn't mean through fusion. I mean sure, you might be strong enough to off him while you're fused, I don't know. You're both extremely powerful. But, I've been working on an attack for a while now, that I think would be just enough to wipe Tirek out."
Sunset and Starlight smiled and jumped up in unison. "That's great!" Sunset started. "Why didn't you say anything befo--"
"Problem is I have to charge it."
"Oh?" Starlight said.
"For about five minutes."
"Oh." Sunset concluded.
"And considering how bad he was whooping my butt before..." Twilight paused and shook her head, before putting on what was clearly a faked smile. "No, you know what? You can probably handle it."
Starlight sighed, chest contracting, and narrowed her eyes. "While I'm going to ignore how utterly false that sounded, I have to wonder about something. Where does the Princess of Friendship get off developing new attacks? Surely that's a pretty unfriendly pastime."
Twilight's eyes lit up, as if she had been waiting for this question. "Well, actually, this attack isn't completely kinetic energy, like most repulsion spells are. This attack in particular is bolstered by positive thoughts and feelings, relating directly to friendship magic. It's taken me a while to combine them, but if I'm able to put all of my energy into one spell, then back it up with raw emotion, I should be able to pull it off. I've already thought of a name for it too! The 'Friendship Beam Cannon'. I was thinking I could yell it when I fire it too, does that sound cool to you guys??" Twilight looked hopeful when she finished speaking, as if she was expecting praise, and scowled when she received none.
When I said I was bored of castle life, I didn't have this in mind as a solution. At least I'll have something worthwhile to write to Trixie about, if I live through this. Starlight physically shuddered at the thought of writing another letter. Alright, fine, screw it. Let's go get this prick.