//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - The Confession // Story: Starlight's Plunder // by JesterOfDestiny //------------------------------// Starlight was leaning on her table, staring outside her window, thinking of what to do. Discord’s voice was echoing in her head.  “You’re right Discord,” She said to herself, “I really am just an ex-villain. I’ve been making plunders constantly, since I was in Ponyville. Maybe the problem was always with me... And still is. She turned around to face her room. She looked into the mirror and then all the pictures of her memories around it. She saw all the new friends she's made after becoming Twilight’s student, all the progress she's gone through.  “I’ve come a long way. I am far from the pony I used to be! I used to be horrible. And now look at me...” She said proudly. She then flopped down onto her bed.  “Ugh! Stupid seeds!” The door opened slowly, as Twilight walked in.  “Starlight? Are you in here?” She asked.  “Yes, I’m here.” She got out of bed. “How did it go?” Then she saw the rest of the gang and their less then pleased expressions.  “Well, it wasn’t her.” Twilight answered. “Which surprised none of us, to be perfectly honest.”  “Oh...” Starlight didn’t know what answer she expected.  “But she did say something interesting.”  “Oh?”  “Starlight, do you want to tell us something?” Starlight began sweating again. Loud crunching could be heard, because Discord was suddenly there, munching on a bag of popcorn.  “I... I... I don’t know...” Starlight said nervously.  “Come on, Starlight. I’m going to drink Zecora’s magic potion and find out what happened. If you know anything, it’s better to tell us now.”  “I... I...” Starlight tried to pry the words out of her own mouth. She covered her face with her hoof. “It was me...” She finally confessed. Everyone gasped, they didn’t actually think she’d say that.  “What?! That’s so out of character!” Discord threw his bag of popcorn in the air.  “Starlight...” Said Twilight.  “It was an accident, I swear!” Starlight continued. “I didn’t want anything bad to happen! I didn’t know anything bad could happen!”  “Starlight...”  “I just found this bag of seeds and wanted to see what it was, I...” She burst into tears and kneeled down before Twilight. “I didn’t want to disappoint you! I didn’t want you to think I’m just an ex-villain!”  “Oh, Starlight,” said Twilight, “you should have confessed at the beginning.”  “I know, I’m sorry!”  “Come on now,” Twilight lifted Starlight off the ground, “we forgive you.”  “You do?”  “Of course!” Pinkie chimed in. “We forgave you for much worse things!”  “Sure, why not.” Commented Rainbow, with much less enthusiasm.  “You graduated for a reason Starlight.” Twilight continued. “You’re not just an ex-villain anymore.”  “Well, technically she is.” Said Pinkie.  “Pinkie Pie,” said Rarity, “they’re trying to have a moment together.”  “Oh, sorry.” Pinkie apologized.  “I think we should just leave them.” Proposed Fluttershy and everyone followed her advice.  “That pony ain’t right in the head, I tell ya.” Whispered Applejack and everyone just nodded.  “Did you know about this Discord?” Rainbow accused him.  “Don’t try to put this on me! It’s not my fault you didn’t understand my subtle hints.”  “Subtle hints?” Pinkie questioned him, accusingly. “Like what?”  “Come on now.” Discord replied. “STAR in my eyes. Shed some LIGHT on the subject.” Pinkie thought for a bit. “GLIMMER of hope!” Discord continued. The realization came to Pinkie. “Oooooohhhh! I see what you did there.” Then she burst into laughter. “Glimmer of hope!” Twilight and Starlight were the last ones to come out of the room.  “You’ve changed a lot, Starlight.” Twilight continued. “When I first met you, you were enslaving a town. Now you’re going out of your way to not disappoint someone. There’s a very good reason you graduated so quickly, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” Then they hugged. And all was forgiven.