//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Starlight's Dawn // by The Lord Thunder //------------------------------// Starlight’s mother didn’t say a word their entire walk home, but Starlight could tell from her unblinking stone-like expression that she was in for trouble when they got back to the house. The filly opened her mouth a crack, wanting to ask her mom what was wrong. She held her words in, however, afraid of what the answer might be. When they arrived home, Starlight went right up to her room, desperate to separate herself from that blank expression on her mom’s face. She laid down on her bed and opened up the book she'd been reading to the bookmarked page. Only a few moments later, she heard Mom shout. “Starlight Aurora Glimmer!” The door flew open. Mom came bursting in so fast Starlight barely had enough time to brace herself against the hoof that swiped across her face with a loud smack. Starlight rubbed her cheek, staring up at her mom. The spot where she’d been slapped burned like it had been hit with a hot coal, but the rest of her head felt like it might fall off at any moment. “What was that for?” Starlight asked, tears escaping from her eyes. “I gave a really good report, just like you wanted. Why did you do that?” “I warned you not to embarrass me, and what did you do? You brought up what happened with your father in front of the entire town! How do you think that makes me feel?” “I was just-” “Save it!” Mom snapped. She prodded Starlight in the chest, a rare sort of unbridled fury gleaming in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about this, but rest assured, young lady, there’s going to be some changes around here. Big changes!” Mom slammed the door with such force that it rattled the walls of Starlight’s bedroom, knocking loose the framed picture of her mom hugging her during happier times. The glass shattered when it hit the floor. Things have changed enough since Dad left. Starlight slammed her stinging face into her pillow and began to sob. She shivered as her mind wrapped around that terrifying gleam of fury she’d seen in her mother’s eyes. No, it hadn’t been fury but... tears? What sounded like sobbing overlapping her own came into Starlight’s ears. She focused her hearing, trying to pinpoint the direction of the sounds. This second set of sobs was coming from downstairs. She held in her tears, rolled off the bed and pressed her ear against the floor, listening to the sounds coming from below. “I’m sorry,” Starlight heard her mom cry. “I’m sorry I’m not rich and beautiful like she was. I’m sorry wasn’t good enough for you.” Starlight’s ears drooped and she felt her heart sink. So that was it. Mom was just as broken as she was. Dad didn’t just break her heart, but her spirit as well. But that didn’t give Mom the right to take it out on her, did it? Sunburst, I wish you were here. You’d know just what to do. You’d know what to say to make me feel better. You always did. I have nopony to talk to now! Starlight hardened her face with newfound resolve. Now more than ever she knew how important it was to get rid of cutie marks *** Miss Crayola Wonder walked down the rows of desks, placing each colt and filly’s graded report papers in front of them. “I want you to know that I’m proud of all of you,” she said. “Speaking in front of ponies can be very scary, but you all did such a good job up there. Last year one filly got so scared she threw up on stage!” The class laughed at the mental image that delivered. “Well it certainly wasn’t funny for her,” Crayola answered in a scathing tone, which was quickly replaced by one of humor. “At first. By the end of the school year, she learned to laugh about it. My point is, you all handled it so well. I’m very impressed with each of you.” Crayola passed by Starlight’s desk and placed her report papers in front of her. At the top, in red ink, was an A+ along with the note see me after class. A nervous tingle worked its way into her hooves. "See me after class" wasn’t usually a good sign. For the rest of the day, Starlight’s mind wandered, trying to think of what Miss Crayola might want. She struggled through the spelling, reading, math and science parts of the day until at last the final bell rang, sending the students running for the door. “Have a good weekend, class!” Crayola shouted from her desk. “See you on Monday!” Starlight waited until the other foals had left the room, then approached Crayola Wonder’s desk. “You wanted me to see you, Miss Crayola?” Looking up from her papers, Crayola removed her reading glasses and pointed to the student desk closest to hers. “Yes, have a seat.” Starlight did as instructed. Crayola got up and stepped in front of Starlight. “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?” A sense of worry welled in the pit of Starlight’s stomach. “Am I in trouble?” she asked, flattening her ears. “No, you’re not in trouble. I just want to talk to you.” “About what?” “I know you’ve been having problems at home. You haven’t been playing with the other kids since Sunburst left. You’ve been unusually moody, and now this report on cutie marks are evil?” Crayola gazed questioningly at Starlight with those compassionate blue eyes of hers. Starlight shook her head. “I don’t understand. Didn’t I give a good speech?” “You gave an excellent speech, Starlight. You got an A+, didn’t you?” Starlight tilted her head in confusion and shrugged. “So what’s the problem? Why did you want me to see you after class?” Crayola dropped her head and sighed, then sat on her haunches to be at eye level with her student. “I’m worried about you, Starlight. If you ever need help or just want somepony to talk to, you can always come to me.” Starlight stared down at her desk, fidgeting with her front hooves. “You wouldn’t understand.” “Why wouldn’t I understand?” Crayola took a step closer and put a comforting hoof on Starlight’s shoulder. “I’ve been doing this job for fifteen years. Do you think I’ve never helped foals who are having a rough time in life? I’m a teacher. Helping foals is my job.” Clenching her jaw in annoyance, Starlight continued to silently fidget with her hooves. Crayola sighed through her nose and stood back up. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I can’t make you. I’m only trying to help you, Starlight,” “Well don’t!” Starlight snapped before she even realized what she’d said. She looked up, saw the hurt expression on Crayola’s face, her ears flattened. Starlight turned her gaze away from Miss Crayola. “I mean, you can’t. Unless you can fix what happened between my mom and dad, or teach me how to go back in time so I can stop Sunburst from getting his cutie mark.” “Oh, Starlight. You know I can’t do those things; I’m an Earth pony. Even if I were a unicorn like you I still couldn’t. Only a great wizard could do anything like that.” “Then there’s nothing you can do,” Starlight grumbled. “I think we should get your mom in here so I can talk to her, too. We need some resolution.” Starlight’s head snapped up, her vision blurred with budding moisture at the mention of her mother. “What good would that do? Mom doesn’t even care!” “I want to help you, Starlight,” Crayola said soothingly, “but I can’t if you won’t let me.” “I don’t want your help!” Starlight shot back. Her chest heaved with a crying spasm, forcing a small gasp. “Just leave me alone!” With that, Starlight jumped from her seat and ran out of the classroom, not stopping even as she wiped her eyes.