//------------------------------//
// Chapter 121: Student? 
// Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Stallion Edition 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

Shining soon found out that he'd been out for a long time, more than half a day to be precise. Before long, night came, and all the stallion could do was go to sleep. At the moment he had no knowledge about Starlight's fate, but that was about to change.

"Greetings and a warm welcome to you, Prince Shining Armor," Princess Luna called, appearing before her fellow alicorn in a brilliant flash of light. "I've come to you on the very important matter of Starlight Glimmer. It was my understanding that you made an offer to her, in which you would take her under your wing and become her teacher, is that correct?"

Shining nodded. "And you were the one who presided over her trial. I assume that means you ended up delving into her mental state?"

"Normally, even as the Princess of the Night and guardian of the Dream Realm, such boundries are off limits to me without permission," Luna explained quite seriously. "But Starlight asked, no 'begged' for me to enter her dreams. And that's why I've come to seek you out. I saw something that I think you'll very much want to know, if indeed you plan to take this mare on as your student, as my sister once did with your sister."

"I do," Shining nodded again, extending a hoof out to the night alicorn. "Whenever you're ready, princess."

Luna smiled, and grabbed Shining's hoof, before they took off deep into the Dream Realm. All of a sudden, a variety of doors in various colors and designs, appeared on either side of a path lined with what could best be described as stars.

The two stopped, in front of a door that contained the same coat color as Starlight's, and bore the symbol of her cutie mark. Luna quickly opened it, and ushered Shining through.

What Shining saw on the other side of that door, amazed him!

There was Starlight, or rather the younger version of her he'd seen when she'd told him about her past. She even had the two pigtails style mane. Said Starlight was sitting down at a table, and seated across from her was the younger version of Sunburst. Shining noticed that neither of them had had their cutie marks yet, and they appeared to be playing a board game of some sort.

But the detail that stood out the most to Shining, was how although it depicted Starlight's childhood room right down to a t, the filly's parents could only be seen as a dark blur and they seemed rather out of focus compared to everything else.

"Is that Dragon Pit they're playing?" Shining wondered, as he looked at the scene. "I never really got into that as a kid, but I think when Twily was younger, we used to play it a little. I always preferred Ogres and Oubliettes, especially on the rare times I could get Dad to get away from his bingo nights. For someone so young, he sure loves bingo."

Luna just nodded. "It is indeed Dragon Pit. But look around you, what is it that you find most odd about this dream conjured up?"

"Well, now that you mention it, doesn't it seem odd that her parents are left undetailed and out of focus?" Shining pondered. "She told me she was a latch key kid, but I assumed she'd at least have some memories of her parents."

"Perhaps she does, buried deep in her subconscious. But it seems they were so absent from her filly years, that she has been left unable to recall what they look like," Luna explained to Shining. "And that, coupled with the fact that in this dream, she's her blank flank filly self, speaks volumes about the kind of pony she is."

"I get what you're saying. You're saying that, because she was so attached to Sunburst as a filly, when he moved away, it was like her whole world came crashing down," Shining commented, as he felt a new sense of pity overtake him. "I can see now, how trauma like that could boil over to a one pony war on cutie marks. She didn't have a pony to count on or talk to, and it definitely never occurred to her to seek therapy," A noticeable combination of sorrow and regret punctuated his next words. "And to think I thought she was just a monster. If only I'd known sooner, if only I'd reached out to her when I first came to that village. None of what happened today would've been necessary."

But Luna shook her head. "When a pony is that set in their ways, there's little that can be done to change their mind. Starlight's troubles couldn't have been solved with just words or even promises. Mental scars don't heal the same way physical ones do. I should know, I've been down that road," Then, in a more serious tone, she added. "But now, the question that must be asked is: 'Knowing what you know now, are you certain you can provide what Starlight really needs?'. Because I think your judgement might be a bit rash, an attempt to make you feel better about yourself after you were quick to judge Starlight for her actions. Maybe calling her a monster was a bit extreme, but from what she told me, I can't blame you for not thinking highly of her until recently. And you must know that you can't always save everyone."

Shining paused for quite a while, pondering to himself. "Luna's right. Am I really doing this for Starlight's benefit, or my own? If I really want a student, what's to stop me from going through that portal and recruiting Sunset Shimmer? She may have learned a lot in the human world, but there's bond to be lessons here in Equestria that she still has yet to master.
And Starlight comes with emotional baggage far greater than what Sunset had, baggage that goes beyond wanting to get even." But after thinking over this a bit, he shook his head and said to Princess Luna. "I just want to help her, give her a chance to make amends and right the wrong she did. Otherwise, she might become what Sunset Shimmer once was, a pony who turned their back on Equestria, just because there was no one there to show them a better way."

"Very well," Luna agreed, smiling a bit. "I had a feeling you'd decide that way. So I took the liberty of sending Starlight to you, at least for the night. But I shall inform my sister, and the royal guards in both Canterlot and the Crystal Empire, that from this moment onwards, Starlight is your student and her sentence has been commuted to extended community service for the forseeable future. But take note, that'll also mean she's your responsibility."

"I most certainly will, Luna. And thank you for all your help," Shining replied. "I know you and your sister will make great aunts for my child."

"But of course, and we both look forward to seeing the little one," Luna smiled. "Send us notice when it arrives and we'll make efforts to come and pay a visit. Just be aware, given the fact that both you and Cadence are alicorns, there's a possibility your foal will be one too." And with that, she was gone.





Shining awoke, finding it still night time. Luna's moon shone brightly through his bedroom window. Just then, there was a knock at the castle doors. Shining got up, he had a pretty good feeling of who it was.

Sure enough, upon opening the door, there was Starlight. "I... hope this isn't a bad time. I know there's nothing I can say or do to make up for what I've done." She glumly greeted.

But Shining pulled the unicorn inside and gave her a big wing hug. "It's alright, we can worry about all of that tomorrow. Just rest, we've both been through a lot together in the past 24 hours. Rest and be ready, because you've got a big day tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Starlight nervously asked.

"Tomorrow's your first day as my student of course," Shining laughed playfully. "And I've got to introduce you to all my friends, as well as my sister. And then we're gonna have to discuss the ponies from your old village, because you owe them an apology at the very least."

"What about Sunburst? You said you knew him, or were you just pulling my leg?" Starlight inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"I know him all right," Shining replied to Starlight, as he led her down the long hallways of the castle. "But that reunion can wait a while, until I think you're ready to begin reapproachment."