Flashback
Star was practicing spells with Glossaryck supervising when her mother opened the door to her room in the Butterfly Castle. Her usual stoic face had an excited grin plastered to it, and Star gulped nervously.
"Honey, me and the King of the Mythius dimension have arranged a perfect wedding to bring the two dimensions closer!" Queen Moon clapped her hands. "His name is Prince Sebastian, and this marriage will greatly benefit both dimensions!"
"Okay." Star replied, not looking away from her book.
"How about thanks for getting you a great husband that'll benefit the Kingdom when River and I are no longer around?" Queen Moon demanded. "You wanted this Star, you have to let that Marco boy go-"
"I certainly don't have to do that." Star retorted. "I can marry this rich creature and still be in love with Marco y'know."
"There you go again, always putting your feelings over anything else. Saying things without thinking." Queen Moon narrowed her eyes. "Y'know, this is why you have no friends."
Star felt her heart break at the vicious and unexpected jab and heard the door slam shut before she could respond to her mother.
No friends? But of course I have friends right?! Wait...Pony Head and I have hardly talked ever since I came back, and I haven't spoke to Marco ever since I ran away from his wedding...
"No, she can't be right..." Star didn't even notice Glossaryck floating out of the room, she was too devastated to realize that even though she decided to put Mewni's needs over her own, she was certain that nobody truly liked her. Her own damn mother believed it.
And that was one of the worst feelings in the world.
Present day
"Don't worry Star, I'm sure that everyone you meet will like you the way you are."
Princess Luna looked happier than usual in her lavender dress with golden ribbons all over, white flowers at the ends, and her rosy pink flower crown. Star wore a blood red dress with dark red stripes, hoping to avoid trouble at one of the most important festivals in Equestria. The two ponies stood in Star's temporary room in the castle.
Star didn't understand how Princess Luna turned from despising her to being so supportive, but she knew that she didn't want her to go and spend the whole day with Songbird Serenade. Star didn't know why she was being so clingy, maybe it was because Princess Luna might be her only friend left. And she was convinced that if she tried to make new friends, she'd stand no chance.
"Star, I promise you that you're going to be okay. I'd be there for you, but I have to make sure that everything's perfect for the festival." Luna gently wiped the tear falling from Star's face. "There'll be many familiar faces to support you too. And tomorrow, we can spend the whole day together."
"N-No, you don't have to do that. It's my fault that I'm being so difficult."This shouldn't be so hard to do, what the hell's wrong with me? "I'll be fine, but I've got to go."
"Star-" Star left and closed the door before her teacher could finish what she was saying. She sighed, wiping her tears, and took several deep breaths before exiting the castle and into the festival events.
Star's jaw dropped when she saw the huge amount of mythical and normal creatures at the festival. In the crowd, her eyes landed on a familiar face.
"Pony Head?!" Star gasped, galloping towards her friend. "It's so good to see you again!"
"I brought some friends too!" Pony Head flew aside, revealing Buff Frog and an unfamiliar brown dog with short legs.
The last time that Star saw Buff Frog was when she given him food on Mewnipendance Day, and then left with Marco to Equestria several days later. Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if she stayed on Earth.
"Hey Buff Frog, hey-"
"Barkina." The dog greeted her. "I escaped my home dimension to avoid stress, so I went to Earth. It didn't work out, so I'm hoping that Equestria can be the right home for me."
Barkina took one look at her surroundings and wagged her tail, happy at the lack of chaos and sadness at the festival.
"Guys, just remember, it's only been less than two years since Chrysalis tortured him. So let's try not to talk about it too much."
Spike was talking to the rest of the Mane 6, Marco, and Tom at the Canterlot train station to make sure that Thorax's arrival at the Friendship Festival went as smoothly as possible. When Princess Luna was saved from the changeling hive, they also found Thorax at the bottom floor, bloodied and bruised beyond recognition. It broke Spike's heart when he heard the news, but he was amazed that his dear friend survived the ordeal.
After Thorax woke up and showed signs of talking and eating, he got surgery to repair his body and to give him a new tongue after Ali viciously ripped it out before his torture. It was over a year since that happened, and Thorax was grateful everyday.
The train rolled in, and Spike felt his heart almost leap out of his chest when he saw a flash of green through one of the windows. The door opened, and Thorax stepped out, looking as bright and happy as ever.
Spike ran to his side and hugged him, missing him since they last talked. In the many months that passed, Thorax was flying across Equestria in search of any changelings that were still alive. Today, Spike would find out if any progress was made. He even looked behind Thorax, expecting some new changeling friends to be there.
"I came alone." Thorax replied, almost as if he could read Spike's mind. "But you'll be happy to know that I found two changelings from my former Kingdom and one changeling from, well, Chrysalis and Ali's tyrant litter."
"What did you do with that one?" Spike asked.
"Fluttershy took them all in at the Sweet Feather Sanctuary, but the non-reformed one's in a cage for safety. We're not sure if we can trust him." Thorax explained. "But I don't have to worry about that now, not when the Friendship Festival is happening. How are you?"
Thorax stepped off the train as he happily listened to Spike talk about everything that's happened since they last seen each other. Rarity was happy to see that Spike was over her, and had been over her for a long time.
Meanwhile, many other residents of Ponyville stepped off the train, including Discord and the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
With Apple Bloom and Scootaloo heading towards the Festival with their coltfriends, Sweetie Belle stayed with Discord, his daughter, and her marefriend Silver Spoon. When they arrived, the Mane 6 had already started their musical number while setting up the main stage.
"Do they always sing while they're working?" Pony Head asked. "Isn't obvious that we got this together? Why do they have to sing about it?"
Star wasn't paying attention, she was watching Marco and his family singing'we got this together'with animals surrounding them. They looked so perfect and whole, and here Star was, alone. Her teacher was off with some popular singer that was actually worth her time. For some reason, Princess Luna's absence was a lot more painful than Marco's happiness.
"With friends and family, you are never alone. If you need help we've got your back!"Applejack sang.
Star couldn't believe it. In a festival full of the kindest ponies and creatures, she still felt alone. She wasn't like them in their cheerfulness, not since she left Equestria.
She only chose to stay here to spite Marco, but he was happy. Her closest friend wasn't here, but with some pop star.
Everyone started singing at once, and Star took the chance to run off to be alone, hiding near the castle. She wanted mindless sex so she could forget everything. So she could forget how truly lonely she was, so she could not think about her conflicting feelings for Princess Luna-
Wait. Oh no.
No, wait! I thought I [ i]only wanted to hook up with her! I can't possibly-
Star's thoughts were interrupted when she saw a huge dark grey ship levitating in the sky, heading towards Equestria.
Is that another dimension of creatures showing up for the festival? Why did they come in such a big-ass ship?
Star reluctantly joined the crowd of gathered ponies as the ship landed and destroyed Party Favor's balloon animal. She guessed that this ship's arrival wasn't planned.
After a few moments of cold dramatic silence, the ship opened and a dark grey hedgehog walked out with a microphone.
"We have come here on behalf of the fearsome and powerful Storm King!" The hedgehog announced. "Now put your hooves together for Commander Tempest!"
Star felt her body get hot when she saw Tempest for the first time. She was a sexy mare if Star had ever seen one.
Forget Princess Luna, she'll never come around. Tempest will be mine.
"Tempest is it? What can we help you with?" Princess Celestia asked.
"Oh I'm so glad you asked. Let's start with your complete and total surrender."Tempest growled.