//------------------------------//
// I.II - Starlight's Rumination Trap 
// Story: The Broken Bond 
// by TheApexSovereign 
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“Spike! Spiiike?!”

“Starlight?!” Spike barged through the door, his eyes wild with worry, and swollen red. “Wh-what’s wrong?” She could barely contain her excitement, and her grin must have seemed odd to him, considering the circumstances. “Are, uh, are you tired from sending all those invites?”

Hardly. Starlight bit her tongue, glancing aside. The stack of letters was so high, it looked ready to fall.

So pointless.

Starlight hardly remembered the original when Celestia gave it to her. She just glanced at the thing, realizing it was for that despicable party, and that she had promised to do a favor at some point. This party was so outside of her realm of caring, Starlight didn’t even think about how many copies she would need to make. Instead of sending them one at a time, Starlight had made enough for practically half of Equestria to get one.

She waved a hoof at the meaningless stack of papers. “Oh, that doesn’t matter.” She grinned back at Spike. “There’s only one thing that matters, Spike, and it’s saving Twilight’s life. Luckily for us, I happen to know a way to do that. But it’s gonna take a bit of imagination...”

Spike had huddled into himself as she spoke, his face doubtful and scared. But there was a hopeful twinkle in his eyes, unmissable in his widening gaze. “Wh-what did you have in mind?”

Starlight told him everything: how the story of The Ladies of Flutter Valley was based on real beings who'd played a role in the history of Equestria. How she was going to strike a deal with them, and why she believed all this in the first place.

“So, because an old pony’s tale Twilight read turned out to be true…” Spike worded carefully.

Starlight nodded. “Uh-huh!” she said with pride.

“...you got the idea that a foal’s story about witches could be based on reality, too?”

“Yep!”

“And that they’re not only real,” Spike continued, his tone growing ever more dubious, “not only still alive, but that they’ll cut some kinda deal with you and magically turn everything back to normal?"

He let that hang with a single brow raised, long enough for Starlight’s smile to curdle into a nervous grimace. She could feel the sweat beginning to bead on her forehead.

“Well, when you put it like that...” she mumbled.

“Starlight...” His shoulders drooped, ear frills wilting. “That’s ridiculous.”

Starlight couldn’t believe what she just heard. “Ridiculous? What do you mean ‘ridiculous?’”

He doubted her. Spike was the one person Starlight had thought would understand, even if it was out of desperation to save his caretaker.

But he didn’t even want to entertain the notion.

“Listen to what you’re saying, Starlight,” he pleaded. “Just stop and think about what it is you’re telling—”

“I’m going to Flutter Valley, Spike.”

He threw his claws up in dismay. “Oh! Are you? Well go on, Starlight—teleport there! Teleport to Flutter Valley and bring back this magical cure for Twilight!”

“I—”

“Save her, Starlight! Come on! Do what Princess Celestia couldn’t!”

“I can’t!” she snapped. Starlight sighed, painfully aware of how irrational that had sounded. “I… I can’t, for some reason, Spike. O-or there’s something that won’t let me, I don’t know! When I try teleporting to it, I just pop in and out of place, not moving an inch!”

“And that’s probably because it isn’t real. Ever think about that?”

“Spike, I’m not crazy!”

“I didn’t say that—”

“Look at this journal! Look. Look, this belonged to an earth pony named Lickety Split. She actually knew the witches, Spike! She knew what they were like, the names even matched up!”

“You realize that’s just an extra side-story, right? Everypony, and I mean everypony, knows the story of Lickety Split.”

Starlight blinked. “Huh?”

Spike thumbed through the little, yellow-paged journal as if he’d done it a hundred times before. He probably had. “Hm, looks like this combined the beginnings of the three pony tribes. Some kinda one-of-a-kind fan-edit? Twilight’d like this.”

The diary was a fake. All this hope and excitement was for nothing, then. “So, what you’re saying is...” Starlight couldn’t even finish.

Spike didn’t look up from the journal, his eyes dancing across the pages. “The Ladies of Flutter Valley is a popular foal’s story.” He held it up to her; Starlight took it in a limp, magical field. “There are so many remakes and renditions of the tale that it’s impossible to pinpoint the original story. Well, unless you’re Twilight, which is why she owns a copy of it.”

So, it really was a dead end. “But… the journal, Spike.” No—Starlight steeled herself, there was definitely more to this. “This thing was in the restricted part of the library!” she cried, tapping its ashen cardboard cover. “If it was there, then it must be important.”

“Maybe somepony forgot it. Where did you even find that?”

Starlight blushed. “Underneath the bookshelf, but that’s not the—”

“Oh, my gosh. Seriously?”

Starlight inhaled sharply. “Princess Celestia said that I should follow my gut, Spike! She didn’t doubt me, and I don’t doubt my gut. And it’s telling me that this. Is. The answer.” She tapped the journal with every word.

Spike chuckled sardonically. “And why do you think Celestia said that to you? Hm?”

Starlight towered over him. “What’re you implying? That she lied to me to get me out of her hair?” Her facade was hard, hewn from stone. Her gut turned in protest, screaming, wondering if Celestia would really do that. If she was that defeated by Twilight’s illness, that she'd do anything to get some peace of mind. Starlight totally would in her shoes...

Her student, her dearest friend in centuries... was going to...

Strength fled from her, and Starlight almost crumpled to the ground, knees giving out beneath her, had she not leaned against the wall.

“Starlight, that isn't what I meant,” Spike protested. "You know that."

Starlight felt something prickle her eyes. “Then what do you mean, Spike? What the hay do you mean about any of this? It’s like you don’t even want to save Twilight—”

“Of course I do!”

“Then why’re you shooting me down at every turn?” Starlight cried. “Why don’t you just wanna believe in a chance to save her, even though it might be wrong?”

Spike’s bottom lip trembled. “I do want to…” The strong little dragon act finally crumbled. “But I can’t!” He wrenched himself away, eyes clenched shut. “I can’t, Starlight. I can’t. I’d do anything to save Twilight, but if Celestia can’t… if P-Princess Celestia couldn’t save her…” Spike hugged himself tightly.

Poor little guy. He’s been such a trooper throughout this whole, horrible ordeal. 

“Spike...” Starlight approached and sat beside him, pulling him in for a hug. “Celestia may be great, but she’s not infallible. She’s still a pony, prone to emotion and moments of defeat—”

“No, Starlight!” Spike shoved her away, snarling tearfully like the dragon he was. “Do you really think Celestia didn’t try everything to save Twilight?”

“No,” she countered, “but I think she waved the white flag a little too soon.”  Starlight empathized with the princess, but this was the truth. She would say it again.

However, most ponies revered Celestia as a flawless being. Starlight was reminded of that as Spike snarled, smoke jetting from his nostrils.

“How could you say such a thing?!” Starlight backpedaled as fast as Spike stormed up to her, keeping a foot between them. “Just because the princess isn’t blindly throwing her faith into a dumb foal’s story, doesn’t mean she’s given up on Twilight!” he jutted his snout against hers. “She loves her, Starlight. We all do!”

“O-of course! Obviously!” Starlight stammered, feeling panicked. “But why’s everypony so accepting of this?” Panic began giving way to anger. “We should all be fighting this, not rolling back and accepting it!” Her bravado died before Spike’s enraged, tearful glare. “Right?” she concluded lamely.

“I—!” Spike choked back whatever he was about to say, pressing his fist into his mouth. He took a deep breath, then continued, holding his anger at bay. “I get that you’re upset, Starlight. Nopony’s as angry about this as I am, nopony’s more scared for Twilight than…”

Spike gulped, shaking his head with a shudder. “What I mean is, there is literally not a single thing we can do to help Twilight.” It looked about as painful to say as it was to hear. “So no offense, Starlight, but if Princess Celestia couldn’t find a way to save Twilight, what makes you think—?”

“Because I know for a fact that she hasn’t exhausted every option!” Starlight snapped. Because there’s no way in Equestria that this is it for Princess Twilight Sparkle. But that sounded even crazier than what she’d been peddling.

“Starlight, come on! You’re smarter than this! Do you really think she’s ruled Equestria for over a thousand years, completely unaware of these... “ He waved his claw airily. “These dark magic-wielding earth ponies? These ponies who squat around a cauldron somewhere in the woods, making deals with random ponies?”

His annoying rationality was taking the wind out of her sails, but Starlight hardened her gaze and scrambled for an explanation. “We’ve no idea what they’re really like! I can’t explain why I feel this way, but they’re out there, Spike. I know they are! I can feel it.” She trotted to the map of Equestria and beyond tacked to her wall, tracing a hoof around the Mysterious South. “It’s somewhere here,” she said, circling the area, “south of Klugetown. In the uncharted Sea of Clouds. That’s the only place in all the land where they could possibly  hide.”

“Okay then, Starlight. Humor me.” His feet slapped behind her in a frantic rhythm. “If you’ll remember, Twilight could only teleport us as far as the Changeling Kingdom when the Storm King attacked. It almost took us an afternoon to reach Klugetown, wherein which we nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Assuming you can do the same, how’re you gonna make it even farther on hoof?”

Starlight didn’t plan on walking. Twilight’s remaining time was uncertain and she didn’t want to waste a second longer than necessary.

But Spike didn’t need to know that.

Starlight’s eyes drew a path from Ponyville, straight down to the Sea of Clouds. “I’ll teleport as far as I can,” she lied. “Or take a train to Dodge Junction, and then walk from there. Maybe somepony’s willing to give a nice mare a ride.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter.”

“That didn’t really answer my question.”

“Yeah, Spike, it did,” Starlight sighed, tracing the straight shot south once more. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to save Twilight.” She gazed deep into the painted, foggy depths south of the Badlands, her hoof beside it.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” muttered Spike, suddenly beside her.

Starlight clenched her jaw. Why did he have to keep questioning her on this? “What do you mean?” she asked, fighting to maintain a calm exterior.

“You mean,” he hesitated, his voice soft, “aside from the fact that you’re rushing into this without thinking?”

Except that Starlight had thought this through—for once. She had a plan to get there, and what to do when face to face with the earth pony trio. But if she told him how she'd arrive, she would never save Twilight in time. This was an emergency! Life and death, for Harmony’s sake! Desperate times sometimes called for a bit of grand theft.

“It’s just,” Spike choked, “I’m just really worried about you, Starlight! How could I not be? How’re you gonna feel if this all turns out to be a wild goose chase?”

Starlight whipped her gaze down to his face. “It won’t be... Spike,” she gasped his name, heart clenching to the sight before her

No longer the dragon she’d been sparring with, Spike was suddenly a child, twisting his tail like a foal clutching its security blanket. He looked so scared, so worried for her safety.

The sight was so pitiful it almost made Starlight rethink her plan. She turned away. “Would you stop doubting me and just trust my intuition?”

“Your intuition? Starlight, it’s like you’re doing everything you can to avoid facing reality!”

Starlight stopped dead in her tracks, gnashing her teeth.

Spike did not just say that. He couldn’t be just as short-sighted as the others would be.

“Reality?” Starlight breathed, then whirled on him, screaming, “Reality?! Spike, am I the only pony in Equestria who finds this turn of events to be even a little bit suspicious?!”

Spike staggered back. “Starlight, calm down—”

“No, be quiet!” she snapped, tears welling in her eyes. “Why would Twilight accomplish so much,” she gasped, “help so many ponies, save me and become my friend—”

“S-Starlight—”

“—only to go out with a whimper for no good reason?!”

“Because things just happen Starlight! That’s how life works sometimes!”

“You’re such an idiot!” she snarled. “All of you are stupid! You honestly think life just happens? You really believe Twilight got this castle by accident? That its map led your friends to my village, ‘just because?!’”

Starlight stood panting from the outburst, her chest heaving, and then felt guilt flooding into her as she comprehended the sight before her. There stood Spike, both claws held up before him, to ward her off, his little chest filling and falling quickly. Tears unshed sat in his eyes.

Starlight felt her heart beat once, numb with horror at what she’d just done. Her mouth contorted open and closed as she prepared to apologize, but then Spike said, “Y-you’re right.”

“I’m sorry,” Starlight stammered, swallowing hard. “I am, really. I-I didn’t mean all those things. I mean, I did, but not so...” Horribly, her mouth couldn’t say.

Spike just backed away slowly, as if Starlight were a crazed animal ready to pounce. She couldn’t blame him. She sounded as deranged as she did back when revenge was all that mattered to her.

“It’s… fine, Starlight,” Spike breathed, cupping his forehead. “But this is a lot to process right now. It isn’t the right time. Um… Could… Do you think we can we talk about this later? After tomorrow’s yesterday and it’s just the eight of us together?”

‘And you’ve had time to tone down the crazy?’ Those were his unspoken words. Starlight knew Spike was thinking them, because she herself would if standing where he was. “S-sure. After the party! Noo biggie.”

In truth, Starlight had no intention of attending the party. Nor did the idea of engaging in another screaming match with her other friends, scaring them, and saying something truly regrettable in the process, fill her with enthusiasm.

Twilight’s days were numbered. If her time expired, and the party was to blame…

She needed a cure as soon as possible; the party was just a distraction. Besides, Starlight could handle this on her own.

“Starlight?”

She found the dragon with a foot out the door, and half his body awash in pale light. “If… If you wanna talk later, my door’s open. You know that.” A harmless courtesy, of course. 

It was appreciated though. A smile eased onto her face. “Yeah, of course. And I am sorry, Spike. Honestly.”

“It’s okay, Starlight. I understand.”





Greetings Everycreature,

Friendship is magic, no matter where we’re from. Princess Twilight Sparkle had taught you that, as well as I. 

But it is with heavy heart that I confess: our dear friend’s time is limited. Twilight has fallen victim to an incurable disease. Every solution has been exhausted by the most qualified ponies in the land, but she remains ill, and grows weaker every day. 

To ensure we all have a final, good memory together, Princess Twilight and I are hosting a grand celebration at the Castle of Friendship in Ponyville tomorrow evening. As one of her numerous friends, you are more than welcome to attend. I understand the Princess of Friendship has touched many lives, thus you are free to bring as many guests as you wish. There will be food and fun aplenty.

I apologize for the suddenness of it all. Nopony anticipated this, and there’s no telling how much longer our dear friend has. If you cannot attend, there’s no need to feel any  obligation to. Princess Twilight would be devastated to hear that you’d uprooted prior duties on her behalf. 

Let us not spend Twilight’s last days in preemptive mourning. Let’s spend them with smiles on our faces as we celebrate the pony who brought us all together in Harmony. 

Solemn Regards, 
Princess Celestia