//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: The Ninth Enchantment of Mage Meadowbrook // by Thornwing //------------------------------// Starlight sat on the edge of her bed, gazing out the window. The moon hung directly above with a million stars dotting the Equestrian night sky. The door to her room was open just a crack when her guest knocked. “Come in,” Starlight said. Princess Luna pushed open the door with her magic and crossed the threshold somewhat out of breath. “Busy night?” Luna nodded her head. “A little more aggressive than usual, but I wanted to make sure I paid you a visit regardless. I trust all went well with your quest?” “Yeah, thanks to you.” Starlight motioned to the spot on the bed next to her. “I saved you a spot if you want to have a seat. Take a load off your hooves.” “I have my rounds to keep, so I can’t stay long.” Luna glanced over at the comfy pillowed comforter and sighed. “Maybe just a few minutes.” She crossed the floor and lifted herself up onto the bed next to Starlight making sure her mane and tail were properly situated along with tucking in her wings extra tight so as not to interfere with their conversation. Starlight smiled, glancing over at all the extra work it took to keep everything in check. “I’m not sure I could ever get used to having wings.” “After the first few decades, you’d wonder how you ever got along without them. Although, they do make for an extra encumbrance when it’s time to sleep.” Luna gave her left wing a little stretch and flap before tucking it back in place. “So it took some time getting used to the change?” “I can’t really say for sure. So many things changed all at once in my early years that it’s hard to know the difference. Time is the great equalizer and they quickly became part of who I am.” “I guess it was pretty much the same for Twilight.” Starlight closed her eyes and propped herself up on her hind quarters with her forelegs outstretched. “Practice makes perfect,” she said, mimicking a pegasus crash landing with her forelegs tilting and waving before dropping down onto the mattress, ending in a little implosion effect. Luna giggled. “Yes. Yes it was.” Starlight added a little chuckle before raising her head and turning back to face her mirror on the far wall. The pictures of her friends dotted the edge of the frame — Twilight, and Trixie, Discord, Thorax, and even Sunburst. “Luna, can I ask you a question?” Starlight said. “Of course you may, Starlight. That is why I am here.” Luna smiled, resting comfortably for the first time in a few hours since her dreamwalking shift for the night began. “Do you think I made the right call? Should I have accepted the gift to become an Alicorn?” Luna took a moment to answer. She raised her right wing and placed it over Starlight’s back. “This world needs good ponies just as much as it needs good princesses. Only you can decide for yourself where you fit into that. Wings or not, you’ve outgrown your past and I see a bright future ahead.” “A shooting star, with unlimited potential?” “That’s what I see,” Luna said drawing back her wing. “I think you see it now, too.” “There’s a long road ahead, but I think I’m starting to.” Luna nodded her head. “Then I must take my leave. There are plenty of others out there that cannot see the forest for the trees, and I must tend to them.” Luna rose from the bed and steadily walked toward the door. “Thank you, Princess Luna,” Starlight said. “Thank you for everything.” “Thank you, Princess Starlight Glimmer.” Luna turned back and winked before walking out and closing the door behind her. Starlight watched as she left, a feeling of accomplishment and pride washing over her as she caught out of the corner of her eye a shooting star pass over the castle.