//------------------------------// // Side B // Story: Useless Magic // by FoolAmongTheStars //------------------------------// vi. Question "Starlight?" he asked gently, but despite his efforts she still jumped slightly in place. She turned, the tails of her dress sweeping behind her in a whisper of fabric, the fairy lights reflected on her jewelry and winked at him as she moved. For a moment, he stopped thinking and could only stare as she approached him. He forgot he was checking up on a childhood friend and instead had intruded on something (which was silly, because she was alone, right?) judging by her forlorn expression. For a moment, under the light of the moon, she really did glimmer like a star. "What is it, Sunburst?" Just like that the spell was broken, and he blinked a couple of times to erase the remnants of… whatever had come over him. Sunburst cleared his throat and looked down at Starlight, slightly relieved that he was seeing her and not that vision, even if his heart was still racing at the sight of her. She really did look very nice tonight. "I-I didn't see you at the party," he said, breaking eye contact at last. "So, I came looking… is everything alright?" "I'm fine," she said, smoothing some imaginary wrinkle in her dress. "It's just, crowds can tire me out sometimes… I was just taking a break." "Oh, totally, I understand," Sunburst said, nodding enthusiastically. "I would much rather be at home, reading and studying, you know…" Starlight nodded and they both laughed, but the sound was forced and awkward and they quickly stopped, looking at anything but each other. Some time ago, before he met Twilight Sparkle and her friends, before he reunited with Starlight Glimmer, he would have left it at that and leave with a flimsy excuse. But now he knew that friendship also meant to be insistent at times, especially when you know that something isn't right. "Are you cold?" The question caught her off guard and she opened her mouth to protest, but a chilly wind blew in and made her shiver. "Maybe a little." Wordlessly he pulled off his cape and placed it over her shoulders, catching her by surprise. "Sunburst…!" "Don't worry," he said. "The ballroom was much too stuffy anyway, I could use some fresh air." vii. Breath Starlight stopped at the door, but didn't open it. The sun had barely risen and the Crystal Empire was still asleep, Starlight was willing to bet she was the only soul awake at this hour. Her suitcase was waiting at the door, but she didn't take it, just stared at it as she gathered her thoughts. She was reluctant to leave the little house, and at the same time, she couldn't get away fast enough. There was too much she knew now, so many things she realized during her stay, and she was not ready to share them. On the other hoof, she was somewhat at peace with herself, now that she realized what had been bothering her for so long. Her problem had a name, even if there was no solution in sight. The knob of the door began to glow in a teal aura and she was about to turn it when she stopped. I should leave a note, she thought and her magic dissipated. Starlight hesitated for a moment at the door, then she turned and headed to the sitting area, where a little desk sat surrounded by piles of books and papers. She took a fresh paper and quill and wrote a hasty note. She apologized that she had to leave so early, and apologized again for not warning him or saying goodbye, but she promised to make it up to him as soon as she could. At the end of the note the quill wavered, but she sighed and simply wrote your friend, Starlight Glimmer. The mare left the note where she knew he will see it, and hastily made it to the door, determined to leave this time. She opened the door and took her suitcase in one fluid motion of magic, stepping out the door only moments later. Turning to close the door, she looked inside one last time, with regret gripping her throat like a vice she swallowed thickly and spoke: "I love you," she said under her breath, in a voice so small she could have imagined it, and she closed the door with a soft click. In his bed, Sunburst continued dreaming, undisturbed. viii. Song Before he knew it, Starlight had dragged him to the dancefloor. A melodic riff of a guitar followed by the beat of drums marked the beginning of the tune. The ponies cheered as they recognized the song, jumping and dancing as the melody progressed, Starlight included. Sunburst admittedly didn't know much about music, however he found the tune very catchy, and soon he found himself swaying to the beat. Following Starlight's lead as the music got more energetic, he was soon dancing with her, not caring if he looked ridiculous and simply enjoying himself. He glanced at Starlight and grinned when their eyes met, she smiled back and took him by the hooves as they began to truly dance together. The stallion laughed when she began to lip sync the lyrics of the song, with exaggerated gestures and funny faces for comedic effect. He was laughing still when Starlight's expression softened to something more sincere, and she continued singing while watching him dance. "I just know that I would search for you, crossing time in all directions. Following your laughter, until I find you, my love." ix. Hopeful There. She said it, and she felt like throwing up. Starlight looked down at her hooves, her muzzle clamped shut so hard that her teeth were grinding. At least this way she could keep herself from saying more nonsense, or lose her lunch. It was quiet on the street, except for the other ponies going about their day, but that was just white noise. No sound came from Sunburst and as the silence dragged on, her dread only grew. She didn't have the courage to look at what kind of reaction her words had made, she could only stare at the tips of his white hooves and wait. Now I've done it, she thought and swallowed the lump in her throat. I never should have brought it up, I should have kept my mouth shut, I need to take it back and never speak of this again. The mare looked up, an excuse at the tip of her tongue and a nervous smile plastered on her face. Ready to laugh off whatever expression of dread, disgust or pity he was wearing. She promised herself that she would find a corner or a bed to cry her eyes out later on, once this was solved. Even though she wanted nothing more than to crawl under the nearest rock and never come out, she pushed those feelings aside for later and focused on her friend. Who didn't look resentful, angry or displeased at all. His blues eyes glimmered with barely contained excitement and they crinkled at the corners as his grin grew. He even pranced in place, like a foal who had won an unsuspected prize. "D-Do you really mean it?" x. Exception "Starlight?" His voice was soft and drowsy, but it still made Starlight jump. "I'm right here," she said, standing and ready to get whatever he needed. He didn't say anything at first, simply lifted his head and squinted in her general direction. His fever, along his general poor sight, made the world even murkier than usual, it was all he could do not to give up and lay his head on the pillow. The purple spot that was Starlight got closer, close enough that she became more defined. He could now see the small frown on her face and the messiness of her mane, he closed his eyes when she placed a hoof on his forehead, sighing at how cool it felt against his skin. She started talking, but Sunburst couldn't follow what she was saying, something about medication and doctors. He gave up trying to make sense of her speech, shaking his head to clear the fog in his mind and spoke. "I love you," he sighed. She stopped mid-sentence. Sunburst hated his nearsightedness more than anything at the moment. "It's not the illness speaking, well… maybe in part, but I truly mean it, Star." He dropped his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry it took a deadly disease to make me say it." Starlight got closer and covered him with a blanket. Even with how ill he was, he noticed that her hoof was shaking. She cleared her throat to speak. "Twilight and the others…" "I don't doubt our friends, it's just a precaution, in case I…" "Then don't," she said with a forceful tone, cutting him off. "Don't lose faith, just hang in there and rest, I'll be here every step of the way." Sunburst closed his eyes and nodded, feeling exhausted and a little hurt that his confession hadn't gone as planned. He figured these kinds of confessions should be made when one is well and whole, not on their deathbed in a last-ditch effort to clear one's conscience, longing for things that couldn't be. She probably hates me now, he groaned internally and burrowed deeper in to the blankets. Then he felt Starlight embrace him gently with one arm, resting her face on his neck before she spoke again, making his heart soar. "Tell me again when you're back on your hooves, then I'll give you my answer."