Tempest Shadow stormed into Starlight’s office.
“I grow very tired of this.” growled the dark unicorn through gritted teeth.
Starlight looked down from her kite rearrangement on the ceiling, a bright green cubic one dangling haphazardly. “Um, hello. Welcome!” she chuckled nervously, completely taken by surprise. “Maybe I should put up a ‘please knock’ sign or something,” she muttered a little more quietly.
“Well you didn’t!” snapped Tempest, looming over the smaller unicorn. The dark mare had trained herself since a young age, attaining a physical discipline most unicorns would never experience. Her social etiquette however, was lacking to say the least. “I have had it with this place. I can’t take this kind of pressure.”
“Please!” Starlight begged, reaching out a hoof imploring. “Calm down. There is no pressure in this place,” smiled the guidance counselor, trying to reassure.
The unicorn gave a heavy sigh. “Alright.” She sat down on the floor, in front of the sofa, resting her forelegs underneath.
Starlight rubbed her chin, “Hmm, I guess you’re used to sitting outdoors?” she guessed, before sitting down in front of her desk and across from her visitor.
Tempest snorted, glowering. “Are you mocking me?”
Starlight shook her head. “No, I’m joining you.”
Tempest rolled her eyes. “None of you can join me. I am not like any of you...” With that the powerful mare grew silent, looking down at her hooves, placed close together.
Starlight Glimmer looked up at her kites, considering to adjust the one dangling down still. No, that would be rude… it can wait. “Maybe you’d like a change in atmosphere? I can use magic to add some ambiance. Maybe make it seem like we’re resting outdoors?”
The dark unicorn laughed. “Why don’t we simply go outside then?”
Starlight nodded. “Well, we could, but then you’d have to stand up and walk around, and I’d rather you sit still and relax, if that’s ok...”
Tempest did not like being ordered around, but she did know this pony was the ‘guidance’ counselor of this school, in any case. Maybe it was alright. “Fine. But if I hate your magic then change it back, understand?”
Starlight recoiled slightly, frowning. “You are free to dislike what I offer you, but try not to hate so freely. It’s not healthy.”
Tempest scoffed, looking away. “Like a soft palace-dwelling unicorn would know.”
Starlight sighed softly, closing her eyes. She didn’t like being outdoors as much as she used to, unless it was to fly her kites or to carry out tasks. She certainly wasn’t the sort to enjoy extended hiking and camping. But there were times long ago when she forced herself to do so...
“You don’t know me or my past. Do not judge so quickly.” The guidance counselor muttered again, as if to herself.
Tempest heard easily enough, and immediately sobered at that scolding. “You are right,” she responded quietly, calmly. “My apologies.”
Starlight put her hoof to her face, embarrassed. Great, she was already berating her guest. Maybe she could try scolding her about the past next? “No no, please. I should be the one to apologize. You are here to blow off steam, after all!”
Tempest looked up at Starlight in a piercing searching way, a chill running down the smaller unicorn’s spine. “Alright then. Maybe you do deserve my respect.”
“Eheheh,” Starlight laughed nervously, taken off guard by the warrior. “Thanks. So, you still ok with me doing the outdoors ambiance stuff?”
“Go on.”
Starlight closed her eyes, horn glowing turquoise, a soft glimmering of the light. Shadows of trees loomed up through the ceiling, but there was no ceiling in sight. The soft sounds of a stream and birds chirping. The scent of flowers and leaves. The room around them was gone, for the most part. Except for the desk, chair, and sofa.
“Are you sure you haven’t simply teleported us and part of your office outside?” Tempest asked quietly, surprised by the realism.
Starlight giggled at that, clearly delighted and happy, Tempest turning to stare. “Oh no no. I’ve just had a lot of time and opportunity to practice this spell, that’s all!” she declared, though still beaming.
Tempest almost smiled, but she still felt some frustration from this day. She did not really want to be here, after all. She looked down again, at the grass, and bugs crawling around. That, and she was still processing such a casual display of power.
There was silence between them for awhile. Starlight fidgeted nervously for a little bit, before trying to get absorbed in the magical nature ambiance. But when you’ve put so much time into designing a spell, it’s easier for it to be less enthralling for the spell-weaver herself.
Starlight coughed awkwardly.“Ahehem. So, um… how would you prefer to be addressed today? Name-wise, that is.”
Tempest shrugged, mildly irritated by the question. “Fizzlepop, I suppose. It’s who I’m trying to be now.” she looked up, trying not to give a ferocious stare this time. “What else do you know about me?”
“I only know what Twilight knows of you. Most of what she knows, I mean. Maybe.” Starlight gestured vaguely, smiling weakly, speaking softly, “Is it something about your names that troubles you?”
“Hmm. Not directly. I’m just feeling so…” Tempest reared back slightly, lifting both forelegs, shaking them. “Overwhelmed!” she released her energy, thudding back down on the ground. “Every pony seems to want to be my friend all at once. I am so used to being so alone,” the taller pony’s voice became more fluid and warm, yet sad and weary. “I don’t want to be alone, but...”
Starlight Glimmer didn’t speak, but she watched Fizzlepop very closely, trying to absorb the sudden outpouring of words. She had to understand, if she wanted to help this unicorn.
“But all my life, most of my life, it was just me. And when it wasn’t me, it was some some creatures that did my bidding, or sometimes I served theirs. Strictly business. Mercenary agreements. That’s what I had with the Storm King. None of these relationships had any warmth. It was all selfish greed and intentions for power. I almost had him you know...” Tempest looked up suddenly, a wild gleam in her eye, laughing nervously. “I almost took him out, in that final duel. Do you know what I would’ve done next, if Twilight didn’t save me? Do you?”
Starlight Glimmer suddenly leapt at Tempest, only with a moment’s hesitation. The world-weary distraught unicorn tensed up, then melted into the embrace, leaning her muzzle against Starlight’s shoulder, sighing deeply.
There were no words for a time, but the soft sounds of nature, not truly there, yet enough to be recognized in the ponies’ minds.
Starlight pulled away first, gently touching Tempest’s forelegs. “It doesn’t matter now. You are not who you were. But...” she looked away, smiling slyly. “But that doesn’t mean you have to be perfect now either. Okay?” she turned back with a wink.
Tempest almost smiled again, but she was a bit annoyed now. How was it this little soft unicorn helped her relax from touch? Why hadn’t she attacked, years of instinctive combat training refusing to kick in?
“That was dangerous, you know that right?” Tempest scolded. “I was almost losing my mind, what if I...”
“What if you tried to hurt me?” Starlight finished. “Maybe I don’t look it, but I know how to defend myself.”
Tempest knew unicorns could defend themselves easily… with magic. But unless they had special spells in mind, they weren’t so great against physical combat. “The thing is, it’s frustrating how much I want to be left alone, and yet not wanting to be left alone. I wish I could decide. For the longest time, I convinced myself I will always be alone. It felt like there was no other way...”
Starlight Glimmer felt a chill run down her spine again, dark memories resurfacing. “I had those thoughts too, a long time ago. They gave me such fear, I vowed to never be without friends. No matter what.”
Tempest Shadow shook her head. “I wanted nothing to do with friends. I wanted to be alone. No matter what.”
Starlight tapped her hooves together. She wanted to bring up more specific questions, but Fizzlepop was a sensitive guest. “If you need time alone, you should tell Twilight. I understand that you haven’t made up your mind about staying at the School of Friendship, but maybe if you were given space and comfort, you would feel better? Maybe request a solitary dorm room?”
The dark orchid pony looked up at the intricate leaves of the trees, sighing deeply. “This is only my second day here, after my long solitary journey to talk about friendship with other creatures. But it seems like I have more trouble interacting with my own kind than others.”
Starlight smiled at that. “Hm I kinda feel the same sometimes. Do you feel like...” she hesitated. “Are you concerned with being older than most other students?”
“Yes,” Tempest replied bluntly. “But it’s more of a nuisance than a concern. My conflicting feelings about solitude are my concern.”
Starlight closed her eyes and leaned back. Sometimes she wished it was easier and quicker to help her guests feel better. But she couldn’t ever give up on comforting them, or at least trying to.
“How is it that a magic-user so powerful as you, is using it just to...” Tempest Shadow trailed off, suddenly thinking of her love for fireworks, and how much that simplicity of magic helped her feel better. She looked up at her fractured, broken horn, mutilated since many years ago. “Wait, why haven’t you asked about my horn yet?” It suddenly dawned at her, staring at the guidance counselor in amazement.
Starlight simply lifted a hoof and shrugged. “It didn’t seem relevant or appropriate a topic. Why should I draw attention to your horn?” she was being honest, but she hoped it was the right reply.
Tempest contemplated that. “I guess I have had less questions about that here at this school, than elsewhere in Equestria. But I do get asked still. It’s something I’ve always been touchy about, but also one of the first things I had to discipline my temperament about too...”
Starlight nodded. “Considering all you’ve been through, I think you’re taking things pretty well. How are you feeling now?”
“A little better, I guess. Thank you for listening to me. And thank you for this forest magic. It does help a lot. I am used to living outside, after all.”
Starlight felt like there might still be some other matter. “Is there anything else you’d like to discuss before you go?”
Tempest stared. “Already?”
Starlight gasped. “Uh well no, you don’t have to. I don’t have any creature scheduled for awhile still, but… it was just courtesy, eheh.”
Tempest looked up at the trees again. “Time just goes slower for me in my old life. Everything is so different now.”
Starlight wanted to talk about her own past so badly. But she had to be a good counselor and not make things all about her. “Sometimes healing happens a bit too suddenly. It is alright to slow down if it helps you feel better. What good is there in rushing things if your discomfort makes it worse?”
Tempest nodded at that. “I see. You really are a good guide, Starlight.”
“Ahahahah! Well, maybe I guess!” Starlight blushed deeply, not expecting the praise. “I try to be considerate, anyway...”
Tempest Shadow closed her eyes, enjoying the sound of Starlight’s magic.
Starlight Glimmer felt a sense of peace between them. Maybe one day she will tell this dark past. But for now, she hoped for Tempest’s comfort and serenity.
And for the first time that day, Fizzlepop Berrytwist smiled.