It seemed like it would be just another typical day for Starlight, as she sat at attention at her counselor's desk and listened attentively to whatever the students needed to tell her. With school back in session after the Winter break, it seemed like Starlight's office had become busier than ever.
But to her surprise, at the end of the day as she was getting ready to close down the office and head home, who should come trotting in but Trixie? The magician had an exceptionally bright smile on her face. "Great news, Starlight!" She beamed with pride. "The Great and Powerful Trixie's skills have finally been recognized! She's going to Saddle Arabia!"
"All by yourself?" Starlight questioned. "Saddle Arabia's pretty far away."
Trixie shook her head. "Of course not all by herself, Starlight. For the Great and Powerful Trixie would be nothing without her best friend and great and powerful assistant," She flashed a knowing smile. "And we both know who I'm talking about."
At that Starlight gulped. "W-wait, you want me to come with you on your road trip?"
The magician nodded again. "We'll be performing all over Equestria on our way to Saddle Arabia! You're as much a part of the act as everything else, Trixie couldn't do this without you."
"B-but where would we spend the nights?" Starlight nervously inquired.
Trixie grinned. "Starlight, you silly filly, you know the answer to that. In my wagon of course! It'll be just like our trip to Sire's Hollow on Hearth's Warming. Remember how much fun we had then?"
"If by fun you mean having to sleep in a hammock in a drafty wagon that was anything but cozy," Starlight grumbled. "I'm not sure I'm ready for another road trip so soon. Besides, I can't just up and leave, I've got guidance counselor responsibilities now."
As if on cue, the familiar form of Silverstream came flying into Starlight's office. "Counselor Starlight, could I talk to you for a minute or two? Maybe three? I'm kind of having issues with Gallus, he seems to be in a bad mood and doesn't wanna talk to me," Then she noticed Trixie and blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something? I can probably just come back tomorrow."
"N-no, don't be silly," Starlight nervously laughed and gestured the young hippogriff to come in. "As a guidance counselor, my students come first. I can squeeze you in really quick," She turned to Trixie. "Can we... discuss the er.... road trip at a later date? Like maybe tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that?"
The magician grumbled and snorted, turning her head. "Fine, I'll let you off the hook this time, Starlight. But the Great and Powerful Trixie isn't taking no for an answer," Under her breath she added. "And don't even think about trading away my wagon." Then she departed Starlight's office.
Even as Starlight occupied herself with Silverstream's problem, an unhappy sigh escaped her lips. "This student counselor needs some counseling herself," She thought with a frown on her face. "And there's only one pony to talk to about that."
Shining Armor had just gotten off of day court in the Crystal Empire and was looking forward to a relaxing evening with his family (about as relaxing as it could be with Flurry Heart anyway, she was still often full of energy). But as he made his way down the halls to the private study, he felt a faint tingling sensation on his front left hoof.
The prince looked down, eyeing a glowing blue band that flashed on and off rapidly. He recognized at once what it meant. It was his way of staying in touch with Starlight and Twilight while they were in Ponyville, and he was in the Crystal Empire. So he could tell them apart, he had assigned them both special signals for an enchanted band. Starlight's was a rapid on and off flash, whereas Twilight's was a slower and more constant display.
Checking to make sure the hallways were empty, the prince touched a hoof to the band. A small magic bubble appeared, with Starlight's face poking through it. "Starlight, can you hear me?" He spoke up, trying to draw her attention.
Starlight blinked back and for a moment she was silent, but then she answered. "Yeah, I read you loud and clear. Looks like this communication system works."
Shining smiled. "Thank Twilight, it was her idea. Speaking of which, how is she? Everything going okay at the School of Friendship?"
"For the most part," Starlight replied with a quick nod, before she sighed and her posture took on a bit of a slump. "But there's something I wanted to talk to you about. Something really troubling."
The prince tried to keep a straight face. "Starlight, did you do something you're not supposed to again? Please tell me it's not another magic mishap."
The mare shook her head in quick succession. "No, no magical mayhem to report here. Everything's been quiet. And there's been no sightings of Neighsay either," She paused, her lips seeming to quiver a little. "But today I learned that Trixie plans to go out on the road, all the way to Saddle Arabia. And she wants me to go with her."
"Well, congratulations," Shining smiled back at Starlight. "Sounds like a dream come true."
"For Trixie, maybe. But not for me. I don't do well on the road," Starlight frowned again. "I couldn't stand sleeping in Trixie's wagon, even though it was just for one night," Then she added in a glum tone of voice. "I actually tried to trade Trixie's wagon away for something more... comfortable."
"You did what?!" Shining exclaimed as his eyes widened.
Starlight hung her head in shame. "Yeah, I'm not exactly proud of that. Trixie really blew up on me for it. But we just couldn't make it work out, I kept snoring and Trixie kept talking in her sleep. If not for the fact that it was so cold outside, I would've slept under the stars."
"And you're worried about the same things happening on the road to Saddle Arabia?" Shining concluded, to which Starlight nodded. "Well, have you brought it up around Trixie at all?"
"I don't wanna be a burden to her, especially because my job as a guidance counselor keeps cutting into the time we used to spend just hanging out together," Starlight explained. "I've tried to set up office times, but it seems like I keep having more students than I know what to do with. I don't wanna make Trixie feel like I'm placing even more demands on her when she already has to sacrifice so much. This is the longest she's ever been in Ponyville, and now she's finally got a chance to live her dream, make herself known to all of Equestria."
The prince paused for a moment, before he told his former student. "I think I know what the problem is. Trixie is so used to life on the road, her wagon in particular is like a home away from home. But you've taken up root in Ponyville, you're afraid of being alone again."
The mare hung her head again. "After all the terrible things I did to that village, after almost completely giving up on friendship, I never wanted to feel left out again. Being on the road, it feels like I'm learning all over again. But to Trixie it's like it's no big deal, like second nature to her. I enjoy spending time with her when she's in Ponyville, and I'm sure she's proud to consider me her assistant. But maybe ours is a friendship that's not meant to last? Maybe we're just too different to truly make it work? Perhaps our lives are meant to take us in different directions."
"Starlight, you need to talk to Trixie about these sort of things. You know she's not a mind reader, and it doesn't do you any good to keep your worries bottled up," Shining advised. "From what I've seen of Trixie, she values your happiness enough to at least listen when you have concerns. But what works for her may not work for you, maybe you two need to work something out together, if you really want to go on the road with her."
"And what if I don't? I don't want our friendship to end over something like that." Starlight protested.
"Even if Trixie does go on the road alone, it doesn't mean your friendship has to end," Shining encouraged as he looked at Starlight. "You thought the same of Sunburst after he moved away, and we both know how that it turned out to not be the case. If Trixie truly is your friend, she'll try her best to accommodate your life style. But even if she can't make you happy enough to go on the road with her, it doesn't mean she'll stop being your friend. I'm sure even she understands that someponies are fine being alone, and others not so much."
Starlight seemed to grow slightly happier, before she nervously inquired. "B-but what about my responsibilities as a guidance counselor? I can't just up and leave my office unattended, who would take my place?! And don't you dare say Tempest Shadow or Sunset Shimmer, I haven't heard from the former in weeks and we both know Sunset's far too busy in that other world to come back to Equestria on short notice."
The prince flashed a knowing smile as he gestured a hoof. "I'd be more than happy to fill in for you. This gives me an opportunity to support my sister's dream and ensure it's success," Then he added. "Flurry Heart will love the chance to be with her favorite auntie, and she'll have some actual playmates now."
"W-well, that sounds lovely. But I'll have to talk with Trixie before I make any plans," Starlight cautioned. "And you should probably check with Cadence to make sure she's okay with you leaving the Crystal Empire."
"Will do!" Shining saluted. "You focus on Trixie, and I'll worry about Cadence. Hope to talk to you again soon."
A week later, Twilight, the teachers, and the students from the School of Friendship all gathered to see Trixie and Starlight off. "Don't forget to write!" Pinkie Pie called out to them. "We wanna hear all about your travels on 'The Road to Friendship Tour'!"
Starlight just nervously waved back as Trixie winked. "We will, we'll be sure to do that first thing after every pit stop and hotel check-in."
"Have fun, you two," Twilight encouraged. "And don't worry, Starlight. Shining Armor will take good care of the students while you're gone."
"As long as Flurry Heart behaves anyway." Shining laughed, looking at his young daughter who was currently perched atop his head.