//------------------------------// // Bestest Of Friends // Story: Doubts // by Howzdozit //------------------------------// There was probably a thousand words to describe how Trixie felt that night. Usually, she wouldn’t even have to hesitate to choose one. Great. After all, that’s how she always felt after a magic show with her great and powerful assistant. However, this time, she couldn't put her hoof on it. Trixie was doing just fine during the entire thing, but it was when she caught a glimpse of her best friend’s eyes that things seemed different. They had been going through with a show, as per usual. Starlight had just helped Trixie do a disappearing act, and things were going normally. Trixie then shouted, “The great, and powerful Trixie, would like to thank you all for coming! Trixie now presents, her great and powerful assistant,” she leaned into Starlight, and whispered, “And amazing friend,” she stopped whispering, “Starlight Glimmer!” Starlight stepped out onto the stage, smiling and waving. Trixie looked over at her, and saw a slight glint of sadness in her eyes. Which was strange. Starlight had always been one to be overjoyed when on stage. And that’s why Trixie was nervously pacing around Princess Twilight’s library. “Trixie just simply does not get it! What did she do to make her dear friend suffer? Oh…,” the unicorn muttered. “Well, surely it couldn't have been that bad! I mean, it’s not like she was crying or anything,” the princess said. Despite their forgiveness, the two ponies had a few… issues in communication. It took a lot of courage to ask Twilight for help, but Trixie managed to convince herself to do it. For Starlight. “Yeah, sure, but I did something wrong,” pursued the blue mare. Twilight sighed, then replied with, “Look, just trust that things will work themselves out in the morning. She’s been awake for a while. You know how your brain gets when it’s tired.” Trixie frowned at that. She didn’t want to help Starlight later, she wanted to help her now. “Alright. Thanks Twilight. Trixie appreciates it,” Trixie said, clearly disappointed. And with that, she went and slumped back to her wagon. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Starlight was trying to fall asleep, but just couldn’t. She felt.. disappointed. Why, she didn’t know. Wait, no. That’s a lie. She knew exactly why. She just didn’t wanna believe it. About a week ago, they had just gotten back from their best tour yet. It was amazing. Starlight had been laying, not being able to get her mind off how much fun she had. But, then Starlight had realized that none of the moments she considered the best had been during her shows. Actually, her favorites seemed to be her and Trixie doing a variation of things by themselves, in her wagon. Just normal things, like eating, or talking. But they were by themselves, and that’s all that mattered. And then she realized that she didn’t think about anything like that when she did stuff with her other friends. She had fallen asleep in confusion that night. About three days after that, she went over to Rarity for help. She didn’t really know why she couldn’t just ask somepony else, but Rarity felt like the right option. She had gone up and knocked on her door, and Rarity invited her in. They started talking a bit, until the topic of the tour came up. “Oh, darling, you simply must tell me what you did! Where did you go..,” the fashionista rambled random questions, when one caught Starlight off guard. “Oh, and I simply couldn’t help but notice that you’ve been quite.. well, closer to her lately. I can't help but wonder... is there something going on between you two?” Rarity tilted her head to the left, eyes gleaming in wonder. “W-w-what do you mean? I- I.. er.. wait.. we didn’t..,” Starlight failed to form coherent words. She took a breath and spoke up. “That’s what I came to talk to you about.” Rarity thought for a second, then asked a question. “So are you together or not?” It was easy to tell that the unicorn was looking for some juicy gossip. Reluctantly, Starlight replied with, “Erm.. no.” Starlight’s face dropped. She didn’t know why. Rarity sat there for a few seconds, confused. Then she got a thought. “Say, darling, have you ever taken a liking to somepony? Perhaps as more than simply friends?” Rarity asked calmly. Starlight had a confused look. “Uhm.. not that I’m aware of? Define ‘more than friends’,” she stated. Rarity perked up. “Oh darling, I simply must ask you something.” Starlight nodded. “Do you have a crush on Trixie?” Starlight had a dumbfounded look on her face. “I.. uh.. uhm.. don’t know? You tell me.” She could feel some blood rushing up to her face. Rarity beamed at the sight. “Oh darling, have I got the news for you! By the seems of it, you’ve fallen for her!” Starlight couldn’t remember much after that. It all just kinda.. molded together into one big feelings talk. Starlight looked up at her ceiling. She had finally accepted the idea that she was crushing on her friend, and then she got pushed down a deep hole. Not a physical hole, more of a metaphorical hole. It was more commonly known as, The Friendzone. “Maybe she didn’t mean to. She always does the whole best-friend-whisper thing. It’s not like she’s rejecting me or anything. Why am I even thinking about this? Just sleep.” Her thoughts stirred around her head. Eventually, after about two hours, she drifted off to sleep. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Trixie plopped down on her bed, unable to concentrate on sleep. Starlight had just looked so.. miserable. “Does she not like helping me with my shows? Or maybe she doesn't like my shows! Or.. what if she doesn't like being my friend. It would certainly make sense. No, that’s silly.” Starlight had been acting normal around her, even insisting on doing more things together, which Trixie appreciated. As hard as she tried to hide it, she couldn’t deny the fact that she had taken a liking to the filly. Maybe if she helped her, she could.. “No. She won’t feel the same way.” Eventually, the blue unicorn had fallen into a comfortable slumber. I walked around the Castle Of Friendship, heading towards a room I recognized all too well. I knocked softly, and got a grunt in reply. A soft giggle slipped of my mouth as I opened the door. “Star! Wanna do something?” Starlight groaned in reply. “Uh.. you okay? Trixie is fine with a no for an answer.” Starlight shot up, her eyes looking bloodshot. “No, of course I’m not okay! I asked for your help and you didn’t even do anything! I counted on you, and you ignored me,” Starlight said. Her voice seemed off, but I didn’t notice that. I felt my eyes water up, and I just stared at the pony I had come to care about so much. Hastily, I replied with, “Oh, I’m so sorry! Twilight told Trixie to let you sleep and I-” I was cut off with an alicorn coming up behind me. “Aha! You could’ve blindly listened to me tell you what to do, or you could’ve helped her! And you didn’t help her, meanwhile I spent the entire night ensuring she was comfortable! I win!” Her words echoed through my head. “Y-you did what? S-starlight? B-but…” my voice trailed off at I started bawling my eyes out. I tried to run away, but was cut off by an angry dragon, followed by him leaning his head out of Starlight’s window, looking in the general direction of my wagon, and set it on flames. I ran out, trying to frantacially put out the fire with what little magic I had. But the damage was done. My whole life’s work. Ruined. Just when I managed to fix up my relations with Twilight. Ruined. But that didn’t sting as much as the sound of Starlight sending curses towards me, Twilight smirking and nodding. And then everything went black. Or white. I couldn’t tell, as I had my forelegs wrapped tightly around my eyes as tears streamed out. I then heard a comforting voice tell me, “Hush now, my little filly.” I looked up, to see Luna. I stopped crying as I realized what was happening. “Luna! I’m so glad you’re here!” The Princess nodded calmly. “Now, tell me. What’s got you so worked up about this?” Luna asked nicely. “Well, I had a show tonight, and as I was closing, Starlight gave me a look. Like.. THE look. You know what I’m talking about?” Luna chuckled to herself. “I know it. Now tell me, who do you blame for what you’re feeling,” the alicorn pursued. I took a deep breath, “Well.. myself. For not doing anything.” Luna nodded. “And what can you do to change that?” I pondered for a second. “I can.. I can help her. Find what’s wrong, and fix it. But I don’t know how to do that by myself.” I frowned at the thought of failing miserably at comforting Starlight. “Who said you have to do it by yourself?” I looked up, “Well, you see, nopony is there enough time for me to get advice, so I can’t.” Luna grinned. “Trixie Lulamoon. I hereby appoint that I shall guide you through this, uhm.. Journey,” the regal voice stated. I nodded vigorously feeling a funny sensation. It was quiet inside the small wagon, at least until the sound covers unfurling from a mare shooting up filled the room. Trixie just had a thought, and smiled softly. She was going to help Starlight Glimmer, with whatever she may need. And that was a fact.