In Ponyville’s marketplace, I handed a stallion some bits and took the stuff I bought from his stand. I couldn’t get away fast enough, not that it would have helped anyhow. I was getting dirty looks and head shakes from most of the ponies around. They didn’t say anything, but I knew that they didn’t like how I had a pony on a leash. At least Twilight was paying me for this, but still.
At least Starlight, as well as a few other ponies, didn’t seem to be silently judging me. Not that she was exactly fond of me anyway, but at least she knew the real reason I had her on a leash. She was walking a bit slower than I’ve seen ponies walk, but I didn’t mind. She had stopped crying before we left the house and was in a slightly better mood, but she was still hanging her head. Her horn was close to touching the ground. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the poor thing.
At this moment, I currently had two bags of food in one hand, a pouch full of bits in the other, and the end of the leash I was holding was around my right wrist, so I didn’t have to hold it with my hands. I remembered Applejack’s farm has some of the best apples in all of Equestria, so I thought I’d head there.
After a quite uncomfortable walk, we came up to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack has always been nice to me, as were her siblings, so I figured she wouldn’t be one to judge me. At the very least, she knew about Starlight’s...history. As for Starlight herself, she kept her head down.
“Hey there, Sam. What can Ah do ya for?” she asked in her southern accent.
“Hey, Applejack. I’m here to get some apples. You have any?”
“Yep! How many do ya need?”
“How about...two dozen.”
“Two dozen? Alright, I’ll be right back.” Applejack walked off to get the apples.
I looked back to Starlight, who was sitting on her haunches with her head down.
“Are you okay? That collar’s not too tight, is it?”
She shook her head.
Applejack ran back with a bag full of apples. I was about to offer her a few bits, but she said, “No charge this time. Yer still new here.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking a quick look back. Where we came from, there were some ponies giving me death glares. "Do you mind if we come in for a bit? At least until those ponies walk further away?”
Applejack chuckled. “Of course, and they’ll warm up to ya soon. Granny Smith’s takin’ a nap, Big Mac’s outta town, and Apple Bloom’s with her friends, so I could use somepony - er, someone, to talk to.” Applejack turned and headed towards the barn.
I started to follow Applejack before I looked back to Starlight, who remained still.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She said nothing in response. After a second, I figured out what was wrong.
“I know you and Applejack have a...history, but she’s really nice, so you don’t need to be scared of her,” I said, trying to sound as nice as possible.
Starlight sighed, and slowly walked toward me. I was relieved she did; I really didn’t want to pull on the leash to get her to move. So far, she hasn’t made me.
Once we got inside the barn, Applejack, holding a bottle full of cider, asked, “Hey, Sam, ya like cider, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.” Applejack handed me the bottle. “In that case, give that a taste. Granny Smith made it right before she fell asleep and it’s a new recipe.”
I took a sip, and it tasted great, albeit a tad strong. I tried a little apple cider before, but Twilight warned me it was alcoholic before I did. I was old enough for it, but I was careful not to overdo it.
I noticed Starlight rubbing her hoof on the ground, looking bored. I held the bottle up to her. “Want some? It’s good.”
She shook her head, but didn’t stop rubbing her hoof.
Applejack also looked at her and smirked a little. Applejack walked over to me and whispered, “Ah see ya took my suggestion and got her a collar."
I couldn't believe I forgot. It slipped my mind that Twilight told me that her friends thought of the idea for a collar and leash, not her. And I thought Applejack wouldn't judge me for having Starlight on a leash because of how nice she's been, not because she was behind the whole thing. “Oh. So this was your idea?”
“Yep. Thought she might try somethin', so I came up with it,” she explained.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Anyhow, you wouldn’t be able to make me a new, wooden table would you?”
“I can, but what happened to yer old one? Ah thought it looked nice.”
I rubbed my head. “Well...we had a bit of an...incident last night. Long story short, I need a new one.”
She looked back to Starlight and shook her head. “Ah see. Well, sure, if ya want, ah can make ya a new table. Free of charge, and yer goin’ through enough already bein’ stuck with...her.”
Starlight flinched away from Applejack. I rolled my eyes and took the end of the leash around my wrist off and put it on the ground. “Can we talk for a minute?” I sternly asked Applejack.
She nodded, and we moved outside the farm.
“What is your problem?” I whispered harshly.
“What do ya mean ‘what’s ma’ problem’? Ah don’t trust her. Frankly, she’s lucky she’s gettin’ a chance at all. Besides, look at what she did to yer table.”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Applejack, she was scared. She’s never been without her magic before and she’s struggling. Just try to ease up on her a little and she’ll come around. I’ve been wanting to get a new table anyhow, so if anything, this is a good thing.”
Applejack looked back into the barn where Starlight was sitting and kept scowling. “Ah don’t know.”
“Come on, just put yourself in her place. I think she’s even starting to change because I haven’t seen the anger in her today that I saw yesterday.”
“Maybe, but still, she--”
“Applejack!”
Applejack jumped and looked at me. Her scowl was gone and after a sigh said, “F-Fine, Sam, you win, and I guess ya have a point. Ah’ll...go a little easy on her and try to play nice.”
“Thank you. Why don’t you go in there and just...try to talk to her? You’ll see what I mean about how she’s not as angry now.”
“Alright,” she said, walking back inside.
Starlight was sitting in the same spot. She didn’t seem to even notice I wasn’t holding the leash.
Applejack gave her a little tap and a small smile. “Look, I’m sorry I’ve been givin’ ya such a hard time. I’ll try to cool it from now on.”
Starlight gave her a confused frown. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Guess she was still too nervous to say anything.
“Hey, guys!” said a familiar, raspy voice.
I looked to where it came from, and saw Rainbow Dash landing from a flight.
“Hey, Rainbow. What’re you up to?” I asked.
“Nothing much. Just thought I’d swing by...oh, it’s her,” she said, finishing with a deadpan glare at Starlight.
I threw my head back and buried my face in my hands. “You too, huh?” I whispered to myself.
“Rainbow, Sam here was just gettin’ some apples, an’ he had to bring Starlight along. He said she's changin’ her attitude, so you don’t need to be makin’ a fuss.”
“Alright, alright. Oh, what does it say on that collar?” Rainbow asked, moving toward Starlight.
Starlight took on a serious blush and tried to back away from Rainbow. Unfortunately, she tripped on the leash, and Rainbow used this chance to pick up the charm in her hoof.
“Starlight, property of Sam,” Rainbow read aloud. After, she snorted and burst into hysterical laughter.
“It wasn’t my choice for it to say that, and that's all I could get! It’s none of your business anyhow!” I yelled at Rainbow.
“Sure.” Rainbow formed a smirk. “With that collar and leash, she really looks like your ‘pet’. Hilarious!”
Starlight gritted her teeth and looked down. It looked like her eyes were getting watery.
I clenched my fists. “Rainbow, take that back! She’s not my pet!”
Applejack stepped in and said, “Uh, you and Starlight should probably go. Sorry about Rainbow here, but I’ll deal with ‘er.”
“Thank you,” I said. Seemed like Applejack at least was willing to lay off Starlight. “Let’s go, Starlight.”
Starlight and I made our way back through Ponyville, and I was forced to endure the dirty looks and whispers again. If that wasn’t enough, from how Starlight was walking even slower than before, she seemed even more depressed than before.
Once we finally got to, and, in my house, I quickly shut the door behind us. Starlight sat on her haunches in front of the couch in the living room.
“Sorry about her. If it makes you feel any better, I don’t see you as a pet.”
She neither did nor said anything in response.
“Uh...how about I put this stuff I bought away and then make us brunch? But for now, you want an apple?” I asked, holding up an apple.
“No thanks. I don’t really like apples,” she admitted, still looking at the ground. At least she said something.
“I’m glad you’re finally talking to me. But, you could’ve said something when I was buying them. After all, for now at least, you live here, so you get a say in what I buy,” I said, hoping that could cheer her up a little.
She looked up at me. Her frown wasn’t as sad now. “Really?”
“Yeah. Anyhow, I’ll go make those pancakes. Oh, you do like pancakes, right?”
She nodded her head. “Yeah.”
“Alright then, and how many do you want?”
“Can I have three?”
“Three? Sure, and let me know if you want more,” I said, walking into the kitchen. I put all the stuff I bought away and got out the ingredients I needed for pancakes. “Let’s see; flour, baking mix, syrup...feels like I’m forgetting something.”
“Butter?”
I looked at the table. To my surprise, Starlight was walking to one of the chairs to the table and hopped on it.
“Right, thanks,” I said, chuckling a little. I got busy making those pancakes. About twenty minutes later, they were ready. Starlight watched me the whole time, her expression a little hard to read. She wasn’t as afraid of me as before and wasn’t as sad either, but whether that meant she was warming up to me, I couldn’t tell.
“Here you go. I might not be the best chef, but I learned a thing or two from Spike on how to make simple home-cooked meals.” I sat a plate of pancakes in front of her. “You want me to put some whipped cream on them?”
For the first time, she smiled, albeit it was a little one. “Sure.”
I sprayed a dollop of whipped cream onto our pancakes and dug into mine with my fork. Starlight looked at it from one angle after another, before rolling her eyes and digging her muzzle into the pancakes to eat. It looked adorable, and I had to stifle a chuckle at the sight. It further helped that she finally seemed somewhat happy.
“H-How is it?”
She lifted her muzzle, now syrup-covered, from the pancakes. “They’re good.”
“Good. Like I said, I’m not the greatest cook, but I think I have some cooking skills,” I said with a chuckle. I got a bit on my fork and chowed down. As Starlight said, they were good, and we finished eating in silence.
Once we were done, Starlight looked at our plates. “Um...how should I clean up?”
“Here, I’ll run some water in the sink so you can clean up,” I walked to the sink and sat our syrup-covered plates next to it.
I put the plug in and ran the water. As it filled up, I pulled a chair from the table and put it next to the sink. The chairs were moderately tall in case I had ponies over, so it would allow Starlight to reach the sink without much trouble.
I went into the living room and laid down on the couch while Starlight did her thing. Soon the water turned off, and Starlight joined me in the living room. Her muzzle was clean, so she might have washed it when she was cleaning up.
“So...what now?” she asked, with that earlier little smile gone.
“Good question. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired after all that’s happened today. I’m gonna try to read myself to sleep.” I got up from the couch and grabbed a book from my bookshelf. “You could...wash the rest of the dishes or something if you’re bored.”
Starlight sighed and looked down again. “Alright.” She slowly walked back into the kitchen.
Wow, she really is going to do it, and I was just joking about washing those dishes. Maybe she really does feel bad about what she did. If so, maybe I can convince Twilight to let me take the leash off of her.
I opened my book and read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
I was woken by the sound of glass shattering. I looked at the clock and saw I was only asleep for five minutes.
I got up and stumbled into the kitchen. A broken plate was on the floor and Starlight was on her haunches in the chair, head buried in her hooves on the counter, crying.
Either she tried to use that plate to get that ring off her horn, or she just accidentally dropped it. Probably the latter.
I walked over to her and gently rested my hand on her back. She stopped crying, uncovered her face, and looked at me with tearful eyes. “I’m sorry. I-I dropped the plate when I tried to pick it up, and--“
I cut her off by putting my finger on her muzzle. “It’s fine. I really didn’t think you’d come in here and wash the dishes. I was just joking, and I’m sorry if you thought I was serious. I’ll get that cleaned up.”
I scooped up the bits of broken glass with a dustpan and threw them in the trash.
“I’m not gonna make you do menial chores for me. Like I said, you don’t need to be afraid of me, even if you do hate me,” I told her, walking back to the living room.
“I don’t hate you,” she said in a quiet voice, making me pause.
I turned around to her. “Really? You don't?”
She shook her head. “No. You’re just doing what Twilight wanted you to do, so this isn’t your fault. It’s my own fault I’m in this mess. If anything...I hate myself. And...it’s not like I don’t deserve this.”
Now we’re really getting somewhere.
“You know something? Twilight’s friends talked like you brainwashed an entire village and stole their Cutie Marks for no reason or for fun. Or that you were just a villain who doesn’t care about anyone but herself, but I’m seeing that’s not true.”
Starlight’s eyes widened, and it felt like she was looking at me in the eyes now. “What do you mean?”
“Save for Twilight, all I was told was that you were rotten to the core and would never change. But Twilight thought there was good in you and that you deserved a second chance, and I can see that she’s right.”
“Really?” she asked, sounding the loudest I’d heard so far, though it wasn’t truly in a shout or otherwise loud voice.
I explained, “Yeah, and I even think Twilight got something wrong. You’re just a little misguided, right? That doesn’t make you a villain if you really just wanted to help ponies.”
“You really think so? I mean, I legitimately thought I was helping everypony in that village. That was why I felt no remorse whatsoever, and I think I even brainwashed myself a little. Not that I’m trying to make it sound like what I did wasn’t my fault or was ‘right’, especially not now, but...” Starlight looked away.
I finished, “Twilight and her friends just kinda knocked some sense into you, and you’re only now getting the point?”
Starlight turned her head back to me. “Yeah. Well, I think I started to get it last night.”
“Whenever you got it, it’s good that you did at all. As for me, I know I might look big and intimidating to you, but I’m not really that different from you ponies. In fact, you should have seen how scared I was the first time I saw Twilight and the others in Twilight’s castle. Although I guess I didn’t do that great a job of not scaring you, huh?”
Starlight sighed. “I’ll admit I was a little scared at first, but now I--“
A new voice I didn’t recognize interrupted, “Why, Fluttershy told me you didn’t think of ponies as pets. The silly dear must have let her good heart miss the signs.”
What appeared next was...something. I don’t even know how to describe it. What suddenly appeared in the kitchen had one green horn, one yellow antler, a talon, a paw, a dragon tail, a blue wing, a bat wing, and two yellow eyes with red irises. Equestria has been...odd to me sometimes, but this took the cake for the oddest thing I’ve seen yet!
I pointed at the figure and asked, “Who, no, what are you?”
“Who me? Twilight never told you about me, I guess, but this good-looking figure in front of you is Discord, the God of Chaos. Oh, and you are a human, and that is a unicorn in front of you. Any more questions?”
“Yeah, one. Why are you here?” I asked.
“Fluttershy and I were having tea, and she suggested I come to meet you, so here I am.” Discord spread his arms in a boastful manner for a brief moment. At the same time, I could have sworn I heard applause. “But I see that you do think of ponies as pets after all. Like Miss...what did Fluttershy say her name is...oh, right, Starlight.”
I growled and yelled, “I don't, and Starlight's not my pet!”
“Oh really? Then why is she wearing a collar that says--” A pair of glasses appeared on his face “--Starlight, property of Sam?”
Starlight’s face turned red as Discord read it.
“Because--“ I started.
“Ooh, I see how it is. She’s not your pet, but your slave, yes?” Discord questioned with a sly tone.
“N-No, because that’s all I c-could get,” I stuttered.
“Oh please, I have eyes, and I can see you blushing. I bet you like that idea, don’t you?” Discord countered. I looked in a mirror in the kitchen and saw my cheeks were, in fact, red. “Here, let me put her in something more suitable for the role.” Discord snapped his fingers, and a poofy maid outfit suddenly appeared on Starlight. It was like it popped out of thin air. As much as I absolutely hated to admit, she did look pretty cute in it.
“Discord!” I shouted.
“Well, if she’s not your pet or slave, then why is she wearing a collar?” Discord asked, giving me a smug smile.
“I-It’s a long story,” I stammered and took a step back. After seeing what Discord could do just by snapping his fingers, I was intimidated by his eyes.
“Well, I have all the time in the world, so let’s hear your ‘long story’.” Discord snapped his fingers again, and the next thing I knew, we were in the living room. I was in my father’s chair with Starlight lying in my lap, much to my dismay at the last part. Discord was sprawled out along the entire couch across from us with what seemed to be a content smile.
“Seriously?” I asked, facepalming.
Discord pulled on his goatee. “No good? Then how about we try this?” Discord snapped his fingers again, and he and I switched places. I was now lying on the couch, and he was in my father’s chair with Starlight in his lap, or the closest to a "lap" that he had. She tried to hop off, but his tail was tied around her.
“Discord! Get out of that chair!” I yelled, not feeling as intimidated, from both seeing Starlight treated like this and seeing him in my father's chair.
“I take it this is worse? Then how about this?” he snapped his fingers again. I was still on the couch, but Starlight was now on my lap again.
She looked up at me with a pleading frown with her ears drooped. “Please, just tell him, so he’ll go away.”
“Alright,” I said. Not like I had another choice in the matter anyway.
Over the span of half an hour, I explained everything I was told about Starlight’s past. I had gotten so deep in the story, I had actually started to pet Starlight’s mane.
“Mhm, I see. But I beg to differ about you saying you don’t think of her as a pet.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Look at your hand. Isn’t that something you would do to a pet?”
I looked down and saw I had my hand resting on Starlight’s head and that she was asleep on my lap. Out of Instinct, I stood up, knocking Starlight off my lap. She gave a little *squeak* as she hit the floor.
“For the last time: she is not my pet! That was an accident!” I shouted.
“Fine. I’ll be out of your hair then. Ta-ta,” Discord said, teleporting away with his finish.
I sunk back down to the couch and sighed. Starlight hopped up next to me and rested a hoof on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” she asked, actually sounding concerned.
“Yeah, but are you all right? I didn't mean to throw you on the floor like that."
"I'm okay. Thanks for sticking up for me."
"Good, but I don’t think getting on his bad side was the greatest idea. I guess even this place has a select few that aren’t sugar and rainbows. Still is better than my old world though.”
There was a small pause.
“What was it like...your old world? Is it that much different than Equestria?” Starlight asked.
“That was one of the first questions Twilight asked me, once I was calmer around her.” I lifted my head. “It was...different. Sometimes, it could be great. Other times, not so much. But it absolutely sucked compared to Equestria. Maybe I could tell you about it sometime.”
“I’d like that,” she responded.
There was another bit of content silence. Neither one of us looked at each other or said a word, but it wasn’t really awkward like it was before.
Before the silence could last long enough to become awkward, I told Starlight, “I really am sorry you’re in this whole mess.”
“It’s fine. Like I said, I deserve it. In fact, I would really like having an actual friend after so long. So, could you...be...my friend?”
I put my arm around her. “I’d love to be your friend.”
“Really?!” she said with a big smile. It was by far the biggest I’d seen from her yet.
“For sure, and Twilight really wanted you to learn the error of your ways, which is why she brought you to me. Once you show her you’ve changed, I know Twilight will be your friend too.”
She smiled even wider. “T-Thank you.”
I fully faced her and pull her into a hug. She hugged me back, and we stayed there like that for a while. Her fur tickled, but it felt pretty good.
“You know, I have no idea why I didn’t tell you last night, but there’s another bedroom upstairs if you want it,” I offered.
“Really? I get my own room?”
I nodded my head. “Sure. You could even redecorate it any way you want. Just try not to wreck the room,” I answered with a chuckle at the end.
She wrapped her hooves around me again, and we hugged again.
After we let each other go, I pointed at the leash’s charm and said, “But first thing’s first. I gotta cover the engraving on that charm, so no one else sees it and picks on you about it.”
“About that: do I really have to wear his thing?” she asked, poking at it with her hoof.
I knew she wasn’t gonna like my answer, making me sigh. “For the time being, yes.”
Her ears drooped to the sides of her head. “Okay. I understand.”
“But it’s not because I want to, but I have an idea. Twilight told me that she’s gonna come over again tomorrow after she gives a speech in the town hall, so if you can behave yourself well enough, I’ll talk to her about taking that thing off.”
Starlight smiled, and I could get used to her smiles. “You will?! Thank you!” Starlight’s smile faded and poked the collar again. “This thing is just really uncomfortable and embarrassing to wear.”
“I know, for now, I’ll get some tape to cover the words on that charm. Be right back.” I walked into the hallway and got some black duct tape to tape around the charm, thinking about what Starlight said and that we’re friends now. After I covered it, we spent the rest of the day just hanging out and talking. It felt nice, talking to her as both an equal and a friend, and especially with her being more relaxed. As we did, I thought, Looks like this can work out well after all.
That evening, I went upstairs to my room to sleep, and Starlight went to hers.