//------------------------------// // Episode 8: "My Mother, Aurora Glimmer" // Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 11 // by twilightsparkle3562 //------------------------------// … … Mother's Day was nearing in Equestria. It was a day that many in Equestria looked forward to for celebrating the mothers and mother figures in their lives. But for one pony, Mother's Day was a day that always brought more heartache than happiness. "I'm really impressed with all of your Mother's Day cards, everycreature," Starlight said one day while visiting Celestia's class. "I particularly like yours, Silverstream." The young hippogriff smiled upon hearing this, showing off her Mother's Day card signifying both the hippogriff's land and seapony forms. "Thanks, Headmare Starlight. It's for the best mom in the sea! Naturally of course, Cousin Skystar managed to make hers even better. Given that my aunt is the queen." "Now students," Celestia announced to her class. "When you see your mother or mother figures this weekend, be sure to tell her that you love her and thank her for all that she does for you." Soon the bell rang and the day was over. However, once the class had gone, Starlight's bright and cheerful façade faded away. "Well, I'm certainly looking forward to visiting mom and dad in Silver Shoals this weekend," Celestia declared to Starlight later on as she closed up her classroom for the day. "You know, this is the first time that Luna and I will celebrate Mother's Day with mom since we rescued her." "Yeah, you're lucky, Celestia," Starlight sighed, sitting down at a desk. "You and Luna managed to rescue your mom and celebrate Mother's Day with her. What do you guys have planned?" "Oh, just doing some fun activities that a mother and daughter do," Celestia innocently replied. "Of course, my mom has been developing a newfound interest in daring activities like zip lining. I guess I had to get it from somewhere." "Guess it runs in the family, I suppose," Starlight chuckled. "Is Luna looking forward to it?" "Yes, of course, Starlight," Celestia smiled. "Mom does have a plan to celebrate Mother's Day on Luna's level, too. Mom is not like dad is, but we love her just the same." As Celestia spoke, Starlight's face began to show signs of sadness. For she had dreaded this day more than anything. "You're lucky," She not so subtly chuckled. "It's too bad I can't celebrate with my mom." This made Celestia stop what she was doing and look directly at her school superior. "What do you mean?" She asked, a look of concern befalling her face. "She's…she's dead, Celestia," Starlight replied solemnly much to Celestia's shock! … … "Starlight!" Celesta gasped in a shocked voice. "Why didn't you talk to me about this sooner?" "It was my burden to bear, Celestia," Starlight confessed as she got out from behind the desk. "This weekend is not just Mother's day, but it's also the anniversary of my mom's passing." "Starlight, I'm so sorry," Celestia sympathized, placing a hoof under Starlight's chin. "I…I didn't realize that you went through this." Starlight said nothing as she proceeded towards the classroom door. "Ever since my mom died, Celestia," She glumly explained. "I've always dreaded Mother's Day more than anything. Everypony and everycreature get to celebrate it with their mothers, but I don't. Even Father's Day in Sire's Hollow wasn't much of a celebration when I was growing up. Dad was too busy working to distract himself from the grief." Immediately, Celestia's own happy mood faded and became replaced with concern. True, Starlight wasn't quite like a daughter to her the way Twilight was. But she still owed Starlight for helping to bring her and Luna to an understanding, even if it had involved switching their cutie marks. To say nothing of the fact that Starlight was responsible for the ex-royal sisters getting their teaching jobs in the first place. "Look Starlight, if there is anything, I can do…" She tried to offer. "Thanks, but I'm afraid there's not much you can provide, Celestia," Starlight shook her head. "You and Luna have to visit your parents, and Sunburst and I are heading to Sire's Hollow tomorrow for my mom's anniversary." "Well," Celestia sighed. "Just remember that you have Luna and I as well as your friends if you need them." Smiling briefly, Starlight turned around and left the classroom. … Back at the Castle of Friendship, Starlight was in her room and was packing for the trip to Sire's Hollow, when she heard a knock at the door. "Come in," She called and in stepped Trixie who had already packed a long, black dress with sapphire diamonds on the hem into her suitcase. "Oh, hey Trix. What's up?" "Been thinking about you all day, Starlight," The guidance counselor and part time magician answered as she sat down next to Starlight. "With your mom's anniversary and all. How are you feeling?" "Sad, angry, trying to stay positive despite the situation." Starlight confessed, then closed the door to her room while Trixie looked on in a state of shock. "I…I don't understand it, Trixie!" She suddenly cried out in a pained voice. "Why did my mom have to die?! I would have…I would have been a much better pony if she were still alive! My dad wouldn't have coddled me and thrown himself so hard into his work, I could've had two parents to help me cope with Sunburst moving away. Why did it have to be this way?! Tell me, why?!" "I'm…I'm just as confused as you are." Trixie blinked, unsure of what else to say. Despite her own situation with her father, she knew it wasn't the same as what Starlight was experiencing. Largely because unlike Starlight, Trixie had clung harder to her father and aspired to be more like him. "Really?" Starlight cried and sobbed. "If she hadn't died, I wouldn't have run away from home, formed my own village where everypony had the same cutie mark and…" But she couldn't finish her sentence and sighed deeply. So much was going through the young unicorn's mind. "Sorry," She sighed, jumping off the bed and looking at Trixie with a look of embarrassment. "I... didn't mean to vent there. I'm not trying to take my problems out on you." "It's okay, Starlight," Trixie reassured her friend. "I always tell students that we all must vent sometimes, even grown ponies like you. We both remember what happened the times when you didn't tell me what I was doing wrong. If it makes you feel better, I can come with you and Sunburst to Sire's Hollow in the morning. I already know about your father and Sunburst's family, and I'm sure if you haven't told them about me yet Sunburst probably has." Starlight couldn't help but feel slightly better at Trixie's suggestion. "Besides, if you like, you and I can perform a special magic show for everypony in town," Trixie offered. "What do you say? It will be a good distraction if nothing else. It doesn't even have to be Mother's Day themed." "Thanks for the offer, Trixie. But let me focus on my family before we do anything else," Starlight protested with a shake of her head. "That's another thing my mom's missing out on…aside from me being your assistant for your magic shows." Trixie blinked in confusion. "What's that?" "Becoming friends with Twilight and the others. You, Celestia and Luna, Discord…everypony and everycreature," Starlight explained. "And you know what else makes me sad, Trixie? That my mom had to go before her time. If she didn't get that illness…" Suddenly, Starlight felt herself getting choked up with tears and turned away from packing her things. She laid down on the bed, crying softly, much to her friend's sorrow. … Meanwhile, Celestia was in her bedroom, doing her own packing while still thinking about Starlight Glimmer and her tragic dilemma. At that moment, Luna stepped into the room bringing in a red colored helmet for her older sister. "Here's your helmet, sister. It was down in the basement." "Thanks, Luna," Celestia replied, placing the helmet in her suitcase. "I'm gonna need it for ziplining with Mom." "Um, sister," Luna commented. "Forgive me but, Earlier today I couldn't help but notice Starlight Glimmer looked a little…troubled. Do you think it could be she's thinking about her mother again?" This made Celestia stop what she was doing as she spun around right on the spot! "How did you know about what Starlight is feeling?! Who told you?!" "Come on, Celestia," Luna remarked, walking over to her older sister. "Surely you don't think that I've given up on going into ponies' dreams entirely, do you? I did it for Gallus and for Twilight and Spike when they needed it. And I can tell you with certainty that Starlight's recent dreams have all been related to this tragedy of losing her mother at such a young age." "Luna, this is what is really bothering me about the whole situation," Celestia sighed. "Starlight is like Twilight…family to me even if not by blood. In fact, the rest of Twilight's friends are kind of the same in a way. If anything troubles them it troubles me too," She then added. "I want to spend time with Mom in Silver Shoals as much as you do, but…" Luna placed a hoof on Celestia's shoulder in solidarity. "Sister, I think mother and father won't mind if we delay our visit with them for a few days," She firmly reassured Celestia. "This bothers me just as much as it does you. Remember, a pony's mental health is more important than their position." Celestia's mind then began to think back to when Twilight suffered the mental breakdown that had ultimately changed everything. "Very well then," Celestia declared. "We'll go to Sire's Hollow, for Starlight's sake." "Should we let Twilight know of our plans?" Luna asked. "Yes, but she is in Canterlot spending time with her mom this weekend. The last thing I want to have happen is to pull her away from spending time with her own mother," Celestia replied. "Twilight deserves a rest after all she's had to endure, especially with the war still ongoing." "Very well then, sister." Luna nodded. And so the plans for the sisters were set in stone. … … Meanwhile, in Sire's Hollow, Firelight stood at the grave of his mate, his wife and his daughter's mother. For a brief moment, he was alone in thought, wondering what would have been had his wife not die. "It's hard to believe, isn't it?" He whispered while looking down at the gravestone. "Another year since you've been gone. I miss you, Aurora. Your daughter misses you. If only you were here to see how much has changed." Lowering his head, he was just about to leave the gravestone when he suddenly felt a presence coming towards him followed by a female voice. "Firelight?" The voice asked. Turning around, he saw Stellar Flare standing behind him. "Funny, isn't it? Us meeting in a cemetery?" "Not surprised," Firelight remarked. "Can't believe it's been another year since she's gone, Stellar. Blasted cancer." "Same with my husband," Stellar Flare replied, looking away in solidarity. "He's also missed a lot with Sunburst growing up and such. I was just fixing up his grave. It needs a good trimming…just like Sunburst's beard." The two former rivals turned friends turned their attention towards Aurora's grave. "Well, it could use some flowers, Stellar. Aurora always liked roses." Firelight remarked. "I'm sure you can figure something out. Honor your wife the way you want to honor her, Firelight." Stellar encouraged. Those words did little to comfort the pony whose obsession was preserving history for Starlight Glimmer. "I will honor her," The stallion declared as a small rain began to fall down on the cemetery. "It's just…why does her anniversary have to fall on Mother's Day, Stellar? Why couldn't it be on any other day? Your husband didn't die on Father's Day." With tears forming in his eyes, he proceeded to walk away from the cemetery while Stellar Flare watched. But no sooner did Firelight leave, than did Stellar Flare suddenly heard a ghostly voice coming from behind her. "Stellar Flare?" The voice called. Gasping, Stellar turned towards the ghost of a female unicorn with light pink coating like Starlight's, and a short-striped mane like Starlight's. "He must be having a hard time with my anniversary." "You have no idea, Aurora," Stellar Flare replied, sighing deeply. "He certainly misses you as does Starlight. But what are you doing here? You should be talking to Firelight, not me." "We were close friends, weren't we Stellar?" The ghost replied. "We made a promise to support one another forever, no matter what happens. Just as I was there for you when your husband passed away, so too must you be there for Firelight when I can't be," And then she asked. "Tell me, is Starlight coming this weekend?" "She is," Stellar Flare answered while taking a nervous gulp. "Although, it probably will be a lot different…given that it is Mother's Day." The ghost sighed and looked out into the distance towards the town of Sire's Hollow. From a distance, she could see her husband walk towards his home…alone. "If only you can see how much he misses you, Aurora," Stellar Flare sadly declared. "Just like I miss Comet Flare." With those words, the ghost slowly moved forward towards the town and disappeared from Stellar Flare's view. "Aurora! Wait!" Stellar Flare called, but the ghost was already gone! … The next morning, Starlight awakened and slowly made her way downstairs to have breakfast before leaving for the train station. All she could do was prepare herself for the emotional journey that awaited her in Sire's Hollow. Furthermore, with Twilight in Canterlot and the rest of her friends spending time with their mothers for Mother's Day, Starlight felt alone. But not for long. "Thought you could use some company," Trixie declared as she walked into the dining room with a cup of tea in her aura, and sat down next to Starlight. "Look, I've been up part of the night thinking about you and…" "Why were you up during the night at all?" Starlight wondered as she saw Trixie yawn. "Because I hate to see you upset, Starlight," Trixie replied as Starlight ate a small breakfast sandwich. "Nothing hurts me more than seeing my best friend upset. I... want to go with you to Sire's Hollow." Immediately, Starlight felt touched by this decision. "Trixie! That's very nice of you, but this is a family matter. My dad will probably want the gathering to be private." "Look," Trixie firmly remarked to her best friend. "If there's a time for us to be together it's now. You and your dad will need support, just as you and the others were there for me when I had my midlife crisis." "Oh yeah, that!" Starlight chuckled to herself in embarrassment. "That was quite an event, wasn't it? I just wish it were a midlife crisis I'm dealing with here, instead of something more personal." Finishing her breakfast, Starlight and Trixie departed the Castle of Friendship and arrived at the Ponyville Train Station for their journey. But upon arrival, they saw Celestia and Luna standing on the platform as well. "Celestia? Luna? What are you still doing here?" Starlight questioned the two alicorns. "I thought you were going to see your parents in Silver Shoals." "We've changed our minds, Starlight," Luna answered. "We're going to Sire's Hollow to support you." Starlight felt her mouth drop open over what she'd just heard. "You…you don't have to do this, you know! Really, you don't. This is the first Mother's Day with your mom since you rescued her. You deserve to spend it with her, not helping me." "We care about you, Starlight," Celestia protested while draping a wing over Starlight. "You are like a family to me, not unlike Twilight and her friends. And family is always there to support one of their own when it's necessary." "Besides, our parents understand and respect our decision. We wrote to them the night before informing them we wouldn't be coming," Luna added, winking her eye at Starlight and Trixie. "After all, they've got their own backup plans." A little while later, all arrived in Sire's Hollow. Stepping off the train, Starlight took a deep breath and absorbed the air surrounding her home. "Very quaint," Luna remarked to Celestia. "You ever see anything like this, Celestia?" "I've been to plenty of small communities that were more tight knit than this," Celestia commented. "But there is definitely a unique aura to this town." At that moment, Starlight noticed Sunburst coming towards them and they embraced immediately while the others looked on. "Hey Starlight," Sunburst greeted. "How was the ride over from Ponyville?" "Nothing out of the ordinary," Starlight replied. "I just hope my dad's holding up fine." "Just remember that if you need to let it all out, do so," Sunburst advised, much to Starlight's concern. "I know how it feels to be without a parent, losing my dad soon after being enrolled in Canterlot was a huge blow. It didn't help that your mom got sick around the same time, and by the time I learned what it really was it was already too late." But Starlight kept her head onto the ground and very soon, all arrived at the town's gate. Pushing it, they heard a sound that annoyed both Starlight and Sunburst. "Welcome to Sire's Hollow!" A microphoned voice declared. "I thought I told Mom to shut that darn thing off!" Sunburst muttered as they entered the town square and made their way towards Starlight's old home. … Approaching the front step of Starlight's childhood home, she and her friends gathered round as she knocked on the door and waited for an answer. The door opened to reveal Firelight on the other side who immediately pulled Starlight into an embrace. "Oh, Starlight!" He happily cried, hugging his daughter tightly. "You're back!" "Yep, I'm back," Starlight replied as she broke off the embrace. "Really hasn't been easy. How are you holding up?" "It's…tough," Firelight sadly remarked while allowing the rest of Starlight's friends to enter. "I was at the gravesite this morning. Let me tell you, it doesn't get any easier despite what some ponies think." "Death is never an easy event to live with, Firelight," Celestia commented. "Luna and I should know, we went through it many times during our tenures as Princesses." "Of course you have, Celestia," Firelight said as they all sat down in the living room. "But, it just doesn't seem fair. Aurora was so young, had her life ahead of her, and to get cancer…it just makes me wish she were still here. Everything here reminds me of her, of how she used to be." Starlight then began to get a realization of why her father would always want to preserve the history of Sire's Hollow. "Dad," She began, looking at her father with sad eyes. "This is why you've wanted to preserve the town's history, isn't it? Because of Mom?" "Yes, that's why, honey," Firelight admitted. "But it seems like all it really did was keep me away from you when we needed each other most. I…I can't live without your mom!" He confessed. "She was the love of my life and to see things change without her, it's just too much!" "Perhaps, Mr. Glimmer," Sunburst suggested. "I think I can see a resemblance to why you and my mom always clashed over the past and the future of this town. My mom always looked towards the future and you seemed to look towards the past. My mom tried to move from my dad's passing, whereas the loss of your wife has left you longing for the past." "You hit it right on the head, Sunburst," Firelight sadly confessed. "But like your mom, I originally wanted to look to the future too. And for a time I did. But when Aurora was taken from me, I longed to stay in the past. That was why I created the Sire's Hollow Preservation Society in the first place." "But why?" Luna asked in a curious voice. "Neither Celestia or I want to be intrusive of your wishes, but we must ask you…was that what your wife would have wanted?" "Well," Firelight nervously declared, getting up and walking towards Celestia and Luna. "Aurora had a dream to be a teacher at the School of Magic in Canterlot. It was in her blood, it was in her DNA. Education was always her calling. We even hoped that someday we'd send Starlight off to that school, and that maybe she'd follow in her old mare's hoofsteps." As Firelight spoke, no one noticed the ghost of his wife standing at the far right corner of the room, listening to all he was saying. "I mean, she found great joy in teaching fillies and colts," Firelight continued. "Didn't you both find joy in teaching after you stepped down from the throne?" "Of course we did," Celestia said in a warm voice. "From what Luna and I are seeing, Firelight, you seem to be dealing with a turning point in your life. You want to move forward, yet you cannot. You're afraid to let go of the past, afraid to lose the memories you have of Aurora." "It seems so…" Firelight nodded while looking back to Starlight nervously. "But I feel like, if I don't preserve the past, I'd be dishonoring my wife and your mother, Starlight." But Firelight wasn't prepared for what his daughter said next. "Dad, don't you think that perhaps maybe you're honoring Mom the wrong way?" She asked, trying to choose her words very carefully even as Firelight gasped in horror at what he just heard. "I mean, perhaps…there's another way we can honor Mom. A way that she'd like better." "No there isn't, Starlight!" Firelight all but burst into tears that were forming in the corners of his eyes. "This is all I know how to honor your mom by! She would want me to do this! When I do, it's like a part of her is still with me!" "Dad, you really need to think about what you're doing here," Starlight cautioned, tears forming in the corners of her own eyes. "Mom is gone, and you're trying to make it seem like she's still alive! Just like your coddling of me didn't help me cope with Sunburst moving away, what you're doing now isn't helping you or I cope with Mom's passing." Firelight's response was to suddenly strike Starlight in the face, causing everypony in the room to gasp in horror! "How dare you say that!" He cried at the top of his lungs, his face mixed with sadness and anger. "You're…you're dishonoring your mother with those words, Starlight Glimmer! You never knew her the way I did!" But those words struck a chord with Starlight. "I'm not dishonoring my mom!" She roared back, despite the pain of the slap stinging on her face. "Do you even realize how hard this has been for me?! I miss Mom too, but I've been trying to move on while also honoring her memory! Why don't you do the same thing, Dad?! If I could put my past behind me, why can't you do the same for both our sakes?!" Overcome with emotion, Starlight ran out of the room and to her old bedroom, leaving Firelight shocked at what he had just done! … … The entire living room was still trying to absorb the sudden moment of Firelight losing his temper with his daughter. "Mr. Glimmer, why did you do that?!" Sunburst gasped! "You and your wife almost never even raised your voice to us when Starlight and I were foals, not even when we did something bad. How could you hit your own daughter like that?" "I…I don't know, Sunburst," Firelight stammered, looking back at him and the others. "Perhaps maybe Starlight's right, maybe I am dishonoring her mother by being the pony I am right now. But I don't know what else to do. I've been like this ever since Aurora died, and thinking about who I was before only fills me with pain and sorrow." Still shocked by what they too had seen, Celestia and Luna approached the troubled unicorn. "Starlight is right, Firelight," Luna declared while draping a wing over Firelight. "There is another way you can honor your wife, one that doesn't involve living in the past. After all, you can't bring your wife back from the grave or turn back the clock on your daughter's development." It was then that Firelight began to realize how much of an idiot that he was, not just as a pony, but more importantly as a father to his only daughter. "Perhaps the idea of Mother's Day and your wife's anniversary was just a bad combo, Mr. Glimmer," Trixie declared as she got off the sofa. "No magic in the world can erase the pain you and Starlight are both going through. Work through the pain together, Mr. Glimmer. That's what family is for, is it not?" "How?" Firelight asked Trixie. "How can I work through the pain? How can I move on from the past when it consumes almost every waking thought I have?" "We're always looking for new teachers at the School of Friendship in Ponyville," Sunburst offered with a warm smile on his face. "It may not be the School of Magic, but we are pretty unique in our own way. And if I may say so myself, you'd make a fine history professor. Plus, you'd be able to see your daughter every day." For a moment, Firelight considered what Sunburst had said, but he knew there was still a more pressing matter that needed to be addressed first. "Thanks for your offer, Sunburst," He declared while looking over towards his daughter's bedroom. "But for right now, my daughter needs me. There's something I should've done long ago for both our sakes." … A few moments later, Firelight knocked on the door of Starlight's old bedroom and without any resistance, Starlight opened the door and allowed her dad inside. "Look, Starlight," Firelight confessed, briefly turning away from her in shame and embarrassment. "I'm…I'm sorry for the way I acted back there." "It's… going to take more than an apology to make up for you striking me in the face like that. I do know that you never hit me as a child or ever really disciplined me. The same was true for Mom, what little I do remember of her," Starlight sighed. "Do you…do you really think that you're trying to make it seem like Mom is still here when she really isn't? I miss her too, Dad. Part of why I became what I am was because I was also grieving for her. But I learned to channel my emotions in a different way, so why don't we now honor her together as father and daughter?" Sighing deeply, Firelight realized that he needed to do what Starlight was offering to him. Everything that he had been doing was not going to bring his wife back from the dead. "Perhaps you're right, Starlight," He sighed again. "I am doing this the wrong way, and perhaps your mother would be saying that it's past time for me to move on. It's just…it's just so hard." "It's never easy, Dad. Even though I've grown up into a mare, part of me wants to go back in time and save mom from her cancer," Starlight confessed. "But no magic in the world can bring her back. That's why we're here now, to go through the pain together. I love you, Dad." Overcome with emotion, Firelight pulled his daughter into another embrace and both father and daughter silently cried together while Sunburst and the rest of Starlight's friends listened from outside the bedroom. "I love you too, Starlight." Firelight sobbed. At the far-right corner of the bedroom, the ghost watched Starlight and Firelight embrace together with a warm smile on her face. "I love you both. If only I knew how to get in touch with you from the land of the living." It said, before fading away without either of them watching. … … The next day, Starlight put on the long black dress Rarity had made for her and joined her father in a tuxedo at the cemetery, standing over the grave of her mother with a bouquet of red roses in her aura. Together, they slowly walked towards the grave and placed the flowers on the grave. "Happy Mother's Day, mom," Starlight sighed as a small gust of wind blew at them. "Dad and I both love you, and we miss you."