//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: Moving Out Into Harmony // Story: Luster Dawn Friendship Successor // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// Luster tried to convince her mother to let her stay, but Starlight would have none of it. “It’s for your own good Luster!” Starlight insisted. “I’m not gonna have my daughter become a target for Chrysalis’s revenge!” “But can’t we at least meet once and a while?” “No!” Starlight said. “I’m not going to take any chances! Any time you see me in Ponyville you just pass by me like you don’t know me!” Luster’s eyes began to water up. Starlight sighed and walked up to her, putting a hoof on her daughter. “Understand me, Luster. I just want you to be safe,” Starlight said. “You mean everything to me, and I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.” Starlight hugged her, her eyes also welling up with tears. This was the hardest thing she’d ever done as a parent, having to let her child go. But it was for Luster’s safety. Starlight knew Chrysalis, the former Queen had sworn revenge on her. She’d said she planned to torture Starlight for “eternity” when she’d captured her, fortunately she’d never gotten the chance since Twilight had defeated her along with Cozy Glow and Tirek. Now they had another member of their team who had freed them, or perhaps it merely a minion. Maybe some rogue changelings or something? Starlight couldn’t imagine there could be anyone worse than those three out there, she hoped not at least. “Once Chrysalis is back in stone or imprisoned in Tartarus, things will go back to normal. Until then, you just spend time with your friends. This could be a good opportunity to bond with them.” Luster looked at her mother sadly. “I love you, Luster. Always,” Starlight reminded her. “I don’t know how long this will last, it could be a while.” “Can I… at least send you letters like I do Princess Twilight?” Luster asked. Starlight thought for a moment. “Alright, I guess Chrysalis probably wouldn’t bother to go through my mail if she comes here looking for revenge on me.” That gave Luster a little relief, at least she would have some contact with her parents. Sighing. She went to her room and gathered her things into a saddle bag with her sun Cutie Mark on it. She met her parents and Trixie at the door to the Castle of Friendship. Princess Twilight and her friends had left to work on a plan to deal with the returned villains as the Council. Starlight was left to oversee security around Ponyville. Since she was Stewardess of the Castle of Friendship, Ponyville looked to her now as the voice of Twilight Sparkle. It was up to her to take care of this part of Twilight’s kingdom. Starlight teleported them all to her office in the School of Friendship. She walked over to the announcement phone and flipped a switch than put her head to the speaker. “All students and staff gather in the assembly room for an emergency meeting!” Starlight said. They went to the assembly hall where Luster saw Georgia and Riversong among the students. Her Kirin friend waved at her with a wide smile. Occellus, Silverstream, Smolder, as well as the grown-up Cutie Mark Crusaders were present, they stood close to Starlight and her family. “I have an important piece of news that everycreature should know about,” Starlight said. “Somehow, Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow have returned.” There were many gasps and frantic mutterings from both students and staff. Occellus in particular looked frightened, as she had been a young changeling when Chrysalis had reigned during her final years as Queen. She remembered Chrysalis’s cruelty all too well. It was her worst nightmare to become Chrysalis. “This is terrible!” she said. “Do you think Chrysalis is going to come back here and attack the school again?” Starlight shuddered. “It’s a possibility. She might attack us, or sneak in. Which is why I’ve called you all here to discuss possible ways to protect ourselves. First, I want all of you to form codewords with all your closest friends around here. Ask each other questions that only friends would know. Do you understand?” The students and staff nodded. This was a start to forming a defense against an enemy that could change shape. Starlight than looked at Luster’s two friends that were present. “Georgia, River Song! Come forward please!” Starlight asked. The Kirin and Griffon stepped out in front of the rest of the students. Starlight looked at her daughter. “Luster, ask each of them something that only they would know,” Starlight said. “We need to make sure they are not Chrysalis.” Luster hesitated for a moment, thinking. “Which of your teams did I play on first during our Buckball game?” she asked. “Me of course!” River Song said with a smile. Luster nodded. River Song was River Song, she could tell just by her enthusiastic reaction. Chrysalis wouldn’t know to fake River Song’s personality. “Georgia, what monster did you scratch up at the festival this morning?” “A manticore!” the griffon said. “It's them!” Luster said to Starlight. “Okay, you three come with me please,” Starlight said before looking at the rest of her students. “I assure you all that I will be working on a plan to keep Chrysalis and her allies from harming this school as well as Ponyville. It’s my responsibility as Headmare and Stewardess of the Castle of Friendship! For now, all of you make sure your friends are who you think they are.” Starlight took Luster and her two friends into the other room while Sunburst and Trixie remained behind to supervise. Once they were out of earshot, Starlight turned to Georgia and River Song. “I have to have Luster leave home,” she said. “Since Chrysalis is back, she’ll be out for revenge on me. If she ever found out I had a daughter, she would definitely come after Luster! I want Luster to stay with you two from now on. To keep her safe.” Georgia looked at Luster, who was still feeling sad. After today, she wouldn’t be able to speak with her mother directly. “No problem Headmare Glimmer!” the griffon said in her usual confidence. “I’ll make Luster feel right at home!” “Yay! Yay!” River Song said. “Luster is gonna be our new roommate!” “That’s… another thing,” Starlight said. “I kind of need you to both move into a different place with Luster.” * After Starlight and her friendship staff consolidated the rest of the students at the school, she, Sunburst, and Trixie led Luster, River Song, and Georgia out of the school and along a path into the Everfree Forest. “Um… mom?” Luster asked as they moved through the trees. “You’re not planning on sending me out here to hide in a cave, right?” “That could be fun! It would be like camping all the time!” River Song said. “No, you’re not going to be living in a cave,” Starlight said. “More of a… tree. Or at least a tree house.” They came into a clearing and Luster saw the ruins of an ancient looking Castle. “Is that the Castle of the Two Sisters?” she asked. “Wow. That’s where Princess Twilight defeated Nightmare Moon at the start of her journey with her friends. Am I going to stay there?” Luster asked. Starlight nodded. “In a matter of speaking. You’ll be staying at the Treehouse of Harmony which lies in the ruins there.” “Treehouse of Harmony?” Luster repeated. “Years ago, when Discord first brought the villains together while posing as Grogar he originally brought King Sombra back with them,” Starlight explained. “Sombra refused to work with others though. He tricked Twilight and her friends into thinking that they defeated him with the elements of harmony and followed them back to the tree before destroying it. But it took a new form with the help of some of my students, who are now teachers at the school.” “Occellus, Silverstream and Smolder?” Georgia guessed. “Yes, along with Gallus, Yona, and Sandbar,” Starlight confirmed. “They used it as a treehouse back in the day, though its not used anymore. You should be safe here, Luster.” They walked up to the ruined gate of the castle and Luster’s eyes widened as she saw the Treehouse of Harmony. It shined brightly, its top blossoming with lovely pink flowers. They went inside. They went inside. It wasn’t as big as the Castle, but more than large enough to house the three friends inside. Luster saw plenty of shelves that had good space for books. Georgia flew upstairs. “New bedrooms, cool! We’ll just have to get our things from the dorms at the school.” Luster walked into the nearest room. But there was one problem. “No bed.” “We’ll just get sleeping bags!” River Song said. “It’ll be like camping in a treehouse!” “We can buy you some beds,” Starlight said. She then looked directly into Luster’s eyes. Luster knew the moment of departure was close. “I know this is gonna be hard. But I can’t bear the thought of Chrysalis coming and taking you away,” Starlight said as she went up to her daughter and gave her a final hug. “I love you mom!” Luster said, tears escaping her eyes again. Starlight broke the hug after a moment, her eyes watering as well. She turned and walked back out, her neck facing to the ground in sadness. Sunburst approached Luster now. “Your mother is being overprotective I know. But she means well, and Chrysalis probably would try to come after you… maybe even me or Trixie too. Just think of this as like being in Canterlot, but you’ll see us from time to time. And I want you to know that I’m proud of everything you’ve done, and I’m sure you’ll do much more in time.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead and gave her a final smile before following his wife. Trixie came now, she put a hoof on Luster. “Don’t you worry Luster. If Chrysalis shows her ugly black face around here your Great and Powerful Godmare will be here to protect Mommy and Daddy!” Luster knew Trixie wasn’t nearly as skilled with magic as Starlight was. But she managed a smile at her Godmare’s/Aunt’s words. She hugged Trixie as well. The magician/guidance counselor followed her friends and family figures outside. That left Luster alone. Her parents would no longer be a part of her life, not until Chrysalis was dealt with. Why did it have to be this way? Luster had spent all her life trying to please her family and make them proud. She’d devoted her entire life of magical studies to surpass her powerful mother, be knowledgeable like her father. Trixie wasn’t much of a role model, but she could put on an entertaining performance with magic. Now they were all gone from Luster’s life for the time being. She wouldn’t speak to them directly until this was over. Luster sobbed quietly. Then she felt a claw on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Luster,” Georgia said with a kind smile. “Your parents and Godmare might not be in your life for a while, but its not like they’ve kicked you out.” “We’re here for you! So just put those tears away!” River Song said pulling Luster’s lips into a smile. Luster sighed but managed to do so. “Thanks, girls. At least I’m not alone here. I have friends.” Friends, she thought. A short time ago friendship had just been a nuisance to her. But now, without her family, she would be left with nothing. At least she still had these two. “We should see if Gallop and Yelena want to crash here too!” River Song suggested. They looked outside. It was dark. “Maybe in the morning. They might be getting ready for bed now,” Luster suggested with a yawn. “I think I’m ready for it too.” “Want us to sleep in the same room tonight?” Georgia asked. “I know this is hard for you." Luster nodded. “If you were an element of harmony Georgia, I’d say it was kindness. And River Song, you’d make a good element of laughter.” The three friends hugged, while a certain spirit watched them nearby, though they could not see it. “Yes, they could make good elements of their own,” the spirit of Harmony said. “But your friendship will need to grow much stronger if you are to face what is to come. What could well destroy all harmony in Equestria.”