//------------------------------//
// Episode 6: "Starlight's Back Woes" 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 12 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

…

…

Ever since she had been appointed as head of the School of Friendship, Starlight Glimmer had dedicated her life to growing the minds of each student in an effort to continue the mission that Twilight Sparkle had started. And since coming back from the human world the task had become more difficult for the unicorn, and soon she would learn that it wasn't just because of the increased workload due to the war.

It all started one morning as Starlight stood in front of her bathroom mirror, making sure her headmare's suit was not wrinkled and her mane looking presentable. Today was going to be an important day at the school. "Good morning, Ms. Harshwhinny," She said to herself. "On behalf of all the students and faculty at the School of Friendship, I would like to welcome you to…"

But Starlight suddenly felt herself stumped. The words she wanted to say wouldn't come out. "Okay," She whispered to herself, closing her eyes and taking another deep breath. "Good morning, Ms. Harshwhinny. On behalf of the students and faculty at the School of Friendship, I would like to welcome you to the School of Friendship and…"

Stopping again, Starlight recognized her most recent error. "Darn it!" She groaned while looking away from the mirror again. "I said School of Friendship twice. That can't happen."

Taking another deep breath, Starlight started her speech again. "Good morning, Ms. Harshwhinny," She started for a third time. "On behalf…"

But she found herself interrupted with a knock at the door. "Starlight!" She heard a voice call. "Are you going to be long? I need to brush my teeth if you don't mind.."

Rolling her eyes, Starlight turned away from the mirror and answered the door, revealing it to be Trixie.

The best friend and guidance counselor was slightly taken aback by Starlight's scowl. "Uh, sorry. Did I miss something?" Trixie asked.

"Only that your best friend was rehearsing for the big visit for Ms. Harshwhinny, and was so rudely interrupted by you," Starlight snapped. "This is really important, Trixie! I can't afford any screwups."

"Sorry, Starlight," Trixie apologized while stepping into the bathroom. "But Trixie needs her breath as fresh as possible. I don't think any students would want the Great and Powerful Trixie to have bad breath."

Sighing, Starlight gestured for Trixie to enter and use the bathroom sink. "I suppose so, Trix," Starlight replied. "I don't think the new head of the EEA would appreciate a hostess having bad breath."

"Don't forget host." Trixie said as she brushed her teeth in front of the mirror. "

Chuckling, Starlight took in her best friend's remark. But as she chuckled she began to feel a slight twinge in her lower back. Letting out a slight wince as she interrupted Trixie's teeth brushing.

"Uh, are you okay, Starlight?" Trixie wondered as she turned away from the mirror. "Were you expecting the school to be an all girls school?"

"No," Starlight quickly replied. "It's just that my back's been bothering me, that's all."

"Uh-huh," Trixie remarked as she thought little of this development due to her experience with stage fright. "Don't tell me you're trying to get out of hosting such an important guest. It's okay if you have stage fright."

"I don't have stage fright! And I'm not trying to get out of hosting!" Starlight protested as they left the bathroom. "My back really has been bothering me, Trixie. And it's been getting worse."

"Then how come you haven't told anypony yet?" Trixie pondered. "We do have a school nurse, you know."

This made Starlight look away in shame. "It's not that bad, really. I just haven't had much of a chance to rest it off," She hastily answered. "Don't worry, it'll probably go away once today passes and all the stress we've been under goes away."

But as the two unicorns entered the kitchen for breakfast, Starlight's back was beginning to hurt even more and very soon she would be confronted with a reality she couldn't ignore!

…

…

Standing in the lobby of the School of Friendship later that same day, Starlight and Sunburst went about their usual weekly routine of greeting the students who lived off of school grounds. Both the pain in her back and the anxiety of Ms. Harshwhinny's impending visit was beginning to take their toll on Starlight.

"Good morning, everycreature!" Starlight declared in a tense voice as she noticed Icarus coming in while wearing a hat. "Remember, we have a special visitor today. So everyone please be on your best behavior. And no hats in the building, Icarus!"

"Darn!" Icarus groaned, reluctantly doing as he was told.

"I hope you do well on your test today, Ocellus. You're one of our brightest and most promising students, and I know Ms. Harshwhinny will admire that." Starlight added.

But the young changeling was quick to notice the pressed look on Starlight's face. Not wanting to get in trouble though, she said nothing as the other students made their way to class and Starlight now was waiting for Ms. Harshwhinny to arrive.

"She should be here any minute," Sunburst commented as he saw Starlight begin pacing back and forth in front of him. "Starlight, take it easy! Why are you getting so worked up?"

"Sunburst, I just want this day to be perfect and…" Starlight started to reply, only for her to get another twinge of pain in her lower back that caused her to go down on one foreleg.

"Um, right now, things aren't really that perfect if you ask me," Sunburst remarked, going over to Starlight and helping her up. "Also, this might sound embarrassing but, is something wrong with your back?"

"My back? Pah! Not you too, Sunburst!" Starlight huffed and snorted. "What's this? 'Telling Starlight about her back pain day'?! It's probably just anxieties, Sunburst. I mean, didn't you have back pain once when you were nervous?"

"Uh, no," Sunburst remarked with a look of confusion on his face. "If I ever had back pain, I would have told you about it. I know Twilight said she used to get breakouts before exams with Celestia, but I know pain caused by anxiety when I see it and back pain isn't usually a symptom."

"Look, let's just get through this day, alright?" Starlight groaned as she irritably looked at Sunburst. "Ms. Harshwhinny is expecting us to welcome her and show her around, and that's just what we're going to do, okay?"

"Well, you certainly aren't welcoming me now." A familiar stuffed up voice declared as both Starlight and Sunburst were greeted by the sight of a female earth pony wearing a purple suit jacket with white shirt, and a pink scarf around her neck.

"M-Ms. Harshwhinny!" Starlight nervously chuckled, clearing her throat and approaching the new EEA head while extending a hoof out to her. "On behalf of the students and faculty of the School of Friendship, I welcome you to the School of Friendship."

"You said your institution's name twice, Ms. Glimmer. I do hope this is not how you greet all visitors." Ms. Harshwhinny dryly remarked, much to Starlight's embarrassment.

"Sorry," Starlight nervously chuckled while motioning for Sunburst to step forward. "This is Vice Headstallion Sunburst."

"Charmed to meet you," Ms. Harshwhinny declared while shaking his hoof. "I dare say you seem much more capable of running this school from what I've seen so far."

"I'm only here to share leadership," Sunburst explained. "Headmare Starlight and myself work together."

"Of course," Ms. Harshwhinny declared while looking over at Starlight. "Now, as the new head of the Equestrian Education Association it is my responsibility to get acquainted with all the schools that we have accredited. So, would you care to show me around?"

"Yes, follow me, Ms. Harshwhinny." Starlight replied. as she tried not let her back pain get in the way of her job.

The three soon walked the halls with the tour of the school proceeding uneventfully. Ms. Harshwhinny was taking in the atmosphere as they walked from classroom to classroom. Soon they walked into Celestia's class and sat in the back as the former princess of Equestria taught her students.

Ms. Harshwhinny was surprised to see the former princess teaching. "Shouldn't she have retired to Silver Shoals alongside her sister? I was told that was their original intention, or did I miss something?" She asked Sunburst who said nothing, not wanting to interrupt the classroom atmosphere.

From the front of her class, Celestia noticed the three sitting in the back. And she pretended she hadn't heard what Ms. Harshwhinny had said. "Now students," She spoke up, gesturing her students to look to the back of the classroom. "We happen to have a very special guest with us today. May I present Ms. Harshwhinny, the new head of the Equestrian Education Association."

From their seats, both Ocellus and Luster Dawn could see the pained look on Starlight's face through her forced smile. "Something must be wrong!" Ocellus thought to herself. "That's not a natural smile from Headmare Starlight."

Over the course of the next few minutes, Starlight, Sunburst and their guest sat in the back while Ms. Harshwhinny took down several notes. Then they proceeded to leave Celestia's classroom.

No sooner did they step out into the halls though, than did Starlight feel another pain in her back that was much sharper. "OWWW!" She cried out, feeling her back stiffen. This had the unintended side effect of attracting the attention of Celestia and her students. "OWWW! MY BACK! MY BACK!"

Racing outside of her classroom, Celestia raced to Starlight's side as Starlight fell over onto her side. "Starlight, what happened?! What's wrong?!" Celestia asked in a concerned tone as tears of pain began forming in Starlight's eyes while she screamed loudly, students and teachers looking into the hallway to see what was happening.

"My back! MY BACK!" Starlight cried out as Celestia placed a hoof on the area. "OW! DON'T TOUCH ME! IT HURTS!"

Trying to find the source, Celestia realized that Starlight needed urgent care immediately. "She needs a doctor, now!" She called to an equally concerned Sunburst! Looking over to Ms. Harshwhinny, Sunburst felt that there was one thing he needed to do.

Acting fast, several students went into the halls and tried to help out the downed Starlight, but Sunburst held them back. "Stay back!" He ordered to the students and the teachers. "Give Headmare Starlight space! All of you get back to class, there's nothing any of you can do here!"

From inside Celestia's classroom though, Ocellus felt that her suspicions of Starlight's condition were now warranted.

…

…

After being loaded onto a stretcher, the downed Starlight was taken to Ponyville General Hospital with Trixie for company, leaving the worried teachers and students behind.

"What happened?" Smolder cried to Luster Dawn and Ocellus upon seeing their frantic faces. "I was in gym class when I heard that someone was hurt, and it sounded pretty bad. Who was it?"

"It's Headmare Starlight!" Luster declared while looking at the young dragon. "She was visiting Celestia's class with Vice-Headstallion Sunburst when she suddenly started screaming in pain! It's her back!"

"Her back?" Smolder remarked. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure," Luster replied. "But I know a pony in pain when I see one."

"All right students and teachers," Sunburst gestured, assuming command in Starlight's absence. "Get back to class! There's nothing seriously wrong with Headmare Starlight."

But those words didn't sit well with Luster Dawn and Ocellus.

Meanwhile, arriving at Ponyville General Hospital, Starlight was immediately taken into the emergency room and immediately put through a series of tests while Doctor Stable examined her. "What's going on?" He asked Starlight as he placed his hoof on her back, causing Starlight to scream out in pain.

"Don't touch it!" Starlight wailed at the top of her lungs. "Don't touch it! PLEASE!"

Lifting up her headmare jacket and shirt, Doctor Stable felt that there was only one thing to do. "She's going to need an x-ray," He declared to the trauma team. "I can feel something in her back. Something that shouldn't be there."

"It hurts! IT HURTS!" Starlight sobbed as Trixie looked down at her pained friend. "Why?! WHY?!"

Trixie could do nothing but just stand in disbelief at the pain Starlight was going through.

And a few moments later, a nurse came in with a hospital gown. "Can you help her get undressed?" Doctor Stable asked Trixie, much to her surprise. "We need to put this on her to protect her from the x-ray's radiation."

Taking a deep breath, Trixie and several nurses used their magic to remove Starlight's headmare suit as Starlight cried and cried.

"And prepare a sedative," Doctor Stable ordered to another nurse. "We've got to calm her down before the procedure."

Dressing her in the hospital gown, the nurses carefully rolled Starlight on her front as Doctor Stable held a medical syringe in his aura that contained a sedative drug.

Feeling the pain of the hypodermic needle, Starlight let out several more cries as Trixie continued to stay at her side. "TRIXIE!" Starlight sobbed.

"Starlight, it's going to be okay," Trixie whispered, herself feeling tears of pain forming in her eyes. "It's going to be okay. Trust me."

…

Back at the School of Friendship, the events of Starlight's back problems were on the minds of both teachers and students.

"I can't believe this," Silverstream remarked as she and her friends all gathered at the Treehouse of Friendship later that day. "Hearing Headmare Starlight cry out like that… no creature should ever be in that kind of pain. Unless that creature's a no good jerkface like the Storm King, in which case they get what they deserve!" Her face briefly morphed into a scowl at the thought of him.

"Yona feels bad for former counselor pony turned headmare." Yona added.

"What exactly was going on with her?" Sandbar pondered. "I mean, Headmare Starlight never showed any signs of pain before. Did she throw her back out all of a sudden or something?"

"No, she probably did something to her back some point long before today," Cherry Tomato declared. "My dad is a chiropractor in Mustangia and would know more."

"Really?" Gallus grumbled in a bitter tone. "Since when is your dad a doctor? You never mentioned him before."

"He's always been one," Cherry Tomato retorted to Gallus. "Back injuries are his specialty. He's the top pony at his craft."

"Of course he is," Ocellus replied as she and Luster Dawn came out of one of the rooms with a medical book. "Luster Dawn and I were catching up on this book about medical injuries. Headmare Starlight could have maybe pulled a muscle and didn't even realize it. Apparently, it's the most common type of injury, though it usually doesn't get so severe that a pony has to go to the hospital."

The other students couldn't help but question this.

"Doesn't everycreature hurt themselves all the time and not even realize it?" Icarus wondered. " Perhaps Headmare Starlight was so upset by me wearing this new hat today that she…"

"-Don't even go there, cousin!" Gallus interrupted. "Don't! Even! Go there!"

"Don't even go there," Quiet Play mimicked before turning to the group. "Most Kirin have back problems the same as anycreature. Although we have herbal remedies for them."

"But I thought that kirin only made a cure to cure their silence," Smolder pondered. "I mean, didn't that one kirin…?"

"You mean Autumn Blaze?" Quiet Play replied. "Even before her, kirin had herbal remedies for almost all ailments."

As they all talked, both Luster Dawn and Ocellus were beginning to get themselves an idea.

"Look guys," Luster Dawn declared, getting everyone's attention. "The fact of the matter is that our headmare hurt herself and is in the hospital. Maybe it would be nice for us to at least make a card for Headmare Starlight to let her know how we feel about her."

"I agree with Luster," Sandbar nodded, looking out on the horizon with Yona. "Headmare Starlight needs our support right now!"

Yona nodded too. "Yona agrees as well."

One by one, the rest of the students agreed and the decision was reached, they were going to make a card for Starlight.

Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna immediately made their way from the School of Friendship with Sunburst to Ponyville General Hospital, determined to check on Starlight's condition.

"We're here to see Starlight." Sunburst said to the receptionist.

"Starlight Glimmer?" The receptionist asked. "Of course, I'll send you in as soon as she's all set up in recovery. Please have a seat."

Frustrated, Sunburst sat down in the waiting room just as Twilight ran into the waiting room with Spike in tow along with several guard ponies.

"We came as soon as we got Sunburst's scroll!" Twilight told Celestia and Luna, panting heavily. "What happened to Starlight?!"

"Apparently, she was hosting Ms. Harshwhinny and her back just started really bothering her," Luna declared with a hint of fear in her voice. "Hearing her scream like that though…"

"She's been putting something like this off, ever since we came back from the other world her back's been bothering her," Spike remarked. "Didn't she have any painful episodes recently?"

"Yes," Twilight answered. "A few nights ago, actually. But I don't understand why she wouldn't even tell us. It's not like she's the only one who got injured when we went through the mirror to recruit Sunset."

As they all reconvened, Celestia began to get a sense of why Starlight was having her back pains. Looking back to the receptionist desk, they would soon get their answer as Doctor Stable came into the waiting room.

"Are you Starlight Glimmer's friends?" The doctor asked.

"How is she, doctor?" Sunburst asked in a worried voice. "How's Starlight?"

Sighing, Doctor Stable motioned for them all to follow him and soon, they came to Starlight's hospital room with the unicorn lying on her side while Trixie sat beside her, holding Stalright's hoof.

Opening her tear stained eyes, Starlight weakly looked at the group of ponies gathered outside her room.

"Oh, Starlight." Twilight whispered, her mouth hanging ajar at seeing her former pupil and friend lying in a hospital bed.

…

…

Quietly approaching her bed, the group of Starlight's friends immediately began to feel nothing but sympathy for the fallen headmare.

"Your friends are here to see you." Trixie whispered to Starlight.

"What…what happened?" Starlight whispered. "I remember my back pain flaring up, and then…" Her voice trailed off.

"It's okay, you're in a hospital room now," Twilight said as Doctor Stable placed several x-rays of Starlight's back on a screen. "Don't worry, you're in good hooves now."

"Guess I…I can't keep it in any longer," Starlight whispered to Sunburst. "That my back was bothering me."

"It doesn't matter right now," Sunburst sighed, sitting at the edge of Starlight's bed. "All that matters is you're getting the help you need."

A few moments later, Doctor Stable turned back to the group and removed his glasses in preparation to deliver his diagnosis.

"How is she, doctor? How bad is it?" Twilight asked.

"There's…" Doctor Stable explained, directing the attention of everypony in the room to the x-ray in question. "-A spot right here on the left side of Starlight's back that appears to be torn."

"Torn?" Trixie cried while still holding onto Starlight's hoof. "What do you mean by that?"

Doctor Stable replied and explained. "Torn muscle ligaments in the lower back. Most likely from being thrown up against something hard."

As she listened, Celestia began to get more and more confirmation that this was no accident that Starlight was involved in. "How long did she have this pain?"

"She wouldn't tell us," Trixie answered. "I mean, Starlight seemed to first start occasionally having this pain right after those villains were defeated. Right before Princess Twilight's second coronation, of course."

"Trixie…" Starlight moaned while weakly looking at her best friend.

"I had to do it, Starlight," Trixie replied firmly. "Even the Great and Powerful Trixie has to reveal secrets sometimes. You taught her that some things aren't worth bottling up, and our well being is one of those things."

"It appears to me that the muscle was torn either in an accident, or Starlight was hit with a strong beam of magic that caused the initial injury," Doctor Stable declared. "Because she didn't get it treated it's likely that a recent battle or accident made the injury even worse than the lack of attention it received. Do you know if there was any exposure to powerful magic in Starlight's last year or so?"

"Yes," Celestia firmly declared, catching Doctor Stabke's attention as she began to play out the events in the Canterlot Dungeons during the final battle with Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow. "It was when we were trying to free Twilight's friends from the Canterlot Dungeons after we fell to the Legion of Doom. Discord managed to goad Tirek into freeing Starlight and succeeded in doing so. However, Chrysalis snuck up behind Starlight and fired a beam of her dark magic at her lower back just before Starlight could free us."

"I can't believe this!" Twilight gasped, looking at Doctor Stable before turning back to the wounded Starlight. "I knew Chrysalis would stoop low. But to actually hurt you, Starlight? If I ever see her again, I'll make her pay! I promise you that."

"Chrysalis is a dangerous creature not to be underestimated," Luna somberly cautioned. "It's not surprising she would stop at nothing until her revenge against Starlight was obtained. Though I doubt even she realized what she'd caused at the time, as Starlight has endured worse."

"Yes," Spike added, once again beginning to get flashbacks of nearly getting his wings torn off. "But it was because of Chrysalis that I…I almost lost my wings. Physical pain is something she'd never have a problem with. And who knows how far she'd be willing to go if we never stopped her?"

Sensing her advisor's growing fears, Twilight draped a wing over Spike.

"Well, what do we do?" Sunburst asked with a look of general concern on his face. "Clearly, Starlight's going to be out of commission for a while."

"Sunburst. I can't ask you to do that. I'll find a way to work through the pain." Starlight groaned while trying to get Sunburst's attention.

"Starlight, you need to focus on letting your back heal. You won't be able to work through the pain if you collapse all the time," Sunburst ordered, trying to keep Starlight from not moving. "Trixie and I can run the School of Friendship in your absence. We can make adjustments."

"Yes, Sunburst can be acting headstallion and I can be acting vice-headmare," Trixie declared. "Look, I know what you're thinking, Starlight. But Trixie promises you it will only be temporary. Then once you feel better, Trixie can go back to being the guidance counselor. It shouldn't be too hard to find somepony to take my place there."

Groaning again, Starlight felt compiled to say something in protest, but the effects of the sedative prevented her from doing so.

"I think," Doctor Stable warned Starlight. "That you're also going to need extensive physical therapy, even after you return to your job. This may well become a chronic condition that can't be cured, only treated."

Starlight couldn't believe what she was hearing as she let out another sigh. In her mind, she felt like she was being pushed aside from her position as headmare.

"Look, Starlight," Twilight interjected, walking over to her former pupil's side. "Do you remember when I had my mental health crisis, how you persuaded me to split my time between Canterlot and Ponyville? It's really helped me greatly. Now I need you to let me return the favor."

With tears once again forming in her eyes, Starlight produced a small smile at Twilight for her kind words of reassurance.

"When will she be discharged?" Sunburst asked Doctor Stable as he prepared to leave the room.

"She can be discharged in the morning," Doctor Stable answered. "In the meantime, I would focus on getting control of your back, Ms. Glimmer." With those words, Doctor Stable departed and Starlight was left to accept what had been given to her.

…

The next morning, Starlight was released from the hospital in a wheelchair and returned to the Castle of Friendship. Looking out her bedroom window as she laid in bed, Starlight felt somewhat bad that she was not able to be running the school that was bestowed upon her. Seeing the students going into the school without her was difficult, but she needed to do what needed to be done in order for her to get well again.

"Starlight?" Twilight asked as she entered Starlight's bedroom with a card in her aura. "Luster Dawn and the other students wanted me to give this to you."

"What is it?" Starlight asked, cocking her head slightly to see the card.

"It's a get-well card from Luster Dawn and the other students," Twilight explained as she gave Starlight the card. Opening it up, Starlight could see the artwork that students put into it. "They want you to get well as much as I do. They're obviously going to miss their headmare while she's away."

Smiling with tears in her eyes, Starlight placed the card on her nightstand and slowly accepted her fate. "Twilight…do you think that maybe I will…?" She started to ask.

"You will," Twilight interrupted, looking at Starlight. "You'll get back to where you belong when Doctor Stable and whoever oversees your physical therapy says you can. Our mental and physical health are more important than anything else in Equestria. I learned that once, and now you're learning the same lesson."

"Touche." Starlight said weakly and satisfied as she was left alone to face this unexpected speed bump in her life.

Meanwhile, in his best friend's office, Sunburst found himself now doing what Starlight always did. Even though it was temporary though, he felt like he was stealing Starlight's thunder.

"You look nervous," Trixie remarked as she looked at Sunburst sitting behind Starlight's desk. "Try to relax, it's only temporary."

"Yeah," Sunburst nervously answered. "It is only temporary. But I wonder if the students will get too used to not seeing Starlight here in this office."

"They know that they won't," Trixie reassured while walking over to Sunburst. "They know better."

"I hope so, Trixie," Sunburst sighed. "I do hope so."

But only time would tell if such a premonition would indeed happen to the School of Friendship.

…

…