Starlight Glimmer had started shunning Twilight Sparkle and the rest of the elements of harmony except Pinkie and Fluttershy. She absolutely hated the way Spike was banished. She had fallen into a depression and simply wanted to be reunited with him. When she had been kidnapped by a few Dorcha guards and was demanded that she open a portal, she then did it and learnt later that it was Spike. She had felt stupid and grew deeper into the depression, but she knew that she needed a job so she could earn money and get herself an apartment or house. She had decided to go to an academy in journalism, and she went there for a few months because of how smart she was. Usually it takes three years, but because she was smart, like, really smart, she was granted her degree quite early. She had then joined a news article that was quite new in Equestria and that was actually: Gabby’s News.
It was a newspaper company that was run by a griffin named Gabby. Quite recently, Starlight had been granted a visa to travel inside Badlands again. It was quite quick also. When Starlight had told this to Gabby whom she had met after Starlight had done a tremendous job for her first five months, at a fancy dinner party that was for rich ponies and creatures. Gabby had grown a second head when Starlight had told her and had jokingly said: “It sounds like you are best friends with the Badlands government.” To which Starlight had nervously laughed.
You don’t really tell people “Oh yeah, I am the best friend of a guy who is a dictator who kills those who stand in his way.” You just don’t. Starlight was currently on a plane towards Ponyville so she could then take a train to Badlands. She had been working in Manehattan for a few months now, and she was getting a little tired with some of the rich ponies there acting superior. She was happy that she was going to a country that is run by her friend who she hasn’t seen for over a good year now. She had heard stories about how Spike was putting creatures into concentration camps, but she didn’t know if it was true or not. She really hoped they weren’t…
“Hello this is your captain speaking, we will be landing in Ponyville in approximately ten minutes.” The captain said, as everypony and creatures prepared for landing. Starlight put away her book she had been reading and looked out the window and saw the hills of Ponyville and saw how much it had changed over the past few months. It had been drastic changes, and it was for the better.
The plane landed and every creature got out of the plane and went through the procedure of showing passports, and other stuff. Starlight had grown tired of them, but knew she had to get used to them. When she had gone to the academy, she had also taken foreign studies which led her to get her diploma with foreign studies which made her qualified for foreign journalism. She didn’t mind of course, as she really needed the money at the time and she was happy that she was earning good money, but now she needed a break. She may be doing work in Badlands, but she sure as Tartarus would relax while she was there. Her camera guy, Sunburst who had decided to follow her wherever she went, was going to be filming everywhere they went. Although, he did ask Starlight why they only needed guides in some areas to which she responded with the truth, her friendship with Spike which nearly made Sunburst have a heart attack. He felt bad, because he then realized seconds later that he had met the guy.
In Ponyville, Starlight and Sunburst were watching the train come into view as she had her visa together with Sunburst. The guards from Badlands looked menacing with weapons that only very few ponies in Equestria had. They were motioned to step inside the train and they did so without hesitation. Starlight was then surprised when a guard walked up to her.
“Are you Starlight Glimmer?” The guards asked, in an authoritative voice. Starlight simply nodded and he nodded back. “Follow me, and you also Mr. Sunburst.” The guard walked off with the two stunned ponies.
They were led to the first class part of the train. Starlight was shocked. She hadn’t booked anything for first class at all. The guard seemed to have read her mind as he said: “The King ordered me to give you the best of the best. He has paid for everything, so don’t worry about the bill.”
Starlight nodded in understanding as she sat down on a chair that looked like it belonged to a proper King or Queen. Sunburst was surprised. He sat down himself, and he looked around and saw that everything was fancy, and it really looked like it belonged to successful ponies and creatures. He saw a couple of workers making sure that everything was proper for the rich travelers, or creatures that simply had a lot of money. Sunburst then saw a Changeling that looked to be an ambassador. Sunburst walked over to him and caught his attention.
“Can i help you?” He asked, in a surprised voice. Sunburst nodded.
“Yes, sorry that I bother you, but I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about Badlands. If you know anything about it that is.” Sunburst asked, the Changeling who chuckled.
“What do you wanna know?” The changeling asked, in a voice that showed that he knew what he was talking about. Sunburst inwardly grinned to himself.
“Well, who is the official ruler of Badlands?” Sunburst asked, even though he was ninety-nine percent sure it was Spike, he still needed to ask that question. The Changeling smiled.
“That would be his majesties Spike Dorcha. He is the ruler of Badlands, and has ruled it for over a total year now i believe.” The Changeling said, as he was lost in his thoughts. Sunburst wrote that down.
“Okay, do you know how the political climate is there?” Sunburst asked, and immediately felt dumb as he was talking to a Changeling who was an ambassador. Well, that is what Sunburst suspected anyways.
“Well, i am an ambassador, so i can tell you this: the political climate is good for the time being. Although, the ponies of Equestria are struggling because of what might happen in a few days. Sadly, i cannot say what is going to happen, but something will happen that will change the future of Equestria forever.”
Sunburst stopped writing and felt how his heart was beating against his chest in a not so comforting way. What was gonna happen? He then shuddered, as in reality: he didn’t want the answer at all. It was just something that you asked but never actually wanted the answer to. He struggled to say anything or communicate at all. Starlight was looking at him as she was looking right at him. She had heard the last bit herself, and she shuddered. She didn’t want to know either.
Sunburst continued to ask questions to the Changeling who happily answered them, and even looked quite happy as he answered them. Sunburst was unsure as to why he was so happy, but he just shrugged away the thought. They finally reached the capital city and they saw huge skyscrapers that made Badlands look like the world's most advanced nation compared to Equestria, that was nothing compared to this.
The guard from before looked at Starlight and Sunburst and smiled at them. “Welcome to Badlands.” Starlight bowed as did Sunburst and they walked. Starlight was terrified, but she kept reminding herself that it was Spike who ruled this nation. But that didn’t sooth her much. Right now, she was inside one of the most dangerous countries, and she was inside Badlands. She was absolutely terrified.