//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Feeling the Rhythm 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
//------------------------------//

Sitting at the round stone table, Twilight and Spike enjoyed their first dinner with Starlight’s group, and one thing became overly apparent as the meal progressed: Starlight was a mother hen; making sure rules were followed, food was eaten, and manners were upheld.
About halfway into the meal, Starlight, after smacking Fluttershy’s hoof for reaching across the table, turned to Spike.
“Tomorrow, Spike, I want you to go to the farmer’s market with Applejack. I’ll provide you with a list of items I want you to purchase and don’t worry, you’ll have more than enough budget to get them.”
“Aw, but Rar and I were gonna spend some time by the old tree!”
Moments after she had spoken, Applejack found a wooden spoon poised dangerously close to her snout. Starlight did not sound amused.
“I didn’t ask what you wanted to do, did I, young mare?”
“N-no, but I-”
“No buts, because yours is going with Spike tomorrow. There will be no arguments, have I made myself clear, Applejack?”
“Yes, marm.”
Glancing over at Rarity, Starlight said softly.
“Do you have any objections?”
Shaking her head, Rarity responded hastily before shoving a bite of her salad into her mouth.
“No Prince-er, I mean Starlight.”
Twilight raised a brow at the slip of the tongue but, decided it was best to wait until she could talk to Starlight one on one. And that time came later when Starlight was doing dishes.
Approaching her cautiously, Twilight gently tapped Starlight on her foreleg; Starlight stopped scrubbing the dish in her hoof and said gently to the ever-shy Unicorn.
“Something on your mind, little mare?”
“How old are you?”
The question startling Starlight, the dish fell from her hooves. Before it could hit the floor, however, Twilight watched in amazement as Starlight kicked out her hind hooves; falling back onto her forelegs and catching the dish on her hind hooves. Kicking up, she then flipped back onto her hind hooves, catching the dish in her forehooves, and continued scrubbing it, as if nothing had happened.
She paused seeing Twilight staring in awe at her, and sighed, before giving a vague answer to her question.
“I was there when dance, itself, was created, and I was there to help create the magic of dancing. Though I wonder what brought that on?”
“Rarity called you Prince.”
“Alicorns are only female after all. A Prince is a term for an Alicorn unrelated to the Royal Family.”
“But, you’re a Unicorn, aren’t you?”
She chuckled and spoke almost distantly.
“Your mother told me you would be inquisitive. It’s nice to finally talk to you.”
“Huh? You know Princess Luna?”
“Oh, she and I go way back, Twilight. You could even say we have a bit of magic vested in you together.”
“What kind of magic?”
Starlight froze as she glanced at Twilight. Does she know? What should I say? Alright calm down Star- just answer her question, play it cool.
“Mine happens to be time, or rather it was, at least.”
“Time magic?”
“Related to quantum incantations to be more specific.”
“Oh…Wait, you were an Alicorn?”
Trying to appear nonchalant, Starlight continued scrubbing the now pristine dish.
“Many moons ago. That was a past life, at a different time.”
“I don’t-”
“Hey, mom?”
Turning to the doorway, Twilight saw Fluttershy and she looked frantic. Starlight addressed her in a gentle voice; glad for any distraction.
“What’s wrong Flutters, hun?”
“Have you seen Rainbow?”
“No, I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning. Why?”
Fluttershy looked frustrated.
“Nopony seems to have seen her or Pinkie for that matter.”
Starlight felt a bead of perspiration drip down her face. Both had tendencies to vanish for hours at a time, but why did she have this sudden feeling of dread? She looked directly at Fluttershy.
“Can you repeat that?”
“Nopony has seen Dash or Pinkie since yesterday morning when she got mad at Applejack for hiding her strength.”
Something felt off; wrong even. Starlight looked out the window at the lowering sun. It was too late to go looking for them, and knowing them they were having a bit of fun in the bakery again. Starlight lowered her eyes to the dish in hooves; it was broken from gripping it so tightly. Already? Alright if they aren’t back by morning, I’ll go looking for them. Cloudy and Wendy will be fine for one evening I’m sure. She can’t be back, it’s too early! I’m just overreacting. That’s all. They’ll be fine.
“I’m sure everything is alright, sweetie. They're probably off, dancing the night away. Why don’t you ask Twilight if she wants to dance? I heard you two hit it off amazingly earlier. Get rid of some of that pent-up dance fever you have.”
Twilight’s cheeks flushed a bright pink as Fluttershy looked wantingly at her, but seemed unable to find the words. A bright smile appeared on Fluttershy’s face as Twilight answered the unasked question.
“I’d love to.”
As the two ran off, and a wickedly primal beat played in the next room, Starlight glanced back at the rising moon. The time has come. And this time…

	



Celestia watched as her sister’s moon rose into the sky when a rolled-up parchment appeared before her. Her eyes narrowed as she open it and it unfurled to reveal the following message; a message she never hoped to read:

	The time has come to put an end to this once and for all.

Folding the message up as Luna walked into the room, Celestia looked at her sister.
“Luna?”
Surprised to hear her name spoken in such a tone, the Princess of the Night answered her big sister.
“Hm? Tia, is something wrong?”
“It’s time.”
Luna’s blood ran cold as she whispered.
“But is she ready?”
A guard appearing behind her sister, Celestia’s eyes immediately noticed the discrepancies in the guard’s behavior as she gave Luna an indication of their visitor.
“She’ll have to be.”
Smiling, she turned to the guard.
“Shall we dance, Chrysalis?”