Arc 13: A Cutie Mark for Starlight
A Burden too hard to bear
It was a lovely day outside at the School for Gifted Unicorns. Wanda, Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Abigail, Spike and Golden Lace were gathered together, talking together like they had no care in the world. Starlight Glimmer walked up and saw all of her friends chatting.
“Everyone’s here,” Starlight said to herself, cheerfully. “I can’t wait to see what we have planned for today.”
Starlight Glimmer ran up to the group, yelled out “Good morning” as she approached them. Sunset Shimmer and Wanda turned around and looked at Starlight with a cold look on their faces. Everyone else turned and faced Starlight with that same cold look.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Starlight asked in a hesitant tone.
Sunset pointed to Starlight Glimmer and said "Your cutie mark….is unacceptable."
Starlight Glimmer looked at her hip and gasped as what she saw as it bore an equal sign.
"This is my cutie mark?" Starlight said in a surprised tone.
"Yes, Wanda said in a creepy tone. "And we don't want ponies with that abomination in our group."
The sky grew dark as the group glanced over at Starlight and chanted "Disgusting, disgusting.". Starlight backed up, frightened by her friend's tones.
"But I thought we were friends," Starlight said.
"Not anymore," Twilight said.
“What did you say?” Starlight said as she took a few steps back.
“You heard what Twilight said,” Moondancer yelled. “We don’t want you anymore.”
“But we’ve been friends since I first joined this school,” Starlight said as she began to tear up. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“Because you’re worthless with that pathetic excuse for a cutie mark,” Sunburst yelled as he thrusted his face right in front of Starlight. “And personally, I should have left you behind to weep in Sire’s Hollow. In fact, I wish you never lived in Sire’s Hollow at all”
“Sunburst,” Starlight cried. “How could you?”
“You think you’re so special you little snowflake?” Golden Lace laughed as she got in Stalright’s face. “Your parents spoiled you into a worthless Mary Sue. And now all your friends agree with me.”
“It….” Starlight said as she struggled to get the words out of her mouth. “It’s not true.”
“We don’t want a party crasher like you bringing down our mood,” Pinkie Pie said. “After all, with that cutie mark, you might as well be a blank flank.”
“A Blank flank?” Starlight said as her jaw dropped to the floor.
“Yeah,” Danged Spell said in a mean tone. “You think you can get around with that stain on your flank? I’d say your reputation just got...SMEARED!”
Every one of Starlight’s friends laughed at her in a cruel tone as Starlight Glimmer stood there, frightened. Abigail hissed at the little filly while Spike snapped right at her.
“No,” Starlight cried. “I don’t want this to happen.”
“Well tough luck, outsider,” Wanda said as she appeared psychotic. “Because you get what you deserve.” Wanda let out a sickening laugh that caused Starlight Glimmer to scream really loud as every pony and creature laughed at her.
Starlight Glimmer gasped as she woke up in bed. It was the middle of the night as Twilight Sparkle slept in a bed next to hers. Starlight caught her breath as she slumped back and breathed a sigh of relief.
“It was all just a dream,” Starlight said. “No one is going to unfriend me because of some stupid cutie mark.”
Suddenly, Starlight’s left hip began to glow. She looked down and saw what appeared to be an equal sign materialize on the surface of the hip. Starlight’s jaw dropped down as she stared at the equal sign.
“Now,” Starlight said as she began to cry. “Everyone is going to reject me.”
WIth that, Starlight covered her entire body with her blanket and cried throughout the night. Twilight Sparkle slept on her bed, unaware of Starlight’s emotional condition.
The next day, Twilight Sparkle emerged from her house, looking as peppy as ever, as she carried saddlebags full of books. Spike was perched atop her back, looking forward to the big day.
“Are you ready for another day at the school for gifted unicorns, Spike?” Twilight said.
Spike only responded with a playful garble.
“You and me both, Spike,” Twilight giggled.
But as Twilight took a few steps forward, she came to a quick stop and turned around to the open door. The look on her face has changed from content to concerned.
“Wait a minute,” Twilight said as Spike looked inside from atop Twilight’s back. “Starlight hasn’t come out of bed this morning.”
With a mad rush, Twilight ran through the doorway, up the staircase and into her room. She looked at the spare bed right next to hers and saw Starlight’s tail sticking out from the blanket.
“Starlight,” Twilight said as she walked up to the timid filly and nudged her. “You’re going to be late to class.”
“I don’t want to go to class,” Starlight said. “I’m hideous.”
“No you’re not,” Twilight said. “Who would want to call you that?”
“Everyone,” Starlight said as she lifted the blanket and pulled her tail inside.
Twilight put her hoof on her face. She cast a magic spell around the blanket and pulled it off. Starlight was quick to react by covering her hip area with her tail.
“Starlight,” Twilight said. “What’s gotten into you? This is even worse than when we first went to Mount Aris.”
“I don’t care,” Starlight groaned. “I don’t want to go. I’m hideous.”
“You’re not hideous,” Twilight said. “Now come on. We don’t want to be late.”
Twilight used her magic to lift Starlight’s tail, causing the twin-tailed filly to struggle to pull it back with her own spells. Twilight looked frustrated as she tried her best to pull Starlight’s tail off her hip.
“Spike,” Twilight said as she turned her attention towards the baby dragon on her back. “Tickle her.”
Spike gives a salute to Twilight before he jumps off Twilight’s back and lands next to Starlight. He then pulled a feather from a pillow right next to him and proceeded to tickle Stalright with it. Starlight’s face bursted as she struggled to hold it in.
“HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Starlight snorted. “Knock it off. That tickles.”
Starlight rolled onto her back as Baby Spike tickled her on the tummy area. Her tail slid downwards and landed right in front of her as she continued to laugh. Twilight looked at Starlight’s hip area and her jaw dropped down.
“Starlight,” Twilight said as she saw the equal sign on Starlight’s hip. “Is that….a cutie mark.”
“Yeah,” Starlight said as Spike continued to tickle her. “And I hate it.”
“What do you mean you hate it?” Twilight said as she walked up to Spike and tapped him on his shoulder, causing the baby dragon to stop tickling her.
Starlight sat up and said “I had this nightmare that you all rejected me as a friend because I got this equal sign on my hip area. You, Sunset, Wanda, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Abigail, Spike, Pinkie Pie, even Golden Lace. And I wound up being some kind of outcast because of it.”
“Oh dear,” Twilight said as she jumped on the bed and put her arm around Starlight. “Perhaps Princess Celestia may have the answer to our problem. Besides, we would never declare you an outcast because of a cutie mark.”
Starlight looked down at little Spike, who only waved to her. She looked up at Twilight and reluctantly said “Okay, I guess.”
“Then it’s settled,” Twilight said. “Once we get to the School, we’ll explain to Princess Celestia on how to fix your cutie mark problem.”
As Twilight held Starlight close to her, Shining Armor walked into the room. Twilight looked up at him and noticed his face looked down.
“Big brother?” Twilight said. “What happened?”
“It’s Princess Celestia,” Shining Armor said. “The Banks are furious at her, and now they’re going to set up a meeting to address another commotion.”
“Again?” Twilight said. “It’s about the field trip, right?”
“I’m afraid so,” Shining Armor replied. “I heard they were angry because she put Golden Lace in danger. They found out about the Storm King’s attack on the Hippogriff community in Mount Aris.”
“Of all the…” Twilight said as she jumped off the bed. “We’ve got to get to school and fast. The sooner we do so, the better.”
Spike jumped onto Twilight’s back as Starlight jumped off the bed. Shining Armor took notice at the equal sign on Starlight’s hip.
“That’s….an interesting cutie mark,” Shining Armor said.
“It was why we’re supposed to go to Princess Celestia until you told us the news,” Twilight said. “If the Banks decide to give Celestia a hard time, I dunno what we can do.”
“All I can say is,” Shining Armor said as he gave Twilight a playful noogie. “Best of luck to you, and may the spirit of Queen Eternia be at your side.”
“Thanks big brother,” Twilight said. “We’ll do just that.”
Later that day, Twilight and Starlight ran through the streets of Canterlot with Spike riding atop of Twilight.
“You think we can make it in time before the Banks decide to banish her from Canterlot?” Starlight asked.
“That’s ridiculous,” Twilight said. “If the Banks pulled that stunt, they would be caught in a nationwide backlash.”
“Princess Celestia is that popular, correct?” Starlight said.
“Without a doubt,” Twilight replied. “I’ve known my mentor and her two adopted daughters since joining the school. To say she’s the big star is an understatement. ANd the same thing goes for her sister Princess Luna.”
As the two fillies ran through the streets, they noticed Golden Lace running nearby. Twilight took a glance and noticed that Lace was dismayed.
“Lace?” Twilight said. “Why are you running through Canterlot?”
Golden Lace ran beside Twilight and Starlight and said “It’s my parents. They said they were going to make Princess Celestia pay for putting me in danger.”
“That’s what Shining Armor told us,” Starlight said.
“Then it appears we all share a similar objective,” Golden Lace replied.
“You got that right,” Twilight said. “In fact, we’re going there to address Starlight’s cutie mark.”
“Starlight’s what?” Golden Lace asked.
“It’s just a hideous smear on my flank,” Starlight said. “I want it gone.”
But as the trio ran through with Spike riding atop Twilight’s back, they came to a complete stop as Hoops, Dumbbell and Score stood there, blocking their way through.
“Oh no,” Twilight said. “Not these creeps again.”
Twilight turned her head and nodded towards Starlight, causing the little filly to hide behind her. Twilight turned around as she and Golden Lace faced down Hoops, Dumbbell and Score, who walked towards the three fillies.
“Well well well,” Hoops said as he approached Twilight Sparkle. “If it ain’t Celestia’s special snowflake.”
“Back off,” Twilight said in a snarling tone. “I don’t want anything to do with you three punks.”
“But we have a lot to do with you,” Dumbbell said. “Especially after the humiliation that we had to endure during the Ponyville Providence Fair.”
“That was on you,” Twilight said. “After what you did to ruin Trixie’s magic show, you deserved every bit of punishment.”
“Oh please,” Score said as he flew to the side and yanked Starlight out by the tail, causing the little filly to scream. “This is why pony society is falling apart.”
“Let me go you big meanie,” Starlight cried.
“Oh no,” Hoops said. “You need to be taught a real lesson you little brat.”
“Yeah,” Score said as he took notice of Starlight’s equal sign on her hip. “Especially when you have that pathetic excuse for a cutie mark.”
“That looks more like a painting accident gone wrong,” Dumbbell laughed. “Or maybe she’s trying to become good at math.”
“Math’s for foals,” Score said. “A real pony doesn’t need math to survive in this world.”
“You two got it all wrong,” Hoops said as he stood over Starlight. “I heard that the cutie mark on her flank is a sign of a cult leader. One who will replace all cutie marks with that abomination in the name of equality.”
“That’s not true,” Starlight cried. “I would never go down that path.”
“Don’t lie to yourself,” Score said as he pulled Starlight up by the tail, leaving her hanging in the air. “You have the looks of a future cult leader and you know it.”
As Starlight Glimmer swung in the open air, crying her eyes out, Golden Lace fired a blast of magic right at Score’s face, causing him to drop Starlight. Lace jumped up and grabbed Starlight Glimmer with her hooves before landing safely on the pavement.
“WHO DID THAT?” Score yelled. “I’LL TEACH THAT TRIGGERED SNOWFLAKE NOT TO MESS WITH THE REAL PONIES OF EQUESTRIA!”
“You leave her alone,” Golden Lace said as she sat Starlight down. “I won’t let you harm my friend.”
“I know you,” Hoops said as he let out a psychotic laugh. “You’re Golden Lace, the daughter of Gold and Silver Banks.”
“So what if I am?” Golden Lace said.
“And aren’t you supposed to be like the three of us?” Dumbbell said as he inched closer to Golden Lace.
“Nothing like you three,” Golden Lace said. “. I once used horrible words to make ponies feel like they’re not important just to have a sense of satisfaction, and I used to do that in my old school in Manehattan. I continued to do so when I came to Canterlot, guarded only by my parents until Queen Novo convinced me that it wasn’t the right path. Compared to what I used to be, I would be disgusted by you three monsters.”
“Monsters?” Hoops said. “Now that’s a compliment that I didn’t expect.”
“Hey boss,” Dumbbell said. “Wadda say we teach this fake-toughie a lesson in bad mouthing us?”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Hoops said as he, Dumbbell and Score took to the skies.
Twilight watched as the three bullies flew upwards into the clouds. She stood by Starlight Glimmer and watched as Hoops, Dumbbell and Score disappeared.
“Stand back,” Golden Lace said as she stood in front of Twilight. “And cover your eyes. I got this.”
“Lace?” Twilight said.
“I promised that I would make up for what I did since joining the School for Gifted Unicorns,” Golden Lace said with a hint of confidence. “This is one prime example.”
Twilight and Starlight took a few steps back as Spike jumped off of Twilight’s back. The three covered their eyes as Hoops, Dumbbell and Score descended downwards towards Golden Lace at Mach speed.
“Here we come you disgrace to the pony race,” Hoops laughed as he, Dumbbell and Score edged closer towards Golden Lace.
Golden Lace closed her eyes and pointed her horn upwards. A flash of light emitted from the horn as the trio neared the ground level.
“What in the?” Hoops yelled as he covered his eyes.
“I can’t see,” Dumbbell screamed.
“What kind of trick is this?” Score screech.
Golden Lace stood by as Hoops, Dumbbell and Score veered off course and crashed into nearby vending stalls. Hoops wound up face first into the opening of a vase, Dumbbell crashed into a bell pepper basket, and Score smacked right into a vendor umbrella. Twilight, Starlight and Spike opened their eyes to see the damage done to the trio.
“Wow,” Twilight said. “I did not expect that.”
“You can thank me later,” Golden Lace said. “We have to get to school and fast.”
Twilight and Starlight nodded as Spike jumped onto Twilight’s back. WIth a kick of dust into the air, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer and Golden Lace ran off towards the School for Gifted Unicorns. Hoops pulled his head out of the vase and watched as Twilight, Starlight, Golden Lace and Spike ran off in the distance.
“Curse you weaklings,” Hoops yelled. “We’ll get you for this if it's the last thing we ever do.”
As all three pegasi bullies got onto their four hooves, they overheard someone shouting “HEY! WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA MESSING UP MY GROCERY STAND?” The trio looked to their right to see an older earth pony stallion charging at them holding a push broom in his mouth.
“Come on, boys,” Hoops said. “We’ll deal with those snowflakes another time.”
With a flap of their wings, Hoops, Dumbbell and Score took off into the air as the stallion came to a stop and just shook his hoof right at the three troublemakers.
At the School for Gifted Unicorns, Wanda, Sunset Shimmer, Abigail, Sunburst, Moondancer and Danged Spell waited outside anxiously as Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, Spike and Golden Lace ran up to the group.
“Twilight,” Sunset said as she ran up to the violet filly. “You made it.”
“Are….” Twilight said as she caught her breath. “Are we late?”
“It’s even worse than that,” Sunset said. “School is canceled for the day.”
“WHAT?” Starlight yelled before she fainted on her back.
“Those mean Banks just stormed in here and shoved us aside, stating that we’re not welcomed here anymore,” Wanda said. “I think they’re going to close down the school.”
“Oh for the love of,” Golden Lace said as she put her own hoof to her forehead. “I knew my parents were going after Celestia. But the idea of closing down the School? Sometimes I wish I was born in Vanhoover instead of Manehattan.”
“You think that’s bad, sister?” Danged Spell said. “I heard they dragged Princess Luna and Chancellor Cinch in that office over the field trip to Mount Aris, and the fact that the Storm King invaded them one day prior to that trip.”
“Yeah,” Moondancer said. “If it weren’t for the fact that they have financial power across Equestria politics, they wouldn’t have been a big problem.”
“Well something’s gotta be done about this,” Twilight said.
“Uhh, hey guys,” Sunburst said as he approached Starlight Glimmer and glanced down at her equal sign on her hip. “I think Starlight has her cutie mark.”
“Say what?” Sunset said.
“It’s a long story,” Twilight replied. “That was why Starlight and I rushed down to the School for Gifted Unicorns with Golden Lace tagging along.”
Sunset, Wanda, Abigail, Moondancer and Danged Spell looked down at the equal sign on Starlight’s hip as the twin-tailed filly woke up. Starlight noticed the others looking at her hip and began to cover it with her tail.
“Don’t look,” Starlight cried. “It’s an abomination.”
“But what’s wrong with an equal sign?” Moondancer asked. “That looks like a pretty fun cutie mark.”
“I’ll say,” Sunset said. “That sounds like you’re really good at math.”
“Math wasn’t really Starlight’s best subject,” Sunburst said. “Though I’m not so sure how an equal sign would represent Starlight’s cutie mark.”
“Well I’d say her cutie mark just put her on an equilibrium. Get it?” Danged Spell chuckled.
“Uggh, Danged Spell,” Everyone else sans Starlight groaned.
“What?” Danged Spell said. “I wanted to at least keep the symmetry of this moment.”
“Please shut up already,” Moondancer said as she covered her ears with her hooves.
Danged Spell shrugged as Sunset Shimmer turned her attention towards Starlight Glimmer, who continued to cover up the equal sign on her hip.
“So what exactly is wrong with your cutie mark?” Sunset asked. “I don’t see anything bad about it.”
“It’s horrible,” Starlight cried. “It’s an abomination. It’s a horrible stain that would get my reputation...SMEARED!”
“Woah woah woah,” Danged Spell said. “Horrible stain? Smeared? I know I’m the king of puns. But that’s taking it too far. Why would something that you call a horrible stain leave your reputation smeared like that?”
“If I had a good guess,” Twilight said. “I think it’s because Starlight had a nightmare last night where we all rejected her because of her new cutie mark.”
“That sounds even worse,” Moondancer said. “Getting a cutie mark is one thing. But to lose your own friends because of a cutie mark?”
Wanda approached Starlight as she laid there on her back, hiding her hip with her tail. Abigail walked up to the little filly, rubbed her paw on her side, and meowed.
“Are you going to be okay, Starlight?” Wanda asked.
“I don’t know,” Starlight said. “If Princess Celestia can’t help me, then I don’t know what else to do.”
“It will be alright, Starlight,” Sunburst said. “We’ll get this settled the moment we hear from Princess Celestia..”
Suddenly, they heard a tapping on the front door. Everyone turned around to see Pinkie Pie from behind the glass pane of the front door. Twilight rushed forward and opened the door with her magic
“Pinkie,” Twilight said. “What happened to Princess Celestia?
“It’s horrible,” Pinkie Pie yelled. “The Banks are considering shutting down the School for Gifted Unicorns, placing Princess Celestia under arrest, and shipping Wanda and Sunset off to a labor camp.”
“WHAAAAAAT?” Wanda and Sunset yelled.
“Not on my watch,” Golden Lace said as she marched forward. “They may be my parents, but I will not let them ruin my time here in Canterlot.”
Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie moved out of the way as Golden Lace marched through the doorway. She stopped and turned her head towards Starlight.
“Starlight, is it?” Golden Lace said. “You want Princess Celestia’s help? Then you have to come with me.” Immediately, Starlight Glimmer immediately jumped onto her four hooves and ran up behind Golden Lace.
“I’m ready,” Starlight said.
“Good,” Golden Lace said before she turned her head towards the others. “I know what I’m getting myself into. So wish me luck.”
Starlight Glimmer and Golden Lace marched down the hallway of the School for Gifted Unicorns as Wanda, Abigail, Twilight, Sunset, Sunburst, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Spike and Pinkie Pie watched from the entrance. Twilight immediately turned her head towards Pinkie Pie.
“Pinkie,” Twilight said. “Go with them. Find out if Golden Lace is successful at convincing her parents otherwise.”
“Aye aye,” Pinkie Pie saluted before she stared down the hallway where Golden Lace and Starlight are walking down. “And if she fails.”
“Then it’s been fun knowing you all,” Twilight said.
Pinkie Pie looked at Twilight’s face as a tear flowed down the unicorn’s face. She goes up and gives Twilight a big hug before she turns around and runs after Starlight and Lace.
“Twilight,” Wanda said. “Is it true? What will happen to Sunset and me?”
“I’m not letting anything happen to you and Sunset,” Twilight said. “If they resort to that, I may ask Pinkie Pie to smuggle the both of you to either La Maresa or Mount Aris.”
“I’m willing to give up my own freedom if it means my sister gets to get away, safely,” Sunset said.
“Sunset,” Twilight said.
“We’ve been through alot together,” Sunset said. “The funeral for Starlight’s uncle, the Fall Formal Festival, Wanda’s experience with a baby bird, Danged Spell, Moondancer and Sunburst getting cutie marks, our field trips to La Maresa and Mount Aris, and befriending Golden Lace. I know this feels like the end of our adventures together. But no matter what, we will all be friends to the end. And if anything, Friendship will always be magical.”
Wanda, Sunset, Twilight, Sunburst, Moondancer and Danged Spell all embraced each other with a warm hug and tears flowing from their eyes as Spike and Abigail held hands, looking at each other with sadness and uncertainty.
To Be Continued in…
Banking on friendship