//------------------------------//
// Demons 
// Story: Book 1 - The Behemoth came to Canterlot 
// by Equimorto 
//------------------------------//

"Some scars never really fade. Some things you just can't seem to get past, no matter how much you try. You keep going in circles over and over facing the same problem, trying to get past the same obstacle. Always coming back to the same moment, the same memory, and no matter how much and how often you work on it you never really seem to get past it. Life keeps pushing you back and you feel like you're stuck in the same spot, falling back into the same hole no matter how many times you climb out. No matter what it's like you can never truly lift the weight off your shoulders. It's like a wound that won't heal. You wake up every morning to find it's bleeding again." Starlight looked to the side, slightly swaying back and forth. "That's what I am for you, am I not? Part of it at least. Your whole situation. Doesn't matter what you do, you always fail to free yourself from your own past."
Stella looked at her, annoyed confusion in her eyes. "Are you trying to understand me?" she asked, almost mockingly. "Offering help, perhaps?"
At that Starlight chuckled. "No. I'm trying to hurt you. Violent reactions would only amuse you and contempt would likely just spur you on. I'm reading you." She turned to look at the alicorn. Her face was determined. "I want you to know that I know what's going through your head. Because it's going to drive you mad. I don't need to gloat about it, or seem compassionate towards you, or show any emotion. I just need to state it. That's what you're going to hate the most."
Stella was quite talented at putting on a show of feigned indifference, even without her coil. "Would you really choose to do that, knowing it'll only lead to me hurting you more if you're right, without giving you any satisfaction?"
Starlight laughed again, more openly at that. "Hurt me? I've done worse things than the ones you've done to me. I know what torture can really be like. I'm not part of your plans, am I?" Her expression grew stern, angry. "Unlike Chrysalis. That was a planned out thing. I saw it on her face, whatever you put her through it was drawn out and carefully executed. I'm just a punching bag you come to when your own insecurities get to you. You don't have a plan for me like you did for her, and you can't afford to because you need me to stay normal." She progressively calmed as she spoke, and eventually once more switched to a mocking tone. "If you're going to torture me, at least put in some actual effort. I refuse to sit around for this mediocrity you're trying to get away with."
Stella stood there, staring at Starlight and trying not to make the shaking of her breath too evident to the unicorn. Eventually her horn began to shine. "Very well," she said, in a tone that could almost pass for calm.