As Tempest walked the halls, she had to admit, she couldn’t really put her hoof on Starlight.
She has met the mare a few times and despite a few quirks, she was definitely a nice pony but even though she’s nice, Starlight seems to be full of surprises.
No regular pony would just give up their entire lives and freedom just for the sake of potentially saving their friends. If you told Tempest that she would end up meeting the most selfless and daring unicorn in Equestria. She would have laughed in your face but now… she didn’t know what to think, and it perplexed her.
She then spotted Gallus walking by and decided to call out, “Gallus. I want to know something?”
“Sure thing.” Gallus shrugged.
“Can you tell me what you know about Starlight Glimmer? It’s just that… this mare confuses me. She literally risked everything in her life for the mere chance she could save Twilight.” Tempest explained.
“I don’t recall much about her as she was mostly just my guidance counselor at first but I do know this. She’s almost extremely selfless and really cares about her friends if what she did was anything to go by. Twilight certainly has some odd fascination to her.” Gallus spoke up.
Slowly gears began to turn in Tempest’s head, she then asked, “What kind of fascination?”
“I don’t know, it’s just whenever she talks about Starlight, her eyes light up and she softens up whenever Starlight so much as speaks to her.” Gallus rolled his eyes before realizing what Tempest was implying.
“You don’t think…” Gallus spoke with wide eyes.
“That Twilight has a crush on Starlight. Yes, I believe she does.” Tempest scoffed.
“Whoa… this is just mind blowing.” Gallus said agape.
“We should definitely let Spike and Discord know about this, but meanwhile, I have to speak with Starlight.” Tempest told the griffon.
“You’re not gonna tell her this are you?” Gallus asked with a raised eyebrow, even if Twilight wasn’t exactly sane right now, she had a right to have her crush be kept secret.
“Of course not.” Tempest rolled her eyes, “But I do have a feeling to as why she was so ready to give up everything.”
Starlight by now, has recovered from Chrysalis’ attack and was now pacing in her room, wondering what she can do to save Twilight.
In all honesty, Starlight didn’t know why, but the thought of Twilight succumbing to darkness hurt her more than anything in Equestria. She remembered the good times with Twilight they had and for some reason, a warm feeling in her chest rose.
She then heard a knock at the door and raised an eyebrow but went to open the door to see Tempest.
“Tempest?” Starlight asked curiously.
“Starlight.” Tempest spoke politely, “I just came to check to see how you were doing.”
“Well… besides the fact that I’m desperately trying to save Twilight from becoming somepony she isn’t, I’m doing fine.” Starlight chuckled nervously.
“Hmm, that does seem to be a dilemma.” Tempest admits before speaking more, “Though I must say, you’re doing a lot just to save somepony you only consider a friend.”
“Well… I just really value my friendship with Twilight is all.” Starlight raises an eyebrow in confusion.
“If I can be fair Starlight. I would do a lot for my friends but I wouldn’t let myself be imprisoned for a mere chance to save them.” Tempest points out.
“Well that’s where you and I are different Tempest. You keep yourself guarded which I do respect to a degree, but I tend to try and break down my walls so I can let others in.” Starlight said sternly.
“I’m just saying, it would take a fair amount more than a simple friendship for me to do what you’re doing.” Tempest explained before walking off, leaving Starlight alone with her thoughts.
Starlight didn’t know what to think of that, it would take more than a simple friendship?
“What does that mean?” Starlight asked herself in confusion, “What did she mean by more than a simple friendship? Best friends? Wouldn’t that mean the same thing? I don’t know how that even-“
Starlight’s eyes widened, she then thought of another possibility?
“Love?” Starlight whispered meekly to herself, “Is she implying that I love Twilight?”
Starlight began laughing sheepishly and began speaking, “No! That can’t be the case! I’m not in LOVE with Twilight?! She’s just a friend! A really great friend! A really passionate, talented, and caring…” she began trailing off, slipping into a misty look and soft smile. Her memories slipped back to her memories with Twilight: to Starlight’s reformation, to Starlight’s graduation, to Twilight’s elation when Starlight decided to stay, to pretty much every single quiet moment they shared.
She even remembered that one night where Twilight told her: ”Being a princess is hard, but with friends like you, I can always push past it.”
Starlight shook herself out of her euphoria and teared up, for as great as those moments together they shared. Those were with Twilight, the mare who kept her here was Midnight.
“Like I was ever in love with Twilight.” Starlight said sadly, “And even if I was, she’s pretty much gone.”
Tears began to trickle down her cheeks, “My Twilight is gone!”
Starlight doesn’t want to believe it, but deep within, she knows it’s true. No matter how much she doesn’t want to believe it, Twilight’s heart has gone cold, she’s pretty much kept her as prisoner here and keeping herself distant.
Starlight then realized something… her Twilight?
Why did she say that? Why would she say that? Twilight wasn’t exactly some object, unless she meant…
No, she was merely just emotional.
“Maybe I should just take her offer and leave. She may care for me now, but eventually, she’ll probably just see me as a pawn.” Starlight sighed but then remembered something.
The reason Twilight even made the offer to let Starlight go was because of how much she hated to see Starlight suffer, plus if she truly didn’t care about her, she wouldn’t have shown Starlight her vulnerability. She trusted Starlight with that.
Even after all this time, Twilight still cares about her and was willing to stick by her.
Starlight teared up once again, but this time, she smiled.
“There’s still hope.” Starlight said with a shaky breath.
”I may not know what comes next for you, but whatever it is, I promise I'll always be there for you.”
“I know you have Twilight.” Starlight sniffed, “You’ve always been there for me to pick me up when I fell from grace, and now it’s time I do the same.”
Starlight felt her chest warm up and as she thought more about her feelings involving Twilight, she felt a happiness she could not explain.
“Maybe Tempest was right. Twilight’s way more than just a friend to me.” Starlight said.