//------------------------------// // Dark Pasts // Story: Starlight’s Dimensional Drama // by Starlight Fan //------------------------------// Starlight had to admit, the last challenge was pretty… uneventful to say the least. It was not only a reward challenge, but hardly anything really happened. The closest thing to eventful were Team Amazon’s victory and Sierra telling everyone embarrassing things about Chris’ past but that seemed to be it. Chris didn’t really need her for that challenge. Right now, she was sitting in loser class with Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Hot(Ugh, she gags at the mere naming of that team) and Team Victory, “Man, I’m just so sick of having a stupid animal mangling curse.” DJ complained. “Curse shmurse. The more you believe that trash, the more power it has over you. And look, Starlight ain’t a human, but she’s just fine.” Leshawna reminded the gentle giant who seemed to smile at this. “Really? Wow, maybe you’re right.” DJ smiled optimistically. “Six episodes and no elimination! If we were a steak, we’d be a 32 ounce courterhouse, and you guys would be a tiny slice of baloney.” Owen laughed giddily, unaware of the glares he was receiving from DJ, Leshawna, and Lindsay. “Uh… Team Amazon has also avoided elimination for six episodes.” Starlight reminded the blonde oaf. “Starlight is correct, and need I remind you all that we lost the last challenge?” Alejandro asked furiously. “But with you as our leader, nothing is impossible. Heck, I’m not even afraid of flying anymore.” Owen said happily before opting to dance all over the common area but unfortunately, this caused the plane to suffer turbulence due to Owen’s weight and because of this, a hole opened up in the plane, causing Starlight to get sucked out of it much to the horror of the other contestants but thankfully Starlight was levitating as much as she could into the plane but the harsh winds were preventing her from landing in the plane. Her magic soon fizzled out and her consciousness faded and her eyes immediately closed but before she could fly out again, Alejandro grabbed her hoof and threw her back in just as Team Victory was able to plug up the hole. The teenagers immediately began hovering over Starlight who was breathing in and out as she slumbered in which Alejandro took the time to lecture Owen, “What were you thinking when dancing all over the place?! You could’ve gotten Starlight killed!” “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t think this would happen!” Owen spoke sadly, “Oh gosh, I’m a terrible friend.” “You’re fine Owen.” Noah reassured the season one winner, “We just gotta find a way to wake up Star-“ “Wait, look. I think she’s saying something.” Leshawna gasped, with the contestants looking over to see what Starlight was saying. “P-Ponyville.” Starlight mumbled in her sleep. Starlight found herself in Ponyville, taking in her surroundings and smiling. She was home again. Her thoughts were interrupted by Trixie tackling her into a hug. “Trixie?” Starlight smiled enthusiastically as she embraced the show mare. “It worked! The spell worked!” Trixie said happily. “Spell? What spell?” Starlight asked curiously. “The spell to bring you back from another dimension of course.” Sunburst scoffed playfully as he and Twilight walked over. “You all seriously did that for me?” Starlight asked with tears of joy running through her face. “Of course we did.” Twilight beamed as she embraced her pupil, “I’m so glad you’re alright, Starlight.” “Yeah… me too. Thanks for not giving up on me.” Starlight smiled back as she leaned into the hug. “I said I’d always be there for you and I always will be.” Twilight smirked confidently. Starlight just sighed in content at this, she was finally home. And then she woke up, Starlight looked to see that all the contestants were staring at her which made her realize one thing. She was still stuck in another world. “Starlight… are you okay?” Owen asked warily. “I’m fine.” Starlight sighed sadly before walking away from the crowd. “We heard you mumbling in your sleep. Something about this Twilight again?” Leshawna asked curiously. “Yeah, I had a dream I was back home in Equestria.” Starlight chuckled weakly. The cast looked at each other awkwardly before DJ spoke up, “We’re really sorry about what’s happened.” “Don’t worry about it. I need some time alone.” Starlight reassured them before walking off. “Should we follow her?” Owen asked once Starlight was out of view. “Why? She clearly wants to be alone.” Leshawna rolled her eyes at such a question. “Yeah, but if we know what’s going on in her head, we could help her out a bit.” Izzy pointed out giddily. “I am not usually one for eavesdropping but if we must, we should go see what is ailing our dear friend.” Alejandro decided to step in, he could use some information about where Starlight was from, if only to ease his worries on how much this could impact his game. “Ooh, are you looking for Starlight too?” A high-pitched voice suddenly chirped in before it was seen that Sierra was running into loser class. “Why aren’t you in first class?” DJ asked curiously. “Starlight didn’t come to check on us, so we got a little concerned.” Cody admitted with a sheepish gaze as he and the other three members of Team Amazon came walking in. “If you’re eavesdropping on Starlight’s inner thoughts, we want in.” Heather smirked. DJ and Leshawna gave each other wary looks, unsure of where this was heading. https://youtu.be/7_mx-Biv0Cc?si=B-o1yttfwiStmIDT Starlight was sitting on a lone box in the cargo hold brooding to herself when she suddenly began singing “I thought I was an outcast I thought I stood alone A rogue, a thief, a cultist. No place to call my own.” Starlight sang solemnly, thinking of her horrible past. “I thought no one could love me And how could I have known I was wrong Oh, so wrong.” Starlight sadly smiled when she finished the verse, thinking of her friends such as Spike, Trixie, Sunburst, and Maud. “Then I thought I found it A dream that I could share I thought I was so lucky It almost wasn't fair.” Starlight smiled wistfully as she thought of the moment she took Twilight’s hoof. “I thought I knew my purpose I thought that I knew where I belong But I was wrong.” Starlight began to get teary eyed as she remembered how she got banished that fateful day due to the hooves of Cozy Glow. “Everything I ever thought I knew Where I've been Where I'm going Everything I counted on turned out to be untrue Could've guessed Should've known Now I do.” Unknown to Starlight, her ballad was being listened to by the rest of the contestants who were eavesdropping at the entrance of the cargo hold. “Everything I've yearned for Everything I planned All my sweetest memories were castles made of sand Now that it's all crumbling Help me understand If none of it was really me then who am I supposed to be? And everything I ever thought I knew Every hope Every feeling.” Starlight continued singing with heart shattering each moment she sang. “Love and trust and happiness They're done, they're gone, they're through And what's left Me alone Once again Should've known Now I do.” Starlight then sang in sad acceptance as she realized she might never go home. “I guess my life meant nothing I guess it was a sham I guess I'm someone else now I wonder who I am.” Starlight finished singing with tears in her eyes before she suddenly heard crying in the distance. Starlight then teleported out of the room to see that all thirteen contestants were outside the room much to her shock and the source of the crying turned out to be Owen. “What are you guys doing here?” Starlight asked curiously, wiping the tears off her face. “We had to see what was going on? Your dreams have been concerning all of us.” DJ explained for the whole group. “Um, I’d like to ask what that part about you being a criminal is all about?” Courtney asked skeptically. Starlight looked shell-shocked when she heard that before carefully asking, “You… heard all that…” “You were practically singing your heart out in there.” Sierra explained with a smile, not at all bothered about any allegations of her being a criminal somehow, “One time I kept singing When I Cry in my bedroom and didn’t even notice my mother was standing at the doorway. It happens to the best of us.” “There’s… something about your past you haven’t told us. Isn’t there?” Leshawna asked with a raised eyebrow. Starlight sighed before sitting down, “Alright. I guess you all deserve to know the truth. It’s a really long story if I’m being honest.” “We got time.” Cody reassured the unicorn, “The plane doesn’t land for another two hours.” Starlight took a deep breath and began explaining, “When I was a filly, I didn’t have many friends. I had this quirk where my magic was really out of control and it ties into my emotions so it kinda drove some ponies away and the one friend I did make was driven away from me due to his cutie mark. Like the one you see on my flank. My depression went into rage as I got older and so I decided to try and make everypony equal by taking their cutie marks, but I couldn’t remove my own so I hid mine. When I was exposed by Twilight and her friends, I didn’t take it well and tried to get revenge by time traveling so her friendships would never happen. Thought I realized what a horrible mistake I was making and I stopped my quest for revenge and got taken in as Twilight’s pupil to learn friendship and I slowly evolved and redeemed myself into who I am today. I have changed, but if you guys don’t want anything to do with me after what you heard, I understand.” “Why would we do that?” Owen asked curiously, “You changed, didn’t you?” “Well yeah… but the crimes I committed were pretty…” Starlight said meekly before Cody decided to comment. “So what? You‘ve been nice to us since you’ve gotten here and if your world found you worthy of redemption then I don’t see why we can’t.” Cody told the unicorn firmly. “Well I think she shouldn’t be here.” Courtney rolled her eyes. “Well no one asked for your opinion.” Leshawna replied sharply, “If she’s atoned for her crimes, then I say she’s just fine.” “I agree with Leshawna.” Lindsay chirped. “Yeah, maybe we should give her a chance.” DJ smiled with a nod. “Well I guess it wouldn’t hurt…” Gwen replied warily. “Yeah, she doesn’t seem to have an evil bone in her body anymore.” Tyler nodded. “I accept her.” Sierra waved her hand happily. “Meh, I don’t care either way.” Noah shrugged. “I suppose it wouldn’t be a horrible idea to give her a chance.” Alejandro replied confidently. “I honestly could care less.” Heather rolled her eyes. Starlight felt herself smiling at this, maybe she had a chance in fitting in with this new world after all, especially with friends like these guys.