//------------------------------// // Prologue: Failures // Story: Starlight’s Dimensional Drama: A World Tour To Remember // by Starlight Fan //------------------------------// A hole sprouted from the outside grounds of the School Of Friendship and soon a giant mole had dug out of the ground with Sandbar, Yona, Gallus, Smolder, and Silverstream on it’s back, all tired and charred before it turned back into the reformed Changeling we all know as Ocellus. Though they were able to bring most of Equestria’s magic back and save the world, there was one thing that they failed to save. “S-She didn’t… oh Celestia, she didn’t actually get sucked in, did she?” Sandbar began panicking. “Sandbar, I hate to say it, but I saw it happen too.” Ocellus rubbed her front right hoof sadly. “M-Maybe we didn’t see the situation correctly. Maybe the portal spat Starlight out at the catacombs after we brought back the magic or-“ Silverstream began to speak optimistically before Smolder interrupted angrily. “Silverstream! We all saw it happen! Counselor Starlight literally got sucked in a magic portal! She’s gone!” Smolder yelled furiously, although she was visibly shaking at what had transpired. “Yona can confirm.” Yona nodded solemnly. “Counselor Starlight… actually got sucked into a portal…” Gallus’ eyes were wide with shock. The students didn’t know how it happened, one minute they were helping evacuate students from the catacombs so they could get the artifacts to save the magic of Equestria, and the next second, Starlight is screaming for her life and getting sucked into a portal to another dimension. They tried to save her by using the artifacts but all they could do was bring back the magic. Starlight was gone. “At least magic is back.” Silverstream tried to brighten the mood but she could not have chosen a worse time. “Yeah! But at what cost?!” Smolder said angrily. “You ruined everything!” Cozy Glow’s voice was heard from behind them, mane and tail with their tips burnt, “Now Twilight and her ridiculous friends can escape from Tartarus.” Right on cue, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Spike all appeared, glaring furiously at Cozy Glow when they saw her which caused her eyes to go as wide as saucers before putting on a phony smile, “I mean… yay. All my friends are safe.” “You can drop the act, Cozy Glow! Your pen pal Tirek told us all about how he helped you suck up all that magic!” Applejack lectured furiously. “But I still don’t understand why.” Twilight said, hurt and betrayed by the child’s actions. Cozy Glow growled before smirking, “Why?! Because friendship is power! You might be the Princess of Friendship, but as headmare of this school, I can collect even more friends than you!” Twilight sighed sadly, “You're the one who doesn't get it, Cozy. Friendship is powerful, but power isn't why you make friends. I'm sorry I couldn't teach you that.” “You definitely taught us though.” Gallus said reassuringly, he was doing this partly because he believed he was right and he also might as well soften the eventual blow that would soon come. “You can’t one bad apple think you failed.” Silverstream added kindly. “Besides, we couldn’t have stopped her if it weren’t for what you taught us about friendship.” Sandbar pointed out. “Oh yeah. Well what’s the point of friendship when you don’t HAVE all your friends with you?!” Cozy Glow snickered malevolently. The Young Six immediately widened their eyes at this, they knew exactly what she was talking about, while the Mane Six and Spike were confused. “What are you talking about?” Rainbow Dash asked angrily, given she was already pretty annoyed with the psychotic filly. “Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Do you not realize one of your bestest friends is missing when it’s right in front of you?! You’re more idiotic than I thought.” Cozy Glow said with nothing but pure joy. It took a few moments for Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity a bit to figure it out but to Twilight and Spike, it hit them immediately. “Starlight!” Twilight gasped in horror. “What did you do to her?!” Spike asked, nostrils flaring with rage, Starlight and him were very close, if Cozy had hurt her, he would not hesitate to advocate for a harsh punishment from Celestia. “Oh, all I did was trap her in a magic orb that sucked her into another dimension, nothing TOO serious.” Cozy Glow said not so innocently. “You did what?!” Fluttershy said, shaken from the core at what she just heard. “Where is she?!” Applejack asked incredulously. “Heck if I know. I just knew the magic of Equestria would go somewhere.” Cozy Glow shrugged uncaringly. Twilight felt her life flash before her eyes when she heard that. Starlight Glimmer, her former pupil and one of her best friends in Equestria, was gone. Why? Why did she not see through Cozy Glow sooner? Why did she leave Starlight alone with her? Why?! “I see you’re speechless. I guess I got something out of my plan.” Cozy Glow snickered malevolently to which Spike breathed fire at her to make her back away. “Shut. Up.” Spike said lowly, fists forming with his knuckles shaking furiously. Cozy Glow backed off but gave a glare, however, her bravado soon faded as Celestia, Luna, and Chancellor Neighsay made it to school grounds while royal guards flew everywhere and restrained Cozy Glow, much to her protest as she was led away from the premises by Luna, the guards, and Neighsay. Celestia was the quick to notice Twilight’s tearful gaze and softly approached her. “Twilight? Are you okay?” Celestia asked carefully. “Sh-She’s gone.” Twilight said solemnly. “Who’s gone?” Celestia raised an eyebrow in worry. “Starlight. Cozy Glow banished her to another dimension when trying to drain the magic. She’s gone now.” Twilight said miserably. Celestia gasped in silent shock, she had never expected this. In all of her years as Princess, she had to endure many things, but none were as serious as being banished from the realm. She took a look to see the rest of Twilight’s friends and students. Everyone of them had solemn and hurt expressions on their faces. Applejack was closing her eyes and looking downwards, Fluttershy was bawling while Rainbow Dash tried her best to comfort her even if she was also containing her sadness, Rarity was pacing around aimlessly but tears were in her eyes, Pinkie Pie just stared at the ground with her mane straightened and her face was full of misery, and even Spike had lost his earlier rage and was huddled up into a floor and crying. Celestia could not stand to watch this. She was not as close with Starlight as the rest of her friends but she had helped her and Luna before and greatly respected the mare so this was a loss for her as well. “This is terrible news.” Celestia sighed miserably before Luna walked up to her big sister. “Celestia, I hate to interrupt when you are all rightfully grieving, but the guards are wondering what fate befalls Cozy Glow.” Luna spoke up awkwardly. Celestia was unsure if this was the right time as well but Cozy Glow’s sentence must be carried out eventually. As such, Celestia turned over to Luna and spoke, “She will be banished to Tartarus. I know it seems unfair but she not only nearly drained all of Equestria’s magic but banished another pony from this realm and did all of that as a mere filly. We cannot trust her to roam free.” “Understood.” Luna nodded before walking off as Celestia turned back to Twilight. “Twilight, I am so sorry for this. I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now.” Celestia apologized remorsefully, even if she knew that this would change nothing about what happened to Starlight. “No. It’s my fault.” Twilight sighed miserably, “It’s all my fault.”