//------------------------------// // Starlight Glimmer Descends on Ponyville // Story: Scorching Day, Chilling Night // by The REAL Mister Pkmn //------------------------------// Some foolishly believe that the world is young. But, that is not the truth. In reality, the world is an old place, and there are many factual stories that come from times long gone by that decay into myth and legend. King Eclipse knew this fact far too well for his own liking. No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, the stories of the descent of his daughters into madness 2000 years ago had suffered the same fate as the stories of the Lord of Abominations Tirek, the Dark King Sombra, the Lord of Chaos Discord, the Lady of Order Harmonia, and the Winter of the Windigoes. Not quite forgotten, no, but written off as mere “Old mare’s tales,” stories to tell one's child to scare them into behaving. He sighed heavily. He loved his subjects, truly he did, but didn’t they know of the adage of the Ancients; “Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it?” He scoffed. Probably not, he mused to himself. After all, how could they know such a thing when virtually nobody nowadays has even heard of the Ancients? Well, not nobody, seeing as House Trigem still worships them like deities. Perhaps after I perish I will become nothing more than an “Old mare’s tale” as well. Not many knew this, but Alicorns, Ultracorns (A conglomeration of all types of ponies into one form, including hybrids (some mistakenly confused them with Draconequui in the past)), and Daconequui weren’t immortal, just very long-lived. He sighed, and brought his thoughts back to the present, where he was having a discussion with his personal student, Starlight Glimmer. “But I have better things to do than oversee some lame Extravaganza!” Starlight yelled. She was in the King’s throne room, and she was furious with her teacher. How could he send her to some podunk little town like this? She was his prized protégé! The King sighed, which caused all three of his sets of wings (a feathered set, to represent Pegasai, a leathery set, to represent Thestrals, and a incectile set, to represent Flutter Ponies and their Changeling cousins) and his fins (to represent Sea Ponies) to twitch slightly. “Now Starlight, don’t be like that. The Eclipse Extravaganza happens only every 50 years, and I’ve asked you to help organize the event. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m trusting you with it.” “But what does this have to do with my studies under you?!? I just don’t see how this helps me!” The King rubbed his temple with a clawed arm covered in silvery scales (that matched his fur color, and had darker stripes as well), which represented Kirins, while tapping the talons of his other hand (which represented Hippogriffs) on his throne. “Starlight, this is a test of how well you can handle leading a group of ponies. This was always going to be a part of the lesson plan.” The King may have been an imposing figure, seeing as he was a Ultracorn, but he saw no need to scare his student into compliance. Starlight blinked her dark blue eyes, and forgot her previous anger. “You’re testing me to see how well I handle a leadership position? Why?” The King spoke with absolute clarity. “Because many of the nobles aren’t very competent, outside of Fancy Pants, House Astrolight, House Lulamoon, and House Trigem. I hope to replace at least one of the incompetent ones with somepony more worthy of the title ‘noble.’ Somepony like you, Starlight.” Starlight’s eyes widened. “That is what I’ve been grooming you for throughout your studies. If you prove to me that you can handle this assignment, you’ll be one step closer to becoming a Representative in my court. Perhaps you might even replace the most incompetant noble family. That would be the Bluebloods." Starlight calmed herself. “Thank you for this opportunity, your highness.” She bowed a little. “I am sorry for questioning your wisdom, and I promise to do my utmost to make you proud.” “Very well.” In a flash of platinum white magic, a scroll appeared in front of Starlight. “Take this, and depart for Ponyville at once. It will guide you to those you must speak with about the preparations.” Starlight grasped it in her light blue aura. “Of course. I won’t let you down! I’ll earn the title of noble yet! Consider the days of the Blueblood's nobility officially numbered!" As she left, the King gazed off into the distance with his bronze eyes, and whispered under his breath. "And, if you pass all my tests for you, you might gain something much more than that, something the Bluebloods will never be worthy of." My Little Pony, My Little Pony, Ah, Ah, Aaa~ah! My Little Pony! Friendship used to mean nothing to me, My Little Pony! But now with you around me, I start to see! Tough through scrapes, Exuberant laughter, True to our word, Kind forever after, A giving heart, Truest vision of art, And magic makes it all complete! My Little Pony! I’ll trust in my new friends! Starlight was antsy, so she twirled her mint green and purple mane with a light lavender hoof. This was a lot of pressure, but she was certain that she could handle it. After all, King Eclipse put his faith in her. The ride on the train was quiet, a bit too much for her liking. She then pulled out the scroll that the King had given her, and opened it. She quickly scanned it for names, ponies she would need to work with to pull this off right. A few immediately made it to her attention. Berry Punch, entertainment. Thunder Blitz, weather manager. Cherry Cobbler, head confectionist. Serenity, head designer. Crescendo Dream, musical accompaniment. Maestro Spectrum, booth organizer. These were the six ponies she’d be working with to put up the Extravaganza. One of them seemed familliar, but Starlight put it out of her mind for now. As the train came to a stop at its destination, Starlight calmed her nerves. She stepped out of the train when the doors opened, and smiled to herself. Everything is going to be just fi- her world was suddenly filled with rich, dark magenta, and pain.