//------------------------------//
// What sets us Apart from the Rest Part 2 
// Story: What sets us apart from the rest 
// by zalla661 
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The little ponies and pokemon from Ponyville Elementary scattered about the school yard frolicking together as a group of adults watched closely from the sidelines.

Trixie stood by Charlie still pouting about Starlight taking her cutie mark. The process was more aggravating than painful, yet Trixie still felt upset even though she did originally agree to it. She did feel better after getting her mark back, but still held onto her angry face to guilt trip Starlight.

"Oh, come on Trixie!" Starlight whined. "I said, 'I was sorry'."

Charlie nuzzled the blue unicorn making her blush. "Yeah, Trixie, come on. We always forgive our friends."

"Trixie will end both of you." she pouted sticking her nose up. 

Twilight and Starlight laughed at the mare, while she nuzzled up to Charlie. The brown pokemon had a silly grin on his muzzle which quickly turned to a frown when his sisters began snickering behind him. Swift was actually on the floor laughing so hard she gasped in pain holding her sides while Lea was simply laughing. Sally simply sat nearby shaking her head at her sisters behavior.

Ponies and pokemon alike stared at the female jolteon and leafeon as they cackled like hyenas in the middle of the road. Eventually everyone settled down and Charlie made his way to his sister Sally. He approached her, while the other two sisters came up to her sides. 

"Hey." he said casually.

"Hey." they replied back.

He rubbed his neck shying away fro their gaze. "Soooo, did you girls like the demonstration?"

Each looked wearily at Starlight who was chatting happily with Twilight, who giggled at something she said. IN the end Sally spoke for the group. She stepped forward, placing her arm around her brothers neck and pulled him close to whisper in his ear, "We don't like her."

"Who, you mean, Star?" they nodded confirming this. "You don't like Starlight?"

"She's a criminal, brother." Sally stated to him. "She stole cutie marks and enslaved others under her rule."

"She's changed for the better." Charlie stomped the ground. "She's made amends for what she's done."

"She tried to destroy Twilight and her friends." Lea stated not taking her eyes off the mare in question. 

For a moment they all watched as she walked away with Twilight at her side. The two were pressed against each other with a book between them, reading it as they went.

Charlie felt bad for Starlight. Ever since her defeat years ago she has struggled to become accepted in society even after a royal pardon. That whole fiasco was started with many nobles from Canterlot seeking blood from a witch hunt. It was tough, but in the end Starlight was let off, under the condition she'd be under Princess Twilight's constant watch. The two haven't been apart since. 

Charlie thought long about this sisters first reaction to the mare. It wasn't pretty. Granted, Starlight was trying to escape custody and had it not been for that fateful encounter he and Trixie might have never met. He watched as Starlight wrapped her tail around Twilight's giving it a tug. A moment passed and nothing happened. Just as they rounded the corner he was sure he saw Twilight tug back.

He then turned to his sisters who seemed to be waiting to pass his verdict on the pink unicorn. But his mind was made up.

"I think Starlight has paid her dues, and there is no need to pester her any further." he said to his sisters. "Now, she's my friend and I expect you all to at least tolerate her and not provoke her, OK?"

Still looking unsure, the sisters looked at each other. As if a silent agreement passed through them, they nodded, and facing their brother said, "If you trust her that much, then we will support you little brother." Sally said kindly, nuzzling him.

He smiled and nuzzled his sister back, rubbing his face against her cheek making her blush while the juvenile sisters snickered behind them. Sally scoffed annoyed by them and stuck her nose up. Charlie then found himself in Trixie's death grip hug around his neck. He struggled against her but eventually relented to her, and snuggled her. The sisters d'awwed at them, making the brown pokemon feel very self conscious as Trixie said, "I'm glad Starlight tried to get revenge on Twilight."

That comment caught everyone by surprise. They all went slack jawed and stared at her while she snuggled with her mate. Even he seemed taken back by her comment. 

"Umm, Trixie?"

"What's wrong Charlie?"

"Why would you say such a thing? Aren't you and Twilight friends?" he asked her.

"Of course not stupid!" she yelled pushing him away to look him in his eyes. There for that moment, he could see she was truly upset by what he had said. He knew better, but still he couldn't fight the urge to ask anyway. "YOU know Trixie values Twilight as a friend!"

"A friend you wanted to exploit." he retorted.

This infuriated her more. "Trixie changed! She didn't use Twilight in the end!"

"But you did try."

For several moment Trixie huffed, trying to make words but found herself to frustrated by his accusations to form coherent sentences. Taking a moment to compose herself, Trixie allowed herself to relax and thought about what to say next. Finding the answer in herself she replied, "I would never wish harm or misfortune on Twilight anymore. And Trixie is not sorry for what she said." Seeing Charlie frown she quickly added, "She is sorry it happened, but was happy it did happen none the less. For had Starlight never sought revenge I would never have met you."

Charlie seemed to respond well to this. For he smiled nodding to her, scooting over to sit beside her and rubbed his cheek against the blue unicorns making her blush. She tried to push him away but he persisted. She finally gave in and wrapped her cape around him, covering them both up. 

They sat together for a good minute then went over to one of the school's benches and sat together on it overlooking the playground. Charlie's sisters saw them having this moment and decided to leave them be. Sally gave a last glance before turning to walk away, catching Trixie's attention for a moment. She winked at her, making Trixie wink back.

For the next several hours they sat together watching as the sun set. Ponies paid little attention to the loving couple in the school yard. Charlie never felt so content to sit somewhere and watch as time passed by. He loved Trixie and had great friends like Twilight and Starlight, and truthfully what more could he have asked for?