//------------------------------// // A Test of Friendship // Story: Student of Friendship // by zalla661 //------------------------------// Once she had a chance to get the tears out of her system, Starlight broke away from her friends and left to get some fresh air. She used her magic to fly over the castle and landed on the tallest tower and sat there. Alone. She thought about Twilight's proposition to have her as a student. “Why would she want me as her student?” she thought. It made no sense. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but still. The idea that she could improve herself and Equestira was very tempting. She hated the idea of sitting here and not being out there helping others. What was she to do? All her life she struggled with her emotions. She feared the world and set a goal to make things equal so no others would have to suffer as she did. But that was it. It was fear. Fear gripped her and sucked the life out of her. It dictated her actions for years and shaped her into the mare she was today. She pushed everypony away because of this fear she had of losing other friends. So much so, she made sure to push others away so she never became attached. After all, if you were never friends how could you suffer when they inevitably left? From what she saw from the dark future after she stopped Rainbow's rainboom, even the tiniest change can have a monumental effect on the future. It made her realized how small she really was, but found solace in the fact any action can shape the future. A future she could help to shape so others may not suffer like she did. Alone. She watched over Ponyville while ponies went about their day as if nothing happened. A yellow mare was selling carrots in the crowded market below. A sweet shop had a long line out the front door as a mint green mare entertained them with song. The unicorn in question did a silly dance making many ponies laugh, while others shook their heads at her. It warmed her heart to see such acts among friends and possibly families. "Family," she whispered to herself. Just then, a loud boom was heard, and she looked down to see a blue pony in a cape and hat standing by a crowd of ponies near the carrot stand Starlight observed moments ago. Across the street the sweet shop's line of ponies had flooded over to the blue pony. The group seemed displeased with the pony and shouted at them. Starlight gasped, flying down to aid the poor pony. When she did, she was surprised when a tomato flew in the air and nearly hit her. She shifted her body weight and dodged the red projectile with ease. She landed in the group of ponies to see a blue pony huddled up in a ball on the ground. The pony was covered by a tattered blue cape with stars and a matching hat. The ponies snow white tail and mane were dirty as the pony shivered, covering their face. Starlight worked closer to the downed pony as insults and threats were made to him. At least, she was sure it was a him. The pony was smaller than most stallions she'd seen. The pony's dark blue fur was covered in dirt and various vegetables and only protected by the cloak he wore. Somepony nearby yelled at him, "Dang it, Pokey! I thought we were friends! But I refuse to be friends to somepony related to her!" The pony flinched as though he had been struck physically. Slowly he looked up to the face of a yellow earth pony with a puffy orange mane and emerald green eyes. She had an anvil cutie mark and stood over him with an angry scowl. "That mare did nothing good for this town and you lied about being her sister?!" "I didn't lie!" He protested. "You never asked!" "And you never told us!" The mare restored. "Yeah, why would you not tell us, your friends, about being related to some dumb whorse?” another mare redeposited to him. That made the pony, Pokey, stand up and face the crowd with renewed determination in his eyes, "I won't let you talk about my sister like that! I love her and that's all that matters!" Starlight had heard enough. She gathered as much magical energy in her horn as possible and shot it outward, pushing the crowd away from the epicenter. She allowed Pokey to remain, unfazed from the magical barrier she created, he looked around confused by the sudden magical outburst. He saw Starlight fro the corner of his eye and turned to face her. "Sister?!" He asked excitedly. When his eyes beheld the pony before him, he sighed, folding his ears back sadly. Starlight smiled, offering her hoof to him. He smiled weakly and took hold of the pink hoof and used it to heave himself up. Starlight coughed slightly, saying, "Sorry, I have siblings but I'm afraid we aren't related," she said dusting him off. "You alright there?" "I'm fine," Pokey said lifting the hat off his head revealing his unicorn heritage, "Thanks for the help." "It's fine," she said pulling his arm, beckoning him to follow. He nodded, following her without a word but found it almost impossible to through the sea of ponies that blocked his way. The ponies murmured as they forced their way past, but the crowd followed. This kept Starlight and Pokey at the center of the crowd which followed them. This put the young stallion on edge and made Starlight angry. She was getting to the point where she felt like lashing out on others. But she held onto her anger and didn't let it dictate her actions. That is until somepony made a comment. "Hey, aren't you that crazy madmare who steals cutie marks?" The pink unicorn stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned her head, glaring darkly at the pony. It was the mare who made the comments to Pokey earlier, she stood looking at Starlight in recognition. "Yeah, I know it's you! The Princess warned us about you!" she accused the unicorn, pointing at her. Starlight growled, turning to face the mare. "What did you call me?" she asked darkly. "You really shouldn't treat your friend like this." "I am Amber Anvil, and I don't care what you have to say, monster," the green earth pony declared, earning a series of nods from the crowd. "Well, Miss Anvil, you don't dictate what I, Starlight Glimmer, do and don't do." Starlight replied with a snort, "I go where I please, and do as I please." "You're a monster who deserves to rot in a dungeon." "Sticks and stones," Starlight said, turning her back on the mare. That was when it happened. Amber Anvil ran forward, grabbing hold of Starlght's shoulder, spinning her around. Before the mare had anytime to react, Starlight lit her horn and lifted the mare as she spun, using her own momentum to send the green earth pony into the air. The mare screamed as she spun up in the air, becoming a blur, and slowly descended back to the ground. She spun upside down on her head, slowly losing momentum and soon after fell over on the ground after her body stopped spinning. The pony's eyes spun around along with the world in her vision. Starlight grinned at her victory, stepping around the mare, and pulled Pokey along with her magic as he looked on, concerned for the downed mare. Seeing his reaction, Starlight leaned towards him saying, "She's fine. She'll just be dizzy for a while," She then nudged him, "Come on, she'll be fine." "I hope so. Amber is a good pony. She's just overzealous," the blue unicorn replied. "I sure hope so." As they walked the mass of ponies granted them passage, splitting apart a path for them. Starlight walked Pokey down the street until they were close to Twilight's castle. At the gate Pokey stopped. Starlight stopped too, turning to face him. "What's wrong? You're... not hurt are you?" "No, I'm fine. Also, thank you for helping me," he said shyly rubbing his arm, "I don't get along well with others because of my sister." "Does she have a bad rep like me?" She flinched at Pokey's reaction. He cringed at the phrase, 'bad rep', like it was a poison to his ears. She internally kicked herself for being so thoughtless. “Guess I still have a lot to learn,” she thought. She laid a hoof over his shoulder with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me. I'm just... not used to this sort of thing." "Thanks," he said, offering his hoof to the unicorn. Starlight took it and shook it. "It's nice to have a friend when the world seems to be against you." That shocked Starlight to her core. He called me a friend? Just like that? She felt something was amiss, and yet this all felt so right. It was like being filled with joy. Like a warm cider on a cold night that filled you with warmth and joy. It made her feel jolly inside knowing that she easily made a friend, and not some cult follower. It was then she realized that friends, real friends, are ponies just like her. Every pony was already equal. She was just too blinded by her grief to realize it. Though many would say hurtful things, or do nasty things, they all got sad, mad, or even glad. It didn't matter, they were all the same. They hurt, they bled, they smiled, they laughed, and did all the same things as other ponies did. The world was already equal and balanced. But the power of friendship is what kept the harmony going. In this brief moment of clarity, Starlight's eyes glowed with a rainbow glow. So brief was it, that Pokey Pierce never saw it. Starlight would have cried had she not been so overjoyed by this revelation. It was then she had the answer she needed to make her decision on being Twilight's student. She let go of Pokey and said in a excited tone, "Sorry Pokey. I have to go, but I have to thank you someday for helping me just now!" The blue unicorn tilted his head wondering what she could have meant by that, but shrugged it off. He stood up with a goofy grin, happily trotted home with his sister's cloak and hat wondering when he'd get to see his new friend again. Stopping, he turned to see his new friend run into Ponyville Castle determined to take hold of her destiny. Inside the castle, Twilight and her friends were deep in discussion when Starlight burst through the doors without so much as a knock. Rarity scoffed in a scolding manner, while Applejack and Rainbow jumped from the sudden intrusion. Fluttershy and Twilight jumped but settled down after seeing it was only Starlight. Pinkie laughed at the surprise appearance. Twilight took the next few moments to recompose herself and trotted over to Starlight who looked oddly calm. "Star, you alright?" "Yes, Princess, I'm fine. I just..." "Just what?" "I... I'm ready to become your student," Starlight replied lowering herself to a low bow. "What is it I must do, Twilight?" Twilight was now deep in thought. She then used her hoof and placed it under Starlight's chin, guiding her to her hooves asking, "Did you make any new friends while you were out thinking?" "I did. His name was Pokey Pierce." "Pokey huh?" Twilight rubbed her chin while her friends exchanged looks ranging from concern to glee. Finally, Twilight seemed satisfied and patted Starlight on the back. "You are well on your way to a glorious future, Star," she said proudly, wrapping her wing around the unicorn, "You have passed your first test, my student." Friendship Gained: