//------------------------------// // Sad reminders from the past // Story: Starlight's Struggle // by adorablesmiles //------------------------------// I closed the door in front of me. I didn't really understand what had just happened, but all I knew was that Applejack had completely blackmailed me into coming in here. I know I'm the element of loyalty and all, but even so, I wasn't looking forward to doing this. Don't get me wrong. I did befriend Starlight, but that didn't necessarily mean that I trusted her now. From what I can understand, Equestria almost perished because of what she did. Because of the mistake she made. I had a feeling that it was going to be really hard for me to just get over all that. She almost drastically changed my past. I sighed. Let's just get this over with, Rainbow Dash. Maybe it won't be as bad as you think. I slowly turned towards Starlight and walked towards her. I think we both knew that I wasn't in a hurry to get in front of her. "Okay, look. I'm not going to be rude to you, but I don't know why Twilight wanted me to do this." I said, trying to be as nice as possible. "Yeah." She said sadly. And then there was silence. No one said anything either. And it felt like that silence lasted for hours. "I'm just gonna get this out there. I know you don't like me." She finally spoke up. I glanced at her. "How?" "Well, I know all too well how you were resisting coming in here when Twilight and Applejack were trying their hardest to get you to do it. The door wasn't exactly fully shut, you know." I thought back. She was right. It was cracked open. I suppose that was just enough for a pony to be able to hear through. "And I hope you know that you know that I'm not going to hurt or yell at you, and I just want to be a friend." I didn't feel the need to keep my distance from her so much anymore. And I wasn't talking to the same pony that took away my cutie mark several months ago either. To me, it felt like she had completely changed. "I understand that." I said. Maybe things have a way of working out after all. ------------------ "I'm so sorry for being late, but I-" Rarity shouted as she ran in as fast as possible. But then we all shushed her. "Geez. You all are a tough crowd this morning, aren't you?" She asked. I then pulled Rarity over to me with my magic, to which she panicked at. She was acting like she hadn't been around Alicorn magic before now. "Twilight! Why did you-" She shouted. "Shhhhhh! Rarity! Rainbow Dash is in there!" I don't know how to describe how I said that, but it was in between whispering and shouting. "Ohhh.... I almost forgot. Today was the day for Rainbow to talk to Starlight, no?" She asked. I nodded. "Thought so. I remember you saying that it would be best to save Rainbow for last. I'm just surprised she didn't put up a struggle." She said. Applejack scoffed. "You don't know the half of it, Rarity." She cringed. "Was it really that bad?" "It was." I said. And then there was a long stretch of silence. I mean, other than the conversation that was going on in the other room. But it was muffled at best because the door was closed. And then Pinkie fell off her chair and started laughing. She did this a lot, so I was pretty used to it by now. But there was still times when I wondered what goes on in that pony's head when she does stuff like that. And then she stopped laughing. I had a feeling that whatever she had been laughing about just now wasn't very funny anymore. And then Pinkie proceeded to crawl over to me and climbed up onto my chair and literally plopped down in the open space behind me, almost making me fall out of the chair myself. "Pinkie, why did you do that?!" I tried not to shout. But my patience was really being tested today. "I'm exhausted Twilight! It was a hard day yesterday! And now I'm bored!" Then she fell asleep. Guess I'm staying on the floor now. ------------- "Are they still out there?" I asked. Right now, Rainbow had her ear to the door trying to see if she could hear them. "A bit." She said. "Well I don't think that we have to be in here anymore. We've pretty much worked this out like she wanted us to." Rainbow Dash nodded, and then she knocked on the door with her hoof. "Are you two done yet?" I heard Twilight ask. "Yes, Twilight." Rainbow insisted. "Well if you're sure. I suppose I could open the door." Twilight still sounded unsure. "Just do it Twi. There's not enough space in here for me to fly around. Believe me, I tried." Rainbow said. I didn't think anything of it now. "Rainbow Dash, you really shouldn't be so careless with yourself. You could-" Rainbow just slammed herself again the door. "I don't have time for one of your lectures right now. Just let me outside right now!" That brought back memories. Bad memories. It made me remember my time back in the village, when I locked them up in that little room to force them into accepting equallity. And Rainbow Dash was pounding at the door like she just did. "Fine Rainbow. You're free." Twilight said, as she used ger magic to open the door. And the second that she did, Rainbow flew out of the Castle as fast as her wings could carry her. "She was really eager to get out of here, wasn't she?" I said, looking down at the floor. "There's no real reason to worry about Rainbow Dash. She's just being difficult. But I'm sure she'll come around real soon." Applejack said. I nodded. I didn't really feel like talking about this anymore. In fact, I thought I would have been much better off being alone.