Twilight and Spike walked out of the Canterlot Public University. It was a bright sunny day as usual, birds were singing a natural chorus. It was a gentle hum in the background. The sun happily donating its rays to the denizens of Canterlot. It sat proud and happy up in the cloud scattered sky, leaving in it's wake a city of cobble and brick.Thousands of ponies moved about, from a wide array of classes. Since Canterlot had such a central position in Equestria, it was the biggest and most profitable trading hub in the entire country. The two ponies were out in the outskirts of the city , walking away from the distant university overlooking the capital. It was peaceful and quiet compared to busy city below. Only the passing teacher with a flock of students came around in the tranquil area.
“So you think the speech was fine?” Twilight asked, nervousness apparent in her voice. It was important to her this time on a personal level. She was going to be giving that speech to fillies and explaining what friendship was to her. It was something she wished herself could have heard when she was younger...
“Oh yeah, you killed it! Not like…actually killed them…like…in a good way!” Spike reassured in his clumsy way. He was happy just to help his favorite mare as always. Though, he didn't understand why Twilight was so concerned about this speech being so perfect. He chalked it up to
just her being a perfectionist as usual.
The purple princess was wearing her formal wear, studded crown, golden bracers, mane with the official princess curl on her neck. Spike was just his dumpy fat little baby self.
“Well. Maybe you’re right…maybe I’m just over thinking it.” Twilight sighed, stopping her trot.
The gardens outside of the university were lavishly adorned with plants and trees given from various donators in Equestria. Mostly for grant money, but it made for an excellent garden. Pleasant daises danced gently in the breeze while lilies shed their beautiful white petals down in an easy fall. Autumn was coming, but it was distant, Summer still had dominance. But there was a chill in the warm air...
“Yeah you are. Just relax.” Spike nodded. “It won’t be that be-“
Predictably as all peaceful walks are they were only temporary, as Starlight Glimmer stood before them on the path.
“Starlight!” Twilight gasped, breaking her train of thought as she flared her wings and readied her horn for a spell. Spike nearly fell back on his rear from the shock.
Starlight simply smiled, looking cocky as ever. “Hello Twilight.”
“What are you doing here!?”
“Just passing by. To watch your destruction of course.”
Twilight narrowed her eyes, turning serious. “Destruction? What are you planning…?”
Starlight gave a toothy grin. “I won’t tell. Of course.”
Twilight already considered blasting her or getting the elements together at this point. “What are you planning? Why did you come here!?” She had a million questions to ask.
Starlight just…stood there. Like she knew something, like she already had won and Twilight could do nothing about it.
“W-what’s going on?” Spike gulped, a bit worried. He could feel the uneasiness in the air. And was obviously very disturbed at their enemy's sudden arrival.
“Oh. Just wait and see.” Starlight answered his question. “It’ll happen soon.”
“What will happen!?” Twilight was getting sick and tired of asking questions already. They had just started this walk and this happens!?
“It.” Starlight replied smugly, purposefully being vague.
Twilight gritted her teeth in frustration. Not knowing things was a pet peeve of hers.
“See you soon Twilight.” Starlight smiled one last smug smile, and casually began to trot away.
“What!? WHAT!?” Twilight huffed. Her powerful wings shot her off as she chased after the unicorn, landing in front of her.
“What the hay are you doing!? What are you talking about! I want answers!” Twilight cried. Her face flushed with anger.
“I’m sure you do.” Starlight replied simply, walking right by her.
Twilight groaned, stomping on the ground with a hoof. She quickly sped up again, landing in front and having no intention of simply letting her pass by. Spike was having trouble keeping up with his stubby legs.
“I said... I want answers!” Twilight repeated again, about to boil over with rage. The audacity of this mare to simply arrive and threaten herself and her best friend Spike was beyond frustrating.
“Twilight. It would spoil everything. I’m not saying a word.” Starlight explained, although that just left more questions than answers.
“Is this part of some plan? What are you trying here!?”
“Haven’t you realized all of your questions aren’t really getting answers?” Another pleased grin, and she walked right by yet again.
Twilight was befuddled to put it simply. Her brain was trying desperately to rack Starlight’s mind, getting whatever motive she could have had here. Spike finally caught up, wheezing, out of breath.
“Twilight what’s going on!? What is she doing!?”
“I don’t know…and asking is getting nowhere.” Twilight said in a low serious voice, watching Starlight hum to herself as she walked down the road, heading back into Canterlot.
“Well…should we…do something!? Even if she’s…not really doing anything?” Spike suggested.
Twilight re-framed herself, taking a breath to calm herself down. She used that move Cadence taught her a while back. “Maybe…we should just follow her.”
“Well wait!? What if it’s a trap!? Why don’t we just call the guard!?”
“She hasn’t done anything…yet”
“But she like…controlled a whole town of ponies and tried to steal your cutie mark!”
Twilight was about to respond, but Starlight was about to walk out of sight. Twilight was too worried to leave her alone for even a moment. “No time!” Twilight shouted, grabbing Spike in magic and quickly shoving him on her back. She took off in an instant, going in a speed that would make Rainbow proud. It was against her nature to be so rash, but the moment demanded it and the princess saw no other alternative at the moment.
-----------------
Starlight happily trotted through the cobble streets of Canterlot. She cheated a little, sadly. When she saw Twilight rushing at that speed she knew she’d spoil the fun, so she teleported. It wasn’t planned, but just a minor hiccup. The real show was about to begin.
The vendors were out and about, reaching for any curious pony to offer wares, some useful, some just worthless trinkets designed to swindle money. Thousands of voices at once rung out during the busy rush of city life. It was impossible to keep up with it all, ponies of shapes and sizes all meeting in a singular place for just as many different reasons. Not even ponies, the occasional griffon, the passing bison, and the journeying zebra could all be seen throughout. It was hectic and loud to say the least.
Starlight knew where she’d go, her favorite little store. A quaint little kiosk being ran by a feeble old unicorn that had always ran the dumpy little vendor. It was out of place and out of time as well really. An old style stall that’d be common in small towns like Ponyville but was completely out of touch in the well organized, brightly lit, and ornately decorated stores and shops. Young bright faces selling the hottest merchandise, the newest in fashion, and the most exotic foods. And there in the middle of these two shops, was a smelly old stand with an old fart that probably should be in bed sleeping.
Starlight loved it.
“Oh hello missy. Been a while since you came here.” The friendly old mare said. She was a gray old mare with matted fur and messy brown hair, which was falling out. Some had fallen into the small pies she was offering…
“It’s always nice to see you Dough.” Starlight responded with a genuine smile. She laid her hooves on the table and took a seat on a creaky old stool. She felt like it could collapse from her weight at any moment.
“Nice to see you too Glim.” Dough smiled back. “Want another one of my special pecan pies?”
Starlight knew her from her old days as a student here. Her food was terrible, the mare smelled, and she had the bits for a much nicer place. But today, the day of her revenge. She wanted a quaint little meeting of nostalgia…to remind her of why she was doing this in the first place.
“You know it.” Starlight replied with a smile, forking over the bits from her pack.
Dough went under the table for a moment, coming out with a sweet smelling pie, contrasting greatly with the old mare smell.
“Four bits still right?” Starlight asked.
“You still remember!” The mare laughed. “Ah can’t charge ya…I’m closing today…”
Starlight blinked in surprise. “Really? That’s awful Dough…”
“Oh it’s been…enough time really. I mean. Been goin here for fifteen years or so…and I think I might be finally getting old…” The mare chuckled, she was missing some teeth.
“That’s funny you choose today. It’s a real special day today.”
“Is that plan you mentioned…is it today?” Dough asked.
Starlight simply nods with a somewhat…pained look. The thought of what she was about to do soured her good mood.
“It’ll be okay really. She won’t have any response to this…” Dough smiled, petting her hoof.
“Yeah…I know…”
Speaking of the devil. The entire circus of commerce and dialog was cut short when a speeding purple bullet with a tiny green spot sped through the plaza, aiming for one mare in particular.
“Hope the spell works…” Starlight said, before returning to her usual cocky smile. Time to put on a show.
Twilight landed in front of the small old stall, rather a bit peeved.
“What…the…hay are you DOING TO ME!?” Twilight shouted. She had been chasing her ever since Starlight arrived at the university. The university was a few miles away from Canterlot, and she had flown the entire distance. Sweat dripped off her, like the anger she was feeling.
Starlight simply munched on her sweet tasting pie.
“ANSWER ME!” Twilight shouted, her face flustered red with anger. Spike was starting to get worried. Most of the commerce merry go round had already started turning their heads and going back to talking. It was just Princess Twilight being weird again.
“You can’t really stop me…might as well not try.” Starlight munched smugly.
Twilight was already done with asking questions. Now she was demanding. “Tell me why I shouldn’t just throw you in jail right now…”
Starlight made sure the crowd had stopped paying attention before continuing…
“I have a pretty good trump card. Trust me. If you try and push me in any way, you’re going to lose, not just the fight, but everything.” Starlight told her.
“You’re bluffing aren’t you? This is just one big bluff right!?” Twilight pointed an accusatory hoof at her.
“Try it and see…” Starlight smiled, speaking in a low voice.
Twilight stomped again, heaving and seething. But until she knew what Starlight had up her sleeve, she couldn’t make a move out of fear. Twilight hated the fear of the unknown, she never not knowed! And when she didn’t know she had to know! Why wasn’t Starlight letting her know!
But Starlight knew… She took another casual bite of her pecan pie. The old mare at the stall had left just right after, as per her orders from Glimmer.
Twilight sighed. “Okay…okay Starlight…what do you want?”
“Nothing I’m not already getting.” Both mares were oblivious to the outside hustle and bustle; all Twilight could hear was the sound of Starlight eating and Spike’s nervous nail biting. He was too afraid to say anything, Twilight was really freaking him out. More than Glimmer.
“Whatever this is…it’s not gonna work…” Twilight spoke flatly, having enough of these games. She wasn’t falling for whatever this was.
“So just give up…and let’s just…put this behind us…maybe even be friends…” Twilight had been getting more optimistic and hopeful after her ascension to princesshood.
“You won’t have many friends when this is over…really it’s you who should be giving up.”
A tiny prick of icy fear shot through Twilight's heart.
“Hey! You…you leave them out of this!” The purple princess huffed.
“Oh. Don’t worry. I don’t need to do anything to them.” Starlight was almost done with her pie.
Twilight was getting worried. What Starlight knew was…dangerous. It had to be something severe. A powerful ancient spell, an old relic that gave her immense power, the changelings had allied with her! Her mind was racing frantically to every worst possible conclusion, no matter how far off or silly it could be. Her wings shuffled nervously, her eyes were erratic and frantic, her hooves wouldn't stay still. If she didn’t do something now all of her friends would be gone!
Starlight finished her pie, suppressing a burp. "Excuse me."
“Please! Just…tell me! I…I can’t take this!” Twilight cried out, getting very unnerved with Starlight's ease at her assured destruction. Spike took note, and saw that she needed help. He decided it was finally time to speak up and put an end to this crazy show.
“Twilight relax! It’s go-“Spike was cut off suddenly and abruptly.
Twilight turned around in an instant, Spike was clutching at his neck, clawing for dear breath. He was being choked, something was crushing his windpipe. The tiny dragon cried and gasped for any air he could, but the magical force was intent on killing him.
Starlight sat there, pointing at Spike. No magic coming from her horn, no magic surrounded Spike’s neck. All of this was so silent, other than Spike’s desperate wheezes. Twilight was completely horrified.
“S-stop that! Stop that now!” Twilight shouted. Her own magic searching for the mysterious force, finding nothing…she saw nothing…she knew nothing. She tried to touch the aura, trying to pull it away, and simply grabbed at air. Spike was crying, his feet kicking out. Starlight simply stayed there with her hoof raised, a pained grimace on her face.
“STOP! I AM WARNING YOU!” Twilight shouted, her magic growing fouler, her anger boiling, her fear wrenching at her. She was losing focus, beginning to go on impulse. Starlight looked worried…but didn’t stop. Spike continued, his face getting red. He needed Twilight’s help.
Twilight kept thinking of something. She aimed a spell at Glimmer, attempting to knock her focus off of Spike. It simply rebounded off a light blue shield that at least, was from Glimmer’s magic. She could protect herself easily; Twilight could only break it with powerful magic.
“P-please! Please stop this! I don’t know what you’re doing but stop!” Twilight was begging now, her mind searching her brain for any way out.
Starlight remained unphased, twisting her hoof as if to choke him more.
Spike was beginning to go limp, his eyes were losing focus. Twilight looked back and forth frantically. Trying to find some way, trying to think of something! She knew everything! Why didn’t she know this!? Why couldn’t she help her best friend!?
But she did have one way.
Twilight narrowed her eyes at Starlight’s form, her face twisting with rage, her eyes wet with tears and shouted. A terribly powerful blast of magic emitted from her. It let out a roar of energy as it was cast, blowing forward with tremendous and terrible power, twisting and radiating with shards of magic, heading right for Glimmer.
The entire crowd saw that terrible beam of magic blasting through Glimmer’s shield, destroying both her and the stand in a loud blast of destruction, the entire area going up in smoke and dust.
Spike dropped to the ground with a wheeze, gasping and greedily sucking up air for his deprived lungs. Twilight looked on at the destruction in tears, the powerful magic on her horn quietly fading away in a feeble spark.
Starlight Glimmer was dead, and the whole world saw it.