Chapter 22 - Mommy and Daddy Issues
“Here now, open wide,” Starlight said, levitating the spoon full of medicine.
Prism’s nose wrinkled, and she jerked her head to the side. “Uh-uh.”
“Oh, come on now! I thought we were over this by now. It’s the only way you can get better. Now turn and face me and open your mouth!”
Starlight’s hoof reached out and tried to guide the filly’s chin toward the spoon. Prism shook her head vigorously and threw her blanket over her head. “No!”
Starlight let out a low, frustrated growl. Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, followed by a shriek of laughter. “I got you, I got you, you’re it!” Sunshine shouted. She pounced on top of Moonlight, and the two of them rolled around on the floor in front of the doorway, laughing and screaming.
“Hey, hey, hey, no!” Starlight said. “I told you fillies, take your games outside in the living room! Go on now, go!”
Prism lowered the covers above her nose, and she watched as her sisters got up and closed the door behind them. Muffled sounds of laughter faded away as they ran off to play some more. Starlight looked down at the forlorn expression on Prism’s face. “You wouldn’t have to stay in bed and miss out if you took your medicine more.”
“But it’s not fair!” Prism complained, squirming beneath the covers. “It tastes awful. I’m not even that sick anyway!” She sniffed, turning and burying her face into her pillow.
“Well, I don’t know about that. Watery eyes, scratchy throat, stuffed up nose…and your forehead might as well be a little blue furnace. You sure seem sick to me.” She chuckled. “Isn’t that something? Whenever you try to get out of something you don’t want to do, you insist that you’re too sick. And when you really are too sick, you insist that you’re just fine.”
Prism said nothing.
“I’ll tell you what. If you take a mouthful of this, I’ll make you something delicious to eat.”
“Like what?”
“Whatever you want.”
Slowly, the covers slid down Prism’s face, revealing a small smile. “Mashed potatoes?”
Starlight grinned. “Perhaps that could be arranged…if somepony takes her medicine.”
Prism wasted no time. She sat straight up and opened wide, allowing Starlight to put the spoon in. She swallowed and smacked her lips twice before grimacing. “Blegh! Still nasty.” She paused and erupted in a fit of coughs.
Starlight eased her onto her back and pulled the covers up to her chin. “Nasty, but good for you.” She placed a hoof on her forehead. “Hm. Still warm, but at least it’s not as bad as yesterday, or the day before…. I think.”
She reached over to the bed side table and titled the medicine bottle upward. “He said it would do the trick,” she muttered under her breath. “I ought to go back down to that miserable market and demand a refund.”
Prism coughed three more times and groaned. “I hate being sick.”
“Everypony does, my starling,” Starlight replied distractedly. Lighting up her horn, she levitated a small wash rag and dipped it back down inside the bucket of water that sat beside the bed. Bringing it back out, she wrung the cloth and placed it across Prism’s sweaty forehead. “Everypony does.”
Prism sighed, lazily opening and closing her eyes. “Mama…can I ask you something?”
“Sweetie, I’d rest your voice for now. We don’t want your throat hurting any more than it already does.”
“You told us…about the birds and the bees,” Prism said, ignoring Starlight’s advice. “and about how a mommy and a daddy can make foals together.”
Starlight paused, eyeing her daughter strangely.
“And, well…you’re our mommy. So…we have to have a dad, right? And if we have a dad…where did he go? Why isn’t he here?”
Starlight stopped and stared down at Prism. Slowly, she sat back on the filly’s bed, biting her lip. The question clearly seemed to make her uncomfortable, but something told Prism that she wasn’t too awful startled about it. “Well, I suppose you’re old enough to know,” she said. Clearing her throat, Starlight started to speak slowly, carefully. “Prism…everypony and every creature has a mother and father. But not every mother and father are…fit for the role.”
Prism’s sweaty eyebrows knitted together.
“Uhh…okay, how about this. The ponies in Equestria…they all mean well. But no matter what, there will always be some type of flaw inside of them. And though it might be easy to forget, mommies and daddies are ponies too. Which means that they too have flaws.”
Prism blinked. “There was something wrong with daddy?”
“In a sense. I…fell in love with him, and we married. And soon afterward, we decided to have the six of you. But before all of you were born, he changed his mind…and he left.” She smiled sweetly, patting Prism’s cheek. “Your daddy has commitment issues. But you know what? We’re better off for it.”
“…oh.” Prism’s mouth puckered, and her brow furrowed. Starlight soaked the cloth several times and continued placing it across the filly’s head. After a while, Prism spoke up again. “I’d never leave you like that. Not ever. You’re the best mom in all Equestria.”
Starlight froze. Color rose in her cheeks, and the look on her face reminded Prism of Buttercup whenever she was being praised for something—surprised. Bashful. But that didn’t make much sense. Surely, her mother had to know how much she had done for them. Having six foals on her own must have been scary.
“Well, I feel that every mom should be equally great in what they do,” Starlight said lightheartedly, her blush fading. “But thank you very much, Prism.” She seemed to want to leave it at that, but a sudden smile broke onto her face. “I’d never leave your precious little face either!”
Prism squealed as Starlight tickled the nape of her neck. “Stop it, stop it! That part’s sensitive!”
“I know,” Starlight said wickedly.
“Moooooom!”
The torture lasted longer than she could possibly take. By the time Starlight finally pulled her hoof away, she was more exhausted than she was before. But it was a good kind of exhausted. Her small chest puffed up and down as she tried to catch her breath, tears of laughter staining her coat.
“No…fair,” she panted.
“All’s fair in love and tickles.” The two of them giggled.
Prism sighed as her eyelids drooped. “I’m tired.”
“Then sleep.” Starlight leaned forward to kiss her forehead, but Prism shook her head weakly.
“Mm-mm. You’ll get sick too.”
“Ohh, don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine.” She leaned in again and successfully planted a kiss. “Get some rest. I’ll have your mashed potatoes ready for you when you wake up.”
“Sounds good,” Prism murmured, her eyes already closed. She smiled as she felt Starlight’s hoof gently caress the side of her face.
“You’ll be alright soon,” Starlight whispered as the filly began to fall asleep. “I promise you.”
“LET ME OUT!” Rainbow Dash screamed, fighting violently against the straps securing her to the bed. “LET ME OUT OF HERE!”
“Take it easy, Miss Dash,” said a voice somewhere in the darkness. “Remember what we talked about? As soon as you calm down, we’ll be glad to take those restraints off you. Try and work with me here.”
“I said let me out!” Rainbow yelled. Her head thrashed from side to side, her multi-colored mane tossing over her face, into her eyes, and into her mouth. “You’ve got no right to keep me here!”
“We’re only making sure that you don’t hurt yourself or those around you,” the voice replied, infuriatingly calm. “You wouldn’t want to risk harming your friends, would you?”
“You’re a lot dumber than I thought if you think that I’d hurt them,” she growled back. “It’s not me you should be punishing!”
“But we’re not punishing you. We’re taking care of you.”
“Liar…liar! Why don’t you just admit it?”
“Admit what, Miss Dash?”
“You know what! This isn’t Ponyville Hospital. Not really. It’s all fake, all of it. It’s just another trick. Starlight, she conjured all this up. It’s all an illusion. She’s making us think that we’re in Ponyville!”
“Hmm. What makes you think that?”
Rainbow tried to bang her head on the headboard, but ended up hitting the pillow relentlessly. “Rainbow Dash…. Rainbow Dash.” The voice sighed as the pegasus continued to violently bang her head.
And then a distant sound of breaking glass split the air, followed by an ear-shattering scream. The voice let out a gasp, and from somewhere off in the distance, Rainbow could hear the creak of an opening door. She could see a small bit of light, but the actual door was far from her line of vision.
“Brick,” came a breathless new voice. “Somepony threw a brick.”
Urgent hooves made for the door, followed by a loud slam.
“Hey,” said Rainbow Dash. “Hey!”
Filled with fury, the pegasus kicked, thrashed and bucked against her restraints. It must have been hours or days later when she finally collapsed from sheer exhaustion.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
The familiar sound of a clock filled the room. Now that all was quiet, she could hear it more clearly.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Low voices conversed in the distance.
Tick, tock, Tick tock.
Maybe this was stage two of Starlight’s revenge. The first, spending eighteen years making them think that she was their mother, and she loved them.
The second, spending another eighteen years as her true self, and torturing them little by little. But Rainbow wouldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t be helpless this time. She wouldn’t fall for this illusion. As long as she stayed firm, the illusion would soon break, and she could rescue her friends.
They can’t be hurt again.
The darkness remained, blanketing her in an eternal state of stillness. The world fell away, then came back into view. Over and over again.
Fade. Return. Fade. Return.
And every time she came back, the sound was there to greet her.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
Fatigue rolled over her like a wave by the ocean. Sometimes, nearby voices would try to break through her haze, calling her back to them. Figures in the dark hovered over her, poking and prodding her with sharp instruments.
Others were more gentle...coaxing food into her mouth, and running a comb through her mane.
Rainbow Dash ignored all of it. Starlight could do anything she wanted to her. No matter what, she wouldn’t be fooled. Nothing could break her focus now. It would only be a matter of time before this little experiment would run dry.
Then she would be free.
She was almost home.
But the next time she surfaced, something happened. “I don’t care! I don’t care! I want to see her, now!”
That voice…where had she heard it before?
A deeper voice rose up in anger. “I told you, she’s nowhere near ready! She’s simply not stable; I can’t let— “
“Doctor,” came a third voice, also strangely recognizable. “Please. All we want is to see her face again, just once.”
“I know what this means to you both, but I’m sorry. She’s not herself, she isn’t—Hey, hey, hey, stop, you can’t go in--!”
There was a creak, then a loud bang. “Why in Equestria is it so dark in here?”
Her muscles went rigid.
“Rainbow?” A dark silhouette was already at her side, its breath tickling her cheek. “Oh, honey…it’s me. It’s me baby, it’s me!”
“Miss Whistle,” said the angry voice. “You can’t be in here!”
“Why the hell is she tied up? Undo these straps, now!”
“Miss Whistle, I told you—’’
“Rainbow Dash,” came a deep, choked voice. It came from the other side of her, causing the furs of the back of her neck to stand up. “Oh, my girl. My girl…”
No. No no no no no.
Out of all the dirty tricks, this was the cruelest. Now Starlight was making her hear her parent’s voices!
“Baby, what’s the matter?”
A hoof caressed the side of her face. “You’ll be alright soon,” Starlight whispered. “I promise.”
No. No.
She’ll never fall for it.
Never!
“NO!” she screamed, thrashing. “Get away from me! Don’t touch me!”
“Get them out of here!” the angry voice barked.
There was a scuffling of hooves, and the silhouettes clung to her. “No! Stop! She needs our help!”
“Ma’am, let’s go.”
“Hey, get your hooves off my wife! Hey, hey, get off me, get off! Rainbow!”
“Rainbow!” the feminine voice screamed, sobbing. “I love you. I love you! We’ll be right here, I promise!”
I promise.
Rainbow Dash threw her head back and screamed to the very top of her lungs, her throat raw and ragged.
“OUT!” yelled the angry voice.
There was a scuffle, and the anguished voices started to fade away, taking their cries and threats with them. “Doctor, the rest of the girls can hear her,” a new voice said as several shadows descended upon Rainbow, holding her down.
“Then have them all go downstairs to the Cafeteria,” the angry voice replied, now sounding tired. “They’re well enough to move about now. Besides…they shouldn’t see this.”
“It’s alright now,” said a calming voice above her. Something sharp poked her. “It’s alright.”
The world faded again.
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....................... wow..... just............... WOW.
9222825
Would you care to elaborate?
9222838
I didn't think you could make me hate this version of Starlight Glimmer more then I already did..... but congrats. You managed it.
9222840
Welp, she earned it pretty well, huh?
9222844
It's bad enough with what she did with the group but..... Rainbow just....... I want you to hurt her.
9222845
Dues are incoming. That's all I can reveal.
Eventually, Starlight Glimmer will be caught. She knows that she messed up badly. Equestria needed its heroes to stop the monsters. When she used a spell to change them and erase their memories,and raised them herself, lots of ponies and creatures died in the monster attacks. No matter where she hides, there will be ponies that will be after her.
After seeing what this disaster has done to Rainbow along with everyone else, there's really no question about it in my mind. This Starlight needs to be burned at the stake. It was already bad before but this just pushed it over the edge. She's a monster.
I can't wait to see what Starlight gets for this. Holy fuck, I love her as a character but goddamn. This really makes me hate her.
The most fitting way to end this, I feel, would be for the Mane Six to use the Elements on Starlight. Not to banish or petrify, but to reform. Once her moral compass is appropriately aligned, Starlight would suffer plenty in the form of remorse, and then her 'daughters' could teach her how to be a better pony.
Dang...I'm surprised at how far this is going. I'm really curious what exactly is happening to other ponies. I mean, Starlight's obviously influenced something here...this is an awesome story.
Poor Dashie....
Starlight must be destroyed!!
9222853
Next chapter soon. I hope
Sorry I just hate seeing Dashie like this.
"And then we'll take the violent path to the end.
In my mind, there's only one way this story CAN end."
What, are you going to kill off the mane 6?
Chapter and word dump, go!
Starlight deserves what's coming to her. It's hard to read my favorite pony being so broken by her actions. All this temporary insanity, it's heartbreaking.
9222927
That implies that what happened to Rainbow was even a remote possibility in her mind. Her actions had monstrous consequences, but none of those consequences were anything she wanted to happen. That’s pretty par for the course where Starlight is concerned, she doesn’t think about the negative consequences, only focuses on how much better things will be when she’s through. But looking over these last few chapters, truly getting to see the motherly side of her... I hate what she’s done, and she deserves to suffer for it, but... I can’t hate her. It’s far too tragic for everyone involved for me to feel any hate.
If the mane 6 die I'll be depressed for eternity
This is starting to get into Logan levels of depression.
I don’t think I can keep reading this it’s too depressing ...seeing my beloved Dashie like this. Plz give her a somewhat happy ending.
Poor rainbow
Wow just wow. It will take years of therapy to heal this. Rainbow Dash is completely broken and I doubt she will ever be able to resume even a fraction of the life she had lived before.
Writing checks that won't clear.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!
And the absolute psychological devastation Starlight has wrought continues. The worst thing about all of this is that she's so bad at actually being evil. She set out to create a private army, created a loving family instead, and now everyone is suffering for it.
I'm almost afraid that letting her murder Starlight will be the only way to cure Rainbow Dash.
9223042
Don't worry, that won't happen. Some things could be worse than their deaths, however...
9223236
Broke my heart too, writing it. Poor Dashie...
9223319
I can't reveal!
9223805
Are you okay?
I was so happy to see this update. This fic really tears me up inside, it's great. But I feel for Starlight, even with everything she did. I know it's pretty much impossible now but I wish there could be a happy ending for her. But her children are gone, this chapter especially shows that. I guess I'm like Fluttershy, I still care for Starlight too.
Sees "Daughters of Glimmer" update.
Yay
The chapter is over 10000 words.
... Well that's gonna take a while.
I'm betting on Starlight time-traveling back to stop herself from kidnapping the girls and put everything back in Canon.
Finally got caught up with the chapters, great work, I’m super excited for more to come!!!!!
9234452
I see that too. She's come to love them enough to set things back and I guess lose them anyways. For them.
9222944
Somehow I think there will be so many calls for blood that this won't happen, but I'll hang onto the hope...
Enthusiasm!!!
9356725
Let's hope it's not the last thing you do! I love your writing!
Any ideas on my other question?
9358308
Thanks!
I apologize, I can't seem to find that comment you made, mind repeating it?
9367257
I don't mind, here:
9368067
Ah, excellent question. I'm actually madly confused on how I didn't see it before
Well, Starlight is the same Starlight we left off with in the beginning of season 5. Some parents who don't celebrate certain holidays tend to opt out of them altogether and they usually have their children do the same. So if Starlight didn't like Hearth's Warming back then, I don't think her feelings would change when she became a "Mother". She loves them very much, but she runs a very strict household. So there's no celebration of any kind, aside from a very modest birthday meal.
As for the rest, that is a cute idea. I'll think about it more, but you'll definitely see more of their lives when the story progresses, which will be soon. I've written lots of paragraphs. Work has just been kicking my butt, so I haven't has as much time as I wanted. But the train will get moving soon
9377846
Well, I am almost certain that Starlight would teach her daughters in depth about mainstream pony holidays and festivals. If they didn't know about them, their peers would get suspicious.
I don't think Starlight would chance going through the motions of the festivals once for educational purposes, as the Glimmers could get too attached and ask to make them a yearly event.
Your mention of more life stories as we progress certainly has me excited for future chapters!
Hi, I really like the way you write, I look forward to the next chapters.
greetings from Mexico
I can’t really be the only one who sympathizes with Starlight. I know what she did was wrong, but I can’t help but feel bad for her.
I also keep picturing her doing what she did for a noble reason to make it feel better.
Does anyone here know if the story is still getting continued? i sadly noticed too late that the last update was in 2018.. now i am kinda sad that there is no ending to it yet. I hope the story wasn't dropped?
9958218
Preferably the latter but in all honesty I'm fine with the former. What Starlight did was horrible and I understand that, but I'm also a fan of bad endings and stories that have villains as the protagonist, but I do realize not everyone has those kinds of tastes. All it takes is one look at the like/ratio of my last comment to see that much.
When is the next chapter coming out? Or is this story dead
This is an interesting idea. Now how an au where starlight decides to raise the princesses by herself
I know it's been a long time But is this story going to Continue
...and I've caught up. Wow. I absolutely love it. The way the psyche of the six was portrayed felt so... real. Like it was canon at some point (then again, this is My Little Pony, but still). Can't wait to see what comes next, if this is still continuing? Regardless, this is one of the best that I've read. As much as it is painful and harsh to see the Mane 6 in their states, I like how things are turning out.
Hey just wondering, is this story still being worked on? This has been one of my favorite stories for a few years and I'd really like to know what happens next 🙂
I was just thinking about this fic again, it's one of my favorites in the fandom. Hope you're doing okay with whatever you're doing now Summer Dancer
This story is great!