One Bolt, Many Questions

by Boltsinger

When Sun and Stars Align

Starlight Glimmer made her way through the castle on a beautiful autumn morning. She was looking up at the ceiling, various thoughts swimming about in her head as she remembered a deal she had made with Boltsinger. He did make a move on Twilight… Aaaaaand it worked! But… that means… She let out an audible groan, hanging her head. How in the world am I going to do this?

“Morning, Starlight.” Boltsinger called out from behind. Starlight took a look behind herself, seeing nothing. She felt a hoof poking her back from above. “Up here.” She directed her gaze upward, giving a small scowl. Boltsinger was laughing in the air.

Starlight lit up her horn, encasing the Pegasus in her magic and placing him on the ground next to her. “Next time, just walk, please.” She continued walking, her expression still sour.

“Sorry.” He said with a laugh, catching up to her. She didn’t respond, facing ever-forward with the scowl of the century. “Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?”

Starlight sighed, her frown finally relenting. “Well… Kind of, I guess.” She told him. “You remember that deal we made?”

“That you would come to my haunted castle on Nightmare Night?” the stallion guessed.

“No… Before that.” the Unicorn corrected.

“Deals…” Boltsinger started, grasping his chin with his wing in contemplation. “I got nuthin’.” He shrugged, continuing on.

Starlight grew visibly frustrated. “Come on, you remember. It was about you and Twilight…?” The Pegasus strained, doing his best to remember, then blew a raspberry, hanging his head in defeat. Starlight shook, rising into the air with a face as red as Big Mac’s. “We agreed that if you made a move on Twilight, then I WOULD MAKE A MOVE ON SUNBURST!”

Boltsinger winced, feeling the full force of her comment as the words echoed through the halls. “Oh yeah… That…” He finally said. “But… You know, technically she’s the one that kissed me. All I did was say words.”

“Just ‘say words’?” Starlight repeated, her frustration growing. “From what Twilight told me, you practically poured your heart out! If that’s not ‘making a move’, I don’t know what is!” She stopped for a while, slowing her breathing back to normal. “And I… I don’t know if I can do that with Sunburst…”

“I’ll tell you what.” he started. “Why don’t we have some breakfast, and then we can come up with a plan when you’re not…” Starlight’s stomach rumbled. “Hungry.”

Starlight took a deep breath, finally regaining her calm. “That’s a good idea.” She started a trot down to the dining room. “I’m so hungry I could beat Pinkie in an eating contest!”

Boltsinger snickered, looking questionably at the mare. “I doubt that, but let’s eat anyway.”

---

“Wait, you made what kind of deal?” Spike asked as he placed the meal on the table. “I don’t quite understand…”

Twilight giggled as she floated her food onto her plate. “I’ll explain it to you later.” She cast a glance towards Starlight. “How come you never told me about your feelings for Sunburst?”

“Well, it wasn’t really important, so I figured I wouldn’t bother you with it!” Starlight told her.

“It wouldn’t be a bother.” Twilight corrected. “You can talk to me about anything. You know that.” She looked over at Boltsinger, resting her head on a foreleg. “So, what do you know about it?”

“Well, I only guessed it back when we were in the Crystal Empire at his house.” the stallion said, looking back. “You two were so engrossed in your conversation that the conversation just drifted into… well, that.”

“So, Starlight, how do you plan on ‘making your move’?” the Alicorn wondered, taking another look back at her student.

“Um… I have no idea.” She announced with a shrug. “I was hoping it could just… happen? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll ask around a bit.”

“Well, if you need any help, just ask.” Boltsinger stated, Twilight nodding in agreement. They finished their breakfast in relative peace, Starlight getting up with a sigh soon after and heading for the door.

---

Starlight made her way through a stunning gem-filled cave, looking longingly at her reflection in the facets of the beautiful rocks. She was on her way to see Maud, hoping some clear-headed conversation would help her forget about all this Sunburst business. She made her way deeper into the cave, coming out to a beautiful cavern that had been set up with all sorts of living arrangements, Maud wandering about in her typical slow fashion.

“Hi, Maud! How’re you doing this morning?” Starlight greeted, drawing the geologist’s attention.

Maud turned to her friend, blinking slowly. “... Hi, Starlight.” She replied, walking over to the visitor.

“Find any good rocks lately?” the Unicorn asked, leaning to look behind her.

Maud turned and walked over to a large pile of rocks. “... No. This is my day off.” She slowly sat on the pile, it forming into a seat below her.

“So, what do you do on your days off?” Starlight inquired, sitting on the floor across from her friend. “Got anything planned for today?”

“... I was planning on writing some poetry.”

“Great! Can I hear some?” Starlight requested. Maud got up and walked over to her desk, pulling a scroll out of the top drawer and placing it on the desk.

“... This one is about rocks.” She started. Starlight looked eagerly at her friend. Maud blinked. “They’re all about rocks…” Starlight’s smile lost some of its truth as Maud began her poem. The poems droned on for two hours, Starlight’s smile fading completely as the sixth poem came to a close. Maud looked up from her scroll, slowly blinking and cocking an eyebrow at her guest. “... What’s wrong?”

“What?! Nothing!” Starlight lied, swinging a hoof lightly in front of her. “There’s nothing wrong. I definitely wasn’t thinking about anypony and wondering how I was going to approach him!”

“...You mean Sunburst, don’t you?” the geologist guessed. Starlight sank into herself, giving a small nod. “... That’s something you should talk to him about. It’s really not complicated.”

Starlight gave the Earth Pony a hopeful look. “You think so?” Maud nodded, putting her scroll away. Starlight got up and trotted past the poet. “You’re the best, Maud! Thanks!” She broke into a canter, heading back up to the surface.

---

Behind the Castle of Friendship, a familiar wagon was parked. Inside, a familiar voice was grumbling.

“Those darn salesponies getting new acts after just a few months!” It said, the sound of things falling all over the place evident as Starlight trotted by. “I’ll get them back for this! No one trades up from the Grrrreat and Powerful Trrrixie and gets away with it!”

Starlight stopped, looking back at the wagon. “Trixie?” She started, moving up next to the door. “You’re back from Las Pegasus? What happened?”

Trixie poked her head out of the opening. “Those blasted swindlers ‘traded up’ to some big glamorous magic act and fired me!” She explained. “They went on about how ‘demanding’ and ‘overbearing’ I was! They didn’t even realize what a talent they had!”

Starlight softened, putting a hoof on the illusionist’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.” She started. “I’m sure you’ll get another big break, though. Those two don’t know what they’re missing!”

Trixie let out a sigh, putting her hoof on her best friend’s foreleg. “Thanks.” She said, calming down. She opened up the bottom of the door, coming out to join Starlight. “So where are you going?”

Starlight smiled, her cheeks giving away a hint of her emotions. “I’m going to go write a letter to Sunburst.” She informed her. “Gotta tell him something I’ve been meaning to for a while…”

Trixie leaned in. “Really? You mean you’re finally going to--” she gasped, shaking her head. “Through a letter? Absolutely not! You have to do something much more amazing. Something show-stopping!”

“Are you sure? I dunno if Sunburst would really want something that grand.” Starlight wondered. “I know he likes stage magic, but… I’m not sure…”

“Trust me, Starlight. Have I ever led you astray?” Trixie leaned in close, emphasizing her question. Starlight gave Trixie a blank look, remembering Trixie’s many screw-ups. “Recently. Have I ever led you astray recently?”

“Well--” Starlight began, getting cut off as Trixie wrapped her foreleg around her best friend and dashing away.

“Pack your things! You and I are going to the Crystal Empire!” Trixie announced, shoving Starlight into the door of the castle and slamming the door between them. Starlight could hear some excited laughter going back towards the back of the building, then let out a sigh as she made her way to her room.

---

Starlight and Trixie were on the Friendship Express, making their way to the Crystal Empire. All the while, Trixie was working on some kind of spectacular romantic plan for Starlight to show to Sunburst. She listened to her friend, but in the back of her mind, she looked at the approaching empire, seeing a familiar orange and blue streak flying towards it as the train puttered on.

“Are you ready to give Sunburst a day he’ll never forget?” Trixie asked excitedly, pulling Starlight’s attention away from the window.

“Uh… Sure.” Starlight responded. “What’s your plan?”

“Well, it’s not so much a show as it is an ‘experience’.” She explained. “I’m going to send you two on your own personal adventure!”

The two got off of the train, Trixie pulling her wagon behind her as they walked. Trixie made various stops along the way, utterly enraptured by the majesty of the place. Starlight would stop sometimes and explain the things she saw or try to talk her out of an impulse buy. Her thoughts always drifted to the task at hand, wondering what exactly the magician had planned, and why it made her so nervous.

As they approached Sunburst’s house, Starlight stopped for a moment. This was it. Today, she was going to make her move. She looked around the area to see if she could find any possible reason to delay this fated meeting. There was nothing new or interesting, save for some cracks in the ground that weren’t there last time. Letting out a sigh of defeat, she walked over to the door, tapping it a few times.

“Coming!” Sunburst called from inside. “This is the second visitor I’ve had toda--” He cut himself off as he opened the door, seeing Starlight and Trixie. “Oh! Hey, Starlight! Hi, Trixie.” He waved to each of them. “What… brings you here?”

“Oh, we... just... felt like paying you a visit!” Starlight told him, scratching her mane and blushing. “No other reason, really!”

A familiar stallion’s head peered out the door from the side. “You sure that’s the reason?” He asked, his face flat with a cocked eyebrow.

“Boltsinger? What are you doing here?” Starlight asked, taken aback by his presence. He stepped forward, revealing his rigid wings and crackling Cutie Mark. “Oh. That. But… you were in Ponyville just this morning! Doesn’t it normally take you longer to get somewhere?”

“Rainbow’s training paid off. Either of you have something I can help with?” Boltsinger inquired. “Sunburst doesn’t have anything I can do right now, but if you two have plans, then there’s probably something you need me for.”

“Actually, I think I have a use for you!” Trixie exclaimed, pulling the Pegasus aside. She started whispering in his ear. His eyes widened with dilated pupils. He leaned in as the blue Unicorn elaborated.

“Seems… a bit excessive, but I see where you’re going. I’ll pitch in.” Boltsinger confirmed.

Trixie beamed, pushing Starlight towards Sunburst. “You two catch up. Bolt and I have some plans. And, Starlight?”

“Yeah?”

“Make sure you head out in…” She looked back at Boltsinger. “How long?” He whispered into her ear. “Two hours!”

“Ooooookay... “ Starlight replied, she turned to Sunburst, where the two sat and pulled down some magic books, the door closing as Boltsinger and Trixie went off in the direction of the main city.

---

After some magic discussion, Starlight and Sunburst left the house, as per Trixie’s suggestion. Everything seemed normal, save for the massive group of Crystal Ponies eyeing them as they made their way. They seemed to be guiding them along to a specific location.

“Starlight, do you have any idea what’s going on?” Sunburst wondered, taking a look at all of the creepily smiling ponies. “Everypony is acting… strange.”

“I don’t know…” Starlight told him. “I think I have an idea, but… This is just weird.”

The two continued along the strange path of ponies, coming to a gazebo with a picnic laid out under it. The ponies around had cleared out, leaving the area totally secluded. Starlight turned to Sunburst, shrugging as she took a seat on the blanket and patted the spot next to her with her foreleg. Sunburst looked around, confused, but relented. He happily took a seat with her.

“It does look like a delicious spread.” He stated, reaching for some of the food before them. “But… why is this even here?”

In that moment, magical fireworks began going off around them as a song began to play from behind a wall of magical smoke. Flowers bloomed around them, several voices joined in.

“Is this…?” Sunburst began.

“Trixie? Yeah. I think Boltsinger is the one doing the singing here.” She listened carefully to the music. “Yeah, about… five of those voices are just him. Wasn’t expecting Trixie to be part of the song, though.” She let out a laugh, Sunburst joining in. They continued their meal as the song played, often taking glances at one another, but denying it once the other caught on.

“Why is Trixie doing this?” the crystaller asked, taking a bite of a sandwich.

“She has some idea in her head that I need to do something really grand to tell you something really important.” Starlight blurted out. Her pupils shrank as she caught herself, raising her front hooves to cover her mouth.

“Something important?” Sunburst repeated. “What is it?”

“Nothing! It’s nothing! Did I say it was important? No… It’s not important in the slightest!” Starlight rambled on.

Sunburst chuckled, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Starlight, calm down. It’s alright. You don’t have to say anything.”

Starlight looked into her friend’s warm eyes, her breaths slowing as she calmed back down. “Right… Thanks.” She scooted closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. The song continued into a section of pure accompaniment as a little breeze moved in next to Starlight’s ear.

“Starlight, you look like a nervous wreck.” Boltsinger’s voice came from the breeze. “Before things can get… out of hoof… I want to let you in on a little secret.” Starlight directed her eyes towards the source of the breeze, more than a little intrigued. “You’re not the only one I’ve talked to about your relationship. Before the Gala, I talked a little with Sunburst about it, too. He said, and I quote, that he would ‘take any chance to be with you’. I’m certain that if you just tell him, you’ll be fine.” The breeze faded as Starlight turned her full attention back to Sunburst.

As the song ended, the mist went away along with the magical flowers. And Starlight and Sunburst looked at each other awkwardly.

“Well that was… weird.” Sunburst said. “What on earth was Trixie trying to do?”

“Um… Well, the thing is…” Starlight started. She looked around to see Trixie looking hopefully at them, Boltsinger nowhere in sight. “Come with me. I don’t think I can… do this in front of anypony else.” She lit up her horn, her magic teleporting them back to Sunburst’s abode.

“Okay… What do you need to do?” the cloaked pony asked, tilting his head.

Starlight closed all of the windows in the house with her magic, making sure nopony could see what was about to go down. “I’m not quite ready yet. Just give me one more minute!” She floated a number of books over along with a quill and parchment, looking between all of them and writing furiously. “Okay… This should work...“ Her horn shone brightly, a magical force spiraling around the two, making them appear in a black space and standing on the image of a rapidly beating heart. “This is… This is a space where I can’t not be totally honest with you.”

“So, you have to tell me whatever is on your mind?” Sunburst inquired. Starlight gave a shy nod. “Okay, then, what is on your mind?”

Starlight sat down, holding her tail with her forelegs. “Well… You see…” The blackness around them shifted to an image of Sunburst in a flattering pose, hearts making up the majority of the background. The bespectacled stallion looked at the image with his mouth agape, directing his attention back at Starlight, gulping. “You are what’s on my mind…”

“Wow.” Sunburst responded, dumbfounded. “Starlight… I-I don’t know what to say... “

“I understand if you’re weirded out by all this…” she continued. “But I’ve been wanting to tell you this for such a long time, and… and…”

“I love you, too, Starlight.” he interjected. “I have for a long time.”

Starlight looked up from her tail, seeing Sunburst’s inviting eyes. “Wait… really?”

“Starlight, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had!” he exclaimed, spreading his forelegs. “Getting to meet you again after so many years, my whole life changed for the better. I’ve always known I had you to thank for that, and I even got my best friend back, to boot!” He lifted Starlight’s chin with a hoof. “And being with you always makes me feel complete. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

Starlight’s eyes grew wide, a certain glimmer present as she rose to her hooves. She lunged forward, pressing her mouth up against Sunburst’s as the spell faded, the room turning back to normal. Boltsinger and Trixie were standing in the living room, looking at the Unicorns laying on the floor with smug smirks on their muzzles.

Boltsinger turned to Trixie. “I told you your little plan was excessive. But, whatever works, right?” His wings and Cutie Mark returned to normal.

“Please, if I didn’t do something grand for her, what kind of friend would I be?” Trixie retorted. “Certainly not her Grrrreat and Powerful best friend!”

“You’ve got me there.” Boltsinger replied.

Starlight and Sunburst separated, standing and looking at the observers with the brightest blush either of them had ever seen. “Well, Bolt… I finally held up my part of the deal.”

Sunburst gave them a confused look. “Deal?”

Boltsinger and Starlight laughed as the mare booped the wizard on the horn. “I’ll explain it to you later.” she let him know. “You two can go ahead and go back to Ponyville. We’ve got some… things to take care of.”

Boltsinger nodded happily and turned to leave. Trixie lingered a little, giving Starlight a sly wink as she loosed a smoke bomb, disappearing from sight as the new couple turned to face one another with a smile.

Author's Note:

So, for the song that played during the fancy picnic... Or, the picnic in general, I dunno how "fancy" it really is... Anyway, the scene in general is a reference to the musical number of "Kiss The Girl" in Disney's Little Mermaid. You can pretty much put that song in that place, and you'll have what I was thinking of. Sadly, the lyrics escape me and I didn't want anything like that to get in the way of the core of the scene. Sorry this chapter was a bit slower than the others. But the next one is already started, and will be on its way before too long! Enjoy!