Only a few months ago, Starlight finally rekindled her friendship with Sunburst, and despite promising to stay in touch, the planned letters never surfaced, by either. To this end, Twilight has brought Starlight back to the Crystal Empire, for little other reason than to make the two of them get closer - much closer - for a few days. But after learning from Sunburst of a new artifact discovered in the Empire that he is currently studying, Starlight is presented with a choice: with the power to rewrite the past entirely with little consequence, should one do it?
Manipulating the past can have drastic consequences, even if all intentions were for others' good...
Written for the short story compilation, Scattered Pages, a collaborative effort between multiple authors who volunteered for Ponyville Ciderfest 2023's writing team.
This makes perfect sense to me. The relic allowed one to change an event and its outcome... but the memory of what originally happened remains. So of course Starlight wouldn't be happy or at peace within this new Equestria she'd made by changing that singular event way back when. Because the memory of the true history would always be there however much she tried to ignore it. Plus Sunburst clearly remember what happened as well, so he'd be able to remind her just by the fact that he remembers too.
So... she made the right choice and undid what she did to put things back on the proper course; that alone shows she learned from her mistakes and wants to do better, to be better. And this time by talking honestly with Sunburst she got the beginnings of closure and the will to truly move on, as well as the hope that something she wanted could still be.
Four Hooves up from me!
It's an activity that requires fine control and careful manipulation, and the kite can only go as high or low as permitted by its owner. It's all about control.
Come to think of it, flying a kite is kinda like being a cult leader...
Hey, Sunburst has some decent magical chops if he's able to cast a 4th Level spell.
I bet he named it 'Spicy'.
For a moment, I thought it was because he was back in his childhood body. Imagine having to go through school and puberty again.
This was a fantastic read. Upvote!
11759178
I'm glad that you enjoyed it! Starlight's past and how she internalized her actions are always things that have been on my mind for her character: somepony who grew up with a father like hers and also doing the things she did in S5 would have definitely left behind some massive feelings of guilt that would have taken quite a while to get over. Granted, this happened in the show, but what's one more story to add to that journey, right?
11759199
Thanks for the comment and I'm glad that you enjoyed the story!
Who's to say that Sunburst didn't just sign a pact with some powerful creature to give him the ability to cast such a high level spell? If there are wizards and sorcerers in MLP, why not some warlocks, too? Tartarus is clearly just a stand-in for one or more dimensions of the Nine Hells, if you squint at it long enough.
It's ok Starlight, I would have done the same thing for that scruffy wizard
Great story! I love the character interactions and the 'what-if' scenario presented here, it looked happy but it didn't sit well with me. I was expecting the artifact to be sort of monkey's paw kind of deal and for everything good something equally terrible would happen, but I'll take Sunburst's stance of "no matter how perfect it is, this isn't our reality, therefore we can't stay here".
Also, you write Starlight and Sunburst so cutely,
I was right there with Spike screaming just kiss already!
Thumbs up and favorite!
11759621
Very pleased that you enjoyed the story! If I'm given an excuse to write Starlight and Sunburst, I always will take that opportunity.
Us StarBurst fans have to spread the word somehow, right?
11759644
YES WE HAVE TOOWow this was actually a pretty nice story and I'm taking this is during the time of the aftermath of season 6 premiere that Starlight Twilight and Spike are visiting the Crystal Empire she was also nervous meeting Sunburst again and Twilight did everything she could to encourage her but it just makes her nervous than ever but after that it looks like both Sunburst and starlight meet each other once again and it is very awkward but then sunburst told her that there is a couple of he's been doing including the page that supposed to alter past event which that's a pretty dang strong Magic and starlight was tempting to do it which she did and Sunburst follow her through the time and basically this is like the alternate timeline if Sunburst actually became a great wizard at not only that coming back home with all of his family are still together but as much as that is nice he has to find Starlight which it took him a few minutes but found her she tried to play around that she has no idea what he's talking about but she knows it and she really can't escape her past no matter what alternate timeline she is in but Sunburst wanted to help her get through this even you can't erase what you did you can still make a better future for yourself so they both decided to go back to the original timeline and throughout the day they hang out before Starlight Twilight and Spike character return back to a Ponyville and maybe someday they will see each other again again really nice story I really like it keep up the good work
11759178
"Wow! It's so wonderful the great wizard Sunburst cured my paralysis with his great magical research that he'd have never done if he was a insular failure!"
*timeline reset*
*back in wheel chair*
"This sucks."
11759702
Glad you enjoyed it!
11759772
The streams have crossed! Go back, go back!
11759644
Amen! These two dorks were made for each other!
Starlight should know the consequences of trying to change the past, especially after the whole time travel drama between her and Twilight.
11761128
Sometimes lessons need relearning, especially when presented with something speaks to a different part of one's flaws.