> Starlight's Saga
>  by Inky Scrolls
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Blue: The Note
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starlight Glimmer, student and friend of Princess Twilight, and official Guidance Counsellor at the Ponyville School of Friendship, was jolted suddenly awake from her doze. She glanced around, trying to work out what had awoken her; the answer came in the form of her desktop clock, which was merrily chiming away the bells of noon. A present from Twilight, the clock was displayed prominently to the side of her desk; privately, Starlight found the ticking just a little loud when she was trying to do the crossword in the Canterlot Herald, but hadn't the heart to disappoint her friend by telling her so.

Yawning widely, she arose from her seat and stretched, arching her back until she felt her vertebrae clicking back into place. She trotted slowly over to the window, taking in the frozen, snow-covered scene, before walking back to her desk. She put her pens neatly to the side, grasped an untidily written note and a carrier bag with her magic, and left her office for lunch, shutting the door and turning the sign thereon so that it read "Gone for lunch - back at 1pm". Truth be told, Starlight found she didn't have much appetite, and in fact hadn't done so for some time. Sitting around for hours at a stretch with nothing more strenuous to accomplish than the short walk to and from the loo was not, after all, conducive to a hearty desire for sustenance.

Nevertheless, she plodded along the carpeted corridors on her way to the luncheon hall out of habit. Upon entering the large chamber, Starlight wended through the reams of shouting, playful students raucously enjoying their meals, and made her way to the staff table at the end of the room. Her friends Fluttershy and Rarity were there before her, and as she arrived she was greeted by a familiar magenta whirlwind, as Pinkie Pie zoomed over to join them.

"Hey guys!" The party pony's cheery voice broke through the hubbub. "How ya doing?"

"Hello everyone." Starlight returned the question more calmly. "Fine thanks Pinkie. How are you all doing?"

"I'm very well, thank you darling," Rarity announced, as Fluttershy smiled warmly in reply. "We were just wondering where everyone else was. And now you two are here, that just leaves Twilight, Rainbow and Applejack. One can assume that Twilight is studying so hard she has forgotten lunch, as usual, but what about the others?"

"Oh, that's easy", Pinkie burst in. "They're eating outside today!"

Rarity was shocked. "Outside? In this weather? They'll catch their deaths of cold! Whyever have they decided to eat outside, Pinkie dear?"

She received a shrug in reply. "I dunno! Maybe for a dare or something. You know what those two are like when they get going!"

"Oh, I do hope they'll be alright", Fluttershy murmured.

"I'm sure they'll be fine", Rarity reasoned, half to herself; "after all, they're both used to working outside in all weathers."

Not entirely satisfied but not wanting to create a fuss, Fluttershy carried on quietly eating her meal - lettuce, tomatoes and carrots. Next to her, Pinkie Pie was downing cakes, chocolates, sweets, muffins and all manner of assorted sugar-filled sweetaries, with never a thought as to what her poor teeth may be going through. Rarity took a few dainty nibbles of a cucumber sandwich, washing it down with a cup of freshly brewed lapsang souchong.

Thus far Starlight had added very little to the conversation, and had yet to remove her packed lunch from its bag; she was instead simply staring into space, eyes slightly narrowed as though thinking very deeply about something. She was brought back to the present with a start when Rarity coughed politely and asked, "Is everything alright, darling? You seem very quiet."

Starlight blinked, and let out a deep breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "Oh, yes, fine thank you. I was just thinking."

Her alabaster-coated friend tilted her head slightly to one side. "Is it anything I can help you with? You know you can always come to me anytime about anything that's bothering you."

Starlight shook her head briefly. "No, no I'm fine. Although, having said that, you might be able to understand this." So saying, she took out the note she had picked up from her desk earlier, now slightly crumpled, and laid it flat upon the table. "I found this note on my desk earlier. There was no envelope and, as you'll see, there's no name on it anywhere, nothing at all to give away whom it's from. I confess I'm not sure how best to proceed. . . but if you have any ideas, please let me know."

As the pink and purple mare finished her explanation, Rarity turned her attention to the note. It was on a small sheet of unlined paper with tears down one side, perhaps torn from a blank notepad. It was more than a little ruffled, and the ink had run slightly where the words had somehow had water dripped on them, but remained readable nonetheless. Fishing with her magic inside the pockets of her genteel-looking saddlebag for her reading glasses, Rarity put them on and began to read aloud:

"Hello. I don't want to disturb you, but I would like some advice. I feel strange - everything feels sort of grey, and cold. I don't laugh or smile like I used to. I don't find things funny or enjoy being with other ponies anymore. I want to tell my friends this but I'm afraid they'll think I don't like them anymore, and then they'll stop wanting to be friends with me. And I'm worried that maybe I'm just making all of this up, and these feelings are all in my head, and that maybe I don't deserve your help. I'm sure there are more deserving ponies than me that you could be helping. But I feel so alone, so lonely, even though I know I'm not. And I thought that maybe you could help. Please tell me what to do. Thank you."

Rarity didn't say anything for almost a minute after she finished reading the message, her brows furrowed in thought. At the other end of the table, Pinkie Pie was regaling Fluttershy with her account of the time she'd been stuck in a lift with nought but a pencil, three cats and a hurdy-gurdy; from the nearby window could be heard the laughing of Applejack and Rainbow Dash in the middle of an intense hoof-wrestle; and all around continued the contented bustle of a school at lunch. No-one else had heard the letter being read. At last, Rarity spoke.

"Why do you think the pony who wrote this decided not to speak to you directly?", she asked. "After all, pretty much everyone here knows you're not exactly rushed off your hooves, so 'disturbing you' is hardly likely to be their primary concern."

Starlight blinked a few times before replying. "Er. . . maybe they were afraid of making a fuss over nothing?"

Rarity shook her head in disagreement. "No, darling, I'm sure that's not it. If they felt the need to write a note, then they're obviously not worrying about nothing. . . but maybe they felt embarrassed. Or perhaps they were afraid of the reaction if they were to speak about their problems directly. What do you think?"

"Hmm."

Rarity looked around. Fluttershy was still listening politely to Pinkie's absurd story - which by now was reaching its thrilling climax - and no-one else in the room was paying her or Starlight any attention. She coughed politely again. "Do you mind if we discuss this elsewhere, darling? Perhaps in your office? The cafeteria at lunchtime is hardly the most ideal place in the world for a private tête-à-tête." So saying, the Element of Generosity stood up, pulverised an minuscule, imaginary breadcrumb from the table with her magic, and stood patiently while Starlight slowly got up from the table to join her. Then the two mares trotted in companionable silence back to the Guidance Counsellor's room.

Upon arrival, Starlight held the heavy carved-oaken door open for Rarity as she walked inside, before shutting it to again after following her in. Spurning the officious-looking, straight-backed wooden chairs by the desk, Rarity went instead to a comfortable divan situated close to the heavily be-curtained bay window on the far side of the room. She motioned for Starlight to sit down on the divan, whilst she herself pulled forward a cushioned chair.

Starlight, looking slightly confused at the seating arrangements, began to protest. "This is very nice, Rarity, but shouldn't we sit over by my desk? I've got all the students and staff on file, we could go through them and try to work out who the note is from. Or we cou-"

Rarity cut her off softly by holding a gentle forehoof to Starlight's lips. She gave a small, sad smile, and blinked calmly. The she looked directly into her friend's eyes and murmured: "You know why the pony hasn't spoken to you directly, don't you? And I think I do too."

Starlight's eyes oped wide, and she made as if to argue to the contrary, but Rarity forestalled her. "You wrote that note, didn't you, Starlight?"

She heard the pink pony breathe in sharply. "It's alright, Starlight. I understand how you feel, really I do. You've fallen into a deep pit, and don't know how to climb out. I'm right, aren't I?"

Biting her lip, Starlight said nothing. A single tear rolled its melancholy way down her cheek, and she closed her eyes, bowing her head in admission.

Rarity got up from the chair and sat down close to Starlight, putting her hoof round her heaving shoulders, and pulling her into a close embrace. "Sh, it's alright. I'm here for you. I'll look after you."

Starlight gave a muffled sob, and let the tears flow freely. She tried to speak: "I - I didn't think - huh - I didn't think y-y-you'd believe m-me. . . I'm just so - huh - s-so s-sad!"

As Starlight broke off, crying too hard to continue, Rarity bent her head to gently lean against hers. "I believe you, Starlight. I understand how you feel. . . alone, and scared, and oh, so, so sad. But I'm here for you. Your friends love you, Starlight, and they won't leave you. You're not a bad pony because you feel this way, and they'll understand. I know how hard it is sometimes, but you can trust them, Starlight. You can trust me."

"B-but I don't want - huh - to be a b-b-burden. . ."

Rarity leant forward to look her friend straight in the eye. "You are not a burden, Starlight! You're not well, that's all. If Fluttershy broke her wing, we wouldn't abandon her, would we? If Twilight went blind we wouldn't leave her to fend for herself, would we? You know that none of us would do that. And I know it's hard to believe, but the same is true for you. You have depression, Starlight. It's an illness, and it will make things hard for you. But that doesn't make us love you any less."

Feeling her sobs subside, Rarity pulled a clean tissue from her saddlebag and gave it to Starlight, who dried her eyes and  blew her nose loudly. She breathed deeply - a little shakily, yes, but no longer with the wracking sobs of before. She buried her head into Rarity's shoulder, and the white unicorn gently stroked her mane, murmuring comforting noises. After a while, Starlight let out a sigh.

"Thank you, Rarity." She blinked rapidly back a few tears. "Thank you for being here for me. I know I'm being silly, I know I'm being illogical. . . but somehow that doesn't help. I still feel afraid that I'll lose you all. And I know how crazy that sounds, but it's true."

Rarity nodded in understanding. "It's alright", she said. "I know what it's like. I've been where you are now, and I know how hard it can be to carry on, to act as though everything is fine, when inside you feel like a little piece of you is dying every minute you're awake. But you can break free, Starlight. I know the way out of the well you're in."

"How? How can I feel. . . 'normal', again?"

"By trusting me. I know it's hard, but you have to begin by trusting your friends. We're all your friends, Starlight - me, and Twilight, and Fluttershy, and Rainbow, and Applejack, and Pinkie, and Spike, and all your other friends - we care about you, and we know you're a good pony. We'll help you, but you have to trust us first. Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to tell your friends, and to have faith that I'm telling the truth?"

Starlight let out a long breath, and looked up into Rarity's eyes. "Yes. I trust you. And I'll tell the others. . . hard though it will be."

Then Rarity smiled again - a warm smile, not a sad smile like before. "Come on, then. It's time for the first step on this journey. It may be a long journey, it may be a short journey, who knows? But you won't ever, ever walk a single step of the way on your own."

Taking Starlight's hoof in hers, Rarity led the way across the room, and out, into the corridor.
> Indigo: The Truth
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey everyone." Starlight Glimmer, guidance counsellor of the School of Friendship, greeted her friends as they gathered inside her office. She was sitting in a comfortable armchair by the window, with Rarity already by her side, leaning gently against the arm of the chair. When the others were all inside the room, Starlight shut the door behind them with her magic, turning a hastily improvised sign on the outside to 'engaged'.

She motioned to the variety of cosy-looking beanbags and easy-chairs. "Please, make yourselves at home."

"Is everything alright, sugarcube?" asked Applejack, plonking herself down unceremoniously on a cushion. "You've been real quiet recently."

Rainbow scoffed. "Lighten up, AJ! She's just tired from all this, this. . . what is it you do, anyway, Starlight?"

"Ooh, ooh, I know, pick me!" Pinkie Pie shouted gleefully. "She makes the ponies feel better when even we can't, and gets to have a really cool title!"

Rarity cut in smartly before Pinkie could launch into an exposition. "Yes, yes, Pinkie darling. It's partly about that that we wanted to speak to you all, isn't it, Starlight dear?" She nodded encouragingly at Starlight, a gentle smile on her face.

Starlight sighed heavily, swallowing subconsciously before speaking. "Well, yes, in a way. If it's alright with you, Twilight," she said, turning to the Princess of Friendship, "I should like to take some time off from work for a while. Not ages, but just - I could do with some time away, perhaps for a few weeks, to. . ."

She broke off, and Rarity murmured softly to her. "I still think you should tell them, Starlight darling. I know it's hard to admit it, but you will feel so much better if you trust them to want to help you."

Starlight nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I'll tell them. I have something to tell you all," she spoke louder again, addressing the others. "You've probably all noticed that I've not been. . . 'myself', lately. I've been tired, and emotional, and spending more time on my own than usual. Well, that, combined with several other things, has led me to think that I might - that I might have - that I -"

She broke off again, blinking rapidly. Rarity looked at her closely, worried, but Starlight seemed to take a hold of herself and, breathing deeply for a moment, began again. "This isn't easy for me to admit, because it makes it more real, somehow, but. . . I'm not well. I - agh, what am I saying!? I'll be fine. Honestly, I'm sure it's nothing."

She turned away abruptly, not noticing the worried look which flashed in the gazes of her friends, and wiped away a sudden tear. Rarity laid a hoof on Starlight's shoulder, and gently turned her to face her. The troubled unicorn stared blankly up into the fashionista's eyes, appearing to Rarity to be weak, almost shrunken, and vulnerable. She gave Starlight her best encouraging smile, and nodded, murmuring, "Please, darling. If you can't tell them for yourself, then tell them for me. We all want to help you, but the others can't do that until they know what's wrong. Go on, Starlight. Trust me."

Blinking away tears of both gratitude and despair, the guidance counsellor nodded reluctantly and tried again. "I haven't been well, lately. I don't know why I've not been well, but - I think it's because - it's just -"

She stammered into silence, staring down at her hooves in embarrassment. After a few moments, in which Rarity carefully placed her hoof round the unicorn's shoulders, Starlight sighed heavily. Eventually she managed to find within herself the courage to speak. "I have depression."

A collective gasp of concern and dismay swept through the group, with each mare reacting differently. Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hooves, Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow as though almost disbelieving, Applejack went straight over to Starlight and wrapped her in a big bearhug, Twilight glanced away to the window and nodded as though reminded of some memory from her past, and Pinkie Pie inquired excitably - seemingly totally oblivious to the situation - "What's a 'depression', Glimmy?"

Hearing the earth pony's honest, innocent question made Starlight smile for a brief moment. As Applejack released her from the hug, resting her hoof alongside Rarity's over the unicorn's shoulders, she tried to explain what 'a depression' was: "It's hard to explain, Pinkie. For me it's like feeling sort of flat, or - oh, I don't know. Grey, and empty. Like. . ."

As she struggled to find the right words so as to explain depression for a pony to whom the concept was evidently entirely foreign, Twilight stepped in to help. "It's feeling sad, Pinkie. Sadder than you've ever been, and finding it hard to imagine a world in which you're not sad. It's like being all on your own, tired and confused, without anypony to help you. It's thinking that nopony cares about you and that you're not worth their time. Do you remember how you felt when you thought we'd all forgotten your birthday, and were planning something without you?"

Pinkie Pie nodded, far less exuberant now, and Twilight continued, "Well, imagine feeling constantly like that, for weeks, months, or even years. All the time. That's what depression is, Pinkie."

Now understanding just how her friend felt, Pinkie's lip started trembling with empathy, and as her hair slowly deflated, she blinked away unbidden tears.

Something about the way Twilight had been able to describe almost exactly how she was feeling suggested to Starlight that the Princess of Friendship knew more about the illness than books alone would be able to convey, and she made up her mind to see if Twilight was alright as soon as possible. Now, though, her attention was taken up by Fluttershy, who had come to stand directly in front of her depressed friend.

"I'm so sorry to hear about how you're feeling, Starlight," she began. "I can't imagine how hard that must be. You're always so kind to everypony. . . if you ever want to talk, please don't hesitate. I want to help you if I can." She gave an encouraging blink.

Rainbow, who had been looking almost as confused as Pinkie Pie, now seemed to understand - well, understand enough to realise that Starlight was actually ill, and not just bad at dealing with her emotions. She fluttered over to Starlight, and landed lightly in front of her, head cocked inquisitively to the side. "I don't really understand how or why you're unwell, Starlight. But you're one of my closest friends, and I'll always be there if you want to. . . hang out, I guess? I think you're cool, you know. You're still cool."

Starlight smiled at Rainbow's awkward announcement, half in amusement, half in gratitude. She felt a stroking sensation on her mane; Rarity leant close to her ear and murmured, "You see, darling. We all care about you, and we'll do whatever we can to help you."

The unicorn nodded in reply, as Applejack added, "We'll be right here for you, Starlight. If you want somepony to talk to, spend some time with, or even if all you need's a shoulder a cry on, we'll be there for you. You're one of us now, remember?"

Throughout these last exchanges Twilight had kept quiet, having gone to stand over by the window, staring outside with a slightly distant, almost wistful expression on her face. As Applejack finished speaking, however, she spoke up again, turning towards Starlight directly. "I know how you feel, Starlight. I understand what it's like, how hard life can be, how difficult it is to admit you're unwell - and especially how hard it is to tell others. I know because I've experienced what you're going through now myself." Ignoring the surprised glances of her friends, she continued, "Whatever you need to do regarding your work here at the school, you have my full support. If you want to take some time off - which I definitely recommend, as taking a break is a wonderful way to destress - then that's completely fine with me. Your desk will be waiting for you when you decide to come back."

The Princess smiled, and Starlight found herself smiling back. This outpouring of love and compassion, even from those of her friends who didn't really understand what she was going through, warmed her heart, and she sighed again - this time, contentedly.

It would be a long road to health again, she knew that. But with her friends by her side - Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rainbow - she knew she would see it through.

She was going to be okay.
> Orange: Together
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was setting, casting its final rays of warmth and light over the snowbound landscape. As winter waned to its close, the air felt warmer, more alive, than it had in the darkest depths of December. But for now, and with Winter Rap-up still a fortnight away, those ponies who enjoyed the outdoors were making the most of the fluffy, pure-white snow for which Middle Equestria was famed.

Two such ponies were Applejack, proprietor and manager of Sweet Apple Acres - one of the largest single-crop orchards in all of Equestria - and her close friend Starlight Glimmer, former dictator of her own totalitarian township, now part-time guidance counsellor for the students at Princess Twilight's School of Friendship, in Ponyville.

After having confessed to her friends that she was suffering from major depressive disorder, Starlight had been almost overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, compassion and understanding from ponies whom, until just a few years ago, she had considered to be her mortal enemies. She had realised that, rather than her illness being something she would have to either accept and learn to live with, or be forced to struggle under its burden alone, she would always have the help and care of other ponies, who not only understood her plight, but were prepared to do anything they could to speed her recovery.

After the Princess had granted Starlight an indefinite sabbatical from her position at the School of Friendship for the sake of her health, the pink unicorn hadn't really known what to do to fill her time. This conundrum was answered willingly by her friends, who were taking it in turns to have her to stay, and, for the past few weeks, Starlight had been a guest of the Apple family.

As her stay drew to a close, Applejack had offered to take Starlight for a weekend of camping in the hills surrounding Ponyville; it was, in her words, "a great way to get Life out of your head for a while." Though initially reluctant, Starlight had eventually acquiesced, and now, as the two ponies trotted slowly back towards the Apple farm, she was glad she had made the effort.

"Thank you, AJ, for this weekend," she began, "I've enjoyed every minute of it. I didn't want to come at first, but I'm so glad you persuaded me to try it. You're right, I've hardly thought about my worries at all!"

The orange farmpony smiled warmly. "Ah knew you'd enjoy yourself when you were out here, sugarcube. Sometimes all it takes is a gentle push out the door."

The friends came to a brow in the path, and stood for some minutes to take in the glorious vista that spread before their eyes. The hill sloped gently away beneath them, with the valley below meeting high, cloud-capped mountains in the distance. Away to their right could, very far off, be seen Canterlot, its enormous gold-topped marble spires and arches fading almost to nothingness through the accumulated haze of so many miles. On the left lay the dark, brooding mass of the Everfree, the powerful sense of foreboding which lay over the forest now lessened somewhat by the light, glinting snow which had settled thickly on the tops of the trees.

Above it all rose the vast expanse of the sky, Domain of the Pegasi, its deep blue shades softening to mauve, yellow and red where the sun lay low on the horizon. Starlight sighed, peacefully, her breath vapourising in the cold of the evening air. "I wish every day could end like this one, AJ. Everything is so calm, and quiet, and. . . still."

Saying nothing, Applejack nodded to show her agreement. Together, the two of them gazed out over the scene, relishing the solitude, and finding a sense of freedom in the knowledge that there were no other ponies around for miles.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, and as the sky began changing hue once more, this time to dark blues and already, away to the east, inky blackness, Starlight breathed out, heavily. Sensing her companion's wistful mood, Applejack asked, "You okay, sugarcube? What're you thinking about?"

It took Starlight a long time to formulate her reply, and as she spoke, the first stars were just beginning to twinkle in the heavens above. "I love evenings like these, Applejack. But they make me sad, too. Because every time the night comes round the sunset is over. And I'll never, ever see it again. That day is gone, AJ. Gone for ever. . ."

She trailed off, and Applejack, sensing she was about to say more, kept silent. Eventually the unicorn continued, "That was a beautiful sunset, AJ. And I've had a really enjoyable weekend - I'd even go so far as to say that I've had probably the best weekend of my life. But how much of this will I remember, now that it's over, in years to come? Will I still feel the awe, the wonder, that that sunset brought me, in five years time? How about ten years, or twenty years? What about when I'm old, and Death is just round the corner - will I still remember the fun I had as a filly? Already I can't remember the names of all my schoolfriends, and they were ponies I thought I'd always know. . . Will everything good that ever happens to me just be forgotten?"

She shivered and, realising how cold it was becoming, Applejack pulled a cloak from her saddlebags and wrapped it round Starlight's withers. Then she stood close by her, laying a hoof over her shoulders, and gently pulled the saddened unicorn towards her, until Starlight laid her head against Applejack's neck. Together, the two mares stood, silently watching the sky darken and the distant village of Ponyville begin to glow against the backdrop of deep grey mountains, as the lamplighter went round igniting the gaslit streetlamps.

After some minutes, Applejack murmured. "Ah don't know, sugarcube. Ah don't know how much you'll remember, or what you'll forget. But that doesn't you should be sad for what's ended, or things you've enjoyed that are over. Ah've learnt that it's important to be glad something happened, rather than sad that it's come to an end." She paused, staring up into the sky, thinking about ponies she had lost. "There's always something about to end, Starlight. In a few minutes we'll have to carry on walking home, and you might not see a view this good again for months, or years, or maybe ever. But it we only cared about what was happening now, we'd never get to enjoy things which will happen in the future."

Starlight turned to look at her friend, and was surprised to see a tear beginning to well in the corner of her eye. As she nestled closer into the crook of the farmpony's shoulder, Applejack sighed; what she said next came as a shock to Starlight. "Sometimes Ah wish Ah'd spent more time with Ma and Pa. Oh, who am Ah kidding, Ah always wish Ah'd spent more time with Ma and Pa! Ah was so young when they. . . when they passed away, and little Applebloom doesn't even remember them at all. Ah loved them very much, and they knew that. But Ah wish I could've told them 'I love you', just one more time. But now they're gone, and Ah'll never get to tell Ma and Pa that I love them ever - ever again. . ."

She broke off, head downcast and eyes closed, as her shoulders shook with sobs of anguish. Starlight couldn't think what to say; she'd never known Applejack - or her siblings, for that matter - to ever even mention her parents, let alone talk about her own private regrets. So instead of speaking, she conveyed her love and concern for her friend by wrapping her in a hug, gently stroking the weeping mare's mane.

After a few minutes, and after her tears had died away to occasional dry sobs, Applejack regained something of her composure. "Ah'm sorry," she muttered, "This weekend was meant to help cheer you up, not turn into a sobfest for me. Ah hope Ah've not made you feel even more down, Starlight."

Starlight shook her head; she understood just how Applejack felt. "It's alright," she whispered, "I'm your friend too, remember?"

As the two mares began trotting slowly along the gravel path, which meandered down the hillside in no certain hurry until it eventually reached the main road which ran along the valley floor, Starlight posed a question to her friend. "How do you do it, AJ? How do you always seem so happy and - and - steadfast, somehow, when so much sadness has happened to you?"

Glancing at the unicorn, Applejack thought for a moment before replying. "Ah suppose," she said, "Ah just follow the advice my Ma gave me, just before she died."

She paused, and Starlight remained silent, allowing her friend to collect her thoughts. "She said to me, when Ah was feeling something like how you're feeling now, that if we're always sad for what's ending, we'll never be happy for what's coming. She would give her own life as an example, saying that, although she missed the simplicity of life before the rest of the Pears cut her off, if that part of her life hadn't come to an end, she could never had married my Pa, and would never have been able to experience the joy of being a mother. So even though Ah feel sad when Ah think of my foalhood and how it's over, Ah know that if Ah was a foal for ever Ah'd never get to enjoy being friends with you, or Rarity, or any of my other friends. So Ah suppose what Ah'm saying," she concluded, "is that even when things come to an end, there's always something new to enjoy."

Applejack fell silent, and for a long while the two pones walked in companionable quiet, not needing conversation to enjoy each other's company. Starlight considered all that her friend had said and, at long last, as the two ponies finally arrived at the main road, she broke the silence. "Thank you, AJ," she murmured. "Thank you for being so open with me about your parents. . . I know how hard you find it to talk about them. It means a lot to me that you would trust me with that."

She fell silent again, before continuing, "And thank you for giving me your Ma's advice. She sounds like a really lovely pony."

Applejack smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, sugarcube. You're right, it  sure is hard to talk about them. But sometimes having a friend to talk to really helps, doesn't it?"

Starlight nodded, giving the first honest, real smile she had for a long time. Together, the two ponies turned to face the road ahead for the final stage of their journey home, knowing now how they could face the future:

The would face it together.
> White: Trust
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Warm and fuzzy. If she had been asked to describe how she was feeling at that moment, that's what Starlight would have said.

As she lay curled up beside Rarity under a thick bundle of blankets, a mug of hot cocoa held in her hoof, and listening to the wind and rain of late Winter lash against the windowpanes, with the gentle flickering of the fire keeping captivated her gaze, Starlight Glimmer sighed happily.

Warm.

Warm and fuzzy.

In the couple of months it had been since she had finally managed to pluck up the courage to admit to her friends about her depression, Starlight had never been allowed to wallow in her own company for too long. One after another, each of her close friends had offered to have her round to stay for a while and, after having spent a fun but tiring fortnight with the Apple family, which concluded with a weekend of hillside camping, Starlight was enjoying the relative simplicity and peace of a few days with Rarity - for whom the idea of camping in any weather, let alone in the snow, wind and sleet of the end of Winter, was an anathema.

Instead, the fashionista had treated Starlight to a number of rather more 'indoorsy' pursuits, including a day at the Ponyville spar, a meal at a fancy restaurant in Manehatten (Starlight couldn't quite remember the name, but she felt sure it was something along the lines of 'Witherspoons'), and any number of cosy fireside chats. Over the past few days, Starlight felt as though she had really got to know her fellow unicorn friend, far more so than she had before, and their friendship was stronger than ever.

But Starlight still didn't fully understand something which Rarity had said to her in private following her first tentative calls for help - in the form of an anonymous note - and, as the two of them lay curled up together in companionable silence, Starlight decided that now was the time to ask.

After composing her thoughts carefully, she asked quietly, "Do you remember, a couple of months ago, when I first told you about how I was feeling?"

Turning to glance up at her friend for a moment, Rarity nodded in reply.

"Well," Starlight continued, "You said something then that I didn't really notice at the time - I suppose I was feeling rather overwrought, and wasn't really taking things in properly - but I've since realised what it was you said."

Rarity lay her head gently onto Starlight's shoulder, murmuring, "What was it, darling?"

"I remember you saying," began Starlight, "when I told you how I was feeling, that you had been where I was then, and that you knew how hard it was to carry on. And that you knew the way to climb back out of the hole, so to speak."

She paused, thinking again. Rarity stayed silent.

Eventually, Starlight carried on. "I didn't really notice what you'd said at the time, certainly not enough to fully understand what you were implying. But now. . . I've had such a lovely time, staying with you, Rarity. And I feel like I've really got to know you, and you're even more generous than I thought. You're a good pony, and I can't bear that thought that you were ever - that you ever felt how I felt."

Beside her, Rarity sighed, as though remembering past regrets. It was a long while before she spoke, and when she did, it was with a faint, uncertain tone which Starlight had not previously heard from the self-assured unicorn. "Yes, I was depressed at one time. Unlike you, I knew exactly what had brought it on, but that didn't make it any easier to 'climb back out'. It took a long time, and a lot of support from my family. This was before I moved to Ponyville, you see, and so I didn't know any of our current friends at the time."

She sighed again, and Starlight recognised something of herself in the white mare. Hesitantly, she murmured, "Whatever it was, it still bothers you sometimes, doesn't it?"

Rarity nodded silently. Starlight wrapped a hoof around her shoulders, comfortingly. "Would you like to talk about it? It's okay, if you'd rather not!" she added, hurriedly, knowing how uncomfortable some ponies were when it came to talking about their feelings. "But I know now that a problem shared is a problem halved, and all that. And I'm your friend, Rarity, so it there's anything I can do to help. . ."

She trailed off, and for some minutes the two unicorns sat in silence, listening to the rain spattering against the windows, hearing the rushing of the wind in the leaves, and watching the entrancing, flickering glow of the fire.

As the Ponyville town clock began solemnly striking nine in the distance, Rarity cleared her throat in a genteel, feminine manner, and began to speak, almost whispering so quietly that Starlight could barely hear what she was saying. "You must promise me that you'll never tell a soul what I'm about to tell you. You must take my secret with you to the grave, and you must never, ever tell anypony. Can you do that for me, Starlight?"

Concerned, confused, and not a little alarmed, Starlight hesitated for a moment, before replying, "You can trust me, Rarity. I won't tell anypony."

A few moments passed, broken only by Rarity muttering, as if in a dream, "Trust. . . so important and yet so undervalued. . ."

Again, a long silence, as the white unicorn composed her thoughts. Starlight said nothing, but could feel her heart racing with uncertainty over what her friend might be about to reveal.

After almost ten minutes, Rarity finally spoke. "There are many types of depression, Starlight, some more common than others. . . There is one sort which only occurs after a foal is born. That is what I had."

"But, surely -"

Starlight's train of thought was interrupted as Rarity cut in, "Yes, Starlight. I am a mother - and nopony can ever, ever know. . ."

The pink unicorn's mind was reeling at this revelation, and it took her some time to understand what Rarity was implying. "You're a mother, Rarity? But then, who's your. . ."

She couldn't quite bring herself to say 'who is your child' - surely Rarity couldn't be a mother? Surely not! She was still so young. . .

Rarity snorted, saying bluntly, "It's alright, darling. I know what you're thinking. Will you think any less of me, when you know the full truth? Who knows. . ?"

Silence fell, eventually broken almost inaudibly by Rarity. "Sweetie Belle, Starlight. Sweetie Belle is my daughter. . . all these years I've pretended she was my sister, and nopony has ever suspected. . ."

Starlight, still astounded almost beyond belief, stammered, "B-but, but how? How did you manage t-to - to keep that a secret for so long?"

Rarity smiled, mirthlessly. "It was easy, really - almost too easy. As soon as I knew I was. . . pregnant, I told my parents. They were horrified, of course, because I was only fifteen. . . it was all just a stupid mistake on my part. I was young, and foolish, and could turn all the colts' heads. I became careless, slept around. . . it was only a matter of time."

She fell silent, and Starlight felt compelled to ask, "What happened then? If you're still alright to tell me, I mean," she added hastily.

"No, it's alright," Rarity sighed. "I've told you this much, and I know I can trust you. . . Well, my parents and I had a long, long discussion about what would be the best course of action. They're only simple ponies, but I've always loved my mother and father very much, and never more so than after that night. Instead of being mad at me, they felt sorry for me. . . they understood. . ."

In the short silence which followed, Starlight used her magic to levitate some more lumps of coal onto the fire, taking extra care to avoid letting any coaldust fall onto the immaculate carpet. For a few minutes the two ponies sat in silence, watching the flames, orange, red and gold, licking up the chimney.

After a while, Rarity continued. "We decided that, for the sake of my reputation - I had already decided that I wished to be a fashion designer, and such scandal so early on in my life would ruin me, if it ever got out - that I should keep away from other ponies until after I gave birth, after which my parents would claim the foal as their own. . . I would treat the filly or colt as though he or she were my sibling, rather than my foal.

"So when little Sweetie Belle was born at home, nopony except myself and my parents knew that she wasn't actually their foal, but their grandfoal. I never even told her father. . .

"Shortly after I gave birth, I began feeling very emotional, irritable, and tired all of the time. I was so, so sad. . . Eventually my parents took me to see a doctor, and she told me that I was suffering from depression. I think she knew, really, that we weren't telling her the whole story, but if she ever guessed that the little filly in the pushchair outside was my daughter, she never let on.

"As soon as I was old enough, I moved to Ponyville. I couldn't bear to spend any longer than absolutely necessary in the town where I had been so utterly, utterly stupid. My parents suggested that Sweetie Belle live with me on a part-time basis - she would come to stay with me for long periods of time, but still officially be living with my parents. That way I could be with my daughter without anypony suspecting that she wasn't my sister. . ."

She fell silent, evidently deep in thought. Starlight wrapped her hoof more firmly around her friend's shoulders, and pulled her in close. They sat in silence for some minutes, before Starlight whispered, "I won't tell I soul, Rarity. You can trust me completely. . . and if you're ever feeling down about any of this - or anything else, for that matter - I'll always be there for you."

Rarity smiled wanly, and nuzzled her friend lovingly. "Thank you, darling. It's such a relief, in a way, to have told somepony. I've never told anypony about any of this before, you see, not even our other friends. You're the only one who knows. . ."

Starlight considered all that Rarity had told her. It made sense, really - Sweetie Belle didn't really look anything like her 'parents', especially her eyes - both of Rarity's parents had blue eyes, as did Rarity herself, but Sweetie's were green - so presumably Sweetie's father had green eyes too. It explained why the little filly seemed to spend so much time with her ever-busy sister, rather than with the ponies everypony assumed were her parents. . .

After some time, the pink unicorn spoke up. "You know, Rarity, I'm really impressed that you'd feel able to tell somepony about this."

"Oh, that's alright, darling," Rarity replied, glancing up into Starlight eyes. "You're one of my closest friends, and I know I can trust you. It's nice not to be the only pony who knows."

And with that, the two ponies snuggled up on the sofa, sipped away at their cocoas, and enjoyed the sound of the storm outside. They had trusted each other with their darkest, most hidden fears and concerns, and could face the future knowing that each had the other's back.

Trust, thought Starlight. The sign of true friendship is trust.
> Yellow: The Good, the Kind and the Snugly
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the last day of Winter drew to a close, Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. "Whew," she breathed, "I'm glad that's over!"

With her close friend Starlight doing likewise, she sank down wearily into a comfortable armchair, resting her whirling head against the back. With so little time left before the start of Winter Wrap-up, the pegasus had been worried she might not be ready in time for the onslaught of newly-awoken animals on the morrow, all of whom would be hungry after their long hibernation. The arrival of Starlight, however, had been as much a help to Fluttershy as it had been a break from the routine for the unicorn.

Now the two of them were able to take a breather, resting their tired limbs. After the cosy fireside chats of her stay with Rarity the previous weekend, Starlight had found the tumult of activity to be stimulating rather than overwhelming, but even she had to admit that the sit-down was welcome.

"Well," she announced, "I've not had an afternoon that hectic for a long time!"

Smiling in return, Fluttershy nodded. "It always gets a little busy, just before the animals come back after Winter. But I couldn't bear it, if the cute little critters didn't have somewhere to stay, and find food, before making their own homes for the Summer."

Starlight decided to refrain from pointing out that animals all over Equestria seemed to be doing just fine without the assistance of Ponyville's resident Element of Kindness, realising that the animals meant as much to Fluttershy as she did to them.

Fluttershy continued, "Thank you so much for all of you help this afternoon, Starlight. I really don't know how I would have finished it all in time with you!"

"Oh, that's alright," said Starlight. "Helping ponies is my thing, y'know?"

At this remark, the pale pegasus looked concerned. "Oh dear! I've been keeping you so busy all day that we haven't even had time to have a proper chat! And I'm supposed to be helping you, not the other way round."

Seeing her friend's worried frown, Starlight couldn't help but feel a pleasurable sense of contentment wash over her; it was good to be loved by such a kind, warm-hearted pony as Fluttershy. She hastened to remove the cause for the pegasus' concern; "Don't worry about that, Fluttershy! I've had a really good day, tiring though it has been. It was very enjoyable, being able to help you with all the preparations. I'm glad I've been of use to you."

Smiling warmly in return, Fluttershy relaxed into her armchair, giving a contented sigh. At that moment, a bird, which even Starlight with her limited knowledge of winged fauna was able to recognise as a jay, swooped into the cottage out of the gathering gloom outside, through the half-open window. Landing without ceremony on the arm of the pegasus' chair, it began twittering, singing, and making a variety of other strange noises which would have been to almost any pony entirely incomprehensible.

Not so to Fluttershy, however - having spent her whole life around animals, and with her natural affinity for all manner of creatures heightened by the pegasus race's close kinship with the bird kingdom, she was perfectly able to understand all that her feathered friends (and non-feathered friends) communicated to her, and was now nodding in a friendly way in reply to some question which the jay had evidently posed her.

After the bird had finished saying whatever it was that it was trying to say, Fluttershy replied, "Oh yes, Father Jay, I'm sure I'll be able to accommodate your whole family. I've set aside a special place in the loft for you already, and it's warm, and dry, and oh, so cosy! You'll be quite safe in there, I can assure you, and there'll be room for you all - even for all of your new nephews and nieces."

Dipping its head and whistling softly in a show of gratitude, the jay took to the air once more, passing back out into the night.

Starlight, who had watched this short exchange with the awe she always felt whenever she was a witness to Fluttershy's rather odd conversations with the non-Equine inhabitants of the world, shook her head in wonder. "You never cease to amaze me, Fluttershy," she said, "Your connection with animals is really quite something to watch!"

The pale yellow pegasus blushed in pleasure at this unaccustomed praise, and studied the floor. After a moment or two, she replied, "Oh, it's nothing really. I've just always felt so close to animals, that understanding what they say seems to come naturally to me. I've always preferred the company of animals and birds over that of other ponies. Not that I don't enjoy your company, Starlight!" she amended hastily, anxious to avoid offending her friend. "I'm really glad you wanted to spend some time with me. I don't get on well with many ponies, so it's nice to have a. . . an Equestrian, to talk to, if you see what I mean."

Starlight nodded, understanding completely. "That's alright, 'Shy," she soothed, "I know what you mean."

The two sat in comfortable silence for some time - something which Starlight noticed she seemed to be doing rather a lot lately, when she spent any long period of time with just one of her friends. It's nice, in a way, she thought. Nice to be such good friends with a pony that you don't need words to enjoy each other's company.

As the sky grew fully dark outside, and the light from the lanterns indoors came to full effect, a variety of other animals came in from the cold; it was a dry night, but clear, and there promised to be a frost on the first morning of Spring. Not wishing to suffer the night's chill needlessly, there were quite a number of animals who had apparently come to the shared conclusion that Fluttershy's cottage was the place to be.

As well as a number of jays, many of which flew straight upstairs as if they knew exactly where they were going - perhaps the relatives of Father Jay, thought Starlight - there were also several crows, around thirty smaller garden birds, at least eight rabbits and hares, two badgers, several foxes, weasels, ferrets and ermine, a solitary wildcat, and even a rather large bear - at least, he appeared large to the somewhat cowed Starlight, who wasn't used to such close proximity to so formidable a predator, though in reality he was actually only a young bear, and still relatively small for a member of his species. And to top it all off, through the windowpane Starlight was sure she could just about make out the silhouettes of several deer, who were enjoying the radiated warmth of Fluttershy's cottage without feeling the need to step inside.

Which was rather fortunate, as the building was now thoroughly jam-packed with wildlife. After some minutes of utter pandemonium, the throng seemed to be able to settle down and, one by one, either disappeared into the recesses of the house - presumably to their habitual abodes - or lay comfortably on the floor, conversing quietly in low tones. At least, Starlight assumed they were conversing - it was difficult to tell whether any two animals of differing species actually understood one another or not.

But one creature in the room was evidently having no trouble in understanding everything that was going on, and seemed even more at peace now than she had been before the invasion of fauna began. Fluttershy, her forehooves absentmindedly stroking two ferrets who had perched themselves on her knees, smiled in an almost bashful way. "They do so love me," she murmured simply.

Smiling back, Starlight was struck with a thought which had never really occurred to her before, but which stood out to her now such that she wondered why she'd never thought to ask it previously. "Why is it," she enquired, "that you get on so much better with animals than with ponies?"

Fluttershy didn't reply immediately, considering the question carefully before answering. "The don't judge me," she said eventually. "They accept me for who I am, with all of my faults and problems, and don't try to change me. So I feel comfortable around them - around animals, I mean."

This honest answer surprised the pink unicorn somewhat - not that she had been expecting a dishonest answer, but that it seemed odd for Fluttershy to talk about her 'faults and problems'. "You don't seem to have any faults to me," Starlight hastened to reassure her. "A little shy, yes, but that's not uncommon."

Fluttershy smiled again, in an almost superior fashion, though hiding one eye behind her long, flowing mane - as though she knew something which Starlight didn't, and which she hadn't yet decided whether or not to divulge. "I'm not shy," she explained after a while, "though I'm glad that's all you've noticed. . . If I tell you something private, will you promise not to look down on me for it, or to tell other ponies?"

With Rarity's recent, astounding confession still fresh in her memory, Starlight hesitated before replying. Did she really want to be party to another such secret? After some moments of internal turmoil, however, her curiosity eventually got the better of her, and she nodded. "You have my word, Fluttershy."

"Well, okay then." Fluttershy still seemed unsure of whether to tell her friend whatever it was that was so vital it be kept a secret, but after a while she continued. "All of our other friends already know, so I suppose it'll be alright if I tell you, too. You're one of our circle now, you see," she added, much to Starlight's gratification.

Another silence followed, this one somewhat longer than the previous one, as the timid pegasus formulated her thoughts. As the animals around her started to drift off into restful slumber, she spoke. "I have a condition called 'avoidant personality disorder'," she explained. "It means I get very anxious in social situations, because I feel like every pony around me is watching me, and criticising me. And even though I really want to have close friendships with ponies, I find it very hard, because I never feel like I'm good enough for them, and I get really worried about whether they might abandon me if I become boring to them."

She broke off and, seeing Starlight's confused and concerned expression, gave a rather self-conscious laugh. "Oh, I know how ridiculous it sounds. And when I'm in a situation like this, where I know I'm safe, and with a pony I already know truly cares about me, I can tell that it doesn't really make any sense. But as soon as I go outside, as soon as there are other ponies around that I don't know really well. . ."

She trailed off, and the distant, unfocussed look in her eyes told the rather surprised Starlight that she was either remembering unpleasant experiences, or imagining them. To snap her friend back to the present, the unicorn gently cleared her throat. "Hmm. . . I confess," she began, "that I don't really understand how or why you might feel like that. But I'm glad that you feel comfortable with me. After everything I've done, it means a lot to me that you'd feel able to tell me something like that, and that you'd trust me to keep such knowledge to myself."

Dragging her mind back to the present moment, Fluttershy smiled warmly. "I don't really understand how or why I feel like that either," she said, "But I think it all began with being so unpopular in flight school. I have never been a strong flyer, and so all the other pupils used to look down on me, and call me awful names. . ." She trailed off again, brow furrowing as though in recollection of some distant unpleasantness. After a short while she came back to the present, continuing, "The only pony who always stood by me, no matter what, was Rainbow Dash. She never let me down, or sided with the others against me, even though it made her unpopular. I've never forgotten that, and I hope to repay her for her kindness someday."

As though surprised at this uncharacteristic forthrightness, the diffident yellow mare fell silent again, calming herself down by watching the slowly rising and falling chest of the slumbering ferret on her lap. Starlight did likewise, realising that almost every creature in the room besides themselves was now asleep - the exception was Angel Bunny, Fluttershy's special friend, who had settled himself into the crook of Fluttershy's wing, and was staring up at her with undisguised adoration.

Almost five minutes passed in silence, with only the gentle breathing of countless animals, the sound of the wind blowing through the nearer trees of the Everfree Forest, and the soft tick - tock of the grandfather clock in the corner being audible. Then Fluttershy, sneaking a glance at her unicorn friend out of the corner of her eye, murmured, "I've always had a - I've always had. . . Ever since we were fillies together in Cloudsdale, I've felt a special connection, with Rainbow - though she's never seemed to notice it. . . I'm just a friend to her. An old friend, yes - but just a friend."

Starlight, former cult leader and current guidance counsellor at the School of Friendship, prided herself on being able to hear the words ponies left unspoken, and the present example was no exception, and inferred all that Fluttershy evidently wanted to confess, but couldn't quite bring herself to do so. Quietly, she asked, "You love her, don't you, 'Shy?"

Wistfully, the lovelorn pegasus nodded her reply. "It's okay though," she breathed. "Maybe one day Rainbow will feel the same way about me as I do about her. . . and even if she doesn't, I'll always be able to enjoy her company. As her closest friend, if nothing more."

Wanting to say something encouraging, but not quite knowing how to go about it, Starlight attempted to reassure her friend. "You never know," she began, "Rainbow may realise in time. And maybe one day - who knows? - you'll feel able to ask her for yourself."

"Maybe," whispered Fluttershy. "Maybe."

And then Starlight realised that she'd been so caught up in the conversation, and had been so busy all throughout the day and so worn out all evening, and so surprised at not just one, but two revelations from a pony she'd always thought she knew inside-out, that she'd had no time to feel even the slightest bit down all day. You know, she thought to herself as she watched Fluttershy drift gently off into well-earnt repose, there's more to this friendship business than meets the eye. . . and more to Fluttershy too, for that matter.

And with that thought still in her mind, she fell fast asleep, weary, but content.
> Pink: You Are Like Cinnamon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Taking a deep, preparatory breath, prior to the oncoming wave of sound and excitement that she was sure would be waiting for her, Starlight Glimmer slowly pushed open the door to Sugarcube Corner.

It was 6:45am - all the sane ponies were still in bed, the sun had only been up a couple of hours, and inside Ponyville's most popular eatery all hell appeared to have broken loose.

Taking in the scene, Starlight was rather concerned at how untidy the establishment was, with tables and chairs strewn willy-nilly across the floor, the unforgettable sounds of breaking crockery audible somewhere close at hand, and various assorted food-stuffs lying on tables, the stairs, the banister, chairs and even the floor, some with and some without plates. Even the potted plants seemed to be given up the ghost; as Starlight watched a tall, drooping herb of some description fell with a clatter from the windowsill to the ground. She nearly jumped out of her skin as Pinkie Pie, as was her wont, manifested suddenly behind her. "Hey Glimmy!" she cried, "How ya doing?"

Rather overwhelmed, was the unicorn's first reaction, though she didn't say so out loud. Instead, she raised her voice over the continuing racket, saying, "I'm very well, thanks Pinkie! How are you? And what's going on here?!"

The party pony grinned in an almost alarming manner. "Everything's just great, Glimmy! I'm just having a little tidying-up session before Mr and Mrs Cake come down for breakfast. Pound and Pumpkin sort of 'let themselves in' this morning, and it's all got rather out of hand. . ."

Staring round the dishevelled dining room, Starlight couldn't help but agree. There was only one thing to be done - and she had the advantage of unicorn magic to do it. "Right then," she announced. "How can I help?"

After expressing suitable gratitude for her friend's timely arrival, Pinkie Pie waved a vague hoof, taking in the whole of the ground floor of the building in a single arc. "Everything, really!" she giggled. "I've sat the twins down in a corner with an almost empty jar of honey, so they won't be a problem anymore!"

Starlight smiled at the earth-pony's infectious good humour, feeling a weight lifting off her shoulders already. The past few days had been. . . subpar, and she had been feeling rather low - not quite as sad as she had before confessing about her depression to her friends, but still considerably worse than she had felt for some weeks. It seemed that a day with Pinkie Pie would be just what the doctor would order, were he around to order it. "Let's do this!" she agreed.

For the next half an hour or so, the two ponies were as industrious as beavers, working nineteen to the dozen to ensure the whole eating area and kitchen were as clean as a new pin before the first customers arrived - and almost as importantly, before the Cakes came downstairs. Pinkie Pie had informed Starlight that Pumpkin and Pound's parents tended to get up at around half seven, before coming down to begin baking, which left them around three quarters of an hour to get everything spick and span.

Eventually, with minutes to spare, and just as the two Cake twins finished their attempt to scrape out the inside of a honey jar with their hooves - and endeavour which, though doomed to fail from the off, nevertheless seemed to be capable of holding them captivated for far longer then Starlight would ever have reasonably imagined - Pinkie Pie and Starlight realised that their work was done.

The kitchen was sparkling, shiny as the day it was installed - in fact, probably considerably shinier, given the amount of dust there must surely have been filling the air immediately following its installation. All the pots and pans which had been turfed out of the cupboards by the eager little bakers had been returned to their rightful homes, as had all the chairs and tables in the main dining room. All the foodstuffs which had been left on the floor had been given a new home - whether that was the bin or Pinkie's ever-hungry stomach - and the carpeted stairs carefully cleansed of all remaining greasy trifle residue.

As the last spoon was dumped unceremoniously in the cutlery draw, Pinkie let out a satisfied sigh. "Whew! That was a lot of work!" She grinned at Starlight, saying, "Thanks for your help, Glimmy. I don't think I could've got it all done in time without you!"

"Oh, that's alright," replied the unicorn, "I'm glad I could help!"

As the tots reluctantly put down their nearly-empty jar and began teetering unsteadily across the floor towards the saucepan cupboard, the resident baker hastily forestalled them. "Whoa there, guys!" she cried, giggling at their attempts to reach the apparent safety of hiding beneath the kitchen table before she caught them. "Are you two all ready to go and wake mummy and daddy?"

The twins nodded eagerly, and Pinkie scooped them up and plomped them down on her back. "We'll be right back," she winked at Starlight, who smiled and nodded in return.

With the excitable trio departed, the unicorn was able to take a breather. Blimey, she thought to herself, I don't know where Pinkie Pie finds the energy!

She thought back to the calm, relaxing weekend she had spent with Fluttershy - after the initial onslaught of animals, fresh from awaking after their long winter hibernations - of the cosy fireside chats she had shared with Rarity (her startling revelation notwithstanding), and of the enjoyable week she had spent camping in the hills with Applejack, and compared all three with the experience of tidying a kitchen with Pinkie Pie. We're all so very different, she thought, and yet we all get on so well. Why is that, I wonder?

As these thoughts put her mind of less happy times, when she had been the authoritarian dictator of her own private cult, the sole aim of which was to suppress such differences between ponies and friends, she hastily tried to shift her mind onto something else, and was relieved to hear her pink friend clomping loudly down the stairs. If Mr and Mrs Cake hadn't been awoken by the frenetic noise of a kitchen in turmoil, they would most certainly be awake now.

Far quicker than should have be logically possible, Pinkie Pie appeared in the doorway, a laugh bubbling within her. "Oh Starlight," she giggled, "You should've seen the Cakes' faces when Pound and Pumpkin went in to wake them up!"

Though she didn't then go on to explain exactly what the Cakes' expression may have been like, Starlight was able to make a fairly accurate guess. Though Pinkie Pie herself seemed to neither know nor to care just how loud the noise of the frantic kitchen scrubbing had been, Starlight herself was acutely aware, and thought it unlikely that the Cakes had slept in much past seven o'clock. And she knew that she, for one, would be less than pleased to be awoken at such an hour by such disturbing noises.

It was sign of how well the Cakes trusted their resident head-cook, therefore, that neither of them had thought it necessary to come downstairs to check if everything was alright!

And now the energetic earth-pony was on the go again - never seeming to stand still for more than a couple of seconds, she was now busily preparing pancakes for breakfast, whipping them up with such speed that Starlight found it almost incredible. Trotting over to offer her assistance, Pinkie forestalled her. "Could you get me some more flour, Glimmy? It lives on top of the shelves over there."

Motioning in the appropriate direction with a toss of her head, the pink pony went back to flipping pancakes, seeming to move in a blur, and somehow keeping four pancakes going, in four separate pans, all at once. Shaking her head in utmost confusion, Starlight turned away, and used her magic to levitate down a large sack of flour for Pinkie Pie to use.

"Here you go, Pinkie," she said, placing the sack gently on the floor.

"Thanks Glimmy! Do you think you could start squeezing some lemons for me?"

"Sure." Starlight cast around for the lemons, and soon found them sitting in a large earthenware jar on a shelf in the larder. It was quite cold in the larder - for obvious reasons - and Starlight was glad to re-emerge back into the warmth of the kitchen.

"Here's a lemon squeezer, Glimmers!" So saying, Pinkie Pie fairly threw the implement at Starlight's head, who caught it mere fractions of a second before it hit her. "Oops, sorry!" Pinkie apologised.

Soon, the kitchen was home to a highly pleasing aroma of freshly baked pancakes, various chopped fruits, and the ever-present scent of lemon, and Starlight breathed in deeply through her muzzle. "Hmm, that smells good. . ."

Smiling, Pinkie replied, "Yup! It sure does, Starry! That's one of the reasons I love working here so much!" Whilst saying this, she continued to flip pancakes, chop apples, prepare hayburgers, whip some fresh cream, knead and mould a loaf of wholemeal bread, remove thirty-six cupcakes from the oven the second they reached cooked perfection, drink four cups of strong black tea, clean all the work surfaces, save Gummy from falling into a pot of uncooked rice pudding, sweep the floors, and still find time to carry on the conversation with Starlight.

Her friend couldn't help but smile in awe at the level of energy Pinkie seemed capable to maintaining, and all without making a single mistake to the orders, which were now coming in thick and fast. Mr and Mrs Cake were downstairs now as well, and were acting as waiter and waitress, supplying the customers with their food and Pinkie Pie with the orders.

Throughout it all, Starlight had tried to lend a hoof, but had quickly realised that the three residents of Sugarcube Corner were a well-oiled machine, preparing and delivering every dish in record time. After an hour or so, and with the time now nearing nine o'clock, the café started to calm down again, as fewer and fewer ponies came in for their breakfasts. Eventually, at about quarter past nine, all the tables were empty and, after zipping round the dining room collecting plates, dishes, glasses, mugs and cutlery and dumping them all unceremoniously in the two large Belfast sinks, Pinkie Pie let out a sigh of relief. "Whew! That was even busier than usual!"

Starlight laughed in amazement. "You're a wonder, Pinkie!" she exclaimed. "Where in Equestria do you get all your energy from?"

Her excitable friend giggled in reply. "I don't know," she chortled, "But it sure does come in handy!"

Nodding in reply, Starlight leant back against the side, and sipped a cup of tea thoughtfully. "So then," she asked, turning to assist her friend with the washing up, "What happens now?"

"Now?" her friend repeated, "Now, we have a few minutes to rest. Then we get to do it all over again for lunchtime!"

At that juncture, Mr and Mrs Cake came back into the kitchen, each carrying one of their young foals, and sat down together in the ancient wooden chairs at the comfortable kitchen table, joined after a moment by both Pinkie Pie and Starlight, who between them had completed the washing up. "So then," Mrs Cake asked, "How have you found your first mealtime at Sugarcube Corner?"

"It was fun, but rather overwhelming at times!" she admitted.

"Well, I hope you cope alright with lunch," Mr Cake warned her; "It's about four times busier than breakfast!"

Laughing again, this time in a not unenjoyable mixture of weariness and excitement at the frantic activity ahead, Starlight sighed happily. Being so busy all morning had quite taken her out of herself, so to speak, and she felt far better than she had yesterday already. How lucky I am, she thought, to have someone like Pinkie for a friend!
> Cyan: You Don't Say?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

May! After the persistent rain for which April was famed, the warmer, more settled weather of the fifth month came as a breath of fresh air to the inhabitants of Ponyville. As with much of Middle Equestria, the natural climate - as opposed to pegasus-imposed climatic conditions - tended to remain fairly predictable throughout the year, and now that the sun had arrived, preparations for Spring cleaning and Summer holidays were beginning in earnest.

Starlight Glimmer, former dictator turned counsellor, breathed deeply, relishing in the cool breeze which helped to temper the unusual heat of mid-Spring. She was stood on the borders of Windigo Wood, the sun smiling down on her from on high, and with only the singing of birds and the rushing of the leaves of the trees above her - now in full leaf - for company.

She sighed, happily. Today was a good day to be alive.

Having arrived outside the wood shortly after breakfast - a far more leisurely affair than the hectic, frantic mix of cooking, cleaning and washing she had experienced at Sugarcube Corner a few weeks before - she was waiting now for her friend Rainbow Dash, the famed member of the Wonderbolts, and a pony widely acknowledged to be the Fastest Pony in Equestria (a title which Rainbow was perhaps just a little too fond of mentioning).

Not known for being an early riser, the wait for Rainbow came as no surprise to Starlight, and rather than being annoyed by the delay, it now being almost an hour past their agreed meeting time, she chose instead to simply enjoy the morning, taking great pleasure in her own company.

Over the past few months, her whole outlook on life had changed. It was only as recently as December that she had finally realised that the ever-present sadness and emptiness she felt wasn't normal, and it had taken all of her courage to admit this to her friends. But now, just five months later, and having been almost overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, understanding and good-humour her friends had shown towards her, the unicorn was in a far better place. Though still suffering from the occasional off day, or fits of melancholia (Doctor Maneroe had told her she had a condition called dysthymia), in general her mental health and wellbeing were much improved.

So now, with the sun providing gentle, comfortable warmth, and with the prospect of an enjoyable day out with a friend in the offing, Starlight smiled to herself, shutting her eyes, and made the most of the peace and quiet.

"Argh! Look out, Starlight!"

With barely any warning, and only just managing to shake herself out of a half-doze in time to step out of the way, Starlight's solitude was shattered by the arrival - the very noisy arrival - of Rainbow Dash, who crashed to a halt in front of her, having apparently plummeted from the sky in a most uncomfortable fashion.

"Rainbow! Are you alright?" Starlight gentle prodded the prone form of the pegasus, who was lying spreadeagled on the grass, panting heavily.

Opening her eyes briefly, Rainbow nodded, before resting her forehead on the cool earth. After a minute, in which Starlight was able to gather that, though winded, her friend didn't seem to be badly hurt, she suddenly stood up, and announced, "That - was - awesome!"

Eyes open wide in disbelief, Starlight exclaimed, "How could anyone call such a hard landing 'awesome'? You could've been seriously injured!"

Rainbow just grinned at her, and laughed her trademark superior laugh. "Heh-heh! Maybe any other pegasus, yes, but not the Fastest Pony in Equestria!"

Starlight rolled her eyes; whatever else she may have hurt in the crash, at least her friend's sense of self-esteem appeared undamaged. Changing the subject, she inquired, "What happened there, RD? You seemed to just fall out of the sky!"

Still getting her breath back, Rainbow nodded, tongue lolling in a highly comical manner. "I was trying a new stunt," she panted. "Only I've not quite worked out the ending yet. . ."

Raising an eyebrow in an I can see that and I think you're being rather reckless sort of way, Starlight shook her head as though in despair at her friend's antics.

Having now recovered sufficiently to breath normally again, Rainbow flexed each leg and both wings in turn, ensuring nothing was damaged. Apparently satisfied with these checks, she announced, "Okay! Let's go for this walk, then!"

So saying, she trotted off briskly into the wood, Starlight in tow.

Starlight had to admit that, whatever her friend's faults, she was impressed at how willingly Rainbow had agreed to this suggestion - when the unicorn had put it to her that they spend an afternoon together on an enjoyable woodland walk, she had fully expected Rainbow to pooh-pooh the idea, she being usually averse to any form of leisurely pursuit which did not involve flying in any way.

They wandered through the wood in silence for a while. Starlight quite enjoyed the presence of her close friends without feeling the need to make small talk, but Rainbow was obviously feeling a little uncomfortable at the lack of conversation, and seemed to be wracking her brains for something to say.

Eventually, as the two of them ceased walking for a while upon reaching a narrow, ancient bridge over a babbling beck, the sound of which Starlight found to be very soothing, Rainbow broke the peace, a forehoof self-consciously rubbing the back of her neck, by stammering, "S-so then, S-Starlight - how're you - y'know - f-feeling, and stuff?"

The unicorn couldn't help but smile at her friend's blatant discomfort. She had always known that Rainbow, as a rather narcissistic sort of pony, found any conversation regarding personal feelings and emotions - especially negative emotions - to be particularly difficult, and this was brought home to her now in both the stutter in Rainbow's voice, and the way she carefully avoided catching Starlight's eye, instead preferring to focus on the shimmering patterns of light thrown up by sunlight reflecting on the brook; she suspected that Rainbow was asking after Starlight's mental state largely out of a sense of obligation, perhaps having been pressured into doing so by one or more of their other friends.

She hastened to reassure the struggling pegasus. "I've been feeling a lot better lately, actually. Thank you for asking, Dash."

A look of intense relief washed over Rainbow's face, and she turned to look at Starlight again. "Phew! I mean," the quickly amended, "I'm really glad to hear you're doing alright now. After, y'know. . ."

She trailed off into another uncomfortable silence, and Starlight smiled. "It's alright Rainbow, I know what you mean."

Nodding her gratitude at the unicorn's tact, Rainbow grinned in return. After another minute or two of watching the water dancing beneath them, the pair continued their walk.

Not wishing Rainbow to feel more awkward than absolutely necessary, Starlight decided it was down to her to carry on the faltering conversation. "So, what've you been up to lately? I feel like I've hardly seen you, we've both been so busy!"

Rainbow chuckled. "Heh, I know what you mean! I've been doing a lot with the Wonderbolts; we've been getting ready for a new display pattern. We're going to debut it at the Summer Sun Celebration, and it's going to be awesome!"

Starlight smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. "I look forward to seeing it."

"How about you?" Rainbow asked in return, stepping cautiously round a particularly muddy patch in the path. "What have you been doing? Anything cool?"

"In a way," Starlight conceded. "I've been staying with our friends, on and off, for the past few months. Applejack had me around for a few weeks in February, and we went camping in the hills, which was tiring and cold, but still fun. Then I stayed with Rarity for a while, which was a lot more relaxing." Though she said this, Starlight couldn't help but think of the startling revelation with which Rarity had presented her, and hastily moved on before Rainbow could ask any potentially difficult questions. "After that I spent the weekend with Fluttershy, helping her with the influx of animals from Winter Wrap-up."

She paused, wanting to gauge Rainbow's reaction to this last statement; she thought she detected a slight reddening of the pegasus' cheeks at the mention of Fluttershy, but couldn't be sure. She continued, "After that the Cakes let me stay with Pinkie for a few days, and I helped them with running Sugarcube Corner. Well," she added, "perhaps 'help' isn't quite the right word. It was all so hectic and busy, and they seemed to be getting on just fine without me, so I mostly just watched and did the washing up!"

Rainbow laughed. "Heh-heh, that sure sounds like Pinkie Pie!"

"And then," Starlight continued, "I had a couple of weeks to myself, and that brings us up to now!"

"Sounds like you've had a great time then!" Rainbow enthused.

Starlight said nothing, preferring to leave the conversation to Rainbow for the moment. Something about the way her friend kept glancing shiftily to the side, ruffling her wings, and rubbing the back of her neck, strongly suggested to Starlight that there was something she wanted to say, but couldn't quite work up the courage to say it. So instead she waited, allowing the pegasus time to formulate her thoughts.

After a minute or so, Rainbow coughed self-consciously and, as if the thought had only just come to her and she was in no way particularly bothered what the answer should be, inquired, "Hmm! When - when you were staying with Fluttershy, did she. . . mention me, at all? Just, like, y'know, in passing or anything. Or whatever."

Internally, Starlight was punching the air with her hooves. I knew it! she thought excitedly. Outwardly, however, she remained the picture of placidity. "Well, let me think," she murmured, holding Rainbow in suspense with a sense of wicked enjoyment. "You know," she announced at last, "I think she did mention you. Y'know," she echoed, "just in passing."

Seeming even more uncomfortable than before, the usually so self-assured pegasus stuttered, "W-was it - like - d-did she say. . . I mean, was it a - a good mention?"

Perhaps something of the evil dictator remained in Starlight's psyche, for she couldn't resist holding her friend in suspense just a little longer, asking, as though she had no idea what Rainbow could possibly mean, "Why d'you ask?"

Visibly sweating now, her eyes darting rapidly from side to side, Rainbow scrunched up her muzzle in silent anxiety. After a few moments she seemed to come to some decision, saying, "Well, it's just that - you see, the thing is - the fact is, you see. . ."

Something seemed to tell her that she wasn't explaining herself very well, as she broke off again to remarshal whatever it was she was trying to say. "It's just that," she began eventually, and now very noticeably finding it difficult to retain her cool, collected composure, "It's just that I've always had a - a bit of a soft spot for Fluttershy, if you know what I mean. Like, as something. . . more than a friend. If you know what I mean," she repeated, as though for extra clarification.

Starlight decided she'd feigned ignorance long enough. "Oh, I see what you mean!" she cried, causing Rainbow to scan the skies in consternation, as though afraid their conversation might be overheard. "I think," the unicorn continued, "I think that you can be. . . hopeful on that front."

Rainbow, her anxiety disappearing in an instant, turned to Starlight with wonder in her eyes. "Really?" she gasped, acting for once like an excitable young filly, dropping completely the suave, debonair front she was always careful to present to the world. "You think - you think I might have a chance with her?"

Starlight smiled warmly. "I'm sure of it," she confided.

The lovestruck pegasus stopped dead, staring blankly into space, a wondrous expression on her blushing face. After a moment she turned to Starlight, grinning dopily. "Wow. . . thanks, Starlight!"

The pink unicorn refrained from pointing out that she hadn't actually done anything, other than passing on what she knew, instead choosing to savour the rare show of gratitude from Rainbow Dash. "Oh, that's alright," she twinkled, for all the world like an old uncle who had just informed his favourite niece that he'd bought her that dress she'd always wanted.

Much of the remainder of the walk was passed in silence, Rainbow seemingly fallen into a sort of happy trance. As the day waned to a close, and the pair made their way out from the wood and along the earthen path back to Ponyville, Rainbow finally spoke. "I never thought. . ." she began, her sentence petering out as her thoughts whirled.

Starlight beamed. "Well, now you do," she intoned suggestively, "And you can stop wasting time wondering about her!"

At that, Rainbow snapped out her daydream, wings poised alertly ready for flight. She seemed hesitant. "Er - thank you so much for a lovely walk, Starlight, it's been really nice to - y'know, to spend time with you, and all that. I was just - I was just thinking -"

The unicorn chuckled goodnaturedly, following the pegasus' train of thought completely. "It's alright, Rainbow. I understand perfectly." She winked, nodding to the sky in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage, which was just coming into sight at the edge of the Everfree over on the other side of the village. "I know my way home from here, and I think there's somepony waiting for you. . ."

Smiling gratefully, Rainbow suddenly lunged forward, giving the surprised Starlight a hug. "Thank you!" she cried again, before leaping into the air, and taking wing with all the speed the Fastest Pony in Equestria could muster.

As she watched her erstwhile companion shoot like a bolt into the distance, Starlight grinned to herself. "Miss Starlight Glimmer: Evil Dictator, Guidance Counsellor, and Matchmaker," she murmured aloud.

With her heart soaring almost as high as the clouds above, she began trotting briskly for home.
> Mauve: The Dragon, the Spoon and the Offer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smiling gratefully, Rainbow suddenly lunged forward, giving the surprised Starlight a hug. "Thank you!" she cried again, before leaping into the air, and taking wing with all the speed the Fastest Pony in Equestria could muster.

As she watched her erstwhile companion shoot like a bolt into the distance, Starlight grinned to herself. "Miss Starlight Glimmer: Evil Dictator, Guidance Counsellor, and Matchmaker," she murmured aloud.

With her heart soaring almost as high as the clouds above, she began trotting briskly for home.

The walk back through Ponyville, with the light beginning to fade into dusk and the streetlamps being carefully lit by the village's resident lamplighter, Candle Taper, was very pleasant, with the gentle hum of a populous preparing for the evening meal, young fillies and colts being taken upstairs to bed, a final few market traders collapsing their stalls till the morrow, and with the final rays of the darkling sky reflecting off windows and shopfronts.

It was with a bounce in her step that Starlight arrived outside the Castle of Friendship and, without bothering to knock - after all, she did live there - she pushed open the needlessly large, though no doubt highly impressive, crystalline doors, and passed within.

Inside, Starlight was met with a similarly cosy atmosphere. It had taken Twilight a long, long time to become used to the castle following the destruction of her beloved Golden Oaks Library during the Second Tirek War, and although Starlight hadn't been around at the time, she could appreciate the Princess' reservations - the castle could feel cold, empty and unforgiving at times, hardly conducive to an uplifted sense of wellbeing. But since her friends had done everything they could to make living in the castle more welcoming for Twilight, she had grown to enjoy living there, especially now she shared the vast hallways and deserted corridors with not only Spike, but Starlight Glimmer as well.

So now it was that, instead of clip-clopping echoingly down bare, chilly passageways, Starlight was instead met with a warm, glowing ambience, full of the sights, sounds and smells of home. As she padded comfortably along the carpet-floored corridors, taking pleasure in the light show provided by the sun's dying rays dashing on the prismic crystal which formed the castle's walls, she looked forward to a refreshing tea - of both the edible and the liquid variety - almost certainly prepared by the resident able cook, Spike the Dragon.

After a couple of minutes of trotting (no matter how long she lived there, the castle's interior always felt unnaturally large when compared with its visible exterior proportions!), she reached the huge wooden door which led into the dining room.

Or rather, it led into one of the dining rooms. Despite her friends' efforts, Twilight had never been at ease sharing her meals with Spike in the cavernous quarters which had originally been set aside for the purpose of eating, and had instead preferred to eat in either her bedroom, or in a small, informal chamber located off the Friendship Map room, which was accessible both from there and from the main hallway. After some months of living in the castle, Twilight had officially declared this room to be the new dining room, and since then the majority of their meals had been eaten in there. The exception was, of course, on occasions when a number of their friends were round to visit, as the new dining table was really too small to seat more than about four ponies (or dragons).

Of course, Starlight was already familiar with all of this 'castle lore', as Twilight would say, and was focussed instead on the heady aromas of the sumptuous tea which was waiting for her within; without hesitating she pushed open the door and headed inside.

"Ah, Starlight!" Twilight was already sat down at the circular table, spoon held eagerly in front of her, with Spike - still dressed in his chef's hat and apron - to her right. "You're just in time. Spike has made leek, lentil and potato soup, and it smells delicious!"

This last statement was certainly true, and Spike grinned bashfully as Starlight breathed in the air in appreciation. "Hmm, that smells tasty, Spike!"

"Ah, you guys!" the dragon blushed.

Without further ado, Starlight joined the others at the table, and together they began the solemn business of eating. After a few minutes of silent mastication, Twilight swallowed, and asked, "So, how was the walk with Rainbow Dash? Did she fly off almost straight away, or did she manage to stay on the ground long enough to have a conversation?"

Starlight grinned. "Actually, she barely took flight all day - with the exception of a crash-landing when we met up, she hardly spoke about flying the whole time, and only mentioned the Wonderbolts thirty-seven times!"

"That few? I'm impressed," Twilight acquiesced, while Spike snorted with repressed laughter. All three of them were very familiar with Rainbow's addiction for all things Wonderbolt.

"What d'ya talk about?" Spike inquired with his mouth full.

"Oh, quite a few a things." Starlight tilted her head to the side, thinking back to the day just gone. "As well as asking me how I was, which seemed to make her incredibly uncomfortable -" ("You know how she is when it comes to emotions!" chortled Spike) "- we got talking about our other friends. Don't worry," she added, seeing the mild anxiety on Twilight's face, "nothing unpleasant!"

Blinking in gentle relief, the alicorn smiled, and seemed about to say something, but Starlight forestalled her, eager to pass on the juicy titbit of gossip she had been storing up and looking forward to telling somepony ever since Rainbow had admitted her innermost feelings to her. "In fact, I learnt something quite interesting."

She paused, waiting for the encouragement she knew would come. As Twilight nodded encouragingly, Spike implored, "Well? Don't keep us in suspense, what did you learn?"

"I don't want to give too much away," Starlight tantalised, "But let's just say that I think Rainbow might be asking somepony something very important, right around now!"

After looking confused for a moment, an expression of sudden realisation and understanding washed over Spike's face, but Twilight still seemed nonplussed. "Something important? Like a lot important, or more like only a bit important?"

"Oh," Starlight intimated, "I think it's very important indeed. . ."

Twilight still looked blank.

Starlight tried again; "I think she - Rainbow - is going to ask somepony special - a yellow somepony, perhaps - a very special question - about their relationship. Maybe. Possibly."

"Er. . . wh-what?" Twilight wondered in desperation, still not grasping what Starlight was trying to tell her, and completely oblivious to the fact that Starlight was attempting to do so in a non 'I totally just told you what was probably a secret' sort of way.

Starlight facehooved. "Think about what I'm saying, Twilight. Rainbow - is asking - somepony very special - an important question. A very personal question! Do you get it?"

After a moment, Twilight's face cleared, and she smiled self-consciously. "Oh, I see!" she announced. "Yes, I see. . . No, I'm afraid I still don't get it."

Starlight burst (metaphorically). "Oh, for Celestia's sake! Rainbow's loves Fluttershy and has done for years and she's going to ask her out!"

As the unicorn slumped back in her chair, seemingly worn out from the effort of not only having kept this interesting snippet of gossip to herself for so long, but from trying to explain it in such a way as Twilight's thoroughly logical brain could understand.

"Oh!" Twilight cried. "Now I get it! Wow," she added thoughtfully, "That is surprising. . ."

Spike merely raised an eyebrow as though he'd known all of this for a long, long time, and said nothing, merely sharing a knowing smirk with Starlight.

As Twilight seemed to be deep in thought - she had, in fact, stopped eating with the spoon still levitating halfway to her muzzle - the three of them ate in silence for a while. It wasn't until they had almost finished the soup (or, rather, finished the first helping thereof - Spike, knowing that Starlight's appetite had returned now that she was recovering from her depression, always made enough for seconds and thirds) that the Princess spoke again.

"Huh," she murmured, apparently still amazed at the startling revelation of Rainbow's feelings for Fluttershy, before shaking her in an attempt to clear her mind. "Well," she continued, "I have something of my own I'd like to share with you both, seeing as we're all here like this."

Starlight, sensing Twilight was a little uncertain over what she was about to saying, put down her soup and listened intently, breaking the focus of her attention only to smack Spike lightly over the head with her spoon; he had been absorbed in licking out the last remains of the dish from inside the pan, and looked up, surprised, before realising that something was happening. He, too, temporarily stopped eating.

The air was heavy with anticipation, and as the seconds ticked by without Twilight saying anything further, Starlight's left eye starting twitching with the suspense; the Princess was staring at the table, muzzle scrunched up in consideration, her eyes absentmindedly studying the ornate tablecloth. (The cloth had been a gift from Princess Luna and, although perhaps rather too 'Gothic' for Twilight's taste, she had felt too polite to say anything, and now felt obliged to lay it out on the table whenever they happened to be eating after nightfall.)

After the second minute of deathly silence had passed by without anything more being said, and just as Spike was about to share a raised-eyebrow-glance with Starlight, the unicorn had had enough. "Come on Twilight! Either spit it out, or tell us you've changed your mind! You're killing us here!"

At this, Twilight suddenly jumped, as though she had been in a trance, and apologised profusely. "Oh, I'm so sorry! It's just that I remembered a problem I had been working on this morning regarding the presence of pheromones in changeling courtship norms, and whether what I was studying could be applied in an abstract way to modern Equestrian society as a whole, drawing on the writings of Haycartes. . ."

She trailed off, surprised at the disbelieving looks on the faces of Starlight and Spike. Then she remembered where she was, who she was, and what she was doing, and stammered, "Oh! I'm s-so sorry! I d-didn't mean to go off on a t-tangent like that!"

The other two both smiled indulgently - they knew Twilight very well, after all. They watched in silent mirth as the obsessive-compulsive alicorn wracked her brains for whatever it was she had been meaning to say.

Eventually, she started. "Ah, that was it! I remember now. What I was going to say," she declared, "was that, as you seem to be so much better now, Starlight - and please correct me if I'm wrong," she added hastily, "- I was wondering if you'd like to return to your place as guidance counsellor at the School?"

Spike sighed; it was evident that he had been expecting something just a little more momentous than that, but Starlight merely smiled, and considered what Twilight was offering.

Am I really ready? she thought. Do I really want to take that back on? It's a lot of work, and not just in the literal sense. Although she could never be certain, Starlight had often wondered if the emotional strain of her role as counsellor, rather than the physical element, could be partly to blame for her fall into depression the previous autumn. Am I well enough to take that responsibility back on? What if I become ill again. . ?

But even as she thought this, Starlight knew that things would be different now. Before, she hadn't realised just how strong her friendships had been, and had had no idea of how much she could rely on her friends to help her through difficult times. And now she knew: whether it was Applejack's sage words of wisdom, Rarity's obvious trust in her, Fluttershy's openness and willingness to share her innermost sentiments, Pinkie Pie's infectious enthusiasm, Rainbow's simple, awkward show of empathy, the teasing, banterous humour she could share with Spike, or how the troubled, neurotic Twilight had been so willing to forgive her and welcome her into their lives; Starlight knew - without a shadow of a doubt - that she could always, always, rely on her friends for kindness, compassion, and a helping hoof when times were hard. I am so lucky, she thought. With these ponies - and dragon! - by my side, I can do anything.

Looking up, Starlight smiled warmly, and said simply: "I'd love to."

Twilight smiled back.
> Spectrum: Six Months Later
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As she sat contentedly in a comfortable chair, warmed by the evening sun on her back, her friends all around her, and with a happy, quiet smile on her face, Starlight realised something: Not only was today Summer Sun Eve, but it marked six months to the day since she had written the frightened, stumbling note which sparked her journey of recovery from depression.

Six months. . . In that time, Starlight had emotionally blossomed, turning from the sad, guilt-ridden unicorn she had been into a stable, joyful pony on whom her friends could rely, just as she had relied on them.

As she thought back to how she had felt last December, as though she were alone in the world and with nopony to lean on, Starlight felt almost amazed at how naïve she had been - and concerned at how easily she had fallen in that dark, cloying web of despair that was depression. How could I have been so blind? she wondered. How could I ever have believed that my friends didn't care enough to want to help?

But those thoughts and fears were the essence of the illness, a trap from which nopony could free themselves once ensnared. Delusional? Yes. Unreasonable? Yes. But just as no-one expects a broken limb to heal without help, so too had Starlight learnt that mental health required just as much support and care, and she had grown to trust and to accept that her friends really did care for her, and would be there should she ever need their help.

How lucky I am.

Her slightly wistful, warmhearted thoughts were interrupted by a gentle nudge to her shoulder. "You feeling alright, sugarcube?" Applejack murmured discreetly. "You've been awful quiet."

Starlight smiled gratefully - yet another reminder of how much her friends cared. "Thank you, AJ," she replied, "I'm fine. In fact, I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have all of you as friends - I know now that I won't ever be alone again."

Nodding in agreement, the farmpony grinned. "Nope! I'm afraid you're stuck with us for good, Starlight."

Together, the two ponies turned back to the meal laid out in front of them, tucking in with rapture to the wondrous repast which Spike had prepared - with Twilight and Starlight's help.

For with eight ponies and one dragon sitting down to dine - Starlight, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Spike himself and even Trixie, who had finished her Yes I'm Back Again: The Great and Powerful Trixie's Hello Equestria Tour of Wonder and Delight - there was simply too much to bake, boil and batter for the dragon to handle alone, in spite of his famous culinary prowess. (Or rather, Spike insisted it was famous - at least, maybe in Ponyville and the Crystal Empire.)

For some minutes the nine companions enjoyed their meal together in silence, a silence broken only by the sounds of chewing, spoons and dishes clanking, and Pinkie Pie slurping - something which she would never dream of doing at home on the Pie farm, but comfortable enough with her friends not to worry about doing so around them.

After about twenty minutes, Starlight broke her peace, and cleared her throat peremptory to speech. "Hmm! Everypony," she began, when certain she had the attention of all those present, "I'm so glad you could all be here tonight, because there's something I want to say to you all."

The others all looked at her in anticipation, and she couldn't help but feel a little jolt of joy at the thought that they - these ponies - were her friends, ponies who would stick by her through thick and through thin. "I just wanted to say," she continued, "How grateful I am for the love, and compassion, and understanding, and companionship you have all shown me over the last few months. Yes, even you Trixie," she reassured the abashed magician, who had been away for almost the entirety of the last few months, "Because you carried on sending me messages and letters even while you were on tour, and I know how busy you are. So thank you, too."

Trixie smiled demurely, apparently gratified at this public show of appreciation. "The Great and Powerful Trixie," she trilled, "Will always be there for her closest and most special friend."

So saying, she began fluttering her eyelashes at Starlight in a manner which was slightly confusing to the unicorn, being both unexpectedly forward and uncharacteristically suggestive; Starlight swallowed somewhat nervously. Over the past few years she had grown very fond of Trixie, perhaps more so than she had previously realised - but recently the cerulean magician had been acting in a highly. . . flirtatious manner, and Starlight wasn't sure if she was ready for what Trixie seemed to be suggesting.

Her awkwardness seemed to have been picked up on by everypony else in the room, and a strained silence fell, which only Trixie herself seemed not to notice, instead continuing to stare with half-lidded eyes at her mortified friend.

Seeing Starlight's discomfort, Rainbow took it upon herself to diffuse the tension. "Well!" she coughed loudly, her attempt at breaking the atmosphere so obvious that everypony couldn't help but chuckle at the pegasus' lack of tact (which, to be fair, did successfully draw attention away from Trixie and Starlight, so her actions were not completely devoid of merit). "Fluttershy and I," she continued as though nothing had happened, and with such a display of self-assured swagger that more than a few of those present raised a disbelieving eyebrow, "have something to tell you all."

Everypony turned to look at the timid yellow pegasus, her already naturally pale hue having blanched even further. Eyes wide in horror, she tilted her head to hide behind her mane, gave vent to a muted, anxious whimper, and shrank beneath the table.

"Oh, don't be shy, 'Shy," Rainbow encouraged, rooting around beneath the table, feeling for the top of Fluttershy's head. Having found her, she began stroking her mane soothingly, grinning apologetically at the others. Addressing Fluttershy directly again, she murmured, "It's alright, 'Shy. I know you're embarrassed, but it's okay. You can hide behind me, if you like."

Starlight was touched, and more than a little surprised, by this unusual show of consideration from the typically self-centred Fastest Pony in Equestria. Together with the rest of her friends, she watched silently as Fluttershy slowly reappeared from beneath the table; without saying a word, Rainbow shifted the pegasus' chair slightly so that she was seated in such a way as to be shielded from the direct view of the majority of those at the table.

After Fluttershy had sat down again, Rainbow sat down herself, smiling round at everypony in a half-superior, half-delighted fashion. "Yes," she tried again, "Fluttershy and I have something to tell you all. Or rather," - she glanced at the cowering yellow mare behind her - "I have something to tell you."

She paused for dramatic effect. All the other ponies (and dragon) leant forward in their chairs expectantly.

"You see," Rainbow carried on, "Fluttershy and I have known each other for a very long time. Our whole lives, in fact. And we've grown to be very. . . close."

She paused again, this time apparently not to heighten the tension - though this was an understandable side-effect - but rather to gather her thoughts, something which was rarely necessary for somepony so self-aware as Rainbow. Eventually she seemed to come to some decision, her growing excitement very much in evidence, and suddenly announced:

"Fluttershy and I are going out!"

Then she fell silent, and instead of gazing round at her spellbound audience, as she would normally do, she instead turned to check that the object of her affections was alright, and hadn't melted through the floor.

There was a moment's breathless silence - then all hell broke loose, as everypony began shouting all at once.

"Oh wow, that's amazing!"

"Ah always knew you two had something going on!"

"Why, that is quite the revelation, darling!"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie expected this all along - but she congratulates you all the same!"

"This calls for a celebration - a cupcake celebration!"

Starlight merely smirked knowingly, and winked at Fluttershy, who smiled coyly back. The only other pony to remain silent was Twilight, who was staring absentmindedly at Rainbow and frowning in a confused sort of way. As the barrage of congratulations died away, and Fluttershy managed to sum up the courage to join her fillyfriend at the table again, the Princess spoke: "But. . . but I didn't know you two were - that you were fillyfoolers!"

Fluttershy blushed again, but Rainbow and the others just stared at Twilight disbelievingly - for all of about four seconds, before they burst as one into laughter.

"Oh Twilight!" Rainbow sniggered, "You are funny!"

As the alicorn was still looking rather blank, Rarity took pity on her. "You see, darling," she explained gently, "While Fluttershy has always been rather. . . adept, shall we say, at hiding her feelings, Rainbow Dash has always been rather more - rather more obvious in displaying her - hmm! - her carnal desires."

"Oh! I see," said Twilight, in such a way that it was perfectly clear to everypony that actually no, she didn't see.

As the ponies calmed down, Spike summed up what they were all thinking (except perhaps Twilight, who still didn't seem to fully understand what was going on). "This is really lovely news, guys! I'm sure you two will be just great for each other."

Rainbow smiled in a smug sort of way, and even Fluttershy, having seen how supportive her friends were, felt sure enough of herself to blink gratefully.

A few moments of silence passed while everypony digested this new piece of information, and considered internally what it might mean for their friendships. After a short while, Trixie, after clearing her throat in an uncharacteristically nervous manner, stood up, and announced: "The Great and Powerful Trixie also has something very important to say!"

Everypony else turned to look at her, giving her their full attention, all feeling a pleasant sense of eager anticipation.

All of them, that is, except for Starlight, who had an idea of what her closest friend might be about to say, and was hurriedly running through all the options for suitable replies in her mind, just in case they should become necessary.

After a needlessly long pause that was evidently just for dramatic effect - something of which the magician was very fond, and which tended to become annoying after a while, though on this occasion Starlight found the extra thinking time very helpful, being able to come to a half-decision - Trixie continued with her announcement. "Trixie - I," she amended, with the change to a more normal, first-person mode of speech immediately heightening everypony else's interest, "I have known you now, Starlight, for almost five years, and we have become very, very close friends. In fact," - she paused to arrange her thoughts - "In fact, you are the closest friend the Great and Pow- I mean, that I have ever had. So I was sort of wondering, " - both Trixie and Starlight swallowed nervously - "If you would - maybe - sort of just - I mean, Trixie is saying. . . Wouldyouliketogoonadatewithme?"

She sat down hurriedly, looking almost as embarrassed as Fluttershy had not five minutes before, as she waited in tense anticipation for Starlight's response - as did everypony else.

I knew it! Starlight congratulated herself, before immediately feeling a sense of almost overwhelming confusion. Oh no! I don't know if I'm ready for this. . . I don't even know how I feel about her! I do like her a lot, but like that? I don't know. . . As the silence dragged on, Trixie was beginning to look more and more horrified at her public confession, and appeared to be on the cusp of bolting for the door.

The tension was, fortunately, broken by Pinkie Pie (of course!), who whisper-shouted to Rarity in tones that everypony else could easily hear, "I think she's going to say yes!"

As muffled laughter swept round the room in response to this statement, Starlight sat up straight, having apparently made up her mind. She took a deep breath, and looked Trixie straight in the eye. Just pretend there's nopony else in the room! "I think," she said aloud, pausing almost as long as Trixie had, though in this instance the hesitation was to make really, completely certain she was sure she wanted what she was going to say, "I think that sounds like a great idea - I'd love to!"

Without even sighing in relief, which is what everyone else in the room did, Trixie stood up on her hindlegs and hoof-pumped the air, exclaiming, "Yes! Trixie knew you would say that!"

Starlight merely rolled her eyes affectionately at her quite adorably conceited friend, and blushed at the knowing smiles and glances of their other friends. Making her way round to sit next to the magician, she implored, "But please, Trixie - next time you're going to make a public declaration like that, warm me first!"

Shrugging her shoulders apologetically, Trixie levitated Starlight's chair over from where she had been sitting next to Applejack, and plumped it down to her right. Still blushing bashfully, the two unicorns tried to act as though nothing had happened; Starlight managed successfully to draw attention away from themselves by nodding her head towards Twilight, who was once more looking thoroughly perplexed. "You 'kay, Twilight?"

"B-but, but!" the Princess stammered, "But surely you're not fillyfoolers as well?"

"The Great and Powerful Trixie has always been a lover of the - of the gentle sex," the pale blue unicorn trilled, seemingly once more quite at her ease, and delighting in being the centre of everypony’s attention.

Starlight seemed less certain. "Well," she began, "Even I wasn't quite sure, until just now. I'd often wondered if I could be a fillyfooler, because. . . Well, y'know, stuff like I'd always feel more attracted to fillies than colts when I was younger, and more to mares than stallions now I'm older. But I never really - really realised. . ."

She trailed off, in both uncertainty at her own feelings, and in amusement at Twilight's still befuddled expression.

"Quick!" chortled Spike, "Someone else make a confession, we've found her one weakness!"

This brought another round of laughter, even from Twilight, who immediately looked more comfortable again. "Well," she intoned, "This is going to make an interesting friendship lesson - 'always expect the unexpected'!"

As everypony around her joined in the merriment, Starlight smiled contentedly to herself. She was warm, and safe, and with ponies she loved. Over the past few months her friends had shown her the true meaning of friendship, and had helped her to see just how much she could rely on them when feeling blue.

After her guilty, self-conscious admission of illness and the first, tentative plea for help she had made in the form of an anonymous note all those months ago, each and every one of her friends had been there for her. First had been Rarity, who had shown her that she didn't have to struggle alone, and had managed to convince her to ask the others for their guidance and care.

Then there had been Applejack, who had provided her with sage words of wisdom, passed down from her own late parents, which gave a source of comfort to Starlight in her more wistful moments. When she thought back to her own, fraught childhood, Starlight couldn't help but feel sad that it had come to so soon an end - but then she would recall Applejack's wisdom, 'It's better to by happy that something happened at all, than that it has come to an end', and retain her peace of mind.

After staying with Applejack, Starlight had spent a few days with Rarity who, rather than trying to show her support directly had, perhaps subconsciously, done something even better: She had trusted Starlight with her most private secret, and in so doing had proven beyond a doubt that she considered Starlight to be her friend, and someone to whom the unicorn could turn should she ever need somepony just to talk to.

Shortly thereafter had been her stay with Fluttershy, whose quiet, calm companionship and easy, willing trust had been like a tonic to the troubled Starlight. The pegasus managed to sum up all the qualities which Starlight herself sometimes lacked, but valued in a friend - modesty and humility, placidity and gentleness, sympathy and a willing ear. She, too, had trusted Starlight with her innermost desires, and the unicorn was delighted the timid pegasus should feel able to do so.

Then had been her short stay with Pinkie Pie and the Cake family at Sugarcube Corner - and what a stay it had been! Busy, hectic, frantic, overwhelming - these adjectives could all be used to accurately describe the weekend they had shared together. But Starlight had come away feeling, not exhausted as she had feared she would, but with a sense of elation and joy, brought on by spending time with her most enthusiastic and ever-glowing friend.

Her walk with Rainbow Dash had been equally enjoyable, though in a different way. The fact that a pony so self-centred and immodest as the 'Fastest Pony in Equestria' should go out of her way to spend a whole afternoon with her on the ground, and be ready to ask about her emotional wellbeing despite feeling embarrassed in so doing, meant a lot to Starlight, and she was grateful for Rainbow's awkward, honest friendship.

Finally, there had been the days and nights she had had with Twilight Sparkle and Spike, two of the first creatures who had willingly accepted her as their friend following her redemption and forgiveness. The easy, bantering humour she shared with Spike, and intellectually stimulating conversations she was able to have with Twilight - who was, after all, one of the very few ponies who could match her own magical prowess - made for some of her most treasured memories.

And throughout it all, during her whole journey from the deepest depths of darkness and despair, to her now almost total recovery from the cloying, relentless illness that is depression, had been letters of sympathy and care from her closest friend, Trixie Lulamoon. Though the magician had been unable to be present herself for the majority of the past six months, her empathetic letters had brought invaluable relief to Starlight during her darker days and nights.

And now. . . Starlight was reminded again of this latest step in her relationship with her friends, and of their own friendships with each other. She had played an instrumental part in showing Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy that their restrained, bashful feelings for one another were not only welcomed but returned, and now she had a new journey of her own to begin: It was time to start planning for the future, and working out Trixie's place therein.

Glancing to the mare to her left, Starlight realised that beneath the pretentious, show-offy front she presented to the world there was a frightened, lonely pony, who needed Starlight's companionship more than perhaps either of them fully understood. And she discovered, quite naturally and as if it had always been the inevitable outcome, that she was ready for that voyage to begin.

With her friends all talking, laughing, and joking in joyful, wondrous friendship, Starlight smiled to herself. Never in her life had she felt so comfortable, so. . . together, with other ponies, as she felt in that moment.

And she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they would each be with her, right to the very end.