Shining Feather

A day or so passed and Shining Star was deep in thought. She didn't know what to do about Celestia's offer. It was too good to be true, but it made her happy just thinking about it. Luna and Celestia were off doing some of their royal duties which left her alone in the castle. They asked her to stay indoors until she was ready to be seen which was okay with her. She really didn't like big groups of people.

She was looking over some plans when a familiar voice spoke out to her. “Hello Shining Star”

Shining Star turned and saw Cadance behind her. “Oh...Cadance..”

“How are you holding up?” Cadance asked walking up to her.

“I'm...I'm fine” Shining Star said quietly.

“Have you adjusted to your new life outside?” Cadance asked with a smile.

“....It's fine..” Shining Star didn't really know how to speak with Cadance so she was nervous. “It's almost like a dream..”

“Well I hope you can adjust to it soon” Cadance said.

“Uh...okay...” Shining Star tried to speak but she couldn't do it well.

“Still scared of people huh? It's okay we can work on that” Cadance pointed out. “Maybe we should go out and visit Twilight? You like her right?”

“Yes..” Shining Star admitted with a nod.

“Well you can't see her from inside this place. Shall we go?” Cadance asked extending her hand out.

Shining Star stopped what she was doing and looked away from her hand. “Okay...”

Cadance let out a sigh. “Right”

They walked out of the castle and headed to Ponyville. Of course Shining Star had to dress up in a cloak to hide herself.

Meanwhile in Ponyville Twilight was looking into the mirror wondering how it worked. She got that she could see her friends. But only knew there was something off about them. She closed her eyes and focused on Fluttershy for a bit. She steadied her breathing and waited.

The mirror glowed gently and she felt lighter. Her wings were in the air and she opened her eyes. She realized she was no longer in her room but in the sky floating. “Huh?”

She looked down and at her hands she then realized she was in Fluttershy's body. “Whoa!”

Her voice and body were that of Fluttershy's. She looked around confused wondering if she fell asleep. Then Misty Gale flew up to her. “Hey there Fluttershy. Are you ready for some more lessons?”

“Misty?” Twilight spoke but Fluttershy's voice came out. “We're really high up. What are we doing here?”

“Well you said you wanted to conquer your fears and what better way then to face them?” Misty pointed out. “We're going to do a drop session today. I want you to pull in your wings and drop. Then pick yourself up with your wings before you hit something”

“That doesn't sound safe at all!” Twilight said shocked. “Your making Fluttershy do these crazy stunts!?”

“Uh...are you feeling okay Fluttershy? When did you start talking in third person?” Misty asked cocking her head.

“Oh uh..how will this help Flu-I mean me?” Twilight asked.

“Your scared of just about everything, and with your past I understand why. So in order to stand your ground. You first need to fall” Misty said.

“My past?” Twilight asked. She wondered what she meant by that but didn't want to pry on Fluttershy's secrets.

“You know what I mean. The whole being a mentally abused orphan thing” Misty said. “Don't let your past rule you kiddo. Your strong. Beautiful and crazy amazing. You just lack confidence”

“Mentally abused...orphan?” Twilight whispered to herself. “Fluttershy....I never knew...I'm sorry”

In the corner of her eyes she saw a black figure watching her. She couldn't make it out but she felt like if she looked at it it would vanish. She stopped and breathed slowly. Her mind going back into her own, she slowly opened her eyes and saw herself back in her own room looking at the mirror.

“So that's what the mirror really does...seeing literally through the eyes of others...but what was that figure..” Twilight asked herself.

She decided to try again this time with Pinkie Pie. She slowed her breathing down and focused again. She felt the gentle glow of the mirror and closed her eyes again. It didn't take long before she opened her eyes again and saw herself as Pinkie in the Cake's shop.

Twilight saw Winter Sugar working. “Pinkie are you sure about this?”

“Sure about what?” Twilight asked as Pinkie.

“Your not quitting on your crazy job schemes?” Winter asked. “Your killing yourself”

“But...why would Pinkie-I mean...I kill myself over jobs?” Twilight asked.

“I know your worried about being a big sister. Setting a good example is important to you. But it's not a good example to work yourself to the bone. If you don't take a break you'll be too exhausted when you go to see your sister” Winter explained.

“So that's why Pinkie has been acting off” Twilight said to herself. “Each of them has a problem they-”

She stopped as she saw the figure in the corner of her eye again. “Huh?”

Twilight closed her eyes quickly and went back to her own body. She sighed knowing she didn't have any idea why she was seeing that figure. She shook her head and focused again. This time on Rarity. But this time nothing happened.

“What the?” Twilight tightened her eyes closed and focused but she just sat there confused.

She decided to move on and come back to Rarity later. She brought her thoughts over to Applejack. She focused and waited for a bit. Then she found herself in Applejack's farm with Nightwish looking over the field of trees.

“It's nice to just relax huh?” Nightwish asked laying back on her chair.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked as Applejack.

“Well from all your crazy thrill seeking. You haven't been the same after your last adventure with the girls. I can tell you have been missing the girls. And that's why your acting out, you just want your friends to be around again, and I understand that believe me. But I have to agree with your family, your not alone like you think you are” Nightwish explained.

“Oh...” Twilight realized it was because of her and the others that Applejack was acting like a crazy thrill seeker. She had to put a stop to this. Before she could say another word the figure appeared in her line of sight once more. She could tell it wasn't all in her mind and she felt like she knew the figure.

She closed her eyes and left Applejack's body, her thoughts still on the figure. She knew if she could see the rest she would figure out what it was.

She then focused the magic of the mirror to Rainbow Dash and opening her eyes she saw nothing. It made sense due to her being blind. But she could hear Sharp Petal talking to her. “You okay Rainbow Dash?”

“Uh...” Twilight wasn't sure of what to say.

“It's okay. I understand nobody likes to be trapped in a wheelchair. I'm sure you'll see again...you must feel hurt from losing everything you cared about from the people you respected so much” Sharp Petal said.

Twilight felt a sense of hurt from Rainbow Dash's body. And a feeling she was being watched. She shook her head and spoke for Rainbow Dash. “There has to be a way to fix these eyes...”

“Yeah...I'm sure there is” Sharp Petal said in a sad tone.

Twilight sighed and left her body. She opened her eyes and nodded. “Don't worry Rainbow Dash...I'll find a way to fix you”

Twilight adjusted herself and focused on Rarity. However there was a sudden spark in her mind making it impossible for her to see through Rarity's eyes. “Hmm..”

“I managed to find out a lot about what's been going on with them. They all have problems that need attention. I have to do something to help them...if they will listen to me”

Twilight sat up and stretched a little. She then adjusted her skirt and walked out of her room. Right outside Velvet was standing there. “Hey mom what is it?”

“Your not going to believe this. But I have been feeling a darkness outside the castle...it's like everyone is affected but can't see it” Velvet explained.

“What?” Twilight knew she and her mother had similar magical senses but if her mom was able to feel it. She had to see it through the eyes of the affected. “So that's what it was...”

Velvet held her arm a bit scared. “I have goosebumps every time I look outside”

“It's...it's some sort of monster, I feel like I know who it is...but I can't figure it out..” Twilight said.

“Whatever it is...I don't want to leave this place until it's gone” Velvet said taking a step back. “Don't go out side tonight...okay?”

“But I have to help my friends” Twilight pointed out.

“Please...just don't...” Velvet asked.

“Well I...maybe..” Twilight wasn't sure if she could keep her word about not helping her friends.

Velvet was about to say something when there was a knock on the door. “Who is that?”

Twilight shrugged and went down to the front doors of the castle and opened them. “Hello?”

Cadance smiled as she opened the door. “Hey Twilight!”

“Cadance!” Twilight grinned and hugged her. “Hey there!”

Velvet came down and looked a lot better seeing her. “Cadance darling. How are you!?”

“Your here too mom?” Cadance asked walking in and hugging them both.

“It's been a crazy past few days” Velvet said. She didn't want Cadance to know about the break up. She mainly just didn't want to talk about it.

“I believe you. This whole town was..off when we got here” Cadance said.

“We?” Twilight asked looking around. “But your alone”

“No I'm not” Cadance said looking back. “She's just outside”

Twilight cocked her head and looked outside. Right at the door was a cloaked girl. She was looking down so the hood hid her face. “What...are you?”

“He-hey....Twilight...” Shining Star said walking in looking down the while time.

“Shining Star? You came to visit? That's great!” Twilight said hugging her. “I could use something to get my mind off things”

“What's wrong Twilight?” Shining Star asked with a blush.

“My friends are all being affected by something strange and I don't know how to help them” Twilight said.

Cadance went over to them and patted Twilight on the shoulder. “Can we talk...alone?”

“Sure Cadance” Twilight said leaving with her upstairs. “What do you want to talk about?”

“It's about Shining Star...Celestia told me in a letter about her past...it's bad” Cadance said.

“I think I know, the terrasects told me about her being the daughter of Sombra. Her mother wasn't killed but banished and a few other things” Twilight answered.

“Yes but they didn't tell you the full details. Luna was jumped by Sombra and told everything. Everything she knows is a lie. We can't tell her about it until she's ready. Are you okay with that?” Cadance explained.

“Sure. It's to harsh to let her know yet” Twilight said.

“Okay good. And the next bit of of news is on a good note. Celestia is thinking about adopting Shining Star. All Shining Star has to do is say yes!” Cadance said happily.

“Wow! She'll be your cousin then won't she!?” Twilight said with a smile.

“Yep. And that means she'll be part of our family. She'll have a family. A real one” Cadance said.

“That's wonderful news!” Twilight said. She was glad to have something good happen for once.

“Now let's discuss what's been going on lately” Cadance said bringing Twilight into her room.

Shining Star noticed Velvet and walked into another room to avoid her. But it didn't work with her following her. “Hello there. Are you one of Twilight's friends?”

“Uh...” Shining Star nodded.

Velvet could tell she was shy. Much worse then that Fluttershy girl. “You have family?”

Shining Star shook her head as her response. Velvet went over to her and smiled. “I look at you and I can see a aura of good around you”

“You can see auras?” Shining Star asked finally speaking.

“It's one of my special magic ability's” Velvet said.

“Twilight's family is all magical?” Shining Star asked quietly.

“Well yeah” Velvet said with a nod. “We come from a long line of magical unicorns”

“It must be nice to know so much about your family” Shining Star said.

“You don't know about your own family?” Velvet asked.

“I don't even know my parents let alone anyone else” Shining Star said quietly.

“Well you must have someone who wants to be a part of your family. Right?” Velvet continued her questions.

“Actually...someone does...she asked me to join her family, I just haven't decided if I should or not” Shining Star said confused about her answer to Celestia's words still.

“Do you want to be part of her family?” Velvet asked with a smile.

“I...I do...” Shining Star replied.

“Then it's a simple answer if you ask me” Velvet pointed out.

“You know...you really are Twilight's mother. I can see where Twilight gets her heart” Shining Star smiled at her finally. “Thanks”

“That's sweet of you to say” Velvet said. “It's been a pleasure”

Shining Star nodded and Velvet walked away. Cadance and Twilight came down as Velvet left. “Hey Shining Star. Sorry for making you wait”

Shining Star didn't say anything but she was smiling. Twilight went over to her and looked her over. “Do you want to go into town with me?”

“I uh...Celestia and Luna don't want me out until I'm ready to reveal myself to the people...” Shining Star said fiddling with her fingers. “I don't want to make a scene”

“Girls!?” Velvet called from the next room. “You better come look at this!”

They stopped and went into the room where Velvet was. She was looking out the window. They went over to her and looked out the window with her. The outside was darker then normal. In fact the sky was swirling with a black cloud moving on it's own.

“What in the world!?” Cadance asked with a gasp.

“That's...that's not normal...is this Sombra's doing?” Twilight asked confused.

“Sombra?” Velvet had no idea what she was talking about but she knew it was bad.

“Sombra...” Shining Star felt her heart beat faster then normal hearing that name.

“We have to check this out!” Twilight said before she dashed outside.

Twilight ran out of her castle and watched as the dark cloud swirled above. “What's going on?”

“Hahaha!” Twilight heard a laugh to her side making her turn towards it.

Pinkie was right there and she was laughing at the sky before she threw some cupcakes at some people. “Hahaha! It's all swirly!!”

“Pinkie! This is no laughing matter!” Twilight called out. “What are you doing!?”

“Oh like YOU would know what's funny!?” Pinkie said annoyed making her stop laughing. “Ms. Gets everything handed to her!”

Twilight was hurt by those words, but she knew this darkness was the problem. “Pinkie. This isn't you! Snap out of it!”

“Oh please. Like you would know who I am!” Pinkie said. Her eyes glowed a green darkness. Twilight could tell Sombra's evil was inside her.

Pinkie took more cupcakes and loaded her party cannon. “Time to play Twilight!”

Twilight remembered what the mirror showed her and backed up. “Pinkie...is this how you want your baby sister to see you when you go see her!?”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Pinkie growled. “My baby sister is none of your business!”

“Put the cannon down Pinkie...let's remain calm okay?” Twilight tried to calm her friend down.

“No! Your the problem! Your the reason I'm always stuck in town cheering everyone else up! What about my feelings huh!? I work harder then any pony ever did! I work overtime and even more then that. So when do I get to play and have fun?” Pinkie said before firing a cupcake at Twilight.

Twilight ducked and looked back to see the cupcake slam into a rock and break it apart. “What kind of cupcakes are those!?”

“I have no idea! But it's fun!!” Pinkie said shooting more cupcakes. “Hahaha!”

“Pinkie! Enough!” Twilight shouted. As she shouted she saw Shining Star jump behind Pinkie and grab her arms making her drop the cannon.

“Hey! Who are you!” Pinkie asked annoyed. “My cupcakes!”

“Aren't you friends!? Attacking each other won't solve anything!” Shining Star said as loudly as her quiet voice let her. “It's wrong!”

“What would you know!? Twilight doesn't care about us! She only thinks about her job as princess! Well we all have problems too!” Pinkie said in anger.

“Watch out Shining Star, their under Sombra's control!” Twilight said.

Shining Star looked at Pinkie and saw the darkness inside her. “Wait..I know what to do...”

Shining Star's horn glowed and she touched Pinkie's head with it. Pinkie's eyes and mouth glowed for a second before a black mist came out of her and went into Shining Star's horn making her wince from a sudden sharp pain.

Twilight watched in awe as Pinkie shook her head confused. “Where...what was I doing?”

“Pinkie your okay!” Twilight went over to her and hugged her. “You were taken over by Sombra's magic, I was so worried!”

Twilight looked over at Shining Star worried. “What did you do?”

“Actually...all I really did was use a spell to take an evil and put it into myself. It's a forbidden spell” Shining Star pointed out. “Thanks to you I learned what was troubling her and was able to pinpoint the darkness in her”

“Wait...I remember...” Pinkie spoke up. “I was so scared about how to act around my new sister, and all the stress of my jobs I started to take my stress out on my friends...oh my Celestia....what I did to Winter Sugar....she'll never forgive me”

“It's not your fault Pinkie. Sombra's back and he is infecting the town with his evil. Everyone is getting hurt” Twilight explained.

“That's not good, no wonder we're all acting off, but how come you and this girl isn't affected?” Pinkie asked.

“I don't know..” Twilight said. “Maybe this is an attack for revenge?”

“I think it's more then that” Cadance said walking out. “I think Sombra wants what he thinks belongs to him”

“You mean...Shining Star?” Twilight asked.

“Me?” Shining Star asked at the same time as Twilight.

“Shining Star...it's time you learned the truth” Cadance said. “Twilight the spell that Shining Star used, can you mimic it?”

“I believe so” Twilight nodded.

“What truth?” Shining Star asked.

“Celestia and Luna don't want you know, but given the circumstances they'll understand” Cadance said.

“I have to go, they need my help” Twilight said.

“You can't, this spell was hard even for me to learn, I'll cast it. But you need to tell me where to focus. I'm sorry Cadance, but we'll talk later okay?” Shining Star pointed out.

“But-” Cadance was more worried now more then ever. But before she could say anything Twilight nodded and ran off with Shining Star. “I hope this doesn't bite us back later”

Twilight walked with Shining Star and noticed she was holding her head a bit. “You okay?”

“It's this dark magic...it feels...I don't know, it feels like I know it” Shining Star said. “Or at least I should”

Twilight nodded. “I understand, it must feel weird holding in such darkness”

“Strange yes, but oddly...nice” Shining Star spoke as her eyes glowed a bit. “Ugh..”

“You should get that darkness out of you, it's not safe” Twilight said.

“It's not that simple, dark magic this powerful can't just vanish, it needs to be sealed inside something, and right now all I have is my body” Shining Star explained.

“Then we need to find something to put all that evil into and fast” Twilight said.

Shining Star held her head for a bit longer but she felt better after awhile. As they walked a sudden gust of wind shot past them. “Whoa!?”

They looked back and saw Misty Gale on the floor in pain. “Misty!?”

“Twilight...Fluttershy...she's gone crazy...” Misty said with a cough.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight asked confused.

Fluttershy then came down from the air so fast it created a shock wave and hit the ground hard. “Who's a none winner now!? Hahaha!”

“Wait Fluttershy! Don't you recognize me?” Twilight said trying to calm her friend down.

“Oh I know who you are Twilight!” Fluttershy said in anger. “You never cared about me! Your just like Rainbow Dash, always thinking your better then everyone else! Well guess what Ms. Pretty pony princess. Your not all that! Your not special!”

“Fluttershy, I know I'm not special, I'm just like everybody else!” Twilight said.

Fluttershy cocked her head for a second and shook her head. “You liar! Your not like me! You don't even know the real me!”

“I know you feel alone Fluttershy, We're all always going on about our families and never even ask you about your family, we hurt you everyday without even thinking about you” Twilight explained. “Please Fluttershy don't let your anger control you!”

Fluttershy's eyes glowed with the darkness and she held her head. “I can take being insulted, you and Rainbow Dash called me a loser behind my back before and I let it go. Rainbow Dash traded me for a book for crying out loud. My animal friends only like me because I feed them! You all used me and then ignored me after! Why should I listen to anything you have to say!?”

Twilight realized that Sombra was using things that happened to them and twisting it so they only saw the bad parts. “Fluttershy...I can't make up for what I did to you..at Rainbow Falls I believed in Rainbow Dash's words..I thought you were...a...a loser, I shouldn't have, and if you can never trust me again...I understand, you feel like everyone in your life is just using you...and we were..I'm sorry”

Fluttershy went over to her and slapped her across the face. “Don't you pity me, it's too late for forgiveness”

Twilight held her red cheek and looked down. Shining Star couldn't stand to watch this, she quickly grabbed Fluttershy by her arms. “Fluttershy, don't hate Twilight for the mistakes of the past, holding a grudge will only hurt you more in the end! Trust me, I know what it's like. My mother was killed by a monster and I grew to hate him. But I realized it didn't matter, all I was doing was hurting myself and that's all your doing to yourself!”

“Shut up! Your not an orphan, Twilight got everything for what WE did. WE fought the bad guys together, WE all worked hard. And guess who got all the credit! It wasn't us!” Fluttershy said angry. “It was all Twilight, she gets to be a princess and we get abandoned!”

Twilight never thought about it like that. It only hurt her feelings more. “She's right...”

Shining Star pinned Fluttershy and cast the spell again before touching Fluttershy's head. The same thing that happened to Pinkie happened to Fluttershy and the darkness flowed out of her and into Shining Star. “Gaahhh...ow!”

Fluttershy slumped to the ground and shook her head. “Ugh...my head...it feels like a bell rang in it for hours”

“Haa...haa...” Shining Star held her head in pain but she felt good at the same time. The confusing pain made her breath heavy.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight looked at her and frowned. “I'm so sorry...”

Fluttershy suddenly hugged her and smiled. “I didn't mean what I said...my anger got the better of me”

“But your right about me, why am I the princess of friendship when all I do is take credit that isn't mine and leave you girls alone whenever I get the chance, I'm not a princess I'm a selfish jerk...” Twilight admitted.

“That's not true Twilight” Shining Star said wincing from the pain. “Your a leader, but you just forgot that a leader needs the trust of her friends, Celestia couldn't rule without help, Cadance couldn't rule without help. You tried to rule thinking that all your duties were yours to take. A leader can't do everything by herself, once this is over. Give your friends what they earned”

“Wow...I really am selfish” Twilight said rubbing her cheek. “Your right though. I need to do that for them”

“And next time Twilight?” Fluttershy spoke up. “Don't leave us on another adventure, I want to see the human world next time”

“I will never leave any of you behind again” Twilight said smiling again. “I hope I can gain your trust again someday”

“You will” Fluttershy said sitting down. Having darkness pull out of her was a lot harder on the body then she realized. “In time”

“Don't worry Twilight, we'll work this all out when we're finished saving the town” Shining Star said.

“Thanks Shining Star. Your a great friend” Twilight said as they left. Cadance was right behind them and saw to Fluttershy. She wasn't too hurt luckily.

Shining Star looked around and saw a crowd of people running around causing chaos. “This is bad...”

Twilight nodded as she walked up beside her. “My town...Sombra's going to pay for this, for what he did to my friends”

Twilight and Shining Star headed deeper into the town, they wanted to avoid the crowds. Shining Star bit her lip trying to focus but she was hearing voices now. A man calling her name.