The Rise of Starlight Glimmer

A deadly silence reigned in the classroom.

Starlight's eyes widened. Her mouth started to tremble. And then, the realization hit her, like millions of icy shards. A shiver went through her whole body. Her legs gave under her and she fell to the floor, sobbing.

She didn't ask why or when or didn't even say 'No! It's impossible! He would never do that!' but she knew it would be no use. Her friend was devastated enough to commit suicide. Being bullied was already hard, but finding out you were adopted while your parents divorced and being told that in a fight must be more than a colt can manage. She would maybe have done the same thing...

Starlight couldn't remember much after she collapsed, only that the Princess took her in her arms to make her feel better. She was thankful for that and had been sent home for the day. Starlight didn't even know if the others cried. Probably not. They never cared anyways.

Her mom was besides her, comforting her by stroking her mane and whispering that she was the best daughter and friend any pony could ever have and that Leafgray must have been proud. It was the first time her mom hugged her since she was a baby. It felt... good. But not good enough.

It was 9 o'clock when Starlight woke up. She must've fallen asleep while her mom was hugging her. She had missed diner but saw a plate of salad in front of her door. Thanking her mother, she picked the bowl up and saw a note :

Hey sis. I still kinda hate you for the whole Celestia's school thing but It must be pretty lame to loose a friend like that so I guess I forgive you. Like you missed diner, I brought this for you. Enjoy!

Starlight's eyes became watery again. A memory of Leafgray flashed through her mind.

"Hey Starlight!" he said. "Look!" and he lifted a tomato with his magic to throw it in the air and catch it in his mouth. It landed strait on his face, splashing every where. Starlight laughed and he blushed.

"Stop blushing Leafgray! You look too much like a tomato already!" she managed to say between her giggles.

He looked at her confused. Then he started to laugh a little, then a few seconds later they where both laughing on the floor.

Starlight was crying hard now, still hearing their giggles of happiness echoing through her mind.

Why him? Why not some pony else? Like Clearwater or one of the two sisters? They should've died!

Anger started to replace Starlight's sadness.

If Clearwater hadn't been so mean and a slave to the sisters, then he would have been our friend and I would be happily laughing with him and Leafgray in our tree! If the two sisters weren't so idiot, stupid and really really really...

"MEAN!" yelled Starlight.

She calmed herself and walked to her huge window. It was a beautiful night and the streets looked almost ghostly under the moonlight. But Starlight couldn't enjoy the beauty of Celestia's night for once. She walked over to her bed and slid under the covers, her anger slowly fading. Her eyes closed.

Goodnight Leafgray.

Starlight woke up and it was still night. She went downstairs to make some tea. It always helped her sleep.

She stopped in front of teapot and yawned, her eyes closed.

When she opened them, a dark forest had replaced her kitchen.

Ugh, am I dreaming? she thought lazily.

A window popped up and she peeked inside.

She saw herself laughing in the tree where she would meet Leafgray. He was there too. She was hanging down from a branch and her mane was super messy! He was laughing so hard that he fell off the branch and Starlight caught him with her magic.

"Don't worry Leaf'! I'll always be there to catch you when you fall!" she squealed and he smiled gratefully to her.

The image darkened and Starlight saw Orangeleaf, Orangelime and the two others walking by and stopping in front of their upside down faces. There was a moment of silence and Orangeleaf pushed Leafgray, yanking him off of his friend's magic. Clearwater nudged Darklick and he made a puddle of mud appear under the poor Leafgray who fell strait in it.

"Where was Starfright just then when you needed her help?" Orangelime smirked, " I thought she said she'd always catch you when you fell!"

The real Starlight gritted her teeth. She remember that memory! It had happened  about a month ago. But then something caught her eye. Instead of walking away laughing, the group silently turned their heads towards her with a creepy smile.

What's going on? This didn't happen in the memory! And why are they looking at ME and not memory Starlight? the pink filly thought, unconsciously taking a step back from the window.

Orangelime looked at her with crazy eyes :

" Yeah Starlight! You said you'd always catch him, but where were you when he jumped off that cliff?"

Starlight's throat tightened and she started to have some trouble breathing as the others repeated 'Where were you Starlight, where were you?'. Those echoing words through her head started to grow and she had the feeling that her brain was going to explode.

"I... I didn't know he would do that! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry Leafgray!" she screamed in fright.

The poor mud dripping Leafgray was starting to cry in agony as his skin slowly began to peel off.

"Leafgray!" screamed Starlight, hitting the window with all her strength. "Leafgray!!"

In a matter of seconds, there was a single little skeleton lying on the floor. Everything else had disappeared. The skeleton stood up on shaky hooves and started walking forwards, to a cliff.

"Wait! No get away from there!! Leafgray!"

He jumped.

"LEAFGRAY!" yelled Starlight and the window disappeared. She backed away and curled up in a ball on the floor, sobbing in shock. All her fault... It was all her fault! She was the pony who hadn't been a good enough friend...

She stayed like that for a few minutes until...

"Staaarlight?" said a voice behind her.

"No... No! Get away from me whoever you are!"

"But I won't hurt you! I just want to help you."

"Help me?" she got up and looked around "How? And... Where are you?"

"I like to hide because I belong to the shadows but I can still help".

"Alright" said Starlight, "Tell me".

"It's simple! Avenge Leafgray and you will feel better! You didn't do anything. It was THEM! Your enemies! They hurt you and bullied you and killed your friend! Are you really going to let them blame that on you?"

"N... No?"

"NO!" the voice screeched. " They are the ones who killed Leafgray! They must be punished..."

"But I can't really punish them! They're stronger than me."

"Yes you can Starlight..." the voice said in a creepy tone.

Starlight frowned.

"But..." then she realized. "Kill them?? You want me to kill some pony else? No way!"

The mysterious voice seemed to be enjoying this, as there was a hint of laughter in her next sentence :

"You don't have to kill them. No no that is much too nice as a punishment!"

She paused.

"Make them suffer."

That word sounded wrong to Starlight's ears. It had something in it. The way that pony said it was in a bad way too.

"Suffer?" she asked.

"Yes, torture!"

Now that word she knew. And it was the worst possible thing to do to any pony. The pony hiding in the shadows was certainly mad. She had to get out of here now!

"Wait!" said the voice as if she had read the filly's mind, "Not anything... physical if you know what I mean. Just something that you would take away from them like... their Cutie Marks."

"What? But how would I do that?" asked Starlight, getting curious.

A piece of paper appeared in front of her. It was torn and muddy but she could read out : "Cutie Mark Disappearances".

"Take it. Learn the spell. And get your revenge!"

"I'm still not sure this is a good idea", said Starlight.

"Imagine it, a world where every pony doesn't have their cutie marks, no bullying, no loneliness! Friendship everywhere! If no pony is equal, there will always be fights and sadness. With that spell you can make a better place. Trust me Starlight, I'm right. Equality is Friendship. Remember what happened to Leafgray? Do you want that to happen to another filly or colt that can't take anymore of life?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then get out there and learn that spell! Avenge your friend! You should start by punishing and making things right with your bullies. And if they don't like it, do what you have to do..."

"I will" said Starlight as she picked up the piece of paper.

The world started moving around her, probably because she was waking up. She smiled at the idea of tomorrow. It was going to be a good day. A very good day.

"I will..."