It's Been A Long Time Coming
Starlight Glimmer wiped a tear from her eye. She did not expect to be welcomed back to the town she founded, but Party Favor held a party in honor of her return. Double Diamond and Night Glider were together and managed the town while she was away. Night Glider had made a fine mayor for her town, no, their town.
She used to believe that equality would be more than enough for her town, but her beliefs were quashed when she saw how each of the ponies’ differences not only improved the quality of the town, but saw that it was thriving.
Inside her bedroom, she readied some parchment, a quill and ink, an envelope and a stamp book. Using her magic, she dipped the pen into the inkwell, sighed, and began writing.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
I want to thank you again for showing me the error of my ways and I apologize for what my actions have could have wrought. I don’t know what you have seen in those possible futures I sent you back to, but I do know that the one I saw with you was a future I didn’t intend to have happen.
Our first encounter proved I was still that scared filly, I just didn’t realize that until I took you with me back to my foalhood and upon further reflection, I realized that I may have hurt Sunburst when I ran away.
I contacted Princess Celestia and she agreed to help me find him. She told me to look for him in Chicoltgo. As I write this letter, I have already packed my bags and will be boarding a train departing to the city later today.
Do you think he’ll remember me? If he does, will he forgive me?
Sorry about that, I was that scared filly again. Again, thank you for showing me another path.
Your student,
Starlight Glimmer
Starlight sealed the letter in the envelope and placed a stamp on it. She then slipped it into her bag and lifted it with magic and secured it to her back. She could send it directly to Twilight with her magic, but for some reason, she liked the non-magical delivery method. She took one last look at herself in the mirror, nodded proudly and left her room.
She walked outside, took a deep breath and watched as the townsponies went about their days. She headed to the post office, a building that was not there before she ran away.
Night Glider exited the building and gave the former mayor a warm greeting. “Good morning, Starlight. Do you have anything to be delivered?”
Starlight nodded and pulled out the envelope. “Yes, this letter is to be delivered to Princess Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville. I’ll be leaving for a while, I need to catch up with somepony.”
Night Glider smiled as she put the envelope in her parcel. “Making amends?” She gave Starlight a hug. “Congratulations, Starlight.”
Starlight blushed slightly. “T-thanks, Night Glider. I’ll see you later.”
Night Glider flittered off the ground. “See ya, Starlight.” She said before taking off toward Ponyville.
A mayor and a mailmare. That pegasus turned out to be a mare of many talents it seemed and Starlight was impressed. She would share her thoughts with Night Glider and the others later, but right now, she had to get to the station.
Starlight stepped off the train onto the platform. She looked around the city of Chicoltgo, then pulled out the parchment with Sunburst’s address on it. She was very nervous and felt like she was going to have a panic attack if she kept going. She looked back to the train, contemplating returning to her home, but she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and looked back forward. No, she had to do this. She had not seen him since that fateful day.
Her heart rate increased with every step she took toward the residence, and felt like it was going to burst when she reached the front door. She swallowed hard, took a deep breath and pushed the doorbell with a hoof. Keep it together, Starlight. You rang the doorbell, there’s no turning back.
Seconds felt like hours to her, part of her wanted to run like she always had, but she kept telling herself that she was done running. The door opened up and it was him, Sunburst had opened the door. “Sunburst?”
The unicorn stallion looked over the mare and his eyes widened. “Starlight? Is that you?” Before she could say anything, he ran up to her and hugged her. “Starlight!” He said as he started crying. “Thank Celestia you’re alright. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
Starlight began to sniffle as well. “I’m sorry, Sunburst. I’m sorry I ran out on you.”
He let her go and pointed a hoof toward his home. “I’m glad you’re okay, Starlight. Do you want to come in?”
Starlight and Sunburst entered the house. “Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be right back.”
Starlight made her way to the sofa and sat on it. It was placed beside a fireplace, facing it. “Thank you, Sunburst. I wasn’t sure if you ever wanted to see me again.”
“Sunny?” A voice called from upstairs. After a moment, an earth pony mare started down the stairs. She looked at Starlight and her eyes widened in shock. “Sunny? Who’s this?”
Sunburst left the kitchen holding a bottle and some glasses with his magic. He looked to the mare and smiled. “Hey, honey. This is Starlight Glimmer.” He looked toward Starlight. “Starlight, this is my wife, Honey Bear.”
Honey walked to the bottom of the staircase and followed her husband as they approached Starlight. “So you’re Starlight. Sunny told me a lot about how sweet and kind you were.”
Sunburst poured the contents of the bottle into the glasses and gave one to Starlight. She took the drink with her magic and took a sip. “Yeah… I was. I turned into a horrible mare after you got your cutie mark, Sunburst.”
Sunburst pulled up two chairs, placed them across from Starlight and he and Honey sat down. “I’ve been thinking about that day, too.” He said, rubbing a hoof against the back of his neck. “I was so excited to show my parents that I forgot about you. I went back to see you, but you were already gone. Everypony was worried about you, Starlight. What did you do that was so terrible?”
Starlight wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. “I… I almost destroyed Equestria.”
Sunburst and Honey exchanged raised eyebrows and looked back to Starlight. “How?”
She explained everything: his induction to Celestia’s school; her growing up hating cutie marks; the founding of her town; her first encounter with Princess Twilight and subsequent plot for revenge; going back in time to stop Twilight and her friends from ever meeting and the ripples it caused. At the end of her story, Starlight had broken down.
Sunburst and Honey comforted Starlight. “I’m sorry, Starlight.” Sunburst said as he nuzzled her. “I had no idea. During the search, I was thinking about not going to Celestia’s school. I wanted to look for you. When the time came, my parents convinced me that I can go to school and still look for you.” He stroked her mane. “We spent years looking for you, my parents even hired someone to help look all over Equestria. Everypony thought you were abducted, or worse.”
Honey nodded in agreement. “Ever since I’ve known Sunny, he never gave up on you.”
She looked up at him, bleary-eyed. “You’re not mad at me?”
He shook his head. “Of course I’m not mad at you. I’m glad you’re okay. It must have been tough on you all these years.”
She gave a small smile and hugged both of them. “Thank you, Sunburst. Thank you, Honey Bear.”
Sunburst smiled. “Call me ‘Sunny’, Starlight.” He looked to Honey. “Think we can put her up for the weekend?”
Honey nodded in agreement. “Sure. I see no reason why not.” She looked to Starlight with curiosity. “How about it? Would you like to stay for the weekend.”
Starlight nodded excitedly. “Thank you, Honey Bear. I would love to.”
Night came and before settling in, Starlight pulled out an envelope, her stamp book, some parchment, a quill and an inkwell. She dipped the quill into the ink and began writing another letter.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
Sunburst and his wife welcomed me into their home much to my surprise and I’ll be staying in Chicoltgo for the weekend. Honey Bear is a sweet mare and a good mate for Sunny. Honey and I are going to have a mares’ day tomorrow, I’m actually looking forward to what she has planned and I owe you so much for letting me find happiness again.
I was shocked to learn that Sunny and his family were looking for me since I ran away, but I was more shocked that they didn’t get Princess Celestia to help in the search. I had been thinking about this all evening, what could have been if I had been found. It’s all in the past, and without that spell, I can’t change the past. It’s probably for the best that the spell is lost in the time portal.
I cannot thank you enough for giving me a second chance and I will not fail you.
Your student,
Starlight Glimmer
With her magic, Starlight folded the parchment and sealed it in the envelope. She put a stamp on it and laid the envelope onto the table.
It had been an emotionally draining day for her, she crawled into the bed and quickly fell asleep, appreciating that she was in good hooves, not only with Sunburst and Honey Bear, but Princess Twilight as well.
Author's Note
The season finale opened a lot of doors for Starlight. I'm quite surprised how quickly I was able to write this. I guess I'm a sucker for redemption stories.
Edited because FIMFiction didn't get all of the formatting from gdocs.
