One Step Forwards, Two Backwards
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep--Click!
Starlight’s hoof slammed down on the alarm clock. She groggily opened her eyes, slowly blinked a few times, and wiped away crust from the corners. She let out a slight groan before forcing herself out of bed; she'd had the best sleep since she was a filly. For once the bed wasn’t rough, as well as ridden with annoying creaking noises, and the pillows weren’t ripped like they’d been through a woodchipper.
Starlight, half-asleep, tripped and stumbled over to the bathroom across the room. It was enormous in comparison to her bygone resting spots; taller and broader, undeniably an upgrade from staying in one-room apartments that may or may not have had walking room, much less, running water, and it left her in awe. She went from being so poor, that dirt had a leg up on her, to staying in a royally nice room with velvet carpets. Not just any carpet, but velvet carpet. She could hardly believe it.
Remarkably, she didn’t have to fork over all too much either. She actually gained from her exchange. She was given a place to call home, a nice place. Hay, nice didn’t even begin to cover it—nothing she thought of could. She had been given a whole castle to live in. Not just any castle, but the best castle in all of Equestria. Sure, it was massive, but that’s not why Starlight loved it. It had a humongous library; it was by far the largest personal one she’d ever seen, much less been in. There were books about anything and everything, almost too many to go through. Honestly, it was a little intimidating. She had no idea where she’d even start, but she couldn’t go wrong with a few magic books or Star Swirl’s scrolls.
The real treat was opportunity. Nothing else she received mattered, well, not to her at least. For years, ever since she was a filly, she had longed for an opportunity, and she was given seven the day before—seven. For years upon years she had ached for a chance, just a measly chance, but she’d never had the strength or courage to make anything happen; she was too afraid. But, now, she didn’t have to be. At last, she’d be able to experience a feeling that she had only dreamt of since her elementary days. The feeling that kept her up at night, the feeling that brought tears to her eyes just thinking about it—hot tears, cold tears, confused tears, lost tears. She didn’t know what it was for an extensive time, and what she remembered was muddled and scrambled. But now she was about to relearn it, and learn it for what it rightly is. She was going to learn friendship—true friendship.
Starlight couldn’t be any more grateful; she was at a loss of words when the proposition was given to her. With all she had done, all the abhorrent, terrible things she had planned and almost done, they were able to forgive her, welcome her with open hooves. She had done nothing but destroy, curse and harm, but they loved, understood, and cared. But Starlight wasn’t thinking about that right now, or at least was trying not to. All she had on her mind was where the heck was the bathroom light and why did she set her alarm so early.
She went into the bathroom, and prepared herself for the day. She took a shower, styled her mane with numerous products in the bathroom, put on a little of this and used a little of that. At first thought, it may of seemed like it was Rarity getting ready for the day, but Starlight wasn’t one for fancy get-ups or catching the eyes of other ponies. However, she hadn’t had such luxuries in quite some time, so she wasn’t going to waste them.
After an hour and a half she emerged from the bathroom, with a towel around her waist and a bright beaming smile. A totally new pony than the one that walked into the bathroom. She gleamed. In her smile, in her eyes, on her face, just about everywhere. She donned an unusual confidence; she was excited, nervous, but excited, nervouscited. Even though she didn’t appear nervous; on the surface she was as cool as a cucumber. Beneath her skin, however, she was shaking like a filly on Nightmare Night. As confident as she was and appeared to be, she was still fighting off nerves. How could she not? With all the things she’d done, all of her malicious actions, someone like her deserved to be punished. They deserved to be ridiculed, but she couldn’t focus on that. No, she mustn’t. Besides, she had more important things to worry about; she was a student of friendship now, and it was time to go off and meet her teacher.
She creeped out of her quarters, trying not to wake anypony up that may have been asleep. Once she was out into the halls she felt pint-sized. She glanced up towards the fifty foot tall ceilings, then back to eye-level. The hallway was dragging and empty;, maybe she could convince her mentor that some decor wouldn’t hurt the place? Perhaps, she’d get some for her if she had some bits to do so. Starlight figured she’d appreciate the gesture.
Starlight trotted down the vast hall, casually getting smaller, both physically and in mind. Her legs felt numb, and her knees turned to jelly. Then her body began to shake; she had not had these kind of jitters since she was a wee filly. It was her first day at magic school, and she yearned to learn. She put her mane in pigtails, wore a new dress and put on a simper that shined just as bright as Celestia’s sun as she trotted to her teacher's room. Now, fifteen years later, she was doing it all over again, just without the pigtails and dress. But the wide simper remained in tact.
Starlight neared the end of the hall, and she could hear voices. Her heart rate expedited, and her blood pressure surged; finally, she was going to begin her journey on the path of friendship. Miraculously, she’d been able to contain her excitement but as the voices got heavier, her nerves got friskier. She doubted she’d be able to contain them, what with all of the waterfall of emotions that had overcome her over the course of the last twenty-four hours.
At the end of the hall she was greeted by two tall chestnut brown doors that stared down upon her. She leaned her head against the door and flicked her ears, before pulling away. There was a little ruckus. Maybe it wasn’t time for her to come down. Her teacher never did say when they’d start; Starlight had just presumed that it would be soon.
She tapped her hoof against the floor rapidly and bit her lip. She couldn’t make out what the clamor was about, but the noise-level was consistent. Starlight reached for the door handle with her left forehoof, but she froze. She thought for a second before almost placing it back down into the carpet--almost. She hesitated, then brought her hoof back up to where it was before pulling it back down again. A minute and a half passed before she pushed open the door, and peered inside. She inched inside, and saw her mentor, Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle arguing with her dragon counterpart, Spike.
"Spike--"
"Twilight, you saw what she can do. Do you really think it's safe to make her your student?"
Twilight sighed, "Spike, I really think she can change, you just have to give her a chance." Spike rolled his eyes and let out a comment under his breath too feeble for Starlight to make it out. Twilight continued, "Do you trust me?" Twilight's bright purple eyes locked with Spike's.
Spike slouched over and exhaled. "It has nothing to do with you. I know I can trust. I just can't trust...her." Spike glanced over Twilight's shoulder to see Starlight standing just inside the Throne room opening.
Twilight noticed Spike break his gaze, and she twisted her head around to see the last pony she wanted standing behind her.
"Oh no..."
Author's Note
First of all, thanks to my two editors for this story: Rainbow Darth and ShandowGentleman
Secondly, feel free to leave any comments, questions, critque or feedback. I love to hear from readers anything and everything, minus nasty comments. Those aren't fun.
Also, if ya liked it, leave a like. Duh 
Love Y'all! First Chapter Woohoo!
