This Feeling...Called Guilt

by Black Hailstorm

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Starlight Glimmer, Tragedy, Slice of Life, Princess Luna, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5694

Starlight Glimmer has not forgotten what she's done. Not a day, minute, second nor hour goes by where she is reminded of her actions even if it's never intentional. Keeping it low-key is hard, when guilt sinks in. So Luna decides to pay her a visit.

Starlight Glimmer will never forget the day she was forgiven. Not a day goes by when she doesn't remember what she did. Living in the Little Town, where she stripped ponies of their cutie marks for her own philosophy is something she constantly remembers. And though the ponies of her town have accepted her and are once again slowly getting along with her, there is always that feeling of guilt she feels.

The same can be said when she visits Twilight and the others at Ponyville. Not a day goes by where Twilight Sparkle smiles and welcomes her with open hooves. And Spike always so kind and accepting when she appears. But deep down Starlight can't help but feel guilty, doubtful, confused, and scared.

After everything she'd done. Seeing those worlds, seeing what her philosophy could do, knowing that other ponies were suffering after she had created multiple timelines, how could she go on with all that knowledge. How could she deal with the guilt?

A certain alicorn pops in for a visit, possibly holding the answer.

Published 2016-02-20 15:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-02-20 15:20:01 UTC

How Do I Do It? How Do You Deal With The Guilt?

There she stood. In a world bereft of life. In a world with nothing, what was one to do?

Starlight stood in one of the many timelines she had had a hoof in creating, where there was nothing. Where there was no one. Where everything, was dust and wind.

Her mane whipped about thanks to the strong wind that filled this empty place, taking with it the only thing that made up a majority of the land the unicorn now stood on. Sand.

Starlight did nothing, she said nothing, but she felt everything. A mixture of feelings. Pain, sorrow, doubt, shame, anger, disgust etc etc. Starlight had to admit, there were times where she asked herself one question “Why?”

How could six mares, mean so much to the world and make such a change in it where she could not? Was it fate or was it destiny? Did it even matter if she had yielded to Twilight and Spike? Or was it something the universe had already decided would be an ultimate outcome?

More importantly, how could her ideals lead to...this. She wondered.

A world that had nothing, showed nothing, said nothing, did nothing. Nothing but sand, long decayed carcasses of lost animals and more sand for the eye to see. It was truly appalling to think, to even fathom that her ideals for Equality could lead to the destruction of an entire planet.

So appalling Starlight could feel the guilt or maybe it was something else within her, crushing her like gravity that had multiplied a full ten folds.

As if to accentuate this horrible feeling, a cold chill swept through the emptiness that was supposed to represent Ponyville. And Starlight could feel it all the way to her core.

This emptiness was horrible. All those lives, all those foals, all those equines...gone and all because I had to hold a grudge, and tamper with Starswirl’s spell just to get some payback, she thought as she trotted through the emptiness.

It was awful you know. Making a mistake was one thing, ruining a life, or in Starlight’s case countless of lives in other timelines she had created was another thing entirely.

A loud crunch stopped the mare from proceeding anymore in this desert. On the ground, covered in sand just barely poking out of the surface was a small object.

Starlight cringed outwardly. She didn’t want to look. She knew this was all a dream. A way of torturing herself for what she’d done, but she couldn’t help it. Because deep down, she knew that she had caused this. She had done this. And although everyday Twilight Sparkle and her new friends in Ponyville and at home reminded her that as long as she knew what she did was wrong and truly regretted her actions, then she was forgiven and could keep on living, yet there was always that bitter feeling in her that made Starlight want to point out how she deserved a harsher punishment than just being allowed to live on with her actions.

How could she make up for this strong feeling building up in her chest. What was the option, what were the choices she had?

A sigh escaped the mare’s lips and more wind and sand flew at her, playing with her mane and tail as she stared at the object buried in sand.

Swallowing nothing, Starlight mustered up her courage and allowed her aura to touch the object. It took some effort, but finally the object came out of the sand. And when it did, Starlight stifled a gasp.

It was a poster. On it, a picture of the Wonderbolts all posing magnificently with wide smiles. Smiles that didn’t even exist in this timeline, because they were all gone.

Dead and gone.

“And I had a hoof in it” Starlight said in a shaken voice.

A few seconds of silence passed, the mare said nothing. She merely stared at the signed poster of the Wonderbolts, recognizing one of them as Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot. A weak smile crossed her face, then a thought occurred that made Starlight forget that this wasn’t real.

“Rainbow Dash would have loved this” Starlight said sadly, her eyes looking towards the ground as she could feel her heart beginning to break. “I’m sure she’s happier now wherever she is.”

Not a word was spoken afterwards, as Starlight allowed the pain she was feeling to completely soak and take over all her other feelings. Whatever this feeling in her chest was, it was agonizingly painful.

The sound of the poster getting ravaged by wind finally drew Starlight out of her own self-inflicting thoughts before she looked up from the ground and stared at the poster one more time.

A second passed by as a sad smile filled Starlight’s face before she allowed the magical grip she had on the signed, old poster fade and let the wind carry it away to other parts of nothingness.

Starlight sighed, closed her eyes, and allowed her horn to glow. A second later the portal opened up and without a moment’s delay, she was sucked in.

Starlight’s ears were filled with the sound of war. “Yes...this was the second place. The one that got me a bit more than most of the others. The day Sombra waged war with Equestria.”

Opening her eyes, Starlight was met with ponies of all three tribes moving in and out. Providing supplies, providing help where needed.

Pegasi took to the skies clad in armor, a familiar rainbow contrail going off in the direction where most of the sounds of battle were strongest.

Looking up ahead, Starlight could see a large Crystal Empire and multiple crystals heading in various directions across the land.

That pained feeling in her chest grew stronger. What is this feeling Starlight wondered, feeling as though she would pass out. It hurts so much. I just want it to stop, she thought as she began her slow trot towards a now ruined Sweet Apple Acres.

In the distance Starlight could see two ponies, brothers most likely using their snazzy mechanics to pick apples with a tremendous speed. Both had red and white manes and tails, one with a moustache, the other a bit more built.

“Flim & Flam” Starlight said quietly, watching from a distance. Both brothers were covered in dirt, looked tired, but still working hard to get the required food that would help the soldiers win this war.

A war I inadvertently caused, Starlight thought.

The feeling grew, and Starlight winced. She turned away from the vast orchards and made her way towards the farmhouse, which now had multiple gizmos on it. Giving it the look of a facility, rather than a home.

Starlight paused her procedure towards the home and stared at it. It was a long time before the mare was able to work up the courage to keep on heading in that direction.

When Starlight had finally managed to make it near Sweet Apple Acres, the mare could not help but cringe at the scent of oil, instead of the scent of apples.

Peering through one of the windows she saw her; Applejack. Though it was not the Applejack Starlight knew. Gone was the country farm pony that had the sass that could shut anypony up. And even worse, gone was that proud sense and feeling you got whenever you saw her proudly making her way through Ponyville, selling the best of her hoof cared for apples.

The mare before her was a shadow of the Applejack she knew. Starlight almost wanted to go in there and beg for forgiveness, but something within her rationality told her to stop, this wasn’t real. At least...not like before.

The Applejack of this world moved about slowly and mundanely. There was now proud gait in her steps, nor did she look pleased with what she was doing. Boxing up factory compressed apples by the contraption that did all the work she loved doing.

Beside her was Granny Smith, who stacked the cans in a row and handed them over to her granddaughter, who would then pack those cans in a box, and then stack them in a pile with other boxes of canned food.

It truly was a sad sight to see. Even more so as Starlight could tell that the mare looked like she hated what she was doing, but did it regardless because she had no choice.

A glint caught Starlight’s eye and she looked up just a bit. On the wall, in a framed image was a picture of Big Macintosh clad in armor together with his family. The only one smiling in that family photo or at least trying to, was the big red stallion himself. His little sister Apple Bloom looked up at him with concern, Applejack just had a dull expression on that from where Starlight stood behind the window was hard to read. And Granny Smith’s expression? Starlight had never seen the old mare look more tired or withered in her entire life.

Once again a firm grasp like a minotaur’s strong hands wrapped itself tightly around Starlight’s heart and until she could bare it no longer.

Turning around and quickly trotting away Starlight didn’t bother looking back at the barn. Just as she was exiting the grounds of Sweet Apple Acres, the mare heard a familiar voice or voices speak in the distance.

Three young fillies that Starlight had come to know well since her reformation, stood in a line with a group of other foals. Featherwing, Snips, Snails, Rumble and more colts and fillies that Starlight new stood in a row with the word “Re-Con” painted in white on their black styled armor. And in the front of the group leading the Re-Con team, was Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom who stood in front of the Re-con Instructor; Cheerilee.

Starlight froze, staring at the small group of soldiers who stood in front of their teacher. Cheerilee looked at the group of foals, all of them brimming with confidence, but deep down she knew they were scared. She could see it despite how hard they were trying to hide it. Her little brave foals were shaking, and even if she wanted to there was nothing she could do about it.

These foals had made their choice, and it was her job as an instructor to teach them what to do so they could gather necessary information and finally end this war. A frown crossed Cheerilee’s face as she watched Sweetie Belle’s quivering hooves, before a voice from her east caught her attention.

“Cheerilee!” a familiar voice called. A voice Starlight vaguely knew as she drew closer to the mare and her group of foals.

Cheerilee turned around and faced the stallion calling out to her. And as said stallion got closer Starlight couldn’t help but get wide eyes as she stared at the one who'd been her reason for Equality to begin with. Standing there in his own silver armor, was Sunburst.

Starlight felt her legs grow weak. Be this dream or reality, she didn’t care. This was too much. Why was he here? What was he doing here? What did he- An answer came soon enough, disrupting her thoughts.

“Is the Re-con team ready for their first mission?” Sunburst asked. The stallion offered a quick glance at the scared foals and fillies who put on brave fronts before quickly looking back to their instructor.

Cheerilee frowned for a few seconds as she looked to her class and steeled her resolve. A second later she nodded and replied, “I believe they are” Cheerilee said with a weak smile. One that Sunburst merely nodded knowingly to.

Turning to face the three young fillies that were standing ahead of all the others Cheerilee said what she had been trained to say one more time. “Those of you that wish to leave do so now. If you stay, you have accepted your duty, will not be pardoned under the Wonderbolts Law 1 Section # 4: An accepted duty is a duty that must be completed. If you accept stay” she said her voice beginning to give leave to emotion. “But...” she paused to calm herself.

Sunburst who from Starlight’s perspective was clad in heavy armor, stood staunchly by the mare’s side listening to every word and waited patiently for Cheerilee to compose herself. When she had, many of the foals and fillies were now looking with doubt or concern. But before Cheerilee could continue her orders, one of the three fillies spoke up.

“Ah’m doing this because my big brother is out there fighting to help those ponies under Sombra’s control. Ah’m not quitting after all that training we were put through, and everything we’ve endured for two months just to leave. Miss Cheerilee, Ah don’t know about anypony else. But Ah’m staying and seeing my mission is a success.” Apple Bloom said proudly.

Her words lingered in the air, for a good few seconds. Starlight herself amazed by the young filly’s words. For a second a small smile came across her face as she considered what the young earth pony mare had said. That would be something she’d say.

Sunburst spoke up next trotting forward as Cheerilee moved aside. “I am Captain Sunburst, Apple Bloom. Your words are brave and admirable. But you and your friends here do realize that by accepting this mission despite being at such a young age, you may not be returning home for a long while...or ever again? Correct?” Sunburst said. This wasn’t a question, it wasn’t even a statement. It was a fact.

This was war. Bad things happen during war. Sunburst knew that well enough, the scar across his left cheek was proof of that. And as Starlight watched the one that had once been her friend stare down at the group of fillies and colts, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat worse at the thought that the once bright, gentle stallion that had been her friend at one point in her life, could now look upon children and tell them flatly that what they were doing would spell out their deaths if they failed.

The foals went silent at Sunburst statement. A few seconds went by as some shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, while Sunburst didn’t even blink as he continued his steely stare.

More time went by turning into longer lasting seconds as the foals shifted uncomfortably in their positions. Finally Cheerilee had decided this had gone long enough and planned to intervene but Scootaloo’s voice stopped the instructor dead in her tracks, and even stopped Starlight from stopping this awkward silence from lasting any further.

“I’m not worried.” Scootaloo said. Sunburst eyes turned on her and she flinched, looking away before hardening herself and speaking again.

“I...I am worried, but I...I believe in this team. Cheerilee taught us the best she could and there’s not a doubt in my mind that we’ll succeed in any mission we get. We all agreed to do this, we all know the consequences we were/are heading into before signing up, we’re ready...Sir” she said in a slightly calm tone.

Sunburst looked upon the three fillies with brows raised, then looked at the rest of the members of the Re-Con force. A second went by and Starlight actually feared that this Sunburst was going to say something harmful to the young ones. But in the end she was proven wrong.

Sunburst smiled at the young colts and fillies and merely nodded his head. “I see then. Well, welcome to The Resistance, follow me. I’ll show you all where you each will be headed and whether or not you will be assigned teams by the head of Intelligence, General Pinkie Pie.”

Hearing Pinkie’s name set Starlight into a slightly stunned state. “Pinkie’s part of an information gathering force?” she asked herself aloud. But obviously there was no answer. She merely watched as the young equines marched in a line before Sunburst followed behind them.

For a second the stallion turned and said his goodbye’s to the slightly teary-eyed Cheerilee, then looked right in Starlight’s direction for a brief second.

The two stared at each other for a long time. Starlight in a state of shock when she finally realized that the stallion was looking right at her, and Sunburst not saying a word but simply staring at her.

Seconds passed before he finally smiled and turned around, following after the young foals that would be Equestria’s next line of defense.

“Look alive kids, you’ll need to where you’re going.”

A second later Starlight felt the world around her fade and become distorted as she felt herself get pulled into another world entirely.

“Enough is enough Starlight Glimmer” a voice stated.

The unicorn mare’s eyes snapped open expecting herself to be in another timeline observing things as a spirit, but instead found herself outside Ponyville in the night with a figure by her side.

Slowly Starlight turned to face the figure that stood beside her. Watching her. Judging her for her actions. For the crimes she had committed.

And when she did finally turn and face her judge, to Starlight’s surprise the mare she faced was none other than Princess Luna herself.

“Princess?” Starlight asked in confusion. “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

To Luna this was a question she had expected. It was obvious to the princess of the night that the effects of this dream had proven to be too real for the unicorn. And once again it was not a surprise.

“Starlight” Luna said to the confused mare. “You are asleep. This is all a dream. Everything you are seeing, is you punishing yourself for your own actions. Since your return and Twilight’s introduction of you to my sister and I, we have felt that there was always something more in Twilight’s words aside from her telling us that you were merely a friend she was trying to help.”

Starlight’s confusion began to fade as she realized what the princess was telling her. “You mean...you and Princess Celestia knew?” she said fearfully.

Princess Luna nodded. “We did. My sister and I confronted Twilight on your true reason for being here. And after some time, Twilight and Spike told us everything. And so ever since then, I have tasked myself to not just watch your dreams, but have decided should the need be necessary I will intervene when I felt that these dreams of yours were becoming too overwhelming.”

Starlight’s ears dropped to her side weakly, and her head along with them. “A dream?”

The only response she received was a nod from Luna. “Yes Starlight, a dream. You may not realize it, but you have been punishing yourself almost every night when you go to sleep. Whether you mean to or you don’t every night I watch you go through different timelines, that you’ve visited or haven’t. And every night the more timelines you observe, the more ponies you watch who’s lives you’ve changed the worse you feel. Or am I wrong?” Luna asked with a curious look in her eyes.

“Am I mistaken to assume you feel responsible for your actions and the results they have wrought on innocent ponies of other timelines? or do you-”

“NO!” Starlight exclaimed lifting her head up with a look of denial. “No, heavens no. Princess that’s not it at all. I...I’m just surprised is all. I thought every time I saw these things, those events. I thought I was just...just...” she struggled to get the word out. This was all so much to take in. To think dreams had been the cause of her constant doubt and suspicion, and the reason she had always felt like she deserved a much more grave punishment.

Do not misunderstand, Starlight still felt that way. Dreams or not, she really did believe somewhere inside herself, seeing these timelines over and over again, a reminder of what she had done every night was a form of punishment in it’s own. She just expected them to be...well...based off reality instead of a dream.

If there was one thing Starlight prided herself in. It was being a strong and independent mare. And finding out her own demons had ended up overcoming her was something she simply didn’t want to accept. But deny it all she want, Luna knew the mare had no choice in accepting what had come to pass.

A few seconds of silence was offered to allow Starlight the chance to regain her composure. When she did and had calmed Luna spoke.

“You thought you were just reliving what you had already seen, right?”

Starlight nodded, Luna remained silent in return. Another few seconds were offered as the princess and the unicorn looked out onto Ponyville’s silhouette in the distance. Various lights either going on and off could be seen from where the two stood.

Finally after enough time had been spent Starlight spoke next. “How do you deal with it?”

“Deal with what?” Luna asked knowingly.

“This feeling...this guilt. How do you cope with it? Live with what you've done in the past and can’t change no matter how badly you wish you could. How do you deal with the guilt Princess?”Starlight asked her eyes still staring out at the silhouette of the small town.

Princess Luna said nothing for a long while. It was just as well also, Starlight knew what she was asking of Luna was a touchy subject and she knew it wasn’t something easy. Because it was something the whole world had learned, had grown up with, had feared, and had come to know.

Nightmare Moon.

It was a part of Luna’s past she did not want to remember nor was it one she could ever truly forget either. An inseparable part of her life that had been given life due to envy and anger against her sister. And when that envy and anger had been given life, Luna could still remember how deep she had sunk into the abyss where she had committed many a wrong doings.

Silence had persisted long enough, it was time to break the long silence and answer Starlight’s question. And who better to do it, than the only being who had more to feel guilty over than Princess Luna herself.

“Tell me Starlight” Princess Luna said still staring at Ponyville. “Have you heard of the things, the rumors, I did in the past?”

Starlight though taken aback by the question, slowly nodded with uncertainty. “I have.” She replied. And as an afterthought she asked, “Are they true?”

Luna looked at the unicorn with a blank expression, goading Starlight to continue.

“Are the rumors true about what you did in the past? The two guards and that town, them dying from dehydration till only a single soul survived? Or...the others rumors.” She paused. “Like the one where you...” Starlight cringed at the memory. It was a form of torture involving honey, and one of the reasons she hadn’t been able to use honey in her tea ever again.

“Yes Starlight” Luna responded. “The rumors are true. Everything I did a thousand years ago during my darkest moments are true. And not a moment goes by where I don’t remember what I have done. The families and equines that suffered because of my rage, will never be forgotten. Not as long as I can remember them and mourn their losses.”

Starlight said nothing, her expression growing sad by the princess’ words. A small frown formed on her lips. “How did you deal with it Princess?”

“The guilt?” Starlight nodded. Luna looked up at the sky, and though it was nothing like the real world, the night sky and its stars glowed brightly. “There are many ways that we....that I, dealt with it. One of them was isolation. I locked myself away from the rest of society for quite sometime, I didn’t talk to anyone that wasn’t my sister. And even then when I talked with her I never truly got over the feeling you now feel. Another option was anger, I yelled, I started small petty fights, and I ignored the chiding comments that came from my sister’s guards as I passed through the Canterlot hallways for a month.

“I went through many stages Starlight. Anger, regret, denial, grief, isolation. You name it and I probably had done it for the first year after my return and liberation of Nightmare Moon. There is no escape from that feeling in your chest Starlight” the alicorn’s words were like a knife in Starlight’s heart.

But in truth Starlight knew Luna was right. This tight feeling in her chest, where her heart was, it wasn’t something she could just wish away or make disappear with magic. Nor was it something she could forget.

What had happened happened. That was that and there was nothing she could do about it. This feeling, this guilt was just something she’d have to deal with. But when she recalled how Tirek had laid waste to Equestria. When she recalled how Sombra could be currently tearing ponies apart, how those three fillies were currently fighting a war they were way too young to be in.

When she recalled how somewhere in another timeline Luna -she looked at the alicorn who still looked towards the stars- could still be Nightmare Moon, it killed her. It hurt her, frankly it destroyed her. Her desire for payback and true unity had brought about something she never wanted in the first place or ever wanted to feel again.

Pain.

Starlight’s ears fell limply and she could feel her eyes begin to burn as tears threatened to pour out. “Then” she sniffed looking morosely and hating how pathetic she currently felt as she glanced over at Luna. “Then what do I do?” Starlight asked sniffling again. “How do I...deal with what I’ve done?”

“You do what I did” Luna answered looking at the sky for a few more seconds before looking down at Starlight with a faint smile. “You accept what you’ve done.”

Starlight’s expression turned into a frown with a slight grimace. “How can I accept what I’ve done! Princess Luna, I’ve ruined millions of lives! Lives I’ve created all out of spite!” Starlight exclaimed her hooves waving about madly.

To that statement Luna’s expression grew austere. “And I’ve arbitrarily ruined and killed my own subjects all because of the envy I held against my sister and the love they showed for her. Just like you Starlight I had a choice, a chance. The difference between you and I is that back then, I was too overcome by anger to see the truth of what my actions were bringing. As I was also blind to how my goals; bringing eternal night would ultimately kill this planet and those I desired adoration from along with it. You however” Luna’s stern look softened. “You were shown what you were doing was wrong, and though Spike said it took some convincing, you overcame your anger and did the right thing. While your actions may have brought about the life of other worlds that are just a spell away, and also caused misfortune, they at least still have a chance to save themselves. They have a chance to work hard and save what they can while they can.

“You worrying about it, desiring you could help is not in anyway going to help you with that feeling that now lives within your heart. Nor will it help those who have been put in such a situation. If anything it is simply you being selfish” Luna said the last bit rather harshly, Starlight wincing in the process.

Her eyes wet Starlight wiped away the tears and blinked a few times before staring up at the sky as well. A long silence was held before either alicorn or unicorn spoke again.

And when one did, it was silent. Almost a whisper.

“So then...I just have no choice but to sit here, go on living and accept it?” Starlight asked in disbelief.

Luna didn’t reply immediately. She pondered what was being said before replying after some time had been spent. “Yes and no.”

“Huh?” Starlight said.

Luna looked at the image of Ponyville she had fabricated in this dream. After a few seconds she spread her wings and floated into the air. “Follow me. I want to show you something.”

Starlight cocked a brow, but Luna only smiled in response. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

Starlight’s horn glowed and her magic surrounded her body. A second later her and Luna were soaring towards Ponyville, looking over the silent town.

“Starlight, despite this being a dream, what do you see?” Luna asked.

Starlight’s brows furrowed in thought as she looked at the few lights and buildings they passed. “I see homes, business. Why?”

“Some of the ancestors of these very ponies were ponies that I- Nightmare Moon, did wrong to many years ago. How do you think I felt when I was rescued by Twilight and the others, and then later after a year appeared from my chambers to confront some of the very descendants of ponies I had wronged so many years back on a night dedicated to my own horrible rumors and my own darkest existence?”

Starlight opened her mouth to reply, but found no words. The answer was she didn’t. She didn’t know how Luna felt when she had to face her greatest fear and confronted these very ponies whose ancestors she had wronged. In fact, Starlight couldn’t even begin to imagine how that had felt.

“I...I don’t know. Scared...terrified they’d reject you after what you did in the past...even-”

“Afraid?” Luna finished. “You’re right. I was all those things and more. I didn’t know how to speak to the equines of this time having been gone for so long. Nor did I know how much customs had changed in the past millennium. I was in a world I was unused to, did not know or understand and one that still feared me for my past actions and present behaviors. But that’s when a certain unicorn at the time, approached me.”

Starlight looked away from the town as her and Princess Luna floated back down towards the ground, right in front of a much larger Sugarcube Corner. “I’m guessing it was Twilight?” she asked knowingly, in response Luna giggled lightly.

“Correct. It was Twilight. She convinced me to get out there and not let what I had done restrict me. But let what I now do, define me. Starlight” Luna said now looking at the unicorn mare beside her.

“Guilt, fear, anger, depression, these are all things that happen to all of us. All things that may happen worse to some and may happen in a less awful fashion to others. The fact still remains, we all feel guilty of something at some point or another in our lives. Torturing yourself, berating yourself, I’ve come to learn that these aren’t the best answers no matter how much you feel you deserve it.” A small smile formed on Luna’s face as she looked at the growing enlightened mare.

“After all, just like you I used to do the very same thing. I could never forgive myself with what I had done. All those lives I ruined as Nightmare Moon, all those homes I destroyed, and the few to many that died when I allowed my inner demons to take full control are things I can never forget. Because everyone makes mistakes. Some worse than others, but ponies, people. They all change eventually. Well...some do at least" she stated upon recalling Sombra. "And while I wasn’t willing to do so at the time here I am now, a changed pony, a changed princess and a better alicorn.

“If I can grow to accept my crimes, accept the guilt and pain that comes with them and be willing to talk about my feelings” Luna looked up at the moon above them. “Then you can grow to accept what you’ve done, learn from it, and grow to be a better equine as well. Making sure to never let what you did before happen ever again. And do your best to help those -Starlight now noticed Luna’s eyes were on her- change and learn from their own errors” the alicorn said with a warm smile.

Starlight Glimmer stared at Princess Luna in silence. The Princess was right. In order for her to change, she needed to accept it. The others had and Twilight had given her a second chance to change. It wasn’t something she should waste, so Starlight knew she had to make the best of it.

“I...Thank you Princess Lu-”

“Just call me Luna, Starlight. After all, you and I are friends. And friends help each other out when they need it.”

Starlight’s mouth though slightly slack, slowly closed and formed a smile. The unicorn nodded her head, surprising Luna by offering her hoof. “Thank you Princ-- Thank you Luna” the unicorn said with a smile, that heavy feeling in her chest slowly subsiding to almost nothing. But never fully leaving her. And right now for Starlight, that was just fine by her.

“Your welcome Starlight” Luna said with a smile, bumping the hoof in return. “Now” Luna said with a wider smile, “You may want to get up some rest soon. Pinkie Pie has something she’s been dreaming of showing you. And I suggest you prepare yourself for it.”

Author's Note

Literally got the inspiration of this story from a comment. Worked on this for 5 hours, mainly because I was preoccupied with other things and fell asleep unintentionally at some point. Put a lot of thought into this and I like how it turned out. Now it's 4:15 a.m. when I finished this and I don't even feel tired.

Insomnia huh?

Leave a like if you enjoyed this, comments are always welcomed. And as usual. Enjoy.