//-------------------------------------------------------// Dragon's Light -by Silver Inkwell- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Making A New Friend //-------------------------------------------------------// Making A New Friend Chapter One: Making A New Friend Starlight Glimmer watched as her best friend Sunburst left her after getting his cutie mark, she felt like she was being torn apart from the inside out now then. But after he left she started to cry and didn’t come out of her house for a very long time until she started to hear the screams and cries of something out there, some creature, beast or animal, and she slowly went outside to see what it was, and when she finally eventually did she saw a strange unusual and also very highly odd black dragon sitting outside all alone as it started to rain now then. It was very little and tiny compared to what she had formerly expected before. “Well hello there, little guy, what’s your name exactly?” she said very gently trying not to scare it or make it angry, but by its face it was rather sad instead. “Axel,” the dragon said now then, “But what is your name strange pony?” “My name is Starlight Glimmer, and it’s very nice to meet you, but what type of dragon are you exactly? I’ve never seen your race or kind around here before.” “I am a Night Fury, and I am all alone, I have no one else here with me now, no friends, no family, but I just have one question for you, want to be my friend now?” he said then. “Uh, well I don’t really know,” she said very nervously now then. “Oh don’t worry, I don’t expect you to answer that fast, but he might.” “Wait, who’s he exactly?” Starlight Glimmer said now then. “Oh, he’s just some African American boy that fell through into the world with me, although I’m not sure if we’re from the same timeline or world at all either, but come on now, let me show you to him,” Axel said with a big huge wide vast smile on his face now then as he slowly led her over to a nearby house and entered it. “Leo, it’s okay, I’m here now, you can come out now, don’t worry,” he said, and with that a very small human child slowly came out of the shadows. He looked about twelve or so if Starlight had to guess his age and had black curly hair and skin with an orange shirt and red pants. “Hey there,” Starlight said, “How old are you exactly?” “Twelve,” he said very nervously then with great fear in his voice. Starlight was right in her guess. “Where did you two come from exactly?” she said very curiously now then. “Alternate worlds and universes, but trust me I’m cursed to be a dragon in every one that I’ve been to so far, but I don’t mind so much so long as I always have a friend there with me, or maybe even two since I’ve talked with Leo and have gotten to know him, like our favorite color is blue, but some other stuff I don’t really know that well since he seems to be from a different timeline, like he likes classical and rock music and fantasy novels too as well, but if you’ll take us in to be your friends then we’ll never leave you ever at all. And I can most certainly promise you this, that I will always protect you." “Well that’s nice, but I don’t know, I just lost a friend to a cutie mark…” “What’s a cutie mark exactly?” Leo said very curiously now then. “A mark of one’s destiny that you get on your flank when the time is finally eventually right, and my friend Sunburst, well his was in magic of course, which figures since he always seems to know how to do everything, and me, well I always needed his help before now.” “Well maybe you don’t need his help, but just the help of your friends in general instead,” Axel said smiling now then, “So, do you want to be friends? And before you answer please consider this, having a dragon that also just so happens to be an undiscovered race to your whole entire land with special cool awesome radical amazing powers can be very beneficial to you later on in your life.” Starlight considered this problem for a few short moments before finally eventually answering. If she did make friends with them it would certainly help her out in her time of grief, sorrow, pain, and agony, but if they ever left her then she just didn’t know how she could deal with her thoughts, ideas, emotions, and feelings again, especially if they were the exact same. But then again, they made a promise to never leave her, and friends always kept their promises no matter what, and once you broke it you were no longer a friend anymore of course. To have friend, or not, that was the question to ask indeed, but slowly she reasoned with herself with logic, it couldn’t hurt her right now if she made friends with them, and it could really help her out now and later on, after all, what did she have to lose now? After all, they were alone just like her, no friends, no family, completely and totally alone and only wanting and wishing for a friend or just to be a part of the family instead. She took a very deep heavy sigh before she gave her answer. “Yes, I will be your friends, but don’t expect me to give you all my stuff or all the answers because I’m still trying to figure life out, oh, and we’ll also have to figure out sleeping arrangements, food stuff, bills, and other various random things and stuff like school, learning, books, education, free time, fun time, snack time, nap time, and talking to my parents first as well too of course. But that can wait until later, for now I think that I should get you out of this rain and somewhere nice and warm and very cozy, after all, that’s what very good or best friends do, right?” she said uncertain of all that friends did for each other. “Uh, sure thing,” Axel said uncertain of where to go with this. “So then, what do you think? Are you ready for some hot chocolate and maybe a bedtime story?” “Uh, sure thing, why not?” Axel said not certain what either of those things were (you do have to remember that he was a medieval Viking warrior, sort of). And with that said Starlight put on a very big huge wide vast smile. “Okay then!!!” she said with great joy and delight as she slowly led them back to her house (emotions and feelings that she hadn’t had ever since Sunburst left, which was very recently by the way). And once they finally got there she continued to smile as she tucked Leo into a bed very gently and softly not caring that he was a completely new different species, because so long as he was a friend and would always stick by her side no matter what then she didn’t really care at all. “Okay then, what story should I read first to you two?” she said still smiling at the two of them now then (an expression she had also not used ever since Sunburst had left, which again was very recently). “Uh, whatever you want I guess, I mean I haven’t really heard any fairy tales or stories at all, ever,” Axel said now then. “Oh, really?” she said now then. “Yeah, I was kind of, tough not really sort of a Viking warrior back home, but I was different from my clan, group, and even family, I was always the smart creative thinking one, I always had the new best most brilliant genius ideas even if nobody ever really listened to me.” “Well you have me to listen to you, but not today, and certainly not right now tonight after that soak you had in the rain, perhaps maybe you could tell me your ideas tomorrow when you’ve rested and got some sleep in, okay?” “Alright, fine then, just get on with your story,” Axel said smiling now then. “Very good them, fine, thank you very much, now then my story is a very old classical one, and one of my own personal favorites because it was published by the princess herself although she claims to have heard it from her own mother before, it’s called The First Alicorn,” she then cleared her throat before continuing onwards now then, “Once upon a time in a kingdom very far away…” “…and they all lived happily ever after, the end,” she said closing the book. “That was much shorter than I expected,” Axel said yawning now then. “Well it was a fairy tale, what did you expect, and amazing radical awesome and very cool epic about a ten-year war? I don’t think that would be very appropriate for children or kids at all,” she said smiling as she put the book back on the shelf. “Well that was very nice, but I think that I’m going to get some sleep now,” Axel said yawning very loudly as he slowly closed his eyes and lay down on the floor which had a very soft bed under it since there were always at least two spare ones that her parents had kept for guests, and for right now they were guests in her house. “Well then I think that was very lovely, but what’s an alicorn exactly?” Leo said now then. “It’s basically like a unicorn with wings, or a Pegasus with a horn, it can work either way depending upon your worthiness and readiness too, after all, it isn’t every pony of every regular normal days and life that can become and ascend into an alicorn,” she said now then. “Wait, you can become an alicorn?” Leo said with great shock and surprise in his eyes and voice too as well. “Yeah, and it’s my dream to hopefully become one too someday. After all, you do become a princess if you are one, and that means you get all the special love and attention and wealth and praise and glory just by being royal and regal, but I doubt that’ll ever happen because there’s only three princesses, the one of the Sun, Celestia, the one of the Moon, Luna, and then finally there’s the one of Love too as well, that would be Cadence, but she very young and little just like me, she still has a very long way to go before she learns her true real destiny or perhaps maybe even discover the full power of her special talent, but if she hasn’t then I really question why she ever became one at all in the first place,” she said smiling now then as she made sure Leo was securely tucked in. “Well I think that you should pursue your dreams no matter what happens to you, after all, you can’t let the words or actions of others ever let you down, you just have to believe in yourself and then you’ll finally be able to do great things, you’ll see,” he said smiling now then. “Oh, well okay then, thanks a lot.” “Sure thing, anytime, I’m full of wisdom, and also very sarcastic jokes too.” “Oh, a comedian, I’m starting to like you already,” she said smiling now then. “And I think that a dragon should get his sleep,” Axel said now then. “You’re still awake?” Starlight said with some slight shock and surprise. “Well yeah, duh, of course, I can’t get to sleep if the light is on or if somebody is talking, or rather in this case some specific pony,” he said slowly opening his eyes to glare at her with some slight anger, hate, wrath, and fury too as well. “Alright, fine then, I’ll leave you now, just make sure that you get some rest and have a good night’s sleep, I’ll see you when the morning finally comes.” And with that said she turned off the lights as she smiled and slowly shut the door behind her. Yes, success, her first night with not one, but two new friends, and they already seemed to like her, and she thought that she was starting to like them too as well, and who knew, maybe these two would start to grow on her and not be so annoying after all, and just maybe perhaps losing Sunburst wasn’t such a bad thing after all if she got the two of her new friends in his place. But she shouldn’t be glad about that or feel like he had been replaced, because no one could ever replace him, no pony, no human, no dragon either. He was special and unique and talented and different too, and losing him was very hard on her, and she knew that she could never ever replace him, but perhaps just maybe her new friends could help her through this, help her out with her emotions and feelings, help her to overcome them and improve and strengthen the good best ones of herself now then. Yes, perhaps just maybe, but only time would eventually finally tell that, and so with this though in her mind she read a book and then eventually finally went to bed herself once she was finally done. //-------------------------------------------------------// The Next Day //-------------------------------------------------------// The Next Day Chapter Two: The Next Day The next day finally eventually came and they all slowly woke up and then they all eventually went to the kitchen. “Good morning to one and all,” Starlight said with a great big huge wide vast smile on her face now then. “Yes, good morning indeed,” Axel said climbing up the pantry shelves looking for food now then. “Hey, get down from there, you’re not supposed to be up there,” she said now then. “Sorry,” he said flapping down with his wings very gently now then. “That’s okay, just try using your wings and flapping them for once, okay then?” “Alright, fine, you win,” he said now then. “I’ll agree that it is a good morning if the rest of you do,” Leo said very quietly as he gently sat down at the table now then. “You’re not very talkative, now are you?” Axel said looking very closely at him now then. “I can be if I want to be, but I just decide not to be instead.” “Is there a reason as to why you won’t talk to us at all?” Axel said now then. “None that you need to know of right now,” he said very calmly and quietly now then. “Alright, fine then, be that way, but what’s for breakfast this very fine and lovely morning?” Axel said now then. “Apples,” Starlight said still smiling now then. “Ugh, boring, but I guess that it will have to do for now,” Axel said. “I think that apples are fine, because they can keep the doctor away longer than a day, and that’s just one random various fun fact that I have and also know too as well,” he said now then. “Wow, that is both amazing and awesome and cool, but I don’t think that anybody really cares about your radical fact,” Axel said now then. “Hey you two, be nice to each other or I’ll have to split you two up apart from each other,” Starlight said with an angry glare looking at Axel now then. “I’m sorry,” he said now then, “I have a tendency to just blurt out whatever honest thought an idea that I have laying around my head even if it gets me into trouble, and that’s because they all can be just a tiny little bit cold, cruel, harsh and brutal too as well, but I can’t help who I am naturally deep down inside.” “Yeah, I guess that you can’t, but here you go boys, fresh apples,” Starlight said handing them cut sliced pieces of some apples. Axel bit into one and then smiled as he dove into the rest. “Oh my gosh, these things are delicious, these are the best ones that I have ever had in my whole entire life,” he said now then. “I’m glad that you think so, these apples here come from Sweet Apples Acres, the farm that’s run by the Apple family and is very widely regarded as having the best apples and cider within the town of Ponyville at least, but I would still have to agree that they have the highest quality of any apples I have ever seen yet.” “Well then I’m sure that the Apple family must be very proud of themselves,” he said smiling now then as he ate the rest of his apples, but Leo ate nothing at all. “Hey there kid, why aren’t you eating anything at all?” Starlight said now then. “I’m not hungry, okay?” he said very angrily now then. “Oh come on, you have to eat something, anything at all is still much better than having nothing at all.” “It actually depends upon the something and how much of it that there is.” “Well yeah, I guess you’re right, but do you mind telling me why you won’t eat?” “Alright, fine then, but you have to promise to keep it a secret, okay?” “Alright, fine then, I promise to keep it a secret if you want me to,” she said now then. “Alright, fine then, very good, here it is,” he said leaning closer to her ear now then. “I secretly also was an outcast even in my own ‘family’ like Axel was, but I also don’t really like apples that much,” he said smiling now then. “Oh stop being so ridiculous, why don’t you try one out and see if you like it now?” she said still smiling now then. “Oh all right, fine then,” he said biting into one. Slowly a smile came unto his face, “I think that I’m actually starting to like this,” he said now then. “Very good then, you’re learning to try new things, it seems like we’re already off to a very good start,” she said still smiling now then. “Yeah, I guess so, but so long as we’re here why don’t you take us around the town and show us the sights and let us explore around a bit more then?” “Well I guess that you’re right, well I guess that today’s a good of a day as any to take you around the town,” she said, “So let’s go now then since you’re done.” And with that said they all went around the town exploring it very well now then. “This is the town hall and that is the mayor,” she said pointing towards a mare. “Well hello there, Starlight, it’s very nice to see you here with…” “These are my friends,” she said explaining herself to the mayor now then. “Oh, okay then, well then have fun and stay safe then,” And with that said the mayor left them uncertain of how to feel about the new visitors now then. And with that they went on their way throughout the rest of the whole entire town now then. “This is the farms, our main source of food and also the town cafeteria, the school, and that’s about all there is to our little tiny town,” she said now then. “Oh, really? Because I felt like there was more, or at the very least that there could have been a lot more, or should be rather instead.” “It depends upon how much more that you want exactly,” she said now then. “Yeah, I guess that you’re right, I mean I wouldn’t want a full complete history on this whole entire town, you can skip that part and save it for never instead,” he said as they approached a small tiny little group of ponies now then. “Woah, what is that thing exactly?” one of the stallions said staring at Axel. “It’s a dragon, a Night Fury to be exact and precise,” Starlight said now then. “That’s so cool, but can we touch him?” one of the stallions said now then. “Well, what do you think Axel?” she said to him now then. “Sure, I don’t mind,” he said. “What did he say? It sounded like growling noises to me,” a stallion said. “He said that he’s fine with you touching him, just please be gentle and kind, okay?” Starlight said worried for the safety of her new best friend. “Yeah, sure thing,” the white stallion said slowly guiding his hoof along the back spine of Axel. And Axel suddenly let out a very soft purr of great pleasure, joy and delight, he liked being scratched, or at the very least is dragon part and side of him did, and now he wanted more and so he gladly let every pony scratch him and feel his scales now then. “Oh, that feels so good,” he said turning to lie on his back. All the ponies now suddenly then started to play with him and Starlight smiled as she watched him have fun, but then she finally eventually noticed that Leo was all alone now, completely and entirely too. “Hey there buddy, what’s wrong exactly? Don’t you want to have any fun?” she said coming over to him and sitting by his side. “I don’t know, I just feel like I’m still not a part of the group or family yet, and it’s really hard to let anyone in since I moved around so much from home to home back in my world, and no matter what I tried to do or who I pretended to be no one could ever accept me, and that’s why I gave up hope a very long time ago,” he said now then. “Hey, you’re here with me and us now and we won’t ever leave you, you can feel like you’re really part of a family and group again, you can be yourself since every pony here accepts their own destiny and special talents, and those of others too no matter what it ever is at all too.” “Thanks for the kind, nice, generous words, but you can’t convince me to stay, I’ll never really be part of a family part group and you can’t stop me from leaving, no one ever can,” he said getting up and ready to leave. “Fine then, alright, go, but if you do then you’ll always wonder what would have happened if you had decided to stay instead, and it doesn’t matter how small or tiny that part is, because it will still be there to haunt you forever in your day, night, and dreams too as well, it will haunt you in shadow and light, and you will not be able to ever escape from it. Think about what you’ll be losing, this is a wonderful incredible amazing cool awesome land filled with the best ponies that I have ever seen before of every race, we have creatures that are probably myth back on your world and so many chances and opportunities for things that you might not have back home, for example, can you tell me what your destiny for your life is right now?” she said now then. “Running away from things, stuff and people?” he said now then. “No, that’s what you think it is, but I don’t think that can every really possibly be your destiny, because you have to be brave to face it in the end. You have to be ready and prepared to stand up for what you believe in, and if you don’t then that only goes to show how much of a coward that you already really are, so are you ready and willing to take a leap of faith and hope or not?” Leo sighed, “I guess so, I mean I always do try to do and be my very best, but no one’s ever accepted me before, I don’t know why you would be any different, but if I stop trying to let others into my heart I’ll never know who to really trust.” And with that said he slowly walked back to Starlight and hugged her then now. “Thanks for your very kind, nice, generous words, they really meant a lot to me.” “You’re welcome,” Starlight said returning the hug and then releasing him from her grip, “Now then I want you to go over there and just at least talk with those other ponies okay? I don’t care if you’re a completely new different species, you can’t ever really start making friends if you don’t ever talk with others.” “Alright, fine then, you win,” he said with a smile as he went over to them now. “Hey there, want to hear a very funny joke?” he said now then. “Sure thing, why not?” the white stallion said still rubbing Axel’s belly now then. “Okay, so two guys walk into a bar and the third one ducks,” he said now then. Very slowly each pony’s face lit up with great joy and delight as they all suddenly started to laugh out loud. “Oh my gosh!! That is so funny!!!” Party Favor said now then. “Do you have any more of those?” the white stallion said now then. “Sure thing, but I’ll need all of your names first before I continue.” “Alright, fine then, fair enough, I’m Double Diamond,” the white stallion said now then holding his hoof out to shake and Leo did very promptly so. “Party Favor.” “Sky Stinger,” the first mare said now then. “Great, I’m Leo by the way, also known as the only human in this whole entire world and therefore the greatest most amazing and best one too naturally, that includes other adjectives like cool and awesome and radical too as well. Okay, so here’s my next one, so there’s this clock and three mice run up it and it strikes one and the other two escape with very minor injuries.” Even more laughter could be heard from the group this time. “Oh my gosh!!! This is like one of the best things ever!!!” Party Favor said now then. “Yeah, these are great, you really should consider getting your own act together,” Double Diamond said now then. “Well I have considered it before now previously of course, but I never did because my previous former world would and could not recognize my brilliant genius talent, but clearly you do. Now then here’s one of my own personal favorite questions to ask ever at all, so there’s this guy working at an orange factory and he’s fired, but why exactly?” he said waiting to see if any pony else would respond to his question now then. “Um I really don’t know, but I’m going to guess that you’re going to be telling us exactly that?” Party Favor said now then. “Correct indeed, okay so the guy was fired because he couldn’t concentrate, get it?” he said smiling now then. Suddenly the whole entire crowd burst out laughing, all except for Axel who never laughed once. “I don’t get this,” he said, “I really don’t get any of this.” “Don’t worry, you’re from a different world than mine, and a different time period, it would only make sense that some of these you wouldn’t ever understand at all, I don’t blame you, but I will still try to find one that you can laugh at.” “Well okay then, good luck, but I highly doubt that you’ll ever really find anything at all,” he said now then. “Hey, never doubt anything, even the impossible, because the moment that you do is the moment you admit that you don’t trust what you already know and think, and that is never really a good thing to do at all, ever,” and with that said he continued on with his sketch comedy act. Eventually he had to finish up his routine as it was then time to go home since night had fallen, but as he did every pony thanked him for the time he had used and spent for all of them, complimented him and then left to go back on to their own homes. “So, what did you think of that exactly?” he said smiling now then at his best friends. “It was very good, you managed to keep your audience laughing the whole entire time, even me, and all except for Axel of course. But hey, you can’t make all laugh, you can only do your very best, and at the end of the day that’s all that really matters, not the external goal and reward or trophy or whatever, it’s the internal one that counts, because if you didn’t do your very best at something then you didn’t really earn it and its not yours either, you don’t deserve it all, but what would you know about that theme or subject ide matter of course?” she said smiling now then. “Well yes, of course, but I do know rather quite a lot indeed, after all, I’m very wise and smart for my age.” “Well I don’t care how wise or smart you are because everyone has to have their sleep sometime, it’s the one of the very few things that still unites us.” “And what are the other things exactly?” Leo said very curiously now then. “Taxes, life, death, love, kindness, compassion, mercy, hate, fear, pain, agony, sorrow, guilt, sadness, there’s a whole entire list of it for much later on.” “Note to self, your definition of few is several and many instead.” “Hahaha, very funny Axel,” she said tucking him into bed very softly and gently now only to have her efforts and time and energy wasted and foiled when she saw him just walk around on his bed three times in a circle. “Why do you do that exactly?” she said very curiously pointing out at his very weird strange and highly odd ritual now then. He glanced over at her and smiled very slowly. “Because it gets out all the wrinkles and bumps in the fabric and cloth too.” “Well okay then, fine, alright, I can work with that,” she said now then. “Starlight, just one question before you read your story tonight, please?” “Well okay then, fine, alright, anything for you,” she said still smiling now then. “Do you think that there’s even the slightest chance or possibility that we can ever get to either of our homes through any means possible yet?” Her smile suddenly vanished now then. “Honestly, I really don’t know, but if you do want to go home you should probably let me know, but for now your home is right here with me until we can finally find you a proper place in society.” “Well okay then, I’m fine with that, honestly I didn’t really expect you to know the answer and I just really hope that I can learn to live with you eventually.” “Me too, now then we have yet another great old classic on our reading list for tonight, and our first story I called The Little Mermaid. Once upon a time…” “…The end,” she said finally finishing up the story at last now then. “Really? Is that it? That’s just such a sad ending to a book that I have ever heard before,” Leo said laying down in his bed as he very softly and gently closed his eyes now then. “Not all stories get or end with a  happily ever after, especially modern day ones, no, that would just be too easy for the authors to do, no, instead they make the heroes and villains look gray rather than black and white just like these old stories did, but no matter what happens they will never be silly or stupid since they can tach us life lessons, and anything worth knowing or learning bears repeating of it into the mind of course,” Starlight said now then. “Yeah, well I guess that makes sense, good night Starlight, maybe we can explore somewhere new and different tomorrow,” Axel said as he slowly drifted off to sleep now then. “Maybe, we’ll just have to see then, now won’t we?” “I really hope that you say yes because I want to impress the others with my comedy skit act,” Leo said now then. “I said that I’ll consider it, I’m not making promises to anybody that I can’t keep, okay then? She said now then. “Alright fine, I get it, stay out of your hair and business and we’ll be just fine.” “Don’t forget the mane and tail, those can be very troublesome too at times.” “I won’t even ask how or when or where or why,” Leo said now then. “A very good wise smart choice, I guess what others say about you is really true.” “It depends upon all that they say now, doesn’t it?” he said now then. “Yeah, I guess so, what I meant to say was all the good parts that I have heard.” “Yeah, well thanks a lot, see you in the morning then I guess.” And with that said they both fell to sleep suddenly then. And with that said they both fell to sleep suddenly, and then very slowly, softly and gently Starlight left the room shutting the door behind her with very great care indeed. “Yes, see you in the morning,” Starlight said to herself all alone now then as she slowly picks up a picture of her former previous best friend before all of this, Sunburst, and then very slowly gazed at his face for one very last final time to remind herself of the past. And then once she was finally eventually done she put the picture back, decided to read a book, and then eventually she did finally manage to sleep at last, after all, even very busy ponies need sleep too sometimes. //-------------------------------------------------------// The Cave Attack and The Talk //-------------------------------------------------------// The Cave Attack and The Talk Chapter Three: The Cave Attack and The Talk The next day eventually finally came and it went quite well for all of them indeed. Starlight started to show more detailed private parts of the whole entire town including some caves that were very far off in the distance that served quite well as an excellent place to play hide and seek, but they would need more ponies with them to make that game any kind or sort of fun at all ever really. But very slowly over time the whole entire town got to know Axel and Leo quite well indeed, for the ponies laughed at his jokes and all loved to play with Axel, scratch him, and only the youngest could get the chance and opportunity to fly on his back ever since he had decided to let one on just for some fun one day. But now it seemed like every pony was starting to hop unto the very new trend. “So how’s it going exactly?” Starlight said to Axel one day while he was at work. “It could be better or worse instead, I don’t really complain all that much, ever.” “Yeah, I can get that,” she said sighing as she very slowly moved on then now. And with that said she slowly watched with her great big huge wide vast smile as she saw one of her new best friends fly up there high in the sky putting the needs and wants of others before his own, and she wished that she could be like that, as kind and nice and generous and as wise as a princess always was… No, her dream was coming back to her, and she just didn’t know if that was a good thing anymore, she didn’t know if anything ever really was anymore. She quickly brushed off this thought and idea and watched her best friends play. But eventually the time eventually finally came at the end of the day for them to leave, and afterwards the schedule and routine was the same with her reading a completely new and different story to them each and every night. But then they finally eventually figured that it was time to shake things up a little bit now then. “Hey, can we go to a different town now and explore that instead?” “Why would you ever want to do that? Surely you like it here already?” “Well yes, we do, but we find it just a tiny little bit boring with the same old regular normal ordinary things and stuff, do you get what I’m saying here?” “Yeah, I do,” Starlight said now then, “And I have something just perfect in mind, but I can’t guarantee that you’ll like or love it instead, just like anything in life at all ever, but even if you don’t at least we’ll know what you do and don’t like, and anything that’s a good teaching experience is very good in my book.” “Well you should at least try it out first, right?” Axel said now then. “Yeah, sure thing, come on, let’s go right now,” she said smiling now then. And with that said they left the house and slowly followed Starlight very closely now then. “So, to where is it that we are going exactly?” Leo said now then. “Oh, you’ll see very soon enough, I like to keep these things a surprise.” And with that said they still continued on their way right behind her now then. And very soon enough they came across a cave. “A cave? Really? Is that it?” “Well yes, but it may not be all for today depending upon how I feel exactly.” “Well yes, of course, duh, but what’s inside of that thing exactly anyways?” “I don’t know really, it could be endless wonder or filled with adventure, peril, and danger, or even traps, maybe even pirates perhaps,” she said now then, “Come on, let’s go in and find out, or don’t you want to try to have any fun?” “Alright, fine then, but let me go first, I can protect you from anything that might be dangerous in there,” he said taking the lead in front now then. “And how would that be exactly?” Starlight said following closely behind him now then. “I have scales harder than any steel blade, and did I also mention the fact that I can breathe fire and have very sharp claws too as well?” “No, you did not ever mention that before, but now I’m very glad to know that now,” Starlight said as some fear and nervousness slowly started to creep into her now then. “Don’t you worry, I don’t expect and danger, but then again I also always do at any moment so that way I am always ready and prepared for anything that might happen at all,” he said slowly leading the way for all of them. And they all very slowly made their way into the cave and eventually found nothing inside. “See? What did I tell you? Nothing dangerous here at all.” “That is where you would be wrong, my little pony,” a voice said from behind them. And with that said they all turned to see a chimera standing there. “Run, I’ll hold it off for you,” Axel said charging the beast very quickly now. But when he saw that they weren’t running yet he repeated his phrase again. “RUN!!!” he shouted as he came into contact with the creature, and with that said they decided to follow his words and they quickly ran out of the cave narrowly avoiding the monster. But once they were out they turned to see how the battle and fight was going, and it was going quite well for Axel indeed. Whenever the chimera tried to bite him with its snake head Axel would swipe at it and the snake head would very quickly have to duck away to avoid not getting its head chopped off. The chimera’s claws were no match against Axel’s very thick skin and scales, and within a few swipes of his claw the beast was bleeding a lot on the ground, and then Axel slowly went up to the thing. “Please don’t hurt me anymore, please,” it said whimpering now then. “On one condition, you leave this town and cave and go somewhere very far away where I will never hear of you again even if only in whispers or rumors, because if I do then I will look for you, I will find you, and then I will kill you.” “Yes sir, I understand, I won’t ever come back here again,” it said slowly leaving the cave trying to recover from its wound. “I would highly recommend a forest for you, it’s nice and thick and full of places that you can hide,” Axel said now then. “Thanks a lot for the advice, but I think I can handle myself from now on,” it said. And with that said they watched it slowly go off into the distance. “That was quite impressive indeed,” Starlight said now then after the beast had finally left them. “It was nothing really, I’m a dragon, that chimera never stood a chance against me in the first place, but come on now, I think that we’ve had enough danger and peril for one day, and also exploring caves too as well, how about we all do something nice and relaxing that can fill us up with peace instead?” he said now then. “That sounds like a wonderful genius idea, and I think that I might just have the perfect place,” Starlight said smiling now then as she slowly led them to the town bowling alley where they started to play the game while she decided to have a talk with Axel about his behavior and actions. “So,” she said now then very carefully, “Care to explain your recent behavior and actions today? Because I don’t ever recall asking you to help protect me.” “No, you didn’t, but I just felt like I needed to try to start doing something to repay you for your kindness and generosity, I mean you’re just so nice.” “Thanks a lot for the compliment, but flattery won’t ever win me over.” “Alright, fine then, what do you want to say exactly? That I was stupid, rash, and very foolish to act in such a way, to have these thoughts, feelings, ideas, and emotions within me? Because guess what, I don’t really care that much.” “Well you should, and yes, that’s exactly what I was going to say to you before.” “Look, I was trying to do what I thought was right and best for both you and all of us, and guess what, I was right, there was peril and danger, I mean what if I wasn’t there? What would you do against that thing then?” he said now then. “Use my magic against it, duh,” she said now then. “And how well or great is your magic exactly?” he said smiling now then. “Not that great, I always needed my former previous best friend Sunburst to help me out with that, he always did seem better than me, and he always did seem to know the answers to everything, but he’s gone now and I have to try to move on with my life, okay?” “Alright, fine then, I can respect that, I actually value it rather instead, but you have to learn something very important first, you can’t always protect or keep your friends, any of them at all, ever. And sometimes they have to protect each other, and you might think that protect your heart by shutting others out is a good idea, but it’s not, trust me, it can only ever hurt you in the end, it robs you of all the chances and opportunities to make new friends and learn even more than that which you already do, because there is always room for improvement by learning something new every day, no matter what it is or how tiny and little and small it is, or how big and huge it is either instead too,” he said now then. “Well okay then, fine, I see your point, but why do you do it at all if you know that there’s the chance opportunity to get hurt? Why risk yourself for me?” “Because that’s just what best friends do,” he said, “They don’t ask why, they don’t stop to question it either, they just think, do, and go, and they don’t ever bother to stop and look behind them when one of their best friends in in danger, because it doesn’t matter what happens to them so long as they know that they did their very best to protect the ones that they like and love, and that means you. That’s the real exact reason why I put myself in danger today for you.” “Well then, thank you very much, but you don’t always have to do that for me.” “But it is my great honor and privilege to serve you,” he said smiling now then. “Oh, alright, fine then, be that way, I forgive you for your very recent behavior and actions today now that you have finally explained them to me, but for right now let’s just try having fun with this game, shall we?” she said smiling now then. “Gladly,” Axel said throwing his ball and getting a perfect strike now then. “How are you so good at this?” she said staring at his score which was all perfect strikes. “Claws help hold the ball, and being a dragon gives you a very good line of sight,” he said smiling now then as she tried to throw the ball straight like he did, but she only managed to knock over seven of the pins making a split that would be impossible to ever make a perfect score of ten on, and she grimaced when she saw it and looked at the scores seeing that Axel was still far ahead. “Oh, nice try, but leave it up to the masters and experts honey,” he said throwing his last ball and getting a perfect strike and winning the game and also getting the maximum allowed number of points within the game too as well. Even the manager got involved somehow. “We’ve never had a perfect score before by any pony, all except the ones whose cutie mark is bowling of course.” “Well do I get a special prize or award or trophy or something like that?” Axel said now then. “Uh, yes, you do,” the manager said, “You get this here trophy and also free food on your next visits depending upon how often you come here, oh, and you also get this discount card for the next games that you decide to play, just in case you want it,” the manager said smiling now then. “Alright, fine, very good, thanks a lot,” Axel said smiling as he took his stuff and things, and then with that in his arms they decided to go back home now then. “But it’s so early, can’t we do another round of bowling ball?” Axel complained very loudly now then. “I don’t want my flank kicked the next time that I play, and I like you as a friend, but I also utterly despise you for your talent in bowling ball,” she said now then. “Oh alright, I’ll take it easy on you next time, would you still play with me then?” he said now then. “Please define taking it easy first,” she said now then. “Okay, fine then, you make a very fair point.” “Yes, and I always do, you should remember that well next time.” And with that said they finally reached their home now then and Starlight made sure that they were both settled in for the night now then. “Personally, I don’t think my score is that bad,” Leo said, “Especially considering that I never played bowling ball before, I mean I can’t believe that I ever came in second place.” “And neither can I too as well,” Starlight said with a frown now then, she hated that she came in last because she always did like to be first in just about absolutely everything and anything that she tried, but she supposed that if she was going to have new best friends that she couldn’t be the absolute best as everything and anything at all, some would just be naturally better than her no matter what she tried to do, and she just had to focus on what she was good at right now, which wasn’t very much, but there was always room to learn and grow. “Well then, I have another very good old classic story for you tonight, but this time it’s going to be a bit different from the ones that you usually hear, because it won’t have a sad or happy ending for either of you two.” “Oh, what’s it this time?” Leo said with much great excitement in his voice now then. “It’s called try to get to sleep without a story tonight,” she said smiling now then as she got up from the bed. “Really? You want us to try to go to sleep and get some rest without you telling us a bedtime story?” Leo said now then very curiously waiting for a reasonable answer and explanation to this new problem. “Yes, and if you want to hear the other stories then you can read them to yourself when time permits, but there will be no more bedtime stories until further notice, and that’s because you’re always growing up and you won’t always have me around, so try thinking about something new and different and strange and unique instead, try to create your own story within your mind.” “But what if we can’t? What then exactly?” Leo said now then. Starlight smiled,” Dream big then I guess,” she said as she softly gently closed the door behind her thinking that she was doing the right thing, after all, they had to grow up and learn, and they couldn’t ever do that if she kept treating them like children. And with that thought in her mind she decided to read a book before bed and then eventually she finally fell to sleep letting her imagination run wild and free and living the dream like it was real life instead. //-------------------------------------------------------// The Invitation and Preparations //-------------------------------------------------------// The Invitation and Preparations Chapter Four: The Invitation and Preparations The years by very slowly passed for all of them and they got to know each other quite well indeed and loved each other very much too as well. Many days and night passed, and weeks and months, and holidays like Hearth’s Warming and also the Summer Sun celebration were received with great joy and delight by one and all. But eventually Starlight yearned for more, she wanted more, like adventure for example, and she knew that it was just out there somewhere in the whole entire world, or maybe perhaps even Equestria is she was really lucky instead. But one day her chance and opportunity for more finally eventually came for her, and this time it was one from the princess herself to herself as well too. “OH MY GOSH!!!” she screamed when she finally saw her mailbox and what it contained inside within it too as well, and then she decided to tell all of her friends now then too. “I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!!!” she screamed even louder now as the joy and delight continued to rise with her excitement level too as well. “What is it exactly?” Axel said getting up to see what the commotion was all about now then. “I have been invited to the annual Summer Sun celebration that’s being held in Ponyville this year!!! And want to know what makes it even more exciting than it already is?” she said now then. “Oh please do already tell us.” “It’s the one thousandth year anniversary of the celebration, and the princess decided to invite me!!!” she screamed as she literally hopped up and down unable to contain her joy and delight now then. “Oh yeah, that’s so very good for you,” Axel said not really caring about this celebration right now because he just wanted some sleep. “Oh come on!!! Why aren’t you more excited right now?” she said very curiously now then. “I just want some sleep, peace, rest, and quiet, is that too much to ask of you around these parts?” he said now then. “Oh, don’t be ridiculous or silly, of course it isn’t too much to ask of me,” she said now then as she gently rubbed his back making him let out a very soft purr now then. “Very good then, because I’m sure that you won’t mind if I try to get some sleep right now then?” he said. “uh yeah, sure thing, go right ahead,” she said now then. “Thank you very much,” he said closing his eyes as he lay down letting the sun gently and softly come down on him slowly warming him up now then. And with that said Starlight decided to spread the news around to those who would be more willing and ready to listen to her news of great joy and delight and also put up with her silly little stupid tiny antics that she had now then. She went around the whole entire town slowly spreading her news and most received it quite well indeed, even her best friend Leo did too as well. “I am very glad for you, but can you take us along with you?” he said now then. “Well yeah, of course, it’s not like it’s the Grand Galloping Gala, this is for every pony, but this time it’s different and special since she’s asked me to help with the preparations, but if we’re to make it in time for the event we should probably leave now since the celebration is in a few weeks but it may take a few days to get to Ponyville on hoof or foot,” she said now then. “Who says that we’re going to get there on hoof or foot?” Leo said smiling now then. “Oh yeah, you’re right, we have Axel, but still I think that it would be best if I left as early as I can to get there and start the preparations and make sure that everything is ready by the time the actual day comes, because apparently there’s going to be an inspection by Princess Celestia’s own prized student on that day and other various random ones throughout the whole entire preparation time, mostly that would still be me though,” she said still smiling now then. “Careful with that smile there, it just might be infectious or contagious, and we wouldn’t want to spread joy and delight around to others now, would we?” Leo said smiling now then too as well. “You’re right, I think that it’s already infected you,” she said now then as her smile very slowly grew ever larger now then. “Oh no, it’s too late for me, save yourself,” he said falling on the ground and then pretending to faint. “I think that it already was too late for me if I’m starting to spread the disease and infection around,” she said still smiling now then. And with that said they suddenly both started to burst with laughter out loud now then. “Okay, you are too funny,” she said between her bursts now then. “And you just play along with my jokes too much, thanks for that though, thanks a lot,” he said starting to recover himself from his laughter now then. “Yeah, well you’re welcome, you know” Starlight said now fully recovered from her laughter now then. “Well then, should we go get Axel and leave now or do you want to wait just a little bit longer and say goodbye to your town instead?” he said still smiling on his face now then. “Wow, I guess that you’re so right, I never really considered that, I really should say goodbye to my other friends and the other ponies that I know too as well, just give me a moment and then I’ll be right back,” she said as she left, quickly said goodbye to every pony in the whole entire town, and then she very quickly came back to Leo now then. “Okay, I think that I hit every pony,” she said now then. “Well that’s a bit rude, now, isn’t it? I hope that you apologized afterwards, you really should be ashamed of yourself,” he said smiling now then which meant that it was a joke. And then very slowly the joke started to dawn on her and she burst out laughing again now then and eventually she finally managed to recover herself again. “Wow, you are so funny, thanks for making me laugh though,” she said now then. “Anytime, at your service whenever you’re feeling down or blue.” “Well anyhow I didn’t hit them, I just said goodbye to all of them instead.” “Yeah, I knew that, which is exactly why I tried to make a joke out of it.” “Yeah, and I thank you for that, anyways I think that we can leave after I pack up some of my stuff and things and after Axel has had his afternoon nap, you know how moody and angry he can be if he doesn’t get his nap you know.” “Oh yes I do,” Leo said remembering the time that they had tried it once and almost had gotten mauled and therefore lead to them being stranded on the school roof flying the school flag while squirrels attacked them for their nuts that they held while the cats and dogs surrounded the school ready to attack them if they ever tried to leave and the dogs started to howl at the moon too as well, “Very good times indeed,” he said smiling to himself very lightly now then. “I wouldn’t call being covered in ketchup and mustard and relish and mayo and barbeque sauce and being chased by every animal, creature and beast within fifty miles of this place a good time,” she said now then as they both slowly went back home now then. “Hey, everyone has a different definition of a good time, besides, it doesn’t really matter if it was a really good time or not because you can always change your attitude and mindset to make it a very good time,” he said now then. “You make a very good fair point indeed, but I still think that wasn’t a very pleasurable experience that I would ever want repeated again,” she said now then shuddering with some very slight fear now then. “Yeah, it was definitely memorable. And speaking of memories I was actually thinking about doing a scrapbook of all the good times that we have had here, it includes photos and certain passageways of our journals that we kept,” he said now then. Starlight paused for a brief moment before responding to him, the journals had been given to them as a present to record their thoughts, ideas, emotions and feelings and whatever else that they wanted since she would always admit on many numerous occasions that she didn’t know if they ever could return home, but whether or not if they ever actually did at least they would always have something to remember the good times that they had no matter what happened to any of them, and with that thought in her mind she finally decided to respond to them now. “Alright, fine then, I don’t mind a scrapbook about our lives.” “Great, thanks, this will sure mean a lot to both of us,” Leo said now then. “Yeah, sure thing, whatever, that’s really great” she said now then not really caring or listening to what he said next. “So then, when do we leave?” he said now then. “What was that again exactly?” Starlight said now then. “I said when will we leave exactly?” he said mildly annoyed now then. “We’ll leave now I guess, I mean I don’t have that much and I do expect to return after the celebration is finally eventually over,” she said as she got back home, “Just give me a very brief moment to pack a few of my things and stuff and then we’ll all go, okay then?” “Alright, fine, but I’ll be waiting,” Leo said as she went upstairs to her own room and packed a few weeks’ worth of clothes, some random various favorite books and puzzle game, a whole lot of pens and pencils too as well, and finally the picture of Sunburst too of course, just in case, after all, you never really knew. “I’m good now,” she said coming back downstairs, “Let’s see whether or not if we can wake up our little tiny dragon.” Her statement was an oxymoron of course, and just in case you don’t know what an oxymoron is in this case it would mean a paradox, and in this case to be more specific, exact, and precise it would mean one of words, for example if one said jumbo shrimp then that would be a paradox since shrimp are normally thought to be very small, tiny, and little too as well. Anyways her statement was an oxymoron because over the course of many long years that included very cold freezing winter nights and very warm and cool summer days Axel had grown up to be quite large indeed, very much so that regular ordinary doors were very hard to get through unless he crawled through it sideways. But enough about paradoxes and oxymorons, back to the story. Axel sat on the couch which was almost like a second bed to him since he would sleep in it every day and bask in the bright warm and very soft gentle glowing beams and rays of light soaking up and absorbing them too as well. “Afternoon,” he said slowly opening his eyes to see Starlight now then. “I’m done with my nap now, is there anything you want or wish to talk about with me right now?” “Yes, there is actually, do you mind flying the three of us plus some very light luggage somewhere?” she said now then. “Sure thing, I don’t mind, I could lift ten times what your way because of my natural dragon strength, skills, and special abilities and talents too,” he said now then, “But how far away is the destination exactly?” “Well it’s a tiny little town called Ponyville where nothing even remotely interesting or exciting ever really happens, just like our town too.” “Wonderful,” Axel said very sarcastically now then, “When do you want to leave?” “Right now if you can manage it, unless you want some more sleep?” “No, I’ll be just fine, I said that I was and I still am,” he said yawning very loudly as he slowly got up and went outside through the door, “Well then, come on, I won’t offer this ride for free forever you know,” he said smiling now then. “Oh yes you will,” she said, “Come on Leo, we have a town to go to right now.” “Uh shouldn’t you lock your house first?” he said very nervously now then. “Nah, no pony would ever dare steal from me or another, we trust each other a lot, besides it’s very rude if a pony wants shelter to leave a house locked, besides there’s nothing really that valuable inside that I wouldn’t mind losing.” “Oh, well in that case then,” Leo said very slowly climbing unto the back of Axel. And then Starlight got up in front and then Leo suddenly decided to speak now. “Thank you for joining us on flight Axel today, we’ll be cruising at an unknown height, but one that probably hopefully won’t make you suffocate or freeze to death either instead, we’ll be flying as fast as we can and we will arrive at our destination and location very shortly. If you are not going to Ponyville then please get off now. Please follow all the instructions of the captain including the fasten your seatbelt light which is directly above you. Please store all luggage either under your seat or in the apartments above. The emergency exits are on your left and right directly so please look for them and not them in your mind and head and please don’t forget them just in case there is a real actual emergency. Anyhow the weather outside looks very clear and sunny and we’re not overweight so have a very nice time, enjoy the flight, and also have a very nice day too.” “Who are you talking to exactly?” Starlight said very curiously now then. “No one, or maybe perhaps someone that can actually get that joke, for example like what if I was in a story right now and a whole entire audience was watching me? Well they would totally get that joke, especially if I was a fictional character.” “Do you always think about life and philosophy this much?” Starlight said. “Yes, and you can’t ever prove that you’re not just a fictional character in a short story or rather even just in a novel or just any story in general at all ever really.” “Enough, I don’t want to hear any of your crazy stupid silly little theories, we have a town to get to and preparations to make as well too, and I for one always intend to arrive where I am meant to be exactly on the right exact precise time.” “They aren’t crazy, silly, or stupid,” he said, but before he could continue Starlight ordered Axel to start flying and with that said they went off into the air now then. “Uh, Starlight, I have just one more confession to make,” Leo said. “Yes, what is it exactly?” she said now then. “I’m really afraid of heights.” “And you didn’t bother to tell me this before we left?” she said very annoyed now. “Well I didn’t really think it was that important,” he said now then. “Well of course it’s important, but just hang on until we get there, okay? It shouldn’t take us very long since we’re flying by dragon, which is very cool, awesome, radical, and amazing too if I might just ass,” she said now then. “Yeah, and you know it too as well,” Axel said smiling now then as he flew very high over the sky. And just as Starlight said they soon arrived at the town. “Well everyone, welcome to the small tiny little town of Ponyville,” Starlight said holding her hoof out in a proud display of accomplishment almost like she owned it, but of course she didn’t, but that still didn’t stop her display then now either. And with that said they both gasped out loud in shock and surprise now then. “I know, it’s quite a sight, isn’t it?” she said now then. “Well yeah, but it seems like the town is even busier than it probably should be or is usually.” “That’s because there’s a celebration coming up, of course it would be, now then all we need to do is find somewhere to sleep and rest while we’re here, and then once we do that we can make sure that the preparations are coming on their way. And with that said they all went off in search of a place and very quickly found one. But when they left they came upon a very bright pink pony. “Well hello there,” Starlight said trying to make some light conversation with her now then, “My name is Starlight Glimmer, what’s yours?” “My name is Pinkie Pie and I’ve never seen you around these parts before, are you new here?” she said. “Uh, yes? I am actually” Starlight Said uncertain of how to react to this crazy pony silly stupid tiny little antics. “Oh, what are these?” she said going over to Axel and Leo poking them in their faces, “This one is so soft and squishy, just like me!!!” she said pulling Leo’s face apart now then. “And this one,” she said going over to Axel as he growled very angrily now then, but then she very quickly found his soft spots and made him purr very softly and gently now then. “This one acts tough on the outside but is really just sweet and nice and kind and generous on the inside, aren’t you mister dragon sir?” “Uh, his name is Axel and that other one would be Leo,” she said pointing them out now then. “Oh, well do you want a welcome to Ponyville song and theme party?” “Uh, sure thing, why not?” Starlight said. And with that said suddenly Pinkie Pie exploded with joy and delight as she rocketed into the sky, literally. And then suddenly there was a party cannon there and she started singing. And once she was finally eventually done confetti exploded everywhere. “Do all ponies here have as much joy and delight and excitement as you and the same exact tendency to suddenly randomly break out into a song?” Leo said after she was finally eventually done. “Nope!!! Just me!!! Anyhow I hope that you’re ready for a party from the whole entire town, and the Summer Sun celebration too as well!!!” Pinkie Pie said with a great big huge wide vast smile on her face now then. “How much do you think she can eat with that mouth?” Leo said now then. “How many ponies do you think that she can surprise, shock, and startle with that big huge wide vast and slightly scary smile on her face?” Axel said now then. “Actually that’s what I’m here for, I’m here to make sure that all the preparations go well up until the day of the actual celebration,” she said now then. “Oh, well then that would be very easy since no pony ever goes out of town for any reason at all, except of course for the Apple family and Filthy Rich and a few other various random ponies, but I’m sure that if you ask then you can find your way around here very easily enough, maybe even I could help perhaps?” “No, I think that you’ve already done quite enough for one day,” Starlight said now then, “But can you please tell me where Sweet Apple Acres is exactly?” “Sure thing,” Pinkie Pie said as she raised her hooves and then suddenly more started to appear as her directions got ever more complicated. “Just go to Sugarcube Corner, take a left and then a right and then another right and then left, left again, and then keep on going until you see an apple tree, then follow the fence until you get there, or you could just follow me instead.” “Yeah, I think I’ll take the last option,” Starlight said very confused as to how she suddenly had more than four hooves. “Where did the other ones come from?” Leo said stating out loud the obvious question that they all had in their mind right now. “I really don’t know, but I have a feeling and sense that we just might go crazy and insane if we ever do try to figure out this pony. And with that said they slowly followed Pinkie Pie ready to check and inspect all of the preparations that were being made for the Summer Sun celebration. Pinkie Pie hopped up and down on the pathway (literally) slowly leading them to Sweet Apple Acres. “Applejack is one of the hardest working ponies that I have ever seen before, and she’s extremely honest and competitive and very good at bucking apples,” Pinkie Pie said narrating some of the most important things that had happened to her in their lives now then, and they all wished that they could just drown out the pink mare and could just ignore her instead. And when they finally got to the farms she finally stopped speaking eventually. “Thank goodness that’s over,” Leo said relieved of her constant annoying talk and chatter. “Hey there Applejack, I have some surprise visitors for you!!!” Pinkie Pie said hopping over to a bright orange mare wearing a plain simple brown hat. “Well howdy there y’all,” the orange mare said in a very thick southern accent, “It’s really nice to see you folk, but what are you doing here at my farm exactly?” “Surprise inspection to make sure that the preparations are coming along,” Starlight said handing her a piece of paper that was signed from the princess herself. “Well if the princess sent you here then I can’t very well argue against the wishes or royalty and noble blood too, come on now, let me show you around the farm and show you what we have so far,” she said now then. And with that said she very slowly led them around the whole entire farm now then. “Alright, the apples are being bucked by my big brother Big Macintosh over there,” she said pointing to a red stallion, “And also me, and we also have the rest of the family here with us to help, but the only ones that you really need to know right now are my little sister Apple Bloom and my Granny Smith.” “What was that?” Granny Smith said suddenly waking up from her nap and rocking on her chair now then. “It’s okay Granny, you can go back to sleep now, we just have some visitors come over to look at and inspect the farm, that’s all.” “Well alright, fine then,” Granny said closing her eyes now then. “Anyhow the apples are good and ripe and ready to be bucked, and we should be done before the celebration comes,” she said now then. “Well make sure of it, or else, I mean we wouldn’t want to ruin something for the princess of the sun herself, right? And that’s why everything has to be just perfect, do you understand?” she said emphasizing each of her last final words now then. “Oh yes I do.” “Well I don’t really think that you do, Applejack,” Starlight said now then. “Just call me AJ, every pony does who’s a friend of mine or knows me too.” “Well alright, fine then, AJ, but if the preparations aren’t done before the celebration,” she said making a cutting gesture to her throat to emphasize the whole entire point now then. “Okay, alright, fine, I get it already,” AJ said getting slightly annoyed and upset at this point now. “Very good then, now I’m going to leave you and this farm and check off your progress as good for now, okay?” “Alright, fine then, but don’t you want to stay for our family lunch instead?” “I’m not really that hungry,” Starlight said, “Besides, I have other places to go right now.” And with that said she started to leave before Apple Bloom stopped her. “But come on now, don’t you want to stay for our family lunch?” she said giving her the biggest puppy dog eyes that she could. Starlight nearly chocked on the amount of cuteness that she had, “Okay!!! Fine then, alright!!! I’ll stay for lunch, just stop giving me those puppy dog eyes!!!” she said now then. “Yee-haw!!!” AJ said now, “Well then, I think that you’re really going to like it.” And with that said she was forced to sit down and examine and taste test so many apple related products. “I don’t think I ever want to eat apples again,” She said after she was finally eventually done with the family lunch. “Well I’m full,” Pinkie Pie said (who had managed to eat more than any pony else). “So who’s next on the list?” “That would be some pony called Rarity, she’s supposed to be doing the decorations,” Starlight said then now. “Oh, I know where she is, let me guide you there,” Pinkie Pie said hopping over to the shop now then. “Oh Rarity!!! You have a visitor here for you right now!!!” “Oh, is it a customer?” she said then now. “Well no, not exactly,” Starlight said now then. “Oh, then what are you here for exactly?” she said then now. “I’m here to make sure that everything is ready before the celebrations ever even begin.” “Oh, well then, good luck, but I think that you’ll find my thoughts and ideas are quite fit and ready for even the princess herself,” she said showing her the designs. “Well these certainly do look good enough, but how much effort, time, and energy did you put into them exactly?” Starlight said now then. “110%” “That’s scientifically and physically impossible but I will accept your answer if this work is indeed your very best, just make sure that it’s ready before the event, okay then?” Starlight said now then. “Don’t worry, it is my very best and it will be ready before the event even ever begins!!!” And with that said she left her. “Okay then, the next on the list is Rainbow Dash for weather control.” “Oh, Rainbow Dash? She should be around here somewhere, she’s probably napping on a cloud right now, come on, let’s go!!!” Pinkie Pie said now then. And with that said they went over around the whole entire town until they eventually finally spotted a cyan Pegasus resting very lazily on a cloud now then. “Hey Rainbow Dash, you have a visitor down here for you!!!” Pinkie Pie shouted very loudly now then. “Is it a Wonderbolt?” she said now then. “Um, well no, not exactly,” Pinkie Pie said now then. “Well then I don’t really care who it is, tell them to go away because I need my napping time right now.” “Okay then, fine, alright, she said that you should go away because she needs to nap,” she said now then. “Yeah, we heard here very clearly,” Leo said. “Miss Dash, I am not going to go away until you come down here and talk to me, okay?” she said now then. “Okay, alright, fine then, have it your way,” the cyan Pegasus said very gently and softly floating down to the ground now then. “So then I’m here from the princess herself and I’ve heard that you’re weather control?” she said now then. “Yeah, that’s right, what’s it to you though exactly?”  she said clearly trying to antagonize or at least annoy her, and it worked, a lot. “What matters is that on the day of the celebration not one cloud can be in the sky at all, do you understand just how important this event is?” “Yeah I do, my favorite fliers in all of Equestria, the Wonderbolts, are going to be flying over doing one of their performances, and they’re going to be so awesome and cool and amazing and radical too as well. So yeah, I totally understand.” “Miss Dash, I don’t think that you quite fully realize the seriousness of this matter and situation, and by the looks of the sky you’re either really bad at your job or lazy, or perhaps maybe it’s both instead?” Starlight said smiling now hoping to trick the Pegasus now then. “Hey, I’m not lazy, I just know that I’m better than any pony else because I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat.” There we go, Starlight thought as she smiled and then said, “Prove it.” And with that said Rainbow Dash went up into the air and flew around kicking every cloud as Pinkie Pie slowly counted out the numbers, and by the time that she finally eventually reached ten the whole entire sky was cleared away. “See?” Rainbow Dash said as Starlight’s jaw dropped, “Ten seconds flat.” “Okay then, it looks like you’re all good to go just like every pony else so far, okay now for the next one,” Starlight said leaving Rainbow Dash behind now then. “Have some fun and don’t work too hard!!!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she very slowly left her behind then now. “Okay, next on the list is Fluttershy.” “Oh, I know where her cottage is!!! Follow me!!!” Pinkie Pie said then now. And with that said they slowly followed Pinkie Pie along the pathway as she continued to hop. “Do you think that she ever stops doing that?” Axel said then now. “I really don’t want or wish to know, much better to rather leave it as a mystery instead, don’t you think so?” “Yes, I would rather agree with that.” And with that said Pinkie Pie knocked on the door, “Oh Fluttershy, you have guests here to visit you!!! And they’re from the princess herself too as well.” “Oh,” she said opening the door very slowly now then, “They can come in I guess, but tell them not to expect too much talking from me, okay then?” “Alright, fine then, she says that she won’t talk too much because she’s very nervous and shy,” Pinkie Pie said then now. “Yeah, we could guess that,” Leo said then now. And with that said they went inside, but when Fluttershy saw Axel she suddenly gasped and then went over to him and started to scratch him, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe that you have a dragon, I’ve never seen one up close before, now then who’s a very good mister dragon sir?” “I am I guess,” Axel said then now. “Oh yes you are, what’s your name though?” “I’m Axel,” he said then now. “Nice to meet you Axel, I’m glad that you’re not a big mean nasty dragon.” “Yeah, me too, I don’t think I would have liked to be one of them.” “Wait, you can understand him?” Starlight said very shocked and surprised now then. “Well of course I can, I can understand all animals, creatures, beasts, and monsters too, nothing is an exception so far." “Oh, well I’m the only pony other than yourself of course that can understand him, and I have no idea why that is.” “Well I don’t think it matters why or how because clearly I can tell that the two of you are very best friends, but who’s that behind you exactly?” she said then now. “Oh, that one would be Leo, he’s a human, I can’t explain it better than that other than that these two come from completely new different worlds.” “Very interesting and curious,” she said then now, “So what brings you here over to me and this small little tiny town where nothing even remotely interesting ever really happens at all ever?” “Uh well the princess wanted me to check on you and see how the preparations for the Summer Sun celebration were going I guess.” “Oh, well they’re going quite well and very fine indeed if I have to say so myself, I work with animals and I’m trying to teach them to sing a song for the princess when the big day finally does come, so just watch please,” she said then now as she raised her hooves with a stick and started the downwards note. And with that all the animals and creatures started to sing a little tiny nice tune. “That’s wonderful and excellent too, but what’s it called though exactly?” “Well I haven’t come up with a name for it yet, but I’m very glad that you like it.” “Yeah, sure thing, just keep working on that, okay then?” “Alright, fine then, nice meeting you, come back with your dragon anytime soon!” And with that said Starlight and the others left Fluttershy all alone back at the cottage then now. “Okay, the last one on the list is you Pinkie Pie.” “Oh, well there’s no problem there, I have my party cannon, my backup party cannon, my secondary party cannon, and my secondary back up party cannon. I also totally have the treats and snacks and decorations covered since I work with AJ and Rarity sometimes too, and you have my solemn word and oath that I will do my best and make this one of the best parties and celebrations ever!!!” And with that said she suddenly stuck her hoof in her eye then now. “Eww, that’s so gross,” Axel said now then. “Pinkie Promise!!!” she said then now. “I’m not even going to ask what that is so I’ll just naturally assume that you’ll be keeping your promise and word before the actual real event, right?” “Yep, and with that said she bounced of away into the distance very far away now then, and then after that Starlight and the other had to find a hotel. Or at the very least somewhere to go, rest, and sleep, and eventually they did. “Well this day was just exhausting, I had to eat a family lunch, put up with one silly stupid crazy pony, an eccentric fashionista, an egomaniac, and also a pony who’s so shy and nervous that she’s probably afraid of her own shadow.” “Actually she really is,” Pinkie Pie said suddenly popping out of a bush now then. “Pinkie Pie? What are you doing here exactly? I saw you go away…” “Pinkie Pie never reveals her secrets!!!” she said slowly sinking back into the bush and then earth and then suddenly vanished. “Well that was very weird, strange, and highly odd and unusual too as well,” Starlight said then now. “Tell me about it, I don’t think that any pony could ever be quite like her.” “Yeah, I highly doubt it,” Starlight said now then trying to get comfortable in her bed now then, “Well goodnight you two, see you in the morning.” “Good night Starlight, I love you,” Axel said slowly closing his eyes now then. “Wait, what was that again exactly?” she said going over to him then now, but it was already too late as he smiled within his dreams. “I love you too,” Leo said then now. And with that said Starlight smiled, it looked like she was finally part of a family again ever since her parents had died and Sunburst had left her. “I love you too,” she said very softly to each of them up very close as she smiled to herself as she lay down very gently and softly in her bed and eventually finally got comfortable enough in it and then eventually finally her imagination was finally free and ran wild as her dreams came to her, and this time they were very happy ones. And that was why she now wore a smile on her face again (the first one in a very long time) now even in her dreams, one that she had not worn ever since her former previous best friend, Sunburst, had left her so very long ago. //-------------------------------------------------------// The Celebration //-------------------------------------------------------// The Celebration Chapter Five: The Celebration The day finally eventually came that it was the night of the celebration now then. And every pony was ready for it and the mood and atmosphere could be detected by one and all. “Can you feel the party tonight?” Pinkie Pie shouted very loudly now then suddenly. “Yes, yes I can,” Starlight said going along with her antics now then not even bothering to question the weird strangeness about it anymore. Everything looked ready to go, but there was one more last final inspection by the student of the princess herself, Twilight Sparkle. She came down escorted by the princess’s own personal bodyguards of the royal army now then. And Starlight was very glad to hear that she experienced something very similar to her own, but this time it would be a little bit different with her here now. “Hello there, Twilight Sparkle, it sure is really nice to see you here, how’s life with your teacher Celestia?” she said then now when she first saw her. “I guess that it could be both worse and better, I’m fine with the way it already is, but guess what? The princess wants me to make some new friends here in Ponyville, can you believe that?” she said then now. “Uh yeah, I actually really can, but if she told you to do that then shouldn’t you be trying to do that?” “Well yes, I am, but I’m not having that much luck at all.” “Well just hang in there, I’m sure that you’ll find some pony else out there.” “Yeah, thanks a lot whatever your name is, strange mysterious pony.” “My name’s Starlight Glimmer, and it’s very nice and also a genuine pleasure to meet you,” she said smiling now then as she shook her hooved very tightly and firmly now then. “Yeah, thanks a lot Starlight Glimmer, it really meant a lot to me.” And with that said they hugged each other and then left each other now then. “I can’t wait to see how the celebration turns out,” Starlight said going downstairs in the treehouse library to see that every pony there was having a welcome party for Twilight, but being the socially isolated pony she was she didn’t want to come down and join in with the party with them of course. But that wouldn’t stop her from joining in and having as much fun as she possibly ever could at all ever. “Wow, this is a really totally cool amazing radical awesome party,” Rainbow Dash said then now. “Yeah, I totally would have to agree with what you just said.” “Pinkie Pie you agree with too many things too quickly now.” “I know, I just don’t really care,” she said diving into the cake and eating it now then. “So, Starlight, are you enjoying the party?” Rarity said now then. “Well yes, but I am a bit confused as to why the princess would ask her own favorite student to make new friends, it just doesn’t make any sense.” “Well maybe it does, and maybe you just can’t see it yet silly,” Pinkie Pie said then now. “Well I guess that you could be right and have a very fair point.” “Well duh, of course I’m right,” she said still smiling now then. “Pinkie Pie, can you try to ever tune that smile down a bit?” “Nope!!!” she said still smiling now then, “And that’s because…” “Please don’t sing,” Starlight said covering her mouth with her hoof now then. “Oh, well okay then, alright, fine,” she said muffled under Starlight’s hoof, and then she finally decided to release her hoping that she wouldn’t dare to sing again. She didn’t do that luckily enough for her, but still she was always ready and prepared to stop her just in case. Eventually the time finally came for the princess of the sun to show herself to the town ponies as was custom and tradition. But when that time did finally eventually come she was nowhere to be found. “The princess is gone!!!” some pony shouted from within the presentation chambers. “Oh no,” Twilight said now then. And then suddenly a voice was heard from within the room, “Oh, your princess is here, it’s just not the one that you would expect,” and then suddenly a black mist started to form and then lightning flashed as a mare suddenly was where Celestia should have been. “Hey, where’s princess Celestia exactly?” Rainbow Dash said now then. “Gone far away to a place that I once was on, and now I am your new princess, I am Nightmare Moon!!!” she screamed out loud with a maniacal very cold cruel laugh. By the faces on the ponies none knew who she was. “Seriously? Not one of you know who I am?” Nightmare Moon said then now. “Well I do,” Twilight said, “You’re the mare in the moon, previously thought to be only myth and legend, but now you’re here and very clearly and obviously real.” “Well finally there’s some pony that recognizes my name, very good then, because you should also know that I will bring upon a reign of nighttime eternal forever!!!” And with that said she let out another cold cruel maniacal laugh. “The night shall last and reign supreme forever!!! And this has been your last day in the precious light, I hope that you all enjoyed it!!!” And with that said she suddenly vanished leaving the room and the ponies within it very confused and lost. And then Starlight saw Twilight running out followed by the five mares that she had met much earlier now then and she decided to follow closely behind too and even heard parts of their conversation. “What in the hay do you think you’re doing out here all alone now?” AJ said. “I’m going to stop Nightmare Moon,” she said then now. “All by yourself?” “Well yes, that was the plan,” she said then now. “Darling, sometime you have to let other ponies in your heart and life to help you out, so please do that for us right now,” Rarity said then now. “Alright, fine then,” she said looking at all of them, “But it could be very dangerous and I may not be able to protect all of you, so let’s go right now,” she said then now. “Uh, so what is it that we’re looking for exactly?” Rainbow Dash said then now. “In the book I read it talked about the Elements of Harmony being used to banish her the first time, and if we can find them maybe we can use them again to stop her,” she said then now. “Yeah, but where are they located at exactly?” AJ said then now. “The book also talked about a castle within the Everfree forest, so that’s where we’ll be going now.” “Oh, but the Everfree forest is the most dangerous, scariest, most highly unusual, odd, and strange forest in all of Equestria,” Fluttershy said very nervously now then. “It doesn’t matter what it is or where it is because we’re going to get the Elements of Harmony no matter what happens because it’s the only way to stop Nightmare Moon, so are you with me or not?” she said then now. “Count me in,” AJ said. “I don’t mind a bit of action and adventure now and again,” Rainbow Dash said then now. “Of course, darling,” Rarity said then now. “Whatever we’re doing I say yes!!!” Punkie Pie said then now. “Uh, sure thing,” Fluttershy said then now. “Great, then let’s go,” Twilight said leading the whole entire group deep within the Everfree forest now then, and Starlight followed very closely behind making sure that she was never seen or spotted by them. And she did very well to do that, quite so indeed, but there were more than a few moments where she wished that she could help them out, but somehow she was always prevented from doing so by some unseen force, and so she could watch in horror, terror, and fear as they faced their challenges, but her feelings and emotions seemed to be misplaced as the whole entire group seemed to overcome all of the obstacles that they encountered very easily enough, and some things she could get like the chimera and Fluttershy, but other things like the ‘scary’ trees and the river just didn’t make any sense, like seriously, fly over with one pony over the river, how hard can that really be? But she kept her thoughts, ideas, and opinions to herself, and moved along behind them very quietly now then. And very soon enough they all reached the castle where Starlight could very clearly see what happened next from the window. She saw Twilight find the elements and try to figure them out, and then she saw them get shattered by Nightmare Moon, and she wanted to scream out at that but resisted it instead. And then she was very glad and filled with great joy and delight when she finally figured out how the gems worked and what their powers were too as well. And then she finally saw the return of Celestia (and she had to seriously resist from coming out and trying to hug her and talk to her and whatnot else) and then she finally saw the return of her younger sister Luna. “Sister, where am I exactly? Because I’m so sorry for what I did.” “That was a very long time ago, you were very different then, you were filled with pain and despair, sorrow an agony, hatred and sadness too as well, and as your older sister I should have noticed and asked you what was wrong sooner, and I should have also listened to your advice too, we both made mistakes, but I think that we’re both ready to put the past behind us and repent, right?” “Yes my sister, I missed you so much, please don’t ever leave me again.” “Don’t worry Luna, I won’t I can promise you that much,” she said crying now then, and so did Luna too as well, even Starlight did so too as well. After that very emotionally touching scene Celestia assigned Twilight to learn about the real true value of friendship in Ponyville, and then all of them let out a great shout of joy and delight. And then they all went to town where they finished the celebration together, Celestia announced Twilight’s mission and also the return of her sister from the reformation of Nightmare Moon, and then all the town ponies let out a great shout of joy and delight too as well. But then it came time that she had to finally decide if she wanted to stay or not, after all, something very interesting did happen here, but most of the ponies that she already knew were back at her old town, but then again she did sort of like Twilight, eh, who knew, maybe she should try to stay here for a year or longer and see how things would work out, but she would have to ask her friends first of course. “Hey there,” she said, “So I have had this idea rolling around in my mine for quite some time now…” “Ah ideas, the most dangerous thing in the whole entire world, this one and any and all others too as well,” Leo said then now. “Well yes, I guess so, but anyhow I was wondering if you guys would like to stay here in Ponyville for a year or maybe longer instead?” she said then now. “Sure thing,” they said, “I don’t mind, the ponies seem very nice and kind here, and I don’t mind meeting any new friends at all, I just hope more interesting things will happen to us.” “Oh I’m sure they will just as soon as an executive producer gets us and makes us into a televised weekly family friendly show.” “Hey what do you know, you’re not so bad at making jokes after all,” Leo said then now as he slowly started to smile and laugh. “Yeah, thanks a lot for that,” she said smiling now then, “Anyhow I think that I have a few more things to move from my old house, so who’s up for a moving tour now then?” And with that said they all smiled and Axel said to hop on his back and within several many various random trips everything was over to a new house that she had decided to rent ever since she explored the town looking for a very good place to stay, and this one just stuck out to her the most among all the rest and others. And now all that was needed to be done was making it look like it was home. Both of her best friends decided to help her out and very soon enough it looked almost exactly like her old home with a few slight changes though of course. For one there was now a new picture on the wall with the three of them in it, and many more two, but this one was the first one that she had ever taken, which made it very special, unique, and different from the rest of course. “I really like it,” Axel said now then, “The design and layout is very nice and neat.” “Yeah, but I still feel like I’m missing something,” she said to herself now then. “How can you be missing anything when your best friends are here for you?” they said suddenly hugging and then she slowly smiled to herself now then. And then after a moment they let go and she gasped in shock and surprise. “Oh my gosh, I just remembered what I forgot!!! My hairbrush!!! Of course!!!” Axel groaned to himself very slightly now then knowing that this would mean yet another flight trip just to go there and back here again for that stupid silly little hairbrush. “Can’t you just buy one here instead?” he said trying to reason with her now then. “Oh don’t be so ridiculous or silly, of course I can, but that hairbrush is my own favorite and it means the whole entire world to me.” “Sure it does,” Axel said very sarcastically now then, “Alright, fine, we’ll go back for it, but please try to remember anything else that you might have forgotten before we come back because I really don’t want to fly back there again.” “Don’t worry, I’ll try my very best,” she said hopping unto his back now then. “And that’s all I ask of you and any pony else, and with that said they went off high into the sky, went back to her old former previous home, got her hairbrush, and then promptly came back again. “We’re back again,” Axel said then now. “Yeah, and I found my hairbrush, crisis averted!!!” she said then now. “Hey, I was going to make that exact same joke,” Leo said then now. “Well I guess that you were too late to say it,” she said smiling now then. “Oh you are so on for a contest any day or time of the week.” “Ha, I could probably beat you without even opening my eyes at all.” “Not unless it was a comedy contest, or a rapping one instead.” “What’s rapping exactly?” she said very curiously now then. “I might tell you later on, but for right now I just want to get some rest in.” “Alright, fine then, do that then,” Starlight said then now feeling pretty tired herself too as well. “Yeah, I’m a bit tired too, see you in the morning then I guess,” Axel said laying down on his bed and almost instantly falling asleep then now. “I’m so jealous of him, he can fall to sleep so fast and I just ever can’t.” “Well who knows Leo, you might just be able to do that someday very soon.” “I hope so, anyhow good night, see you in the morning then I guess.” “Good night,” Starlight said making sure that everything was ready for them to sleep and then smiling she got into her bed, but before she did she quickly wrote in her journal as she did every night ever since she had met her two best friends after losing her former previous best friend Sunburst, and then after that she lay down and eventually fell to sleep letting her imagination run wild and free. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chaos Comes //-------------------------------------------------------// Chaos Comes Chapter Six: Chaos Comes After the celebration was finally done they decided to stay in Ponyville for up to one year only, after all, things weren’t seeming so much boring anymore either now at the very least. And eventually things did gradually become more interesting to all of them and therefore they wanted to stay. But nothing in the whole entire world could ever prepare them for the coming of Discord either. Axel and Leo had gotten to know Miss Cheerilee and the school students very well and decided to go along on their trip with the other students, Starlight while now being too old to be a student was there to make sure they didn’t get into any kind or sort of trouble. Miss Cheerilee did her whole entire speech about the statue of Discord while the three of them just watched with silence instead. “I never imagined that a representation of chaos could ever possibly look like this, I mean personally I always thought art was chaotic enough sometimes instead, but I guess that I was somehow slightly wrong just a tiny little bit.” “Hey, don’t worry, there’s lots of ways to express creativity and chaos, building and making statues is just one of many” Starlight said. “Yeah, I guess that you’re right,” Leo said as they all started to slowly walk away from the statue not even ever noticing the crack that started to form in it. They went home after the field trip tour was finally done and finished with… But then they eventually discovered the storm clouds gathered around together in the sky finally enough. “What’s going on over there exactly? It’s not supposed to rain today, it’s not on the schedule,” Starlight said very slightly worried. “Ah don’t even worry about it, even back on my world the weather wasn’t always right, and even if you do have magic sometimes you can’t help just a tiny little bit of chaos into your lives, after all, what fun is there in being normal and ordinary and regular and making sense when you can be different just like we are?” Axel said stretching out his wings and groaning very slightly. “Yeah, I guess that you’re right, but still, this isn’t supposed to be happening.” “Oh, but don’t you know that chaos only comes when you never call?” “Wait, who was that exactly?” Starlight said very panicked now then. “Oh, you know, just your neighborhood friendly Discord the spirit of chaos.” And with that said suddenly Discord popped up, but it didn’t look like as if he was trapped inside that stone statue, not anymore at least. “Ah, it’s so good to finally get the chance and opportunity to stretch out my bones if you know what I mean, because being in that stone statue, it does stuff to your back and body.” “Discord? But how though?” Starlight said very confused. “Well the Elements of Harmony aren’t connected to the princesses anymore and all that I needed was just a tiny little bit of chaos spirit to set me free, and guess what, the squabbling of three young little tiny fillies was just right enough for me to finally be free, and now that I am I’m going to spread chaos all around the whole entire land and place, and no pony else will be able to stop me either.” “I’m sure that Twilight and her friends will be able to stop you once they finally get their hooves on the Elements of Harmony you know,” Starlight said. “Oh, that? I sent them on an endless goose chase for that, but the answer is really quite simple, but no, instead Twilight Sparkle has to overcomplicate everything and just anything at all too as well, it’s very annoying indeed.” “Why did you come over here to us for then exactly?” she said. “Because I was bored with Twilight and her friends of course, duh.” “And are you ever going to go back to them again or not instead?” “I might go back, especially if one of them needs help, but trust me, I think they’ll be more than fine enough getting along together now, or rather not because guess what, I managed to finally separate the Elements of Harmony and friendship, and if I can do that then I can really truly do anything at all, anyhow goodbye Starlight and friends, until next time that I will see you all.” And with that said suddenly he vanished away. “Where did he go?” “Far away if I were to guess, but boys, we can’t do anything to stop him, he’s the spirit and embodiment of chaos itself, how do you ever expect to defeat him?” “I don’t know, but he doesn’t seem very friendly and nice or kind and generous either, and too much chaos, well that’s just a very bad thing indeed.” “Yeah, I already know that, thanks for pointing that out.” “Hey look, this is a situation that none of us ever could possibly see happening, but for right now we will just need to stick together very close, okay then?” “Alright fine, very well then, whatever you say.” And with that said they waited for Starlight so speak up again. “So then, do you mind telling us what the plan is exactly, please?” “No, because I haven’t thought up of it just yet, okay then, just give me some time, please,” she said trying to concentrate and focus. “I just can’t think of anything,” she said now then. “And you won’t have to darling, not when chaos is around to help you out,” Discord said suddenly popping out a random various dimensional door and a rift in time and space. “Well hello there again, I changed my mind and decided that I would much rather have fun with you, now then, onto far more important pressing matters.” He snapped his claws and suddenly they were in a house none of them had ever seen or been in before either as well too. “Where are we right now?” “Where you’re right at the moment here exactly doesn’t really matter anymore, what really does truly matter is that you must succeed in my games.” “Well are there any rules about this game that we should know?” Discord smiled, “Yes, no wings and also no magic too as well.” “How are we ever supposed to do that?” she said. “Allow me,” Discord said as he suddenly took away Starlight’s horn and Axel’s wings. “There, this should allow very fair equal opportunities and chances to each and every player here.” “But this is just bad, why do we all have to be equal, why?” “You’re the one to talk and ask, in another universe you make every pony else equal, you’re just lucky that you have Axel and not anything else that could be much worse than he is,” Discord said smiling now then. “What do you mean by that though exactly?” “You’ll never know, anyhow, good luck in the maze, see you in the middle.” And with that said he suddenly vanished far away from all of them. “Well that’s just great, what will we do now?” “We fight,” Starlight said,” That’s all that we can do.” And with that said they decided to slowly explore the house together. “What do you think Discord has planned for us?” “Probably nothing he’s the lord and spirit of chaos, he doesn’t have any plans.” “Are you so sure about that? Because I would think that he does.” “Axel, just relax, he’s just something that wants to have a little bit of fun,” “What do you mean by that exactly?” “Well, I think that’s a question better answered by Discord himself instead.” And with that said they slowly went on through the whole entire big huge house that was a maze, or at the very least, served as one for its purpose instead. “What do you think he wants with us exactly?” Axel said. “Oh, you know, just to have some fun, that’s all,” Discord said from within the walls of the house. “Why don’t you come on out here and show yourself coward?” “Oh, Starlight Glimmer, how naïve you must truly be if you would really think that I should ever stoop to such low challenges, are you really that dumb and stupid or are you just trying to annoy me and get me very mad instead?” “I’m not doing either of those things, I’m just being curious.” “Well to be quite frank and honest here, you’re going to start annoying me very soon if you don’t play my game, no matter how silly or stupid you may think that it is, and if you don’t then you’ll all lose and I’ll win and chaos will be spread everywhere,” he said. “Well how do we win though exactly?” she said. “You’re up against chaos darling, even if you win this game there’s no possible way that you could ever beat me, because in the end, chaos will always win.” And with that said suddenly their whole entire world, or at the very least, their house, turned upside down, literally. The pictures all tilted to the left or right, the stairways went nowhere, and suddenly instead of just being a plain old brown and black house with normal regular colors it was as if an artist got in and made the whole entire scene multicolored and chaotic as they ever possibly could. “What the-?” Starlight said. “Just don’t ask, please just don’t.” “What the hell is happening right now?” Leo said. “It’s very simple, it’s just chaos, that’s all that it is really,” Discord said. Suddenly pink cotton candy clouds appeared out of nowhere and chocolate milk started to pour out of it. The house turned into gingerbread that gave off very thick waves of smell throughout the air. The stairs turned into dry pasta, and columns turned into very dry spaghetti, wherever they stepped on it, it then cracked and very slightly crumpled like dry frosted flakes of cereal. “Oh, I’m having so much fun, I just wish that it could never ever end,” Discord said very gleefully. “Oh my gosh, I don’t know what’s happening here or why either.” “No pony else does either, Starlight, because that’s just the way that I like it, chaotic, because what fun is it to ever make any kind or sort of sense?” “Why are you still doing this to us anymore?” “Because it’s just fun!” he said. “Twilight and her friends will defeat you.” “Ah, don’t be so sure about that, friendship can break easily enough too you know, nothing lasts forever, and in the end, I will always win no matter what you try to do, or how hard you try to do it either instead,” he said. “But we still will try, and it doesn’t matter if it’s their friendship or not, because it can be ours instead, because there is one thing that you don’t and never ever will understand either, and that is the power of friendship!” she said. And then suddenly he laughed as Starlight heard the voices of Twilight Sparkle and all of her friends too as well. She watched as they defeated Discord and imprisoned him in stone. Afterwards everything slowly eventually returned to normal and Starlight finally had some time to contemplate everything that she had seen before. “Guys,” she said, “I think that it’s about time that we go back to or old home town and visit.” “That’s fine with me, it’s about time that I get some flying done anyways.” “I don’t mind that,” Leo said, and with that it was finally decided. Eventually the day eventually finally came and then they left.