Starlight and Aurora: The First Step

Still remembering Discord’s backstory, Starlight spent the next few days wondering if she was going to follow the same path as the former master of chaos once did. It was something that troubled her to no end, and caused her quite a few sleepless nights. Finally, the day came for her and Aurora to make their journey back to Starlight’s old home.

“Guess there’s no turning back now,” Starlight thought, as she stood on the platform of Ponyville Station with Aurora, Trixie and Twilight (the latter two of whom had come to see her off.) “Here I am, about to be pulled back into the lion’s den, the place where all the nightmares began. Celestia help me!”

“This trip is important for us, Starlight,” Aurora said to her daughter. “It makes sense for you to do this with me.”

“I’m only doing it because you asked me to, Aurora,” Starlight replied. “If you think this is going to just magically mend our relationship, then you’re wrong.”

Aurora sighed as she took in what her only daughter had just said. She had expected as much of a response, but it still stung. Finally, a few moments later, the Friendship Express approached the station. Once the train arrived, the time had come for the two unicorns to board. They did so, even though Starlight briefly hesitated.

“Do you think this will help their relationship?” Trixie asked Twilight, talking in low voices so that Aurora and Starlight couldn’t hear them.

“I hope it does, Trixie,” Twilight answered. “But it’s not up to us now, it’s up to them. Everything that happens from here on is in their hooves.”

“You sure we couldn’t just go to spy on them?” Trixie asked. “I mean, what if us being there could help them?”

Twilight only shook her head. “We need to give Starlight and her mother space to work out their differences. It’s not our place to intrude on their personal lives.”

Just then, the whistle blew, and with a puff of smoke the Friendship Express puffed away.

Starlight watched, as the sights of Ponyville soon disappeared from view, as the train chuffed away down the tracks, bound for a small junction just outside of Rainbow Falls. This was it, no Twilight, no Trixie, no Discord, not even Sunburst or Thorax. It was just Starlight and her mother on a trip back where Starlight’s troubled past had all begun.

“Why don’t you get some rest?” Aurora encouraged, looking at her daughter. “It seems like you haven’t slept well in a long time,” She smiled, as she recalled. “I remember the first time we rode on a train together. You fell asleep right in my lap, it was such a cute sight. What I would give to go back to those days.”

Starlight only shook her head, as she yawned. “Those days are long gone, Aurora, and they’re not coming back,” With another yawn, she added. “Now, I think I’m gonna go lay down for a while, alone.”

“Fair enough, but let me know if you need anything. Remember, I’m here for you now.” Aurora commented, hoping to break the ice between her and her daughter.

Starlight didn’t reply at all, she simply trotted past her mother and into the sleeping car to rest.

Aurora sighed, looking out the window at the rapidly changing scenery. “What can I do to get Starlight to warm up to me?” She thought. “Sweetheart said this would help give us closure. Was she mistaken?” Deciding it wouldn’t do good to dwell on the matter, Aurora simply got up and stretched her legs. Perhaps a mid-morning snack would take her mind off her troubles.

Back in Ponyville, Twilight and Trixie parted ways shortly before the castle. Twilight had to admit, without Starlight the castle felt kind of empty, even if she still had Spike.

“You think we’re making the right choice letting Starlight and her mom work things out alone?” Spike asked, approaching Twilight (he just finished dusting some of the shelves).

“I don’t know, Spike,” Twilight replied, sighing. “The outcome’s out of my hooves now. There’s nothing left I can do except hope for the best.”

But just then, the doors to the castle library swung open, and Trixie came rushing in with an excited smile plastered on her face! “Twilight, great news!” She happily exclaimed, as she ended up bumping into Spike and tackling him (she had forgotten to slow down)!

“What is it, Trixie?” Twilight asked the magician, while carefully prying Spike out from under her (fortunately, Spike wasn’t hurt).

Trixie could hardly contain her excitement! “You know about my apology tour, right?!” Twilight and Spike both nodded in unison. “Well it just so happens, my next stop is Starlight’s old village, and I leave today! Is that an amazing stroke of luck or what?!”

“It certainly is, Trixie,” Twilight replied with a smile. But then she thought about Starlight and Aurora, and how they might interpret Trixie’s sudden appearance. That caused her smile to be replaced with a look of concern. “But maybe you should postpone that visit and go somewhere else? Starlight’s probably going to think I sent to her old town just to spy on you.”

“No, Trixie is NOT cancelling!” Trixie protested, stomping her hooves! “The Great and Powerful Trixie has never cancelled a show in her career, and she’s not about to start now! I shall go to that little town whether you like it or not.”

Twilight groaned, and put a hoof to her head. “Why does Trixie always have to be so stubborn?!” She thought to herself, and then she reluctantly said to Trixie. “Very well, I guess if you’re that determined, I can’t stop you. But you need to stick solely to your performance. So don’t go looking for an excuse to cross paths with Starlight and Aurora, and don’t try to insert yourself into their situation. I don’t want Starlight getting the wrong idea, got it?!”

Trixie nodded, bowing her head. “You have my word as a performer, princess. The Great and Powerful Trixie shall do her best not to spy on Starlight and her mother,” She then added. “You’re welcome to come along if you’d like, the wagon’s actually a lot bigger on the inside.”

But Twilight only shook her head. “I can’t just leave Spike in charge of this castle all by himself.”

“Hey, I can manage just fine, thank you!” Spike complained.

“I’m sure you could, but this castle is pretty big and you don’t exactly have the best reputation for staying out of trouble,” Twilight advised, then to Trixie she said. “Besides, even if I wanted to go, I couldn’t. The map hasn’t called me, and I don’t want Starlight to think I don’t trust her to deal with her problems herself. I already made the mistake of trying to control her personal life once, I won’t do it again.”

“Very well, but I’ll still keep you informed by letters,” Trixie replied to Twilight. “I just hope Starlight’s old town gets reliable postal service.” And with that, Trixie turned and departed for her wagon, just as the train bearing Starlight,and Aurora pulled into the station, at the small junction near Rainbow Falls.