Starlight and Aurora: The First Step

“Well, here we are, Starlight,” Aurora smiled as they stepped off the train and onto the platform. “We’re back home in Iris Junction, where we belong.”

“It…It seems like nothing has changed,” Starlight remarked, her eyes scanning all around as she followed her mother. “Everything is just the way it was, even after all this time. I thought at least there’d be some new buildings or something.”

For the next few moments, Starlight followed her mother along a small stretch of road, seeing many faces that she hoped would recognize her from the young filly she once was. Alas, it just didn’t seem possible in the common sense of the word. Nopony was recognizable to her, and neither was she to them.

As the two unicorns walked, Starlight and Aurora came across what appeared to be a drug store. It had a sign on it that read: “Fizzy Lift’s Drug Store.”

“Do you mind if I stop here to get a soda?” Aurora asked her daughter.

“Whatever, I’m not really thirsty. Besides, I prefer apple cider.” Starlight replied, and the two mares headed into the drugstore. As they entered, they were greeted by a brown coated, middle aged pony, with a snow white mane and tail, red eyes, and a bottle of soda for a cutie mark.

“Ah, Aurora,” The old stallion greeted, as he prepared to pour soda into a tall glass. “The usual?”

“Yes, Fizzy Lift,” Aurora replied with a smile. “Sorry if I haven’t been around for a while. I was in Ponyville visiting with Starlight here. Sweetheart suggested she come back home with me so we could reconnect.”

“Ah, yes,” Fizzy Lift chuckled, and a small smile coming onto his face. “I was wondering who this lovely young mare was. A soda for you, Starlight?”

“No thanks,” Starlight shook her head in response. “I’m not really thirsty right now.”

“Oh,” Fizzy remarked with a sigh as he served Aurora her soda. “You used to be so enraptured with this place, Starlight. I remember, you mom would bring you in here all the time, I practically watched you grow up. Hearing you say that you don’t want anything, makes me see that you’ve changed. But this town has missed you greatly, Starlight. When we first learned you were Princess Twilight’s new student, everypony in town could hardly believe their ears.”

“Well, things have changed, Fizzy,” Starlight sighed, trying to remain respectful to the pony she’d more or less seen as a surrogate father in her youth. “I’m not the young, energetic filly that everypony expects me to be. My life isn’t like that anymore and you know it.”

Fizzy just replied by saying. “Your mother and I had a conversation before she left, and we both agreed that what happened with your father was uncalled for and wrong. What he did was stupid, and to Tartarus with him for being so cruel.”

“What’s done is done,” Starlight remarked, not wishing to dwell on her father or what she’d learned about him. “But, I just don’t know if I can repair the wounds so easily, Fizzy Lift. My father wasn’t the only bad thing about my life, and coming back here just opens the wounds even more.”

Aurora took another sip of her soda, then she commented softly. “All you’ve been doing Starlight, is cloaking yourself. I brought you back home to make you see that everypony still loves you despite all that happened in the past. If the ponies in your old village could forgive you, and you could forgive Trixie, surely you could make amends with the source of your troubles. At the least, you could try to use the time we have together to reconnect. I want a second chance, Starlight, to be the mother I should’ve been when you were so troubled.”

Starlight, feeling guilty, said nothing after this and remained silent for the rest of the visit. “Everypony wants this to work out for me and my mother,” She thought to herself. “But, can I really just close the door on all the pain and suffering of the memories I associate with this place? This is where my troubles all began, long before I ever thought of where my actions would lead me.”

Meanwhile, Trixie had departed Ponyville and was making her way towards Iris Junction, where her repentance tour would continue. However, getting to the town was not as easy as it seemed. Trixie was never the greatest with directions. “Where is this town of Starlight’s?” She muttered, looking at a map. “Either the Great and Powerful Trixie is lost, or Starlight didn’t even bother to tell her how to find this stupid town!”

Just then, Trixie noticed an odd looking pony standing on a ladder, doing something to a signpost. She decided to ask the pony for directions, as there didn’t seem to any other pony (or non pony) around. “You there,” She called to the pony who was painting out signs on the signpost. “Do you know which way it is to Iris Junction?”

“Iris Junction? Oh, I couldn’t say, Miss,” The stallion hastily replied. “It said on the wireless to paint out the signposts in case a Changeling shows up, there’s a possibility some unreformed ones still exist.”

“I’m not a Changeling!” Trixie snapped, feeling slightly insulted. “I happen to be the Great and Powerful Trixie! The very magician currently on her repentance tour, and you’ll be happy to know the Changelings have a new leader.”

“That’s what you’d say if you were a Changeling, isn’t it, miss?” The stallion laughed.

Trixie merely rolled her eyes as she noticed an unpainted sign that said Iris Junction was five miles to the east. “A lot of help that stallion was.” Trixie thought to herself. But, no sooner had Trixie started her way along the road, when the pony suddenly fall silent! Hastily turning around, Trixie saw that the pony was gone and it gave her a sense of suspicion. What if that stallion was actually a rogue changeling out for revenge?

Trixie shook her head. That was a ridiculous fantasy, and one that she didn’t have time to worry about. Her destination was Iris Junction plain and simple, and she was going to continue on her way. But at that moment, a white flash appeared in front of her and standing in front of the magician was Discord, much to Trixie’s chagrin.

“I was just trying to keep you safe, Trixie,” Discord insisted, holding the paintbrush and paint in his claw and paw. “Besides, why are you so intent on going to Iris Junction. It seems that Starlight and her mother need to as much alone time for bonding as necessary. Wouldn’t you agree it’s best not to intervene? Come on, there’s bound to be plenty of other destinations your tour has yet to reach.”

“Trixie has a mission of her own,” Trixie replied, rolling her eyes and giving Discord an annoyed glance. “And it doesn’t involve mismatched creatures of chaos! I was going to Iris Junction even before I knew it was Starlight’s home town. That was just a happy coincidence, Princess Twilight specifically told me I’m not to spy on Starlight and her mom. Now, stand aside, Discord, Trixie will not be delayed!”

Upon hearing those words, Discord snapped his fingers and produced a flying pig for Trixie to sit on. “Would you like to get their faster?” He asked, slyly. “This pig will help you rest your legs.”

“Trixie needs the exercise,” Trixie sharply answered. “Besides, what would I do without my wagon? It’s my home away from home, and where else do you think I keep all my props, snacks, and fireworks?”

“Suit yourself,” Discord shrugged, snapping his talons as the flying pig disappeared. “I just thought I’d help you out a little, but if you’d rather strain yourself to the breaking point, be my guest. I sincerely hope your little ‘tour’ doesn’t get sidetracked when you and Starlight inevitably cross paths. Guess I’ll just head back to my own dimension, I know where I’m not wanted.” And he disappeared in a flash of light.