Get to Heaven

“Starlight? Starlight! You’ve been in bed for hours now! You missed pancake day!”

Shit. That was Spikes’ voice. She loved pancakes but you know what she loved more? Not having wings! What would Twilight think? What would the girls think? Sunset? Trixie? Luna? Celestia!? She had to get out. She had to find a way back to before this ever happen and… stop it. Time travel never really worked out but maybe this time it would be fine, right?

“I’m never leaving my room again Spike. Tell Twilight that.”

“I don’t have to. She’s right here.”

“Starlight?” Damn. “Starlight, please come out. Or at least let me in? I can’t help you with whatever you need help with if you’re stuck in there. Besides, Princess Celestia should be here any minute!”

“Oh that is NOT what I wanted to hear! You know? Fine. You can come in. I’m unlocking the door.”

She reached out and touched the bolt with her magic, sliding it back. Almost immediately Twilight rushed into the room. The concern on her face was quickly replaced with a sort of panic. Definitely didn’t help Starlights confidence.

“Sweet Celestia you have… wings. Where. Where did you get those?”

“Oh you know, the alicorn store opened up just down the road. That’s the reason I missed breakfast actually! Thought I’d drop by and pick myself a pair.” If the poison in Starlights tone didn’t convey how upset she was by all of this, the bitter scowl on her face certainly would.

“Right. Dumb question. I’m sorry. You don’t think it has anything to do with your… vision, does it?”

“I hope not! I’d rather not perform any regicide if I can avoid it!”

“Did somepony say regicide?”

Starlights blood ran cold at the voice that drifted through the room. It was Princess Celestia. She was HERE. NOW. Twilight was the first to respond.

“It’s… a long story.”

“I see. You have been touched by very powerful magic Starlight. The magic that creates alicorns is powerful, dangerous stuff. To become a princess so suddenly would no doubt trouble your morals a great deal. I believe this is what your vision was trying to show you.”

“So I shouldn’t take it so literally?”

“Quite on the contrary. You should treat your vision as an event that has not yet come to pass but very well may. I imagine it already has, in another reality. In that world I am dead and I have no doubt you are the monarch of the Equestrian Empire.”

“That… That doesn’t make me feel any better about this.”

“I’m sorry Starlight. I don’t mean to drag your mood down but I want you to understand how serious this all is. You’ve been presented with an incredible opportunity for positive change but the danger you’re in cannot be underestimated.”

“I understand Princess. I’m just scared. Really, really scared. You know me, at least a little bit. You know I don’t want to be anything other than a unicorn and a friend. I never asked for this. If I could give these wings away I would but I think I’m stuck with them.”

Celestias’ eyes were nothing if not sympathetic. There was a sadness there too, in the deepest part of those windows to the soul. It shimmered for just a moment before disappearing. “I’m afraid so. Don’t look so glum! I’m always here for you if you need to talk about anything at all. I’m afraid I have to take my leave for now. I have pressing matters to attend to.”

“Yeah, of course. Thanks for stopping by Princess. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

With a blinding flash of light she was gone, leaving behind only the faint smell of roses. Twilight, who had been silent the entire time, turned her attention to Starlight.

“So. What do you think?”

“What do I think? I think I need to get the hell out of here. Like, for good.”

“No way! You’re staying right here in Ponyville and we’re going to figure this out.”

Starlight began to pace around the room, her restlessness betraying her anxiety at the situation. “Am I? Am I really? Because here’s what I think I should do. I think I should use my new-found princess powers or whatever to go back in time and kill myself before any of this ever happens. That sounds like a pretty good way to ‘figure this out’ to me.”

“Starlight, I’m not going to let you kill yourself. I’m not going to let you tamper with the timeline at all. Remember what happened last time you tried to play God? It didn’t work out too well!”

“Last time I was doing it with selfish intentions. This time it’s to stop myself from murdering the fucking SUN!” Starlights' heart burned and her eyes stung. Twilight just didn't get it, did she?

“You have no idea of knowing what chain of events lead to your vision! This could be what your alternate self wants.”

“You have no idea how ironic this is, do you?”

Twilight pressed her hoof to her head, screwing her eyes shut. Starlight could see she was getting frustrated. “What? I’m being serious here. You could--”

“You see, when I was having my vision you told me to kill myself. You told me it would be the best course of action. I agree with that Twilight a lot more than you right now.”

This left Twilight speechless. The Princess of Friendship cycled through a few visible emotions before her face settling into a sort of tired resignation. “If that’s how you feel I doubt there’s anything I can do to change that. Can you just please fucking listen to me? For the love of everything the sun touches, do NOT go back in time.”

That was it. Starlight had made up her mind. She nodded, closing her eyes. Strength welled in her chest and flowed to her horn. A shimmering barrier surrounded her for just a moment and then she was gone.