Starlight's Plunder

Starlight was anxiously pacing around inside the library, looking for whatever spell she can use to save herself. A few books were already lying around. They weren’t of use for her dilemma. Suddenly, Discord burst through the door.

“I found her! She’s in the library.”

Starlight dropped all books she was levitating, as all of the ponies were now pouring into the room. They were carrying a hapless mare. And she had a purple coat and a white mane, of course.

“Alright, Starlight. Was it this pony?” Twilight asked.

“Please, I don’t know what’s going on!” Cried the innocent pony.

“No!” Starlight exclaimed.

“No?” Twilight replied.

“That wasn’t the mare I saw.”

“Oh...” They released the scared pony. They didn’t even have the time to apologize, as she fled outside. “Well, that was a letdown.” Twilight commented.

“You have to admit,” said Discord, “There might be thousands of purple mares with white manes in Equestria.”

“True. This might be a hopeless search.” Twilight said in disappointment.

“Now, now, there’s still a GLIMMER of hope.” Said Discord then turned to Starlight. “Starlight says she saw her, I bet she can tell us more.”

“No!” Starlight objected.

“Come on, Starlight! Tell us more!” Said Discord, as he got into Starlight’s face. “Tell us the truth!” He said with much more sinister voice.

Starlight started sweating again. “I... uh...” She tried to come up with some more false information.

“Come now Discord, she told us everything she knew.” Said Twilight, as they headed outside. “Whoever it was, she’ll probably show up again.”

Discord looked at Starlight with an angry expression, then he shouted after the leaving ponies. “Twilight, maybe you should drink Zecora’s potion of truth. You know, so you can see exactly what happened.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea, Discord.”

“It was a unicorn!” Starlight blurted out, trying to save herself. She stood there with a blank expression. “The mare I saw was a unicorn!”

Discord, upon hearing that, ripped his mouth off, teleported it away and began rolling on the floor, in silent laughter.

“Oh, Razzaroo!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Gesundheit.” Replied Rainbow.

“No, that’s a mare I know.” She continued. “She’s got a purple coat and white mane! Well, there’s a bit of green and cyan streaks too... And she’s a unicorn!”

“Do you think it was her?” Asked Twilight.

“We might as well ask her.” Replied Rarity.

“Sure. Let’s go!” And with that they were right outside the castle.

Discord slithered next to Starlight and, with his mouth back in its place, began taunting her.

“You know, it might be a bit easier if you just told them.”

“No way, Twilight’s going to kill me!”

Discord laughed. “I know a few people, who’d love to see that.”

“Why are you doing this to me anyway? Why can’t you just let it all slide?”

“And miss out on you being hilarious again? No way!”

“What do you mean again?”

“Remember when you brainwashed your friends because you didn’t know how to bake a cake? Or the time you switched Celestia’s and Luna’s cutie-marks? I could have stepped in easily and fix everything. But I was too busy laughing my bits off.”

“Is this what it’s all about? You have some sort of grudge against me?”

“Well, outside of you messing with Fluttershy’s mind twice so far, no. I just think you’re hilarious!”

“Is this just a big joke to you? Is the fate of ponies just a big joke to you!”

“Yes! Don’t you know me? I’ve been messing with ponies for thousands of years now! Funnily enough, I didn’t have to lift a claw this time. A certain ex-villain, just had to be herself.”

“I’m not an ex-villain. I’m Princess Twilight’s apprentice. The student of the princess of friendship! I even graduated! “

Discord just made a mouth with his hand, opening and closing it as Starlight talked.

“I’m not gonna let my past define me!”

“Oh, but the past does define you! You and I aren’t too different you see. We both have personal flaws that made us do terrible things. We were both punished, we both plotted revenge. And we both failed. Then we were both brought back by the power of forgiveness and now we’re both trying to become better friends.”

“You are?”

“Of course, I’ve been having a lovely time with Fluttershy and I don’t want to disappoint her, by not being a good enough friend.”

“How sweet of you.”

“You don’t want to disappoint Twilight either, do you?”

“No!”

Discord laughed. “Then why do you keep lying to her?”

“Because I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“But you’ll be found out! You know that! And the later that happens, the worse it’ll be.”

Starlight fell silent.

“The choice is yours, Starlight Glimmer! You confess, or you'll show your dear mentor, that you were a mistake.” And with that, he disappeared again.