Twinkling Through The Dark

Starlight and Sunburst packed up and headed back to the village. They decided to see Sunburst’s parents first before heading back to Starlight’s. Not just because his parents were closer, but Starlight hadn’t seen his parent’s since he got his cutie mark all those years ago. Starlight tried to drone out that one moment that haunted her thoughts and trying to focus on all of the good memories she had here.

Sunburst knocked on the door and opened it and then called out for his parents in which Cirrostratus came out first. “Sunburst, welcome back home, wait, is that Starlight Glimmer?” Cirrostratus said as he noticed Starlight standing behind Sunburst. “Yep, sure is.” Starlight said as she started to get even more nervous. “Why don’t you two sit down on the lounge and I’ll bring Sunswirl over here so we can talk?” Cirrostratus said and then Sunburst and Starlight sat down. Please don’t start asking me ‘those’ questions dad, please not in front of Starlight. Please. PLEASE!!!! Sunburst thought to himself with Starlight also looking uncomfortable.

Then Sunburst’s parents came into the lounge room, with Sunswirl carrying come tea and biscuits and placed them on the coffee table. For a while, there was nothing but silence until Sunswirl broke the silence. “Sunburst dear, what happened at magic school? You haven’t spoken about what happened in any real detail.” Sunswirl asked but Sunburst just poked and stared into his cup, too ashamed to answer his mother’s question. “Sunburst, answer the question now!” Cirrostratus said in a more aggressive tone, but this also didn’t move Sunburst, in fact it was making his insecurities worse. But not sensing this, he grabbed Sunburst in his telekinetic grip and pinned him to the floor. “ANSWER ME NOW!! Tell me why we spent tens of thousands of bits for us to send you there only for you to just drop out!!!” Cirrostratus screamed as his son.

“Honey, what are you doing!?” Sunswirl screamed out in shock of her husband’s actions but Cirrostratus was determined to get an answer for he was actually quite furious at Sunburst’s actions for at least Sunset had all of her expenses covered by Princess Celestia so when she disappeared, although still angry, at least it did not affect their financial situation as Sunburst had. Starlight was just paralysed by fear as she wanted to intervene and help him, but at the same time she did not to anger his father either. Eventually, Sunburst finally spoke up. “YOU KNOW WHY I LEFT MAGIC SCHOOL? IT’S BECAUSE I’M AN ABSOLUTE FALURE!!!” Sunburst screamed out as he pushed his father of him.

“Sunburst, don’t talk so badly about yourself! You can, you just need to keep on trying and…” Sunswirl asked but it fell on deaf ears as Sunburst continued with tears flowing. “I can’t do any magic other than basic telekinesis! I can’t even perform the feat that got me my cutie mark for Celestia’s sake! I know you tried to help me achieve the best I could, but all that did was to show me how really pathetic I truly was!! And not only that, but by sending my away, you also unintentionally destroyed Starlight’s life as well!!! Do you have any idea of what happened to her after we were separated?” Sunburst screamed at his parents who were just in a state of disbelief. They had never seen their son so angry or emotionally charged as he was right know, but they also saw Starlight crying in the background. Sunburst then sat down next to her and trying to calm her down. Sunswirl got the point of what her son was saying, but Cirrostratus hadn’t.

“Sunburst, I think you are being a bit overprotective. Getting a cutie mark cannot do anything like what you are saying.” Cirrostratus said in a calmer tone, but that statement caused Sunburst to snap. “DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? YOU DROVE HER INSANE!!! You may not realise it but Starlight is one of the most gifted unicorns in Equestria in terms of magic. Not only she could do the most complex spells out there, but in her anger of me leaving her she stole and entire village worth of ponies cutie marks, was able to fight Princess Twilight to a standstill and altered the very fabric of space and time all out of her hatred of what happened that day and afterwards the emotional pain was so great she even tried to commit suicide just because of what I did to her! SO HOW DARE YOU TELL ME THAT GETTING A CUTIE MARK AND SENDING ME AWAY WAS NOT DAMMAGING!!!!” Sunburst exploded in rage with his veins showing on his neck as it finally hit home to Cirrostratus of what had truly happened and he just slumped back in his chair, burring his head in his hooves out of shame.

“Sunburst, did you maybe want to spend some time by yourself to calm down, please?” Starlight asked the seething stallion and he could see in her eyes as if she was begging him to do so and he nodded, gave Starlight a quick hug and kiss and went to his room, slamming the door behind him and leaving his parents and Starlight alone. Sunswirl then took a seat next to Starlight and placed her hoof on Starlight’s. “Starlight, the last time we saw you, you were a young, happy and very cheerful filly. Starlight, is what Sunburst said true?” Sunswirl asked with her still tearing up from before. Starlight took a deep breath as she just gave a nod in response.

“I’m just so ashamed of what I had done to so many that every time some pony brings this up, I only get depressed, but I know why Sunburst had to say it. Look, I don’t blame you two for what you did, you just wanted to see your son achieve your best and that’s understandable, but how I took it wasn’t acceptable to say the least. I understand how it feels about something that you’re not exactly proud of but he has done great things.” Starlight said as Cirrostratus got up and sat next to her as well.

“What has he done? Can you please tell us Starlight?” Cirrostratus asked as he was feeling like he needed hear something good about his son right about now. “It was his magical knowledge that ended up saving the whole Crystal Empire from becoming an eternal frozen wasteland and saved all of us from Queen Chrysalis.” Starlight said recalling Sunburst’s triumphs. “But wasn’t you, Trixie, Thorax and Discord that did the last one?” Cirrostratus said seemly confused. “Yes, but if it wasn’t for Sunburst sending Thorax, we would not have a chance against Chrysalis on our own. But more importantly, he saved me from myself.” Starlight acknowledging Sunburst’s crucial contributions but also went to fully explain what had happened the night before.

“I was so blinded by my anger and fears that I could not see that I was harming the one pony I loved above all else and the fact that he still went on caring and loving me is what convinced me that he was the one pony I could… I…” Starlight said as she could not say anymore as the event was still fresh in her mind and was getting to her. Then both Sunswirl and Cirrostratus were hugging Starlight. “We are so sorry for what we did to you Starlight. Now we realise that it was wrong to send Sunburst away and we don’t know what we could do for you to make up for our actions.” Cirrostratus apologising to Starlight for everything both he and Sunswirl had put Starlight through.

“You can’t change what has happened, but could you at least please give me a chance, even after everything I have done?” Starlight asked for a chance. “Of course Starlight. We never would separate you two again after everything that’s happened. Also, I could not help but notice that how you have changed since the last time I saw you. You have grown into such a beautiful young mare, I think Sunburst is so lucky to have you Starlight.” Sunswirl said as the two mare’s hugged each other then came a knock on the door. Cirrostratus answered the door and there was Sunset.

“Hey dad, have you seen Starlight anywhere? I’ve been trying to find her.” Sunset asked and Cirrostratus pointed to Starlight on the lounge next to Sunswirl, much to Sunset’s relief. “There you are Starlight, um where is Sunburst?” Sunset asked. Sunswirl explained that he’s in his room and it would be best not to disturb him at the moment. Sunset asked what had happened but her parents said it was best that they not talk about it at the moment.

“Ok. Anyway, Starlight your parents want you home by 7 o’clock.” Sunset told Starlight in which she looked at the time and still had a few hours left. “If you won’t mind, I would like to stay here for a while and sleep if that ok?” Starlight asked. “Of course Starlight, we’ll wake you at 6 o’clock if you would want.” Sunswirl said and Starlight nodded in agreement. “Um, could you show me were Sunburst’s room is? I can’t remember.” Starlight asked and could not help but blush. Cirrostratus went to speak but Sunswirl covered his mouth thinking that he was going to do the same thing with Starlight as he had been doing with Sunburst.

“I’ll show you Starlight if you like.” Sunset offered and then the two went upstairs, much to Sunswirl’s and Sunset’s relief. Sunset then came back down and told her parent’s that they had been invited to Starlight’s birthday party by her parents but were told to keep it quiet for it was a surprise. Meanwhile in Sunburst’s room, Starlight found him lying in his bed and had calmed down but was still angry after what had happened.

“Sunburst, I’m sorry what happened down there. I should’ve stepped in to help you as you did for me.” Starlight apologising for her actions before, or lack thereof. “But I should be apologising to you Starlight, what was I thinking? Telling mum and dad about your past! I should have known better not to bring it up, I know how much you hate ponies bringing it up, but I was just so angry that I…” Sunburst said as he knew how much it hurt Starlight hearing about what she had done, but he was surprised that Starlight wasn’t angry at all.

“Sunburst, I think it was the right thing for you to tell your parents what I had done for they needed to see how much it affected you and I know what it is like to be so angry that we do things we regret after we are clearer in mind.” Starlight reassuring Sunburst as she only knew too well about what anger could do to you. “How about we get some sleep? Apparently I have to be home by 7 o’clock and I figured that after this morning, a rest might help us calm down.”

Starlight suggested that they both get some rest, then as they tried to get into bed only to find that Sunburst’s bed quilt was just too small for both of them. Sunburst let Starlight have the quilt and although Starlight didn’t want to let him get cold, Sunburst insisted on it and the two then went to sleep. Later, Sunswirl was trying to find where Starlight went to as she wasn’t in the guest bedroom only to find her sleeping in Sunburst’s embrace. Sunswirl was so touched by this but tried not to make any noise that might wake them up and proceeded to get a bigger quilt and placed it over the sleeping ponies and let them alone for the moment.