Chapter One

A Ponyville Welcome

The spring morning air was more invigorating than coffee. Starlight always loved mornings, hardly ever having to force herself out of bed. She relished getting a headstart and getting things done. She lived for mornings, even when there wasn't a schedule or a deadline. The same couldn't be said for her Great and Powerful companion. Trixie had to be coaxed into rolling out of bed by Starlight's jubilation and a cup of sugar with some tea.

The two unicorns trotted along, both pulling the cart along the way. Retrofitting the wagon to allow both of them to pull it together was one of many alterations over the past year and two-to-three months. It had grown bigger, gained more storage space and compartments, and even boasted a pull-out stage for Trixie and Starlight to address any crowds before setting up their stage.

Starlight was almost hopping, unable to contain her excitement. Trixie, however, was pushing herself along, eyes crossing from trying to stay awake.

They walked in silence. Not an uncomfortable or awkward silence; neither were angry or sad. Both ponies enjoyed each other's company and nothing needed to be said between them. _. Only when the buildings of Ponyville started becoming apparent did Trixie break the silence.

"You know, Starlight, I can't say I've ever enjoyed the long walk into Ponyvillethis much." While she sounded more awake than she was two hours ago, Trixie's usual overconfident mood had not yet caught up with her.

Starlight welcomed the conversation nonetheless, smiling as she regarded the sky. Her voice was far more chipper than that of her blue companion, "It is quite a beautiful day today!"

Trixie smiled ever so slightly, "Normally, I have my head hung too low to notice. This walk into town always brings back memories... No matter how long it's been." Her eyes wandered in no particular direction, her melancholia as obvious as a neon sign.

Starlight slowed down, which Trixie did in response. Starlight looked over at the mare with whom she had been traveling for what felt like a lifetime. Trixie's ruminating eyes met Starlight's as they slowly pulled the wagon. "Well, you haven't been that pony in ages! You're much more full of yourself now!" She lightly tapped her best friend on the shoulder to show she was kidding.

If Trixie took it as a joke, her blasé reaction didn't show it, "Oh stop; you flatter me too much"

As bad as Starlight was with emotions most of the time, even she knew what was stubbornly mulling around in Trixie's mind. She felt it in one particular part of Equestria, no matter how much better things were. "Come on! You helped me save Equestria from Changelings! You have no reason to dwell on your past after all the good you've done!" These were the words Starlight told herself to soothe her troubled mind when she felt what Trixie was feeling. Trixie's usual cocky grin indicated that it worked on Trixie too. Gesturing to the path ahead of them, Starlight felt excitement wash over her again "Let's pick up the pace; we're almost there!"

They might have broken into a race if they weren't forced to match each other's pace by harnesses and beams of wood. Instead they compromised with a trot that was just slower than running speed. As they pulled Trixie's cart through town, ponies took notice, smiling and waving at them both. Well, mostly Trixie.

So much had happened since Starlight took Trixie up on her offer to join her on tour. They had performed in every major city and every village in between; no place was too small. Every place they toured, the Great and Powerful Trixie and her Great and Powerful Assistant performed an epic spectacle of grand illusion for the ponies of Equestria and beyond! Manehattan, Saddle Arabia, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, Griffonstone, Appleloosa, even Canterlot and the Crystal Empire! Some cities, they booked back-to-back shows that kept them there for weeks! Starlight even cast spells to allow them to take the show to Cloudsdale, and the earnings from that one night more than made up for the strain on Starlight’s magic.

They even spared a few days to revisit Starlight's old village. As exhilarating as their shows were, and even though everypony was so hospitable to them both, old memories resurfaced and nagged at her. Being in that village was as painful for Starlight as Ponyville was for Trixie– well, maybe it used to be. Trixie was definitely more confident now that they were in town.

Business owners stopped what they were doing to wave and happily welcome Trixie. Little colts and fillies trotted alongside their cart, doting on the magician and asking all the familiar questions. Some ponies in the market even turned from shopping to talk to Trixie. It wasn't long before a crowd formed around them, making pulling the cart an impossibility for the next few minutes. Starlight slipped them both out of their harnesses and pulled out the stage. As Trixie stepped onto the platform, all the ponies in attendance– which may well have been every pony in Ponyville– crowded closer and hung onto Trixie's every word before she even spoke!

Trixie ate it up, showing no sign that her mind was troubled by memories and uncertainty. She decided to address the crowd, which fell silent as she boasted, "Citizens of Ponyville! The Great and Powerful Trixie would like to thank you for your adoration and praise! It is always a pleasure to dazzle such a wonderful audience! This is our last stop on Starlight and Trixie's Grand Tour of Equestria, and it is sure to be the most spectacular show of the entire tour! Starlight Glimmer and I shall be here all week, so there will be plenty of time to tell you of my adventures from all over Equestria! But to show how much I missed Ponyville, I have a brand-new, never-before-seen performance prepared especially for all of you!"

The crowd murmured in excitement at the prospect, much to Trixie's delight. "Yes, you heard right; Las Pegasus, Canterlot, and even the Crystal Empire– nowhere and nopony in Equestria has been worthy enough to see the unique performance that Starlight and I have in store for you! You have seen me at my worst, my most arrogant, most evil. But you have all seen my growth as a mare, and accepted me for who I am, even before I became a sensation. I cannot thank you all enough for being my friends. So I shall be spending time with all of you. I shall be visiting all your businesses, to repair, renew, and reinvigorate my costume and stage!"

Trixie pulled Starlight close as she continued. "This show shall be the greatest show that Trixie AND Starlight have ever performed! And it will only get better with the personal touch; my own little way of thanking each and every one of you!"

The whole town shook from the applause, as ponies cheered and stamped in jubilation. Trixie bowed, as Starlight did. She had to admit, it felt good to be the center of attention. But it would feel even better to go around and seek the business of Ponyville's most skilled craftsponies.

Quite the lump sum of bits was going to be spent, which would certainly boost the local economy. In many ways, this show was more for charity and altruism than it was to stroke Trixie's castle-sized ego. Starlight knew that Trixie wanted to pull out all the stops, and a customized tribute Ponyville was her most sincere way of showing Ponyville– her friends, every one of them– just how selfless she was... Well, in her own grandiose, self-inflating way, of course.

Trixie even made tickets for this show FREE to Ponyville citizens. It wasn't ever about the bits for Trixie, she left the accounting and finance matters to Starlight. For Trixie, prestidigitation, captivating audiences, and life on the road was her destiny. Starlight was just happy that she was invited along. And that their earnings from the rest of the tour afforded them one free show.

One thing did bother Starlight when she scanned the crowd. Twilight and the girls were nowhere to be found. Not even Pinkie Pie, who undoubtedly would have been firing her party cannon at the news of Trixie's free, original, Ponyville tribute show.

The crystal castle loomed in the distance, shining radiantly in the afternoon sun. Surely, at least some of them were there. She just hoped Twilight wasn't gallivanting somewhere far because of the map or royal duties. She had written ahead to make sure Twilight knew when she was coming to Ponyville.

The two unicorns bid the crowd adieu and were allowed to pass. As they pulled the wagon towards the castle, the ponies behind them waved and returned to their businesses and shopping, respectively. When they reached the mayor's office, Starlight removed the harness with her magic and folded her half of the apparatus into the face of the wagon. She cast a cantrip to make the wagon easier for Trixie to pull and hugged her best friend. Trixie would be scheduling an appointment to get approval for the show before parking the wagon somewhere safe.

"Are you sure you don't want me to help you park it?" Starlight was thankful for the time she could spend with Twilight while Trixie took care of things. Still, she felt like she should be helping Trixie before spending time with her mentor.

Trixie waved a foreleg in dismissal after she unfastened herself from her harness, "I'll be fine, I've spent a long time sleeping in the back alleys and open fields of Ponyville. I'm certain I'll find the right spot to set up camp."

Trixie's reassuring grin put Starlight at ease. "Alright, just remember to ask the Apple Family before you set up at Sweet Apple Acres again."

Trixie said nothing, only nodding and turning to make the appointment. Starlight turned and started walking, mentally trying to contain herself, lest she start sprinting towards the castle. To the only place that has ever felt like home.

Starlight simply could not wait to be home.

Starlight walked through the castle doors and looked around. The foyer was empty, so the giant doors made a loud echo as they shut behind her. "Hello? Twilight? Spike?" The tapestries and shadows did not move where they hung, whether they were on the walls or high up into the rafters. 'I'll never get used to how big this castle is.' Starlight grew more worried that she wouldn't get to see Twilight, so she called out louder, "Is anypony here?"

Much to her surprise, an amber-colored unicorn cantered around the corner. Her mane was brilliant red with yellow that shone like the sun. She wore a dark blue uniform that included a skirt and a sash of braided purple and yellow. Looked like the captain of some kind of guard– a very fashionable guard captain at that. But had Twilight hired guards since Starlight had last been to the castle?

Her voice was deep and rough, yet cheerful, "Hey Starlight! Twilight told me you'd be coming!"

She knew that face. That voice. But she almost didn't recognize the girl from the human world who had taught her a lesson about friendship. After a moment of blinking with her mouth open slightly, it curved into a smile as she asked, "Sunset Shimmer? When did you come to Equestria?" How long had it been since Starlight's chance encounter with Sunset Shimmer? Two? Three years since Sunset came through the mirror because the journal had run out of pages?

"About eight months ago. I've been living in the castle ever since. Best eight months of my whole life!"

"Did something happen in the mirror world to make you move?" Starlight asked.

At first it looked like the question made Sunset nervous, but Starlight realized that she saw pain in her eyes. Even as she turned her head away, she couldn't hide it from Starlight. "It's... A long story."

Starlight walked over and rested a hoof on Sunset's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... I just... You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." A great deal of silence passed between them. It got awkward enough for Starlight to retract her hoof and step back.

Trying to navigate away from the topic, she addressed the biggest change she noticed about Sunset's new life in Equestria. "So... What's with the uniform? I don't remember Princess Twilight having a royal guard." She had been making sure to say Princess Twilight when talking about her while she traveled Equestria. That unruly Virtuous Equestrian Society and it's supporters were always waiting to explode on anyone who had any connection to a lesbian princess. If Starlight ever saw that unruly Ivy Jewel face to face, she promised herself that she'd make a foal out of that mare in embarrassing, magical ways.

"Initially, she didn't want guards." Sunset explained, "She was worried about seeming 'self-centered' or something. Still is, actually. You know how she is."

Starlight chuckled, "Yeah I never really understood why she didn't use her royal privileges more often. Has she gotten over getting private train cabins without feeling bad about it yet?"

Sunset shrugged, "If she hasn't, she's gotten better at hiding it."

Starlight looked skeptically at Sunset for even suggesting something so absurd. "Twilight? Good at hiding anything? You surely must be talking about some other alicorn princess!"

Even Sunset keep a straight face. No doubt realizing how unlikely it was for Twilight to have improved her poker face. "I know, she has the most obvious faces–..." Sunset exaggerated Twilight grinning sheepishly. Starlight laughed as Sunset mimicked the exaggerated smile and eye twitch that usually meant Twilight was freaking out. Starlight could not contain herself, wiping tears frantically from her eyes. "Oh and what about–..." Sunset cleared her throat, mustered a overly-large, nervous smile, and squeaked out a long, uncertain "Nooooo". Starlight knew that sound far too well, and Sunset captured it a little too perfectly.

Finally able to catch her breath, Starlight chuckled "Yup! That's Twilight, alright! I'm sorry we got off-topic a little, please continue!" She cleared her throat and indicated her unwavering attention.

Sunset collected herself and found where she left off. "Well, whenever I was in public with her or Fluttershy and some reporter would start bugging them, I would block them off and told them I was Captain of the Guard. As my relationship with them became more serious, it went from that joke to being a half-serious title, and then I convinced Twilight to hold a ceremony. I'm the real deal now; Captain Shimmer of the Twilit Guard, dutiful protector of Twilight the Princess of Friendship and Fluttershy the Princess of Kindness!" Her pose was authoritative and stoic, her mane shining beautifully against the dark colors of her uniform.

The utterance of Princess of Kindness brought back a whole week of guilt to the forefront of Starlight's mind. "Oh gosh! That's right! I missed the wedding! I still feel bad for being in Las Pegasus when that happened! Did Twilight tell you what I've been doing for the past year?"

"She said you've been on tour with Trixie. How's she doing? Does this Trixie still go by 'The Great and Powerful Trixie'?"

Starlight scoffed, "Only on days when Princess Celestia raises the sun." They both chuckled at that, Sunset knowing the human Trixie well enough to understand.

"Some things never change, regardless of what dimension." Sunset said, almost as if she were reminiscing.

"Well, I bet the human Trixie never had a 'Great and Powerful Assistant' such as me!" Starlight's posture was as proud as she was, confident with the slightest hint of arrogance in her smirk. But the pose didn’t last long, as she assumed her normal stance and beamed, "We just got back from Cloudsdale!"

Astounded, Sunset asked, "You two did a show to Cloudsdale? That must've taken a lot out of you!" Sunset, being a powerful unicorn as well, clearly understood the implied logistical hastle and magical strain.

Starlight brushed the back of her hoof against her chest nonchalantly as she answered, "The tricky part was keeping the cart from sinking through the clouds. The easy part was constantly freaking out about plummeting!"

At that, both unicorns shared an anxious laugh as Starlight tried not to revisit the strenuous nightmare from the day before yesterday. "You have to tell me what it was like on the road with Trixie!" Sunset insisted. "I'm sure you have stories for days. But something tells me you want to see Twilight first. I'll help you find her." Sunset turned her body, jerking her head in the direction of one of the hallways.

"Thanks! I have so much to tell her!" Sunset started walking, Starlight falling into stride beside her as she continued, "And I missed being in this castle with the pony who changed my life."

Sunset smiled warmly at Starlight as replied, "I know what you mean. I can't thank her enough for helping me see how much better my life could be."

After a moment of silence, Starlight interjected, "I just realized, we never really talked much. I know you were in the human world and I was Twilight's pupil, but I think we could have been really good friends."

"Well there's no reason we can't sit down and talk sometime!" Sunset said. "I would be really interested in learning more about you. Twilight talks about you whenever you write her. Did you really defeat Queen Chrysalis?"

"Well, not singlehoofedly..." Starlight admitted. "Trixie, Discord, and I helped, but Thorax deserves the most credit. He broke the mold, showed us all that Changelings could give love freely instead of taking it. He shared with Chrysalis all the love he had acquired and became... Something more. All the Changelings did. Have you been out to the new Changeling Kingdom?"

Sunset shook her head "No, Twilight hasn't been out there yet. We'll have to make a royal visit out there. Maybe you can accompany us as a guide?"

Sunset's hopeful expression made Starlight eager to oblige. "I'd be honored!" She found herself wondering how Thorax has been managing the hive. They don't exactly have postal ponies willing to fly that far, even if there were an address in place for the Changelings.

As they approached one of the countless doors, Sunset remarked, "She should be in here. Come on in." The room was dark, but Starlight wandered in blindly. Before she could use her horn to light the way, all the lights came on at once and Starlight started kicking herself for not seeing this coming!

"Surprise!" Everypony called out. Confetti rained down from the sky as Pinkie Pie set off her trademark cannon. Starlight was so overcome with joy that she could only gawk at the surprise party Twilight, her wife, and all her friends had organized for her! Before she could regain her wits, Twilight had trotted over to her and pulled her into a sideways hug.
"Welcome home, Starlight!"

Starlight turned to complete the hug and tried desperately not to shed a tear. After all this time, she was still welcomed back into her teacher's arms like it had only been yesterday. So much had changed, both on the road with Trixie and here in Twilight's castle, and yet everything still felt like it was exactly as it should be! "Thank you, Twilight!" Starlight let go of the purple alicorn and turned to address the six other ponies in the room, "Thank you all so much!"

Pinkie Pie bounced over as Applejack and Rarity trotted up and Rainbow Dash soared overhead. They took turns hugging Starlight and welcoming her back. Finally, Fluttershy cantered over to hug Starlight in turn, but before she could, Starlight bowed semi-jokingly. "Princess Fluttershy. I am honored you could attend my surprise party."

Obviously not used to her title, Fluttershy blushed and hid behind her mane. Bashfully, Fluttershy replied, "Starlight, you don't need to bow to me. I knew you before I became a wife and princess, remember?" Twilight and Sunset Shimmer each took their place beside Fluttershy, Twilight draping her wing across Fluttershy’s back while Sunset leaned into Fluttershy. Both wife and girlfriend nuzzled her one either side, guarding and supporting Fluttershy with their mere presence. Starlight’s heart danced from finally seeing first-hoof the love between the three of them.

Starlight giggled and batted her hoof, "I know, but I couldn't resist calling you Princess Fluttershy!" Fluttershy simply blushed more but did not hide.

A quick puff of smoke appeared in front of Fluttershy's face, wiping the pink out of her yellow cheeks as she let out a startled squeak. Discord took the appearance of a butterfly on her muzzle, flitting his wings gracefully. "I have to admit, even I'M starting to enjoy calling her Princess!" Several diminutive Discords suddenly appeared on either side of Fluttershy and the two mares flanking her, blowing trumpets loudly and announcing in unison, "All hail Princess Fluttershy!" A noticeable pause passed before one of the Discord trumpet players dryly added, "And her wife, Princess Nose-In-Books".

Twilight narrowed her eyes at Discord, while Fluttershy chided the eccentric draconequus– all eight of him. "Discord, be nice to Twily. She did invite you after all."

One of the Discord trumpeters turned to face her and placed his paw and claw on his hips. "You and I both know I hardly need an invitation to celebrate the return of my favorite non-princess pony." He snapped his talons, turned back to normal, and hugged Starlight from the side. "Oh Starlight! Ponyville just isn't the same without you!"

Struggling to breathe, Starlight barely managed to respond, "I didn't know you liked me that much!"

Discord let go, allowing her to drop to the ground while casually justifying,"Well, as far as ponies go, you're definitely someone who commands attention. Not just anypony could do what you've done. Tell me, have you any stories from your time on the road? You must have painted a town or two red, or at least made some heads roll." On cue, Discord's head fell off at the neck and rolled to Starlight's hooves. "Let's be honest, the illusionist didn't become all the rage on her own, after all."

Starlight counted with hoof her long list of responsibilities as Trixie's assistant/manager/agent/tax preparer/accountant/best friend, reciting these to Discord's severed head, "Well, someponydoes have to handle the bits, the scheduling, the pyrotechnics, all the behind the curtain stuff..."

The Discord Head rolled his eyes. "My oh my, it's as if I were actually there." He frowned in obvious disappointment as his body behind him crossed its arms.

Unfazed by the disembodied head's sarcasm, Starlight brushed her hoof off against her chest, speaking nonchalantly "And somepony does have to keep Trixie from drowning, blowing up, being crushed, eaten, burned, or stabbed. There have been quite a few close calls on stage, all prevented by yours truly!" Starlight smiled proudly, trying not to remember all of the stressful near-death experiences the two of them shared.

Discord transformed into a popcorn-eating patron in a floating chair, wide-eyed and delighted by the imagery of Trixie's perilous encounters. "Now that I would pay to see; a manticore munching on a Trixie Kebab roasting over an electrical fire! That'd be a hoot!" The overly-enthusiastic draconequus cleared his throat and crossed his arms" But, I suppose being the only pony able to prevent such chaos is remarkable in and of itself." He materialized and sipped on a soda unenthusiastically, sucking loudly as if it were already empty.

Starlight narrowed her eyes at Discord and his mischievous subtext. "You better not get any funny ideas during the show. I would prefer that it not be her last show she ever perform. I'd be out of a job and a friend!"

The chair and food disappeared as Discord stood with his paw over his chest and claw outstretched dramatically. "Fear not, you tortured soul; the inflated ego you are doomed to carry shall go unharmed, as will the unicorn who feeds it. I have to ask, though: you practically do everything for the humble illusionist, with very little time in the spotlight. And I'm sitting here wondering how you could endure her and why you choose to suffer that lowly magician every day for a year and some change?" A calendar appeared, Discord ripping off the pages one by one and tossing coins that rained down on Starlight. She shielded herself with her magic without flinching, letting the bits clatter around her. When the calendar and downpour disappeared in a puff of smoke, Discord rested his head in his claws and hovered, eagerly awaiting a response.

Starlight rolled her eyes and smiled, "It's not like I hate being around her or can't handle her overbearing personality. I love spending time with Trixie, I understand her and she understands me. I relish every bit of it, even the less-than-pleasant parts of her. I'm the only pony she's vulnerable with, and the only one who can keep up with her– sometimes outracing her! And the shows make me feel alive; every trick gets executed flawlessly, every element dazzles the crowd, and Trixie's very life is in my hooves.

"I imagine it's how a composer, or an artist, or an inventor feels when he sees his masterpiece become greater than himself." Sunset and Twilight nodded to each other as Starlight continued,"Other ponies admire his creation, are inspired by it, are enriched by it. When even Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence are in awe of something you gave life to... It's greater than being the one in the spotlight, behind the violin, on the canvas, in the operators seat, or even wrapped in chains while wearing a pointy hat with stars.

"That show is as much my pride and joy as it is Trixie's. If it weren't for her asking me to assist, I would never be able to feel that joy as she does. I'd just be buying a ticket to see it secondhand. I get the chance to live and work with such an amazing pony and together we put on a show that is like no other. There's only one Trixie, and every show is like the first time ever, everytime."

All in attendance– save for Discord, unmoved by pony emotions– seemed to be deeply touched by Starlight's description. Fluttershy, Twilight, and Sunset in particular appeared to be on the verge of tears. Fluttershy spoke first, walking up to Starlight and hugging her, "Starlight, that was beautiful!"

Removing her hat, Applejack smiled and approached Starlight. "I reckon I never heard nothin' so poetic. Especially not about Trixie." And Starlight could trust that she hadn't, for more reasons than just Applejack's honest nature. Applejack set her free hoof on Starlight's left shoulder. Fluttershy remained hugging her on her right side.

Twilight smiled proudly at her pupil. "I finally understand why she means so much to you."

Sunset said nothing, smiling knowingly as she held Twilight close. Rarity was simply trying to keep from bawling, breathing rapidly and flapping her hooves. Rainbow Dash patted Rarity on the shoulder awkwardly as she attempted to look too cool to cry, or something to that effect. Rarity gave up and hugged Rainbow Dash, sniffling into the grimacing blue Pegasus' shoulder.

The next words spoken alarmed everypony involved, save for the pink speaker with the frizzy mane. "GROUPHUUUUG!"

Everypony laughed, whether happily or awkwardly, as Pinkie Pie pulled them all into a mass of bodies with an impossible reach. As uncomfortable as it was to have her face squished between Applejack's stetson, Fluttershy's long pink mane, and Disord's unwilling face, Starlight felt her face turn red from laughing. The surprise party only got better as the hours passed. Everypony, even Discord, enjoyed themselves. Trixie joined them shortly after it started, apparently having been clued into the party before Starlight. With Trixie there as well, there wasn't anywhere else she wanted to be.

She was with her friends and she couldn't be happier.

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading the first installment of my passionate take on WWB-plus-Starlight Glimmer (a little GNU-plus-Linux joke for ya). I had so much fun writing Discord and Krickis' Captain Sunset Shimmer. As always, I cannot thank Senpai Krickis enough for the proofreading and critique. Their support on this non-canon piece has given me great joy.

For those of you familiar with Krickis and their writing style, don't fret. I'll not be juggling any chainsaws just yet! But there is drama aplenty! Conflict, both internal and external, is sure to rear its ugly head. Be patient with me, as I cannot promise a regular schedule. Maybe I should eat some more fiber?