Shooting Star slowly opened her eyes, acclimatising them to the sunlight shining through the two tall windows on the opposite wall.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” a male voice spoke from her right.

“Where am I?” she groaned, still half asleep and aching all over.

“Canterlot Castle, in the infirmary.” Oh no. “How are you feeling?”

She turned, laying eyes on a large, purple-and-green dragon sitting on a chair by her bedside. His legs were crossed with some kind of booklet in his claws, looking down at her expectantly.

“Oh great, still this,” she growled, turning back and closing her eyes again. “I’m not playing your game.”

“Game? What game? I only said 'good morning'...” he grumbled, not trying to hide his annoyance.

“Where’s your ‘princess’?” she sneered, eyes remaining shut.

Spike scowled, snarkily replying: “Actually, I was just going to get her.” He closed his comic book with as much passive-aggression as he could muster, before taking to his feet and walking up to and opening the ward’s double doors. “Twi-”

No sooner had he begun to speak, Twilight Sparkle teleported into the room behind him with that signature flash, startling the dragon so much that he fell forward, leaving the door to hit him as it closed.

“You’re awake! I’m so glad. You were asleep for two days, you know? I was starting to worry,” the Princess enthused, her face glowing as she approached the bed.

“Two days?!” Star sat up with a jolt, once more sending pain coursing through her strained muscles, albeit less than before.

“I almost couldn't sleep, myself. I couldn't help but look into the hints you've dropped so far,” Twilight continued, using her magic to fluff the patient's pillow before forcefully pushing the pegasi's head back into it. “As I mentioned before, there hasn't been a King of Equestria since King Cosmos and Queen Stella of the Third Age—Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's parents—but of course you would already know that, wouldn't you.”

“I don't have time for thi-” In an attempt to sit back up, the rainbow-maned pegasus was once again pushed back down by the alicorn's pink magic, cutting her off.

“Because what would a study-trip into the Third Age be without reading a thesis or two on the Second Dark Age?” she continued, barely pausing to breathe. “Second only in chronology, of course, as Grogar's reign was nothing compared to the disappearance of the King and Queen, as well as the first recorded appearance of Discord—that we know of, at least.”

As Twilight continued to exposit, Spike returned from the hallway somewhat disgruntled and rubbing his tender head.

“Most ponies don't study history prior to the Fourth Age, which made me wonder why you would mention it so casually, as if it were common knowledge.” The Princess paced at the end of Star's bed, completely embroiled in her own musings. “And that got me to thinking: what would it mean if it were common knowledge to you? You don't exactly seem to be the studious type—no offence—so that leaves only a hoofful of explanations-”

“Uh, Twilight? Think you should maybe get to the point?” Spike interrupted, knowing all too well how she could get lost in the rabbit hole of her own mind.

“Oh, right! Of course.” She stopped pacing, as though snapped out of a trance. “Given your lack of cooperation, there's only one creature that could confirm my suspicions of your origin. So, without further ado; Discord?”

Despite her eyes having thoroughly glazed-over during the alicorn's spiel, Shooting Star snapped to attention at the mention of her enemy's name. On cue, the very fabric of reality was pushed aside next to the purple Princess like an invisible curtain. Star's pupils dilated and her hair visibly bristled as the familiar draconequus form entered the room from his unseen dimension, looking as smug as ever.

“At your command, Your Majesty.” He bowed before Twilight, feigning an uncharacteristic and over-dramatic level of respect, which was met with no more than a sceptical eyebrow. “I am here, as summoned.”

“YOU! I KNEW this was your doing!” the bedridden pegasus barked, attempting to lunge forward but restrained by the alicorn's magic.

“And who do we have here?” Discord's casual smile widened, taken by the pegasi's ferocity.

“I was hoping you might be able to tell us that,” Twilight answered, immediately concerned by the stranger's reaction. “She certainly seems to know you.”

“Let me up!” she screamed, struggling against the invisible force pinning her to the bed. “I'll take you on again, just try me; and this time I won't miss! Let—me—go!”

“Ohh, she's a feisty one! I like her,” Discord grinned, though otherwise remaining unphased by the threats.

“So... You don't know her?” The Princess frowned, disappointed at the dead end in her investigation, as well as having caused the pegasus' distress.

“I'm afraid not, Princess, but she seems like a real hoot. We could use more of that kind of spunk around here.”

“Hey Discord,” Spike spoke up from behind the pair. “What's up with the grey?”

“Oh this?” The draconequus turned to his friend, motioning towards a streak of grey hair running through his short mane. “I noticed how everypony was starting to show their age, so I thought I'd try a new look. Fluttershy says it makes me look distinguished,” he gushed with pride.

“Let me go!” Shooting Star screamed again, still fighting against her bonds.

“Well, must be going,” Discord continued, turning back to the Princess. “I have to pick up the little Angels from bunny-school today, while Fluttershy tends to a herd of sneezing gophers. I don't know how she puts up with a whole platoon of those little monsters.”

“The gophers?” Twilight asked with dry confusion.

“The rabbits.” Without looking, Discord reached back and reopened the fold of reality he had arrived through. “Sorry I couldn't help with your little firecracker, Princess. Toodles!” With a dismissive wave he stepped back into the void from whence he came.

“We're still on for O&O tomorrow, right?” Spike called after him.

“Wouldn't miss it for the world,” his disembodied hand replied, giving a thumbs-up before disappearing entirely.

The captive pegasus roared in frustration. “Why won't you let me fight him?!”

“Fight him? Why in Equestria would you want to do that?” Twilight asked, releasing her magical restraints now that the pegasus' target had left.

“This is all his fault! Everything was normal until he arrived!” Shooting Star slammed her head back into the pillow, though her anger quickly shifted to melancholy. “I just want everything to go back to how it was before...”

“What was it like before?” the Princess cooed, feeling as though they had reached a turning point in her reluctance to speak.

“Canterlot! It was-” She grunted, struggling to properly word her thoughts. “How it's always been! The palace, the King, the... the Queen. Everything started to go downhill after the Queen...” She shook her head in self-admonishment. “I can't be telling you this! You could still be Discord, or spies, for all I know!”

“We're not spies, and I promise you that Discord isn't involved in this. He's been fully reformed for... decades now,” Twilight replied in a caring tone, a look of almost motherly concern on her face. “I don't know how to prove to you that this isn't an illusion, but I'll do everything in my power to help you make sense of what's going on.”

“Then let me go.”

The alicorn sighed, turning to her dragon companion, who looked back at her with worry.

“Okay. I meant it when I said we wouldn't hold you here against your will, and now that your wings have healed... You're free to go.”

No sooner had the words been said, Shooting Star was already out of bed and had started to remove the bandages from her wings using her teeth.

“But I'd like to go with you, for your own safety,” the Princess continued. “Maybe we can figure out what's happened to you, together?”

“Whatever,” the pegasus mumbled through a mouth of gauze.

“Then it's sett-”

Princess Twilight was interrupted by a loud belch from Spike, heralding the arrival of a magically-mailed scroll from his mouth. With a sheepish smile, the dragon unrolled the scroll and read it.

“It's from Luster Dawn. She says she needs to talk to you about a friendship problem as soon as possible.”

“Shoot!” The alicorn furrowed her brow, silently weighing her obligations. “Fine,” she sighed. “As much as I want to be here for this, my student needs me. Spike, send a letter to Rainbow Dash as soon as you can. Ask her to keep an eye on-” Twilight paused, turning to their guest. “I'm sorry, what's your name?”

The pegasus refrained from answering as she unwound the final coils of gauze. Twilight sighed again, turning back to Spike, who had already acquired a quill and parchment from somewhere and was busy scribbling the message.

“Ask her to keep an eye on our new friend here. Her rainbow mane should be distinctive enough to spot.”

As Star headed back towards the same window she had escaped from last night, Princess Twilight Sparkle turned to address her once more.

“I know this must be scary, being in a strange place around new ponies, but I promise that we mean you no harm. My good friend Rainbow Dash will take care of you while I'm away, so please don't feel like you have to go through this alone. We just want to help you.”

The pegasus held her place on the window sill for a moment, contemplating a response. Maybe this wasn't an illusion, and she really was in some kind of alternate Canterlot; but if so, how did she get there? Was it Discord? It must have been, surely, so what would he gain by pretending not to know her? Did he simply not recognise her? Even if that was the case, why did he behave so differently? The Discord she knew would have turned everypony in that room to stone, alicorn or not, so why didn't he? And what did that 'Princess' mean when she said he had reformed decades ago? Was this where he came from before attacking her Canterlot?

She grit her teeth, her head cloudy from all the confusing thoughts and overwhelmed by the incomprehensible situation. She needed air. She always thought clearer when she was in the sky. Without a word she spread her wings and took off from the infirmary ward, leaving the purple Princess' concerned gaze behind as she flew towards the clouds. What she needed right now was perspective, and nothing put things into perspective like looking down on the world from a lonely cloud. As she beat her wings against the steadily chilling air, she couldn't help but flashback to her desperate ascent leading up to the attack on that monster. Despite the unfamiliar ponies and strange architecture, the land itself was eerily similar to her own Canterlot. If she didn't know any better, the mountain reaching up beside her was identical to the Mount Friendship she knew from home, right down to the rainbow waterfalls.

Having reached a satisfactory height, Star landed on a small cumulus to observe the view, far away from the annoying reminders of her current situation. This world really was nothing like where she was from; the towers of white and gold, the onion-shaped spires covering the mountainside, the innumerable houses spreading out from the capitol. Unlike the sparse, rural farm-towns that speckled the landscape in her Equestria, ponies seemed to cover nearly every inch of the land here, almost as far as the eye could see. It was an impressive sight to behold, but in equal parts jarring, given the landscape she was used to. She remained on the cloud for some time, watching birds soar through the sky as her mobile cushion floated down from the mountain and toward a smaller village far below, enjoying the soothing glow of the midday sun.

“Pretty neat view, huh?” a raspy mare's voice suddenly asked from beside her, causing Star to backpedal off her cloud in surprise, dispersing it.

“What the hay?!” she gasped, shocked that somepony had been able to sneak up on her.

“Yeah, I get that a lot. Name's Rainbow Dash, you?”

This was another new pony; a middle-aged pegasus with pale-blue fur and rainbow-hued hair, which was an unusual sight, much like her own. The mare's forehooves were crossed over a dark bomber-style jacket as she effortlessly hovered in place with the tips of her wings, radiating a smug aura that she had only seen from day-one recruits before. As somepony who had dedicated their life to speed and intense aerial manoeuvres, the minute wing-muscle control and ease with which she was hovering in high altitude winds marked her as a fellow expert, despite her age.

“Not the chatty type, huh?” she continued. “Fine by me. I prefer to let my wings do the talking, anyway.”

“Oh yeah?” Something about this mare's attitude immediately riled her up.

“How about we race to that cloud over there and back.” She nodded to a spot past Star, who turned to see a distinctive spiral-like cumulonimbus in the distance. “If I win, you tell me your name. Deal?”

“Fine, but when I win, you leave me alone for good, got it?” It was time to put this pegasus in her place and show her what the fastest flier in Equestria could do.

“Deal.” The older mare flew to the pale-yellow pony's side. “Three—Two—One—”

Both fliers arched their backs, spread their wings, and burst forward on the silent count, rocketing through the sky toward the distant, hazy column. To the surprise of both, neither was pulling ahead from the other, despite their respective reputations. The two raced neck-and-neck, banking hard around the target cloud so close that their wings cut into the soft mist, causing it to twirl out behind them like surfers riding an epic wave. Now on the home straight, the two fliers levelled off, shooting one another impressed, competitive grins. Neither had been able to push themselves this hard against another pegasus for quite some time—if ever—nor were they willing to concede victory even in a race as inconsequential as this. Sparks flew as the two ponies pushed themselves to their limit, quickly coming up on the remnants of the cloud they had started at, then blasting past it with no signs of slowing down. The pair glanced at one another again, forelegs stretched ahead and beating their wings as hard as they could. Having passed the finish line with no clear victor, Rainbow Dash closed her eyes with a satisfied smile and steadily slowed down, followed by Shooting Star. Flying backwards as she slowed down, the pale-yellow pegasus nodded towards a nearby cloud, and the two settled on it. Neither attempted to conceal their breathlessness after the race, with an unspoken appreciation now shared between the two.

“Not bad, kid. You've got some wings on ya',” Dash panted, maintaining her smile.

“'Kid'? That's Lieutenant Shooting Star to you,” she heaved, returning a cocky grin as she relished her adrenaline high.

“Oh, so you admit that I won, then?”

Star scoffed. “As if! I would have left you in my slipstream if my wings weren't still busted.”

“Right, 'Lieutenant'. In my prime, you would have had a face full of tail in three seconds flat. Oh, and maybe I forget to mention that I'm a Captain.”

“Of—what?” she sneered sceptically.

“The Wonderbolts. Duh!” She nudged the golden pin on her lapel, depicting a lightning bolt with wings.

“Never heard of them.”

“Never heard of them?!” Her jaw dropped at the unconscionable idea.

“I—on the other hoof—am a decorated war-hero and Lieutenant of the Valkyries, the elite flying guard of Equestria.” She folded her forelegs, satisfied that this secondary competition was hers.

“Oh yeah? Well I've never heard of them eith-” Rainbow Dash trailed off, furrowing her brow. “No, wait, yes I have. But...”

“Is that you up there, Rainbow Dash?” A mare's voice with a country twang hollered up from the ground, having spotted a rainbow tail protruding from a cloud up above. “You get your be-hind down here this instant, missy. Ah've got ah blanket and ah picnic basket with 'yer name on it!”

“Shoot! I forgot it was Hearts and Hooves day today. I totally flaked on getting her a present!”

To the surprise of the earth pony below, Dash poked her head out from the opposite side of the cloud as the tail, giving her seemingly unnatural proportions.

“I'll be down in a second, okay? Pick a nice spot for us!”

“Well, alright. Don't keep me waitin', y'hear?” The orange mare turned to leave, shaking her head with a bemused smile.

“Okay, look-” The older pegasus turned back to Star. “I really need to go do this thing with AJ, so don't go getting lost or going rogue, okay? Twilight will have my haunches if you go missing on my watch, so just be cool and be back in the infirmary by dark. Deal?”

“Tch.” Shooting Star looked away, scowling like an angsty teenager. “Give me one reason to trust you. Any of you.”

“What other choice do you have?” Dash asked rhetorically, dropping backwards from the cloud and gliding over to where her marefriend had set up their picnic on a picturesque hilltop, overlooking what would have been the far smaller Ponydale in Star's Equestria.

The dusty-yellow pegasus bitterly glanced back to where her competitor had been and grunted. She was right, there wasn't much she could hope to achieve by flying off aimlessly. Even if the landscape was familiar, where would she go? Pegasopolis? It's not like anypony she knew would still be around, if these ponies were to be believed. Canterlot was her entire life, and nothing of that life remained here. As much as she hated relying on others, she didn't have any options here, especially if she ever hoped to get back home. Illusion or not—Equestria or not—she would get more answers cooperating with these ponies than she could hope to gain alone. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but a good soldier adapts, and she was one heck of a good soldier.

Finding a more secluded cloud to settle on, Shooting Star spent the rest of the day relaxing and soaking in the rays—something she hadn't had time for since the war. As calming as it was, she couldn't help but think of her fallen comrades back home. The pegasi that had remained to fight Discord were surely lost by now, to say nothing of ponykind in its entirety. For all she knew, she could be the last pony alive from her Equestria... And if there was nothing to go back to, then what? Would she live here? It certainly seemed peaceful, but it wasn't home. What would a war horse like her even do in a place like this? That pony had mentioned being the captain of the 'Wonderbolts', so was that this place's army? Maybe she could enlist there, though ranking under that smug mare would be all but unbearable, not that the Valkyries didn't have its own issues.

Lost in her thoughts and relative relaxation, it hardly felt like any time had passed before the sun began to set behind the mountainous horizon. Star opened her sleepy eyes and sighed, stretching out her wings before making her way back to Canterlot 'Castle', making good on the pegasus' request. She'd never had competition like that back in her world, and to think it would come in the form of a pony with the same rare hair genes as her. Maybe rainbow-haired ponies were naturally faster? Hah! As if. She'd busted her flank to get where she is today, and that other pony had probably done the same. Not even a cutie mark will make you the fastest—it just means that you have what it takes to rise to the top through hard work and dedication. That's something she taught to the hothead Royal Guard recruits back home, and they soon learned to respect the grind. The kind of work it takes to get that good deserves respect, and yet that pony's attitude did nothing but irk her... She'd often heard around the barracks that she was unliked by the rookies, even if they respected her. Was what she was feeling towards this 'Rainbow Dash' the way the recruits felt about her? She hadn't considered herself to be arrogant or a show-off, just driven and eager to put her skills to good use... Either way, that's an issue she needn't worry about until she's back at her own Canterlot—if she can get back, that is.

Author's Note

1st Edition - 6th March, 2020 (Release) (3,459 words)
1.1 Revision - 22nd July, 2022 (Minor additions and Pegasopolis retrofit) (3,488 words)