The Blossoms of Starburst
● Shadow Play, Part 1
1 Month Later
Before the Changeling War, well the Love Bugs lived happily in their ignorance of what was to come, Equestria was dealing with a threat of there own.
Starlight tried to hold back the tears as she walked through the castle halls. This was wrong. It went against everything Twilight taught her. No pony, not a single soul, was beyond saving. That entire mentality was the very reason she tried so hard to be good. Yes she messed up a lot, a lot a lot , but the Mane 6 never lost faith in her.
Yet here was a pony Twilight admired. Who she grew up praising to the point his life story became mainstream. After all, you couldn't exactly have a princess talk about you in every last one of her interviews without becoming famous... but Starswirl wasn't the pony the history books said he was... he was the image of everything wrong with Equestria before Celestia's rule... he didn't believe in second chances.
"Once a villain always a villain," Starswirl's words hurt. They were so absolute... so void of the compassion ponies pride themselves on... and Twilight was listening.
Twilight was listening. That is what hurt the most. It was a slap to the face to everything the princess of friendship had done. All the lives she saved from themselves... everything Starlight, herself, had accomplished since she tried so hard to be good... it all meant nothing...
"Starlight,"
She looked up to see Sunburst walking towards her from the other side of the hall.
"Is he right?" she couldn't help but ask her oldest friend, "Is there no such thing as redemption?"
Sunburst stared in shock before his features smoothed, "Of course there is," he assured, "Look at all you have accomplished,"
Starlight snorted, "Like what, brainwashing my friends? Magically altering ponies to behave the way I want them to? I still struggle with basic pony decency! What if-"
"Starlight," Sunburst interrupted as he walked up to her, "Every pony, ever last creature on this or any other world, struggles with morality. It's in our nature to doubt the definition of compassion. All we can do is what we believe is right, and hope history will remember us as kind," when he finally reached her he put a hoof around her, drawing her into a hug, "The struggle is what makes us ponies. The creatures that know for sure they are doing the right thing are usually the worst type of tyrants. It's good you doubt yourself...
"Right now, Twilight is doubting herself to. You need to be strong and remind her of her values. Just be there for her until she remembers. It's all you can do,"
● The Parent Map
One Hour After the Episode
1 Year After the Changeling War
"I never did give you a proper apology,"
Starlight turned her eyes away from the window and looked at the source of the voice. Sunburst looking at the floor with a forlorn expression. They had been sitting on the train for near an hour in relative silence. Both lost in thought from what their parents told them.
"I was ashamed," Sunburst sighed, still partially trapped in his own head, "I read all the letters you sent... but I just couldn't bring myself to answer them... to tell you how badly school was going. You were always so amazing with magic, but me... I knew all the theories and was great on potions and runes and the various other magical crafts... but practical spell casting... I was getting straight Fs. I had the knowledge but I don't have your raw power. I couldn't even make the basic spell casting work... When I finally straight up flunked out I... I ran away... from everything. I was able to apprentice as a Scribe, got a decent job, but I was still so ashamed of failing to live up to my dream... I couldn't face you... then you stopped writing..."
"What brought this on?" Starlight asked, as if she didn't know.
"Just being there brought it all back," Sunburst sighed, "Even after Cadence made me her head wizard, my mom still thinks of me as a failure. I know she loves me and thinks she's just looking out for me but... when she looks at me, despite my recent accomplishments, all she sees is the scared little boy that flunked out of school and then ran away from home... if I had at least come back... you wouldn't have had such a hard time,"
"We're all geniuses through hindsight," Starlight sighed, "But there is nothing we can do about that. Believe me... I understand about wanting to change the past..."
Sunburst bit his lip before looking up at her with a new resolve, "What, exactly, happened to you? I know you enslaved a town, and nearly destroyed reality with time travel, but how did things escalate to that,"
Starlight squirmed, she hated talking about her past but everyone kept bringing it up... still if there was anypony who deserved the full story it was Sunburst, "I... You remember how our town was. All the kids had their own clicks based on their cutie marks. The chefs were with the chefs, the artists were with the artist, and so on and so on. The entire reason we became friends was because we were the only blank flanks our age... I was alone after you left. No pony wanted to hang out with me and my best friend wasn't even answering my letters,"
Sunburst looked down in shame.
Starlight forced herself to continue, "After I got my cutie mark I thought things would be different... but you know how rare cutie marks in magic are. Dad couldn't afford to send me to Celestia's school with you but I didn't fit into any of the clicks at home... except for one... There was another foal I met, Double Diamond, and a few others actually. They didn't fit in anywhere either. We kinda bonded over being misfits. We even went through a bit of a goth phase together," She laughed and Sunburst smiled, glad she actually did have friends after he left. Unfortunately her tone grew out of it's levity.
"When we got older," She continued, "we tried to fit in the grownup world but... Diamond and many other of my friends had really lame cutie marks. Stuff like making balloon animals and such. Diamond himself had a skiing cutie mark. However cool that is it wasn't something he could get a job in... at least not in Sire's Hollow...
"Nopony would take them on as apprentices either, strictly because there were no jobs they were naturally good at... and nopony was willing to give them a chance to learn a trade the hard way... their cutie marks caused them so much pain... I wanted to help. I created a spell and asked if they would let me use it on them... I removed their cutie marks but I couldn't remove my own. I tried but I had to use my magic to remove my magical talent. A bit of a paradox I just couldn't figure out... to still fit in with them I pretended I had... I led us to the middle of no where, where we built ourselves a few homes and things grew from there as others came, outcast with nowhere to go who felt like we did... I didn't actually enslave a town Sunburst... I started a cult..."
Sunburst eyes grew wide.
"I didn't mean to!" Starlight assured, in a less them calm voice, "it just kinda happened when I fell into the role as town leader. I started... doing... things... bad things, to keep the peace and make sure ponies wouldn't leave... Power corrupts and all that...
"Then Twilight came and... gave everypony back their marks and turned them against me... I was so... devastated. I wanted her to know what it was like to have your friends ripped from you, because that's how I saw all those in my town. Regardless of what I had done to them I still thought of all those ponies as my friends... I thought I was protecting them... I nearly destroyed the world in my rage... and Twilight still offered to help me.
"She convinced me to come with her back to my town... I explained why I did what I did and begged forgiveness... and they forgave me without a second thought... part of me thinks the programming I gave them was the very reason they forgave me... they CAN'T be mad at me... the fact they wanted me to be their leader again didn't help that... I did a lot of damage to them... it's better for them if I'm not around... so they can heal... I don't believe they will ever fully recover so long as they cling to me. When they start to hate me is when I'll know they are fine again... but I fear that day... I want them to get better but I still don't want to lose them as friends... it's all very... complicated,"
Sunburst just sat there, listening, not sure what to say. It was hard looking at his best friend and hearing what she grew into in his absence, "Maybe if I had come back... you wouldn't have felt that way."
"Really?" Starlight gave him a sarcastic look, "A boy who just flunked out of school because he couldn't live up to the expectations of his cutie mark? No offense Sunburst but if you did come back, you probably would have followed me right into my cult. You were kinda the perfect candidate. Things might have been WORSE if you were there with me as I would have felt even more justified if my best friend's life had been ruined by his cutie mark,"
Sunburst nervously chuckled, "I guess things worked out for the best then. We might have made some bad decisions but if it wasn't for them I never would achieved my dream of becoming head wizard for a city state... and you never would have become Twilight's apprentice... and the ponies of your town would still be miserable and homeless. What you did to them was definitely bad but in the end they got their own town where they are free to express themselves and their talents without judgment,"
"You mean like I should have given them in the first place," Starlight down cast her eyes.
"Starlight," Sunburst gently guided her head back to him with a hoof, "What I am saying is, bad things happen to all of us, but if we let it... that bad stuff can lead to something good. That goes for everypony, ling, or even Griffin.
"Look at what happened after the World War. All the races are closer then ever and you are helping guide the next generation of leaders and ambassadors. Hay, even all the Governesses of each of Equestria's City States sent their children to Twilight's school, and your right their helping them learn from your mistakes. See, something good, out of something bad.
"That goes for the ponies you hurt to. I've been to your village, remember. They seem genuinely happy now. Some of them even told me how mad they were with you, until they realized they got what you promised them in the end. A town filled with friends who embrace each other. Yes that is probably what you should have done in the first place but they appreciate it more now.
"Feather Bang even talked about how he had to remind the town of all the good things you did for them. Like the festivals you threw and the good school you set up for the foals, even how smoothly everything used to run, or how you knew everponies names and would spend time with each of them to make sure they were okay. They remember the bad stuff but the reason they forgave you was because of the good. Honestly, I think they have adjusted pretty well... you don't have to be so worried they will reject you..."
"Feather Bang said that?" Starlight blinked before chuckling.
"Remember him?"
"Yeah he was this barely out of school colt who came to me. One of the later ones that found my village after we had been settled for a while. He had a hard time adjusting but he didn't want to go back to the outside world. His cutie mark was in flirting, of all things, but he was incredibly shy when it came to actually talking to somepony. He didn't know how to interact with a pony unless it was hitting on them... which got him slapped a few times after he got his cutie mark removed because he just sucked at it. I had to walk around the town with him and introduce him to all the ponies and ease him into being more social. He got better at it, but he was always really shy around new ponies. What's he up to now?"
"He said he opened a flowers and chocolates shop. Apparently, flower arrangement is a very fun skill you taught him," Sunburst smiled and Starlight smiled back.
● The Rift,
1 Year Into the Space Age
"This. Is. AWESOME!" Sunburst cheered as he flew through the void, throwing his body weight at the nearest island. Dozens of land masses were just floating their in an air pocket in space. Each with their own gravity and a pleasant warmth, with the faint hint of a chilled breeze kept the area habitable.
He was really lucky Cadence agreed to let him take the month off. The School of Friendship was currently out for summer vacation so Starlight was off as well.
Working at a school really had it's benefits. A steady salary and you only had to work when the school was open. Honestly, half the year was spent on seasonal vacations. It was amazing kids in Equus learned anything.
Sunburst could only spend the month with her but it was great. A whole month to themselves. This was the perfect start to their new life. Not that the pair knew that yet.
"No," Starlight shook her head as she did a zero gravity flip, "This place is AMAZING!" she exclaimed the last word just as she landed on an island, "I usually only get to come here on business. It's great to be able to actually enjoy all the weirdness of this place."
Sunburst followed her onto the island. Laughing as he stepped down and looked around.
Each building of each island was made in a different style. Every culture in the system, and a few from other dimensions, had built a few hotels and thriving businesses. The Yokai really made an amazing place for interspecies exchange of knowledge and goods.
The island they were right now was the biggest with... an airport looking building? They came her by boat, a cruise ship to be specific. So they hadn't actually gotten to explore this place yet. Of course, he had been her before, on business for the Crystal Empire.
Inside was thousands of international gateways. A portal to each city of each planet was just past these doors... which looked like any other door with a knob and everything. They were behind a counter, guarded by guards of their respective city, with more guards on the other side. The guards checked passports and bags before allowing creatures to travel to and from their worlds.
This was the dimensional port. The largest, most well connected, port in the system. This made travel between worlds and even cities so much easier, and as a result a lot of vendors set up everywhere. Eagerly doing their best to catch the eyes of the tourist before they went to the bigger stores throughout the Rift.
There were even a few portals leading to truly fascinating places. Entirely different dimensions, ruled over by gods that the Yokai frequently traded with, and a portal to the Yokai's home dimension as well. There was even a portal to Discord's chaos dimension.
Now all races of Equus and Pathfinder could use these portals to meet and trade with these amazing races.
Despite gods ruling these dimensions most of their residents were very much mortals... just with freakishly long lifespans, tens of thousands of years worth, if not true longevity. However, longevity just meant they couldn't die of old age. Death could still claim these beings like any other as they were not gods themselves.
Gods often pick a favorite dimension they rule and bless the residents with their favor. Sunburst really wasn't sure why. There were no real books on these things. What he knew he learned from Discord, who was rather tight lipped about the secrets of the universe.
"Learn the secrets of the universe," A vendor's call caught his ear. The merchant was set up just in front of the building and selling... books?
Sunburst perked and eagerly trotted over. Starlight rolled her eyes but followed. There were a few DVD cases for a cartoon series and even a stock of CDs for audio dramas. Ponies didn't really use such things, as all their media was aired through digital projectors or watched on Smart Phones, but the races of Pathfinder got a kick out of physical copies. However there were a few coupon cards, with discount codes for online purchases.
Sunburst looked up at the Yokai selling these things, a rat in it's Anthro form, wearing a white robe with a freakishly long, multi colored scarf.
"Would you be interested in a copy of The Doctor's life?" Asked the merchant, holding up a blue book.
Sunburst tilted his head, "The Doctor? Doctor Who?"
The rat smiled, "Exactly, although I believe your particular species call him 'Whooves',"
Sunburst's eyes widened, "You mean you actually have a biography of a half a billion year old entity!"
"Just his first 13 lives, and it's more of an... Autobiography," The rat tried to find the word so maybe not even that, "But there are more then a few chapters he wrote himself. This is a collection of journals written by the mortal traveling companions of the Doctor. Back when he, himself, was mortal. He had them record their adventures so that he could keep track of events. Being a time traveler he didn't always interact with his companions in the right order. This helped them know where they were in relation to each other. Many of them ended up using it as a type of diary, detailing their life with the doctor,"
"Seriously!?" Sunburst gaped, before looking at the book. It only appeared to be a couple hundred pages, "Bit thin for that. I imagine it has some type of extended pages charm?"
"But of course," The rat opened one of his books and began flipping through it's pages. Hundreds and hundreds of pages went by but he didn't appear to be getting any closer to the end. Closing the book the rat explained, "It's bigger on the inside," wiggling his eyebrows but the reference went right over Sunburst's head.
The rat continued, "There are book marks linked to the index page, leading to entries of historical importance. Those events have also been translated into a cartoon series to educate children, explaining key events and a few of his sillier adventures. We also sell a few Audio Drama series about some of his Companions lives. We even sell a comic book series about his, well her at the time, life as a young deity.
"There is also a book, explaining the very nature of the universe. It details things like the mathematical formula, that proves the existence of the soul. Even the history of other deities. But most importantly, it explains the various instances where the Doctor was spotted as a prophet, before he became a deity.
"Such as his early life of his 3rd regeneration, where a group of humanoids worshipped him as their Prophet 'Merlin'. That particular life was basically the Starswirl of their world. He was also the Khajiit Prophet 'M-aiq the Liar', helping shape the world of Nirn for nearly ten thousand years well searching for his TARDIS.
"That book is a mixture of the Doctor's own writings, to educate the Yokai, and our historians recording his history."
"Wow," Sunburst awed.
"Sunburst," Starlight groaned, "Are you seriously letting this guy convert you because he has a book you never read,"
Sunburst blinked, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her, "... convert?"
Starlight sighed and gestured at the rat with her hoof, "This is a missionary. Yokai worship the Doctor and this stuff is how they 'spread his gospel."
"... Oh..." Sunburst suddenly looked all disappointed.
Unfortunately the rat looked offended, "You don't have to worship the Doctor to acknowledge his accomplishments for the multiverse. He saved my entire dimension from being hurled into the void and has done more good then any minor diety before him, long before he even ascended "
Sunburst tilted his head, "Really?"
"You could read about it yourselves, if you like. It's on page six hundred thousand ninety seven,"
"S-Six HUNDRED THOUSAND pages!" Sunburst excitedly screamed.
The missionary smirked, "That is about half way through,"
"GIBB MEZ!" Sunburst eagerly snatched it, well Starlight rolled her eyes, "How much do I owe you?" Sunburst asked. This must be expensive to be such a long and heavily enchanted book. Even if he never actually read it, it be great for his collection.
The rat waved off, "Our church is funded through merchandise sales. The books themselves, are completely free,"
"... oh?" Feeling guilty for accepting such an expensive enchantment for nothing, Sunburst picked up the coupon for the first Album of the Audio Drama. It wouldn't hurt to buy it on his Smart Phone and give it a listen. It's not like a show could really convert him. He studies lots of deities but didn't actually worship any of them.
Besides, it might help him better understand the Doctor. He interacted with him pretty regularly given they were both head wizards of city states.
Starlight sighed as they walked away, to check out the vendors inside. They didn't plan to go anyplace but the venders setup around here were rather famous for having extravagant souvenirs from all over the system. Even some from other dimensions.
"I never really got the whole 'Worship of gods' thing," Starlight rolled her eyes, "They are basically just people with superpowers, like Discord,"
"What about Omniva?" Sunburst asked, with his nose buried in his new book. He was just looking over the chapter index right now. He just wanted to get an idea what was in here.
"Please, if the universe was really conscious and aware of us, why would it give a damn?"
"That's rather cynical," Sunburst commented.
"Don't get me wrong," Starlight waved off, "I believe in souls and reincarnation like most ponies. But that is just energy, imprinted with conciousness, and getting recycled," Ponies long since proved that scientificly, using legitimate mathematical formulas which had gone through vigorous testing until proven. It was as scientifically verified as Equus was round. If it wasn't for that Starlight probably wouldn't have believed it either. "I just don't buy that there is some kind of force behind it, guiding us. The world is too crappy for that."
Sunburst scrunched up his nose but before he could comment he notied a chapter titled "Omniva". He pushed the chapter with his horn and (not even having to put any magic behind it) the book automatically flipped to that page. It was pretty early in the book, explaining how Omniva worked. "He met her!"
"Hum?" Starlight looked over at him.
"The Doctor met Omniva," Sunburst awed.
Starlight rolled her eyes, "Of course he did. Sunburst, that is a Bible, with the Doctor as the prophet, why wouldn't he meet Omniva in that? You need to take that thing with a grain of salt."
Sunburst frowned, "I suppose I should ask the doctor about it next time I see him." Reading over the passage, "Anyway, according to this Omniva cares about us for the same reason you care about your body. She lives and dies and gets reincarnated, just like the rest of us. It just how she perceives the big bounce theory. You know, the expansion of the Big Bang theory where the universe is in an endless cycle of growth and collapse.
"Anyway, the point is, if you keep yourself healthy you'll live longer. Omniva is just more aware of the stuff that makes up her body. Galaxies are organs interestingly enough, planets are the cells that make up the organs, and we are... ew... basically we are bacteria crawling over her cells. As such we can be either detrimental or helpful to her overall health. We get to choose which but the fact we have free will is why there is suffering. It's by our design, not Omniva's... and Omniva apparently believes she isn't the only universe out there. She is vaguely aware of others beyond her but she can't actually interact with them. She suspects that there is something else that she inhabits, so not even she is the one true God,"
"And where, exactly, do all the Pocket dimensions that grow on our universe fit?" Starlight raised an eyebrow.
"They're just moles," Sunburst read, "Which can turn cancerous due to Bacteria... us... It's the job of gods to cut off the moles if they become a danger to the body of the universe... the entire point of gods is to judge pocket dimensions and destroy the 'Unworthy' ones. They are the white blood cells of the universe, keeping her healthy.
"They have their own kind of hierarchy Omniva doesn't interfere with. But The Doctor takes a different approach and heals the dimensions, often fighting against the other gods when they think a dimension is beyond saving... As a mortal he saved worlds. Now he saves dimensions well still not forgetting about the little guys that live in them... I can see why the Yokai worship him."
"Please tell me you won't start," Starlight groaned.
Sunburst rolled his eyes, "I've studied all the known gods. It doesn't mean I'm willing to give my soul to them after I die."
In exchange for answering prayers, most gods took the souls of the mortals they helped to increase their own power. What they actually did with the souls no one knew. Some believed you were kept conscious literally inside the diety, living in a blissful dream for all eternity. Although some found it comforting, Sunburst personally found the notion... boring... and meaningless. He just wasn't willing to give up a life of meaning for a fantasy... even if it was his next life and his mind couldn't process what came before.
"This notion that we are all basically just organisms that make up God's body, and that is where the whole 'I am all things' concept comes from, does make sense," Sunburst agreed with the book as he absentmindedly flipped through it's pages.
He gaped finally an interesting entry, "It says here gods will reincarnate souls they claim inside their primary dimension. Deities link themselves to their realm and it gives them power. But they are also connected to the souls inside the dimension and those give them more power. We only stay in the dream state inside the god until they reincarnate us in their dimension. As our prayers are what sustains them, which is why they answer them. We actually help them more by being alive then dead...
"Their is a footnote in here a Yokai Priest wrote where they admit they don't know if the Doctor does this or not. As he, she? Yes, she at the time. Anyway, although she did claim a dimension it's unclear what she actually does with it as she doesn't directly rule it or even... interact with it that much... weird. She just left them a bunch of book and better set up better farms for food."
Starlight just shrugged, not really listening. Sunburst sighed at seeing her obviously daydreaming face. He was disappointed he wasn't going to get his philosophical debate. He always found those fun. Although you could only do it with a creature with the right mentality, as some could easily get offended.
"I suppose I can read more later," he put the book in his pocket.
It was amazing that ponies had so much magic coursing through their bodies that they had a built in bag of holding in the form of a pocket like pouch under the skin of each of their cutie marks. It was so common place for ponies they didn't really think about it but most races went without.
They wandered around the vendors but when Sunburst suggested they get some food Starlight turned green.
"I would be careful around the Yokai food carts," she whispered, stopping Sunburst from trotting over to one.
"Eh?" Sunburst blinked.
Starlight nervously chuckled, "They kinda, sorta... eat... each other,"
Sunburst rolled his eyes, "Come on, They haven't done that in tens of thousands of years. Not since the Doctor took control of their dimension."
Starlight scowled, "You need to stop drinking the koolaid. That book-"
"Starlight-" Sunburst glared, "I deal with a lot of Yokai. They trade frequently with the Crystal Empire, for our magical gems. That is actually viewed as a very shameful part of their history. From back when they were competing for resources in a near barren dimension. You shouldn't hold something their ancestors did against them."
Starlight sighed, "Fiiiiiiiine, but can we please eat somewhere else. Yokai are still carnivores, so I doubt they have anything for ponies."
Sunburst glared, before sighing himself, "Fine." before looking around and perking up, "Oooo that Minotaur must have interesting snacks for herbivores," he grinned and trotted over.
Getting closer to the vendor's sign she read, "Narcotics? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't know," Sunburst shrugged, "We don't have any words like that on Equus. Maybe it's one of the gibberish names other races use?"
Starlight shrugged back.
"Ooooooo," Sunburst grinned when he got to the counter and gave a quick scan of the menu, "Honeydust," that sounded delicious.
The Minotaur grinned, "That one has a bit of a kick. Sure you can handle it, little pony?"
Sunburst looked affronted. He could handle a little Spicy food! "Of course I can," he defensively insisted... much too his later regret.
The next morning Sunburst woke from his bed with the worst groan he had ever felt in his life. Starlight was in a similar position... in... his... BED!!! Starlight was in his bed!
Sunburst screamed and quickly covered himself with the hotel covers.
"Not so loud!" Starlight moaned in pain. She looked at him with blood shot eyes, "That's the last time we order anything from 'Narcotics'. There is something seriously wrong with that candy,"
Starlight let out another pained groan as she looked around, "This isn't the same hotel room we got last night," it was much more extravagant looking. She hopped out of bed and limped to the window, "We aren't even in the same hotel!" She groaned, "I can see it from here!"
"Why are there rose peddles on the bed?" Sunburst noticed.
"Ooooooh I am suing that candy vendor," Starlight growled, "There must be something wrong with his food. It poisoned us!"
Sunburst gulped, "S-Starlight?"
"Yeah?" She looked over at his worried voice.
"I'm... I'm wear... something... on my... thing..." Sunburst blushed and squirmed.
"Oh?" Starlight blinked, not really registering what that could be.
"It's kinda... sticky..."
Starlight continued to stare, "Sticky? why would it be..." then it clicked, ""YOU'RE WEARING A RUBBER!?!"
Sunburst was blushing like mad but nodded.
"... I take it back," Starlight calmly informed, "I won't sue the vendor. I'LL MURDER HIM!!!" She suddenly roared.
"At least we used protection," Sunburst dared to speak, "Mind... stepping into the living room so I can... make myself decent."
Starlight groaned, "Right right," and quickly left the bedroom.
This place was huge. She hated to think how many bits it cost her. She noticed a slight soreness to her step... and kinda wished she could remember last night. She blushed at the thought.
She stopped halfway through and looked at the table. A DVD case was on it... with the title "Our Wedding,".
All the blood drained from her face as she took out the disk and inserted it to the TV on the wall. More Pathfinder tech but the hotel room looked like it was pony size, and they were one of the smallest races in the system, standing at only 3 to 4 feet... basically her mind was trying to focus on anything but the movie in front of her. She needed to know, but she sure as hell didn't want to.
Sunburst and Starlight were standing in front of a remarkably small lizard with wings. It wasn't a dragon, or at least not a true dragon. It was much to small, at only 2 feet, with a long muzzle and small eyes. It was a kobold, a type of lesser dragon that lived on Pathfinder. The fact it had wings meant it was born with a rare gene... a gene that other kobolds greatly respected to the point of near worship. He was a high born. They usually were molded, in their cast based society, into... priest...
The kobold was dressed in expensive looking robes and... holding a Doctor Who bible. Meanwhile Sunburst and Starlight were both giggly with a dash of wobbly. They looked... well, they looked like they had spent the night licking salt well chugging Cider. That would explain the headache.
"We are gathered here today," Said the Kobold, "To honor the union," no, "of these two people," NO, "in holy matrimony,"
Starlight screamed.
Sunburst quickly busted in, now properly dressed and clean... and probably just hiding in the bed room out of embarrassment. Looking around and spying no danger, Sunburst asked, "What's wrong?"
Starlight gulped and pointed at the TV. Sunburst gulped back when he realized what was going on.
"Okay... okay okay okay," Sunburst began pacing, "We can just get this annualed, right? No pony can honestly expect us to keep a marriage due to food poisoning,"
Somehow that crushed Starlight even more. She felt tears well up in her eyes and fled the room. Sunburst calling her name.
It was hours later, well into the night, when Starlight finally returned to their regular hotel room.
Sunburst was already there, "Starlight! Where have you been? I looked all over,"
"I made a quick trip to Equestria to talk to Twilight," Starlight confessed. "She gave me some great advice... that I'm about to ignore," she looked at Sunburst intently. "I think we should stay married."
Sunburst's face exploded.
"Hear me out," Starlight insisted. "I... I like you Sunburst," he exploded again, proving Spike's long explored hypotheses, but she continued, "I know things are weird with us but there is no pony I feel more comfortable around and-"
"Do... do you really think our first step should be marriage though?" Sunburst squirmed.
"We already know everything about each other," Starlight insisted. "And we click better then any pony! Can we just try it? For a little while? If you are still having second thoughts by the time our vacation is over we will get that annulment with no hard feelings. Just think of this as a... a trial run,"
● Ponyville,
2 years Later
"Only you could turn a drunken one night stand into a successful marriage," Twilight commented as she stood by the Hospital bed. Sunburst had just stepped out to fetch his wife some much needed breakfast. The poor thing hadn't eaten anything and 39 hours.
"Thank you... I think," Starlight sweet dropped as she held the little filly in her arms. The filly had Sunburst coat but her own mane.
"Have you thought of what to name her?" Twilight eagerly asked.
"Sunburst and I talked it over," Starlight began, "He was a little reluctant but I managed to convince him to let me name her after you,"
Twilight gaped, her eyes beginning to tear up.
"Say hello to my little... Bookhorse," Starlight did her best to keep her face straight.
Twilight stared blankly before daring to ask, "Did you seriously name your foal that just to get a jab at me?"
Starlight gave an evil grin, "Signed the paperwork and everything,"
Twilight groaned, "You've been spending far too much time with Pinkie,"
● 8 Years Into the Space Age
Bookhorse blushed as yet another parent covered their child's ears when she said her name. By Whooves did she hate her name.
"Where did you learn such language!?" The concerned father gaped.
Bookhorse sighed, "It really is my name. My mother has a weird sense of humor."
The Stallion looked doubtful and Bookhorse didn't blame him. It was the equivalent of naming a human kid "Literate Ape".
Bookhorse did live up to her name in that regard. She loved to read and wanted to know as much as her amazing daddy when she grew up, but she also had the raw power of her mother... which was kinda hard to control and weird stuffed tended to happen when she got over emotional. She was also kinda... brutish, like her name. She tended to be a bit vulgar and bullheaded. She had such a hot temper and was always getting into fights at her preschool.
The father looked down disapprovingly as he directed his little colt away from the "vulgar" girl.
"You know," Bookhorse looked behind her as a familiar voice caught her attention, "You could just tell ponies your name was 'Book', seeing how that IS your nickname and all,"
Bookhorse sighed, "He's a Governor of Trottingham. I had to tell him my full name "
Trixie swept dropped, "That might have done more harm then good. Don't tell Applejack I said this but maybe you could use a bit less honesty... You know you're mother didn't mean to stick you with that. She just... isn't the best at thinking things through."
Book sighed, "I know," looking around at all the kids with their parents, all powerful diplomats or world leaders. Mom was talking to the Governor Bookhorse just finished offending by introducing herself... looks like they were going to start trading blows any minute. Auntie Twilight quickly walked over to smooth things out.
It wasn't like "horse" was even that bad a word. It was like when the Yokai said "Ass" or "Bastard". Sure little kids shouldn't be saying it but wasn't THAT vulgar. The noble was just stuck up.
Book gave her tenth billion exasperated sigh of the day. It was Friends and Family day, like every weekend at most boarding schools. It was the only time during the school year Bookhorse got to see her mom. The little filly lived with her dad in the Crystal Empire, while her mother was the the headmare at the university in Ponyville.
That meant Book usually only got to see her mother when School was out. Both her parents were heavily career driven ponies and didn't want to give it up.
Mom was helping shape the future leaders of Equestria well Dad worked as head wizard of Princess Cadence's Court.
It wasn't so bad, Cheese Cake (Pinkie's and Cheese Sandwich's daughter) saw her dad even less often then Book saw her mom, since that Stallion was always traveling the country. Some jobs just kept families apart for a few months, but then they got together and enjoyed a few months of unseparated fun. It wasn't so bad, and like Book said, at least she got to see her mother on Weekends.
Book also had her godmother Trixie visiting often, although she traveled a lot to for her job, but her step mother Maud had moved up to the Crystal Empire to be with them. A couple years ago Mom filled out a herd agreement with her friends.
Bookhorse wasn't really sure what that meant, other then it was a legal agreement to share a Stallion, but share how she wasn't sure. The Yokai kids liked to whistle and congratulate Daddy on his "harem" but dad kept insisting that wasn't the same thing.
Herds are about family, and to compensate for the lack of male ponies, whatever that means. The important thing was it was kinda like a really big family and was pretty common among ponies.
Whatever was going on was really working cuz now Maud was pregnant! That meant Book was getting a sister! How cool was that! Two sisters actually as Maud was having twins (they run in her family).
The 5 year old filly followed her godmother to the buffet table and started gorging on cupcakes, getting the frosting all over herself.
Daddy caught sight of her and immediately started fussing, cleaning her off with the evil wet wipes he always carried.
Maud walked over and gave a rare smile. Mom was with her, looking as if her anger melted away at the sight of her daughter covered in food.
"Somecreature is hungry," Mom chuckled as Book squirmed away from dad to get to her. Mom's horn lit up and Book was suddenly clean.
Trixie grinned at Maud "So you have you decided on a name yet for the newest addition to our family." Wanting to talk babies, and being specific to leave no room for one of Mauds bizarre misunderstandings, "Trixie was thinking something along the lines of Trixie Junior,"
Maud started at her blankly, "I was thinking, if it's a boy, Horrorcow,"
"No!" Sunburst glared, "We are not making our family theme obscene names. Books, let's stick with books. There are lots of good book names,"
Mom looked guilty as she hugged book, "Yeah maybe a less... argument inducing name would be better for the next foal,"
Maud blinked, "I was mostly joking anyway,"
Trixie suddenly got an idea. Book could tell because she immediately raised her hoof and started going "OOOOoooo Ooo ooo,"
Mom smiled, "Yes... Trixie," calling on her like a teacher would.
"How about Stone Tablet?" Trixie grinned.
Maud blinked, "That's actually not bad," Saying it in her usual monotone but containing an edge of surprise.
Trixie huffed, "Trixie has nothing but good ideas,"
Sunburst thought a moment, "It is a nice, gender neutral, name, just in case we have a boy. Incorporates both the rock theme and our own new family theme around reading,"
"We could name the other one Cook Book," Starlight volunteered looking at Maud, "That way we are honoring both your parents. Your dad's stone theme and your mom's baking theme. We are even honoring your cousins the cakes with that."
Maud stared blankly before saying, "They have done a lot for Pinkie... It's a fine name."
Sunburst smiled, "I really like the reading theme we are going with. It's a healthy goal to set for the foals,"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Trixie's foal will still be named Trixie Junior."
Sunburst tried, "Don't you want to keep with a family theme? One your foals will be proud to pass down to their foals,"
Trixie got strangely serious and quiet, becoming less boastful as she said, "Trixie was named after her father's theme," she explained. "His parents had no girls to pass down their theme so Trixie's mother named Trixie after her father to pass on that name... It would crush my father if I didn't name my foal something involving stage magic." Trixie insisted, using a rare instance of talking in the first person to stress her point.
Sunburst looked at her a moment as her herd mate poured out her heart. Passing on her father's name meant a lot to her, and could even explain why she talked about in third person so often, "Trixie junior is a fine name. When the time comes, I'd be honored to have a foal with such a name,"
"Maybe we should get started on making that baby," Trixie grinned like a feral cat, causing daddy to blush for some odd reason. The adults seem to have forgotten Book was there.
"Can I watch?" Book asked, wanting to know how babies are made.
All her parents suddenly turned to her and snapped, "NO!" most aggressively. Book just pouted at them.
