It was done, it was official. Twilight Sparkle was crowned Princess of Equestria, and ruled from on high in the Royal Palace at Canterlot. And at the end of the week-long celebration surrounding the Princess's accession, her former student and longtime assistant Starlight Glimmer reluctantly boarded a train to return home... to Ponyville.
Because some of us, she thought resignedly, have a School to run in the morning.
Having walked up through town from the train depot, the lavender unicorn hesitantly approached the tree-shaped crystal Castle, standing in the clearing adjacent to the Friendship School and its artificial lake. The Castle's gemlike facets shimmered warmly in the late evening Sun.
The recollection that it would be Twilight herself lowering that Sun, any minute now, only served to make Starlight even more melancholy.
She climbed the front steps of the Castle, gazing up at the familiar golden doors with awe and, it had to be said, some trepidation.
Because the Castle was hers now. And not just metaphorically.
Starlight unrolled and re-read the scroll Princess Twilight had presented her, as they'd exchanged a final hug in the Audience Hall in Canterlot:
Let it be known by this decree that the crystal Castle in Ponyville, created by the Tree of Harmony and presently housing the Map Table thereof, shall henceforth be the property of Starlight Glimmer and such heirs and assigns as she may designate, in gratitude for her faithfulness and service. May it serve her in her future endeavors as it has always served us.
Given under our hoof and seal this day,
HRH Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria
(Transcribed by Spike, Royal Advisor to the Princess)
Starlight smiled at that final byline. Spike was, of course, staying with Twilight in Canterlot. And Twilight's Ponyville friends, the newly-formed Friendship Council, were with the Princess as well, hashing out the details of their new role in her Court. Sunburst had returned with Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor to the Crystal Empire, to resolve a few items of business there, before Sunburst returned to his role as Vice-Headmare of the Friendship School. And even the Great and Powerful Trixie was sleeping off a week's worth of almost non-stop magic performances, in her wagon, currently parked just outside the Palace gates.
Which meant Starlight was entirely alone as she unlocked the Castle doors with her magic and stepped inside, into an echoing foyer which suddenly seemed a lot bigger and emptier than it ever had before.
Funny, she thought. I planned everything else. The trip to Canterlot, the gift for Twilight, the lesson plans in case I was delayed getting back...
But she hadn't planned for this. Returning home to an empty Castle, with absolutely no idea what she was meant to do with it now.
She thought back to the conversation with Mayor Mare, on the train ride back home. Starlight had, of course, promised to manage the Castle just as Twilight would have done -- that it would be as if Twilight herself had never left.
To which the Mayor had smiled, in that twinkling, knowing way of hers. "Well, here's the thing, Miss Glimmer," she'd said calmly. "Her Highness's instructions on the subject were quite clear: Headmare Glimmer is not to be regarded merely as my ambassador, representative, or proxy -- and certainly not merely as a caretaker. The Castle is hers now. She's her own mare, with her own life and responsibilities. I ask only that you afford her the same respect and allegiance you have always so kindly shown to me."
The tan, white-maned pony chuckled brightly.
"Direct quote, Miss Glimmer! Now, we here in Ponyville have always looked upon Twilight as being our own resident royal, so to speak. And there are those few tasks she insisted on doing personally for us, like managing Winter Wrapup and so forth. We'd be pleased and honored if you chose to continue in that role. But I think Her Highness wants it to be your choice, Miss Glimmer, what you do from here on. So just let us know what you expect of us, and be assured that Ponyville will always have your back."
Spoken like a true politician, Starlight thought. Kick the ball squarely back in my court. She nodded. Where it belongs.
She took a steadying breath, squared her shoulders. Okay, she told herself, it's just a big empty Castle. And it's only for the one night, since Trixie will be here tomorrow. You've got this, Starlight. You can do this!
She peered uneasily around at the Castle's maze-like corridors, which wound away confusingly in every direction.
If I can only figure out where my room is. Why is it always so difficult, finding my way around in here? Twilight never had any problems. But then again, this was her castle. Perhaps it just suited her encyclopaedic way of thinking?
Starlight glanced around the foyer. Maybe I should just move my stuff to one of the rooms down here, nearer to the door? Make it easy on myself?
Setting off, Starlight eventually found her way up to her garret bedroom, even managing to stop off in the kitchen and grab a quick supper along the way. She thought about trying to find the map room as well, just to check no cutie-marks were showing on the Map Table itself. But she didn't want to push her luck.
Tucking herself up in bed, Starlight looked around at her belongings: her books, her journals and scrolls, her kites. And the mirror, with the many photos around its frame, of herself and all her friends -- especially Twilight.
And looming behind it all, the elephant in the room -- because it was the room -- her Castle.
I'm still just Headmare Starlight, she fretted. I'm not royalty. I'm not a Princess or anything. Should I even still be living in a castle? Maybe I should just sign it back over to the realm or something. Move to a house of my own, somewhere here in Ponyville convenient to the School.
Despite her worries, Starlight smiled briefly at that.
Is it a breach of protocol, she wondered, regifting a Castle?
She let her head fall back on the pillow, shut her eyes. Her thoughts rattled around in her head like marbles for a long while, tense and ungrounded. But eventually she was able to relax, and finally fell asleep.
And dreamed of being surrounded by all her friends once again. Maybe it was former-Princess Luna's work, or maybe just wishful thinking. Either way, Starlight wasn't going to argue.
She just didn't want it to end...
Starlight woke, rubbed her eyes, looked round at the bedroom lit by the bright morning sunshine. Same room, same Castle. So, same problem. Getting up, she splashed water on her face in the bath, gave her mane a quick comb to settle it, then trotted out her door...
... straight into the foyer.
Starlight looked around, uncertainly. The main doors were to her left. And to her right, through the set of doors at the other end of the foyer, she could clearly see the Map room, with its crystalline table and chairs. All perfectly reasonable and convenient, much as she might have laid things out herself, given the choice.
"Ooo-kay..." she said softly. This was not totally without precedent. The Castle had sometimes rearranged its interior space before... just not when anypony was actually around to see it happen. "I'll just add that to my list of mysteries," she went on, "to get to... someday. Time for breakfast first, and then..."
And then she remembered: no Spike. She'd need to see to her own cooking from now on.
No worries, she thought. I'll just trot down to Sugarcube Corner, see what Mrs. Cake has for the daily special. And maybe Trixie and I can work out a deal to rotate cooking chores later on.
Just then, there was a knock on the main doors. Surprised, Starlight crossed to them and opened them with her magic.
And saw a familiar face. "Thorax!" she cried. "Hi! Good morning!"
"Hey, Starlight!" The King of the Changelings nodded his orange-antlered head in a friendly fashion. Then he eyed her carefully. "You know, I was talking to a friend the other day, about someone a little... klutzy?"
Starlight nodded, understanding. "You must have been talking about a certain... draconequus?" Both of them laughed relievedly at the familiar old pass-phrase.
And then a portal to the chaos realm spun open beside them, and Discord leaned his head out of it. "You really think I can't hear every word you're saying?" he snapped. "And seriously, Starlight, I thought we talked about this. We need a new code-word!"
"Discord..." Starlight asked suspiciously. "You haven't been meddling with things around here this morning, have you?"
"Hmph!" the draconequuus frowned. "You ponies think it all revolves around you, don't you? And as it happens, Mizz Glimmer, I'm too busy at the moment! Far too busy!"
He yanked his head back in. The portal slammed closed.
And Starlight looked at Thorax. "Just checking. Things have been a little... weird around here this morning. I wanted to rule out the possibility. So, what brings you here, Thorax?"
"I'm headed back to the Changeling Kingdom," Thorax said. "But I did want to stop by, just to see how you're doing."
"Oh, you know!" Starlight waved a hoof vaguely. "Still figuring out where I left the kitchen and so forth. I'll manage."
Thorax tipped his head, eyeing her concernedly. "You don't have anyone around to help you?"
"Not right at the moment. Twilight was never one for a big retinue -- or any retinue, for that matter, apart from her friends. But Trixie and Sunburst will be along inside of a day or two. It's no big deal."
"I meant, like a personal assistant," Thorax persisted. "The way Spike was for Twilight. Someone who looks after the small stuff, runs errands, makes sure you take care of yourself, that kind of thing?"
Starlight sighed. "That was really nice, wasn't it? And who knows? Maybe someday I'll find someone half as dependable and likable as Spike was. And I'll hire 'em on the spot!"
"Well, then," Thorax said proudly, "I might be able to help you there. Allow me to introduce..."
"Arista?" Starlight said, noticing the smaller, red-hued changeling who was leaning around Thorax, peering nervously at her.
"That's right." Thorax nodded. "You two chatted at the reception."
"Hello again, Miss Glimmer." Arista nodded her head respectfully.
"Arista!" Starlight scolded. "I told you, it's just Starlight amongst friends. And we had such a nice chat," she added to Thorax. "It helped a lot, actually. I was trying to keep out of the way as much as possible, let Twilight and her Ponyville friends have their moment together. Being able to spend time talking with Arista was great!"
"I'm glad," Thorax said. "You seemed to be feeling a little left out, though I wasn't sure from a distance. But when Arista mentioned she felt the same thing in talking to you, I knew I was right. And you're a friend, Starlight! I don't like seeing you feeling left out."
"It was only for the one reception," Starlight said. "And... the planning meetings beforehand. And the parties and other gatherings afterwards..." She looked increasingly somber. Then she deliberately brightened up. "So, uh, Arista told that me she's interested in studying magic? Apart from changeling magic, I mean?"
"Oh, yes!" Thorax nodded. "It's a personal project of hers. Which I've been encouraging as much as I can, same as I do for everyone in the Hive. I was going to ask, however, whether somepony around here might be able to guide her in her studies?" He smiled hopefully.
"Me, you mean?" Starlight asked.
"Well, you are really good with magic," Thorax said. "And Arista could learn a lot from you. That is, if it wouldn't be a burden. And in return, Arista has offered to serve as assistant for you, to help fill in some of the jobs Spike used to do. I know no one can ever replace Spike, Starlight, but I can vouch for Arista, give her a solid reference for responsibility and diligence. And Arista herself spoke very highly of you."
"You were so nice, Starlight, when we were chatting," Arista added. "I felt like you really understood me. And if I can be of any help to you, I would like to do that."
"Wow..." Starlight said to Thorax. "So you mean, like, take on a personal student? Teach her what I know about magic? And maybe about friendship?" She grinned. "Where have we heard that one before, huh?" Seeing Arista looking nervous, Starlight waved a hoof. "I was talking about me, Arista! Twilight took me on as her student. She made time for me, helped me to become a better pony... the kind of pony I can really be proud of." Smiling, Starlight nodded. "And it'd be pretty chintzy of me, wouldn't it, turning down an opportunity to pay that forward?"
"Then it's all right?" Thorax asked. "You don't mind? That's great, Starlight!"
"Absolutely!" Starlight nodded. "Though you may need to hit the ground running, Arista," she added. "Today's a workday for me at the School. But then again, it'd be a great opportunity to see what you're getting yourself into. So we'll give it a try, both of us. See if we can make it work out, okay?"
"Yes, Miss -- I mean, yes, Starlight!" Arista smiled meekly.
Thorax nodded, pleased. "I'll leave the two of you to work out the details. And if you ever need any help from me, Starlight, please don't hesitate to let me know." Waving a hoof cheerfully, the changeling king turned about and trotted away, heading back towards the train station. He seemed to be alone for a moment... and then a shrub and a small fruit-cart got up and followed him, turning back into their changeling forms as they did so.
Starlight looked at Arista, who blinked yellow insect eyes back at her.
"I was just about to head into town," Starlight said. "Grab a quick bite before I head to work. You want to come along? I can show you a bit of Ponyville on the way."
"I'd like that very much. Thank you, Starlight!"
The school day was long but uneventful, with everycreature trying hard to refocus on work after the week of celebrations. And at the end of it, in late afternoon, Starlight trotted back across the marble path that spanned the shallows of the lake between the School and the Castle.
Accompanying her was Arista, and Trixie as well. The azure, white-maned showpony had turned up midday, looking cross and affronted. "Sorry I was so late getting back," Trixie said loftily. "There was some mixup about adding the flatcar to transport my wagon back here. Seriously? I half-considered just hitching up and hauling it back here on my own. But that would have taken even longer, and Trixie paid the extra bits to ride in style -- so Trixie was gonna ride in style!"
"It's all right, Trix," Starlight said. "I'm just really glad to have you back. It's been a little lonely here, with everyone gone."
"No doubt. Well, Trrrixie the Great and Powerful Friend is here to fix all your worries!" Trixie flourished her star-spangled cape dramatically. Then she glanced over her shoulder at the red-coated, pink-maned pony following them. "So... who's the new pony? Seriously, Starlight, it's like you have two shadows!"
"This is Arista," Starlight said. "And she's not a pony, she's a changeling."
A swirl of green magic surrounded the pony, transforming her back into her changeling form.
"Wahhh!" Trixie jumped behind Starlight, grabbing at her hat with a hoof and staring. "Would you mind giving a pony some warning before you do that?" Then she glanced from Starlight to Arista, looking embarassed. "Um, sorry. It's just... well, with certain exceptions, my past run-ins with unexpected changelings haven't gone all that smoothly."
"I'm sorry about that, Miss Trixie." Arista nodded. "Starlight has been very kind in accepting me as her student in magic."
"And Arista's offered to be my assistant in return," Starlight said. "And she's doing great! It's like having an extra pair of hooves to get stuff done. I'm amazed how easy it is for her to keep track of things. I was on time for two meetings today I'm usually late for. Of course," she muttered, "if everyone else had shown up, it might actually have meant something..."
"Oh." Trixie looked nervous. "Sorry, Starlight. I'll try to be on time from now on."
"Trixie!" Starlight hugged her. "I wasn't talking about you! And don't look at me like that. You're my best friend, and that's not about to change."
Arista offered a chitinous hoof. "I would be your friend also, Miss Trixie? If that's all right?"
Trixie glanced at Starlight, then drew herself up, proudly. "The Grrreat and Amicable Trixie is friends with anycreature that Starlight is friends with!" She shook hooves. "Just... do warn me next time, huh? Trixie may be an expert in illusions and surprises... but that doesn't mean she always likes them herself."
The three of them continued onward to the Castle. And Trixie giggled excitedly as Starlight unlocked the doors. "It's really all yours, Starlight? The whole Castle?"
"Lock and stock, signed and sealed," Starlight acknowledged, as they trotted inside. "Though it almost feels like more than I really need. Now, we just need to find the kitchen, and then we can see about an early supper. That sweet-roll and coffee I had for lunch seems like ages ago!"
Arista glanced around. "The kitchen should be over... here," she said. Trotting determinedly down the corridor to the right of the map room, she pushed open a door. And there the kitchen was.
Starlight stared. "How'd you find that so easily?"
Arista shrugged. "It's a changeling skill, for navigating the Hive since it changes all the time. We sense where a room ought to be in the overall layout, and we head in that direction, rather than trying to use signposts along the way."
"Well that's certainly going to be helpful here," Starlight said. "Though I'm a bit puzzled. I don't recall the kitchen being this close to the Map room before."
"Um... Starlight?" Trixie asked. "Have you been redecorating?"
"No, why?"
Trixie pointed through the Map room doors. "Because there's a lot fewer chairs in here!"
Starlight and Arista came over and looked. There was the Map table as usual. But there were only three crystal chairs set around it. The tall one at the rear had Starlight's cutie-mark. The other two were unmarked.
"Not my doing," Starlight said, trotting into the room and around to the chair with her mark. "Maybe it's the Castle? It does seem to be rearranging itself, all of a sudden."
"Now that it has a new owner," Trixie observed. "Well, given that we've found the kitchen and a place to eat, we won't starve, huh?"
"On that subject..." Starlight said gently, "I'm thinking we should set up a rotation for cooking chores, Trixie."
"Oh, right. No Spike, anymore." Trixie nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. I'm used to cooking for myself, when I'm living in my wagon." She sighed. "I was kinda looking forward to a home-cooked meal though, after working so hard this past week."
"I can cook for tonight," Starlight told her. "And we can deal with tomorrow... tomorrow."
"Suits me!"
"I'll help also," Arista said. "It will take me some time to learn how to cook... and to learn what ponies like to eat. But I can always stir something, or watch a pot so it doesn't boil over."
"I like that attitude!" Starlight said, smiling. "Let's give it a try."
Later that evening, Starlight was tucked up in her bed, with her current favorite book to read on her lap, and a plate of jam drops and a mug of warm milk within reach on the table beside her.
"Anything else I can do, Starlight?" Arista asked.
Starlight sighed happily. "Not a thing, Arista, I'm good! And you've done excellently today. Just keep doing as you're doing, you won't hear any complaints from me!"
"I will. And thank you, Starlight." Arista smiled.
"And I'm going to keep my end of the bargain, too," Starlight reminded her. "I want you to read through the scrolls on structured spell forms that I gave you, just to get the basics. And we'll work a lecture-and-demo session into my schedule tomorrow. And then we'll... kind of take it from there, okay?"
"That suits me." Arista nodded. "I'll see you in the morning, then. Good night."
"Good night, Arista!"
The changeling bowed, then trotted out through the side door, which led to the guest room they'd decided she'd use since it was convenient to Starlight's room. With a flare of green magic, the door swung closed behind her.
Starlight settled in to read, munching a cookie every now and then. Gradually her eyelids swung closed, and she felt herself nodding off. Finally giving up, she pushed the book onto the table, shut off the lights with her magic, and got comfortable. And was asleep almost instantly.
Soon, however, she was tossing and turning restlessly, whimpering and moaning. It was the same nightmare she'd been having lately, the same horrid memory: facing down Queen Chrysalis, during the final battle for Equestria. The changeling's eyes, gleaming with the stolen magic from Grogar's bell, glared at her triumphantly. Then there was the seemingly endless series of dodges, feints, and attacks, both at the School, and in the Frozen North. And then, during the escape from the prison the Queen had prepared for them all, Starlight felt herself struck from behind by the Queen's overpowered magic.
She remembered fearing that it was the end, that it was all over. That she'd go to her grave not even knowing whether Twilight and her friends had succeeded. She heard the whine of Chrysalis's horn charging up, preparing to lash out with a killing blow...
Then Starlight woke, gasping, in her darkened room.
For a few seconds she felt disoriented, as if she was still asleep. Then she realized she wasn't. She could still hear the distinctive, insectile whine of Chrysalis's magic. And it seemed to be coming from the next room.
There was light coming from under the door... the green, flickering glow of changeling magic.
Getting up from the bed as quietly as she could, she tip-hoofed over to the door leading to Arista's room. Gently, she nudged it open. And then had clamp her mouth shut to keep from gasping aloud. Her legs felt like jelly. She was rooted to the spot by terror.
Before her, in the darkness, stood the changeling Queen -- tall, black, and chitinous, with glaring green eyes and needle-sharp fangs. The Queen's crooked, distorted horn shimmered with poisonous green magic. She was turned away from Starlight, eyeing herself in the room's dressing mirror, teeth bared, breath rasping, almost as if she was readying herself to attack her own reflection.
Then her eyes spotted Starlight in the mirror, peering in through the doorway.
Turning swiftly, the changeling gasped in shock. Her magic flared, a wash of transformation swept over her...
... and Arista was standing in her place, lit by a soft glow from her horn.
"Uh... I'm sorry, Starlight," she said quietly. "I didn't think you were still awake."
"Arista?" Starlight asked, cautiously. "Is this... really you?"
"Klutzy draconequus?" Arista offered quietly. Then her shoulders fell. She hung her head sadly. "You... you really weren't supposed to see that."
Stifling her fear as best she could, Starlight cast a luminance spell with her own horn, then crossed over to sit beside the downcast changeling. She tentatively put a hoof around her.
"Arista..." she asked gently, "what's going on here?"
The changeling looked up at her -- mournfully, regretfully. "May I be honest with you, Starlight?"
"That would be best," she agreed.
"It wasn't just because I offered to be your assistant," Arista said, "or because we get along so well, that Thorax decided to offer my service to you. It's also because... well, he felt guilty."
"Guilty? For what?"
"For Chrysalis's attack on you. For her insane need for vengeance, after you took away her rule of the Hive and put Thorax in her place."
"Oh come on! That's not Thorax's fault --"
"Yes it is!" Arista interrupted tensely. "At least, that's how Thorax views it. He's the leader of the changelings now. So he considers the actions of any changeling, even a monster like Chrysalis, to be his responsibility. And she could have killed you, Starlight!" Arista shook her head. "He would never have been able to forgive himself. And having talked with you, I feel the same way. So he asked me to do one other thing while I was here studying with you: protect you. Do everything I can to keep you safe."
"From what?" Starlight shrugged. "Chrysalis is a hunk of marble! Along with Tirek and that saccharine satyr, Cozy Glow! And Thorax has convinced all the other changelings to transform, so there's no threat anymore... right?"
Arista shook her head.
"There's always the chance Chrysalis might one day escape her imprisonment. Or there might still be rogue changelings out there, loyal to her, that we don't know about. Thorax thought it best to be safe rather than sorry, particularly now that Twilight's moved on to Canterlot and you're living here on your own."
"So why didn't he just tell me about all this, while he was here?"
"Because we don't know, Starlight! Not for certain!" Arista frowned, and tossed her hooves. "It may just be needless worry on Thorax's part. There was no reason to alarm you unnecessarily. Best case, we're wrong and nothing happens. But if anything did happen... then at least we'd be here, to help defend you. You deserve that from us. Thorax thinks so, and so do I. It's part of why I offered to be your assistant. The rest is also true, by the way. I really do want to learn magic from you."
"And I appreciate the two of you thinking of me," Starlight said carefully. "Though if there's a threat on my life, even just a potential one, I'd prefer knowing about it so I can make plans."
"I understand." Arista nodded. "And I'm sorry, Starlight."
Starlight smiled at her. Then she tilted her head, curious. "So... why you, in particular?"
"Because I'm a changeling," Arista replied. "I can sense when other changelings are nearby. And there's something else..."
She looked Starlight right in the eye.
"I admired Chrysalis," she said. "I wanted to be just like her. Before Thorax took over the Hive, I was her favorite, her protegé. If anything happened to her, I would have replaced her. And I know, Starlight, I know now just how wrong she was! You showed the Hive a different way to live, a better way. We've all accepted that. Still, even as wrong as she was, I admired Chrysalis's strength, her leadership, her power over us. I remember how things were under her rule. I'm one of the few who truly can. I understand the way Chrysalis thinks, how she'd move against you. And I can use that to protect you."
"So... that's why you were pretending to be her just now?"
"Yes. Every now and then I take her form, to remember. I spend a few minutes in her hooves, so to speak, so I don't ever forget who and what she was. I make certain I don't forget, so that I can be sure that a monster like her never happens to us again!"
Starlight drew back at the fierceness in the changeling's tone.
"Sorry." Arista grimaced, and shook her head. "It's... kind of personal."
"How so?" Starlight asked. "I mean, if it's not too personal?"
Arista gazed at her, solemnly. And just for a moment, Starlight saw a hint of Chrysalis's haughture, her aloofness, in the changeling's blank-eyed gaze. "A female changeling," Arista said. "Who can use magic, beyond mere changeling illusion. What does that suggest to you, Starlight?"
Starlight stared. "You... you're a queen?"
Arista shrugged. "A proto-queen, we call it. There's always one or two of us somewhere in the Hive, as insurance. So if anything happened to Chrysalis... or to Thorax now..."
"... you'd be there to take over," Starlight completed for her.
"Assuming I was strong enough," Arista said. "In the old days, I'd have had to fight others like me for the throne. These days?" She smiled. "We'd probably just hold a big Feelings Forum, talk it over with the Hive, get everyone's input."
Starlight joined her in smiling at that. "That does sound more like Thorax's style. So... how does Thorax feel about you? Given that you're a potential rival?"
"He treats me like any other changeling," Arista said. "It's one of the things we really like about him, as leader of the Hive. He honestly wants me to learn and develop, to become the kind of changeling I'm supposed to be. Even if it means we wind up being enemies someday. Not that I'd want that, Starlight, not at all! But I can't deny who and what I am."
Her mandibles gritted. "And every now and then, when I think about Chrysalis, what she almost did to us, what I would have become, following her... I don't know, maybe it's a bit of queenly protectiveness, of rage against the Hive's enemies. I just get so mad, Starlight!" She stamped a hoof ringingly. "I want to do everything I can to help keep the Hive safe! And if friendship truly is the Hive's way now, and you ponies are our guides in it, then I want to keep you safe, too. Particularly you, Starlight! You helped the Hive discover true friendship. You taught us how to be better than we were. And speaking purely for myself, I really do get the sense that you understand me... that you understand what it's like to be me."
Starlight nodded. "Realizing, one day, that the way you'd been living your life was all wrong?" she said. "Being shown kindness and caring by someone you thought was your mortal enemy? And as a result, wanting to do everything in your power to help them, to live up to the example they've shown you?" She nodded. "Oh, yeah. I know what that's like!"
Arista was silent for a long moment.
"So..." she finally said, "are you still okay with me being your student and assistant? And, if need be, your guardian?"
"Yeah," Starlight said, hugging her with a forehoof. "I'm totally okay with it, Arista. And if you want, I'll keep this confidential between the two of us. Though I do think we should clue Trixie in, at least. We can count on her not to blab -- a magician knows how to keep a secret, after all. But you know how she feels about surprises."
"I'll be guided by your advice, Starlight. And thanks. I'll do my very best not to let you down."
"And I'll do my best to help you be the changeling you're meant to be." Starlight smiled. "I owe Thorax that much, for being such a good friend..."
At the breakfast table next morning, Trixie listened carefully, nodding with increasing interest as they explained it to her. "So," she finally asked, "you're basically like a changeling queen... but nice?"
"Proto-queen," Arista gently corrected.
"Kind of a queen-in-waiting, so to speak," Starlight added.
"Well, not to worry!" the showpony said grandly. "The Great and Powerful Trixie has plenty of experience hobknobbing with royalty!"
"Trixie," Starlight said, grinning, "you've basically been in the room now and again when Twilight was there."
"And always appropriately so!" Trixie replied, unbowed, "for Trixie always knows precisely when it's appropriate to brighten the occasion with her presence! Whether it be royals, nobles, or common-folk, no one reads a crowd better than the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie!" She flung her forehooves wide, letting off a small burst of fireworks.
"She does this..." Starlight warned Arista, "... a lot!"
"I don't mind," Arista replied happily. "I've never met a court magician before."
"Oooh! Court magician!" Trixie preened. "I like it! And you, Starlight, you're no slouch either. I mean, student and assistant to a Princess? And now, tutor and mentor to changeling royalty? Uh, sorry, proto-royalty, I meant!" She touched her hat obligingly in Arista's direction. "You could give Star Swirl the Bearded a run for his money!"
Starlight nodded, a smile spreading on her face.
"Yeah. You know, you're right, Trixie! I've graduated from being a student of royalty... to being a teacher to royalty. So, maybe I should still be living in a castle. I mean, I've gotta have the appropriate learning environment for my students, right?" She exchanged a smile with Arista, who nodded agreeably.
"And Trixie will also be pleased to serve as counselor and entertainment in your court, m'lady!" She made a show of bowing to Arista dramatically.
"Just so long as you serve pancakes, too," Starlight sternly reminded her. "It's your turn to cook tomorrow, Trix."
"Oh, but of course, bestie!" Trixie exchanged a smile and wink with Arista. And then the two of them laughed, while Starlight resignedly rolled her eyes.
Later that morning, as Starlight, Trixie, and Arista were trotting out through the Castle's front doors, they encountered a ragged-looking Sunburst hurrying up the path from the town.
"Sorry I'm late, Starlight!" the tan unicorn said, a little breathlessly. "One thing led to another in the Empire, and I finally ended up taking the red-eye train back here. Give me a few minutes to spruce up, and I'll join you over at the School."
"No hurry, Sunburst," Starlight said. "Take your time. Things have been ramping up slowly following the coronation anyway. Oh, by the way, this is Arista. She's signed on as my personal student and assistant."
"And as Starlight's bodyguard," Trixie said smugly.
"Really?" Sunburst raised an eyebrow. "A student as a bodyguard? Isn't that a little unusual?"
Starlight glanced at Arista, who grinned. With a brilliant flash of green magic, the changeling transformed into a ten-ton blue maulwurf. The giant, mole-like creature bared rodent teeth and bellowed, right in Sunburst's face.
Starlight smiled at him. "Any questions?"
Sunburst took a steadying breath, resettled his spectacles.
"Nary a one!" he replied, grinning.
The End
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, its characters and indicia are the property of Hasbro.
No infringement is intended. This story is a work of fan fiction, written by fans for fans of the series.
