Broken and Rebuilt

Convincing Starlight to Go

Eight months had passed since Starlight had been released from the mental hospital and life had returned to normal, well somewhat. She and Trixie had grown much closer as friends. Trixie was a bit frustrated that they had yet to move on to being marefriends but she knew that with everything that happened to Starlight, she still needed time to fully heal.

Trixie had decided to, for the time, to take up permanent residence in Sire's Hollow until Starlight had healed sufficiently that she could at least go with her on short tours. Starlight had returned to being her great and powerful assistant but still, she felt the safest in her childhood bedroom, the safest from the turbulence that still haunted her dreams from time to time.

One day though, Trixie decided that perhaps they should go on a trip. She really hoped that this trip and magic show would be what would finally get Starlight to realize that she had finally healed and would be ready for a relationship. She also knew that this trip, a trip to Ponyville, could set Starlight back if she encountered a certain bacon maned mare who might still be in Equestria waiting for her.

That day was like most days, Starlight and Firelight had sat down to breakfast and were enjoying eggs, hay bacon and toast. During that meal though, there was a knock on the door. Firelight got up and answered it, "Oh hi Trixie. Here to see Starlight I take it?"

Trixie replied, "Of course The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to see her best friend!"

Firelight motioned for her to go in where she would join the two at the dining room table. Trixie had a huge smile on her face and suggested, "Starlight, The Great and Powerful Trixie thinks that we should go on a road trip, a magic trip!"

Starlight had an uncertain look on her face, "Ok, where are you wanting us to go? Appaloosa, Dodge Junction, Baltimare?"

Trixie knew that she couldn't just come out and say what her plan was so she decided to let Starlight know what she thought about her progress. "Starlight, you have been out of the hospital for eight months and I have seen for myself how much you have improved. I remember when at first the only ponies you would talk to were me and your dad but now, look at you. You are out there, helping me like you once did! You mingle with the crowds here after our shows and your confidence seems to build with every passing day."

Starlight asked, "What is it you are suggesting? Why is it I have a bad feeling about this?"

Trixie replied, "Starlight, I think it is time for one final test. I think that if you can pass this one, you will be able to face anything."

Starlight froze. She knew exactly what Trixie was talking about, "You're wanting us to go to Ponyville, aren't you?"

Trixie replied, "Yes I do because I think that going there will help you overcome your past."

Starlight began to breathe heavily as the very thoughts of going to the place where that mirror was. Firelight saw this and suggested, "Starlight honey, Trixie makes a point. This could be what it takes for you to fully heal for the most part."

Starlight asked, "But what if Sunset is there? What if she begged me to go back with her? What if she was to try and kiss me?"

Firelight, "Nopony is going to force you to do anything and like I said, Trixie makes a point. Perhaps it will be talking to her that can help you heal completely."

With both her father and her best friend telling her this, she began to think that perhaps this would be her chance to heal completely. She then began to think that maybe Sunset wouldn't be there and that seeing Twilight might not be so bad so she finally agreed, "Oh alright, so when do you want to do this?"

Trixie replied, "Well I was thinking that we could head out after you finish breakfast. That way we can get there sooner, we can put on our show, you can see your other friends and then we can come back."

Initially the very thoughts of leaving that soon did not sound very appealing to Starlight but then she decided that if she didn't do it now, she may never do it. She said, "Oh alright, we can go after I'm done with breakfast."

Firelight gave her a smile and Trixie said, "Good. Don't worry about what we'll do for food. I bought some hay cakes and some cider before I headed over here." Her smile got bigger as she added, "And I packed light so we'll have plenty of room!"

That got a laugh out of Starlight, "Don't want a repeat of our attempt to go to Saddle Arabia?"

Trixie laughed, "Exactly!" Trixie noticed that Starlight had finished eating and continued, "Well shall we?"

Starlight nodded and Firelight suggested, "Now if it gets to be too much for you, just teleport out of there. With as good as your teleportation is, you could just teleport back home."

Starlight replied, "That would be my plan."

Starlight and Trixie then headed out to her wagon and took off in the direction of Ponyville. This was the first time in a bit over eight months since being released from the hospital that she had even left town. Starlight was really wishing that they were heading anywhere other than Ponyville but knew that they were right, this was her chance to fully heal herself.

The Last Test

Two days after leaving Sire's Hollow, Starlight and Trixie began to descend down the last hill into Ponyville. Twilight's castle was clearly visible and this caused Starlight to freeze. She began to breathe heavily and this caught the attention of Trixie, "Starlight, it is ok. Remember what your dad said if things get to be too much for you and besides, you have The Great and Powerful Trixie with you!"

Starlight replied, "I know, I know." Seeing Twilight's castle was hard on her but again the thoughts of fully healing herself came into her mind. She continued, "Alright, let's do this. If their schedule hasn't changed any, they should be at Sugarcube Corner."

"Alright Starlight, let's go!" replied Trixie.

Once they descended down into town, they noticed that ponies were looking on in curiosity. They weren't sure if it was because they had been gone for so long or if it was because of the rumors of Starlight becoming violent that ponies remembered. When they finally got to the sweets' shop Trixie said, "I'll go in first and then you can follow me."

Starlight replied, "Alright."

When Trixie headed into the sweets' shop, the seven ponies present looked at her in shock. Twilight was the first to say anything, "Trixie, I thought you were gone forever after Starlight got committed."

Sunset, who had remained in Equestria for the past year, gave Trixie a deep scowl, "So Trixie, do you know anything about my girlfriend? Do you know how she is doing?"

Trixie gasped, "Your girlfriend? Who is to say she is your marefriend?"

Sunset angrily replied, "Yes, my girlfriend. She was my girlfriend for months before she returned to Equestria."

Trixie found Sunset's statement a bit humorous, "Well The Great and Powerful Trixie does know how she is doing and one thing Trixie does know is that she no longer sees you as her marefriend."

Sunset flared her horn up in anger and yelled, "What did you do?" She became angrier as she continued, "You STOLE her away from me, didn't you?"

Sunset then fired a bolt of energy at Trixie but it would be deflected by a light blue bolt of energy, a color that was noticed immediately by Twilight. She asked, "Starlight, is that you?"

Starlight entered the sweets' shop and replied, "Yes Twilight, it is me."

Upon seeing Starlight, Sunset got up and immediately ran towards her. Starlight put up a protection bubble around herself and yelled, "How many times do I have to tell you, don't touch me!"

The yell surprised everypony but saddened Sunset. Here it was, a year after being taken off to Manehattan, and she was still not wanting her to touch her. She asked, "You still don't want me to touch you?"

Starlight replied, "No, I don't."

Before Sunset could say anything, Rainbow noticed something, Starlight's mane and tail. She asked, "Starlight, what happened to your mane and tail. You look like you're copying Colgate's style."

Starlight replied, "Well I decided I needed a new look for me starting over again. My dad showed me pictures of my mom before she passed and this was her style. I figured that going with her style would be the right way to go."

Most of them shifted their thoughts away from Sunset and her wondering what happened to Starlight. Fluttershy asked, "Um, if it is ok with you, what happened to your mom?"

Starlight held her head low and replied, "She wound up dying during childbirth and that is why my dad raised me alone. When he showed me pictures of her from when she was pregnant, she had this style and I wanted to feel closer to her. That is why I chose this style."

The whole room went quiet when Starlight explained why she chose the style she did. Even Sunset, who was clearly angry with Trixie and hurt that Starlight wouldn't let her touch her, began to show her sympathy. She was the first to say anything, "I'm sorry Starlight, I'm sorry that happened to your mom."

"Thanks," Starlight replied "I just wish I could have had her in my life as a filly. If I had, maybe I never would have went down the path I did." She paused for a minute before continuing, "I don't know how things would have turned out or where I would have wound up but I doubt I'd have all the turbulence in my past that I do."

After she explained why she had her mane and tail style, Sunset wanted to know more, "So did you just get out of the hospital or what?"

Starlight had a feeling that Sunset and Twilight both would be upset that she didn't get in contact with them and had basically been avoiding them for eight months but knew that honesty was the best policy. She replied, "Well I have been out of the hospital for eight months. After I was released, the doctor thought it would be best if I went home to Sire's Hollow with my dad until I was ready to interact with those from my past."

Twilight had a sympathetic look on her face but Sunset had some suspicions, "Ok, if that is the case why are you here" she then pointed her hoof at Trixie and continued, "with HER?"

The fact that Sunset would speak that way when referring to Trixie did not sit well. While she wanted to flat out attack Sunset over the comment, she knew that such an action could result in her winding back up in Manehattan or maybe in jail. She replied, "Well not long after I got home Trixie was doing a show down in Sire's Hollow. I went to watch it and then Trixie and I got to talking and despite my absence, we were still just as close as ever and now, I'd say we're even closer."

Sunset's face began to turn an angry red but Twilight would be quick to attempt to calm her down, "Sunset, I told you that the love you had as humans likely wouldn't be there with her being a pony and I told you that her and Trixie were close. They may not be a couple yet but I am sure that Trixie is the one Starlight will want to be around the most."

Starlight replied, "For right now, yes. I feel like I'm ready to get closer with most ponies now but Sunset, I'm sorry but with everything that happened between us, I'm simply not ready to be touched."

Sunset hung her head low and realized that everything Twilight told her did wind up coming to pass. She could tell that Starlight and Trixie were close and that there was no way that Starlight would ever go back to the human world, much less be her girlfriend. She sighed, "Ok, I understand."

Trixie wanted to get them out of that situation and out of the sweets' shop. She said, "Well everypony, we must get going. We have to get everything set up for our show this afternoon."

Starlight added, "Well ladies, maybe we can talk later."

The fact that Starlight brought up the possibility of them meeting up later made Trixie happy. She knew that Starlight had cleared that one final hurdle. She embraced her and exclaimed, "You did it Starlight, you did it! You were able to face Sunset without breaking down!"

Starlight thanked her, "Thanks Trixie but I know that there is no way that I could have done it without you." She turned Trixie to where she was facing her and continued, "Trixie, ever since we reunited after I got out of the hospital you have always been there for me. You were there for times when I just wanted to talk, you would come over and join my dad and I for meals, you would be there to comfort me after my nightmares and most of all, you relocated to Sire's Hollow to stay close to me!"

Trixie began to hope that maybe that one phrase that she wanted to hear was about to be said but wasn't about to go exclaiming she would. She replied, "Well you do mean a lot to me Starlight and I'd do anything for you, anything."

That was all the more that Starlight needed to hear. She grabbed Trixie, looked deeply into her eyes and asked, "Trixie, you know you mean a lot to me and the fact that you'd do anything for me means so much." She began to tear up, "Trixie Lulamoon, would you be my marefriend?"

Trixie's heart exploded when she heard the question she had been wanting to hear ever since before Starlight went to the human world. She jumped up and exclaimed, "Yes Starlight yes! Yes I'll be your marefriend!"

The two embraced and engaged in a passionate kiss with the whole town watching. Some ponies did make comments discouraging the behavior but neither one cared. Both of them had the one that they truly felt that they belonged with. As they were kissing, they couldn't help but imagine the possibilities the future would hold.

One thing Trixie did know is that with them being an item now, that Starlight would likely want to be her assistant on her tours and offered a suggestion, "Starlight, after this show what would you think about going on a tour to Saddle Arabia."

Starlight tried to be stern but just couldn't, "Trixie, remember last time?"

Trixie replied, "Oh no, I was thinking we could find that unicorn and see if he'd still be willing to trade caravans! We're going to need a bigger wagon now!"

Starlight gave her a huge smile, "And we need to see if he will still throw in those robes! We'll look spectacular like that!"

The two again kissed before going to get things set up for their show. Starlight was hesitant at first but at that moment she knew that facing the one pony who she wanted to have to talk to the least, she felt the weight of the world be lifted off of her shoulders. She felt more like she did prior to going to the human world, only better. She finally had the one mare that she truly wanted as her beloved marefriend, Trixie.