The last bell of the day rang. That meant Starlight was free to do whatever she wanted to. She trotted down the hallways of the school of friendship, glancing to her left and right searching the hallways for her best friend Trixie.
Starlight’s gaze concentrated on the bustling sea of ponies, looking for the one she wished to see the most. Her nose scrunched, and she squeaked with surprise as her muzzle connected with another pony’s. They booped noses, she nervously twitched. She backed up a few inches, looking to the pony before her to apologize for her blunder.
Standing there, golden yellow fur, orange mane, and tail, that familiar Starswirl The Bearded robe covering most of his barrel, was none other than her best friend and support for the school. Sunburst.
“Oh, hey Starlight. Sorry, I didn’t mean to bump into you like that. I was caught up in a new discovery about the legend of the Pillars, and the foundations of Equestria,” Sunburst explained, as he adjusted his glasses to fit more squarely against his muzzle. Lifting a foreleg into the air, he continued, “It’s all very fascinating. Perhaps I could write a thesis on the differences of the Pillars, and how they all came together for the sake of Harmony.”
“Sunburst,” Starlight began, coughing against her hoof. “You’re rambling again. I know how much you love your books, and the history of Equestria, but I’ve had enough lessons for one day.” Starlight groaned mentally, lifting her own forehoof against her forehead, shaking her head from side to side.
“Oh, right! Sorry, I got carried away. How are you, Starlight,” asked Sunburst. He once again adjusted his glasses., and settled all four hooves onto the floor. His eyelids twitched, as his eyes darted from side to side.
“Exhausted! I never realized just how much Princess Twilight had to deal with. Don’t get me wrong, I love my students, but ugh… I need a break from it all,” Starlight said, sighing heavily, and rolling her eyes. What could she possibly do to release some much needed stress? Perhaps Trixie would know the answer.
“Oh, I see… is there anything I can do to help? Maybe you just need some herbal tea, or perhaps to lose yourself in a good book, or perhaps… “ Sunburst said, rambling on., He would have kept on going if not for the gentle caress of Starlight’s hoof against his muzzle.
“You talk too much,” she said. “Listen, Sunburst, tag along if you want - I’m pretty sure I know exactly what I need right now, and I assure you it’s not any of those things you just mentioned.”
“Oh? Well, then what is it?” Sunburst asked, stiffening as he took a step back, and fixing his small goatee after Starlight had messed with it.
“I’m going to talk with Trixie. If there’s any pony here that understands me, it’s her.”
Sunburst bit his bottom lip, as he lifted up a foreleg and reached out to touch Starlight’s shoulder. “Oh! Uh, you know… you could always talk to me if something’s bothering you,” Sunburst suggested politely, scratching the back of his mane.
“Sunburst, listen… I really appreciate the thought… I just really, really need to talk to Trixie right now.” explained Starlight.
“Oh, yeah. Okay, I get it.” He paused, staring off into space, admiring the decor of the walls to each side of him, trying not to look into her unwavering stare. “Um… have fun?”
She sighed heavily. She relaxed her shoulders, taking a deep breath as she trotted in the direction of Trixie’s office. With each step forward, she could feel the floor behind her, give a tiny creak. The hallways were empty; most of the students had already left for the three-day Holiday from the school. As much as Starlight loved her students, she was grateful for a bit of peace and quiet. She reached Trixie’s door, and didn’t bother to knock, just opening the door and walking in.
Trixie stood there with her back to the desk, muttering aloud to herself.
“Ugh! Trixie is so frustrated. How can Trixie help her students if they aren’t here? What is Trixie going to do with three days of nothing to do? Oh, Trixie must find a solution, but what?” she said, bumping her head against the desk repeatedly.
“...Trixie?” asked Starlight as she walked up to her, and put a forehoof onto her shoulder.
Trixie jumped straight up, letting out a slight yelp in surprise. She hadn’t been expecting any company. She turned around to face Starlight, catching her breath, trying to focus on her best friend.
“Starlight!” shouted Trixie, wrapping both her front forelegs around her friend’s neck, and bringing her in closeas she nuzzled against her mane. It smelt of lavender and fresh lilies.
“Trixie, are you okay? You seemed like you were kind of out of it…” Starlight asked. She wrapped her front forelegs around Trixie, using one hoof to run up and down her back, breathing against her, trying to soothe her. Perhaps she wasn’t the only one around here that was stressed, but seeing Trixie like this? It certainly wasn’t every day Trixie let herself be vulnerable.
“No! Trixie is frustrated. What is Trixie going to do? Three days, Starlight. Three whole days, and nothing to do. How will Trixie survive?”, she asked herself, finally letting go of her embrace, realizing she had been holding Starlight for a few minutes. It just felt right when she was in her arms, that she never wanted to leave.
“Trixie… you are being silly. There’s lots to do! You can relax and enjoy yourself. You can do whatever you want, and your options are endless. I don’t really know why you’re so anxious about this. It’s just a winter break. The students will be back, and I’m sure they’d want you to enjoy yourself,” began Starlight, cupping Trixie’s chin, and lifting her gaze to look right into her eyes.
“...And the Trixie that I love would never let a little boredom keep her from having the best holiday of them all. Now come on, let me see the Trixie I know. Because this isn’t her.”
Trixie paused, standing there silently.
Starlight waited, and kept herself seated on one of Trixie’s chairs. She wanted to talk to Trixie, but only when she was ready to talk, and she didn’t mind waiting for her to open up to her. She wasn’t the only one that could give advice, and it felt good to help her best friend. As the very first pony who had accepted her, she adored Trixie, and knew she was worth waiting for.
Trixie thought to herself that Starlight had a point. She shouldn’t be letting this get to her, she should be using the holidays to enjoy her free time, and that meant more time to spend with her, her best friend.
“You’re right,” Trixie said as she leaned forward pressing her lips to Starlight’s and giving her a light, yet playful kiss. She leaned into the kiss as she savored the taste of Starlight lips against hers, reaching around her neck, and holding around her, never wanting to let go. Before, she let her go to catch her breath, but that felt impossible when Starlight always left her feeling breathless just by being here with her.
The two let go of each other once more, allowing them both a bit of a reprieve from the passionate kiss they had shared. Standing there, Starlight bit her bottom lip, remembering her real reason for coming to Trixie’s office: she needed her help.
“Trixie, there’s actually something I came here to ask you,” Starlight began, as she stuttered and stumbled. She took a deep breath, composing herself. “I hoped you could help me figure out how to relax.”
“Oh? What’s wrong, Starlight?” asked Trixie, as she sat down in her office chair, leaning forward and smirking a grin. “Trixie is always eager to help her BEST friend.”
“Well… How do you relax? Is there anything you might be able to suggest? I just can’t seem to think of anything that doesn’t, well… involve magic.”
“So you don’t want to use magic? Trixie knows how much Starlight loves her magic, so why avoid using it?
“Well, sometimes it’s nice to just not use it.”
“That makes a lot of sense. Trixie recommends mountain climbing!”
Starlight blinked, and stared back at Trixie. She tilted her head, allowing Trixie’s words to sink in.
“Mountain climbing? Why would I want to climb a mountain?”
“Well, the answer should be obvious. To show off, of course! Starlight is great and powerful, just like Trixie, so if you climbed a mountain without magic, ponies would admire you. Plus, it could be a story to tell your students. The way Trixie sees it is that it’s a win-win.”
Starlight was about to answer, when suddenly Sunburst burst through the door.
“Starlight, please!” he shouted out loud, sweat drops dripping down his face. He stood there, looking like a nervous wreck. The way he was fidgeting on his hooves, despite standing still, and the way he was quivering, it was clear there was something on his mind.
“Yes, Sunburst? What’s wrong? You look as pale as a ghost,” Starlight began, observing his posture, tilting her head to the side, while giving a sideways look back towards Trixie.
“How dare Sunburst interrupt a therapy session for Sunburst’s problems. That is a bit selfish, don’t you think, Starlight?”
“Trixie!” Starlight hissed, lowering her gaze.
“What? Is Starlight not upset that Sunburst just burst in here so suddenly?” Trixie quipped, tilting her head to the side, as she shrugged her shoulders.
“I am more annoyed than upset. Sunburst… I do hope you have a good reason for interrupting us. I told you I was coming here.”
“Yes, I know you did.” Sunburst began, as he took a gulp of a breath. He sighed heavily and coughed into his hoof, searching for the right words.
“Listen, Starlight. I’m not very good at this. And I realize that you may not really like me like you used too… but I was hoping you could at least come to me if you had a problem. But, you always go to Trixie. I feel… lost.” he admitted, as he lowered his gaze towards the floor.
Starlight felt a bit caught off guard by his words. He felt lost? Why hadn’t he said so sooner? Is that why he rushed in here? Was he afraid of losing her, just as she had lost him so many moons ago… Starlight took a step forward, putting a hoof on his shoulder, as she spoke.
“Trixie is my best friend, and she was the first one that accepted me after everything I did, but that doesn’t change my feelings for you… Sunburst I love you.” Starlight confessed, as she pressed her lips to his, soft and delicate. Their muzzles connected.
Sunburst blushed darkly, as he froze in place, but he didn’t protest. He leaned into the kiss and wrapped a hoof around her neck to bring her closer in his embrace. Sunburst let go first, looking down to the floor, almost ashamed as his cheeks flushed more.
“Um… So um I’m sorry for barging in. I just wanted to do something to help you Starlight.” Sunburst admitted, rubbing his temples, as he took a step back.
“Trixie thinks that all of us should climb a mountain.”
Starlight burst out in a fit of laughter. “Ha Ha Ha. Oh Trixie you are hilarious, and the best friend any pony could ask for.”
“Trixie knows this, but Trixie certainly doesn’t mind hearing it. However… I will say right now, Sunburst better not interrupt us anymore.”
Sunburst sulked, as he admired the pattern on the rug on Trixie’s floor in her office. The pattern of hexagons was a very interesting style of choice, and he felt like it reflected Trixie’s rather odd behavior. He stood silently, waiting for Starlight to figure out what to do about everything. He didn’t want to leave her again. He wanted to stay by her side, and show he could provide support too. Show he could love her too.
“Now, both of you listen here. We are all going to enjoy this Hearth’s warming and there will be no more misunderstanding between us, and we will all enjoy learning how to work past our issues.” Starlight paused, looking at Sunburst, then at Trixie giving them both her attention. “And I think climbing a mountain is the perfect start to a wonderful relationship between the three of us.”
Starlight opened her front forelegs and gestured both of them against her. She held both of them close, and snuggled her cheeks against each of them, feeling the warmth of her heart glowing. Starlight took a deep breath, as she sighed happily. Never before had she felt more at home, then she did right now.
“Now, why don’t you two go get ready to go. There’s some things I need to wrap up here.”
Trixie and Sunburst left the office together, Trixie was already teasing Sunburst about how she was Starlight’s favorite partner.
Starlight rolled her eyes, watching them leave. Starlight smiled blissfully, watching the both of them.
The way the snow crescendoed over the building of the School of Friendship was a pleasant sight to see. It was even more so, since she didn’t have to do any more paperwork as a headmare for a whole week.
“Freedom!” Starlight yelped out excitedly, not even realizing that other ponies were watching her every move, and glance. Starlight could feel their gazes, even when no pony was there. They were watching her. Just waiting for her to slip up. To mess up like she did so many other times. The overwhelming fear was more gripping than the frost covered land of Ponyville. She took a deep breath in, and slowly exhaled. She was able to see her own breath in front of her as her whole body trembled.
“Starlight! What are you staring at? There’s no pony there. Trixie is pretty sure all the students are home, or maybe some are still here. Trixie doesn’t really care, but you don’t look very…” Trixie paused. She bit her lip, and it was evident she was holding her tongue. Literally.
“Nothing. Oh hey, Trixie. I’m so glad to see you. Do you have any plans for Hearthwarming?” Starlight asked, hopefully pleading she’d be free. She had something planned for her that she couldn’t say since that would ruin the surprise of it all. Trixie had been her very first friend, and Starlight was forever grateful for putting up with all her Starlight-ness.
“Well… Trixie doesn’t really do holiday things. Trixie’s father is way too busy with his own life to even remember his own daughter. And well, I don’t know about my mother. It doesn’t matter to Trixie what Trixie does. “Though, I do recall we had plans to explore a new bond with Sun-butt and climb a mountain.”
“Actually, I was thinking of going and grabbing Sunburst, and maybe the three of us could spend some quality time together. Now, that sounds like quite the fun way to spend the holiday, by breaking that little rumor, and showing the world what I am capable of!”
“Pfft. Starlight doesn’t need to climb a silly mountain to prove her worth. You’re amazingly talented, Starlight. Can’t you see that? Trixie is pretty sure, Twilight wouldn’t have picked just any ole pony to be her apprentice.”
“You’re right. I still think it would be fun.” Starlight clapped her hooves together, before grabbing a hold of Trixie, and teleporting them straight to Sunburst’s house in the Crystal Empire.
Sunburst had been calmly organizing his books when suddenly a flash of violet magic enveloped the room. He sighed inwardly, knowing his organization plans were about to be delayed further. Muttering under his breath, he turned his gaze towards Starlight and Trixie. He wasn’t shocked to see them. However, he was surprised that Trixie wasn’t making a fuss about him stealing Starlight from her again.
“Sunburst!” Starlight beamed as she embraced her friend in a tight hug that lingered on long enough for Sunburst to cough against his hoof as he began to suffocate. Sunburst shook his head, and gave Starlight one final nuzzle, before pulling back.
“What brings you to the Crystal Empire, and more importantly, what made you bring Trixie?” asked Sunburst.
Starlight knew deep down that Sunburst didn’t hate Trixie, nor did he mind being around her, but the last time the three of them had all been together… well, it had certainly been awkward to put it lightly. She blushed at remembering the event in her head and quickly tried to shake it out of her mind. It was the holidays, and that meant she needed to focus on the spirit of giving, and not going down that road again.
“Trixie is my best friend, and I wanted both of my best friends to spend the holidays with, but more importantly, her skills with magic could be useful for our trip.”
“My skills with magic? Starlight… you’re far more talented than Trixie will ever be. Trixie wouldn’t even know how to use her magic, if not for Starlight.” Trixie replied, tilting her head right at Starlight, her eyes conveying a deep confusion of the words that had left Trixie’s lips.
“Trust me, for where we’re going, your magic will be just as good as mine, if not better. Now come on, Sunburst. We don’t have all day to wait. You can organize your books later. You’re starting to remind me of Princess Twilight. Nerd.” Starlight stated, rolling her eyes and giving him a long deadpan expression as she shook her head. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Sunburst sighed deeply, and looked to his books. He supposed she had a point.
“Alright, so where are we going, Starlight?” Sunburst asked as he readied himself for whatever craziness she had planned this time. With Starlight, it could be anything. There was nothing she couldn’t think of, and there was nothing she could do that wouldn’t surprise him. Her skills, just her stature, and poise, was a beauty all of its own.
“We’re going to the snow-covered peaks. It’s quite a ways away, so it’ll be faster for me to just teleport us there. Grab onto my hooves.” Starlight instructed, not waiting for them to hesitate more or ask silly questions. She had a plan. She wasn’t going to mess or muck this up. She could do this, she was Starlight, and there was nothing Starlight couldn’t do. Yet, that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that she WOULD mess up was hard to ignore. Her stomach felt cramped up and her body shivered slightly, though she blamed that on the cold of the winter rather than her own anxiety.
Sunburst took Starlight’s hoof into his own as he sighed slightly, but he knew there wasn’t stopping her when she had a plan. Standing there silently, he mentally prepared himself for whatever might come their way.
Trixie took Starlight’s other hoof, and Starlight lit up the magic of her horn, flaring it up and teleporting them to the bottom of the icy mountain peaks. The mountain itself didn't look to be anything really that grand or special. However, Starlight wanted to climb it, and she wanted her friends to be there with her, like an adventure of sorts, and an excuse to bring the three of them closer together.
Starlight left go of both of their hooves and admired the scenary around her. The way the snow felt onto the mountains, and gave it a covering of pure white. It was truly poetic in nature. She felt her front foreleg hit against something rough. She yelped and flinched back in pain. When she looked down to see what it was, it appeared to be a rather sharp looking rock. Staring at the rock, she gave it a low snarling growl.
“Stupid rock…” Starlight muttered. Her hoof throbbed, and when she looked at it, it was visibly a deep red, meaning it might be a bit sore and tender. However, she wasn’t going to let this stop her. She was here to have a good time with her friends, and damn it. She was going to do that, or her name wasn’t Starlight Glimmer.
“Ouch. How dare a rock hurt Starlight!” Trixie stammered, and lit her horn to shatter the stupid rock into a thousand pieces when she felt Sunburst’s hoof on her shoulder.
“It’s just a rock. Rocks don’t mean to cause harm to any pony. Besides, how do you think Maud would feel if we just destroyed a beautiful piece of nature?”
“Trixie doesn’t care how Maud feels. This rock clearly has hurt Starlight, and Sunburst expects Trixe to do nothing?”
“Exactly. Just relax, we’re here to have a good time, and the last thing Starlight needs is you causing unnecessary delays…” Sunburst stated, bluntly. He stood there, fidgeting as he shifted around so he was more towards the snow covered ground to take a good look at Starlight’s hoof. It was swollen to the touch. It probably wasn’t a good idea to go climbing with her hoof like that. However, he knew just how stubborn Starlight was. There was rarely any way of talking her out of something she wanted to do, but he had to try.
“Starlight, listen I know you really want to climb this mountain, but you're hurt. At the very least let’s bandage you up, and maybe see if there’s some way to support your sore hoof, to enable you to climb.”
“I’m fine. It’s not that bad. You don’t have to treat me like I’m still a child!” Starlight burst out, giving Sunburst a glare, before turning around so her rump was facing directly in his line of view.
Normally, Sunburst might have enjoyed the view, but not right now. “Starlight, please. You know as well as I do, climbing a mountain is dangerous as it is, let alone climbing it injured. I know it was an accident, and it really does suck, but you need to take this seriously.”
“Trixie would like to point out that it is just a rock. And while Sunburst does have some points, Trixie doesn’t see why we can’t still climb the mountain. It’ll just be up to us to keep Starlight safe. Trixie remembers the time Starlight and Trixie travelled all the way to Saddle arabia. Oh that was quite fun!” Trixie interrupted the two lovers. They’d never admit it, but Trixie would have to be blind to not see the emotional connection between the two. She swished her tail slightly back and forth, putting herself in the middle of both of them. She urged Starlight to lay down so Trixie could bandage her hoof and also allow Sunburst time to think of a plan; he was good at that after all.
Trixie knew she wasn’t a medical pony, but this was just a bruise. She sifted through her saddlebags on her back, and pulled out her rainbow colored ties that were connected together. She wrapped it around Starlight’s ankle and tightened it, so that it would cushion the hoof, but not keep her from walking.
Sunburst looked at the rock that Starlight had bumped into, and noticed a glimmer. It wasn’t any rock. It was shimmering, glowing. This wasn’t just any old rock. He found himself fascinated, and began muttering aloud about the properties it might have. If only Maud was here to study it, her perspective could have opened up a world of possibilities.
“Hey, Sunburst!” Trixie shouted, giving him a firm nudge. Her horn hit right against the base of his tail, causing him to quiver and jerk.
“Oh, sorry. This rock is actually very fascinating. However, that’s um… not important right now. I’m sorry, Starlight. I know how much this meant to you.”
“You know a hurt hoof isn’t going to stop me from climbing this mountain. Now stop being in love with a rock and help me out.”
“Love? No….I’m pretty sure it is Maud that loves rocks. After all she did get a doctorate in it.” Sunburst explained, trying to defend himself as he fidgeted nervously. It was visibly clear how his golden yellow cheeks were turning a slightly pink and rosy.
“You’re a dork. You know I was joking right? I expect better of you.” Starlight groaned, before giving him a slight bap to the top of his mane with her good foreleg, shaking her head.
“Starlight, Trixie thinks she ought to know by now that Sunburst is, to put it bluntly, as dense as that rock.”
“HEY. I am not.” Sunburst pouted, his lips puffing together as he let out a huff, and rolled his eyes.
“Are so. I mean seriously. Starlight was clearly in visible pain, and yet you want to study a rock! Sunburst ought to be studying the majestic beauty of the mare in front of him!”
“Will the both of you just stop arguing for now and cuddle me.” Starlight demanded, groaning as the pain shot right from the base of her leg throughout her whole body. This was not how this was supposed to go. If she hadn’t bumped into that rock, if she had just watched where she had been going, none of this would have happened. And now here she was being a problem. Her ears flattened against the sides of her head as she frowned and lidded her eyes, just wanting to feel the warmth of her best friends. To fight the bitterness of the harsh cold winds.
Sunburst stopped in his tracks and trotted over to Starlight. He removed his star cape and wrapped it around her as he sat down to her left side, giving her an affectionate nuzzle. He knew she was vulnerable, but he didn’t need to even say a word. That wouldn’t do anything right now, and Sunburst wasn’t really that great with words anyways.
He was more a stallion of action. Or lack thereof. He felt ashamed for letting Starlight suffer for all those years. Her fault… no. Really, he should have done something. Tried to reconnect with her after moving away, but instead he had done nothing. He had abandoned her once, he wasn’t going to leave her side now.
Trixie went and plopped herself over by the other side of Starlight, and nuzzled her horn against hers. She bumped foreheads with her, and wrapped a foreleg around Starlight’s back underneath the cloak Sunburst had given her.
“Trixie will always be here for Starlight, no matter what. And we’re going to climb that mountain. But first Starlight is going to get lots of affection from her best friend.” Trixie stated adamantly, not accepting no for an answer.
Starlight wanted to go on an adventure with her two best friends, to take them to new heights they hadn’t been able to reach. It seemed like things were always getting in the way. Whether it was the school of friendship, or just the three of them being busy with their own lives. It was rare she got to spend time with them like this. She felt like an idiot.
All this time she had fussed about messing up. All this time she had worried, she’d be the one to ruin things between them. But, feeling the warmth of both their bodies against her reassured her that none of this was her fault, that she wasn’t a problem. And they still loved her even when she stumbled. Even when she made mistakes, they were always there. Her best friends.
“Starlight, Trixie loves you more than all the magic in all the world. You know that right?” Trixie asked her as she continued nuzzling her best friend affectionately. Sure, life was always going to get in the way of them being together, but that didn’t mean Trixie and Sunburst didn’t love her. Starlight was the reason that life itself had meaning. Trixie knew she’d be nothing but a washed up mare if not for Starlight, if not for the support she received from her best friend, best stage hand, and best lover. Starlight was the best of everything really, even better than Trixie.
“Starlight… I’m not very good at this, but I love you too. You’ve always been the one to shoulder the burden. You’ve always been the strong one, the outspoken one. I’ve always been so terrified of you seeing me as a failure, that I was afraid to reach out to you. All those years you suffered… I should have. I’m sorry.”
Starlight couldn’t help herself as she reached out both forelegs. The hurt one held Sunburst while the not sore one held Trixie, and for just a moment, Starlight felt a calming rush of relief washing over her. She held them both closely. Starlight leaned over and kissed Sunburst’s cheek, and then leaned over to kiss Trixie’s cheek. Giving both her best friends affection, praise, and love. After all, they put up with her. And they both accepted her despite her flaws.
Starlight wanted to climb that mountain. Wanted to go above and beyond what the three of them had done before, to reach new heights of her friendship with them both, but as they sat there cuddling, she realized there was actually a lesson in all of this.
Firstly, rocks are sharp, and she really should pay more attention to where she walked.
Starlight chuckled at that, as she shook her head at how ironic it all was. How it was a simple rock that could bring them even closer together.
She didn’t have to climb a mountain to reach a new high. She didn’t have to prove anything to them. They loved her because she was Starlight, and climbing a mountain wouldn’t make her not Starlight. She felt rather silly, for even thinking this was a good idea in the first place.
It turned out pretty good overall though, she was getting cuddles from the two best ponies in all of Equestria, and they were her partners. Truly, it was a magical experience and one Starlight wouldn't be forgetting anytime soon.
“Happy Hearth Warmings, you two. I love you both.” Starlight replied, with a loud rumbling purr.
