Starlight begrudgingly went to L.S.H.M.S. with her father right beside her. Normally she would love the thought of learning more about magic, but the love died away the moment Sunburst abandoned her for Canterlot.

In fact, everything that she loved now meant nothing to her now. She didn't go kite flying with her father as much as she used too, and even the thought of that seemed impossible, but Starlight didn't care anymore.

She even distanced herself from her father at times. She still loved him, of course, but she now saw him as annoying and overbearing. But she now hated that her father keeps calling her "pumpky-wumpkin". For days, Starlight kept telling him to stop with the corny nicknames, but does he ever listen?

Firelight dropped her off at the doorstep to L.S.H.M.S.. She bent his head and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Have a good day of school, Pumpkin." Firelight whispered in her ear.

"Stop calling me that, Dad." Starlight grumbled under her breath.

"Aw, cheer up, sweetie." Firelight lightly nudged her cheek with his dark purple hoof.

Starlight just rolled her eyes and walked inside the school, with Firelight watching her with a sorrow and hurt gaze.

She sat down onto her usual desk and pulled out several magic books from her bag. She looked at the chalkboard and it said:

Turn to Page 87 in Advanced Magic Guides

She quickly turned the page, and couldn't help but feel surprised when she saw the page was about magical blasts. If there was one thing that she didn't stop loving, its magic.

Starlight turned her head to a desk with a happy expression. "Sunburst, look! Magical blasts and-"

She stopped when she realized that no one was at the desk. Just an empty seat.

Starlight noticed that her classmates were staring at her, confused.

"Sorry..." Starlight mumbled. She was so used to Sunburst being there that she forgot that he wasn't.

Stupid cutie mark. She thought of them hatefully.

"Alright class," Mrs. Willow said to the students. "Today, we will be going outside and teach you the basics of how to fire a beam. This would help if you were in times of crisis, and if you need to help someone in need."

Starlight was about to put her book in the bag, but before she can, Mrs. Willow's horn glowed, and in matter of seconds, they teleported ouside.

Every student gasped, including Starlight.

"Mrs. Willow!" One student exclaimed at the teacher. "I didn't know you could do that!"

"Me neither." Bunker agreed. And when he looked at Starlight, he playfully nudged his hoof on Starlight's shoulder. "One of the many things you can't do?" He added teasingly.

Starlight rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up, Bunker." It's going to be a long, long time when I forgive you for ripping up my mother's note. Starlight resented. I can't blame cutie marks for that one.

"I can do more than what you fillies think. I just don't use to often." Mrs. Willow said, with a somewhat sheepish smile.

She headed over to stands of targets that were lined up side by side, each one representing each student.

"For beginners, shooting beams will take a lot of energy to do, but as you get more experienced, then it will not be much of a hassle." Mrs. Willow instructed.

Mrs. Willow walked far from the fillies, and placed her own target in front of her.

"Once you know where to aim," Mrs. Willow called out to the foals. "You summon up as much magical energy as you can, then you put it all in your horn, and then you RELEASE!"

Mrs. Willow lowered her head, and her horn glowed orange. Once her head was lowered, a giant, orange beam boomed out of her horn. And it hit the target, destroying it instantly.

All the ponies watched in awe. Starlight looked at both sides. Bunker looked nervous for some reason? And next to her was a yellow foal quickly taking notes.

"Write that down, write that down!" It muttered to itself as it quickly wrote tips with its bad hornwriting.

"Now, you try to do what I do." Mrs. Willow instructed them now. "And for some unicorns, the stronger they feel, the stronger the magic."

As the unicorns lined up side by side, they went at shot beams at their targets, one by one. Starlight tried her best to remember what her teacher said. And after Bunker did his turn, to which his beam was average, she lowered her head and powered her horn.

She looked at her side and saw that the same yellow unicorn, who was watching her with a notepad in his blue aura, reminded her of Sunburst. She now recollected memories of her and Sunburst having fun together... learning things together...

With bitter tears running down her face, white rings around her horn appeared and quick as lightning, she released the beam. But the beam was unlike the rest so far, and when it hit the target, it exploded into pieces.

The students looked at the destroyed target in awe. Even Mrs. Willow looked astonished. Meanwhile, the yellow pony nervously took a step away from Starlight, and continued writing down notes.

Panting hard, she felt something sparkly running through her hind legs. She turned and saw a white orb going through her leg. It later disappeared and left behind a cutie mark. It was a purple star with turquoise streaks above.

Oh, great, the one thing I now despise is now attached to my body. Starlight thought bitterly. She knew someday that she was going to get a cutie mark, but she didn't expect it to be so recently after Sunburst left.

But she noticed that her classmates were starting to congratulate her. She quickly put on a fake smile and said thanks to everyone.

"Wow, that was some powerful stuff." Mrs. Willow observed her.

"I didn't expect it, too." Starlight said shyly. At least there was some truth in that.

"Even so, your magical abilities are getting better and better." Mrs. Willow looked to the rest of the fillies. "Better than what the rest of you can do so far!"

"Wow, you're so special!" Bunker stook his tongue out at Starlight. "You must be a good teachers pet!"

Mrs. Willow glared at the colt, and he was silent.

At least one good thing happened today.

"Pumpkin! I can't believe you got your cutie mark! And a week after Sunburst got his, too!"

"Dad-" Starlight tried to correct her father, but she knew that it was pointless. And her heart still grieved when he mentioned Sunburst.

Firelight noticed her daughter's sadness. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy you have your cutie mark?"

Starlight just shrugged. Somewhat.

"Well, I'm proud of it. Very proud." Firelight kissed her cheek. "And your mother, and Sunburst would be proud of you too."

With the reminder of her mother and her best friend, tears began to flow down her face. She now had lost two important figures in her life. She immediately hugged Firelight for comfort. He didn't even mind that her tears were making his shirt wet.

"I know." Firelight soothed her. "I know."

Author's Note

I have writers block for the other stories so now more of this!

A friend of mine suggested that this is how she got her cutie mark so I went with it, and hoped it worked out.