One Moment

Starlight packed up her things in her bag, and set them outside her doorstep. She, of course packed the most important things: snacks, books, especially magic books, and how could she forget a spell that had the instructions to The Unmarking?

Before leaving her room one last time, she looked at herself in the mirror. She sighed at herself. She was a grown pony now, finally leaving the nest. Her mane now reached the side of her chest, with a twirl at the end. Her bangs never changed at all since foal-hood. She looked next to the mirror and saw pictures of her tiny self. She was eating ice cream with her father, and had happy expressions on their faces.

Next to the picture was a note from her mother. She had almost forgotten that Bunker ripped it in her childhood. It looked completely brand new as if nothing ever happened to it.

Then the mention of the note being ripped reminded her or Sunburst once more, since the two met on that same day, and since then became fast friends. Or at least they were.

But good things never last. Starlight thought while gazing down at her cutie mark. Which now became a highlight of her journey: create a village where cutie marks were treated like enemies.

She put the note safely into her pack and she looked back at her room. It was the same as it was before, edgy, moody, things that reflected Starlight. She didn't even try to make the bed.

My dad can do it. Starlight said to herself as she closed her bedroom door one last time.

Firelight was eating breakfast until he saw Starlight walk down the stairs with her things. He rushed over and hugged her tightly. Starlight would normally push him away, but since this was going to be the last time she would see her father for a while, she might as well embrace it.

"Please be careful in the open world." Firelight said lovingly. "And you are always welcome to visit here."

"Thanks, Dad." Starlight said awkwardly, but she hugged him back. Even if their relationship has been strained over the years, Starlight never stopped loving him, and Firelight never stopped loving her.

It almost makes me feel bad. She gazed at her father, with love finally appearing in her eyes. And she felt happiness... an emotion that she rarely felt in the recent years. Its as if she wanted to stay.

No. Starlight was fully committed on what she must do, and even if she didn't have the cutie mark hate, she needed to leave at some point. Firelight couldn't cling onto her any longer.

"So... I need to go now." Starlight stopped hugged her father and walked out the door and grabbed her things.

"Of course." Firelight walked after her. "I'll see you around, Pumpkin."

"Yeah..." Starlight said a little awkwardly. "Bye."

Finally, her magic grabbed the door knob, and she closed the house door.

I'm actually doing it. Starlight couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of excitement rush inside her. She could do what she wanted now. And she wouldn't have to worry about the terrible nicknames wherever she went.

She turned and saw her old magic schools. She remembered when she graduated from her other magic school a year ago. Some even started calling her a very talented unicorn, and even prophesied a great destiny for her. To which she found silly.

But as she remembered the school she went to as a filly, memories of Sunburst kept flying into her mind. Why did she like that unicorn so much? They hadn't even known each other for years, yet his departure left her a great deal of sorrow, and anger.

One of my many reasons why I want to get out of here. Starlight thought. Sires Hollow was too big of a reminder of when Sunburst abandoned her for his stupid school.

Starlight had entered outside Sires Hollow. She looked back and stared at the town. She also remembered great things that happened in the town. But the happy memories were only but a fraction of what she remembers now.

Goodbye.

With a deep sigh, Starlight turned her back on the village, and didn't look back.

Days had gone by since her departure from her home. She stopped at a few hotels to get a night's rest, but continued onward until she found an empty spot of land to build her perfect town. But that task is a lot harder than she predicted.

She found open spots of land, but they were in the middle of nowhere, and were always owned by one pony. How these ponies manage to take care of a big chunk of land, she had no idea. Starlight would be able to persuade the owners to give her a piece of land, but she disliked the idea.

If she wanted to build her town, it would have to be where no one would find her. Which is ironic since she wants ponies to find her town and persuade them to give up their cutie marks.

Away from suspicious ponies. Starlight meant to say.

She took out a map that she had bought in a store. The good land pieces were too valuable. By the time she would get there, it would be sold already. So she decided to go beyond that. And go to a spot of land where rarely any ponies would go, and wouldn't even dare to buy the land, or even mark it as a property.

After scanning the map, she finally found the spot.

The desert. Starlight looked, but she hesitated. Deserts were always hot, and water sources were always scarce. Did she really want to have her village in the desert?

But she has been known to take bold risks. And so she will.

Plus its near the snowy mountains. Starlight also thought.

After much consideration, she decided to give the desert a try, and see if it will suit her needs. But the chances of that are slim to none.

"Hm." Starlight thought as she stared down at the sandy spot. "This could work."

She got down from the rocks and walked to the land. It was barren, extremely hot, and surrounded by hordes of cactus.

She now imagined the town of her dreams. The houses would line up in one line, and the other side would too. They would all look the same, with only one house in the middle of it. Which would be Starlight's own house. She was important after all.

"Not exactly my best choice." Starlight muttered. "But I'll make it work."

After she made her decision, she booked another train back to a town, and went to get building manuals and tools.

Building will be a tease, but I can make it work. Starlight thought in her head. Maybe.