Escaping The Invasion

Chapters

A Chaotic Escape
Rough Beginnings
Time To Be Awesome
One Small… Wait, A Big Problem
Rebuilding Hearts and Rescue Plans
Taking Back Canterlot
Epilogue: Healing Wounds And Closer Bonds

A Chaotic Escape

Starlight was confused when she saw the storm clouds forming in the skies along with the airship slowly descending to the ground, she went amongst the crowd of ponies with Trixie whimpering and biting her hoof in fear.

“Calm down Trixie. We’ll be fine. Just let me search for our friends real quick…” Starlight comforted her friend as she searched through the crowd before finding Twilight, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy at the front of the crowd.

“Alright found them. Let’s stay with them.” Starlight smiled as she began walking towards them before Trixie grabbed her tail with her magic.

“Are you sure? That ship looks veeeeery scary.” Trixie looks as the ship continues to park while destroying some pillars in the process.

Starlight gulped a bit and almost considered staying behind before sighing, “If things go wrong we’ll definitely flee so we can come up with a counterattack but I’m not leaving without Twilight, Spike, or the others, you can stay behind if you’re too scared but I’m sticking with them.”

Starlight began walking towards Twilight’s group and was a bit surprised to see Trixie reluctantly follow, she smiled fondly at her friend as they headed to them.

“What’s going on?” Starlight whispered to Applejack.

“I don’t know.” Applejack whispered back, “That hedgehog’s got something though.”

Starlight looked ahead to see the small tiny hedgehog with wide blue eyes place the little box on the ground, which suddenly grew into a speaker, which he then spoke into, “Ponies of Equethtria, we come on behalf of the fearsome, the powerful, the almighty...Storm King!”

Soon a banner on the aiirship unfolded showing a white ape with a black crown with long horns and black armor much to the shock and confusion of Starlight who shared a look with Trixie.

“And now, to deliver the evil, evil message, put your hooves together for Commander Tempeeeeest!” Grubber smiled enthusiastically.

Suddenly a maroon coated unicorn with a broken horn slowly appeared at the exit of the ship with a cold stare.

Starlight considered lighting her horn but she refrained from it, lest she encourage a wide scale invasion.

“Is that a… unicorn?” Twilight asked curiously.

“I think so.” Spike noted, “But what happened to her horn?”

Suddenly the three alicorn princesses, Celestia, Luna, and Cadence stood in front of the crowd.

‘Good, maybe they can clear things up.’ Starlight smiled hopefully.

“Tempest is it? How may we help you?” Celestia asked formally.

“Oh, I’m so glad you asked. How about we start with your complete and total surrender?” Tempest answered coldly.

‘Or not…’ Starlight thought fearfully.

Twilight soon moved to where the princesses were and smiled sheepishly, “Hi there. Princess of Friendship. Not exactly sure what's going on, but I know we can talk things out.”

Starlight’s concern immediately grew, Twilight may be a princess but she herself was evenly matched with her, and this unicorn seemed much more merciless than Starlight was as a villain.

“Oh, goody. All four Princesses.” Tempest smirked villainously before walking down the ramp and speaking sternly, “Here's the deal, ladies. I need your magic. Give it up nicely, please, or we make it difficult, FOR EVERYONE!”

“And why should we cower before you? There's one of you and hundreds of us.” Luna spoke defiantly.

Tempest chuckled before speaking sinisterly, “I was hoping you’d choose difficult.”

Soon two white and hairy gigantic apes with armor, a shield, and a spear began to get off of Tempest’s airship before whirring was heard and two more airships appeared and more of the white furred creatures jumped off the sky and began invading the city, causing the ponies to scatter in fear. Starlight immediately ran off with Applejack and Trixie, and made sure to stay with the rest of the group.

Once they were far away enough and made it to the exit of the castle arena, Starlight’s eyes widened fearfully, “Wait a minute! Where’s Twilight?!” She asked the group as she noticed the alicorn was not with her.

“Aw crud. I’ll get her!” Rainbow Dash flew quickly with a rainbow streak behind her.

Starlight waited impatiently and in fear for Twilight to return, and thankfully Rainbow Dash was soon running along with Twilight but the Storm King guards were beginning to attack them.

“Over here y’all!” Applejack called out for Twilight and Rainbow Dash and thankfully the two were able to evade the Storm Creatures and Starlight immediately started running off with Trixie screaming as she did so, which caused Starlight to pick Trixie up with her telekinesis, if only to ease her friends’ worries a little.

They began heading across the bridge when a Storm Guard blocked the way, so Starlight stopped along with the group.

Twilight soon got over of her shock however, and blasted the guard, but it blocked the attack with it’s shield which turned out to be effective since the shield blocked her magic, and soon Twilight’s magic repelled onto the bridge, breaking it, sending Starlight, Trixie, and the rest of her friends falling into a river stream, and later, a waterfall.

Starlight didn’t know how long she began swimming in that stream but soon she felt her world go black.

Suddenly Starlight felt a thumping on her chest, as she opened her eyes and then saw Fluttershy putting pressure on her stomach with her hooves before Starlight suddenly spat out water and coughed it up.

“Phew.” Fluttershy said in relief. “I almost thought you were dead.”

“I didn’t.” Trixie suddenly appeared behind Fluttershy and smirked boastfully, “I knew you would survive.”

“Is that why you were whimpering like a lost puppy?” Spike asked with a frown.

“Ugh fine. I admit I was concerned. At least I fished her out of the lake.” Trixie groaned in annoyance.

“Where are we anyway?” Starlight asked curiously as she took note that she, Trixie, Fluttershy, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all under some a fallen tree in a sandy area while Twilight was outside the shade and looking out to the water.

Soon Applejack walked over to the group and answered Starlight’s question, “We’re far enough from Canterlot, that much is clear. You okay?”

“I’m good. Don’t worry.” Starlight smiled reassuringly.

“We just got our cupcakes handed to us by the worst party crasher ever!” Pinkie Pie spoke in horror.

“We gotta go back there and fight. I’m sure me, Twilight, and Starlight can turn things around.” Rainbow Dash said in determination.

“You saw the size of those… goons and they have shields that blocked Twilight’s magic.” Spike said in fear, “You seriously wanna go back!”

“So now what? We can't hide here forever. And let's be honest, we can't go back. Look at what they did to the Princesses. We gotta keep them from Twilight.” Applejack said sadly.

While this was going on, Starlight looked to see Twilight looking on in the distance before walking up to her former teacher, “Twilight? Everything okay?”

“The Queen.” Twilight silently gasped which confused Starlight.

“Uh… say what now?” Starlight asked with a raised eyebrow, confused what her friend was implying.

“Celestia told Luna to find the Queen of the... ‘Hippos’. Luna can't, so I have to.” Twilight said in determination.

“Uh hippos… seriously?” Rainbow Dash stated, clearly baffled.

“I've heard they're surprisingly graceful for their size. Huh, but they're always hungry.” Pinkie Pie admitted.

“Hungry?! They don’t eat ponies, do they?” Trixie asked fearfully.

“Calm down Trixie, they don’t.” Starlight told the stage magician.

“Phew. Well that’s a relief.” Trixie sighed in relief.

“They're somewhere south, past the Badlands.” Twilight explained.

“But that means we’ll have to… leave Equestria.” Fluttershy shuddered in fear.

“I’m not even packed!” Rarity cried out in horror.

“Because THAT is the most major concern right now.” Trixie snarked much to Starlight’s amusement, she liked Rarity but she had to admit Trixie wasn’t wrong.

“I understand you're scared, and nopony else has to go. But I have to find this queen. She might be our only hope.” Twilight told everyone earnestly before heading off to go beyond the Badlands.

Starlight immediately knew what her next course of action was, and she was not gonna take no for an answer for what comes next.

“Nuh-Uh. You are not going alone.” Starlight smiled determinedly, “If you’re charting unfamiliar territory than you’ll need somepony to help.”

“Starlight’s right, you're not getting all the glory. We're in this together.” Rainbow Dash smirked as she flew over next to Starlight.

“We got your back.” Applejack put a hoof around Rainbow Dash as she spoke.

“Indeedy.” Pinkie Pie agreed wholeheartedly.

“I am ready to save our home.” Rarity smiled proudly.

“Yay.” Fluttershy smiled shyly.

“We’re all behind you Twilight.” Spike said happily.

“I guess this won’t be a waste of my time.” Trixie rolled her eyes with a smirk.

“Let’s go find this Queen.” Pinkie Pie began bouncing… only she was going north.

“We’re heading south cotton candy brain.” Trixie said in annoyance, earning her a glare from Starlight as Pinkie bounced to the south, while the others followed her via walking.

“Anypony up for a game of ‘I Spy’?” Pinkie Pie asked happily, causing the entire group to groan.

“No, really! Come on! I spy with my little eye something that is orange. No takers? It's you, Applejack!” Pinkie Pie spoke quickly as she began laughing.

Trixie sighed in annoyance and Starlight could not blame her friend, this was going to a long trip.

Author's Note

I figured this concept would be fun to try out. For now there’s some movie dialogue but given the story’s just began, I feel like it’s warranted.

If you’re wondering what the major divergence is that allowed Starlight and Trixie to escape, they ended up sticking with the Mane 5 in the crowd instead of staying in the back.

Rough Beginnings

Author's Note

There’s gonna be a small reference to Road To Friendship here. This is a bit of an AU so I moved that episode to happen during season seven(after To Change A Changelings but with small changes). I felt that with what I’m planning, it would make sense later.

Rough Beginnings

Starlight was really tired and irritated, currently she and the group were all beyond the borders of Equestria, and in a REALLY hot desert.

Thankfully with Twilight’s alicorn level teleportation spells, she made the journey to go beyond the Badlands much less strenuous than it needed to be but it was still really hot.

“Starliiiiiiight, I’m hoooooooot.” Trixie whined, clearly suffering heat exhaustion, and clearly the heat was starting to affect her, she couldn’t do much about that but Starlight needed to snap Trixie out of that whiny state.

“Well whining like a foal won’t make it easier so keep the complaints to a minimum!” Starlight commanded angrily.

“Heat makes you irritable doesn’t it?” Trixie panted as she leaned against her friend’s shoulder.

“It does.” Starlight sighed miserably, “Sorry Trix.”

“It’s fine. The heat can be a pain. The Winded and Exhausted Trixie knows that from travel experience.” Trixie waved it off.

Starlight soon heard Pinkie Pie giggle deliriously before fainting, to which Starlight used her magic to pick her up.

“Gosh this is draining.” Starlight croaked.

“We could be going in... circles.” Spike began coughing and wheezing, “Endless... sand…” Spike inhaled deeply, “Nothin' for miles... but sand…” He then picked up a rock and threw it, “and this rock... and this cactus…” Spike gestured to the cactus on his butt, “and this roooooaaad” Spike groaned as he went to his knees before laying flat on his stomach, “this rooooooad....” Spike put his claw in the air lamely before laying down. Starlight sighed, using her magic to put Spike on her back.

Twilight seemed to have heard what Spike said before making a realization, “A road? Where there's a road, there's a…” She gasped with a smile before Starlight walked over with Spike on her back and Pinkie in her telekinetic hold and smiled as well, seeing that there was a town just a few miles ahead.

“Yes! Civilization! THANK CELESTIA!” Starlight laughed a bit maniacally due to the heat but joyful nonetheless.

Soon Pinkie Pie woke up once she heard this and smiled brightly, “Ooh a city. We are doing it you guys!”

“You know what they say: where there's a city, there's a spa!” Rarity said enthusiastically, as she flicked her frazzled mane away from her face.

“Ooh yes. A spa sounds great.” Trixie smiled enthusiastically as Starlight set Pinkie Pie down on her hooves.

“Uh, we’re kinda in the middle of something Trixie.” Starlight told the stage magician a bit sternly.

“Starlight isn’t wrong, because in case you forgot, we're on a mission to save Equestria.” Applejack reminded the two drama queens.

“I can multitask.” Rarity scoffed.

Starlight rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.

As Twilight led her friends across this new town with Starlight and Spike each by her side, she began to notice things were very strange.

This town apparently was home to some weird pig like creatures, with horns and soon a cloaked vendor with red claws looked at Starlight with a smirk, “Ooh, Hey! You with the horn, you selling?”

Starlight immediately began hyperventilating as she began walking faster to which Twilight sped up to catch up to her friend and covered her mouth, “Calm down. He won’t hurt you, I won’t let him.” She whispered calmly, knowing Starlight’s fears can get the better of her sometimes.

“Thank you.” Starlight smiled gratefully, “He just had this…” she shuddered before continuing meekly, “…disturbing vibe towards him. I felt he was targeting me.”

“Don’t worry, like I told you when you graduated, I’ll always be here for you.” Twilight smiled at her friend who smiled back.

She then looked to see a large blue turtle creature and decided to try and acquaint herself with at least one of the townsfolk, “Hi there.” She smiled warmly, causing the giant turtle to drop their barrel on the other, causing them both to roll back down.

“Oh sorry.” Twilight apologized, clearly sympathetic, “Let me help you with that.”

She then used her magic to stack the barrels neatly and balanced but the large turtle did not seem pleased, “Hey! No magic around my merchandise!” He screamed threateningly which caused the group to leave the area quickly and once they slowed down and were away from the ruckus, Twilight spoke up, “Okay, we just gotta stick together. Be careful who you talk to. And try to blend in.” She instructed.

“Of course.” Starlight nodded firmly but then Twilight heard a familiar shout, “Can I have your attention please?!”

She didn’t need to look to know who it was.

As Starlight followed Twilight, she heard Pinkie yammer on and on about some random stuff she had, and soon they finally reunited with the party pony.

“Pinkie. You can’t just take off.” Twilight said through clenched teeth, “And you don't need to announce to every creature about our situation.”

“Aw come on Twilight. Not everyone in this place can be that bad. Pinkie was just trying to help.” Starlight reassured Twilight softly who looked a bit sternly at her, which was new.

“Yeah Twilight. Relax, I totally got this.” Pinkie Pie smiled absentmindedly.

Suddenly a giant dinosaur creature spoke up as a crowd began to form around the ponies and dragon, “How much for the giant gecko?!”

“Who are you calling a gecko?!” Spike asked furiously.

“Uh… Spike isn’t for sale.” Twilight stepped in front of her little buddy.

“I want that fancy purple hair! I'll give ya two storm bucks for it!” A giant troll creature pointed at Starlight with a smirk.

“Are you insane?! I am not selling my own hair!” Starlight cried out incredulously in which Twilight placed a hoof on the unicorn’s chest, “Control yourself please.” She begged with clenched teeth.

Soon more townsfolk began to gather around and practically surround the group, to which Trixie began chattering her teeth in terror.

Starlight began flaring up her horn angrily, ‘Magic may not always be the solution to your problems but given we are practically being mobbed, blasting these cretins is needed.’

Suddenly a giant cat jumped in front of Starlight and her friends and spoke up with arms outstretched, “Back up, everyone! Back it up! Y'all in some serious danger! Now you didn't touch any of them, did you?” The cat soon went near one of the citizens before sliding towards another. “Just look at all those colors! You think that's natural?”

He then whispered to one of the locals, loud enough for all to hear, “They're infected with ‘pastelis coloritis’.” He said with feigned fear much to the shock of the citizens.

“Now you listen…” Applejack began to say angrily before Trixie quickly put a hoof on her mouth, to shut the farm pony up, much to Starlight’s relief, as she knew this was clearly a ploy.

The cat soon went behind one of the citizens but only Starlight and her friends saw him dip his tail in purple paint and splash it onto the large blue gecko’s arm.

“Don’t worry, as long as you're not covered in purple splotches, you'll be fine.” He said, before he moved away fearfully and pointed at the gecko’s arm, “Whoa! Oh man, that is not good.” He soon moved back towards the ponies.

“Gah! What do I do?!” The gecko asked pleadingly.

“Enjoy your last moments and don't touch anyone. Because parts will fall off.” The cat spoke eerily, much to the shock of Starlight.

‘Whoa! That’s convincing and fear inducing. Glad he’s helping us.’ Starlight’s eyes widened.

The townsfolk soon scattered fearfully and soon Rainbow Dash immediately showed her gratitude, “You are so AWESOME!”

“And quite charming.” Rarity complimented.

“Barf.” Trixie commented stoically to the amusement of Starlight.

“Capper's the name. Charming's my game.” The one known as Capper introduced himself before asking, “So... to the Hippos, then?”

“Yep. That sounds about right.” Starlight smiled before she began following him enthusiastically along with Pinkie before Twilight blocked their way with her left wing outstretched, “It’s nice you two are eager to make new friends but I don’t think we should trust him.” She whispered.

“You trusted me in the past and look how I turned out, besides we can use a friend out here.” Starlight argued with an encouraging smile.

Soon Capper lowered Twilight’s wing and spoke up, “You know what? Little Teal Streak is right. And, if I do say so myself…” He spoke up before singing.

“This town is not a nice place

For little fillies all alone

There are lots of twists and corners

That could lead to the unknown.” Capper sang in a melancholy as he circled around the group.

“Let me guide your way

And I'll be sure to help you through

You could really use a friend out here

And luckily for you…” Capper harmonizes before he smiles and jauntily sings as he faces the entrance to a new area,

(Song Begins)

“I'm the friend that you need

When you're lost and don't know what to do

I'm your pal, your amigo.” Capper does a secret handshake with a green beaver creature before they are let into an area with shopping stands.

“Useful and resourceful, too

And my help, you'll concede

Is a plus guaranteed.” Capper continued as he stole three mangos with his tail.

“You can call and I'll come running

Just follow my lead.” Capper juggled the mangos before throwing two mangoes to two vendors and then handing one to Applejack who smiled.

“'Cause I'm the friend you need!” Capper finished the verse.

“He's a friend

Quite a friend!

He's a friend indeed!” The two townsfolk sang before eating the mangoes.

“You need a bud to spot the danger

A pal to stop the creep

A chum and not a stranger to assist.” Capper sang as he first stopped the group from getting stomped on by something huge, then kept a tentacle from grabbing Spike, and finally using a plank of wood to make a bridge.

“You need a bro who is cunning

That can help you take the leap.” Capper sang as he rode a mine cart with the Mane 6, Spike, and Trixie while Starlight used her magic to levitate before they landed on the other side of the broken rail.

“A friend who knows what's lying in the mist.” Capper sang as he went into the mist before Fluttershy looked fearful at the darkened alley that was ahead.

“Don't fear these darkened alleys

They're scary, yes, I know

Why, you could use a friend

To protect you wherever you go.” Capper sang as he used an umbrella to shield the shy pegasus from the oncoming bats.

“And such a dazzling beauty

Covered in dirt and muck.” Capper sang blissfully as he gestured to Rarity’s muddy hooves.

“But now your fate is changing

Now you are in luck.” Capper sang as he rolled out a carpet for the ponies and dragon to walk on.

“'Cause I'm the friend that you need

When you're lost and don't know what to do

I'm your pal, your amigo

Lookin' out for friends like you

And my help, you'll concede

Is a plus guaranteed

Just call and I'll come running

We'll say it's agreed…” Capper sang triumphantly as he led the seven trusting ponies, Spike, and Twilight to the windmill tower.

Capper soon put a slip of paper inside some small blue gecko’s scarf, “Here. Tell Verko, ‘My place, twenty minutes.’ I've got something that will ‘magically’ erase all my debt.” He instructed gleefully.

“Because I’m the friend you need!” Capper harmonized as he went on the shifting gears with the ponies and Spike.

“He’s a friend!” Everyone but Twilight sang.

“Quite a friend.” Rarity spoke up.

“He’s a friend indeed.” The ponies finished.

(Song Ends)

Twilight had to admit as she entered through the floorboard of Capper’s manor, for how small the place was, Capper did a good job at being tidy with the place.

“Wow! That looks more fancy than my own wagon!” Trixie smiled in awe.

“Isn’t that thing a cluttered mess?” Starlight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Ugh, are you still upset about Saddle Arabia?” Trixie rolled her eyes.

“Nah. I’m over it by now. I’m just stating facts.” Starlight gave her friend a reassuring smile.

“Apologies for the state of my litter box. I wasn't expecting guests.” Capper apologizes politely, though Twilight wasn’t sure if he even cared.

She then analyzed the books from Capper’s library in curiosity as she faintly heard Pinkie and Capper’s banter when her eyes fell on a certain book involving maps.

Starlight was enjoying the quick rest from the journey to save Equestria, Tempest probably wasn’t around yet so she supposed there was enough time for them to bond with Capper.

“Stop playing me. A sonic rainboom?” Capper laughed kindly towards Rainbow Dash before wondering, “That’s not a real thing. Is that a real thing?”

“I’ll show ya.” Rainbow Dash smirked in determination before Capper spoke fearfully, “Naw-naw-naw, I don't need you sonic ‘rainbooming’ up in my place, thank you very much.”

Starlight couldn’t blame the anthropomorphic cat for his hesitation, she saw the Rainboom herself, beautiful as it was, it was also explosive.

Suddenly Starlight saw Capper’s right arm glow light blue before seeing Rarity use a sewing needle to fix the sleeve of his red worn down jacket.

“Here you go. I do apologize. If we were back home, I could've done something truly fabulous.” Rarity apologized remorsefully.

“Okay, what’s the catch?” Capper asked skeptically.

“What do you mean by that?” Starlight asked curiously.

“Uh… usually you have to give something to gain something in return.” Capper admitted sheepishly.

“Well after all you’ve done for us, consider it a thank you.” Rarity smiled at the cat who looked shocked.

“Trust us, Trixie can see why you’re confused. Me and Starlight have been outsiders back at our old home before and we figured we had to take what we want.” Trixie put a hoof around her friend with a smile.

“Our methods weren’t very noble.” Starlight admitted sheepishly before speaking fondly while gesturing to Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash who were behind her, “but these ponies still gave us a chance to better ourselves and we didn’t have to do anything else in return except improve ourselves.”

“Oh…” Capper said in shock before sighing, “You don’t have to thank me, really.”

Starlight’s eye raised in confusion, it almost seemed like Capper felt guilty.

“Guys!” Twilight beckoned everyone over to the table where she laid out a map with a mountain and some flying feathery ponies on it and soon everyone gathered around the table, Starlight chose to stand next to Twilight.

“We've been looking for the wrong queen! We don't need the Queen of the Hippos! We need the Queen of the Hippogriffs! Part pony, part eagle!” Twilight explained enthusiastically much to Starlight and the others’ delight.

“Oh! Oh, the Hippogriffs! Now, the trouble with that is…” Capper spoke nervously before smiling with his hands spread out, “No one knows where they are…”

“Says here that they're on the top of Mount Aris!” Twilight spoke suspiciously towards Capper which rose Starlight’s suspicions too but maybe Capper just didn’t read that or something.

“You mean the mountain right outside the window?” Pinkie Pie asked with a smile, as she pointed to the mountain from the distance, covered by some fog.

“Objects in windows may be less mountainous than they appear. Heh heh heh…” Capper said sheepishly as he twiddled his fingers.

“Let’s go everypony.” Twilight commanded sternly, Starlight looked a bit wary at Capper before following close behind Twilight and next to Trixie while Spike and the other five ponies trailed behind, heading to the exit downstairs.

“WAIT!” Capper cried out as he blocked the exit, “You can't…you can't make it by yourselves. You need an airship! And lucky for you, I can get you a ride.”

“I think we can get there on our own.” Twilight bumped Capper’s stomach before using her magic to open the door but was greeted to a mole-like creature with goggles and a fancy suit and hat.

“Here’s Verko.” Verko snickered much to Twilight’s fear.

“These ponies better shoot rainbow lasers out their eyes if they're gonna settle your debt.” Verko told Capper sternly before gesturing to his carriage driver, “Brought the big cage. Let’s load them up!” He said with a smile causing Starlight to gasp along with everyone else.

“You were going to sell the Great and Powerful Trixie and her allies?!” Trixie asked angrily.

“I knew we couldn’t trust you!” Twilight furiously stated before turning to Starlight, “You see why we can’t take risks outside of Equestria?!” She asked angrily.
“”
“I…I just-“ Starlight spoke sheepishly before Trixie intervened, “Hey leave Starlight alone. She was just going off of what YOU taught her.”

“No matter the case. We’re getting out of here.” Twilight said sternly before a familiar chuckle was heard, and soon Tempest entered the building with a bone chilling smirk along with the Storm Guards and that small hedgehog from earlier, “Silly little ponies.”

“Tempest!” Twilight cried out fearfully.

“Gah!” Spike screamed which prompted Starlight to stand in front of him protectively, she knew Twilight would likely be able to handle herself but she would rather be in Tartarus than let Spike get hurt.

“Trusting strangers? Big mistake. Big…” Tempest spoke coldly as she entered the house with the hedgehog besides her.

“Huge!” Grubber interrupted.

“Shut it Grubber.” Tempest commanded which caused the hedgehog, now known as Grubber to shrink back.

“Hoo-hoo! My goodness.” Verko said as he grabbed Tempest’s face, distracting her and the Storm King’s forces which caused Twilight to push Starlight and Trixie towards the window where the windmill was spinning, the two unicorns got the message and hung onto the windmill flap along with Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity.

Once Twilight saw that Tempest had blasted Verko and their distraction was gone, she immediately flew in front of the wooden flap but she and Rainbow Dash were alerted by their friends’ screams and saw that the Storm Guard was pushing the windmill back so Twilight and Rainbow Dash used their strength and wings to try and push back the windmill in the correct direction but soon the windmill breaks off which causes it to hop around the town so they hang onto it.

They soon reach an unbuilt house so Applejack, Spike, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Starlight, and Trixie all let go of the windmill and run across the wooden structure as the windmill destroys the only safety they have until they reach a window and jump inside it.

Once they all get out of that situation, Twilight notices the airship just above them, “We have to get there! To the docks! Hurry!”

And that’s what they did, but the ship already seemed to be flying off but thankfully Rainbow Dash grabbed onto the loose hanging rope from the back of the ship and used it as a balance beam.

Twilight saw as Applejack directed Trixie and Rarity to the ship calmly while Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy merely used the tips of their hooves to balance on the rope and made it through with Spike following them.

However Starlight got a little too scared and accidentally misstepped as she walked across the rope and began falling.

“Starlight!” Twilight cried out in absolute fear before diving down with her wings unfolded, she knew Starlight’s magic wouldn’t react in time with how fast her fall was so she dove down and intercepted her before she hit the jagged rocks and carried her to the back of the ship, out of breath and threw her onboard while Twilight laid down next to her.

“Y-You had me really worried.” Twilight panted, looking at her friend in concern to which Starlight frowned remorsefully at.

Soon they found themselves lassoed by Applejack and thrown into the inside of the cargo hold.

“Shh.” Spike shushed them as Trixie silently embraced Starlight who did the same.

“Did you hear something?” A shadowy figure asked.

A squawk was all that he got.

“Eh, probably just the rats. If we find 'em, we'll eat 'em.” The voice shrugged before walking off.

“Twilight, I’m so-“ Starlight silently whispered before Twilight covered her mouth, “Just be quiet please.” She whispered with a sad sigh, “You’re okay, that’s all I care about.”

Though that didn’t ease any of Starlight’s guilt.

Time To Be Awesome

Twilight was currently reading out the map to Mount Aris as the parrots walked about the ship before she heard Applejack speak. “Whadaya think, Twilight? Should we just... ask 'em to take us?”

Twilight lowered the map from her eyes and decided to answer the question, “Last time we trusted somepony he tried to sell us.”

“Maybe things could go differently.” Starlight said sheepishly but Twilight just gave her a glare, “I like that you’re willing to trust Starlight but we’re not in Equestria, so I’m not sure if we can.”

Soon they felt less shade and it turned out to be a dark green parrot in a black suit, “Hey guys, come check this out.” He said sinisterly.

“Looks like a pack of stowaways.” Another green parrot who was in an eyepatch spoke up.

“What are we s'posed to do with 'em?” The large pink parrot asked.

Suddenly a light green parrot squawked with a smirk.

“I think we tie them up.”

Applejack gasped in indignation.

“We clip their wings.”

Rainbow Dash immediately struck a battle pose.

“Nah, we scar ‘em.”

Rarity and Trixie immediately embraced each other in fear as they shriek.

“Emotionally.”

Fluttershy began weeping as Starlight hugged her protectively.

“Wait. What say the book Captain Celeano?” The dark green parrot asked.

Soon a yellow feathered parrot walked over on a peg leg and spoke lowly, “Storm King's rule book says, ‘Throw them overboard.’"

Soon the parrots began surrounding the ponies and dragon, much to their fear until the clock made a foghorn noise.

“Alright! That’s lunch!” Celeano cried out.

Soon Twilight and her friends were in the dining room of the ship and some greenish slop was poured on Twilight’s plate much to her bewilderment. She had learnt the names of the pirates due to Starlight asking them. The dark green one was named Boyle, the one in the eyepatch was Mullet, the pink one was named Lix and the one who kept squawking was named Squabble.

Twilight decided to sit next to Starlight who was also next to Trixie, if only to keep Starlight from getting into trouble, it might be paranoid of her but just earlier Starlight almost died.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! So you were about to toss us overboard and you stopped for a lunch break?” Rainbow Dash asked incredulously, causing Twilight to look at her sternly, as to tell her to stop talking.

“Storm King only allows one break a day for meals, then it's back to hauling goods.” Boyle explained.

“So you’re delivery guys?” Spike asked.

“And gals.” Celeano clarifies. “These uniforms aren’t doing us any favors.”

“Then can you deliver us to Mount Aris?” Twilight asked with a hopeful smile.

“Sorry. We do what the Storm King orders or we suffer his wrath.” Celeano showed the book with the Storm King logo on it before putting it back on the table.

“Right.” Twilight sighed, “Still going overboard.”

“If it makes you feel better.” Starlight whispered to Twilight, “Three of us have wings and I can levitate with magic so we’ll likely be fine.”

Twilight smiled a bit at this reassurance, at least Starlight was trying to make her feel better.

“You weren't always delivery birds, were you? What about before the Storm King?” Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

“Yeah. We used to be much more adventurous.” Celeano said dully before pulling the Storm King banner to show a skull and cross bones sign.

“Ooh! I met that guy in the desert!” Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically.

“Whoa! You used to be pirates?!” Rainbow Dash asked with a smile.

“Um, we prefer the term ‘swashbuckling treasure hunters’.” Mullet spoke from near Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“So you're basically pirates.” Trixie spoke impolitely.

Squabble ends up squawking in confirmation.

“You birds have a choice to make. You could let some cloven-hoofed Storm King tell you how to live your lives, or…” Rainbow Dash said in determination before ripping the Storm King banner off the wall which was covering the pirate flag, “You can be awesome again.”

“Rainbow Dash, this really isn't a good time for a…” Twilight began to speak before Rainbow Dash began singing.

(Song Begins)

“I know the world can get you down.” Rainbow Dash began.

“-song.” Twilight facehoofed.

“Things don't work out quite the way that you thought

Feeling like all your best days are done

Your fears and doubts are all you've got.” Rainbow Dash sung while picking up the chin of a saddened Squabble in comfort.

“But there's a light shining deep inside

Beneath those fears and doubts, so just squash 'em.” Rainbow Dash sung happily as she squashed the mug of water with her hooves.

“And let it shine for all the world to see.” Rainbow Dash soon took off the Storm King curtain to show the achievements the pirates once accomplished along with a picture of Captain Celeano.

“That it is time, yeah, time to be awesome.” Rainbow Dash ended her verse.

Soon Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, Spike, Starlight, and Trixie began chorusing as they bumped on the table as a drum and soon the crewmates began joining in except for Celeano, “Ah, ah, ah-ah, awesome!

It's time to be so awesome!

Ah, ah, ah-ah, awesome!

It's time to be so awesome!”

Twilight soon left the area, with the map in her magic as she wanted to focus.

“You have no idea how hard it’s been.” Captain Celeano said sadly as she swiped the plate of gruel away.

(“It’s time to be awesome!”)

Celeano then stared at the picture of her as she sang, “This dull routine we've been forced to do.”

“Don't let them rob you of who you are.” Rainbow Dash sang happily as she handed Celeano her old captain hat.

“Be awesome, it's all up to you.” Rainbow Dash soon flew back near the dining table and pointed a hoof at Celeano in determination.

“I feel the light stirring deep inside

It's like a tale still yet to be told!” Celeano smiled as she took off her cap and replaced it with her hat.

(“It’s time to be awesome!”)

“And now it's time to break the shackles free

And start living like the brave and the bold!” Rainbow Dash and Celeano sang together as Celeano went back to her old pirate uniform as did the other crewmates.

“It's time to be awesome!

Let loose, be true, so awesome!

It's time to be awesome!

Go big, be you, so awesome!” The Mane 5, Starlight, Trixie, and Spike all sang.

“We used to soar through the clouds in the skies!” Mullet sang as he swung around the ship on a rope with Rainbow Dash.

“Elaborate schemes, we would love to devise.” Lix sang as she took the quill Twilight was using to study the map while Pinkie doodled on it.

“We rescued our treasure and stored it away!” Boyle said happily as he slid the treasure chest in front of Rarity before Celeano took out a blue gemstone.

“Saving those gemstones for a rainy day!” Celeano finished.

“We see that light filling up our skies!” Every creature except Twilight sang.

“So take the Storm King’s orders and toss ‘em.” Rainbow Dash suggested as she took the Storm King rule book and tossed it off the ship and into the open skies.

“Cause it's the time to let our colors fly!” Everyone soon sang.

“Hey, scallywags, it's time to be awesome!” Captain Celeano smirked.

(Song Ends)

Starlight looked on happily as Celeano soon started driving the steering wheel to the airship, “Come on! Let's show these little ponies how it's done!” The yellow parrot smirked.

Soon her crewmates pulled on some rope which suddenly caused the golden head of the airship to unfold and show some giant and bright rainbow colored wings on the sides of the ship.

“Wow.” Trixie said in awe which Starlight had to agree with, it was indeed a beautiful sight.

“Awesome! I knew you had it in ya! And now for the finishing touch!” Rainbow Dash said happily before soaring high into the sky, which caused Pinkie to chant “Rainboom! Rainboom! Rainboom!”

“No no no no no! No!” Twilight cried out in horror, much to Starlight’s concern.

However, at that point Rainbow Dash had already completed her Sonic Rainboom and was spinning around the ship creating rainbows around the ship.

“Twilight? Are you okay?” Starlight asked in concern, yet nervous as she had already upset her friend due to needing to have her life saved.

“I’m just worried that Tempest will be alerted as to where we are.” Twilight sighed in discomfort, “I love the Rainboom as much as anypony, it’s how me and my friends met but now…”

“Look Twilight, if she saw us I think we’d be getting attacked by now. And besides, this is probably the happiest we’ll be on this trip. We’re with creatures who we can trust and they seem to like us too.” Starlight gestured to Rainbow Dash and Celeano playfully sword fighting before Squabble started squawking fearfully as a bell rang.

Starlight and Twilight looked in fear as they saw it was a Storm King airship.

“Storm Guards! Looks like they found you.” Celeano informed the group.

“Tempest!” Starlight and Twilight spoke in unison.

“Secure the rigging! Lock down the cargo! Everyone, prepare to be boarded!” Celeano ordered, and soon Starlight and Twilight found themselves being led by Boyle down the cargo hold and soon it was closed.

“You think she saw my Sonic Rainboom?” Rainbow Dash asked with a sheepish smile which earned her a slap from Trixie.

“Ow!” Rainbow Dash groaned in pain.

“Trixie!” Starlight lectured angrily.

“Trixie is sorry, but honestly somepony had to do it before Sparkle lit a fuse.” Trixie admitted as she pointed to the annoyed Twilight who soon took a deep breath to calm herself down.

Soon a grappling hook attached itself towards the ship, causing Starlight, Twilight, Trixie, and the group to all be pushed to the wall on the right.

After getting up and groaning, she saw Twilight looking at the ceiling in fear, “We have to get off this ship before they tell Tempest we're here!” Twilight whispered loudly to Rainbow Dash.

“We helped them get their mojo back! They're not gonna give us up.” Rainbow Dash smirked confidently as she whispered in the same amount of volume.

“Even so, we should probably get off so Celeano and her crew don’t get hurt.” Starlight whispered to Rainbow Dash before noticing Trixie huddled into a ball and hyperventilating, “I’m gonna go calm down Trixie.”

Twilight was currently looking around the ship and what she saw did not please her.

Spike was trying to calm down a hyperventilating Rarity, and Starlight was also trying to calm down Trixie who was huddled into her own ball.

Fluttershy was also cowering behind a crate and Applejack put her hat under her eyes and sighed, seemingly in acceptance.

Pinkie Pie was also trying to jump into a crate and then tripped inside it.

Twilight groaned, her friends were not being helpful on this quest, things did not look good for the group.

Twilight soon looked around the area to see a giant tarp, a bunch of rope and a big crate to fit eight ponies and a small dragon.

“I’ve got this.” Twilight smirked confidently before Twilight levitated the tarp to Starlight who looked confused, “Hold this.”

“What are you doing?” Rainbow Dash asked incredulously but Twilight didn’t answer and instead used her magic to pull the lever nearby which dropped the group into the sky with a scream.

As the group continued screaming, Twilight soon used her wings to slow her descent which allowed her to concentrate and use her magic to levitate the whole group into the crate and soon used her magic to tie the rope onto the crate and the tarp like a makeshift hot air balloon, and finally grabbed Spike, faced him on the makeshift balloon and squeezed him to force enough fire to allow the tarp to inflate and finally they were floating in midair.

“Phew! Quick thinking there Twilight.” Applejack complimented.

“Yahoo! Ha ha!” Twilight celebrated triumphantly.

“Next stop Mount Aris!” Rainbow Dash began pushing the hot air balloon towards Mount Aris.

“We’re home free!” Twilight cheered much to the delight of all her friends.

Starlight smiled happily as Twilight looked on from the distance, beaming with pride, though she did feel concern about her too. Twilight’s normally much more level headed and calm but Starlight noticed Twilight seemed a lot more tense, and was starting to act more cynical.

“Twilight? Are you okay?” Starlight asked beaming alicorn as Twilight smiled out in the distance.

“Why wouldn’t I be? Things are finally looking up.” Twilight smiled at her friend.

“Well… you just seemed to be a lot more… moody than usual and I wanna make sure you’re okay.” Starlight admitted sheepishly.

Twilight looked with a raised eyebrow at Starlight before sighing, “I’m fine Starlight. I just want our home saved.”

“And we will save it. Trust me.” Starlight reassured her, “We just need to have faith.”

Twilight sighed but rolled her eyes with a smile, “Yeah. Thanks Starlight.”

Starlight smiled warmly, maybe things really were looking up.

Author's Note

Oh Starlight. How naive you are? Nyahahahahahahahahahahaha!

One Small… Wait, A Big Problem

Starlight was currently walking with Trixie and Spike up the mountain’s trail, it was a bit grueling but Starlight had to find her way through a changeling hive with only Thorax and Discord with her and Trixie so this wasn’t much of a hassle.

“We had to crash the balloon at the bottom of the mountain! That's it! I simply... cannot... even! I have nothing! The bad guys have won! I'm so sorryyyyyyy!” Rarity dramatically cried out as she laid on the ground.

“Oh my Celestia…” Trixie grunted before screaming, “Would you stop your whining?! We can hear you from all the way up here!”

“Ow. Trixie.” Starlight rubbed her ears in pain from the screeching she witnessed.

“I’m only sorry that I hurt your ears but that’s it, she deserved that.” Trixie apologized, semi-remorseful.

“Meh. Good enough.” Starlight shrugged before walking ahead with Trixie by her side, catching up with Twilight and Spike.

“We’re almost there.” Rainbow Dash announced gaining Starlight’s attention.

“Will you stop saying that?!” Rarity asked incredulously.

“No really.” Rainbow Dash smiled before she flew ahead of Starlight causing her to see the entrance to the Hippogriff Kingdom, two Hippogriff statues facing each other, which had Starlight smiling.

“This is it.” Twilight gasped with a smile before she went inside with Starlight and the others following.

“Well I’ll be.” Applejack laughed goodnaturedly before saying, “Hippogriffs, here we come!”

Starlight was elated, they’d finally be free.

Twilight slowly formed a disturbed look as she looked around the town, it felt old and abandoned, especially so empty.

“Are we sure this is the right place?” Rarity asked in a hushed tone.

“Trixie is starting to think you’re not so good at map reading Twilight.” Trixie spoke condescendingly which caused Twilight to glare at the stage magician.

“Hello?! Is anypony home?!” Applejack yelled out.

Pinkie Pie soon bounced around the town searching for Hippogriffs before heading towards Twilight and sighing miserably, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t find any Hippogriffs.”

“But... Celestia... The map. They have to be here.” Twilight said desperately.

“Something bad happened here. Something that turned this whole place into a ghost town.” Spike sweated nervously.

“Did the Storm King already… win?” Starlight asked sadly which caused Fluttershy to pat the unicorn’s back, “I’m not sure.” She said softly yet honestly.

Suddenly Twilight heard distant humming and gasped as she saw a small tunnel entrance where the humming was coming from. “It’s coming from over there.”

Twilight soon lit up her horn so she could see and she went inside the tunnel, with her friends following and soon they found themselves in this wide cave. She also caught Starlight lighting up her horn and Trixie following her, Twilight could see why they were sticking together and soon they found themselves near a pond where the humming was now louder and a big flower was in the water and shining.

Soon Pinkie Pie ended up kicking a rock much to the singer’s shock.

“What was that?” A scared voice said before a yellow figure jumped in the water.

“Hey! Wait up!” Pinkie Pie smiled as she ran to the pond, “Cannonball!” She said happily before jumping in the water.

“Pinkie!” Twilight cried out fearfully before she and the others walked in the pond but soon Pinkie Pie spat out the water and shrugged at Twilight, “She’s gone.” She shrugged with a confused frown.

Suddenly a whirlpool formed and the follower went underwater, much to Twilight’s terror, as she and the others tried fruitlessly to swim to shore but were slowly sucked into the whirlpool and underwater.

Twilight opened her eyes to see her and her friends struggling to hold her breath but soon she felt her world go black.

She suddenly woke up and took a big breath and found herself in an air bubble as well as the rest of the group.

“Way to wait till the last minute Twilight… or did Starlight do this? She does tend to study some complex spells.” Pinkie Pie began blabbing before Twilight spoke up, “I didn’t make these bubbles?”

“Neither did I.” Starlight admitted bashfully.

Soon a shadowy figure sped by which caused everyone to huddle up to Twilight.

“Hello. We’re looking for the Hippogriffs.” Twilight said meekly.

“How do I know I can trust you?” A yellow orb formed as a voice spoke suspiciously.

“Please. The Storm King invaded our land. And we need their help.” Twilight begged sincerely.

“The Storm King?” The orb seemed in shock before manifesting into a yellow seapony and smiled, “I'm so glad I saved you guys! I'm totally taking you to my mom!” The seapony grabbed Twilight’s hoof before leading them towards the distance.

“Does your mother know where they are?” Twilight gasped with a smile.

“She might have an idea!” The seapony singsonged much to Twilight’s shock and happiness.

“We’re almost there.” The seapony smiled before Twilight saw a bright light and saw a circular castle.

“Wow!” The group said in awe.

“This almost looks like Atlantis.” Starlight admitted starstruck much to everyone but Twilight’s confusion as she was aware of what Starlight was talking about. The seapony didn’t seem confused either so she might not have heard it.

“Sunset told me about ancient myths from her world.” Starlight briefly explained which satisfied the group

Soon the seapony led them to the entrance of the castle which was a hole in the ground and soon the seapony swam up to her mother who was likely the queen, “Mother, guess what I found?” She sang happily.

“Is it another shell?” The mother asked bored as the daughter shook her head, “Because I am telling you if it is another shell, I am…”

She then gasped once she noticed Twilight and her friends and spoke sternly to her daughter, “Princess Skystar, what have you done? You know surface dwellers are forbidden here! Guards!”

Soon four sea ponies in armor swam over and pointed their spears at the heroes, as the yellow seapony Skystar pleaded with her mother, “No no no! M-M-Mom, please! It is so not like that! The Storm King is trying to destroy their home, too!”

“We need to find the Hippogriffs. Do you know what happened to them?” Twilight asked pleadingly.

“Well of course I know. I'm the queen. I know everything.” The Queen spoke sternly.

“Oh, oh, it's such a good story!” Skystar said happily before the Queen spoke angrily, “Don’t you dare tell them.” She commanded.

“Once upon a time, like, a while ago, the Hippogriffs did live on Mount Aris.” Skystar revealed an image of the hippogriffs peacefully in Mount Aris.

“Did I not say don't tell them? But hey, I'm just the queen. Don't mind me.” The Queen muttered angrily.

Skystar soon sighed angrily, “Fine! I can't tell you.” before smiling and creating a projection of the Storm King, “But if I could tell you, I'd say that that horned beast did show up to steal their magic!”

Skystar then projected another image of the hippogriff queen and then the projection of the underwater kingdom, “But, to keep it out of his clutches, their brave and majestic leader, Queen Novo, hid them deep underwater where he could never go! We are... Well, we were the Hippogriffs! Ta-da!” Skystar smiled triumphantly before whispering, “But I totally did not tell you that.”

“Well, I guess the pearl is out the oyster now. I am Queen Novo.” The Queen, now known as Novo introduced herself.

“Hold on now. Lemme get this straight. When the Storm King came, you just abandoned your entire city and fled?” Applejack asked in confusion as she swam a little closer to Novo’s throne.

“We didn't flee! We swam! Y'know, in order to flee.” Skystar explained giddily.

“But how?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh! Can we show them? Huh? These are the first guests we've had in, like, foreveeerrr! Can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we, can we?” Skystar asked enthusiastically.

Soon Novo shrugged before admitting, “Well I suppose I should make sure it still works.”

She soon swam near a jellyfish chandelier and a pearl came floating down and Novo gently grabbed it much to Skystar’s excitement.

Novo soon gently used her pearl to send a magical aura towards Twilight and her friends which had her cover her eyes before realizing her bubble popped and she now had a merpony tail and smiled happily before noticing her friends and Trixie also had a seapony tail and Spike was unfortunately a blowfish.

“Oh wow. I’m a seapony!” Trixie smiled towards Starlight, “Hey Starlight, I wonder if I have an angelic voice now.”

“That’s a siren Trixie.” Starlight corrected her friend with a good natured eye roll.

“This is amazing! With this, we could transform everypony at home into something powerful enough to face the Storm King's army!” Twilight smiled enthusiastically as she went up towards Queen Novo who held her pearl protectively, “Or it could end up in his greedy claws!”

“But…” Twilight said meekly before Novo interrupted stern but sympathetic, “Honey, I'm sorry about your home. I truly am. But my responsibility is to protect my subjects. The pearl,” she began as she put the pearl back inside the jellyfish chandelier, “is not going anywhere.”

“But we've come all this way. And you can't just hide down here! Trapped forever. There's so much you're missing.” Twilight argued with a begging look.

“We are one hundred percent okay with that!” Queen Novo argued in annoyance before a small squid appeared and chittered. “Yes Jamal?” She asked before Jamal chittered again.

“Ooh! Time for my seaweed wrap.” Queen Novo told the squid before swimming to the exit.

“So that’s it? We left home for nothing.” Applejack asked incredulously.

“Well… we’re screwed.” Trixie rolled her eyes before Starlight nudged her at the sides but Twilight figured they were indeed screwed.

“Oh, my gosh! Best... idea! You can stay with us! Forever!” Skystar laughed before she began rambling, “There are so many things we can do! We can make friendship bracelets out of shells and picture frames outta shells and decorative wastebaskets out of shells... Oh, I have so many projects that involve shells, haha! Now I have someone new to share them with aside from my friends Shelly and Sheldon.”

Skystar soon showed her two clams made out of purple and red shells and googly eyes.

Rarity soon swam over to Skystar and laughed nervously, “That sounds lovely, darling, but you must realize, we can't stay.”

“We’ve gotta get back to our families.” Applejack explained sadly.

“Oh… no, of course. Of course you have your own friends back home. It's fine. It's fine.” Skystar chuckled nervously, “Shelly and Sheldon get jealous anyway.” She whispered before she sighed sadly, “It’s probably for the best. Yeah I’ll just… I'll get Mom to, uh, turn you back so you can go home.”

“I know we have to go, but you guys saw how disappointed Princess Skystar was. Couldn’t we stay a little longer?” Pinkie Pie asked pleadingly to Twilight.

“Pinkie’s right. She clearly deserves to have friends and maybe we could help with that. Even if we’re gone.” Starlight smiled at Pinkie Pie who smiled back.

An idea formed in Twilight’s mind, it might not be the most noble but desperate times call for desperate measures.

“Girls, we don’t have time for…” Applejack began speaking before Twilight interrupted, “Oh no. Pinkie and Starlight are correct.”

“Say what now?” Rainbow Dash asked incredulously.

“Well we still need to come up with a plan to get back. A few minutes won't make a huge difference.” Twilight admitted as she led Starlight and Pinkie towards Skystar’s direction, before smiling fondly at the two mares in front of her, “And if there's anypony who can cram a lifetime of fun into a blink of an eye, it's Pinkie Pie. Plus if there’s anyone good at helping ponies through friendship issues through experience, it’s Starlight.” Both smiled at Twilight, hearing this.

“So go ahead and show Skystar the best time ever!” Twilight said in determination.

“We won’t let you down Twilight.” Starlight said happily before Twilight led the rest of her friends towards Skystar’s direction as well.

Trixie raised an eyebrow before swimming in front of Twilight, “Aren’t you coming?”

“I think I’ll sit this one out. I might as well make a plan.” Twilight lied with a smile.

“Okay…” Trixie leered suspiciously before swimming off, “Just don’t do what I think you’re doing, I doubt it will end well.”

Starlight swam with Pinkie with a determined smile as they spotted a saddened Skystar and looked at Pinkie in worry but she gave Starlight a firm nod before heading to Skystar and taking her two shell friends. She hoped this would cheer Skystar up.

(Song Begins)

“Hey, now, don't be sad.

I know we cannot stay.” Pinkie Pie imitated Shelly and Sheldon much to Skystar’s shock.

“But we've got a couple minutes.

And a little time to play.” Pinkie Pie said happily as she gestured herself and her friends, Skystar looked happy at first before sighing.

“I know you have important things.

So it's okay, just go.” Skystar began swimming away forlorn

“But we can still pick one small, little thing, to do with you, you know.” Starlight added happily as she swam in front of Skystar before she and everyone else led Skystar outside the castle and led her to the open sea

“One small thing, doesn't seem like a lot.

One small thing, work with the time you've got.” Pinkie Pie sang as she showed Skystar a reflective shell.

“Soon, one small thing becomes two.

After two, perhaps another few.” Starlight sang as she levitates a shell necklace around Skystar’s neck.

“Then one small thing is not so small.

One small thing can be the biggest thing of all!” Pinkie and Starlight sang together before they, Skystar, and the rest began swimming and riding with large green fish.

“All right now, since you're here

Let's see what we can do

Swim with the flow until you go

Together, me and you.” Skystar sang which caught the other hippogriffs attention.

“I've got necklaces for every fish

So what else do ya got?” Pinkie Pie asked in song.

“Well we can play the bubblefish

You'll like this one a lot!” Skystar said as she grabbed a bubble fish while Pinkie Pie almost grabbed Spike before Starlight levitated another bubble fish towards her.

“One small thing, it's a good place to start.” Skystar, Pinkie, and Starlight sang as the group all blew their bubble fish.

(Just one small thing)

“One small thing, and we don't seem so far apart.” Pinkie and Skystar sang as they intertwined fins.

(Don't seem apart)

“Soon, one small thing leads to more

It's so much more than there was before

Just one small thing, and you will see

The start of something big for you and me.” Everyone sang as they gestured for the other hippogriffs to join in which gained the attention of Queen Novo.

“One small thing” Pinkie Pie sang as she held a small jellyfish.

(Just one small thing)

“Or a tall thing.” Skystar began dancing.

(Just one tall thing)

“Or a sing thing.” Fluttershy played pattycakes with a foal.

(Just one sing-y thing.)

“Or a bling thing.” Rarity fanned the air with some shells.

(Just one bling-y thing.)

“A conga thing.” Applejack sang as she led a conga line with the hippogriffs with Spike and Trixie towards Rarity.

(Yeah, a conga thing)

“Or a longah thing.” Rainbow Dash led another conga line.

(Just one longah thing)

“A blue thing, true thing, you thing.” Starlight sang as she swam in a circle with Skystar.

“A whee thing, sea thing, me thing.” Skystar sang as well.
(Oooh-oooh-oooh!)

“So many things and everything until our time is done

There's one small thing for each and everyone!” Pinkie, Starlight, and Skystar sang together.

“One small thing, so much we can create

You and me, we started something great

It's so amazing, look around

At all the happy sights and sounds

One small thing is big, it's true

You did this all for us

I just wish there was one small thing

An extra special kind of thing.” Skystar began singing happily as she looked at Novo who seemed proud.

“That we could do for you…” Skystar harmonized with the hippogriffs as Novo swam up to her.

“One small thing!” Everyone finished.

Novo sighed in satisfaction as she began laughing which allowed Starlight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Spike, and Rainbow Dash to laugh and embrace each other as well while Trixie looked in pride.

“Well I guess there is one small thing we can do.” Novo smiled fondly much to Starlight’s delight.

“Really?” She asked happily.

Soon an alarm began blaring and Starlight faintly heard someone say, “The pearl alarm! Oh, no, the pearl alarm!”

Soon Novo and Skystar swam towards the castle with Starlight and her friends following as Starlight silently looked on in shock and fear.

‘No. She didn’t.’

Soon they made it to the throne room where Twilight was wrapped in stingers and she was reaching for the pearl.

Queen Novo looked enraged as she immediately swiped the pearl much to Twilight’s sadness, “No! Please!”

“All of this so you could sneak in and take the pearl?!” Novo asked furiously before grabbing her daughters’ fin and pulling her close, “This is why we don't bring strangers into our home!”

“Wait! Your highness! I swear me and my friends were not aware of Twilight’s true plan!” Starlight pleaded desperately with tears forming as she swam near Novo, “We genuinely wanted to help your daughter!”

“Oh sure you were! Like I’ll believe that for a second!” Novo hissed at Starlight much to her fear.

“You don’t deserve to be one of us.” Novo spoke ominously before the pearl began working it’s magic again.

Twilight gasped for air as she made it to the surface of the water, the rest of her friends and Trixie also gasped and coughed as they made it up as well.

Twilight soon made it to shore and began drying out her mane and felt everyone else’s presence behind her as soon she heard Applejack speak angrily, “What were you thinkin'? I mean, stealin' their pearl?”

“It was the only way to save Equestria.” Twilight said in her defense.

“Except it wasn't! The Queen was going to say yes! We did what you told us and that's what made her realize we were ponies worth saving!” Pinkie Pie said sadly as Twilight looked on in disappointment.

Soon Pinkie gasped in realization, “Unless... You didn't really want us to show her the best time ever! You just wanted us to distract her!”

Her friends gasped in shock before Trixie rolled her eyes and walked over next to Pinkie, “I thought she might try it. I did warn her not to though but noooooo, she decided to be an idiot.”

Twilight soon found herself getting angrier and soon began walking towards Trixie angrily, “I never would have done it, but this isn't Equestria! We can't just dance around with con artists, make rainbooms in the sky and expect everything to work out! It's not enough! We are not enough!”

“Oh. We aren’t, are we?” She heard a voice speak lowly and was shocked to find it was Starlight walking towards Twilight in silent fury.

Starlight couldn’t believe this, Twilight seriously resorted to stealing from another royal, it was cruel, it was thoughtless, and… almost evil. This isn’t the Twilight she knew.

“Well I have news for you Twilight! WE stuck together, WE were gonna get the help we needed to save Equestria but YOU screwed it up, because for some reason, you decided to steal from another kingdom!” Starlight began yelling furiously.

“Well I’m doing the best I can!” Twilight yelled back, before adding, “Our home was being invaded and Novo did not seem like she was gonna give up the pearl, and you, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash were already screwing things up and slowing us down!”

Twilight then sighed as she walked away from Starlight and said, “It's all on me. I'm the one Tempest wants. I'm the last Princess!”

That did little to calm down Starlight, Twilight was being overly selfish, she thought this was all about her.

“Oh it’s ALL about you isn’t it?!” Starlight rolled her eyes angrily, “It’s not my fault you’re not staying true to your Princess status can’t put any trust in your friends!”

Twilight soon turned back at Starlight furiously, “Well maybe I would have been better off without friends like YOU!” She yelled angrily before her horn briefly flared up, making Starlight back away in fear and trip, memories to her and Twilight’s time battle came back to her and soon the words Twilight just said sunk in.

‘Well maybe I would have been better off without friends like YOU!’

Starlight’s lip quivered and tears silently fell from her eyes. It felt like her’s and Twilight’s rivalry all over again, only this time it stung much more.

“Starlight, are you…” Spike began walking up to her in concern before Starlight immediately scrambled to her hooves and began running off. She couldn’t let anyone see her like this.

“Starlight wait!” Twilight desperately begged, “I didn’t mean to…”

However Starlight didn’t want to hear what Twilight had to say, she had faith Twilight didn’t mean what she said, but could she trust that?

“Leave me alone!” Starlight commanded furiously much to everyone’s shock before looking tearfully at Twilight, “Nothing you can say will make what you just said to me any less hurtful. I need some time to myself to recollect.”

She soon ran off to another side of the shore, she couldn’t face Twilight right now.

Twilight looked on in shock as she saw Starlight run off and turned to the rest of her friends and Trixie giving her glares, Spike just looked in concern.

“Well done your majesty.” Trixie said angrily, “Now I need to go find her and get her back to normal. Though after what you just said, I think it’s gonna be a while.”

Trixie then trotted off after Starlight while Pinkie Pie sighed at Twilight before saying, “I think… you need some space.” She advised calmly before turning to the others, “Come on girls.”

Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash glared at Twilight as they followed Pinkie while Fluttershy looked at Twilight in fear as she followed the group. Only Spike stayed by Twilight’s side but that did not matter, Twilight basically turned almost all her friends against her, she soon headed the opposite direction from her friends, they clearly couldn’t face her right now.

She soon stood on top of a tiny rock formation and kept her head down, she just barely saw Spike nearby, “Twilight? It's okay. You'll figure it out.” He spoke softly and reassuringly, “Starlight and the rest of our friends WILL forgive you. They just need time.”

“No.” Twilight began quietly weeping, “I can’t. There's no chance to save Equestria now and it’s all my fault.”

She was a bit surprised that Spike was being silent until she turned around and gasped, a Storm Guard had grabbed Spike and his mouth was muffled.

Twilight began flaring her horn to potentially blast the creature for it’s treatment against Spike but soon felt a cage being dropped on her which had blocked her magic and soon, the cage floor closed to trap her causing her to jump back a bit.

“No, no, no, no, no! Noooooo!” Twilight said fearfully as the cage began rising up to the airship.

“Spiiiiiiiike!” She tearfully cried out, soon she saw the Storm Guard’s arm catch on fire, likely due to Spike’s firebreath, “Twiliiiiight!”

Author's Note

Cliffhanger. Mwahahahahahahahahaha!

You probably didn’t expect Starlight and Twilight to have that argument did you? Surprise.

I knew that if I were to keep the argument with Pinkie, it wouldn’t feel as investing and I knew Starlight would have likely stuck by Twilight like Spike did. So I came up with this idea to have THEM argue instead. I also made sure to have Starlight overstep her bounds a bit and insult Twilight’s princess status a little, leading to what Twilight said to Starlight.

Next chapter we will see how both Twilight and Starlight handle the situation they both found themselves in.

Rebuilding Hearts and Rescue Plans

Twilight found herself in the middle of the metal ship, with metal fenced flooring that is covering the lava beneath. She tried desperately to break down or blast the cage open, but it was proving to be useless, but she had to try, she had to make things up with her friends, she just had to.

Soon Tempest walked over to the caged Twilight, much to the alicorn’s shock before Tempest spoke with a mocking smile, “Aww, the ‘Princess of Friendship’. With no friends! And no way out.”

“Why are you doing this?” Twilight asked softly, “You’re a pony like me? Why would you want to turn against Equestria?”

Tempest soon put her hooves on the cage and her horn began to light up.

“I'm nothing like you. I'm more than you'll ever be.” Tempest said angrily before she began circling around the cage.

(Song Begins)

“It's time you learned a lesson

It's time that you understand

Don't ever count on anybody else

In this or any other land.” Tempest began singing sternly before she looked out into the distance, almost longing.

“I once hoped for friendship

To find a place among my kind

But those were the childish wishes

Of someone who was blind!” Tempest sang sadly before she faced Twilight again.

“Open up your eyes

See the world from where I stand

Me, among the mighty

You caged at my command.” Tempest sand with a smirk as Twilight glared angrily at her.

“Open up your eyes

Give up your sweet fantasy land

It's time to grow up and get wise

Come now, little one, open up your eyes!” Tempest sang as she cupped Twilight’s chin.

“We all start out the same

With simple naive trust

Shielded from the many ways

That life's not fair or just

But then there comes a moment

A simple truth that you must face

If you depend on others

You'll never find your place.” Tempest sang as she developed an angry frown.

Tempest growled angrily before turning to Twilight sternly, “Me and my friends were playing catch when it happened, using our magic to toss the ball around, we accidentally threw it into a cave. My friends, being the cowards they were, left me to go get it, I got the ball but an Ursa Minor attacked me.” She explained bluntly.

“Is that how you lost your horn?” Twilight asked sympathetically.

“Smart, aren’t you?” Tempest chuckled bitterly, “That explains why you were able to maintain that group of idiots.”

“Yes, I lost my horn and once I lost my horn, my friends left me too.” Tempest explained, almost saddened but she masked it with anger.

“Why are you telling me this?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Clearly you’re going through a similar thing, they left you by yourself in tears didn’t they? I figured you deserved a reality check.” Tempest admitted sternly.

Soon Tempest started singing again, “And as you take that first step.

Upon a path that's all your own.

You see it all so clearly

The best way to survive is all alone.

Open up your eyes

See the world from where I stand

Me, among the mighty

You caged at my command.”

Tempest soon pulled the lever to raise the cage Twilight was in.

“Open up your eyes

And behold the faded light.”

Tempest soon made it to a higher level of the ship and held onto the cage before it could raise up anymore and smirked at Twilight.

“It's time to grow up and get wise

Come now, little one, open up your eyes.” Tempest smirked up at Twilight as the cage made it up to the top of the ship.

“Open up your eyes!” Tempest harmonized.

(Song Ends)

Twilight shielded her face from the sun as it barely shined and saw Canterlot from a distance.

Soon Tempest stood next to Twilight as the airship flew towards Canterlot and now Twilight felt a strange amount of sympathy she’s hardly felt ever since she met Sunset, Stygian, Discord to an extent, and…

‘Starlight.’ She thought miserably as she remembered their fight just earlier. How could she have said that to her?

“I’m sorry you felt so alone.” Twilight said remorseful of Tempest’s past and somewhat due to her own actions.

“I saw the truth. My ‘friends’ abandoned me when times got tough.” Tempest said bitterly before turning to look at Twilight, “Looks like I’m not the only one who had to deal with that.”

Twilight looked away as Tempest continued speaking, “Face it Princess. Friendship has failed you too.”

“Friendship didn’t fail me. I failed at friendship.” Twilight corrected the commander sadly, she wasn’t sure if Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Starlight would ever look at her the same way again.

Starlight just aimlessly stared at her reflection in the ocean, it’s not like she could do anything else?

‘Canterlot’s been overthrown, Twilight’s mad at me, and any chance to get help is pretty much gone.’ Starlight sighed as she laid on the sand.

Soon she felt a shadow above her, and looked to see Trixie was smiling nervously, “Uh… Trixie is not so good at this comforting stuff, like I told you, even Trixie makes mistakes.”

Starlight chuckled a bit, she remembered that well but it did little to help her.

“How are you feeling?” Trixie asked sheepishly.

“Like dirt.” Starlight sighed, “I wanna believe that Twilight didn’t mean what she said, but I’m not too sure. You know how I am Trixie. I’m impulsive and sometimes selfish, maybe Twilight’s grown tired of me.”

Starlight stood up as she continued speaking, “I can’t really blame her. I literally insulted the reason she became a princess and wouldn’t even try to hear her out. No wonder she snapped.”

“Starlight, you had every right to be mad at Twilight. Sure she had… good-ish intentions but she stole the pearl and manipulated you into doing it too.” Trixie spoke in her defense.

“I’m not arguing there but the least I could have done was hear her out.” Starlight added before asking, “Do you think me and Twilight will get through this? We never fought like that before.”

“Uh…” Trixie began speaking before Starlight sternly corrected, “We never fought like that as friends, our rivalry doesn’t exactly count.”

“Well Trixie admits you will need to take some time to deal with what she said but Trixie can also guarantee Twilight didn’t mean what she said about your friendship, it’s understandable your reacting this way, you’ve never gone through this sort of problem before.” Trixie smiled reassuringly before adding, “Though remember, you and I also had a bunch of arguments during our Saddle Arabian Tour, heck you even sold my wagon, for admittedly an understandable motive, and we’re still friends. You and Twilight just need to talk, and you’ll be able to get through this.”

Starlight softly smiled in realization, all of what Trixie said was true, they have gotten through rough patches before, why should this fight with Twilight be any different?

“You’re right Trixie. I think if I talk with Twilight, we’ll be able to make up.” Starlight smiled at her friend before wondering, “But why did you help me? I know you’re not a fan of Twilight.”

“I may have a distaste for that annoying pony, but I know her friendship with you makes you happy and… I didn’t want your bond to be destroyed because of this.” Trixie admitted with a sheepish smile.

“Aww.” Starlight cooed before she and Trixie shared a hug, soon they let each other go and Starlight spoke in determination, “Come on! Let’s go get the group back together!”

“Now that sounds like the Starlight I love.” Trixie smirked proudly.

Soon Starlight and Trixie began heading back to the right, they’d have to rally up the others first and then talk to Twilight, she figured Twilight would be more willing to forgive herself if the rest of her friends were there.

Soon they reached where Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were, and it was clear they were all still brooding in sadness over what happened with Twilight.

“Girls.” Starlight spoke up to gain their attention, “I know we’re all upset about what Twilight said and did, but we can’t dwell on this for long, Twilight is our friend, even when she screws up, we can still be there for her.”

“She’s right.” Applejack nodded firmly, “I think we’ve given her enough time. We should go talk to Twilight.”

“SHE’S! BEEN! TAKEN!” Spike screamed in horror as he ran over to the scene.

“What?!” Rainbow Dash asked incredulously as she flew up to Spike.

“Twilight's been taken! Tempest! She grabbed her! And took her on her ship!” Spike explained as he pointed to the sky.

“We gotta get her back!” Rainbow Dash said with a determined frown.

“How?” Fluttershy asked sadly, “We’ll never catch up.”

“Ah yes. It’s not like Starlight can teleport long distance or anything.” Trixie rolled her eyes.

“I can only go so far. I’m not Discord, It’d have to take multiple trips.” Starlight argued sadly.

“Besides, we have no way to defeat those monsters.” Applejack added.

Suddenly a familiar sly voice was heard, “Well, good thing I happen to know of a group of mighty heroes that could handle this easily!”

“Capper?!” Starlight said in shock as she looked to see that Capper was indeed, on top of the tallest rock.

“Look what the cat dragged in. Himself.” Rarity rolled her eyes.

“These heroes have faced the Storm King's army and escaped! I've seen them tackle the streets of the roughest towns, break out of the tightest situations, and inspire others to join their cause!” Capper said happily much to everyone but Starlight and Applejack’s awe, as they already knew who Capper was truly talking about.

“Now don’t get too excited.” Applejack told everyone with a roll of her eyes.

“Yeah, he’s just referring to us.” Starlight said, a bit bored as well.

“Aw.” Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity groaned.

“Meh, I’m just glad to be seen as a hero.” Trixie admitted with a shrug.

“They even escaped certain doom at the hooves of Commander Tempest!” Capper slid down the rock and gestured to Starlight and the rest of her friends.

“Yeah. That was pretty great.” Rainbow Dash admitted fondly.

“Are you kidding?” A familiar female voice asked from an even higher stone before Starlight looked up and saw that it was Captain Celeano and her crew, who all soon jumped down to join the group.

“That was awesome!” Celeano said triumphantly.

“Figured you could lose a claw.” Boyle smirked as he used his golden makeshift claw to emphasize.

“We're on board to help you fight the Storm King!” Celeano said with a determined smile before stammering, “Just not on board our... actual ship.”

“That crazy unicorn destroyed it. But you got back our argh! And we're ready to kick some booty.” Mullet said happily as the pirates bared their weapons.

Suddenly a yellow orb began forming much to Starlight and the group’s shock but soon that shock turned to a smile, she knew exactly what, no who it was.

Soon Skystar transformed into her hippogriff form much to Capper and the pirates’ shock.

“Is that who I think it is?” Capper asked, clearly bewildered.

Skystar soon flew down to the ground and smiled, “Helloooooo, me again. I'm gonna get so grounded, but I talked things over with Shelly and Sheldon and they pointed out that you were just trying to help your friends.”

Starlight and Pinkie Pie both smiled at each other proudly before Skystar continued speaking, “So I wanna help too,” she then flew over to Pinkie and Starlight and said, “Because you know, one small thing…” before whispering to the two mares, “can make a really big difference.”

“That’s it right? We didn’t make friends with anypony else?” Spike asked with a stone faced look which earned him a glare from Starlight, making him chuckle sheepishly.

“All right, y'all! I think our course is clear.” Capper smirked in satisfaction, “Y'all ready to do this thang?” Capper asked happily.

“We’re coming Twilight!” Pinkie Pie shouted to the heavens which caused Starlight to cheer along with everyone else.

“As soon as we bake up a plan!” Pinkie Pie added.

Starlight realized that Pinkie had a point, they did need a plan.

“So how are we gonna get back to Canterlot anyway?” Starlight asked the group.

Celeano put a claw to her chin in thought before saying, “Well, we could always try rebuilding the ship. Tempest didn’t cause any unrepairable damage. Plus it landed in the shallow waters.

“Plus we heard that unicorns can fix things pretty decently with magic but it depends on the power they have.” Boyle added.

All eyes turned to Starlight who smirked as she held a hoof bump for Trixie, “Well I did hold my own against an alicorn once.” She then shared a hoof bump with Trixie.

After a quick use of her magic, Starlight was able to fix the airship, Celeano was currently piloting the ship but Starlight wanted to call Trixie, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy to a team meeting for something important.

“You wanted to see us Starlight?” Spike asked curiously.

Starlight sighed before admitting, “This isn’t easy for me to say… but Twilight was right about something. We WERE screwing things up.”

“What?! But we almost got Queen Novo to give us the pearl!” Rainbow Dash said incredulously.

“Yeah but sometimes we did make the trip harder for us than needed. Pinkie, you kept goofing off, Fluttershy, you just cowered behind us most of the time, albeit I see why. Rarity kept complaining, Rainbow Dash gave away our position with the Rainboom, and heck I almost got myself killed! Almost all of us did something to make our journey harder.” Starlight explained bluntly.

“Okay okay, we screwed up, but what’s the point of this?” Rainbow Dash asked in annoyance.

“I think what Starlight’s trying to say is that this is our last chance to save Equestria.” Spike stood next to Starlight with a stern frown, “We have to take this seriously, this is not just for Equestria anymore but for Twilight and our friends too.”

Starlight smiled proudly at Spike before talking again, “Exactly, we need to save our friends! Big Mac, The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Maud, Granny Smith, basically any and everypony! We can’t let the Storm King or Tempest win! Who’s with me?!”

“I was already with you.” Trixie smirked haughtily

“I’m with ya Starlight!” Applejack nodded firmly.

“I agree. We’ve fooled around for far too long.” Rarity smirked confidently.

“I… think I can manage.” Fluttershy smiled meekly.

“You’re right! We gotta take this seriously!” Rainbow Dash pounded her hooves together with a smirk.

“I’m loving this teamwork vibe! Yay us!” Pinkie Pie stood on the table as she spread confetti out from her mane.

Starlight smiled fondly, she now had faith things can turn itself around.

‘Don’t worry Twilight. I won’t leave you again.’ Starlight looked up to the sky with a smile.

Twilight found herself being wheeled in her cage by two ponies who were forced into it, led by Tempest, she shared a quick glance with Songbird Serenade before keeping her head down.

After a while, she found herself inside the throne room of Canterlot where some circle had been formed, she looked at the stone statue of Celestia in horror as she was soon placed in the top right corner of the circle. Soon the ponies left with dejected frowns, and Grubber closed the doors to the throne room entrance and laughed giddily yet maniacally.

“Tempest, don't do this. Don't give the Storm King…” Twilight began speaking before Tempest cut her off, “Your magic? It’s unfortunate for you I’m sure, but be glad you’re not stone.”

Tempest soon turned around and smirked, “I'd love for everybody out there to know what I can really do.”

“Ooh fascinating.” Twilight turned behind her to see the large white ape creature himself behind them at the Sun door entrance, which seemed to surprise Tempest as she turned around too.

“What can you really do?” Storm King asked with a smile.

“Your bidding of course, your mighty one.” Grubber immediately praised the Storm King, clearly trying to defend Tempest, before he scurried off to exit the throne room.

“Bidding’s good. I like bidding.” The Storm King smiled jubilantly before turning to Twilight in confusion, “Um, what are you supposed to be?”

“I’m the Princess Of Friendship.” Twilight spoke neutrally to mask her fear.

“Oh, that’s nice!” The Storm King laughed before turning to Tempest angrily, “Why is this one still moving?”

“She and her friends put up a bit of a fight, but she's alone now. She won't be a problem.” Tempest smirked at Twilight who frowned.

The Storm King soon walked past Tempest uncaringly and spoke up as he walked to the thrones, “Yeah. So, speaking of problems, this place, it seems a little too, oh, I don't know… CUTE!!!” He said furiously.

“I don't like cute! I never did like cute! Doesn't really go with my whole ‘big bad powerful magic guy’ thing, does it?!” Storm King asked angrily, which did not seem to give Tempest a reason to care.

“Deliver the punchline, Tempest, because this has gotta be a joke!” The Storm King yelled before planting the staff in the tiny hole in the circle, and soon the circle lit up and soon magic was soon being drained against Twilight’s will and from the three princesses.

“No!” Twilight screamed in horror.

“Check out the light show!” The Storm King laughed maniacally as magic continued to flow into the staff.

After a while, The Storm King finally took out the staff from the circle and smiled as the Staff Of Sacanas crackled a bit, “Wow!”

Twilight soon felt herself grow weak as she kneeled down.

“Let’s get this storm started.” Storm King smiled before noting, “Ooh that’s good I should trademark that.”

Soon he let lightning form in the staff and soon Twilight found herself being blasted with the magic and being sent out of her cage and onto the balcony, where she laid down, feeling weak.

“Not bad. Actually, kinda first rate. What else does it do?” The Storm King asked as he fiddled with the staff.

“Your Excellency, you promised to restore my horn and give me…” Tempest began speaking before The Storm King interrupted, “Deh-deh-deh-deh-deh, okay. Hang on.”

The Storm King began to aim to zap Twilight which caused her to cover her face before she felt nothing.

She looked up to see The Storm King moving his staff and moving the sun with it.

“You gotta be kidding me?! I can move the sun?!” The Storm King said happily, before laughing and walking above Twilight to get a better view of the balcony, which caused her to look at Tempest as if to ask her if this was worth it. Tempest shifted her eyes but walked to the Storm King anyway.

“Time to play! Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday! Day, night! Day, night! Day night! Day night! Day night! Sunrise, sunset!” The Storm King kept playing with the sun and moon and dancing gleefully while Twilight looked behind her sadly.

Author's Note

I figured Trixie deserved a moment to shine, and her rebuilding Starlight’s spirit was the best way to go.

If Starlight seems like a screenhog by her motivating the group to wise up and take things more seriously. Sorry, but this story was made to integrate her into the plot so she’s not gonna be some minor character. She will have a role in this.

I decided to also take a little difference into Tempest’s redemption. In the movie, Tempest never told Twilight about what happened between her friends, I decided to do that in between the song while also showing she has some form of respect for Twilight. It builds up better to her reformation.

Taking Back Canterlot

Starlight was currently pulling a cart with a giant blue cake on it with the rest of the Elements Of Harmony and Trixie while Spike was pretending to be the candle for the cake. The pirates and Skystar were all inside said cake, ready to attack when needed. Capper and Pinkie Pie both came up with the idea together, which was a weird but clever combination.

She looked at the sky and saw the sun and moon radically rising and setting, Starlight frowned nervously, she hoped there was still a chance to save Twilight.

They were currently being led by said anthropomorphic cat to the entrance to Canterlot where two Storm Guards were guarding it.

“I still don’t get why you can’t use your magic to teleport us in the castle.” Trixie whispered to her friend.

“Unlike Discord, I don’t have as much magical power as he does. If I teleported ALL of us from a far distance I might burn out and end up being useless until my horn recharges. This is our best option.” Starlight whispered back.

Soon they reached the entrance to Canterlot and two Storm Guards stood firmly at the entrance.

Capper immediately began his manipulation tactics, “Uh, yeah, I got a delivery here for a Mister ‘The Storm King’. I was given explicit instructions to bring this here cake to this castle's throne room.” He spoke as he put his finger on the fake menu.

The Storm Guards looked at each other before pointing their spears at Capper who smirked nonchalantly, “All right, then. Look here. Could one of y'all go be a pal, go tell your boss he's not getting' his ‘Congratulations on subduing defenseless pastel ponies’ cake? 'Cause I don't wanna be the one responsible for the big guy missing his special dessert. You know what I'm sayin'?”

Capper soon walked back to face Pinkie Pie who frowned sadly at Capper, thinking the plan didn’t work but if Starlight knew Capper well enough, the Storm Guards were gonna let them through in three, two…

The Storm Guards allowed the group entry to the town much to Pinkie Pie’s delight, thankfully Capper was standing in front of Pinkie so they didn’t see it.

Starlight soon walked in the town borders along with the rest of the ponies and Capper as Capper told the guards, “Thank you kindly, fellas. I'mma be sure and put in a good word for the both of y'all.”

Starlight immediately noticed Pinkie Pie’s grin and whispered harshly, “Pinkie. Quit smiling. You’re gonna get us caught.”

“Oh, gotch.” Pinkie whispered back before putting on the fullest frown she could muster.

Starlight walked through the town with a hidden smile, if they keep going with no problems, they could make it to Twilight.

“GUARDS!” Grubber yelled out from behind the cake much to the shock of Starlight before Squabble immediately covered Grubber’s mouth and forced him inside the cake.

Unfortunately, the guards heard Grubber and began brandishing their spears.

“Uh Oh. Plan B?” Capper asked, a bit scared.

“The jig is up!” Rainbow Dash yelled fearfully before kicking the cart, allowing the pirates and Skystar to break out of the cake and begin fighting, they soon spread out and began attacking the Storm Guards.

Starlight then used her magic to get everyone out of the cart and soon joined the battle with the rest of the group.

Due to the shock of the battle among the guards, Starlight began blasting Storm Guards left and right, allowing them to fall, they weren’t dead, Starlight made sure of that, but they would not be conscious for a while.

As she looked to see how the rest of the group was doing, she saw Applejack lasso a Storm Guard’s limbs together, Rarity and Capper tie three Storm Guards up with a long ribbon, and Pinkie Pie overwhelming one guard with a multitude of cupcakes.

‘Where in Celestia does she get those?’ Starlight wondered to herself.

Soon Starlight continued to blast guards, she even saw Trixie throw some smoke bombs at them to stun them so Starlight could blast them easier, she sent a look of gratitude towards Trixie, while it was small, it was helpful.

Starlight then turned to see Grubber in front of her, who shielded himself with his arms, “Please don’t blast me! I’m not a big fan of the Storm King! I just wanted to help Tempest get her horn back!”

Starlight, for once, cast a look of sympathy at a Storm King supporter, from what Grubber was saying, he was just trying to help his friend but she wasn’t sure if she could trust him.

Starlight levitated Grubber to her face and sternly but softly said, “I’ll let you go since I feel some sympathy for you, but if you do become a problem I won’t be so nice next time.”

Grubber quickly nodded with a smile so Starlight let him go and she and Trixie ran back to where Capper, Skystar, Spike, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie were.

She soon heard Celeano speak up towards them as she fought a Storm Guard with her sword, “Head for the castle! We’ll hold them off!” She said referring to herself and the pirates.

“Come on!” Rainbow Dash told the group before they all ran towards the castle and Starlight soon saw Fluttershy talking with a Storm Guard who seemed to be in tears.

“Fluttershy!” Starlight called out along with the rest of her friends.

Fluttershy soon rejoined the group and they all headed up the stairs to the castle, Starlight soon saw a few Storm Guards running after them, she fired a blast, allowing four of them to fall to the ground.

“Keep going!” Skystar told Starlight before going off to supposedly fight of the remaining guards, Starlight silently prayed for her safety.

As they made it up to the top of the castle grounds, they were greeted by multiple Storm Guards who put up their shields and spears.

“Uh Oh.” Applejack gulped, Starlight wasn’t so sure what they could do next until Capper turned to Spike, “Hey, ain't you a fire-breathin' dragon?”

Soon Capper held onto Spike and aimed at the Storm Guards as he ferociously breathed fire on the guards who began running in fear as their tails were set on fire. Starlight smiled, not because of the Storm Guards being on fire, but due to how close they were getting to saving Twilight.

Meanwhile on the balcony, Twilight and Tempest looked at the scene in shock, Twilight being happy, while Tempest just plain shocked, “What?! How are they doing this?!”

Twilight gasped with a smile, “It’s the Magic Of…”

“Yeah yeah.” The Storm King smiled mockingly as he grabbed both Twilight and Tempest, “Friendship, and flowers, and ponies, and bleh.”

He then let them go as he spoke sternly, “I’m so totally over the cute pony thing.”

“This! Ends! Now!” The Storm King smirked maliciously as he pointed his staff towards the sky and shot lightning bolts at the clouds, which began to make a tornado much to Twilight’s shock and horror.

Meanwhile Starlight noticed Capper stopped using Spike to shoot fire and let him go as all three of them now noticed the sky was darkening.

“Uh Oh.” Capper gulped.

Rarity and Fluttershy screamed as the wind began blowing more and more.

Starlight couldn’t believe this, they wouldn’t be able to make it to the castle in time.

Starlight realized something, THEY couldn’t make it in, but…

She then looked at her horn and turned to Capper, “I’m teleporting in! Tell the others to meet me there!” Starlight alerted the hopefully former con-artist before lighting her horn and teleported.

She then found herself inside of the castle, and looked around the room, not a guard was in sight. She kept her horn flared up, Twilight had to be around here somewhere.

Meanwhile Capper had led the ponies and Spike away from the tornado and hid behind a walled structure.

Trixie looked around the area and spoke up, “Where’s Starlight?!”

“Relax! I saw her! She teleported inside the castle!” Capper reassured the blue unicorn, although he wasn’t sure how reassuring that would really be.

“We gotta go help her! She can’t do this alone!” Spike cried out fearfully.

“But how?! You'd have to be flying faster than a speeding Pegasus to break through that wind!” Rainbow Dash told everyone before Pinkie Pie gasped with a smile and soon took a helmet out of her mane and slowly put it on, “Excellent idea Rainbow Dash.”

Twilight looked on fearfully as The Storm King spoke triumphantly, “Now I truly am the Storm King! And the entire world will bow to my ba-ba-ba-boom, baby!” The Storm King soon shot a stray lightning bolt in the air.

Soon Tempest walked over to the Storm King and said, “Yes yes, you are every bit as powerful as I promised, Sire. Now, restore my horn and I swear to use my magic to serve you.” Tempest bowed before the martyr causing him to laugh maniacally as lightning shot besides him.

“Who cares about your dinky little unicorn horn?” The Storm King pushed Tempest behind him as he began to walk away from her.

“But… we had an agreement.” Tempest said pleadingly.

“Get with the program!” The Storm King growled with a smile, “I used you! You think I’d seriously trust YOUR kind?!”

He soon tried to blast Tempest with his new staff but she dodged expertly, Tempest soon blasted him with as much power as she could, knocking him into a wall, letting him fall to the ground as she hung onto the balcony to keep herself from being swept by the tornado, Twilight looked at the staff and at the struggling Tempest and soon she knew what to do next.

Twilight soon ran to Tempest who was about to be swept away but Twilight soon grabbed her left hoof with both hooves and cried out, “Hold on!”

“Why are you saving me?!” Tempest asked in shock.

“Because…” Twilight began contemplating before smiling, “I feel you can be more than what you are.”

Tempest smiled warmly at the gesture before Twilight pulled her back onto the balcony as they laid down panting.

Unfortunately the Storm King recovered quickly from the fall and laughed sarcastically, “Aw. Isn’t that just so sweet?!” He then pointed his staff at both ponies with a maniacal smile, “Yeah, see ya.”

Before Twilight could feel an incoming blast, a turquoise blast was fired at the Storm King from the left, but this time he dodged it.

Twilight looked in shock before seeing that Starlight held a determined gaze at the Storm King and flared up her horn, “Leave. The Alicorn. Alone.”

The Storm King glared hatefully at the new arrival and growled, “Fine. I’ll take you down first.”

The Storm King immediately fired blasts at Starlight but she kept dodging the attacks, and firing lasers back at the Storm King but he used his staff to make a lightning shield.

Soon Starlight shot a powerful beam at the martyr who fired a beam right back, Starlight was trying desperately to win this, but it was clear The Storm King was starting to overpower her.

“Run.” Starlight said weakly much to Twilight’s shock.

But soon Tempest fired a lightning bolt at the Storm King’s chest who fell back with both that and Starlight’s beam hitting him and leaned against the side of the balcony but before Starlight could get the staff, he stood up and kicked her back to Twilight and Tempest.

He slowly began to stand up and snarled, “I! Am sick! Of this lovey dovey nonsense! I will NOT lose!”

Meanwhile Mullet, Capper, Trixie, and Squabble were next to a pump that would fire the Easy Bake Confetti Cannon.

“You sure about this?” Mullet asked, unsure.

“Just do it!” Pinkie’s voice echoed from inside the cannon, “Thank you!” She added politely.

“I'm excited! Who's excited?! Aaah! I've never been so excited!” Pinkie Pie asked from the inside of the cannon where she, Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all squished in.

“Alright. Here goes.” Trixie gulped before pressing down on the pump, firing the five ponies and the dragon through the tornado and they headed for the balcony.

“Ahahahahahahaha!” The Storm King laughed maniacally at the three ponies as he began to charge up his staff much to Twilight’s sadness, she looked down at Starlight and embraced her, “I’m sorry.” She whispered sadly.

Before Starlight could respond, something hit the Storm King from a distance, causing him to fall back and into the castle rubble while the staff got stuck in the circular window and soon Twilight saw that her friends: Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy were inside the throne room.

“Bullseye.” Pinkie Pie said, a bit dazed.

Twilight and Starlight immediately went inside the throne room and Starlight immediately ran towards the group and spoke proudly, “I knew you girls could do it!”

“Pinkie! Spike! Starlight! Girls! You all came back!” Twilight smiled, happiness overwhelming her, “I’m so sorry! I was wrong to…”

She was cut off by a hug from Starlight herself, she softly hugged back with a smile.

“I’m sorry too.” Starlight apologized with tears of joy before wiping them as she let go of Twilight, “I know you messed up but I should’ve been more…”

“Uh, make up later!” Rainbow Dash yelled, gaining their attention, “This isn’t over!” She pointed to the staff that was currently stuck to the top of the castle and shooting lightning at the castle ceiling and causing the terrain to fall down.

“I gotta get control of it!” Twilight said fearfully.

“Go! You got this Twilight!” Pinkie Pie smiled encouragingly.

“No. We got this. Together.” Twilight said triumphantly.

Soon Starlight found herself holding onto Twilight’s left hoof while Rainbow Dash grabbed onto her back hooves, behind them were Pinkie Pie, Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack in that order as Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy used their wings and Starlight used her levitation spell to slowly rise the chain up to the staff with Applejack tied to a boulder to keep the group from being pulled into the storm.

Suddenly the Storm King began climbing the pile of terrain with a glare, “The staff belongs to me.”

Twilight and Starlight tried soaring higher to the staff to get closer to it but they couldn’t seem to reach it. They couldn’t fail now, there’s too much at stake.

“Gah! Mine!” The Storm King cried out as he leaped for the staff and suddenly Twilight pulled herself closer to the staff and grabbed it, which caused her the window to break and the Storm King to fall into the tornado, and Twilight to get sucked in as well, Starlight tried her hardest to hold onto her but she couldn’t and Twilight was soon in the tornado.

“Twilight!” Starlight cried out in horror, “NO!”

Starlight looked on the tornado to see if there was any sign of Twilight but there wasn’t, and soon the winds stopped causing the tornado to slowly subside and soon Starlight slowly levitated down with everyone else slowly falling with her. They all looked to the distance and saw no sign of Twilight.

She then saw Pinkie Pie go to lean on Applejack who hugged her back sadly as well.

Starlight couldn’t hold back her tears and began silently crying, immediately earning a hug from Spike. Now that Twilight was gone, I guess she and Spike had to rely on each other more than ever from now on. She still looked teary eyed at the sky, one of her best friends was now gone for good, and unlike with Sunburst, she wasn’t coming back.

Suddenly Starlight saw the sun shining as well as a distant figure slowly flying down. She let go of Spike to rub her eyes and saw that she wasn’t hallucinating, Twilight was actually flying back down with the staff in her front hooves and smiling warmly as she descended onto the balcony.

“Yay!” Pinkie Pie cheered eagerly as Applejack shouted, “Yee-haw!” as they, and everyone else began running towards Twilight.

Starlight noticed that Twilight had a few loose strands in her mane but she could care less, Twilight was alive, she was still here!

“Group hug!” Pinkie Pie called out, Starlight didn’t have to think twice before joining the hug. She finally felt warm inside, a warm feeling of safety in her heart was formed.

Starlight looked back to see Tempest just nearby and behind them, to Starlight’s surprise, she smiled just a little. Starlight smiled back at Tempest, showing all was forgiven.

Tempest nodded in a show of respect before she began to leave the area, Starlight couldn’t blame her, she wasn’t sure if anyone besides her and Twilight would forgive the former commander, even after saving Starlight’s life.

Soon Starlight went back to the hug when suddenly she heard hoofsteps and saw Tempest was running forward in determination. Starlight was a bit surprised, what was going on?

She then looked behind her to see the Storm King with a black and green orb and knew exactly what Tempest was aiming for.

“Get down!” Starlight told the group and soon she and the rest of her friends ducked.

“No!” Tempest cried out before being struck by the orb and then jumping towards the Storm King, causing both of them to turn to stone with the former already falling off the balcony and his stone form shattering on the ground by impact, but Starlight knew it wasn’t too late to save Tempest as she grabbed the statue of Tempest with her magic and tried her hardest to levitate her up to the balcony but soon she saw some other magic aura take Tempest and levitate her to the balcony.

“Whoa! I can’t believe she did that!” Rainbow Dash said in shock.

Twilight shared a look with Starlight and the alicorn spoke with a soft smile, “I can.”

With another burst of magic from the staff, Tempest was no longer stone and back to her normal self much to her shock as she scrambled onto her hooves, she soon shared a look with Twilight and smiled warmly at her.

“Now what?” Fluttershy asked curiously.

Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Spike shared the same sentiments as they weren’t sure what to do next. And if Starlight were to be honest, neither did she?

“Now… we fix everything.” Tempest said with a soft smile before she led the group inside the castle.

Twilight and Tempest soon stopped next to the little hole in the circle that was presumably used to take the alicorn magic a while ago.

“All you have to do is place the top of the staff in the circle and the magic and your castle will be restored.” Tempest told Twilight before taking the staff and saying, “This was my mess so I’ll fix it.”

Tempest soon put the staff in the circle and soon magic began flowing through Twilight’s veins again, Starlight was probably right to assume she now had her magic back but that wasn’t all.

Starlight looked to see Cadence, Luna, and then Celestia were freed from their stone prisons and soon Celestia smiled warmly at Twilight.

“Twilight.” Celestia said proudly.

“Princesses.” Twilight smiled in relief before sharing a hug with all three alicorns with the rest of her friends joining in too.

Tempest looked at Starlight with a raised eyebrow and spoke up in confusion, “Aren’t you going to join them?”

“Eh, I’ll let them have this moment.”Starlight shrugged with a nonchalant smile as she saw the castle walls were being restored, “Besides, something tells me that Twilight and I already need to talk eventually so I figured I’ll let her have this.”

“Am I right to assume you are the one who had the argument with Twilight?” Tempest asked.

“Yeah. That was me.” Starlight sighed sadly before brightening up, remembering their brief apologies to each other, “But I have a feeling we’ll get through it. That’s what friends do. They forgive each other.”

“Right, forgiveness…” Tempest sighed.

“Don’t worry Tempest. I know from experience how difficult redemption can be.” Starlight smiled reassuringly before Tempest hummed in confusion, “Long story, but anyway, as long as you work on improving yourself. You’ll be forgiven in due time.”

“I’m guessing you did something heinous in the past too?” Tempest asked carefully, though Starlight didn’t mind.

“Oh where do we begin with this one?” Spike asked with a joking chuckle as he walked to the scene much to Starlight’s embarrassment.

“It probably wasn’t as bad as yours depending on how you look at it, but let’s just say I was no better than you at one point and these ponies encouraged me to change, well mostly Twilight but they all were helpful.” Starlight answered as she gestured to Twilight and the rest of the Elements Of Harmony who all smiled warmly.

The Princesses however did seem to glare a bit at Tempest, Starlight and Twilight weren’t sure if that was a good sign but Celestia spoke up, “We’ll discuss what to do with Tempest later, but rest assured it will not be to the levels of Tirek’s punishment.”

Starlight smiled at both Twilight and Tempest in relief, that was a good thing.

Author's Note

Alright, so there’s a lot to unpack here. Let’s do this.

I had Starlight teleport alone to save Twilight as soon as the tornado began forming because it honestly felt like something she would genuinely do, and it helped fuel the drama.

I dove into a little unlimited third person writing than I usually did with third person limited with Twilight and Starlight. I at least wanted to still acknowledge the other characters moments too.

And now for Tempest’s redemption, I didn’t change it much because it’s good for what it is but I had Starlight have that conversation with her because, well it seemed like something she’d do too.

Epilogue: Healing Wounds And Closer Bonds

Twilight smiled fondly at the night sky as Spike stood on the stage, breathed into the microphone and enthusiastically stated, “Ladies and Gentlecolts! Give it up for a little…”

The spotlight soon shined at the end of the stage where the white pegasus in flashy black clothing known as Songbird Serenade was.

Twilight cheered along with her friends, Trixie, Capper, the pirates, and Skystar.

“And now, to celebrate the fact that we're all still here in one piece, give it up for Princess Twilight and her friends!” Songbird Serenade said happily as a spotlight pointed at Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and even Starlight and Trixie.

Twilight began hearing praises and cheer from everyone around the festival, but soon she saw all three princesses bow in respect in which she did the same.

Suddenly the spotlight turned off and Songbird Serenade started singing, “I know you, you're a special one
Some see crazy where I see love.”

Twilight looked over at Starlight and smiled, and soon she smiled back, for some odd reason, those lyrics reminded Twilight of her.

“You fall so low but shoot so high

Big dreamers shoot for open sky.” Songbird Serenade continued singing before her backup dancers popped out from behind the stage.

“So much life in those open eyes

So much depth, you look for the light.”

Twilight looked to then see Celeano and Rainbow Dash share a fist bump, Rarity giving Capper a new top hat and black cape, and finally Pinkie Pie and Skystar sharing a laugh.

“But when your wounds open, you will cry

You'll cry out now and you'll question why.”

Soon Queen Novo flew in with some of her Hippogriff subjects and soon Skystar ran up to her and gave her a hug, “Mom!”

“You are so grounded.” Novo laughed much to Skystar’s shock, and Twilight also saw Starlight and Trixie look on in annoyance and/or disgust. Twilight couldn’t really blame them, Skystar was helpful to their cause. Suddenly the podium Songbird Serenade was on began to rise.

“I can see a rainbow

In your tears as they fall on down

I can see your soul grow

Through the pain as they hit the ground

I can see a rainbow

In your tears as the sun comes out

As the sun comes out.” Songbird Serenade sang as she flew over Twilight and Twilight smiled before looking behind her to see Tempest at the very back of the crowd, so she decided to check up on her and flew over to Tempest who was looking longingly into the distance, she seemed to know Twilight was here so she began speaking softly, “Well, that's one thing that never changes around here. The party.”

“Well, I hope you'll stay for it. More friends are definitely merrier.” Twilight smiled softly.

“I know. But… in a few moments I’ll be spending a couple weeks in jail and doing community service. I’m just lucky I had a change of heart when I did or I would have gotten a worse punishment.” Tempest sighed longingly, “All this for getting my horn back.”

“You know, your horn is pretty powerful, just like the pony it belongs to.” Twilight smiled reassuringly, “And don’t worry, those few weeks you’ll be spending in prison are gonna fly by. Soon you’ll be able to reinvent yourself.”

Tempest smiled softly too as she began heading towards the edge of Canterlot, “I did tell you I wanted to show everypony in Equestria what I could do, right?”

Tempest soon shot out a lightning bolt and fireworks began shooting everywhere.

“I can see a rainbow

In your tears as they fall on down

I can see your soul grow

Through the pain as they hit the ground.”

Twilight heard Songbird Serenade sing as she smiled warmly at Tempest.

“Nice touch Tempest.” Pinkie Pie smiled from the crowd.

“Actually that’s not my real name.” Tempest admitted sheepishly.

Soon Pinkie Pie bounced over as Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity also walked to Twilight and Tempest.

“Ooh. What is it?” Pinkie Pie smiled as she leaned next to Tempest.

“It’s Fizzlepop Berrytwist.” Tempest whispered with a smile.

Pinkie Pie soon gasped happily before yelling, “Okay! That is the most awesome name EVER!”

She got a small smile from Tempest before Pinkie spoke up, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go make sure my good buddy Skystar doesn’t get grounded. Bye now.”

She soon sped off much to Tempest’s amusement, “She definitely seems like a handful doesn’t she?”

“Honestly all of us are oddballs in our own rights.” Twilight heard Starlight say as she and Trixie walked over to the scene.

“Sorry to intrude, but we were getting bored of hearing Celestia and Queen Novo talking about political things and blah blah blah.” Trixie said in an annoyed tone.

“Why were you even with them anyway?” Spike asked curiously.

Pinkie Pie suddenly ran back over and spoke up, “Yeah, I was gonna talk to her before you showed up.”

“I needed to talk with Queen Novo about her punishing Skystar.” Starlight admitted with a sheepish smile, “I felt it was unfair she was gonna get punished for helping her friends save their land.”

“She’s not mad at us is she?” Twilight asked in concern, the last time they saw Novo she banished them from their underwater kingdom due to Twilight’s attempt to steal the pearl.

“No. I was able to clear things up with her. I guess the fact her daughter even came here at least proved the rest of us were genuine with our intentions.” Starlight spoke reassuringly before gaining a nervous grin, “Although… she does want to speak with you. That’s the real reason I showed up.”

Twilight gulped, she was about to face the very ruler that she tried to steal a magic pearl from and likely was going to face her former mentor too. Twilight had no doubt she was screwed.

Starlight was apparently able to sense this emotion and asked, “Do you… need me to come with you? I have no problem supporting you on this.”

Twilight smiled at this, after everything that’s going on, she felt like she could really use a friend right now.

“That would be nice.” Twilight admitted happily.

“Actually, there’s no need to find us.” A familiar voice spoke from above, soon Celestia and Novo both flew in front of Twilight with neutral looks, though Twilight couldn’t contain her nervousness and immediately began babbling, “Queen Novo I am so sorry! I shouldn’t have stolen the pearl! I should have had more faith that we could turn our situation around by more civil means, I shouldn’t have tried to steal from you!”

Twilight soon sighed as she looked behind her to look at her five Ponyville friends and then Starlight, “I was so delusional in my twisted methods to save Equestria that I also ended up hurting the ones near and dear to me.”

“I’m ready for whatever punishment you have in store.” Twilight sighed sadly.

“Twilight, we are disappointed in the methods you took to save Equestria, we cannot deny that.” Celestia admitted.

“But in a way, we could understand where you were coming from. From what Celestia told me, your land was being enslaved by that monster.” Novo added with a sigh, “Honestly I just wish I was more willing to stand up to the Storm King like you were. Your friend Starlight also gave me a better understanding of what you were going through to protect Equestria.”

Twilight looked in shock at Starlight who sent her a reassuring wink, which she smiled at.

“So even if we believe your methods were wrong. It would feel unfair to punish you.” Celestia smiled warmly.

“Thank you.” Twilight shared a hug with Celestia before Celestia then said, “Now if you’ll excuse me, me and Novo need to discuss how to better improve our relations with both our kingdoms.”

The two then flew off and Twilight soon embraced Starlight, “You didn’t need to stand up for me, but I’m grateful you did.”

“I had to stand up for you. You would’ve done the same for me, plus you didn’t deserve to be punished.” Starlight smiled back.

Starlight began to get ready for the train ride home as she began packing her saddlebags with some of Trixie’s magic show equipment with the showmare herself at where Trixie’s show was stationed. After a while, the festival began to die down and every creature was getting ready to go home, well except Capper, he would be joining Captain Celeano and her crew from now on to make a brand new start. Starlight smiled fondly at that, at least Capper would finally be free from that town full of dirtbags.

She then saw Tempest and Grubber walk over to where they were with two royal guards at their side.

“Tempest? Grubber? I thought you two would be serving your sentences by now. I will say I’m glad you two are at least getting off easy.” Starlight admitted with shock, yet said happily.

“We wanted to talk to you first though. Celestia gave us the okay to do so.” Grubber explained with a smile, “Thanks for not blasting me with your magic horn. You had every right to do that but you didn’t.”

Starlight smiled at this, she knew there was some good in Grubber after all.

“You’re welcome. I didn’t see a good reason to do so given you seemed relatively harmless and from what you said, you were just trying to help your friend get her horn back.” Starlight told the hedgehog happily who shared a smile with Tempest.

“And I wanted to thank you for giving me the courage to eventually redeem myself.” Tempest told her fellow unicorn before continuing, “I also wanted to give you some advice, don’t give up on what you have with Twilight. From what I heard, you were both equally hurt from that argument you had with each other. It’s clear you two mean a lot to each other.”

Starlight blushed as she remembered all the good times she had after Twilight helped her see the light, “Yeah, she really means a lot to me.”

Trixie just rolled her eyes with a smirk at this.

“Then let her know that. I’m sure you’re already making progress with her given your hug, but I don’t think you talked with her about the argument.” Tempest advised her.

“You’re right… I haven’t.” Starlight admitted with a sigh, “I plan to talk to her though, I can’t shake off what we said to each other.”

“I’m glad.” Tempest smiled proudly before she and Grubber were led by the guards to the castle, “Now if you’ll excuse us. We need to serve a few weeks in the Canterlot Dungeons.”

Trixie was a bit shocked at that statement, “Only a few weeks. That seems like their getting off easy.”

“Tempest sacrificed herself to save me and the others while Grubber hardly did any acts of aggression except being an ally to the Storm King. Twilight also vouched for them a bit.” Starlight explained as she packed up the last of Trixie’s equipment with her magic and put it in her saddlebags.

“I suppose that makes sense.” Trixie admitted with a shrug as she picked up her saddlebags and they both started heading for the train back to Ponyville where Twilight and the others were waiting for them.

“That party was AWESOME!” Pinkie Pie cried out joyfully.

“I have to agree.” Fluttershy smiled, “It was good to see Discord was able to come back from his vacation to show up.”

“Honestly it would have been better had she showed up from the beginning. That Klutzy Draconequus can’t do anything right.” Trixie rolled her eyes angrily.

“Come on Trix. Things did work out in the end. Discord didn’t know this was gonna happen, and if we’re being honest, the Storm Guards do have magic shields and Tempest also had those Obsidian Orbs so I’m not sure how quickly he could have ended things.” Starlight spoke in defense of Discord.

“Eh, fair point I guess.” Rainbow Dash shrugged.

They soon boarded the train and she and Trixie decided to sit in front of Twilight and Spike. It didn’t take Trixie much hesitation to do so, Trixie was at least familiar with Twilight and Spike more than the others.

The train ride was silent, and Starlight knew exactly why, Twilight and her were going to have to talk about the beach argument, and they couldn’t really find a way to not talk about it in front of the rest of the townsfolk on the train.

Twilight immediately collapsed onto the floor when she, Starlight, and Spike finally made it back home. It was a long day and Twilight just needed to take a breather from all the world saving and partying they did.

“Wow. You seem exhausted.” Starlight noted as she patted Twilight’s mane softly which made Twilight sigh with a smile.

“Yeah. We went through a lot today.” Twilight hummed in honesty.

“We sure did.” Starlight sighed softly.

Twilight knew now was the time to talk to Starlight, she deserved to have a proper apology.

“Spike, I’m gonna talk to Starlight. You mind getting ready for bed?” Twilight asked softly to the dragon.

“Sure thing.” Spike smiled in understanding before he began walking off.

Once Spike was out of hearing range, Twilight turned to Starlight and began apologizing profusely, “Starlight I am so sorry for what I said to you at the shore. You had every right to get mad at me and I… I said the most hurtful words I could possibly say to you. I don’t expect you to forgive me yet, but I figured I should just…”

“Stop.” Starlight interrupted Twilight before talking, “I shouldn’t have been so hard on you either. I should’ve tried to understand why you stole the pearl like you did when I tried to get rid of cutie marks. We both acted out of line here, especially since I practically insulted your Princess title. Even if I don’t find you in the same league as Celestia, Luna, and Cadence due to our bond, I still shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry too.”

Twilight was shocked to hear Starlight
“But why did you get so mad at me anyway? You seemed much more upset than Pinkie and Trixie were.” Twilight asked curiously.

“I… I felt like what I saw wasn’t the real you out there, and I didn’t like what you were starting to act like.” Starlight admitted with a tearful frown, “Stealing the pearl like that is something I wouldn’t even think of you doing, you weren’t being yourself and… it reminded me of when I acted like that. I guess that triggered some sort of rage inside me. I know you could never be like how I used to, but the thought of you doing so felt so awful.

“I promise I’ll never be like that.” Twilight embraced Starlight comfortingly, “Even at my worst, I don’t ever think I could become like Tirek or Chrysalis and I never plan to, not if it would hurt you or any of my other friends.”

“I believe you, I just got a little worried about you is all.” Starlight admitted.

“I understand. We all have our worries about our friends going down a bad path.” Twilight said understandingly as she released Starlight.

“You know, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sleep tonight.” Starlight admitted sheepishly.

“Why? Did I do something wrong?” Twilight asked in concern.

“No, it’s not you, but I just can’t shake the feeling that if I’m alone, something bad will happen. I’m still a bit shaken up by the adventure.” Starlight admitted rubbing her hoof nervously.

Twilight began to think about how to help Starlight, this wasn’t like when Spike had a fear of ghosts, this was something that actually affected her friend.

“Maybe… you could sleep with me tonight.” Twilight suggested with a nervous smile before quickly adding, “Not in an inappropriate way of course, just so you don’t feel alone.”

Starlight looked a little shocked by the offer before smiling with an awkward blush, “Are you sure? I don’t wanna make things weird.”

“My bed can fit us both. It doesn’t bother me. Besides, I had worries about you too. I think we both need each other right now.” Twilight smiled at Starlight.

“Okay. If you’re sure.” Starlight smiled sheepishly.

Starlight looked at the castle ceiling as she laid on the bed in thought. Today had been hectic, she had to escape the Storm King army, go on a rescue mission to save Twilight and all of Canterlot, and they even still had the Friendship Festival afterwards.

All of this journey, Starlight never truly felt at ease, she hardly felt a feeling of warmth or safety.

Soon she felt her torso being grabbed by Twilight as she softly smiled in her sleep.

Starlight knew she was only doing it platonically as a way of comfort, but it still made Starlight smile fondly, it was proof that Twilight did care about her, and still valued their friendship and Starlight now knew she could always count on that.

She finally felt warm and safe.

Author's Note

The cuddling between Twilight and Starlight was purely just meant to be cute and wholesome. Whether you want to see it as more than platonic, I won’t stop you but this felt so adorable to write.

And that’s the end of our story. I know some people might be put off about Tempest being punished but I figured Celestia would probably want Tempest to atone for her crimes somehow. Starlight technically did so by giving up by her own free will to stop seeking revenge and becoming Twilight’s student for a while.

As a show of good faith, I had Tempest and Grubber have a conversation with Starlight to show that they do have a bright future eventually awaiting them.