A Glimmer of Hope

It had been two days since Twilight had published the books to all of Equestria. Since the publication, everyone seemed to enjoy the book. Maybe the books had been successful after all.

Starlight casually walked around Ponyville, enjoying the beautiful day. During her stroll, she walked by the schoolhouse. She then noticed that Twilight was talking to two fillies. Then she started walking up towards a group of fillies.

Curious, Starlight decided to join in.

As she walked up to the princess, she could now pick up what they were saying.

"We were thinkin' of puttin' together a cutie mark summer camp. Now, everypony's definitely gonna sign up for it!" a filly named Applebloom boasted, while having the friendship book nearby. "This is gonna be awesome!"

Applebloom laughed as she walked off with her friends.

"A cutie mark camp is a great idea." Starlight told Twilight, who looked down.

"Yeah, but the purpose of the journal isn't supposed to be marketing." Twilight told her dejectedly.

The mares left the schoolhouse behind, and walked down one of the many streets of Ponyville.

"I just hope those foals actually learn something from our lessons." Twilight told her, with a tiny hint of concern in her voice.

"They will! I'm sure ponies all across Equestria will— Whoa!" Starlight's message was put to an abrupt halt when a group of ponies, which Starlight doesn't recognize, gazed intently at the princess.

"Uh... hello. Can I... help you?" Twilight asked, confused.

"We're here all the way from Fillydelphia because we got copies of your friendship journal!" one of the ponies told them, clearly excited.

Twilight immediately became happy. "Wow! How wonderful! What was your favorite friendship—"

"Will you sign them?" the same pony asked as they hovered the books over Twilight.

"Oh, uh, I guess so." Twilight answered, a little weirded out. Meanwhile, Starlight gave them confused stares.

"So, what did you think of the lessons?" Twilight asked the group while signing the book.

"Oh, we haven't read them. These are keepsakes." The pony said. He took out a plastic book protector and placed the book inside. "We gotta keep them in mint condition."

"Oh." Twilight said in disappointment after she finished signing the books.

"Wow, that was worth the trip!" another pony said happily.

They walked off while chattering happily.

Twilight sighed, clearly discouraged. Starlight put her hoof on her, feeling bad for her friend.

"I don't get it." Twilight told her. "We've made copies of those books so ponies can learn the friendship lessons that me and the girls have learned. Why are they not reading them?"

Starlight could only shake her head. "There has to be some ponies who have." she told her.

"Doesn't seem like it." Twilight said as she walked off.

Starlight trotted after her. "Did you remember what I said the other day that other ponies wouldn't care for the stories?"

"Too clearly." Twilight told her. "I didn't think you would be right about that."

"Honestly, me either, but here we are." Starlight lightly chuckled.

Twilight didn't share her humor.

Starlight frowned. That didn't help at all. How stupid. She scolded herself in her mind.

Once the two were walking by a café, Starlight tried to give her more support.

"Don't worry, Twilight. I'm sure lots of other ponies are being inspired to be better friends." Starlight said reassuringly to her.

"Well, I for one found the journal terribly illuminating." One of the café ponies said suddenly to another pony, who was at the table with them.

After hearing him, Twilight excitedly hid behind the bush to hear the conversation. Starlight quickly joined her.

"I agree. I'm seeing sides of these ponies I didn't know were there. I only wish they'd left Rarity out. She clearly doesn't belong in that book with the rest of them." the other pony said.

The two looked immediately shocked.

"Oh, I know! Who does she think she is? Certainly she did a fine job setting up the Ponyville Days celebration, but does she really believe it was a success just because of her?" The other pony agreed before laughing in an inconsiderate manner. "Oh, the nerve!"

Afterwards, they heard a paper rustle, and the two mares saw a pony leave in tears. Unfortunately, that pony was Rarity herself.

"But that's not what she was saying! Rarity!" Twilight called out to her friend; she didn't seem to hear her.

Starlight could only watch her friend run away in sadness; and, while she didn't show it, she was deeply angry by how inconsiderate those two ponies could be. They were talking about the Element of Generosity for Celestia's sake!

"Oh, poor Rarity. She overheard all the mean things those ponies were saying! She must be devastated." Twilight told Starlight in shock. "I'm going after her."

"Go ahead." Starlight told her in a firm voice, letting some of her anger out. She turned to the two ponies that had hurt Rarity's feelings. "I'm going to have a chat with these two."

Twilight looked angrily at the ponies as well. She nodded at Starlight before running off.

Starlight took it as a green light, and she marched towards the ponies.

"I hope you're happy." she told them in a calm, but bitter tone.

The mare, going by the name of Lavender Bloom, looked at her with an annoyed expression. "And you are?"

"I don't need an introduction to know that what you did is inconsiderate and rude." Starlight told her. "You literally saw the same mare that you insulted run away in tears, and did nothing."

"So what? It's none of your business." the stallion, named Diamond Cutter, responded curtly.

Starlight breathed in and out, trying to be calm and not let her anger and frustration take over. "It may not be, but you could've shown at least a shred of guilt for what you did. No one should be treated that way. Especially towards Rarity."

"But what we said is true though. If anything, she somewhat deserved it." Lavender told her.

"Is it though?" Starlight raised her eyebrow. "Did we read the same book?"

"Look, why are you even here? It's not like we're going to apologize to her because you say we should." Diamond Cutter asked, clearly wanting her to leave.

"Maybe not. But you missed the point that the lesson was trying to make. And since when did she say that it was all because of her? Have you forgotten that you were talking about the pony that is known for being generous?"

The two remained silent.

Starlight just shook her head. She knew she wasn't going to change the minds of these snobby ponies, no matter how hard she tried. "Look, I won't force you to change your minds. I'm far beyond that now." she tried to explain. "But you have to understand that you can't just say rude things to other ponies like that. What if you were insulted in front of you and laughed about it? I bet it wouldn't feel good, would it?"

The ponies just stared at her.

"Take my advice, or don't. But I know you could've treated her a lot better than that. After all, friendship is magic, right?" Starlight rolled her eyes before leaving the ponies. She knew that she barely convinced them to apologize to her. But at least she expressed how she felt about the situation, and how to fix it. It's their choice whether to take her advice or not.

Deciding that no words needed to be said to them, Starlight trotted to find Twilight, hoping that the situation would get better for her former teacher.