set your stride, start anew
"Starlight!"
Starlight is broken out of her listless haze by the sound of her name. She blinks, returning to reality. Her drink sits, barely touched, on the table in front of her. The sound of ponies chatting and loud music blares in her ears, previously drowned out by the static in her head.
This function had begun not 20 minutes ago, and Starlight's already lost in the flood. These kinds of huge festivities have never really been her thing- and, as much as Twilight's coronation means to her, actual engagement is difficult for her to come by.
It seems engagement has come to her, however, as she searches the room for whoever brought her out of her numb stupor- and lights up upon finding none other than Trixie, waving at her across the way and trotting toward her with a smile alike to Starlight's own.
"Starlight!" She calls again once closer, setting a hoof atop her friend's where it rests on the table. "Trixie thought she'd never find you in this sea of crazy ponies…" She shuffles around the table to make her way to the other side, where she plops herself down next to Starlight satisfyingly, an unusual pink tint in her cheeks.
It's then that Starlight notices her hovering a cup with her magic. Fear strikes like a heat flash in her chest, and she tentatively leans in to ask, "You, uh… haven't been drinking the cider, have you?"
Trixie, prone to Starlight's concern, clarifies coolly, "I'm not one for cider, no." She says with a swish of her cup in her magic hold, earning a relieved sigh from her friend. "I am, though, one for punch. Punch, which- upon Trixie's close inspection- seems thankfully… uncontaminated."
Starlight tilts her head, looking down into her own helping of the drink. "How many cups of punch have you had?"
"About four. That's been Trixie's close inspection. Thank Celestia it isn't spiked."
Starlight hisses through her teeth, wincing at the thought of the alternative outcome. "Yeah, seriously."
Starlight watches the reception, her musing accentuated by a precarious Rainbow Dash crowdsurfing along fields of ponies with an empty cider mug hooked on her hoof. The pegasus is promptly dumped off the end of the crowd, landing squarely on her face, sprawled and not looking keen to get up anytime soon.
Starlight would hate to have to drag a… Trixie of that caliber out of the premises, and silently thanks Celestia (or, would it be Twilight, now? That'll be odd getting used to.) that tonight is not that night.
"You know, I think I've grown to like parties with your friends." Trixie resumes conversation with mirth.
Starlight, smiling back, goads, "Technically, this is more a celebration than a party."
Trixie gives her a deadpan look. "Starlight, you know I don't know the difference. Besides, if Pinkie Pie is here, it's a party."
Starlight chuckles, "Yeah, I know. And… I suppose that makes sense."
"Of course it does. The Great and Powerful Trixie always makes sense." The showpony flips her mane proudly.
"I can think of a few times where that's been blatantly untrue, but I'll let it slide because it's a nice night."
"Because you looooove me?" Trixie sings, obnoxiously cuddling herself up beneath Starlight's chin, gazing up at the unicorn with large, shining eyes.
Starlight scoffs and pushes Trixie's face far away, "Yeah, sure."
Trixie giggles beneath her hoof, a light and bubbly sound, and Starlight can't help the warm bloom of fondness in her cheeks, beginning to laugh with her.
They're stopped, however, when the newly crowned Twilight passes by, on the tail-end of a conga line of happily cheering ponies. Her mane is still a mess, and her dress seems to have taken a fair bit more damage- some that Rarity would surely fret over were she not occupied by the party- yet she's hooting and hollering, dancing down the line like it's the most fun she's had in her life.
Twilight meets Starlight's gaze, returning her with a smile bright as the sun, infectious and blinding, before continuing the path around the room.
The interaction lasts only a moment, but stretches on for hours, leaving the two unicorns at the table in humbled silence, Starlight turning the image of Twilight's smile in her mind.
This really is the start of a new era, isn't it?
Something flips uneasily in Starlight's stomach.
"I hate to admit it, but…" Trixie delicately breaks the silence, voice hardly audible over the stir, "I am going to miss having Twilight around. She and I obviously haven't always been on the best terms. But any friend of yours is a friend of mine, and… I suppose she became more tolerable after a while."
Starlight chuckles, finding humor in the half-positive sentiment. "Yeah, me too."
She stares down at the reflection in her cup. If she blinks hard enough, she can see her teacher staring back at her. "She's done so much for me… I can't imagine not having her there when I need her. All my lessons… I'm sort of scared they're just going to… fall off? Once she's not here to enforce them anymore. Not that I haven't taken them to heart! It's just…" She inhales sharply. "I don't know. Scared is a good word for it. Kinda the only word for it."
Trixie takes this information with a flat hum, her mouth drawn into an equally flat line and brows etched as she obviously wracks her brain for a response. Starlight shyly sips her drink, hiding herself behind her cup.
Then Trixie gives a cool smile, waving her drink toward Starlight as if toasting to her.
"Well, hey! You're Starlight Glimmer. You can do anything without that silly Twilight's help. I've seen it firsthoof, and we both know you have no right questioning your abilities." She pokes at Starlight's horn. "You are many, many things, Starlight, but humble is certainly not one of them. It's one of my favorite things we have in common," Trixie explains with a flourish of her mane, making Starlight blush and defiantly push Trixie's hoof away.
"Okay, yes, you're right," She concedes with a small laugh. "But… it's not my magical ability that I'm worried about."
Trixie tilts her head, urging Starlight to continue.
"It's… the friendship thing." Starlight confesses, looking ashamed. "I'm not sure I can keep going like this without Twilight's help. I've made so many amazing friends, and… I'd hate to lose them all because my teacher isn't there."
"Friends, huh?" Trixie repeats, swirling her punch thoughtfully. "Well… I mean… you did that without Twilight's help, too, didn't you?"
Starlight blinks at her, puzzled. "What?"
"When you became friends with me," Trixie gestures toward herself matter-of-factly, "You didn't need Twilight, did you? In fact, she kinda made things worse. It took us both a while to get over that."
It was a while ago, now, but Starlight remembers. She'd been so… hurt, by Twilight not trusting her. It stung to know that, after all her effort, her teacher didn't have faith in her. It was early on, sure, but… meeting someone like Trixie at that point was something she'd desperately needed. She was dedicated to her growth, and Twilight couldn't see that. At least, not for some time. It did take a bit to forgive her for that.
Starlight shakes away the memory, and with it, her unpleasant feelings. "I… guess you're right…" She admits. "B-But, Sunburst-"
"And with Maud," Trixie cuts in, "You didn't need Twilight. You did that by yourself. And, again, Pinkie Pie was just making things worse. Honestly, Twilight and her friends seem more like a friendship hazard than anything." She remarks with a familiar bitterness in her tone. Often directed at Twilight and the others.
"Yeah, I, uh, guess their mastery of friendship really only applies to each other." She says sheepishly, looking away for a brief moment before slamming a hoof on the table in confidence. "B-But, again, with Sunburst-"
"What about Sunburst?"
Starlight hesitates to continue, irked by Trixie's brashness. "Twilight was there for me when I needed to rekindle my relationship with him in the Crystal Empire. He's arguably my most important friend- uh, no offense-"
"I wasn't going to say anything until you brought it up, but go on."
"...Right. But, yeah- he was the first pony I ever tried friendship with, after so long, and Twilight was there to help me through it. Something as important as that… I'm not sure I can let it go."
Trixie hums for a long time. It continues on just enough that Starlight thinks she may break into song at any moment. It's mildly disturbing until Trixie finally clicks her tongue.
"Yeah, okay. But, is that really even true?"
Starlight stares, incredulous. "...What? What do you mean? Are you saying I'm lying to you?"
Trixie, unfazed, continues, "It's just that, last I heard, the Crystal Empire was in the middle of a giant, freezing, baby crisis when you all were there that time. And, I don't recall hearing about Twilight being there when you confronted Sunburst. In fact, I think I remember… her being absent. Stuck in the castle with the baby. Decidedly not there for you, Starlight Glimmer."
"Trixie- I- I mean, I guess, you're right, but-"
"So, what I'm saying is," Trixie jabs an accusatory hoof into Starlight's chest- her expression set in such a serious manner that Starlight falters entirely- "You have always, always been capable of making your own friends, from the beginning. And Twilight going away isn't going to reverse all of your growth. Maybe it'll even be better for you, y'know? No lousy expectations you feel like you have to live up to under her watch."
Starlight looks down at her hooves propped on the table, an uncertain noise droning under the sound of the party.
"Look at it this way," Trixie lifts Starlight's chin, going on, "I know I'm not going anywhere. You probably don't have to worry about anyone else leaving you, either. We're friends with you, Starlight. Not Twilight's idea of you. And if her not being here changes that for any of us, then…" She shrugs, remarkably nonchalant, "We weren't very good friends in the first place, were we?"
The question stretches once it's uttered- much like Twilight's saccharine smile, taunting her- making the air stale with a cognizance Starlight wasn't sure she was ready for. An awareness she knew was long overdue.
Starlight huffs, a strained smile lifting the corner of her mouth. "I hate how good you are at that." She tries, voice defiantly shaky. Her mouth suddenly feels dry, the crowd is suddenly too loud, the reflection in her cup is staring, sinking into her, freezing her veins with deadly venom- she grows stock still, shoulders hitched up and chin dipped, folded ears muffling the world around her as her eyes start to burn.
She jolts when Trixie nudges her. "Let's step outside, hm?" She says, listing her head toward the exit insistently. "I'm sure Twilight won't mind if we take a teensy break from the chaos."
She's up and trotting away before Starlight can even agree, the last of her punch discarded on the table.
Stealing one last look at her reflection- distorted, ripples tearing its surface- Starlight takes a long, steadying breath, and places her drink beside Trixie's, languidly following her out of the building.
--
Being outside is a welcome change of pace. She honestly hadn't realized just how intensely the bumping music was getting to her head, how the roar of the crowd had her constantly twitching with anxious unrest. Just how too much it had all been. It was only a matter of time until she cracked. Stepping out the door into the calm night was like breathing in fresh air for the first time in days. She wonders if Trixie had noticed and knew she needed this.
It makes her think, as they're laying on their backs in the grass, watching the stars drift lazily along the night sky, in silence aside from the distant thrum of song from the venue closeby. Starlight looks over to see Trixie, eyes gazing over the constellations with a calm smile on her face.
Starlight chews on her bottom lip. Her future alone is daunting. Terrifying, even. But her future with Trixie… might not be so bad.
It's something she's spent most of her time, since Twilight initially appointed her as the Friendship School's new headmare, mulling over. Despite the ebbs and flows, the dips and peaks of her and Trixie's friendship in all that time… not once did the idea of Trixie not being there ever enter her mind.
No matter what angle she views her life going forward, Trixie's always there. She's an undeniable constant that, if Starlight can help it, remains her pillar of strength in a raging sea of fear. Her words tonight, bright and comforting in the dark and stuffy venue hall, have only proved that further.
If she can be sure of anything, she'd like it to be this.
All she has to do, really… is ask.
Ask if Trixie's willing to start that future with her. All that's needed now is the very first step.
So, gathering all her courage…
Starlight takes a breath, locking herself in. Her future starts now. "Trixie…"
Trixie tilts her head ever so slightly toward Starlight, a short "Hm?" as acknowledgement.
The attention half triggers a retreat, nearly making Starlight back out before pressing on, "You know… with Twilight leaving, I'll have the castle all to myself." She says carefully.
Trixie blinks at her, considering this. "Hmm… I suppose that's true, isn't it?" She says, turning back to the sky, gesturing toward it with grandeur. "What sort of dastardly deeds might Starlight get up to in a big castle all by her lonesome!"
"Certainly not many," Starlight answers through a chuckle. "At least… not by myself."
The showpony tilts her head back toward her friend. "What do you mean?"
"Well…" Starlight taps her hooves together self-soothingly. "Having such a big space just for me… I'm sure it'll get lonely. And, I was hoping, maybe… I wouldn't have to be alone."
"Starlight?"
The breathiness of her friend's voice has the unicorn quickly looking back up at the sky.
"I know you love your caravan, and I know I've tried to take it from you before- but this isn't that! I just thought… it'd be nice to have you around in the castle." Her ears are heating up. "So I wouldn't be alone, and I'd be with a friend. So… you don't have to say yes! But…" Here it goes. "Trixie, do you wanna move into the castle with me?"
Feeling needlessly warm, Starlight hesitates to even look at Trixie once she chokes the question out. She glances over, expecting to see some incredulous face, a deep frown, a look of utter heartbreak the same as the day she stupidly traded her friend's feelings for her own selfish desires, something so valuable for another thing material.
Instead, she chances that glance and Trixie's sitting up, and Starlight can practically see the stars in her eyes- not the ones reflecting from the night sky. It puts an instant smile on her face, unable to help it, sitting up just the same to look at her head-on.
"S-So… is that-?"
She's tackled into a hug with an ecstatic squeal of her name, surprising her so pleasantly she breaks into a laugh.
"Of course! Are you kidding me?!" Trixie tells her, voice bouncing in that way it does when she's through the roof. She grips Starlight by the shoulders and shakes her, "That's an honor! Not the big princess castle living space thing, though that's cool too- but… You really thought of me first?" Starlight tilts her head. "I mean… You thought to ask me, out of everypony?"
Starlight smiles at her like it's a silly question. "Of course I did. You're my best friend. I'd love to offer my space to you, if you'll have it. My soon-to-be space, anyway."
Trixie looks perplexed, as if she doesn't know why she's so shocked, either. It's a strange expression on her, a look of total deep thought, self-reflection.
"Hm." Trixie goes once she's apparently sorted out her confusion. "I didn't…" She moves her hooves down to Starlight's own, resting them there.
"Well," She starts again with her usual smirk, "The fact that you took such bold initiative tells Trixie what kind of friend you are!" She winks, and Starlight's ears heat up again as she begins to chuckle, nervous.
"O-Oh, yeah? What kind of friend is that?"
Trixie smiles. She presses down on Starlight's hooves, assuring. "A really, really good one."
Starlight can't say much to that. Not anything that won't make her look like a fool, at any rate. The cogs in her mind are too overworked to churn out anything but metaphorical steam from her ears and useless stuttering from her lips. So, instead, she smiles right back, angling back up toward the dark blue sky and taking in the stars. They seem brighter now, almost.
The whole world feels lighter. The flow of time doesn't seem so scary anymore. Her mentor's smile…
It's cheering her on.
…
"You wanna head back to the party?" Trixie asks after a comfortable spell of silence, deep into the night.
"No…" Starlight answers quickly. "I like it better out here."
Trixie hums a laugh, "Me too, honestly. Maybe I don't like parties with your friends, actually. That punch must have had something in it."
The rigid air is warmed by a pair of giggles.
Author's Note
trixies point abt the mane six is not at all a jab at twilight herself! i love her so much
!! but trixie is also kinda right ^^
i wasnt quite sure how to rate this, as references to cider as alcoholic are pretty obvious in the show? went with teen just to be safe tho 
anywayz wrote this a year or two ago, lemme know if it holds up! or don't! thank you for reading :)!
