Episode 36:

Every Little Thing She Does

It was early in the morning in Ponyville, and already both Twilight and Starlight were up along with Kion and Spike as they all meet outside as Celestia’s sun has started to rise over the horizon. After they all downed a bottle of water along with snack they were ready to get started with what they are about to do.

After letting lose a yawn, Twilight pulled out her list before speaking up with what she has planned for everyone here. “Okay, everyone. I have a full list of spells and training exercises for you all. You all have been doing great, but now it’s time for a real challenge. So I hope you all are ready?”

Everyone all voiced the fiery drive to confirm that they are ready for whatever their friend has in store for them. After all, they have been itching to try to keep up with her upon learning of how she she was taught and self-taught during her time away from home.

“I’m ready!”

“Oh, yeah! Bring it!”

“Oh-ho-ho! It is on! Where do we begin?”

“Teleportaion Multiple locations! Try to keep up!”

The first teleportation had the three magic users transport to outside of the front of the castle. Twilight appeared first with both Starlight and Kion appearing a second apart from each other, along with separate spots the air from where Twilight’s floating.

The second teleportation had them appear in the Everfree Forest with similar results. Both with both Starlight and Kion being able to keep up with her both appeared at the exact same time. Right next to each other on the tree branch from above the ground where Twilight is standing.

The following teleportations took them to rocky mountains in Equestria, snowy mountains in the other world, the Pride Lands lush terrain, underwater under a deep part of the ocean in Equestria, and then later inside a bat cave hanging upside down with the bats (before they woke up of course), in addition a brief sneak peak in the Outlands (to which nobody living there saw), before teleporting back to the castle in perfect sync.

"Transfiguration!" She instructed, while focusing her horn on transforming an apple on the desk into a nest full of eggs with one of them hatching.

Starlight moved to perform the same spell to transform a pile of books into a single tea cup. And following that, Kion moved to use his magic to transform a table into a coat rack.

Next Twilight used her magic to turn a quill and little ink pot into a top hat while Starlight used her magic to turn a candlestick into a carrot dog, while Kion used his magic to turn a vase with flowers into unique pottery.

From there the three were all rapidly using their magic to transform multiple items. Twilight used her magic to transform a tall book and a picture into a watermelon and a banana. Starlight transformed a scroll and a flower pot into a tea pot and a set of fake teeth and then blowing the smoke of her horn.

Kion transformed the table they were all standing on into a flat board of wood and then moved to turn the carpet into a bear skin rug (Not Fluttershy’s bear friend). Though he quickly reworked into turning into a couch pillow. He sheepishly grinned in embarrassment. “How did that happen?” He thought to himself.

"Shields!" Twilight instructed to both magic users as they then got into stances into the center of the library forming a wide three way circle together. Twilight started it off by sending a blast towards Starlight who almost got struck by the hit before she conjured up her shield before redirecting it towards Kion who then tried to fire it back at Twilight.

Twilight deciding to change tactics moved to redirect it right back at Kion who found himself pushed backwards before managing to stand his ground and fire it back towards Twilight. She then moved to do the same to Starlight who found herself pushed backwards too. In the process, she managed to fend it off while letting loose a flash of light causing a huge magical explosion, leading to the entire library having all of its books blown off of the shelves.

"Whoo! I am on fire!”

“Same here! What’s next?”

Both Starlight and Kion spoke up feeling warmed up already.

“As soon as we get the library cleaned up, we will get started on the training exercises.” Twilight then said just when the ladder hanging on one of the bookshelves fell down onto the floor. “Probably should have done this spell outside.” She mentally grunted for not thinking of that before hoof. “But then again it’s probably better than causing a panic attack among the ponies in Ponyville should they see and or hear it.”

"Not a problem! I can fix that in a jiffy." Starlight quickly assured just as Spike entered the room ready to get starting on his training too. "As you know, speed spells like Accelero are not easy. But if done correctly, they can allow you to be much more efficient with your day."

Starlight then zoomed around the library at quick speed, quickly putting the books back on their proper shelves.

"Wow! Way to go, Starlight!" Spike complimented. “So, are we ready to get started on those exercises?”

“Yep! Now that both Starlight and Kion are both warmed up and ready for action, they are ready to train the way I was taught…”

Both the half alicorn and unicorn looked on with eager and confident smiles ready for the challenge…

...which faded into surprised and startled expressions upon struggling with said exercises a little outside the castle.

“This is how you learned to fight?!”

“Without magic?!”

“Of course!” Twilight returned with a confident smirk. “This way in case any of us can’t rely on magic should it be disabled in battle, or because we were stripped of our cutie marks...,” Starlight looked aside with a small blush in response. “...or suffered some kind of injury and or handicap while fighting.”

Both Kion and Starlight cringed while looking at each other in disbelief upon realizing just how much they are in for in regard of what they’ll be enduring now.

Outside the castle, the three were all conquering an obstacle course that had them maneuvering around and fighting magical run dummies trying to blast and attack them from all angles. At not one point were any of them allowed to use magic back at them.

Thankfully, Kion given his prior experience of fighting without magic was able to clear the obstacle course with little to no trouble. With the exception of a couple dummies that knocked him back a little he was able to keep close behind Twilight who was in the lead. Spike who has had prior experience at expert dodging along with handy dragon fire at his disposal was able to keep pace alongside Kion.

Starlight on the other hoof didn’t quite have the same luxury due to being actually pushed back hard multiple times. In addition she found herself barely able to get herself moving without stumbling or falling before finding herself taking on multiple beatings and burns from the dummies all together.

While this was going on the other three all watched on with cringes along with winces of sympathy for what she is forced to endure due to her inexperience. Clearly to them, especially Twilight, the mare has not had enough field work in relying without magic in battle.

After a little while longer she finally managed to make it across, albeit while crawling and limbing her way to the finish line. All while sporting burns and bruises on her mane and coat with a little flame still lit on her horn to which Spike kindly moved to pinch it to put it out.

“You okay, Starlight?” Spike asked while trying to help her up to her hooves.

“Never better.” Starlight weakly replied before accepting the little dragon’s assist in standing up. “Ugh, what happened?”

“Nothing terrible.” Kion tried to console. “You just didn’t quite do well on that last exercise.”

“No kidding. It was like I got tossed around like a rag doll.”

“Well I’d say more like got constantly pushed back and relentlessly attacked without any means of defense.” Spike corrected. “But yeah, point taken.”

“It’s okay, Starlight.” Twilight comforted. “We can try this again tomorrow if you are up for it.”

“Yeah. Probably for the best.” Starlight glumly replied while still looking down and upset with herself, feeling very inferior compared to the others along with disappointment for failing so miserably and something she should have learned by now.

“Tell you what?” Twilight then offered. “While we continue these exercises, you can keep working on sharping up on mastering your magic. Surely there’s a new spell you’re really interested in wanting to learn?”

“That is true.” Starlight returned with a small smile before moving to do just that. “And I can promise you I will have a new mastered spell or two that’ll surprise you.”

“Can’t wait!” Twilight happily replied just as Starlight moved to do just that.

Later on when the three met up with Starlight back in the library, she stood in the center ready to show them what she just learned on her own. “Okay, everyone. Are you ready for this?”

“Sure.”

“Ready.”

“Surprise us.”

To showcase her newest display of magic she began rushing all over the library, hastily picking up books in the blink of an eye and placing them back on their proper shelf in a matter of seconds. "Speed spells like Accelero are not easy. But if done correctly, they can allow you to be much more efficient with your day."

"Wow! Very impressive trick!”

“Way to go, Starlight!”

Both Kion and Spike complimented.

Starlight laughed as she continued. “But I'm not finished. I also discovered a very old spell something that you have done in the past when combined with Accelero in just the right way," She said as she duplicated herself into two equal versions of herself. "You can literally be in two places at once!" They said in perfect sync before undoing the spell and sighing. "Now I'm finished."

"I have to admit your skills with magic really are nothing short of amazing.” Twilight said impressed with her pupil. “Reminds me of someone I knew before meeting you.”

“Who, yourself?”

“Yep.”

“Figures.” Twilight blushed a little in response knowing full well that she sees herself in Starlight fully in the flesh. "Well, I've always been something of a natural I guess." Starlight humbly replied.

Twilight nodded back. "No question about that. And I would've never thought of combining spells the way you just did. You certainly know how to think on your hooves," Then she used her magic to pull out a clipboard, and after eyeing it she declared. "Though aside from your severe flaws in handling yourself without magic in combat, I just noticed yesterday that you apparently haven't tackled any friendship lessons since you met Trixie."

At that, Starlight Glimmer gulped and took a step back while briefly examining the clipboard itself to make sure she seeing and hearing things correctly. "Are you sure?" She briefly stammered. "I could've sworn there were a couple in there somewhere."

Twilight moved to take magical control of the clipboard back. "I’m sure. And believe me when I checked, double checked, and even triple checked." Twilight explained before putting the clipboard away. "Look, I know things have been very busy with what has happened recently. With Rainbow Dash and Ono becoming Wonderbolts, Rarity opening a new boutique in Manehattan, getting the map up and running again, the whole 'Guys' Night' incident, and of course dealing with the ongoing war against Scar. But I think it’s time you start making time in getting to work on a new friendship lesson." She then said with a quirked brow.

Starlight seemed to shrink from Twilight's gaze, almost like she was trying to hide something. But she managed to maintain a somewhat sincere smile while replying. "Right of course. I'll... get right on them! Guess they just slipped my mind due to being so busy lately. So many commitments. I’m try to find some time in my schedule to manage that." She gave a slightly nervous laugh as she finished that sentence.

"Great! No time like the present!" The princess smiled. "You know, today would actually be a great day to tackle a friendship lesson all on your own. Consider this a pop quiz on friendship."

"You mean, this is something I can do on my own unlike back when dealing with that important dinner back then?" The unicorn asked now completely surprised.

Twilight nodded. "Yep. After all if you can learn new magic on your own, then you should be able to take the initiative to learn on your own." And she added. "Besides, it'll give you more freedom to do so which you’ll be given since Spike, Kion and I are going to be away for the day."

"Why? Where exactly?" Starlight questioned with concern.

"Because..." Twilight explained. "I've been asked by Princess Celestia to give her students a quick overview on the history of enchanted objects in Equestria. Spike, like always, will be there to help me manage my notes. And Kion will be needed to provide said demonstrations while the lecture is in process. But not to worry we won’t be gone long. We should be back after the presentation, which should be..."

"Twenty moons from now?" Spike appeared as if he is joking slightly.

Twilight retorted rather annoyed in response. "Tonight. Especially since it'll be a quick presentation and lecture, and it will give you the opportunity to ensure my notes are trimmed straight down to the point but not rushed in any way.”" She then said to her student. "So when I come back, I hope you will have made at least some progress on a friendship lesson whether it is one my suggestions or something you thought of yourself. Shouldn’t be too difficult. After all, there’s always going to be some kind of problem with a friend of theirs, one friend to another whether it’s here in Equestria, or there in the Pride Lands." She gestured to the direction of the portal with a stretched out hoof.

Reluctantly, Starlight agreed to what was asked of her. "Of course! No problem!" She seemed to nervously chuckle and then took off while declaring "I'll get right on it, Twilight! I will make sure of that no matter what happens not even the smallest distraction in sight."

But as soon as the mare was out of sight, Spike sighed and commented to himself. "This is sure going end well.” He said with sarcasm.

Twilight, having heard the remark responded with. "Come on, Spike! This is the pony you see as your big sister. Surely there should be no reason to worry about what she’ll end up doing over a simple friendship lesson. Something she’s doing at her own pace and will show be she’s taking her friendship studies seriously."

“Shouldn’t be.” Kion replied in agreement. “I mean how much trouble can Starlight get herself into with our backs turned?”

“You wanna bet on that?” Spike tempted with a stretched out claw ready for that bit exchange.

Twilight cleared her throat before gesturing to a stack of note cards. "Anyways Spike, could you please help me color-code these cards according to time, place, and object."

"Sure." The little dragon reluctantly agreed. But he couldn't shake the feeling that Starlight Glimmer was on course to get herself into trouble much like Ono did when Makuu was asked to help train the Pride Landers and Equestrians. After all it takes past experience for him to spot out that kind of nervous behavior.

Later that day, Starlight had retreated to her own bedroom within the castle. Inside there are kites and kite flying equipment scattered on the floor, and the unicorn herself was currently occupying herself by levitating some blocks with her magic. Near her bed was a framed picture of a pony that looked like Trixie. And near that framed picture was an equal sign with a red circle and line drawn through it.

Briefly, the unicorn's thoughts were left in a mix of feelings about her greatest weaknesses. Her inability to defend herself without magic, inability to completely master friendship, and learning how to take charge of the situation when called upon.

Just then, the unicorn's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Frantically, she quickly dropped the blocks and rushed over to a small desk with scrolls nearby. She proceeded to pull out some small note cards Twilight had given her earlier, the suggestions for possible friendship problems that Starlight had yet to consider. Each and every one of them involved one of Twilight's friends. In addition, she had note cards for potential leadership tasks and how to defend herself without magic. The door to her room opened, courtesy of Spike.

Starlight made it look like she was busy pondering the suggestions Twilight had given, murmuring and humming to herself while trying to appear to be deep in thought. The note cards floated around with her glowing horn. "Oh, yeah. Mm-hmm. That’s a good one, maybe I’ll do that." She commented out loud and intentionally.

Spike just cleared his throat to catch Starlight's attention. "Hey, Starlight. Just thought I’d check in before Twilight, Kion, and I leave for Canterlot. You need anything before we go?"

The unicorn mare kindly shook her head. "Nope. Everything’s good. Nothing to worry about here."

The little dragon looked on still not buying it. "Uh-huh. So... what are you doing, exactly? You know you can talk to me if you have any problems that neither Twilight nor Kion have noticed yet."

"No, that’s okay." Starlight laughed it off with seeming innocence. "That won’t be necessary. All I trying to do now is just figuring out which one these possible assignments to do."

Spike raised an eyebrow as he looked at the unicorn. "The possible assignments that you haven’t tried to tackle at any point since making friends with Trixie?"

"Y-yes.” Starlight honestly answered in the hopes it would send the little dragon away.

It didn't, Spike just seized the note cards and noticed the little drawings of five mares, one for each card along with her additional note cards. And they corresponded to what Twilight had in mind for helping that mare out along with her pupil’s own ideas. "Let's see here: 'Bake a cake with Pinkie Pie', “Helping the rhinos be more calm and brave in battle”, 'Scrapbook with Applejack', “Get the zebras to be less stupid”, 'Sew with Rarity', Help the other Pride Landers in battle, 'Help an animal with Fluttershy', Learn how to master combat without use of magic, or 'Chillax with Rainbow Dash'. What even is chillaxing anyway?"

Starlight Glimmer shrugged her hooves. "No idea, really. Her words not mine."

Spike blinked slowly. "Riiiiiiight," Then he looked back to Starlight and in a gentle tone of voice he said to her. "You know, uh, if you're nervous about your friendship lessons or training exercises or even leadership lessons, it's totally okay to say so. Twilight will understand, and so with Kion."

But in response to Spike's attempt to give her advice, Starlight threw back her head. "Nervous, me?" She tried to laugh as sincerely as possible, but it didn't sound very convincing. "Oh, Spike, you really are hilarious.” Then she boasted. "You seriously think I'm nervous that I'm somehow gonna fail something as simple as baking a cake?"

The light purple scaled dragon rolled his eyes. "I never said that considering you just told me yourself. And if they just so happen to be so simple, then you should've been able to do them all by now. So if you aren’t nervous, then go ahead and just pick one and get it over with! You've got all day."

"That’s true! I do!" Starlight insisted as she puffed out her chest! "In fact, 'll do so well on my friendship assignment that you, Kion, and Twilight will be even more impressed than before! And that’ll prove that magic isn't the only thing I'm great at!" And with that, as if to make herself heard, she picked up the note cards and trotted away to seemingly make a decision.

“Spike! You ready?!” Kion’s voice called out to him.

“Yes, Kion! I’m coming!” Before leaving Spike could only groan and put a claw to his forehead knowing that he was right. Starlight’s now bound to get herself into trouble. "And I thought Twilight was the master of the freak-out." He muttered to himself while also resigning himself to the fact that this time he wouldn't be around to keep Starlight Glimmer at bay.

Starlight Glimmer thought she had done a good job of masking her fears and insecurities around Twilight, Kion, and Spike. At least, that's the way it seemed when they left for Canterlot and left her alone in the castle without being questioned on what her friendship assignment was going to be.

Yet once the unicorn was sure that she was alone, the start of the time frame to tackle just one friendship assignment for Twilight, her confident mask crumbled. Instantly, she started to panic and hyperventilate. That is, mentally calmed herself down! "Come on, Starlight!" She said to herself. "You can do this!"

All she had to do was pick just one of the five assignments and commit to it. But there in lies the problem, as much as she wants to choose one she couldn’t help but want to do more than that. She wanted to be able to take the time to do the optional side options such as being able to improve her combat skills and step up to the plate in regards to leadership.

"Think, Starlight, think," The unicorn mare declared while pacing back and forth, trying to think of a solution. "There's got to be a way to tackle these assignments and impress Twilight. Just one isn't gonna cut it." Then she remembered Spike's comment about how she could've had them all done by now if they were so easy. That was when she got an idea. “Maybe I can chillax with Rainbow Dash and with the help of a duplicate I can try to extend my ability to fend off without magic. Oh, it’s perfect, it’s like I’ll be able to do two things at once.” She smiled, then lit up her horn in preparation for a teleportation. "Let me just make sure."

She then proceeded to use her magic to run and then fly on over, courtesy of using her magic to give herself boost upwards along with using her cloud walking spell to help her leap upwards. All while finding herself having to dodge multiple ponies that nearly got in her way along with a few Pegsai ponies that flew right by her. It took the wind out of her, but she managed to make it on over to Rainbow Dash's cloud house, and only just remembered to cast the cloud walking spell before she would've fallen straight through.

Fortunately, the brash speedster was around having opened the door to her house upon hearing her outside. "Hey, Starlight?" She greeted before questioning her upon seeing the troubled look on the unicorn's face. "Doing okay, because you look like you’ve been having a tough time lately?”

"Whom me? No! Not today! Really!" Starlight nervously insisted and immediately questioned. "Though I just so happen to be in the mood for chillaxing today, if you got the time today.”

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah, definitely. After all, you look like you really need to chillax considering you’ve been hauling yourself on up here. Seriously though, you look like you're about to pass out."

"Sorry," The unicorn panted. "Although I will admit I could really use something to unwind from today. Just had a very busy morning with Twilight and Kion today!”

“That’ll just about do it!” Rainbow accepted that as a valid reason to want to chillax. “It’s honestly amazing that’s how she learned to how fight without magic. I could remember a time back when Twilight used to mostly rely solely on magic to fight.”

“Really?”

“Yep. But that’s a story for another time. Right now we need to focus on finding a proper set up for optimal chillaxing. Because chillaxing is very different from relaxing and right outside here isn’t one of them. Unless, you want to have a near high dive accident in case your cloud walking spell fails. And trust me, when we really get into the chillaxing vibe, we're gonna be there for a while." She proceeded to grab what looked like a sleeping bag and sunglasses.

"Okay, you get set up and I'll...make sure I have everything I need before we get started!" Starlight Glimmer replied as she lit up her horn again. Then she teleported away yet again, heading back to the castle again.

The rainbow maned Pegasus could only shake her head. "Better make sure of that before you hurt herself."

Upon arriving back, she took a deep breath feeling relieved that she managed to get the first hard part done.

“Phew! Easy part! Done! Now the hard part!”

Now that’s left is to get the next hard part that requires her magic in getting more of herself to go around in regards to being able to try to train and try those non-magical combat exercises again, in addition help keep an eye on the Pride Landers trying to prepare themselves in case Scar’s army attacks again.

“But wait…” She realized before thinking of something else. “Maybe I better have one or two more of me in case something happens in Ponyville.” Then she got deep in thought. “After all I need to be in more than two places at once.” She said while pacing back and forth within the castle's front hallway.

Then, suddenly, an idea came into her head. She remembered those spells she had combined together earlier in the day. "Of course!" She giggled to herself. "If I can be in multiple places at the same time. It'll be like I was always there, nopony will ever know!" Then she took a deep breath. "I just gotta concentrate and remember the right spell."

Concentrating deeply, Starlight Glimmer lit up her horn and surrounded her entire body. She had just perfected the combination of Similo Duplexis and Accelero. Eventually, she saw a perfect replica of herself appear beside her. "Perfect!" She declared but the glow around her horn and body didn't stop just yet since she wasn’t finished with it yet.

At last, five Starlights (including the original) stood in the Castle of Friendship's front hallway. One glance and you wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at them, they were completely identical in every way, right down to every little detail.

The original Starlight smiled as she said to herself. "Congratulations, Starlight. You're a genius," And now it was time to give the copies their orders. "Hear my voice and listen!" She declared in the most dramatic tone possible! "Each of you is going to be given an assignment, and each of you is to carry it out. When it's done, report back to me here at the castle so that it'll seem like I was there all along."

"Yes, Starlight." The four clones all said in unison.

The original unicorn smiled. "Excellent. Now I can chillax with Rainbow Dash, should be easy from here." Then she turned to the other Starlights and approached each of them one by one. "I want you all to do whatever you're told to do by the pony I assign you to work with," From left to right she then said to each clone. "Starlight One: Go to the Pride Lands and check up on the kingdom. Starlight Two: Check up on any Pride Landers and ponies learning how to train for battle. Starlight Three: Go to Ponyville and scout the perimeter. Starlight Four: Scout outside of Ponyville from top to bottom."

"As you wish, Starlight." Each of the copies declared all at once.

"Excellent!" The original Starlight Glimmer smiled, though it didn't last long when she saw the clones still standing around with blank expressions on their faces. "Well, what are you all waiting for, get a move on!"

But the first Starlight clone replied in a matter of fact tone. "We do not know where the location of any of those places you just mentioned are. We only know what you have told us." And the other three Starlight's nodded in agreement.

The original Starlight frowned before groaning and moving to direct them in the right way. "Ugh, fine. I'll show you each the way, but we have to be stealthy and sneaky about it so nopony and nobody suspects somethings up."

"And how will we get in touch with you?" The second Starlight clone questioned.

"You can all teleport! Remember the castle and teleport back here as soon as you are finished with your assignments," The original Starlight explained to them. "Now come on! We're wasting time standing around here." And she grabbed each of the clones with one of her hooves, then teleported away to direct each of them to their designated locations.

The first stop for Starlight on her journey was the Pride Lands, specifically the open terrain of the Pride Lands where there are a lot of animals carrying on like it is an ordinary day for them in peace. “See what’s all around you?” The original Starlight said to her copy before instructing. “Just scope around from here to Flat Ridge Rock and make sure there are no signs of trouble. If there is tackle it head on. Got it?”

“Got it.” The clone stated before setting out to do so.

“Good.” And she teleported away to help the other clones.

From there the Starlight clone moved to trot around the kingdom to look around for any signs of trouble and distress around her. “So far, so good.” The clone thought to herself up until she came across the galagoes carrying on together before coming across the antelope herd. “Hello? What do you we have here?” What she sees from her perspective is the little critters racing and managing to get up onto the antelope leader, Bupu.

“Let’s go, galagoes! On the double!”

“Yes, sir!” Laini happily returned before riding on like a race horse off towards the distance.

The Starlight clone watched on as she saw the charging party head on towards what seems to be a pack of hyenas in the distance. Seeing this sparked a sense of urgency inside the clone before rushing onward to ‘save’ the Pride Landers charging into danger. Working quick with her magic she teleported right on over there and used her magic to release an atomic bomb that exploded the hyenas in an instant.

Upon arriving the antelope and galagoes were looking on shocked with what they saw and what they did after seeing the large black crater of smoke and ash right in front of them.

“Huh?”

“What the…?”

“Starlight?”

“What did you do?!”

“I took care of the hyenas caught lurking in the Pride Lands.”

“Um, Starlight…there wasn’t any real danger.” Laini spoke up trying to nice while correcting her mindset. “Now don’t get us wrong, we do appreciate you wanting to try to help us but…”

“We didn’t need your help.” Bupu bluntly said. “And those hyenas you destroyed just so happened to be hoof crafted training dummies.”

“Training dummies?” The clone flatly repeated much to the two’s confusion.

After exchanging a look the latter moved to explain it more without losing his patience and politeness. “Yes, training dummies. Something that we and everyone else who wishes to train can use them train with them. By using them they can help us practice our fighting technique.” With a sigh he added. “At least until you showed up.” He said while pulling up a piece of uncharred pieces of the training props.

“These right here.” Starlight asked still looking on like she is not completely understanding what she is seeing nor hearing.

“Yes, Starlight. These.” Laini replied while holding up the uncharred pieces herself. “But don’t worry. We can just get ourselves some new ones.”

“Assuming they’re around to replace them today.” Bupu muttered in annoyance before the two moved to walk off ahead leaving the clone behind still blinking in confusion with what’s going on around her.

The second Starlight clone was brought to another portion of the Pride Lands where a handful of the Pride Landers are all working on excerises much like the Lion and Pony Guard taught them along with Makuu who is also there supervising them today. Fortunately, he was able to help incorporate the non crocidle traits into ways they can pull it off similar and effectively as he and the other crocs would. All with even more patience than before when they didn’t quite get it right this time.

“Okay, now with what allows you to get the best range in motion. Reverse tail whip.” He demonstrated said move with his tail. Since the other Pride Landers didn’t have tails like before they managed to make up for it by using their trunks (in the elephant’s case), their horns (in the rhinos case), and everyone else whipped around and delivered a swift kicking motion with their legs. “Very good. Remarkable improvement since last time and very quick improvisation with the legs.”

“What about our horns, Makuu?” Mbeya asked. “Do they work as well.”

“Not quite.” Makku couldn’t sugarcoat it any better before assuring. “But it’s all good. No worries. We just need to find something to help you and your rhino friends to get a better range in motion in quicker speed.”

“Like what?”

“Hmm…” Makuu gave it some deep though before looking around to their surroundings before spotting the Starlight clone unaware that she is actually a clone. “...maybe someone from the Pony Guard might have a trick or two that’ll surprise you.” He then excused himself before moving to greet the pony clone. “I see you’ve caught a glimpse of the work in progress here.”

“Of what?” Starlight blankly replied.

“The improvised training of the Pride Landers. Of how to incorporate crocodile style moves in their fighting skills.” Makuu tried not to show it but couldn’t help but wonder what the unicorn’s deal is. “Something that both your superiors asked of me to help them work on.”

“Oh, right.” Starlight replied still speaking in a blank tone of voice. “Now I remember, I’m here to ask if the Pride Landers need help in their training today.”

“As long as you keep the needless questions to a minimum I’ll accept your help in what I am doing right now.”

“Like what?”

Makuu could only give the clone a look before moving to explain what he is doing. “Here, I am trying to help the rhinos with performing the reverse tail whip.” He demonstrated said move to her by slamming his tail onto the ground. “But since the rhinos don’t have tails that’ll allow them to perform the same feat with them. They are moving to use their horns to be able to replicate the similar motion it takes for it to work.“ He directed her eyes toward the small tails and large curved horns of the rhinos as proof. “So, would you happen to have any ideas of how to get these rhinos to move their horns faster?”

“Maybe…”

“Okay? And…” Makuu looked on expecting an answer. “...you plan on showing me how? Like now?”

“Yes, now.” She moved to do so by pulling together some blades along with some chains and medieval weapons as ideas she plans to use for the rhinos.

An idea itself that has the crocodile leader with perplexed feelings about. Whether or not it’s a good idea or a bad idea along with wondering if the pony he is dealing with actually knows what she is doing. But he none of the less moved to allow her to give it a try thinking maybe it won’t be that bad...

With the Pride Lands stops taken care of, Ponyville was up next on the list of stops Starlight needed to make with her clones.

“Okay, Starlight Three…” The original pony then instructed as they made their way towards the obstacle course that she struggled at earlier this morning. “...your job here today is to run this here obstacle course without using any magic.” She said with emphasis on any. “Complete as many times as you can and remain there until you can beat this time here…” Starlight shows her the magic number on a piece of paper she written on. “Got it? Good.”

Turning to the last remaining clone she turned her with this last set of instructions for her. “And as for you, Starlight Four. Same thing with Starlight One scout Ponyville and every part of Equestria to the border to make sure there are no signs of trouble. You think you can manage that?”

“Yes, Starlight. I can watch over here no problem.”

“Great! Now get to it!”

After the last remaining clone set out to do so, the original Starlight Glimmer then moved to do the one thing she plans to do in the meantime. Chillaxing with Rainbow Dash. She then teleported from Ponyville to Cloudsdale and started scanning the skies and ground around her from above.

Fortunately for her, it didn't take too long for the unicorn to find her Pegasus friend. Rainbow had gone ahead and set up on a small hill not too far away from her cloud house. She'd even set aside a separate folding chair next to the one she was seated in, and she hadn't taken off her sunglasses. In addition, she had a friend joining in on their chillaxing session together.

“Starlight!” Fuli happily greeted while briefly tilting her sunglasses to glance at her. “You made it!”

“Yep! I did!”

"So, you ready to chillax?" The brash speedster inquired as she got up and briefly stretched her limbs. "Because we got the whole setup arranged and everything ready to do this. And so is Fuli."

"I sure am.” Starlight giggled and grinned. “After the hardships I’ve endured recently I am ready to put everything in the past behind me for now.”

“Glad to hear to it because that is the mindset we want to hear for this specific exercise here.” Fuli returned with a grin.

Starlight then asked. “So that said now that I have the time to learn how to chillax, what do we have to do?"

"It’s really quite easy, even more so with that mindset you’re carrying right now." Rainbow Dash declared while gesturing a hoof to the chair beside her and Fuli. "Just lay down and forget about everything for a while. It's not a simple process, it's a state of being. We'll chillax together for however long I decide and not a minute longer nor a minute less."

“Got it.”

“Let’s do this!”

The unicorn mare obeyed, trotting over and laying down in the folding chair alongside Fuli the same way she saw Rainbow laying. Then she put her hooves around her head and leaned back, soaking in the rays of the afternoon sun. To think that if she just put in that much effort here, then her following friendship assignments soon to be tackled can be done with ease, with the right mindset and determination.

Starlight Glimmer smiled and sighed as she felt her worries leave her for the time being. "Mission accomplished!" She confidently thought to herself. "Now I'll just wait for the other mes to complete their tasks, then I'll teleport back to the castle in plenty of time to clean up before Twilight, Kion, and Spike get back. If they’re really helpful maybe I’ll make more copies of myself more often."

Little did she realize is that her clones were going to be anything but helpful by the time all is said and done.

Back in the Pride Lands, the first clone continued forward making rounds on the Pride Lands. Following the accidental trashing of the training dummies that Bupu and Laini were going to use, she then decided to move on like the moment never happened before continuing her scouting of the kingdom in order to find something she can do to help her friends in this kingdom.

She trotted around the grazing grounds just in time to spot out the giraffes sticking their necks up at the nearby trees. From the looks of it to her, it looked like the giraffes were having trouble sticking their necks out for something and were doing it for several seconds straight now.

“Come on!” Twiga groaned voicing out her literal stretched out pain while trying to use her tongue to get some very hard to reach parts of what she is trying to get up high. “Just a little higher! Ugh! Of all days for when I could really use assistance from the Lion and Pony Guard right about now.” Though little did she realize was that someone from the Pony Guard just so happened to someone while technically her but is actually a clone in her place. And she managed to ‘help her out quite a bit to say the least when she worked her magic in blasting the tree that Twiga was struggling with. Said blast was strong to the point it ended up breaking and falling backwards upon impact.

“Huh?” Twiga looked on in confused with her mouth full of leaves from the tallest branch she was going to eat from before turning to see who she thought was the real deal. “Starlight?”

“Yes. I helped free you from the tree you stuck in.” She flatly said to the surprised giraffe leader.

“Me? Stuck?” Twiga quickly shook her head before munching and swallowing the leaves that were in her mouth. After downing them, she properly explained herself. “Oh no, Starlight you misunderstood! See I was just trying to reach the leaves from the tallest tree branch because they usually taste the best when the sun is at it’s highest point.” She then sighed in dismay upon seeing the tree is now destroyed. “Well, at least until you showed up and knocked it down.”

Even still the Starlight clone looked on like this is all very confusing to her. “But I just wanted to help you. I thought you were stuck.”

Twiga’s eye twitched in response before trying to speak the zoned out clone again in a way that makes sense to her without snapping at her. “But instead you caused me and my herd to lose food that usually grows on this here tree because of what you just did! Trees don’t grow as quick as plants and flows do you know! Things like this take years and years of growing before they grow all big and strong.”

“Then let me just reattach the tree back in it’s proper place.” The clone then offered before finding the tree put down in it’s current place by Twiga who has already seen enough with what had just happened.

“No! No! No!” She sighed. “Please, just go away and don’t come back for the rest of the day!”

“Okay.” With that the clone took her leave without acknowledging what she did and why the giraffe was so upset with her.

“What is wrong with her, today.” She said to herself before moving on ahead in hope for answers for this bizarre and out of sorts behavior from the unicorn today.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Pride Lands, the other Starlight clone sent to help out had just managed to make the finishing touches on what she attached to the rhino’s horns. And they were something that had Makuu himself raising eyebrows at what he is seeing and for a good reason.

“There we go!” The clone declared triumphantly while showing Makuu her idea which happened to be nut chunks and and heavy balls with spikes attached to long chains on the rhino’s horns. “Two rhinos ready for battle.”

“Um, what are these…?”

“...And are they safe…?”

Both rhinos asked upon eyeing the weapons now tied onto them while equally unsure about the idea presented in front of them.

“Of course!” The clone still smiled. “As long as you know how to use them right.”

“And by that, how exactly do you expect them to use them?!” Makuu inquired with a suspicious eyebrow directed at the unicorn who doesn’t seem to be fully paying attention to him. “Then again, let me rephrase it in a way that you understand since your eyes seem not fully seeing things clearly. Do you even know how those things, those weapons, you tied onto the rhinos even work?!”

“Of course.” Starlight still smiled like she knows what she is doing before moving towards the rhino so she can hold onto said items so she can properly explain it more. “And they’re really easy to use. All you both have do you is swing them around a little when charging. Then when you see an Outsider or any other enemy of yours, swing them and send them flying right at them and BAM! Then they be sent flying away and out of harm’s way on your side of the border.” Upon seeing the skeptical looks of the cautious rhinos and wary crocidle leader she then motioned at the nearby dummies up ahead that look like Kiburi and his float. “Go on! Give it a shot, guys!”

Both rhinos looked at each other in confusion before reluctantly moving to entertain the idea presented to them.

“Very well.”

“We’ll give it a shot.”

Makku looked on like what is about to happen is one of the worst ideas that is ever going to put into play but after learning to give others the benefit of the doubt, he moved to allow it. But not without moving to make sure everyone is out of harm’s way by nodding towards the other crocodiles and trainees wishing to watch to back away.

The two rhinos then locked eyes with the training props on their horns. They both remembered both Beshte and Fluttershy’s words of advice while dragging their hooves on the ground. Upon finding the mentality they need to get calm and serious the two then made their charge.

The two then swung their weapons around a little and they seemed to be already getting the hang of it after a few seconds of charging and swinging. Then the two pressed forward ready to make the offensive charge that’ll come in handy whenever their opponents try to make a move on them. They both charged and drew closer to their targets, and then with a good and powerful long swing they made their moves towards the targets when…

“OW! MY LEG!”

Courtesy of the chains snapping and actually managing to strike Thurston in the leg and then got knocked out in the head by the medieval weapons striking him accidentally.

“Thurston!”

“Oh my goodness!”

The two rhinos quickly rushed over to the downed zebra just as he dropped down onto the ground.

Upon looking up and seeing them he managed to see them just as they are both looking over his shoulder along with Makuu who just rushed over to them too.

“Thurston. Are you okay?” Makuu urgently asked.

“We’re so sorry!”

“Can you see us okay?”

The rhinos both asked with deep regret and horror for what they did while removing the weapons from his body.

“Sure I can, Mr. Three Horns!” The zebra replied in a dizzy and shaken up manner. “The same goes to you and your three other rhino buddies and those two crocodiles right behind you.” He uttered due to seeing double vision now. “Oh, I should...no...you should...panic...and...run…” He ended up trailing off and passing out due to his injuries.

After Thurston had passed out, Makuu had turned to angrily glare at the unicorn who still looked on blankly like nothing had happened nor registered in her head. “What?” She innocently asked,

“What?! WHAT?! What the buck were you thinking?!” Makuu angrily stated. “You said you knew what you were doing when you attached those dangerous weapons to those rhinos.”

“I did.”

“Well thanks to your so called assurance that things would turn out fine, which they didn’t. An innocent Pride Lander… “ He then muttered. “...even if he is an annoying pain in the neck who deserves it half the time...” He then resumed berating and chastising the unicorn clone. “…got injured because of you. And we don’t even know for sure how badly damaged he is now because of it.”

“At least it wasn’t fatal since it didn’t impale him on the head nor crack his skull open.” The clone then pointed out much to the Pride Landers exasperation.

“Yeah, yeah, lucky you.” Makuu sarcastically remarked while moving to get face to face with the unicorn. “Now do us a favor and get out of here before you get someone else killed or your case killed yourself. And consider yourself lucky that Twilight and Kion’s isn’t wishing death upon you for reckless endangerment of animals.”

“What’s reckless endangerment?” The clone again asked flatly and blankly which irritated Makuu down to his last nerves.

“Good question, Starlight. Here let me show you.” He demonstrated it by giving the clone a good old reverse tail whip which sent the clone flying away on towards and through the portal. “And here I thought some of my methods of training were considered crazy.”

Back in Ponyville, the first clone currently is doing the training exercise, mainly the obstacle course the original Starlight struggled and failed to complete this morning. Only, if anyone like both Bupu and Laini had witnessed as they walked on over would leave one wondering what the hay she is doing.

What the two saw her doing is running the course all right, but more accurately finding herself getting plowed by one of the dummies halfway in and sent flying backwards and tumbling across the grass. Then when she gets up, she shrugs it off like it didn’t happen and proceeded to run it again, only to repeat the process again as if she didn’t pay complete attention to what happened the last time she tried to tackle it with the same approach.

“What the…?”

“Starlight?”

Upon hearing their voices, Starlight turned to greet them. “Oh, hello you two! What are you doing here?”

“Well, we were going to kindly ask Kion and Twilight if they could get us together some new training props that you destroyed just earlier…” Laini kindly began.

“...only to find you instead doing some kind of training yourself. And doing a rather poor job performing it if I do say so myself.” Bupu bluntly finished.

“By poor you mean terrible?” The Starlight clone blankly asked.

“Yes. I mean are you even paying attention to your own form and approach to what you are even trying to do here?”

“Of course.”

“Then show us.”

The Starlight clone obliged before moving to run the course again, with the same approach as she did before and repeated the same result she literally ran into again and again.

Upon seeing that this is going nowhere and there is no indication that both Twilight and Kion were around if this is actually happening right now before their eyes the two decided to do the only thing they can do.

“Well good luck, Starlight!” Laini called out to the oblivious clone constantly hurting herself and constantly enduring pain while she is at it.

“Ugh. That pony is 0-2 today. Is the third time the charm?” Bupu then sarcastically asked.

To answer his question the other Starlight clone kicked through the portal happened to wind up crashing into the other clone causing the two to get entwined and crashing into all of the other obstacles. Followed up by a huge explosion that left a huge burnt up crater in the middle of the yard.

“I had to ask.”

And even in other parts of Ponyville, other ponies were beginning to run into their own problems with what was (unknown to her) a copy of Starlight Glimmer. Someway, somehow, she managed to cause a scene as evident by the many ponies screaming and running for their lives from whatever has really gotten them scared and frightened.

“EVERYPONY RUN!”

“WE DIDN’T DO IT! SHE’S THE ONE WHO DID THIS TIME!”

Both Snips and Snails screamed much to the confused Trixie as she wonders what exactly has gotten them along with a few other ponies so worked up in full panic mode.

“Excuse me? But Trixie demands an explanation for all of this frolicking you’re doing now!”

In answer to her question came in the form of an Ursa Minor who roared greatly much to the unicorn’s startled shock and surprise. “AH! Sweet Celestia! Trixie didn’t do anything to you this time! Trixie didn’t even make such arrogant boasts about being able to vanquish you! Now stay back! Please!” She fearfully voiced to the creature who still looked on angrily towards her while advancing closer and closer. Upon seeing that the creature is not backing off she then did the only thing she can do. “Okay, you want a trick? Trixie will give you one.”

Acting quickly she pulled out a jar of little balls and then slammed it hard into the ground to create a large smoke screen big enough to give her cover to escape. By the time, the smoke cleared, the large creature could not spot out where the blue unicorn had went. It was one of her finer tricks in years.

But before the Ursa Minor could wreak further havoc on whoever was responsible for angering him, he was suddenly tamed when he was faced with taming music and placed in a magical aura. One that belongs to Kyoga herself along with her siblings in a complete teamwork and concentrated effort.

“Easy there, big guy!”

“Nobody here did anything to you so no need to get upset.”

“So just go on back to sleep while we guide you on back to where you came from.”

The three each and all said to him before guiding him back to the cave with a combined display of strength to rival Twilight’s single handling of it years ago.

But even with the Ursa Minor gone for now there was still the matter of damage not to mention emotional damage in regards to the terrified ponies now running around trashing the town in the midst of their panic.

Kyoga groaned before using her magic to summon Ono. “Yes, you called?”

“Kindly gather and call in the rest of the Guard along with the fire department, again.”

“Will do!” Ono proceeded to fly off and do just that while watching on as the town is starting to produce a large flame overhead every building like one huge fireball is engulfing the place.

All while the Starlight clone watches on like she is confused and does not comprehend the severity of the situation along with the massive damage done to Ponyville.

And while all of this was ongoing, the real Starlight Glimmer was enjoying her chillaxing session with Rainbow Dash.

Or at least, the mare was until she felt an ominous tingling in her horn. Something was up with all of those duplicates she had sent them! It appeared that the spell enabled her to share a mental link of some kind as the clones, seeing as she could sense that each of them was declaring that they had experienced trouble with their assignments.

But just before Starlight could think of rising from her chair, another voice appearing before them beat her to the punch. “Rainbow! Fuli! Starlight! Oh thank goodness I found you all! We got a big problem!”

“What is it, Ono?”

“And what could be so urgent for it to decide we are done chillaxing?!”

Both Rainbow and Fuli irritably asked.

“We got a Code Red at not just in the Pride Lands but in Ponyville too!”

“Code Red?!”

“What exactly is going on?!”

“From the reports of an angry mob from both Pride Landers and ponies, it would seem that there are multiple complaints about a certain somepony causing trouble.” Then eyeing the unicorn himself he added. “And it would seem that said somepony is you from each and every point from here to the borders.”

“What?!” Starlight exclaimed in shock with the sunglasses popping off of her head when she leaped from her chair. “No! It can’t be!” She then collected herself enough to say. “Okay! No problem! I’ll take care of that part right away!” She hastily declared before lighting up her horn and teleporting away!

After she teleported away, Ono blinked in confusion before asking the others. “I’m guessing that Starlight managed to create copies of herself and they somehow managed to cause trouble while she was with you two?”

“Yep.”

“Sure sounds like it.”

“And now we got to get the rest of the Guard to help clean up whatever mess and trouble she caused.”

“Again.”

Starlight Glimmer teleported back to the castle and quickly summoned all the clones with her magic. "What happened?!" She questioned them. "I thought I told you all to do what I ordered you to do."

"We did exactly what you told us to do, Starlight Glimmer." The duplicates all stated together.

"Then why does it look like you all had problems?" The original Starlight frowned, taking notice of a particular detail about each clone: The first one sent to the Pride Lands was covered with tree leaves and coated with burn marks on her mane and coat. The second one had sharp spikes lodged into her mane and coat all while looking on like her hearing has been impaired. The third one sent to train in the castle backyard had broken pieces of training equipment on her hooves and the fourth one had markings that indicated snakes and spiders had been crawling all over her.

Again, however, the copies just stated. "We did exactly what you told us to do."

"I helped every Pride Lander with whatever danger they were facing. The hyenas and jackals were spotted being faced off with some of the Pride Landers.” The first clone reported.

"I helped the crocodiles train the rhinos in giving them a wild range in motion with their horns.” The second clone reported next.

"I kept training on the course you told me to run through again and again and again.” The third Starlight stated next.

"I gathered up all the animals that Fluttershy told me to gather." The Starlight with markings explained.

The original Starlight Glimmer groaned. "I didn't mean literally do everything they told you to do," And then she lamented. "Great, now everyone in both kingdoms are gonna come knocking on my doorstep for what I did. I mean, in a way I technically kind of did but...not all of it!" Putting a hoof to her forehead she complained. "How am I gonna make this up to them now? How could things get any worse than this?"

As if in answer to that question, at that very moment the castle doors flung open and in strolled Twilight, Kion, and Spike just when the angry mob of ponies and Pride Landers appeared right at their doorstep just seconds later.

Twilight immediately caught a glance of the five Starlights, and when she did she was anything but pleased! "What is going on here?!" She furiously demanded of her student as her eyes narrowed! "Starlight, what did you do now?!"

Sheepishly, Starlight dispelled the clones with a flick of her horn as she tried to defend herself. "Uh...nothing. Just a little experimenting I just did here."

"Uh-huh. Sure it was." Was all Twilight said in reply, and the way she delivered it conveyed more than more words could about the trouble her student was in.

“Starlight what happened while we were away? And by that I mean the truth that explains why we have an angry mob at our doorstep?” Kion then asked sternly to further press the unicorn for answers that aren’t good ones but the truth they needed to hear.

“Nothing out of the ordinary.” Starlight weakly tried to say and further defend herself.

“Out of the ordinary?!” Bupu returned as if it is a blatant lie. “One of your look alike clones destroyed the training dummies me and Laini were going to use to train in preparation for the next hyena attack at our doorstep!”

“Not to mention that other Starlight that was around was little to no help in finding us quick replacements since both Kion and Twilight weren’t around today.” Laini added.

“Another one of your clones caused the rhinos to nearly kill my float by flinging medieval weapons at the nearby bystanders trying to train as well.” Makuu also added and complained.

“Not to mention destroyed and tore down one of the trees in my grazing ground” Twiga added equally upset along with everyone else.

“Another clone nearly upset the wildlife and nearly brought to us an Ursa Minor!” Trixie then chimed in. “And that someone wasn’t me!”

The other ponies then complained angrily with the following things to say.

“What the hay is going on with Starlight today?!”

“Yeah, why the hay is she being a menace today?!”

Quickly both Twilight and Kion were quick to calm the crowd down and rushed to Starlight’s defense.

“All right everyone, everypony, calm down! We’re very sorry with what Starlight and her clones did today, but rest assure we will handle things from here.”

“So if everyone could just please go home for now, and Starlight will swing by later to personally make it up to you all. Okay?”

The crowd groaned and complied with their wishes before moving to disperse and once they did the two alicorns moved to shut the castle doors closed before turning to face Starlight with a much needed talking to they need to give the unicorn. And with the frowns they displayed, the unicorn can only emit a nervous gulp in response knowing just how much trouble she is in now.

So it was that Starlight Glimmer reluctantly told her mentor and best friend everything, explaining what purpose the clones had served and how it had all gone so wrong.

"So let me get this straight," Twilight spoke up as she questioned her student a short time later. "While you were tackling that one friendship lesson you decided to do, you decided to do resume combat training, patrolled the Pride Lands and Equestria on your own, and decided to take up leadership. Not to mention nearly endangering some of our own due to one your clone’s deciding it was a good idea to go to the border?"

Spike put a claw to his face. "I was afraid this would happen! Like mentor, like student, a near catastrophic incident that requires the prince and princess to both step in before it got worse. Seriously, you really seem to take after Twilight."

“What you were thinking, Starlight?!” Kion then scolded. “What made you think that any of this was a good idea?!”

Starlight found herself stammering and at a loss for words as she tried to explain herself. “Well it seemed like a good idea in my head at the time. At least up until the clones proved to be less than competent than I had hoped. It’s not an excuse, it’s just a summed up explanation of what happened.”

Twilight simply shook her head from side to side and sighed deeply. "Just so you know Starlight, I'm not mad. Not like back when you went behind my back with Trixie. But I am disappointed. I thought I taught you better than this and that you had learned by now that you can't use magic as a shortcut to solve your problems. Hence, the reason why that obstacle course is designated so that you can’t use magic to work your way across it."

"But you use spells yourself in the past!" The unicorn weakly protested.

The young alicorn nodded in agreement. "No denying that. And even back then that’s come to bite me in the rump many times especially the “Lesson Zero.” incident. That's why I don't want you making the same mistakes I made." Then she commented. "And what I’m really disappointed is the fact that I can’t even turn my back for even a few hours to trust you on a simple friendship lesson. Especially since you’ve been doing so well before hoof. I gave you a simple instruction: Just pick and do one friendship assignment. Instead I come back to have to clean up a mess you created because you decided to tackle on more than what was expected of you. You didn't have to go above and beyond like that to impress me."

Starlight shuddered. "I'm sorry, Twilight. I really am. I kept meaning to do a friendship lesson or act on those suggestions you gave me along with trying to master that training exercise. But…"

“But what, Starlight?” Kion asked. “Is there something more than what you’re letting on here?”

“Even after we had the talk about no secrets in between us and the inner circle.” Spike further reminded.

The unicorn mare gulped and swallowed hard, nearly frozen in fear before pushing herself into confessing. "I’ve been avoiding doing them out of fear that your friends don’t see me as friends the same way they see you as a friend. I thought to myself, do they really see me as friends even after all was said and done in the past or is it only because you Twilight declared it from day one? Unlike you, they weren’t there when we were traveling through time and you Kion, were in a coma at the same time. Back then, they and you didn’t see me for who I am now, but only when I was fighting alongside the enemy."

"Starlight, it's all in the past. You were forgiven, not to mention shortly after returning back to the present you helped me escape Scar back when we were fighting in the volcano." Twilight pointed out. "My friends and I were willing to forgive Discord even after he betrayed us and sided with an enemy and they did the same for me when I did the same too. Friendship is all about second chances, after all. Something that was taught from when meeting and befriending Trixie?"

"I know! I know! It's so silly and stupid that’s it taken this long for me to realize it!" Starlight tearfully confessed. "I know I should be better than this! I know I should be above thinking like this! But it just keeps surfacing up no matter how many times I try to steer away from it! And it seems like whenever I try to take the lead on my own when it comes to friendship, it always goes wrong! Just like what happened here today! I tried to talk myself out of meeting Sunburst, I didn't tell you where I was when I was hanging out with Trixie and now this. When am I really going to learn? When am I really going to change if I can?!"

"Now come on! Don’t say that, Starlight!" Spike protested and insisted against that very notion. "You stood up for Thorax in the Crystal Empire all by yourself. That shows that you have changed, that you're not who you used to be,"

Kion then added. "Not only that you have been a great help to us ever since you joined the Guard. If anything, if anyone knows what it's like to be hard on yourself, it's me. I've been where you've been and so has Spike. And it’s up to you to stop beating yourself over what happened in the past. You’re a good pony now, Starlight. So what’s still holding you back from seeing that?"

Starlight Glimmer could only answer with. "I wish I knew, Kion. I want to believe I've changed. But that's not easy to do when I was given twelve friends in the blink of an eye and told that everything I'd done before didn't matter any more."

There was a long pause afterwards as Twilight, Kion, and Spike silently exchanged looks, as if daring the other to speak. At last, it was Twilight Sparkle who broke the silence as she simply told the troubled unicorn. "Well, at the least you owe your friends along with our fellow ponies and Pride Landers an apology for all of this. Regardless of how you feel, they've let me know in no uncertain terms that they consider you a friend. And so do I. Part of friendship means owning up to when we hurt our friends, whether we mean to or not. It's never easy. Trust me, I speak from experience on that right down to the scar over the eye. But it's something we must do in order to make amends with them and ensure our friendship strives through and through."

Starlight reluctantly sighed in agreement as Twilight points to said scar over her eye to show much she can relate to what she is going through now. "You're right. I do have to apologize," She began to light up her horn. "And maybe it's not too late for me to salvage something from what I tried to do earlier." Then she teleported away to do just that.

Starlight Glimmer went about spending the rest of her day and the following day apologizing to the rest of the Guard along with the Pride Landers and ponies she had unintentionally harmed with her actions. And she did her part to make up for it with each of them:

From helping Pinkie and Bunga clean up the mess in Sugarcube Corner's kitchen, helping Applejack decide on an order to put the photos in for the scrapbook, making a proper dress with Rarity and Ono, tending to the animals that had been frightened with Fluttershy and Beshte or spending what remaining daylight time she had chillaxing with Rainbow Dash and Fuli. Beforehoof there was also the matter of doing the same for the Pride Landers and ponies who fortunately were kind and forgiving enough to take her up on her offers. From repairing the damage done to the trees in the giraffe's home, to making sure Thurston is going forward all okay, properly giving the rhinos weapons and means to perform crocodile moves without endangering others, and replacing the dummies for the antelopes and galagoes after one of her clones accidentally destroyed them.

By nighttime the following day, Starlight returned to the castle to deliver her unofficial progress report to the alicorn to whom she owed so much.

Twilight was waiting for her student when she returned to the castle alongside Kion. "How'd it go?" She asked in a hopeful tone of voice.

"Thankfully, very well. At least well enough that everyone was willing to carry on like the incident didn’t happen and we’re still on good terms.” Starlight answered sincerely before asking. "So what’s next for me? What new friendship lesson is next on the agenda for tomorrow?"

"Actually," Twilight spoke up with something else on her mind but still smiling. "I think it’s time we put future lessons on hold for now. Consider this giving yourself a chance to truly rest and take your mind off things. Something you haven't had since you've become my student, whether it’s spending time with the Guard, dealing with the ongoing war, and everything else you do that keeps you bust here in both Ponyville and the Pride Lands. So that said I've arranged for you to have vacation time in the Crystal Empire. You'll be able to see Sunburst, and Princess Cadence will keep an eye on you.”

“But what about my responsibilities to the Guard?” Starlight brought up and asked.

“It’s only for a little while.” Kion assured it’s no big deal she takes time off. “You’ll still be allowed to accompany the Guard on missions and patrols once you return.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. The Guard has managed without a member or two and we can do the same while you take time off.”

“Okay.” Starlight accepted the decision. “As long as you’re all so sure.”

“We’ll call and summon you if something comes up.” Twilight also reminded and assured. “And if there is, you can come on over in an instant.”

“Okay. Then I guess it’s settled.” Starlight then said feeling better about the arrangement before asking. “So, when do I head out?"

"First thing after breakfast. Something that is specifically arranged since it is a going away breakfast with Spike, Kion, and I." Twilight answered and explained. "After all, you're part of the family. And you will be missed while you’re away."

Spike then teased. "On the bright side, at least you can see this an opportunity to play catch up and start up a spark between you and your special childhood friend."

Starlight playfully rolled her eyes. "You wish, Spike?"

The little dragon playfully teased back. "Oh, I don’t wish it, Starlight. I know it will happen."

"Very funny, Spike." Was all the unicorn could say in response while the others giggled at the sibling like teasing. At least it’s one thing she'd won’t miss while she is away at the Crystal Empire. And that she is definitely looking forward to seeing Sunburst again. Hopefully, he wouldn't have his hoofs to full with foalsitting Flurry Heart to be able to time with her. Hopefully…

Author's Note

Here in this episode, Starlight herself is the focus once more as she tries to do another one of those impossible things in life possible. And by that we mean, trying to do five things at once. But...

...it is not with hypnotizing others into doing her bidding like in cannon, which was deemed a controversial within the episode. And likewise, said flaw with the clones lead to an inevitable snowball effect with the end result being having an angry mob at the castle doorstep by the time Twilight, Kion, Spike have all returned. Something that led to an emotional confession when backed into a corner.

But thankfully after a day of apologies and properly doing said tasks along with spending time with the rest of the Guard to atone for her recent mistakes all is good between both kingdoms and still in better standing between one another.

While Starlight is off on a little breather, the Lion and Pony Guard will carry forward with another hot sizzler on the horizon as far as the war against Scar and his army is concerned, so stay tuned until then...