Tide and Effect

When Starlight opened her eyes, the bearded magic student's placid face greeted her, snoring loudly. She blinked, unable to recall how he had ended up in a hotel with her. Her head popped off the pillow, scanning the room. Clothes and empty bottles of booze were strewn across the floor. The clock read 9 AM. A cold morning breeze pierced the warm interior. On the desk at the far end of the room, were several loose-leaf papers with something scrawled across them. She hopped up out of bed to go read them. Booze stains and drunken handwriting made it difficult to read, but it looked to be a series of potential modifications to the spell Starlight had found the night before, authored by Sunburst.

Starlight's head filled with ideas. They needed to test it. But who would want a new spell that could erase their cutie mark tested out on them? Well, there was one in the bed, and Starlight could think of at least one other. The pressure to change the world seemed particularly less this morning. Movements start like all things do, small. The unicorn cleared her head and began getting her suit on. There was work to do. Her companion sleepily opened his eyes before realizing the scene in front of him. He blinked, recalling the events of the night before. Unlike Starlight, who had the privilege of getting blackout drunk, Sunburst's memory was near-perfect.

“Hey uh.. good morning Starlight.” He said. She turned to smile at him.

“Morning, Sunburst” She said, straightening her tie in the mirror.

“Er uh.. sorry about last night. I can be a real jerk when I'm drunk.” He said ashamedly.

“It's alright. I don't remember most of last night anyways.” Starlight said, trying to be assuring.

Sunburst looked up towards the sky and thanked Celestia quietly. That kiss was the most embarrassing thing he'd ever attempted. But at least he knew she was gay now, so it wasn't a complete loss. But wow had his personal biases come out strong, he felt a pit in his stomach he just couldn't shake.

“Hey uh, I still wanted to say sorry for.. the stuff I said about your sexuality. I probably said some slurs and I'm really sorry about that. It's something I've got to work on.” Sunburst said.

Starlight stopped in her tracks. A fuzzy memory of admitting she was gay came back to her. She'd said that out loud, where he and other ponies could hear. Well, I guess no use denying it now.

“Thanks..” she said hesitantly with a nervous smile, sincerely hoping she could change the subject. “...I think we need to be out of here by 12, just so you know.”

“Oh! Oh dear, I hadn't looked at the time, I think I'm late for class!” Sunburst said, jumping out of bed to put his clothes on.

Starlight sighed. Right. Sunburst was going to go back to class. Going to go and do the thing he hates but feels like he has to do. That he feels like there's no other option for. He should have another option but it doesn't exist yet. Starlight has to make it exist, by herself. Sunburst watched Starlight's expression change as he got dressed, slowing down a bit.

“Hey, are you ok?” He asked.

Starlight looked at him defeatedly.

“The stuff you wrote last night is revolutionary, Sunburst. I really think it could change the world for the better.” She said.

“R-really?” The student said, adjusting his glasses.

“I think we were destined to meet each other again. We have the potential to start a new perspective on things, a new way of living, a new world.” Starlight implored. “It's gonna take a lot of hard work and sacrifice but I think one day we'll be able to live in that new world. But to do that, we have to stop living in the old one.”

Starlight's words were powerful, they rang through Sunburst like a bell. The monumentality of what she was saying struck him as if an alicorn princess had said it. He basked in the feeling of his companions encompassing presence.

“What are you suggesting then?” Sunburst said in awe.

“Come with me. The spell we worked on could work, it could upend how everything works. All we'd need is the right ponies and we could change everything. I'm asking you to be a part of it.” Starlight said, extending her hoof.

The silence was deafening. The fear and uncertainty crept in as the moments passed by. Sunburst was being asked to abandon everything he knows. Starlight's hoof trembled as it became clear he wasn't going to take it. She looked away ashamedly as she placed it down.

“Just.. think on it.” She said softly.

“I'm sorry, Starlight.” Sunburst said as he turned to grab his things and leave.

When the door closed, Starlight felt hollow. The pony who had been there to see her get her cutie mark, to develop her outlook didn't even believe her. How would she get anypony else to? Her dad was right, maybe she was just obsessing. As she checked out of the hotel she felt the familiar tingling of self-loathing. It was often that she gave supernatural importance to something of no significance whatsoever. Her own flank taunted her. Maybe she was wrong about its meaning. Maybe she really just is meant for social work. Maybe Princess Luna was wrong.

Starlight walked along, sulking to the train station. She should probably just go home. As she sat waiting, she pulled out the little sheet of paper Sunburst had scrawled his ideas on. In the broad light of day it seemed insignificant and small. And hot, as though it would catch fire at any moment. As the train pulled into the station she silently hoped that she had some teacakes to eat to make her feel better. The whistle blared as the doors opened and the Canterlot elite walked out. Starlight's suit and cutie mark caused the group to point and gossip quietly among themselves. She was beginning to get what Sunburst meant. Not much better to be recognized, huh. As the doors opened, Starlight faintly heard her name from somewhere. Her ears perked up as she looked around to see who it was. It came again. In the distance, a faint orange shape lay on the other end of the train station. It was rapidly getting closer.

“Starlight!” It called out.

“Sunburst?” Starlight exclaimed as the magic student ran towards her at full speed, carrying several bags with him with his magic. His glasses bouncing up and down on his muzzle.

Just as the doors were about to close, Sunburst leapt forward, tackling Starlight in a hug as they both tumbled inside the traincar. Starlight gasped for air. The stallion was squeezing her tight. The ponies in the aisle stared at them frustratedly as they were blocking the way. One pegasus opted to fly over them. Starlight used magic to right her and Sunburst and pulled him into a seat with her with all his luggage.

“Y'know Starlight when you're right you're right and I'm so sorry for leaving. I sat down in class and abruptly realized that spending the rest of my life there sounds way worse than working on exciting new magic with you!” Sunburst said excitedly.

“Well yes it's partially magic but mostly we're just gonna get more ponies to believe us is all.” Starlight said, fearing that Sunburst had misinterpreted what she had said.

“Yeah but then I was also thinking I am kind of a goody two-shoes and ponies have been really mean to me and maybe it's time I start fighting back y'know?” Sunburst said.

“Y'know what? That's the spirit.” Starlight said “... honestly good to have you here. I don't know how I'd do it myself. I'm very glad you changed your mind.”

“It's really kind of exciting. I feel almost like a ‘bad boy’ y'know?” Sunburst joked.

“Easy there hotshot,” Starlight laughed. Her mood had lifted significantly since she got out of the sun. Sunburst seemed extremely nervous but also excited.

“So what happens next? Where are we going?” Sunburst asked.

Starlight felt like she could hear a record scratch as she rapidly realized she was on a train and didn't know where she was going. Her initial plan was to go home but now that Sunburst was here… her mind chugged along.

“We're going to Ponyville to see a friend I made on the way here. I think she might see our point of view.” Starlight said confidently as if it was her plan all along.

“Oh cool, I haven't been to Ponyville in a long time! It'll be nice to see it again. I wonder if that little bakery is still open, I forget the name, Sugarbag Central?” Sunburst said.

“I have a bet that's where Sugar Belle will be. She said she's taking baking lessons there…” Starlight said before trailing off. Her eyes were following the ticket pony going down the aisle. Sunburst hadn't paid for a ticket. He was heading their way.

“I'll never forget the pony that works at that place. She's a ray of sunshine, that Pinkie Pie.” Sunburst said reminiscing fondly.

“Uh-huh.” Starlight said absent mindedly as she pulled out her ticket, her horn glowing with magic energy.

“When I first went into town, she made me a cake just for being there! I didn't even need to pay for it! It's really nice but I have no idea how she keeps a business afloat with something like that.” Sunburst said, lost in his own memories.

“That sounds really interesting,” Starlight said, not having heard a single word of what Sunburst had said. The ticket pony came to their seat.

“Tickets please.” he said tiredly.

“Oh I'm so sorry but I-” Sunburst started to apologize

“Here you go.” Starlight interrupted, presenting two tickets to the ticket pony. The pony hole-punched them and carried on.

“Wait.. what? But I didn't..” Sunburst said in wonder. Starlight showed her companion the tickets. Both read “Starlight Glimmer” on them. Sunburst watched in awe as they magically merged together.

“Similo Duplexus. It's an easy spell.” Starlight said confidently.

“Woah. That's… illegal. That's a crime. I just committed a crime.” Sunburst said, feeling how the words felt in his mouth. “I'm a criminal”

Starlight laughed the hardest she had in a long time.

“Oh fuck off! Hardly!” She said, tickled with the presumption that not having a ticket makes you a criminal.

The two talked about magic all the way to Ponyville. Sunburst blabbed exactly what magical components he had added to the spell and what they did while Starlight listened intently. Rather than removing the cutie mark by force of magic, this new version of the spell would tap into the magic cutie mark right of passage event in and of itself, hoping to “hit the undo button” as it were. Starlight mentioned it would probably be nice if they could add something that would store the information in the cutie mark so if they succeeded in making someone a blank flank, they could turn them back. Sunburst quickly scribbled a note.

The soft release of air signaled the end of the conversation as the companions reach their stop, Ponyville. Upon the opening of the doors, Starlight abruptly realized that she had never been and therefore had no idea where she was going. Ever resourceful, Starlight looked through the crowd. Most of them were either entering or exiting the train, but one pony was sitting on the bench, a white unicorn with sunglasses and headphones. She seemed to be too busy jamming out to notice the train had arrived. Starlight walked up to her

“Hey!” Starlight said loudly, hoping to get the pony's attention over the loud music. Starlight could hear it from several feet away which must've meant it was blasting in the unicorns ears. The pony turned her head.

“Hi, sorry to bother. Do you know how to get to uhh…” Starlight said, blanking on the name of the bakery. She turned towards Sunburst, close behind her.

“Sugarbag Cent-” Sunburst started

“Sugarstick Station” Starlight interrupted, which was also wrong. She gave a big smile.

The pony lifted one side of her headphones off her ear with her hoof, nodded and then pointed in the general direction of the town. Starlight turned to see what she was pointing at. Off in the distance was a building with a giant cupcake shaped room topping it, several candles sticking out of it. That must be the place.

“Thank you!” Starlight said gratefully. The white unicorn winked under her sunglasses (if she could've done finger guns, she would)

“What was she pointing at?” Sunburst said, a little confused at how his companion had gained any information from that.

“It's a weird looking building. Can't miss it, c'mon!” Starlight said as she hurriedly pranced into town.

“Wait, slow down!” Sunburst said, having been carrying his bulky luggage with him this whole time, and getting very tired of it. “Shouldn't we find a place to stay? Or somewhere to eat? We haven't eaten!”

“It's a bakery.” Starlight said, stopping in her tracks, a little confused.

“Oh. Right.” Sunburst said, having been so wrapped up in Starlight's philosophy and the prospect of magical experimentation that he'd forgotten the nature of where they were going.

As the unicorns trotted through the modest town, they noticed how friendly the townsfolk were, welcoming in outsiders. As they made their way to the town square, a shape caught Starlight's eye. Just outside the town hall was a mass of broken wood that two young colts were unloading onto carts. Out of curiosity she approached it, much to Sunburst's chagrin.

“What happened here?” Starlight said to the two colts. They turned to face her, sighing exasperatedly.

“We brought a bear to town and it crushed Trixie's wagon.” The taller one said.

“Why would you do that? Who's Trixie?” Starlight said. The name Trixie felt weirdly familiar on her tongue.

“She said she was powerful enough to vanquish the Ursa Major” the shorter one said.

“So you… brought it to town?” Starlight said, wondering what kind of stupid leap in logic that was.

“To be honest we didn't think that hard about it.” The taller one said.

“Evidently.” Starlight said, examining the wreckage. Strewn among the wood were magic props, various bottles of booze, fireworks and smoke bombs. Directly below Starlight's hoof was a pair of star-shaped sunglasses. She was impossibly drawn to them as if pulled by some force. Covered in mud, they cracked as she levitated them up to look at them. She felt her stomach drop.

“What happened to Trixie?” Starlight asked as she quietly tucked the sunglasses away.

“Got ran out of town. She used to be the most powerful unicorn in Equestria. Turns out, just a stage magician.” The shorter colt said sadly.

“What happened to the Ursa Major?” Sunburst said, having closed the distance at the topic of magical creatures.

“Oh that one was vanquished alright! Got put to sleep and nursed and sent back to its cave by a brilliant magic unicorn!” The taller one said enthusiastically.

“Oh? Who was that?” Starlight asked.