The next morning, Solaris woke up and the moment he woke up, he smelled pancakes and tea coming from outside his room. "Huh, that smells good. I wonder who's making breakfast right now."

So he got up from his bed and walked out of his room, following the smell of the food that was currently being made. When he got to the kitchen, he was surprised that Twilight was cooking breakfast, and not anypony else.

When Twilight saw Solaris coming into the kitchen, she smiled and spoke up. "Oh, good morning Solaris? Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I did." Solaris answered. "Although I never thought I would wake up to see you cooking breakfast. I thought you weren't that good at cooking."

Twilight chuckled nervously, her cheeks tinting pink. "Yeah, I'm still not the best when it comes to cooking. Spike is still definitely better when it comes to cooking, but since he's still in the Crystal Empire, I thought I should try cooking again."

"Twilight, you know I could just snap my claws and make some perfectly good breakfast now." Solaris informed her.

"Well, that is true. However, I should try and learn how to do things myself. I'm a pro at studying things in books, but not things for everyday life, such as cooking. I want to try and change that."

Solaris smiled proudly at Twilight. "I'm proud of you Twi."

A few minutes later, Twilight and Solaris were at the table, munching on their breakfast and tea and so far, Solaris was impressed. "Wow, this is really good for your first attempt."

Twilight beamed at Solaris' compliment. "Thank you! I followed the recipe exactly, and, well, I might have over-prepared just a little." She gestured to the counter, which was covered in flour, used measuring cups, and a pile of cooking utensils.

Solaris chuckled. "I see you turned the kitchen into a battlefield like in one of you books. But, hey, it was worth it for this breakfast."

Twilight giggled and took a sip of her tea. "I'll clean up later, and don't say you can clean it up easily. I want to do it myself. For now, it's nice to just sit and enjoy breakfast with a friend. By the way, thanks for keeping me company while the rest of my friends aren't around. I'm serious, thank you."

"Aw, it's no big deal at all." Solaris began. "Speaking of which, what are the others doing today?"

"Well, Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity are spending the day with the CMC since they just got their cutie marks yesterday, and I'm still proud of them."

"Aren't we all." Solaris added on.

"Pinkie Pie and the Cake Family just got an order for a really big cake from, you won't believe it, the Crystal Empire. I wonder what's happening with Spike over there. And finally, Fluttershy is spending the day tending to the animals at her cottage, so it will just be you and me today." Twilight finished while sitting back in her chair.

"Well, you have anything planned for today?" Solaris asked.

"Well, I have one plan for today. I need to go to Zecora's hut and restock on herbs and leaves for our tea. Wanna come with?" Twilight offered.

Solaris thought for a moment before nodding his head. "I’ll join you. I’ve never visited Zecora before. Besides, a walk through the Everfree sounds like the perfect way to stretch my legs after this amazing breakfast."

Twilight’s ears perked up. "Great! I was hoping you’d say that. It’ll be nice to have some company for the trip. The Everfree Forest is always less intimidating with a friend around."

"Definitely." Solaris agreed.

After finishing their breakfast and tidying up the kitchen (with Twilight insisting on doing most of the cleaning herself), Solaris and Twilight gathered their things for the trip. Twilight packed a small saddlebag with a list of the herbs she needed, some empty jars, and a canteen of water. Solaris opted to bring nothing but himself.

"Do you think anything unexpected is going to happen today while we're in the Everfree Forest today?" Twilight asked.

"Well, this is Equestria we're talking about. It's highly likely that something will happen today that isn't just us getting plants." Solaris answered.

"Fair enough."

Their conversation continued as they left the town behind and approached the edge of the Everfree Forest. The cheerful atmosphere of Ponyville gave way to the dense canopy of trees, where shadows danced and the air grew cooler.

“Wow, it’s been centuries since I’ve been here,” Solaris mused, looking around at the twisting trees and vines. “I forgot how… unique this place feels.”

“It can be eerie,” Twilight admitted, “but it’s also fascinating. So many rare plants and creatures thrive here, and Zecora knows how to make the most of it. She’s incredible.”

Twilight continued talking about the Everfree Forest and Zecora until she bumped into Solaris, who was just in front of her. When she looked him in the eye, she saw that his eyes were wide. "Solaris, what's wrong?"

However, Solaris didn't say anything, he just pointed at what was in front of them, and when she saw what he saw, her eyes went wide too.

There was a pony on the ground, and the pony looked like she would pass out any moment. Twilight looked at the pony and saw that they were vaguely familiar. It was a unicorn, one that had very light lilac fur, with a mane and tail that was purple but had a streak of turquoise. She had blue eyes and her cutie mark was a star with 2 blue wisps of magic. Twilight knew exactly who this pony was. "Starlight?"

Starlight looked to where Twilight and Solaris were, and then she fainted.

"Twilight, you know her?" Solaris asked.

Twilight sighed and began explaining. "Yeah, this is Starlight Glimmer. We met not too long ago, and she isn't really a good pony."

"Really? What did she do?" Solaris asked.

Twilight continued explaining. "When we met, she looked like a nice ruler of a small town. However, the ponies that lived there, they didn't have cutie marks. We knew the reason after she lured us into a trap and took our cutie marks."

Solaris was surprised. "You can take cutie marks?"

"She did. She took our cutie marks before she trapped us in a big room until we agreed to follow her orders. It was only when Fluttershy tricked her into submitting to her rule that we were broken free from that room and we chased her out of town."

Solaris frowned deeply, glancing down at the unconscious Starlight. "That’s… quite the story. And now she’s here, passed out in the Everfree Forest. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence."

Twilight nodded, her brows furrowed in thought. "I don’t think it is either. The Everfree isn’t exactly a place ponies wander into by accident. She must have come here for a reason."

Solaris crouched next to Starlight and examined her more closely. She looked exhausted, her coat disheveled and her breathing shallow. "We should get her to Zecora’s hut. She might need medical attention before we can ask her anything."

Twilight hesitated. "You’re right, but… we should also be careful. If Starlight hasn’t changed, she might try to manipulate us once she’s awake."

"Understood," Solaris replied, his voice steady. "Let’s stay cautious. But for now, she’s clearly not in any condition to pose a threat."

With that, Solaris gently picked up Starlight using his magic, cradling her in a soft, glowing aura. Twilight led the way deeper into the forest, toward Zecora’s hut. Along the way, Twilight glanced at Starlight, conflicted.

"Do you think… we can get her to change?" Twilight asked after a while, her voice quiet.

Solaris glanced at her. "I think anyone can change, Twilight. Sometimes it takes the right circumstances—or the right ponies—to help them see a better path. But they have to want to change first."

Twilight considered his words, then sighed. "I guess we’ll find out soon enough."

"I told you before, something unexpected can happen at anytime. Maybe she genuinely wants to change."

The two continued their journey until they reached Zecora’s hut, the familiar smell of herbs and incense wafting through the air. Solaris knocked on the door, and after a moment, Zecora opened it. "Ah Twilight, it's good to see you at my door." Zecora greeted. "Now tell me, what are you here for?"

"Hi, Zecora," Twilight greeted with a smile before gesturing to Solaris and the unconscious Starlight Glimmer levitating in his magical aura. "We were on our way to pick up some herbs when we found her in the forest. She’s unconscious, and we thought you might be able to help her."

Zecora’s gaze shifted to Starlight, her expression thoughtful. She stepped aside, motioning for them to come in. "Bring her in, lay her down to rest. I will do what I can to give her my best."

Solaris carefully levitated Starlight onto a cot in the corner of Zecora’s hut. The zebra moved swiftly, gathering herbs and mixing a concoction in a small wooden bowl. "Her state is dire, her energy weak. She needs rest and care to regain the strength she seeks."

Twilight watched nervously as Zecora worked. "Do you think she’ll be okay?"

Zecora nodded as she applied the mixture to Starlight’s forehead. "She will heal with time and aid. Her fainting shows her strength has swayed."

Solaris took a step back, observing the room. The hut was warm and inviting, the shelves lined with potions and dried herbs. "Thank you, Zecora. We found her just in time."

The zebra smiled warmly. "Helping others is my creed. It’s kind of you to bring her in her time of need."

Twilight sighed, her ears drooping slightly. "I just hope she doesn’t wake up and cause trouble. Starlight’s… complicated."

Zecora looked up from her work, her wise eyes meeting Twilight’s. "Even those who cause despair may seek a chance to repair. Watch her closely, tread with care. Perhaps her heart holds kindness rare."

Solaris placed a comforting claw on Twilight’s shoulder. "Zecora’s right. Let’s see what happens when she wakes up. We can’t judge her yet—she might surprise us."

Twilight nodded hesitantly. "You’re both right. For now, we’ll wait and see."

They didn't have to wait long however, since after a few minutes, Starlight stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She looked around groggily, her gaze settling on Twilight and Solaris. Her eyes widened with recognition, and she tried to sit up, only to groan in pain.

"Take it easy," Solaris said gently, stepping forward. "You’re safe here."

Starlight's expression turned from confusion to a hint of malice upon looking at Twilight. "Hey, I know you. You're Twilight."

Twilight stepped closer cautiously, keeping her voice calm. "Yes, Starlight, it’s me. We found you unconscious in the Everfree Forest and brought you here to Zecora’s hut. You need to rest."

Starlight’s lips curled into a faint smirk, though it lacked her usual confidence. "Rest? That’s rich, coming from the pony who ruined everything I worked for."

Twilight frowned but maintained her composure. "Starlight, we’re not here to argue. You were hurt, and we wanted to help. That’s all."

Solaris watched the exchange quietly, observing the tension between the two. "Starlight," he interjected gently, "you’ve been through something difficult to end up in the Everfree like this. Maybe we can help if you tell us what happened."

"And who are you?" Starlight asked.

"I'm Solaris, and I just wanted to make sure you were ok."

Starlight sighed and looked down. "Before anything else is said, I just want to say that..." Starlight hesitated before saying, "I'm sorry."

Twilight blinked, startled by Starlight’s unexpected apology. Solaris tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. "Sorry?" he asked, his tone gentle. "For what?"

Starlight looked away, her voice trembling. "For everything. For taking your cutie marks, for trapping you and your friends, and... for being so blinded by my own pain that I couldn’t see what I was doing to others."

Twilight's ears perked up, and she exchanged a glance with Solaris. "Starlight... that’s a big step," Twilight said carefully, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and hope. "But what brought you here? Why were you in the Everfree Forest?"

"Well, after I fled into the cave network, I stayed there, thinking about what I lost, then a month and a half or so later, I found a really big area in one of the caves. What I didn't know, was that a dark force was housed there. It looked like a dark smoke that could turn into anything like a dark form, and it started taking my magic and it used that magic to create beasts and something that looked like it came from the great Prench Plague."

Solaris was surprised, but didn't show it. "The Prench Plague?"

"Yeah, it looked like they were mounds of some kind, and before I passed out, I was captured in thick vines. They wrapped around me and I passed out from lack of magic and movement." Starlight continued.

Twilight was intrigued about this information, and Solaris feared that he might be found out sooner rather than later. "When did you wake up?" Twilight asked.

"My head lost track of time when I woke up, and when I woke up, everything was gone, including the mounds, beasts, vines and the dark being himself. I stumbled out of the cave and saw snow on the ground. That's when I knew, I woke up on Hearths Warming. I've been in the Everfree Forest since." Starlight finished her story.

Twilight looked at Starlight in shock. "Hearth's Warming? That means you've been out there for weeks, all alone?"

Starlight nodded slowly, her eyes distant. "I had nowhere else to go, and I was too scared to face anyone. I couldn’t even remember what happened in the cave... it was like I was trapped in a nightmare. That dark force... it took something from me, something I couldn't get back."

Solaris's expression darkened, a faint trace of worry crossing his face. "Dark force... You mean something like a curse? Or a possession?"

Starlight shook her head. "No, it wasn’t a possession... It was more like an... entity. It fed off my magic, twisted it, made me feel weak and helpless. It was like it was trying to turn me into something else, something I didn’t want to be."

Twilight’s expression softened. "That sounds terrifying. But you’re here now, and you’re safe. We’ll help you figure this out, Starlight. You don’t have to face this alone."

Starlight looked up at Twilight, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. "I... I don’t deserve your help. I’ve hurt you and your friends so much... I don’t even know how to make up for it."

Solaris gave her a reassuring smile. "Redemption doesn’t come in one big moment. It’s a journey. You’ve already taken the first step by admitting your mistakes. That’s more than most ever do."

Zecora, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "The past is a shadow, always there, but with each new dawn, we can repair. Take this time, to heal and mend, and let go of the pain that you defend."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "You don’t have to fix everything all at once, Starlight. We’ll take things one step at a time. And you can stay at my castle until you feel ready."

Starlight swallowed hard, her emotions raw. "I’ll try... I just don’t know if I can ever make things right."

"One step at a time," Solaris repeated softly, "is all anyone can do."

Starlight gave a faint nod, her gaze drifting to the window. The rain had started to fall lightly outside, the sound of it pattering against the hut’s roof offering a moment of calm amidst the storm of emotions within her. For the first time in a long while, she felt the possibility of hope.

"I can help heal you if you'd like. It would only take a few seconds, but it would make you feel like new." Solaris offered.

Starlight looked at him. "You would do that?"

Solaris smiled. "Of course." And just like that, he snapped his claws, causing his magic aura to wrap around her, healing her within seconds."

Starlight let out a soft gasp as the healing magic wrapped around her, filling her with a sense of warmth and calm. The pain in her body faded, and for the first time in a long while, she felt truly at ease. She blinked a few times, feeling the lingering effects of the magic, and then looked at Solaris, her eyes wide with gratitude.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "That... that was incredible."

Solaris nodded, his expression gentle. "You're welcome."

Twilight watched the exchange, her heart swelling with a mix of relief and cautious optimism. Starlight was still struggling with her past, but she could see the sincerity in her eyes, and that gave her hope. Maybe, just maybe, Starlight could find a path to redemption.

Zecora, who had been silently observing, spoke up again. "The healing of the body is but one part. The soul, however, must do its own part."

Starlight looked at her and answered, "I think that may happen soon."

"Oh, and before I forget..." Twilight began. "We need to refill on herbs and leaves for our tea."

Zecora smiled. "Of course my friend. Tea can help heal the soul. Once I grab the plants, you'll be on a roll." she said before picking up a few bags of herbs and leaves from the shelves and handing them to Twilight.

"Thanks Zecora." Twilight said before she went to the door. "Let's get home you 2. Tea's on me."

"Thanks Twilight." Solaris and Starlight said in unison as they left the hut.

On their way out of the Everfree, a red glow caught Solaris' eye. It confused him, since Twilight and Starlight didn't seem to notice it. "Actually, you girls go on ahead, I'll catch up with you later."

Twilight looked over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow at Solaris' sudden shift in focus. "Are you sure? It's getting late."

Solaris nodded, his gaze still locked on the red glow in the distance. "I'll be fine. I just need to check something out."

Starlight, still feeling a bit fragile, hesitated but then spoke up. "Be careful, Solaris. The Everfree Forest can be unpredictable."

"Don't worry," Solaris reassured her, offering a small smile. "I'll catch up with you soon."

Twilight gave him a concerned look but ultimately nodded. "Alright, just don’t be too long. We’ll be waiting for you."

With that, Twilight and Starlight continued down the path toward Ponyville, leaving Solaris alone in the shadows of the Everfree. After a while, the 2 ponies made it to the Castle of Friendship.

"Let me round up my friends, so they can see you. Don't worry, I'll vouch for you." Twilight assured her.

Starlight was unsure, but nodded anyway.

About half an hour later, Twilight rounded up Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack and brought them over to the castle. Starlight stood nervously in the Castle of Friendship, her eyes flickering between the five ponies who had arrived at Twilight’s invitation. Each of them looked at her with a mix of curiosity, caution, and, in Pinkie’s case, a little too much enthusiasm.

However, Rainbow Dash knew who she was in an instant and her face turned to anger. "Wait, it's you. The pony that stole our cutie marks."

"What is tarnation is she doin' here?" Applejack asked with a look of caution and anger.

Starlight lowered into her seat, but Twilight gave a warm smile and vouched for her. "It's ok everypony, she doesn't want to hurt us. She wants to change."

Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves, clearly still skeptical. "I don’t know, Twi. After everything she did to us—"

"I understand your anger," Starlight spoke up quietly, her voice trembling. "I deserve it. I’m not asking for your forgiveness, not yet. I just… I wanted to show you I’m different now." Her eyes filled with regret as she met each of their gazes. "I don’t want to be the same pony who hurt you all."

Pinkie Pie bounced over with a wide grin. "But if you’re really sorry, then that means you want to be friends, right? I love making new friends! Everypony deserves a second chance!"

Rarity raised an eyebrow but seemed to soften at Pinkie’s enthusiasm. "Hmm, well, as much as I still find it hard to forget what you did, I do agree with Pinkie. Everypony deserves a second chance—if they’re sincere about it."

Applejack sighed and stepped forward, her usual straightforward nature showing. "I reckon we all gotta give her a fair shot. But don’t expect us to forget the past overnight."

Fluttershy, ever the kind heart, gave a gentle nod. "I believe everypony can change if they really try. I just hope you’ve learned from everything, Starlight."

Starlight nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and hope. "I’ve learned. I’ve been through a lot, and I realize now that I hurt others because I was hurting inside. I… I want to be better."

Twilight smiled, relieved to see that her friends were starting to warm to Starlight. "Thank you, everypony. I know it’s hard, but I think we’re all going to see something good come from this."

"Oooohh, we have a new friend I see." came the voice of what sounded like an old man. Then Discord spawned in, and everyone groaned, except for Fluttershy and Starlight.

"Oh come on Discord. What do you want right now?" Rainbow Dash asked, irritated.

"Well I saw that a villain is getting redeemed, and I want to get to know her, reformed villain to reformed villain."

"Discord, now ain't a good time, can you leave please?" Twilight asked.

"Oh what's wrong Twilight? Too many redeemed villains in the room?" Discord playfully asked while a halo hovered above him and Starlight.

Rainbow Dash was getting angry now, and she flew up to Discord's face. "Listen Discord. We don't need you around right now, so just take our advice and get out."

Discord saw the seriousness in her voice and frowned. "But Starlight was a villain too. Why are you treating her nicer than me? Besides, I just spread chaos, she actively tried to steal cutie marks and create a world order."

Starlight looked down in shame, and then Twilight got angry too. "That's enough Discord. She wants to change while you're still spreading chaos far and wide. Leave, this is the last time I tell you."

Discord frowned, feeling a mix of emotion he hadn't felt in a long time, sadness and anger. He looked away from the group and said, "Fine." before he teleported away in a flash of light.

"Discord, wait." Fluttershy called out to him, but it was too late. "Sorry guys, but that was mean. I'll go find him." She said before getting up from her seat and exiting the castle.

"Yeah, that was kind of mean." Starlight agreed. "He doesn't seem like a bad guy, just... stuck to his ways."

The rest of the ponies in the room sighed, only realizing now that they were kind of mean. "Sorry you had to see that Starlight. Discord isn't bad, just... obnoxious."

"Well, I would like to get to know him more, maybe be his friend." Starlight said.

"And when we get the chance, we can go apologize to him for being mean." Rainbow Dash said.

So with that, Everypony went their seperate ways for the day.

Solaris continued his way to where he saw that red light. When he got to the light, it looked like something was buried in the ground.

"Well, I might as well dig it up." he said to himself before he started digging. After he dug up some of the dirt, he saw what was glowing, and his eyes went wide.

"It can't be. That's where it's been all this time?"

Author's Note

Yay, Blockywocky's are gone.