Stardust Balance

"As I am sure you all know, tomorrow Canterlot High School will be hosting our fellow students at Crystal Prep Academy. As we join together in the spirit of excellence, sportsmanship and-"

Blah blah blah blah blah. School spirit blah. Yap yap, blah blah, dribble dribble dribble.

Hey, gotta find some means of entertaining myself if the movie won't.

"Since the games only ever happen every four years." Which is dumb, but continue. "I'm sure you're all curious what goes on."

"You mean other than us losing?!"

"Shut up Sentry!"

Sorry, force of habit. I paid no attention to the flat looks sent my way from the girls beside me. And Celestia proceeded as though I didn't just own some scrub.

"And that, is exactly why I've asked Rainbow Dash to come up here and give you all a little, erm, context."

Hah. Big mistake. The blue teen proceeded to snatch the mic and kick this dull scene into... Something akin to mediocrity. "Thank you Principal Celestia!" She coughed like a Kangaroo with lung cancer. "I know a lot of you think there's no way we can beat a fancy school like Crystal Prep at anything!"

...Can I just return to monologing an internal review at everything that's wrong with this Godforsaken universe?

Why bother? The reasons as to why are being revealed before our very, dissatisfied field of vision.

"Unless it's a 'Losing to Crystal Prep Competition;' cause we're really good at that!"

"Shut up Sentry!"

"I'm not Flash, silly, I'm Pinkie Pie."

"Oh... Worth it."

Rainbow looked annoyed on the stage, but continued with enthusiasm anyway, while that tedious music blared from behind the red curtains. "And I know that CHS has never won the Friendship Games. Even once!" Because the plot demanded as such. "Crystal Prep students are super athletic, super smart and super motivated! But there's one thing they aren't! They aren't, Wondercolts!"

Oh that's a real good reason as to why we shouldn't cheer for the opposing school.

I'm sorry, but is Rainbow just giving us more reason as to show support for Crystal Prep instead than this place? [BEEP]-talk the students there and their villainous Principal all we like, we can't deny how orderly and prepared they are by comparison. The opposing school looks way more organized and professional than CHS; I have no reason to support an otherwise incompetent school whose only advantages are seven teenage girls with bull[BEEP] magic powers!

And for that matter, why are they letting those exact seven represent the school for the Games? [BEEP]ing Phil from Hercules wouldn't permit that [BEEP]. If at the moment they're not controlling their powers well and they don't want to be viewed as cheating by the opposite team, then WHY HAVE THEM ON THE TEAM?! Is EVERYONE ELSE at this school SO useless it falls to those girls to fix everything?!

Short answer, clearly, yes.

And for that matter, the fact the human variant of Princess Luna concerned about being called out as 'cheaters' should be the least of their worries, if anyone outside this nauseating high school learns about the seven anomalies which plagues this building- Oh Taturus, she's singing.

I made a hasty retreat the moment the school band revealed themselves. Cafeteria should be deserted by now, maybe I could get a quick bite. I'm pretty [BEEP]ing hungry. Last I checked it was... This way.

During this search for satisfying your stomach, perhaps next we ouaghta discuss the absurdity over the teenagers... How do they put it... 'Pony up.'

Christ, don't remind me of that. The term alone gives me a brain aneurysm. Nah, I got a better idea. Instead, let's lay out the plan for preventing Midnight Sparkle from ever happening, and arresting Principal Cinch, or Principal [BEEP] which rhymes and is far more accurate, for illegally blackmailing and emotionally abusing a vulnerable young student.

A: Win Twilight's trust.

B: Get her help in exposing Cinch.

C: Help her befriend the girls.

D: Go home, and get a nice relaxing rest on my long-awaited bed.

And yet, all of which excluding the final step, will be more difficult in practice.

Sadly. I imagine winning the human Twilight over will be much harder than pony Twilight. The two was similar, but very different on experiences and social interaction alone. We're dealing with a Twilight far more vulnerable and hesitant than the other. It won't work right away, but patience has always been my best friend.

I just hope it'll last enough to prevent... That...

Why are you so fixated on that, in any case? Sombra finally inquired skeptically. That awkward teenager is not the Twilight Sparkle you're well acquainted with. She's merely a replica, but far weaker and open to exploitation. Is the idea of her becoming that miserable creature really so distraught to you?

Amongst other things...

And, as I imagined Sombra to inquire further, someone else spoke up, "There you are." Ah. I halted, to look behind, Sunset catching up in bemusement. "I was wondering where you wandered off to."

"Here and there."

And followed by, hilariously enough, a stomach growling. Wonderful. Sunset looked down at my clothed belly in surprise, and smirked in good nature. "Hungry huh? Come on, we can catch up some more at the cafeteria." Alrighty then. Sunset added as we walked side-by-side down the hallway. "And maybe later, you could help me figure out the recent development over our friend's magic."

...Eh. Why not? I've got some time to kill to form a thorough plan anyway. And it already helps when you know the answer to this dilemma of Sunset's beforehand...

https://www.fimfiction.net/story/243194/a-journey-beyond-sanity

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10959457/1/A-Journey-Beyond-Sanity

"...It's possible." I confessed with slight reluctance, casting a forced grin to Starlight. "I'm sorry Starlight, for endangering you this way. You can go back and check on Cadence, Sunburst and Flurry if you want."

The unicorn faintly smirked. "Good try, Stardust, but Twilight's told me all about your tendency to face these threats solo." Damn, worth a shot. Purple eyes glinted all too mischievously. "Also, it'd go against everything I've learnt under my teacher so far; friends never leave one another in trouble. So you're stuck with me, Stardust."

"...Not that I'm complaining." Was my humoured response, taking a brief break from hunting for clues and approaching my girlfriend's star pupil, taking a seat right across from her. "Are you happy with us, Starlight? Twilight, Spike and everyone else?"

The unicorn nodded enthusiastically. "Of course. I couldn't be more gratified to have met you all." Starlight looked slightly sheepish, grinning lightly. "If it wasn't for you, I probably would be enslaving more and more ponies to my forced ideals."

"No regrets thus far?"

Starlight shook her head. "Only how my actions almost led to pain and suffering... Oh, and my attempts of learning a friendship lesson last week by using a spell to make everyone obey my will." A tiny grin which prompted my genuine laughter. Starlight perked a knowing brow. "Let me guess, you knew that would happen in the first place."

"Ten marks to the unicorn!" Before I leaned forward, clasping my front hoofs together with a bright smile. "In all seriousness, I'm glad you became Twilight's pupil. It's not just you who learned a lot of things from her; with you, Twilight has started understanding the responsibilities for teaching and patience. You both reflect one another so well."

Light red cheeks. "You charmer." Starlight teased lightly, grinning bashfully. "While we're on the subject... There's something I've wondered for a while." Starlight's expression shifted to open puzzlement. "From the very beginning you made it clear how detestable you thought of me, Stardust. But the second I became Twilight's pupil... It's like you viewed me as another pony entirely. That was partly why I was hesitant at first to become her student."

"Hm?"

"Because I thought her special somepony would hate my guts for a long time."

"Ah."

Starlight blinked openly, leaning forward with curious purple orbs. "So... What changed? Not that I'm complaining, but this sudden switch from dislike and enjoying my company seemed kinda... I don't know, strange in a sense?"

Good point. How to explain...? "I didn't... Dislike you at first, Starlight." The mare nodded encouragingly, and I complied carefully. "I won't lie, I had questioned for a long time about what made you worthy of being Twilight's student. But over time you... Grew on me. You're a pleasant, funny, and often sassy mare to be around with confidence and willpower that often shines through, and I love that about you." The cheeks deepened in colour, the mare clearly flattered, prompting my amused grin. "In fact, you remind you too much of Twilight at times. It's like she's converting into being exactly like her, personality and all."

Starlight chuckled. "Heh, imagine that, two Twilight's living under the same castle."

"I don't know about you, but that sounds like Christmas in the making."

"What I also don't understand though." Starlight then looked serious again. "Even though you were hardly tolerant of me back from the start, you tried to help me regardless. You honestly believed I could be a better pony before Twilight did. I understand you saw events beforehand but... You could've let Twilight convince me not to go through with what Zagreus intended instead of you."

"I could've." I acknowledged with a nod, Starlight pressing on with a frown.

"So then, why step in, aside from stopping me from dooming every living thing?"

The moment of truth.

"Becuase Starlight..." Taking a moment, I composed myself and answered to the best of my ability. "I use to be just like you."

The mare blinked. "What? You a dictator? I can't imagine that, to be honest."

I smirked faintly. "No, but I could've been if I didn't have Twilight and the others first... Probably." I shrugged, leaning back and proceeding to explain. "But like you, I was consumed by anger, rage and jealously. I thought I was beyond all salvation and that, eventually, everything would be taken from me at some point, leaving me bitter and alone. And for one moment, I was almost right... I hurt Twilight and the others in the worst way possible... And I thought myself irredeemable and tried to run away."

"But you didn't. You stayed."

"I did." I nodded, voice barely a whisper at the somber recollection. "Like you, my childhood wasn't the most pleasant of memories. If not for Twilight and everyone refusing to give up on me... Well, I don't like to ponder otherwise." With a rueful smile, I looked back to the observing mare, meeting her purple eyes with solemn hazel own.

Perhaps that was why I was too hard on her from the start. It took me until now to realize. Just as Sunset was a mixture of all my good traits, Starlight was an amalgamation of all my bad parts. She reminded me too of myself in the most negative way, and we all knew how much I hated myself. Maybe that's why I disliked her, initially, before that dislike turned into tolerance and eventual fondness. Because in those purple eyes, I saw the same damaged child yearning for a second chance, but went about it the wrong way. Just as Twilight, Spike and all my family accepted me for both pros and cons...

It was time I did the same, through Starlight.

"So what made you change your mind? One of Twilight's classic friendship speeches or your love for her and your friends?"

"A bit of both, plus features like having a new face... A fresh start. To become the person I always could've been if I stopped doubting myself and began embracing the love and affection shown by everyone around me." I glanced at the floor between us briefly, sighing tiredly. "All my life I considered myself a burden to others because of my disability and overly dependence. But it took six impossible mares and one amazing dragon to help me realize something very, very important."

Starlight's eyes widened, inciting me to lean forward again right near her face, a bright grin on my golden muzzle as I spoke truth.

"We're all different. That's what makes us special. No one else can be who we really are."

Starlight looked somewhat awed and humbled, leaning back into her seat while regarding me openly. "I'm beginning to see what Twilight sees the most in you." A light, thankful grin. "You're both perfect for each other."

"Thank you very much." And I really meant that.

With newfound enthusiasm, the unicorn jumped from her seat onto her hoofs and smiled in self-confidence. "Come on then, let's go see if there's anything that can help us open that passageway." With a smirk, I nodded and proceeded to look around alongside Twilight's fantastic student, always proactive and ready to get the job done.