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Starlight jolted upright from the bed— her bed, gasping for air that could not come quicker into her lungs. Life had dulled down for her recently, and yet, she has yet to have a night of actual peaceful sleep. The type of sleep that doesn't leave you feeling worse than when you came. The type of sleep that actually feels like it, instead of a constant reminder of everything she had done wrong.
Ever since the attack from the changeling kingdom, Starlight has been… on edge. Realistically speaking, there's no reason for her to be uptight, no reason for her to feel this certain way. She, alongside Trixie, Thorax, and Discord had saved Equestria. Took down Queen Chrysalis and reformed the entire Changeling kingdom!
And now Chrysalis was— though on the lose, the weakest she'd ever been. Without her hive, her kingdom, there was no way she could've posed any sort of danger… for now.
She'd been in Chrysalis' shoes. She was once the one who ran away, who rejected reformation and sought revenge on the people who she thought destroyed everything she had worked hard to build. And now… She's on the other side of that coin.
Starlight remembered the rescue mission— the feeling of desperation and hopelessness when she heard Thorax confirm that there was no help coming from the Crystal Empire. That all the princesses have been kidnapped, all of whom were more equipped to deal with this sort of situation than she was. Especially then.
She remembered the words Chrysalis uttered with pure anger and hatred, all directed to her. Revenge. Something worse than what Starlight had planned for Twilight and her friends back then, and that had nearly caused the end of Equestria as they knew it.
Twilight and her friends could definitely stop Chrysalis if she tried anything world ending, no doubt about that. Yet despite that sort of confidence, Starlight still felt that bubble of anxiety waiting to burst any second. She couldn't even place why she felt this way— why she couldn't even get a good night's rest even after achieving all that.
Then the memory hit her like sonic rainboom.
She remembered what exactly had to have happened just so Starlight and Thorax could make it to the throne room and stop Chrysalis.
They first captured Discord— usually she wouldn't be too worried for the literal god of chaos, but in the hive, there was no magic. No reality bending stunt Discord could've pulled to escape. The feeling of dread in her stomach grew as the seconds ticked past and there was no Discord in sight after the guards swarm. And the chills that went down her spine when they realized the Draconequus in-front of them was a Changeling trying to lead them to an ambush attack.
Then she remembered the feeling of hopelessness she felt when Trixie stepped up to prevent the swarm from capturing all of them. Stepping up by sacrificing herself. A small part of Starlight was confident at Trixie's abilities to stay alive, but the rest of her were practically screaming at her to never let Trixie go. When they said goodbye, they weren't sure it wasn't gonna be their last. She had already lost Discord— the most powerful one magical wise in the group. She couldn't lose Trixie too. She was the only one who made her feel a semblance of sane in such a crazy situation, and the thought of losing her, possibly permanently? It drove her nuts.
Starlight sighed, refocusing herself back to the present. She focused on her breathing. Fluttershy said the best way to ground yourself is by looking around and remembering where you really are. She wasn't at the hive. Chrysalis is long gone. She wasn't gonna lose Trixie. She reminded herself.
Starlight looked through the window, seeing the starry night sky illuminating the streets of Ponyville below. She checked the clock and great, it was still one in the morning. How amazing. She shook her head as if to clear up the fog in her mind. Maybe a late night stroll could help ease the tension she's feeling.
She dressed up in comfortable and warm clothes, before using her magic to levitate herself off the balcony of the castle to the soft patch of grass right below safely. She didn't want to disturb Twilight and Spike this late at night.
Wandering around, she didn't really have any place in mind to go to. After all, it's nighttime. Everything is closed. She didn't stray too far from the castle, didn't want to risk running into townsfolk to which she would question why they were still awake in the first place. Starlight opted to stay by the calm lake close by— sitting down on the grass and staring at the night sky. There's really nothing to do but sleep and ponder during the nighttime.
Right. The nighttime.
Where you're alone.
With your thoughts.
Starlight shook her head again, trying to avoid those thoughts from popping up.
It didn't take much effort to get rid of those thoughts this time however, as her attention was redirected to a small noise coming from behind a few tall bushes.
Starlight prepared her spells- ready to trigger it at any time when danger comes. Many thoughts started to race through her mind. What was it? Why was it here? Realistically, she knew it probably was a stray animal, but she couldn't be too sure.
What if it was Chrysalis plotting something?
To say Starlight was on-edge was an understatement as she slowly and cautiously approached the tall bushes. As she got closer, the distant noise started to grow louder- and clearer. It didn't sound like some sort of animal, but rather… grumbling?
Before her mind could process that, a big explosion of blue smoke covered the general area, and that's when Starlight decided to rush in.
A spell ready to drive away of some sort of creature, she rushed into the bushes— before stopping dead in her tracks.
"Trixie?" Starlight called out, now raising one eyebrow in confusion.
In-front of her was a girl with that familiar light blue hair, and that purple wagon littered with patterns of yellow stars right next her.
"Oh- sweet Celestia!" Trixie yelped, losing grip of the box she was carrying and accidentally dropping it on the ground.
"Starlight! You scared me!" She sounded a mix of shocked, exasperated, and tired. She was still wearing her performer outfit (minus the hat), though her cape was slightly disheveled. "Well- not that the great and powerful Trixie ever gets scared." Trixie backtracked, straightening her cape and putting on the familiar theatrical accent she always did.
"Sorry." Starlight chuckled awkwardly, dispelling her other spell and using her levitation magic to help Trixie with the box she was struggling to lift.
"What are you doing out here?" Starlight asked, levitating the box into the wagon, with the guidance of Trixie on where it's supposed to be placed. It was weird to see Trixie out and about so late. So much for her usual great and powerful beauty sleep she's typically keen of not missing.
"Late night magic rehearsal. I should be asking you the same question Star." Trixie dusted off her hands as if she did all that by herself. "Or do you just enjoy scaring the living daylights out of other people at night?" Trixie scoffed, giving Starlight a small side-eye, to which Starlight offered a sheepish smile.
"Well, no- it's not that." Starlight huffed, a little unsure of what to say, or really what to do. She fidgeted with her hands as Trixie continued to organize her wagon. There was a moment of awkward silence between the two, making Trixie raise an eyebrow at Starlight.
"What's wrong?" Trixie looked out of her wagon, confused on how Starlight was acting. She wasn't really the meek type— well, not usually. If you put the girl in a social situation, she'd probably have a hard time with that.
"Nothings wrong! I don't know why you would even ask that!" Starlight replied quickly, her voice a bit of a higher pitch than usual. She laughed nervously before clearing her throat.
"Right.." Trixie looked up and down at the very obviously nervous Starlight who is very much unable to stand still.
She sighs, placing down the final prop into her wagon before getting out of it.
"As the great and powerful Trixie!-" She paused, clearing her throat. "—And your girlfriend… it's kind of obvious when you're freaking out." Trixie deadpanned, dropping the theatrical voice near the end. Starlight couldn't help but blush just a little as being regarded as… girlfriends. Well, the two figured things out after everything calmed down after the changeling attack and Starlight's whole graduation thing. Everything was relatively new to the both of them.
"Haha… It's just- it's silly. Really." Starlight rested a hand on the back of her neck. "No big deal." She smiled, though it came out obviously forced.
Trixie furrowed her brows, obviously not convinced.
"Starlight, as great and powerful as I am, you do know you can talk to me about anything." She shrugged, slightly confused as to where this hesitation was coming from.
"Anything?"
"Anything." Trixie nodded.
"Even if it's…"
"Even if it's silly or strange or maybe even some sort of evil plot! Not… that you still do that." Trixie corrected herself, "But I'd totally still help you out if you did decide to go that route." She added, earning a small scoff and a slight smile from Starlight.
Starlight hesitated, trying to string out the words in her head. And though Trixie wasn't one to enjoy waiting, she can make a great and powerful exception for her great and beautiful girlfriend, who by the way, looks amazing under the moonlight. Even if Trixie was a bit tired, she can still recognize that fact.
"You know how we defeated Chrysalis and reformed the entire Changeling kingdom?"
"Oh yeah, then we got pink heart medals from the princess Celestia and princess Luna— with the whole of Equestria regarding us as heroes. Wouldn't forget that." Trixie added in, a smug look on her face. The amount of publication her magic tour got after that was baffling.
"Uh… yeah. That." Starlight deadpanned.
"Sorry, continue." Trixie leaned on the side of her wagon, letting Starlight finish.
"It's just… ever since that attack, it's just been… hard." Starlight looked down on the ground, a sigh escaping her.
"I mean, everything is peaceful. Chrysalis was defeated. Everything's been going great ever since— you know." She gestured her hand as if it could give answers as to what you know was. Luckily, Trixie did know.
"But it's just— will the peace last? Chrysalis is still out there doing Celestia knows what!" Starlight's voice raised a little in both pitch and volume as she started to pace around in circles.
"What if she comes back? What if she has this sort of big plan about- well, I don't know- but just some sort of big revenge plot!?" Trixie could already tell Starlight was spiraling, which made her a lot more worried. This was a lot more serious than she initially thought.
"I literally went back in time just to ruin Twilight and her friends to get my revenge. And this is the former queen of the Changelings we're talking about! We don't know what she's capable of!"
"Uhm.. Starlight-" Trixie tried to interrupt, though to no avail.
"She wants revenge on me. What if she tries to do something?"
"Star-"
"What if she tries to hurt you!?" Starlight broke out of her thoughts and focused back on Trixie, who's currently levitating alongside her wagon. And it's not because of Trixie's own magic or some sort of illusion, seeing as both are covered in a familiar turquoise aura.
"I- I'm sorry, I didn't.." Starlight took a deep breath before putting Trixie and her wagon down gently. Careful not to hurt or damage both. Starlight could feel her heartbeat in her chest, its rhythmic thumping ringing in her ear. Oh Celestia- she needs to control her magic better. That could've ended badly, knowing how innately strong her magical abilities were. She blinked back a few tears she could feel welling up in her eyes. She's getting too wrapped up in her head— maybe that's what she wants. Am I playing into her trap-? Ugh no Starlight- focus. Trixie. You nearly-
Starlight sighed, shaking her head as if that could shake away her thoughts before opening her mouth to speak.
"I didn't even notice-" Starlight couldn't even finish her sentence before she felt Trixie wrap her arms around her into a tight hug. Starlight, though shocked, didn't fight it, just simply melted into her arms as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do. Trixie did give good hugs, surprisingly. And Starlight didn't realize just how much she needed that, to the point those tears she blinked back slowly started to fall. She couldn't even hide it anymore. It was too much.
The two stayed like that for a few more seconds, letting Starlight relax a little bit, her heartbeat slowing down into a more steady pace before letting go, just a little. Trixie still rested her hands around Starlight's waist as Starlight wiped her face with the sleeves of her coat.
"Starlight, you are one of- if not the most capable and amazing person I've ever known in my entire life." Trixie spoke up, stepping back a little to gently grab Starlight's hands and hold it.
"And I've met some pretty amazing people before— so that tells you a lot." Trixie's eyes flickered from their hands to Starlight's eyes. A genuine smile painting Trixie's face as she did so.
"You defeated her once, and that was without the help of any of the princesses or your magical abilities! Now you have both ready to back you up at anytime."
"If anyone's gonna be able to defeat her a second time, it'd be you." Trixie said with such confidence and genuineness, it was hard not to believe her. Starlight felt a smile creep onto her face, and maybe a small blush as well seeing as the two were standing right in-front of each other real close.
"And besides, even if she did try to do anything to me, well… did you see me distracting those guards with some basic illusions? And you've taught me so many new magical tricks Chrysalis won't even know what hit her!" Trixie laughed, her enthusiasm infecting Starlight bit by bit, her earlier anxieties fading away.
"After all, I am the great and powerful Trixie! And she's got an amazing, smart, powerful, and beautiful assistant backing her up." Trixie let go of Starlight's hands to cup her face, gently wiping away some tears Starlight had missed earlier. Starlight couldn't help but appreciate the warmth of Trixie's hands, or just Trixie in general.
"Thank you Trix. I mean it. I really needed to hear that." Starlight pulled Trix into another hug, placing a small peck on the magicians cheeks as she pulled away. Which caused her to blush— hard.
Starlight couldn't really tell if it was just the cold and the blood rushing to her face to heat her up, or if she's blushing the same reason as Trixie is, though if she had to guess… it was probably the latter.
"I- it's still late at night, and I know your wagon is a bit cramped to actually get a good night's rest." Starlight drew out her words as if she was testing the waters. Hesitating slightly.
"Do you wanna— uhm- sleepover in my room?" If Starlight wasn't blushing before, she definitely was now. They weren't gonna do anything… like that. But it still made her flustered.
"Well who is Trixie to deny her very special magical assistants request? She would be more than honored to accompany you!" Trixie once again used her theatrical voice. Making Starlight chuckle. She found it pretty cute when Trixie tried to hide how flustered she felt behind the whole theater act.
Starlight teleported the two to her room— after Trixie changed out from her performer clothes. Starlight never realized Trixie hadn't seen her room before till now, seeing her treat it as some sort of sight-seeing event. It took awhile before the two actually laid down on the bed.
"I can't lie, your bed is way better than in any inn I've stayed at. Makes me wanna steal it." Trixie commented, snuggling into the soft and warm bed.
"Well, you're more than welcome to sleep here when you're around ponyville." Starlight smiled, pulling up the blanket to cover the both of them better.
"Everyday?"
"Well— okay, maybe not everyday."
The pair fell fast asleep- comforted by the feeling of being close to each other, close enough to feel each others warmth.
Starlight slept more peacefully after that night.