Tail flicks. Tail flicks... Half an hour had passed and Starlight still couldn't get the image out of her mind. It sounded so wrong! Twilight was the last pony she'd expect to do something of the sort. The Princess was a hopeless bookworm with incredibly high standards, a total neat freak, that furthermore had a serious mentor complex! There was no way that she could find anypony to call her own special somep—

"Stars!" A chilling thought came to mind. "I'm describing Sunburst." There was no mistake — Starlight's childhood friend was a male version of Twilight, minus the wings, of course. The two shared an alarming amount of traits. His practical magic wasn't as good as Twilight's, but his love of books was just as freaky, and he did have his own peculiar way of arranging things... Gasping internally in horror, Starlight bit her lip. She could see those two hitting it off! A single book quote was all it took to light the spark. Then they would start discussing books, comparing theories, rearranging the library together. In a few months they would have the most well organized wedding, make the most awkward vows, then start living together. They'd have the most nerdy and organized children, that would grow up and start making friends using a new and improved friend-algorithm...

"Those two should never be allowed at the same place for more than ten seconds," Starlight whispered darkly. Not that she was jealous of Twilight. Sunburst was just a friend, she never thought of him as somepony special. Still, if she did at some point, it was only fair that she should have him! They had known each other since childhood, which was far longer than the Princess had! Actually, she should have a long talk with Twilight and let her know how things stoo—

The voice crystal started blinking.

"Welcome to Twilight's Friendship Hotline!" Starlight instantly tapped on the crystal. "This is Starlight Glimmer speaking, how may I help you?"

"Wow!" A very impressed filly's voice came through. "This sounds so professional."

"Why, thank you." Starlight felt a sense of pride. Not that she ever doubted she would do a good job. It's all in the voice, after all. "And who is this calli—"

"Hey, girls, this is really professional!" the filly on the other side shouted, causing Starlight to duck for cover. What the hay was that?! "Just like the diamond store in Manehatten."

Oh. Sorry I asked. "Hello, Diamond Tiara." Starlight did her best not to sigh. One of the first ponies she had gotten to know after moving to Ponyville was that filly. And with good reason. If there ever were a pony to try and take over Equestria in ten years, it would be none other than her.

"Wow! You even know who I am!" Diamond Tiara said excitedly. Starlight braced herself. "Hey, girls, the crystal even knows who I am! What did I tell you? Professional! I must get daddy to buy me one of these things."

"Hey! We were suppose to call for help!" another voice said. For some reason, it too sounded familiar.

"Sweetie Belle?" Starlight asked without thinking.

"Did you see that?" Diamond Tiara shouted. Starlight could tell the filly was hopping with excitement. "It recognized you too!" Please don't say it, please don't say it! Starlight's ears shot down in an attempt to glue themselves to her head. "Professionalism!"

"Yes," an astonished Sweetie Belle agreed. "It did..."

"Glimmer crystal," Diamond Tiara began. "I demand that you tell me how to resolve our friendship problem!" the filly ordered.

Why that little... Starlight had half a mind to teleport to Diamond and give her a piece of her mind. Being nice was one thing, having to endure spoilt little brats that thought they could order her around was totally out of the question!

"It doesn't work like that, Di," a new voice said. By the amount of annoyance it was obvious this one had some vague idea how the hotline was supposed to function.

"Oh? And how does it work, Silver?" Diamond Tiara humphed.

"For one thing you must say what the problem actually is," the other filly explained. "Remember this is a Friendship and Magic hotline."

"Pfft! Silly Silver, it knows what my problem is!" Diamond Tiara said confidently.

It was so tempting to magic the filly's cutie-mark and throw it down a well. At least that way Diamond Tiara would stop thinking she's the greatest thing since Starswirl! If only Starlight hadn't promised never to steal cutie-marks again.

"Diamond, will you just tell me what exactly your friendship problem is?" Starlight said through her teeth.

"Ha! See! I told you it knows!" The filly shouted victorious. "Glimmer crystal, tell me how to help Scootaloo!"

"Listen, Diamond," Starlight's patience was running thin, "I am not a glimmer crystal. I'm Starlight Glimmer, and I would appreciate if you didn't treat me like one of your servants!"

"Touchy," the filly grumbled.

Stay calm. I must stay calm. She's just a filly. A rotten to the core, spoilt, good for nothing filly. Even she deserves a second chance. Twilight gave me a second chance, so I'll be responsible and give her a second chance.

"Alright, starlight glimmer crystal, tell me how to solve Scootaloo's friendship problem!"

"For crying out loud!" Starlight hit the crystal. Enough was enough! If Twilight would get upset, so be it! A quickly flash and the unicorn was out of the castle. Where are you, wretched filly? As far as she knew there were twenty three Friendship Booths in and around Ponyville. With that amount of fillies it was most likely they were at one of two places: school or Sugarcube Corner.

Personally, Starlight didn't like going near the school. Cheerilee reminded her far too much of her own teacher, and unlike the foals in Ponyvylle, Starlight's school experience hadn't been too pleasant. The thought of having to approach it made her skin crawl. Suragcube Corner it is, she told herself. Three teleport flashes later she arrived at her destination.

Sugarcube Corner — a simple bakery that represented the hub of Ponyville. Twilight had managed to get the Cakes to agree to have a Friendship Booth inside the building itself. Originally, they had been against the idea, but some clever negotiation, and help from Pinkie Pie, had convinced them that it would be good for business. The moment she entered the door Starlight knew she was at the right place. In the far corner of the room, grouped in front of the booth, a group of fillies stood arguing. Among them, Starlight instantly recognized Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom as well as Diamond Tiara.

"Starlight glimmer crystal!" The pink filly shouted loudly. "Tell me how—"

"Oh, for Stars' sake!" Starlight hissed under her breath and teleported among the fillies. Surprised by her sudden appearance, several of them jumped back with frightened eeps, and one even plopping on the floor. "What did I tell you about shouting orders?" She glared at Diamond Tiara, nostrils flaring.

"A...a unicorn?" The filly stuttered. That's it, kid! Feel the fear! Starlight smiled. "So... so professional!" She shouted brimming with enthusiasm.

"Yes, and—" Starlight stopped mid sentence. "Wait, what?!" This wasn't how things were supposed to go! The filly should be shivering with fear right now, not hopping with joy.

"What did I tell you, girls?" Diamond raised her chin up high giving her friends a confident look of unmistakable superiority. "The crystal sent a unicorn to guide me through the process. I'm so having daddy buy me one!"

"What? No! The crystal didn't send—" Starlight felt another headache coming on. Maybe it wasn't too late to conquer Ponyville and brainwash all the fillies? Or maybe just Diamond Tiara? Just one little brainwashed monster, Twilight. Just one. Nopony will ever know. "Fine, whatever!" She snorted. The filly wasn't worth the trouble. "Yes, the crystal sent me, yadda yadda. Now what's the problem?" Next time, I'm so dumping this on Spike!

"Scootaloo has a friendship problem." Diamond Tiara didn't bat an eyelid.

"What sort of problem," Starlight sighed drearily, going through the motions. This is going to be long and unpleasant.

"She doesn't have any." The filly said, flashing the largest smile she was capable of.

"Hey!" Apple Bloom shoved her. Well, that's one friend see she has. You show her, AB! Don't worry, I'll explain everything away if things get too rough. The corner of Starlight's mouth curved in a smile. "Doncha be saying what ain't true! Scootaloo's got fiends! We're her friends! She's just too stubborn ta see us, is all!"

"Oh." Diamond Tiara didn't look at all concerned with mistake. "Well, how was I supposed to know?" She humphed again. "It's not like you tried to do anything about it! It was my idea to use the Friendship and Magic Hotline Assistance Booth!"

"Quiet!" Starlight shouted. I can't believe that an airhead like you managed to memorize the stupid name. "It doesn't matter who, what, where, when or how! What's important is that Scootaloo has the problem and not you!" The statement made no sense whatsoever, but was enough to get the fillies to look at the floor ashamed. All in the voice. Starlight smiled slightly. "So, what's wrong with her? Sweetie Belle?"

"Weeeell." The white filly swallowed. "After Rainbow Dash was made a Wonderbolt, Scootaloo got really sad that she won't see her as much as before. We tried to cheer her up. Bought her posters, put Rainbow stickers on her scooter, we even had Pinkie Pie organize a party. Scoots didn't even smile. She just thanked us and said she had work to do."

Oh. That was not what Starlight expected. The explanation felt like a kick in the stomach. She had come here half-expecting a prank call, only to find something different. This was a friendship problem, a real friendship problem that Starlight knew all too well. The same had happened to her long ago. And while she couldn't see Scootaloo setting off on a crusade to conquer Equestria, she could sympathize.

What should I do? Starlight wondered. I'm not trained to deal with something this big. But I can't just ignore it. That would scar the filly for life. What do I do? If there was a way for her to cast a time spell and avoid this conversation she definitely would. Slowly, she started taking a step back. Now was a good time to leave quietly and—

"Mith?" A red maned filly tugged Starlight's tail. "Can you talk to Thcootaloo? Pleathe?"

Damn it! "I'd love to, but that wouldn't be professional." Stupid Diamond brat! Now you got me using this as an excuse. "If Scootaloo really wants help she must use the Friendship Hotline and call me. That's something only she can decide." I really hate myself now.

The fillies remained silent. Even the annoying Diamond Tiara seemed to have lost interest in asking bossy questions. No mistake, they were concerned about their friend, and far more than Starlight gave them credit for. She had been so blinded by the fact that they were fillies to consider how deep their connection was. At their age, friendship and cutie-marks meant everything. When a friend was hurting the pain was shared. Scootaloo's friends had done everything possible to cheer her up, then when all had failed, had taken a chance on something completely unknown. It must have taken a lot of courage and desperation for them to use a Friendship Booth. And the worst part — Starlight was thinking up excuses not to help them.

I can't get involved in this, I just can't! Slowly she made her way through the the silence. They'll find a way on their own. And if they don't, Twilight will help. She's good at solving friendship problems, she'll solve this one too... when she finds out about it.

"You know what?" Starlight turned around. Her stomach curled up. She knew she was going to make the biggest mistake of her life. "Take the voice crystal and give it to Scootaloo. I'll..." Just say it! "I'll be waiting for her call."