September 9^th, 2019
Sunday
Sunny

Daytime

play song

The next morning, Starlight and Beatrix spent some time in their room deciding what they wanted to do as their first official outing together as friends. Starlight had never been friends with another girl, unless her Mother counted. Beyond that, her only other friend was Sunburst, and that friendship wasn’t conventional in the slightest.

No, not thinking about Sunburst and how they fell out. She had Beatrix now, and unlike him, she believed in magic.

Since Starlight didn’t know what to do at all, and this day was about Beatrix anyway, she decided to let her choose their activity. In the end, she decided on a movie, followed by going to the mall for a bit. After finishing breakfast, the two of them took their showers, and got dressed. As Starlight applied her make-up, Beatrix looked at herself in the vanity mirror, a lot like how Starlight did last night, but for a different reason if her expression was anything to go off of.

“Hey Starlight, I need to ask you something, and be honest with me, okay?” Beatrix asked. Starlight nodded for her to continue, “How does this outfit really look on me?”

That was a difficult question to answer. Honestly, she looked fantastic in it, but that’s mostly because she had the body to pull that off. However, it was pretty obvious that Blueblood made her dress like that, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to compliment anything that asshole made her do. Even if she had to admit that he had a good eye for what to highlight about her figure.

“Being completely honest, and I hate that this is the case, but you do look hot in that,” Starlight said, going back to finish applying her eye-shadow, “But I’m not entire sure that outfit is you, if you get what I mean.”

“No, I get it,” Beatrix sighed, holding her arms over her chest, “I’ve always been aware of my body, and I wouldn’t say I was ever anxious about it or anything, but I’ve never been too comfortable showing off so much skin publicly.”

“I could tell,” Starlight said simply.

“Yeah?” Beatrix asked. Starlight told her how she noticed her pulling her skirt down a bit when they first met, “Wow, you don’t miss anything,” Beatrix sat back on the bed and pulled on her boots, “I guess I don’t have to tell you why I got it then.”

“Blueblood made you get it?” Starlight asked, as usually not hiding the venom in her voice.

“I wouldn’t say he made me get it. He implied that he wanted me to start dressing sexier, and when junior year started, I got this as a way to change my image. I guess when I think about it, I wanted Blueblood to think I was sexy, and I wanted everyone else to stop seeing me as the daughter of Balazar Lulamoon.”

Well, Starlight felt a bit better knowing that Blueblood hadn’t actually forced Beatrix outright to dress like that. At the same time though, she really didn’t like that she felt the need to dress like this in order to get validation as a person.

“How do you feel about all of that now?” Starlight asked.

“I dunno,” Beatrix sat back on her bed looking up at the ceiling, “I’m not ashamed of my Dad, nor am I really that afraid of letting people know I’m his daughter. I just wish I could give them what they wanted.”

“You mean, you want to be able to do magic like him?” Starlight asked, now applying her lipstick, going for more a magenta color today.

“Yeah,” Beatrix lifted a leg onto the bed and hugged it close to her chest, “When the other kids asked me about who my father was, and if I could do magic like him, I was genuinely disappointed that I couldn’t. My father told me I’d be able to follow in his footsteps if I wanted, and that I would gain the secret to magic, so when I didn’t…” Beatrix perked up a bit, “Hey, do you have powers outside of The Phase?”

Starlight nodded, “That’s how I knew you needed help. I have psychic empathy.”

“Psychic empathy? What’s that?”

“It’s like, I can feel another person’s emotions when I touch them. Most of the time I need to open myself and reach out to them, but if the person’s emotions are strong enough, I’ll feel something even if I’m not prepared.”

“Wait… is that why you froze when I shook your hand?” Beatrix asked, eyes wide.

“When we met? Yes,” Starlight answered, now turning to Beatrix, “I got a sense of urgency from you, like deep down you were screaming for help. You… don’t find that invasive at all, do you?”

“Not at all,” Beatrix shook her head, “I mean, thanks to that you were able to save me. You’re literally my hero.”

Starlight smiled, a warm feeling in her heart. She liked being called her hero, probably due in small part to that crush that was growing day by day.

“I guess I was just wondering if that means I could do the same,” Beatrix held up her hand, looking at her Channeling Ring intently, “I mean, I know this thing has power. I can feel it. I just don’t know how to use any of that power. How did you get that psychic empathy thing?”

“I read it in the Akashic Records,” Starlight answered. Beatrix looked at Starlight again in shock.

“Hold on, that’s it? You just read it in a book?” Beatrix asked.

Starlight explained to Beatrix how the Akashic Records seemed to work for witches, and that there you could learn just about anything. If someone were to sit there and read the book, they could retain the knowledge instantly, and if they were to wake up holding the book, they’d know the contents instinctively. It was easier to do this with books in your own Akashic Record, but really any subject could be learned there.

When Starlight finished her explanation, Beatrix looked to the side thinking to herself.

“I wonder if that’s where…” she then turned to Starlight, “Hey, can we go there tonight? I need to see something.”

Starlight nodded, remembering that Celestia wanted her to take Beatrix into the Akashic Records anyway. Also, they’d probably have to go and investigate a bit more, so they could kill two birds with one stone.

“Thanks Starlight,” Beatrix said, smiling in that way that made Starlight’s heart flutter, “Well, we should get going. I think the movie starts in about an hour, so that gives us some time to get there.”

Starlight nodded to her roommate and followed her downstairs, where Pinkie Pie was sitting in the living room reading another manga.

“You two going on your first date?” Pinkie Pie teased. Starlight immediately rushed over to the sign-out sheet to hide how embarrassed she was. God, was she that obvious?

“Pretty much,” Beatrix teased right back, “We’re going to see a movie first, then we’ll head to the mall for the rest of the day.”

And Beatrix wasn’t making it any easier. Was she joking, or was she dead serious? It was driving Starlight crazy.

“Ooooh, what’s the movie?” Pinkie Pie asked. Starlight told her the name of the movie, which was “The Forgotten Princess”. She didn’t know anything about the movie, but she liked stuff with Princesses in them, and Beatrix said it got really good reviews. Oddly, Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened for a split second, and then she blushed averting her eyes, “Oh, that movie,” she giggled oddly, twirling her hair around her finger.

Beatrix walked over to the sign-out sheet when Starlight finished, “Hey, isn’t that the movie you-”

“SHH!!!!” Pinkie Pie shushed suddenly, “I want it to be a surprise!”

Beatrix was a bit taken aback, but then she laughed to herself and nodded, “Oh yeah, she probably doesn’t know. Well then, I’m not telling her anything.”

Wait, what wasn’t Beatrix telling her? What was the big secret? Starlight wanted in on the joke.

“You’ll see when you get there,” Pinkie Pie said, still giggling in that odd manner that suggested she was hiding something, “Hope you two have a wonderful time.”

“Thanks,” Starlight said, smirking suspiciously. She knew they were up to something. Pinkie Pie rose from the couch and hugged both of them, Beatrix first, and then Starlight.

I guess I can’t hide it forever… it was nice to be unknown by someone though…

Starlight eyed Pinkie Pie as she released her. Why did she feel so much sadness from her?

“Tell me what you think of the movie,” Pinkie Pie requested, just as perky as ever. Now though, Starlight could kind of see it. Something about that smile didn’t seem right. Was she… forcing it?

Starlight and Beatrix said goodbye to Pinkie Pie, and then stepped out of the dorm. Starlight looked down, biting her lip as she stayed with that feeling for a bit. She didn’t expect to feel that much sadness from someone as upbeat as Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, you okay?” Beatrix asked rubbing Starlight’s back. Starlight told Beatrix about what happened when she hugged Pinkie Pie, “Seriously? That’s… odd,” Beatrix looked down thoughtfully, “But considering what you’re about to see, I’m not too surprised she’d be a bit anxious,” when Starlight tilted her head, Beatrix just smiled, “Oh you’ll see. Come on. Let’s get to the theater.”

Starlight nodded and followed Beatrix down to South Street. Whatever this secret was, it must have been a really big one. Still, why was Starlight’s heart racing so much?

end song

Now alone, Pinkie Pie sat back on the couch, trying her hardest to keep from trembling. She didn’t even know why she was getting so worked up over it. Other students had seen that movie before, and everyone in the school knew who she really was, and they didn’t make a huge fuss over it.

Maybe it was because Starlight was someone who didn’t know her secret.

She was a bit confused when Starlight didn’t say anything, or go crazy when she saw her for the first time. Once she learned that she didn’t follow the media, it made sense. That oddly brought her some sense of peace, knowing that to someone she was just a regular teenager. How would Starlight react to seeing Pinkie Pie like that?

“I really am just like everyone else,” Pinkie Pie said, hugging herself as she tried to convince herself that Starlight wouldn’t change her behavior around her, “I am…”

play song

South Street was an extremely colorful shopping district, with a ton of shops Starlight didn’t expect to ever find out in the open. There was a maid cafe, a mineral shop that seemed to sell stones that Starlight knew she could get a lot of mileage out of, a couple of those “fun” shops that Starlight was really curious about entering, walking around even revealed a strip club in a more hidden alley that was still way more visible than Starlight expected.

Yeah, she was definitely home.

They stopped in front of one of the shops, “Chains and Whips Central”. Starlight didn’t have to ask anyone what sort of store this place was, especially when she saw the slightly nervous expression on Beatrix’s face. One that hinted at partially wanting to go inside.

“We do have time,” Starlight said, not in a way of forcing, but rather letting her know it was up to Beatrix.

“I… guess, it’s just,” Beatrix rubbed her arm looking away from the shop, “I don’t know how I feel about… that, you know?”

“You mean, your interest in bondage?” Starlight asked. Beatrix nodded, a somber air coming over her.

“I was Blueblood’s sub for five months. Sometimes I enjoyed the things we did, but most of the time it just seemed like he was using me to get off himself. Starlight, is it weird that… I still want that feeling?”

“It depends on what sort of feeling you want,” Starlight said, “I don’t know anything about S&M, but I get the feeling that what he was doing wasn’t it.”

“It… wasn’t,” Beatrix answered, leaning against the wall next to the door of the shop, “I mean, unless you go off the version you see in novels written by people who’ve never engaged in it or did any research. Well, that’s what I hear, at least. I still fantasize about being tied up. When I picture it… part of me feels really aroused by it,” she looked down, her bangs covering her eyes a bit, “But another part of me feels guilty for feeling that way. Almost like part of me wants what he gave me.”

Starlight looked down, both feeling bitter at what Blueblood did to her, but also somewhat guilty for actually getting a bit turned on herself at seeing Beatrix like that. She didn’t want to be like Blueblood, but she had to admit that the idea of Beatrix bound and helpless wasn’t an unattractive sight.

Did that make her a bad person?

“I guess when I think about it,” Beatrix continued, “I want to know what it’s supposed to feel like. I’ve read stories about people in those kind of relationships, and they always say that it’s uplifting and empowering when you’re with the right person. They also say that it’s about trust, and I don’t know if I can ever trust anyone like that again,” Beatrix rubbed her arm, “My mind keeps going back to that first night, when Blueblood didn’t untie me, and I keep thinking to myself, how do I know my next dom won’t take advantage of that too?”

Starlight almost wanted to scream something like “I wouldn’t”, but she lacked the courage to do so.

“Aren’t there rules against that sort of thing in a real S&M relationship?” Starlight asked Beatrix, trying to keep her from thinking too darkly.

“Well, I’d imagine things like that get discussed before hand. That’s the thing, part of me was a bit turned on being left like that, and I probably wouldn’t have minded if he’d told me ahead of time, but…”

“I think that’s the issue right there,” Starlight said, “It’s not what he did, but it’s the fact he didn’t ask first. None of that you agreed to, and I’d like to think that since you’re the one making herself helpless, that you should get more of a say of what happens.”

Beatrix looked at Starlight, a light blush tinting her cheeks, “Y-you think so?”

Starlight nodded, “Absolutely. Like I said, I don’t know anything about that sort of thing, but I know that if I were in your shoes, I’d probably want to have some say in how things ended up. You’re not a freak for liking the idea of what he did. He’s fucked up for taking advantage of his position and just doing what he wanted.”

Beatrix took in Starlight’s words, and after a second her smile returned, “Thanks Starlight. You’re surprisingly easy to talk to about these things. I’ve never had anyone I could share this side of myself with comfortably. Think maybe… I could open up to you about this stuff more?”

“Anytime you want to talk, I’m right there,” Starlight smiled, “We’re friends, after all.”

“Thanks Starlight,” Beatrix said, averting her eyes as her cheeks turned red again, “I’m… happy that we’re friends.”

Starlight could feel how much Beatrix was beginning to trust her. She felt as though their friendship had somehow gotten stronger.

“I don’t think I’m ready to go inside yet, but… whenever I do go in, I think I want you to go in with me,” Beatrix said, laughing when she saw how red Starlight’s face probably got, “Don’t worry. I’m not trying to force you into that sort of relationship. I just need the support, you know?”

Starlight nodded, trying to calm her beating heart. She suggested that they start heading to the theater anyway, so the two of them continued toward their initial destination. A few minutes later, Beatrix’s phone started buzzing. Her eyes widened when she saw the name on the caller ID.

“It’s… Blueblood,” Beatrix said, her voice shaking a bit. Starlight could hear the fear in her voice, “W-what should I do…?”

“May I?” Starlight asked, Beatrix nodding and handing her the phone. Starlight immediately swiped the “decline” option, and handed the phone back to Beatrix, “There. That’s what you do. And later on, block his number so he can’t call you, got it?”

“G-got it,” Beatrix said, face turning even redder as she put her phone back in her pocket, “Thanks Starlight. I… know I need to be stronger, but…”

“No, you don’t,” Starlight said immediately, “Take your time getting your strength back. I’ll keep you safe until then.”

Beatrix nodded, smiling softly at Starlight’s words. She must have really appreciated that. As they continued their walk, Beatrix held onto Starlight’s arm the entire time. Just like before, Starlight didn’t mind in the slightest.

end song

Beatrix was surprised that Starlight offered to pay for their tickets, but Starlight figured the money she got from killing Shadows could be used for just about anything she needed. She still wondered how that happened. Not that she was going to complain. After what she went through, part of herself felt vindicated knowing that she got paid for it.

She wondered if Beatrix was the same. Probably so, honestly.

As they made their way to the showroom, they walked past a poster for the movie, which apparently came out only a few months ago. Looking at the poster Starlight got the impression that the story was going to be a dark fairy tale of sorts, which had her even more excited to watch it. The few times she did watch TV or movies, she enjoyed stories centered around magic.

There was one thing that threw Starlight for a loop however. The main character who was the centerpiece of the poster looked very familiar to her. She had long, wavy pink hair, and big blue eyes that were currently half closed and somber looking. She wasn’t sure she was seeing things or not, but when she looked at one of the names at the top, she almost died.

Starring Pinkamena Diane Pie…

Beatrix broke out laughing, “Yep! I knew it! This was the movie!” Starlight turned to Beatrix confused, “You’re not seeing things. Pinkie Pie is actually a child actor.”

Pinkie Pie was a actress?! She was NOT what Starlight thought a celebrity would be like. She was expecting someone stuck up, immature, and flaunting her wealth around. She couldn’t even tell Pinkie Pie was a celebrity! In fact, how was she NOT getting bombarded with autographs?!

“Simple, she’s been going to Canterlot High since freshman year,” Beatrix said with a shrug, “Most of the students just see her as one of them now. Although there was a recent resurgence toward the end of last year. In never got to see it, but I’m pretty sure this was the movie she did.”

“Yep. Poor thing was terrified of returnin’ to school afterward.”

play song

Starlight looked behind her to see where the voice came from, and had to stop her eyes from bulging out. It was a girl about her age, maybe a bit older. She had super long and thick blond hair, emerald green eyes, and besides Celestia, the largest rack Starlight had seen. She had to be at least an E, if not close to an F-Cup. Currently she was wearing a light blue shirt that was unbuttoned halfway revealing a bit of her red bra, brown leather vest and matching skirt, brown western inspired boots, and an honest to God cowgirl hat. She wore deep red lipstick, and next to her mouth was a mole, giving her a really hot look. Starlight wasn’t ashamed to admit that she thought this girl was really hot, like porn star levels of hot.

So when she noticed Beatrix tense up, she was really confused.

“Whoa! Um… hi! I wasn’t expecting to see you here…!” Beatrix said, smiling despite how much she was trembling. The girl turned to them with a smirk that actually made Starlight recoil in fear.

“Howdy Beatrix,” the girl said, “Had a few choice words with yer boyfriend a few days ago. Rarity told me he was harrassin’ another student.”

“Yeah, about that,” Beatrix turned away holding onto Starlight’s arm again, “He doesn’t quite know it yet, but he’s more of my ex-boyfriend now. Starlight here helped open my eyes to what he really was.”

“Ah, so I take it this is that student he was screwin’ with,” the southern girl said approaching them, “Name’s Applejack, or “No Fun Jackie” as I’m called in school.”

Hold on, this was No Fun Jackie?! No wonder Beatrix was so terrified. Still, she seemed more or less docile at the moment, so Starlight held out her hand.

“Starlight Glimmer. It’s nice to meet you, Applejack,” Starlight said, happy when Applejack shook her hand. She was internally surprised by how strong said handshake was.

“Likewise. Now, don’t you go listenin’ to what the other students say about me, alright? If ya need anythin’ at all, the Student Council office is always open,” Applejack said. Starlight nodded, immediately put at ease when Applejack said that, getting the feeling she could trust her with just about anything, “And same goes for you, Beatrix. If ya want somethin’ done about that ex of yers, let me know, alright?”

Beatrix turned to Starlight, silently asking her if she should say something now. Starlight gave her a nod of confirmation, feeling that this meeting was divinely charged.

“Actually, those rumors about he and I? There is some validity to them. It’s a bit more complicated than what the students think, but overall…”

Applejack pursed her lips, folding her arms under her bosom like Celestia did, only looking way more intimidating, “I see. Could ya come see me durin’ lunch tomorrow? Now ain’t the best time ta go into this fully, but I am gonna want a full report on this.”

“That’s fine, Applejack,” Beatrix said, visibly relaxing, “And, thank you for looking out for me.”

“Course I’d look out for ya. Yer in the same dorm as my little cousin, so that makes ya as good as family to me.”

Little cousin? Right, Pinkie Pie did mention in passing that she was related to Applejack. Did that mean she was here to see the same movie?

“Speakin’ of, I take it this is yer first time seein’ this movie?” Applejack asked Starlight, who nodded. Applejack leaned in real close to Starlight and narrowed her eyes a bit, “Don’t you go treatin’ my little cousin differently after this, alright? She’s good, but she’s still the same as everyone else when it comes down to it.”

“I never intended on letting this change my attitude toward Pinkie Pie,” Starlight said, “I promise.”

“Holdin’ ya to that,” Applejack turned toward the theater, “I’ll see y’all around. Take care of each other, ya hear?”

With that, she walked into the same theater they were heading to. Like Rarity, her walk was filled with confidence, and gave off the air of someone you did not want to fuck around with. She could easily see them being friends.

“Want me to go in with you?” Starlight asked Beatrix, referring to her meeting with the student council.

“I… would like that, actually,” Beatrix said biting her lip nervously, “As support, and to make sure I actually go. Seriously, don’t let me chicken out, okay?” Starlight nodded to her friend, who’s smile returned shortly after, “Great. Now let’s get to our movie.”

Starlight and Beatrix continued into the showroom, which was a lot fuller than Starlight expected it to be. Usually movies that were out for a few months weren’t this full, but you’ d have thought this movie had just come out. Was it really that good?

end song

They sat closer to the middle row, where Starlight noticed Applejack was also sitting. Starlight wondered how many times she’d seen this movie. Probably a lot considering she was related to the star. After a few previews for other movies, including a sci-fi movie Starlight was thinking of checking out later, the actual movie started, where Starlight quickly got an answer to her previous question.

It wasn’t that good. It was better than Starlight thought it would be.

The plot was a lot more serious and engaging than Starlight expected, focusing on a princess with powerful healing abilities. Said princess, named Victoria, was the role that Pinkie Pie played, and boy did she put on a performance. Normally when Starlight saw Pinkie Pie, she was loud, bubbly, and almost always laughing.

The person she saw in the movie however, was the complete opposite.

Princess Victoria was quite a somber character. She was quiet, reserved, and suffered almost throughout the movie. It wasn’t on the level of torture porn, but the entire movie was definitely a tearjerker, not helped by the powerful performance that Pinkie Pie brought.

play song

“Your Highness, I-”

“Leave me alone!” Princess Victoria cried. Her mother had just died, and one of her knights was trying to comfort her.

“I… I know how you must feel, but…”

“No you don’t!” Princess Victoria screamed, turning to the knight in tears, “You all keep saying that I have this power! That I’m the final hope of the kingdom, but what’s the point of having this power if I can’t even save the one person who matters to me the most?! So far, all this power has done for me is make me a target! I haven’t been able to do anything for my kingdom that I want!” she fell to the ground helplessly, “Why did this happen to her…? Tell me…!”

The knight looked away, tightening his fists, “I… I don’t know. But what I do know is that the Kingdom needs a leader now, and that leader has to be you,” he knelt down and gently took the Princess’ hand, “I’ll protect you, no matter what.”

Princess Victoria looked into the knights eyes, and then leaned into him, planting a deep, loving, and desperate kiss on his lips. The knight was shocked, but as he had already admitted to himself that he loved her, he soon relaxed into the kiss.

Unknown to both of them however, the royal adviser watched this from behind a corner.

“Oh no… we can’t have that. That knight’s going to become a problem for sure,” he said darkly, “If we’re to get to her, said knight’s going to have to have an “accident”.”

Starlight was really engaged in the plot of the movie, and not just because her friend was starring in it. She felt like she could understand the Princess’ pain. She remembered feeling similar when her mother had died, wishing she could have used her magic to bring her back to life. Sadly, she didn’t have a noble knight to keep her safe and to comfort her like Princess Victoria did. The only person who could have filled that role was Sunburst, and he hadn’t even contacted her.

As the movie continued onward, Starlight felt Beatrix lean into her, holding her arm affectionately. It was around the time that the knight character was fighting to protect the princess. In a way, she’d done the same for Beatrix just a few nights ago. Sadly in the movie, the knight died right toward the end, with the Princess on the run as the villain took full control of the kingdom. Starlight knew there had to be a sequel. Not just because of how full the audience was, but because that ending demanded one.

After watching the credits and listening to the beautiful song played at the end, Starlight and Beatrix stood outside the showroom to reflect on the movie.

play song

“Okay, I heard she was good, but God I was not expecting Pinkie Pie to pull off a performance like that,” Beatrix said, still taken aback by their dorm mate’s stellar acting.

“She actually made me cry toward the end,” Starlight admitted.

“I was crying through most of the movie! I’ve never wanted to hug a movie character so much in my life!” Beatrix cried, “I might just give Pinkie Pie a hug when we get in just out of principle.”

“I take it ya liked it then,” Applejack said walking over to the two girls.

“Your cousin is amazing,” Beatrix said, “Um, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to treat her any differently. No way. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

“That’s good,” Applejack said, “She really owned that role, but she ain’t really a princess. She’s just a really sweet girl who’s got a lot of talent.”

“She doesn’t really talk about that too much,” Starlight said, a bit confused by why she never mentioned anything hinting at her acting prowess. Even Beatrix told her that she wanted to be a performer.

“Pinkie Pie’s never been one to brag about her abilities,” Applejack said, “Truth is, she doesn’t even keep the money herself. All of it she donates to the local homeless shelter and church.”

“Pretty, talented, and gives to the less fortunate?! Are you sure she’s not secretly a Princess?! Because she kind of feels like one,” Beatrix asked, making Applejack laugh.

“Like I said, she really embodied that role. Who knows. Maybe in another life or somethin,” Applejack’s phone vibrated, and she pulled it out checking it, “Sorry, I gotta get movin’. Rarity needs me for somethin’. I’ll see ya tomorrow, alright Beatrix?”

“R-right. Thanks Applejack,” Beatrix said. Applejack smiled and walked off, apparently calling Rarity on the way out, “It’s weird, but now that you cleared my Dungeon, I feel like I can trust people a bit easier. Were there always so many people trying to help me?”

“Probably,” Starlight said, “You might have just needed to change your perspective to see it. Want to still head to the mall?”

“Y-yeah actually,” Beatrix said, “There’s a store there I wanted to check out, to see if something I had my eye on is still there.”

Starlight wondered what she wanted to get, but Beatrix chose to leave it at that for now as they left the theater, probably as to not get her hopes up.

Afternoon

play song

The mall, apparently named Junes, wasn’t as colorful as South Street, but it was still a nice place overall. Still, Starlight didn’t think she’d be coming here as much as South Street. It just seemed a bit too modern for her tastes. Still there was a clothing store there that seemed really nice, if not a bit outrageous.

That just so happened to be their destination.

“This place looks almost like it belongs on South Street,” Starlight said, noticing the lingerie piece on display.

“That’s what I thought too,” Beatrix said looking around, “This is where I get all of my clothes. Let’s see... there it is!”

Starlight watched as Beatrix ran over to a fancy blue blazer with black tipped sleeves, golden buttons, and a fancy black and golden collar. It was on a mannequin, over top a frilly white suit shirt, black and gold pants, and a blue bow tie around the collar of the shirt. On the mannequin’s head was a black top hat, which made the whole look look almost like a circus ring leader.

That, or a magician.

Beatrix looked longingly at the outfit, running her hands over the jacket. Looking at it, Starlight realized that she saw Balazar wear something similar in his magic shows.

Like father, like daughter.

“Do you want this?” Starlight asked, Beatrix shocked out of whatever daze she was in.

“Um, I don’t know… I mean, it might be a little much… you know?” Beatrix defended.

“Have you seen what our homeroom teacher wears? That’s over the top. This is actually really cool looking.”

“I mean… it is cool looking…”

“I bet you’d look really magnificent in it,” Starlight said, Beatrix clearly catching the emphasized word.

“I guess I’m that obvious, huh?” Beatrix asked softly, “I come here a lot actually, looking at this outfit. Part of me wants to get it, a big part of me wants to get it, actually.”

“But the other part?”

“The other part is still asking, why should I wear it?” Beatrix said, “I’m not a great wizard like him, so what makes me think I deserve to wear this?”

“Because you’re still his daughter,” Starlight said, “And no, you’re not a wizard like your father,” she turned Beatrix toward a mirror, holding up her Channeling Ring so she could see it, “You’re a witch now, possibly the greatest witch in the world. Your father left a gift for you in the place where magic got it’s start, and I’m willing to bet that gift is the secret to his power. And if it is, I think you and I both know where it is.”

“It makes sense… but at the same time, how could he possibly leave something for me there?” Beatrix asked.

“That’s something we’ll have to figure out together,” Starlight embraced Beatrix from behind, “But I think that you should get this outfit. You’re about to become the magician that your father wanted you to become, so it’s time you dressed the part.”

“You really think I should get it? Like, right now?” Beatrix asked nervously.

“Right now,” Starlight urged, “As a way of re-branding yourself. Saying goodbye to Beatrix the helpless victim, and hello to Beatrix the powerful witch.”

Beatrix looked down, taking in Starlight’s words. She then walked over to the outfit, checking the price, and then gazing at the outfit longingly. She probably was imagining herself wearing it. Starlight could honestly see it. In fact, in her eyes she liked it even better than what she was wearing currently. Something inside was just saying that this was more her style.

“Let’s do it,” Beatrix said turning to Starlight, “I might need help getting it, but… I want this.”

“I’ll help you pay for it,” Starlight offered. Beatrix smiled brightly, and the two of them ran to the counter to pay for it. Surprisingly, no one else had even looked at it, which made Starlight believe that it was meant for Beatrix. After making sure it was in her size (turned out to be perfect), they bought a pair of shoes to go with it, and left the shop in high spirits.

Tomorrow was looking to be a great day.

Evening

play song

When they got back to the dorm, Celestia had just started dinner. Beatrix said she was going upstairs to try out her new outfit in secret, as she wanted to surprise everyone with it at school, including Starlight. As such, Starlight decided to wait downstairs in the living room and lobby with Pinkie Pie, who looked uncharacteristically nervous.

“So… what did you think…?” Pinkie Pie asked, wincing in a way that expected the worst.

“You were amazing in it, but I think I prefer the real you to the character you played as,” Starlight said honestly. Pinkie Pie relaxed and sat down next to Starlight.

“Good. I was super nervous about you seeing that movie. My agent didn’t want me to take that role, saying it wouldn’t be good for my image,” Pinkie Pie explained.

“Really? Why would they say that?” Starlight asked.

“Well, I’m turning 18 later this year, so I’ll be eligible for more adult roles,” Pinkie Pie said, looking down at her lap and twirling her finger through her hair, “Before then, I had a sitcom I was starring in, and had a few minor roles here and there, but beyond that I wasn’t really well known. I actually was okay with that though, since I’m not in it for the money.”

“Why do you do it, then?” Starlight asked Pinkie Pie, now really curious about her friend.

“It’s silly,” Pinkie Pie shook her head, “You’ll laugh.”

“No I won’t,” Starlight said, “I promise. I won’t laugh.”

“Alright, well… I guess it’s because I enjoy playing pretend,” Pinkie Pie said, “Know how when you’re a kid, and you would play pretend with your friends? I just never grew out of that. That movie, The Forgotten Princess, it’s based on a series of books my Grandmother got me into when I was little. I always loved Princess Victoria, as much as I love Usagi these days. So when I got called for the role, I jumped at the chance to take it. The way I portrayed her was a bit more somber than the director initially wanted, but that was how I always interpreted her character in the books, so I just went with what I knew.

“Thing is, my agent doesn’t really like the roles I take. She keeps saying I could get more recognition if I take on bigger roles, and is setting it up for me to start branching out, but I don’t want to lose who I am, you know?”

Starlight nodded, “I think you’re doing great as is.”

“Thanks Starlight,” Pinkie Pie said pulling Starlight into a warm hug, “I hope I can convince Fleur of that.”

play song

Beatrix came downstairs and ran over to Starlight, all smiles, “I tried it on, and it looks perfect!”

“That’s great!” Starlight cheered, getting up and hugging Beatrix, “When can I see it?”

“Tomorrow,” Beatrix said, “I’m going to debut it tomorrow at school.”

“Debut what?” Rainbow Dash asked stepping out of the kitchen.

“It’s a new outfit I got while I was out,” Beatrix explained, “Starlight convinced me to change my image into something a bit more, me.”

“Yeah, no offense Beatrix, but that outfit does make you look like a slut,” Pinkie Pie admitted outright.

“Well gee, thanks for your honesty, Pinkie Pie,” Beatrix said deadpanned.

“You’re welcome,” Pinkie Pie said perkily.

Beatrix shook her head sighing, “Never let it be said Pinkie Pie didn’t speak her mind…”

“Well, you gotta admit that she has a point,” Rainbow Dash said laughing, “Come on Starlight, weigh in on this.”

Starlight’s eyes widened and she backed away a bit, “I don’t think I’m in a position to give an opinion on this subject.”

“Are you crazy?” Pinkie Pie asked rising from the couch herself, “You have even more reason to speak on this.”

“Besides, it’s not like it’s gonna matter. She’s changing her style anyway,” Rainbow Dash leaned close to Starlight smirking, “Unless you prefer her dressed like this.”

“Ohhhh~ That’s what it is, isn’t it?” Pinkie Pie taunted, “You’re going to miss seeing her luscious curves on display, aren’t you?”

Starlight looked back and forth between Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, sweating nervously as they put her on the spot. The messed up part was she did admit that she thought the look was hot on Beatrix. Starlight turned to Beatrix with a pleading looked.

“Come on, guys. Go easy on Starlight,” Beatrix said, making Starlight sigh in relief, “I mean, she and I are roommates, so she gets to see it all anyway,” and just like that Starlight’s eyes widened in shock again, “I’m going to wait in the kitchen for dinner. See ya there, Starlight~”

Starlight watched painfully as Beatrix walked into the kitchen, putting more emphasis in her hips as she walked. Was she just adding to the joke? Or was she actually flirting with Starlight? She didn’t know, and it was driving Starlight insane.

“OMG, she’s right!” Pinkie Pie cried, “You totally get to see her naked like all the time!”

“So that’s what was going on between you two,” Rainbow Dash said nodding thoughtfully, “Huh, Blueblood was right. You were after Beatrix.”

“W-w-w-what?!” Starlight cried helplessly.

“How romantic,” Pinkie Pie said looking up at the sky wistfully, “You saw that she was in danger, and you rushed in to rescue her, thinking “that scoundrel, treating such a fair maiden like a cheap whore!” You then rushed to the rescue, sweeping the fair maiden off her feet and saving her from that knave Blueblood!”

“That’s… I-I-I mean, I wouldn’t… um…”

“Yep, that says it all,” Rainbow Dash said, “Damn girl, I didn’t think you had it in you to play the whole knight in shining armor trope straight.”

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Pinkie Pie wrapped her arms around Starlight, “We already know you’re an anime protagonist, so this is just par for the course.”

Starlight tried to deny it, but eventually just sighed in defeat. The sad thing was, she couldn’t refute ANYTHING they were saying. In a way, that’s exactly what she did. Almost word for word.

As everyone sat down for dinner, everyone continued to subtly tease Starlight about her totally not obvious crush on Beatrix. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except Beatrix kept adding fuel to the fire herself. At least she was happy.

After dinner, Starlight went over to Celestia as she was cleaning the dishes, “Is it okay for me to take Beatrix into The Phase tonight?”

“Absolutely,” Celestia said, “Twilight is going to want you to investigate something she found, but it shouldn’t take too long. Whatever you find, investigate it, but don’t go too far. Beatrix is still new to this.”

Starlight nodded and went up to her and Beatrix’s room to prepare.

Late Night

play song

It didn’t take long for Starlight to drift off, and appear in Akashic Records. She told Beatrix that all she had to do was fall asleep with the ring on, but when she arrived she didn’t see Beatrix at first. Starlight looked around a bit, concerned that she missed something, or that Beatrix had accidentally fallen asleep.

“Huh, so it really is that easy, huh?”

Starlight turned around with a start, and saw Beatrix standing there looking around. Like Starlight, she was still in her witch form, which Starlight was internally enjoying the sight of. Beatrix had really nice legs.

Focus, Starlight!

“Alright, good. You two made it,” Twilight said, her wisp flying down to greet them, “I was worried you’d mess up and accidentally fall asleep without getting here.”

“All I had to do was put the ring on as I fell asleep,” Beatrix shrugged, “Even I was surprised by how easy it was to get back here.”

“How do you feel?” Starlight asked Beatrix.

“It’s weird, but I feel… normal? I think that’s the best way to describe it,” she looked around again, “It’s odd, but I don’t feel like I’m asleep in the slightest. Everything is so vibrant and real looking, like I’m actually here.”

“Well, you ARE actually there,” Twilight explained, “Just because you’re dreaming doesn’t mean what you’re seeing isn’t real.”

“I guess I’m still trying to wrap my head around that,” Beatrix said, walking forward a bit as she looked around.

“I know you probably want to explore your Akashic Records a bit, but before that I was hoping we could investigate something.” Twilight requested.

“That’s fine,” Beatrix said, “What do you need us to do?”

“Further ahead I found an odd door,” Twilight said, “I’m not sure where it leads, but I was hoping you two could head in and investigate it for me.”

“Starlight, how do you feel about that?” Beatrix asked, surprising Starlight a bit, “I figured you should have the final say, considering you’re more experienced here than me.”

Not by much, Starlight thought to herself. Still, she did want to help Twilight and Celestia, and this might give them a clue as to how to stop the Nightmare Epidemic.

“Let’s go. Lead the way, Twilight,” Starlight said.

“Follow me,” Twilight said, flying off deeper into the library. Starlight and Beatrix followed closely, the latter still looking around at everything in awe.

“How many books are here?” she asked after a few minutes.

“How many numbers are there?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know. Aren’t they still calculating that or something?” Beatrix asked.

“Exactly. This place is infinite, and such actually goes on forever. There are various doors that lead to different places within The Phase, like other people’s dreams, and other realms, but they’re all held together in this place. The books represent anything that’s known, from the most minor, to the most obscure.”

To demonstrate, Starlight picked out a random book and handed it to Beatrix.

“How to dance like Michael Jackson?” Beatrix asked incredulously, “No way it’s that simple.”

“Why can’t it be?” Twilight asked, “The only reason you don’t see more people here is because most people don’t actually know it exists, and those that have an idea don’t know how to access it, but this is the actual place where all knowledge is stored. You two are walking through the very skeleton of the collective unconscious.”

“This is so amazing,” Beatrix said hugging the book, “Hey Starlight, do you spend a lot of time here?”

Starlight nodded, “I have a couple of books that I enjoy reading. Mostly about the history of the world. It’s why I’ve always held such a strong belief of magic.”

“So this place actually has information about how the world actually came to be? To the point of explaining things that even the government likes to keep secret?”

“Like I said, if it’s something that’s known, has ever been known, or is a possibility, it exists here.”

“I wonder if Dad knew about this place…?” Beatrix asked distantly.

“There it is,” Twilight said flying to a large golden door. This door, despite glowing and looking inviting, gave Starlight an odd feeling. Like there was something really powerful and bad waiting for them on the other side.

“Um… are we going through there?” Beatrix asked, letting Starlight know that she felt it too.

“Yes, I need to know what this place is,” Twilight said, “I found that door last night after our talk, and it’s very hard for me to get a lock on what’s there. I need you two to go inside so I can get a better image of the interior.”

“It’ll be okay,” Starlight said, “We’ll stick together here.”

Beatrix nodded to Starlight, and then took a deep breath, “Alright, let’s go.”

end song

Starlight and Beatrix pushed the door open and walked through. On the other side was an oddly beautiful yet terrifying environment. Their surroundings were a large grassy meadow that seemed to go on forever, complimented by a starry night sky and the moon shining in the background. But that wasn't what was truly important there.

Before them stood the largest tower either of them had seen. It was pure golden, and shot straight up into the sky past the clouds, seeming to go on forever.

“Um Twilight? Any idea what this place is?” Beatrix asked.

“Hold on, I’m trying to analyze this now. This is weird…”

“What is?” Starlight asked.

“My terminal is identifying what we're seeing as “Elysium”.”

“Elysium? Is that this place’s name?” Beatrix asked.

“I think so. It feels sort of like your Dungeon, but I’m defecting multiple energy sources from within.”

“Like… a shared Dungeon?” Beatrix asked.

“Maybe? I am detecting Shadows inside, so that tells me it’s connected. Okay, I need you two to head inside and give me an idea of what we’re up against in there.”

“Think this place is connected to the Nightmare Epidemic?” Beatrix asked Starlight, who just nodded in confirmation, “That’s all I needed to hear. Let’s do this.”

The two witches ran inside the large tower, activating their weapons just in case.

Malkuth

Level 1

play song

The interior looked like a dark gothic castle, with black stone walls and stain glass windows, making it look like they were traveling inside the interior of a church almost. The designs of the stain glass windows showed various scenes of humanity working and toiling the ground.

“This is definitely a Dungeon,” Twilight said, “I’m detecting shadows, and a lot of them up ahead.”

“How do you want us to proceed?” Starlight asked.

“For now, just proceed forward until you spot anything unusual, or possibly a way up. I’m going to to switch from the Remote Viewing system to the standard system, so I can provide more overall support.”

“Um, are we going to be okay without you here with us?” Beatrix asked nervously.

“Don’t worry, I’m still here, and you’ll be able to hear me. Really, I’m the only one who will notice a difference. All you’ll notice is that my wisp isn’t following you.”

“Okay then,” Beatrix shrugged and got a card out, holding it at the ready, “Starlight, you lead the way.”

Starlight and Beatrix began running through the halls of the strange dark castle. Unlike before when they were in Beatrix’s dungeon, they didn’t try as hard to stay hidden. For one, there weren’t nearly as many places to hide, and two, there didn’t seem like there was as much of a need.

“Hold on! I’m detecting an enemy up ahead!” Twilight said from the real world, “I can’t identify it yet though, so it hasn’t manifested yet.”

Starlight and Beatrix poked their heads around the corner, and saw a black dust cloud floating ahead. This dust cloud had red eyes, and for some reason Starlight felt more than one enemy over there.

“Hey, maybe we should try to get the jump on it,” Beatrix suggested, “See if we can get the advantage.”

“Yes, I really like that idea. Huh, okay then. Looks like you’ll be useful after all.”

Beatrix tipped her hat arrogantly, “Was there ever any doubt?”

Starlight was beginning to notice that Beatrix seemed to take on a more confident persona when around other people besides just herself. On one hand it was nice to see her acting how she assumed was more of her natural self, but she could tell that on some level she was just putting on an act. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Starlight ran over to the enemy and slashed it in the back with her scythe. Immediately it turned into two Shadows. One was a ghostly woman in a long red dress that looked like a maid, and the other one was a pink male looking demon with wings on his back and a codpiece with a sharp phallic looking protrusion pointing upward.

“Okay, so we have two targets! One is identified as Silky, and the other one is Incubus. These are new Shadows, so be careful!”

“Please, we can take these guys on!” Beatrix said readying a card, “Starlight, let’s put on a show they’ll never forget!”

Starlight rushed at Silky and began slashing wildly with her scythe, while the Incubus rushed toward Beatrix slashing with his claws and even trying to slash with his sharp codpiece.

Silky got one lucky strike in, knocking Starlight back. Beatrix saw that and held up her Channeling Ring.

“Persona!” she shouted, Elenora manifesting behind her. She cast Agi on Silky, knocking it down on the ground as it was apparently weak to fire spells. She was so focused on helping Starlight that she didn’t notice Incubus preparing a spell.

“Beatrix, behind you!” Starlight cried. Not even missing a beat, Beatrix threw a card right at Incubus’ face, making him lose focus. She then continued throwing cards at him, ending with her turning her back and snapping her finger, causing some sort of explosion that knocked him onto the ground.

“Holy, Beatrix’s attack style counts as “Gun” on my system, and I think Incubus is weak against it!”

Beatrix held her hand up close to her face giving an almost obnoxiously arrogant laugh, “But of course! After all, I am the daughter of the Magnificent Balazar! Now, let’s take these peons to their maker!”

Starlight nodded, knowing exactly what she wanted to do. She wasn’t sure she could communicate with these Shadows yet anyway. Starlight and Beatrix both got their weapons ready, and did their aptly named All Out Attack on the Shadows, Starlight attacking with her scythe and Beatrix firing a barrage of cards out at the group. It didn’t take long for them to both disintegrate.

“That attack is a really good move to do when the enemies are all knocked down,” Twilight said, “Keep that in mind. We’re outnumbered here, so we need to take any advantage we can get.”

“Right. Thanks Beatrix,” Starlight smiled.

“You saved me, right? Trust me, that’s the least I can do,” Beatrix said, returning the smile, “Now, onward!”

Starlight nodded running ahead with her partner. It was honestly kind of fun doing this with Beatrix next to her. They managed to take down a number of other enemies while they searched the maze around them, even running into the pumpkin like Shadows from earlier, which Twilight called “Jack O’ Lanterns. Starlight managed to absorb one into her ring, showing Beatrix an example of her unusual abilities.

“So that’s how you do it,” Beatrix said after Starlight finished.

“Jealous?” Twilight asked in a slightly taunting manner. To everyone’s surprise, Beatrix shook her head.

“Not even. She already told me that she’s this “Trickster” or whatever. I’m just amazed that she was able t do that to an enemy. It explains why she has more.”

“I see, that’s one way of looking at it…” Twilight said softly. If Starlight didn’t know better, she sounded almost disappointed. Before she could say anything, Starlight looked behind Beatrix and saw something that stood out. A golden staircase going up.

“I think I know what we’re looking for,” Starlight said pointing behind Beatrix, who turned to see the staircase as well.

“That… really gives me an odd feeling,” Beatrix said as they approached it, “Almost like walking the staircase to heaven or something.”

“I wonder…” Twilight said, “This place is called Elysium… and it’s a tower, almost like what Mitsuru said Tartarus was.”

“Tartarus? What’s that?” Beatrix asked.

“When Mitsuru was an active Persona User, her team used the Dark Hour to explore a tower called Tartarus. It was sort of like this, only it had a more hellish feel to it. This might a similar situation.”

“And I take it they discovered the source of the Dark Hour at the top?” Beatrix asked, folding her arms looking up at the staircase.

“I mean, I think so. I’m pretty sure it was more complicated than that, but I do know that once they got to the top they were able to stop the Dark Hour.”

“I knew it! Starlight, this is it!” Beatrix cheered.

“Huh?” Starlight asked confused. Beatrix put her hands on Starlight’s shoulders smiling brilliantly.

“You wanted to put an end to the Nightmare Epidemic, right? I bet the source of it is right at the top of this tower. So all we have to do is climb the top, fight whatever is up there causing it, and boom! Problem solved!”

“It can’t be that simple.”

“Why not? You said it yourself that this place is the primordial aspect of the Collective Unconscious, right? So if something is up there causing the Nightmare Epidemic, then it stands to reason that if we kill it, the Nightmare Epidemic goes too.”

“I mean… theoretically it could work…” Twilight said. Even Starlight was wondering if it was that easy. Then again, if it was…

“Besides, Starlight’s the Trickster, meaning this is her show to begin with,” she looked into Starlight’s eyes, smiling in a way that made Starlight’s heart flutter, “I know you can do this. Besides, I’ll be right there next to you. Together we have nothing to fear.”

She was doing for Starlight what she did for her. She could almost feel how much faith Beatrix had in her. Just like when she was in her Dungeon, and Beatrix started cheering for her, it made Starlight want to live up to that faith.

Maybe she just needed to start believing in herself more…

“Let’s not go up more just yet,” Twilight suggested, “Not until I clear this with Ms. Tia. I’m not saying you’re wrong or anything, Beatrix, but Ms. Tia didn’t want us to go too deep without clearing it with her.”

“Yeah, I can understand that,” Beatrix said looking up, “It’d be nice if we had at least one more person before we start climbing this place.”

“I agree,” Starlight said, “I’d like to have one more Persona User in here with us for this.”

“Right. One more Persona User…” Twilight said softly.

“You okay out there, Twi-Twi?” Beatrix asked.

“I’m fine, and my name is Twilight!” Twilight shot back at Beatrix.

“But Twi-Twi is so adorable, just like you,” Beatrix said jovially. Starlight couldn’t help but laugh.

“Oooooh, you are insufferable!” Twilight fussed, “This is the thanks I get for watching over you for months!”

“Oh Twi-Twi, I tease you because I like you,” Beatrix said jovially, “Starlight knows all about that, don’t you Starlight?”

Starlight averted her eyes nervously, feeling her face turn red in embarrassment.

“Well, let’s be on our way,” Beatrix said, swaying her hips as she walked back toward the entrance, “The path should be cleared, so let’s go.”

“R-right…” Starlight said, her eyes having a hard time not following the hypnotic sway of Beatrix’s rear. She was fun, but at the same time quite a handful.

“Geez, it’s like she did a 180 after you rescued her,” Twilight sighed. Starlight laughed a bit following Beatrix toward the entrance, thinking about that herself. Only she knew what Beatrix was doing. On one hand she felt it was good for her to start behaving more like her true self.

But on the other hand, she didn’t want Beatrix to crash and burn.

play song

It didn’t take long to get back to the Akashic Records. Once there, Beatrix went right to work searching around for something.

“I wish I knew how to navigate this place,” Beatrix fussed to herself while they searched, “If this place is where my Father’s gift is, it could be anywhere.”

“If I may offer my assistance,” Twilight said, her wisp reappearing next to them, “Why don’t we search YOUR Akashic Records for it.”

“My Akashic Records?” Beatrix asked.

“If it’s a book you’re looking for, and it’s something that was meant for YOU, then it’s probably there.”

“That makes sense,” Beatrix nodded, “Where are my Akashic Records?”

“Probably back where the entrance of your Dungeon was,” Starlight suggested.

“Yes. Your Dungeon took the place of the remaining Akashic Records. You needed to wake up safely in order for new entries to appear, which was why you couldn’t see anything new before.”

“I think I remember where that is too,” Beatrix said to herself, “And based on how this place works, that would mean…” she gasped in shock and then took off back toward where they always entered from.

“Hey! What’s got her so excited?” Twilight asked. Starlight shrugged and ran after her partner. When she found her, Beatrix was in front of the bookshelf next to where her door was, carefully looking at each entry.

“No… no… I already know that about myself.”

“Want some help finding it?” Twilight asked as they approached.

“No. I need to find this myself,” Beatrix said, “Dad left this gift for me, so that means that it’s something only I’d be able to find anyway. I just need to-” she stopped, her eyes landing on one book in particular. It had a golden frame, and the title was in very fancy cursive, making it almost LOOK magical. The title of the book was called “The Secret”.

“I almost feel like this is copyright infringement,” Twilight said to herself. Beatrix ignored her and opened the book, leaning on the shelf.

“Oh my God… Oh my God…! These are his magic tricks…! Every single one of them! But how does he…” she looked at the front page, reading the front page out loud. For some reason though, Starlight heard the voice of a man she’d never met before.

play song

To my dearest daughter,

Congratulations! You’ve finally found the secret! I knew you could do it, honey!

People don’t know it, but the world that they think is real is nothing more than an illusion. The very laws of physics only apply when one believes in them.

Sadly those laws have been drilled into the minds of society. So much that people have begun to believe that lie to be the one truth in the world. It’s truly depressing, if you ask me.

But to those who know the secret, they’re able to test the boundaries of what’s real and what’s not.

They say that the magic I do is impossible, and they’re right. Only because that’s the reality that they adhere to.

Magicians are nothing more than modern day wizards. In the old days, wizards tested the boundaries of reality. They did so as a reminder that the world is filled with infinite possibility. Nowadays, people claim to be wizards, but all they do is simple tricks.

But not us. We’re different, Beatrix.

I knew from the moment I showed you my magic for the first time, that you had the eye to see the truth. That you were the one I’d pass this gift to. That I could trust this gift to you.

This secret was shown to my great grandfather, who showed his child, who then passed it down to me. Now it’s your turn.

Take this book, honey. It’s yours now. My tricks, and the secret to casting them, all of it is now yours to use as you see fit.

The world has forgotten that magic is real. It’s time to remind them.

I’m right here, always cheering for you. I always was YOUR biggest fan, and that will never change.

Knock em’ dead, kiddo!

Your Dad,

The Magnificent Balazar

PS: To the one hearing these words with her, please continue to watch over my daughter. She needs a good friend like you to believe in her.

That ending… did he somehow… did he KNOW that Starlight was there?!

“Hang on a second… that would mean,” Twilight started floating around frantically, “Did he write that RECENTLY?! But how did he do that?! There’s no way he’s… I mean.. that doesn’t make ANY sense!”

“Of course it doesn’t…” Beatrix said softly, a huge grin forming on her face, “Magic doesn’t make sense… it just is…” she laughed softly to herself, but soon broke out into a full on euphoric laugh, “It was right there the whole time!” Beatrix hugged the book close to her chest, “I know what to do with this. Starlight, I’m going to stay here and read this for the night, and then I’m taking this book with me. With this, I can become the magician that I’m meant to be.”

Starlight nodded happily, “I’ll be right there cheering you on all the way, Beatrix.”

Beatrix walked over to Starlight and hugged her tightly, “Thank you for showing this to me, Starlight. You really are my hero.”

“D-don’t mention it, Beatrix,” Starlight said, heart racing at Beatrix’s loving tone.

Beatrix happily ran back to the main lobby, where Starlight saw her sit at one of the tables, and began reading the book. She figured she should probably leave Beatrix alone for now.

“I’m going to tell Celestia about what we found behind that door,” Twilight said, “You should get some rest.”

Starlight was getting a bit tired. She said goodnight to Twilight, and took off her Channeling Ring. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day indeed.

Magician Arcana: Level up!
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