Don't worry, all loose ends will be tied up in the next chapter

Chapter Fourteen:
“Interviews”

There was nothing said from Twilight’s group on the way back to Starlight’s village. All she got was angry glares from the princess’s group as Starlight led them back to the vacant house they had stayed in the day before.

“You understand why I did this, don’t you?” she asked, to no reply. “I heard you talking about how you were going to destroy my village. You know I couldn’t let that happen,”. The group’s response was to simply walk forward angrily, trying to ignore her.

“I really am sorry it came to that,” Starlight apologized to them. “I can say with complete certainty that what happened back there goes against everything my town stands for. I do hope you can one day forgive me,”. Still, all she received from the group was angry looks and silence.

"I heard you all discussing how you would destroy the town I worked tirelessly to create. What was I supposed to do? Let you leave and brainwash them into thinking they need their cutie marks? You know I couldn't let that happen,".

With still no reply from the group, Starlight kept leading them to what she knew would be their new home in an awkward silence. By the time they made it back to the town, night had fallen, and there wasn’t a single pony in sight, much to Starlight’s good fortune. She wasn't yet prepared for how she would explain the situation to the town. She lead them into the empty house they would be staying in and wished them a pleasant night, telling them that she would be interviewing them one on one the next day.

However, when Starlight got back to her own house, she had trouble falling asleep. All she kept thinking about was how she had stolen their cutie marks. Stolen. The word rang around her head, and she didn’t like it. It wasn't like she wanted to steal them. She tried to avoid the situation, but there was nothing she could have done differently to avoid it, except maybe deny them entry into her village in the first place. Still, however, it happened, and nothing she could do now would change that. She knew that she had changed the future with that action, and knew it wouldn't be for the better. All she could do now was hope that it would work out down the line.

The next day, starting early in the morning, she had Double Diamond bring each one of them into her home for an interview, alone. It was a long process, taking up most of the morning, but she thought it was worth a try. Maybe they would see reason, see why she had to do what she did. She started with the two she knew she wouldn't convince, Twilight and Rainbow Dash, and worked her way down to the ones she thought she had a chance at. She knew if she could just convince one of them into her way of thinking, she could get the rest of them to buy into her philosophy.

Her interview with the princess lasted longer than the other five combined. She tried her best to maintain her composure as the princess angrily told her how she couldn't just steal ponies cutie marks and how she was "trying to help a village she manipulated get their marks back". Starlight wasn't surprised that she was unable to get a single word in explaining herself, but did have to stop herself from snapping at her when the princess began to talk about how she was so disappointed in Starlight.

That word, "disappointed", made her blood boil. Of course Twilight would be disappointed in her. To the princess, Starlight was just another villain who needed to be defeated. No, worse than that. Starlight was a child who just didn't understand. She was angry because the princess was talking as if she was just a student who needed to be corrected, upset at her because Starlight was forcing her to join her village, not caring that Twilight herself was planning on forcing her way onto her village. Not caring that the ponies in Starlight's village chose to give up their cutie marks. No, the princess only cared about her way being absolute, and forcing anypony who disagreed into her way of thinking. At least Starlight had admitted that she was wrong in doing what she did, something she knew Twilight would never do.

The next few interviews were much shorter, and much less frustrating for her. After what she thought was a particularly effective conversation with AppleJack, she greeted Fluttershy as she was being escorted in by Double Diamond. She took note of her facial expression, seeing that it was noticeably more neutral than most of the others. That was good. From the beginning, she thought she might be the easiest to convince.

“I just want to say,” Starlight started for the sixth time, “that I’m truly sorry for what had to happen yesterday. Forcing ponies into our philosophy is not how we do things here, and I truly wish things could have turned out differently. However, I hope you understand why I had to do what I did,”.

She watched as Fluttershy took a breath and said, “I understand. My friends and I came into your lovely village and tried to make a mess of things without taking a chance to learn about it first. But that doesn’t make it okay for you to steal our cutie marks,”.

“And I’m not saying it was okay,” Starlight told her. “In fact, it was completely wrong of me, and I apologize once again for what I’ve done,”. She paused for a second, watching as Fluttershy looked at her hopefully, then continued. “However, I can’t give them back to you,”.

“Why not?,” Fluttershy insisted.

“Because,” Starlight explained, “even if gave them back on the condition that you never returned here, your friends might still try something. I feel like I can trust you, but I can’t trust them,”.

“So you’re going to keep us here as prisoners,” Fluttershy commented.

Starlight winced at that. “I don’t want you to be prisoners here. In fact, I want you all to enjoy being here. I know what happened yesterday doesn’t sit well with them and has them upset, but… they haven’t even given it a chance! They’ve just dismissed our town from the moment they got here!”.

Starlight thought she could see doubt on Fluttershy’s face, so she continued. “All they’ve done since they’ve been here is talk about how weird we are and try to cause problems. I mean, of course there are ponies who miss their cutie marks. We all do from time to time. But we’re all happy here. It’s a choice we all willingly made, and it’s not okay to cause unnecessary tension because of it,”.

“You all do seem happy,” Fluttershy said thoughtfully, “and you’re all the friendliest ponies I’ve ever met. And even though you did take are cutie marks, when you put it that way, it makes it seem like we deserve it,”.

“No, you didn't deserve it," she told her. "It's just the way it happened, and, once again, I truly am sorry for what happened yesterday,". She paused, looking at Fluttershy, and continued, "But if you voice your support for us and joined our village, you might make them more accepting of change,”.

“Do you think so?”.

“I know so,” She told her, sounding more confident in the statement than she felt. “I’d really appreciate if you would just consider it,”.

Fluttershy looked down at her hooves, then back up at Starlight. “Is it okay if I had some time to think the decision over?”.

“Of course,” Starlight told her. “Take all the time you need,”.