Chapter Six

The night had finally arrived. Starburst kept running till there was no more ground to cross. She stopped abruptly upon reaching a vast lake. She gazed at the full moon, greeting her with its silver rays that reflect over the waters. The stars accompanied it as well. Just the sight of them made her feel a bit better, but it couldn't replace how those critters treated her; it only made her feel worse.
She sits in front of the lake, trying to recall her memories...Nothing could surface. She would believe every woodland creature would be friendly to ponies, but it's like they recognize her somehow. Do they really hate her? ...Her head began to ache.
It doesn't matter now. Her mind kept weaving through that memory. Looking down at her reflection in the lake made her realize that it was obvious she couldn't understand her first element like this. Having no speck of color as bright as the mane six sounds crass; perhaps her appearance was ostracizing; maybe...her presence doesn't have meaning…

A tear dropped into the lake, and more kept coming. There were a lot of questions to ask and answers to find, but she never would've thought that understanding this element would be so difficult. She had always thought that kindness involves compassion and sincerity..but how can she reach that level if she can't even speak? She coughs every time she tried. They might understand if she could at least speak her mind. Just this once...let her voice be heard!

She didn't notice one of her tears landing into one of these mysterious flowers. It began to glow and slowly releasing small orbs of light. It caught her attention and she wiped away her tears. Two larger orbs floated up and entered her forehead and neck. The pony wasn't sure what had happened, but when she attempted to speak her mind:

"…I want to be heard..."

She jumped to the sound as it echoed about the lake. Her mind became her voice! She could virtually hear herself speak! But why did one of the orbs enter her neck? Could she speak? She tried, but nothing left her mouth.

"Sing..."

Starburst jumped to the unusual voice that entered her mind. Was it the flower..?

"Your feelings should be heard. Express them however you wish..."

With that said, she opened her mouth. Her pleasant voice carried across the lake, resonating gently on the surface. It was pure. Her heart had never let out so much sadness with every word. Critters in nearby trees heard the ashen mare's voice, and eventually began to leave their homes to hear her up close. From a distance, Fluttershy managed to pick up on the voice.

"That voice," she said. "Who could that be, Angel?"

The bunny was on her back, attuned to the sound as well. The pegasus had no time to waste. She still needed to find Starburst, but the voice had caught her attention.

"Whoever it is...she sounds really sad."

She stamps the ground for a few seconds, pondering over what to do. Angel couldn't bear the stalling, so he tugged on her mane and pointed in the direction of the sound.

"Though, I would hate to interfere...but I guess peeking wouldn't hurt." she says, trotting towards it.

She gasped the moment she recognized the silver pony, back facing her. Even Angel was caught by surprise.

"It's Starburst!" she whispered. "...But how is she singing?"

With whatever time she had, the lonely mare continued to sing her heart out.

Fluttershy continued to watch her from a distance, only to feel saddened by the lyrics. She already knows that the ashen pony wasn't trying to be abstract. She understood every word, but she doesn't know why she was singing them...

The pegasus didn't know what to do. Should she approach her? She must. It's her duty to teach her the meaning of kindness, so she can't waste this opportunity to confront her. The area was very quiet and dark. The only things keeping it lit were the moon and the glowing blue flowers around the lake. After the song was finished, it finally clicked to the yellow mare of how Starburst could speak.

"...Starburst?" she quietly asked.

She was glad enough that her voice didn't spook the colorless mare. The pony responded by turning her head to her.

"Fluttershy..." she says. "Were you looking for me?"

"Yes." She took a step forward. "And I'm sorry to disturb you."

"No, I'm glad you heard me." She turns to the flowers next to her. "I would have never been able to express my feelings if it weren't for these."

"You mean those Lilygrants?"

"Lilygrants?"

"Oh yes, Twilight has told me about them. She said that these flowers respond to pure emotions. They glow when a wish has been granted. Sadly, it's only temporary."

"I see..."

"Though Starburst, I never understood why you sang that song...It sounded so sad."

The ashen pony turned to look at her reflection in the lake.

"I think I know why the animals acted the way they did towards me."

Fluttershy perked up to her words.

"Acted? What do you mean?"

"You weren't there when it happened, but they chased me away. That was why you might have noticed their food was everywhere."

"Oh my, that's awful! I'm so sorry they did that! They never acted that way before..." She looks at Angel with a disapproving face. "Perhaps I should have them apologize."

Angel just crossed his arms and turned the other way.

"It's okay. They had every right to."

"What?" she looked at the mare, dropping her last expression. "I don't understand..."

Starburst turned to her.

"I know I can't remember anything, but I have this feeling that I've done something in the past to have upset them."

"Upset them?" She thinks for a second, hoof against her mouth. "Well now that you mention it, animals can recognize a pony by more than just their appearance...I mean, Angel acted rebellious towards you, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did."

The ashen pony looked at the bunny, who continued to avert his eyes at her.

"Listen, Angel, I guess I haven't been all that kind to you before...whatever I was back then. But please understand how sorry I am. Even when I don't have memories of it, I never want to cross that path again."

Angel's ears twitched after hearing what he wanted to hear, but he chose not to react right away. He looked at her shortly, and turned away. The yellow pegasus wasn't appealed by his reaction.

"Angel…!"

"It's alright, Fluttershy. I don't expect him to trust me right away, let alone all the animals here. That's something I'll have to earn from them, even if I don't have my voice."

A sudden spot of light flashed in a constant contrast at her forehead and throat.

"Looks like the lilygrant's power is wearing off," Fluttershy said.

"Yeah...it is," Starburst says, looking down with a saddened expression.

"I'm sorry its power doesn't last very long..."

"Don't be. I'm glad enough that you were able to know what I was feeling." She looked at her, revealing a light smile. "I don't care how long it'll take me to get my voice back. I'll be happier if the animals could smile for me."

Fluttershy was never more surprised to hear that, let alone Angel and the other critters standing by. But Angel continued to show restraint. Surely deep down he wanted to apologize, but he didn't want to show that form of affection in front of his owner. Soon the light tugged the pony's head towards the lake. Within seconds the light phased out of her head and neck to float endlessly into the night sky. She gazed at it until she could no longer see it, and then her head tilted towards the ground. Fluttershy could not express the amount of pain the pony was feeling right now. It was sad enough to see her quickly shape up, turn to her and muscle a smile.

"Oh Starburst..." she says as she approached her immediately and nuzzled her cheek. "I know for sure that you'll get your voice back soon. Do you know why?"

The ashen pony looked at her with a puzzled look. The pegasus simply smiled.

"So I can request an encore."

Starburst had never been so surprised at those words. Her smile was the warmest it had ever been.

"Now, let's return to my cottage. I bet you must be hungry. How does a chamomile-daisy sandwich sound?"

She nods happily as the two ponies start to trot from the lake. Starburst stopped to look at the lilygrants once more, smiled, and trotted quickly to catch up with the yellow pegasus.

Once they reached and entered the cottage, a few of the animals stood their ground as they eyed Starburst when she sat near the couch. Angel hopped down from the yellow mare's back as she turned to her.

"Wait here. I'll be right back."

That was when the critters began to chatter profusely. They closed in on the lone pony in attempt to chase her off again, but a certain white bunny came to her aid. She was surprised to see him stop the critters in their tracks and submit to his translated story at the lake. Once everything had settled and the animals dispersed, the mare gladly smiled at Angel. He on the other hand didn't expect any praise.

'Don't read much into it.' he was probably thinking, and hopped off.

"Here you go, Starburst!" Fluttershy had returned with the sandwich she promised her. It was already sliced in half with the works. "Go ahead. I'm sure you'll love this combination as much as I do."

All Starburst could do was stare at the sandwich. She's sure that the pegasus hasn't eaten either. Fluttershy looked puzzled.

"What's wrong?"

The gray mare points at the sandwich and then at her with a saddened expression. She's positive she hasn't eaten yet either. Knowing the pegasus, she understood her right away.

"Oh, don't worry about me. I can make another one. Just go ahead and eat up."

Fluttershy's shoulder was tapped as she was walking away. She was surprised to see what Starburst did the moment she turned around.

Half of the sandwich was held up to her.

"No, I couldn't...I made it for you!"

But Starburst kept insisting, smiling as warmly as ever. Even without her voice, she knows how to be true at heart. Even the critters felt her sincerity despite them knowing of her past incidents. The yellow mare just couldn't resist and smiles.

"Thank you," she says, taking the half and sat in front of her. "You're truly kind."

It had fast forwarded to bedtime. Fluttershy had originally allowed Starburst to sleep on the couch, but to only get prohibited by the currently selfish bunny. So now she slept on a bed of pillows beside the couch. Angel's sleep was eventually disturbed by a shaken mare, who appeared to be dreaming in her sleep.

It consisted of pitch darkness. She kept running, but she wasn't sure why. She heard muffled yells, unaware of who said them. Bright yellow and white eyes appeared, and the muffled yells only grew louder the more she tried to flee. She suddenly stopped before a larger pair of white eyes that slowly began to come at her, speaking in an unfamiliar voice.

*Your actions were catastrophic. You will be banished!*

There was only one word that she knew in relation to that term...and from Angel's perspective, he didn't expect to see it.

…Tears.

She was crying in her sleep. But he didn't know why. A bad dream perhaps? He doesn't know what it could be, but he knows after the events she went through today, she was bound for some comfort.

Starburst woke up when she felt something tap her. Her cheeks felt drafty. She didn't know she was crying until she wiped one of her eyes. Her nightmare felt worse than before. She had no clue of what it meant, but she reacted upon hearing the word "banish". She was afraid to fall asleep again until she felt something soft wipe across her other cheek.

It was Angel, who wiped his ear against her cheek to remove the tears. After a moment of eye contact, the pony revealed a little smile. Since the others were asleep, the bunny could smile without receiving any mush from the animals, especially Fluttershy. Although, he doubts she would notice since she's putting her focus on Starburst. He soon laid beside her and slipped quickly to sleep. Now that Angel had comforted her, she instantly did the same.

What they didn't notice was the pegasus who watched the whole scene from the second floor, flashing another warm smile.

"Thank you for accepting her, Angel." she whispers, before returning to bed.