The Glow Rush

Starlight Glimmer had recently gotten into the habit of waking up very early each morning to have a nice trot before she and Twilight would attend to the friendship business of the day. It was a pleasant time to reflect on all that she had learned so far—everything from how to make new friends to being honest about needing alone time away from her studies. The whole incident where she’d accidentally created a vortex in the castle had been a tough but valuable way to learn that lesson.

Starlight awoke at sunrise and promptly set out. She weaved her way through town, watching and saying hello as other Ponyville early birds opened up shop and delivered newspapers. Then she headed toward the fields.

On rare occasions, Starlight Glimmer would venture into the Everfree Forest to search for potion ingredients or interesting plants. Today, she was on a mission.

The fresh smell of exotic foliage hit her muzzle the moment she entered the forest thicket. The big treetops gave her abundant cover. As a result, shade shrouded the land except where shafts of light broke through the trees and illuminated the ground below. Starlight stopped and scanned the bushes.

She had been so worried about Trixie after that weird magic show last night that she’d immediately told Twilight about the debacle. Twilight, in turn, had spent hours poring over books in the library to find anything that might give a clue about Trixie. It was not normal to have one’s hoof light up like a bulb. If Twilight’s book on plants had been correct, there was a certain exotic plant that just might help.

If Starlight ever managed to find one, that was.

Starlight was confident, but she hoped that she would recognize the Gleam Berries as soon as she saw them. She’d never run into any other ponies in the Everfree Forest, so it would be difficult to get a second opinion until she was back at the castle, and if Twilight was right, that hoof glow was going to start getting a lot worse—and a lot more powerful. Maybe it could start to really hurt Trixie as the magic developed.

The sun was rising over the horizon, illuminating Ponyville with a hazy golden glow. Birds began to chirp, and the smell of fresh grass and flowers wafted through the sweet, breezy air. As Starlight came upon a little stream near the edge of the forest, she felt a sense of contentment, even if it was underscored with worry for Trixie. Why did her friend need so much attention that she constantly put herself in harm’s way just for the approval of other ponies? A sudden memory interrupted Starlight’s musings.

Well, Starlight thought, Trixie may want attention, but at least she didn’t force an entire town of ponies to surrender their cutie marks to her in the name of equality like I did. Starlight brushed away the memory and blushed crimson even though there was nopony around to hear it or even see her.

“What are you blushin’ about there, young filly?” A mare’s voice came from the other side of the bushes. Starlight jumped. “Nothin’ to be embarrassed about. We hightailed it straight to this spot when we heard about the sightings, too!”

“Don’t startle her, Emerald!” another gruff voice replied. “She looks terrified. You always scare off new friends.…”

“That’s total hogwash and you know it, Sparky!”

The two voices continued to grumble to each other.

“Uh, hello?” Starlight Glimmer craned her neck, searching for the source. She pushed aside a branch with her hoof and gasped at the sight. An old Unicorn couple had pitched a tent, gathered wood, and whipped up a meal of apple-carrot oatmeal. At least the smells wafting from the bubbling pot perched on the fire implied it.

But aside from all that, it was clearly no ordinary campsite.

The old ponies were hooves-deep in the stream, sifting through pans filled with river rocks. They wore thick magnifying glasses and tall galoshes.

“Told ya she’d come over!” The old stallion turned to Starlight and put out his hoof. “You’re welcome to stay for some oatmeal, dearie. But you should know that this is our claim we’ve staked here. So if you’re fixin’ to get in on this spot, you’d best be movin’ on.”

“Claim?” Starlight asked in disbelief. “To what?”

“To all the Glowpaz in this section of the forest, of course.” He gestured to the river. “We’re gonna strike it rich!”

“I got one!” Emerald shouted with unabashed delight. “Lookee here, Sparky!” The mare held up a tiny piece of ore that glinted in the light.

The two ponies held it close to their eyes, which appeared gigantic behind their glasses. Sure enough, it glowed just as Trixie’s hoof had at the show! But how had that piece gotten over here? Starlight was baffled.

“Good luck!” Starlight tried to hide her shock as she replied, backing away through the bushes and circling around their encampment. Though the run-in had been strange, it didn’t change the task at hoof—finding some wild Gleam Berries for Trixie.

But as soon as Starlight Glimmer continued trotting down the river, she realized they had a much bigger problem on their hooves. It seemed that Emerald and Sparky weren’t the only ones who’d heard about the Glowpaz sightings.

There were dozens of other prospector ponies parking their wagons and getting set up for a long stay in Ponyville! Some of them had even begun to dig holes to search for the gems in the ground, as was evident by the piles of dirt and shovels everywhere.

In an instant, Starlight forgot all about the berries. She took off at a gallop back toward the castle to tell Twilight what she saw and find Trixie. Starlight had to deliver the news.

The fire had been ignited and the glow rush had begun.