Star Charmer was a simple pony, born and raised in a South Eastern town, just north of what would be Ponyville in just a few short years. Her story is not a well known one, but one that was very important, and indeed, quite a bit perturbing. Star Charmer was not known until her great granddaughter began seeing clues, and was told her story by none other than the ruler of Equestria. Star was a young filly, born after Princess Luna, AKA Nightmare Moon, was banished to moon for deeds committed. In those few short decades between her sentence and Star’s birth, the times had changed-people did not speak as they once did, nor did they punish-the young ponies could get away with things and often were dishonest. Star was not like that, as you will soon see.
Star was very much aware of her surroundings, of the other fillies and colts, and knew about their many deceits and infidelities. She would never tell. She was much too afraid of judgment, that she would be mocked even worse than she was now. Only when she saw a young colt steal 10 bits from an elderly pony on her weekly journey to the library, did she finally get outraged enough that she reported him. At least she attempted to-as she walked away, he saw that someone had seen his misdeeds and slinked up to her, grinning mischievously.
“Hello, my dearest….I noticed your staring and couldn’t help but wonder what it was you were looking at…” he said quietly, circling her slowly with exaggerated movements.
What could he be doing? How pecurious….the way he walked seemed….like he attempting to seduce her! The nerve of him!
“I’ll have you know, I saw what you did and I will NOT stand by and let you go free for that!” She said, attempting to raise her voice, but it caught in her throat and nopony looked over.
“Oh, girly, there’s no reason for that….is there?” He asked, sidling up beside her, as if waiting for her to move closer, “and you’re sure there’s nothing I can….do for you?” he pulled out to bits and tried to place them in her saddlebag, but she darted away quickly and the bits dropped against the ground, ringing as they hit the ground.
“Never! I would never accept any sum of bits, no amount of seduction, nothing from a scoundrel of one such as yourself!” She proclaimed, watching as his face transformed from a lopsided grin, to a malicious glare.
“Listen, girl,” he spat, “I will give you one last chance!”
“I would never help the likes of YOU!” She said, trying to stop her teeth from chattering as he moved closer.
“Then I will have to stop-“
“HEY! What’s going on over there?! GET IT OFF THE STREETS!” A guard yelled, interrupting his threat midsentence.
“Yes, officer,” he said, his voice dripping with venom, “Right….away…” he backed into the shadows, his wings folding back.
“Officer, I just watched that young Pegasus steal money!” Star said, deciding it was now or never.
The officer decided that it would be too late to try and ask more, and darted for the shadows of the alley in which the Pegasus disappeared. “Where is he?”
Star caught a glimpse of a shadow as the Pegasus escaped overhead. The guard picked up the bits off of the ground and gently placed them in the elderly pony’s bag, and politely got her attention and told her what happened. Star hung her head in defeat, and walked home, giving up on her trek to the library.
She went to bed early that night, still thinking about the day’s events.
I tried to help her, but I wasn’t able….I messed it up. I can’t let that happened again; I will help somepony, someday. Someday soon.
Her parents noticed that she was unusually quiet, but didn’t speak up-Star disliked people having pity on her, and she liked to solve problems herself, and they knew it.
Star soon drifted off to sleep, dreaming of dark clouds, higher up than the most daring Pegasus pony would fly.
The next morning felt like any other morning-too early to get up. But at least it was Friday, at last!
It was a short walk to school, and she paid very little attention to the scenery on her way.
“Hello, Star! Wonderful day, huh?” A voice called out from a store on the side of a street.
“Just like every day this week Mr. Cake!” She shouted back at the unicorn, before continuing on her way.
She soon arrived at school and walked in, taking her seat before noticing it got a lot quieter and some ponies were glancing over at her and whispering.
“Is it true you tried to snitch on Cloud Chaser? He’s been itchin’ for revenge!” Someone shouted from the back of the class.
“Wha-wait, it wasn’t like that, he tried to st-“
“Snitch! Snitch!” The chant went up and spread like a wildfire, before it was deafening.
As if I wasn’t unpopular enough before!
Soon, everypony was shouting insults, moving from snitch to loser, to retard.
Tears started forming in her eyes as she realized what had happened-she had just ruined it all. She could have just survived school in the background, but she just HAD to be a hero. She chastised herself and hung her head, tears dripping down her snout.
“Snot-snouted slut! Just get outta here before Cloud Chaser comes lookin’ for ya!”
At that, she just ran out, straight past her teacher who had just arrived.
“Star? What’s wrong darling? Where are y-“ She was cut off as Star ran past.
Star sprinted home and locked herself in her room, curling up in bed, sobs racked her body.
Sometime later, her mother returned home from work and found her, still crying, in bed.
“Baby…what’s wrong?” She asked, nuzzling the blanket from over Star’s face.
Star just pulled her pillow over her head and pinned it there.
“I heard you left school a bit early today…the teacher said she heard some students yelling…” Her voice trailed off expectantly, hoping Star would say something. When she said nothing, she continued, “Y’know, I’m sure that you’ve been under a lot of stress…and I just want my little girl to be happy. A friend of mine told me about a way you can get some things off your chest…you just take a piece of paper, write a letter telling your feelings, or tell some kind of secret, then toss it in the fireplace. You have all weekend to decide…I’ll check on you before dinner.” With that, she walked out, wishing to stay longer.
