My Life Thus Far, Book 1: The Outcast.

by Rojack79

Rating: mature
Tags: Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Human, Romance, Drama, Mystery
Length: 9880

My name is Shooting Star. I am a unicorn. At an early age i was admitted to the ponyville psychiatric detention center. Now after year's of therapy i'm allowed to go live a normal life in pony society. Hopefully i can put my checkered past behind me.

Hello. My name is Shooting Star. And I'm a pony. At least I think I am. Five year's after I was born I began to have terrible visions and nightmares of a world ruled by giant ape-like creatures. The worst part is that I fully believed I am or was one of these strange creatures, at least before I came here. My strange sometime's erratic behavior got me in trouble however and I was locked away in the ponyville insane asylum for awhile. Now I'm an adult and I'm all better. No more vision's or nightmare's for me. Just looking forward to living my life and getting a job. Something keep's bothering me, however. What's that strange voice in the back of my head? And What are strange image's showing up in my dream's all about?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2017-03-31 15:27:10 UTC

Prologue: To Wish Upon A Star.

January 21, 980 C.E. Equestria.

8:39 P.M.

Sky Diver sat with his wife, Ruby Rose as the two shared a night time picnic in whitetail woods.

"You know dear." Sky said giving his wife a small smile. His wife gave him a nuzzle of affection as he rubbed her swollen belly.

"Yes, Sky?" She asked looking over to her husband and giving him a soft smile.

"The baby's due in a few months. We should really start thinking of a name for him." He said. Ruby thought about it as she gazed the starry sky. Her eye's lit up as an idea came to her as she spied a comet streaking across the sky.

"How about Shooting Star." She said as her eye's reflected the celestial object's golden glow. Sky just laughed as he extended a wing and curled his wife up in a strong embrace.

"That seem's fitting. If he's a unicorn he'll blaze past other's when it come's to magic and if he's a pegasus he'll be the envy of every foal the world over." He said giving a soft chuckle. His wife joined him but stopped as her breath hitched.

"Oh dear." She said she felt her foal squirm.

"Honey?" Sky asked giving his wife a concerned look. Then he heard the soft pattering of,

"Water?" He thought about it. Then his wife gave a cry of surprise.

"Oh, honey we need to go!" She said urgency strangling her voice. Then he understood.

"Your water broke!?" He said as he grabbed a hold of his wife. She gave a stiff nod while shoving his wing back to his side.

"No. I'll get us there." She said as her horn lit up with a rosy hue. She grabbed Sky and hugged him close as she activated her spell. Soon they found themselves inside the waiting room of Ponyville General Hospital. Sky wobbled about a little bit as he regained his sense of balance. He wobbled over to the front desk.

"We have a foal on the way." He said feeling a little lite headed as he collapsed on the floor. His wife meanwhile was rushed to the emergency room on a gurney.

"I told him he should have taken those spell sickness pill's before we set out." She said shaking her head as she regulated her breathing.

11:00 P.M.

Several hours, burn's, laceration's, and death threat's later Sky Diver and Ruby Rose were the proud parents of a beautiful unicorn colt. Rose clutched her little bundle of joy in her hoove's as her husband entered the room. Ruby's eye's shot over to her husband who stopped as soon she saw him, not daring to move a single hair out of place. She smiled at him and nodded, giving him the go ahead to come closer.

"Come and take a look at our new baby boy," Rose said as she lifted him up for Sky to see. His eye's lit up from excitement as he sat on his haunch's and took his son in his hoove's and wing's and gently rocked him back and forth. He gazed upon his son's coat. Is was a magnificent golden brown color with streaks of rose colored fur weaving through his mane and tail. And once he opened his eye's, Sky was mesmerized by two bright hazel iris's that stared right back at him.

"Oh! He's beautiful." Sky said as he nuzzled his son and held him close. Rose just chuckled as she watched her husband and their new son cuddle for the first time. Suddenly Sky looked over to his wife.

"So when do we get to take him home?" He asked as he walked over to his wife. She gave him a nuzzle that he returned.

"As soon as I recover and he get's checked for a clean bill of health." She said as she laid her head back down on her pillow. Sky nodded as he gave Star back to his wife. He leaned closer to the pair and gave his wife a soft kiss.

"I love you, dear." He said as she then leaned a little over his wife and kissed Star on his little forehead.

"And you to little guy." He said as nuzzled his son. Star just cooed happily and then yawned as he snuggled closer to Rose.

"Sweet dream's you two." Sky said as he left the room. His wife gave a low mumble as she clutched her son even tighter and curled up in her bed. Sky walked over to his own room across the hall and settled down for the night. "Tommorrow is going to be a very busy day."

February 13, 980 C.E.

7:53 A.M.

Over the next few weeks Sky took time off from his job at the weather factory to be with Ruby while she recovered her strength and, they both took turn's nurturing their new little bundle of joy and getting adjusted to family life. The nurse's and rest of the staff at the hospital were more than willing to help the new couple get on there hoove's and prepare them for their newest addition to the family. They even gave them a forward facing baby carrier. Sky, Ruby, and Star were on their way to new couple's counseling when they were stopped by a wall of golden light.

"What the?" Sky said as he poked the translucent barrier with a hoof. It stretched and bent but didn't budge.

"What's this?" Rose said as her own horn lit up. She briefly scanned the wall of magic when she gasped and looked down at her son. Sky saw her face, looked over to the barrier and put two and two together.

"Well. well young man what have we here?" He asked getting down to Star's level. The little colt giggled as he reached for Sky's muzzle which was only a few inch's away from his own. Sky giggled as well as he nuzzled Star who cooed and nuzzled him back. Star yawned a little and he gradually began to doze off. As soon as his eye's closed the barrier disappeared. The couple gave each other nervous glance's and they hurried to their appointment. When that was all said and done they tracked down Nurse Brightheart. She was at the front desk feilding call's for the hospital.

"Yes, Ponyville General, how may i help you?" She said spinning around in her swivel chair. Her face scrunched up.

"No Sir. A Lightbulb can't be turned on by inserting it into your rectum." She said heaving out a sigh. "Yes, sir. I'm fully aware of Pegasi anatomy, but using your ass as a light source is not a good idea." She said spotting the couple. "Yes well, then I urge you to seek professional help. No stallion should have lighting dancing around his crotch. Thank you. Have a nice day." She said slamming the phone down. She gave out an exasperated sigh as she looked over to her charge's.

"Hello, you three." She said giving them a soft smile. The two adults gave her a funny look. Finally, Sky asked,

"Do we even want to know?" He said nodding to the phone. Brightheart rolled her eye's. "No. No, you don't," she said as she hopped out of her chair and trotted over to them. As soon as she got within earshot Star woke up. He giggled as she got closer. She gave him a soft smile.

"Oh. Who's a cute baby?" She said as she fished through her doctor's coat for a lollipop. When she produced one the little colt gave out a cry of joy.

"You are!" she said as she unwrapped the sugary confection and gave him the candy. The parent's smiled as Brightheart made goofy face's for their son to enjoy.

"So how is Redheart doing?" Rose asked. Brightheart lit up at that.

"Oh, she's just so precious," Brightheart said. "She'll be starting school in spring later on this year." She said as she got back up to her full height.

"That's good," Rose said. Then she cleared her throat. "Well BrightHeart we came by to ask a favor." She said looking a little nervoius. Brightheart's ear's perked up.

"Oh, what kind of favor?" She asked giving them a quizzical look.

"It would seem that our little bundle of joy just got a bit more joyful." She said as she gently rocked Star back to sleep. When she was certain he was asleep she continued.

"We just got back from couple's counseling but before then Star used his first bit of magic." She said feeling both sheepish and excited. Brightheart gave them a soft smile.

"Oh, so the little tike os already showing sign's of magical aptitude huh?" She said turning to her desk. After she rummaged about her drawer she pulled out what looked like a small wedding ring.

"Is that?" Rose asked. Brightheart nodded.

"Yup. One magical suppression ring coming right up." She said as she carefully slipped the arcane instrument over the little colt's horn.

"There. That should keep his surge's in check. Just be sure to take it off every few hour's or the poor dear will start to have terrible migraines." She said as she settled back down in her chair. Then the phone rang.

"Uh! Sorry, you two but I have to take this." She said as the new family gave their thank's and trotted out the front door.

"NO Sir! Do not use your own penis as an electrical conduit!" She yelled at the phone.

9:00 A.M.

The new family made it home with little incident. They got through the door and all but fell out on their bed.

"Well, here we are." Sky said giving his wife a kiss. She accepted and they stayed like that until Star gave out a yawn.

"Home sweet home," Rose said as she undid her harness and curled up with Star on their bed. Sky soon joined them and together the happy family went to sleep.

Chapter 1: Memories, New and Old.

January 21, 999 C.E.

5:47 P.M. Ponyville.

"Happy Birthday to you!" Star's family sang as he blew out the candle's to an enormous cake, courtesy of one Pinkimina Diane Pie. Star leaned over and gave Pinky a hug.

"Thank's Pink's. Wouldn't be a party without ya." Star said as he began to cut the cake up and serve it to the guests. He returned the hug.

"Well, they don't call them pinky pie party's for nothing!" Pinky said as she hopped about the party making sure everything was in tip top shape. His dad Sky came over and grinned.

"So squirt." He said grabbing Star around the shoulders and giving him a nuggie making his already untidy mane even messier looking. Star took in stride as he tried to shove his dad off.

"Oh, you know the usual." He said as he relented. He gave pinky a small smile and a wave as he was dragged off by his father. She grinned and nodded as she went to go mingle with the other partygoers. His mother came to his rescue and with a flick of her head Sky was hauled off their son and seated in a chair next to his wife. He gave her a wry grin which she returned before giving him a soft peck on the lips. Then she turned her attention to her son.

"So dear any pony you know here?" She asked as she looked around. Her son laughed as he lead them through sugar cube corner to a table next to a window.

"Beside's pinky I have a few more friend's coming by later on." He said as he sat down and looked at the menu. Once he made up his mind he looked to his parents.

"So how's canterlot?" He asked the two. They smiled at his curiosity.

"Oh, it's just wonderful." His mother said. His father nodded his head.

"Yes, it's a nice city. Plenty of work up there at the factory." He said as he to looked at the menu. His some chuckled.

"Wow. It sure has changed a lot since I was last there." He said as he looked at his parent's. They gave him soft looks of concern.

"Are you feeling better after all of." His mother hesitated. "That?" She asked, rubbing his head with a hoof. He gave her hoof a nuzzle as he closed his eye's.

"Yeah, mom. I'm fine." He said giving them both a smile. They returned it a little while later. They continued to make small talk until a gray winged Pegasus made his presence known.

"Hey, there roomie!" He said as he made his way over to Star. Star got out of his seat.

"Hey there Swift." He said as the two gave each other a hug. Star swung Swift around and cleared his throat.

"Mom, Dad, this is my roommate, Swift Wing. Swift Wing these are my parent's, Ruby Rose and Sky Diver." He said as the group introduced themselves to one another. Swift was a big bundle of excitement.

"Oh, it's a pleasure to finally meet you two. Star go's on and on about you two like you wouldn't believe." Swift said waving a hoof about at he talked. Star's parents were a little caught off guard by Swift's feminine way's but they shook it off and soon they were all chatting like old friends.

"So Swift were do you work?" Sky asked. Swift chuckled.

"Well, I work for the Royal Guard. Right now I'm on vacation for the month. After word's it's back to Canterlot for five month's for active duty." He said as he raised a mug of cider to his lip's. Ruby, Sky, and Swift started talking about anything and everything. Star didn't mind. As his friend's and family got acquainted with one another he zoned out. "Wonder what sis is up to?" He thought as he brought his mug up to take another drink. As he lowered his cup he saw his reflection in the little bit of cider left.

"Just who are you?" He didn't recognize the voice but he heard somepony behind him. As he turned around he noticed an eery silence had overtaken the shop. He looked around and gasped at what he saw.

"What's going on here?" He asked as he looked at the frozen expressions of all the party goer's. He quickly backed away from the table, knocking his chair over in the process. His breathing quickened as he began to try and focus on his training.

"This isn't real." He said, his eye's forced shut as he stood still.

"What is real anymore?" The voice mocked as it circled him. "What is truth? What is life?" Star concentrated on his breathing and began his mantra anew.

"This is not real!" He said as he began to feel light headed. Star jumped as a pair of hand's gripped his shoulder's, "Who are you!?" The voice shouted. Star opened his eye's to see a hooded figure cloaked in darkness staring right back at him. Star flailed at his assailant and stumbled back tripping over his own chair and colliding with the hard wooden floor. As darkness took him, Star saw the figure kneel down next to him.

"Who are you Shooting Star?" It said as his vision faded to black.

Ruby and Sky stood over their son as he stopped flailing about on the wooden floor of the shop. They gave each other concerned looks as the other partygoers began to stop and watch, some with mild shock on their face's, some with curiosity.

"I-I-I thought these were over," Ruby said as she shook her head trying to rouse her son from his hallucination. Sky sat there comforting his wife as she gave up and began to cry into his chest. He stroked her mane.

"Sh-Sh- It'll be ok dear. Our son is strong. He beat this once before. He'll do so again." He said as he took Star's hoof in his grip and gave it a soft squeeze.

"Excuse me?" Swift asked. He backed up a little when Ruby's gaze settled on him. He got his voice back however and he looked down at Star.

"What is this?" He asked. Sky sighed. "This," He said waving a hoof to Star's now calm body. "Was something we thought we had gotten rid of a long time ago." He said as he gave his son a quick nuzzle. Swift gave them all a curious look.

"What is it?" He asked. Sky shook his head.

"If you want to know that you'll have to ask him yourself." He said as his wife got to her hoove's. She lit up her horn and with a thought, her son was lifted into the air by a rosy hue enveloping his body. She had gotten a few feet off the ground when the door to the bakery opened.

"Hello everypony! Sorry, I'm late!" Came the voice of a male Pegasus who stood in the doorway soaking up the small amount of attention he was getting. That was until he saw a friend splayed out and suspended in the air.

"Wow Star?" He said trotting up to his friend. He gave his parent's a grim look.

"It's happening again isn't it?" He said his face lowering with sadness. Sky shook his head.

"I'm afraid so." He said shaking his head. Hot Shot gave out a sigh.

"Well isn't that just swell." He said in a sarcastic tone as he came up to them and gave them both a hug. They accepted his kind jester and he huffed in anger.

"I'll go and let the hospital know." He said as he bolted out the door. Sky, Rose, and Swift all looked over to Star. He was calm now. Soon Rose's magic was in full swing and she teleported them to the hospital. The denizen's of the bakery all sat there murmuring amongst themselves. Meanwhile Pinky stood there behind the counter looking sad and alone.

"No. Not again." She said as her hair drooped until it was long and straight.

6:00 P.M.

The group had arrived at the hospital and they were immediately greeted by a trauma unit.

"Star! Star! Can you hear me?" Nurse Red Heart said as she and a group medical personnel wheeled him through the trauma word on a streature. Sky, Rose, and Swift followed close behind until they were stopped by a group of double doors.

"I'm sorry you three but only medical staff are allowed beyond this point." Red Heart said as she gave her friend's a soft smile.

"But...this.. our..." Ruby stuttered but was soon calmed by the embrace of her husband. He shook his head.

"We understand Red." He said using her nickname. she gave a nod. "I'll keep you posted on everything that happens." She said as she turned to the trauma ward and went to go aid her friend. Meanwhile, Sky consoled his wife.

"Don't worry honey our son will pull through this." He said as he remembered the first time this had happened. "He always does." He said barely believing his own words.

??/??/????

Star stood there, in complete darkness as he looked around his surrounding's.

"Hello?" He called out. He listened but still could hear nothing. "Hello?" He called out again only to be met with silence. He heaved out a sigh and trotted forward. He eventually got tired of trotting through an endless black miasma and sat down.

"WHERE AM I !?" He screamed at the top of his lung's. He sat there panting and just as he was about to keep trotting he got an answer.

"You still don't know who you are." He stood there as the voice got closer. He stood his ground and heard the voice once more.

"You still don't know who you are." He stood there now hearing those same word's from before.

"Who am I them?" He asked as anger boiled within him. 7 years ago he thought he had buried these memories. Seem's he was wrong.  Now they had come to haunt him once again and he was tired of it.

"Who are you?" The voice repeated once more. Then in a flash of light Star was thrown into the sky above and as he adjusted himself he saw a field of star's streaking past him. As he looked around his vision was obscured by a what looked like picture frames. As he got closer to these frame's he saw random images begin to fly through them. Soon he gave one on his left his full attention. As soon as his eye's locked onto the blank canvas his vision was whisked away and replaced by a sight he thought he had long put behind him.

"So this is what my mind want's me to see?" He said as he trotted through a spacious living room, making his way over to a small individual unwrapping a Christmas gift.

"A Human?" He said as he sat down next to the human boy he had come to know well. "Hello, Joseph. How have you been?" He asked as the boy looked through him with a smile on his face.

Chapter 2: 7 Year's Ago.

January 21, 992 C.E.

7:00 A.M.

"GAHHHH!!" Star screamed in agony as he clutched his head. "MOM!! DAD!! PLEASE SOMEPONY MAKE IT STOP!!" He screamed as he was wheeled to a secure room within Canterlot Mental Institution. His parent's stood down the hall looking terrified at their son's discomfort.

"Doctor are you sure this is necessary?" Sky asked as he fought back his instinct's telling him to plow through the various personnel and save his son. He knew or rather he thought he knew better. "These doctors are here to help. Not make thing's worse. " Doctor Hoofington gave Star's family a smile.

"I am one hundred percent certain that your son is in good hoof's." He said as he turned around to trot down the hall. His face however contorted into a devious smile. "Finally I'll be able to get home." He thought as his face went from devious to demented. His concentration, however, was broken by a soft tugging on his lab coat.

"Yes?" He asked as a nurse stepped up to him her magic dissipating as she took a clipboard out of her satchel and handed it to Hoofington. He looked it over and his face lit up.

"Yes. Yes! This is perfect!" He exclaimed thrusting a hoof into the air.

"What? What is?" He almost choked on his own tongue. "Damn forgot the civilians were here." He turned to Sky and Rose a smug look on his face.

"Mr. and Ms. Rose we may have found a way to purge your son of these false memory's for good." He said as his smile grew larger. The two adult's breathed a sigh of relief. Then Sky opened his mouth.

"Do whatever you have to Docter. We want our son back." He said feeling confident. "And I want to get home." The Docter thought as he shook his head.

"I will do everything in my power to make your son well again." He said giving them a bow. With his mind made up, he turned around and headed to his office. As soon as he got to his office he locked the door, closed the blind's and then cast a spell to sway and would be intruders. When he was reasonably certain he would not be interrupted he opened up his desk and with a soft touch of his hoof, a small secret compartment opened up.

"Aw, there you are." He said as he pulled out a picture frame and brought it close to his chest.

"Mikey, Shela. I'll be home soon." He said as he stared at his family. "I promise." He said as he put the picture back in its secret spot. He didn't take any chance's. He put every spell he had into protecting his most prized possession. Hie last remaining link to his family.

July, 14, 992 C.E.

6:57 P.M.

A fire roared overhead as Star slowly trotted through the burning hospital. "W-w-what's g-g-going on?" His muddled brain thought as he sluncked through the hall's trying to contemplate finding an exit. He knew something was wrong but he could barely keep himself preoccupied with a single thought. The only thing that made sense to him at the moment was getting out of the hospital.

"But why?" He thought as he stopped and leaned against a wall. Soon he felt his strength leaving him. He rose to his feet and continued to trot down the hall.

"Got to get out." He thought as he put one hoof in front of the other.

7:34 P.M.

Fire Ponies had finally arrived at the asylum to put out the fire. One of them, Sgt, Greyburn was rummaging through the burnt out remains of the hospital searching for any survivors. His comm link went off, "This Cheif Iron Side. Any survivor's found? Over." Greyburn tapped his mike.

"Chief Iron Side this is Sgt, Greyburn. Looking through what look's to be the main lobby. nothin-" His voice was cut off as he heard something off in the distance. He silenced his comm's and listened. "There it is again." He said as he heard it. It was faint but it sounded like a pony coughing. He slung his air canister over his shoulder and charged through the burnt out building.

"Hello!" He shouted as the building shook a little. "Come on old girl hold together." He thought as he continued to search for the source of the coughing. As he rounded a corner he heard the coughing loud and clear. He trotted through the hall tentatively keeping an eye out for any hole's in the floor. "Hello?" He called out once more.

"Over here!" He heard that. "Real close. Must be on the other side of this wall." He thought as he put an ear to the wall in front of him. He was rewarded with not just one voice but a few. He got his radio. "This is Sgt Greyburn. I've got survivors. Repeat I have survivors holed up in the southwestern cafeteria. Over." He said as he pulled out a crowbar and started to tear down the wall between him and the few ponies he had managed to find.

"Don't you worry folk's I'll have you out of there faster than a koon in a cabinet." He said as he continued to assault the wall.

8:01 P.M.

Star was out like a light for most of the ride to Canterlot General Hospital. His parents were a complete wreck as they sat by his side in the ambulance. No pony even uttered a single word as the carriage made its way through the street's it's siren letting all those in the way know that they had to move or risk getting trampled by the frantic vehicle. Sky sat there next to his wife as the two held each other. The silence was broken by Sky.

"Don't you worry darling. Our son's a tough one. He'll pull through." He said as he nuzzled his wife who wept as the carriage came to a halt.

??/??/????

Present Day.

Star sat there staring at the young human as he tried to bake a cake. It wasn't going well. The poor guy had spilled a little of the batter on the counter and was trying to clean it up.

"Here let me help," Star said as he reached out a hoof. The little kid looked up at him with grateful eyes.

"Thank's Mr. Star." He said as Star gripped a wet rag in his magic and cleaned up the mess.

"So do you know who you are yet?" The kid asked. Star dropped the rag and proceeded to back away.

"No.No. Not here." He said as the kid got closer.

"Star what's wrong?" The boy said as he ran up to star and gave him a hug. Star gasped and looked down at the kid.

"Don't worry Star. I won't let the bad man hurt you." He said as he grabbed a hold of Star's hoof. Star looked confused.

"What do you want with me?" He asked feeling hollow as the kid dragged him back over to the oven. The boy gave him a sad look.

"I want you to remember." He said as he continued to watch his cake bake in the oven. Star just stood there. "And what if I don't want to remember." He asked. The boy not looking away from his cake answered.

"It's not really up to you. It's gong to happen whether you like it or not. You just have to accept it and move on with your life." There was a ding and the turned the stove off. He grabbed a pair of oven mitt's and took the cake out the oven.

"And here we go." He said sitting the cake out on the stove so it could cool off. Star stood there and as he looked at the little boy he asked.

"Who are you?" The little boy smiled. "That is up to you to remember." He said as both he and the background faded into black.

January 23, 999 C.E.

8:47 A.M.

Star opened his eye's.

"Finally you're awake." He was greeted by the sound of his mother's voice. He turned around and saw his mom and dad sitting there in a few chair's that lined his room's wall.

"Hey, you two." He said. He noticed his throat was parched so he looked around for a glass of water.

"Don't forget about us." Came a voice from the doorway. Star looked over to his door frame and saw three of his best friend's standing there to greet him.

"Hey Swift, Dash, Hot Shot." He said as his three closest friend's all gathered around.

"Hell of a way to wake up." Hot Shot added as he sat down next to Star,

"Did that egg head of yours finally give out underneath the strain of all that knowledge?" Dash asked as she glided over and sat down at the foot of Star's bed. He just chuckled.

"Oh, you wish Dashy." He said using her nickname. She just chuckled as she waved it off.

"Here you go," Swift said as he held up a glass of water.

"Hey, you read my mind," Star said as he downed the glass in one big gulp.

"Ah, much better." He said as he let his body flop back down onto his pillow. Soon Dash and Hot Shot were having a heated discussion about weather paterns and airodynamics. He tuned them out and instead opted to give his parent's his attention.

"So how have you two been?" He said repeating himself. They both gave him a soft smile.

"Oh, the usual. Running around like a chicken with our head cut off at the slightest instance of you getting hurt." Star snickered.

"Well I can't help that but I do know a pony who has me beat in that department." He said glancing over at dash. She couldn't hear him over her constant arguing with Hot Shot however so he was safe from her wrath. His parent's laughed at that and they went over and gave Star a group hug.

"Please tell me it's not what we think it is honey?" His mother asked. Star shook his head. "No, it's not what it used to be. It's something else. Something different." He said as he thought about it.

"It was nowhere near as bad as all the other time's," he assured them. They broke their hug as Star's friends decided to get in on the cheer.

"So dude are you still up for our training?" Dash asked as she gave Star a sly grin. He just laughed.

"Of course dash. As soon as I get out of here I'll be sure to call you up and set a date." He said as she gave him a tender punch to the shoulder.

"I'll hold you to it." she said as she backed up and let Swift take his turn.

"Hey there." He said looking a little nervous. Star just rolled his eye's and pulled his friend into a hug with his magic. Swift was blushing furiously but he relented and returned the hug. "If you're going to cop a feel now would be the time to do it," Star whispered into Swift's ear. Swift bolted up into the air as fast as he could.

"Oh well, will you look at the time. I promised Pinky I'd help her sew some stuff today. Hope you feel better soon. See you later now. Bye!" He said as he shot out the room like a whily pinball. When he was sure Swift was gone Star, burst out laughing.

"Oh, wow! I never thought he'd react like that." He said as he was racked with both guilt and giggles. His mom, however, was not amused.

"Shooting Sky Rose Star what did you do to that poor dear?" She said using his full name. Star just sat there and smiled sheepishly.

"I just played a little prank. That's all." He said as he rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. His mom gave him a cold stare.

"You 'd better not have made him cry. I swear to Celestia if you did I'll tan your ass so hard you'll feel it for a week." Said as she glared at her son. He just gulped nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll go and find him when I get out ok?" He said as he nervously chuckled to himself. Dash just snickered. Rose shot her glare at her too.

"Don't think you'll get off the hook young lady." She said as she began to scold the cyan pegasus. As this happened Hot Shot inched closer to Star.

"Dude your mom is hardcore." He said. Then he smirked. "So can I convince you to get me that date with her?" He asked. Star went livid while Hot Shot laughed his flank off. He stopped however when they both felt another pair of eyes on them.

"So Hot Shot how's about we have a little chat." Sky said as he calmly strolled up to the bed and pulled Hot Shot out the room by his ear. Hot Shot groped at anything and everything he could to keep Sky from getting him out the door.

"No please someponie help me!" He screamed as he was dragged out the door by the much, older, stronger and wiser pegasus.

"Sorry dude but you kind of dug your own grave!" Star shouted after his friend.

Chapter 3: Some Slight Sexual Tension

January 23, 999 C.E.

9:00 A.M.

After Sky and Hot Shot got back from there little chat he and Dash waited for a good ten minute's while Star's parent's got his paperwork processed and he was able to leave. Soon he was trotting out the hospital surrounded by his friend's and family.

"So Dash what were you up to a few day's ago?" Hot Shot asked as they trotted through the streets of ponyville. A few friendly face's stopped and waved. Star waved back.

"Oh, you mean on the day of the party?" She said looking over to Hot Shot who was looking rather cool-headed after his talk with Sky. He nodded. She gave him a scowl.

"Well if you must know I was cleaning up your mess." She said turning her nose up at his shocked expression.

"What? But how? I made sure those clouds were over the Everfree!" He said then fell silent as several glares's shot his way.

"Oh did I say that out loud?" He said as he rubbed the back of his head. He quickly looked around for a way out. Then he rolled his eye's.

"Would you look at the time. I gotta get going." He said waving a hoof in the air before rocketing into the sky. Dash just shook her head.

"How doe's such a lazy pony become friend's with someone as smart as you Star?" Dash said as she gave him a lopsided look. He snickered.

"Well, Dash are you talking about you or him?" He said. She smiled at his banter.

"Oh come on you know I'm not lazy." She said crossing her hoove's. "I just take little cat nap's every now and then. Being this awesome all the time can really wear a girl out you know." She said blowing a Rasberry at Star. He just chuckled as he threw up a shield to protect himself from Rainbow's saliva. As the now smaller group walked through town they stopped by the bakery. As they entered however instead of a cheerful pink pony to great them they found a plump earth pony mare at the counter.

"Hello Ms. Cake," Star called out as they all entered.

"Star!" She said as she bounded around the counter and latched onto Star's lithe frame with her strong grip.

"Wow, Ms. Cake what's the matter?" He asked as he tried to pry himself away from her. She gave him a sad look.

"It's Pinky dear. She hasn't been the same since you went to the hospital." She said as she lead him up the stairs. He gave her a puzzled look.

"What do you mean?" He asked feeling like he knew the answer. "Well, she's just been depressed lately. She won't come out of her room or eat much. When she doe's come out she bearly even talk's to any pony." Star shook his head. "Ok, so what can I do?" He asked feeling out of place. She gave him a soft smile.

"You can go and tell her your all right for one thing." She said as they came to her doorway. Ms. Cake knocked on Pinky's door.

"Pinky deary there's somepony here to see you." She said as she backed away from the door. There was a sound of somepony tripping over stuff as they made their way over to the door.

"Sorry, Ms. Cake but I don't feel like--" Pinky's sentence was cut short when she opened the door and her mouth and eyes went wide as she stared at one of her best friend's. Star gave her a confident grin.

"Heya Pink's." He said with a wave. Pinky just stood there for a few seconds. Then her mane began to twitch. Star backed up a little bit.

"Uh, Pink's you ok?" He asked raising a hoof to see if she was hearing him. He was suddenly thrown off his hoove's as Pinky all but tackled him to the ground.

"OH MY GOSH! YOUR OK!" She said as she got to her hoove's Star still in her grasp. She then proceeded to squeeze the life out of him with a bear hug that made his spine pop.

"Pinky I'm glad your happy." Star strained to say through clenched teeth and lack of air. "But I can't breath." He wheezed as she continued to hug the life out of him. She didn't hear him all that well as she swung him down the stair's and through the store front. Rainbow gave out a chortle as Pinky danced by with Star now turning a deep shade of blue.

"Heh! Pinky I think Star needs to breathe." Pinky stopped and gave Dash a strange look.

"Whatcha mean?" She asked. Then she looked over at Star in her hoove's. He was as limp as a wet noodle. She quickly dropped him and in a panic, she began to frantically run about the room.

"Og my gosh!" She said as she stopped and a thought came to her head.

"IDEA!" she said as a little light bulb came to life right above her head. Dash gave it a tentative look. As did Star's perent. Pinky just ran into the kitchen and when she emerged she held a pair of bellow's in her hoove's.

"This oaut to do the trick." She said as she ran over to Star's wheezing form. Before he could even think up a proper protest Pinky jammed the bellow's into his mouth and began to pump air into his oxygen starved lungs.

"Come on Star Breathe!" She said as she continued to pump frantically on her bellows. Star was getting more than enough oxygen so before Pinky could continue he used his magic to pull the instrument from her grasp. She lost her hoofing as the bellow's disappeared but was soon caught as Star used his magic to create a solid bar of golden energy above him. He smiled.

"Thank's again Pinky." He said as he scooched out from under the bar. A second later the bar disappeared and Pinky landed on her hoove's. She immediately ran over Star and gave him a proper hug.

"I'm so glad you're ok." She said as a few tears fell from her eye's. Star just chuckled.

"Me to Pinky. Me too." He said as he patted her on the back.

10:00 A.M.

Now that Pinky was back to her old self the store was open for business once more. Dash stayed for awhile to catch Star up on what had happened over the past few days. His parents left to go home and get some much needed rest.

"So there I was watching as Hot Shot flew headlong into a storm cloud trying to dissipate it." She said as she used her hoove's to illustrate what had been happening in the story so far.

"As soon as his hoof touched the outer layer of cloud a huge bolt of lightning come out the thing and ZAP!" She said smashing her hoove's together.

"He get's thrown across the sky to the other side of ponyville and end's up face planting through some poor mare's wall." She snickered.

"What no!" Star said as he listened to Dash's tale. She nodded her head.

"Yes. And you know the funny thing is he didn't even blink as he sat there lodged in the wall and proceeded to try and score a date with the mare." She said as she sat back down. Star sat there.

"Well did he get the date?" Star asked feeling giddy. Dash nodded.

Yup. There set to go out later on tonight." She said as she took a sip of her smoothie. Star sat there stunned.

"Wow. All's he has to do is come crashing through a wall and bam." He said slamming his hoof's together. "He get's a date." He said looking down at his soda. He gave it a long hard look.

"Why can't I ever seem to get a date?" He muttered under his breath. Dash only caught a little of that.

"What?" she asked. He shook his head. "Nothing Dash. Just talking to myself." He said throwing on a fake smile. Dash smiled back and then her face lit up.

"Oh! Guess what!?" She asked practically vibrating in her chair with excitement. Star just laughed seeing her act like this.

"What? What?" He said as he chuckled. Dash gave him a big grin.

"This year Ponyville is going to host the annual Summer Sun Celebration!" She said throwing her hoove's into the air. Star just sat there his jaw now on the floor.

"What!?" He asked looking at Dash with a mixture of both shock and excitement. She gave him a vigorous nod.

"Yup. This July the Princess herself is going to come to good old Ponyville to raise the sun" She said sitting back down in her chair. Then her excitement left her as she thought about her next subject. She rubbed the back of her head.

"So you know that there's going to be a dance on the night of the festival right?" She asked as her face flushed crimson. Star nodded as he listened and continued to look at his soda. Dash continued.

"So I was wondering if you--" She was stopped however as the door to the shop was flung open by a very distraught looking Swift Wing. He scanned the table's, booth's, and seat's until he found Star sitting with Dash. He made a beeline for them.

"Guy's I need your help!" He said as he came crashing into their table. He frantically looked around clearly trying to find some place to hide. Star, however, was concerned.

"What's wrong?" He asked forgetting about his and Dash's conversation and switching his focus to his frightened friend. Swift gave them a sorrowful look.

"You know this morning when I bolted." He said. Star remembered and blushed when he thought about his word's.

"Yeah about that. I wanted to apologize." He said Swift silenced him a soft smile.

"It's fine." He said giving a smirk. "Beside's you have to earn a ride on this pony." He said giving Star a wink. Star flushed at this and looked away. Dash meanwhile had to stifle her giggle's.

"Just get a room you two. I swear it's gettin ghotter in here just by having you both in the same room." She said teasing the two. Star blushed even harder while Swift just grinned.

"Anyway," Swift said trying to get the conversation back on track. "Yes please continue," Star said hoping to break up the awkward atmosphere hanging around them.

"So I went down to The Honey Suckle. You know the all gay bar?" Swift asked as he reminded his two freinds. Star nodded but Dash looked confused.

"You mean that place down on Cherry Lane?" She asked. Swift nodded.

"The one and only." He said. "Now I went there after Star's little impromptu advance." He winked at Star who just sunk lower into his seat.

"Well it got me all hot and you know how I hate to be left waiting." He said giving Dash a nudge. She just rolled her eye's.

"Yeah yeah, we know." She said getting impatient. "Just tell us what happened." She demanded.

"Well well, somepony's desperate for detail's." He said giving them both a sultry wink. They both just recoiled.

"No! No details! Please! Just keep it vague! Very very vague!" Star said with a pleading look on his face. Swift just laughed.

"Well long story short. I ended up making 'friends' with the wrong stallion." He said as his recent date came back to the forefront of his mind. Then his face dropped.

"Oh dear, how am I going to fix this?" He thought.

"Fix what?" Star asked sounding more annoyed at the lack of answers. Swift gave him a funny look.

"Well, you see. I kind of pissed my friend off." He said his nervous voice once more coming back to him. Star and Dash face hooved.

"What did you do this time?" Dash asked. Swift hesitated. "Spit it out!" Dash demanded. Swift sucked in a lungful of air.

"I told him I was seeing somepony and he didn't take no for an answer." He said all in one breath. Both pony's caught what had said however thank's to years of knowing Pinky Pie.

"And who is this mystery stallion of your's?" Star asked. Swift, however, wouldn't meet his gaze. Soon Star's eye's went wide when he put two and two together.

"Ok. How did this happen?" He asked calmly. Swift rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I might have had one too many at the bar." He said as he chuckled. Star just let out a soft sigh.

"Ok. So where is this clown so I can pound him into a pulp." He asked not even fazed by the new's. Swift just gave him a soft smile.

"You mean you'll really help me? Even after I kind of took advantage of our friendship?" He said looking away. He felt a hoof on his cheek and he was turned around to face Star.

"Well, this is my fault. I took advantage of it first by making that poor joke." He said feeling like an idiot. Swift just smiled and gave him an affectionate nuzzle. Star blushed but he reciprocated the gesture. Then Swift shuddered.

"You know it is really a shame you don't swing both way's." He said as the two stared at one another. Star laughed.

"You know, if I did you'd be the first pony to know," Star said as the two were interrupted by the door to Sugar Cube Corner being violently thrown open. their surprise was short lived as Dash piped up.

"You two really need to get a room." She said a devious smirk on her face. "I can practically feel the sexual tension like a blanket." She said laughing her flank off as the two friend's blushed a deep scarlet. They were once again drawn to the door as a huge dirt colored earth pony stallion with a blond flowing mane, and striking blue eye's made his way into the establishment. As soon as he walked in the whole place went dead silent.

"Holy crap dude. Why'd you have to go and piss off the dude with the massive five-foot battering ram for a penis?" Star said as he stared with wide eyes at the stallion's bulging erection. "Seriously how doe's he eve walk with that thing between his leg's?" Dash said as she tried to stare at anything else in the shop. It was not going well for her. Soon the stallion made eye contact with Star. His hoof shot up as he growled out a command.

"You!" He shouted causing the whole building to shake. "We need to talk." He said as his flunky's fled out the door. Star just gave him a timid smile.

"Uhm. Can i refuse?" He asked as he began to tremble in fear. The Stallion just growled. "NO!" He shouted as he charged at the group.

Chapter 4: A Fight For Love.

January 23, 999 C.E.

10:15 A.M.

Star just ran on instinct. He threw up a barrier to protect his friend's and with a flash of light he teleported himself and the big Stallion outside the bakery. He fell to the ground and realed from a slight headache he felt coming on. He quickly regained his focus however as the big guy began to stand up.

"You no good rotten magic using cheat!" The stallion shouted as the pony's in the restaurant had pushed themselves up against the window's to get a good look at the inevitable fight. Swift and Dash, however, went outside.

"Oh, what are we going to do?" Swift asked as he looked at the hulk of a brute his friend was about to fight. Dash's brain flew rapidly through idea after idea. She came up blank.

"I got nothing as of yet." She said as she continued to go over various scenerios in her head. She still kept an eye on the big guy and her friend.

"You'd better have a plan Star." she thought as the two began to circle each other.

Star focused all of his energy on getting this fight over with as quick as possible. The Stallion started to trot around in a circle.

"When I'm through pounding you into the ground your friends are next." The Big guy threatened. Star gave him a cold glare but held his tongue focusing on the fight to come. The big guy just smirked as he tried to get under Star's skin.

"Then I'm really going to work you all over." He said with a hint of lust and perversion that made Star's blood boil. He stopped trotting and looked to his friend's. His eye's met there's. They had a look of doubt in there eye's.

"You know they both look rather appetizing." Big Guy said more to himself than anypony. Dash glared at Big Guy.

"I'd rather chew glass." She shouted back. Big Guy smirked. "Oh ho ho ho. Tough one ain't ya." He said as he to stopped and gave her a sultry smile.

"Good. I like a little feisty in the sack." He said as he laughed maniacally to himself. Dash just shrank back as she glared at him. Swift came to her defense however.

"Leave her alone Stud Muffin." He yelled. He timidity shrank back a Stud shot him a glare of his own. "Just stay where you are you, little runt." He said. "I'll deal with you after your little boyfriend here." He said as he looked back to see that Star was gone.

"What? Where'd he go?" He said as he frantically looked around. Suddenly there was a grunt from behind him. Stud turned around and a look of dread covered his face.

"You know you should never look away from your opponent," Star said as he held a giant piano over his head. Stud didn't have enough time to react as the piano was dropped on his head. There was a sickening crunch as the piano hit its mark. Stud had a thicker skull than most pony's thought seeing as his head was sticking out the top. He glared at Star who's smug smile was soon washed from his face as Stud took his two front hoove's and ripped the piano from around his neck. The only sigh he had been injured was a small trail of blood leaking down the side of his face.

"That was amusing." He said as he cracked his neck. "Now it's my turn." He said as he lunged towards Star. Star use his magic to get out of the way as Stud plowed into the ground he was just standing on. Chunks of dirt, rock, and grass were sent flying in all direction's as Sebastian stood there. His head swung around looking for his opponent. Star meanwhile had prepared another spell and just as Stud swung his head around he fired it off. Stud saw the projectile coming and he nimbly ducked under it. Star's spell kept going until it hit a lamp post shattering it into piece's.

"Oop's." He muttered as he eyed Stud. Stud turned around and charged were Star was once more. Star sidestepped at the last second and while Stud was preoccupied with hitting the ground Star fired off another spell. This time the spell hit home. Stud was flung away by the impact and collided with the side of a red bricked building.

"GRRRR!" He yelled as he got to his hoove's. He was a little shaky but that soon faded. Star stood there panting as he reassessed his situation.

"Ok can't do this for much longer." He thought as Stud took a step towards Star. Star stood there s his mind raced with ideas.

"Come on think of something!" As Stud closed in Star saw something above his head. "The Sign." He thought, looking at the big sign for Sugar Cube Corner. Just as Stud was upon him Star jumped out of the way. He set up a teleportation spell.

"Ok let's do-" His thought was cut off as a massive blow struck him in the head. He was sent careening through the glass windows of Sugar Cube Corner. Pain lanced throughout his body as bit's of broken glass shredded his body. As he came to a stop on the floor of the bakery he felt a hot sticky substance began to collect underneath him. He gave a weak grunt as he looked at a puddle of blood that had begun to pool around him. Stud slowly trotted through the doorway as he came to gloat about his victory. Just as he got to the broken and battered body of Star however he stopped.

"What is that noise?" He asked as he turned around looking for the source of the high-pitched whistling that was distracting him. Suddenly he was blindsided by a frying pan to the face.

"Hey, you big dumb meany!" Came the voice of Pinky Pie as she reared her hoove's back, pan in hoof readying another swing.

"Leave my friend alone!" she shouted as she got between Star and Stud. Stud realed from the force of the pan against his skull but he still heard the high pitched noise. He looked around as his vision began to swim. He brought a hoof to his head to stabilize his sight.

"You'll pay for that you little bitch!" He roared. Now that his sight was restored he looked at Pinky with murderous intent. she didn't flinch or back down, however.

"Just try it, big guy." She goaded Stud. He smirked as he reared up on his hind legs his rock hard rod swaying as he began to gallop towards them. He jumped into the air planning on smashing the two. Mid jump his concentration was shattered as he and every other pony in ponyville heard a thunderous boom off in the distance. A bright beautiful rainbow shot through the sky in all direction as a single focal point of prismatic light spead toward's Sugar Cube Corner. The focal point of that blast was none other than Rainbow Dash herself and she was pissed. Her hoof collided with the side of Stud's rib's and a loud snap was heard as he was sent flying through the wall of Sugar Cube Corner and several other building's that were unlucky enough to be in his flight path. Rainbow stood over Star, panting as she stared at where Stud was in mid-air.

"Don't..ever..threatean..my..friend's." She said between breaths. She looked down at Star who was stuck between the excruciating pain he felt and the pure unadulterated respect he had for his prismatic maned friend right now. He settled for a weak smile as he looked at Rainbow with sad eyes.

"Are you ok?" Pinky said as she ran over to star's side. He smirked. "Never better Pink's." He said stifling a yelp. He saw Dash look away from where Stud was and look down at him.

"Oh my gosh?" She said as she came back to reality. "We have to get you to a hospital!" She said as she kneeled down to grab him. He gave out a howl of pain as she tried to get him up. She stopped and looked down at his body. His cuts were bleeding all over and he looked like he was about to pass out from blood loss. She gave him a light shove.

"Hey! Hey! stay awake ok!?" She said as she rushed through all her option's. "Come on Rainbow Think!" Her mind shouted as her friend lay dying her hoove's. Then a single thought popped into her head. "That.." She hesitated "That..Just might work." She thought as she gave Star a soft smile.

"This'll only hurt for a second." She said as she pulled Star close to her chest.

"What?" He mumbled as his eye's wobbled through a haze of pain. He felt a soft sensation engulf his lip's. He was surprised about this at first. Then a soft cooling sensation spread throughout his body. The last thing he registered before falling into a coma was the voice one of his best friend's.

"Come on. Don't go to sleep!"