Sucks Being Alone, Huh?

A teacher led her class through the public gardens of 2218 “This, students, is the statue of the ponies who represent the Elements of Harmony.” Ms. Daisies explained to her class. “The ponies represented here used to spread harmony through the sole power of their friendship.”

“What happened to them, Ms. Daisies?” One curious student asked.

“They lived full lives, and they continue to spread friendship.” Starrise rolled her eyes at her comment.

“But one of the ponies shown here lives to this day. She was Princess Celestia’s personal student, and was eventually promoted to princess back in 2013.” Ms. Daisies looked to the back of the crowd. “Starrise?”

“Twilight Sparkle…?” Starrise says, barely looking up from the ground and trying to hide her beautiful blue eyes with her black braids.

“Good, Starrise. Maybe one day you can cast spells as powerful as her. Now let’s move along.”

Later that day, Starrise was walking home from her school when she saw her big brother, Sky Gem, walking home from his job at Twilight’s factory. After their mom died, their dad refuses to take care of either of them. So Sky had to step in and provide money for bills and necessities. “How was school, little sis?” which was greeted by the normal cold silence. “Did you make any new friends?”

“No.” Starrise quietly murmured. “Just a normal day,” She slightly looked up from the ground, annoyed. “and I want to go home.”

“Um… Alright, if you feel like talking, I’m always here.” this was followed by a half hour walk back home filled with silence.
Upon the two sibling’s arrival back to their low-class home, they saw a familiar face. Their elderly father, Emerald Moon, who was enjoying his normal hobby of staring out the window. “You kids are back already?” Emerald refused to make eye contact.

“Dad, ever since mom… Left us… You won’t leave the house or make any friends at all. I know it’s hard for you. It was for all of us. But I’m worrying you might start to be having an impact on Starrise.” Sky tried to talk to their dad, but much like every other day between their mother’s death and today’s arrival, it was met with 90 percent silence. “Just don’t forget to take your pills, Dad. We can’t lose you, too.”

“Starrise, Emerald! Dinnertime!” Starrise and Emerald went to the kitchen to be greeted to the normal - Soup. Sitting down and really eating dinner as a family may be rare in ponies nowadays, but this family didn’t have much else to do. Only downside is that no one in this family wanted to talk. The air was filled with either silence or the ‘clank’ of the silverware on the bowl. That is until Sky spoke. “Starrise, you need any help making friends at school?”

“No.” She hid her eyes with her braids and continued staring into her soup. “I don’t need friends.”

“Starrise, you should make some frie…” Sky tried to convince Starrise, but was cut off by an unusually loud noise.

Starrise Slammed both hooves on the dining table and made eye contact. “I don’t need to make goddamn friends, and I don’t need you two!” She got up and ran to her room. Sky sat at the dining table at the brink of tears, while Emerald remained emotionless. Sky always felt like more of a father ever since the death of their mother mentally scarred their real father, and after this; it feels like he’s failed. Emerald slowly stood up. “Isn’t easy trying to act like a parent, is it?” Emerald glanced over at Sky, to which he just looked away. Emerald walked back over to the window. “Sucks being alone, huh?”

That night, Sky went up to their shared room to see Starrise laying in her bed, facing the wall. “Don’t worry, Starrise. You’ll have a normal life.” Sky talked to himself quietly as he pulled the covers over himself.

Everyone in the house was abruptly woken up by a loud ‘thump’. “Stay here, Starrise. Your big bro is going to see what’s going on.” Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be ponies with guns and in armor rushing through the front door.

“Clear!” One pony shouted, then a tall purple pony with a golden crown and an upfront stance walked into the living room.

“Twilight Sparkle?” Sky quietly said to himself, peeking around the wall.

“Down that hall! We need the girl alive! Terminate anyone who stands in our way!” A loud voice was shouting orders to the seemingly specialist ponies. He wanted to get out of here, along with Starrise. He ran down the hall, but he was too late. One of the specialists tackled him.

“Starrise! Get out the win...!” Sky shouted to Starrise down the hall, but was interrupted by a hoof in the mouth.

“Get in that room, we need to get her as soon as possible.” Twilight commanded all the ponies, coming up with a room with two beds and an open window. “That little shit is putting us all in danger.” Twilight put her hoof up to her head. “Damn… Migraines…”

“Ma’am, you know those aren't just migraines. Please, let’s get somewhere safe before you pass out.” One of the specialists offered to let Twilight lean on him.

“Shut up, I can take care of myself.” She pushed him away and rubbed her temples. “Now go find her, she couldn't have gone far!” Twilight shouted. She was met with solutes, and all her soldiers ran out the door. “If she keeps this kind of shit up… I don’t know how much more I can take.” She looked over to Sky Gem on the floor. “Use your inside voice, now.”

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‘How the Hell can I say something like that to my own brother?’ Starrise thought to herself as she ran down the streets of the ghetto part of Ponyville, crying. After running at least half an hour, she looked around, and saw no one. Starrise sat down against a brick wall and cried softly on the side of the street. “I hope he knows I didn't mean it…” She whispered to herself.

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Twilight, at this point, was back in her chair, in her office, in the castle, when a knock was heard on her office door. “Princess Twilight?” A stallion walked in to see Twilight staring out her window, looking down on the many ponies in the busy streets. “We looked all around the 10 surrounding blocks. There was no sign of the girl.”

“No bother. I have something else that might just give her a little push over here. She knows I won’t hesitate to do whatever I need to to win this little game of Hide-and-Seek we’re having.” She shooed him out, and turned on her monitor to show a nice overhead view of a cell with Sky Gem locked up tight.