After school, Star slowly walks home. Feeling of depression and anxiety makes his day a bit hard, even though everything was normal. As he walks, Rainbow flies ahead of Star. The sound of her flying combined with her look makes Star smiles a bit.
“Oh, Rainbow. If I can be with you, but closer….” Star whispers sadly.
Once Star arrives at home, Star immediately goes to his room and rest.
“Can’t make a showing paragraph, all I did is making telling paragraph. I can’t! How do you make such stuff?!” Star shouts to himself, self doubt taking over him.
Star drowns himself more and more as his heart cracks.
“Can’t even write now.”
The pain stays until tomorrow. Star keeps himself away from everything, even though there are many things that make him happy. At home, Star cries quietly. He thinks of Rainbow and the way he makes his stories. Star eventually falls asleep from his sadness.
Tomorrow after school, Star goes to the cafe to relaxes his mind and trying to escape reality.
“What do you want, young stallion?” The waiter put the menu on the table.
Star checks his pocket, “I only have ten bits, oh well.” Star whispers as he searches something to order. “One white tea with less ice, please.” Star gives six bits to the waiter.
“Thank you, your order is coming up.” The waiter grabs the menu and takes the bits.
Star waits while being depressed and anxious. The pain becomes worse as he remembers a paragraph of one of his friend who does roleplay.
“Such masterpiece, I can’t even do it.” Star closes his eyes tightly. “How do you make such thing?!” Star thoughts angrily, he lays back and breath as the result of his silence anger.
Lucky for Star, his order arrives unexpectedly quick. The waiter thanks Star with a smile and friendly face. Star smiles back at the waiter, hiding his pain. However, his own smile makes him feel better.
Star proceeds to drink the fancy, simple-looking white tea. As Star drinks the tea, he is carried away by the amazing taste of the tea. The vanilla taste mixed with the mint-flavored ice cream and young tea leaves spreads throughout his mouth and neck. The coldness of the ice adds more chilly feeling. Star continues to drink until the glass is one third empty.
While drinking, a white, glasses-wearing oryx with a unique black pattern on his head ,a couple of long pointy black horns, dark brown legs with white ends and black hooves sits close to Star.
“Let’s see what this cafe has.” The oryx thoughts.
As the waiter serves him, he looks at Star and the beverage he is enjoying so much, “Hm…I want that beverage, please.” The oryx points at Star’s beverage.
“Oh, that’s the white tea, sir.”
“What on Earth is white tea? Heh, guess the magic made everything and ponies named it randomly, yet look at that, ‘fancy.’” The oryx judges. “And...BBQ fruit satay?”
“Thank you, sir. Your order is coming up,” The waiter says as he writes down the oryx’s order.
“Classic.”
“That’ll be eleven bits, sir.” The waiter looks at the oryx with a smile.
“Huh, cheap. Nice. My money is coming up, son.” The oryx reaches the inside of his bag and gives the bits to the waiter, silently judging.
He keeps sight on the waiter as he trots inside the cafe. Somehow, his heart tells him to go to Star and trying to socialise with a complete stranger. The oryx then goes to Star.
“Excuse me, young pony. How does your drink taste like?” The oryx says, switching to his friendly behavior.
“Very good,” Star says politely, trying to hide his uncomfortable feeling.
Somehow, the oryx becomes friendlier, “Thank you.” he taps Star’s shoulder.
As the oryx is about to sit back on his seat, he goes back to Star, “What’s your name?”
“Star.”
“Harun.” Harun shakes Star’s hooves with a warm smile.
“Sir, looks like your orders have arrived.”
“That quick?” Harun whispers. “Where do you live?”
Slowly, Star becomes dumbfounded.
“What’s up with him?” Harun thoughts.
“I...don’t really know, sir. It’s on the edge of this town. It’s a two-stories house, the wall is yellow-ish, the fences are brown, and a little bit more modern compared to most of the houses.”
“Very detailed, may you guide me?”
“Yes, also your orders.” Star points to Harun’s table.
“Oh yeah!” Harun puts a hoof on his forehead. “Thank you and see you later.” Harun speaks quickly like a lightning strike.
Harun has made a new friend. Although for Star, he’s feeling a bit uncomfortable and anxious. But, two of his personalities are debating about Harun.
“Oh, man… Akh…”
After finishing their orders, Harun goes back to Star and tells him to not to worry about anything, which calms Star down. Star then decides to take Harun to his house. Along the way, Harun and Star are walking together like brothers, having a not-so-chit-chat conversation.
“Are you new in here?”
“Hehe, definitely. Never see an oryx before, do you?”
“Hehe, no.”
“I come for vacation. Thought Ponyville is a perfect place. Well, not that bad.”
A rather weird question pops in Star’s mind, “So uhh, this may be weird. Do you mind?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you have a pony that you like?”
Harun gets surprised like he just suddenly tapped from behind by a prankster.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.” Star makes a flat face, filling the bottom of his inner cheeks with breath.
“Well, this pony I befriended with. Her name is Manara Mubarak. Some ponies know her as Dessert Flower. Sweet sunshine earth pony.”
Star giggles.
“You?” Harun asks.
Surprised, Star hides his mouth with his wing like wearing a mask.
“What’s the matter?” Harun rises his eyebrow.
“Nothing…” Star blushes a bit more.
Star’s mind is flooded with Rainbow Dash like he’s looking directly at her. Slowly, Star answers.
“Rainbow...Dash.” Star covers his entire muzzle.
“Hmm, okay. Heard she’s the hero in here.”
“She’s definitely is. She has saved Equestria many times before. She’s very awesome and cool and hhhnnnggg, Dash.”
“You sound like you adore her.”
Star gets shocked like being hit by lightning. He quietly squeaks a little, followed by a slow nod.
“How old are you?”
“Technically sixteen years old.”
“Sixteen? Really?” Harun whispers in surprise.
“Too young?”
“I mean, it’s very unexpected that you’re still sixteen. Say, are you really from here?”
“Nah, moved here...probably two months ago.”
“Oh, and for what reason?”
“My family has been living in a rent house, thus we kept saving money and finally - our own house.”
“I see, glad you have your own.”
“Hehe.”
Harun and Star keeps talking until they arrive at Star’s house. The look is very simple, flatter and smoother wall, more edges, and a balcony on the left side of the second floor
“Well, sir. This is my house.”
“Simple and nice, also please don’t call me ‘sir’.”
“OK, hehe.”
“Well, I need to go back to my motel. If you need me just knock Room 13. I’ll be in here for three days.” Harun walks back to the motel.
“Oke, bye.” Star waves a little as he watches Harun walks to the motel like watching the sun sets.
He then goes inside his house and take a rest. Star is pretty happy for now.
In the next day, Harun walks around Ponyville. Trying to get familiar with the place and just plainly enjoying his vacation. Suddenly, a rushing pony stumbles upon Harun.
“For the love of..., do you have eyes?”
“I’m sorry, sir!” The pony apologizes while still rushing.
“Tsk, thank you.” Harun continues his walk.
Harun walks around for minutes. Haven’t finding Star, he goes to Ponyville Art Museum to waste his boredom. Unfortunately, Harun’s boredom becomes worse as he’s doesn’t like most of the arts exhibited in the museum. Later, many students enter the museum in groups orderly, lead by Twilight and Rarity.
“Alright everyone, welcome to Ponyville Art Museum. As we discussed in school, each students must write down information about at least five arts. Now get to it, good luck!”
The students then spread around the museum and write down information about the arts they’re tasked to. At the same time, Harun watches the students and remembering his school memory.
“Hehehe, it’s been a long time.” Harun smiles happily and sits down.
As Harun watches the students, he sees a familiar brown pegasus wearing a red hoodie and white pants, looking a little bored.
“Hey Star!”
Star’s ears tingle to Harun followed by his head turning to him, surprising him. Star waves at the now happy Harun and goes to him.
“Doing school work?”
“Pretty much.” Star smugs. “Anyway, I gotta go.” Star writes down important information of the art next to Harun.
Harun watches Star summarizes the information. He never sees anypony summarizes something shortly.
“What’s your hobby?”
“Playing video games, listening to music, sometimes reading and writing. Used to be an astronomer.”
“Astronomer? His hobbies...and the way he summarizes - this boy got some talent.” Harun thoughts, still watching Star going from one art to another, writing their information.
After watching Star working his task, Harun goes outside and heads to the cafe nearby. After some minutes, the students exit the museum and heads back to school. Curious, Harun follows the students to Friendship School.
“So, this is where Star studies.” Harun watches the students as they enter the school back. Then he heads back to the cafe and order white tea and roasted-seasoned potatoes.
Not long after, Star shows up at the cafe.
“Hey, Harun.”
“Oh hi, Star.”
Star sits next to Harun. Interested by Harun’s order, Star orders the same exact order.
“So, how was school?”
“Dunno, mixed feeling, I guess.”
“Oh…”
“What else can I do…?” Star whispers.
Just as Star is about to drown himself in depression, his order arrives, which cheers him a bit.
“At least they’re here…” Star proceeds to eat the potatoes.
“Say, what has gotten into you, Starsy?”
Star chuckles, liking his new nickname, “Stuff, remember when you said ‘you seems to adore Rainbow Dash’?” Star takes a long breath. “Yeah, I do. In this young age. Heh, I guess I’ve matured too early, am I? Or something...”
“Hey, Starsy. I’m sorry I can’t really help you with this but remember this; like her all you want but don’t get really close to her. Focus on yourself first. Anyway, I heard the such thing called “cutie mark”, do you have it already?”
Harun’s question starts to distract Star from depression, “Ehh, technically yes. Three yellow stars, representing my “hobby” for astronomy, unfortunately I’m not into astronomy anymore.”
“Hmm, I wonder what happens to your cutie mark then.”
“Ch, who knows.”
“Of course.” Harun bleps. “Oh, and also don’t forget to eat. Finish them while they’re still hot,” Harun says as he puts a hot, ingredient-rich potato into his mouth.
After the small talking, Star and Harun continue to eat their food until they’re finished. After they finished eating their order, Harun becomes a little frown.
“Hey, Star. Since we’re together, I have something to tell you.”
Star replies, “Hm?”
“Remember when I said I’m staying here for three days only? This is my last day - last hours to be exact.”
Star gets hit hard, he doesn’t know what to say or react.
“I know. I’m sad because of it too. Only if I have a home in here. Say, do you have a best friend?”
“Haha, yeah, I do. Phase, been friends for at least 1 or 2 years and a few months.”
“Do you know where he lives?” Harun gets off from his chair, followed by Star.
“Please follow me,” Star says as he extends his wings and fly up.
“Don't leave me down here!”
“Sorry! Just making sure we’re going to the right way! Beside, his house is outside Ponyville!”
“Okay! Then please get down here!”
Star guides Harun to Phase’s house. After some long walking, a wide, two-stories house with a medium-sized balcony filling some part of the second floor slowly appears in the horizon.
“There it is, that’s his house over there.” Star points to the modern-looking house in the horizon.
When they arrives at the front door, Star knocks the door and then opened by Phase, who is surprised by Star’s sudden visit.
“Hey, Star. Wassup?”
“Dunno, mate, stuff.” Star and Phase hugs together. “Anyway, have a new friend. Harun.” Star introduces Harun to Phase, he looks a little confused and surprised.
“H-hi, Harun. Name’s Phase.”
“Harun, nice house.” Harun shakes Phase’s hoof.
“Thank you.”
So uhm.” Harun clears his throat while still shaking Phase’s hoof. “Today is the last hours of me and Starsy-”
“Starsy.” Phase holds his laughter.
“-in here. We’re close friends now. So, let’s...oh boy.” Harun lets go Phase’s hoof and feeling embarrassed, having no idea what to say to Phase.
“Hehe...y-yeah, I guess. C-come in, I’ll get you some lemonades - since Flutters is here,” Phase says as Star and Harun follow him inside then sit on the sofa.
Harun seems to like the inside out of Phase’s house, looking very simple and modern, combined with the location which is usually blown by the breeze. Phase comes along Fluttershy, bringing some lemonades.
“Enjoy. Oh hello, mister. Are you new here?”
“Yes, and going home soon.”
“Oh, alright. Nice to meet you.”
“Very soft. What’s your name?”
“Fluttershy.” Fluttershy smiles.
“Harun.” Harun bows a little.
After Fluttershy and Harun introduce themself, they, Star, and Phase are having conversation until 3 PM. They get really along that Harun almost forget to look at the time.
“Ah, 3 PM,” Harun says as he stands up. “Excuse me, everypony. But my time has come, I have to go. It’s very nice knowing and meeting you.”
Star gets hit hard in the heart, he holds this feeling despite the small pain. Suddenly, Star hugs Harun, followed by Phase and Fluttershy. This makes Harun cries a little.
“Goodbye, all of you.” Harun breaks the hug. “I see you all later, maybe in the dream world. Farewell.
“Goodbye...” Star replies.
“Wait, can we just like follow you to your motel first then say goodbye there?” Phase asks.
“Of course, oh boy!” Harun puts a hoof on his forehead.
Star, Phase, and Fluttershy follows Harun back to the motel. They enjoy the very last moments of an oryx from the other part of Equestria. At the motel,
Star, Phase, and Fluttershy hug Harun once more before he leaves them, crying.
“Take care of yourself, all of you. Farewell, brothers.”
Star’s and Phase’s hearts are touched by Harun calling them “brothers”, thus Star cries and hug Harun again, a little tighter than before.
Harun gently taps Star’s back, “Farewell, little brother. We’ll meet later.”
“Take care of yourself too, please!” Star says as he is still crying.
“I will.”
Harun breaks the hug, heading for the van that waited for him. Star, Phase, and Fluttershy watch Harun going inside the van and waves at them, they wave back as the van starts leaving Ponyville, heading somewhere.
Star is still crying a little, unable to let go the sadness. However, Star slowly calms down by Phase’s and Fluttershy’s support. After the farewell of a precious friend, they go back to their home before dark.
The End
