The Princess and the Outcast

In the magical land of Equestria, there is a small town called Ponyville. Ponyville is a national landmark in all of Equestria, due to it's beautiful landscapes, peaceful nature, and it being the hometown of multiple princesses. However, this isn't the story of a magical Princess, but yet, what it's like to be in the shoes of a pony that down on his luck. The story truly begins with a small makeshift wooden cabin by the Everfree Forest as we look into the life of another.

Our story begins with a pony living inside of the rusty, broken up shed. This is Starblaze, someone who hasn't had a lot of luck with his life. He only had a dirty mattress to sleep on, only a bedside drawer as furniture, and a fridge that's almost always empty. Despite his circumstances, he stays high on life and optimistic. He's never held it against anybody. His terrible life never had an effect on him.

Starblaze wakes up on his dirty mattress, stretches, and puts on the only piece of clothing he has: a tattered up scarf. He opens up his fridge and, as per usual, it was empty except for one apple. "Empty again?" Starblaze thought to himself. "I need to get myself some more food...". He took the apple out of his fridge and watched in disgust as it crumbled in his hoof.

"Ew!", he said recoiling. "How long was that in there for?!" Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to think about it as he had to leave in a hurry as his job as a delivery pony to a library. Starblaze sighs and loads his carriage full of books. He sets it upon his back. It used to be very heavy to him, but his experience carrying this kind on weight has set in on him. He carries the carriage of books on his back and starts walking through the town.

As he's walking through the town, all he can think about is his empty stomach. "I really need something to eat soon..." He groans to himself. Despite his hunger, he had no time to slow down, as his boss at the library accepts no lateness. If he shows up late, she cuts his pay. He's been late in the past before which explains his current lifestyle.

Meanwhile, in a castle in town, we have the Princess of Friendship, and the Element of Magic: Princess Twilight Sparkle. The princess enters her castle along with her assistant, and former enemy, Starlight Glimmer. As always, Starlight is helping Twilight carry a box of new books into her castle, soon to be put into the library.

"Thanks for helping me bring this new pack of books into the castle, Starlight... again..." Twilight spoke sheepishly.
Starlight laughs, "No need to thank me. I've done this probably a thousand times before." She continues, "You sure do love books, don't you?"
Twilight shrugs. "What can I say? There's just something about them that just brings me in." She says while holding a book, looking almost in a trance. Suddenly, she snaps out of it. "But enough about the books. Let's get these to the library!"

Twilight and Starlight make their way to the library to put the books away. When they get there, they drop the books in front of the shelf. As Twilight gets right to work putting the books away, Starlight takes this time to look around. While walking, she finds a strange piece of paper on the desk. "Huh? What's this?". Starlight goes up and picks up the piece of paper. "A note. Signed by somebody named Starblaze. Who's Starblaze?" she thought to herself.

Starlight calls Twilight from the desk. "Hey Twilight? What's this note over here?"
"Note?", Twilight says confused. She walks over to Starlight. They both begin reading the note.

"Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle... Thanks for letting me stay at your castle for the night. I probably was just a mild inconvenience for you, but it was a big help for me. Sorry to spend the night and leave, but I have a tight schedule. I don't have a lot of money, so I can't do much for you, but I hope this not means something. Sincerely, Starblaze. P.S. I hope you remember me after I leave this.

Twilight's eyes lighten up after reading it. "Starblaze!" she says with a combination of shock and happiness. "I remember now! Starblaze left this note!"
"Uh... Starblaze?" Starlight said, bewildered. "Who's Starblaze?"
Twilight instantly calmed down to answer her question. "He was someone I met a long time ago. He was a... strange pony. Constantly on the run, screaming "I'm late! I'm late!". It was kind of charming in a way..."
"Late for what?" Starlight asked.
Twilight shrugged. "I don't know. He dashed off afterwards. I never saw him after that day." She tucks the note inside of her Journal of Friendship. "Last time I saw him, he was trying to sleep outside in the cold."
Starlight recoiled in shock. "He was sleeping outside?!"
"Yeah." Twilight nodded. "So I let him inside. He insisted to sleep on the floor."
Starlight looked at the Princess with a look of shock, confusion, and disgust. "So you just let some random pony from outside sleep on your floor?"
"Alright, when you say it like that it sounds bad..." Twilight defended. "But he needed help."
Starlight facepalms. "So why didn't you just let him sleep in the many other rooms in the castle?"

Twilight has a embarrassed expression locked on her face. She could do nothing but laugh sheepishly. "I... haven't thought of it at the time...?" She says quietly.
"Well, where can I meet this guy?" Starlight says as she calms down.
"Now that I think about it..." Twilight responds, puzzled. "I have no clue. I was just walking down the street and he just showed up."
"So you let him sleep in your room, and you both went excatly how long without seeing each other?" Starlight asks bewildered.
Twilight thinks it over for a bit. "Precisely 3 months."
"Alright then." Starlight says with a sigh.
"That really was a good memory." Twilight says with a smile. "But let's get back to work."
As Twilight looks away, she can't help but think to herself. "I do wonder where Starblaze is, though."

We return to Starblaze as he walks up to the library he works at, with the librarian scowling at him yet again.

Starblaze puts on a nervous smile. "H-hey, Starshine. How are you..."
Starblaze is cut off by the librarian, Starshine. "I believe you mean Miss Starshine. You don't get to use my name when you're late with the deliveries everyday."
"Come on, big sis..." Starblaze says with a whiny voice. "It's harder than it looks. I haven't even eaten today."
Starshine sighs. "You're such a child." She says annoyed. "I'll get you something to eat."
"Yes!" Starblaze yells triumphantly.
Starshine adds in, "But don't expect any further payment."
Starshine responds by dropping his head.
After they walk inside, Starshine gifts her hungry brother a plate of toast, eggs, an apple on the side, and some orange juice.
"What are you doing leaving home without eating?" She says confused.
'If I didn't you wouldn't pay me at all." He says with spite. "Also because I'm not exactly as high on money as you are."
Starshine scoffs. "I'm not as wealthy as you think." She says. "I basically live in this dump. The only reason it's still standing is because the Princess comes here often."
Starshine's ears twitch. "You said the Princess?"
"Yes." She responds.
"Celestia, Luna, Cadence or Twilight?" Starblaze says quickly.
Starshine has to think it over. "If I'm not mistaken, it's probably Twilight Sparkle. Purple Alicorn with a golden crown."
"I know her!" Starblaze screams. "I've talked to her before!"
His sister could barely hold back her laugh. "Yeah, right. The day I believe that is the day pigs fly."
"That can be arranged." He responds smugly.
"Can it!" She commands.
Starblaze sighs. "Just, when does she come in?"
"Every day." Starshine responds. "She just came in today actually. She buys so many books that I'm able to keep this library up from her alone. Which is why you need to be on time."
Starblaze rolls his eyes as he begins eating.

Afterwards, he steps outside, with very little actual money. But he has a full stomach.
"Thanks, big sis!" He says enthusiastically.
"Whatever." Starshine says rolling her eyes. "Just get on."
"Alright!" He says. "Love you, big sis!"
Starshine grumbles beneath her breath. "Yeah, yeah, you too." She then slams the door.

As Starblaze starts walking away he thinks to himself. "Now I know that Twilight comes to my sister's library every day." He says in his mind. "Maybe I should visit her? I mean, I know where she lives. The Castle's not too hard to miss.. He didn't even know it, but Starblaze had already stumbled upon the Castle of Friendship. "Well I guess I have no choice now." He says out loud. He lifts his hoof and knocks on the door. And too his surprise, it wasn't Twilight, but a different Unicorn with violet and cyan hair.

"Who are you?" The Unicorn says.
Starblaze retaliates. "Who are you?"
"I'm Starlight Glimmer. The student of Princess Twilight Sparkle." She says.
Starblaze responds sheepishly. "Oh..."
"I'll ask again." Starlight says impatiently. "Who are you?"
"Okay, you might not believe me." He says. "But I'm a friend of Twili- I mean the Princess."
Starlight's eyes widen a big. But then she looks skeptical. "Where do you know Twilight from?"
"I ran into her on the road." He responds. "We didn't have time to talk. I was late for something. But we met up again later."
"Later?" Starlight asks.
"Yeah." He answers. "I slept on her floor. Though there were probably other rooms in the Castle. So that was kinda dumb of me."
Starlight still isn't convinced. "State your name."
"My name?" He says surprised. "My name is Starblaze Gemini. You probably know my sister. The Princess goes to her library every day."
As Starblaze continues to ramble, Starlight eyes him up and down. "This possibly can't be who she was talking about." She says to herself. "Alright. You can come in."
"Yes!" He says. "Thank you!"

As they walk through the Castle, Starlight attempts to make conversation. "So you said you slept on Twilight's floor." She says. "Do you even... have a house?"
"No..." He says sheepishly. "I just live in a messed up old cabin near the Everfree Forest."
"That explains a lot" Starlight says.

Starblaze could barely contain his excitement. He's finally going to see his friend again after 3 whole months. Though will she even remember him from back then?