OneLonelyPickle Presents...
SUNNY STARSCOUT AND THE MYSTERY OF MAGIC
The seagulls pitched a delirious cry above the salty shores of Maretime Bay. The morning sun peeked shyly above the horizon far out into the sea, a beacon of light that helped send off the fishers and clam diggers of the quiet little Earth Pony town. Ships bells donged as the sailors took off, the gleam of hope and success just sitting behind their tired eyes. And somewhere on the other side of town, a snoring mare was about to have the awakening of a lifetime.
Sunny Starscout was sprawled out on her bed, sheets haphazardly piled up at the foot of the mattress. Her chest heaved up and down as her throat produced heavy sounds like an angry polar bear. A ray of sunlight snuck in through the crack in her drawn curtains. The room was dark enough to hide the tiny figurines sitting on a shelf on the wall next to Sunny’s bed. Six figurines saved from a dusty old box at a rummage sale. No doubt those six figures were part of her dreams at that very—
The light outside became hotter, bolder, brighter. It became so bright that it shot through the curtains and painted a huge golden square right onto Sunny’s face. She briefly cringed in her sleep and flexed her eye muscles before being awoken properly.
“Huh — WHAT? Why is it so bright?”
Sunny sat up quickly. The light shone on her messy magenta mane and salmon coat, illuminating quite clearly the fact that she was NOT a morning pony. It also nearly revealed her skeletal structure, the sunlight was so invigorating. Sunny had to cover her eyes with her hooves.
“What the hay?” she whispered, still groggy from the rude awakening. Sunny jumped out of bed, one hoof always hovered above her eyes. She quickly scooped up a nearby hairbrush on the ground and fixed her mane as best she could. Sunny then snatched a few mane elastics and fixed her hair into its usual style: three mane elastics fixed it into place on her right side, hanging down in a single ponytail that reached the middle of her hooves.
She looked at her aquamarine irises in the mirror, having turned away from the bright sun coming in from the opposite wall’s window. She carefully flicked away any sleep and set off out of her apartment.
Upon leaving the complex, she once again had to hide her eyes. The sun was still shining brighter, more ferociously than she’d seen it in her entire life. Which was not to say it never did that before, because the sun was prone to flare up every year or so, but that time was different.
Sunny noticed a pony next to her.
“This is the worst time yet, huh?” she said with a grunt. The pony agreed.
“Yeah, it’s getting worse every year! What do you think it is?”
Clopping of hooves reverberated off the cement from the side. An old, cantankerous voice cried out.
“Ehhhh I know EXACTLY what this is…”
Sunny recognized the voice and went deadpan. The sun started to die down and return to normal, so Sunny released her hoof from her brow. She turned to the source of the voice.
“Old Man Withers… what a pleasant surprise…” Sunny sighed. “Let me guess, more about the Sun Goddess, right?” Old Man Withers’ squinty eyes bulged. The wrinkles on his worn, grey face were legendary. A scar traced its way from the right side of his forehead where his hairline started, to down past his chin. His mane was nothing more than random tuffs of pure white hair.
“More about the Sun Goddess…” — Old Man Withers scoffed as if insulted and glared at Sunny — “You’d do well to listen to an old pony’s warning! You young mares and stallions have no regard for the past!” Withers cleared his throat and hacked away phlegm as only a stallion of his years could. “The Sun Goddess is no myth! She’s angry because of the way Equestria has turned out! It never used to be this way!”
Sunny rolled her eyes.
“Listen, we need to focus on TODAY! And the future! The past is just the past… and old pony tales…” Sunny quickly turned away and spoke under her breath, “Literally in this case…” She turned back to Withers and produced an over exaggerated smile. Withers continued his glare and breathed out with ragged pants.
“You’ll see the truth with your own eyes one day, young lady. Then you’ll wish you hadn’t disregarded Old Man Withers’ words!”
Sunny rolled her eyes again and Withers continued his slow trot down the lane. Sunny turned back to the sun, now as bright as normal. It sat just above the orange skyline, shining on the crystal-clear bay that gave the town its name. Ships were visible in the distance, and the gulls were wild above the town, as they usually were.
Closer to Sunny was the main street of town, just outside her doorstep, which led right to the square. Sunny hopped off the second story apartment balcony with a yelp, landing like a cat on all her four hooves. With a flip of her mane she was off at a leisurely pace, past the square and the fountain that sat in the middle of it. The old carved stone was sculpted into an image of Rockhoof, the hero of the Earth Ponies. Sunny smiled as she studied its worn edges and greening paintjob.
That Old Man Withers... stuck in the past like all the old ponies! What a joke! I'll show them...
There was a skip in Sunny’s step as she thought about where her hooves were taking her.
Bit of a bad start to the day, but no matter. I get to help Professor Tyson with his research today!
A flash of heat and pink burned over Sunny’s cheeks. She giggled.
Professor Tyson would never believe such silly old stories about goddesses living in the sun!
As she passed a fish stall, the owner stepped out from behind it and shook his hoof.
“Sunny! Stop right there! Your little speech the other day drove away business for the ENTIRE AFTERNOON!”
Sunny stopped and faced the stall owner, stalwart with conviction, her brow curved downward, ears completely erect.
“I was only trying to help foster a better opinion of other ponies! And why would it be bad for your business if a Unicorn or Pegasus came around?”
Ponies in the marketplace started to whisper among themselves. A few started to shout.
“Sunny don’t mention them out loud in public like that!”
“There are fillies and colts out here, young lady!”
Sunny frowned.
“What’s the big deal? All of you need to stop being so ridiculous! I mean, have you even SEEN a Pegasus or Unicorn before? They MIGHT just not want to gobble you up in one bite if you get to know them!”
Another stallowner came forward, a mare with an apron and a particularly intense, angry expression.
“There you go again, Sunny! Noearthpony wants to shop here when you’re going off about your precious — I’m not even going to say the words!”
A crowd started to form around Sunny, and not because they were eager to hear more of her inspiring words. Sunny looked around defensively, her mouth drawn upwards in defiance.
“Fine! Whatever!” she broke off towards the outside of town, head hung down as she ran. She bit down on her teeth.
They don’t get it! What’s wrong with everyearthpony — no, everyPONY!
Sunny ran right past a group of seagulls picking away at a hay bun, scaring them all into the sky as she stomped by. She swerved down a narrow alley, then another, and entered a wider street. It led all the way out of town and up a hill that overlooked the bay. At the top of the hill sat a large structure with a domed top and something that jutted outside of the dome. She smiled wide as she saw the observatory, and her tail swished at Mach 5.
Professor Tyson will agree with me!
With new pep in her trot, Sunny climbed the hill and knocked on the door to the observatory.
“Ohhhh Professor Tyyssson! I’m here to help you with your research! Can I come in?”
A minute passed. There was no answer. Sunny hummed in thought.
“Okay!” she cried, smile returning, “I’m just comin’ in anyway!”
She opened the creaky wooden door and was greeted with abject darkness. The winding spiral staircase that led to the top was as dusty as always. The living quarters of the lower level were faintly illuminated by a single candle in the middle of the worn dining table. Sunny trotted past and made her way up the stairs.
At the top, more candles created more light in the top-most room, though it was still quite dark. The ceiling was a dome, with one side of the dome opened up so a large telescope could sit and face the sky. At a small table littered with old tomes and scientific instruments, a stallion sat, deep in thought and focus.
“H-heya, Professor!” Sunny squealed. She brought one front hoof over the other and smiled awkwardly. The Professor didn’t look up but grumbled a response.
“Morning… Sunny…”
He was old enough to be Sunny’s father, but his short, brown mane and piercing emerald eyes showed no signs of advanced age. His lime colored coat still held a sheen, though it wasn’t very visible in the darkness of the observatory. Ancient spectacles hung at the end of his snout. Sunny cleared her throat and moved to the other side of the table.
“So, umm, what can I do for you, Professor?” she asked eagerly. The Professor raised a hoof. Sunny got the hint and sucked in her lips, staring around and humming as she waited to be called on. She started to tap her hooves on the table and whistle. The Professor stopped and slowly looked up.
“Sunny, if you don’t mind, my dear.”
Sunny blushed and stepped back.
“S-sorry, Professor!”
Minutes passed by excruciatingly slow. Sunny bit her lip and started to sweat. A clock somewhere on the wall ticked by each second as if it were a million years. The Professor continued his slow, steady writing and studying. Sunny started to shake from the lack of movement.
Finally, she burst out.
“OkayProfessorIKnowYou’reBusyButI’mSUPERBoredAndIWantToHelpYouSoWhyDon’tYouGiveMeSomethingToDoAndThenYouCanGetBackToYourWork?!”
Sunny caught her breath as the Professor lowered his pen and looked up at her.
“Alright. Can you pack my bags for an extended journey, please?”
Sunny took the words like a gutpunch. Her mouth dropped and she involuntarily whined. She took a step back, ears tight against her magenta mane.
“W-w-wait, an extended journey?”
Professor Tyson smiled warmly.
“Yes, dear. I’m sorry, I know how much you love to help me here at the observatory. But this is important…”
He narrowed his eyes and became serious.
“These sun flare ups are no laughing matter. There’s something I need to investigate near the ruins of Canterlot.”
Sunny jumped closer and her eyes became wide and fearful.
“B-but that’d bring you close to the Rogue Unicorns! Y-you’ll be foalnapped… or worse!”
Tears started to well in the corner of Sunny’s bright blue eyes. Professor Tyson walked around the table and hugged Sunny, shushing her.
“Hey, don’t worry about it, kiddo. You’re still young, focus on your life here. Don’t think too big.”
He pulled back and smiled down at Sunny’s wet eyes.
“You need to start making some friends. You can’t change the world all by yourself.”
The Professor patted Sunny on the shoulder. She sniffed and looked away.
“Friends… I mean, I’m not against having friends. But noearth — nopony wants me around. They’re all just…” Sunny waved her hoof around dramatically as she spoke, “So hardheaded! Like it’s the worst idea in the world if we just TRY to say hello to a Unicorn or a Pegasus!”
Professor Tyson raised a single eyebrow.
“Oh? But didn’t you just tell me to beware of the sccarrrry Rogue Unicorns?”
He smiled and Sunny became annoyed, puffing out her lips and blushing.
“T-that’s different! E-everypony has heard stories about how they attack anypony that goes by old Canterlot! That’s not just some crazy tale that Old Man Withers tells!”
Professor Tyson turned away and looked out towards the sky through the opening in the dome.
“You may find more truth behind his words than you’re willing to believe, Sunny Starscout. Come, I want to show you something.”
Even Professor Tyson… Sunny thought with a pout. She followed behind her beloved mentor, and watched as he adjusted the telescope to a new point in the sky.
“Here, look through this,” he said, carefully moving the telescope as he looked in the viewfinder. He pulled back and motioned Sunny forward. She tentatively stepped up and looked down into the glass cylinder.
The massive telescope showed her an image of a distant, orange planet just faintly visible in the now-blue, late morning sky.
“W-what is that?” Sunny asked, pulling back. Professor Tyson was serious again.
“That’s not a natural planet. An old encyclopedia by a stallion named Star Swirl lists all the celestial bodies, and that one isn’t included. And I’ve been watching the skies for a long time, as you know.” The Professor tightened his brow. “I only noticed its appearance a few days ago. Maybe it just appears every few centuries, maybe not. But it’s got me curious.”
Sunny cocked her head.
“So what does that have to do with you going to Canterlot?”
Professor Tyson walked over to a leather-bound knapsack and started to fill it with scrolls sitting in a pile by his desk.
“Don’t worry, Sunny. I’ll explain when I get back, it’s not something I want to get into in case my hunches are incorrect… which I hope they are. Can you give me a hoof?”
The two ponies walked back and forth throughout the observatory office collecting various goods that Professor Tyson wanted for his journey. By the end of it his leather knapsack was filled to the brim. He adjusted it to his flanks and strapped it in.
“Come, see me off,” he said to Sunny, who was sniffling again.
“Alright…” she grumbled.
Once outside, Professor Tyson stretched out his body and sighed out loud happily. He cranked his neck from side to side, briefly stood on his hindhooves, and bent backwards to crack his back.
“Oh yeah… that’s the spot… whoa, not as limber as I used to be,” he said with a laugh. He turned back to Sunny, who was rubbing her left hoof and looking somberly at a patch of dirt.
“I’m gonna miss you…” she said sadly. Professor Tyson lifted her chin with his hoof and looked into her eyes. He reminded Sunny of how her father used to look at her.
“Hey,” The Professor said warmly, “Don’t be sad, okay? We’ll meet again, sooner than you think. And I might have a thing or two to tell you about…” He leaned in close and whispered in Sunny’s ear, “MAGIC!” Sunny gasped and her face grew full of mirth.
“MAGIC! Really, Professor!? You think you’re going to find out about magic?!”
Professor Tyson cringed and quickly covered Sunny’s mouth. He looked behind him; a group of stallions was walking by at the base of the hill. They hadn’t seemed to notice Sunny’s shouting.
“Quiet, Sunny! That’s not something we talk about, remember? That and the Unicorn / Pegasus talk.” The Professor pulled back and sighed, smiling at Sunny like a slightly annoyed parent. “You really need to learn to be more subtle about these things. You can’t effect change by forcing everything down everyearthpony’s throat.”
“Everypony.” Sunny corrected, head held high. “I’m going to say everypony from now on!”
There was no give in her confidence, so the Professor just sighed again and shook his head.
“Fine, fine, there’s no stopping you when you’ve got that mindset of yours. Anyway, I need to be off.” Sunny pouted again, her bottom lip quivering. The Professor stepped forward and wrapped her in a big, warm hug. Sunny rested her head on his shoulder.
“Y’k-know…” Sunny sniffled, “I’m going to be all alone once you go.”
Professor Tyson chuckled.
“What about Old Man Withers? And those marketponies that seem to love you so much?!”
Sunny scoffed.
“Real funny, Professor… how about this…”
She pulled back and shot the Professor a confident grin.
“The next Pegasus or Unicorn I meet, I’ll make sure to be their friend! Okay?”
The Professor smiled nervously.
“Hah… sure, Sunny. You might be waiting a while though.”
He started walking away and half-turned back.
“Then again… maybe not. Fate works in mysterious ways.”
Seagulls squawked above and a foghorn bellowed from out in the bay. Professor Tyson shot Sunny a smile before setting off.
“Goodbye, kiddo. See you soon.”
Sunny waved her mentor off with wet eyes.
“Bye P-Professor! Please be safe! And come back AS SOON AS YOU CAN! ALSO, ALSO, DON’T WORRY ABOUT ME! JUST FOCUS ON YOUR—” She continued shouting well after he was gone out of earshot. Sunny sighed sadly and stepped over to the edge of the hill, more like a cliff as it hung over the bay. Another foghorn sounded off and rattled through the town.
Friends, huh?
Sunny forced a smile.
Never had a friend before… but I made a promise to the Professor!
She pushed a gush of air out of one side of her mouth.
“Pfff but it’s not like a Pegasus or Unicorn is just going to wander into town! Haha!”
She threw herself back under the shadow of the observatory, spreading out all four limbs and sighing with bliss. She briefly closed her eyes, then opened them to watch the titanic white clouds above slowly sail through the crisp, blue sky.
“Well,” she said to herself, “Time to get to work on my next speech about pony unity and the future of Equestria!”