The Runaway Bodyguard

by scifipony


Chapter 10 — Broken Heart

I whispered, "You did?" You found Sunburst?

"The name was familiar. I've only been vice-headmare for a year, though."

My skin grew clammy. That sinking feeling ponies speak about? It felt more like a shrinking feeling. Ms. Maple seemed to grow larger and the counter, too, as if I were turning back into a foal. A foal who lost her parents, whose hopes got crushed, and who learned just how powerless she was.

Maple continued, "You belong in this school, my dear, even if Sunburst isn't here now."

"He's not here?"

"He's not here. But, that doesn't mean you can't be here." She smiled, but I saw a reflection of myself in her expression because I saw concern creeping in.

"I came to find him."

"He was here."

"And he's gone, now."

Loneliness set in. I became aware of a silence, like a still winter day. Grey. Stark. Nopony to care for me. Nopony at all.

I asked, "What happened to him?"

Her tail swished and her ears lowered. "I— I can't say."

"Why did he leave? Did he graduate? Did he flunk out? No, no, no... not possible! Not with that cutie mark... That cutie mark... Does it mean he did something bad?" I started shaking my head. Not possible. Not Sunburst!

"I can't say."

"When did he leave? Right, you can't say."

She nodded, her expression unhappy.

I asked, "Why?"

She looked up briefly, then said, "Remember Detective Farsighted? Remember bullying? At Celestia's we take the welfare of each student very seriously and follow the EEA standards very closely."

"What does that have to do with it? I'm just asking what happened to my friend."

"Privacy, and, Miss Starbright, what do I really know about you beyond presenting yourself as a colt and you being a high level unicorn?"

"But he's my friend!"

She looked down. "I trust that he was your friend, but that was... how many years ago?"

When he walked out on me. I hoped I didn't whisper that, and looked up into Ms. Maple's somewhat neutral expression. "I really want to know."

"That alone won't help."

I looked behind her. Into the office. I saw one file drawer open. I'd apparently spaced out for a few minutes. I could just lift her into the air, walk past her and rifle through the files in that cabinet until I found the one I needed. I could learn what happened to him. Why he wasn't here.

Why he hadn't visited me before he left.

I looked at the minty green mare. She had magic, unlike Woodcutter. Nothing convenient was going to happen to render her unconscious, and while I could imagine persuading ponies to pass off what happened to Woodcutter as an accident, the choices I had before me would be nothing but criminal.

I found myself blinking and my eyes burning. I wasn't a bad pony. I just had issues.

Vice-headmare Maple spoke after putting a hoof on the counter to get my attention. "Circumstances could change."

I looked into her sympathetic blue eyes and she blinked. She couldn't read minds because she'd be appalled at my thoughts, at the violence I'd committed, that I had just contemplated. "How?"

"You could give me that command card. You could become a student, here."

"Could I really?"

I actually chuckled—pathetic, really. I had run away from home. I had run away from being trained as the Earl of Grin Having. Though Celestia had bestowed the title upon my parents, they'd been dead for months. The princess intended it solely for me. Was she really going to let me go to a stupid magic school when she wanted to train up a minion that she might want to lead one of her armies? Fat chance of that. Fat chance of Proper Step not inserting his snooty nose into the matter. He was Princess Celestia's majordomo's brother, or maybe his son!

I was so screwed.

I had no hope. She had completely crushed all my dreams under that gold-shod royal hoof. Again.

Ms. Maple said, "Of course. Once your parents sign the forms—"

"My parents are dead."

The mare swallowed visibly.

"Or your guardian. Or do you have emancipation papers?"

I just shook my head and looked at the ground.

"Is there any other way?" I asked, blinking furiously, my voice becoming desperate.

"Princess Celestia could, but she just—"

"She just left for a mission to Mount Aris—"

"How did learn that?"

"What kind of military leader displays her route in an illusion in front of everypony on Castle Way where a teenager in a burger joint can listen in and learn how her stupid illusion spell is super powered? She's a foalish idiot!"

"Miss Starbright!"

Tears flooded my vision. I couldn't wait for Princess Celestia to return without being caught by Proper Step. Even if she were here, now, what chance did I have of getting her to do me a favor? An ice cube's chance in Tartarus.

"I'm never going to see Sunburst again!" I cried. Furious, and heartbroken all over again, I turned tail and bucked the counter. The loud crack startled me and I heard Ms. Maple's horseshoes clatter back.

I galloped from the office, striking the door jamb because tears blurred my vision.

The vice-headmare's voice followed, "Young lady, you come back here right now!"