The Fallen Star People

by MrPants1100

Make a wish

“…but if you’re here, then that means!-“
“Yes, my dear it was I, Fredrick d’Mane Trotsky all along! It was I who poisoned the librarian and put the candlestick into your saddlebags. You have played right into my hooves, and now that you are trapped here in the underbelly of Trottinham you will…be…mine.”

“No!” Shouted Inspector Le Hoof. But it was too late. Trotsky swooped down to the inspector and swept her off her hooves. As she tried to struggle the vial’s potion worked on her body.
Her eyelids became heavy, her head became light and before she succumbed to the potion she heard Trotsky laugh the evil cackle of The Shadow Stallion!

Chapter 16: Is that a Rat I Smell?

Rarity was on the edge of her seat. Mr. Trotsky as the killer? Impossible. She never would have guessed the mild-mannered postal worker would be the suave and cool murderer of Trottinham. The next chapter called to her, and she was sorely tempted to read the whole night through, but she had other priorities.
Rarity looked up from the paperback and glanced around the campsite. The fire still burned low ready to make s’mores when Luna’s night fully set. The tents and log benches were set up and waiting to let ponies rest on them or in them, and Scootaloo, Applebloom, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were playing with a Frisbee near camp.
‘Well they seem to be having a fun time without me, I can probably fit in the next chapter before anypony notices.’ Rarity was about to return to the book she managed to snatch from Twilight before she suddenly looked up. She couldn’t put her hoof on it, but it felt like she was forgetting something…something squeaky.
‘…Applejack, Applebloom, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo…”
‘Sweetie Belle! Oh no! She’s gone! I never should have taken her! She’s probably dead! I lost my baby sister! Oh how could I have let this happen?! Mother and Father will be devastated! No, I can’t let that happen! I’ll get Twilight and we’ll build a clockwork pony Sweetie Belle! Yes, nopony will ever know! Would Mother and Father be able to tell the difference?’ Rarity looked around frantically. ‘Oh, how could I lose her? My poor, wonderful sister-‘
At that moment Sweetie Belle moved back into Rarity’s line of sight after going long for one of Rainbow’s overzealous throws behind the tents. When she saw her big sister, Sweetie Belle turned and waved with a carefree smile upon her face. Rarity gave a little wave and half-smile back and beckoned her sister back to her game. “That filly nearly gave me a heart-attack and all she can do is wave?! Oh, if I wasn’t so glad she was alive I’d give her what-for!” Rarity muttered as she prepared to return to her book.
Despite what ponies may think, Rarity actually liked the outdoors. Admittedly at first the idea of being around…dirt, had made the prospect of a camping trip rather unsettling, but now she rather enjoyed these trips they would take with the fillies. The Whitetail Woods were so calming to the fashionista’s mind. Nature had a certain rugged beauty about it the she couldn’t replicate in her own work, and being out here made her appreciate the messy lines and simple colors of the woods.

The wind played against her coat and caused a slight shiver from the sudden cold. Rarity looked up from her book and saw that it was nearly dark and the others were coming in to the fire. She had made it through most of the chapter, but she had to leave the inspector to escape her cell for another day. As the other ponies made their way back Rarity put down the book and turned her full attention to her friends. It would be rude to not be a part of their conversation.
“An’ that’s why ya never give a pig dairy products, or prunes for that matter, but that is a story for another time.” Applejack beamed as she finished her tale. Suddenly Rarity wasn’t so keen on being an active member of the conversation, if the horrified look on Sweetie Belle’s face was anything to go off of.
“Hello everypony, I trust you had a good time?”
“Ya, ya it was fun and all, a little slow for me, but I still found of way to be awesome.” Rainbow Dash flared her wings and stuck out her chest as though ponies everywhere should feel enthralled by her Frisbee ability.
“Totally! You were so cool Rainbow Dash!” Apparently Rainbow was not alone in her assumptions of grandeur as Scootaloo mirrored her mentor, although she was unable to get so much lift off the ground.
Applejack rolled her eyes and sighed before getting everypony’s attention.
“All right ya’ll, now who’s ready to settle in and make up some s’mores?” That got the fillies excited again as they rushed to either help with the marshmallows or dig the chocolate out of one of the bags.

The sun was dipping below the horizon and the sky had turned a deep red by the time everything was ready. It was at this part of the trip that the friends would always roast some marshmallows, Rarity would make sure nopony got any in their hair, and Rainbow Dash would begin a the nights first scary story. It was a picturesque moment for Rarity. Here they were all together around a campfire, having a nice time and strengthening their bond of friendship, arguably the strongest force in all of Equestria. Rarity wished she had gone camping more when she was a filly, but looking at the smiling faces of the Cutie Mark Crusaders more than made up for it.
They were an adorable bunch. Often aggravating but always lovable, Rarity really loved their little group. And while she and her friends often had to step in to be the voice of reason, she was nearly as anxious as they were for them to get their cutie marks. She sometimes just wanted to drag Sweetie Belle in front of a crowd and tell her to sing, but no, they needed to learn their talents at their own rate. She did worry though, looking at the other two fillies she sometimes couldn’t help but feel that she needed to help them along. When Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow Dash with that twinkle in her eye, Rarity could only hope that she would one day think about herself as cool like that. Rarity also hoped that if Applebloom’s talent broke from tradition she wouldn’t need to go too far away to find her place; separation could hurt both little fillies and big sisters alike. But there was nothing that she could do. Oh, she could just step in and try to fix everything and take all the responsibility, but being generous often meant letting other ponies sole their own problems. And besides they were just too adorable while on their little adventures.
The stars twinkled into existence as Rainbow Dash started her tale.
“It was a dark and stormy night, and three little ponies had gathered around a camp fire…”
The three fillies looked on attentively as Rainbow began to speak, and Applejack and Rarity listened in even though they knew the outcome. Applejack shot Rarity a knowing smile and both suspected that that this particular tale would end with Rainbow jumping out of a bush when the fillies least expected it. But before the story could continue much further Applejack’s gaze rooted itself to the sky.

“What in tar ‘nation is that?” Applejack asked. The others were quick to follow her outstretched hoof to a point just above the tree line.
“Huh, let me see,” Rainbow Dash said as she flew up for a better look. “Oh, cool! A falling star!”
“What-I can’t see-Where is it?” The Crusaders said, trying to get a better look. Even the two adults had a hard time seeing it from their vantage point.
“Rarity…I can’t see it.” Sweetie pouted.
“Well I’m sorry Sweetie Belle, but there’s not much we can do about that now.”
“Sis’ can’t we go up the hill away’s,” Applebloom suggested. “We could see it better from up there.”
“Wait, what hill is she talking about, Applejack?” Rarity inquired.
“Oh, it’s just a little ways in the woods. Nothin’ to worry about, The Whitetail Woods is perfectly safe, s’long as you don’t run off too far.”
The crusaders took this as permission to go and quickly scampered off to get a better look at the falling star. It wasn’t every night you got to see one good enough to keep Rainbow Dash enthralled.
“Oh wait!-OK, just be careful,” Rarity called after them.
“He-he. Oh, the girls will be just fine, Rarity. You should relax and let them enjoy themselves. Speaking of enjoying yer’self… Hey, Rainbow! What’s got you so quiet anyhow?”
Rainbow Dash didn’t answer immediately, but when she did she didn’t turn away from her vantage point.
“Uh, guys. Does that shooting star look, weird to either of you?” Both other ponies looked back up and saw that it had moved into a much better position above the tree tops.
“Why whatever do you mean, darling? It looks like any other meteor to me.”
“I don’t know. I never seen ‘em so…red before.” Now that she mentioned it all three of them looked more intently at the strange sight. Compared to other shooting stars this one had burned for far too long. And what a burn, a fiery red streak cut across the sky behind the object as it made its way across the sky. It glowed brighter than any star in the night and seemed to wave or shimmer as it fell. If she used her imagination, Rarity could swear it was so close she could see it tumbling as it passed overhead.
“Well it is a quiet, extraordinary meteor. I’m afraid I don’t know what to make of it. Twilight would probably be able to give a lecture on it, she always knew more about this kind of…thing…”
Before she could finish her thought the object tumbled and did something nopony expected. Suddenly fire shot out of the front of the meteor. And as they watched the glow was quickly muted and it was plain to see that the object was slowing down.
“What the hay it that thing doin’?” Applejack asked nopony in particular.
“It’s slowing down!”
“Why is it slowing?”
“Girls, I don’t think-“

“Wha-“

The sound of thunder filled the air after two successive concussive blasts. Mountains to every side repeated the booming call of the noise. The ground reverberated from the shockwave as the ponies could only look up in disbelief.
The fire now came only from the leading edge of the object and it slowed until its fall brought it arcing towards the nearby ground. As it sunk below the tree line the ponies stared wide eyed and open mouthed at the area where it crashed.

They stood transfixed until the sound of howling brought them to their senses.
“Uh-oh,” Applejack murmured.
“What is it?”
“If I’m not mistaken I think that’s the sound of Timberwolves, but what are they doin’ out here?”
“Maybe they’re lost,” Rainbow pleaded hopefully.
“I think they got scarred of what-ever that thing was…I don’t feel comfortable with them and girls here. A Timber wolf is bad enough, but one that scared can be a might bit more dangerous.”
“Well,” Rarity gulped, “I for one am not too keen to be out here alone after that. I think with Timber wolves and a meteorite crashing near-by we can afford to ask Twilight for help.”
“Right you two stay and get the crusaders, I’ll get Twilight. The egghead’s sure to love a space rock to add to her collection. She’ll have this thing under wraps and us in a lecture in no time flat!” With that Rainbow Dash sped off to Ponyville radiating confidence as she flew.

Applejack and Rarity glanced at each other, and hoped that it would be that simple.