//------------------------------// // Runaway Star // Story: Mommy's Little Star // by Sillyponyme //------------------------------// Star had slept for a few hours and it was near dinner time when she finally woke. She got up off the bed and walked out of her bedroom. She looked around to see if she could find Mr. Scotch but she didn’t see him anywhere. She made her way to the spiral staircase and hoped that her new parent wouldn’t be around. It was at that point she realized she was three stories high. She hadn’t been paying much attention before and now that she was, it was kind of intimidating. She had been three stories up before but for whatever the reason, the spiral staircase was a bit frightening. It may have been that she could look straight down the center of the spiral and see the bottom. It could be that if she were too fall down the stairs, she would hit more than just stairs but the wall as well. She couldn’t be sure of the reason but whatever it was, she was intimidated by it. Star inhaled deeply and then let it go to calm her nerves. Just as she was about to take the first step down, she heard Mr. Scotch talking. “Yes, let her know that I have her, she is upstairs in bed asleep at the moment.” That was not something she wanted to hear. Who was Scotch talking too and who wanted her? She had to get out now. For all she knew, Scotch was going to sell her to some perverted pony or worse. “Good, I will let her know.” Star heard a door shut and Scotch’s hoof steps slowly grew quieter. “I better get out of here.” Star slowly made her way down the stairs trying not to make a sound so as to not alert the stallion downstairs. Halfway down, she stepped on a stair that squeaked. She flinched and hoped that Scotch hadn’t heard the noise. After a moment, it was evident that he hadn’t. If Star was caught trying to run away, who know what would happen to her. She made her way down the rest of the way and over to the door, unfortunately Scotch was there waiting. “Star, where are you going?” Scotch Shrugged didn’t receive an answer. “It’s close to dinner, you hungry?” He stood a few feet away from Star so as not to frighten her. “Stay away from me, I don’t want to be here.” Star mentally slapped herself, why would she say that? It didn’t matter now though, she had to get out if she could. She opened the door but was grabbed by Scotch before she could leave. She struggled to get free from the stallions grip but it was too tight but that didn’t keep her from fighting. She pulled and pulled but she couldn’t get free. “Let me go, I hate you!” Star screamed as her horn lit up and flashed the area blinding Scotch. Star stood for a few seconds stunned as she had never been able to use magic before. She couldn’t stay too long though, who knew how long Scotch would be blinded for. When Scotch could see again, he ran out the door and looked for any signs of Star. “Great, they are going to kill me for losing her.” He quickly ran back into the house and thought about it. “I guess I could send Candy to the police.” He thought before he called his wife over and sighed. He didn’t see how he had a choice; he needed her back before the clients got there. He ran over to his wife in the kitchen. “Could you please go to the police and report a runaway child.” “Dear, I told you not to do this but you just don’t listen.” His wife Candy had a tan coat and a black mane and tail with a yellow stripe down the center, both mane and tail were curly and her eyes were a light orange. “I’ll be back and I’m sure they won’t kill you for this.” She gave her husband a quick kiss and then left. Scotch paced back and forth for ten minutes before a knock came to the door. He took in a deep breath and then answered the door nervously. “Rarity, how nice to see you.” “Yes, I’m sure it is but now is not the time. Where is Star, it’s time to meet the filly and take her home.” Rarity looked around inside and calmly shrugged. She couldn’t believe that a candy maker could make such a killing but she supposed that if it’s fancy enough, anything could sell. “Yes, about the girl, she ran off.” Scotch backed away from the soon to be angry mare. It looked as if she were about to explode but knowing Rarity, she would do her best not to lose her cool. He didn't really know her but he knew of how ladylike she was. He had seen her times before with plenty of excuse to lose her cool but she never did. Then again, he had been wrong about things like this before and this was one of those times. “YOU IMBECILE, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP HER HERE!” Rarity calmed down and inhaled deep and slow. “Where is she?” “I have no idea but she should be found soon. My wife went to speak with the police.” Scotch backed up some more not in the mood to be in bucking range of Rarity. “She had better be here by morning.” Rarity walked off infuriated with the stallions incompetence. After walking away from the mansion that was Scotch’s home Rarity went back to her hotel and into her room on the top floor. It also happened to be the most expensive room in the hotel. “I swear that fool of a Stallion.” “Rarity, was it necessary to stay in a thousand bit hotel room?” Applejack asked trying to get used to the bed. “Of course it is Applejack, you can’t expect me to live in anything less now can you?” Rarity asked as she put on her robe. “It’s just a bit fancy for my liking.” AJ got up off the bed she was possibly going to be sleeping on and went over to the couch. “I mean really Rarity, a crystal chandelier in both rooms. The knobs on the sinks are all made of diamonds. The lining on the drapes are way to frou-frouey and that includes the drapes themselves. The windows are as big as the rooms and the floor is something I don’t even recognize. Why is it so sparkly? The door is super fancy shiny wood which I didn’t know was even possible.” “Oh Applejack, don’t complain. This is simply a one night thing and besides, I’m paying for it.” Rarity shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Anyway, tell bout Scotch, what’s goin on?” Applejack asked remembering what Rarity had said when she first walked in. “Right, that stallion lost Star. If she isn’t found by morning, would you be a dear and go find her?” Rarity asked as she got settled into bed. The beds were so soft it was like sleeping on clouds. She almost couldn’t stay awake. “Alright Rarity, sleep well.” The two said their goodnights and went off to bed but it was much more difficult for AJ. Sure the bed was softer than anything she had ever slept on but that was just it. It was odd and uncomfortable. After a bit of twisting and turning, she got out of bed and went over to the couch. That was one other thing that she couldn’t believe. Why would they need a couch, it just made no sense? Still, it was more comfortable then the bed was despite having less room to move which wasn’t a problem. The couch had a bed inside, it was literally a bed. Why was it necessary, to AJ, it made no sense? The size of the bed was ridiculous. If she were to pull out the bed, it would be bigger then the one at home. AJ let out a yawn as she whispered to herself. “I will never understand you Rarity.” She let out a chuckle and then fell asleep. The next morning, Rarity and AJ checked out and made their way to Scotch’s home. On the way, they found all sorts of lost foal fliers. This only frustrated both of the mares. They could only hope that most were kidnappings and not irresponsible parents unable to keep an eye on their children. They didn’t have time to find out and to be honest, they didn’t really want to. Soon the two arrived at the three story mansion and knocked on the door. Candy opened the door with a messy mane that covered her eyes. She pushed the hair out of her face and smiled. “Hello ladies, please come in.” Rarity having no patience at all at the moment, got straight to the point. “Is she found yet or not?” Candy shook her head. “Did Scotch even go and try to find her?” Candy gave the same response. “This is what I get for trusting a Candy Maker. AJ, go take care of this unfortunate incident for me. I will see you back in Ponyville.” Applejack nodded and took off to find Star. “Pray that we find her or I will hurt your husband in many different ways.” Rarity walked off calmly but angry. AJ ran through the streets looking for Star. She had looked for three hours before she was ready to give up on looking for her. She may be a hard working pony but searching for three hours without rest was pushing it. As she got ready to turn and leave, a scream was heard. It was definitely a filly screaming. AJ ran toward the sound of the scream and found three unconscious stallions lying on the ground with a small filly cowering in the back of the alley. A certain brilliant gamboge colored pony stood next to her. AJ could only smile. “I’ll take it from here Babs.” AJ raised her voice for Babs to hear as she walked toward her. Babs turned around, smiled and ran over to her cousin. “How ya doin cous?” “I’m great but now isn’t a good time to catch up Babs.” Babs nodded and gave her cousin a hug before she ran off. AJ waved goodbye and then walked cautiously over to the filly. The last thing she wanted to do was scare the poor girl. “Are you Starry Night?” “Yes, who are you?” Star asked shaking nervously head in her hooves. She was too frightened to look. “Names Applejack, now why don’t I take you home, your real home?” This confused Star but she wasn’t scared anymore of the mare in front of her. She knew the elements of harmony by name and face. She always read the newspaper when the mane six were involved. She had pictures and clippings from the newspapers and some other sources. “I’m so glad that you found me but what do you mean by my real home?” Star asked knowing that AJ, the element of honesty wouldn’t lie to her or let her down. In fact, she would love to meet all the elements of harmony. “You’ll see sugarcube, let’s go.” Star was actually excited for the first time to go with somepony that she really didn’t know. Sure she knew about them what she learned from papers and word of mouth but that didn’t mean that she actually knew them.