//------------------------------//
// Ch 38: Misunderstanding 
// Story: Out of the Darkness 
// by SergeantShenanigans 
//------------------------------//

Star was walking slowly through an endless field full of the most beautiful flowers he could ever imagine. He took in a deep breath and attempted to take in his surroundings; along with the many beautiful flowers was a land covered in lush green grass, looking to the skies he saw nary a cloud in sight, but what clouds there were greatly complimented to the bright blue of the sky. He leaned over to sniff a particularly white looking flower and it tickled his nose, he blinked and looked again and saw that the flower had whiskers "Wait, flowers don't have whiskers" he realized before reality came crashing back in…

As his eyes opened he realized two things, firstly, there was a cat on his chest, licking its paws and looking content, secondly, he realized that the gaping hole in his roof was gone, though he had no recollection of fixing it he wasn't going to complain.

Looking once again at the cat he realized that it was none other than the kitten that he had gotten Fluttershy for Hearths Warming day, though how it had gotten in his house, he had no clue, but he decided to return the kitten to his owner before she panicked. As he neared the door he heard a pony outside, when he opened it he found Fluttershy flying back and forth in worry.

Before she could even say a word he gave her the kitten "Thank you oh so very much, I was very worried about him." She said happily while hugging the cat.

"Don't mention it; by the way, do you know how he could have possibly even gotten in here? Or who patched up my roof?" he asked.

"I have no idea, sorry." She said with a shrug.

"That's alright, I can just ask around, thanks anyway." He said with a nod.

After Fluttershy left his house Star started to look around his home trying to find out how the cat had gotten in. Eventually he found out how the kitten had gotten in, he had still forgotten to completely close one of his windows.

Reading back over the letter he had received the other night his mind was once again filled with questions, like who was this visitor, and who had told them that he was dead, and why hadn't his mother told him who the visitor was?

Trying to push these recurring questions from his mind he decided to eat some breakfast. After he had eaten his breakfast he went outside to inspect the hoofwork of the pony who had fixed his roof.

He was surprised to see that the roof looked just as it did before it had been destroyed "Would you look at that? Huh, color me impressed" he thought with a nod of approval.

Just before he left he saw a note attached to the side of his home, picking it up he read it.

I noticed that your roof was broken so I decided to fix it.

-Your secret admirer

Attached to the note was a white flower, just like the one he had been about to sniff in his dream, he eyed it warily waiting for it to turn into a kitten, when it didn't he began to think about the note "Since when do I have an "admirer"?" he thought before putting the note inside his home and leaving to ask his friends about a most likely candidate so that he could properly thank this pony "Unless it isn't a pony." He considered.

First he decided to see Rarity, she seemed the most likely to know something or other about this. When he opened the door to Carousel Boutique he heard a bell ring that was attached to the door, shortly after this he heard a muffled voice call out "Just a moment please."

As she walked into the room she looked dead tired and grumpy, but when she saw Star she visibly brightened up and looked like her normal self, albeit with dark blue bags under her eyes "Hello darling, is there anything I can help you with?" she asked.

"Yes actually, this morning I woke to see that the large hole in my roof that the dragon had left was fixed. Along with it I found a note, the note said "I noticed that your roof was broken so I decided to fix it" it was signed by my secret admirer, because apparently I have one. I came to ask you if you knew of anypony who might be my so called "secret admirer" so that I may find that pony or other sentient creature and thank them." He explained.

Her eyebrows furrowed with what looked like annoyance for a moment before shaking her head "No I don't know anypony who would be your secret admirer, now if you'll excuse me I have to leave, I have to go and speak with Twilight a moment about… something. If you'll excuse me!" she exclaimed racing out the door.

Star stared at where the white unicorn had been standing just moments before, looked over to the door, then back to where she had been standing "I am surprised that neither her or Fluttershy has noticed that I'm not in my wheelchair…" he thought before shrugging and deciding to ask Rainbow about it. If there was a pony who was giving him their attention instead of her, she would know.

Eventually, he found Rainbow in Sugarcube Corner, with Applejack and Pinkie Pie "Well that narrows down my search of possible ponies who could know who it is." He thought before approaching the group.

"Hey girls." He greeted.

Each of them greeted him in turn and continued to what they had been doing, Pinkie was cheering on a hoof wrestling match between Rainbow Dash and Applejack, which appeared to be a tie for the moment.

Eventually after a few moments Applejack managed to win the match "Nice try Dash, maybe next time," she said with a triumphant smile "ah won, now ya have ta do yer part 'a the deal."

With a roll of her eyes Rainbow Dash ordered a cake with the words "Applejack Hoof Wrestling Champion" written on the front.

After Pinkie went off to bake it Rainbow turned to Star "What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be out practicing for our race tomorrow?" she asked.

"Actually I can't practice today, I have a train ride to catch in a few hours, my mom had a visitor recently that she wanted me to meet. And I am here to ask you girls a question." He explained.

After a few moments silence Rainbow Dash looked annoyed and exclaimed "What's the question!"

"Somepony was at my house last night and fixed my roof. There was a note taking credit for it and it was signed by my 'secret admirer', I asked Fluttershy and she had no idea, Rarity seemed like she might've known something but I didn't want to press, so I decided to ask you girls." He explained.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared a look then turned back to Star "Sorry sugarcube, ah have no idea who it could be." Applejack apologized.

He looked at Rainbow and she simply gave him a shrug "Sorry." She apologized.

"Now if'n yall 'll excuse us, me 'n Dash here have ta go to the library, she was gonna show me… uh…" Applejack started to say. "The new series of Daring Doo books she found!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "C'mon, AJ, we should get going." Rainbow then grabbed her orange friend and dragged her out the door.

After giving them a curious glance he decided to follow "Maybe I can just ask Twilight" he thought while he walked. When he arrived at the library he saw an unusual sight, Twilight and Rarity were right in each other's faces glaring at each other, Rainbow Dash was in a pile of books, Applejack was standing to the side with a look of concern, and Spike was standing next to her looking a little upset "What's been happening here?" Star asked walking into the library.

Every pair of eyes in the room immediately snapped to him in surprise, when they didn't continue or look away it made him nervous "Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

He still didn't receive an answer; it looked as if nopony in the room knew exactly what to do at that moment, as if they were afraid to be the first one to say anything.

The minutes passed as the ponies continued to stare at him, still none of them said anything "Is something wrong?" he asked again in a very worried tone.

Still he received no answer, after a few more moments the silence was broken by the sound of a small pop, and right in front of Star materialized a scroll with the all too familiar golden C on the front, he grabbed it, opened it and began reading "Dear Star, our guest is getting impatient, she says that it's been over a thousand years, she has waited long enough, and if you haven't already figured it out our guest is the esteemed Princess Yellowscale, along with her, you and I have much to discuss that has been pointed out to me, forget about your train I am sending a chariot to retrieve you, it will be there shortly after this letter, it will meet you in front of Twilight Sparkles library. Signed, mother."

Still, he had yet to raise any response out of the ponies standing in the room with him "Well with that in mind I am just going to get going, I might come back when things make more sense." He said leaving the library.

As soon as he did the other ponies began to stir "…Do you think he heard any of that?" Twilight asked.

Rarity shook her head "I think he may have had a bit more to say if he had heard our conversation previous to his intrusion."

Applejack sighed "Ah thought he'd never leave, ya had us in an awkward situation here Twi."

"When I said the next thing I want to hear is an explanation and nothing else, I didn't think that Star was going to walk into the door!" Twilight defended.

Rarity's eyes suddenly widened "Wait, where did he say he was going?" she asked in alarm.

"To Canterlot to talk to Princess Yellowscale, why?" Spike asked.

"Because she's a dragon! Most dragons aren't known for their kindness, especially to ponies who broke their hearts!" Rarity exclaimed.

Twilight's eyes widened in realization "We have to stop him before he gets there, that dragon is going to kill him!" she exclaimed.

Just as they ran out the library door they saw Star flying off in a royal chariot "We're too late!" Twilight exclaimed.

"No we're not!" Rainbow exclaimed before shooting off after the fast moving chariot.

She quickly caught up to the chariot and landed inside on the seat right next to Star "Hey." She greeted casually.

"Hi." He greeted just as casually.

"So… do you really think it's the best idea to be going to see this Princess Yellowscale?" she asked.

"Yes, why?" he asked with a tilt of his head.

"Well… don't you think she might still y'know, hate you for breaking her heart?" she asked.

This caused Star to laugh "Everything will be fine, now, you go back and tell the others that too." He said shooing her off.

She hesitated for a moment before shrugging and leaving to tell their friends what he had said.

When she landed back in front of the library she saw that Fluttershy and Pinkie had arrived also "So, is he going to have them turn around or what?" Twilight asked.

"He said everything will be fine, and I'm not very inclined to go and dig around in his business anyway, he will tell us what happens when he gets back." Rainbow said.

Her friends looked taken aback "Well Rainbow, how very patient and considerate of you, that's certainly different." Rarity commented.

"I just don't think that it's right to go and snoop your way through another pony's business, that's all." Rainbow mumbled.

Twilight shook her head vigorously for a moment "Regardless, I don't think he knows what kind of trouble he's getting into. We have to get to Canterlot before she hurts him, or worse."

They quickly set about trying to find a quick way to Canterlot, they decided upon using Pinkie's air balloon to get there. It would be the quickest way to travel there, especially since Rainbow had volunteered to help pull it, also volunteering Fluttershy to help.

After appointing Spike to watch the library they quickly set the air balloon up and went on their way to Canterlot, hoping that they weren't too late by the time they got there.

After what seemed like an eternity they finally arrived at the castle, where they quickly approached the door to hear a scream coming from inside "No, don't do that!" it sounded like Star.

"Don't worry Star we're coming!" Twilight exclaimed.

As they burst through the door Rarity exclaimed "You unhand him you-" she immediately stopped her sentence when she saw what had really been happening.

There, right in the middle of the room, was a dragon, this dragon was about as large as Razor Claw had been, but slightly smaller, it also had a very, very different color, it looked to be a bright golden color, but it had a certain yellow to it more than gold.

This dragon was holding Star's cloak high above him where he couldn't reach it, but she was staring at the group of ponies that had just burst through the door "Hey girls, what are you all doing here?" Star asked.

"I-um-er-well-hello there." Rarity stammered out.

"Oh, how rude of me, Princess Yellowscale, these are my friends, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie." He said gesturing to each of his friends as he introduced them "Girls, this is Princess Yellowscale, one of my oldest friends." He said introducing her.

The other ponies continued to stare at the dragon "What's wrong?" Yellowscale asked, her voice was rumbly, just like most adult dragons voices were, but it was very light and sweet sounding.

"Aren't you mad at Star?" Pinkie asked.

"Why ever would I be mad at Star? Besides the fact that he disappeared for over a thousand years. Also, do any of you know what happened to his horn and wings? They seem to be missing." She said shooting Star a look, to which he responded with a sheepish grin.

Twilight absentmindedly undid the illusionary spell on Star making him look like his normal self "Now that's the Star I know." Yellowscale commented.

She then turned to the group of ponies again "You still didn't answer my question, why do you think that I would hate him?" she asked.

"Well, he broke your heart, most creatures hate others that break their hearts." Rarity pointed out.

Star and Yellowscale shared a look before breaking out in laughter "What's so funny? I wanna know! I wanna know! I love funny things!" Pinkie demanded while bouncing up and down.

After the laughter died down Yellowscale wiped a tear from her eye "That's rich, I had forgotten that we had to keep up that fabrication."

"Fabrication?" Twilight asked.

Star gave them a sheepish grin "You see, I had to tell you the story like that because I was sworn to secrecy, and I will tell you the true story if I am allowed." He explained before turning to Yellowscale.

She nodded in approval before he continued "You see, I did become good friends with her while I was at her home kingdom, but what I couldn't tell you was that she didn't develop feelings for me, she developed feelings for a dragon that was of a lower social class, the regular princess falls for the peasant story, but anyway nopony could know of this, and she was already promised away to marry Razor Claw, so we came up with an idea, that she was to fake having feelings for me, I would turn her down, she would go into "isolation" and voila! Problem solved! Except now Razor Claw has returned looking for her to tell her that he has killed me, she already has a family with five hatchlings so she is staying here in Equestria for another few days, after a week has passed he will have to give up his search and he will probably find another mate." Star explained.

"So Star isn't in danger?" Rainbow asked.

Star looked offended "Why is it that you girls always assume that I'm in danger?" he asked.

"Because you are." Twilight countered flatly.

"Touché." He conceded.

"So what was all of that when we first got here, I heard Star yell "No don't do that!"" Twilight asked.

Yellowscale smiled deviously "I stole his cloak." She explained.

"And she wasn't very nice about it! She nearly took off my cast doing that!" Star exclaimed.

Yellowscale looked down at it as if seeing it for the first time "I am assuming that you got that when you were fighting Razor Claw?" she asked.

Star smiled weakly "Yep, and it didn't feel good either."

"You're such a baby, that is nothing compared to when you broke all four of your legs up to the shoulders and a part of your neck." She teased.

"Well that hurt worse, and it was your fault." He argued.

"You're the one who asked how far somepony could be knocked by being hit by a dragons tail." She pointed out.

Star smiled wildly at this "And I don't regret that decision in the least."

"This is nice and all, but since we came here for no reason at all, I'm going home, who's with me?" Rainbow said.

In turn they all ended up leaving, though Twilight and Rarity still seemed slightly reluctant to leave him alone with a dragon after much reassurance they left after warning Yellowscale that if she hurt Star, they would use the elements of harmony on her.

After they left Yellowscale turned to Star "Why are they so protective of you?" she asked.

Star shrugged "Beats me."

Shortly after Star left in the chariot

A very relieved Applebloom sighed as she watched Star leave, he gave up on asking questions, now he wouldn't find out that she was secretly the one who had rebuilt his roof, though she still didn't know who left the flower, or the note…