The Cloudy Stars

by Fullmetal Pony

Epilogue: A Mare's Tale

Fireworks lit up the Neighpon sky. It was the night of the Spring Sun Celebration. The rustic streets were filled with various food stalls and game booths. Wherever there wasn’t a stall, there were ponies crowding the streets. The celebration was one of the biggest in all Neighpon, on par with Ponyville’s Winter Wrap Up. However, unlike it’s Equestrian equivalent, the Spring Sun Celebration utilized various magical implements to end winter and bring in spring. The two greatest magical aspects were the cherry blossom trees that lined the Neighpon streets which glowed with a neon light and the fireworks overhead.

The fireworks were a magnificent sight and their complexity was unrivaled. They were so intricate that they were even able to tell stories. The story currently playing in the sky appeared to be the tale of a tiny filly making friends with a large dragon. While the filly was a simple outline of fireworks, the dragon was a massive three-dimensional array of fire and magic. Its heat alone warmed up the cold night and its fire illuminated the darkness.

“They really do know how to put on a show,” Star mused as he sipped on some tea in a local shop and looked up at the magnificent display playing out in the sky. He had been out on the streets for a long time checking out all the stalls in the small Neighponese town. But even in a small town like this, things were quite lively and navigating through the crowds had worn Star out.

While most of his diplomatic business was done in the Imperial Capital, his fieldwork often involved traveling to small towns such as the one he was currently in. Truth-be-told, he actually enjoyed the small towns a bit more. The Capital was glamorous, but it was also big and imposing. When Star was in the city, he truly felt like a foreigner. But out in the countryside, where everypony knew each other, he felt a little more at home.

As he gazed up into the story of the dragon becoming friends with the girl, he couldn’t help but wonder what all his friends were doing in Ponyville. Heh, Twilight’s probably still trying out new spells… probably a bit more carefully now. Rarity seemed to be doing well with business when I left, never would have thought the uni-coat would sell so well. Fluttershy is probably tending to her animals; wonder is she ever went back to the spa? Dash was making pretty good progress with Scootaloo, I still can’t believe that little filly beat me in our final race.

I hope Ponville isn’t a smoldering party crater when I get back. What with the Cakes’ foals becoming miniature Pinkie Pies, with horns and wings no less. Pinkie was a handful on her own but the thought of three party ponies was a thought that could scare anypony.

Star blushed a little when he thought what Applejack might be doing. Ironically, ever since Star had been cured, he’d only bought apples when Applejack was manning the Sweet Apple Acres stand. He immediately left the market whenever Big Mac was at the stand. That is, until a certain blue unicorn had suddenly appeared in the middle of the market one day in a great ball of smoke. Unfortunately, Star had been right by the epicenter of the mare’s appearance, and the smoke had triggered a bad sneeze in him. He was lucky only the showmare had seen his transformation.

~~~

“So, you think you can upstage the Great and Powerful Trixie!? I won’t have it, first that darned purple unicorn and now a pegasus trying to beat Trixie in sorcery? This town has dealt enough insults to me! Leave before Trixie gets angry!” Trixie was starring daggers at Star. All Star could do was remain immobilized. Outside of the friends he’d made as mare, nopony knew what had happened to him. Yet, here he was, his secret fully revealed to the entire town. The angry magician facing him wasn’t helping matters. “Well? Are you going to leave or is Trixie going to have to make you?” Her horn started to glow with a clear blue aura.

But just as she was about to unleash a spell, a large red stallion stepped between the two mares.“Now Mam, A’m gonna have ta ask ya ta leave ma friend alone,” Big Mac snorted. Even if Trixie were as great a magic user as she claimed, she was still intimidated by the look Big Mac was giving her. For a second, the whole market was quiet as everypony watched the events unfold.

Trixie closed her eyes. “Fine.” Trixie indignantly flipped her nose up. “Trixie knows when a crowd is unruly!” In another puff of smoke, she was gone, leaving a confused crowd, a shocked pegasus, and a stoic stallion.

“Ya all right?” Big Mac now turned back to Star, who was still half-scared to death from what had just happened.

“I…I… yeah but I really should be going.” Oh no, not again, please don’t pull the knight in shinning armor stuff please!

“Well ma sister and Ah still have some apples to give ya. She said ya liked them whenever you’re star gazing.” Big Mac gave Star a wink.

“How… how did you?”

“Ma sister ain’t the best liar. When Ah asked what happened to ya, she tried to say ya’d moved away but Ah could tell something was up. Gotta admit, I felt mighty shocked when Ah found out. A’m just glad Ah didn’t do anything else that day. Ma sister would have never let me live it down.”

“I’m glad too.” Star smiled. “But I guess it’s a good thing this finally got resolved. I was worried I’d never be able to talk to you again after that… you know awkwardness being what it is.”

“Ah suppose.” Big Mac shared an equally awkward smile.

“Well it only took a flamboyant showmare to cut the tension. I had to have a princess come in to help some my last gripe.” Star chuckled a little, unfortunately, it came out as a girly giggle. Big Mac couldn’t help but blush a little.

“Sorry about that.” He looked down awkwardly.

“I suppose fate just likes being funny that way.” Star shrugged his wings. “Actually, I guess it’s a good thing I’m like this now. I’ve got race training with Dash soon.”

“Well, be sure ta pick up some apples after you’re done.”

“Are you kidding? Sweet Apples the be-”

“Sky!” came a rambunctious voice. An orange filly zoomed down toward the two other ponies. However, her landing wasn’t perfect, and she rolled into the ground, but Star caught her with a wing.

“Easy there Scootaloo. I see you still need to practice your landing a little.”

“Ugh!” Scootaloo dusted herself off as she stood back up. “You sound like my mom.”

“You fillies are so silly!” Star’s concern for the young flier had earned him the moniker of “sky mom” among the young pegasus and her friends. He was used to the title now, but he’d had quite a fit when the Crusaders had first called him that. “I’d make a terrible mother.” Star inwardly laughed a little at the joke.

“Well, don’t just stand here talking with Big Mac all day!” Scootaloo hovered anxiously in the air around Star and pulled at his wings in anticipation. “C’mon, Rainbow Dash said she set up an awesome obstacle course for us today.”

“Ghastly Gorge again?”

“Probably!” Scootaloo beamed.

“You’re not gonna get eaten by a Quarray eel again, are you?”

“Sh-shut up!” Scootaloo now had an embarrassed look on her face.

“Ha-ha I’m just teasing you Scootaloo.” Star began to ascend into the air, ready to feel the currents of the sky once again. “But you’re right, we should probably get going.”

“All right!” Scootaloo blasted off to whatever location Dash was waiting for them at. “Last one there is a rotten egg!”

Star looked down to the red stallion. “Sorry Big Mac, I gotta go, I’ll never here the end of it if she gets there before me. I’ll be back later for some apples okay?”

“Eeyup.”

“Sorry for the misunderstanding!” Star yelled as he rocketed off to catch up with Scootaloo. “Scootaloo, get back here!”

Big Mac stared as the two ponies flew off. But he snapped back to attention at the sound of a voice behind him. “Big Macintosh, who was that just now?” Cherilee trotted up towards him.

“Just a friend,” he stoically replied.

“Okay, you’re not have a secret fillyfriend behind my back are you?” She playfully teased.

“Of course not pumpkin pie.”

~~~

“すーすみません。”A voice broke Star out of his reminiscing. A pony was standing next to him. She had a green mane that was collected into a single braid that rested on her neck. Its vibrant color would have matched perfectly among the rural greenery. Her tan coat helped complement the natural aura that emanated from the earth pony. A chrysanthemum flower adorned her flank. But her most unique trait was her eyes: they were blazing scarlet, but there was also a softness to them. “Excuse me, but is this seat open?” She gestured to the empty spot on the bench next to Star. She had been lucky to find a spot at all. Like all the shops that had a view of the sky that night, the teashop she and Star were in was filled to the brim. She seemed a little nervous about talking to Star.

“Sure,” Star replied, always happy to have a chance to utilize Neighponese. “I had some leftover sweets anyway. Take a seat, the view is great from here.” He smiled.

“O-okay.” The mare was pulling very good Fluttershy impression as she timidly sat down next to Star. For a little while, they both looked at the fireworks. Star was visibly more interested in the display though, it was his first time seeing it after all.

“Wow,” Star said in awe as single firework erupted into a neon-colored alicorn.

“Um, excuse me… but are you a foreigner?” As soon as she spoke, the mare turned her red tinted face down to the ground.

“Yeah, I’m here on business for Equestria. But it’s always nice to talk with the locals here.” Star kept a cheery smile. “Oh, where are my manners?” Star bowed his head toward the other pony. “Name’s Star Gazer it’s an honor to meet you.”

“I…I’m Moon Lily.” She blushed even more now and quickly turned her head away from Star.

“Something wrong?” Star asked with some concern.

“It…it’s just…I’m not good around stallions!” The last part came out in a large blur. Star just smiled at the irony of the situation. “Oh, why are you smiling? You must think I’m a joke.”

“Not at all,” Star reassured Lily. “You know, I actually used to turn into a stuttering wreck around mares.”

“R-really?”

“Yep, but then I me-“

“Heads up!” Yelled a waiter. He’d tripped on one of the many patrons’ legs and had sent a bunch of salt and pepper shakers flying. They landed right on Star’s head, sending a cloud of salt and pepper onto his face.

“Oh my goodness! Are you ok?” Lily said, anxiety filled her voice.

Star coughed for a second before letting out a huge sneeze. Needless to say, Lily and many of the other patrons had quite shocked looked on their faces. It wasn’t every day that you saw a stallion turn into a mare. “Heh,” Star smiled at Lily. “Well, you said you got nervous around stallions.”

The End

Comments

[Mother3Forever]

Oh jeez, Loved the ending!

[Alphaetus_Prime]

This... wow.
I don't think it would be fair to ask you to write a sequel, but I would like to see more of this OC!

[Fullmetal Pony]

265236
Well I really did regret never fully explaining Star's cutie mark in-story. It would have been way too bulky and expositiony, if only there were a way to explain its back story

[Ocean Breeze]

That was an amazing ending! Thank you for writing this!

-WG

[DemCheesePuffs]

I loved this! Why did I just find this story now?! Favorited!

[Northwest Brony]

This is a great story! I hope someday you write a slice-of-life style story of all the hijinks that Star Gazer gets into with his... predicament.

[Fullmetal Pony]

367635
Eh I've got to finish Reality Break first. Plus, I just found this awesome anime, I'm getting a really weird sense of dejavu though
screamingdean.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/ransiblings.jpg

Trolling really can be fun sometimes

[Northwest Brony]

368082 dang broken image.

I'm going out on a limb and guessing it's Ranma or To Love Ru.

[Fullmetal Pony]

368129
looks fine to me but yeah definitely Ranma... and probably some of To-Love-ru as well (that one ova ) Oh I am a cruel author

[Northwest Brony]

368146 I haven't seen a successful Ranma crossover yet, and I don't think there is a To Love Ru crossover except for the reference in your fic. (there is one r\Ranma crossover, but I think it has too many flaws to be enjoyable)

After Reality Break I want to see some crazy anime crossovers >:D

[Fullmetal Pony]

368188
just waiting for some reviews on this one (not Cloudy Stars) but...
ya read one piece?

[Northwest Brony]

368202 short answer: no

my answer in a few minutes: yes

[Fullmetal Pony]

419369
A psychological issue rather than an actual one, if you'll recall a certain purple unicorn managed to defeat a Dark Lord of Chaos yet still probably had a greater breakdown over being late on a fricking letter

[Lightning Shaker]

Aww this story is cute.

[Literature]

Dat ending!

[Seven Fates]

Downloaded this to my tablet last night, and went through it this afternoon. It was a very enjoyable read. I'm glad to see that you have a sort of sequel fic going, as well. I hope it'll be as enjoyable as this was.

[werewolf435]

R63?
i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac247/headstem/GIF%20PARTY/gasp.gif

[Fullmetal Pony]

2457182
Oh shit! Get him away get him away!

[werewolf435]

2457259 Well that's a little mean Don'tcha think? He's just minding his own business.

[kagamitan]

これはよんでたのしかった。ありがとうございました！
This was a fun read. Thank you!

[Cantankerous]

I want to read this, but the cancelled sequel gives me some concern. The epilogue does wrap everything up with adequate closure, yes? If I start reading this I want to be sure I won't be left hanging.

[Feurisson]

Huh, I read this like 200 weeks ago, but I can barely remember any of it... maybe I should reread it at some point? Seeing as I gave it an upvote, it might be worth it, heh.

[Faux Re]

I made an account just to give this story a like!

[hmaf43]

going to downvote because you mess with my great and powerful waifu