The Chapter
Stardust, a young white filly was sitting at a table.Ready to drink her smoothie as she put a book in her bag. It was a nice sunny day as she sat on a chair outside a cafe near a fountain in Maretine Bay. Ponies were mostly busy at this hour, so there wasn't many walking around. Which was fine, because Stardust planned to play a new song on her ukulele soon.
Suddenly a ball of light appeared not too far from the table. She watched with confusion, wondering what this was. Maybe some sort of magic? The pony world was sure interesting.
But then much to her surprise, it was not something simple like a teleportation or light ball spell. She gasped in shock at what she was seeing, the ball of light started to get bigger. A portal opened and a dinosuar-like creature who stood proudly on her legs stepped out. Wearing a white sweater that had tiny colourful specks over it. The creature was big, not too big, she could easily enter a door if she wanted to. But was taller than any pony she had seen.
It took her a moment as she got up from ducking behind the table. But Stardust eyes lit up as she saw this creature. Recognising her from her old world. Someone who was always there for her, but did not end up in the pony world.
“Sprinkles!” She exclaimed in delight, seeing her friend once again. Not having seen her since she came to the pony world. It was a miracle she remembered her. Was she here to visit her after so long? Two other creatures, also resembling dinosaurs stepped out. Both shorter than Sprinkles but taller than Stardust. One brown with a yellow belly while the other one was a deep green with a light pink belly. They were not wearing anything.
”Swampy! Rain!!” Stardust exclaimed. Swampy and Rain were just nicknames Stardust gave them both. She noticed Sprinkles quietly talk to them about something, they agreed with whatever it was. She was so happy to see them again. She wasn't sure why they were here but glad they were.
She had a lot of things to show them. She had stories to tell. Friends for them to meet! This reunion was going to be a blast! They would love to know her new friends, right?
”Stardust, it’s time to go!” Sprinkles said sternly as she pointed at the portal that she had opened. Swampy crossed his arms as he stared at her. Knowing this was going to be a tricky task.
”Going?” Stardust asked. Confused on why her friends from her old world randomly came here. Not greeting her at all, kinda rude to not say hello and only telling her that they were going? Then it hit her. “Oh! You can finally move to this world with me for a while!? I have a lot to say to you three! I can give you a tour!” She exclaimed with joy. “I have so many friends I would like you to meet. Most of them say we are not friends. But I think they are hiding it.”
”Sounds like they are not your friends…” Grunted Swampy.
“No, you are coming back with us. Back home!”Sprinkles responded with a strict rone of voice.“Now!”
Stardust’s smile dropped. Home? Back to her world? The one where she was born and raised? She had not been there for so long. It kinda felt weird, she never thought about going back. At least not for a while. She never thought she’d be heading back so soon. This was happening so fast, why couldn't they hang out for a bit? Why now?
“Wait… I have to go home, now?”
“Absolutely!” Sprinkles stated bluntly."You do not belong here. You will never be accepted here!”
Stardust looked at the tall creature that was with her during the hard times in her old world. Shouting orders at her and not thinking how she was feeling. She did not want to leave now! This was too sudden! She didn't have time to pack up and say goodbye? Where was the greeting? What about a tour?
“C-can I say goodbye at least?” Stardust asked. Thinking of the ponies she had gotten to know. They would sure be worried if she vanished without saying goodbye. She was sure they'd be upset if she couldn't stay for a farewell event. Then she started to think, maybe it wasn’t to be for long. “How long will it be?”
“Forever, Stardust! It is for your own good!” Sprinkles demanded, “Now, come on!”
“But my friends!” Screamed Stardust, jumping out the way before Sprinkles grabbed her.
“They are not your friends!” Swampy shouted, walking around, behind Stardust to try and stop any chance at her running away.
“Yes they are!” Stardust jumped up, backing into the table. Seeing the trio glare at her. “Sure there are many that tell me to back off! Like Posey or Sprout. But most of them are nice! Like Dahlia! She says nice stuff.”
Sprinkles responded. “Maybe she’s just a nice pony in general who is kind to anyone… Anyone else you want to claim as your friend?”
“Yes! What about Jazz and Rocky? In the salon?”
“They are just doing their jobs…” Rain responded politely. “It is part of their jobs to be calm and kind in a salon. So their customers can relax…”
“These aren't exackly friends yet. But there is Alphabittle who owns a tearoom! Sunny who owns a smoothie stand and Pipp who makes music and owns a music based salon!”
“Genuine manners and being nice to their customers like any good store owner…”
Stardust groaned in defeat as she stepped back. Wanting to defend her new friends. “The royal guards, Thunder and Zoom stuck up for me, once!”
“Royal guards are meant to protect others when the time comes! They were doing their duty!”Swampy argued back.
Stardust groaned as she stared at them. Wondering why they were so determined to take her back to her old world and not let her at least stay good bye. She squealed as Sprinkles grabbed her. She cried as she tried to wriggle free.
“No! No!” She cried like a brat. “You are not taking me away u till I said goodbye! Please! They- i know they are my friends! Please let-“
“Stardust!” Sprinkles shouted, holding her sternly with both claws. Making her shut up as she shook slightly, shivering as she awaited what was about to happen. “Listen to me, Stardust!” Sprinkles sighed.
“We are trying to tell you something important…” Swampy looked down at her. “You aren’t a pony. You don’t belong here. You belong with us.”
"I know." She sighed. "You cannot rip me from my friends like this. You should know how it feels!"
Sprinkles looked down, as if she was thinking of what she was about to say. She looked really concerned as she looked at Stardust. Who was too scared to say more, tears running from her face.
“Stardust… You are an OC… These ponies don’t need you… They won’t miss you once you are gone. They won’t miss you. They only acknowledged you and treated you as one of their own kind. Because they thought you were one…”
“Y-you’re lying. Aren’t you?” Stardust looked up at her. Wondering what on earth, she was talking about. Never hearing that term being used for her. What about it? Why did that mean she couldn’t stay here? Or at least say goodbye.
Swampy scoffed, “We are way older than you and more experienced with this world travelling stuff… You’d think we’d know more about it than you, right? So we know it’ll be for the best in the long run!”
“I guess…”
“You want to do what’s best for them, right?” Rain asked with Stardust nodding in agreement. Wondering what she had to say. “Then you must leave them… We’ll explain what an OC is on the way. But they will be happy when they find out you went home. They will be thanking you.”
“Yeah… Maybe a few may miss you. But they will learn it was for the best. Or some magic in this world might stop them from remembering you. Honestly. I don’t know. I am sorry for yelling earlier. But you gotta come home.”
“Why? Is it going to damage this world if i stay or something?”
“No, nothing threatening to this world. But just trust us, okay?”
“But i wanna stay!” Stardust cried out loud. She did not find this fair.
“Look. Do you wan’t to do the right thing here? Or not?” Swampy asked. Looking very annoyed at the moment. Like he was dealing with a selfish brat.
Stardust did not know what to say. But Rain’s relaxing voice soothed her a bit. These guys treated her better than those who found her egg and raised her. They were there to comfort her at hard times. Like now, but more sternly. If they were so caring and comforting when she was younger. Surely they knew what was best for her. It was hard to accept, but they just had to be right about this.
“It will be for the best!” Sprinkles repeated. “I promise!”
She knew there was no winning this. There was nothing she could do. Also, they were more wiser in this world traveling stuff, so of course they’d know what was right. There was no reason to fight with the experts. “Fine!!” Stardust nodded, “I will go. If that’s what will be best for everyone!” She started to cry as she sadly looked back at everyone. Wishing she could have said goodbye.
She wondered if they’d know if she was gone. Would they be sad? It was not fair. But she had to go, Sprinkles knew much more than she did. She was only a child, so she had to listen. Fighting back and yelling would only have made things worse. She had to leave and she did not have a choice.
“Good!” Sprinkles smirked as she picked her up and entered the portal. Which closed after the four of them went through.
A grey earth pony named Ash noticed Stardust’s blue and yellow bag on the floor. “Huh? Stardust’s bag?” She was urged to take a peek inside. But knew it was none of her business. She noticed that there was an empty smoothie cup on the table. “She shouldn't really leave her stuff laying around, where is she?” She wondered as she looked around. Deciding to keep an eye on them till she came back.