Chapter Three
"This is a perfect spot you chose for us to watch the meteor shower, Spike!"
Twilight happily said to the purple dragon. The mane six and other ponies have gotten together atop of a hilly plain. They were prepared to watch a very unique meteor shower, known as the "Shower of Illuminations". This particular shower is unique for its colorful display similar to fireworks.
"Thanks, Twilight!" Spike responds. "I knew this spot would be perfect from the start!"
"So, tell us, Twilight dear," the white, purple-mane mare spoke. "What is so special about this shower that you are so excited about?"
"Oh, that's right. I forgot to tell you," the purple mare said in embarrassment. "The Shower of Illuminations is no ordinary meteor shower. It's unique because the meteors have a display similar to pyrotechnics."
"Pyro…what?" Rainbow Dash asks in confusion.
"Fireworks, Rainbow," Twilight giggles. "This shower only comes by once every thousand years, so we are lucky to be able to see it now."
"A thousand years?" Applejack asked. "No wonder it's so hard to come by."
"I'll say!" Pinkie Pie bounced. "I'll consider today its birthday! That's why I had prepared these yummy cupcakes for the occasion!"
Spread out before them rested a batch of apple spice cupcakes, along with an assortment of apples on a light green blanket that Rarity had provided. It was obvious that everypony wanted to try one by the looks on their faces.
"Oh, they certainly look delicious, Pinkie Pie," Fluttershy complimented.
Everypony except Twilight helped themselves while she looked into the telescope she had brought from the Golden Leaf Public Library.
"Are you going to have a cupcake, Twilight?" The young dragon asked, before munching on a gem-sprinkled cupcake Pinkie had prepared for him.
"In a minute, Spike," she replied. "I'm just pointing out where the meteors will be coming from." She then jumped in place, face filled with excitement. "I just can't wait! The moment it comes it will be great to see up close!"
"Well, it will definitely be a memory worth keeping," the white unicorn said being within earshot.
"I agree," the blonde pony said. "I sure do hope my family are watching it from the farm."
"Well I'm sure every one of our families is watching," the purple mare responded while looking back into the telescope. "Anyway, it should start any minute now."
She kept adjusting her telescope, wondering about whom else could be watching.
'I wonder when the princess saw her first shower…' she thought.
"Hey! Look at the sky!" the pink pony bounced while pointing at the sky.
Everypony averted eyes from their treats and Twilight looked up from her telescope.
The shower was unbelievable. They had never seen something so amazing. Meteors had come and gone in a variety of colors, spouting off whatever surprise they had in store for entertaining the ponies:
Red meteors give off their streaks; orange ones shot across the sky in zigzags; yellow ones moved silently, twirling its trail like a spring; greens leave off trails of explosions; blues shoot by, releasing high-pitched screams; purples were paired in threes, entwining their streams like DNA or braids; whites dazzle their sky, radiating endless sparkles of white.
"Oh my, the white meteors are just dazzling…just like me!" Rarity says.
"The blue ones are like me!" says Pinkie. "I always love to be loud at parties!"
"I like the yellow ones," Fluttershy said. "They are quiet and steady, just like me."
"I think the green ones are me," Applejack said. "The explosions remind me of the sound of bucking the trees at the farm."
"The orange ones are me!" Rainbow said. "I could easily match its speed, just like a bullet!"
"I definitely like the purple meteors," Twilight says, looking through her telescope. "It reminds me of my love for science!"
A shadowy blur suddenly enters and leaves the lens of her telescope.
"Huh..?" The unicorn says with a confused look. Spike picked up on her confusion.
"Is something wrong, Twilight?" He asked.
The unicorn looked up at the sky. From a distance a small cloud could be seen maneuvering its way past the colorful meteors.
"That's strange…" The unicorn said. "I didn't expect any clouds to be in the sky right now…and it's oddly descending…"
She kept staring at the mysterious cloud that seemed to have kept its course on a specific area. Her eyes followed it carefully as it gradually descended to the left at a moderate speed. It is a given that it was going to land in Ponyville, but where? She had to guess based on its projector.
Sweet Apple Acres? No…the angle is too steep…
Sugarcube Corner? No…it's still too steep…
Carousel Boutique? She's getting warmer…It's heading for…
"The library..!" she blurted out.
"Uh…Twi?"
Twilight perked up when she turned to the others and noticed everypony giving her weird looks.
"You okay? Yah seem to be worried about something…" Applejack said.
"O-Oh…um…it's nothing, girls," The embarrassed unicorn replied. "Sorry about that. I guess I saw a very unusual meteor."
"Different than the ones we've already saw? The puffy-mane pony jumped. "Where? Where!?"
"I'm sure it's gone already, Pinkie Pie," The blue pegasus said.
"I bet it was a large yellow one..." Fluttershy said.
"No way. It had to have been a white meteor!" Rarity exclaimed.
"No, the blue one!"
"The orange one!"
"What if it had all of the colors?" The purple dragon breaks the little argument.
"How does that benefit us?" The hatted mare asked.
"Well, so that it would be 'meteo-right' for all of us!"
Despite knowing how bad the pun sounded to everypony, they just shook it off.
"Spike!" They all said, laughing their hooves off. Twilight ceased laughing only to remember that the mysterious cloud had disappeared from view.
"It might have landed by now..." she thought.
Minutes after the shower had ended, everypony had given their goodnights and went their separate ways once they have reached Ponyville. As Twilight and her assistant headed towards the library, a thought triggered Spike to break the silence.
"Hey, Twilight?" he began. "What were you worried about back there? You said that there was something about a cloud?"
"It was no ordinary cloud, Spike," she replied. "That cloud descended from nowhere! Well, it had to have come from somewhere, but don't you find it strange for it to descend like that?"
Spike took some time to think. He could hardly process an idea knowing how late it is.
"Well…I did see it, but I didn't think it would be harmful."
"The harmful thing was that it aimed for the library!"
This had put the young dragon's alertness into high gear.
"What!?"
The unicorn's stroll suddenly became a canter.
"That's why I need to find out if there was anything in the cloud that might have caused it to descend so quickly. I just hope it didn't put a huge hole in the roof!"
A few minutes later, the two had arrived in front of the library. What Twilight had predicted to happen didn't; there was no hole through the roof. In fact, the library did not get hit at all. The purple mare and dragon appeared confused.
"I don't understand," she spoke. "I could've sworn the cloud would land here…"
Spike walked along the backside of the tree-like building to only be stopped by something extraordinary.
"That's because it didn't…" he said. "It landed back here…"
The unicorn trotted to the back of the library, eyes widened over their discovery. Before them laid a pony, completely white as snow. The only distinctions from her ivory color was the streaks of gray lining her mane and tail. Even much to their surprise, the unconscious pony had lacked a cutie mark…
"Do you think she was the one that fell from the sky, Twilight?" the young dragon asked.
"It's possible, Spike," she replies. "Small clusters of that cloud are still lingering."
There was a small pause.
"But I don't understand…She's clearly an earth pony. How could she possible land in Ponyville in a cloud if she's not a pegasus? Wouldn't she just fall right through?"
"Beats me," Spike said. "Maybe somepony cast a spell on her?"
"Maybe..."
The purple mare could have the whole night to question and list the possibilities, but now wasn't the time. She remembered that the mysteriously white mare was lying before them, and she can't just leave her there.
"Uh…she's breathing, right?" the dragon worriedly asked.
The unicorn cantered over to the unconscious pony and lowered her head to the mare's chest.
"Yes, she's breathing," she responded. "Though it's very faint…I'm surprised that cloud was there to break her fall, otherwise her condition could have been much worse…"
Spike couldn't help but think about the consequence that was greatly avoided. It was then that Twilight began to take the situation into her own hooves.
"Well, we can't leave her out here," she said. "Help me get her on my back."
The somewhat worried dragon came to his senses and went over to help, and eventually brought the pony into the library. They didn't have a spare bed so Twilight had told Spike to round up some spare pillows and a blanket for a makeshift one on the main floor near the entrance. Once made, the unicorn rested the pony atop the pillows and covered her with the blanket. After such an ordeal, the unicorn had the urge to study this strange pony's physical phenomenon.
Where did she come from? Where is her cutie mark? Why is she completely white and gray?
It didn't matter now. She could only question the first two if the pony were awake, but the third one could be researched if she could find the right...
*Yawn…*
A yawn exited Spike's mouth. She had forgotten how late it was. Doing research on the matter now might not be the brightest idea after what had occurred today.
Perhaps she can make sense of the situation in the morning…
"Let's head off to bed, Spike," she said. "I'm sure we can find some answers in the morning."
With that said, the two proceeded up the stairs, only to snooze like rocks till dawn.
Someone was running…more like somepony was galloping. Everything was currently a realm of darkness except the hooves; white as snow. That unnamed pony was running…but why? Where is she running to? Or perhaps, where was she running from? Something? Someplace?
…Somepony?
Blurs of darkness broke away from the realm, towering over her and flying by with yellow-looking eyes. She did her best trying to avoid them; dodging, jumping over, and breaking through every dark obstacle in her path. Suddenly she gets stopped by a wall. She couldn't break through it, so she runs alongside it. Then another wall blocks her path, so she runs back to where she came.
Another wall appears…and then a fourth wall. All walls began to close in.
The ivory pony began to freak out, noticing that the shadows started to cover her hooves as she stood. She couldn't break free from its hold. The shadows then began to rise, consuming her legs…unable to cease its actions. As her body becomes three-quarters covered, a larger figure with fluorescent yellow eyes towered over her.
"Embrace the darkness!" The figure announced in a bellowing tone. To the lone mare it sounded unfamiliar, but she could at least make out the tone.
…Was it female?
The shadows had consumed four-fifths of her body. The mare did whatever she could to keep her head afloat, gasping for air in severe panic.
"Let it elevate your sense of fear!" It announced as the shadows engulfed all but the pony's eyes. "You cannot escape from your fate!"
Her eyes shot open, breathing short but deep breaths. Sweat fell from her face as she continuously stared at the floor. She eventually picked up on the light in the room. It was morning...Must have been a nightmare…
"Oh, good morning!"
She perked up from the sound of a voice coming from the right of her. As she turned her head to that direction she sees another mare, purple body and navy mane with a pink streak. Somewhat astounded by the sight, she lowered her head at floor level. On another note, she has no idea where she is or how she got here. The purple unicorn was a bit surprised at the ivory pony's reaction.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. It's okay, I won't hurt you."
This caused the startled pony to slowly lift her head.
"There's nothing to be afraid of. My assistant Spike and I brought you in from outside last night. As far as I know, you're safe now."
The white mare tilted her head to the side, confused at who she meant by 'Spike'.
"Hey, Twilight! Is she awake yet?" A voice from the second floor echoed.
"Yes, Spike, she's awake."
The purple dragon was seen running down the stairs to stand next to Twilight.
"Whoa…Her eyes are gray, too…"
The nameless mare took it as an offense and looked to the floor. The unicorn nudged her assistant.
"Spike, don't be rude!"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I've just never seen them before…It's nothing personal!"
She then looked at the pony with an apologetic face.
"Sorry about that…Anyway, allow me introduce ourselves. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I'm the keeper here at the Golden Leaf Public Library." She then looks at the purple dragon and back.
"And this little dragon is Spike."
Spike waved happily.
"Nice to meet you!" he replied.
The ivory mare lifted her head up to them and smiled softly, letting them know that she was no longer afraid of them.
"So, do you have a name?" Twilight asked.
The pony opened her mouth in attempt to generate words, but nothing could be heard. She gave a confused look and tried again…nothing. She even tried yelling, but it caused her throat to strain, forcing her to cough. The purple pony looked concerned.
"Oh no…You can't speak? Well, do you know what your name is?"
The pony thought for a few seconds. To the purple mare, she would have expected her answer immediately with a nod, but after recalling the recent event…The ivory mare shook her head. The unicorn and dragon looked at each other with concerned faces and returned their gaze on the white pony.
"Do you remember anything from last night?" Twilight asked.
She shook her head.
"A recollection of anything at all?"
She shook her head again.
"I see…"
"So she has amnesia?" Spike asked.
"There's no doubt."
The room stood in silence as the white pony looked at the floor in forlorn.
"Then…why don't we give her a name?" The dragon suggested. "I mean, it may not be her real name, but it'll only be temporary until she gets her memory back, right?"
This caused the nameless pony to perk up from her gloominess. Twilight had no problem with that.
"That's not a bad idea, but what should we name her?"
"How about…Silver Belle?" The pony shook her head in disgust.
"Perhaps if her special talent involved winter holidays…How about Sugar Drop?"
"No…Maybe Gemstone?"
"I was thinking of Saccharine Spherule."
The white mare did nothing but tilt her head in confusion.
"No pony is going to understand what that mean, Twilight…"
"What? It means 'Sweet Pea'!"
The unnamed mare couldn't bear to listen to the ridiculous names the other two kept giving. She starting looking about the room till she came across a poster of star constellations above one of the bookshelves. Her eyes lit up by the sight of it, so she soon stood up and walked over to it to get a closer look. Seeing this action caused the purple pony and dragon to stop spouting names and watch.
"She seems so mesmerized by that constellation poster." Spike said.
The purple unicorn thought for a second, and then it clicked. A smile instantly came across her face.
"…Starburst."
The ivory pony perked up and turned to Twilight by the sound of the name. Spike turned to the unicorn.
"Starburst? Why did you pick that name?"
"Well, she was the pony that fell from the sky, like a shooting star, more or less. Plus, you saw how mesmerized she was looking at that poster. She seems very interested in stars!"
The two began walking over to the white pony.
"So, what do you think?" Twilight asked. "Would you like to be named Starburst? We can always call you 'Star' for short. Would you like that?"
The pony's grey eyes lit up. She happily nodded and jumped in place from excitement.
"Starburst, huh?" Spike says, hearing the name click off his tongue and smiles. "Yeah! I like the sound of it!"
"Then it's settled!" the unicorn looks back to the ashen pony. "I'm sorry that you've lost your voice and memory, but until you get them back you are welcome to stay here with us!"
The newly named pony happily nodded.
"In the meantime…Spike?"
"Yeah, Twilight?"
"I believe there's a book on the Equestrian Astral Figures on a shelf in the Science section. I think Starburst would be delighted to take a look at that."
Starburst's eyes light up again.
"Sure thing!" The dragon runs off to one of the shelves as the other pony follows, Twilight watched them from a distance.
'Though, it's odd…' she thought. 'I can understand the memory loss, but not being able to speak? And her distinctive color scheme…Now I'm really anxious on what her past is about…'