Nova Stella was born to two unicorns in the city of Manehatten. The father, Professor Pluto, a kindly bumbling professor of astronomy and history, and Moonlight Melody, a former famous singer and pianist, now relegated to a secluded life due to a stage injury, chronic pain, and depression. (This affected Nova Stella, as she wanted nothing more than for her mother to be happy.) Though Nova’s parents loved her to pieces and vice versa, she had trouble making friends in the city. So she convinced herself that she didn’t need any. 

One day, her dad sat her down and explained that for her mother’s health, they needed to move to the oceanside. And there just so happened to be an open job for a professor in Maple Leaf, on the west coast of Equestria. Although she didn’t have many friendships tying her down, besides her astronomy teacher at school, she was devastated at leaving the only place she ever knew. And as a refined pony who enjoyed cleanliness and the convenience of the city, she was dreading what awaited her. But she tried not to vocalize these things for her mother’s sake, and just stewed over them as they traveled to Maple Leaf. After arriving in the town square still in thought, she was approached by Ginger Bread, the local baker’s daughter, with a welcome gift of freshly-made cookies. (This was something she enjoyed doing regularly). Shocked and secretly touched, Nova Stella did not know how to react. So she mumbled thanks and levitated it out of the young earth pony’s hoof, only to trot away quickly.