The Darkest of Stars

“Starswirl...”

“Yes, Radley?”

“What...what happened to my real parents?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I just...I just...”

“Heh heh, don't worry. You're not in trouble. It's perfectly okay for you to ask.”

“So...?”

“Your mother was quite the mare. She was very sweet and kind and loving. She was an excellent mother. Everyone that knew her adored and loved her.”

“What happened to her?”

“No one knows, not even myself. She disappeared a long time ago, soon after you were born.”

“What about my father?”

“...”

“Starswirl?”

“It's time to do your chores, Radley.”

“What? But what about-”

“That's enough, Radley Kane. Some things are better left unsaid.”

“...”

“Radley...”

“...”

“Um, Radley...?”

“...”

“Radley!”

~

Ten Days Later...

“Radley! Ohmygoodnessohmygoodnessohmygoodness!”

Radley snapped back to reality to find that the pot of vegetables he had on the stove was on fire. “Sweet alchemy!” He spat out the big wooden spoon he had in his mouth as he looked around for some water. Fluttershy came racing into the room with a bucket of water on her back. Radley snatched it up and dumped it on the pot, drowning the fire and the vegetables. What was left was a smoldering, damp mess.

Radley breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Well...I guess the vegetables are properly steamed now...” he said, chuckling nervously. He picked up a charred piece of a green bean. “I hope Angel Bunny likes his veggies well done.”

“Oh dear are you alright, Mr. Kane?” Fluttershy asked, genuinely concerned. “You dozed off again.”

Radley retrieved a towel and had begun to soak up some of the water. “Yeah...just another daydream. Nothing major.”

“It seems worse than a daydream,” Fluttershy pointed out. “You completely black out and lose grip on reality.”

“I know, I know,” Radley said, ceasing his efforts to clean up the water for a moment. “Sorry about your stove...again.”

“Oh, um...don't worry about it,” Fluttershy said. She wiped off some soot from off the top of the burner. “This fire wasn't as bad as the last one.” She paused. “If you don't mind me asking...what was this one about?” Radley tensed up suddenly at the question. “Oh I'm sorry!” She shrank back. “I shouldn't have asked...”

“No no, don't worry,” Radley said. He took a deep breath. “It was about my father.”

“You're father?”

Radley nodded. “I was talking to Starswirl, trying to ask him about him. Starswirl has always been a father to me, but I knew that he wasn't my real dad. He never did tell me about him. Whenever I asked, all he said was 'Some things are better left unsaid.'”

“That's terrible...” Fluttershy said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“There was something strange about the whole affair. I knew Wind and May knew something about my dad too. It was as if they were...afraid.”

“Afraid? Of what?”

Radley shook his head. “I don't know. It was like they thought that if I knew who my father was, I would...”

“You would what?”

Radley shook his head. “I don't know that either. I was never able to figure that part out.” An awkward silence followed as he tried to resume cleaning up the spilled water. “What about your parents? If you don't mind me asking of course?”

“Oh...” Fluttershy looked extremely uncomfortable.

Radley immediately regretted asking her. “You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. It's not my place to-”

“No no, it's alright,” Fluttershy apologized. “It's just that I haven't thought about them for a long time.” She sighed deeply before she continued. “My father was a pegasus commander in the Cloudsdale branch of the royal guard. He personally saw to the training and organization of the troops. My mother was part of Celestia's council, the Secretary of Internal Affairs. They were both well respected amongst the elite of Canterlot.” She sounded a bit sad near the end.

Radley could see where the story was going, but decided to ask anyway. “That sounds like a good life for your whole family. Why do you sound so sad?”

She sounded almost resentful as she continued. “Because everyone expected me to follow in their hoofsteps. I personally didn't care about politics or any form of government. I did try to though, but it never...appealed to me.”

“So is this is how you ended up in the Junior Speedster's Camp?” Radley guessed.

“I tried to at least become a great flyer,” Fluttershy answered. “But that didn't work out well either. I was always afraid of heights.” She stopped.

Radley stopped cleaning the mess and looked up. “What's wrong?”

“I just...don't want to talk about it anymore,” Fluttershy admitted, turning away.

Radley smiled. “It's alright. I already know how the story ends.” He dropped the towel and took a look outside. “It's almost time for your spa day with Rarity, isn't it?”

Fluttershy jumped. “Oh! You're right! I'm sorry, but-”

“Don't worry, I can take care of things here,” Radley finished. He waved Fluttershy away. “Go enjoy yourself.”

“Alright,” Fluttershy said, heading for the door. “Thank you, Mr. Kane!”

“No, thank you for allowing me to say here for the time being,” Radley said. Fluttershy left the cottage.

Radley sighed and continued to clean up the mess. A few moments passed before he noticed some thumping on the floor behind him. He turned around and smiled wryly and the angry-looking white rabbit with his arms crossed. His ears were done up in curlers. “Angel Bunny...good to see you awake.”

He just pointed at the burnt pot, a disapproving glare in his eyes. “Sorry, I had a little accident,” Radley apologized. “I'll get another one going for you just as soon as I clean this up, alright?”

Angel Bunny hopped up to Radley's eye level and smacked him across the face. He pointed at the pot again, clearly saying to start the cooking now.

Fed up, Radley hoisted Angel Bunny by his collar, looking him straight in the eye. “Look, you jackrabbit. I'm only being nice to you because Fluttershy was so nice to me. Don't think I'm too afraid to show you-” His eye turned completely black, his voice gaining a strange and eerie echo. “-just what I'm capable of.”

Angel Bunny didn't look the least bit flustered. He merely smiled and opened his mouth as if to shout. Radley quickly covered the rabbit's mouth, losing the darkness in his eyes and the echo in his voice. “No no, don't shout! What are you trying to do, call Fluttershy?”

Angel Bunny pushed Radley's hoof away and opened his mouth again. The maroon Earth pony set the bunny down quickly. “Alright alright, fine! You win! I'll get started on cooking again...”

Angel Bunny took a book out from behind his back, showing him a picture of a salad with a cherry on top of it. “You want me to make that?” Radley asked, crestfallen. “But then I'd have to go out and get cherries.”

Angel Bunny opened his mouth again. Radley waved his hooves in defeat. “Alright! I'll go and get your stu-”

Angel Bunny gave him a disapproving look. Radley quickly appended his sentence. “-pendous salad ready!” He put on his best smile.

~

“You have to focus,” Twilight said, staring at Trixie intently.

Trixie took a deep breath. “I am focusing!” she said impatiently.

“Not on the right thing,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “You're focusing on the spot you want to move to. You need to focus on yourself moving towards that location. Try it again.”

Trixie closed her eyes. She had them scrunched together tightly. Her horn glowed and reverberated intently. She was concentrating more now than ever before. She could hear Twilight saying, “Breath! Focus on yourself!” Then, she felt energy flow over her...and then stop. She opened her eyes slowly to find herself on the other side of the room.

She was flabbergasted. She tried to speak but words failed her. “You did it!” Twilight exclaimed, embracing her. “I knew you could do it!”

Trixie shoved Twilight away. “What are you doing?” she asked, confused and a mite put off.

Twilight looked a bit embarrassed. “I'm just happy you got the spell. Didn't you say you've been trying since you were little?”

“Yes, but-”

“Well there you go! I'm just happy for you is all.”

Trixie sat down, not looking Twilight in the eye. “What's wrong...?” Twilight asked, sitting beside her.

“Twilight Sparkle...do you remember the first time we met?” Trixie asked, seemingly out of the blue.

“You mean when you did your show in Ponyville?” Twilight guessed. “Yeah, that-”

Trixie shook her head. “No, that wasn't it. We were very young when we first met. It was at Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns.”

Twilight looked a bit surprised. “You were in Celestia's class too?”

Trixie looked away. “I was never accepted. I was given the assignment of hatching a dragon's egg. I couldn't do it and was immediately dismissed. The next person after Lulamoon was-”

“-Sparkle,” Twilight finished. Suddenly, realization dawned on her. “You were the one I passed in the hallway!”

Trixie nodded. “I heard your name being called from the room where the auditions were being done. Twilight Sparkle...for years I blamed you for not being able to get into that school.” She looked directly at Twilight, a spark of hatred in her eyes. “You, now an alicorn princess. I even started my traveling show in the hopes of finding you and being able to face you.”

“So that's why you came to Ponyville...”

“Why else would I come all the way to a backwater town like that in the first place?” Trixie clarified, rolling her eyes. “I had done shows in Canterlot before, hoping that you would show up.”

Twilight shook her head. “I was really into my studies then. I never went out.”

Trixie clicked her tongue in frustration. “It's no wonder I was never able to find you then. When I heard that you had moved to Ponyville, I knew that would be my chance. I even came up with the story of the Ursa Major just to intimidate you and wow the crowd. But still, you bested me and humiliated me.”

Twilight suddenly felt guilty. “I was only trying to save the-”

Trixie held up her hoof to silence her. “Even when I returned with the amulet, you were still able to best me. Again, I was forced to leave.”

Twilight gave her a sympathetic look. “You could have stayed if you wished. Ponyville always has room for one more.”

Trixie suddenly reeled on Twilight. “What is you deal, Twilight Sparkle? You humiliate me twice and now...now you're helping me?” Her anger and hatred slowly melted away to confusion and sadness. “What are you trying to accomplish?”

Twilight opened her mouth to answer, only to be interrupted by the door opening. It was Celestia. “Twilight, there you are. Come with me, it's time to finish your lessons for today.”

Twilight glanced at Trixie. She then gave her another hug and went to join Celestia. She stopped for a moment and looked back at Trixie. “I guess...I just want us to be friends. I think it can happen, don't you?” She followed Celestia out of the room, leaving Trixie alone to contemplate what just happened.

~

Later That Night...

Cyril prowled the forbidden fauna of the Everfree Forest. She appeared to be looking for something, studying the ground closely. It was a wonder how she was able to see, the moonlight not even penetrating the thick canopy. Suddenly, she stopped. The area did not look like it held any particular significance. She sat down on her haunches and closed her eyes. “The appointed time has not yet arrived,” she said as if to another person. “But keep on the watch, and prove yourself ready.”

“Why do you choose to delay? You and Alexander could have easily won this day.”

“A year for a day, Zecora,” Cyril answered, not at all surprised at her sudden appearance. “Patience is a virtue.”

“That it is, but I still do not understand,” Zecora admitted, slowly materializing into view. “Why do the two of you continue with this ridiculous plan?”

“It is not my place to say,” Cyril answered curtly. “All I can say is that the wish must be made.”

“I see that you were not a witness,” Zecora began. “To the amulet being destroyed by the princess. The wish is no longer. It would seem that your plan is dead in the water.”

Cyril smirked. “Oh ye of little faith. If only you had faith the size of a mustard grain, you would be able to move mountains. There is more than one heart to be had.”

Zecora looked more intrigued than surprised. “And where would this other heart be?”

Cyril got up and removed the cross from her back. She immediately brightened up. “Why in the crown of the gods, silly! Where else would it be?” She planted the cross firmly in the ground where she was sitting.

Zecora pondered this for a moment. Her eyes widened. “You can't be serious! You mean to tell me that it is in the-”

Cyril quickly embraced her, a large grin plastered on her face. “Now you get it! But now comes the fun part!”

Zecora tried to back away but she was suddenly unable to move. She had lost all control over body as she was lifted into the air. Cyril's eyes had gone completely white. “I know the first thing on your mind will be to tell the princess or the Order where the other heart is, right? Now I can't let you ruin the surprise!” Zecora was then propped up onto the cross, her two front legs across the horizontal part and her back legs crossed down the vertical. The pale silver earth pony pulled out three, silver long stakes.

Zecora paled in her already ethereal form. Cyril continued speaking, walking up close to Zecora. “Did you know that necromancy works in reverse? I didn't until a few years ago. It's just one of the maaany things I've learned over the years.” She jammed one of the stakes into Zecora's front left leg. She wailed in pain. How was this possible? She was a ghost. She couldn't feel pain...could she? “The prevailing opinion among alchemists and necromancers is that the dead cannot be brought back to life. That's mostly true. But what I've found out is that the dead cane be brought back-” She stuck another stake into Zecora's right leg, bringing on another wave of pain the zebra. “-to a state of unlife. In other words, you can make the dead feel pain, so much pain that they want to die alllll over again. But guess what?” Cyril giggled as she stuck the final stake into Zecora's two back legs, causing even more pain the undead zebra. “They're already dead! So they're just stuck feeling that pain forever and ever and ever and ever! That's great, isn't it?”

Zecora could barely speak she was in so much pain. “I can still...get to the others...despite this...minor hitch...you overconfident...stupid little-!” Suddenly, pain shot straight through Zecora, even more violent than before.

Cyril waved her hoof, playfully denouncing her. “Nuh uh uh! That's not allowed either! You'll be stuck here until it's time for the Darkest Star to arrive!”

Zecora just stared at her, eyes filled with literal pain and hatred. Cyril looked disappointed. “No clever rhyme this time?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Oh well, I guess I'll just have to happy with that look in your eyes.” She suddenly got gravely serious. “Writhe in agony, my little pony.” She vanished into the night, leaving Zecora hanging on the cross.