The Stars At War

Red Star woke up again covered in sweat, he had another nightmare. This nightmare though featured one pony in particular, Iris. The dream started off fine, he and Iris were playing like a normal family. That was until Black Star came and killed her and everyone else in Ponyville. Red Star had to tell someone about these dreams, but the only one's he trusted were the girls. Red Star looks down to his bed and sees Iris still asleep. Iris never wanted to go with any of the others, she wanted to stay with Red Star.

“I want to stay with him! He makes me feel safe!” Red Star smiles as he remembers what Iris said yesterday. He reaches down and strokes her cheek, in her sleep she smiles back.

“You've been through a lot kid, I just don't know why you would want to stay with me?” Red Star whispers. “But I won't let anything happen to you.”

Red Star knows he won't sleep now so he quietly slips out of the bed and heads out of the room. When he approaches the top of the stairs he finds the living room light on downstairs. Curious he slowly descends noting the clock on the wall.

“3 am? Who could be up at this time?” Red Star came to the bottom of the stairs and found no one in sight, so he continued to the front door and opened it. Red Star stood on the front path of the orchard taking in the wonderful night before him, that was until he heard the unmistakable sound of someone bucking apple trees. “Who could that be?”

Red Star listened to the sound and followed it. I seemed to be coming from one of the far orchards.

“Guess who ever it is didn't want to wake the household.”

As Red Star crossed the orchard, the sound got closer until he heard a voice.

“Gosh darn it! Ah knew that would happen!” The voice said out loud.

Red Star came to a halt and peered around a tree, it was Applejack; she was bucking trees illuminated by several lamps positioned nearby. Something seemed to be bothering her, out of curiosity Red Star had to know what it was.

“Applejack?”

“What? Who's there!” Applejack was clearly startled.

“It's me!” Red Star steps out from behind his hiding place.

“Oh, Hi Red Star. What brings ya out here?”

“I stepped out for some fresh air and heard your bucking.”

“Ah come out here on mah own sometimes, it's peaceful.” Applejack says.

“I know, it's funny you know.”

“What is?”

“Every planet no matter what or where it was, the nights were always beautiful. If it wasn't stars then it was some gaseous light created by a nearby anomaly, but it was always so peaceful; like that was how the night was always supposed to be.” Red Star states leaning against a tree.

“Seems like ya enjoyed moving around.”

“Actually no, it was always Black Star that made me move on. I want to settle down Applejack, I want what every normal person has; a family.”

“A family? But ah thought you said ya had a family.”

“Had being the word there Applejack, remember i'm not mortal. I don't age, but I can die.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I can be killed. But only by Black Star, however I think Equestria is changing me.”

“In what way?”

“I can get hurt here by normal objects, like glass and rock. If I can get cut by that stuff then your weapons can hurt me, but your magic i'm not so sure?”

“Why is our magic not strong enough?” Applejack asks.

“I don't know the only way to test that would be if some...Uh...Pony attacked me with magic.”

“Ya could always ask Twilight, ah'm sure she would help.”

“But do you realise what that would entail? She would have to attack me! With her magic!”

“Ah know what it means, but if she knew it was just a test then ah'm sure she would oblige.”

“I don't what Iris to see it.” Red Star says.

Applejack stops her bucking and looks to Red Star. She finds him staring at the sky with both his eye's closed.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Like I said, I don't want Iris to see it. It might frighten her too much and it would tear me up to see that!”

“She's a strong filly, if ya just tell her about it ah'm sure she will understand.”

“I hope so Applejack, I like her; she reminds me of one of my past children. And it pains me to think if anything should happen to her.”

“Ah know, ya have that parent instinct to ya. Ah just think ya should tell her about yourself a little more, she might even want to watch yar magic test.”

Red Star turns to look at Applejack and smiles.

“You always know the right thing to say, don't you?”

“Well, ah am the element of honesty.” Applejack replies.

“Heh! I forgot about that.” Red Star looks back in the direction of the house. “I better get back, Iris is a light sleeper.”

Applejack turns to say something but changes it at the last second.

“Ok, I'll see ya tomorrow morning.”

“Take care Applejack,” Red Star walks away but looks back. “And don't work so hard, trust me it never brings any good.”

**** ***** ****

“Wake up! It's morning!”

Red Star opens his eye's only to find Two happy looking eyes staring down at him.

“Morning Iris, Sleep well?” Red Star gets a friendly nuzzle.

“Yep! You know your very warm!”

“Huh?”

“Yeah! You give off a lot of heat, when you sleep that is!”

“I do, do I?”

“Yup!”

Red Star grabs Iris under her front legs and pulls her over to the side, She squeals but Red Star attacks her with a series of tickles and raspberries to her chest.

“Warm am I?” Red Star laughs.

“No. Stop. Please! Hahahaha! I can't! It tickles!”

“See ya two are getting along great.”

Red Star halts his attack and looks towards the bedroom door, Iris follows suit. Applejack was standing in the door, a big smile planted on her face.

“Applejack! Tell him to stop! I can't take it!” Iris says.

Red star gives Iris one last tickle, getting her to giggle again.

“I think we should get ready for breakfast, don't you?” Red Star asks Iris.

“Yeah!” Iris jumps off the bed. “Last one to the bathroom is a smelly dog!”

After Iris runs out Applejack turns back to Red Star, But she sees tears in his eyes.

“Red Star what's wrong?”

“Did you see that Applejack, she wasn't scared of me. I'm in my human form, and she wasn't scared!”

“That's a good thing though, right?”

“Yeah it is. It means she's not afraid any more. Iris can move on with her life, find some pony to look after her; be her proper parent.” Red Star says getting up from the bed.

“Wait, what do ya mean find somepony? She has you!” Applejack replies unsure of what she just heard.

“And how long will that be? Remember I said I never age, or have you forgotten. I will see her grow old and die but I will never change! I can't get too attached to her, I realise that now. She needs a family, not me!” Red Star slams his hands down on the nearby clothes chest. “I can't put her through that, i'm not even a pony! I'm not even human, i'm not anything! I'm just a blob of energy in a shell! I shouldn't even have these emotions!”

“That's manure! Ya know that's not true! Ah have seen it mahself, you are ah good stallion! In this form or your pony one! Don't ruin Iris's life because ya can't see past your own thoughts! She loves ya, more than you think.” Applejack walks up to Red Star and puts her hoof on his back. “Just give her a chance ok? Let Iris decide who she wants to be with. If it's not you then, ya have nothing to worry about.”

Red Star sighs. “I guess your right Applejack.” Red Star walks over and puts his hand on Applejacks head, “Your always right!”

“Darn straight ah am! Now ya better get ready for breakfast. Ah'll see ya down stairs.”

Applejack walks away leaving Red Star standing in his doorway, he looks to the bathroom as Iris exits. Red Star smiles as Iris looks over to him, she smiles back.

**** ***** ****

“You know Big Mac, Applejacks very insightful.”

“Eeyup!”

“I mean that she seems to know exactly what to say and when, I am glad to know a pony like her.”

“Ya two have been very close lately, ah wonder if ya two have something?”

“What!?”

“Listen Red Star, ah ain't known for mah talking. Ya could say ah am very picky with what ah say. But ah see things, more than any pony; and ah see ya two getting close everyday.”

“I'm not saying there's anything between us, we have a good friendship. I wouldn't do anything to put that at risk.”

“But what ahbout ya brother, Applejack told me he's your opposite?”

“He is, But I think he can change. I've seen it!”

“Ya have?”

“Yeah! If you have a while I can tell you?”

“Ah ain't going nowhere.”

“Well, it was on the planet Gorsuun; me and Black Star was in the final stage of our battle before the planet was destroyed........”

PLANET GORSUUN

  2237 YEARS AGO

“Black Star! We don't have to do this! This pointless war will stretch on for ever! We can stop!”

“Stop!? Stop!? Why would I want to do that!?”

“Why would any being energy or no, want a war to last forever!?”

“Maybe because it's fun! I am everything your not my brother! I am death, I am destruction! I live of the misery of others!” Black Star gestures to the wasteland below, burning beyond control. “ I love this! This is my vice! My pleasure!”

“You could be much more! Black Star please! Stop this pointless bickering!”

“End the bickering!? I have been trying to kill you for four thousand years! Why would I Stop!?”

“Because in the end, you know that this will end with my death or yours!” Red Star points at Black Star. “And what will you do then!?”

“I can see your point! If I die that will be unexpected, but if you die I will roam this universe with nothing to do! Ok my brother! What do you suggest!?” Black Star crosses his arms.

“We both leave this world! Travel far away from each other and never meet again!”

“What!? That is no different from if any one of us dies! You are trying to deceive me!”

“No! I...”

“I DON'T LIKE BEING DECEIVED!”

Black Star holds out his hands, a purple orb of energy appears between them.

“Black Star don't do it!”

“Too late brother! This planet will be destroyed and all the people below will perish! Their blood will be on your hands!”

Black Star points his hands at the planet below, his hands flair for several seconds before a bright purple beam shoots out.

“Noooo!” Red Star shouts, just as everything goes black.

**** ***** ****

SWEET APPLE ACRES

PRESENT

“So he destroyed the planet? Doesn't seem like ah guy that could change.”

“I know he can Big Mac, I know he can!”

“Ah'm not doubting it! Ah just don't want you to get yah hopes up that's all.”

“Yeah I guess your right, anyway I think we better get back to work; Applejack might kill us.”

“Eeyup!”