The Stars At War

Red Star was putting the last of the hay bails onto the cart when a high pitched shrill sounded behind him. His first instinct was to spin around and fire a blast of energy, he was glad he didn't as Iris tackled him to the ground.

“Heya dad!” Iris shouts before going in for a hug.

“Hey Iris, have a nice day?” Red Star replies stroking her mane.

“Yeah, I learned a lot today. Was your day fun too?”

“It was productive, but not as fun as going school.”

Iris lets out a small laugh as Red Star picks her up and places her down so he can stand.

“Oh yeah, um Miss Cheerilee gave me this to ask you something.” Red Star leans down and takes the note Iris removed form her satchel.

Red star opens the letter.

“Dear Mr Star,”

“Your Daughter Iris has been telling me that you come from some place beyond Equestrias borders, or as she puts it Equestrias sky. I find it hard to believe that you could be something from another planet. I have asked Iris to deliver this message to you so that I could ask you to see me at your earliest convenience. Iris is a wonderful student but this spate of lies is starting to frighten her classmates.”

“Yours Sincerely.”

“Cheerilee.”

Red Star reads the letter again to make sure what he read was not fake. Iris's teacher was claiming that she was lying in class. Red star folded the letter back up and put it into his pocket.

“Iris, please can you go and tell the Apple family I will be late for tea. It seems I have to set something straight.”

“Sure dad, y-you won't hurt Miss Cheerilee will you?” Red Star was shocked at Iris' question.

“Of course I won't Iris, I just need to see her about this letter that's all.” Iris rubs against Red Stars leg like a cat would do before running to the farm house. “Now I have to see some teacher about accusing my daughter of lying.” Red Star starts to walk towards town pulling out the letter and watching it go up in flames between his finger tips.

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

When Red Star reached the school house he stopped and calmed himself, he knew he was here to set a record straight but they are just ponies. Maybe they don't know about other worlds yet, the thought made him smile; these ponies are in for a rude awakening. Red Star walked up to the front entrance and noticed three fillies exiting, it didn't take him long to know who they were.

“Hey Apple bloom, Scootaloo, and of course Sweetie belle.” The three fillies look up but Red Star saw their faces were down trodden. “You look down girls, what's wrong.”

The three fillies start to look confused, Red Star also noticed they weren't scared; well Apple Bloom anyway considering she sees him everyday at the farm.

“Oh, Mr Star! Ah didn't know ya came ta pick up Iris. She's already gone though.”

“No, I came to speak to your teacher about a letter I received. Apparently Iris is telling lies about me being from another world.”

“But ah thought ya are from another place.” Apple Bloom states raising her eyebrow.

“Yeah, I am. But your teacher doesn't think so! That's why I am here.”

“Well, we better leave ya to it then.” The fillies walk passed but stop as Apple Bloom turns around. “Um...Mr Star can ah ask you something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I have told Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle about what you can do, but they don't believe me.”

Red Star looks to the three fillies noting the expressions on their faces, Apple Blooms was sad and facing down but the other two were more sceptical and almost eager to know if it was all true.

“Tell you what, how about I show you what I can do. I come find you when I've finished here, I'll even bring Iris along.”

“You will!” The three fillies all say at once.

“Yes, but I think away from the town would be best.” Red star rubs his chin. “I know! How about the park, plenty of room and it'll be a great area for using my talents.”

“That would be so cool!” Scootaloo Says jumping around.

“Yay!” Sweetie Belle shouts.

“Good! Well I'll see you girls later then.”

“Yeah! See ya Mr Star!”

The three fillies run off giggling amongst themselves. Red Star turns back to the school house and walks through the main entrance. The entrance was not like most schools Red Star has entered, drawings of various types were hung on walls and the colour matched the outside. Red Star approached a cabinet that displayed some trophy’s, the last one earned seemed to have been only a month ago. Red Star was brought out of his thoughts by a cough behind him.

“Excuse me? Can I help you? Um...Sir?”

Red star turns around and sees a pink pony standing behind him, she was definitely a mare but seemed older than some of the mares in town but not by much. Her mane was curled at the front and coloured pink with a lighter pink stripe.

“Ah yes, i'm looking for a Miss Cheerilee. Would you happen to know where I can find her?” Red star asks standing up straight.

“Well, you've come to the right place. You've found her.” The pony answers.

“Nice to meet you Miss Cheerilee, I'm Mr Star; Iris's father.” Red Star sees the colour drain from the teachers face.

“I think we should talk in my classroom.” Cheerilee points to the open door behind her.

Red Star nods and follows after the pink pony unsure of where this conversation will take him. The classroom was pretty much what Red Star expected, a blackboard stood at the front of the class with the teachers desk planted in front of it. Red Star looked across the walls and found drawings from the classes fillies and colts, one caught his eye. The drawing was near the back wall and was undoubtedly him, the humanoid form standing next to a filly both had smiles; something Red Star was now doing.

“That drawing was done by Iris, she's very proud to have you as her father. Though nopony knows what happened to her real family.” Cheerilee states. “I have tried asking her but she just says your her family now.”

“Did you know them?” Red Star asks turning around to face Cheerilee.

“Iris's real family? No, I only knew her brother who came to pick her up everyday. It was strange though, a week ago he stopped coming. Iris won't tell me why and now I remember it's about the same time she started calling you her father.”

“I think he is dead, that is what Iris told me; and I believe her.” Red Star says sitting down on a chair. “She's a wonderful filly Cheerilee, I want to look after her but I don't know if I can.”

“Why not?”

“It's not her, it's me. I have lived for a long time, even longer than your princess but I have never been to a place that has conflicted me so.”

“Mr Star, where do you come from?” Cheerilee asks leaning forward on her desk.

“That's a two fold answer, my host came from a world called earth three thousand years ago. I myself am not a corporeal being, I am in fact made of energy. I live inside this body and we share a symbiotic relationship.” Red Star could see Cheerilee was struggling to understand. “The being you are talking to now is the energy inside this body not the host, the hosts conscious died a long time ago.”

“I see.” It was all Cheerilee could say.

“I know this a lot to understand, I'll give you time to think.” Red Star stands and walks to the door. “I hope Iris won't be punished for lying about me.”

“No, she will not be punished.”

“Thank you Miss Cheerilee, I hope we can talk again. It was nice talking to someone Educated, it was a rare thing I got to do on my travels.” Red Star walks out leaving Cheerilee to think over the information he had just given her. The only thing he was thinking about however was that Iris was safe from punishment.

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

Red Star thought long and hard about what he was going to show the girls when he arrives at Ponyville Park. At first he might show them some basic energy abilities, the kind to quench their anticipation. Then he thought of following up with some target practice, creating energy targets to attack and destroy. Red Star even thought of using some defensive talents too, bring in a unicorn to attack him with some basic magic attacks and show how strong his shields can be.

Red Star was grinning when he arrived, spotting Iris sitting near the parks grassy field. But Red Star couldn't help but notice something amiss, He hadn't invited Iris yet; and where were the others? Red  Star carefully approached the field and called Iris.

“Iris? What are you doing here?”

“Daddy! Stop! It's a trap!” No more than a few seconds after Iris speaks several blasts of blue energy hit the ground between Red Star and Iris.

“So you are the one Black Star calls his brother! Can't say I am impressed!”

Red Star looks up and spots a figure dressed almost similar to him but blue in colour.

“Who are you!?” Red Star clenches his fists. “Why have you kidnapped my daughter!?” Red Star then realises something and a small amount of fear crosses his features. “What have you done to the Apples!?”

“Oh the Apples are fine, well mostly. And your daughter was means to an end, she won't be harmed further!” The figure says.

“Iris run home, now!”

“But daddy!” Iris shouts.

“Iris! Go! Now!” Red Star shouts back.

Iris runs away, crying as she goes.

“I will ask again! Who are you!?”

“I was named The Great and Powerful Trixie! But my love calls me Blue Star, I kind of like it!”

“Trixie? Your that mare Twilight told me about, the one she ran out of Ponyville.”

“Yes and now with my new powers I can repay her in kind!” Trixie floats down and lands before Red Star. “But first I have to deal with you!”

“Deal with me? Do you have any idea how strong I am?” Red Star replies pointing at Trixie.

“My love has told me everything about you, he has faith in me!”

“Faith! That's funny! I never thought my brother had any!”

“Then you don't know him very well do you?” Trixie asks.

“I know him well enough! I have found with him every day for eight thousand years.”

“That doesn't matter! I will end you and he will reward me!” Trixie Flares her hands and creates two orbs of energy. “I will end you!” Trixie throws the orbs and Red Star just stands there.

The orbs hit Red Star square and cause dust and earth to churn up around him. Trixie laughs but her laughter stops when Red Star was unharmed. A red shimmer disappears from around him.

“If that's the best you can do then you better go back to were you come from Trixie!”

“But-But! That's impossible! Black Star said I could beat you!”

“Black Star lied, you think you're the first to gain this power? Many came before you, and they all died fighting me! Do you want to die Trixie? Do you?” Red Star creates an orb of his own. “I can end you right now, if you wish. It would take one ball of power and you would cease to exist.” The energy ball in Red Stars hand gets larger.

“No I don't want to die, but I have to destroy you! If I go back a failure Black Star won't be pleased.” Trixie starts to look fearful.

“Then join me!”

Trixie looks up sharply. “What?”

“Join me Trixie, if you stay with my brother you will end up dead like the rest. Don't be another body for Black Star to climb over!” Red Star deactivates his energy orb and extends out his hand. “Please, You are beautiful Trixie. Even in that form, I can see that revenge doesn't consume you; let the past go and look towards the future.”

“I-I..” Trixie slumps to her knees and looks at her hands. “What have I done? Look at me! I have betrayed myself.” Trixie starts to cry. “I can't be like this! The hate! The anger! Though I loath what Twilight did to me, I can't use this power to kill her it just wouldn't be right!” Trixie looks up at Red Star. “Can you help me? Turn me back?”

Red Star walks to Trixie and kneels in front of her.

“I'm sorry Trixie, This change cannot be undone; only death can break it.”

Trixie grabs Red Stars hand and places it on her forehead.

“Then do it! Kill me! Break this violation of my body! I don't want to be it anymore!”

Red Star uses his free hand to pull away from Trixie's grip.

“I can't Trixie, not like this. Maybe I can help you understand what you are better but I can't kill you.”

“But why!?”

“Because I want all the killing to stop!” Red Stars outburst causes Trixie to recoil. “To many have died and now I have placed a line here! From this point on nobody will die needlessly.”

Trixie looks down tears in her eyes. “You don't know what we have done, do you?”

“Done? What do you mean?”

“We have killed so many already, i'm amazed you don't know.” Trixie looks at her hands again. “These things are covered in the blood of so many! I can't be forgiven! I can't live like this!”

“Trixie!” Red Star shouts, Trixie stiffens. “Who's blood? Where?”

“Coltdon. We attacked the ponies there...As practice!” Trixie collapses to the floor. Tears flowing from her eyes. “I was so caught up in my hate and anger, I never realised what I was doing!”

“Then why did you come here? How will killing me help?” Red Star asks. “Why spill more blood? And kidnap my daughter too!”

“It was the only way I was sure the real you would appear. I know you have the ability to change shape, and I didn't want the elements getting involved.”

Red Star looks up as he hears hooves rapidly approaching. “I don't think you can avoid that now.”

“Red Star who-” Twilight goes to say. Red Star just puts up his hand. Twilight and the others get the gesture.

“I won't tell them who you are for now, I think that should be your decision.” Red Star stands and holds out his hand. “But for now, I think we should get you cleaned up; don't you think?”

Trixie looks Red Star in the eyes uncertain of what to do. She then reaches up and takes his hand, a smile crossing her features.

“Dad? Is it safe?” Red Star looks to the group and he sees Iris hiding behind Fluttershy.

“Yes, it's safe Iris. This is Blue Star, another one of my kind.” Red Star replies holding Trixie by the hands.

“I'm sorry! I never meant to hurt you little one. I was scared, you see I am new to this power.” Trixie says slightly changing her voice.

“If my dad says your ok then I will not bare any grudge.” Iris says running up and hugging Trixie's leg.

“I uh! Thank you.” Trixie says patting Iris's head.

“Now I think we should go somewhere private, Twilight could I use your place?” Red Star asks turning to Twilight.

“Of course, any friend of yours is welcome.” Twilight replies.

“Now Blue Star when we get back to Twilights, I want you to tell me everything that has happened ok? And I mean everything.”

Trixie nods. “You won't like what you hear.”

“Then I'll be the judge of that!” Red Star says as the group head towards Ponyville.