Chapter One: Darkness Uncovered
Strange wild plants, low hanging tree limbs, and dangerous creatures were always known to roam free within the depths of the Everfree Forest. The forest was normally quiet with a silky calm for very few ponies would ever enter in the day; even less still as the sun began to set on this the eve of the ‘summer sun festival’. Even in this gloomy forest of forbidding thickets and thorns with its hidden many frightful monsters just waiting to ambush any helpless pony. On this evening, it was different as the sounds of crashing branches were made by some pony’s hooves thrashing through the snarls of grasses, was the silhouette of an alone colt rush by. As he trotted through the forest, slits of light illuminated his torn star speckled robes with archaic runes across the trim before being consumed by gliding darkness again.
As his gait began to slow, he stumbled over an old rotten tree root. The sounds of his cursing filled the air as he tumbled head over hooves. His figure was very, very still as he laid there with his hooves over his head. Pounding his hooves into the soft moist dirt he whimpered, “damn my donkey luck, why does this alway have to happen, and when I’m not looking!”
Slow lifting his gaze up, to his surrounding a mass of trees encompassed the area that was letting in the last Celestia’s solar light to streaming across the sky. He was astonished, to find himself laying at the cusp small pool water within a very small grassy meadow. Looking around at the grassy field filled with quite a few yellow dandelion that hinted ever so softly with honey in its clean pristine air.
He haggard with a pleased expression on his face, “I'll just rest here for a moment." Wasting no time to catch his breath he leaned over a glistening pool sipped from its crystal clear waters. Peering down at his own reflection, as he noticed that his beard was filled with bramble limbs. Leaning over the puddle closely he began to clean his long gray beard filled brambles limbs with his right hoof. Massaging the branch limbs out of his beard. It took quite the effort as they had twisted deep into the ball of hair he called a beard.
“Now that’s so much better," he exclaimed, “so much less for me to deal with later; I just wish there was a different way to get there," as he peer across the meadow. There was no other choice, he knew this very well and had to go farther into the forest's harsh disorderedly lands. Feeling the calmer as he took in the scenery for some time with the small moon shown its face from above this head. He sighed, thinking of what he had truly wanted in his life, and how all of that was taken from him. Time passed as he look up; his heart and mind consumed by unpleasant memories. Only when the sounds of trotting hooves could be heard some distance away did it shook him back to reality.
Looking back towards the forest alarmed, He spoke, “I can't have them take me back!" as panic starting to seep its way into his heart. He started to look frantically around him for any insignificant hint of movement within grasses. All the while swearing under his breath, “I never expect my apprentice to try create them, nor to have them partly created," His mind furious as he spoke, "What a Fool I was, I should have destroyed all of those old notes so long ago.” With a desperate look upon his face, he stared across the landscape and cried, "What did do deserve this fate? Is it not enough to just torment me? Do you have to manipulate the ponies I care for too?"
Casting his silver eyes downwards in dismay he spotting a small hole covered over with sod, and out of the hole came a tiny white long ear bunny. As its had head poking out from hearing such frantic ranting from just above it's well kept the hole. “Oh, my what a cute thing you are,” the gray colt said as he keel down on all four of his hooves. His horn inches from the white rabbit started to glow a gray silver light with little white sparks falling from the tip. “Would mind helping me?” he inquired to a small rabbit, “can you will you get them off my trail?”
The small bunny move bunny's tiny paws in a pointing at itself then thumping its foot harshly on the ground. The gray colt was quite dejected by this and said, “Real? why must all of you bunnies, ask for just carrots? Does it look like I had time to bring some with me?” The bunny thumping the ground hard. “Fine… I should have known you could smell in within my robe,” reaching into a pocket within of his robes, “I guess there goes my breakfast.” Hopping on his hind legs the bunny shook its head in agreement.
Impatient, he left his carrot in the home of the woodland bunny’s home, as it keep hopping around enjoying its triumph over the old colt. “Then hold still, it's harder to follow if you move like that,” he sharply said, “There is not much time left. I want you to lead whoever the pony that is following me deeper into the forest.” “I’m going to say this once,” his voice pleading, “Please don't get any pony harmed. I can't blame them, they are just following her orders.”
“Now, this enchantment should do the trick,” placing his horn just upon the bunny’s head… He had done this many times in the past felt, but it felt much harder than he remembered. As his horn started to grow and intensify and with the sharp pain coming from the top of his head. The bunny was lifted up into the air held by a shimmering gray fog.
Swirling silver light began to shine around its small body till all there was was the gleaming light. when the light faded away, in front of him on all four hooves stood another gray colt. Pawing some of the grasses near him, he created an illusion of his robes and put it over his new gray colt twin. Clearing his throat that sounded dry he said, “Now be careful, keep running some distance ahead of them and whatever you do don't let them see you transform back.” With a nod, the other newly transformed bunny-colt pounded the ground with his hooves in a ready stance.
Seeking cover under some of the heavy brushes, sliding himself away from view. Waiting for the newcomers from Canterlot to spot his lone doppelganger drinking from the clear water's pool. Some minutes past before he hears the sounds of loud clopping hooves crushing the twigs that laid just outside the fairly quiet meadow. He muffled the sound of his own breathing as the first guard popped his head out between two branches of the forest shouting, “Star Swirl! Star Swirl, her majesty seeks to have an audience with you.”
Before Star Swirl eyes were his friend, Glory Shine was always kind to him even as when he stuck in the castle's library. Sometimes bringing him some sneak-in apple cider. He was going to miss him the most, but he head of the royal guards now. He wouldn't understand the reason that he is running away and why he could not be taken back.
“Star Swirl, please don't run. I beg you whatever going on let me help you.” Glory looking around pleading said, “We could work it out I don't know the reason you running.” Glory requested to the clearing hoping that Star Swirl would over hear spoke aloud, “Please talk to me?”
“There he is! He is galloping west going deeper into the forest,” shouted one of the other guards spotting Star Swirl's double fleeing into the dark moist and misty forest. Glory shouted back, “You younger colts give chase, I need a bit to rest.” Other two guards galloped chasing down the colt leaving Glory to stand in the middle of the clearing. After a few minutes Glory said in a low enough voice that would only reach the closest edges of clearing, “Star Swirl that may work on other ponies, but I have seen your magic, but to set up that old trick again...” Glory let out his breath and calmly continued “-- This must be more than what I'm being told. Can you come out at least give me an answer?”
As soon as Glory finished what he was saying, his hooves became frozen to the ground. He tried to speak, but not a peep would pass over his lips. Looking around him the surrounding become strange, birds caught in spell were beating their tiny wings but it took them a minute to even reach the very bottom of their swings. Moving fast compare the surrounding a the gray unicorn in his torn tattered robes missing all his bells walk up to Glory and in a hesitation voice asked.
“Promise me... Promise me that you will not try to stop me!” asked Star Swirl. “It's important, you must not try to stop me.” In a worried and somber tone Star Swirl asked, “Just nod and I'll release you, as you know I'm getting on in my age and need such answers quickly.” Glory slowly nod, realizing with the inflection his old friend spoke that this may be the last time he will ever get to chat with him. Glory felt the invisible bonds surrounding his hooves disappear with the same speed of when they trapped him.
Glory shook his body a bit feeling very wronged for what had just happen he harshly snapped, “Why did you do that for I promise not to stop you, but why are you running in the first place?” Glory took some breaths before continuing, “I know you Star, what is with this hassle of finding you. You do realizes there is a threat to our very living? A beast of an Alicorn calling herself 'Nightmare Moon' will return soon and we need all of the most powerful unicorns to stop her. I mean, you don't want to live in the darkness forever do you?”
Reminisced of the kindness Glory had showed him for years Star reply calmly, “I can give you that honor, but first Glory I ask will you consign to having your memory locked away after which --” Star could not face him in the eyes “-- you will not be able to remember what happens here not for many years. For me running away, is the only path that is left.” sadden Star Swirl asked, “Are you willing to do this? After you retire from the head of the royal guard you will remember all that will be said here. You will be able to help me build a future that your descended will be the cornerstone of.”
“Why Star, is it that important that I must not remember?” in a puzzled voice Glory asked. Star forcefully reply, “Remember you must not!” Holding Glory but his shoulders, Star Swirl tried to calm himself, but it was too important to stay calm now. If he was to try and give some evidence to his cause it all disappeared a very long time ago.
“If you are question by my daughter, you will not be able to keep it and I fear she would never forgive an old fool that I was,” replied Star Swirl. In an authoritative and somewhat pleading he asked, “Please agree to take up this challenge. You are the kindest and bravest friend I have ever known, but I need to save more than the sorrows of the now if the future is to be saved.”
“I'll --”sputtered Glory, “-- Alright I'll do it, if it will put your mind to rest I'll take you up on your agreement.” Glory feel that he had no choice he had loved his friendship with the wise yet sometimes distant pony that stood in front of him smiling. In an incredulous attitude Glory exclaimed, “But you never told me you had a daughter!” Star Swirl smile left him and Glory saw for the first time that his friend he has known for most of his life has held some dark secrets. With tears coming down his face, Star Swirl said, “I have no pride, it what has to happen and I can't say I'm their true father.” Taken a back Glory spouted, “I didn't mean to probe, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry, Star I didn't mean to bring up painful memories.”
Star Swirl apologetically said, “No it is your right to know I already told you.” Now feeling more reaffirmed that his friend would help him, he exclaimed, “Be honored that you came looking for me and I am happy that of all the other guards, you would be willing come and find me.” Glory waited in silence unsure of what he should do asked, “So your daughter Star, who is she?”
Star was silently collecting his thoughts on how to layout the years and eons that lead him to this spot where he must say goodbye to yet another candle. Only this was going to different he will know the truth and if successful will be the one to lay the groundwork for the ever changing future. “I have three children and one curse,” in a mournful voice he continued, “My first born son is trapped in stone by my daughters, with the use of my cursed magical invention, the Elements of Harmony.”
In awe Glory stood there, here was the pony much credit as on the side of good. Master of over two hundred spells proclaiming princess that he serves as one of his own children and the one known as Discord is his first son. “How can that be, their Immortal as anyone can see you have aged many years, how can you be their father?” implied Glory.
Looking at the ground as if in pain Star Swirl said, “I am much older than you think. I created them to solve for my first mistake many years ago.” Star Swirl continued unaware as Glory mouth slowly open and shut as he spoke, “I still die, but I just don't stay dead. I am reborn and my appearances have change throughout Equestria's history. Glory, I have been all the greats and I remember how in each of my lives I have made mistakes, grave mistakes, and I'm the reason for why there are pony races.”
Glory mind was grasping for a thread of some common ground that would make this untrue as he was a Pegasus and to hear this left he in a blank state for quite a few minutes. Star Swirl just stood now facing him, waiting for his to respond. Glory hesitated but asked “Then how is it that you created all of them, all four Earth, Crystal, Unicorn, and Pegasus?”
Star Swirl sighed, “Ah, well this gets down to my curse and My race where I invented the first Elements of Harmony.” Feeling a large weight lifting off his shoulders he said, “I was Crystal Alicorn in my first life. I can still remember all of my friends and how they all had met their fates because of my faults.” Weirdly Star Swirl seemed to grin before saying, “In the first pony era of Crystal Time. We would have been deem as gods, powerful and very magical, I was the top researcher and the first controller of the Elements of Harmony.”
Star look around with a worried on face as his ears twitched to face the path to the forest as if he hear a sound in disturbed voice he continued “We had learned long ago how control the light of the sun, how to move the moon and stars. Our race had perfected a way to take control of how we lived...” Star Swirl in a solemn face looks out upon the Everfree Forest as if listening to something far away.
Glory concerned, “I hate to ask this --” seeing his friend looking deeply into the forest “-- what are you look at?”
“It is nothing,” replied Star Swirl still looking back into the forest. Star Swirl took a moment before turning back to face Glory's light blue eyes as to avoid whatever he had heard that keep trying take his attention away. Star Swirl with a glimmer in his eyes as he continued, “We lived happily in those days and it was quite a stunning sight. We would play games that involved making the stars ping-pong across the night sky.” Bending his head down Star Swirl begin to cry, “But that was before the First Harmony Shattered.”
The silence that followed his last statement was thick, choking, and final. Just standing there for what Glory had assumed what had been an hour was quite unbearable as he was filled with hesitation. How could he respond? This stillness that surrounded them felt omnipresence with it is fearfully powerful claws pressing deeply with forceful will keeping him from progressing. As he stood there reflecting on the words Star Swirl had spoken, thinking to himself.
No, that can't be there has only been one set of the Elements of Harmony. Undoubtedly, there could not have been more than that one set. It would have been recounted in history books and besides the Elements of Harmony were created by Clover the Clever? They were only created when... when.. His mind raced and became bewildered as he was unable to recall when they were created and when they were last used.
Abruptly Glory exclaimed, “Wait Star, how old are you?” Amazed at himself for the thoughts that race top the front into his mind was strange and quite disconcerting. He had for some time now known the great and powerful Star Swirl the Bearded, but he could not remember if he had ever celebrated his friend's birthday. As the memories of the first time, he had ever seen Star Swirl was on the podium of that first day at Canterlot Academy. He reminisces that Star had already looked quite old then too. Glory was bugged by this and confused by his speculations as he inquired, “Star, I have known you for more than ten years now. When I first meet you in the castle you already looked like a very old pony to me.”
Star Swirl calmly stood there stroking his beard in mental reflection. He stared deep into Glory's eyes as if he was peering down to his soul. Glory felt cold from the sharp look and gave shivered. Star Swirl relaxed said, “As of yesterday I'm now two hundred and eighty-nine years old.” “But I can already feel my days getting shorter for this turn,” he mutter in a tone that sounded dead and lifeless. Glory stood there in shock thinking of what he should have gotten Star Swirl for his birthday, but more unsure how he was live in front of him.
Unperturbed by Glory's growing state of confusion Star Swirl continued speaking, “The only reason why no one has ever questioned my age is because, I have been keeping a constant spell around me.” as he shuffled on his hooves across the ground. “The spell makes it so that anyone looking at me would become quite uninterested in my appearance and by extension disregard me entirely and so for most of life I have been completely alone.” Star Swirl smiled with tears coming to his eyes as he said,“There are rare occasions, where some fouls would follow me or where some pony befriended me. I was never sure why some ponies would join me even when others would find me boring.”
Star Swirl grab Glory's shoulders with in his hooves as he said, “Glory I am ever so happy that some pony would come comfort me.” In Glory's eyes, Star Swirl was sincere as he let go of his shoulders. Star Swirl swiftly took a step back and said praisingly, “Glory, I have enjoyed every one of those comfort, and I have enjoyed my time with you.” Glory rub the back of this head with his hoof as he was always uncomfortable when ponies complimented him. As Glory look at the ground for a moment seeing his shadow grow longer, he remembered why he was out here and began to worry for the safety of those under him and could not focus on Star Swirl finishing words as he said, “Even now after all the sins I have done, as that God's will continues to roll those dices where I'll be meeting my new fate.”
“Star,” Glory looked worried as he pleaded to Star Swirl, “I must go help protect Canterlot, if there anything I can do to help protect the princess,” his face turn back to direction the castle as he said, “What about my guards colts as they are currently chasing down that twin of your?” Star Swirl looked puzzled thought about the question. His eyes light up remembering why he had run out here so far into the forest.
“Glory I think you should write a letter,” as He declared, “Write down, that you will continue the search for me. Order them to return to Canterlot. Instructed them that when they get back to direct every pony into the shelters under your orders. Have ever available guard to keep every pony out of sight for when 'Nightmare Moon' arrives. Tell them to give my room a search to see if I left any notes that may help protect the princess.” Slyly Star Swirl looked at glory and said, “There sure they will find my final gift therefore it will have Celestia's name on the tag.”
Glory was taken aback by this answer as he asks, “What will that solve? Star, I mean there isn't much time. I'm giving a chance here will you explain why a letter will solve this?” Star Swirl put on a broad smile as he replied, “Well if you really want to know?” As Star Swirl started to move and walk towards the northeast edge of the clearing, “Well, you will know soon enough but first you will have to follow me quietly.” Glory look as if he had just bitten into a lemon as he whimpered, “Fine if it is for you, Star, I'll prepare that letter on the tree over there then.” Glory look back at Star Swirl as he just stood there near the forest, “But it better be worth the trouble of not going back right this second.”
Glory's mood did not change as he wrote down what Star Swirl had told him. Soon his note was written urging his troops to follow his orders and prepare the populates to hide for when the 'Nightmare Moon' arrives. He left out the part that Star Swirl instructed him to do for why should He, the head of the royal guard, leave the castle unprotected and the princess endanger. He started to get curious of what thing Star Swirl would give her highness but figured Star would tell him soon enough.
With one of the nails that he carried at all times to post announcements. He began to nail the note to the tree, all the while, praying that Star Swirl knew what he was doing. As the light of day started to shrink casting shadows to the forest's floor the pair of colts started to walk deeper in the forest quiet depths. Glory felt uneasy, as he look back seeing the fading form of the city he loved slowly fade from sight.
Chapter Two: Silent Shadows (Part One)
The sound of crunching limbs echoed loudly in the dank moonlight lit forest as two colts weaved through a winding path that for many years has been hidden from view. An undergrowth of ferns combined with feeling of the wind whispering through the branches of swaying willowing trees gave Glory the chills. He could not stop looking around as he walked behind Star Swirl for the movement of the trees around him seem surreal, flowing, and quite unnerving.
“Glory, there is nothing around you, the path was enchanted by me many years ago,” Star Swirl spoke loudly, “just keep looking at me. We still have quite some distance to go yet to get to the nursery.”
“Nursery? What nursery would be out this far and why is this path enchanted anyway?” asked Glory.
“Well, let me start with something you may remember,” reply Star Swirl, “You know that time I magically lock my room for an over year?”
“Yes, if I recalled not even Celestia could get that door open,” commented Glory, “Mind you, Many of the guards thought you had died in here. Until we saw that the plates we left near the door were coming out clean every morning.” Puzzled Glory ask, “So what was that about, and what is this nursery?”
“First things in order Glory, let me set your worry of Canterlot aside,” comment back Star Swirl.
“Well on that day, some years ago now, I received a letter,” Star Swirl tone sounded clear as if he had for some time be repeating the story within his head.
“Glory there are mysteries in this world that I have been the keeper of for way too long and each one has been a strain upon the mind.” Star Swirl sighed as he walk forward through the mist of ferns "I created Nightmare Moon. it was my blunder that has left my youngest in danger of the very things I have been fighting against for so many years. To make matters worse their feeding upon her fears of abandonment. Combine that with my eldest daughter blindness to the feeling of others around her. This I think, pleaded my sweet light of a daughter into taking the form of Nightmare Moon. Star Swirl in a low somewhat purring tone said, "my poor Lucilla Serenity.” Star Swirl looking down at the ground as he continued his story.
“I had given up hope of ever finding my enemy's homeland quite some time ago, but I could never imagine that I would end up tearing open a doorway for them to cross the boundary zones of the dimensional walls and enter this realm after all this time.
It now makes sense as to why they chose her and not Celestia. The old pony tale about nightmares were true, 'Swift they come; For silent they break; Their ending time; Is quite bleak.' for these creatures are beings that eat loops of time. Only in nightmares do a limited amount of looped time exists and they feast upon the remaining feelings within those pony dreams.
It was TIME, the thing that I have been the victim of over and over again. It's hazy force held the greatest threat to all of my pony skin and the things I wish to destroy so many times was trigger be me. My blind faith that I can one day fix my first mistake so very long ago lead more to fall victim to them. So desperate I was to feel her mane that I didn't even see the signs of what it was leading up too.”
Star Swirl yelled at the trees that surrounded them, “What would any other pony do to feel the heart beat of their true love?”
“After weeks of looking over the many of the scrolls within the library, I pulled down everything that I could about the substance of TIME. So many scrolls were written over this matter that I took them all to my chambers and read them five at a time.
After reading over the scrolls for the better part of an hour, I walk to the door and put my ear to it. Hearing nothing, I took a quick peer to see that one of the fine fellow guards did bring me my lunch. Swiftly I pick it up my the tray contending some oats and an apple. Stepping back inside I sat the whole lot on the table close the window. Flipping my egg timer next the lushes meal over so I could keep track at how long it sat there as I went to fetch some cherry wine from my private stash.
Returning from the small cellar hidden behinds some of the bookshelves, I notice that table in front of me two apples one on the plate and one off to the side. Now finding an apple just suddenly appearing in front of me was quite new. I had an overwhelming desired to try the spell I was building in my mind. I moved closer and flipped the egg timer again to restart its counting of current persevered time.
Gazing at the apple I tried the incantation to move it back in time, but nothing happen. I tried again, this time taking a slow ordered breath. As I closed my eyes I could hear the pattering of sand and an image of an apple appearing within my mind. I uttered the incantation and to my surprise, the apple that I had on my own plate disappeared. Shocked I look around and under the table, but it was no longer there.
My growling stomach made me realize that I had not eaten yet and I never taste that apple to see if it was fresh. Hesitant I took a bite into the only remaining apple its fresh juice flowed down my chin. It was then that I notice my egg timer had run out of the sand in the top bulb after I had flipped it only moments before.
I thought so myself 'Surly TIME would not behave like this under normal conditions.' A curious thought came to my mind as I looked harder at it. A desired to turn it over for the next two turns of its ten-minute lifespan came to pulled at my mind. After the first ten-minute turn was done I noticed that this time a fork appeared with that I turn the egg timer over again letting its ten minutes of sand run out.
As the seconds came to a close I became more and more excited knowing that this time I'll be sure to send a fork back another ten minutes. When the egg timer ended, I quickly flipped it over. Within the moments the first of its sands started to fall I closed my eyes and focus upon the movement of that tiny moment as I cast my spell.
When I open my eyes the hourglass was empty and the fork was gone. I pulled out for the corner of my desk some parchment, a quill, and ink writing down my experience of this day. I started to think what if I could move things forwards. Could I make a path that would link both the past to the present?
At first the work was slow, for a better part of a month I keep thinking that moving time forwards would be in effect the inverse of sending it back. So I took bigger and bigger hourglass spending all of its time as I tried to focus on some new apples. Trying to force my will to at least move one of them forward.
It felt like a lost cause so I wrote a letter addressing it to myself thinking that I would remember some time to read it. That is when I realize that the letter that appeared on my desk that morning now a month in the past was the same as this letter now.
Fear crept into my mind what if I didn't send this letter?
What would happen to me of now?
How would or could this make any sense?
Soon I started to hear the sounds of gnawing, growling, and whispers. I ran to the door and flung it open to unfold that there was just inky black darkness and cold nothingness. Shutting the door, I ran to the table where the letter sat hearing the whispers and the growling coming closer.
What if they get me?
What was the point to TIME if there are things that eat away at the strings that are no longer connected?
I couldn't stand for it anymore and flip over one of the hourglasses that I had made for a time span for a two-month interval. I closing my eyes, I could still hear the gnawing, growling, and whispers getting closer as I focus to reconnect myself to the time line in which I belonged. As soon I sent the letter into the past everything became quiet and the whisperers were gone. I looked outside the window to my chambers to the gardens around. They were as pristine as they had always been with the ponies playing inside the hedge labyrinth and the stone statue of my son looking like he was singing to the sky.
Author's Note
Hey guys, I don't want to leave anyone hanging so heres the next post chapter and I'll clean it up later. Give comments if you like the progress and all chapters will fully end around 3000 upto 5000 words to keep the story moving though the ages that Star Swirl still has to talk about. Thank you.
