Fall of Star Swirl The Bearded

by Game Design

Rating: everyone
Tags: Comedy, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Romance
Length: 4700

What if what we had been told about Star Swirl wasn't the complete truth?

Star Swirl has finely begun to warm up to the thought of friendship. However, he has also created a spell, that would turn him and any normal pony into an Alicorn, but the spell back fires and his friends, and Equestria will be changed forever.

Published 2013-11-17 04:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-17 04:30:02 UTC

Chapter 1: Warming A Cold Heart

Years ago, before the years of rule by Clesetia and Luna, the nation of Equestria was seeing a great change. It was only a couple of years seance the first Hearts Warming Eve had occurred. During that time, Clesetia and Luna had been a pointed the Princesses of Equestria. As the years past they had grown older, and while they where very capable, they wanted to let the leaders of the other tribes have their rain, just until their times had ended. With this came, many meetings, and lots of conferences on how to get everypony to get to work together and treat one another with kindness. One of the ponies that would be in this meeting, was Clover The Clever. She was a unicorn, with a white coat, and a green mane. She walked into a cottage that sat deep in the Everfree Forest.

"I've returned." She called, levitating her raged cape from her back onto a hanger that sat inches from the door. In the room she had interned sat an old and gray stallion that seamed to be doing nothing, but with the sound of a quill being pushed and rubbed against a piece of paper.

"Welcome." The stallion greeted. He let the quill fall, making sure it didn't land on the paper, ruining what ever he was working on. Clover was quite puzzled she would usually only get a nod or, the gray pony would just sit and stay quiet. This time, he had said something, and his tone has surprised. He got up and walked towards her. He had a beard that was long enough to hang next to his knees, but dangled just above the floor.

"It seamed to have taken longer this time." The Stallion said. Clover couldn't help but smile at his concern.

"Yes and i apologize for that Star Swirl, we had a shout fight going on with some ponies that have yet to work with one another." The white mare explained. Star Swirl rose an eye brow.

"Mmm, yes well." He paused to turn. With his magic picked up three books and dropped them in front of the white mare.

"You've been slacking in your studies, you need to read these and learn them all." He informed. He then turned once more and walked back to where he sat prior to when he move, and began to write again. Clover looked through the books and let out a sigh. I should have figured She thought. She looked back up to her trainer and smiled. But you just have to love him. At least he said hello She chuckled and took her books to her training session.

"Clever!" Star called still writing.

"Yes, Star?" She called back, poking her head out from behind the wall. The mage stallion grunted and closed his eyes in annoyance.

"I've told you that you will call me Swirl, nothing less." He snorted then opened his eyes again. Clover let out a chuckle and brought her hoof to her muzzle. She knew it bothered him when somepony would call him Star, and it should it was a name better suited for a mare.

"Yes, yes. My apologies." She pleaded taking a little bow. Star Swirl rolled his eyes and sat his quill down once more.

"Come sit, i want to try this spell out, i think i mite have it." He pointed towards a spot on the floor. Clover smiled and trotted to the spot and sat. The stallion then closed his eyes and began to summon his magic. A yellow aura came over his horn. Soon his aura became a thin circle around him, then two, then three, soon he had four different circles spinning around him. Clover looked on in amazement, this had never happened before. She leaned forward in anticipation. With the rest of his power, he cast the spell. A flash came that blinded Clover so she had to look away. The light faded and Clover opened her eyes.

"Did it work, do i have wings!" The stallion asked. Clover, winced and held her stomach. Her eyes shut and she busted out in laughter. Star Swirl looked at her in confusion with his head tilted. She stood up still laughing.

"No." She gave a snicker and pointed to his head. "But you did grow some flowers." Clover began to laugh again, folding one of her legs in. Star Swirl looked up to see that she was right, he had grown two little flowers off of his horn. He let out a grown and slumped to the ground. Clover stopped laughing and looked down to him.

"That's it, i give up." He confirmed, rising his hooves in the air, only to let them drop back down. Clover felt horrible for laughing at him. She knew she had to keep him motivated. She walked over to him and sat on her hunches and his leg with her hoof.

"Swirl, you can't just give up, you've worked so hard, and sacrificed so may things for this." She began to mess with his hair, rubbing her hoof through it, and pulled the flowers off of his horn. He nodded at what she said ,she was right he couldn't give up now when he was so close. He blushed a little at her movements, then he quickly pushed her hoof away.

"Cut that out." He insisted. Clover smiled and giggled. She then got an idea and hopped in front of her mentor.

"Hey, why don't you come with me and my friends to the Summer Sun Celebration?" She asked standing closer to the older stallion then he would have preferred. He took a step to his right, and walked past her.

"No." He addressed.

"Aw come on please?" Star Swirl sat back at his desk. Clover flopped herself over the desk, startling Star Swirl.

"Pleeease?" She put her hooves together as if she was praying.

"No!" He insisted. "I have to much work to do an-" "Hello loyal subjects!" A voice announced. This scared the gray stallion off of his seat. He crashed to the ground, his ink cart following him down and spilling on his head and down to his stomach. The interrupting mare silently laughed but quickly stopped it with a cough.

"Forgive me Star Swirl The Bearded. Here let us help you." The mare called to her magic, taking all the ink on the stallion and putting it back into the cartage it was originally in. Clover helped the stallion up, laughing a little herself. Swirl however, was not pleased, he huffed and trotted up to the mare that had barged into his home.

"Blasted alicorn!" He muttered, shaking his hoof. "Why are barging into my home?"

"I just came to see if you where both going to the Summer Sun Celebration?"

"We sure are." Clover chimed in.

"I never agreed to this!"

"Very good, i hope to see you both there." The white alicorn got out of the window and flew off into the distance. Star Swirl let out a sigh and walked towards the hanger that Clover had her cape at. She looked confused for a moment and trotted up to him.

"What are you doing Star Swirl?" She asked, raising a hoof. "You don't have to go if you really don't want to." Star Swirl levitated his cape onto his back and looked to his student.

"Well, i cant make myself look like a lair to the princess now can I?" He gestured. Clover smiled and hugged him. Then grabbed her cape and galloped outside. The stallion watched as Clover the Clever galloped out of the cottage. He turn and began to put on his hat.

"Come on Star!" She ordered "We are going to have such a good time!" Star Swirl placed his hat in the right formation, and as her heard Clovers last words, he had done something he hadn't before in a long while. He had smiled. He hid it, and headed out the door walking towards Canterlot with Clover, unaware of just how much his life would change on this day.

Chaper 2: Friendship is Magic

The celebration was going off swell. The tribes where getting along, everypony seamed to be having fun. Except for one particular stallion wasn't to excited about the situation. He sat in the spot that Clover the Clever Commander Hurricane, Princess Platinum, Chancellor Puddinghead and their advisers had been seated. The others had been laughing the entire time, while Star Swirl only read the book he had brought with him. Clover the Clever was talking with Private Pansy when she looked over to him, and noticed that he was sitting there reading his book. She let out a sigh and looked back to her friend.

"I don't think I'm ever gonna get him to talk to anypony." She whined.

"Oh, well maybe he just needs a nudge in that direction." Pansy suggested. Platinum over heard and trotted over to the two.

"Don't worry Clover my dear." The princess assured, with a hoof to her chest. "This mare can get any stallion to start talking." She smiled, winked, and before the white mare could say anything the Princess was off standing in front of the gray stallion. What she doesn't know is that he is not a normal stallion. The light blue mare looked over to her friends and smiled with a wink. Clover waved back with a nervous smile. Platinum then turned towards the stallion and cleared her throat, gaining Star Swirls attention. He lowered his book and rose an eye brow, and wore a look that said "Yes, what do you need". The princess batted her eye lashes, and began to speak.

"Well hello there mister bearded." She greeted, with a seductive look. "I was just wanting to know, where you got this marvelous hat?" She reached out to touch it but was stopped by the force of something on her foreleg.

"Nopony, touches the hat." He uttered, and let his magic grip on the Princesses leg go. She gave a humph and trotted back over to the others. He was about to go back to his reading when he looked back to the front of him and another mare was there. Only she was upside down, looking deep into his sole, well that's how Star Swirl saw it. He jumped a little when he saw her. She how ever was unfazed. The red mare then touched muzzles with him. Star Swirl was confused and a little enraged that this pony was so close to him. He was about to bark at her when she back away from him and landed.

"You don't look at that magical to me." She admitted. Star Swirl gave her a stern look and shut his book.

"What do you mean I'm not magical?!" He rhetorically asked. "You haven't even seen my magic! Let alone any of my spells!"

"Exactly." The red Pegasus agreed. "So you would have to show me for you to be any good." She explained, flicking his nose with her tail. He flinched and rubbed where she had smacked him. He grunted and called to his magic.

"Look here miss hurricane!" He called. He blasted a bolt into the air, causing a projection that looked like a dragon, the dragon then blew fire which morphed into a pony the pony then exploded and became a barrage of fire works.He smiled a little at what he had done, and he wasn't the only one impressed. From all of the crowds, cheering and applause erupted, mos seamed to come form the group he had sat with. Captain Hurricane flew over and took Star's neck into her arm.

"Wow, gotta say that was pretty impressive S.S.T.B." Star Swirl rose an eye brow.

"What did you call me?" He asked in confusion. Hurricane smiled at him and told him again.

"S.S.T.B, you know your Italians." The red mare bumped him with her elbow. Star Swirl smiled and gave a slit chuckle.

"Alright, you may call me SST..." He stopped himself and shock his head. "No!" He said, more to himself then anyone else. "My name is Star Swirl and you will address me as so!" Captain Hurricane patted his shoulder.

"Be at ease mister S.S.T, i was only making fun." She then stood in front of him and looked at him with a saddened face.

"Why are you so against making friends?"

"Because i have no need for them!" He shouted not caring who heard him. "I have lots of work, and spells to practice and prefect, and i can't have such a ridiculous think like friendship getting in the way!" The stand fell silent, with everyone just looking at him.

"But we could help you with your studies and your spells." A voice muttered, braking the silence. Everyone turned to look at Clover. She then shock her head in declaim.

"It wasn't me." She pointed to the mare standing next to her. Captain Hurricane's jaw dropped to see that Pansy had said the words. PuddingHead bounced over and closed Hurricanes mouth.

"Don't want any bugs going in there." She said smiling. She turned towards Star Swirl.

"Yeah! We could even help you with that new spell your making!" She chimed. Star Swirl looked puzzled, he hadn't even told Clever about.

"How did you know that?" He asked.

"Just a hunch, you are a spell caster, why wouldn't you be making your own." Star had more questions but halted when he felt a hoof on his shoulder. He turned to see a wood colored mare standing behind him.

"I know how you fell, stranger." She began. "All i ever really cared about was my farm. I didnt care much for making friends, and I sure as hay did care about meeting new ponies. And then, i met Chancellor Puddinghead and well. All of that changed." Star Swirl looked over to the other mares and they looked back at him, giving him smiles. Hurricane stepped forward.

"Don't cast us aside. Give us a chance." She reached out her hoof. Star Swirl looked down at it then back up to her. "Let us show you just how much happiness friendship can bring you." Star Swirl didn't know what to decide. He did want to work alone yes, but with the help from all 6 of them he could increase his work rate by more then he needed to have finished, and he would also have happiness. Happiness. The older stallion thought. That is something I haven't had in a long time. He looked back up to the mare, she was still smiling and had her hoof out. Slowly, he smiled himself, and rose his hoof and grabbed hers, giving a firm shake.

"I accept your offer Captain Hurricane." All of the other mares cheered for joy. Walking towards and greeted their new friend.

The day continued on. They played games, had things crafted, and even witnessed Hurricane own in jousting. They where all enjoying themselves, including Star Swirl. If anything he seamed to be having the most fun. He had won some prizes and had given them all to Clover, whom he seamed to be growing the closest to. Its funny. He thought to himself. We share so much in common, her love for books, studying and magic, but i just realized this today and she had been in my cottage for years. Star Swirl wasn't sure what he had felt, but he felt that, maybe he could be more then just friends with Clover. He gathered up the strength and approached her as she was collecting her winnings from another game she had played. He tapped her back and cleared his throat.

"Umm, Clover." He called. She turned to look at him, which made him even more nervous. She did that flip with her hair that only movie mares could pull off.

"Yes star?" She asked. The gray stallion blushed a little and took a step forward. He was having trouble getting his words out with his sudden stutter.

"Well, uh... Clover, you see... I was ummm... Oh horse apples.... What i mean to say is..." As he tried to get his words out his other 5 friends looked on, waiting to hear what the magic pony to say. "Well... Clover, I-I have this filling for you..." He began as he found the words he wanted to say. As he did, his friends grew even more interested and leaned in for the suspense. "And... Im not sure how to express this felling bu-." He was stopped by the fell of soft skin touching his lips. She had kissed him. Smiles erupted on the other mares faces, as Clover slowly pulled away from the kiss, with her own cheeks a light red.

"I know." She said, looking deep into his eyes. "I feel the same." Star Swirl was at a lose for words. He only looked on, with his eyes widened, and his face a bright red. He was snapped out of his trance when Hurricane put her arm around his shoulder.

"Well look at this stud, not one day and he already has a beautiful mare around his hoof." The Captain blurted out. Clover turned her head, still red in her cheek. Star Swirl let out a laugh with the others. After that, they all continued their time of fun and merriment. Soon, the sun had rose, and the celebration was over, and everyone was heading home. The seven friends said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Clover however, did not go home but instead when with Star Swirl back to his cottage.

Chapter 3: Fall of A Great Wizard

Weeks latter as the friendships of the seven grew, and time went on, Star Swirl continued to work on his spell. He was getting even closer to it when he became stumped again.

"Aww, Tarderus!" He erupted. Clover just so happened to walk into the room.

"What is it dear?" She asked.

"This blasted spell." He let out a sigh and lowered his head. "I get close, and then once i become close, I become stumped." He blew his hair out of his face. "Maybe i should just stop and work on a different spell."

"Nonsense." Clover protested, sitting next to him. "You've been working so long, you cant give up now." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, receiving a smile from him. "Just keep trying and I'm sure you'll get it." She stood up and walked back towards her work she had in the other room. He smiled as she walked away. He began to think of how important she was to him. Then his friends, and how impotent to him they where. As this went on, he began to write.

"I've got it!" He yelled. Clover ran in and jumped with anticipation.

"You do, what was missing?" Star Swirl nodded and let his quill fall. He got up and began his preparations. He turned to Clover and smile.

"I must ask something of you my love."

"What is it?"

"I want you to get our friends." He took a step towards her and put his hoof on Clovers. "This spell will bring good to this land. And i want all of our friends to experience it." Clover smiled and hugged him. A tear fell form her eye.

"I love you." She whispered. The older stallion was surprised for a moment but then fell into the embrace.

"I love you as well. Now go get everypony, and bring them back as soon as you can." With a look of determination she nodded and was off to gather the leaders of the pony tribes.

~ ~ ~

The others arrived just as Star Swirl was finishing preparations. He turned to see them and trotted over towards them.

"Excellent your here!" He chimed.

"Yeah, what's this about SSTB?" Hurricane asked.

"Well, you all know that spell i have been working on, correct?" The six mares nodded. " I believe i have finished it! And what it dose will work wonders for the land." Clover stepped forward.

"What dose it do Star?" She asked. He smiled at her and the others.

"This spell, can turn any normal pony into an Alicorn!"

"An Alicorn!?" The others yelled.

"I know it seems like much. But just think of what it would do for Equestria. If the leaders of the tribes where to become a race of pony that where a combination of all three? The strength of the earth walkers. The speed of the flyers. And the wisdom of the magic users." The room fell silent, but the look on the faces of the mares was a look of approval.

"I'll do it!" Hurricane announced.

"As am I." Princess Platinum announced after.

"Me too, me too!" Puddinghead chimed. Star Swirl smiled and looked to his other two friends. They returned to the smile and nodded. Star Swirl felt a hoof on his own, he looked over so see Clover the Clever smiling at him.

"And I'm always with you" She said, stealing a kiss. Star Swirl smiled, and directed everyone to their spots. The stood and waited for Star Swirl, as he stood in the center. As what had happened before, he called to his magic and three thin circles surrounded him, and then the other mares. As all of this happened the mage pony began to think of his friends and how important they where to him.

"My friends." He whispered, as a flash erupted with in the cottage.

~ ~ ~

Star Swirl rose slowly rose from his slumber, pulling his blanket off of his body. He rubbed his head in confusion. He could have sworn that he was just awake, and with his friends. [Did the spell also fast forward time? He questioned in his mind. He then tried to stretch out his wings. Unfortunately, he couldn't fell anything. He let out a sigh in disappointment, then grew a look of fear. The spell was incomplete, witch means that it would have a different effect then what had been expected. Suddenly he heard a crash the erupted from down stairs. He quickly bolted for the sound. He entered to see Hurricane pulling herself out from under a book shelf. With great concern he trotted over to her.

"Hurricane, are you alright?" He asked helping her up. She smiled and smacked her chest.

"Well of course lover, we Pegasi are built tough." She leaned in and was about to kiss him, when the gray stallion stopped her and pushed her away.

"What are you doing! I'm wi... Wait lover!?"

"Yes, do you not remember last night?" Star Swirl began to recall last night. He traced all the way to when the spe-.

"The spell!" He shouted. He jumped close to Hurricane and put his muzzle against her's.

"Tell me, where is Clover the Clever?"

"She is at Cloudsdail, as she is the leader of the Pegasi." The wizard wasted no time. He quickly grabbed his hat, and cape and ran for the city of Cloudsdail. Sure enough, Clover the Clever was in charge of Cloudsdail, with Princess Platinum as her adviser. He checked the Unicorn tribe to see witch of his friends had been there. As he feared, Puddinghead and Smart Cookie where in charge of the unicorns, witch could only mean one thing.

"No." He whispered to himself, and bolted for the earth pony tribe. Star Swirl ran into the tribe to see that Pansy was being banished. He began to gallop after her, but before he could get close she began to fly away. Star Swirl shrunk into a depression, and turned to return home.

Celestia called the leaders together, and asked for them to relinquish their power. They all agreed, also handing over their control of the Elements of Harmony to Luna and Celestia. With the finishing of this The Alicorn sisters became princesses of Equestria. Celestia had one last task. She traveled to the Everfree. She came to his cottage and flew down. She knocked on his door, and wait a second to hear the sound of hoof steps. When she heard only silence she knocked again, this time calling his name.

"Star Swirl the Bearded, are you present." Celestia, not hearing a reply, slowly opened the door and went in. She looked to see the house was empty. The candles where unlit, the books looked as though they had not been touch for days. Celestia let out a sigh and lowered her head. She was about to turn and leave when, she noticed a letter, laying folded on a small table, the same table she had seen him working on when she came to talk to him all those days ago. She walked over to it, sat on her flanks, and with her magic she lifted the paper to her eye, unfolded it, and began to read.

Dear, Inhabitants of Equestria

I, have committed treason on this land. I apologize, this phenomenon was not my intuitions.
I only meant to bring pace to this land. At this I have failed. For my treason, I have cast myself
deep into the Everfree. I will work my to my full potential to fix the horror i have caused, but
I will not return any sooner. To one magic user in particular, i want to... to see this. To Clover
The Clever... I-I never meant to hurt you. Though all my work, all of my stubbornness, you still
stood by my side. And with that you showed me friendship, and love and i will never forget that.

Sincerely
Star Swirl The Bearded

Towards the bottom where the stallion had talked about his lover, where two tear stains that had propped onto the letter. Celestia let out one last sigh, rolled up the letter, and returned to the city of Canterlot, sending the letter to all, but only letting Clover seeing the last of the letter.

_ _ _

Star Swirl laid alone in the forest. It had been year that he had worked to undo the horror the spell had caused, but with his age growing older his magic began to deplete, and soon he could no longer use the spell. He was about to just lay, and let live take its course, when he remembered a spell, a last shoot attempt at saving his friends. With the last of his strengh, he stood and cast his last spell, to save his home.

Clover The Clever walked at a normal pace as she headed for Star Swirls cottage, when a flash flicked in front of her. She rubbed her eyes, then she looked to see a much older Star Swirl then she remembered him. He was standing, but then quickly fell. She flinched and ran over to him.

"Star Swirl! Are you alright?" She asked helping him to his hooves. He slowly looked up to her.

"C-clover.." He announced in a weak tone. "Y-you must... Not let me go, you have to keep me... You must... You.. you must..." Before he could finish, another flash came, and the older stallion was gone. Star Swirl returned to his original time. He fell over, with the last of his magic gone. He began to cry, softly and quietly sobbed. "I-I have failed.." He laid still, and let the let his life force fade, but then smiled, as he had remembered the good times he had with his friends and lover.

Clover was surprised again, and pondered on the words.

"Don't let me go, I must keep him..." She echoed. She realized that he was in a horrible state, and that she mist do what he has asked so that what ever event that had happened could not ocher. She then smiled and nodded. "Then I'm sure, i am certain I must get him to go to the Summer Sun Celebration." She said with a confident look. She then continued her normal pace to her minters house, hopping to keep the event the future stallion had warned her about.