"Hello Twilight." The Mint green alicorn said.
"Star?" Twilight responded, confused. "What? How? Huh? Aren't you dead?"
"It's been a while, cousin. Six years if I remember correctly." Star responded calmly.
"Ten years Star. Ten." Twilight corrected.
"Ten whole years? Really?" Star asked.
"Yes", the purple alicorn said. "Now tell me, how did you get your wings, where have you been, and where you learned that strange magic that your radiating." Twilight Demanded. Star Shine Chuckled.
"You've been princess less than a month and your already ordering everyone around."
"No I'm not, wait. Everyone?"
"Aw yes. I forgot ponies spoke like that. No one back home does. It offends the locals."
"Huh? Where have you been living? And when did you get that scar? The one your hiding with an illusion. Yes I can see through it."
"In the Griffin Domain. I've been working as a bounty hunter for these years. Kill or be killed."
"WHAT?!!" Twilight Shouted in shock.
"You heard me."
"Tell me Star please. What happened?"
"Alright cousin Twilight. I will tell you."
"I am Star Shine Sparkle. Brother of Telescope Sparkle. Son of Dark Elixir and Shooting Star. Uncle of Comet Sparkle, husband of Songbird Leaf. And this, is my story.
I was born on May 6, 14 B.L.R.( Before Luna's return) in the Manor of my father. I was the first born Sparkle to be a non-unicorn since our family's beginning. I was even better: I was an alicorn and, like all members of our branch of the Sparkle family, I had these swirling marks. I was also given the crescent moon earing that all of us wear at all times. My father, Dark Elixir, a Sparkle unicorn alchemist, gave rise to my first memories. Pain. He experimented on me for years, trying to find out why I was born an alicorn. My used him dark magic to bond my mother into a room of the manor. My only friends were my mother and older brother, Telescope Sparkle, who was under an unbreakable geis, a magical vow, never to tell anyone of my mistreatment or help me escape. However, on my 5th birthday he was stricken by an unknown disease. He died three months later. The library became my sanctuary, it's books my only comfort. A year passed before I discovered the one book that would change my life forever."
"What was it?"Twilight interrupted.
" An ancient book, so old it predated pony kind itself. Leather bound, held together only by magics so ancient they predate The Elements of Harmony, perhaps Equis itself. Its name,written in large golden letters letters, was Astral Magic. I soon discovered that the book could only be read by those who could learn to wield it's power. I being that last one among ponies. Astral mages had been hunted down and slain as infants by beings who feared our power, and with good reason, for we can tap the powers of the cosmos, and even beyond that, the primal magic themselves. There are few powers upon this world mighty enough to fight a ring of Astral mages.
"I'm gonna stop you there cous. That's the second time you've used that word:mage. What does it mean?"
"You don't honestly believe unicorns and alicorns were the only ones who could use magic did you?"
'"What?" Twilight responded confusedly. Star sighed.
"I suppose you do. Just like almost every other stupid, magic corrupting, close-minded pony. And here I thought you'd be different."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I just thought a cousin of mine, who's talent is magic would be less close minded."
"What do you mean by that? Magic is no different from any other science."
"You're a fool Twilight, you know that? Magic is an art, not a mere science. In a science a+b+c, unless there is d. Magic is an art. That means a+b=potato and d+x=p[i/]."
"Um... what?"
"Magic is an art, and like any art, It's illogical, at least some of the time. It comes from the heart. It takes time to master, and it isn't purely logical. What works for someone else could fail epically for you. Do you honestly believe that your horn is the thing that let's you do magic?"
"Um, yes?"
"It's not. Anyone can do at least a little magic with the right training. Magic is the fabric of all worlds. It's the very essence of life and creation and a force of the maelstrom. It is beyond our mortal laws."
"Okay. But wait, aren't we immortal?"
"No. We do not age past a certain point. Well, at least you, Celestia, and Luna don't. I don't know about me. There is a difference between immortality and eternal life."
"Makes sense. Wait, you said ponies corrupt magic. What do you mean?"
"In it's natural state, the world is governed by nature. Not by ponies. Trees grow, clouds move, animals fend for themselves. All on their own. The Everfree is now the home of nearly all Equestria's natural magic. Have you seen how no one governs the weather outside Equestria?"
"Well now that you mention it, I did see it as strange that pegasi control the weather when they only live in Equestria."
"Exactly. That is how you corrupt magic. You pervert nature to your own desires and treat magic as a science. We're worse than the humani."
"Humani? What are they?"
"Beings who live on another world. Humans, they're called by their own. Thought not a magical race by nature, they are quite adept at it. Pity they chose to lull their magic to sleep so they could pressure technology."
"How is that a pity? Advanced technology would be amazing."
"Magic and technology never mix. Magic's very conscious presence destroys it."
"Conscious? You make it sound like magic is alive."
"It is alive. Though humans have put it to sleep. In the dormant state it is in on most of their world it doesn't destroy technology, it doesn't do anything really, however, awaken magic is one of the easiest things a mage can do."
"I see. But, why is it a shame? Technology should be an ample substitute for magic."
"In many cases yes, but technology has no defense against the supernatural. There are ancient and powerful beings out there that will remain unharmed after even the greatest of mortal assaults. Mages can set up shields that will stop any mortal assault. Apophis. Set. Satan. The Leviathan. Titans. Demons, davas. And so many others. None of them can be harmed even in the slightest by technology."
"I see, well this has become a rather large tangent."
"Well as the human Rage says
You must tangent as you tangent in order to tangent in a tangently manner.
"
"Huh?"
"Or something like that."
"Have you been to their world?"
"No. There are many worlds with humans on them, but there is no way to cross a realm without a Worldgate or a planeswalker."
"Worldgate? Planeswalker?"
"Worldgates are portals that can cross realms, and they can be hallows in trees, mirrors, rabbit holes, and a few others. And of course a planeswalker is a being who can cross realms the way we cross streets. There are a few planeswalking races, like windsisters and the void-dragons, but most are of the ascended variety. One in every million sentient mortals is born with a planeswalker's spark, which causes them to ascend when they go through a traumatizing experiences, like a death-blow. Unfortunately, they can't carry anyone with them."
"Okay. You were saying?"
"Ah yes where was I? Ah yes. There:
It took two years for me to learn even the basics of Astral magic, and another before I finally unleashed it. Half way through I discovered the downsides. My magic makes even contact with Circaea lutetiana, Encanter's Nightsade, fatal. And there is no cure. Not science, sorcery, nor alchemy can save me. I will die, slowly and painfully. It's very presence is like kryptonite to me. I am also damned to tragedy. There are even some cosmic events that will render me powerless. But it was too late to turn back, so I continued. My father had often beat my mother for protecting me, but this time he went to far. He had killed her. When I saw this I was overcome by rage. I unleashed all my power upon him, leaving him as nothing but a black mark of the floor."
Twilight Gasped, but Star ignored her.
"It's amazing what magic you can muster in that kind of rage. I couldn't kill a bird before. Then, I incinerated him. It was three years before I could muster even a quarter that power at once but that is a story for another day. After I killed him, I burned down the manor. That night I fled my family estate with nothing but the fur on my back, my family sword, and the book. I was 8 years old. The story is pretty simple after that. I ran to the Griffin Domain, when I got there two months later I was an inch from dead. I had no idea how to survive in the wilderness. I thought I knew enough from my books but there is a difference between reading about something and doing it. My life was saved by a kind old griffin mage by the name of Calragus. Calragus fed me, trained me to fight, survive, and taught me the law of the land: kill or be killed. He gave me two gifts this amulet, and a chance. He died a year later. I joined the bounty hunters guild by the name of "Elder Fire" that day. My utter disregard for the rules of engagement, impulsiveness, and massive stores of rage made me one of the top 20 hunters, number 16 to be exact, in the guild. All the girls hated me for some reason tough. We numbered about 352 hunters at the time I was known for getting beat up by Urzang, sword mage, the number 12 hunter. Always wears some kind of armor. Even when she's asleep. Don't ask how I know that. That girl was in a whole other league. I was one of the only solo hunters. I duel wielded an iron blade and the family sword as well as my magic as a weapon of last defense. I prefer to fight fair. One day, about six years after that, I say a request, a wanted poster. Apparently it was a young pony mare by the name of Songbird Leaf. I read the poster and it said she was an earth pony, but with zebra like stripes and some kind of magical power over nature. She was a druid, I had read about them back in the manor, though I though they were a myth, or at least extinct and, I wasn't sure why she had stripes. I took the job. I found her. I met her and I discovered she too had a tragic tale. She was naturally skilled in druidic magic, which many ponies think impossible. Several scientists and alchemist had tried to experiment on her. At first her family was able to protect her, and the Government made it perfectly clear that she was not to be experimented on. She was a normal pony with an abnormal skill to them. She was to be protected. But that didn't stop some of them. At first her family fought off the people"[i/]
"People?" Twilight interrupted.
"A term for any sentient being." Star responded."Do you want to hear my story or not?" He asked impatiently.
"I would." She responded.Same old Star.Underneath that heartless tough guy cover he's still the same impulsive, fearless, paranoid, in need of anger management classes,never-say-die, strong-willed, hard-headed, loyal as a wolf colt that I meet at the 100-moons family reunion who's father wouldn't let him take off his coat. She thought. "Though I must admit your starting to sound like a bit of a Gary Stu."
"I know. But just because I'm strong doesn't mean I'm immortal. Besides, my specialization is in self-improvement battle spells. The kind the heighten my senses, make me stronger, faster, more agile. Increases stamina, durability, makes my madder. Sharpen my swords, hardens my armor. Stuff like that. Most other battle spells I've got are AoE. Area of Effect. Hits everything around me. Besides, I could levitate an ursa minor and a water tower of milk like you did, but I'm I no way prepared for a Major. Not to mention my weaknesses."
"You have weaknesses?", Twilight said, interested.
"Well as I said before, Encanter' s Nightshade, some cosmic events, if I channel too much cosmic mage I'll literally burn up, and a few materials can stop my magic. Diamond and lampis lazuri."
"How?", Twilight questioned.
"Well diamond soaks up astral magic like a sponge and I can't get it back out, and lazuri, for some reason, is totally immune to it. I have no idea why."
"Interesting. Please continue the story." Twilight replied, making a not to look into it later.
"Of course. Back to the story."
"However, before too long the people began hiring bounty hunters to eliminate her family. They were all dead within 3-months. I brought her back with me to the guild, for her own protection. Guilds look out for their own. Not many wouldn't think twice before challenging a guild over 350 strong. A half a year passed. I agreed to go on a mission with Songbird and her team: the Griffin archer Gloria, her spirit-wolf Lycos the minotaur paladin Taurus, and the zebra alchemist Zarila. We were hunting Aldrizara, a powerful demon. One of the beings I told you about earlier, impervious to mortals. They needed a powerful mage to complete their party. Gloria's arrows may have been enchanted, Taurus may have been able to take some real punishment and dish it back out with is magic hammers, Zarila may have had some good potions, and Song may have been a healing forte, but without a complete party, it'd be suicide. And that ment a mage, like me. It still was. Zarila, Tauras and Lycos were all killed. Me, Gloria, and Songbird barely escaped with our lives. During the battle, I realized just how much Songbird meant to me. I was in love. It took me a month and a half to work up the courage to propose to her. She excepted, and we were married. Best day of my life. Then, just six-months latter I found a newspaper, it said that a unicorn by the name of Twilight Sparkle, personal student of Celestia, had recently ascended to alicornhood, and would be crowned a princess of Equestria in two weeks. I had to see this for myself. Unfortunately, I was delayed by my niece, Comet Sparkle, who I met along the way, and one of my legion of enemies. One of my first: a Thestrel by the name of Shade Darkwing. And now I'm here. My name is Star Shine Sparkle. Brother of Telescope Sparkle. Son of Dark Elixir and Shooting Star. Student of Calragus. Uncle of Comet Sparkle, husband of Songbird Leaf. And this is my story."
