The Land After

by Fat1thatyoulove

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Human, Other, Original Character
Length: 37723

The world of Equestria has started to settle under the new rule of Celestia. However, two things still remain what to do with the unbound Element of Harmony and who will preside as the new Head Mage.

This story takes place a few months after, "The Land Before Us." and follows Clover the Clever and the human she was tasked with looking after when Equestria's power was consolidated, Preston Armor. However, the task currently at hoof for Clover revolves around the fading health of her master, Star Swirl the Bearded, and more importantly the fate of what he has been in trusted with.

But sometimes, a simple transition has a way of changing some ponies.

Published 2014-01-04 18:30:05 UTC
Last updated 2014-01-15 13:16:55 UTC

Prologue

Prologue

Prologue

The hard smell of cut and stained wood of the carriage, have mixed with the fresh scents from the outside world that have doused the coach since it rolled from the tall and mostly untamed forest; and into the grassy fields that now adorn the side of the crudely made dirt road.

Every bounce of the coach sends the flaps on the primitive windows open and banging against the outside wood. However, this has allowed the occupants of the carriage to glance to the world they slowly but surely ride past.

"The new capital seems to have that glow does it not?" The light purple mare squints her eyes to the far off castle the bend in the road has revealed.

No answer comes from the lean blonde haired man across from her as she turns her head, "Would you not agree Preston?"

The voice now being directed towards him turns the man's head as he takes himself back from the window and to the slightly uncomfortable coach's seats they have been seated in since they left Clover's hometown, "Ya, the new city is great..." He gives a little gesture towards the window with his hand as he continues, "...But just asking, why does it need to be so high up. I mean heck, that thing is practically falling off the mountain?"

Although he is not aware,of the New York accent, the scruffy light blond bearded man use to possess has diminished over the last four and a half months while he has been present in this strange new world of Equestria. Clover of course has not really noticed it’s change either, seeing as how she was tasked with looking after Preston until a later date things like the style of his voice never really mattered to the mare.

Instead, she has found other ways to poke fun with the still strange new being known as a human, "Oh?" Clover cocks her head as she speaks up, "I do believe that you have said countless times humans have structures that reach far over cliffs and some that you have stated can even reach into the clouds."

"Ya, we do." He tugs a little on the curdly made wool shirt he has on as he continues, "You know what else we have? People who can listen to instructions..." Again he pulls to the shirt as he tries to push some fresh air between the sweaty and itchy shirt and his skin, "... I mean come on, this thing is like a sauna."

Clover's ear flicks to the comment as she nods her head, "Sun-Ah...That is a term for being warm correct?"

A faint chuckle rolls up from the man as he suspends his hand's motions, "Sure." He cocks a little eye to her as he continues, "Are you like...Keeping tabs on me or something?"

The mare squints to the words as she speaks up a little unsure, "Keeping tabs? I-if you mean am I recording your actions then yes." Clover slowly starts to coast from her hesitant tone as she continues, "As you are aware the new Princess asked me to keep an eye on you...E-especially after the failed spell."

Preston's slight smile has altered on his face as he nods a little emotionless to the comment, "Ya, that."

Noticing the man's drooping hands the mare speaks up again as her horn sparks up to tug on the earth brown cloak she has on around her, "And from what I understand of humans, you seem to get enjoyment out of complaining about everything." The smile cracks a little more across her snout as she looks to the man, "Of course, you on the other hoof have always wined like a foal."

"Ya ya ya, name one time I have ever complained about something?" The comment brings a faint laugh to the mare as the glow to her halts with a comment from her, "I do not think we have all day."

Preston cocks a faint smile to the mare as he brings his hand up, however before he can speak up a deep male voice comes up from the windows of the slowing carriage, "We have reached Canterlot Ms.Clover."

The words flick the mare's ear as she now sits up a little more in her seat towards the window. Preston follows the mare's movements as he now turns his eyes to the city they roll pass.

However, the blonde man just blinks to the city he now rolls through. The roads still have a dirt path like every other city he has seen here, sure some of the buildings look to be a little bit bigger but only a few are made of stone and as a result the wood buildings do not really scream capital of Equestria.

"Look, you can see the walls they have started to erect around the castle from here." The slightly excited voice of the usually unimpressed and cool headed mare cracks a faint smile to Preston as he continues to look around the medieval world outside.

There is one thing that catches his eye though as they turn a bend in the road...The tall white and gold stoned castle that towers above the city with its spires definitely is impressive for ponies that built it.

Preston’s eyes lock to the building as Clover's voice comes up from beside him, "I wish Star Swirl could see this."

As the words bounce a little from the cabin's walls the rock of the carriage starts to get a little lighter. Preston is the first to notice the change in the road as he looks over the stone ground they have rolled onto.

The castle now only rest a few moments from their current position, and as they begin to near it the carriage starts to slow with a voice from outside, "We have arrived at the castle Ms.Clover."

The mare is the first to stand in the tight area of the coach as her horn sparks up to lower the stairs of the coach, "Thank you."

Preston holds his legs to one side as the purple mare starts to descend into the world outside. However, it only takes a moment for Clover to come outside as she turns her attention to the other rider, "Coming Preston?"

To the words the man stands up in his normal hunched over fashion as he begins to move towards the stairs. A faint groan comes from him as he free’s himself from the cramped coach he rode in for the last few hours.

As he stretches a little he turns his eyes to the castle grounds he now stands in. The sound of hammers and a voice can be heard around the pile of white stones that sit to every corner of the area where the ground's walls are being constructed.

Clover however does not pay attention to the sound around her though as she instead holds her gaze towards the stairs in front of the castle. Her trot comes up without a word as Preston follows after her.

Preston's walk is held to a slow pace as he moves forward, not because he is trying to keep pace with the short pony beside him but instead because of the tight predominantly wool and other fabric made shoes he has on. His feet chafe with every step he takes on the harder stone ground. But knowing he can not run the risk of ruining the one good pair of shoes he came to Equestria with keeps his mind from noticing the slight pain in his feet.

The pace he has kept quickly brings him and Clover to the stairs as they start up towards the large open castle doors.

A few ponies stand near the open doors wearing a tool belt slung over their chest and around their neck. Most of the ponies are unicorns, and they use this to their advantage as they float a quil and ink well next to them along with the scroll of paper most seem to be writing on.

However, as the tall and strange looking creature walks past them, they turn their heads from their respective jobs and instead gawk a little to Preston.

The blonde man noticed the stares for a moment but he does not alter his pace as he and Clover come into the middle of the castle's foyer.

Clover shoots her head up as she stares a little to the tall structure she stands in with a little sparkle to her eyes.

Preston does the same but with a more placid stare to the tall building. However, the idea of this structure being created by animals does bring a strange fascination too the blonde haired man.

But the inquisitive eyes he and the mare beside him hold are cut short to a voice.

"Ah, you have arrived."

The sweet but distinct tone quickly takes hold of Clover and Preston's attentions as they turn to meet with the tall white mare that now steps in.

Clover is the first to bring her voice up as she gives a little bow, "Hello Princess Celestia, you wished to see us?"

The bow brings a quick response from the mare as Celestia now waves her hoof, "Please Clover, I intended to preside over Equestria in a different light, bowing to me is not necessary."

The words bring Clover's posture up as she gives a little laugh, "Sorry, but Princess Platinum always insisted on bowing in royalty's presence.

Celestia shakes her head with a smile as she speaks up, "It is not necessary, now if you would please follow me..." Her head comes up for a moment as she looks over the few ponies in the room that have slowed their jobs to the conversation, "...We should leave these ponies to their fine work."

As her voice comes down her trot comes up towards the two closed doors directly in front of the castle's entrance.

Preston and Clover follow after her as the double doors come open under the control of Celestia's gold magic that now chimes to her horn.

It only takes a moment for Clover and Preston to follow after the leading mare as they come now into the empty and slightly barren throne room.

To either side of the entrance there stands a row of large windows, four on each side. Most of the windows are just simple stain glassed windows, but two have what looks like carvings or pictures in them.

"I have decided it would be better to have the throne room open to everypony of Equestria..." Her eyes hold a little to the one throne in the room, however her silence is brought to an end as she continues, "...I have also decided to record Equestria's most important events on the throne room's windows."

Preston turns his eyes to the six empty panels around the room as he speaks up, "There's only six windows left?"

The man’s voice brings a quick jabbing hoof to his leg as Clover shoots him a look. However, the man's comment does not halt the white mare as she just gives a little smile, "I believe it will suffice. Now, on to why I summoned you both." She straightens her posture a little as she continues, "As you know I currently presided over the earth ponies and unicorns, with the pegasus's emperor Gust's support. So, I wish to make sure that the only changes to tradition are superficial until the three tribes have settled a bit more."

Celestia trots a little towards one of the stain glassed windows as she continues, "According to unicorn custom there must be a head mage to preside over and make the last judgments on the dealings with the unicorn school." She turns back to Clover as she nods, "And as I am sure you are both aware Star Swirl has continued to avoid any and all contact I or the school has sent him..."

The tall mare's tone starts to change a little as she holds the sweet smile, "Star Swirl's successor needs to be picked..." She again nods her head as she speaks directly to Clover, "I have received your recommendations Clover and that is why I would like you to introduce the new successor to your old master, in hopes that Star Swirl will offer him a little more insight into his unique knowledge."

Clover nods as she speaks up, "Who is the successor?"

"Sagitta Duscle, of Hollow Shades."

The name brings a slight smile to Clover's face as she nods, "When will he arrive?"

"Tomorrow." The word cocks Clover's head as she anxiously waits for Celestia to finish, "...That is why I had both of you come, I had assumed both of you would be able to help Sagitta become acquainted with Star Swirl. I have arranged for you two too stay at the old capital castle of Unicornia. There may not be any ruler presiding over it, but ponies are still deciding whether or not to leave the city, so I have tasked a few ponies to upkeep the castle."

Clover stutters a little as she speaks up, "Y-you want us to leave now?"

"Yes, the letter said to pack correct?"

Celestia's words nod the mare's head as she speaks up, "Well yes but it is very light."
The tall white mare nods as she continues, "That is fine, you will only be there for two days."

Clover does not bring her voice up again as she just nods. To the silence Celestia turns her head to Preston, "How have you been Preston?"

The mare's turned gaze shifts to the blonde man for a moment as he speaks up, "G-good, no problems."

Celestia nods as she squints to him a little surprised at the comment, "I am surprised, no problems arose after the spell's failing?"

Preston shakes his head but before he can speak up Clover has started her voice, "Well there has been some weight loss, but other then that no changes."

The comment brings a faint laugh from the man, but it is to light to hear over Celestia's voice, "That is good to hear." Her head comes back to Preston as she gives a sweet smile, "I am sorry my spell to turn you into a pony failed, but it is good to hear you have recovered from it."

Preston just nods as he gives a simple response, "It's alright."

Celestia studies the man's face for a moment before she nods, "There is always tomorrow." She straightens her posture as she shifts her gaze between him and Clover, "...I will let you two get going, that way you can get there before dark."

Clover nods to the words as she starts to turn back to the door, "Thank you Princess." Her head starts to bow, but she is able to stop it mid way as she turns completely around towards the doors of the throne room.

End

Author's Note

Chapter will be posted every day or every other day.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – Unicornia

"I wasn't really looking forward to getting back in this thing." Preston leans forward a little as he rubs his hand to his lower back.

The slight pained expression on the man's face brings a faint smile to the mare across from him as she speaks up, "It is only about an hour from Canterlot."

"Ya ya ya, tell you what, when ponies get cars then we can talk about how easy an hour away-..." His words are cut off as the carriage bounces to the rough dirt path, which causes the man to slightly hit his head against the top of the coach, "...Ow..."

The shortage of pain the man actually expresses brings a faint giggle from Clover as she speaks up, "Well the train's rails will be up within a few months."

Preston gives a little smirk to the comment as he nods, "Ya, you ponies can't come up with showers but you can create a countrywide train system in a few months."

Clover's ear flicks to the words he uses but she maintains her composure as she nods, "Well now that everypony in Equestria has been settled the unicorn's expansion is being aided by the pegasus's quicker movement of material and the earth ponies and unicorn’s abilities-..." A faint sigh comes over the mare as she rolls her eyes, "And I suppose it is a great help to have a po-person in Equestria who has the knowledge of trains."

"Ya knowledge." Preston shakes his head with a little chuckle as he waves his hand to the comment, "I know nothing about trains other than basics. Celestia does some mind spell on me and all of a sudden ponies know how to make a train."

The mare cocks her head to one side as she speaks up, "Well if a train is like you said then it should greatly benefit us, ponies."

Her emphasis brings Preston's laughing down for a moment, but it is quick to return as he speaks up, "Well if you guys make planes then you got something that could really benefit ya."

Clover blinks to the name as she taps her hoof to her mouth for a moment, "Those are the flying trains correct?"

"Yep." Preston gives a little smile as he points a finger to the mare across from him, "But that would be something impossible to make for you all."

"Hmm..." Clover sits her back to the chair a little more as she shrugs, "All these ways to travel, but all of that can be avoided if humans could just learn to teleport."

Preston's cocky smile fades a little as the man nods, "Not bad Clover." His hand comes back to him as he presses his thumb and index finger against each other.

The mare's eyes focus in on the hand in front of her as Preston holds his little smile as he snaps. Just as the sound of his fingers comes up a little spark of green magic comes over the man's hand.

However, the same child like amusement he holds is not shared by the mare across from him as Clover now widens her eyes and jets a hoof forward, "What are you doing?! You could burn the carriage down!"

The words quickly snaps the man out of his enjoyment to the little tingling on his hand as he tries to brush the magic he sparked up to his heavy wool pants. His effort proves unsuccessful as he now speaks up, "Uh...Crap w-what do I do?"

Preston's shaky voice is cut off as Clover wiggles her hoof with a comment, "Give me your hoof!"

Despite the word she used Preston extends the brightly glowing hand as the mare's horn sparks up to cover his hand, "You might feel a pinch."

Just as her words come down her magic rings a little to the small area the two sit in.

"Ow!" Preston's reflexes quickly pull his hand from the mare's magic and hoof as he rubs the palms of his hands together.

Clover's horn comes down as she knocks her hoof to one of Preston's knees that extends out towards her, "Stop acting like such a foal, that spell was nothing more than a simple spell breaker."

"Ya ya ya, magic is easy-..."

His words are cut off as the mare across from him now pokes her hoof a little towards him, "Oh no you don't, you are not going to blame magic. As a matter of fact how could you not stop your spell on your own?" Clover cocks her head to one side as she continues, "Breaking spells was the first thing Star Swirl and I showed you."

Preston gives a little chuckle as he flaps his hands out a little, "So? It's not like magic is common on earth. You think you're that good of a teacher that I can learn in a few months? Pff~."

Clover squints her eyes to the man a little annoyed. Preston quickly takes notice of the mare's face as he speaks up, still with the shaky voice brought on from his mindless hands jiggling, "Oh sorry, did I make Clover the Clever mad?"

The mare lowers her head to the comment as she speaks up, "As a matter of fact I would like to say I am a good teacher. Now stop flapping your hooves like a bird or you might accidentally do a spell."

Almost instantly Preston stops his motions, but he speaks up against the comment as he nods to the mare across from him, "Ya ya ya. Oh and by the way, a good teacher doesn't yell at the student when they do something wrong."

"You are stubborn." Clover shoots her head up in a more proper pose as she tries to hold some kind of power over the conversation.

Preston starts up in a faint laugh as he speaks up, "Am I as stubborn as a mule?"

The comment breaks the mare's persona as Clover now blinks to the comment, "I-...I do not understand. I have met plenty of mules smarter than you."

"Ya ya ya..." Preston just shakes his head to the mare's words as he slumps a little in his seat, "I got stuck in this world to get insulted by a talking horse."

Clover's confusion melts a little from her face as she blinks to the man's faded smile, "Star Swirl would have scolded me for that comment..." A sweet smile comes to the mare as she nods, "I'm sorry Preston."

The man does not spark his smile up as he answer her, "You know what i'm sorry for?" Clover's ears stay up to the man's lower voice as she awaits the rest of his sentence, "...I'm sorry pony's breath smells like hay."

A new found laugh comes to Preston as he playfully knocks his knee into the mare's in front of him.

Clover however, just rolls her eyes to the comment as she shakes her head, "I do not even enjoy hay?"

Preston shrugs as he smiles to the mare, "It's just a joke." His words do not alter the mare's face, but it does prompt a response from the mare as she sparks up a sly smile, "At least ponies do not smell like a sweaty barn."

"OH, not bad not bad..." Preston's hand pulls a little on the heavy and hot shirt he wears as he brings his voice up again, "Of course it would be easier to get clean if you had showers invented."

The words roll the mare's eyes as she sighs, "Back to this I see?"

Preston leans forward a little as he holds his hands out in front of him almost as if he were trying to show the picture in his mind, "It's so easy, it's just water that comes up from the faucet from above, instead of the ground. I mean shoot, you guys have to have some kinda plumbing knowledge just look at how you fill a tub-..Wait, scratch that, I want a regular toilet not these-..."

"We have arrived Ms.Clover."

The sound of one of the stallion's that have brought the carriage to its stop breaks the conversation as Clover and Preston now turn their heads to the windows they have been ignoring. From the windows they notice how late in the day it actually is, the sun has started to disappear past the forest range that sits in the distance. Infact, the world would be a little darker if it were not for the fact that the castle was built on a decent sized hill.

However, Clover waste not time as her horn sparks up to open the cabin's door, "Thank you."

Like before Preston shifts his legs for the mare as she moves out of the carriage and into the dusk colored world.

Preston is quick to follow after her as he bipasses the first two steps on the little stairs down and instead jumps a little into the open area with a few quick stretching motions.

As he gives a few pleasure filled groans from his movements Clover trots a little towards the edge of the hill as she speaks up, "The forest...It has come closer?"

"Yes the EverFree forest has grown a substantial amount has it not?"

The fairly regal voice that has come to Clover and Preston's ears turns their heads as they look to a well cloak dressed stallion who smiles back to them.

The stallion gives a little bow as he speaks up, "Hello, I am Free Brust, the curator Celestia has picked to look over the castle. There are fifteen in total here..." His words come down a little as he turns towards the sight just a little past the edge of the hill, "Although, it does not seem likely we will be here for much longer."

Clover gives a friendly nod to the comment as she speaks up, "Yes well I am Clover the Clever." She gestures to Preston as she continues, "Um...And this is my assistant Preston...The um vapid."

The stallion now turns his head to the taller man as he slows his words a little, "Oh, well how do you do."

Preston just blinks to the change in pace as he stays quiet, all the while trying to understand the mare's choice in words.

However, the conversation picks back up as the stallion turns to his side and towards the castle, "The new Princess has already sent a letter saying why you are here...But um..." A faint chuckle comes up from the stallion as he gets a little sheepish, "We only just received the letter yesterday, and as a result we have not had time to clean up another bedroom. But the old Princess's bed chambers are clean, we have just been using the empty ones for storage. Will this be a problem?"

Clover's smile slightly fades a little but she shakes her head as she speaks up, "No, not a problem."

"Splendid, then I shall show you to your room." As the stallion starts to trot away Clover and Preston follow after him. But their walk is halted as they move in front of the two ponies still hitched to the carriage.

"Ms.Clover, we need to get back to the city. If you would can you take your bags?" The dark earth stallion on the left nods to the rack as he waits for an answer.

"Yes of course." Clover's horn sparks up as she floats her satchel and the bag Preston was told to pack down, however she moves them to the blonde haired man as she speaks up, "Here you go, carry these."

Preston quickly wraps his hands around the bags as the magic around them is quick to come to its end, leaving the man now struggling to hold the slightly bulky bags.

The struggling man brings a faint smile to Clover as she returns her following of the stallion who has stopped by the castle's opening.

Preston lags behind as he slowly starts to move the two bags into a better carriable position. Just as he does he and the two ponies in front of him pass into the torch lit castle's foyer.

The stallion leading turns to the hall on his left as he continues to speak, "As you can see the majority of the castle's decorations have been cleaned up. We hope to clean out Celestia's private library as soon as Star Swirl returns to help sort out the magical items."

"Star Swirl is gone?" Clover blinks a little to the comment as she impatiently waits for an answer.

Freebrust nods to the comment as he starts to turn into a shorter hallway, "Yes, he went into the forest earlier this morning for something."

"D-did anypony go with him?" Clover's tone holds an almost angry and surprised tone as she agian awaits an answer.

The stallion halts a little as he sheepishly shakes his head, "Mage Star Swirl said it would not be necessary. Um...This is your room."

Clover's horn sparks up as she floats her bag from Preston's hand, "I hope you are right." A faint sigh comes from the mare as she opens the door and trots inside.

Preston gives a little nod to the stallion as he moves past him and into the room.

Just as Preston comes inside the doors close behind him as Clover now speaks up all the while floating her bag to the one bed in the room, "Can you believe they would let Star Swirl travel into the Everfree forest by himself? I mean it is the EverFree forest!"

Preston taps his hand to his bag as he just nods, "Ya..."

Clover sighs again as she just shakes her head to the light purple satchel she opens.

To the mare's silent voice Preston speaks up as he nods to the bed, "So...At least the bed is big."

The comment flicks the mare's ear as she turns her head to the man behind her, "Ya, it will be for me."

Preston squints to the comment as he speaks up with a faint laugh, "You don't want to sleep with me Clover?"

"HA!" The dark earth brown cloak the mare has on sways a little to her quick turn as she speaks up, "No I do not."

Preston just shrugs to the comment as he speaks up, "Fine with me, I would rather not sleep with an animal anyways."

"Animal? Huh?"

The tone flinches Preston a little as he clenches his teeth in complete regret to the word he used. He quickly tries to push his comment aside as he speaks up, "Clover I didn't-.."

"No." The light purple mare in front of him shakes her head as she puffs her chest out a little, "First off Preston, the only creature who smells like they have been sleeping in a forest is you. Secondly I am tired of the constant comments about how humans are so much superior to ponies."

Clover tightens her eyes as she continues, "And you know something else, when Celestia's spell worked for those few days you did not have a problem calling yourself a pony."

Preston just nods to the comment as he waits for the mare's angered gaze to turn.

However, it does not change fast as the mare just gives an angry little stare to the man in front of her. But the man's changed gaze does start to alter the mare's tone as she relaxes her posture a little, "Just get unpacked."

Preston taps his hand to the bag as he nods, "Yep..." He starts his legs up as he moves towards the bed to set his bag down, as he does Clover's magic comes to pull her bag to the other side of the bed as they both start to unpack.

End of chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – The star in the forest

The dark sky now hangs over Equestria as the moon still sits absent to the world. In truth, it has not been too long since Clover and Preston arrived at the castle. But it has felt like an eternity seeing as how neither one of them have tried to talk to the other being that stands across the bed.

Clover's magic chimes a little to the room as she floats out the last few things she packed while the man across from her continues to turn back and forth between his bag and the dresser he has started to put his things into.

As the last few items from her bag comes out Clover brings a faint sigh to herself as she brings the bag up to float near the wall.

However, before the mare can bring her voice up the sound of a hoof to the door has rung out to the room.

Clover turns to the sound as she speaks up, "Come in."

The door comes open to the familiar well dressed unicorn stallion as he speaks up, "We have been extinguishing the torches rather early lately, just wondering if you would like to eat now."

For a moment the mare does not speak up, but as she turns her head toward the large window of the room her voice comes out, "Has Star Swirl returned from his expedition yet?"

Free Burst blinks to the comment as he slowly shakes his head, "Um, n-no I do not believe so...The mage's tower is dark."

Clover's head quickly comes back to the stallion in the doorway as she speaks up, "And he has been gone since this morning?"

"Yes I believe so." Free Burst shifts a little as Clover starts to bring her trot up.

"Then I am going to make sure he is okay." Clover's path is cut off a little as Free Burst extends his hoof, "If I may say, it it rather late and the forest can be restless-.."

"Exactly why Star Swirl should not be alone out there." The mare now comes into the short hallway as Preston slowly starts to trail after her.

As Preston comes to the threshold of the door he calls out, "Wait how are you going to know where he went?"

Clover's trot stops as she turns back towards the stallion in the hall, "Can you precisely tell me where Star Swirl went?"

The stallion hesitates for a moment as he nods, "Well I did not see him personally, but somepony did tell me he followed the path from the tower."

The mare nods as she speaks up, "That is where I thought he would have gone."

Preston slowly moves after he tries his voice again, "You're going?"

"Yes, I am." The mare's unaltered trot quickens Preston's legs as he catches up to her side.

"H-how do you even expect to find him?" Preston's comment flicks the mare's ear as Clover turns an eye to him, "If you do not want to come then stay here."

Clover and Preston's pace has brought them quickly back to the castle's foyer. As they near the door Preston turns his eyes to one of the brightly lit torches on the wall as he pulls it from its post and takes it firmly into his hand.

The front doors of the castle comes open to Clover's magic as she takes her first hoof to the darker outside world.

She turns her head to the man beside her as she sparks her horn up in a bright blue glow that emulates the area around more then the torch Preston holds, "The tower is only a short gallop from here, maybe Star Swirl has already returned home."

As her words come down her pace comes up a little quicker, Preston gives a little groan to the speed as he tries to follow after her despite the heavy clothing and poorly made shoes he has on.

(A little later)

The slight run across the short grassed field starts to come to its end as Clover slows her gallop to the dark windows of the tower, "Hm...He is not back yet."

"*pant* Next-...*pant* t-time we run, c-can I have some warning before hand?" Preston's slightly wheezing breaths turn Clover's head as she gives the panting man a little look over.

The glow of her magic combined with the light flame of the torch that still flickers to the burning tip brings the man's slightly sweaty covered brow into full view.

Clover squints to him for a moment as she shakes her head, "How can you have lost weight but yet you still can not run?"

Her words bring a heated blush to Preston's face as he points a finger to her in a huff, "Hey, *pant* I only lost the weight because all there is to eat around her is vegetables, fruits and crap like that."

The mare rolls her eyes to the comment as she turns her glowing horn towards the dirt path leading around the dark stone tower.

Preston takes a deep breath as he follows after the mare, torch held towards the path.

Within moments the two have come behind the tower and now face the outer edges of the hill that dips down into the forest. The slight dirt path the wrapped around the tower cuts a little into the tall trees but not by much.

Clover slows her trot for a moment as she squints her eyes towards the tree line, "Do you see that?"

The words focus Preston's eyes as he turns towards the tree line, "See what-OW!" He quickly slaps his hand to his neck as his body jerks a little to one side.

His quick voice turns Clover's head as she watches the man's slight flailing, however she just blinks to the actions as she speaks up, "What are you doing?"

"A bug bit me!" He rubs his hand to his neck as he tries to look over the spot on his neck with no luck, "...Great now bugs have my taste."

Clover's horn sparks up a little more as she starts to trot towards the forest, as she does her voice comes up a bit lower, "Now stay quiet, we do not want to alert anything in the forest."

Preston's mouth closes tight as he lowers his head, "H-how long are we going to be out here?"

The mare halts for a moment as she answers, "Do you see that light." Her hoof comes up towards the treeline they stand only a few hooves from.

"Where?" Preston squints his eyes.

But his words prompt the mare's horn to spark up a little more as Preston feels the warm embrace of her magic come up around his head.

"There, do you see it?" Clover's voice and Preston's now focused head brings a response from the man as he stares towards a small light goldish almost fire like light that can be seen in the distance, "Oh, I see it."

The magic around his head comes undone as she nods happily, "Good. Now, from what it looks like Star Swirl is a little off the trail so I suggest we just cut right through the forest instead of staying on the path the whole time."

Her hooves come up as she starts into the slightly heavier brush of the small ferns and plants that grow on the forest's outer banks.

Preston however hesitates as he looks over the taller grassy area, "Um, there are no like snakes in the forest right?"

Clover halts for a moment as she turns back to him with an answer, "Not this close to the edge, we might see a few Moss-Rats or Bark-Spiders, but only if you get near a tree."

A faint laugh comes up from Preston as he tightens his hold on the torch as he looks around the far from spaced out trees, "Ya, right." As his words come down he takes a step into the forest's shrubs.

End of chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Not for what you see

The quick trot through the forest Clover thought it would be has turned into a lengthy trek into the uneven and cluttered forest floor. Under the covers of the tall trees the ground and air have become a slightly chilly cold, which of course is not really felt to the wool clothed man. But the lengthy walk has had a toll on the mare as her horn now glows a little lighter, luckily Preston's torch still glows along with the bright moon that now peeks in between the tree canopy.

The sound of twigs and plants shifting continue to ring out from and around the two outsiders as the walk into the forest trails on. However, Preston's head has stayed on a swivel as his own noisy feet keep him on the edge.

"How much further do you think?" Preston’s voice is low as he holds his eyes to the dark brown cloak wearing mare in front of him.

For a moment Clover is quite, but that changes as she shakes her head, "I'm not sure."

"Well that's great." Preston's voice despite its sarcasm holds to a low point.

Clover's ear flicks to the words as she cocks her head to him, "Hey I said you could have stayed at the castle."

"Oh no no no. I can't let Clover the Clever go out by herself, I would miss out on all the fun-..PFff! Ugh Pff!!" Preston turns his head towards the ground as he quickly spits and wipes his hand to his mouth, "Ugh! I think I swallowed a spider!"

Clover's eyes widen to the loud voice as she turns around and lifts a hoof, still trying to hold her voice to a whisper, "Will you keep your mouth shut we do not know-..."

"I can taste it!" He spits again to the ground as the flaming torch he has waves a little to his hand, "It's salty and hairy and...Oh god..." He presses his hand to his mouth as he shakes his head a little, "I think i'm going to throw up."

"Will you be quite!" Clover's raised voice brings the forest to life as the sound of birds or some other flying creature start to scatter above them.

The sounds bring the mare's ears down as Preston snaps out of his grossed out state.

However, as the two look around for the moment they notice something...The light they were following has changed positions and now looks to have gotten closer.

Preston is the first to speak up as he blinks to the little orb that pokes out from the dark tree line around them, "Did that get closer?"

Clover is silent as she takes a hoof forward, the crunch of leaves rings up as her voice comes out a little, "Master? Star Swirl it's Clover!"

No answer comes up, but the orb of light does look to have shifted a little.

The sight of its movements quickly brings a faint smile to Clover's face as she nods to Preston, "I was wrong, that was not his fire, that was his horn lighting the way." As her words end she takes another step forward, "We should meet him halfway."

Preston continues to just blink to the light in the distance, however his mind snaps back into play as the mare in front of him starts to move, "Wait Clover, Clover?"

The mare does not alter her trot as she lowers her head to duck under a lower hanging branch; Preston is quick to move his legs as he realizes her unchanged motions.

As the two move through the low trees and brush by their legs the light continues to get brighter, but it stays the same height and width.

Clover's eyes now start to squint as she blinks to what she believes is Star Swirls glowing horn. Her own magic now sparks up as she nears the brighter glowing orb, "Star Swirl?"

Its at this point her trot like the man behind her stops as they stare to the sight in front of them. The orb they saw at the edge of the forest is nothing more than an orb, a bright gold light that hovers a little above a clearing in the tightly packed forest.

Clover just blinks to the light as Preston comes up a little beside her, "Well that's not him." He squints to the light as he waits for a response.

The mare next to him takes a step forward as she shakes her head, "Maybe Star Swirl left a magical marker of some kind."

As her words come up and the sound of a twig snapping under her new step forward rings out the solid orb starts to hum a high but sweet note as its light starts to expand a little.

Clover's eyes widen to the light almost hypnotized by it, the blond man beside her does the same as his face goes blank to the soft and sweet sound of the light in front of them.

The orb's light continues to expand as the angel like singing lofts into the two stunned creatures in front of it. As the sound grows a little more the orb's center starts to turn almost misty as it begins to move a little closer towards them.

To the orb's movements Clover takes an involuntary step forward as her pinned eyes continue to stay lulled by the sweet music like hum.

However, the torch in Preston's hold now starts to pop a little as the burning tip starts to go out, with one last pop from the burned wood a white hot spark comes to settle on Preston's hand.

"Ow!" Preston is snapped from his gaze as he drops the burnt out touch with a, Ffffsshhh, sound. The little sparks of light that flared up from the dropped torch now float up and into the air.

This sends a chain reaction to the orb of light as the soft gold light turns a dark blood like red as the sweet hum now turns to an almost metal like screech, "HHHHHHAAAHHHHH!!!!"

Clover's eyes clench hard to the sound she stood right next to as the lights around her almost jiggle and pulsate brighter and brighter.

A sharp pain comes to Preston's chest as one of the beams of light quickly slams into his chest, "AH!" The blonde haired man falls to his knees as a burning sensation comes over his chest. In the middle of his wool shirt a few sparks start to form as the heat becomes a reality.

Clover squints her eyes to the man's pained cry as she pushes her mind through the screaming that still comes out in front of her. Within a second the mare's horn has sparked up as a bolt of magic is sent towards the center of the misty orb.

The screaming of the orb is halted for the moment as Preston is released from its hold.

However, the orb stays quiet only for a moment as its arm like lights now jet towards Clover. The mare notices this as a ball of magic comes around her.

The light of the orb pounds against her bubble shield as she clenches her eyes tight to hold the spell.

Preston scrambles a little as his eyes lock to the still hot torch beside him, he quickly springs to his feet as he throws the hot stick like a javelin into the orb's center.

"HHHHHHAAAHHHHH!!!!" Like before the ear pounding sound comes up as the orbs lights fail randomly to the open area around it.

Preston cups his hands over his ears as he clenches his eyes a little, however the sound is quick to stop as the world around him gets a bright gold glow.

The man quickly springs his eyes open as he looks to the orb of light that is now being pushed from the little clearing in the forest.

Within moments the orb's sprawled out lights have receded and its smaller shape has taken hold as it now bolts from the surrounding tree line.

Preston turns his eyes to the mare on the ground as he quickly takes the few steps towards where she lays in the ground.

Her eyes are closed but her breathing is mellow as Preston slightly rest his hand to her side, "A-are you alright?"

Clover unclenches her eyes as she brings her head up from the forest floor, a leaf slightly clings to her face but it falls back to the ground as she gives a little nod.

"Is this what happens when you two are left in this forest alone?"

The voice turns Preston and Clover's heads as they stare to a light gray unicorn stallion with a long wispy beard that drapes over the dirty dark blue and starry cloak.

"Master?" Clover slowly comes to her hooves with Preston's help as the older stallion stares to the mare.

"Can you walk?"

The mare nods to the stallion's comment as Preston takes his hand from her side.

Star Swirl turns his eyes back to the trees as he speaks up, "Then follow me, Will-o-Wisps are known to return to the same spots." As his words come to an end the older stallion's slow trot comes up as he turns back to the way he came.

Clover is quick to follow after him but Preston lags behind as he rubs his chest for the moment. However, he stays near the mare's tail without saying a word.

End of chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – Night Fall

The journey through the Everfree forest has been held at the older and slower stallion's pace. Although neither Clover or Preston say anything to him as they both continue to calm themselves from their run in with the strange orb. In fact, Clover has taken the slower walk to her advantage as she continues to speak, "...So Master what would cause a Will-O-Wisp to come this far into the forest?"

Star Swirl clears his throat as he continues to duck under the few branches he trots into. The absence of his voice does little to curve the younger pony as she continues to ask questions, "And why has the forest grown so much? Are the Will-O-wisp to blame?"

The sound of a crackling fire and a dim orange light starts to peek a little further down the forest path as Star Swirl turns his head back to the mare, "I see you have maintained your inquisitive mind Clover...But your observations to the Will-O-Wisp is far from correct."

Clover gives a little nod as the stallion's horn sparks up in a bright gold glow to move the rest of the lower tree's branches to reveal the little campsite that was hidden.

Swirl's voice comes up again as he clears his throat once more, "Now, please come and take a seat...I am far too old to talk and trot."

The words bring Clover forward as she starts towards the crackling fire, Preston follows after her but he is stopped as Star Swirl raises a hoof to block his path.

The older stallion's wrinkled face now squints to the man in front of him as his voice comes up, "Preston?" His tone is almost surprised as he blinks to the man, "B-but I had thought Celestia's spell turned you into a pony?"

Preston nods his head as he rubs his chest a little, "Ya, it-..."

Clover's voice comes up as she turns back to Star Swirl, "The spell was not able to hold."

For a moment Star Swirl just stares to the blonde haired man but he nods as he turns his trot towards his little camp.

The older stallion mutters something to himself, but the crackle of the fire cuts his voice off. However, the low muttering is quickly brought to an end as he sits his flank to one of the logs he must have dragged over to the fire.

To the seated stallion Clover speaks up, "Master why did you go into the forest for so long?"

The old stallion brings his hoof to a small stick that was sitting on the ground as he pokes it to something in the small pot that hangs over the open flame, "Checking on me are you Clover?"

An old man smile comes to the stallion as he continues, "And there is no need to call me Master, I am no longer your teacher."

The mare nods to the comment as she moves to sit on one of the logs near the fire, "I believe I will always call you Master. And I will never stop learning from you Star Swirl."

The tender moment between the mare and the older stallion is quickly brought to an end as Preston comes into the little clearing with a laugh, "Ya, she can't even help me with my magic Gandalf." He holds his laughing tone as he sits to the log next to the now annoyed mare.

"Bha." Star Swirl lifts his other hoof as he points to the smiling man, "You do not learn because you still do not want to believe in magic. That is most likely why Celestia's transformation spell was broken."

The man's smile is lost as he gives a simple nod.

"Do not just nod your head Preston. Look at me ." The words bring Preston's head up as he stares to the older pony's bright amber eyes.

Star Swirl squints his eyes as he wiggles his hoof a little, "Now, repeat after me Preston, magic is real."

A faint laugh comes up from Preston as he speaks up, "I'm pretty sure I know that b-..."

"Say it." The older stallion's held stare finally breaks down the man's smile as he nods.

"Okay, magic is real."

Star Swirl nods as he gives a little smile, "Good, now hold out your...Claw thing."

"Hand?" Preston gives a little smile as he extends his hand to the older stallion.

"Yes yes, hand." Star Swirl turns his attention back to the pot as his horn sparks up to float the slightly steaming pot over towards Preston's hand.

The wobbly magic that holds just above his hand slowly starts to loosen Preston's confidence in the older stallion as he speaks up, "Uh...What's you doing Star Swirl?"

"Shh.." The stallion’s eyes focus on the man's hand as he tilts the hot pot, which spills the water that was inside onto Preston's hand before he can jerk it back.

Clover's eyes along with Preston's fly open to the water that splashes onto the man's extended hand. However no cry of pain comes up as Preston's hand just shakes from the fear of what he thought he would feel.

"Master?! What was that for?" Clover holds her hoof towards Preston's hand but Star Swirl's voice comes up to stop her motion, "No, do not touch him."

Star Swirl leans his head a little closer as he looks to the small black item that was poured to the man's hand, "Tell me, Preston. Did you feel any heat?"

The man gives a little laugh as he shakes his head, "N-no, what was that a spell?"

"No Preston, that is a rock." Star Swirl points his hoof to the small black stone that sits in Preston's hand. The old stallion bobs his head a little as he pulls to his beard, "Hm..."

Star Swirl turns to Clover as he continues to pull to his beard, "Clover, could you please take the rock from his hand?"

"Um...Y-yes Master?" Clover blinks to the strange request as she slowly brings her hoof to the rock, however as her hoof touches it the sick sound of her fur slightly sizzling comes up, "OW!!"

She jerks her hoof back as she hits Preston's arm a little out of anger, "You liar! That is scolding!"

The hard hoof to his arm causes the hot rock to fall to the ground as Preston shakes his head, "What? No it's not?"

"Yes it was!"

Clover and Preston's little banter continues to play out in front of the old stallion as he moves his stick to poke at the hot rock for a moment.

However, Clover and Preston's conversation is brought to an end as the old stallion speaks up, "You are both right."

The words turn Clover's head as she lowers the hoof she was getting ready to again smack Preston's arm with, "What?"

Star Swirls magic sets the pot back over the flame as the stallion nods his head, "The stone was actually scolding, but at the same time it was also freezing as if it were still on the ground..." The older stallion tosses the stick into the fire as he takes a deep breath, "I noticed the forest growing a few weeks after Celestia had me study the Element of Harmony crown."

The stallion brings his hoof to his mouth as a sickening cough comes up from him, "A-as you know Clover this forest is not bound by the laws of Pegasus weather control, this and a few other areas of the world. But..." Star Swirl leans forward a little as he squints his eyes, "These areas of the world are bound by their own magic. A magic we have disrupted by creating an object that can completely alter the feelings of ponies."

Clover and Preston both stare to the stallion as they await for his lengthy speech to finish.

"...I have been collecting things from the forest to test them, and from what I can suspect the change in our world's natural magic is actually because of...Well you Preston, and the other two that came with you those few months ago."

Preston gives a little chuckle to the comment as he shakes his head, "W-what why is it my fault?"

"No no, it is not entirely your fault." Star Swirls tone gets a little lower as he sighs, "It is actually because of the actions of a pony, Princess Platinum to be exact. When she...Charged, the crown with your." The old stallion struggles to say the next word as he studies the man's face, "-Your brother, she altered the natural magic with a form of magic not found before in this land."

Preston just gives a nod as he tries to not show the emotion that lays just behind his eyes.

Star Swirls little speech continues as the stallion hoofs towards the pot, "Now, eventually the magic will subside and everything will come back to normal." The stallion coughs a little as he nods, "As long as Princess Celestia read my letter that I sent her those few months ago."

The stallion brings a smile back to his face as he sets his hoof back to the ground, "Now, why did you two come this far hmm? Was the company of the other not suffice?"

Clover gives a slight laugh as she shifts a little on her seat, "Princess Celestia should have sent you a letter correct?"

Star Swirl nods towards the simple looking tent behind him, "Yes yes, Wispy had not given me the letter but I found it. Although I have not read it."

The comment flicks the mare's ear as she cocks her head, "But Master, She has sent you more than one?"

"Bha, I have only seen the one this morning." Star Swirl wiggles his hoof to the mare as his comment rings out.

Clover just nods as she speaks up, "And mine?"

The stallion blinks to the comment as he tugs to his beard, "I believe I had Wispy send those letters.." He nods his head as he continues to play with his beard.

As the conversations starts to die down Preston rubs at his chest again.

His motion's catch the older stallion's eye as he looks over the slight burn mark on the man's wool shirt, "Are you okay Preston?"

The man rolls his hand to the comment as he nods, "Ya, that Willy-Woop or whatever you called it just bit me or something."

Star Swirl stops his motions on his beard as his eyes widen a little, "The Will-O-Wisp burnt you? W-why did you not say so??"

Preston stops his motions on his chest as he speaks up a little concerned, "Why is that bad?"

The older stallion nods his head as he stands up, "Well not bad, but a Will-O-Wisp burn can cause a severe rash, and I for one do not care to catch that rash." He wiggles his hoof towards the tree line a little towards Preston’s left, "We are close to a warm spring, my safety spell will make the plants immovable but to my magic, so you will be safe. Oh and the water is clean, I tested it on a rock."

"Um...T-thanks?" Preston stands as he points towards the tree line, "So like what a few feet away right?"

Star Swirl nods his head as he speaks up, "Yes yes, and while you clean up I will cook something."

Clover's voice comes up as she wiggles her hoof, "Master I can make something, please just sit down."

As Preston moves towards the trees Clover helps the older stallion back to his seat on the log.

End of chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Revelations

The light white glow of the moon hangs over the slight clearing in the trees, but only enough to illuminate the small stream that runs up from the heated spring water the blond man sits in.

It took a few moments for him to actually find the courage to get in the water he actually can not see anything in. But, for right now he has no regrets as he just sits with his head resting up against one of the mossy rocks near the edge of the little spring.

The faint sound of water trickling down from the small rock cropping that sits to his left has made this insignificant watering hole an oasis.

A relaxed sigh comes up from the blond haired man as he continues to just rest his head to the hard rock.

His mind slowly starts to dim as he focuses solely on the trickle of water to his left. This however, was a bad move as he feels a torrent of water quickly rolling over his nose and mouth.

Preston is quick to spring to life as he almost jumps to the center of the spring. But before he can question what happened his ears bring in the sound of a little giggle.

"There you got that shower you always wanted. Now you're mane hopefully will not smell as bad." The empty bucket floats next to the mare as she holds her content little smile to the man's expression.

However, Preston quickly splashes some water towards the mare as he speaks up, "It's hair not mane."

The dark earthy colored cloak the mare has now is drenched on one side, which of course brings an annoyed stare to the unicorn's eyes as she squints to the man, "You got my cloak wet."

Preston just holds a smirk to the comment as he shrugs, "Ponies should not wear clothes."

"Oh really?" Clover's horn lowers the empty bucket as she turns her attention to the heavy and slightly sweaty clothing on the ground, "Tell me, is this everything you had on? It would be a shame if it were to get wet correct?"

The words hold their own weight to Preston's mind, but currently he focuses in on the mare's first comment as he moves his hands under the warm water to cover himself. Despite the fact that the dark lighting and constantly moving water does it for him, "Don't put my stuff in the water."

Clover cocks a little smile to the comment as she turns her head to one side, "So...The superior human is nude? Like a common animal hmm?" Her hoof comes to her puffed out chest as she tilts her head towards the sky, "And I am clothed, meaning that I am now the more superior."

Preston gives a little nod as he speaks up, "Ya ya ya, you made your point...Now can I enjoy my little bath?"

"No." The mare moves her hoof over the heavy wool items on the ground as she continues, "...I enjoy this." Her smile comes up a little more as she looks over the man's exposed torso, "You look so helpless..."

As her stare lingers for the moment Preston turns his eyes, however this just brings up a quick response from Clover as she takes a hoof towards the water's edge, "I really do not see why you are making such a fuss about being nude. The fur on your chest should suffice as clothing."

Preston's body slightly sinks under the water as the faint blush to his cheeks rings up even in the moon's light, "Ya ya ya, real funny. Now can you go and help Star Swirl chew his food or something?"

The comment rolls Clover's eyes as she breaks her little game, "As much as I would like to leave you alone, Star Swirl insisted that I make sure I get clean, just in case the Will-O-Wisp magic affected me."

Her words falter the smile Preston had put on as he just blinks to the mare in front of him, "L-like now?"

Clover nods her head as she continues, "Oh do not worry Preston, I will not be taking my sweet time with it. Sitting in your filth is not something I really want to do."

Despite the fact that the spring is about the size of a normal bedroom Clover still holds her slightly disgusted face to her own comment.

Preston however, gets no relief from her words as he moves further from where the mare stands.

To the man's motions Clover rolls her eyes, however she does not start her voice up as her horn sparks to the cloak around her. Under her control the cloak comes to the pile of Preston's clothes as the mare now stands only with the fur on her body.

Clover gives a little smirk to the staring eyes in front of her as she speaks up, "Better?"

No answer comes from Preston as he just blinks to the mare for a moment, however as she takes the last step towards the water's edge he finally speaks up, "Not really a difference seeing as how you only wear something out of the house."

The words bring an amused laugh from the mare as her eyes turn to the water her hoof barely taps to, "Ha, should I be embarrassed that you have seen my fur?"

Preston blinks to the comment as he shakes his head, "I guess not."

"Good." Clover slowly starts to ease herself in, however she loses her footing to the rocks under the water as she flops into the warm water with a big splash.

The waves bash up against Preston's head as he closes his eyes to the splashing water. But as he moves one hand from the water to wipe at his face the mare's head and now soaked mane breaks the surface as she takes a deep breath, "W-well, I was not expecting the water to be so warm."

Preston gives a simple nod to the comment as the mare slightly dog paddles towards the shallower part of the spring. The sight of the mare's swim brings a faint laugh to Preston as he just stares to her a little longer.

The chuckle flicks the mare's ear as she turns her eyes back to the smiling man, "Found something funny Fuzzy Chest?"

Preston just shrugs a little to the comment as he replies, "Just you."
Clover's eyes squint to the man for a moment as she just shakes her head and instead goes about the reason why she got into the water.

To the shallower water the mare's body is a little bit more visible, and Preston can see how the mare has positioned her flank on one of the submerged rocks to allow her the use of her front hooves. The two front hooves brush up against the mare's body as she tries to scrub away any of the Will-O-Wisp rash that may or may not have started to form.

However the droopy dark purple and violet mane of the mare turns back to the pair of staring eyes as she speaks up with a low voice, "Now I feel awkward...Could you not stare at me?"

Preston turns his eyes from the mare's back as he instead just looks around the little spring he still floats in.

For a few moments this calms the man's thoughts, however that is quick to change as the mare across from him speaks up.

"When I was holding my bubble spell the Will-O-Wisp was hitting it from the top...Can you just make sure there is no marks?" Clover's comment goes unanswered for the moment as Preston turns his head towards the mare who still faces away from him.

He swallows a little as he cocks his head to one side, "S-so that means you never wash your back?"

The comment brings a quick response from the mare as she gives an annoyed sigh, "I have a towel...Now I could use that shirt of yours if you want?"

Preston slowly starts to come from his corner in the water as he shakes his head, "No...I can do it."

The little ripples in water that lap against the mare's body start to get closer as she turns her head a little to allow one of her saucer sized eyes to look over the man who approaches her.

However, her one eyed stare turns Preston's head a little as he now comes behind the mare, "Uh..." He clears his throat as he slowly starts to bring his two hands from under the water and towards the mare's back.

Clover's set gaze holds as she feels Preston's fingertips start to run through the wet fur on her back. However, the strangely pleasurable feeling is not what the man receives as he instead tries to place what his hands are feeling.

Fur has never been something alien to Preston, especially seeing as how he was planning on becoming a veterinarian before that fateful day that took him, Damien and Matt into this world...However, the fur that he pushes his hands through feels nothing like he has felt before.; It's soft and smooth, almost like a satin pillow or some other kind of fabric. But, it is the strange tingly feeling that runs to his finger tips that actually holds the man's intrigue.

In between the little canals of fur his fingers have made a faint green magic comes up. Not as bright as Clover's illumination spell, but enough to allow Preston's eyes to see the mare's back in full.

Preston's hands move from the mare's back for a moment as he cups a little bit of water that he now drizzles to the fur his hands slightly messed up.

The whole endeavor took no longer then maybe three or four minutes, but Preston still clears his throat as he turns a little from Clover's gaze, 'Um...Y-you look good."

Clover nods to the comment as her lower voice comes up, "Good...No marks. She slowly starts to stand a little more as the sound of the water running from her comes up under her voice, "Well thank you Preston." She moves towards the threshold of the spring as she waits for the majority of water to run from her.

As she stands there she speaks up again, "So, are you coming out of the water yet? Star Swirl insisted on cooking something."

Preston nods as he sinks his body under the water a little again, "Y-ya, just give me a few minutes."

Clover nods to the comment as she sparks her horn up to lift the bucket and cloak she carried over, "Okay."

As the mare's trot comes up Preston's body shutters a little as he tries to chase a thought from his head.

End of chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 – Letters from yesterday

The crackle of the fire has started to come down as a low flame just barely flickers to the burnt wood and ash pile.

Clover blinks to the fire as she floats the bucket to the ground and her cloak to the log, "Master, why are you letting the fire go out?" As her magic floats up a few pieces of wood to the dying fire.

However as no response comes up Clover turns her head around the open area for any trace of the older stallion, "Master?"

Again no response comes up as Clover sets the logs to the fire and starts her trot towards the one tan tent set up near in a little in front of her.

Her eyes focus to the down flap as she brings her hoof to it as she peeks inside. The magically created tent almost triples in height and width as Clover now looks to the older stallion that sits in the simple wood chair that stands next to the small end round table.

"Oh there you are Star Swirl, are you going to sle-..."

"What is this Clover?" The mare's light smile is held but her head cocks a little to one side as she looks over the stallion's emotionless face.

"What is what master?" Clover blinks to the stallion as she waits for a response.

However, her words only agitate the stallion as he flaps the letter he has in his hoof, "This, what is the meaning of this letter Clover??"

The mare takes a step inside of the tent as the flaps of it close behind her, "That is the letter Celestia sent you, why can you not read it in this light-..."

"Bha! I can read this letter!" He quickly takes the letter from her racing hoof as his voice starts to stumble a little out of confusion and almost anger, "I-I read every word of this-this letter, twice!" He tosses the paper to the table as the older stallion struggles to stand from his seat.

"And-and I must say Clover I am disappointed, angry and insulted at you-Aha-ha-ha!!" His words are brought to a quick end as the old stallion starts up in a sick cough.

Clover extends her hoof to the swaying stallion but Star Swirl takes a step back as he regains his voice, "NO! Do not touch me." He raises one hoof as his frail body shakes a little to his three hoof stand, "Obviously I had put my faith and hopes in the wrong pony"

"Master what are you talking about?" Clover shakes her head to the stallion's angered face as she continues to speak up, "I-I have never seen you like this?"

"What is the matter??" Star Swirl jabs his hoof in the air towards the piece of paper as he answers the question, "You have rejected my recommendation for you to become the next Unicorn Mage! H-how could you allow all of your training to be thrown away? How could you do this to me? You are the only pony I can trust to make the decisions that need to be made."

The words slowly lower the mare's head as she speaks up, "I-I did not think it would upset you this-..."

"Upset!" The stallion quickly brings one of his front legs to cover his coughing as he tries to talk through it, "Clover, I do not have much time in this world. I need you to over see my work, I need you to make sure The Element of Harmony is properly dealt with."

"Master do not talk like that you-..."

Clover's words are cut off as Star Swirl shakes his head, "I have accepted my fate a long time ago. B-but how could you do this to me Clover, how??"

The mare's head comes down a little as she closes her eyes, "...Because Star Swirl I am following tradition."

"Tradition?!" The word widens the stallion's eyes as he shakes his head, "You have followed no tradition, a mage's top apprentice is to be his successor that is you. How have you followed tradition?"

His slightly raised voice brings a faint whimper from the mare as she holds her eyes to the ground, "The tradition says the apprentice becomes the successor if they are fit..." She shakes her head a little as she struggles with the next few words, "S-Star Swirl, I am pregnant."

Star Swirls face loses its intensity for a moment, however the older stallion's lapse in emotion is quickly dropped as his voice comes up with an almost rage filled tone, "This is what happens?! What, my student can not handle having a stallion in her home and instead gives into her desires like some common Mule?!"

The tone the stallion has is something Clover has never heard, sure she has seen the stallion mad when he tries to get a point across. But this tone is almost mindless and full of just raw emotions, the mare blinks to the comment as she shakes her head almost on the verge of tears from admitting it to herself and from the hard tone of the stallion in front of her, "M-master, it was not like that?"

Star Swirl's mind is absent to his words as he lifts his hoof up, "Does Preston know he ruined your life Hmm? Does he know everything you have done has been for nothing??"

Clover's lips quiver as she shakes her head, "He does not remember..."

"Does not know? What kind of stallion or beast does not remember?!"

The stallion's comment brings a quick response from Clover as she speaks up, "That night...T-the spell Celestia used to turn him into a pony broke. Master his memory receded almost all the way back to when Celestia first tasked me with looking after him."

Star Swirls pointing hoof goes a little limp as the mare in front of him gives a sad little whimper as she turns her head towards the ground she stands on, "I-I do not even know how to tell him Master...H-he just views us as animals."

The older stallion's mind slowly comes back to him as he blinks to the room he stands in, however he holds his eyes to the mare in front of him as he speaks up, "Clover...It is alright."

"How?" Clover's eyes glimmer a little to the water that has built up to them, but she does not completely break down as the strong willed mare impatiently waits for an answer.

Star Swirl nods his head as he sighs, "I just know this..."

The mare gives a simple nod as she tries to recompose herself.

To the silent mare Star Swirl now brings his voice up, "...When does my new successor arrive?"

Clover sniffles a little as she speaks up, "Celestia asked me and...Preston to come because she wants us to help you meet him."

Star Swirl sighs as he studies the mare's face, "Of course..." He takes a deep breath as he trots over to the simple bed in the room to sit on, "...Now if you excuse an old pony Clover, I need to rest my mind."

"Yes master." Clover turns towards the front of the tent, but before she can even put a hoof outside Star Swirl speaks up, "Clover..."

He pauses his voice as the mare's eyes come back to him, as they do he gives a faint smile, "Take care of yourself."

The mare nods as she speaks up, "I will Master."

Star Swirls horn sparks up as he floats over a piece of paper, a faint laugh comes up from the old stallion as he hoovers the paper in front of Clover, "Strange, but before I left this morning I actually brought along your tent from last time..."

Clover's magic comes over the slip of paper as she gives a faint smile to the comment, "Well thank you Master. Good night."

The older stallion nods to the words as he gives a little smile to the mare, "As to you Clover."

As the words loft a little to the tent Clover takes a step out and back into the night sky and crackle of fire. The magical piece of paper floats a little in front of her, however the silence to the world around her is brought to an end as a voice comes up.

"Alright, time to eat." Preston holds a little smile as he claps his hands together a little as he looks around the camp.

Clover blinks to the man's smile as she brings her normal sounding voice up with a quick clear of the throat, "Yes, well Star Swirl made some mushroom stew and I believe he brought a few apples and carrots along as well."

Her trot into the camp does not stop at the log Preston now sits down to, and as a result the man trails after the trotting mare with his eyes as he speaks up, "What are you doing?"

Clover's horn sparks up as the piece of paper floats to the ground, "Making our tent." As the paper settles to the ground a faint bolt of magic strikes against it as Clover takes a step back.

A slightly loud chime of magic now rings up to the camp as a simple tan tent pops up to where the piece of paper sat.

The sight of the magically created tent brings a faint laugh from Preston as he turns his head towards the pot of food above the fire, "Oh ya, forgot about ponies invented the TARDIS."

His laugh brings a faint smirk to Clover's face, but it's unseen to the man as she instead begins to trot towards the flaps in front of her.

Preston speaks up to her trot as he cocks his head, "Wait you're not going to eat anything?"

The mare halts her trot as she turns her head to the man, "I ate some of the stew before I went to the spring. I am feeling tired so I think I will just go to sleep." Clover does not wait for a response as she passes into the tent, her eyes come to set on the simple one large pillow bed as she brings a hoof to it after only a few steps.

The room may be almost triple the size that it looks on the outside, but that does not really mean there is much to it.

Clover's horn sparks up as she moves the heavy cotton blanket back as she eases herself into the bed and her head quickly to the pillow.

However, just as she sits down the sound of the flap of the tent coming open flicks her ears. She sits up a little as she looks over the man who cradles a few apples in his arms.

Preston's eyes turn to the mare as he gives a faint laugh, "Um...Sitting outside in a forest alone is not something I really wanted to do. Can I eat in here?"

Clover nods as Preston's walk quickly brings him to the other side of the bed, however he hesitates for a moment as he stares to the pony that sits only about two feet from him.

"Um...Apple?"

His words and gesture sparks up Clover's horn as she floats an apple from the man's arms, "Thank you."

As the apple floats from him Preston slowly moves a hand to the bed as he pushes the blanket aside to allow him to slip under it.

The part of the bed where Clover rest is now up a little, but it does not bother her for the moment as she now sits up a little more for the apple she has floating next to her.

However before she takes a bite of it she looks over the heavy clothing Preston put back on, "Are you going to sleep in that shirt? It is only going to get hotter in the forest?"

The comment makes his chest itch as the sweat that already started to form from the short walk from the spring brought on, "I don't know..."

He shrugs the comment off as he turns his attention to one of the apples in his hold. As the sound of his first bite comes up to the tent Clover floats her own apple to her mouth.

End of chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Shining

The early morning sun that has come over the bright clear blue sky of Equestria is almost absent to the thick and scraggly tree canopy that tangles and mashes almost all over the forest. However, despite the low light the numerous plant life in the forest have already started their daily routine of mass evaporation; and because of this the heat near the ground is saturated in mist.

The heavier air however has a no affect on the two bodies that are still wrapped under the hot blanket in a deep sleep.

Clover's head slightly rest on the fuzzy man's chest, not by design but because the slight incline of the simple bed has rolled her over the course of the night to where she now lays.

But, this added weight to the man's chest has no affect on his sleep as his mouth continues to hang open in a faint snore while a steady stream of drool slightly rolls from his mouth.

Sadly though, their sleep is brought to a halt as a chipper voice from outside now beckons them to rise, "How long am I to wait for you two? Honestly I believe I could have walked home and back by now."

The older stallion's voice quickly brings an abrupt and unpleasant end to Preston’s sleep as he closes his mouth a little. He now stares to the tent's simple tan coloring as his mind starts to place him, however as it does he turns his gaze to the mound of dark purple hair that rest on his chest.

Preston blinks to the mare's continued sleep as he contemplated whether or not to end it.

Luckily though he does not have to make that decision as the flaps of the tent comes open to a stallion who now pokes his slightly dirty wizard hat wearing head in, "Hello are you two-..." Star Swirls eyes quickly squint as he gives a slightly disgusted face, "...Ugh, it smells worse than a Boggle's nest."

The stallion's voice jumps the sleeping mare to life as she takes her head from Preston's chest to face the stallion at the door, "Star Swirl?"

"Ah Clover, shall we get going?" The older pony’s happy smile brings a little confusion to the mare as she stares to the complete contrast of the stallion she saw last night.

However she does not get to bring her voice up as the stallion takes his head from the tent.

Preston moves from the bed as he quickly takes his shirt up from the ground he put it to later in the night. As he pulls it over his head Clover moves from the bed as she trots towards the exit of the tent.

To the mare's quick trot Preston jumps from the bed, "Whoa whoa, don't shrink the tent with me in it!"

His quicker speed brings him to the brighter area outside as he rubs one of his hands to his face, but before he can ring out another comment the dull gray stallion speaks up, "Good, now we can leave once I find my bag..."

Clover's ear flicks to the comment as she stares to the side of the stallion's cloak, "Um...Master you are wearing your bag."

The words turn the older stallion's head down as he looks over the dark starlight bag that sits around him, "Oh...So I am. Wonderful, shall we get going?"

Preston gives a little chuckle to the older stallion as he nods to him a little, "You losing your mind Gandalf?"

Star Swirl cocks his head to the comment as he looks over the blonde man's smile, "I do not see how I could lose my mind if I have never once seen it..." He lifts a hoof for a moment as he gestures a little towards Preston, "...But I would perform a speech check on you, you seem to have some trouble with my name."

"Ya ya ya, I get it bad joke-..."

Before Preston's voice can come down Star Swirl's has come up, "No no, repeat after me..." As the old pony straightens his posture Clover turns her attention to the tent as she goes about the spell to shrink it down.

"..Okay Preston say, rock."

A faint laugh comes up from Preston as he holds his hands out towards Star Swirl as he turns to Clover, "I think Star Swirl has really lost it this-Ow!!?"

"Pay attention dragon."

Preston rubs his arm as he looks to the little rock that was tossed at him, however he does not bring his eyes back to Star Swirl as he just stares to the pebble with a comment, "How did you throw that rock so fast? You can't bend?"

Another small pebble hits him as the faint magical chime that sent it to him rings now to Preston's ear, "Look to somepony when you are speaking to them...Now," The older stallion clears his throat as he speaks up, "Repeat after me, the Will-O-Wisp is not friendly."

With a sigh Preston repeats, "The Will-O-Wisp is not friendly."

Star Swirl nods as he continues, "The mushroom with blue spots is not to be eaten."

"The mushroom with blue spots is not to be eaten...Am I done?"

"Bha!" Star Swirl wiggles his hoof as he speaks up, "Stop complaining, you do not hear Clover complaining about the burden she has to carry."

The comment flicks the mare's ear as she freezes a little to the older stallion, however as she listens to the next words she relaxes a little, "...Now Preston repeat after me, the clouds are not for Unicorns."

"The clouds are not for Unicorns-OW!??"

"Wrong Preston, clouds are not forbidden to any pony. They are free to do as they wish." Star Swirl's comment has no effect on the man as he just rubs to his arm, "Ya great whatever, can you stop throwing those pebbles?"

Star Swirl squints nods his head as he turns back towards the tree line that surrounds the little clearing they stand in, "Now that your mind is open and I am out of pebbles, yes."

Preston continues to rub at his arm a little as he turns to the smiling cloak wearing mare that now comes next to him, "What's so funny?"

No answer comes up from the mare as she sparks her hooves up a little faster to come next to the older stallion that continues to lead the way.

(About twenty minutes later)

The trot out of the thick forest was a little long, but as the small group comes now to the threshold of the grassy field that lays between the forest and the tall dark stoned tower.

Star Swirl holds his leading trot as his voice comes up, "Ah, there we are...I suspected we were going the correct direction."

His unsure words turn both Preston and Clover's heads but neither speaks up as the stallion in front of them continues, "I do hope that Wispy was good while I was away."

It takes a few moments for the older stallion's trot to come near the small dirt path that wraps around the tower. But as Star Swirl’s hooves touch the even dirt his pace picks up and in no time the small group has come to the front of the tower.

However, they pause as they all look to a pale yellow mare with light pink mane that stands in front of the door with a hoof raised to it. A faint laugh comes up from the maid dressed mare as she bows her head a little, "Oh Mage Star Swirl, I had hoped you were back." She raises her head as she continues, "Your guest has arrived."

Star Swirl squints to the comment as he strokes his beard a little, "A guest? Tell me, who am I to be expecting?"

The mare stumbles a little but she brings the name out as she smiles, "Sagitta Duscle."

A faint chuckle comes up from Star Swirl as he shakes his head, "I am sorry young lady, but I do not believe I know that name."

Clover comes up beside the stallion as she speaks up, "Master that is the pony Princess Celestia has picked to train under you as your successor."

The words bring another light chuckle from the old stallion as he shakes his head, "Why would I need another pony to succeed me? You are the best student I have ever had Clover?"

The stallion's clueless and confused look brings a little concern to Clover's face as she speaks up in a lower voice, "M-master, we talked about this yesterday...Do you remember?"

Star Swirl studies the mare's face as the confused but warm smile starts to fade from his face, "O-oh...Yes...Yes, I remember of course."

Despite his words Clover continues to hold her concerned stare as she nods, "W-well we shall escort Duscle to the tower okay?"

Star Swirl nods as he moves a little towards the door, "Yes yes, I will wait here."

The maid takes a step back from the door as Star Swirl's magic brings a key ring from his bag, "Well okay." She turns her head to Clover and Preston as she speaks up, "Duscle is at the castle, I will show you to him."

As the mare's trot starts up Clover and Preston follow after her, however Clover continues to look between her path and the older stallion as he now enters into the tower.

End of chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Introductions

The trot from the tower has come to its end as the maid that led Preston and Clover gets closer to the open doors of the castle. A plain looking off white coated unicorn stands in the threshold of the castle as he continues to magically sweep the ground with the broom that hovers beside him.

As the mare gets closer the stallion holds the broom to one side as he speaks up with a little smile, "Hello Plumero."

To the comment the mare brings up a cheerful smile as she speaks up, "Good day to you too Sweeps, is that new guest still in the dining hall?"

Sweeps taps his hoof to his mouth as he thinks for a moment, "Why yes, I do believe he is."

"Oh good." The mare turns her head back to Clover and Preston as she trots inside the castle, "Will you be wanting to eat breakfast?"

Her comment brings a little rumble to Preston's stomach as he nods, "I could eat."

Clover just rolls her eyes to the comment as they continue to follow the mare further into the castle's hallways. They quickly pass by the lavish bedroom fitted and furnished for a Princess that they neglected to use yesterday.

However, before anyone can speak up the mare leading them takes a step aside as she holds her hoof to the inward open doors of the dining hall, "Here you go..."

Clover gives a little nod to the comment as she turns her trot into the room with Preston following behind them.

Despite the fact that the castle is no longer open to the public and it has started to be decommissioned, the dining hall continues to hold its luster with colorful Unicorn banners around the room and the same regal chairs, table and other items of the castle's ambiance.

But, for the moment the only thing that holds Preston and Clover's eyes is the stallion that sits across the table by himself. The unicorn stallion has a light taupe grey coloring to his coat, with greying white mane that pokes out from the maroon hood that comes down into the same colored cloak that has a few stitching that look like leaves of some kind.

As Clover's eyes finally take their fill of the unfamiliar pony she brings her voice up, "Sagitta Duscle?"

The hot drink the stallion had in his hoof comes from his mouth as he nods, "You should have some of this tea, it is quite delicious."

Preston's eyes widen a little as a laugh comes up from him as he rubs his neck a little, "Holy shit Sean Connery is a pony..."

Clover quickly jabs a hoof to the man's side as the stallion across the large table comes up with a slightly confused smile, "Princess Celestia's letter did say I would be meeting a few strangers here..." He squints his crimson eyes to the man as he continues, "...But she did not say I would be meeting a...What are you exactly?"

Before Preston can speak up the mare beside him chimes in, "Oh i'm sorry but we do not really have the time for that. We really should get you acclimated with Star Swirl...He, has been acting a little strange to this."

The older stallion across the table nods as he stands from his chair, "I suppose you are right, after all I have nothing else to occupy my time until my assistant arrives with some of my equipment."

As the hooded stallion comes towards the door Clover and Preston move from the doorway. It only takes a moment for Sagitta to come into the hall, however as he does that Clover turns her eyes towards the table as she floats over two large breakfast pastries.

One goes to Preston as he takes it quickly into hand with a nod to the mare, "Thanks Clover." He puts the pastry to his mouth as he takes a bite and talks with his mouth a little full, "...I should probably eat something seeing as how we keep walking all over the city."

A faint laugh comes up from Preston as he turns his walk into the hall. Clover brings a faint smirk to the comment but she ignores that as she trots after him.

(A quick trot later)

The pace at which the two ponies lead have brought the small group with in seconds of the tall dark sun bleached tower.
However, by the way Clover and Sagitta have been talking it seems almost that neither one has realized how close they really are. Luckily though as the mare's last comment rings out she halts her trot to the door she now stands in front of, "...Yes, well Star Swirl was expecting us, so the door should be opened."

Her hoof comes to the door as she pushes it open, "Ah there we go." She holds a warming smile as she steps in front of the doorway, "I am sure Star Swirl is looking forward to meeting you Sagitta."

"As am I." Sagitta nods as he patiently waits for the mare to trot inside.

Clover holds her warm smile as she turns back into the room, however it does not hold as she looks over the cluttered scrolls, papers, books, bags and various alchemy equipment that lay scattered around the small bottom room of the tower.

The mare blinks in shocked horror to how the stallion that taught her everything she knew would actually leave his house in this disarray.

Sagitta and Preston poke their heads in as they both take in an eye full of the house in front of them. But Preston is the first to speak up as he looks around the house, "Whoa...What happened?"

Before an answer can ring up the sound of something with claws dragging to the floor chimes to the room. Preston's body tenses up at the sound, but his slight fear and confusion is brought to an end as he stares to a small crystal colored lizard scurrying through the clutter towards Clover.

"Wispy?" Clover's voice only brings the lizard's pace into a quicker motion as it latches its claws into the mare's leg.

"OW!" The mare is taken back by the pinch of the lizard's claws but the slight pain ends fast as the lizard climbs to her back and stops with a slight shake.

Clover turns her head a little to the lizard as she lifted a hoof towards him, "What has gotten into Wispy?"

The lizard just shrinks its body as it curls up in the mare's fur with a slight shiver. Clover stares to the lizard for a moment before she turns her head towards the staircase that loops the tower's cover all the way up, "Master Star Swirl, are you up their?"

No response comes from the three floors above them as Clover turns her head back to Preston and the stallion at the door, "Um...Just wait here for a moment. Preston could you take Wispy and clean up a little?"

Preston just gives a simple nod to distracted by the mess in the room for a smart-ass comment, however taking the lizard from the mare's back does halt him for a moment. "Um...Ya just hold on."

He slowly reaches his hands to the lizard as he gives a little smile, "Okay...Don't bite me you dumb lizard."

A low animal like grumble comes up from the lizard but it comes to the man's hand as Clover starts up the stairs.

Sagitta's horn sparks up in a dark blue almost purple magic as he speak up, "Allow me to lend a hoof. I may be lucky enough to have my area of researching out of my house...But that doesn't make it any more clean." His magic wraps around to just about everything in the room as a pop of magic chimes up. Most of the books and scrolls have stacked to one pile, leaving just the bigger things left to be put away.

"I made that spell just the other day...And have actually been hoping to try it." A faint smile comes up from the stallion as his magic wraps to the maroon hood, his magic pulls it from his mane as he takes an extra hoof inside.

By now, Clover has reached Star Swirl's study as she pokes her head into the room, "Star Swirl?" Her eyes lock to the older stallion who sits quietly in the wooden chair in front of a small table. The light of the window in front of it shines bright into the study as it reveals the cluttered floor of papers. But, for the moment Clover's eyes are just locked to the unmoved stallion who continues to hang his mouth open a little.

"Star Swirl?" Clover's voice is a little loud and it now breaks the daze the older stallone was in as he closes his mouth and turns his head from his blank stare out of the window.

A smile comes to the old stallion's face as he turns to the mare at the door, "Ah Clover. How nice of you to stop by."

Clover just blinks to the stallion's joy filled words as he continues with a slight cough.

"I had just sat down to..." Star Swirl's words stop as his mouth quivers, "To...Hmm..I seem to have forgotten. No matter." He wiggles the hoof he holds a quill to towards the window as he turns back to it with a fascinated tone, "I was looking out of this window here at the castle, and noticed that the forest seems to have grown I should go and check it out before the sun goes-.."

"Master?!" The mare takes a step inside the room as she watches her footing to the papers that may or may not be important on the floor, "Do you not remember? You did that yesterday?"

"Bha!" A faint laugh comes up from the stallion as he sets the quill in his hoof to the table, "If I had gone into the forest I would have remembered Clover."

His laugh holds as he turns around a little in his chair, "Besides if I had I would have collected samples from the forest-...Oh my..."

From the stallion's turn towards the wall behind him his eyes and now Clover's rest to a large stack of rocks, twigs and branches that poke out from three or four bags on the ground.

The sight of the bags send Clover's voice up as she takes the last step to the stallion's side, "Master? How many times have you gone into the forest?" As her words ring to the stallion's ear she takes a closer look to the dirtied cloak she saw him in last night that he still wears.

Star Swirl brings his shaking hoof to his head as he shakes a little, "No no...I-I would have remembered that...C-correct?"

Clover rubs the stallion's back for a moment as she speaks up, "P-perhaps you need to stand up and get out of this room for a minute hmm?" As she takes a step back the sound of her hoof coming to a piece of paper flicks her ear, Clover turns her sight to the paper as she floats it up to her. But as she looks over Celestia's seal she speaks up, "Master? How many letters from Celestia have your received??"

As she waits for an answer she looks around the room to all of the letters that have been opened that all have Celestia's seal on them. Even the letter on the table in front of the stallion is the same.

"Letter? Bha, I would know how many letters I have received." He swipes the paper from Clover's hoof as he looks it over with his continued rant, "T-this is nothing more then a note I must have wrote-...Oh..."

The older stallion's tensed up muscles in his extended front leg is brought down as he reads the paper for a moment. But he quickly brings his eyes to Clover as he speaks up, "Y-you do not want to be my successor?"

Clover just shakes her head to the question as she speaks up a little more annoyed to the stallion's sad gaze, "Master Star Swirl I insist you stop with this-this game. We have had this conversation last night!"

The mare's raised tone blinks the stallion as he jerks a little in his seat, almost as if he has just woken up from a sleep or something. "Y-yes, yes we did." He quickly set the paper to the table in front of him as he rubs his hooves to his mane, "I-I am sorry Clover, b-but I for some reason forgot for a moment I-.."

"It's alright Master..." Clover rubs her hoof to the older stallion's back as she nods her head, "It's alright."

Star Swirl sits for a moment as he just rubs his hooves to his head, but the moment is quick to pass as he turns his head a little to the mare beside him, "I-is he here?"

"Y-yes, Sagitta Duscle has arrived and is waiting downstairs." Clover's slow motions on the stallion back hold their pace as Star Swirl nods his head.
"You may send him up Clover..."

The mare shakes her head to the comment as she takes her hoof from his back, "I will bring him up here so that-.."

"No." Star Swirl turns from the table as he shakes his head with a little smile, "I wish to meet him alone."

Clover hesitates for the moment but she obeys the stallion's wish as she nods, "Yes Master-.."

"And Clover..." The stallion rest his hoof to the mare's shoulder right at the base of her neck as he smiles, "Please...I have not been your master for a long time. Do not make an old pony blush."

A faint laugh comes to the mare as she nods, "Okay Star Swirl." The mare holds her gaze to the old pony for a moment before she turns her sight to the door as she quickly comes out of it.

Preston and Sagitta have cleaned up a walkway in the room, but the majority of larger objects still lay in the room.

But, Clover breaks their work as she nears the bottom of the stairs with a comment, "Sagitta, he wishes to see you...Alone. Will that be okay?"

The stallion turns his head from the items in front of him as he nods, "I see no problem with this."

Clover studies the stallion's face for a moment as she nods, "Me and Preston will be at the castle if you need us."

Her words turn Preston's head as he tosses a pot to one of the stacks of books, but he does not question it as Clover's trot comes towards the door. However, as the mare passes by the man the lizard on his shoulder jumps to the mare's back as she continues out of the door.

As the door comes to close Sagitta turns his gaze towards the stairs he stands a little in front of him.

End of chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Knowledge

It has been a few moments since Preston and Clover left the house, which has put the stallion in a slightly strange silence as he continues to trot up the stairs. However, as Sagitta nears the first floor of the tower his trot comes to an end.

His eyes turn to the old stallion sitting in the hard dark oak wood chair. Star Swirl shifts his eyes to the stallion at the doorway as he looks to the light taupe grey coat with white lightly greying mane, "When I learned that I would not be allowed to pick my own successor I at least thought Princess Celestia would have selected a younger pony."

Sagitta cracks a slight smile to the comment as he bows his head, "If I look as you fair as you do when I am your age, then I would not judge other ponies."

"Bha." Star Swirl turns his head towards the table in front of him as he shakes his head, "...You should not wish to be my age, you should beg to stay yours."

The older stallion's words nod Sagitta's head as he speaks up, "That may be, but at least at your age you can influence more ponies with a flick of your hoof then I could with a stack of papers."

"Hmm..." Star Swirl looks over his hoof as he thinks over the comment, but he moves the hoof from his sight as he pulls to his beard a little, "Funny you would say that." A low exhale comes from the stallion as he turns back towards Sagitta, "...My words and hooves have been worthless, and all of my work will have mattered for nothing."

Sagitta blinks to the comment as he cocks his head, "I would have to disagree with you Star Swirl. Your conjuring skills in your youth would suffice for infamy for any pony, let alone everything you have done since then."

A little laugh comes up from Star Swirl as he strokes his beard, "Ah-ha-ha..." His laugh is quickly interrupted by a cough as he brings his hoof over his mouth for the moment, but his voice is quick to return as he speaks up, "I did nothing for fame, nor have I actively pursued it. Instead, I did what I set my mind to." Star Swirl wiggles his hoof towards one of the chairs in the corner of the room.

Sagitta trots over to take a seat as the older stallion trails on, "It's funny, in my youth I aspired to be just good at my magic. Conjuring is not the easiest of things to follow, and I have dealt with my fair share of poor decisions because of it." A laugh comes up from the old stallion as he wiggles his hoof to Sagitta, "N-never barter with a Wyvern if you have something to lose, and never take a Phoenix feather when those blasted creatures are awake. I would do these things, and I would risk my life to collect items not because I knew fame follows from the spell I could produce...But instead because of the magic I believed I could create from it."

Star Swirls smile comes down as he looks over the respectful smile the stallion in the chair in front of him holds, "Do you want to know a secret?"

Sagitta nods as he awaits the older stallion to continue.

"The secret is magic is not created...Because it already exist in everything." Star Swirl nods his head as he thinks over the comment for a moment, "The smartest pony I ever meet taught me that." The older stallion closes his eyes for a moment as he shakes his head, "...She also showed me something else about magic."

Star Swirl slowly opens his eyes as they fall towards the ground, "She showed me that as much as it creates, it also takes. Magic may exist in everything and is everywhere, but its balance is not. Its what you do to it that makes it the way it is, and in some cases once you have done something so grand you realize what was used to make it."

The white bearded stallion turns his head to the pony in front of him as he continues, "Magic as you should well know is generated by thoughts and emotions, two things a pony and any being for that matter is full of." Star Swirl nods his head as one of his old hooves comes up towards the stallion, "And sometimes, magic needs a lot more than just believing in it..."

He turns his amber eyes back towards the floor as he shakes his head, "And I wish I would have known that then..."

There is a moment of silence in the room as Sagitta just stares to the older stallion in front of him with a slight bit of confusion to the lengthy older pony's jabber that to was almost meaningless.

However the moment of silence is brought to an end as Star Swirl brings his head up, "Now...Tell me Sagitta was it? You know my foible in magic I have, but yet I know nothing of what areas you enjoy."

Sagitta nods as he speaks up, "Well...I enjoy the area of Necromancy and Herbology. But I would not call your enjoyment of Conjuring and Magic Effect study a fault Star Swirl."

As the stallion waits for a comment Star Swirl ignores his last few words as he speaks up, "Necromancy hmm? A very peculiar area of study."

The words bring a faint smile to Sagitta's face as he speaks up, "I assure you, I did not pick that area of magic to process the idea of immortality. I chose it because of I believe in something you have already said..."

Star Swirl's ear flicks to the comment as they stay at attention to the stallion's next words, "...You said that magic is in everything and is not created. I agree with that. That is why I believe magic is transferred, from a pony to the plants to the air to the water."

A slight laugh comes up from Star Swirl as he looks over the stallion's only slightly greyed mane, "A statement that would have been rejected in the old Unicorn rule. Bold, to believe unicorns are not the sole users of magic. But a very useful knowledge to have."

Despite Star Swirl's lighter words his tone shifts as he loses his smile and looks over the stallion again, "Tell me Sagitta. From what I can tell you are in no way ill prepared to become the new Mage for the Unicorns, so please, why did Celestia send you to meet me?"

Sagitta's smile fades as he turns his eyes towards the door a little, "I was hoping your assistant and her...Friend would leave." He turns back to Star Swirl as he gives a little smile, "I did not want information like this to be heard by just anypony. But from what I gather from Princess Celestia's letters is that the sole reason I was to meet with you was because she wishes to know the where abouts of the Element of Harmony."

A slight smirk comes to Star Swirls face as he strokes his beard, "My memory has been fading for quite some time. But that a cursed item will always stay in my mind...That and its predecessor in the late Crystal Empire. But...I was under the impression she asked me to hide it, so that no pony could find it until it was needed again?"

Sagitta nods, "As I understand you were tasked to do this. However, you never sent her the information as to where you hid it."

Star Swirl smiles as he speaks up, "That is because I have not hid it."

The comment brings a strange look to Sagitta's face as he questions the comment, "I beg your pardon?"

"You can not find what was never hidden, and those seeking to use such a powerful tool could not handle its consequences and burden."

"I-I do not understand, if it is not hidden where is it?" Sagitta blinks to the comment as he waits for an answer.

Star Swirl nods as he sighs, "I have it." As his words come down he leans forward a little, "But I will not give it to anypony until they know of the consequences of using it."

Sagitta nods as he leans forward for more.

However his lean only brings a faint smile to Star Swirl as he looks over the stallion, "Necromancy correct?"

The sudden change in conversation brings a confused stare to the stallion as he nods, "Y-yes?"

"Hmm..." Star Swirl rubs his beard a little as he speaks up, "The Element of Harmony is a powerful force, and it should only be guarded by somepony who has seen it or used it." Star Swirl closes his eyes for a moment as he sighs, "I want you to return to the castle, and ask yourself if you wish to do what I do."

Star Swirl's hoof stops his brushing of his beard as he continues, "When you find the answer is yes, which you will come back here tonight."

Sagitta nods as he cocks his head still a little confused.

"Until tonight Sagitta Duscle." Star Swirl waves his hoof as he watches the stallion stand.

Sagitta's trot comes up as the slight bow he gives to the older pony ends.

It only takes a few moments for the stallion to leave the room as the sound of his hooves to the stairs ring through the quite castle.

As the sound of the door opening and then closes comes to Star Swirl's ears he turns his attention to the small table in front of him as he moves his hoof to the small drawer on his left.

Just as the drawer opens the low chime of the low glowing gold crown with the bright light purple gem in the center comes to the tower. Star Swirl looks over the crown for a moment as he sets it to the table in front of him.

With a sigh the old pony watches the stallion outside crossing the field towards the castle in the near distance.

End of chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 10 – Castling

Despite the castle being completely enclosed the cooler winds from the forest that sits just past the small hill starts to suck out the heat from the castle's stone made rooms.

For Preston however the weather outside has no affect to him as he continues to curl up in the bed that he almost ran to when he got back into the castle. The heavy wool clothing he has on now plays as an insulator for the warmth his body gives off.

But the man's short little sleep is brought to a halt as the sound of the bedroom's door opening comes to his ears.

"Preston?!"

The feminine voice stirs the man as he pulls the covers over his head, "What?"

Clover's horn comes up to the bed's covers as she speaks up, "Do not what me. Why are you laying in the bed when it is day time?"

A slight groan comes up from the mound of covers in front of the mare as Preston speaks up, "Because its cold."

The words just roll Clover's eyes as she sparks her horn up, "Well I do not want you messing up the bed." Her magic quickly comes to the covers as they start to slide from the man's body.

However Preston quickly wraps his arms around the blankets as he tries to hold them in place. His attempt only last a few moments as the blankets and sheets float up and into the air, followed by Clover's voice, "Now get up we should be ready incase Star Swirl needs us."

Preston slowly slides towards the edge of the bed as he sighs, "Ya ya..."

To the sarcastic words Clover brings her trot a little closer to where the man now stands from the bed, all the while still hovering the covers above her, "And who said you could sleep on my bed?"

Preston turns his head to the mare as he points to the small crystal colored lizard who still sleeps on the coverless bed, "How come you don't yell at the lizard thing?"

The mare cracks a slight smile as she speaks up, "Because, I like him."

"Oh ya?" Preston straightens his posture a little as he speaks up, "You didn't seem to have a problem sleeping all over me last night."

Clover's tightened face slowly loosens as she averts her gaze to the bed for a moment without a response. But as a moment passes she brings her voice up, "You also should brush your teeth and get something proper to eat, I already did."

The words take Preston's head back as he puts his hand over his mouth as he tries to check his breath, "Well at least I smell better than hay."

"HA." Clover's magic slowly starts to lower the bed's sheets, as they near the bed Wispy lets out a little hiss as he jumps from the bed and crawled under it. His little hiss does not change Clover's voice as she speaks up, "Hay smells better than anything from you Fuzzy Chest."

The little nickname brings a slight laugh from Preston as he nods his head and starts to walk over towards the dresser he put his other clothes in.

As he nears the dresser he pulls the heavy wool shirt from his body and opens the dresser, "Well get a good look at Fuzzy Chest Clover, because when I put on my old shirt I am not taking it off for like a week."

Clover slightly turns an eye to the man but she continues to look towards the bed as she starts to settle the sheets neatly to the bed.

Preston pulls the old and stretched out dull blue polo from the dresser, he rubs his hands to the light fabric as he sighs, "I don't even care if I'll be a little cold.."

As his words come up the sound of the door to the room opening rings out, "Mr.Clover I-..Oh."

Free Burst shifts his eyes between the half dressed man and the mare fixing the bed as he nods, "I'll come back later."

"No-no." Clover's horn is quick to run through the spell she was slowly performing as she turns back to the stallion at the door, Preston quickly pulls the shirt over his head as he listens to the mare's voice, "What did you need to tell us?"

"Yes well, it seems Sagitta has returned." Free Burst's comment brings a surprised stare from Clover as the purple mare just nods, "O-oh really?"

Free Burst steps aside as he holds his hoof out, "He is in the foyer of the castle if you wish to speak with him, it seems his assistant has also arrived with his things."

Clover stars towards the short hall as she speaks up, "Alright." She turns back to Preston as for a moment before she turns her head back to the stallion, "C-could you give us a minute?"

Free Burst nods as the door closes in his face.

To the closed door Preston shifts his eyes to Clover, "Well that was mean don't you thi-..."

"Okay you need some rules, first off do not use magic-..."

Before Clover can get through her sentence Preston starts up in a laugh, "Oh? And why are you telling me this now? How do you know I would not use magic to clean Star Swirl's tower up?"

"Because you do not know any clean spells, now listen." Clover's voice nods Preston's head as he listens to the mare's demands, "...No magic and please do not say you are from a different world. Sagitta might have had a lot of information from Star Swirl and we do not need to overwhelm him."

Preston gives a little salute as he smile, "Yes talking pony."

The comment rolls Clover's eyes as she turns back to the door, "Oh, and make sure you close the door for Wispy." As her words come down she turns her trot out of the door she opens up.

As the door opens Free Burst brings his voice up, "Follow me then." As the stallion and mare move from the room Preston stares after them as he brings the door to a close.

The halls of the castle have started to get a little more bare now, a few decorations still sit in a few corners but most of the gold or silver artifacts that use to house the torches have started to be replaced by a temporary brass or wood. Strangely enough though, the regal red carpet that lines every hall into the main castle's foyer still stays to the ground.

However, as the small group nears the end of the few short hallways Clover and Preston turn their attention to the two stallions still standing near the castle's doors.

The familiar maroon cloak wearing stallion stands beside another much younger stallion who has on a dark forest green saddle bag and three satchels around him. The stone gray stallion with dark mane struggles to stand but he holds a smile as he continues to talk to Sagitta.

But, their conversation is brought to a halt as Free Burst comes next to them, "May I take your bags sir?"

The stallion turns his head to the new ponies in front of him as he shakes his head, "Oh no I am quite capable of carrying-..." His sentence is brought to an end as he locks his eyes to Preston as he tries to figure out what he is looking at.

Clover catches onto the stare as she now takes the conversation, "Sagitta, how are you back so soon?"

Sagitta turns to face Clover as he holds a smile, "Star Swirl wishes me to rethink if I want his position...I am to meet with him later tonight."

He holds his smile as he turns back to his assistant, "Which should give me adequate time to get my things settled, wouldn't you think so Violas."

The stallion snaps from his stare as he nods, "Oh yes Master."

A slight laugh comes from Preston to the words as he taps Clover's side, "Sounds like you."

Clover gives a little laugh to the comment, but from her shift in stance and tone Preston can tell he did just kind of annoy her...Not that it really bothers him all too much.

"Yes well..." Sagitta nods to Preston and Clover as he sparks his horn up to take the three satchels from the stallion's body, "...I should get unpacked, if you excuse me."

Violas nods as he steadies his stance to the lack of weight on him, "Of course Master."

As the older stallion trots out of the room Free Burst brings his voice up as he holds his eyes to the stone gray stallion, "Would you like me to show you to your room?"

"Actually is their a library in this castle? I would very much like to catch up on a few things if the books are present." Violas gives a little smile as he waits for a response.

Free Burst stammers for a moment as he nods, "Well...Celestia and Luna did have their own private library, but Luna's have been placed in storage and no pony has gone through Celestia's."

Violas taps his hoof to his mouth as he speaks up, "I could go through the library if you allow me." He quickly turns his eyes to Clover as he bows, "Would you care to join me? I am not as versed in magical books outside of my field of study."

Clover squints her eyes to the comment as she gives a faint chuckle, "Oh? And how would I be able to help?"

The stallion brings his bow up as he smiles, "You are Star Swirl the Bearded’s assistant correct? I could not imagine any other pony with the knowledge of all magical books and artifacts except my own master or Star Swirl himself."

A slight giggle comes up from Clover as she nods, "I suppose I could help with Celestia's library."

Preston cocks an eye to the mare however before he can speak up Free Brust holds his hoof out, "I will be happy to take you if you would like?"

Violas nods as he turns his attention to the stallion that now starts to trot, Clover follows after the stallion with Preston close behind.

End of chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 – Looking through

The trot up the spiral staircase up to Celestia's rooms has started to come to its end as Free Burst takes his first step to the loft area upstairs, "Here we are."

Clover and Violas are the next to come up from the stairs as they come next to the stopped pony. Preston is quick to follow after as Free Burst's voice comes back up, "Celestia's library is not too extensive, but like I have said before we did not want to misplace any book of importance."

The mare takes a few more steps into the room as she looks over the bare room she stands in. The bed, most of the furniture and all of the decorations in the room have been removed leaving only the few bookshelves and some chairs, "Alright.."

Free Burst nods as he turns back towards the stairs, "You can just sort normal books in one pile and others in another, we will do the rest. Thank you." He gives a little nod as he starts down the spiral staircase.

As the stallion moves from the room Violas trots over to the three bookshelves on the right side of the room, "Hmm, I expected Princess Celestia to have more of a selection..." His horn comes up as he pulls a random book from the wall as he floats it over to him. However as he looks it over he gives a little laugh, "Or maybe not..."

The book comes over towards Clover as he nods, "It seems Celestia studies alteration magic." He taps his hoof to his mouth for a moment as he continues, "I wonder what she would want transformation spells for."

Clover's horn comes up as she floats the book over to her, however as she studies it the stallion in the room continues to speak up.

"If you do not mind me asking...Um, what are you?" Violas holds his gaze to Preston as the man slowly moves his head from the room to the pony's stare.

Preston blinks to the stallion as he speaks up, "Me?"

To the words Clover brings her voice up as she floats the book to the ground, "Oh, he is a...human."

Violas cocks his head to the word as he looks Preston over, "Oh? Are they part of the dragon species?"

Clover shakes her head as she shifts her gaze between Preston and the stallion, "He is actually not from this land or the old land."

"Really?" Violas nods as he gets a slight smile, "Well that was not what I had expected." A slight laugh rings up from the stallion as he looks over Preston, "I had actually expected you to be a golem."

Preston squints to the comment as he speaks up, "A what?"

"A golem, they are quite popular in necromance and some forms of conjuring." He turns back to the bookshelves as he starts to float out a few more books.

Clover takes a step forward as she cocks her head a little interested in the comment, "Necromancy? Is that what Sagitta studies?"

Violas turns back with a few books coming into a stack beside him as he gives a slight laugh, "Why yes, that and Herbology. Did you not know that?"

Clover shakes her head as she holds a low voice, "Well I knew that, but not fully...What is it like?"

The words bring a wide smile to the stallion as he floats a few books to Clover, she quickly takes the books to her magic as she gives them a quick glance, all the while listening to the stallion's words, "Well, Herbology is the study of plants their magical properties and the depilation of nature items."

He straightens his posture as he continues, "Necromancy is the-..."

"Making zombies and stuff right?" Violas's smile is lost along with Clover's as they both turn to Preston, "What? It is right?"

Clover turns back to the stallion as she gives a little laugh, "I'm sorry, you will have to excuse him, he does not understand the different magic arts." She floats over the small stack of books to him as she continues, "Preston could you please start stacking these books by the stairs please? They are just normal spell books."

Preston looks over the small stack as he nods, "Ya ya..."

As he turns away Violas brings his voice up, "Actually zombies are not to far from the truth...But from your tone I would suspect you meant the reviving of a corpse. Which is something no pony has been able to do."

Clover cocks her head to the comment as she listens in with a little smile, "Oh? But how can that be?"

Violas nods as he smiles, "Well actually you should understand this quite well seeing as how Star Swirl and the late King Sombra where among the first few ponies to expand the idea of everypony having magic. With this knowledge my Master Sagitta has stated that when a pony dies their magic is lost to greatly to where it can not be revived but by a magic almost untamed in nature."

A little laugh comes up from Violas as he wiggles his hoof, "Which would be impossible to create seeing as how only unicorns can expel the magic, meaning it would be tamed."

Preston sets the books to the ground as he continues to listen to the conversation behind him as Violas continues on, "...But the idea of magic clinging to a powerful magic has been considered the zombie effect. In the idea of an undead pony. But the magic needed to revive them like I said would be impossible to create seeing as how all magic from a horn is tamed."

Preston holds his back from the two ponies behind him as he looks over his hands for a moment, however before he can dwell too much on the thought Clover's voice comes up, "Do you believe that is why Discord was not destroyed but rather just turned to stone?"

The words turn Preston’s head as he looks to the stallion's nod as his voice comes up, "Well no pony can say for sure, but perhaps. But then again no pony knows Alicorn magic because it is also unstudied, so only Princess Celestia would know of how her magic acts."

"Oh." Violas's voice gets a little more excited as he quickly floats out a few books from the shelves behind him again, "But my Master has brought up a very interesting point. The idea of immortality."

Clover blinks to the comment as she floats the few books from his magic towards Preston.

To her and Preston's silence Violas wiggles his hoof towards the blonde man, "This might be something you enjoy, my Master has said that a longer life could be achieved if a pony was able to draw magic from a dead pony. Although, that pony would experience some side effects."

A faint laugh comes up from Clover as she cocks her head, "Like?"

Violas shrugs as he stammers a little, "Well the spell would certainly shrink the pony in height and could perhaps experience a memory lose or maybe even an alternate personality-..."

"Dam it." The sound of the stacked books toppling over rings to the bare room with a slight echo as Clover and Violas turn their eyes to the man who struggles to clean up the mess.

Clover gives a little sigh as she speaks up, "Preston, you need to be more careful with these books."

"Ya ya ya, I know." Preston collects most of the books before Clover's magic can wrap around the rest to set them back to a neat pile.

A slight chuckle comes up from the stallion as he turns himself back to the bookshelves with a slight under the breath comment, "Betrunken Narr.."

Clover's ear flicks to the comment as she turns around, "What?"

Violas pulls a book from the shelves as he turns back to the now starring mare, "Oh...Sorry it's Griffen." He quickly changes the conversation as his eyes drift a little to the book he holds in his hoof, to his surprise it is not as dusty as the others.

However as he looks over the title he hoofs it toward the mare, "Well it is a good thing you came with me, it seems this is some of Star Swirl's work I am unfamiliar with..."

Clover sparks her horn up as she floats the book to see the title, "Star Swirl the bearded’s book of teleportation?" She shakes her head as she gives a slight laugh, "I have never seen this one before...I'll ask him about it when I see him." She looks over the spine of the book as she squints to it, "It seems new." But her studying of the book is brought to an end as she floats it to Preston.

"Here, keep this until we can ask Star Swirl about it." The comment turns Preston's head as he takes the book to his hand.

As Clover turns back to Violas the stallion speaks up, "So tell, what area of magic interest you besides what Star Swirl has taught?"

Preston gives a little sigh as the mare's slightly excited tone comes out with a lengthy sound to it.

(Elsewhere in the castle)

The room that was given to Sagitta has now started to become cluttered a little by the items he has brought out of his bags.

A top the bed there lays various amounts of books and heating coils that go to the few Calcinator and Retorts he brought to study the plant life of the EverFree forest if he ended up staying for a long time.

Although, having all of these glass alchemy items has actually proved a little tedious to bring seeing as how he will be most likely leaving in only a few days.

The chime of his magic comes up as he pulls the last spice rack full of various plant materials up and over to the last open spot on the dresser where the other racks of materials sit.

As Sagitta looks over the few fairly sized Alembics that sit on the dresser, floor and bed he taps his hoof to his mouth, "Where did I put that..."

He turns his head around the room as he searches for something, however after a few minutes he sighs, "I see you have forgotten to give me my scrolls again haven't you Violas..."

"No matter." Sagitta brings his trot over toward one of the spice racks he put out later as he looks over the jars of items. His eyes lock to the powder light gray substance in one of the jars as he floats it out, along with the jar of dark green scales.

The two jars float next to him as he turns his attention to the small dark wood box he has on the bed. His magic flicks the top off as he looks inside the box that contains a few dried bird wings and insect wings.

"There you are..." A smile comes to his face as he levitates a small pair of bird like wings from the box.

As the wings float next to him he uncaps the two jars as his magic pulls out a little bit from each.

His horn sparks up in a brighter dark blue almost purple color as the three items starts to mash together into one ball of magic. As the stallion looks over the small ball of chiming magic he turns his attention to the hood that hangs a little to one side of his cloak as a faint bit of his magic floats up a strand of his loose mane and into the ball of magic.

Within moments the low chime pops with a faint ring of magic. The swirls of magic that wisp from the room do little to change the stallion's gaze as he looks to the small imp like creature that sits to the ground in front of him.

Its color is that of the dark green scales and its bird like wings have grown a little into the shape of bat wings, no ears are visible on the creature but two small dust colored eyes, mouth and two what look like arms and legs stick out from its small body.

Sagitta gives a little smile to the imp thing as he speaks up, "Ah, there we go." He wiggles his hoof to the items on the bed as he continues, "Move these items from my bed and neatly into the room."

The imp is silent as its wings flair out as it comes up from the ground, no voice rings from the mindless looking creature as it turns its attention to the bags.

Sagitta looks over the imp's actions for a moment before he turns towards the door, "Now lets see if my assistant brought my things."

"Oh yes...I almost forgot." The stallion turns his head back to the room as he trots over towards one of the satchel bags he sat on the ground next to the dresser.

As his horn comes up Sagitta looks back to the dull eyed little imp as it moves to lift up one of the glass items from the bed.

Sagitta turns back to the bag as a few sheets of bright gold paper, ink well and a quill comes out. The cup of the dark black ink comes off as the quill dips to it and then to the paper.

His magic makes quick work of the paper as the sound of his magic starts to come to its end.

As it does the stallion brings it closer to himself as he looks over the letter,
Dear Celestia,
As you have asked I have discussed the location of the Element of Harmony. Star Swirl still seems to be in possession of it and his intentions seems to be good. I am to meet with him tonight, I will send you a letter if anything else arises.

A slight sigh comes to the stallion as he turns his eyes from the paper, "A glorified messenger colt is all I was chosen for..." His magic folds the letter as he holds an emotionless smile as he just runs through a quick spell.

The letter vanishes in a pop of his magic, to the noise the old stallion straightens his posture as he turns back to the door. Behind him the mindless flying creature continues to go about its task.

End of chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 – Things to bring

"...This looks to be the last of them." Voilas's voice rings a little to the room as he floats the last few books to Clover.

The mare nods as she studies the titles, "And...These all look to be normal." She gives a sigh as she looks over the empty shelves for a moment and then back to the stacks of books Preston stands a little in front of.

Clover looks over the small stack of books to the left as she speaks up, "Strange that Celestia would only have a few books of importance."

Violas gives a little nod as he adjust the saddle bags around him, "Well it would make sense for her to move most of her things she really wanted." The stallion gives a little chuckle as he speaks up, "Actually my Master is trying to create a spell that would allow him to-..."

The stallion's words bring a sigh to Preston as he turns rubs his hands to his eyes for a moment just trying to ignore the stallion's voice. Its been about an hour and a half since they started sorting through the bookshelves and in that time neither one of the two ponies have stopped talking about magic. And seeing as how Clover told him not to talk has made Preston feel stupid, especially seeing as how he would not be able to contribute to the conversation even if he could speak up. And this has started to wear down on the man...

But not as much as the mare's light giggling from the conversations brought on by the stallion's comments. Its not that Preston does not like hearing the mare, but for some reason not being the one to do it has started to bring a strange feeling of annoyance to the stallion in the room.

However, the stallion's voice is brought to an end as a deeper stallion's tone comes up to the room from the staircase, "Talking about my unfinished work I see Violas?"

The sight of Sagitta coming into the room slightly falters the younger stallion's smile as he speaks up, "Master, hello."

"Hello indeed.." Sagitta turns his head towards the piles of books as he continues, "I trust their was nothing you three could not handle?"

Preston brings up a slight laugh to the comment as he flexes his arm, "Please, its just books."

Everypony in the room just looks to the man's flexing as they give him a confused stare. Which eventually breaks through Preston's little fun as he sighs and turns his attention back to stacking the last few books Clover floated over to him.

"Yes well..." Sagitta turns back to his assistant as he speaks up, "Did you bring along my scrolls I asked for?"

The words quickly bring the younger stallion's horn up as he unclips the left side of his saddle bag, "Oh yes, I forgot I packed them here." He floats out a thin and weird looking yellow rolled up paper as he speaks up, "Sorry."

"No need." Sagitta's horn sparks up as he unrolled the scroll a little, "I just needed to get my Imp spell."

Clover cocks her head to the scroll as she speaks up, "Oh, well if you need a spell like that I could have helped you. It is one of the first things Star Swirl teaches."

A slight laugh comes up from Sagitta as he nods, "I am sure it is, but what I create is not bound just by my magic. Instead they are more like golems, which are-..."

The stallion's voice is cut off as Preston rubs his fingers to his temples, "Things made from like dirt and stuff, we know."

Clover shoots him an annoyed look for not allowing the older stallion to continue, but Sagitta just gives a little chuckle as he nods, "More or less."

His horn comes up to the scroll as he turns it towards Clover, "Do you see these lines?"

The mare stares to the very small print as she tries to read it, "Um...Yes?"

"Good." His horn moves the paper back to him as he speaks up, "Normal scrolls would burn up after one use, this one is my own special scroll and I have created it to not break after one use."

"Master."

The words turn Sagitta's head as he stares to the pony now digging in his bag a little more, "Ah here it is."

Violas brings his hoof out as he pulls a bright blue stone out.

"Ah, thank you Violas." Sagitta sparks up a new found smile as the small bright blue stone comes into his magic.

Clover however, just blinks to the stone as she cocks her head, "And what is this?"

A slight chuckle comes up from Sagitta as he nods, "This is a copy gem, they-..."

"They copy magical items." Clover gives a little smile as she nods, "Sorry, but Star Swirl and I were tasked with collecting some for the---" Her words stop as she shifts her stance a little, "Well I suppose you know what."

Sagitta cocks an eyebrow to the mare as he slowly nods, "Y-yes, well this one is a little different. I put an enchantment on it." A slight sigh comes to the stallion as he looks over the small stone, "...It actually took most of my early years to create the enchantment."

Preston shakes his head to the comment as he walks over to one of the few chairs that he was told to move against the wall, he flops into it as he speaks up, "How long could a little stone have taken you?"

"Fifteen years."

The word washes away Preston's smile as he just looks over the small stone that floats in front of the stallion.

Sagitta nods as he speaks up, "A copy stone will only copy once, that is why so many are required to make some things. Mine will copy as many as I want when I perform the spell...It amplifies any spell to any magnitude I wish it."

The continued talk about magic slowly starts to drain Preston as he just nods.
To the nod Sagitta turns his attention back to the items in his hold as he sparks up his horn. The ball of magic like before in his room starts up as the scroll and stone disappear to the magic.

Clover takes a step back not really knowing what to expect as she just looks over the swirl of magic in front of her.

Sagitta and Violas are unmoved to the spell though as they watch and listen to the spell nearing its end.

As the low chime of magic pops Preston sits up a little in his chair, "What the heck?"

His eyes have locked to the three small winged and scaly creatures that stand to the ground where the ball of magic was formed.

Preston starts up in a laugh as he wiggles his hand to Clover, "How come I have never seen you or Star Swirl do this stuff??" His childlike smile holds as he snaps back to the older pony, "Hey-hey, how much magicka do I need to summon like-like a skeleton or something?"

Sagitta just blinks to the comment as he nods as he focuses in on the first comment, "Yes...Well, the reason these spells are not seen as much is because even a simple summoning spell without items is almost impossible to create. That and imps are considered a dark form of summoning, seeing as how they are not native to the old land or Equestria...From what we know."

Preston cocks his head a little as he speaks up, “Items? You mean like body part? Like Frankenstein or something?”

The words bring a strange stare too the old stallion as he slowly brings his voice up from the man’s weird words, “Well body parts if in the proper condition would be valued in Necromancy, seeing as how that is the best way to summon things.”

His comment is quickly followed by Clover as she continues to look over the small dark scaled things in front of her, "I must say, Star Swirl would be most impressed by this spell."

"Maybe." Sagitta gives a slight laugh to himself as he rolls up the scroll, "But what is fame...Now if you excuse me, we need to get my things put away." As he turns away the three imps start to flap their bat like wings as they bring themselves from the ground.

However Sagitta comes out of sight he turns back to the room, "Oh and there seems to be something scratching at your closed door. You may want to check that out. "

The words flick the mare's ear as she starts towards the stairs, "Wispy..."

As the mare's quick trots past Sagitta and the three flying creatures Preston stands from his chair as he brings his voice up, "Hey, do you think you can show me some of that summoning stuff?"

Sagitta blinks to the comment as he takes a step back up the stairs with a confused look, "Excuse me?"

Preston holds his hand in front of the older pony's gaze as he snaps his fingers, the light green glow of his magic comes up as Sagitta and Violas stare to the man's hand.

The older stallion holds his eyes to the hand for a moment as he turns his head to the three imps, "Go and clean my room up please." As the imps fly away Sagitta floats the scroll and stone to the chair Preston stood from as he speaks up, "Show me what kind of magic you can do?"

End of chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 – By a fingertip

The air in the room hands thick with magic, amazement and curiosity as the man who stands in the middle of the room. He continues to hoover the book the old stallion got him to do a few minutes ago since Clover left.

Normally when Clover wants Preston to try using magic he just brushes the idea off, but being in a room where the only thing that was talked about was magic has changed the man's mind...That and the idea that the old stallion would show him how to make his own imp thing was an added benefit.

Sagitta squints his eyes to the book in Preston's magic as he nods his head, "Good...You can stop now."

A sigh of breath comes from Preston as he lowers his hands to draw the blue magic bound book back to his hands.

The sound of his breath brings a slight laugh to Voilas as he speaks up, "You need to make sure you breath when you hold a spell."

Preston gives a slight laugh as he turns to the stallion, "Ya because magic is so easy right?" The blue glow around the book turns a little green from the man's tone.

Sagitta's attention is quickly taken by this fact as he looks over the book, "I think you did a good job Preston."

The magic around the book in the man's hand is brought down as he turns to the old seated pony as he gives a half-assed little bow, "Thank you Palpatine."

The name cocks the older stallion’s head for a moment but he just gives a little nod as he removes the hood he had pulled over his head from the bare room's cooler climate, "Yes well, may I ask how long you have been able to do magic? You do not have a horn?"

Preston thinks over the comment as he shrugs, "Uh, I've done magic all my life you know, its not like I just started it." He nods his head trying to tell himself that at least he did not break all of Clover's little rules.

"Hmm..." Sagitta taps his hoof to his mouth for a moment as he speaks up, "It is just strange to see magic change colors like that. In fact the only time I have seen a magic change is when an item is charged, tell have you as a Hu-men what area of Equestria do you hail?"

The words past Preston for a moment but he gives a little smirk as he tries a name, "You know the uh...Crystal Empire part."

"Interesting." The old pony just looks over the man for a moment in silence.

However to his silence Violas speaks up with a little bit of excitement, "Master perhaps this is the kind of magic that would be to further our Necromancia studies."

A slight laugh comes up from Preston as he taps the book in his hand with a little involuntary motion, "Ha ha, you're not cutting me open."

His laugh brings a light chuckle from the old stallion as he waves his hoof, "No no, nothing like that. But my assistant might be right, tell me Preston was it?" The man nods to the name as the old stallion continues, "When we are done here would you mind accompanying me to Hallow Shades to help with a little research? I-I have never before met a Hu-men and you seem to have a very knowledgeable mind on how to use your magic...When shown what to do."

The complement brings a slight smile to Preston's face as he nods, "Heck, that sounds a lot better then having Celestia try her spells on me again."

Sagitta cocks his head a little to the comment but before he can speak up the man continues, "...But I should probably tell Clover I wouldn't want her to-..."

"Would not want Clover to what?" The sound of the mare's voice turns every pony’s heads towards the stairs as the sight of the mare hoovering a small basket next to her comes into sight.

However, the small basket of fruits nor the light crystal colored lizard rest on her back holds the old stallion's eyes as he instead just stares to the blue magic that chimes next to the mare.

As no answer comes up from anyone in the room she brings her voice up again, "I hope I did not miss anything, but Wispy for some reason would not come to me when I called him."

The mare's voice breaks the old stallion's stare as he speaks up, "Oh no, nothing major. Preston was just showing us some of his mesmerizing magic."

Clover's face loses its smile as she turns her eyes to the man, "Really?"

Her stare shifts Preston's eyes as the older stallion continues, "Yes, now who is this?"

The old stallion's pointing hoof takes Clover's attention as she turns to the lizard on her back, "This is Wispy, he is Star Swirl's pet wheezing Iguana of Bison desert."

"Ah." Sagitta gives a little nod as he speaks up, "Star Swirl has some interesting companions."

Clover nods as she turns her eyes back to Preston, "Oh yes, although some get on our nerves sometimes."

Sagitta does not pick up on the turned mare's eyes as he sparks his horn up to float over a pear, "Preston, would you show Clover the small levitation spell you tried?"

The comment brings a turned head to Clover as she speaks up, "I do not think that would be necessary I have seen it already."

Her words do little to the old stallion as he speaks up, "I am sure you have, but I just want to see something."

Preston blinks to the stallion's words but he slowly takes the pear into his free hand, "Alright..." He steadies his hand as the pear rolls to the middle of his flat palm. As it stops he brings an intense stare to the man's eyes as he waits for his magic to come up around the pear.

For a moment no magic comes up and Clover's voice comes up as she looks over the man's face, "Just relax Preston, you might as well do the spell."

Just as the words come down the pear's sides start to glow as Preston's magic wraps to it. However a loud chime of magic runs to the room as it burst into flames and Preston jumps back, dropping the book and the burning pear.

"Preston!?" Clover's voice rings up over everypony's reactions as she sparks her horn up.

But before she can get her spell around the burning fruit the older stallion's magic has already teleported the burnt pear from the room.

Preston brings his voice up as he rubs his hands together, "Sorry, sometimes that happens."

Sagitta nods as he waves his hoof to the man, "It is quite alright...I had expected your form of magic to be a little dangerous." A slight smile comes up from the stallion as he stands up from his seat in the chair and towards the mare, "And Clover, you will not have to worry about what we had been talking about."

The older stallion turns to Preston as he gives a little nod, "Perhaps in a later date, but for right now just continue the training your friend here gives you." As his words come down he turns to the young stallion, "Could you bring my things to my room Violas? I believe I will take a short nap for my meeting with Star Swirl."

Violas floats up the small stone and scroll from the chair as he nods, "Yes Master..." He follows after the stallion as he floats the few things beside him.

However as the two ponies leave the room Clover's eyes now come squarely on the man as she takes a step forward with a hushed voice, "I told you not to use magic."

Preston gives a little laugh to the comment as he shrugs, "How come? All I had to say was that I was from the Crystal palace or whatever."

Clover's eyes tighten a little as she quickly speaks up, "Because magic is thoughts and emotions, and when you perform for somepony you do not know your emotions are higher...You idiot you could have hurt yourself."

The words lose Preston's smile for a moment as he nods to the mare, "Oh..."

A faint sigh comes up from the mare as she turns back to the stairs, "I'm going to wait in the room..." Her eyes turn to the unknow Star Swirl book they put aside earlier as she floats it up to her, "I'm going to look through this book until dinner, if you are done showing off you can come back and practice a few spells if you want."

Before Preston can speak up the mare has turned back to the stairs.

As the sound of her hooves gets a little quieter Preston turns his eyes to the book on the book he dropped as he scoops it up and tosses it to one of the stacks of books in the room.

With the book in place he turns his attention to follow after the mare as he starts towards the stairs.

End of chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 – Nightly

The day has rolled on rather well for everypony in the castle as the sun slowly starts to fade somewhere under the Everfree forest tree line, leaving a gold and orangey glow to light the sky.

However, the same relaxed feeling that hangs to the castle does not hang to the tower as the old stallion continues to feverishly push his hoof along to the journal he writes to.

The realization to how bad his memory has come back in full as he finally realized that the last few entries where all the same. As a result the few crumbled up sheets of torn out paper sit to his left as he just focuses on the words he writes down.

...My fears from so long ago have finally come to fruition. Although the worst part about this whole predicament is that my mind has maintained sanity long enough just to torture me. Even worse still is the constant nagging in my head that tells me there is still so much left for me to do...

Star Swirl’s shaky hoof comes from the page for the moment as the beating heart in his chest gets a little harder from the words.

His other hoof slowly comes to his chest as he just slowly rubs the fur, all the while turning his eyes to the old side world as he lets the array of bright colors calm his body.

With a deep and soothing breath his hoof and the quil comes back to the page.
...Despite my feelings of regret and sorrow I still have found some humor to what lies ahead. There is a strange amount of wonder in staring into the eyes of one's successor, especially to whom you have no history with. Now this is not what I have found a slight laugh to, instead I find it almost bitter sweet to know how she will be sweeping an old stallion aside.

A low chuckle comes to the stallion's as he stops his hoof, however as the laugh subsides his eyes set back to the book he has wrote in for so long. Its sides have been a little worn down and its pages have slightly yellowed from all the various places it has been, but all in all the book is in perfect condition.

The slight smile to Star Swirl’s face is dropped as he sits forward a little more on his seat and to the book as he writes.
...Ever since my sickness grew and my memory first started to fade I have wondered to whom I write this journal.

He stops as he dips the quil back to the ink for a moment.
...Now of course I have always had in my mind that it was nothing more than a memoir that I would someday look back on. Although...I understand and I believe I have for a very long time, that this thought was mendacious.

Star Swirl skips a few lines in the book as he dips the quill back to the ink for the brightest black,
...In the back of my mine I know that the answer to whom this journal is wrote can be found. But I can not bring myself to flip those pages. So I leave you this, knowing that these words in some way will be seen again. ~ I hope this book finds you well...And know it will, because I have been left wanting for so long and deep in my heart I know that you have been too.

A knock on the door from down stairs closes the old stallion's eyes as he just taps the hoof he holds the quill with to the book with a strange overwhelming sadness crashing over him.

Again the knocking from down stairs rings up as Star Swirl opens his eyes and turns towards the door, "Coming!..." He gives a little sigh as he shifts his eyes back to the light gold glowing crown that sits to the open drawer beside his seat.

However, the sight of the crown is cut off as he brings himself up and towards the open door of the study.

As his eyes lock to the closed door Star Swirl's horn sparks up and the door comes open, Star Swirl does not wait to see who walks in as he just turns back to the seat he left.

It only takes a few moments for the old stallion to take his seat as the sound of hooves up the stairs continues to get closer.

Star just waits patiently in his study, all the while holding his eyes towards the doorway.

The sound of the hooves to the stone finally bring the sight of the stallion into view as Star Swirl speaks up, "Well I take it that you found your answer, like I expected." The older stallion holds his smile as he turns his eyes to the dark colored bag the maroon cloaked stallion has on.

Sagitta does not pick up on the stallion's gaze as he gives a little nod, "Yes I did..." A slight shiver comes up from the stallion's spine as he continues, "...Although one thing I have to ask. Did you tell me to come by later tonight so that I could catch a cold?"

A slight chuckle comes up from Star Swirl as he shakes his head.

The stallion's slight shift in his seat reveals something that Sagitta's eyes quickly catches too, as his friendly smile is chased away, only leaving a now full business expression, "Is that it?"

Star Swirl does not even turn his head as he nods, "Yes, it is."

Sagitta blinks a little confused to how coy the older stallion can be, but he maintains his respect as he speaks up, "Y-you have been keeping something like this in your study?"

The tone brings a slight smile to Star Swirl’s face as he finally turns to the gold and gem studded crown behind him, "Something with its power only can bring despair..." As the stallion's old hoof reaches to the crown Sagitta's breathing almost stops, as he racks his brain in anticipation.

However, no mind boggling spell comes up and no magic rings to the room. Instead the gold crown just comes to Star Swirl’s hoof like any other.

As Star Swirl turns back to the stallion, crown in hoof, he stares to the other pony with a smile, "Did you expect something more?"

A light chuckle comes up from Sagitta as he shifts a little, "I-it is just surprising to see that the item that united the three tribes, imprisoned the biggest threat to Equestria and torn the two most powerful sisters apart to be so...Small."

"Bha." Star Swirl shakes his head, "Some of the greatest things come from the smallest things." The stallion taps his other hoof to the top of the purple star on the crown as he speaks up, "This for example is a very special stone, a molded Rainbow-Shard, with Trottingham pure gold..." His hoof slowly lowers to the blue gems that line the gold crown, "And nine pure copy-..."

"...Stones."

The fact that Sagitta completed the word brings a slight smile to Star Swirl’s face as he nods, "Yes and-..."

Sagitta continues before Star Swirl’s sentence can end as he takes a step closer, "Nine pure copy stones? It is now wonder this Element of Harmony is so powerful, Celestia and Luna must have used so much magic to charge them."

Star Swirl’s face gets a little sour as he shakes his head, "Neither charged this item...."

A little laugh comes up from the stallion as he speaks up, "What do you mean? What else could have done everything that these have done."

The stallion's sure words do little to Star Swirl’s face as he set the crown to the table, "The Element of Harmony was created and originally enchanted to do nothing more than spark a joy filled and calming affect on ponies..."

Star Swirl gently moves his journal to the other side of the room with his bright gold magic as he clears his throat, "Take a seat Sagitta."

Sagitta blinks to the comment as he moves his mostly empty bag to the ground as he pulls the chair from the door to where he wants to sit.

To the seated stallion Star Swirl focuses back to the crown in front of him, "As you know the three tribes found this land to escape the hate filled land of old. However, there was no change, the fighting continued and we were teetering on the breaking point."

Sagitta just nods to the old stallion as he focuses in on Star Swirl’s glowing horn.

"...So Celestia had tasked me with plans on a crown that could be worn during the meetings. This way everypony could be calm and solutions to problems could be found." As his words end he shoots a small bolt of magic to the crown.

The sound of his magic is quickly amplified as it rings to the room, however Sagitta's eyes have locked to the bright purple glowing star as Star Swirl’s horn continues to glow brighter and brighter.

Within moments the chime has reached its apex as the star's magic burst forward in a bright and cheerful rainbow.

Sagitta can not help but smile as he looks to the small array of rainbow light that has shot up and towards the ceiling from the purple star.

Star Swirl holds his own smirk to the crown as his ears ring to the star's magic. However, he tilts his head back down as the star is hit with a quick bolt from his horn.

As the rainbow in the room disappears Sagitta's voice comes up, "T-that was incredible."

The older stallion nods to the comment as he looks over the gray pony's expression, "Yes yes, the crown has successfully done what it was made for..." A sigh comes from Star Swirl as he shakes his head, "But...It also has done something more."

Star Swirl wiggles his hoof to the pony as he continues, "Hold your head back for a moment please."

Sagitta blinks to the comment but he takes his head back a little as Star Swirl’s magic rings up. Like before the bright magic of the crown sparks up, however the rainbow of colors does not come up like before as a new green magic starts to bubble up from the star's points.

As the sound and color of the magic comes up from the star Sagitta's smile fades.

Star Swirl’s horn has stopped its spell as the green magic continues to ring up with an almost static like sound to the crown as the green magic continues to ring out.

"What is happening Star Swirl?"

The older pony just holds his head to the crown in front of him as he strokes his beard, "This is what happens when too much magic is pumped into the crown...It becomes unstable and subsequently a weapon."

Around the room the strange static sound of the magic continues to grow as the green color comes around the purple star almost blocking its color.

Star Swirl continues to stroke his beard as he speaks up, "I see no way to fix this problem, unless this Element was somehow bound to more than just one pony...Which can not happen seeing as how it is no longer bound to pony magic."

Sagitta becomes a little uneasy in his seat as he speaks up, "What do you mean? It has to be some form of pony magic?"

The older stallion just gives a slight smirk to the comment as he shakes his head.

Sagitta's eyes now get a little wide to the magic's color as he speaks up, "Star Swirl is this magic from the Hu-men's of the Crystal Empire."

Star Swirl squints to the comment as he turns to the stallion, "Human, yes. But the Crystal Empire...Not at all."

The words quickly turn Sagitta's head back to the crown as he tries to wrap his mind around the strange feelings the crown is bringing to him. None of which are the joyous feelings the rainbow brought up, "Star Swirl this magic is dangerous!"

To the slightly more distressed voice Star Swirl nods as he speaks up, "Precisely why it will be your responsibility to make sure it is never used-..."

"Never used?" Sagitta quickly shakes his head as he speaks up, "Star Swirl we must drain this Element of its magic, that is the only way to fill this properly."

"Never." Star Swirl wiggles his hoof to the stallion as the sound of the crown's magic in front of him forces him to raise his voice a little more to talk over it, "...This magic can not be used that fast, it-it would cause the balance of magic to change drastically! Everything the Element's magic has touched could be altered. Discord, Celestia, Clover, everypony?!"

Sagitta nods his head as he speaks up, "This is why we must bring this to Celestia."

"Bha!" Star Swirl immediately rejects the comment as he speaks up, "She has not listened to my letters, why would she heed my warning now?"

"This is the only way to make sure nothing bad can happen, once it is filled with the proper magic it-..."

"Proper magic?! The first time it was charged a pony lost their life and I will not-..."

"Pony?!" Sagitta stands from his seat as he shakes his head, "Mage Star Swirl I know this magic and it-it..-."

The sound of the crown has gotten so loud that it now bounces to the room with both its sound and bright green light that blocks out even the last light of the sun outside, "Can you stop this infernal thing for a moment!?"

As Sagitta's hoof reaches towards the crown Star Swirl’s eyes widen, "No do not touch-...!."

Just as the older stallion's words ring out Sagitta's hoof touches the crown. A loud thunderous sound similar to a bolt of lighting rings to the room as a pulse of green magic sends any loose book or paper flying about the room.

The wooden legs of the chair are shattered to the pulse of magic as the old stallion falls back to the paper cluttered floor.

His ears ring for a moment but he brings himself from the floor as he turns his attention to the other stallion who was thrown against the wall. Sagitta's back slumps to it and his head hangs towards the ground.

Star Swirl shakes his head trying to stop the ringing as he speaks up, "Sagitta are you okay?"

The name brings Sagitta's head up as he stares to the older stallion, however his crimson eyes now have taken on a few specks of green like the magic he touched. Sagitta's stare to the older stallion shifts to the crown that now lays on its side.

"Sagitta?"

Again the name turns the stallion's head, however this time Sagitta's face holds nothing but a burning determination.

End of chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 – Last door on the right

The windows outside of the castle have darkened as the night has finally taken hold over the world. However, its not that anypony in the interior dining hall that Clover, Preston and Violas have adjourned to a little earlier.

Like before the majority of regal tapestries and decorations have been moved from the room, but the table and all of its fixings still sit to the room, which bring an adequate reminder to where they all sit. Although for the blonde haired man in the room, the building he sits in matters nothing. Instead his mind is slightly fried from all the talk of magic he had received earlier, and also from the lengthy chat he had with Clover when he followed her to the room.

Luckily though the slight conversation held at the table has stopped Preston from making any comments about the meal of greens in front of him.

"...So Clover what are you going to do now that Star Swirl has a new successor?"

The mare brings her head up from the mostly empty plate as she looks to the stallion who is awaiting her answer, "Well seeing as how me and Princess Platinum where among the first ponies to set hoof in Equestria she wishes me to become an adviser for her."

Violas nods to the comment as he squints, "So you will be moving to Canterlot?"

"Yes after the residential areas have been selected and built Princess Celestia has said that I would be moving."

The words turn Preston's head as he just blinks to the mare. The man's burning eyes that have pinned to the mare's turned face slowly starts to shift her gaze as she gives a slight smile, "I assume you will be coming correct?"

Preston is silent for a moment, which almost stops Clover's breathing as she waits for an answer. However, the moment of silence is broken as the man nods, "Y-ya, of course." His choice in words quickly brings a second response from him as he waves his hand towards Clover, "...I mean like come on, think of all the trouble you would be in without me?"

The light tone and his smile brings a faint laugh to Clover as she turns her head back to the table to hide her sigh of relief to the man's answer that he could not even understand.

Violas does not pick up on the mare's sigh either as he just wiggles his hoof towards Preston, "I have been wanting to ask, what was the Crystal Empire like?"

The words quickly turn Preston and Clover's heads as the man stutters a little, "Uh...Actually I never saw the um Empire."

"Oh..." The stallion nods as he slowly retraced his hoof, "So you were not able to see the castle before it was vanished?"

Preston gives a little laugh as he speaks up, "Ya ya, that's it."

Clover quickly takes hold to the slight change in conversation as she speaks up, "Yes...I have always wondered what caused the Empire to disappear."

Violas cocks his head to the comment a little confused as he speaks up, "I had believed Star Swirl was present at the event?"

"Well...yes." Clover nods as she gives a little shrug, "But he never really talks about it."

"Really?" Violas holds his confusion as he taps his hoof to his mouth a little, "Strange he would not talk about it, especially seeing as how the stories say that King Sombra turned and used a never before seen kind of spell."

The comment brings a slight smile to the mare but she repeats her previous thoughts, "Star Swirl and Sombra where friends at one point in their lives, so I assume that is why he never talks about it."

As the mare's words come undone the sound of hooves heavily clapping to the hallway just outside of the dining hall flicks takes everypony’s attentions.

Within moments a maroon cloak wearing gray stallion has come into view as he starts into the room. whose looks have a quickly thrown on satchel bangs a little to the stallion's side as its contents jiggle to every step. His mane has a slight wind blown look to it, but no pony takes notice of it as Violas's voice comes up, "Master, I had not expected you back so soon?"

Sagitta's trot immediately halts to the voice as his distant stare comes to blankly stare towards the purple mare at the table, "Clover, I believe Star Swirl wishes to speak with the two of you."

Clover blinks to the comment as she nods, "O-okay?" She slowly starts to come from the seat as she nudges Preston, "Come along Preston."

For a moment the man is motionless, but as he looks over the plate in front of him he stands, "Ya ya..."

Clover turns her head back to the older stallion as she brings her trot up a little more towards the door, "Is there something wrong?"

"No no, not at all." The older stallion's voice is a little jittery but Clover gives a nod to the comment as she trots towards the door with Preston following after her.

To the man and mare's exit Sagitta quickly takes a hoof forward as he turns his attention to the stallion at the table, "Violas, I want you to have something."

The stallion blinks to the words as he nods, "Yes Master?"

Sagitta's horn quickly sparks up as the flap to the satchel opens and a dark red rimmed and black book floats out, "I want you to keep this with you."

Violas blinks to the book as he speaks up a little confused, "B-but Master, this is your journal. You-you do not even like me handling it without your presence-"

"Yes yes I know. But I need you to keep this safe for me." Sagitta gives a little smile as he floats the book closer to the table.

Violas reluctantly extends his hoof as he nods, "Of course Master...Um, how did everything go with Star Swirl?"

Sagitta's horn drops its magic to the book as he speaks up, "I understand what I must do."

"That is great Master, do you wish for me to-.." Before the stallion's sentence can come to an end the older stallion has already turned from the room as he quickly trots back to the hallway.

As he does he turns his head down towards the further part of the hallway as he starts to trot its length, all the while looking to the few doors he passes by.

But his trot comes to an end as his eyes quickly lock to a mare dressed in a maid outfit who is extinguishing every other torch in the hallway.

"Excuse me, but you have been collecting all the artifacts and decorations in the castle correct?" The sound of an older stallion's voice makes the mare a little jumpy for the moment as she turns back to the stallion.

"Oh, yes of course...Um we have been storing them in the last few rooms on the right." She turns towards the hall as she holds her hoof out, "Most of the things are down here...Um why?"

The mare's cocked head and slightly confused stare brings a slight smile to Sagitta as he waves his hoof, "I just wanted to make sure anything of importance was not put away."

His words flick the mare's ear as she nods, "Yes yes, of course...What would you need to look at?"

Sagitta pauses for a moment as he squints his eyes, "Where have you put any decoration armor?"

The mare points back to the hall as she speaks up, "Third door on the left, but their was only the armor from Stone Hooves room nothing-..."

"That is okay, I will make sure everything is in order." Sagitta's trot comes up past the mare as he quickly sets his eyes to the room.

Within moments his trot has come to the door as he brings his hoof to it.

As the door comes open Sagitta's eyes meet nothing but a dark room, however he quickly sparks his horn up as he now looks to the rolled up tapestries, a few gold trimmed picture frames and one bright silver and purple gem studded full pony body suit of armor.

The old stallion's horn continues to glow as the flap to the satchel comes up as he retrieves something from within.

End of chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 – Fate

The cooler outside air rushes through the grassy field that sits between the castle and the mage's tower that sits a short gallop away. However, despite the shorter trot and temperature Clover and Preston have maintained a slower speed.

But, the trot has started to come to its end all the same as Clover brings herself a little in front of the close door of the tower.

As she nears it she brings her hoof up to knock, "Star Swirl, you wanted to see us?" The words loft into the night as she and Preston continue to just wait outside for the moment.

Preston rubs his arms a little as another light gust of wind rolls past him, but he keeps his voice silent as he just looks around the impressive tower of stone he stands in front of. It is a little hard to see that few windows from this angle, however as Preston stares up to the mostly dark windows he slowly brings his head down to the mare as he speaks up, "Maybe he went to sleep?"

The words flick Clover's ear as she knocks her hoof to the door and speaks up a little louder, "Master, it is Clover."

A slight chuckle comes from Preston as he crosses his arms and sways a little to where he stands, "Maybe he forgot."

"That is not funny Preston."

The words only prompt another response from the blonde hair man as he speaks up, "He either forgot or needs a hearing aid."

An annoyed little groan comes from Clover as she taps her hoof once more to the door. Again as no answer comes up she sparks up her horn, "We'll just see if he is okay."

Preston cocks an eye to the mare's magic as he shrugs, "Breaking and entering on a forgetful, all powerful wizard pony...Sounds like fun."

As his voice comes down the door takes on a blue magical glow, however Clover's concentration is taken back as she blinks her eyes, "Not locked?" Her hoof comes to the door as she pushes it open.

"Ha ha, why didn't we just-..."

"Master!?"

The mare's quick dart into the room and her tone washes Preston's smile away as he comes in after her. All the while looking at the same stallion who lays on the ground with one of his legs still on the last stair, almost as if he had fallen.

However, the fact that no response has come up from the downed stallion brings Clover's voice up a little louder as she jets her front hooves to the stallion's sides in a panic, "Master? Say something?!"

Preston's mind snaps into gear as he sets to his knees and moves Clover aside, "Okay, I-I know what to do."

Clover just blinks to him as her emotions start to get the better of her, but she moves aside as she watches Preston's head coming down to to the stallion's chest. It only takes a second for Preston to bring his head up as he snaps his fingers to the mare next to him, "He's breathing! G-get me something with ammonia, strong peppermint or-or some kind of eucalyptus oil."

The mare just blinks to the words as she shakes her head, "W-what?"

"Something that smells really strong, he's unconscious but not too deep because he's breathing okay on his own. Now come on you have to have something in here right?!"

Preston's words quickly bring Clover to her hooves as she speaks up, "Blaze mushrooms! Master always uses them in stews!"

"Ya ya, as long as its smell is strong. Go!"

Clover's trot up towards the stairs as she speaks up, "The kitchen is on the third floor hold on."

As the sound of her hooves echo around the house Preston turns his attention back to the stallion on the ground as he gently leans the stallion forward as he rolls him to his back. While he does this he unhooks the cloak around Star Swirls neck as he mashes it to a makeshift pillow to rest the stallion's head on.

Star Swirl's mouth is open and from this the man can see that his tongue is slightly moving a little, which is a good sign.

Before he can even shift his eyes the loud chime of magic pops beside him as Clover teleports down stairs with a glass jar in hoof, "Here."

Preston looks over the bright red almost powder in the jar as he takes the jar to his hands, as he does he uncaps the jar as he takes a whiff of the contents. But he ends up turning his head and coughing as he feels his nostrils almost burning, "This will work."

The man brings a hand to Star Swirl’s jaw line as he pushes his mouth closed, as he does this he brings the jar right to the stallion's snout as he shoves it almost right into the powder.

Within moments the older stallion's eyes burst open as he squirms and kicks his legs in confusion to what is going on.

Preston quickly sets the jar to the ground as he wraps his arms around the stallion's frame to stop him from hitting his head to the ground, "Stop moving you dumb ass!"

Star Swirl’s eyes dart around the room as he tries to place himself, but as he does his voice screams out, "Let go of me dragon! We have to stop him!"

"Master, just calm down!"

The words slow the stallion's falling as he speaks up, "Clover! You must go and retrieve the crown from Sagitta."

Clover just blinks to the statement as she speaks up, "What do you mean?"

As her voice comes down the door behind her burst open with a mare, her mane looks wind blown and the maid outfit she has on looks dirtied, "Something has happened in the Castle!"

The words loosen Preston's grip as he and Clover just stare confused to the words, this looser hold allows Star Swirl to move from Preston's hold as he tries to stand up. However he drops back to a knee as he stumbles a little woozy, "We must get their quickly.."

"You can't leave, you have to sit down!" Preston holds his hand out but Star Swirl just brings his hoof to knock the hand away as he stumbles and leans to the wall, "Do not hold me back, this is my fault!"

The maid's eyes go wide to the comment as she moves a little from the doorway for the stallion who continues to inch himself from the wall.

However, Clover cuts the trot off as she speaks up, "What are you talking about Master?"

"I have shown Sagitta the crown's power, in hopes that he would understand why he must protect it. But he wishes to drain it of all of its magic and instead refill it with a tamed magic, Clover if he releases that much magic at one time thousands of ponies will die and all of Equestria's magic will be thrown from its equipoise just like in the old land!"

The sentence is shaky but the stallion maintains his mind as his imposing stare comes to Clover, however his stance brings Preston's voice up, "You can't do anything, you have to rest."

Star Swirl turns a sharp gaze to the man as he speaks up, "I would rather die on my own accord then blissfully fall into insanity."

As the shaky words leave the stallion's mouth his trot comes up as he moves past Clover and out into the night sky.

However, his trot stops for the moment as he looks over the castle across the field. The windows of the stone building glow bright with a dark green and blue-purple magic, the same magic that steams up into the sky. The cyclone of magic has whipped up above the castle and now even starts to spin the clouds above it almost like a hurricane of magic and gale.

Star Swirl’s eyes lock to this for a moment as his horn sparks up with the same gold magic that wraps to everypony around him.

End of chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – Swirls of feelings

The cool night air lofts into the open balcony with the light sound of hammers or voices that continue to chime out towards the bottom of the new Capital of Equestria.

However, for the tall white mare that has settled onto the large cranberry colored bed the sounds of the outside world are nothing more than whispers. Instead, her attention has been held on the few scrolls and drafted maps that she has been studying since the moon was brought out.

Celestia's multi colored mane floats and dances a little from one side of her head as the uppermost part of her horn continues to bring forward and put back the various papers. But just as she brings her eyes to the last rolled up scroll in front of her the sound of approaching hooves and a voice bring her head up towards the stairs that lead into the room.

"Princess Celestia! Princess Celestia!"

A face to the voice quickly comes to reality as a panting pegasus stallion dressed in bright sky blue armor gallops into the room, "Princess, you must follow me, something has happened in Unicornia!"

Celestia just blinks to the stallion's words as she speaks up, "What do you mean?"

"Just see Princess!" The pegasus's wings flair out as he dashes out onto the balcony and then quickly into the air.

The mare slowly brings herself from the bed as she trots after the beckoning stallion. As she comes outside the pegasus moves a little more to the left of the spire, "There!"

Celestia spreads her wings out as she brings herself from the balcony and to where the stallion hovers.

However as she turns the length of her tower room her eyes pinned to a sight that even sends her into a speechless stare as she just looks to the bright cyclone of light that shoots up just beyond the EverFree forest.

(About fifteen minutes earlier)

As the unexpected teleportation spell pops to its destination Clover quickly snaps her head to the older pony in front of her, "Star Swirl?! Why would you do a spell after what happened to you?!!"

The mare's voice gets no answer from the old pony as a younger voice comes up, "Clover! Star Swirl!"

Violas is quick to take the short gallop from where he stood as he rushes his voice, "Good your back! Something has happened in the castle!"

Preston and the maid dressed pony beside him just listen to the conversation in front of them, still a little stunned from the unwelcomed spell.

"What happened?" Star Swirl’s voice rings up before Clover's as he takes a shifty step towards the stallion.
"Everypony was just going about their business, and then suddenly they were all teleported outside! W-what kind of a spell can teleport a pony with out the caster seeing them?"

To the words Star Swirl looks up into the sky at the large cyclon of magic that spins into the clouds above them, "I do not know, but we need to get inside."

"We can not!"

Another stallion's voice turns everypony's heads as they turn to Free Burst, his eyes are wide and his face just screams out his frantic feelings, "A-and all of our work, i-it is going to be for nothing if this cyclone has gotten inside of the castle. Just think of the mess!"

Star Swirl gives an annoyed stare to the stallion as he speaks up, "How dare you care for miscellaneous items at a time like this."

The stallion just blinks to the comment as he slowly brings his voice back out, but loud enough to chime over the magic above, "Well, we can not get back in, it seems that this spell has locked the doors as well."

His words turn Star Swirl’s head as the old stallion now looks over the small group of caretakers and chamber keepers who idly stand by the castle's closed doors.

Clover notices his stare as she speaks up, "Master, we have to wait for Celestia, she has to have been informed of this by now -.."

"No Clover." Star Swirl shakes his head as he takes a step forward, "He must be stopped now."

Free Burst and Violas both speak up to the comment as they chime out at the sametime, "Who?Whatdoyoumean?"

"Sagitta."

Violas shakes his head to the comment as he speaks up, "No, I just saw my Master over-..." His words come to an end as he looks around to all of the ponies that stand around him.

Star Swirl however does not wait for the sentence to end as he starts his wobbly trot towards the doors. Clover quickly follows after him with Preston close behind, but before either can speak up the stallion's trot has come to an end as he takes up a stance and points his head a little down to the doors.

The small spaced out group of ponies notice the old stallion as they move away a little, all the while continuing to hold their confused and frightened conversations that can not be heard over the magical chime streaming from the castle.

Star Swirl’s horn is quick to spark up as a bright bolt of magic is sent towards the door. However, just as the magic hits them it ricochets back with a pulse of dark blue almost purple magic.

The older stallion like everypony else stumbles a little to the pulse of magic. Violas however just stares with wide eyes to the magic as he speaks up, "S-Sagitta did this?"

Star Swirl grinds his teeth a little to the closed doors as he quickly turns to the stallion, "Yes, do you know how to break this spell?"
The younger stallion is motionless for a moment as he just stares to Star Swirl.

"Do you?"

"Y-yes, it is one of the spells he made. It is in his book." Violas's comment flicks the old stallion's ear as he speaks up again, "So you know it?"

Violas starts up his trot with a quick turn as he speaks up, "No, but I had the book when I was teleported and it is just ove-..."

"Rahhharrr!"

The strange high pitched screech takes everypony’s attentions as they all dart their eyes towards the cyclone that lights the area around them. However, as they look up their eyes meet something more than just the cyclone. In the air coming down from the top of the castle around about a dozen green scaled flying imp like creatures that have their claw arms sprawled out towards the group of ponies they now are aimed at.

Everypony around Star Swirl’s group breaks out into hysteria as the sound of their yells and hooves drown out the second screech of the imps.

"Hurry!" Star Swirl nods his head to Violas as the younger stallion starts his short gallop over to where he was originally teleported.

Clover and Star Swirl both spark their horns up to the screeching beasts as they quickly send a bolt of magic into the mass.

From the initial bolts one is struck and burst into a purple gas of dust and shriveled almost bird like wings that now fall to the ground.

With a puff of purple gas the imps change their courses a little as they dart back up into the sky for another swoop. This time with a loud yell.

Free Burst holds a hoof to one of his ears as he speaks up, "Do something!"

Clover and Star Swirl do not give the comment any attention as the swarm of imps now disappears to chase after all of the galloping ponies in front of the castle.

"I got the book!" Violas's voice comes up from his spot about thirty meters from where he was as the book floats up from the slightly tall grass that grows on the end of the hill. However, just as the book floats from the ground a screaming imp swoops in and takes the book into the air.

Violas is quick to send a bolt towards the thing but the imp's small frame easily dodges the magic as it continues to fly higher and higher.

Star Swirl and Clover are oblivious to the little scene happening a few hooves from where they stand as they continue to deal with the mass of the swarm that has directed themselves to their position.

Preston however does see this as he turns his head up toward the illuminated sky, but his sight of it is quickly blocked as one of the scaly imps lunges to him. "AhH!"

He's able to get his hands up to the flapping creatures as he holds it's sharp clawed hands from his face. The imp's dust colored eyes lock to the man's face with every frantic snap of its mouth.

Just as Preston's grip on the imp starts to fade his hands spark up in a green glow. Instantly the two arms Preston was holding burst into flames and the imp's frantic chopping now turns into cries of pain as the man lets go of the scaled creature. But, this brings no relief to the imp as it burst into the same puff of purple dust with a set of dried up bird wings.

Preston's hands still grow bright with his adrenaline pumped body as he turns his attention to the other imp he was watching.

By now it has already gotten back to the castle and is almost higher than the castle's doors. This fact however does not change Preston's thoughts as he clenches his hands and then slams his clenched fist forward in the same direction as the imp's flight.

A bolt of magic in the shape of a wobbly green ball of lightning is sent shrieking towards the imp as it strikes its back and puffs it into dust with the book now falling back to the ground.

Preston lets out a laugh, both out of pure adrenaline and just due to the fact his little plan worked.

Violas notices the book's fall back to the ground as he quickly gallops after it.

However, his gallop is halted for a moment as the area around him becomes a bright gold color as a wall of magic quickly rushes past him. He like everypony else close their eyes to the magic for the moment as they wait for it to subside.

As it does the constant chatter of flapping wings and screeches have died off, but now a mare's voice rings out in their place, "Master!"

Violas opens his eyes as he turns towards the stallion who kneels to his front two legs in a heavy pant. But he only watches for a moment as he quickly sparks his horn up to bring the book from the ground as he turns back towards the stallion, "Here is the book."

Preston has come to the old stallion's side as Star Swirl forces himself up, "Good...Find the spell, quickly."

As the younger stallion frantically flips through the pages Clover takes a step forward, "Give me the book."

"H-here it is." Violas holds the page as he turns the book to the mare.

Clover looks over the spell for the moment before she turns her attention back to the closed doors as she sparks up her horn. The building chime of her blue magic takes a few moments but it finally rings out as the bolt of her magic is shot towards the closed doors.

The doors fling open but the ponies that stand outside of them all with their own reasons for panting do not go in. However, another action has caught Star Swirl and Preston's eyes as the purple mare drops to her front knees from the harder spell she pushed herself to do.

Preston moves from Star Swirl’s side as he quickly goes to Clovers, "Clover! You alright?"

The mare nods as she speaks through her pants, "Y-ya, i'm fine."

Her words bring Star Swirl’s strength up as he slowly brings his old body forward, "Do not follow me in..."

Clover shakes her head to the words as she speaks up, "Master I-..."

The stallion brings himself into the darker front hall of the castle as he shakes his head to the mare. Clover does not bring her voice up again as the old stallion's eyes shift to Preston, "Take care of her Preston."

The words bring a quick nod from Preston.

Star Swirl sparks his horn up with a smile as the doors in front of him close and lock to his own magic.

The room now is dark only lit on its right side from the large glass windows that overlook the EverFree forest. However as Star Swirl turns to face the room his eyes and ears quickly pick up on the source of the magic above the castle as he stares to the brighter spiral staircase at the other end of the room.

Star Swirl’s breathing has still not come under control but he takes a step forward as a bright bolt of dark purple magic rings in front of him and hits the wall just beside him.

The old pony stumbles from the magic as he squints to its origin.

It only takes a moment for the stallion's eyes to locate its source as Star Swirl now stares to what looks like a transparent shadowy figure that a suit of armor floats to.

No real outline can be seen in the armor, but a pair of bright dark purple orbs sits where a head would be and out from beneath the armor pokes out four shadowy legs.

Star Swirl steadies his breathing as he sizes up the pony that stands between him and his goal.

End of chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 – Closing eyes but freeing minds

The shadowy figure stands unflinching to the older stallion's gaze as Star Swirl musters his strength for the will and ability to fight.

But as the short moment turns over the old stallion quickly sparks up his horn as he shoots a bolt of magic towards the shady stallion.

The figure does not shift its stance as a wall of dark purple magic ends up sending the bolt of magic aimlessly to slam into the ceiling.

At the same moment a slight piece of the ceiling from the bolt of magic falls to the ground the wall of magic has dropped as the shadowy figure charges forward with two quick bolts of magic towards the stallion.

Star Swirl’s skill proceeds the pony-less armor as he vanishes with a slight poof sound from his gold magic.

However, his rapid spell only brings him to where the stallion once stood. The shadowy figure's charge is brought to a halt as it calmly turns itself for the orbs of purple like where its eyes should be.

Star Swirl however waste no time as he quickly turns tail and gallops towards the spiral staircase at the end of the room.

But, the old pony's escape is brought to an end as a wall of dark purple magic covers the doorway. Star Swirl brings himself to a sliding stop as he looks over the blocked path, "I see now..."

The old pony turns back to the shadow as he continues, "...Sagitta can not fight his own battles."

His words bring no response from the mindless would be pony as it just stares to where the old stallion stands, all the while with a building dark purple magic too the neck area of the armor.

Star Swirl’s eyes lock to the magic as he readies his stance and his horn.

The room quickly starts to glow from the two magics as the old stallion waits for the first strike. But just as the air in the castle gets heavy the shadow sends a cracking bolt that spread out like a blanket being thrown towards the old pony, instead of a normal straight shot spell.

Star Swirl jerks his head forward as a thunderous gold lightning like bolt is sent towards the wall of magic that rushes him. In the blink of an eye the purple wall is split in two as it brushes past the old stallion doing nothing more then wave his mane with a gust of wind.

The gold bolt of magic however slams against the armor as a sound similar to electricity zaps around the metal armor.

As the gold magic bounces and rolls around the armor the shadowy figure's orb eyes gets dimmer, and just as the spell ends the shadow disappears and the armor falls to the ground with a clang.

Star Swirl sways from the spell he just performed but he is quick to turn around as he starts up the spiral staircase.

The dark and sharp spin up the stone stairs both messes with the stallion's mind as well as drains his last bit of energy. However, just as he gets halfway the stones of the castle began to rumble and his foot is lost a little to the next step.

Star Swirl is cut by catching himself before falling backward, but his left knee has now been gashed by one of the stone stairs. Never the less he ignores the pain, the stallion pushes himself up as he continues to near the intense ringing of magic that pours down and bounces to the staircase.

After a few moments the old stallion has come into the empty room as his eyes now lock to the bright balcony a short trot away from where he stands. However, his eyes turn their attention to the waving maroon cloak wearing unicorn, whose horn shines from the spell it holds.

"Sagitta!"

The words just barely chime over the tremendous cyclon of magic that shoots up from the crown on the ground, but it does turn the stallion's head as the spell he holds comes to an end. His horn however still glowed as a bright blue stone revolves around him, "Star Swirl?!"

With a slight groan the old pony brings himself more into the room as he sparks his horn up, "Stop this maddness Sagitta!"

"Stop?!!" A laugh comes up from the taupe gray stallion as he trots more into the room, "This can not be stopped Star Swirl! This was inevitable! You know yourself that the magic from this dreadful device would eventually seep out into our world, I am saving everypony! I am fixing the problem before it can fester!"

"NO!" Star Swirl’s chiming horn is dropped as the old stallion quickly adjust his footing to balance himself, "You have released to much, it must be ended now!"

“My magic is being amplified by my own copy stone, the released magic is being drained too fast too affect anything.”

Star Swirl shakes his head as he speaks up, “No, it is only making it worse, just look outside!”

The words bring a scowl to the younger stallion's face as he rises his head, "Your mind has been lost in your old age Star Swirl, leave now or lay here forever." Sagitta's horn sparks up as his face goes rock hard to his determination.

Star Swirl sparks his horn up as he shakes his head, "Whether it be my own fault or my own guilt, but I will not be leaving this place without success."

"So be it."

The small blue stone that spins around the pony starts to glow with its master’s horn as Sagitta quickly jerks his head forward as he sends a bolt towards the stallion.

Star Swirl brings his horn up as a bubble of gold comes around him, however the over charged spell still sends the stallion to his back and sliding a little across the room.

A cry of pain comes up from the old stallion as he tries to push himself up from the ground.

Sagitta slowly trots over to where the old pony struggles to bring himself to his hooves, however as he watches the stallion his horn's glow starts to lower as he brings his head down towards Star Swirl's, "I had sent Clover and Preston to make sure you were okay. You should not have come here Star Swirl."

The words only force the stallion to try again as he tries to bring his frail older body up, however with a grunt he only falls back to his front knees as he drops in front of the stallion. His voice is panting both from fatigue and the thoughts that roll in his mind as he speaks up, "I hope you have made peace with yourself Sagitta, because I have."

The words cock the stallion's head, but before he can speak up the old stallion has sent a bolt of magic towards the crown that sits in the middle of the balcony.

Sagitta's eyes go wide as he turns to the gold magic that now wraps around the crown on the ground. The cyclone of magic above it, is instantly brought to an end and for a moment it feels like time has slowed down, "What have you done!?"

Star Swirl closes his eyes as he just focuses on his heart pounding and his ears stay pinned to the sound of the galloping stallion that charges towards the balcony.

(outside)

Clover's horn finally drops its hold to the castle doors she has been trying to open since they closed. Instead her attention is brought from the door as Preston's voice comes up from behind her, "Clover look..."

The mare turns her head to the man and then to everypony around her as she notices their upwards gaze, the loud sounds of gale winds still chime out above. But as she looks up her eyes lock to the cyclone of magic that has started to take on the shape of a glowing ball just next to the castle, "Star Swirl must have-..."

"Cllaaaggggfffffaahhhhhsssss!!!"

A loud boom comes up from the ball of magic, almost like a metallic gong as the swirling sphere pops over head. Streams of blue-purple, gold and green magic spew through the sky like an aurora borealis as the ground around the castle shakes.

However, the tremors do not end quick as the sound of the castle's glass windows shattering ring into the night followed by the sight of part of the castle collapsing.

Clover's eyes get wide as she stares to the building that sits only a few hooves in front of her.

"RUN!!" Everypony charges down the dirt path from the castle.

Preston's voice comes up as his body starts to jitters from the collapsing building in front of him, "Clover come on!!"

The words bring the mare's legs up as she charges from the building with Preston close behind.

Around the hill the sound of stones falling and the tremors in the ground ring up as the ponies flee from the castle's sides.

Clover's gallop slowly starts to come to an end as she pants hard and turns back to the sight of the castle. The building has not completely come down, but the topmost part of the castle where the cyclone of magic streamed from has collapsed into the center.

The mare's blue eyes well up with tears as the ground's rumbling slowly starts to come down, however before she can take a step Preston brings a hand to the mare's back to stop here.

However, his voice does not come up as Violas's panting tone comes up beside them, "M-maybe they got out. T-they could have teleported."

Clover shakes her head as she closes her eyes, "A-a massive release of magic that powerful would have canceled out any s-spell..."

Her stance now leans to the man's hand, which brings Precision to a knee as he brings his arms around the mare that now moves closer to him with a light sob. Preston however just stares to the castle in front of him not really knowing what to do or say.

However, his voice is not needed as the crowd behind him starts to shout something.

Preston, Violas and Clover slowly turn their heads towards the commotion behind them as they turn to see the familiar sight of the large white alicorn being followed by a few pegasus fitted with bright gold armor that sits in contrast to the dark night.

But, the Princess's flight along with the ponies that follow her is brought down as they stare to the partially collapsed castle up towards the hill.

Celestia's wings are the first to bring her down as she lands a little in front of the group of ponies that now swarm around her with loud distressed voices.

The purple mare next to Preston however just turns her attention back to the castle as she just stares to it, silently hoping to see the old white bearded stallion trotting from it.

For the next few minutes the mare just holds her gaze, until a voice from behind flicks her ear.

"...Star Swirl and Sagitta were inside?"

The calm tone brings a slight annoyance to the purple mare as she like the stallion a little behind her speaks up, "Yes."

Celestia gives a simple nod as she turns her head towards the castle, "And the Element of Harmony?"

"Inside..." Clover turns her head towards the tall mare as her shaky voice continues, "Buried, like it should be. L-like Star Swirl wanted it, out of any ponies reach."

The words pause Celestia for the moment as she just looks over the mare's watery eyes, but she gives another simple nod as she speaks up, "Perhaps it should be."

Her head turns back to the castle, but she does not continue as she turns back to the two ponies and Preston, "I will make sure you all are safe tonight, tomorrow we shall search the castle."

Clover gives no reaction to the words as she just turns her head forward, "Yes Princess..."

End of chapter 18

Epilogue

Epilogue

(A few days later)

The sun hangs bright to the sky as another day continues to roll by almost seamless for the majority of Equestria's inhabitants.

However, for a certain pony the day is meaningless as their snout is buried to the journal in front of them.

...I had a dream last night, strange because of how real it had felt. In fact I had awoken almost twice from a sudden shudder, despite this fact however when my eyes would close the dream would continue. I am not to sure as to where I was, but what I remember clearest was that of a sky. But no normal sky or skyline for that matter, instead of trees or fields I saw a city, bright buildings that in comparison would turn even the cities of old into nothing more than a first year settlement. The roads and buildings look to be of stone, but the thing that took my attention was that of a large and jagged structure in the middle of this city. I may not have any recollection of this structure but in my mind I know it was a castle, curiously enough the longer I stared at this bright blue stone like outcropping I had the feeling of guilt suddenly swirling within me. A feeling that some how this wondrous place was real and then was not because of something I had done. Very unnerving for a dream I must say, but...This feeling did not end when I finally awake, and even now when I close my eyes I can see this city. But, not the same. Instead of the bright blue sky that matched the strange buildings in front of me there was a large dark cloud, that seemed to grow from the stone structure in the middle of this city. I shall continue to rack my mind around this dream for sometime to come I am sure of it, why I can not say, but I know I will. For I believe this dream has some ties to the progress I have made with the Element of Harmony. Last night was the first night I have had any reaction from the crown since it laid dormant. Although, I do have some concerns about how it reacted, I fear that it may be unstable. Naturally I have pushed these thoughts back for the time being, but...If needed I shall send a letter to our new Princess-...

The sound of a voice towards the other end of the room breaks the white mare's concentration to the book as she listens to the armored stallion in front of her, "Princess, that last group of ponies have returned from the Unicornia. They were unable to find anything more from the castle or Mage tower. But they are reporting rapid growth from the EverFree forest towards the hill, they go on to say that the castle is no longer safe for another large group."

Celestia nods to the comment as she speaks up, "And the crown?"

The stallion hesitates for a moment as he shakes his head, "No sign of it Princess."

Celestia sighs a little as she nods, "Understood."

"The last group did find a strange lizard in the castle's ruins, but Free Burst has instructed us to deliver it to Clover The Clever and Preston Armor."

"That is fine."

To the mare's words the stallion straightens his stance, "That is all to report Princess."

Celestia gives a little smile as she speaks up, "Thank you."

The words turn the stallion as he starts to trot out off the room. To the stallion's trot Celestia turns her head back to the book as she flips the pages for a few moments. All the while looking to the dates on the pages, her magic drops as she notices a slightly more rushed looking entry that is only dated a few months ago.

..I have still received no response from my letter to the Princess, this both concerns and angers me. But my hopes are still high that she has heard my warning about reactivating the crown. I believe she will understand that its powers could greatly impact the world, and could bring back one of Equestria greatest threats. Although, deep down I fear that she may insist on using it to turn her sister. I do not blame her for this, but I do not condone this use or any use, for the consequences may be too great-...

Celestia brings her head up from the book as she stands from her head, her magic sparks up a little as the book closes. The mare's trot continues towards the sunny balcony as she turns her eyes over the small city that continues to expand a little from the castle.

However, her eyes slowly drift down to the garden in front of her room as she looks over the stone statues that have yet to be covered by the recently planted hedges. Her eyes lock to a certain serpent length two horned mismatched statue as her voice comes up to herself, "I to hope your assumptions were wrong as well Star Swirl..."

The book floats a little in front of her as she flips back to the page she was on, her horn rings out a little more as her magic wraps to the page and the text starts to fade from the paper, "But I can not have Equestria believe I knew..."

End