Chapter 1: Game Over?
Death, it’s a thing that is inevitable, sooner or later all things will be caught by it’s cold arms, be it natural causes like old age or unnatural causes such as murder. One thing it’s certain, it is often not taken kindly, beings often fear death and do everything to defy their demise as long as possible whereas some seek to ensure death grabs victims sooner than it should be.
When Death gets it’s victims, they are taken to an afterlife to be judged for their time among the living, if they are good then they may enjoy eternal bliss and salvation. If they have wronged and sinned constantly with no remorse however, it is said they will be punished for all eternity in the flames forever and ever!
One would be wise not to tread lightly with such matters for if one did, disaster would follow…
…
A Village just outside of Equestria…
Shooting Star, a Pegasus from the Zebra lands stood before a welcome sign. A Welcome sign to a village that boarders four Kingdoms in the vast world: Equestria, Zebrica, Griffionia and the Buffalo Kingdom.
This Pegasus was white in colour with a fire-like tail and mane but the thing about this pony was that he had not yet found his cutie mark, this had been the source of insult and great pain for Shooting Star over the years. For years, he spent day after day searching for his destiny and waiting for the mark to appear, but it never appeared.
So he decided to search for inspiration in the land his parents grew up in: Equestria! Stories were often told as a kid about the land that raises the sun and moon and lowers it each day and night. Some say it’s the most harmonious place on the planet, some speak of six heroes that protect their land, some also mention it holds the infamous Everfree forest.
Naturally, it attracted Shooting Star’s attention and as soon as he hit eighteen, the young stallion set out to adventure and his last stop before the final road to Equestria was in a village where all kinds of species reside of the four kingdoms, it’s a neutral village of sorts which attracts it’s fair share of trade from just about everywhere.
The stallion was so intrigued by such a sight, it was a pity he was only staying the night as headed in to an inn.
“Evening” A Griffon said lazily at the desk
“Hi, I need a room for just the night” Star said quickly
“Sure thing pal, what currency do you have?” The griffon asks casually
“Zebrican coins” Star replied
“Ah, have a nice holiday did you?” the griffon asks casually
“Uh, I didn’t go there for holiday, it’s where I live” Star explained
“A pony living in the Zebra lands? Well I’ll be, very few that do so and I ain’t seen such in about 15 years meself” Griffon rambled on
“How much is it to stay?” Star asked, getting bored of conversation.
“8 Zebra coins friend, if you’re travelling to another kingdom, make sure you visit the currency exchange as they don’t accept them Zebra coins in any other kingdoms so the gold you’re carrying will be useless” Griffon advised
“My thanks friend” Star said as he forked over the money
“Here ya go then, have a nice night traveller” the griffon said, handing the key
Star then headed up to his room to rest at last, he set his saddlebag beside his bed and submitted to the sleep that had chased him for the past few days on the road.
The road from the village he lived in to here was a long one and there some dangers but nothing too serious but still the young Pegasus made it through and tomorrow he departs for the short road to Equestria.
…
“Son, I urge you to reconsider!” Shooting Star’s father pleads with him.
“I’ve made up my mind father, I need to do this!” Star replied packing a few more things
Shooting Star had been packing things as he set his plan for moving to Equestria in motion, but of course, parents can never let their children go.
“The road can be dangerous, what if you get hurt or worse dead?” his father continued worrying
“I’ll be fine, I have some of the training the Zebras taught me” Star reasoned
“Don’t go Son!” Star’s father said again.
“Evening Star, his decision has been made and it is something that needs to be done” Star’s mother intervenes.
“But Sun Shine-“ Star’s dad starts before Sun Shine put’s a finger of his mouth to silence him.
“It is a decision he has put much thought into, I may not like it as a mother but I agree it must be done and he’s old enough to survive for himself” Sun Shine says, settling the matter.
The Next Morning…
Shooting Star was at the outskirts of the village, his parents were giving him one last final good-bye.
“Shooting Star, I may not agree on this but I know you’ll be safe” Evening Star said.
“You’ll be our son no matter what” Sun said to her son.
“I know mom” Star said simply
“Please be careful won’t you?” Evening asked of his son
“I promise I will return one day, and I will have my cutie mark when I return and hopefully enlightened too” Star promised
“Pinkie Promise” Sun Shine said
“Pinkie Promise?” Star asked confused
“Sorry, it was something a friend of ours did when we lived in Ponyville, it is the highest form of promises and if you break one, you’ll have an angry Pink pony on your tail” Evening Star explained giving a chuckle about her old friend from Ponyville whom, they had not met in 20 years
“Well I Pinkie Promise it then” Star said.
“Cross my Heart, I hope to Fly, Stick a cupcake in my eye! Now say those words” Sun Shine said the magic words.
“Cross my Heart, I hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Star recited his Pinkie Promise while doing the motions.
…
The following morning…
The Sun had risen over the Boarder Village and Shooting Star had woken up with a start, had a quick bath, had breakfast and now headed to the Currency exchange place before leaving the village. Fortunately there were not too many customers in line to exchange coins so Star got his turn quickly.
“Morning!” a Unicorn Pony greeted happily
“You seem quite happy” Star noticed quickly
“One of those days where everything seems to be right in the world, but that enough from me, what coins am I exchanging today?” the Unicorn asked of his customer
“I need to exchange Zebra coins to Equestrian bits” Star stated his business
“Heading to our lovely kingdom are you?” the Unicorn asked casually
“Yes” Star confirmed
After a brief exchange which resulted 100 Zebra coins to 40 Equestrian bits (Lousy global financial crisis), Star made his way out of the village and onto a road that was 40 miles to Equestria.
…
Our protagonist was on the road in no time, trains were not available until much further in Equestria so walking was the only option not that Star complained too much as a good old-fashioned walk never hurt anypony and he could use a tad of exercise.
Of course he could fly but he was a sprinter kind of Pegasus then an endurance one and growing up in Zebrica taught him to appreciate the Earth Ponies and other races that had to get to places manually, Unicorns could also teleport to their location but if they wanted to travel further than they would require more energy. Alicorns on the other hand have a much easier time due to their combination of traits from the three races of pony and the power increase.
About 20 Miles in, Shooting Star spotted a griffon in a hurt state with a leg bleeding, Star rushed to his aid ASAP.
“Sir, are you alright?” Star asked, bending down to see the unfortunate griffon’s face.
As soon as Star bent down, the griffon pulled a knife out at breakneck speed and stabbed Star thrice in the chest. Blood spilled everywhere and it seemed Star has been killed instantly, the griffon looked upon his work, quite satisfied and proceeded to loot Star’s saddlebag.
“What have we got here?” The griffon muttered under his breath as he searched the saddlebag, “20 Equestrian bits and just food? Don’t these guys have anything valuable anymore? Oh well, death can have another pony for all I care” The griffon muttered his findings of useful things.
What the griffon didn’t realize is 20 bit were in a hidden pocket and that Star was still alive…barely!
The Griffon left in ignorance as a cloaked figure walked up the stallion and started dragging him to not-even-Celestia-knows-where
