In Youth Eternal - Origins

Chapter 6: Shocking Revelation

“Identification please,” the guard at the front door of the capitol building calmly demanded.

Star Streak brought a hoof up to his suit jacket, pulling it out from his body a little. Balancing on his hind legs, his other hoof reached into the pocket on the inside of his suit jacket to (somehow) pull out Scotch’s ID.

The spy presented the ID to the door guard, who squinted his eyes as he looked over the small card. “Alright Scotch, you know the drill. Now we need to pat you down,”  his deep, gruff voice said. Star Streak gave a nod of acknowledgement.

The guard proceeded to pat his hooves against Star Streak in places one might keep concealed weapons. The hooves lightly tapped over his pockets, his sides, even his pants. Eventually, the guard felt something upon tapping his chest. “What’s in there?” he inquired.

Star Streak reached down into his undershirt with hoof, pulling out the necklace he had yet to part with, revealing the cerulean pendant gem piece. “It is a gift for the wife when I see her after the meeting. I am simply holding onto it for now,” he calmly explained to the guard.

The guard arched a brow as a beat of silence ensued. At this, Star Streak felt a little nervous from the apprehension pulling at him. ‘C’mon, just forget the necklace!’ his inner thoughts shouted.

“Ah, alright. Carry on,” the guard replied, giving an understanding nod. Star Streak returned his nod before trotting inside.

After the doors closed behind him, another guard stopped him. This one was a unicorn pony. The guard’s horn lit up before passing his horn near Star Streak, as if to scan him. After several seconds of the guard waving his horn around Star Streak, he finally stopped. “You’re good to go,” he said. Star Streak simply nodded.

Star Streak slipped the necklace back under his undershirt, where it was before. ‘As expected, my new disguise spell worked like a charm! It completely fooled the magic scan!’ his inner thoughts chimed, as the spy felt proud of his and Star Swirl the Bearded’s work. ‘Now, to take care of business.’

The interior of the capitol building was similar in a way, yet different from that of the Royal Castle. The largest difference was the architecture. Rather than large decorated chambers, grand staircases, and tall, majestic corridors, everything was on a smaller scale.

The only particularly large room was the entrance lobby. The floor constituted of a well polished marble. The walls of the building’s interior were smooth, and painted white, adorned with various portraits of important ponies. A large, complex chandelier hung from the ceiling in the center of the room.  Wooden doors were present in various spots on the walls, leading into various rooms. Straight ahead was a door that led to the stairwell, while hallways branched off from the main lobby to other sections of the floor. A walkway was visible above, apparently part of the second floor. The 3rd floor seemed to be in no way directly connected to the lobby.

“Eeeey! Scotch!” a familiar voice called out.

Star Streak shifted his head to face the source of the voice, to see a familiar government official trotting towards; the one who accompanied the real Scotch to lunch the previous day.

“Ah, good morning, Finn,” the spy, mimicking Scotch’s speech pattern and accent. The accent had a certain sophistication to it. The other earth pony trotted up to him. “How are you this, dark morning?”

“I’m doing alright! Still, I wonder why the sun hasn’t risen,” replied Finn.

“Indeed. It is rather peculiar,” the spy agreed, gesturing with a hoof. ‘I hope nothing has happened to the princesses.’ he thought. Despite his own internal worries, Star Streak had a well trained poker face. His features continued to give off a pleasant and content expression overall, changing only to meet the situation.

“Heh heh, yeah. Anyways, the meeting is about to start. We should head up to the conference room.” explained Finn, gesturing towards the stairwell. Star Streak nodded in agreement before Finn turned and trotted towards the stairwell. He promptly trailed behind him.

Neither of them spoke a word on the stairs. Their hooves clopped against each step, echoing slightly in the stairwell as they made their ascent. ‘The only thing I’m worried about is that I have no idea what the meeting could be about,’ the spy thought as he followed Finn to the conference room.

The pair stepped out into the hallway of the 3rd floor. Star Streak shut the door behind them. Directly across the hall were beautifully carved double doors. A guard was posted at each side of the doorway. “Well, here we are, Scotch,” Finn said as he pushed the doors open with a hoof.

‘Here we are indeed,’ Star Streak’s inner thoughts replied as he stepped through the doorway behind Finn.

A fairly long table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by a number of chairs. All but two were taken by a government official at present. The floor had a very thin, lime green carpet. The walls were smooth and painted white, much like the rest of the building. Filing cabinets were present in various locations around the rectangular room. Truly, the room had a very office-like feel to it.

“Good morning, Gentlecolts,” a calm, moderately pitched voice spoke from the end of the table. Seated in a larger chair than the others was a mysterious unicorn stallion, who was not President Coltson. “I see that we are all here now,” the stallion continued.

‘What? Who’s this clown?’ Star Streak’s inner thoughts deadpanned. It was then that Star Streak noticed a beige colored stallion with an orange mane and mustache to the mysterious pony’s right, who he quickly recognized as President Coltson. ‘Wait a sec, is President Coltson not in charge here or something?’

The spy was left in a state of confusion, although he dared not let it show, lest he blow his cover. As a spy, he knew to play along with things like this, as the ponies he would spy on were familiar with their surroundings and their secrets.

Star Streak took his seat next to Finn without wasting any time to avoid appearing suspicious. His gaze shifted to the mysterious stallion at the end of the table. He observed his every detail. The color of his fur, his mane, his eyes, even the stallion’s posture.

A smirk adorned his facial features, one which was calm, yet highly unsettling. The elbows of his forelegs were perched on the table top, with his hooves pressed against one another at jaw level. Despite having never met this stallion, Star Streak felt this mysterious pony was somehow familiar.

‘Woah, stop the presses and hold the hay, I think I know this guy,’ he thought to himself. ‘It’s on the tip of my hoof...’

“I assume you all know what this meeting is about?” the mysterious stallion inquired, his eyes shifting around to glance at everypony in the room. The government officials, Star Streak included, gave a simple nod in response.

‘This guy gives me the creeps,’ Star Streak deadpanned in his mind, once more.

“Alright. But before we begin, how about some tea?” he said calmly. The stallion clopped his hooves together twice. A door behind his location swung open, with a unicorn service mare wheeling a cart of tea into the room. Upon the cart was the tea kettle, surrounded by pre-poured cups of tea. The dishes rattled ever so slightly while the cart was in motion.

The tea cart came to a stop next to the mysterious pony. The service mare levitated the tea kettle into the center of the table, followed by distributing the cups of tea to everypony at the table.  Once her job was finished, the mare wheeled the cart back through the door she came from, closing it behind her. At random intervals, the government officials would sip from their cups.

“Does everypony have a cup of tea now? Good,” the stallion said calmly, not letting anypony actually answer his question. Although, it was rhetorical. Something about the calmness in his voice, mixed with his calmly unsettling smirk, almost sent shivers down Star Streak’s spine.

‘Okay, yeah. This guy seriously gives me the creeps,’ the spy’s thoughts said.

“Now, as you all know, we sent an assassin back to Equestria in place of their ambassador,” he stated, giving a short pause before moving on. “However, he has not returned. I suspect he failed in his mission.”

One of the other officials decided to speak up. “But the sun has not yet risen,” he pointed out. “Are you sure he did not succeed in killing Celestia?”

The mysterious gave a simple nod. “I am confident in that assertion. If Celestia had died at his hooves, the Sun would have stopped days ago,” he retorted. “That is unless her sister has taken over. But I digress. He has not returned, suggesting his death or capture.”

The official who raised the question brought a hoof to his chin,  nodding in acknowledgement.

Star Streak couldn’t shake the familiar feeling he was getting from the mysterious stallion. As the spy continued to eye him, his thoughts raced to try and reach conclusions. Eventually, a realization hit him. One from history.

‘That crimson red fur... That light grey mane...’ he observed. ‘He looks just like-... No. That’s not possible. He would be long dead by now.’ At least, that’s what Star Streak told himself. But, the resemblance between this mysterious stallion and, him, was unmistakable. There was only pony he could be.

“What if they make this a public matter, Crimson? What would I tell the public?” President Coltson asked the crimson red unicorn in a frantic manner.

“I shall see you about that after the meeting,” Crimson replied.

‘What!? It really is Crimson? But how is that possible? He founded Equis 200 bucking years ago!’ Star Streak’s inner thoughts shouted in a near flustered confusion. ‘He should not even be alive, let alone not looking a day over 30.’

“Now, I propose an alternate strategy to do away with Celestia,” Crimson began. “Since, obviously, the last ploy failed.” He gave everypony in the room a sweeping glance. “But, on a an unrelated note,” he said offhandedly. “I suspect we may have a spy in our midst.”

Everypony in the room was taken aback by surprise. Star Streak felt a lump form in his throat. It was then that he noticed Crimson’s gaze shift directly to himself. “Isn’t that right, Scotch?”

Star Streak’s heart skipped a beat as he froze. ‘How could he have possibly known?!’ he bellowed in his mind. Fortunately, his visage remained a stoic pokerface, due to years of experience.

“Well?” the crimson red stallion inquired, slowly growing impatient.

“I beg your pardon, sir?” Star Streak retorted calmly, yet with a an undertone of confusion in his voice as he arched a brow. ‘I hope he buys it.’

Crimson’s eyes shut momentarily as he let a chuckle, followed by a sigh. “Meetings such as this are serious business. Top secret and all,” he replied to the spy. “I could not help but notice your tea getting cold, sitting there before you, untouched. The real Scotch would have been the first to finish his tea.” Crimson reopened his eyes, as his grin grew slightly. Droplets of cold sweat began forming from his forehead.

Everypony in the room but Crimson leaned way from Star Streak as they looked at him, beyond surprised that somepony managed to fool security. Crimson merely stared calmly at the spy before levitating his cup of tea to his lips, taking a delicate sip.

‘Damn it... This guy’s got me. Well, might as well have some fun if I’m screwed,’ the spy thought to himself. Star Streak reached up with a hoof, removing his sunglasses as scooted his chair back in order to stand.

“So tell me, who are you really?” Crimson inquired. The stallion’s unsettling demeanor never dropped, even for an instant. Something which still creeped Star Streak out. Once on all four hooves, the spy allowed a smirk to form on his features.

The spy knew it was pointless to maintain the disguise now that Crimson knew he was not Scotch. A brilliant light enveloped his form for a brief moment before fading, revealing Star Streak’s true form.

“Streak,” he spoke, with a small pause. “Star Streak.”

“Well, Star Streak, I did not know there was a way to fool the magic sensors,” Crimson spoke with a praising tone. “But, I’m afraid that since you have been discovered, you cannot leave here alive.” With a hoof, Crimson knocked loudly on the table, signaling the guards just outside the room to enter

Upon trotting through the doorway, they needed no explanation, having immediately seen an unfamiliar pony who was not supposed to be there. The government officials, with the exception of Crimson, all gave one another a glance at one another before bursting out of their seats and darting out of the room. Crimson, however, remained seated nonchalantly, taking another sip of his tea.

The guards widened their stances, ready to pounce the revealed spy. Star Streak turned his attention to them with a smirk on his face. “Catch,” he said as his horn lit up, encompassing all of the empty seats, levitated them off of the floor. They were promptly flung towards the guards, colliding with the pair with sickening snaps and thuds. Star Streak observed as they both fell to the floor unconscious.

“Not bad,” Crimson complimented, casually gesturing with a hoof. The spy turned around to see the stallion still calmly seated, his unsettling demeanor still adorning his features.

‘I’m not sticking around any longer with this creep,’ Star Streak thought as he darted towards the doorway.

The next thing the spy knew, there was a suddenly red flash of light before he slammed face first into the now-closed doors. “I shall reiterate; I cannot allow you to leave here alive,” spoke Crimson as he climbed onto the table, standing on all four hooves.

Star Streak had stumbled backwards, holding his face with a hoof due to the pain. The spy grunted before turning around to face Crimson, who he now noticed was standing atop the conference table. The demeanor of the red stallion beamed with confidence, as if he were in control of the entire situation.

“Okay, seriously man, you are creepy,” Star Streak commented as a glare formed on his face, putting extra emphasis on his last word. Crimson said nothing in response. The crimson red stallion merely continued to stare at his opponent, his calm, yet confident eyes piercing the very foundations of Star Streak’s soul.

The spy managed a smirk of his own at this, however. ‘It looks like he intends for me to make the first move,’ the spy thought. With that in mind, Star Streak readied his magic, his horn shrouded in light. His hooves shifted a little, causing his stance to widen.

“I shall make this quick,” Crimson suddenly stated.

“Hmph. Alright, let’s dance,” Star Streak calmly taunted with a smirk, as he reared his head while his back legs kneeled a little. With that, the spy kicked off the floor, causing his body to lunge forth towards Crimson.

The red stallion did not even flinch, however. Instead, his own horn became shrouded in a crimson light, much like his namesake.  He too lunged forth a little to meet Star Streak’s attack with one of his own.

The two clashed their horns together in a similar fashion to swords once Star Streak’s hooves landed on the table top. Sparks of magic erupted from the point of contact. The spy gritted his teeth, trying to overpower Crimson, while the red stallion showed no change in his expression.

After several seconds of struggling, Crimson overpowered Star Streak by whipping his head to the side, causing the spy’s head to do the same. Star Streak was left vulnerable long enough for Crimson to launch a counterattack.

Star Streak’s eyes widened as Crimson thrust his horn forward, aiming for his heart. And yet, Crimson’s horn struck thin air after a sudden radiant light flashed before him. Following that, the red stallion felt a sharp pain in his in his side. At last his expression changed. It was one of shock and as the look crossed his features, Crimson glanced over his shoulder.

It was there that Star Streak had driven his horn into Crimson’s body. The red stallion grunted in pain, even cringing, upon the spy pulling his horn out of the stab wound. Blood spurted out, splashing onto Star Streak’s suit, while the red liquid simultaneously dripped freely from the deep wound.

The spy had a triumphant smirk as he watched Crimson’s reaction. The red stallion stood there motionless, with pain and shock written all over his facial features. Blood continued flowing from the wound and onto the table.

Crimson suddenly grinned as he let out a bone chilling chuckle. Star Streak gasped as he cringed away, his eyes wide with shock. “Im... Impossible...” he choked.

One last chuckle escaped Crimson’s lips before his horn created a flash of red light. Star Streak was too shocked to properly react, suddenly finding that he had deep, sharp pain in his neck. He couldn’t breath. The eyes of the spy only grew wider from feelings of fear and shock.

“Hm. I would have thought that bolt of magic through your neck would have killed you instantly,” Crimson commented, nonchalantly. “It appears I was mistaken, though.”

Star Streak could no longer speak, making only painful guttural sounds before he felt his strength leave his body. The spy’s body tumbled off the table and onto the carpeted floor. His blood flowed freely from the new hole in his neck, heavily staining the carpet in the process.

Star Streak twitched several times as he laid there on his side. ‘It looks like... this is it...’ he solemnly thought to himself. His eyes began to feel heavy as he felt his consciousness begin to fade. ‘I’m sorry, Princess Celestia...’

With that last thought, one final pained grunt escaped his lips as his eyes shut, never to open again.

Crimson loomed over his corpse from atop the table, his features adorned with a sinister grin. “A pity,” he calmly mocked. “The look on his face was priceless, though.”

It was then that Crimson noticed a sudden flash of cerulean light appear from beneath Star Streak’s bloodied undershirt. Arching a brow in curiosity, the red stallion encased the suit with his magic, ripping to shreds to reveal what was underneath the shirt.

There was nothing. Absolutely nothing but the blood stained chest of Star Streak. “Odd, I am most certain I saw light from there,” he said to himself.

“Oh well. It looks like it is time to clean up this bloody mess.”

*     *     *

Star Swirl the Bearded sat at his desk in his personal study by candlelight. A quil was gripped in his magic, writing inside of a book that lay open before him. The aged unicorn quietly muttered some of his thoughts out loud as the the inked quil scribbled its way across the current page.

For the time being, Star Swirl the Bearded had continued on writing his book on Intermediate Spell Casting to take his mind off of the recent troubling events with the Princess.

A sudden cerulean flash of light appeared in front of the aged unicorn, causing him to lean back with a surprised expression, deactivating his magic. A cerulean gem necklace had dropped onto his desk with a small thud. Upon processing what the object was, Star Swirl the Bearded quickly snapped out of his startled state.

 “That pendant...” he muttered. “That means that Star Streak has-... Oh my....” The wizard brought a hoof up to his mouth in shock. “I had hoped it wouldn’t have come to that.” His brow furrowed while his head began to droop. The hoof he raised promptly flopped down to his side, lacking any strength.

A moment of silence ensued as Star Swirl sat there at his desk. ‘Things just keep getting worse and worse,’ his thoughts solemnly observed.

Star Swirl the Bearded let a out a sigh before levitating the pendant with his magic. “I hope Princess Celestia has calmed down by now... She’ll want to hear about this.”

With that, Star Swirl the Bearded’s horn created a burst of light, teleporting himself and the necklace out of the room with one final thought.

‘Rest in peace, Star Streak...’