“Tell me Fang,” Twilight asked with the wolf Estrail as they flew in Luna’s carriage back to Ponyville. “Why are you so persistent on going to Ponyville, I figured that you would want to learn more about Equestria like Jinx and Hollow.”

The princess was more than surprised when Fang asked her if he could come to Ponyville with her. She wasn’t one to refuse his offer, as he seemed like a nice enough pony. She couldn’t help but notice just how much thicker his fur was compared to hers, or really any other pony she knew. Other than timberwolves, she had never seen a wolf before, and she assumed this was probably one of the few times she would ever see one.

“I have personal reasons,” Fang told the princess of friendship. “I once lived in the Everfree forest, I don’t need to learn about Equestria like those two idiots do. Besides, I wouldn’t be here if it was for Aqua Marine and Clockworks. Not every Estrail coming to Equestria is on king Solace’s side. In fact, very few are anymore.”

“Why is that?” Twilight asked. “And who is this Aqua Marine and Clockworks pony you mention?”

“King Solace has been acting rather… strangely,” Fang replied. “He’s been acting weird lately and no one really knows why. As for the other two, it’s a little hard to explain but… we are deserting our homes, each for different reasons. Aqua is abandoning because she doesn’t want to know what Solace will do with Stardust. Clockworks… is here to keep Stardust from becoming an alicorn again. I don’t agree with her methods, but she is right in trying to stop it.”

Twilight tilt her head. “But an alicorn is what she really is? If she doesn’t become one then she won’t be able to take the energy from the tree of Harmony or replenish it.”

“You aren’t thinking about are you?” Fang asked her rhetorically. “First of all, she’s an Estrail and they don’t have a talent. Her talent was that she’s able to absorb and use the talents of others, but now that she doesn’t have it she won’t be able to absorb that energy without feedback. That feedback, considering the amount of magic she had, was only obtainable for her because she had infinite talent. Even as an Estrail alicorn she will have less power, and you know what the feedback will do.”

Twilight thought about what the magic he was talking about could do to her. The amount of raw talent magic that was in the tree of harmony was greater than anywhere else in Equestria. With that thought she realized exactly what absorbing that energy would mean.

“If she had high enough feedback from a single cast spell, or even gaining this level of magic she would…” The princess’ eyes widen in absolute horror “Kill herself!”

“A pony can only absorb so much magic before they fall into a coma,” Fang said casually. “We Estrail’s are no strange to absorbing magic, as it is the only way our Equine bodies actually exist. As such we are more prone magical backfire, something that Jinx is really familiar with.”

Twilight just stood there, silently thinking about what this would mean. She didn’t know about how Luna was going to take this. The idea that possibly saving Equestria from a darker age would kill her long lost sister. Twilight couldn’t even began to think of how the princess would feel about such a thing.

“And if it fails, you’ll have to choose what’s more important. Equestria, or your sister.”

It seemed so right to say something like that before, but now Luna would have to choose between killing her sister or putting the country in harm's way. To Twilight it seemed obvious, family is more important than a threat they don’t even know is real, but she wasn’t the one making the choice.

“Do not worry princess,” Fang put a hoof on the ponies back in a reassuring manner. “As long as miss Stardust is in the company of Aqua and I, she is safe. We will not let the young princess perish.”

Twilight tried her hardest to hold back the tears he was feeling. “And what about Clockworks?”

Fang hesitated to answer at first, not sure of whether telling the princess was the right idea or not. He knew he couldn’t completely ignore what Twilight asked him, and did his best to avoid a direct answer.

“She… is probably not the best ally considering the Stardust’s past.”

Aqua was surprised at how well Stardust had taken the news of her heritage and birth. She had expect more denial from the young pegasus, but she had proven to be rather accepting of the facts. It was the news of her father's strange actions that she hadn’t taken well, but her her reaction was only worry for the other Estrails. Since then two hours have past and most of the ponies had either gone home or headed off to bed. Blue Moon had carried his sister home, and despite his age seemed to carry her with close to no issues. With that she had found herself talking with Phoenix, who was telling the Shark Estrail about Stardust. They were walking down the castle corridor when Phoenix told Aqua about how she was created.

“I’m rather surprised she had all that power and yet only now became an Estrail,” Aqua said. “The power to turn a statue into a living being is rather advanced magic, even for a pegasus Estrail such as herself. For that power to bring back the memory of you, I can only imagine the joy that must have brought you.”

“Yeah, I was so sad when I saw her this morning,” Phoenix said. “I was in Rainbow’s body, sure, but she didn’t seem like the same troublemaker I remember her as. Then again, she still seems like a different pony even after remembering. She seems so defenseless, so alone.”

“Which is why Stardust needs you by her side,” Aqua put a hoof around Phoenix’s neck only for the Estrail to jump back at the sound of sizzling. Aqua immediately realized what she had done, considering her skin always seemed to be damp, even if she hasn’t been in the water in days. “Sorry about that. Forgot about your body being made out of phoenix feathers.”

“I’ll live,” Phoenix said, rubbing the spot where the Shark Estrail’s hoof had been “I’ve died once before, and nothing will ever compare to the pain I felt back then. Still stings like salt in a wound, guess I know what kind of shark you are.”

“I’m pretty sure all shark’s, or at least the majority are salt water,” She said, not entirely sure she was current. “That’s not what is important right now though, what is important is the fact that you stand by her side not as a guardian but a friend. A guardian can only save somepony from physical strain, a friend can heal any injury both physically and mentally.”

“Why in her mother's name would I ever stray from her side?” Phoenix said in a shocked manner. “Why the heck would I ever leave Stardust alone, I never did even wheeeen-” Phoenix made out the shadow of a pony, or pegasus, down the hallway. She didn’t even have to think without knowing who it was. “Oh no… sorry Aqua, gotta run.”

“Wait wha-”

Before Aqua could finish what she was saying, Phoenix flew away in a streak of fire. All that she had left behind was a trail of scorched ground, which Aqua immediately started cleaning up. She used magic to slowly but successfully make the burn marks go away in front of her, slowly moving down the hall as she worked. She was interrupted by a tap of the shoulder.

“Excuse me,” She turned around to see the unhappy face of Rainbow Dash behind her, who Phoenix had only explained to her was her true souls current form. “By any chance have you seen a pegasus? Covered in feathers, was once a ghost, goes by the name of Phoenix Flower.”

“Oh yeah,” Aqua nodded and pointed down the way Phoenix went, not realizing the reason she was being asked this question. “She is down that way, just follow the scorch-” Before she could finish Rainbow Dash zipped down the hallway at the same speed Phoenix Flower had. “-marks.”

In the Everfree forest, the zebra shaman known as Zecora stirred her cauldron. However, the potion she was making tonight was different then other nights, for she had a strange guest. A pony whose body seemed to have no true fur color. Both the mane and fur color were the same mix of different lines of color from blue to brown, red to pink, orange to purple, and white to black. The lines of color of across her body moved strangely, and the pony remained an enigma to the shaman.

“I hate to ask such a question,” Zecora said to the pony. “But why have you asked me to make such a potion?”

“I’m afraid I can’t answer that,” The strange earth pony asked as she took off her clock, revealing the rocky grey eyes underneath. “Just know that this, Zecora, is my only way to save Equestria with the other Estrails arrived.”

Zecora, having seen it was better to not question this pony didn’t pursue any farther. The earth pony, known as Clockworks, was indeed an Estrail, but she wasn’t like the others. She knew what would happen if she went through her plan, and she planned to help her and one other pony live through it. She look to the moon, a frown upon her face.

“I’m sorry Luna,” She whispered to herself “This is my duty. I must make sure she doesn’t meet the king.”

Zecora was listening, finding this new information rather unassuring. Still, she wasn’t going to get on Clockworks bad side. She saw what the pony could do to a Timberwolf, and she didn’t want to know what Clockworks could to do a pony.

All she could do was hope. Hope that whatever Clockworks was planning was better than it sounded.

Author's Note

For the longest time I had no idea what the hell to do with this series, but in the past two weeks that has changed. So yeah, welcome back to the Life of Stardust to all of you who thought it was dead. For those of you just joining, I hope you have a great time. It's so nice to start writing this story again, and I hope you enjoy. So please like, comment, and do whatever other stuff you do to show your love. Also, check out my other stories (except for Equestrian Despair, lost faith in the story honestly) if you like. With that, welcome back to The Life of Stardust.