The Memoirs of Star Swirl the Bearded

Chapters

Forward: A Diligent Student
Excerpt: Not Too Savvy
Excerpt: Foalish Times

Forward: A Diligent Student

“Twilight, can we please go back to the room? We’ve been searching for hours and I'm getting really tired.”

Spike felt a rumbling in his belly.

"And I haven't eaten anything since breakfast either.” He took a moment to lean against the giant hour glass in the middle of the room.

Spike and Twilight were standing under the dusky sky glowing through the central glass ceiling of the restricted Star Swirl the Bearded wing of the Canterlot Library. Almost as many scrolls and spell writings were strewn across the floor as were on the shelves. Twilight had her sights fixed on the four or five open ones she held directly in front of her using her magic. She rotated them in and out of her line of sight faster than most ponies would have been able to discern the title, much less digest any significant information from the old musky parchments.

“That's nice, Spike,” Twilight continued her scroll shuffle.

Spike groaned.

“Twilight, did you even hear what I said?” He stretched his arms out in desperation.

She popped her head up from her cascade of literature.

“What? I mean… Spike we can't stop now. I have to find this spell for Princess Celestia for tomorrow's summit meeting.” She pulled another six or so scrolls down from the top shelf.

“But we’ve looked everywhere. Are you sure it’s even in this side of the library?” Spike noticed his reflection in the towering hour glass. It was a fairly obnoxious center piece in the middle of the labyrinth of book shelves that stretched out from that center point.

“Star Swirl the Bearded wrote the spell so it has to be in Star Swirl the Bearded wing, Spike.”

“What if it got misplaced?”

Twilight gently set all of her scrolls down and turned to face Spike.

“Star Swirl the Bearded scrolls do not get misplaced, Spike,” her voice was softer and more deliberate when she spoke. “There's a reason these writings are locked away in this wing.”

Twilight looked up to the darkening sky. Luna’s glowing moon would soon be visible, lighting up the streets of Canterlot with its divine light.

“Okay sure, but you realize you searched that whole shelf earlier this afternoon already, don't you?”

Twilight spun angrily back to her mess of scattered papers.

“What? Are you sure?” She frantically floated the scrolls past her face faster than even she could read them.

Spike sighed.

“Ugh, I'm just gonna take a quick rest if we're gonna be here all night.

Spike leaned his weight against the hourglass. It shifted so suddenly that he sprung back up to his feet.

“Ack, I didn't mean to!” He spit out in his automatic defense.

The hourglass flipped upside down, causing the sand to begin pouring down the center to the empty bottom.

“Spike, what have you done?”

The base of the hourglass monument spun counter clockwise as the sand dripped down the glass sculpture.

“I don't know, I just touched it. I didn't realize it was so fragile.”

As the last grain of sand fell to the bottom rung, the base of the structure locked into place. The entire edifice began to sink into the floor.

“What in Celestia's name is going on?” Spike held his claws to his head and backed away from the lurching device.

“It’s on some kind of mechanical moving wood work. How did I not know about this?” Twilight gawked as the hourglass disappeared beneath the floor, revealing a spiraling staircase leading down to an unlit pathway.

“A secret passage? That's pretty cool.” Spike nodded his head in approval.

“Yeah… cool,” Twilight hesitantly echoed.

“We should check it out,” Spike pointed down the spiraling staircase. Twilight walked up to the first step at the foot of the mysterious opening.

“I couldn't agree more.” Twilight began descending the staircase in silence.

“I wish it wasn't so creepy looking. I wonder where the light switch is.”

As Spike finished his sentence, Twilight’s horn lit up, allowing the two of them to observe their immediate surroundings as they climbed downward. The air was stale and smelled of rotting wood and old linens. Cobwebs lined the walls and under sides of the steps.

“Ew, don't touch anything, Twilight. This place is gross.” Spike daintily held his claws directly in front of him and away from anything around him.

Aside from Spike’s intermittent complaints, they descended in relative quiet, save for the occasional squeaky stair step. Once at the bottom, the air seemed a bit cooler as Twilight's limited lumination spell revealed that this basement corridor opened up into a sizable warehouse.

“I can barely see anything,” Spike squinted his eyes.

“Let me try a bigger lumination spell,” Twilight's magic grew from her horn as a lavender spark rose into the air and traveled into the open space. When her magic came in touch with a shelving unit, the entire secret chamber lit up much brighter than she had expected. The flash of light was so blinding, she and Spike had to shield their eyes. When she opened hers again, she saw that the room was filled with long shelves that stretched further than she could see and as high as what must have been a 30 meter ceiling. Each shelf, in this massive storage space that was bigger than any she had ever laid eyes on, was filled with bright glowing orbs that all had colorful magic whizzing around and inside them.

“This is incredible,” Twilight marveled at the obscene amount of stored orbs. “There must be hundreds of thousands of magical orbs down here.”

It appeared to be enough to light all of Canterlot and then some. Twilight’s head suddenly drooped down as she stared at the floor.

“What's wrong, Twilight?” Spike rested his claw on her back.

“It's nothing, it’s just… this is such a huge part of the Star Swirl the Bearded wing of the library, I can't believe Princess Celestia didn’t tell me about it. I thought she trusted me.” Twilight looked at Spike through the corner of her eye.

“What does a dumpy old basement full of glass lanterns have to do with trusting you?” Spike held his arms up.

Twilight shook her head.

“Normally nothing. But in this case… with the great wizard involved.” She trailed off.

“Star Swirl?” Spike was perplexed.

“Star Swirl was a great wizard, Spike. That's why he’s often referred to as the great wizard of Equestria. But he was also dangerous.”

“Dangerously boring you mean. I can't get through a single page of any of his books.” Spike shook his head.

“Dangerously powerful, Spike. Not necessarily the pony himself, but his ideas and his research, if put in the wrong hooves, could be used disastrously. That's why all of his most powerful spells and research are stored in a separate library wing with minimal access.”

Twilight sighed.

“But Celestia gave you access to the wing,” Spike argued.

“Not all of it, apparently.” She gestured to the seemingly infinite shelves.

Spike tried to think of something encouraging to say to Twilight, but he was really out of his element here. Politics and complex spells were two of his three least favorite subjects. The third being missed meals.

“Wait a minute,” Twilight's horn suddenly lit up again.

“What is it, Twilight?” Spike watched as she focused all of her energy on one spell.

“Celestia said that if I ever needed answers that she couldn't provide, I could call upon the spell that I completed. The one that made me an alicorn.”

Spike frowned and scratched his head.

“I thought that was just a cutie mark destiny swapping spell or something.”

“So did I…” Twilight closed her eyes and recited the incantation, “From one to another, another to one.”

Her voice was suddenly echoed by a mysterious male voice speaking with her in unison.

“A mark of one’s destiny singled out alone, fulfilled.”

Twilight reared back a little at the sound of the unseen stallion. The light from her horn shot away from her and traveled out of sight down one of the hallways of orbs.

“Who was that? Who’s there?”

Twilight and Spike each looked around the room, but no pony was in sight.

“Twilight, I'm scared.” He clutched her by the side and she wrapped her hoof around him.

“Me too Spike. But don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” She stretched out her wings, ready to fly at the first sign of trouble. A voice from behind caused her and Spike to turn around.

“Defending the ones you care most about. A most noble effort in any age, I must say.”

As the frightened duo turned, they saw a glowing and slightly transparent stallion hovering in front of them. Below him sat an orb, just like the ones on the shelves. Twilight recognized him and his starry purple garb in an instant.

“Star Swirl the Bearded,” she said nearly breathless, “Where did you come from?”

“Where did I come from?” He echoed. “My dear mare, you summoned me here.”

“The spell!” Twilight's eyes lit up with realization.

“Yes the spell, my spell. The one I never finished. But you did.” Star Swirl smiled.

“How did you know I finished it?”

“The spell would only summon me for the pony who competed it.”

Twilight took a step closer to him and held her hoof towards his light.

“Star Swirl, is it really you? Aren't you… aren't you…”

“Dead?” Star Swirl offered. “Yes I am.”

“Then how?...” Was all Twilight could muster to say.

“Don't think of me as the living incarnation of the wizard you’ve heard of. I'm more of a lingering message, an echo of the stallion who once was.”

Twilight moved until she was face to face with the pony of legend.

“But why? Why would you go through the trouble of leaving such a powerful and complicated after image of yourself?”

The old colt held out his hoof. Twilight went to touch it. While his form had some mass, it felt like touching a thick steam more than the body of another pony.

“Because, faithful student of Celestia, there is much for you to see.”

Twilight's sight went blank. She felt as if she were falling into a trance.

“Twilight!”

She faintly heard Spike calling out to her, but the room no longer existed. All she saw was white.

“Do not fear, my child. There is much for you to see…”

****

Excerpt: Not Too Savvy

Savvy Scoop had yet to produce a single story that was true to his namesake. In the year that passed since getting his dream job at the Canterlot Harold, the only news pieces he had to show for it were a mid section news column and the occasional sports page. His editor was by no means unhappy with his work. He turned in his copies on time, his sources were accurate, and the pay was decent enough; however he couldn't help but feel a sense of complacency with his lack of juicy stories.

That was until last week when his editor gave him the news of a lifetime. It was the kind of opportunity that had gotten Savvy interested in journalism to begin with. He was offered the exclusive privilege of writing and publishing the memoirs of Star Swirl the Bearded. Not just an interview, not just a think piece, but the full unbridled thoughts and experiences of literally the most interesting pony in all of Equestrian history, aside from Celestia, that is. It was basically a book deal with a guaranteed front page column every week until the full memoirs were to be published. Soon, every pony in Canterlot would know the name of this would be beat reporter.

“Forget Canterlot, all of Equestria will read this!”

Savvy spoke enthusiastically to an empty room. He had been sitting in the far east wing of the Canterlot library for a good 20 minutes or so. Star Swirl seemed to be running late. Savvy didn't mind too much. He wiggled his legs off of the cozy chair whilst staring intently at the empty one across from him. He checked his ink quills for the 17th time.

Perhaps I should have brought lunch he thought to himself. As tantalizing thoughts of of grilled paninis and eggplant masala filled his mind, a slight chilling breeze passed through his mane. He heard the weighted “clunk” sound of a solid metal gate close firmly behind him. He turned to look at the front door of the gallery he was seated in. About 30 meters away in the next room behind a hung curtain, the only exit that he knew of had been shut with no view of any pony in sight. Without the light from the hallway with the nearest window, the room became very dim. There were fresh candles available on the table but Savvy didn't see any materials nearby for lighting them. Since he was a pegasus pony, he didn’t have a magical means of igniting the seemingly useless candles.

“Um, hello? I’m still in here.” His voice echoed down the empty corridor. “If the library is closed, I can come back another time.” His trailing sentence was met with no response. Savvy allowed the silence to linger in the dead air for a few moments. Just as he was nearly able to distinguish the sound of his own beating heart, he noticed a figure on the opposite end of the room. As far as Savvy knew, there was no other entrance to this wing except the gate that had been mysteriously closed behind him.

The figure walked slowly and deliberately toward Savvy. He was going to call out to the barely seen pony, but held his tongue as he noticed the stranger’s distinguished features. It was a stallion of some age, which explained the slow walk. His mane was grey with spots of white and balding near the crown of his horn creating a significant widow's peak. In contrast to his dirty looking mane, he had a long and flowing beard that was white as the snow caps of the Canterlot mountains. His fur was a faded brown that could be mistaken for grey next to his elderly colored mane. His posture was slumped and his steps were weighted as if walking itself were a feat of its own. His eye sockets were sunk in slightly, casting a shadow and making him look perpetually tired. Savvy felt pity for the poor elder until he caught gaze of the old stallion’s eyes. They were as sharp and commanding as a knight of the royal guard, yet held an intelligence that could only be acquired through the experience of a pony with staunch expertise. It was as if the incredibly fragile frame of this ancient form somehow held the soul of a demigod.

The stallion’s horn flashed for no more than a millisecond and was echoed by the formally useless candles bursting into flames. Their glow gave a rich vibrance to a once dead wing, and let off a warmth that Savvy felt under his fur.

“Star Swirl the Bearded,” Savvy uttered with more breath than voice.

“Indeed,” the old stallion smiled as if a clever joke had been told. His demeanor reminded Savvy of an old friend or beloved relative. He could feel his shoulder muscles relaxing as he let out a somewhat long sigh of relief.

“I thought I was trapped in here for a second. They closed the door on me and…” Savvy pointed back to the door as Star Swirl spoke up to reassure the nervous reporter.

“I apologize for my tardiness and any theatrics you may have endured. I’m afraid, I am somewhat sensitive to light these days. “

As Star Swirl stepped into full view of the candle light, Savvy thought he saw something strange in the old colt’s eyes but it was only a natural hazel color that he was able to make out.

“I-it’s no problem at all. I haven't been waiting very long.” Savvy scrambled to get his ink and quills ready. He sloppily scattered them onto the table.

“Oh, I see. So you haven't been waiting here for 23 minutes?” Star Swirl raised his eyebrow.

“W-well, I suppose it has been that long. But it's not a big deal. I’m just happy to finally get to meet you.” Savvy held out his hoof toward Star Swirl who would have had to take a few steps forward to reach it for a proper hoof shake. He chose to remain where he was.

“Now, now my boy. That’s not the attitude to take.”

Savvy slowly lowered his ignored hoof.

“It’s not?”

Star Swirl labored himself into the seat across from Savvy.

“How many times have you tried to arrange this meeting with me?”

Savvy scratched the back of his head.

“Uh well, this would be the 3rd time.”

Star Swirl groaned as he tried to find a comfortable position for his back.

“So I’ve cancelled on you twice and made you wait the third time even though the deadline for your first article is three days from now. You’re allowed to be a little bit annoyed.”

Star Swirl smirked and tipped one eyebrow.

“True, that’s certainly true. But I realize how busy you must be and I certainly wouldn’t want to impose…”

Savvy swallowed what little saliva remained in his parched mouth. His eyes were glued to the calm and rustic legendary unicorn.

“Young colt, let me give you some advice. It doesn't matter who somepony is or what their status may be, never allow anypony to treat you as if you are unimportant or unworthy of their time. Otherwise, you will surely convince them and yourself that it's true.”

Savvy nodded at the old pony’s sage words.

“Ok, well in that case it’s a pleasure, Lord Star Swirl, to meet you in person finally.” Savvy punctuated with a sideways nod.

Star Swirl let out a deep and guttural chortle.

“Now that's more like it, my boy. Although I would be careful with the biting sarcasm. While certainly a useful way of getting your point across, it can be a double edged sword.”

Savvy’s laugh was shorter and less concerted than Star Swirl's. The old magician was certainly skilled at making others feel more at ease.

“Shall we begin?” Savvy suggested.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

A glowing orb levitated onto the table between Star Swirl and Savvy. Its translucent light flowed with a marble string of colors that cycled between shades of magenta and turquoise. Savvy’s eyes widened as he observed the mild spectacle. He wasn't accustomed to viewing magical artifacts.

“It’s an orb of truth.” Star Swirl answered Savvy’s unvoiced question.

“Which a bit of a hyperbole as far as nomenclature goes. Actually, hyperbole is a common trend for magical names I must say. What it actually does is record the sounds made in a 15 or so meter radius. Very efficient for record keeping. I’m hoping it can do something about the constant clutter of book keeping here at the castle.”

Savvy looked down at his own quills and notebook papers a bit disappointed. Star Swirl cleared his throat.

“Not that it could ever replace quill and ink entirely, that is. Feel free to take as many notes as you require, my good reporter.”

Savvy pulled his note book and quill up to his eye level with some enthusiasm.

“Alright, let's begin. I was wondering if I…”

“I suppose I'll start with a story. Yes, I think that this particular anecdote will set the tone nicely.”

“Actually Star Swirl, you see… don't get me wrong, an anecdote sounds great and all. I’m sure the readers will love it, but… you see, I was hoping I… well…”

Star Swirl nodded knowingly.

“Ah, I see that there is already a burning question inside of you. Well go ahead. Ask away.” Star Swirl leaned back in his chair.

Savvy felt a few drops of sweat on his back.

“Well that's the other thing. It's technically a taboo to even bring it up, and it may involve some personal feelings for you…”

Star Swirl held up his hoof and Savvy stopped speaking.

“If you want, it will be our little secret.”

The light from the orb turned off, leaving a dusky grey ball sitting on the table. Savvy took a deep breath.

“Are you or are you not Clover the Clever’s biological father?”

Star Swirl grinned, his relaxed posture unchanged.

“I see we have the hard hitting questions coming right out of the gate. Are you sure you’re not a more seasoned reporter than you give yourself credit for?”

Savvy shuffled in his seat.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I realize how rude and forward that question is, but my editor literally told me I would be fired if I didn’t get an answer to that question.” Savvy held up his hooves, his quill and papers almost forming a shield.

“Now, now no need to fret. I’m not even really sure why Princess Celestia put a choke order on that question being asked in public forums. It has a perfectly reasonable answer to it.”

Savvy leaned forward, his eyes glued to the old stallion’s face for any clue or give away in his expression.

“No, I am not the biological father of Clover the Clever. She calls me that out of familiarity and affection. And I admit, I do share the fatherly bond with her, as it were, but I’m afraid it has all to do sentiment and nothing to do with hereditary science or genetics.”

Savvy nodded as he scribbled furiously. He sighed as he finished up and looked back at Star Swirl, perhaps just a little disappointed.

“Now I apologize if that's not shocking and revealing answer your editor was looking for. But I assume your career is safe?”

Savvy nodded and smiled.

“Yeah, yes of course, Lord Star Swirl. They just said I had to get an answer not the answer.”

“Splendid. And please, none of this ‘Lord’ nonsense. I’ve been a Lord, a Duke, an ambassador, a professor, a doctor, and a ‘what-have-you’ in my time. At my age, I’m afraid I’m a bit weary of titles. Simply ‘Star Swirl’ will suffice.”

“If you say so Mr. Star Swirl, er… Star Swirl. Now about that anecdote you had?”

“Ah yes.” Star Swirl's expression lit up. “It’s funny you brought up Clover as I was going to tell you about the first time I met her.”

Savvy’s ears perked up. He had expected the anecdote to be more off topic, but this was exactly the sort of details he knew his readers and his editor were looking for.

“I had just moved to New Equestrian City, today known as Canterlot, shortly after the Hearths Warming foundation. Now the Platinum royal family had employed me to study and develop new types of magic and unicorn based conjuration. Obviously the state provided generously for me but there was a great deal of poverty in the early days of the city. I was warned to stay clear of beggars and vagabonds and street urchins and such... understand, it was a different time. This was before the days of the princesses. The first time I saw Clover, she was wrapped up in a tattered merchant stand cover trying to get some sleep at the corner of 5th and Marketview.”

Savvy jolted up from his notes.

“5th and Marketview? That's the richest side of town. That’s where the Canterlot opera house is.”

“Yes, as I said, it was a different time. My better judgment was telling me I should just keep walking, but I couldn't help but worry that she was sick from the cold and may be in danger. I called out to her and she woke with quite a fright. She looked up at me with fearful eyes as wide as the valleys of the Crystal Mountains. I spoke softly as I could, telling her there was nothing to be afraid of and that I wasn't going to hurt her.”

“And did that calm her down?”

“Calm her down?” Star Swirl scoffed. “She robbed me blind. She took one look at how fat the money purse was around my neck, ripped it off with her teeth, and ran down the alley faster than I could shout into the wind.”

“Wait, Clover the Clever was a thief?” Savvy could already feel the backlash from the scientific and magical communities at such a comment.

Star Swirl tilted his head.

“You make it sound like a bad thing. Everypony had to make a living somehow those days.”

Savvy laughed nervously.

“Jokes aside, you expect me to print that about Clover the Clever?”

Star Swirl scowled. Savvy marveled at how intimidating the old stallion could look when he wanted to.

“Oh I apologize. I was under the impression that you wanted my memoirs, not a safe and politically correct watered down version of the truth.”

Savvy scowled back as intently as he could muster.

“No, you’re right. I want nothing but the unfiltered truth, even if it ruffles a few feathers.”

Star Swirl returned to his familial grandfather smile.

“The next day I returned to the alley and found her nesting in the same spot as before. This time she awoke at the sound of my footsteps as I approached. Clearly not expecting to encounter the likes of me again, she took off without hesitation down the alley once more. Unbeknownst to her, I had scouted the alleyway shortly after our previous encounter. Having found a small hole in the wall, just big enough for a small filly to squeeze through, I blocked the escape route in anticipation of her scamper. Confused and afraid, backed into a corner left with nowhere to run, she dug in her back hooves ready to fight.”

“And did she attack?” Savvy’s tone was impertinent. Despite the old stallion’s calm demeanor in his storytelling, Savvy could scarcely stand even the slightest pause in Star Swirl's speech.

“No,” Star Swirl shook his head, “She waited. Every muscle in her frail being was tensed, waiting to fight for her very life. Her face was a mixture of hatred and fearful anticipation. It pained me that somepony so young should be forced to consider their own mortality at such a tender time in their life. ‘Do not worry, my child, everything is going to be alright,’ I told her but she didn't seem to understand or believe me. I asked her where she lived but she didn't seem much for conversation. Besides, the answer was obvious. I was standing in the only home she knew. She seemed somewhat less afraid although, never the less, as tense as before. When idle conversation seemed to fail, I decided to try something more practical. I asked her if she would like something hot to eat and a soft bed by a fireplace that evening.”

Savvy looked up from his notes.

“But she didn't trust you yet, did she? She was expecting some kind of caveat or revenge for stealing from you.”

Star Swirl closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Trust is the rarest and most valuable commodity in all of Equestria, in all of the world I’m sure. Sometimes when there is none to be had, it must be borrowed.

Star Swirl looked directly at Savvy Scoop.

“Take care that you always return borrowed trust.”

Savvy nodded softly.

“At last she acquiesced and joined me back at my home in New Equestrian City. After all, the promise of food is a difficult temptation to turn down, especially when one is constantly hungry. I had never seen a pony eat so quickly and greedily in my life. She gorged herself as if the food might disappear from the table. Although I supposed it did disappear directly into her belly. Even when she was clearly in pain from eating so much, she asked for more. I assured her, there would be another feast in the morning. She slept as soundly as a stone and looked peaceful as an angel laying next to the fireplace. I’ll never forget that first night she was home. I shudder to think how many cold and lonely nights she spent on those streets, but it didn't matter anymore. She would never have to worry about her next meal ever again. She was so smart, so inquisitive. She learned fast and was always so eager. I hardly know where to begin describing the process of teaching her science and magic. In retrospect, it seems more like a joy than anything else. I wouldn't trade anything in the world for those days.”

Savvy shifted in his seat. He appreciated the old colt’s sentiment, but his duty to his work pressed him to inquire into uncomfortable waters.

“Star Swirl, how did Clover the Clever die?”

Star Swirl looked as if he was woken from a dream.

“Ah,” He smiled and stroked his snowy white beard.

“I think that will be all for today.”

Savvy looked disappointed.

“If you insist. I should have enough to at least write a teaser article.”

“Thank you, Savvy scoop, for coming all this way. I look forward to our next meeting. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

Star Swirl got up slowly from his seat and made his way back toward the dark corridor.

“Wait, aren’t you going to turn off the orb and take it with you?”

Savvy pointed to the luminescent sphere on the table.

“I think it’s best if it remains here. Furthermore, I don't have the ability to turn it on or off. You’ll forgive my... intrusion, but I set its enchantment to activate and deactivate when you enter or leave the room. That way, it only functions at your presence.”

Savvy looked bewildered at the orb.

“Wait, but what about earlier when you turned it off when I asked about…” Savvy’s eyes went wide with realization.

“Oh you mean my little light show?” Star Swirl horn flickered and the orb rested grey and dull once more. A moment later, the vibrant colors flashed back to life.

“Appearances are often deceitful, my young colt.”

The young colt felt a rush of anger down his back.

“But how could you lie to me? I would never…”

“You would have never asked the most important question.” Star Swirl interrupted. “But now you have. And now you have your article. Your legacy will echo in the hallways for generations to come.”

Before Savvy could respond, Star Swirl vanished in a burst of blinding white light. It took a moment for Savvy to see clearly in the dark room again. When his eyes adjusted he noticed that the candles were extinguished and the orb lay still and grey on the table.

“Great Celestia, what a cheeky, stubborn son of a bitch!”

Savvy took a long hard look at the orb again.

“Ah crap…”

Author's Note

Did somepony say Star Swirl the Bearded? :twilightsmile:

I've been wanting to tell this story for a long time. It's gone through several formats and iterations but I've finally got a version I'm happy with.

What secrets do you think exist in Star Swirl's past? Let me know in the comments sugarcube :ajsmug:

Excerpt: Foalish Times

“I’m going inside your mind…”

Savvy Scoop stared blankly at Star Swirl.

“Not exactly.”

“But that's literally what you just said.”

“In a sense.”

Savvy looked at the swirling light orb sitting on the round table.

“Did you not say, just a moment ago, that we needed to enter your thoughts to get the full picture of your past?”

Savvy pretended to follow Star Swirl's logic, but it all sounded like unicorn babble to him.

“Or perhaps, more accurately, I'm bringing my thoughts to you?

Savvy sighed and slumped in his chair.

“Ok, I’ll bite on this one. How are you supposed to bring your thoughts to me?” Savvy set down his notes and folded his arms.

“With the orb of course.” Star Swirl pointed to the luminescent sphere.

“I thought you said that thing just records sounds. How is it supposed to get you inside my head?”

Savvy let that idea roll around his brain for a moment.

“On second thought, I don't think I want you in my head.” He tapped his skull.

Star Swirl shook his head.

“We won't be inside your head or mine. Our minds will be inside the orb.”

Savvy sighed.

“My mother always said that if I got caught up in unicorn mysticism, I'd end up with my brain in a jar.”

Savvy rubbed his temples.

“Not your brain, my young friend. Just your mind.” Star Swirl smiled.

“No offense, Star Swirl but I’m a journalist. Your philosophical semantics are lost on me.”

“In that case, you won't understand enough philosophy to register any existential dread from an out of body experience. Sensational!” Star Swirl clapped his hooves together in celebration.

“No, sensationalism is my job. And I'm gonna need you to explain to me in layman's terms exactly how this is going to work before I agree to it.”

Star Swirl rubbed his snowy beard.

“Hmm, but if I am to be exact, then it wouldn't be in laymen's terms.”

Savvy smacked his hoof against his face.

“You know what mean, old colt.”

Star Swirl tapped his hoof against the chair cushion.

“How did your first submission go? Was it as damning to your reputation as you feared?”

Savvy took a deep breath.

“Well it definitely got some push back, like I feared. But it sold more papers than any other piece this year, so my editor wants more of where that came from.”

Star Swirl chuckled.

“My boy, if they thought the slightly troubled past of my dear, dear Clover was controversial, wait until they see what I have in store.”

Savvy couldn't help but grin a little. If nothing else, Star Swirl sure knew how to entice an aspiring journalist.

“Don't worry yourself too much about the mind thing. I assure you it's painless.”

Star Swirl pointed to the glowing orb.

“Both of our collective consciousness shall be temporarily held inside the orb. You see, in addition to storing sound, it can also store thoughts and experiences. Once inside, you will be able to view my experiences as they happened to me. You will see and hear all that I saw, but we will not be able to affect or interact with that which has already transpired. We will also have the privilege of communicating with each other as we view the past.”

Savvy took a moment to consider the implications of sharing thoughts.

“And we're not just going to do a regular interview because…” Savvy trailed off.

“Because, there is so much to see and so little time see it. Besides, I tend to ramble with my anecdotes and stories. This is sure to spare you a great deal of boredom.”

Star Swirl's horn flashed green and caused the orb to levitate. A golden streak of magic that looked like static electricity surrounded the sphere.

“So, Savvy Scoop, are you prepared to see the truth?”

Part of Savvy wanted to run out of the room. None of this was in his contract or job description and conducting an interview in such an unorthodox fashion was more than enough grounds for him to refuse. But even as his heart pounded and a cold wave of fear shivered down his spine, he knew that no amount of trepidation would lead him to refuse.

“Ah hell, truth is what I’m in the business of.” Savvy shrugged. “Besides, mom always said anything worth having is worth risking.”

Star Swirl raised his brow.

“Didn't your mother also warn you not to get involved with 'unicorn mysticism?’”

“Yeah but she also married a unicorn, so what does she know? Just zap me already before I change my mind.”

Savvy saw a flash of light that erased the room he was sitting in and replaced it with unending emptiness. All sound and was removed from his senses. He no longer felt the chair he had been sitting in nor could he perceive which direction the floor was in. He was weightless and floating in void space. Soon the silence was replaced by what seemed like the sound of a beating drum and the moving of water like a flowing stream. His mind panicked as he quickly reasoned that with the absence of any and all other sound, he was listening to inner workings of his own flesh and blood. The tempo of his heart beat rose into an accelerando like the climax of an orchestrated symphony. His breathing echoed like the hollowing of a hurricane wind. He flailed his hooves about but to no avail. He made no perceivable movement in any direction. It felt like he was drowning in a vacuum of nothingness.

“Is this the existential dread you were talking about?”

His own voice was so loud that it hurt his ears. He instinctively covered them with his hooves and resisted the temptation to scream in terror. He closed his eyes and tried to get his mind off of the emptiness. Anything at all to distract him from the sheer weight of non existence.

When he opened his eyes, he was standing in his home. Not his current home, but the home he grew up in. He hadn't lived here since he was 8 years old. Everything was exactly as he remembered it. The walls, the carpet, the furniture, the pictures, the book shelf, and even his toy box. But what was more perplexing was the decorations. A banner hung from the ceiling that read, “Happy 8th Birthday!” Streamers hung from wall to wall. A stack of birthday presents sat on the dining room table next to a chocolate cake with chocolate icing, his favorite. Everything about this house, this moment told him that this was the home he was born in and this was his 8th birthday. But that was impossible. He was a full grown stallion and this day happened years ago.

His mother entered the room. She looked younger and taller than the last time he saw her. She had a shorter mane cut when he was a foal and liked to wear a red bow by her left ear. She looked at Savvy and smiled, but was obviously trying to hide that she had been crying.

Savvy remembered this day all too well. He remembered the bike he got for his birthday. He remembered how upset his mother was on that day. He remembered crying into his birthday cake and his mother politely sending the guests home as they arrived for the party.

“Savvy,” His mother's sweet and somber voice haunted his memories.

“Savvy I'm afraid I have some very bad news.”

He wanted to be anywhere but in this house at this moment. She reached out and took him into her embrace. It was surreal to Savvy because he could sense her touch like it was happening to him, but at the same time felt removed like he was only observing from the vantage point of his own body.

“Your father won't be able to make it for your birthday.”

She rubbed the back of his head the way she used to whenever he was distraught.

“That's ok mommy,” he heard his childhood voice say. “I’ll wait until daddy gets home to open his presents.”

His mother tightened her grip on him and burst into tears.

“Oh honey,” she wailed. “He’s not coming back, he’s never coming back.”

Savvy could tell that his foal self was trembling.

“But why, mommy. Why can't daddy come home?”

“Stop!”

Savvy’s full grown adult voice shrieked.

“No more, I don’t wanna see anymore,” He screamed and covered his eyes with his hooves. When he finally dared to peer through, he was standing in what looked like a dark corridor. Across from him was the ever stoic Star Swirl the Bearded.

“I’m sorry for your loss. That must have been a very painful day for you.”

Savvy was still breathing heavily. His anxiety had left him drained and angry.

“That was private. You had no right to pry into my memories,” Savvy pointed accusingly at Star Swirl.

“My dear boy, I did no such thing. You activated that memory yourself. I did not pry so much as you imposed.”

Savvy felt betrayal with each labored breath he took.

“I thought you said it would be painless.”

“Physically painless, yes.”

Savvy sat down on the imaginary floor of the corridor.

“Are you sure you’re a wizard and not a lawyer?”

Star Swirl grinned

“Who said I wasn’t both?”

Once again, the world around Savvy Scoop vanished from his view and was replaced by a new facet of reality.

He found himself at foot of a dark valley. The moon was so large its light burst through the clouds surrounding it and backlit the towering mountain casting a shadow on the village below. The humble town sat in the middle of the valley sandwiched by the mountain’s silhouette and the seemingly endless forest that stretched across the horizon. The sleepy town had only a few lanterns lit in the occasional window. A gentle breeze blew through the streets making almost no sound in its wake.

The vision of Star Swirl's past led them to one particular cottage near the center of the town. The lantern oil still burned brightly, revealing a tall stallion contentedly writing away on his scattered parchments into the night. Inside this dedicated stallion's home, the single light source cast his shadow over to the bedroom doorway where a young foal stood watching his father slave away at his desk.

“Papa,” the youngling whispered, rubbing his eye.

The father paused his writing hoof mid sentence. He faced his child and smiled tenderly at the boy.

“What are you doing up at this hour? I thought you went to sleep hours ago.”

The foal stepped over to the foot of his father's chair. The little one’s fur was a deep oak brown and his matted mane was white as a sheep’s coat.

“I couldn't sleep. I thought I heard something outside my window.”

The father reached down with his hooves and lifted the little one into his lap.

“Is that so? What did you hear exactly?”

The foal shook his head.

“I'm not sure. I've never heard a sound like it before.”

The father tapped his child gently on the head making his son giggle in response.

“Well how would you describe this mysterious sound?” He tried to mimic a howling ghost with his last two words. The child was grinning ear to ear.

“Well some ponies in town say that there is a specter in the woods that only comes out at night. I was afraid that the specter was at my window.”

The father shook his head.

“Now, now, my boy, don't make baseless speculations. Answer the question. Describe what you heard. Every inquiry in existence has a reasonable answer to it.” He nodded to his colt. The boy looked out the window to the town street, considering his answer carefully.

“It was like the wind but louder.”

“Louder in what way? Like a large gust of wind?”

The colt shook his head.

“No, more like something was in the wind.”

“Like something was flying?”

The child's eyes went wide.

“Like a specter!” The boy shouted.

His father shushed him with his hoof to his mouth.

“Come on now, Star Swirl, there are many creatures that can fly that aren't specters. It could have been numerous types of birds or a bat or even a Pegasus pony.” He rubbed the child's already messy mane.

“Why would a pegasus fly by a unicorn village at night?” The young Star Swirl inquired.

“Perhaps he got lost on his way home. Maybe he took a wrong turn at an eastern cloud.”

Star Swirl the youngling laughed.

“We should give him a compass.” Star Swirl offered. His father smiled.

“Now that sounds like a neighborly thing to do. If he happens to knock on our door and request assistance, I think we will do just that.” He set the child back down on the floor and patted his back.

“Now off to bed with you. You need your rest to keep you strong.”

The lad reluctantly started making his way toward the bedroom doorway.

“But what if it really is a specter?” He shivered a little at the thought. His father looked at the ceiling thoughtfully.

“Perhaps, it's not impossible. But then again, very little is impossible. What if the mountain breaks and falls on the village? What if the rivers rise and flood the streets.”

The young Star Swirl looked even more troubled by these new possibilities.

“Star Swirl, the point is we can't waste our time worrying about the worst of outcomes. Otherwise we paralyze ourselves with fear. The best we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and act only on what is and not what may be.”

The child nodded.

“Goodnight, Star Swirl.” He turned back to his work and began writing from where he left off.

“Goodnight, father,” the foal walked out of the room.

Savvy Scoop looked around the bedroom. He and the very much fully grown and aged Star Swirl appeared to be standing in the modest home, but the father and son they both witnessed had paid them no mind.

“They can't hear us,” Savvy stated.

“Correct,” Star Swirl replied, “These images we see are the past. They are what they are and nothing we do can change the course of that which has been.”

He turned to look at Savvy.

“However one could certainly write a very detailed book on what they see and hear here.” Star Swirl nodded.

Savvy grinned.

“Alright, alright I get. This is better than an interview, I’ll admit it. You were quite a cute kid.” Savvy pointed to the exiting child.

“Are you surprised? We were all small at one point.”

“Yeah that's true, it’s just not something you always think about, I guess.” Savvy looked at the father at the desk. The stallion wrote furiously.

“Your father certainly worked hard. What did he do?”

Star Swirl cleared his throat.

“As many fathers are prone to do, mine made more time for his work than anything else.”

Savvy cocked his eyebrow.

“Is that something you blame him for?”

“It's a part of him I am most grateful for to this day. A proper work ethic is the lifeblood of a wizard.” Star Swirl held his head up proudly.

“So are we done here or are we supposed to just watch you go to sleep?”

“Oh who said I went to sleep that night?” Star Swirl gestured to the doorway. The two ponies found themselves upstairs in the bedroom of young Star Swirl. The lad was tossing and turning in his bed. His eyes wide open, he slapped his bedding with his hooves in frustration.

Suddenly, his head turned toward the window. The moonlight was bright and golden in his room, but for a split second, something had passed through his light casting a brief but discernable shadow in that tiny amount of time. He studied his the view out his window diligently, waiting for the shadow to pass again. He looked out over the forest. The trees swayed ever so slightly in the night breeze, but something seemed off. Occasionally, it looked like a tree would move out of sync with the others for a moment. The difference was barely discernable but it was enough to peak the curiosity of the young foal.

He unlatched his window from the sill and pushed it open. Carefully climbing onto the sill, his horn lit up. He closed his eyes and jumped from the house. However, instead of falling to the ground, he gently levitated down to the grass and leaves below.

“Impressive magic for a foal your age,” Savvy remarked.

The two stallions watched as the little foal ran off towards the woods.

“Weren't you just terrified of the specter a few minutes ago?” Savvy looked at Star Swirl the elder.

“Every child has fears, but I always found curiosity to be a far more powerful motivator.”

They watched as the scene around them shifted from the house to the edge of the woods. The child Star Swirl ventured into the tree line. He ran as fast as he could over branches and roots, looking up to the moon for any sign of the specter. He kept going for some time, making haste deeper and deeper into the forest.

As exhaustion caught up with him, he took a moment to rest on the forest floor, leaning his tired body against a large oak tree. He took in heavy breaths as he stared intently at the moon. Then as quickly as from his bedroom window, the shadow flew in front of the moon again. This time it paused to hover in full view of the moonlight.

The foal's eyes grew wider. It was no specter that appeared above him. It was a pony, but unlike any he had ever seen before. She was tall and her frame was staunch and sturdy like an earth pony. Her wing span was massive, wider than any pegasus he had ever seen. A unicorn horn pointed out of her forehead, longer than what was usual for any normal unicorn. Her fur was a darkened blue like the evening sky and her mane was translucent with sparkles that reminded the youngling of the stars. Her cutie mark was painted like a spotted dark cloud with a crescent moon in the center.

“It's an angel,” the foal whispered.

The regal creature took no notice of the child down in the forest below her. Her eyes glowed white for a moment and her attention was placed elsewhere. She flew off into the midnight sky.

“Wait don't go,” the little foal cried. He froze for a moment as he heard a howling sound not too far behind him. Afraid that a wolf was on his trail. He ran in the general direction that his angel flew away. His eyes were glued to the moon, praying that her figure would grace his vision again. Without looking where he was going, he tripped over a root and tumbled to the ground. But instead of coming to a stop, he rolled down the sloping terrain in front of him. Gaining speed as he rolled out of control, his eyes flew to the back of his head as his skull concussed on the hard unforgiving ground.

Unconscious and helpless, his flailing body reached the end of the slope and careened of the edge of a cliff falling toward the uncanny valley below.