Gather around my little ponies for I am Starswhirl the Bearded. I will tell you of the time before the demoness Grishadria. Grishadria is an entity who existed long before Celestia and her Sister Luna. Even longer still I was but a foal myself. I lived in a quaint little village called Timber Falls. The village was far to the north of what is now known as the Crystal Empire. Before the far north was the desolate frozen waste land that it is now, it was just like the rest of Equestria. The region had it's four seasons. Spring ushered in the warmth, beauty, and creatures that signaled the new year, and this is where this story begins...
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Stella Newmoon was the Belle of the the town. Stella was a very energetic, caring, full of hope and down to earh little pony. When the orange unicorn did something she gave it her all. Stella was always so trusting and generous. As far as unicorns go she was far morepowerful than Starswirl. She never bragged about her abilites nor did she chastise those weaker than herself. Instead she encouraged and inspired them to do there best. From the moment Starswirl saw her he was in love. From her violet mane streaked with silver to the star field cutie mark on her haunches. Anytime Stella smiled Starswirl's heart would just turn to mush. The two unicorns were inseparable. During the evening hours they would adventure forth to the cascading waterfalls to practice their magic. One such starry night Stella showed Starswhirl a new spell.
"Are you ready Swirly."
"If i told you no ... Stella would you stop?"
"not on your life Starswirl."
Stella gazed into the starry filled sky, closed her aqua colored eyes and began to sing. Her horn began to glow an vibrant purple. The melody the escaped her lips was as beautiful and delicate as winter snowflakes. Stalla's star pattern cutie mark began to radiate a silver hue. It almost seemed like it was humming along with the song. Starswirl was getting sleepy and as Stella's song quietly ended, he fell to the ground with "thump."
"Swirly... Swirly... wake up sleepy head" said Stella will a melodious giggle.
Starswhirl opened his eyes to see an endless sea of stars.
"What is this place?"
"This is my special place Swirly."
Stella danced among the blanket of stars, each step causing a rippling effect like a pebble in a pond.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"Yes it is but not a pretty as you" said Starswirl blushing.
"Oh Swirly you're just saying that" said Stella smiling at her friend.
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starswirl's and Stella's seasons continued as such until it all changed when Clover Dill moved into town. By this time Starswirl and Stella were adults and living amongst the town as productive ponies. Starswirl grew into a tall skinny stallion who wasn't homely but was handsome either, just you average every day unicorn. Stella on the other hand grew into a beautiful mare. Every stallion in town had their eyes on her. Her violet tail and main were grew long, glossy and vibrant. Her mane curled at the ends the left side completely covered her face while the right sight revealed he lustrous aqua colored eye. Their hang out sessions bacame less adventurous and more formal. Starswhirl only ever want to talk about magic. Stella stayed with Starswirl hoping he would change.
Clover Dill was handsome and all the mares in Timber Falls fawned over him. The green pegasus was very well toned. His solid orange main and tail always seemed to refelct the sun light and when he smiled he always made it a point to flash his pearly white teeth. Starswirl couldn't stand Clover. One day while Starswirl and Stella were heading to their usual place Clover cut between them and asked the young mare out. Stella looked to Starswirl hoping he would get jealous and take notice of her for her and not just her magic. starswirl never showed such emotion outwardly anymore. Being the kind mare she was Stella agreed to one date. Soon one date led to another and even more after that. Starswirl was all but forgotten.
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One spring day while Starwirl was reading a book titled Traveling the Astral Plain, a knocking sound came from the door. Starswirl tried to ignore the knock, but the noise grew more persistent. Resigned to his fate Starswirl begrudgingly answered the door. Standing outside was Starswirl's childhood friend.
"Stella to what do I owe this visit?"
"Well Swirly I am here to ask you to be my best stallion at my wedding."
Starswirl, unable to move, stood in shock at Stella's news.
"Married?" asked Starswirl witha high pithched voice.
"Yes! Clover has asked for my hoof in marriage. So will you do it Swirly."
Starswirl had to think fast or he who lose the mare he loved to that fake, Clover.
"Stella please don't marry him."
"Why not?"
"Because I love with you... I always have..."
"I am sorry Swirly... but I don't love you like that anymore."
"Anymore... what do you mean? When did have deeper feelings for me?"
"It doesn't mater Starswirl I couldn't wait for you forever and when Clover first asked me out I knew it was time to move on."
when Starswirl thought back to all the shy smiles and soft nuzzles Stella had given him he realized his biggest error. He never returned the affection and had taken her for granted. So consumed by his thirst for magic he had failed to realize that Stella had always loved him as well.
"How could I have been so stupid?" thought Starswirl.
More angry at himself than Stella, Starswirl silently shut the door.
Stella turned from her childhood friend one last time as a single tear ran down her cheek she said "farewell."
Stella and Clover were married that summer while Starswirl left without a word.
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What happend during the time I was a way? I don't really know. The gossip suggested that Clover was abusive and that he was cheating on his wife with other mares. All I know is what happpend when I returned to Timber Falls.
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The cold winter wind whipped Starswirl's around him as he breathed. A small white cloud wafted on breezed as it left the wizard. Starswirl tried to forget about his childhood friend but be as it may he was never able to.
"It has been two long years scince I have been back. I wonder how Stella is doing."
Starswirl trudged through snowdrifts until he reach his cottage, unlatching the door with his magic. Opening he door Starswirl stopped. The interior of his cottage looked like a war zone. Broken furniture and books were strewn haphazardly all over. Looking to the far wall where he kept his most dangerous spell books hidden, behind a secret panel, Starswirl panicked.
"This isn't good."
Before the wizard could investigate further her heard a loud wailing sound. Starswirl frozen in place. He recognized that as the voice of Stella. Without a second thought Starswirl bolted out the door back into the winter storm.
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When Starswirl reach the source of the sream his heart sank. Stella's stood over her husband's body. Off to the right was the still form of what looked like a small foal. In the middle of the cottage lie Clover in a puddle of he own blood. Starswirl stare at Stella in horror as she levetated a a bloody knife away from her dead husband. Turning towards the interruption Stella's blank expression turned to one of saddeness as tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Swirly he left left me no choice... he killed... my joy... she was all I had left."
Starswirl stood frozen in place at what he saw.
Stella stared at her childhood friend and with a slight bow of her head mouthed farewell.
The blooddied knife pireced Stella's heart. Time seemed to slow down as Starswirl watched Stella slowly slump to the ground.
"STELLA!"
Starswirl rushed to Stella's side pulling her close. Tears flowed down the wizard's nose dotting the still form of the pony he loved.
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Then the unlikly happened. Starswirl felt Stella twitch. Slowly moving away from his beloved Starswirl watched and hoped. But what came next was far worse. Stella's body darkend to and inky black as it started to transform. Her body elongated growing larger as eight long spindly spider legs grew from her torso. Stella stood up her once aqua colored eyes now a burning red. Just before her eyes completely changed a single tears appeared and with one final whisper from her mouth "swirly... I..."
"Stella... please... no...."
Stella turned spider lunged at Starswirl. The wizard summoned a blue energy blast from his horn at the spider. But it passed right through her and exploding the far wall. Sliver stars began to glow across Stella's inky black abdomin. Then she vanished.
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The only thing that remained at the cottage was one of my missing spell books from my hidden stash. On closer examination the spell Stella had left open was one of dark magic that required a sacrifice to envoke. She had used her husband to do it. After this realization a cast a spell of detect magic just to make sure there wasn't any other magical items. To me suprise the little filly who was presumed dead was still alive, just barely hanging on by a thread of magic.
The next time I saw Stella again was ten years later after I met my friends and we formed the first elements of harmony team. By then though she was calling herself Grishadria of the Void. She was one of the hardest enemies to track down. Stella was every and nowhere at once. We did manage to follow her, into the space between realities. Even after all the destruction Stella caused I was unable to finish her off. So with the help of my companions we sealed her away in a small glass prison. As for the little filly I raised her as my own and named her Eventide Lulamoon...
