Starswirl vomited again. The bitter taste of his stomach acid was becoming all-too familiar to his tongue. He hated it. He wiped his mouth and opened his eyes to refocus on the creature in the distance. God’s above, how long is this going to take! Just as he let the thought cross his mind, Discord snapped into existence right next to him. The lanky beast immediately swam away from him, seeing the pool of vomit that coated the surface in front of Starswirl.

“My goodness, somepony’s been busy I see. Is there more food inside you or outside at this point?” The draconiquis snickered as he came back a little closer. Starswirl rubbed his temples and tried to keep the migraine at bay.

“Discord, please tell me you gave my message. I’m about ready to tear my brain out and give up thinking forever.” Discord wagged a finger at Starswirl as he grabbed the pony’s hat and wore it.

“Yes, yes. The princesses know the plan now and informed that old stooge of a pony. They await more of your ‘infinite wisdom’” Discord finished his speech with a mocking tone and bow to the great wizard. He snatched his hat back and battled the urge to vomit again.

“I should have something soon. I’ve been experimenting with my magic here. Most of it seems to work, despite this infuriating migraine. The only issue is that I have no idea how much longer I can last here. It makes no sense how my master did it for thousands of years.” Discord was lounging in a conjured hammock made from gelatin, slurping on a shake of sorts. He threw the drink down and stood up on the air as he spoke.

“Oh, he had his fair share of madness. I felt it. I think he lasted because of that wretched and majestic creature wrapped around him.” Starswirl suddenly appeared more alert than ever.

“He used the Lichen to survive. How?”

“I’m not entirely sure, I only ever felt the discord that left his body every time it transferred. I never bothered to check because, well, that’s boring!” Starswirl rubbed his head even harder. This news now gave him a little insight into what the connection was that still existed, and perhaps how to sever it.

“So, if he used it to survive, then it equally used him. Maybe that means if we separate it, then it dies for good, right?” Discord sat on a couch with another one of himself as he leaned over to whisper quite loudly.

“I think he’s finally getting it.” The other one nodded. “But, if the creature used him to survive and he used it, would all the discord and chaos and tumultuous thoughts rush back to him and cause him to go into crisis?” The original Discord nodded back and ‘hmmmd.’ Starswirl took a drink of his water to rinse the sourness from his mouth.

“Fair point, but we can deal with a panic attack easier than a creature that consumes ponies. I think our best bet is to tear the creature from him by force. I have teleportation spells, breaking, incineration, many things to try. I think we ought to tell my old master that we will begin trying to sever the connection. And to warn him what he might become.”

Misery

Bitter

Jealousy

Anger

Star Strider sat in the carriage that was taking him towards Ponyville. He cast his eyes over the landscape below, watching the world pass by. He pondered those emotions he thought so incapable of surfacing in his mind. Luna. Why did it happen. Why am I so upset? I should be better. I was so close. He closed his eyes as thoughts of the princess of night rushed through his head. He kept hanging on to the memory of their kiss. A kiss that she regrets. That perhaps I ought to as well. No matter what Star Strider did to turn himself away from Luna, he couldn’t fight the feelings of his heart.

Star Strider was about to start his next role in the new world, teaching a school. Just like old times. Though last time, I was not teaching griffins and hippogriffs. Or Dragons. He had worked hard to overcome his prejudice towards the bipedal lizards, but memories of pain filled his mind whenever he saw one. Even the most harmless one as Spike. He opened his eyes again to see the town below him. The grand castle in the distance was beautiful, dare he say more so than the Canterlot design he had lived in the past month or so. The chariot touched down just in front of the castle doors where Star Strider dismounted. He bowed to the pegasi that flew him and approached the door. Princess Twilight still resided in Canterlot with her dragon companion, but she had given him a detailed schedule and list of things to look for. He appreciated her clarity and detail-oriented personality. He was about to knock on the door when a light blue glow outlined them and swung them inward. A light purple pony stood with a large smile on her face, and a beautiful diamond cutie mark.

“Hi! I’m Starlight Glimmer! May I just say how BIG a fan I am of you? I mean, I know there isn’t much written of you other than old tapestries and even older journals, but I was kinda a nerd for the whole ‘arcane arts’ type of magic. You were like, one of my dream ponies when I was a filly!” She snorted as she finished her sentence and reached out a hoof. Star Strider returned her excitement with a smile and shook her hoof.

“I’m impressed. It seems many had lost the works of me or passed the credit to another. Not that I sought any, but it’s nice to be known sometimes.” She led him through the corridors of the much wider hallways of Twilight’s castle. It was noticeably emptier than the other one. Or maybe I just miss the lavender bushels already. He was shaken from his thoughts as Starlight kept peppering him with questions.

“You ever wonder why so many magic ponies have names after the cosmos? I’ve never really understood that, but it seems like we’re all named ‘Star-something’ you know?”

“Well young one, that is no coincidence. The stars are directly tied to magic. While their natural existence is something far-off and somewhat irrelevant, they are part of a greater scheme in relation to our lives. We live on a conduit plane. Magic flows freely through our world and as such, the celestial bodies are aligned to provide the perfect path. Think of it as a river shaped by the rocks and boulders scattered about. Individually, they are nothing. But when they work together, a mighty stream can appear. They outline the runes that were used for the most primitive magic in our lands.” Starlight was wide-eyed and moving slow as she listened.

“Wow. You are even COOLER in person! How many ponies would even know that!? Oh man, the students are going to love you!”

“Yes—er, I mean I hope so. It has been a long time since I taught. Especially other creatures. I do not know how prepared I am for that.”

“Oh, it’ll be no sweat! They’re all such great learners and eager to as well! You’ll fit right in! If you ever need reassurance, you should talk to Rockhoof. He had some very similar concerns to yours when he first applied.”

The pair arrived at his temporary quarters. There was no balcony, but it had a good window with a view to the water just outside. The quaint quarters were already suited to his humble living conditions. He suddenly felt his heart tug in a very painful manner. He collapsed down, clutching his hoof to his chest, and letting out raspy breaths.

“Star Strider! Are you alright? What’s happening?” Starlight rushed to his side to try and help.

“I— *Cough* it can’t *rasp* what is— this” He fell to his side as the world began to fade out into black.

Star Strider awoke with a hot towel over his head, warm stones lay on his chest, and Starlight sat next to him with her eyes closed and her horn glowing. He could barely make out where he was or who was next to him. He tried sitting up, only to be forced down by Starlight’s hoof.

“No no, you can barely stand right now. Frankly, I thought you were about to die. Your heart is severely twisted, and I’m not trying to be all convoluted or mysterious. Your valves are actually twisting on themselves. I have never seen or heard of something like this. Have you?”

He started up again, but his legs felt like a couple bags of sand had been tied to him. He fell back with a huff. “Only from one other pony. This happens when… well when magic and emotions combine. It is why other ponies cannot use magic while unicorns have ease. Your horn acts as the conduit, while my heart must act as mine.” Starlight let her horn stop, and the warm stones on his chest lost their feeling. He felt blood rush back to his chest where the stones had been. The rocks were now black and had a cobbled surface. “Ah, a physical channeling spell. Very wise.” Starlight blushed.

“It was just my first instinct. I’m not much of a doctor so I did what I knew.”

“Sometimes, that is the best we can all do.” He composed enough strength to sit up against the back of his bed, panting from the effort. “I need to meditate to control this. Would you do me the favor of leaving me to myself? It can be a very intense process.” Starlight nodded and started for the door.

“Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be in the library. Good luck.” With that, Starlight closed his door gently and Star Strider closed his eyes.

The creature tightened its grip around the pony form and shrieked painfully as Starswirl burned its hide. A pair of tentacles shot out to attack Starswirl, but he easily dodged their slow crawl.

“Damn it. That did the opposite of what I was hoping for. Did you see anything else happen?”

Discord had a video camera up to his eyes as Starswirl was zapping the creature. “Nothing on this end, director. But perhaps we’d be better trying the wide lens for the next shot? I’m noticing the boom mic falling into frame.” Another Discord hovered above the pair with a large microphone and shrugged down at them.

“This is hardly the time for jokes, oh mighty lord of chaos. Perhaps you’d be better off giving me some extra juice instead of sitting there like a bed of weeds?” He puffed angrily at Discord

“No can-do buckaroo. Like I said, my chaos magic only seems to help this thing. You want it to be even harder?” Starswirl sighed and looked back at the Lichen. Its terrible arms grabbed the pony close. It almost seemed to be smiling at him, despite having no face. Starswirl looked closer as he noticed the creature seeming to relax. He conjured a small lasso in preparation for what he predicted would happen. Suddenly, a burst of white came from the pony and shot through the creature. As it shrieked, Starswirl cast his rope onto it and pulled while using his magic to fly away. The creature let out the most horrendous cry as its grip slipped drastically on the figure. It began falling away from its prey.

“Yes! It’s working! Discord, it’s coming off!” But his celebration came too soon. Just as the creature released the pony, its cruel form shot lances at Starswirl. He realized too late what was about to happen. He braced as the first finger grasped his neck when his mind went completely dark.

What child of Power is this that I have embraced?

One of Majesty or one of Grace?

Shall I give unto you treasure abound

That you give to me a tether myself to ground

I grant unto you your deepest powers

That you foster my wants, my dreams, my desires

Give yourself unto dark’s murky embrace

And give unto me thyself and thy face

Starswirl, become to the world what you are meant to be

Your countenance that of a celestial stream

Take hold of thy title and channel your power

Your name hence now shall be called Cosmic Sunder

Author's Note

Welcome in the new villain. I have had a lot of struggle writing as Cosmic Sunder, but as you'll see in future chapters, I feel I did Starswirl's "alter-ego" well. In my original manuscript, the font for the Lichen/Cosmic Sunder is Viner Hand ITC to give him a creepy slithery feel. Unfortunantly, this website doesn't like other fonts. Hopefully the color variation makes up for it!