Star-Strider

Star Strider walked next to princess Twilight at the head of the pack. They came towards the edge of the village, next to where the Everfree forest was held at bay. Taking the first steps in, Star Strider spoke to Twilight without turning his head. “This… Zebra, you trust her?”

“With my life. Zecora has saved not only me but my friends from countless problems. Whether it was as simple as a spat or life-threatening. She’s our best shot at finding out where our traders are. If they are there, that is.”

“Your friends, are they all required for this? Should we not divide them into pairs to search more efficiently?”

“We will once we know if the traders are turning up or not. You probably want to keep them around once you get to know them.” Just as she said it, Pinkie reached up and stuffed a cupcake in her mouth in front of Star Strider. With a frosty smile, she reached one out to him, halting his course.

“DO YOU WANT A CUPCAKE SUPER BIG DUDE?” She shouted through a full mouth. He huffed with a smirk on his face as he walked past her.

“Indeed, princess Twilight.” She blushed and waved at pinkie to get back in the group.

The two of them traveled without speaking as the sounds of the others behind them and the forest filled the air with noise. Star Strider noticed the absence of Luna by him and turned his head to see her at the back of the group. She wasn’t sulking or sauntering as she walked but held her head high and on the search for danger. He smiled back at her, taking note of how her mood had improved since their reconciliation. She caught his eye, smiled back, and returned to her watch.

Twilight looked up to him as his head was turned back. She looked where he was and saw the princess of night. She felt a pang of jealousy shoot through her heart, but she shook it off as quickly as it entered. She tried to focus on being happy that Star Strider was fitting in to the new and strange world he now lived in. “So, have you been making friends?” I sound like a mother of a foal at a new school. Star Strider turned his face back to Twilight and raised his brow.

“Quite an odd question, but for the princess of friendship, I can oblige. The short answer is somewhat. I have found companionship in your company; general Magnus and I shared a bond while I trained his troops. Starlight was… welcoming. And of course, the princesses have become my go to friends.”

“Princess Luna seems to be the favorite.” Twilight snorted holding back a laugh, and quickly blushed as she realized how blunt that had come across. Star Strider didn’t seem to care as he answered.

“Indeed. Her company has been complicated, but almost a necessity. I would not have regained my magic had it not been for her.” Twilight again felt herself become green with envy. She was interrupted by the princess herself approaching the two.

“Star Strider, there is something more I need to know. Discord mentioned to me the vision I received could have come from the remnant left of you in the chaos dimension. It warned me not to try and bring you back. Do you recall any of this?” Luna asked. He was already shaking his head.

“As I have stated previously, I do not remember almost any of time in the chaos realm. If I were to guess, my remnant may have had an idea about separating me from the Lichen would cause trouble with my previous student. We would do best to honor the warning and bring a swift end to this blight.” Luna furrowed her brow at his response, clearly not hearing what she wanted. Twilight saw an opportunity in interject.

“Well have you considered that maybe the remnant knew you would lose your magic instead? Or that the only way to destroy it was being bonded to you somehow? I have a theory that unless the Lichen is with the original host, then it can never be fully separated from its power hence why it took over the nearest creature.” Both of the tall ponies turned to her as she spoke, different reactions on both their faces. Star Strider thought about her answer, apparently considering it while Luna shot her daggers. So, I see our little jealousy spat isn’t over. Twilight rolled her eyes softly and looked back to the stallion.

“You may be somewhat correct, but hopefully we can separate it from Starswirl. If needed, I will do what I must to destroy it forever. Even if that means death.” The two princesses’ heads snapped to him at his remark. They were silent for a few more steps until Luna spoke.

“That won’t happen. We will find a way to save Starswirl, and you, from this creature without further harm.” Star Strider grunted in acknowledgment.

“We may yet hope but ruling out any possibility would be foolish.”

A few more minutes of walking brought the group to the hut of Zecora. It stood amongst the trees almost blending in. Twilight approached the door and tapped her hoof on it.

“Zecora? Are you there? We need your help!” A bird chirped above the hut as no response was ushered. Twilight raised an eyebrow and knocked again a little harder. “Zecora? Are you—” A thud was heard from inside. Twilight quickly pushed the door open and rushed in, followed by all her friends. Zecora lay in the middle of the floor, eyes half closed and filled with a murky blue. Her tongue lulled out the side of her mouth and Twilight noticed the patches of fur missing from her hide. She rushed to her friend and held her up. “Zecora! What happened? Who hurt you?” The zebra weakly raised her head to see the princess.

“Twilight? Is that you? I am afraid I have been afflicted by some sort of goo. Spat from the mouth of a powerful pony, he wrapped me up and took hold of my energy. Starswirl the bearded, but twisted and vile, broke down my door and spoke deep with guile.” She coughed up a spat of blood onto the floor and let her head fall into Twilight’s arms. The room was silent with almost everypony’s face filled with horror. Only Luna and Star Strider remained with decent composure, but it was evident they were disturbed by the scene. Twilight stood up and turned to her friends.

“Applejack, Rarity, take Zecora into town and quick. Make sure she gets the best care possible as fast as possible. The rest of us need to search for Starswi— I mean the Lichen. The sooner we get rid of it, the sooner we heal everypony and creature its touched. We need to split up in pairs to search the most efficiently. Let’s go everypony.” They funneled out the door as Rarity helped lift Zecora onto Applejack’s back and they rushed off in the direction they had come from. The others quickly grouped up and split into the woods. “Don’t separate from each other! If you see him, don’t approach, and just come back as quick as you can!” Twilight yelled one last warning off as she walked away with Fluttershy. Star Strider and Luna set off in the opposite direction from her, talking in lowered voices. Twilight tried to refocus but couldn’t help but still feel a little bitter that she was not with the stallion.

“I may know where he is.”

Star Strider led Luna quickly through the woods, occasionally glancing up at the sun to find his way. It impressed her that he could navigate using only the marks of nature.

“Where? And how do you know?”

“My guess would be the place that I banished it all those years ago. Where it almost got Starswirl the first time. It’s one of the only clearings in this wood that may remain undisturbed. The magic that I released was powerful enough to ward off traces of the Lichen there. Setting up camp there may be a way of it to reclaim some pride; a trait it feeds off desperately.”

“Should we not tell the others?”

He paused a moment at her question but pressed forward with more haste.

“We shall send a signal should we find anything. I do not wish to endanger the lives of those less capable than you and I.” Luna frowned.

“Twilight and her friends are some of the most capable ponies I know. They have saved Equestria countless times, even more than my sister and I. Do not write them off because of their lack of wings and horns. They are formidable.”

“I meant not as an insult. This foe is one I am most familiar with. Time is of the essence. I will have need of them in time, but when it is right. What we should have done is send for the royal guard to protect the cities around the forest.” He broke into a faster stride. Luna sensed that they were close to their destination based on his eagerness. She cantered alongside him. He seems to have walked this very path before she noted as he slowed for a moment to look upon a spot to their right. As suddenly as he had sped up, he ground to a halt at a line of trees. Luna noticed too late, but Star Strider accounted for that. He wrapped a hoof around her and spun her back into one of the trees. Their faces were close as her mane fell between her eyes. She smiled and brushed it away; to her disappointment, Star Strider was looking past the trees rather than at her. She followed his eyes and saw a clearing in the woods. Perfectly circular, the grass short and a stranger shade of green than that around it.

“Where are we?” She whispered to him as he let his hoof fall from her chest.

“We have arrived. This is where I banished it. The area seems stuck in time, no doubt from the displacement rune I employed.” He carefully began creeping onto the area. Luna stayed a little behind but made sure to follow his every hoofstep. A sudden crack caught their attention as Star Strider leapt behind a tree. Luna was quick to follow; she only hoped she was quick enough. Starswirl emerged from the edge opposite to them, a string of ponies following him. They all looked dazed, angry, depressed, and controlled. Their eyes murky blue with matching cutie marks. Starswirl, or at least a body that resembled his, stood in the middle of the clearing, radiating malevolence. His eyes were deep pits of black and his smile was wicked and twisted. The other ponies surrounded him and bowed their heads. Luna felt her hair stand on end as Starswirl spoke.

“My treats, I welcome thee unto my domain. This shall be the place we gather my army. Seek thee out those unfortunate enough to know the sting of jealousy, the pain of loss, and the sweet taste of revenge. Their potency shall fuel us unto the conquering of this land. Go, make haste, and return to Cosmic Sunder with tribute enough for the Gods.”

The ponies lifted their heads in unison and turned to leave in all directions. They muttered in sync an obedient ‘aye’ to Starswirl, or Cosmic Sunder as it had called itself. Luna looked to Star Strider with concern on their faces. He motioned for her to follow him as he turned around. They stood to slink away, only for Luna to notice one of the wayward ponies headed right for them.