Star-Strider

Flash Magnus knelt before Celestia with Shining Armor by his side. She sat regally upon it with scrolls floating over her. He didn’t know what else to do until she finally spoke, voice full of worry.

“I sent Luna to Ponyville three days ago. It’s been too long. Have the legions make ready and take leave before nightfall. Should you hear word or find her, send a messenger escort back at once. We cannot risk alicorn magic falling under the guile of the Lichen. General Magnus.” She turned to him now as he stood to meet her gaze. His stern expression demonstrated the prowess of a battle-worn soldier. “You will be leading them. You had the most experience with Star Strider during the training sessions. General Armor, I require you to remain safely within Canterlot with the reserves. Should the offensive against the Lichen fail, Canterlot will be the final stand. Hopefully it will not come to that.” Shining armor saluted and turned out of the room. Flash sensed his hesitation as he most likely wanted to go be with his sister at this time of crisis. He followed suit quickly and made his way to the barracks. He approached his top lieutenants and had them quickly spread the word and make the legions ready for departure. He wasn’t exactly sure what they were going to do, but he knew that calling the entire offensive force to Ponyville was more than enough to make anypony shake in their boots. A backwater town like that kicking up enough trouble to warrant this response could only mean the worst.

Twilight and Fluttershy batted tree branches away as they walked through the forest.

“Oh gosh, I hope Zecora is alright. She looked pretty awful back there Twilight.” Fluttershy’s quiet voice broke the sounds of leaves rustling.

“Yea, but I’m sure she’ll be fine in no time. She’s always been a tough pony. She lives here after all.” They changed their pathing to follow a sort of natural road that had appeared to their right, no doubt a caravan route. As they walked, Twilight was racking her brain with any knowledge she could recall on the Lichen, Star Strider, or Starswirl’s involvement in the incident. “What doesn’t make sense is why the Lichen went for Starswirl and not Discord. He’s definitely more powerful and they were both there.”

“Maybe Starswirl was just closer? It sounded like that thing just went for whatever was near it.” Fluttershy raised her hoof as a brilliant butterfly landed on it. She giggled as she raised it to her ear. It suddenly sprouted a head with horns as Fluttershy gasped.

“Why does no one ever invite me to these things! I want to join the scout troop too!” Twilight spun around to see Discord’s face on the butterfly. She rolled her eyes at him and kept walking.

“You could just show up to the meeting. Clearly you eavesdrop anyway.” The lord of chaos appeared to his full length and gave Fluttershy a hug. He set her down and scowled at Twilight.

“I wouldn’t have to eavesdrop if the princess of friendship invited her friend to the meeting in the first place!” He snorted out flames that nearly singed the top of Twilight’s head. She waved a hoof around to clear the smoke and shot him an angry look.

“Okay, fine. So, what do you know?”

“Twilight, a little more respect can go a long way. Discord doesn’t have to be here you know. He’s doing us such a big favor even just being here to protect us from that scary thing!” Fluttershy nuzzled Discord as he batted his eyes down at Twilight.

“UGHHHHHH OKAYYYYYY Discord thank you for being here to help. How can you help? Please just help.” He crossed his arms and sighed.

“I suppose I could out of the goodness of my heart. Just for my favorite pony of course.” He winked at Fluttershy. “So, when the gross thing left that other gross thing it shot its gross things out in all directions. Being the master of stealth that I am, I was able to dodge them. Your magic friend however got entangled so quickly he couldn’t even blink! That little piece of Star Strider disappeared into nothing the moment it broke and Starswirl went all cuckoo. I snapped myself out of there before he could get to me too.”

“Discord, how did the Lichen get back here? Shouldn’t it be stuck in the chaos dimension?”

“Funny you should mention that. As it turns out, my portals last a lot longer than I thought. That, or I’m just getting sloppy at closing the door on my way out. It must have slipped through with me. Oopsies!” He put a finger to his mouth in a look of innocence. Twilight growled in annoyance.

“Great. Thank you. Anything else?”

“WELLLLLL now that you mention it, I do believe your little theory was correct. That creature is so desperate for a host that getting rid of any viable one is a sure-fire way to kill it!” Fluttershy gasped softly, as though she was afraid of the word itself. Twilight thought about it.

“So, to kill the Lichen right now, we would have to kill Starswirl and make sure it can’t get anypony else?”

“Quite so. Though I suspect that the older pony may be tempting enough that it wouldn’t leave his body if they reunited. Dead or not.”

“You’re not saying we kill… Star Strider?” Discord shrugged.

“Just a thought. Obviously killing anypony isn’t the best outcome, but if you want that thing gone, best to return to sender, right?”

“Discord!” Fluttershy slapped his shoulder. “How could you even consider that? K— k— getting rid of a pony is no way you should think. I can’t believe you! And Twilight! How could you even be considering this!” Fluttershy was yelling now. “I won’t stand for it. You two better get ahold of yourselves and come find me when you’ve sorted it out!” She flew off in the direction they came from. Twilight winced as Discord yawned.

“Just a thought, princess. Anyway, better go apologize to Fluttershy so we can still have our tea. Friendship business and all that.” He pulled on his tail as he floated up after her. “Good luck with the demoralizing debate!”

“He could be right.” Twilight hated that she was considering his option. If she could somehow even convince Star Strider to take the Lichen back, they could have an even bigger problem than just Starswirl. Maybe she could offer herself up? Or even an alternative. If it’s a powerful pony it wants, maybe we can give it one. Twilight suddenly wretched at her mind. “What am I thinking! I would never!” But you could. It would be so easy. Only you know the truth, and she’d be willing to make the sacrifice. He’d be all yours. Twilight felt lightheaded as she turned back to the path. A fuzzy unicorn stood in front of her in the shadow of a tree with a rope hanging in her direction. Not a rope, and he isn’t fuzzy?

Cosmic Sunder fed from the jealousy that coursed through the alicorn. “This One is much more powerful yes. You shall be mine.” A powerful burst shot between the tie that held Twilight. She struggled against it, to no avail. Her wings began growing into a dark purple and sharp edges as she cried out. Her mane filled with small swirling black dots, looking to eat away at the rest of her. Her pupils dilated into slits as she grew in length. She hissed as she fell before Cosmic Sunder.

“Rise, Dusk Bringer. Set upon this realm with me and take that which belongs to those who deserve it. Worship shall be ours. POWER shall be ours.” The horrendous cackle of the monster rose through the forest as the twilight of night broke the skyline. The future had just become darker than ever.

A wet crack emanated from the rock that the pony’s head fell on. His decrepit body lay twitching as his murky eyes went darker until they appeared back to their normal state. Star Strider quickly knelt and began casting healing runes on the pony, but the damage was too severe too quickly.

Luna and Star Strider had almost been caught by one of the thralls that served the combination of the Lichen and Starswirl. He had head straight for their spot among the trees, and Star Strider was forced to act. In a quick movement, he tripped the pony and tackled him onto the ground. The blow the pony had suffered was fatal, as a pool of blood covered part of the forest floor. Star Strider sighed. Both in frustration and sadness. He looked up to Luna and motioned for her to stand up and start going.

“If another one comes, we’ll be forced to do the same. We need to regroup and act from there.” He whispered barely enough for Luna to read his lips and make sense of what he said. She silently nodded and began slinking away with the stallion in close pursuit. She turned her head back to see Cosmic Sunder tilt its head as if it heard something. She expected it to dart straight at them, but instead it just teleported away.

“Strider, he’s gone.” She whispered back to him, louder than he had been. She was gauging how far away the beast really was.

“Not for long. We need to move fast. If he left, it is because he has found something of interest. We must send for the royal divisions at once.” They increased their pace, snapping through branches at the expense of their stealth. They emerged back into the small area of Zecora’s hut. The only pony who was there was Fluttershy. She looked as timid as ever but shied away more when Luna and Star Strider crossed the threshold.

“Fluttershy? Where is Twilight? Were you two not together for the search?” She blushed and began hiding behind her mane.

“Yes princess, but Discord showed up and had some… grotesque suggestions for our plan.” Luna snorted at her comment.

“Typical. Pay no mind to him. That foul creature knows nothing of what we need.”

“I hate to disagree princess, but Discord is my friend and I have to believe he wants to help.” Fluttershy’s boldness overtook her natural demeanor. Luna narrowed her eyes at the small Pegasus.

“Just because you’re his ‘bedtime thump’ now does not mean you know him better than I. If Discord were really here to help, would you have fled from his presence as you do so now?” Fluttershy was back to hiding and blushing.

“We’re not— he and I are— Okay sure, but maybe he was really trying.”
“Enough, you two.” Star Strider’s gruff voice barged in. “We have no time for any number of inter-quarrels. If we are divided in the slightest, the Lichen— I mean ‘Cosmic Sunder’ has an advantage. Now, where did you leave Twilight and what did the lord of chaos have to offer?”

“Um, that way I think. I don’t really know I just flew back here. The woods are scary alone.” Star Strider sighed.

“Good enough to start I suppose. Now, his advice? Anything is something.”

“He um, well it’s not very appropriate and frankly I think very mean so—” Luna snorted again. This caught her a wicked glare from Star Strider, which caused her to bring herself back down from her high point.

“Go on.”

“He said that maybe, um, the Lichen wanted to go back with you and if it did then it would be more vulnerable and maybe um… if we—” Her face was entirely covered by her mane as she squeaked out the next words. “If we maybe kill you then it would die too?”

The three of them were silent a moment before Luna’s voice shot at Fluttershy.

“WHAT did he suggest? That horrid fucking monster. How DARE he?? I should have him executed for this—”

“Luna, that is enough. He may be right.” Luna reared back and Fluttershy peaked out from her curtain.

“But… how could you even consider?”

“Luna. I live in a time not my own, fighting a monster of my own making. I have caused more harm for this world than good in my present state. I am not suggesting that our primary option be my death, but we cannot rule it out. Equestria must come first.” He turned his attention back to Fluttershy. “Did he mention why?”

“He said that maybe since it wanted a host so bad, being back with its original would stop it from going after anypony else.” Star Strider thought about it for a moment before turning the direction Fluttershy had indicated.

“I shall think upon it some more, but he may be right. Should it come to that.”

“It Won’t. I will ensure it.” Luna flicked her tail at him as he walked by.

“It is not your decision.” The tension between the two powerful ponies was palpable. Fluttershy almost fainted from the aggression in front of her. “Fluttershy, return to the village and send for the royal divisions. Tell them that Star Strider has need of them immediately. Luna and I will search for Twilight.”

“You mean those ones?” Her hoof pointed upwards as they followed it. Thousands of chariots and carts towed by pegasi in the royal colors streamed overhead.

“I suspect Celestia was not fond of our delay. No matter, this works in our favor. Tell the general we shall be with him shortly.” Just as they began trotting off, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash came back from their excursion.

“Hey, where’s Twilight? And why are there a bunch of Canterlot snobs in my sky?” Rainbow dash zipped up to the group.

“The royal divisions are here should it come to that. They have been trained for this exact situation. No force is too great when it comes to the Lichen.” Rainbow huffed back at him.

“They’re nothing compared to me. I bet I could take that ugly monster without ever leaving the ground!” Pinkie Pie bounced up to her friends.

“And then I’ll throw the biggest, bestest, destroyer-of-monster-pony party ever!” Star Strider stamped his hoof.

“Girls, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but time is of the essence. Make haste for the generals. Either Flash Magnus or Shining Armor will be there. If we are lucky, both will have come. Tell them to set up a perimeter. No one enters this forest save my command. Understood?”

“Sir yes sir!” Rainbow saluted and zipped off, the other two running after her.

“Alright Luna, let’s go find our missing princess.”