The giant double doors at the end of the throne room burst open along with the echoing sound of hooves galloping forward.

"Your highness!"

The stallion guard ran until the bottom of the steps, nearly falling trying to bow.

Upon her mauve cushioned and aureate curled throne, a lavender alicorn sat, giving the guard her full attention. "What is it?"

"It's Starswirl. They found him in the archives," he panted, attempting to catch his breath.

"Does he want one of his old scrolls?" Twilight asked.

"No. He's.. passed on."

Twilight felt her body freeze, her ethereal sparkling dark sapphire mane still flowing.

"Would you like to see him?" The guard asked, his voice laced with awkwardness.

Her eyes searched the room for nothing in particular as her mind worked. "No. We must prepare the funeral," Twilight finally said, her tone calm.

"Uh, yes, your majesty, and one guard found this," he reached back in a small saddle bag and held up a piece of paper in his hoof.

Twilight's horn channeled her magic, levitating the note in front of her. The first thing she saw was in bold letters: "for Princess Twilight only".

She opened the note. The handwriting was pristine and neat and had a residual style of old texts. She began to read.

Twilight, if you're reading this then I'm probably not in this corporeal realm anymore. I've moved beyond the veil and into the aether or beyond. Or I've simply ceased to exist. But with my passing I bring graver news. Equestria is in danger from a distant star. When I was a mere young stallion, I had a dream of a star that spun and shone light from both ends. In the dream, the star began to collapse before it exploded and from both ends a deadly beam shot forth, vaporizing all life, leaving a scorched earth. Recently a few moons ago, the dream occurred once again but more vividly. This could be mere coincidence having the same dream again, but I find my cognitive abilities drawing me back, leading me to dwell on the dream. It has affected me to point of being the reason I attempted to create a time spell long ago. But in recent moons, I have become more vigorous in my efforts, looking for any star in the sky or a sign of the coming catastrophe. It has proven futile as I have found nothing. Whether that's a blessing or a curse I'm not sure. The only lead I suggest you follow is to dig into astrological positions and ancient texts in mine and Celestia's vault. There may be something disclosing such an event or foreshadowing it. Using a telescope also wouldn't be the worst idea. But in my dream, the event happened when the sun had set. Keep a keen eye Twilight, for I feel the fate of Equestria is in your hooves one last time.

Her eyes left the note and rested on the throne room floor, gazing at nothing.

"Is everything alright your highness?" The guard asked, breaking the silence.

"Could you please locate the ambassador? I'd really appreciate it."

"Yes, your highness," he bowed, turning away and leaving with the resounding thud of the double doors.

Her gaze rested on the throne room floor and traveled along the ray of sunlight that came through the mosaic glass window.

The window had fractal shapes showing the legendary six ponies using the elements of harmony to vanquish the legendary Spirit of Chaos.

The memories flooded back into Twilight's mind. The remembrance evoked mixed feelings of sadness and happiness. It was almost nostalgic.

"Why so glum?" An old male voice reverberated throughout the throne room.

The picture of the chimeric serpent dragon displayed a starry flash before it began to move.

"Starswirl passed away," Twilight replied "But I assume you already knew that."

"Why would I have asked in the first place?" He replied, resting his jaw on his closed paw. He sighed. "But that is indeed quite the tragic thing to hear."

With trepidation, she continued, "he left me a note."

"Don't tell me he lost hope and used the rope. I didn't even do anything."

"I don't think so. I'm pretty sure it was natural causes. But the note warned me of something. Of a possible coming disaster."

"Possible?"

"It's not a hundred percent but he was concerned enough about it to leave me the note and where to begin researching."

"A disaster that may or may not be coming has you stressed," Discord replied, examining his talons. "Surely you've learned this lesson before."

"I'm not too concerned…"

Discord disappeared and reappeared with a starry flash in his normal form. "We don't need a ruler going through a severe case of neurosis."

The double doors opened, revealing a familiar purple scaled dragon with green spines, though he had aged into a young adult.

"Oh, no. Discord's here too?" The dragon said in jest, sauntering toward them.

"Spike, Starswirl just passed, and it'd be great if you could represent me while I get some things done."

"Oh. Uh, sure," Spike replied, his tone feigning indifference despite the jarring news.

"I suppose I'll be off then," he sighed. "Ring me if events become dire," he said, snapping his talons, disappearing with a starry flash.

Twilight stared at the crimson carpet, the sound of running water echoing in the room.

"You seem to be taking it well?" Spike asked.

"... it was gonna happen someday, right?" Twilight mumbled.

Images of her friends entered her mind.

"I guess so," Spike answered, looking down in introspection as well.

Twilight began down the hall, heading toward the double doors. "If you need anything I'll be in the archives."

The lock on the cage door was encapsulated in a magenta aura, before clicking, causing the door to swing open. Twilight entered the archives, beginning toward its center.

She immediately attempted to find the Starswirl wing. Finding it, she began magically lifting scrolls and books out, scanning their covers. She found a couple interesting texts, reading the table of contents before flipping to numerous pages.

Nothing stood out to her for the most part. There were some interesting questions with some interesting theories and hypothesis' but nothing specific to the event she was told.

She did however find a small diary. Instead of skimming, she actually began to read. This lasted for a while until she reached a wall of text.

I woke up from the strangest dream. I witnessed a star explode, shooting a beam of white energy towards the earth, reducing it to nothing but embers and a scorched sphere of rock. What perturbed me the most was how real it felt. Dreams can be and are mystical in nature. I've had dreams that have come true to the fullest extent despite previously knowing of the event. It makes me curious if it's connected to what deja vu is, or if free will even exists. While there is an argument to be made, I’m strongly inclined to believe it is real. Because most ponies act as if they do and when you tell them they don’t, they easily get annoyed like myself. But perhaps not. Perhaps this is all fixed on a set path and is all predetermined until the end of time and subverting fate or altering destiny is impossible. The most interesting answer would be both which would create a paradox. But I’m going to err on the side of free will which is why I’m going to concern myself with the dream. I may ask Celestia or Luna for some input on this matter.

Talking with Celestia, she offered that it probably was nothing to worry about. Though she did say it could possibly be a vision, she recommended I research just in case which I was in full agreeance with. While I've found nothing, this string of events has made me desire to look into time. I feel as though I've made some interesting progress. With the help of magic, time travel may indeed be possible.

Destiny is a curious thing. Many have experiences that feel personal and meaningful. Like discovering what it is you’re truly meant to do. Though the most idiosyncratic appearance is of meaningful ‘coincidences’. The term I recall vaguely hearing escapes me. But it feels as though there is an odd magical force at work. Whether this is true is to be determined. Perhaps these are the work of the mind, a placebo, and all of it is a mere pareidolia. Perhaps everything has already happened forever ago.

Twilight herself found free will interesting, she tended to agree with Starswirl, though there were times she doubted herself especially in her younger years.

Not to mention the fateful Tuesday morning where she fulfilled a loop. But she also recalled the events with the castle harmony map, leading to a timeline fracture.

She read further. Coming across an interesting passage.

Due to recent events, I'm curious if I should examine texts in ancient prophecies. I'm skeptical they'll offer anything but maybe there will be a correlation. I doubt it. My time is better spent coming up with a time spell.

Images appeared in Twilight's mind. And what lied in the image was a very specific book. She felt strangely compelled and felt an odd will come over her. It was like a gut feeling or intuition but also felt like something was telling her to go.

She shut the diary before magically sliding it back into its designated place.

Twilight knocked on the violet wooden door, her gaze fixated on the crescent moon cut into it.

The door opened, a tan colored mare with an amaranth mane with purple and violet streaks tied up stepping into the sunlight. Her dark purple eyes widened behind her spectacles.

"Twilight? What are you doing here?"

"Hey, Moondancer. I came to see if you still had the key to my old home."

"Uh, yeah. Do you need it?"

"Yes, please."

Moondancer receded back into darkness, leaving the door open as Twilight heard rustling.

It wasn't long before a golden key with an hourglass bottom magically floated out from the darkness.

"Here you go."

Twilight channeled her own magic, encapsulating it in her aura. "Thanks. So how have you been?" Twilight asked, with a frail smile.

"Great actually. I just got back from a dinner with our friends."

Twilight felt a ball of joy burst within her. "That's great to hear! Are they doing alright?"

"Yep. They're doing fine."

"Well, I'm glad."

"Do you want to come with us at some point?"

Twilight's eyes flicked to the hourglass on the key. The current events travelled through her mind. She figured she could probably find or make the time despite her regal status, not that she didn't want to go, because she did, but the issue was she didn't know if she even had that time.

"Unfortunately, I don't think I can make anything right now," Twilight replied, with a dampened smile.

"Oh, okay," Moondancer replied, her eyes faltering for a second. "You are the ruler of Equestria now and all that," she said, in Twilight's defense, reciprocating her dampened smile.

Twilight felt a splinter of guilt that she couldn't find a way to remove. "Starswirl passed today," she confessed.

"Oh." Moondancer appeared visibly taken aback.

The silence lengthened and thickened between them until eventually Twilight broke it.

"Where should I leave the key if you're not home?"

"I'll probably be home but you can fit it through the moon in the door."

Twilight nodded before stepping forward with a foreleg held out, gesturing for a hug.

Moondancer obliged.

"Well, it was great to see you again," Twilight said, quietly.

"Yeah. You too."

They separated before Twilight turned and began toward her first home.

The key entered the door before turning, unlocking it. The door opened, allowing the lavender Alicorn to enter before beginning up the stairs.

Her eyes laid upon the giant hourglass in the room. She found herself drawn to it. Standing before it, she stared at the pale sand and it's construction, seeing it's golden highlights and regal size.

Memories manifested of her using it long ago.

Her horn channeled a violet energy, creating an aura holding the top of the hourglass. The hourglass was tipped toward her before being flipped upside down, causing the sand to funnel and pour down at a steady stream into the empty end.

She watched for a few seconds before turning away, facing her old giant wall of books. Her horn glowed before various books at random spots were pulled forward and began circling around her. Reading certain books, she would detach them from the circle and off onto a discard pile while pulling new ones from the wall to enter the circle.

This continued for a while before her eyes glanced at a familiar cover. The rest of the books snaked out of the circle and onto the discard pile, leaving only one.

She simply stared at the book, before eventually opening it. She skimmed through the table of contents, seeing things like: Epoch of Darkness, The Schism, Divine Gaurdians, Revenge Of The Dark Side Of The Moon, Leviathan, The Great Deception, The Great War. But her heart fluttered upon seeing one title.

Death Of A Star.

Reading the page number, she turned each page slowly as if they were delicate and had the possibility to ignite. The number grew until she finally turned the last page before it.

On the thirtieth year of the star marked one's birth, a star will die, and on the fateful limbo of day and night on the second day, a star will fire its energy of duality at Equestria.

The book slowly lowered as Twilight stared at nothing. Her mind raced, trying to decipher what she read and if it was true. She brought the book up again and began rereading the passage, over, and over.

It couldn't be true, she thought. But it was strongly opposed by the fact it was true once before. She tried to fathom it being an astronomical coincidence. But rationality began to fall as her rapidly beating heart told her otherwise.

Her breathing increasing, she turned and trotted away toward the stairs, leaving the room with the hour glass still pouring it's sand.

The room was basked in silence, until the door was hurriedly opened, allowing a distressed lavender Alicorn to enter.

The safety one normally feels in the confines of their room was vacant, and did nothing to stave off her welling anxiety.

She crossed the room before taking a seat at a highly ornate desk that flowed up. She stared at nothing on her desk, her mind reeling.

Thoughts passed in rapid fire as she attempted to formulate the endless possibilities and quell the internal rising doom.

With haste, her eyes flicked up and scanned the books on the shelf in front of her. Levitating a book in front of her, she riffled through the pages, stopping at specific points.

She attempted to find any magical solution, using the ancient texts to her advantage, from ancient artifacts, cosmic magic, to dark magic...

She tossed the remaining book onto the desk, her brows furrowed, a heat and feeling of excessive power rising.

Her psyche was split into two. One was irate, resentful at the fate she had no choice in and was given. She wondered why she even bothered with it all when it all was for nothing. Why she was even given an existence. The spirit of rebellion welled.

And with a whisper, it offered a simple solution to stop it. Power.

She gave a shaky sigh, her vision beginning to blur.

A glint fell to the floor.

A heavy minute passed, with sniffling and the tapping of teardrops filling the air. Eventually, there was silence.

"So, is there any particular reason the sun's not down yet?"

Looking over, she saw Discord snaked around the top of her bed that was shaped like a star.

In response, Twilight opened a drawer and opened a regal box, which held the amulet she was given years ago.

Levitating the amulet, she stood up and walked unto the balcony. Her gaze rested on the device as thoughts of the future and past filled her mind.

"Forgive me, Princess, but is there a reason you're neglecting your responsibility?"

She lowered her head, closing her eyes. Slowly, the sun descended toward the horizon, before the basking glow faded below, leaving a purple sky and the appearance of the brightest stars.

After a brief pause, the silver moon rose up into the sky, becoming the beacon of light in the darkness along with the sea of stars.

"So. How are things?"

"... Dire."

"It seems so according to your eyes and cheeks."

"Why did you even ask?" Twilight mumbled.

"Well, there is such a thing as tears of joy."

Gazing up, the moon reflected from her eyes. "I can assure you what I'm feeling right now is far from joy."

"Can I ask you what one would ask themselves while writhing in agony?"

Her visage was blank as she mulled over his question.

She sighed. "I did some reading and it seems Starswirl was right."

"How are you certain?"

"I read it in an ancient prophecies book."

"And you believed it?"

"It was right once before. It disclosed Nightmare Moon's return."

"Does that make all of them true?"

"I don't know… I just hope I'm wrong."

"... What did it say?"

"On the thirtieth year of the star marked one's birth, a star will die, and on the fateful limbo of day and night on the second day, a star will fire its energy of duality at Equestria."

For the first time since she could remember, she noticed Discord was quiet. The pause lengthened and almost became unbearable until she spoke.

"Please don't tell me you're behind this."

"Why in the world would I be behind this?"

"I don't know! Maybe because you've orchestrated things before, things that almost destroyed Equestria!"

"What would I have to gain from destroying the planet? Firstly, there would be no chaos to sow without a playground, and lastly and most importantly, Fluttershy would be gone."

"You've put all of us in danger before, including Fluttershy."

"I thought I could use my power to stop anything that would come in harm's way!"

Twilight bit her tongue as she could feel herself about to say something rash. She exhaled through her nostrils. "Could you use your power now to stop it?"

"I'm afraid it's most likely also out of my reach," he replied lowly.

Twilight felt a lead blanket drape over her. Her gaze lifted from the platform to the earth far below and specifically to a small little town in the distance.

"Should I tell them?"

"Your friends? That's up to you."

"... And Equestria."

"No. It's best left unsaid."

"But they deserve to know."

"Never underestimate the madness of a large group my dear princess. Telling them would do more harm than good. Some of the greatest evils are committed in groups. And we're not absolutely certain yet," he muttered lastly.

Twilight contemplated challenging his cynical view, as she believed ponies were capable of great things and she's seen triumph and humility in dire situations. But she didn't dare be fully naive as old history showed the divisive triad they all lived in long ago. Even recent events showed some degradation.

She vaguely remembered Discord's sowing of chaos through lies and white lies. But unlike Discord, the truth mattered to her.

"There's no comfort in the uncertainty," Twilight finally said.

"For now, we should attempt to come up with a way to stop this," he said, waving his talons as if he was holding an invisible object for a second. "I'll be in my thinking tree."

Twilight felt his presence vanish with the sound of an odd magical blast. Turning around, she left the moonlight and entered back into her darkened chamber, taking a seat at her desk.

She flicked a lighting stick against a rough surface creating a small flame at its end. She brought the flame to a chamberstick, transferring it, before blowing out the flame on the stick, leaving a trail of smoke.

Levitating six scrolls in front of her, she stretched one out and floated a quill above it. The quill moved swiftly but with elegance, slowly traveling to the left before resetting and periodically being dipped in ink. This process went on into the night, with the only light emanating from the chamberstick on her desk.

The void was eerily silent and vacant of any nebulae. But stars shone, being a beacon of light and repelling complete darkness.

One star was close, and its energy was powerful, eliciting an undulating hum and vibration felt in being like a heartbeat, trapping the internal song. It shone two beams of light from opposite ends, spinning endlessly.

Until a sound escaped and resonated.

The energy pulled inward before beams of white shot from both ends. One beam hit a planet, the energy pulverizing the atmosphere and burning it into embers and scorched earth.

Author's Note

What could've caused such a disastrous thing? I guess me haha. Or maybe something long, long ago.