The Étoile Dansantes

Trotting through the snow, the soft crunches of each step led towards the unassuming store with its overhanging sign swaying from the cool wintry wind. From a peek inside the stained-glass windows, nopony was present downstairs, leaving the otherwise cluttered storefront barren. Pushing open the heavy iron-framed door, a warm waft of burning wood washed over the three mares, ushering away the cold blows of flurry outside. Shaking off bits of snow off their coats and settling down their saddlebags, the sound of laboured trudges accompanied by creaks of old wood inched its way down the stairs.

“You three must be Velebeth’s friends. Please… come upstairs”, Victor grimly heeded. The bards looked amongst each other and followed the stallion, passing picture frames of him and Velebeth together. The two seemed so content with one another. To have that bond so cruelly robbed felt wrong to Killjoy. Upon reaching the bedchamber, the young unicorn mare rested on dozens of pillows and snuggly under a thick billow of a quilt.

“How did this happen?” The bewildered pegasus uttered, her wings half-opened in shock.

“That I’ve got no idea. I spotted her cov’red in her own blood out in the snow in nothin’ but her nightgown… It was in the early mornin’ so whatever happened to her could’ve happened anytime throughout the night before”, the stallion gritted his teeth, “But in the state I’m in raight now, I can’t do nothin’ ‘bout it”, he breathed out while lifting his two prosthetic legs up.

The mares lowered their heads solemnly. As the pegasus trotted her way to Velebeth’s side, she examined the faint rise and fall of her sides, swaying delicately as the frost-covered branches did just outside.

“How can we help?” Killjoy asked, her gaze shifting back to the stallion.

As the large unicorn slumped down at his study, levitating piles of unraveled scrolls and a thick journal, he breathed a sigh. “Y’all know about Chrysalide?”

“The blue star? I mean who doesn’t-”, Blast replied, confused about the sudden subject change.

“Well y’see, I’ve studied mana mai whole life and the religious aspects through visits to the Canterlot Library but Imma be honest. With these pair ‘f lame hooves, I can’t get to the experience the real deal… which ‘f’course is one of the factors needed to harvest stardrops fresh enough for a spell as mighty as resurrection…”

The three mares looked at each other, slightly puzzled. The tale of Chrysalide, the divine blue star, responsible for all the mana in Equestria is taught to foals at an early age but that was about the extent of what the bards knew.

Victor cleared his throat, “Well uh, I’ve already made plenty of notes talkin’ ‘bout all ya need to know ‘bout mana and the tale of Chrysalide in here”, levitating his journal towards them, “But just know now that y’all’s main objectives are to immerse yourself and learn more ‘bout Chrysalide and to find the culprit.” His gaze was still and his voice stern. “Harvestin’ the stardrops’ll come later. Y’all’ll know when it’s time. But for now, head to the Cathedral of The Dancing Stars.”

The three nodded as Rosella tucked the journal away into her saddlebag. As the group of bards departed the unicorn’s store and reentered the frigid streets of Canterlot, a draft of cool air ushered billowing clouds to reveal a full moon. The endless night sky flaunted her repertoire of stars like sugar spilt over obsidian as if smiling down on the town square the three mares stood at. Nightfall has come and the town of Canterlot has finally awakened from their day slumber, warm oil lamps from the marketplace and street lamps glowed and enveloped the streets. Swiftly distracted by the magical and captivating lights of the night markets, Blast and Killjoy galloped their way into the thick of it, bathing in the honey-coloured warmth radiating from each storefront.

“Woah, Kill, check this out!” Blast exclaimed, pressing her hooves and face against a window pane which behind it displayed a hearty pile of gift boxes alongside a mare mannequin that donned a magnificent vermillion dress with frills running down the bodice and into its impressively long train.

“Bet that’d cost us at least a year’s worth of busking bits”, the pegasus chuckled, her mouth half smiling half agape in awe. As the two ponies loitered outside and soaked in the rich culture and beauties of the town, Rosella caught up, trotting gingerly through the welcoming yet still unfamiliar town.

“If we’re gonna learn more about Chrysalide, what better way than getting the info from the locals?” Blast chimed in, finally breaking her gaze from the display.

Nodding in agreement, the three reassembled and trotted off through the now bustling streets of Canterlot. Contrasting the barren store they had just left, the lively and boisterous herds of Canterlotians swelled and washed the three bards at the foot of a pleasant, little tavern. Looking back at the wall of Canterlot folks, the group agreed to call it an early night and perhaps mingle with some ponies in a more controlled environment. As the mares heaved open the hefty, wooden door, warmth enveloped them once more as dim oil lamps lit up the homely tavern, packed with slightly fewer ponies than the outside. Squeezing through, the bards clambered into an empty booth and finally sighed a breath of relief.

“Thank Celestia, I thought I was gonna lose a wing out there…” Killjoy groaned, preening her feathers. As the mares dismantled their saddlebags, a pale yellow Earth pony with her clementine and lemon-coloured mane braided on each side hurriedly cantered over to the bards and served a hoofful of peanuts as hor dóurves. “What can I get y’all?”