The wind brushed across his face and blew his mane about as he stood near the edge of the cliff. Looking down, the darkness smiled back at him. It called to him; beckoned to him. The wind seemed to whisper “Come to me,” softly; eerily. He shuddered, his coat bristling slightly as the zephyr continued to swirl all around him. He looked to the other side of the canyon and he could see them; all of them. They stood there, asking for him to come. They called to him; welcomed him.
He looked down at the darkness again and closed his eyes, pushing down his fears. He’d done this a thousand times before; he could do it again. He could make it. He took a few steps back and dug his hooves into the ground, creating small crevices in the dirt. He took a breath. He ran forward and jumped, closing his eyes as he felt his back legs leave the earth. He could make it this time; he knew he could. The wind blew strong around him as he felt his body glide across the ravine. He knew he would succeed and he opened his eyes, expecting to see their faces; their smiling faces.
Instead, he saw the cliff face before him as he began to plunge into the darkness. Panic overtook him while his heart rate increased. He attempted to use his magic, but no spells worked in this place. Nothing ever worked in this place.
He continued his descent, feeling a force around him which increased his speed. Something was pulling him down. He stared down into the darkness and saw those eyes burning fiercely back at him, coming closer at an ever quickening rate. They were the same eyes he had hoped to never see again; eyes that had only brought pain and despair to his life; eyes that represented the very thing that tore his whole world apart and left him with nothing but his own guilt and shame. They burned into his soul, and he felt something that was all too familiar to him: fear.
An unsettling laughter was heard and echoed all around him as a jet of flame shot out of the darkness, headed directly towards him. He closed his eyes, ready for the impact that was to come.
The unicorn quickly sat up, wide-eyed and short of breath. His coat was damp with sweat, as were the sheets on his bed. He reached up and put his hooves to his head and closed his eyes once again, trying to calm himself down. He continued to breathe in gasps, though he did his best to regain his composure by taking deeper and slower gulps of air.
The frustration within was apparent by the shaking of his legs and the unkempt nature of his mane, though his appearance was the least of his concerns for the time being. After several tense moments, he sighed heavily and rolled out of the bed. His hooves clopped down on the stone floor, the sound echoing throughout the circular room and down the spiral staircase to the floor below. The stallion took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and his horn began to glow dimly to light the room.
He opened his eyes slowly and he let them adjust to the new light source. He glanced around his room, which was now dimly lit with the glow of his horn. The shadows from his many books and contraptions seemed to dance around, as if to taunt him for his disheveled appearance and disturbed mood.
As he reflected on the dancing shapes, the laughter in the dream resurfaced in the depths of his mind, sending a shiver down his spine that brought back the anxiety from before. Steadying his nerves once more, the stallion pushed forward and walked down the spiral staircase to escape from his den, where the nightmare lingered. As the glow of his horn followed him down the stairs, the den was slowly overtaken by shadow, almost as if it were being consumed by the very dream that he wished to forget.
When he reached the bottom of the stairwell the glow of his horn cast a dim light around the new room and revealed what appeared to be an old feasting hall; or at least it used to be. Walking forward, he took little notice of the dust that seemed to blanket the oaken tables and he barely regarded the unlit torches that lined the walls, the tips of which were a faded black from previous use long before. Utensils and plates still remained in place, seemingly left to be unused and forgotten in eternal abandonment. The only response to his presence was the echo of his hooves as they clopped upon the cold, stone floor. A fact resonated deep within him; a fact he had already long known: he was alone.
He made his way over to one of the tables and stopped just short of the sturdy, oaken structure. This particular table had been pushed against the wall, separated from others of its kind in the center of the hall, and appeared to be one of the only things in the room that had been used recently. From the half-melted candle to the many tomes and scrolls that were thrown about on its surface, it was apparent that it had been used as workbench. The unicorn let out a slow sigh as his horn glowed brighter, causing the nearby candle to light. The small flame seemed to dance excitedly in the otherwise still hall.
The stallion then began to read over the tomes, his eyes moving about the pages at a rapid pace. His brow furrowed in concentration as his eyes darted across each line, as if he were looking for something, and his face remained stoic. After he finished with a particular scroll, he would use his magic to toss it aside sloppily into a pile of other works, all of which seemed to have been put through similar treatment. This process continued on, with minutes slowly fading into hours and the frustrated expression upon his face slowly growing more desperate with each drop of wax from the candle.
As time continued to wear on, he started to toss the tomes about in a more aggressive manner. He mumbled to himself, quietly at first but growing more agitated and desperate. “Come on. Come on. There has to be something…” he said, anxiety and stress lacing his words. Just as he was tossing another scroll aside, the candle he had been using finally burnt out. The stallion, startled by the sudden darkness, attempted to use his magic to light another candle he had placed nearby.
However, in his stressed and tense state, he couldn’t seem to concentrate properly on lighting the candle. His horn glowed and emitted a quick spark before dying once again, leaving the room in darkness. He continued to grow more and more frustrated with each passing failure, causing the spark from his horn to grow more and more intense each time. “Damn you…light!” he yelled out, his horn glowing brightly before sending out a shockwave that knocked the candle off the table and sent the tomes and scrolls scattering about, mixing the stack of already read tomes with those he had not yet read.
“No….” he whispered softly, his voice cracking like a dam trying to hold back the torrent of emotions. All his work, months of work, wasted with a misfire of one of the first and simplest spells he had ever learned. He put his hooves to his head and closed his eyes, trying to maintain the calm he had worked so hard to achieve after the dream. He let out a deep breath and opened his eyes, his vision focusing on the silhouette of the candle on the floor.
Upon seeing the candle, the very object that had caused his most recent pain, the emotions surged forth again. The mental barrier he had built gave way, and he let out a loud yell as his body was surrounded by intense energy. His eyes glowed with electric current, and his coat and mane stood on end as the energy swirled about him with all the power of a tempest. He lifted the candle up with his magic, before sending it with all the force he could directly across the room, the sound of thunder being the only noise that echoed throughout the hall.
That is until the sound of shattering glass was heard where the candle was thrown. This noise startled the stallion, who cast aside his wrathful mindset in exchange for timid curiosity. He slowly walked over to where he had heard the sound, his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness around him. Remembering his magic, the unicorn, albeit with slight hesitation, lit up the room with the dim glow of his horn. As he did so, light was cast back at him from an area in the corner of the room, drawing his attention due to the erratic and warped way in which the light seemed to be cast. He then slowly walked towards the phenomenon, his curiosity now at its peak.
As he stepped closer, he recognized the source of the light was from a mirror, shattered by the candle which he had flung across the room; now broken in half on the floor. The stallion stepped closer to the mirror and, for the first time in as long as he could remember, caught sight of himself. He saw the bags under his eyes, accented by the marks of stress that lined his face. He noticed his long mane, unkempt and scraggly along with his matted coat. However, the thing that drew his attention more than anything else was his eyes. They reflected the inner turmoil he had been fighting to keep at bay, the fear that he had long held deep within himself; the broken nature of the stallion in the mirror. Most of all, they reflected all the failures that had plagued him. Failures that brought him nothing but pain and sadness; failures that were the reason why he was now alone.
Tears formed and began to slowly fall down his face. He tried to keep the sobs contained but the emotions kept pouring forth. All reservations were soon shattered and all attempts to keep in control were thrown aside as the stallion broke down, tears pouring down his face and clouding his vision as he stared at the failure in the mirror. “So this is who you are now…..” he said through broken sobs.
“This is what has become of the great and powerful Star Swirl…”
He leaned back with a sigh, his eyes half-lidded in a dazed stupor as he watched through the canopy above, the wispy clouds traveling lazily across the sky. The young colt smiled to himself as he crossed his forelegs behind his head and the wind blew through the surrounding forest, the rustling of the leaves starkly similar to the flow of his own light blue coat. He always enjoyed these moments the best; moments where he was able to get away from the others and escape from the pressures of the world. Moments where he was able to let his mind wonder and drift, as if becoming one with the very breeze he felt blowing around him.
He closed his eyes completely, shutting out the light of the world and embracing the comforting darkness, his other senses being all he needed in order to take in the beauty of the surrounding world. As he listened to the soft chirping of the nightingales and the gentle rustling of leaves, he couldn’t help feel there was something truly magical about nature and the world he was a part of.
“Star Swirl,” came a familiar whisper that seemed to call out from the trees, echoing softly around the colt with the very faintest resonance. He furrowed his eyebrows in slight confusion, wondering if he had truly heard his name being called. After a brief moment, he relaxed once again and felt himself slowly drift back into his meditative calm.
“Star Swirl,” came the whisper again, louder this time. The young colt opened his eyes and sat up, his face reflecting confusion and a slight hint of irritation at having his tranquil escape breached by a foreign voice. The young colt sat motionless, listening intently to his surroundings, wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him.
"Star Swirl!" came a shout, the birds and animals nearby taking off as the colt jumped at the unexpected sound. It was a voice the young unicorn was all too familiar with and he didn’t hesitate to get up and begin sprinting through the forest, a look of nervousness painted across his face.
After several minutes of running at what he felt was the most intense pace of his life, Star Swirl finally caught sight of the clearing ahead of him. He continued forward at full sprint with no signs of slowing down; that is until he noticed the familiar frame of the pony he was running towards. He planted his hooves into the ground, desperately trying to skid to a stop, closing his eyes in anticipation of the collision that was soon to come. Moments past and no pain came, prompting the young unicorn to open his eyes slowly in confusion. He immediately regretted this decision for he was greeted with the scowling face of the mare before him, her eyes reflecting the irritation that was surely within.
Star Swirl looked up and grinned sheepishly. “H-h-hello Ms. Or-or-orchid,” he stuttered, attempting to keep his composure. The violet mare, her purple hair graying from her years, continued to scowl at him before finally letting out a long sigh and kneeling down to Star Swirl’s level, her expression softening as she began to brush him off.
“Star Swirl, what have I told you about wandering off so close to supper and getting dirty?” she asked, a maternal aura seeming to emanate from her.
Star Swirl glanced down, the faintest glimpses of shame beginning to show. “I’m s-sorry M-Ms. Orchid. I just like t-to go into the woods and relax sometimes,” he stated quietly, his embarrassment getting the better of him.
Ms. Orchid shook her head and grasped Star Swirl’s face gently, shifting his head so that he was looking directly at her, her stern eyes displaying a motherly compassion. “Star Swirl, you don’t have to be sorry. Just,” she paused briefly, closing her eyes and letting out a quick sigh before focusing her gaze back on him, “just be mindful of the time, young one. Now, go inside and wash up. Dinner is almost ready.”
Star Swirl gave a small smile, nodding. “Y-yes ma’am,” he said, trotting off towards the small cottage in the center of the clearing.
Ms. Orchid watched him go for a couple of seconds before calling out, “Star Swirl! Try to mind the stutter!” He stopped, blushing as he glanced back at her, before nodding and continuing on his way to the house. Ms. Orchid couldn’t help but smile at the young unicorn as he ran.
When Star Swirl walked into the cabin, he passed by several other young colts and fillies who seemed to be making their way to the large oaken table in the dining hall. A few of the children gave Star Swirl annoyed glances, obviously upset at the prospect of having to wait for him to finish the bath he was going to have to take before dinner. However, he did get a sympathetic smile from another unicorn colt, who gave Star Swirl a quick wink before following the others.
Star Swirl smiled back and walked into the bathhouse, stepping into the tub, and then letting out a loud yelp and jumping out. Shivering, he frowned to himself, mentally kicking himself for letting the bath water get cold before he had a chance to bathe. So this is why Ms. Orchid isn’t punishing me, Star Swirl thought bitterly. He let out a resigned sigh before slowly climbing into the bath, shivering as he did so.
Several minutes later, after having forced himself to endure the less-than-ideal conditions of the bath, Star Swirl entered the dining hall, glancing about for his usual place at the large dining table. He walked over and sat next to the colt who had given him the sympathetic smile before, smiling up at the young unicorn.
“Thanks for saving my seat, Archimedes,” Star Swirl said in his usual, quiet timbre.
Archimedes looked back at Star Swirl, a rather exuberant smile on his face, and replied, “No problem. Besides, it's becoming more like tradition than anything else now. Who else would I want to sit by?” Star Swirl gave his friend a small smile, appreciation evident in his eyes.
Though the two were very close friends, Star Swirl couldn’t help but acknowledge the vast differences between them. Archimedes was a rather large colt for his age, and though his gray coat and black mane were not extraordinary, he possessed a broad frame and great height that helped him to stand out physically. By contrast, Star Swirl was shorter in comparison with a lean frame and far less muscle definition. Though he possessed a unique navy mane with grey stripes and a light cerulean coat, his small, weak stature often left a great deal to be desired. Despite being close friends, Star Swirl couldn’t help but feel envious of Archimedes in this regard.
As Star Swirl continued to reflect on these contrasting physical attributes, he failed to notice that one of the colts, a pegasus, had slowly crept behind him. Distracted with his thoughts, he was taken by complete surprise when he felt the stool he was sitting on get kicked out from under him, falling abruptly and hitting his chin on the edge of the table. Star Swirl was so disoriented from the hit that he barely noticed the growing laughter from the other children in the hall.
“You’ll pay for that, Moon Racer!” Archimedes shouted, anger lacing his words as he turned to help his young friend.
The pegasus colt continued to laugh, “Oh please, Archimedes. It was just a bit of fun. He’s fine, right Star Swirl?”
Star Swirl, tears forming in his eyes from both embarrassment and pain and still feeling disoriented, felt a gentle hoof on his foreleg.
“Are you okay, Star Swirl?” came a gentle voice that he instantly recognized. Turning his head, he could make out the young filly through his tears and gave a short nod.
"I'm fine, Ginger Lily," he said, looking away in slight embarrassment, before mumbling softly, "Thanks." The ginger colored earth filly smiled at him sympathetically and, with the help of Archimedes, helped Star Swirl up. Star Swirl turned to face Moon Racer, wiping the tears from his eyes.
The lean pegasus colt gave an awkward smile, “No hard feelings. Right, Star Swirl?”
Star Swirl continued to stare at the young colt, his eyes narrowed pointedly at the pegasus. He tried to keep his emotions in check, not wanting to do anything too rash. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he felt the anger subside. He knew there was nothing he could do to the pegasus anyway. When push came to shove, he was far too weak. Star Swirl opened his eyes again and gave a small nod, prompting Moon Racer to smile smugly and run off to join his group of friends.
Archimedes looked down at Star Swirl pityingly, “Wow, Star Swirl. I am surprised you let that go. If you want I can take care of him for you, no problem.”
Star Swirl looked up and gave a somber smile to his friend. “That’s okay, Archimedes,” he said, turning his eyes downward in embarrassment again, “It really isn’t a big deal. I just have to be more careful.”
Ginger Lily scoffed, “Star Swirl, you can’t just let people walk all over you! You have to stand up for yourself sometimes!” Though she meant well, Star Swirl couldn’t help but feel stung by her words.
“She’s right, you know? You really shouldn’t have let him get away with doing that to you,” Archimedes said, his words carrying the slightest hints of annoyance as he glanced over at Moon Racer. Star Swirl continued to look down at his front hooves and began to fiddle with the fork he had sitting before him.
“I know...” he said softly, his voice carrying the slightest quiver as Miss Orchid began to set the food down at the table.
After dinner was finished and the dishes put away, the children all began to make their way back into the dormitory to prepare for bed. However, as Star Swirl and Archimedes were walking back with the other children, they heard Miss Orchid call out, “Star Swirl. Archimedes. Could I see you both for one moment, please?”
The two friends looked at each other curiously, turning back to walk into the kitchen where Miss Orchid was busy at work cleaning. Star Swirl looked at her and couldn’t help but notice her frazzled, greyed mane and matted coat as she continued to move about, wiping down any surface that was not up to her incredibly high standards. He couldn’t help but smile at how nimble she seemed to be, despite her increasing age and ample figure. She caught a glimpse of the two out of the corner of her eye and gave them a small smile, waving them over.
“You boys enjoy dinner?” she asked, setting down the cloth she had been holding. Archimedes and Star Swirl both exchanged glances with each other, raising their eyebrows slightly before looking back at her and nodding, their eyes showing a curiosity that Miss Orchid seemed to expect, smiling slightly and chuckling. “Good,” she said, her eyes giving a slight glint of parental affection, “Why don’t we sit down and talk for a moment?” Archimedes and Star Swirl gave each other the same curious glance as before, but went and sat down in the offered seats none-the-less.
Miss Orchid sat across from the two, putting her front hooves on the oaken table, and said in a soft, caring tone, “You boys have gotten so big since you first got here. Especially you Archimedes," she gave him a smile, his response being a slight blush and a proud smirk.
She turned her eyes to Star Swirl and continued, “And you, Star Swirl. You seem to get more handsome with every passing day. You both do.” Star Swirl and Archimedes both blushed, embarrassed at this maternal praise.
When Star Swirl’s blush faded, he glanced back up at Miss Orchid and noticed that her eyes had changed slightly. Though they still displayed that same motherly love, there was something new behind them that seemed to reflect a more somber nature. Is she upset?, Star Swirl asked himself mentally. Sad perhaps? Star Swirl frowned in thought as he looked at his caretaker, waiting for her to speak.
After a couple of tense moments, she finally said, “You boys will be going to Fire Wind’s Academy for Young Unicorns starting tomorrow. There you will develop your magical abilities and discover your special talent.” Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke, though she maintained her caring visage despite the emotions that seemed to be waiting beneath it.
Star Swirl and Archimedes exchanged shocked glances, both of their jaws hanging open slightly, before looking back at Miss Orchid. Star Swirl’s mind was fraught with questions as he attempted to grasp at the information he was just given. He tried to speak, but though his mouth moved slightly, no words escaped his lips.
Archimedes finally voiced the question that was on both of their minds. “Why?” he asked in a whisper, a rarity for the unicorn who usually spoke with confidence and volume.
Miss Orchid’s sad smile remained, an understanding look in her eyes, “Because it's what is necessary. Young unicorns must hone their magical skills in order to advance themselves as ponies. In doing this, they can better integrate into society and use their special talents to improve the lives of others.” The speech seemed hollow and rehearsed, the tone of which escaped neither Archimedes nor Star Swirl.
Archimedes spoke up again, this time his voice louder. “But I still don’t understand why we have to go so soon! I mean, all of our friends are here and all of ou-“
“That’s enough, Archimedes,” Miss Orchid said, her voice slightly raised, “This is the way it has to be. You are both eight years old, which is when unicorns are supposed to begin their training.” Her voice was stern, yet shaken. Tears seemed to be forming in her eyes, but she blinked them away before continuing in a soft whisper, “I can’t keep you boys forever. You know that…” She trailed off, the smile now completely gone from her face and the warmth faded from her eyes. Archimedes continued to sit with his forelegs crossed, his brow furrowed in a scowl.
“W-will we get t-to see you or the others again?” Star Swirl softly asked, his voice drawing the attention of both Archimedes and Miss Orchid, who had been in a tense silence for the past few moments. Though he had stuttered slightly over the first words, the weight of the question was not lost on either of them.
Miss Orchid smiled sadly at Star Swirl, her eyes glistening with tears. “Though you will live at the academy, you're more than welcome to come back during your breaks. There will always be a bed here for you,” she replied lovingly. Star Swirl and Archimedes both looked up at her and, having felt their emotions reaching their breaking point, ran over and wrapped their forelegs around her. Caught in their warm embrace, Miss Orchid wrapped the two colts in a hug of her own, the tears finally falling freely from her eyes.
“I will miss you both; so very much.”
Star Swirl and Archimedes, both mentally and emotionally drained, walked into the dormitory where all the other children were waiting. Many were still awake and talking amongst themselves, though a few of the young ponies were off on their own, reading a book or simply closing their eyes, an open invitation for sleep to find them. While Star Swirl made his way to his bed, he noticed Ginger Lily sitting in the next bed over reading a book. As he approached, he was able to see that the book was titled The Romance of Windy Peak Hollow, hinting at what could only be a love story.
Star Swirl continued to stare at Ginger Lily as she read and he couldn’t help but smile to himself when he noticed the way her eyes moved about the page, completely absorbed in the words present there. As he watched her, his thoughts began drifting away from the anxiety surrounding the next day and slowly focused on his first memories of the young filly.
Star Swirl met Ginger Lily when she first arrived at the orphanage four years earlier. She was apparently found in the wilderness, hungry and wounded, by a small group of pegasus soldiers. They fed her and dressed her wounds before dropping her off here with Miss Orchid, who never turned away a young filly or colt. When she first arrived, Ginger Lily was very stand-offish and aggressive with the other children, which Star Swirl acknowledged was probably a contributing factor in why he initially kept his distance and did not initiate a conversation.
However, on one snowy winter day, Star Swirl noticed that Ginger Lily was alone inside while the other children were playing outside in the snow, crying alone as she sat on her bed. Not understanding the reason for her tears or knowing how to necessarily approach the situation, Star Swirl ran into the main den, looking around for anything that might be helpful. He'd always been a nervous talker, but he wanted to help somehow.
His eyes settled on the bookshelf and, not knowing any better, he grabbed the first book he could and ran back into the room, slowly approaching the young filly with the book held out. She looked down at it and back up at him, her hazel eyes glassy from the tears, and then took the book.
She had looked at the novel quizzically and, after a few moments, finally said softly, “I don’t know how to read.” Star Swirl hadn't thought about that likely outcome and froze. “What does it say?” she asked in an innocent and truly curious tone. After a several tense moments, he looked down at the book only to be reminded of a rather embarrassing fact.
Star Swirl looked up at her and, blushing from embarrassment, simply said, “I don’t know. I can’t read either.” She blinked several times, her face reflecting a completely neutral expression, before she finally burst into laughter. Star Swirl, at first taken aback by the sudden change in mood, soon joined her.
Several minutes passed by before the two were able to get control of their laughter. After taking a couple of deep breaths, Ginger Lily finally gave Star Swirl a smile and said, “My name is Ginger Lily. What’s yours?”
Star Swirl, wiping a couple of tears from his eyes, smiled shyly back at her and said in his same, quiet tone, “Star Swirl.”
She nodded and jumped down from the bed, holding the book in her forelegs. “Why did you give me a book?” she asked with genuine curiosity apparent in her eyes.
Star Swirl, his face once again crimson with embarrassment, responded with a slight stutter, “I d-don’t really know. It was j-just the first thing I thought t-to grab.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I saw you crying and decided I would try to get you something to cheer you up. I guess I forgot that we can’t read.”
She smiled at him and, setting the book aside, gave him a small hug, “Thanks anyways, Star Swirl. Maybe I will read it someday.” Star Swirl’s cheeks reddened even further, but he gave a small smile, wrapping his own forelegs around her gently.
After a brief moment, Ginger Lily released the hug and beamed at Star Swirl, “Let’s go outside and play. Maybe we can make snow pegasi!” She pushed passed him suddenly, running to the door and shouting, “I’ll race you there!”
Star Swirl looked after her in mild surprise before smiling to himself and gave chase, laughing as he ran after her.
As Star Swirl reflected on these memories, he failed to notice that he was staring at Ginger Lily, who now had caught sight of him and was watching him, a slight smile on her face. She cleared her throat, drawing Star Swirl from his cognitive adventure. “You’ve been staring an awfully long time, Starry. What’s up?,” she asked, a playful tone in her speech.
Star Swirl flushed before stuttering out, “N-no! Sorry.” He chuckled in embarrassment and rubbed the back of his head, “I guess I just zoned out.” Ginger Lily smiled knowingly at him, but didn’t pursue the conversation anymore.
Star Swirl laid on his back and looked up at the bed above him where Archimedes slept, his mind still attempting to recover from the embarrassing moment a few seconds before. After the initial embarrassment faded, Star Swirl looked over at Ginger Lily once again, who was back to reading the book. He smiled to himself and wrapped his forelegs behind his head, looking back up at the bunk above him. As the minutes passed, the candles began to wane and the children began to slowly quiet down as more slowly fell asleep.
Eventually, Miss Orchid made her way in to tuck in the children and blow out the remaining candles and, just like every night, she had to tell Ginger Lily it was time to stop reading and go to sleep. Star Swirl heard Ginger Lily sigh, knowing it was useless to argue with the older mare, and set the book on her nightstand before blowing out the candle. Miss Orchid made her way to Star Swirl, leaning down and kissing his forehead gently, and whispered, “Goodnight my young Star Swirl. I am very proud of you.”
He smiled as she walked away, the last of the candles blown out and all of the children properly put into bed, and listened to her hoofsteps as she walked down the hall towards her room. Star Swirl let out a sigh as his mind drifted back to how, after the night was over, his life would completely change. He couldn’t help but be anxious, worried about how he would do in school; worried about disappointing Miss Orchid and about leaving Ginger Lily.
Star Swirl continued to let his mind wander for what seemed like hours before he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He turned and his breath caught in surprise as he came face to face with Ginger Lily, who was crouched next to the bed.
She gave him a small smile and shyly whispered, “Can I...join you?” Star Swirl only gave a simple nod, shifting over to give her room as she climbed into the bed with him. “I saw you looking at me reading,” she said, though her voice carried no hint of accusation or frustration.
Star Swirl swallowed, nodding his head, “Yeah, sorry. I just saw you were reading that book again for what seems like the fourth time.”
Ginger Lily giggled quietly before saying matter-of-factly, “Well, you’re the one who gave it to me. It would have been rude of me to not read it. Besides," she crossed her forelegs in feigned offense, “I like the book.”
Star Swirl smiled at her and poked her playfully, eliciting a hushed squeal of surprise from her. He couldn’t help but laugh at the noise, which prompted her to punch his shoulder playfully, laughing as well.
When they eventually gained control over their quiet laughter, Star Swirl let out a sigh, his face becoming serious. “Ginger Lily, tomorrow I am going to head to a magic school to start training. I…” he paused for a moment, seeing her shocked expression, before continuing, “I won’t be living here anymore.”
Ginger Lily’s eyes reflected the shock she felt and the pain that was slowly building as the reality of the situation weighed down on her.
Star Swirl closed his eyes, unable to look into her pained eyes, and whispered, “I’m sorry, Ginger. If there was anything else I cou-,” but he was interrupted by a sudden embrace, the young filly hugging him close and putting her head into his chest. He opened his eyes and looked down at her, seeing the sporadic tremors of her back and faintly hearing the silent sobs. He wrapped his forelegs around her and held her close, his hooves brushing her mane softly in a vain attempt at comforting her.
They stayed this way for several minutes before Star Swirl heard her mumble something incoherent into his chest. “I’m sorry?,” he asked delicately. She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the same sadness he'd first seen there four years before.
“I lost my parents,” she said, her voice trembling as her lip quivered, “Do I really have to lose you, too?” She buried her face into his chest again, fresh tears flowing as she continued to sob.
Star Swirl held her tighter, not minding the tears falling onto his coat. “You won’t ever lose me,” he said, a rare determination in his voice as he blinked away his own tears.
“I promise you, Ginger. You won’t ever lose me.”
Star Swirl woke to the first songs of the birds outside, which seemed to start before the sun made its first appearance on the eastern horizon. He had come to expect these early risings due to his persistent nature of being a light sleeper; something he had grown to appreciate over the years, for it gave him a chance to talk to Miss Orchid before the others awoke. He blinked his eyes several times in an attempt to focus his blurred vision and slowly became aware of a warm, soft presence on the right side of his body.
Star Swirl gave a soft smile as he looked down at young Ginger Lily, who was still quietly breathing in deep sleep, curled up against his body in an attempt to share warmth. His expression saddened when he remembered what the day would bring, letting out a sad sigh as thoughts of the night before slowly flooded his mind. Slowly extracting himself from the young filly, he stepped down quietly from his bed and made his way out of the dorm, taking care to soften his hoofsteps as much as possible.
Star Swirl made his way into the kitchen, smiling as he saw Miss Orchid preparing breakfast as she did every morning. He couldn’t help but admire her for all she had done for him and for the others. Though she didn’t often go into detail, Star Swirl had heard enough to put together a vague idea as to the nature of her past and what exactly led her to running the orphanage. She had once been a florist, well known for her rare, violet orchids that became a popular item in the province. She caught the eye of stallion and fell in love herself, marrying young. Though a family never did develop from the union, they were happy none-the-less.
Star Swirl had learned what happened to her husband after he'd gotten up one night for a glass of water and overheard her crying to herself in the kitchen. Star Swirl, though hesitant to approach at first, had allowed his caring nature to take precedence and approached her. In his attempts to comfort her, Miss Orchid revealed that her husband had been killed attempting to fight back an aggressive dragon to buy time for his wife and the others to get to shelter. After this event, she turned to helping those children who had lost their parents and homes in the attack, opening up the orphanage and shutting down her flower stand.
Star Swirl reminded himself that, though she no longer worked as a florist, Miss Orchid continued to grow her lovely, violet orchids, bringing a somber smile to the young colts face.
He continued to watch her, the closest mare to a mother he had, and felt tears begin to form in his eyes as the thoughts of the upcoming transfer began to resurface. He slowly approached her, trying desperately to think of the words he could say to express how much she meant to him; the words that reflected just how much he appreciated her raising him for the past eight years.
As he took several steps into the kitchen, she smiled to herself and without turning around said, “Good Morning, Star Swirl. I hope you had a good rest. Would you like some milk?”
Star Swirl opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His chest began to tighten as he continued to fumble with his thoughts, forgoing a reply to her simple question.
She paused her cooking briefly and turned around, “Star Sw-“ but she stopped herself upon seeing the young colts face, his eyes flooded with tears as he looked up at the older mare. She rushed over to him, setting down the pot she was stirring, and knelt down in front of him, looking into his eyes, “Star Swirl, what’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong, love.”
The maternal affection only helped to break down any walls that Star Swirl had tried to build up in order to contain his emotions, prompting him to rush forward and embrace her and allow his tears to flow freely. She returned the embrace, holding him tightly as he cried into her shoulder, the memories of their relationship surfacing for both of them.
He did not want to say goodbye to the mare who had been there as early as he could remember; the mare who had taught him to read, write, and speak properly. The mare who had cared for him while he was sick and embraced him when he was sad. More than anything, he did not want to say goodbye to his mother.
Those same memories circled in Ms. Orchid's heart as she held the young colt, desperately trying to keep her own tears at bay and stay strong. “Shh, it’ll be alright. It’ll be alright. I promise you, it’ll be alright,” she whispered softly, her voice wavering under the emotional strain,
“I am so very proud of the young colt you have grown to be and I know deep, down in my heart that you will grow up to be a stallion that I will continue to be proud of.” She pulled back from him, looking him directly in the eyes. “You have so much potential, Star Swirl, and I know that you will accomplish great things.” She smiled at him, though her eyes were still misty with tears. “I love you so very much.”
Star Swirl blinked back the tears, looking into her deep, violet eyes. “Do goodbyes always hurt this much? Will they ever get easier?” he asked through broken sobs, his young innocence shining through in his words.
Miss Orchid pulled him close once again, her embrace stronger this time. “Goodbyes are never easy,” she said, her voice carrying the same reflective tone she had when she talked about her late husband, “But the pain we feel when we say them is necessary to make the greetings all the better when we see each other again.” She paused briefly, several tears falling down her cheeks, “And we will see each other again.”
Star Swirl squeezed her tighter and whispered softly into her coat, “I love you, Miss Orchid,” his sobs suppressed in his attempt to gain control, “And I’ll miss you so very much.”
Star Swirl’s head hung low as he trotted slowly, watching his hooves as they impacted on the dirt road. He had been walking like this for several hours and, though he no longer cried, his eyes looked weary and drained, reflecting his inner turmoil. The goodbye to Ginger Lily and Miss Orchid that morning had been rough, despite everypony's best mental preparations in anticipation of his departure. He looked up at the stallion they were following, an earth pony named Fleet Foot and an old friend of Miss Orchids, who had agreed to escort the young colts to the school. Though not a complete stranger, Star Swirl was not in the mood to listen to the stallion recant his tales of wooing fine mares and demonstrations of his incredible skill in fig harvesting.
Star Swirl looked over to his right at Archimedes, whose eyes were forward and betrayed no emotion. Star Swirl was unsurprised at Archimedes' seemingly emotionless façade, knowing that he simply dealt with these matters in a different way than Star Swirl did. Though Archimedes could come off as cold at times because of it, Star Swirl couldn’t help but envy him for his ability.
As if feeling the attention, Archimedes looked over at Star Swirl, his expression changing to one of sympathy as a reassuring smile crept across his face. Star Swirl returned a half-hearted smile of his own, thankful that he did not have to face the upcoming trials without his best friend.
After all, they had been together since the very beginning. They had been found within days of each other by the local townsfolk, both barely old enough to walk. Thus, Star Swirl and Archimedes had become the only two children at the orphanage who had spent nearly their entire lives there and had no memory of their parents. Because of this, the young colts connected at an early age and, over time, had developed a strong bond between them; a bond normally shared only between brothers.
Star Swirl, often the shy one, relied on Archimedes' more dominant and aggressive personality when it came to interacting with the other children. Archimedes had always pushed Star Swirl to speak his mind and make friends, giving him support in times when he had been too nervous or afraid. He also came to Star Swirl’s defense the few times he had been bullied, no matter the consequences he might face for doing so. If Archimedes had to get beaten by a bunch of older colts with his young friend, then so be it. He was not going to leave the side of his brother, no matter what.
Star Swirl, on the other hoof, had always acted as a counter to the more dominant personality of Archimedes. Though Archimedes possessed a similar level of intellect to Star Swirl, the smaller colt had been the faster learner when it came to speech and reading and assisted Archimedes in each of these different areas. Star Swirl also seemed to possess a strong level of empathy for other ponies that allowed him to connect emotionally with others more easily, if quietly. Archimedes, though not fully apathetic, found difficulty in understanding the emotions of other ponies, with the exception of Star Swirl. It was through Star Swirl that Archimedes allowed himself to connect and care for other ponies and develop the empathy required for him to possess his trademark charisma.
As Star Swirl reflected on the depths of the bond he shared with Archimedes, he felt a slight shove on his shoulder. Stumbling a bit, he looked to his side to see Archimedes laughing softly to himself with a guilty smirk on his face.
Star Swirl, smiling to himself, jumped up and ran into the larger colt, attempting to tackle him for the sake of mock revenge. However, Archimedes dug his hooves into the dirt and held his ground, causing Star Swirl to fall lamely to the ground. Looking down at the sheepish and defeated Star Swirl, Archimedes began to laugh, holding out a hoof to help him up.
Star Swirl smirked as he grabbed on to his friend's hoof with one of his own while simultaneously tossing a clump of dirt at his face with the other. Archimedes, taken by surprise, fell backwards as the dirt clod struck home lightly, his eyes wide with surprise.
He looked up as Star Swirl came over to him, holding out hoof and smiling down at him instead. “Truce?” Star Swirl asked genuinely.
Archimedes smiled back and nodded, “Truce,” taking the offered hoof and pulling himself up.
The two began to dust themselves off as they ran to catch up to Fleet Foot, whose quick walking pace already put him several yards ahead of them. Upon catching up to the older stallion, they noticed he had come to a stop, setting down the bags he had been carrying.
“We’re here,” he said calmly as he wiped sweat from his forehead and brushed his mane back.
Star Swirl and Archimedes both took a couple of cautious steps forward, looking at the structure before them; a stone castle that dwarfed any of the other buildings that either of them had seen before. The motte on which the structure sat, near the edge of a cliff that faced the eastern sea, made the castle stand out all the more on an otherwise flat field that led up the embankment. Both Star Swirl and Archimedes stood with their mouths hanging open, glancing occasionally back and forth between one another and the enormous structure.
Fleet Foot looked back at the young colts and gave a gentle smile. “Are you boys ready to begin your magic training?”
Star Swirl definitely hoped so.
