Starstruck: The Battle For Atlanticaby RainbowRisingChaptersChapter I: The Stranger in the StormChapter II: "Stormbringer"Chapter III: Atlantica's Great HeroChapter I: The Stranger in the StormChapter I: The Stranger in the Storm King Stargazer stood motionlessly on the bow of the Atlantica, his seaside kingdom’s flagship vessel gliding gently into harbor on a calm westerly breeze. He was a tall unicorn with a dark grey coat and white mane, his sturdy physique belying the decades that had passed under his reign. Even now, Stargazer maintained an intimidating presence, particularly as his piercing gaze scanned the coastline before him. Turning away from his post at the ship’s bow, the King cast a glance at the distant horizon. It had been a rare restful night for Stargazer and his crew, as the squall predicted to land overnight had moved north and allowed them safe passage home. The first rays of sunlight scattered upon a low cloud layer as the golden-yellow disk pushed its way above the horizon. An old rhyme surfaced in Stargazer’s mind as he surveyed the beautiful collision of light and seascape before him. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight…red sky at morning, sailors take warning. The glassy water before him reflected several shades of crimson, and Stargazer sighed quietly as he considered how lucky their timing had been, reaching port between the squall and whatever foul occurrence this ominously gorgeous sunrise foretold. It was about time to rouse the crew, with their long-awaited arrival in Atlantica less than an hour away. Making his way past the fo’c’sle, he pushed past the pony stationed at the helm and through a pair of mahogany storm doors, and entered the cabin. “Fogdiver!” After a moment, a short, green earth pony dragged himself out of the first mate’s quarters and stood groggily at attention before the King, his uniform tattered and smelling faintly of sea salt and rum. “Give the starboard cannon a blast,” Stargazer ordered. “It’s time everypony got themselves to work; today’s a big day for us...for all of Atlantica.” Stargazer ascended the staircase to the helm none too gingerly, his heavy footsteps emphasizing the gravity of his words. Their return to Atlantica was an important occasion, and not merely because the King was returning to his city for the first time in months. This would, in fact, be the first time he saw his daughter, to whom his beloved Queen Moonshine had given birth before her untimely passing. The news that his wife of twenty years had passed in his absence had been devastating; equally shocking had been that she had delivered a filly just weeks before succumbing to her long-developing case of laminitis. It had been a long journey home despite their immediate change of course for Atlantica Seaport upon receiving the letter while at Freedom Landing. BANG! “All hooves on deck!” Stargazer snapped back to the moment as Fogdiver’s muffled voice echoed through the belly of the ship below. He could hear the crew stumbling for their belongings as they shook off the combined effects of deep sleep and the paralyzing cannon blast. The unicorn returned topside as the ship sidled up alongside a long wooden dock. Ponies of all ages and colors were packed onto the floating structure as the huge vessel’s bow and stern lines were tossed down and secured. Last off the ship was Stargazer himself, and a cheer rose from the crowd as he assumed his best kingly pose and sauntered down the gangplank to the dock. Bows, handshakes, and congratulations were offered by many, while others remained quiet or offered their respectful condolences in light of the gallant unicorn’s loss. Far behind them, the bustling port town sprawled across the waterfront, framed by high granite cliffs upon which Stargazer’s palace proudly stood. Adjoining the castle was a stone lighthouse, a hundred and twenty feet tall and possessing the brightest beacon on the coast. It was a sign of hope for weary travelers and a welcome sight for those returning home from voyages upon the unforgiving sea. Guardian Lighthouse had been erected nearly forty years earlier, as a symbol of triumph and peace following Stargazer’s hard-fought victory over the sea serpent Leviathan. The beast had stalked the shores of Atlantica for centuries, and had returned early in Stargazer’s reign to reclaim the coast from the ponies who had settled there in his absence. Stargazer had wielded his powerful magic against the ferocious beast for many days before the monster finally succumbed. Though he would never admit it, the pony King admired the serpent’s effort to defend even such a trivial part of his domain, and spared its life in a controversial gesture that would eventually cement his legacy as a noble and benevolent ruler. ********** Several hours later, Stargazer found himself in the master bedroom of his palace, accompanied only by his Royal Guard and Emerald, Stargazer’s personal assistant, and now, nanny. Emerald had been unwaveringly at his side for as long as the King had been in Atlantica, and next to Moonshine, was his most trusted friend. Since Moonshine’s passing, Emerald had been chosen to raise Stargazer’s filly until his return. The yellow unicorn had spent the vast majority of the last three months ensuring that Stargazer would have a healthy, happy young filly to come home to, and now her patient care finally paid off. “She’s…beautiful. Thank you, Emerald.” Stargazer was never one for compassionate words, but the simple phrase was more than enough to make the mare’s eyes become glassy as she tried to keep her composure. She nodded stiffly at the beaming new father. Stargazer leaned down and kissed the tiny, fragile filly on the forehead. She was white all over except for black ‘socks’ by her four hooves. She also had no horn. The grey stallion considered this for a moment. Both he and Moonshine were unicorns – what were the chances that their daughter would be an earth pony? “She is just like your mother.” Emerald noticed the pensive look on Stargazer’s face and reassured him that the filly had taken after both her grandmothers. It made sense that she would be without a horn or wings, since half her lineage was, in fact, earth pony. Her paternal lineage, on the other hand, was half unicorn and half pegasus. “What do you want to name her? It won’t be long before ‘little one’ or ‘precious’ begins to stick with her.” Stargazer silently pondered the question. “Moonshine had several names she was considering. I believe she was fond of her mother’s, Miasma. It has a nice ring to it.” He once again found himself stumbling to find a tone of voice befitting the serenely joyful mood. The last rays of sunlight were streaming in through the mansion’s stained glass windows now, casting streaks of blue and green light across the room. Dust swirled at the base of each pane, tiny particles dancing among the red and yellow flower petals that adorned the sill. The yellow unicorn chuckled softly and cradled the white filly in her forehooves, smiling up at Stargazer as she gently stroked her tiny burden’s short mane. “Miasma.” ********** CRACK! The window shades shuddered in their frames with each new round of thunder. Driving rain pelted the mythical figures locked in eternal battle within the glass, the rain’s once-soft pattering now a constant thrum. Stargazer stood in the palace’s Great Hall, observing the seaport and ocean in the distance through the great window that composed much of the room’s eastern wall. Somewhere upstairs, Emerald was doing her best to quiet his daughter despite the terrifying weather. There would be no sleep tonight. He had been here for hours, somewhere between being too excited and too worried to sleep. It was upsetting to see his little foal crying so much in his first night back. Obviously it wasn’t his fault, or any other pony’s – after all, it’s not like one can control the weather. The sea does that instead along this treacherous coastline. Stargazer glanced at the tall clock positioned across the room. Four-thirty. Today would be a long day. There were ceremonies to be held, awards to be presented, ships to be unloaded, and he was expected to preside over all the festivities that accompanied a successful return by Atlantica’s greatest ship. It was a holiday that came two to three times each year, to be sure, but this was considered particularly important because he had been aboard the Atlantica for this voyage. The centerpiece would be a ceremony to honor his commanding general and personal guard, Riptide, who would be stepping down after half a decade of service. The general had selected a colt to step into his place, though the identity of the new commander would not revealed to the public until the event. Plop…plop…plop… Stargazer could hear water dripping from somewhere outside. The rain had finally ceased its bombardment of the town. The landscape was still only faintly illuminated by a crescent moon, but what light there was reflected off huge amounts of standing water surrounding the palace. There would need to be lots of sand poured around the castle grounds to keep them from turning to mud and washing away. One more thing to worry about… “Your Majesty, come quickly!” A member of the Guard burst through the front door, his urgency apparent in both his words and demeanor. What could possibly be the matter at this hour? Stargazer turned his attention to the soaking-wet pegasus, who was still panting as he did his best to stand at attention in the King’s presence. “Ease yourself, Whitewing. What requires my attention at such a time?” Stargazer could not imagine why he would be needed for something at this very moment. “You Majesty, the first patrol after the rain let up found something outside. We wanted to ask you what to do.” “Go on.” “We found a filly out in the storm. Pegasus. Can’t be more than two years. Definitely not one of ours.” This was a strange and remarkable occurrence indeed. Everypony in the port town was familiar with one another; traveling bands from other parts of Atlantica always gave notice before arriving in the town in which the King resided. A single pony, much less one barely past foalhood, would almost certainly never be able to make the long haul from Threshold Cove, nearly forty miles away, to here without supplies or vessel. “See to it that she is warmed and housed for the night. If what you say is true, this pony is bound to have a story to tell…a story I’d like to hear.” ********** The lavender filly was still shaking. Escorted by two fully clad Guards, the tiny mare stood before the King’s throne, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a despondent expression. Her mane and tail hung straight down, their jet-black color pierced by two lightning-yellow streaks. Her eyes were turned downwards, but their vivid golden irises still glistened in the hazy morning light. The filly’s lips trembled slightly as she muttered unintelligibly under her breath. Stargazer observed the foreigner from his seat, several feet higher than the rest of the ponies in the room. He had an uneasy feeling about this pony, but he couldn’t say exactly where the feeling came from. He addressed the newcomer. “You arrived at our town in a most unusual manner. No belongings, no companions, no…anything. Why are you here?” The filly raised her eyes to meet Stargazer’s. They were so bright compared to the rest of her complexion. Those striking golden eyes seemed to stare right through the King, down into his thoughts and into his very emotions. They were full of confidence and determination, of vivaciousness and spirit. There was far more to this filly than met the eye. Stargazer felt his mane prickle and stand on end. He turned away instinctively, then returned his gaze to the mare. Was it fear? Impossible. He paced his words carefully. “What is your name?” The filly took a deep breath. She never blinked. Those eyes just drilled right back into Stargazer’s own as if to command his respect and admiration. The King realized he was holding his breath. “Starstruck,” the mare replied. Her tone was quiet but unwavering in its authority. “My name…is Starstruck.” Chapter II: "Stormbringer"Chapter II: "Stormbringer" “But she did it again! Father, you can’t let this keep happening!” “Firstly, she didn’t mean to do anything. We all make mistakes; the harbor can be repaired. And what exactly would you suggest I do? For Celestia's sake, she's your sister. Miasma, I respect your opinions, stubborn though they may be, but this is out of my hooves.” The white earth pony shook her head and snorted in disgust before turning and trudging out of the throne room. Her frustration had been simmering for months. Anypony could see that something had to be done, but not one good idea had been put forth by either the King or any of his subjects. Stargazer had first noticed the strange occurrences a few months after he had adopted the young pegasus as his own. Starstruck was…different. Ever since that stormy night during which the filly had mysteriously appeared on their shore, Stargazer had felt something strange whenever he was near the pegasus. It wasn’t just her demeanor, or even her now-famous golden eyes. It was…an energy. As the filly had grown into a young mare, unusual things had started happening around her, particularly at sea. Her first voyage aboard one of the royal ships had lasted only a day before she fell seasick. That, however, was hardly a reason to abandon the expedition; within minutes, a waterspout had formed near, and nearly sunk, the triple-masted sailing vessel. Nopony could remember the last time one of the oceanic twisters had been seen in Atlantica. The second time Starstruck ventured out onto the ocean, everything had been fine until the second week of the trip. Early one morning, Fogdiver had noticed the young mare crying out in her sleep, presumably experiencing nightmares. Before he could wake her, shouts were echoing across the deck that a rogue wave had appeared on the horizon and was rushing towards the helpless ship. Ponies had begun to panic as the wall of water neared the frigate. As the crew was preparing to launch the lifeboats, Fogdiver had raced to wake the King’s eldest daughter in order to escort her personally. No sooner had he shaken the wailing pegasus awake than everypony had suddenly gone quiet above deck. Fogdiver returned to the helm to find that the towering wave had disappeared without a trace. The ocean’s surface was as smooth as glass, reflecting only the awestruck faces of the ponies who now stared over the bulwarks trying to comprehend what had just happened. Fogdiver had bitten himself to make sure it wasn’t a dream. No wave. Not even a ripple. Of course, Starstruck remembered none of it, having soon arrived topside to a beautiful sunrise and placid sea. The rest of the trip had been relatively uneventful – not that there was likely to be any news more intriguing to the community than the King’s daughter ostensibly creating a natural disaster by dreaming. It seemed so far-fetched, the notion that anypony not named Celestia could be responsible for such an event. The residents of Atlantica knew well the stories of the distant region of Equestria – the Land of the Sun Princess, as it was sometimes called. Of course, Starstruck was extremely deferential when asked by the locals about the experience; the idea that she was capable of such power was terrifying, particularly since she could neither control nor explain any of the events in question. As a result, Starstruck was effectively barred from oceanic travel for fear that she would, indeed, be putting lives at risk. Before long, the tidal wave incident had earned her a nickname amongst the ponies in Atlantica: Stormbringer. It was not a fond moniker. Despite her reserved and polite demeanor, Starstruck was seen as an enigma by the community. Between her supernatural reputation and shocking eyes, ponies seemed to be both morbidly curious and extremely tentative when actually in her presence. It was a nice feeling to command such respect, but the accompanying fear that she sensed was even more hurtful. She told herself that the latter would pass as she became more familiar with the rest of Atlantica’s citizens. All of this had not gone unnoticed by Miasma. The younger earth pony had grown up both overshadowed by her father and anonymous in comparison to her adopted sister. As Stargazer’s heir, Miasma felt that she deserved to be the daughter everypony was talking about, not her sister. Her, ahem, “sister.” At this point, it didn’t even make a difference what people were saying – providing it wasn’t too too bad – as long as they were, in fact, saying something about her. Any press is good press, after all. It was maddening, the way that Starstruck, among the most introverted and shy ponies in all of Atlantica Seaport, had become a veritable celebrity in the three years since her arrival. Yes, Starstruck may have already been a young filly at the time Miasma was born, but that’s no excuse. A pony was already physically mature by age three, so a two-year age advantage was of little consequence by now. “Mye? Are you okay?” Starstruck watched her sister with a concerned look from the half-open door. Miasma realized that during her internal monologue she had begun talking out loud. You foal. “Yes, I’m quite alright, thank you. And for heaven’s sake, please knock before you come barging into my room! It’s my room for a reason.” Miasma bit her lip upon hearing herself deliver the words more harshly than she had meant to. Then how did I mean it? “My apologies, sister. It’s just…I heard you talking to somepony and didn’t remember anypony else being in here. My mistake.” The lavender mare shrunk away from the door, closing it with a sharp click. Starstruck’s shy mannerisms disgusted her sister. It was such a tedious business, attempting a conversation with the withdrawn pegasus. All the attention the perpetual Talk Of the Town had endured was turning her into a veritable recluse. And Miasma couldn’t for the life of her figure out what her sister was thinking at any given moment. Maybe her sister was just generally incapable of thinking. The white pony’s lips curled into a smirk. She couldn’t help but chuckle at that last thought. ********** This was not how she had imagined it. Starstruck clung to her bench cushion as the bow of the ketch Dragonera fell repeatedly against the black ocean swells. It was like the sea had simply devoured the light from the sky without bothering to be lit by it. Taking a vacation? Great idea. Going on an adventure? Yeah, that sounds like fun. Holding on for dear life while being pounded by a hurricane miles from shore? Not her idea of a relaxing getaway. “The water’s breaking over the bow! Star, throw down the front hatch!” Her father kept his steely gaze upon the ship’s compass as he hollered over the storm. Without the stars or landmarks, there was no other way to navigate than by the glowing etched disk. The middle-aged pegasus strained against the wind, trying to keep his vessel pointing straight into the waves that threatened to swamp the ship with one false calculation. The filly remained glued to her seat, too terrified to venture out across the deck. A flash of light raced across the sky, revealing a snapshot of boiling grey clouds and menacing cliffs of water in all directions. Starstruck heard her father plead for her to help as another wall of water crashed over the forward gunwales. Tears brimmed in the filly’s eyes as she fought to control her emotions. This is so wrong. Lightning crackled in the heavens over them again. Starstruck looked skyward just in time to see an enormous shadow outlined against the swirling clouds. It looked almost serpentine, arching between two mountains of water. She turned her attention back to her father, still struggling in vain to keep the wheel centered. Horizontal rain and surging sea water melded in mid air, splashing against Starstruck’s face and burning her eyes. Gritting her teeth, the filly finally released her grip and threw herself across the wooden planks towards the open hatch. She slid hard into the main mast, desperately wrapping her forehooves around it as the bow plunged into another dark canyon. The mast groaned in protest as the ship lurched forward. CRRRUNCH! There was no light this time. The sound she had heard was not thunder. Starstruck opened her eyes as a long black shadow come hurtling towards her and winced in pain as a line snapped against her flank. She screamed as the tree-sized mizzen mast slammed into and continued through the deck next to her. Seawater flooded through the gash, shattered wood floating past the filly’s legs. The icy froth was becoming deeper by the second. She gave the open hatch one more look. “Forget it, Star! She’s going down!” Her father’s voice faded away in the swirling wind and rain. The port railing slid underwater as Dragonera finally gave in. Water flooded into the cabin as the masthead light fell steadily closer to the black waves. Starstruck found herself treading water as she cried out for her father. There was no response. Lighting crawled between the clouds like an electric spider web, and the filly could have sworn that she heard it roar. The ship's bowsprit finally slipped beneath the waves. Starstruck floundered in the icy water, searching for something to hold onto. All around her was splintered wood and the remains of her belongings as they bobbed to the surface. She felt something grab her from behind. “Star, you made it out! Thank heavens…” Her father spun her around and pulled her into a desperate embrace. She knew he would never let go of her. “Take this!” The filly was momentarily blinded as the larger pegasus pushed a foam ring over her head. She threw her front hooves through the hole and gasped for air as she was tossed about by the swells. Where did he go? She strained to see in the broken moonlight, but only fleeting shadows presented themselves. At least she could stay on the surface now. The shivering pony looked down into the inky blackness that she dangled so precariously in. CRACK! A flash of light briefly illuminated the water around her, shades of dark blue fading to black once again. Something huge exploded from the water in front of her. It looked for all the world like a fin, shiny black skin stretched between towering spines. It continued rising as a black mass followed it out of the water. The pony froze as she stared up at a wall of scales the color of a ship’s iron anchor. A brilliant flash cast light across the ocean’s roiling surface. The next image stuck with her. Nothing. Just endless hills of dark water. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Where was her father? Did anypony know they were in danger? The young pegasus began sobbing into her forehooves. Was she crying? Did it matter? The filly screamed into the night around her, but her voice was carried away before reaching her ears. This is it. ********** “NO!” Starstruck awoke to her own cry. Her eyes snapped open but saw nothing in the darkness. She was in her own bed. Breathing slowly to calm her frayed nerves, she rolled out from beneath the down blankets and paced across the room. Shaking away nausea, the mare pushed open the window of her room that looked out over the ocean. The sun was just peeking above the horizon. It was eerily quiet. Then she noticed the seaport. Everywhere she looked, ponies were rushing down to the water’s edge. There were broken pylons floating between the pieces of crushed dock. There were sailboats on their sides, dinghies stranded on the dock, cutters teetering on their cracked keels in the surf. Pools of seawater remained trapped several feet above the tideline. An ambulance cart carried two earth ponies away from the wreckage. It was a disaster scene. This was not the first time Starstruck had woken to such a sight, but never had there been such devastation. It had been a couple vessels off their moorings, or a flooded boathouse. This was a disaster. Ponies had been hurt. Starstruck squeezed her eyes shut and turned away from the awful scene. She felt sick to her stomach. She hadn’t meant to do it. But she had. She gave up and fell to her haunches. The tears came easily now. She hated what she had done. She hated whatever forces beyond her control caused it. But what was there she could she do? Across the room, her door remained cracked open. The white mare with black socks silently watched her sister weep in frustration and anger. A satisfied grin crept onto Miasma’s face as she considered just how little she envied the pony they called Stormbringer. Chapter III: Atlantica's Great HeroChapter III: Atlantica's Great Hero How could this have caused so much harm? The lavender pegasus lay on her stomach, her forehooves dangling in the cool water beneath one of the many piers in Atlantica Seaport. The briny liquid offered no hint that it was the same substance that had devastated the port just hours before. For that matter, few would have guessed that it was also the same pony responsible for the disaster. Starstruck had waited until the emergency crews had finished their work, and until the pedestrians had seen enough and returned to their duties, before wandering down to observe for herself what remained of the complex. She certainly felt guilty about the whole ordeal, having been the cause and all, but there was a part of her that insisted that it wasn’t really her fault. Nopony in her situation would have been able to do anything differently. It just sort of…happened. It’s like falling in love – you can’t get mad at someone for it. It’s not their choice. It just sort of happens. Right? “Excuse me…” The mare startled at the sound of a voice behind her, very nearly sliding forward off the pier before composing herself. Acting as though it hadn’t happened, she glanced casually over her shoulder without actually turning. Behind her stood a grey – or was it silver? – colt clad in the distinctive red-and-gold regalia of Stargazer’s personal Guard. His dark brown mane was trimmed short, as was customary for colts of the Palace. He paused awkwardly and scratched at the board beneath him with a forehoof. “Miss, this pier is closed until further notice. You can’t be here while the port is…” His voice trailed off as the mare turned to face him. He had seen those eyes before. His expression changed as it appeared to dawn on him exactly whom he was addressing. “My apologies…Lady Starstruck. I didn’t recognize you.” He lowered his shoulders and head in a formal bow. “I’d best be continuing my rounds,” he offered succinctly. After a moment he began to trot back towards the main dock. “What is your name, sir?” Starstruck’s words stopped the colt in his tracks. “Silverside,” he offered. “Er…General Silverside.” He made a visible effort to appear taller and more regal the second time while using his title. “Silverside…” she paused and tried to remember where she had heard the name. She chuckled to herself. Despite his claim, the silver pony wasn’t actually a General, at least not yet. “Right, you're the one that father, um, that Stargazer is scheduled to promote this afternoon.” She pursed her lips at her mental slip. It didn’t matter that Stargazer wasn’t actually her father...still, she had always made an effort to reserve the term for the stallion who had raised her and given his life to ensure her safety. It was the least she could do. The colt seemed taken aback by the comment. He had not expected the Royal mare to either know he was the one being honored, or to recognize his name if she had been told. Silverside took a deep breath to combat his rising heart rate. “I take it you will be attending, then.” The slight waver in his voice betrayed his confident facade. He waited uncomfortably as the mare paused and turned her captivating gaze back towards the endless expanse of glistening water. She couldn't help but smile a little. “You’ll know if I’m there.” ********** Trumpets blared across the Royal Pavilion, though their notes were hardly discernible from the incessant buzz of the crowd gathered below. The expanse of perfectly landscaped grass and gardens had been trampled to mud by thousands of hooves as ponies rushed to gain the best view of the coming ceremony. The hot sun beat down upon the spectators, a constant reminder of how few clear days there had been that Spring. Awnings were set up around the perimeter of the vast enclosure to provide as much shade as possible without obscuring anypony’s view. Stone bleachers rose up several stories on either side of the grassy rectangle, while the eastern side – that facing the ocean – was open to provide a dramatic backdrop to the venue. Slowly, the ponies went silent as they recognized the gruff voice straining to be heard from in front of the crowd. “Quiet down, everypony! Silence, please.” Whitewing stood on a wide stone platform spanning between the granite ridges the grand auditorium had been carved into over several decades. His red and gold armor reflected the bright sunlight from above, the ceremonial outfit perfectly polished as always. “Most of you know why we are here. One of our most decorated comrades is set to retire from Royal service as of today. General Riptide, who has served valiantly for more than half a decade now, has appointed a successor to his most esteemed position as the King’s personal Guard. Let us proceed without further ado.” The crowd cheered its approval as Whitewing’s words echoed across the auditorium, the pegasus quickly disappearing behind a red curtain hanging behind the podium. More triumphant-sounding music blared from behind the crowd as the heavy curtain was magically drawn apart. A landscape painting of rocky coastline and crashing water stretched across the back of the stage. The audience whispered amongst themselves, wondering what would happen next. Suddenly, a glowing blue cloud, reminiscent of campfire smoke, materialized in front of the painting’s ocean. It swirled and condensed, twisting until it solidified into the unmistakable likeness of a sea serpent. The ethereal, translucent beast flailed about, spitting fire and snapping its jaws. On the other side of the stage, a flash of light gave way to another ghostly figure. This time, it was of an armor-clad pegasus, scarred and bloody, as he hovered over the majestic oceanic cliffs. The knight’s long black mane and speckled coat were tattered. His armor, razor blades protruding from each plate, was crumpled or missing in several places. In the distance behind him, Guardian Lighthouse appeared as a tiny speck far down the coast. The fearsome beast lashed out as the shadowy figure darted and dashed through the air, slashing at its scaly hide with hoof and limb. Eventually, the serpent dove underwater, clouds of blood spreading across the surface where it had gone down. The knight flew low and peered into the dark waves to confirm that the serpent was dead. In an instant, the monster sprung out of the sea and, in one bite, swallowed the winged pony, armor and all. The crowd gasped in horror. Smoke billowed from the immense serpent’s nostrils and his great yellow eyes narrowed as he turned towards the distant lighthouse. Just as the beast began rear its horn-crowned head, it shuddered violently and began to thrash about. A glowing spot appeared on its underside, halfway between its horrible head and the water’s surface. The monster roared in defiance as a red-hot blade erupted from its hide and sliced downward through flesh and scale. The black knight burst forth from the creature’s chest and spread his blood-soaked wings, spitting out the enchanted sword, its blade hissing as it splashed into the water below. With one last spasm, the sea serpent crashed into the sea and sank lifelessly into its depths. The audience roared as the knight alighted on the shore before collapsing to the ground upon the clifftops. Silence overtook the arena once again as the scene faded away. Whitewing returned to the podium, his hoofsteps echoing faintly, the ponies in the crowd waiting with bated breath. The curtain closed behind him. “It was five years ago that the monster Leviathan was awakened by Discord, the god of chaos, during his short-lived revival. No longer kept at bay by the far-reaching power of the Sun-Princess of Equestria, the great serpent had returned stronger than ever to wreak vengeance upon the kingdom of Atlantica. Without King Stargazer, our ruler having been summoned to Canterlot upon Discord’s return by Celestia herself, we surely had no defense against the ancient beast. “Despite growing sentiment that the town should be evacuated, one pony stepped up and offered to confront the monster. Though respected by all as a talented fighter, he was told that attempting to fight the beast would be suicide. As ponies young and old began packing their belongings and saying goodbye to their homes, the one brave knight took up Stargazer’s enchanted sword and flew out to engage the creature in combat long before it could reach our shore. Despite suffering near-mortal wounds and being swallowed into the belly of the best, the knight triumphed over the evil creature and returned to Atlantica a hero. Today we honor his sacrifice and victory.” The pony finished his monologue and stepped back as the curtain again began to part. “I give you…Fleet Commander, and personal Guard to the King of Atlantica, General Riptide!” White light beamed out from the stage, dissipating to reveal the General, fully clad in gleaming armor, rearing high in the center of the stage. Smoke shrouded the scene as Whitewing bade the crowd to quiet down. Riptide walked out from the smoke and approached the podium slowly, the tips of his black mane drifting lazily in the breeze. There was silence from the crowd as his gravelly voice filled the arena. “I dare say your retelling of that day overshadows the real thing.” A smattering of laughter from the audience. He cleared his throat and admired the size of the crowd before him. “I would like to thank everypony for being here…each and every one of you is part of what makes this city among the greatest in all the land. But today is not about me. This is about the future of our kingdom, and those who will lead our greatest triumphs long after we have left our mark on Atlantica. Before stepping down as Commanding General of Atlantica, I have chosen a particularly impressive individual to follow me. My position is not to be taken lightly; as King Stargazer’s second-in-command, it is a title that requires great diligence and an understanding that its bearer is, in fact, first in line to effectively rule the kingdom should the King himself be unable to for any reason.” He paused to let the crowd murmur amongst themselves for a moment as they considered that last line. “I am not, however, alone in that responsibility,” he continued. From behind him, a white mare pushed through the curtain and gingerly approached the podium. Her black mane sparkled with gemstones, and a ring of diamonds glistened upon her head. Atlantica’s only Princess certainly looked the part. There was a smattering of applause as she waited patiently to address the enraptured audience. A few bold colts whistled loudly. “Thank you, Riptide,” she started, shooting a smug glance towards the pegasus who towered over her. He rolled his eyes at the arrogant mare’s deliberate omission of his title. “With your blessing, I would like to introduce our new Fleet Commander.” Her words were aimed at the stallion, but loud enough for the crowd to hear. She paused and cocked her head towards him. He nodded and gave a half-hearted bow to show that the stage was hers. “It is my honor to present to you…General Silverside!” A silver earth pony made his way forward, his steps deliberate and formal. The white mare winked at him as she left the stage. He noticed the scent of coconut and wildflowers as the mare disappeared behind the curtain. Coconut? Those don’t grow in Atlantica. Riptide’s loud voice interrupted his thoughts. “To formally bestow this title, please welcome our—” he was stopped mid-sentence as a formal-looking earth pony rushed out from behind the curtain and whispered something in his ear. He hesitated before continuing. “Um…I give you, again, the King’s daughter, Princess Miasma.” There was a distinct lack of enthusiasm in his voice. He heard muffled sounds of ponies arguing somewhere behind the stage. The crowd began to grow restless, the scheduled presence of King Stargazer notably absent from the proceedings before them. Silverside, for his part, simply stood his ground and looked nervously around the stage. For all the courage he could show under pressure, formal events had always caused him great anxiety. Riptide hurried away from the podium and behind the curtain. “What in the hay is going on here?” He glanced desperately from one pony to the next, each of the dozen ponies in charge of the event giving him the same uneasy look. Behind him, no sooner had Miasma reappeared with an escort than two huffy mares all but shoved her back out onto the stage. “If the King isn’t here, then where is he? He’s the only reason anypony even shows up to these events!” Riptide’s frustration was quickly rising. Unlike the King, Riptide was not known for having copious amounts of patience. “And where’s the other Princess? She’s supposed to be here, too.” While Starstruck wasn’t technically a Princess, not being of Stargazer’s bloodline, the differentiation wasn’t important at the moment. As if to answer his question, there were loud hoofsteps on the stairs. Starstruck came rushing over, pushing through the small crowd of very worried-looking ponies. “Riptide! We need to you come quickly.” She was panting as she forced the words out of her dry throat. She glanced to her left as loud applause broke out on the other side of the curtain. Silverside and Miasma pushed through it and were quickly accosted by a brown unicorn with a clipboard. Silverside gasped audibly as the three exchanged words. “Show’s over, everypony!” the unicorn hollered as he rushed down the stairs behind the stage. Silverside looked panicked, sweat beading on his face and neck as he spun towards Riptide with an expression of despair. “What are we going to do? Why today? This is a disaster!” he stammered. “WHAT is a disaster!?” The black pegasus wheeled about, looking for answers from anypony who would listen. Starstruck was the first to speak, though she was clearly having difficulty putting her thoughts into words. “It’s Stargazer! The medical ward…they don’t know what’s wrong! We need to hurry!” She looked on the brink of tears as she hurried towards the stairs. Noticing Silverside for the first time, Starstruck broke stride and turned toward him, looking like she was about to say something. The colt waved her off. With a nod, the pegasus flew down the stairs before gaining altitude and leaving the Pavilion behind. The rest of the ponies in the room rushed out behind her, leaving only the huge stallion and Silverside. The earth pony appeared to have regained some composure as he shot a look towards Riptide. “Somepony has to take charge of this craziness…you’re the hero here, General!” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I don’t know – you took charge when the sea serpent came along and everypony was freaking out!” The black pegasus flared his nostrils and stomped in frustration. With a great sweep of his wings, he took to the air before glaring down at the silver pony. “Kid, I’ve never even seen a sea serpent!” Silverside froze as he watched Atlantica’s great hero fly away.
Chapter I: The Stranger in the StormChapter I: The Stranger in the Storm King Stargazer stood motionlessly on the bow of the Atlantica, his seaside kingdom’s flagship vessel gliding gently into harbor on a calm westerly breeze. He was a tall unicorn with a dark grey coat and white mane, his sturdy physique belying the decades that had passed under his reign. Even now, Stargazer maintained an intimidating presence, particularly as his piercing gaze scanned the coastline before him. Turning away from his post at the ship’s bow, the King cast a glance at the distant horizon. It had been a rare restful night for Stargazer and his crew, as the squall predicted to land overnight had moved north and allowed them safe passage home. The first rays of sunlight scattered upon a low cloud layer as the golden-yellow disk pushed its way above the horizon. An old rhyme surfaced in Stargazer’s mind as he surveyed the beautiful collision of light and seascape before him. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight…red sky at morning, sailors take warning. The glassy water before him reflected several shades of crimson, and Stargazer sighed quietly as he considered how lucky their timing had been, reaching port between the squall and whatever foul occurrence this ominously gorgeous sunrise foretold. It was about time to rouse the crew, with their long-awaited arrival in Atlantica less than an hour away. Making his way past the fo’c’sle, he pushed past the pony stationed at the helm and through a pair of mahogany storm doors, and entered the cabin. “Fogdiver!” After a moment, a short, green earth pony dragged himself out of the first mate’s quarters and stood groggily at attention before the King, his uniform tattered and smelling faintly of sea salt and rum. “Give the starboard cannon a blast,” Stargazer ordered. “It’s time everypony got themselves to work; today’s a big day for us...for all of Atlantica.” Stargazer ascended the staircase to the helm none too gingerly, his heavy footsteps emphasizing the gravity of his words. Their return to Atlantica was an important occasion, and not merely because the King was returning to his city for the first time in months. This would, in fact, be the first time he saw his daughter, to whom his beloved Queen Moonshine had given birth before her untimely passing. The news that his wife of twenty years had passed in his absence had been devastating; equally shocking had been that she had delivered a filly just weeks before succumbing to her long-developing case of laminitis. It had been a long journey home despite their immediate change of course for Atlantica Seaport upon receiving the letter while at Freedom Landing. BANG! “All hooves on deck!” Stargazer snapped back to the moment as Fogdiver’s muffled voice echoed through the belly of the ship below. He could hear the crew stumbling for their belongings as they shook off the combined effects of deep sleep and the paralyzing cannon blast. The unicorn returned topside as the ship sidled up alongside a long wooden dock. Ponies of all ages and colors were packed onto the floating structure as the huge vessel’s bow and stern lines were tossed down and secured. Last off the ship was Stargazer himself, and a cheer rose from the crowd as he assumed his best kingly pose and sauntered down the gangplank to the dock. Bows, handshakes, and congratulations were offered by many, while others remained quiet or offered their respectful condolences in light of the gallant unicorn’s loss. Far behind them, the bustling port town sprawled across the waterfront, framed by high granite cliffs upon which Stargazer’s palace proudly stood. Adjoining the castle was a stone lighthouse, a hundred and twenty feet tall and possessing the brightest beacon on the coast. It was a sign of hope for weary travelers and a welcome sight for those returning home from voyages upon the unforgiving sea. Guardian Lighthouse had been erected nearly forty years earlier, as a symbol of triumph and peace following Stargazer’s hard-fought victory over the sea serpent Leviathan. The beast had stalked the shores of Atlantica for centuries, and had returned early in Stargazer’s reign to reclaim the coast from the ponies who had settled there in his absence. Stargazer had wielded his powerful magic against the ferocious beast for many days before the monster finally succumbed. Though he would never admit it, the pony King admired the serpent’s effort to defend even such a trivial part of his domain, and spared its life in a controversial gesture that would eventually cement his legacy as a noble and benevolent ruler. ********** Several hours later, Stargazer found himself in the master bedroom of his palace, accompanied only by his Royal Guard and Emerald, Stargazer’s personal assistant, and now, nanny. Emerald had been unwaveringly at his side for as long as the King had been in Atlantica, and next to Moonshine, was his most trusted friend. Since Moonshine’s passing, Emerald had been chosen to raise Stargazer’s filly until his return. The yellow unicorn had spent the vast majority of the last three months ensuring that Stargazer would have a healthy, happy young filly to come home to, and now her patient care finally paid off. “She’s…beautiful. Thank you, Emerald.” Stargazer was never one for compassionate words, but the simple phrase was more than enough to make the mare’s eyes become glassy as she tried to keep her composure. She nodded stiffly at the beaming new father. Stargazer leaned down and kissed the tiny, fragile filly on the forehead. She was white all over except for black ‘socks’ by her four hooves. She also had no horn. The grey stallion considered this for a moment. Both he and Moonshine were unicorns – what were the chances that their daughter would be an earth pony? “She is just like your mother.” Emerald noticed the pensive look on Stargazer’s face and reassured him that the filly had taken after both her grandmothers. It made sense that she would be without a horn or wings, since half her lineage was, in fact, earth pony. Her paternal lineage, on the other hand, was half unicorn and half pegasus. “What do you want to name her? It won’t be long before ‘little one’ or ‘precious’ begins to stick with her.” Stargazer silently pondered the question. “Moonshine had several names she was considering. I believe she was fond of her mother’s, Miasma. It has a nice ring to it.” He once again found himself stumbling to find a tone of voice befitting the serenely joyful mood. The last rays of sunlight were streaming in through the mansion’s stained glass windows now, casting streaks of blue and green light across the room. Dust swirled at the base of each pane, tiny particles dancing among the red and yellow flower petals that adorned the sill. The yellow unicorn chuckled softly and cradled the white filly in her forehooves, smiling up at Stargazer as she gently stroked her tiny burden’s short mane. “Miasma.” ********** CRACK! The window shades shuddered in their frames with each new round of thunder. Driving rain pelted the mythical figures locked in eternal battle within the glass, the rain’s once-soft pattering now a constant thrum. Stargazer stood in the palace’s Great Hall, observing the seaport and ocean in the distance through the great window that composed much of the room’s eastern wall. Somewhere upstairs, Emerald was doing her best to quiet his daughter despite the terrifying weather. There would be no sleep tonight. He had been here for hours, somewhere between being too excited and too worried to sleep. It was upsetting to see his little foal crying so much in his first night back. Obviously it wasn’t his fault, or any other pony’s – after all, it’s not like one can control the weather. The sea does that instead along this treacherous coastline. Stargazer glanced at the tall clock positioned across the room. Four-thirty. Today would be a long day. There were ceremonies to be held, awards to be presented, ships to be unloaded, and he was expected to preside over all the festivities that accompanied a successful return by Atlantica’s greatest ship. It was a holiday that came two to three times each year, to be sure, but this was considered particularly important because he had been aboard the Atlantica for this voyage. The centerpiece would be a ceremony to honor his commanding general and personal guard, Riptide, who would be stepping down after half a decade of service. The general had selected a colt to step into his place, though the identity of the new commander would not revealed to the public until the event. Plop…plop…plop… Stargazer could hear water dripping from somewhere outside. The rain had finally ceased its bombardment of the town. The landscape was still only faintly illuminated by a crescent moon, but what light there was reflected off huge amounts of standing water surrounding the palace. There would need to be lots of sand poured around the castle grounds to keep them from turning to mud and washing away. One more thing to worry about… “Your Majesty, come quickly!” A member of the Guard burst through the front door, his urgency apparent in both his words and demeanor. What could possibly be the matter at this hour? Stargazer turned his attention to the soaking-wet pegasus, who was still panting as he did his best to stand at attention in the King’s presence. “Ease yourself, Whitewing. What requires my attention at such a time?” Stargazer could not imagine why he would be needed for something at this very moment. “You Majesty, the first patrol after the rain let up found something outside. We wanted to ask you what to do.” “Go on.” “We found a filly out in the storm. Pegasus. Can’t be more than two years. Definitely not one of ours.” This was a strange and remarkable occurrence indeed. Everypony in the port town was familiar with one another; traveling bands from other parts of Atlantica always gave notice before arriving in the town in which the King resided. A single pony, much less one barely past foalhood, would almost certainly never be able to make the long haul from Threshold Cove, nearly forty miles away, to here without supplies or vessel. “See to it that she is warmed and housed for the night. If what you say is true, this pony is bound to have a story to tell…a story I’d like to hear.” ********** The lavender filly was still shaking. Escorted by two fully clad Guards, the tiny mare stood before the King’s throne, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a despondent expression. Her mane and tail hung straight down, their jet-black color pierced by two lightning-yellow streaks. Her eyes were turned downwards, but their vivid golden irises still glistened in the hazy morning light. The filly’s lips trembled slightly as she muttered unintelligibly under her breath. Stargazer observed the foreigner from his seat, several feet higher than the rest of the ponies in the room. He had an uneasy feeling about this pony, but he couldn’t say exactly where the feeling came from. He addressed the newcomer. “You arrived at our town in a most unusual manner. No belongings, no companions, no…anything. Why are you here?” The filly raised her eyes to meet Stargazer’s. They were so bright compared to the rest of her complexion. Those striking golden eyes seemed to stare right through the King, down into his thoughts and into his very emotions. They were full of confidence and determination, of vivaciousness and spirit. There was far more to this filly than met the eye. Stargazer felt his mane prickle and stand on end. He turned away instinctively, then returned his gaze to the mare. Was it fear? Impossible. He paced his words carefully. “What is your name?” The filly took a deep breath. She never blinked. Those eyes just drilled right back into Stargazer’s own as if to command his respect and admiration. The King realized he was holding his breath. “Starstruck,” the mare replied. Her tone was quiet but unwavering in its authority. “My name…is Starstruck.”
Chapter II: "Stormbringer"Chapter II: "Stormbringer" “But she did it again! Father, you can’t let this keep happening!” “Firstly, she didn’t mean to do anything. We all make mistakes; the harbor can be repaired. And what exactly would you suggest I do? For Celestia's sake, she's your sister. Miasma, I respect your opinions, stubborn though they may be, but this is out of my hooves.” The white earth pony shook her head and snorted in disgust before turning and trudging out of the throne room. Her frustration had been simmering for months. Anypony could see that something had to be done, but not one good idea had been put forth by either the King or any of his subjects. Stargazer had first noticed the strange occurrences a few months after he had adopted the young pegasus as his own. Starstruck was…different. Ever since that stormy night during which the filly had mysteriously appeared on their shore, Stargazer had felt something strange whenever he was near the pegasus. It wasn’t just her demeanor, or even her now-famous golden eyes. It was…an energy. As the filly had grown into a young mare, unusual things had started happening around her, particularly at sea. Her first voyage aboard one of the royal ships had lasted only a day before she fell seasick. That, however, was hardly a reason to abandon the expedition; within minutes, a waterspout had formed near, and nearly sunk, the triple-masted sailing vessel. Nopony could remember the last time one of the oceanic twisters had been seen in Atlantica. The second time Starstruck ventured out onto the ocean, everything had been fine until the second week of the trip. Early one morning, Fogdiver had noticed the young mare crying out in her sleep, presumably experiencing nightmares. Before he could wake her, shouts were echoing across the deck that a rogue wave had appeared on the horizon and was rushing towards the helpless ship. Ponies had begun to panic as the wall of water neared the frigate. As the crew was preparing to launch the lifeboats, Fogdiver had raced to wake the King’s eldest daughter in order to escort her personally. No sooner had he shaken the wailing pegasus awake than everypony had suddenly gone quiet above deck. Fogdiver returned to the helm to find that the towering wave had disappeared without a trace. The ocean’s surface was as smooth as glass, reflecting only the awestruck faces of the ponies who now stared over the bulwarks trying to comprehend what had just happened. Fogdiver had bitten himself to make sure it wasn’t a dream. No wave. Not even a ripple. Of course, Starstruck remembered none of it, having soon arrived topside to a beautiful sunrise and placid sea. The rest of the trip had been relatively uneventful – not that there was likely to be any news more intriguing to the community than the King’s daughter ostensibly creating a natural disaster by dreaming. It seemed so far-fetched, the notion that anypony not named Celestia could be responsible for such an event. The residents of Atlantica knew well the stories of the distant region of Equestria – the Land of the Sun Princess, as it was sometimes called. Of course, Starstruck was extremely deferential when asked by the locals about the experience; the idea that she was capable of such power was terrifying, particularly since she could neither control nor explain any of the events in question. As a result, Starstruck was effectively barred from oceanic travel for fear that she would, indeed, be putting lives at risk. Before long, the tidal wave incident had earned her a nickname amongst the ponies in Atlantica: Stormbringer. It was not a fond moniker. Despite her reserved and polite demeanor, Starstruck was seen as an enigma by the community. Between her supernatural reputation and shocking eyes, ponies seemed to be both morbidly curious and extremely tentative when actually in her presence. It was a nice feeling to command such respect, but the accompanying fear that she sensed was even more hurtful. She told herself that the latter would pass as she became more familiar with the rest of Atlantica’s citizens. All of this had not gone unnoticed by Miasma. The younger earth pony had grown up both overshadowed by her father and anonymous in comparison to her adopted sister. As Stargazer’s heir, Miasma felt that she deserved to be the daughter everypony was talking about, not her sister. Her, ahem, “sister.” At this point, it didn’t even make a difference what people were saying – providing it wasn’t too too bad – as long as they were, in fact, saying something about her. Any press is good press, after all. It was maddening, the way that Starstruck, among the most introverted and shy ponies in all of Atlantica Seaport, had become a veritable celebrity in the three years since her arrival. Yes, Starstruck may have already been a young filly at the time Miasma was born, but that’s no excuse. A pony was already physically mature by age three, so a two-year age advantage was of little consequence by now. “Mye? Are you okay?” Starstruck watched her sister with a concerned look from the half-open door. Miasma realized that during her internal monologue she had begun talking out loud. You foal. “Yes, I’m quite alright, thank you. And for heaven’s sake, please knock before you come barging into my room! It’s my room for a reason.” Miasma bit her lip upon hearing herself deliver the words more harshly than she had meant to. Then how did I mean it? “My apologies, sister. It’s just…I heard you talking to somepony and didn’t remember anypony else being in here. My mistake.” The lavender mare shrunk away from the door, closing it with a sharp click. Starstruck’s shy mannerisms disgusted her sister. It was such a tedious business, attempting a conversation with the withdrawn pegasus. All the attention the perpetual Talk Of the Town had endured was turning her into a veritable recluse. And Miasma couldn’t for the life of her figure out what her sister was thinking at any given moment. Maybe her sister was just generally incapable of thinking. The white pony’s lips curled into a smirk. She couldn’t help but chuckle at that last thought. ********** This was not how she had imagined it. Starstruck clung to her bench cushion as the bow of the ketch Dragonera fell repeatedly against the black ocean swells. It was like the sea had simply devoured the light from the sky without bothering to be lit by it. Taking a vacation? Great idea. Going on an adventure? Yeah, that sounds like fun. Holding on for dear life while being pounded by a hurricane miles from shore? Not her idea of a relaxing getaway. “The water’s breaking over the bow! Star, throw down the front hatch!” Her father kept his steely gaze upon the ship’s compass as he hollered over the storm. Without the stars or landmarks, there was no other way to navigate than by the glowing etched disk. The middle-aged pegasus strained against the wind, trying to keep his vessel pointing straight into the waves that threatened to swamp the ship with one false calculation. The filly remained glued to her seat, too terrified to venture out across the deck. A flash of light raced across the sky, revealing a snapshot of boiling grey clouds and menacing cliffs of water in all directions. Starstruck heard her father plead for her to help as another wall of water crashed over the forward gunwales. Tears brimmed in the filly’s eyes as she fought to control her emotions. This is so wrong. Lightning crackled in the heavens over them again. Starstruck looked skyward just in time to see an enormous shadow outlined against the swirling clouds. It looked almost serpentine, arching between two mountains of water. She turned her attention back to her father, still struggling in vain to keep the wheel centered. Horizontal rain and surging sea water melded in mid air, splashing against Starstruck’s face and burning her eyes. Gritting her teeth, the filly finally released her grip and threw herself across the wooden planks towards the open hatch. She slid hard into the main mast, desperately wrapping her forehooves around it as the bow plunged into another dark canyon. The mast groaned in protest as the ship lurched forward. CRRRUNCH! There was no light this time. The sound she had heard was not thunder. Starstruck opened her eyes as a long black shadow come hurtling towards her and winced in pain as a line snapped against her flank. She screamed as the tree-sized mizzen mast slammed into and continued through the deck next to her. Seawater flooded through the gash, shattered wood floating past the filly’s legs. The icy froth was becoming deeper by the second. She gave the open hatch one more look. “Forget it, Star! She’s going down!” Her father’s voice faded away in the swirling wind and rain. The port railing slid underwater as Dragonera finally gave in. Water flooded into the cabin as the masthead light fell steadily closer to the black waves. Starstruck found herself treading water as she cried out for her father. There was no response. Lighting crawled between the clouds like an electric spider web, and the filly could have sworn that she heard it roar. The ship's bowsprit finally slipped beneath the waves. Starstruck floundered in the icy water, searching for something to hold onto. All around her was splintered wood and the remains of her belongings as they bobbed to the surface. She felt something grab her from behind. “Star, you made it out! Thank heavens…” Her father spun her around and pulled her into a desperate embrace. She knew he would never let go of her. “Take this!” The filly was momentarily blinded as the larger pegasus pushed a foam ring over her head. She threw her front hooves through the hole and gasped for air as she was tossed about by the swells. Where did he go? She strained to see in the broken moonlight, but only fleeting shadows presented themselves. At least she could stay on the surface now. The shivering pony looked down into the inky blackness that she dangled so precariously in. CRACK! A flash of light briefly illuminated the water around her, shades of dark blue fading to black once again. Something huge exploded from the water in front of her. It looked for all the world like a fin, shiny black skin stretched between towering spines. It continued rising as a black mass followed it out of the water. The pony froze as she stared up at a wall of scales the color of a ship’s iron anchor. A brilliant flash cast light across the ocean’s roiling surface. The next image stuck with her. Nothing. Just endless hills of dark water. Was her mind playing tricks on her? Where was her father? Did anypony know they were in danger? The young pegasus began sobbing into her forehooves. Was she crying? Did it matter? The filly screamed into the night around her, but her voice was carried away before reaching her ears. This is it. ********** “NO!” Starstruck awoke to her own cry. Her eyes snapped open but saw nothing in the darkness. She was in her own bed. Breathing slowly to calm her frayed nerves, she rolled out from beneath the down blankets and paced across the room. Shaking away nausea, the mare pushed open the window of her room that looked out over the ocean. The sun was just peeking above the horizon. It was eerily quiet. Then she noticed the seaport. Everywhere she looked, ponies were rushing down to the water’s edge. There were broken pylons floating between the pieces of crushed dock. There were sailboats on their sides, dinghies stranded on the dock, cutters teetering on their cracked keels in the surf. Pools of seawater remained trapped several feet above the tideline. An ambulance cart carried two earth ponies away from the wreckage. It was a disaster scene. This was not the first time Starstruck had woken to such a sight, but never had there been such devastation. It had been a couple vessels off their moorings, or a flooded boathouse. This was a disaster. Ponies had been hurt. Starstruck squeezed her eyes shut and turned away from the awful scene. She felt sick to her stomach. She hadn’t meant to do it. But she had. She gave up and fell to her haunches. The tears came easily now. She hated what she had done. She hated whatever forces beyond her control caused it. But what was there she could she do? Across the room, her door remained cracked open. The white mare with black socks silently watched her sister weep in frustration and anger. A satisfied grin crept onto Miasma’s face as she considered just how little she envied the pony they called Stormbringer.
Chapter III: Atlantica's Great HeroChapter III: Atlantica's Great Hero How could this have caused so much harm? The lavender pegasus lay on her stomach, her forehooves dangling in the cool water beneath one of the many piers in Atlantica Seaport. The briny liquid offered no hint that it was the same substance that had devastated the port just hours before. For that matter, few would have guessed that it was also the same pony responsible for the disaster. Starstruck had waited until the emergency crews had finished their work, and until the pedestrians had seen enough and returned to their duties, before wandering down to observe for herself what remained of the complex. She certainly felt guilty about the whole ordeal, having been the cause and all, but there was a part of her that insisted that it wasn’t really her fault. Nopony in her situation would have been able to do anything differently. It just sort of…happened. It’s like falling in love – you can’t get mad at someone for it. It’s not their choice. It just sort of happens. Right? “Excuse me…” The mare startled at the sound of a voice behind her, very nearly sliding forward off the pier before composing herself. Acting as though it hadn’t happened, she glanced casually over her shoulder without actually turning. Behind her stood a grey – or was it silver? – colt clad in the distinctive red-and-gold regalia of Stargazer’s personal Guard. His dark brown mane was trimmed short, as was customary for colts of the Palace. He paused awkwardly and scratched at the board beneath him with a forehoof. “Miss, this pier is closed until further notice. You can’t be here while the port is…” His voice trailed off as the mare turned to face him. He had seen those eyes before. His expression changed as it appeared to dawn on him exactly whom he was addressing. “My apologies…Lady Starstruck. I didn’t recognize you.” He lowered his shoulders and head in a formal bow. “I’d best be continuing my rounds,” he offered succinctly. After a moment he began to trot back towards the main dock. “What is your name, sir?” Starstruck’s words stopped the colt in his tracks. “Silverside,” he offered. “Er…General Silverside.” He made a visible effort to appear taller and more regal the second time while using his title. “Silverside…” she paused and tried to remember where she had heard the name. She chuckled to herself. Despite his claim, the silver pony wasn’t actually a General, at least not yet. “Right, you're the one that father, um, that Stargazer is scheduled to promote this afternoon.” She pursed her lips at her mental slip. It didn’t matter that Stargazer wasn’t actually her father...still, she had always made an effort to reserve the term for the stallion who had raised her and given his life to ensure her safety. It was the least she could do. The colt seemed taken aback by the comment. He had not expected the Royal mare to either know he was the one being honored, or to recognize his name if she had been told. Silverside took a deep breath to combat his rising heart rate. “I take it you will be attending, then.” The slight waver in his voice betrayed his confident facade. He waited uncomfortably as the mare paused and turned her captivating gaze back towards the endless expanse of glistening water. She couldn't help but smile a little. “You’ll know if I’m there.” ********** Trumpets blared across the Royal Pavilion, though their notes were hardly discernible from the incessant buzz of the crowd gathered below. The expanse of perfectly landscaped grass and gardens had been trampled to mud by thousands of hooves as ponies rushed to gain the best view of the coming ceremony. The hot sun beat down upon the spectators, a constant reminder of how few clear days there had been that Spring. Awnings were set up around the perimeter of the vast enclosure to provide as much shade as possible without obscuring anypony’s view. Stone bleachers rose up several stories on either side of the grassy rectangle, while the eastern side – that facing the ocean – was open to provide a dramatic backdrop to the venue. Slowly, the ponies went silent as they recognized the gruff voice straining to be heard from in front of the crowd. “Quiet down, everypony! Silence, please.” Whitewing stood on a wide stone platform spanning between the granite ridges the grand auditorium had been carved into over several decades. His red and gold armor reflected the bright sunlight from above, the ceremonial outfit perfectly polished as always. “Most of you know why we are here. One of our most decorated comrades is set to retire from Royal service as of today. General Riptide, who has served valiantly for more than half a decade now, has appointed a successor to his most esteemed position as the King’s personal Guard. Let us proceed without further ado.” The crowd cheered its approval as Whitewing’s words echoed across the auditorium, the pegasus quickly disappearing behind a red curtain hanging behind the podium. More triumphant-sounding music blared from behind the crowd as the heavy curtain was magically drawn apart. A landscape painting of rocky coastline and crashing water stretched across the back of the stage. The audience whispered amongst themselves, wondering what would happen next. Suddenly, a glowing blue cloud, reminiscent of campfire smoke, materialized in front of the painting’s ocean. It swirled and condensed, twisting until it solidified into the unmistakable likeness of a sea serpent. The ethereal, translucent beast flailed about, spitting fire and snapping its jaws. On the other side of the stage, a flash of light gave way to another ghostly figure. This time, it was of an armor-clad pegasus, scarred and bloody, as he hovered over the majestic oceanic cliffs. The knight’s long black mane and speckled coat were tattered. His armor, razor blades protruding from each plate, was crumpled or missing in several places. In the distance behind him, Guardian Lighthouse appeared as a tiny speck far down the coast. The fearsome beast lashed out as the shadowy figure darted and dashed through the air, slashing at its scaly hide with hoof and limb. Eventually, the serpent dove underwater, clouds of blood spreading across the surface where it had gone down. The knight flew low and peered into the dark waves to confirm that the serpent was dead. In an instant, the monster sprung out of the sea and, in one bite, swallowed the winged pony, armor and all. The crowd gasped in horror. Smoke billowed from the immense serpent’s nostrils and his great yellow eyes narrowed as he turned towards the distant lighthouse. Just as the beast began rear its horn-crowned head, it shuddered violently and began to thrash about. A glowing spot appeared on its underside, halfway between its horrible head and the water’s surface. The monster roared in defiance as a red-hot blade erupted from its hide and sliced downward through flesh and scale. The black knight burst forth from the creature’s chest and spread his blood-soaked wings, spitting out the enchanted sword, its blade hissing as it splashed into the water below. With one last spasm, the sea serpent crashed into the sea and sank lifelessly into its depths. The audience roared as the knight alighted on the shore before collapsing to the ground upon the clifftops. Silence overtook the arena once again as the scene faded away. Whitewing returned to the podium, his hoofsteps echoing faintly, the ponies in the crowd waiting with bated breath. The curtain closed behind him. “It was five years ago that the monster Leviathan was awakened by Discord, the god of chaos, during his short-lived revival. No longer kept at bay by the far-reaching power of the Sun-Princess of Equestria, the great serpent had returned stronger than ever to wreak vengeance upon the kingdom of Atlantica. Without King Stargazer, our ruler having been summoned to Canterlot upon Discord’s return by Celestia herself, we surely had no defense against the ancient beast. “Despite growing sentiment that the town should be evacuated, one pony stepped up and offered to confront the monster. Though respected by all as a talented fighter, he was told that attempting to fight the beast would be suicide. As ponies young and old began packing their belongings and saying goodbye to their homes, the one brave knight took up Stargazer’s enchanted sword and flew out to engage the creature in combat long before it could reach our shore. Despite suffering near-mortal wounds and being swallowed into the belly of the best, the knight triumphed over the evil creature and returned to Atlantica a hero. Today we honor his sacrifice and victory.” The pony finished his monologue and stepped back as the curtain again began to part. “I give you…Fleet Commander, and personal Guard to the King of Atlantica, General Riptide!” White light beamed out from the stage, dissipating to reveal the General, fully clad in gleaming armor, rearing high in the center of the stage. Smoke shrouded the scene as Whitewing bade the crowd to quiet down. Riptide walked out from the smoke and approached the podium slowly, the tips of his black mane drifting lazily in the breeze. There was silence from the crowd as his gravelly voice filled the arena. “I dare say your retelling of that day overshadows the real thing.” A smattering of laughter from the audience. He cleared his throat and admired the size of the crowd before him. “I would like to thank everypony for being here…each and every one of you is part of what makes this city among the greatest in all the land. But today is not about me. This is about the future of our kingdom, and those who will lead our greatest triumphs long after we have left our mark on Atlantica. Before stepping down as Commanding General of Atlantica, I have chosen a particularly impressive individual to follow me. My position is not to be taken lightly; as King Stargazer’s second-in-command, it is a title that requires great diligence and an understanding that its bearer is, in fact, first in line to effectively rule the kingdom should the King himself be unable to for any reason.” He paused to let the crowd murmur amongst themselves for a moment as they considered that last line. “I am not, however, alone in that responsibility,” he continued. From behind him, a white mare pushed through the curtain and gingerly approached the podium. Her black mane sparkled with gemstones, and a ring of diamonds glistened upon her head. Atlantica’s only Princess certainly looked the part. There was a smattering of applause as she waited patiently to address the enraptured audience. A few bold colts whistled loudly. “Thank you, Riptide,” she started, shooting a smug glance towards the pegasus who towered over her. He rolled his eyes at the arrogant mare’s deliberate omission of his title. “With your blessing, I would like to introduce our new Fleet Commander.” Her words were aimed at the stallion, but loud enough for the crowd to hear. She paused and cocked her head towards him. He nodded and gave a half-hearted bow to show that the stage was hers. “It is my honor to present to you…General Silverside!” A silver earth pony made his way forward, his steps deliberate and formal. The white mare winked at him as she left the stage. He noticed the scent of coconut and wildflowers as the mare disappeared behind the curtain. Coconut? Those don’t grow in Atlantica. Riptide’s loud voice interrupted his thoughts. “To formally bestow this title, please welcome our—” he was stopped mid-sentence as a formal-looking earth pony rushed out from behind the curtain and whispered something in his ear. He hesitated before continuing. “Um…I give you, again, the King’s daughter, Princess Miasma.” There was a distinct lack of enthusiasm in his voice. He heard muffled sounds of ponies arguing somewhere behind the stage. The crowd began to grow restless, the scheduled presence of King Stargazer notably absent from the proceedings before them. Silverside, for his part, simply stood his ground and looked nervously around the stage. For all the courage he could show under pressure, formal events had always caused him great anxiety. Riptide hurried away from the podium and behind the curtain. “What in the hay is going on here?” He glanced desperately from one pony to the next, each of the dozen ponies in charge of the event giving him the same uneasy look. Behind him, no sooner had Miasma reappeared with an escort than two huffy mares all but shoved her back out onto the stage. “If the King isn’t here, then where is he? He’s the only reason anypony even shows up to these events!” Riptide’s frustration was quickly rising. Unlike the King, Riptide was not known for having copious amounts of patience. “And where’s the other Princess? She’s supposed to be here, too.” While Starstruck wasn’t technically a Princess, not being of Stargazer’s bloodline, the differentiation wasn’t important at the moment. As if to answer his question, there were loud hoofsteps on the stairs. Starstruck came rushing over, pushing through the small crowd of very worried-looking ponies. “Riptide! We need to you come quickly.” She was panting as she forced the words out of her dry throat. She glanced to her left as loud applause broke out on the other side of the curtain. Silverside and Miasma pushed through it and were quickly accosted by a brown unicorn with a clipboard. Silverside gasped audibly as the three exchanged words. “Show’s over, everypony!” the unicorn hollered as he rushed down the stairs behind the stage. Silverside looked panicked, sweat beading on his face and neck as he spun towards Riptide with an expression of despair. “What are we going to do? Why today? This is a disaster!” he stammered. “WHAT is a disaster!?” The black pegasus wheeled about, looking for answers from anypony who would listen. Starstruck was the first to speak, though she was clearly having difficulty putting her thoughts into words. “It’s Stargazer! The medical ward…they don’t know what’s wrong! We need to hurry!” She looked on the brink of tears as she hurried towards the stairs. Noticing Silverside for the first time, Starstruck broke stride and turned toward him, looking like she was about to say something. The colt waved her off. With a nod, the pegasus flew down the stairs before gaining altitude and leaving the Pavilion behind. The rest of the ponies in the room rushed out behind her, leaving only the huge stallion and Silverside. The earth pony appeared to have regained some composure as he shot a look towards Riptide. “Somepony has to take charge of this craziness…you’re the hero here, General!” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I don’t know – you took charge when the sea serpent came along and everypony was freaking out!” The black pegasus flared his nostrils and stomped in frustration. With a great sweep of his wings, he took to the air before glaring down at the silver pony. “Kid, I’ve never even seen a sea serpent!” Silverside froze as he watched Atlantica’s great hero fly away.
