Still awake in one of the oldest castles in the unicorn’s realm was a filly not even the most renown of magicians had met. But given the chance to prove her abilities, she herself could not only rule the three pony realms with her magic, she could shape their very founders. “Dear diary. No that’s too cliche.” The filly paced back and forth on the damp castle floor. It was pouring violently this night, with winds that had already broken some of the stain glass windows in the mess hall with sheer force. Her magic forced a quill to dip into some ink as a sheet of new parchment laid still on a heirloom writing desk. “To whom this may concern. Now it sounds like I’m writing my last will.” The filly scoffed unable to word her letter correctly. “Maybe a blunt approach is best.”The filly thought,she gave a nod and started a new letter. “I am leaving the castle. I have to find my own way in this world. I fear that your wealth and my age blinds you from seeing my potential.” The filly smiled. Finally she felt the stress of her family lifted off of her shoulders, more importantly she felt free to live her life.
It wasn’t long before the filly had slipped out of the castle and braced herself for a clear get away. She had never seen outside of her family’s castle before and with the rain soaking her soft and regal cowl she forced herself not to run back to her jaded life. She galloped quickly in the fog that began to creep from the warm chiseled stone meeting the ice-like rain and found herself huddled under a leaky archway to one of the more well funded cathedrals of Cosmos. She hoped that nopony was still inside as she trotted carefully into the great hall. She hadn’t been in here since her parents had her baptized and when she was old enough to speak her mind, she told her parents she dismissed the very thought of any sentient being watching over them as superstitious silliness. But even now as she stepped further and further into the church, she closed her eyes and gave one final prayer, kneeling before the mural of a three headed being with wings and tails of many different species. “Dear Cosmos, I hope you can forgive my selfishness for leaving. But if you could help me, maybe give me a sign that my heart is leading me in the right direction-”
“Aye? Who is that?!” A low and hoarse voice called out. A shadow began to move from one of the pews.
“Sorry for disturbing you, I just came to pray.”
“Filly, do you know it is not even noon.”
“Cosmos does not sleep.”
“What of you folks? Did nopony come with you?”
“My parents...are with Cosmos.”
“Forgive my prying then, an orphan?”
“I have an uncle who is too busy to notice me. What about you?”
“I’m a servant to Cosmos, but more importantly a serf to the Spectral King.”
“What’s your name?”
The shadow bobbed around in the dim candlelight. ‘My name...uhhh...Clover? Think that’s it.”
“You don’t remember your name?”
“Didn’t need to remember it, if you are never called by it.”
“Well from here on out I’ll call you by name. How’s that Clover?”
“Very generous Lady...”
“Star Swirl”
“Lady Star Sw-” The shadow galloped towards her. “What are you doing out of the castle!”
“I’m going to make my mark on the world! I’m going to-”
“Get me thrown in jail for not bringing you back to the castle! Get back in please before the King notices you’ve run away, or worse he could think I’m kidnapped the king’s niece!”
“You won’t get in trouble! I left a note for him, so he knows that it was my decision.”
Clover stuck his hooves around his eyes rubbing them as he commented “What! Why! If anything his lordship with assume I forced you to write said letter, and that I’m trying to-”
“This isn’t about you! If I want to leave that castle, I should be able to!” Star’s eyes stared with such intensity Clover stepped back from her. “ I’m tired of wasting my magic on my uncle’s petty needs, I want to make a difference! I’m more than just the niece of Spectral King!”
“Indeed you are! You’re going to have me hanged, or worse..”
“How are you so selfish!”
“How are you so selfless? Aren’t nobles supposed to care less about making a difference?”
“I am nothing like the noble’s you have met Clover, I will never fall to such a pitiful branding. A kingdom can not survive if its denizens are famished or dying!”
“The Spectral court is not of your concern then Lady Star.”
“I want to help those that live by the Evergreen Forest?”
“No! The earth ponies want nothing to do with us Lady Star. I plead you to accept someone else’s wishes.”
“Luckily for you mule I agree with you.” An aged and bitter voice called out, each hoof made a ear-stinging *clinck* as his metal shoes scraped against the once polished floor. “What was that silliness I heard only moments ago Swirl, that you wanted to abandon you ties to your family, throw away your princesshood on some life finding quest? And you!” The black unicorn stared wildly into Clover’s. “You were going to let the second to the throne leave?!”
“His name is Clover, Sirius.”
“Then I will brand his name into every book in every land. To see this peasant talk to you so so freely, he should be banished to the endless sands of the Savannah! Come along Swirl I think you’ve wasted enough of your time here.”
“I don’t want to go back uncle. Please!” Star’s eyes began to tear as she tried to plant her hooves into the floor, but with no success. Sirius lifted the filly with ease.
“Do be a good serf and see to your quarters at once.”
“Yes Sir Sirius..” When Sirius left with the crying princess Clover took a deep breath. “Cosmos I pray unto you. You who holds our world in your starry embrace. If I can give any tribute, anything to aid her selfless soul. Please strike me down, strip me of my uselessness if only to give more than renewed hope. She needs a soul that is pure and gracious and humble in defeat.”
Clover felt his body fall to the ground as his body ached suddenly like the nerves of his skin had all begun to flare up. The pain trailed to the Earth-pony’s neck as he gave a loud scream. It climbed up his scalp and paused to his forehead. Clover felt an odd warmth fill in his mouth, and he coughed the warmth on the floor as it splashed on his hooves and robes. He forced his eyes to open as he stared upwards to the glass mural he saw the mouths in unison whisper to him.
“As you wish my humble, gracious and pure servant.”
