Company of Myself

by midashguy

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Romance, Comedy, Tragedy, Adventure
Length: 7020

Pony loses his mind

Starlust never thought that he would lose his mind…….Till he finds the Eternity Stone, And is cursed with the power of The Secret. An all consuming power, It gives Starlust the most powerful Magic ever weilded by Ponies, at the cost of his full sanity.

(The image has nothing to do with the story, it simply looks like Starlust, so I used it)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-15 22:07:22 UTC

Introductions

Hey, I'm Starlust, not so long ago I found a cave in the Everfree forest.

In that cave was the Eternity Stone, It gave me powers far more powerful than anyone could imagine.

Not saying all that power didn't come at a price, I slip in and out of sanity.

And the times that Im not crazy are getting few and far between.

All I know is that The only Pony alive that knows how to fix my 'problem' is the queen of the Changlings. Joy.

Anyway I've got better things to do rather than narrate, such as fight this angry manticore.

The boulder behind Starlust shattered into thousands of peices as he narrowly dodged the strike from the manticore's razor sharp stinger. Quickly Starlust used his horn and levitated as many of the shards and he could, shooting them at the manticore as fast as he could. Yet they may as well have been snow flakes against the beast's tough hide.

It swung its massive claw at him, hitting him the the chest. The blow knocked Starlust back several feet.

"Gah! Curse my luck. Why is it that everytime I venture into the Everfree forest that I get attacked?!"

The Manticore's awnser the the question was another swipe at him. This time Starlust anticipated the attack, ducked low, and darted to the beast's left. The creature snarled in rage, and Starlust used his magic to levitate the biggest rock he could find and launched it at the animal. It didn't expect that. The rock pummeled into the beast.

Knowing the creature was stunned, but not dead, Starlust ran off.

"Well that was fairly easy." he lied to himself.

However he had three long streaks across his chest, dripping with blood.

He knew he had to get to the town soon, and find some medical supplies to dress the wound....

He used his horn's magic and reached into his saddlebag, took a quick look at the map, and headed due west.

"Next stop: Ponyville"

            It took him awhile to get there, find the doctors office, and buy the medical supplies he needed.

The doctor was dumbstruck at the sight of the wound, the fact that the dark grey colt with a yellow mane infront of him didn't appear to be in any pain AND the fact that that said pony insisted that he could apply the bandages himself and that he didn't need any futher help.

Next Starlust stopped a random pony on the street and asked where he could get something to eat.

The pony said Sugarcube Corner was the best place to get somthing to eat in town. He thanked the pony for the help and headed down the street awhile till he found the place. Once inside he asked the male pony behind the counter for a dozen cupcakes and handed him the money for the pastries.

Starlust proceeded to walk to the edge of town and set up his tent for the night.

As he drifted off to sleep he knew that he was about to be tormented by the usual nightmares, but at this point he was exhausted enough to not care. And so the nightmares came, and Princess Luna wasn't very merciful about them.

That was if she had any control over the twisted things that ran through Starlust's mind as he slept. More that likely she didn't or just didn't care. Either way he had to put up with horrible things creeping and clawing at his very subconscious.

After many fitful hours of sleep, Starlust woke up at the very start of the sunrise. Still fairly sleepy, he packed up his things and trotted into town. Making his was to the trainstation, he went over and asked the clerk when the next train to Canterlot was.

"Not till eight tonight"

"Well then I would like to purchase a ticket for that train." he said.

"Alright then..." the clerk said as he handed him the ticket.

Starlust gave the clerk the amount due for the ticket and mumbled a thank you.

He then wandered through town in an attempt to find somthing to occupy his time till the train arrived.

So he decided to find the town library. The fact that the building was a living tree was slightly surprising even for him.

He knocked on the door and in less than five seconds the door was opened and Starlust was staring at a dragon.

Well, a baby dragon.

"This is the library?" Starlust asked.

"Yea, my names Spike."

"Hi...Spike."

"So im guessing your looking for a book?"

"Umm yea" Starlust said.

So Spike invited him in and he browsed through the books.

And they both asked eachother a few questions. Starlust asked Spike if he ran the library himself and he said no.

His friend Twilight did, but she was away for the day.

So he searched for awhile until he found it 'Rare Pre-Pony Equestrian Artifacts'  He read it for a few hours until he looked up, the clock read seven fifty eight.

"Oh my gosh Im going to miss my train!" Starlust exclaimed!

He quickly said goodbye to Spike and sprinted to the station. He got on the train seconds before it departed.

'talk about a close call' he thought. 'well at least I made it'

Thats when it hit him. That feeling he got right before he'd have a.....moment. A kind of lightheaded feeling along with a tingle at the end of his hooves. He rushed to the end train car, and was glad to find it empty. He blacked out in peace.....

When he woke up he estimated that he'd been out for around five minutes. A small lapse he guessed. Prepped for the next leg of his journy: Asking Celestia for help unbinding the power of the Eternity Stone from his unicorn horn.

Next Stop: Canterlot

Canterlot

Being stuck on a train with nothing to really do was very unsettling, and Starlust was restless. Pacing the floor didn't help much. In fact it seemed to make things worse. He glanced down at his chest, where the bandage was from that fight with a manticore. He focused his magic and began trying to do something even the most powerful unicorns wish they could do. A healing spell.

A magical cocoon enveloped the strange pony. Very quickly the magic veil began to pulse red and purple.

After a few moments the magic dissipated. Starlust slowly unwrapped the bandages, and grinned when he saw his wound was gone.

That was quite hard...... oh well at least I now I won't have ponies staring at me like I've been hit by a train. Still, that spell took alot of work. I'm going to have to take it easy until I regain some of my energy.

"We have arrived in Canterlot!" yelled the train conductor, breaking Starlust's moment of peace.

After getting off the train, he found a hotel that had a spare room and feel asleep. not a single nightmare that night, because Princess Luna herself arrived in his dream.

"So your the pony who absorbed the Eternity Stone?" she asked.

"Yes your highness." he quickly stated as he bowed.

"I'm guessing your in Canterlot to inform my sister"

"Yes, I believe she knows a cure to this curse."

"You do know that if you have the curse lifted that all of the powers it has granted you will vanish, right?"

"I am aware of the consequences" he stated firmly, then realising who he was speaking with, went back to a softer tone. "I just do not wish to suffer any longer"

"I understand why you do not want that kind of power, It corrupts the mind. If you wish to have the curse lifted speak with my sister, she may know how."

"Thank you"

With that statement the dream began to fade, and It left Starlust wondering if the power the stone gave him should belong to any sole pony. He looked out the window, the sun was up.  So he ventured outside, making his way to the castle.

He expected for the guards to give him a hard time, not let him in or just send him away. What he didn't expect was when the guard told him that Celestia was waiting for him. They ushered him into the throne room, and their she was. The pony that literaly made the world go 'round.

"Ah there you are."

"Your highness." He bowed.

"I understand you are the one who possess the Eternity Stone, correct?" she asked him.

"Indeed, I was wondering if you knew how to remove it from my being."

"I'm afraid that I don't know how, but Discord might."

"Discord?" Starlust knew the chaotic being only from stories, he never though he might have to meet him.

"Yes, I believe that he knows abit about the myths surounding the Stone." she said.

"Well then where may I find him?"

"We gave him a cloud to live in a few miles from Ponyville"

"Thank you for the help." he bowed again and left.

So he went back to the train station, and was lucky to find that a train headed to Ponyville was departing in five minutes. Another two hour train ride and he was back where he started. After checking the map that Celestia had lent him.

He began to walk towards the cloud that the map indicated belong to Discord. It wasn't hard to guess that It belong to him, the cloud was upside down and a rainbow was leaking from the one side.

It was at this point that Starlust realised that he had no idea as to how to get up to the cloud. Then it hit him, A spell that gives land ponies wings. His horn glowed bight white, and with a flash of light he found that he had wings.

He soon found that wings are harder to use then he though, as he awkwardly flew up to the cloud. He knocked on the door and the door was awnsered by a sandwich. Very strange, but strange is the norm when Discord is around. And the the sandwich SPOKE to him.

"May I help you?" It asked.

"Ummmm"

"Well? what do you want?" It demanded

"I was wondering If I could talk to Discord."

"Ah well come in then"

The building was Chaos to the power of nine.  The table was eating a cake, there was a fish playing chess with a carrot, and a cow was playing a guitar on the ceiling. And there was Discord, standing in the middle of the room.

"Ah so you are the one who found my little toy eh?" he asked.

"What?"

"Well you see....the Eternity Stone was how I got MY powers. It seems that is still had some power to give even though I thought I had all its power to give."

"If you took most of the Stones power, why arn't you Insane like me?"

"Ha ha ha! I AM insane! I'm the spirit of chaos!" he exclaimed.

"Well how do I get rid of this power?"

"I had no idea."

"gee thanks"

"Always glad to help"

It was at this moment that the wing spell Starlust had cast failed. and he fell two thousand feet into the lake below. After swimming to shore he knew that he might as well  get back to Ponyville and plot his next course of action.

Back to Ponyville

Still dripping wet from his fall into the lake, Starlust marched his way back to Ponyville.

He wasn't entirely sure where to go next. Although he know knew a bit more of his curse's history, even DISCORD didn't know how to cure it. All he could do is get back to Ponyville and think about his next move.

Then it attacked him, a Visigran, the most deadly creature in Equestria, the body of a giant scorpion, and the wings of a dragonfly. It swung its giant pincer's at him, and lunged. Starlust rolled to the side, and knowing that he didn't have enough energy left after the wing spell, had to fight it carefuly.

'But what is it doing this far from the Everfree Forest?!' He asked himself.

Not that that mattered right now, all that mattered was to kill the thing....otherwise it would proceed to kill HIM.

The it swung it's pincer's and this time Starlust ducked, spun around, and kicked his back hooves right in its eyes. It reared back, partialy blinded. Mustering what little magic he still had, he formed a spear out of pure magic. Starlust carefuly aimed, and threw striaght above its eyes. Right in the one weak point in its otherwise inpenitrable armor. A mortal wound, the Visigran staggard to one side and toppled over. It was dead.

Starlust was more that a little out of breath after that. He slowly walked back to Ponyville, though he was exausted, he stayed alert. Visigran usualy traveled in small hunting parties. Thats when he came across chaos, two Visigran attacking a helpless pony. Starlust felt magic surge through him, it was as if the Stone wanted him to help. With his now recharged magic, he summoned another spear, this one much sharper that the one before. He dove at the creatures, yelling at the top of his lungs. He plunged his weapon through the weak spot in the first monster, and with a twirl of the spear began a series of aggesive strikes at the beast. Then spun around and finished the Visigran off with a full body swing.

Quickly he went over to check on the pony. He was relieved to see that they had no major injuries.

"Are you ok?" He asked the very freighted pony.

".....y-yes." She responded in a voice as quiet as the breeze.

"Follow me, I will escort you back to town."

"....ok, t-thank you..."

So he walked the very shy pony back to Ponyville, glad that nothing else very eventful happend on the trip.

As they got back to town they decided that she should probably see the doctor about the cuts she got from the attack.

So they walked to the doctors office. as they walked through the door the doctor at the front desk greeted them.

"Ah welcome!" he said. "Say...I remeber you from the day before yesterday, you seem to have healed quickly. I'm surprised."

"Yea, well today its not me today, doc, this pony does..." Starlust muttered. Then he realised. "I don't believe that I ever got your name....."

"I'm Fluttershy...." She mumbled.

"Fluttershy? Well pleased to meet you." Starlust said, nodding his head slightly. Fairly sure that the his new friend was safe with the doctor, he went on his way. As he walked down the road he noticed that part of his saddlebag was torn. 'It must have torn while I was fighting those Visigran.' He thought to himself. 'Well there must be SOME place I can get it repaired.'  So he wandered for a while until he found someplace he thought could fix the tear in his bag. 'Carousel Boutique'. The sign said it was open, so he walked inside. As he opened the door, he heard a small bell jingle.

"Just a moment!" A musical voice sung from the other room. A few seconds later a white pony with an amazing purple mane greeted him.

"Hello darling, I'm Rarity, how may I help you today?" She asked him.

"Well I was wondering if you could fix this tear in my saddlebag."

"Well of course! This will only take but a moment," She quickly sewed up the tear in the bag, handing it back to him.

"Thank you, how much do I owe you for the repairs?"

"Oh dont worry about that! It was just a simple stitch! Consider it a favor."

"Well then, thank you for your kindness."

And with that he was on his way. He considered checking in to see how fluttershy was doing, but thought the doctor might still be applying bandages or somthing. He grabbed his pocket watch from out of his recently repaired bag, and was shocked at how later it was. 'Well i might as well set up camp at the edge of town.' He said to himself.

As he made up camp and prepared to get some well earned rest, he wondered about what he was going to do about his curse... recent events had distracted him from his mission, but knew that he had to find some one who could sure him. Perhaps he could ask Fluttershy in the morning...

A Gift?

More nightmares...always more nightmares. It was always the same dream, but each time more vivid.

Why was he tortured like this? He didn't seek the Eternity Stone, It sought HIM. In his mind, he believed that he didn't deserve this. Not that feeling sorry for himself was going to fix anything. No, only if he could find a cure for the curse could the fire in his mind burn out. Until then, he would have to suffer through the nightmares...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ The Dream /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starlust ran, knowing that IT would be on him in seconds. The only sound that he heard was his own labored breathing and that.....demented laugh. Then he saw it... the thing of nightmares... Twenty feet high, its body covered in bones. It shreiked at him and leaped. The monster dove INTO his chest. Starlust could feel the thing inside his heart, inside his mind. He began to scream.

"NO. Get out of ME! Get out!" He yelled.

The thing did not comply, only focusing on making its new home inside the poor colt's mind.

"NO! Get out of my mind! It burns!!!" Starlust shreiked.

The monster showed no mercy. Starlust could feel the thing crawling around in his head, he felt like his brain was about to explode....Thats when he blacked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starlust awoke with a start. He knew it was a dream, but even though he was aware of the fact that everytime that he slept he would have the nightmare, it still cought him off guard everytime. This is one of the reasons that he wanted the curse lifted, the nightmares.

'Oh well.' He thought, 'Better get packed up and head back to town.'

As he packed he remebered the dream, and shivered. Nopony deserved the kind of torture that burned his mind.

That was beside the point however, what mattered right now was checking in on how Fluttershy was doing.

So he headed into town. First thing he did was head to the doctor's office to ask where exactly the very shy pony lived. After receiving the adress from the pony at the front desk, he began to head to Fluttershy's house. After finding the right adress, he found that it was a small cottage. Many bird houses surounded the building. He walked to the door and knocked. A few moments later Fluttershy awnsered the door.

"O-oh....Starlust...." She mumbled.

"Hey Fluttershy. I just wanted to check in...you know, see if you were ok?" He said.

"Oh, I'm fine....thank you for saving me." She said to him.

"It was my pleasure, I couldn't just let you get hurt." He told her.

"I hope I didn't cause you any trouble..."

He laughed, "I believe any trouble I had, I brought with me."

They both laughed at that. It wasn't often that Starlust was in a truthfuly good mood, so he knew he should enjoy it while it lasts.

"So, I was wondering if you knew anyone who knew a bit about curses..." He asked her sheepishly.

"Well my friend Twilight might know a thing or two." Again with this Twilight person....

"Prefect! Care to join me?" He asked.

"o-oh, sure." She said.

So they walked back into town, and just as Starlust guessed, the the library. Fluttershy knocked on the door, on a good day, this might have made a sound slightly louder then a butterfly's wings.

"Allow me" he said politely, and knocked much louder. Then Spike awnsered the door.

"Oh hey Fluttershy!" He said. "Wait a sec, Starlust? What are you doing here?"

"You two know eachother?" Fluttershy aksed.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Starlust said. "Oh and Spike, we were hopeing to speak with Twilight. Is she home?"

"Yea. Come in"

Once inside he finaly got the chance to meet the pony.

"I'm guessing you must be Twilight Sparkle?"

"Yes indeed." The light purple pony in the middle of the room responded. "You must be Starlust? Spike told me about you."

"Oh..." Starlust mumbled, not sure weather that was good or not. "Well I was wondering if you knew anything about the Eternity Stone."

"THE Eternity Stone? The most powerful Artifact ever made by unicorns?" She said.

"Yes well, I was wondering is anyone knew how to sepreate its power from a pony's mind."

"W-why do you need to know?" She stuttered, unsure of where he was going with this...

Starlust lowered his head, knowing that what he said would most likely make everyone in the room fear him to some extent. "Awhile back, I found a cave in the Everfree forest. I went inside, wondering what could be inside. What I didn't count on what that the Eternity Stone being in there. I absorbed all the power that it contained, which made the stone itself shatter. It gave my magic strength beond what I thought possible."

"But that much power would drive a pony to the brink of madness!" Twilight exclaimed. Starlust simply nodded his head.

"I wish i had never found that cave." He noticed that everyone was looking at him weird. He knew that look, he guessed it was fear. He lowered his head and began to walk towards the door.

"Wait!" Fluttershy yelled. Now it was everyone turn to look at Fluttershy funny. "I-if thats ok with you."

"Fluttershy's right though. Don't leave!" Spike said. "So what if your differnt."

"We will find a way to lift this curse! I promise." Twilight assured him. She quickly began to search for books containing information on curses, or any book on the Eternity Stone. Then Fluttershy spoke up.

"Starlust, the power you have, um, well its a true gift." She said.

"A-a gift?" He had never thought of it like that. Maybe she was right.

"Yes and you could use it t-to truly help people, that is if thats ok with you." She whispered.

"A gift....." He said as his eyes grew distant, wondering if parting with this power was a good idea. He had always been so sure that he wanted his old life back, not a life plagued by Insanity, but having heard what Fluttershy said, he wasn't so sure anymore. If he learned to control it, could the power be used to help others? Discord proved that Chaos could be reformed, what about Insanity?

"FOUND IT!" Yelled Twilight, breaking Starlust's train of thought. "Its a book about the Stone." She began to read from one of the pages. "If one wishes to be free from the Stone. They must find the Changling Queen, and must not do it Alone.

"Well then, I guees I'm going to the Badlands then..." He said.

"I-I want to go too." Fluttershy stated.

Starlust raised one eyebrow "Fluttershy, I would love the company but this trip is going to be dangerous."

"Well it said that you can't go alone, so I'll go, if thats ok with you."

Starlust let out a long breath. "Ok I guess, promise me that if there is any trouble that you will stay behind me."

"ok."

"Well then, we better get moving."

"I'm Going too." Twilight said.

"Well I could use the help, ok then everyone get packed, we better get going....."

Appleoosa

Starlust still wasn't sure how he got in this mess, trapped on a train with two mares he didn't really know that well. Well, he new Fluttershy a bit, but he had only known Twilight for a few hours, and here he was on some crazy trip to meet the Queen of the Changlings with her. Starlust knew crazy pretty much summed up his life, so stuff like this was as close to his norm as possible. He mentaly reviewed what was going to be ahead, first they would get off the train in Appleoosa, then they would have to trek half way through the Badlands to get to the Changling nest.

That was the part that bothered him the most, the nest. What if they don't let outsiders in? Changling are not exactly the nicest creatures. In Starlust's mind, worst case scenario would be to fight their way in. He hoped it wouldn't come to that, the last thing he wanted was to have Fluttershy in any danger. Twilight was a unicorn, and a powerful one from what Starlust could sense, she could handle herself. Still, he wanted to avoid any fighting if possible.

He glanced over at Fluttershy, who was across the isle from him, staring out the window with a blank stare. He kept looking at her for a few seconds, but it felt like minutes.

"You know that Fluttershy and I battled Changlings awhile back?" Twilight said from the seat behind him, startling him slightly. He blushed slightly at the fact that he had been caught staring at Fluttershy, but Twilight didn't seem to either notice or care.

"You don't say?"

"Yea, we kind of stopped the queen's plot to take over Canterlot." She stated.

'Wish she had told me that earlier...' Starlust thought to himself.

"Well your experience with them might help a bit." he told her. "Lets just hope the Queen doesn't remeber you...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ One hour later /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Starlust stepped off the train he sheilded his eyes with his hoof. He forgot how harsh the weather was out here.... 'I might want to buy a hat....' He told himself. 'but where are Fluttershy and Twilight at?' Then he saw them at them a bit away from the train, and headed towards them. After getting something to eat, they decided that they might as well start the trip into the badlands. With Twilight in the lead with the map, Starlust following behind and Fluttershy behind him, they began the journy.

The first few miles we're fairly uneventful, though he was fairly sure that if Twilight wasn't using a map, they would have gotten lost already. There wasn't mush in the way of land marks so Starlust could not guess as to how close to the Changling nest they were.

They traveled for the most part in silence, which gave Starlust some thing to sort his thoughts. Yet fo some reason he kept thinking about Fluttershy, he wasn't quite sure why. It was just something about her....

Then he shook himself out of his daze, he didn't have time to be pondering things like that at a time like this. He had to get this curse lifted, then he could think about other things. For now, he had to remain true to his goal.

'If this Changling Queen knows how to lift this curse, I will do what ever I can to do so. This I swear.' He said to himself, and what If she knew nothing? 'Well, lets not concern about "What if's" right now' He told himself.

It was times like this that Starlust reminisced about his old life, the one he had long ago. Before the curse, before he traveled across Equestria and beond.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ Alone /~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A long time ago their was a Royal guard, who simply stood and protected what he was ordered to. He was not a high ranked guard, but he most definitely wasn't bottom of the barrel. He was strong, swift, and brave. Yet never had a chance to prove himself truly. Then one day, he found the Eternity Stone, and it drove him mad. The Royal guard had no place for someone who could not do his duties. With no job, no place to call home, he searches to this day for a way to lift the plague that reaps his mind. Until then, he assumes that he will have no one he can trust.

He believes that he is truly Alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Not much of a story, assuming that you expected better. but I guess that is how I came to be Starlust.' He thought. 'But if your looking for a sob story, well then you came to the wrong pony.'

Yet it still bugged Starlust that for some reason he could NOT stop thinking about Fluttershy...

Perhaps he can call these kind people his friends, maybe, just MAYBE, he isn't truly alone in this world.

The Nest

Sand. Dust and sand, thats all Starlust could see. That and the two mares that he was begining to believe would soon be the death of him. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed true.

'Snap out of it.' He told himself. 'Its just the Stone messing with you.'

"We should be there soon." Twilight informed the group.

"O-oh..." Fluttershy mumbled.

"Good, I'm getting a little sick of sand." Starlust muttered.

Soon a large mound could be seen, like a massive ant hill. It was about twenty feet high, and made of the same sand that was all around them. As the group aproached the hill two changlings darted out of the top of the hill. They did NOT act friendly. Buzzing Angerily they charged Starlust and the others.

Starlust was quick on the draw, first forming a magical wall right infront of the guards. They slammed into it, dazed and confused. Starlust then proceeded to form a magical spear, twirling it around at a high rate of speed. Not many ponies could stand on thier back legs steadliy, vey few could do it while holding a weapon, only Starlust could do it and fight like it was natural. His spear was a blur, with a quick step the blade went right through the first guard. The guard fell to the ground dead. Starlust shifted his left leg back a few inches, moving into a defensive stance. It was at this moment Twilight ran inbetween the two fighters, her horn aglow. With a sudden flash the other changling guard was on the ground asleep.

"Thats ONE way to stop them." Starlust said under his breath.

"Fluttershy, I want you to stay behind me." Twilight said. "Starlust can handle most of the fighting."

So they headed into the nest, following the tunnel. Soon it lead to a large room, in which four very large changlings stood. Starlust resummoned his spear, and charged them. The Changlings however, pulled out small knives.

Starlust slammed the blunt end of his spear into the closest changling's leg, breaking the leg. The creature howled in pain. Starlust kicked the thing aside, and parried an attack from one of the other's knives. He tripped it and plunged the spear through it's heart. Starlust had to duck as another knife came inches away from his head as yet another changling attacked him. He swung high, hitting it in the throat, and with a low gurgle it fell over on it's side. That left two changlings left, and one was already wounded. The one that had yet to fight Starlust fled, leaving the wounded one behind.

Starlust went over to the wounded one and kicked it again. It grunted from the pain, and stared at him with pure anger in it's eyes. However, Starlust stared back almost blankly.

"Fluttershy, can you help fix this changling's leg?"

"WHAT?!" Both mares exclaimed.

"W-WHY would you want to help it, it tried to kill you!" Twilight said, utterly confused.

"This poor thing need medical attention, I'm not just going to leave him here to die." He stated.

"why s-show such kindness, when my kind only gives death and suffering in return?" The wounded changling asked.

"Because unlike your kind, I have some sense of morals. Now Fluttershy, CAN you fix his leg?"

"Um I-I do believe so." She said timidly.

"Good, now if we help you. Can you promise that you will not immediately attempt to stab us in the back?" He asked.

"I-If you can fix....my leg. I will help you, you have my word." It moaned, gritting its teeth in the pain.

"Good, now I do not believe that we got your name....?" Twilight asked.

"Arigos, my name is Arigos. PLEASE fix my leg."

"Twilight, do you know any spells that numb pain?" Fluttershy asked.

"Um yea, why?"

"Because you might want to use it on Mr. Arigos in a moment..."

A few seconds later, a scream could be heard all the way from the surface. Ten minutes later Fluttershy was finishing up bandaging Arigos's leg to prevent further injury. After she had finished Starlust hefted the wounded changling onto his back and they proceeded down the tunnel, although they encountered more changlings, they we're granted clearence by Arigos's insisting. A little while later they approached the throne room. There, the Queen sat, looking like the most dangerous thing that lurked in the dark. Starlust knelt, showing his respect.

"Queen Chrysalis, I was told that you can curse the curse that tortures me." He said.

"I cannot, but I know HOW to. Only the three most powerful magicks in the world can lift the curse." The Queen stated.

"And what may they be?" He asked, hoping that his quest might be near completion.

"The three magicks are Trust, Kindness, and Love." She stated. "It seems that you have shown the Magic of kindness by sparing one of my kind.... Arigos!"

"Yes my Queen?" He asked humbly.

"You are to accompany this...Stone bearer, assist him in gaining the other Magicks, for you owe him your life."

"It would be and honor my Queen."

"Good. Now leave my presence."

"I still have one question." Starlust asked.

"What may that be?" Chrysalis said.

"How does everyone seem to know that I bear the Eternity Stone?"

At this question the queen shifted uncormfortably. "We see that in your heart and mind....there is conflict. That is how we know, I am not as kind as this most of the time, yet I sympathize with what you suffer. Nothing deserves what plagues your mind. NOTHING."

With that note the group of four left the nest, and headed back to Appleoosa. Not entirely sure where to find the other two Magicks, they began the long journy back to the only pony town in miles. As they walked Arigos asked Starlust something that had been bothering him since the trip from the nest began.

"Master Starlust....I was wondering wh-" Before he was cut off by Starlust.

"Arigos! I'm not your master, you are a companion, nothing more."

"Ok then.... but I was wondering, WHY did you spare my life?"

Starlust glanced at him with his deep blue eyes, and told him: "Because I do not take a life unless I need to, and I do NOT kill someone or something that cannot defend itself. So you we're spared."

"Either way, I thank you. I hope that one day I may safe your life and return the favor."

At this Starlust grinned, he HOPED that he wouldn't need saving from anything, but hey, its better to have someone watching your back rather then go it alone, and who knows? It might come In handy to have a changling on the team.

Soon the group had made it to Appleoosa, and Starlust noticed a couple ponies staring at Arigos. While on anyday it might seem strange for a pony to be traveling with a changling, the whole thing with the changling attack on Canterlot was still fresh in many ponies minds, so they we're VERY suspicious of Arigos.

"Um Arigos, I don't suppose you could disguise yourself could you?"

"Oh, yea no problem." He said, and quickly shifted into a cream colored pony with a lime green mane.

He winced in pain as he shifted, still not properly recovered from the wounds Starlust had givin him during thier first meeting.        "Atleast now he won't attract more attention...." Starlust thought to himself.

And so the group found a hotel, and got some well deserved rest. Because in the morning they would have to find out how to find the two other Magicks...... Trust and Love.

A New Friend

So we have a changling on this little ragtag team of ours, well atleast hes a fighter. Starlust thought to himself. Becuase I believe that finding the other 'magicks' is going to be hard.

The group had left Appleoosa earlier in the morning, back to Ponyville to plot out thier next course of action. Starlust still didn't trust Arigos completly, and he definitly did not trust him enough to take him to Ponyville. As much as he could not trust Arigos, Starlust needed him. He glanced over to a white pony with a lime green mane, the pony Arigos was disguiesing himself as.

How can you trust something that lives by hideing? Something that lives in the shadows. Always lurking in the shadows...... Starlust shook his head. It wasn't his job to judge. You can't define someone by where they come from.

Of anypony, Starlust knew this all too well. Far too well.

He made a mental note to keep an eye on Arigos till he had proof that he was working with them and not against them. He kept thinking back to what the Changling Queen had said to him.

"I sympathize with what you suffer. Nothing deserves what plagues your mind. NOTHING." She said with eyes that looked truly sorry.

It could have been a lie. She could want the Eternity Stone, and thus wants to keep an eye on me. She didn't seem to say anything to Arigos that would imply that. but I'll have to be careful none the less. Starlust pondered. Twilight and Fluttershy must be nervous wreaks, they have dealt with Changlings before and know that they are not quite truthful one hundred percent of the time. I just hope they don't beat him to bits. At this idea, Starlust grinned. That would be something he would pay to see.

"Hey Arigos?" He asked.

"Yes?" The incognito changling responded.

"How is your...umm leg?"

"Still wounded."

"Would you care if I healed it?"

"Y-you can do that? Twilight asked, suddenly poping into the conversation. "The amount of magical energy needed would be incredible."

"Yes, it would." Starlust retorted. "Anyway, Arigos, would you like me to try?"

"Eh, why not?"

"Ok then, well you see.....your going to have to drop your disguies first."

"Oh, well then." With a flash of green, the white pony was gone, replaced by a changling with a bandaged leg.

"Now hang on. this is going to feel.....a little weird."

Starlust placed a hoof on the changling's chest, and focused. A magical cocoon wrapped aroung the wounded changling. The magic began to pulse red and purple. The pulse began to go faster and faster. With a sudden flash Starlust was knocked back. Where the magic had been was now a completly healthy Arigos.

"I can't believe that worked." Twilight said. "That couldn't have worked, its impossible."

"Thats me." Starlust said with a grin. "I'm Impossible."

"Indeed you are." Arigos said.

I hope that they can learn to trust me. Arigos thought to himself. I'm going to have to get them to if I am to complete my quest. Because I cannot fail!

"We will be ariving in Ponyville in five minutes." the train conductor shouted.

"Well you heard him, lets get ready to get off." Starlust said to the others. They all went and grabbed their stuff, though Arigos did not bring anything, Starlust had his saddlebag and Twilight and Fluttershy had simple luggage bags.

Soon they could see Ponyville in the distance. The small town was very peaceful, especialy compared to where the group had recently been. Some well deserved rest was in order.

"So Arigos, have you ever been outside the hive before?" Starlust asked.

"No, I was a nest guard, It was a fairly boring job till you all showed up."

"I know how you feel, oh and also, since I'm guessing you havn't been exposed to pony society, follow our lead."

"Alright then, also what do you mean you know how I feel?"

"I use to be a guard, and I thought it was going to always be a boring job, but it brought me here."

"Then I guess the job was more then slightly interesting"

"You could say that." Starlust said with a laugh.

The train finaly reached the station. As the group stepped off Arigos quickly turned back into the white and green pony he seemed to favor looking like. There was no need in freaking out the locals. Amusing though that might have been.

"Arigos, why do you keep changing into that specific pony? Is there a reason you keep turning into him?" Starlust asked.

"It is my personal form, there is no pony that I have met that looks like this. this is just how I have decided to look." He responded calmly.

"Oh, neat. it definitly suits you."

"Thanks, now lets keep what I am quiet for now, I know how most of you think of my kind."

The group walked into town, Twilight and Fluttershy went home to get some rest, leaving Starlust and Arigos alone to explore the town. It was then that Pinkie Pie showed up.

"OhhiwhatsyournamemynameisPinkiePiewelcometoPonyvilleitsanicetowncanIbeyourfriend?I'mgoingtothrowyouaparty." She said, getting REALLY close to Arigos's face. The poor fellow was not entirely sure what to do. As quickly as she appeared, she darted away. Arigos was confused, was that pink blur a pony? More importantly, how did she talk so fast? With a mental shrug, they duo continued with their walk, hopeing to relax after all that had happen recently. After finishing their walk they found a hotel and called it a day. Finaly, Starlust was begining to trust his new friend.