From the Stars

Prologue

Given Hope

A comet streaks by giving off a blue luminescence. It illuminates a figure floating in the nothingness. The comet's course slowly changed. Rotating inwards towards a humanoid figure. Looking upon him he was clad in armor that shone a midnight blue and highlighted between the the joints a brilliant red. Floating there he had brought the comet to him using his power.

As he beheld the small comet he spoke to it. He enjoyed speaking to an old friend that he hadn't seen in a long time. Having seen much on its journey since they had last parted the comet related to him of many stars that had grown life. One small planet in particular peaked immense interest. Thanking his small yet bright friend then, after returning it to its original course, he set off to the small planet of Equis.

As this happened one small pony was looking up to the stars. Seeing the odd event that happened to the comet she added it to her list of astrological notes.

"Hmmm strange?  That was Starswirl the Bearded's comet."

Double checking her notes, she became electrified with glee.  Quickly looking back into her telescope she observed the stars again.  After observing for several minutes nothing changed she became slightly disappointed.  Shaking her head, she checked her notes again.

"I watched it, the comet went off course and then stopped. Stopped! Comets don't do that do they?"

Running frantically through her small astrological library she tossed book after book looking for one on comets.  Most of the books were on the floor before she called downstairs to her small purple yet number one assistant.

"Spike! Where is the compendium on celestial bodies?"

Shouting back up to her "Twilight, it’s on the desk right next to your telescope!"

Blushing slightly "Oh, right."

Dashing over to her desk, she quickly shuffled the few books out of the way and began desperately reading as much about comets as she could.  Slowly she confirmed what she already knew all along.

With renewed confidence she looked back into her telescope. As she scanned the sky for anything more she came across the moon. Smiling slightly she remembered how she was helping the princess who represented the moon to overcome thousands of years of fear and rejoin with her people.

As she was thinking of this a loud crash startled her. Jumping at the noise, she bumped into the telescope. Rubbing her head and looking behind her at the pile of books that had fallen. Sighing, she began to organize them. A she did this a feeling of unshakable dread overcame all of her senses. Whipping about she stared at the telescope.

Rushing back to it and gazing once more at the night sky she saw something that truly frightened her. Everything she had ever faced paled in comparison. Racing towards Equestria and what Twilight could only fathom to be was a burst of magical energy so vast and immense that if it hit the entire planet of Equis would cease to exist. She could tell while it was not inherently evil, it meant total destruction.

Staggering under the weight of her discovery, unceremoniously she slid down the stairs. Given the state she was in she could hardly talk. Spike stared at her wondering what was wrong. Walking over to her while watching her and never blinking. Knowing that if he looked away he would miss whatever was to happen next.  Slowly as Twilight regained her footing she gave an intermittent sigh, and then finally she looked to Spike.

"Spike take a note!"

Already knowing what was going to happen, he simply pulled a quill and paper from nowhere ready to take this latest in a long line of letters to the princess.

"Dear princess Celestia."

"Upon recently looking to the heavens I have come to a grievous conclusion."

Pausing in his writing, he began to chew nervously on the end of the quill. Slowly reciting the word grievous to himself in a vain attempt to spell it by sounding it aloud.

"The worst conclusion."

Correcting his words Spike continued to write hurriedly.

"Right now above our beautiful night sky an energy burst is heading towards all of Equestria. Threatening not only Equestria but all of Equis. We must act now if we are to save our planet from this dire situation. Otherwise ponykind will only have a few days to enjoy itself before being utterly wiped out"

"Always your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

Scratching out the last words, Spike slowly understood what she had just said. Giving her another blank stare. With a look of sadness she waved her hoof towards the window motioning for Spike to send the letter. Running towards the window he burned the letter in green smoke sending it to the intended princess.

No more the 3 minutes letter Spike burped out a letter with the Princess' reply. Twilight quickly levitating it to herself, began to read the contents of the letter.

"Dear Twilight Sparkle"

"You are correct in this. This burst of energy while not malevolent is indeed dangerous. Princess Luna had informed me of this two nights ago when it first appeared above our sky. We are still trying to form a plan of action. Given the unique circumstances of the energy we cannot directly affect it as it is now. However you need not worry, it will be handled."

"Princess Celestia of Equestria"

Rolling up the letter she shook her head. It isn’t like her to completely ignore a situation like this. Looking to Spike she motioned for him to follow.

"Come on Spike lets go to sleep. There isn't much we can do and we will need our rest."

Going back upstairs they both climbed into their respective beds. Twilight laid there listening to Spike's slow breathing as he slept. Thinking about everything in her life, she regretted few things. The only one that she truly regretted but was unreasonable was that she lacked a special somepony to spend the last of the time in Equestria with.

Meanwhile among the stars above Equis, directly in the path of the energy burst stood or rather floated a lone figure. Giving his utmost to the protection of all sentient life, preparing himself for what may be his last of his space travels for a long while, he began to focus all his energy to contain and absorb the burst before it came into contact with the tiny planet.

After what was four rotations of the planet Equis' sun and moon he stood ready to take this task. Looking for the last time upon the stars that he would not probably travel again. Finally he returned his gaze to the energy burst.  Reaching out with a magical net he funneled it into a compressed energy ball at the very center of his being. The force pushing back on him, he fell in the gravity well of the planet.

On the ground all the ponies were gathered in the town square. Staring into the sky, they watched as the energy burst seemed to bear down upon them oppressively. Many ponies began to cry. Twilight gazed into the sky for what she thought was the last time. As everypony began to look away, she continued to watch. Keeping a diligent eye upon the heavens.

She gasped as it began to change. "Everypony look, it is changing shape,"

Everypony looked to the sky and watched as the energy burst became less random and eventually turned into a vortex. It slowly faded into nothing more than a small pinprick of light, bursting into flames, falling into the Everfree forest. Surprised at the turn of good look, everypony cheered as the world had not ended like they had all previously thought. Everypony with the exception of one.

Twilight Sparkle stared towards the Everfree forest and wondered what had just happened. Taking it to heart she ran towards the forest to find what had fallen from the stars. Her friends watching this followed her into the dark forest.