StarSwirl

Chapter 4: Starswirl

After the passing of the equinox and couple of days, spring was now blooming in and around Gallopia Bastion. The Regal gardens now had many flowers and other plants in them. In fact, the gardens had more plants in them then any other garden. It was a place that the future Fluttershy would have loved with its twisting hedges and cute little animals. Even the future Canterlot during its greatest Grand Galloping Gala would never see such an elaborate and great assortment of plants and animal life.

Unfortunately, the young princess Celestia, who would have been greatly enjoying a day like that day was inside of Gallopia Castle, specifically in the telescope observation room, which was on a high floor, with her teacher Duchess Goethe. Goethe was about to complete her last lesson with Celestia about her planet's star system.

"Okay," Duchess Goethe said. "One last time, tell me the number of planets in our star system, what is in it, and the types of the planets. Just the number and what's in it dear, not the names."

Princess Celestia looked up at the ceiling, nodded, then looked at the Duchess. "We have our primary star, an- um, F-class star..."

"Go on." Goethe warmly urged her.

Celestia cleared her throat. "The fffirst planet...is a gas giant with a lighter hue of color...the second is planet is our planet, Equi...The third, fourth and fifth and sixth planets are Gas giants like the first planet."

Duchess Goethe gave her a hard stare.

"Oh! And there is a lot of stellar dust, and we have an asteroid field in our star system." Celestia finished.

"Okay, just name the name of our primary star and the six planets and we will be done."

The Young Princess Celestia cleared her throat and stood upright. "Well, first there's our primary star, Celion, then it's our system's first planet, Canis, our home planet, the only water/rocky planet, Equi, the third planet would be Ekron, the fourth would be Montas, the fifth, Aetena and the last one, Malduud. Oh! And they're all Gas giants except for Equi." Celestia ended.

Goethe smiled "Good job, you did very well! That ends lesson 10!" Goethe closed the textbook that was on the table and put it back into the shelf that it was originally in. "Now what little pony is up for a yummy lunch?"

"I am!" Celestia exclaimed.

After Goethe and Celestia were out of the observation room and began to go down the ramp-hall of that part of the castle. A burning question that Celestia had asked before suddenly came up again.

"Duchess, school is.....uh...fun and all, but when is that Unicorn guy going to come? Heck, when are my mommy and daddy going to come back from Unicornia, I really want them!"

Duchess Goethe snuggled Celestia under her light pink mane.

"The Stallion Unicorn known as Ridnarhtim is a very busy man. Not only does he have the worries of a advanced unicorn magic-weilder, but he also is living in the midst of a tribal crisis." Goethe calmly explained to Celestia.

"And another thing..." The Princess wasn't done her wonderings "if he's such a famous Unicorn and all, why haven't I heard of him before this month?"

Duchess Geothe Shook her long head and red hair, said, "Well, since you kind of live a Sheltered, protected life as a Princess and a semi-homebody, and since you are an Alicorn,you don't get to hear about people and things that are out of your Castle of sub-species. Now this is important, very important, being educated in this way does not make you stupid and/or ignorant, you understand? And plus, I took you out to the castle-town for lesson 4, where you and I talk about economics and trade and social studies, and everypony there knew and loved you as their very own Princess Celestia."

"Yeah, but...."  Celestia started to look more and more gloomy as she spoke. "the ponies all in Equestria and the Crystal Kingdom only love me because I'm just a Princess, I wouldn't be treated as nice if I was just a normal Unicorn filly."

And Duchess Goethe smiled "And still not love you with your loyal and exceptionally polite attitude? I think very much not. And even if you are mean or rude or somepony misunderstands you or even disagrees with you, you will always be properly loved by somepony else."

They both stopped walking in a Anteroom, then there was a mediocre pause in that room.

Then, just as soon as the silence had started, Celestia holered in the Royal Gallopian voice, "RACE YOU TO THE MOST BESTEST MEAL IN THE KINGDOM OF EQUESTRIA!!"

Goethe actually was the one who started running first. "YOU ARE SO ON, BUT FLYING IS CHEATING IN THIS, YOU GOT ME!!?"

Eventually, Celestia won the two Alicorns' little "race", but this was only so because Goethe let the princess win.

The meal was set: Goethe's favorite of long sandwiches with smoked ham and goat cheese. Since they were the only nobles present in the bastion, they were the only ponies being served at the table, with the sounds of only the Duchess', the Princess', the servants' and the Royal guards' breathing and the sipping of drinks by the royalty could be heard. But a loud voice from the hall leading to the dining hall broke that silence.

"....and this...this...favoritism of color over design and defense found on this region of this contenet is absurd! Personally I don't think it takes a well versed Unicorn to see that! Even the Pegasi cloud city of Atkoptos does better in regards to battlements! How did even half of this structure survive the dragon wars!?"

Now there came from down the hall coming into the mess hall a Dark grey Unicorn with a white mane and a stringy underkept white tail. He looked quite a bot older then Celestia's Father, the King Solaris. He had a fur growth under his chin that turned less grey and more white as it went down. He also had oddly longer hair for a stallion that came out of his hat. Ah, his hat! His wonderful hat was all dark blue with just two stripes of light blue in the middle of the hat and on the brim. His cloak had the same exact print and color, but only with a golden couplet fastener with a blue diamond on it to keep his cloak fastened onto himself. As if he wasn't a noisy stallion already, he wore jingle bells on his hat and cloak. Although second Equestria was years from being founded, his persona and jingle bells would one day become holiday staples of the festival.

Next to the old stallion was his regal escort: the Captain of the Royal guard, Cyclone. He was a usual sized Earth pony with green fur and a dark green short mane.

"I think it would be considered polite to complement the design rather then insult it, as it is the palace where you might spend a maximum of several weeks at due to the Unicorn uprising nonsense." Cyclone pointed out dryly.

"Well at least Princess Platinum makes sure that her parents at leat try to have a least some respect to design, even if it is the regards of her tastes. Why..." The Old Stallion was about to start his "And that is what I love about Unicornia" rant again.

Cyclone thought, "Well, they never talked to us about anything about dealing with snarky old coots in basic training. When will he ever stop ranting so that we can get down to business on why you are here specifically!?"

After a couple minutes of the Stallion's rantings, Goethe put her food down that she was eating by using her magic, and came up to the Old Stallion.

She wanted to be blunt and quick about who he was, and why he was here. "Sir..." she started.

"...What? I said, you don't have to steal any sort of gemstone from the likes of the diamond dogs, all you have to do is take a caravan to the Crystal Kingdom in the North..."

Duchess Goethe attempted to get his attention again. "Sir, I-" She was cut off rudely by the old stallion again.

"Not right now! Anyway, as if get the materials wasn't hard enough, when we got back, Princess Plantinum was complaining all about-"

"SIR!!! WE ASK THAT IF YOU CAN ANSWER US SOME IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, DEAREST!!!" Duchess Goethe screamed in the Royal Gallopia Voice.

That seriously took the Unicron stallion back. "Y-yes, you may..."

"You are the Unicorn known as Ridnarhtim, correct?"

"And who wants to know!?" The old stallion impolitely asked.

"THE DUCHESS, THE REGIONAL GOVERNORESS, GEOTHE!!!"

"Well yes, Ridnarhtim is one of my many names and titles."

"And what is the full name of your most used name, and for what reason has a Unicorn of Unicornia come to Gallopia Bastion, and on what invitation.

"I assure you, my invitation is that of the Lord Solaris, and the Lady Artemis, King and Queen of Equestria. And my full name is Starswirl (sometimes referred to as "the bearded") and I am on a royal behest to educate the princess Celestia, which also is a break from the ruckus going on at Unicornia, anyway."

"So, the Unicorn uprising, you were a part of it and were sent here as a punishment for using your magic to aid in the Unicorn Rebellion, correct?"

"Why would you ever think such a thing like THAT!? I have been sent here because I am know throughout my tribe, and in other tribes, to be the greatest magic users in all of the Kingdom of Equestria! That's why I've been sent here. And besides, I don't agree with the Unicorn Uprising at all. And the only one who I know personally who supports the Rebellion is one of my most trusted former students, Clover the Clever, foolish boy...."

Duchess Geothe beckoned the Princess with her horn. "Celestia,I want you to meet Ridnarhtim, also known as Starswirl the bearded."

Princess Celestia, who was now done eating her lunch, trotted over to see StarSwirl.

"So this is the shovey Stallion Ridnarhtim, that's you've been talking about all this time?" Celestia didn't see the rudeness of her comment.

"Oh Celestia!" Goethe looked down at the Princess "Watch your young tongue! You must learn to respect StarSwirl the Bearded!"

"It's alright I guess." StarSwirl stretched. "I get a lot. I guess I better get myself unloaded and whatnot, no lunch for the weary." Starswirl started to walk down the hall again. when Geothe verbally stopped him.

"You are aware that her majesty Princess Celestia has a lesson tomorrow, correct?"

"So she does." StarSwirl blew her off.

"But her next lesson is her first in astronomy! Lesson eleven! Which means, I can't properly teach her about that subject, you are StarSwirl the bearded for goodness sakes! You can teach her first astronomy lesson better then I could ever! Please don't act and be like this, Ridnarhtim!!" Goethe begged the Stallion.

"ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT! Just not first thing in the morning...I need to unpack and whatnot to get situated in this ablasted place!"

And from that, StarSwirl the bearded went muttering down the hall with Cyclone, never to be seen the rest of the day.

After both were gone, and Ridnarhtim's wasn't heard anymore, Goethe turned to Celestia and said "He usually isn't like this, actually. The Unicorn uprising and his aging selse must be getting him worked into this...friendzy. I guess some people change from little circumstance..." Goethe trailed off.

Celestia just shook her main. "Well, since my lesson was short and since I got it down so quickly today I might as well head up to the royal pools and baths." Princess Celestia started to make her way up the steps found in the mess hall connecting the ponies to other floors, when she felt a slight tug on her back.

It was Duchess Goethe, she had a bright twinkle in her eye. "There is...something I have to tell you...about...Queen Artemis..." Geothe looked like she was either going to cry for joy, or have her heart explode.

"Is she still sick?" Celestia wondered.

"Yes, she is actually sick, but...there is one more thing..."

At that moment, Goethe looked out at the sky, and waited a moment, then she looked back.

"Do you know what? I better tell you tomorrow. Tomorrow with all it's talk of of the stars and...the moon..." Goethe let out a certain melancholy sigh at the word moon.

"Alright then." Celestia walked off then, not seeming to care.

But Goethe just couldn't stop smiling.