Chapters "Magic. It is present in every pony. From the oldest earth stallion to the youngest pegasus filly. Magic is the true nature of all ponies but in none more prevalent than the unicorn. Great is the gifts that it gives to our race. Earth ponies the natural skill and ability in working with the ground to grow new life. Pegasus their weather and cloud manipulating abilities. But unicorns were given the ability to control magic, to bend and weave into whatever form or purpose they desire. With proper time and training a unicorn's magical prowess are limitless! The gift of magic is the key to the entire pony race and without it we would not be where we are today.”
Blazing streams of sunlight flowed through the stain glass windows of the large marble hall. Huge ornate stone book shelves lined the white walls and spanned far into its depths. Countless arrays of colourful books of all sizes packed the selves surrounding the geometric array of tables in the centre. Only one of which was currently occupied. The mumbled words of the pale turquoise coated unicorn were slightly amplified and echoed as they were read from a large and well used tome resting before him. Strands of grey hair from the stallion's neatly combed mane slipped in front of the rapidly moving violet eyes before being immediately pushed back with a hoof.
"Hey Greymane! Already muzzle deep in the books I see?" A feminine voice sounded through the large hall, bringing an abrupt end to the mumbled words. A blueish grey unicorn trotted up to the reading pony. The sound of her hooves clopping against the tiles echoing through the marble chamber.
"Good morning Starlight." the turquoise unicorn greeted in a solemn tone as she slid into the seat beside him. Lifting up the cover of the book, her yellow eyes fluttered across the title.
"A beginner's guide to magic? Isn't this a little below your level?" she asked pointing to the book, her face twisting to one of amused confusion.
"Not at all" Greymane replied in the same solemn drone, "It is important to remember the basics and revise them frequently, regardless of ones level" he continued as he turned back to the book.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with you finally getting to study under your hero would it?" Starlight sneered under a knowing grin.
"You just finish your shift at the observatory?" he quickly countered.
"Obviously, how else would I catch you here so early every morning." Starlight teased as she nudged a hoof into Greymane's side playfully, failing to garner any response from him, he did not even lift his eyes off the page. The mare yawned as she rested her head in her hoof. Her black with cream streak mane spilled onto the table top when she turned to face the reading unicorn. Greymane continued scanning along the lines of the book through half lidded eyes.
"Is something the matter?" he asked, still not taking his eyes off the page.
"Huh?" Starlight asked as she jolted out of her thoughts. Her face quickly turned from mild surprise to a gleeful grin.
"Just wondering how uncreative your parents are to give you a name like Greymane." she replied giving her companion another playful nudge with her hoof. The grey maned unicorn briefly closed his eyes and allowed a small smile, so small it would barely be noticeable, before returning to his previous state. Starlight grinned happily,
"Alright! Mr. Grumpy Grey finally cracked a smile!" she cheered loudly in the echoing marble room, earning another sigh and wry smile from Greymane.
"Ahem." A voice sounded beside them causing Greymane to tilt his head up from the book and Starlight to lean back on the bench to look past him. Bulky silver armour coated the brown stallion's form in barding, his face the only truly visible part of the pony inside the armour. "I apologise for the interruption but Master Star Swirl has requested your presence sir." the armour clad pegasus reported in a deep and formal voice. Greymane nodded in response to him before the guard turned to leave the library.
"You know, they should really think about replacing the guard's armour" Starlight wondered aloud as Greymane closed his book and stood from the table.
"Why what's wrong with it?" he asked, levitating the books back to their proper shelves.
"Well it just seems a bit bulky and plain for the Canterlot royal guard" she mused as she pointed after the guard in his large dark silver plate barding and helmet. "I mean, this is the capital and they are the princesses' royal guard so it should really be something a bit more fancy don't ya think?" Greymane followed her gaze to the guard who had just made his way out the large wooden door. Turning back to the mare he bowed formally,
"Yes, well Starlight it has been a pleasure." the blue grey mare gave a warm smile back before he turned away and trotted out after the guard, leaving her alone in the library while she gave a shallow sigh.
Ascending to the top level of one of Canterlot castle's several towers, Greymane stood at the end to a long corridor. Four pedestals were placed along the walls of the corridor, each with an ancient looking item on them ranging from vases to helmets. A long purple carpet guided Greymane to the large arched door at the end as it snaked its way across the stone path. Hollow knocks rapped on the gilded door from Greymane unsurely tapping it with his hoof.
"Enter" a deep voice flatly called from the other side. Old hinges creaked the door open as Greymane entered the modestly sized and largely cluttered room. A single opened window leading to a small balcony supplied the only lighting to the fairly dim room. Numerous books and scrolls littered the walls and tables in stacks or some opened. A few relics of all kinds dotted the room placed on pedestals or cabinets like in the corridor outside. In the far end of the room, atop a few steps leading to a raised portion of the room, stood an ageing purple unicorn. The faded and dusty trims of his regal purple robes feathered on the stone floor beneath them. As did the tip of the silver grey testament to his age that was the beard hanging from his old muzzle.
The lip of the matching purple hat's enlarged rim tilted up allowing the twinkle of experience and wisdom sealed in tired eyes to fix on Greymane. A slight choke formed in Greymane's throat as he met the steeled gaze of his new mentor.
"Y-you requested my presence Master Star Swirl?" He stuttered slightly before reigning in his composure. A rose hue stained his muzzle as he cursed himself for faltering. Despite the clear signs of age set into the senior unicorn's features, he showed no signs of the effects as he stood in a firm and formal stance.
"Yes Greymane, I have an assignment for you." The strong and deep voice sounded from Star Swirl, displaying no signs of weakness from time as he made his way down the steps. Greymane felt the dense heavy aura surrounded his mentor as he walked past him to a small table littered with scrolls and books. A lavender bubble of light formed around his horn before the entire stacks and piles of paraphernalia weightlessly flew into the air. Easily separating out several tomes and pieces of parchment from the floating bubble of magic, he spun the others off to various different shelves and draws and the chosen few returned to the cleared table top.
"Come, we must discuss your task." Star Swirl flatly stated to Greymane with his back to him. Numerous charts and diagrams had been etched into the pages of parchment in the books and scrolls. Old outdated maps of sections of Equestria, some with harsh black ink scratched furiously in crosses or circles dotted areas of the old maps. A few of the scrolls holding markings of ancient looking glyphs or notes, largely though they were dominated by the image of a large arcane looking star. Greymane glanced over many of these as he quickly made his way around the table. At the other side of the sea of parchment Star Swirl's horn bubbled with the purple glow once more as a single large and relatively ornate scroll levitated up beside him. Greymane's focus was drawn to a large and detailed drawing of the star shaped object shown on other scrolls, only this one was surrounded by annotations and scribbles in many different ponies writing.
"The Star of Desires." the bearded unicorn droned out in his deep voice. "An artefact from ancient times, well before Discord's rule, back when Equestria was still in its infancy and the three great pony tribes had joined together. Rumoured to be one of the many creations of the unicorns when they dabbled in their advancements. It has been lost for many centuries despite a few attempts to find it." he continued as Greymane studied the image before him. Star Swirl settled for staring at the turquoise unicorn before him, watching him for every movement and expression.
"And what is it you would have me do sir?" Greymane responded as he ceased staring at the image and tried to steel himself under his mentor's firm gaze.
"I want you to retrieve it." Star Swirl stated matter of factly as he placed the scroll down on the table in front of the now shocked Greymane. His usual sombre expression was now wide eyed and bewildered. "We have discovered a missing link to tracking it down." he explained, taking notice of the change in his students expression. "It appears that the secret containing the key to its location and unlocking it were placed in a book which was given to one of it's creators. During the flow of time the book has been lost, recovered, stolen, scavenged, bought and sold until it has finally come to rest in an earth pony nobles collection in Trottingham." Greymane had quickly reigned in his composure for the second time, and for the second time he mentally kicked himself for the slip up.
"But, with all due respect for your reasons sir, why choose me for this? Surely your other more advanced students would be better suited for something of this calibre, I have only been your student for a little over two weeks an-"
"You are the one I have chosen for this." Star Swirl cut him off with his deep and authoritative voice silencing him immediately. "You posses unique traits that my other students do not that makes you the optimal choice for this task. So far you have only ever studied magic out of books and the tutelage of others. It is important for you to learn magic on your own and use it in the real world, something which you cannot do in the confines of the castle." He did not shout and his tone carried no anger but his voice naturally possessed the booming authority that the user commanded.
Greymane clamped his mouth shut, not out of intimidation or fear but out of the high respect he had for the master unicorn. Because of this he simply settled for a nod to show that his mentor has been understood and accepted. Star Swirl sighed deeply as his fading coat and experienced grey eyes retreated back under the rim of his hat. Resting back in his chair the voiced sounded again from under the obscuring hat and beard,
"Go and prepare for the journey and then return back to me, I will give you further instructions when you do." Greymane nodded once more and quickly trotted out of the chamber. The large door clunked shut before the room was descended into a still silence.
"I thought you said you trusted me to choose the best candidate." Star Swirl called out into the empty room. Gentle metallic taps approached Star Swirl from behind.
"You know I trust your decisions old friend, but are you sure about this one?" A beautifully feminine voice asked the brooding Star Swirl. The voice was silky smooth with a mother like undertone that brought a warming aura into the room. The bearded unicorn lifted his head and turned to the source of the voice. A tall and slender white alicorn greeted his sight. Multicoloured hair flowed to the side like water, the rays of light from her balcony entrance shimmered of the golden trims of her jewellery.
"Yes." was his single cold reply.
"I can't help but share his sentiment, you do have many other more experienced and advanced students that you could choose." the angelic form spoke in her soothing song-like voice. "I was even hoping that you would decide to go yourself, one last adventure" She smiled warmly.
"Princess Celestia... I think we both know that time pasted long ago." Star Swirl responded, his voice taking on a softer and less authoritative tone. The smile on the princesses face slowly shrunk and a pang of sadness marred her angelic features as she slowly closed her eyes. "He is the right one for this task."
"He reminds me a lot of you when you were his age." The princess' voice sounded even gentler than earlier as she looked at the sombre unicorn.
"Exactly." Star Swirl sighed in a voice so quite it was only just audible to the princess. "That is why I am sending him." he tilted his head back to reveal his face from under the hat and stared off into the distance, "I don't want him to become like me, he needs to get out into the real world and see it with his own eyes, not spend his life in a dusty library staring into a book. I cannot let him make the same mistakes as I have. He needs to live his life and make some friends, something I never had time for..." his voice was far softer that it had before, no longer the deep authoritative boom it had been. It was tired and weary, voicing the age that was taking him.
"What about that observatory assistant? I thought they were friends?" Celestia offered, her face still showing the sadness that had took hold. Star Swirl allowed himself a small smirk as he turned back to the princess.
"Have you ever seen those two together? He barely even registers her presence most of the time." The old conjurer chuckled lightly at this. "He's always got his muzzle in a book when they're together and he's not really the most sociable of ponies, she pretty much talks to herself most of the time." he shook his head slightly at the fact. The princess walked over to him to sit down beside him.
"I understand your reasoning and respect your decision my old friend but are you sure he is ready for something like this? He has only been your student for two weeks after all and this is a very important task. I don't feel comfortable agreeing to send him if he can't handle it and might end up dead." The princess flatly stated in a serious and firm tone.
"Which is why he will have to make some friends to help him." Star Swirl turned to face the worried yet stern expression of his ruler next to him who let out a gentle yet royal sigh before responding,
"I hope you are right about this. If he should fail then it would not only mean the loss of a young student's life due to our mistakes but also the loss of this relic into the wrong hands." the princess stated, shutting her eyes and turned from facing the old unicorn.
"He can do it, trust me."
The open satchel bag sat against the crisp white bed sheets. Like the unassuming white sheets on the bed, the rest of the stone room matched it in terms of plain and neatness. If it was not for the scattering of the few random possessions it would appear that the room was not even being lived in at all. That and the turquoise unicorn standing in the centre looking around at the different objects in the room. Several quills and rolls of parchment glowed inside a green bubble before levitating through the room and into the bag.
Despite not having ventured far out of the Canterlot castle for most of his adult life, Greymane was not an idiot when it came to knowing the necessities. Next to the open bag he had laid out everything that he knew would prove invaluable. A map of Equestria that once took place on the far wall of his bedroom now lay rolled up awaiting its new home in the bag. A metal canteen filled to the brim with water lay coupled with a small cloth wrapping some food. Underneath these items was a large rolled up thick blanket that the supplies rested on. All of these items were pulled into the depths of the open bag by the green light before it was buckled closed tightly and the blanket roll tied to the straps that went over his back. Finally a tiny light brown sack fastened with cord gave a metallic jingle as it was lifted up and onto the bed by the teeth of the unicorn. Shimmering gold disks spilled onto the white sheets of the bed as the cord was untied. Reflected light caught off the tiny horseshoes that were emblazoned in the centre of each coin as a pair of violet eyes scanned them.
Every coin Greymane had in Equestria lay before him shining in the early morning sun from the open window. A modest amount but to Greymane it surfaced worried thoughts about whether it would be sufficient for a quest of this scale. Would anything he had be sufficient, supplies or otherwise. A deep groaning sigh filled the room as everything was quickly packed and buckled up. The worried thoughts swirled through his mind as he closed the buckles on the bag and slung the heavy load over his back, the ancient looking spellbook that was his cutie mark vanishing from sight. Huge violet eyes swivelled across the room to land on the unassuming night stand. Of the sparse possessions that were dotted around the interior of the room, none was more significant than the small wooden picture frame staring back to the unicorn.
The faces of three ponies grouped together in a hug were reflected in the eyes of the still unicorn. Two of the ponies were substantially older than the third as they stood at either side. A pair of old glasses rested over the eyes of an emerald green stallion with greying black hair. The bushy beard, although nowhere near the level of Star Swirl's, failed to stifle the smile of true happiness that shone from beneath. Next to them stood a pale blue mare smiling honestly, however not grinning a wide and toothy smile as the proud looking stallion. Reflected light off a small tear sparkled next to her light brown mane as it rolled down her cheek. The cheeky grin of an excited turquoise colt stood between them, beaming up to the camera as the three ponies hugged.
The unfocused violet eyes glazed over as they lingered on the image locked in the wooden frame for several long moments. Green aura began to absorbed the picture frame as it was gently floated up and into the awaiting saddlebag. Rapid blinks fluttered over the eyes as they snapped back to reality and were joined by the coughing of Greymane clearing his throat. Still silence ensnared the room once more as he took one last look around what was his simple home. Exhaling deep sigh from his nose he turned his back on the borderline untouched room and closed the door for what would be the last in a very long time.
The afternoon sun beat down upon the large courtyard filled with ponies. A tall arched gateway stood at one wall over the entrance for the large complex of buildings, emblazoning the golden ornate sign with the words "Canterlot Academy for Magic". Several dozen differently coloured unicorns milled around in the courtyard, some in groups chatting to each other, some rushing around to classes and some even practising magic in a far corner.
Greymane trotted quickly across it, saddlebags gently thumping up and down on his back as he headed across the castle courtyard. A large towering spire shot up into the clear blue sky, the academy emblem flutter on a banner on the towers apex as he approched.
"Hey Greymane!" a familiar mare's voice called out over the ambient chatter and noise of the courtyard. Turning his head back to see the blue grey form of Starlight wave at him as she made her way through the crowds. "Hi!" she exclaimed in a bubbly and cheerful tone when she reached him. Tilting her head to the side as she noticed the saddlebags. "You going somewhere or something?" asking inquisitorially as she pointed to the stuffed bags on Greymane's back, or more specifically the incriminating bedroll.
"Hello again Starlight, yes I am being given an assignment by Master Star Swirl that will require me to travel outside of Canterlot for a while." Greymane responded in his natural formality. Starlight's eyes quickly widened and shrunk as her previous bubbly attitude burst.
"You're leaving? Why? Where?" she huffed out in one quick high pitched breath. Greymane merely raised an eyebrow at her response.
"Yes I am. I just said I received an assignment and will be leaving for a while. I have not been told where to yet." he flatly responded as he stared back at the mare through half lidded eyes. Starlight's brow furrowed and she stomped a hoof.
"Well thanks for telling me!"
"I did not realise I was required to." Starlight stood frozen, her mouth opened and closing several times as she stared at him.
"Bu... Ah... Y-you've never even been out of Canterlot your whole life though! How will you know what to do out there?! I-I can't believe you were not even going to tell your friend you were leaving." This time it was Greymane whose eyes quickly widened before returning to normal just as quickly.
"Err... well I apologise for not telling you before now" he offered apologetically. A deep groaning sigh responded him as the mare rubbed a hoof against the side of her head.
"So what's this assignment you've got?" An exasperated drawl from the mare asked.
"I have to locate and recover an artefact" Greymane responded as he turned to continue his walk to the tower, the still visibly annoyed mare trotting up beside him as they made there way through an archway to a corridor.
"Well why is he sending you? No offence Greymane but you're not exactly an expert treasure hunter." Starlight raised an eyebrow as she shot him a sideways glance with her large golden eyes.
"I do not know. He said that I have 'unique traits' but I am not entirely sure what he meant. I am heading to his office now to get further details."
"Details like how you're gonna survive out there?" she poked back in a firm voice, stopping her walk to turn to Greymane.
"I will be fine." he flatly replied to the mare as he stopped his walk up a short flight of steps to turn back to her. Starlight looked at his blank and neutral expression through narrowed eyes. The chatter and ambient noises of other ponies and bird song amplified the tense silence between them.
"Its not like Canterlot out there you know?" Starlight finally pointed, her voice calm but firm as she continued to watch him through narrowed eyes. "Some places are still trying to heal after Discord's rule out there and there are always ponies ready to exploit the princess' overstretched attention. What if you get robbed by bandits or attacked by a pack of wild monsters?" Greymane turned away from her to look into the distance. Several more uncomfortable moments crept over them before he finally turned back to her.
"It is not above my attention that I am unsuited to this task. Nevertheless it has still been assigned to me to accomplish." Greymane stated. The huffed breath failed to disguise the 'whatever' Starlight sighed before she turned her telescope cutie mark on him and trotted down the corridor. Turning back to his goal Greymane quickly ascended the stairs.
"I trust you have suitably prepared for your journey. Your first objective is to travel to the town of Trottingham, its a modest sized town about a day or two away. There is an Earth pony noble by the name of Silver Goblet. The book is in his possession, you must retrieve it and then follow the information inside to the location of the Star of Desires." Star Swirl boomed from the top of the steps looking down to Greymane as the young unicorn nodded once. Star Swirl's stance was once again rigid and authoritative as his hardened gaze bore down on Greymane. "Now before we go into the details about your mission there is somepony who would like to have a word with you..."
Star Swirl looked over Greymane to the open balcony behind him. A faint golden aura seemed to tint the room as Greymane turned his head to see. A tall white alicorn stood on the balcony, wings spread wide and a smile as bright and warm as the sunlight behind her.
"Hello my little pony" Celestia greeted in a soothing and gentle voice. As she stepped into the room, her movements fluid and graceful as they were accentuated by the soft clink of her golden shoes, Greymane's eyes shrunk to pinpricks while his mouth shuddered, failing to form a worded response. His muzzle feathered an inch from the ground as he threw himself into a hurried bow to the goddess. Star Swirl trotted up behind the stunned unicorn and looked up at the princess, giving a low and informal nod in place of a bow.
"The princess wanted to go over this plan with you personally, seeing as how she is the one that your doing it for." Star Swirl commented to the still bowing unicorn. Greymane turned his head to the side to look up at his mentor, his expression still betraying his usual solemn behaviour.
"Indeed young Greymane, come, we have much to discuss about your task." Celestia spoke as she gracefully made her way to the table still littered with scrolls and books.
Greymane struggled his way to the table to join them, his footing feeling unreliable and thumping of heartbeats in his chest. He was sat across from two of the most important ponies in Equestria. Thoughts of how this all might be a dream flooded his dizzy head, meeting Princess Celestia herself and going on an adventure through Equestria sure humoured the idea but he quickly dispelled it as nonsense.
"As Master Star Swirl has already informed you, this is the Star of Desires." the angelic princess spoke as she levitated up the scroll displaying the arcane five pointed star. "It is a relic believed to have been created during the years between Equestria's founding and Discord's reign. There are several different stories for its origin, some believe the ancient unicorn's created it as one of their ventures in the arcane arts. Others believe it was created as a symbol of worship by the bat ponies." Greymane's startled nerves began to sooth at the princess' voice.
"A few crackpots even say that Discord created it. Either way it holds a great wealth of power stored in it." the grumble of Star Swirl added.
"Naturally you can understand that if this magic fell into the wrong hooves then the results could be disastrous. The last thing we need is another Discord in these lands." the princess continued as they looked at Greymane. The unicorn inspected the picture again, paying close attention to the weird glyphs marking across its surface.
"What power is the star capable of?" his voice slow and careful.
"From what we understand, the star has the ability to grant the wielder one, and only one, wish that they truly desire." Star Swirl answered him from beneath his beard. "As long as the wish comes from the bottom of their hearts it can grant anything. So if somepony corrupt and evil got their hooves on it..." he trailed off, not needed to explain further as Greymane nodded.
"Which is why we need to recover it first." Greymane thought aloud. The two senior ponies nodded sombrely as the scroll drifted over to him.
"Naturally it won't be as easy as that. The road will be a long and dangerous one Greymane, parts of Equestria are not as peaceful these days as we would like. Do not let anypony know of your mission as there are sure to be other ponies out there who are also looking for it." Star Swirl warned in his deep voice as Greymane took the scroll and put it into his saddlebags. "That being said you will not be able to succeed in this mission without help. Once you leave the castle we will not be able to aid you, you will need to find others who you can trust and will help you on your journey."
Greymane stared off to the side for several silent moments. Furrowing his brow he exhaled deeply from his nose.
"I think I have an idea of somepony that could help." he mumbled reluctantly. "Although I'm not sure it's my best idea." A low grumble sounded from beneath the beard opposite him.
"It will have to do for a place to start." he mumbled lowly, "But remember, it is vital that you seek others out to help you, if you try to do this alone you will fail." he continued bluntly as Greymane moved to stand. "Find companions, get the book and recover the star, that is your mission."
"I will do as you wish Master Star Swirl. I will recover the star and bring it safely back to you." Greymane bowed to them before they stood up and moved for the door.
"Good luck on your journey young one. I hope you will safely return to us soon." Celestia said in her mother toned voice.
"Remember what we have said and try to stay out of danger." Star Swirl added in a firmer voice. Greymane looked at the two before silently making his way out of the door.
A strained silence drowned the room, the two senior ponies fixing their gaze firmly on the closed door.
"I hope you were right about sending him." the princess' gentle voice finally broke the silence. Muffled hoof steps made their way to the table.
"Its done princess. I'm sure he will be fine as long as he follows our instructions." The old chair creaked under Star Swirl as he returned to it, his voice fading back to the tired voice of an old unicorn as gentle rhythmic clinks approached him.
"I can still worry can't I?" Celestia defiantly retorted as she knelt down beside him.
"You have other things to worry about princess, he is my responsibility not yours." the strained voice answered down to her.
"Everypony is my responsibility Star Swirl, it is natural that I worry about their well being." A raspy chuckle sounded above her, followed by the creak of a wooden chair.
"If you understand worrying about your subjects then you will understand my worrying for my students." he sagely responded as he stood up beside her. "I cannot sit back and allow another pony to make the mistakes I made." he stumbled on his unsure footing, the table beside him offering support as he put a hoof to it. The soft down of feathers supported him as they cushioned against his back. A dry and bitter chuckle escaped from beneath his beard. "The great Star Swirl the bearded, master of over 200 spells, hailed as the greatest conjurer Equestria has ever known. Really he's just a tired old pony." he muttered morosely.
He turned to the source of the wing draping over his back. Locking with the princess' eyes, the decades of wisdom and experience mirroring in each other even if their mortal states were not.
"Never let your students forget the magic of friendship princess. Never let them cast it aside as I did." the old unicorn sagely informed before he went to a far desk. The faint scratch of a quill began to sound in the room as he hung over an old spellbook. The goddess slowly turned her head towards to door once again.
The empty expense of the courtyard stretched out in front of the still awestruck Greymane. Sitting down at the slate stone entrance of the corridor, Greymane breathed slowly deeply and shook his head. The afternoon sun hung at its apex over the arched gate of the academy as if daring the turquoise pony to come after it. Fresh air filled him as the heavy weight of the saddlebags were slung over his back once more. Clopping of hooves echoed against the cobblestone floor as Greymane trotted out towards the entrance. Walking through the arched gateway to his journey, an object to the side caught his attention.
"No." he said firmly as he past a unicorn standing on the other side of it, not even stopping for a response.
"Oh come on. You wouldn't last a single day on the outside by yourself." Starlight responded firmly as she trotted up beside him, her telescope cutie mark covered by a pair of stuffed saddlebags that shook from her movements.
"It's too dangerous for you."
"I can take care of myself, it's you I'm not so sure about. Beside aren't you supposed to find companions to help you? Who else do you know besides me?" she shot back in defiantly firm voice as she caught up beside him.
"How did... were you eavesdro-"
"-No." she quickly snapped back. Greymane stopped still to narrow his eyes at Starlight while she turned her gaze to particularly interesting cloud. A familiar grumble escaped Greymane's muzzle as he continued to look at the mare with suspicion.
"What about your duties in the observatory? Are you just going to abandon them?" Greymane tried in an attempt to dissuade her as he resumed his trot.
"Am I just going to abandon a friend?" Greymane clenched his jaw. His pace faltering for a split moment as he turned his head to the side.
"Like it or not Mr. Grumpy Grey I'm coming."
The sun began to creep behind the distant mountains as streaks of orange and purple began to tint the skies. A winding snake of path stretched into the distance over the grassy hills, flanked on both sides by thin woodland. Puffs of dust skipped up from the pair's hoofsteps as they made their way along the dirt track.
"Hey Greymane, how 'bout we take a break for a little bit?" a panting mare's voice called out. Lazily turning his head to cast the tired Starlight a glance, he saw that the distance between them had began to increase by several lengths. Half lidded eyes fixed on the tired mare, her breathing heavy and head lowered in exhaustion.
"Already? We have barely even started. We cannot afford the time to take a break." Greymane grunted in a response before continuing his pace. Starlight head shot up, her face contorted into a mix of shock and frustration.
"What?! We've been trotting for four hours straight! I'm exhausted!" She called to the grey haired back of her companion's head as he continued on.
"I thought you knew what you were getting into when you chose to come." he responded without even turning his head. A response struggled to form from Starlight's quivering mouth, starting several words before frustration choked them off, an exasperated yell finally pierced the air between the two.
"We're going to run ourselves into the ground at this rate! The mission is not to kill ourselves from exhaustion you know. At this rate we won't even be able to move by tomorrow morning." an angry shout hurled from her, sitting down on her haunches she crossed her forelegs in defiance. "I'm sure we are not in such a hurry that we can't afford a ten minute rest." An exasperated sigh came from Greymane as he slowed to a stop.
"Okay. A short rest" he groaned trotting back to where Starlight sat.
"Thank you Greymane." Starlight mockingly thanked through an over exaggerated smile. The contents of Greymane's bags rattled as they slumped to the ground. Starlight's did the same before she levitated a canteen from one and took several eager gulps from it. A satisfied sigh escaped her lips as she pulled out a small cloth and began dabbing her brow with it. The previously wall mounted rolled up map levitated from Greymane's satchel before he began to inspect it, occasionally looking around at the terrain. Watching her companion Starlight noticed that besides the slightly more rapid breaths and small amount of sweat on his brow, Greymane showed barely any signs of exhaustion.
"You can't tell me you're not tired after all that. I'm exhausted! How can you keep going so much more than me?" she asked while she caught her breath, the cloth moving to the back of her neck.
"I'm in shape" Greymane responded flatly as he continued surveying his map.
"What?!" Starlight snapped, a flushing pink erupting through her coat as she glared daggers at the stallion. A pair of violet eyes lazily glanced over the parchment at the red cheeked mare. "I'm out of shape am I?!"
"No." a lazy reply came from behind the map, simmering her anger slightly as she continued to scowl. "But I am in better shape." Another exasperated groan came from Starlight, rubbing her temples with her hooves. "Many of Master Star Swirl's books states that it is important to keep the body strong to achieve strength in mind. So he makes us do laps around the academy every morning."
"Shame he couldn't teach you strength in social skills." Starlight muttered, falling back onto the grass. The violet eyes appeared again in a stern glare from over the map rim as it was slowly lowered. "Okay I'm sorry but I'm tired. I get annoyed when I'm tired." The paper barrier rose back up to block off the pair from each other. Rays of the sun's light crested the lip of the mountainside, pulling the sky into a deeper shade of blue and purple as the faint twinkles of stars began to appear. A smile tugged at Starlight's muzzle, she watched the eaves of Equestria's co-ruler creation start to take over the sky before a thought snapped her back. "So where are we heading anyway?"
"Saddlestone."
"Saddlestone? Why are we going there?" Starlight asked, turning to face the brown scroll shielding Greymane's upper body from sight.
"There is somepony there who I think may be able to help us." Greymane answered pulling out his canteen.
"Oh? Is it the one you told Star Swirl about? The one you that wasn't your best idea? I thought you meant me." she said rolling onto her belly. The map shot down to show a glaring Greymane.
"I thought you said you had not eavesdropped in on a high ranking Canterlot official's private meetings." Starlight's eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she visibly stiffened under his glare.
"Err... Hehe well... Y-you must have told me or something." she fumbled uncomfortably. Greymane narrowed his eyes even further at her. A grumble escaped him as the map vanished back into the bag and he focused on the canteen.
"So um... Who is this pony anyway?" Starlight hesitantly asked, trying to push past her slip up.
"Just a stallion I know. I met him several years back and he may be able to help us. Last I heard he was in Saddlestone which should be just over those hills there."
"How's he gonna help us?" A deep rumble split the cold air, cutting off Greymane's reply. Starlight's muzzle scrunched up, eyes shrinking to pinpricks. The throaty rumble sounded again beside them. Starlight watched Greymane's eyes slowly swing to the source of the noise while his body stood frozen. Crunching of grass perked Starlight's ears up. Slowly twisting her head, her fear stricken eyes settled on the crouching timberwolf emerging from the tree line, eyes glowing in the rapidly darkening light. "W-what do we d-do?!" Starlight whispered loudly, shrinking down further against the grass.
"Hold on." Greymane flatly responded. The buckle of Greymane's bag clicked open in a bubble of magic, snatching Starlight's attention away from the approaching beast. Her golden eyes locked intently on the bag as her breath held in her chest. The material flap of the bag raising excruciatingly slowly, the light of Greymane's magic shone from inside lifting something out. Never once taking his eyes off the growling creature beside them, he lifted the object out of the confines of the saddlebag.
A book.
Starlight blinked. Her eyes followed the floating book sail over to Greymane. The fluttering of pages snapped her back as her turquoise companion scanned the pages, completely disregarding the timberwolf's threats.
"A book?! Oh you have got to be kidding me! That's your plan?!" Starlight cried in panic, jumping to her hooves and smacking the book out of his levitation. The snarling bark of the timberwolf silenced her as they both turned back to the growling creature. A thump struck Greymane's chest from his saddlebags being magically thrown into him.
"Run!" Starlight screamed, her own saddlebags floating in a golden aura beside her as she galloped past him. The thudding of hooves on grass mixed with the panting of breath while Greymane caught up to the fleeing mare. Various barks and snarls gave chase behind them as they made their way over the grassy hills.
Legs aching and breathing erratic, the burst of adrenaline was all that kept Starlight's hooves going while Greymane hazarded a brief glance behind them. The rattling wooden spectre was quickly bearing down on them. A thin aura of magic wrapped his horn ending in a twinkling light at the apex of his horn.
"When I tell you to, I want you to close your eyes as tight as you can." Greymane called to the exhausted mare over the panting of breath.
"Wha-" Starlight turned her head towards his voice and the rapidly brightening light from his horn.
"Now!" Greymane shouted, his body spinning around to face the charging timberwolf. Eyes clenched tight and head lowered, the twinkling spark of his horn exploded in a blinding snap of light.
"What in Celestia's name was that?!" The panicked shriek from Starlight called, drowning out the yelps of the timberwolf. "I can't see!"
"I told you to close your eyes!" A wooden rattling emanating from the timberwolf's violent shaking of its head. Turning back he saw his friend doing much the same. "We need to keep going."
"Keep going?! I can't see!" She shouted back frustration, forehooves rubbing her eyes despite the push from Greymane.
"It's only temporary, which is why we need to get out of here." He sternly replied giving her another forceful push. The noises of the blinded timberwolf faded into the distance, rapid pounding of hooves drowning them out. Expanses of grassland fell behind them, the blinded mare's path occasionally being adjusted by Greymane to avoid her gallop being cut short by a tree.
Light of a nearby town glowed in the night. Shimmering white light highlighted rows of stone buildings under Luna's moonlight, mixing with the orange glow of torches against the dark blue night.
"I... I c-can't go any... F-further." Starlight panted over the clopping of their hooves on the cobblestone path. She slowly wobbled her way up to where Greymane had stopped, his steady frame offering a welcome support to the struggling mare.
"Huh..." his flat voice broke over the laboured breathing beside him. The deadweight pressed into his side as he surveyed their surroundings.
"Wh... What is it?" Starlight managed to croak out through the rapid breaths.
"I believe we have made it to Saddlestone." A suffered groan brought an end to his statement before the weight slipped of his side with a load thump. Greymane's attention turned to the sprawled out form of the collapsed Starlight beneath him. A muffled sigh escaping his muzzle.
"I thought you knew what you were getting into when you chose to come..."
The soft glow of morning seeped through the window, painting the small cottage room in its light. Melodious chirps of birds saluted Celestia's rising sun as Starlight creaked her weary eyes open. A groan escaped her as she scrubbed a hoof over her sleep riddled eyes, the soft cotton of the sheets sliding in a cascade across her fur as she sat up.
"Finally awake?" A voice asked. Lifting her heavy head to the sound she saw the rigid form of Greymane in the doorway.
"Wh... Where are we?" She asked, her mind racing to catch up in her aching head.
"The Slatehoof Inn, I carried you here after you collapsed." Greymane explained as he levitated an apple towards her.
"Oh... Thanks" she muttered. The red skin of the apple caught the morning light as it was rolled between Starlight's hooves, her cheeks mimicking the colour of the apple she stared intently at.
"I have been asking around in town about Winter Breeze while you've been out." He continued, walking over to the open window to stare out of it, streams of the morning breeze fluttering through his mane.
"Who?"
"The stallion I told you about. The one I thought could help us." He turned to face her again. "Apparently he has got quite the reputation in Saddlestone. But I believe I know where to find him. Eat and get yourself ready, we will be leaving soon" Starlight simply replied with a shallow nod as Greymane trotted out the room again, leaving her to huff and collapse back onto the bed with a thump.
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Bartering calls of market vendors filled the afternoon air, flanking the bustling cobblestone path. The colourful and varying curiosities tugged a content smile onto Starlight's muzzle as she passed over the sights vying for her attention.
"Oh how pretty!" She gasped, the sparkling of a gemstone statuette of the sun goddess being mimicked by her wide eyes.
"Yes miss, a glimpse of Princess Celestia's beauty caught in gemstone forever. Yours for only 20 Bits." The ageing brown earth pony offered from behind his stall.
"You realise if you buy that you're going to have to carry it the rest of the journey." Greymane flatly pointed out as he walked past. A disappointed sigh bid farewell to the object of her affections. Turning back she trotted after her companion, sparing a glance over her shoulder at the glistening statuette.
"So where is this guy anyway?"
"The Rocky Saddle tavern." Greymane replied, his half lidded eyes staring forward with determination.
"A tavern? But its morning." Starlight questioned while Greymane continued on silently, an uncomfortable silence hanging between them from Starlight's unanswered statement.
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The clattering of glass and idle chatter drowned the interior of tavern. A dim light blanketed most of the tavern in a shadowed earth tone disguising the depths from view.
"That's him." Greymane half-whispered to Starlight as she scanned the few occupied tables in the direction he faced. The ice blue form of a pegasus permeated through the dim as it occupied a lone table in the murky corner of the room laying slumped across the table. Starlight's eyes lingered on the solitary form before Greymane began to move across the room.
"Are you sure that he can help us? He doesn't look... well."
"He's fine, trust me." Greymane stopped in his tracks and whispered close to her.
"Why are you whispering?" Starlight leaned forward and whispered cautiously, her eyes warily scanning around them.
"It is probably better if he does not know I am here right away." Greymane continued, his whisper low and stern.
"But if you know each other, won't he recognise you when he sees you?" Starlight asked as she cast another glance over to the slumped pegasus. An unsettling silence was cast over the pair for a moment. Starlight began to wonder if he already had answered and missed it.
"He's... blind" He finally answered before continuing over to the table. Starlight remained, her hooves rooted to the spot as she watched the ice blue pegasus. Greymane cast a look over his shoulder to her, compelling her to follow.
"What?" Growled a low voice from the tabletop, the speaker remaining still as a statue as the pair approached and took seats opposite him. The ambient sounds of the tavern hung over the silence of the table. Starlight's face betraying her inner discomfort as she stared intently at an idle mug. A questioning glare from Greymane settled on the rigid Starlight, still finding focus on the mug.
"O-oh errm, Hello, my name is Starlight." She stammered as Greymane's eyes finally bore into her. A nervous grin plastered her muzzle. "We... I-I am in need of some help in finding something. I... was hoping you mi-"
"Sorry." A groggy and dry voice grumbled over her nervous stammering. Head slowly rising from the table and array of empty glasses, the rough and grubby face came to confront the opposite reflection of Starlight. A coil of old bandages coldly stared into the unshielded gold eyes of the mare staring back. "I'm not too good with finding things..." Seeped a whisper from the blank visage. Words fought to form in Starlight's mouth, cutting each other off and leaving her mouth to open and close repeatedly in vain.
"Bu-but I... But we need-" the shaking mare stammered before an exasperated drawl cut off her jumble of stutters. The slow shaking of Greymane's head occupied the corner of her vision, unfortunately the focus maintained on the grim pegasus 'staring' into her.
"You... Who are you?" The scruffy bandages drifted slowly to land on the turquoise unicorn rubbing a hoof between his eyes. "We've met before... I can tell. Your presence is familiar to me... Who are you?" The whisper slid from his muzzle like venom, choking the atmosphere around the table.
"... It's me Winter." The table fell into a thick chasm of silence, choking off the surrounding noises of the tavern and other occupants. The clatter of glasses stopped and the air grew stagnant and heavy. Breath lay trapped in Starlight's rioting chest as she watched through pinpricked eyes. Muscles screaming to move but not daring to. The curl of a single bead of sweet ran over the arch of her brow, down her cheek and stroked a path down her neck, the tickle taunting her to dare move.
Violet eyes locked with mottled bindings of cloth. The tension crying under the strain, splintering and cracking before shattering like the array of glasses littering the table as a blue streak cut through them. A squeak of fright sounded over the clatter of wood and glasses rolling from the tabletop as the mare responsible recoiled away. Greymane was yanked forward onto the table by the blue streak, bringing him face to face with the bared and gritted teeth of Winter's scared mouth. Breathing heaved deeply in growls as the ferocious pegasus stared at the unicorn in his grasp.
"I told you what would happen if we ever met again Greymane!" Winter Breeze snapped at the limp Greymane staring definitely back at the pegasus.
"I remember. But I want you to listen to what I have to say first." Greymane calmly responded over Starlight's erratic breathing beside them.
"What makes you think that I would listen to a word that snakes its way from your muzzle?!" Winter growled, wings flaring out behind him as he pulled Greymane closer.
"Because we can help each other."
"Help each other?! Why in the goddess' name would you possibly think I would ever agree to helping each other?!" The pegasus roared down at the collected unicorn before him.
"Because I have a way to restore your sight." Greymane responded matter of factly, staring back up into the coil of bandages baring down on him.
"I've heard that one before Greymane. How many other times have you or somepony else said they had a way to restore my sight and failed." Winter shot back in a low yet even tone, maintaining his hold on the calm Greymane.
"This is different, It will work this time I promise."
"Your promises mean nothing to me Greymane." The blue pegasus coldly muttered before shoving Greymane out of his hooves. Starlight darted her eyes between the pair as they conversed, her shaking subsiding as the scene mellowed.
"There is an artefact that I've been assigned to find. It has the power to give you back your sight but we will need your help finding it." Greymane formally explained while brushing himself off and retaking his former seat at the table.
"Why could you possibly need my help?"
"You served in the royal guard Winter Breeze. Unfortunately there are still parts of Equestria where somepony with your skills and experience will prove invaluable." Greymane explained as he pushed the strands of hair shaken free back into the neat and orderly styled mane.
"Pfft, remind me why I'm no longer a royal guard Greymane." Winter snapped back to the unicorn opposite. The dirty stone floor beneath had enraptured Starlight's attention, holding her focus as she nervously toyed with her tied back mane.
"Honourably dis-" Greymane's flat answer was cut off by the hard slam of a hoof on the table, rattling the few remaining mugs and glasses on its surface. "An unfortunate turn of events leading to dismissal due to disabilities. But if you help us then you will be returned your sight and your position in the guard again." He continued under the grim scrutiny of the pegasus. A deep grumble emanated over the wooden creak of Winters chair as he leaned into it.
"And why should I believe you?"
"You have nothing but my word. You can either come with us and get your old life back or you can sit in this dingy tavern and continue your new one. Considering your current circumstances and the reward for my offer, what have you honestly got to lose?" Greymane fixed Winter with a hard stare as the pegasus sat motionless. Starlight lifted her eyes up to join Greymane in watching the silent Winter Breeze. Silence poured over them once again
as they sat frozen in time, the surrounding cantina blocked off from their own little world. Finally, a long and deep breath cascaded from Winter Breeze.
"...You're Discord in disguise Greymane... If what you say is true, and you better hope it is, then I will come with you." He muttered darkly to the awaiting pair opposite him. The tellings of a half smile etched its way onto Greymane's muzzle.
"Excellent, then le-"
"But don't you forget. I'm doing this for me and me only. I still hate you Greymane, and once this is over I never want to hear from you again, do you understand?" Winter Breeze darkly and forcefully explained to him as he leaned closer and jabbed of hoof toward him. A shallow nod was returned to him as Greymane stood from the table and began to depart.
"Understood. Get prepared and meet us at the south road in one hour."
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The rays of Celestia's sun washed down over the white stone buildings as it watched from its zenith in the sky. Two figures stood at the gateway between the rolling grassy hill and the pure stone town. Clopping of hooves against cobblestone beat the steady rhythm of someone's approach. Turning to meet the source, Greymane and Starlight's eyes fell upon the approaching ice blue form of Winter Breeze as he made his way to them. A rough and well worn saddlebag and bed roll lay tied across his back, covering the rear half of his body while the pommel of a short and simple sword poked out from underneath the saddlebags and ran along the left side of his frame. Sunlight crested against his clean coat and mane, highlighting them with the light while a small hexagonal pendant glinted around his neck.
"He looks a lot different from in the tavern." Starlight leaned close and muttered under her breath as they watched him make his way down the long street.
"Thankfully he seems to have taken a bath." Greymane replied. Winter finally made his way to them under the arched entrance to the town, Starlight flashed a warm and futile smile at his arival.
"Hi, all ready to..." She greeted but drifted off as he trotted straight past her, passing by Greymane a blue wing shot out and smacked him across the side of his head.
"I'm not deaf." He flatly stated continuing his trot out beyond the border of the town, leaving the unicorn grumbling behind him as he rubbed his head. A poorly hidden giggle of laughter snorted beside him. The cynical glare he shot failed to silence the giggling mare as she looked back innocently.
"Let's just go." Greymane grumbled before setting off after the quickly departing pegasus.
"Oh I can tell this is gonna be fun!" Starlight called back before snatching up her own saddlebags and galloping after them.
