I Had a Friend named Starswirl
The Prelude to Her Own Fairytale
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Gramma! Gramma Starberry! Open up! It's me!" yelled a little purple unicorn filly outside of an apartment. It was nearly the don of evening and everypony was home, preparing dinner and some even sleeping. But not Twilight. Twilight Sparkle was the small purple unicorn filly's name, and she had a bouncy mane that almost made her look intelligent - of course, if it was possible for such a small filly at a small age to look that way.
She was pounding on the apartment door excitedly when her mother, a white unicorn by the name of Twilight Velvet said sternly, "Twilight! Show a bit of manners, okay?" When the filly's worrisome eyes stared up at her, all the proud mother could do was smile and sigh. As they waited for the door to be answered she watched two unicorns, a colt and a stallion, come up the street. "There you are, Nightlight!" Said the exhausted mother with a smile, and then a small screech was heard.
The family turned to the door which was slowly being opened by a white, crippled hoof. The door was creaking quietly as it opened a bit and a small, wobbly voice was heard. "Hello?" It said, but nopony came outside. Twilight bounced up and down excitedly.
"Gramma Starberry! It's me!" squealed Twilight as she bounded inside to hug the mare. The mare let out a startled "Oh!" but smiled as the filly hugged her. She patted her back as the rest of the family walked in.
"Mother! I'm sorry for Twilight, she's-" started Twilight's mom, but the old mare just shook her head and smiled. The filly finally let go, leaving her shy brother to poke out from behind his father and approach with him.
"Starberry Swirl," said Nightlight, "What a pleasure to meet you." He held out his hoof for her to shake, but the white mare simply gave him a hug. A bit taken aback, Nightlight merely smiled as she did so. When she did let go, Nightlight cleared his throat. "Shining, it's just your grandmother," said the stallion quietly to the colt behind him. He crept out, looking strange as he trotted up to the old mare.
"H-hello M-Miss Starb-berry.." He stammered, obviously timid, but she smiled and shook his hoof gently. "Pleasure to meet you, Shining," She said, and the colt smiled.
Twilight fiddled with the mare's gray and red mane with a giggle. Starberry just chuckled. "Gramma, are you gonna tell us a story now?" Squeaked Twilight excitedly. "Like the one where it's why the sky is blue? And why Celestia's mane is soo colorful?" Twilight babbled on when finally Starberry took her hoof and patted the filly's shoulder.
"Actually, I'm going to tell a different tale tonight. Last time you came on over to Fillydelphia to visit me, I told you half of the book!" Twilight and Starberry giggled, then she continued, "I decided I'm gonna tell you and Shining a different tale. But you two will love it!" She touched Twilight and Shining on the nose, and Twilight squealed. "Okay! Come on! Let's go!"
"Hold your ponies, kids," said Nightlight as Twilight tried to drag Starberry into the living room. "Let's give some time for Granny to settle in, have dinner, and then we can have story time, alright?" He chuckled as Twilight reluctantly let go of Starberry's hoof and sadly looked over to her father. She turned to her grandmother, but she replied, "He's right, kids. Let's have dinner, then we can gather 'round the fireplace, alright?" Twilight and Shining sighed and said in unison, "Okay.."
"Come ofn, Gfranfy Sfarferry! Blfets' gof!" said Twilight as she leapt out of her seat and raced toward the living room, her mouth obviously still full of apple pie and spinach. She gulped down the food and looked back to the white mare and the rest of her family. Her parents were frowning but Starberry just gave off a faint smile. "In a moment, hon. I'm just finishing up my last bits of pie," she said, and Twilight nodded and grabbed Shining's hoof. "H-hey! What's the b-b-big idea?!" croaked the colt, but Twilight rolled her eyes. "Come on, Shining! You're the big sibling. You're supposed to be dragging me!" The colt laughed and together the two foals rushed into the living room where a fireplace was crackling calmly.
For a few minutes the two foals sat on the couch, waiting patiently. Twilight was about to go in and look for Starberry when she walked in. The two foals gazed up in awe as she walked in, ready to hear any story the old mare threw at them.
Starberry sat down on a chair in front of them and used her magic to carry a portrait over for them to look at. The stallion in the picture was hued a dark blue and had a forlorn expression, as if he was wondering something. He had bright, green eyes and a horn under a blue hat with stars and moons covering it. But his most standout feature was a long, puffy beard.
After a few moments, Starberry took the picture and placed it back on the high shelf it was originally standing on. The foals watched intently as the old mare turned back to them. She comforted herself in her chair and sighed.
"Our story begins on the outskirts of this very town.."