Star Swirl the Bearded: In the beginning

Star Swirl and Melody risen up,

"What news, your Highness?" Star Swirl asked.

"An enemy of our past has returned and threatens us with war" Said Princess Celestia.

"Who? Who has returned?" Melody asked, still feeling extremely tired.

"Queen Chrysalis" Princess Luna answered.

"The Changeling Queen?" Melody also asked.

"The very same, miss Greenmane." Princess Celestia answered.

Star Swirl had encountered Queen Chrysalis once before, as a child, she had killed his parents when he was 5 years old, after a changeling raid in Manehattan. He has a personal vendetta with the Changeling Queen.

"You want me to kill her, once and for all?" Star Swirl asked with his teeth gritted.

"We simply want you to defeat her, yes" The Princesses both said.

"It would be my everlasting pleasure, your Highness-es" Star Swirl replied with a sarcastic in his voice.

"We knew you would say that, we know about the Manedhattan raid, Star Swirl. We both know you have a strong vendetta against Chrysalis." Princess Luna said.

"What are they talking about, Star?" Melody asked with curiousity.

Star Swirl sighed, "When I was a 5 year old colt, me and my parent Manehattan, one night there a changeling raid,and both of my parents were killed by Chrysalis"

"Oh, for the love of Celestia, sorry Star. And also apologies for the blasphemy, your Highness." Melody replied.

"It's OK, Melody" She replied.

"But one thing puzzles me though." Melody said.

"And what would that be?" Luna asked Melody.

"How come the both of you can't defeat her with your own magic?" Melody asked

Both of the Princesses sighed with despair,

"Our magic is simply not powerful enough to defeat her" Celestia replied with shame.

"Why did you call us here to defeat if the both of us are simply weaker than you two?" Star Swirl asked after his short silence of thinking to himself.

"You must defeat her with the Elements of Harmony" Both the Princesses replied.

"How? May I remind you, Princess, there is only 2 of us" Star Swirl replied with sarcasm.

"You do not use sarcasm in me and my sister's presence ever again, Star Swirl the Bearded!" Luna shouted with rage.

"Calm, my sister. The young bearded unicorn makes a good point, and he has a reason for using his sarcastic tone. But yes, there is only 2 of you, Star Swirl, at the moment, but me and my sister had a vision that on your travels to the Changeling Hills that you will confront 4 other ponies that will help you defeat Queen Chrysalis with the other 4 remaining elements, but of you ponies will find which element that will suit you best" Princess Celestia said in her calm, relaxed voice.

"OK, your highness, when should we leave for our journey?" Star Swirl asked.

"Either tonight or the crack of dawn" Celestia replied

"Well, me and Star, should get some rest before out long journey, we'll pack our sacks for the morning though" Melody said.

"That sounds like a good idea" Princess Luna replied.

"I agree" said Princess Celestia.

"OK then, your royal Highness-es, me and my good friend and assistant, Melody Greenmane, will leave for the Changeling hills tomorrow morning, me, her and 4 others will defeat Queen Chrysalis once and for all" Star Swirl said and bowed, as did Melody.

"We have faith in you, Star Swirl and you as well, Melody, may we may grant you the best of luck." Princess Celestia said for the last time.

"Goodbye Princesses" Star Swirl and Melody both said.

The 2 princesses nodded their heads for a goodbye, the 2 young unicorns walk out the throne room, and then out of the castle, they head home to rest then, the big challenge will lay ahead.

The 2 ponies make to their home, Melody still feeling sorry for Star Swirl's parents decided to ask him once they both got in and Star Swirl up the stairs,

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Star Swirl, who was half-way upstairs, asked, "Talk about what, Mel?"

"Your parents?" Melody asked with some-what regret.

Star Swirl signed with anger and shame, then said "I was 5 at the time, me and my parent were just in the house after watching a stage play on the founding of Equestria, after about half an hour after we came home, my father noticed a loud explosion outside our house, it was the changelings, they were pillaging us and setting our homes on fire......"

"How many were there?" Melody asked.

"About 200 at the least, my father went outside to check a bit more, me and my mother heard a blast and saw an array of a dark turquoise light, my father's head had exploded and brain and puss splattered all over the wal..."

Star Swirl went white and looked as if he was going to be sick, he ran down the stairs and went into the kitchen, he vomited into the sink, Melody followed him to help him.

"You don't need to talk about anymore" Melody said while also trying to help him with the sink.

"I'll still tell you the rest" gurgled Star Swirl, with chunks of vomit still in his mouth.

"OK then, you mentioned about what happened to your father" Melody replied.

"Yeah, after he father was killed, my mother knew changelings have targeted the house, she knew she was next, so she told me to get behind her then, there she was, Queen Chrysalis had walked into my home, she had turned herself into the form of my father, my mother then cried , "You monster!", Chrysalis just laughed. She didn't care one bit. She came up to my mother, and she......" Star Swirl paused, a small tear came down from his left eye.

"What happened Star? You can tell me" Melody said.

"She blew off her legs, torturing her, and my mother, in her last screaming words said "Star Swirl, baby I love....." you, she was going to say you, but a quick laser-like flash to the head left the sentence unfinished, the blood from her head, sprayed on me, I didn't move, I didn't cry, I just wanted to die. But NO, Chrysalis, she came to me, she said a few word I'll remember forever "I won't kill you, infant, I'll let you live, and I'll let you grow into a descent of darkness, I have scarred you for life, and there is nothing you can do about it" She then chuckled to herself and she and her changelings left my house, It was only me and the remains of my bloody parents carcasses left in there."

"How did you end up here then?" Melody asked.

"A few soldiers from Canterlot had came into Manehattan to check the damage and search for survivors of the raid, and I was found by an Earth-pony soldier called Bronze Sword, he adopted me and I lived with him and his wife, a Pegasus called Forest Flyer, who was a good friend of Princess Celestia and got me my magic lessons, and if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have found my best friend" Star Swirl finished.

"Who?" Melody asked.

"You, Melody, you're my best friend" Star Swirl replied.

Melody gave Star Swirl a hug and comforted him, saying,

"We'll find Chrysalis and she will pay for what she's done to everypony she's traumatised."

"OK, but we'll begin our trek to the Changeling hills tomorrow morning, I'm completely tired" Star Swirl yawned.

"Same here" Melody yawned back.

The 2 ponies agreed to pack there bags in the morning, but now it's time for them to go to bed, Star Swirl almost slept instantly, as did Melody. For tomorrow they begin their dangerous quest towards a place of ruin, despair, hell fire and brimstone.