> StarGazer > by RustyKat > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A Dash for Freedom > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Black Lightning was in his lab, pacing around in the dank, dark with his thoughts. The lab of his was underground, and lit eerily with a green firefly lamp. The lab was a bit big, but cleverly hidden, and was also his evil lair. It had been a few months since he had defeated his enemy, the Alicorn Stargazer, and he worked on some math in his changeling head. Black Lightning was a changeling, who had practiced the dark magic arts since he was just a nymph.... and then kicked out of the hive by Queen Thorax, after he turned the whole hive against her with his lies. Well.... she was rather strong.... particularly in magic.... He stopped by a test tube, with a pony suspended in it. "Oh Stargaze, you're going to be the ultimate revenge to that pest! You're like her, exactly up to the littlest detail.... except for your color. Revenge will be sweet......" He tapped a hoof gently on the glass. She's almost ready... a few more tests, and I can start to teach her dark magic.... If she doesn't know it already... "Goodnight, my little abomination." He hissed, as he left, and closed the door to the laboratory. The mare was a soft baby lilac-purple blue, with a Pink mane. She was fully aware of her surroundings, and as she looked around, eyes open wide, she figured she have had enough of his experiments. Day in, day out, he'd test everything against her. Around the laboratory, there were viles of unknown chemicals, and lots of things that the mare didn't know what were. Lab notes lay neatly on the lab counters, next to beakers of potions and spells the scientist had made himself. With a great effort, the mare broke the glass around her with one of her hooves, and retracted it suddenly with a cry of pain, as some of the glass cut her hoof.Bad idea! Black Lightning heard a crash in his laboratory, and rushed to find the mare speeding off out the door. "Come back here you!!" he cried, as he angrily chased after the mare. "You can't hide from me, Stargaze!!" "Black Lightning!" She cried, "I don't want to be your experiment anymore! I want to be a regular pony! I want to discover the world, and become someone else!!" Black lightning gave a dark chuckle. "No. You'll never be a regular pony. You will never be your own pony... you're a clone of another pony! As a unicorn, you have magic. If you choose to use it against me, I will be forced to kill you." W-WHAT!? Kill his own creation!? Is he mad!? "N-no, you shall not kill me!" she stopped in her tracks. "I'm tired of running. I'm no coward. I will defend myself, no matter what I will suffer, to get you out of my life!!" She took a defensive stance, and lit her horn with a black aura of magic. Black Lightning landed, and folded his wings. He chuckled, as he sneered, "Well, I guess I didn't need to teach you dark magic. You were made with it. Excellent." He hissed the last word with a dark note, and an evil smile. What's dark magic? all I know is regular magic.... She charged towards Black Lightning, and shot a beam of magic at Black Lightning. The beam caught the changeling off guard, and it got the changeling in the eye. "Gah.... you Bitch!!" He cried, as he lunged at Stargaze.She'll pay so dearly.... She blocked a punch at her face, but he took that hoof, and twisted it around with a sickening crack. Stargaze fought the urge to cry out in pain, as he stepped back, to get a better advantage. Stargaze stepped back as well, keeping the weight off her broken foreleg, and she lit her horn again. With a burst of magic, she flung Black Lightning away from her, as she turned tail into the Everfree, limping as she ran. "You can't escape!!" Hissed Black Lightning, as he set the forested area where he last had seen the mare on fire with black flames. He laughed as she gave a scream of pain and terror. "Enjoy your death!!" He laughed, as he flew off with an evil chuckle. I can just replace her... it's no big deal.. > A shred of survival > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Starchase screamed in terror, as the flames surrounded her.... and she turned tail into the forest, avoiding the flames, but her coat got covered in soot as she carefully made her way out of the blaze. Damn... no wonder everyone hates him... all he does is hurt everyone.... She finally made her way out of the burning foresty trees, and looked around. I...is this the... Everfree!? She thought with alarm. Monsters live in this forest!!..... calm yourself, Starchase. You'll get through this... She coughed a few times to rid herself of the smoke in her lungs. I'm going to get back at you for this, Black Lightning!! As she stumbled around in the forest, she came across a little dark cave. Well, shoot... it'll do.... for now... She crept into the cave, and finding it empty of monsters, laid down asleep. She found herself wandering the corridors of the castle. Guards were on guard, keeping the castle safe, in their armor. How'd I get here? she wondered, as she took in the beautiful sight of the massive castle. She saw Princess luna and Celestia talking about something. Listening carefully, she could just make out their conversation about a young pony hybrid, named Stargazer. Huh... Why would they be talking about her? She walked around some more.... Untill she found her dream slowly dissolving around her... The sunbeams shone on Starchase, waking her from her sleep. She got up, and rubbed her left eye- the one that wasn't bandaged like the other one. I forgot why that eye is bandaged... oh well.. Must of been an experiment of Black Lightning... She picked herself off the ground, and looked around. The sun was halfway upon the sky. Gee, the sunrise sure is pretty... Still, I have to find some help. I can't live here forever... She staggered to her hooves, and took a good look around once more. T-the nearest town... is... Ponyville, if I remember correctly.. Spotting the town, she staggered her way towards it. If I make it there, i'm gonna need some serious help... > Ponyville... and Friends > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As she crossed the bridge into town... she stumbled, and sighed when her vision faded to black. Well, I tried. There was a small thump as she fell to the ground, and saw no more. It was sometime later that she woke up in a library. The smell of old books and worn leather reached her senses, as she tried to get her fuzzy mind to find out what was happening. "Oh, hello there." Chimed a voice. "You okay there?" A brown unicorn came into her focus. "Um.... I think so." She replied dazedly. "That's good, considering you were out for a whole day." Replied the unicorn. "A...A full day!?" Stargaze sputtered, as she began to feel the first sensations of pain return. "Yes, my dear. You were unconscious and lying on the ground in the entrance of the town. I just couldn't leave you lying there hurt." "I'm sorry, who are you?" The Brown unicorn gave a small chuckle. "My apologies, ma'am. My name is Cinnamon." "My name's Stargaze. Why did you help me?" She asked, confused. "What? Can't help out a pony that needs help?" He replied sarcastically. Starchase flattened her ears in mild amusement. "Well, aren't you the sarcastic one." She said dryly. Cinnamon gave her a look of amusement. "Well, I saw a pony, and helped them out. Sorry." "That's not what I meant. What is your motive? Why?" "I..i have no motive, Dear." "Oh come on... you must have a motive." She replied seriously. "Everyone has one." Cinamon gave a hearty chuckle. "I don't need one. For friendship has no bounds." This guy I find rather creepy for a librarian..... "How interesting...." she replied with a cock of her head. "Well said for one who lives totally alone in a house full of books." Cinnamon gave a soft chuckle. "Oh, my poor guest, how wrong you seem to be. Is there anything else I can help you with? Anything at all?" "Well..... ," She took a book off a shelf, "I don't know much about here, other than Celestia's guards are mostly Pegasus." Cinnamon looked at her with renewed curiosity. "How did you know that? Stargaze went totally silent.