Chapter 1
It was her most desperate hour. She raced through the cave. She had to escape. She couldn't let them catch her.
She exited the other end of the cave into the knee deep snow. The wind bit coldly upon her cheeks, but she ignored it.
"i have my hate to keep me warm" she said as she trudged the swirling blizzard. She felt secure that no pony would follow her, for already her hoof prints were being filled in by the blowing snow. She had to squint. The light of the snow was very bright, yet it swirled and stung her eyes. Squinting, she had to hurry if she wanted to get through the pass before nightfall. There would be shelter there. She had planned ahead. She knew that some day she might have to leave in a hurry. She just didn't know what time of day it would be.
It was a dangerous gamble to escape this way. And it had been a gamble doing those things she had tried to do; recruiting the princess to her way of thinking, that was also a gamble, and she had lost.
The pony struggling through the snow to get away had lost everything. She knew that if she lost this gamble to get away she would never get to gamble again. It would be end of story for this unicorn.
The cold wind bit her flanks as the snow swirled about. It was difficult to see. Still out of sheer determination she pressed on.
"I don't deserve this" she cried "It' s not fair".
The wind howled in response.
She knew she had to forgo this trip and find shelter immediately. She started to dig into the snow. She would use her magic to make a sort of emergency igloo to hid from the wind and freezing weather.
No pony would be foolish enough to try to follow her in this snowstorm.
It was a small igloo she crawled into. Barely room enough to turn around with no room for standing. Outside the night was falling almost as fast as the temperatures. Inside, she was trembling with the chill.
Her magic provided little light and no heat. She was still shivering and getting tired. As she tried vainly to remain conscious, a last thought lingered "My hate will keep me warm".
She woke up shivering, the tiny space she lay in was covered in snow. She had no idea if it was day or night, but she didn't hear any wind.
it was difficult to dig herself out, She didn't want to use her magic to blast free, because she didn't know when she might need it again. A snow drift had covered her make shift shelter.
Finally she popped her head above the snow. She thought for a moment that it must be night. However, that didn't seem right because she could feel the warmth of the sun. Then with horrible realization she knew she was snow blind.
Escape no longer mattered. She would become either frozen or food for the wolves.
"Who" said a distant voice.
"Hello" she responded "is any pony out there?"
"Who" said the voice.
"Oh great, I'm talking to an owl."
"Who" responded the owl.
"You could at least take me someplace" said the exasperated unicorn.
"Who" came the response. She could hear the wings flutter and the next "who" seemed farther away.
She followed it. Whether she followed the "Who" out of desperation or delusion didn't matter. She was moving.
The sound of the hoots lead the desperate and dying unicorn across the snows cape. Sometime there were level places but most times she was either going uphill or downhill. Most ponies would be too scared to attempt this with vision, and she was doing this blind. She was traversing a dangerous mountain pass while blind with only a hoot owl as a guide. Would the hoot owl walk her off a cliff? Perhaps, being blind to the dangers allow this unicorn to press onward through the pass.
Finally in response to yet another "Who", she answered "Starlight."
"Who".
"Starlight Glimmer" she said.
"Who".
"Starlight Glimmer" she said "and I need to rest."
No response from the owl.
Starlight Glimmer rested then. In fact, she almost collapse upon the ground. She lay there noticing for the first time that she wasn't in the snow anymore. She was upon rock and hard earth.
"The view must be spectacular" she said.
"Who" came the response.
"Let me rest some more" she said.
"Who" came the response, except it seemed a little further away.
"Please" she begged.
"Who" came the response even further away. Starlight Glimmer pulled herself up slowly. Her muscles were stiff and aching. Her first step would make Granny Smith look as speedy as Scootalou. Still Starlight trudged on. Hunger and thirst assailed her. Fatigue hung heavy and her head dropped low. Still she followed the hoots as they coaxed her along. For many more miles the pony followed the hoot owl. Until, utterly exhausted, she collapsed.
Consciousness came slowly to Starlight. Still her eyes saw nothing. She didn't know where she was and her body ached.
A voice above her said "here, eat this".
"Too tired" she whispered.
She could hear some pony munching on something. The a mouth was pushing food into hers. It was food, her mouth readily accepted the partially chewed food and her throat swallowed. She was too weak to protest. Too weak to do anything except lay there, wherever 'there' was.
Starlight also noticed that she was warm again. She was wrapped in a blanket.
The mouth of the strange pony intruded upon hers again, forcing food into her mouth. This could be embarrassing for Starlight, except hunger ruled completely. She tried to chew and swallow the food. All her mind could register was that it was food, but she didn't even have the strength to notice what kind of food it could be. She fell asleep then. A complete exhaustion type of sleep where the mind is too tired to dream.
Hours or days latter, she woke up.
"Hello" she asked "is any pony there?"
"Who" came a singular response that Starlight was very accustomed to.
"Hello, and you are here too" she said "thank you for saving me."
"Who".
"I still can't see" she said "What do I call you?"
"Who".
"Oh, I wish I could see you" she said.
"Who".
"How about hoot owl?" she said.
The room got very quiet.
"Oh, you don't like that" said Starlight "How about..."
"Who are you talking to?" said the stranger's voice from before.
"Oh, you scared me" she said, "I'm snow blind and I didn't see you come in."
"You have other senses" said the stranger "use them."
"You are too quiet" said Starlight "I didn't hear you either. By the way, where are we?"
"Mountain cave" said the stranger.
"Who are you?" asked Starlight.
"Correct" said the stranger.
"What?" asked Starlight.
"I am Yew" said the stranger.
"What do you mean?" asked Starlight "you are me?"
"My name is Yew" said the stranger "Y - E - W."
"Oh, Yew" said Starlight "My name is ..."
"I already know" interrupted Yew.
"What else do you know?" asked Starlight.
"I know that coming to these mountains to get away from meaningless chatter was a mistake." said Yew "for now I have more than enough."
"I'm hungry" said Starlight.
"Use your nose" said Yew.
Starlight sniffed. She could smell the food. She said "I might spill the food, I can't see it."
"If you had your sight, you would use your magic to pick up the bowl, so now use your magic to find the bowl" said Yew.
Starlight struggled with her magic. "I can't do this."
"Always with you it cannot be done" quoted Yew "You must unlearn what you have learned."
"What?" asked Starlight.
"Just a phase I picked up in my journeys' far, far away from here" said Yew.
Starlight wanted to use the magic to find the bowl. She was hungry. She used just enough magic to find the bowl, but not so much that she would tip it over.
Like a whisper of smoke, her magic reached out. It touched the stone table in front of her. She instantly knew it was a table and she knew it was stone. So much information flooded through the magic. She could feel the surface of the table, it was smooth and hard, and polished.
"You come here often?" she asked.
"Don't talk" said Yew "concentrate or go hungry."
Starlight Glimmer returned to the exercise of her magic. She had never used her magic this way before. This was a lesson she would eat more that whatever was in the bowl.
Her magic found the bow, it was wood, maple, red maple, carved and simple, worn from years of use. Inside the bowl, her magic felt tomatoes, lettuce, berries, nuts and raisins. They felt weird, almost icky. Ready to give up their lives to feed her. There was something else, a sort of cream over the food.
"What is this stuff?" she asked.
"Salad dressing" said Yew "my own special blend of oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, and spicy mustard."
"There is egg in it" she commented.
"Of course, I make my own mayonnaise using fresh egg whites" said Yew.
"Amazing" said Starlight "my magic showed me pictures in my mind of the eggs being stirred in."
"Who" said the owl.
"What is the name of the owl?" asked Starlight.
"Use the magic" said Yew.
"The magic won't work that way" she said.
"Only because you think it so" said Yew "you must unlearn what..."
"...what I have learned" interrupted Starlight Glimmer "okay, I will try."
"NO, there is no try" quoted Yew "do or do not."
Starlight used her magic to reach through the cavern feeling along the edge of the table, seeking the ledge upon some wall that the owl perched upon or so she supposed. The room was huge, her magic could not reach the edges. So instead she focused her magic toward the source of the hoots. She found the bird upon a wooden perch.
"Who".
"He says 'that tickles'" said Yew.
"You can understand him?" asked Starlight.
"As you say" said Yew.
"The magic is trying to tell me his name" said Starlight as she concentrated "his name is 'Aloe' or 'Wish' or 'Us"."
"Close enough" said Yew "now put it together."
"Allywishus?" asked Starlight "Oh, Owlowiscious ... and you used to live in a the tree-house library ... in Ponyville ... with Spike and ... Twilight Sparkle! You're my enemy! And you saved me anyway! Why?"
"Easy there" said Yew "Don't exert yourself."
"NO!" said Starlight "i have to know why and I have to know who are you, Yew?" With that she redirected her magic toward Yew. It found him easy. A dark green pegasus with blond hair and ... wait ...the magic wouldn't tell her about his eyes. Yew had reading glasses and they were somehow blocking the magic. The glasses had a magic of their own.
"You were instructing me in magic and you are not even a unicorn" said Starlight incredulously.
"Yes, Starlight Glimmer, I am instructing you still" answered Yew.
"You know who I am?" asked Starlight
""Yes" said Yew " and I know you are afraid."
"No, I am not afraid" said Starlight "and I am certainly not afraid of a pegasus like you, Yew."
"You controlled that community because you are afraid of getting hurt again" said Yew.
"What?" responded Starlight.
"You were hurt and betrayed in the past and that is why you needed to control your friends" said Yew.
"I was helping them become friends" responded Starlight.
"Friends you could control" said Yew "but the princess of friendship ruined that for you."
"I hate her" said Starlight, "I hate her and her group of friends."
"Of course you do" said Yew "She took everything from you."
"So?" answered Starlight "What am I suppose to do about that?"
"What do you want to do?" asked Yew.
"I want to take everything from her" answered Starlight "and I want her to know it is me that does it."
"Who" hooted the owl.
"Wait, are you and Owlowiscious trying to help me?" asked Starlight.
"What do you think?" said Yew.
"Owlowiscious led me through the pass when he could have walked me off a cliff." said Starlight "You feed me when I had no strength left to eat. And now ... I just don't know."
"Who" said the hoot owl.
"And why would you? You're Twilight's pet and friend, why would you seek to harm her by helping me?" asked Starlight
"Who" said the hoot owl.
"Don't you understand that I want revenge?" said Starlight.
"Who" said Owlowiscious.
"We understand." said Yew "We know what revenge is."
"What?" asked Starlight.
"Who" said the hoot owl.
"He says "amps times volts'" said Yew.
"What?" asked Starlight.
"Don't blame me" said Yew "it was his joke."
"Who" said Owlowiscious.
"I think I need to rest" said Starlight.
"Of course" said Yew "finish eating and then take a nap. I have an errand to fly."
Starlight could hear his wings flap as he flew upwards and away. She tried to use her magic to follow him but her strength was too weak and she faltered."
"Who" said the hoot owl.
Starlight resumed eating her 'salad'. it was good and filling. Soon she felt drowsy and lay down.
"Who" said Owlowiscious.
"I don't understand" said Starlight "Why would you want revenge against Twilight Sparkle?"
"Who" said the hoot owl.
"Maybe you don't" said Starlight "maybe you don't think I could do anything to hurt her, or maybe you think she is too tough for me."
"Who" said Owlowiscious.
"It's so confusing" said Starlight "Why would any pony want to harm the princess?"
"Who" said the hoot owl.
"I'm tired now" said Starlight "I'm going to sleep."
"Who" said Owlowiscious.
In the morning (?), or was it the afternoon(?), Starlight could not tell, she was still snow blind and there probably wasn't any light in the cave to see. She reached out with her magic and felt around. The stone table was still there, and there were fresh vegetables and water on it. The wooden stand for Owlowiscious was there but the owl was not. Neither was the mysterious Yew. Starlight Glimmer was alone in the dark. Maybe the snow blindness would never wear off. Maybe the others had left her to find her own way out. Maybe they had decided to protect Twilight Sparkle by leaving her in this cave forever. Maybe this was the end of her story.
"Hello" she called out "Is any pony there". Her magic told her there wasn't but she still needed to hear something. Her words floated into the darkness and they didn't even echo off the walls. Starlight Glimmer got up off the cold floor. She took a sip of the water and began to search for the walls. She started by circling the stone table and widening her circles. she was careful to use some of her magic to lead her back to the table, and she stretched her magic further and further outward. Still she could not detect an edge to the cavern. Finally in frustration she returned to the table and feed herself
While eating Starlight contemplated; "Is this the darkness or am I just blind. I suppose this would be a lot worse if i could see ."
"I wonder ..." She used her magic to search upward instead of outward. There was something above her. Felt like stone, but smooth, almost like cut stone without grooves or edges. Nor were there any stalactites, not surprising since there were no stalagmites coming up from the floor.
"Hello." said Starlight again "Any pony there?"
The silence was oppressive. To be this deep beneath the surface, with thousands of tons of earth above was beginning to scare her. How could a place like this exist?
She still hadn't found the edges of the room or any columns and her magic trail back to the table was at its limits. If she let go, there was a strong chance she would lose her bearings and not be able to return.
What did Yew want with her? Why would Owlowiscious want revenge against Twilight? These questions were even more annoying than finding the edge of the room and rather than give into fear, Starlight screamed in frustration.
"AHAGH!"
Still no echo off the walls or ceiling. After her scream, Starlight calmed herself with a few deep breaths. She decided she would not have any answers until she stepped out into the dark and left the relative security of the stone table.
With trepidation she let go of her magical tether and reached forward and upward. At first there was nothing but the floor and the ceiling as she stepped out into the unknown. But after a few steps she could sense the ceiling and that it was curving downward. In the next moment her magic touched the wall. It gave her a small jolt of joy. And amazingly there were doorways. She had only expected one in the wall, yet her magic noticed multiply doorways. All about 35 hands tall and at least that wide. These doors led into hallways and still her magic could not feel far enough down them to determine where the exit might be. To Starlight it didn't matter, she wanted just to go someplace new. She let instinct choose which doorway to go through.
After a few moments trotting down a hallway, she was pleased with her choice. The air had just a hint of something out doors-ish. Maybe on an instinctive level she had always been headed this way since leaving the stone table.
As if to reward her the hallway changed to a noticeable upward grade. At last she surfaced from the underground. The air was crisp and mild. Starlight Glimmer tried to see with her eyes - nothing, neither stars or snow or mountains. Again she was forced to reach with her magic and she found - Yew.
"Hello" she said.
"Beautiful sunset" said Yew.
"I still can't see" said Starlight.
"Then back into the cave with you." said Yew "You're eyes won't heal in the light."
"Just a moment more?" she pleaded.
"Okay, but keep your eyes shut" said Yew.
"Where did you go?" asked Starlight.
"To a nearby town to get a few things" said Yew.
"Can I go there instead of this cave?" asked Starlight.
"Tomorrow." said Yew, "it is a long walk."
"Where is Owlowiscious?" she asked.
"Hunting" said Yew.
While Starlight could not see, she felt the sun.
"Shall we go back inside?" asked Starlight.
"Yes" said Yew "I'll show you the kitchen."
Starlight followed Yew back into the cave. She didn't use her magic, but relied upon her hearing to follow him. The arrived at the main hall and turned to the right. They took the second doorway into a long hallway that led into the kitchen, or so Starlight's magic told her. She found it odd that Yew was whipping up some type of goo.
""Do you like waffles or pancakes?" asked Yew.
"Pancakes" responded Starlight, "How can you see in here?"
"Don't need too" said Yew "I remember where I put things."
Starlight doubted that, but her magic told her that Yew was flipping the pancakes. Still Starlight's magic could not pass Yew's glasses. He never took them off. Starlight used the moments to check the contents of stuff in the kitchen. There was pantry doorway that led downward to a cold room. In the pantry were many sealed bottles and containers marked "objects of sustenance'. Strange way to say food, thought Starlight. They were also marked not with names of things but with colors; orange stuff, red stuff, red gooey stuff, green stuff, green leafy stuff, white round stuff, yellow stuff, etc.
Starlight Glimmer noticed that Yew had stopped flipping pancakes and now had placed the plates on a little cart. He moved the cart out to the big room with the stone table. She followed and noticed that he found the table with no difficulty. No pony could memorize something like that. Maybe those glasses had magic in them that allowed Yew to see in the dark. Starlight used her magic to push his glasses off his head.
"Hey" said Yew "what was that for?"
"To find out how you can see in the dark" commented Starlight.
"Oh" said Yew as he deftly picked up his glasses and put them back on his nose.
"Ah ha" said Starlight "you can see in the dark, I thought it might be the glasses, but you don't really need them, do you?"
"No" said Yew "they are just for reading."
"They do more than that" said Starlight.
"Yes" said Yew "but you don't need to know."
"Yes, I do" affirmed Starlight "If you want to use me as an instrument of revenge against Princess Twilight Sparkle."
"Your threat is hollow" said Yew "you want revenge even more than me."
"Yes, but I want revenge my way" said Starlight.
"Excellent" commented Yew "I will give you options and let you choose your own path."
"Wait, What!?" said Starlight "you're not going to tell me how?"
"That is correct." said Yew "The decision for revenge is entirely yours. Are you ready to begin your lessons?"
"Tell me why Owlowiscious wants revenge?" asked Starlight.
"No" said Yew "neither I nor Owlowiscious will tell you 'why', we will only offer suggestions as to how. For example the plebe princess never noticed that the tree house library was built a long time ago. It was there before there was a Ponyville. It was built or grown before there was an Equestria, and it was built by Star Swirl the bearded.
"So what if she doesn't know" said Starlight.
"it is almost comical" said Yew as Princess Celestia's prize student, Celestia noticed that Twilight was a fan of Star Swirl, so she choose the tree house library as Twilight's new home when she sent her to Ponyville to make friends. Celestia thought it would be fun for Twilight to find this out on her own, but she never got the chance. Tirek destroyed the tree house before Twilight could learn its secrets.
"I could hurt Twilight with this knowledge" said Starlight Glimmer.
"Yes" said Yew "you could but there is more; the plebe princess on her 1st day at the magic academy in Canterlot hatched a dragon egg."
"So?" asked Starlight.
"No pony is expected to hatch a dragon egg as part of their entrance exam. That kind of thing is graduate level work. The professors were testing Twilight's character, how she preforms in the dark, how she handles pressure, stress and most revealing failure"
"So in a way she failed their test because she hatched the dragon?" asked Starlight.
"Yes, and this is how she became Celestia's special student" said Yew "but not because of her power."
"Wait, What?" asked Starlight.
"It is not her power that makes her special to Celestia." said Yew "It is her name."
"Stop speaking in riddles." said Starlight "What is so special about her name?"
"Before I can tell you that" said Yew "I need you to think a little on this; if Twilight was not suppose to hatch the dragon egg..."
"Who was?" asked Starlight
"Very good" said Yew, "now answer you own question, why a pink dragon?"
"Pink dragon for a ... pink... a pink princess" answered Starlight.
"Yes, yes, yes, a pink dragon for a pink princess" said Yew "Spike was meant to be for Candance. Now I suppose we will have to find a crystal dragon egg for her"
"Who do you mean 'we' ?" asked Starlight.
"Why only that I mean those who gather dragon eggs" answered Yew "of course."
"But I thought that the Canterlot Magic Academy had lots of dragon eggs" said Starlight.
"No" answered Yew 'not so much anymore. In addition Spike the pink dragon is no longer a true pink. It is said that he is starting to appear to be purple. This is probably due to his long association with Twilight."
"Nice history lesson" said Starlight Glimmer "What good will that do for me?"
Yew whispered "It doesn't have to be history."
"What do you mean?" asked Starlight "Like there is a way to go back into the past and change anything, ha ha ha, I'm laughing."
"Why?" asked Yew.
"You're serious." said Starlight "There is a way to change the past?"
"Yes" said Yew.
"Wait, let me think." said Starlight Glimmer , then in a whisper "I have a plan."