1: Denial
The purple girl stared at the Princess with much disbelief. The words echoed in her ears for a moment... Over and over again. “We do not accept you into The Academy.”
It was simple, a simple phrase, but it shattered Stardust entirely, her entire dream since she was much much younger was to join the Academy, to have the chance to get a look at some of the forbidden tomes. See magic that only few ponies ever have seen before in their lives! And now the very goddess she aspired to learn from, to train under, was denying her.
“Why?!?” She exclaimed, stamping a foot down, clenching her fists tightly to her sides, unable to break eye contact, defiantly daring the woman to refute her further. And still, even before the glamorous white mare could answer Stardust burst out. “WHY!? I Excelled in every single test! I surpassed every expectation!!! I DON'T EVEN HAVE MY CUTIEMARK YET AND I HAVE MORE POWER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER APPLICANTS!!!!!!! WHY DENY ME!?!?”
She screamed and ranted, demanding an answer from the goddess of the land, demanding the one who raised the Sun and Moon daily to give her a reason why she couldn't join the Academy. Sol only looked down on the filly and shook her head. “Because you are missing a single thing that is very important to be a part of this Academy, to become one of my students.”
Stardust blanched to the response, her face freezing between anger and despair. If she was missing something, she only had to get it! If that's all... She has never let anything stop her before, what's to stop her now? Of course it had to be something she overlooked, something she missed that didn't have to do with magic. “P-princess, w-what is that?” She asked, trying to do a 180 to garner the information she so desired.
“It's something you have to find on your own. Now leave.” She instructed, standing full height, watching the filly leave. Such arrogance, and in such a small frame. The woman mused to herself and watched the girl go.
2: Arrogance
Stardust was quite destroyed because it seemed all of her dreams were crashing down upon her. And the worst offense was that woman on top of the mountain who just stared down and watched her writhe, probably laughing while doing so. She was powerful, and after mulling it over, the girl realized that she had everything she needed to join the Academy. Top marks in every field, every instructor she ever had has given amazing recommendations. Even her babysitter, one who turned out to be a princess as well, has even put in a good word directly to Sol herself.
That woman was just afraid.
There was no other logical conclusion. Who in their right mind would deny a talent such as her own? No one. Unless they were afraid to be out classed, out matched, out preformed, out dated.
Staring at her feet she tapped her chin and continued to walk forward, Stardust barely registering the things going on around her. How do I prove to everyone I should be there?
She wondered, one door was closed, but a window had to be open somewhere. If the princess were to deny her, she would just have to force an acceptance, do something that everyone learned her name. And when it came time to ask where she went to school. It wouldn't do that she was denied the Academy.
Haha! YES!
Snapping her fingers she figured out the problem and grinned. She had to do something, something that was so big that no one else has dared to do anything like it in decades.
This girl was going to kill a dragon.
3: Hunt
Everfree Forest. Only two day's travel to get here. She lied to her parents and brother, telling them that she was going to go on a trip to see some ruins. Something she constantly did, and that was enough for them to trust her to be safe. The ruin around Canterlot were very well explored.
The last time Stardust went to those ruins was five years ago. They were already too well explored. There was nothing left to learn from the architecture, since those many years ago the girl started to travel about, deep caverns, ancient structures under the city. Diamond caves that harness and rob magic, plants that could sap your personality away. Stardust was sure that no one else has even explored as much of the forests surrounding Canterlot as she.
So the first time she traveled outside of the relative safety of those lands, her brother caught her, and in that time they formed a deal. She wouldn't tell her parents that he was fooling around with a Princess while training to be a guardsman, and he wouldn't tell that she was traveling beyond the city boundaries, and into forbidden territory.
Sure it wasn't actually a equal and fair trade, pretty lopsided favoring Stardust overall. She was literally breaking the law and doing something extremely dangerous. But that boy didn't want his heart cut off from that amazing goddess he worshiped deep into nights sometimes. So with their mutually assured destruction he at least gave her a sword to protect herself in times of need.
It wasn't very special, just a normal iron sword that sat like a lump and hung off the girls hip dragging on the ground very slightly. Pulled from the armory and not to be missed, Stardust's brother told her that he had used his special magic on the weapon to make it capable of defending her from the most dangerous evils. Whatever that meant. She honestly wanted to tell him off and that she could take care of herself, but the girl knew better when looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Previously the weapon was used for nothing, just something she would carry on her back when going out without the slightest hint of ever using it. Always believing in her own wand and magic that she held deftly in her left hand. This time was different though, she knew she was going to use it, wanted to use it in fact. To prove to everypony that she WAS powerful and that she SHOULD get into The Academy. Stardust was going to kill a dragon.
4: The Dragon
No pony knows her name. So the name given to it was Greed by the denizens of Equestria. Not given the name to embody some myth as though she wasn't real. No, this dragoness got her name by one day just flying in and taking over a set of mines as her own twenty some years ago. Hunter after hunter went to fight her, but they all either came back with riches or not at all. After many attempts to rid the land of this beast, the Princess decreed to everypony that the so called Greed was off limits.
Many were okay with this, as they picked up the thought -well if she isn't directly harming anypony, what harm is she causing?- Which was mostly true, Greed did directly harm one family, and that was the family that owned the mines. All the workers had fled, and the once rich noble family has grown to ruin. Most of them moving off somewhere else, and only a lone mare stood behind, being left the mines directly from her grandmother.
Greed stood fifteen meters long, and had a wing span that could easily cause any bird or pegasus strife in flight. Purple and glossy were her scales, which glinted and shone brightly any light that happened off of it. Her belly was a contrasting yellow hue, slightly bright as though there was a gold about her... And her fires... No pony has survived to speak of the beautiful green flame that engulfed them in a strange warmth.. Before death beset them.
Stardust put away the book and rolled her eyes a bit. If no pony has survived her flame how do they know that it was green? Sometimes she hated some author's spins on things. To make them more dangerous. That passage meant one of two things to her, somepony actually fought the thing and survived, or it was fake. There was no point in faking that passage and describing the feeling of the flames so. It meant that ponies survived fighting it.
And if normal ponies could survive a fight with it. That meant that SHE could kill it. Of course it wasn't going to be easy by any measure, it WAS a dragon they were talking about, but with her magic and her brothers sword... Nothing could stop her. Not even a terrifying dragon that was staringdirectlyatherohprincesssol.
“You are quite new..” The low rumbling voice boomed, rolling slowly through a mouth that seemed to barely open, how did she even articula-
NO, not the time brain. Stardust shouted at herself shaking a bit to the sight of the creature that was so clearly waiting for her.
“Interesting, you aren't even mature and yet you come with a rage that I doubt you even understand.” The dragon continued, large nostrils breathing in and blowing hot air back at Stardust. “Why do you come little pony?” It continued on, tilting it's large head, easily the size of Stardust's body standing at full height.
Straightening herself Stardust nodded to her most worthy opponent. Yes this will be difficult. But nothing she couldn't handle. Nothing she couldn't deal with. “And I don't believe you are even the slightest bit qualified to judge MY rage. Something you clearly have never seen before!” Yes, good, start strong. Build yourself up before they fall.
A large waft of smoke and hot air was released on the small girl, and then the sound of a rumbling laughter. “Oh my, quite a spunky one. What brings you here then girl? Are you lost after a lover's scorn? Or do you come seeking the gems I keep?” It continued, not at all even considering the child would be a problem.
And why would she? This was a girl with a wand in her right hand, a sword on her hip. Dressed as though she was ready for school. Even having a backpack on and everything. So if anything the girl just looked like she came from a convention of sorts and only removed half her costume, things defiantly missing from the ensemble.
“I COME FOR YOUR HEAD!” Stardust replied, stomping her foot down a bit to make the point, making her seem even more adorable to the large and long lived beast.
“Really now? And how do you expect to take it?”
“By lopping it off of your body.”
Laughing once more the dragon shook her head. “Alright little one, you have made your point. Go off and tell whatever friends who dared you, or you boasted to that we fought and you gave me a scar before being ran off.” The dragon offered.
Stardust's wand and horn glowed in unison. “That is not happening.” She responded and shot a rather powerful stopping spell on the dragon, unsheathing her sword from her hip Stardust ran.
Sol looked down on her.
Her brother looked down on her.
Even this dragon looked down on her.
No more.
5: Fight
The dragon roared in fury. This little girl was attacking her? SHE WILL DIE! Greed struggled, and for a brief moment had a flash of panic as the girls magic was indeed powerful. She could not move.. But then a large cracking was heard and Greed's head flipped around, catching the girl on the side and tossing her a few meeters towards the clearing where her main body was.
Stardust was in shock. That was the most powerful stopping spell that she had on her, the dragon shouldn't be able to break it at all! Her body flopped onto the ground, spinning a few times through the air before coming to a halt. Quickly Greed took this chance to stomp the girl out of existence for even attempting to imprison her. Stardust strained her body to start to move NOW and that sword was raised, slicing through the dragon's foot as it came down.
Jolting incredible pain lanced through her leg to her very nervous system. Greed jumped up powerfully with her other three legs in reaction to the swords pricking. This shouldn't be this DIFFICULT! HOW DID IT HURT SO BAD!!!! THE SWORD WAS NOTHING!!! Purple and blocking out the Sun with her form her stomach rumbled as drops of blood dripped onto Stardust's body. Roaring green flame came erupting out of the creature and directly towards the new menu item.
Screaming out in terror Stardust was only able to raise her sword in time for the flame to hit her. Well at least she knew the green flames weren't poetic license. Opening her eyes she stared in wonder as the sword cut the flames around her. Her inexperience with the weapon itself actually her benefit now. Directly above her she had the edge of the blade to block her. In her very inner most sanctum a brief you are stupid who blocks like that appeared, but that was overshadowed, and probably never even heard as she laughed out in glee. “YOUR FIRE CANNOT HURT ME AND MY SHIELD EDGE!!” She exclaimed, naming the sword on the spot, a small symbol appearing unnoticed near the pommel of the blade.
Standing slowly, the fire spreading around her, unable to grab it's target it started to creep onto the forest, the meadow itself untouched. The dragon's magical aura granting it some sort of fire immunity after a time. Stardust pointed her wand at the dragon and once again it glowed in tandem with her horn. “YOU WILL NOT STOP ME! I AM THE BEST MAGICIAN IN THE LANDS!!!” She shouted loudly, a burst of magic fired at Greed with no time for a reaction. Flailing she fell downwards onto the cave entrance, rocking the very earth around them, Stardust knocked off her feet due to the aftershock. No pony is EVER going to tell her she can't do anything ever again. She WILL kill this dragon. And that will prove that she doesn't even NEED The Academy!!!
The mania setting in as the fire roared faster and faster around her, consuming the forest south and west behind her. Going in the lines that the fire was split almost perfectly. Stardust stood once more and grabbed the sword that slipped from her grasp, Greed was struggling, the pain from before only amplified tenfold due to the magic covering her. She knew what this was, some sort of accursed combination of magic coursing through her veins. A stupid silly mistake. A downfall not even benefiting her... Still... Cracking she turned her head to stare at the mare in the eyes, anger flowing through them as she struggled to speak. “You destroy more than you create silly girl.” She said, before the purple haired swordsman lifted the sword meant for protection, and with glee shoved it through the eye of the dragon. Greed no more.
6: Aftermath
Sitting in the clearing in front of the destroyed cave she stared at a lone stone... No, she wasn't stupid, that was an egg... Another dragonling....
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!!” A shouting from everywhere came causing Stardust to look around in confusion and fright, raising her sword to ward off the attacker. “YOU STUPID LITTLE GIRL!!!”
Sol came down from the heavens and blasted the sword out of the girls hand with a burst of magic from her horn. Not even caring to refine the magic through wand use, not needing it in the slightest either. “You stupid silly little girl. What were you just planning on doing?” She asked, anger ripe on the woman's face. Stardust just stared at where the sword was and quickly replaced it with a wand. “What do you care?! You refused to be my teacher so you have no right to call me out on MY business!” She exclaimed and blasted a bolt of magic towards the woman.
Sol just raised a hand and gently flicked it away. Surprisingly the magical bolt still stung the sun goddess' hand, but the woman didn't acknowledge it. “I care because what you were thinking of... What you did and what you wanted to do. No pony could ever come out of that unchanged. You wouldn't be any hero. You wouldn't be anypony. Look around you Stardust. Look at what you have caused! Destruction, death, and murder!
“This fire blazes and every pegasus runs to fight it, even those untrained, the town is already burning. Many many ponies are hurt, many many children are terrified, and you, you little girl still only think about yourself!” Sol jumped down and her wings flared out, imposing herself on Stardust.
The purple pony slowly looked around, first in anger, but then slowly in realization... The fire... Oh and the city... Oh Sol.. How could... Stardust dropped the wand and fell to her knees. A cracking could be heard next to her... A slight one. “I do not blame you.. You are still a child. I should have brought you in and trained you, I believed a bit of humility of failure would be good. But I was wrong. I am sorry for that.”
“What was... I was going to kill the eg-” Stardust stopped, not even heeding Sol's words, she was seriously about to smash the egg belonging to something that didn't even have the right to di-
“Stardust.”
The words were spoken softly, a white radiant mare in front of her. “Stardust, listen and heed my words.” Of course she would, the pony couldn't look any other place, and could barely even see the woman through tears. “You have proven you are strong, and I would be stupid to not accept you to my school at this point. But understand Stardust. You are not there solely as a student, but as a means for me to keep an eye on you.” Pausing Sol turned her head to the cracking egg, which now had spider fractures all over it.
“One more caveat to your acceptance. You are to take care of this hatchling. You are now responsible for its well being.” There was more cracks, this time deafening to Stardust as she turned her head to the thing she was about to destroy. A claw appeared.
“Stardust, you may never repay your debt to anyone with what happened today, but I will make sure that no one finds you to blame. No one will know of your accomplishment here today.” She then grabbed Stardust by the shoulders and raised her slowly, heading towards the hatching egg she placed it in the girls arms.
Stardust was in a daze as she had the heavy shaking object placed in her hands, barely registering that the sword was being placed back in the sheath by Sol before the world warped around them. Standing in the great hall of the palace. “W-why?” Stardust finally blurted out.
“Why do any... Why help me.. Or this thin..Or”
“Because you are one of my subjects and I take full responsibility for anything that you have done. Because it WAS my fault.” The egg started to crack more and a nose popped out of a hole.
“Now, I need your answer, will you take responsibility and join my school? Or deny it and be denied anything else in my kingdom for as long as you live here?”
“I'll accept...” She responded, the egg finally finished hatching and a full head popped out of the top, the shell still sitting on the dragon's head, a spike still cracked through the thing making it stuck there as it turned this way and that to try and look about.
“Good.” Sol responded, smiling at the two. “Now go. You will have much work tomorrow. Also, congratulations on your cutiemark.” Sol stated before briskly walking out.
Stardust didn't really know how to respond to that, or the thing in her arms, but... After standing a moment in shock and helping pick the shell off of the spike. “It's... You and me now Spyke...” She stated softly. “I'm sorry... I'm very sorry... But I'll... Protect you. I promise that.” The girl turned around and slowly walked out of the castle holding the sleeping dragon in her arms.