Chapter 1
Starry Sparks trotted along the path, the dirt hard under her hooves. She lit up the area around her, her horn glowing with magic in the dark. Starry still had several miles to go, and she was really looking forward to a bed. Everfree forest rocks made extremely uncomfortable pillows. Her short purple mane caught the sudden breeze, moving quickly and then settling back against Her light gray coat. The breeze traveled down her back, grabbing her travel cloak and blowing it up, revealing for a brief moment the wings on her back.
The wind died down, Starry’s cloak resting against her flank once more. She quickened her pace, her trot bordering on a gallop. Why does there have to be absolutely nothing between Appleoosa and Ponyville. Finally, she spotted the woods clearing up ahead of her. The mare came out of the trees and stood out looking at the moonlit town. It was a small, and for the most part quaint little town. Only one thing made it stand out. The towering crystal castle did not belong here, its design befitting more the grand cities of her homeland, Everian, then a little village, barely in sight of the Equestrian capital.
“Well,” Starry sighed, “I guess someone important lives here.” She walked down the small hill and into the village. Quickly, she found an inn; a small place simply called The Ponyville Inn. Heading inside, Starry noted the cheery colors and clean smell of the inn. It’ll do, she thought, walking up to the bell lying on the bar counter. She rung it, and soon enough a young mare came scurrying from the back.
“Hello,” the golden mare smiled, “How can I help you?”
“One room, just for the night.”
“That would be five bits.”
“Here,” Starry handed her the little gold coins from the purse she had summoned.
“Here’s your key. Room 204. Good night!”
“Good night,” Starry half muttered, turning away and trudging up the stairs. She turned right, finding the room labeled 204. Sticking her key into the door, she turned the lock. It opened into a small room, fairly typical for an inn. There was a bed next to the window, and a small table with two chairs. A chest stood by the foot of the bed, with a washstand in the corner. Starry heaved her fully loaded traveling pack onto a chair, plopping down on the bed. She lay down, basking in the glory that was a mattress, sheets, a pillow and a proper blanket. Two weeks of using a pack as a pillow and only being covered by her cloak had left her desperate for the comforts of civilization. It's not like you’re not used to sleeping outdoors, since you can’t seem to stick around in civilized places for long.
Shoving away her dreary thoughts, Starry pondered the question at hoof. Where to go next? Head up to Canterlot, or perhaps stick around for a day or two, see what Ponyville had to offer. There was always the possibility of moving even further out west. She had not been to Vanhoover or Las Pegasus in a long while. Equestria had probably changed a lot since she’d last traveled through it. Her current course had been a stop in Trottingham, followed by ac sail down the coast, a trek inland to Appleoosa, and now the northward journey to Canterlot. Ooh, Starry thought suddenly, I could go north to the Crystal Empire. Now there’s somewhere I haven’t been in a long time. She decided that this would probably be her final course of action. May as well stay in this little village a bit. Canterlot is on my way, after all.
Starry sighed, levitating the blanket to cover her. She curled up, dozing off tl sleep
Starry Sparks awoke to the morning sun shining in through the window into her face. She stretched, hopping out of the bed. She stumbled over to her pack, rummaging around until she found a comb. Starry yawned, looking into the mirror over the washstand as she combed out her mane and tail, unknotting the myriad tangles and snarls that it had formed in the past couple days. This is what I get for not taking proper care of myself, Starry thought as she splashed water from the basin into her face. She scanned herself, making sure she was presentable, and fastened her cloak once again over her withers.
The mare opened her door, heading downstairs into the common room. The tables had a few ponies sitting at them, eating. Starry headed over to the innkeeper. “How much for breakfast?”
“Two bits.” The golden maned mare replied.
“Here’s seven, I’m staying another night,” said Starry, placing the coins on the counter.
“Thank you. I should introduce myself. I’m Busy Bee.” the innkeeper smiled warmly.
“Starry Sparks,” Starry replied, smiling back. She went to a table and sat down. Soon another mare came bustling up.
“What can I get you this morning?” The smiling waitress asked.
“I’ll take the pancakes,” Starry replied. Soon enough, there was a plate of chocolate chip pancakes and a glass of water in front of her. She devoured the pancakes. Good food was rare on the road, and she hadn’t had more than travel rations of two weeks. Gulping down her water, Starry finished quickly, standing up. She headed out the door onto the dirt sunlit streets. Turning out of the side street, Starry came across the main town squares. Desolate at night, it was now crowded with ponies of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Stalls and carts of every kind littered the square, and nearby, a bakery stood, its pink roof and interesting shape very distinctive. As she looked, an orange mare with a yellow mane set out a cart of apples. The door to the bakery opened up, a stout blue mare with a swirly pink main sticking her head out. A young orange unicorn popped up beside her.
Starry headed across the square to a stall selling jewelry Scanning over the different pieces, there was one that peaked her interest. It was a golden circlet, one band, with a single golden circle, filled in, at the center. The pony running the stall was a beautiful amethyst mare with a white and purple mane and dark teal eyes.
“You like that?” the shopkeeper asked.
“It's rather simplistic. I find it quite beautiful.” Starry said.
“That's great. Very few ponies appreciate simple beauty.”
“I’ve always been a fan of the simple,” Starry replied.
“So am I. I’m Amethyst Mirror. Amethyst Mirror Shining Bright.”
“I see your parents weren’t so big on simplicity.”
“No,” the mare laughed, “They really weren’t.”
“I’m Starry Sparks.”
“That's a much nicer name. Can we trade?”
“No. After all, my third name is Stinkbug.” Starry deadpanned. Both mares looked at each other for a moment, then burst into giggles. Their laughter echoed through the square, making other shoppers tur to look at the two hysterical ponies.
“Anyway,” Starry said, regaining her composure, “I’d like to buy that circlet.”
“You know,” Amethyst answered,” I like you Starry Sparks, so I’ll give you the necklace for half off. It’ll be fifty bits.”
Starry paid the money. Pausing in front of the stalls mirror, she fastened the circlet. It glinted in the morning sun. Strolling away from the square, Starry headed in the direction of the looming crystal castle. She walked along staring at the gleaming monstrosity of a building, its crystalline shape resembling a tree. Staring upwards, she failed to notice the violet mare heading down the road towards her, who likewise, with her nose stuck in a book she was levitating, failed to get out of the way. The resulting collision sent Starry Sparks sprawling.
“I’m sorry,” The strange purple unicorn said. She reached out a hoof, helping Starry to her own hooves. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, pleased to meet you. I really should have paid attention.”
“I’m Starry Sparks, and don’t worry about it. I wasn’t watching either.”
Starry now had a chance to catch a better look at Twilight. She was taller than most mares, though not as tall as Starry herself. She had purple eyes, and a purple mane with a pink streak through it. Then Starry noticed the wings resting on her back. An alicorn?! Surprised, Starry gently probed deeper with her magic. Second level alicorn, she thought to herself, not a born first level like me, but raised to her place by one.
Twilight looked at her, confused. “Starry, what spell are you casting? I’ve never seen one like that before.”
“Oh, it nothing.” Starry did not want to explain the spell that she was using. It was a simple alicorn spell, and since Twilight did not know it, she must not know very much about alicorns and their magic. She was probably still using unicorn spells and power, instead of tapping into the alicorn kind, which was much deeper, and involved a different set of spells entirely. Starry had spent all her wandering times pretending to just be a tall unicorn, because most creatures thought of the Equestrian rulers as the only existing alicorns.
“Nothing.” The smaller alicorn looked skeptical but shrugged it off. “well, have a good day.”
“You too,” Starry replied politely. She could now guess well who owned the castle, so she turned around. Heading through the small town, Starry made sure to locate the train station, as well as the town hall. As evening colored the sky red, she once again traveled through the market. Amethyst Mirror was closing up her shop.
“Hey,” she said as Starry approached. “I’m gonna go to dinner. You want to join me?”
“Sure.” In Equestria, and especially in small towns like these, it was fairly easy to tell who to trust, and Amethyst was definitely one of those.
The pair sat in a little diner on the square, watching ponies go by. They split the tab. Hiking back to Starry’s room, the gray mare explained that she was a wanderer, an adventurer. Amethyst was fascinated, asking for stories. Starry told her some of the more entertaining ones.
“Wow,” Things must be really exciting in your life,” Amethyst commented after a particularly amusing tale.
“Nah,” Starry grinned, “Traveling is actually about five percent high adventure and ninety five percent watching similar looking rocks go by for two weeks on end.” This comment cracked Amethyst up.
Suddenly, a banging coming down the hallway caught Starry’s attention It seemed to be moving closer. Three sharp knocks came on her door. “Open up!” came a rough voice from outside. Starry didn’t move. Amethyst, sitting near her, looked petrified with fear. The door burst open and five Unicorns of Celestia’s Solar Guard came through the door way in their golden armor. The commander in the lead shouted, “Starry Sparks, you are under arrest!”