//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: The North Star // by Frostjack //------------------------------// The land was slowly returning to a lush green as the life came back into the plants around Apple Acres. The 4 ponies watching in awe on how beautiful of a sight it was. A sigh of relief came from Applejack whos tension all but dissipated. "I sure am thankful for you helping us get the farm back to normal and all." She said to Polaris. "No worries Applejack, It was my pleasure. And it was a great excuse to get me out of Fillydelphia." He said taking a big sniff of the air. "The city air never smells this fresh." "Why dontcha move here then?" Applejack asked. Polaris's eyes seemed to light up at the though. "I... Guess I never thought of that! Id have to give it a test run, see if Id actually like living here." He said more to himself than the girls. "Why dont you stay in castle for a bit? Im sure Twilight has more than enough rooms." She said brushing some dirt off of her stetson. "Isn't that where you live Starlight? I couldn't intrude like that." "Nonsense darling. Intrude all you like!" said Rarity very eagerly. Without Polaris seeing she gave a nudged to Starlight. "Yeah! And It would give us a chance to catch up a bit better." Starlight said getting her cue from Rarity. "But if it'll make you feel uncomfortable." Her voice trailed of. "NO NO! If your okay with it then thats totally fine with me." His smile faded. "Oh wait, I cant I gotta help Stella run the shop." "Well why dont you contact her with the crystal?" Starlight asked. "Heck maybe you could open up a shop here too? There are a lot of crazy stuff that happens around here." Multiple nods came from both Rarity and Applejack. 'Could I run my own shop? What would Stella say?' Thoughts were racing through his head as his excitement grew. He desperately wanted to get out of that city. "And if you moved here we could hang out more." Being closer to Starlight and his new found friends didn't sound too shabby to him. His smile returned. "Alright im sold." "Wonderful darling we can go look at apartments sometime this weekend!" Rarity said with eyes glimmering. "And I have the perfect little shop we can procure you a nice set of furniture." Starlight rolled her eyes. "That sounds great. So where exactly is this castle?" He gave his hoodie a sniff. "Im not sure about you guys but Id like to freshen up a bit." Starlight laughed. "Sounds like somepony got a little too in over his head today." She shoved him slightly. "Oh? Your one to talk. Your whole mane is just one big dirt clod." He shoved her back. "How about we all freshen up and we meet at Cafe Hay for lunch? I hear they have a lovely new parfait ive just been dying to try." And with that the group parted ways. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// During their walk through Ponyville, less hastened than earlier, Starlight had the luxury of introducing Polaris to some of its citizens all of them seeming happy and cheerful but not putting on airs. These ponies were genuinely nice and happy. While she was showing him the sights he noticed one or two ponies whispering looking right at them. He began to worry about how much mud actually got on him. "Wow I guess we kinda look like a mess." He said trying to brush off more of the mud. "I dont think thats what there talking about." She said solemnly. "What do you mean?" Polaris said nervously. He was hoping those ponies were not trying to start any rumors about the two of them. What with them both being covered in dirt and whatnot. Starlight looked nervous as she continued. "Well I may not have always been... The nicest mare a while back. Most of the ponies here have givin me a second chance but the'll always be some who have there issues with me." Polaris noted how much this subject seemed to bother her. He turned his head up at this new information. "Impossible. Fake news." He said quickening his pace. "Im sorry?" She asked catching up to him. "The fact that anypony thins your anything but the definition of wonderful. I dont buy it. Those nerds are probably just jealous." As they passed a fruit stand that had more of those 'whispering' ponies he turned his a way from them with a "hmph!' Which Starlight chuckled at. "Well thank you, I wish everypony thought that way. But never mind that!" She said standing on her hind legs. "I Starlight Glimmer bid you welcome to the Castle of Friendship!" They had arrived at there destination. And what a castle it was! The building reached far into the sky and resembled a tree that had been crystallized. How did he not see this on there first run through of the town? "This is amazing!" He said in awe. "Whats that building?" He pointed towards the building on the right of the castle. "That is Equestrias only School of Friendship!" She said proudly. "Where I work directly under Princess Twlight as Guidance Councillor!" Polaris's eye resembled that of litlle filly's. "Whoa! You WORK at the school? Thats awesome!" "Yeah it kinda is." She said humbly. "We can look around the school a bit later, for now we better call Stella." As the pair entered the castle Starlight was anticipating that dreaded feeling when she came here. The feeling of not belonging. But for some reason the feeling never came about. Maybe this place was finally staring to feel like home to her. She took Polaris's bag and set them by the table of friendship to which he was in awe again. Giving him her crystal she left to go wash off the remaining dirt from this morning. The gem glowed as he began to call his sister. "Hello? Starlight? That you" A feminine voice said through the gem. "Oh Polie its you." She said flatly. "Awe I missed you too." He said deadpanned. "Shut up nerd, did you fix the curse?" She asked. "I did! And it turned out of was curse of drain! Not rot!" "Really? I didnt think about that. It would enplane how the affliction spread so quickly though. Your telling me you solved this all on your own?" "Oh Celestia no! I had three very lovely assistance." He said a big grin. "That makes more sense." She said jokingly. "So you gonna be on your way back tonight or are you staying the night?" She wiggled an eyebrow at him causing him to blush. "Ahem. Actually thats what I wanted to talk to you about sis." He swallowed hard. "I was thinking about staying here for a few days. Just to see if the drain curse is really solved!" His sister was silent. To him it was defining. "Just a few days?" She asked suspiciously. "Well I was thinking , maybe if I like this place I could... uh... move here?" He said sheepishly. "Everypony here is really nice and theres apparently alot of unknown phenomenon that happens here and its by the Everfree Forest and who knows how many exciting things are going in there! Plus theres-" "Polaris!" His sister shouted. "What in the world are you thinking! Of course not! Do you know how dangerous it'd be for you?" She paused. "Are you alone?" She asked. He hung his head and nodded. "Do you know how dangerous it'd be for the ponies who live there? Sure there nice now but what about if you slip up and they find out about your curse!?" "Stella im tired of living in fear all the time like you do!" He said. "Ive finally made some friends, ponies who like me and dont judge me for studying curses! I dont want to keep lying to them. Please dont make me keep lying to them." He pleaded. "You have to grow up and realize that just because somepony is nice to you that dosent make them your friend! I doubt Starlight considers you her friend, your just some convenient tool to her! There are probably just trying to use you! And when they find out your cursed they'll run you out of town. But I wont be able to save you again if in not there!" "But Stella-" "Absolutely not. I want you on the next train home first thing in the morning." The crystal went dark leaving alone Polaris. In more ways then one. Suddenly the door to the hall opened up and Starlight slowly made her way into the room. "Oh hey." He said forcing a smile but he could her expression was sanded. "Did you ah... hear any of that?" "Hey." She said slowly. "Im sorry but I caught the end of it. You sister really dose not want you living here does she?" "Ha yeah shes just a worrier, but she's all I got so what can ya do?" Polaris tried to lighten the mood but Starlight could sense how sad he was. "Why dosent she want you living away from her Polaris?" He couldn't meet her eyes. They looked so sad, and for his benefit too! He opened his mouth to make up some story but there they were, those sadden eyes. His mouth shut. 'No.' he though, 'no more lying. I dont care what Stella thinks.' He took a deep breath. "Were friends right?" His question took her by surprise. She grabbed his hoof and held it. "Of course. What is it?" His hooves were shaking. Why was he so scared? Through a shaky voice he continued. "The reason my sister and I have been studying curses for so long is because were trying to get rid of a curse that..." He paused and shut his eyes. "I have." He waited for a response or for her to pull away from him, but none of those happened. Instead she tightened her grip on his hoof. Opening his eyes he saw the concern on her face, "Go on." Was all she said as she used her magic to pull up two chairs for them to sit in. Still holding each others hooves he continued. "My family has been cursed for as far back as 350 years. The first born male is cursed with fluctuations in gravity. Basically when I get stressed out the gravity around me is affected. Sometimes dishes will weigh nothing and float in the air or maybe a 3 pound book will suddenly weigh 300 and crash through the floor. I cant control it and we dont know how to stop it or even where the curse originated." He hung his head. "Im sorry I didn't tell you sooner. This curse can put ponies in danger sometimes and I shouldn't have been so careless." "So when your upset you manipulate gravity? You use gravity magic as an earth pony?! Thats amazing!" Starlight yelled. This concept of his curse being anything but dreadful was... disturbing to Polaris to say the least. "Could you imagine if you were able to direct the flow of it? You could be using magic without using magic!" She let go of his hoof throwing hers up in the air. "But thats the thing I cant control it!" "Have you tried?" She asked. Once again throwing his world of balance. "Of course ive tried, I cant make it stop!" he cried. "Im not saying you should make it stop, im saying maybe you can just, direct it? Like instead of breaking the floor with a book you can move the book towards you? Like levitation magic" "Starlight thats not-" He stopped himself. He was feeling tremors in his body. "Oh no." He said under his breath. "Starlight get away from me." He tried backing up only to find her moving closer. "Im pretty sure ive dealt with worse things." She said placing a hoof on his shoulder. This only caused him more anxiety. "No you dont understand-" Suddenly a wave of pressure came over him the gravity around him pressing down causing Starlight to fall to her knees. "Starlight no!" He yelled in horror. He closed his eyes and covered his ears. His sister was right. He was a danger to anypony around him. He was a ticking time bomb and now he was hurting his friend. 'It not fair!'He thought. 'I never asked for this! I never wanted this!' His thoughts were interrupted by somepony grabbing his hoof. He opened his eyes to find a shaky standing Starlight giving him a smile. "This is what you were afraid of?" She laughed. "But you fell." He said startled. He could see she was bracing herself to stand. "Yeah it took me by surprise but its not that bad. Its like wearing a couple of backpacks filled with rocks or something." she said. "How long does this usually last anyway?" And as she asked the feeling of dread within him left him as his the pressure around them. "It.. Varies." He said perplexed. "I dont understand, I thought it was supposed to be a crushing weight." "Uh who told you that?" Starlight asked stretching now being unburdened by his curse. "I... There was this kid that used to bully me when I was younger, the curse went off and he said it was like he was being crushed. He told me he felt like he was gonna die." Polaris said tearing up. "I think maybe that kid was just being a sore looser." She said wiping a tear from his eye. "Honestly, I didnt feel like 'a crushing weight' or anything." "You mean... He lied?" His expression changed to that of relief. He started to cry again but laughing as he did. "You mean It didnt hurt you?" She shook her head. "Im not hurting anypony!" He hugged Starlight who, while surprised at his reaction, was very much open to the hug. "This is what was worrying you and your sister?" She asked rubbing his back as he cried. "You made it sound like you were a monster or something." Pulling away Polaris wiped his eyes. "Well when the curse went off that bully told his dad and then he told the mayor and then things just escalated from there and then they burned my house down and-" "They what?!" Starlight shouted. "Yeah they burned my uncles house down because they thought I was a menace so my sister and I fled to Fillidelphia. Ponies will do crazy things when they think there families are in danger." \ "No! Thats unacceptable! You dont go burning down houses because some dumb snot nosed brat got what was coming to him!" Polaris could see how seething Starlight was. "What town was this!? Im gonna see how they like it when they wake up in the morning and its raining frogs!" Concerned Polaris patted her on the shoulder. "Hey now, no need for that! Its totally fine now!" She still looked angry. "Um. How are you gonna make it rain frogs exactly?" "I know a guy!" She waved his question off. She sighed trying to calm down. "But thats the reason your sister is so scared huh? That must have been tough on you two." Polaris thought for a moment. "I think I need to go back home."The look in his eyes was serious. "I gotta tell Stella about this." Starlight had a sad smile. She didnt want him to leave so soon. "I understand. You and your sister have a lot to talk about im sure. Just promise me you'll visit?" Polaris looked confused. "Oh no your coming with me." Now it was Starlight's turn for confusion. "There is a zero percent chance that she will believe me when i tell her this. So I need you to give an unbiased first hoof account of what happened!" the toothy grin was back. "Please." He added quickly. Trying to hide her elation she replied. "Alright! We'll go see your sister! But maybe tomorrow morning? I know the girls would love to get to know you. And they'd be devastated if we just left out of the blue like that." She bargained. "Well we shan't disappoint them now shall we?" He remembered why they were at the castle in the first place and examined his hoodie. "Uh So wheres a bathroom? I still need to clean up a bit." She directed him down the hall and before he left he gave her another hug. "This might seem silly but im so thankful I meat you Starlight." And he went on his way leaving her alone in the main room of the castle. She clutched her chest. 'He's just like I was after that time travel fiasco.' She thought to herself. 'Twilight and everybody really helped me grow past that. I think the best thing for him now is a few friends.' She smiled warmly to herself, putting back on the crystal around her neck. "Dont worry Polaris we'll make sure your sister understands."