//------------------------------// // 5.Fate From Stars // Story: The Unbroken Spear // by Jamis //------------------------------// The group moved through the field and up a small slope near the town, they were now around two hundred meters from the town on a small hill covered in wild grass. The stars had began to come farther into view, twilight ending. The group looked at the stars and Pantheon. The frown on his face already present, “I have not viewed the stars from many angles, in my life I haven’t travelled so far from my birthplace that I would see stars in massively different places. Though they did shift. If I am on Runeterra I will see one constellation I recognize before the night’s end.” The group pointed out a few they recognized from their sky, his frown was present though he listened and observed the celestial bodies, searching. There was a gap in the stars where the stars were not present, though while noticeable not big enough to be the one lost constellation he was familiar with. It lacked space for the four stars of the Pantheon constellation, he dismissed it and moved on. He could not find anything, ‘Don’t let me be right! I want to be among my people. I want to protect them from the horrors of the world. Vanquish the oppressive celestials from interfering in the lives of mortals with their schemes.’ The light of the moon rose and took its place among the stars, ignoring the radiant light for now he focused and tried again. “The moon is real bright tonight, you can see the mare on the moon.” Sky commented idly. “Funny”, the man thought, “I have heard the phrase ‘the man on the moon’, something to do with children’s stories,” he reflected it might also be related to the Lunari, “it should not surprise me you have your own version.”. As he spoke he glanced at the moon. Quickly returning his gaze to the stars, he paused his eyes zooming back to the moon. There on the surface of the satellite was a series of dark craters that formed the outline of a head. The head bore a horn and a long neck. The man of Runeterra had his fears hammered home in celestial writing. As if Targon was spiting him one last time. His eyes were wide and mouth open. He began to breath through his nose shakily as his arms unconsciously moved out. His helmet fell out from his shield arm landing softly in the cushy grass. The ponies moved to his side as he took a step back, “What’s wrong, Atreus? What’s wrong?!” Steal said the second sentence louder than the first but not in a yell, just yet. As he closed his mouth Pantheon placed the butt of his spear into the ground as if to steady himself. He was in no need of physical support at the moment, though he did mentally. He couldn’t deny what was right in front of him, Runeterra’s moon was clear from such dark craters. None of the stars he had grown to despise were presently visible. “I guess I will have to follow your advice Tough,” the stallion noting he did not call him Mr. Dough only briefly. The man continued, “I will have to make peace with my fate for now.” The group waiting for him to tell them the news, though they had figured it out the moment he had become upset. “Our worlds have different moons and stars, Runeterra and Equis are different worlds. I am stuck here until I can figure out or find a way home.” There was a silence between everypony and the Atreus, Sky moved to hug Pantheon. Removing his hand from his spear he patted the young pegusus’ head. She only came up to his neck but she still managed to squeeze him enough to make him chuckle in a forced breath, “Try not kill me young Sky.” The man slowly removed her from his torso with his free hand and inhaled, “Clever tactic, move my focus from my situation to my well being by squeezing the air from my lungs.” “You going to be ok there son?” the older stallion asked, “Now I know it is not right for me go comparing my life to yours but hear me out. Ever since my father went missing at sea my life has been changed. My mother went insane with grief my siblings moved away and I was left alone. That is nothing like your situation but know this. If you start down the path of despair and hopelessness. Seek help. Its hard to come back from it but you need to stay strong, if only for yourself.” The stallion paused in his monologue to ask a question with genuine concern, “Need anything, I try my best?”. “I don’t suppose you would know a place for me to find a way home would you. It has to be too much to ask but if you did I would be grateful.” Picking up both his helmet and spear he returned them to their proper places. The helmet back on his head out of habit, nopony caring to comment on it. However the comet plum didn't ignite on his helm, which wasn’t yet caught by the ponies. “If I were you I would head to the capital,” Steal suggested, “their is a school for unicorns there. The best unicorns in the country are there; if anypony has the answer to what magic mishap brought you here or how to return you they would know.” “While you’re there if they can’t figure it out, I’m sure they would seek Celestia’s help since some of them are her pupils.” Sky popped in with something to add on to the idea her teacher presented. “She being the most powerful magic user in the world would know how to go about your situation, I’m sure of it.” her smile and faith were very innocent, though her reasoning was sound. “The problem then comes to how you get there.”, Dough reasoned, “Canterlot is far from here and without any bits you’re limited to foot. Which could take to months not to mention getting to the mainland.” “I could write a letter to my superiors in Vanhouver to get you to Canterlot. I’m not going to lie to you though the problem is the time and resources would not be guarantee. Even if they believe us, they may not care enough to help.” Steal brainstormed. “The Summer Sun Celebration is also coming up soon, no doubt that will be the main focus of the guard in Canterlot not some weird story about an alien on an isolated island near Vanhouver. No offense.” Sky jumped in again. “None taken if anything you insulted your town more than me.” Atreus smiled at all of them though he was tired and stressed he could see a clear goal. “As for getting there I can do that without much help, I just need to know where to go and a day or two to get there without causing problems.” Looking back at the foreign stars he continued as he returned his eyes to the confused and concerned ponies, “However I can leave in the morning, as it would be best for what I have in mind. For now I need to take you up on that offer again Tough, would you allow me stay in your house for the night?” A smile came from the old stallion showing his genuine desire to help, “Of course Lad, you’re always welcome. You’re too interesting to not invite in.”. He paused and smirked, “Plus I may need a guard in case the dominatrix still holds a grudge.” There was a shout which semi-awoke the residents of Oatville. However everything was silent after so nopony thought too much about it.