//------------------------------// // EP 1: Where Destiny Lies|CH 7 // Story: 8 Realms of Magic // by AzuraKeres //------------------------------// Fireflies and leaves rained across a luminous forest like cherry blossoms. The woods shimmered prism lights from the diverse life of bugs, critters, and plants inhabiting its forest. Star’s group could hear clicking crickets and hooting of owls echoing from within distance. A spooked Ratty clutched onto Star’s neck, eyeing wildly through the clustered trees. “Hey Chip,” Ratty called. His voice shook in desperation. “You better be keeping an eye on things. I don’t want anything swooping down on me.” “Don’t worry, Ratty,” Chip assured. “I won’t allow any harm to come to you. So, do your part to lead us.” Ratty provided direction from Star’s back as their friends followed through a bright dirt path. Star looked fondly at their surroundings. “I remember coming here once for a camping trip with the Illuman filly scouts,” Star said. “I made it my mission to earn all the badges, hoping one of them would be the answer to my destiny.” “Oh yeah,” Ratty responded. “I do remember that. You managed to get your hooves on all sixty that week. But then you go upset when none of them gave the spark you were looking for that dumped all of them in a river. Mom got really upset about that.” “It would figure it would take a phenomenon like a spirit to answer a phenomenal question,” Star chuckled. “So, what do you think it’ll say?” Yori asked. She suddenly came upon Star’s side, giving the two a slight surprise. “Think it’ll be something wild and grand?” Star pondered about her destiny for the longest, yet she could never narrow her path. Her interests were broad because of her habits of trying everything. And so, her possibilities seemed endless. “If we’re hoping to find something grand,” Yuki started, walking upon Star’s other side. “I would like to know how to become an alicorn.” “You can’t become an alicorn, Yuki,” Chip said, joining her side. “Those of Princess Dawn’s kind are of noble blood. It’s not something to be obtained.” “And what evidence do you have to make that claim? Can you truly believe that a race so majestic and powerful have shrunk into a single digit? No, there has to be a secret to it.” “Why are we even talking about her?” Star asked. “Oh, but think about it,” Yori said. “Wouldn’t like to just once fly freely in the sky like pegasi and griffons? We would see the world in a brand new way.” “That’s not why I came here. What I want is answers about my brand.” Star gestured towards the tree brand on her hind. Just as her interests were broad, so too was her mark. A brand that resembled the Cosmic Tree would symbolize all that came to be. A denotation far too massive to extrapolate from. “It sure is a doozy, isn’t it?” Yori complimented. “I wish mine came with rainbows.” “At least you have an idea what your brand means,” Star remarked. Yori wore a brand of a sunflower on her hind. A design that was far too simple for pony so elated and whimsical. Yori skipped in front of the others and presented her brand. “I can’t help that Mother Nature is my passion. There’s just so many wonders from life that wish to learn and preserve.” Yori then stood on her hind legs and spun about. “Just take this forest, for example. Its light from its countless inhabitants is a beauty you would only find in Sollothus.” “I’d say it wears it on its sleeve,” Yuki said. “But how about we hasten our steps and get this over with? I don’t enjoy being stuck in the wilderness for too long.” “How can you say that?” Yori asked. “Is winter the only time you care?” Yuki wore a brand of a snowflake on her hind. A simple design that fitted Yuki in more ways than one. Yuki pushed Yori’s face away with a hoof upon her snout. “Hardly,” Yuki refuted. “My passion lies with the conditioning of the climates. My research into the matters is the reason why we received a grant for Nimbus.” “You like to study nature but don’t like to be in it,” Ratty concluded. “Kind of weird, don’t you think?” “It makes perfect sense,” Yuki retorted. “I just prefer to study from the comfort of my laboratory.” “You mean the laboratory owned by the city's institute?” Star said. “Okay, I think this has taken a long tangent from our talk about alicorns,” Chip said. “And what’s wrong with that? You should be more focused on keeping a lookout for my brother. I don’t pay my taxes for you squawk.” Chip wore a brand of a sword and shield composed of stone. A mark meant of knighthood that painfully described Chipped Flint to a tea. “I can do two things at once, Star. I’ve led countless escort missions in my job.” “Oh yes,” Star snickered. “I’m sure many felt so safe under your watch. But I wonder how they would feel if they learned how much you yelped like a filly in your earlier days. I’m sure the gallant image of you would shatter if they saw pitiful you were in training.” Chip glared at Star. “That only happened once and it was a long time ago. I’ve grown since then.” “I’m sure my mother made sure of that. You must think of yourself as an apex guard now. Think you may become a Valkyrie as well?” “If I was a mare, probably,” Chip boasted. “And I think I’d earn after saving you from so many of your shenanigans.” “What shenanigans?” Star lost her impish smile. “I mean the ones from all of your misadventures. It’s amazing how they always end up with property damage and hysteria among the public. You should count yourself lucky you are the daughter of the mightiest Valkyrie else you would have long been thrown in the dungeons.” “Don’t get cocky with me.” Star pressed on Chip’s pectoral. “Don’t forget you used to call me big sis back in the day.” Chip a coy grin. “Oh yeah. And what do you plan on doing about it?” Their bickering stopped when they parked to the sound of crunch. They traced the sound to Yori, who held a bag of popcorn in her hooves. Yori is adept in fire magic, so popping a bag of popcorn was a simple task for her. “Oh, don’t mind me,” Yori said. “Please, continue.” Star and Chip gave a flat gaze and then walked past her. “Boo,” Yori pouted. “You can’t stop now. It was getting good.” “Then don’t kill the mood,” Yuki said as she head-butted her sister to move along. They continued their journey through the forest, frequently sharing topics they would argue and laugh over about. Star walked ahead of the group with Ratty pointing out their path. Chip made good on his word to survey their surroundings. As the only Sollothean guard amongst them, it was his sole duty to ensure their safety. However, there were moments he let his guard slip. Every time his gaze passed Star, his eyes would stay fixed upon her longer than he should. He found himself spellbound in her crimson eyes that nearly forgot where he was. “Checking her out, eh?” Chip widened his eyes at the sound of Yori in his ear. “What?” He yelped. He jumped an inch from Yori, earning a laugh from the mare. “No, I’d never do something so crude.” “Don’t worry, Chip,” Yori chuckled. “It’s alright. I know it’s natural for you stallions. So, when are you going to make your next move? Don’t you think this place is the perfect romantic setting for some kissing?” Chip’s cheeks burned red like fire. “We did not come here for that. My only concern is to make sure none of you get hurt.” “And also to get our prediction,” Yuki added. “Speaking of which, I’m rather curious about the merits of these rumors. I’d hate to walk through this forest for nothing.” “It’s got to be real,” Yori said. “I want to know if the clouds in Nimbus are a valuable resource to grooming flowing manes.” “Are you sure you want to ask that? Sometimes the best thing about an adventure is the journey, not the destination.” “I just don’t want to waste the grant the Institute gave us. You know I don’t like the idea of playing with other creature’s bits.” “How generous of you. And what of you, Chip?” “Me?” Chip said. “I don’t know. Haven’t really thought about it either.” “Oh please,” Yori said, rolling her eyes. “It’s so obvious what you’re going to ask.” “I would have to agree,” Yuki concurred. “Even plain eyes could piece it together.” The twins nodded towards Star at the front of the group. Chip gaped at the smirking twins before huffing his snout. “You know, I don’t have to put up with this treatment!” The twins laughed at Chip’s embarrassment. And as they continued to sink further into the forest, a certain golden light brushed through the shrubs. More of that light shone from different parts of the parts, all trudging behind Star’s party within the distance.