A Distant Star

by Dr Atom Discharge

Chapter Eight: So Many Years Ago

Last Time: “Twilight, step away from him THIS INSTANT!” Celestia bellowed, her horn starting to glow. Twilight looked back at her with sadness in her eyes, and then stepped backwards, towards Atom. Celestia screamed in fury and launched a ball of pure energy at the two Unicorns. In the instant before the projectile struck there was a blinding flash of light. Both of Atom and Twilight were gone, and the projectile flew through the space they had occupied only moments ago, exploding on impact with the ground with a small fiery explosion. Celestia screamed out, and then turned to her Captain
“Find them! They can’t have gotten far! Use as many Guards as you need, just FIND THEM!” While The Captain quickly started organizing the troops, Celestia turned back to the spot where they had stood and growled to herself. “I will find you Atom…”

It was another clear night, though colder than the night before. Summer was drawing to a close. The glistening stars looked down over the tress of the Everfree Forest, particularly so over the small pool of flickering light located in one of the many clearings. Twilight gazed back at the stars close to a source of the light, a small fire giving off no smoke. It was magically maintained by Atom as he set up the tents. Twilight took notice of how easily Atom was able to maintain several spells at once. Usually a unicorn would have to concentrate completely on the spell they were doing, but Atom seemed to not even be paying attention to the magic. Her thoughts slowly drifted back to what had happened earlier that day. She had so many questions, but they had been moving for hours and hadn’t had a chance to talk.

Finally Atom sat down, sighing slightly.
“Twilight… I’m so sorry you had to be dragged into this, but-“ He was cut off by Twilight’s unusually sharp response.
“Cut the crap Atom, I came with you because I trust you, but that will only go so far.” She looked over at him with sadness in her eyes “I betrayed my mentor for you. I need to know more, I need to know what happened between you two… and more if possible.”

Atom sighed. This was the moment he had been dreading. He sombrely started the story, gazing into the night sky with a stony expression and deep, sad eyes that reflected the glistening the stars as he began to tell the tale that had started so many years ago.

A young colt, with a deep crimson coat and a short horn poking out of an unkempt mess of a mane bounced up the steps of the royal palace in an energetic dance. This was going to be the best day of Atom’s life. Today he was going to get into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns; he could just feel it. His Father galloped up the stairs after the energetic colt trying to catch up to him.

Atom’s father, a large and muscled earth pony who had a deep blue coat and a picture of a wrench pasted on his flank, caught him just before he was about to barrel through the main doors to the palace.
“Whoa there son! Settle down, we can’t have you bouncing about like that in the entry examination, can we?” Atom looked back at his father and gave a big grin.
“Okay daddy, I’ll try to keep calm. It’s just so exciting.” The large stallion gently wrapped his forelegs around his boy in a loving hug.
“Oh son, I am so proud of you, your mother would be so happy with how well you’ve done were she still here…” The blue earth pony said gently, slowly stroking the young colt’s hair with a gentle hoof. The young Atom looked up at his father
“She is here Daddy; we keep her in our hearts.” The innocent colt wore a warm smile. The blue stallion looked down at his son with joy and pride. He couldn’t be more proud to have raised this wonderful boy.

Atom fidgeted in the waiting room. He wasn't nervous, he was excited. He was surrounded by several young colts and fillies, all shuffling in their seats. They were all dressed in similar smart suits and such, with critical parents mumbling angrily for them to keep still. All were completely over prepared and had probably been groomed all their lives for this opportunity. Atom on the other side was looking as scruffy as, if not scruffier, than ever, and it was obvious that some of the other parents didn’t approve. But everyone’s attention shifted as the first candidate was called in.

After a few moments there was a loud crash, and a scream and a large plume of smoke billowed out from under the door. A few seconds later a singed, and traumatized looking young colt marched out, nothing left of his pricy suit. Most of the other candidates started to panic, it was evident in their eyes. Obviously they had been expecting some kind of interview. Obviously they were wrong. The panic even showed on some of the parents faces. Atom’s dad leaned down and whispered in his ear.
“You know, if you want to back out now I’ll understand. Just the fact you got the opportunity is amaz-“ He was cut off by Atom’s hoof in his mouth.
“Dad, I’m not nervous, I know I can out do all of these snooty kids, don’t worry.” He said with a grin at his father after removing his hoof.

Atom’s dad looked down with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh really? Not nervous at all?” Atom grinned up at his dad.
“Well…. Maybe a little.” His grin grew and they chuckled together, getting more than one odd look from the overly serious parents. Which just made then pair laugh more. After a few more turns, each ending in a similar way to the first it was Atom’s turn. He jumped up out of his seat and bounced excitedly into the room, ready for anything that could be thrown against him.

As he bounced in he looked up to see the Princess herself talking to the moderators.
“My Princess, are you sure the [mumble] isn’t too much?” Asked the moderator to what appeared to be a rather disgruntled Princess Celestia.
“No, I am sick of stuck up children who practice and practice for this, but who have no natural talent.” The moderator let out a little sigh.
“Of course Ma’am.” He raised his voice a bit “Alright, the next candidate is Atom Discharge.” The moderator said as Celestia started to walk away. She looked back momentarily, and spotted Atom. She knew at once this colt was different. For once somepony not dressed up in unpractical and unnecessary suits and fancy clothing. She turned around and sat down next to the moderators, startling them slightly.
“I think… I will stay for this one… “ She said quietly, and turned her attention to Atom. The Head Moderator cleared his throat.
"Alright, we will commence the examination now. Are you ready?” Atom, with a determined look on his face, nodded sharply. The Princess was personally observing him. This was his chance to show what he could do. No matter what the Examination held, he would make sure he showed his best.

The Head Moderator nodded back, and then his horn glowed. A huge set of double doors started to form in the far wall. When they had fully formed there was a loud rumble and the doors bulged outwards slightly and began to glow. The moderators started to whisper among each other.
“He’s too young, we should call it off” One of the moderators whispered just loud enough for the Princess to hear.
“No… I think he is ready for this… go ahead with it, I want to see what he can do…” Celestia never took her eyes off Atom. The head Moderator hesitated, and then nodded, his horn glowing again. The door slowly opened, but were soon blasted to the sides by a torrent of fire. Out of the dark chamber behind the doors stepped a Dragon. A fully mature, thirty foot, deadly dragon.

Atom stifled a gasp. He had to act fast, so he ran head first at the dragon on pure instinct, and not a moment too soon as a missive torrent of liquid fire smashed against the spot he had just been stood on, scorching the ground. Atom looked back as he ran, seeing his father separated by a magic barrier. He looked like he had just been sent into shock. Atom looked forwards just in time to see the huge tail collide with him. When his sense had returned to him he realized he was clinging to the tail being swung high in the air. he let go and landed hard on the head of the dragon. Shaking himself off he saw the dragon crouch, and then it jumped up, and Atom dived into the crook of the dragon’s neck as the dragon smashed its own head off the ceiling in an attempt to crush him.

The dragon stumbled, dazed. Atom saw his chance and took it. His horn glowed bright red and a huge wave of energy collided with the dragons right leg, making it topple to the side. Atom leapt off as the dragon’s head as it collided with the floor, knocking it out momentarily. His horn blazed brighter as he used the dragon's tail to hog tie it's legs together. The strain showed as he slid the dragon into the room. He started to relax as he closed the doors, but then a roar bellowed out, blasting Atom into the far wall as the Dragon started to pry the doors apart

Atoms eyes narrowed and he charged forwards, his horn glowing more and more. He raced forwards, and his eyes glowed just before the impact. When he collided with the dragon there was a blinding flash of light and a huge boom that shattered several windows. When the light had faded the Moderators could see Atom laid on the floor panting heavily. The last thing Atom saw before blacking out was his father galloping up to him.

“I told you he was too young!” said one of the Moderators
“Perhaps you are right, but I didn’t expect him to actually seal the door shut.” Said the Princess. Atom heard the voices and started to come around. Realizing where he was he quickly sprung up out of his father’s forelegs, but had to stop and wait for the room to stop spinning before he continued. When he felt balanced enough he looked around to see everypony had come down from the stands, even the Princess. Everypony was looking at him, and he felt a little intimidated. For a few awkward moments nopony spoke. The Princess stepped forwards and offered Atom a hoof. “Welcome to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.”

Over the next few years Atom studied in the School, becoming top in his class, and even graduating early to start researching into magic directly under the princess herself. But a few months into his research he made a discovery about the very nature of magic itself, a discovery that started a cascade of events to follow.

A teenage Atom, covered in soot from head to toe, galloped down the corridor towards the throne room. Smoke was still streaming from his unkempt hair. He barrelled into the throne room and slid across the floor. He continued past the throne and through the door to the right of it, bounding up the spiralled stairs to the Princess' room. He slid to a stop as the guards lowered their wings to block the way.
“Who goes there?” One demanded. Atom slid his goggles up with his hoof.
“Come on guys, it’s me, this is important.” One of the guards chuckled
We didn’t recognize you behind all the soot. Alright, we’ll let you in. Princess! Atom is here to see you!” The guard called through the door.

The door opened inwards and Atom galloped into the room. It was a usual scene for him; the beautiful glass ceiling showing the sky in all its beauty, the marble walls inscribed with gold, the beautiful oak furniture that had been warn smooth with use. The Princess was at her desk with a small stack of papers in front of her.
“Princess, I did it! I finally discovered how magic functions! You have to see this!” Atom literally dragged the Princess back to the lab and showed her a black board covered in equations. “It’s all about resonance! Everypony has natural magic in them, and when the soul is vibrating at the same frequency as the natural magic we get an effect! For example when Cutie marks come about! But unicorns can make our souls resonate in different ways! We each have a specific resonance related to our special talent! Like when you raise the sun!”

Atom was getting more and more excited, bouncing about Celestia. But the Princess stopped him with a hoof and gently looked into his eyes.
“Atom… have you tried this…?” Atom could see the seriousness in her eyes and instantly calmed down.
“Y-yes… I… I tried to… it was a little unstable and… well..” He gestured to his soot covered body.
“Atom, you have to Promise me you will never try this again… okay? It is dangerous and I don’t want you getting hurt.” She had a soft and caring look in her eyes.
“O-okay princess… I won’t try again.” He felt a little down. He had been working for weeks, months on this…

The princess soon left, and Atom went to shower off but as the soot washed away he saw it… his cutie mark. He must have gained it after the explosion… That was it… this was what he was meant to do… and not even the Princess would stop him.

Over the next few months he started to work on how to increase power and control. He discovered more about the nature of this effect, and that there were in fact levels of resonance, each requiring several times more energy than the last. He struggled to find a way to break past the first level of resonance, until one day he found a way and set into motion a plan to show the Princess how useful this really could be.

One of the royal guards rocketed through the palace. He raced to the throne room, charging through the main door and past the line of people who were being entered for the school's entry examination and up to the Princess herself.
“M’lady! You have to come; somepony has broken into the test chamber!" Celestia looked seriously at the guard, nodded and followed him quickly to the secret elevator that lead down to the secret magical test room below the palace. As they were going down in the lift the Princess was hoping that it wouldn’t be who she feared… even though, in her heart, she knew.

The magical testing room had been built many, many years ago, before Luna had become Nightmare moon. It had been used as a room for the Princesses to test new spells and such… very few people knew about it…

Celestia stepped out of the elevator and it instantly closed behind her, trapping the Princess in and the Guard out. She walked forward towards the test area, and looked through the glass panel to see Atom there. He had bags under his eyes and he seemed very fidgety. She placed her hand on the intercom button.
“Atom, what are you doing here? Please… if this is about the resonance stop… please… it isn’t safe and I don’t want-” She was cut off by Atom.
“Cut it princess, you didn’t see the potential in this, but I’m going to show you now! You will see the power we can harness!” As he finished talking a warning light and siren started to signal the beginnings of the test. “If I feed the energy back on itself I can increase the output exponentially. Celestia’s eyes widened. “ATOM! STOP! If you do this you could kill us both! It’s too much power!” The Princess shouted, trying to reason with him, but he had already started.

His horn started to glow, getting brighter and brighter, more and more power building up. He felt himself hit the first level of resonance, and started to feed the energy back into himself until eventually he managed to hit the second resonance. A beam of pure energy shot out of his horn, destroying anything in its path, picking matter apart atom by atom. But something went wrong. A powerful wave of energy caused him to lose control. The beam started to waver and expand. He felt the energy of the universe flowing through him and had no way to control it. He tried to regain control but it burned at him, it burnt him up from the inside. Finally another wave of energy rocketed through his body and up his horn, he felt a line of fire race up his horn. There was a massive crash as energy exploded outwards in a searing light and intense sound. Everything went black.