In the present…
The four children of Twilight and Blue were riding a carriage towards the Enchanted Forest. It was the beginning of a new school year at the Three Great Fairies Preparatory Academy and so they were heading there. But, out of those four, only three would actually stay there, as Star had already graduated. However, he couldn’t help but go along with his siblings to say goodbye to them and his friends, not to mention that would also be Dusk’s first year at the academy… something he was not very excited about.
“I don’t understand why I need to go to the academy” Dusk said, while crossing his hooves. “I was doing fine with Mirror Coat at the Bright Shore. Not to mention it is located at the middle of a forest. I don’t do well with forest. I’m a pony that loves the sea. At least, at Bright Shore, I was able to surf during the breaks. ”
“Come on, Dusk, you’ll see that the academy will do good to you” Star told. “I know this is going to be a great change for you, bro, but at least try, okay? It’s not just academics you’ll get there, but you’ll also be able to do new friends. I know I did. I wish I could return for one more year…”
“You’ll like the academy, Dusky, all the teachers there are all so nice and considerate” Midnight said. “Well, maybe with the exception of Professor Xenon Alchemy…”
“I personally like him” Sunny said. “He always compliments my work.”
“You mean when he says that your work is the best out of the laughable attempts of experiments of the class?” Midnight asked, with a raised eyebrow.
“Hey, I take any complement I can get from him as being as good as any other” Sunny replied. “Besides, I know deep down he appreciates his students very much.”
“Then he must be really deep, because I can’t hardly see that… like ever” Midnight commented.
That caused Dusk to drop a giggle and Star observed:
“Now that’s a face I want to see.”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get your hopes too high” Dusk warned.
The carriage soon crossed into the Enchanted Forest and, after some time, they arrived to the academy, where students were starting to gather. The four siblings got out with Dusk, Midnight and Sunny carrying their bags and then Star told to the guards pulling the carriage:
“You may return to the Light Kingdom. I prefer to go back by myself.”
The guards nodded to their prince and then moved away. A few moments later, the three fairy headmistresses arrived, descending before them.
“Well, but look at this, the royal siblings of the Light Kingdom” Knotgrass said. “We’re so glad to have you back here.”
“I hope you’re ready for another year full of new things to learn” Thistlewit added.
“Yes, we are!” Midnight and Sunny replied with enthusiasm.
“And I see we got a new student” Merriweather said, while approaching Dusk. “It’s an honor to have you attending our academy, Prince Dusk.”
“Ah… thanks, I guess…” Dusk said. “However, I don’t know if this school is a match for me. I am a pony of the sea.”
“No need for worry, Prince Dusk Storm, we also have many students from coastal lands” Thistlewit said. “You will see that in no time you are going to feel at home.”
“Sure, a home where I have to attend classes and do homework” Dusk replied, addressing sarcastically to his older brother. “It’s not like I had that back at my real home.”
“Very funny, little brother” Star said, turning then to the three fairies. “I’m sorry, headmistresses, my brother… well, he has a strong personality.”
“It’s all right, Prince Star Knight” Knotgrass replied. “We do have a lot of students like that as well.”
“Hey, I see Silver Wind!” Sunny exclaimed. “And she is with Gallus and Gust.”
“Great!” Midnight said. “Let’s go meet them. Dusk, come with us.”
“Fine, I guess…” Dusk said.
“Bye, Star… Headmistresses…” the twin said at the same time, while moving away with Dusk.
“It’s always so good to see the friendship of the youngsters…” Thistlewit commented, turning then to Star. “But I have to say it’s also quite good to have you here, Prince Star Knight, despite you have just graduated.”
“Well, how could have I not come to bring my brother and sisters and also see my friends?” Star told.
“We have just heard about all the adventures you all had when facing the Pony of Shadows” Merryweather said. “It makes our heart flutter to know that some of our students are already great heroes.”
“Thank you, headmistress, but my friends and I just did what we needed to do” Star said.
“So, out of curiosity, what is it next for the great savior of the world?” Knotgrass asked. “I bet you will continue your studies into the more advanced levels.”
“Well, I…” Star started, finding himself unable to complete it. “Actually, I am not so sure.”
“Don’t worry, we’re certain you’ll sort this out” Knotgrass said, while placing a hoof on Star’s shoulder. “After all, you do have a lot of time, right? Now I think it’s time we get going to join the staff so we can start the ceremony.”
Having said that, she and the other fairies moved away. After they were far enough, Star couldn’t help but to think about what they asked him. In fact he didn’t get much thought about what he would do in the future. He knew someday he would succeed his mother as leader of the Light Kingdom, but it could take years for that to happen. He could keep on advancing on his studies with his mother, the Generals or even Star Swirl now that he was around, all while protecting the Pony Reality from the Lord of Chaos and his villains. However, that didn’t answered what he would do once he would reach adulthood and when world was in peace.
“Can you stop whining about what you will do next?” Kurama asked him in their plane, lied down, wanting to rest. “All that thinking is disturbing my sleep.”
“It’s easy for you say that, Kurama” Star Knight said. “You already know who you are and what you want to do, but me… Until I get to rule the Light Kingdom, I will need to do something… but I don’t know what.”
There was a moment and then Kurama asked, while sitting up:
“If I give you something for you to do now that you’ve graduated, will you please stop whining so I can get some sleep?”
“I may regret this, but yes” Star Knight replied. “What do you have in mind?”
“Why don’t you focus in finding a way to undo this annoying curse?” Kurama asked. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but… I’m tired of being in a cage!”
“You’ve been in a cage for fourteen years already” Star observed.
“Precisely, being the reason why I don’t want to be here any longer” Kurama said. “So hurry up in breaking the curse.”
“As if that’s an easy task to do…” Star said.
There was a pause and then Kurama said, with a much calmer tone:
“Look, what I am about to say is something very mushy and trust me when I say it will be the last time you’ll see me like that in a long time… But I’m not saying this because of being in a cage. This seal won’t hold the curse for long and, once this levee you placed breaks, it will attack your heart like a swarm of upset bees.”
“I know that and I’m doing my best” Star said. “But, with everything that has been going on, I haven’t got time to search for a cure. However, we can’t forget that my parents and the Generals are also looking for a cure. For now, I will just try to take it easy. We still have time, after all.”
It was then that his attention went to Moonlight, Jonagold, Bramble, Gunter and Galena that had just arrived, causing a smile to appear on Star. What better way to take his mind on his problems than being with his friends? And so he went to them.
After the ceremony, Star went with Dusk to the latter’s room.
“Do you really need to come with me? You do know I am not a little foal, right?”
“I just want to make sure my little brother is fine in his new school” Star said. “Trust me, if I could, I would do the same with the twins.”
They arrived at the entrance of Dusk’s room and he opened the door. Inside, there was already a colt, about the same age as Dusk, that was unpacking on one of the sides of the room. He was an earth pony that had a light gambage coat with a light tangeloish gray chest and fetlocks, having a shield with two shades of orange and a horseshoe in the middle and two green hearts siding it as a Cutie Mark. His mane was moderate arctic blue and aquamarine and his eyes were moderate gamboge.
Noticing them, he said:
“Oh, sorry, I already picked a side. I just hope you don’t mind. I don’t like to wait to unpack things.”
“Oh… I don’t mind” Dusk said. “I’m Dusk, Dusk Storm. It’s my first year here.”
“It’s my first year here too” the colt said. “My name it’s Hitch Trailblazer. I’m from Evermist.”
“Evermist, hein?” Star asked. “Well, that explains why you’re just enrolling in the academy.”
Noticing Star, Hitch’s face became quite surprised.
“You… You’re… Prince Star Knight… The great hero of the Great War…” he said.
“Yes, I am” Star said, while scratching the back of his head. “The last time I checked, that was still my name.”
“Oh, I can’t believe this…” he said, advancing to shake Star’s hoof. “It’s a great honor to finally meet you.”
“Thanks” Star said, a little awkward, never getting used to all the admiration many ponies would have for him.
“I’ve heard so much about your accomplishments, how you defeated the Lord of Chaos, how you helped freeing Tambelon…” Hitch said. “And now I heard you defeated the Pony of Shadows as well.”
“You know, I also helped on that” Dusk Storm said, a little annoyed by Hitch being fanboying over Star. “And not just that, but I also freed the Bermikun Triangle.”
“Yeah, sure, but I am more interested in hearing Star, now” Hitched said, dismissingly, causing Dusk to get even more annoyed.
“I just came to accompany my brother to his room” Star said to Hitch. “Sorry, but I have things to do.”
“Oh, of course…” Hitch said, starting to adopt a much calmer demeanor. “Sorry, I bet I went a little overboard…”
“It’s okay, Hitch, I’m already used to that” Star said. “But, even so, I need to go. Nice to meet you. Dusk, have a good school year.”
“Yeah, sure…” Dusk said, still a little uncertain.
Star left the room and soon found himself walking on a path he would usually take until a room, the one he used to share with Bramble. Knocking on the door and opening it, he said:
“May I come in.”
Bramble, who was unpacking, noticing his friend, said:
“Of course you can. This is your room too, after all.”
“Used to be” Star corrected. “I am no longer a student, remember. In no time, you’ll get a new roommate.”
“I don’t think so…” Bramble said. “The headmistresses told me I wouldn’t possibly have a roommate for this year. So, for now, whenever you want to, you can come so we can’t have one of our late talks.”
“That would be nice, but I don’t think it according to the rules of the academy” Star said.
“You can always teleport here and that way no one would know” Bramble told.
Star got surprised by what his deer friend had just said, commenting:
“You’ve really changed… Who knew you would motivate me to break rules. I guess fighting a Dragon King really did have some impact on you.”
“Well, what can I say, you and the others are a great influence” Bramble said.
Bramble then noticed that something was bothering Star.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look like yourself.”
“It’s just…” Star started, while going to sit on the bed that used to be his. “I feel like I’m stuck, you know…”
“Kind of…” Bramble replied, a little confused. “Could you elaborate that?”
The young alicorn prince sighed and then said:
“I’ve focused so much in completing my studies in the academy and save the Pony Reality from the Lord of Chaos that I… didn’t even stop to think about what I should do next in my life.”
“I always thought you would study to become the next ruler of the Light Kingdom” Bramble said.
“That’s what I’ve been doing ever since I was old enough to understand the meaning of that” Star protected. “And I wanted to do more than just rule a kingdom or be the occasional hero. I want to be part of something.”
Bramble came to sit next to his friend and then said:
“I understand what you’re saying. I also have my future as ruler defined, but there’re also many things I want to try before wearing the crown. I also want to become stronger, but training can only get me so far. The truth is I don’t know what to do.”
“Wow… I’m glad I’m not the only one to not know what to do” Star said, now feeling much more relieved after talking to Branch.
“Hey, comforting is what former roommates do” Bramble replied, while getting up. “Besides, we both have a lot of time. And it’s not like we’re going to be called for a special mission that may prevent us from thinking clearly about our future.”
At that moment, flashes caught the two youngsters’ attention. One of the sources was coming from Star’s Cutie Mark, while the second was coming from Branch’s antlers.
“Okay… this is new” Bramble said, while watching his antlers through the mirror.
“Maybe for you…” Star said, watching the flashes on his Cutie Mark and recognizing them perfectly. “But not for me. Bramble, I think we have a new mission.”