//------------------------------// // Golden Harvest // Story: The Cutie Alchemist // by Visharo //------------------------------// Golden: radiantly youthful and vigorous Harvest: the act or process of gathering in a crop ------------------------------------------------------ A full day's cycle had passed when Starswirl the Bearded stumbled into the hollow. His broken heart shattered into even more pieces after the discovery of Fizzlepop's horn. He was certain that he would have fallen into a pit of despair that he would not care to escape were it not for Fluttershy. The mare hugged and comforted him for longer than was necessary and even went beyond that. After his shoulders stopped shaking and his tears stopped falling, he made for the exit, feeling stifled and horrid in this cave. He fell several times, blood even spurting out his left knee, but Fluttershy was there to keep him going. Through this whole endeavor just to get back home, did he realize that he was clutching both the Chalice and Fizzlepop's horn in his hands. Fluttershy didn't say anything, so neither did he. "Starswirl." A strong voice broke through his fog of pain. It wasn't the mere fact that there was somepony speaking, it was because he recognized his own suffering, his own grief and powerlessness, in that voice. He shifted so the speaker filled his view. "Granny." His voice cracked. Another tear slipped out. He didn't think he had anymore left. "Come on, you old goat." With the help of Fluttershy, whom Granny kindly didn't ask about, the two were able to heave Starswirl to the house and into one of the sleeping areas. He curled up within himself once they let him go and didn't allow himself to meet anypony's eyes, despite feeling many sets on his pelt. *** Starswirl didn't know how many sunrises had passed when a loud crash interrupted his grief. He looked up from his moss bed and immediately regretted it from the sudden ache in his neck and shoulders. Grunting heavily, Starswirl managed to swing his legs over and pushing with his arms, he got to his hooves. Once he stretched after who knows how long, did he start to feel all of the aches and burns of his abused body. Dim sunlight was filtering through the open doorway as Starswirl slowly shuffled his way forwards and into the light. He immediately looked to the right, the spot where he heard the noise. Muffins? He still didn't know her name, was lying in a very awkward position, her muzzle firmly planted on the wooden wall. "Are you alright?" "Oh! You're awake!" The strange mare extracted herself from the wall and gave a lazy salute. "Everypony's been worried. Muffin?" The adorable mare held up a single muffin in her hands complete with an innocent grin. "...sure." He plucked the muffin and began munching away. It was delicious. As for Muffins, she giggled and scampered off. He watched, trying to follow her movements but somehow lost her after she tripped. It was like the ground swallowed her up and left nothing behind. Starswirl wasn't sure if he should be concerned or not. "Well, if it ain't Starswirl himself." He turned to find Granny looking straight at him with a heavy glare. "Ah've got some words for ya." Without giving him a moment to comprehend, she already had him by the horn and was dragging him away. He just had time to see several more ponies on the other side of the hollow watching the scene unfold. At the mercy of Granny Smith, he couldn't do anything but let it happen. Some stallion he was. Halfway through, Starswirl found himself drifting off. He didn't know where nor did he care. He just...floated away. It was peaceful for a moment, in a tragic way. The sun was still shining, the clouds still moved across the sky, the ground was still the ground, yet everything seemed dull. Out of place, perhaps. "Alright. Here's good enough." He was unceremoniously dropped to the ground. He groaned and got up, looking around. Granny brought him to a cliff overlooking the hollow. There was a heavy thump beside him and he reluctantly turned and looked to see the green mare bearing down on him. "Yer grieving, ah get that, ah do. Ya know why? Cuz ah'm grieving too. That filly was good as mine, just as she was yers. But do ya see me moping about like some sad little foal? Get yer act together, Starswirl. Yer daughters need ya, ah need ya, heck, even that stick Stygian needs ya. It ain't healthy being cooped up in there, does nopony good. Now, ah'm gonna leave ya up here till ya feel better." Granny snorted, gave him one last glare, then marched back down. Starswirl just stared after her. The sun was dangerously close to being extinguished, giving the world a warm embrace as if saying goodbye. Starswirl had managed to drag his bruised body to the edge of the cliff and looked down upon the ponies that inhabited the space. The first pony that caught his attention was not even a pony, but a zebra. He was surprised to see that Zecora was still here, he was sure she had wandered off somewhere. He was somewhat comforted to see Fluttershy right beside her, the two seemed to be comfortable with each other. The sight almost caused him to smile. With careful movements, almost lethargically, Starswirl turned to look elsewhere which happened to be his daughters. Celestia and Luna, bless them, were relaxing in the grass, eyes closed. Even from this far away, he could feel the joy Luna was emitting from finally having her sister back. Cadance and Shining Armor were cuddling up next to each other on a particularly comfortable rock, he should know, he made it comfortable. Any annoyance to the couple taking his rock was replaced with a wary smile. Those two deserve their peace after what Shining had to suffer. His smile immediately died when he noticed that Sunset Shimmer was nowhere to be found. He quickly pushed himself to his hooves and scanned, his eyes darting from one side to the hollow to the next. He was about to run down the hill when he suddenly heard: "Swirly?" A small voice, the tiniest. He turned around and there she was. "Sunset?" "I'm scared." The orange filly, nearly old enough to be a mare, was crying silently. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her bottom lip trembled, but she held in the wails. Starswirl didn't need any other confirmation and picked her up despite his back and knees saying otherwise. He held Sunset close as he maneuvered back to his spot overlooking the valley. The two of them sat and cried silently to their own grief. *** "Starswirl, move yer sorry flank out here and help me harvest these apples 'fore the frost sets in!" Granny's voice broke through his sleepy haze. It's been several moons since the disappearance of Fizzlepop and everypony's seemed to have moved on, his heart said differently. "Coming." He stepped out of the hut and into the chilly air. He thought after leaving the north and that crazy shadow unicorn behind, that snow wouldn't be a problem. Harmony said otherwise. As he trotted to where Granny had somehow planted several apple trees, scavenged from who knows where. He's learned to not question the actions of Granny. As he slowly picked apples from the lower branches while she does the higher ones, she insists it must be done by hand, Starswirl thought of the recent moons and the absence of the quiet maroon filly, like he usually does in quiet moments like these. With a single pony gone, even a small filly like her, it seemed like the hollow was empty. Devoid of life. Occasional moments like Ditzy Doo's hijinks or the clicking of Maud Pie mining somewhere in the outskirts brought him back to reality where ghosts don't dwell, but they don't usually last many countings. The more he thought aboutit, perhaps Harmony was right in letting the cold of the north befall them. It certainly reflects his mood as of late. Starswirl absently tried to grab an apple, but his hoof slipped on a suspiciously wet rock and before he had time to cry out, his muzzle smacked into the tree trunk. He groaned as he peeled himself off the bark and blubbered pitifully as blood poured out of his nose at an alarming rate. "Ah, Starswirl, ya bumbling buffoon." "...do you even know what a buffoon is?" "Git up, ya old colt." Granny heaved his aching body upwards and placed him on a nearby padded rock. "Now sit." He sat. She sighed. "Ah'll...ah'll just do this last part mahself, okay? Just rest a smidge." Starswirl sighed and picked up a large chunk of moss and placed it against his muzzle, hoping to staunch the bleeding. It worked, somewhat. After making sure he was alright, he looked to the setting sun. It was beautiful in a way, the way the sun makes the surrounding area gold and blurry. Truly perplexing, one he would've thought about for many a day cycle were he still in his youth and of a healthy mind. Before he could delve deep into his crumbling self, a bright glow caught his attention. The Chalice of Life, placed atop a tree stump, was basking the surrounding area in a lovely yellow hue. It filled up relatively fast and soon depicted a bushel of carrots. How he knew that did not matter much to Starswirl, he was long past the mystery of those marks and of the naming of certain objects and concepts. He barely noticed Granny standing next to him wearing a curious as well as an annoyed expression. Then with a blinding flash, a new creature entered Equus. When vision returned to his eyes, he picked out that it was a earth pony mare. "Hello!" She called out in a cheerful manner, her grin matching her tone, as she stared at the two. "Hello." "Good eve." "I'm Golden Harvest, some ponies call me Carrot Top, do NOT call me that. Kay? Kay!" The bubbly mare giggled and before Starswirl could answer, she noticed the apple trees. "Oh my Harmony, are those fruit trees? Oh, yes!" She zipped off without warning and started plucking the apples with gusto. "Hey, hey, hey! Young mare, ah will tan yer hide if ah find a single blemish on these apples! We need 'em for...for...huh." Starswirl peeked behind the earlier angry mare and gaped at the perfect apples, not a single bruise on the surface. "How is she so good?" "It's my talent, silly!" She giggled again, somehow sandwiched between the two. Starswirl let out a gasp of surprise and pinwheeled backwards. Where did she come from!? As for Granny, she just stared at the yellow mare with...actually, Starswirl had no idea how to word whatever was on her face. "Ya dun crazy."