//------------------------------// // Knight of the Sisters // Story: The Statue Garden // by JunebugTheBug //------------------------------// Bright Star saw how the Royal Sisters defeated Discord when he was young. He saw the chaotic tyrant turned to stone, and the two alicorns beginning to rebuild their home. Bright Star and his family followed them to the forest named Everfree, and were some of the first to settle nearby while the Sisters built their castle. When the castle was finished, and the colt came of age, he and many others volunteered their service to the Princesses. Some offered their skills as aides, some as scribes, skilled masons and artists. Bright Star sought to learn the art of fighting to defend the rebuilt land. From what remained of the old guard before Discord, Bright Star learned his craft, honing it alongside the first true contingent of guards for the Sisters’ castle. It may not have been his place, but when the Sisters wished to begin reconnecting the scattered towns, Bright Star was one of the first to volunteer. No matter what lay ahead, whether it be the wilderness, remnants of chaos magic, or simple bandits taking advantage, Bright Star was always one of the first to volunteer. It gave his parents a fright every time. All the same, Bright Star donned his armor, carried his blade, and marched alongside the Sisters he sought to be like. Over time, his armor scuffed. His blade dulled and needed sharpening. He became the one to teach the new blood. When he first started to silver, when the first creases came to his face, he met perfection. Her name was Moonlit Melody, and she was a singer, between her work on her family's farm, and just as silvered as he. He infuriated her, keeping his tune of going headlong into danger. She drove him mad, singing warped songs of his journeys at his expense. But she was always there when he returned to the town in the Everfree; a steady rock in the expanding space. Over time, the insults blunted, and harsh glares sent in return softened. Finally, Bright Star stopped to speak with her one evening, and found that her song did not stop with her singing. He found that Moonlit Melody had a heart of gold, was as warm as the summer days, and as steady and unshaken as the winter nights. And Bright Star wished to be so brilliant. Journey by journey, meeting by meeting, day by day, they grew closer. Moonlit Melody stopped waiting to sing, and simply waited for Bright Star. Bright Star stopped spending his days within the castle, and sought out the mare in turn. Together, they built their own home near the farm. There, they spent what time they could together, between their work. When Bright Star wasn’t training new guards or off with one or both of the Sisters, and when Moonlit Melody wasn’t keeping the town fed and happy with food and song. Then, they had all the time in the world together. And there, they raised their children. Beneath the warmth of Celestia’s sun. Beneath the safety of Luna’s moon. Time passed. Seasons came and went. The children grew and learned and took on their own jobs. Bright Star and Moonlit Melody gained more and more silver. More and more lines and wrinkles. Bright Star never stopped his journeys. Moonlit Melody never stopped her songs. Not even as the years started to drag. Not even as their children started their own families. Until, one day, Moonlit Melody's song fell quiet. She had sung for Bright Star, returning home from another trip with the Sisters, welcoming him home in the way they met; picking on all his faults. Bright Star wheezed his laughter, sat with her by their fireplace, and told her off for old time's sake. And there, in that comfortable warmth and happiness, did Moonlit Melody sing her last. A song of love and joy. Bright Star followed her wishes in the morning to have her body cremated. He would keep her ashes with him, always. “Until you're ready to follow me,” she had said. Bright Star wasn't ready yet. When his family was done saying their goodbyes to the matriarch he was now trusted with, he went on another journey. He went alone this time. He did as he always did, even in his old age. He wandered the roads, going from town to town. Where he found a beautiful sight, he stopped for a time, basking in its fleeting moment. When he found trouble, he put a stop to it, be it with a sharp blade or gentle words. There were far more sights than there was trouble. Some passed news of his travels. Others passed news to him of happenings around Equestria. All was well. Eventually, the roads turned back to Everfree. On the last day of his journey, Bright Star came to a sudden stop in the road as a chill shot down his spine. Something was wrong. He could feel it in the air, in the grass, in every breath he took of the Everfree. Nothing happened, and yet, whiplash rocked through the forest. Bright Star made it home that night, beneath the thick canopy of the woods. No-one was outside to greet him. The Castle was ruined. Bright Star stepped carefully through rubble, wary of collapse and drawing attention with his armor. He found Celestia alone in the garden. She simply stood there, staring up at the moon, unblinking. Where once he would have called her radiant, now she was dull and worn. She had none of her regalia, and neither her mane nor tail flowed. If Bright Star looked hard enough, he'd almost think the colors were fading, too. His armor finally clinked against itself. Celestia's gaze crawled in his direction as ire wormed its way onto her features. “We asked to be alone— Bright Star?” Bright Star cautiously stepped forward, bowing his head to his Princess before following her gaze towards the silver light of the moon. Silver light now marred by the silhouette of a unicorn's head. “What happened?” he asked, no more than a whisper on the wind. Celestia turned her gaze up. “Luna… fell. Became a monster. Blamed me. We fought. I… could not help her.” Her gaze did not waver as what remained of tears fell from it. Bright Star felt his soul go cold as he understood. Luna marred the moon. “Your Highness–” “I failed, Bright Star.” Celestia's gaze fell, until she locked eyes with the dirt. “Her. Our ponies. This town. You. All of this was built for nothing.” “N-Not for nothing,” Bright Star protested. “We can rebuild the castle, and when Princess Luna returns–” “If she returns, we will not be here.” Before further protest could start, Celestia went on, “The Elements are silent. The Tree's warmth fades. Whatever protection it held will be lost. Sooner or later, we will have to leave.” Bright Star did not understand, not for a while. When the first wild roots took hold in the farm, resistant and stubborn against any attempts to remove them, then he understood. The forest began to take back all the space the town of Everfree had cleared out. Bright Star watched the warmth and safety he had lived in for most of his life fade and die as the forest closed in. Bright Star saw how the radiant Princess he was inspired by only withered further as the first groups left the Everfree. Bright Star watched the farm of the family he was welcomed to—the farm of his family rotted and fed the new growths. He watched his home be ruined and left behind. Bright Star led his family out on the new journey, towards the new home Celestia had in mind. Bright Star did not see Canterlot. He had one last journey to make. Moonlit Melody was waiting for him. And he was ready to follow her. Sir Bright Star He set the Example When Equestria was healing, he stepped up to protect it When aid was called for, he made the journeys When he had time, he built a home He served until his end, devoted to Equestria’s safety May he never be forgotten.