Twilight Sparkle, have I ever told you the tale of Star Swirl?" Princess Luna asked, changing drastically the subject. Twilight suddenly stopped reading her book (Magic and Meditation - A reference guide into achieving self-control) and looked up to Luna, eyes beaming with curiosity. Up until now it was just Luna talking and the occasional uninterested muttering of Twilight "Yes", "Uhm" and "Really?"
"You couldn't possibly mean-" Twilight started but Luna cur her off.
"Yes, Star Swirl the Bearded... the most important conjurer of th-" now it was Luna's turn to be interrupted by Twilight.
"... Of the pre-classical era, the father of the amniomorphic spell." It was only after Twilight stopped reciting what she once had read in her book about obscure unicorn history that she acknowledged that she just trampled over Princess Luna’s sentence. Blushing slightly, Twilight looked up expecting a reprimanding gaze from Luna, but it was not anger that lingered in the princess' eyes. "I'm sorry, Princess, it's that I've read that book so many times that I feel I already know everything about him..." Twilight looked down on the floor, feeling ashamed.
"You certainly know most of it from the books, but you still don't know his story." Luna said, pointing out matter-of-factely.
"And you would know?" Twilight was a bit harsh in her tone, she didn't like others to tell her that part of her knowledge was either wrong or missing.
"Yes, Twilight Sparkle, although it was a long time ago, before Celestia banished m- Nightmare Moon, I still have a vivid memory of that day... it's the tale as to how he discovered his talent in magic."
"But I thought he already was destined to become a great conjurer, I mean-" Luna lift her hoof, politely silencing twilight.
"And he was. Indeed he was one of the most famous ever known, but he was not always like that." Luna said as she closed her eyes, focusing on the particular memory. "Before he was famous, he was an outcast from the other ponies, not doing anything bad per se. You could picture it better if you saw him as a kind of... mercenary."
"A mercenary... ?" Twilight looked quizzically at the Princess. None of her books said anything about Star Swirl being a mercenary. ‘Come to think of it, none of my books never said anything about his life at all...’
"Why yes!” Luna beamed excitedly. “Although he vowed to only use his magic for good, he only did so for a price.” Luna’s expression acquired a slight tinge of sadness. “You see, he was very fond of his magical abilities. And he felt that since he was too good for it, they ought to pay him for help.” Luna’s spirit seemed to lift up a little, as she left out a light giggle. "He, in his younger days, reminds me of your friend Trixie." Twilight's attention on Luna’s story was brought to a halt when Trixie’s name made sense in her brain.
“Wait- how do you know Trixie?” Twilight asked, prompting Luna to giggle once more and move closer to Twilight, sitting next to her.
“Twilight Sparkle, I do make a point in knowing all of my subject’s names. Especially the ones that come from such important bloodline.” Twilight’s eyes shot open.
“Important...? Trixie...?!” Twilight raised one of her brows at the princess. “I’m sorry, Princess, but I’ve seen Trixie. She’s just a showmare... and very arrogant one at that.”Twilight said, remembering the events that happened months before. “And she’s not exactly my friend...”
“Yes, Twilight Sparkle, I too think that Trixie needs to rethink some of her ways. But she’s still young. She will learn her lesson. As for your other question...” Luna started, turning her neck a bit to face Twilight. “... She’s just a direct descendant from him.” Luna said, lifting both her brows to Twilight, prompting her to blush.
“I... Wha-... Eh-...” Twilight stammered.
“Why the shock, Twilight Sparkle?” Luna looked at her quizzically. “I thought that you our of all ponies would know better than to judge the others.” Twilight lowered her head near the ground in shame. Luna gently lifted her Twilight’s head with her hoof and looked into her eyes. “It’s alright, Twilight Sparkle. I doubt that if you knew of this fact back then it would’ve made little difference anyhow.”
“I’m sorry, Princess. It’s just that... it’s hard to imagine the boastful Trixie as a direct descendant from Star Swirl.”
“Maybe not.” Luna said as she got up and walked towards the balcony, bathing herself into the moonlight and the chilly breeze. “It was a long time ago. Before my sister and I revealed ourselves to the ponies of Equestria...”
* * *
Star Swirl folded his map and placed it inside his saddlebags. ‘Soon...’ was all he thought as he got up from under the tree and walked on the dirt road. The sky was painted in an orange tone, presenting the dim light of stars that were brave enough to shine during the Sun’s reign. Star Swirl kept walking a steady pace to the small settlement before him. As he approached the city, all the other ponies would start to murmur to one another about the mysterious stranger that was now coming closer. He loved that feeling, being treated with fear at start, and with respect after, like a shadow... just passing by and gone by the end of the very next day or so.
As he walked down the trail towards the center of the small settlement, he looked up in the sky and saw the red glimmer of the setting sun. He glanced to a two-story simple wooden building and trotted nearer. The plaque in front of it read ‘Tavern’. Star Swirl couldn’t help but smile a bit knew it was also an inn, a perfect place to relax, have a few drinks and spend the night before continuing on with his journey. He pushed the wooden door and walked slowly inside, eyeing everypony around him. Everypony except for the cowering barcolt glared daggers at him. It was a pretty bold move; a unicorn walking inside what was still considered earth-pony territory. He walked to the bar and kept staring at the barcolt until the latter felt uncomfortable enough.
"E’- e’llo, chap. Care fer’ s- someth’n' ta drink, e- eh?" He said, trying his best to control his fright.
Star Swirl just kept staring at the barcolt and tapped slowly the bar three times with his forehoof. The barman understood and quickly turned around. He took one of the bottles and with trembling hooves, undid the cork and poured him some brownish liquid in a wooden mug. Star Swirl just nodded and levitated his mug. The earth ponies all stiffened at the sight of the lavender aura that enveloped both his horn and mug. Star Swirl grinned internally and made way for a table in the most desolate part of the tavern. It was the time of the day that he liked the most, when the drunken strangers would slowly start to acknowledge his presence and give him curious looks, some filled with mystery and some with envy; but that wasn't the reason... He just needed some time alone to collect his thoughts.
Star Swirl often found it odd that every time he sat down to drink, things started to make sense to him; formulas for new spells, a way to correct, amplify or simplify already existing spells, the unification of two spells and so forth... His mind drafted aimlessly for what could've been centuries without him moving, but something- or rather somepony broke his attention. A bulky earth pony got up and staggered towards his table. Star Swirl remained calm and silent, only accompanying his movement with his eyes. The earth pony put both his forehooves on top of the table and inclined his head towards Star Swirl.
"Oi! Ah've seen ye’ before!" The large earth pony said, spitting tiny drops of saliva into Star Swirl's face as he spoke. "Yer tha' nosy fella who does all them magic ta' help one's problems, ain't ye' not?" Star Swirl didn't bother to move, but his mind was alert now, he knew that these highly alcoholic beverages had some strange effect in the minds of other ponies, especially the bulky and brainless ones.
"Maybe ye' should use all yer gimmicks and get yerself a fit dressing." The sentence was soon followed by a huge gargantuan guffaw from the pony. Star Swirl started to pay close attention to his surroundings, only the faces of the ones not drunk enough to sense imminent danger had some cracked smiles to them, chuckling. The big pony didn't stop there: "Oh, yer a wee little miss, ya’ are! What is the problem? Cockatrice got yer tongue?" And with that, the big pony tried to grasp Star Swirl's mug, only to be surprised when it didn't budge even an inch. The mug started to levitate, carrying the earth pony who resented letting go with it until it made a full stop in the air and came down upon the pony's face and. Both connected to the floor with a crashing sound.
The earth pony then got furious, he got up and in an enormous fit of rage, threw Star Swirl's table out of the way. But Star Swirl didn’t even move. The pony was now face-to-face with the young Star Swirl and he screamed as if the conjurer was deaf. "YER LOOKIN' FER A FIGHT?! CAUSE YER GOT ONE RIGHT 'ERE! COME ON! AH'LL MAKE YE REGRET MESSIN' WITH ME! SHOW ME WHAT YE GOT!"
Star Swirl just looked to the stallion and grinned; speaking in his defiant tone. "If thoust wishes...” He grinned deviously as both his eyes and horn began to glow. The earth pony’s face now bore an expression of terror. He managed two steps back before the whole tavern was surrounded in a bright white light. Anypony who dared to open his or her eyes into such blinding light could see the earth pony gently floating in the air, shaking his legs trying to free himself from Star Swirls grasp. Star Swirl magicked the earth pony and both were now face-to-face again. Star Swirl touched the pony’s head with his left forehoof and muttered something in a language that the earth pony didn’t recognize. The mind-erasing spell would last for 2 days maximum and then the earth pony would start to remember his whole life just as soon as he would re-learn how to use the bathroom again.
When the lightning show ended, Star Swirl didn't bother to look at what he'd done; he flayd the earth pony to the ground and stood up. He slowly walked to the counter, eyeing all the earth-ponies who now cowered and shook. He turned to face the barcolt, who just yelped and ducked behind the counter. Star Swirl magicked a small pouch filled with bits and left on the counter. It would be enough to pay for his drink, the damage and the room he would sleep in. The barcolt dared a peek at the unicorn, but cowered once again when he saw him levitating something. Star Swirl levitated a key and let it fall gently on one of his robe’s pockets before trotting up the stairs in search for his room.
He lay down onto his bed and started casting protection spells on the walls, floor, ceiling and door of his room; all that fuss downstairs would leave somepony angry and he didn't want to risk a night visit of some not-so-kind assassin or any thief. He started to ponder about what happened downstairs, even though he liked to be respected and even feared to some extent... but after a while that feeling grew old to him. He wasn't exactly sure what was it that bothered him but he couldn't put his hoof on it for some reason... these thoughts would tire him and he needed his sleep to continue his journey in the morning to... well, nowhere in particular.