He walked out onto the balcony and closed his eyes, relishing the fresh breeze in his mane. The night was still young and a rain storm was on the horizon; he could smell it.
He could also smell something else, something darker.
“What's going on, Star?” He turned around and saw the only pony in the world that meant anything to him.
“Oh, Cadence, it's nothing. Just go back to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow.” Ignoring her older brother, the soft gray mare trotted to stand at his side. She sniffed at the night air and winced at the smell.
“Oh, what is that? I've never smelled anything like it.”
“I don't know, Cadence. That's why we have a busy day tomorrow.”
“So we're going back there? Like last time?” The mare stared at her brother with a look of horror.
He waited a moment before answering her. But the damage was done.
“I'm sorry Cadence, but we have to. It's our duty.” He could see the hurt he had just put her through. He didn't like reminding her but they had to do it. A small tear formed in the corner of her eye. Star watched as it rolled down her cheek and splashed onto the cold stone floor.
“I just don't want it to end like last time.” Cadence was fully crying now.
“Cadence, look at me.” Star had turned to face his sister and looked into her eyes just as she looked into his. “It won't happen like last time. I promise. I'm sure I can handle it by my self. You know, if you don't want to go, I'm sure Mrs. Berry could use some company.”
“Mrs. Cran Berry? No thanks. I'll take the crypt any day over that batty old crow.”
“Are you sure? I'm sure if you ask nicely, she'll make more of her home made crumpets.” Star winked at his little sister, inciting a weak laugh.
“I'd rather eat a rock. Might taste better too.” Carrying his momentum, Star kept going.
“And you could probably get her to tell you the story of her great-uncle Ziggy.”
“Are you crazy? She's told that story so many times, I could recite it by heart.” She retorted with a hearty laugh.
“And then there's the time her grandmother mistakenly put a flower in some cake mix instead of baking flour. That'll be a hoot too.” Star elbowed his sister in the ribs, generating even more laughs.
“That old mare was always mixing one thing or another up. Just like when she thought father said bees instead of knees.” Cadence was now crying from laughing so hard. Star was amazed at how her mood changed for the better so quickly, something they both shared.
When her laughing fit subsided slightly, she gave the same look she always used to Star, who immediately busted out laughing with her. Their peeling music of happiness reverberated throughout the otherwise empty castle. It could even be heard over the trees in the forest. Cadence managed to pull herself up by the banister of the balcony and stopped laughing enough to talk.
“Star Shine, you always know how to make me happy.”
“Hey, that's what us Shines do. It's what we've always done.” Sensing dangerous territory, he stopped himself from saying something that would sour his sisters mood. “Now go on. You need your rest. I'll see to the castle tonight.”
“Will you promise me you'll get some sleep? You'll need it tomorrow if it's just going to be the two of us.”
“Yeah, I promise. Just a quick run over and maybe a fly-by. I'll be done in a few minutes.”
“Okay. Stay safe, Star.” Cadence hugged her brother before walking back inside the castle. When the door to the balcony shut, it glowed yellow momentarily. When the light went out, it finally hit Star.
“Well crap. Now I'll have to fly off this thing. I just hope it'll be a quiet night.” Flexing his wings, he backed up to the wall and, with a short running start, sprang into the air.
The cool night was refreshing on his face. It sharpened his senses and made him more alert. Banking left, he angled up and flapped hard to gain altitude while still staying inside the magical barrier his sister placed around the castle. Scanning the grounds for any sign of movement, his thoughts were elsewhere.
“Mom, then dad. Now it has to be one of us. Unless we can get it right this time. I won't lose Cadence. She's all I have left. And I'm all she has left. We have to stay together. No matter what.”
The sound of a branch breaking and leaves rustling caught his attention and his focus snapped back to the here and now. He hovered in midair, stationary, once more watching for even the lightest movement. Then he saw it. A black shape was running across the courtyard. It wasn't a pony, unless one had learned to run on two hooves instead of four. And it was too small to be the usual manticore that ventured this far.
While Star worked out what this creature could be, it had stopped just short of the castle hall gates.
“The gates! Oh no. I left them open.” Star dropped into a dive towards the front of the castle but began slowing before he reached them. Alighting on the top most step, his hooves made the lightest tapping on the stone. The creature perked up at this sound but made no attempt to attack Star. Instead it sniffed the night air and turned it's head from side to side. Star held his breath and kept both eyes riveted on the intruder.
Without warning, the creature turned around and made a mad dash for the treeline across the court yard. When Star was sure it was gone, he signed and turned to push the open gates close. The only sound was the latch clicking shut.
“So it's going to be one of those nights, huh?” he said to nopony in particular. Sparing a glance once more across the court yard, he took off again and headed for the topmost tower. “Well, I'll take a bad night tonight with a good day tomorrow any time. I just hope I didn't lie to Cadence.”
Reaching the tower, he landed inside an open window and drew the curtains. The soft night wind stirred them slightly, as if they were alive. Star dropped his pack on the ground and threw his cloak on a table before slipping into bed. The necklace remained around his neck. Every few minutes, he would fiddle with the amethyst strung onto the silver chain. He thought back on what his father told him the day he received this gift.
His father.
The stallion who had taught his sister magic just as their mother taught Star how to fly. Yes, Star Shine Sr. had been Cadence's magical teacher all their lives. Until that fateful day where it was his own spell that claimed his life. Star once more played with the gem around his neck. He had to bite his pillow to keep from shouting out in pain as he remember that day.
Star Shine Sr's last word resounded in Star Jr's every thought as his father lay bleeding within the crypt.
“Follow the path of the six seals. When you reach the seventh, you'll know what to do. Keep your sister and your heart safe, my son.”
“Haven't I followed the path well, father?” *sniff* “Haven't I kept Cadence safe?” Tears began to leak onto his pillow. “I've done everything you asked me to do. Everything. I've followed the path. I've protected Cadence and my heart everyday. So where is the seventh? What is the seventh? You stupid old fool. You never told us! What was so important that you had to keep this secret from us, your children.”
Star's pillow was so drenched with tears as he flung it across the room in a fit of anger. The saturated pillow hit a lamp which fell of the table and shattered on the stone floor. Shattered like Star's heart.
No, he hadn't followed his father's words. He may have kept to the path and protected his sister from harm, but his heart was as broken as that poor lamp. Shattered with no hope of repair. Not even his sister's magic could do anything to fix it.
He didn't even hear the door open and close in the darkness. But he did notice the arms holding him, just as he embraced his sister.
They shared everything. They always have. Toys, sweets, rewards and punishments, even their secrets. It wasn't above them to share their happiness, or their sorrow. And by the way the dark figure was watching them through the open window, there would be plenty of sorrow to go around.