Luna didn’t blink, her disbelieving gaze holding ever steady on Star Swirl and Zaira as they began to leave. Almost as if time had slowed, she helplessly watched as the two of them walked passed a group of royal guards and made their way from the grand hall, every bit of her desperately wanting to follow. Her pulse quickened as the realization that any chance to say something further was slipping away, all because of Celestia's pawn's meddling, but she stood frozen in place as the mage looked her way once more, his eyes cold and knowing.
Trembling in anger and lost in a sea of thought, Luna's ears twitched as she suddenly became aware of a strange sound - mumbling, perhaps. Apparently somepony was speaking to her but she couldn’t be certain what was said; the voice was nothing more than a blur of sound that she had no interest in deciphering. Deciding it would be best for her to leave as well, she gave a curtly nod to the group of royal guards hoping the response was adequate to whatever had been spoken and carried on.
Feeling dizzy and with her heart aching, Luna staggered from the grand hall and had to struggle to keep herself upright. Star Swirl had made it clear he knew all of her darkest secrets and was currently on his way to speak with her sister. There was too much to think about, but one question kept repeating itself in her mind, why now?
As she continued on, every step became an even greater challenge and she shook her head as the the floor seemed to bend and contort. Annoyed and determined to press on, she hurried her pace and though there never seemed to be enough air to fill her lungs, she discovered her increased speed made it easier to keep her balance and before she knew it, she was in a full trot. Sniffling and feeling the sting of tears fighting to be free, she clenched her eyes shut and pushed faster nearly running right into a royal guard standing in her path.
“Pri-princess Luna? Is… everything alright?” The royal guard said as she quickly stepped to the side then stood on her rear legs and saluted.
Luna stepped sideways, her silver and purple hooves clacking and screeching on the tile as she spread her wings and quickly brought herself to an almost frantic stop. Panting and sniffling as she tried to regain her composure, she glared at the pony that had been in the way and recognized her as Scarlet Blossom, the royal guard that had been in the grand hall earlier. “I am fine… of course. Perfectly fine, in fact. Do you not have matters you should be tending?” She blinked feeling a heavy tear trickle down the side of her cheek but quickly turned her face to try and hide it.
“I… well, yes… but is there anything I can do? You seem upset, your highness.”
With her face still turned, Luna looked at Scarlet Blossom with narrowed eyes. “You were the one to escort Star Swirl, were you not?” She wiped the tear away and faked a smile. “But… nevermind that… there is something you could do for me.”
“Of... of course, Princess Luna!”
“The truth is, I am not feeling well and would prefer to not be disturbed this night,” Luna’s horn glowed softly as she pointed a foreleg at Scarlet Blossom. “I would like for you to stand watch over the stairwell to my chambers, but only you alone - there are to be no other guards, nor any visitors. I am personally appointing you to this task; can you do this for me?”
Scarlet Blossom blinked heavily as the magic took effect. “Absolutely your highness! I’ll inform the main entrance of my change of duties and will make certain nopony goes near your chambers!”
“Your loyalty will be rewarded and soon you will be head of the royal guard – just as you deserve.” The spell came to an end and though the princess hadn’t spoken, the magic had told Scarlet Blossom exactly what she wanted to hear.
Luna brushed another tear away as she eyed the royal guard with a twinge of pity, then with a heavy sigh, slowly turned to make her way to her chambers.
* * * * * * * *
“Your plan works, you know...” Zaira gave a side glance to Star Swirl as they came to a stop at the entryway of the royal gardens. “But you can never come back to this time.”
Star Swirl raised an eyebrow and looked curiously to the zebra escort. "I can assure you, nothing I plan ever works out quite like I'd hope... but what is this about never coming here again?"
Zaira’s eyes narrowed. “It’s important... and I know you’re not big on promises, but this is one you have to keep – promise me you will never return to this point in time.”
Star Swirl started to smirk at how oddly familiar she seemed to be with him but instead gave a stiff tug at his beard as another wave of pain erupted from his side. “I’m afraid you have me at a loss… to be honest, I’m uncertain who you are, but you make it sound almost as if I could move through time or some nonsense,” he finished with a forced chuckle that quickly turned into a wracking cough.
Zaira took a deep breath then looked to the door and whispered, “This won’t be a battle of jealousy any more… You added something that will redefine their war.”
Star Swirl swallowed. “I’m not certain what you’re going on about… but war isn’t something you should speak of lightly. Still, you've piqued my interest... What did I do, exactly?”
Zaira chewed her lower lip then pushed to open the elaborate iron and wood door, letting a burst of cold air in. Slowly she turned to look once more at Star Swirl. “Nuh uh… no details until you promise me first.”
Star Swirl's brow wrinkled as he eyed the zebra for a moment, but seeing her serious expression he decided to give in. “If I had the ability to time travel – which I should point out is completely absurd, mind you – I promise that I will not return here. Now, if you'd be so kind...” he finished with a wave of a foreleg.
Zaira nodded and gave a tiny smile, seemingly content with his response. A tiny cloud of frost formed before her as she gave a tiny sigh and pushed the large door open completely. “As the old history goes, the princesses fought out of spite… But you’ve given Luna a reason to be afraid, and that fear will change her... change everything.”
Star Swirl swallowed and held his hat as another frigid breeze whirled through the doorway. “I can assume when I was meeting with Luna, you didn’t show up out of coincidence… did you?”
“I think we both know few things in this world truly happen by coincidence,” Zaira nodded outside to Celestia. The princess kneeled in the snow with her wings spread wide, her magic beginning to shift the sun below the horizon. “If she's important to you… and if there is to ever be lasting peace, you must keep your promise to me.”
After sighing and taking a moment to try and think clearly, Star Swirl wearily closed his eyes. “That's a lot to ask... especially from somepony I don't know.”
Zaira gave a twisted smile. "It truly is, isn't it? But I'm not worried... I know this is one promise you'll keep."
Star Swirl tilted his head and tugged his beard. "And why is that, exactly?"
Zaira turned to leave then gave him a side glance. "Because if you didn't, I'm certain we wouldn't of had this conversation."
* * * * * * * *
Star Swirl magically closed the door behind him as he slowly crunched through the snow to move into the royal gardens. As an icy breeze whirled by causing him to tip his hat to deflect the frigid air he looked in the distance and saw Princess Celestia had noticed him.
“You’ve aged.” She said, her tone questioning. As she spoke, she smiled warmly as her mane flowed in the breeze like a colorful wave, shining brightly even in the dim light of the torches nearby.
“Mmm,” Star Swirl tugged his frosty beard then smiled coyly. “I suppose.”
Celestia looked at him curiously and though she held her smile, he could see the concern in her eyes.
Unable to meet her gaze, Star Swirl instead turned to look over the rows of various frozen plants. “How long has it been?” He asked as he reached out and gently touched a frozen bulb of a starlight blossom. “I’ve lost track after so many years…”
"It's been a very long time..." Celestia said as she began treading through the thick snow over to him.
“Do you remember that time I snuck into your old gardens? It was full of these same flowers... On that day… I had so much going through my mind, I could never told you how terrified I was. I thought I was in so much trouble,” he grinned at the memory and lightly brushed the snow from another bulb then looked at Celestia. “I really had no idea what to expect…”
“As I remember it…” Celestia laughed softly and continued. “You were in an enormous amount of trouble. By the time we met I had already gotten an earful about a certain mischievous unicorn." She grinned but stood quietly for a moment, apparently going over her thoughts. "There are very few that can ever learn that kind of magic,” she paused to brush a pink and yellow wisp of her mane from her eyes. “But you never gave me a straight answer… why was it you teleported there in the first place?”
A glimmer of pride sparked within Star Swirl. “Because… I could.”
Celestia gave a choking laugh, her expression turning scornful. “That is probably the worst possible reason.”
“Well, had I not… then perhaps I never would’ve had the chance to meet you,” he paused feeling his side throb and struggled to maintain his balance. He swallowed hard trying to will the stabbing sensation away then began to tread slowly through the snow to hide how unsteady he was. “At some point… I think we all find a need to test our boundaries.”
“I suppose we do,” Celestia spoke up behind him, again sounding more like a question.
“Princess… there’s something I should tell you,” his voice drifted to a whisper, uncertain of what to say next. Do I warn her? Or would it unravel everything-?
Pow! A snowball splatters across the back of Star Swirl’s head, the impact flinging his hat forward over his face. Quickly he adjusted it then turned to see Celestia smirking, three more snowballs hovering next to her in the soft yellow glow of her magic. With a laugh she tosses another.
As if entranced, Star Swirl watched the packed ball of ice sail through the air then perfectly hit its mark - right across his snout.
Celestia giggled. “I tossed that one so slow, too! Have you gotten so old you can’t even try to dodge?”
A burst of energy rippled away from Star Swirl as he called forth his own magic, the arcane power lifting a massive chunk of snow in front of him that splits into ten large snowballs. “Old? What a funny word for you to use… Tell me, what’s your age again?” As he finished, all ten of the snowballs are launched together in a massive arc.
He watched Celestia wince and close her eyes, awaiting an impact that would never happen. High above, Star Swirl’s magic pulls the snowballs apart into tiny snowflakes, sending a shower of white frost gently over the princess that glittered in the torchlight.
As she slowly opened her eyes, Star Swirl smiles. “In the grand hall earlier… I kept much from you.”
Celestia bit her lip then smiled. “I know.”
“I was always terrible at keeping secrets, especially from you..." Star Swirl shook his head then sighs. "Princess, what’s coming is unlike anything you’ve ever dealt with, but no matter how bad things get or how hopeless it may seem, you have to remember how much you love-” he paused, the throbbing pain of his side making it nearly impossible to breath. “How much you love your sister… your subjects-”
Celestia stepped forward and gently brought a golden hoof to his lips. Smiling, she looked deeply into his eyes then leaned forward and nuzzled his cheek.
As they touched all of his carefully crafted illusions were broken. Star Swirl’s wrinkles faded, his eyes brightened, and his long beard reverted to a short goatee. He gave a crooked smile then waved a hoof to tug on a beard that no longer existed.
“I’ve never seen you this serious… I’m just hoping it was that silly illusion going to your head,” she spoke softly, her warm breath tickling his neck.
“I prefer to think I’ve matured,” he grinned and slowly pulled away. “And if I’m not mistaken… you almost sound as if you didn’t like the beard.”
Celestia smirked and shook her head. “Not even a little.”
Star Swirl acted shocked. “That’s a shame; I had grown quite fond of it.”
Celestia took a deep breath then suddenly looked away, apparently taking notice of the night flowers starting to bloom. “You aren’t staying… are you?”
“If you commanded me to,” he smiled coyly then slid his hat off and ruffled his blue and black mane. “I… couldn’t disobey a request from royalty, after all.”
“Is that so?" Celestia teased with a crooked smile. "I'm certain I can remember one occasion where I asked you not to leave... but you still did," her voice turned melancholy as she gave a tiny sigh. "But... how long ago was that?"
“For you, your highness, a mere blink of the eyes,” Star Swirl closed his eyes for emphasis but had trouble reopening them; they now felt very heavy. “For me… it’s been a lifetime.”
A brief silence passed that felt like an eternity. “This burden is far too much, I never should’ve-”
Star Swirl shook his head and turned, needing to hide his face as another wave of pain struck. “It needed to be this way.”
There was another pause and he could hear Celestia sigh followed by the light crunch of snow as she moved to stand at his side. “That’s odd…” she said quizzically.
Star Swirl slowly opened his eyes, something at the back of his mind making him suddenly feel as if he had forgotten something – something important. As he turned to Celestia and saw her point a hoof where his robes had been torn by the bladed edge of Ailamyr it became clear – she had dispelled not only the illusion for his appearance, but the one hiding the damage to his robes and wound as well.
“It’s not like you to have unkempt robes,” Celestia giggled and gently prodded Star Swirl’s side.
The princess’s touch caused pain to surge through him as if a lance had punctured his ribs. As he started to tumble sideways it took every bit of strength to cast a control stone spell. In a flash of magical light, snow whirled in a spiral away from his hooves as a seat-like chunk of frozen earth rose up keeping him firmly in place. Panting and still reeling from the incredible pain, his mind raced to come up with an excuse but when he saw Celestia’s frightened eyes he quickly glanced to his side; the surge of magic and tumble had flipped his robes over his back leaving his side fully exposed.
The princess made a sound that he could only imagine as a scream crossed with a gasp, a gurgled squeak. He looked to her as she reached forward, her horn glowing with magic.
“No! You can’t…” he quickly held her foreleg. After taking a raspy breath he softened his voice. “It was terrible magic that made this; you’d… only make it worse.”
Celestia instantly shrunk back. She had only moved inches but they might as well be parted by miles.
Star Swirl quickly flipped his robes over the wound; it was the last thing she should’ve seen, especially with all that’s about to happen with Luna. “I’ve been beaten... and now that you’ve seen this, I've unfortunately given you a small glimpse of the future. I'm very sorry, Celestia… I couldn’t keep my promise to you.”
“How long… do you have?” Celestia’s voice was so low a butterfly could’ve been speaking.
“I’m uncertain, but it doesn’t matter,” he had to close his eyes as he trembled and slowly pushed himself off the chunk of earth. “I didn’t come here to show you this. I had almost convinced myself you wouldn’t even need to know anything about it,” he slid his hat off and ran a hoof through his mane. “But it appears fate had a different plan.”
Celestia pressed her lips together, her eyes like glass.
“Since I’ve already broken the promise… I suppose there’s no harm in doing it once more,” Star Swirl paused for a moment expecting a complaint but Celestia just looked at him, tears in her eyes. He reached into the inner folds of his robes and slid out a thick black-covered book. “This is all of my notes from my travels… it also contains many powerful spells that I was never able to master.”
Celestia shook her head once, clearly confused. “Why… are you giving this to me?”
“One day… many, many years from now… I want you to give it your most prized student. She will cherish it, I’m sure.” Though his vision had grown hazy, he glanced at the doorway where he had spoken with Zaira and managed a smile. “And if you ever feel lost… I want you to open it.”
“I don't understand what any of this is about, and I can tell you're determined to leave… but you should stay at least a little longer, rest and get your strength back!” Celestia's voice was squeaky, he had never heard her this upset.
Rest. The very thought of resting almost made him want to collapse. “I… cannot. Here, in this period of time, there is nopony able to heal a wound of this nature and it grows dreadfully worse with every passing moment. Soon, I may not even be able to use magic.”
Celestia’s head bowed low, he knew she was giving up hope.
He reached out and gently raised her chin. "It doesn't end here, I will see you again." He stepped back and began summoning an enormous amount of magical power. "Be strong, princess. You have many powerful allies... add their strength to your own.”
Celestia’s pain-filled eyes locked with his. “What will you do?
“What I've always tried to do,” he smiled, his magic returning the illusion of old age just as he reached up and tugged his beard. “Find a way to set things right.” In a blinding flash of blue spell energy, Star Swirl completed his spell and vanished.
* * * * * * * *
The wind howled and tiny dots of snow began to speckle the air as Celestia stood motionless, her flowing mane and tail the only signs she hadn't turned to stone. With a heavy blink, a single tear rolled down her cheek, but something shining on the ground caught her attention and she wiped her eyes to get a better look. After moving to where Star Swirl had been only moments before, she shifted a hoof through the snow then raised her leg - on it dangled a silver locket.