//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: The Land After 
// by Fat1thatyoulove 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 7 – Shining

The early morning sun that has come over the bright clear blue sky of Equestria is almost absent to the thick and scraggly tree canopy that tangles and mashes almost all over the forest. However, despite the low light the numerous plant life in the forest have already started their daily routine of mass evaporation; and because of this the heat  near the ground is saturated in mist.

The heavier air however has a no affect on the two bodies that are still wrapped under the hot blanket in a deep sleep.

Clover's head slightly rest on the fuzzy man's chest, not by design but because the slight incline of the simple bed has rolled her over the course of the night to where she now lays.

But, this added weight to the man's chest has no affect on his sleep as his mouth continues to hang open in a faint snore while a steady stream of drool slightly rolls from his mouth.

Sadly though, their sleep is brought to a halt as a chipper voice from outside now beckons them to rise, "How long am I to wait for you two? Honestly I believe I could have walked home and back by now."

The older stallion's voice quickly brings an abrupt and unpleasant end to Preston’s sleep as he closes his mouth a little. He now stares to the tent's simple tan coloring as his mind starts to place him, however as it does he turns his gaze to the mound of dark purple hair that rest on his chest.

Preston blinks to the mare's continued sleep as he contemplated whether or not to end it.

Luckily though he does not have to make that decision as the flaps of the tent comes open to a stallion who now pokes his slightly dirty wizard hat wearing head in, "Hello are you two-..." Star Swirls eyes quickly squint as he gives a slightly disgusted face, "...Ugh, it smells worse than a Boggle's nest."

The stallion's voice jumps the sleeping mare to life as she takes her head from Preston's chest to face the stallion at the door, "Star Swirl?"

"Ah Clover, shall we get going?" The older pony’s happy smile brings a little confusion to the mare as she stares to the complete contrast of the stallion she saw last night.

However she does not get to bring her voice up as the stallion takes his head from the tent.

Preston moves from the bed as he quickly takes his shirt up from the ground he put it to later in the night. As he pulls it over his head Clover moves from the bed as she trots towards the exit of the tent.

To the mare's quick trot Preston jumps from the bed, "Whoa whoa, don't shrink the tent with me in it!"

His quicker speed brings him to the brighter area outside as he rubs one of his hands to his face, but before he can ring out another comment the dull gray stallion speaks up, "Good, now we can leave once I find my bag..."

Clover's ear flicks to the comment as she stares to the side of the stallion's cloak, "Um...Master you are wearing your bag."

The words turn the older stallion's head down as he looks over the dark starlight bag that sits around him, "Oh...So I am. Wonderful, shall we get going?"

Preston gives a little chuckle to the older stallion as he nods to him a little, "You losing your mind Gandalf?"

Star Swirl cocks his head to the comment as he looks over the blonde man's smile, "I do not see how I could lose my mind if I have never once seen it..." He lifts a hoof for a moment as he gestures a little towards Preston, "...But I would perform a speech check on you, you seem to have some trouble with my name."

"Ya ya ya, I get it bad joke-..."

Before Preston's voice can come down Star Swirl's has come up, "No no, repeat after me..." As the old pony straightens his posture Clover turns her attention to the tent as she goes about the spell to shrink it down.

"..Okay Preston say, rock."

A faint laugh comes up from Preston as he holds his hands out towards Star Swirl as he turns to Clover, "I think Star Swirl has really lost it this-Ow!!?"

"Pay attention dragon."

Preston rubs his arm as he looks to the little rock that was tossed at him, however he does not bring his eyes back to Star Swirl as he just stares to the pebble with a comment, "How did you throw that rock so fast? You can't bend?"

Another small pebble hits him as the faint magical chime that sent it to him rings now to Preston's ear, "Look to somepony when you are speaking to them...Now," The older stallion clears his throat as he speaks up, "Repeat after me, the Will-O-Wisp is not friendly."

With a sigh Preston repeats, "The Will-O-Wisp is not friendly."

Star Swirl nods as he continues, "The mushroom with blue spots is not to be eaten."

"The mushroom with blue spots is not to be eaten...Am I done?"

"Bha!" Star Swirl wiggles his hoof as he speaks up, "Stop complaining, you do not hear Clover complaining about the burden she has to carry."

The comment flicks the mare's ear as she freezes a little to the older stallion, however as she listens to the next words she relaxes a little, "...Now Preston repeat after me, the clouds are not for Unicorns."

"The clouds are not for Unicorns-OW!??"

"Wrong Preston, clouds are not forbidden to any pony. They are free to do as they wish." Star Swirl's comment has no effect on the man as he just rubs to his arm, "Ya great whatever, can you stop throwing those pebbles?"

Star Swirl squints nods his head as he turns back towards the tree line that surrounds the little clearing they stand in, "Now that your mind is open and I am out of pebbles, yes."

Preston continues to rub at his arm a little as he turns to the smiling cloak wearing mare that now comes next to him, "What's so funny?"

No answer comes up from the mare as she sparks her hooves up a little faster to come next to the older stallion that continues to lead the way.

- - -
(About twenty minutes later)

The trot out of the thick forest was a little long, but as the small group comes now to the threshold of the grassy field that lays between the forest and the tall dark stoned tower.

Star Swirl holds his leading trot as his voice comes up, "Ah, there we are...I suspected we were going the correct direction."

His unsure words turn both Preston and Clover's heads but neither speaks up as the stallion in front of them continues, "I do hope that Wispy was good while I was away."

It takes a few moments for the older stallion's trot to come near the small dirt path that wraps around the tower. But as Star Swirl’s hooves touch the even dirt his pace picks up and in no time the small group has come to the front of the tower.

However, they pause as they all look to a pale yellow mare with light pink mane that stands in front of the door with a hoof raised to it. A faint laugh comes up from the maid dressed mare as she bows her head a little, "Oh Mage Star Swirl, I had hoped you were back." She raises her head as she continues, "Your guest has arrived."

Star Swirl squints to the comment as he strokes his beard a little, "A guest? Tell me, who am I to be expecting?"

The mare stumbles a little but she brings the name out as she smiles, "Sagitta Duscle."

A faint chuckle comes up from Star Swirl as he shakes his head, "I am sorry young lady, but I do not believe I know that name."

Clover comes up beside the stallion as she speaks up, "Master that is the pony Princess Celestia has picked to train under you as your successor."

The words bring another light chuckle from the old stallion as he shakes his head, "Why would I need another pony to succeed me? You are the best student I have ever had Clover?"

The stallion's clueless and confused look brings a little concern to Clover's face as she speaks up in a lower voice, "M-master, we talked about this yesterday...Do you remember?"

Star Swirl studies the mare's face as the confused but warm smile starts to fade from his face, "O-oh...Yes...Yes, I remember of course."

Despite his words Clover continues to hold her concerned stare as she nods, "W-well we shall escort Duscle to the tower okay?"

Star Swirl nods as he moves a little towards the door, "Yes yes, I will wait here."

The maid takes a step back from the door as Star Swirl's magic brings a key ring from his bag, "Well okay." She turns her head to Clover and Preston as she speaks up, "Duscle is at the castle, I will show you to him."

As the mare's trot starts up Clover and Preston follow after her, however Clover continues to look between her path and the older stallion as he now enters into the tower.

End of chapter 7