The sad tale of Starswirl the Bearded
And it came to pass, that the three pony tribes did look upon each other with fear and suspicion. Each blaming the other for the great calamities which had occurred, each feeding on the resentment that passed from generation to generation. Only grudgingly did they still associate with one another, out of the necessity of taking from the other tribes what each tribe needed in order to survive. Still, their faith in the alicorns grew ever stronger, even as the unicorn royal court, and a small handful amongst the other tribes, kept the true faith alive.
It was into this world, that a young unicorn named Starswirl was born. Even as a young foal, this pony was fascinated by magic, the mysterious force that moves the world. And as he entered colthood, he threw himself into his studies, absorbing as much of the ancient knowledge of the Penna and unicorn researchers that his eager young mind could hold. As the years passed, the unicorn became an accomplished spell caster, and even earned himself a place at the unicorn royal court.
This unicorn did discover many a mighty magic, even writing the legendary anthropomorphic spells. His accomplishments became the subject of great renown. There seemed to be no spell the stallion could not cast, no mystical enigma he could not unlock. But despite all of all his achievements, there was one spell the mighty unicorn wizard was unable to achieve. For Starswirl spent his entire life trying to write a spell that would allow him to ascend to alicornhood. He could write most of the spell from his renowned magical knowledge, sure enough. But there always seemed to be a magical component missing.
"Over my long life, I have achieved many feats and wonders." The mighty Wizard declared. "But when it comes to solving this simple equation, I find myself completely powerless."
Despite the failure with his one great spell. Starswirl still achieved great fame and renown. Hopeful unicorn acolytes came from all over the land to try and become his apprentice, but he turned away most who sought to partake of his magical wisdom. Only two particularly gifted unicorns, both with a potential only seen by the wise old mage, ever achieved this esteemed and exalted position. The first was .Sugar Sweet, a lovely mare who came to Starswirl in the vigor of early middle age. A favorite at the unicorn king's court, she had often admired the wizard performing his wonders. She presented herself to Starswirl in his study, declaring boldly;
"Noble wizard, I am here to learn your mighty spellcraft. Please, teach me your ways, so I to might become as mighty a mage as you."
He looked up from his spellbooks to dismiss her, as he had so many others before. But when the wizard gazed upon the lovely pink mare with the blue mane, his long-frozen heart betrayed the thinking pony. Taking her under his wing, Starswirl tried to teach her to be a great mage as great a mage as he was, showing her all of his greatest secrets. She, in turn, made his dark and dreary life of books and scrolls a whole lot brighter. Sugar Sweet light up his days with her tender smile and warm laugh, and warming his nights with her sweet caresses and passionate love. But despite all of her intense dedication to her studies, the mare could not seem to rise above the status of a novice magician.
"Why can I not conjure the great spells, like you can?" She once whined to him in her sorrow. "Surely you are a great enough mage to make me so?"
He tried to tell her that it took a lifetime of hard work and dedication to the craft, but his words did not reach her impatient young mind. His desire to see her happy overrode his common sense, and he decided to bequeath her with a gift from the royal unicorn treasury, one that had not seen use since the days of the Paleopony. Opening a wooden box before her, Sugar Sweet's eyes went wide at the sight of four glittering circular treasures that sat before her.
"These are the golden horseshoes, treasures crated for ponies by the ancient Penna." The wizard told her, pleased at the smile that crossed her face. "They will give you magical powers equal to my own, so that you may be happy beyond words."
She thanked her elder wizard, and immediately slipped the shoes on. Ignoring the wizard's warning that she should use their magic carefully, Sugary Sweet went outside the palace, and used their to create wonders that lit up the afternoon sky. But not being experienced with her newfound power, the mare summoned up a mighty whirlwind that she simply could not control. The gale wind picked her up, and lifted the terrified unicorn high into the air.
"Help me, Starswirl!" The mare pleaded, as the whirlwind carried her off. "For I cannot control this mighty wind!"
But the wizard was powerless to stop the magical might of the horseshoes, which carried poor Sugary Sweet far away from the land of Argyte. The golden horseshoes were blown off of her hooves, and scattered them to the four corners of the world. Tossing and turning across the open sky, the whirlwind flung Sugary Sweet far away before finally breaking up into nothingness. The poor mare was finally dropped from the sky, landing unharmed on the soft soil of what would one day become Dream Valley. Not knowing which way to go to get back home, the poor mare spent the rest of her days wandering the countryside, sad and alone.
"Oh, Sugary! Why did you not listen to me, when I told you to be careful? And why could I not, in my folly, see you were not ready for such a powerful gift?" The wizard bemoaned, mourning the loss of his dear apprentice. "Just as the horsemaster rewards virtue and wisdom by giving, so she punishes foolishness and ignorance by taking away!"
And so, the wizard was filled with sorrow over his loss- not only the lovely mare, but also the tiny life ha knew she had only just begun to carry inside her- his own future legacy. And so, the bitter old stallion closed his heart off to love and friendship, Never again letting another pony get close, lest his passion override his wisdom. But in time, the wizard did take another apprentice. In his old age, when a long white beard covered his wizened face, did he finally take the promising filly Clover the Clever as his pupil.
It was not as it had been with Sugary Sweet, for Starswirl was a harsh taskmaster in his old age, and his view on the young filly was more likened to a father and a daughter. But unlike his previous apprentice, Clover had the patience to wait and learn her magic slowly, picking up the spells through hard work and dedication.
"My word, my little Clover!" The old wizard declared, amazed at how fast she had picked up a spell. "You certainly are a clever one!"
But even the greatest unicorn mage of any era could not live forever. Shortly after his ninety-second year, the old wizard took ill to bed. Passing his spell books, and his position of court mage, onto young Clover, the old wizard finally closed his eyes in an endless slumber. His knowledge and legacy would live on, however, as Ponykind would need his young apprentice for the chilling events to come.
Thus ends the tale of Starswirl the Bearded.