//------------------------------// // Ending 2 // Story: Against the Current // by Boldish42 //------------------------------// Star Swirl took another look around his lab, his last look. He could feel the Jump coming for the past week now, and as always it came too soon. He had only spent, what, eight years here? Heh, a time travel spell that made you wish you had even more time, was that ironic? Well he thought it was funny even if it wasn’t. Eight years in the Pre-Classical era, training Clover, helping her become a fine young mare destined for greatness. Out of this entire period of history, she was by far what he’d miss the most. Sure he was the Arch Mage in the Court of the Unicorn King, but that was literally the only other outstanding thing that came to mind, and it just couldn’t hold a candle to raising a filly as if she were your own daughter. He had a letter written out for her for when she came back from her historic expedition, explaining he had gone travelling. Not really a lie, it also helped that he had already told her the truth in her future. I’m always leaving. This time to who knows when. This was it. The edge of the map. The furthest recorded mention of Star Swirl the Bearded, he reached that point when he became Arch Mage. Now it was a complete unknown what his future would hold. It was a bit unnerving really, he’d never looked too deeply at the specifics of his future, but he did look to see certain things to expect. The original spell was aimed at a late point in the life of Star Swirl (as far as history knew anyway). That point was a few decades behind him. Star could only guess that Twilight’s modifications altered the destination a bit. Ha! All those ponies I’ve crashed into through the years. I’d bet my last bit that they were her ancestors or otherwise connected to her. Ahh, time travel. The spell surged a bit more. Whenever I’m going it must be quite a while ago, I don’t think I’ve felt it this… agitated before. Heh.. I’ll probably wind up in prehistoric times, I bet I introduced magic to the first unicorns or something. I’ve certainly had practice shaping some of history’s great moments. What’s one more? The spell began to coalesce around him, stronger than he had ever seen. “Maybe I won’t have to leave the next one. That would be nice.” Why his time travel magic always tasted like kiwis, he never did figure out. He just knew he hated kiwis. POP! FWUMP! “Ow.” Really, this whole falling on ponies thing was hilarious when it was Twilight, but Star was getting up there in years and he just wasn’t as spry as he used to be. The novelty was long gone. Once again he ran through his standard apology. “Terribly sorry! I’ve been practising my teleportation and I haven’t worked all the bugs out yet so if you could just excuse this doddering old stallion I’ll just.. I...” His victim, a rather tall purple mare seemed to be copying his stunned expression. I never thought I’d see her again.. Was she always so tall? “Hello Star… welcome home.” Twilight gasped out before she lost control to the tears that she just couldn’t seem to stop, neither could he. They held each other tight in an embrace, far too long in the making. ***** A week. Star had been back a week, and he just couldn’t figure out how he felt about it. He had gone to see his parents, that was… interesting. They seemed rather surprised that their son had somehow aged significantly over night. By his own estimation, Star now was older than both of them put together, but it was hardly exact. Time travel was, however, a fantastic explanation as to the why. All in all they were very accepting. He looked up the fates of his friends, and was pleasantly surprised to find some of the less noteworthy ones still made the history books. He never investigated that kind of thing before, to avoid the possibility of knowing too much of what could happen. They had many happy ever afters. But they were still all living in their times, and dead in his. Mixed blessings there. And then there was Twilight. The love of his life, but did she still see him that way? It took some jumps for their friendship to become love on his side, so for her, she was most recently used to him being a friend and student. He personally never thought he’d see her again, and had tried to let those feelings go to rest. He was an old stallion now, slowing down, but she was still as vibrant as ever. He just couldn’t figure it out. He sat on the balcony of his old room. He just wasn’t comfortable there, it was a room for a colt, young and immature. Well except for Hoots his stuffed owl, he loved Hoots. “Bit for your thoughts?” The primary subject of his current conundrum questioned. “Oh.. Nothing much, just thinking over a new spell I want to try” Star Swirl lied. Twilight let him know what she thought of that. “You’re lying. If you really were thinking of a new spell you would have a much happier expression on your face, no matter how difficult it would be. In fact you would be happier the trickier it would be. I think you’re thinking about us.” “Am I that easy to read?” “I think you’re forgetting how well I know you.” She moved to sit in front of him, “And I think you’re forgetting how much I love you.” “But how do you love me? Am I your student who has returned, or am I the stallion you love come back into your life?” She smiled, that wonderful smile he hadn’t seen in so long. “You left as my student, with a teacher’s love. You’ve come back as the stallion who earned my heart.” Hope swelled in his chest. “I’m old.” He stated gauging her reaction. She laughed in that way loved. “I’m older than you, you know.” “Yes, but you just get bigger, I get wrinkles, and achy joints.” “I think you’re still thinking as if you were in the past. You may not remember, but we have much better medicine now, than back in the Pre-Classical era. And besides, you are one of the most powerful unicorns ever known, you have another century or two easy on that alone.” Star Swirl the Bearded listened to her argument intently, he agreed of course, but there was still one last hurdle. “I’ll give you that, but there is one last barrier we must overcome if we are to continue where we left off…. You’re just so tall. Honestly I feel a bit like a child again next to you.” Twilight just gave him that look(you know the one). That look quickly turned into a sultry look, and then there was a flash of magic. Twilight sidled up to Star, the same size as she was when she found his journal so long ago. “Any more excuses, or are you ready for a happy ending to your adventure?” “I’ve got nothing left.” He smiled, “I love you.” Right there, right then, Star Swirl the Bearded was glad for that one final jump.