//------------------------------// // Goodbye // Story: MLDC Next Generation: Know Fear! // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// Anthea was worried tonight; she hadn’t heard her mother sound so distressed since she was a filly. The pegasus mare didn’t say much ,but  from what Annie could hear, it was something serious, otherwise her adoptive mother, Fluttershy, wouldn’t have left her home alone. Of course Annie liked her independence, but her mother could be overprotective sometimes. A lot of times actually, but she didn’t mind, it was just her way of saying she loved her daughter dearly. But right now, it was late at night, almost eleven. Fluttershy had told Annie not to wait up for her, but Annie couldn’t help but worry. Ever since they heard of Starburst’s jailbreak, her friends, Annie included, had been worrying sick over what was happening. So far nopony had given them a straight answer, or, maybe they were reluctant to give one. So here Annie sat, on the couch, sighing, and waiting. Suddenly, Annie saw a flash of light coming from the window. She didn’t know what it was, but the color was yellow, of that she was sure. Suddenly she heard knocking at the front door. Anthea immediately bolted to her hooves and stared at the door. There shouldn’t really be anypony out this late, well there were occasionally, but not many ponies came wondering this far out, not even a random pegasus pony flew unless they had to round up some clouds. Annie lit her horn, she didn’t know who it was, but her mother had always warned her of strangers who might take advantage of a blind mare. It took her some time when she was older to figure out what her mother meant by that. “Wh-Who’s there!?” “Annie…it’s me…Star.” Anthea’s eyes went wide from hearing that name, “Starburst?! Where have you –!?” “Listen,” she interrupted, “I don’t have a lot of time to explain, and I need your help, badly.” The pink unicorn mare didn’t know what was wrong, but Star’s voice sounded strained, hurt even. “Okay…what do you need me to do?” “I need you to turn off all the lights in the house.” “WHAT!!?” “I don’t have time to argue this, just please do it Annie!” Anthea didn’t know where this was going, her fear of the dark was not helping the fact that Star was acting strangely. “You can leave a candle lit if you want, just turn the lights off!” Anthea sighed, she could accommodate that much. With a flick of her horn she lit a lone candle on the coffee table; she then used her magic to turn off all the lights in the house, leaving her with the faint light of the candle for her blotchy vision to focus on. “O-Okay their off…can I open the door now?” Annie grabbed hold of the door with her telekinesis and opened it slowly. The first thing to hit her was the smell wafting in from the wind. It was mixture of various things, Star’s natural scent, cannon powder, sweat, and…blood. The pink unicorn cringed when she smelt that particular scent, there was no mistaking that irony, metallic smell. Anthea watched as Starburst slowly entered the cottage, she could see a faint yellow light emanating from her right hoof. Her ring, she thought. “Annie, how good are you at healing spells?” She gulped, “I, um, I’m pretty far along in the advanced texts…your mom said that I’ve caught on to the spells very quickly.” It was true; one of the first, among many, spells that Twilight had the young mare learn was a healing spell. Since Anthea lived with Fluttershy, she no doubt assumed that Annie would help in the caretaking of the woodland critters. She taught her various types of healing spells, thinking that it would help should an animal be injured badly, or if an animal injured her. Which never happened so long as Fluttershy was around, any animal that dared to hurt her was met with some severe consequences. “Good I need you to cast one on me, a strong one.” The pink unicorn was going to ask why, but decided to try something else instead. She used her magic to send out a pulse wave, this wave was in fact a diagnostic spell and would give Annie a better idea of why a healing spell was needed, and if so, what kind. She felt the wave hit Star and immediately the information of her vitals was sent to her mind. Annie’s eyes were wide as saucer plates, her mouth hanging open. “STAR, OH MY GODS, YOU’RE – YOU’RE –!” “Yeah, more or less at death’s door…” Annie rushed over to her friend, walking towards the area where her spell told her the wound was. “I need to see what I’m dealing with first, give me a minute.” Starburst gingerly lifted her right wing to give Annie better access. The pink unicorn touched Starburst’s side with her horn. She flinched from the contact but did not shy away. This was how Annie often figured out the shape of objects and other things, since her horn was more sensitive than her hooves were, Annie often used it to figure out details of objects, in this case, she was assessing the damage done to Star. Annie’s lower lip trembled as her magic painted a picture of what had happened to Star’s body. “Oh Star…You’re…” Annie gulped. “You’re stomach’s been pierced…A bit of your lung has been nicked, but otherwise whatever hurt you doesn’t seem to have hit anything else. But this wound is bad nonetheless…Star I think we need to take you to the hospital.” “No Annie…!” Anthea raised her head and stared at Star as intensely as she could, despite being told that her attempts at doing so made her look cute. [Power levels at 7.5%. Construct mesh is in danger of deactivating. Bearer life in danger.] “What was that!? Did your ring just talk!?” Annie exclaimed, jumping back a bit. “Yeah…and now you know why you have to be the one to heal me. I don’t have time to make it to a hospital…” Annie looked worried, there was a spell that she knew, one that would completely take care of Starburst’s wound, but there was a downside to it. “Starburst…I do know a spell that can heal you…but, it’ll be really painful because of where you’re hurt, and I haven’t learned any kind of anesthesia spells.” Starburst let out a dry chuckle. “After everything I’ve been through Annie, pain isn’t something I’m unfamiliar with…” Anthea didn’t want to do it, but she could hear the seriousness and confidence in her voice. The pink unicorn’s horn lit up, preparing to cast the spell. “Star…I can’t stress how much this is going to hurt…I also need you to remove whatever that ‘mesh’ stuff is when I start.” “That’s fine! Don’t stop until it’s done!” Taking a deep breath, Anthea cast her spell, focusing her magical energy on the wound. When Starburst felt the tingling sensation of Annie’s aura, she sent the mental command to drop the mesh, allowing the wound to reopen. Anthea quickly poured her magic into the spell, surrounding the wound. Her horn flashed and the spell took full effect. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!” Star cried out in pain, feeling the spell reconstruct and heal the internal damage. It hurt so much but Star gritted her teeth, trying to bear the pain of the regeneration. Annie was afraid, she didn’t like to hear her friend in pain, and it was worse when she knew she was the cause of it, but there was no helping it, she couldn’t stop the spell now, it would only hurt Star more. [Regeneration process has been accelerated. 25%, 47%, 53%...] The ring was tracking the healing process, not only that, but it was aiding the spell. Starburst fell on her side, writhing on the floor from the intense pain that still radiated from the wound. She just had to hold on for just a bit longer. “Hold on Star, it’s almost done!” “AAAAARGH! I CAN TAKE IT, JUST FINISH!” The wound was almost closed as green mana and yellow light worked in tandem to heal the injured pegasus mare. Finally, after what felt like hours to Starburst, the wound was completely closed. [Regeneration complete. Power levels now at 2.5%, entering power save mode.] Star let out a relieved sigh. Annie cut off her magic and did the same, thankfully, whatever strange power the ring used to help the healing process, made it so that she didn’t have to use as much of her magic as she thought. Annie then dropped to the floor and lay beside Starburst. Without saying anything, Star maneuvered herself closer to the pink unicorn, resting against her side. “Sorry…Annie.” “It’s fine, you did this for me when I needed help.” “I’m a little tired…can we just rest like this for a few minutes?” asked Star. Anthea had so many questions for Starburst. What happened to her? Where did she go? Why was she on the run to begin with? But that could wait; her friend had been through a lot that much she could tell. “Alright, I’ll be right here,” said Annie. 30 Minutes Later… Annie began to squirm; she no longer felt the warmth of a pony lying close to her. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times and rubbing the sleep away. She looked around till she saw a yellow light near the table where the candle flickered. Annie could also hear the distinct sound of a pen scribbling on paper. “Star…?” The scribbling paused for a moment, but resumed after that. “I was hoping to have this done and be gone before you woke up.” Annie quickly rose to her hooves upon hearing that. “Leave?! Why?! You need to let your body rest Star!” “My ring will take care of the rest from here. Well, after I recharge it.” Annie sighed dejectedly, she couldn’t believe Star, after all she’d been through, she was still going to push herself and leave after an intense healing session. “Starburst, you need to just stop! Tell me what’s wrong, maybe we can help you!” Starburst sighed, yet smiled despite this. “I’m really happy that you want to help me, and that the others are willing to as well. But……I can’t let you. Not after what I did tonight.” Annie didn’t like the sound of that. There was a sort of heaviness in Star’s voice that she couldn’t shake. The blind mare made her way to the young pegasus and gently placed a hoof on her shoulder, at least she thought that was her shoulder. “Is there a reason you’re touching my flank, Annie?” asked Star. The unicorn blushed. “I was trying to put my hoof on your shoulder…sorry, let me just um…” Annie removed her hoof and guided it to where her shoulder was. “That’s better. Anyway, talk to me Star, please? Tell me what happened.” Starburst sighed again. She then placed her right hoof over Annie’s, taking comfort in this contact with her friend, and, rival for her mother’s affection. “I’m sure you’ll hear all about it soon enough…just know that I can’t come back home, not now.” “…How bad is it?” asked Annie with trepidation. “Just…Just promise me that whatever they say, continue to believe in me. That’s all I ask. I saw things tonight Annie, and now I know that the griffons have had this planned out completely, for how long I don’t know, but I know that what happened tonight won’t stop it. I have to keep fighting, I’m the one thing that they didn’t plan for and I need to use that to my advantage.” Starburst gently pushed aside Annie’s foreleg. She then pointed her right hoof at the spot where they both were laying down and fired a beam of yellow light, making Annie jump back in surprise. The beam punched a hole into the pocket dimension and brought out the yellow lantern power battery, having it drop gently onto the floor of the living room. Starburst then walked across the room to pick up the lantern, creating a construct rope to sling it over her right shoulder. “I left a note for Nidra on the table there. The next time you visit my mom in Canterlot; can you give it to her? I’d do it myself but the cities on high alert for me.” Annie couldn’t believe she was hearing this. “Star I can’t let you do this!” “Honestly Annie…” Starburst raised her ring hoof up. “You can’t really stop me…” At that moment, Starburst created an orb of yellow light that filled the room. Annie had to shut her eyes from the blinding light. Annie then heard the sound of the front door opening and tried to move towards the sound, but the orb expanded into a solid wall that blocked Annie from going anywhere. She then heard Starburst speaking outside, after a few seconds the light wall disappeared and allowed Annie to gallop to the front yard. Once outside, Anthea lit her horn to illuminate the darkness, she then swiveled her ears to and fro, trying to pick up on the slightest hint of where Starburst was. Sadly, she could neither hear nor see any sign of Starburst. The pink unicorn scuffed the ground with her hoof as tears began to well up in her eyes. “Star…” Sweet Apple Acres… Del tossed and turned in his bed. He hadn’t slept well in days since he heard about what happened with Starburst, first the news that she was the Fear Lantern, then there was finding out that she was being held in the dungeons back at Canterlot for killing some Royal Guards (that he was still finding hard to believe), and now there was her jailbreak, and nopony knew where she was. The whole thing didn’t set well with Del, he felt so powerless. The mare he cared about, had been friends with for so long, was in trouble, and yet there was nothing he could do to help. The stallion continued to toss and turn, getting to sleep now wasn’t any better than last night. “Del…” The earth pony stallion grunted. “Del, wake up.” He started to feel somepony shaking him lightly. Del groaned and swatted at the hoof that was trying to wake him from his sleep. “Api not right now…Ah just want to be left alone.” “Sorry Del, but I don’t have that much time.” Del opened his eyes upon hearing the familiar voice; he bolted upright in his bed and saw Starburst standing at his bedside, fully armored. “STA –!” A yellow ribbon quickly wrapped around Del’s mouth, muffling his voice. “Shh, Del, I don’t want your family knowing I’m here. Okay?” asked Star in a hushed tone. The tan stallion slowly nodded his head in agreement. The ribbon then disappeared allowing him to smile at Star. “Star, Ah can’t believe you’re here!” “Thanks, and I know you have some questions for me, but let’s talk somewhere private.” Del watched as Starburst walked towards his bedroom window, she then beckoned for him to come over. The farmer threw off his blankets and walked towards Star, she then held out her hoof. Del grasped her hoof and looked at Star curiously, he was glad it was dark otherwise she could probably see the slight shade of red on his cheeks. Suddenly, a thin layer of yellow light appeared over Star’s body, and it quickly enveloped Del as well, lighting up the room a bit. And now she could see said red tint, but Del noticed that Starburst was blushing too. “Hold on and don’t let go.” “Wait what’re you – WHOA!” Del suddenly felt weightless, he looked down and saw that he and Star were floating a good two feet off the floor. He then felt a forward movement, taking them closer to the wall. At first he thought they were going to hit it, but he was surprised when the two of them passed through the wall. Del had to stay calm else he’d freak out a little. The two levitated further through the wall till they were outside, floating out from the two story farmhouse. This was an odd sensation for him, being an earth pony, and never having had been off the ground like this. Starburst smirked a bit, seeing the reaction she was getting from Del. She squeezed his hoof tighter, letting him know that she wouldn’t let him fall. That seemed to calm him because he smiled back at her. Star then began to fly them in the direction of the orchard. The two of them flew over the numerous rows of apple trees, Del had to admit, this was actually fun. The cool night air brushing over them, the smell of the apple trees at night was different from how it smelled during the day, sweeter almost. Del looked over to Starburst and noticed that she was smiling. So this is what it’s like to fly in the skies. Ah can see why she and Prism like it so much. They flew for another two minutes before Starburst found a clearing for them to land in. She let Del down first, slowly and gently. She looked around to make sure that they weren’t in some unknown area of the orchard, although Star knew that this was impossible, since Del had lived on this farm since he was colt and could navigate it with his eyes closed if he had to. Star then landed in front of Del, releasing her aura field, along with her uniform. She didn’t feel right talking to him as the Fear Lantern. The two of them sat on their haunches across from each other. The tension in the air was thick, both were nervous, despite having talked just a few minutes earlier. Starburst rubbed her foreleg, looking down at the ground, while Del was rubbing the back of his head, staring up at the bright full moon. “Luna’s moon looks nice tonight,” said Del. “Y-Yeah…it is…” Star stuttered. “Ah, uh, Ah missed ya, Star.” Starburst glanced up at Del, smiling a bit. “I…I missed you too.” Del cleared his throat, this was ridiculous, they were friends, well technically they were coltfriend and fillyfriend now, but that was beside the point. Days without knowing if she was alright or safe and he was just going to act like some shy colt?! “Ahem, Ah’m glad to see ya Star. Ya had me worried somethin’ fierce.” “Sorry…a lot of stuff’s happened lately, but I’m sure you know,” said Starburst, a hint of shame in her voice. “Ah know what others have told meh, Ah’d rather hear your side of the story.” Starburst stopped rubbing her leg and looked up at him fully. There was no judgment in his eyes, just concern, but they also held strength, as if saying he was there for her. Star finally let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding, feeling the tension leave her body. The pegasus mare then started to tell Del all that had happened in the past few days. Sunny’s death, her visiting of the funeral, her rampage of Griffonia. The whole time Del kept a stoic expression, something that he no doubt learned from his uncle. She did however leave out what happened with Stratus and Nox, and she did remain a little vague on some details, she didn’t want to get Del in trouble, and she thought the less he knew the better, just like Annie. When she was done, Del took in a deep breath and then exhaled it, having taken a moment to absorb all that Star had told him. “Ah’m sorry you’ve had to go through all this alone…” Star shook her head. “It’s okay; I know you guys will have my back. But I wouldn’t blame you for thinking me a monster.” “Ya aren’t a monster Star!” “You may rethink that once you hear what happened.” Del placed his hoof on Star’s shoulder. “Just tell meh what happened.” “If I do, you’ll have nightmares Del, I’m the only one who should bear that burden.” Starburst placed her hoof over Del’s; she then leaned forward and rested her forehead on his board chest. “But thank you.” The tan stallion had gotten over the embarrassment of such contact, being more focused on Star. “So…what happens now?” Star let out a sad sigh. “I have to keep fighting Del.” Del’s eyes went wide as he looked down at the young mare. “You’re not serious?!” “…I am. I have to keep fighting, I’m the only thing that the Griffon Empire didn’t account for in their plans, I have a chance to stop them, or at the very least I can slow them down and give us time to counterattack.” “Star…You don’t have to do this!” Del contested. Starburst pulled back and looked up at his chestnut colored eyes. “I do,” Star raised her right hoof, making Del stare at her ring, “I was given this power to make a difference in our world, to protect our land from those who would do our fellow ponies harm. It’s my responsibility Del, and I accept it.” Del furrowed his brow a little upon hearing this. “Why did ya really come to see me?” “To say goodbye…” Starburst gently removed Del’s hoof and moved back a bit from him. “I have to go and do what I can, my parents won’t understand, Valiant Heart won’t understand, and I doubt anypony else in Canterlot will.” “Star c’mon, ya don’t need to go off and fight this war! Just…Just take the ring off, ya can hide out here!” Del pleaded. Star grinned. “I couldn’t do that to you, or your family. Besides…this ring, it’s all I have left Del. It’s the only thing that gives my life purpose…” Del stamped his right hoof onto the ground. “And what about us, yer friends, do we not mean anythin’ to ya?!” “It’s because you guys mean something to me that I need to do this…” Starburst turned around and looked up at the night sky, preparing to unfurl her wings. Just then, she felt two strong forelegs wrap around her body, holding her tight. Star let out a small “eep” upon feeling the sudden embrace of the stallion. Her face was bright red, she had never been held like this before, especially by a stallion she liked. It was then that she felt something wet hit her shoulder. Her embarrassment was forgotten when she felt a slight trembling from Del. “Ah don’t want ya to leave, Star…Ah just can’t let ya! Star Ah…Ah…” Del choked up, he had to say this. He had to let her know. “Please don’t say it Del…please, I don’t want you to say it just to keep me from doing what I believe in my heart is right…” Starburst brought up both her hooves and placed them on Del’s forelegs. “If you really do feel that way about me…then…then please let me go.” “Star…Ah…” Del squeezed a little tighter, trying to keep her there with his great strength. Starburst knew he wouldn’t let her go, and that was fine. If anything it let her know just how much Del really cared for her. But, as difficult as this was, as much as she liked being held in his strong forelegs, as safe as she felt right here in this moment, it couldn’t last. Star’s ring glowed and she started to pass through Del’s forelegs. She then levitated herself with her ring, floating out of his grip easily. Del desperately tried to hold onto her when he felt nothing in his grip. Star then hovered over him, out of his reach, a sad smile played across her lips. “Someday I’ll come back Del. I promise I will…till then…” Starburst floated forward and kissed Del on the cheek. She then floated up higher, changing into her Fear Lantern uniform. “…Goodbye Del…” With that said, Starburst vanished from sight, leaving Del to stand and watch as she faded away into the night. The farmpony cupped his left cheek where Star kissed him, he then gritted his teeth and stamped the ground with his hoof repeatedly, cursing his own weakness, and that he lacked the strength to help her, or even to stop Star from leaving.