//------------------------------// // Ch. 1 The Pony Possessed by an Evil Spirit // Story: Twilight's Bizarre Adventure: Star Dust Crusaders // by Za Waruldo //------------------------------// Off the Coast of Zebrafica 3 years Before Twilight’s Coronation The middle of the ocean, no coast could be seen on the horizon nothing but the vastness of the salty sea. Clouds were moving erratically in any direction and the sun was slowly setting. A gray earth pony wearing a diving mask emerges from the ocean next to a small fishing boat. He places his mask onto his head before swimming back towards the boat. A small crane hangs off the back of the boat a chain leading off its head into the sea. “I attached the hook, bring it up!” He shouts as climbing onto the deck his cutie mark now visible out of the water, a map with dashed lines leading to a red X. Two other ponies both with a dark blue coats one with a fishing lure for cutie mark the other a fishing pole, both start to turn a crank attached to the crane causing the chain slowly draw in. “Now be careful it’s not every day we come across genuine lost treasure.” The gray pony encouraged as the other two continued to crank away. “Hey Lure, do you think Lost Map finally came through on this treasure hunt?” one of the crane operators asked. “Who knows Reel, he is always going on about these lost treasures at sea just waiting to be claimed, hopefully we finally get to bring up something of value” the other responded as she continued cranking. “Quit your yammering and get with the cranking we don’t have too much daylight left.” Lost Map said putting away his mask and grabbing his belt. “We don’t want to be working on this with only Luna’s light to keep us company” Within two minutes the chest breached the surface “Hurry, haul it onto the deck so we can bust it open!” Lost Map yelled enthralled by the possibility of treasure. The Chest landed on the deck with a thud it was a large steel chest covered in barnacles from its many years on the oceans floor. “That’s it we finally recovered it, a treasure chest that sank a hundred years ago. We’re going to be rich lads and lasses.” The captain hollered as he leaped with joy. “No more fishing in this Celestia forsaken ocean, Lure we can finally head home and get a house next to the river just like we always wanted” Reel was hugging Lure at this point as he danced around the chest with joy much like the Lost Map. “Hey isn’t it a little long to be a treasure chest?” Lure asked as she was pushed out of the way by the captain to get a better look at the chest. The captain grabbed the knife hanging off his belt with his mouth and started to chip away at the barnacles that lined the lid. “The treasure chest… It’s locked from the inside?” As he scrapped more barnacles off from the front he saw letters were printed where the latch usually is placed. “D.I.O. Huh, is that a name of some kind?” “Who cares?” Reel shouted. “The sun is about to go down lets pop this baby open.” He grabbed a crowbar and started trying to wedge it into the lid of the chest. As the sun set over the horizon leaving them in darkness. One day a ship was discovered floating out at sea. Every thing looked fine, no traces of struggle, no visible damage, and there were even three cups of coffee on the table. The only unusual thing about the ship was a steel chest which appeared to have been pried open with a crowbar. It was completely empty and because of the strange appearance every pony thought the treasure had been found, but after a few months the chest and the boat were forgotten. Two months after Twilight’s Coronation “Ripple Star, age: 67, coat color: Purple Navy, mane color: pale grey” Officer Silver Line said looking over a file at his desk. “Arrested yesterday for public misconduct in a local tavern, currently housed in the Ponyville Police Station jail cell, and should be released today after his fine is covered.” The officer mused to himself. He looked at the photo attached to the file in surprise to find that the Stallion despite the recorded age looked to be in his 40s at the oldest. Silver started to walk the halls of the police station heading towards the cells to release the offender. Ponyville was a small town and as such had an unusually small police force whose daily tasks involved trying to calm the townsfolk whenever disaster struck. The police force was mostly for show, with little to no arrests ever made in a town that had little to no crime. The officer couldn’t even remember when the jail cell was last used to hold an actual criminal. He approached the jail cell to see the Stallion sleeping on a cot with a yellow fedora covering his eyes. The officer rattled his baton against the bars causing a large echoing clanking to fill the cell and the hall. “Mr. Star wake up, your being released.” Ripple Star simply raised his fedora with one hoof to uncover his eyes as he looked at the officer. “I can’t leave this cell until I talk with the princess about very pressing matters” Star said as he got up off his cot and walked over to the bars. “Mr. Star you can schedule a meeting with the princess once you leave, I’m sure she’ll let you discuss with her any matters that concern you.” Officer Silver Line said trying to encourage the old stallion to leave his cell. “I need her to come to the station, me being in a cell when discussing this matter will have a far greater impact then if I were to just stroll into the local library and talk to her.” Star turned around and sat back down onto the cot and pulled his fedora over his eyes. “Would you be so kind as to help an old stallion set up and appointment with the local princess?” He asked Silver while getting comfortable on the cot. “Mr. Star I insist that you vacate that cell immediately and then make your appointment” Silver practically pleaded just wanting his current guest gone. “Is there any law that says I have to leave this cell once released?” Star curiously asked seeming almost intrigued by the thought. “Well no, once you’re released you are free to do as you please.” Silver answered knowing that this new resident would unfortunately be staying put. “Well then you have an appointment to make Silver, I can’t wait in here forever or do you want me to stay here for the next few weeks.” Star replied smiling as he rested his head back onto the pillow watching as Silver Line walked off hopefully to make an appointment. Silver Line was standing in front of Golden Oaks Library. He brought a hoof up and started to knock on the door hoping for a response, when the door swung open and he saw a small, and what most of the town considered a baby dragon. “Hello Spike, I would like to speak to Princess Twilight Sparkle about some police matters” Silver asked the princess’s assistant, while doing a slight bow. “If this is about bringing in Canterlot guards to Ponyville, Twilight has already covered that in one of her statements to the town.Saying that you don’t have to worry about your police department being outsourced to guards. She is doing everything in her power to prevent any personal guards or otherwise from being assigned to Ponyville.” Spike promptly finished looking incredibly bored as if reciting the last statement from an index card. “Oh no, this isn’t about that, I have some actual police work that requires her council.” Silver said trying to avoid discussing to much with the young drake. “Wow, you really want Twilight's input on a case. Is it a robbery did somepony rob a museum and now you need Twilight to help track down the thief or maybe a new criminal mastermind has shown up and is calling the Ponyville Police out and Twilight's the only one capable of matching his mind?” Spike asked currently lost in his fantasies of adventure. “Sorry Spike, but this is a private matter I can’t discuss this with you, would you could you get me an appointment?” Silver honestly didn’t know what to expect from Ponville's new resident Princess. Sure she used to be town librarian, but now she was a princess and power tended to change people. “Sure no problem, wait here.” Spike let Silver in before running down the stairs into the basement. “Twilight the police are here!” Spike shouted as he descended the stairs. The audible sound of of glass breaking was heard followed by an explosion and the yelling of the new princess “What! The police are here.” Twilight quickly exited the basement with ash still covering her mane and a charred Spike on her back. “Why hello there officer, what are you doing here?” Twilight asked trying her best to put on an earnest smile. “I actually came here to make an appointment to talk with you about a certain issue” Silver quickly glanced at her slightly burnt mane and fur. “Is now a bad time, I can come back later?” “Oh no, everything is completely safe and fine, nothing going on here.” Twilight said nervously looking back towards the basement door. “Wait did you just say you want to talk to me about an issue?” “Yes I have a private matter that needs to be discussed with you in private.” Silver restated hoping to get an answer. “Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, my first time holding court as a princess has finally happened. Do I need a take notes on this, does the princess want a report on my first court session, oh should I run this by Mayor Mare I mean she does run the local government am I intruding on her power, a book yes that’s what I need.” Twilight’s mane started to frizzle along the edges and Silver slowly started to back away towards the door having gained a slight fear for the princess. “Spike grab me everything we have on Celestia’s courts I need to study I have to be ready.” “Miss Sparkle there is really no need for such overzealous methods this is a simple request that shouldn’t even need to be made official.” Silver said trying his best at damage control. “Overzealous!” she replied angrily “there’s no such thing when it comes to doing a proper job to help out others.” “Miss Sparkle if you do not calm down I will resend my request for assistance!” Silver yelled, trying with all of his might to remain in control of the situation. “But, but, but, you can’t do that. This is my first time holding court what if Princess Celestia finds out that I couldn’t even lend a hoof to somepony in need?” Twilight pleaded desperately on the verge of tears from the very thought. “Just, please calm down Princess I just need you to come with me to the station so we can discuss this matter privately away from the public’s ear.” Silver was now standing next to the door one hoof against it waiting for a response from the princess. Twilight quickly brought a hoof to her eyes to wipe away any tears that had formed before walking up next to Silver. “Spike please clean up the basement for when I come back, it’s kind of a mess thanks to somepony interrupting a very delicate experiment.” “Ahhahahaha” Spike nervously chuckled. “Of course Twilight I’ll have it done by the time you get back you can be sure of that” he finished as he rushed down the stairs with a bucket and mop in claw. “Ready to go Princess Twilight?” Silver asked opening the door. “Yes, I’ve calmed down, lead the way please” she said leaving the library. They both entered the Police station and started to walk down halls towards the holding cells “So what do you want to discuss with me Silver Line, you can tell me anything. As a princess of Equestria you have my word that I will help you come to an agreeable solution to any problem you may have.” Twilight was practically radiating enthusiasm for this new job. Helping the local populace to deal with issues they can’t handle alone and giving advice to those in need. “Actually I don’t need your help; nice speech though you should keep it, helps fill others with confidence in your skills.” Silver continued to walk down the hall towards the cells as Twilight came to a complete halt mid stride. “What aren’t you coming; it’s not much further now.” “What! You don’t even need my help then why bring me here then” Twilight started running every possible scenario through her head until she came to the most probable solution. “Unless this is a trap!” Twilight’s horn started to glow and she lowered herself towards the ground ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. “Well you won’t be catching this princess off guard, who sent you was it Chrysalis” “Whoa there calm down I don’t need your help, but one of the prisoners does” Silver stopped and put a hoof to his chin. “Well he’s not technically a prisoner I guess since he is free, but whatever, can you please talk to him?” Twilight slowly raised herself from her prone position and the glow vanished from her horn. “So you want me to talk to a prisoner, who isn’t a prisoner about his problems?” Silver stood where he was a moment trying to contemplate what was just said before talking “Yes, I need you to talk to him so he will finally leave his cell and I can go home.” “OK, I still get to hold a court and help somepony with a problem, also me helping him even helps you since he’ll leave once I finish. Sure take me to this ‘Not Prisoner’ so that I can help him.” Continuing past Silver with new found confidence Twilight opened the door and saw the Stallion in question napping on a cot in his cell. The cell had plenty of oddities around it though a few comics, some soda cans laid around, and a compact music player currently playing music into some earplugs on the sleeping stallion.Twilight looked around the cell again to make sure she didn’t miss anything before looking back at silver “I had no clue that the police force was so linnet with giving goods to the prisoners” “We’re not” Silver replied looking at the cell in shock. “Star wake up!” Silver started hitting the bars again until Ripple Star got up and stared at the both of them for a moment. “So you finally got me an appointment, good job Silver I’d tip you but this is a public service.” Star said chuckling to himself as he took off his hat to quickly brush it off revealing his horn had a black casing around it. One of the magic inhibitors placed on unicorn prisoners to stop any escapes that could be aided by the use of magic. “Star how did you get these things into your cell? I left it locked you shouldn’t have any of this.” Silver was starting to get angry at the blatant disregard to protocol and some fear of how this was even possible. Star simply put his hat back on before turning towards the princes “So you’re the Princess of Ponyville a pleasure to meet you, now if you’d kindly, I need you to watch me and pay attention. Whatever you do don’t lose focus” Twilight was confused at first until one of the comics and some of the cans started to float around Star. All the objects however lacked any magical aura surrounding them they appeared to just be floating. Then a crossbow levitated out from underneath the mattress and turned pointing at Star's head. The bow also lacked a glowing aura, it simply floated into position as Twilight and Silver gasped. “Silver stops him, he’s going to kill himself” Twilight frantically said hoping that the pony in front of her wouldn't die today. “I can’t these cells are magic proofed so no unicorns can teleport in or out let alone work telekinesis through the bars.” They both stared at Star as the Cross bow stayed pointed at his head both ponies stood still in fear and shock about what was about to in front of them. “Now pay attention Twilight and tell me what you see” Star said as the trigger was pulled releasing the arrow barely a meter from his head. Time seemed to slow down for Twilight as she saw the arrow fly towards Star unimpeded until suddenly a swarm of nearly transparent purple vines materialized out of his body towards the arrow stopping it millimeters away from his head. “Now tell me Twilight Sparkle can you see these ghostly projections protecting me?” Twilight simply stood in front of the cell mesmerized by what she was seeing a Stallion with vines coming out of his body not from the fur but as if they simply phased through him. Now holding what used to be a speeding arrow in place. “How is he doing this without magic?” Silver said looking is disbelief. “Can’t you see those vines holding the arrow?” Twilight asked worriedly as if she was the only pony seeing them. “What vines? Twilight are you OK? This has been very traumatic how about you lay down” Silver proposed while fumbling with his keys trying to find the correct one. “No! I am not resting until I know what just happened here, what is going on?” She turned to star who was now just starring at her with a glean in his eye. “You can see this can’t you” Star repeated looking at her “Great some progress, now somepony will finally believe me. You want answers to your questions I need out of this cell.” “No way am I letting you out now, you have suicidal tendencies pulled a weapon on an officer and a princess. You’re going to be locked away for a long time if I have any say.” Silver was even more terrified now than ever he couldn’t even grasp what was happening in front of him. Twilight stepped towards the cell before turning back to Silver “Well then I guess it’s a good thing you don’t get a say, I need this pony released into my custody Officer Silver” Silver stood in place dumbfounded “You can’t be serious Princess he could have killed either of us just now and you want him out.” “He has answers to the questions I have and he is the only pony who can tell me what I am seeing in front of me. Besides he only pulled out that crossbow to make a serious if not morbid point to me. Well you have my attention Mr. Star and you’re going to answer all of my questions once you’re out” Twilight could see Star grin as he walked to the door to the cell. “You better be ready for a tale then princess this information Princess this may involve the entire world’s safety” Silver couldn’t believe what he was hearing the Princess was going to let this maniac go, set loose upon the world. Normal ponies don’t fire a crossbow at their own head and normal ponies can’t stop an arrow especially when they don’t have access to their own magic. “As you wish Princess Twilight” he said with a slight disgust in his voice. “Much better being out of that cell I can finally get some fresh air” Star stepped out of the cell and Twilight finally got a good view of his cutie mark it was a bright orange sun with ripples running across it like a ripple in a pond. “Now Princess first let me tell you what you just saw. That was what I call a Stand, a manifestation of ponies willpower. Any living creature with a will can have a Stand, but if your body cannot handle it the Stand will turn against the user slowly killing them.” The purple vines crawled up his head and under his fedora lifting it before working their way under the inhibitor slowly pressuring it from the inside until it shattered outwards. “My Stand is called Purple Hermit and manifests as those purple vines you are seeing” The vines appeared to fade out of existence as the withdrew into his fur. “And unless you are a Stand User you can’t see a Stand” Twilight couldn’t believe what she was seeing. A new form of magic accessible to all species one that manifest as one’s own will their soul if you would. “Wait you said only other Users can see these Stands?” Star started to walk through the station heading towards the exit Twilight quickly followed in pursuit. “Yes, Miss Sparkle you appear to have a Stand as well. Whether you have summoned it before or have simply yet to manifest it. There is one inside of you waiting to be called forth.” “Mr.Star do these Stands have a classification system, how are they measured, can they be measured? What can they do, what are their limits? How does the Stand effect the user, are they connected mentally or physically to the user?” Twilight started to bombard Star with questions about this new field she had yet to study as they exited the police station. “One question at a time Miss Sparkle, and please call me Ripple I haven't gone by Star in a longtime. I can’t answer all those questions at once.” Ripple joked seeing the young princess nearly jump with joy over the discovery of new knowledge. “Look, if you want to know more we can discuss these topics over lunch” Ripple's stomach grumbled loudly. He blushed from embarrassment and quickly pulled his fedora over his eyes. Twilight giggled before answering him “Of course Ripple we can go have lunch just so long as you answer all my questions while we’re there” Twilight walked past him heading towards the Hay Burger “Come on Ripple I have questions and you need some food. oh and also you can just call me Twilight I'm slightly uncomfortable with just going by Sparkle.” Ripple Star pushed his Fedora back up a top his head before walking up beside Twilight as they both approached the Hay Burger.