//------------------------------// // Chapter SIx // Story: Distant Ties // by Golden Paw //------------------------------// “This is your stop, best wake up,” Star Oak was shaken awake as the train slowed to a stop and blinked sleepily as he cleared his eyes. Night had fallen outside, the peaceful quiet of an Old Ponyville evening with only a few lamps lighting the scene beyond. The platform outside was like an island of light in a sea of shadows and Star realised he was home again.   He looked around to thank Midnight Hour for waking him, but to his surprise there was no sign. Confused Star quickly looked up and down the train but still there was no evidence of his travelling companion. Although puzzled, Star’s thoughts quickly turned to other matters as there smiling outside were Shadow Guard, Applejack, Sky Petal and Evening Glade.   They had all turned up to welcome Star home and, with a new strength borne of determination, he quickly began gathering his belongings. Even at this late hour the train was thronged, and Star had to shuffle, sidle and squeeze his way past the other passengers. It was strange to see so many non ponies after only a few weeks away but Star felt the familiar citizenship of Ponyville begin to come back to him.   After only a few minutes of frantic manoeuvring Star finally managed to alight from the train and stepped out into a balmy evening. The air seemed thicker, the atmosphere heavier and Star oddly had a longing for the crisp heights again.   It didn’t take long for his family to spot him and soon Star was being crushed in a hug just as powerful as Stoic’s had been when Glade galloped up. He practically dived on Star who returned the embrace warmly. “Welcome back son, I trust you had a productive trip? Your letters certainly hinted at it?” Shadow asked softly, stepping softly up behind. “I did,” Star replied levelly. “That’s good,” Applejack said in an oddly subdued tone and Star couldn’t help but notice that her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Any further discussion was quickly swept away as Sky also joined in the hug, “Did you get any good pictures of Raven’s Rest? What were the negasi like? Were you scared?” “Come on now, I’m sure that Star’s right tired after his trip n could do without all these questions,” Applejack said, still in an unnervingly brittle way. Star saw that Shadow similarly affected, a tense air about him that hinted at his unease too. Star shared a look of understanding with his parents: Now was not the time to talk, now was the time to be happy that Star was back. Sky and Evening seemed completely oblivious of this silent interchange and Star thought it was better that way. Best to pretend everything was normal until he and his parents were on firmer ground.   Star was interrupted in his unpacking by a soft knock on his bedroom door. He gently put the collection of ore from the mines at Misty Heights down on his bedside table before turning his attention to his visitor, “It’s open.” The door didn’t open straight away, as if the pony on the other side was hesitating before coming in. Star sat down on his bed and was just about to call again when Applejack finally opened the door with that same brittle smile he’d seen at the train station, “So er, yer settlin back in okay?” “Yeah Ma, just unpackin,” Star smiled as he slipped back into his home accent so easily. He’d lost a little bit of that over the last few weeks, but hearing it out loud brought it all back again as easily as putting on a well worn set of clothes. “Oh um, that’s good,” Applejack said and Star knew that tone. She was working up to ask something she didn’t want to. “Come on Ma, what’s wrong?” Star Oak asked and Applejack smiled gratefully at him. “Well I feel right awful that Shadow n I didn’t tell yer the whole um reason why we let yer go ter Raven’s Rest by yerself,” Applejack almost mumbled and Star’s heart gave a little shudder. That Applejack was shying away from the explanation boded ill, Ma just didn’t do that. “Well yer know….well we didn’t know just what….” Applejack stamped her hoof on the ground and Star was surprised at her antics. “What she’s trying to say Star, is that we’re sorry that we weren’t forthright with you about your trip. There were a few things that we needed to discover and the only way we knew how to do that was for you to be tested in the Shining Caves,” Shadow said as he stepped up besides Applejack and gave her a supportive hug. Star raised an expectant eyebrow and both Shadow and Applejack visibly wilted, “By now you know about the Nightmare Curse, Starsight explained that much to you I understand?” Shadow added and Star finally understood their hesitation. “You weren’t sure if I was gonna turn out ter be an ‘evil black hearted murderer?” Both his parents winced and Star knew he’d hit the nail on the head, “I ain’t stupid Ma, I kinda figured that bit out myself after talkin with Grandma.” “Yer ain’t angry?” Applejack asked with hardly a whisper. Star paused, he’d been angry when the truth had dawned on him. If every bat pony had to be tested like Starsight had said, then Star obviously he’d been sent for there for the same reason. Nopony seemed to know what to make of him or his siblings and that his parents didn’t trust him was more painful than any prejudices the negasi had held. “Yer could have told me, let me know that was part of the comin of age ceremony,” Star said finally, his bitterness showing through despite his best efforts. “We thought it was for the best. Finding the right line between tradition and what you’d know, not growing up in Raven’s Rest….” Shadow explained and Star finally felt his anger come to the boil. He’d had a lot of time to think about things on his journey home and the presence of Midnight Hour on the train, the double nature of his role, made the pieces click in Star’s head. Both Shadow and Applejack didn’t trust him, they didn’t know who their own son truly was and had decided, with his grandparents on Shadow’s side, to test him to see if he was the good pony Star knew himself to be. “I ain’t gonna yell n shout if that’s what yer scared of,” Star said after drawing a calming breath. “I don’t wanna upset Sky or Evenin but I am disappointed. Yer know me, yer know I wouldn’t be bad just cause of some silly curse.” “It doesn’t work like that Star...it’s complicated,” Shadow began only for Star Oak to fold his hooves and raise his eyebrow further. “No it ain’t, yer think it’s only bat ponies who can be bad? Some ponies think we have an excuse just because of our history. Plenty of ponies have it rough n they don’t go about being evil just cause of it,” Star countered, the blood rushing to his face and his temper flaring. “But that’s some mighty strong magic, real dawn of time stuff n it….” Applejack said uncertainly and Star actually felt sorry for her, for them both. Star continued to glare at them, the hurt of even being suspected still raw and throbbing. The way they both seemed to hide in the doorway with guilty expressions on their faces, “Look Ma, Starlight explained it to me. She’s been ‘testin’ bat ponies fer years now n she’s never found even one that was forced ter be evil. They had some problems yeah but none was ever bad without choosin ter be.” “It’s a real possibility though…..” Shadow began and Star let out an exasperated groan. “N it’s possible Celestia could go crazy n blow up the sun! It’s possible Discord could turn the whole world ter jelly but we don’t go hindin under our beds just because of it, the harvest could fail but yer don’t stop plantin because it might do.” There ain’t no end ter the things that could happen.” Star wanted to still be angry, it was there, simmering just below the surface of his thoughts but the way his parents gave each other uncertain looks was dousing those flames with compassion. Star was panting, it had been a shock to him, discovering that Applejack of all ponies had forgotten the most important and foundational parts of their lives. They were a family; they stuck together no matter what came up. More than any family Star knew of, the Apples stuck together and Shadow? So wrapped up in ideas of duty and avoiding the mistakes of the past that he’d forgotten about today. “Now, I’m gonna finish unpackin. I’m gonna find a place fer all the great memories I made from ma trip n when I come down stairs again we are gonna have a serious talk,” Star announced with a stern expression of his own. Star was surprised at himself, he’d never spoken to his parents like that before. It was nothing compared to the shock on their faces however, they both stared at him with wide eyes and open mouths. He wasn’t giving them back chat, he wasn’t being disrespectful, he was being…...firm. The bizarre reversal of roles stuck however and to Star’s continued amazement both Applejack and Shadow hung their heads before heading back out the way they came. Star, true to his word, continued to unpack the souvenirs. It was more for something to do with his hooves while he poured over all the upheavals his world had gone through in the last few hours. Ponies put too much stock on the past that was the problem. Sure there was a place for tradition, good and wholesome traditions helped define ponies but bad traditions could just as easily be shackles to the past. Just because your ancestors did something didn’t necessarily mean that it was right or wrong, it was down to you to make up your own mind with the information you had at hoof. You needed to listen to that ‘spark’ inside, that little voice within you that prompted you to do those things that helped others, that made you care for those around you and try to make their lives better. If the tradition upheld that then surely it was good? Star admitted he didn’t have a full answer, he doubted that anypony in the world had all the answers or if there even was one all encompassing answer. What he did know was that he loved his family and he loved his friends, when put like that the world’s worries seemed far smaller. They would get through this, Star had confidence in that. They were Apples after all. Feeling just a bit better, tiny a bit stronger or at least wiser than before, Star finished stowing away his things and made his way down to his awaiting parents.   Luna sat at her desk, the comforting shadows of her personal space within Canterlot castle keeping her company as she reviewed the latest report. A whole complex web of messages, letters and information was spread out before her; depicting the ebb and flow of Equestrian society from the perspectives of her own network. One timeless being needed her hobbies as much as the next and Luna kept busy by making sure Equestria stayed safe. Tall and regal, Luna’s slight frame was at ease. Dark blue coat as healthy and well kept as the day she’d first come into existence. She was the picture of concentration and self composure, an image she’d worked on for years since her return. Gone was the impulsive mare that had let her own insecurities drive Luna to madness. Lighting her horn, Luna raised the feather end of a quill to her nose even as she shuffled the various papers and documents into new and surprising patterns, seeing in them connections that would have been lost on any other but herself. In a land where magical technology was in its ascendance many ponies would have been shocked to think Luna still used a paper filing system, but Luna would be the first to admit she was a diehard when it came to innovation. She’d seen so many fads come and go in her long life that the excitement about this new science didn’t move Luna enough to change her own tried and tested ways. It was fascinating to watch of course, how their subjects enthusiastically embraced the creations that were on offer. Luna often wondered if it would last, this brave new world with the blending of machines and magic. She couldn’t help but wonder if it would turn out better than the last time? Luna honestly hoped it would. With her fellow princess Twilight Sparkle at the helm things had gotten off to a good start and maybe, just maybe, it would actually be different and even better this time. Her musings were put on hold as a soft knock came on the study door and Luna looked up with her turquoise eyes full of distant memories. After making sure the desk held nothing of a sensitive nature she gave a simple, “Enter.” The richly decorated door opened smoothly and Luna saw it was Midnight Hour as she’d fully expected it to be. He crossed the threshold and paused in the centre of Luna’s office, standing directly on the intricately carved symbol of a ‘United Equestria’. The crest had gone through several changes over the centuries, but always held the same overriding theme of love and friendship. The current symbol proudly displayed the four likenesses of the nation’s current rulers: Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Twilight: Each alicorn’s horn touching in the centre of the rounded circle as a symbol of their shared goal. For all Luna’s thoughts of cycles and things repeating even she had to admit the unprecedented rule of four princesses at the same time was a new one for her. The many, many years that it had just been herself and Celestia were a distant memory and pleasantly this current state of affairs was proving to be a fantastic success. Luna could only hope that once Twilight and Cadence finally went the way of all the world, things would continue to go from strength to strength. Luna broke her revery, those were thoughts for the future. Luna turned her attention back to her guest, “Midnight, it’s very good to see you. I trust all was in order with your assignment?” Midnight Hour bowed respectfully, “It was your highness, Star Oak’s visit made some positive ripples as you suspected.” Luna fought not to roll her eyes; of course he’d be more concerned with the ‘political’ aspect of the assignment. Keeping her face a mask of duty Luna pressed for more details, “Very good Midnight and what of Star himself?” Midnight looked slightly confused, “Um… he is well your majesty, I ensured he arrived and returned home safely as instructed.” Luna secretly smiled inwardly, her face betraying none of her thoughts. The negasi were all about duty, all about keeping themselves under control. That nature wasn’t all of their own making of course Luna admitted, the stirrings of past hurts moaning feebly in a sad manner within her own soul but she quashed them with practiced discipline. She’d long since abandoned the self destructive wallowing that had plagued Luna for the first few years after her return. The lessons were hard, but they had been learnt and tearing herself up about them now wasn’t going to help anypony. As a self penance, Luna had followed Celestia’s example and built upon the foundation her older sister had put in place to turn the ‘broken bat’ ponies and others like them into a force for good. Luna smiled warmly as the pains in her own heart quickly faded; the distant echo now nothing more than a scar to remind her of how important her duties were now, “What I really I wanted to know was if he had a good time? Did Star enjoy his visit to Raven’s Rest?” Midnight Hour blinked, knocked off balance by the simple question Luna posed, “I er believe that he did, there was some friction as was to be expected. It’s all in my report your Highness.” It was indeed, Luna recalled; all very formal and proper, detailed almost to an obsessive point on all the wrong topics. Politics came and went; there would always be more meetings, more councils and more problems. What Luna wanted to hear about was the lives of her subjects. Did they laugh? Did they enjoy themselves and were they happy? “Very good Midnight, thank you for your time,” Luna said with genuine feeling. The uncertainty vanished from Midnight’s features and he saluted. Luna thought she caught happiness in his manner at a job well done and with an almost joyful gait he made his way from her office. We all need to feel loved, useful and appreciated. That was one of the few things Luna could share in common with her subjects. She was so different from them in so many ways; timeless, gifted with powers that moved the very heavens and with the insight borne from the beginning of the world itself. The one think she did have in common was her feelings and Luna cherished that mutual ground more than anything else in her existence. Those shining moments of connection, the ones that let her feel as if she and her subjects were the same on some level, those were more valuable than all the gold and gems in the world. They may not be world changing events, catalysts to destroy a great evil that threatened the land but they were nevertheless precious to her. She let her intellect resume the work of administration, adding Midnight’s own report into the ever changing web of social, political and economical weave. The effects of Star’s visit to Raven’s Rest rippled outwards, filtering through the nexus of events and to Luna’s satisfaction improved it in so many tiny ways. It pulled a few other threads, causing some unravelling of knots and unwinding of others. It also strained some others to breaking point, old ways undone and some new tensions caused. It was the way of things and Luna was under no illusions that the loads and tensions within Equestria could ever be completely balanced. All these actions were a pleasing side effect, a bonus after the reward of seeing at least one of her subjects being happy. Letting her mind revel in the dance of threads, Luna let her heart enjoy the simple joys of family, friends and the overall happiness of Equestria.   The End.