Planning.
Spring Mist and Brilliant Bloom arrived back at Everfree without incident, something that Mist was immensely thankful for. They immediately made their way to the astronomy tower to drop off their gear. Head Scholar Caramel Tart would still be sleeping at this hour, so after visiting the tower, Bloom decided to help Mist move his personal belongings from home to his new residence in the tower.
“What a lovely home,” Bloom said as he walked into the main room. “A shame you have to leave it.”
Mist looked around forlornly, “Thank you. It was my parents’ home. It is a shame to leave.”
“What will you do with it? Are you going to sell it?”
Mist shook his head and began picking up a few chests, “No, I was thinking of taking in a resident. Rent, as it were. Help a pony and gain a little extra income.”
“Clever idea,” Bloom said, “Now, I presume you have a cart or the like for transportation of these belongings?”
Mist paused, “Ah, knew I forgot something. I should probably arrange something.”
Bloom smiled, “I can do that. You make sure everything is in order, and start moving things outside.” He trotted out of the door, leaving Mist to get everything together.
Mist was about halfway done moving things out when Bloom returned with a rather large cart. It was designed to be pulled by two ponies, so he was pulling awkwardly, compensating with his telekinesis. Mist rushed to help and they soon got the cart situated in front of the house. Bloom began levitating what things were outside onto the cart while Mist collected the rest from inside the house.
A couple of hours’ worth of work later, and the two were heading back to the astronomy tower, all of Mist’s earthly belongings in tow. “So, ready to begin your life as a scholar of astronomy?” Bloom asked as they walked.
“I think so,” Mist said, “I just hope I don’t disappoint. It’s not like I discover new stars every night. And I’ve still got a lot to learn.”
“Well, I’ve never known Caramel Tart to make a brash decision. And I have no doubt that you’ll do just fine – from what I’ve seen, it shouldn’t take you long to learn what’s left. You have a real passion, and that is perhaps the most important part of being a scholar.”
“I hope you haven’t put too much faith in me. I’d hate to disappoint.”
“Just remember, most ponies go through life without becoming great. If you become so, terrific, if not, then maybe fate just doesn’t have a grand plan for you. I accepted that my life probably won’t mean much in the grand scheme of the world, and that is just fine, considering the thousands of ponies before and after who will never achieve anything ‘great’. At least not in the opinion of anypony else. Greatness can be found in the simplest of achievements, remember that and you will always be happy.”
“Wise words, Bloom. You remind me of another friend. It seems that I surround myself with wise and clever ponies.”
“Just experience and living with other very old and wise ponies.”
The rest of the walk was spent in silence. They reached the tower and set the cart aside. They headed into the tower so Mist could actually see his room. The living quarters were situated a few floors above the main library. Mist’s quarters were marked with a note on the door from Caramel Tart. The room was modest in size, around the size of Mist’s main room back in his house. Mist looked around the space: a bed, three bookshelves, a desk, a cupboard, a few shelves, a chest of drawers, and not much storage space, really.
“So, where are we going to everything?” Mist asked.
Bloom thought for a second, then offered a solution: “We could bring up the things you need most and the rest we can put in one of the sublevels – we have larger storage rooms down there, and not many ponies go down, so your belongings should be safe.”
Mist thought about what he needed before responding, “That could work.”
“Well, let’s get to it then!” Bloom said cheerfully.
Mist and Bloom headed back to the cart. Mist identified the chests that contained his most essential items: clothes, books, mementos, a few decorations. Those were carried up to the room while the others, a good two thirds of Mist’s luggage including his parents’ things, were carried down to the sublevel storage. It was dark and dank, fairly deep underground, and a thick layer of dust had accumulated on everything showing just how forgotten the place was. Mist was confident that nopony would go near his belongings.
By the time they had finished moving everything into the tower, the sun was high in the sky: noontime. “Would you like lunch, Mist?” Bloom asked as they set the last box down in Mist’s room.
“No, I think I’ll get settled into the room. Thank you though.”
“Very well. I’ll be back in a few hours. Then we’ll see Caramel Tart.”
“Sounds good. Enjoy your meal, Bloom. And thank you for the help.”
“Glad to do it. Have fun decorating,” Bloom said with a chuckle as he walked out of the room.
Mist was left once again with his personal items and a barren room. He set to work at making this place his new home, filling the bookshelves with his own books, putting away his clothes, mounting a few pictures on the walls, covering the bed in his own linens. His telescope had its own place on a wall-mounted shelf. His writing supplies went on the desk top and in its drawers. What little clothing he had was placed in the chest of drawers, wherein he found several sets of standard scholar’s robes. He decided to don one set, and he found himself surprisingly comfortable in the light fleece. With his room looking more habitable and homey, and himself looking more scholarly, Mist was beginning to feel… right.
Bloom returned from his meal, looking satisfied. He was surprised to see the work that Mist had done in the room. “Wow, you certainly put a lot of effort into this. Most rooms are pretty bare. And nice robes.”
Mist smiled, “Well, I like to be comfortable in my environment, and being able to change it and make it my own makes me comfortable. And, for the record, so do these robes.”
Bloom shrugged, “Well, ‘to each his own’. Ready to see Caramel Tart?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Okay then. Don’t forget the gem.”
Mist grabbed the box from his bags and the two headed out to the staircase leading to Head Scholar’s… whatever it was. Mist still wasn't entirely sure. When they reached the door, the familiar voice bade them enter before they even knocked. Within, the room looked vastly different than the night before. Today, it looked just like a normal room a pony could expect to find in the tower. It was a mix-up of a study, an office, a bedroom, and a laboratory. Mist still couldn’t decide what to call the space, so he settled on ‘quarters’ in his own mind.
Caramel Tart rounded a corner ahead of the duo, starling them both. She was greatly amused by their missed expressions of fear and relief. “Really now, what am I to think of my scholars, and the city guard, if both are so easily scared by a frail old mare like me?”
“I’m guessing nothing good,” Bloom said with a nervous chuckle.
“Indeed. But I do know that my scholars are good ponies who are good at their jobs. And that’s what really counts I suppose. Now, I’m assuming you have something of interest if you are back from the site, Bloom.”
“Yes, Caramel Tart. Mist, would you?”
Mist floated out the dark box and presented it to Caramel Tart. She took one look at it then stared at Mist. “My, my, my. You certainly fit those robes quite nicely, Spring Mist.”
Mist blushed slightly and shifted, nearly dropping the box. Caramel Tart took the box to a nearby desk, chuckling at Mist’s reaction. She placed the box down and summoned a pair of half-moon spectacles. Opening the box, she regarded the contents with a look of expectation and deep thought.
“So what is this, exactly?” she asked.
Bloom answered as best he could, “Well, when we were examining the meteorite, it split open thus revealing this object. We aren’t entirely sure what it is yet.”
“I assume you’ve noticed it looks like our latest member’s cutie mark?”
Mist shifted uncomfortably again. “Yes, we noticed.” he said quietly.
“Now, was there also an inscription on or near the meteorite?”
Bloom and Mist looked at each other with surprise. Bloom responded, “Yes, there was, in fact.”
“And? What did it say?”
“Well, after we had it translated, it was a verse. Um… how did it go again, Mist?”
“Uh… Moons arise and suns fall,”
“Right. Darkness shields the light.”
“Hope begins… um…”
“…dreams are reached.”
“A new star burns bright.”
“…For you…” Caramel Tart finished.
Mist and Bloom once again exchanged surprised looks. Caramel Tart looked ponderous. Mist was first to speak this time. “You know the verse? How?”
“An old, old story that has been around longer than most of the traditions we practice today. The verse was recited when a pony achieved something great and was granted a gift as a remembrance of the act. There are legends attached to the custom, one of which says that if a pony creates enough of an impact, that a new star will be born in the sky, a gift from the immortals, the ‘gods’ themselves. Another is that if one of the immortals sees something in a pony, then they will grant a gift by placing a new star in the night for them. But those are very old legends.”
“What do you mean ‘sees something in a pony’?” Bloom asked.
“It could be anything, really. The immortal just had to notice it. What motivated them is beyond our understanding. But again, a very old set of legends and stories.”
“So, any idea what this is then?”
“Well, it looks like it might be a gift. Paired with the appearance of a new star in the sky in the very same night, one could surmise that the old story is true. And given the nature of the gift, and the pony who discovered the star, I think it’s safe to assume for whom the gift is intended.” She looked directly at Mist.
Mist shook his head, “No. You said it yourself, those are just stories. Besides, why me? I’m nopony special. The opposite actually – very uninteresting.”
“Oh come now, Mist. You are not uninteresting. You have a passion for what you do. You are loyal, you are sincere, you are a good pony. Even if you don’t believe it, take the gift anyway. From me, as a welcome into the tower.”
Mist was unsure of anything. He looked at Bloom, who just offered a slight smile and a nod. “Okay, Caramel Tart. If you insist.”
She floated the box back over to Mist. “I do. Now we must prepare for the meetings and ‘party’ in honor of ‘Star’.”
“Star?” Bloom asked.
“Oh, we named the new star ‘Star’,” Mist said, glad for the change in subject.
Bloom stared, aghast “Really? Sweetroll is not going to be happy. Nopony will be.”
“Well, actually it’s named ‘Umbra’ too. Both names are official. So the snobbery can eat their own horseshoes for all I care,” Caramel Tart retorted with a smile.
“Alright, alright! I was just saying…” Bloom defended.
“I know, you are forgiven. Now, Mist and I need to discuss the coming events.”
“I’ll be in my room if anypony needs me,” Bloom said, walking out of the room.
As soon as the door closed, Caramel Tart turned to Mist, “We have a large series of events to plan, my boy! Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” Mist said uncertainly.
“Good, good. Now we will have to invite the Heads of each academic field, the Academic Representative to the thrones, the Princesses of course, and th– ”
“Wait, the Princesses?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?” Caramel Tart inquired.
Mist hesitated, remembering his evening encounter with Princess Luna, “Not really a problem… It’s just… um, Princess Luna may… um… hate me.”
“Hate you? Why would she hate you?”
“Or dislike me. Either one. I just think so.”
“Well there has to be a reason, Spring Mist.”
“She saw me stargazing while on duty so she flew down and landed in front of my telescope without me noticing, and I sort of ‘stargazed’ her mane by accident, then she threw me a bunch of questions and they were really odd and asked about my past which nopony does but she’s a Princess so I couldn’t say no so I answered her anyway and then when I asked why she was always so sad she flew off and I just think I upset her.” Mist inhaled sharply.
“To a normal pony that little rant made about as much sense as a fruitcake riding an alley cat. But I am apparently not a normal pony, because that actually made a bit of sense.” Caramel Tart looked Mist directly in the eyes, a firm but gentle look, “Look, I wouldn’t worry about it, Mist. Has she banished you? Imprisoned you? Banished you then imprisoned you in the place you were banished? No. Our Princesses are powerful, but not tyrannical. I’m sure you did nothing to gravely offend Princess Luna. What would offend is if we don’t invite her, especially since this is a discovery in her night. And who knows? As the ‘mistress of the night’, maybe she’ll have answers or guidance for us.”
Mist sighed, still worried, but resigned, “Okay, Caramel Tart, I’m trusting you with this.”
Caramel Tart smiled, “Good. Now as I was saying, we need to contact a caterer and a… ….”
Caramel Tart continued going through a mental list of things to do. Mist listened only enough to be able to know at least a little of what was going on, but his mind was elsewhere, consumed by trepidation, worry, and excitement.
I hope you’re right, Caramel Tart, I really do.