Passing of the Stars

by A SketchPad

Act 1 Chapter 2 - Helping Hand

The Season of Snow

Day 58

Year 5 B.E.

I expected it to happen, obviously.

I woke up to see the bed she rested upon absent of her form. Getting up, I see that she rummaged through my rucksack. I pulled it toward me and dug in to find my wallet. I gripped the instrument and opened it, finding only green crystal shards. Rolling my eyes, I grab what little foods she had left in the pantry and whipped something up to eat. I was angry at Memory Sparks for doing what she did, for taking advantage of my generosity. But I felt that I can't be mad at her. Why should I be mad, I wondered to myself. She was doing what she had to do to survive.

Bah! Forget about it. What's done is done! You have a job to do, Radiance! My mind reeled me back to reality. I needed to go back to the C.P.E.S.A. and continue the lessons for the little foals. They would've had a fit if I were absent and not give them their lesson. It would be a simple arts and crafts lesson in which they would make their own hypnotizing instruments and use it to play tricks on each others' eyes. I know these fillies and colts would enjoy it. Checking my rucksack, I sighed in relief to see that none of the lesson plans for the school year weren't tampered with. I threw it over my back and opened the door, only to find Bene Umbra about to knock.

I could see the fear in his eyes. There was a C.P.S. guard behind him, examining the blood on the floor. Umbra got on his hind legs and held my head, looking at the bandage that I wrapped myself. I grew agitated at the action, but no words would be told. I couldn't tell him I got attacked. But those homeless ponies in the alley probably saw what happened. They probably confessed. I frowned a bit when Umbra got back on all four hooves.

"Who was it? Who attacked you?" He asked. His tone was gentle, but he was stern. "Ponies in the alleyway told us some mare attacked you and...Wh-Why were you taking that kind of a shortcut to begin with!?" He lost his patience and could tell that he's actually asking, Did you want to die?!

"Well, I don't know. I just wanted a quick way home. Those homeless ponies you asked didn't come to my aid when it happened, now did they?" I retorted. I know for Umbra for looking out for me. But I was on the clock now. I didn't want the foals to be disappointed.

Umbra had his eyes slit as he looked at me. He was trying to see any cracks that were in my fortitude; any signs of me that would give him a message that I truly needed help. But I held steady and calm. Both our eyes locked on for what seemed like an eternity until he eventually gave up.

"Radiance, you know I'm always here for you. You don't have to keep secrets." He said calmly. I really wanted to tell him. I should've. But I didn't want to be in his way. He had many things to do for his campaign and I don't want to be the one to stop him.

"Umbra, don't worry about me. Think about it this way: I'm not dead."

It was an attempt to make him laugh, and it worked somewhat. I could see the little giggles he was trying to hold back. I guess it was the tone I said that in. I started laughing at the way he was laughing. I tried to tell him it wasn't that funny, but I couldn't. We both started to laugh ridiculously.

"Radiance, that was a stupid thing to say but it worked." Umbra managed to say through the little chuckles that were dying out. I beamed and admired the way he accepted that.

"Well, you know me. I'll use any kind of humor to help cheer a pony up." He stuck his tongue out at my statement. I looked over myself and blinked, forgetting my cape. I lit up more horn and an aura came out of it. The aura sought out the cape throughout my apartment and when found, it lifted its way toward my back, where I knotted it up.

"That still freaks me out every time I see you do that." My friend chuckled a little bit. "You have a talent of magic, perchance!"

"Nonsense. If I did, I would've had my cutie mark. Not that I mind, though. I'd rather have none than one. I'm always open to the possibilities of the world." I smiled. I then turned to looked back at Umbra. "Want to walk me to the Facility? I'm sure you have time."

He nodded and walked me out of the apartment. As we walked, he continued to eye the gauze that was on my head. "I'm still confounded that you were attacked. Of all ponies! This irks me and the feeling is troublesome."

"Umbra, I'm fine." I stubbornly said. In truth, I was getting a slight migraine. It could've been his nagging and constant reminders of his worries. "No need to enslave the whole empire to try and find the culprit."

Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but giggle at that statement. Just as she was about to continue, Spike knocked on the door. "Oh, come in!" With that, he opened the door and brought in a tray with an assortment of foods. A simple daisy sandwich with some hay fries and a glass of apple juice. She smiled at the chivalry that Spike was displaying and giggled. "Oh, Spike. If Rarity were to see this, I'm sure she'd fall head over heels for your manners." She teased him. He beamed.

"Well, I tried and she was gushing a little bit before she went back to her dresses. She looked like she needed it." He commented. He sat on the bed and ate some of the hay fries. Glancing down, he saw the book and cocked his head. "What's this? Came back with a souvenir?" Twilight stopped and quickly took the book and threw it over to the book shelf nailed to the side of the window.

Giggling nervously, she replied, "Ahhaha, it's not for your eyes." She smiled nervously. Spike shrugged and ate some more.

"Don't see the big deal. A book's a book. It's not like I'm hiding my gem pile from Rarity." He said metaphorically. Twilight wanted to tell him. Tell him that this book is all about the life of Star Swirl, but she was conflicted. Would Princess Celestia let her share this information with her friends? She decided to be careful and not tell Spike.

"Don't worry about it. Something from Princess Celestia." Twilight simply answered.

She looked outside her bedroom and saw that it was night out. The azure night brought out the stars, aligned in many intricate patterns for this time of season. She could imagine the prayers that were sent out to both of the Princesses as the ponies readied for bed or readied for a night of parties in the big cities. The buildings that she could see were had their lights slowly dwindling. As much as she wanted to sleep herself, she couldn't. Both hunger and her curiosity needed to be satiated; more so her curiosity.

In five minutes, Twilight Sparkle finished her sandwich and kissed her young dragon good night. She crawled on the bed and shuffled herself under the covers. She laid there for what seems like forever, wondering if the draconic tyke was sleeping. She would usually hear him snore, which signaled to her that he was asleep.

Just as she was about to check up on him, he started to snore loudly. The kind of snore which would wake someone up...if they were on the bed. She grinned and grabbed the book, continuing her reading.

"You accuse me in that way? Oh, I'm shocked you have high hopes for me!" Umbra faked his distress as he continued to walk me. I chuckled at his theatrics and turned to him, staring at him closely.

"Of course I do! You're the least likely pony that any pony would accuse of such action!"

"I would never do anything of the sort!" Umbra nudged my face away from his. "And don't do that. Ponies would think dangerously." He looked away, slightly embarrassed.

Knowing myself, I pinched his cheeks with my hooves and wiggled them. "Umbry wumbly!"

"You're bloomin' for a doomin', Radiance!" He yelled as I ran into the school doors. I waved and yelled my goodbyes boisterously as we both went our ways. I glanced at the clock and smiled, being only a minute late. With that, I ran into my classroom. I could already hear the protests of kids, asking why I was late.

Smiling, I brought out some arts and crafts instruments. One by one, the foals were smiling and shaking with suspense. I clopped my hooves together, asking for silence. "Alright, every pony! Listen up! I have a neat and simple lesson for today, as you all know. This is going to be a lesson about our eyes." I took out a little stick that held a circular paper, with black and white swirling together infinitely in a certain pattern. I could hear the oohs and ahhs already. "Now, there are many different styles to this. But this is the simplest one I could find. But, watch what happens when I spin it."

As I spun it, the foals were wowed and amazed at the sight they saw. "It looks like it's going on forever, right?" I obtained a couple of agreements as I continued to spin it. "Now, look what happens. Stare in the center of it. I promise, this is not a hypnotizing trick to keep you quiet." I chuckled a little bit at their uncertainty. But they looked into the center. "Stare until I tell you to look up and at my head."

I knew what was to come. It was a trick of the eye that would make their vision go awry. There was even a spellbook that let the unicorns cast an illusion spell that would show a moving picture of these patterns. A simple trick for us to remember where the pattern goes and how long to hold it. It was really mystifying.

"Okay, ya little tykes! Look up!" I put the instrument down and watched their little heads look up at me. They saw my head grew bulbous in their eyes. I put on different expressions as they laughed or gasped. My lips puckered at one point and most of the kids were on the floor laughing.

"Radiance, do you have..." one of my co-workers walked in and saw me doing a puckered face at the foals. I looked back at her and blinked. They looked at her and laughed harder, falling over or banging hooves on their desks. She slowly walked out and closed the door. I couldn't help but laugh at the awkward scene.

As soon as I was done, I gave them instruction books on how to make these simple tools. I giggled a bit as they inspected the contents of the books and picked out which illusion they want to make. These little children were adorable to have. Such a pleasure to see their faces smile as they learn something new.

Then, a screech brought me out of my thoughts and I looked at the source of the scream. A little magenta filly looked up to me as I spotted her at the window, pointing outside. "Somepony is running away from mean ponies!"

I quickly trotted over to the window and looked outside. My mouth hung agape as I saw Memory Sparks, holding some sort of jewel, running away from the three ponies that I saw yesterday. Looks like they found a pony to make trouble with. With a serious look on my face, I open the window and my horn started glowing. It was a distance! I have never tried to reach that far in my life with my magic. But I had to do it, lest my recent friend would get hurt.

My horn started to gush with an overflow of magic. "Glow-Heart! White-Veil! Go to the office and tell them the situation! Tell them to get the C.P.S. on the west side of the building!" I ordered two of the little tykes. "Her life is in your hooves!" They nodded and quickly ran out of the room. My magic tried to quickly weaved together a magic barrier that would trap the three ponies that was chasing after her.

"MEMORY SPARKS! GIVE US OUR JEWEL BACK!" I heard them yell. They sounded almost synchronized as they said that. It gave me the creeps as I continued to pour my magic in the barrier.

"THIS WAS MINE TO BEGIN WITH! YOU STOLE IT FROM ME!" She yelled back at them. So it was either an act of thievery on her part or an act of assault on their part. As I created the barrier in time, I had to choose in a few seconds who to trap. Many scenarios and questions ran in my mind. Who would the C.P.S. arrest? Who are those three ponies? What was the item that Memory Sparks had in her mouth?

"Teacher! Do something! They're almost catching her!" the shouting of the foals broke my concentration and the barrier fell. It took me a split second to gain my concentration, but it managed to hold steady as it hit the ground, having the three ponies in its grasp. I sighed and sat on my haunches as the children cheered.

Memory Sparks looked back to see the barrier surrounding her hunters. She stopped and trotted up to them, looking in confusion as to how they were captured. They were banging on the barrier with great rage. I could read from their mouths the harsh obscenities that were directed to her. I was thankful that the children and I were far enough not to hear what they were saying. She started making funny and taunting faces at them. She would spread her mouth apart with eyes crossed, blew raspberries at their faces, and lastly, mooned them.

Having enough of her taunting, I yelled, "Memory! Run now! The guards are coming!" She was startled at the voice and looked around for the voice.

"Unicorn? Is...Is that you?" She yelled back, still trying to find the source of the voice.

"Memory, I am holding these bad ponies! Do you want the bad ponies, or as you know them, the blue ponies to come and see you!?" That prompted the reaction I was hoping for. She started to run away again, flying off into the distance.

I will leave out the details of the C.P.S. gathering eyewitness accounts, but needless to say, those three ponies were ominously silent when the blue caped ponies came and arrested them. The foals told them about how I saved the mare from getting hurt. I hoped that this would be an example of helping each other out instead of growing up to hate each other. The C.P.S. guards congratulated me in a job well done and went on their way to put the three convicts into the dungeons.

Though I wondered about Memory Sparks. I was having her in my mind, hoping that she was alright. The more I thought about it, the more I came to see that she was just misunderstood. Remembering the way she looked last night before I gave her the bath put a somber thought in my mind. She was all alone. Worse than any of the ponies around here. She needed somepony to keep her company and help her.

Thus ended the day. I was given an early dismissal from work due to my 'heroic deeds' and the injury on my head that still needs healing. They said they're giving me a week vacation, saying I earned it. I didn't mind it, as long as I still had access to their research rooms. As I walked out of the facility, I hummed a little song, forgetting most of the lyrics, but remembering the melody of the song. Well, with the spell I'm under to write this whole diary of my life, I remember them, but back then, I didn't know until somepony sang the lyrics.

I looked back to see Bene Umbra, happily singing the chorus of the song. Smiling, I suppressed a chuckle as he hit that high note in a falsetto. It's strange to hear a stallion sing that high. It always made them sound like a mare. I opened the door to the building of the apartment and started breaking down into laughter as he finished the song.

"What? Can't I sing about a song that reflects my views?" He bumped me on the back as I walked through the foyer of the building, toward the mailboxes. The attendant looked up and saw me, giving me my mail.

"Nothing wrong with a bit of singing. I just find stallion voices funny when they hit high notes like that. They sound like a filly squealing when they have a special somepony." I responded, holding the mail in my mouth.

"Speaking of ponies, there's somepony in your apartment, Radiance. She told me she was here yesterday. A relative of some sort." The attendant said, reading the local newspaper. Both Umbra and I looked at her in confusion. All of my relatives disowned me when I joined the C.P.E.S.A., much to my chagrin. I trotted toward my apartment block and fumbled for my keys.

"Radiance, tell me now. Was this the pony that attacked you?" He stared at me, angrily. "You showed generosity to the pony that attacked you?"

"Well, when you put it that way, I look like a dunce. But the mare really needed the hospitality." I responded, finding the keys deep within my rucksack. Umbra snorted at my response and stomped on the floor.

"You didn't try and kiss her, did you?" I blushed at the comment and stared at him with a crazy face. I shook my head and tried to ignore the comment.

My keys open the lock and the door swayed open. Inside of the house was neatness. Everything was scented with eucalyptus leaves and baby's breath flowers. The bed in the right corner was neatly made and had everything back in its place. The couch held Memory Sparks, wrapped up in a small blanket as she snored lightly. Umbra was stunned at the scene he saw in front of him. I, also, was stunned as well. I looked at the table and saw the many crystal shards that she took from my wallet. "She gave my shards back..." I was surprised beyond belief. I trotted toward the pantry and saw that it was stocked with fresh foods. I counted my money and saw that there was 3 red crystal shards missing.

"Huh...are you sure she hit you on the head?" I nodded at Umbra's joking question. I walked back in the living room and saw the jewel that she had on her when she ran from those ponies. I walked at the table and held the jewel in my hooves. It sparkled like twinkling lights of the rainbow in a heart shape. I continued holding it in my hooves until I felt a hoof on mine.

"Unicorn...I'm sorry for...what I did." She said tiredly, but in a tone that revealed her sincerity. I smiled and laughed a little.

"Which one? Hitting my head or stealing?"

"Those two. I know it was bad, but I want to live. I don't want to die." Memory sniffled. She was guilty and she knew that with what little intelligence she had.

"This is how they lure you in, Radiance. I don't trust her." Umbra gave his opinion to me in a hushed tone. I looked back at him and my mouth was hanging. "I know it's against what I believe, but she's a criminal. She attacked you for personal gain. Yes, she stole from you and gave back the money, but-"

"Enough of that, Umbra!" I yelled, seeing the despair that Memory was showing in her eyes. "I understand where you're coming from. But think about it. Those criminals that come out of jail sometimes never turn good. They continue their activities and hurt other ponies. She is no better, but not if I can help it." She looked up to me and wiped her eyes. I looked back and sat next to her.

"I'm going to help you. I know there are...things you don't know or understand, but I will help you. It will be hard, I won't lie. Because you weren't taught at a young age, it's gonna be harder to teach you the things needed to survive in this nation. Are you willing to be my pupil?" She looked up at me and cocked her head. She stared at me with those teary eyes, confused but understanding. I was afraid that I had to re-do my whole speech there until she spoke.

A simple word uttered from her mouth, "Okay."