The Alter Accords

Chapter Ten: A myriad of discovery and loss.

The trial went on a few days later when Velox was strong enough to testify, it was a formality as several guards had heard the confession as well as the Element Bearers but that was beside the point. The trial was for the ponies, to put a face to the killer and to have closure.

The one he had failed to kill did in fact reveal it was him saying many things that she had seen his one wing, his yellowed teeth, and his voice all of which was easily confirmed by a simple lie detection spell. Velox himself had told his side, how he was the one who taught Star Bound the Current in the first place and how some of this was his fault for not seeing the darkness that was in him. Some ponies blamed him in the end but not enough to really call for his arrest. Next came the guards and the girls to tell what they had heard, each separated so they couldn’t hear the others tell how they heard it so prove that they were telling the truth, not that anypony doubted the Elements at all.

In the end when they were wheeling Star Bound away, who was tied up in a straight jacket as well as a muzzle, Velox locked eyes with him, and he knew that his former brother and student hated him with every bit of his being; surprisingly Velox was hurt by it not physically but emotionally. He still was recovering from his use of Level Two but his friends were keeping a close eye on him.

“Guilty, as such the sentence will now be decided by our Princesses.” The Judge had read off the jury’s verdict loudly before stepping aside to let the Princess of the Day and the Princess of the Night take center stage.

Both of the ethereal maned Alicorns stood silent for a moment before in a clear voice they both spoke. “We sentence the guilty to Tartarus, the length of which is life with no chance of redemption.”

Velox had to close his eyes as he couldn’t look at anything right now. ‘Goodbye my brother, I hate you for what you did, for what you would do, and for how you would do it, but you were my brother and I mourn for what you are going to live through from this day forward.’

Besides at the trial the dark blue Pegasus barely said anything to his friends, he didn’t trust his voice at all nor did he think he could find the right words for his thoughts, so he instead just stayed silent. Twilight was the first to try to talk to him along with Dash and AJ, surprisingly Pinkie didn’t all she did was hug him gently and let him stay silent.

Twilight had asked how Level Two worked while Dash wanted to know when she could learn it. The farm pony though just looked at him and asked a simple question, one that Twilight and Dash were both curious to learn the answer to as well.

“Did ya know your heart would stop when ya did that lightnin’ thing?” The clear green eyes held worry in them, something he always liked about the mare and it hurt to see them nearly break with tears when he nodded. “You’re a right fool.” She simply said as she turned and stormed off.

Both the lavender and cyan ponies stood there slightly amazed and worried as the former asked. “So you knew it could kill you when you did it?” When he nodded she herself got tears in her eyes. “Why?”

He looked at the nearly crying unicorn and simply said. “One for many.” When the answer seemed to confuse her he continued on with those words. “My life for the lives of all the ponies and other species he would have gone to kill. If sacrificing my own meant he wouldn’t kill again it would mean I saved many others at the cost of mine. One for many.”

Dash couldn’t seem to find her voice and Twilight just looked horrified at the thought. “That…that is wrong. I mean couldn’t you just I don’t know, beat him with Level One?”

The shake of a head told her that he couldn’t. Bound was right when he had become a master, well at least of that form, and Velox had no chance to win at that. He couldn’t have made bullets that hard or launch them as quick, he couldn’t make fog like Bound, and he couldn’t form or manifest the current as quickly as Bound seemed too naturally and instinctively be able to do. The truth was, Star found himself bested in every way that night except that he could take it farther.

It would be a couple of days before things were settled down enough for Twilight to talk to him again, apparently being both the Element Bearer for magic and Celestia’s student was hard work or at least she made it out to be. Pinkie often came to visit him and hug him and a few times listening to him blurt out emotions and thoughts at random after she told him to ‘go ahead and tell me anything you needs to I Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony else’. He believed her too, since the time when he woke up in the hospital she had been a constant support to him and he was grateful.

The orange coated friend though was absent from visiting him, to which Pinkie told him. “She is working some stuff out, she isn’t sure how she should feel about you, I mean with knowing you would die when using that stuff.” The last part was said hastily but he ignored it, not really in the mindset to really care or pay attention to intently.

Fluttershy came by for a visit with a few birds she managed to befriend to sing him a nice little song, some of which he could swear he heard some other pony singing another part down the hall to. ‘Weird natural song magic, glad it’s never affected me.’

His future cyan trainee came by and he started to tell her some things to start self exercises to help learn the Current. “Your channels should be open enough to try it, Bound was lucky that he had large channels naturally, just never enough mana to pump into them, he had the opposite problem basically as you. He had to train his mana to be large while you have to train your channels to be large so technically you should be able to learn easily once you can pump enough mana through you.”

It apparently solved one of hers as well as Twilight’s questions as she said she had forgotten to ask that of him for Twi. He also asked her to promise not to try those exercise without Twilight around in case she did something wrong, to which she agreed to readily.

Rarity was next and that was most likely the most embarrassing of visits as he wasn’t really paying attention to his own looks or his hygiene at this point in his state. In the end cause of his weakened state he had been forced to get a bath and was scrubbed down by the white mare. He was glad it was over with only a few comments on how she wouldn’t have been surprised if he also appeared in the same magazines that Lego had, much to his hate his face betrayed him with a furious blush.

As it was when he would next see Twilight it was when they were all called to the throne room of the twin rulers of Equestria. They had all gathered before the throne room and were silently talking all wondering what the Princesses wanted with them. Twilight thought it might be a recap or maybe to formalize some kind of Current training or defensive corps. Rarity thought they might want to punish Velox for the teaching of it to somepony that ended up using it wrong, to which both Rainbow and Applejack shook their head saying the Princesses wouldn’t do that. Fluttershy was pretty silent and only gave a meep as Pinkie enthusiastically assumed it was to throw a party in Velox’s honor for beating the baddie. Spikes only contribution to the discussion was asking Pinkie did she think they would include gems for the party.

The doors parted before Velox could even add his own thoughts, which right now weren’t in a happy place. “Welcome my little ponies, come on in and take a seat, we have much to discuss.”

Celestia’s voice called out to them beckoning them to enter as they had seen a table and some food set out for them. “We know that Twilight Sparkle and the rest of you have been all running around doing important work lately and have not had a chance to decompress, We bid thee to enter and relax while we talk of matters.”

For some reason Luna’s royal tone didn’t sit well with him though the others seemed to take it in stride. He had heard it before but thought she did it for meetings and such, Pinkie slipped up to him and told him that was she talked nearly all the time.

While there was a nice spread of food there he found the others slightly uncomfortable at his meat eating habits, something he was sourly missing in his diet lately and was glad for. Fluttershy had kept her promise to get him some fish but it was few and far between, mostly he suspected she was too kind hearted to catch them. Dash sat ok with it mostly; though choose not to look in his direction when he got to that part of the meal. Twilight and Spike didn’t look at him during the meal at all, though AJ watched him throughout was a tad weird or disconcerting if he was being truthful, mostly cause of how often he found her eyes in him as if she was afraid to look away from him.

Fluttershy had seen him eat fish before so didn’t care and neither did Pinkie, Rarity had taken a look while he was pulling the meat from a fish and got a little green and politely excused herself for a tad bit, coming back around the time the meal was done.

“My little ponies, if you are all done eating I would like to talk with you all.” She said looking to them all with her ethereal mane blowing in the none-existent wind. “For now though some of my questions are for Velox. I wish to know all you can tell me of The Current and its variations.”

He had a feeling it would come sooner or later, mostly at the hooves of Twilight but it was fine to answer now. “Level One is about condensing the moisture in the air into water which forms around your body to use in various ways, from a spring board for movement to projectiles if you can launch them fast enough. However this process diverts magic from a pegasus’ flight and a few other areas.” Seeing all eyes focused on him and seeing them mostly understanding he continued. “The next level which when I discovered it I thought to be Level Two is really only level one point five, or one and a half. Its condensing the moisture to your body then pumping more mana into it then before and essentially making clouds.”

Rainbow Dash raised her hoof which Velox acknowledge to let her ask the question. “But wouldn’t cloud suit or armor or what not be kinda stupid, I mean only a Pegasus can manipulate it so it would be worthless.”

The dark blue shape-shifter smiled as it was something he thought himself a long time ago. “Kinda, the thing is if you can change the water to clouds at that level you’re sustaining the effort with so much Pegasus magic that any pony can touch them even none living things as well, making them a highly defensive armor that soaks up impacts like a sponge, but problem is you can’t really move around quickly in it.”

Twilight was making a few notes with a quill and paper while Luna and Celestia seemed to be concentrating to make mental notes to put down later. “That is why you couldn’t use it against Bound right, the high output would not only strain your channels and your well but you would gain no offensive capabilities and with the piercing power of his bullets an impact resistant armor isn’t really helpful.”

“Got it in one Twilight.” A smile came to his face at how quickly she got it. “Level Two, the full and true version is a bit harder to do.” Taking a breath he knew this would get more long winded then it was before. “You see the next level is taking those clouds and perpetually stimulate them while condensing them and lacing them into your own coat and mane. In a way merging yourself with it however to do this requires both a lot of concentration as well as mana, you literally have to learn how to stop up your well and keep manipulating clouds at the same time. Least that is the first step.”

“What is the next step?” Of course the excited tone of Dash said she was really looking forward to knowing.

He looked down at his plate as he sighed. “As you condense the clouds down and lace them to yourself you have to do so with only residual mana as your stopping up your well completely at the time.” A gasp from Twilight as well as both Princesses told him they knew how dangerous that was. “It’s a temporary measure that is meant to put pressure on the well itself, you see your well hates not outputting and will increase its own flow to remove blockages. Its why ponies get into pain when another pony leaves mana inside them, the channels are blocked and the well hates that so it continues to pump mana through to clean it out not caring if it damages anything along the way.”

“Oh so that is why…” Dash didn’t say anything further as her blush said it all.

“So what you do is keep pressure on the well till the cloud is laced, you have to do this within moments to a minute before you will find the clouds vanish or your well unplugs itself and that isn’t fun at all.” He gave a shudder as well as seeing both unicorns and both Princesses do the same. “So when you have what you need set up and finally uncork your well, so much mana pours out of it that it stimulates the clouds laced into your coat so that its constantly giving off lightning, and since its all over you and causes-.”

Twilight interrupted with a gasp. “That is insane and very dangerous.” Everyone looked to her except the Princesses who seemed to know what was going to be said. “You create a self perpetuating cycle that will continuously pull from your well regardless of how much it’s putting out, forcing it to keep up the supply till there is nothing left or you burn out. Its why there are no ability loss in that technique is cause you are overclocking your own system beyond what it can do to make it work.”

“Twi, Sugarcube, ah rightly don’t know what ya are goin’ on about, can ya just tone it down so we can understand?” AJ the ever simple and practical one, never one for big words and theory’s said.

The mage sighed and took a deep breath as she gathered her thoughts. “It means it forcefully takes till there is nothing left and without magic a pony…” The all seem to get that.

“That is why I usually shut it off before that happens.” The downcast looks to everyone turned back to him with a hopefully look which he shook his head to. “That in of itself is a problem Pegai are naturally resistant to lightning storms yes, but when your body becomes the storm and suddenly you cut the power off, it all strikes down on you at once. It…tends to stop the heart at worst and at best just leave you sizzling, though more often than not except the worst to happen.”

“Have you tried working the details out to make it safer to use?” Celestia asked in a soft tone of voice, having been silent till that point. “If it could be contained and controlled in a more stable way surely it would be a great boon to all pony kind.”

“I myself have only managed to do it two and a half times now.” Velox told them closing his eyes. “The first time I got the lightning to start but only stayed around for half a second before I realized that I have to stop up the well for it to work. The second time I nearly killed myself and others, and the last time…well everypony here was there.” Suddenly Velox looked beyond everypony there remembering what it’s like inside Level Two. “I wish I could stay like that honestly I do, the world is black and white as if the only light source is what you give it, everything moves only as fast as you want it as you become lightning itself, fast as light, faster than thought, but the cost is so high for only a few moments there even if to you it feels like forever. I stared at Bound for what felt like a year that night, taking in all his features before I struck him down out of the air. I was able to focus lightning to hit each drop of water as he shot it at me as if they were stuck in mid air. The amount of power you have in that form is…”

What ever he was going to say never left his mouth as he just sat there for a good while remembering it. “Kinda sounds like the opposite of a Sonic Rainboom.” The flyer told them all. “I mean ya there feels like a moment when the whole world stops right as you pop through but in the end everything accelerates beyond your understanding in a split second till the world is moving so quick it turns a gray color and you are the only source of color. Though with the Rainboom you don’t die…well unless you ram yourself into the ground but that is with any flying I think.”

That got a round of chuckles from everyone that even made Velox smile. The subject was changed as Twilight was asked about the state of affairs regarding talking to some of the guards to make sure there was no lasting unease about Velox’s presence, something of which he didn’t know was a problem at all. Turns out since he was arrested at one point ponies couldn’t seem to get that out of their mind, coupled with the fact he technically broke out and even taught the killer how to kill made them all skittish and very anxious, so Twilight and Spike were going around talking about him to ease the tension.

Dash had been out flying getting some exercise since she was cleared to do so and was even picking up a few tricks since she had to go slower than normal, though it was rapidly changing each day. Turns out the mana she was producing was nearly as much as normal before her training started so she was quickly almost as fast as she once was and only getting faster.

Pinkie had been going around raising spirits with impromptu parties to make everypony enjoy themselves despite the deaths. Fluttershy and Rarity was a weird team up making some suggestions to some of the decor which apparently Fluttershy was rather talented in. Applejack was the one who was going around helping the guards out in physical training, running and lifting mostly as her natural farm work made her on part or better than all the soldiers at the palace.

“It makes me glad that my little ponies are working so hard for others, I am very proud of you all.” Came the kind voice of the ruler of the sun and half of Equestria. “But unfortunately my time grows short and I would like to speak with Velox here alone with my sister.”

“I haven’t done anything to offend have I Princess?” He was nervous for sure, but he couldn’t remember anything he might have done to upset anypony…except maybe break out, he did kinda do that. ‘Brain chances of that being the problem?’ When his brain reported that it was a fifty percent chance he cursed in his mind.

When the door closed Celestia took a deep breath and spoke. “Both me and my sister wish to know why it is that you and Novo are the same pony?”

Velox’s eyes went wide as he heard the question and felt the blood drain from his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about princess.”

The giant horn on the Alicorn lit up at that as she sighed. “You cannot lie to me right now my little pony, I wish to know how it is you can transform like you do, are you truly a pony at all?”

‘Melting down in three, two, one, HERBLERMASBLAMYAP.’ Velox didn’t blame his brain at all for its reaction; he wished he could do the same but couldn’t. “I-I am a pony Princess, one who has no memory beyond a little over five years ago, as for how I can change, well, that was why I went to Ponyville in the first place, as well as all around the world.” The Princesses sat patiently while listening on how he was Novo and Lego as well as Velox that they were all him and at the same time his brain worked differently so in a way they weren’t. He told them about waking up with no memories and having to be taught by Cascade, how she died and he first transformed. He told them that he had been all over the world and the only thing that any doctor or magic expert would say it that it seemed similar to changeling magic. “In the end, that is why I choose not to say anything to Twilight or anypony till Pinkie when I woke up from being hurt.”

Luna was the first to speak while Celestia took it all in. “We find this power hard to imagine, but Our scrying spell is what alerted Us to it the night you changed to Novo and broke out. As such We seen it with Our own eyes so we know it to be true. What do you think we should do on this matter sister?”

Celestia had been quiet for a long long while now as she had listened and considered the problem. “We do nothing sister. It doesn’t change that he is the Element Bearer’s guard, only that there are one of him instead of three.” Looking up at the Pegasus now she smiled sadly. “I am also sorry that we cannot think of anything that would cause memory loss like you have to such a degree, nor can I think of anything that would cause your fantastical transformative powers. Truly your missing memories are the key to it no doubt as it would be unlikely to not have this potential before your loss. However we wish to ask. If the Elements and their Bearers were in trouble, would you transform to handle it no matter what pony seen?”

“Of course, if it came down to Lego or Novo being better, I would switch to them in a heartbeat even if it meant I lost all my friends for deceiving them.” He said it sadly but meant every word.

Nodding to his answer the day ruler also smiled sadly. “That is your burden then, you can choose to tell them any time but given what all has happened if you do you fear you will lose them. I cannot say if that will happen or not but I can only tell you that Twilight and her friends have big hearts and I believe that they could still be your friend if they knew.”

“I will most likely tell them…one day just I think it is too soon. We have all only known each other a short time.” The Pegasus told her simply lacking much energy in his speech. “Maybe in a year or more or unless I am forced to, I rather it be when I choose.”

Celestia could see how heavy the words were as well as the fact of the new knowledge he had gained today, that there was no pony, no mage, no anything who would help him. “That is all the questions I had for you, I know you must be tired from today so if I think of anything else I will send somepony for you.”

Tired…yes he was so tired. He nodded and just stepped out the door looking for his room to rest.

There had been no more meetings, no more questions, and no more energy to be had for Velox. His friends were worried about him on the way to Ponyville as well as the first few days back and he tried his best to reassure them he was fine, but he wasn’t. He found himself lost and conflicted his thoughts a jumble and he found he was beginning to hate himself for it and it all came to a head one day in Ponyville.

Velox was in his cave having to leave behind the tree house of the librarian who he was temporarily staying with. He like Twilight and didn’t want to throw and break any of her precious books which is why he was here. He was currently breaking and re-breaking his desk till it was a pile of firewood that couldn’t even be identified as the corpse of the desk.

“I am reacting to much to this, I…I need to think about it and not as Velox.” He said to himself in a matter of fact town. “Lego wouldn’t do anything about this, he would just consider all options and I would most likely be here for a week not moving…guess it is Novo to deal with this.”

Transforming into his unicorn form he smiled for a moment feeling the presence of the familiar magic able to be channeled through his horn. A simple spell later and his desk was as good as new as he did one thing he had been wanting to do for a while. He dove right into his cold spring to refresh himself.

Coming up and sputtering slightly he smiled a sad smile. “That is what I need to do, I need to get away and talk to the one person who will know what I should do.”

Writing a quick note to the others telling them that Velox was with Lego and that he was going to be away from Ponyville for a few days, he put it into his saddle bags. ‘Who to give it to, somepony who won’t try to stop me, somepony that will understand my need to get away for a few days.’

He found that pony rather quickly, or rather she found him. “Hey long time no see!” Rainbow Dash said hovering close to him after a small dive to him. “I take it your back from your research stuff? You check on Velox right, he was pretty down about the Bound thing.”

A simple nod was her answer. “Ya, he also told me about his private conversation with the Princesses and honestly it…has me lost as well as Lego and Velox. All of us are unsure what to do but Lego has decided research is the best, Velox wants to do something to get his mind off it, but I…I think I need to go talk to somepony that I know to get my priorities straight.” Levitating the note from his bags he gave it to her. “Tell the others not to worry, I will be back in a few days but I…I just really need to talk to this pony.”

With that he turned away from her and left going to the train station as Dash sat there and read the note.

Mustang Valley is a simple town of only a few hundred or so and a town that Novo hated but had to go through to reach his destination. “I will pass through quick then I should be good.”

“Be good for what?” Came the tomboyish voice that nearly made him jump out of his coat.

Looking over at the top of the train he saw Dash just sitting there. “Huh, what, why, how?”

She just chuckled and smiled. “I am not going to let a friend go somewhere alone when he is lost, I mean it’s like asking me not to try to do awesome tricks with a broken wing, it’s not going to happen no matter how much I want it to.” Hopping down from the top she hovered in front of him. “So where we off to?”

It was too late to tell her to go home, no doubt she had already decided that she was going to do this, and with her ability to fly she could literally follow him anywhere. “We are going down into Bronco Gorge on the former walking path there.”

She smiled and puffed out her chest at remembering something. “Oh I heard about that, it was supposed to be an old Wonderbolt training area about a dozen years ago for its tight curves and turns as well as narrow space.”

Her boastful attitude was just what he needed right now to bring about a smile till that smile was wiped from his face. “Look at that weird mare, that can’t be natural.”

It was a young stallion maybe a few years younger than the two of them, that is if Novo guessed his age right at least, along with a few others. “You sure dats a mare, I unno kinda looks like a colt if you ask me.”

“She aint got no right to be here though with her strange attitude.” Came the voice of the third.

Apparently Dash had heard them and was about to go talk to them when she found herself in the grip of telekinesis. “Trust me, you don’t want to do that.”

“But-” she wanted to argue he could tell but got a look in her eye as she turned her head and huffed. “Fine they aren’t worth it, but it’s cause they aren’t awesome enough to give words too.”

Another smile came as he released her and started walking towards a path he knew would lead them out of town and down a path to the gorge. Along the way though, the cyan companion seemed to keep looking in his direction with a worried look and it was finally starting to get on his nerves.

“Go ahead and ask Dash, I know you have something on your mind.” Novo didn’t care anymore he just wanted to answer her question and get back to his thoughts.

There was a moment where she bit her lip and seemed to want to back out but ended up giving a giant gulp before saying it. “Who is Cascade Nights?” His legs stopped moving as his body stiffened. “I remember you mentioning her at the trial and have been wondering since you seemed like it was important to talk about her.”

“She is who I am here to see.” It was all the answer he could give her through his chocked up voice box.

The competitive and brash Pegasus was silent for a good hour after that, half way between looking to say something else and crying? That last part he was never sure about but he thought he seen tears in her eyes a few times but attributed to the dusty floor of the gorge.

“Is..is she your special somepony?” The green unicorn shook his blonde mane at her and for some reason he heard her sigh in relief.

Walking forward the ground was starting to get rocky and unstable. “Once upon a time she could have been, but…well I never did get to find out. Also watch your footing you need to be care…oh wait your flying never mind, it’s just me that needs to watch where I step then.”

The look she gave him when he mentioned that she could have been was never seen as he was looking down at the ground before him as she flew above it. “Looks like there was a land slide here a few years ago, hope no pony was hurt.”

The unicorn couldn’t stop the tears from hearing that question, he couldn’t answer her but he couldn’t look at her or he wouldn’t be able to stop himself and he needed to go forward.

“Oh hey somepony built a tunnel up ahead.” Her voice was above him as she hovered now pointing in the direction. “We can use that to-hey are you ok?”

His tears had become stronger the closer he came and he was afraid to voice himself now with being so close. He kept hearing his companion talk to him asking him if he was ok as he went down the tunnel.

Dash was more than worried for her friend. She had never seen him this upset and she could feel her own emotions rising up as well, something she didn’t like feeling.

“Look something is bothering you, I know it is, come on and just tell me.” The tomcolt asked almost demanding as they came to an end in the tunnel. “Guess they didn’t finish the tunnel, it’s a perfect chance to stop and-.”

She didn’t get to finish as his horn lit up and touched the wall slightly changing it making a vertical slit in it which he simply placed his hoof against and pushed, making the wall swing open like twin doors.

“Or not…did you know this was here?” Rainbow Dash smiled as she got an answer from him this time with a nod. “Oh neat do you know who made this tunnel or something?”

“You could say that.” Came a voice that nearly broke her heart with how sad it was. She couldn’t find her voice anymore hearing that afraid it may break her own as well.

Not one to admit it openly but the Element Bearer of loyalty was a lot more empathic then she let on, a tad on the dense at times sure but she hurt when her friends hurt and right now she felt as if her heart was breaking for more than one reason.

When the tunnel leveled out to a small room she could see a few things, moss was glowing lighting area up in a soft green glow. A wagon was set inside the area looking just big enough for one maybe two ponies from what she guessed, having seen one of similar design before when that showmare had come to Ponyville.

“Hey Cas, good to see you again.” She heard his voice call as she rapidly turned towards him expecting him to be looking at somepony, instead she only seen him levitating a bouquet of flowers and gently set them down before something.

Rainbow came over to check things out with a smile thinking she was going to be greeting a new pony. “Hey who are you talking to?” She was even more confused as she seen him pulling out cleaning supplies from his bags before she finally got close enough to see.

Novo was polishing a smooth tombstone with a few words written on it: Here lies Cascade Nights. “It’s been a couple of years since I last visited huh.” She couldn’t talk, the lump in her throat was nearly choking her now and forced her to only listen. “So last time I seen you I told you I was heading overseas. Went to Prance, then Germaneigh, Roansha was cold and I caught a cold that delayed me for a week but overall none of them gave me any leads.”

‘Leads for what? I remember Velox telling the kids that one time we played dodge ball that he traveled along way from Equestria but still. Does that mean his brothers went to those same places with him, and looking for what?’ She stayed silent as he continued.

“Saddle Arabia had no answer even if the lead did say the same things I heard before, Tai-Whinny had nothing as well, and pointed me to Cant-o. I came from there back to Equestria and luckily I heard a lead there, but had to rush to Manehatten. I still dislike Photo Finish but she led me to a place where, though I didn’t get answers, did led me to the ones who could give them to me: Celestia and Luna.” His tone was becoming increasingly heartbreaking even as he tried to sound upbeat for talking to the grave. “Celestia…”

Dash could feel tears running down her muzzle as his voice broke, nearly wanting to go hug him to at least relieve herself of the pain she was feeling. ‘I didn’t know he was hurting so much, what did the Princess say to Velox that would do this?’

“Celestia…” He broke again before Dash seen the tears flowing freely now. “She said that she didn’t know, that she had never heard of anything like this and didn’t know any way to get my memories back that even her student wouldn’t know. It was the last chance I had, it means there is no where left to look, I am sorry I just…I can’t do this anymore! I can’t keep looking for empty leads, when I know there is no more for me to look for.”

This was it for her, she watched as he collapsed before the grave and started crying. She quickly went over to him and hugged him and nuzzled him as quickly as she could sharing his pain and his tears.

The mare felt him turn towards her and look at her. “I, We have no memories Dash. Velox, Lego, and I have no memories from before about five and a half years now. We have been everywhere, not only asking police stations if anypony has heard of us hoping beyond hope that somepony has put out a search for us, that we have left somepony important behind but…nothing. There is no one, pony, griffon, dragon, anything that knows who we are. We are so alone, and most of all we failed to keep a promise to Cascade.”

Dash wasn’t as able to pick up lies as AJ was but she could tell that he wasn’t telling her everything, and that was fine with her. With how much pain she could feel from him right now, she was slightly sad she hadn’t been able to feel Lego’s or Velox’s pain about this subject.

“We were supposed to be starshifters, ponies who would go around and help others change their destinies, it was our promise to Cascade we would get our memories back and do this, not just for ourselves but for her and others. Bound ruined that name by trying to end stars without changing them, but in the end we are all bound aren’t we?!” He rested his head against her neck and just simply mumbled quietly while wetting her neck with his tears. “We aren’t a shifter at all, we are just a star…a star bound like all the others and can’t move. I…I can’t keep this name anymore, I am just Star now.”

Dash wasn’t sure if she did this on purpose or if it was subconsciously but she pressed her forehead against the base of his horn and lightly pressed her mana into him in a slow trickle to be soothing. “It’s alright, it’s alright, it doesn’t matter if you shift stars or not, you brighten up the sky for others and sometimes that is enough. Just be a bright star and lighten up the night for everypony.”

She could feel him relax and slowly fall asleep in her hooves even as his mana pressed lightly into her as if to hold onto that comfort she was given, though she herself wasn’t able to sleep, instead she was silently crying still, doing so that he didn’t have to anymore, that and she came to a realization. “Didn’t ever think that this would happen at least for me, Twilight had a better chance, Rarity and Fluttershy for sure but me…that is a shock.”

On the train ride home Novo explained how the canyon had fell on them and he had to restrain Dash from flying out the window to punch some face of the town they were leaving. “It’s over and done with, you can’t change the past, only remember it so as to try to not make the same mistakes.”

He felt Dash place her neck against his own and no longer try to stop her. Honestly he didn’t want to, it felt nice and her comfort he found comforted himself as well. ‘Doesn’t help she smells so nice as well, the scent of clouds, sky, and rain as if she were the air itself personified, free spirited and willing to go anywhere she wishes. As well as…spicy? Why does that smell familiar yet different.’

He couldn’t remember where he had smelt the scent before but he didn’t care at the moment. Just having somepony to lean against and soak in their warmth was comforting to him. Pinkie may have been his friend and confidant right now, whose hugs were really nice but…if he had to choose he would pick Dash’s hugs and presence every time

“This is nice.” He heard her say as if speaking for them both. “I am not much of a cuddler but this isn’t bad, not as good as a cloud bed mind you, but close.”

That last part seemed to be improvised quickly but it made him smile. “I will take your word for it, but ya, this is nice.”

He felt her place her forehead at the base of his horn and while it made him blush feeling her press her mana into him he knew it was for comfort like at the bottom of the gorge and he welcomed it pressing a bit of his own back. He didn’t care what it meant for others to meld like this, that it was supposed to be intimate but he considered the fact that she was willing to do this to comfort him even more sacred and precious then what other ponies did with it and couldn’t care less how they perceived it.

“I think I will tell my brothers your recommendation.” Keeping his eyes closed as he heard her give a small sound of curiosity. “Bright Star sounds like a good name.”

He opened his eyes to see her looking at his with surprise wings half raised no doubt for the same reason. “R-really?”

Nodding and pressing against her a bit more he smiled. “Ya, I think I like that name.”

Her smile lit up his life but it came to an end when they heard that they were about to stop at Ponyville causing them to pull back. However as they did both Novo and Dash noticed something. A small luminescent string connected their foreheads for a moment before vanishing.

“That was strange, what was it?” She asked him for him to only shrug as he didn’t know and rubbing her wings some which he guessed was due to them being cramped in a small cabin for nearly a day while riding back to Ponyville.

“Residual mana perhaps? I don’t feel anything wrong so its most likely not important.” Pressing his forehead back against her to share his mana with her, which she joined in for, just for another moment he sighed and pulled away along with her. “Hope you are not in too much trouble for taking three days off to follow me.”

She waved her hoof at that with a smile. “Na Thunderlane is covering for me since he owed me for not busting him for that thing I caught him doing.”

Raising an eyebrow he simply asked. “That thing?”

Rainbow just chuckled and told him about it. He would never look at Thunderlane the same ever again.

Darkness was a bound everywhere, so dark that it seemed to drain the light from the area. If anypony were around they would hear a soft raspy breathing as if it was filled with dust and very weak, struggling to draw in breath. Through the darkness two eyes slowly opened revealing their ruby red color. “It will be mine again.” Echoed from the darkness before the eyes closed and the voice went back to sleep for now, the breaths slowing down but no longer stopping as it had before.

Author's Notes:

I am going to put my authors note here at the bottom, Anyone willing to voice their opinions tell me, Top or bottom.

Ummm.

What is it brain?

Switch your thinking to dirty mode and you will see what is wrong with what you said.

.....oh.....ummm...What I meant was. Do you all like it when I put the authors notes at the top or bottom...I made this awkward didnt it?

Yes...yes you did