Of all the ones who came before, we are the few who believe that nothing is truly impossible to a willing heart, so long as we stand strong, together at the end.

~ Excerpt translated from The Star Order Chronicles: The Founders Proverb

/ / / High above the Crystal Mountains / / /

Shindrah groaned weakly as she forced an eye open, the pain torturing her body only just bearable, subdued by the reassuring breeze and undulations of flight. Instinctively she squeezed the item clutched close to her chest, drawing it further into her embrace. The cold stone heart was still there, its reflective surface mirroring her pained expression as her gaze found it even in the near pitch black.

Despite its seemingly powered down state the artifact was pleasing to look at, its shape perfectly cut, and the texture smooth to the touch. It may have just been the magpie on her mother’s side, but a small part of her mind wished for her to keep it. She crushed that idea without a second thought; the heart was an integral part of Master’s plan.

Master. That word sent a shiver down her spine, a shiver of glee as she finally took notice of her surroundings, of the inky black scales and leathery skin that surrounded her in an impenetrable cocoon.

Shindrah felt herself tense, though not out of fear, more in the realization of just how small she really was in this world. For all her skills as a warrior, all she had accomplished during her admittedly short life, she could still be held within Master’s closed fist.

Finally allowing herself to relax in the knowledge that she was safe Shindrah took note of how warm she was, despite remembering being nearly frozen to the bone when the fighting had begun. Shifting her body to the side quickly revealed the source of her welcomed comfort, for the scales underneath her held the faintest traces of light within them, flickering and red like firelight.

Master was truly generous, sharing some of his inner fire with her, the very thing that perpetuated his existence was warming her chilled body and soothing her wounds. The act humbled her, made her hate the part of herself that had been weak enough to allow herself to be damaged in such a way. She was but a mere trinket in Master’s hoard, for him to expend a part of himself on her behalf made her sick. She was unworthy of his kindness.

Shindrah wanted to weep, Master had chosen her for this task himself, one of his most prized possessions, and she had allowed a mistake to bring him harm. With a quiet sob a single tear rolled down her cheek and fell to the warm scales. Truly, she was undeserving.

Just as her self indictment threatened to break her down further Shindrah felt the flesh around her flex, the scaled fingers slowly closing in around her as the fist tightened. She lowered her head as the little chamber shrank down to nearly nothing, convinced that perhaps Master had changed his mind, that perhaps he had come to a similar conclusion and that it would now be best to simply be rid of a broken trinket than waste time mending it.

The very moment when Shindrah convinced herself the fingers she had witnessed crush diamonds were about to do the same to her they stopped, holding her close before the gentlest hint of a squeeze wrapped her body in a pleasant warmth.

He truly did care, she realized after a moment, nuzzling her cheek into the embrace as she finally got herself under control. With a contented sigh she laid back down as the fingers loosened their grip to give her some space to move about again, the gentle warmth of the scales a welcome reassurance. She could be angry with herself if she wished, but ultimately she belonged to Master, and as such was his to do with as he pleased. If he saw fit to restore that which was his, then it was his decision alone.

With exhaustion edging her back towards sleep the young Griffon tucked her head under her wing, her eyes taking one last look at the heart with thoughts of the wonderful world Master would build for them floating through her mind as she drifted off.

/ / / Canterlot royal castle / / /

As the door slowly closed behind him with a soft click Star Swirl wanted nothing more than to blurt his questions out to the world, there were so many the number that filled his conscious nearly drowned him in their cacophony for attention. The colt’s mind raced as he attempted to analyze and process each one in turn.

The more Star Swirl thought about the past day’s events the more perplexed he became. Why, for instance, had the royal pregnancy been kept secret from the Order? True enough they were not directly involved with the protection of the Sovereign family, nor did they hold a place amongst the nobles. Still, since even before King Terra’s coronation the Star Order had served the throne existing as keepers of the peace, and disciples of Harmonies Light.

Perhaps it was foalish of him to dwell on such things, surely there had to be a sensible reason. Though if that were the case, what reason would be compelling enough to hide such a rarity as the birth of a new Princess? With a soft snort of irritation Star Swirl lowered his head, eyes scanning the floor absentmindedly as he walked. Seemingly no matter which avenue the young apprentice’s mind explored he found the likely possibilities rather troubling.

A chilling thought occurred to him then, something most troubling indeed. War. The thought was discarded almost immediately upon its submission, the very idea of such a thing. The practice of war had long since been cast aside by nearly all races, shunned and buried under countless amounts of time. True enough there were small skirmishes every now and again between disgruntled neighbors. Even the enigmatic Alicorns had, on occasion, sullied their hooves with the essence of others.

Though he was loath to admit it, the possibility remained, nibbling at the back of his mind like a parasite and growing from a mere shadow of doubt into unignorable paranoia. He recalled recent letters received from brothers of the Order far abroad, telling of strange and worrying behaviors displayed by other races across the lands. Long isolated Minotaur tribes coming together and roaming the wilds, entire Griffon flocks simply up and vanishing over night, and Dragons not seen for millennia suddenly appearing in the skies.

It brought shame to Star Swirl’s heart as he found himself further questioning the recent actions of his rulers. If they had so readily hidden this from their eyes, then what else had been kept from them? Was something so terrible as war truly creeping up on pony kind? The thought sounded so accusatory to him, surely to have put it to words would have left a bitter sting on his lips.

Still though, logic reminded him that if every other option had been explored and ruled out then whichever one remained, regardless of how implausible, must be the correct choice. No, there had to be something else there that he was not seeing. Star Swirl sucked in a deep breath as he counted the soft hoof falls around him, the sounds echoing rhythmically off the marble floor calming his frayed nerves. He just needed to remember what master Luminescent always said in trying times, that there was always a reason.

Star Swirl blew the air out through his nostrils in one long gust, reinstating order and control over his mental domain, fear and mistrust served no purpose here save to bring solidity unto fact. He trusted his King and Queen, that was a fact, a fact that he reached out and grasped firmly. If they saw fit to hide something so monumental as the birth of their child, then a reason there most certainly was. If only he could see it.

So engrossed was Star Swirl in his own thoughts that he nearly ran snout into flank as the group stopped ahead of him, a nose full of tail jarring him from his ponderings and beckoning the young mage back into reality. He snorted as Silver Spark swished him in the face with a knowing smile before gesturing towards master Luminescent, the elderly stallion having taken pause to speak with a passerby.

“Ah, Rush my boy, it has been quite some time has it not?” Luminescent greeted, his tone jovial and genuine as ever in spite of his noticeable exhaustion. “Running about burning that midnight oil I see,” he added with a warm smile, gesturing at the loaded down state of the newcomer.

“Yes, well it has been rather busy around here as of late,” the reddish orange Pegasus replied crisply, a wing moving to stabilize the load of assorted items nestled upon his back. Everything a new foal might have need of, or want, be it fresh linens, milk, toys, or even her birth certificate paperwork, was all neatly arranged and ready for use. “Did all go as hoped?” Rush asked, his other wing unfurling to reveal a list for his eyes to inspect. “When I heard that the apprentices had finally returned I made all haste bearing additional necessities.”

“Indeed it did,” Luminescent reassured, offering a tired yet certain smile. “The little highness has been retrieved from her travels beyond the veil, and secured by the love that bore her. You will find the family in restful acquainting within.” He added with a sweeping gesture to the rear, indicating the bedchambers from whence he had come.

Rush couldn’t help a small smile of his own as a wave of relief washed over the visibly disheveled Pegasus, the tension flooding away as he allowed the good news to sink in. “Sunny skies above,” he whispered under a relaxing breath, massaging his temple with a wingtip. “This truly is wonderful news, thank you good sir. Thank you all!”

Having already lost himself to his own thoughts yet again Star Swirl only managed the slightest of nods in acknowledgment as the others exchanged their parting words and polite gestures. His mind was elsewhere, hard at work and with little time to spare on such things.

The more pressing matter on his mind currently fell along the lines of, ‘how had she done it?’ He knew Stardust Jade to be a potent alchemist, possibly unrivaled in the art from what he had seen. Even so, how? Short of forbidden necromancy he was at a loss to explain what he had witnessed. At first it had made for a rather cathartic mental exercise, until it was realized his, admittedly limited, knowledge on the subject at hoof was insufficient to replicate her results.

Sneaking a calculating glance across the hall Star Swirl was gratified to catch a rather irritated expression occasionally flash over Star Shine’s face, her wavy bangs doing little to hide her scowl and clenched jaw. It was refreshing to see the favored student of high master Luminescent Star undoubtedly struggling with the same problem, and apparently finding as little in the way of answers as himself. If that were the case, he would need to do some research, as there would almost certainly be a test on the matter.

As much as Star Swirl loved taking tests, he loved the unearthing of fresh knowledge and unraveling the mysteries of the world even more. It was nearly an obsession in his youth, and had led to his discovery by the order. After all, it was not very often an eight year old Unicorn foal came along with the raw power and talent to hatch a Dragon’s egg, now was it.

The slightest of smiles graced Star Swirl’s muzzle for one brief moment, his task oriented mind allowing the preserved memories to flow through in place of his work, brief flashes of those early days. He was quite fond of them, those times spent practicing his first spells of levitation and illumination. By Terra, his poor mother when he had perfected voice amplification and shattered every window in the hamlet…

That was the first time he had realized the dangers hidden within magic, the first time he had felt regret through its use and learned just how wild it could be if not treated with respect. As a result he had sworn himself to learning everything there was to know about the force of nature pony kind had named as magic and learn it he had. Well, after he had immediately attempted to amend his mistake by fixing the windows, and caused the shards of glass to explode like fireworks. The town had not been happy with him…

However, just as the town had rebuilt, so to had his hunger for understanding magic. He had sought it out, observing its processes everywhere he found it at work. He marvelled as he began to understand just how completely its presence filled the world around him, surrounding all things and binding them together.

It was during this revelation that Star Swirl made a discovery that would forever change him. It was the way magic worked, that on its most fundamental level, was completely unbiased. It spread out evenly despite what that entailed, granting the demure Breezies the gift of flight, only to then power the winds that swept the unwary from their homes. How grass could grow from soil otherwise unfit for life, to reach for the sky yet be set aflame by lightning filled clouds.

Magic simply was, it was fact, as much a governing law as gravity or the sun, it was a cornerstone of their world. A stone that knew nothing of friend or foe; magic held no ties to ally nor stranger. Which is what had frightened him the most. If a force of such power could be bent to his own childish will, then who was to say it could not be harnessed by those who sought ill will towards others.

That is what drove him, the knowledge that others would inevitably seek the same strength that he himself had only seen mere glimpses of, and do far worse with it than break a few panes of glass. Star Swirl had vowed to himself to be one of the few who would stand between those who fought only for themselves, and those who could not fight for themselves. Then one day Master Luminescent came to his school with a test, a test which he had passed, granting him a chance to honor his vow.

Now, nearly ten years later, Star Swirl felt he truly could make a difference when the time came. He had studied hard under the instruction of the Order, gleaning more knowledge than many acquired over a lifetime. Yet there was always more, just when he thought the last secrets of magic had been laid bare before him, his world would be shattered by the next he found. Always more to learn, to comprehend, to drive him forward. Always a reason.

Star Swirl gave a heartfelt sigh under his breath as he allowed the glimmer of another faint smile to grace his lips, the final piece of that particular memory reminding him once again of Luminescent’s most favored proverb. It always helped, he thought, to think back on the words of those that earned your trust.

This brought him back to the dilemma surrounding his beloved King and Queen. Had they truly earned his trust, not simply bought it with their titles or birthright? Star Swirl tasked his mind with pouring over every instance of having interactions with the royals, regardless of perceived relevance, every bland court summons, ball, and chance encounter in the castle halls. Every meeting from first to last, each weighed and evaluated.

The more Star Swirl thought, the faster he allowed his mind to race, the more at ease he began to feel. The slight smile adorning his muzzle grew as he remembered all the words of advice and genuine concern over the years, words that came from ponies who cared about him on a personal level, ponies who had grown to trust him. Ponies who had just trusted him with the life of their own daughter, their own flesh and blood. To think, that he stood here now with even the slightest doubt in his heart.

Star Swirl’s thoughts earlier had betrayed him, finding fault where he knew there to be none. Still, he found the path to his renewed trust both edifying and cathartic. It was difficult for him to admit, but this was not the first time such thoughts had showed themselves. Though it was certainly the first time he had shown them any significant attention. Perhaps it was merely paranoia, suspicion harbored by a tired mind.

The rich earthy scent of fresh cut mountain pine tickled Star Swirl’s nose as the little group left the corridor for one of the castle’s grand gathering rooms. Their hoof falls echoed faintly in the otherwise quiet chamber. They passed by several large fireplaces crackling away with pops and snaps, doing their level best to fight back the cold creeping in from the outside. A left here would lead one further into the castle to the lavish ballrooms, and eventually the throne room beyond.

The group of Unicorns turned instead to the right, making for a scarcely used set of doors midway down the far wall, the threshold leading them out into the crisp morning air. A flagstone patio greeted them there, its stones arranged in a checkered pattern of marble and onyx, light and dark. Beyond this the flagstones gave way to a short flight of stairs leading down into the gardens surrounding the east side of the castle. Then the mountain peak surrounded with the glow of Aeterna’s sun behind.

Star Swirl blinked up at the orange sky as his eyes adjusted to the new light, the snow laden clouds gathered overhead catching the radiance with a look of being set aflame. Doing his best to ignore the hulking forms of the Paladin guards watching from the shadows behind he drew in a deep breath, shivering slightly as the frigid air filled him. For a moment, he was back in the Crystal Mountains, a yeti howling from somewhere just out of view…

Dismissing the haunting memory to be dealt with at a later date and having had quite enough trials and peril for one night, Star Swirl decided it was high time to focus on the happier events of the past day. A new princess for instance! He could scarcely believe it, the birth of a new Alicorn was a true rarity! In truth, Celestia had been the only one thus far in his lifetime.

He was just beginning to ponder on the possible effects Luna’s birth could have amongst the Alicorn society politically, when he was prodded from thought by a rather rude jab of a hoof. Turning his head with a grunt Star Swirl was not surprised in the slightest at who had interrupted him.

“What do you want, Silver?” Star Swirl grumbled, his tone more irritable than intended but served to advertise what he thought of the silver pony’s earlier actions. It was fair to say he was slightly het up about the whole encounter. Star Swirl was not particularly fond of Yetis…

“Oh not you too,” Silver Spark muttered with a sigh, his ears drooping. “I was just given the verbal lashing of my life from Shine; I thought maybe it would be safer over here with you.” He added, voice turning into a childish whimper at the end.

Star Swirl experienced a moment of genuine confusion at that statement, surprised at how seemingly little thought his companion had placed on the post evaluation of his actions. Actions that had placed their task, neigh, Luna’s very life into jeopardy. Which was not something Star Swirl was willing to forgive lightly.

“Then your logic remains as flawed as ever, Silver,” Star Swirl stated sternly. He swished his tail for emphasis, wishing to highlight his words in the hope that they might stick this time. “Have you really no conscious thought inside that thick cranium of yours? That perhaps there is good reason for us to be cross with you?”

Silver Spark bit his lower lip, his eyes flicking to the side, lost in thought. “Um, because there is always a reason?” He eventually replied quietly, a sheepish grin creeping over his muzzle. Though he still flinched slightly when the other pony released a sharp sigh.

Star Swirl pressed a hoof to his temple for a moment before fixing Silver Spark with a halfhearted glare. “Do not misquote ancient proverbs at me, Silver. It is unbecoming to hide your own mistakes behind their wisdom,” he stated flatly, though his ire had cooled considerably. Even still, he had one last thing to add. “You are no fool, Silver Spark. I simply wish you would act as such…”

“I meant no disrespect to the proverbs,” Silver Spark retorted softly, his tone honest and firm. “I only meant that there is always a reason for you to be cross with me,” he continued sweetly, any sense of seriousness vanishing with the retreating shadows. “A reason that I provide!”

Star Swirl stopped, his hooves scraping at the ground in time with the grinding between his ears as he stared blankly at his fellow. “Do you even hear yourself?” He balked disbelievingly as the other pony continued after the others. “I do not know what Star Shine might have had to say to you, but clearly it was far too kind! Do you honestly not understand the amount of danger your rash actions and poor planning brought down on us? And do not try to make me believe that they simply spotted you, others may have come to doubt your ability, but I know better.”

Silver offered no reply, choosing merely to pause and wait for Star Swirl to catch up with him. He barely seemed to notice as the fuming Unicorn walked up beside him, a gaze more curious than angry burning for answers as their eyes met for a brief moment.

“So what was it then?” Star Swirl eventually demanded after what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, the question hanging in the air, neither pony really wanting to touch it. “Fine then, I shall entertain a guess and say that you have grown so arrogant in your abilities as to believe yourself incapable of fault or failure, is that right? Or perhaps you saw a chance to finally prove your superiority, by drawing attention to yourself yet coming through victorious you hoped to catch favor with Luminescent.”

Silver Spark stiffened with every word as though he were being struck, yet not a sound left him as they walked. His silence only seemed to push Star Swirl on however, something poisonous trailing along underneath his tenor.

With an aggressive step Star Swirl placed himself in Silver’s path, stopping him with a look that said they weren’t going anywhere. “Or did you just get bored, hmm, is that it? You just happened to spot a group of the most vicious predators in the entire Frozen North and think, ‘well that looks like fun,’ is that about right, Silver Spark?!”

For a moment Star Swirl almost regretted his words, thinking that he had gone too far as he watched Silver slump, his usual cocky grin nowhere to be seen. It was then that Star Swirl realized the trap that he, as likely also Star Shine, had just walked right into. Silver was quietly chuckling under his breath, a mischievous glint in his eye…

Relaxing his stance Silver met Star Swirl’s gaze for a moment, offering a weak smile. “Correct on all accounts,” he confessed. “You are right; I did come across a group of Yeti, a hunting pack, to be precise. After keeping an eye on them for a few minutes I soon realized that they had the scent of something tasty,” Silver paused for a moment, waggling his eyebrows. “You…”

Star Swirl allowed an annoyed groan to escape his lips as they curled back into a grimace, he wanted to interrupt that smug look before it could completely cover the other pony’s face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Silver beat him to the draw.

“See, I knew that retrieving my item would not be enough if anything happened to you,” Silver continued, pressing his point with a dramatic flourish of his hooves. “That and Luminescent would never forgive me. So I valiantly drew off as many as I could, collected my ingredient, and then avoided those nasty brutes all the way back to where I also knew I could count on running into you again. As good as I am Swirly, even I wouldn’t last long against that many without at least a decent distraction,” Silver said, stalking around his friend in a close circle as he continued.

“So yes, technically I did attract the yeti with intentions of fighting them. Yes I drew you into it and yes, I held high hopes that master Luminescent would notice me,” Silver added, bumping his shoulder into Star Swirl's ribs as he passed by and headed off to catch the others.

“As far as my faults and failures are concerned, well... We are here are we not?” Silver Spark called back over his shoulder with the biggest shit eating grin Star Swirl had ever seen in his life. The laughter that followed only further crumbling away his attempts at processing what had just been said.

Star Swirl was left conflicted to say the least, able to do little more than sputter half formed words as he vacantly watched Silver Spark strut away. The lightness in his gait suggested that Silver knew full well the effectiveness of his reveal. So complete was Star Swirl’s defeat that it was nearly a full minute before he could muster the will to follow. His brain found the act of motion beyond its grasp, only having the strength available for one thought.

“I hate him,” Star Swirl finally managed with a deep groan, forcing his hooves to move despite his brains objections. The logic giving organ wished only to curl up into a ball and wait for his mother to come and tell him he was still her little shining star. Maybe then the world would be alright…

/ / / / / /

Passing one final hedgerow the group of equines left the castle grounds proper, trading the manicured lawns and flowering bushes for wild soil and rocks and making their way along a bordering row of trees until they reached a path that led further up the mountain side and out of the city. It was an easily missed thing, little more than a dirt trail one might suspect lead to nothing at all.

After having had a few minutes alone with her thoughts, Star Shine quickened her pace. She pushed forward to walk beside her master, a single question seeking an answer that eluded her. She took pause however, finding herself uncertain as how to ask about such things as she caught Luminescent’s eye.

Seeing his student’s hesitation however, Luminescent took the initiative as he often did, motioning for Stardust to carry on while he slowed to speak with his student. Once they had gained some privacy he fixed his gaze with Star Shines’, his eyes searching hers for a moment before he spoke.

“What brings your heart trouble, Star Shine?” He asked, though something told the young mare he already knew the answer. “You and the others did well, all the land has reason to praise your names this day. So why the long face?”

Star Shine grimaced, she had several reasons for initiating this dialogue, with the most important weighing heavily upon her mind. “Forgive me master, but I find myself, conflicted,’ she said after a moment. Her eyes scanned the ground as they walked, avoiding eye contact.

“Conflicted?” Luminescent asked, drawing the word out as he said it, almost as though it were unfamiliar to him. “On what matter my student?”

Star Shine finally raised her head, looking to the trail further ahead, her resolve strengthening. “It has to do with this latest task, the objectives you gave us were simple enough. However, as with every quest in the past I had assumed there to be some test involved,” she said simply, though with some amount of hesitation. “I, feel as though I may have failed that test in some way. If I have, then I am sorry if that has resulted in me letting you down.”

“My dear Star Shine,” Luminescent replied kindly, his eyes sparkling with praise despite their dull unfocused nature. “As with all things in life there was indeed a test meant for all of you, one that many must take.”

“Then, did I pass this test master?” star Shine asked, her voice growing distressed. “Please, I must know.”

“That is a question only you can answer, Star Shine. Because only once you find your answer can the test ever truly be completed,” Luminescent riddled, giving her a reassuring smile as he began to walk faster. He left her once he saw her mind working over his words. “But remember this, all life has value, and that it should never be taken lightly.”

Offering her mentor a nod as he continued on, Star Shine stood alone with her thoughts a moment longer. She tried to decide for herself whether the yetis that had lost their lives that night could match the little princess in value and whether or not she had indeed passed her test…

/ / / / / /

From his far off perch in the branches of an aged iron wood tree, a wise old owl watched with unblinking eyes as the group of ponies began their trek up the mountain side. He had watched these creatures for a very long time now, several of the little group since the day they were born.

It was most gratifying to see they had all made it this far, at least one was of great importance in concern to the events ahead. Another carried a secret so profound that it could very well change everything. Should it ever come to light…

With a satisfied nod of his head the owl spread his wings and soared silently away, time was running short, and there was somewhere he soon needed to be. Always he watched, yet never interfered.

/ / / / / /

Rounding a final bend in the trail the group of equines came upon the hidden entrance to a small cave. The opening little more than a crevice between two shadow covered boulders, only just large enough to allow a pony to enter. It was a rather unassuming place, one out of hundreds of other caves hidden amongst the crags of the mountain, nothing more than a hole to those ignorant to its true nature. Which was the point really.

Waiting for the masters to enter before the apprentices followed Silver Spark held back, glancing back down the mountainside at the distant castle far below. His eyes squinted in the morning sun. “Not that I would complain about the matter, but why do we always walk up that perilous trek?” He muttered with a groan, stretching his withers before stepping into the gloom of the cave. “I am just saying, perhaps next time we teleport instead, just to say we tried it.”

Star Shine gave Silver a look that said she wished to berate him some more but her jaw clicked shut as Master Luminescent began to chuckle from his place at the front of the line. His mirth was surprising given his outward exhaustion.

“The hike helps build character,” Luminescent finally offered once his good natured laughter had subsided. Then fixing his student with an odd smile that the apprentice couldn’t quite place. “Now hurry along, all of you,” he added, motioning further into the cave. “The apprentices need a hot meal, and I think we could all do with some rest.”

“Speak for yourself,” Stardust grumbled as she pushed up next to Luminescent. “All these old bones want right now is a hot bath,” she added as they came to the end of the passage. The wall ahead was a rather convincing slab of stone that held a completely natural appearance.

The illusion was perfect, completely undetectable to any who didn’t know what to look for and even then, could prove difficult to expose. From this side…

Star Swirl watched as the pair of masters disappeared through the concealment barrier, their very blood acting as a key to allow them entry into the passage beyond. The complexities behind the magical barrier had long since fallen into the mundane for him. Yet as Star Swirl watched Star Shine disappear without a trace a part of his mind still marvelled at the craftsmanship of the spell. According to master Luminescent the illusion had been in place since the very first high master of the order had created it, more than a thousand years ago…

Even knowing full well the barrier was there Star Swirl could feel it working its illusions upon him, his mind wishing to focus on anything but the wall of ‘stone’ ahead of him. It was as if he knew it was there but remained incapable of acknowledging its existence; the simple act of walking towards it without turning away required a great deal of mental effort.

As he stepped closer however, the effect dissipated. It vanished completely as his body made contact with the magic making up the illusion, the enchantments recognizing his right to be there. Without even the slightest of detectable sensations Star Swirl stepped through. The only noticeable difference to the other side was the air in this part of the cave was a scant few degrees warmer, that and the faint glow of sunlight coming from just around a slight bend ahead.

“Blasted thing, makes me dizzy,” Silver muttered as he trotted up alongside. He shook his head with an annoyed look on his face. With a scowl he looked back at the passage behind them no sign of the barrier in sight, just the empty cave. “Someday, I am going to fix that.”

“Silver,” Star Swirl muttered flatly, a hoof rubbing at his temple. “The last time I heard you say that, you nearly burned down the training room.”

Silver Spark rolled his eyes, “allegedly,” he retorted, making a face when Star Swirl looked away.

Letting out a small snort Star Swirl shook his head, hiding a small smile as he moved towards the exit. “Just hurry along you fool, I am tired of being cold.”

The pair of apprentices emerged from the cavern, stepping from the dank tunnel into a hidden mountain sanctuary. Sheer walls of stone shielded the ravine before them from the worst of the elements. Moss and vines covered the rocks, growing down towards the laughing little stream that flowed along the middle, bringing life and song to what would have otherwise been no more than a rocky ditch.

At the far end of this little eden stood an ancient tree, its tallest branches nearly the height of the surrounding walls and only just catching the first rays of the morning sun. The bare branches shone a burnt gold as the light filtered down, glittering off of the nights remaining frost. The sounds of dripping were only just discernible against the stream playing over the stones of its bed.

A fair distance ahead the masters and Star Shine had reached the base of the great tree, the trunk of which had been hollowed out in the traditional Earth Pony style in order to make a living home. Star Swirl watched with mild envy as they entered the doubtlessly warmer interior, Shine likely already regaling the others with his less than admirable performance.

Choosing to ignore that likelihood, and having noticed that once again Silver Spark had lagged behind. Star Swirl turned back, the barest trace of interest in his voice. “Are you coming, Silver? Or have you actually decided to ruminate on your actions for once?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes. Never you mind, Swirly. I shall be along in a moment,” Silver Spark replied absentmindedly, his attention clearly elsewhere. His eyes seemed locked at the stream that flowed along near their path, searching amongst the rocks as the water ambled past.

After a few moments of silence Silver heard Star Swirl turn and continue on up the hill to the house, muttering as he often did when lost deep in his thoughts. When he was certain that he was alone Silver leaned down towards the water, listening intently, clearing his mind so as to better hear the world around him.

There was the louder more obvious trickling of the stream, the slight whispers of the wind overhead, and the occasional creaking of the old tree house. Otherwise, all was silent and peaceful, not so much as a hint of birdsong or even the rustling of leaves, it was quiet.

Then, just as he had decided that it was nothing, that he had simply imagined the noise that had drawn his attention and could turn away, he heard it. It was small, barely significant above the other sounds of the nature around him, faint and timid, but eerily out of place. The sound that perked his ears was like cracking ice, or glass that had been tested too far, like if you pushed too hard until it simply-

Snap!

Next Chapter: VI: Infinitum Nihil Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 9 Minutes