*~*One Year Ago*~*
"...and I would like to conclude this lecture by asking whether anypony has any questions on today's topic."
Several hooves shot up and the professor pondered on who he would call upon first. His eyes focused on a maroon unicorn mare near the back. "Yes Ms. Dusk? What would you like to ask our guest speaker?"
"Mr. Star, I'm confused. Did you say that the War of Madness or the Lunar Schism was the most influential event that shaped modern Equestria?"
"I believe I said it was my opinion that the War of Madness shaped us the most, but the real answer would be: it's up to you. Both Discord and Nightmare Moon's existence shaped our current understanding on what is society and what we know of harmony. Of course, we wouldn't even have learned the value of harmony without the Unification and the Eternal Heart... so it all depends on your own viewpoint and understanding of what you research. If what you currently know doesn't give you a basis of opinion, I would then recommend that you commit to further research time on the topics and then ask yourself what would be more influential."
The mare nodded and the speaker continued on to a stallion pegasus. "Yes Trident?"
He stood up, "Mr. Star, I've noticed that you always talk about the examples of past ponykind in shaping current world history and society, but does prehistory..." he looked for the right way to word his question, "...can it affect our understanding of ourselves?"
The speaker smiled at his question, "Yes. Prehistory has mainly be tied in with mostly geological timeline and geological structure... so first you have to see that early equines were always dependent on how the land was and that... that form of prehistoric information, such as mountain ranges, river systems, fields and deserts... the very shape of our world define the shape of us and our society."
The pegasus quietly nodded as he scribbled down notes for further study. "And with that said, could it have been possible for life to have evolved to a similar state as us in the past?"
The speaker knew why the student asked him specifically. He always seemed to have these kinds of students. "Well, all I can say is: I don't know... exactly. It is entirely within the realm of rationality and possibility, on top of which there has been reported evidence supporting such a theory... but we still don't know for certain."
He paused to look at the clock hanging on the wall, letting the student jot down a few more points.
"There is however, many great findings by such people as the legendary Clover the Clever and even the great Starswirl the Bearded. If such prestigious minds decided to devote their time to such a study, then it may not be as farfetched as people think," he concluded.
The professor nodded happily and went over to shake the speaker's hoof. "That you very much Mr. Crescent Star, your talk was very informational." He turned back to the class. Which reminds me to tell you all: finish your papers on the comparison between Clover's passive magic style and Starswirl's bolder style and how they formed the backbone of modern magical practice..."
As if on cue, the bell rang with a magical glow and clear sound.
"I want them on my desk, in my office, by next week!" he called out as his students walked out the door.
The professor once again turned to the speaker. "Once, again, thank you. I really needed something that could help convey the lesson I'm teaching."
"No problem," Crescent Star replied. "Anything for a fellow colleague. If you don't mind though, I need to go."
The professor made no protest and Crescent Star walked out. He closed the door behind him and relished in the silence of the hallway, setting his head against the wall.
This was his life: Crescent Star the Magical Adept. The unicorn who seemed to only know one equal...
Make no mistake, he loved his job. It surely wasn't a cakewalk to become a Magical Adept in the first place. He loved the challenge! He gave up so much to become what he was now. To rise from humble beginnings as the eldest son of two of Canterlot's prestigious jewelry makers, to one of Equestria's scientific elite...
...Life was excellent!
He was too distracted to notice another unicorn had stepped beside him. "Are you alright?"
Crescent Star calmly raised his head, "Just taking a break."
The unicorn guest smiled before turning his head to examine the room. He was tall and slender...lean built but still had that air of strength and power that the professor has seen before in others. Besides his unnatural height, he noticed nothing else strange, per say, about his visitor... without further scrutinization at least...
As he continued on, he noticed his fur was an unnaturally dark black (and that's saying something, he thought), contrasting his mane and tail which glowed an almost translucent white.. His cutie mark, much to his puzzlement, was a black circle encompassed by a stream of whites, blues and reds in a swirling motion, giving no hint to personality or profession.
The guest finally spoke up again. "Are you Mr. Crescent Star?"
He smiled, "Impressive, but I must apologize. My lecture ended a few minutes ago and the next one isn't until tomorrow."
The guest shook his head and rose a hoof. "Oh, no, I'm not here for a lecture. I'm here to seeyou."
He extended a hoof, "My name is Event Horizon."
Crescent Star nodded and accepted the hoofshake. "So... what do you want?"
Event Horizon was direct to the point. "I was impressed after reading your doctorate thesis about prehistoric civilization and culture. To know that a master unicorn... an Adept of Magic... loves such topics fills me with quite the amount of enthusiasm."
"I'm flattered..."
"Which leads me to my being here," he rose a hoof to his chest, "I'm a philanthropist, per say, and quite the wealthy one while we're at it. I am very enthused with the concept of archaeological sciences and discovery, so that means I have an interest in your work, Mr. Star."
"Well, if you know of my work so well, then you should know that most scientists don't accept it as true science, stating it as, and I quote, 'outlandish papers with no real proof or sense of scientific meaning'..."
"Yes... yes indeed." Event Horizon adjusted his coat and flexed his shoulders, eventually clearing his throat. "Well then, I guess I would just have to fund for your trip myself then..."
Crescent Star was at a loss for words. His entire career, he has been dreaming of actually going out to the field and continuing his research. Now this total stranger was giving him a chance to do so...
...it was fantastic!
"But what of the scientific community?"
Horizon waved a hoof. "I recently came across a region of high archaeological importance on my land and I approached the community about bringing in a scientist to research on it. I told them I wouldn't accept anypony but you. The plans have already been made and the final decision is up to you."
He ran a hoof through his mane in surprise. "What is it that I'm researching specifically?"
"The concept of pre-equine civilizations. I'm sure you are well aware of the stories around the race of beings known as... the Precursors?"
"You mean all those fables on the Precursors of Astra? Nothing beyond the old mare tales among the select few. Stories of powerful mages, unmatched intelligence, some have even gone so far as to dub them gods."
"And what is your opinion on them Mr. Star?"
"I think that they were being like us: capable of surviving and thriving outside the natural world... more research would be necessary for anything further."
"Wouldn't you like to research it?"
Crescent Star's eyes widened, "Would I ever? To be the stallion to discover the truth about pre-equine history..."
"Then it is done. I can think of no better pony to do such a feat than you."
He shook his head in disbelief... a chance in a lifetime indeed.
"So, Mr. Star, do you accept?"
"Yes!" he blurted out, "I accept! When do I start?"
"As early as tomorrow," Event Horizon said calmly, "I shall organize your transportation and accommodations, as well as any technology and resources you would need. My advice: pack for a long trip."
"I certainly will." Crescent Star began to trot away through the hall. "Thank you... thank you very much for this opportunity."
Horizon nodded, "May it be what helps you find the facts Mr. Star... may it be..."
Crescent Star found himself in a full gallop down the hallway towards his suite in the Canterlot castle residential. It was only a short time away from the class he had spoken in, and his full gallop got him there in no time.
He stopped in the hallway outside his door to catch his breath. Doing so, he happened to glance over at the door nearby, glistening brilliantly with violet and gold. Behind said door lived the only equine... the only being, which he could come close to calling a best friend, and he knew she would think the same thing...
...She was the only pony he could share the good news with...
With an aura of excitement, Crescent Star went over and tapped the door, the prominent sound of creaking filling his ears.
"Sparks?" he called out, "Sparks, you here?" He slowly walked into the cluttered mess of books and scrolls that seemed to grow in mass in everywhere but her library.
"Sparks! Spike! You're door wasn't closed properly!"
His horn glowed with an aura of maroon as he tried to magically find her, managing to narrow the the search down to her room.
"Twilight!" he shouted as he walked over to her room, "I let myself in. I hope you don't-"
Twilight Sparkle shrieked as Crescent Star rounded the corner, throwing a book that impacted him square in the face. He fell off his hooves and was now sprawled on the flood grabbing his head.
"Sparkle, what the hell?"
Twilight pushed her purple mane clean out of her face, "Oh, dear Celestia, Crescent?"
"No! It's bucking Fancy Pants!" he shouted. Twilight rushed over and crouched down next to his head, using her magic to probe for any permanent injury. "Crescent Star, I'm so, sosorry. I didn't realize it was you..."
He blinked off stars and gently shook his head. "I-It's okay..."
"Can you stand? Can you walk?"
He slowly, but surely, got back up onto his hooves and shook the final throes of disorientation out of his head. "I'm fine."
He picked up the book she threw at him and glanced at it through a maroon glow. The Art of the To-Do List was embroiled onto its hardened cover.
"So what's the surprise?" he asked, looking at the luggage bag opened up on her pink bedspreads.
Twilight huffed as she brushed off her flank, glancing at her violet/white starburst cutie mark. "Princess Celestia asked me to head out to Ponyville and watch over the preparations of the Summer Sun Celebration she is holding there... I hope it will be a short trip, I need to catch up on my studying."
Crescent Star nodded at the scene. Twilight rarely ever went out of her studies willingly, one exception being if Celestia told her, which she rarely did unless it was important...
"So why did you want to stop by? Wanted to see me off?"
Crescent snapped out of his thought, "Well... yes and no. I honestly had no idea you were leaving... I came over to tell you I was leaving."
"You were?"
He smiled, "Yeah, I was approved for field research on the study of pre-equine history. I was heading to my suite to pack..."
Twilight shook her head," Couldn't you research such things here?"
"Well yes," he began to walk out with her at his side, "but I can't get real evidence and observational research unless I go out, into the field to study. Now I can. I can go and find, first-hoof, the facts about it... things I could never find solely through a book."
"But books are safe and totally reliable..."
Crescent Star smiled at her ignorance. Celestia's Faithful Student: living a life of quiet desperation...
"Twilight, one day... you will come to learn that in some studies... in some situations... the actions would forever outweigh the words."
She smiled and kissed his cheek as he walked past the open door, "Crescent, you certainly are a wise pony. I hope you find what you're looking for... and please, take care of yourself."
Crescent Star nodded as he walked out, Twilight closing the door behind him.
'I may be a wise pony', he thought, 'but I'm looking for wise men...'
Memoirs of Insanity: Episode One
Precursors