Star Castle:
A Mystery in the Clouds
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"Lives that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds. . . "
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                                           ~ Never Ending Story
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SPOILER WARNING: If you would like to take your time to read the fanfics I have kept in archive in
Ponyland Visit, do not read ahead.
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Star Castle is a strange place, that once floated high above northern Ponyland, home to the Sparkle
Ponies. The outer walls made of sparkling amethyst stone and inside structures of granite, there were a
few small parks inside the castle, with playgrounds to amuse the children, and a marketplace.
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All of the merchants were Unicorns, this of course because they were the only ones able travel down
below to the mainland. In the old days, these merchants had to have a license from the Queen to trade
or purchase food. The Queen's cooking staff also had the freedom to leave the castle for food, lest the
Royal Family starve.
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Star Castle was not always home to the Sparkle Ponies - they originally lived on Sparkle Island with
the Glow n' Show Ponies until they wished for privacy, in their own kingdom, which would be
designed by the Sparkles as a whole, then created by the Unicorns and the Moochik above
Grundleland. The government that was decided upon was a matriarchal monarchy, starting with Queen Mystique, who had came up with the idea of their own realm.
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The Sparkles lived happily for several generations in their new home, with guests being entertained at
the Royal Palace, the only building inside the castle made of amethyst. Gala receptions welcomed
visitors in the Grand Ballroom, and all were invited. Star Castle flourished, with still over half the castle
to be occupied. The kingdom planners had though far into the future. And everything was perfect.
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At least until the reign of Queen Shimmer.
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All respected Shimmer up to the moment she passed the Separation Act, which forbade all contact with the mainland or non-Sparkles, save the merchants, originally Pegasi and Unicorn. By this time, the
Pegasi were a dwindling minority, and after an attempted escape by the remaining Pegasi, none were
allowed to be merchants. Instead, they were forced into labor, some as seamstresses, guards, or served
as the Royal Family's staff.
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Shimmer then convinced the Sparkles that there was no reason to return to the mainland, as the Little
Ponies were being preyed upon and those at the Royal Paradise could do little or nothing to help, for
they were fighting their own battles. Dreams of escaping to the mainland soon became extinct,
exceptions mainly in only the Pegasi and some Earth Sparkles.
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During the short time that Queen Marian presided at the throne, though, hope for an escape was
rekindled, for Marian was the kindest, most gentle Queen in a long history of tyrants. This spark was
soon squashed, however, as Marian was usually in poor health, and died at a very young age, leaving
one heir to the throne - the young and headstrong Angelina.
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For a time, it seemed that Angelina would be an incompetent Queen. This was soon disproved,
especially when she made moves to release a few of the Pegasi from their servitude, to be replaced by
hired help from the Sparkle population. Rumors once flew that the Queen allegedly had her hooves the
disappearance of a suspected rebellious merchant and friend of Angelina, but these subsided quickly.
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The flame of rebellion, however, did not, which was quite clear when both of Angelina's daughter
Princess Planethopper and her friend Gwenavere managed to grasp their freedom. Angelina's other
daughter and Planethopper's fraternal twin Princess Starhopper, then left the castle in search of her
sister, taking her own newly-adopted daughter named North Star with her.
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The overall morale of the Sparkles continued to plummet for ten years. Around this time, Angelina took North Star away to be tutored in the way of proper royalty. Her stay ended after only a couple days, as she befriended Gwenavere's son that had to be left behind, who helped her escape the same way her
aunt had ten years before. Princess Starhopper returned to Star Castle just as they were fleeing, and
relieved her mother of her role as Queen.
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As the newly crowned Queen Starhopper rushed to right all the wrong in Star Castle, young
Gwendamere was able to find his mother and Princess Planethopper, who became co-Queen in
Starhopper's efforts to restore relations throughout all of Ponyland, and to create a unity that would
last.
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But was beginning to form her own plans. Upon discovering Gwenavere and her son back again in
Star Castle, she ordered their arrest and to be tried for treason the next morning. Once the co-Queens
heard of this, their release was granted immediately, and Angelina fled when Gwenavere mentioned the alleged fate of her friend, Gusty, who was shortly found to be alive and well. It was not long till
Angelina made contact with the Witches of the Volcano of Gloom, seeking an alliance against Star
Castle.
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As Queens Starhopper and Planethopper struggled with their fellow Unicorns for unity, the Unicorn
Ambassadors, Angelina's conspiracy was revealed: the Witches would cause Star Castle to tumble
down out of the sky, and to the slowly reviving Grundleland below.
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Her goal was only half-achieved - though the Witches did bring Star Castle's fall, a combined effort of
the Unicorns, Flutters, and Pony Royalty were able to bring it down safely, giving birth to a new beginning for the Sparkles.
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The Witches were encased within a crystal trap, flown far out to sea, and released into the water, where they remain. Angelina, with the help of her daughters and Gusty, who had forgiven her, made a slow but sure recovery. Most eventually forgave her, and some didn't. Those who had argue that Angelina in a way brought freedom to those of Star Castle, and freed all of Ponyland from the Witches.
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Relations and unity were restored once more to Ponyland, with no more rulers, though this loose,
rocky alliance proved to weak, and a High Queen of Ponyland and individual kingdom rulers were
reinstated less than five years later.
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Starhopper and Planethopper are still co-Queens of Star Castle. Both made scores of friends in the
short amount of time when taking the steps to a united Ponyland. Though usually quite busy,
Starhopper now has a husband Night Shadow (married Valentine's Day 1999) and twin daughters:
Stardust and Fiery Sky.
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May Star Castle, and all the kingdoms of Ponyland alike, be free forever.
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To read more about Starhopper's most recent escapades, visit:
The Windy Summer Valley RPG Pony Paradise Remote Site!
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