The Life of Dominus Vitam Mortem

Et Amor Patriae

“Diligere omnes, confidere paucis facere nulli debeatur injuria.

The day was dark, not black, but a gray, misty fog color that hurt one’s eyes, and it was all too common for Dominus. He was tired of the boring, dreary feeling it left in his heart when he looked at it. He decided to leave the barren hill where he stood and head back towards his small home where his family lived since his great-grandfather settled here.

His family worked in the gold mine that was built by his great-grandfather long before Dominus was born. He lived in a unowned, somewhat civilized desert valley which a group of earth ponies had found a long time ago, but abandoned when they found out that the land was barren, dry, and nearly impossible to farm.The land was changed drastically by the unicorn magic of his ancestors since then. The original group went to the mountains toward the west to the lands beyond in hope of finding better farmland, it was believed by Dominus that they had built a paradise city in the mountains.

Dominus had just walked in the door when his father walked up to him and said

“Son, I think it’s time you learn the family trade.”

Dominus had occasionally looked down the mine but he had never stepped inside. His parents had always told him that he shouldn't go down because it was not safe for a young colt, but now, he was old enough to work there.

His father led him outside and the began to walk towards the mine, which lay about  a five minute trot from the house, as they walked, his cutie mark, a silver pickaxe stuck in a stone with a crack down the middle, shone in the foggy light. This made Dominus bitterly aware of how he was still a blank flank, which was extremely uncommon for a colt of nearly thirteen. As Dominus thought about his cutie mark might be, his father looked at him and spoke.

”Son, you’re gonna  do what our family has been doing since your great-grandfather built this here mine over one hundred years ago.” said Dominus’ Father, far too dramatically, considering what the family trade was.

“What’s that Pa?” Dominus said out of respect to his father’s dramatics.

“Minin’, of course!” said his Father, acting surprised that Dominus hadn’t known.

Dominus was not exactly thrilled to hear this, as his father had been telling him since he was old enough to talk.

“Listen Dom, I know that the idea of minin’ doesn’t thrill you, but it’s what our family’s been doin’ since they settled here, and it’s what you’ll do until you’re old enough to choose your own path.” his father said.

“Alright Pa.” Dominus said, not very uplifted by his father’s speech.

When Dominus awoke the next day the first thing he did was contemplate the misty gray sky. It seemed grayer today than it usually was.

As he walked toward his hill, he heard a voice call out to him.

“Hey, Dom!”

It was Chip.

“Hello Chip.” Dominus said glumly.

“What’s the matter Dom?” Chip said in a cheerful tone, his ‘S’s whistling between the large gap between his teeth.

“Nothing” Dominus said trying to get Chip to leave.

“Well, if you wanna see me I’ll be down in the mine!” Chip said catching Dominus’ hint hidden within his tone of voice.

Chip was an earth pony about four years older than Dominus hired by his father to help in the mines.

Chip was like a brother to Dominus, he had known him since he was a small colt, though in recent years, Chip had been spending less and less time with Dominus since he started going out with one of the local mares from the neighboring rock farm.

Dominus again looked out into the gray sky, thinking of how his father had said he could choose his own path when he was of age.

“Dominus!”

“Oh, hey Ma.” said Dominus.

“Breakfast is ready, you should come eat in a few minutes.” said his Mother.

“Alright.” said Dominus, in a depressed tone.

“Are you okay Dom?” said his mother, sounding concerned.

“Yeah, just thinking about what Pa said.”

“You know you don’t have to work in the mines forever dear.”

“That’s what Pa said, but everypony who’s been in our family’s worked in the mines til’ the day they died, what if I’m different and I let Pa down?”

“You won’t let him down, Dom.”

“If you think so Ma.”

“Stop worryin’ Dom, let’s go eat, I cooked up some carrot stew.”

“Alright Ma.”

As she left, Dominus noticed her cutie mark, a bar of gold, glint in the misty light.

“Damn I wish I had my cutie mark.” Dominus said beneath his breath as he walked back towards the house.