I can see it now; Janson Darkmane: best night-flyer in Equestria. I just have to pass my test. I have to focus on the task at hoof though. Tree, rock, tree, tree, boulder (Tom?), branches, THWACK, (Note to self: Branches in the face generally hurt, try not to do it again.) I am one of the best fliers I- THWACK! I...thought interrupted. Let’s recap back to now so I can remember. Let’s see: Raised in Las Pegasus. Check. Transferred from Las Pegasus to Cloudsdale. Check. Test upcoming...TRAINING! Obstacle Avoidance Training! Back to work then. Let’s see. Fly forward and... TREES! Left, right, right, left, up, down, left, down. I could see nothing ahead. Quite literally. It’s nothing but...DARKNESS! Now I am blind, and trying to avoid possibly lethal obstacles, AT NIGHT! Wait...Light? AHEAD! SPIKEY TREE! UP WINGS! DAMN IT WINGS UP! UP! AAAANNNDDD... Cleared the tree tops. I began to hover. Now what caused that light? I looked up. Is that...a supernova?
All I could see was that brilliant supernova above me, filling my eyes with it’s magnificent blaze of death. Eyes straining, I looked at the red-centered yellow mass in the stars above me. The mass then proceeded to launch it’s three massive death-waves. The first and last being a deep red. The middle one being yellow. Red pulsar beams shot from either end of the star, making it look like some strange, impossible candy. At this point, my eyes had been open so long, they itched. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it was gone. the only evidence it had been there (apart from my witnessing it) was a pale red ring slowly expanding and dissipating into space. I looked down to see what I had hurriedly avoided hitting. It was a lightning-struck tree branch. It was as sharp as a scalpel. I would’ve been impaled. If that star hadn’t died, I would have died in it’s stead. I turned my head. Far down the path, towards Ponyville sat Ivory. She is a dark-grey unicorn, with a pale white mane. The only other white on her (apart from the eyes) ,was in her cutie mark. At this distance, after such a bright event, and as late as it was, she should have been invisible to me. Too distant and vague, but no, I could see her clear as day. I did feel strange, but I assumed it was fear and adrenaline combining. Did that star do something to me? Don’t be ridiculous Jan, that isn’t even possible. Is it? Ivory then got up and walked away. I... I should just go home and sleep. It will be over when I wake up. Hopefully. I flew back to the inn that I called home.
I pulled my wings in, passed clean through the open bathroom window, and then shot them out to stop myself. I set myself down on the cold, tiled floor. My back and wings were aching in an almost unbearable, searing pain. I forced myself to look in the mirror. I saw a broken, scarred and scraped version of myself staring back at me. My black mane, with it’s solitary pale-red stripe leading down it, was tangled and filled with knots, twigs and leaves. My deep-red coat was covered in scrapes. It actually seemed more crimson than dark-red. My amber yellow eyes were extremely dilated. At this level of dilation, I shouldn’t be able to see. At all. I wandered over to my bed, laid my head on the pillow, and begged for sleep to come. It came quickly.
I dreamt of an empty field, the flowers and grass grey and dead. The sky was dotted with only a single thing against a field of grey clouds. The supernova, frozen in it’s death throes, a ghostly image of what once was. I looked at it in wonder, staring at the mid-explosion wonder of the rare astronomical event. I looked down to see a forest had sprung up around me. The Everfree Forest to be exact. Where did... this forest even... My thought were interrupted by a horrible scene spread before my eyes. The forest had been lit like a flare was laid on the forest floor. What the light revealed was the true horror. A grotesque scene was filling my vision. If I wasn’t scarred before, I am now. I, or at least another me, was impaled on the lightning broken tree limb. Blood and guts ran down the tree limb like molasses and angel hair spaghetti. My eyes were open in an expression of surprise. I turned away and was unable to force myself to reality. If that star... hadn’t... My thoughts were, again, interrupted by another grotesque scene. I had avoided the branch. Narrowly. My head had been lacerated by the tree limb. That had, from the evidence presented, sent me off course and I had barreled straight into a nearby boulder. My brains had been splattered like a broken egg’s contents upon the granite mass. My face was beyond recognition and my skull had been turned to dust from the force of the impact. I tried to scream. My mouth sealed shut with a painful searing sensation. I reached up to feel that my mouth had been sewn shut. I peeled a bit of the sticky string off to inspect it. It was the same color as my coat. I looked back to see that my flanks had been skinned. For the love of Celestia! What the hell is happening!? I tried to fly away, to escape the horror, to find a medic. I felt a sharp and sudden pain in my wings, and looked back instinctively. My wings had been broken, dislocated from the shoulders, burnt, the skin had been torn, all of my feathers were gone in a puff of ash, and my wingtips were shattered like glass. Agony then set in. Oh Celestia, THE PAIN! LUNA! LUNA, IF THIS IS YOUR DOING, YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN! WHY!? I ducked, covered, and hoped for the nightmare to end. No chance. That would be too easy. My nightmare had to continue. My hooves caught alight and began to blister. AGONY! PAIN! FIRE! I tried to move my hooves out of sight, but they were locked in place. My eyes were unable to close. I had to watch. My deep-red coat turned to black as I began to char. PAAAAAIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!!!!! My eyes were now gone. My consciousness began to fade. I turned to see everypony I ever knew standing there. They smiled, teeth baring in a flash of sadistic joy. Their coats turned jet-black and their eyes glowed yellow. They then started to chant, first monotonously then, melodically. “Ashes in ashes flame; Pain for one to gain. We chant the chant of victory; The song that wins it for thee. In records he shall dwell; Blazing like fires of hell. Five-in-thirty time; For fear of our fatal rhyme. One in one the one shall see; It is right and so are we. Oracle in flames, we see all; Heat and blaze, melodic thrall. Like those you know, though cannot see; Listen, hark, HARK, our burning melody.” My consciousness died.
I woke up screaming. Oracles in flames? Burning melodies? Chant of victory? What can it mean? I looked back. Oh thank Celestia. My mouth wasn’t sewn up and my hooves were okay too. Ivory, Ebony, the innkeeper, and a mysterious new pony shuffled into the room. All wore looks of concern and intensity.
“Are you all right, dearie? We heard your scream and assumed the worst.” Ivory asked in her gentle yet, obvious English accent. She nervously smiled.
“I... I... Yeah. I’m fine. Go on with your day.” I responded weakly. The new pony started to leave.
“Polarmane! Yer’ stayin’ right ‘ere! JOSEPH! Yer’. Stayin’. ‘Ere.” Ebony shouted at the new pony, Joseph Polarmane. “Sit yer’ unicorn tush right ‘ere an’ listen to the boy for Celestia’s sake!” Joseph was ignoring him. Ebony sat down, his eyes fixed in a stare. Nothing like Fluttershy's stare. What is he trying to accomplish? Joseph continued down the long flight of narrow stairs. Ebony charged after him with the innkeeper poking along. That left just three things in my room with me: Me, Ivory, and awkward silence.
“Did... Did you know that we have a concert tonight at Canterlot Castle? We will be performing for Princess Celestia and the royal court. Us and a few others like, uh..., Lyra Heartstrings. And uh... Octavia. I... I can’t think right now... There are more...” Ivory said nervously and distractedly.
“You’re rambling, Ivory. Calm down and speak your mind in an ORDERLY manner.” I interrupted, reassuringly though, to stop her going on.
“We have had so little time to practice and we are all anxious about your test today...” Ivory started.
"MY TEST!" I screamed. "I... I have to go. I COMPLETELY forgot about the test. I have what, 10 minutes to practice?" I said apologetically. I jumped out of bed, dashed down the stairs, leaped over the coffee table, and flew out the door. I HAVE to train. Or, at least, warm up.
I looked ahead. Sugarcube Corner lay hundreds of feet ahead. Average walk time from inn to Sugarcube Corner: 10-15 minutes. Average flying time: 5-6 minutes. My goal: 1 minute or less. Stopwatch start! Me: GO! I beat my wings hard, and looked at the stopwatch. 15.221 seconds and climbing. Fast. I had to go faster. Halfway there. 20 seconds. Three-fourths. 25 seconds. There! Stop stopwatch. 29.91 seconds. Incredible! I did it in only half my set time. That'll be sure to impress the judges. I switched my watch/stopwatch back to watch setting and checked the time. Two minutes until the exam. I decided to give myself a challenge. Sugarcube Corner to Cloudsdale in under one and one half minutes. Stopwatch, and go! I zipped off in the direction of Cloudsdale. My wings were now beating so fast that I thought that I was becoming a hummingbird. Break the sound barrier? I can sure as hell try! I pushed myself even harder. Hooves ahead and in a "v". And... I felt heat gathering at the tips of my hooves. First slowly, then erupting like a volcano on steroids. AAAAHHHHHHHH! Burning! Pain! I slowed, and then stopped. Stopwatch, stop. I was at Cloudsdale. 1.32, A little slower than goal time. Awwwww... I was disappointed.
Tests were already running as I entered. Am I late? No, No. That is group A, I am in group C.
"Look who it is. Blank-flankson Darkdork to 'show off' HA!" A nearby voice said, with a chuckle following. I turned. It was none other than my worst enemy. Dave Blackhoof. Through his laughter, he stuttered. "M... Maybe he's gonna do that tr... triple 360-degree back FLOP again!" He laughed even harder. Three other pegasi rolled out from behind columns, also laughing at me.
"You... You're no better, Dive Blackeye." I weakly retorted.
He cut his laughing almost instantaneously. "At least I wasn't performing for the WHOLE CLASS!" He burst out laughing again. The others were now laughing so hard that they were grabbing their stomachs in cramps. One was laughing so hard, he couldn't breathe right.
A savior of a voice called out.
"C group, to the line!" Our instructor bellowed. I hurriedly grasped at the chance to get away from Blackhoof and his groupies, and to actually focus. To my horror, Blackhoof and his friends were following me.
"C group only, Blackhoof!" I yelled.
He chuckled before he responded. "We ARE in C group, Doofmane!" He smiled wickedly. This was going to be a long, long day. Not to mention, a miserable one.
My annoyance with Blackhoof was only rivaled by the anger he was forcing to pool at my core. Pain to him. Pain to him for all of the pain he has caused me. A curse would be on him if one of two things weren't true. 1. I am not a unicorn or healer of any kind. 2. I am not a pony to do that to another pony. Even if it is Blackhoof. That would be too easy on him.
"Watcha thinkin' 'bout Dorkson Doofmane? Colts? HA! Gay and stupid." Blackhoof let out with a chuckle. He's gonna get it, all right. That's what? Seven in the last twenty minutes?
"C, YOU'RE UP!" Our instructor called. I tried not to think of how many ways I could fail.
First trial: Clear ten clouds in ten seconds, without missing a beat. Second trial: Fly through multi-sized and multi-shaped hoops. Third trial: Pull your wings in for 5 seconds and recover. There is an optional fourth trial: Do a stunt to boost your score.
The first four in my group passed. I was next. My legs suddenly felt like jelly and I began to sweat like it was suddenly one hundred degrees. My heart was beating faster than my wings ever had. Calm down and... BREATHE.
"Janson Darkmane, you're up next." Our instructor said. "You'll do fine, I'm sure of it." He reassured me.
"I sure hope so." I nervously responded.
"Number 27 to the starting ramp, repeat 27 to the starting ramp." The announcer shouted.
I trotted to the starting ramp. I could see Blackhoof. He silently mouthed one word: choke. I crouched and spread my wings out wide, flexing them slightly as I did so.
"27, BEGIN." The announcer yelled.
I took off from the starting ramp. Just like in the Everfree Forest. Kind of. Left, right, right, left, up, up, down, right, left, down... and that's 10. Now for the rings. I quickly moved through the oddly shaped and sized hoops. I heard a softened crack. Owww... that was my wing. I only needed that for, you know, flying. I pulled my wings in. And drop. I fell for what seemed like an eternity. 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... wings out. My wings shot out with a more audible crack. That will hurt my chances to perform my stunt.
"Will that complete your test, 27?" The judges said unanimously.
"I said, will that be all? We do have other pegasi to test today, you know." One judge said in a clearly annoyed tone.
"I have one stunt that I'd like to perform." I retorted.
"Well? What would that be then?" The judges said, once again, unanimously.
"I am going to attempt to break the sound barrier... In under 1 minute." I stated in a proud tone.
The judges chuckled. "That's impossi-OOF!" One judge started before he was sharply hit by another judge.
"We'll see. Begin the timer when 27 passes one hundred meters above the cloud cover." One of the female judges stated.
I began to ascend. Ohh, what have I done? I can't do... Don't think about it like that, Janson. Positive. Right? Before I even noticed, I was at one hundred meters above cloud cover. I took off in a straight, slightly declining path. Soon, I began to feel the heat building up in the tips of my hooves again. I pushed past this pain, and forced myself to go faster. I peeked at the timer. Fifty seconds left. I formed my hooves into a "v" in front of me. Faster! My wings felt like they were going to fall off. I felt a vapor cone beginning to form around me. It was a strange pale red and pale yellow mixture in color. I peeked at the clock again. Thirty seven seconds. I pushed my wings just a bit harder. The vapor cone broke. I looked at the clock one last time. It had stopped at twenty-five seconds.
I looked back at where I was just a moment before. A faint yellow mass with a pale red center had formed there. A thin red line then shot out of either side, and three pale rings shot out. The first and last ones were red, the middle one was yellow. Impressive. I don't usually praise myself, but I have too now. I felt a slight tingle and dismissed it as adrenaline. I rocketed down to the judging platform. The judges were open-mouthed and one was muttering "I..." over and over again.
"Well? What are the results?" I said arrogantly, and with a grin.
"You... you... pass..." The female judge stuttered. I walked to the gate, and looked back long enough to see Blackhoof fail within the first three seconds. Good riddance to bad rubbish. I flew back to the inn, emitting an aura of confidence and pride as I went.
I landed on the doormat with a deep thump, and knocked on the door.
"Guess who's home!" I asked rhetorically.
"Who are you exactly? Am I supposed to know?" The innkeeper asked me with a curious glance. He turned his head slightly sideways.
"It's me! You know, Janson Darkmane? Your tenant?" I said, annoyance replacing pride in my tone.
"Janson is not you. Janson is DARK red, his mane is BLACK with a singular PALE RED stripe down the center. His eye color is YELLOW. Most ponies have BLACK pupils. AND, by the way, our dear Jan is a blank-flank. No offense to him." The innkeeper stated loudly.
"Am I any different? What makes me different?" I asked, pride now completely gone and annoyance and frustration.
"You, mister no-mirrors, are BRIGHT red, have a LIGHT RED mane with a PALE YELLOW stripe. Your eyes are RED. You have quite unnatural pupils that are NIGHT PURPLE. And you have a RED AND YELLOW NAUTICAL STAR as your cutie mark. SIR." The innkeeper was now showing more than arrogance off. He was trying to protect my identity from being ruined. Or, he just was a stubborn bastard with a hot temper.
"I... I will explain later. I have to give old Twilight Sparkle a visit. Maybe she will help with this confusing problem." I said. I could notice Ivory preparing for the coming concert as I began to leave. I wish I could go. I mean to see Octavia in person would just be... AMAZING. Supporting Ebony and Ivory would be nice too.
I turned, gave a last glance to the innkeeper, and took off of the doormat. I glided as fast as I could to Twilight Sparkle's tree/house/study/thingy. After almost a year of me living in Ponyville, I STILL can't classify that damned structure. Is it a tree? Is it a house? Is it a study? I'll never know.
I knocked on the door. Spike answered the door.
"Hello. What do you want?" Spike said in a bored, almost monotonous tone.
"I need to speak to Twilight URGENTLY." I said, urgency appearing in my voice as I said 'urgently'.
"Hold on a second." Spike said in that bored voice. He slammed the door and disappeared for a while. I tapped my hoof in a beat from my head, waiting patiently.
Twilight appeared at the door, obviously very annoyed from being pulled away from some 'important' studies of hers for a stranger at the door. "What, is so urgent?" She said with rage sounding out beneath the surface.
"I am, well, can I explain inside? It's a long talk, and you definitely want to hear the details. May I?" I asked as politely as I could.
She rolled her eyes and stepped aside. I stepped in and heard her shut the door. I helped myself to a seat and began to explain.
"...You have returned to normal then." Twilight ended the sentence she had been on.
"I believe I have. If you believe different, then please, speak up." I politely responded.
"Well, your colors have corrected themselves. Your wings appear to be... alicorn-sized. I believe THAT is permanent." Twilight said. "I have to write Princess Celestia a letter concerning this. I am going to do that now. You are welcome to look around the library to find anything that may help." She continued.
"I will do that." I said as Twilight walked away. I proceeded to climb on a ladder. The books all looked the same. Old. I then saw a title that gained my interest: 'Astrological Events And The Strange Phenomena Caused By Them.' I took the book off the shelf and flipped to the table of contents. Page 176. Supernovae. Part III. Pegasi. I scanned the page. Eye Damage? No. Blindness? Not that one either. Mutations? Worth a look. I read the paragraph. 'Some supernovae emit such a high level of radiation that some pegasi get mild to severe mutations from being in their presence. Some of these mutations include wingspan expansion or modification, differentiated times of eye dilation, alterations of in-flight coloration or flight trails, distinct color changes, and shorter tempers. These are few of many things that may affect the pegasi in question. Most effects of the mutations are temporary.' I slammed the book shut and careened through the library towards the door, dropping the book into Spike's unexpecting hands. "Thank Twilight Sparkle for me, Spike!" I yelled as I passed the doorway.
"I will." Spike yelled as he slammed the door behind me.
"Thanks!" I yelled back as I dashed away. Sneaking a peek at a nearby clock, I noticed that I still had time until Ebony's and Ivory's concert was over. I slowed my pace and began to walk. I might as well take some time to think before I tell the others.
I stopped and looked into a dark shop window on the main street. I looked normal, except for the expanded wings. It only seemed to last, what? A half hour? I was shocked when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Why are you staring at Bon-Bon? Are you going to stare at everypony? Can I have a turn?" Pinkie Pie asked enthusiastically. She then proceeded to stare at the window intently. She gave the tiniest of grins and Bon-Bon burst from the store with a sort of a 'yip'. Pinkie Pie began laughing hysterically. She was rolling on the ground laughing, actually.
"I, I gotta go." I said. I flew off with a kind of hop in my step. Pinkie was still engulfed in her own laughter. That got awkward and horrible quickly. I peeked at a clock once again. The twins will be getting back to the inn now. I have to get there. I flew towards the inn.
As soon as I arrived, I pounded on the door.
"What do you- Janson! You're finally home! Did you notice that other pony walkin' around trying to imitate you? Absolutely ridiculous!" The innkeeper said. He looked genuinely surprised by my return. He actually didn't recognize me. I tried to look genuinely surprised as well, with my only result being a blank stare.
"I will be back in a few, can you please start a meal? I haven't eaten today." I asked politely. This, of course, was contrary to my actual feelings. I was amped. I was just turning to check on the twins as I saw them coming up the path. I could see them smile as they noticed me. Now I don't have to go and get them, although I missed the chance to hear them play. I hear that they are amazing at the keys. I held the door open for them and followed them in after they had cleared the doorway.
"Janson! Where were ya'? We've been waitin' fer ya' all day boyo!" Ebony managed to push past his moustache. Is his accent getting thicker? Or am I just tired? "On any account, ah think ye' should tell us how it was, laddie! Did ya' pass? Oh, ah 'ope ya' did." He continued.
"I have more to explain to you than just my test results." I responded.
"Oh, what would that be, honey?" Ivory piped in.
"Let me explain. Sit down, sit down." I took a deep breath, cleared my thoughts, and began. "You see, I was training the other da- night. A supernova occurred, saving my life from a branch that would've been too dark to see. It was a lightning-broken spike of a branch. I pulled up and stared at the dying star. When I looked away, I looked over to see Ivory. Naturally, after such a large flash of light, I would've been blinded. I wasn't though. I was able to see twice as far, actually. Maybe further. I went to bed and had a horrible nightmare. You all witnessed the aftereffects. I did pass my test, when I broke the sound barrier in under a minute. That wasn't the amazing thing though, the effect I caused was. It was a miniature, more transparent copy of the supernova in the EXACT SPOT where I broke the sound barrier. It was amazing. The judges thought so as well. BUT, something had happened to me when I broke the sound barrier. I had changed, physically. The innkeeper saw me, and believed that I was somepony else. He wouldn't listen to reason, " I paused to give the innkeeper a quick, annoyed glance. " So I decided to speak to somepony who would: Twilight Sparkle. She was fascinated by what had happened, and let me look around the library in hopes of finding a book that would help me. I found one entitled 'Astrological Events And The Strange Phenomena Caused By Them' and read a chapter in it. It said, well, it was a long chapter. Basically, it said that what had happened to change me was a small mutation in my genetic structure. I, through fate, or through dumb luck, am a mutated pegasi." I took a long breath, exhaled, and stayed silent. That gave the indication (not a false one) that my explanation was over.
"I... I don't even know what to say. Dear, you have had... quite a hard day." Ivory stuttered.
"Ha ha! We live with a mutant! That's cool!" Joseph Polarmane said with excitement. I smiled in response.
"That's good 'n all, but we got our own serprise fer ya'. We got ya' ah cake. Ah know it's been a stressful day, so let's all 'ave some cake!" Ebony said, eyes gleaming. It was the best cake I ever tasted.
