Black Magic's Un-Non-Colorful Adventuresby Xunsusp3cted anomalyXChaptersPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Not a real chapter, but a questionPrologue"B, where are you going?" my mother asked worriedly. 'B' was the nickname my mother came up with after my dad named me, apparently for a spark from my horn shortly after birth. He had told me it was blacker than the blackest of nights. ". . . I don't know, just anywhere but here. I can't take it anymore." I said, grimacing. Tears threatened to spill from my tightly shut eyes. "Eveypony bullies me, just because I don't look 'normal'" I said 'normal' with as much hatred as I could muster in my hurt state. (which, frankly wasn't much) I rapidly shrunk all of my personal belongings and put them in a small saddlebag that I slung over my back. My head spun a little from the magic usage, but I quickly shook my head. "Please don't look for me. I'll write when I can. Goodbye mom, dad." (13 years ago, first day of preschool) "What's wrong with his eyes?" a little colt asked the teacher. "and why is he so tall?" It was an innocent question, but it still stung. It's true that I do have very dark grey irises, nearly black. And I was at least a hoof and a half taller than the other fillies and colts in preschool. I got angry. I stomped out of the classroom, glaring at anypony in my way. I trotted towards the only tree in the preschool's yard. Trees are somewhat of a comfort object for me, I guess. I don't know why. With dexterity that somehow greatly surpassed my limited physical form, I climbed to the top of the tree, and sat sulking for about three hours. I heard the teacher call my name; she was searching for me. I didn't reveal myself. Once I realized the predicament I was in on top of this tree and had calmed down enough to think, I had remembered something my Mommy had done a few times before: teleport. But I had no practice with any kind of magic. I hadn't even had my horn fizzle in excitement even once in my life, on accident or on purpose. I hoped I was correct in my assumption on how to teleport. I visualized the place I wanted to go, and focused on it with all my might. I screwed my eyes shut with concentration, sweat beginning to drip down my tiny muzzle, and the tip of my tongue poked out of the side of my mouth. I felt an energy I had never felt before begin to lazily slip into my mind. I knew it was magic. I strained. I struggled. I grunted and groaned. And after a half-hour of mental strain, I just felt the feeling of magic slip away the same way it had appeared; slowly and mysteriously. Unbeknownst to me, a single faraway black hair wafted slowly off of the ground in the light breeze, traveling to who-knows-where. I slowly and cautiously climb back down the tree, somehow still finding a good hoofhold on the loose bark of the old Pine tree. I begin my walk home, disappointment flowing through my mind. (a few years later) I had been practicing my magic as much as I could in the past few years. I was good enough with levitation now to bring Dad his morning paper. I had been doing so for the last three months. He'd always say, "Thanks, son" and ruffle my mane. I'd giggle, and go help Mom make my lunch for school. After everything is all set and ready for the day, I leave to go to school, and Mom and Dad go to work. After school, I usually went to my friend, Inferno Nova's house and hung out with him for a few hours before heading back home. (present time) I shut the apartment door behind me, trot down the stairs, and hail a carriage. "East 49th and Broadmare" I grumble as I climb into the carriage. I step off the carriage after paying the pony, and look at where my only friend lives. I sigh and request to be buzzed in. "Who is it" the voice of my friend asks through the mic. "It's me, Inferno. Let me in." I reply. The door buzzed, and I climbed the stairs to his apartment. I opened his door, and trotted in. I look around and spot a few new burn marks on the couch and recliner. "Still learning how to rein in the fire properly, huh Inferno?" I ask, bemused. Inferno popped his head out of the kitchen, and trotted into the living room. "Yeah, well. At least I don't burn the floor, walls and ceiling anymore." He says. We both chuckle at that. We brohoof and I sit down on a less blackened part of the couch. He sits on the couch next to me and I swear, if I didn't know he was a stallion, I'd think he was a hot mare sitting next to me, if a little unusual-looking. "so, what's new, Mage?" he asks. Mage is the nickname he gave me shortly after we became friends. I remember we became friends shortly after I had tried giving him a gift for Hearts and Hooves day. I didn't even know his name, so it was even more awkward. But I digress. "I'm running away, that's what." I reply simply. "My parents already know, and you're my only friend, so all the important ponies have been told." "But you can't. I had a nice honeymoon planned for us and you promised to go this time, Magey" Inferno said, almost serious enough to be serious. That small glint in his eye always gives it away. I chuckled, and said, "You always know how to lighten the mood, buddy. But I have to. I can't deal with the crap that nearly the whole school puts me through anymore. Not even counting the rest of Manehatten. I just want to find somewhere that nopony cares what you look like or what color your magic is." We stand up, and he puts a hoof on my shoulder. "Wherever you're going, Black Magic, may good fortune follow you." we stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds, but then Inferno seems to remember something. "Hold on just a sec" he says, then he runs off into his room. I roll my eyes and chuckle. He re-enters the living room, two small crystals balanced on his wingtips, along with two small odd-looking apparatuses. "During our . . .field trip . . . to the crystal empire, I had grabbed a few souvenirs. . . make that hundreds of souvenirs. Small crystals from the mine we had explored. Me, being the fire lovin' and Inferno-controlling pegasus you know, experimented with these crystals. I found that two crystals heated to the same exact temperature of 128 degrees celsius for the same exact time of twenty-two and a half minutes, and within a range of two to three hoof-lengths from each other other during the heating process tend to resonate." "Proper Equish, please, inferno." I say, confused. "If they're really close to each other when I catch them on fire, they tend to carry sound from crystal to crystal." Inferno said slowly. I gasp quietly in realization. "oh. . ." "just put the crystal in the earpiece, lock it into place, and put the earpiece around your ear." he explained, going through the motions on how to use the sound crystals. "just don't put it anywhere noise can be heard from easily. I still haven't figured out how to disable the channels yet." he smirked. "I don't want to hear you moan my name as you enjoy your privacy." I roll my eyes, and take the crystal and earpiece, chuckling. I put the crystal and earpiece in my one-of-a-kind black saddlebag. "Thanks, bro. I'll probably owe you one." i say, still chuckling. we brohug, and I wave goodbye as i trot towards the door. "See ya, Mage. Stay in contact, ya hear?" He says as I trot out the door. "I will" I call out as I shut the door. I walk back outside and hail another carriage. "Take me to the outskirts of Manehatten." I mutter as I step into the carriage. The pony nods, and pulls his carriage into traffic. We made it to the outskirts surprisingly quickly, considering traffic was absolutely horrible. "That'll be two bits." The carriage-pony says in a typical Manehatten accent. I pay the carriage-pony, and hop to the ground. "Thanks" I mutter. I chose a random direction away from the city and started walking, not caring where I'd end up, as long as it was somewhere away from any judgemental ponies. Chapter 1It's been nearly two years since I left Manehatten. Among my greatest achievements; defending myself successfully from a small scout pack of timber wolves(about three timber wolves), successfully fleeing from an Ursa Minor, doing my first successful healing spell(after my first unsuccessful defense from a pack of timber wolves), lighting my first fire without magic, lighting my first fire with magic, casting my first shield spell, and- . . . Now that I think about it, I believe you didn't pick up my journal and begin reading it to find out the first time I did hundreds of things in the Everfree forest. Trust me, I nearly hit a thousand firsts. Don't even get me started on how many failures there were. So, I'm gonna cut to the chase. I was low on food, water, and breath. My trail-made sunglasses flopped around my neck. I was running at a breakneck pace, fleeing from my second Ursa Minor encounter. I dived, dodged, ducked, and dipped around the many tree branches hindering my escape. With no warning, I found myself staring at a clearing, possibly a quarter mile across before it reached a small town. I kept running, planning to hide in the town and blend in as best I could during the attack. . . .After being kicked out of nearly every town you come across, you learn to blend in better. Just sayin' I may be really good at magic, but I strongly believe most illusion spells are below me, especially ones I can use to look different. I make a dead sprint into a back alley on the outskirts, and pull my hood over my head. The Minor just barely broke out of the treeline by the time my hood was pulled over my head. I slide the sunglasses onto my nose and trot out of the alleyway. Carnage has already broken loose, so I begin to run around frantically as well. I think the Minor crushed a showpony's cart while it raged in town square. That must suck, huh? In the middle of the carnage, a purple unicorn lit up her horn. Five ponies and a small dragon stood behind her in defensive stances, but distanced. I watched in wonder as the unicorn made the wind blow(not a big achievement) which caused cattails to bend and begin to play soothing music. The Ursa Minor immediately calmed down. 'dayum, good planning, mare' I had thought. The unicorn's horn glowed brighter, and she picked up the water tower tank. She then proceeded to dump it out, bring it through a barn full of cows to get milk, save a hapless blue unicorn from getting smooshed by the Minor by lifting it into the air, then gave the milk-filled water tower tank to the now floating Ursa Minor. The Minor was then floated out of town, and back to the cave from whence it came, suckling on the makeshift baby bottle. "buckin' sacred manure! that was impressive! just, WOW." I muttered to myself after the show had ended. I joined a throng of ponies grouping around the purple unicorn, and pretended to listen to her. After a bit, the blue unicorn ran off. A little later, two young unicorns got moustaches, as well as that small dragon. I chuckled at that part. I had the feeling the moustaches were going to fade within an hour. The crowd dispersed, and I was left to find shelter for the night. That is, if I hadn't been tackled to the ground by a pink blur. "hey-you're-new-here-which-means-you-don't-have-any-friends-and-I-need-to-throw-you-a-party-and . . . what's with your eyes? They have no irises." the pink blur rapidly said. "Wah! No!" I exclaim frantically, and hurriedly try to push my sunglasses up. I get out of from under the pink mare. "You didn't see that, okay?" "See what? Your eyes. Oh, silly. I don't care about your eye color. Everypony deserves a Pinkie Party at least once in their lives, no eye color required." The pink pony put on a big smile, and I relaxed a little bit. "anyway, my name's Pinkie Pie. What's yours?" The pink pony says. "Erm, my name? Well, it's an unusual name, especially for a Manehatten stallion. It's Black Magic." I say, and cringe in preperation for the verbal abuse. "that is an unusual name, but it fits your appearance. Except for your cutie mark." she replied "Huh, what? Oh, that? Turns out I was really good at more than one kind of magic. I can apparently learn from almost every school of magic known to ponykind. It takes a while, but I can learn any spell, hex, charm, ritual, or curse if I put my mind to it." I answer. "Well, no hexes, rituals, or curses here in Ponyville, buster. Or you have me to deal with." Pinkie said suddenly serious. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. Ya comin'?" A southern drawl called from behind us. "That's one of my friends. Gotta go. OH, and as for your party; come here at this time. See you then, Magey." Pinkie said as she hoofed me a post it note with an address and a time on it. She then trotted off to join her friends. 'Pinkie Pie, huh? Well, why not? I could stay here for a bit.' I thought. 'At least I still have a few bits left to buy a meal.' I began to wander around, in hopes of finding a place to get something to eat. After about ten minutes, I came upon a sandwich shop in the last stages of closing up. i walk closer, and call to one of the waiters. "Hey, any chance I could buy something really quick?" I ask. "I believe the cook hasn't left, so what would you like sir?" the waiter replied in a slightly prench accent. 'Dear Celestia, I must have died and gone to paradise!' I thought happily. "Just a simple daisy sandwich, please." I say barely holding in my excitement for hoofmade food. The waiter went into the shop interior, and shortly returned with the blessed sandwich. "That'll be one bit, please." the waiter said. I place three bits on the table and reach for the sandwich. "There ya go. A tip for the late service you gave me. Thanks, by the way. I've had a really exciting last two years." "Oh, really? How so?" the waiter asked. I gulp down the mouthful of sandwich and say, "The Everfree. Enough said." "You mean to say, you've been surviving in the Everfree Forest the last two years?" the waiter asks. I think for a second. ". . . Yeah, just about two years. Today, I think." "Dear Celestia. What horrors did you have to endure during those two long years?" the waiter asked, nearly flabbergasted. "Timberwolves, a hydra, two ursa minors, and bad food to name a few. By far, the food was the worst part. Can't go one day, can't stop the next. Just totally ridiculous." I reply. "Yes, that must have been horrid. . . anyway, enjoy your . . . meal?" The waiter trailed off, seeing that the sandwich was already gone. "That hit the spot! Anyway, I'm new here, and looking for a job. You know anywhere I can look?" "We may have an opening for a pony to bus a section of the tables. Come by tomorrow, and we'll check for any openings." he says. I nod, say, "thanks" and trot off, searching for an alleyway to hole up in or a box to huddle in. Chapter 2I slunk into a nearby alleyway, and scanned for a box. 'Score!' I exclaimed mentally, pumping my hoof. There was a box just about tall enough to fit two adult ponies. A little big for me, but shelter is shelter. I crept into the box, and got comfortable. I quickly got sleepy, and I lay down on a fuzzy blanket. . . .'fuzzy blanket?' I thought, slightly confused. I opened my eyes slightly to see an orange filly with a purple mane. "Let go of me right now." a tomboyish voice said quietly and dangerously. "or I'll buck you into next week." I let go of the filly, and begin to edge out of the box. I was almost out of the box when I heard her voice again. "I didn't say to get out, just to let me go." she said feebly. "It gets cold some nights." I edged back into the box, and the filly proceeded to curl up next to me. I lay my head down on the cold surface of the box below me. After a little bit, the whole box was comfortably warm, and I could hear the filly's light breathing get softer and deeper, signifying that she fell asleep. After that, I fell asleep quickly. I felt something tickle my nose. I batted a hoof at it, but it didn't budge. I eventually opened my eyes to see that the filly's mane was in my face. I lift my head stiffly off of the ground. 'Sore neck gonna be a bucker today.' I thought. "Best sleep in months," I mutter anyway. I yawn and stand up. The filly sleeps on peacefully I sneak out of the large box, and breathe in through my nose. I must not have noticed yesterday, but the air here is just more . . . energetic than anywhere else I've been. That, or it may be the happiness of the sun compared to the Everfree forest. I look around, gauging the angle of the sun to the horizon. "Hmm, almost 7:30 in the morning. A nice, early start to my day." I mutter, smiling slightly. "7:30!? Dangit, I gotta get to school! Thanks Mister" the filly said as she grabbed her saddlebags from a corner of the box and gallops off.. I jump, and shrug, passing this off to be some normal occurence. I put my sunglasses on, and trot out of the alleyway. I glance around, looking for something or somewhere to go or do today. 'I have two things I need to do today: Go to that location at the time written on the note I received from Pinkie, and go see if I can get a job at that sandwich shop.' I muse. i check the note again, and it says: Sugarcube corner at dusk. be there Pinkie Pie "How. . . Subtle," I muse. I put the note back in my mane, and look around again. The only place that catches my eye is the sandwich shop nearby. I shrug, and trot over to see if it's open. "Ah, welcome back sir. Another daisy sandwich?" the waiter from yesterday asked. I smile and shake my head. "No thanks. I'm here for the table bussing job." His expression brightens a little, and he nods. He turns around, and trots towards the main building. A few minutes later, the waiter leaves the building, a heavyset stallion behind him. I assume the larger one is the cook Is the two stallions come nearer, i hear the cook grumbling about something, but he goes quiet when he comes into earshot. "You the one wanting the job?" I nod, and the cooks expression brightens a bit. "A unicorn? Good. Are you coordinated?" "Gimme some plates. I'll show you some coordination." the waiter hoofs me a stack of ten small plates, and I take hold of them with my magic. I manipulate the plates as a whole, lifting them apart, and magically juggling them. One plate separates from the rest and spins on all axes an inch above my hoof, which I had lifted up. Their faces are unbelieving yet ecstatic. The other plates separate into two groups, and both groups do something different. The left group of four align themselves above the plate that had separated earlier and copy the plate above my hoof. The right group rotates around itself as the plates themselves rotate. All in all, a difficult task, but I keep my focus through the whole thing. Until I am tackled from behind and pulled into the air. The plates jerk to a stop, and I frantically reach my magic to set them down gently before they fall and break. Thankfully, I succeed just before I cannot reach my magic any farther. My vision swims and blurs, and I groan from my magical headache "Impressive. Now, if you don't mind, I shall continue my duty of bringing you to our matron, the Night Princess." the voice above me said. "What does the Night Princess want me for?" I ask my mysterious kidnapper. Her leathery wings beat in perfect rhythm, and I realize she is a Bat-pony. "I am not at liberty to discuss what she desires you for, Unicorn.." she replies. ". . . Isn't sunlight bad for a bat-pony?" I ask after a minute. Her flight wobbles slightly, hinting at discomfort, and I groan inwardly at the movement. ". . . how could you tell I am a bat-pony? I have a fully immersive Pegasus disguise gifted by our Night Princess herself." She replied after a short time. "I see no disguise." Just as I start to speak, I see a small, ethereal ripple across her coat and wings. " . . . Nevermind. I understand now." The rest of the flight is spent in silence until we land on Princess Luna's balcony in Canterlot. "Act as if you normally would around a Princess, with the exception of when she insists you don't. She noticed something about you and I can now see what it is. . . On a totally unrelated note, I hope it's me. Farewell for now, sir." Not a real chapter, but a questionHey everybody, i'm starting to wonder if it was a good idea to write this story. the dislikes outnumber the likes, the location is less than desirable, and i have severely limited motivation to write. should i cancel/delete/re-write this? I don't want to write something that nobody likes.
Prologue"B, where are you going?" my mother asked worriedly. 'B' was the nickname my mother came up with after my dad named me, apparently for a spark from my horn shortly after birth. He had told me it was blacker than the blackest of nights. ". . . I don't know, just anywhere but here. I can't take it anymore." I said, grimacing. Tears threatened to spill from my tightly shut eyes. "Eveypony bullies me, just because I don't look 'normal'" I said 'normal' with as much hatred as I could muster in my hurt state. (which, frankly wasn't much) I rapidly shrunk all of my personal belongings and put them in a small saddlebag that I slung over my back. My head spun a little from the magic usage, but I quickly shook my head. "Please don't look for me. I'll write when I can. Goodbye mom, dad." (13 years ago, first day of preschool) "What's wrong with his eyes?" a little colt asked the teacher. "and why is he so tall?" It was an innocent question, but it still stung. It's true that I do have very dark grey irises, nearly black. And I was at least a hoof and a half taller than the other fillies and colts in preschool. I got angry. I stomped out of the classroom, glaring at anypony in my way. I trotted towards the only tree in the preschool's yard. Trees are somewhat of a comfort object for me, I guess. I don't know why. With dexterity that somehow greatly surpassed my limited physical form, I climbed to the top of the tree, and sat sulking for about three hours. I heard the teacher call my name; she was searching for me. I didn't reveal myself. Once I realized the predicament I was in on top of this tree and had calmed down enough to think, I had remembered something my Mommy had done a few times before: teleport. But I had no practice with any kind of magic. I hadn't even had my horn fizzle in excitement even once in my life, on accident or on purpose. I hoped I was correct in my assumption on how to teleport. I visualized the place I wanted to go, and focused on it with all my might. I screwed my eyes shut with concentration, sweat beginning to drip down my tiny muzzle, and the tip of my tongue poked out of the side of my mouth. I felt an energy I had never felt before begin to lazily slip into my mind. I knew it was magic. I strained. I struggled. I grunted and groaned. And after a half-hour of mental strain, I just felt the feeling of magic slip away the same way it had appeared; slowly and mysteriously. Unbeknownst to me, a single faraway black hair wafted slowly off of the ground in the light breeze, traveling to who-knows-where. I slowly and cautiously climb back down the tree, somehow still finding a good hoofhold on the loose bark of the old Pine tree. I begin my walk home, disappointment flowing through my mind. (a few years later) I had been practicing my magic as much as I could in the past few years. I was good enough with levitation now to bring Dad his morning paper. I had been doing so for the last three months. He'd always say, "Thanks, son" and ruffle my mane. I'd giggle, and go help Mom make my lunch for school. After everything is all set and ready for the day, I leave to go to school, and Mom and Dad go to work. After school, I usually went to my friend, Inferno Nova's house and hung out with him for a few hours before heading back home. (present time) I shut the apartment door behind me, trot down the stairs, and hail a carriage. "East 49th and Broadmare" I grumble as I climb into the carriage. I step off the carriage after paying the pony, and look at where my only friend lives. I sigh and request to be buzzed in. "Who is it" the voice of my friend asks through the mic. "It's me, Inferno. Let me in." I reply. The door buzzed, and I climbed the stairs to his apartment. I opened his door, and trotted in. I look around and spot a few new burn marks on the couch and recliner. "Still learning how to rein in the fire properly, huh Inferno?" I ask, bemused. Inferno popped his head out of the kitchen, and trotted into the living room. "Yeah, well. At least I don't burn the floor, walls and ceiling anymore." He says. We both chuckle at that. We brohoof and I sit down on a less blackened part of the couch. He sits on the couch next to me and I swear, if I didn't know he was a stallion, I'd think he was a hot mare sitting next to me, if a little unusual-looking. "so, what's new, Mage?" he asks. Mage is the nickname he gave me shortly after we became friends. I remember we became friends shortly after I had tried giving him a gift for Hearts and Hooves day. I didn't even know his name, so it was even more awkward. But I digress. "I'm running away, that's what." I reply simply. "My parents already know, and you're my only friend, so all the important ponies have been told." "But you can't. I had a nice honeymoon planned for us and you promised to go this time, Magey" Inferno said, almost serious enough to be serious. That small glint in his eye always gives it away. I chuckled, and said, "You always know how to lighten the mood, buddy. But I have to. I can't deal with the crap that nearly the whole school puts me through anymore. Not even counting the rest of Manehatten. I just want to find somewhere that nopony cares what you look like or what color your magic is." We stand up, and he puts a hoof on my shoulder. "Wherever you're going, Black Magic, may good fortune follow you." we stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds, but then Inferno seems to remember something. "Hold on just a sec" he says, then he runs off into his room. I roll my eyes and chuckle. He re-enters the living room, two small crystals balanced on his wingtips, along with two small odd-looking apparatuses. "During our . . .field trip . . . to the crystal empire, I had grabbed a few souvenirs. . . make that hundreds of souvenirs. Small crystals from the mine we had explored. Me, being the fire lovin' and Inferno-controlling pegasus you know, experimented with these crystals. I found that two crystals heated to the same exact temperature of 128 degrees celsius for the same exact time of twenty-two and a half minutes, and within a range of two to three hoof-lengths from each other other during the heating process tend to resonate." "Proper Equish, please, inferno." I say, confused. "If they're really close to each other when I catch them on fire, they tend to carry sound from crystal to crystal." Inferno said slowly. I gasp quietly in realization. "oh. . ." "just put the crystal in the earpiece, lock it into place, and put the earpiece around your ear." he explained, going through the motions on how to use the sound crystals. "just don't put it anywhere noise can be heard from easily. I still haven't figured out how to disable the channels yet." he smirked. "I don't want to hear you moan my name as you enjoy your privacy." I roll my eyes, and take the crystal and earpiece, chuckling. I put the crystal and earpiece in my one-of-a-kind black saddlebag. "Thanks, bro. I'll probably owe you one." i say, still chuckling. we brohug, and I wave goodbye as i trot towards the door. "See ya, Mage. Stay in contact, ya hear?" He says as I trot out the door. "I will" I call out as I shut the door. I walk back outside and hail another carriage. "Take me to the outskirts of Manehatten." I mutter as I step into the carriage. The pony nods, and pulls his carriage into traffic. We made it to the outskirts surprisingly quickly, considering traffic was absolutely horrible. "That'll be two bits." The carriage-pony says in a typical Manehatten accent. I pay the carriage-pony, and hop to the ground. "Thanks" I mutter. I chose a random direction away from the city and started walking, not caring where I'd end up, as long as it was somewhere away from any judgemental ponies.
Chapter 1It's been nearly two years since I left Manehatten. Among my greatest achievements; defending myself successfully from a small scout pack of timber wolves(about three timber wolves), successfully fleeing from an Ursa Minor, doing my first successful healing spell(after my first unsuccessful defense from a pack of timber wolves), lighting my first fire without magic, lighting my first fire with magic, casting my first shield spell, and- . . . Now that I think about it, I believe you didn't pick up my journal and begin reading it to find out the first time I did hundreds of things in the Everfree forest. Trust me, I nearly hit a thousand firsts. Don't even get me started on how many failures there were. So, I'm gonna cut to the chase. I was low on food, water, and breath. My trail-made sunglasses flopped around my neck. I was running at a breakneck pace, fleeing from my second Ursa Minor encounter. I dived, dodged, ducked, and dipped around the many tree branches hindering my escape. With no warning, I found myself staring at a clearing, possibly a quarter mile across before it reached a small town. I kept running, planning to hide in the town and blend in as best I could during the attack. . . .After being kicked out of nearly every town you come across, you learn to blend in better. Just sayin' I may be really good at magic, but I strongly believe most illusion spells are below me, especially ones I can use to look different. I make a dead sprint into a back alley on the outskirts, and pull my hood over my head. The Minor just barely broke out of the treeline by the time my hood was pulled over my head. I slide the sunglasses onto my nose and trot out of the alleyway. Carnage has already broken loose, so I begin to run around frantically as well. I think the Minor crushed a showpony's cart while it raged in town square. That must suck, huh? In the middle of the carnage, a purple unicorn lit up her horn. Five ponies and a small dragon stood behind her in defensive stances, but distanced. I watched in wonder as the unicorn made the wind blow(not a big achievement) which caused cattails to bend and begin to play soothing music. The Ursa Minor immediately calmed down. 'dayum, good planning, mare' I had thought. The unicorn's horn glowed brighter, and she picked up the water tower tank. She then proceeded to dump it out, bring it through a barn full of cows to get milk, save a hapless blue unicorn from getting smooshed by the Minor by lifting it into the air, then gave the milk-filled water tower tank to the now floating Ursa Minor. The Minor was then floated out of town, and back to the cave from whence it came, suckling on the makeshift baby bottle. "buckin' sacred manure! that was impressive! just, WOW." I muttered to myself after the show had ended. I joined a throng of ponies grouping around the purple unicorn, and pretended to listen to her. After a bit, the blue unicorn ran off. A little later, two young unicorns got moustaches, as well as that small dragon. I chuckled at that part. I had the feeling the moustaches were going to fade within an hour. The crowd dispersed, and I was left to find shelter for the night. That is, if I hadn't been tackled to the ground by a pink blur. "hey-you're-new-here-which-means-you-don't-have-any-friends-and-I-need-to-throw-you-a-party-and . . . what's with your eyes? They have no irises." the pink blur rapidly said. "Wah! No!" I exclaim frantically, and hurriedly try to push my sunglasses up. I get out of from under the pink mare. "You didn't see that, okay?" "See what? Your eyes. Oh, silly. I don't care about your eye color. Everypony deserves a Pinkie Party at least once in their lives, no eye color required." The pink pony put on a big smile, and I relaxed a little bit. "anyway, my name's Pinkie Pie. What's yours?" The pink pony says. "Erm, my name? Well, it's an unusual name, especially for a Manehatten stallion. It's Black Magic." I say, and cringe in preperation for the verbal abuse. "that is an unusual name, but it fits your appearance. Except for your cutie mark." she replied "Huh, what? Oh, that? Turns out I was really good at more than one kind of magic. I can apparently learn from almost every school of magic known to ponykind. It takes a while, but I can learn any spell, hex, charm, ritual, or curse if I put my mind to it." I answer. "Well, no hexes, rituals, or curses here in Ponyville, buster. Or you have me to deal with." Pinkie said suddenly serious. "Hey, Pinkie Pie. Ya comin'?" A southern drawl called from behind us. "That's one of my friends. Gotta go. OH, and as for your party; come here at this time. See you then, Magey." Pinkie said as she hoofed me a post it note with an address and a time on it. She then trotted off to join her friends. 'Pinkie Pie, huh? Well, why not? I could stay here for a bit.' I thought. 'At least I still have a few bits left to buy a meal.' I began to wander around, in hopes of finding a place to get something to eat. After about ten minutes, I came upon a sandwich shop in the last stages of closing up. i walk closer, and call to one of the waiters. "Hey, any chance I could buy something really quick?" I ask. "I believe the cook hasn't left, so what would you like sir?" the waiter replied in a slightly prench accent. 'Dear Celestia, I must have died and gone to paradise!' I thought happily. "Just a simple daisy sandwich, please." I say barely holding in my excitement for hoofmade food. The waiter went into the shop interior, and shortly returned with the blessed sandwich. "That'll be one bit, please." the waiter said. I place three bits on the table and reach for the sandwich. "There ya go. A tip for the late service you gave me. Thanks, by the way. I've had a really exciting last two years." "Oh, really? How so?" the waiter asked. I gulp down the mouthful of sandwich and say, "The Everfree. Enough said." "You mean to say, you've been surviving in the Everfree Forest the last two years?" the waiter asks. I think for a second. ". . . Yeah, just about two years. Today, I think." "Dear Celestia. What horrors did you have to endure during those two long years?" the waiter asked, nearly flabbergasted. "Timberwolves, a hydra, two ursa minors, and bad food to name a few. By far, the food was the worst part. Can't go one day, can't stop the next. Just totally ridiculous." I reply. "Yes, that must have been horrid. . . anyway, enjoy your . . . meal?" The waiter trailed off, seeing that the sandwich was already gone. "That hit the spot! Anyway, I'm new here, and looking for a job. You know anywhere I can look?" "We may have an opening for a pony to bus a section of the tables. Come by tomorrow, and we'll check for any openings." he says. I nod, say, "thanks" and trot off, searching for an alleyway to hole up in or a box to huddle in.
Chapter 2I slunk into a nearby alleyway, and scanned for a box. 'Score!' I exclaimed mentally, pumping my hoof. There was a box just about tall enough to fit two adult ponies. A little big for me, but shelter is shelter. I crept into the box, and got comfortable. I quickly got sleepy, and I lay down on a fuzzy blanket. . . .'fuzzy blanket?' I thought, slightly confused. I opened my eyes slightly to see an orange filly with a purple mane. "Let go of me right now." a tomboyish voice said quietly and dangerously. "or I'll buck you into next week." I let go of the filly, and begin to edge out of the box. I was almost out of the box when I heard her voice again. "I didn't say to get out, just to let me go." she said feebly. "It gets cold some nights." I edged back into the box, and the filly proceeded to curl up next to me. I lay my head down on the cold surface of the box below me. After a little bit, the whole box was comfortably warm, and I could hear the filly's light breathing get softer and deeper, signifying that she fell asleep. After that, I fell asleep quickly. I felt something tickle my nose. I batted a hoof at it, but it didn't budge. I eventually opened my eyes to see that the filly's mane was in my face. I lift my head stiffly off of the ground. 'Sore neck gonna be a bucker today.' I thought. "Best sleep in months," I mutter anyway. I yawn and stand up. The filly sleeps on peacefully I sneak out of the large box, and breathe in through my nose. I must not have noticed yesterday, but the air here is just more . . . energetic than anywhere else I've been. That, or it may be the happiness of the sun compared to the Everfree forest. I look around, gauging the angle of the sun to the horizon. "Hmm, almost 7:30 in the morning. A nice, early start to my day." I mutter, smiling slightly. "7:30!? Dangit, I gotta get to school! Thanks Mister" the filly said as she grabbed her saddlebags from a corner of the box and gallops off.. I jump, and shrug, passing this off to be some normal occurence. I put my sunglasses on, and trot out of the alleyway. I glance around, looking for something or somewhere to go or do today. 'I have two things I need to do today: Go to that location at the time written on the note I received from Pinkie, and go see if I can get a job at that sandwich shop.' I muse. i check the note again, and it says: Sugarcube corner at dusk. be there Pinkie Pie "How. . . Subtle," I muse. I put the note back in my mane, and look around again. The only place that catches my eye is the sandwich shop nearby. I shrug, and trot over to see if it's open. "Ah, welcome back sir. Another daisy sandwich?" the waiter from yesterday asked. I smile and shake my head. "No thanks. I'm here for the table bussing job." His expression brightens a little, and he nods. He turns around, and trots towards the main building. A few minutes later, the waiter leaves the building, a heavyset stallion behind him. I assume the larger one is the cook Is the two stallions come nearer, i hear the cook grumbling about something, but he goes quiet when he comes into earshot. "You the one wanting the job?" I nod, and the cooks expression brightens a bit. "A unicorn? Good. Are you coordinated?" "Gimme some plates. I'll show you some coordination." the waiter hoofs me a stack of ten small plates, and I take hold of them with my magic. I manipulate the plates as a whole, lifting them apart, and magically juggling them. One plate separates from the rest and spins on all axes an inch above my hoof, which I had lifted up. Their faces are unbelieving yet ecstatic. The other plates separate into two groups, and both groups do something different. The left group of four align themselves above the plate that had separated earlier and copy the plate above my hoof. The right group rotates around itself as the plates themselves rotate. All in all, a difficult task, but I keep my focus through the whole thing. Until I am tackled from behind and pulled into the air. The plates jerk to a stop, and I frantically reach my magic to set them down gently before they fall and break. Thankfully, I succeed just before I cannot reach my magic any farther. My vision swims and blurs, and I groan from my magical headache "Impressive. Now, if you don't mind, I shall continue my duty of bringing you to our matron, the Night Princess." the voice above me said. "What does the Night Princess want me for?" I ask my mysterious kidnapper. Her leathery wings beat in perfect rhythm, and I realize she is a Bat-pony. "I am not at liberty to discuss what she desires you for, Unicorn.." she replies. ". . . Isn't sunlight bad for a bat-pony?" I ask after a minute. Her flight wobbles slightly, hinting at discomfort, and I groan inwardly at the movement. ". . . how could you tell I am a bat-pony? I have a fully immersive Pegasus disguise gifted by our Night Princess herself." She replied after a short time. "I see no disguise." Just as I start to speak, I see a small, ethereal ripple across her coat and wings. " . . . Nevermind. I understand now." The rest of the flight is spent in silence until we land on Princess Luna's balcony in Canterlot. "Act as if you normally would around a Princess, with the exception of when she insists you don't. She noticed something about you and I can now see what it is. . . On a totally unrelated note, I hope it's me. Farewell for now, sir."
Not a real chapter, but a questionHey everybody, i'm starting to wonder if it was a good idea to write this story. the dislikes outnumber the likes, the location is less than desirable, and i have severely limited motivation to write. should i cancel/delete/re-write this? I don't want to write something that nobody likes.
