There's an Endercolt in my basementby The Infinity DoctorChaptersButton MashExplanationsNamelessClawsPrologueChaos pt. !Button MashA small, brown colt with a beanie atop his head trotted down the dirt road, away from the Ponyville schoolhouse, his saddlebags containing his notebook and homework. Button Mash continued walking through the main throrough-fare of Ponyville, towards an ordinary brick building. The colt went inside and put his saddlebags on the kitchen table, took a glass from the cupboard and went to the sink to fill it with water. He drained the glass of its contents and put it in the sink, he picked up his saddlebags as he went up the stairs and into his room. "I'm home, mom!" the colt called, whipping out his books. "How was your day at school?" his mother asked. "Same as any other day" the colt responded. "Is that so?" "Uh-huh" "How was Sweetie Belle?" his mother smirked. "Moooooooommm" the colt groaned "I said I don't like her" "I'm just messing with you" she smiled, ruffling his mane "I've got to go out for a few hours, will you be alright here by yourself?" "Yes mom" the colt replied. "Be sure to finish your homework" "Yes mom" the colt said, rolling his eyes. His mother trotted down the stairs and out of the house, locking the door behind her. Button Mash sat down at the small table in his room and began reading. 'The reign of Discord lasted for years, until finally, the Royal Pony Sisters were able to stop him with the Elements of Harmony. It's a mystery to this day where the Elements came from, as they were-' He didn't get much farther than that, before his little snout hit the book, his brain out like a light. X X X (Several hours later) X X X Button Mash was snapped out of his sleep as he heard one of the trash cans outside being knocked over. He rubbed the sand out of his eyes and and jumped to the floor, he trotted downstairs and peeked out the window. Seeing nothing in the alley, he shrugged and prepared to return to his room. *Knock* *Knock* He thought he was imagining things, and shook his head. He set one hoof on the stairs when another knock came, slightly louder this time. *Knock* Button eyed the door in confusion. *Knock* He slowly approached the door and carefully opened it, he almost instantly regretted it and slammed the door as hard as possible, his heart beating a mile a minute. He peeked out the window and saw it, still laying on its side in the alley. The stallion's coat (he assumed it was a stallion) was completely black, he had no mane or tail, and his pupils were pure white, what were supposed to be the whites of his eyes were colored a vibrant purple. The stallion's breathing was heavy, and the long gashes running down his long legs gave Button the impression he needed help. He opened the door a little faster this time, and those piercing eyes stared right back at him, Button gulped and prayed he was making the right decision. He took one ear into his mouth and tugged, he saw the stallion wince as he ever-so-slowly managed to drag the stallion into the kitchen. Button closed the door and flopped onto the floor, exhausted. He looked to the stallion, who was still breathing heavily, his breaths slowly becoming more relaxed. Button took the opportunity for his strength to return and walked up to the stallion's muzzle, those white-and-purple eyes stared back at him as he continued the staring contest. The stallion's eyes finally closed and slowly reopened, he looked tired, like he hadn't slept in days. "Thank...you..." he rasped. The stallion's eyes closed again, and he remained silent, at first Button had thought the pony died, but heard him breathing softly and found nothing else wrong with him. Button found himself confused at the stallion's behavior, and trotted up the stairs to fetch his homework and the bandages. It was going to be a long night... X X X X X X X Button closed his notebook just as his mother walked into the house. She stopped as she saw the tall stallion laying on the kitchen floor, sleeping like a rock. "Button sweetie, why is there a pony asleep in our kitchen?" Author's Note New HiE. Let me know what you think. ExplanationsI groaned as I slowly blinked, my eyes adjusting to the light of the house. I held back a smirk as the smaller pony in the beanie talked to the other one, who I assumed to be its mother. Both of them turned and their eyes grew, looking at me. 'Do I have something in my teeth?' I thought running my tongue over my chops. "Sir?" the mare (I think it was a mare, based on the sound of her voice alone) asked "Sir, are you alright?" I didn't answer right away, I instead looked down to my legs. Several long, red gashes were clearly visible, the wounds were already in the process of closing themselves, if the scabs starting to form were any indication. 'Damn wolves...' "Those wounds look extensive, should I take you to the hospital?" I shook my head, attempting to stand on my hooves. My rump was almost off the ground when the mare sat me down gently on the floor. "Please don't move, you could end up making your injuries worse" I rolled my eyes as I sat there, waiting to the mare to finish. The colt, meanwhile, was fascinated with with my height, craning his neck as he stared up at me. For all intents and purposes, he looked pretty cute, those large amber eyes and beanie spinning atop his head adding to the effect. "Can I help you?" I smirked. The colt shook his head and left the room, carrying his notebook in his mouth. "Cute kid" I said, watching the mare apply another piece of gauze. She shot me a confused look. "He's not a goat" she said. "What? Oh- yeah...that's slang for foal" "I've never heard anypony call their foals that" "Oh..." I coughed as the mare finished with my bandages. "Thanks..." I said, testing the hoof. It still stung underneath the bandages as the torn muscles were disturbed. "No problem" she smiled "Do you have somewhere to sleep for the night?" "Yes, out in the forest a little ways" "You live out there?" "Yes" "The trip would be too dangerous in the first place, much less with an injured leg" "I'll be fine" I said dismissively. "Your bandages could become infected" "I'll live, believe me" "You could be attacked" "As if..." "Nonetheless" she insisted "You'll sleep on our couch tonight" "Why are you so bent on keeping me here?" I asked "You don't even know me!" "I don't have to know you to show you kindness" she replied firmly "I'll bring you some blankets for tonight" She left the room without another word, and I sat there, wondering what the heck just happened. 'Crazy mare...' X X X X X X X I sat at the dinner table (on the floor, naturally) with the mare and her son, their names were Loving Care and Button Mash, respectively; we sat in silence as we each ate a plate of steamed vegetables. Button Mash occasionally snuck a glance at me as I dug into my food, I didn't mind, but it was slightly creepy. I finished and picked up the plate in my teeth, then placed it in the sink. "I'm going to sleep" I said. Tender nodded as she and Button Mash continued their meal. I walked into the living room and glanced at the couch, and decided it would be more comfortable to sleep on the floor. I pulled the blanket Tender had set out over myself as my long legs stretched out, I winced as my injuries once again made themselves known, the pain dulled as I retracted the injured leg, letting it rest on the floor. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts wander as I drifted off to sleep. X X X X X X X "What do you think of him?" Mom asked quietly, looking to the living room. "He's real tall..." I responded. "Yes, but did you notice anything...off...about him?" "He didn't have a cutie mark" "Yes, but no, something just seemed odd with him...I can't place my hoof on it..." "Nopony looks like him, that's for sure" "Maybe the library has a book on ponies like him" "Ms. Cheerilee could know" "Somehow I d-" "I can hear you, y'know!" a voice boomed from the living room. Mom's face turned red as we continued eating, no more sound came from the living room. 'Apparently, he's got good hearing, too' I thought, finishing my dinner. X X X X X X X I blinked as I woke up, I then yawned as I stretched, careful not to disturb the bandages on my legs. I slowly stood up and went to the kitchen, where Care was sleepily sitting at the table. I grinned as I silently walked behind her and put my muzzle to her ear. "Boo" She shrieked as her coffee cup went flying, smashing into the wall as the liquid inside it dripped down the wall. Button Mash had decided to walk in at that exact moment, the both of us laughing our heads off. "Don't do that!" she cried, her face a slight shade of red. "Why not? It was pretty funny..." I smirked. She cuffed me on the back of the head, or tried to, she wound up hitting the base of my neck. "Well now you," she said, wiping her mouth off "can clean that up" She made her point by pointing to the wall. I cocked an eyebrow. "You have two options, you can either clean that up, or have no dessert tonight" 'Let's see...wipe up the coffee, or no dessert... "Yes ma'am" I replied, ears sliding backward. Author's Note Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter might not come for awhile... NamelessLoving Care watched on as the tall stallion sat in front of the coffee table, staring down at a fork. His eyes were focused on it intently, as if he were contemplating some great mystery of life. "Er...what are you doing?" she asked. "Trying to figure something out..." he responded, not taking his purple and white eyes off of the piece of silverware situated on the table. "What would that be?" "How can you pick up things like this-" he took a moment to nod down to the fork "-with your hooves?" "All ponies have it, it's part of the magic we have" He stared at her, incredulously. "Uh-huh, right" he said, rolling his eyes. "It's true! What did you think?" He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I dunno, something to do with short-range gravity manipulators?" Now it was her turn to stare at him. "What? I didn't understand a word of that!" He only shrugged in response, and went back to staring at the fork. "So...how does it work?" "Here..." she said, trotting to the table. She made a demonstration of placing her hoof on the fork, then picking up the fork. "Like that, see?" The stallion wasn't listening however, as his eyes were locked onto her hoof, and the fork along with it. "Um...hey, you alright?" she asked, dropping the fork and reaching up to wave it in front of his face "Hey! Snap out of it!" He suddenly came to, blinking rapidly as he shook his head. "Hey, yeah...sorry...kinda lost it there for a second..." She shot him a strange look, before picking up the fork and placing it back on the coffee table. "Just put my silverware back where you found it, o great thinker" she said, trotting out of the room. "Uh-huh. Sure" he responded, returning to staring at the piece of metal set before him. Button Mash trotted through the front door, and into the kitchen, tossing his saddlebags onto his chair at the dining room table. He then spied the mystery-pony, sprawled out on the couch, his forehooves in the air as he inspected the object between them. 'What's he doing with a fork?' Button thought to himself. He trotted past, towards the stairs, the stallion's gaze locked with the fork all the while. "How was your day?" he rumbled suddenly, not breaking contact with the silverware. A shiver ran down Button's spine, before turning to look up at him. "Good...I guess..." The stallion waved absently, forming some half-hearted attempt to shoo Button up the stairs. The colt took that as his chance to leave, and bounded up the stairs, his saddlebags jingling as his hooves thumped. Loving Care then trotted into the room, her mane bouncing a bit as she flicked some of it out of her mane. "Was that Button I just heard?" she asked. "Nope, it was a burglar" he responded "just directed him to where your valuables were" She rolled her eyes, then walked to the stairs, as to follow Button. She then stopped at the base, and turned to look at the stallion, still locked in a staring contest with her silverware. "I almost forgot...do you have a name, or can I just keep referring to you as 'him'?" "Got a name, had a name" "..." "..." "...and that would be?" "Not important" Care rolled her eyes once more, before heading up the steps, bound for her son's room. Button and his mother trotted down the stairs, planning dinner for the evening as the made their way towards the kitchen. "So, then we should have enough for..." she trailed off. "What's wrong?" Button asked. Care's eyes circled the kitchen, then the living room. "Where'd he go?" Button looked surprised for a moment, before shrugging, proceeding to search the area with his mother. "I dunno...maybe he just...left?" "We would've heard him leave..." "I'll go and check the living room agai-" Button stopped mid-sentence, jaw-agape as he stared into the living room. "Button, sweetie? What's the m-" She stopped too, as she realized what her son was staring at- -there, sprawled out on the floor, was the stallion. Unconscious as he practically foamed at the mouth, twitching sporadically as he lay there. "Sweet Celestia!" she cried, rushing to the stallion. She hastily checked his pulse, before sending Button galloping down the street as fast as he could. She spied him speeding past the Flower Trio as she headed back inside to tend to the stallion until a doctor could arrive. Author's Note Enjoy ClawsCare bit her lip in worry as the medic-ponies placed the stallion onto a stretcher (which was comically small, in her opinion), as Button stood beside her, watching with concern. "Is he gonna be okay?" he asked. "I really don't know" she responded, pulling him in for a short hug "I guess we just have to wait..." "There's nothing we can do?" "I'm afraid not..." "Can we go an' visit him later?" "I'm sure he'd enjoy that" she smiled. Pain used my body as its playground as I moaned, laying flat on my side on my hospital bed as at least three doctors and a nurse stared. My migraine worsened as my breathing grew more ragged, my lungs demanding more oxygen. I coughed harshly, then felt my eyelids grow heavy- they slipped closed as one of the doctors rattled off something to the other two ponies. 'Oh god...I'm gonna die, aren't I? I'm dyin' right now...' I didn't have the energy to cry, I just lay there as the ponies went about their work. "How do you think he's doing?" I asked, trotting next to Mom as we worked our way around the hospital, towards the front entrance. "It's only been a few days, I'm sure he's still being treated for those wounds he recieved" Mom replied, nudging me through the shiny glass doors. "Yeah...I guess..." "Alright, wait here while I find his room number" I nodded, and hopped into one of the chairs in the waiting room as Mom went to the front desk near the farthest corner of the room. 'Wish I had my JoyBoy with me...' I thought boredly, wishing I'd brought something to do during the wait. Mom came back a few minutes later, and sat on the chair next to mine. "The receptionist told me he's being treated now, they're doing the best th-" Mom and I jumped as a loud crashing sound blew out from the double-doors leading further into the hospital, followed by several thunder-like booms. The nurse at the desk cocked an eyebrow as she set down her clipboard, she then got up and trotted through one of the double doors. She came back a few minutes later, however, screaming as if a Cerberus hound were on her tail. A number of doctors and other nurses soon followed, filtering through the doors as they ran or trotted at a brisk pace. "Ma'am" one nurse stopped to say "I s-suggest you get out of h-here" "Why would we do that?" Mom asked. "Th-there's a dragon back th-there!" "Where did the dragon come from?" I asked. The nurse didn't answer, as she ran out of the hospital, following her co-workers. Mom took me by the hoof (followed by me rolling my eyes), as we headed out the front doors of the hospital, joining the growing number of ponies gathering in the street. Mom then started talking with a nurse, who'd apparently been there when 'it' happened- she couldn't exactly get out of the nurse what 'it' was. My eyes wandered around the side of the hospital, and my jaw dropped at what I saw- sticking out of the white wall of the building like a sore hoof, was a thick, black tail, black scales covering it as it idly swayed. "Mom" I said, reaching back to tug on her coat. "Not now, sweetie" Mom said gently, before turning back to talk to the nurse. "Mom, Mom" "What is it?" Mom replied, turning. "Look" I said, pointing to the tail attached to the side of the building. "What in Equestria?" "How did a dragon fit into the hospital?" I asked. "I don't know..." A deep rumbling was heard, and the gathered ponies began scattering, running for the safety of their homes. I spied the wall of the hospital burst into rubble and dust, bricks falling as they came loose from the wall. They thunked dully as I saw the tail rising, then clumsily backing out of the hospital, taking most of the wall with it. I watched in fascination and horror as a black dragon, at least the length of a hoofball field exited the hospital. The dragon shook the rubble from its scaled hide, its nose then went to the sky, as if it were searching for something. I stood paralyzed with fear as the dragon locked eyes with me, its all-purple eyes staring into mine. 'If he was a pony, he'd look just like-' I lost my train of thought as Mom instinctively grabbed me, then turned and bolted. Everything went by in a blur as she ran, not stopping for anything as other ponies did the same. The chaos hurt my head, everything was happening so fast... Mom looked back, and her eyes grew in terror before she ran faster, her hooves pumping at a faster rate than they were before. I snuck a glance back, and saw that the dragon was chasing after us. I gulped, and held on. Mom suddenly turned, making my stomach jump as we ducked into a side-street. The dragon followed, its head snaking into the street as he continued to run. It suddenly stopped, and saw that the rest of its body was too big to fit into the alley. I heard Mom breathe a sigh of relief, before taking a moment to rest. She then looked up in terror, and saw the corners of the buildings on either side of us starting to dissolve. The dragon regained mobility, and began walking toward us again, and we began running again. "Why's it following us?!" Mom called as we ran. "No idea!" I responded, running right behind her. I felt something large grab one of my hind-legs, and I found myself being dragged backwards, toward the dragon. "Mom!" I cried. She skidded, and turned, spying me. "BUTTON!" she shrieked. My mom then did something I never thought she'd do- -she galloped right up to the dragon's foot, and stomped, hard. 'Mom just hit a dragon...' The dragon roared in pain, its loud howls filling the air as it held its foot with its other claw. "Ow! Sonofa- that hurt Care!" the dragon said. '...what...' "WHAT?!?" Mom shrieked "IT'S YOU?!?!" "Yep, who else?" Mom then stuck the dragon's claw. Repeatedly. "Ow! Owowowow! Ouch! Jeez! Stop it! That hurts!" he complained. "Don't you EVER do that again- is that clear?!" "What, chase you through town?" She hit him again. "OW! Okay! Okay! I'm sorry, alright?" "Good, now put Button down" The dragon's claw rested against the ground, releasing his grip on me. "Why isn't he moving?" the dragon whispered to Mom. "I think you might've broken him" "Really? However did I do that?" She shot him a glare. With his other claw, the dragon picked me up and set me on the ground next to Mom. "Want me to escort you home, too?" Mom rolled her eyes as I began to snap out of it, shaking my head as I walked after her. The three of us walked into the street, and was met with an angry mob, shouting at the dragon. "Did I do something wrong?" PrologueThere is an ancient legend lost to both Equestrian lore and the sands of time, known to only a few. This is the legend of the Shadow Colt, forever stalking the shadows, taking the nightmares that haunt us with it. The Shadow Colt is a protector, of sorts, said to have been summoned by the lunar princess herself in order to drive out the creatures that seek to harm us, while the princess herself kept watch over the dream world. Not many have seen the Shadow Colt, those who have claim it to be three ponies high, a whole head taller than the princesses, completely black with no mane or tail, and piercing eyes of a dragon, their white-hot irises contrasting with the rest of their glowing purple eyes. Some say just staring it in the eyes for just a few minutes is enough to drive a pony insane, turning them into a shell of their former selves. Others think it's an angel in demon's clothing, leaning towards neither Harmony nor Chaos- giving its assistance to ponies in need when it can. Should you come across one, however, don't expect to see it for more than a few seconds, for it posesses magic, though it lacks a horn; the source of this magic is unknown, more research is required in order to learn more of this specie. Nopony knows where it came from or why it's here... ...of course, that's just a legend. X X X X X X X Chaos pt. !He drifted, the darkness surrounding me as he wandered into his own dreams. "We finally meet, interesting" a voice echoed, spilling from the dark void. "Wh-who are you?" he asked. "Not important, dear boy-" 'he' said "-what is important, is your condition" "My- oh, you mean...the...uh...dragon thing?" "Yes, the 'dragon thing', do you know why you're a dragon?" "You mean why I turned into one? Yeah, I'm kinda curious as to how that happened" he said sarcastically. "It's rather simple" the voice replied "You're body burnt itself out" "WHAT?!" he screamed. "Oh, did I say that? I meant almost burnt itself out" "So..." "Can you not connect the dots?" "Uh, so- if my...my other body..." *cue shudder* "...then, I'm..." "Lucky to be alive? Yes, you are" "But why? Why did I transform?" "Because" "Because why?" "I'm not one to give a straight answer" the voice said, then silence. "Okay? So...did you have something to do with...me?" "Maybe...maybe not" "Can you give me some answers?" "Probably- but what fun would there be in that?" "You make no sense whatsoever, you know that?" "Sense? What fun is there in making sense?" the voice chuckled. He shuddered again. "Why did you bring me here?" "I was bored, thought I'd shake things up a bit" "Really? You brought me across who-knows-how-many-dimensions just because you were bored?" "Yes" "Why?" "Because I wanted to" "That's not a reason" "Yes it is" "No, it doesn't, you're confusing me" "That's one thing I can cross off my list of life goals" "Shut up" "No, I don't think I will" "STOP IT!" "Nope- here, I've got a little present for you, instead" "What are you-" He was cut off as he suddenly awoke, he stared down, eyes wide, as a small brown horse wandered into the room. "Hey, you're finally up!" the horse said. '...' He shrieked in horror, and scrambled away from the mutant horse. "What's the matter?" the horse said. 'It talked...it talked again...hee- heehee...' He began laughing, the sound growing in volume as tears slid down his face, curling into the corner of the room as the horse approached him. 'Heeheehee...I'm a horse...heeheeheehee...' "Uh, you okay?" the horse asked. He didn't hear him as his laughter died, and began shaking, quivering as the horse watched him with concern. "H-horse- hahaheh" "Is something wrong?" it asked. "Wrong? Wrong? No, nothing's wrong- of course nothing is wrong! Heehee-" He collapsed, whimpering like a foal as the horse hurriedly left the room.
Button MashA small, brown colt with a beanie atop his head trotted down the dirt road, away from the Ponyville schoolhouse, his saddlebags containing his notebook and homework. Button Mash continued walking through the main throrough-fare of Ponyville, towards an ordinary brick building. The colt went inside and put his saddlebags on the kitchen table, took a glass from the cupboard and went to the sink to fill it with water. He drained the glass of its contents and put it in the sink, he picked up his saddlebags as he went up the stairs and into his room. "I'm home, mom!" the colt called, whipping out his books. "How was your day at school?" his mother asked. "Same as any other day" the colt responded. "Is that so?" "Uh-huh" "How was Sweetie Belle?" his mother smirked. "Moooooooommm" the colt groaned "I said I don't like her" "I'm just messing with you" she smiled, ruffling his mane "I've got to go out for a few hours, will you be alright here by yourself?" "Yes mom" the colt replied. "Be sure to finish your homework" "Yes mom" the colt said, rolling his eyes. His mother trotted down the stairs and out of the house, locking the door behind her. Button Mash sat down at the small table in his room and began reading. 'The reign of Discord lasted for years, until finally, the Royal Pony Sisters were able to stop him with the Elements of Harmony. It's a mystery to this day where the Elements came from, as they were-' He didn't get much farther than that, before his little snout hit the book, his brain out like a light. X X X (Several hours later) X X X Button Mash was snapped out of his sleep as he heard one of the trash cans outside being knocked over. He rubbed the sand out of his eyes and and jumped to the floor, he trotted downstairs and peeked out the window. Seeing nothing in the alley, he shrugged and prepared to return to his room. *Knock* *Knock* He thought he was imagining things, and shook his head. He set one hoof on the stairs when another knock came, slightly louder this time. *Knock* Button eyed the door in confusion. *Knock* He slowly approached the door and carefully opened it, he almost instantly regretted it and slammed the door as hard as possible, his heart beating a mile a minute. He peeked out the window and saw it, still laying on its side in the alley. The stallion's coat (he assumed it was a stallion) was completely black, he had no mane or tail, and his pupils were pure white, what were supposed to be the whites of his eyes were colored a vibrant purple. The stallion's breathing was heavy, and the long gashes running down his long legs gave Button the impression he needed help. He opened the door a little faster this time, and those piercing eyes stared right back at him, Button gulped and prayed he was making the right decision. He took one ear into his mouth and tugged, he saw the stallion wince as he ever-so-slowly managed to drag the stallion into the kitchen. Button closed the door and flopped onto the floor, exhausted. He looked to the stallion, who was still breathing heavily, his breaths slowly becoming more relaxed. Button took the opportunity for his strength to return and walked up to the stallion's muzzle, those white-and-purple eyes stared back at him as he continued the staring contest. The stallion's eyes finally closed and slowly reopened, he looked tired, like he hadn't slept in days. "Thank...you..." he rasped. The stallion's eyes closed again, and he remained silent, at first Button had thought the pony died, but heard him breathing softly and found nothing else wrong with him. Button found himself confused at the stallion's behavior, and trotted up the stairs to fetch his homework and the bandages. It was going to be a long night... X X X X X X X Button closed his notebook just as his mother walked into the house. She stopped as she saw the tall stallion laying on the kitchen floor, sleeping like a rock. "Button sweetie, why is there a pony asleep in our kitchen?" Author's Note New HiE. Let me know what you think.
ExplanationsI groaned as I slowly blinked, my eyes adjusting to the light of the house. I held back a smirk as the smaller pony in the beanie talked to the other one, who I assumed to be its mother. Both of them turned and their eyes grew, looking at me. 'Do I have something in my teeth?' I thought running my tongue over my chops. "Sir?" the mare (I think it was a mare, based on the sound of her voice alone) asked "Sir, are you alright?" I didn't answer right away, I instead looked down to my legs. Several long, red gashes were clearly visible, the wounds were already in the process of closing themselves, if the scabs starting to form were any indication. 'Damn wolves...' "Those wounds look extensive, should I take you to the hospital?" I shook my head, attempting to stand on my hooves. My rump was almost off the ground when the mare sat me down gently on the floor. "Please don't move, you could end up making your injuries worse" I rolled my eyes as I sat there, waiting to the mare to finish. The colt, meanwhile, was fascinated with with my height, craning his neck as he stared up at me. For all intents and purposes, he looked pretty cute, those large amber eyes and beanie spinning atop his head adding to the effect. "Can I help you?" I smirked. The colt shook his head and left the room, carrying his notebook in his mouth. "Cute kid" I said, watching the mare apply another piece of gauze. She shot me a confused look. "He's not a goat" she said. "What? Oh- yeah...that's slang for foal" "I've never heard anypony call their foals that" "Oh..." I coughed as the mare finished with my bandages. "Thanks..." I said, testing the hoof. It still stung underneath the bandages as the torn muscles were disturbed. "No problem" she smiled "Do you have somewhere to sleep for the night?" "Yes, out in the forest a little ways" "You live out there?" "Yes" "The trip would be too dangerous in the first place, much less with an injured leg" "I'll be fine" I said dismissively. "Your bandages could become infected" "I'll live, believe me" "You could be attacked" "As if..." "Nonetheless" she insisted "You'll sleep on our couch tonight" "Why are you so bent on keeping me here?" I asked "You don't even know me!" "I don't have to know you to show you kindness" she replied firmly "I'll bring you some blankets for tonight" She left the room without another word, and I sat there, wondering what the heck just happened. 'Crazy mare...' X X X X X X X I sat at the dinner table (on the floor, naturally) with the mare and her son, their names were Loving Care and Button Mash, respectively; we sat in silence as we each ate a plate of steamed vegetables. Button Mash occasionally snuck a glance at me as I dug into my food, I didn't mind, but it was slightly creepy. I finished and picked up the plate in my teeth, then placed it in the sink. "I'm going to sleep" I said. Tender nodded as she and Button Mash continued their meal. I walked into the living room and glanced at the couch, and decided it would be more comfortable to sleep on the floor. I pulled the blanket Tender had set out over myself as my long legs stretched out, I winced as my injuries once again made themselves known, the pain dulled as I retracted the injured leg, letting it rest on the floor. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts wander as I drifted off to sleep. X X X X X X X "What do you think of him?" Mom asked quietly, looking to the living room. "He's real tall..." I responded. "Yes, but did you notice anything...off...about him?" "He didn't have a cutie mark" "Yes, but no, something just seemed odd with him...I can't place my hoof on it..." "Nopony looks like him, that's for sure" "Maybe the library has a book on ponies like him" "Ms. Cheerilee could know" "Somehow I d-" "I can hear you, y'know!" a voice boomed from the living room. Mom's face turned red as we continued eating, no more sound came from the living room. 'Apparently, he's got good hearing, too' I thought, finishing my dinner. X X X X X X X I blinked as I woke up, I then yawned as I stretched, careful not to disturb the bandages on my legs. I slowly stood up and went to the kitchen, where Care was sleepily sitting at the table. I grinned as I silently walked behind her and put my muzzle to her ear. "Boo" She shrieked as her coffee cup went flying, smashing into the wall as the liquid inside it dripped down the wall. Button Mash had decided to walk in at that exact moment, the both of us laughing our heads off. "Don't do that!" she cried, her face a slight shade of red. "Why not? It was pretty funny..." I smirked. She cuffed me on the back of the head, or tried to, she wound up hitting the base of my neck. "Well now you," she said, wiping her mouth off "can clean that up" She made her point by pointing to the wall. I cocked an eyebrow. "You have two options, you can either clean that up, or have no dessert tonight" 'Let's see...wipe up the coffee, or no dessert... "Yes ma'am" I replied, ears sliding backward. Author's Note Hope you enjoyed it! Next chapter might not come for awhile...
NamelessLoving Care watched on as the tall stallion sat in front of the coffee table, staring down at a fork. His eyes were focused on it intently, as if he were contemplating some great mystery of life. "Er...what are you doing?" she asked. "Trying to figure something out..." he responded, not taking his purple and white eyes off of the piece of silverware situated on the table. "What would that be?" "How can you pick up things like this-" he took a moment to nod down to the fork "-with your hooves?" "All ponies have it, it's part of the magic we have" He stared at her, incredulously. "Uh-huh, right" he said, rolling his eyes. "It's true! What did you think?" He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I dunno, something to do with short-range gravity manipulators?" Now it was her turn to stare at him. "What? I didn't understand a word of that!" He only shrugged in response, and went back to staring at the fork. "So...how does it work?" "Here..." she said, trotting to the table. She made a demonstration of placing her hoof on the fork, then picking up the fork. "Like that, see?" The stallion wasn't listening however, as his eyes were locked onto her hoof, and the fork along with it. "Um...hey, you alright?" she asked, dropping the fork and reaching up to wave it in front of his face "Hey! Snap out of it!" He suddenly came to, blinking rapidly as he shook his head. "Hey, yeah...sorry...kinda lost it there for a second..." She shot him a strange look, before picking up the fork and placing it back on the coffee table. "Just put my silverware back where you found it, o great thinker" she said, trotting out of the room. "Uh-huh. Sure" he responded, returning to staring at the piece of metal set before him. Button Mash trotted through the front door, and into the kitchen, tossing his saddlebags onto his chair at the dining room table. He then spied the mystery-pony, sprawled out on the couch, his forehooves in the air as he inspected the object between them. 'What's he doing with a fork?' Button thought to himself. He trotted past, towards the stairs, the stallion's gaze locked with the fork all the while. "How was your day?" he rumbled suddenly, not breaking contact with the silverware. A shiver ran down Button's spine, before turning to look up at him. "Good...I guess..." The stallion waved absently, forming some half-hearted attempt to shoo Button up the stairs. The colt took that as his chance to leave, and bounded up the stairs, his saddlebags jingling as his hooves thumped. Loving Care then trotted into the room, her mane bouncing a bit as she flicked some of it out of her mane. "Was that Button I just heard?" she asked. "Nope, it was a burglar" he responded "just directed him to where your valuables were" She rolled her eyes, then walked to the stairs, as to follow Button. She then stopped at the base, and turned to look at the stallion, still locked in a staring contest with her silverware. "I almost forgot...do you have a name, or can I just keep referring to you as 'him'?" "Got a name, had a name" "..." "..." "...and that would be?" "Not important" Care rolled her eyes once more, before heading up the steps, bound for her son's room. Button and his mother trotted down the stairs, planning dinner for the evening as the made their way towards the kitchen. "So, then we should have enough for..." she trailed off. "What's wrong?" Button asked. Care's eyes circled the kitchen, then the living room. "Where'd he go?" Button looked surprised for a moment, before shrugging, proceeding to search the area with his mother. "I dunno...maybe he just...left?" "We would've heard him leave..." "I'll go and check the living room agai-" Button stopped mid-sentence, jaw-agape as he stared into the living room. "Button, sweetie? What's the m-" She stopped too, as she realized what her son was staring at- -there, sprawled out on the floor, was the stallion. Unconscious as he practically foamed at the mouth, twitching sporadically as he lay there. "Sweet Celestia!" she cried, rushing to the stallion. She hastily checked his pulse, before sending Button galloping down the street as fast as he could. She spied him speeding past the Flower Trio as she headed back inside to tend to the stallion until a doctor could arrive. Author's Note Enjoy
ClawsCare bit her lip in worry as the medic-ponies placed the stallion onto a stretcher (which was comically small, in her opinion), as Button stood beside her, watching with concern. "Is he gonna be okay?" he asked. "I really don't know" she responded, pulling him in for a short hug "I guess we just have to wait..." "There's nothing we can do?" "I'm afraid not..." "Can we go an' visit him later?" "I'm sure he'd enjoy that" she smiled. Pain used my body as its playground as I moaned, laying flat on my side on my hospital bed as at least three doctors and a nurse stared. My migraine worsened as my breathing grew more ragged, my lungs demanding more oxygen. I coughed harshly, then felt my eyelids grow heavy- they slipped closed as one of the doctors rattled off something to the other two ponies. 'Oh god...I'm gonna die, aren't I? I'm dyin' right now...' I didn't have the energy to cry, I just lay there as the ponies went about their work. "How do you think he's doing?" I asked, trotting next to Mom as we worked our way around the hospital, towards the front entrance. "It's only been a few days, I'm sure he's still being treated for those wounds he recieved" Mom replied, nudging me through the shiny glass doors. "Yeah...I guess..." "Alright, wait here while I find his room number" I nodded, and hopped into one of the chairs in the waiting room as Mom went to the front desk near the farthest corner of the room. 'Wish I had my JoyBoy with me...' I thought boredly, wishing I'd brought something to do during the wait. Mom came back a few minutes later, and sat on the chair next to mine. "The receptionist told me he's being treated now, they're doing the best th-" Mom and I jumped as a loud crashing sound blew out from the double-doors leading further into the hospital, followed by several thunder-like booms. The nurse at the desk cocked an eyebrow as she set down her clipboard, she then got up and trotted through one of the double doors. She came back a few minutes later, however, screaming as if a Cerberus hound were on her tail. A number of doctors and other nurses soon followed, filtering through the doors as they ran or trotted at a brisk pace. "Ma'am" one nurse stopped to say "I s-suggest you get out of h-here" "Why would we do that?" Mom asked. "Th-there's a dragon back th-there!" "Where did the dragon come from?" I asked. The nurse didn't answer, as she ran out of the hospital, following her co-workers. Mom took me by the hoof (followed by me rolling my eyes), as we headed out the front doors of the hospital, joining the growing number of ponies gathering in the street. Mom then started talking with a nurse, who'd apparently been there when 'it' happened- she couldn't exactly get out of the nurse what 'it' was. My eyes wandered around the side of the hospital, and my jaw dropped at what I saw- sticking out of the white wall of the building like a sore hoof, was a thick, black tail, black scales covering it as it idly swayed. "Mom" I said, reaching back to tug on her coat. "Not now, sweetie" Mom said gently, before turning back to talk to the nurse. "Mom, Mom" "What is it?" Mom replied, turning. "Look" I said, pointing to the tail attached to the side of the building. "What in Equestria?" "How did a dragon fit into the hospital?" I asked. "I don't know..." A deep rumbling was heard, and the gathered ponies began scattering, running for the safety of their homes. I spied the wall of the hospital burst into rubble and dust, bricks falling as they came loose from the wall. They thunked dully as I saw the tail rising, then clumsily backing out of the hospital, taking most of the wall with it. I watched in fascination and horror as a black dragon, at least the length of a hoofball field exited the hospital. The dragon shook the rubble from its scaled hide, its nose then went to the sky, as if it were searching for something. I stood paralyzed with fear as the dragon locked eyes with me, its all-purple eyes staring into mine. 'If he was a pony, he'd look just like-' I lost my train of thought as Mom instinctively grabbed me, then turned and bolted. Everything went by in a blur as she ran, not stopping for anything as other ponies did the same. The chaos hurt my head, everything was happening so fast... Mom looked back, and her eyes grew in terror before she ran faster, her hooves pumping at a faster rate than they were before. I snuck a glance back, and saw that the dragon was chasing after us. I gulped, and held on. Mom suddenly turned, making my stomach jump as we ducked into a side-street. The dragon followed, its head snaking into the street as he continued to run. It suddenly stopped, and saw that the rest of its body was too big to fit into the alley. I heard Mom breathe a sigh of relief, before taking a moment to rest. She then looked up in terror, and saw the corners of the buildings on either side of us starting to dissolve. The dragon regained mobility, and began walking toward us again, and we began running again. "Why's it following us?!" Mom called as we ran. "No idea!" I responded, running right behind her. I felt something large grab one of my hind-legs, and I found myself being dragged backwards, toward the dragon. "Mom!" I cried. She skidded, and turned, spying me. "BUTTON!" she shrieked. My mom then did something I never thought she'd do- -she galloped right up to the dragon's foot, and stomped, hard. 'Mom just hit a dragon...' The dragon roared in pain, its loud howls filling the air as it held its foot with its other claw. "Ow! Sonofa- that hurt Care!" the dragon said. '...what...' "WHAT?!?" Mom shrieked "IT'S YOU?!?!" "Yep, who else?" Mom then stuck the dragon's claw. Repeatedly. "Ow! Owowowow! Ouch! Jeez! Stop it! That hurts!" he complained. "Don't you EVER do that again- is that clear?!" "What, chase you through town?" She hit him again. "OW! Okay! Okay! I'm sorry, alright?" "Good, now put Button down" The dragon's claw rested against the ground, releasing his grip on me. "Why isn't he moving?" the dragon whispered to Mom. "I think you might've broken him" "Really? However did I do that?" She shot him a glare. With his other claw, the dragon picked me up and set me on the ground next to Mom. "Want me to escort you home, too?" Mom rolled her eyes as I began to snap out of it, shaking my head as I walked after her. The three of us walked into the street, and was met with an angry mob, shouting at the dragon. "Did I do something wrong?"
PrologueThere is an ancient legend lost to both Equestrian lore and the sands of time, known to only a few. This is the legend of the Shadow Colt, forever stalking the shadows, taking the nightmares that haunt us with it. The Shadow Colt is a protector, of sorts, said to have been summoned by the lunar princess herself in order to drive out the creatures that seek to harm us, while the princess herself kept watch over the dream world. Not many have seen the Shadow Colt, those who have claim it to be three ponies high, a whole head taller than the princesses, completely black with no mane or tail, and piercing eyes of a dragon, their white-hot irises contrasting with the rest of their glowing purple eyes. Some say just staring it in the eyes for just a few minutes is enough to drive a pony insane, turning them into a shell of their former selves. Others think it's an angel in demon's clothing, leaning towards neither Harmony nor Chaos- giving its assistance to ponies in need when it can. Should you come across one, however, don't expect to see it for more than a few seconds, for it posesses magic, though it lacks a horn; the source of this magic is unknown, more research is required in order to learn more of this specie. Nopony knows where it came from or why it's here... ...of course, that's just a legend. X X X X X X X
Chaos pt. !He drifted, the darkness surrounding me as he wandered into his own dreams. "We finally meet, interesting" a voice echoed, spilling from the dark void. "Wh-who are you?" he asked. "Not important, dear boy-" 'he' said "-what is important, is your condition" "My- oh, you mean...the...uh...dragon thing?" "Yes, the 'dragon thing', do you know why you're a dragon?" "You mean why I turned into one? Yeah, I'm kinda curious as to how that happened" he said sarcastically. "It's rather simple" the voice replied "You're body burnt itself out" "WHAT?!" he screamed. "Oh, did I say that? I meant almost burnt itself out" "So..." "Can you not connect the dots?" "Uh, so- if my...my other body..." *cue shudder* "...then, I'm..." "Lucky to be alive? Yes, you are" "But why? Why did I transform?" "Because" "Because why?" "I'm not one to give a straight answer" the voice said, then silence. "Okay? So...did you have something to do with...me?" "Maybe...maybe not" "Can you give me some answers?" "Probably- but what fun would there be in that?" "You make no sense whatsoever, you know that?" "Sense? What fun is there in making sense?" the voice chuckled. He shuddered again. "Why did you bring me here?" "I was bored, thought I'd shake things up a bit" "Really? You brought me across who-knows-how-many-dimensions just because you were bored?" "Yes" "Why?" "Because I wanted to" "That's not a reason" "Yes it is" "No, it doesn't, you're confusing me" "That's one thing I can cross off my list of life goals" "Shut up" "No, I don't think I will" "STOP IT!" "Nope- here, I've got a little present for you, instead" "What are you-" He was cut off as he suddenly awoke, he stared down, eyes wide, as a small brown horse wandered into the room. "Hey, you're finally up!" the horse said. '...' He shrieked in horror, and scrambled away from the mutant horse. "What's the matter?" the horse said. 'It talked...it talked again...hee- heehee...' He began laughing, the sound growing in volume as tears slid down his face, curling into the corner of the room as the horse approached him. 'Heeheehee...I'm a horse...heeheeheehee...' "Uh, you okay?" the horse asked. He didn't hear him as his laughter died, and began shaking, quivering as the horse watched him with concern. "H-horse- hahaheh" "Is something wrong?" it asked. "Wrong? Wrong? No, nothing's wrong- of course nothing is wrong! Heehee-" He collapsed, whimpering like a foal as the horse hurriedly left the room.
