Mephisto and the Pony

Ariel sat alone in his attic, at his  desk,next to his quill and ink, scatching out his philosophy "The Call of Order."  He wrote as he spoke.

"Order is perfect.  One pony follows another, subservient but equal to his superiors because...um, their lives are simplier, so they die unfulfilled."

"Okay.  Chaos is the only truth because it allows the strong to take what they deserve.  Honor thrives, because... the cheaters and backstabbers got everything that they wanted, as shown in the discordian age."

Ariel shuffled slightly in his chair.

"Well, as shown in the era of magic, Starswirl the bearded... actually, not much is known for sure about his life.  At all, really."

Ariel scratched out everything he had written, crumpled the paper and tossed it aside.  He rubbed his temples in frustration, only stopping when a soft voice came forth.

"Ariel."

Ariel turned around to behold his marefrend Helena climbing up the ladder to the attic where Ariel resided.  She flashed him a tired smile.

She was a spotted yellow pegasus with long blue mane and tail and green eyes.  She was simple to look at, but Ariel loved her desperately, just as when he met her.  He had known her all his life, and dated only one other mare before her, some pony his parents had set him up with.  It hadn't lasted.  Ariel was always an introvert and a thinker, and May Flower eventually moved to Ponyville, last he had heard.  Ariel himself was a brown unicorn, incapable of more than simply kinesis.  He had an older styled green mane and tail, which he refused to allow Helena to restyle.  Everything about him seemed thin and weak, and old despite his true age of 25, but Helena had always seemed to love Ariel like he loved her.  He never dwelt on it.

Ariel stared at her.  "Ariel, love, come to bed,"  She pleaded.  Ariel smiled at her.

"I have to at least get started this time."

"Ariel..."

"Helena."

Helena huffed.  "I want you..."

Ariel shrugged.  "I'm not much one for touch."

She smiled at him.  "That, my love, can easily be changed."

Ariel allowed himself a small smile.  "I have a lot of work to do."

"You have a lot of work both ahead and behind you.  Sleep on it and come back tomorrow."

"That's just it Helena, I don't know if Ill still have the inspiration for it tomorrow..."

He seemed thoughtful.  "Perhaps inspiration itself is perfect?"

Helena sighed.  "It's never there when you need it."

Ariel hung his head.

"Love.  Its late and you've been working all day, if the mountain of crumpled paper is anything to judge by."

Ariel looked at her.  "Well..."

"Come to bed."

"Helena, I said no."

Helena shook her head.  "I'm not taking no for an answer."

Ariel stood up.  "I'm taking a walk.  I need some air."

With that, he marched past her, down the ladder and out the front door.

Helena kicked her back legs and bit her lip.  "Foiled again," she whispered.

...

Ariel took in the warm, dry air breath by breath as he strode down the street to the market.  He looked up briefly at the moon, and asked himself if it was perfect.  It even had the power to block out the sun!  Of course, other than that, the moon was pointless.  Nopony even knew what it was.  He shut his mind away from thoughts of perfection, instead forward, to what is to come.  He had been considering this for some time now.  He was no longer convinced that Canterlot had the answers he sought.  Celestia would never see him, at least not without him waiting days on end, nor would the princess of the night.  And after happened in the market today...

No.  Perhaps it is a sign that his old friends, allies, and enemies had grown redundant.  Canterlot had grown redundant.  If had had managed to figure that out in his short life, what would the alicorn of the sun have to say about it?  Maybe he should just leave.  He didn't  even have to face anypony that way...

Well, Helena he at least owed an explanation.  She had been with him through thick and thin, high water and low flame, even red ponies at markets.  His parents may not be so understanding, but still...

Ariel walked with new found inspiration, and somewhere, Mephisto laughed.