Mephisto and the Pony

"What?!"  Shouted Bero.  Ariel cowered before his raging father, trying to babble a good excuse.

"Father, I-"

"Am abandoning your family, life, and love for no good reason!"  Bero shouted.

"Father, its not that simple..."

"Oh?  How is it then?"

"Oh, you wouldn't understand!"

"Colts,"  Came a soft voice.  Both stallions turned and faced Ariel's mother, High Decour.

The three were in the rather large and richly decorated mansion of the -Crat family, of which Ariel was descended.  Ariel had never known his grandparents on either side, only his two parents, and himself remained of the once proud family.  These days, it seemed that the Rich family was all the rage, but as Ariel's father always said, his luck ran out when he had a girl.

"Now, my son, tell me what this is about."

Ariel reeled form his mother.  "Mother, I-"

"The boy has decided that Canterlot isn't perfect enough for him, so hes going to go find a capitol, castletown, and sun-rising monarch that is!"

Ariel gave his father a look.  "Its about principle, not dissatisfaction.  I need to do this for myself, otherwise I may never know the truth."

High Decour nodded.  "I always knew this day would come."

"What?!"   Blurted out Ariel and his father at the same time.

She smiled.  "You colts always needed lots of room to roam and play.  A mother's work is never done."

"He cant just leave!"  Countered Bero.

Ariel shook his head.  "Of course I can!  I'm older than you were when you left Manehattan!"

"Bero,"  said Decour, "Let the boy go.  Instead of fighting him, tell him how much you love him."

Bero turned and look at Ariel with sorrowful eyes.  "It sure is nice having you around..,."  He said.

Ariel smiled.  "Father... I must take your farewell."

Bero nodded.  "Just don't get hurt."

Decour shed a single tear.  "You can always come back..."  She said hopefully.

Ariel turned for the door, looked back just once, and stepped through.

Ariel never saw his parents again.

...

Ariel stood just in front of the door to his own home.  He preferred to live in quality over quantity, so it was not nearly as big as his parents' mansion.  It was, of course, in an upscale area, but Ariel was happy as long as Helena was.  That was, of course, about to change.

Ariel finally got the courage to face Helena and knock, when he heard his name called.  His head snapped in direction of Helena herself, galloping towards him.  He smiled, but her expression was strangely calm.  He stood perfectly still until she caught up to him.  He looked at her in fear, but her expression did not change.

"Dropped by your parents place.  They were sure cryptic,"  She said with suspicion.

Ariel nodded at her.

"Open your mouth,"  She ordered with authority.

He opened it and held his breath.

"Breath."  She said simply, leaning closer to him.

As soon as she did, he snapped his jaws closed and planted a firm kiss on her muzzle, earning him a squeak of surprise.

He pulled away quickly, before she had a chance to strike him.

Helena shook her head quickly, and said "That's one way to prove your sobriety."

Ariel gave her a mischievous smile.  "You know me better than that."

Helena dropped her calm demeanor and asked "Ariel, whats going on?"

Ariel looked down.  "Well..."

"Yes."

"You see."

"Go on."

"Helena, your the only mare ill ever love..."

Helena's eyes narrowed as her ears flicked back.  "What?"  She squeaked.

"Helena... I must take your farewell."

She looked at him with pleading eyes.  "Please don't leave me..."

Ariel raised his hoof and swag it in a circle.  "I'm not leaving you, exactly, but everything.  My life.  This whole... thing.  I think that is more, you know, out there."  His voice dropped to a whisper.  "Something perfect."

Helena exploded.  "Something perfect?!  Ariel, what we have is perfect!  I love you, I changed my life for you, I abstained for you, and now your packing up and leaving!?  Ariel!"  She started to heave, then she started to cry.  Over soft sobs, she said "Fine.  But ill love you until the end."  With that, she strode past him, opened the door, and slammed it shut right in his face.

Ariel didn't allow to himself to cry.  This was the start of something new.  Helena had her whole life ahead of her... but there was just something different about himself.  He couldn't live a life of peace, knowing that could be more to the entire existence.  After all, what if, when you die, you only get born again?  The thought filled him with fury and anxiety.  He raced towards the train station, just managing to catch the last one to Ponyville, his first destination.  He tried hard not to be sad.   This was new.  A new adventure, a new perfection!