The Dark Pony: Origin

The three races arrived at the town’s entrance. An ounce of tension peppered the air as they entered together. Many small beautiful houses lined the streets, each equal in size and shape. A large square of stone covered the ground at the town’s center creating a perfect place for merchants to set up shop or to hold festivals on special occasions.

A tall clock tower lied to the north of the square. The light from the setting sun reflected off the large brass bell at its peak.

Shops rested to the east and west; their large windows eagerly awaited the chance to display the latest fashion or the finest produce.

The large building to the south belonged to the council. The building’s stone base stood one with the earth. A gentle wind blew past its strong wooden walls as its grand steeple reached for the heavens. A crest rested at the steeples center; this round golden crest featured a proud alicorn spreading its wings and holding its head high; this mythical creature was a symbol for what this town is trying to achieve, unity.

The new residents were weary from their long day’s journey but they had one last thing to do before they could rest. They had to meet the council, three ponies chosen by the rulers to act as their representatives. The three councilors stepped into the center of the square and stood side by side.

The pegasus stepped forward first. A youthful beauty flowed across her sturdy body. Her coat shined the dark blue hue of the night sky dimly lit by the glow of the full moon. Her ebony black mane and tail glistened in the rays of the setting sun; both were straight and silky with vivid streaks of violet flowing through them like shooting stars streaming through the heavens. Her deep turquoise eyes glowed with power as she announced to the crowd in a loud confident voice. “My name is Midnight Gale. I am the councilor representing the pegasi, it is an honor to meet you all.” She bowed to the ponies of the crowd; they respectively returned her bow as she steps back in line with the others.

Next, the earth pony stepped forward. Slightly small for an earth pony but he carried himself with a sophisticated elegance that few could match. His bright rose-colored eyes shined with pride. His short sunflower mane and tail were expertly fashioned, suave and sleek with small locks that rise up here and there. A green cape with gilded borders covered his back and most of his light brown coat, as two golden saddlebags adorned his sides. He held his head high and spoke in a noble authoritative voice. “My name is Scion Vial physician, alchemist and councilor representing the earth ponies. I look forward to sharing this town with you all.” He nodded his head with a small smile before returning to the others.

Finally, the unicorn stepped forth, a confident, handsome stallion. His violet eyes showed a kind gentle wisdom. It seemed as though a master had woven his coat from the silkiest silver. His sky blue mane was styled back resting on his shoulders while his matching tail hung just above the ground. He spoke in a calm kind voice “Hello my friends. My name is Ashen Flair. I am the councilor representing the unicorns.” He paused, looking over the crowd. He smiled as he saw ponies of every race, size, color, gender and age. He took a breath and held his head high “Now I know this will not be an easy journey, but seeing all of you here, standing side by side gives me hope. Hope that our small town can serve as a beacon, a guiding light to lead Equestria into a bright and glorious future. A future, where all ponies can share this great land and live as equals in peace and harmony. I cannot thank you all enough.” Ashen took a deep bow. The ponies of the crowd smiled and slowly applauded as Ashen returned to the others.

After a few seconds, Midnight raised her hoof to quiet them “We have all had a long trying day. With the sun now setting, I ask that you find your homes and settle in for the long quiet rest you so readily deserve. Thank all of you for traveling so far.” With that, the crowd bowed to the councilors, then headed off to their new homes.

Midnight turned to Ashen with a smile “Fine speech, Ashen Flair.”

Ashen returned her smile with a small bow “Thank you, my lady.”

“My lady?” Midnight replied with a small laugh.

Scion smiled playfully “Yes a fine bit of grand standing there Ashen Flair.” He let out a small laugh “You were only supposed to introduce yourself, not make the rest of us seem tactless.”

Ashen ran his hoof through his mane “Sorry about that, but the sight of them all standing together was so…inspiring.” He chuckled happily “I just couldn’t help myself.”

Scion closed his eyes and put his hoof to his chin “It truly was a remarkable sight.” “However” He said, flashing a mischievous grin “You do know that a beacon and a guiding light are one in the same.”

“Oh, really?” laughed Ashen “Well I guess I'm not as eloquent as you” He returns Scion’s grin “Oh great physician and alchemist.” The both of them smiled and laughed cheerfully.

Midnight shook her head “All right boys’ that’s enough. We still have work to do.”

The full moon began its ascent into the night sky as the three walked into the council building. When the councilponies passed through the large double doors, they stopped to look over their chambers. A golden chandelier hung in the center of the room glowing brightly, making the finely polished stone floor shine. Several rows of pews lied on each side of the room making a path down the center leading to a large desk made from finely carved wood with one seat for each member of the council.

“Lovely” Ashen said as he looked around the room.

“Yes, clearly they spared no expense.” Said Midnight as they walk between the pews, their hoof steps echoing throughout the room “I can only hope that my home is half as nice.”

They walked up to their desk, Scion stretched out his back and let out a heavy sigh as he sat down  in the middle seat “Shame we still have work to do. I am rather tired and would like some rest.”

Midnight took the seat to Scion’s right “I know how you feel but it is imperative that our rulers receive our reports as soon as possible.”

Scion unrolled a blank scroll “I know these reports are important, but would it really do any harm if they had to wait a few hours to hear that all is well.”

“I agree but complaining about it won’t get it done any faster.” Said Ashen as he let out yawn

Scion sighed again “Yes, I am well aware of that.”

They all wrote out their reports on the day’s events. After a few moments of silence, Midnight spoke up “Do you two know each other?”

Scion looked up “No, I am afraid we do not.”

Ashen nodded “Right, today’s actually the first time we’ve met.”

“I’m sorry.’” said Midnight “It just seemed as if the two of you were acquainted by the way you were fooling around outside.”

Scion grinned with a small laugh “That was merely a spontaneous exchange of wit.” He turned to Ashen “However, I hope I did not upset you with my comment, it was simply a jest.”

Ashen dropped his hoof down onto Scion’s shoulder with a shake “Don’t worry about it friend. I knew you meant nothing by it.” They shared a friendly smile before Scion pulled away.

Midnight looked back to her work “You two certainly act as though you know each other.”

Ashen smiled at her “Well I may not know him personally but I have heard of him.”

“So have I.” Midnight said as she looked back up “He's quite famous around Windfall.”

“The renowned Scion Vial.” She said as her eyes turned to meet Scion’s “the doctor who stopped the lethal illness that plagued Windfall a few years back. That is you, right? You’re the one who cured the feather flu?”

Scion raised his head and grinned with pride “Yes that was me, but you see I did not cure it. I merely made a vaccine to stop the spread of that particularly virulent strain, and then I made a tonic to lessen the symptoms of those already infected.”

“Umm…well, whatever you did.” Midnight said with a puzzled stare “You saved the lives of many ponies including that of my father.” The cold air around her faded as a warm smile barley parted her lips “Thanks to your hard work, I was able to spend a few more years with him. Thank you Scion, thank you truly.”

Her small but beautiful smile struck Scion and stared blankly “Uh…u-um” he muttered as he caught himself staring. He shook his head, averted his gaze and cleared his throat. He turned back to Midnight with renewed composure as he replaced his blank stare with a smile “You are very welcome”.

Midnight covered her mouth and let out a small giggle before she returned to her work.

Scion, blushed and quickly changed the subject “You know Ashen, I have heard of you as well.”

“Oh, really? Well don’t believe everything you hear.” He chuckled with a wide smile “That crocodine was only four meters long not the nine that everypony says.”

“I do not believe I have heard that story” Laughed Scion.

Ashen winked playfully “That’s a shame. I’ll have to tell it to you some time. It’s a great story.”

“I am looking forward to it.”  Scion shook his head and snickered “Truly though. I have heard much about you. Ashen Flair a brilliant scholar, a pony well versed in magic and one of the greatest military tacticians of our time.”

“Oh come on now.”  Ashen grinned while he ran his hoof through his mane “You’re gonna make me blush. I'm not anything special.”

“Nonsense.” said Scion “The ponies of Claymore still tell of the time you stopped an army of over two hundred monsters with just twenty soldiers.”

Midnight looked up from her work with a skeptical glare “Is that true Ashen? Did you really win a battle outnumbered ten to one?”

Ashen sat up tall “Yes actually, that is true, but it was mostly goblins. They were easy to lure into that canyon and it doesn’t take many ponies to create a rockslide.”

Scion pointed his hoof at Ashen “Nevertheless, those creatures were headed straight towards Claymore.” He said as he dropped his hoof onto the desk with force “Those wretched things could have done a lot of damage and who knows how many lives would have been lost defending the city. Many ponies in Claymore still regard you as a hero.”

“A hero! Me?” Ashen replied with a laugh “I’m nothing of the sort. I’m just a pony that reads too much. I got that idea from a book called The Sleeping Dragon and The Fledgling Phoenix.”

Ashen pointed his hoof towards Midnight “Now if you want to see a real hero, look no further than right here.”

Midnight gestured to herself “Me?” She said before she turned away “I'm no hero.”

Ashen flashed a smile at her “Well, all the Wind Riders I’ve worked with seem to think you are you are.”

“What is a Wind Rider?” asked Scion

“It’s slang for a pegasi mercenary” answered Ashen “And nearly all of them have heard of Midnight.” Ashen turns to Midnight “I can’t count how many times I’ve heard your ogre story.”

“Oh, that one.” Midnight kept her head turned, hiding her small smile “That was nothing special.”

Scion tilted his head slightly “Did you have a grand battle against an ogre or some such?”

Midnight didn’t respond so Ashen answered for her “Yeah, something like that. Have you never heard it?”

“No, I have not” said Scion.

“Well then I’ll give you the short version.” Said Ashen “They say at the age of seventeen Midnight saved a Cornucopian trade caravan from a dozen ogres, each beast standing over five meters tall. She held them off by herself, allowing the unicorns to escape, and then she kept on fighting until reinforcements arrived to finish them off.”

Ashen turned to Midnight with a skeptical grin “But I have to ask. Did you really defeat two of the beasts single hoofedly?”

Midnight looked at the ground “Well no.”  She looked up; turning to Ashen, her eyes glowed with pride as a boastful smile crossed her face. “I beat four and injured two others before Skylark and his soldiers arrived to finish off the rest.”

Scion’s eyes widened “A-amazing!”

“Amazing indeed!” Ashen said looking equally impressed “It’s incredible for anypony to take out one of those beasts alone but to wipe out four of them that is truly remarkable. With your might and my mind, I believe nothing could stand in our way. I'm looking forward to working with you, my lady.”

“I think I see why we were chosen as councilors” Midnight said “If the three of us stood together little could stop us. However, would you please stop calling me ‘my lady’, it's embarrassing. Please call me Midnight or just Night if you want.”

“Ok then, Night.” Ashen, flashed a charming smile as he winked at her “A beautiful mare like you, can call me whatever she likes.”

Midnight glared at him “Funny, I already have a few words in mind for you, most four letters or less.”

Ashen’s smile widened as he chuckled “You mean like cute, smart, keen, sly, chic, fine, nice or maybe just go all out with handsome and irresistible.”

Midnight groaned “Not even close, and smart has five letters.”

Ashen lowered his head with a laugh “So it does.” He looked back to Midnight “But you did say most with four letters or less. Oh, I got a good one” He winked again showing his brightest smile “How about, love.”

Midnight rolled her eyes with a growl, turning back to her work.

Ashen laughed to himself, then turned to Scion “What about you, Scion Vial, do you have a nickname?”

“No I do not” said Scion.

“What? Well that won’t do.” Ashen, grinned playfully “How about we call you Scisci or maybe Mister Vial?”

Scion quickly turned to him “Certainly not!” He shook his head with a laugh “Scisci sounds like a name you would give to a pet and Mister Vial makes me sound like the villain in a bad story book.”

Ashen looked down and picked up the tail of Scion’s cape “Well.” He snickered through his grin “You are wearing a cape.”

Scion snatched his cape from Ashen’s hoof “There is nothing wrong with my cape! It is made of the finest materials and happens to be the latest fashion in Claymore.”

Ashen lowered his head with a laugh before he looked up with a wider grin “It’s also the latest fashion for villains in bad story books.”

“Ashen! Stop teasing him.” Midnight said with a commanding voice

“I’m not teasing.” Ashen said. He smiled mischievously while he ignored her command “Just having a little fun.”

Midnight glared at Ashen before she turned to Scion “Well I for one think it’s a lovely cape, Scion.”

Scion smiled while he proudly adjusted his cape’s neckline “Thank you, Midnight.” He lowered his brow and gave Ashen a cold stare “At least somepony here has an eye for fine apparel.”

Ashen ran his hoof through his mane “umm…I’m sorry, Scion. I was just joking around. I didn’t mean to offend you, it really is a nice cape. In fact I have one of a similar style that I got from Cornucopia and I-.”

Scion raised his hoof with a small smile “No worries, Ashen, all is forgiven. I know you are simply jesting.”

Ashen bowed his head slightly “Thank you, Scion. You have to overlook me at times. You see, I have a very vivid imagination, sometimes it just takes over and I begin to see things in my own way, I just can’t help it. For instance just then I imagined you as a tyrant ruling over Canterlot with a steely gaze and an iron hoof.”

“Truly? He looked up to Ashen with a smile “You imagined me, as a tyrant?”

“Ah…I can see you now” Ashen said while backing from the desk “Standing on the balcony, staring over the ponies of this town, you rise up and address them.”

Ashen pretended to wrap a cape around himself as he rose onto his hind legs. He cleared his throat and mimicked Scion’s highborn accent with a voice like many small stones rolling in a pan “You poor pathetic ponies of this town. I am Mister Vial, your grand overlord hahaha” Ashen raised his front right hoof with an exaggerated evil laugh “Now my wretched subjects, I command you, bow before me or suffer my wrath Mwahahahaha!” Ashen stood tall and stared at the other councilors with a sinful grin and his best evil glare.

Scion, left speechless by Ashen’s sudden outburst, looked over at Midnight. She had her mouth covered as she giggled. The more she looked at Ashen’s twisted expression, the more her giggle became a full laugh. Hearing her laugh Scion couldn’t help but to laugh as well, more laughing with Midnight then with Ashen. Once Ashen saw this, his sinful grin turned to a big smile and he joined in the merriment.

For a short time, laughter filled the council chambers as the three of them released the stress from their difficult day.

As they began to wind down, Scion looked toward Ashen “Ashen, I.” He chuckled as he wiped a tear from his eye “I do believe you have read one too many bad story books.”

“Or.” Midnight giggled while she tried to compose herself “Or…or maybe you’re just overtired.”

Ashen let out a large yawn “Oh, excuse me.” He laughed “You’re probably both right. Luckily my report is finished and now I can go rest before I become delirious.”

“I think it is a bit too late for that.” Scion said with a teasing smile

Midnight held back a laugh while she rolled up her scroll “That may very well be true but thank you Ashen, a good laugh like that was just what I needed after such a rough day.”

Scion rolled up his scroll with a nod “I do believe we all needed such a laugh and by the looks of things, I can tell that this is going to be an interesting council.” He stood up showing a large grin “To say the least. I look forward to working with the both of you.” He gave a small bow “Farewell and goodnight.” He said as he walked to the doors.

Midnight nodded “Goodnight Scion.”

Ashen waved “See you tomorrow.”

Once Scion is gone, Ashen turned to Midnight with his charming smile “Well, I guess it’s just you and me now.”

Midnight shook her head without looking at him “Nope, it’s just you, I'm going home; I haven’t even seen my place yet.” She turned back with a small smile “Goodnight, Ashen.”

Ashen smiled and nodded “Sweet dreams Night.” Ashen laughed to himself, after he watched Midnight leave, “I think I'm going to like it here.” He walked out of the council building and closed the doors behind him. He turned, looked up to the steeple and stared at the golden alicorn crest at its center. He smiled with a small sigh “Yes, I'm certainly going to like it here.” With a content smile, he turned to walk home, guided by the light of the full moon.