The Dark Pony: Origin

Ashen sat in his home and ate breakfast at the start of a new day. His eyes darted quickly across the pages of his newest book as he took a sip of his coffee.

His was pulled him deeper into the tale as his story reached its climax. His eye widened as he saw the fantastic battle take place in his mind.

Ashen couldn’t help but to imagine himself fighting alongside the brave hero in red armor as he charged through the ice king’s minion horde. He saw himself delivering powerful kicks and slicing through the minions with his bladed shield.  Ashen sprinted towards a minion, leapt into the air,  pulled back his shield and swung with all his power. His mighty blow struck his his coffee cup and sent it sailing off the table. The sound of the glass crashing to the floor jarred him out of his fantasy.

Ashen looked down at the shattered cup and what was left of his morning coffee “Lovely” He sighed as he put his book down. “Just when it was getting good.” He muttered while picking up the pieces of broken glass.

Ashen looked for a towel and noticed the time on his grandfather clock “Seven fifty eight! Oh no, I'm gonna be late!” He rushed to a nearby cupboard, grabbed a towel and threw it on the spilled coffee. He snatched up his comb, quickly raked his mane back while he wolfed down his last piece of toast. He turned and ran to the door then swung it open.

Ashen suddenly stopped; he looked towards his closet and grinned “Can’t forget this.” He used his magic to open the closet and pulled out a light blue cape with a broad silver stripe running down its center. He quickly put on the cape then ran out the door.

When Ashen reached the council building he looked inside “Huh, noponies here yet.” He turned to look at the clock tower. He put his hoof under his chin, tilting his head to the side “Hmm we were supposed to meet at eight, right? Huh that’s strange.” He shrugged before he leaned against the council building “Oh well, I guess I’ll just wait here then. Hmm, I should’ve brought my book.” He laughed to himself

Scion meanwhile was at home preparing for the day. He walked into his alchemical workshop, a room brightly lit by the morning sun that poured through the many large windows that adorned the eastern walls. Each window had a shelf that extended from its frame; each held numerous potted plants of all shapes and colors, allowing them to bask in the sun's gentle glow.

A large cabinet sat across from the windows. The cabinet is as wide enough to hold two ponies and nearly reached the roof. A golden leafless tree, adorned its finely polished doors, made from a beautiful dark wood.

Scion looks around the seemingly pristine room “Oh my, what a mess.” He walked over to his plants and moves them around “Not a single thing is in its proper place” He sighed “but at least the movers did not break anything.” He stared at an empty pot in the middle; a label on the pot’s side read ‘Bashful Blue.’ Scion closed his eyes and let out a small sigh while he showed a weak distant smile. He shook his head then continued his work.

After he arranged his plants, Scion moved over to the table and organized it while he muttered to himself “Hmm, the mortar and pestle go here and the alembic should be here.” After everything was in its proper place, he grabbed his saddlebags off a hook on the wall and opened the large cabinet.  Many shelves lined the cabinet’s interior, each held several bottles and vials filled with assorted liquids of every color. Scion sighed heavily “Even this is a mess, but I just do not have time to fix it right now.”

Scion selected vials from the cabinet and carefully placed them into separate pockets within his bags. Once the bags were full, he put them on and secured them tightly. He went into his bedroom and looked into his full sized mirror. He began to style his mane just the way he liked It, smooth and slick in the back while spiking up the front just a little, it gave him the suave roguish look he so loved. He donned his favorite green cape and adjusted it so it’s perfect. He turned his head side to side and made sure every hair is in place, he smiled proudly the whole time “Yes I think this will do nicely”  His smile widened as he took one last look in the mirror before he turned to walk out the door.

Scion saw Ashen leaning against the council building as he reached it. Ashen smiled and waved when he saw, Scion.

“And I thought I was late.” Ashen laughed as they approached each other.

Scion let out a “Humph, well good morning to you to Ashen. I am sorry for being late but the movers left my home a mess.”

“No problem” said Ashen “I’ve only been out here for about five minutes.”

“Why are you waiting outside?” asked Scion.

“Well, since this is our first real day” said Ashen “I thought it would be nice if we all went in together.”

“Well, that is a fine sentiment, Ashen.” Scion laughed once he noticed Ashen’s cape “May I ask what that is you are wearing?”

Ashen turned to show off his cape “It’s the cape I got from Cornucopia. Didn’t I tell you I had one like yours?”  He flashed a wicked grin “And now that we match we could rule this town together!” He pulled his cape in front of his face and gave out an evil laugh.

Scion chuckled with a playful smile “Sorry, Ashen, as an evil overlord, I do not share.”

Ashen was glad to see that Scion was playing along and smiled widely “Well in that case, I guess I’ll just have to be the heroic steed that shows up at the last minute and saves this town from your evil clutches.” He grinned while he brushed his mane back “While rescuing the fair damsel of course.”

Scion shook his head with a small laugh “You certainly have an overactive imagination.”

Ashen closed his eyes and lowered his head with a sigh “Yes, but it makes me good at what I do. However I can’t imagine where our fair damsel is.”

“Are you talking about, Midnight?”  asked Scion.

Ashen looked back up with a smile “Of course, our fair damsel in distress.” He closed his eyes while he raised his head “Ahh, I could picture her now, sitting in a beautiful dress, staring teary eyed out the window of some distant tower, awaiting A.” He opened one eye and cleared his throat while he adjusted his capes neckline “Handsome, knight to come and save her from the villain’s evil grasp.”

Scion shook his head with a small laugh “Well a fair damsel she may be but if she hears you talking like that, I fear you may be the one in distress. I do believe that damsel could easily trounce the both of us.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” laughed Ashen

Midnight awoke well before the rest of the town. She crawled out of bed and headed for her back door. She walked up to her well, pulled up a bucket and sipped the fresh cool water. She stretched out her legs and wings then with a deep breath, she took flight into the early morning sky.

She looked down from high above and gazed upon the dimly lit town as the rays from the dawn sun drew long shadows in the empty streets. A gentle breeze blew past the small homes, It carried bright green leaves fallen from the young spring trees, specks of dust gathered from the dirt roads and the scent of wildflowers from the nearby meadow. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she felt the cool wind brushed past her face and comb through her mane. Her worries and fears all faded as she gently fell into the sensation of freedom and absorbed the breathtaking silence. A quiet calm washed over her as the very world seemed fall still beneath her wings.

After a few seconds, the crow of a rooster broke the silence and pulled Midnight out of her world. She shook her head and remembered what she came out here to do. She flew off to the Western side of town; she carefully scanned the Everfree Forest. She examined every twisted tree and knotted bush, she searched for any sign of the foul beasts that lurk within, she flew home when she was satisfied and landed in her backyard.

Midnight looked over her shoulder, back toward the forest “I can’t believe they chose to build this town so close to that accursed place.” She lowered her head as worry crept into her chest “Is the bounty of this territory really worth the risk?” She sighed as she looks at the ground “Come on, Midnight get a hold of yourself.” She said as she tapped her head with her hoof “Of course this is worth it, if not for this land's riches then for our goal alone.”

Midnight walked to the center of her yard. She stopped in front of a large wooden post buried halfway into the ground and focused her gaze upon it “Harmony is worth any risk.” She struck the post hard with her right hoof then her left.  She struck it over and over each hit gained speed and power. She turned delivering several quick kicks with one leg then the other. She spun again and struck the post violently with her wing. She let loose a volley of blows; every part of her body became a weapon as she pushed herself to the very limit.

After a while, Midnight stopped to rest and tried to slow her heavy breathing. She sat on the ground and closed her eyes and putting her front hooves together “This town may come under attack at any moment.” She took slow, deep breaths as she focused and blocked out the rest of the world. She imagined herself flying through the sky. She could feel the wind and the freedom, as she fell into the silence.

Midnight opened her eyes and felt the world around her crawl to a stop. She dashed forward and unleashed a flurry of lightning fast strikes. The post shuttered and shook under her strength as she slams it with her hooves and wings. The power of her blows echoed through the air that flowed around her body and ripple through the earth under her hooves.

Midnight jumped back then leapt forward into the air with a spin and delivered a devastating back kick that fractures the post. She landed on one-leg and spun while she focused all her strength into her wing. She landed an almighty wing strike on the post. The air filled with splintered wood as the post shattered in two, the top halve sailed clean across the yard and tumbled to the ground.

Midnight stood tall and folded her wings back to her side with a fierce glare “But that’s exactly why I'm here. I will protect the ponies of this town, no matter what the cost. This I swear.” She looked down at the shattered post; her powerful stare faded into a confident smile as she let out a small laugh. “But I can see now.” She tapped the broken post with her hoof “I'm going to need some stronger posts.”

Midnight walked to her well and pulled up a bucket of water. She gulped down several mouthfuls then ducked down and poured the rest over her head. She shook off the water as a cascade of color as the mist caught the rays of the rising sun “Ahh, nothing feels better than a good workout.” her stomach growls loudly “Umm…except maybe a good workout and a good breakfast.” She walked into her house and headed for the kitchen. She passed a wall clock and notices the time “Ahh! I'm already ten minutes late!” She held her stomach and groaned “Guess I have to skip breakfast.” She turned with a sigh, ran out the door and flew toward the council building.

As Midnight nears the building, she saw Ashen and Scion talking and landed near them.

Ashen greeted her with a wave “There she is.”

Midnight looked at them then quickly bowed “I'm so sorry, I was training, I lost track of time an-”

Ashen interrupted her “No problem.”

Scion nodded “No worries, Midnight. I myself arrived not more than four minutes ago.” He put his hoof to his chin with a smirk “But I must say, all three councilors being late on the first day. That does not bode well for us.”

“Well, I’ll try not to make a habit of it.” laughed Ashen

Scion glared at him “Speaking of habits, Ashen. I hope you do not make a habit of wearing that cape.”

Ashen grinned “Afraid I'm going to steal your style, Scion?”

Scion rolled his eyes “Hardly.”

Midnight looked at the both of them “Umm, if I may. Why are you both wearing capes?”

Ashen smiled at her playfully “Feeling left out Night?”

Midnight looked away “If you don’t want to answer just say so.”

Ashen let out a small sigh “I felt kinda bad for teasing Scion about his cape last night. So I wore this to show him that I think there’s nothing wrong with capes and to show him that I have an eye for style as well.”

Scion looked to Ashen with a smile “My friend, I have already told you that all is forgiven for your jest last night.” He looks over Ashen’s cape “However when it comes to your sense of style, you have the style right but the colors are all wrong.”

Ashen looked at his cape “But the silver is the same color as my coat and the blue matches my mane perfectly.”

Scion pointed at Ashen “Exactly! Your cape’s colors blend into yours too well. You should wear colors that stand out from your own while making sure they do not conflict with one another.”

Ashen thought for a second “Umm…do you have any suggestions?”

Scion looked at Ashen for a moment “Violet, a deep blue or perhaps turquoise if you can find the right shade. I think those would fit you well.”

Midnight looked at Ashen “I think violet would look the best, it would match your eyes.”

Ashen quickly looked at Midnight with a striking smile “Oh really?” He took a few steps towards her and never moved his eyes off hers “Then when the seamstress opens her shop, I’ll have to get a violet cape.” He stopped just in front of her and winked while flashing his charming smile “Just for you Night.”

Midnight blushed and stammered “Uh n-no that’s not, I-I didn’t mean it like that I jus-.”

“Well look at the time!” Scion yelled loudly “All this idle chatter has cost us another five minutes. We really should be getting to work. Don’t you agree, Ashen?”

The sudden outburst startled Ashen and made him turn “Umm y-yes, I guess you’re right.”

Midnight collected herself and felt relieved to be out of that situation, “Shall we then?” She walked towards the council building. She mouthed “Thank you” as she passed Scion and continued into the council chambers.

Scion smiled happily and he followed Midnight inside with a bit of a swagger in his step. Ashen grinned with a chuckle and a shrug before following Scion.