My name is High Voltage, and I am different.
My story starts in upper Manehattan, where it’s kind of, but not really as good as Canterlot. I’m a Pegasus, born to a Unicorn mother and an earth pony father. My older brother, High Larious, chose to be an oddball, (not unlike myself), and pursue a career in comedy. You’ve probably heard of him at some point. My father was rarely around when I was a foal, but I found out he was fighting in the War between us sane ponies, and those freaks who follow Discord’s laws. That’s actually how my parents met, fighting on the front lines. That, however, is another story for another day. While my brother is a Unicorn, I, however, was a surprise, being born a Pegasus. Even more surprising were my deformed wings. Even in my early teens, they still had not developed fully. I was made fun of at school, and it hurt my view of the world for a while. My only consolation growing up was recess, when I was able to sit under the apple tree in the school yard, and observe my best friend, Art Attack, drawing ridiculous action scenes. Ponies wielding swords, ponies throwing fireballs from their hands. If it was some childish foal’s dream, then he had drawn it at some point. Of course, when class began again, so did the teasing. The bullying. The insults. Being told I’d never be a real Pegasus. Then again, I guess they were right. What is a Pegasus without wings? More to the point, what is a pony without an identity? If you asked any doctor, any pony walking down the street, even, they’d all say the same thing. “This kid’ll never fly.” I was fed up. Only one pony could possibly know why my wings were like this, or how to fix them. Of course, I could never afford a balloon ticket to Canterlot on my “10 bits a day” allowance, and flying was clearly out of the question. So I’d have to find work. I took a look at the bulletin board in the lobby of my apartment building. “WANTED: SMART PONY WHO LEARNS FAST FOR HELP IN PIZZA KITCHEN.” Was it my dream job? No. Was it going to pay for my trip to Canterlot? You bet your flank it was. Flash forward six months, and I’ve learned the art of the cannoli. I had earned enough for a coach ticket, and I was surrounded by ponies I would come to hate with a burning passion over the four hour flight.
I looked up at the gates. It had all led up to this. My mother had thought this was a stupid idea, but it would be my mistake to make. I walked forward, my gaze still skyward.
“Halt!” The sound of swords clashing. I looked down in a hurry.
“Do you have an appointment with Princess Celestia?”
“Oh, um, um no. I thought I could just—“ I stammered nervously.
“Nopony is allowed inside without an appointment. Please move along citizen.” My jaw dropped. I worked so hard to come here, I had such an important problem, and I was shut down right before I got in. How could this happen? Why me?
“Young man, could you please hurry it along?”
I muttered. ”Fine, since you’re so quick to crush ponies’ dreams.” As I walked away slowly, my thoughts were clouded by visions of anger, rage, and most of all, disappointment. I figured they couldn’t kick me out of the garden as well. I sat on a bench, and watched the sky turn from day to night. Eventually, I looked down at my hooves, and cried. And cried and cried and cried. Once I felt my tears begin to dry, I heard a voice come seemingly out of nowhere, feminine and authoritative.
“Why art thou crying in the Royal Garden?”
I flinched. ”P-p-p-Princess L-l-Luna?”
“Yes, it is I. Tell me. What troubles you?”
Still half in tears, I told her my predicament.
“And the guards simply turned you away, without asking why you would come?”
“Yes.” My crying had ceased, and I now felt much better that I was speaking to a Princess. While it may seem intimidating at first, it’s almost like speaking with a marefriend, or a mother.
I will help you, High Voltage. As Princess of the Night, it is my duty to ensure all ponies are happy.”
I said nothing for a moment. ”Thank you, Princess Luna. I say this often, but I genuinely owe you my gratitude. As we walked through the gates, the guards stared at me incredulously, and I gave them dirty looks in exchange. I sat in a room filled to the brim with scrolls and books on restoration, and augmentation, as the Dark Princess had investigated as fully as she possibly could into the matter of giving another pony wings that work. Eventually, her face lit up.
“I have found it!” She levitated a scroll with her magic. ”You, however, must be asleep. This may be excruciatingly painful.”
I felt a lull in the air around me, and I suddenly found it very hard to keep my eyes open. I fell asleep with a very stupid grin on my face.