The Broken One

I backed away from the statue, a cold chill running down my spine. I eyed it warily and teleported out of the maze. I realized a second too late what I had done when the sound of galloping guards echoed out of the banquet hall. A spark of inspiration hit me as the first guard, a blue maned unicorn in a fancy uniform instead of armor, slid into view.

“Catch me if you can”, I called before teleporting to the other side of the group.

The guards snorted in confusion before catching sight of me. I flipped them off and took off down the hallway. The unarmed unicorn popped into existence in front of me, his eyes going wide as I slid underneath him and continued running. A bolt of green magic slammed into the wall to the side, making me shout in alarm.

“These guys mean business”, I gasped.

I looked over my shoulder and popped to the other end of the hall. I had learned the layout of the castle shortly before my brief trip to Ponyville, so I decided to lead them in circles. I would wait for them to get close and teleport farther away, never really trying to escape. I continued this for about ten minutes before the guards got smart.

I teleported a little farther from the group and ran around the corner, grinning back at them I looked forward and saw the unarmored unicorn in my path, his stance lowered. I knew I couldn’t slide under him, so I went to leap over him. He had apparently expected this because as I was sailing over him his hind legs came up with blinding speed to connect with my gut.

I heaved out a breath and crumpled to the floor, groaning as I quickly pushed myself to my feet. I turned back to the unicorn and leapt back as he struck at my head with his fore hooves. I charged in and landed a strong uppercut to his chest as he reared back to strike at me again. He gasped as I struck him, but his strike still found its mark on my cheek.

“Hold it”, I shouted as I picked him up with magic. “Why the fuck are we fighting?”

“You are an intruder with unknown intent”, he shouted as he struggled to get free.

“Uh huh”, I said. “And who are you?”

“Not that it matters to you”, he spat, “but I am Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard. And now you can add assault to your list of charges!”

“Charges”, I laughed. “Do you know who I am?”

“I don’t care.”

“So I guess ‘Prince Jackson of Equestria’ doesn’t mean much does it”, I grinned.

“P-prince J-j-jackson?!”

“That’s right”, I laughed as I dropped him.

“Please forgive me”, he shouted, trying to bury his face into the floor.

“It was my fault for messing with you guys”, I smiled as I pulled him to his hooves.

He tried to apologize again but I reassured him it was okay. He ordered the guards to stand down and bowed to me again. We spoke for a few minutes after he dismissed his troops, and I quickly realized that this was the brother of Twilight Sparkle. He gave me directions to the academy when I asked and sent me on my way with a sheepish smile.

I waved at the guards as I passed through the gates on my way into town. I wandered through town, stopping at the occasional shop to peruse their wares. I picked up a few items I thought my mother would like, random little baubles. I also spotted a necklace that I thought would look great on Fluttershy, a thought whose origins I pondered as I paid the clerk and left the store.

I made my way to the academy and gasped in amazement as I stared up at the massive tower. There were arcs of magic flashing through the upper levels of the tower and unicorns were plentiful. I opened the gate and strode across the grounds, my eyes taking in everything at once. I was almost to the door when I heard a scratchy voice shouting a warning.

I looked up just in time to see a rainbow blur careening toward me. I braced for impact, grunting as her momentum sent both of us to the cobblestone below. I shook my head and tried to brush her hair from my vision.

“Get your mane outta my face”, I grunted as I grabbed a handful and yanked.

“THAT”S NOT MY MANE”, she shouted, her head jerking up from the vicinity of my hips.

I poked what I had originally thought was a shoulder and blushed bright red as she squirmed to get away from me. Unfortunately the only thing her squirming accomplished was to press her crotch into my face, which caused her to freeze solid. I froze as her scent flooded my nostrils, a sweet musky smell that was oddly pleasant.

“Dashie”, I said quietly.

“Yes, Jackson”, she replied shakily.

“Please get your vagina out of my face.”

“O-okay”, she stammered as she finally disentangled herself and stood up.

“If you were going in heat”, I smirked, “you could always ask me nicely.”

“Okay”, she muttered before shaking her head. “Hey, it’s not like that!”

“Sure”, I laughed as I climbed to my feet.

“You’re crazy”, she huffed as she rolled her eyes.

“Crazy not to reel in a catch like you”, I flirted, laughing loudly as she was reduced to a blushing sputtering mess. Her reaction was even better when I stroked one of her wings.

“Hey”, she shouted as she rounded on me. “Hooves off!”

“That doesn’t apply to me”, I grinned as I wiggled my fingers. Her eyes locked on my fingers and a blush crept across her cheeks.

“I gotta go”, she shouted quickly before taking off like a rocket.

I chuckled as I made my way into the academy. As I entered the lobby I saw unicorns of every color going about their business, some leading groups of tiny ponies around. I chuckled at the antics of one particularly rambunctious filly as I made my way to the receptionist. The graying mare behind the desk finished the paperwork she was working on and turned to me, jolting slightly as she caught sight of me.

“How may I help you”, she asked in a tired voice.

“My name is Jackson”, I began, jerking when the mare interrupted me.

“I am aware, your Highness”, she replied quietly. “Princess Celestia notified us you were coming and we have an instructor waiting to assist you.”

“Thank you”, I replied, following the instructions she gave me before turning to leave.

I walked down the hallway nearby and turned at each intersection just like I was supposed to. Before long I found myself outside of a room with a thick iron door. I looked left and right, but seeing no others in the hall I entered the room. Before the door even began closing I found myself ducking under a fireball.

“What the fuck”, I shouted as I regained my feet.

“My apologies”, a familiar voice called out.

“Lightning hoof”, I growled as I approached the older unicorn.

“Hello again, Prince Jackson”, he smiled, unaffected. “What is it you wish to learn?”

“I have a few ideas”, I said, still miffed about the fireball.

“Then I shall offer whatever help I can be. Tell me, what is it you wish to accomplish?”

“I want wings”, I said evenly.

“Why is that”, he asked.

“I always see Pegasus ponies flying around, and they’re always smiling”, I replied, “So I figured flying would be the best thing ever.”

“Now when you say you want wings”, he asked slowly, “do you mean temporary or permanent?”

“Temporary”, I said quickly. “For now, anyways.”

The old teacher thought for a few moments before a book of some sort popped into existence on a nearby desk. He made his way over to the book and flipped through the pages, eventually finding what he was looking for with a triumphant exclamation.

“I trust you can read Ponish”, he said quietly.

“I can.”

I approached the book and turned my eyes to the page. To my surprise the letters seemed to pulse on the paper, almost as if they were alive. I focused on the letters, willing them to be still. I read the entire spell twice before I felt The Shiver. I nodded in satisfaction as I closed the book.

“Shouldn’t you keep it open for reference, your Highness”, he asked politely.

“Just watch”, I winked and booped him on the nose, laughing as he let out a startled whinny.

I closed my eyes and centered myself. I recited the words from the book, feeling a strange heat between my shoulder blades and across my ribs. A warm wind swirled around me, stirring up my hair. The rustle of feathers behind me and the impressed grunt from Lightning Hoof told me I was successful.

“Most impressive, your Highness”, he smiled. “I would have chosen a different color, though.”

I felt my wings unfurl of their own accord and glanced over my shoulder. A feathery black wing bobbed in the air, one of the feathers tickling my nose. I sneezed and grinned at my ad hoc instructor.

“These guys are awesome”, I gushed. “How long does the spell last?”

“That particular spell can be used and then dispelled whenever you choose”, he explained. “That is, assuming you have the magical reserves to do it.”

“Not a problem”, I laughed. “Now what?”

“What do you mean, your Highness?”

“How do I fly”, I asked with a grin.

He stared at me blankly for several seconds before turning and heading out the door. He returned a few minutes later, ignoring my inquiries as he led a familiar rainbow pony into the room.

“What the hay”, she shouted. “I thought I was teaching a newbie to fly!”

At that moment she realized I had wings, so she circled around me in awe. She eyed my wings from one tip to the other, silently appraising them as her own wings slowly extended. She circled my wings again before Lightning Hoof cleared his throat.

“Ma’am”, he coughed. “Your excitement is showing.”

“Dafuq”, I laughed as Rainbow Dash’s wings snapped shut. “Do my wings turn you on?!”

“I’m outta here”, she grumbled as she started toward the door.

“No, Dash, come back”, I called. “I’m sorry, I won’t tease you again. I need your help.”

“Okay”, she groaned. “One more crack like that and I’m done.”

“Okay, I promise”, I sighed happily.

She led me outside and began explaining the different parts of the wing and how they all worked. I told her about the feeling in my ribs and she explained about the apparently new muscles I needed in order to fly. She taught me how to work said muscles, and before long I was flapping my way around the yard.

“Not as easy as it looks”, I huffed as I landed to take a break.

“No, but you’re doing pretty well for a groundie”, she smiled. “When you get better at flying I can show you around Cloudsdale!”

“Sounds good”, I smiled before I spread my wings and took to the air, getting a little higher this time.

“So Jackson”, she asked as she flew beside me, “When ya comin’ back to Ponyville?”

“I was planning to go back tonight with mom”, I replied, “but I might be convinced to go back early. It would be good flying practice.”

“Well”, she began nervously. “I was about to head back if you wanted to join me.”

“Sure”, I shrugged. “Just let me pop to the palace and let mom know I’m heading out.”

“Cool, I’ll meet you here in two hours”, she smiled before zipping away.

I landed and dispelled the wings, shivering as a warm breeze blew through the hole my wings had ripped in my shirt. I shrugged and focused on my mother. Within seconds I teleported directly into her chambers.

I ducked under the first blast of magic from the darkness but was hit in the right leg by the following shot. As the door burst open light flooded the room, making it nearly impossible to dodge the next three blasts. I cursed quite inventively as my pants leg caught on fire.

“Stand down”, a familiar male voice shouted.

“Shiny Armor, it’s me, Jackson”, I shouted. A heartbeat later the lights flared into life in the room.

“It’s Shining, not Shiny”, he said crossly. “Are you trying to die, your Highness?!”

“An excellent question, Captain”, my mother growled from right behind me.

“Heh heh”, I chuckled nervously as I turned around slowly. “Hi, mom. I learned a new spell.”

“That’s wonderful”, she said flatly as she grabbed my ear with magic. “Young colt, I almost killed you. The guards almost killed you. What were you thinking?!”

“Owowow”, I hissed. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to get to you as quickly as possible owowowowowOW!”

“Be that as it may”, she muttered as she released me, “You simply must stop popping into the castle like this!”

“I’m sorry”, I sighed, the gravity of the possibilities settling in.

“I should have keyed the wards to him as well”, she sighed quietly. “What was it you needed?”

In answer I closed my eyes and silently muttered the spell. Everyone in the room gasped as my impressive wingspan unfurled in the room, and I even heard one of the guards whisper something about a demon. I folded my wings and enjoyed the shocked pride on my mother’s face.

“Now we can go flying together, mom”, I smiled.

“They’re black”, she whispered, knocking my confidence down a notch.

“What’s wrong with black wings”, I asked.

“Nothing at all”, she smiled, getting over her initial shock. “For some reason I imagined they would be white.”

“Dad”, I mouthed, drawing an understanding nod from her.

“Most impressive, your Highness”, Shining Armor said reverently.

“Thanks”, I smiled.

I remembered the small gift I had gotten for mom and pulled out the little package. I smiled again as I held it out to her. She took it with curiosity and gently opened it. Nestled inside was a wide ring, styled much like her tiara. She stared at it in confusion for a second before I lifted it from the wrapping paper and slipped it onto her horn. It slid all the way to the base of her horn and settled with a glint of gold.

“Thank you Jackson, it’s beautiful”, she smiled. "It matches my tiara perfectly!”

“That’s not all”, I smiled.

I pulled out two more small bundles and held them out to mom. She unwrapped both at the same time to reveal an ornate inkwell made of obsidian and a small gold bracelet. I fastened the bracelet around her right foreleg and placed the inkwell on her desk. As I turned back I caught her stifling a yawn.

“You should go back to bed”, I said gently. “I just wanted to give you those and let you know I was flying back to Ponyville with Rainbow Dash.”

“You went from choking her to flying with her”, mom asked jokingly. “That’s fine as long as you raise the moon at six thirty tonight.”

“I will”, I promised as I hugged her.

To my surprise she kissed my forehead and told me yet again to be safe. After multiple promises I finally got out of her room and started down the hallway. As I was coming up on an open window I got a fun idea and leapt from the window amidst gasps and screams from nearby servants and guards. After a freefall of about fifty feet I spread my wings and let the wind carry me out over the city. I lazily flapped my wings to maintain altitude all the way to the academy.

As I came in for a landing I saw Rainbow Dash already waiting for me. I glanced at the nearby clock tower on the academy grounds and saw I had only been gone an hour. I flapped awkwardly for a second as a stray gust caught my wings just before I could land and just decided to wrap my wings around me and drop the last five or so feet to the ground. I instinctively dropped to one knee as I landed to somewhat absorb the shock and flared my wings.

“Most. Epic. Entrance. EVER”, Rainbow Dash shouted as she trotted toward me.

“Thanks”, I smiled when she nudged me with a wing. “Hey, what time will we get there?”

“I’d say if we left now we could be there by seven tonight”, she replied.

“Then we gotta stop halfway there”, I said as I shook my head.

“Why?”

“To raise the moon”, I said, growling when she started cackling.

“That’s PRICELESS”, she guffawed. “Seriously, why do you have to stop?”

“To raise the moon”, I repeated.

“Seriously”, she asked, scoffing in disbelief when I nodded.

“Yeah, mom told me to raise the moon at six thirty”, I replied.

“Now when you say mom”, she hesitated.

“Truth is”, I groaned, “Princess Celestia adopted me. Apparently I have to have at least one parent listed to be a citizen.”

“I’m gonna be flying with a Prince of Equestria”, she squeaked, her pupil tiny and her eyes wide.

“You can’t tell anyone, Dash”, I urged, gripping her shoulders. “It could cause lots of uncomfortable questions to be asked.”

“O-of course, your Highness”, she bowed.

“If you call me that, I’m gonna do to you what I did to Fluttershy”, I said playfully.

“What’d you do to her”, the rainbow demanded.

“Call me ‘your Highness’ again and find out”, I grinned as I got closer to her.

“Bring it, your Highness”, Dash said smugly.

Before she could react I gripped her shoulders and pulled her forward, planting my lips on hers. As I pulled back I heard an audible ‘whoomf’ sound as her wings shot straight out. I grinned for a second before I nudged her.

“Damn, I guess I do turn you on”, I laughed.

“Heh heh”, she laughed, nervously rubbing her hoof against her foreleg.

“Yeah, Fluttershy hauled ass when I did that”, I chuckled.

Without another word I leapt into the air and pumped my wings to gain altitude. Less than five seconds later Dash was beside me, muttering something about princes and wings being stiff. We flew close together at first, but Rainbow Dash apparently hated the way I stroked her wing every time she stopped flapping to glide. I tried to fly closer to her but she threatened to kick me, prince or not.

We had made it about halfway when I noticed the sun was beginning to sink, so I called for a quick landing. We dropped fast, pulling up at the last second. Well, she did. I wound up crashing through a few trees, a sharp pain ripping through my back.

“Oh my Celestia”, Dash shouted. “Jackson, your wing!”

I grinned at her before dispelling the wings, relief flooding through me. I turned away from my travelling companion and focused my magic. I followed my mother’s instructions to the letter, beginning to sweat as the moon seemed to take forever to rise up. I sighed in relief as the moon began to drift across the sky.

“Whoa”, Rainbow Dash uttered, her wings splayed and actually pulsating.

“Not a word”, I muttered before creating my wings again.

Within moments we were airborne and made the rest of the trip without incident. We landed outside of Ponyville and I dispelled my wings before continuing the last mile on foot.

“What gives”, she asked as we started walking.

“I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to show up with huge black wings”, I said.

She agreed with me before saying goodbye and taking off. I walked at a leisurely pace and enjoyed myself, smelling all of the nocturnal flowers along the road. As I crossed the bridge into Ponyville I saw a pink cannonball flying at me yelling my name at the top of its lungs. All I could do was brace for impact.

“Well, fuck.”