A Shadowless Day

Chapters

Assumptions
Accord
Amnesty
Anger
Answers
A Gift

Assumptions

Chapter01-Assumptions

Pony Identification-Unicorn
Name: Equinox
Sex: M
Parents:
M Solstice
F Starry Sky
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Occupational/Social Title(s): No current employment-Prince
Natural Ability: Large Area Effect Magic
Identification:
Coat-Black
Hooves(if not the same as Coat)-Dark gray
Mane-White
Tail(if not the same as Coat)- X
Eyes(if separate colors, specify)-Green
Horn-Dark gray
Ability Mark: Green star with four flames coming from the center .

Equinox scowled at the blasted piece of paper for what must be the thousandth time. He didn’t like it, that much was obvious. He stuffed it back into his suitcase resting next to him on the floor of the chariot. The dark wood of the vehicle shone under the Equine sun, and it shifted slightly as the two, smartly dressed, pegasi pulled it through the sky. Of course he could have just set out on foot but when you had connections like he did, why bother? Besides, as pegasi it was their pleasure to perform their natural duty as servants and protectors of the master race.

Equinox had been raised in a nation reasonably far from Equestria. Atop the islands of Nesoi, there stands the proud nation called Progress. Advancing gloriously in science and magic faster than any other nation. It’s citizens enjoyed a clean, safe environment, and a healthy learning experience in school. Once they graduated, they could pursue any sort of business or trade to help better their country.

He took out his passport and stared at it again. He never liked being examined, even if for something like this. The thought of ponies making assumptions about him based on only what their eyes saw angered him. “Sir! We will be landing shortly. Prepare yourself please.” one of the pegasi said. Equinox looked in front of them and saw a small town approaching fast only a couple of minutes away. So, this was Ponyville. As his eyes took in the settlement that Princess Celestia had recommended for his time in Equestria, he couldn’t help but smile a little. Yes, this would do nicely.

Twilight Sparkle awoke from her dream, weak, early morning daylight streaming in through the half open curtains. She smiled softly; the sight of the stars in Luna’s night always helped her drift away. She briefly entertained the idea of opening the library late and sleeping in, but a knock at her door silenced those thoughts. She straightened her mane with a brush quickly before trotting down the stairs. I wonder who could be visiting so early? she thought.

The lavender mare opened the door to find a dark unicorn outside her library. A chill along with some dead leaves blew in and the stallion on her doorstep shivered slightly. “Oh! I’m sorry, please come in.” Twilight moved aside and used her magic to light the fire in the hearth. The floor was littered with books and half scrawled notes from her latest bout of binge studying and she quickly came up with an excuse for the state of things. “I’m sorry for the mess, I’m um, reorganizing the non-fiction.”

The stallion shook his mane and smiled at her, “That’s perfectly okay miss Sparkle. Allow me to introduce myself,” he reached out a dark gray hoof and shook hers in turn, “my name is Equinox.”

Twilight took a moment to look him over. The unicorn in front of her had a tousled, white mane that draped down his neck. His horn and coat were both black in color, accented by his dark gray hooves and bright, green eyes. His tail flowed like a streak of starlight, and his flank was adorned by a green star with four tongues of flame curving outwards. “Oh, it’s nice to meet you. I haven’t seen you around Ponyville, are you new here?”

He was interrupted by a burst of green fire and a loud belch from the top of the stairs. “Twilight! It’s for you!” Spike hopped down the stairs, paying no attention to the stallion that Twilight was talking to.

Equinox noticed the royal seal on the scroll and gulped. Well, this was it. As Twilight read the letter, her eyes widened. She looked from the pony in front of her back to the letter, and back again. Equinox shuffled his front hooves and looked to the left, “Well, I guess that was a rather interesting letter of introduction wasn’t it?” He wondered what the letter had said exactly.

“Y-you’re a prince?” she whispered the last word, her eyes finding Spike in the kitchen looking for some breakfast. She remained with her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open for only a couple of moments before mentally kicking herself. “Ah um, can I get you something to eat?” She gestured to the kitchen where Spike was exiting with a sandwich clamped in his mouth.

“Hmpf?” Spike said, tilting his head at the sight of Equinox and Twilight looking at him.

Equinox felt awkward to say the least, this wasn’t going exactly as planned. Spike felt confused, but contented with his sandwich. Twilight was freaking out on the inside, but doing her best to remain courteous and polite on the outside.

Nevertheless, the thought of a dandelion sandwich did sound good right about now. He hadn’t had time for breakfast before he had to make the train that morning. He was about to say that he really wouldn’t mind something, but a knock on the door distracted the three of them.

“Twilight dear, you’re going to be late!” a singsong voice said from the other side of the wood. Spike opened the door quickly, letting a slightly ruffled Rarity into the library. She stopped and took a less that normally long look at Equinox for a moment before saying, “Twilight, who is this handsome young stallion you have here?”

Equinox’s eyes met Twilight’s for a moment as he hoped his telepathic message communicated through his eyes reached her, he was pleading. “Oh-ah um, Rarity, he’s going to be staying in Ponyville for a while. His ah,” she looked at his eyes again, and he gave the smallest of nods, “,name is Equinox.”

The white mare held out her hoof, inclining with her head slightly, “Well, it’s certainly a pleasure to meet you Equinox.”

Equinox returned the hoof-shake, smiling in turn, “Your name is Rarity correct? Well I must say that it certainly fits you.”

Rarity giggled at that and shook her hoof at Twilight, “Oh he’s such a gentlestallion!”

Spike took this opportunity to push himself between the two and quickly shot an angry look at Equinox before turning to Rarity. “Hey Rarity, you said Twilight was going to be late for something?”

Rarity looked down at him and replied, “Oh yes dear, I must have forgotten. Thank you Spike.” She lifted her head again and said, “I was just walking back home from some early morning shopping when Rainbowdash flies down and tells me that the weatherteam is recruiting everypony to help clear debris from around the parks and the edge of the Everfree forest. Something to do with preventing a fire hazard or such and such.”

Twilight was already grabbing a scarf for herself,”Well then, we’d better get to it. But first I think I should find Equinox a place to stay. I don’t think he wants to stay on my couch after all.”

Equinox piped up, “Actually, that wouldn’t be so bad, I don’t want to impose-”

“Oh darling that simply won’t do! You’ll stay in my guest room.” Rarity said, closing her eyes and nodding in agreement with herself. The other three looked at eachother while Rarity spent another moment basking in her own glow of pride. “Anyway, we’d best be going! Come along Spike. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you show Equinox here to my boutique?”

Spike looked at Equinox, his eyes untrusting. But when he looked at Rarity again he said, “Sure Rarity, anything for you.” Spike and Equinox stepped out of the library as Rarity and Twilight came out behind them. “Bye Rarity, bye Twilight!” The two groups waved at each other for a moment, and then walked in separate directions. As soon as they two mares were out of sight, Spike looked at Equinox through squinted eyes.

“I uh, hello,” The dark stallion said, reaching out a hoof and trying to smile. Spike wrapped his claws around the hoof and shook it briefly, before continuing to walk through the town. It certainly was a sight, Equinox noted. The gray sky extended from horizon to horizon, accenting the brightly colored leaves in the trees on the side of the road. Ponies of all kinds went this way and that, buying, selling, or perhaps just taking a walk. They had been walking for a couple of minutes before Equinox spoke again. “Excuse me little on-”

“Call me Spike.” the dragon cut him off.

“Spike, do you have a problem with me?” Equinox said. Troubles aren’t the sort of thing I can afford right now...also, I don’t want enemies.

Spike looked up at Equinox for a moment before his demeanor changed from passive aggressive to mild despair. “It isn’t your fault really, it’s just that Rarity seems to like you so much and I had to work really hard for her just to notice me...” the sad little dragon trailed off.

Equinox felt his ears twitch, almost reluctant to fold them back. “Spike, do you like Rarity?” he asked in a comforting voice. He had become quite adept at that when learning how to manipulate people. He shuddered inwardly at the thought of it though.

Spike replied, “Well yeah...” he looked away again.

“Do you know what the brethren code is?” The little dragon looked up, gazing at Equinox quizzically. “Part of it means that if you’re trying to go after somepony, then I won’t try and make a move on them.” He smiled warmly at Spike, raising a hoof and attempting to tousle his spikes a bit but only succeeding it bumping his hoof around on the tough.

They both started laughing as the moment changed from warm counsel to something that would be worthy of a facehoof if it wasn’t so freely happy. In much higher spirits, Spike led Equinox to Rarity’s home at a faster pace, keeping the stallion at a steady trot.

Approaching the circular white building, Spike opened the door and said, “The guest room is up the stairs and to the right.” Equinox nodded and was halfway in the doorway when Spike spoke again and made him turn around, “And um...thanks Equinox.” Spike said in a quiet voice before closing the door.

Equinox grinned as he walked up the stairs. The shop had a strawberry smell that touched the nose and made one think of hard candies, and the white walls had little purple designs curling near the floor. The windows were a clear, polished shimmer so that light could get in and one could barely tell there was glass at all. “Wait...did he say left or...” Equinox trailed off as he heard a small sound to his left. He walked down the hallway a short ways and came to a door that had a pink marshmallow drawn on it. Peeking inside, he saw two ponies very close to each other. One looked quite similar to Rarity so he only assumed that the orange colt with the purple mane must have been the guest. Ah, young love. The thought of intervening crossed his mind but he decided against it and went searching for the guest room instead. The make-out session was rather innocent too, nothing too heated or intimate. He reached his room and smiled as he remembered his first kiss.

Opening the door, he stepped inside to find a light purple room with the same curling pattern running along the floor on the walls. The wooden floor boards were a polished cherry wood that matched rather well with the plush, purple rugs arranged around the room. The bed had a blue and white quilt arranged on it, expertly arranged so that it looked like it belonged in a catalog of some kind. Equinox unclasped his suitcase from his side and set it down on the floor gently so that it wouldn’t make too much noise. Climbing up onto the bed, he decided that he definitely was only doing so because he wanted to know how it would feel later. Yeah, that was totally the reason..any moment now he would just get off....and he would walk...down the stairs...yeahh...zzzzzzzzzz

Accord

Equinox awoke from his sleep, nuzzling into the soft pillows that his head was rested on. Something nagged at the back of his thoughts, but he was too tired to bother with it. He squeezed his eyes shut as it persisted, growing more and more troublesome. Suddenly, an awful foreboding gripped him. His eyes shot open and he looked around the room for any imminent danger. It looked exactly as it had when he had walked in. He cast out his mind as far as it would go, which was only about fifty feet here. It was a skill he had learn a long time ago, the basics of some foreign magic. Nope, nothing ominous here. Then why did he feel so anxious?

He jumped out of bed and opened the window. The air that blew in was cool, as expected in the autumn. But something was wrong. Then he found it; smoke. He opened the door quickly and made his way to the stairs. Walking quickly around the assorted displays, he made his way out the door and a good distance from the boutique before he found the rising tower of gray on the horizon. Taking off quickly, he ran towards it. As he got closer, a low rumble began to fill the air and the sound of many ponies all talking at once filled his ears.

He turned the corner and was assaulted by a wave of heat that blew over his face. The dancing light of ten thousand tongues of fire lit the clearing on the edge of town as well as the ponies in it’s light. He looked around frantically for somepony he knew. There!

Twilight Sparkle was reading a book frantically, her eyes darting over the page. Equinox ran up to her and tried to get her attention. “Hey! Don’t you think there’s a time and a place for this?” He yelled over the noise.

A powerful set of legs pulled him back and he looked into the green eyes of a blond maned, orange mare. “Ya’ll leave her alone now, She’s doin’ her best ya hear?”

Equinox snorted in disgust, pulling himself out of the mare’s grip he was about to give her a piece of his mind until he saw Twilight directing a large group of unicorns so that they all stood in a line. As their horns lit, the fire closest to them turned into a spectrum of colors and ceased advancing. “Keep this line! As long as you’re all in place the fire can’t get any closer!” the lavender mare encouraged.

A similarly large group of earthponies was readying a large mechanism that reminded the dark stallion of a cannon, except for the long tube that ran out of sight. Twilight ran up to it and began fiddling with a bunch of the dials and knobs. Finally she pressed a large blue button on the side and the massive pump on the back came to life. The machine shook and coughed until finally, a large burst of water sprang forth, hurtling itself at the wall of fire. It sizzled out of existence instantly. All the ponies cheered as the machine did its magic, defeating the flames at every turn.

Equinox ran up to Twilight, his eyes wide with wonder. “Twilight! This is amazing! Did you make this?”

She turned to him, yelling back over the rumble from the water-cannon, “Yeah! It’s a good thing I finally finished it a couple days ago too! Of course, it’s still the prototype and it isn’t meant for this but-” she stopped suddenly, looking around as her eyes registered something.

“Twilight! What is it?” Equinox prompted, shaking her shoulder.

“Applejack! Where’s Applebloom?” She yelled at the orange mare from earlier, running off towards the pony.

Applejack turned around, looked through the crowd and gasped. “Twilight! Macintosh is missing too!” her eyes were wide with worry and fear.

A filly ran up to Applejack, her red mane and yellow coat singed slightly, just like the pink bow in her hair. “Applejack! Please Ah’m sorry!” she said, her eyes running with tears. “W-we thought we’d try fire dancing but w-we knew nopony would let us so we went into the forest a-and-” she collapsed onto Applejack’s leg, crying hard.

Applejack bent over her and asked, “Sis, everything is gonna be okay ya hear?” She pushed Applebloom up so that the she was looking the filly in her eyes. “Do ya know what happened to Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo? Have ya seen Macintosh?”

Applebloom sniffled again, still crying, “M-macintosh was the first one who found us! B-but Ah haven’t seen him or the others since I ran outta there!” she fell forward back onto her older sister’s leg, crying still.

Applejack looked forward, her gaze blank. “Macintosh is...” tears welled up in her eyes before she squeezed them shut for a moment. Opening them back up with a snap, the only emotion they portrayed was fierce determination. Giving Applebloom one last hug she took off for the burning forest.

“Applejack, wait!” Twilight bolted after her.

Thinking quickly, Equinox called out to a yellow stallion with a brown mane and three horseshoes for a cutiemark. “Take care of this one for me!” He said, getting a nod from the stallion. Running fast after Twilight and Applejack, he tried his best to keep up with them.

Twilight grabbed Applejack with her magic, pulling her friend back just as she jumped for the burning forest. “Are you crazy?! What if something happened to you? Would you leave Applebloom all by herself?” Twilight shouted, straining to keep Applejack in her magical grip.

“Ya’ll don’t understand! Ah have to help Mac! He’s mah brother! Ah can’t let anypony else die! Not after what happened to Ma and Pa!” her eyes stared at Twilight, she looked ready to jump into the fire and just lie down and cry at the same time.

Equinox caught up just in time to hear Applejack, and he felt exactly what she did. The image of a small, tan filly with blue eyes came to his mind and he felt a fierce determination. No, he wouldn’t stand by and do nothing this time.

Charging forward, he could barely hear Twilight and Applejack call after him over the sound of the flames. His horn sparked as an iridescent ball formed around him, shading him in green light. Jumping over fallen trees, diving between the flaming trunks, he finally found what he was looking for; a small clearing. Small, but just large enough. Closing his eyes, he used desperation to fuel his concentration, he focused and let a green pulse out from his horn. In his mind, the pulse kept going and going, pinging off seemingly random objects until a trio of notes went off clearly.

Turning right, he continued along his path at a run, gasping for breath at the hot, dry, smoking air. Dodge, duck, swerve, jump, speed up, slow down, swerve, dodge, duck, jump, run. Everything seemed to blur in around him as he concentrated on his goal. Any moment now, they’re close, right there! He turned the corner sharply to find a large rock in the middle of a clearing. Atop the tilted slab of stone, a big, red earthpony sheltered two foals between his forelegs. He looked around desperately until Equinox ran up to him.

“Macintosh!” Equinox yelled up, deciding that this must be Applejack’s brother. “We need to get you and the foals out of her now!”

The big earthpony turned around and looked at Equinox, an irritated look in his eyes. “How do ya suppose we should manage that? Do you have a spell or something ta get us outta here?” Mac said, his eyes narrowed.

Equinox thought for a moment, his mind racing before he came up with a solution. Looking uncertain, he bit his lip a moment before the picture of the tan filly surfaced in his mind again. All that mattered was getting those ponies out of here. “Follow me,” he ordered Mac and the others. Oh for the sake of Progress he hoped that this worked.

Walking until he was almost ten feet from the point that he entered the clearing from, he took a solid stance. I have to be careful he thought, closing his eyes again and mumbling something to himself inaudible because of the wildfire and its roars. Letting out all the air in his lungs in a sigh, he took in a deep breath and concentrated again.

Let it all go, everything but the goal you have in mind. See it without your eyes, see it happening. A voice that wasn’t his spoke in his mind, the memory replaying as he recalled the lesson. It started with a spark, but very soon a single green flame burned at the end of his tail. The fire didn’t make his hair curl in blacken though, so was its nature. It grew until a fifth of the white tail glowed with the emerald flame. Macintosh looked down in shock, what the hay was that pony doing? The two foals with him looked in awe at Equinox, their eyes wide.

Now, let it go on its own- A cracking noise broke through his concentration like a knife, disrupting the memory and choking out the fire on his tail. A large tree was fall directly towards the four ponies. Equinox saw it fall in slow motion. I can’t move. Why can’t I move? I have to get out of here, I have to- His eyes found the foals staring up in horror at the ancient trunk falling towards them, frozen in place. No. It’s not going to end like this! He threw himself as hard as he could at the two foals, pushing them aside as the tree smashed down. Luckily there was enough opposite reaction so that he wasn’t crushed under the wood, but that didn’t stop it from hitting him and knocking him over.

Macintosh rushed around the log, looking Equinox over and trying to assess the damage. He had burns on his head, his shoulder and upper back, plus a nasty looking bump on his head. “Hey! Wake up!” Mac motioned to put the dark colored stallion on his back but Equinox stood on his own, his eyes staring blankly ahead. The large stallion looked at him in shock, were his eyes always blue?

A violet circle ran it’s way around all four ponies. Its light grew in intensity before a blinding flash engulfed them all.

I know what you’re thinking, “Oh I knew it! Equinox is a mary sue!” Please just give me some time. In a couple of updates it won’t look like it. Equinox is not an overpowered character, there’s a reasonable explanation for the weird magic.

Amnesty

Equinox walked briskly up the mountain path, feeling the cool gray stone beneath his hooves and looking over the side of the cliff where the horizon was dotted with the many islands of Nesoi. The royal city could be seen through the haze of blue, pointing majestically and sturdily skyward. The city was smooth and uniform in most of its architecture, a magnificent sight to see showing that if everyone worked together, then great feats could be accomplished.

Of course, even if you knew how the system worked, it didn’t mean you could change it. Equinox liked being the Prince, but such things could become pressuring sometimes. Find a fillyfriend, do better in school, practice your magic, get your mark, clean your room; all these things had a tendency to pile up sometimes. Smiling as he continued to walk up the path, he was glad that he was taking three weeks off to get away from it all. His father hadn’t been quick to agree, but the thought of not having to deal with his son, and allowing him to grow on his own without the need for the stallion to direct his offspring seemed like a good idea in the end.

Equinox stopped for a moment to catch his breath, the pack strapped to his torso starting to feel heavier as he climbed upwards. He reached back to get his water flask but stopped. Putting his hoof down he closed his eyes and concentrated, his horn letting out a couple of small sparks feebly. His green aura flickered to life around the container and it shakingly rose from the pocket in his pack. Tensing, he unscrewed the cap very slowly and tilted it until the water just barely touched his lips. He only had time for a couple of gulps before he couldn’t take it any longer and caught the flask with his hoof just as his magic gave out. He smiled to himself, that was pretty good levitation right? Perhaps he was progressing. The dark colored colt almost took time to pity the earthponies, but he stopped himself before he could. Why pity that which is naturally beneath you? Hmpf, served them right too. They obviously deserved it.

Taking another step after putting his flask back with his hoof, he felt the ground give way beneath him. Yelping in surprise, he fell a good fifteen feet before landing painfully in a crevice half-filled with rubble. He took a moment to look around before a sharp pain from his forelegs made him look down. Holding out his hooves, he looked at them while biting his lip to keep himself from crying. Some of the shale had cut into him, leaving several small but painful red openings in forelegs when he fell onto them. Looking up, he considered calling for help before realizing that nopony would be able to hear him out here.

“Well this just turned out bucking swell now didn’t it?” he laughed a little as the word left his mouth. If his mother could hear him now she would have put him over her knee and spanked his flank, but out here there was not a single pony to tell him what to do. And nopony to help me out if I get into a jam either. He reminded himself. Oh well, let’s see if I can get outta this one. He focused really hard and screwed up his face in concentration, feeling the magic flow out of his horn. Slowly, the appendage lit and his aura surrounded him in green light. He felt himself begin to lift, straining at moving himself upwards. After only a couple of feet though, he fell back onto the rocks at the bottom of the crevice.

His fur matted with sweat from the exertion, he just sat there for a couple of minutes to ease the pressure in his head from the strain of trying to use that much magic. Equinox looked around, noting the wall of fallen rocks behind him, the two walls of solid rock on the left and right sides, and then what appeared to be a cave in front of him. He squinted, and surely enough a small light could be glimpsed through the dark hole in the rock. That’ll probably be my best bet, unless I want to try and climb up that wall of pointed rocks.

Standing up, he winced at the pain in his legs and took a cautious step. The leg held his weight firmly. Well, nothing’s broken. Equinox walked into the dark cave, stepping carefully on the uneven ground outlined by the light coming from the entrance behind him. As he kept walking, he took a look around the cavern. The cave started to widen out, and he noticed that it curved gracefully into smaller caves. It was also quite dry in here compared to the caves in the islands with large deposits of limestone.

The cave began to become thinner again as he passed through and out the other side. Shielding his eyes against the sudden sunlight, he found it difficult to see and didn’t notice the clif that he stepped off of until it was too late. He tried to scream or cry out but his throat was choked up and not being very cooperative. Remembering at the last second what happened to his legs he moved them out of the way and fell on his torso instead. The breath was knocked out of him as he felt the impact. He panted heavily and rolled onto his side. Well, this seems to be a recurring theme. He thought as he squeezed his eyes shut. Ouch, that’s starting to hurt pretty bad now. Ow, okay that really hurts. Spots danced before his vision before he blacked out.

Equinox woke gradually, the pain in his chest calling his attention. Finally opening his eyes, he looked around groggily. He shifted slightly and felt a comfortable thing beneath him. Looking down, he could see that he was resting on his bedspread. A warm light lit the area around him, and as he looked up he realized that it was the cave he had passed through earlier. His brain finally starting to get moving, he smelled vegetables cooking in a pot, and heard a fire going. Attempting to get up on his hooves proved to be a bad idea and his side protested mutinously. Wincing as the pain sharpened, he gasped and fell back onto the bedroll.

His ears flicked up and his eyes shot wide open as he heard footsteps. Either it was just his brain or those didn’t sound normal to him. Turning his gaze towards one of the openings to the cave, a large head turned the corner to meet his eyes. As Equinox continued to stare, the creature finished turning into the cave and stood before him. Two, large, horns curled over its long ears. Another horn jutted from its forehead that resembeled a unicorn’s, but its face was very much not a pony. Black fur coated the creature’s body when it wasn’t interrupted by green stripes or glyphs. Its front paws were fingered, but it’s back legs ended in hooves instead. White hair hung like a mane on the top of its head and continued down its back until covering the end of its long tail in a sleek plume. All in all, it was probably three times taller than Equinox and four to five times as long.

Two pairs of green eyes stared at each other before the owner of the larger ones opened his mouth to speak. But the voice that was heard instead belonged to the equine. “Dragon! Help! Somepony help me!” The tall creature winced slightly as Equinox dragged his body off of the bedroll and attempted to escape out the cave. He yelped as he was lifted off the floor and into the air. He calmed somewhat at seeing the rotating circle of blue light beneath him.

Equinox felt an unseen force turn him around so that he was facing the dragon. He closed his eyes tightly and held his hooves in front of his face, whimpering slightly. Equinox felt a sharp intake of breath and his eyes opened as a smooth voice touched his ears, “Hey, calm down little one. Why would I have any reason to hurt you?” Equinox lowered his forelegs and looked disbelievingly at the soft, green eyes resting their gaze on him.

“B-but you’re a d-dragon.” Equinox said quietly, his voice cracking. He was still trembling, but his breathing had slowed considerably.

“Shhh..,” The dragon cooed, raising an arm and gently brushing the mane between Equinox’s ears. The colt shied away from the contact at first, but started to relax slightly as the dragon continued with the soft, rhythmic strokes of his fingers. “I’d never harm a foal, especially one who’s injured on my doorstep.” The dragon lowered Equinox onto the bedroll, letting the injured colt lie down.

Equinox looked at the floor, embarrassed at his outburst. “Sir?”

The dragon looked at him, turning his head from the steaming pot over the fire. “Yes?”

“Ah, um...what’s your name?”

The dragon smiled and said, “My name is Amnesty.”

Muffled voices reached his ears, words fading in and out.

“...should wake up...”

“...else you can do?”

“...up to him, we can’t...”

“...up, please...saved us.”

A throbbing in his head brought Equinox slowly to the world of the waking. He felt smooth sheets around him, and a soft breeze over his face. Slowly, he cracked open one of his eyes, the dim light in the room soothing and cool. He opened his eyes further, turning his head slightly so that he could check out where exactly he was. Everything was a dark blue, moonlight coming in through the opened window. He exhaled, the throbbing in his head not getting any worse. He shifted until he was sitting on the edge of his bed, looking blankly down at the floor in front of him.

Becoming more and more observant as he woke, he noticed that there was an odd feeling in his throat and, upon further inspection, the area under his eyes was wet. Amnesty... He sighed and raised a hoof to his face to wipe away the tears but something in stark contrast to his white fur caught his eye. Looking at the white band, his mind kicked into gear. No, no it can’t be. Equinox got off the bed and shakily walked over to the window so that he could read the text written on the wristband, his chest seizing up with apprehension. Almost falling over in his haste, he stared down at the writing over his right hoof and his eyes grew wide.

A single sentence caught his eye immediately, and he tore off the band with a look of anger marring his face. The sudden raise in blood pressure though, was not going over well with his injured head and he felt woozy for only a moment before he slouched into the chair next to the window. As the wristband fell into the moonlight on the floor, the words on its surface became clear. Ponyville Municipal Hospital.

Anger

Equinox's eyes fluttered open as he lay in the hospital bed. "Sir?" Equinox took a moment to wake up, blinking a couple of more times before noticing the cup of water being held out to him. "Mr. Nox, it's time you woke up." A pleasent voice said. The dark stallion looked up and reached for the cup of water being held by the white mare with a pink mane. He just touched the cup when he noticed her cutiemark. His eyes opened wide and he smashed the cup bearing tray away from him, jumping out of bed and taking an offensive stance.

"Keep your filthy, dishonorable hooves off me!" His anger showed in his eyes as he glared menacingly at the nurse.

The door banged open and a startled Twilight and Rainbowdash stood in the opening. "What's going on here?"

Equinox pointed his hoof accusingly at Nurse Redheart, "That excuse for a mare tried to lay her filthly hooves on me!"

Twilight looked aghastly at Nurse Redheart, trying to wrap her mind around the white mare molesting one of her patients. Of course this was going right over the lavender mare's head. Redheart looked from Twilight to Equinox and back, her face frozen in shock and her hooves wet from the spilled cup at her feet. She tried to speak so that she could defend herself, but all that came out was a strangled vowel before she burst into tears and ran into the hallway.

As the crying swiftly faded from the open door, Equinox looked down at his hoof and scowled at the white band around it. "Equinox?" he looked up and saw Twilight looking at him with concern in her eyes, "Are you alright?" She walked up closer to him inspected him more closely.

"No, I'm as fine as I'll be while I'm still here. Tell me Twilight, why am I in this, this hospital?" he whispered the last word, ignoring Rainbowdash. Still seething, he tore the white hospital band from hoof with his teeth. "I demand that I be taken from this here at once. It's dishonorable and I'll have none of it." He marched past Twilight and made for the door.

Twilight took a moment to process what he meant before calling him back. "What do you mean? You're in the hospital because you were injured. When you teleported Big Mac, Sweetiebelle, and Scootaloo out of the forest fire you passed out. Dr. Stable said that you suffered a concussion." She reached out a hoof and turned him around by his shoulder in the middle of the hallway. "Equinox, you were out for quite a while, we were worried about you."

"Did I hear my name?" A butterscotch unicorn stallion with a brown mane wearing a doctor's coat and glasses appeared from around the corner. "Mr. Nox, would you mind explaining to me what happened between you and my nurse?"

Equinox felt his anger build up inside of him, turning his gaze at Dr. Stable. "You're a doctor?"

Dr. Stable regarded Equinox with questioning eyes, "Yes, I-"

Equinox glared at the doctor hard enough to kill a small animal, cutting the pony off. "Let me make this clear. I want nothing to do with you ever again. How dare you-" Equinox stopped talking as a cyan hoof cracked against his jaw.

"How dare you!" Rainbow finally spoke, recovering from her shock. She stared down at him, the dark colored stallion laying dazed on the floor. He blinked his eyes a couple of times in shock. Somepony had hit him. Somepony had hit him, and it hurt. "We brought you in here because you suffered an injury and we wanted to make sure you survived! Dr. Stable is treating you for free because you saved three ponies! He's only trying to help. And all you can do is whine about your 'honor' and abuse the staff!" Her eyes glowed, indignant and determined as he looked into his own eyes. She had grown to care for the staff here after they had helped her recover from her broken wing.

That look. Where do I know-Equinox's eyes widened as a flashback hit him. Mountain, fall, cave, dragon, healing, Amnesty. He looked down at his hooves, seriously contemplating why he hadn't objected to Amnesty healing him all those years ago, but always had a problem with other ponies caring for his physical well-being like that. He closed his eyes and slowly stood. His throat felt too big, his face felt hot. A tear almost escaped his right eye, but he inhaled deeply and managed to stop it before he could embarrass himself further. Softly, almost too quiet for anypony to hear, he said, "I'm sorry,"

Equinox walked back to his room and closed the door. He didn't bother looking back, knowing that he wouldn't be able to meet anypony's eyes. He turned off the light, and winced as he stepped in the puddle of water. His lip curled up and his breath hitched. Sobbing softly, the surface of the puddle rippled as his tears fell. He climbed into the bed and pulled the covers over him. Grabbing onto his pillow, he hugged it tightly, burying his face into it and sobbing quietly. Why was he thinking about Amnesty again? The memory of the kind dragon who had showed him no wrong had helped him so much, but Equinox had forgotten about him in the later years.

Eventually, after crying for hours, the unicorn accepted sleep's embrace, and nuzzled into her mane as he lost consciousness.

Equinox woke, light streaming in through the opening of the cave's mouth. He cracked his joints and breathed in the pristine mountain air. A small yelp escaped his lips as his side protested, his eyes squeezed shut and he groaned. "Ah, it's good to see that you're awake. How are you feeling?" Equinox looked up and saw Amnesty standing near his head, the dragon was considering his injury with focused eyes while finishing a topaz with a final crunch.

Equinox breathed a little to try and rid himself from his instinctual desire to flee. After a couple of breaths he had calmed and said, "I feel alright, it's just when I try to move, my side hurts really bad." The colt turned his head so that he could look at his side as well, his dark coat hiding any sort of bruising that was probably there.

The dragon nodded, moving around to Equinox's side. Laying down on his front legs so that his head was closer to the colt, Equinox felt another rush of fear go through him, but kept still. "W-what are you doing?"

Amnesty turned his green eyes on the pony,"Trust me, I won't hurt you." he smiled reassuringly and placed his long horn on Equinox lightly. Equinox flinched at the contact, but forced his breathing to slow and his body to lay flat. "Now, don't move." The frightened colt turned his eyes to the side, so that he could observe the dragon as he did whatever he did.

Equinox's eyes widened as he saw the first glimmer of golden magic. But, instead of coming from Amnesty's horn, it came from the two curled ones. They pulsated with the golden aura, the dragon's white mane lifting into the air as though it was underwater. Amnesty opened his eyes and they glowed with the gold energy. Equinox felt his nerves light up, goosebumps raising on his skin. The muscles in the back of his skull and neck clenched, he felt something deep inside of him respond. It surged and grew, awakening. But just as it had began, it ended.

Amnesty retreated and stood, giving him space. Equinox gasped, and took deep breaths. He felt utterly exhausted, exhausted and hungry. "What...what did...you do?" he said between breaths. The dark colored colt stood on shaking legs, every inch of his skin tingled and felt hot.

"That, was deer magic." Amnesty said, "I learned it during one of my trips in the country of White Hart. I used it to accelerate your body's healing process, you wouldn't want to be stuck in this cave for a week would you?" the dragon looked at him for another moment. "How do you feel?"

Equinox stretched his neck, and flexed every muscle he knew he could. His skin no longer felt hot, and just the barest of tingles danced over his coat. His legs felt strong, and his side didn't hurt any longer. His heart pumped strongly, and slowly; just like his breath. "I...I feel really good." he marveled at the state his body was in, but was distracted by a loud sound from his torso. Equinox clenched his eyes shut and held his stomach, "Oww...Do you have anything to eat?"

Amnesty levitated a couple of apples and carrots over to Equinox from somewhere behind him. Seeing the food, Equinox dug in, almost inhaling the fruits and vegetables. All the apples were gone and only a single carrot remained before an idea hit him. "Hey, Amnesty?"

The dragon had moved over to the mouth of the cave staring outward and giving Equinox some privacy so that the colt could eat in peace. He turned his head around and replied, "Yes little one?"

"C-could you teach me?" Equinox looked down at the carrot in his hooves, suddenly it was very interesting.

Amnesty stood and walked over to him slowly, "You mean, you want to know how to perform white hart magic?"

Equinox looked up, "A-actually, a-any magic." He stood then, his eyes hardened with determination.

Amnesty gazed into Equinox's eyes with his larger ones. "Only unicorn magic." he said, his resolve like iron in his voice.

Equinox bowed, "Then that will be more than enough. Please, help me."

"Help you?"

"I've never been able to do much more than lift a couple of pounds, I-" he gulped, "I'm not good at using magic...The inspectors say it's because I have something called aracanainhibitia...it means that-"

"You can't perform magic unless you can grasp nearly twenty times the amount of magic required and break the natural magical barrier in your mind." Amnesty finished, looking at Equinox with understanding. He turned his large head to the side, consulting his conscience and thinking deeply. "Fine, I'll teach you."

Equinox turned his head up to look at Amnesty, his eyes lighting up and his hooves wrapping around the dragon's foreleg. "Oh thank you! Thank you so much Amnesty!"

Amnesty chuckled, patting the colt's little head. "Okay, calm down. We should begin now, it's still the beginning of the day and you have a lot to learn."

The teacher and pupil stayed in the cave for a long time, discussing the inner workings of magic and its effects on ponykind. One subject in particular caught Equinox's attention. "What's a rageshift? I think I've read about them before while browsing the library back at home."

"A rage-shift is when a pony is so overcome with an emotion that the amount of magic in their body flows differently. It's wavelength changes and the amplitude increases exponentially. The pony's appearance also changes. Because of the magic flowing so violently through them, their mane appears to be made from fire and their coat shines brightly. Even their eye color can change. B-"

"So all I have to do is get really angry and I'll be able to do magic?" Equinox asked, excitedly.

"No, let me finish please. Contrary to popular belief, the rage-shift isn't only applicable to anger, but any emotion strong enough to ignite it. It could just as easily come into effect if you felt enough happiness. Any powerful emotion will do, but the only shifts recorded have been out of rage because those generally happen at major points in history. They're also the most common."

"But...if I managed to keep control...I would have enough magic to use it like a regular pony right?" He smiled, finally, something he could use.

"No, not regular." Equinox's face fell, so there wasn't any hope? "Much more than regular. Way more than regular." the colt's ears perked up and his mouth fell open. Amnesty smiled,"But we shouldn't dwell on that right now, let's try it out shall we? Just to see if it's possible." He winked.

The wind whipped Equinox's mane from where he stood out on the mountain. All around him, at an average distance of two miles, the mountain peaks shielded him from the view of anypony. Amnesty paced around him. "The easiest shift to perform is rage. So then, let's make you angry."

Lighting struck very close to his forehoof, and the colt leaped back and yelped."Hey!"

Amnesty growled back, "What are you going to do about it?" he shot a fireball this time, its green flame leaving a burn on Equinox's other hoof.

The little pony glared at the dragon, holding his stance. Good, the dragon thought, I've got him riled up. "Now, what makes you angry, angrier than anything else?"

Equinox spoke instantly, "Those who don't follow orders!"

Another fireball crashed in front of him, "Not good enough! Something personal!"

"My father is a bastard!"

Another bolt of electricity, "Why!?"

Amnesty silently groomed his pride as he goaded Equinox into a state where he finally spoke without thinking about what his response would sound like, a state in which the colt had to tell the truth. Of course the dragon knew who this was, this was the prince. This little colt would rule Progress one day, and it was Amnesty's duty to make sure he would be a good ruler. Now that Equinox was at his own mercy, and spoke clearly and from his heart rather than through his head where all his prejudices existed.

"He never listens to me!" the air around Equinox raised a couple of degrees in temperature.

"He doesn't?"

"No! He doesn't even notice me!" the air started to shimmer around the colt.

"Oh really!?"

"He hates me!"

"Doesn't that just burn you up!?"

"He hates everyone!" His eyes glowed bright green with the pent up magical energy in his mind trying to bypass the barrier.

"And who does he hate!?"

"Earthponies! Pegasi!"

"But that's not YOU!"

"He hates me because I-"

"Because WHY?!"

"I-"

"WHY?!"

"I L-"

"LOUDER! WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY!?" Equinox's eyes widened so that they were almost perfect circles, his teeth bared and spittle flecked his lips. His coat and mane bristled and the air around him was distorted by the pent up might behind his horn. His head hurt terribly but that only made him more hostile. "TELL ME!"

"BECAUSE I LIKE COLTS!!!" A powerful pulse exploded from the dark colt, cracking the rock beneath him and blasting Amnesty off his feet. The dragon rolled for nearly fifty feet before he lifted his eyes to look at his pupil, his mouth hanging open in shock.

Where Equinox had stood previously there now stood a creature from the pits of hell. A solar flare from a red dwarf formed its tail and mane, and its coat was a hard, pulsing, crystalline white that sparked electricity. But it's crimson eyes were the worst, shining brighter than any other part of the pony. The light coming from them was so intense and concentrated that it was beginning to burn a hole in the melting rock twenty feet away from the pony. The waves of energy and heat blasted off of the colt and battered all the surrounding things that weren't directly part of the mountain. The ground cracked and popped as the ice inside the small holes exploded into steam and fissures opened up in the slab of stone.

Then, just as quickly as it had began, the fire died out and Equinox returned to his normal state. He almost collapsed onto the glowing ground but a light blue aura caught him before he could be burned. His white mane was darkened by soot and his breathing was shallow. "I...I like colts..." was the last thing that escaped his lips before he fell into unconsciousness.

Amnesty looked down at the colt in his arms, his face betraying his sadness to nobody in particular. "Oh Equinox...what have they said to you to make you so angry like that?" His eyes watered slightly, but only one tear fell before Amnesty wrapped his body around the shivering Equinox, making sure the pony could recover from the shock of his first rage-shift. Rage in every meaning of the word... Amnesty thought, looking over the decimated rock face.

Answers

Pounding. Owww... Equinox held his hooves to his forehead, breathing in through clenched teeth. Every muscle hurt, his mouth was dry, and this throat felt raw. He coughed a little, instantly regretting it as the pain in his throat worsened. "Did anypony get the number of that cart that ran me over?"

A smooth, cool cloth pressed to his face and he relaxed as the pounding in his head lessened. "Equinox," a quiet voice said, "Congratulations, you have successfully preformed your first rage-shift." the dark colt's eyes broadened, opening up to reveal their green color. "Tell me," Amnesty said, "What do you remember?"

Equinox closed his eyes again and concentrated, and a series of images and feelings came to him. Anger, fire, words- his eyes shot wide again. He had told someone. His mouth fell open in horror. He had told someone that he likes colts. His head slowly lifted as fear gripped his heart with its icy claws. Eventually meeting Amnesty's eyes, he gazed up at his teacher in terror. He jumped back to the wall of the cave, trying to cower as best he could behind something, anything. "Please, d-don't hurt me...I'm not a c-c-colt c-cudd-" he squeaked as Amnesty reached out for him, closing his eyes tight, whimpering pitifully, and trying to shrink down as far as possible in preparation for what he was sure to be a beating.

But, all he felt was the soft caress of devotion. He still crouched, afraid that he was being mislead, but Amnesty spoke and his eyes opened in surprise,"Oh Equinox, I'd never harm you. You shouldn't be afraid of me over something so trivial." Amnesty continued to smooth Equinox's mane, trying to relax the poor little colt.

"Y-you, you don't m-mind?" Equinox sobbed softly, feeling hope flare in his chest and a weight lifting from his shoulders.

"Not at all, you are who you are and nob-" Amnesty was cut off as Equinox wrapped his forelegs around his neck, hugging his teacher tightly and sobbing into his rich, black fur.

"N-nobody understands me! J-just because I like other colts they would hate me!" He buried his face into Amnesty's short mane.

The dragon brought up one arm to hug Equinox back. Holding him in place, he gently shifted until he was lying down on his back so that the distressing colt wouldn't have to stand. Stilling hugging him, Amnesty gently stroked his charge's back as it was racked with sobs, "Shhhh...it's going to be okay, just let it all out. Nopony will hurt you here." They stayed like that for about fifteen minutes, and then nearly half an hour where Equinox began to calm down and the sobs became fewer and lesser. Eventually, the colt was just breathing, a hiccup or two was the only thing that disturbed him. Amnesty broke the silence,"Equinox, how long have you known?"

"Almost...almost a year now" he said, still reluctant to talk about it even if he knew it wouldn't result in his harm.

Amnesty nodded solemnly,"I can imagine how not being attracted to fillies would pose a problem for you."

Equinox looked up for the first time in a while, chuckling nervously,"It isn't all that bad actually...I-I like fillies too. And my father doesn't know...I just...I just know that he wouldn't take it well." Suddenly feeling very tired, he yawned and snuggled into Amnesty's fur. His teacher was so warm and kind...and although he didn't why at the time, seemed to fill a malnourished hole in his heart reserved for a parent. No, he knew why. Amnesty was kind, supportive, and wise. "Hey Amnesty?"

"Yes little one?"

"...Thanks..." the colt smiled as he said the last word, giving his mentor one last hug before falling asleep again, drained from his despair earlier. His dreams didn't haunt him that night, and instead filled with warmth and tenderness.

Light filtered through the windows, amber in color from the morning sun. Equinox opened his eyes, feeling well rested for the first time in...had it only been a couple of days? Even that long? The amount of time he had spent in Ponyville seemed to have been more than that. He lay in bed for a couple of minutes, finding solace in the quiet as he pondered the fact that his memories were returning. Why had they suddenly come back after all these years? How could he have forgotten about Amnesty like he did? Of course he remembered some of the lessons...but it was as if certain details had been cut out. The largest of these being that he wasn't disgusted by the idea of two stallions in a relationship...and the fact that it kinda seemed...as natural as a stallion and a mare or two mares. Adding onto that...he sort of, no, wanted, to try being in a relationship with a stallion.

He was about to delve deeper into this, but his door opened and a familiar mare walked in. Her white coat and pink mane were accented by the amber light, and Equinox looked away in shame as she met his eyes. "Mr. Nox?"

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry for what I did. I...I don't mean-"

"Please sir, I understand. And don't worry, I come bearing good news." He looked up to see her smile, his head tilted to one side. "On the doctor's orders, you're to be released from the hospital today as your condition has stabilized."

Almost five minutes later found Equinox standing a couple of feet from the door of the Ponyville Hospital. The sun shone in the sky, dotted by only a few clouds resting in the sky. A warm breeze swept by him and his mane and fetlocks parted and blew with it. The wind invigorating him, he felt more energetic and determined to do something. But...right now it looked like the only thing he could do was walk back to Rarity’s house.

The market square bustled with activity. Ponies were out, browsing goods or just taking a walk and enjoying the good weather. Wow, there are so many things here. But, wouldn’t it work better if there was only one store? The dark stallion pondered the difference between Equestria and Progress. He observed the vendors as they worked. These ponies genuinely loved their work, and they smiled and laughed with the customers. No, no this is good too. Everything here seems to...to shine with its own kind of light. It’s a healthy hybrid of variety, and I don’t think I’d ever find anything like this back home.

Also, ponies in Equestria acted differently in public than ponies in Progress. Passerbys would smile at each other. They waved and exchanged greetings with just about everypony. Some even acknowledged Equinox as they went about their daily routine. At first he was awkward, but after a few minutes, he returned their smiles and instead of giving a curt nod in their direction, waved back. Yes, ponies here are definitely more...carefree? Friendly? Well, something like that. His thoughts were interrupted as someone tried to get his attention.

“Hey! Hey you there!” Equinox swiveled his head around, his eyes meeting two blue ones set into a bouncy, pink pony with a poofy, cotton candy mane. She nodded and said, “Yes! You!”

Equinox stopped and faced the energetic mare. Thoughts of anger and general disgust tainted his mind but be pushed them aside. If I’m willing to put my life on the line for an Earthpony, then I can certainly talk to one...just have to make sure I don’t make it all awkward...Horseapples, how do I talk to an Earthpony? Is it like talking to another Unicorn? Blasted-

“Finally I found you!” She said, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She rummaged around in her saddlebags for a moment and extended a pink hoof to him. It was a envelope, which Equinox took in his green aura and held onto. “Well?” she looked at him with an expression of impatience and eagerness on her face, “Open it silly!”

What is wrong with her? Does she have ADHD or something? Wait, was that mean? Eh, buck it. Let’s just see what this is. He tore open the envelope with his magic and pulled the letter out. BOOM!!! A shower of confetti exploded everywhere, making Equinox drop the letter and step back defensively. What the hay?!

“Fine then, I’ll read it for you.” the pink one said, clearing her throat. “Dear Equinox, you have been invited to the welcome-Equinox-to-Ponyville party! Be there at five o’clock tonight!” She handed him the message again and he gingerly took it in his hoof. “See you there!” she walked away briskly, continuing to talk as she faded from his earshot. “They’ll be cupcakes, and cake, and punch, and music, and dancing, and...”

Equinox stared blankly ahead. What...what? I don’t even...Aw man, I didn’t even say a word...totally awkward. He examined the invite more closely, But this is a rather nice invitation, and...a party? What’s a party?

A Gift

“Equinox, wake up.” The colt opened his eyes, stretching his rested muscles. The surface below him was warm and soft, and it moved as the voice spoke again. “Good afternoon, are you hungry?” Equinox nodded groggily at his mentor and slid off him.

Amnesty prepared a quick breakfast/lunch for the growing pony, smiling amusedly as Equinox devoured it. Equinox was the first to break the silence, stretching again and tossing his mane, “So, what should we try next?” the meal had woken him up and he felt reinvigorated. “I’m ready to go again.” he said expectantly, his eyes gleaming with interest.

Amnesty looked down at him seriously, Equinox’s mood dampened as the silence drew out for another couple of seconds, “The next...easiest shift to perform is tricky.” he said, “Usually, this is where one would come into greater knowledge about who one is, on the inside.” His stare was pensive, but hints of that support shown earlier lingered, “Tell me Equinox, what is something that you’re passionate about?”

Equinox looked down, he wasn’t very passionate about anything really. Even his rage had been an uncommon occurrence, something he felt but never strong enough to actually act on. His thoughts flashed back in time but the only thing that came to mind was the ever-growing sadness he felt when he saw another pony in pain, and the knowledge that he couldn’t do anything about it. Normally, he wouldn’t think about it, because when he did he just felt hopeless. After awhile, he finally had an answer. “Amnesty...if nopony wants to be unhappy, then why are ponies sad?” the little colt said softly, his eyes distant and staring at the floor.

Amnesty sighed and sat down next to the dark colored colt, a look of understanding on his face. “I see, instead of a drive for something, you have a lack of passion.”

“I mean, sometimes I just don’t want to stay in Progress, or I don’t even leave the palace because I don’t want to see it...I, I hate that I can’t do anything about it.” he slumped his shoulders forward, his expression dejected.

Amnesty stroked Equinox’s head, speaking softly, “But what if you could do something about it?”

Equinox slouched farther forward, “But there’s just so much to do, and I can’t do it all by myself because everypony else won’t help me. I’d have to change their minds first.”

“Hmm...” Amnesty removed his hand and spoke again after stroking his own chin for a moment. “What if you could change their minds?”

Equinox looked up at his mentor, he was still sad but intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“Well, when a pony rage shifts, something special happens; their soul strength increases by a certain factor.” Amnesty explained. “Every being has a soul, correct?”

“Yeah, what are you getting at?”

“That soul, could be said to be wedged firmly between your mind and your body. Depending on many factors, that soul can be shaped differently. But, a soul can also influence the mind and the body as well.”

“Seriously, what are you talking about?”

“If someone was angry, and their soul was strong enough, then a being within a certain range determined by that person’s soul strength would be affected by it. They would become angry too.”

Equinox was silent for a couple of moments, and he stared at his hooves before looking back up to face Amnesty again, “So...if I shifted into a kind of rage-shift that would change ponies’ minds for the better...then I could get them to help me?” his eyes held a glimmer of hope, and his head lifted.

“Exactly, the only problem is thinking about a way to do it in practice.”

“So, wait. What emotion would I use then?” Equinox said, his voice starting to get frantic.

Amnesty closed his eyes and was silent for a couple of minutes. But to Equinox, it felt like hours. It was as if something was being dangled in front of him that he couldn’t reach. The little colt was about to prod him to see if his mentor had fallen asleep but Amnesty opened his green eyes. “What we need is something between rage and peace. Something that is powerful, but soft. A point between extreme anger and serenity.”

Equinox was really confused, “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

Amnesty got up and moved towards the mouth of the cave. He smiled, his eyes challenging, “What are you waiting for? Come on my student, we should get to work. It’s time to see what you hope for”

Equinox finally walked into the Carousel Boutique. He had spent the better part of two hours walking around Ponyville trying to locate Rarity’s residence without help. The door opened and the bell at the top rang throughout the house. “Coming!” a mare’s voice sounded from the back room.

One of the fillies from earlier, with a white coat and marshmallowy mane, walked around the corner with a smile on her face. “Rarit- oh, hi there Equinox!”

“Equinox is here?” a new voice spoke. It belonged to the other filly from earlier, the pegasus with the orange coat and purple mane. “Cool! We didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier.”

Equinox shook his head, “Oh, it wasn’t a problem. I’m sure you would have been safe anyway.” This is how ponies around he talk right? I’m not being all awkward like earlier am I?

Rarity entered the main room and her disposition changed when she saw the dark stallion. She hurried over to him, and threw her forelegs around him. Equinox’s eyes opened wide and he looked at the mare over his shoulder for a moment before pivoting them to the two fillies. “Um...Rarity? Are you okay?” he patted her mane hesitantly, one of his eyebrows raised in confusion. This isn’t a normal thing here is it?

She hesitated for a moment longer, pulling away from Equinox and composed herself. “Yes, yes I am.” she breathed a deep breath and continued. “I just never got the chance to thank you for saving Sweetiebelle and the others from the fire.” She took a moment to calm herself. “Come here, I insist that I repay your fine bravery.”

“That’s very kind of you Rarity but-”

“No no no, what you did was worth something and I intend to try and repay you for it!” She struck a defiant pose and silently levitated her glasses over from her desk to rest on her nose. “Sweetiebelle,” she said, breaking from her statue-like pose, “Scootaloo, would you mind-”

“Yes yes, we know.” Sweetiebelle developed a big, devious smile and shot a quick look at Scootaloo before striking out her hoof and tapping the orange filly’s wing, “Tag!”

The white filly bolted up the stairs as Scootaloo let out a small gasp and quickly followed. “I’m going to get you this time!” her face was also split by a grin.

Rarity watched them go for a moment before she turned to Equinox again. “She really means alot to you, doesn’t she?” he said.

The white mare smiled, “Yes, yes she does. She’s my sister. And even if she makes a mess every now and then I do love her.” her face transformed from subtle happiness to an artist’s determination in an instant. “Now,” she said, picking up her hoof and bringing swiftly back down onto the floor, “let’s make you something!”

“Okay! You can open your eyes now!”

Equinox felt his mouth drop in shock as he looked at his reflection. “Well? What do you think?” It was, it was-It’s beautiful, He thought. Rarity had fashioned him a suit, but just that word alone didn’t do it justice. The fabric was so dark a green that it almost looked black, and it reminded Equinox of the great, towering oak trees in the forests of Progress. The buttons were a polished silver as well as the cufflinks that shared an intricate, black, curling pattern cut into the medal. The weave of the cloth was delicate but definitely there if one took time to admire it enough. It seemed to flow evenly but with strength. Equinox was unable to describe it any other way, and he was quite baffled at this. Also, Rarity had taken time to style his mane for him. Instead of being in its natural state of partial combing, it was now smooth and flowed in subtle locks that just barely curled around his ears and horn. His coat was brushed as well, and that combined with every other little detail, made the dark unicorn stop in his tracks.

“Rarity, this is simply amazing...but, you only took half an hour. How-”

“Oh darling, I am Rarity Filigree. There is nothing that I can’t do.”

Equinox marveled at his appearance in the mirror again, walking around a little bit and tilting his head this way and that. Rarity watched him with amusement, and pride in her work. Most definitely, this was a work of art. And she loved having her work admired.

A knock at the door drew their attention, “I’ll get it, don’t worry.” Rarity walked back over to the door and Equinox looked back into the mirror.

The white mare opened the door, “Oh! Hello there Twilight! What brings you here today?”

Twilight walked in and looked around, spotting Equinox, “I’m here to check up on our guest and make sure he shows up on time for his party. Pinkie has been really busy lately, seeing as this party of hers is rolling together Ponyville’s defeat of the fire, Equinox coming to town, and him saving Macintosh and Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo.”

Rarity almost facehoofed, but instead opted to sigh exasperatedly and shake her head. “How could I have forgotten? Equinox!” He turned at the mention of his name, “Come over here and let Twilight have a look at you.”

The stallion walked over, almost sheepishly. “Hello Twilight, how have you been?”

“Pretty good, I’ve been helping one of our friends with building and restoring the homes belonging to some of the friendlier creatures. The fire wasn’t actually too big, considering the size of the Everfree, but it was intense enough to do some extensive damage to-”

“Twilight dear, could you shorten that up a little?”

“Oh, um, sorry. The fire wasn’t actually that bad, but it was pretty destructive.” now it was Twilight’s turn to be a little sheepish.

After a couple of seconds, the tolling of a clock was heard. Equinox counted the resounding gongs at 17. “Hey um, " All eyes turned to him, ",what is a party anyway?”