A Shadowless Day

“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?”