//-------------------------------------------------------// I am strong, not weak. -by ItachuEatChu- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The air was crisp as I walked through the Everfree forest. I heard a grumble in the bushes. I turned to see a growling manticore. It's bright, yellow eyes glowed in the dark. I didn't feel any fear. I was created and raised not to feel fear. Fear is a weakness. I am not weak. I am strong. The manticore ran towards me at full speed, rage filling it's insides, turning it into a mindless beast. I smirked as it jumped to rip me to shreds. I spread my wings and took flight. The manticore hit the dirt and grew only angrier. I flew done, hooves first into it's skull. A loud crack went through the air signalling that I effectively smashed it's skul. Blood and brain matter covered my front hooves and the ground. My horn glowed blue dimly as I teleported the corpse elsewhere. My ice blue eyes catching sight of a blueberry bush. I galloped to the bush, half-heartedly eating the small berries. Raising my wings again, I took to the sky. Every pony was a asleep, and those that were awake and taking a midnight stroll couldn't see me due to my dark grey coat. I flew to my home, at the edge of the forest. I entered the tree house home. I trotted to my make shift bed of pillows and blankets. My horn glowed again as a comb went through my black and ice blue mane and tail. I am not weak. I am strong. I am test subject eighty-seven. My alias, Midnight Ice. I was created to be strong, not weak. A weapon of war. I was created in which if Equestria was at threat with the Griffons, Changlings or any other race I would eradicate the threat. I am strong. Not weak. I am test subject eighty-seven. Midnight Ice. I was having the same dream as always. I've had it since I was a filly. It was always the same thing, in which a Alicorn would tell me the same things over and over again. You're weak, unfit to live. You should just die, you don't deserve to live. You're weak and pathetic. He's voice is rough, like sandpaper. He has a short, spiky brown mane and tail. He's coat was white as snow. As he's nickname is 'Colt of the White' that I have given him. We are always in a white room, nothing but white. Honestly, I have no idea where he came from. One day, when I just turned five was when he came along, right after they gave me a alteration, allowing me to withstand most pain. He has been with me ever since. You're weak. Pathetic. No, I am strong. I am not pathetic nor weak. Keep telling yourself that, experiment, because you know it to be true. no. I know the truth. I am strong. I am strong... I am strong... I am strong... I am strong... I am strong... I would always chant that phrase, it had become my lullaby. And when I woke up, I would be covered in cold sweat. Like today. Today was the same. I was panting as if I had run from Ponyville to Manehattan. And that's a pretty far run. Like usual, I would get up, brush my mane and tail then walk through the forest. Animals would scatter from fear as I walked by the trees and bushes and I would look around, eyes half closed. Princess Celestia knew nothing of the experiments that the scientist hidden deep underground do. She only knows that there were protectors of Equestria, ready to battle to the death. Today though, I had walked onto a path that I had never seen before. Curious, I followed the dirt path to find myself... In a apple orchard. I raised my eyebrow in confusion. I was stationed here in ponyville, yes, but I had never actually taken a look at it. “c'mon gals, we gotta find our cutie marks!” I heard a young voice cry. Cutie Mark. That is something none of us subjects will ever get. We were created by machines, not reproductive rituals. “Apple Bloom, there's a Pony over there!” Another voice called out, most likely talking about. “What do you think she wants?” A third voice joined in, I looked towards the source of the voices to see three young fillies. One was a light yellow coated one, pink eyes, red hair and mane with a red bow tied in her mane. She was an Earth Pony. The second one was white coated one, light green eyes, and a purple and pink mane and tail. She was a Unicorn. The third and last one was orange coated, purple eyes. She had short, purple mane and tail. She was a pegusis. “Hiya there stranger! What's yer name?” the one, Apple Bloom said, coming up to me, the other's trailing behind. I blinked. “Midnight Ice. May I ask for yours, young ones?” I asked, looking at them straight in the eye. “I'm Apple Bloom!” “I'm Sweetie Belle!” “And I'm Scootaloo!” “AND WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!” Wow. I didn't know little fillies like these young ones were equipped with strong lungs. “Well, from your group name, I can tell that you are searching for your cutie marks.” I nodded slightly. Scootaloo noticed my mark-less flank. “Hey, miss Midnight, why don't cha have your cutie mark?” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom also took notice of my mark-less flank. “Well, I never found it. I guess I'm no good at anything in particular.” I shan’t tell them the truth. It would be complicated telling them. “NO! We'll help you find your cutie mark! Let's go get you a cutie mark crusaders cape! Then, we'll help you!” Apple Bloom said, close to tears. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were also close to tears. Before I could kindly decline, I was grabbed and dragged towards the gate of the orchard. The sign on the gate said Sweet Apple Acres. I was dragged through the town and got numerous stares from others. I was dragged into this big house. “Big sis! We have a new member! Can we please have some fabric?” I watched as a mare trotted in, smiling lovingly. She was white coated, purple mane and tail and blue eyes. Her cutie mark was three sparkles. She was a Unicorn. “Of course Sweetie Belle dear, the fabric you need is in the closet.” “Thanks! Oh, meet Midnight Ice! She's our new member! We're gonna help her get her cutie mark! “HOORAY!” They all trotted off, leaving me and Sweetie Belle's sister alone. “Well darling, I've never met a grown mare without her cutie mark! My names Rarity dear, and I presume you are Midnight Ice?” “Yes I am. Just moved here awhile ago.” “I see! Later, I'll take you on a tour of the whole town.” Just after she finished talking, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo came running back with a cape. “As of today, Midnight Ice, you are apart of The Cutie Mark Crusaders!” “HOORAY!” I smiled. “Hooray!” I yelled, enjoying this moment. You're weak. Pathetic. “I have to go, I need to run some errands. But I shall help you tommorow in finding your Cutie Marks.” “Awwww.... Okay.... And we'll help you!” Sweetie Belle said, smiling big like Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. I walked out of the shop/home and spread my wings and took flight. Night was coming. I could see Princess Luna raising the moon. You're weak. Unfit to live. No. I am not weak. I am strong. I am fit to live.