Dark Pony Brotherhood

The Party

It was a rather quick day, or at least it seemed to go by quickly. Twilight Sparkle had helped buck the apple trees, and she and Lucien had come to know each other a little bit better.

Lucien told them of the land he had come of, at least a version of it he felt they would believe. As far as they knew, he came from a small country called Cheydinhal, and came from a poor family and began to travel for the purpose of finding a home of his own. He told them it was a rather remote place, and they hadn’t heard much of the outside world, least of all of Equestria.

They seemed to accept it.

When Twilight asked him what his cutie mark meant, he had to think for a moment, and had come up with the idea that he had a talent for making elixirs and the like. Potions and other things. It wasn’t a lie, but not the whole truth.

Through conversation he learned of a Zebra who lived in the Everfree forest, and that she also dabbled in potions. He decided he would visit her sometime. Maybe learn some more of the flora and fauna in the region than just what the Botany book he borrowed from Twilight could tell him.

“So, Lucien, how do you like Ponyville so far?” asked Twilight. He really found a kindred spirit in her, as they both enjoyed study, and discovering the mysterious. But when she had asked him early to talk about The Dread Father, he had told her to wait for now.

“It seems pleasant enough, most everypony I met, as few as they have been, have been very kind to me,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a group of ponies so friendly,” he answered honestly. Not much to dispute it, as he hadn’t met many talking ponies beforehand.

Twilight smiled to him, “well, I’m glad you’re settling in, there are a few houses in town that are for sale, if you get enough bits for it,” she suggested.

The dark pony thought on this, “Maybe, though I’m sure I’m quite a ways from making that much,” he said.

At this, Applejack chimed in, “Actually, apple buckin’ season is almost done, thanks to your help,” she said. “Ah think we can come to an arrangement, after the work is all done, the Apple family will be happy to buy your house,” she said.

Lucien smiled to her, “that’s hardly necessary, but thank you,” he said. “We are still a fair ways from finishing,” he reminded her.

Twilight looked to the sky, and saw that it was mid afternoon. Surely Pinkie was done setting up for the party by now. “Well I think we’ve done enough for the day, I’m sure we can go and show you around town,” she suggested.

Applejack caught on, “sure, we’re making good progress,” she said. She looked to Big Mac who was still working. “Ya alright finishin things up Big brother?” she asked, earning a ‘Eeyup’ from the red pony.

Lucien looked to the sky as well, “yes, I believe seeing the town will be nice,” he said. And with that the three Ponies went towards Ponyville.

………………

Once they were in town, Lucien made note that the streets were comparatively empty, unlike yesterday when the streets were packed full of ponies doing their business. This seemed strange to the dark pony, but he didn’t think much of it, as they continued down the street.

“So, what would you like to see first?” asked Twilight.

“I wouldn’t know what is worth seeing, I’m new here, remember?” teased Lucien. “I’m sure you have something in mind to show me,” he said.

Twilight had a slight blush, “w-well, we could go to Sugar Cube Corner, it’s a bakery, and a favorite place for the townponies to visit,” she suggested. “You can meet our friend Pinkie Pie, she works there.”

Lucien nodded, “sounds fine enough,” he said, going with them to a building that looked like a gingerbread house. It looked like something from a child’s storybook. It wasn’t often you saw something like this, but then again, Lucien had to think. He was in a world of ponies of various colors. Why should this be any different?

Twilight took the lead, and with Lucien shortly behind. The dark pony absently thought that maybe he would enjoy some sweets. It had been a very long time since he enjoyed a simple piece of…..

“SURPRISE!!!”

Even the almost constantly observant Lucien jumped, and to his credit, he held off the urge to snap the neck of the first pony in the door, which would normally be his reaction to such an event. But instead the dark pony just stared, wide eyed, truly surprised by the festivity. And the sudden color flooding his senses.

Then the sudden flood of bright Pink filling up his vision sent him for another loop. He would have thought someone was trying to attack him with a powerful illusion spell, if he didn’t know better. “Hi there, I’m Pinkie Pie, welcome to your surprise party, Mr. Mystery,” she said happily. “I just know you’ll make all sorts of new friends in Ponyville.”

Lucien was still stunned, the bouncy, peppy and, well…… pink pony was a complete contrast to what he was used to. While he wasn’t one to dislike another who simply found joy often in whatever it was they enjoyed, it was just too much too sudden, and it took a few seconds for even him to catch up.

But he was able to smile, “it’s a pleasure to meet you Ms. Pinkie, I must say, you must have gone through a lot to set this up for me, I’m grateful,” he said politely.

“Oh Goodie,” said the pink pony excitedly. “So what’s your name? Where you from? What’s your favorite color? Do you have a marefri…..”

She was cut off by a voice that sounded like it belonged to high class royalty. “Calm down, Pinkie dear, give the poor colt some room to breathe,” she said.

Lucien turned to see the white colored mare with a purple mane. She was wearing a very stylish outfit, and she seemed to give off an aura of elegance and class. Lucien had met some with the same aura. He more often than not would be the one to shortly thereafter end their lives, but this one didn’t seem to give off an extra aura of pomp. So he supposed he’d give her a chance.

She approached him and extended a hoof gingerly, “I’m charmed to meet one as refined as yourself, my name is Rarity, I am the local fashion designer, and would be more than happy to design any clothes you would want me to make,” she offered.

Lucien smiled, “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Ms. Rarity, and I am Lucien Lachance,” he said, taking her hoof gently in his.

“Oh, quite the gentlecolt,” She said with a smile. “Surely your one who appreciates the finer things in life as well,” she said.

Lucien smiled back at her, “you could say that.”

Before they could continue the conversation, the Pink Party Pony was upon Lucien once more, “so your name’s Lucien? Maybe I can call you Lucy, or Lucky,” she thought, trying to come up with a nickname for him, though most being too ridiculous.

Lucien smiled through it, honestly finding her antics to be amusing, “I’m sure Lucien will suffice just fine,” he told her.

“Okie Doki Loki Luci,” she said with a smile, “I’m gonna go get some punch,” she said, bouncing off to the punch bowl at the snack table. Leaving the dark pony with three of her friends.

Lucien smiled, “well she seems…….. optimistic,” he said. This earned him a few giggles from the ponies around him.

“You don’t know the half of it,” said Twilight. “Now come on, you need to meet everypony,” she said.

Lucien nodded, and went further into the party to mingle with the guests. He met a few of the more notable ponies. The Mayor, Nurse Redheart, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who apparently owned Sugar Cube corner, along with a few others whose names didn’t really seem to stick with him.

He looked around, thinking of heading to the snack table himself, maybe to partake in a piece of cake, when he swore he heard a shy little whimper.

Curious, he found where he thought it came from, and lifted the edge of a table cloth, to find a timid yellow pegasi with a pink mane hiding under the table. The sight stuck to him, as he’s seen it before, but mostly from children who had just seen their parent’s killed by his hand. Though it wasn’t exactly the same. It wasn’t fear in her eyes, just a nervous shyness. “Hello there,” he said.

This only got him a shy crying noise. He looked around for a moment, and seeing that no one was looking this way, he ducked under the table, and sat with her. “Why are you hiding under here all by yourself?” he asked her. She stared at him, a little more nervous now cause of the fact they were alone, but at the same time, that seemed to calm her slowly.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said in a voice that he could barely hear.

“It’s alright, are you nervous about meeting me?” he asked her. The flushed and embarrassed look on her face seemed to answer his question. “It’s alright, I’m aware that I can be intimidating at times, but I wouldn’t mind being your friend if you want to be.”

She looked at him, and shyly nodded.

He smiled to her, “My name, is Lucien Lachance, what is your name?” he asked her.

In the same soft and quiet voice, she answered, “I’m Fluttershy.” She hoped he could hear her, she hated when she couldn’t speak loud enough for ponies to hear her, it was something she especially disliked about herself.

Lucien just smiled again, “it’s a very pretty name, and very fitting of you,” he told her. Her shyness reminded him of a dark Sister that the Brotherhood took in. She was a child, at the time and being raised in the Brotherhood itself, she seemed innocent even when she was disemboweling something. But before she became accustomed to it, she was no more approachable than the pony before him.

While Lucien knew Innocence to be an illusion, he halfheartedly hoped this pony would never lose hers. She wasn’t assassin material, but she certainly wasn’t the kind of creature anyone would wish to have assassinated.

Before their conversation could continue, they were interrupted, by none other than the hostess of the party. “Hey, watcha two doin down here?” she asked with a big grin on her face.

Lucien looked to her, “just introducing myself to Fluttershy,” he explained.

Fluttershy blushed, knowing what both of them being under a table together may look like, “y-yes, Lucien and I were just getting to know one another,” she said in their defense.

“I can see that,” said Pinkie teasingly.

Lucien made his way out from under the table; luckily, it seemed Pinkie was the only one who noticed them under there. “Come out and have some fun Fluttershy,” he said, turning to the shy Pegasus. “There is nothing wrong with being shy, but I’m sure you’ll have a much better time out here than under that table,” he told her.

After a moment, with a quiet blush, Fluttershy nodded, and followed suite, going to the rest of the guests to mingle.

“Wowie, you just met Fluttershy and you were able to convince her to come out and join in the party,” The pink pony said. “Normally she’s just too shy to join in when a new pony is around,” she said.

Lucien smiles, “I suppose one could say I’m just convincing,” he told her.

Pinkie Pie just shrugged and trotted off to join in the party as well.

Lucien watched as the ponies danced, and partook in the festivities, when suddenly, a rainbow colored blur came through the door, and ran straight into Pinkie Pie.

“Wow, sorry I’m late, I was practicing a new stunt,” said a blue colored mare with a rainbow mane. “Still don’t got it down, but I rushed on the way here.”

The Pink Pony just smiled underneath the rainbow pony, “It’s alright, Luci seems to be a patient pony,” she said, not seeming to mind having another pony right on top of her chest.

The rainbow pony seemed to be a little confused, “Luci? I thought the Pony that was here was a colt,” she said, looking around, before finally getting off her peppy pink friend.

“He is, silly,” Pinkie Pie said, getting up off the floor, and then pointing out Lucien Lachance, who watched the spectacle with some amusement.

The rainbow pony went right up to him, “Hey there, welcome to Ponyville, I’m Rainbow Dash, pleased to meet you,” she said with a very confident and smug attitude.

Lucien smirked, he liked confidence, but smugness got assassins and their targets for that matter, killed. He extended his hoof, “My name is Lucien Lachance, a pleasure to meet you,” he said. “You’re certainly the confident one aren’t you?” he noted. “And you’re certainly fast.”

Rainbow Dash smiled brightly, “of course, I’m the fastest in all of Equestria,” she said, proud in herself.

Lucien looked her over. One who was swift made a great assassin, but that smug attitude, if he were to somehow recruit this one, that smugness would need to go.

“Well, everypony is here,” chimed in Pinkie Pie, “Let’s get the party really started!” she announced. With that said the music started to liven up and more ponies joined in the dance.

Lucien still declined to join in on the dancing. He thought it was a silly thing even when he was human. But why spoil the fun for everyone else? He noticed he wasn’t the only one not dancing, and found a short reptilian creature standing by the punchbowl, also watching.

Lucien would have mistaken him for an argonian, if he wasn’t so short. But Lucien made his way to only guest he had yet to meet. “Hello there,” he greeted.

“Hey,” the reptile greeted, extending his hand, “I’m Spike, pleased to meet you,” he said.

Lucien put his hoof in Spike’s claw, “Lucien Lachance, a pleasure,” he said. ‘For a moment I thought I would see nothing but Ponies’ he thought to himself.

“Right, so Lucien, where ya from?” asked the curious dragon.

“I’m from a ways north of here, I believe, I may have gotten turned around at a few spots, I’ve been wandering for a very long time,” he explained.

Spike looked him in the eye, “do you miss home?” he asked.

Lucien had to think for a moment. Did he? Did he miss those he called Brother and Sister? Even if they killed him? Did he miss the country? Did he miss killing someone every other day?

Yes. Yes he missed that. He missed stalking the streets, finding some poor soul and sending them to Sithis, and then watching from the shadows of another alley as the guards finally came across the body.

Lucien missed the thrill of slitting open the throat of a sleeping target, and being halfway across the Empire by the time it was discovered. He missed that. He missed the feeling, the blood pumping, as his dagger gave his victim a red blouse.

Oh yes, he missed that.

But he knew it wouldn’t be for long, soon, he would have fresh blood on his hands. And new brothers, and new sisters, and more souls to send to Sithis, and they would fear the name of the Dark Brotherhood here as they have everywhere else.

Lucien suppressed the thoughts from bringing too much joy to him, and looked to the Dragon. “Yes, I do, but I feel I should be right at home here before too long.”

The party went on until the middle of the night, and Ponies began to go home. Lucien said his goodbyes to his newly met friends, and went back to the farm with Applejack.

“Big Macintosh can probably take care of things tomorra on the farm, we’ll be going to a city a ways away to sell our apples,” she told him. “ya up fer that?” she asked him.

Lucien nodded, “I think so, well we be getting up early?” he asked her.

She nodded, “yup, so get ta bed right away,” she told him.

He nodded.

Seeing another town was perfect.