The Factory

Chapter 1:

As he awoke, the pony sat up from his bed and dropped to the floor, landing on his feet. He walked out of his small bedroom past the living room, which contained a couch, a coffee table covered in old soda cans, horror stories, and old food wrappers. He gave a little smile as he saw the title on top of a stack of books, “Cupcakes.” From there he walked into the kitchen. It had the usual stove, microwave, countertop, and counter. But there was also a rusty cage sitting in the corner. It had been given to him by one of his old friends a long long time ago as a joke present, but he had dragged it out and dropped it in a corner the day they all died. As sort of a reminder, or some kind of ironic humor, he barely even knew himself. As he set the coffee pot on the table, he realized he was running low on supplies. Great, he thought, I have to go out there.

He set the coffee pot down on the table and prepared to step outside. he knew that all the ponies would shy away as he walked down the street, that the mothers would pull their fillies closer. He wouldn’t have it any other way. Since his birth, he had been marked as a “devil child,” “unnatural,” etc.

He was a pitch-black Pegasus pony with a black mane and a kind of aura that emanated darkness, and made ponies naturally shy away from him. His eyes may have had something to do with that, blood red pupils, and red rings surrounding his eyes. Nopony could figure out the natural red rings around his eyes, the color of blood, and some assumed that he painted them that way just to disturb ponies. When you looked straight into his eyes, it caused a deep unexplained dread that made even the bravest ponies fear him. It wasn’t his fault that he had been born with the natural ability to cause fear in ponies, but it shaped who he was. He enjoyed the look of fear in other ponies, cherished causing terror in others.
He walked out the door of his small cabin in the Everfree Forest, and headed down the dirt path towards the town of Ponyville. As expected, the ponies were in fear and looked away from him, mentally pushing him away and trying to protect themselves. They had all heard the rumors, that one look could cripple you for life, that if you didn’t keep them safe he would kidnap your fillies and eat them. He found these rumors humorous, and did nothing to stop them.
But enough dawdling, he had things to do. He walked by a few stalls, picking up food and other necessities, and dropping off a few bits in pay. As he started to walk down the path back towards his house, a filly, probably about 8 or 9 years old smashed headfirst into him as she was bounding down the path.
“I’m sor-“ She started as she looked up. But as soon as she saw who she had bumped into, her look quickly changed into that of horror. She screamed and started bawling, as he simply scowled and walked away. Of course, all the ponies were now staring at him as he walked down the path back towards the Everfree Forest and his house. This is why I hate going out, he thought spitefully.
He started setting the coffee pot on the stove again, but he heard a knock on the door. What the hell? He thought. No one ever comes out here. I swear if it is some idiotic pony that got lost… He came to the door and opened it. To his great surprise, two members of Celestia’s personal guard were standing there, holding an important looking document.
“Are you the pony known as Dark Wishes?” one of them asked, in a stern tone.
“Yes.” He replied, his eyes narrowing.
“You have been requested for a personal audience with the princess.” The pony handed him the official looking document he was holding, and he opened it. According to this scroll, he was supposed to meet with Celestia the following day, at noon. “There will be an escort to pick you up outside of here, at 8:00 tomorrow. Don’t be late.” The pony said this with an heir of finality, and closed the front door of his house.
He just stood there for a second, considering. What could Celestia possibly want with him? He realized that he had left the coffee pot on, and went and turned off the burner, then proceed to pour out his coffee. As he slowly sipped at the coffee, he stared at the document sitting on the table. Almost no one ever got a personal audience with the princess, especially him… Except for that time, 20 years ago, when I was still a filly, he thought. Frustrated, he went to sit on the couch, and started reading a book.
Later that night when he slipped into bed, he was still thinking about what would happen the following day. Eventually he fell into an uneasy sleep, tossing and turning all night.
At the same time, deep in the city of Canterlot, in the royal halls of the palace, Celestia sat in the throne room, nervously looking at the file of the pony she had selected. She remembered him from about 8 years go, but back then he had looked just as menacing, just as… unnatural. To this day, she sill couldn’t figure out the aura, almost, that seemed to drive away other ponies, to cause them to feel fear or at least be unnerved at the sight of him. It still bugged her, but this time she wasn’t summoning him to study him. This time, she had a job that only a certain type of pony, only one insane enough could pull off. She was almost ashamed that this still went on, but it was for the best. Her face darkened as she thought of the task ahead of her, and the pony she had selected. It was time to select a new leader. For the better. At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
END OF CHAPTER ONE