Ch I-My Introduction
Now, understand that this story, if heard with ears that do not understand the way life was in my time may not grasp how a pony of my stature would come about, but I assure you if given enough time, even if it was not my name to the title, one would exist. There are always broken hearts, jaded rulers, or vengeful spirits and the most dangerous of all, dreamers.
But before I ramble on about how dangerous a pony could get chasing their lucky star, I must tell you my story. My bloodline was born into a honest field. My faolfather was a seed collector and he passed said seeds to his many sons, Tomato, Carrot, Lettuce, Cucumber, Potato, Squash and Radish. He didn't forget about his daughters, Orange, Lime, Plum, Lemon, Apple, and Cherry. Yes, he was a very busy stallion, and with his thirteen children he delivered flavors and foods to Equestria that she would never have experienced if he had not been, what I would grow up to becoming. A fruit brewer.
I know the title sounds simple enough, I brewed fruit, into what? Into wine. My faolfather, Loam Seedling set the ideals of his secret world into his unsuspecting children. The first ideal? That one should not only strive for perfect crops, but our customer’s smile. The second ideal was more of a warning; Never stray from our family's crop. He didn't want a Plum family trying to grow apples or a Orange family trying to grow tomatoes. He did encourage helping each other’s family, and learning from it. It’s why we have tomato juice, or apple preserves. Now his last ideal is one not many of the fruit or vegetable families believe too strongly in. My faolfather wasn't the only seed collector, he had told me of a friend that he had argued with over what seeds should be saved. This was when all hope was bleak, it was when the windigos coated the visible world in never ending snow. Loam chose food, his friend however, she chose flowers. Yes we still eat flowers, and we wouldn't know how beautiful and tasty a roses’ petals would be nor how bitter a dandelion leaves if not for her. His distrust for her children, however lead me to my fate.
My name is Damson Elderberry, member of the Plum family, and now the leader to a secret operation. A simple word for who I am? Killer, murderer, brute, spy, thief, criminal, fugitive. I haven’t heard anypony actually call me such, since I have never been caught doing my many crimes. But I have clients who request much more than just wine. They wish for countries, or whole continents or the love of another. Remember when I told you about how dangerous a dreamer could be? I supposed they are not as dangerous as me. The one who makes these dreams become more than just perfumed smoke and polished mirrors. My first taste of what my faolfather had seeded for me,in years of preparation had almost come to fruit if I hadn't met, my lily of the valley.
Ch II-Contract
“Excuse me, Damson I’m in need of your services.” The words floated out of her so softly, I had reason to second guess her purpose in my store. With my eyes closed, I rambled my scripted spiel.“Welcome dame to the finest fruit wine distributor in all of Equestria! I do not only carry the most aged plum wines, but also have wines from the Grape families! Are you here for a tasting perhaps?” She had already walked behind the register and stared, waiting for my eyes to open. “I require something else fruit brewer.”
I winced as if she had clumsily stepped on one of my hooves as I realized she wasn’t a promising wine connoisseur, but a client with a contract. “A-humhm!” I moaned like a novice. Turning my eyes to one of the empty wine bottles. It had a magic rune inscribed bottom and as I pulled the bottle away, a faint click of an unhinging trap door could be heard. “Which wine of any wine, is the sweetest?” I asked quickly, double checking her intent. “The answer sir? Is surely sure, never any of the cheapest!” She replied correctly. “Come with me then, da-”
“My name is Lily.” She said sharply. I guessed my refined tongue was making her uncomfortable, but it was I who was uncomfortable. I had known her name when I opened my eyes and gazed into hers. Such beautiful eyes, only one from the Lily family could cater my disciplined emotions to relax and reveal me a coy colt. I nudged the bottle back and twisted it counter-clockwise. This sent the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed sorry’ and locked the register. It wasn’t the first time a dissatisfied client had tried to steal what little cash I kept in the drawers, I then lead her into my office. “I heard from the grape vine that you can help me with a time sensitive matter.” Lily resumed. “I’ll need some information before I can be certain dear Lily.” I admitted.
“There are two kings that are about to start a war over land.” Lily added. “ Isn't there always? What seems to be the real problem here Lily...” I poured out a damson, this wine was only five years old, but it contained a special mix of spices and herbs that would lift the simple plum fruit wine into a nirvana to the palette. As I took a sip of my finest product my eyes glanced over to her. She was a soft white in the sunlight, but in the soft glow of the fireplace she was more a cream colored mare. “A mare?” I wondered. No she looked as if she was just reaching her marehood, which meant she couldn’t be the Lily, maybe one of Lily’s daughters perhaps? She had a soft green hat which tried its best to hide her silk-like golden locks, some strands had broken free from the hat’s grasp and dangled in wavy curls to mask her right eye. Those eyes, one could see the reflection of never ending oceans in them. They held an unnatural vibrancy to them.
“Are you done ogling me, sir Damson?” She softly coughed.
“Can you blame me dear Lily? You beauty is one portrayed in folk tales!” I forced back the rest of the glass in a gulp.
“One of the kings is offering a treaty of peace, and if it is not acknowledged by the start of the new season, he will declare war instead.” She continued.
“You still haven't given me the whole picture Lily. I know the Lily family’s first incentive is to be incognito to the crime. But I can tell, you’re related to one of these kings.”
“King Arboreus.”
“Ah, That’s better. Now which king is forcing the treaty or war?”
“King Dusk.”
“An Earth pony king and a Unicorn king...” I smiled.
“My father is not interested in the treaty ,in fact last I spoke he actually considered going to war!”
“Where is my part of this Lily? I’m no negotiator.”
“I need you to poison my father.”
“You-really want this treaty.” I lifted a brow for a moment as I scanned her face, she had been planning this for years it seemed. I wasn’t too picky on who was king, but I do admit. I was saddened it was my king. After all King Arboreus was the one to send my foal father to collect the seeds that would give me my business, my family, my purpose.
“When I mean poison...I mean a lethal dose, Damson.” She cleared her throat as she spoke.
“Of course, A lethal dose it is then. Will you be paying in gems or the new “bit coin”?” Damson moved his hooves to make quotations in the air as he talked.
“How about ingredients to my poison instead.”
I wasn’t sure what this Lily was trying to do, I couldn’t accept these ingredients, if my foal father found out. “Now before those wheels in your head start turning. Let me explain the value of what I am giving. I love my father, I love his flaws and I cherish his guidance. I don’t want him to die, but his actions are blinded by hate for the other kingdom, hate that shouldn’t be there. I want him to pass swiftly, but not so fast it strikes ponies to question. I have in my saddle a mix of red maple leaves, yew leaves and acorn pits. I need you to brew these into a small bottle of wine, and I will serve it to him.”
She really had been planning this for far too long, she puzzled me greatly, and this excited my urge to help her. But she was one of Flora’s, ponies I was expected never to help, or care for. Her ambition reminded me of a filly I knew in my youth, one I would do anything for. “Lily, This whole contract...are you doing this so you can be with somepony you love?” My eyes glanced back to her after peering out the window for a moment. “How-Yes, it is Damson.” Her cheeks blushed wildly. “Then he is a lucky one, for you to fight for him so bravely.” I smiled. “I accept your conditions, as long as they do not change. It will be worth it in the end to have to kingdom united, and a happy queen and king to rule. If we’re lucky you might even unite the unicorn and earth pony tribes.” I added.
Ch III- Complications v.1
Ch III- Complications
In another month the poisonous ‘spices’ for Arborous’ finest glass of plum wine would be ready. But there was somepony more urgent taking my attention from me, my fiancée. Or to state her title correctly, my arranged somepony. She was who the foal-father arranged for me to marry. It wasn’t her lack of beauty or manners that made me question his choice, but her breed. She was a Pegasus and a high flier to add. She hated the thought of being grounded, force to wed a smelly, dirty work-pony. Or that is what I imagine she thought I was at first.
“Excuse me, you there!” A voice echoed from the clouds. I tilted my head towards the sky to find the pony to the voice, then behind me I heard the flip of wings. “Are you who Loam Seedling picked?” I asked. “Loam? Oh! Was he cute elder pony that talked to my parents?” The voice chirped. “Yes?" My voice gave an unsettling squeak,no earth-pony who had the 'privileged' to met my foal-father would call him cute."How are Aster Sky and Sol Tides?” The pegasus began to giggle, when I turned around she was flapping her wings to keep her from touching the grass. As she hovered, holding her sides like my question had actually tickled her. “You act as old as your father!” she snorted.
“What does that mean? One is as old as they behave. Does that make you a filly?!”
“I’d love to be a filly again! Could you make me a filly again?” She begged.
“What? I can’t do that!” As I spoke she flew towards me and swept me into the setting sky.“P-Please p-put me back on the ground! I begging you Pegasus, return my hooves to the soil!”
“Not until you turn me back in to a filly!” She said in a motherly tone, as if I had stolen one of her toys.
“I’m not a unicorn! I’m an earth pony!” I screamed like the wussy colt I was. By then I assumed she had an over the top comical grin stretched to each end of her muzzle.
“See Damson, it isn't too hard to act your age.” She softly landed me down.
“Thank you Bright.”
“I’m Brightly-lit” She coughed, as if she was used to ponies calling her otherwise. “Bright is my brother.” She added.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any offence. I was just shortening your name.”
“Oh.” Brightly-lit blushed at me, she didn’t expect me to remember her name, which I understood. Not only was our first meeting rather brief, her brother was known for being a kind of hero in the spectral court. Oh, and the spectral court is the domain that the Dusk kingdom holds within the three tribes. “Shall we get something to eat or...” I started, I was horrible at courting.
“I’m not really hungry Damson, I ate before I came to visit you.”
“Oh, is that what you are doing? Coming to check up on me, in case I get stuck in some mud, or is it the roots from old trees I should be watching out for?”
“No, no!”
“Relax Brightly! “ I let out a hissing sigh. “I have a terrible humor. I won’t hold it against you if you choose an enjoyable somepony.”
“I don’t think I’ll base my choice on humor alone Damson, you may have some other enjoyable qualities.”
“No? Then I might still have a chance after all.” I nickered.
It took sometime for me to realize that Brightly made sure to never touch the ground. I wasn’t sure if this was a type of exercise, or a naive belief of what would happen if she dared. From what I knew, she lived in the Pegasi capital her whole life. Her only time seeing my world was in the last few days.
“Brightly...you can touch the ground. You do know that right?”
“Why of course I do!” Brightly giggled, “I just choose not to!”
“It might give you wings a break, and make me feel-”
“Oh...I’m making you uncomfortable,Then I just need you to cast your magic and make sure the trees won’t hurt me.”
“...What?”
“...The spell that makes nature not hurt Pegasi.”
“I thought I made it quite clear Brightly, I am no unicorn. I will however promise that if the ground or trees start attacking, I’ll protect you.” I gave a soft smile to Brightly, extending my hoof to hers and she ceased her floating after a few squeamish attempts at poking the grass with her hoof.
“This stuff is really soft!” Brightly squeaked trampling over the spring shoots of grass.
“Now can I interest you in may stepping in my house perhaps?” I blushed softly as I opened the door. Brightly smiled back “I guess it would be a good idea, seeing how the sun is setting." Then her eyes opened in time with her lower jaw as she saw the flowers and trees I kept safe in my green house. "Those are beautiful!" she whispered in shock that such beauty was fathomable in my mud filled world. "They are called Lily of the Valley."
Her eyes beaded up with joy as she ran to them, her nostrils taking deep breaths of their fragrance. "I thought the Fruit and Vegetable families were in a boycott of flowers." She asked.
"Then I hope my trust in you is worth it Brightly-Lit."
She turned around to me with innocent eyes. "You're a fool, you'd rest your livelihood, your families reputation! On me?"
"Yes Brightly, and I am a fool. I'm falling in love with a Pegasus I've only known for three days."
Brightly looked to me her head tilting softly, as she motioned closer. She rested her head on my neck. "I'm honored you trust me Damson. You read up on Pegasi culture didn't you?"
"I may have skimmed through some 'Courting Pegasi for Colts' yesterday." I felt my face grow hotter, as she closed her eyes and kissed my unsuspecting muzzle. I felt my colthood scream for her body. I could see it in her longing eyes, she was ready to give the Plum family Pegasi genes. But there was a numbness building in a place I kept guarded from anypony's eyes, My heart. It yearned for another mare's affections, one I had given up searching for. this was a filly I had spent years with, when Flora and Loam were still friends. She was one from the Lily family, and as I already explained after the fight for a new source of food, and new found rivalry made my closest friend my arch nemesis. But unlike my siblings, or relatives I didn't hold on to my foal-father's teachings so strongly, in fact. I hated them. I kept seeing her, at the market place or at her favorite boutique, or at the spring festivals! She was always around, always smiling with her friends. But when her eyes looked to mine I saw her face turn, and her friends question and comfort her tears.
The next night of the spring festival was one of the strongest rainstorms Prancington had. It was the day Loam broke into my house, and tied me up whilst I slept. When the potato sack was lifted I was in a musty stone room with a dim light glaring to my eyes. Then I heard him call out. "Damson Elderberry! There are members of the Fruit and Vegetable families that tell me you have been passing looks to one of Flora's. Is this true?"
"Ye-"
"Let me remind you Damson. That if you where to have done such a thing. I would have to ask one of my friends I brought with me to 'correct' this." He uttered without mercy. I heard the eerie hum of magic charging up behind me.
"I did."
"But will you continue to."
"I Lo-" Before I could confess he had ordered the unicorn to choke me, or maybe the unicorn wished to save my life from the horrors Loam would have commanded if I had fully confessed my love to her. "That is preposterous Damson, you knew the filly for three days." In actuality I knew her for four years, but had only talked to her about half of that time. "Maybe I should make myself absolutely clear. The three Ideals I expect everypony of my descendants to follow includes *you*! You are to stay away from her! You are to never speak, cough, laugh or gaze at her! Ever!" The magic's strength increased as he shouted, and when he finished rambling I was given the right to breath once more. I heaved it in. "Fine." I gasped.
"Fine, you say? This isn't me giving you a slap on the hoof, colt! I'm warning you to stay away from Flora's kind! They're the type that lead you into holes only a younger you could survive! Next time I hear word of such foolishness I will teach you myself some discipline!"
"Damson, are you not? You-you don't like me like that." Brightly backed away quickly, she began flapping her wings feverishly getting back her comfort zone, In the air. But she forgot were she was and hit her head sharply on the metal and glass ceiling. As I came to my senses I dove for her, twisting my body so I could gauge where she was falling. She landed on top of mine, her head bouncing on my pot belly. It had to have been the only time I was happy about having such a large apatite.
