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                The Angel with Black Wings                 
                     -by Black Angel-                      
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                           Truth                           
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Truth
Unfortunately, his life was about to run into a violent turning point, right after a basic genetics lesson.<<As you all know, there are three races of pony: Earth ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi...>> Began explaining the teacher, while Black scribbled on his science book, literally hunted by boredom.<<The son of two Earth ponies will obviously be an Earth pony, same for the other two races. If the parents are an unicorn and a pegasus, for example, their son can be an unicorn or a pegasus, but it’s not sure which...>> Black opened his eyes wide, his pencil fell off his mouth and rolled down from his desk.
He didn't to anypony for the whole day. The time slowly got by, and Black became more and more silent, a lot of his friends noticed that, and it became suspicious to everypony. His parents noticed it too. The degeneration went on for about two weeks, and the Andershoof used to talk in private a lot more than usual. At least Black didn’t lose interest for flying; he won a few competitions and the cockades showing the number 1 used to give him a small courage boost. After a while, the Andershoof realised that they needed to talk with him, so they decided to do it right after Mr. Andershoof came back from work. It was a day like another, but it was raining constantly. When he came back, half wet, Mr. Anderhoof made a gesture to Mrs Anderson, who answered immediately.<<Black, what’s wrong? I know that it’s hard for you to talk about it, if it makes you this silent...>> Asked Mr. Andershoof <<Yeah...you’re right, “dad”. Or shall i say “Mr. Andershoof”?>> his “parents” made a little leap, took by surprise <<W-What are you talking about, dear?>> Said Mrs. Andershoof, shaking.
Black didn’t say anything else, he went to his bedroom, shut the door, jump on his bed putting his head under the pillow and hiding himself in the covers. From that day, they talked a lot less in their house, but Black used to listen them whispering in the living room. So, he decided to eavesdrop them. They were in the living room when Black decided to crawl downstairs. He looked into the living room: Mr. was on his armchair, and Mrs. was on her rocking chair. They were talking almost normally: they thought Black was asleep.<<I don’t know what to do, dear...Black must have discovered everything. I expected it: it’s hard to hide such things to him...>> said bitterly Mr. to his wife. She tried to encourage him <<For how much do you think we can resend this?He KNOWS we aren’t his real parents: we must tell him everything.>> Mr. Sighed saying <<Oh, Allright. I had to bring him there first or later... I just hope I didn’t disappoint the old Iron...>>Black arched an eyebrow <<Of course you didn’t! Iron himself asked to do this...Trust me, you did a fine job growing him up!>> Said Mrs., smiling to the unicorn. He answered smiling again, then they got up to go to sleep. Black crawled back to his bedroom and covered himself again. He heard the door slightly opening and Mr. whispering <<Yeah, he wouldn’t be disappoint...>> Black decided to ask for more informations the next day.

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                       Falling Angel                       
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Falling Angel
The very next day, Black came back from school and ran to his bedroom. He put his bag in the corner, and went back downstairs. <<That’s it. I want to know. Who are my real parents...What happened to them...And who are you for me!>> Mr. Andershoof frowned and then he made a gesture to Black. Then he did the same to Mrs, and he took Black with him. It was raining heavily. They walked a lot, getting even more far from the perifhery, until they got to a stone face that usually was brownish, but the rain gifted it a grayer colour. There was really green grass on the ground. After a little while, they got to a nook in the rock, obviously digged by water. There were two gravestones put one near to each other, no flowers decorating them; just wild roses. No pictures: just two writings. Most letters were erased <<Her- L--- S--n-, Cou-d h- r--- fo---r in pea-e>>, then he looked at the other one: <<He-e --es ----, ---- res- tog-et-r wi-h h-- L-v-- h-s---d>> Mr. Andershoof got near Black and started to talk
<<This is where your parents rest. Almost every letter is erased by now... Your parent’s name: Saint... and Sunbeam. Splendid ponies, the most beautiful couple I have ever seen. I used to know them, when I was really little... We lived here in Canterlot. They asked us to take care of you, we were the only ones available...He died because of...an accident: a wall fallen on him in a fire, after everypony evacuated the building. Your mother left us because of sickness. They only asked one thing: they asked me to raise you, and make you become someone. I hope I didn’t disappoint them.>>Black felt his heart stopping. An arctic ice gnawed his ribs, and then it spreaded all over his body, making every emotion freeze. He slumped, and began flooding tears, whining loudly. He was so sad...But in his heart, something changed. He wasn’t the same anymore. He grit his teeth so hard, he felt pain. The first physical emotion in the whole day. The rain loudly roared on the stone in the colt’s unstoppable sadness wave, and suddenly a strange light came from his flank: his Cutie mark appeared: Two symmetrical white wings and a shiny halo on them.
His life will never be the same.

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                          Leaving                          
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Leaving
He was thinking about the past, when he was listening at one of the stories heard in his old house. One of Mr.Andershoof’s tales. Particularly one, talking about a legendary air trick known as “Sonic Rainboom”  the train conductor said that there was a problem, and they had to fix it, taking a few minutes.He had to do it. Leaving the train, he noticed that the Andershoof left, probably thinking that the train was already living Canterlot. The station was nearly desert. Black looked at the sky.
Not a single cloud in the blue wasteland. He began flying up, without witnesses. Breathing the fresh air in the sky, he watched the town, gasping. He closed his eyes, the breeze slowly pushed him back, he made a 180° back flip, going upside down. He was already going down. Luckily, he had wind blowing in his direction. Flapping his wings with all of his strenght, gathering speed while the roofs were slowly getting closer, and closer. He wasn’t even thinking anymore, he was so fast his heart was missing some beats, he was crying in a mix of emotions, he even saw sparks coming out of his hooves. However, he lost control in mid air, falling down, he couldn't even flap his wings anymore.
He slowly got up, he couldn't see really well. He saw a figure talking to him, but he couldn't understand anything. He tried to speak, but he only got a gibberish out of his mouth. He felt a hoof dragging him to the train (an orange-brown figure). He felt asleep right after being put to bed.
He woke up in the train, with a stallion looking at him from another seat.
<<Hey, doctor, he woke up!>>  He said, surprised. Another stallion entered in the wagon, wearing a working jacket. <<So, the little colt here crushed in a bush...How did you end up in there, uh?>> Black slowly got up, and fell sitting again on the bed. <<W-where did I end up now?>>  The doctor began looking at his head, giving small hits to check it. <<You were about to land on a rock instead...Why on the world did you get up there, son?>> Black felt really embarrassed. <<It's just... I wanted to...erm...>> The dark-yellow pony hit him with a paternal slap behind his neck <<Don't you ever do such a thing again, you could get hurt! Anyway, your parents were watching and told me they wanted you to take this train "before it's too late", so you're going to Ponyville right now.>> Black frowned. <<What did they mean with "before it's too late"?>> The medic was scratching his moustache, <Well, when you fell, you didn't faint on the hit... You asked a filly to go out with you... and she didn't really appreciate it. Nevermind, in a thousand years, no one will remember it. It's nothing but a scratch, buddy! After all, the bush was really soft... Rest until we get to ponyville.>>
The other stallion in the wagon laughed so hard, he fell in the corridor. He was young too, even if older than Black. He sighed and went back to sleeping.

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                         New Life                          
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New Life
Heading for the main plaza, he got in a large way, walking on the side. No one was looking at him, except for a weird pink pony. Turning a corner, he found her in front of him, <<WOH! W-Who the he->> Said him, almost screaming <<Who am I? WHO ARE YOU! No, wait, you’re right, we just met. Ihihihi, by the way I’m Pinkie Pie, but you can call me Pinkie, and what’s your name?>> Said her so quick Black missed a few words <<Black Angel... Black for the friends, not that...I have one...>> Said him slowly. Pinkie just looked at him for a while without saying a word. Maybe it wasn’t the best thing to say. She looked sorry for him, and started to sing a weird song. For some odd reason Black cracked up after it. <<Yeah, I’d really want to stay here with you...>> Began explaining Black <<But I really need to get going now...>> She smiled <<Oh, I really hope to see you again, Black...I’ve never met somepony like you before...>>Said her sadly, while Black was getting farer.
Walking to the square, a paper sheet crashed on his face; annoyed, he took it off and the side article attracted him:”Crash in Canterlot, the colt is unarmed” <<Peeerfeeect.>> commented him “Yesterday, In Canterlot, a young colt named "Carrot Angel", from what we understood, tried to perform some kind of air trick from over the station. However, as an inexpert flier, he crashed into a soft bush nearby the binaries. The colt was immediately rescued by a young stallion that saw him, and a doctor. They brought him inside the train he was going to take, as the doctor confirmed that he didn't report any kind of damage, and he was conscious when he talked to him. We hope he will eventually get better at flying!” Black finished reading the main page, then he threw the newspaper in a trash bin, slightly grinning. "Carrot Angel" he thought "It's hilarious...Luckily no one ever reads that magazine...". The bells from the town hall sang. It was midday, and the hunger made Black’s stomach talk. He saw a pub, so why not to stop and have something to eat? He sit on a chair outside the local, after ordering. Looking at the town, he noticed a filly being held by her mother.
He felt weirdly happy for him, how was he supposed not to be so? While he was staring at them, the mother tripped on a flower pot, and the filly fell off the terrace they were on. Black couldn’t do anything but to try and save him. He knocked his legs in the ground, throwing himself forward to the building, making a few tables fall. He was flipping his wings as hard as he could, fighting against time. Dust was scattered all over the place. In a fraction of a second, he was under the filly, he caught her facing the sky, heavily landing with his back getting his wings dirty. He got up leaving the filly on foot; he noticed that everypony in the square was banging their hooves to the ground, he felt really appreciated. He gave the filly back to the mother that ran downstairs, she was literally crying.
Suddenly, a well-dressed pony called him from behind. <<Can I ask your name...?>> Black became serious and answered <<Yes... I’m Black Angel>> The pony smiled <<Well, Black, can I call you Black, right?... The name is Cinder, keep that in mind. I’m the director of the Royal Eagles fly academy... it’s pretty far from Ponyville, but it finances us, so it counts as a Ponyville school. Can I talk to your parents?>> said him showing interest. Black looked at the ground saying <<I... don’t have any...>> Phil leaped and watched away excusing, then Black began walking away <<I’m sorry, but I think I don’t even deserve it. I know, you want talents in your school, but it was all luck.>> He felt himself being held and turning around, he saw the mother of the filly trying to stop him. <<You need to go there. I’ve never saw such a snap before. Believe me, you MUST go there. He’s inviting you to a high class academy, you can’t refuse!>> The mother was smiling to him. She was right, it wasn't the right moment do be modest. <<Well, my foster parents are in Canterlot, so I'll need to send a letter to them... Oh, they'll be so happy about this!>> He actually felt better for a bit. Black walked back, and taking a pen and a paper sheet from his bag, he began writing to the Andershoof, they still act like his “parents”.
Taking a large breath, he began writing.

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                           Door                            
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Door
“Dear Andershoof.
I got an offer to go to the Royal Eagles academy, which is one of the best I know. I directly knew the director, who told me he will think about everything. You won’t need to worry about me anymore, and soon I’ll be big enough to take care of myself. I just want to thank you for what you did for me. I really hope to see you again. In the mail, I included a module you need to read and sign. I will never forget you. Thanks.
                                                                                                                                       Black Angel”
A few days came and went, Black slept at the Andershoof's cousin's house while waiting for an answer, reading him, he was happy for the new opportunity, but his smile was once again frozen while reading the last lines. “Black, don’t feel bad for us. You know that when you’re bigger we won’t be recognized as your legal parents. This doesn’t mean we’ll stop loving you. Sadly, we’ll need to move from Canterlot for work. So, don’t expect to find us in the old 2-floors. We hope to meet you again, someday. It will be hard, because we can’t know each other’s address. Anyway, we’re happy for you and we hope you’ll make your dreams come true. Goodbye.
                                                                                                                                      The Andershoof”
Reading those words, Black felt a little strange. He loved his parents. How could him leave them now? He felt really weak. But it was his destiny: it’s true, the Andershoof had their own life, so Black tried to dry up his tears, and he accepted Phil’s (Cinder also liked to be called Phil, for some reason. Black liked that name though, in his opinion, Philip sounds better than Cinder) invitation, and hopping on a coach, they went to the academy. During the travel, Phil was talking about the school itself, with his rules and teachers. Not that Black was listening to him. He was, sometimes, focusing on the background he saw behind the glass, and sometimes watching at the other pony. A slightly old pony, with not many age marks on his body: he got just some white hair at the base of his faded mane - it was probably darker once, but now it was lighter. His coat was even fairer than his mane, it was almost white, but still gray. He was wearing his reading glasses behind his tough snout, even though he wasn’t reading the newspaper he had on the seat. His mane was well combed to the back of the head: he surely spent about ten minutes to make it.
His tail was a bit long, but it wasn’t combed as his mane: it was kinda wild. His cutie mark was a red flame with an orange atmosphere around it. They travelled for a bit less than ten minutes, like the driving ponies knew about Phil’s hurry. After a long yawn from Black, the coach stopped, and he was taken by amaze. A big, two floored white building rises, far from the town. He first saw the entrance. A big black door, surrounded by white walls and columns making the entrance look like a temple. Stairsteps of the same material heading to the door, and on top of them, two symmetrical golden eagles facing each other showing their wings stood menacing, Phil bumped his shoulder, and invited him in. They went in Phil’s office. They sit around a wooden desk. Many books were contained into libraries all over the room. Some photos on the wall, one on the desk and a window with grey curtains, blocking the sunlight. They talked about the school, then they made a tour around the academy. The lateral walls were kinda bare, if there weren’t security exits, lamps and some flowerbeds.
On the back, there was a training field, with every kind of tool you need, even a stockpile of clouds to use to make racetracks in the air. Some time passed away, and the first bell of the year rang. Black knew many other ponies, some kind ones, a lot that weren’t. They usually disliked him, because he had a single room, or he often went to the director’s room. They hated him especially because mares always looked at him. The ponies HE hated were usually the ones with rich parents, sometimes from Canterlot, they used to tease him, even because of the high notes he got and his impressive ability at flying.

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                           Debt                            
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Debt
Time passed, slowly but unstoppable. Black always was the first of the class, both grades and speed. He trained (and studied) a lot. You could commonly see him exercising with an handlebar, flexing, or studying, laying somewhere. With the time passing, his character got stronger: he was cold, sad and he never wanted to talk about it with somepony else. He always had to put effort while talking with the others, but he preferred to sigh and turn around. Hard to believe that the colt he was, wasn’t gone forever, at least he looked carefree when flying. That filly left a scar inside him.
He was really popular, especially while he was in the third-fifth grade. He even suspected to have a secret fan-club: sometimes a few mares in his class loudly sighed when he took a sleepy yawn in the middle of a math lesson. Usually, he wasn’t searching for relationships or anything like that; he focused on his goals. In fact, he passed every grade with the highest marks in the whole school. He was lying on his bed, reading, when an early summer night, a janitor said him that he was convocated to the director’s office. Black just answered yawing and started to make his way through there. <<You know, Phil, I like these lovely conversation. But why the heck would you call me at eleven o’ clock? I’m dying from tiredness, I had to fly a lot today.>>
Phil got up, walked to the window looking outside <<Black, look at that poster. It’s a really important race, famous in the whole Equestria. There will be only 3 participants: there are going to be preliminaries before the race itself. As usual, Canterlot and Cloudsdale will be two of them. It’s almost sure. The other one, it must be you. Just, please, I really wish for the trophy that you’ll win. I made so much for you... Will you try?>> Black looked at the poster. It was tough stuff. <<No, Phil I won’t try.>>
Phil turned around, and he added, while leaving the room <<I will win.>> Phil smiled, and told him that he had a very few weeks to get ready for the tournament. In a later day, Phil posted some advertisements on the school board: the winner will receive a huge trophy, and the academy would receive a silver plate, thanking them for training the winning Pegasus. Black began training right after the final exams (he got the highest marks, as always). He looked himself in the mirror right before starting. He finally grew up.
The payback time was here. No smiles on that face. His eyes were literally burning. Red as the fires of hell itself, constantly burning, even in the dark. A long mane covered his head, a dark tuft was leaning from his forehead. Covering his temples, turning around the furry ears, it jointed with the back, describing a ¾ circle while ending, lying on his neck, and then rising to make the figure. The whole mane was unkempt, with irregular tips describing his profile. He looked down, while turning around. A nice body, fast and pretty strong, even if he didn’t look so. Opening his wings, he noticed a really big wingspan, with soft feathers, with the same colour as his coat, lighter than the mane.
His Cutie Mark, the only colourful thing he saw in that mirror: he still didn’t know what it was about. At last, the tail: Long and free, appointed to leave a dark, dark blue trail when he was flying. He knew he looked good to the others, but something was wrong with him. Smart as he was, he couldn’t know what, it was too complicated, even for him. Taking large breaths, he began training daily, without neglecting the very few friends he had, and other minor things. The debt was about to be paid off.

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                          Hurdle                           
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Hurdle
Sun shined into his room, flooding it. 3 weeks were gone already. Black got up, alone in the academy; he was the only one having its keys, as long as he lived there for the whole time. He had a fast and complete breakfast, snatching his neck around. Brushed his teeth, and went to the training field, which was set up for the preliminaries. No one around, but the referee, Phil and some other ponies. They looked like the directors of some other school. In a few hours, the forums got filled in. At 10 o’ clock, the match would be started. All the five contestants were on the start line. The circuit was really simple: just a few bands. Obviously, they were aiming to choose the fastest one. Black was already the fastest in his school, and that’s why he was there. He looked at the other ones: there was a “boss”, a blonde pony with a brown coat with 2 friends, looking pretty rude.
He expected them to play dirty someway. The other one was a good looking mare. They all looked pretty fast, except those 2 near their leader, they were no match with the others. How was it possible that they knew each other? With a question in his mind, he went to the line.  The forums were screaming while they set up to start. The pistol sounded for the start, and they all launched themselves forward. Black was the first one already. As he turned a second behind, he saw the mare for second. Nothing else, he kept flying forward, gaining speed and distance. However, the “leader” began flying unexpectedly fast, as he surpassed the mare and tried to do the same with Black in every bend they found. Glancing the others, Black saw the mare for last, and the other 2 trying to block her.
He was furious now, and the worst thing was that the “leader” surpassed him right before the last back straight. <<I won’t let you...!>> Whispered him. As he got an idea, he decided there were no options. He gained some height, reaching his opponent, flying over him. A decisive wingbeat sent him a little advantage. He struggled himself down, right in front of him. As he did that, the “leader” fell, biting the dust, and his friends had the same fate. Black darted to the checkered flag, winning. Following the mare (she was really good, even with those guys disturbing her), at last the three cheaters. Black got a golden medal, and passed to the Canterlot race.

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                          Set-ups                          
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Set-ups
With a white towel on his shoulders, Black granted an interview to a local newspaper. Grinning and panting, he ended the interview. He finished drying up the sweat, and threw the towel to the nearest bench, heading for his room. <<Hey! you!>> Called the third prize, the “leader”. <<I...I don’t know where to start from... You won even though we tried to cheat on you...I know, that’s what I get...But...I’m sorry.>> Black didn’t know what to say.<<Heh... You’re not that bad after all...I’m sorry you won’t come to Canterlot...You were good. Anyway...See ya!>>. Their roads split up. Black realized how hard was it for the other ponies. He just wanted to win, no matter what,after all. Like him. He fell asleep, with many thoughts in his mind. He was really sad for that pony. What about him now? He will just come back home, yell at the others that he lost. The alert clock played, and Black jumped off the bed, like he didn’t sleep at all. His mood became even sadder. With only a week from the last race, he decided to rest and keep training. Visitings a few times Ponyville, he noticed that there weren’t going to be much people watching him racing.
Of course, they could read the newspaper the next day, but some shouting while he played his life’s match would be really nice. The sixth day was the particular one. He jumped on his bed, after waking up, looking at the ceiling. A flashback of when he was a colt fogged his mind. Bringing him back to reality, Phil popped out talking, with a letter on his hand. <<Black, pack your stuff, tomorrow we’ll leave. The race got postponed. So, come to Ponyville, we got to take your dress for the party before we leave.>> Black jumped off, <<Do I really need to? I mean, I’d prefer doing something else, like... You know, EVERYTHING but going there...>> Slapping his neck, Phil rebuked him << Who’s the head in here? If I say so, you’ll do it.>> Black played along, and making a sad face with fake tears included, following him outside. They walked to the town, entered a clothes shop, asking for an order. Black tried out his tuxedo, made just for the occasion. <<It just suits you so well, you’re so cute!>> Commented the owner, while packing it.
After that, they only went in the post office for a Phil’s business and had lunch in a restaurant while talking. Black began thinking Phil had more to say, but they didn’t  talk a lot, even in the academy. The night was really quiet, not a single noise. Walking around the school in the night, Black felt nostalgic. As the sun popped out, they walked to the station. Black saw the filly he saved years ago yelling “good luck” while he jumped on the train. With a smile, he fled from the discussion with her. He slept for most of the travel, looking outside the glass. With hesitation, he came  back to Canterlot

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                          Return                           
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Return
The train whistled while realising the last steam cloud. Black inhaled the fresh air mountain you can only feel when you take the first breath in Canterlot. <<It’s been a while...>> Said him whispering to Phil. <<I know, son, you already told me wat you got through here. I’d probably say the same, but c’mon, you can return home as you race. C’mon, we have to get there before 12 o’clock to sign up. Don’t mind other ponies watching you, ok?>> Said Phil, raising his voice in the second sentence. Black nodded to him. While they were going to the palace, he noticed a few mares looking at him when they stopped to let Phil buy a newspaper (he always reads it). Maybe he was just good-looking, that’s all, it wasn’t that new for him. After reading a few lines outside the castle, Phil noticed Black tapping his hoof on the ground, so they entered to sign up.
They also gave them two rooms to sleep, as long as the race was the next day. They didn’t do much before the V.I.P. party: just a little walk around the city. It was dark already, when they got to the garden for the party. Black wearing that tuxedo...He didn’t feel well in that thing, but the others sure did the opposite. The torture was begun. Forced to stay in an excuse for rich people to show their arrogance, laugh at the humbles and think they’re superior someway. Ignoring the bunch of people, he went straight to the other two participants. He looked at them more as “enemies” though. <<Sapphire, from Canterlot>> Said that azure pony, with a superb smile. <<Cotton, Cloudsdale>>Said a brown mare. <<Black, Ponyville>>Said him, taking time to square them off. “Allright, what do we have here?” was his first thought “Cotton is no big deal, she’s fast, ok, but not as me...That other one, he’s dangerous. Heavier than me, of course, but if he plays it well, he’s gonna give me some problems. All I can do for now, is try to study them...”
The party didn’t go on. It trailed for a few hours before everypony ran out of things to say. They talked about the participants too. Of course, Sapphire was the favourite one. They all walked outside the garden, everypony on his way home. Black was alone, when a thought passed in his mind. “Shall I?”. He was facing the direction of his parents’ graves. He walked to the stone face, which was lightened up by the almost full moon. There they were. With a little surprise, the graves were renovated. The white marble was carved amazingly. Black sit down, then sprawled on the soft grass. A tear drop was inevitable. He was about to fall into his thoughts, when a voice broke that silence.
<<Excuse me...Black, right?>> It was Sapphire, he probably followed Black. He heard something, but he wouldn’t imagine that. Getting up and drying all up, he tried to answer <<Y-Yeah, what’s wrong?>> He made another superb smile, those that Black hated.<<So, what for it? 300?>> Black didn’t understand <<300...What?>>Asked. <<300 bits, of course.>> Replied Sapphire. <<300 bits for WHAT?>> Black was getting angry <<To give up. Of course you can’t compete with ME, so why don’t you just make a good impression and let me win? We’d both earn...>> Black roared to his enemy <<What in the world makes you think that I’m going to accept such a thing? I’ll beat you, no matter what, I’m sure of it. I’m not giving up right now.>> Sapphire was really sure about himself. He walked away telling him to keep crying. Black was yelling at him every single sentence he had in his mind. He slammed the door to his room, he never was this angry. He almost ripped his dress while taking it off. He jumped in his bed as hard as he could, trying to sleep however how mad he was. He fell asleep. A nightmare was about to be dreamed.

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                           Dream                           
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Dream
He was falling. Everything was weirdly slow. Even his mane was slowly moving, like in slow motion while falling. His eyes were half closed. After a minute of apathy in this dark ambient, he realized he was near the ground. He landed on his back, slowly. It didn’t even hurt. As he woke up, he realized he was on a desert island. The sky was plain blue. Not a single cloud. He felt tired, so he decided to rest under a nearby palm tree log, broken from the leaves and the roots, probably by a storm. As he closed his eyes, he felt the sea breeze moving his mane, bringing a salty smell. He was about to fall asleep in a dream, when he started hearing somepony sobbing. He got up in a flash, facing the forest, in the opposite way from the beach. He had to search for him. As he walked away, the sea became purple, and the grass darker. Passing the first trees, he could hear it perfectly.The forest became thicker, slowing him down. He finally got near the voice. He could see a blue lake, from behind a bush, and a filly crying into it. Black decided to come out, and talk.<<What the heck are you doing here?>> The filly didn’t even turn around.
She just yelled <<Stay away from me!!!>> Black got pulled back, and the black mist trapped him again. This time he landed on his hooves. He wasn’t in a normal place. He was somehow in a room, with black walls. A weird lucid material, that looked like obsidian. The floor was different. Same material, but carved and much more plain than the walls. In the middle of the room, there was a red carpet with golden details. Two high chandeliers with a purple blaze were standing at the end of the room, lightning up the whole area. Turning around, he saw the rest of the room. The carpet lead to a few of large steps. At the center, a huge throne built in the wall, a few metres tall, not as the far far ceiling, but still pretty high. It was black and white, symmetrically coloured. It was firm in the obsidian. Two arms of the same colours, as in every other throne. His cutie mark was on the back, around a metre from the seat, but more detailed, in fact you could even see every single detail in every feather. He looked at the seat.
Just a figure standing still in front of it. It wasn’t a clear figure. It was evanescent, the colours weren’t well outlined. He could only see a white equine ghost staring at him with penetrating eyes. <<Who are you?>> Was the only thing to say. It didn’t even answer, with easy steps, it began walking toward him. At every step, the sound of the hoof touching the ground hit his head, causing really strong pain. Every step gave him heavier headache, his eyelids were heavy, he was panting already. Almost falling on his knees, he tried to resist. The thing got near him. He could only see his body, and a really fair grey mane. Growling, he was still on his hooves. As the ghost smiled, Black felt like dying, just when he closed his eyes.
He woke up in real life, with a scream. Taking huge breaths, the light entering from the window was blessing him from that dark madness. His mane was covering his eyes, still half closed, he had his mouth wide open. Slowly, his heart slowed down, while the fear was vanishing. It was just a bad dream now. He tried to get up, forcing his legs to stop shaking.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                          Angelic                          
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Angelic
Still thinking about what happened, he showed up at the stadium. Of course the crowd was already there, waiting for them to start. It was getting closer. They were all there, at the start line. The referee explained the circuit: no laps, just a big one. The circuit went on in a first horizontal plan. Curves and rarely, a rectilinear tract. After the first phase, there was a hairpin turn to the very top of the stadium, right before a plunge in the thin air, leading to the finish line. Made just for a breathtaking dive. Everyone was ready for that short lack of emotions. Cotton told Black that Sapphire tried to corrupt her too. He HAD to win. The referee was about to start the duel.  It was a little windy, just enough to make your mane fly.
The whistle ripped off the tension, causing the launch of the three pegas. The first step is decisive, you can see from the start who’s the best one. Black was a little forward than the other two. How he expected, Sapphire was chasing him, followed by Cotton. Adrenaline was already cycling in his veins. It was more like fear. The first phase was quiet enough, Black had to force himself to stop Sapphire for eventual surpasses in the curves. He expected a dirty move. Just after the hairpin, Sapphire raised his highness all of a sudden, making cotton unbalance. Black was already fast, so he catched Cotton in midair. Cotton told quickly to let her go, she didn’t have many hopes for the race...but Black could still surpass Sapphire in the dive. Cotton flapped to the side of the circuit, while Black kept his speed.
He was facing the endless dive. The line was far. Sapphire was too. A quick flashback made him remember what he did to get there. <<I...>> Whispered while grinding his teeth. Then he screamed <<I’ll never give up!>> He used every single particle of energy left to get to the line. He was losing a few tears, some for the teeth pain, some for the wind getting in his eyes. Roaring, he was reaching an unbelievable speed. Both his targets were getting closer. He could do it. Suddenly, a detonation in the air restored the silence in the bleaches. He was leaving a red contrail in the air. He was shining, like a wave passing through his body. From the mane to the tail, a glowing line transformed him. He heard a huge noise. A dark-lighted explosion was absorbing the colour from the sky. He hard another noise, like a void space being replenished by the sky. A third explosion, this time even noisier, showed to the crowd what was going on. All the light was flowing in a small white dot in the sky. Absorbing as much light as it could, it formed a ring in the sky, which had every colour of the sky, in order: dawn, morning, day, and dusk. As the circle stopped growing and eating light, the ring lit up and became red, and inside the circle, you could see the starry sky of the night.
The winner’s ululation  was the only voice expect the raving spectators. He was actually laughing, jumping around. He never was this happy. As he looked at himself, he realized to being different. He was somewhat better. He had a blinding white coat, like he never seen.
Over his red eyes his mane was way lighter too, an uncombed and nice-looking lucid silvered-gray colour, like his tail. His cutie mark was the same, but with different colours. Black wings and red halo. After calming himself down, panting, he turned back to normal. He felt so good, after laughing on the defeated one. Sweat made his mane a little wet, and the mares in the crowd were simply going crazy for him. The Black Star was still in the sky, showing the night to Canterlot. It slowly vanished, leaving an amazing memory. After taking breath, he met Phil and the other directors near the podium. The highness of the first step was incomparable.
All the day passed in a flash. Photos, interviews, the trophy as reward... As last thing to do, he wanted to say goodbye to his parents. There was a full moon, lighting up the place like in daytime. The wind blew from behind, moving his mane. <<Now that I did it... What am I gonna do...? It was my life’s task...>> Another gust blew. <<And why did I feel so...>> A third gust blew. <<What’s my Cutie Mark for, anyway? And what happened to me...? Maybe I won’t even know... Maybe it’s better...>> These were his last words. He stood sitting there for another ten minutes, with the wild wind and the moon keeping him company. The best day in his life.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                           Smoke                           
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Smoke
He slowly got up, with sun in his room, making his trophy shine. A huge cup, tall as Black himself was gave him by a procession of important people. He thought about seeing a princess as well, but he wasn’t sure because there was a lot of people near him. The main body was a blue metal, with veins like in marble, but it was definitely metal, because it was cold at the touch. A golden pod held it up, with his name engraved on it. Two silvered handles on the sides made it easier to transport. The lid was silvered too. On the front, on the same side as the pod, there was an emblem, a runic circle with many decorations. A really beautiful object. He packed his stuff, and met Phil at the station. They talked for the whole travel to Ponyville. Their relationship was hard to describe. Not as father and son, but still really close.
More than best friends, too. After a conversation (cups of tea included), they found themselves on the dusty road in front of the academy again. Black looked at the door and asked <<Uhmm...It’s still summer, but when winter comes up and school starts again...Where am I gonna live?>> Phil smiled and replied immediately <<Not in MY academy, of course. You can always live under a bridge.>> Black yawned while entering. His life was strangely worsening. He had friends and everything but... Something was missing. He didn’t laugh that much anymore. He was literally a sad person. He noticed that he began feeling more like he was a colt, constantly depressed. A weird depression. The peak was in a fresh night, while he was sitting on a bench, looking at the stars. Laying on it, he whispered <<What’s going on? Why me...?>> He was thinking when a red figured lighted up by a few streetlamps passed right on his nose, running to the Everfree Forest.
He could chase him, it was no big deal. As he jumped in the midair he noticed a pile of smoke, with some fire light coming after it. He couldn’t leave somepony in difficulty. Changing direction, he headed for the damaged houses. After a quick look, the situation was clear. There was a completely destroyed house, however its inhabitants were safe, rescued by somepony else. There was a fire in the second one, and he was sure no one was safe there. He broke down the door, and got on the second floor in a flash.
After taking down the colts, he didn’t have enough time to do the same with the parents. Black told them to run, while he was trying to bear a falling wall. Using every single energy he had left from the previous day (his muscles still hurt for that trick), he could resist until the couple got safe. But the house collapsed right after.Everything was silent, everypony was just hoping that it didn’t happen. Black was popular, everypony knew him, more or less. The only sound was the fire in the pile of debris, slowly extinguish for the rain that just started... And the brakes of a train that just stopped in the station, With everypony aboard looking at the fire signal.
After a nice minute, everypony in the street had his head looking at the ground. Suddenly, a noise came from the pile. And another one. In a second, he broke through the junk barrier, flying up to the sky, watching down.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                          Meeting                          
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Meeting
Panting, he rested letting himself to the ground, landing with his back on the soft grass a few metres away.  The tension in the crowd vanished, and a nice group shouting made that little cut on his shoulder stop hurting. He got his wound medicated with some bandages after a meet-up with the others to make the point. The wound was magically healed, so he could remove the bandages at the next day already. They decided to stay onward for the dragon. Normal life, but at least you know that you’re in danger. Black jumped on the highest pike of the pile to direct the operation and set up the ones without a home. He found himself really good at giving orders and organizing stuff.
He gave a temporary home at those who sadly lost it. His cut began hurting at night, while he was turning around in his huge bed in the academy to find a position. Phil was worried, reading his newspaper after all the rumble in the town. The night was quiet, he really needed to rest, so he fell asleep quickly. It might look stupid, but he loved having a huge bed. It’s weird to describe, but he just loved sleeping in huge spaces, for some reason. It might be the routine, neither he knows. The next day was marked with one of the most important meetings of his life. As he woke up, Phil was reading a letter, with a drawn stamp on the back, like an emblem. Now Black was curious <<W...What’s up with that thing now?>> Phil was worried, but he smiled to Black masking his emotions. <<Oh, a letter from an old friend...You know, old people like me...>> Black ignored him to get to the town.
Everything was regular, the mayor took his place to maneuver the town. Everything was going back to normal, except for the houses, but the building site was already set up, so they’d recover the houses shortly. Nothing to do, so he kept where he left. Lying on a bench, in the park, looking at the sky. His tail falling off from the opposite side, and his head on his crossed legs. Right when he was about to fall asleep under the penumbra of the trees, he heard something whishing in the grass. He ignored it, it had to be an insect or any animal. In fact, he didn’t hear anything else. After a few minutes of complete relax, he opened his eyes after a long yawn. He saw somepony staring at him, joyfully smiling at him. Fear got him instantly, forcing him to scream while trying to get up from the bench.
The result was that his cranium crashed on the mare’s. They both fell to the ground, rolling and screaming in pain, holding their heads while crying. After drying up a few tears Black asked, still almost screaming <<Why would you do that, you freak?!>> The mare talked with a sweet voice, but sharp at the same time <<Ow, now it’s My fault?>> Black had a weird kind of fun arguing with her for a while, after finishing their energies by screaming and rolling, they both got up and sit on the bench. Still massaging his head, Black decided to ask her <<So, what do you want?>> She turned around, smiling <<You should already know me, don’t you? Anyway, I just came here to say hi!>> Black didn’t recognize her. He wanted to make a good impression so, he tried to remember.
A cerulean mane with two pink mashes was well combed, falling from a single side. A white horn was coming out of it. A shiny white coat, not as his when he won at Canterlot, but still. Her tail was kind of uncombed, but still not as Black’s. Her eyes were splendid. A mixture of blue and green. At the center, the cerulean part was expanding like a firework, slowly melting with green at the side. <<Hm... So you’re here for no reason... Well...>> She became a little more serious, getting off the bench <<You’ll come to Canterlot with me, that’s for sure!>> Black was of course against it <<No way...!>> She turned away, beginning to walk <<You’d come after me if you knew that my father knew yours, once...>> Black jumped off the bench too, reaching the mare. <<You got me this time, sis!>>

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Stardust                          
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Stardust
Black was walking with her. She was so cute, Black almost blushed on her for no reason. They took a train to Canterlot, without even packing up something. Black didn’t even care about telling Phil. She kept talking, but Black’s attention was a little low, he was still asking what did she know about his parents. The travel ended in a flash. He noticed her cutie mark while they got down. A star, with a wave of little stars following it.<<By the way, sweetie...The name’s Stardust.>> When she turned around, Black noticed she was wearing a necklace. It was a blue stone, like a sapphire, but a little brighter, and smoothed. It was blue, but inside there were some other coloured shards. Stardust wanted to hang out in the town before getting to her house, and Black was forced to accept, but he was curious about that mare. And, yes, he liked her a little. It’s useless to lie. The most awkward moment was when she hugged him in a square after he admitted she was cute. It was a really bizarre moment, Black didn’t want to risk, he wanted to know that thing about his parents.
After a whole day in Canterlot, (a happy day, she was really friendly) It was a summer day, and they decided to take an ice cream while walking at her home. It wasn’t a home. It was a whole mansion. Black had a bad feeling. What if her parents were rich snobs he would end up hating? Dark pink walls, with black fences on the front, same on the other sides. Inside, there was a large garden with trees, but most of the grass was kinda dark. In the garden there was a gravel path, which brings to a big house. The colour was the same, but there were some wooden particles like the windows. She opened the gates, letting him in. It was weird, how a Canterlot mare was this confidant. Entering the house, he noticed wide spaces, a really nice house. <<So...There should be somepony else, right?>>Said him, almost tired of waiting. She smiled saying <<No, daddy’s gonna be late today...His work always drags him away from home. But he does it mainly for me, that’s why I don’t mind it.>> Black noticed a photo of a mare on a table. <<She is your...Right?>> Stardust lost the smile for a moment, looking away, mumbling.
Black put down the photo, excusing <<I know, it’s hard to let someone go...It’s harder for you than me.>> They ended up the sightseeing of the house. There was a huge room on the first floor. The entrance floor was made out of cobblestone, then a dark wooden floor expanded under the kitchen and the cozy living room  with a fireplace and sofas, and the second floor had only bedrooms, like his old house did, but way more expensive. This one was just more expensive and luxury. Stardust asked him to wait until his dad was home, so they could talk directly. They sit in her bedroom, but he prefered to lay on the carpet. <<So, Black, did you remember me already?>> Black looked at her shaking his head. <<C'mon, Black, I was that blank flank at school, we were sitting on the last desks! Remember when I sit near you, the first time?>>. Black started remembering <<You mean that one who tripped on me? Yeah, Stardust...>> He remembered about that filly that he used to know. They weren't so deep, but she probably was a dear friend. <<Oh, you were THAT one? Gee, I didn’t see you for YEARS!>> Said him getting up smiling.
Hey, Stardust... Where did you get that necklace? She looked at the fascinating stone on her chest. <<Oh, when I was little, after you leaved Canterlot, I got my cutie mark...>> Black was listening carefully. <<I got my cutie mark by performing a spell. I had to get in the magic academy, and I was looking for a spell to impress them. When I found out about a spell that made stars fall, I couldn't believe it. The problem was that I practised a lot, without success. So, when I went there, I was so nervous, I couldn't do anything. But then, I remembered what I did to get there. I was so angry about my insuccess, that I got to scream. And when I did it, my horn began sending sparks by himself. It was midday, but I could see what I did. I saw falling stars, in the morning! It was unbelievable, it was a show as beautiful as your rainboom->> Black sighed <<Sis, about that, it's not a rainboom. It's not supposed to be as mine was...>> Stardust kept talking excusing <<Anyway, the show went on for an half minute, then the stars were gone. My cutie mark appeared. The most impressive part was that it was daytime, so I saw every star's detail. I got the necklace from a comet that landed near the academy. I got a 10 at the first test already. The comet was corroded by the atmosphere, so everything left was this stone. I bringed it to a jewellery, and the keeper told me it's a rare type of sapphire, really valuable. I'd love it even if it was just a glass piece, though.>>
They kept talking for an hour straight. He remembered about a dear old friend. After memories were scattered, they felt better. They became immediately friends, as they were long time ago. Right when they were about to leave, they heard the door close. Her dad was home, and she didn’t even wait for dragging Black downstairs, making him trip in the stairs, and end up falling on the floor. While getting up, massaging his neck, he looked up to the pony. A old, severe pony looked at him. The embarassingly looked at each other. He was a gray and built earth pony, with fair hair and moustaches, with green eyes. <<Hi dad, this is Black Angel, can I keep it?>> Black looked at her shaking <<W-What?>> The old pony ignored them <<I’m getting old for this kind of stuff...>> Black turned around again yelling to the pony <<Hey!>>
Stardust laughed, so did her father. An interesting situation.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                           Trial                           
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Trial
After ten minutes of confusion, they all sit on the sofas near the fireplace. The old one was way more nice than he looked. <<So, you’re Black Angel... You’re the one that helped Star through her childhood. It was hard for her, as you may have noticed...>> Black nodded, and let him continue <<You see, when she came back home, the first thing that she used to tell me was what you did to her. I appreciated it, and I also think that without you, she would still be shy, alone, and uncertain...>> Black smiled, he couldn’t answer. So Stardust did it for him <<So, you want to tell me or I must do it for you?>> The silence answered yes. She turned to Black and said <<Black, after your successes, you’ve been chosen to enter in the Wonderbolt Academy!>> Black got up <<What!? One like ME in the Wonderbolts?>> Entering the Wonderbolts was a great thing, but it’s not what he thought. Being a celebrity and being in the centre of the attention wasn’t his dream.
He prefered to shut up for now, so, they kept talking for a while. <<The problem is...where am I gonna sleep now?>> The old one answered immediately <<What? I thought that bridges were nice places.>> Stardust got closer to his dad whining <<But dad! I asked you if I could keep it!>> The old pony just pointed at the sofas. Black shrugged <<Allright, I get it.>> After that Stardust went to bed, the old one called out Black for a night walk. They were walking on the road while they started talking <<I already know you, son, but I couldn’t even introduce myself. I’m Ironwind.>> Black looked at him <<You mean... THAT Ironwind?>> Ironwind smiled <<Yes, THAT one. The General of the royal guard. I sent Stardust to call you because I was busy. We need you to go there because you’d...>> He made a little pause.
<<You’d like to. We know that you’re an excellent flier. The Wonderbolts asked us to look for you after you performed that beast the other day.>> Black wasn’t so excited. <<You know, I know I can be fast, but...It wouldn’t be my kind of life. I don’t like to be in the spotlight. I’m not arrogant or presumptuous at all. If you noticed that in the race...>> Ironwind put a hoof on his shoulder, explaining <<Son, in your life, you must chase your dreams. But if you can make another dream true...You just got to listen your heart. I’m here to tell you that you got admitted to that academy, nothing else. This were the orders from...>> Black looked at him asking from who.
<<My orders were these. My job is done, no more...No less. The decision is up to you.>> Black lowered his hoof <<Maybe there’s someone who wants to see me shine for real. I’ll do it.>> They went straight back home. Black jumped on the sofa, near the fireplace. Ironwind went upstairs. <<’Night, grandpa!>> and the other <<Goodnight, filly!>> He was tired. And he had to go in the academy, too. He abandoned himself on the soft pillows, and fell asleep. After a quick breakfast he followed Ironwind to the academy. They walked in an office. They were waiting for him. He was alone, in the centre of the office, as the door was closed, Iron wasn’t even there. The overseers were watching him.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Worthless                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Worthless
<<Black Angel...We were waiting for you. Would you accept the invitation into the academy? You’ll stay here for a while, we need to train and test you, and it will be hard. So, do ya?>> Black waited for it, then he nodded to the officer.They went directly on the field. He stood there for two weeks, full of training and tests. If there was a word to describe that period, it was “squalid”. There were other good pegasi, but he didn’t care, because there weren’t in his division. Wings flaps, landings, wind...It was so repetitive. He always stood still, waiting for new orders. He never missed something. Two weeks were gone quickly, so he found himself in the office again. The officers were begging for him to stay.
<<I know, I’m good, and you need me>> he said <<But it’s not what I like. I don’t want to be cocky with everyone I see.>> He turned around, leaving the building.  As he began getting farrer from that place, a Wonderbolt showed up. A stallion with a blue mane, he didn’t even remember his name. <<You’re late, I dropped the ball just a minute ago.>> The stallion tried to stop him, but he didn’t want to stay longer. The stallion explained himself as soon as possible <<Black, I just needed to tell you that...Well, you should go to the castle. Ironwind is waiting you there. I think you should go with him.>> Black remembered about the conversations he had with Iron, so he nodded to the Wonderbolt while he flew to the castle. He landed right in front of the castle, and the guards let him pass, while one drived him to the throne room.
He couldn’t believe what was going on in the last period, he even risked to faint while the throne door opened. The princess herself was going to talk directly with him. It couldn’t be good. He walked on the carpet, heading to the throne. Ironwind was there, and another Wonderbolt too. He bowed his head while greeting. He was too scared to look directly at the princess. After a minute in silence, she began talking to him <<Black Angel...I’ve been watching you for a while. And your behavior wasn’t-->> Black interrupted her <<Your Highness, I know. It’s all my fault, I should accept the invitation in the wonderbolts. But I don’t want to.>> The princess couldn’t understand him perfectly. <<Why not, you have all of the requisites!>> Black kept answering <<It’s not that... I just...>> The princess beat again <<You even performed a Sonic Rainboo-->> Black roared raising his head for the first time <<Again? I’m sick of hearing this. It wasn’t a Rainboom at ALL! From what I read from those tales, it’s that a Rainboom is supposed to send light. Mine bringed nothing but night! Darkness! The opposite! Call it however you want, but it’s not a Rainboom if you ask me.>> Celestia was surprised from those answers. <<...Why won’t you join them?>> Black looked at the floor again.
<<I...I don’t like being popular. Or respected. I don’t like fame. I always disliked those snob ponies, and now I don’t want to join them. Not that I have something against the Wonderbolts, but...I don’t want to rot inside...>> Celestia smiled, but she immediately kept talking severely. <<We’ll see... For the next days, you have to help Ironwind with a serious case. He’ll give you the details. And last thing. Don’t fail.>> Some guards took him away, without any other details. They went straight to a tower, on the last floor. As they entered from the staircase, a round table with maps on it was in the middle of the room. Other shelves were on the side. A few more guards were sit around the table. So did they. They didn’t talk about the conversation with Celestia. At all. <<Black, we took you here because we needed you. Not for flying, but for something more. You remember that house that was destroyed in Ponyville some time ago? It wasn’t the only one.
That dragon took hostages too.  But you know, a dragon will never argue with a pony, so we’re trying to figure out his pattern to take them back. Until now, we signed on a map the spots where he attacked. Let’s get to work.>> Black took the map to study it. Red crosses were scattered around a map representing a nice slice of Equestria. Ironwind started to talk again <<If you look closely, the crosses are->> Black interrupted the stallion almost immediately. <<The mountains. That’s where he’s going. He needs to sleep somewhere, and a nice place to keep the hostages. He went from a side to the other, he’s doing it again. I suppose that if we wait for it, we can easily spot him while he rests. And save the hostages without even a fight. Even though he’ll wake up sometime. So I guess it’s unavoidable. If we can’t calm him down, sorry the expression but, there will be blood. Am I done yet?>>
Everyone in the room was staring at him with wide eyes. Iron gave some commands to some guards, then he took Black with him. While they walked along the hallways, Iron was talking.<<You’re unbelievable. I need to make another step and tell you about your father.>> They went in the basement. Grey stone made the walls. They walked for a long hallway, then Iron opened a door with a rusty key. As they entered, Black noticed a lighted torch on the wall, and a few items on the wall, then, a long jewelcase.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                        Outrageous                         
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Outrageous
<<Black...Son of Saint. The captain of the white army. We were fighting on the same field that day. War got two countries, and the most weak asked for our help to restore peace. Our army was wearing white armors... Except us 3.>> Black asked why 3, and the stallion kept talking <<I was at the left, wearing a grey uniform... At the right there was another stallion named “Cinder”, but you probably know him as “Philip”...In the middle, a white pony with a blue mane, and green eyes, wearing a black armor. Saint, the chieftain. Ah, we knew each other since we were colts. Never argued. We were ALWAYS together. We knew each other in a hot, boring summer. Hah, I still remember how your father used to laugh at my every single sentence. He was the little one, and Cinder wasn't really big, either. I was the "old" one... Three best friends, duelling a whole army. The battle was fast... You could hear metal sounds from kilometres. The fact is that we didn’t want to battle, especially Saint... It was worthless. Back to back, us three were trying to resist.
Saint was the best of us, he was an unicorn, so he could help a lot. But the fighting was about to end, already. After realizing that his whole company was smited, Saint dropped his weapon. I don’t know what kind of divine enchantment that was, but I saw a bright light from him, and then everypony did the same thing. Everypony stopped fighting. And don’t ask me how, but everypony was standing still again. Peace was restored, however, Saint paid with his own life. The two countries stopped fighting in that moment. We counted the fallen after the battle. Just one. Your father.>> Black was amazed from that tale. <<You probably never heard about this. You want to know something even weirder? The only ones who remembered about that battle, are me, Cinder, and the princesses. No one else.
That spell was so powerful that it required a life tribute to be used. We decided not to tell anypony about this. Except Sunbeam (Your mother), we used an excuse. You were born, and she left us right after. A wasted couple, if you ask me...How I miss them, you can’t even imagine. Anyway, how about you try out his stuff? I mean, you’re the same, except the colour. You were assigned to Andershoof, a young couple that didn't suspect anything. They were going to rise you until you were big enough to live by yourself, and that's what they did. I couldn't take you, it would have been too dangerous for you.>> Ironwind pointed at a black armor on the wall. A black and lucid armor, made by leggins, a diadem, and a chestplate with a red jewel on the front. In a corner there were wing protections too. He tried them on, and discovered that those things fitted him really well.
Then, Ironwind opened the jewelcase, taking out a long black and white sword. The hilt was decorated with an opaque white stone, the form was a “T”, shaped like wings, made by the black leathered handle and a decoration on the center of the loose silvered hilt, with two guarding arms shaped as wings going at the sides. The blade was long and shiny, even though a little heavy. A pretty heavy  alloy, but really strong and sharpened. He sheathed the sword in its scabbard, after putting it on his left flank. <<You look so much like Saint...>> Black could fairly understand how much he missed his father. <<Now, most important. Do you know how to handle a blade?>> Black laughed a little <<Well, I used to play a lot with sticks when I was a filly. Does that count?>> Ironwind made him exit the room <<It’s better than nothing, at least you won’t be an encumbrance. Oh, yeah, Stardust sends you this>>. The pony gave him a black, long cloak with red internal. It wasn’t really a cloak. It looked much more like a tall and long scarf from the neck: If he lowered his head, it would cover it up to half of his eyes, it was a cloak from the back though, he didn’t want to cover his tail, so he made it go down from his flank.
They went straight back to the tower, but now there were more guards and officials. The armor he had on himself made a pleasant noise at every step. The general took command, giving orders at everypony, except a very few of them. When there were only 5 ponies in the room, he started talking again. <<We need to develop a plan. But we only got 3 days (as the intel says) until the next movement.>> They stood there until the next day. Black had to sleep in a castle room because of a princess’ order.  It was rainy. He went straight to the tower right after waking up at 11:00, as he went to bed really late. Almost kicking the door, he surprised everypony inside.
The princess was there too. He was angry. <<Why didn’t you wake me up? I need to develop that plan in 2 hours now.>> Ironwind explained immediately. <<Black... We didn’t want you to know that... The last night...The dragon kidnapped Stardust while she was alone, far from the town.>> Black’s eyes lighted up.<<Black, darling, stay calm. We can easily->> The princess got interrupted by Black. Never interrupt her in moments like this, but he couldn’t hold it anymore. <<Shut up! I’m doing it by myself, I don’t need you to know what to do with my life! It’s mine! And now I’m taking back my friends, whatever you say or not!>>. But he knew perfectly what was going on: they were just testing him. Everything was too strange, too obvious. He threw himself from the tower, flying to the place signed with the last red cross on the map he took with him. The princess was trying to stop him, but he didn’t care. The only thing he wanted to do was to save Stardust, and fight his consequences. He could risk exile, but he preferred this instead. And if it really was a test, it meant "I know what you're up to, let's get this over with"
The rain was disturbing his flight to the mountain, but the anger made him ignore being wet or the wind. He flew for a nice while, and the mountain got closer and closer. He landed heavily on the side, beginning the hike. He saw the entrance of a cave while flying around it. He was marching despite the splashing puddles or the soft verges. He was getting tired though. A small opening on the rock was inviting him for a quick rest. As he got him, his attention was catched by a puddle reflecting his face. He wasn’t a colt anymore. He didn’t even understand how a mare like Stardust would like a depressed pony like him. After a deep minute thinking about his life and his errors, he got out. The last tract of rock before the cave.
He drawn his weapon. It’s the crucial moment. He saw the dragon standing still, at the opened space in front of the entrance. The hostages were inside, he could hear their voices. He jerked to the beast with his sword held in his mouth. But the thing avoided him. They were one in front of the other. The dragon spitted some fire toward him, but Black avoided it by jumping in the sky. He knew the dragon wasn't really aggressive as he should be. He also saw somepony in the cave. He aimed for the dragon’s only weakness: his eyes. He peaked to his face, with raindrops cutting his face. As the blade touched his eyelid, everything around him was covered in a black veil.
He was back in the Obsidian Chamber again.

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                     An Angel's Sorrow                     
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An Angel's Sorrow
He faced the ghost. He could see every feature this time. A white pony with a silvered mane, with red eyes. And a black and red Cutie Mark. It was so similar to him, just different colours, laying on the throne. <<I was waiting for you>> Said him while jumping off the seat. <<What are you?>> roared the black one.<<I’m a part of your very soul. I don’t have a name either. It could be Black, but it wouldn’t make much sense, so i prefer White. Yeah, call me White.>> Black was about to take out his sword, but he was completely disarmed. <<Black Angel...A life condemned to sink in sadness. I’m surprised you made it to here.>> Black answered <<I’m just trying to live my life. What do you want from me?>> White began explaining himself <<You see, when you were born, you were split in two. Sorrow (you) and me, the joy. For this you were so happy when you were me.>> Black decided to reveal his secrets.
<<You want to know? Ok, here you go. I never felt happiness. Not even once. When I laugh, I don’t feel happiness. I don’t feel nothing at all. Is this joy? The chance not to feel sadness for a brief moment? When I became all white, I laughed, yes, but that time I felt fear. I was so scared about stopping laughing and coming back to my sad reality.>> White lost his smile <<I know. That dragon was part of a deal between him and princess Celestia. She wanted to test you. Even the house he blew up was about to be wiped out, it was old. Your soul will never be completed without us both. Happiness and sorrow must get mixed. Because the one who suffers the most, is the most joyful. And you can remember happy moments only by sorrow. Happiness is weird. It’s the courage to ignore your sorrow, look forward with your friends. It’s the only thing that can make you live better.>> He extended his hoof to Black.
<<Accept happiness. And your life will shine. And it will do it forever, because you know what darkness means.>> Black got closer to him. <<Darkness and light mixed together...I like it. Only these two ingredients can make me a real...>> He touched his hoof, then they said simultaneously <<Angel!>> The room lighted up, showing white walls, then the light devoured everything. He woke up in a bed, with beepings sounds, and a lamp on the ceiling. Stardust screamed and charged him with a hug. He tried to get up, but a pang of pain made him fall again. <<Oh, Black I was so scared for you!>> Ironwind intervened <<You did it. You saved the hostages after a fight with that dragon. You were so good, you didn’t have to hit him once. You took a chain in a corner of the cave, and tied him. We were almost sure you couldn’t make it. As you can get up, Celestia wants to talk with you. And she looked angry... But after all, you passed the te... You should talk to her when you feel like it.>> Black slowly got up, limping. He didn’t have cuts, but lots of contusions. He found himself on the red carpet once again. <<Black Angel, it’s with high-->> <<I know, you want to exile me for disobeying a princess and risking someone’s life and all that stuff. Let me pack up my stuff.>>
Celestia ignored him <<Let me talk! We tested you many times. You were a good flier and you COULD enter the Wonderbolts. But your virtues would have been wasted on this kind of work. Especially those times when I talked to you, that night after the race, or yesterday, I understood how much you were worth. We were looking for someone new here at the castle. Not a simple guard, but more. We needed resources to secure everypony out there’s lives. With high distinction and my authority, I elect you, Black Angel, son of Saint, Captain of the royal guard, pegasus division!>> Black almost cried. <<Me...Captain? Now that I think about it, it’s the kind of work that reflects my spirit! Thanks, your Highness. I promise I’ll never do such a thing to you!>> Celestia smiled again nodding <<Of course, you're still young. And not even trained to do such a wo->> Black interrupted saying <<I do? Sure?>> Celestia sighed <<Maybe you're not THAT bad, by the way I can't let you stay here forever, you NEED to go out and have some fun after all. I'm assuming you, yes, but don't feel in prison.>> Black was looking at the other two that were in the room, Stardust and her father <<Y-yeah, you're right, especially->> Celestia interrupted him again. <<Black Angel, could you please let me finish?>> He began watching the princess again <<We'll discuss in a second moment about your work here.>>. Black didn't even know what to say anymore.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                         Prologue                          
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Prologue
Black Angel was a colt like everypony else: cheerful, jolly and unconcerned. He was a Pegasus: he had a black coat and an uncombed mane, which was slightly darker than his coat. He had wonderful red eyes, which could light up a lot when he was excited.  He was born in Canterlot, from MR. and MRs. Andershoof, a well-to-do family. Their work was promising: they never had money troubles. Black really loved his family. MR. Andershoof used to work for the security patrol,  but he left it some time ago and now he weirdly refuses to talk about it. He was a brown Unicorn with green eyes and a  mane darker than his coat.
Black used to spend a lot of time with him, he liked to listen to the stories his father wrote: he used to write a lot, but he never printed one of his stories. He used to read his stories to Black, who used to fall asleep slumping on his father’s checkered jumper right in the middle. Mrs. Andershoof was instead a white earth pony with an iliac mane combed with a hair pin and blue eyes. She used to stay home while his husband was at work. She was an excellent cook and she used to chat a lot with her friends. Black didn’t have much in common with her mother but he loved her anyway. Sometimes, when the couple was alone, they seemed to be in a different world, almost nothing could wake them up. They were deeply in love, as they always were, even though they weren't really old. No, they were pretty young, for a married couple.
They had a cerulean-painted house with two floors; lots of windows allowed the daylight to invade the whole thing. On the low ground there was the kitchen, with Mrs Andershoof’s cooking tools, and the living room, where Mr. Andershoof used to sit on the armchair in front of the fireplace. On the second floor there were two bedrooms: Black’s one and his parents one, where there were only a huge closet, two night tables to the sides of a queen-sized bed which took off half of the bedroom. Black’s room was huge instead: he had a corner cabinet with a closet attached to it and a massive bed. Despite he was clever and bright, the thing he loved most was flying. He was as faster as light, almost no one could equal him; he was extremely determined when he was in a competition: he used to give his best to win. He was quite popular, and he had lots of friends, he used to see them everyday in his school.

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                         Decision                          
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Decision
From that day forward, he became more silent, darker, and he didn’t even show any emotions but sadness. Everyone at school was curious about what happened to him, but no one could understand. Black was realizing that many elements that made Canterlot didn’t please him, mainly the rich ponies he knew, who were constantly thinking about being superior to anypony else. He was really hating his own city. Spring was leaving place for Summer, Black’s mood was worsening, till he finished the school he attended by what seemed a very long time. It was the last day of school, and everypony met outside, in the square right in front of the building <<What to do now? I have no idea!>> Said a filly <<I’ll study Magic in the Canterlot Academy... My old man knows the president, I’m in, I don’t even need to do the tests>>Answered another one (Black made a wince) <<Hey, Black, I bet you’d rock in a Fly Academy!>> forced the first one.
For once, Black made an half-smile <<Y-Yeah, I’ll probably go there... What about you instead? I just love your drawings...>> The conversation went on, and the square slowly empty. Black went home too. He was pensive. Without even greeting, he got upstairs, threw his bag in the corner and finally jumped on his bed. He was looking at the ceiling, thinking about the future <<I won’t stay here, that’s for sure...>> he thought  <<The ideal should be a nice city, with calm people, unlike these snobs I got here...Nothing special...>> after a while, he decided to act: he took his Geography book, and opened the last page, the one with the map of the whole Equestria. After a couple of minutes, he slipped downstairs to tell the Andershoof <<Hey, I’m off to Ponyville, I’ll see what to do when I’m down there>> The couple was really nervous about his decision, but after a research, they discovered that there was a special academy nearby, so they decided to give Black a try, an academy meant a lot to him, and he felt like making his parents proud of him.
The problem of where to stay until September was solved quickly: Mr. Andershoof’s cousin lived there. He could stay there, at least before entering an academy; he hoped for it. Black’s stuff was already sent to Ponyville, he just needed to get there by train. He bought a one-way ticket. No one was there watching him, just a purple filly he never saw before, she was looking at him in a weird way, like he wanted to tell him “silly” or “Poor you”. Black saw his entire childhood from behind the glass. It was really hard to leave back everything you did since you were alive. He felt really bad. He just wanted to be remembered. To leave a mark...

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                          Regret                           
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Regret
On his way to his room, he felt like sitting on a bench, and reflect for a while. All those things...So much noise... His head was heavy. After a yawn, he heard someone stopping a few metres behind him. He kept looking at the stars. <<You should be so happy, now that you proof to be the best>>Black didn’t even turn around, he just answered how he really felt. <<I’m not the best. There are loads of better fliers than me outside there. I don’t even feel that good.>> He stopped, then began again <<You know, all those ponies I beat...Except Diamond, that went way far from it... They just wanted to win, after all.>> The other one, half lighted by a streetlamp started to attack him <<You don’t even have enough spine to admit that you won! Look at you!>> Black felt a little frustrated against that sharp voice.<<Well, it pretty much resume it. I’m just saying that I broke many dreams to realize mine...Not that I mustn’t fight for it... but still...>>
The voice was a mare’s, that almost screamed <<You even performed a Sonic Rainboom! If you’re supposed to be an angel, well you’re the worst example I’ve ever seen!>> Black heard a feather noise. He knew she was a young mare, slightly younger than him. <<You’re right, but... I can’t ignore it. Since I was young... I could feel sadness in ponies around me, I tried to help them...But I failed many times...That’s why I have black wings. I’m a BLACK angel.>> The mare couldn’t hold it up. She began screaming at him every sentence she had in her mind. The fact is that they were both right. How can you ignore the ones who tried hard as you, but they failed? He wasn’t probably the only one who had to drop tears to win. He got up from the bench, angry against the conversation opponent. He shut her up with a step.
<<I don’t want to sink into sorrow, either. But I don’t even want to ignore sadness. AND...>> He screamed the last sentence <<I didn’t make all this way just to come here and being teached by a filly HOW TO LIVE!>> He turned around in a twitch. No one around. Just him and the sky. He slipped back on the bench, panting. After taking breath, he sadly got up and went to bed. He entered his room without noise. He noticed his trophy in a corner. He threw himself as usual on his (obviously) huge bed. He was tired, and fell asleep almost immediately. A quiet night gifted him some rest.

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                The Angel with Black Wings                 
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The Angel with Black Wings
Black’s work was to save lives. He couldn’t believe his happiness. Even though he still couldn’t really understand what happiness is. He was changed. If you look at him while he’s smiling, you can see somepony else for a fraction of a second, then, you blink, you see Black again, and you feel your head heavy. He could stand Canterlot ponies now, it was enough searching the right ones. He had friends, a home (he could sleep in his room at the castle whenever he wants) and a work he liked. He also flew with the Wonderbolts as hobby, sometimes. He didn't like it anyway.
He received a dragon-shaped medal too. The arctic ice inside him was melt, but not completely. He was still cold when alone, but he can easily smile to a friend. He couldn’t feel happiness. Now he can gift it to others. He’s not sure if the Obsidian Chamber really existed, but something happened for sure. White’s spirit was inside him. Physically he was really good-looking, there’s no suprise if Stardust wanted him to call her “Dusty” and she was so jealous for him. They were almost always together. Really best friends. Even if he was joyful...He was sad.
Even if full of sorrow, he was happy.
He's an Angel.
With black wings.
THE END