Once Upon A Time . . .

Joker

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The pony smiled wickedly as she watched the scene unfold.

"I guess I'll have to visit a few beings." a smirk stretched across her face as the screams behind filled her ears. Their shrieks for help were unheeded.

"Miss, it's time." a deformed monster said from behind her.

"Yes it is, but not for you." the pony smiled, with a swift motion, she threw him to the floor. He stared up at her, wide eyed and scared. The pony smiled and leaned in close.

"Never trust a joker." she whispered before stabbing him in the chest. A scream escaped his lips and she smirked.

"Did you really think you could fool me?" she said threateningly before ending his life. He'd have a wonderful time renewing himself in the daut. "Your brother is now in the realm of the living, and I can not let him stay."

She trotted out the door, giving her guards a harsh look. As if saying, this could be you if you don't follow my rules.

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Blank woke up at the crack of dawn. She rolled out of bed and saw Akki Oni curled up on the floor. She sighed and put a blanket over his red pelt. A smile shifted to her face as he stirred slightly before returning to deep sleep. Blank walked to her small oven/stove and lit the flame. She felt the heat whisk across her face, and her dully colored hair whisked around her for a moment.

The gray unicorn put a pot on the flames, the stuck the dough she made last night into the oven. Grits and biscuits. It was simple but Blank somehow made it so it wouldn't taste so bland.

Blank stirred the almost finished grits. The biscuits were cooling on the small table. In his bed, Takasu turned and awoke. The enticing smells from the table called to him. Akki Oni woke up soon after. Takasu reached out for a biscuit but was stopped by a gray hoof.

"Not until the rest is finished." Blank scolded the young dragon.

Takasu rolled his eyes but didn't argue with her. Everyone knew who the alpha was in this household.

The grits finished cooking and they all sat down to eat. Butter was spread evenly across the biscuits and the grits were heated to perfection. Such a simple breakfast was made with precision and attention. The biscuits were chewy but the butter melted in the mouth, making it seem like it was smoother. The grits were seasoned and had melted cheese mixed in. The flavors bouced off the tongue.

   Akki Oni had never had such a good meal in his life. Takasu had never tasted such love in food before. Blank just pondered on how she forgot to get more salt, and that she'd have to get more cheese when she went shopping.

"Now I want you to guard this house while I'm away. If anything other than me and Takasu cross your path, scare it off." Blank ordered Akki Oni. "Your going to school tomorrow. If anyone says anything mean to you, deal with it. Now , let's go Takasu."

The two trotted along the trail in silence. Takasu didn't even know what to say to the gray unicorn. Blank's eyes seemed cold and hard at times, but warm and kind at others. Her personality seemed to do flip-flops. Takasu glanced over at her awkwardly for a few moments before Blank broke the silence.

"So, how did you like breakfast?" she asked him.

"Huh? Oh. It was good." Takasu answered, like an airhead.

"Just good, huh?" Blank pressed.

"I really liked it. Most of the food I ate in Manehatten was more expensive, but not as delicious." Takasu answered, regaining his sanity.

Blank's cold, neon eyes softened. She could feel a shifting in her fixed soul. Blank shook the feeling from her stone heart. Getting too close to some one will always bring you heartbreak. She looked up from the ground and caught sight of a group of ponies, waiting at the edge of the forest path. She glanced over at Takasu who seemed to notice them as well.

Blank felt the shadow of foreshadowing swarm around her. Today would be filled with threats and insults. Much more than every other day. She walked faster, her head held higher than usual because she knew these ponies. The Jokers, as they were called, were a gang of misfits who practically ran the school. Even the teachers wouldn't cross their path. Blank was the only exception in the entire town. Every day, it was a war between one pony and a whole gang.

"Move." Blank commanded, keeping her voice level.

"And why should we do that?" one asked, glancing over at Takasu who towered over all of them considering how old he was.

"There are reasons that I don't need to explain." Blank replied.

The Jokers broke into laughter, but not a single one moved. Takasu could feel the tension in the air.

Blank didn't even flinch when one tried to hit her, she just held his hoof with an aura of green magic. Her gaze was sharp and defiant.

"I said move." Blank commanded once more.

Takasu stood there, looking befuddled. As most most of the mares in Manehatten had just walked away when faced with ponies like these, but Blank Stripe seemed to hold a different place in the universe.

Damn you God.(aka Chuck Norris)

Takasu felt something shift, not noticing that he stepped in front of Blank instinctively.

"She said to move." Takasu said, hoping that his voice didn't crack.

   "Looks like we got a tough guy here," one stallion said, "should we teach him a lesson."

It was more of a statement than a question and Blank knew Takasu wasn't hardened by brutal fights.

   Blank pulled Takasu and took the blow right to her cheek. Regaining herself quickly, she sent a wave of green magic. Her eyes glowed with the power that flowed through her.

   The gang of ponies were thrown back. One got slammed against a telephone pole. That pony started coughing up blood. But other than that one outlier, the rest were fine. The others ran off, except for the one coughing up blood. He looked up to find Blank Stripe standing above him.

   Wincing he waited to the blows to come, but they never came. He opened his eyes to see Blank kneeling down.

He struggled to move away, but Blank held fast. She grabbed his hoof with her magic, which was now gentle instead of fueled by anger.

"Why aren't you hurting me?" his voice quivered as he looked into her neon green eyes.

"A life is a life, and no one deserves to die, no matter what they have done...at least for some ponies." Blank answered without a glance at him.

Using her green magic, Blank helped him up.

"I-I'm Dark Knight..." the stallion quivered. (no not batman you twits :ajbemused:)  Having the strong-willed unicorn near him was intimidating as it was, but having a dragon near as well was nerve-racking.

   "Come on, I don't want to be late..." Blank said as she walked to school. How was she going to explain that she had a job to Takasu? She sighed. Oh well.