Once Upon A Time . . .

by MidnightBloom

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Dark, Romance, Comedy, Random
Length: 4883

Once Upon A Time, a filly looked up into the stars and wished for a friend. She got more than what she wished for when a dragon starts to live in her attic. That dragon apparently loves geometry and worshiping the devil.

Once Upon A Time, a filly looked up into the stars and wished for a friend. She got more than what she wished for when a dragon starts to live in her attic. That dragon apparently loves geometry and worshiping the devil.

My name is Blank Stripe. Pretty nice name huh? [Can you not feel my pain] because of my terrible name no pony wants to be my friend. When my cousin, Diamond Tiara comes for a visit things only get worse. Then the dragon shows up and we become best friends, except for one problem. . .he loves geometry and the devil.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-18 18:10:15 UTC

Episode 1

Opening Credits (only as ponies okay.)

Youtube Video

Past Actions

                     The bell rung and recess started. Blank Stripe sighed and closed her book on animal anatomy. Tomorrow was the last day of school and she still couldn't find the courage to talk to her crush, Moon Chaser. Then again, her cousin, Diamond Tiara was coming for a visit and she had never met her before. Maybe she could find friends within her family. Blank stepped out into the crowded hallways. Blank opened her locker and put away the homework she completed during class. Blank took out her favorite story book, The Lonely Princess On the Moon, from it's perch on the top shelf in her locker. She always had a connection with Luna, mostly being that no pony ever accepted her.

         "Hey there blank flank." came a sneering voice from behind her.

"Hello, Ruby Red." Blank sighed as she closed her locker door and turned to the white filly with red mane and the cutie-mark of a red gem. Blank started to walk away from the filly before she was stopped by one of Ruby's goons.

            "What are you reading." Ruby smirked as she ripped the book from Blank's grasp.

"Ha! Who would read such trash!" Ruby said in her snickering tone. Ruby Red threw the book into the trash bin. Blank ran over to it and picked it out frantically.

               "Yeah, pick in the trash like the rat you are!" Ruby shouted at her before walking away with her friends tagging behind her.

One blue and silver filly whispered to Ruby, "Why do we do this again?"

"To see how badly she suffers of course." Ruby Red said, not mentioning that Blank used to be her best friend.

                  Blank Stripe wouldn't let that tear she was holding back fall. Blank stood up and walked through the doors into the outside world. Around her the ponies stood and talked in groups. Summer vacation was on every pony's mind except Blank Stripe's. Blank Stripe had never enjoyed summer vacation that much. All she did was lock her door, climb under her bed and sulk while reading her only book over and over. It gave her comfort to know that even princesses get lonely. Blank walked home from school. The other ponies in her school didn't know of a life with poverty and pain. Blank's uncle was super rich and of course helped her mother stay on her feet every once in a while. Other than that, it was finish work at school, stay away from mother or she beats you, and find a place to read.

                  Blank never really slept in the same place. If anything she was more of a nomad, but Blank knew her mom, Dusty Heart, would put on the nice show for Diamond Tiara. Probably to get money. Blank Stripe continued walked for two more hours until she reached the shack called home. A limousine was parked outside and Blank knew she's have to share a room with her cousin. Great.

                  Blank walked through the doors to find arguing going on in the kitchen. A pink filly was whining to Uncle Rich about the stink and the dust and ect. ect.. Blank Stripe cleared her throat and stepped into the room.

"That's my cousin!" Diamond Tiara whined.

"If your going to be like that then you can just leave." Blank said aloud to grab attention from the bickering ponies.

"Daddy! Did you hear what she said to me?!" Diamond Tiara whined some more.

Blank rolled her eyes, "If your my cousin then I don't want to know the rest of my family. Now I'll give you the tour and Uncle Rich, you can leave now." Blank said.

"Daddy, don't leave me here!" Diamond Tiara yelled some more.

              Blank put a hoof to her mouth and watched as Uncle Rich drove off. Blank lifted her hoof away from Diamond's mouth and started walking towards her room.

             "Wait, your a blank-flank?" Diamond Tiara laughed.

"Yes, weren't you one just months ago. I don't see the reason in being a bully because all it does is get you in trouble." Blank retorted, despite her tail moving shyly over her flank.

"Blank don't be rude to the guest!" her mother shouted before hitting her in the head. Blank fell to the floor, she rubbed her head but got back up. The abuse at school and home damaged her heart more than her body, but unlike most fillies she held her ground. Blank continued walking to her room, she had fallen silent.

                 Diamond Tiara never witnessed abuse and was quite shocked at how her aunt treated Blank.

Blank Stripe cursed her mother's name. She kicked her wall a few good hard times before the paint peeled off. Blank noticed a small door underneath the paint. Blank noticed that there was no knob or handle. She kicked it a few good times before it splintered and broke.

                 Inside the space behind the door, lay an egg. Blank sighed and a green aura formed around her horn as she picked up the egg in her grasp. She knew how the unicorns in Celestia's school hatched dragon eggs to pass the test. Blank figured she might as well try.

                Mustering her strength, Blank focused all her magic on the egg. Her anger fueled the power emitting from her horn.  A small crack appeared after a few moments. It grew gradually as Blank's anger that built up over the years leaked out, the tears she'd held back from day one fell, full force.

                 A small green and blue creature grew larger and larger, then shrunk as Blank collapsed from exhaustion and pain. The dragon the grew was about her age. He looked at the pony who summoned him from his sleep and noticed the unseen bruises, cuts, and scars. The dragon shook his head, laid down and went to sleep.

[seriously, he just fell asleep?]

[just read the script!]

[okay, okay! You don't need to yell.]

[this is a serious story.]

[it's not exactly serious if he just falls asleep!]

[what was that you said about yelling.]

[don't start with me.]

[okay just start the ending already!]

[fine!]

[fine!]

(so sorry about that our producers are a little on edge because the coffee machine broke)

Youtube Video

Episode 2

Opening Credits

Youtube Video

Flames

                  Blank awoke to the smell of burnt pancakes. At least she thought it was pancakes. The silver filly opened her eyes to see her house engulfed in flames while a dragon slept on the floor next to her. She rubbed her head and found her ear was torn and bleeding. Blank sighed as her mind went into stress mode. The unicorn trotted over to the dragon and poked his side. He started to stir but went back to sleep. Blank rolled her eyes and kicked him in the stomach.

"Wake up before it's my hoof hitting your crotch!" she yelled over the flames licking at her hooves.

The dragon shot up at the sound of her command. He looked at her through the smoke before getting up and waddling towards the door.

                   Something clicked in the back of the dragons head and he fell in step beside Blank. The filly sighed and started running from the terrible flames licking at her legs. It hurt but she just dealt with it, like everything else in her life. Living her lie at school, hiding from it at home, then having to deal with it felt terrible. Blank ran out the door with the dragon at her heels. She started coughing the moment she escaped the burning building.

"She's alive?!" Blank heard her mother shout.

"Why did you start that fire, Aunt Dusty?" Diamond Tiara asked.

"Why does she have a dragon next to her!" Dusty shouted.

Blank turned and noticed that the dragon stayed by her side the entire time.

"H-hi." the dragon said before Blank collapsed in complete exhaustion and surprise.

                                                                       ~~~~~~~

                The dragon had put a cold rag on Blank's head. After a while he found a book on geometry and started reading. Blank's mother continuously shouted at the police who were questioning her.

Diamond Tiara was a bit more cooperative with them and told the authorities what had happened. Apparently, Blank's mother set the house on fire while knowing her daughter was inside. She was being sent to court next week. In the meantime , Blank Stripe had to find a new home.

                 The days dragged on. No matter what happened, Blank still put on her bravest face, and went to school. All the taunts from her classmates hurt but she just kept moving on. She named the dragon, Takasu, after a stuffed toy dragon her mother tore apart and stuffed bread inside.(can you guess?)

Days moved on and Blank's mother was sent to jail for attempted murder. Blank Stripe still moved on with Takasu at her side. He seemed entertained by geometry and demon summoning. The young filly honestly didn't care until it was decided that he would go to school with her. Being already less popular than the moss in the bathroom, Blank really felt left out of everything and having a dragon as a classmate wasn't going to help.

The dragon followed the silver unicorn filly through the halls. Ponies whispered and talked as Blank passed with her head held high. Takasu wondered how she kept her cool with all the gossip and lies floating around like smoke. Takasu saw a white pony with red mane and a ruby on her flank. She looked at him in disgust and Takasu just shrugged it off, like in the memories of Blank.

              Takasu had the strange ability to travel through one's memories. When Takasu looked into Blank's eyes, he had seen the pain only she experienced but still, he never said anything.

                                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                            Blank walked into the cafe and heard the familiar welcome.

"Welcome home, Milady."

The filly had grown and was now in high-school. The maid cafe was her only choice of work because of the high pay. 150 bits was a lot more than the stores gave her.

"I'm here to apply for a job." Blank said.

"Well, follow me then. Chief is in the back, she'll ask you some questions!" the maid said cheerfully.

             The two walked into the back and met up with the chief.

"Hello! Welcome to Maid Latte! I know you have a blank flank but I'm sure your personality is mature enough to be here!" A white pegasus with light blue hair said cheerfully.

Blank smiled at the kindness floating off the mare.

"I am Blue Rose, but you can call me Chief like every pony else!" Chief exclaimed.

"So, when do the questions start?" Blank asked.

"Right now!" Chief said in her cheerful tone.

                The sun was setting when Blank exited the Maid Latte. She was smiling to herself as she walked down to her small shack in the woods where she lived. A single bed she made herself sat in the corner. The almost mare put her bag on the ground and took out her books. Tomorrow, she'd go to a great now job on the other side of town. Blank smiled slightly at the money in a large jar, she had been saving it to go to college and study magic.

                 Her cheerful face darkened as the bandits came tumbling through. They thought they were so stealthy but the honest truth was that they couldn't be quiet to save their lives.

"This time we will get the money!"

"She'll be so surprised and angry!"

"I wouldn't want to see that!"

"Why not!?"

"I heard the last time she got angry, she made a dragon grow and it burnt down the house!"

"Not true!"

"Yes true!"

"Hey! You mind keeping it down out there! I can even tell what your plotting! Stop being thieves and try to do something with your miserable lives!" Blank yelled out her window before slamming it down.

"We got caught again..."

"Damn it!"

"We should go home."

"Good idea."

The two morons flew off , back to their mothers. Blank sighed and put the bits she earned in the jar. She covered the windows and hid the jar behind an old floorboard.

Using her magic, Blank silently put the rusty nail back in it's exact place.

                      Takasu moved away to Manehattan and found a job, Diamond Tiara had gone back to Ponyville with the same attitude, and her mother had died in jail of a terrible sickness. Blank lived on her own and had her mailbox exactly one mile from her home. She had grown into quite the figure but never really noticed others staring at her. Wrapped in her studies and work, Blank would do her best everyday. Blank took the letters she gathered that morning and flipped through them.

Manehatten

                    Blank stopped dead. Se read the letter quickly. Her neon green eyes widened. "Takasu is coming here!?"

Youtube Video

Episode 3

Opening Credits

Youtube Video

Unwanted Visitors

                 Blank Stripe smiled at the pony entering the cafe.

"Welcome home, Master." Blank said kindly. No pony from her school knew of her secret. The worries she had didn't matter her at the Maid Latte. All that mattered was the customer's happiness. Blank had learned all the tricks of the trade. The pony that came in was a stallion with a gray pelt and a pair of glasses for a cutie-mark. Blank kept smiling and led him to his table.

                   Most of the customers are young stallions, which Blank came to accept. No stallion from her uptight school would come to a maid cafe, such as the Maid Latte.

"Please, take a seat Master." Blank said in a voice as smooth as silk. "I'll be right back. My name is Blank Stripe so call me when you need me or if your too shy just raise your hand."

The stallion nodded while looking into her vibrant green eyes.

She turned around and walked into the back room.

                 Inside the cooks were working overtime to complete an order they received. They were twins and had blue and white hair. Their pelts were a mix of those colors. (NOT COLGATE) Their cutie-marks consisted of the customers two favorite desserts, cupcakes and the cafe's signature dessert, sweet rice cakes.

One had a platter of them, the other had the individual desserts.

                   Blank smiled and put an order on the bulletin board. The routine was easy now. The gray unicorn smiled and went to a plate. The other customers would be waiting. She used her powerful magic to levitate the platter of sweet rice cakes to one of the customers. A mare and her young filly walked in. They came during the weekends for the peaceful environment. Despite it being a maid cafe, mothers came to enjoy peace and quiet.

It's a wonderful place to relax. Besides the Maid Latte, the only place to relax is the woods or the bath house.

                          Blank walked home alone. The sun was setting and she was trying to think of a suitable greeting. She still had a blue flower in her hair, a gift from one of the customers. The gray mare's mind was whirling as she walked the forest trail to her home. A blushing teenage dragon went unnoticed as he followed the unicorn.

"What am I supposed to say?" Blank muttered as she opened the door to her home.

"How about hello?" the dragon replied.

"Ah! T-takasu! Where did you come from?" Blank panicked.

"The egg you hatched." Takasu said sarcastically. "And what's up with the flower?"

'Oh this," Blank smiled and said as she pulled it out of her hair, "it was a gift from a customer."

              Takasu's cheeks turned a bright red. Blank didn't take notice. The mare opened the door. On the outside, the shack didn't look like much, but inside- it was decorated and neat. Everything was in a specific order. A cluttered bookshelf stood in the back, two beds sat on opposite sides of the room. One was light blue and the other was navy blue.

               Blank used her magic to pull a book from the shelf.

"Here, I think you'll enjoy this one." She said. Blank tossed over a demon summoning book.

"Uh...thanks." Takasu said as he flipped through the pages. To him, this book was for amateurs.

He flipped to the back of the book. A single page showed how to summon a great and loyal demon. Takasu smiled at the pictures. He'd summon it, and have a personal slave to help make an actual house for his friend.

"Don't , just don't." Blank said from the small oven in the center of the shed.

                                          *********************************************************************

Akki Oni stared walking through the fires. His dark red skin burnt but hey, this is hell! There are souls in pits of fire, they probably got it worse right! Even so, Akki hated being trapped in this eternal oven. God damn it! Where did he put that aloe vera?! His skin was burning up in the heat.

"Where's that damn aloe?!" Oni yelled at himself as he tore through his fire-proof bag.

                A blue light showed, then suddenly flashed neon green. Akki Oni was pulled through a portal and the first thing he saw was a gray unicorn saying,

"Did you summon a demon in the fifteen seconds that I was gone?!"

                                                 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Takasu pouted in the corner while Blank used her magic to poke the sleeping demon with a stick.

"Hey, whoever you are, get up and get the hell out of my house!" Blank Stripe commanded.

Akki Oni woke with a start.

Then he started growing.

"Get out of my house!" The gray unicorn screamed into his ear.

Akki Oni looked up and rushed outside messily. The unicorn gave him a dirty look. She started cleaning up her small house.

"Just keep growing why don't you!" The unicorn yelled at him sarcastically.

Akki Oni looked down at his growing hands. A dragon in the corner with a red cheek couldn't help but laugh. The dragon held an ice pack to his red cheek, Akki Oni growled at him.

"Hey! No growling! Got it!" the unicorn yelled.

Akki nodded, her eyes were neon green and they were menacing at this time.

"Takasu," The unicorn said.

"Hm?" the dragon answered to break his laughing fit.

"how do you stop him from growing?" the gray unicorn asked.

"...please don't hit me with a book again." Takasu said, ashamed of not being able to help.

"Ugh!" the gray mare threw her hands up in the air. "I knew this would happen! I should've torn out the last page!"

While this was going on, Akki Oni's demon senses kicked in and his eyes went from brown, to black. He roared and stomped off, towards the city...god damn it, where did he put that aloe! My sunburn hurts!

Ending Credits

Youtube Video

Episode 5

Joker

Youtube Video

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.

Youtube Video

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.

Episode 6 (kind of)

    Diamond Tiara walked into the small shed Blank had led her to. This is where she lives?! Ugh! It's even more repulsive than her last one. she thought.

A ball of red fluff suddenly hissed at her.

"What the fuck is that!" she screeched and fell over.

Blank sighed. "This is gonna be a lo~ng day."

Episode 4

Youtube Video

Easy Fix? I Think Not.

Akki Oni thundered through the forest. Trees and other things left a messy trail behind Akki Oni. He was in full rampaging mode now.

Blank Stripe ran at full speed behind the demon. Her black and white mane flew behind her as Takasu struggled to keep up with the unicorn.

"You idiot! Now I'll get even more tormenters! From the entire town!" Blank called at the dragon behind her.

"I didn't know this would happen!" Takasu replied, defending himself.

Akki Oni roared and looked at the large town before him.

"Oh no you don't!" Blank Stripe yelled as she teleported the three of them to a conveniently placed mountain.

"Takasu, I'm teleporting you back to my house. Get Book #5, the giant red, one from my shelf. Hurry!" the unicorn ordered.

   Takasu didn't have the time to give an excuse,, because he was already inside her home. The teenage dragon didn't waste time in finding the book. He looked around and saw the book shelf, in all it's glory, scatted around the room, due to a very angry demon.

   Takasu sighed and started sorting through the wreckage. This would take some time, and plenty of splinters.

Blank led Akki Oni to her house, trying to catch her breath was a challenge with a demon behind her.

"Gosh....I....hate....Mondays!" Blank yelled / panted as she ran toward her home.

Takasu came running out with a large red book in his claws. He waved the book in the air with effort.

Blank took it in her magical grasp and flipped through to a page near the back. After scanning the page, she slammed it closed, glanced behind her, and charged her magic.

A blinding light, and a crackling sound split the night. Princess Luna herself looked up from the book she was reading to see the beacon lighting up the sky. It sent shock throughout Equestria, as the great leaders tried to calm their citizens down within the next few weeks. But that is another story.

"Blank, how did you-" Takasu was cut short by the sight of Akki Oni being a pony. "What happened?"

"I don't know, but I don't think she's going to answer either." Akki Oni replied.

Takasu saw Blank stagger forward, the collapse. She used a lot of magic and Takasu knew she had to be exhausted. The dragon walked over to help her, but she was already asleep.

Youtube Video