Chapters Chapter 1 : Rise of Harmony
Light violently swept into his eyesight, everything blurry, scary, and new. He had just been born, but born into a cold world covered with war and chaos. His mother, had died in the birthing process. His father, had been murdered years before his birth, for the bits in his bag. He had pitch-black fur, blue eyes, and a magnificent orange mane with blue tips. The doctors had looked upon the small foal, paying no real attention to the grievous and depressing life that he may be put through without a family. An orphanage was available for him to stay, likely the safest place that a newborn foal could be. A nurse arrived and gently placed him in a mobile crib, comforting him enough so that he may drift off into sleep, knowing little about this scary new world. But whatever was out there surely couldn't take him on!
His escort arrived at the orphanage, jabbed awake by the nurse.
"You're home, sweetie!" the nurse soothed. Though he was a little peeved that he was awoken from his first nap, she was right, he had a world to explore! He was dropped of in the hooves of the caretaker. After exchanging a few words with the nurse, she trotted out of the lobby, and into a hallway. The foal looked about, his new eyes adjusting to the environment. The hallway was lined with brown boxes with transparent holes in them, and it got narrower as they walked. Other foals peered through the holes, studying the new arrival. When they had reached the end of the hallway, the ceiling was no more than a few inches above the caretaker's head. She used her magic to turn a gold sphere, which opened the brown box. This one, however, was not like the others. It didn't have any foals in it. After a few months, the caretaker decided that he was old enough to play with the other foals. They were nice to him, but, for some indeterminable reason, he felt extremely uncomfortable near them. They played games like Jenga, Hoofball, and Tag. He wasn't stellar at sports, but they were lots of fun. Life was easy, he played until the sun went down, and almost never got in trouble... almost .
For three years, he played and laughed with his friends, but this was the day that would change him forever. Tears poured down his cheeks, he was being taken away from the orphanage; there was no room left so he had to be transferred. He was moved to a mental facility, the only place in the city that would take him. The mentally insane people were very nice; all things considered. The folk around the place started to call him 'Black'. He even got a basic education through the nurses, who were okay, some of them were mean, others could be better. Things around the facility were very smooth, it was calm and serene. Weeks after he arrived, he received books of all sorts; math, philosophy, astronomy, and so much more came through from the orphanage he left. Life went on, and he learned more and more. Finally, at his 4th birthday, his favorite nurse gave him her old college psychology textbook. He began reading it at once, and though it was difficult to understand, he learned much about the mind of a pony, and how to bend their will. He began using his newly acquired tricks to test on his fellow occupants. After only a month, he had perfected the techniques, and sought out to learn as much about it as possible.
Much later, Black was almost 14 years old, and it seemed that the ponies were starting to lose in the battle for harmony against the tyrant Discord. But on that day, he received a letter from a 'Celestia' in Canterlot. She was asking him to study in her 'School For Gifted Unicorns'. Which was odd, considering he didn't apply for any universities, colleges, or even schools. Not to mention that he wasn't even a freaking unicorn . He acknowledged the letter and asked for guidance from his peers, and it was a unanimous decision, he would study under her. He bid farewell to his lifelong friends, and set off for Canterlot. The road was perilous, he had bought adventuring supplies from shopkeepers with his life savings. The list read as follows:
ADVENTURE EQUIPMENT
Hoofblade
Rope
Rations
Flask
Leather Armor
He wasn't five feet out the gates of Fillydelphia when he heard a shriek of pain. He rushed towards the trouble, and he saw a cream colored pegasus cornered by three armed colts.
"Who do you think you are, lady?" one of them said, he was short, but his two friends were much taller, so it made him look slightly intimidating. Slightly . Black moved in, placing himself clearly in their line of sight.
"What's going on?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at the small one.
"None of your business, shrimp!" The colt said, not bothering to look behind him, trying to use the pitch of his voice to govern his size. Black nearly died of pure irony, and fell to the grass laughing. I mean, really, of all the things you could call a stallion four times your size? It had to be shrimp ?
"What can be so fu-" the little colt turned to see hulking pony sprawled out across the ground. Even the cornered pegasus was trying to hold in a bit of laughter.
The small colt blushed, "As you were." and ran as fast as he could in the other direction. the two others exchanged glances, and then followed him into the city, but didn't take nearly as quick of a pace as their leader. He ignored them and directed his attention to the mare, who, as he looked more closely, had a grey mane and was wearing a vest and some sort of a heavy duty hat.
She quickly surveyed the area. "Uh, thanks, I guess?"
"No problem." Black sat down, "Mind saying exactly what they were after you for?"
She rolled her eyes, "Just another group of stallions that can't stand the sight of a female adventurer."
He nodded. "Fair enough. Why are you adventuring?"
"I'm trying to travel to Canterlot so I can-" She was cut off abruptly.
"No, don't tell me. You are going because you are studying under 'the Mysterious Celestia ', aren't you?" The mare was speechless. Black didn't actually expect to be correct. What was going on? Celestia was certainly picking an interesting group of ponies. Clearly there was more here than meets the eye.
"Well, the name's Black, at least that is what ponies call me."
She took a heroic pose. "My name is Daring. Daring Do."
Chapter 2 : ADVENTURE!
"D-Daring Do?" Black was dumbstruck. "But you're that archaeologist, right?"
She shrugged, "So?"
Black shook his head. "You were in the paper almost every day! I read about all of your adventures!" At this point, Black was just giving in to his fanboy instincts.
She rolled her eyes. "Come on, we're both headed to Canterlot, right? Let's go." She started walking away, and Black simply stared at the ground with a poker face that would leave Lady Gaga in tears.
"Dammit Black!" He jumped to his hooves and ran her way, looking so see if the muggers were there. He was answered by an eerie silence. They traveled for hours, and though Black's legs were burning, he was determined to keep up with his hero.
"Hey, Black, are you tired yet?" Daring Do looked at him with inquisitive eyes.
Black used most of his strength to keep himself upright. "No- *pant* -I'm- *pant* *pant* -fine!"
She smiled. "No you're not! I can see as plain as day that you're less tired than anything dead. Besides, It's almost sundown. Did you bring a tent?"
Black rummaged through his bag, but came up empty. "Horseapples! I forgot my tent!"
She placed her tent on the ground. "We could always share mine."
Black blushed. "N-No, that's okay, I can just sleep outside."
Daring Do looked as if she was about to burst out laughing. "What, are you afraid of sharing a tent with a mare?"
Black took a deep breath. "Gee, what do you think? You're an archaeologist, right? Figure it out."
She pressed on. "What, you afraid of me becoming your marefriend?"
He was becoming irritated. "No- I mean yes... but not in that way!"
She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Mare. Friend.
The words struck his mortality like knives. Someday... Black thought, Someday... I'm going to say that. He quickly calmed down, knowing she was pestering him for amusement.
"How do you irritate ponies so well?"
She started setting up her tent. "Call it a second talent." Black rolled his eyes and helped her set up the tent.
A few more hours had passed, and Daring Do was sitting by the campfire. Black was looking at the stars, about 25 meters away from the campsite. Orion is showing brightly tonight. He thought. His gaze drifted back to the campsite. Daring Do was cooking smores' for herself. You know what? I got a really stupid idea. Black threw on the most perverted grin he could think of. She looked up briefly to check on Black, but almost instantly went back as soon as she realized how he was staring at her. "How is the cooking going?"
Daring Do fumbled with the stick, nearly burning the marshmallow. "F-Fine! Just fine!" She stammered as she regained control, this was followed by a blush.
Black laughed. "You know, you teach well." Black continued staring in the same pedophilc fashion, except he started making slurping noises with his mouth. Daring Do's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped to the ground when Black casually entered the tent and zipped it closed. An audible shriek could be heard outside. He smiled, and went straight to sleep.
Weeks passed, and they had almost made their way to Canterlot. "You're ridiculous." Daring Do had put a disappointing look on her face.
"And what did I do this time?" Black said as they were walking.
Daring Do stopped him. "You just had to fight that bear, even though there was a path around it, and it was CLEARLY possible to pass it without aggravating it."
Black sheepishly grinned. "You have to admit... I did kick it's flank."
Daring Do scowled at him. "That's not the point! You could have gotten us killed!" Her rant of Black's recklessness was cut off by the distant beating of wings. They turned to face a few peagasi holding a carriage.
"You two! On board!" One of them spoke. He looked far too old to be an escort, "We need to get you to the school immediately!"
Black climbed up into the carriage with an eyebrow raised. "Care to explain the hurry?"
The younger pegasus spoke. "That's not the point! You are prime assassination targets! You could get us killed!"
Black frowned. "Is it always this easy to allegedly get ponies killed?"
Daring Do and the younger pegasus yelled at him. "YES!"
The older pegasus spoke again. "Both of you, quiet. We are ready for transport."
"Transport? That's a new word for me."
"Black."
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
Chapter 3 : Arrival
The pegasi had taken Black and Daring Do into the university. The room was poorly lit, for being the place that it was. The older pegasus turned to face them. "Celestia ordered us to tell you to wait here if you arrived early. A third will be joining you shortly."
Black looked up at him. "Can I at least ask for your names?"
The elder turned away, but the younger one stayed a little longer. "Sorry, we have direct orders from the princess not to disclose any, and I repeat, ANY information about this. You understand, don't you?"
"Sure.. I guess."
The colt smiled and turned away, vanishing in the seemingly endless hallway. The moments that passed felt like hours, and the eerie silence of the dark library only made things more convoluted.
"So..." Black began, trying not to peeve the already annoyed pegasus any further; she still was a little sour of what transpired earlier. "...are we just going to twiddle our hooves until this other guy arrives?"
She didn't respond, Daring Do stared blankly into the voidly darkness.
"Hey, are you okay?" Black looked a little concerned, "I haven't seen you this still since... ever!"
Daring opened her mouth to respond, but when she began to speak in a demonic tone, she quickly trailed off to the sound of clattering hooves outside the library. They stood to meet a unicorn. He was grey and almost as tall as Black. Out of his chin and lip protruded a magnificent beard. As he entered the room, candlelight began to flicker on abruptly, illuminating the library. Two figures stood in the back of the room, behind a table. Both were extremely large for ponies, and had both wings and horns. The first was midnight blue, with a wavy mane of the stars. The second, was cream white, and had a flowing pastel mane. Black, however, was so fixated on the fact that the first one had both wings and a horn, he didn't notice the second.
"Wha- how- pega- corn- pony- hybr-" His stuttering was quickly when a golden mist clamped his lips together.
This is when Black saw the second pony.
After several sputters, the blank flank fell to the ground, unconscious. Daring Do slowly put her nuzzle into her hoof.
Moron.
The white mare stepped forward, and gave each of them, even Black, a warm smile.
"Hello, my little ponies; I am Celestia, and this is my sister, Luna."
A cold breeze swept through the room, and the door slammed behind Daring Do. Something is off here.
"You called us each here for something, and it better be a damned good reason." Daring growled, and the unicorn standing next to her nodded in total agreement. Celestia expressed impatience.
"News has not reached far, I see." Celestia paused and looked down at Black. "I will answer questions when everypony is ready. Until then, the guards will escort you to your private quarters; I must speak with Black personally."
She cut her attention from them in favor of a small parchment, and Luna simply nodded, and left to go someplace else. The door swung back open, and the same two guards were standing before them. Daring Do turned back around aggressively at Celestia.
"Just who in the hay do you think you are, anyway? If you bring me all the way out here, I expect some damn answers!"
Celestia slowly placed the parchment back on the table, stood up and walked over to Daring Do. However, she didn't open her mouth, just stared colder than a Wendigo with a snow blower.
"You're not fooling anypony with that look!" Daring had a vicious scowl on her face. "I. Need. Answers."
Celestia simply stood taller. "This isn't the pony I brought to my castle. I wanted Daring Do, a famed explorer both patient and cunning. If you're not here to help; do everypony a favor and get out of my sight. "
Daring Do felt struck, and couldn't help but feel hypocritical. With her head held low, her and the gray unicorn followed the pegasus guards down the hall. Doors and hallways overlapped seemingly infinitely, the corridors of the castle were giant! They finally came to a stop at a small metallic door. The guards shoved them inside and slammed the door. Inside the room, there were three beds, the leftmost one had her cutie mark imprinted on the head-rest. The right-most was the unicorn's, and the center was blank.
"Hey, what's going on with you?"
The unicorn called to her, she looked up. He had a concerned and worried look on his face.
"What's it to you? Nothing I say or what you would know can change the situation."
"Because I am Starswirl the Bearded. Godfather of Magic, and creator of Discord."