His life was a lonely one, devoid of love and caring. This wasn’t the way his life was supposed to be, life was supposed to be filled with kindness and compassion, and for everypony else, it was. Though he knew wishing wouldn’t change what was, he couldn’t stop himself from imagining how life would be if he had been born into a different, more normal family.
Dax felt a tear slide down his cheek followed by another. He began galloping as fast as he could, he didn’t know where he was heading, he only knew that he had to run. The more he ran, the more his legs burned, the less he thought, and the less he thought the better he felt.
He ran past servants, guards, nobles and other ponies that had managed to wander into the back halls of the castle. His ice blue eyes blurred with tears that streamed down his face, staining his fur. His breath becoming more ragged with each step, his nose running freely. He was so distraught that he didn’t even notice the golden glow coming from behind him nor the strange warmth that seemed to emanate from his wings.
“It’s. NOT. FAIR!” Dax bellowed, bursting through a set of double doors.
He didn’t stop running until he was at the only place he could completely relax. He sat, curled next to the ancient piano in the Royal Canterlot Library, looking out at the beautiful night sky, a deep blue blanket dotted with only the most worthy of stars. This was the most beautiful night of the year. Princess Luna had to make it special for it was The Grand Galloping Gala. His sobs turning to nothing more than sniffles as he realized how pointless it was to get upset at such a trivial thing, his life sucked and there was nothing he could do about it except...
Dax looked over at the decorative armor, more specifically at the blade it brandished on it's side. It sat there, taunting him, daring him to do something. He knew he couldn’t, at least he wouldn’t succeed. He had tried killing himself many times before, only to find himself crying into Nopony’s shoulder until he fell asleep.
That was something he both loved and hated Nopony for, no matter the problem, how trivial or how serious, Nopony would be there to protect Dax until the end. That also meant protecting Dax from himself, much to his chagrin.
Dax had often wondered how Nopony had always managed to quell any trouble Dax managed to get into without barely breaking a sweat. He had also wondered of the backstory to the strange guardian. Suddenly he perked up, that was something he could learn about, and learning made him happy.
Slowly, he rose to all fours and walked over to the nearest bookshelf. As he did so, he sensed three familiar presences watching him, well he actually saw them duck behind the bookshelf he was grabbing a book from.
“Come on out you three, I don’t particularly like being spied on, I much prefer talking face to face despite what stories you might’ve heard.” Dax said, authority in his voice.
“Shoot! I thought for sure we were well hidden. Oh well, we’re out in the open now, might as well introduce ourselves.” Said an orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail.
Oh god, not these three. I have heard of their antics before, doing absolutely insane things, all to get some stupid magical butt tattoo. Thought Dax with a roll of his eyes.
“No, there is no need for introductions, I already know who you are and what you want. My formal and most sincere answer, Cutie Mark Crusaders, is no. I will not join your club and no I will not be your friend because a creature like me doesn’t need or deserve friends.” He said, his poker face failing him at the end of his monotonous speech.
"What are you saying? Everypony deserves to have friends! Heck even-”
He cut off the snow white mare, “The answer, is no. Now please,” he was getting agitated, “Leave me alone.” Dax pulled another cigarette out of the box in his pocket, lit it and took a long drag, blowing sad circles into the air as he exhaled.
“Hey!” The small eggshell colored mare with a heavy country accent yelled in disgust. “You can’t smoke in here!”
“Oh? Says who?” Dax was behind her before the book he discarded, hit the floor. Leaning close to her ear he whispered, letting a soul resonance spell influence his voice, “Bad things happen to people who are my ‘friends’, now please leave before I decide to disembowel one of you for fun.”
“But-” The orange one began. He grumbled, not understanding why they didn't get it.
“LEAVE!” Dax boomed a strange feeling of warmth enveloping his wings and his eyes. A golden glow once again shining from just outside his range of vision. They looked at him in terror nearly peeing themselves in fear.
Maybe a little too harsh. Dax thought with a cringe and a sad sigh.
The Crusaders ran away with trembling legs as Dax returned to his position on the lone piano bench with his book. As he sat, he finally noticed the strange feeling on his back and face, the room also seemed brighter for some reason. Curious, he searched for a mirror of some sort.
As his eyes passed over the gleaming set of armor in the corner, he noticed two spots of golden yellow light in a reflection. He turned around, searching for their source but finding none. He turned back to the armor, once again finding a strange glow seemingly coming from right behind him. He walked up to it, curious to see where the glow was emanating from.
What he discovered would change his life forever...
__________________________________________________________________________________________
“Geez, what was up with that Dax kid? He seemed...I dunno...sad, really sad. I mean did you see how he looked at that sword? It almost looked like he wanted to use it on himself.” Said Scootaloo, casting a look back at the library entrance.
“Hm...yeah...but he sure is dreamy isn’t he? Besides the whole freaky light coming from his wings and eyes.” Applebloom stated absentmindedly.
“Yeah...sure… anyhoo, we need to find a way to get him into the group. Scoots any ideas?” Sweetie Belle asked taking command for once.
“Uh...lemme think...uh...hmm nope that won't work...no not that either...hmm...” Scootaloo sat with an intense thinking face for quite a while, during this time Applebloom was thinking of ways she could get him to like her and Sweetie Belle was inwardly cheering herself on for taking control of the situation.
"Maybe ah could hang out with him...get him ta let his guard down...then ah'll ask him!" Applebloom said randomly causing the other two to look at her.
"Uh yeah I guess that'll work. Good plan Applebloom." Said Scootaloo.
"Huh? What?" Applebloom asked, not realizing that she had just been offered to befriend the strange colt.
"Yeah that's a fantastic idea, let's do it!"
"Wait, do what? Ah'm confused." Applebloom said, panicking slightly.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MATCHMAKERS YAY!" The crafty duo said in unison.
“What have ah gotten mahself into?” Was all Applebloom could get out before the other two pulled her into a circle to formulate their foolproof plan.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
“Who are you? Why are you here? How are you here?” Dax asked the apparition an endless torrent of questions.
“I am the way that instigates the will, I am the power you crave and your only chance at redemption, and revenge.” The reflection stated calmly, an eerie smile spreading across his muzzle.
Dax’s eyes widened, could this really be the answer to his problems, the way to prove to everypony that he wasn’t really a bad person and that he was worthy of sitting at the royal court? To him it seemed too good to be true.
“Who are you really? And why do you only show up in the reflection?” Dax questioned.
“I am File 874260, a very powerful soul trapped in a very ‘elastic’ body.”
“What do you mean by ‘elastic’?” Asked Dax.
“I meant that your body can withstand both the physical and magical strain on your body better than any adult. However the emotional strain is too much for anyone.”
“You mean anypony.” Dax corrected.
“No, I mean anyone, be it pony, griffon dragon, zebra, minotaur or any species not yet discovered, they would all emotionally crumble with the weight of another soul on their body. Anypony would strictly mean that only ponies are incapable of withstanding the strain.” It said as if it were from a textbook.
“Oh, well then. What should I call you because right now you’re just an ‘it’ in my head.”
“My official designation is Ruuxacaro but since I am currently inhabiting your body I suppose you could call me whatever you want.” It said.
"Oh well if you don't mind, I think I'll call you Acaro."
"Very well then. Now, as for why I am here, the only thing I can confirm with certainty is that The Omnipotent willed it and so it was executed." Acaro responded.
"Who is that?"
"The creator of Project 42, which is the experiment I belong to."
"So you're an experiment?" Dax inquired.
"No I'm merely a vessel that brings a message, a key so to speak. You Dax Mimus are a very great asset to The Omnipotent and it is in its greatest interest to keep you alive. I am in no way a guardian, I will simply allow you to draw on my power in times of need and in exchange, you must let me stretch my legs every once in awhile. Me just making contact with you is a great danger but I had to do this." With that another bright flash lit up the stuffy books of the royal library. Dax collapsed to the floor.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
As Dax lay on the cool marble floor of the library he began to hear voices. Some were whispering in shot hissing breaths. Some boomed as if he were in a large theater. Dax couldn't understand any of them. Suddenly the demonic tones stopped and were replaced by the voice of a girl. He thought he recognized it.
"Ah, Mister? Are ya ok?"
He slowly opened his eyes. They focused to find one of the young mares from earlier.
Great, her again.
His head seemed clearer but it was throbbing with pain he remembered what the...thing had said: “As long as you let me come out and stretch my legs for awhile…” He wondered what that meant.
That is when he realized he couldn't move. He couldn't even respond. He tried to thrash about, only to find that he was no longer in control of his body.
"Oh, yes Apple Bloom, I'm fine thanks. I just slipped and hit my head but I'm fine now."