//------------------------------//
// Prelude 
// Story: Pony of the Theater 
// by Arondight2016 
//------------------------------//

In the darkest nights of Manehattan, you hear throughout history during the Dark ages of Equestria. To most, the worst history known to all pony kind would be a simple theater known as the Bridleway Theater. Originally, the theater use to be use for opera, however, ever since the strange incident many moons ago, it has now been used for entertainment alone. If you were to ask any pony who knew of its history, three simple words they would respond are: "The Theater Ghost." If you would like to know the true reason of the Bridleway Theater, please come along this journey and we will show you the story of the Pony of the Theater.


*** Year 1876 ***


The theater was founded by two mares: Harmony and Melody Tune. Harmony Tune was a bright blue unicorn who was in charge of both music and scripts while her sister Melody, a periwinkle unicorn, was in charge of both costume and design. When a few ponies agreed to help out with this matter, the seats would be about less than few ponies around. The Tune sisters dreamed of having the fantasies of opera appear throughout the stage. Sadly, ponies all throughout Equestria wouldn't support them. Thinking their dreams would disappear into the night, the Tune sisters never gave up on their dream.

One day, Melody was walking about, noticing some strange ponies who were holding a festival in the square. Not asking her sister permission, she went to view the festival, simply to provide some inspiration. Just when everything was bright and peaceful, a cloaked pony waved his hoof for her attention.

"You should come to my tent, little girl." the cloaked pony demanded.
"Why should I do that?" she asked.
"Do you want to know what lies beyond this tent? To see a demonic pony from Tartarous?"
"Demonic pony?"
"Yes. If you come tonight, you will see him perform first hoof."

Though she wasn't sure if it was wise, Melody agreed.


o.o.0.o.o.


When she entered inside that night, she noticed every pony was inside the tent, expecting to see this "demonic" pony. However, when the show began, the cloaked pony brought forth a small Pegasus with a sack on its head and tied in chains. While no pony could look carefully at his face, you could find small blue eyes poking through the holes in the bag.

"Behold," the cloak pony decreed as she pulled the sack from the Pegasus, "the Demonic Pony of Tartarous!"

In fear, the Pegasus hid his disfigured face away from the crowd with his injured wings, but the pony forced him to reveal his face towards the crowd. With such pity, Melody noticed that the pony in question was not happy with these ponies. From what she could gather, he had a bad burn mark on his face with a scar on top of it. To make matters worse, the ponies around her started to chant for more torture. As she obeyed their command, the cloaked figure threw the poor Pegasus down and started beating him with a rod. Melody, who couldn't stand aside, entered inside the cage to protect the Pegasus.

"Stop this, please!" she begged. "He's hurt!"
"That pony enjoys pain." argued the cloak pony.
"This is preposterous. Just let him go!"
"No! If you prefer to set him free, then pay 1500 bits."
"1500?! That's terrible."
"That's business, dearie. Now, leave at once!" 

In such despair, Melody didn't know what to do. However, when she glanced at the injured Pegasus, he glanced at her with such loneliness, trying to tell her to leave at once. If she were to get involved, then she would suffer the same fate. While she didn't appreciate their matter, she ran towards the theater to think things over. That night when everypony was away from the festival, she couldn't stop thinking about that poor colt. She felt so much pity Melody knew exactly what she needed to do. While it was unthinkable, it felt like the right thing to do: steal him away from the ponies of the Revolution.


o.o.0.o.o.


When the streets of Manehattan were calm and peaceful at midnight, Melody, covered in a long dark cloak, returned to the festival to find the pony in question. Not knowing where he would be at the time, she tried her best to find him without being detected. Suddenly, she heard a small voice, singing in the night sky. Quietly, she followed until she reached him, tied in chains from a small pole. While she did her best to be silent, a twig snap caught his ears.

"Who's there?" the pony asked.

She quietly came towards the light, removing the hood above her head.

"Y-you?!"
"Shh!" she hushed quietly as she tried to release the chains quietly, "I'm getting you out of here."
"But why? If they knew you were here, they'd-"
"I know. But I can't stand on the sidelines to watch them attack you on purpose."

As Melody tried her best to pull the chains out and set him free, she felt a tug pulling her to the opposite side of the cage. When she looked upward, it was the cloaked pony herself who used her magic to stop Melody dead in her tracks.

"You think you can just come here alone and grab him without paying us any money? Then, you are sadly mistaken." 

Without thinking, Melody ran towards the Pegasus to remove the chains, but the pony started to beat Melody to death. Trying her best to get him free, she wouldn't give up her magic until he was set free. In the Pegasus' eyes, he started to recognize the compassion she has given her. If she let her die in his stead, then he wouldn't forgive himself. Suddenly, his inner soul, which started to immerse through his other eye, took hold of his mind and started to choke the pony until he was unconscious. When the cloak pony noticed him being released, she ran towards him and started to beat him. Unfortunately, he quickly flew past her from his chains and choked her as well. The Pegasus grasped the keys off from the pony in question and released himself out. As he turned towards Melody, the Pegasus recognize the marks and bruises she had from the beating. His soul disappeared as his kind heart came near her side.


o.o.0.o.o.


A few minutes passed, as she was regaining conscious. The Pegasus, who was relief to see her up, stood beside her, assuring there were no fatal injuries.

"Are you alright, madam?" he asked kindly.
"Y-yes?" she responded quietly.

Melody tried her best to get up from the injuries, but the pain she received got her attention more. She started to fall from the ground when all of a sudden, he swooped in to keep her still. While she tried her best to cover up her injuries, she then heard the commotion outside.

"Come with me." she insisted to the Pegasus.
"Why?" he asked.
"You wish to be free? I can provide you sanctuary."
"By keeping me in prison?"
"No, that's not what-"

She started to hear hooves coming close to the tent. Knowing it would be too late to discuss her reason, she stretched out her hoof towards him.

"If you come with me, I'll show you a new path for you to take."

He thought for a moment as the decision was debatable. If he stays, they will never let him go. If he goes, they may find him to be killed. Just as the ponies ran towards the tent, the only ponies which were there were the cloaked pony and her merry mares. No other witnesses were there left in the night.

"We made it." she said as she panted heavily. 

Unfortunately, when the two were just about to go towards her room undetected, Harmony Tune stood near the doors, tapping her hooves to the ground.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do, young lady."


o.o.0.o.o.


"What were you thinking, Melody?" she asked in such disappointment.

She had just finished hearing her side of the story and trying to figure out her motive.

"I'm sorry, sis." she apologized, "I had to do something to free him from those monsters."
"Instead, you bring a monster to our Opera house?"
"He's no monster!"
"There are ponies out there trying to find a murderer!"
"He didn't hurt any pony. He was simply protecting me-"
"Protecting you? You knew that being out there was dangerous and you went anyways?!"
"I know, but if I didn't try to save him, he would've died."

Harmony glanced at the Pegasus in question as he was glancing at the costumes. While he knew putting his new friend in danger was wrong, was it fair for her to blame her sister for doing something reckless? She sighed and hugged her sister passionately.

"Your intention was noble, but next time, let me know what you are doing."
"Okay."
"Now, let's go to bed. We've got work in the morning."
"Work? What kind of work do you girls do, ma'am?" the Pegasus asked.
"We run an Opera theater, but..."
"But what?"
"No pony wants to come to an opera with just singing alone."
"Maybe I can help in some way."
"You can?"
"Yes. When I was in Maris, they use to create shows all around the park and I use to watch them perform. Maybe my knowledge can help you in some way. After all, it's the least I can do since your sister has risked everything for me. I want to pay for her kindness."
"That's thoughtful of you, mister..."

The Pegasus glanced downward for a few moments. He was never been given a proper name apart from "The Demonic Pony of Tartarus."

"I don't have a name." he said in defeat.
"The ponies never gave you one?" she inquired, "Interesting."
"How about Maris Sole?" Melody suggested, "It goes well since he mentioned of being in Maris before."
"But what does Sole have to do with anything about me?" he asked. "I don't believe shoes would be a good to me."
"You are a unique pony, with a mysterious soul. Besides, it would be an interesting to do things your way."
"You think so?"
"Absolutely."
"Not to be rude or anything, but would it be alright if we remove the sack?" Harmony asked, "I would like to see how badly you were injured and-"
"NO!" both Maris and Melody responded.

Shocked at the immediate response, Harmony backed off a bit, scared. Melody cleared her throat and rephrased their response.

"Why not?" she asked.
"It's...it's complicated."
"But how else can I tell how badly the damage is if he doesn't want me to look at it?"
"Do you have a mask I can use? I can work with that if you have any available."

Not wanting to question his strange request, Harmony teleported towards the costume and design room, noticed a mask which covered only part of the face, and returned. He then removed the sack as slow as a tortoise as he placed his new mask on the right side of his face. In shock, Harmony noticed the damage in detail. His eyes were two colored, quite as different from any pony she has ever met. His skin on the right side was clean as a whistle, but on the left, it was red as blood. Though it would've been normal for a pony to be disfigured, Maris was a different story. As he finished placing the mask on, he felt like a brand new pony, but still scared of the new world.

"Come with me." Harmony assisted as she lend a hoof to him, "Let me show you to your new quarters."

As he walked towards Harmony's side, Melody knew in her heart the Opera will change drastically with Maris along side them. However, as she walked towards her room, she then thought of the terrible events tonight. If things were to happen again, would he learn to control it or lose control forever? If ponies found out who he was, would their chances of succeeding be their downfall? No matter the case may be, he'll still be a great asset for the Opera's success, no matter what consequences may occur in the future.