//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: My Mommy Said I'm Special // Story: Under Hooves // by LMayo //------------------------------// Under Hooves Chapter one: My Mommy Said I’m Special         “My mother said I was special, like most colt’s mothers did, but I didn’t know why I really was until I was older.  Magic School had been a breeze; they heralded me as a prodigy, perhaps greater than Twilight Sparkle herself.  The fact of the matter is that I cheated.  I hadn’t cheated in the sense of copying the answers down, or looking over another pony’s shoulder, but I learned things differently.         “I saw the teacher’s lesson in my head as she taught, then I heard it with my ears.  I saw her muse about the different aspects of magic during tests, but I knew she wasn’t saying these things.  I wondered why all the other ponies couldn’t learn from her like I did.  Then again, I also wondered why I could see their pictures too.”         A cyan unicorn with a dark blue mane and three gears surrounding a sparkle as a cutie mark relaxed on a small sofa in the company of a brown Earth Pony with a fancy sofa as his cutie mark, glasses on his short muzzle, and a quill with parchment.  The writing pony looked up in this pause and spoke in a very deep soothing tone, “Are you reading my mind right now?”                  The couch shifted slightly as the pony atop it turned his head to the psychiatrist and shook it slowly, the cyan streak in his mane shifting slightly.  “Well, it works, like any magic, like a muscle.  Take for example when you figure out how to wiggle your ears, or twitch your tail.  Something that isn’t usual to control, but when you find the muscle that causes it, you have it down.  So no, I’m not.”         “I see...” The shrink jotted something down, then spoke without looking up, “Please continue.”                  “Alright.  Well, I had an idea of what might happen if I grew to be as good as they said I might.  I already had teleportation magic down when I was only a colt, but it wasn’t because I was talented.  It was because I knew what everypony else knew.  I only figured it out when another pony thought about it.  Then I knew what ‘muscle’ to use.         “In time, I caught the attention of the Magic Council.  They were intrigued by me, and I told them my secret.  I expected them to disregard me as a potential candidate for special training, but they became more interested.”         The psychiatrist stopped writing, “So, you’ve had guilt bottled up inside ever since you were a colt?”         “You could say it was guilt, Doctor Finklestein, but it was more like shame.  Shame that I couldn’t figure things out for myself and had to copy somepony else.”         “Zane,” The Doctor pushed his glasses up on his snout and sighed, “I don’t think you’ve cheated.  This... gift is what makes you talented.  I wouldn’t put so much guilt on yourself, or it might turn into a violent depression.”  He stood, “I think our time is up, it’s a pleasure hearing from you, Zane.  I’ll see you next Thursday, alright?”                  “Okay Doctor, See you then.”  Zane stood and shook hooves with his psychiatrist, then plodded out of the room.           The walk from the office to his home in Canterlot was a long one, but it gave him time to think over what his Doctor had said.  So what if the Magic Council wanted him?  Shouldn’t that be a great honor?  But if he cheated his way to the top, it wouldn’t be so grand of an accomplishment.           He exercised his mind magic as he called it and focused on two mares talking ahead of him.         “Oh yes, I simply adore your cape!  You look so darling.”  the noble said.  Her thoughts were quite the opposite.  She was appalled by the color choice.  Zane could feel exactly what she felt.   The other stuck her nose up in the air and brought her hoof to her chest, “Why thank you, I picked it out last night!”  Lies; her mother bought it for her a week ago.  She has no taste in clothing.           He turned his attention to a rather disheveled pony standing in front of an apple stand.  He was short two bits for a full bushel.  Zane walked up to him and flung the needed amount into his hoof.  The pony thanked him graciously, but Zane didn’t bother turning around. The pony was planning on milking a few more bits out of him if he spoke.           A pony here liked a saddle, a pony there wanted a kiss, a few ponies even wanted to make the cows outside Ponyville stampede for fun.  Reading ponies’ minds was hard, but it could become weak after a period of no use.  It was just like an unused muscle.           A thought caught his attention, and he honed in on it.  Most ponies didn’t use feelings that involved “infiltration” or “monster” in the same thought as Princess Luna.  Well, monster was acceptable a few years ago, but now she was a revered princess.           Who would think this, much less discuss it?  Two ponies in a back alley to the side of him owned these thoughts.  He stopped and concentrated on their thoughts.  It wasn’t complete sentences like most envision mind reading.  It was in pictures, feelings, emotions.           What these ponies were thinking was despicable, deranged, and diabolical.  He gathered images of Princess Luna being banished to the moon, but not the first time.  She would be in her current form this time.  She was a threat to all ponies, she must be dealt with accordingly.         Zane felt a bead of sweat on his brow; this wasn’t good.  He had to warn her, but what could these ponies do to a magically all powerful princess?  He lowered his head and shook it, his cheek length, cyan mane waving in front of him.  They had help.         Professor Light Straw.         He was one of the Magic Council that interviewed Zane.  He had a heavy Earth Pony drawl, but he was one of the strongest unicorns in Canterlot.  His only rival at this point was Twilight Sparkle herself.         He had to speak to the Princess, but he might need help.  He wasn’t officially allowed into the castle, and one pony’s story is less believable compared to two.  He needed a friend to help, even if he had to get rough with the guards to allow him to slip through.  He knew just the stallion.         Zane concentrated on his home.  He could feel the unusual squeezing sensation pulling him through space.  He could see the blurry image of his home, and a millisecond later he was there.  The effects of teleportation flew through him.  Fatigue invaded his body, and he almost stumbled to the ground.  The familiar sounds of metal against metal invaded his ears.  His family co-owned a metal works business with his best friend’s parents.           A silver coated, gold maned pegasus with a lightning bolt striking a shiny metal hammer flew out of the workshop, sparks behind him creating almost a halo effect.  Zane ran up to him breathing heavily, “Steele!”         The pony noticed his best friend, “Oh hey Zane!”  He flew down, lightly touching on the ground.  “What’s up?”         “The princess...” he gasped between breaths.  That teleportation spell was extremely potent and in turn sucked his stamina dry.  “In trouble...  Light Straw...  evil!”                  “What... whuuh?”  Steele sat down and looked at Zane incredulously, “Come on, bro.  Sound it out.”         Zane nodded, waiting a few seconds to catch his breath.  He lifted his head and inhaled deeply.  “Professor Light Straw is planning to kidnap Princess Luna.  He has a straight shot at her tonight after he meets with the Magic Council.”           “Okay,” Steele’s eyelids lowered, “I know you thought he was creepy, but seriously?  Kidnapping the princess?”         “I’m serious, I heard two ponies planning it downtown today!”  He tapped his horn with his hoof.         “Oh, right.  You sure ‘bout that?  I mean, there’s a shady line between kidnapping and... and uh... Stealing...”         “Same thing, Steele.” Zane would have laughed, but he was too tired.  Steele was rather dull sometimes.         “Well, you know I always trust your judgement, bro.  It’s just... What could we do?”                  “The Magic Council usually meets around seven.  It’s six fifty.”  He trotted in place impatiently.          Steele nodded, “Alright.  Here, grab my hooves.  You’re tired enough already.”                  Zane complied, taking Steele’s two front hooves.  They lifted off in a flurry of dust, Steele wavering about while compensating for the extra weight.  Despite his work as a metalsmith, Steele was an excellent flier.  He rose above the buildings around them and continued over.  Steele looked down at his companion, “so, what are we supposed to do when we get there?  Luna’s not exactly out in the open.”         “I’ve met Celestia a couple times.  The Magic Council wanted her to take me as her new pupil, but she said she had other plans.”         “Aye, well, good luck with that.”         “Oi, you’re coming too!  I might need some help if Praise comes in.”         Steele reared his head back, “Are you mental?  What am I supposed to do?  He’s a noble; I can’t even talk to him without getting a boot up my butt.”           “Just distract him with something!  If he gets anywhere near us, I want you to get his attention.”         They came within landing distance of the castle in a couple minutes, Steele straining to keep a hold of his friend.  He dropped Zane in front of the outer courtyard, his hooves touching down with a clack.  The unicorn rushed up to the castle gates, but the guards were outside, emotionless as usual.  They barred the door when he came close enough, but he wouldn’t let that stop him.  “I must have an audience with Princess Luna, or her Majesty Princess Celestia.”                  The guard simply whinnied and stood his ground.  Zane sighed, then Steele stepped in.  “Look bucko, this is a matter of life or death for the princess!”         Just then a fantastic feat of nature occurred, the guard opened his mouth!  “I assure you...” and he was speaking?  Wait, was this a dream?  The guard shook his head slowly, “the princesses are in good care within the magic council.”         Zane shook his head, “That’s just it!  Somepony in the Magic Council is planning on betraying them.”         A large burst of light appeared over the ponies, and large white wings connected to an elegant mare fluttered down from the sky, “Zane Sparkspur, Steele Rivet, I hear you wish to speak to me?”  Princess Celestia looked down at the bowing ponies with her large, glistening, indigo eyes.         “Your majesty, we have urgent news about your sister, Princess Luna.”          “And?”  She squinted her questioning eyes.                  “There’s a plot to hurt her!”  She had to believe him.  If she didn’t, who would?         “And who would do such a thing?”         “Light Straw.  I overheard some ponies’ thoughts about what they were planning tonight.”  Come on Celestia, you have to help!         The pure princess looked at Zane disbelievingly, then scoured his face up close.  “Light Praise has been a strong advocate of Luna’s for a long time now.  He backed her up when nopony else did in her return.  I don’t see why he would betray her now, but...”  She moved back and sighed, “You have no lie in your eyes, Zane.  I thought something like this might happen in the near future; after all, she was an evil mare for a thousand years.”         Zane’s eyes widened as the corners of his mouth curled upwards, “Really?  You believe us?”         “No time to waste,” She responded, “quick my little ponies, the meeting’s almost ended!”         The group of three raced through the castle halls, passing various guards who Celestia prompted that there wasn’t any need to help her.  Up and up they ran, Zane hadn’t felt so dutiful in his life.  He was off to save a princess!  What a noble cause!           Steele looked extremely pumped, as if he were to fight a whole army of Griffons by himself.  Zane laughed inside; that pegasus was always ready to dive in.  He never needed preparation.  They finally reached the meeting chambers at the third highest tower, overlooking most of Canterlot.  Celestia opened the door forcefully, jumping into the room.         The only pony there was Luna, cleaning up her notes and papers from the council meeting.  Celestia glared at Zane and trotted to her sister, “Did Light make any threats?”         “Light?”  Luna looked up at her sister and raised her eyebrow.  “Why would he of all ponies be threatening me?”           “Zane” Celestia said as looked back at the sheepishly grinning pony.  “overheard some thoughts that you were in trouble, and Light was the source of it.”         “What?”  She left her papers and walked over to Zane.  “Are you sure?  You know I trust your judgment, but Zane could be wrong.”         Steele nudged Zane.  “I really hope you were right, buddy.  This could turn ugly.”         Zane shook his head, eyes closed.  No, he was right.  There was no way he read those thoughts wrong... unless he did.  What if Luna wasn’t their target?  Thoughts weren’t a definitive story or statement, they were interpreted.  The thought of Light Straw as an assistance to them could have a double meaning.   He could be a help to them by being the key to Luna.  Once they have him out of the way, that would help them to get to Luna!  But how would they do it?  The only way to defeat one of the most powerful magic users without magic is... Well, the most common method that Zane knew of was poison. He would go with his gut and hope that was the case.         “You’re right.”  Zane’s face contorted into a grimace, “I thought wrong.  Light Straw isn’t the problem, he’s the one in danger!”         Celestia unfolded her wings, her face in a concentrated stare ahead.   “Under!”  The ponies all hopped under her wings, and the strange sensation of teleportation came to Zane again.  They appeared in a small cafe just outside the Castle walls, a pony in front of them startled by their appearance.  He wore a simple straw hat, a monocle covering one eye.  There was a sense of pride about him, but it was dispelled by his calm, caring eyes.  “Hello, girls.”  He unscrewed a floating bottle of water and lifted it to take a sip.           “Wait!” Zane yelled, ripping the bottle from Light’s magical grasp with his own.   Light coughed slightly.  “Wha-  What are you doin', boy?” Celestia confiscated the bottle, her horn not even glowing while it flew.  “I think I know what Zane was thinking.”  She took a sip, and a gasp from Zane erupted.  She quickly spat the water on the floor.  Zane thought how unbecoming that must have looked for the princess.  “Your water is poisoned.” she said flatly. Light looked at the bottle, then down at the ground.  “I... I mean it's not water, but in any case I had no idea. So thank you Zane.”  He smiled at the prodigy and shook his hoof.  “It seems I made the wrong decision about you today.”         Luna grinned, “That’s for sure.  Light disagreed that you should be put in as my new student, Zane.”         Celestia nodded, “But I had chosen you anyway.  Light doesn’t have a say past me.”         Luna’s... Student?  Zane’s mind went completely blank in shock. He half expected Steele’s hoof to whack him on the shoulder in congratulations.  This would completely change his life.  He would be one of the elite; one of the ponies he looked up to.  He knew why she chose him, too.  He was different, and his differences made him powerful, and his potential could lead him down a road he had dreamed of for years.         Light smiled, “Thank you again Zane, I’m sure I can do something for you in return.  Perhaps your parents business.  You’ve been wanting to expand, haven’t you?”         A thought just occurred to Zane.  “Well, yeah, but-”  He looked around, the other ponies just noticing the disappearance of one of the group.  “Where’s Steele?”