Chapter01-Assumptions
Pony Identification-Unicorn
Name: Equinox
Sex: M
Parents:
M Solstice
F Starry Sky
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Occupational/Social Title(s): No current employment-Prince
Natural Ability: Large Area Effect Magic
Identification:
Coat-Black
Hooves(if not the same as Coat)-Dark gray
Mane-White
Tail(if not the same as Coat)- X
Eyes(if separate colors, specify)-Green
Horn-Dark gray
Ability Mark: Green star with four flames coming from the center .
Equinox scowled at the blasted piece of paper for what must be the thousandth time. He didn’t like it, that much was obvious. He stuffed it back into his suitcase resting next to him on the floor of the chariot. The dark wood of the vehicle shone under the Equine sun, and it shifted slightly as the two, smartly dressed, pegasi pulled it through the sky. Of course he could have just set out on foot but when you had connections like he did, why bother? Besides, as pegasi it was their pleasure to perform their natural duty as servants and protectors of the master race.
Equinox had been raised in a nation reasonably far from Equestria. Atop the islands of Nesoi, there stands the proud nation called Progress. Advancing gloriously in science and magic faster than any other nation. It’s citizens enjoyed a clean, safe environment, and a healthy learning experience in school. Once they graduated, they could pursue any sort of business or trade to help better their country.
He took out his passport and stared at it again. He never liked being examined, even if for something like this. The thought of ponies making assumptions about him based on only what their eyes saw angered him. “Sir! We will be landing shortly. Prepare yourself please.” one of the pegasi said. Equinox looked in front of them and saw a small town approaching fast only a couple of minutes away. So, this was Ponyville. As his eyes took in the settlement that Princess Celestia had recommended for his time in Equestria, he couldn’t help but smile a little. Yes, this would do nicely.
---
Twilight Sparkle awoke from her dream, weak, early morning daylight streaming in through the half open curtains. She smiled softly; the sight of the stars in Luna’s night always helped her drift away. She briefly entertained the idea of opening the library late and sleeping in, but a knock at her door silenced those thoughts. She straightened her mane with a brush quickly before trotting down the stairs. I wonder who could be visiting so early? she thought.
The lavender mare opened the door to find a dark unicorn outside her library. A chill along with some dead leaves blew in and the stallion on her doorstep shivered slightly. “Oh! I’m sorry, please come in.” Twilight moved aside and used her magic to light the fire in the hearth. The floor was littered with books and half scrawled notes from her latest bout of binge studying and she quickly came up with an excuse for the state of things. “I’m sorry for the mess, I’m um, reorganizing the non-fiction.”
The stallion shook his mane and smiled at her, “That’s perfectly okay miss Sparkle. Allow me to introduce myself,” he reached out a dark gray hoof and shook hers in turn, “my name is Equinox.”
Twilight took a moment to look him over. The unicorn in front of her had a tousled, white mane that draped down his neck. His horn and coat were both black in color, accented by his dark gray hooves and bright, green eyes. His tail flowed like a streak of starlight, and his flank was adorned by a green star with four tongues of flame curving outwards. “Oh, it’s nice to meet you. I haven’t seen you around Ponyville, are you new here?”
He was interrupted by a burst of green fire and a loud belch from the top of the stairs. “Twilight! It’s for you!” Spike hopped down the stairs, paying no attention to the stallion that Twilight was talking to.
Equinox noticed the royal seal on the scroll and gulped. Well, this was it. As Twilight read the letter, her eyes widened. She looked from the pony in front of her back to the letter, and back again. Equinox shuffled his front hooves and looked to the left, “Well, I guess that was a rather interesting letter of introduction wasn’t it?” He wondered what the letter had said exactly.
“Y-you’re a prince?” she whispered the last word, her eyes finding Spike in the kitchen looking for some breakfast. She remained with her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open for only a couple of moments before mentally kicking herself. “Ah um, can I get you something to eat?” She gestured to the kitchen where Spike was exiting with a sandwich clamped in his mouth.
“Hmpf?” Spike said, tilting his head at the sight of Equinox and Twilight looking at him.
Equinox felt awkward to say the least, this wasn’t going exactly as planned. Spike felt confused, but contented with his sandwich. Twilight was freaking out on the inside, but doing her best to remain courteous and polite on the outside.
Nevertheless, the thought of a dandelion sandwich did sound good right about now. He hadn’t had time for breakfast before he had to make the train that morning. He was about to say that he really wouldn’t mind something, but a knock on the door distracted the three of them.
“Twilight dear, you’re going to be late!” a singsong voice said from the other side of the wood. Spike opened the door quickly, letting a slightly ruffled Rarity into the library. She stopped and took a less that normally long look at Equinox for a moment before saying, “Twilight, who is this handsome young stallion you have here?”
Equinox’s eyes met Twilight’s for a moment as he hoped his telepathic message communicated through his eyes reached her, he was pleading. “Oh-ah um, Rarity, he’s going to be staying in Ponyville for a while. His ah,” she looked at his eyes again, and he gave the smallest of nods, “,name is Equinox.”
The white mare held out her hoof, inclining with her head slightly, “Well, it’s certainly a pleasure to meet you Equinox.”
Equinox returned the hoof-shake, smiling in turn, “Your name is Rarity correct? Well I must say that it certainly fits you.”
Rarity giggled at that and shook her hoof at Twilight, “Oh he’s such a gentlestallion!”
Spike took this opportunity to push himself between the two and quickly shot an angry look at Equinox before turning to Rarity. “Hey Rarity, you said Twilight was going to be late for something?”
Rarity looked down at him and replied, “Oh yes dear, I must have forgotten. Thank you Spike.” She lifted her head again and said, “I was just walking back home from some early morning shopping when Rainbowdash flies down and tells me that the weatherteam is recruiting everypony to help clear debris from around the parks and the edge of the Everfree forest. Something to do with preventing a fire hazard or such and such.”
Twilight was already grabbing a scarf for herself,”Well then, we’d better get to it. But first I think I should find Equinox a place to stay. I don’t think he wants to stay on my couch after all.”
Equinox piped up, “Actually, that wouldn’t be so bad, I don’t want to impose-”
“Oh darling that simply won’t do! You’ll stay in my guest room.” Rarity said, closing her eyes and nodding in agreement with herself. The other three looked at eachother while Rarity spent another moment basking in her own glow of pride. “Anyway, we’d best be going! Come along Spike. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you show Equinox here to my boutique?”
Spike looked at Equinox, his eyes untrusting. But when he looked at Rarity again he said, “Sure Rarity, anything for you.” Spike and Equinox stepped out of the library as Rarity and Twilight came out behind them. “Bye Rarity, bye Twilight!” The two groups waved at each other for a moment, and then walked in separate directions. As soon as they two mares were out of sight, Spike looked at Equinox through squinted eyes.
“I uh, hello,” The dark stallion said, reaching out a hoof and trying to smile. Spike wrapped his claws around the hoof and shook it briefly, before continuing to walk through the town. It certainly was a sight, Equinox noted. The gray sky extended from horizon to horizon, accenting the brightly colored leaves in the trees on the side of the road. Ponies of all kinds went this way and that, buying, selling, or perhaps just taking a walk. They had been walking for a couple of minutes before Equinox spoke again. “Excuse me little on-”
“Call me Spike.” the dragon cut him off.
“Spike, do you have a problem with me?” Equinox said. Troubles aren’t the sort of thing I can afford right now...also, I don’t want enemies.
Spike looked up at Equinox for a moment before his demeanor changed from passive aggressive to mild despair. “It isn’t your fault really, it’s just that Rarity seems to like you so much and I had to work really hard for her just to notice me...” the sad little dragon trailed off.
Equinox felt his ears twitch, almost reluctant to fold them back. “Spike, do you like Rarity?” he asked in a comforting voice. He had become quite adept at that when learning how to manipulate people. He shuddered inwardly at the thought of it though.
Spike replied, “Well yeah...” he looked away again.
“Do you know what the brethren code is?” The little dragon looked up, gazing at Equinox quizzically. “Part of it means that if you’re trying to go after somepony, then I won’t try and make a move on them.” He smiled warmly at Spike, raising a hoof and attempting to tousle his spikes a bit but only succeeding it bumping his hoof around on the tough.
They both started laughing as the moment changed from warm counsel to something that would be worthy of a facehoof if it wasn’t so freely happy. In much higher spirits, Spike led Equinox to Rarity’s home at a faster pace, keeping the stallion at a steady trot.
Approaching the circular white building, Spike opened the door and said, “The guest room is up the stairs and to the right.” Equinox nodded and was halfway in the doorway when Spike spoke again and made him turn around, “And um...thanks Equinox.” Spike said in a quiet voice before closing the door.
Equinox grinned as he walked up the stairs. The shop had a strawberry smell that touched the nose and made one think of hard candies, and the white walls had little purple designs curling near the floor. The windows were a clear, polished shimmer so that light could get in and one could barely tell there was glass at all. “Wait...did he say left or...” Equinox trailed off as he heard a small sound to his left. He walked down the hallway a short ways and came to a door that had a pink marshmallow drawn on it. Peeking inside, he saw two ponies very close to each other. One looked quite similar to Rarity so he only assumed that the orange colt with the purple mane must have been the guest. Ah, young love. The thought of intervening crossed his mind but he decided against it and went searching for the guest room instead. The make-out session was rather innocent too, nothing too heated or intimate. He reached his room and smiled as he remembered his first kiss.
Opening the door, he stepped inside to find a light purple room with the same curling pattern running along the floor on the walls. The wooden floor boards were a polished cherry wood that matched rather well with the plush, purple rugs arranged around the room. The bed had a blue and white quilt arranged on it, expertly arranged so that it looked like it belonged in a catalog of some kind. Equinox unclasped his suitcase from his side and set it down on the floor gently so that it wouldn’t make too much noise. Climbing up onto the bed, he decided that he definitely was only doing so because he wanted to know how it would feel later. Yeah, that was totally the reason..any moment now he would just get off....and he would walk...down the stairs...yeahh...zzzzzzzzzz