Chapter 2: Angels and Demons
It was my senior year of Pegasus School. If you were to look me up in the yearbook, you would find that my name is Halcyon. I'm a navy blue pony with a straight, shaggy white mane that came to about the top of my shoulders at it's lowest point, and had light green eyes. My cutie mark, although invisible in the photo, is a silver set of binoculars. What you wouldn't have seen, even if the mark was in the photo, is the reflection of a monster on the glass of them. As far as I know, I am the only pony that can see it.
I was on the other side of the building as it happened. My brother, Cloudway, had never been the strongest willed pony. And it didn't help that there was a gang in the school. The Boltock gang was notorious for their bullying and extracting of lunch monies. Cloudway made an easy target as a freshpony to the seniors Buck and Squeaker. That day, they would never forget. Buck was the ringleader of the gang. He was a black coated pony with a brown mane and deep brown, commanding, eyes. He tugged at Cloudway's mane with his teeth. "Give us your lunch money, kid!" Buck spoke as if he were president of the Enclave. Demanding and cool. Buck had Cloud pinned on the ground. Buck's back hooves driving into his back and fore hooves keeping his wings on the ground. Cloudway sobbed quietly. A small, high pitched voice came from behind Buck. "Let me pull out his wings if he doesn't cooperate." Squeaker was the strongest pony in the school. A white stallion with a close cropped mane the color of hay. He lifted every day. Sometimes twice a day. Buck laughed and let Squeak in on the fun.
I had felt something was amiss. There were a few less ponies on their way to classes. More specifically, Buck and Squeaker weren't harassing passing ponies. That usually meant that they were in the freshpony hallway. I'd better help the poor soul being tortured today. Again. This wasn't the first time I'd been breaking up a fight. Something felt different about this one though. As I approached, I noticed a crowd of ponies circling the fight. The only other thing I saw, was that sky blue mane of Cloudway's being pulled longer than it should be. Time seemed to slow, then stop. Everything turned a sickly shade of red. I targeted the side of Squeaker's head. Faster than anypony anticipated, I struck him with all I had, knowing if I wanted to beat him, I had to do it all at once. Before he hit the ground, I bucked him again. This time in the chest, and sent him into the crowd. I had felt ribs crack under my hooves and, to my surprise, smiled. I hadn't needed to administer the second kick. I knew that. It was reassurance that he wouldn't want to fuck with me or my family. Ever again. I turned to face Buck and saw that he was scared shitless. His eyes widened with horror as he saw his companion in a useless pile on the ground. As an act to try to put something between me and him, he pulled out some of Couldway's mane. Before he could spit it out, I lost all restraints. I charged full force into him and hit him in the muzzle with my forehead, knocking him off balance. What happen next, I can only describe as what i saw in the aftermath. I beat him within an inch of his life, then stopped. I had regained enough control over my body to stop beating him. I looked at the deformed mass beneath me, drowning in a pool of it's own blood. I decided that I had the courtesy to not let him die, and rolled him over, then spat on the clouds next to him, still seething with rage. The Enclave had arrived to stop the Boltock gang, and instead arrived in time to see me as the monster I thought I had locked away years ago. The monster that did unspeakable things to anypony it touched or got in it's way. They trotted towards Cloudway to carry him to the infirmary. I shot them the most dangerous look I had and spoke. The intensity in my voice grew with every word until I was practically yelling. "Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Him." They backed away and instead turned to the medical attention of the two gang members. The two were rushed to a hospital. The group of ponies parted as I neared. I wasn't sure what I smelled on them. Fear, or respect. As I broke to the center, a beautiful mare helped my brother to his feet. I gathered Cloudway from her. I looked into her eyes and quietly thanked her, then made progress slowly to the nearest door. "Let's get you home Cloud."
"What happened back there Hal?" Cloudway was still dazed. He blacked out when his head hit the ground after his mane was pulled.
"I became the monster I've strived to lock up for so many years. I lost control to save you from those bastards. Don't worry about it though. I got the better of it before too much damage was done this time. For now, let's get you home to rest and heal."
A few days later, I was going back through the usual routine again. Honors Physics, Advance Placement Literature, Chemistry, and Sociology. It felt like everypony was avoiding me. behind my back I heard them whisper and call me names. The one that I heard most commonly, was "Malignant". The treated me as if I were a disease or that I were the monster that i caged inside of me. (To be honest, I would do the same thing.) Everypony except Summerfly. A mare that was not only attractive, but of high intellect as well. We shared classes for the last half of the day. She had a golden yellow coat and a blonde mane. Though, it was her eyes that held my attention most. (As an added bonus, her wings were nice). Her eyes were a kind of hazel that often seemed to change color to green, blue, or brown. My favorite was when they looked a mix of all four. She was also the mare who helped Cloud to his feet. I stared at the nearby wall. I had finished the lesson and reading for the day thirty minutes into the class. A group of Enclave soldiers interrupted my Soc. class. "Mr. Halcyon?" asked one of the soldiers.
"Yeah, that's me." I replied in bored voice.
"We wish to speak with you in private." I looked to my teacher, Mr. Sovereign. His look told me that I was excused. They led me away to the most remote part of the school, which was odd. They were in a formation around me. Two in the back and two in the front. Something wasn't adding up... Wait... They were going to jump me to see if they could provoke the monster again. I wouldn't let them. Just as they cued each other to turn on me, I pulled my signature move. To be honest, I only have a slight clue as to how I can, but I can sink through clouds at my own will. Change their density or my own. Haven't figured out which yet. I sank through the cloud floor and they all smashed into each other. I ran down the corridor back to my class. (Which, in hindsight, was pretty foalish). I entered the room and everypony looked at me expectantly. I sat down again and resumed my what would be studies if I hadn't finished them already. Instead I turned to converse with Summerfly, who had finished reading today's section while I was out. Not 45 seconds into the conversation, an Enclave soldier reentered the room. "What the hell do you want from me now? I've already declined whatever offer you tried to make." I tried to be subtle so as to not wound the officers pride. "I, umm... Please, Mr. Halcyon, could you just step into the hallway this time?"
"If it's what's best for you, then I guess." I stood up again and gave Summerfly a quick wink before leaving. Pretty sure I made her blush.
There was a familiar face in the hall as I stepped outside. General Spectrum was there. He was a military green with a close cropped, white mane and a similar, white color for his eyes. "I was watching the monitors this afternoon and couldn't help but notice my top four body guards collide into each other where you had been standing not seconds ago. I thought it was magic at first, but remembered you weren't an alicorn. So, how did you do it, kid?" Spectrum asked, almost excitedly if I might add.
"And why the fuck should I tell you...sir?" I still wasn't amused with their plan of trying to release my demon again.
"Ahem. Need I remind you that you are referring to your superior!" Spectrum was almost red-faced.
"Sorry, Specs, but I don't like it when ponies try to bring out the worst in me. Your guards are lucky I discovered their ploy before it happened. You might not have had any guards left. Sir" I continued. "I'll have you know that the skill I displayed is very complex and the only reason I can even fathom doing it is because of the level of physics and science I comprehend."
"How dare you call me that!" The general was seething now, but slowly calmed. "Even then, how does the understanding of physics and science help you sink through clouds like an earth pony?"
"I'm glad you asked! This proves you know little to nothing about ponies as a species. Here is your lesson for the day: All ponies of Equestria are magical in one way or another. Unicorns posses the most obvious, raw form of magic. Telekinesis and spell casting. Earth ponies can invent and create things to help them do things they could never accomplish, or allow them to do more with less effort. Pegasi can apply their knowledge to most things they do. Because I have a vast knowledge of densities, I can apply subtle changes to them around or in me. I think."
The general looked at me blankly for a moment, then nodded as if he really knew what I was talking about. Summerfly snickered from inside the room. Just audible enough for me to hear that she had been there, listening the whole time. The general gave me an impressed look. "If you would join the Enclave you would be immediately promoted to major when entering due to current progress in your classes and to our "recent observations". You are clearly fit to lead as soon as you come out of Bootcamp, which, of course, will be shortened for you."
The General continued to gush me with the things he read about me on my file, always steering clear of my outbursts of anger. He also offered me a free two month leave for every year I served. To this day I regret not telling the Enclave bastard to go clop with his grandmother's hooves. The reasoning behind picking me was one of the most sick and twisted reasons ever. The only thing that I can think of saying yes for, is that they flattered me in front Summerfly. So, of course, I accepted. Only one good thing came out of this. I met and made a lifelong companion.