//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Strangely Coincidental 
// Story: DARK AS ONYX 
// by Lastingimage24 
//------------------------------//


To hell. I don’t know with what, but that was my initial reaction. Discord’s proposal was incredibly tempting, but as he described these mares that I was going to be dealing with... dear god. They all sounded like egotistical, self-absorbed, and big headed pricks. Element of generosity my ass.

I stared into the dank mirror that now sat in front of me, looking through those nauseating eyes. Those damned blue eyes. Baby blue, no less. They just weren't me. They nearly glowed against my pitch black fur and dull white mane and protruding horn. It was a contradiction, one I wasn't too fond of. I found myself conscious of them regularly, something that just made me more angry. Still... there was nothing I could do... like most things that I find.

Whatever. I had spent the last twenty minutes trying to make myself look... 'physically appealing', twenty more minutes than I had wanted to waste of my hopefully short life. A quick shower, a run through the mane, and a bit of brush of the fur and I was now presentable by societal standards... or so I thought- I didn't really give a damn. But if my plan was going to work, it was necessary to at least try to look what other people thought of as good, as much as I didn't want to. I spat at the mirror in a last sign of protest as I quickly strode to my front door.

Discord tried to stop me in my living room. "You look gre-"

"Shut up! I’m not in the mood, and I do this my way." The sound that came out of my mouth was as flat as a statement of fact, but had the volume of perturbed shout. Discord, to my silent astonishment, actually stopped his quip halfway through, and he looked at me with ice in his eyes. He didn't say a word more.



Chapter 2: Strangely Coincidental

I threw open the door and slammed it behind me. Big mistake.

The flood of light that entered my retinas nearly blinded me. I shut my eyes tight in a vain attempt to bring the darkness back, but the light shone through. I felt my eyeballs expand as if they were going to explode. I put my hooves to my eyes and clenched my teeth. I could only imagine the grimace and pathetic wincing I wore at that moment. After a few moments of agony I attempted to regain my footing, slowly opening my eyes and closing them a couple of times. 

Let's see, last time I left my home... a week ago. For milk. On my doorstep. And I had sunglasses on.

That milk tasted like cement mix, too.

Whatever. I took a few steps down the large hill my house sat on, only to remember how colorful the outside was and run behind a tree to subsequently vomit.

Violently.

Even my puke was colorful. What the hell, man. Still... I had to endure, to tolerate. I needed to accomplish this. I had a plan, and I wasn't about to give up. I'm going to bring justice to this sick species. All species.



I neared that telltale village: Ponyville. I couldn't remember the last time I was here... something about origami? I could’ve cared less... and I really should have.

The images of the passing ponies made me physically nauseous. Not because of their color, rather, the sheer atrocity of their appearances. Their stupid hair buns, damned accessories, and vain saunters.  Some of their noses were stuck in the air, their eyelids closed with haughty belittlement. Why did ponies put so much importance in physical appearance? Like the surface was so crucial? Primitive lust and superficial attraction is thrust over what makes a person truly beautiful, the values and morality one has; one's personality. Too bad that was usually disgusting too, for most people, but the point stands regardless.

Getting a couple more strange looks from the more snobbish ponies, I rounded the first corner, ignoring the shops and buildings on either sides and trying to find one of the six mares I was looking for. Discord's descriptions of the mares had been rather extensive, both in appearance and personality... it was kind of creepy to be quite honest. However, it was useful information to formulate my plan. While my plan only concerned one of the elements, finding another would surely lead me to the one I wanted. 

I approached a steep decline in the path I strode on. It led to the center of town, a fountain with an angelic looking pegasus spewing water in the center and a small improvised market encircling it. First of all... what was so appealing about those fountains? I mean, the centerpieces were usually spitting or pissing the water into the fountain, or spraying the water out of some sort of biological orifice. I would never understand art. It was the one thing I didn't despise at least, but that's all it had going for it in my book.

Ooh, and what's this? A yellow pegasus with a pink mane and a humble disposition? Must be my lucky day. Fluttershy. I can't believe my luck. The element that was crucial to my plan was the first one I see, oh this cannot get any better. I was afraid that I was going to have to deal with that Rarity character first, and that would have been horrible. But no, here the one stood... the one that will murder them all. And she didn't even know it. A stranger to irony I was not.

Quickly, I looked around, trying to hatch some sort of idea to kick start my plan. As Discord described, Fluttershy was extremely socially awkward, and very apprehensive about meeting new people, so I would have to do something big in order to gain that initial trust factor. Walking up and trying to start a casual conversation wasn't going to cut it. However, I didn't want to attract too much attention. Attention would get her anxious, and anxiety would mean no me in her life. That means doing that whole public charm thing was out. There was a possibility of asking her to a date as flashily as I could and pressuring her into it, but that wasn't enough for a stable friendship. Her friends wouldn't be cool with it at all, for as much as I know of them. I was trying to do something big yet small... not exactly an overly easy thing to accomplish.

My eyes fell upon a wagon precariously positioned on the slope I was on, it being tended to by an apple vendor. He looked rather nervous about the dangerous positioning as he dealt with the pony looking to buy his wares. His back was turned to the wagon, and he turned to check on it periodically. I couldn’t believe my luck. It was...

Perfect. Just perfect.



Fluttershy walked aimlessly around the market, presumably trying to work up the nerve to actually approach one of the stands. Her eyes shot back and forth under her mane and her head hung low. She was minding her business, sure not to bother passersby. The scenario couldn't be any more perfect.

With a flick of my magic, the sound of a tumbling wagon came into hearing. I hid behind a dark alley directly in front of the yellow pegasus in the space between a few market stands. no one noticed the subtle sound of the nearing cart. Only when it came closer did ponies start to turn, jumping away from the runaway cart and cursing under their breath for their fortune. Many eyes trailed to the cart's path and stared in bewilderment. In the commotion, the pony in charge of the wagon yelled in discontent for his luck, running to try and catch up to the wagon.

Fluttershy had her back to the impending danger, completely unaware of the ruckus. She was too busy trying to stay out of everyone's way, too preoccupied with her anxieties to do anything in defence. At one point the wagon veered off its target, but I made sure it came for her directly with my magic, straightening out its path. All according to plan.

"Hey, kid, watch out!" the merchant yelled to the element of kindness, allowing her to turn just in time to see the large rolling vehicle close in on her. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped, and horror set in just before impact...

Impact, not of the wagon, but of my soft body, crashing into Fluttershy to save her. We flew with her in my arms a few seconds that probably felt like hours for the filly, before hitting the ground with a thud and a tumble. The wagon, now absent from contact of a pony, flew behind us with no loss of momentum until it hit a brick wall. It splintered and fell apart with ease, bits of it flying around the vicinity in an spectacular volley of force, wood, and apples.

I held the mare close to my chest with my eyes shut tight for a couple moments to add some effect, then got up with her under me. My rump still lied on her flank, and my hooves held each side of her shoulders. My face contorted with an expression of basic relief with a trace of concern of her well being, of which I could actually care less of. I noticed the owner of the cart rushing to the wreckage, more concerned for it than the mare he nearly killed. Probably he was just glad he wasn't looking at a lawsuit, the bastard.

Fluttershy lay there with a grimace; a brace for pain that never came. She must've thought she was dead or that the wagon was still coming for her or something.

"Hey!" I yelled as if my hearing had not yet stabilized from the 'sudden loss of adrenaline', even though I felt exactly the same when I was laying in my bed yesterday. "Are you okay?" The ponies around us gawked at my ‘heroic’ actions and drew a little closer, murmuring unsure statements and baffled questions.

She didn't answer me and her expression remained unchanged, understandably because of the shock. "Hey!" I continued.

She started to move, at first pushing her hooves up as if I were debris that landed on her. After meeting the warm resistance of my chest, she opened her lids to reveal two very big, somewhat dilated baby blue eyes that, for some reason, shined a little. Probably on account of some tears that now held their place in her eyes. Her face changed from a pained grimace to cautious curiosity. She certainly didn't expect a black and white stallion's head to fill her field of vision with the sky in the background. I tried to put on a friendly smile.

That's when panic started to set in, the realization of what transpired slowly dawning on her. Her eyes widened like an animal in danger, she started panting and stammering. "What- What's going- I-I where--?"

I softened my smile further as I put my hoof on her mouth. "Shhhh, it's okay, you're fine, everything's okay, you're safe." Her hyperventilation slowed and tears fell. Her eyes shrunk, no longer panicked and frightened.

"I... you... you saved me...?" she whispered, her voice cracking a little.

And that's where I'd be overstaying my welcome. If I continued to be on her, I'd look like a creep, people would call me out, and she'd start to be uncomfortable. Even though she seemed thankful, that was the hidden threshold. I removed myself instantly and kneeled to her side instead. "Well... I didn't do anything anyone else wouldn't have done," I lied. Monsters would have loved to see her get squashed like that, and no one consider risking their necks to save anyone other than themselves. I began to help the mare up, providing leverage for her hoof and supporting her trembling body. "Easy now, there we go..." I said it in the most comforting tone I could muster. The bystanders that littered the area slowly began to disperse, losing interest after finding the mare to be okay.

"Thank... you..." she said, a bit unsure. Then she faced me. "Thank you," she said again, this time more stated.

"It was nothing, I promise," I remarked, my inner self grumbling about the fact no one else tried to do the same. Now was the time to introduce myself. I couldn't do it earlier because she wasn't all there yet, and if I did it too late her anxiety might have gotten the better her and she'd have tried to avoid conversation, quite possibly because she thought of herself unworthy to speak to somebody who'd risk his life for someone else...

"My name is Grim Onyx, but I'd appreciate it if you would call me Onyx, everyone does." I said everything in an upbeat and friendly manner, welcoming her into the conversation. I patiently waited for her own input.

"I’m... name... my name is F-fluttershy." She looked away from me as she spoke (something I appreciated greatly as it would reduce the need for fake smiles) and hid herself behind her obtrusive pink mane. The sight of the wagon caught her eye in her bashful turn. "Oh dear," she exclaimed as much as someone like her could. "That wagon would have flattened me if..." She turned back at me as I put on a intrigued likeness in preparation. "If it weren't for... you...."

"O-oh, don't be silly," I assured as I summoned a blush and rubbed the back of my head. I closed my eyes as one would do in embarrassment. "I'm sure you'd have been fine..."

Fluttershy looked as if I just said turtles could fly. "Oh no, but I wouldn't have! You... you really saved me... thank you."

I feigned flushed surprise and looked at her in fake amazement. "Gee..." She turned as I did, and we were silent for a few moments.

We both faced each other to speak. "Hey-" we said in unison. Fluttershy's entire face turned red and I chuckled nervously. 

"Hey," I said, being sure not to interrupt her even though I knew I wasn't going to. "Uhh... what were you doing here anyway?"

Fluttershy was struck unawares by the question, looking at me with a dumb expression on her muzzle. After a few moments she returned to her normal disposition. "Oh... I was going to buy food for my... pets."

Ah... right. She was the crazy animal lady. "Well... uh... do you want some help?" She used that same expression she showed only a moment ago. "My schedule is free... I mean, if you want."

"Oh, you don't have-"

"I assure you it's no trouble at all," I cut her off politely. "I think it'll be fun! I mean, ya nearly got killed, it's the least I could do."

"Well... okay..." Fluttershy smiled for the first time since I met her. While she physically faced me, her eyes were off in another direction. "If you insist."

"Oh, I do. Very much so." Good... very good. Perfect, even. She doesn't even know.



The air was filled with the laughter and joy of the local shoppers of Ponyville, filling their bags with crap they didn't need and food they wouldn't eat. Necessities was apparently a word they didn't know. Want is all they knew. Desire. It was driving me crazy.

However, today wasn't about them. No, it was about the little yellow pegasus who I accompanied throughout her little shopping spree. Despite calling it that, the mare was shockingly very conservative with her purchases, foregoing variety with average needs. Bread, cheese, apples... it was pretty much all she bought. Well aside from her pet's food which completely filled the other saddlebag I was carrying. While still timid and quiet, Fluttershy had become more chirpy and conversational, telling me some far fetched stories that were legitimately entertaining and laughing at the snide jokes that I made, all of which dark and grim. I tried to make those remarks in good fun, but in reality was how I felt.

It was odd, really. When I made my first humorous observation, laced in sarcasm and spite, I hadn't expected the yellow mare to enjoy it, after all, it was a rather brutal one and she didn't look the type. At first, she didn't act like she did, spewing out a nervous chuckle like she wasn't sure if it was okay to laugh at something so badly natured. Though after a few sarcastically critical quips, she began chuckling with more confidentially, softly smiling with her eyes closed in delight. I made comments about the stupid crap I see people do and wear, one time bashing on a man's choice of clothing as he suckered some idiots to by a potato peeler. He looked ridiculous with his sun visor and sunglasses and flower littered shirt. And who markets potato peelers? That's something you buy at a store when you think you're gonna need it because there's a sack of potatoes your shopping cart assuming you don't already have one at home. You don't care how good one is, or what brand it is, because it's a POTATO PEELER.

...Anyway, it was going good. I wonder how long I'm going to have to do-

"Oh my, your cutie mark..."

Damn. That was going to happen eventually. Oh well.

I turned expecting horror, but what I got was a face filled with innocent curiosity, as if what she saw didn't spook her. But that couldn't be right... my cutie mark was unsettling to everyone-- so as it should be, absolutely terrifying to someone of Fluttershy's constitution. I glanced over my flank to meet the end of her gaze. A reaper's scythe against a blue ink blotted background tattooed on my fur. I faced Fluttershy once more again expecting horror even though I had just seen it wasn't the case. But... my eyes met hers... and she smiled, her eyes wide in eager curiosity. The shyness was nowhere to be seen, and it was as if all my previous deductions of her character had proven to be wrong. Enthusiasm laden her voice as she spoke. "That's an unusual cutie mark... what's your talent?"

I was too dumbfounded by this change of demeanor that I was at a loss for words. I instinctively opened my mouth but no sound came. I couldn't stop staring into those huge eyes that pierced my soul, as if by her just looking at me I could be burned away for my condemning sins.

That is, until she caught herself in her abrupt audacity and instantly nervously turned away, blushing and adding, "That is, if that's okay with you to share..."

Well, I gotta hand it to her. That was almost interesting.

I sighed inwardly, but kept my positive disposition in order to not offend her. "It's a reaper's scythe, as I assume you know. I know it looks kind of creepy, but..."

Wait. A reaper's scythe? Could it really mean... that I was meant to be the cause of everyone's demise? That hadn't even occurred to me until just now. Maybe... after all those years of denying I was a murderer... after all those strange looks... maybe they were right. I noticed I had been quiet for a full second so I quickly finished my explanation.

"It's just because I love to farm, not because I'm close to... death or anything." Hell, I was unsure at this point.  After all, my recent deal with Discord says differently. "Specifically wheat. Yeah I have a small wheat farm in my backyard to make my own bread. You should try some some time."

DAMN! I let that last sentence slip before I could shut myself up. I caught the accidental implications too late, as a radiant blush formed under her eyes. They were at first wide, but then shot off to the side facing the ground. She cleared her throat softly as her entire head almost disappeared beneath her hair.

I ran through my mind to try to say something to null the unintentional invitation to my place when I offered the bread. I never explicitly said I wanted her to come over, but she misunderstood it as easily as I feared. Anything I could say would’ve made me sound like a complete jackass. I couldn’t go the suave route, I was afraid she might implode under the pressure, and I would sound like an idiot if I tried to clarify my words. Normally I wouldn’t care, but this task was important to me. Damn stupid girl! Not everything people do has to have a hidden sexual intent!

What seemed like an eternity she finally replied. “Yes, I’d like that. You could bring it... t-to me and we could have...”

Although my mind was a mixture of relief and utter astoundment as I mentally berated myself for being completely wrong, I still slid out a reply out of sheer reflex. “...Lunch?”

“If you would...” She had to coax the words to come out of her mouth.

“Of course, Fluttershy.” I Moved closer. “Of course...”

All according to plan.



"We should do this again sometime, Fluttershy." I offered enthusiastically. She began to blush wildly and turn away, smiling. It was something I found her doing quite often, usually when I faced her. It was slightly annoying, but at least it was informing me that my plan was working.

"Yes... that would be... nice..."

God, speak slower, I don't think I understood you.

“So...” I starting, feigning bashfulness. “Lunch... noon? Shall we uh... meet here?”

She still had her face hidden in the soft jungles of the strands of her hair, a smile never fading, eyes closed. She dared not answer, instead giving a simple and slow nod. I smiled back, subtly letting her know it was okay to be as passive as she was being. We stood for a while sharing no words. She backed slowly, like one would a dangerous animal, and turned to see her way off. “Goodbye... Grim.”

Grim? No one had called me that before. I had no gripes, but... why couldn’t she just call me Onyx like everyone else? Ah, whatever, names don’t matter. Besides, my job was to please her, that’s the only way this would work. You can’t destroy something that isn’t built.

“Off ya go, Fluttershy. See you at Noon.”



I burst through my door, humming a tuneless ballad, rocking on my left hooves and leaning on my right, making my mood clear. I knew I looked ridiculous. I didn’t care. I segued into my living room after the initial hallway and passing the stairs, tapping the black rose in a decorative pot that I could’ve sworn wasn’t there before as I passed through.

Discord obviously saw my little act and assumingly right through it. I could never tell with the guy. “You’re happy. Things went well I assume.”

“Oh I had the most wonderful day, you freak.” I said joyously, sharpening my tone at the last insult.

“Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen in love with the woman.” Discord wagged his finger while tsking twice.

My face straightened out as I returned to my regular scrutinizing expression. “Don’t be silly, Discord. I’m just so happy about all the suffering that I’m going to end, all the lies and corruption that I’ll purge!” I contorted my face into a wide smile of pleasure, inching towards the god slowly, pushing the chairs around the coffee table out of my way. “This legacy has to end. This legacy of all that stands for evil, this bureaucracy of filth! This bureaucracy of conformity, this means to an end! All so easy, and all so... dead.” At this point I was face to face with Discord, his snide mug matching mine. After a few seconds he raised his hand and started snapping.

Like... when griffins share their poetry to peers.

I sighed in annoyance and turned to leave. I was done for today.

“Wait.” I grumbled before turning back around. I gave him a look to signal him to spit it out. “At first I didn’t take you too seriously. But now that I see you... yes, the potential is astounding. I thought that meeting Fluttershy would’ve been enough to change your ways, but here you stand, still clinging very strongly to your opinion on this. A strength I did not expect. It appears I can in fact trust you with this task.”

I raised an eyebrow, half with skepticism and half intrigue.

“You have earned my respect. And my blessings. Therefore...” The wicked joy he expressed almost made me ooze with anticipation. Surely this was going somewhere good. He waved his arm and a sickly green glow illuminated the area. “I can help you achieve your goal.”

I slowly walked up, any trace of caution gone. Discord wasn’t wisecracking anymore, he was serious, and that got my attention. And this... magic. It felt powerful. My horn tingled mercilessly.

Discord had his arms stretched out in a hoop, motioning me with his muzzle to look inside.

I did. What it was... nothing but awe-inspiring.

Yes. This will do nicely.



DARK AS ONYX

TO BE CONTINUED...