//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The Joker said to the Thief // by Spell Bound //------------------------------// A hooded figure dressed in black dashed across the streets of Canterlot silently, attempting not to draw any attention to themselves. The night was cold and wet, as the Pegasi had scheduled a week long rain storm to descend upon the city, causing minor flooding of the streets and gutters. The figure was a rather small pony shaped being. Its cloak was black and tattered, and on closer inspection you would see that underneath, it was as black as the cloak it was wearing. A bundle was tied to its back, as he headed towards the Canterlot orphanage. As it arrived on the door step, a green glow came from under the hood, and the bundle lifted of its back and was laid on the front steps. The figure chattered slightly at the bundle as it started to move. With a great sigh the figure started to back away from the bundle into the shadows across the street, as the bundle began to cry out. It did not take long before the front door opened, and a Unicorn and Pegasus mare stood in the door way looking at the bundle. “Oh my.......someone left a child.” The Pegasus spoke and looked around trying to see anyone who might have left it. “Leave off it Cherry. The pony who left it obviously wants us to look after the poor creature.” The Unicorn spoke, before lifting up the pony in a soft azure aura. Moving the folds of the bundle to better look at the child, both of them gave a slight gasp, as the creature inside seemed pony like, but was not. It seemed more insectoid, as its skin was grey, and its legs, mane and horn had holes in them. As they stared at the changeling child, it gurgled looking at the two mares, before his horn glowed green and it was encompassed in a green fire. The fire lasted for about 5 seconds before it dissipated, and the changeling child appeared like a normal pony. The two mares looked at each other very confused before solidifying there looks and speaking. “Pony or not, it’s our job to look after the child.” The Unicorn said. “Agreed, but what are we going to call it Dawn?” Dawn looked at the changeling once more before smiling. “I think this pony is going to be good at magic, if it could do that at this young age. Let’s call it, Spell Bound.” Smiling the two ponies turned and took the child into the orphanage, shutting the door behind them. As they did, the figure moved out of the shadows with its hood down, revealing it too, to be a changeling. Softly it chattered after the two mares, which translated to Equestrian would mean “Take care young one. And remember......remember what the joker said to the thief.” Its cryptic message spoken, it quickly shed its cloak, and flew off into the night, it’s mission complete. 5 years later “OK everypony, time for lunch!” a chorus of cheers erupted from the orphanage play ground as the little fillies and colts ran inside and sat around the huge table awaiting lunch. Doing a head count, a slight worried expression overcame Cherry Flowers face, as they were one head short. Scanning the hall of faces, she quickly knew who it was and where to find them. “Miss Dawn Sky, would you kindly go get our book worm from his studies?” The Pegasus called out. Dawn Sky gave a slight chuckle and quickly trotted out of the dining hall smiling, and made her way towards the orphanage library. Once arriving at the library it took a total of 10 seconds to find the book fort, and the young colt who had made it while reading. “Come along darling, you’re missing lunch.” Spell’s ear pricked up at the mention of food and quickly closed his book and ran off towards the dining hall giggling. Dawn stole a glance at the book he was reading, and smiled slightly knowing her predictions of him was true, as the book was titled “Starswirl’s Magical Theories for young ones”. Tapping a hoof against her chin she thought for a minute before running out of the orphanage and down the streets of Canterlot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spell sat at the table happily. Food, the one thing he loved as much as his magical studies, if not more. Still, he felt slightly nervous around the other ponies around the orphanage. He had a rather unusual ability that none of the others had, and if they found out they might be afraid of him. Unlike most ponies, he could see, sense, feel and taste emotions. While he was nervous around them, he was quite glad to be around them during meal times, as their emotions seemed to enhance the taste of the food. Smiling and joking with the other colts and fillies around him he ate his lunch in peace until Miss Dawn Sky ran into the dining hall out of breath, causing everyone to look at her. “Could..........Spell..........please.........come...........here” She panted out trying to catch her breath. Nervously Spell got up from his table and walked over to her. “Y....yes Miss Sky?” Smiling Dawn Sky floated a sheet of paper in front of Spell. Looking at it, a huge grin over took his face and he started hoping about happily. “THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!” Cherry shot a confused glance at Dawn, who in return mouthed out Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, before turning her attention back to the hoping Unicorn. “Ok Spell, calm down. You still need to pass the entry exam, but I am sure you can do it. Your exam is tomorrow.” Spell ran back over to his table and finished his lunch before running back to his room to get prepared for his upcoming entry exam. 10 years later Spell sat in front of and old Oak tree in the Canterlot park eating his lunch with his two closest friends, Cotton Needle and Twilight Sparkle, if you could call friendship with Twilight friendship. She was more focused on her studies and saw Spell simply as a study partner. Cotton Needle was a seamstress pony, who was studying sewing and necromancy magic at the school, and was quite gifted at both. Her fur was a light shade of pink, and her mane was a darker pink at the top, purple in the middle and seemed to be black at the very tip. Her hooves also had a tendency to glow black when performing necromancy, and her cutie mark was a thread spool surrounded by a sewed heart. Spell had also recently gotten his Cutie Mark. It was a leaf surrounded by stars, indicating his speciality at nature magic. He excelled at his Nature Magic class both in theory and practice, while his other classes, such as teleportation, Necromancy, and Pyromancy he was barely scrapping through the practical half of them. They ate their lunch in silence. Soon their final exams would take place, and they would go their separate ways. Twilight would go to the Canterlot castle to continue studies under Princess Celestia herself, while Cotton planned to head to a town called Ponyville to start a fashion shop. As for Spell, he didn’t really know what he was going to do. He thought about simply travelling the world to learn more about magic and its mythical beings, but also wanted just to settle down and do something productive with his life. As they finished their lunch they heard a bell ring. “Well, looks like it’s time. Good luck everypony.” Spell said as they stood up and headed towards the exam hall. 5 years later Spell sat in his cottage outside of the Ever-free forest smiling. He liked it here. It was close to nature, and the forest was full of undocumented creatures. Not only that, he was near two of his child hood friends, as Cotton still lived in Ponyville, and a few years ago Twilight moved into the Golden Oaks Library. However soon Spell would be going back to Canterlot for a temporary job at his old school teaching Nature magic. Sighing he stood up and decided to take a walk. Looking up at the sky he smiled and said to himself, “Today’s a good day. Doubt anything bad will happen soon.” Little did he know, that the changeling invasion of Canterlot, had already begun.