//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: When Murder Turns Innocent // by Magic Wand //------------------------------// I felt a searing pain and it was over my whole body. I heard a scream, one of true terror. I had heard so many scream like that before, but this time it was my own. My vision was blinded with bright light, and spots flashed before my vision. My throat ached and felt like it was on fire. But the pain didn't stop and neither did my screams. I tried to will my screams to stop, but with no avail. No matter how hard I fought or what I did, it continued. I felt my consciousness slipping, but I didn't want to die. Although, the truth was I deserved to die. I couldn't remember why, or what I did to deserve such a fate. But deep down I knew it, it was the one thing I remembered. That I deserved to die. I couldn't see or tell who tortured me. I didn't know why I was here, or how I got here. I didn't even know what was happening to me. I didn't know what I looked like, or what my special talent was. I didn't remember where I lived, or if I had a special some pony that was waiting for me. I think, in a way this was a worse fate. Being drowned in pain with no memories. * * * * * That's when I woke up. "Black Cut! Sweetheart, It's okay!" My mother yelled at me. "You're fine now. You're home." "It happened! It happened again!" I sobbed. I felt my face was wet and my coat was clumped. The hot tears continued to stream down my face and drip off my muzzle. I tried to move my legs, and founded them to be tangled up again. My wings and and hooves were wrapped up in my cover and sheets. My flailing had caused them to get tangled and my water glass to fall. It hadn't broken, but I could see the huge puddle it had made when it spilled. My throat felt raw and scratchy, and I could tell I had been screaming. My whole body ached from my nightmare, and it hurt to move. My mane was a tangle of red hair and it hung down in front of my face and eyes.My wings were ruffled and some of the feathers were bent the wrong way. My pillow had fallen of my bed and so my neck hurt from no support. The light was still off, and it was still dark outside. I stayed there for a long time just breathing. After a while my mom left, giving me time with my own thoughts. I didn't fall back asleep, I never could. I would just have to wait till tomorrow and then try again. Once the sun began to rise, I got up and combed my mane. Today was my first day of school and I had to look "presentable" as my mom always says. I looked at myself in the mirror, to help remind myself of who I was. It was nice to check sometimes. My mane and tail were a dark red. In fact, my tail was shorter than most ponies, but that was the way I liked it. My coat was dark black with a few exceptions. Around my muzzle, on my forehead in the shape of a diamond, and on the tips of my hooves was bright white. And my eyes were dark gray. I didn't have a cutie mark yet, but my mom said that was fine. I didn't believe her, I thought that I was too old not to have one. But I hoped that no one at school would make fun of me for it. Because I didn't want to get in a fight. I have a problem where sometimes, when I don't watch it, I'll blurt something out that's right, even though I shouldn't know it. It's usually just something small, nothing that really matters. But it often seems to rub ponies the wrong way, which I'd rather not do. School already started last month, but we didn't move here until last week. I haven't met any other foals yet, so every pony at the school will be new. Being here instead of Trottingham is so different. I wasn't born there though, so I never quite picked up the accent. All the other foals will already know each other and I might not be able to make friends. In a way I don't really care, it's not my problem. I'm supposed to make friends because it's "good" for me, but I don't see the reason in it. I took a deep sigh and headed down the stairs. Our house was in a pretty good location. I could walk to sugar cube corner, the library, and the school without trouble. The sun was now fully up and I only had an hour left until school. At a quick trot I could make it in 15, so I had time. When I reached the bottom of the steps, I found my mom making breakfast. Dad always left before the dawn, so I wouldn't see him until he came home tonight. The smell of fresh baked muffins entered my nose, and I couldn't help but smile. One of the things that could never go wrong, muffins. "Hi sweetie, did you get back to sleep last night?" Roseluck asked, acting slightly too happy. "Yep," I said, not wanting her to worry. I walked into the kitchen and opened one of the main drawers. Inside was all the silverware, and I grabbed one of the knifes carefully. I moved through the kitchen and grabbed whatever else I needed for breakfast. Even though it was early in the morning, I glided silently across the floor. For some reason I could always move quick and stealthily through the house, even when I wasn't trying. After finishing my chores of making my bed and a few other things, I was ready to go. I strapped on a small saddle bag on to my back, to carry my books. The saddle bag was a coal gray, and didn't have anything on the straps. We could have gotten them with, but I liked it just fine without them. With that I said goodbye and stepped out of the door. It was a crisp morning, with the dew still on the ground. I preferred it that way, the cold didn't bother me and it kept my senses alert. I breathed out and a small puff of smoke came out. I smiled, this would be the perfect way to start the day. I got ready and then leaped into the air. Three great pumps of my wings and I was in the sky. I had to beat my wings fast, because they still weren't full grown yet. I saw one or two adults in the sky, but otherwise that was it. It was early enough in the day that the weather team didn't need to be bothered. I stood out in the sky, compared to other pegasus. My dark, night coat was as bright as could be against the blue sky. I had always wanted to fly at night, I could just picture it. The only thing that would stand out would be my mane, but color it black, and I would blend in better than ever before. My silent flight would make me part of the night and I would be able to soar forever. But my parents forbid me to ever fly at night, Roseluck and Armor Shine thought it would be to dangerous. When I got to the school, I landed right in the front walk way. A few fillies stared, but I knew it was just the old "new kid" spiel. I ignored them and walked into the school. About half of the class was already in the school, milling around and talking in their small social groups. The room was filled with rows of desks and a counter lined the back wall. A chalk board was on the wall in the front, and in front of it stood the teacher's desk. I went up to the adult that stood at the front of the room. I was supposed to talk to the teacher when I got there, and she was the only adult there, so it must have been her. She had a dark, magenta coat and a light pink mane. Her cutie mark was of three smiling flowers. The thought entered my head of what they represented and my gift kicked in. They meant that she loved teaching and seeing her students grow up and learn. I nodded my head, made sense. "Excuse me, but I'm new here and..." I started "oh, yes!" she said, interrupting me,"Black Cut, was it? I already got the message. We'll keep a separate bottle of pills for you here and you can go outside and take them every day, without asking." "Right, thanks." I said, keeping my head down. I turned away from her and went to sit down. It took me a few seconds to find the one with my name on it, but it was easy enough. I sat in the third row back, a yellow filly at right in front of me. She had a red mane, and no cutie mark. On my left there was another filly. She had an hour glass with a little star attached as an cutie mark. Her mane was purple and her coat light turquoise. There was one colt I recognized in the class. His name was Pipsqueak and he still hadn't gained his cutie mark. I recognized him, because he had moved from Trottingham last year. He was always one of the smaller colts, but he had this way of cheering every pony up instantly. "Alright class, it's time to begin." Cheerilee said. It always went the same way. The teacher would introduce me to the class. Some pony would ask about the legend. I would deny it and then tell a little about myself. This time it just happened to be an orange pegasus with no cutie mark and maroon mane. After that, the teacher would begin the lesson. I always bothered to work hard on the first day. And while I did, I would catch a few ponies staring at me, always the new kid. After what seemed like forever, class finally let out. Everyone went out to the field and split up into their social groups. The jocks, the artists, the nerds, the populars, the class clowns, the ordinarys, and the out casts. I knew it was always best to move to the skill group you were good at, and if you needed to, slowly move down the line from there. I had started to walk over to the jocks, but got interrupted. Two young fillies stood in my way, preventing me from walking forward. One was pink, with and purple and white mane. She had a crown as her cutie mark and one on her head to match. The other was a dark gray mare with a light gray mane. She wore a pair of glasses and a string of pearls, both in a shade of light blue. Her cutie mark was of a small silver spoon. It wasn't hard to tell, these were the populars. "Hi new girl." the pink filly said, in an over cheery tone. I knew how this worked. And I wouldn't have any of it. I had tried to join in with the populars and it hadn't worked out well. So I decided that it would just be better to get this over with and send them on their way. I focused with my talent and got what i needed to know. My head was slightly throbbing now, but it would be worth it to see the look on their faces. "Don't start," I said, making sure to keep a strait face. "You're Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. You're the popular people that every pony just adores. You both have a lode of money to spend on whatever you want. Being the way you are, you're both selfish and rude. You don't care about any pony but you're self. You have been best friends since birth, and probably have a special handshake. You came over to give me some free advice, that I already know. Stay on your good side, don't hang out with the losers, got it. Now, am I right?" They both stared at me agape. Silver Spoon stood there with her mouth hanging open, saying nothing. While Tiara gasped and sputtered, trying to think of something to say. I just stood and waited with one of my eyebrows raised, staring at them. Finally Tiara gathered herself up and eyed me suspiciously. "Who told you that?!" This was the moment I loved the most,"No pony, call it my 'special gift'." With that I walked away, leaving them to wonder. I started to make my over to where the sports group of ponies had been. Unfortunately, they hadn't hung around, and almost every pony was gone. I sighed dejectedly and started to head home. I would have to wait until tomorrow to talk to them. I decided not to fly, this late in the afternoon the skies would be busy. When I got to the corner with sugar cube corner, I saw some of the fillies in my class. There was the yellow pony that sat in front of me, the orange one which had mentioned the legend, and a white filly I hadn't noticed. They were all walking out of the shop, and that's when I noticed none of them had cutie marks. They noticed me at the same time, and decided to walk over. I didn't bother to walk away, there would have been no point. It was obvious that they were in the out cast group. I felt bad for them and it would have been rude to walk away, because they would have known I'd done it on purpose. Luckily, there weren't any other ponies from school that would be watching. "Hiya, ma' names Apple Bloom, this is Sweetie Belle," said the yellow filly, pointing at the white pony standing next to her." And this here is Scootaloo." "Name's Black Cut, we have the same class."I stated flatly hoping they would take that as a hint. Unfortunately, It didn't and Scootaloo's eyes grew big at the mention of my name. Her stance widened and a grin spread across her face. Scootaloo's wings flapped quickly, showing she was excited, but for some reason not taking her off the ground. Apple Bloom looked happy, but not over enthusiastic. While Sweetie Belle stood in the back, trying to look busy. "Black Cut! Li-like the legend, right?You wouldn't have the... the you know what, would ya?!" Scoots asked. "What, you mean this?" I said it nonchalantly, I would always get this every once and a while. Some pony would ask me if I knew about the legend and had been named on purpose. In the legend, it always talked about this pattern that the mare had on her head. Apparently, there was a mare with the cutie mark of a knife and that she had to be the professional assassin who had even gone after the princesses. It was said that if you found her, you could pay her to murder some pony. She wasn't supposed to be scared of anything, which is why foals loved the legend. Her coat was to be as black as night and her mane the color of fresh blood. But the one for sure sign was the pattern on her face. It was supposed to have white around the muzzle and a white diamond on her forehead, hidden behind her mane. I lifted up my mane,"Yeah." "That's really strange." Scootaloo said.