Sat in her library, the element of magic has been up all night reading her books to the spines, it's a wonder why she has not collapsed from exhaustion at this point. Meanwhile her assistant snored away in his little bed, Owlicious was the only one available because of his sleeping pattern, plus Spike worked hard all morning so he earned his rest. However, his rest was cut short with Twilight groaning in annoyance.
“Uaaaghh! Nothing about what this thing is in here, there are minotuars, yetis, the rare but nearly extinct swamp lurker but none match his description!” Not knowing something always did infuriate the unicorn, but not knowing something this important was worse than knowing something horrible.
“Ahem, you know, you could just get me an alarm clock and my own room someday.”
Twilight spun around almost as if she were a top to face her now awake assistant before rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof. “Sorry Spike, I just have so much to know. Like whatever the Tartarus that thing is, it’s just so-…so-….UAAAGH!!” With that she head-butted herself against the shelf, knocking a book from the top and landing it like a diver on Spikes head.
“Ow! Hey! We gotta get some sliders to close of those things, that one hurt. Wait, it hurt.” He looks down to see the book that hit him, sure enough it was enormous so for it to actually give him a blunt impact on his cranium was no surprise anymore.
“What's this? Another encyclopaedia?” Picking it up with her magic onto a desk the lavender pony inspected the book, wiping off what appeared to be dust and a few cobwebs. “The Human Condition, written by-. The Author has been rubbed out, oh well, maybe it might have something we are looking for.”
With a small rhythm of humming as Spike grumbled in the background picking up all the books to arrange them, she began reading through the book. Each page felt like an adventure to her, knowing new possibilities as well as new spells. Twilights grin grew wider with giddiness until she reached the animals and their relationship to ‘humans’.
“They rode us?” she stared at the image of a samurai riding a steed. “Only, those things are bigger than ponies. Oh and Spike! Take the day off, I’ll be here a while so go enjoy yourself.”
“Thank goodness…”
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The sun had been looming over Sweet Apple Acres for a while now, the sounds of apple bucking and the farm animals chattering away were more than enough to wake up Kurai, for the first time he actually felt cranky from tiredness. Walking out of the barn he mumbled angrily. “Someone should put food bag on these walking dishes.” His complaining was cut short by Applejack standing at the other door about to knock, having heard his little comment and chuckling.
“Well mornin’ sleepyhead. Sorry about the cows, they can be a bit fussy if they haven’t been milked yet. Extra weight and all. Now I don’t know if you knew, but we eat uhm… things that aren’t considered meat. So I suggest you get used to that while you live here.” With that she gestured him to a table outside the house surrounded by Big Mac, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. “Now come on, you’re late for breakfast.”
Reluctantly, he took a seat next to Apple Bloom who eyed him curiously. Unlike the others she had no cutie mark on her flank, but that did not seem to faze her in the slightest. The red maned filly tilted her head as if to look under his covered face.
“How’re you goin’ to eat? You have special absorbin’ powers?” Giggling away she hopped back up into place on her seat. “But really you eat at all?”
Her high pitched voice slightly annoyed him, he turned his head to reply but got interrupted by the sounds of grumbling from his belly. Kurai forgot, he had not eaten anything since coming here and the plate of two eggs and a grass sandwich seemed more than appetising at this moment, probably his current form changing his diet and metabolism. Swallowing his pride he removed his helmet and lifted an egg with his new unicorn magic, bringing it closer he enveloped the egg with his mouth and swallowed it whole. Surprisingly, it tasted good. After finishing the second egg he was now at the grass sandwich, lifting it with his magic again Kurai brought it to his mouth and slowly took a bite. Bland, it tasted bland, nothing special. But it was filling.
While attempting to find the taste in grass Applejack groaned in frustration, apparently she has too much work to do and Apple Bloom has to be taken to school. Knowing what was coming he finishes his sandwich and placed his helmet back on his head and looks towards her. “If you need me to do the deed, I will. Theres nothing much for me to do anyway.”
She looked to Granny Smith who simply shrugged as if to say they might as well let him. “Alright, the school has a bell on it, you can’t miss it. Just take the right of the dirt trail out of the farm and then a left.”
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“So whats your name? Where are you from? Why the armour?” Those were but the tip of the iceberg of questions Apple Bloom has been spewing out at Kurai. Granted, he was the most interesting thing since last week when the Crusaders tried bungee jumping to get their cutie marks. Gritting his teeth Kurai prevented doing anything drastic like running away or grabbing her skull and scream at her to shut up, instead he took a calm breath and answered a few of the questions.
“Kurai, Lordran, it makes me feel protected, I have met more than one manticore in my lifetime and yes I am getting annoyed with your constant questions. You’re the first to get on my nerves you know.”
The filly looked down apologetically, noticing her upset Kurai sighed and brought out a small piece of what looked like glowing grass and held it out to her with a hoof. Inspecting it she gave it a sniff as well as shake it around once taking it, nudging her slightly he urged her to give it a bite. Without a second thought she bit down on it and swallowed, gagging at its taste.
“It tasted bitter! Ewww! What was that thing? Poison?!”
He laughed. “No, it’s a green blossom. It gives you much higher stamina, it wears off quickly on me because of my size. But your small body will be able to contain and constantly expel that energy in an hour.”
“Really?! Thanks mister Kurai, with physical education today this will come in handy!” She seemed to bounce with energy rivalling Pinkie Pie. “School’s close, I hope today I will get my cutie mark. Maybe one for being a sports pony!”
“What’s a cutie mark?” He assumed it was the tattoo things on the hind quarters of ponies, but what they symbolise was another story to him.
“Well, it reflects your talents. You get it if you find your talent, so Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and I founded the Cutie Mark Crusaders to find our talents. But I wish I could get it now, it’s just not fair that everypony in my class gets one but not me or my friends!” A small chuckle from Kurai brought her back to reality from her explanation and lives story. “What’s so funny?”
Coughing to pass it off as he dust getting into his helmet he smiled. “Nothing, so, having one makes you special huh?” She nodded. “Well, be glad you don’t have one, sure they may be special. But you’re unique, their destinies have been decided with their cutie marks being revealed. You and your friends however, have the whole world to find your destiny, the possibilities can be endless. Remember that and take it to heart.”
Giggling she hopped onto his back, she then seemed to remember something and her ears flattened against her head and slid off his back.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just…there’s a girl in my school who keeps making my day a week, Diamond Tiara. Her dad runs a chain of stores that sell our apples which are very popular, because of her bein’ rich she bribes people, she even goes as far to blackmail! I hate her so much, so much! She keeps calling us blank flanks, and it hurts deep.” A tear seemed to streak down her cheek and fall like a raindrop, seeing this churned Kurais stomach. Was it pity? Or was it genuine despair for her struggle?
“…We’re here…” Before reaching the school gate which was nothing more than a wooden fence a ear twisting sound was heard, mocking familiar to Marvellous Chester but higher pitched.
Approaching them was a light pink filly wearing a tiara on her head and flank, her mouth was much bigger than her brain from how she spoke. No doubt the snobbish queen of snobs, Diamond Tiara herself. “Well well, if it isn’t Apple Bloom. I’m surprised you can show your face here after the way you flopped on the swing after challenging moi,” Placing a hoof to her chest. “To see who can jump the farthest.”
Glaring Apple Bloom spoke back, her voice much more serious than the way Kurai had heard her. “You cheated and you know it! You paid a unicorn to lift you with a levitation spell!”
Snorting at the accusation, which unsurprisingly was true, Diamond stood right into Apple Blooms face with a twisted grin. “Careful, you know how dangerous it is to speak to your superiors! One more and I’ll have you and your friends put on the front page for,” Now whispering. “Having that little research session with a certain book.” At the mention of said book the yellow filly stepped back with her head held low. The moment he saw that, Kurai had enough of this whelp doing such things and lunged forward, gripping her neck with magic subtly enough that nopony noticed but Apple Bloom.
“Now listen here you conceited little bitch, if you don’t stop doing that I will have to take this matter into my own ha-hooves.”
“I’ll have my dad sue you for everything you got.” A smug smirk on her face, it was surprising how brave or stupid this creature was. No doubt her inflated ego.
Under his helmet Kurai grinned wide at the threat trying not to laugh and brought her closer, he resisted as best he can to stomp her skull in. “My currency is souls, would you like to be added to that collection? I could have that arranged without a seconds delay, others may be scared of you. But heres a little tip, I’m not.” Diamond Tiaras blood ran cold as she turned sheet white at his threat, or more accurately, his promise. “Now if I see you harm her or anybod- anypony again. Your days will be numbered, am I clear?”
“C-Crystal cl-cl-clear.”
With a satisfied breath he released her from his grip, as soon as she was free her legs seemed to turn to wheels as the terrified filly ran into class. Turning his head to Apple Bloom she was standing there with her jaw nearly touching the ground. “Too much?” In a split second she hopped and cheered with glee, putting his fears of upsetting her to rest. “Well, class is about to start. Best you go in.”
Nodding she ran to the gate and stopped, Applebloom then ran to Kurai and gave him a quick hug and sped off to class. Confused but pleasantly surprised he smiled and walked back to Sweet Apple Acred to let Applejack know her little sister is now at school on time.