//------------------------------//
// Prelude 
// Story: To give an honest smile 
// by AnimeLovingBritishHoof 
//------------------------------//

The hazy sky began to turn orange as Celestia's sun slowly dipped down into the horizon. There was a sense of peace and tranquility in the air. I opened my eyes, and took in the beauty that surrounded me. Sand meshed itself together, and created ripples in the wind. As the wind grew stronger, the sand ripples grew in mass, eventually creating waves so big that even a professional surfer would gasp in awe at the particles creating such a masterpiece. Once being a good photo artist myself, I removed a camera from my bag and tried to take a good picture of the sight before me. I failed. I always thought Mr.Snapshot was a bad lier... As I though to myself about Mr.Snapshot's slyness, something snapped deep within me. Stop! Stop dwelling on the past! That always was our weak spot. We need to impress Dragon Rhythm, even after all this time. He still is ashamed of us you know.  I bowed my head in shame, knowing my other side was right.

I realised if I kept arguing with myself, I would miss my favourite time of day.

Settling down in my chair, I quickly re-admired the house behind me for the 26th time. I couldn't believe I got it so cheap, but it was probably because nopony really enjoys living in the middle of nowhere. The only reason I wanted to live here was so I could isolate myself from other ponies. Not that I had anything against ponies, considering I was one myself, it was just so I couldn't hurt anypony again. I despise hurt. All it brings is pain and suffering, nothing I take pleasure in. I was just different from other ponies. I could hurt them. I am not easily provoked, thankfully, but if things go wrong, I could kill. I had done it before. Nopony knew me out here though, so I was safe.

For now.

I sighed as I saw the sun and moon next to each other, the moon rising and the sun falling. It was harmony at that very moment. The moment I wait for every night. After re-re-admiring my house (I like it quite a bit), I settled into my chair for a nice sleep.

Then he came along.

An old stallion, about 70 or so, came into view over the horizon. Knowing it was old horse Charley, I quickly pretended to be asleep. Other than he being the last pony you'd expect to shut up every once and a while, he is also my landlord. And my enemy.

"G'Night, Arell! Ha! Arell Knight! Night Arell! Hoo-ee! You'd never believe what just happened to me!"

I scowled. He was going to tell me one of his long and boring stories. Again.

"Well 'ah was just wanderin' through th' woods on th' far sidah' town, when ah' saw it. It looked like a bird, but it had wings, so ah' dunno. Or is it that reptiles don't have wings and birds do? Ah' can't remember... Anyway, ah' was just walkin' through th' woods when..."

Here we go again... I sat through the long and boring story (that was as long and boring as ever), and tried not to doze off, otherwise it'd seem impolite. Because he's nice to me...

"If I have to listen to him tell one of his long and boring stories again I'm going to."

I drew a line across my throat in anger.

"You're going to draw a line across your throat, what good would that do?"

I was shocked to find out Charley had heard me. And he didn't know what that metaphor meant. I shook my head and told him it was nothing. He beloved me, and went on about the time he found the golden something or the other.

"All this stuff just goes over his head..."

Charley stopped at that second.

"Nah, I'm too fast for anything to go over my head. Kkiiiiiiya! Whoa! Take that!"

I face-hoofed.

Soon, Charley left, leaving me to be me. How do we put up with that guy? We need to dispose of him. My other self was at it again. 

"No, you know we can kill. It's against our rules!"

The other me seemed to tut, and then responded. You mean your rules. Grow up! We need to kill! You know you enjoy it... I shook my head, I don't enjoy it. I couldn't enjoy it. It was against my nature. My other side hadn't been with me in a while, and now she was back, I could feel what it felt like to kill again: pain and suffering. At least, that's what I thought, until I realised I felt something inside every time I did it. I felt triumphant.

"No..."

My other self laughed. It was a deep and hearty laugh, yet there was something evil about it. Something murderous. Oh, you foal! You know you can't escape me! I am you, you know, so, even if you try to bury me down... It laughed again. In anger, I kicked some sand. It ran away, cowering in fear. I was a monster to it. ... I'll always come back up, because I'm a part of you.

I curled up in my chair, wanting the crevices to swallow me up, and rocked myself slowly.

"I'm... Not crazy... I'm not crazy... I'm not crazy... I'm not crazy... I'm not crazy..."

I slept, and dreamed a dream of me and my other self fighting. I lost. And I would keep losing, until I found a way to kill it.

I got up the next morning, and walked into my house.

I had to get rid of it.