//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Past and Ben Mare and Twilight's Darker Side // Story: The Curse Of The Mini-Were Mare // by Night-Moon-12 //------------------------------// It was peaceful in the area between Ponyville and Canterlot. Some rabbits are hanging out, having a good time as if having no care in the world. But then, the rabbits sense something and turn and gasping as if some sort of creature is approaching. They did as whatever the thing is stop to get water from a lake, growling before heading on. Whatever that creature is, it's heading towards Canterlot... ----------------- Twilight, returning home, goes into her room, groaning as she put down some supplies down. Her friends came in while the purple unicorn groans, "Ugh, can you believe that... that Boris? He wanted me to be his... UGH!" "I know and that super duper meanie pants goes and bad mouth me and my friends." Pinkie scoffs a bit. "Why is he thinking that Earth ponies are bad to him?" "I don't know. Boris has that attitude for years. He likes to bullies Earth ponies, considering them weak and pathetic." "Man; that makes me hate him even more!" Rainbow exclaims angrily. "If Celestia were to hear him say that, he would be speaking from the other end of his mouth." "Relax; I'm sure that he would get a new attitude change... right?" Fluttershy ask Rainbow meekly. Applejack decides to address another subject of what happened. She asks, "Twi, mind telling us what 'dat spectacle out there y'all about; Yew were upset about something an' yew wouldn't be 'dis angry unless something's up." "Forget it, I was just angry and ticked off." Twilight said. She seriously not wanting to talk about it, ever. "There's more than that. Who is this Ben guy, mommy?" Nyx ask Twilight in concern. "Why were you so offensive when Boris even made fun of him?" "Nyx, I don't wanna talk about it." "Twilight, does it involved that nightmare that you have about at night?" Spike asks Twilight seriously. "Come on; is that Ben colt in there?" "Spike, I'm warning you..." Twilight snaps, getting a bit edgy again. She looks like that she herself is going to blow up into 'darker mode' again. "Is this Ben pony that colt in the picture?" Sweetie asks Twilight who stops to look at her. "The one you don't wanna talked about." Twilight pauses then sighs sadly as she sat down. Rarity came over and pats her on the back. She said, "It's okay, Darling. You can tell us. We're your friends and want to help you." "Right, please mommy. Tell us?" Nyx pleads to Twilight. "I don't want you to continue having sleepless nights as well as be all sad and stuff." Twilight sighs a bit then made her old schoolbook floats over before putting it in front of her, opening it to the page with the colt's photo. Looking at it, the unicorn explains, "His name is Ben Mare, he is... was... a colt in my class before I got into Celestia's school. Next to my brother and Spike... he... he was my best friend..." "Wow." Some of the group said in surprise. So that colt is Ben. "Wait, 'Ben Mare'?" Apple Bloom asks a bit puzzled. "Ain't 'Mare' a female pony word?" Twilight scoffs while saying, "Yeah, he was teased about that sometimes." "Well, tell us about more about him!" Spike insists to Twilight who sighs sadly as she looks at Ben as if staring at a long lost friend... or something else. "He became a part of my class, sometime before that Summer Sun Celebration years ago..." ----------------- It was years ago, a while before Twilight witness that certain Summer Sun Celebration that inspired her to learn about magic. She was in class with her other classmates, studying in a book when a teacher makes an announcement. "All right, class; settle down." The teacher said as the foals quiet down to allow him to say his announcement. Now then, we got a new student joining us today so try to make him feel welcome. Class, this is Ben Mare." A little colt came into the class looking a bit meekly while his supplies are on his back, he is brown coated Earth Pony and has a spiky like brown mane, green eyes and a long tail.l Twilight notes how he tends to cross his legs a bit as if shy. "Hi... everypony," Ben said meekly. This causes some of the students to laugh a bit. The colt looks down as if wanting to hide or just leave already. "Okay, class, come on; stop that." The teacher said sternly as the class quickly calms down. "Ben is new here so let us at least try to be nice to him like Celestia would all her subjects. Now, Mr. Mare, you can take a seat near Miss Sparkle." Ben nods meekly as he heads to a seat that so happens to be near Twilight. A younger Boris smirks as he sticks one lower hoof out... causing the poor Earth pony to trip and land onto the floor. The students laugh at this... minus Twilight who doesn't find what happened funny at all. "Boris, I told you before; don't do that to the new students!" The teacher scowls at Boris who chuckles at his cruelty. "What? Sorry, is it my fault that he doesn't watch his four hooves?" Boris asks innocently. Ben got up sadly as he gets his stuff and sat near Twilight. The purple unicorn smiles while saying, "Hi, my name is Twilight Amila Sparkle. Welcome to our school." "Uh, hi," Ben said a bit meekly as he took out a book to hide himself in it. Twilight sighs sadly. The poor colt has a rough first day. For some reason, Twilight felt... some sort of connection to Ben... like she should do her best to help him. ------------- "So in other words, Ben Mare is like a female Fluttershy?" Scootaloo ask Twilight curiously. "Sort of," Twilight chuckles a bit while Fluttershy blushes at the comment. "The poor colt has trouble fitting in. He is a bit sly around new ponies, I don't blame him. Unfortunately, there is the problem." "He's an Earth pony and that makes him a target for Boris?" Pinkie asks Twilight curiously. "Yes...yes he was..." ----------------- Twilight plays on the swings while her focus appears to be off. Normally, she wants some learning and studying done... but the purple unicorn couldn't keep her eyes off of Ben who is under a tree doing some reading, away from the other students. It seems like it's hard for him to make some friends. Unfortunately for poor Ben, his first day is about to get worst. Twilight saw Boris, his boys Boxco and Dum-Dum as well as some students heading to him. This is not good. That red unicorn is considered a popular student by some foals at school. He prefers unicorns and Pegasi over Earth ponies but wouldn't hesitate in making fun or bully them! And unfortunately, Ben Mare has become his new target. "Well, well. Check this out, everypony, it's the new Earth pony." Boris remarks. Ben looks up at him as some of the bully's group chuckles a bit. "What are you doing here, pray tell?" "More like he's being a geek, staying away from the other ponies," Dum-Dum said to Boris with an evil smirk. "Yeah, the bum thinks that he himself is safe. Boo pony who!" Boxco remarks with a sneer. "Please leave me alone. I didn't do anything wrong." Ben said meekly. He yelps in alarm as Boris uses his magic to force him into the air. He likes doing this to Earth ponies, making them helpless for him to bully. "We got one big rule here at the school: unicorns and Pegasi rule while the Earth ponies are just filth whose just need to stay out of our way." Boris sneers to Ben who looks down in worry. "But I digress. Who wants to see me turn him around until he's sick?" Some of the students, even the dimwit minions, cheers as Boris laugh cruelly as he begins spinning Ben around. The poor Earth pony groans as the bully then drops him then picks him up via magic as if wanting to do this all day. Ben then yelps as if Boris was trying to pull a wedgie on him... despite the fact that the poor colt isn't wearing any clothes! Twilight frowns as she leaves the swing. This has gone far enough! "Boris, Boris, enough!" Twilight snaps angrily. Boris stops his tormenting of Ben to look at her. "Leave him alone! What did he ever do to you?" "Nothing, we just wanted torture him like using sand on ants with the moon!" Dum-Dum explains as Boxco laughs with him. "That's magnifying glass with the sun, Dum-Dum." Boris groans to Dum-Dum in annoyance. His minion, even Boxco, is always getting sayings wrong! "To answer your question, Twilight, I need to teach this Earth pony colt how things are in Canterlot, especially when it comes to what's more better." "No pony is better than the other, Boris! You know that! Princess Celestia tells us to love and tolerate one another!" Twilight snaps angrily to Boris. "We shouldn't harm or pick on ponies just because we think we're better than them. Now put Ben down!" "All right, all right. I will lay off the pony with the female last name... if you go out with me next weekend." "Ugh! I ain't humiliating myself by doing that!" "Fine, have it your way." Boris remarks with a shrug as he lets Ben go, causing him to hit the ground. "You got lucky, Ben. But stay in your place or next time, I'm going to get rough." Boris's group took their leave, Ben sniffs sadly as he got up to get his things. Twilight helps him while asking, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, I am really." Ben sighs sadly. "Why does that creep hate me?" "Boris has some dumb idea that unicorns and Pegasus ponies are more better than Earth ponies all because of the fact one species used magic and the other can fly. Horse feathers to that! Earth ponies are very important in the history of our world!" "And... why did you help me?" Twilight pauses to think. Why did she help him? The purple unicorn usually stay out of Boris's bullying but this time it's different as if something is calling her, telling Twilight to step in and stop the creep this time. "The truth is, I can't stand what Boris is doing... I mean picking on you all because you are an Earth pony and new here." Twilight said while stomping one hoof on the ground. "It's just not right!" "It's okay... you don't have to help if you don't feel like you should." Ben sighs in sadness. "I don't have to... I don't want to. I won't let Boris and his pals torment you and bully you around. I will keep you safe no matter what. I promise." Ben pauses and smiles a bit. For some reason, this is the first time that he has ever made... a friend. "Thank you." Ben said as he and Twilight hug each other. And thus, it's a start of a new friendship. -------------- "Wow, you and Ben must've been good friends." Sweetie said in amazement. "Yes, I am. We would hang out, as well as do some studying and playing." Twilight giggles a bit but frowns. "But unfortunately, Boris sees me as his 'prize trophy' and let's say that he isn't happy that Ben was with me." "Oh boy, Ah can see where 'dis is going." Applejack groans a bit. ------------------ "And thus, that is how Equestria was made once the three tribes stopped fighting." Twilight explains while reading off a book to Ben who listens in amazement. "Wow... and the princess was around back then?" Ben asks Twilight in interest. "Yes, though as a filly. The princess is ancient; she appeared to be around for a long time." "I know; How weird!" The two foals giggle and laugh, being as if the best friends since birth. Of course, a familiar colt is nearby using magic to open some nuts, growling at the scene before cracking the nuts, splitting them into pieces. One thing that you should never do to Boris: hang with Twilight whom he likes and wants for himself! ------------------------- As school was let out for the day, Ben was preparing to go home but as he passed by an alley, magic caught him. The colt yelps as he got dragged into the alley. Ben screams as he was hit by stuff via magic and was hit by hooves before being send to a wall. The Earth pony looks up frightened as Boris, Boxco and Dum-Dum confronts him. "Ben Mare, I was taking it easy on you before but when you started breaking one of my rules, you have to pay." Boris said seriously to Ben, "Boys?" "Never hang out with Twilight Sparkle." Boxco and Dum-Dum laughs evilly as Boris prepares to hit Ben again. "Hey!" A voice snapped, getting the bully and his goons' attention. The three turned and saw Shining Armor glaring at them. He was going to pick Twilight up to go to school when he overheard and noticed what was going on. "Gah; Oh, Shining! Didn't see you there," Boris exclaims nervously, making the goons a bit awkward. Shining, being Twilight's brother, is tougher than all of these guys. They know better than to get on his bad side. "And what are you three doing to that colt?" Shining demanded more than he asked. "Looks like you were beating him up!" "Now, come on, we were only playing, right boys?" Boris asks his goons nervously. "Yeah, right; No problem," Boxco and Dum-Dum said nervously. Of course, the bruises and black eye on Ben said otherwise to Shining. "Listen, you three boys leave the poor colt alone, got it?" Shining snaps as he got into the trio of bullies' face. "If I find out that you're doing this to him again... well, you better hope that I don't! Now go!" "Y-Yes, sir." Boris said quickly before he and his flunkies ran like the dickens, leaving the unicorn and the beaten Ben. "Ugh, jerks." Shining groans as Ben got up barely. "Hey, you okay?" "I'm fine, I'm fine, sir." Ben groans a bit as he manages to get his things. Despite the injuries, the colt didn't suffer anything worst. "You must be that new friend that Twilight told me that she likes." Shining said in concern. "She always told me how an Earth pony got picked on or worst." "I'm fine; I just need to go home now." Ben groans as he tries to go on home. "Colt, you need to see a doctor." Shining insists as he follows Ben out of the alley. "Shining?" A familiar voice spoke up. Twilight appear, ready to be picked up from school. "What..." She gasped while galloping to the injured. "Ben! Oh, Ben, what happened?" "Boris and his goons jumped me and beat me up. If it weren't for Shining here, it would've been worst." Ben sniffs a bit, rubbing his black eye. "Don't do that, please." Twilight insists with tears in her eyes, not liking that Ben is rubbing his black eye like that. "Let's get you to a doctor." "No, no... I will just head on home...yeah..." Ben groans as he heads on his way, walking okay. "Are you sure?" Shining ask Ben in concern. The young colt nods at this. "Okay, just try to be careful. "Ben..." Twilight said as Ben stops to see the tears shedding down her faces. She promised to protect him but couldn't do it this time. "I'm sorry..." ------------------------- "Wow..." Fluttershy said as the girls listen in to the story, "Poor Ben." "I know. I wished that I was there to keep him safe from Boris that day." Twilight said with a sigh. "But on the plus side, your bro got there in time, right?" Rainbow points out, trying to show the bright side. "You betcha; I promised harder to make sure that Boris and his goons will never get to Ben ever again. And even if I wasn't around, at least Shining would stand up for him." Twilight said with a sigh. "My brother always seems supporting of us hanging together." "Tell me: this Ben Mare... was he your special somepony?" Rarity asked Twilight curiously. "Yes, he was my special somepony, up to this very day." Twilight replied. "Wow... I'm surprised." Rainbow remarks while blinking his eyes. "I have never thought you to have someone like him...which does explain why you never dated." "No, it doesn't. Usually, when the subject is brought up, Twilight changes it or goes crying into the library." Spike points out to Rainbow in concern. Twilight sighs as she continues, "Afterwards, we hang out, even though Boris tries his best to discourage Ben from hanging with me. I don't know if it was friendship or pure love, but something tells me that being with Ben Mare was right... I would never forget that day when he was with me when I was at that Summer Sun Celebration." "Yew never told us 'dat before." Apple Bloom said, surprised that Twilight never mentioned Ben being with her when she saw Celestia raised the sun that inspired her to study magic that day. "Even some stories' extension has to wait another day." Twilight chuckles while the story continues. ----------------------- The Summer Sun Celebration has come at last and the ponies of Canterlot are of course there to watch the ruler Celestia raise the sun. Twilight moves up front to get a good look at the event. "Twilight, you made it." A familiar voice spoke up. Twilight smiles as she saw Ben, wearing some sort of cloak, nearby. "Ben! I'm glad to see you here, too!" Twilight giggles in delight. "Why are you wearing a cloak?" "To keep Boris and his goons from seeing me with you, what else," Ben points out in concern. Even being near Twilight would mean Boris will get an excuse to want to hurt the poor Earth pony. Well, still, the purple unicorn refuses to let that creep hurt Ben... not again or ever. "Well, don't you worry, Ben," Twilight said, "There's no way I'll let that conceited jerk get you this time." "Thank you, Twilight." The brown earth pony said with a smile, "You're the best friend I ever met." "And... you're my best friend, too..." Twilight said with a blush. She smiles, noticing that Ben is blushing, while trying to hide it. It makes one wonder if these two ponies really do like one another. The two friends watch in awe with the others in the crowd as the event occurred; Celestia arrived and raised the sun like she always does every morning or at this great celebration. "Wow!" Ben exclaimed in amazement as the crowd cheered and applauded. --------------------------- A while later, after the celebration was over, the ponies head on home. Twilight and Ben were hanging out while the unicorn said, "Amazing. Celestia was able to do that... with magic even." "I can imagine that she always has that power." Ben chuckles to Twilight a bit. "Perhaps... I should do some magic myself. I mean, I am a unicorn and if I practice hard enough..." Twilight said in thought. Who knows? If she studies and practice magic, maybe someday, she will be as good as Celestia herself... or close to her, anyway. Ben smiles, putting one arm around Twilight while saying, "Twilight, you should go for it. You dreamt of being a great magic user likes Celestia, right? You told me one time. I say again, you should go for it. If you tried your best, you will do fine. "You're right! I'll do it!" Twilight said eagerly with a smile, "I'll study and practice magic! I'll be like Celestia!" Then she hugged Ben joyfully as she said, "Oh, Ben, thank you so much!" "You're welcome..." Ben said while hugging Twilight right back. He then let go and gave a weird wave to her. "Well... I gotta go home now. See ya later, Twi." Twilight wave right back before smiling as Ben departs. She always wonder what's feel so right about being with him. Could it be that Twilight has found him: her special somepony? And she was teasing her big brother who hangs with her foalsitter Cadance was funny enough! --------------- "Wow," Pinkie said happily as she ate some popcorn (that the Earth pony ate from out of nowhere). "You two must be a very cute couple." "Well... my brother thinks so." Twilight said while blushing a bit. "Boris really didn't like it that we were together." "Ha 'ta him!" Applejack scoffs a bit. "Ah don't like how he claims ya as his properta. Yew can date whoever yew want." "Yes, anyway, thanks to Ben's encouragement, I study hard in hopes to learn everything there is about magic. And well... you remember how I told you and the fillies about how my parents enroll in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, right?" "Yeah, we remember... and it still didn't help us get our cutie marks." Scootaloo groans a bit, still recalling that story so well. "Scoots, ssh!" Nyx hushes Scootaloo, "Anyway, mommy, yeah." "Well... afterwards, the day before I took my exam, I told my classmates. They were excited for me." Twilight then looks down in concern. "That's... is where the trouble started for Ben again." ---------------------------------- Ben sat on a log at the local playground, reading his book while waiting for Twilight, his only friend at the school, to arrive. The other foals don't seem to want to hang with the poor colt, mostly because of worrying of Boris's reprisal. "Hey Ben Nerd," Boris calls out; Ben glances up to see the mean stallion, Boxco and Dum-Dum coming up to him. Oh, not again. "Guys, come on." Ben said to the bullies with a frown. "I don't want any trouble from you. Twilight and I are just friends really." "Relax, Ben. We aren't here to harm, just to talk. I got some interesting news." "What kind of news?" "What, haven't ya heard?" Boxco ask Ben with a chuckle. "Twilight's parents are enrolling her in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. If she gets in, our good filly friend is going to be studying under Princess Celestia herself!" "Yeah, wouldn't that be cool?" Dum-Dum asks with a stupid nod. "Oh, yeah, I know. Twilight told me herself. I hope she gets in. An unicorn like her deserves that great honor as well as a chance to continue her dream." Ben said with a smile. He hopes that Twilight makes it into that school. But then, Boris and his goons laugh cruelly, much to Ben's concern as he asks, "Err, what's your problem? Is there something's funny, guys?" "Oh yeah, we find it funny that you would hoped she gets in when it's obvious that you two won't hang around any longer." Dum-Dum remarks in amusement. "Ben, face it. That school only lets in unicorns, not Pegasi or Earth ponies. If or when Twilight does make it, she will be too busy studying or hanging with unicorns to even be with you." Boris remarks with a sneer, making Ben shocked, "May as well face it. You won't see her ever again because Twilight will be with her own kind." "But... But Twilight will be my friend and still have time for me, right?" Ben ask in worry. He doesn't want to believe that Twilight will never have to be friends with him. "After all, she's the one who kept me safe and she is my friend. And..." "Wake up, Earth pony filth! You think Twilight Sparkle hangs with you because she likes you? The only reason why that filly wants to in the first place is because she felt sorry for you! I always picked on those that Twilight will not want me to pick on! You're the first one whom she even bothered to want to deal with and couldn't bear to see me continue my favorite past time any longer!" "Yeah Ben Mare, wake up!" Boxco teases as Ben is getting close to shedding out tears. "Twilight couldn't stand to let Boris continues tormenting the new kid. Why, I betcha she just hangs with you until she has no use for ya!" "But... but..." Ben protests yet he close to crying. It can't be true. Twilight couldn't just be his good friend out of pity? Could it? "Bah! Just comes to show, unicorns are always better than Earth ponies and if they were to even hang with Earth ponies, it's just to use them for their own needs." Boris remarks with a cruel laugh. "And that's exactly how Twilight likes it." Ben couldn't take it anymore. He gallops off, crying while his bullies laugh cruelly. Yes, a simple lie or an exaggerated one is enough to make anypony go off crying. But at least Boris had made it so that Ben will doubt that Twilight even likes him at all. "Boris!" An angry yell is heard as a zap hits near the three bullies. They saw an angry Twilight growling as she gallops past them and heads after Ben. "Wait until I tell Shining!" The goons look worried but Boris doesn't seem to mind getting the hoof by Shining Armor. At least hopefully Ben would never want to be friends with Twilight Sparkle again. The filly is as good as Boris's. ----------- Ben sobs as he stood behind a fence while sitting on his hunches. The poor colt thought that Twilight was his good friend... whom he's beginning to like more than just a friend. But could it be true? Does Twilight only being his friend out of pity and not kindness... or love? "Ben..." Ben stops his sobbing as he saw Twilight coming to him, looking in sadness. "Look, don't let Boris get to you. Whatever he said isn't true." "But... but when you get into Celestia's school, I won't see you again." Ben said with a sad sniff. "I mean, that place is for unicorns only. You will be too busy studying, hanging with other unicorns or anything at that school to even still be friends with me..." "Ben, that's not true. Celestia loves all the ponies. She will be sure that the unicorns of her school will be friends with the Pegasi or the Earth ponies. I promise, should I ever get in, that I will do my best to still be your friend and do what we always do." "Is it true... did you only became friends with me in the first place... because you felt sorry for me?" Twilight pauses to think. She has no idea why she herself wanted to protect Ben from Boris or to be friends with the Earth pony. Could it be pity? No, Twilight refuses to believe that. Something inside her told her that it's more than pity. Something made her... want to be with Ben that day and even now; like she wants to be... his special somepony. "I don't know what made me want to be your friend that day, Ben. But I do know this: I am your true friend, I care for you and will always be there to help you and keep you safe." Twilight said gently. "Boris was just being a jealous jerk. No matter what happens and if I would never see you outside of Celestia's school should I make it, I am still your friend and will always be." Ben sniffs a bit then smiles softly. Perhaps Twilight is right. After all, what does Boris know anyway? Twilight will find a way to hang with him and still be his friend. And who knows what will happen from there? Inside Ben, he knows that deep down that the unicorn truly cares for him. "Listen, I got something for you." Twilight said as she took out what appears to be a red collar from her saddlebag. The purple unicorn manages to get the thing around Ben's neck while smiling softly. "There, no matter what happens, I will always be with you." Twilight smiles again. She prepares to head on home as Ben did some thinking, then smiles in determination. It's now or never. He got a question that he himself always wanted to ask her; Best to do so in case that Ben may or may not see Twilight ir or once she does get into that school. "Twilight," Ben calls out, making Twilight stop to look at him as the colt is shuffling his hooves. "Listen, wherever or not you do make it in, I wanted to know: will you be my friend still... or will you be... my special somepony?" Twilight blushes eagerly and happily. She already knew her answer: the filly more than likes Ben Mare. The unicorn couldn't believe it but she herself realizes the truth... "Tell you what: right after what happens at Celestia's School tomorrow, I will give you my answer. I promise." Twilight said joyfully as she hugs the colt and heads on. Ben smiles in hope, he can't wait to hear what answer that his friend will give him tomorrow... -------------- It was about to go into sunset as night is about to fall onto Equestria. Of course, not any pony can see or take note of something heading to Canterlot, growling a bit. It is heading to Canterlot... and is coming home... As the moon rose into view of Twilight's old bedroom window, Twilight's eyes lock onto the moon her pupils shrank in fear, the time for her 'darker side' to prowl has come. Twilight gritted teeth as she felt her ribs expand and move from their natural places, her flat teeth began to change so that there wasn't a single flat tooth left, instead only fangs remained in their place. Her fur mane and tail all darkend, her thin silky fur became heavy and matted. She let lose a growling like howl as her body finished changing, she was now about half an inch or so taller but her eye color remained unchanged. Her friends and family would soon see her, in this dark form, Twilight panicked. She had to leave, she ran for the window and jumped through it causing it to break. Her front claws clung to the shingles on the roof as her back claws scraped against the side of the house as she pulled herself onto the roof. Once up Twilight looked around for anything dangerous, until a scent driffed in front of her her head turn the direction the scent was coming from. Her dark figure made it easy hide within the shadows of night, she followed the scent as she lept from room to room only hoping to not run into any Royal Gaurds, Boris, or worse a bullet.