Season 1

Episode 1

Part 1

A Blade in the Dark

"Please Princess Celestia?!", Twilight begged, her bug eyes glistening with plead. Her tiny ears shifted down, and her fluffy filly coat clean, having finished her bath, spending another one of her weekends under the tutelage of the God Empress of the Sun.

The white coated equine rested softly, her legs beneath her. Celestia's eyes were closed. She had removed her crown, seeing as when late, not many would actually see her without it. Her beautiful majesty had managed to relax herself, yet on Twilight's return she sensed she may not be able to return to a quiet night.

Princess softly smiled, taking a sip of her tea, and resting it upon her fine silver dish, "My young apprentice, don't you think it's a bit late?"

"No!", the filly bounced up and down, "Pretty please with super delicious cherries on top?", she tried her eyes again, trying to find ways to get her mentor to look at her, and then the deal would be sealed.

"Hm.", Celestia opened her eyes with much grace, fluttering them open almost with a calm, lovely stare upon her magical protege, peering on her eyes, and inside she almost immediately felt trapped, "What is it you desire, Twilight Sparkle?".

The filly had not actually been very specific with her pleading, still bouncing up and down, until finally plopping onto her rump, and smiling with an almost irresistable cuteness, "Can you tell me another story?"

"Another story?", she asked quietly, looking over her shoulder, and down to the young mare in training.

"Yes yes yes yes yes!", she began to bounce around, eyes shut tight, trying to use her excitement to get what she had asked for, her determination was commendable. Eventually however she got her small hoof caught on her own resting pillow, diving face first into the cushion, and getting almost immerse in it's fluffy texture, all but her rump and tail had been hidden, the rest sticking out straight into the air.

Celestia smiled, closing her eyes so she was to resist her giggles.

When Twilight ressurfaced, crawling around in the pillow, she poked her head up, and smiled, blushing, but she was happy of it, "So will you tell me a story, Princess?", she asked.

"And what of would you ask a story?", The Princess lowered her head a tad, quite content, and amused by the filly.

Twilight rolled around in her pillow, the top of her head poking up out of the cushions, her eyes big, and wonderous. She was contemplating what exactly she desired. Her eyes crossed over, looking at her small snout, before her ears went up, and she smiled excitedly yet again, "A story with Magic!", she squeaked.

Celestia chuckled encouragingly, "Every story I tell you have magic.", it was truly quite adorable.

"Yeah... But but, one with lots of magic!", she bounced up and down, with every land she made, sinking into the pillow, "And can it have a hero? And a dragon like Spike? And a badguy?", she was still bouncing.

"Hmhm, perhaps Starswirl the Bearded?", Celestia asked her, opening her eyes, her eyes so full of curiosity.

"But you've told me that one before.", Twilight landed, only her eyes poking out from the fluffy pillow, "Aren't there any other super special wizards you remember?", she asked, shifting around to get comfortable in the pillow, still unable to see entirely over the folds that engulfed her.

"Hm.", Celestia chuckled again, closing her eyes, "My dear student, I know of many things from the past... but are you sure you want to hear them all?", it was rhetorical, of course young Twilight would love to hear about every occasion of Unicorn magic, it was what she always wanted to learn every second of every waking day.

"Yes Princess Celestia!", she began to bounce yet again.

"Alright alright.", she levitated the filly out of the pillow, a blanket coming from under her bed, unfolding, and wrapping around Twilight, there was a big of a draft despite the large windows locked agaisnt her balcony... Winter was a good setting to tell a story to a little one.

Whence Twilight was rested in her pillow snuggly, her head all that poked from the soft clothes wrapped around her, smiling with much child-like glee... Princess Celestia took a sip of her tea. Gracefully setting it back onto the silver plate, and then setting that onto her fine marble table, no bigger than a foot in diamerter.

She magically slid it away to make room for her own comfort, "I believe I have a story I've never told you before."

"Yay!", the filly exclaimed, trying to roll around in her blanket, but sadly unable to move, she was snug so tight, smiling innocently, "Whats it about?", she asked.

"Hm.", Celestia laughed a little, "Well it wouldn't be a very good story if I spoiled the ending now, would it?", she asked.

"But-"

"Faithful student, I shall tell you your story.", she smiled, trying to keep Twilight calm so she may begin.

"Oookay.", the filly conceded, smiling still, resting her head on her hooves, almost hiding her face as her eyes filled with wonder... Celestia had a new story for her, and it was about magic. She was hooked!

The most powerful equine in all the land raised her head, softly opening her eyes as she gazed to the window, out to the night, "Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria~", she began.

Transition~

The light of a new day sprung to life in the form of a small, very quiet whimper.

"He does not stir!", A light spank, most definitely the second after a first, and the world brightened again, and the cries of a newborn filled the room.

"The little one lives!", shouted another, almost in glee.

"What is this?", another asked, the room quieting, and murmurs began, "Why... it is... Is that a horn?", the same voice asked.

"Darling... it... I am sorry, I don't-"

"No apologies are needed~ It... Where is the elder?"

"I am here."

"Star Brimmer... Is it~... Is it one of you?", the voice asked.

Hastefully, the reply was a tad irritated, "Well perhaps you should call your son by the name "He" until he's been named?"

"... Of course, I... I am sorry.", the Father's voice seemed uneasy, but strong, built for work... physical labor.

"No need... no need- My this is... this is fascinating.", even the old voice quieted, "I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime.", the one cleared his throat, "You are both Earth Ponies yet~...", he hesitated, "Are you sure you don't have relatives of the sort?"

The mother mare, dark blue in color, warmly laid on her belly, smiling gently to the small dark brown-olive infant beside her. Her eyes were aged, perhaps the equivalent to a mother in her late thirties. Her mane was a gently white, and she appeared... like she had worked almost her entire life. Yet she smiled happily, but with concern.

The father cleared his throat, he still had his farming had tilted over the back of his ears, so he was to see far better, "Far far... very far down... My lines I believe- we had a magical family member... or two.", he looked aside. He was dark dark green, with much shadowing, and a light goatie on the end of his chin. His ears were a little battered, but he was obviously the strong type. His mane was a thick brown.

Star Brimmer; The elder gently kneeled before the Mare, and her small ball of infant laid beside her... it was only a few minutes after birth, and though she looked tired... she had not fallen under. She was most definitely a strong Mare.

His old eyes, dark blue, on his sea blue body... he was not related to her at all by far. He scanned the little one, and held over a hoof slowly, "May I?"

"Of course.", she replied quietly. When the elder touched the sleeping infant, it caused the tiny foal to whimper a bit... but he saw what he wanted to see. A glint of light reflected back to him off one of the laterns.

"Fascinating.", he mumbled, lifting his head, "Magical ancestors or not... this is... Unheard of.", he frowned a tad, his own chin sporting nearly a seven inch long strand of grey hairs. His hat was far more pointed, and old. His mane equally as grey.

"Is i- he... even a Unicorn?", the father asked... Lodin Scythe asked. His eyes low, at first with heavy, almost displaced curiosity.

"I~... Why I haven't the slightest clue."

"Come now brother.", an orange colt stepped up behind Lodin, smiling, his own lower jaws sporting hair, his hat on his back, most definitely a farmer's hat, "I'm sure having a Spellcaster as a son won't be all that bad. Why think of it.", he mocked, his accent rather... dismodern, "At least now he could cast a spell to make you happier of his arrival."

Lodin closed his eyes, irritated at first, before shoving the orange Colt aside, "You dare mock my kin?", he asked.

"Darling, please.", Fiora raised her voice a little, their horseplay upsetting the sleeping foal, "Now is not the time."

The other farmers in the room, who had gathered for the arrival of a newborn were now quieting, some smiling at this- mostly children- and others skeptical.

Whence the Stallion of the house calmed himself, he tilted his hat, "Star Brimmer, are you absolutely sure it is... a Unicorn?"

The elder slowly rose to his feet... after looking over the small newborn, "If you would wait a mere few days, when he is stronger... I could test it myself, but for now... I regret to inform you I haven't the slightest clue."

Lodin closed his eyes, the hat tilting down over them now, and he sighed, "Hmm... Very well...", he nodded softly, "A weeks time?"

"Perhaps."

"I shall come to you then, and bring the child."

"Darling, is it truly that great a concern?", the mare asked, her ears softly resting down, worried for the safety of the foal at her side, to which now she found herself staring at. Marian Scythe was her name. Her cutie mark was displayed... an herb on her flank marked her as both a kind soul, and the village herbalist, and healer.

Lodin at first conversed with the village wisepony, turned his head swiftly, and almost harsh of it, "It may be.", he replied, turning his head aside, his face always flicking to the child, not out of hate, just out of... some kind of worry. Some sort of displeasure.

"Lodin I ask you be more sympathetic of the little one~"

"I shall be as sympathetic as the sun...", he did not elaborate, but for now... it did not bring very good tidings, "I shall see you in a weeks morrow.", he flicked his head to the gathering in the room... mostly friends, and other family. The uncle to the newborn, and his own small fillies, or children at his side.

He asked their leave for now.

Marian lowered her head, hesitant with all the gazing, but then touched her snout to the baby at her side, resting on her thick blankets inside a very cozy cottage they all were. It was mostly dark wood, but with a fireplace, and some furs around them... it was mostly one big room. The average colonial farming cabin for one to live in.

"Lodin, do not be so-"

"Out.", he asked them softly, but loud enough for them all to hear, interupting an aged mare's words... possibly a grandmother given her age.

"Lodin, at least give the boy his name.", her raspy voice asked.

"Yes, Lodin.", Marian added, looking up with kind, quiet, and patient eyes, but also a tad demansive... the work she'd undergone had given her a slight edge, as she did not like this new form of tire, "A name.", she spoke wishfully after him.

"Hm.", he looked down, his face contemplating for a moment, his eyes flicking stubbornly to the crowd watching, and to Star Brimmer, and back to Marian, "Very well.", he mumbled, and sighed in defeat, moving to his wife, and now first-time child-barer.

He stopped before the sleeping foal, and lowered his head, looking him over... avoiding what made him so squeamish. He grunted a tad, and closed his eyes tight, standing straight, "Umekile.", he answered their wondering ears.

"Umekile?", asked a young filly asked, "Thats a dumb name~", he mumbled. But before he could truly finish his mother's hoof came around, and quieted him softly.

"It is a good name, Lodin.", The green Mare encouraged, "I am sure he will be a good son."

"Yes... A good worker.", he nodded, trying to see good in this, which wasn't at all hard just... with the circumstances it was not plain and simple either. He beckoned his hat to them, his eyes asking the gathered friends, and family their leave... he wanted them gone.

"So whens he gonna cast a spell?!", a young mare asked rather snobbishly as they all left through the front door.

Star Brimmer tipped his hat, noting he would stay a tad longer, "Lodin, please do not see this as hinderence."

"I see it as an oddity, that is all.", he replied with a gruntish voice, "I judge no more."

"It is all I ask, Lodin.", he added in his own defense, "Nothing more."

The tiny foal shifted around, squirming a little, and tightening his big bug eyes, which were closed tight as it was, unable to open them just yet, he only could wiggle slowly... a sign he was already able to move.

"He is small, Lodin. But he is strong.", Marian spoke up with a smile, "See? He will be a good son, I promise you."

"Aye...", the father replied, nodding softly, closing his eyes, thinking to himself, and then nodding again. He smiled for a moment, and approached, laying down beside her, the baby between them, "We... We shall see."

Star Brimmer was quiet, keeping his hesitation, before he nodded with a soft falter, "Then I shall take me leave.", he cleared his throat, under his horn a soft glow adjusted his pointed hat, and he shifted his tattery mane, "In a weeks time Lodin?"

"A weeks.", the farmer confirmed.

The elder tipped his hat, and turned to the door, "May you dream sweetly, young Umekile.", he spoke, before bowing his head, and leaving them to their sleep.

Marian turned her head softly, resting it under her husband's chin, rubbing quietly, "Treat him plain... Lodin?", she asked of him.

"I shall... I shall.", he nodded. He was skeptical however, feeling the awkward poke of something at his side.

For the baby Umekile slept with innocence... the small, sharp "Horn" in his forehead did not. Newly forged steel... sifting against the father's fur. Was this truly a Unicorn? Was this truly his new son? He remained quiet, and rested his head with the new mother. He smiled encouragingly at first... but looked away with a different conscience.

He felt guilt, but he had to place it aside. Lodin closed his eyes, and tried not to think about it~

The small bladed horn that stuck from his new son's head.

End Part One