Season 1

Episode 1

Part 3

A Blade in the Dark

Early morning, just when the sun begins to rise, and the birds chirp their excitement to welcome the prospect of a brand new day. The air was warm... warmer than it has been in perhaps a muggy three years prior.

So many summers have flown by. But this one just happened to be the hottest, and the most humid of them all. It certainly showed in the bending light off an old iron plow, rusted over with plenty of age up beside an even older shed. Still held in one piece by old bands of metal, nails, and good, strong wood. The one window next to the door was cracked, evidentally by nature over it's years waring away on it.

It was most obviously a supply shed, as it was marked quite obviously with a hung sign "KEEP OUT" beneath it "FARMIN TOOLS"

Hoofprints littered the front door, herding down the soft dirt road out into the large fields surrounding the small property. Not too far down the road were other farmhouses, undoubtedly the neighbors would be up and about. It was early, but with lives like these nopony could afford to be lazy. At least ponies like the Scythe Family~

The small home, which had actually expanded in the last few years, sporting a few hundred square feet added to it's South, and East sides, seemed to slowly come alive. Through the window, the long white mane of a pretty blue pony worked inside her comfortable kitchen.

Being a more basic farming society she was given a very cozy surroundings, natural light through the double-door window over her countertop of hard, fine-cut wood. She was chopping away at plants. Not foods... No they were strange things~ Roots, and flowers. Her eyes seemed to very calm, and content, unwary of whatever troubles she may face later in the day, as if she'd already forgiven fate for whatever it would bring.

She seemed rather skilled with a cutting knife despite having no magical horn to wield it for her. Her hooves were very fine at work by themselves, grating the herbs across the rough exterior of a grind-board, and slipping the mixtures into a metal pot. All together it smelled like a very heavenly tea... that or a meditative scent.

Marien herself even smelled it herself, pushing her mane back with a gentle smile, "Mmm~", unable to disagree that her work was of the professional, and very experienced level.

A loud bonk from the narrow stairway leading to the attic, "Ow!"

The mare stopped her work at an instant, blinking through the open doors to the other side of her home, "...Umek?", she called out.

"-I'm fine! I'm fine, mom!", somepony grumbled, hastily landing at the bottom floor, "My horn got stuck~", it was Umekile, nearly all grown up. He was tall, dark olive brown, with ocean blue eyes. His mane was down, and black, and his long, sharp, curved horn was shiny as ever... though a little bleak with all the humidity. He wasn't all that big looking, in fact he was just a tad skinny, though he certainly had that rough, country colt look to him, though his mane was very limp, it was just a little matted, and gritty, he had patches of some bruising, either from his own out-of-the-ordinary social life, or working the numerous fields.

Afterall, he lived a tiring life, it showed under his eyes, despite his very friendly attitude, "Mornin Mom.", he trotted into the kitchen, looking over the herbs, "Mister Cornstalk's stuff again, huh?", in all his short life he'd watched his mother and her works most of his days... he recognized things not by the name of the herbs, or even what they looked like. He didn't have the time, nor the patience to remember spice names.

Instead he remembered it by the smell, there was always something significantly different with each mixture. Of course some smelled very close to others, but with an attitude like Cornstalk's, and his darn awful hoof... there had to be some kind of numbing effect when the herb was smoked through a pipe. Therefore the smell of the medicine even before it was burned~ Had a very noticeable smell.

"Of course~", his mother began, softly turning around, dumping a tall cup of heated water over her chopping knife. She crossed a soft, very content, though very devious smile, "And since you're up so late... you'll be the one to take it to him.

Umek stopped at the edge of the kitchen, where he would fetch his hat off the rack, "Er~", he didn't like the sound of that, Cornstalk was one of those particular ponies who didn't much like change... no matter how large. Either he was somepony who had a thing for his mother~ Or he was just that stubborn. But in no way would he doubt the second over the first.

"...Right.", he sighed in defeat, turning. With a soft glow, his horn lifted a small baggie of the brown concoction. He was given three, "He really needs these, doesnt he...?"

With a motherly smile, she turned, looking across the island in the center of the kitchen toward her son, "Afraid so. He becomes worse every summer... it must have something to do with the winter weather, poor stallion~", she shook her head, looking over the surplus she had created for tomorrow, "Well you best be off.", Marien most suddenly inquired, "Your father's already out and about..."

With a flush, "Yeah... Thanks for the cover story!", he grinned, magically snatching his hat off one of the pegs in the wall. Now it fit him quite finely, perhaps just a little bigger than it should be, but the effect was not noticeable, with a swift kiss to his mother's cheek, he even gathered up a small saddlebag, and waterpouch.

That made her happy, "Keep out of trouble, my little Umekile...", she closed her eyes as she heard the door shut from the outside, "And happy birthday."

Transition~

That old shed outside the house burst open, some of the happy chirping birds taking flight with their excited squawks, and tweets.

A long, sharp scythe spun with much vigor, as the young equine too a sip of his water to start his day, his magical dark purple aura collectively hovering the tool at his side, "Good Morning, Hefferville.", he sighed, staring at the small dots in the distance that was actually the center of town, surrounded by fields of either corn, or wheat.

Umek lived what he liked to call "The Corniest of Lives." ever since he was a young fledgling. Now of course he never said that in public at his age, but in all the stories he'd ever read... most heroes always started out on a farm.

At least now he was tall enough to see over the cornstalks, and wheat fields to spot groups of workers. That or follow the tracks his father's plow left behind. As he trot along the raised road, which on each side sloped down rather steeply into the harvested crop... this side had been finished last week around his home.

If anything... his home was one of the few peaceful places in days like these. At least places on the edge of Equestria. Star Brimmer had been generous enough to apply numerous methods of protection agaisnt all the woes of the world around home.

He had even watched his mentor repel a group of bandits who had placed a sight on Hefferville's stored foods. It fascinated him how even if there were two Unicorns, a much older one could send them scurrying. Sadly~ It did have an effect on the old colt. Drastically. It was something that still showed on his old self even now.

He only visited Star Brimmer in the windmill, as his mentor was unable to leave without risk of passing out. Umekile's mother used to say it was like a disease that was slowly chipping away at him. Afterall he was a very old unicorn.

But it was the magic he had called upon that was doing him in.

Star Brimmer's last call of magic in order to defend their home was like a Hail Mary. Though they rejoiced, and all was happy... Umek was the only who knew it had shortened his life. It was a Master to Student kind of thing... Magic to Magic. Only Umek was expected to understand that such an act of good will, and desperation was never without a cost.

He would see his mentor later in the day, this he promised himself. The more he thought about it the harder it was to get off his mind. That is until he arrived at a pulloff in the road after passing through town. They were working the South Fields after the North by his home. They were closest to the storage, and usually the most healthy crop. Been that way as long as he could remember at least.

He softly lowered the scythe over his shoulder, walking down onto the trail along all the cut down wheat. They'd done a good hundred acres since this early morning

Hands on was the law of the land in this era, no machinery, only plows, hoes, dirt rakes, and shovels. His home was a good three hundred-strong operation, and even then there was always so much work to be done that they were usually late in some way. Some years he recalled they never even finished the east field after finishing the West. And that had impact on everypony, remembering even he had to go hungry a few nights in order for his mother to stay alive when she had come down with a bad illness over one winter about five or so years back. Hard times, but it built character. Least he could say he learned how to scavenge once in a good while.

Memory lane was cut short when he got a flurry of dirt, and pebbles slapped on the side of his head, "Yah!", followed by a hard laughter.

"Right on em lips! Ya see! Caked em a good one!", thicker accents like that came from families who ran themselves with anarchy... loose, and inappropriately.

"Woo! Look at the glint on that piece.", called another not far from that particular pony, this one was all the more familiar. Wicker, Huckleberry's son, and Umekile's first cousin. And the only pony in all Equestria who shouldn't break it on him, but did anyway. With a sharp whistle, "You been polishin it, Umek?"

The unicorn turned, and spat to the ground, "Eugh!", he let his tongue fly down, trying to rid of the taste of dirt, fertilizer, and wet gravel, "Enough ta make ya blind, Wick~", he replied. Though he didn't much favor his cousin, it didn't stop him from facing him down with any wit he could muster.

They seemed to flock on him, Wick, and his two friends, one tall, and skinny. And the other shorter, and wider. They were always willing to back up their rugged, superior friend. Wicker strode alongside Umek's left.

"So hows yer momma been? Yer daddy always looks so upset while he's workin lately, figure somethin must be up..."

This caught attention, "No... My mother's been fine, why? Dad say somethin?"

"Ch'yeah he has, shucks, Lodin's always goin' off bout how his kin's already hurt his family. I figure yer momma's just makin it worse for em."

That made things rather obvious. Umek off the bat knew this had to be some kind of taunt. More than once he'd been angered into fighting his cousin. And unless he used his magic it usually ended with him on the ground with a number of bruises. Now it seemed far more intelligent to use magic in a fight Umek could not physically win, but he knew that if he did... he risked a far more difficult "Rehabilitation" by those who lived around him. And the last thing he wanted was to deal with upset neighbors. Yikes. He shuddered at the thought of having rotten food thrown on him.

"Leave me be, Wicker if you have nothing good to say for once.", he shook his head.

"Oh?", the pony seem appalled, "Does Umekile Scythe think he's suddenly better than the rest of us?", the colt tilted his head with a narrowed eye, "You think your better than ME?"

"Never said that, Wicker."

"Comin from em sorcery usin'un like yerself.", spat the shorter pony at his right, most likely the one who had battered him with farm sludge, considering it was his hooves that were covered in it.

"Well, whats wrong with "Sorcery"?", Umek began, turning his words on that particular stallion.

"Ma pa says you aint nothin but some whimsy and magical usin, over-achievin, spell castin~", he went on. Up until Umekile spin the scythe violently off his shoulder at his side.

"WHOA!", the pony reeled onto his hind, falling on his back.

"Better look out there, it's kinda sharp.", Umek grinned, but was shoved.

"So yer a show-off to?", asked Wicker, "So without yer magic my daddy figures you wouldn't even be a good farmer, let alone some kinda choppin tool.", he raised a hoof, and flicked his younger cousin's horn, grinning along with him.

Umek stumbled, "Yah! Easy! I don't like it when my horn is touched~!", like he hadn't repeat that many times in the past.

"And I keep tellin ya it builds character, lil'buddy!", but Wicker was shoved.

"Leave me alone, Wicker!", Umek commanded, only to be shoved by the tall colt from behind.

"OR what?", Wicker followed up, spitting at his hooves with a growl of some sorts, "You gonna use yer magic on us? Turn us into rabbits'n scare us off?"

"I~ Don't know transformation spells~", maybe it best he should not have said such a thing... Umekile looked to his hooves, hovering the scythe closer as they began to laugh, "Keep laughing~", he grumbled, "But at least lets get back to work~", rolling his eyes.

Transition~

Lodin at a distance, conversing with a group of other adults, watched his son. Most easily pointed out by the horn. He sighed, looking away, shaking his head.

"Lodin? Are ye serious, lad? You'll have no kin whence ye get to old for tha farm.", a bearded pony inquired, one eye grayed out blind, and his rugged green coat matched well with his heavy brown-red mane, and curled, and viking-like. He was a heavy farming Stallion.

"I aven't much of a choice~", Lodin inquired, "I don like it, but I know... I know I'll never forgive me'self if I let my son stay here~", he let out a hefty sigh, shaking his head, "I know he'll see the elder tonight~ Ever since Star Brimmer near gave his life for our home I've seen Umek grow more and more fond of'im~", he looked down.

"Aye Lodin, you yourself near gave your life as well!-"

"Yes But Did not nearly half what the elder had done-Umekile's tutor!~... He darn well near died in the process. He IS dying in the process~..."

"But yer own son?", asked another.

"I love my son...", he stared at the ground, "I love him enough to know where he belongs, and it dahm well is not here!", he shook his head, staring at them with a harshness as he stabbed his plow rake into the dirt, letting it hang, "Not my whole life I've done nothing for my son. My own pride got in my way... look what I've done for him? Allow him to stay in my home, that's what it feels like..."

"Lodin ya cannot help it that yer son is a sorcerer-"

"Spellcaster or not! He is my son~", again, he looked aside, shaking his head, "I cannot have another... It is better I not ruin my chance with Umekile before it is too late.", he dipped his head, letting his shady hat slip into his hoof with another deep sigh.

"Where would he go, Lodin? Where have you to send him?", the bearded pony asked, smacking his lips as he took a drink from his own water pouch.

"It is not me who is sending him.", he grumbled, "Marien... she has a friend she has not seen in years. Calls himself a potions master far-over in Canterlot-"

"Canterlot?!... My boy, that's more than six weeks travel in good weather!"

"I know... But it's our only option. There he will learn well... he does not belong here. No matter how good a farmer he becomes~", he lifted his head, looking down into the fields. The only FLYING scythe was chopping down the wheat, low and steadily. Umekile's horn glowing brightly with magic as the rest either watched quietly, or watched working.

Not to say it wasn't frowned upon, no one liked a "show-off", despite how much assistance the Unicorn actually provided~

"Lots uh spellcasters in Canterlot~", somepony muttered, "Are ya sure uh this Lodin?", crackled the older equine, Grit Grind, whom worked the bottom floor of the mill, beneath Star Brimmer's home.

"As sure as the sun may rise tomorrow morning~..."

Transtion~

The sun was falling, the sky looming orange with a heatwave undoubtedly as the rest of the earth cooled off in the failing light. Billowing up from the ground in a smooth, warm current as Umek tiredly walked into town, his head hung, eyes near closed. The day had been rough on him, and it could be seen in the bruises on his side. He hadn't gotten into a fight, but that didn't mean he did not get shoved around.

It would be wrong to say he didn't shove back, every farmpony had bruises of some kind anyway. Just perhaps... him a little more. He was so tired he had strapped his scythe to his side, rather than float it with him. It would put even more weight on his exhausted body if he didn't just carry it regularly.

He looked ahead, toward the mill. In the dead summer air, the large wings still seemed to find a way to turn. A few lanterns were glowing inside. But that was not what caught his attention.

There was more than one figure inside the mill. And he hastened to get a move on, bursting through the door, alerting a disgruntled Grit Grind, "Sorry!", Umek shouted, before heading up the stares. When he reached the door he didn't hesitate to open it magically for the soul sake of being faster.

"Whats going on, is something wrong?!", he froze when he entered, standing, his teeth grit with discomfort, and a flush covered him, "Mom? Dad?"

Indeed, his father and his mother both stood beside Star Brimmer, who seemed rather content, so much his jaw hung a little bit open. Speechless one might say.

"W-... Whats going on?"

"Umekile~", Marien began, smiling, stepping toward her son, "We have a surprise for you..."

"Oh please don't be some new harness for the plow~", he joked with a most serious face, before smiling nervously. He looked to his father, wary of what might ensue.

Lodin did want to chuckle at such words, but he refused to when he locked eyes with his son, fearful of what he might think.

His mother however, she laughed softly along with Star Brimmer, "No.", she shook her head, "Better.", she looked aside, and spoke without words, nodding. Umekile's magic mentor shifted, and nodded with her, his horn glowing a soft green, and he floated over a letter, marked in fine ink was the word, or name "Archerine"

"Well... what does it mean?", Umek asked, shifting uncomfortably as he was handed a pair of saddlebags, and a cloak. His mother sniffled, teary-eyed.

"It means you will not stay here~", she looked down.

"W-... What do you mean?", he smiled, but frown quickly, "What do you mean?... Not staying here?~", grunting as he was practically forced to embrace his mother. He looked to his father, "What have I done?"

"It's not what you have done, young Umekile~", Star Brimmer intercepted, "It is what you have not, and where you are going~", he smiled quite knowledgably, nodding gently to his young student, "I have taught you what I can... Now you must move on..."

Lodin remained quiet, swallowing softly.

"But-"

"Oh my little Umek!", his mother whimpered loudly, squeezing, near killing him.

"Agh! Mom! Mom, It- Hurting!", he did not struggle, flushing red with some embaracement. He looked up at his father once again, "Dad?..."

Lodin looked away, clearing his throat, not speaking up, but nodding.

"Where am I going?", Umek asked, a little demanding, "Another town over?-"

"Better!", the elder cut in, "My loyal Umekile, you are going to the greatest city in Equestria~", he chuckled heartily, looking out the window to the north, "You're going to Canterlot~"

Umekile's eyes began to soften. He'd never left home unless it were a trip into the forest. But to go so far away, "I-"

"It's alright son~", finally speaking for himself, Lodin stepped in, "I-... I know it sounds far fetched, but... Yer wastin away here.", a pocket of air in his throat built up, it was sore to say. The first time in a long time he'd ever done anything special for his only kin, "I know... you probably will not look back once you're gone but... At least I can say I did good for you once~"

"Lodin~", Marien softly cut in.

"I know~", he looked down, blinking, his own eyes a little painstaking, "Umekile...", he whispered, "I'm sorry I've never done good by you til this day~"

"Dad...", the son stepped forward, his hat was no longer big enough to cover his horn up, he floated the note in front of him, between his father, and himself, "I never hated you for anything...", he looked to the floor.

"But-"

"I know how prideful you are father!", Umek looked up, his eyes glistening, "I know... I'm sorry~", he gave no more time to talk, he for the first time as well in a long time gave his father a very sudden hug, "I love ya dad~!", he said through grit teeth, "I love you~! And Thank you!", he laughed happily.

Lodin almost stumbled back, forgetting what it was like for Umek to hug him... let alone ever been hugged at this age, "I...", he choked out, and looked away, sighing, swallowing his pride, and suddenly squeezing his son in return, "I love you to son~", lifting Umek off the ground.

"Er!~", the unicorn tensed up, almost squirming until he was let down.

"Sorry.", he chuckled uneasily, smiling though.

Star Brimmer, and Marien budged in, "Umek... ya have til morning.", his mentor nodded, before coughing weakly.

"But... what about you? Star Brimmer you aren't coming with me?", he asked, him and his parents suddenly rushed to help him lie down.

"ME?", he asked, mid-cough, given water, which soothed him, "No... Nooo.", he shook his head, "I am where I belong, little Umekile...", his breath was still a little ragged, "This is where I belong..."

"But Star Brimmer! You're my teacher!-"

"Not anymore Umek... Not anymore...", he shook his head, and smiled weakly, "I probably would not make the trip either, boy.", it was evident that quite indeed, much had been taken out of him according to Umekile's memory. The elder was fading. Slowly... but noticeably. To trek him across the world would end him. He would be at better rest if he were to remain here.

"I will take care of him, Umekile...", his mother stepped in, kissing her son's cheek, "I promise."

"But~", he also looked to his father, "What about?"

Lodin took a step back, miraculously staying true to his word, he shook his head, and even smiled, "You don't belong on a farm, Umekile...", he chuckled, "You belong amongst magic... I cannot give you that here~...", he sighed contently.

"No...", Umek agreed, staring at his hooves, and turning to his mentor, "Star Brimmer...", he caught his elder's attention, "I promise... I wont let you down.", he shook his head, crossing his hoof over his chest, "I'll be the best I can be!"

He coughed a little more, smiling at that, "I know you will... Umekile Scythe.", he nodded, "I know you will."

Marien again assaulted her son with another hug, and a kiss, "We know you will...", her tears flowed onto Umek's shoulders, and neck, she shut her eyes tight, "I love you, my little Umekile!", she squealed out, weeping, but refusing to cry to the heavens...

Lodin stepped in, and gently had her release, "We love you, Umek...", he smiled shortly, nodding his respects, "Never forget that... We love you, son..."

We love you, Umekile~

End Episode One


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