"B, where are you going?" my mother asked worriedly. 'B' was the nickname my mother came up with after my dad named me, apparently for a spark from my horn shortly after birth. He had told me it was blacker than the blackest of nights.

". . . I don't know, just anywhere but here. I can't take it anymore." I said, grimacing. Tears threatened to spill from my tightly shut eyes. "Eveypony bullies me, just because I don't look 'normal'"

I said 'normal' with as much hatred as I could muster in my hurt state. (which, frankly wasn't much)

I rapidly shrunk all of my personal belongings and put them in a small saddlebag that I slung over my back. My head spun a little from the magic usage, but I quickly shook my head.

"Please don't look for me. I'll write when I can. Goodbye mom, dad."

(13 years ago, first day of preschool)

"What's wrong with his eyes?" a little colt asked the teacher. "and why is he so tall?"

It was an innocent question, but it still stung.

It's true that I do have very dark grey irises, nearly black. And I was at least a hoof and a half taller than the other fillies and colts in preschool.

I got angry. I stomped out of the classroom, glaring at anypony in my way. I trotted towards the only tree in the preschool's yard. Trees are somewhat of a comfort object for me, I guess. I don't know why.

With dexterity that somehow greatly surpassed my limited physical form, I climbed to the top of the tree, and sat sulking for about three hours. I heard the teacher call my name; she was searching for me. I didn't reveal myself.

Once I realized the predicament I was in on top of this tree and had calmed down enough to think, I had remembered something my Mommy had done a few times before: teleport.

But I had no practice with any kind of magic. I hadn't even had my horn fizzle in excitement even once in my life, on accident or on purpose. I hoped I was correct in my assumption on how to teleport.

I visualized the place I wanted to go, and focused on it with all my might.

I screwed my eyes shut with concentration, sweat beginning to drip down my tiny muzzle, and the tip of my tongue poked out of the side of my mouth. I felt an energy I had never felt before begin to lazily slip into my mind.

I knew it was magic.

I strained. I struggled. I grunted and groaned.

And after a half-hour of mental strain, I just felt the feeling of magic slip away the same way it had appeared; slowly and mysteriously.

Unbeknownst to me, a single faraway black hair wafted slowly off of the ground in the light breeze, traveling to who-knows-where.

I slowly and cautiously climb back down the tree, somehow still finding a good hoofhold on the loose bark of the old Pine tree.

I begin my walk home, disappointment flowing through my mind.

(a few years later)

I had been practicing my magic as much as I could in the past few years. I was good enough with levitation now to bring Dad his morning paper. I had been doing so for the last three months.

He'd always say, "Thanks, son" and ruffle my mane.

I'd giggle, and go help Mom make my lunch for school.

After everything is all set and ready for the day, I leave to go to school, and Mom and Dad go to work.

After school, I usually went to my friend, Inferno Nova's house and hung out with him for a few hours before heading back home.

(present time)

I shut the apartment door behind me, trot down the stairs, and hail a carriage.

"East 49th and Broadmare" I grumble as I climb into the carriage.

I step off the carriage after paying the pony, and look at where my only friend lives. I sigh and request to be buzzed in.

"Who is it" the voice of my friend asks through the mic.

"It's me, Inferno. Let me in." I reply.

The door buzzed, and I climbed the stairs to his apartment.

I opened his door, and trotted in.

I look around and spot a few new burn marks on the couch and recliner.

"Still learning how to rein in the fire properly, huh Inferno?" I ask, bemused.

Inferno popped his head out of the kitchen, and trotted into the living room.

"Yeah, well. At least I don't burn the floor, walls and ceiling anymore." He says. We both chuckle at that.

We brohoof and I sit down on a less blackened part of the couch. He sits on the couch next to me and I swear, if I didn't know he was a stallion, I'd think he was a hot mare sitting next to me, if a little unusual-looking.

"so, what's new, Mage?" he asks. Mage is the nickname he gave me shortly after we became friends.

I remember we became friends shortly after I had tried giving him a gift for Hearts and Hooves day. I didn't even know his name, so it was even more awkward. But I digress.

"I'm running away, that's what." I reply simply. "My parents already know, and you're my only friend, so all the important ponies have been told."

"But you can't. I had a nice honeymoon planned for us and you promised to go this time, Magey" Inferno said, almost serious enough to be serious. That small glint in his eye always gives it away.

I chuckled, and said, "You always know how to lighten the mood, buddy. But I have to. I can't deal with the crap that nearly the whole school puts me through anymore. Not even counting the rest of Manehatten. I just want to find somewhere that nopony cares what you look like or what color your magic is."

We stand up, and he puts a hoof on my shoulder. "Wherever you're going, Black Magic, may good fortune follow you." we stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds, but then Inferno seems to remember something.

"Hold on just a sec" he says, then he runs off into his room.

I roll my eyes and chuckle. He re-enters the living room, two small crystals balanced on his wingtips, along with two small odd-looking apparatuses.

"During our . . .field trip . . . to the crystal empire, I had grabbed a few souvenirs. . . make that hundreds of souvenirs. Small crystals from the mine we had explored. Me, being the fire lovin' and Inferno-controlling pegasus you know, experimented with these crystals. I found that two crystals heated to the same exact temperature of 128 degrees celsius for the same exact time of twenty-two and a half minutes, and within a range of two to three hoof-lengths from each other other during the heating process tend to resonate."

"Proper Equish, please, inferno." I say, confused.

"If they're really close to each other when I catch them on fire, they tend to carry sound from crystal to crystal." Inferno said slowly.

I gasp quietly in realization. "oh. . ."

"just put the crystal in the earpiece, lock it into place, and put the earpiece around your ear." he explained, going through the motions on how to use the sound crystals. "just don't put it anywhere noise can be heard from easily. I still haven't figured out how to disable the channels yet."

he smirked. "I don't want to hear you moan my name as you enjoy your privacy."

I roll my eyes, and take the crystal and earpiece, chuckling. I put the crystal and earpiece in my one-of-a-kind black saddlebag.

"Thanks, bro. I'll probably owe you one." i say, still chuckling. we brohug, and I wave goodbye as i trot towards the door.

"See ya, Mage. Stay in contact, ya hear?" He says as I trot out the door.

"I will" I call out as I shut the door. I walk back outside and hail another carriage.

"Take me to the outskirts of Manehatten." I mutter as I step into the carriage.

The pony nods, and pulls his carriage into traffic.

We made it to the outskirts surprisingly quickly, considering traffic was absolutely horrible.

"That'll be two bits." The carriage-pony says in a typical Manehatten accent. I pay the carriage-pony, and hop to the ground.

"Thanks" I mutter.

I chose a random direction away from the city and started walking, not caring where I'd end up, as long as it was somewhere away from any judgemental ponies. Next Chapter: Chapter 1 Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes