Ohoh-ho! So, you’ve come to hear a story, huh? I’m betting something with Equestria, lots of harmony, and the peaceful loving with colorful ponies?

No? Molto bene! You’ve come to the right place! This story is not like any other. It deals with inner turmoil, extinction of pony races, and lots and lots of fighting. Some death here and there, but you'd get used to it.

Oh, ponies aren’t supposed to have conflict, you say? Well, not everything is supposed to be rainbows and sunshine, my friends. When something ponies truly believe in is threatened, they themselves will break morals and values in order to protect it. For better or for worse, we find out who we really are when all we have is lost.

Ugh, that sounded a bit cheesy, but yes, ponies do fight. Some more than others... especially one named Graze.

Our story begins with him, the pony of free will...ed consciences. Yes yes, I know it's weird, isn’t it? The stallion came to my university to start a new life, and who was I to deny him that? Princess Luna built this school just for clueless ponies like him. Others, meh, they say they come for “the education on magic,” and I only believe a haystack of them.

Heh, magic... a unicorn's advantage in life, it’s a funny thing, really. The thousands of concepts and theories behind it, the numerous subsets and how we can apply them and so on and so forth-- Trust me, the list goes on forever and I don't have the time for that. But there is one thing that magic and purpose have in common.

It can be found anywhere.

Our tale begins not now in the present, but way far back, eight years ago with a colt named Graze. Our little pegasus was not the most socially accepting of ponies, but he was always a fighter at heart. It was there and then, during school, that he gained this unique sense of right and wrong.

One bully. Three ponies. Two choices. That was all it took.

From the background of the school's yard, Graze dumbfoundedly watched as a filly fell victim to a much larger colt. Watching the scene play out right in front of him didn't sit right with--he had to help that little filly somehow. Searching desperately for something to do, a voice suddenly spoke up, coming from his left shoulder. “Fight for her, you’ll be a hero!”

Another sounded from his right in opposition. “No, you'll get in trouble! Just walk away and don't look back! It’ll be like nothing ever happened.”

These were the respective voices of Kill and Joy, two brothers who could almost never side with one another. Their argument raged on, confusing the colt as to which side to take. Their battle became so intense that the two miniature beings manifested into the mind of their host just so they could duke it out. The two brothers continued to fight, butting heads with equal strength and vigor.

And that's when he got his cutiemark, the spur of the moment gave him some sort of confidence and bravery as he threw caution (as well as Joy) to the wind, dashing headfirst into the fight. The colt’s choice was just, and his venture was successful. Basically, he kicked the pony’s flank to Canterlot and back.

Victorious, the colt arrived at his home, happy and admittedly confused about the two miniature beings that shared his respective shoulders. Graze trotted to his mother and questioned her about some sort of angel and devil, as the two rightfully represented. When he pointed to both, she saw nothing, but simply laughed and responded, "From what you've told me, those are consciences, dear. They are supposed to tell you right from wrong. Keep them close and I'm pretty sure you'd know the right thing to do," she advised with a caring smile, sending the stallion off to his room. "Colts and their crazy imagination," she said to herself with a slight chuckle, watching her son as he made his way up the stairs and down the hall.

And so, listening to his mother, he did as was told, keeping the two consciences very close, listening to every conversation and every decision the two came up with. But as day turned to night, even they knew when it was time to rest.  

As the three slept, hours passed and the stars of the Luna's night disappeared in exchange with the sun of Celestia, bringing something new... something different other than a bright and shiny day. Something dreadful.

On her bed, the mother laid still with eyes wide awake, staring at the ceiling, no new breath drawing from her lips. She just stared and stared. The family didn’t even get a day’s notice. It was just... random.

The colt didn't take it easily, and neither did his sister. The father was quiet.

Aroma, the younger of two, approached her mother's bedside and poked the still body with her tiny hoof. "Mommy, are you there? It's not funny to joke about these things. Please, wake up, you're hurting daddy," the filly continuously begged, nuzzling her mother's hoof.

She knew it. She didn't want to believe it. But she was told anyways. "Melody's dead, Aroma," said the father coldly. "And she's not coming back." Something changed in the father that day— something changed in everypony that day, but he was the most recognizable.

There is a point in everypony’s life when, sooner or later, they must visit the grave of their parents. Graze was eight when he first laid eyes on the tombstone of his mother. Aroma was six.

From there on out, things weren't easy for our little pegasus. Ponies in the town linked the events of the fight to the death of his mother, placing the blame on the colt’s tiny shoulders. From there, the rumors just spread. His mother’s passing became a tale of the alleged superstition that ponies believe in—an old mare’s tale told to scare foals, extolling the horrors of violence, twisted into describing in graphic detail why fighting could only bring nothing but pain and sorrow onto their loved ones.

Years of being treated as a leper passed and the colt finally became a stallion. With the help of Kill and Joy, he managed to whether every harsh comment that came his way. Of course there were one or two stallions that would bring up the sour topic, though it was nothing our little fighter couldn't deal with. Just added to his infamous reputation and his annual hospital bill, that was all.

Finally old enough to strike out for the world on his own, the stallion left his home, his father, and his sister, where he began his search for a new life and an education to make a better name for himself.

One year ago, he finally found himself at my facility in Baltimare— EQU, the Lunar sister's school of magical arts.  

Here is where his life changes.

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