Cyril Coltefeller

By The Original

• August 19, 2012




Age: 23

Gender: Male

Species: Unicorn

Cutie Mark: Arcane Symbol

Personality: Cyril is a rather collected pony, tending to let any anger build up inside of him. He often spaces out when being spoken to, which results in many ponies thinking he is ignoring them. He prefers action over words, unless it's a good scientific conversation.<br /><br />Cyril often enjoys being alone, but occasionally needs somepony to talk to. He generally tends to be stoic and emotionless on the outside, unless certain topics pertaining to his interests are brought up. This was caused by his constant exposure to science, the one thing he loves most. Because of that, anything that isn't science topically bores him. He does however enjoy baking on occasions.

Backstory: Cyril was born in Manehattan to a small family. He was the youngest out of four, a little brother to three older sisters. His father was especially rejoiced at his birth, but his sisters weren't. His sisters were constantly picking on and making fun of him, resulting in him becoming rather secluded. He didn't trust easily, and was always wary on the intentions of others.<br /><br />During the early years of his colthood, he would enjoy reading stories about magic and advances technology. He always found technology to be rather amazing, the combination of mechanics and magics working together. His parents would get him simple machine construction sets for his birthday to busy himself and pass time with. More often than not, his sisters would destroy what he made, but he didn't mind. Rebuilding them in a new way was highly fascinating to him.<br /><br />As he got older, he would try to experiment with imbuing the machines with different magic types. With each attempt, he would get better. He was eventually able to successfully produce a small engine with a standardized process. While it had little purpose or application, he was proud of it. This is when he received his cutie mark, the Arcane Symbol.<br /><br />Cyril's parents saw his potential, and signed him into an advanced school for magically gifted foals. While he didn't like the ponies there, he really enjoyed learning. He was top of his class and even skipped a few grades, becoming the talk of the school. He had become a prodigy in forming magical devices, and caught the attention of some higher up scientists in Manehattan. While they were merely observing for a large portion of his schooling, they saw great potential.<br /><br />After graduating from the school considerably early, he was approached with the offer of being sent to a top level Canterlot college. The college in mind would give him the resources and knowledge he needed to further his studies on magical applications in technology. It was the Magical Institute of Technology, or MIT. Cyril was honored, but he was extremely worried that he wasn't smart enough for it. The pony who approached him gave Cyril the information and application papers, and went on his way.<br /><br />It took weeks of convincing from his parents and even his sisters to make him fill out the application. Even then, he was terrified to turn in the application. He feared being denied, and then promptly laughed at for even trying. Then his mother gave him the exact advice he needed to hear: "What others think of you doesn't matter. Only what you think, because success is all in your head." These words would change Cyril forever, and with that, he was able to build enough courage to send the papers via mail. He hoped for the best, and if he didn't get in, he would find somewhere else to attend.<br /><br />Cyril would check the mailbox daily, and it was only two weeks before he got a letter back from the institute. They had accepted, and even offered to pay half of his tuition in return for Cyril's aid in volunteer research work. It was supposedly government work, or at least that's what the letter seemed to imply. Regardless, Cyril was more than willing to spend some time working if it meant he had both the opportunity to do research and have a halved tuition.<br /><br />It wasn't long before Cyril was already moved into the institute dorm building. He relished every hoofstep he took on campus. It was only the first day and he already had the head of research and development for Canterlot knocking on his door. He explained to Cyril that he wouldn't be living in the dorms, but in an expenses paid 2A apartment near the castle, where Cyril would be helping in research. Cyril was only half surprised, as the letter did say that remaining information would be disclosed by a ranked official. A team of movers quickly gathered Cyril's belongings and moved them to his new apartment. As it turns out, half of Cyril's degree was to be based upon his performance in the research team. This put a whole new spin on his stay.<br /><br />In the mornings, Cyril would spend until noon working with the research team. Their current research was on the nature of changelings, and the possibility of domesticating them. From noon until late afternoon, Cyril was taking his normal classes in MIT. Once he got going, everything felt easy to Cyril. He excelled in the research team, providing insightful discussion and hard work. He passed most of his classes with ease, except for The History of Magic, which he really did not care for anyways.<br /><br />A few months into his stay, he started his own research paper regarding his insights into the changeling behavior and magical properties. Rumor got out that Cyril was actually experimenting on live changelings. While the rumors were false, it ended up with Cyril being expelled from MIT. However, his status among the research team only grew. While they knew he didn't experiment on anything, they were proud that he was writing a research paper. Especially one of the quality Cyril could produce. <br /><br />Cyril found a part time afternoon job working as an apprentice under a watch maker. Cyril then found a better understanding of magical application in every day devices. Thankfully, the apartment he lived in was paid by the research team, and he was able to use the extra money on furthering research developments. During the second year of research, Princess Celestia herself visited the team, taking note of how well Cyril was doing. She appointed them a dozen changelings to experiment on, top secret of course. If any of their findings turned into the wrong hands, the changeling armies could be made into even worse weapons than previously displayed.<br /><br />Cyril was the one to discover that the changelings contained an element in their skin which could not be manufactured or found elsewhere, at least not yet. This was what gave them their ability to take another form of equal mass. It was revolutionary. After finding this, the research team was fully devoted to finding a way to recreate this mystical element.<br /><br />After another two years, they finally found the combination. It was a magical mixture of three different magics and two uncommon ingredients. Pure amounts of light, dark, and life magic enveloping dragon scale and gryphon feather. This was what allowed manipulation of the light around the scale, granted the right kind of magic was applied, a very minor detail to the whole idea. Unfortunately, one of the researchers wanted all the fame and recognition, putting the work under his own name, Signus. Cyril was the only one that Signus trusted, and told him his plan, hoping Cyril would join him in a dual partnership. Cyril declined and told the others of his plan. Signus was promptly fired, and Cyril took on his job, which was a paying job of course.<br /><br />After this course of events, Cyril was approached by Princess Luna. She told Cyril that she wanted to appoint him head of magical and technological development, but she needed to convince Celestia to approve of the idea. Luna explained to Cyril that all he needed to do was invent something new, something everypony would want. Cyril was dumbfounded, but accepted the offer. He had no idea what he would make, but he saw it better to try and look like an idiot than never try at all. <br /><br />Cyril went to work later that day with the watch maker. Cyril explained the offer to his mentor, Gear Shift. Gear said to think about something that he himself would use on a daily basis. It hit Cyril like a brick, or better yet, a watch. Cyril asked if he could use Gear's workshop as a lab, and Gear happily obliged.<br /><br />After a short two months of experimenting and partnering with Gear, he finally made what he thought would change watches forever. The digital watch. A combination of the changeling scales and the watch design, he could use magically charged batteries to manipulate the appearance of the scale inside the watch, which would appear as numerical digits. It would progress in time as a normal watch would, but was much easier to read. This device could be read by anypony in seconds.<br /><br />Cyril set up an appearance in Celestia's court to present the device. Of course, it was Princess Luna to reply with a letter, instructing him to present in only a weeks time at noon. Cyril put on his best suit and made his way to the castle, wearing his own digital watch, the original, and taking a second perfected demonstration watch. When he arrived, Celestia dismissed everypony but Cyril, Luna, and violet pony named Twilight Sparkle. Cyril did his best to explain both the changeling components and watch components, but it seemed like all he needed was the demonstration to win Celestia's interest. Twilight had many questions, all of which Cyril gladly answered, but eventually Celestia told her to let Cyril finish his presentation uninterrupted. After he finished his demonstration, he was dismissed so that Celestia, Luna, and Twilight might be able to talk it over.<br /><br />After what seemed like three hours, which was actually only half an hour by Cyril's watch, he was called back inside. The princesses and Twilight all agreed that Cyril should be head of magical and technological development, but he would need to place to call home base. They already scheduled for a building to be erected on the edge of Ponyville, which would serve as both a cozy home and a fully functional research center. It would be equipped with everything Cyril would need as the Head of M&T development. Cyril gave his highest gratitude to the three of them, and promised he would not let them down. They only stated that they were sure he wouldn't, and then sent him off to start packing. <br /><br />Cyril was moved into the new home within a month, and was immediately given a list of things that needed to be done. Cyril hoped he would have the mental, emotional, and physical capacity to carry out all of his duties. Thankfully, he was assured he would be assigned a partner in due time.<br /><br />After a year of working alone, Cyril was finally sent somepony to help him, or at least he thought. Princess Celestia arrived at his doorstep one day, and introduced a fine young mare named Fierasil de Rosa Canter, or Fiera for short. Cyril was told that Fiera would be staying with him, hopefully being able to act as an assistant, but she was mostly there just to get away from her situation back in Fillydelphia. Additionally, Cyril was to study the broken horn she had, considering she was the first Alicorn to ever do such a thing. Cyril was a bit reluctant to accept an untrained assistant, but he had no choice in his mind. Thankfully, this would give him a chance to do some interpony research. Cyril put on a good attitude and took Fiera in.<br /><br />In time, Fiera and Cyril grew to be like brother and sister. Complete opposites, but they understood each other so well.