|
Post by Wild Roses on Oct 25, 2011 16:38:13 GMT -5
It was early in the morning, just before dawn would arrive with a new day. The sky above the distant eastern mountains had started to pale into that hazy shade of blue, that only came during the late autumn days just before the snow would come and stay. The ground was crispy, still covered in the frost from the night, like a thin veil of white laying over the grass and leave, the breath of cold just before blankets of snow would change the landscape for the season soon to come. Breath of frost had spread from the small creeks among the trees giving the early morning an eerie feeling.
Within the long shadows from the rising sun that spread among the trees, her petite form broke through. Dressed in a cloak that covered her from head to tail, the small mare ran as easy as a dance in between the tall trees. As if she was running away from the sunrise, and into the still dark nights in the west. Her cloak waving around her as she darted as fast as her short, slender legs could carry her. The mist was already slowly fading as the sun slowly heated up the air. Winter hadn’t gotten its hold over the world just yet, yet the rays of the sun weren’t nearly as warm as during the summer days. It would be a cold day that was for sure. She stopped with a light thud, her muzzle parted and frost smoke spread around as she breathed hard, catching her breath.
The night had been long and cold, she had spent most of it on the move trying to stay warm. The small built mare shuddered, she was tired but she knew she couldn’t stop now. She was almost clear out of the woods, and she would arrive in Canterlop. She hoped at least she would. The little contact she had with the ponies she had met on the road had told her to go west, until reaching the high mountain where the city was located at. Looking around, the mare took a deep breath before moving her head to the side, nipping her cloak. With a practiced move, she wrapped the cloth slowly around her neck, freeing her wings, letting them unfold and stretch out. The light blue mare knew it would take all her effort, but she wouldn’t be able to reach the city before tomorrow if she didn’t fly. She flapped them a few times, warming up her muscles before she could actually fly. Her wings were delicate, pale colours with an elusive pattern of white swirling around, unlike any other pegasi seen in a very long time. The mare let them spread out before she bounced up from the rock and flapped them wildly, slowly and steadily gaining air until she was high enough to actually fly for a while. It took all her effort, all her strength she had left but she crossed the last part of the woods much faster than she would have done on foot.
As she landed, she trembled and fell down on her ‘knees’, kneeling briefly. Falling to her rump, she used the last strength she had left to pull her cloak back over her flanks and push herself up again. Standing up, body trembling she slowly hauled herself towards the nearest tree and dropped down for the last time. Gathering her hooves under body, she tucked her head down beside them and closed her eyes. A little sleep, for just a few hours, that would make things all good again the small mare decided, taking a content sigh.
|
|
Apporta
Sophomore Pony
Knowledge is Power!
Posts: 65
|
Post by Apporta on Oct 25, 2011 18:37:49 GMT -5
Apporta was enjoying a pleasant morning walk. it was a cool breezy day, so the unicorn made sure to dress in a puffy vest, a scarf, and a hat to keep warm. She knew autumn was quickly passing and soon it would be winter.
Traveling along the edge of the forest that bordered Canterlot, Apporta stopped when she saw a sleeping pony lying on the ground. She quickly ran over and assessed the pony's health even though she was not a nurse or a healer. It appeared the pony was fine, no cuts or broken bones. She was amazed at this strange pony. She had the size like a filly, yet still looked like a mare. The most striking thing was this pony's wings. They weren't like a pegasus wings, but instead they were very delicate, almost like the wings of a butterfly. "Hey," Apporta said rocking the pony gently, trying to wake her up, "Are you ok?"
(Edit 11/08 to reflect the fact that Wild Roses looks different)
|
|
|
Post by Wind Charger on Nov 7, 2011 22:11:40 GMT -5
The sound of hoof beats echoed through out the many alleys and causeways of the grand city, as down the main lane of roads an envoy consisting of four long-legged ponies galloped swiftly. Three of them glistened in the light, as if they were barded with metal; and upon closer inspection, it was painfully clear that's what it was; the fourth in the group was a well known alicorn who needed no introduction! The roads weren't crowded, but not completely devoid of life, which the job of the earth pony at the of the envoy was in charge of handling. The fastest of them currently, she started to cry out to the crowd of ponies out and about doing their daily morning routines of keeping the streets clean, setting up shop carts and other mundane but necessary tasks. She'd been armored differently than the two at side of the alicorn who was moving with them. While the standard barding for the guards were that golden helmet and armored harness, she bore a full set of forged steel, that covered nearly every inch of her body. It was an ornate white, which almost looked flush with her grey pelt, spikes adorned her her neck guard that went up the back, and a single horn rested on her face plate right where her forehead was, giving her that amusing illusion of being a unicorn. At the side just in front of her flank was a standard mounted on a special attachment and pointed upward; the banner flapped in the breeze generated by their movement.
"Hearken to me, citizens of Canterlot! Thy princess is nigh in tow and requires thine assistance to vacate the lanes to alloweth her ease of passage! Breaketh way and scatter now, or thou shalt be trampled beneath our hooves!"
Pebbles and rocks jumped inches of the ground from the force made by the heavy running made by them all. The pony up front, Lady Wind Charger as it were, was quite enthralled to be where she was. Once she had been in charge, once she called called the shots! But it was all swept away from her, nearly all her authority, all those years clawing nearly to the top all for naught. But she'd been given the honor to return to Canterlot to serve under Celestia in a special retrieval unit who's goal is to locate sources of new or unknown magic! Though she didn't participate directly in doing that specific task; which is entrusted to a select group of unicorns to actually locate the sources, she was part of the group who went with the princess to actually bring them back to the castle. This was a temporary pass back into her beloved home of Canterlot, and she cherished it.
Finally, the main lane was nearing it's end out of the city, the last cobbles were coming up where they fade and converge into the dirt paths on the outskirts of the city. There at the end of the cobblestone path where it met the earth one were a group of four ponies. They were in robes, lined with gold at the trim, unicorns by the horns that jutted out from special slits at the top of the hoods. Rendevouz point! "Hail and well met.." The Knight looked over her shoulder briefly, then signalling a nod to the rest of the envoy as it arrived. "Thine courier hath arrived bearing thine message naught an hour past. Her majesty responded swiftly, reveal to us this location you describe.."
The robed unicorn she'd hailed took a look at her, then over the knight's shoulder to the highest authority in the land, which he offered a respectful bow. "Come this way, all of you. Through these two trees and a light foliage, an unknown being sleeps. Dare you keep silent or we shall wake her..." True to his word, the sage accompanied the envoy alone, passing past a first tree with some light rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs, to a second perhaps a few meters or so away. "You can see her from her if you look over these bushes, but mind your breath and noise, we know not what she is..." The knight stiffened her knees and stood on the ends of her hooves to peek over the foliage. There nestled against the base of a tree, a pony with a set of odd wings slumbered soundlessly. She looked perhaps like a regular pony. But her wings were of..an insects and despite having a magical output, there was no horn that is usually associated with a way to be an outlet like unicorns. "There she is..." The Seeker unicorn spoke with a somber tone, expecting the rest of the envoy to take this into their hooves.
|
|
|
Post by Princess Celestia on Nov 9, 2011 4:57:51 GMT -5
Her Seekers had never led her astray, not once. Hopefully this time would be the same as others.
They were a group dedicated solely to discovering traces of foreign magic in Equestria, ranging from devilish sorcery that had no place in the world, to the faintest pulse of extraneous , arcane residue. These unicorns helped police what sources of magic came in and out of their territory, and determined whether or not it required investigating, or in some cases : terminating.
When the Seekers approached her with this new find, discovered through a widespread spell of divination, she immediately deduced it would require her own, personal touch. This source wasn't just magic: it was a living being. Whether or not it was dangerous hadn't been explicitly said, and that required more back-up than she was used to.
Surrounded by a thorough regiment of elite guards, the alicorn had dutifully galloped to the scene, her countenance set into a look that bespoke austerity. Wind Charger's regal cries made access to the location simple, the flood of city dwelling ponies parting from their forward advance like the exiting tide. She only hoped that whatever was out here, didn't intend to turn her beloved capital and it's inhabitants into a battle zone for conquest.
Her hastened pace trickled to a light, curious canter, as they neared the subject. She was admittedly surprised to see one of her school's students, Apporta, here as well...but that was hardly of consequence. If anything, it was a field trip, of sorts : a free lesson to add to her Bestiary and Exotic Creatures study guides.
The Princess did not entirely heed her Seekers' warnings of keeping a safe distance. Her power was not something to scoff at whatsoever, and a forward, honest approach was better than loitering in the bushes. With her muzzle set in a staunch frown, she emphatically looked between Wind Charger, her standard bearer, and another guard nearby who wore armor that indicated his station beyond that of a regular grunt. " Major; Lieutenant. You're with me. "
Her slim physique moved seamlessly forward, steps airy and almost on the verge of gliding, such was her elegance. She came before the miniature, winged mare, and peered closely at the alien pony. A moment's study, and her gaze widened, head peeling back from the smaller equine.
" I can scarcely believe it, " She muttered with tempered astonishment. " A Flutterpony. "
|
|
Frost Hammer
New Pony
Hjarta mitt tilheyrir n? vi? hana...
Posts: 31
|
Post by Frost Hammer on Nov 9, 2011 10:11:46 GMT -5
Frost Hammer meanwhile was atop a hill in the mid distance. He had just finished singing a Galdr; a prayer to the Gods of the North. He was about to close his eyes and relish the cold winds that blew from the North. Soon Equestria would be enclosed in Winter's grasp, and he would feel much more at home, taking in the serenity of the great white silence.
A flash of something brilliant caught his eye, however, and distracted him from his thoughts. He looked at it, and even from a distance recognized the rainbow pattern of the mane and tail that belonged to Princess Celestia. The flash had come from the sunlight reflecting off of her cown or some other gold adornment.
What was she doing there? Probably something worth investigating. He got up and trotted down the hill, then set off at a tölt, a gait possesed only by Nords. It was four-beat, very quick, smooth, and comfortable.
He arrived quickly, and looked with awe at the scene before him. There was the Princess with some of her guards, and lying underneath a tree was a tiny pony with transluscent, butterfly-like wings.
He slowly approached her, and could see the thin layer of frost beginning to form on her. Luckily she was still alive, but she wouldn't be for much longer if she was left there.
|
|
|
Post by Wild Roses on Nov 13, 2011 19:29:11 GMT -5
Wild Roses was rather deep slumber as she lay on the frozen ground. The large cloak easily protected her from the cold, though a thin layer frost soon crawled over the soft fabric and stiffened it. Eyes closed and chest slowly rising with her breathing. So far into dreamland, she hadn’t even noticed the mare nearby, or the arrival of the stallion, not before the arrival of the crowd; the unicorns sent by the Princess cause her to stir in her sleep.
Eyes fluttered open, groggy stare up at the small crowd before she squeaked out surprise. Ears pinned back and she stirred and rose up as quick she could. She backed startled, bumping against the tree before she spoke. “Oh! So many of you! And so big!” Wild Roses was more startled then scared, moving her front hoof up and rubbed over her green eyes to rub her as she tried to gather herself and understand what they were saying.
Head tilted, and she took a hesitant step forward. Well, this was what she had wanted – meeting new strange ponies up close and personal rather than pretending to be a mute foal. Still exhausted, she slowly moved her head down, grabbing hold of her cloak and practiced wrapped it around her neck against, allowing her wings to show properly. ”Hello! I am Wild Roses. I come from the Flutter Valley. Have I come to.. Chantherlop?” She spoke again, offering a small smile at them all. Her voice was light and almost singsong, but her words were unusual. Like an accent turned into its own language over time, similar and still so strange and different.
|
|
Apporta
Sophomore Pony
Knowledge is Power!
Posts: 65
|
Post by Apporta on Nov 14, 2011 8:21:14 GMT -5
Apporta saw that the strange pony had awoken. Clearly she wasn't from Canterlot, or any other known area to her. Apporta never heard of Flutter Valley in her studies, and was curious about this new land. She was about to say hello to the pony when she noticed that there were others around. There was an interesting male pony that she never saw. There were also several guards that she recognized from Canterlot. But the biggest surprise was Princess Celestia. Immediately Apporta bowed to the princess who appeared just as interested in the butterfly winged pony as Apporta was. There she waited for the Princess to acknowledge her.
|
|
Frost Hammer
New Pony
Hjarta mitt tilheyrir n? vi? hana...
Posts: 31
|
Post by Frost Hammer on Nov 14, 2011 9:25:57 GMT -5
Frost Hammer looked at her closely. Those wings...she must be one of the fearie folk that those Celtic traders spoke of. The huge Nord smiled at her, and he got down until he was amost on her level to get an even better look at her, and also to hopefully not appear so intimidating as he often did to smaller ponies.
"Góðan daginn, Wild Roses" he said in his deep, resonant voice, "I am Frost Hammer, and I hail from the land of North Hold. You are near Canterlot, but not exactly in it." He looked up at the other ponies assembled there, including the princess, whom he merely grinned at in a friendly manner. He stood up to his full height again.
|
|
|
Post by Wind Charger on Nov 18, 2011 2:46:09 GMT -5
With caution, the knight craned her neck backwards and lowered the standard of the kingdom from her armor, so that it would stop getting caught in the hanging leaves from above, and trailed in tow of the princess. She was far more apprehensive than the Alicorn, being surrounded by so many unicorns, one could never be too careful around those who posses magic. Her armor plated clanked against each other at each step and her mail mesh making scratchy sounds against the tree bark that caused it to brush against itself. When the trio halted however, she was quick to peer around the tall white demi-goddess to the little pony who was the star of this whole crowd. Much to her astonishment, it had awoken, despite looking like it had frozen over night and better still, it could speak in their language. She raised a hoof and was about to project her voice...before that white earth pony with that horrendous accent spoke up. Perhaps it was rude to interrupt, but it was a whole other thing to not gracefully bow in the Princess' presence. She wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face.
Scowling at him, Wind Charger steps up in front of the Alicorn. "Thou clearly hast no idea how to behave in the audience of her highness. I doust not know if this North Hold or Frozen North or what ever moniker has been bestowed upon it truly exists, but thou art here! In our lands, and thee shall act accordingly." Huffing, the knight looks down at the flutterpony and bows her head respectfully in greeting, then looking back over at her shoulder to her Princess, quite certain she'd want to address herself to the "strange source" of magic.
|
|
Frost Hammer
New Pony
Hjarta mitt tilheyrir n? vi? hana...
Posts: 31
|
Post by Frost Hammer on Nov 18, 2011 23:34:42 GMT -5
Frost Hammer tried not to look at that obscenely arrogant knight as she spoke. Hmph. She wouldn't last a minute in the North. All that clunky armour would make her easy prey, and she would most likely just freeze inside it.
"North Hold is a perfectly real place. Her majesty can attest to that." He bowed his head to Princess Celestia.
He then looked back at Wild Roses.
|
|
|
Post by Princess Celestia on Nov 20, 2011 7:22:37 GMT -5
The Princess looked less than pleased with the intrusion of this foreigner. She held no qualms about those who had ventured into her lands, providing they were peaceful, but this fellow's arbitrary appearance wasn't something that correlated with the recent turn of events. Apporta being here was a separate case; as an Equestrian citizen, unicorn, and a student of her Academy, she had potential rights to peer into the conundrum that was investigating new sources of magic. The stallion, however, rang a cautious bell for political expediency.
" With all merited respect, my good stallion, this is a sensitive investigation you've stumbled into, " The alicorn framed a plastic smile on her muzzle, intentionally ignoring his question. " Being in my borders, you are considered an extrinsic , potential hazard, particularly to the current case, if you are foreign as you claim. I advise you to keep your distance from the subject until we've effectively established her origins and intent." An acute flick of her gaze traveled towards Wind Charger, to whom she simply muttered, " Major." That was all she needed to say to drive her connotative point home: keep him at bay and in line.
" Apporta, dear, " The Princess intoned sweetly to the unicorn nearby, " Stay with the Seekers, " She rolled her curvilinear muzzle towards the other, cloaked unicorns standing loyally at her flanks. " Watch, and observe. "
The ivory mare advanced with light, precarious steps forward, advancing towards the Flutterpony who seemed happily entranced with her surroundings. " Yes, madame, you're on the outskirts of Canterlot. " Exhibiting as much nobility and grace as she could muster, she drew her posture back into a grandiose bearing. " I am Princess Celestia, Monarch of Canterlot ; Bearer of the Sun; and Ruler of Equestria , alongside my sister Princess Luna, Bearer of the Moon and Evening. " A smile much more sincere bordered her lips as she sunk her head down to attempt eye-level with the miniscule female, a sudden casualness fracturing her regal poise. " It's lovely to meet you, Miss Roses. What brings you to our country, I wonder?"
|
|
Frost Hammer
New Pony
Hjarta mitt tilheyrir n? vi? hana...
Posts: 31
|
Post by Frost Hammer on Nov 20, 2011 19:12:26 GMT -5
Frost nodded to Princess, scowling slightly. A hazard, was he? He sure could be if he wanted to.
He stepped back and watched them, especially keeping his eye on the knight. He was surprised her helmet fit on that inflated head of hers.
He also scoffed slightly at the caution they were showing. What threat could that tiny little mare be? He thought to himself, look at her! I bet she couldn't take down a foal.
He cleared his throat slightly. "If I may, Your Majesty." He said respectfully, "I believe that she is one of the folk that are known by our western brothers as 'faeries'. Celtic traders speak much of them, and Wild Roses matches every description given by the hundreds of them that come through North Hold every year. Even our own Nordic seafarers speak of them. They are called 'huldufólk' or 'hidden folk', due to their relative isolation. Everyone who as actually met them say that they are very, very peaceful. They don't fight unless absolutely forced to. From the experience I have, I can tell you that you have nothing to worry about. Though I am not a native Equestrian, and you may not value my say as much as you do that your other subjects, I wanted to make the voice of my foreign experience heard."
He bowed his head respectfully to her, and stopped talking.
|
|
|
Post by Wild Roses on Nov 28, 2011 16:58:29 GMT -5
The short mare stared from the stallions to the alicorn and her companion, trying to get a grasp of what was fully going on as she tilted her head. Still exhausted, the mare flopped down on her rear quarters and stared at them as they spoke among each other. She tried to pay attention, to follow the conversation, but their language was difficult to grasp for her. Her wings fluttered slowly and she titled her head, looking at the stallion.
She knew that word, her ears pricked up and she rose up again. Brightly green eyes narrowed as the cyan mare trotted up to the stallion. “What did you call me?! Hulder? Fairy? How. Dare. You” She prodded her hoof into his chest as she stretched it up. Ears back, muzzle wrinkled into an angry expression. Her voice was low, her own accent and language, sounding angry. “I am no such thing. That’s such an insult! I’m not calling you a big fat, hairy dwarf am I?! NO. So call me a flutter pony and stop pretending you know what I am!” She fluttered her wings and as she stomped on the ground in anger, not caring that they probably didn’t understand her.
|
|
Frost Hammer
New Pony
Hjarta mitt tilheyrir n? vi? hana...
Posts: 31
|
Post by Frost Hammer on Nov 28, 2011 19:07:52 GMT -5
(OOC: I have revised Frost Hammer according to the wishes of the administration, and will be continuing using these revisions.)
Frost scowled heavily down at her. "That's just what my people and our trading partners call you. It's not an insult, merely a different name."
Insult? She though he had insulted her? Hmph, and what a fine way to treat somepony who just spoke up for you too. He had trouble understanding her, but he had experience with accents, and was able to decode it after a minute.
He lowered himself to her level now, lying flat in his belly, staring her right in the eye, his scowl still heavy, "and, that is not a way to treat somepony who just vouched for you, is it? You are most welcome."
He stood up, and shook his head, "Vanþakklátir lítið nöldra..." he mumbled.
|
|
Apporta
Sophomore Pony
Knowledge is Power!
Posts: 65
|
Post by Apporta on Nov 28, 2011 19:13:33 GMT -5
Apporta nodded in understanding to Princess Celestia's request. She trotted over to the cloaked pony named Wind Charger and watched intently at the princess's conversation. The strange pony introduced herself as a flutter pony. She never heard of that type, but then again, other ponies probably didn't as well.
The flutter pony was speaking in some strange language that apporta couldn't make out. Yet whatever she was saying it sounded angry. It also seemed to be directed towards the stallion who was with them.
|
|