Minecraft: A Pony's Tail

Torch's eyes fluttered open slowly. He was in a stone room, heavily decorated. He was laying in a plush queen-sized bed. His body was without clothes, covered in bandages.

As he slowly sat up, a pony with a tray of food trotted in. He was wearing a gray coat. His fur was a dark brown, with a yellow mane. His eyes were a starling sapphire. He smiled. "Ah, sleeping beauty's awake. About time. Here, I brought some food. I guess I'm not that hungry anyway."

Torch dove into the food, devouring it greedily. All the while, the pony sat near the edge of his bed. "You know, when I saved you, you were pretty banged up. I'm surprised you're doing so well."

Torch shrugged and swallowed. "Well, I guess I can thank you for... wait, saving me?!"

The pony laughed, standing up. "Your not the only one with fighting skills!"

With that, the pony walked up to the door. "Oh, I don't have a name, but everypony calls me Arid."

"Torch."

"Well met. Meet me down stairs. Your clothes are in the dresser." He gestured to the ornate piece of furniture before disappearing out the door.

Torch, after finishing the meal, stood up, and walked up to the dresser. It was full of his clothes, and a set of leather armor. He quickly grabbed up the armor, and slid it on over his clothes.

He observed the room, and noticed a nice window. he waltzed up to it.

Outside was a green plain, with a little walled village nearby. Beyond that was a sparse oak forest.

Torch sighed and walked down the stairs. At the bottom was what Torch assumed was greeting hall. There Arid waited.

Arid smiled. "Good. I'm going to wait to bring you up to speed on what's going on, Torch. For now, lets go see the village shall we?"

Torch nodded. "Sure."

Arid smiled. "Great. Just keep your leather armor on. Your clothes, well, they may not go along well with the villagers."

Torch frowned. "Why?"

Arid sighed. "You know those special things, the mining and stuff, that you an do?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, it's very unique, and your clothes are that worn by those rare ponies. The villagers, well, won't take kindly to it."

Torch frowned, but, hey, if it was the rules, it's the rules.

They walked out of the old abandoned castle where Arid lived, up to the gates of the village.

"Open up, it's me."

A guard looked over the wall. "Oh, hey Arid. Who's this?"

"A friend. He wishes shelter against the storm that rages across this world."

The guard nodded. "Alright. Give me a moment."

With that, the pony disappeared, and the gates opened into a prosperous little town. Several ponies were in the streets, from two fillies playing tag, to an old stallion selling goods.

However, Arid payed no mind. He instead bee-lined to a little chapel in the center of town. Torch followed as quick as he could.

Arid opened the door quickly, and, suddenly, anxiety showing, he entered.

Torch trotted in, followed by Arid bolting the door.

"Father Water, I bring news!" He said to the priest at the podium. No pony was except the three of them.

"Arid?" the priest said, confused. "What is this? Who is this?"

Arid turned to Torch. "Take the armor off. You can trust Father Water!"

Torch confused, slowly slid the armor off, revealing his clothes.

Water's jaw slowly dropped. "A miner? Here? ALIVE?"

Arid nodded. "And not only that! It's Torch's son!"

Water froze. "What did you just say to me Arid."

"It's Explorer Torch. He's Torch's son!"

Water blinked three times, slowly. "Um, well......wow. Well Torch, it's good to have you aboard."

Torch shook his head violently, confused. "Wait, what the buck is going on?! What's this about me being a son and a miner? CAN SOMEPONY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Arid sighed. "Water?"

"No Arid. It's your story. You tell it."

Arid sighed. "Once upon a time, this beautiful planet was peaceful, filled with happy ponies. Among these ponies were the miners, a group of rare individuals who were blessed with extraordinary powers. The world entered a golden age of technology and culture under them. However, a militant group began an uprising, originating in the continent of Pandora. War annihilated the peace, and millions died. Then, when the war was cooling down, monsters began to appear, murdering and pillaging. War started anew as they fought over the dwindling resources not held by the monsters. Not even the Miners could survive such an onslaught. They were wiped out. The greatest Miner of all, who held the title of 'Steve', died, leaving his only son. Only a few other miners survived. After the war, the world was divided into small groups, one of which is that militant group still based out in Pandora. The village you stand in is the tribe know as 'The Waters of Life.' They hold much pure water, and are mostly kindly. However, they dislike miners, and they blame them on everything that happened one hundred years ago."

Torch nodded. "Ok. And why am I so important?"

Waters turn. "Prophecy tells of a great miner who will rise up and restore the world, one torn between two. I have already ruled our mutual friend Arid out."

Torch stopped him. "Wait, Arid, your a miner?"

Arid smiled. "Sorta."

Torch sighed. "Explain."

"As the line goes on, recently less and less miners are simply created from two non-miner parents, so Miners have to try and pass their genes down to propagate. My father had the terrible luck of getting my non-miner mother pregnant before dying in a border fight between here and another faction. My mother gave birth to me, but I'm not a full miner. You have many abilities I can't use. For instance, how you mine meter-by-meter areas quickly, I must mine normally. However, I do have the sort of magical storage." As he said that, a small cube of stone appeared in his hoof, then disappeared. "Anyway, Pure Miners are hard to find. You are one of them."

Torch nodded. "So, I have to save the world from division and a numerous legion of monsters?"

Arid shrugged. "I guess."

Torch sighed. "Your crazy."

Arid chuckled. "Actually, I am. A good bit. To survive in this world, you can't be really sane."

Torch groaned. "Great. And I don't even have a weapon."

"Well, actually," Water said, scratching his neck, "You might have more weapons then you can count."

Arid turned. "Water...."

Water sighed. "The reason we built the town here is because it's built on an ancient military facility. We've been siphoning its resources, likes it's pure water, for years."

Arid shook his head. "And you never told me this why?"

Water perked up. "Because it's useless anyway. Other then the water purifier, almost the entire facility is locked up tighter then the worlds biggest diamond. I only brought it up now because we have somepony who might be able to use the weapons and items, and help you!"

Arid sighed. "Alright. Take us down."

With that, Water pushed his podium aside, revealing a pony hole.