Mountain snow: colder than steel

by USSOakland

Rating: teen
Tags: Human, Romance, Adventure
Length: 3534

Dominic, a small town hero/adventurer that wishes to explore a world beyond his snow capped mountains

What does a curious human, a daring Pegasus, and a quite Griffon have in common? Wander lust.
Follow the story of a small town hero turn adventurer as he and his new friends follow a path to new futures, danger, riches, glory, and adventure as they journey past the snow capped mountians of Celtreria to find there promised futures in the magical land of Equestria.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-17 06:59:53 UTC

Prologue

Mountain snow: colder than steel

The far lands of the north, farther north than the Crystal kingdom, sits a small world full of ice and snow. laying between the icy flat lands of the Arctic, and the hilly tundra territory under the rule of Princess Cadence. Between these two is a small country long thought to have gone extinct, Celtreria . the once powerful and prosperous nation in the time before the princess, when the 3 tribes of ponies ruled, of wing, horn, and hoof.

and hand

This beautiful world is extraordinarily breath taking, (when the ice and snow don't work in unison to batter the life that live between these mountains), other wise beautiful. In the morning sun rise, the land would be fulled with thousand of sparkling stars, the shimmering snow, shining off the trees and mountain peeks in utter silence and beauty. Icicles would clink together in the crisp,  chilly wind. Animals would scurry out of there homes to find fruits of bounties on frozen shrubs. The human hunter would trek far and wide, searching for the elusive herd of elk that manged to stay out of his view, hidden quietly in the trees, watching their predator's every move behind low hanging pine branches. behind the hunter, a large mountain lay, the huge structure of nature stay unmoving for thousand of years, watching over a small settlement at its wide base. The one, and only reaming town of the once great nation of Celtreria, Snow Grove. Here, we start our story.

Grandpappa?

Yes Dominic?

When will I be old enough to go with Uncle Chess's and his adventures?

Oh now now Dominic, your still a tweense bit to young to go with Uncle you know.

But Grandpa! I'm old enough, I'm 6 and I know how to tie a not, I know what plants to and not to eat, I know the difference between snow and weather clouds,why cant I go?

well..

And I wanna see all the fantastic things Uncle's saw, he said that there's a place called Equestra, where everybody is happy and nice, where there's magic and flying and a summer!

hehe...Yes your uncle did see a lot of amazing things on his journeys, remember when he brought back Coco?

Yeah! do we have anymore?

Dominic, we ran out years ago, that kind of stuff goes fast you know, being you loved it so much.

oh yeah..

hey, cheer up, how about I make you some Pine needle and Frost berry tea?

Ok!

Little Dominic and his grandfather got up and walked to the kitchen to make some delicious Pine and Frost Berry tea.

------------------------------------------------------------------3 years later

"Hey Grandpa!" yelled Dominic from atop his log cabin roof.

"What is it Dom? did you find that little bugger?" replied his grandfather as he looked around for a small mammal

"Well...kind of" said Dominic as he turned back to his findings an the roof.

A small ground squirrel had been terrorizing the Movchek family since last winter, getting into their crops of tundra wheat and snow pumpkins, as well as eating though a storage shed, and into there food supplies. For almost two seasons they have been trying to capture the culprit and bring him to justice,(and by justice I mean a nice warm stew). He had evaded traps, ruses, bait and a good ol' broom. So how did a ground squirrel evade a skilled retired hunter, and a kid with a  sharp eye? Nature works in strange ways. Dominic even gave a name for the little guy,Cheeky,considering he was so sly and cleaver, the name just kinda fit. But today, he finally meet his fate, upon the very same cabin that kept him well feed throughout many winters.

Th ground squirrel was laying frozen side ways, with what looked like his leg was stuck on the roof,  The poor animal must of got caught in a lose shingle and froze over night while on his nightly food raids.

Well I guess it serves him right thought Dominic as he stared at the frozen body on the roof at his feet.

I shouldn't think such harsh thoughts, but...he did bought this upon him self though

Dominic, still in thought, did not notice his Grandfather put up a latter on the lip of the roof and proceed to climb it.

"So kiddo, what did yah find?" Said Dom's Grandfather as he climbed the last bar and stood atop the roof

Dominic moved out of the way to show his grandfather the dead squirrel. The elder chuckled at the sight, knowing that it was only a matter of time until luck caught up with the small mammal.

"Well, I guess we don't have to deal with him any more, right?"

"Yeah" said Dominic, slightly sad

"Listen Dom, its for the better right? Now we don't have to worry about our crops and food being a few to short"

"Alright...well what do we do with him?"

" We feed him to the hawks of course, they need food more than we do, plus, it encourages them to hunt more of the little bastards so we don't have to deal with them"

said his grandfather nonchalantly as he pick up the frozen corps and chucked it a crossed the back yard into the snow field below.

Dominic was walking towards the latter, about to climb down, when his Grandpa nudge him, Dom turned around to look at him, when he saw his Elder pointing to the field below. He shifted his eyes to see a large, white and brown hawk swoop down from the trees, and land gracefully next to its new meal. As it started feasting, it let out a loud Screeee, the call echoed through out the valley range and landed on the ears of the two Movcheks, as they watched in awe at the powerful bird.

"Woah..." Whispered Dominic

"See Dom" said his Grandfather, never taking eyes of the raptor

"Even what we find trash or rubbish is always usable for nature"

The two still stood on the roof, watching the bird of prey happily eat its dinner. After around ten minuets, the hawk finally stopped and, with a huge powerful flap, was airborne in seconds flying off into the far away mountains.

"Hey Grandpa? What's over those mountains...beyond our town?"

"Go ask your uncle when he gets back, and I'm pretty sure he told you all ready."

" I know I know, but ill never know untill I see it for my self." Said Dom as he looked up to his grandfather.

"True, True my boy."

They both then proceeded to climb down the latter and head inside, the sun was setting over the now, misty purple mountains, and was casting a lavender hue over the town below. The world was getting ready for sleep, and when it wakes up, it will have some changes for young Dominic.

______________________________ 1,000 miles away, The Crystal Kingdom

"Princess! I have..troubling news" Said the guard as he entered the throne room, exhausted from running across the city.

"What is the urgency Javelin? said Princess Candace, in a worrying tone

Now, Now Candace, nothing to get troubled over. probably just another threat by some anti war goon, again

Ever since the changeling invasion, other nations have started to question Equestria"s hold on the world, and its power. Nations leaders are willing,(but cleverly) trying to provoke a small conflict, almost in which to really test the two Princess's , (and their nations power) in battle. But no other country is willing to take on the "Big Guy", so to speak. Only one though, has the guts and power to take on the world mightiest nation

The Gryphon Kingdom

After the attacks, they have been oddly (and purposely) building up there already huge army. And tensions have been rising though out the world, some nations are so caught up in the stand off, they are already picking sides for the "End War"

as they call it. No one is to sure what will happen though, only time will tell,

and now time is speaking

"Princess, reports are coming in that a small squadron of Gryphon air units have been spotted crossing over the border and surveying the air space over Cloudsdale."

The Princess's face drained of blood, though not an act of war, the actions that the Gryphons showed a militaristic and tactical move,

send out a small group of air units

scout out the intended target

report back, and make plans for

"War"

Candace closed her eyes, trying to understand the overwhelming amount of information, information that is so clear, so undeniably mistaken, the Gryphons where gearing up for war, and she knew it. Candace opened her eyes and let out a drawn out breath with words riding on top,

"how many active troops do we have currently?

"well.."said the guard, trying to think.

"In Canterlot, 2,000 active, here, 1,500, and stationed all around Equestria, about 500, your highness."

"so about...4,000 correct?"

"yes Ma'am"

And how many the Gryphons?

The guard stop to think, pausing and looking up at the high ceiling above them, then as if he saw the Holy spirit of Faust, his eyes bugged out of his head in fear and horror. Looking at Candace, he, with a shaky voice said,

"Ah-about o-ver a m-million, and r-rising."

Candace, then to, showed the same face of fear he did, but on a lower level, internally she was horrified at the sheer amount of troops they had, and those numbers are rising as well.

4,000 against 1 million, its as if the predicament was pulled out of a Mythos book she thought

Hmmm..I must talk with Celestia and Luna on the matter, I'm sure they know already, but we still need to brain storm a way she can defend our country if war breaks out

If, I just hope not

"Princess?" asked the guard,but was quickly silenced by Candace's powerful wing flap as she took to the air.

with in seconds she conjured a powerful spell, and, with a bright flash of light, she was gone in an instant. leaving the guard alone, only to imagine what conservation his three leaders where going to discus about,

and he didn't have to imagine for to long.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Danger close

A new mornings day, it was bright and sunny, the Cardinal's call echoed through out the frozen valley forest, this call was a hopeful one in nature, asking out to the expansive valley for a mate, that maybe, one day, the Cardinal might find. His voice resonated into the ears of animals big and small, the song then reached the eardrums of 9 year old Dominic, as he played in the forest,below his mountain town. He did not care for the Bird that sang off into the distance, for he was to infatuated with a poorly made snowman troll.

Dominic swung his mighty sword at the beast, or at least thats what he thought. In reality he was smacking the snowtroll with a cedar tree branch. occasionally, he would shout out at the troll with a mighty battle cry, jumping and dogging, huge imaginary fist as he bobbed and weaved.

whiip!

POOMPF!

the sound of his "sword" whipping though the air and making contact with the snowtroll's head was like music to his ears as he watch the head of his fallen foe roll to the ground in a satisfying *PLAP*

"I have killed you mighty beast!" said Dom in a triumphant voice.

he turned to a nonexistent crowd behind him,

"Don't worry everyone, defeated is the monster! by non other than your hero..."

pause for effect.. he thought

"DOMINIC MOVCHEK"

He threw up his hands and rallied the imaginary crowd.

"Yeeeeaaaahhh! Wooooo yeaaaaah!" Whispered Dommas he imitated a large group of people chearing him on.

Out of exhaustion of his fight, he lazily fell down backwards into the snow, giggling at his own antics.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

The audible sound of rumbling resonated through out the forest, and Dom's own body. It wasn't just a noise, it was something moving. Soon the trees shook as the sound grew louder,

thump

THump!

THUmp!

No, it didn't grow louder, in fact it was getting closer.

Dominic sat up and turned around to the sound behind him, he was currently playing on the bottom of a small hill that lead up into the high mountains above. He looked up towards the top of the hill, only to see a large, lumbering figure, just about 1,000 feet away from him. The creature was looking around, sniffing the air as if it was track its prey. Dom knew all to well what this thing was, so wasted no time whatsoever getting up and hidden behind a tree. There,he started hyper ventilating, it might of well been 12 feet away from how he was reacting. Even though he knows this creature has poor eyesight, he still was scared out of his mind.

Then the unthinkable happened,

it smelled him

The creature whipped its head around to the little boys direction,

WAAAAARGEGG!

It wailed as hit started to make a galloping gate towards the tree Dominic was hiding behind. Instantly Dom screened and bolted from his hiding place, making a run for the open valley field.

ARRGEERG! The creature shouted as it smack the tree Dom was hiding behind in two

SMRACK!

The tree shattered, raining splinters on the now fleeing Human boy.

Dominic was running for his life. Or at least hobbling, the snow was 2 feet deep, and Dom had to fully lift his leg up and out of the packet snow to move. He was almost out of the forest, he could see his town above,on the side of the mountain. behind the tree line both hunter and prey where running at top speed, each had one goal in mind,

home

food

Just as Dominic was about to pass the tree line, a large gust of freezing air push him forward, tumbling head over heals in to the snow field below. The creature, had blown magic wind at him to slow the boy down, little did it know it would completely stop him  in his tracks. The creature stood at a terrifying 18 feet tall, right above the grounded child, It looked at him with cold black eyes, snarling in pride at his newly caught dinner.

RRRWAARG! it shouted triumphantly

Dominic, frozen by fear and snow, was crying silently at the creature. He had no were to run, no were to hide, and none to help him,

Or so he thought.

zzzzZZIMPH

The whizz of an arrow cutting through the air and hitting its target surprised little Dominic. The creature wailed in pain as it looked at the newly acquired arrow, lodged in its neck. Painfully, it ripped it out with a sicking tearing noise.

GRAAAAH!

it roared in anger at the five men, standing out side of the forest tree line, of these men, 3 where wearing hunting attire such as deer, elk and heavy caribou pelts, another with chain armor and a chest plate, and one, holding a bow that just recently shot an arrow at the beast. He was wearing a heavy, dirty, navy blue hoody with jeans and snow boots. He was also carrying a large backpack and a short sword, most of the group had swords, but only the armored one had his drawn. The man with the bow drew another arrow from his quiver that was attached to his pack, he pulled back and aimed again at the beast,

"Get the fuck away from my nephew you piece of Elk shit"

"Uncle Chess!" Said Dominic, finally with the courage to speak.

Dominic was about to run to his Uncle when he was stopped short by him speaking,

"Dom, don't you dare move" he said, without his eyes leaving the ugly creature

"Go into town and tell grandpa what happened."

"But uncle!" Protested Dominic, he didn't want his Idol of an uncle to be harmed or injured.

"No buts! Or you'll wish that this thing was going after you instead of me" he said as he kept his eyes in a locked staring contest with the beast.

With that Dom took of running towards town, not even looking back, scared that his uncle might be angry at his actions. But through the sound of his heavy breathing and crunching of the snow as he ascended the mountain path up to his town, he still could hear the sound of battle as his uncle and his fellow hunters attacked the beast that almost took the life of the one,and only child in the Movchek family.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Dominic ran,

he ran as fast and as hard as his little legs could carry him up the steep incline that lead to his mountain town. he slipped a few times, but he barely noticed it as pure adrenalin was coursing through his body. once atop the hill, his body burst with new found strength as the unforgiving weight of gravity no longer pulled him down, his deep and rapid breaths where loud and clear as he ran towards the town, only just a stones throw away.

The boy bolted through town, his foot steps resonating on the cold cobble stone streets beneath him. some towns folk and shop owners strangely looked at the boy as he sprinted through town, but just as quickly they saw him, he had already put a good distance between him and the townsfolk. he approached a new obstacle, a final set of stairs that lead up to his cabin, high on the mountain's base.

he climb the large daunting steps

three quarters of the the way up he sliped and fell, falling flat on his face as flurry of pain blossomed form his nose. Dom's vision began to blur as he saw drops of blood hit the cobble steps below him, he laid his face out on the stone and closed his eyes, falling into a deep silent slumber.

RRRRWAAGG

uncle help!

GGRRAH

Noooo!

Dominic woke up just as the jaws of the snow troll snapped shut around his head, strangely he awoke with out a scream nor thrash, just silently opening his eyes with a sharp yet quick breath. he looked around, he was in the main room of the cabin, laying lengthwise on an elk skin couch. to his left, a warm fire crackled and hissed in the soapstone fire place. a sound capture Dom's attention, it sounded like voices. he slightly sat up and swiveled his head to the voices, once he did this, he immediately regretted it as an explosion of pain erupted from the crown of his head and washed over his swollen nose. wincing in discomfort, he slowly this time, turned his head to the conversation in the kitchen, his ears tuned in to the older men in the next room over.

"God dammit pa, the dam kids' got a concussion, what the hell where you thinking when you let him play by the woods?"

uncle sounded extremely angry,

"Listen, I thought the boy would know not to go to far into the fore-"

"WE FOUND HIM HALF A MILE IN THERE, PA!" uncle's voice vibrated the small cabin

"your gonna wake Dom, chess!" grandpa harshly hushed

"oh yeah, like he's gonna wake up any time soon" retorted uncle

"if it weren't for you scare'n the hell out of the kid, maybe he would of slowed down a bit and wouldn't of fallen"

"HE WAS ATTACKED BY A TROLL FOUR TIMES HIS HEIGHT! what the hell do you think a fucking ten year old would do?!"

I could hear a glass bottle brake and shatter across the floor, silence fulled the air as no one dared talk.

"I'm goin' to town hall to have a drink with some of the hunters, ill comeback in the morning to check up on Dominic"

Uncle's heavy boots thumped across the floor as he made his way to the door

"Chessnivk wait-"

"I said I'm coming the morning"

Uncle opened the door and walked out side, then promptly slammed it shut. a large sigh came form the door way as grandpa stood, leaning on it as he stared at his feet.

"he just the opposite of his brother"

and with that, grandpa walked across the room and up the stairs into his dwelling.

I laid back down into the couch, pulling the bear fur covers over my head and closing my eyes, only wishing for pleasant dreams.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crystal kingdom

a burst of blinding light fulled the throne room of princesses Cadence, where she sit on her throne of shining crystal.

" oh well hello Celesta and .....Luna?" she awnswerd questionably

"we need to talk" said Celesta

"about what?"

"the gryphon kingdom" Celesta said flatly

"I knew this would happen" Candace flew off her throne and landed in front of the two sisters

"i have already tried to get some new recruits for the royal army"

"well it seams that you know as well"

"yes I have, so lets talk in a more private setting shall we?"