“Equestria is a grand place, it truly is, who'd have thought that the continent could be so diverse? If you where to take a glance at the map of Celestia's kingdom, up in the far north would be Stalliongrad, arguably the coldest and depressing city you'd ever grace your eyes on, and in the far south would be the sprawling deserts of the Great Plains, where small settlements such as Appleloosa toiled away on the frontier. However this is not where this story begins, no, it begins in the mid-west, in a large valley which rests in the shadow of Canterlot and it's mighty castle, it begins in Ponyville.
I breathed in deeply, taking in the fresh air; it made a nice change from Manechester. It had to be at least 3 times the size of Ponyville, and the air is just... Musty. The fumes from the many factories in the city seem to fill the air with a musk that you don’t seem to notice until you’ve left the city. I may be Mercenary to some, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the little things in life now and again does it?
Celestia's sun sat high in the sky, basking the small town in it's warm rays, banishing away the coldness of the night, and thus many of Ponyville's residents where up and about enjoying the sunshine. I walked the busy streets of the town, a dark brown Chupalla sat neatly upon my head as to block the sun's rays, unintentionally casting a dark shadow onto my face. The set of saddle bags sat on my back, the pouches packed full to the brim, clanked and rattled every time I took a step. I glanced in a passing window, my reflection showed my midnight green coat, my Cobblestone colour mane..... And that I looked rather dishevelled and messy, I can't even remember the last time I had a proper wash, it maybe explains some of the looks I'm getting from the townsfolk.
However this wasn't the time for such trivialities, I was here to find one Pony and one Pony only. Somepony back in Manechaster offered a hefty sum for this Stallion, and I intended to bring him in. From what the buyer told me, the Stallion that I'm after had recently moved to Ponyville as to escape his would-be captors. I stopped in the middle of the street and shoved a hoof into my saddlebags and withdrew a sheet of paper, on the paper was a drawing that I had been given along with the assignment. The Pony I was looking for was a bright yellow Earth Pony, with a fiery orange mane, and the Cutie-mark of compass. Apparently, he'd been dodging payments from the wrong Ponies and now they wanted to “Meet up and 'discuss' the lack of Bits”...
This job seemed easily enough, find the Stallion, either get him to come quietly or beat the manure out of him until he 'agrees'. Then bundle him along to the nearest train station where my employers will be waiting, I get my Bits, they get their Stallion, every pony wins..... Well, except for that yellow Pony, but to be fair, who gives a buck? I stuffed the note back into the saddlebags and ambled along the street, keeping my eyes peeled for my target. The sooner I can leave this town the better
I jumped slightly, moving my saddlebags further up my back as they were slipping down, it rattled and clinked as I did so. Sometimes I wish I had a place I could just dump all of this stuff, beats carrying it around all day, however if you do the job I do, you have to be on the move constantly. I need to travel to look for work, and it isn’t as easy as bucking down the front door of a local bar and screaming “I’M A BADASS MERC, WHO NEEDS SOMEONE DEAD?” It doesn’t work like that.... Although I admit you’d get a lot of business from bedraggled Mares who have been cheated on by 'their' Stallions!
Scanning the crowd of Ponies around me, I figured that if I was going to track down this Stallion I needed to go to a local hotspot and hope for the best. If that didn’t work I may have to resort to taking a trip to the Mayor’s office and putting out a notice. It may sound foolish, but you’d be surprised how many Mayors are willing to help find my long lost brother! I grin at my own little joke, most Ponies are easily lead on in such a manner, I don’t know whether it’s naivety or just plain stupidity, but it works almost all the ti-
“HEY! I don't think I've seen you before! Are you new?”
My train of thought is interrupted as a ball of pink and purple hops in place in front of me. I nod slightly, my attention focused past the excited Mare, still searching for my target. I could hear her, still babbling at me about “Parties” or some other nonsense, I cast my gaze over to my left, coincidentally a Stallion bumps into another Pony just as he enters my field of vision, I watched as he quickly apologised to the Mare. The Stallion lifted a yellow hoof and rubbed his head ruffled his orange mane in embarrassment, when she berated him about watching where he was going.
Wait, yellow coat, orange mane.... What's his Cutie-mark?
A Compass.
“Are you even listening to me?” The pink Pony in front of him questioned, a confused look upon her face.
“No.” I replied before dashing past her and sprinting towards my target.
The yellow Stallion had only managed to look up before I ploughed into him at full force, knocking him to the ground, the Mare he'd been talking to yelped and backed away. I felt my Chupalla fall off my head as I landed on top of him, my hooves on his arms, pinning him to the floor, my actions drew the attention of many other Ponies who began to form a crowd around us. The Stallion looked up at me, fear evident in the Pony's eyes, he knew he'd been caught.
“You've been running long enough, I think.” I growled, “Perhaps it's time to repay those Bits huh?”
“D-did Alfresco send you?” The Stallion gulped.
I say nothing, presuming that 'Alfresco' was the name of my employer, the silence answered the Stallion's question as he furiously tried to escape my clutches.
“So... We gonna do this the easy way or the hard way?” I grin.
There's a phrase involving 'Cornered Rats'.... I can't really remember it too well.... Anyway.
The Stallion bucks me in the gut in response, I wasn't expecting that, I fall flat on my flank as the Stallion gallops off into the town. My saddlebags had fallen to the floor when I did, but thankfully their contents weren’t spilt. I clamber to my hooves, infuriated I let him get away so easily.
“You, pink Pony! Watch my gear!” I charge after my target, I faintly hear a confused “Okey Dokey Lokey” faintly as I swerve around the corner hot on the heels of the yellow Stallion.
He's serving erratically through the streets, he thinks he can through me off....
I chase him through the streets of Ponyville, he swerves in-between passers-by trying to loose me, however he doesn't appreciate two things. One: I'm fast, I may just be a simple Earth Pony, but some of my contracts have involved Pegasi in the past, as such I've had practice at keeping up with a fast-moving object. Second: I've been to Ponyville many times during my life, as it is one of the stops on the main train line to Canterlot. So I know almost all the streets like the back of my hoof, he will not be getting away.
He swerves and dives over objects in his way as I chase him, this Stallion is desperate to escape me, I wonder how many Bits he owes? I bash my way through a group of Ponies in my pursuit of him, enticing shouts of anger from some passing Ponies. I'm close as he rounds the corner towards one of the open plaza sections of Ponyville, this one in particular houses 'Sugercube corner', the local confectionery and bakers. I see the yellow Stallion turn around the corner of Sugercube corner in an attempt to loose me. He clearly doesn't know Ponyville as he would have kept on running if he knew his mistake. As the shop sits dead centre of the plaza, rather not in the corner as it's name suggests, so as he turns the corner, I dash into the shop, inciting surprised and angry yells from the owners and customers as I speed through the shop and into the kitchen. I burst out of the back door of the kitchen and, just as I had planned, tackled the Stallion as he passed the door, sending us both sprawling to the ground. I roll on top of him, rearing my hoof back behind my head, his cry of protest is cut short as my hoof impacts with his jaw.
“That’s for running,” I hit him again, this time in the side of the head, “And that's for bucking me. You ready to pay up now?”
I see him weakly nod, a small amount of blood trickling down from his mouth. I shake my head and promptly throw the battered Pony over my back, and carry him to the train station where my employer for the day will be waiting.
Along with my payment.
After much walking, I dump the Stallion off my back in front of three other Ponies just outside the train station, the two larger Ponies swiftly grab the yellow Stallion and carry him towards one of the cars. I was approached by a chocolate coloured Unicorn with his white mane slicked back over his brow, it appeared his Cutie-mark was an Easel on a hill. It seemed that this 'Alfresco' was aptly named.
“Excellent work, your reputation does in fact hold more than a kernel of truth, Mr. Valour,” He places a large bag, encapsulated in his magic, into my hooves, “Here's your payment, as promised, we'll get in contact with you again if we ever need your services Mr. Valour. Have a pleasant day.”
I nod the Unicorn as he boards the train with his associates, I turn and weigh the bag, it contained a little more than initially offered by him.... heh, no skin off my nose, more Bits for me! I look up to see the pink Pony from before spring up in my vision, wearing both my Chupalla and my saddlebags, she shrugs off the bags as I swipe my hat from her head and place it on my own, ignoring the fact she simply appeared out of nowhere.
“What's the big deal? You can't just go beating up other Ponies for Bits, that's mean!” She pouted as I hefted on my saddlebags and stuffed the bag of Bits inside one of the pouches.
“Kid, the sooner you learn the world ain't all 'magic and friendship'” I say with a snort, “The better, thanks for my stuff though, I'll be seeing you around.”
I turn and trot out of the train station, leaving the naïve Pony to mull over what I said to her. I grinned to myself slightly as the realisation of the amount of Bits I've just earned hit me. Steeping out into the outside air, I spot a 'watering hole' across the street.... Another contract well done, I might as well reward myself with a drink or five, these Bits are burning a hole in my saddlebags.....”
My name is Gallant Valour, but most Ponies call me Val.
Of course, the Ponies that do are few and far between. Mainly because in my line of work, you don't let anyone get to friendly with you.
You see, I'm.... What you call, a “Pony for Hire” per-say, you need a job need doing, you come to me. Let's say this job ain't strictly... Legal, you come to me. What if the job involves a little.... Violence? Like I said, come to me.
Being constantly on the move is hard, as such I try to live by 7 rules:
1: Don't ask questions, they'll get you killed.
2: What others think of you is none of your business.
3: Never turn down a good drink.
4: Don't compare your life with others, you have no idea what their journey is about.
5: Stop thinking so much, it's normal to not know all the answers.
6: You don't own all the problems in the world, so don't go trying to fix them.
7: No job isn't worth doing if the bag of Bits is heavy enough.
I'll admit, rules are made to be broken, so it's only natural to bend them from time to time. Hell, it's what I'm good at, making the impossible possible.
I've got nothing but the saddle bags on my back and the hat on my head, and... I like it this way.
The year is 995 of Celestia's rule, I'm a Stallion of Fortune, and this is my story.
“.... And I guess that sums it up really,” Valour mumbled as he swirled what’s left of the brown liquid around his glass before looking up, “That answer your question?”
The Unicorn bartender simply swiped up his collection of glasses with his magic and walked off in response, muttering something about “Not handling the drink...” However Valour didn't care, as his attention was more focused on the cute Mare across the bar, Earth Pony like him, she was sort of a maroon colour, nice golden mane....
Curves in all the right places too. Eh, I'll take my chances...
He gulped down the rest of his drink before ambling over to her, clearing his throat as he neared drawing the Mare's attention to him.
“Hey can I borrow 70 bits?” Valour leant on the bar for support as he attempted his poor pick-up attempt.
“What?... No.” She frowned and looked him over, a look of scorn present on her features, Valour took no notice however.
“Well how about 69?... I'm sure you can offer 69.”
Gallant Valour was never any good with the fairer sex.
He seated himself back in his stool at the end of the bar as she trotted out of the bar, the only thing Valour had to remember the Mare by was a now stinging left cheek and a wet face as she threw her beverage over him. Valour grabbed the bartender's attention and ordered himself another Cider, he figured the Apple farm he saw on the way into town must supply these guys with the stuff, as it seems it's the only drink on tap. The Bartender levitated a full glass over in Valour's direction and dumped it down in front of him, he threw over some Bits in response, mumbling an incoherent “Keep the change”. The Bartender examined the Bits Valour had given him, raised his eyebrows in surprise at the amount, and quickly scurried off to take another order.
The sun had lowered itself in the sky a considerable degree by the time Valour staggered out of the bar, feeling rather tipsy and a bit light-headed, he breathed in deeply before adjusting his Chupalla on his head and walking slowly through the now not so busy streets. Now that his job was done he could leave Ponyville, it was too nice a place for Pony for hire, however he reckoned that if he took the east road out of the town and ended up in Phillydelphia..... Yeah, there would be defiantly work there.
The thing that troubled Valour the most was the lack of law enforcement in Ponyville, normally he wouldn't be thinking such things, as those Ponies intrude on his line of work, however it was the lack of Police that was strange. Was Ponyville a pretty crime-free area? Judging by the shouts and screams earlier today it probably was, surprising really for a town that receives quite a lot of visitors a day.
As he crossed a small wooden bridge which sat over a small stream near the outskirts of Ponyville, Valour heard the faint sound music being played, it sounded like some kind of string instrument he wasn't sure though. Taken over by a bout of curiosity, he decided to follow the sound of music to it's source. After a while of walking, he poked his head over the top of the shrub and the source of the music was revealed.
It was a mint coloured Pony, and although her back was turned, Valour could tell she was a Mare. The Pony seemed to be a Unicorn as she held her instrument in front via her magic, the instrument in question, which seemed to be a sort of harp, was encapsulated in the green glow of her magic. The Mare was extremely talented at her craft, and was sat near the water's edge as she played her instrument. Valour, now satisfied that he knew where the music was coming from, turned to leave, but as he did so, he unintentionally stepped on a twig, causing a large -crack- to sound throughout the clearing.
The Mare stopped playing and turned, she leapt to her feet when she saw Valour stood in the thicket watching her. Her golden eyes seemed to pierce Valour's very soul as she glared at Valour, he hadn't received a look of similar ferocity since when he used to get in trouble with his Sire as a Colt. Valour, for the first time in many a year, felt slightly apprehensive at what was going to happen next.
“Where.... Where you watching me?” The Mare asked, as she floated her Harp-like instrument over to a case nearby.
“Wha, well no! Well I was-but, no. Argh!” Valour shook his head, he frowned, “Look I just heard some interesting music and I thought I'd check it out okay? Jeez...”
The Mare's expression softened slightly during Valour's explanation, almost taking amusement out of his discomfort. She turned and secured the case her harp... Thing resided in before placing it on her back, she turned and walked toward Valour.
“Hey it's cool, I just thought you where one of those creeps who stalk Mares at night and- Oh never mind!” She extended a hoof, “Lyra Heartstrings, pleasure to meet you.”
“Gallant Valour,” He shook her hoof, he nodded toward the instrument on her back, “What's that you where playing?”
Lyra craned her neck to look at the music case sat on her back, “It's my Lyre, my pride and joy, it's how I got my Cutie-mark.”
She turned slightly, and sure enough, Valour could spy a golden Lyre imprinted on her flank. He mentally stopped himself from staring any longer than necessary, hey, what can he say? He was a pure red-blooded Stallion....
“Speaking of Cutie-marks...” Lyra raised a brow, “What's yours supposed to be? No offence.”
Valour internally sighed, all conversations with other Ponies turned to this. It was only natural really, as you could find out a lot about a Pony from their Cutie-mark, and as such it was a common topic among Ponies who are talking for the first time. Valour turned and looked at his own mark, a bag of bits, a sheet of parchment, and a single dagger stabbed through said parchment.
“I'm a 'Pony for Hire' per say...” He revived a blank look, “Mercenary/ Bounty Hunter/ Odd job-doer. Anything for Bits.”
The was a short silence, last time Valour had explained this story to someone, they had berated him for nearly half-an-hour over how “Killing is wrong”, “You should choose a better path in life”. Yada yada yada, stuff he'd heard before.
“Cool,” Lyra replied with a smirk, surprising Valour to no end, “You live by your own rules, follow your own path.” She laughed a little, “Wish I could do the same.”
Gallant Valour was suddenly struck with a brilliantly absurd idea.
Don't say it
I'm going to ask
Don't!
I'm going to.
DON'T
Here we go.
I SWEAR TO CELESTIA IF YOU ASK HER I WILL-
“Well....” Valour sheepishly scratched the back of his head, “You could come with me if you like?”
“What? Just travelling from city to city?” He nodded, “Doing odd jobs for people” Another nod, “Some involve... Violence at times?” Nod, “With you?” Nod, “A complete stranger who I've only just met within the last 5 minutes who was spying on me from the brush?” A hesitant nod. “You're asking me to just drop everything I have here and go with you?” Nod.
Lyra tapped the hoof against her chin for a moment in mock thought.
“Yeah I guess, let's go.” She trotted off, a small grin on her face.
Valour was dumbstruck.
What the buck just happened?
“W-Wait up!” Valour jogged to catch up to the mint Mare. “You're just going to drop everything and leave?”
“I'm a travelling musician.” Lyra winked at him, “A Minstrel if you like, all I've got is my Lyre. I was trying to busk for Bits to catch the train to Canterlot for my big break.... I guess that it can wait though, it's not like I've got anything going for me right now.”
“Okay... But what makes you think I'm trustworthy?” Valour stopped, shrugging his saddlebags forward into a more comfortable position. “What makes you think I won't try anything?”
“First off, you seem nice, I'd presume you have some sense of honour in you.” Lyra narrowed her eyes, “Besides, I'd like to see you actually try something, I can handle myself y'know!” She paused, “What's that on your head by the way?”
“A Chupalla,” Valour looked up to the hat which sat perched on his head, “Picked it up in La Sorraia down south, you needed something to keep the heat off your head down there or you where a goner.”
As he spoke, Valour dug into his packed Saddlebags and withdrew his map of Equestria, he studied it intently, muttering to himself as he turned the map in one hoof. Suddenly, it was wrenched from his grip and floated in the air surrounded by a green glow, Lyra appeared by his side, a smug look across her face, Valour shook his head and continued planning his route. Lyra looked at his map, it was covered in numerous marks where Valour had scrawled something, places where circled, paths where marked, near the north there where numerous crude drawings of Pony skulls, presumably no-go areas. Along with the drawings and notes, the map was covered in numerous stains, coffee being the most prominent, along with a few burn stains on the edges. It was evident that Valour had owned this map for a long, long time.
“So where we headed, boss?” Lyra asked, looking to the Stallion.
“There,” Valour jabbed a hoof at Phillydelphia, due east of Ponyville, “We'll find work there.”
He snatched up the map and hastily folded it up and stuffed it into his Saddlebags, he looked up to his new companion.
“You ready?” He asked with a quick nod.
“Always” She replied.
And so, the two Ponies began their journey together, and travelled away from the setting sun.
Hey, TRW here.
I tried a very cinematic/ James Bond-esque opening here, did it work? If not, tell me why!
Oh and La Sorraia? Yeah it's a mix of La Serena, a Chilean city (Where the Chupalla hat is from) and the horse breed Sorraia. Clever if I do say so myself!
Some things to note:
1) This takes place 5 years before the very first episode of FiM.
2) Another thing to note is that it's set in a Alternate Universe things will happen that didn't happen in the show, but I will try and fit them in with the mythos as best as possible.
3) The Mane 6 are not going to appear at all. That first scene with Pinkie is the only time you are going to see or hear them! You have been warned!
Please, this may not be my first fan fiction, but please, review it as such. I cannot get better as a writer without your help, so please, take the time to leave a comment with constructive criticism.
Take care everyone!
~TRW
“C'mon Val! You piss like a race-horse!” Lyra laughed, “Was it all that Cider?”
Oh dear Celestia why on Equestria did I ask that infernal Mare to accompany me?!
Valour stood behind the shrubs as he 'relieved himself', while Lyra passed the time berating him about one thing or another. Valour figured she was ever very excitable, possibly explaining her rash decision making earlier, or just a down-right bully, although her previous politeness made that theory void. Satisfied, Valour stepped out from behind the bush to find his saddlebags sat near Lyra's hooves, he flung them on his back with his teeth then nodded in the direction of the trail, and the two continued their journey without a word. The Moon began it's eventual climb towards the sky as they trotted through the countryside, still in their veil of silence. Troubled by the quiet, Lyra decided it would be best to spark up some conversation.
“Soooo....” Lyra paused, thinking of something to say, “You been to Phillydelphia before?”
“A few times, yeah.” Valour replied nonchalantly, “The whole reason I was heading there is because I have a buddy over there who'll have work for me. I gotta hand it to that Zebra, he knows the right Ponies.”
“He's a Zebra?” Lyra asked, raising a quizzical brow, “I thought they don't usually travel outside of their lands?”
“They don't, but Elimu had to flee due to the fighting down there.” Valour sighed slightly, “He had travelled many miles before he reached Phillydelphia, and he decided that was as good a place as any to stop galloping.”
The conversation died down into silence once more as Valour and Lyra ambled along the dirt path, they where now far from Ponyville, and well on the road to the large town of Phillydelphia. It was roughly a day's journey from Ponyville by Hoof, and Valour had travelled this road many times, and as such they where very unlikely to get lost or sidetracked. Lyra failed to suppress a yawn as she walked along the path, it had been a long day for her and it was finally taking it's toll on her, Valour noticed her tiredness and pointed over to a clearing further along the road.
“C'mon, we'll set up camp for the night,” Valour chewed on his lip, “That place seems a good a place as any.”
They trotted down to the clearing, cutting across the grass and off the road. Valour inspected the ground, it was firm, nice and dry too, he promptly shook off his saddlebags which landed with a clunk on the floor. Lyra meanwhile had seated herself on the floor as she levitated the Lyre case of her back and set it on the floor gently, she ran a hoof over the black hardwood case before standing up and walking over to Valour who had brought some dry thicket from the base of a nearby tree to make a fire.
Valour arranged the sticks in an orderly fashion, having done this many times, he picked up a final stick and placed it on top of a flat piece of wood and began to spin the stick using his hooves, hoping that the amount of friction generated would cause the fire to start. It was a trial and error method, and Valour remembered fondly one time where he had spent the better part of 3 hours trying to get a fire to start. The fire suddenly exploded in a blaze of heat, causing Valour to jump back in fright, he looked up to Lyra who's horn glowed a faint green, she shot him a smug grin. Valour brushed it off and began to rummage through his saddlebags in search of something, he seemed to find what he was looking for and clamped his teeth down on the object and began to pull.
“Ish pon't hash a techs-” He spat the object out of him mouth, “I don't have a tent, all I have is this groundsheet and a blanket.” He scratched his chin thoughtfully, “You get first shut-eye and I'll watch the camp, we'll trade after a good few hours okay?”
Lyra nodded and helped drag the sleeping equipment out from Valour's saddlebags and watching as he placed them on the ground gently, she lay down on top of the groundsheet, surprised at how comfy it was. Valour turned and began digging through his Saddlebags, searching for something, Lyra turned and lay on her side, feeling her eyelids become heavy and eventually close, she drifted off to sleep.
Valour found his prize in amongst his stuff, a small metallic flask with a screw off lid. In it was contained the ultimate drink to ward off the cold; Whiskey. Well that's not strictly true, as Whiskey gives you the feeling of warmth, it actually opens up blood vessels and overall lowers a Pony's body temperature. However Valour took a swig of the canteen anyway, savouring the slight stinging sensation as it travelled down his throat, replacing the flask, he turned and noticed Lyra curled up on the groundsheet, fast asleep. He swept up the blanket and draped it over her, she snuggled into it, a small smile crept up on her face. Valour shook his head before turning and sitting down next to the fire, it was going to be a long night.
The Sun was yet to rise when Valour rose from his slumped position near a smouldering fire, his keen instincts told him that it was roughly 6:00AM. As he rose to stretch his joints he snatched up his canteen and took another swig of the Whiskey. It was a special brand; “GlenGrant” a single Malt Scotch that he'd bought off a trader a couple of weeks back, savouring the taste, Valour went to wake Lyra from her slumber.
However she wasn't in her makeshift bed, only the blanket remained, unmoved from it's original position.
It was then he realised that it had happened again.
For a few months now, this Mare had appeared during his travels and then just disappeared without a trace. She was always different, once she was a Pegasus, the next she was an Earth Pony, and more recently, a Unicorn. Her coats had changed many times to match her Ethnicity, once she was bright pink with a swirly purple mane, the next she was oceanic blue with a electric yellow mane. However she had always had the same Cutie-mark; a golden Lyre, and Valour had always stumbled upon her playing said instrument by herself.
There was a time when Valour questioned his sanity upon seeing the same Mare multiple times, however that time had long passed. Her appearances being blamed on the amount of Alcohol he consumed on a daily basis and the stress of the seemingly “Gypsy” lifestyle. That view was long since dismissed due to Valour's stubborn disposition. Valour hefted his re-packed satchel and studied the horizon; watching the wondrous set of colours bloom across the landscape. He muttered a quick prayer to the divine Celestia before trotting off towards Phillydelphia.
Only a mile to go, and only a mile 'till Elimu, and more work....
Hey
Yeah, the last time this story was updated was.... 7th of March? Jesus, that was a while ago....
Anyways, a REALLY short chapter so you remember that I'm still alive! Anyways, now that I'm at Uni, I'll probably be updating more often due to the fact that there are those days where nothing happens.....
Besides, I have a REALLY good plan for this story.... Trust me on this one!
Be close to the ones you love.
~TRW
