Ponies of Deltora: Monsters and Magic

Day one, Time, 7:09 PM

Fear and panic gripped at the yellow pegasus, binding her to the earth she stood on. Her nerves were frozen, forcing her so stare at the two pale trees that had seconds ago been wicked and evil creatures. All that remained of them now were their scattered possession. Even though they meant to do her harm, Fluttershy still felt great remorse for them.

Fluttershy was brought out of her trance like state by the moans of pain behind her. Quickly she moved over to the injured creature, still tangled in the ropes. He had fallen on his bad arm, and it was bleeding even worse than before. Tossing aside her fears, Fluttershy flew over to the pale trees and picked up the remaining scraps of clothing around them. She then made a crude sling and tied it over the creatures arm. He opened his eyes partially, which seemed to say thank you.

Fluttershy smiled. “Don’t worry mister; I’ll have you fit as a fiddle in no time.” Slowly she assisted the creature to one of the large rocks and rested him next to it. “My name is Fluttershy”

The creature looked at her and gave a weak smile. He pointed to himself and softly said. “Tamer...of...Del.”

“Shhh, don’t try and speak.” She said wetting a cloth and placing it over his wounded arm. He cringed at the stinging feeling it brought, but didn’t struggle. “It’s nice to meet you Tamer, even if the circumstances weren’t that great.” She looked back over at the trees. “What do you think happened to them?”

Tamer shook his head in confusion, although Fluttershy could tell from his face he didn’t care in the slightest. Well they did have him captured. She thought to herself. “I was just wondering because earlier today I fell into that spring and swallowed some water, but I didn’t become a tree.” It would be interesting though.

“My dear, did you read the sign?”

Both Fluttershy and Tamer looked around for the source of the voice. Suddenly the rock Tamer was resting beside began to shift and uncurl itself. Looking around Fluttershy could see many of the other large rocks doing the same. Normally she would be frightened, but the voice was soft, and gave off a feeling of kindness.

Soon the grove was filed with creatures bigger than a Manticore reared on its hind legs. They all had soft tan fur, large dark eyes and plump bodies supported on two short legs. Fluttershy also noticed they had velvety wings folded on their backs, and many of them possessed pouches like a Kangaroo. In-between their legs, smaller young looked at the newcomers with wide eyed optimism and curiosity. The oldest of the creatures stood in front of the others and raised its paw like hand. “My name is Sen, and we are the Kin. Normally we don’t reveal ourselves to others, but you seem trustworthy.”

Tamer’s eyes seemed too widened with amazement. He was about to speak but Fluttershy stopped him with a quick look. She then felt a slight pull on her left wing. She turned her head and was eye to eye with one of the young Kin. “Look mommy, this one is a flying horse. See, she has wings!”

“That is no way to treat guests, Little One.” Her mother responded.

Fluttershy looked at the young Kin and smiled. “It’s alright, I don’t mind.” She turned back to face Sen. “So what were you saying about a sign on the spring.”

The old Kin smiled and pointed to one of the rocks next to the spring. Fluttershy could see a brass plate was fixed to the stone. “I don’t blame you for missing it. Truthfully I was most shocked that you made it here at all in a storm like that.”

Fluttershy flew over to the rock and inspected the plate up close. Despite the plate being ancient as it was, the words were still clearly visible.
Dreaming Spring
Drink gentle strangers, and welcome
All of evil will beware.

“So this spring turns wicked people into trees.”

“Indeed.” The old Kin said softly. “We Kin can identify every one of the trees that we observed transform. It is an awful fate truly. They are forever trapped in-between the realms of life and death, with no hope of ever escaping.”

Fluttershy felt like she was about to break down in tears. “That’s awful.”

“They made their choices in life, and every action has a reaction.” He gave a kind smile to the pegasus. “Best not to think of them as nothing more than the trees they now are.”

Fluttershy nodded. “So what does the spring do to those who are kind?”

Sen chuckled at her question. “You already know, my dear. You experienced it while you slept.”

The yellow pegasus’s eyes widened with realization. “My dream about Applejack?”

“Yes, though I don’t know who that is.” Sen replied. “The spring allows you to visit a person or place in your dreams as if you were physically there. You can’t interact with them at all in this state, but it can bring comfort, as I’m sure you found.”

Never had Fluttershy heard of such a magic that could take you places when you dreamed. Even Twilight, who lived to study magic, had never come across this in any of her books or scrolls. Eager to hear more, she asked the Kin what they dreamed of.

“We dream of our home on Dread Mountain, far to the north.” One mother said. “This place is our winter home, but soon it will be time for us to return.”

Fluttershy shuddered at the name. “Sounds like a scary place.”

“Not at all, so long as you know how to get around its actually quite nice. The Dread Gnomes who live on the mountain hunt us however, but their arrows are nothing more than thorns to us. Truly our greatest threats come from the Vraal beasts that escape from the Shadowlands.”

“Well if it’s alright with you. I don’t think I’ll be coming to your mountain.” Fluttershy said timidly. “I’ve had bad experiences on them in the past.”

“Awww, you’ll be staying with us until we leave wont you?” One of the young asked.

Fluttershy gave one of her friendly smiles. “Of course I will. I mean, I still have to take care of poor Tamer, and he needs at least two or three days before he can walk again.” The young Kin cheered with glee. “That remands me, I’d better check on him.” She said her goodbyes to the Kin and flew to the forest. Tamer was sleeping soundly next to a tree. His arm no longer bled and his breaths were normal. Softly Fluttershy added more bandages to his arm and felt his forehead with her hoof.

Satisfied, Fluttershy was about to head back to the Kin when something caught her attention. Turning around, she was shocked to discover a beautiful emerald green saddlebag sitting next to Tamer. Embodied onto its sides were three butterflies, the same as her cutie mark. Slowly she lifted the bag open and peered inside. It contained a flask of water, some dried apples, a roll of bandages, and a sealed envelope. Quickly she opened the note, not even bothering to look at the symbols of a die and chess king on the front. Inside was a note, and a rolled up map fragment. As the yellow mare read both of them, her heart sand deeper and deeper into her chest.

Fluttershy

You begin the game at the border of Emerald territory. Far to the north lies Dread Mountain, the stronghold of the Dread Gnome tribe. On the mountain is a species of tree called the Boolong Tree, found only in that region. Collect a cone from the trees to receive more help.

Best of luck.