Ponies of Deltora: Monsters and Magic

Day one, Time, 3:12 PM

The liveliness inside the camp of the Masked Ones had all but picked up since the morning. No longer were they simply practicing simple tricks, but performances worthy of grand audiences. All around jugglers were tossing fire and blades while the acrobats formed huge living pyramids. Magicians were trying out their powers of deception, creating cloth and flowers from seemingly nothing. A fire eater even formed a long whip like tongue that sailed and licked at the sky. Even the children were practicing basic tricks, under the careful eye of their caretaker. The only two individuals not partaking the festivities were a rainbow manned pegasus and a young man wearing a raven mask.

They remained by the horses and wagons, observing the show. Even with her wings tied down, Dash was amazed by the tricks these performers were capable of. The Wonderbolts were the only ponies she knew that matched them. Despite the fact that she was their prisoner, Dash still found herself giving them a round of applause.

“Quite a show isn’t it?” Her companion said in an uncaring voice. Dash turned to him wild-eyed and nodded. “This is just a warm up, Tomorrow we ride for Happy Vale, and then you’ll see a real show.”

The rainbow pegasus shot him an odd look. “You don’t sound too excited about it.”

“As horse master, I get left out of the major shows.” She could feel the bitterness oozing from those words.

“But you’re the son of the troop leader. Surely you get to perform something.”

Ransford turned his head away from her and picked up a bag of apples. Reaching inside he pulled out a handful and began distributing them to the horses. “You want one?” Dash got the hint and nodded. He swiftly tossed her an apple before taking a bite out of one himself.

“Don’t you ever take your masks off?”

“Nope” he said as he took another bite of the apple.

“Does it ever get uncomfortable?”

“You know, for someone claiming not to be a spy, you like to ask allot of questions.” He said with a smile. “If you’re so interested in learning our ways, how about a deal? I’ll tell you something, if I’m able, and you tell me something, if you’re able.” He extended a black gloved hand. “Deal?”

Dash placed her hoof in his hand and shook “Deal, so tell me, do you really never remove those masks?”

Ransford smiled. “Well there is only one time in our lives when we do.” He raised his hand to his raven mask’s beak. “This is a lovely mask isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but what does that have to do with my question?”

“When we turn eighteen, we trade in these masks for our true ones. These Masks of Adulthood are our true initiation into the troop. Only when we done them, are we worthy to be called Masked Ones.” Every word was spoken with genuine pride and faith.

Dash shook her head. “Wow, that’s pretty intense, now what’s your question?”

Ransford considered for a moment before answering. “Tell me a bit about the land you hale form, namely your society.” Despite not being the best pony for this job, Rainbow Dash did her best to explain the three pony types and how they worked together. She also explained about the Princesses and how they could control the sun and the moon. All during this Ransford seemed to glow from excitement. “You have a very blissful land from the sounds of it.”

Dash cocked him an eyebrow. “Is that good or bad?”

Ransford raised his hands in alarm. “Nothing, I was just commenting. I hear so much of the dangers around the kingdom, so listening to your land made me wonder.”

A large smile appeared on the pegasus’s face and a small laugh escaped her lips. “I was just messing with you.”

“I see your getting along well with your new horse.” A cynical voice said behind them. Turning around, the two of them were face to face with the eagle headed man Bena had called Oren.

“What do you want Oren?” Ransford asked with much distain in his voice.

“I just wanted to see how our two little hangers on were fairing together.” He said sarcastically. “Also, Bena wishes that the pegasus be shown where she’ll be staying while with us.”

Ransford cocked his head in confusion. “And why would my mother send you instead of speaking to me?”

“It’s not your place to question, Horse Master.” He said authoritatively.

Ransford distainfully made a mock bow to the eagle man and took Dash further into the wagon area. Finally they stopped on front of one and he opened the back, revealing the inside to be full of some animal skin rugs, silver whistles, and lots of books. “This is my wagon; you can stay here since my mother seems to want me to watch you.” He helped her up into the back. “I’ll be back in a moment so we may continue our exchange.” With that he closed the wagon doors and headed back over to Oren. “There she is gone, now what do you really want to say?”

“Whatever do you mean Horse Master?” he said sarcastically.

“Don’t play dumb with me Oren. I’ve known you my whole life, and never have you treated me as one of the troop!”

Oren let out a little laugh. “You, one of us, now that is a funny thought.” He leaned close to the Ransford and whispered in his ear. “I heard that touching conversation you had with our spy. Quite a punishable act to the troop you oh so love.”

“I told her nothing of importance, and I’m sure she is not a spy.”

Oren looked at him with eyes of pity. “How desperate are you that you believe the words of a talking horse?”

Ransford stood tall against the eagle man. “I am the son of the Troop Leader, and you will treat me with the respect I deserve.”

Oren’s eyes suddenly shifted from pity to loathing. “You do not give orders to the Inner Circle, boy. I’ll be sure to tell your mother of this.”

“I hope you do.” He responded before turning back to the wagons. Oren grabbed his arm before he could leave and gave him one last whisper.

“A barefaced son like you will never be one of us.”

Enraged Ransford tore his arm free and was about to reach for something around his waist. However, he restrained himself and continued his walk back to the wagons. When he got to his he opened the doors and looked inside. Rainbow Dash was sitting in the corner and seemed to be inspecting something. Upon further investigation, he saw it was a rainbow coloured saddlebag with the mark on her flank embroider onto its sides. “Where did you get that?”

Dash turned to look at him. “I don’t know, it was just here when I got in.” He climbed inside as well and the two of them inspected the mysterious bag. Its contents were nothing more than some water and food, as well as a sealed envelope with the images of a chess king and a die on it. Ransford opened the envelope and a torn map fragment fell out as well as a note. Dash scooped up the note and began reading.

Rainbow Dash

You begin the game on the border of Opal territory, far to the north. Throughout the area there is a rare root called the Purebond Root. Collect one of these roots to receive more help

Best of Luck!