Ponies of Deltora: Monsters and Magic

Day one, Time 6:13 AM

In a small ravine, just a few minutes’ walk from a sheltering grove; lay a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane. Rainbow Dash slept soundly, and dreamt pleasant dreams. She was a member of the Wonderbolts at last, and this was her first show. Her friends had all gathered to wish her luck. Just looking at their smiling faces was enough for her to perform twenty shows today. The Princesses themselves had decided to come to the event, looking ever as regale and majestic. Nothing could even hope to describe the joy that Rainbow was feeling. Every single one of her hopes and dreams had come true, and it could't have been on a better day.

Finally they took off, wowing everypony with amazing areal feats and maneuvers. When the sun was in the middle of the sky, Rainbow Dash flew up high to end the event with her signature move, a Sonic Rainboom. She got as high into the sky as possible and readied herself for the dive. Before she descended however, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. She turned her head until she was face to face with the sun. Only it wasn’t the sun, but a large gem shinning with rainbow fire.

Rainbow stared at the gem, transfixed by its light, and drawn to its power. It was like it was a part of her, so long forgotten. She was so focused on it that she forgot to flap her wings, and soon the young pegasus was falling down through the sky! She tried to open her wings, but they refused to listen. All she could do was wait for the ground to rush up and greet her.

*****

“What as tas cratara?”
“Ay da nat knaw, bat Ay hard at spak.”

The strange voices were like a tap on the pegasus’s shoulder, partially waking her up. Had she been more awake (or anypony besides Rainbow Dash) she would have wondered what these voices were. But instead she simply brushed them off and slowly went back to sleep.

“Haw can at spak? At as a harsa.”
“Ay knaw at can spak, and lak, at as na harsa. Harsas dan’t hava wangs.”

Now the voices were quickly becoming a nuisance to the sleeping mare. She let out a grunt of annoyance and slowly opened her eyes. She was going to give these ponies a piece of her mind for being so disruptive. As her eyes fully opened she let out a gasp of fright. Crowded around her were two bipedal creatures clad in brightly coloured garments. They both had long arms that ended in five digits, which she had heard a certain unicorn call “hands.” But the most shocking thing about these creatures was their heads. The taller of the two had the head of some kind of water bird, and its companion the head of an otter. “What in the name of Celesta are you?”

The water birds eyes widened with shock and amazement. “By the heavens, it does speak!” Quickly he turned to his companion (at least it sounded like a he). “Wa mast shaw Bena!”

Not liking the sound of that, Dash decided it was time for her to leave. Quickly she got to her hooves while the two creatures discussed this Bena person. After taking a quick look to make sure they weren’t watching her, Dash spread her wings. Or at least she would if there wasn’t an entire length of rope around them. She tried to walk away, but was stopped by another rope around her neck, causing her to gag. Quickly the two creatures swerved their animal heads towards her.

“This creature seems eager to move on.” The Otter said. “I say we honor its wishes.”

The water bird nodded and strode over to the tree Rainbow was tied to. Quickly he began to untie it. The otter picked up another length that branched off of the one around her neck. As soon as she was freed however, Rainbow quickly bolted for the nearby forest. The two tried their best to hold onto her, but the ropes were snatched from their hands. “See you later weirdoes!” She called over her shoulders. She barely made it past the first ten trees however, when she heard a spitting sound. Quickly she came to a halt, which saved her from a sizzling liquid quickly burning away at the grass it touched.

Looking up, Dash saw that the trees were covered in thousands of white moths. The wings of the one that had spat at Dash were glowing scarlet. Suddenly all the moths next to it began glowing scarlet also, and soon they were spitting. Quickly Dash ran away from the moths, which didn’t follow and soon stopped their attack. The pegasus continued to tear through the forest, but everywhere she was met by more moths. She ran on, dodging their dangerous spit and didn’t stop for anything.

Finally she found herself out of the woods and in a secluded grove. A large campfire blazed in its center, with a banner hanging high above it strung between two trees. In the corner there were dozens of large wooden wagons and twice as many grey horses. And all around were more of the animal headed creatures. Quickly she could spy some with the heads of a wolf, frog, newt, squirrel, mouse, and a mocking jay, as well as a team of furry animals forming a pyramid and three herons dancing with flaming torches. “What are these creatures?” Dash said to herself.

“We could ask you the same thing, spy.”

Before Dash even had the chance to fight back, something dropped onto her back and a sack was placed over her head. A club then made contact with her head and she remembered no more.

*****

Time, 7:27 AM

Pinkie Pie woke up in the middle of a large parry that stretched in every direction. Immediately the fun loving mare was captivated by the area. The entire plain looked like it had been painted over with all sorts of exotic and eye catching colours. And if that wasn’t enough, then there was the wildlife. There were large deer with long curled antlers grazing among small funny looking rodents and short black birds that looked too heavy to fly. Sweet smelling purple plumbs dotted the ground, and to Pinkies delight they tasted as good as they smelt.

“What a super spectacular place I’ve found!” Pinkie exclaimed excitedly. “Everypony, you have got to see this!” When she received no replay, the pink pony swerved her head perfectly around her neck to confirm her suspicion, she was alone. Pinkie tried to remember where her friends may be, but everything was blurry. She could remember throwing a party and something cold, but that was it. She remembered her friend’s voices during this, but then they vanished. It was making her sad to think about.

During her recollection, her hoof ended up brushing something soft. Looking over, Pinkie was surprised to see a lush, blood red saddle bag with her cutie mark sown to it. Quickly she opened the bag and searched through its contents. There was some water, a cupcake, dried apples, and a note with both a black die and a chess king on the front. Quickly Pinkie opened it and found a letter and a rolled up piece of parchment.

Pinkemena "Pinkie" Diane Pie

You begin on the Painted Plains, far to the east of Ruby territory. Further east is the Sea of Serpents, named for the mighty sea serpents that dwell in its depts. Go there and retrieve a fang from a serpent and you shall receive more help.

Best of Luck!

All these locations and words sailed completely over the silly mares head. Instead she decided to unfold the parchment. To her delight, it was a map fragment.

This was just the boost Pinkie needed. Now she could begin to search for her friends, and they could all go home. She didn’t like the sound of these “sea serpents” much though. Ah, they can’t be any worse than anything else we’ve faced before. And so with a new spring in her step, the pink pony gathered up the saddle bag and bounced off towards the east.