Ponies of Deltora: Monsters and Magic

Day one, Time, 7:40 AM

Like a feather flying freely in the wind, Rainbow Dash zipped across the skies above Ponyville. The speed she was going at was enough to strip entire forests of their leaves, and whip up water in snake like waves. If somepony could actually look at her face, they’d see an incomprehensible smile. And why shouldn’t’ they? The young mare was finally home!

After her thirtieths circle, the rainbow mare landed in the center of town. Ponies gathered around and began cheering. Many familiar faces were in the crowd, such as the Mayor, the clumsy mail mare Derpy, that unicorn who told her about “hands” and her pink and blue haired best friend. Despite all the praises and celebration, something felt wrong to Dash, like something was missing. Quickly she scanned through the crowd until she discovered it. “Has anypony seen my friends?”

An eerie silence fell over the crown. “Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Spike. Those names ring any bells?” The crowd remained as silent as a grave. Anger and frustration quickly built up inside of the rainbow pegasus. “Where are my FRIENDS!?” She screamed with as much emotion she could. While the gathering of ponies remained silent, one of the front ones looked directly up. As soon as it did, all the others followed suit. Confused and infuriated, Dash decided to follow their line of sight. She shifted her head to the sky, and was face to face with a blazing rainbow gem!

She tried to move but her hooves were frozen in place. She tried to scream but her voice was gone. All she could do is watch as flames leapt from the gem and sail towards her like whips of fire. As the flames were about to lick at her skin a soft, kind voice entered her mind.

Wake Up

*****

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, and was met by a throbbing pain in her head. Slowly her memories about the animal headed creatures returned to her. She rose to her hooves and tried to take off, but ropes still bound her wings. She tried to move, but eight lengths of rope tied her to four strong trees. Despite this, Dash tried valiantly to break free. “This one’s determined, I’ll give it that.” Dash swerved her head in the direction of the voice, and was met by the entire camps worth of animal headed creatures.

After a full five minute of trying to escape, Dash lowered herself in defeat. “What are you going to do to me?” She asked.

“We’ll let our troop leader decide your fate spy.” Spoke one with an eagles head.

Dash raised her head in confusion, before letting out a small laugh. “I’m not a spy.”

The eagle headed one sneered at her. “Of course you don’t expect a spy to reveal what they are.”

Dash was about to retaliate, but the gathering of creatures suddenly parted to reveal another creature that she assumed was female. She was tall and had long brown hair decorated with many coloured feathers. Her arms were covered in bracelets of all sizes. She was dresses in a deep purple uniform adorned with golden markings. Her head was that of an owl.

The eagle headed creature walked towards her. “Bena, haw shald wa panash tas spy?”

The owl women looked at Dash and observed her prisoner, taking every little detail of the pegasus. After a moment she turned back to the eagle man. “Haw da ya knaw sha as a spy?”

“For the last time I’m not a spy!” Dash nearly screamed. “And if you’re going to talk about me in front of my face, don’t go changing around letters to make me thing it’s another language.”

Every one of the creatures was shocked by the pegasus, even the eagle. The only one not was the owl women, whose eyes seemed impressed. “Well done child, I don’t believe we have been properly introduced. I am Bena, troop leader of the Masked Ones.”

Those last words made Dash nearly faint. Masks! Quickly she looked at her captors. Their heads looked so real, no wonder she had been fooled. Bena smiled at the pegasus. “Never heard of us before, have you?”

“Of course the spy won’t say it has. Let us just kill it now!” The eagle man pleaded.

“Be calm Oren, I wish to hear what she has to say.” She turned back to Rainbow Dash. “I told you of us, now who are you and why are you here? And do not dare try and lie to me!”

Dash swallowed hard. “My name is Rainbow Dash; I’m a pegasus from the land of Equestria. I don’t know how I got to wherever here is.”

Oren let out a sour laugh. “This one is a good story teller; perhaps we should keep it to entertain the children!”

Bena shot him a look that would make even Celestia pause. “I will not give you another chance Oren, be silent!” Cursing under his breath, he moved towards the back of the crowd. “I apologies for his behavior, he always was mistrusting of newcomers.” She smiled, and Dash finally noticed her mouth beneath the mask. “Now then you may ask a question now, and if I am able I shall answer it.”

Dash thought for a moment before asking her question. “What are you?”

Bena smiled “As I said, we are the Masked Ones. Our race is human; our professions are traveling entertainers and performers. We are widely looked forward to in Deltora’s northern towns.”

“And where is Deltora?”

“That’s a new question my dear.” She said before turning back to the rest of the troop. “The Inner circle and I will now decide on the prisoners fate.” With that she and about five other members, including Oren, headed over to the wagons. Slowly the other members of the troop broke off and went back to their performing, until only one was left leaning against one of the trees Dash was bound to. Unlike the others, he was dressed entirely in black. His mask was a raven.

“Why are you still here? Making sure I don’t escape?”

“Yes, and I’m trying to figure out why my mother has taken an interest in you.”

This caught her completely on a left field. “Your Bena’s son?”

“Indeed I am.” He said extending a black gloved hand. “Name’s Ransford.”

Dash looked at him questioningly. “So what do you do around here?”

“I look after the horses mostly, although I can tame any animal I meet.”

Dash looked at him as if insulted. “So, what, are you thinking of taming me?”

Ransford laughed a little. “No, I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. You seem a bit out of my league.”

Dash smiled. “You don’t seam that bad, for a mask wearing performer who kidnaps ponies on the grounds of spying.”

“You have to understand, were not a very trusting family.” He said. “We don’t let many people join our troop, shame if you ask me.”

“Why? You don’t like it here or something?”

Ransford seemed shocked by this. “Heavens no, I love being a part of the Masked Ones, I just wish others were allowed to share in our family. We only take in orphaned infants and children no older than ten. To me, it feels unfair that only they get to join us, while so many others are left behind.”

Dash was now getting interested. “So then why is it you only accept little kids?”

“I shouldn't be telling you all this.” He sighed “We’re not supposed to reveal our secrets to outsiders.” He turned his head towards the camp and kicked off the tree. ‘The Inner Circle’s returning.”

Sure enough, Bena and the other members were coming back. She smiled when she noticed her son. “Ah Ransford, there you are.”

“I should probably leave.” He whispered.

“No, you’ll stay. You need to hear this as well.” His mother replied. Ransford stood at attention while his mother spoke. “After discussing the situation over, we have decided that we lack enough proper evidence to pass sentence on the ‘pegasus.’ Therefore, we have decided to keep her here-”

“WHAT!” Dash shouted.

“-until we can come to a solid conclusion.” She looked at her son. “Ransford, you’ll watch over her.”

“What? But mother, I have a new act I’ve been working on. Pleas if you let me perfect it I can play when we reach Happy Vale!”

“I need your sharp eyes to watch her, my strong raven.” She said calmly. “You can start by showing her around the camp.”

Ransford was about to protest, but the Inner Circle shot him authorative looks, so he swallowed his tong. Satisfied, Bena looked at Rainbow Dash. “I hope this won’t take too long, my dear.” Before Dash could reply, the members were all walking back towards the camp.

Ransford looked back at Dash and made a ghost of a smile. “Well looks like we’ll be seeing lots of each other from now on.” Quickly he moved over to the trees and began untying the ropes. “Welcome to the Masked Ones.”