Author's Note

Hey its the story about that one stallion who's the only one featured in every book related to Falconers.

Chapter 1 The Initiative

Falconer Igneous. Igneous no last name, haha. One of the finest Falconers I know, that little colt. Stupidly reckless, poor with magic but always managing to pull through without a problem. I expected him to be dead long ago or quit in the very least. My training certainly wasn’t very kind and by any god did he know it.

Beat him with a stick just to teach him weapons combat and still he insisted on challenging me. Ran him half to death but he never hated me and I could never quite understand why. Could have been Dramier and Adridge that kept him going but he always insisted on looking up to me regardless.

He has seen some awful things just like you and me but that's the price to pay for being a Falconer. Some call it murder but every pony knows we all allude to justice. He is very well is strong at heart and as his mentor I can tell. I'm also very proud of him, may be the first time you hear me say that, could very well be the last but I really am. However for the past few months I've been bothered. Something that just refuses to escape my mind.

“What is it?”

“...It was his first hunt. Night was the time if I do recall. Bright moon, great conditions too, and a monster that refused to relent. Let me start from the beginning… The day I met him to be exact.”

“Oh please,” he said throwing his head back.

“Have another drink and shut up. Here's Igneous’ story as far as I know...”

The young colt, Igneous, stood in front of the door unsure whether to let himself in or not. He glanced down the street to his left: Fairly empty, cart or two halting a few crates. He looked to the street on his right: ponies walking about not paying him any attention.

He let out a nervous sigh. “Just knock,” the colt told himself as he meagerly raised a hoof.

How far had he traveled? He didn’t know and as for what lay beyond? Well, the same could be said. He hadn’t put much forethought into what he was going to do in regards to helping Noriphmy and because of that, prior to this event, there was a lot of wandering around from village to village trying to catch this team.

It wasn’t easy they were always on the move and food wasn’t exactly cheap. He worked work in the three basic types of villages as he traveled. Them being Farming, Mining and Lumber so he could say he had a basic understanding of each.

For example he learned that food prices were higher in the mining villages and lower in farming villages. Tools and precious metals were less expensive in mining villages than any other village, and you could probably guess what for in the logging villages. He helped where he could and ultimately scrapped by on low earnings which really just served to keep the small colt humble.

One thing he did know for sure was that he was going to find a Falconer team and enlist in their ranks or however their system worked, and after that… well his young imagination held the image of them going about helping Noriphmy and anypony in need. Thing was Falconers were kinda hard to find. From one village to the next he traveled just trying to find the team that was said to be there just the night before. As a result of their post departure he would have to work until he earned enough to keep moving on which often times came at the cost of missing the same team again. It's not like he ever gave up, in fact he was determined and with his relentless persistence came a breakthrough and now he stood there to the side of the street in front of the Falconers place or keep or… abode? Whatever they called it, he didn’t know.

He took a deep breath nervous to no end, practically sweating. This was it, he was here. The thing he spent so long striving for and he finally caught up. He was going to be a Falconer, he was going to help other ponies, he was going to travel across Noriphmy and of course… he was going to slay monsters.

The fantasy was strong but reality stood with a knife ready to break the veil and make it so. He was going to do it. He was going to do it!

“I'm gonna do it!” Eagerly he raised his hoof ready to mighty bash down the door with enthusiasm and declare his presents but his better judgment took hold and he decided to be polite instead. So he knocked rather than the former and waited, but not for long as he swiftly received a voice calling him inside the wooden building. It sounded sweet and youthful, not grim and powerful like he always imagined. Books had an influence and it kinda disappointed him but still...

Not wasting any time Igneous opened the door obeying the call, letting himself in. Immediately he was greeted by an almost bare room with nothing but a couple feather mattresses used for sleep. The floor was made of chipped half-rotting wood and the walls could only pass for stable which in itself seem tested by two windows on either side. Another disappointment: The Falconers place wasn’t exactly grand but he did almost immediately know it only came with the essentials and nothing more.

Again this colt was humble.

From an open doorway on the far end to the right, the same voice he knew to be a mare's voice called to him. “And to whom am I in the presence of?” asked the mare Igneous found strikingly sightly with the physique she prominently possessed.

“Igneous,” he answered. This room shared a lot with the first that being, splintered wood and stable walls except instead of mattresses this one held a weapons cabinet Igneous took as a wardrobe. It may have been were they stored their equipment on their off moments but that was a rarity to Falconers.

Turning to face him she polished a long sword in her magical grip with a rag she ran up and down the length of the broadside giving it that extra shine. However Igneous hardly noticed this as what stood just behind the floating weapons display was more… interesting.

“Igneous who,” she asked. It was a soft voice but one that held some matter of fact-ness to it while also being a bit brute, like he was wasting her time already. “Or is it just the Igneous and nothing more?” Was she being smart?

“I-I” he stammered as he took in the profound details of her. She was… different. Very different. First of all she seemed a bit larger than most stallions and not only that but she was very fit. Yes, very much in shape with her muscles being that of one in constant stress for they were more noticeable in size than the average buck you could encounter.

Another thing that stood out and made her image all the more striking was the scars lined where were the muscles interconnected. It was as if they were tattooed but instead of ink it was scar tissue, and it wasn’t just here and there but on every muscle were that interconnected with another. It had to have been by design but Igneous didn’t know who would purposely endure pain for a unique look, but he guessed when your life is constantly on the line, a few cuts here and there would hardly be considered substantial.

For a Falconer who fought monsters she had little armor dawned except for a plate on her snout that lead up between her eyes onto her forehead. A few back plates covering her spine with chain leading down were her legs connected with her body. One plate went up the length of her barrel covering substantial parts of her stomach on only the front end of her chest.

As for her weapons she wore two scabbards on each side, one occupied by a long sword were as the other was still held in her magical grip being shinned for Igneous. He could even see his reflection. One particular feature that stood out about this long sword was where the base of the blade met the hilt. Here two spikes ran parallel up the blade a small distance about a fourth of the way and if Igneous learned anything from hours of adventure book reading was that this was a feature meant to catch enemy blades in, effectively disarming them with a twist of her magical grip.

There was a third weapon he remembered seeing the one that laid across her back before she first turned to face him and it was short, bordering on the lines of a straight dagger and a short sword.

However as he was admiring her gear and set up she waved her head and said, “Well? Your name?”

He then found he was rudely staring, shook his head and answered, “just the Igneous.” He hoped that she would believe him and that against all odds wouldn’t find out about his true self, but again the chances of that were very slim. His face wasn’t exactly flaunted all over the nation and as a result none ever pointed out the fact that he was a Sirvidian.

She nodded, thankfully. “Hmm, Yes,” she said setting down the rag and swinging the sword through the air. “A-and why did you come?” She seemed a bit doubtful.

“To become a falconer,” he answered.

She lurched a bit and Igneous could tell she was trying to suppress a sudden laugh. Successful in her efforts she asked with a entertained grin she dawned on her face, “You? A falconer? Well…” She cleared her throat for Igneous. “I don’t know what I should have expected, we don't get many volunteers and the ones we do get oftentimes are in a better state. I mean look at you, you're in a poor state young colt. I shouldn’t even bother to employ you.”

What was left of Igneous confidence swiftly exited the room leaving him with nothing more but his wits and this mare. This destructive looking mare. “I'm sorry, but I-I’ey, um,” he nervously slurred. “...But I did traveled far.”

“You seem to have traveled a bit too far. Your filthy and worn too. Hmm, unless,” she said as she dropped the rag to the floor leaving nothing more between Igneous and her but the glistening long sword she was well adept to.

Normally he wouldn’t be one to shy away but with the lack of confidence in his minutely deprived state he couldn't help but already feel overpowered by all that raw strength that resided within her. He gradually began to retreat away from her as she hissed, “unless you're not here for Falconering, instead for sustenance.” The blade flicked and he aggressively flinched as it hung there pointing at him from above her head. “It wouldn’t be the first time after all.” Her voice seemed to lose all compassion much to Igneous’ dismay. One warning thrust of the blade and she said, “I don't take too kindly to thieves nor lairs.”

She took another stepped forward and Igneous took a few more steps back, but were he expected there to be a door he only found a wall. It turned out he missed by a short distance and was now cornered with no way out.

He became desperate in the presence of danger and so he pleaded, “no I'm not a thief. Honest! I wouldn't lie!” It was true he had no reason to.

She wasn’t convinced. Holding the blade close, she made sure it was well within her field of influence so that she would have maximum control over its movements. Fortunately Igneous was just outside of that invisible field but with every advancing step it wouldn’t be for long. “‘Honest. I wouldn’t lie,’” she mocked. “Words I’ve heard before and none the more genuine at that.”

Deciding to fix his mistake entering the room he attempted to sleek outside the doorway with his body hugging the wall but the falconer was too fast as she vaulted the blade in an arc obliterating the wooden plank it landed upon with a loud thwack. The broad side faced Igneous and he could clearly see his reflection.

With a single hoist of the hilt the blade came free however she only lifted it as high as his chest leaving him with a sharp obstacle in his way of freedom while the Falconer blocked his access to the rest of the room.

With no other alternative Igneous pushed himself against the corner falling to his hunches and then slipping to his back whimpering, “please. Just let me leave, I'm sorry.” -Although he had nothing to feel genuinely sorry for.

“Why did you bother on intruding?” she asked in a straight even tone of voice that still seemed threatening and felt just as poisoning as a viper's bite as she stood there towering over him. “You think were some pushovers? Some delinquents?” Her even voice was beginning to split. “Were Falconers and I loath ponies with the likes of you!”

She raised the blade and Igneous caught a flash of light as it caught in the sunlight. He was sure this was it, a bad mistake made by a naive young little colt. He should have thought better but now he couldn’t do anything except cover his face with both hoofs forming a pitiful defense against what was to come.

He trembled and whimpered just awaiting the lethal blow, but, it didn’t come. He waited longer than he should have but after a few moments he risked a peek through one eye only to see the Falconer sheath the long sword at her side with a remarkably satisfying crack.

She sighed looking down at Igneous Igneous taking the sight of him in. With the same soft voice he heard before the whole ordeal she said, “look at you. Fearful and scared. Not yet old enough to be a stallion. You still have a few years left your so young and you want to be… a Falconer?”

“W-what,” he mumbled still trembling before her.

She shook her head and raised it tall. “Look,” she began. “If you really want to be a Falconer then you have a lot of shaping up to do, Igneous.” She commanded, “Now stand.” Igneous gave her a confused look at the sudden change in mood she held. She was just aggressive than… understanding? Now semi-aggressive. “Stand!” She shouted.

Immediately Igneous leaped up to his hoofs to meet her demands. For his age he was average height but compared to her he was just about half her size barely peeking over her collarbone with his snout just coming up to the base of her neck. It was needless to say he felt small but... he felt fairly small.

“I’ll repeat,” she began as he stood there half in fear and the other in obedience. “You have a lot of shaping up to do if you want to become a Falconer Igneous. First proper posture in my company. I won't tolerate anything else till I know you better.”

She slapped his chin raising it and kicked his hind legs causing him to sit. Both moderately hurt but he didn’t want to give into pain. At least not in front of her.

Stepping back she seemed satisfied with her work saying, “there it is. A hunter I can respect. Respect is key as civilians look up to you for protection and security. Don't forget it,” she pointed almost booping him on the snout. Igneous gave a quick nod. “Second,” she said as she turned away from him. “You're in dire need of some courage. Courage is also key for if you cower in front of a beast such as you did with I, then it will not hesitate to tear you apart. Luckily for you I am no beast and the display I gave you was only a test. One you failed at that.”

He felt disappointed in himself but he only reassured himself by saying that she was simply scary and could have easily obliterated him at his best.

“Courage however,” she continued. “Does not come easily and it's not something I can teach you Igneous. It's something you have to earn for yourself as you fight on the battlefield with opponents and those more powerful than you. Do you understand.”

“Y-yes.” He answered.

“But a falconer does not go alone for such an act if foolish and will result in almost certain death. For that matter you will be accompanying me. Well not only me but also Dramier and Raillay.” She faced him again and felt proud that Igneous had remained in his stance she had forcefully endowed him with. She then said, “seeing that you are a Unicorn you shall become a Smithenier under my close supervision and teachings in what I know of the sword arts and three base magics. Now,” she said as she sat down in front of him. “About you. what are you talents? What can you show me?”

Igneous didn’t know what to say. He hadn't much to speak of. He didn’t know what he had to bost of in terms of skills and combat knowledge.

“It's your time to speak Igneous,” she reassured after a few moments of silence passed.

Shaking his head he answered, “I-I don't have any.”

“None to speak of?” She asked.

He nodded.

She sighed and rubbed her head as she took the next few moments to think. Coming to a conclusion she nodded and said, “Something can be molded from nothing, or more correctly rubbish. Best thing to start with is weapon arts and we can see how you fare in magical combat later starting with dark magic, light, then alchemy.” She stood up and said, “I'm not particularly strong with the other elemental alchemys other than fire, so there we will have to start when the time comes. Igneous,” she began in a nicer tone of voice. “I will admit to you now, even I have flaws and some things you can’t purge from your life.”

With that she abruptly stood up and walked out of the room and when she saw Igneous still sitting there she motioned for him to follow. Leading him through the main room she unsheathed the smaller blade that lied on her back and held it behind her. She then said, “Hold this please.”

Suddenly dropping it Igneous quickly moved to catch it in his magical grip. With his grasp firmly around it he found it was much heavier than he expected as he strained just to keep it floating. In truth he easily could have carried it in his mouth but even though his magical levitations skills lacked a bit compared to his strength it was only natural. He should have easily lifted the object but for some reason it fought with Igneous and against his grip on the blade.

Through strained gasps of magical exertion he sputtered, “Ma’am…”

But was cut off by the Falconer who said, “Alastoria is my name.” She stood by the door ready to leave but as she cracked the door open she added, “I need to go get something. For you specifically. Consider this your first lesson. Keep it floating for as long as you can but don’t drop it or drop out and resume when I return. Don’t think me a fool for I will know such slyness. Bear up your abilities and your faults. It's only honorable to do so Igneous.”

Just as she opened the door two more guest entered in. Again she was taller by just a few noticeable inches. One was a Stallion and a Pegasus at that and the other was a Mare and a earth pony. Alastoria greeted them saying, “I was just on my way out Dramier.” Since Dramier sounded like a stallion’s name Igneous guessed it was the pegasus. “We have a new falconer in the making.”

“New?” He asked eyeing Igneous suspiciously. “Are you going to run this out too?”

“If he can’t handle it of course,” she answered. That didn’t sound too good to Igneous. How many others had she trained and how many others had failed if Dramier was so quick to compare them to him?

Raillay was the only name to be given and Igneous guessed it was the name given to the earth pony. She walked to the center of the room and Igneous saw that she had a bag wrapped around her back that seemed to be full of vegetables and other food. She spoke with a more cheery attitude than the others and said, “Another smithenier on the team? Why, I feel safer already.”

She wore a chest piece made out of metal with a single round plate in the center. Her legs were free of armor but glancing to the side of her barrel he noticed a large, bulky piece smoothen wood that dommed at her side. Running up her neck were wires guided by leather straps that were fastened to her neck muzzle and ears which served to operate the device at her side. On the other however was an elongated tube strapped their by two buckles that wrapped tightly against her body ensuring it couldn’t easily slip or move.

“Feel free to acquaint yourself with him,” Alastoria called out just as she was closing the door. “I must make a quick run but do your best not to bother him. He is in training as of now and I would not like for him to fail so easily.” With that she left leaving Dramier and Raillay in his company Igneous’ in theirs, but it wouldn’t be until later that night when he fully realized he was becoming a falconer. After so long it was finally happening and he couldn’t wait for the days that came next.