Chapter one

Somewhere in Ponyville

“What’s the matter, Mudhoof? Scared?” a unicorn colt, pushing another colt down.

“What’re you gonna do, Little Mac? Cry? I hear that’s all Mudhooves are good for, crying and farming.” the unicorn laughed, his two friends laughing with him.

Macintosh Apple was a small, lanky colt, who didn’t really have any friends. His family owned and worked on Sweet Apple Acres, where he did his daily chores. Last month, his parent’s passed away. Granny Smith didn’t tell him why they died, for fear of him telling Applejack, who was still too young to understand. With Apple Bloom still being a baby, Applejack being in school, and Granny being too old, he was the only one to do the chores and sell apples. He had just finished selling his cart for the day when he was pushed into an alley by his former classmates/bullies, Starlight and his gang.

“Leave me alone, Starlight. I’m in no mood to start anything.” Mac replied, starting to stand again.

Starlight lit his horn and levitated Mac into the air. A sweatdrop appeared on his forehead.

“What’re you gonna do about it? You can’t do anything!” Starlight laughed, flipping Mac upside down before dropping him.

His goons, Swift Wind and Moon Blink laughed. But they only laughed so they wouldn’t be Starlight’s next victims. It was a sad existence, but they wanted to be accepted. Macintosh rolled onto his stomach, and lied there, wishing for this to end. Starlight got in close, and whispered into Mac’s ear.

“You’ll never be anything more than a lowly mud hoof. You’re nothing more than the dirt you walk on.”

“Let’s go, boys.” Starlight said, walking away. Swift and Moon, followed quickly, as to not anger their ringleader. Mac stayed on the ground for a little bit and stared into the dirt. Starlight was right. Earth ponies were nothing special. He sighed, and hooked his cart back up, and trudged on home, Starlight’s words still dancing in his head.

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Mac walked through the front door of his home, his head down. Applejack was playing with Winona, and Granny Smith was feeding AppleBloom. He walked past, hoping to not be seen by his family, but that’s not the case is it?

“What’s wrong, Mac?” Applejack asked.

“Nothing,” Mac sighed, “it’s nothing.”

Applejack, looked at him, then at Granny Smith, who shrugged, and they both watched him walk up the stairs to his room.

Mac flopped on his bed. He couldn’t get the unicorn’s words out of his head. He could just scream, hit something, destroy something. But he wasn’t going to. He needed to be calm for his family. He was brought out of his daze by a knock on the door.

“Sonny, you in there?” a voiced called. It was Granny Smith. “Now, I know you ain’t feelin too well, but can I come in?”

A grunt was all it took, and Granny Smith was in the room, and she Sat down next to the bed.

“What’s eatin ya, sugarcube?” Granny asked. Mac grunted again.

“Starlight again, huh?”

Mac nodded his head. It was amazing that Granny could understand Mac like she did. But, you know what they say, “with age comes wisdom”.

“What did he say this time?” Granny inquired, “Normally nothing gets to you.”

“He called me a mudhoof, Granny. But he’s right. I am just a mudhoof. I’m not special. I’m just a pony.” Mac sighed.

“Mac, you’re not a mudhoof. You’re a proud earth pony. And Long ago, Earth Ponies were part of a squadron of defenders of Equestria.” Granny said, wrapping a hoof around Mac.

“What do you mean, granny?” Mac asked.

“I’ve got a story for you, that was passed down the generations.” Granny began.

“This is the story of the Earthshakers.”
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Meanwhile, deep in the Everfree

A statue rumbles.
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Long ago, just after the unification and the rise of the Princesses, Equestria had no protective force from the Dragon, Griffon and Elk tribes. Since this was a new nation, the elder's had no leader. So, using an ancient art, they bound two fillies to a force that could protect them. This was the creation of the two Sisters. But, what they didn't account for, was the spell's second nature. The void spit out three mighty beings, bound to the Sisters, and ordered to protect their precious ponies. And this is the story of Valris, The Earthshaker, and his band of Earth ponies.

Now, Earthshakers were not born. They were created. The Lord of Earth himself hoofpicked these warriors for their valour, strength, and hearts. And he gave them the power of Earth, in its truest form. He created a squadron of destruction, although, he also used his powers to create. He and his crew created the mountain that Canterlot sits upon today. And legend states that during the Battle of Discord, he went on a rampage, and destroyed everything he saw, and since he could not be calmed, he was encased in stone, and left in the Everfree. And it is said, that if a pony be brave, strong, and have a big heart, they could find him in his resting place, the Labyrinth of Ruin.

Let it be known that the rage of an Earthshaker is not just legendary, for the Devil himself cries when a pony with a good heart becomes angry.

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As Granny finished her story, she realized Mac had fallen asleep. She looked out the window towards the Everfree. She hoped it was just a legend, but something told her, there was more than she thought.

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Macintosh was dreaming. He was running through the forest, and came to a clearing. It was a huge pit, with overgrowth and solid rock spires surrounding it. In the center, there was a statue. It was calling him towards it.

He stepped closer and closer, and when he got to the statue of the Pit, he finally got a good look at it. He’d never seen a creature like this. It was tall, taller than the Princess. It didn’t have hooves, and stood on his back legs, and in his claws was a huge hammer. His face was enraged, stuck in the middle of a warcry. He was going to get closer when he heard a rumbling.

“YOU. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO AWAKENS ME!?” The statue yelled.

Mac ran and hid behind a spire, and he poked his head around to see the statue, gone.

“What’re we looking at?” a voice came from behind.

Mac yelped, and turned around. The statue had become flesh again, and was crouching behind him!

The 'statue laughed, saying, “No need to be scared, little one. I will not hurt you.”

Mac walked closer to the statue. “Who are you? You don’t look like a pony.”

“That’s because I’m not. I am a guardian from another plane. I am what you ponies call a titan. But that is neither here nor there. I am called Valris.” Valris said, laughing, “You are little Macintosh Apple, yes?”

“How did you…?”

“This is your dream, lad. I have seen your heart. Although you are young, I have decided to help you. Do you accept?” Valris said, holding his hand out.

Mac hesitated, but he wasn’t scared. He needed to be strong to help his family.

“Can you make me strong for my family?” Mac asked.

”Boy, I can make you the strongest. But you must never let it go to your head.” Valris said, hand still outstretched.

Mac thought about it. “Alright, I’ll do it” he put his hoof in the titan’s hand and shook it.

“We have an accord. Now, you must come find my true form, and touch my statue. Follow your heart through the Everfree.” Valris said, and the dream shattered.

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Mac woke with a start. It was still night time, as he packed his saddlebag quietly. He had to find the statue. He snuck out of the house quietly and ran towards the Everfree. He had to know if it was true.

Outside the Everfree, Mac looked in, hearing the sounds of the wild beasts and the howling of the trees. He took a deep breath, and walked forward, his heart pounding.

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“It's not that bad once you get used to it”, Mac mused to himself.

Then the bushes rustled. The kind of rustling sound that sounds…rustley. A growl is heard, and Mac is definitely not scared. The growling gets louder… and louder…

A squirrel ran out of bushes. And Mac, who wasn't scared at all, sighed in relief. And then, the ground below him broke.

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From the darkest pits…

...can come the brightest light.

Are you the one to wake him?

To unleash creation and destruction?

To wear the mantle of the Earth in protection of your own kind?

Wake up now, foal. Your destiny awaits.

Mac woke with a start. He looked up, and saw the hole he fell through. He stood, shakily, glad the fall didn't hurt him. Although, it still hurt like a bitch. He took in his surroundings. There wasn't much to see, because it was dark in the hole. He felt something brush against his fur. Wind. A breeze. A way out.

'If I follow this breeze, I can find an exit!’ Mac mentally shouted excitedly.

The breeze led him deeper into the dark until he came upon an opening to a cave that does not appear to be abandoned in the slightest. There were horrid decorations on the walls. Writings in blood in a language too foul to comprehend. Furs adorned the walls, some manticore, some rabbit… and others. Mac made his best effort not to vomit, but failed. Miserably.

‘I've got to get out of here, or I might be next.’ Mac thought.

He backed up, and bumped into something. Something fuzzy. Hooves were stomping. The walls rang with sinister laughter.

“Oh bu-”

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Deep within the Everfree, drums pounded. A fierce beat that meant one thing…

Sacrifice.

Author's Note

Hey, I'm back with a brand new thing that a buddy and I came up with. Tell me what you think. Or don't.