Chapter 1
Of Outlanders, Birch Tar and Ink

Though it was the middle of summer, the winding, snaking paths traversing down the slopes of South Luna Mountains were topped with snow. The white expanse crunched pleasantly under the hooves of Daybreak, though that was just about the only pleasant thing for miles around. The wagon he was pulling ran into a yet another jagged rock and the whole thing jolted violently. Crest, who had been slithering next to the wagon let out a loud yelp, surprised by the sudden movement.

“Did it get stuck again?” The young sea serpent asked, peeking her head over the wagon. “Want me to push?”

Daybreak nodded, trying to stop his teeth from chattering.

“Yeah, if you would?” He responded. “I swear these paths weren’t meant for wagons…”

Most likely they weren’t. Trade with the western regions was practically unheard of in this day and age, aside from the odd merchant ship or two that braved the Northern or Southern Luna Oceans. Land paths were few and far between, most of them being old shepherd’s routes or animal trails that had turned into “official” roads over the course of years. Indeed, the last proper road that the two had seen was the one leading west of the White Tail Woods.

Incidentally, at the western edge of said White Tail Woods was also the last inn that the two had seen. After that, they had been forced to camp outside or in caves and eat what provisions they had brought with them.

What Daybreak would have given for a faster mode of transport. But ships were expensive, airships rare and on land you only had your own hooves. There had been some impressive experiments done with coal recently, though. Maybe one day...

“Heave-ho! Heave-ho!” Crest’s shouts dragged Daybreak away from his thoughts, and he began pulling.

Together, the stallion and his assistant managed to break the wagon free from the rocks its wheel had been caught in. The wooden vehicle lurched forward, its contents swaying slightly dangerously despite the multiple ropes that had been used to secure them. Crest grimaced as she watched the boxes and barrels wobble.

“You know, you could have brought less books with you,” she commented, slithering over to Daybreak. “It’s supposed to be a vacation! You didn’t need to drag half of our home with you.”

“Most of it are the princesses’ gifts,” he replied and rolled his eyes. “I brought only what was necessary.”

Crest cocked an eyebrow at that, looking rather unimpressed.

“And half a library is necessary? On a vacation?”

“Yes. No matter what the princess says, I stand by my research. The King in the Skies is about to return, most likely in just a couple of days. And currently we’re right in the region where his legend got started,” Daybreak explained while he continued to drag the wagon down the path. “And that being the case, I’d say having some useful books and collections of spells is far more important than…”

With a bit of a miffed expression, Daybreak stopped to mime air-quotes with his hooves.

“Making friends.”

Crest did her best to not let a frustrated groan escape from her mouth. She had had to listen to this sort of talk during the whole journey: From the castle to the edge of Everfree Forest, down River Canterlot up to the White Tail Woods, through the woods and along the Western Road all the way up until the South Luna Mountain Range. In other words, almost a full Moon’s worth of complaining about the decision of Princess Celestia and how: “Erebus was a far more immediate threat than him not having any friends!”

Crest was pretty sure that the stallion was simply a sore loser. The princess had used his obsession with research against him, turning a wild goose chase after a mythical enemy into something useful. He needed to get out more, after all, or else Daybreak would really turn into a hermit.

“Look, the path’s rounding the corner up ahead,” Crest spoke up. “According to the map it should be just a straight road down the slope from there, all the way to Ruunanko.”

Daybreak grumbled some more choice words of what he thought of the situation, but at least his worst protests were already done. Those had happened when he had stormed the castle the morning after receiving the letter, thinking he could make Princess Celestia “see the logic” in his words and rescind the order for him to travel to the west.

She had not. If anything, the princess had doubled down and arranged some gifts that Daybreak was supposed to deliver to Ruunanko.

“It better be. We’ve been on these mountains for a week already,” the stallion said. “I think I haven’t felt my hooves for days. It’s just snow and rocks as far as the eye can see. A mountain after a mountain, with another mountain hiding behind the second one.”

While still voicing his complaints, Daybreak guided the wagon down the path that ran along the ledge. It curved around a corner, with almost vertical mountainside rising higher and higher on the left and a rocky, steep slope descending on the right. Beyond the descending slope the two could indeed see more stone ridges, snow-capped peaks and towering mountains spreading towards the northeast as far as the eye could see. There was nary a cloud on the crisp blue sky, and the only source of movement aside from them was a single hawk riding a thermal column up even higher.

Even the majesty of mountains had its limits, and Daybreak was pretty sure that had been reached.

Yet, as the two finally rounded the corner and entered the northwestern face of the mountain, that all changed.

The scenery opened up and shone before their eyes in a distant, verdant glory.

“By the stars…” Crest muttered as the two came to a halt.

The northwestern side of the mountain was a far-cry from the one towards the east. It was one large gentle slope that traveled downwards, eventually joining the rolling, rocky hills. They eventually gave way to a river valley that continued all the way north until meeting up with the distant coastline. Most of the slope was covered up by a thick fir and spruce forest that just seemed to go on and on forever, capped with white snow and with tiny little streams running here and there. As the snow disappeared on the lower altitudes, the forest changed too - now dominated by the vibrant sight of oaks, birches and maples.

Amidst the lush, endless-looking forests the two could see sky blue mirrors - lakes so tranquil that they reflected the sky perfectly. These dotted the landscape, along with the vigorous river that started from the same northern face of the mountain that they were on right now. This river ran down the slopes, forming few waterfalls on its way, and eventually descended into the valley it had carved a long time ago.

And along that path of blue that cut through this whole beautiful landscape, Daybreak could see it: the telltale silhouettes of buildings grouped together in a cozy little nook of the river, gathered around what looked to be a forested hill. It was not a large town in the least, but the smoke rising from few of the houses brought his mind to warm water, warm food and best of all - warm interiors. He had had quite enough of mountains for one lifetime.

“W-well…” Daybreak stammered, glancing at his assistant. “A welcome change, I suppose?”

Crest grinned back at him.

“Are you kidding? This looks even better than what the princesses told us!”

They had indeed spoken of a land of towering mountains, endless forests and thousand lakes. However, neither Daybreak nor Crest had realized that they had meant it quite this literally. The beautiful landscape that spread before their eyes, the white snow, the green nature, the blue waters and all that lay in-between was like a breath of fresh air for the weary travelers.

“... Race you downhill?” Crest suddenly asked, grinning from ear to ear.

At first, Daybreak could only blink in surprise.

“W-wait, wha-”

But the young sea serpent didn’t wait. Instead she bolted down the mountain path, giggling cheerfully as she did. Elated yelps and hollers escaped her mouth as she slid down on the snow, heading straight towards the edge of the pine tree forest and the warmer, lower hills down below.

Daybreak couldn’t help it. A relieved laughter bubbled up from within him as well.

“Hey, you cheated! Come back here you pond snake!” The stallion yelled with a grin and raced after his assistant. “I’ve still got this wagon to pull, you know!”

After the third time Daybreak slipped and slid down the road straight into a bank of snow, the two of them had to call the race quits. Not because the stallion couldn’t take it, but because the poor wagon he pulled was about to disintegrate before their very eyes. It had done a fine job making it so far, but judging by the creaking and the cracking, the end was in sight.

Honestly, it was a small miracle it had held up this long.

As the day continued and the sun slowly made its way down the dome of sky, the scenery around the two travellers finally started changing as well. The thick, impenetrable-looking pine forest surrounding them slowly gave way to trees with proper leaves, starting with birches. The white bark of the trees made them look almost as if they had camouflaged themselves within the snow. And they weren’t the only ones. Occasionally Crest managed to spot a hare or two, while Daybreak spied on a white fox that slinked across the forest floor.

Then, suddenly, they had left the snowy hills behind. Like waves in an ocean, the white was replaced by brilliant green. Stalwart, old oaks began appearing among the birches, and eventually some maples as well. Between the trees, an undergrowth of immense volume spread out, seemingly without end. Though he wasn’t a botanist or a herbalist of any kind, the research-oriented mind of Daybreak couldn’t help it - he started to feel a little excited.

“Crest, look. Look at the size of those ferns growing over there, in the distance. They’re bigger than these berry bushes,” the stallion commented as the two walked on. “And the sheer amount of moss here… it covers absolutely everything. Though, I do wonder what all these massive stones are doing in the forest?”

Daybreak frowned slightly at yet another boulder they passed. They were massive, some many times the size of a full-grown pony. Not only that, but their coloring was oddly varied… well, what little color they could see under the things growing over them - moss included.

“What I wanna know is what is this stuff?” Crest asked, ripping a piece of odd plant from one of the smaller stones at the side of the road. “It’s like a bunch of hard, colorful strings making a web…”

“I think that’s lichen. We saw it back on the spruces and firs higher up on the road,” the stallion answered. “I… yeah, look over there. See those branches? The ones that look like they’ve grown a green beard?”

Crest squinted her eyes and gazed at where the pony was pointing.

“Yeah, I think so?”

“Princess Luna actually told me about those a few years back. They’re called beard lichen, or old pony’s beard. Supposedly you can judge the quality of air in the area by how much there is,” Daybreak continued and drew a deep breath. “In other words, the air here should be even better than at Everfree, huh? Those things are everywhere.”

As the two walked on, they eventually started hearing the sound of roaring water somewhere nearby. The river itself still hid within the lush forest around them, but the refreshing sound put a little spring in the step for both of them. Crest found herself humming a merry little tune as she slithered on the soft dirt path, while Daybreak still stopped occasionally to inspect the errant boulders that dotted the landscape here and there.

However, these boulders did nothing to prepare either of them for the one they were about to see.

The sun was well on its way down towards the horizon when Crest first spotted it. At first the two of them thought they had happened upon an inn or a farmer’s house, but soon the truth revealed itself. Right next to the road stood a massive boulder, larger than a two-story house and completely covered in moss and lichen. Strangest of all, the boulder stood on a convex stone platform like it had been placed there by some sort of massive creature. Yet even though over half of the boulder didn’t touch the ground, it didn’t look unsteady in the least.

“Just what are these things?” Daybreak asked, frowning at the bizarre sight. “I think the surface’s dotted with other minerals too… and this stone platform. It’s way too smooth to be natural, yet I don’t think tools have touched it. Who made these?”

Crest, who was still staring slack-jawed at the natural wonder, could only offer a shrug in response.

However, an answer came from an unexpected source.

“It’s a hiienstone, dummy. Don’t you know that?”

A sudden voice calling out to them caught both Crest and Daybreak by surprise and they jumped back with a yelp. However, it wasn’t the boulder itself speaking as the stallion feared for one paranoid second. Instead, shuffling movement caught his eye - movement on top of the rock. From the blind spot it offered emerged a pony, standing atop the boulder and gazing down at them with a slightly confused frown - one made even more intense by her thick eyebrows.

In that moment Daybreak realized just how far from home he was.

At first glance, the stranger looked almost like a filly, but closer inspection revealed she was actually a full-grown mare - just a rather tiny one. Her light green coat melted into the forest, while her mane was more a deep, dark green - almost like the moss around her. That long, heavy mane was on loose, braided pigtails and wrapped around her forehead was a dark red, ornate-looking cotton headband. But the strangest thing of all were her saddlebags, which looked like they were made out of thick paper. They were also bursting with what must have been plants and herbs.

Also, for some reason, the mare was loudly chewing on something.

“Oh. Guess not. You’re an Outlander, aren’t you?” the tiny mare asked curtly. “What are you doing in Vierzo lands? You two are far from home.”

It took a few seconds for Daybreak to recover in the face of these sudden questions. The suspicious expression of the mare didn’t help matters.

“O-oh, apologies. I’m Daybreak Flicker, and this is my assistant, Crest. We’re here, uh…” he hesitated for a moment. “We’re here to find the town of Ruunanko. We’ve been sent to deliver some gifts from the Royal Sisters.”

The mention of the princesses made the mare snort, though she didn’t comment on it further.

“If it’s Ruunankonai you’re looking for, then just continue down this road. It’s the first town you’ll come across,” she said, still chewing loudly. “Even you can’t miss it, Outlander.”

It was the second time he heard that term, and it made Daybreak frown a little. Getting here had been an ordeal and a half, so for the welcome to be this stand-offish felt like a sting that soured his mood.

“Outlander? That’s a bit rude…”

The mare simply shrugged.

“But it’s true, isn’t it? You’re not from here - ergo, you’re an Outlander,” she said flatly. “You don’t even know what a hiienstone is. Passing for a local is clearly too much for you, so you better get used to the name.”

The stallion fought against an urge to grind his teeth, hiding the building frustration. Not only was the mare quite rude, but Crest clearly found it funny. He could hear the sea serpent giggling quietly as he had to stand there and suffer this verbal barrage of suspicion and doubt.

“T-then, what is a hiienstone?” Daybreak continued, trying to guide the topic to more amicable waters. “As you put it, I am an Outlander, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn. Plus… we’ve seen quite a few of these boulders already. Did someone put them here?”

Instead of responding immediately, the mare let out a quiet sight and rubbed her forehead with her hoof. Then, clearly having made some sort of decision, she took a few steps back from the edge of the boulder. With a magnificent running start, she jumped off of the rock and leapt straight towards one of the larger maples. Using the trunk of the tree as a springboard, she redirected her jump towards the road and landed on all fours, skidding along the dirt surface of the path.

Both Daybreak and Crest stared at her with sudden, new-found awe. Not only was this Earth pony quite knowledgeable, she also seemed rather athletic. The mare, on the other hoof, paid no mind to their surprise. She simply dusted off her odd saddlebags and spat out whatever she had been chewing into the bushes. Then she trotted over to the two, motioning them to follow her. Thus, settling into a calm pace, the trio started down the path once more… even if Daybreak felt like this momentary pause had made his harness just chafe even harder.

“Put them there? Well, if you want a culprit, blame the Great Ice,” the mare finally answered. “Long before even your princesses were around, the Great Ice swept across this land. It brought the hiienstones with it.”

“Great Ice… like a glacier? You mean some glacier moved across these lands and brought the stones?” Daybreak asked, his curiosity flaring up again.

The mare tilted her head and gave him a vague shrug.

“I suppose.”

“Well that sounds neat and all, but not really important right now,” Crest piped up, slithering over to the mare. “As said, my name’s Crest! And this here’s Daybreak. What’s your name?”

The mare didn’t answer immediately. Instead she looked over the sea serpent from head to the tip of her tail. The green pony clicked her tongue for some reason when she looked at Crest’s lower body, the part that was treading the dirt, but said nothing. Instead she gazed ahead, letting her eyes wander to the forest on the left.

“I’m Mugwort.”

Crest blinked a bit owlishly, taken aback by the curt answer.

“T-that’s it?” she asked, and the mare nodded.

“Yep. Just Mugwort,” the green pony continued, arching an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”

This time it was Daybreak’s turn to hide his amusement while his assistant waved her hands in slight panic.

“N-no, no! I was just… you know. Kinda expecting more. Usually ponies are all about meeting new creatures,” Crest said sheepishly. “Not that there’s anything wrong with taking it easy, it’s just a bit… well, not something I’m used to. Plus, you know, you’re the first pony we’ve seen in over a week as we traversed the mountain paths, so…”

Mugwort groaned quietly, and Daybreak could understand her pain. The sea serpent was never rude, not on purpose, but she was quite the chatterbox if one got her going. And meeting strange new ponies in a strange new land (not to mention said week with only each other for company) must have made her antsy for socializing.

“Look, Crest. I’m just an apothecary. It’s not my trade to exchange pleasantries,” Mugwort finally answered. “Besides, if it’s chatty ponies you want, then… Ah. Here we are. Watch out for flying splinters.”

Both Crest and Daybreak were about to ask what she meant, but at that very moment a large, wooden groaning echoed from the forest to the left. It was accompanied by foreign hooting and hollering, exclamations that neither traveler had ever heard before. However, amidst all those strange yells, they could hear a loud, rough male voice shout out: “Bring ‘er down, bring ‘er down, easy now, bring ‘er down!” Then, overpowering even the yells, a loud crash shook the woods. As the sound died down, it was replaced by cheering.

“W-what on Equestria was that?” Daybreak asked, eyes wide.

Mugwort simply rolled her eyes and motioned the two to follow her.

“It’s the loggers, obviously. Dummy.”

Daybreak hastily (and very gratefully) unfastened himself from the wagon and trailed after Crest and Mugwort, who were already making their way through the undergrowth. They pushed past the bushes of blue honeysuckle and the thick bamboo grass that rustled with each step, hopped over an old, moss-covered log and navigated through the thicket of vibrant birches. With every step, the sound of the river got closer and closer, until they started to see the tell-tale sign of water sprinkling into the sunny air from nearby rapids. At the same time, the forest started to open up a little. The undergrowth got less overbearing and the canopy of leaves above no longer blocked the sun.

Eventually the forest opened up into a small clearing right next to a fast-flowing river. Daybreak and Crest could see the ice cold water that had gathered up in the mountains now churning down the slopes, becoming quite the turbulent-looking current. Beyond that the forest continued once more, untouched by hooves of civilization and ponies. But here, on the clearing, things were different. Very different and very noisy. Annoyingly so, as Daybreak noted.

A freshly cut-down maple, thick as the barrels of two ponies, laid there on the clearing - and a group of dozen ponies was working on it. Billhooks, axes and saws sang their chipper tone as branches were removed and bumps in the trunk were whittled away. Each pony wore a big, wide grin as if they were enjoying the labor - but the biggest one of them all was worn by the bearded, older stallion who turned to greet them. His chestnut coat and graying mane made him fit right into the woods.

“Ah, there’s the mare of the hour! I was thinking of sending Willow to look for you already!” The stallion laughed, setting his billhook to the sheath. “What took you so long? Found more herbs? If it goes anything like last year, we might have more than a few minor burns to treat tomorrow, gwahahaha!”

Mugwort let out an exasperated sigh and then dug something out of her strange saddlebags. To Daybreak’s surprise the mare threw it in her mouth and started chewing on the thing loudly. Stranger still, the act of munching on whatever it had been clearly calmed her down. It must have been the same whatever she was chewing on when they met.

“Mhm. I found some shupuyanup. Among other things. It should be enough for tonight,” the mare answered. “How’s the sunpole coming along?”

The stallion grinned proudly and glanced back at the other ponies still working on the fallen tree.

“Won’t take us too long, you’ll be able to head out soon,” he answered. “Though, remember to spit out that birch tar before you hop on. We don’t want a repeat of last year, you know? If our only apothecary is bed-ridden thanks to swallowing it accidentally, who’s going to look after her!”

For the first time since they had met, Daybreak saw the constant mild frown disappear from Mugwort’s face. The mare managed to look slightly sheepish at the accusation, before coughing very loudly and regaining control of her face once more. As a reward for causing her to lose her bearings, the older stallion got a light jab to his side.

“You don’t have to remind me of that. It was a lesson learned. Anyways, more importantly…” She turned towards the two. “Look. We have visitors. He’s an Outlander, as you can see. The serpent is named Crest.”

Daybreak grunted and pawed the ground with his hoof.

“How come you remember her name but not mine? It’s like you’re picking a fight on purpose,” he grumbled, before bowing his head a little to the stallion as a greeting. “The name is Daybreak Flicker. And as said, this is my assistant Crest. We’ve come from the east, bearing gifts from the Royal Sisters to the town of Ruunan-”

Before he could even finish his introductions, Daybreak found himself caught in a crushing bearhug by the stallion.

“Oh, I heard you guys were supposed to be headed this way! Welcome, welcome! Welcome to Vierzo! You guys have been traveling an awful long way, haven’t you!” The stallion cheerfully roared while squeezing air out of Daybreak’s lungs. “The name’s Hardtack! I’m the forestallion of this group of chuckleheads over here!”

From his uncomfortable position, hoisted over the shoulder of the older stallion, Daybreak saw the group of ponies working on the fallen tree stop what they were doing. Each directed their sweaty faces towards him, most wearing slightly cautious or dubious expressions - though some did give him a quiet wave. Most of the workers were stallions, though three burly-looking mares were mixed in the crowd. Awkwardly (and still unable to breathe) he waved back… and then started turning a little blue in the face as the lack of oxygen got to him.

“Hardtack, let him down. You’ll suffocate him,” Mugwort commented from the side, still chewing her birch tar. “They’ll throw a fit in town if you drag back an unconscious Outlander.”

“Ahaha, right, right, sorry about that!” The stallion apologized, dropping Daybreak down on the ground like a sack of turnips. “We just don’t get many visitors these days, so I got a little excited there! Gwahaha!”

Daybreak wanted very much to dryly comment: “I wonder why?” Unfortunately the only thing that came out of his mouth was a pitiful whimper. And while the stallion slowly gathered the shattered fragments of his pride on the forest floor, Crest slithered forward. She made an awkward little bow as a greeting, clearly hesitant in case she was caught up in a hug as well. Luckily Hardtack refrained from that, simply returning the bow with a smile.

“Well, we’re more than happy to be here! Daybreak over here hasn’t gotten out much lately,” the sea serpent said, shooting an amused smirk towards the pony in question. “Anyways, what are you all up to? Do you need that tree for something?”

Hardtack nodded strongly and looked over where the tall log in question was being prepared. The group of ponies had just about whittled away all the bumps the best they could and removed the few branches that were in the way. Now the bare piece of wood stood there, as if waiting for something… and curiously enough, aimed at the roaring river right next to the clearing.

“You betcha! This beauty’s gonna be the centerpiece of the pyre today! Gotta have the shrine maiden make it all nice and pretty for the ceremonies,” the older stallion explained. “How’s it looking, guys? Is it ready to swim?”

A loud, agreeing shout rose from the mouths of ponies as they stepped away from the maple trunk. Hardtack trotted closer to inspect the log, peering into it with a well-trained eye. Finally, after a few minutes of absolute silence had passed, he gave a nod of approval, eliciting a cheer from the rest of the ponies. Daybreak and Crest watched in confusion as the ponies started rolling the log towards the river, stopping right at the edge.

Mugwort, seeing that the group was ready, stepped forward.

“And the pike pole?” she asked.

One of the ponies in the group hurried off to the side of the clearing, and eventually re-emerged with a strange-looking staff or a thin pole. It was almost two meters long with some sort of split metal hook on the other end. He handed it to the mare who tasted the weight and balance of the pole by giving it a few swings while gripping it with her teeth. Apparently satisfied, Mugwort set the pole to lean against a nearby tree.

“Alright. I’ll trust you to take care of these two. Their wagon is back on the road,” the mare said, spitting out the birch tar into the bushes. “I’ll inform the town that you’re on your way back - with an Outlander or two in tow.”

Daybreak, who had finally recovered from the crushing grip of Hardtack, staggered back to his hooves.

“W-wait, what…? How are you going to get there faster than us?” He asked, confused as to what was going on around him. “No, before that, what’s up with the log? And the pole? What are you planning on doing?”

Mugwort simply leveled the stallion a flat stare, as if saying he was asking too many inane questions.

“Oh, right. Before I forget,” the mare suddenly said and opened up one of her strange saddlebacks. “Here. For you two. It works on your hooves and on Crest’s tail. Should prevent them from getting sore. You’ve been walking a long way after all.”

To the surprise of the two, the green mare was offering them a small, round ceramic jar that looked rather old. Just by the smell Daybreak could tell that it contained some sort of bitter salve within it - one of those “natural remedies” ponies outside of civilization loved so much. And while he was thankful for the offer, neither he or Crest had really complained about sore hooves or tail. Not to mention he was quite happy with his own magic, even if he wasn’t the most proficient healer. And then there was the mare’s rude attitude, which made Daybreak hesitate to trust anything she offered. He could have continued this list of excuses even longer, but...

“Thank you, but there’s no need,” the indigo stallion said instead. “We can make it to the town just fine, so-”

Before he could even finish that sentence, Daybreak found the jar shoved into his hooves and himself under the fiercest glare he had ever seen. Even Princess Celestia on a bad day hadn’t looked quite so intimidating. Mugwort, a mare of short stature and impassive face now felt like she was towering above him, wearing a scowl that made him feel like a little colt once more. It was like he had awakened some sort of beast, and the stallion very much wanted to know how to placate said beast because his legs were about to give out from under him and oh stars he was so very very sorry.

“I wasn't asking. I wasn’t offering. I was telling you to do it,” Mugwort said, undercurrent of threat clear in her voice. “I don’t know how things are from where you’re from, but here? When the healer speaks, you listen. The salve isn’t to heal your hooves now, it’s preventative. To make sure you two won’t turn into a whimpering pile of aching muscles after spending half a day sitting still. So start scrubbing your hooves with it, dummy.”

Thus, under the very watchful gaze of Mugwort, both Daybreak and Crest took a moment to apply the light-brown salve to their bodies. The silence while they worked was almost deafening, only broken by Hardtack’s howling laughter as he saw what was going on. When the two were finished, they meekly handed the jar back - like a couple of school kids who had to tell their parents they had gotten detention.

“Good. That should be enough,” the mare said as she slipped the jar back into her saddlebags. “Then - Hardtack, Outlander, Crest. I’ll see you later.”

As stoic as ever, Mugwort said her goodbyes. The mare grabbed the hooked pole that was leaning against the tree with her teeth and accelerated into a sprint. When the ponies by the riverside saw her approaching, they let out a wild holler. At the same time they spun the tree trunk one last time, sending it crashing into the waters with a loud splash. Without missing a beat Mugwort leapt into the air from the riverbank. The sudden jump elicited a worried yell from both Daybreak and Crest, but Hardtack motioned them to calm down. Apparently this strangeness was just business as usual over here.

Indeed, with perfect timing Mugwort landed onto the spinning tree as it emerged back to the surface. Her hooves danced on the trunk, easing into the spinning motion and working against it to balance the log once more. As the trunk settled into the flow of the river, Mugwort struck the pole she was holding down into the murky depths, guiding the tree so that it avoided some rocks jutting out from below the surface. With a swift, experienced gesture she then tilted her head and hit the rocky shore with the other end, centering the log perfectly in the middle of the wildly flowing river.

Even the rapids straight ahead didn’t seem to faze the mare. If anything, the glint in her eyes told that she was enjoying it.

“No need to look so worried, sonny,” Hardtack chuckled and patted Daybreak on the shoulder. “Mugwort over there’s been log driving since she was a little filly. She’s got the riverhooves and the dauntless attitude necessary.”

Honestly, the lack of common sense the local ponies seemed to have no longer really surprised Daybreak. Instead he was just feeling more and more tired, as if a migraine was slowly creeping up on him.

While the indigo stallion rubbed his temples, their new friend turned back to the group of ponies who were maintaining their tools.

“Alright, guys! Pack it up! Willow, Bee, clean up the splinters and set them aside! Some critter might get some use out of them yet,” Hardtack bellowed out. “We leave in a moment! I dunno about you lot, but I’m famished - and the missus is going to give me an earful if I show up late for dinner!”

The whole group chuckled at that as they got to work, cleaning up after themselves and making sure that no tools were forgotten or left laying around. Still, even amidst their works, they kept throwing glances to the direction of the newcomers. Two young stallions, who Daybreak guessed were Willow and Bee, started gathering up the wooden splinters and other detritus left from the operation.

“Alrighty! Why don’t you two guide me over to your wagon in the meantime,” Hardtack said as he trotted back over to Daybreak and Crest. “By the time we’ve got you back in the harness, these guys will have caught up with us.”

The mere idea of pulling the blasted wagon again made Daybreak grimace with frustration. As if realizing what he was thinking, the older stallion leaned closer and winked at him.

“Not to mention the sooner we head out, the sooner we get to eating. I guess you two’ve been living on bread and water these last few weeks, right?” the stallion asked, and once he saw them nod, grinned even wider. “Tell you what - once we’re back in town, I’ll make sure to get you some good grub. Can’t have our honored guests go hungry, right?”

This, more than anything else that day, put some haste in the steps of Daybreak and Crest.

The afternoon had bowed out of twilight’s way as Daybreak, Crest and a group of twelve rowdy logger ponies finally arrived in the town of Ruunanko. Dense forests and vibrant undergrowth had slowly disappeared, instead replaced by small fields of buckwheat, barley and rye. Closer to the town still, the distinct rows of potato fields had started to appear here and there. Winds brought with them the tell-tale fragrances of civilization - namely, wood being burned and food being cooked. To the west, wind combed through the trees of mountainous hills like waves and far in the north, distant, distant ocean sparkled in sunlight.

The first bit of surprise that greeted the two outsiders was the palisade built around the town’s perimeter. Thick stakes, made grey by weather and age, stood like a row of guards bound together by thick ropes. The mere sight of it and the fact that each stake was about three and half meters tall spoke enough, allowing Daybreak to make an educated guess about the wildlife in the area. Dangerous, but not the type to often wander near the town.

The next thing Daybreak noticed made his heart sink again with the realization of just how far away they were from home. Large, beautiful wonders of stone and masonry were nowhere in sight - no towers reaching towards the sky or large glass windows reflecting the light of the descending sun. Instead, he saw strange thatched roofs of earth tones that towered higher than even the palisade they approached.

Houses of Ruunanko had tall, surprisingly steep thatched roofs that were thicker than a pony and a half. They brought to mind a half-open book resting on its edges. Underneath each side of the roof ran sturdy wooden beams holding up the ceiling, while the rest of the house was almost triangular in shape. The walls were made of old, dark wood that had seen the passage of time, with windows covered by wooden lattice instead of glass. The houses varied in sizes, but most erred on the side of “big enough for the whole family.”

While these strange houses with slanted, thatched gable roofs formed the majority of buildings in town, they weren’t the only ones. Here and there Daybreak saw more complex roof shapes, houses with white plaster walls and tiled roofs, and even a few two-story box-shaped ones with bright banners hung over the entrance. There might have been even odder ones further in the town, but it was impossible to see from where they were.

Still, the strange architecture and the foreign houses were nothing compared to the oddity that Daybreak noticed as he glanced towards the sun and then back at the town.

“... Huh. All the houses are facing north and south,” he commented to Hardtack. “Is that by choice, or…?”

The older stallion nodded.

“Noticed that, huh? Yeah, it’s to minimize wind resistance. The winters here, hoo boy… you ain’t ever seen a snowfall like that,” he said with a chuckle. “Our little town here’s been built to withstand it the best it can. That’s the point of those roof-shapes too, if you were wondering. Snow won’t pile up too much.”

Daybreak let out a thoughtful hum. It did make sense. Guess somewhere like here they had to take more precautions with the seasons. He had heard that while weather was controlled to some extent, it wasn’t completely tamed by the pegasi like back in Equestria. And now that he gazed upon it, the sight of the strange houses standing in unified way with sand roads running between them and leaving quite a bit of greenery still alive, well… it wasn’t the ugliest sight.

Immediately as those thoughts entered his mind, Daybreak shook his head in annoyance. No, he didn’t come here to appreciate the local scenery. He had a mission, one of great importance, and once that was done he would be out of this strange place - back to his observatory and the quiet it provided.

Still… he supposed the place had some rustic, if weird, charm to it. Especially with how smoke rose from the hearths and through the thatched roofs, making it look like each house was wrapped in a pleasant fog. Heck, he could even see a plume of grey shoot out from that fog, only to turn mid-air and head straight for their group.

“... Wait, what’s that?” Daybreak said and pointed at the approaching blur, slight panic creeping into his voice.

Before Hardtack or any other ponies could answer, the blur was already upon them. It rocketed through the skies with amazing speed and precision, reminding Daybreak of the pegasi that served in the princess’ royal guard. The blur bulleted straight towards the indigo stallion and hit the ground gracefully. Soil flew everywhere and four hooves skidded along the dirt road, coming to a complete halt right before him.

And just like that, Daybreak found himself inch away from the face of a very angry-looking pegasus. No, perhaps angry was not the right word. Leery? Yes, the stallion settled for leery. After all, this mare was glaring at her like a guard hound who had caught a burglar red-hooved. Those golden eyes were practically drilling a hole into his face.

“Err… hello?” Daybreak said with an awkward expression, leaning his head back to get away from the intense stare. “Sorry, but that’s a little too close for comfort. If you could…?”

He was about to finish up with “take a few steps back”, but at that moment his words died to his lips. After all, Daybreak noticed something very curious about the mare he had thought to be a pegasus. Instead of fluttery wings with feathers, he saw leathery appendages more reminiscent of a bat. Not only that, but her coat was dark grey while her mane was off-white, like a sheep. It was also round and heavy, to the point of hiding her eyes almost completely. In fact it looked like the mare had stuck her head through a ball of wool. If her tail hadn’t been of similar style, Daybreak would have guessed it to be a wig.

The last thing the stallion had expected to see here was one of the bat ponies, the same ones that served as Princess Luna’s personal guard. Of course, he knew that they came from some mountainous, foreign land but… was it Vierzo? Really? Or was this one just an outlier? Whatever the case was, he hoped that she would stop staring at him like that!

“... Who?”

The bat pony swiftly looked at Hardtack, her voice quiet yet hard as steel. As she did, the poofy mane on her head rustled and locks of hair fell over her eyes. Had it not been for that sharp-as-a-knife stare and the stern tone of her tiny voice, Daybreak would have gotten a completely different image from the mare. In fact, her mane looked so ridiculously fluffy that he had a hard time believing it. But things being as they were…

“Ah, that’s Daybreak. Daybreak Flicker. He’s the visitor we were told about - here to take part in the festivities and bring some gifts from the princesses,” Hardtack replied, trying to hide his smile. “And that over there is his assistant, Crest. No need for the interrogation, Ink.”

Crest peeked from behind the wagon and gave an awkward wave to the bat pony. She, in return, narrowed her eyes at the sea serpent, who let out a squeak and hid back behind the luggage. Apparently the young sea serpent’s reaction hadn’t impressed the mare, as she flared her nostrils in a quiet snort. Then she switched her attention back to Daybreak, who flinched under the stare once more.

“... I see,” the mare said. “Alright.”

Then, just like that, she spread her leathery wings and rocketed to the skies once more. Like an arrow launched from a bow she zoomed straight up before making an almost ninety-degree turn and heading back towards the town. Watching that grey blur once again dash through the skies dyed in the colours of the setting sun, nothing but silence reigned over the group of ponies. An awkward, heavy silence that grew even heavier as Daybreak leveled a very flat and a very confused stare towards Hardtack.

Before the indigo stallion could even open his mouth, the logger pony let out a sheepish chuckle.

“Ha, haha… yeah… sorry about that,” he mumbled, pawing at the ground in embarrassment.

“... Mind telling me what the Celestia-blessed mess that was all about?” Daybreak asked, cocking an eyebrow at the forestallion. “Is that some local custom, or…?”

Hardtack awkwardly coughed into his hoof.

“N-no, that would be… that would be Lacquer Ink. She’s a bit… eccentric. Good lass, just… odd. She fancies herself the town guard, always checking every stranger about to enter,” he explained. “Truth to be told, though, she’s just our calligrapher. Her house is over that way - not far from here.”

The stallion pointed towards the forested hills rising to the west, some twenty minute’s gallop away.

“Pay her no mind. I think the girl’s just suspicious of outsiders, but she doesn’t mean harm with it. Those bats, they’re a cautious lot. More so when they live with us ponies,” the older stallion continued. “If I had to guess, she’s just looking after the town in her own way. Doesn’t want anypony with bad intentions coming in.”

Daybreak let out a little sigh after hearing that. First the curt and scary Mugwort, now this Lacquer Ink and her wary attitude towards outsiders. Was there any mare in this town who wasn’t troublesome? Of course, in his mind mares often were troublesome - sans the princesses, naturally - but not this much. Though, if he read between the lines of what the older stallion had just said…

“Oh? Do you think she realized that I have no bad intentions?” Daybreak asked with a dry and truly tired smirk. “I’d like to avoid trouble during my stay here.”

Hardtack returned the expression, like a mirror gazing at another.

“I think she just realized you’re an expected guess. No telling if that means you’re off the hook, though,” he answered. “Especially since you’re an Outlander, meaning… well, just don’t push it. I bet she’s going to be as skittish as a feral cat when you’re around. No need to antagonize her.”

Daybreak groaned and rubbed his temples with his hoof. He really wanted to just bury his head in the dirt and scream at this point. The ponies in this land all seemed to be a bunch of crackpots.

“Well that’s just great… I’m really starting to feel hungry for that dinner now. And maybe something to wet my whistle,” he said, exasperated. “Let’s just continue on, shall we?”

Nods from ponies all around showed that everypony agreed to the suggestion. It looked like even the loggers wanted to leave the awkward atmosphere behind and just hurry on back to their homes.

Thus the group finally passed through the wooden gates that were wide open, entering the town of Ruunanko.

Neatly-arranged sand roads and paths cut through the town in an orderly manner, leaving patches of green grass and beautiful trees where the triangular houses stood. Daybreak saw that many of the houses had left their front doors open, with ponies coming and going as they pleased. Fillies and foals ran laughing from house to house, elderly mares invited their friends inside for a drink and stallions shouted from the doorways for their friends to hurry on up. Strange, colorful banners were being displayed. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of tentative drumming could be heard. Along with it came the irresistible fragrance of grilled… what even was that?

“White corn,” Hardtack spoke out loud with a grin after seeing Daybreak’s expression. “Plus I think all the grannies in town are preparing some rieska. Oh, that’s a local flatbread, made from rye. Goes well with egg butter!”

The indigo stallion tried to ignore the slight blush forming on his cheeks. His intentions weren’t supposed to be so easily guessed! Crest didn’t even bother to hide her dreamy expression. Instead she smacked her lips and sniffed the air again, hunger shining in her eyes.

As they walked, the group suddenly came to a halt in an intersection surrounded by the wooden, rural houses. An even larger troop of ponies came galloping in from the left, down the path leading up the hill near the center of the town. Each stallion was carrying two thick bundles of sticks, and they were racing towards the river with big smiles on their faces. Curiously, Daybreak peered towards the direction they were headed… and found out he couldn’t see a darn thing. There did seem to be a large gathering of ponies over in that direction, but what they were up to was anypony’s guess.

While they waited for the group to pass, Daybreak noticed yet another thing. As he glanced around the tightly-packed houses of the town, he saw more than a few curious pairs of eyes staring into his direction. Well, his and Crest’s more specifically. Yet whenever he turned his head to confront the peeping locals, they had already gone back to what they were doing before. And the moment he turned his back to them, he could feel those stares in the back of his head once more.

Crest had apparently noticed this as well, as she awkwardly slithered over to him, as if seeking a bit of solace from his shadow.

“... G-guess we kinda stick out, huh?” The sea serpent whispered. “I don’t think anypony means anything bad with it, just… feels weird to be watched so intently.”

Daybreak nodded with some frustration and rubbed the back of his neck. It really started to feel like Hardtack was the only friendly local around, which in turn made it hard for him to hide his annoyance. Not that he actually came here to make friends, no matter what Princess Celestia intended...

“Yeah… I suppose they don’t get visitors so often. Or ‘Outlanders’ as they put it here. We’ve just gotta put up with being the curiosity of the week during our stay. Grin and bear it, as the princess says,” the stallion whispered back, forcing an awkward smile to his face. “Grin and bear it…”

Crest blinked at him, confused.

“Bear it…? Lumber around on all-fours and then hibernate for the whole winter?” She asked, scratching her head.

The hoof of Daybreak was quick to meet his face and he stifled yet another groan. For her age, Crest was rather well-read and smart, but sometimes her youth showed in the strangest ways… that, or she was just teasing him yet again.

One glance at her befuddled expression told Daybreak she was not.

“Hey, you two! Keep up! We’re headed up the hill!” Hardtack hollered from ahead, and to their surprise the duo saw that the road was free once more. “These guys will head on home, but I figured I should walk you over to the shrine maiden. She’ll take care of you during your stay.”

Indeed, the group of loggers was already dispersing, each heading to their respective directions. Some were headed home, some towards the beach, others apparently had more festival preparations to still take care of. As Daybreak and Crest caught up to Hardtack, they saw him still talking to two rather colorful stallions who stood out in this town of earth tones.

“Sounds good! Let your sister know that there’ll be two more mouths to feed,” the older stallion said and nodded. “Oh, and tell your mom I said hi… and that she should leave her workshop more often. She even delegated tonight for you lot! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was looking to pass the shop over into your hooves.”

The two stallions, a bit younger than Daybreak, laughed heartily at that.

“Yeah right! The sun’ll go out before she’s gonna let sis inherit the place!” The other stallion, one named Willow if Daybreak was right, replied. “But, uh, sure. We’ll pass your message along. At the end of the day, I suppose it’s our dinner table that always has an open spot or two.”

The other stallion, who had been called Bee earlier today, nodded - though he seemed a bit hesitant.

“Yeah, and knowing sis, she’ll be more than happy to feed the Outlander,” he agreed, glancing at Daybreak and Crest. “We’ll, uh… we’ll save some bamboo shoots for you. Try not to be late, alright?”

With that, the two stallions galloped off towards the north, looking a bit glad they could leave the awkward atmosphere behind. This left Hardtack, Crest, and rather confused-looking Daybreak standing in the middle of the intersection. The older stallion guffawed and simply motioned the two to follow him.

“No time to stand around. Let’s get this courtesy visit over with so we can get food in those bellies,” he said. “Come on, it’s just up this hill! Think of it as the last challenge of today!”

Unfortunately, Hardtack wasn’t kidding when he said it would be a challenge.

The road up was winding and nonsensical, snaking lazily around the hill in a spiral-like pattern. The terrain turned more rugged as well, and plant life had returned with vengeance. Sharp-looking bushes, bamboo grass and maidenhair trees dotted the landscape, making it almost a small forest of its own. Outcrops jutted out of the slopes, covered in lichen and small streams ran down from the hilltop, perhaps coming from a spring. Daybreak could feel the evening sun’s rays pressing down him as he continued to climb, pulling the heavy wagon after him. Sweat was dripping as big droplets down his forehead and into his eyes, causing him to snort in annoyance.

As the sun continued to set, insects incessantly buzzed in the grass, the droning noise souring Daybreak’s mood even further.

“Oh, hey! What’s that tree?” Crest suddenly piped up, slithering over to the edge of the path. “It looks different from the rest!”

Hardtack stopped as well, gazing at the massive thing growing out of the eastern slope.

“Well, that’s uh…” He started, but hesitated in his words for some reason. “It’s… honestly a bit hard to explain. Would take more time than we have now.”

Daybreak, finally catching up with the two, shot a bit of a glare down the hill as well. What he saw there made an eyebrow rise on his face questioningly. Just one look at the tree told that the older stallion must have had a reason for his hesitation. The sight was… quite different from the rest of the town.

First of all, a narrow path separated from the one going up the hill and ran down the slope all the way to the tree. The tree itself was… well, massive was the only way to describe it, both in width and height. Its trunk was a deep, dark shade of brown and looked as if it twisted around itself. The lower half of the tree was either bulging out like some old trees often did, or then it was multiple trees that had grown together over the years. Gnarled, dead branches spread out akin to a crown in every which direction, looking like blackened appendages reaching out to the scenery around it. Here and there Daybreak could see wooden lattices set into hollow holes around the tree, but he couldn’t even begin to guess their purpose.

Yet the most curious thing about the tree was the sturdy-looking, wooden sliding door peeking between the old roots that clung to the hill.

“Why don’t we just continue, eh?” Hardtack asked, clearly eager to leave the tree behind. “The shrine maiden’s waiting.”

Feeling slightly hesitant, both Crest and Daybreak followed after the stallion. As they started up the hill once more, the indigo stallion couldn’t help himself. He glanced over his shoulder at the dead tree one more time. Wind blew from somewhere, and those stiff branches shuddered in the breeze. It almost looked as if the tree was feeling… chilly.

The sight made Daybreak wonder. How could something look like it had burned to crisp… yet clearly hadn’t? Just what was the tale behind the mysterious tree?

His only answer was the constant chirping of the bugs in the grass.

“Ugh…”

Feeling frustrated, the indigo stallion kicked a pebble of the road and hurried after the others. The weight of the wagon was starting to feel far too heavy on his shoulders, and he couldn’t wait to get rid of it.

Author's Note

Chapter Footnotes: A collection of information that is not integral to understanding the story, but may serve as additional reading to those interested.

South Luna Mountain Range
A mountain range that spreads far to the west of Equestria's modern borders, in a region informally known as the Undiscovered West. As the name suggests, it borders the South Luna Ocean - just as the North Luna Mountain Range does the same with North Luna Ocean. It is at the intersection of these two that the mountainous land of Vierzo exists. A long time ago, Equestria still nominally ruled over this area. Despite the size and height some of the mountains in this area can rise to, it is still rich in animal and plant life, and said to be a place of exquisite natural beauty.

Old Pony's Beard
More formally known as the beard lichen, this fruticose lichen grows on bark and twigs of trees, most often those that are either sick or dying. This has led many to blame them erroneously for the state of the trees they inhabit. As this lichen is extremely sensitive to air pollution, it has also been long thought to be an indicator of the air quality of the area. The native ponies of Vierzo call this plant naava, and a wizened old stallion with a long, wispy beard is often referred to as a naavabeard.

Hiienstone
A famous sight in the northern lands across the known world. A modern, more official name to a stone like this is a glacial erratic. From what is understood, they are large chunks of bedrock that were picked up by a glacier and carried for hundreds of kilometers away from where they originated from. Northern lands, which were said to be covered in ice at the beginning of time, are dotted with these large rocks and serve as the proof of the movement of this glacier. For the native ponies of Vierzo, they often served as holy places or marked borders between villages and towns. For this reason, they are called hiienstones, as the word hiisi translates to a "sacred grove" in Ponish.

Mugwort's Saddlebags
Unlike Daybreak's initial assumption, these saddlebags were not made of any sort of paper, but rather from birch bark. As the bark is strong, water-resistant and easy to use as a crafting material, it has been used for ages in Vierzo to make all sorts of things. It could be made into boxes, casks, containers, shoes, canoes and fishing implements, just to name a few. In addition, it serves as excellent tinder and can be used as a writing support. Birch as a whole is one of the most well-respected trees of the area, and for centuries they have offered many gifts to the locals.

Great Ice
The supposed great glacier that spread across the northern lands of the known world at the dawn of time. According to archaeologists, in times when there were no unicorns or alicorns to move the sun and moon across the skies, the whole world grew cold from the lack of light. Great glaciers from north spread across continents and brought with them a frigid winter - and monsters that reside in such harsh climates. This slowly advancing tide of ice and snow was known as the Great Ice by the native ponies of Vierzo, as their oral tales spoke of such times.

Shupuyanup
Fungi that are more commonly known as puffballs in Equestria. In Vierzo, the local variant is milky white in color and quite small and round. They get their name "puffball" from the fact that they release their spores in a small cloud when the mushroom bursts or is impacted. The native ponies of Vierzo use this mushroom as a medicinal plant, applying the spores outwardly to cure pains in the body, as well as scalds and burns.

Log Driving and Riverhooves
A method of moving logs from logging areas higher up in the mountains to the towns in the valleys, using rivers and their currents. As early sawmills were often powered by water and situated downstream, this proved to be an especially easy method of transporting lumber from logging sites. As masses of individual logs were floated downstream, the sight of it was akin to driving a huge herd of cattle - hence the name. In western Vierzo, where lakes are far more prominent, this practice was combined with timber rafting, where logs were collected together into large rafts and moved across said lakes. Ponies proficient in guiding logs downstream, spotting possible spots where a jam could form and moving on logs whether at river or at lake were worth their weight in cold. They were sometimes called "rapids riders" and were said to have "riverhooves" - the ability to stay stable and move quickly and efficiently no matter how strong the flow of the river.

Houses of Ruunankonai
The vernacular houses of the town of Ruunanko (and other towns in the area) are famous for their ability to withstand heavy snowfall and cold of Vierzo. The heat from the ground level rises to the upper floors, while the smoke from the built-in hearth would serve to dry the reeds as it flows through the roof. This keeps the whole house very warm even in the dead of winter. Traditionally the uppermost floors have thus been used in sericulture, which is widespread in the area. The rethatching of these houses has to be done every thirty years or so, and is a communal event of sorts that brings the whole village together, from young to old.

Rieska
An unleavened, soft flatbread typical to the region of Vierzo. Most often made from barley or rye and with heavy dollops of butter or egg butter on top. As they are exceedingly simple to make (requiring only flour, salt and water), they have become a staple of the region where food is sometimes scarce. Traditionally the rieska are baked with heated stones, but slowly the introduction of ovens has replaced them. Incidentally, as the cultures of Vierzo and Equestria met, a type of rieska unique to the eastern parts of Vierzo was born - a carrot rieska.