Prologue: All this hatred... All these tears...
(deep in the darkness of Soggalong Swamps)
"One down... One to go..." Said Stomper, digging a silver dagger strait into a Marewolf's neck. As he pulled the dagger out of the creature's neck, he starts to think to himself.
"I pity these poor ponies.... They don't deserve this curse... I will travel around Equestria and kill the original Marewolf who took my mothers sanity..."
*FLASHBACK*
"Mother! Mother, where are you?!" I looked around my house trying to my mother. It was about 11:30 PM and close to my bedtime. But I wanted to know why mum always went for a midnight jog on full moons. I asked my dad about this.
"Uh... Well... You see son, she likes to take midnight jogs in the full moon because the moon is most beautiful when it is full. It just seems so nice and peaceful. *sigh*" I ran out of the door trying to find her, ignoring my fathers plea's to come back. "Stomper! Come back this instant!" I ran off to try and find her. By this time it was 12:00 PM and that was when I regretted trying to find mother. I heard a howl right behind me, and it came from the dark wall of tree's behind me. I sneaked through and I saw the most horrifying thing in my entire life. A Marewolf! The creature had the same battle scar Mum had during the great griffon battle of Equestria!
"M-m-m-mother? Is that you?" The creature responded by charging strait at me! I ran for my life, screaming like a maniac. I got inside my house and Father quickly closed the door behind him. My Brother and Sister Gale Wind and Tear Drop came to see the commotion.
"Embers! What's going on?!"
"Your Stupid little Brother ended up getting your mother Zapper over here. ON A FULL MOON!"
"WHAT?!" Said me, Brother and Sister in unison. That's when the door started to be charged into and eventually broke. Me and my father Embers were sent flying. My Mother was glaring at us with huge, yellow, slit eyes and was ready to pounce at us. She saw me and charged strait at me, but my Dad jumped in front of me and he bucked right in the face, sending her flying back.
"Come and get some you freak!" My Mum got up and charged strait and Dad, pouncing him and clearing his insides and covering the room with them. Blood was splattered all over the place and mostly covered Mother, but some splattered all over my face. I was freaked out...
(Play this)
"FATHER!!!" Gale Wind and Tear Drop occupied my Mother and dodging her strikes.
"Stompy! Get out of here!" Send Tear Drop, holding down Zapper. I was but not before I prayed to Celestia to send Father to a better place. Somehow, Embers slowly looked up to me and with half closed eyes and blood dripping from his mouth.
"S-s-stomper... *cough* *cough* I'm s-s-sorry... About all t-t-t-t-these times... That I-i-i... *hack* *wheeze* shunned you.... Please... g-g-g-get out of... of...." Father lifted his hoof to me, and I moved in for a final touch from my dieing Dad. I collapsed and started sobbing next to his cold, lifeless body.
"Father... *sob* don't leave me!" That's when Zapper grabbed me by the tail, and threw me right at the wall behind me! I laid unconscious and she was getting ready to eat me alive! I got a last glimpse of her showing her fangs and she lunged at me. I didn't feel anything, and that's because I woke up to see that my Sis Tear Drop took the bite! She was screaming in agony and blood was draining from the bite wound. My Mother Zapper threw my Sister Tear Drop far away to the left, broke our table mid-flight and slammed strait into the wall! my Brother Gale Wind galloped over to her safety.
"Run Stomper run!" I nodded and ran off to whatever the hell I went. Luckily, Mother chased me and lost interest as I got far enough. 5 days... 5 days it took to find civilization. I wondered the forest for a long time until I came across a valley overlooked by snow mountains way in the distance. I found a lone guild like place full of mercenaries with a river curving along the side of the building. A big and burly Stallion came out and saw that I saw really starving, dirty as hell and lost.
"Hey, you's okay? C'mon bub. we'll get you's somethin' to eat." He didn't sound reliable, but he looked sincere and I knew he just wanted to help. I followed him into the guild and he showed me to the novices dorm. That's when he forgot to ask me something. "That reminds me! What's yer name?"
"Stomper... Stomper Ele."
(stop the music)
"The original or my loved one... Either of them as long as it is the original... I will kill either of them..." That's when Stomper heard a howl coming from the north. He rushed over to the spot where he heard the howl, and found the one remaining Marewolf. He grabbed a crossbow and shot a silver arrow at it striking it strait through the heart without it knowing.
"Contract complete. Return to the guild to collect yer reward." Said Strength through the navigation and communication system (N.C.S) strapped on Stomper's front right leg. Strength was the one who brought Stomper in when he didn't have a home. Stomper pressed a button on the N.C.S and he vanished in a bright flash. He appeared in front of the guild and entered the massive mansion like building. He was greeted all around the place and was famous for being such a unique pony, unique because of the root like tendrils coming out from his head. Some say he has the power to talk to the earth, and those rumors where right. This power helped him many times. He had to find timber wolfs from within a really dense forest. Their natural wood stature made it almost impossible to find them! He communicated with the tree's telepathically and they told him of the wolf like creatures hiding from in the tree's shrubs and the surroundings around him. He was going to Strengths room and he was still being greeted and praised.
"Hey Stomper! Find any Manticores yet?"
"I did once. Put up a fight but I was WAY stronger than him."
"Stomper my man.*brohoof* Go get those cockatrices for us."
"Sorry, haven't got any yet. I might soon though!''
He finally got to Strengths room. Strength is one of the guild masters that run the guild, the others are skill and will. Once he enters, he is introduced to a warm greeting with Strength going and giving Stomper a light hug.
"Heya Stomper! How's my li'l champion?" he broke out of his small embrace and told him of what he had been up to. Strength seemed pleased and he gave him the promised reward. 25 bits.
"I just don't know why you's take light jobs. We got's more complicated ones."
"Nah... I don't bother..." Said Stomper, looking down at the floor with a depressed face.
"Hey... what's the matter? I may be cold but your like a son to me. Whats buggin' you's?"
"The reason why I take easy jobs... Father said I shouldn't overdo myself if I ever got a job. He never said it but I knew his dieing wish was 'I want you to live for as long as you can, and don't give in too early.' He wanted me to live life through it's lifetime, and only pass on when it's time. So I try to not overdue myself..." Strength thought about this.
"Hm... How's about you's takes the days off?" Stomper looked up to Strength.
"What? Where?"
"I thought you's could go to Ponyville and relax? Move out of the guild, unwind. I will send a supplier so that you can tackle contracts over at Ponyville, okay? I will even throw in the easy ones."
"Hm... *Sigh* Okay... If you want me to relax that badly and you want me to move out, I'll do it, for you." Strength nodded in acknowledgment, and readied Stomper's teleport function on his N.C.S.
"Oh, and Stomper?"
"Yes?"
"Please complete some hard contracts? for me?"
"*sigh* I'll try for you." And like that, he vanished again in a white flash.
(Play this until 0:25 then slowly lower the volume until muted)
___________________________________________________________________
MONSTER TRAVELS: The hunt for origin
Chapter 1: Meeting the six
(The first contract mission has been collected and unfortunately moved to chapter 2. Sorry! No more entries before the actual collection day because that's pretty unfair on the other people.)
*Ponyville*
Twilight was having a slumber party with Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy over at the library. They were currently trying to tell ghost stories and Fluttershy already told hers, even though she was hesitant she agreed to tell one and her story actually scared the pants off of Twilight and Pinkie. It was Pinkie's turn but she just couldn't find a name for it and think of how the story went.
"Um... how about... 'The Curse of Sunny Town'?"
"Pinkie, not trying to be rude but I already told that." Said Fluttershy with a shy looking smile on her face.
"Yeah Pinkie. Try thinking of one that we haven't said yet?"
"Okay! Hm... uh... gr..." Mumbled Pinkie raking her mind for a story. "OOH! OOH! How about-" Pinkie was cut off by the lights flashing off. "The... haunted library?" Said Pinkie with a surprised face.
"Uh... P-p-p-pinkie? That i-i-i-isn't helping... *eep*" Said Fluttershy, who was now hiding under Spikes blanket. When she felt it moving she leaped into the air letting out a frightened scream and hid behind Twilight.
"Fluttershy, don't wake me up, it's midnight! I was having a nice dream where I was living in this beautiful valley with a mountain of gemstones that reappeared with each one I ate..." Said Spike who was staring at Fluttershy with drowsy eyes.
"Spike, she has every right to be scared... Even though I don't believe in ghosts, this is pretty frightening!" Just as Twilight said that, Pinkie's knee started to feel weird.
"Uh... I think something scary is about to happen." But just as Pinkie said that, a giant ghost with a weird looking tongue emerged from the floor. Everyone except Pinkie was scared.
"ooooooooohhhh! Nice special effects Twilight! I think my Pinkie sense is running on the fritz."
"P-p-p-p-pinkie! T-t-t-that's not m-m-m-m-me...:" Stuttered a wide eyed Twilight. Pinkies eyes shrunk to the size of a pin needle when Twilight said that.
"You mean that's... A genuine GHOST?!" Yelled Pinkie.
"BBBBBBBRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!" Roared the giant ghost. This was enough to send everyone into a frightened frenzy and send them out. Not Fluttershy, she fainted. Forcing to Twilight levitate her out of the Library.
"HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Laughed the giant ghost with a maniacal, evil laughter.
*Meanwhile just outside of Ponyville*
Stomper appeared alot further away from Ponyville than he expected, he could tell because he was in the everfree forest. He continued through the forest and he was surprised that he wasn't being attacked yet.
"Huh, usually a creature would attack in the everfree forest. That's just weird..." A weird, deep rumbling sound came to the left of Stomper. He knew that sound all too well!
"Oh great. A Cockatrice!" He galloped for his life towards Ponyville In a huge burst of speed! He did want to fight a Cockatrice, but this wasn't what he had in mind! He was so caught up with fleeing the creature that he charged through a thorn bush! They were puncturing his skin and leaving scars along his body. After 3 minutes of running from the creature, he stopped at a Cottage that was just outside the forest. It had a Chicken Coop and it had a bridge over a small river leading to the Cottage. He trotted over to the Cottage and started to feel dizzy.
"Uh... what the hell?" He looked at his coat and noticed that a small gash left by a thorn had started bleeding at a fast pace and it didn't help that fact that the small gash was accompanied by stabbing thorns and other cuts and bruises! He started trotting over to the Cottage faster now.
"I hope they didn't keep it locked!" He knocked on the door a couple of times and was greeted by a Bunny in a nurses cap. He looked at Stomper and froze in place. A few seconds later, he led Stomper inside and he was greeted by three (two, if you count a fainted Fluttershy) Ponies each doing something. One was a pink Mare that was staring at a window shaking like she had a nightmare and couldn't fall asleep and another was a purple Mare that was caring for a yellow Mare who was lying on a quilt with another over her. MARECEPTION!(sorry, I had to do that...) He went over to the purple Mare and started talking... although he sounded drunk.
"Can you help me?" The Mare looked up and was horrified by what was in front of her! She saw a big, mysterious Earth Pony who looked like he had moss growing on him. But she saw another thing that was growing OUT of him, a pair of twisting root like horns protruding out of his forehead. The other thing that horrified her was the injuries he was covered in.
"Um... are you okay sir? What's with those horns?" Stomper looked at he with a "is that so important?" face.
"If you could understand genes then you would notice that they were GENETIC!!! But I have no idea how because my parents didn't have any hor- anyway, I am bleeding to death and that's all you care about?!" He was really intimidating her and she was wide eyed and shocked by his sudden outburst.
"Ookay then. Stay here, I'm going to get some medical supplies." The bunny tapped the Mare on the leg and gestured her to follow him. He lead her to a room next to the stairs leading upwards and helped her find the medical supplies. She came back to a Stomper who was staring at the unconscious Mare with huge and quarter closed eyes.
"This girl... she is giving me this emotion I have never felt ever since I was with my family when I didn't know my mother's secret. Is this... happiness?" Thought Stomper as a single tear went down and somehow traveled down to the fast bleeding cut, which healed almost instantly as the tear was absorbed into the wound. He looked at the purple Mare with a somewhat sad yet happy face. Twilight was astonished at what happened but what she worried about right now was nursing Stomper back to health. She tapped her hoof on the ground as if saying to lay down. He acknowledged this, lied down next to the yellow Mare and she started treating him.
*1 minute later*
After she was done with the thorns, holes, cuts and bleeding wounds, Stomper had bandages all over him! The Mare then started introductions.
"Well... It's good to meet you. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I own the Library in Ponyville. That is Pinkie Pie over there. She works at Sugarcube Corner. This is Fluttershy and she takes care of animals over here. I can show you the other 3 tomorrow if you want! What's your name?" Throughout that entire intro, Twilight was staring at Stomper's horns and wasn't actually paying attention to Stomper.
"*sigh* My name is Stomper... and no, I'm not a Unicorn...." Said a depressed Stomper. This was too much for Twilight and she had to know.
"Um... I just noticed that throughout your visit, I barely saw a positive expression in your tone or on your fa-"
"I had a positive emotion here! It was happiness..."
"Oh... when was it again?"
"When I saw Fluttershy, she reminded me of my family.... Her beautiful looks reminded me of my Mother and Sister..."
"Oh my gosh! Did something happen to your family? I'm so sorry!"
"Don't be. Your feeling sorry about the person mostly responsible. It was 6 years ago.... You see, my Mother was a Marewolf and curiosity got the best of me. I followed her on a full moon into the forest outside our house and she was charging at me. My foolish self ran back to the house and she mauled my Father to death, bit a hole out of my Sister and she probably killed my Brother who had the only chance of survival other than me... I caused the death of my family and I let that monster out into Equestria looking for me..." By that time, twilight had tears dropping from her cheeks and down onto Fluttershy who she was standing over. The wet substance was enough to wake up the sleeping Mare.
"Uh... W-w-wha?" Mumbled Fluttershy as she opened her eyes. When she saw an injured Stallion with roots coming from his forehead was right in front of her face looking at the floor with a sad face, she flew into the air in surprise, but soon collapsed from exhaustion.
"Fluttershy! You have to calm down and don't worry. This is Stomper, he arrived just a while ago covered in injuries from the everfree forest." Fluttershy looked over at the Stallion and he looked at her as well. They were laying next to each other staring into space until Stomper spoke up.
"M-m-m-my name is Stomper." Stuttered Stomper.
"M-m-my n-name i-i-is Flutter..." Her name was barely understandable as she was really quiet. He already knew her name but he felt like he just had to hear it again.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't hear you."
"M-my name i-is Fluttershy. ... *squee*" After a long pause after saying her name, she let out a shy smile and a cute squee noise. Stomper actually smiled without sadness visible anywhere for once and Twilight actually smiled at how sweet this moment was. Even Pinkie had to look around and see what was happening and she had a huge grin on her face from the cuteness in front of her,(damn! Stompers emotions are contagious!) but then something hit Stomper.
"Hey Twilight, if you own the Library of Ponyville, aren't you supposed to you know, be at the Library?" Twilight started sweating from nervousness at that point.
"Um... well, we can't go there for now because..." Pinkie butted in the conversation.
"OOH! Because of the gh-" Twilight stuck her hoof in Pinkie's mouth to quiet her. Stomper walked over snickering.
"Hehehe... I'm sorry but were you going to say ghost?"
"Uh... she was just describing a dream she had. No Ghost haunting Ponyville and definitely no Ghost haunting a Library! No siree!" Twilight was now sweating buckets and it was even going down her leg and flowing into Pinkie's mouth.
"Okay... Don't have to go all weird about it." Stomper then looked over to Pinkie Pie.
"Are you Pinkie Pie?" Pinkie yanked Twilight's hoof out of her mouth and put on a grin that went all the way to the ends of her head.
"How do you know my name?! The only Ponies that know me live here in Ponyville unless your related to me! *gasp* THAT'S IT! You must be related to me! But I don't see the resemblance. You barely look like me and I have never seen a relative, cousin or uncle have horns like that! Are you supposed to be a tree or something? That reminds me of a talk I had with my friend Rainbow Dash! We were going to Appleloosa by train and Dashie thought Fluttershy was..." Pinkie went on and on about her and Rainbow Dash's talk on the train, then she went on about oatmeal and then a talk about these human things (Sorry fourth wall! I have gone to the Pinkie side.) and how she had a nightmare about her and this mare called Rainbow Dash where... never mind. After what felt like hours, Pinkie stopped.
"Pinkie, where do you get all of this information about fake creatures?" Twilight regretted saying that.
"From beyond this Universe of course!"
"Pinkie, if you don't stop breaking the fourth wall, you are going to get it!" Stomper's outburst surprised Twilight and amazed Pinkie.
"You know about it too?! Wait, that technically means you just broke it too." Fluttershy was listening the whole time and was just confused but Twilight has has enough of this.
"No Pinkie, he isn't related to you, I told him your name."
"Aww... It would have been nice to have a relative over!" Stomper looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Right. Anyway, I was just wondering if you have a place to stay?" Fluttershy heard this and walked over.
"Don't you want to stay here? You don't have to, it's just a suggestion..." Stomper felt honored by this.
"Is she purposefully trying to be nice to me or is she always like this?" Stomper nodded to her suggestion. "Uh... sure. You don't mind right?"
"Oh no! I don't mind at all. If you don't mind sleeping on the couch that is."
"That's okay! I slept in a variety of places." And with that, Twilight and Pinkie left for Sugarcube Corner. Twilight is staying there after the Ghost incident. Stomper get's in his place on the couch and Fluttershy go's up the stairs.
"Good night and sweet dreams." Said Fluttershy before walking through the door leading into the Bedroom. Stomper kept himself awake for 5 minutes thinking about Fluttershy.
"Why can't I stop thinking about her? Whispered Stomper to himself. "Am I... falling for her? No one has ever been able to do that before. She is one special Mare..." Continued Stomper as he finally fell asleep.
the next morning...
The sun was rising and towering over Ponyville, shining it's beautiful rays over the town and slipping through the windows of Fluttershy's cottage. The sun's rays covered Stomper and his face, causing him to wake up.
"Good morning." Said a sweet and familiar voice close by. Stomper's eyes widened as he remembered what happened last night. He looks around sitting up and see's Fluttershy in the kitchen making coffee and tea. "You don't mind if you have coffee do you?"
"Oh, I don't mind." Replied Stomper. He then notices that he has a blanket covering him. "Did you do this?" He said surprised.
"Yes, I awoke to hear you crying a bit in the middle of the night and I felt so terrible! So I got you a blanket... kissed you on the forehead... and sang you a lullaby..." Admitted Fluttershy. Stomper was astonished! Him? A big strong pony needing a kiss and a lullaby to be soothed to sleep like a crying baby?
"It's official, she is a nice pony whenever she likes it or not." "Well thanks for that... I was just remembering back to my past..." Stomper started to get a little choked up.
"Oh, please don't cry again! I can't stand it when somepony cries." Said Fluttershy climbing up onto the couch and putting a reassuring hoof on his shoulder. Stomper let out a big sigh.
"Right... sorry I worried you..." Said Stomper looking at her. As the duo were having their tea and coffee, knocking could be heard from the door. Fluttershy put her tea down and went over to the door and found Twilight and Pinkie Pie outside. They seemed eager about something...
"Hello girls! What brings you here?" Welcomed Fluttershy.
"Since Stomper might be staying here, I wanted to show him to Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash and introduce them to him." Answered Twilight.
"Okay then, Stomper, can you come here?" Called Fluttershy as Stomper did just that. "Twilight and Pinkie Pie want to introduce you to some friends here in Ponyville. Do you want to meet them?"
"Are you sure? I mean, these are ponies that have never met me. They'll find me weird!" Said Stomper. He was worried that a pony might get too uncomfortable towards him and might end up alerting the authorities.
"Don't be silly, silly billy! Some ponies might find you weird but others might find you cute or funny!" Said Pinkie feeling upbeat as always. Stomper thought about this and gave a small nod after thinking about it, still feeling unsure about what might happen.
"Okay, let's go then!" Said Twilight, eager to go on, so they did. First stop; Sweet Apple Acres!
