A Story of Freytara

Okay, not so easy.

I was looking at my phone, looking over Wikipedia pages of metallurgy and tech. Turns out I could connect to the internet back... on my template’s earth. It's still so strange. I remembered much about it from my various musings on the internet, but it’s nice to have a refresher. Turns out that first I needed ore. Who knew, right?

I looked to my left and regarded the growing pile of rocks and various ores.

Check.

Next, I needed a blacksmithy. The former tribe here used to have an adequate blacksmithing site for all their needs, but I decided I’d have to upscale it.

Another problem was workforce. Don’t get me wrong, I’d learned to respect and like the heck outta the mutts, but I needed more than just strong arms and backs. I called up a mental image of the immediate area on Freytara.

I remember there being a pony city here, as well as a minotaur/griffin trade site. Fast wings and even more strong arms and backs I could be adding. Which reminds me, I still need a flag.

I pocketed my phone and walked up to Bigpaw. He’d seemed to warm up to me after I had a lapse of logic and bullied my way to power. Turned out he was just the least pansy out of all of them. It was almost as if they needed a guy with the confidence to lead them. Heh. I could trust them for the time being.

I walked out of Town Doge (I need to convince the dogs to change the town name) towards the pony town called Bronzehoof. Yes, quite quaint. Hopefully, it would mean that there were some neat pony metallurgists here, too.

I mean, after the first few times I tried my hand at metalworking and kept accidently making flawless swords after the first few hammer strikes and consequent shower of sparks, I decided it was time to more or less ditch conventional metallurgy theory and learn more about how metallurgy works here. I was pretty sure swords weren’t made from only a few hammer strikes, but this was cartoon land, after all. I was also sure they weren’t supposed to look polished, either, especially when I hadn’t actually polished them.

I stopped at the outskirts and looked into the town.

...Huh. This looks like a transplanted Ponyville.

Sure enough, the thatched roof houses and dirt paths were eerily similar to that of Ponyville. The ponies gave me several glances here and there, but generally, they went on about their day. I walked a while before realizing I had no idea where to go, so I asked a passing pony, “Do you happen to know where the nearest blacksmith is?”

The teal pony pointed a hoof down the street, and there, sure enough, was a cobblestone building with a giant bronze horseshoe on it.

“Oh, thank you.”

The pony barely regarded me, so I went on my merry way, feeling rather stupid. As I neared, I heard the sound of a hammer to anvil. A very good sign, indeed. I entered and found an aged bronze and brown-colored unicorn hard at work on... something. Eh. Not really the reason I was there.

He had noticed me, so he asked, “Can I get ye something, stranger?”

I walked up to him and said, “Knowledge of the inner workings of metallurgy.”

I then leaned in close to his face and grinned.

“All of it.”

5 hours later...

“And I’ll be sure to send along some carts with enough ore to last you several years. Thanks,” I promised.

Walking out of the blacksmith, I looked for the town hall to begin my takeover. I found the tallest building that looked like a recolored Ponyville Town Hall, so I made that my destination. I was now beginning to suspect the ponies had cookie cutter architecture schools. Anyway, I had to remember my whole takeover plan as I walked in. I saw a grey-tan earth pony stallion at the desk, going over his files. He looked up and asked, “Yes?”

I placed my hands on his desk and asked, “Who’s the sovereign here?”

The pony tilted his head to the side and replied, “...Me?”

I rolled my eyes and ask, “What’s the name of the nation here?”

The pony looked around, then said, “Bronze...hoof?”

I told the completely gender-reversed Mayor Mare, “Figures. I have a little proposition for you.”

I now had the stallion’s full attention, but he was growing nervous, so I said,

“This town can become a part of the rising Freytaran Empire. You’ll remain in charge of this town, but you’ll answer to me. I’m not going to impose a tribute on you, but I’m not stopping you from helping our little endeavor. In return, I’ll help you turn this town from almost a mirror of Ponyville to a bustling metropolis that is unrivaled even by Manehatten or Las Pegasus. Your name will become synonymous with success. What say you?”

Somehow, that won him over. Must have been the cartoon nature of this world. Or because I was the only human I got more awesomeness than if there were 20 or 2,000 of us. Hey, a lot of things in this place had been like this so far. I was just going to roll with it.

We shook on it, and I was on my merry way.

Now for that trade hub. That didn't take long, seeing as it was just outside the town hall.

...

Look at all the things here...

Boss Ty said not to worry about Boss Ty but now I sometimes worry about Boss Ty.

Sorry, Boss Ty.

After coming back from the pony town, Boss Ty’s been in the forge, which Boss Ty’s renamed “Vulcan’s Forge.”

I don’t get it.

I thought he was called Ty. Boss Ty said that Ty was short for something, but Boss Ty didn’t say.

Anyways, Ty has shut himself in the forge and it has been spewing smoke ever since. We only ever see Ty if he wants some more materials.

Hope he’s been feeding alright.

Wait, there’s been a loud bang at Vulcan’s Forge.

Better see if he’s alright.

I will never experiment with magnesium and ammonium perchlorate again.

As I staggered out of Vulcan’s forge, cradling my face, Bigpaw came up to me and said something. Unfortunately, I could only hear a painful ringing noise at the moment. Bigpaw said something again, and I shouted, “My ears! I can’t hear! What?!”

Bigpaw scurried off and brought several other nurse dogs (where did they get those little ratty nurse outfits?), who wasted no time in looking me over. I sat down so as to make their task easier. As they fretted over me, my sense of hearing returned.

“Boss Ty! Boss Ty! Are you alright!” worried Big Paw.

I then shrieked, “Stop shouting! I'm fine!”

All the dogs recoiled. I sighed, “I’m sorry. I just messed up an experiment that nearly blinded me and made me deaf. That sucked.”

Bigpaw dismissed the nurses and said, “Boss, uh, we’ve got company.”

Blinking, I puzzled, “Huh? Oh. Take me to him.”

Fidgeting with his paws, Bigpaw elaborated, “It’s... uh, more of a they, boss.”

“...What happened while I was mucking about?” asked I.

Getting onto all fours, Pigpaw signaled after himself and said, “Follow me!”

I sighed again and followed Bigpaw. Soon enough, I saw battered and tattered pony refugees... what?

A voice cried out, “T-Ty!”

Mayor Bronzehoof ran up to me and bowed.

“I-I require your help!” he mumbled.

I looked around at all the expectant ponies and dogs and blinked. I knelt down and pulled up Bronzehoof’s gaze to meet mine. I asked, “What happened?”

With wide, bronze eyes, Bronzehoof said in a panic, “Th- The bandits! They came out of nowhere!”

Oh, boy.

I stood up and addressed everybody.

“The bandits might still be around! Join with us and we may bring these bandits to imperial justice!”

Okay, that was a bit much. Still, it had the desired effect. I went back into Vulcan’s Forge and got my swords, which I treated and retreated, as per the so-called “advanced” metallurgy techniques of this world. It also helped that techniques from my template’s world still applied here.

That’s right.

I had two Ulfberht swords.

I had also made some plate armor. Due to this world using the weird logic that it does, it was easy. I even padded the thing. Huzzah for my internet availability!

Oh, I’d also made lots of other stuff for testing the various logics of this world compared to the logic of my template’s world. Thankfully, most of the crafting logic was similar to that of my template’s earth, if just a bit simplified. It seemed a bit silly, but I shouldn’t complain. It was when the accidental products of my experimentation were distributed to the militia (which still impressed them as if I had master-crafted them) when I heard some horns in the distance.

I freaking knew it.

Action sequence time!

I stood outside of town, wearing the ramshackle plate armor I experimented with and cloth padding for the joints. I may not have quite looked the part yet, but I’d probably get the chance to look like something from medieval Europe or something later.

Oh, here they come. Oh, crap. They’re minotaurs, and huge. Looks like the biggest one’s in charge. What’s he reaching for... oh, that’s a big sword.

The big guy trumpeted, "I am Bullheart! Are you the one they call Ty?”

Macho Madness, much?

I responded by shouting, “I’m Ty, yeah. What’s it to you?”

The minotaur bulls laughed.

Bullheart mocked, “You look like a gangly little calf. Ha! This should be easy. Hand over those fancy things of yours.”

I sighed.

Bullheart then screamed, “Did you not hear me?!”

Did I just sigh out loud?

I dismissively waved a hand and said, “I heard you. Why should I hand over my things?”

Pounding his cloven feet into the ground, Bullheart roared, “Don’t you get it? I could pound you into dust!”

Looks to be that you probably could.

Hiding my shaking hands, I swung my swords and cried out, “Well, then. Let’s spice this up. I challenge you to a duel!”

The bulls laughed again.

Himself laughing, Bullheart proudly and loudly dared, “Okay, little calf. Let’s have some fun!”

Okay, okay this was stupid. I immediately regret this decision.

I drew both of my new swords and concentrated. My people needed me. They stood behind me, shaking in place. Bullheart and I charged at each other. He swung his sword, and I swung my swords at his.

A loud clang sounded in the air!

That’s odd. It’s almost as if...

I looked, and his sword was in pieces. I looked up from the pieces on the grass and looked at Bullheart, who was holding what remained of his sword. I recovered from my shock faster by laughing. I laughed long and hard. I held both my swords up, and I got a big ol’ maniacal smile on my face.

The bandits fled. I gave chase for a while. When I couldn’t see their fleeing forms anymore, I returned to Doge town. The militia stood frozen as I walked through them. I saw Bronze Hoof with wonder on his face. I patted him on the head and said, “What a rush, huh?”

I laughed again. Slowly the crowd around me started to chuckle too.

After the shock wore off, I felt slightly lightheaded... then I fell over.