Prologue
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The breeze was gently swaying the field of long grass. Shimmering with different shades of gold as the bright rays of the sun shined upon it. The murmur of the soft wind was all she heard above her as she and her father rested under an apple tree, until her father spoke.
"Folkshine, have you heard of gargantuan beings of stone and metal that moved about?" A mischievous grin spreading out across his face as he said these words, he knew his daughter had a fascination toward mythical creatures as he had. But he knew she was terrified of the bigger creatures that lived in the land of Equestria.
The young filly with large turquoise eyes and a light golden coat that shone in the sunlight, stared up at her father. Eyes filling with curiosity and interest, but with a slight noticeable tinge of fear that was apparent in the way her ears dropped down. Her long flowing mane of light vermillion curling at the edges as it always did whenever she moved her head. She made a whimpering sound and replied, "N-No daddy. Are they... scary?"
With that, the father threw his head back in a bark of laughter which showed his white teeth and the insides of his mouth.
"Hahahahaha! Scary? Of course my dear! They are at least the size of an ursa minor, if not bigger. With the look that resembles a mountain, rocky, and strewn with plants and mosses!" The young filly shrank even further backwards at that, but kept her large eyes on her father.
"But mind you dear, this particular creature is not at all dangerous, unless… Unless of course you threaten IT first,"
Then he started to stroke his curled moustache.
"There is however, a tragedy to these poor things." At that, Folkshine's ears perked up. Her eyes shining ever so brightly.
"A tragedy? What's wrong with them dad?" She stood up, no longer looking afraid, but more sympathetic. Her eyes growing wider with concern, as if a mother was worried for her child. Mr.Folkshine leant closer to her until they were looking eye-to-eye. The ends of his moustache quivering as if he looked to be prepared to explain to his daughter the meaning of life.
"In protecting themselves, my dear. That is, to KILL another pony, animal, or creature. To do so, would mean that they would perish themselves. The magic that grants them life will cease. Leaving them lifeless on the spot. To age as a part of the landscape. A cruel play of the heavens if you will. As these creatures are… quite friendly and even sentient, albeit they lack the ability to speak."
The filly covered her mouth with shock, falling back onto her haunches as her eyes widen in shock. "That-That's terrible!"
A comforting hoof wrapped around her as her father embraced her in a hug. "It's just how things are, Folkshine. Remember that not all big things are as scary or dangerous as they seem… And more often then not, they will have a reason for their behaviour."
The young filly took all this in and nodded her head, a look of sympathy and understanding dawning on her face. She then closed her eyes and buried her head in her father's comforting hug. The breeze ruffling her coat and singing a strange lullaby, drifting her off to sleep.
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She awoke with a start, her mane in a mess of hair and her eyes wide in alarm. Quickly getting out of her bed, she looked in the mirror, and in the mirror she was greeted with a mare that looked like she had just had her hair ruffled by a swarm of parasprites. There were slight dark bags under her eyes. The mare groaned as she went to grab her brush. As she started to brush her flowing, yet always-so-curled-at-the-end mane, she recollected the dream she had again. She's been having it quite often as of late, though it seemed strange as it was her childhood memory of her time with her father. She looked down and pondered.
"What could it mean?"
She decided to brush the recurring dream aside for now and go into her study to look through the scrolls that were sent to her by the various adventurers that wondered the land. She worked as a scholar, but most of her time was spent collecting stories and information about creatures that inhabited this world. More so, mythical and magical creatures just as her father had done, although she worked more with information rather than actually going on expeditions. She was just too scared of the hidden and lurking horrors that came with undertaking such expeditions.
Though she herself was afraid of the many things that lived outside the safeties of Equestrian civilizations, she was still addled with the memories of the stories and adventures that she heard from her father from when she was a very young filly, though he himself passed away long ago. Many around her, friends neighbours and colleagues speculated that although Folkshine shied away from adventures, her father's blood still ran through her veins and that, with time. She will blossom to be one of the most adventurous ponies that ever lived. Just like her father.
Now, Folkshine herself knew of these rumours. But she did not believe it was true. Sure, she was the daughter of a explorer pony, but she was too afraid to face down the creatures as her father had. Thus, she relied on the explorers out there to send her the material she needed to write about the Equestrian wilderness.
"It's all nonsense… I'm not like my dad, " She muttered to herself as she sat down in the chair looking glum, and resting her head on her hoof. Starting to fiddle with the writing equipment that was strewn out across the desk in front of her.
"Well, lets just get this over with."
As she lifted her spectacles and placed them on the bridge of her nose to begin reading the pile of reports and other parchments for the day, there was a knock at the door.
Chapter 1.
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The door burst open, kicking up dust from outside, and to reveal in the early morning sun, a stallion with fair hair dark green eyes and a light grey coat.
"Goooooood MORNING, Folkshine!"
The stallion grinned wide as he approached the desk, he was carrying a dark leather saddlebag with little scrolls and books jutting out of the flaps. His entire image looked like he had been travelling for days, with dusty hooves and matted hair. But he looked as energetic as ever.
The stallion stood on his back legs, and put his elbow on the counter, peering over it to Folkshine, who was currently looking unimpressed,
"How's my favourite mare in all of Equestria?"
Rolling her eyes, Folkshine simply nudged him off the desk
"Just put the parchments in the pile, Spencer."
"As cold as ever, m'lady." The stallion simply trotted to the side of the desk and dumped the contents of his saddlebag into the medium sized crate that was already half-filled with paper and scrolls.
"So, how's your book coming? You know that most of the townspeople here in Shattered Broncs are looking forward to the second edition of your books entailing the wild creatures of Equestria."
Folkshine began to put the papers she had been examining into a neat pile on the side of the desk, then, taking her glasses off and turning her head to Spencer.
"It's… coming along fine. I've already covered all the normal creatures in the first book, you know that, right?"
Spencer nods, looking proud as if he should be commended for knowing the contents of her book,
"Well, I've begun writing about the more mythical creatures in this second book, but I lack the materials and information to write the necessary amount of detail about the creatures. I haven't got much information about dragons, and a hoofful of other things. And… Without it, my book may as well be useless" Folkshine shruged, looking matter-of-factly.
"Aaaand that's why you hire the likes of me, to get the information on these creatures."
"mhm" Folkshine nodded in assent as Spencer crossed his hooves across his chest.
Folkshine then reached under the desk and pulled out a brown pouch, as she put in towards the front end of the desk, gesturing Spencer to take it, it made a jangling sound. Instantly making it recognizable as a pouch of bits.
"Thaaank you," Spencer said as he swiped the pouch off the desk, and proceeded to place it in his saddlebag.
With a swift motion, Spencer turned around to the door, as if to leave. At that, Folkshine reached out with her hoof, as if to call out to him to stop him. But then a reproachful look dawned on her face, putting her hoof to her lips, as if in thought. Then she simply asked.
"Did you find any information about IT?"
Turning around, Spencer looked puzzled. "IT?"
Rolling her eyes to the heavens, Folkshine looked frustrated. "Yes, IT! You know? The one creature I've been TRYING to find since I was a filly?"
Spencer finally seemed to understand. "Oooohhhhh that IT!" He then raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you just call it by it's name?"
Raising her hooves into the air, then as if she had finally had enough, Folkshine facehoofed. "Because, Spencer. It HAS none! It's so bucking rare that no one even had a chance to name the thing!"
Seeming oblivious as ever to Folkshine's growing frustration, Spencer simply replied "Why not just call it a golem? It seems like one, at least from the descriptions I've heard."
With an exasperated sigh, Folkshine simply slumped across her desk, her chin resting now on the tanned wooden surface. "Spencer, a golem is a thing. It's not naturally alive, it was made by evil magic ponies to do their bidding. The creature I'm talking about was alive from the beginning. Created with the spark of life we all have." Her shining turquoise eyes slowly closing,
"...I swear every time I talk to you, I feel like I've been trying to argue with a leprechaun"
With a bark of laughter, Spencer simply gestured a farewell and left through the door. Folkshine simply sighed again.
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It was around midday, she had finished looking through the reports and was returned with nothing she was looking for. So Folkshine decided to take a break and trot out to the nearest tavern for a quick bite to eat she rounded the dusty bend in the street to see a tavern simply decorated in browns and beiges, and the sign hanging by the doorway that read "Shackled Griffon". As she entered through the door, a waft of smoke and the smell of cider greeted her. As she looked around, the tables were full. But not just with ponies, there were minotaurs, kobolds and the sort. Although the majority of them were weather beaten earth ponies with travel packs and other camping equipment.
"'Ey! Looky who it is!"
A pony whose entire body is wrapped in gauze from head to toe greeted her, raising his hoof in the middle of wiping a pint with a cloth. Whenever she had seen him, he always wore a pair of round brass goggles. The same kind Spencer and every other adventurer pony wore, although how he could see through the gauze was beyond her.
"Hey there, Jibbles. Seems like a busy day, huh?"
"T'be sure, come'ere and have a seat, I'll hand you somethin to munch on,"
Folkshine thought his accent was adorable, but she didn't let anyone know. Although, she thought she saw spencer with an understanding look on his face when she snickered at Jibbles' accent…
"So, what would'ja like?" The features of his gauze covered face seemed to have indents, as if he were smiling.
"Uhhh…" Having caught in the middle of thinking about his accent, she was lost for words. Jibbles simply grinned and waited for her to reply.
"I'd like a… loaf of bread and some jam. And a cup of apple cider thanks."
Putting pint down, then rubbing his hooves in the cloth, Jibbles nodded and said "Comin right up!", trotting over to the kitchen, which was seperated from the serving area of the tavern by a doorway lined with a curtain.
While waiting for her meal, Folkshine rested her head on the counter and listened to the hubbub of the tavern. The gruff voices of the minotaurs were the most distinctive. And she sought for a conversation that might pique her interest, so she thought why not? And decided to listen in on their conversation.
"Stupid gnolls… ing.. Gold"
"Did you hear? There seems to be a fish that's… of a … in a lake far… Northlands!"
"That's a whale, you git."
"Oh."
She simply grinned at the Minotaurs still bickering and cast her attention further. Trying to listen for anything about magical or mythical creatures. And if she could, about the one that she was searching for.
"I swear to you Joe, the mountain friggin MOVED!"
"Give it a rest, Manny, I ain't believin your lie and that's it. Now stop talkin, anyone listenin would think'a ya as gone plumb insane."
By this time, Jibbles had returned from the kitchen with a ready plate of jammed bread with extra jam just in case. And a pint of apple cider on a wooden platter.
"Any of these guys catch your int'rest?'
"Oh!'
Folkshine spun around, surprised at the sudden voice behind her head. And realized she was oblivious to his approach.
"Uhhh errm.. Just trying to… gather.. Information about youknow the-"
She began to babble, and looking at Jibbles, she realized he was grinning again. He then burst into laughter.
"Oh hush you… It wasn't suspicious at all." Folkshine's cheeks began to blush red, realizing that Jibbles was having a laugh and STILL laughing, at her expense!
When he had finally calmed down, he seemed to wipe a tear through his goggles and gauzed face. Still chuckling from his fit of laughter, he pushed the platter towards the pouting Folkshine.
" Weell, I'm just gonna leave you t'your meal. Enjoy,"
"Stupid Jibbles… mumble mumble" Embarrassed that she was caught off like that, she just dug into her food. Making a mental reminder to herself to get him back for this.
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After she had finished eating, she sought out the two rugged looking ponies by the name of Manny and Joe, realizing that what the slightly smaller pony named Manny was talking about just might be the creature that she was looking for. They were still drinking and talking in the darker more isolated corner of the tavern when she had finished her meal, and were now eyeing her as she approached.
Folkshine felt a little uncomfortable, now realizing that these two ponies were not adventurer ponies as she had initially thought, but were clad in a green and grey mottled cloaks and had their faces concealed deep in the shadow of their cowls. Seeming to blend in with the background. These were the illusive rangers that she was always hearing about. Master scouts, and mastered in the arts of strategy as well as marksmanship. The pony she saw as Manny had black hair, and black coat. With small gashes of pink on his face where she assumed he had been cut in a fight.
The other, larger pony by the name of Joe, had a shaggy blonde mane, and what seemed like a full beard. He also had a very dark brown coat, and at first glance she almost mistook them for brothers due to the near-identical dress and coat.
"Hello gentlemen," Folkshine bowed, trying to seem courteous.
The two stallions remained silent, but still ever so watchful. Eyeing her every movement, trying to evaluate her and whether or not she was a threat or not.
"Relax, I'm not a threat to the like of-" As she gestured with her front hoof, Manny drew a small knife with the most fluid movement she had ever seen. And looked ready to throw it at her. Folkshine froze instantly, her eyes widening as she focused on the tip of the blade and notice how narrow and tapered it was. Perfect for throwing.
Joe put his companion's hoof down, and the knife with it. Looking frustrated at him.
"Damnit Manny, damn you and yer twitchy hooves, did' ya forget the glint of steel is very. VERY noticeable even in the peripheral vision of a half-blind COOT?!" He hissed through his teeth, and smacked him across the forehead.
"Ow! Damnit Joe, I'm sorry! Gah!"
At their interaction, Folkshine couldn't muffle her snicker. And both of them froze in mid-action and turned to look at her again. Their eyes wide and lips in a taut line.
Joe's eyes narrowed. And leaned in further to inspect Folkshine's face. She had to draw her head back in order to prevent her face from touching his,
"What'd you want wit'us, gally?" Seemingly as if on instinct, he reached to his belt for his knives. Keeping his hoof there, but not quite touching the handle. As if a old west gunslinger was getting ready to shoot.
Folkshine took a step back and raised both her front hooves,
"Just… some information guys, no need to get any weapons involved, as you can see. I'm unarmed." She waved her hooves about, further demonstrating her point.
Manny seemed to ease up a bit slumping back into his chair, but Joe was still as unmoved as ever.
"We don’t impart information willy nilly, after all, we're rangers for a reason."
Folkshine crossed her hooves across her chest, nodding slowly.
"True, true, you ponies didn't earn your reputations by running your mouths. But I'm not interested in any ranger things, I just want to know more about what 'Manny' here saw. A moving mountain you say?"
At that, Manny's ears perked up. He brought himself up and leaned closer. Joe now looked confused, not sure what to make of this enquiry.
"Why would you even wanna know about that crazy old wive's tale by my friend over he-"
"Because I look for creatures like that and record them. I'm Folkshine, I research the fauna of Equestria and write books about them. Nice to meet you."
Joe simply looked amazed.
"Well, that changes things."
Manny began to grin.
"I reckon it's an honour. If you are who you say you are, I'd be more than glad to help you out."
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After a while spent discussing why she was so interested in this information gathered by Manner the ranger pony, Joe simply told his partner that he'd be at the gathering grounds and to come back when he was done dealing with this 'civillian'. From what she could gather, Folkshine found out that the creature Manny saw was last spotted in the whispering plains just north of the town she set up her agency in. The town itself was called Shattered Broncs, though no one knew why the founders named it that way. It was famous for it's role as a connecting point to all the trade routes, and was the most ideal for Folkshine to gather information from travellers.
Now, the town was surrounded by well weathered roads, but in between the large gaps of the roads were the wild lands. Untamed and harsh, and often filled with creatures that no pony dared to get near. Precisely why Folkshine had chosen this place. To be closer to the source of her studies.
It was a plain to the North of the town that Manny had spotted the 'moving mountain'. He had marked a spot on Folkshine's map to help.
"Thank you so much, manny. This is going to help me in amounts you can not even begin to imagine."
Folkshine hugged the ranger pony, making him blush at the cheeks
"O-oh, it's fine, just give me the bits and I'll be on my way to Joe. He gets all grumpy if I keep him waiting."
With a quick salute, he left. His cheeks still apparently red from the embrace.
"Well, looks like it's time to get to work."
Folkshine began to walk back to her office. All the while, preparing a plan to go about searching the area with the help of her friends and adventurer ponies.
Author's Note
still introductions,
