//------------------------------// // The Stallion // Story: Traveling Souls // by Vason Silversword (pen name) //------------------------------// Traveling Souls By, Vason Silversword (Pen name) --- Authors note: this is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fan Fiction done for the "National Pony Writing Month" hosted by Equestria Daily, also is my first fan fiction. I have little experience in writing novels as it stands right now, and this is an introduction to the characters I'm planning on writing more (and was written on a whim in the first place), so I apologize if this isn't very good (copyright Hasbro, and their respective owners, and stuff). Something to note is that I make a number of assumptions on the fact you have watched the whole first season and know the characters, so if you have not finished the series go do so (and if you have not WHY are you reading fan fiction?). Also this ( {writing like so, without the "()" } ) denotes when someone is speaking quietly, it's faster than just shrinking and un-shrinking text repeatedly. I plan on editing this story eventually, but for now what I have is what I have. So yah, now onto the fan fiction! Oh, and a little note that I’m going to add here in chapter one, Vason is NOT a self-insert. I just want to make that totally clear; Vason is a name I got attached to after using it for nothing for so long, and I now use it as a username and character. Vason isn’t even all that much like me. ----- Part One ----- Chapter 1: The Stallion A pony walked though the murky Everfree forest in the night. The mud on the ground felt as if it was grasping his hooves, trying in vain to keep him from leaving. He carefully watched everything, he had to mot miss a thing. Something was watching him, and it wasn't pleasant. The wooden staff was gripped calmly, and his eyes we surveying everything around him he could see. Everything from the gnarled bark of the trees, the muddy twig and weed covered ground, and the twisted, unnatural-looking undergrowth of the forest. Everything would have been nerve racking to most ponies, putting them on edge, even without the near-unbearable stench that almost anypony who wasn't used to the worst of stenches would have loathed. A giant green serpent slithered towards him, slowly moving nearer and nearer, being sure to not make a noise, and to stay out of sight. The pony felt a slight breeze on his ear, and tried to flick it away with his ear. The movement caught the already irritated serpent at the right moment, making the it try striking from just too faraway. The pony spun around, staff pointed forward. His weapon caught the serpent at exactly the right moment, the momentum of both the leaping snake, and the wooden staff made the creature fly through the air, and land in a bush. The beast hissed at what it had seen as it's prey, then began to slither into the darkness of the moon-lit forest. It knew that the risks of this hunt were to high, and the probability of succeeding too low. The pony breathed heavily for a minute, waiting to see if the next hunter would move in as the snake moved out. When nothing more came from the forest, he brought his staff up to his bag, and affixed it to the side by two clips made just for it. "I... Have to find the end of this forest soon... You have spells to keep yourself awake, you can make it. You just have to keep moving." the pony muttered to himself, words slow and heavy. He drew his hoof up slowly, and began walking once again, and once more took care to be sure that nothing avoided his sight. --- It was a normal day in Ponyville, everypony was off doing their daily routine more-or-less, and everything had gone over, without a crazy happening going on, for the past while. In a field, near a place known as the Everfree forest, there walked the yellow pegasus named Fluttershy, who was wandering around, enjoying the scenery. As she was walked, she saw a number of birds fly from the forest. "Oh my, what could have startled all those birds at once?" she asked herself, as she looked towards the forest. When she examined the edge of the trees, she noticed that there was something in the forest, walking towards the field. "EEP!" she squeaked, as she saw the thing in the forest. She inched back, as she saw the thing move forward, ever closer. With another squeak, she spun around, to find that she had just backed up into a large rock in the field. When she looked back to the thing in the forest, she saw that the thing's coloring had changed from what looked like black, to a light brown, since she last looked. That caught her by surprise, and she flew back behind the rock. She hid there for a moment. Her pink mane began to appear from behind the rock, as she peeked out, to see what was the thing was. It was a unicorn stallion, who had come out of the forest, and the color change was simply from the light hitting his coat. He was tired-looking, his eyes closed, and his head lowered. He had a light brown coat, and a black mane that was parted to both sides, coming up, then hanging down. He had a scar over his right eye, directly above the eyebrow. The pony also had some kind of well-used armor on, as well as a red cape, with a dark red stripe going around the whole thing, that was connected to the armor by two gold circles on the front and back of his neck. The stripe on the cape left a bit of red on the edge, and in the center, giving off a unique appearance. The brown stallion also carried a large bag that seemed to be carrying a great number of things, as well as a large stick of some sort that was attached to the side of the bag. As Fluttershy watched with her cyan eyes, she wondered if he was okay, but then, she saw that he attempted to do some kind of magic, and while it startled her, she kept on watching. The stallion's horn had began to glow, and his whole body started to as well, but he struggling to do just that. The glow only lasted for half a second, and with that, he shook his head, and began mumbling to himself. The pony never opened his eyes, or looked up. He took three more steps, stopped, and then tried magic again. The glow was weaker, and shorter, than before. With a third attempt, he managed only to get his horn to glow. With a slow shake of his head, he began to lay down, but only made it halfway down, before falling. Fluttershy had seen him the whole time, and now began to panic a bit. "Oh my, oh my! W-what do I do?" the pegasus asked herself, unsure if she should try to carry him somewhere, or if she should get help first. She decided it would be best to first move him away from the Everfree forest, just to be sure that he would be safe from all the creatures that dwelt within. She went up to him, grabbed him by the tail, and tried to drag him away from the forest. This, however, proved harder than she expected, as he, and his things, were very heavy. She could not even get him halfway to the rock she had hidden behind when she tried to move him. Fluttershy decided that she should go and try to find help if she planed on moving him to the medical clinic in town. Thus, she flew off to find help. --- The town square was not that far away, and she went there first to try and find somepony to help. "Help, help! Please? Somepony is injured by the Everfree forest!" she called, however nopony took notice, because she was so quiet that she sounded like she was talking to somepony else, to everypony within earshot. "Howdy Fluttershy! How's everythin'-" Fluttershy's orange-coated friend Applejack called out, as she came up to her with a cart, but was cut off by said pegasus. "Applejack, thank goodness! Quick, we need to go help somepony. He's injured by the Everfree forest!" A-also we should probably bring the cart, {i-if that's okay with you}." Fluttershy explained quickly. Applejack knew that this was important, as the shy pegasus was rarely able to interrupt anypony for anything, even when she really needed to. Applejack slid the stetson hat she always wore back to show her blonde hair before speaking. "Alright, lead the way Fluttershy!" she replied, ready to help her friend with whatever she needed help with. "This way!" Fluttershy called back, and the two immediately started galloping to the Everfree forest. --- Applejack and Fluttershy made it a decent distance before the earth pony decided to ask her yellow friend what was going on. "So sugarcube, what d'y'all need mah fer that's so urgent?" she asked, as she has heard less information from Fluttershy than the one time Spike came running to them about their friend Rarity being kidnapped by Diamond Dogs. "Somepony c-came out of the Everfree forest, and collapsed. I-I couldn't get him to the clinic, s-so I had to get some help, and you were the first pony who helped." explained Fluttershy. "Alright, then let's hurry up, and go help him!" replied Applejack, as she started to pick up speed to get there. --- The pair made it to the field very quickly, and found that the stallion had not moved, nor had been touched, by anything since the cyan-eyed pony had left. "T-there he is Applejack!" Fluttershy exclaimed, as she pointed to where the stallion had fallen. The two hurried over to him, and started to move him into the cart immediately. Applejack examined him with her green eyes, something about him seemed familiar, yet distant. "My, he's a strong lokin' fella! Heavy, too!" Applejack commented as she began to lift him. The two ponies got him moved into the cart, and Applejack got back in front of the cart. "Hey, if ya don't mind, could'ja help me push this here cart. It's rather heavy with him in it, so Ah might need some help." she asked, and Fluttershy nodded. "Of course, why wouldn't I?" she smiled, and got behind the cart with her fore-hooves on the backboards of the cart, ready to help push. When Applejack started to pull the cart, Fluttershy began pushing, and the two were off to the medical clinic with the stallion. --- They made it most of the way to the medical clinic before Applejack started to slow down a bit. The clinic wasn't far, and the roads made it easier for her to pull the cart. "Alright Fluttershy, go ahead an' make sure Nurse Redheart ain't doin' nothin' too important, an' don't worry 'bout me; Ah've moved heavier. Get there an' back real quick, ya hear sugarcube?" Applejack said as she pointed Fluttershy onward. The yellow pony decided not to argue, since Applejack was right. She should go ahead, and check with Nurse Redheart. The Pegasus flew over the cart, and went ahead to the clinic as fast as she could. --- Fluttershy reached the clinic quickly, and looked around when she made it inside. "{Hello, N-Nurse Redheart?}" Fluttershy asked, looking around inside the clinic. "Oh, hello Fluttershy, no none of your friends are in. What's the reason you're here?" replied Nurse Redheart, making a tiny inside joke. "Actually, somepony came out of the Everfree forest, and he collapsed. Y-you are open, right?" replied Fluttershy, who was in a hurry. "Of course I'm open, what should I prepare to get him here?" Nurse Redheart asked, as she got some things ready. "Applejack is bringing him over right now, and I really should go help her with that. {W-will you be fine on your own, Nurse Redheart?}" answered Fluttershy. "Of course, go and help Applejack bring him here. I'll be ready in a second on my own." and with that, Nurse Redheart went to get her things ready in the clinic itself, and Fluttershy went back to help Applejack. --- It did nottake long for Fluttershy to reach Applejack, and then it took almost no time at all for them to get back to the clinic. When they did get there, Nurse Redheart was ready for the stallion, and the three of them got him onto a bed with ease. Nurse Redheart asked Fluttershy and Applejack to wait outside. That was, if they were going to wait for him, as it would be a while before she was done. Thus, the two waited in silence, both wondering what was going on with him, both just waiting. After a while, Fluttershy got antsy, and Applejack caught onto this quickly. "Ah'm sure he'll be fine sugarcube, an' he probably jes needs ta be patched up!" Applejack reassured her yellow friend, who appeared to clam down a bit. "{I-I... I hope your right...}" mumbled Fluttershy, who was worried about the stallion. "Are you girls still here?" asked Nurse Redheart, as she came out to check on them. "And if you are wondering about him; he is completely fine. Well, beyond all the strange scars he has on him, but none of them are fresh, so he should be fine. He probably just needs his rest." "{S-scars? W-why would he have scars?}" Fluttershy asked. "I would guess that he might do stunts like Rainbow Dash, but he's not a pegasus, and his coat is discolored around the scars, something you just don't see. Anyway, I'm sure you can ask him when he wakes up. Now, you two should go back to whatever it was you were both doing. There's not much of a point in staying here. I'm even going to go over some paperwork, so I won't be open to chat. See you two later." Nurse Redheart explained, and went to the paperwork she had mentioned. "Alright, Ah'll see you later Fluttershy. We both should get back ta what we were doin'." "Okay. Bye Applejack, bye Nurse Redheart. Thanks for helping, both of you." --- Applejack went and brought the cart back to her farm. She had to go help Pinkie Pie with some baking, as she was taking an order that needed a large number of apples. Applejack had brought earlier for an order, and, after all she was the town's expert when it came to apples, even more so than her older brother. When the earth pony got to Sugarcube Corner, she was greeted by Ms. Cake, who was at the front desk. "Oh, hello Applejack, how are you? Pinkie Pie is waiting for you in the kitchen, just so you know." she informed Applejack. "Why Ah'm fine, an' thank ya very much fer letting me know where Pinkie is. Ah'd stop an' chat, but Ah'm kinda late fer helping Pinkie Pie, so Ah'm just going to hurry on an' help her, if ya don't mind." answered the blonde earth pony, and Ms. Cake shook her head. "Oh not at all dearie. You should hurry up and help her out. I'll see you later then Applejack." "Ah'll see ya around Ms. Cake, thanks fer letting me know where Pinkie is." --- Applejack waked into the kitchen, and looked around to find her pink-coated friend. "Hey Pinkie Pie. Sorry 'bout bein' so late and all. Ah had to help Fluttershy with somethin' real important." Explained Applejack. Pinkie Pie pulled her head back out of the oven, her curly magenta mane falling down when she reached her head straight back. She had already started to get baking since Applejack had taken so long. "Geez Applejack, I've NEVER seen you THIS late!" Pinkie Pie responded, not annoyed, but surprised at how 'the loyalest of friends and most dependable of ponies' was late to helping her with something she had already committed to earlier. It was even stranger for her because of the fact that she had brought apples earlier, on time no less. "Well, except that one time you tried to harvest Sweet Apple Acres all on your own, but you don't look, OR sound, sleepy..." Pinkie Pie added, her blue eyes drifting to her left slightly, then shifted them to look back at Applejack. "Your not doing that again, ARE you?" Pinkie accused her friend, who baked up a bit, and shook a hoof. "Oh no, Ah learned mah lesion back then, an' Ah ain't ever makin' THAT mistake again!" she explained, and that was enough to get Pinkie Pie to back off with her intense stare. "Okie-Dokie-Lokie, but can you tell me about why you were so late, after being early with the apples?" the energetic pony asked, as she tilted her head after 'early'. "Well," Applejack started her explanation, "Fluttershy was near the Everfree forest fer some reason or another, an' she saw this one fella come out of the forest, an' then collapsed. She then went ta get some help, then Ah saw her, an' helped out. We picked him up, an' brought him to the medical clinic. After that, we waited around a bit to see if he was alright, Nurse Redheart said he was fine, so we left. Then Ah had to go drop off the cart, an' so that's why Ah was so late Pinkie, so... sorry 'bout that." "Well thanks for letting me know. Who was it by the way Applejack?" asked Pinkie after hearing the explanation. "Ah don't think y'all would know him sugarcube." answered Applejack, who started getting ready for baking, before the pink pony giggled at her friend's response. "Silly Applejack! I know EVERPONY in Ponyville! How about you just describe him to me?" "Well, he's got a light brown coat, was wearing some kinda big bag with a stick attached to it, got a red cape, has a black mane, an'-" "OOH, OOH, OOH, I KNOW, I KNOW!" Pinkie Pie called out, interrupting Applejack. "He knew Twilight in that one school she went to before she came here to Ponyville, and he also lives here! I'm not too sure about that, but I have seen him and Twilight talking sometimes, so I THINK he lives here. I don't know why he could have a cape though." Pinkie Pie explained, and went back to getting all the ingredients ready for baking. "Actually Ah know who yer talking about, an' no it's not him. He's a unicorn, an' 'sides the fella who we picked up looks like he could give Big Macintosh some competition, 'least judging from his size." Applejack pointed out, "So, what are we bakin' taday Pinkie?" she asked, and looked over to Pinkie, who and drooped her head a bit, as she did not actually know him. Hwever, the sadness however was very short-lived due to a quick realization. "*GAAAAAAAAASP!* THERE'S SOMEPONY NEW IN TOWN!" she yelled out, and with that, she zoomed out of the kitchen to somewhere, and Applejack sighed as Pinkie had just simply dashed off, but before even a thought could fully form, Pinkie zoomed back in. "Silly me! I was SOOOO exited about the new pony that I forgot I was IN Sugarcube Corner!" "At least y'all came back." chuckled Applejack, "Now Ah'll help ya with the party if we have time after we bake, now what was it y'all wanted ta get to first." --- At the same time that Applejack had gotten to Sugarcube Corner, Fluttershy had gotten a book from her house. She was gong to the library that Twilight worked and lived in to return a book. When the pegasus came to the treehouse, she knocked on the door and waited for her lavender-coated friend to answer the door. After a minute, Twilight opened the door with her magic, and Fluttershy came inside. "Hello Fluttershy what brings you here?" asked Twilight, when she saw her friend come inside. Fluttershy also noticed her pegasus friend Rainbow Dash as well. "Hello Twilight, hello Rainbow Dash. I just came here to drop this book off that I borrowed Twilight, {I-I'm not interrupting a-anything, a-am I?}" replied the shy pegasus. "Nope, your not interrupting important anything at all Fluttershy, we're just cleaning up since SOMEPONY nocked over ALL the books in the library, again." Twilight explained, and then she gave Rainbow Dash a sharp glare with her violet eyes. "Hey, your tree is the best place to crash-land. What else am I supposed to do when I have to land somewhere?" replied Rainbow Dash in her defense, Twilight was going to argue further but figured it would be best to save it for later. "That's not too important. Could I get the book that you said you were returning, since Dash and I are replacing every single book in the library." responded Twilight. "Yes, one second, I just need to get it." Fluttershy replied, then opened her bag and grabbed the the book that she had borrowed, and placed it on a table in the middle of the room. "Thank you Twilight, I really enjoyed the book, just like you said I would. A-also i-if you don't mind can I get a glass of water?" "Sure Fluttershy, here I'll get one right now." the dark-blue maned unicorn answered, then used her magic to bring a glass of water for Fluttershy, without even leaving what she was doing. "Hey Fluttershy, do you mind if I ask about what you were doing with Applejack earlier, didn't really get a clear look when I was flying overhead. You two looked like you were in some kind of a big rush." asked Rainbow Dash, who had been flying overhead when they were going to get the stallion. "W-well, I saw this stallion come out of the E-everfree forest, and h-he was incredibly tired and even collapsed. I-I had to help him, but I couldn't, so I had to go get somepony to help me so. I went to the town square, and that's when I ran into Applejack, who had that cart. I asked her to help me out with bringing him to the medical clinic, and she agreed. When we got back to him, we put him in the cart, brought him to the clinic, and that's about it. A-also, he didn't wake up by the time we had left." she explained, holding the water glass in her hooves, shining it nervously. "Do you mind describing him Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. "I'm wondering if it is somepony I know." "He's a light brown unicorn with a black mane, and apparently has a number of strange scars on him. He had some kind of armor on, a red cape, a big bag, and some kind of large stick, but besides that I don't know anything." Fluttershy answered, then took a big drink from her glass. "It must be nice not having to not taste books Twilight..." the pink-maned pegasus replied. Twilight started thinking about the description of the stallion, and out of curiosity Rainbow Dash flew over to the stack of books that Twilight was moving books from, picked up the top book with her mouth. All of her rainbow-colored mane stood on end as she cringed at the taste of the history book. "Yes, definitely on the history books..." whispered Rainbow Dash, "I'm going to get some water now!" Rainbow added before flying into the kitchen. "Go ahead Rainbow Dash. Anyways, I think you might have picked up an adventurer, judging from what he had on him at least. However, I don't know for sure, but I can't think of any other reasons somepony would be wearing a red cape around..." Twilight pointed out. "I-I guess that makes sense, {b-but wouldn't that be dangerous?}" replied Fluttershy, who was still worried for the stranger she had rescued. "Weellllll... I guess it would be, but generally adventures travel in groups for safety, and to help one another accomplish things greater than they could have accomplished alone." the unicorn explained, receiving her friend of some of her worrying. "That's nice to know." Fluttershy commented before taking a sip of water. "This guy sounds pretty cool if he is an adventure. Not as cool as the Wonder Bolts, or me, but really, who is. Why don't we all go see if he's awake later today, I think it would be cool to meet him. You two up for it?" Rainbow Dash asked, seeming to be eager to meet him. "I would love to, how about we see if he's up at seven, and if not we just head back and try again tomorrow?" replied Twilight. "Well, I'm open as well, so I guess I'll come too, that is, if you don't mind..." "Alright then, I guess we meet him at seven. Although, are we going to be done in time Twilight?" "Yah, I'm sure the two of us can be done by then, if we work fast enough, and you should have enough time to go grab something if you have to Fluttershy." Twilight explained. "You know, I can help you two with the books, if you want some help, well if you need help..." "I wouldn't want to ask of you to drop whatever plans you might have had Fluttershy, I'm sure we can handle this on our own." Twilight answered, and smiled. "Though another pony would really help. So if you aren't doing anything, then your help would be really appreciated." "I don't have any other plans today, so I'll help you two out. Just let me know what you need help with." Fluttershy answered, a smile on her face as she tilted her head to the side. --- Elsewhere, in the Everfree forest, a cloaked pegasus flew out from the trees, and looked out over the forest, seeking something. His eyes began to glow, and he looked out over the forest. His eyes caught onto a small town over on the horizon, a shine covering the town. When he blinked his eyes returned to normal, and the glow was gone. "V, V, V, always ahead... Oh well, I must be on my way..." the pegasus mumbled, as he started descending, back into forest. "Won't be you ahead for long." the pegasus said once more, and passed through the canopy of the forest, into its interior.