The two nature admirers walked down the paths between the animal enclosures, away from the noise and crowds of the main party celebrating the opening of the animal sanctuary complex in White Tail Woods.
Fluttershy is always more at home with animals than she is with people, something that changed little even with her friends of the other Mane Six and Discord. She is an introvert, shy and uncustomed to being in the presence of large crowds of ponies, even if they are friendly and as enthusiastic with nature as she is. This was also partly the reason why she disliked being present in urban centres; the concrete jungles of metropolises always seemed to be so hard and lifeless compare to the natural ones they imitate, filled with smog and pollution, and she wanted no part in the busy and bustling lives that dwell there are used to, in the presence of so many ponies, and yet so few living things that she could truly related to.
It was always out here, alone, in midst of nature, where she can commune with the animals and plants that dwelled there, could she find peace.
To her surprise, she didn’t expect some-pony – some ONE – being out here for the same reasons as she does, to get away from the crowds and view the animals present. He was one of the guests invited to the opening, a philanthropist who had donated considerable amounts of money in donations that allowed for the sanctuary to be established.
He wore a green formal jacket on his person, with a red scarf around his neck, but the most notable feature about him was his species: he is a Deer, who used to be a member of a forest realm of Deer, although by his own words he parted from them on rather 'bitter terms'.
He seemed to love nature and resented the presence of industry as much as she does; something that allowed her to relate to him. However, he did so for different reasons; where she found beauty in the gentle woods and groves and the little critters that dwell there, he preferred the deep, dark forests of old, and admired more the great beasts that dominated these biomes. He seemed to possess a morbid fascination with the deadly predators, and his encyclopaedic knowledge there might potentially surpass even hers.
That is not to say Fluttershy doesn’t know or admire her own share of these creatures, like the vampire jackalope, but he seemed to like them far more than it seemed healthy for a nature lover or any normal individual.
Still, none of them let these differences bothered them, and they struck up quite a conversation on their mutual likes and dislikes as they proceed to the next enclosure.
“… Truth be told, I never thought of these little critters as ‘weak’ or ‘feeble’ in any way. I think all animals possess their own unique strengths, it’s just that it’s not always apparent. I mean, think of the Runner Mice.” Fluttershy said, pausing briefly to look at the little critters in their enclosure, wanting so much to nuzzle them through the glass panels, “They may not be as big and powerful as the lion or the leapord, but they still thrive in the bushes of Zebrica where they lived. Their strength lies in their powerful feet – fast enough to out-run or out-manoeuvre any predator that want to eat them. Survival doesn’t need living things to be able to kill or savage its prey and rivals all the time.”
“A fair point, I admit…” The Deer replied, briefly gazing upon an enclosure housing a pack of wolves, “But they would not be able to do any more than that. The Runner Mice could hope to endure and thrive, but they would forever beset by predation, remaining little more than prey for larger beasts above it. Compare them to the various alpha predators; in every biome, they stand firmly at the top of the food chain as the most powerful life form, dominant in every way over its inferiors and competitors. They need not fear for their own existence, and they need not to hide or run from any predator or threat, because they as predators possesses the strength, traits and instincts, optimized over countless generations of ruthless natural selection and adaptation, to overcome any enemy or adversity. There is a reason why more than half of all sapient beings on this world are predators, Lady Fluttershy, or at least capable of predation: like the Griffons, the Diamond Dogs, or even…” He said grudgingly, “The dragons as well. Only acts of nature so great that few could escape it except by luck, like extinction events, can possibly remove them from their thrones. Knowing this, the answer to which animal is more worthy of survival is rather obvious.”
“Well, I suppose you are right… to a point.” Fluttershy’s face soured slightly as she mused over what he said, “I think you’ll like the next animal we’ll be seeing. They lived high up in cliff faces of valleys and mountains.”
“Ah yes, Pecker’s Eagles. A newly discovered species of predatory birds. I have heard of them.” The Deer said, his voice betraying a hint of almost giddy excitement, “Yes, I do believe we’ll both find them admirable.”
They stopped before that enclosure, and found them roosting in their nests on the artificial cliff-face. Many were already sleeping, but a few were still awake and moving about. One of them stretched, flaring its wings of brown and golden feathers…
“Sweet Celestia!” Fluttershy gasped as she beheld the birds before them – so proud, strong and majestic, even at rest. “Can you believe any eagle can have such great and beautiful wings?”
The Deer too seemed enraptured by the spectacle, “I can hardly believe it myself… until I see it now, right here.” He muttered. Then, he recalled something, and decided to humour her question, “Of course, from what I heard, reaching such perfection in physical form is not an easy process for these great predators. Do you know how they get their wings to such state?”
“Oh? Please do tell…” Fluttershy asked, but something nagged at her, as if she feel this was something she might regret knowing.
“Well, according to those who discovered it.” The Deer explained, “The parent Pecker’s Eagle would often scrutinize the wings of their hatchlings as they grew, looking for any imperfections. If they see one, they would peck at their hatchlings’ featherless wings, injuring and tearing it, stopping only to allow it to recover and can be re-examined again. They repeat this process until they judge the wings’ conditions are to their liking.”
Fluttershy blanched at what she heard, “That’s… that’s horrible! Why would they do that?”
“Necessity. Their habitat is often afflicted by harsh and windy weather, not to mentioned filled with many competitors for food.” The Deer noted, “However painful it may be, once they heal, these wings would regrow stronger in strength and in better forms, capable of overcoming these conditions. And when these hatchlings are old enough, their parents would throw them over the nests’ side, down the cliffs, and see which one of their hatchlings could use their wings to slow their fall. Only those that do would be judged fit for them to teach them true flight, having shown to have the natural instincts to master the wings they were given.”
“And those that don’t…?” Fluttershy let that question hanged.
The Deer raised an eyebrow at that question, “They die. Simple as that.” He said rather contemptuously.
At Fluttershy’s horrified look, he added, “It's not too different from the way the Runner Mice raise their young, to be honest. The Runner Mice values only speed and agility. During nest migrations, the parents observe their young and see who possesses these traits the most. Those that did receive the lion's share of their attention and care; those that don't will not. And that's assuming the slow ones are not left behind at all."
Fluttershy looked at her companion, her heart almost about to break. "Can there be no better way?"
The Deer shrugged, "The law of the world is the law of the jungle, Lady Fluttershy." He said simply, "I used to think otherwise. But then I saw nature as it really is." He added cryptically. "Even as we speak, thousands of animals are being eaten or sickened, and thousands more would suffer and die in one random circumstance or another. There's no rhyme or reason to it all; nature simply doesn't care. In this pitiless and indifferent existence, only the strongest and fittest can hope to survive and prevail. They know this, on an almost instinctive level; that is why they do what they do. This is simply the truth, and an inevitability."
Fluttershy looked back at the Pecker's Eagles in the enclosure, ruminating deeply, her mind struggling to comprehend the monstrous unfairness and cruelty of it all.
Then, she took a deep breath.
"You are wrong." Fluttershy declared, her voice soft as ever, but firm in its tone, "Or at least, you aren't entirely right about nature."
The Deer's eyes widened at that retort. Then, he gave a chilling smile, "Well then, Lady Fluttershy, do feel free to enlighten me."
Fluttershy smiled back.
In addition to many mundane animals and plants, Equestria and the lands beyond boasts a wide diversity of exotic wildlife. Ponies can find them easily if they know where to look, although many of them are known to be dangerous and unpredictable to various degrees. For animal and plant lovers everywhere, here are a list of the various wildlife, animals and plants, that could be found in Equestria and around the world.
Amarok
Scientific Name: Canis dirus amarok
"In the frozen north, never go out at night alone."
The Amarok is a gigantic predatory wolf indigenous to the Frozen North. The creature resembles a grey wolf, but is far larger, the adults being roughly the size of an adult Yak and immensely strong.
Unlike normal wolves, they do not hunt in packs, rather alone, though adult females with their young are not uncommon sights.
Possessing an Amarok pelt is seen as a huge point of pride among the Yaks due to the frightening nature of the creatures, but even Yaks will not hunt an Amarok alone.
Biology:
Amaroks at their basic level are identical to their smaller cousins, only much stronger and more durable. Their bones are much thicker and an Amarok will often take an immense amount of punishment to bring down. Their physical strength is immense, enough for an adult Yak to struggle to overpower it in one on one combat.
These creatures possess a keen sense of smell and hearing. Combined with being extremely resistant to cold, their favorite hunting strategy is to hunt during a blizzard, giving them a sizable advantage.
They will hunt anything smaller than themselves, including young Yaks and ponies, but their primary food source are large creatures that share their habitat. However, they will be wary of large groups.
However, these creatures are not without weaknesses. Their senses can be overpowered by strong smells or loud noises, which can scare them off. They're also deathly terrified of fire, and one of the best ways of evading them is torches or other fire sources. Flame spells are another way to scare them off.
Amaroks are nocturnal, and only come out at night, so most of the time the day in the frozen north gives little to worry about from these creatures.
Habitat:
Amaroks are exclusive to the frozen north, as they have poor heat resistance for the same reason they're so resilient to cold. Due to their hunting style, they prefer areas with frequent blizzards.
Also, due to their solitary nature, when you see one Amarok, you are very unlikely to see another for a good distance as a single Amarok tends to claim a very large territory. The only exception is a mother with her cubs.
They often live in caves and forested areas.
Danger:
Amaroks are considered extremely dangerous due to their aggressive nature capacity for doing harm. It is advised to never travel the Frozen North alone at night.
Aniwye
Aniwye mephitis (striped) and Aniwye spilogale (spotted)
"Give it its distance. Preferably upwind."
The Aniwye is a large member of the family Mephitidae, better known as Skunks, indigenous to Everfree Forest and other deep woods. Whereas normal ones are about as big as a cat or dog, this one is larger than your average pony, and much more fierce in both appearance and temperament.
This creature is largely harmless if left alone, but is highly territorial and 'trigger happy' if disturbed. The reason for this is simple: the creatures it has to defend itself from are ALSO much more aggressive and give it much fewer opportunity to defend itself. Even if disturbed, it warns intruders by scratching the ground, hissing, and raising its tail before spraying, though will spray if they don't get the hint. Unless it's a mother guarding its children, which will forgo the warning to protect its child.
Biology:
Aniwyes are overall similar to other skunks, though bigger, stronger, and speedier. Unfortunately for them, physically they pales in those areas to any other predators in their habitat.
As a result, Aniwyes share the same defensive ability as their smaller cousins: the ability to spray a horrible smelling musk from glands at the base of their tails. As the predators they have to defend themselves from are bigger and more dangerous, the stench of their musk is also far worse and replenishes far quicker, in addition to being stronger smelling due to their size typically causing more to be sprayed at a time. The odor is so horrid that it can incapacitate a pony or even knock them unconscious if it scores a direct hit, or chase off a hydra. As with its smaller cousin, its capable of spraying with great accuracy at a fair distance. This musk sticks stubbornly for days and requires a herbal mixture to remove.
In addition to its spray, Aniwyes can generate a skunk-like smell as a warning single.
Aniwyes are omnivores, and typically feed off a mixture of small animals and berries.
Most Aniwyes are distinguishable by the pair of white stripes going the length of their body a large, fluffy tail. A spotted version lives in desert environments, but is in all other ways identical.
Mother Aniwyes are fiercely protective of their children.
They are known to live in symbiosis with various smell animals, who are not considered treats nor food and thus stay within their territory for protection.
Habitat:
Aniwyes are native to Everfree Forest, though others are known to exist in some other deep forests, though these are rare. A spotted version is variant is known to live in the desert areas, particularly the Bad Lands.
Typically they establish a territory and guard it, trying to keep any predators out for their own protection or that of their offspring. Males only leave their turf during mating season.
Danger:
Aniwyes are considered very low danger. They're largely harmless and watching them from a distance is perfectly safe. Even if they spray, they typically just leave their target alone after certain they've gotten their point across. Their primary concern is simply making threats leave their territory, not harming them.
While the smell is unbearable, the spray is ultimately harmless, and in fact scares off most predators that would come to take advantage of anything incapacitated by the stench.
They can be dangerous if rabid, but otherwise the worst one gets is stinking to high heavens.
Bogeymares
Scientific Name: Imp horrificus, with Dreadmares being Imp horrificus princeps, and Dread himself having a unique designation: Imp horrificus imperator
“They feast on your fears!”
Bogeymares are emotivores indigenous to various places throughout Equus. Emotivores are unique creatures that feed off of the mana or other forms of energy generated by beings experiencing that emotion. Changelings are one of the most well know emotivores, with the Sirens being another variety.
In the case of Bogeymares, they feed off the emotion of fear. They accomplish this by terrifying the inhabitants of places they make their home. Primarily children.
They accomplish this with an ability to sense the fears of their targets, which they use their abilities to create monstrous versions of.
Despite their terrifying abilities, Bogeymares are actually rather harmless, as their true forms are small and weak, and they're more of a nuisance than an actual threat, and are quick to flee when faced with someone who no longer fears them.
Biology:
Bogeymares have some degree of telepathic abilities, being able to sense the fears of those around them. They put this sense to use by creating monstrous versions of those fears to torment their prey.
The more fear they consume, the more powerful they become and the more they're able to make their victim to see. Such as throwing objects or throwing open doors.
They are vulnerable to bright lights, which seemingly cause them to vanish into thin air. Because of this, they typically try to take the lights out.
But all these things are, in fact, merely what they SEEM to be. Bogeymares possess illusionary abilities allowing them to project a monstrous body around themselves or the environment. They use these abilities to give the appearance they're bigger and more dangerous than they actually are, and an easy way to tell if you're facing one is double checking if objects they 'threw' are in fact still where they were before.
On the other-hoof, they often use this factor to prevent their prey's parents from realizing they're present.
In reality, Bogeymares are tiny, weak little imps with very little actual power outside of their illusions. They can only take out lights by sneaking up and turn off a light in some way anyone could do.
While they are vulnerable to light, it does not make them vanish. Rather, it cancels out their illusionary powers, forcing the REAL Bogeymare to flee into hiding. Which is easy to do, as their true forms are only two inch tall, imp-like creatures.
Other than bright light, Bogeymares will lose their ability to produce their illusions if their prey stops fearing them, and they're very cowardly if actually confronted by one who doesn't fear them.
However, it should be warned, there are EXCEEDINGLY rare Bogeymares that have managed to consume so much fear that their illusions may begin to effect reality itself. These are very rare, due to the sheer amount of fear it would take, but if one does reach this level of power, they can become legitimately dangerous. However, they still possess the same weaknesses as their lesser relatives, and will lose their ability to effect reality if they lose enough of their power.
The best way to get rid of a Bogeymare is to stand up to them, or confront them directly, as they are very cowardly and will flee if they believe they're in danger.
They also primarily prey on children, as they're much easier to frighten and feed on than adults.
Habitat:
Bogeymares make their homes in houses, typically living under beds, in closets, and basement or attics. Some are known to live in the woods, but these are rare.
Their hunting style is typically dependent on their preferred dwelling place, and which allows them to scare the easiest. For example, ones that dwell under the bed typically climb up onto the child's bed and frighten them there, while ones in the closet keep their distance.
Due to their weaknesses, Bogeymares are exclusively nocturnal and dwell in the darkness.
Danger:
Bogeymares are low danger. While terrifying and capable of causing many sleepless nights (and likely many changed sheets depending on their target), they're ultimately harmless and more of a nuisance than a genuine threat.
Even ones that have gained enough fear to effect the real world are ultimately still kept in check by their various weaknesses and ultimately are more interested in causing fear on which to feed than actually doing genuine harm.
Still, it is advised that parents take their children's fears of monsters in their closet or under their bed seriously, as the poor foals will continue to be tormented until the creature is chased off.
Dangler Tree
Scientific Name: Family Carnoarecaceae, Multiple species.
"Don't touch the stalks."
From the distance, the Dangler Tree is a strange plant: superficially, it resembles a member from the Arecaceae family of plants – it sports a crown of leaves from a single trunk, their forms resembling palm trees; albeit, they are generally larger in size, with a much thicker trunk made of dark coloured bark, and its dark green leaves have larger surface areas and are more cluttered in comparison to those from the Acrecaceae plants.
Its most peculiar feature is that, instead of sporting coconuts or other kinds of fruiting bodies, suspended beneath the leaves are pods of what appears to be huge flowers, some large as ponies, with brightly coloured petals which contrasts the darker colouration of the rest of the tree. From these ‘flowers’, long, elongated stalk-like ‘carpel’, almost always red regardless of species, extend all the way to ground level of the plant, dangling by the sides of the trunks, which earns the tree its namesake ‘Dangler Trees’.
Pretty and strange such a tree it may be on the surface, it would be a mistake to consider this tree harmless. This mistake is often the last for many animals, sapients included, who wander into the vicinity of such plants, and came into contact with the dangling stalks.
Biology
Like its more infamous cousin in Zebrica, the Dangler Tree is a carnivorous plant which supplements its nutrient intake with protein acquired from digesting any unfortunate life-forms that it traps. Like the nightmarish Ya-Te-Veo family of carnivorous tree in Zebrica, its prey consists of small to medium sized ground animals like rabbits, rodents, boars, all the way to Lions and Manticores, and even unlucky ponies and zebras. It diverges from the Ya-Te-Veo family in terms of the way it captures its prey; the huge ‘flowers’ suspended under its leaves are in fact feeding pods, camouflaged to resemble normal flowers, and its elongated ‘carpel’ little more than a long tongue-like organ which it captures its prey.
The Dangler Tree lures its prey through emitting an attractive scent, from a substance produced in the ‘pseudo-nectaries’ of its feeding pods, which would lure prospective prey from within a radius that could extend up to kilometres. Studies on the composition of its pseudo-nectar suggests it has psychoactive properties, capable of stimulating the release of ghrelin (the ‘hunger hormone’) and dopamine within its prey and enticing them to approach the plant with prospect of food. At extremely close proximity the scent from certain species could be overwhelming enough that the prey loses all self-control, more than willing to enter the vicinity of the plants in search of food. It has been known that each plant could be identified by minute variations in the composition of the luring pseudo-nectar, resulting in each plant individually producing a unique scent signature. Variations in scent are often due to each plant physiologically altering its scents to lure the most common prey in its habitat over its life-time.
The moment any unfortunate prey comes into contact of the ‘carpel’ stalks, the feeding pod immediately begins retracting it into the pod, holstering the unfortunate prey with it. The struggling prey would often find itself unable to escape due to the feeding stalk excreting an extremely sticky substance that would glue it onto its body surface, and any struggling could often worsen the entanglement as the prey touches more parts of the stalk. The ‘stamens’, which resembles normal flower stamens minus distinctive pollens, serve as its contact-feelers, triggering the ‘petals’ to close the moment the prey touches them and seal the pod into a fluid-tight capsule.
Inside the closed pods, the digestion process would begin with the secretion of a form of organic acid and various digestive enzymes from the plant, which would reduce the prey animal to bleached bones over the course of days, upon which the pods would reopen to dispose the skeleton, which would incidentally become fertilizers for the trees as well. Most prey animals would fortunately die of suffocation or drowning within the pods before the digestion process really begins; that does not necessarily apply for all species, however. Some plants mix a potent toxin within the digestive cocktail to kill its prey, with at least one species known to produce an organophosphate-based neurotoxin.
Dangler Trees are in fact flowering plants, and its true flower could be found on top of its crown of leaves, either consisting one of large flower for feeding birds, or many smaller ones for insects.
Habitat:
The Dangler Tree family consists of dozens of member species, and while it is suspected to be indigenous to Zebrica as half its family could be found there, the other half of the family could be found almost everywhere around the world, mostly in jungles concentrated near the equator regions, with a few exceptions like those that grow in the Everfree Forest and in the jungles of the Changeling homelands. They could be found either as solitary plants or in small groves, with the latter often consist of many ‘children’ plants related to the oldest, largest tree at the centre of the grove.
Danger:
The Dangler Tree has been marked as a high danger wildlife by authorities in many countries, including Equestria, as these have been known to kill many an unsuspecting pony who happen upon them while exploring the woods – most tragically, often little adventurous children who are unaware of the trees’ danger. Areas in forests and jungles where a solitary or a grove are found are often marked on official maps to be avoided at all costs, and explorers’ guilds and organizations world-wide are often required by law to report their existence, like many other dangerous wildlife.
While wild animals may end up becoming food, intelligent sapients could avoid such ignoble fate with proper knowledge and precautions. If one notices an unusually good scent in the air, and feels an increase in hunger as you get close to the scent, the sapient can recognize a Dangler Tree is in the vicinity and will oneself to avoid being lured. If one is unfortunate enough to get caught by the feeding stalk, the trapped victim is advised to find a way to jam the closing ‘petals’ in the pods, either with a limb or with a bone or stick, which would trigger a reflex response where the Dangler Tree would reopen the ‘petals’ and let the prey drop back towards the ground, which would buy time to get oneself loose. Explorers and adventurers are advised to bring along specially prepared machetes or torches which could allow one to burn or cut free from the stalks.
Despite its danger, the Dangler Tree is not without its admirers, as many the unique traits that made the plant so dangerous also makes it incredibly useful if properly cultivated: the stalk’s sticky substance, for example, can be refined into powerful industrial-grade adhesives, said to be strong enough to glue furniture upside down on ceilings. Its pseudo-nectars could be distilled into varieties of drugs, both medical and recreational, its psychoactive/enthegenic properties often harvested and used by zebra witch-doctors for millennia. The few species that produces toxins, particularly the neurotoxic variety, are being considered for military use to produce biochemical weapons, and non-toxic species of this dangerous flora had been planted before by Changelings and Zebras alike for defence against intruders (with shoots bred to grow with non-functional scent-producing pseudo-nectaries).
Because of this, increasingly, there is a lucrative demand for had been attempts to find or cultivate the plant; an often very risky venture from which would earn much money, but may cost many their lives.
Erqigdlet
Scientific Name: Canis Adamas Aggressio
“True monsters kill and devour even their own.”
Of the many creatures in the Frozen North and beyond, few are as horrid, or as tragic, as the savage and monstrous Erqigdlets, canine creatures who are actually the degenerate barely sentient remnants of sapient Diamond Dogs. Their name comes from the Nanookian dictionary, the honourable Polar Bear hunter-warriors of the Arctic kingdoms being among the first to encounter these monsters migrating from the south, and for many generations had fought against their incursions northward alongside polar tribes of ponies, just as classical Equestria had fought against their incursions southwards, either by themselves or as part of the Frozen Hordes.
Millennia ago, in the era of the Three Tribes, several Underholds existed in the northern part of the continent as in many other places across the world, descending from an earlier waves of Diamond Dog colonization. At times, the civilized Diamond Dogs had interacted with the ponies of the Three Tribes, whether engaging in trade or in war, and produced their own unique underground cultures/civilizations of miners, builders and artisans, as other Diamond Dog Underholds do in other parts of the world. They also produced their own groups of outcasts, who along with all who descend from them are forever banished from the Underholds for any variety of crimes or transgressions, and would eventually settle down in underground mines, raider camps or over ground ‘hedge realms’ not too dissimilar to the ones found within Equestria in recent times.
Like the ponies of the Three Tribes, when the Windigo Scourge struck, the Diamond Dogs abandoned their underground fortress-cities and retreated southwards in order to escape the catastrophic freezing of the northern lands. However, like the ponies, some of the Diamond Dog population remained behind, whether because circumstances meant they were unable to escape in time, falling behind the rest of their people, or had chosen to stay out of foolish stubbornness, unwilling to part with their homes and possessions and convinced that they could wait out the disaster. This would prove to be either unfortunate or monumental errors in judgement; fuelled by the Windigoes’ collective powers, the winter never ended, and nearly all remaining Underholds and settlements succumbed, either by civil war as resources ran scarce and internal tensions rose to the fore, or overran by ravenous hordes of survivors and monsters, hatred and bloodlust stroked by the Windigoes’ daemonic influence in either cases.
The Erqigdlets are descended from Diamond Dogs who like the remaining ponies also fell under the Windigoes’ influence, but differently from those who became frozen in ice, the hostility and suffering emanating from their encased forms being fed on by Windigoes for eternity. Like the surviving ponies who eventually turned to savagery and formed bloodthirsty barbarian tribes, those Diamond Dogs that survived found their minds became affected by the ethereal spirits’ dark magic, and in turn, like the ponies, their bodies too became twisted over generations to reflect their new savage nature.
Biology
Erqigdlets resembles their Diamond Dog forefathers superficially in appearance: they are semi-bipedal/quadrupedal canines that moves on all four limbs with a hunched gait, while capable of grabbing and using objects with their front paws. However, this is where the similarities end. Erqigdlets differ from their Diamond Dog ancestors/cousins both physically and mentally: the average Erqigdlet is much larger than the average Diamond Dog, as well as much stronger, faster and tougher. They also possess a lot more fur – white for camouflage in the snow, but often dirty and covered in dried blood – and fat compare to their Diamond Dog. The reason for this physiological difference is due to the extremely harsh conditions of the Frozen North, as well as a notable aspect of their diet.
Mentally they are significantly inferior to their non-degenerated relatives. The modern Erqigdlet is semi-intelligent and barely sapient, with the smartest Erqigdlet being no better than the most uneducated, malnourished and feral Diamond Dog outcasts. This is, however, a fairly recent development; millennia ago, when the degeneration has not yet been so pronounced, they still retained some remnants of their ancestors’ keen minds and senses, and possessed a tribal culture which can use tools and weapons, build crude fortifications and settlements, use a guttural, simplified language for communication, and capable of some levels of organization.
This is in spite of being, temperamentally, incredibly aggressive, due to their sanity having been eroded away by the Windigoes’ pernicious corruption over generations and during their life-times until they are but shattered, animalistic shells, becoming utterly consumed by the same hostility and hatred for the world and everyone else not them that created the Windigoes. Because of this, as a race they are war-like, with packs often fighting among themselves amidst the ice and snow of their homeland, as well as attacking the peoples of other lands.
Regarding their diet, Erqigdlets are carnivores like their Diamond Dog relatives, with one notable aspect: Erqigdlets are notorious for devouring the flesh of their own race, as well as seeing any other sapient being as fair game for food. In the ancient past, when Erqigdlet raids are still common, many unfortunate pony, yak, deer or polar bear often found themselves being targets of these wild hunts, dragged back to the Frozen North along with any other loot they procured to be killed and devoured. For the purpose of hunting and feeding, they possess sharper and longer canine claws and teeth than their Diamond Dog cousins, which while retaining their ability to dig through stone and rock is more specialized for rending flesh and bone.
Erqigdlets are incapable of using magic, having lost even the natural gifts of their Diamond Dog ancestors as a result of their degeneration. However, their corruption by the Windigoes’ fell influence gave them a unique passive ability: their magical presence, twisted by now their monstrous natures, radiates an aura which have both physical and psychological effects: when an Erqigdlet an area, the radius around the creature begins freezing, a process which intensifies if the Erqigdlet becomes increasingly enraged. The Erqigdlet’s aura also stimulates the aggression centres of nearby creatures’ brain, stroking hostility and bloodlust with their mere presence. In essence, it is as if the Erqigdlet are like the Windigoes themselves, spreading hatred wherever they tread.
Habitat:
The Erqigdlets are indigenous to the Frozen North, and live either as solitary individuals or in packs, though in the past they also lived in large tribes like the savage ponies of the Frozen Hordes, the latter whom they often join forces with for raids into civilized lands.
In Nanookian, Erqigdlets means ‘Others from Below’, for they still retained their Diamond Dog ancestors’ preference for living underground, venturing to the surface only to hunt and kill. Many made dens in ice and mountain caves, living underground like their Diamond Dog ancestors did. Some practically live within the frozen ruins of Diamond Dog Underholds, hunting, scavenging and ravaging among the cold, crumbling remains of a grander age.
Danger:
Today, the Erqigdlets are a shadow of their former selves, falling even further than their more intelligent if equally savage ancestors; whereas in the past they numbered in the thousands, often living in large primitive tribes, posing a threat to civilized lands along with or as part of the Frozen Horde, today it is believed that the Erqigdlets are on the verge of extinction, numbering in hundreds scattered wide and far across the Frozen North. No more raids or large scale incursions by Erqigdlets had occurred for nearly two thousand years, and almost any encountered occasionally in the Frozen North are mostly solitary individuals, with packs being a rarity. This is attributed to the incessant conflict amongst themselves, disasters during the Age of Chaos and campaigns of extermination against them over the ages by the civilized peoples, thinning their ranks.
Even so, because of their incredible hyper-violent behaviour, coupled with their great strength and durability, Erqigdlets are classified as a high danger creature and must be avoided at all cost. Aggressive and territorial, and they will attack anyone who is not them in their territory, including their own kind from a rival pack, or even members within their own pack in during contests of dominance. If sufficiently provoked, they will attack with almost suicidal ferocity, not caring for their own survival in their urge to kill their enemy. They can use objects for attacking their foes, although they no longer possess the pilfered Diamond Dog weaponry and armour of their past existence, and had lost the skills to use them properly; most at best would only use a rock or broken icicle.
Those unfortunate enough to encounter one are advised to run, or at least hold it off from a distance, for letting one get close without protection is almost guaranteed certain death with their strength, claws and teeth. Like canines, Erqigdlets are more dangerous in packs then as individuals, often lead by an alpha individual which is the strongest and most ferocious of the pack. Taking out the alpha if cornered by a Erqigdlet pack may get them to start fighting amongst themselves, though that is by no means certain to happen, and one may end up becoming caught in the violence that would follow.
Despite their danger, some ponies and civilized diamond dogs are advocating for action to somehow preserve them from dying out. When questioned, they note that while they are violent monsters, they and their ancestors only became so due to circumstances beyond their control, and that they are ultimately as much victims of monsters as they are monsters themselves. Many unscrupulous individuals and organizations had expressed interest in preserving the species, if only so they could breed these savage monsters for their own uses as minions and living weapons.
Giant Crab
Scientific Name: Family Colosseus, multiple genus and species.
“Snappy fellows, no matter the size!”
Giant Crabs are gigantic crustaceans indigenous to the various oceans around the world, though can also be found in certain rivers.
These creatures vary wildly in size from up to the knee to the average pony to Kaiju-sized proportions.
That said, only the larger ones are actually dangerous, as the smaller ones would prefer to feed on fish or smaller creatures rather than go after ponies.
However, the largest of these creatures can reach kaiju proportions, though these specimens are exceeding rare and typically very old. Occasionally, they have attacked cities, typically being repelled by good kaiju or local deities. One notable member of this species has attacked Neighpon repeatedly, only to retreat after whatever kaiju it was fighting ripped its claws off (they grew back eventually).
They are also considered good eating by various meat eating races throughout the world, as they taste quite good and a single large specimen can feed a village. Their exoskeletons have also frequently been used to make armor.
The most puzzling aspect of this species, however, involves one of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony/Rainbow Powers, Miss Rarity Belle, the Generous Tailor. For unknown reasons, the entire species harbours a fear of the mare. Miss Rarity refused to comment upon being questioned, even when confronted by tabloid photos of her engaged in epic battle with giant crabs.
Biology
Like other crustaceans, Giant Crabs grow until they die. This is the reason for various kaiju sized specimens: they are simply hundreds if not thousands of years old. Though it should also be noted that eventually they can grow too large at which point they die of exhaustion while molting.
They typically eat fish and smaller marine animals, with larger specimens moving onto larger prey.
Their armor grows in durability with age, with the Kaiju sized ones being rather durable to conventional weapons. For this reason, their shells make good armor material. They do have one weakness, however: they are vulnerable to heat, which can cook them in their shells. Particularly if boiled in some fashion.
They possess powerful pincers, which are sharp and can do significant damage, however smaller ones can only cause minor cuts on adult ponies. Kaiju sized ones can slice boats in half with their claws, though kaiju can typically resist them.
Their biggest weakness other than heat is their shells always have openings to permit movement and damaging these areas will cause them intense pain and likely drive them off.
They can also be dried out like many marine animals.
Habitat
Giant Crabs are typically ocean dwellers, but some can be found in rivers. The kaiju sized versions are exclusively salt water animals, as they are no longer capable of fitting in rivers due to their size.
Danger
Depending on their size, Giant Crabs range from low to somewhat high danger. A capable fighter should be easily capable of driving off or killing them if they know where to aim. The kaiju sized versions are the most dangerous, but most kaiju or gods should be able to deal with them with very little issue.
Heart Flyer
Scientific Name: Family Corpraevolo with multiple sub families and species.
"It knows what you did."
Heart Flyers are a very peculiar and rare species of butterfly.
These strange creatures are emotivores of an usual sort in that there are multiple varieties that feed on different emotions. Blue feed on sadness, Pink feeds on joy, White feeds on the feeling of satisfaction at having done something good, Yellow feeds on feelings of fear, Green feeds off of hope, and Black feeds off of guilt and remorse. Regardless of type, they typically glow with their respective color.
Heart Flyers gain their name from 'knowing what is in one's heart'. This is in part because they tend to be attracted to those with repressed emotions to feed on, as bottled up emotions tend to be stronger when they cut loose.
The other reason is that they have the ability to dredge to the surface memories relating to their specific emotion to those they come in contact with. I.e., if a Blue Heart Flyer touches someone, it can bring up their saddest memories, but if a Pink Heart Flyer touches one, it brings up their happiest memories. Black Heart Flyers are the most feared to a certain degree, because they dredge up the memories of events the person is most guilty of, and are the most persistent of the species. Naturally most are not happy to be faced with the knowledge they've done wrong.
Despite this, even 'negative' Heart Flyers are ultimately considered beneficial. Repressing emotions is rarely healthy, so sometimes bringing them to the surface are part of the healing process. They are frequently used by psychologists to bring emotions to the surface to talk about them. Giving a victim of depression a Pink Heart Flyer may help bring them out of a depressed episode, while giving a Green Heart Flyer to suicidal pony can potentially remind them life is worth living.
And of course Black Heart Flyers can be useful in making ponies realize they've done wrong.
Biology
Heart Flyers are similar to their more mundane counterparts, but their glow is not simply for appearances. It's an energy field that protects the Heart Flyer from harm. The curious part of this is the harder the victim tries to avoid accepting the emotion being brought to the surface by the Heart flyer, the more powerful this field becomes and thus the more difficult it is to get rid of the creature. They are also surprisingly intelligent and find their ways to pursue their targets over quite the distance and will continue to do so until they are satisfied.
In their Caterpillar stage, Heart Flyers feed off of leaves and green plants to be used as raw material for their metamorphosis, while also staying close to other beings and slowly feeding off their emotion of choice to build energy for the transformation. They still have their energy field in this form, but it is much weaker and they lack the ability to actively invoke their memories. After completing this stage of their life cycle, the Heart Flyer enters its chrysalis and eventually emerges as the fully grown Imago.
The method used by the Heart Flyer to dredge up memories is a mixture of magical scales on their wings and telepathy channeled through them.
Heart Flyers are about as large as your typical butterfly, and beautiful to see. As not only are the patterns appealing to the eye, their energy field gives them an otherworldly appearance.
Habitat
Heart Flyer's natural habitats vary heavily depending on which type, but they typically live near sapient beings, or nonsapients that can feel their emotions.
Danger
Heart Flyers are completely harmless for the most part, but can be dangerous if you are effected by one at a bad time, but this is not the fault of the Heart Flyers. They are often pretty beneficial creatures and have multiple different uses in many different roles.
Kitsune
Scientific Name: Vulpes spiritus kitsune
"A good omen...if you can put up with their pranks."
Kitsunes are fox Yokai indigenous to Neighpon and characterized by having anywhere from one to nine tails.
Kitsunes come in multiple colors, but generally white Kitsunes are benevolent and good omens while black furred ones are malevolent and bad omens, with other colors falling anywhere in between. The former are known as Zenko Kitsunes and the latter as Yako Kitsunes. There are also Inari kitsunes, who are servants of deities.
Kitsunes are shapeshifters and thus their size varies, but in their natural form they range from the size of a normal fox to about pony sized.
These creatures, regardless of morality, are known to be extremely mischievous and love playing pranks. To what degree depends on their morality, but generally if a Kitsune is in the area, it will pull pranks and play with people.
White Kitsunes are known to become household guardians and bring good fortune to houses they make their home in, while Black Kitsunes will need chased off by various rituals or wards, as they torment those living with them.
Kitsunes should NOT be mistaken for their MUCH more malevolent cousins the Kumiho despite similar qualities and abilities, and this can be a fatal mistake, as the latter are dangerous predatory monsters. The best way to tell them apart is to say the Neighponese phrase 'Moshi moshi', as Kitsunes are incapable of pronouncing those words while Kumihos are not. Kumihos also fear dogs intensely, whereas Kitsunes do not.
A notable Kitsune is protecting the Empress of Neighpon.
Biology:
Kitsunes are biologically similar to their mundane counterparts, but endowed with various magical powers. These range from shapeshifting to materialization spells. They can also turn invisible and intangible at will.
Kitsunes begin their lives with a single tail and grow up to nine as they do. The more tails a Kitsune possesses, the more powerful they become and nine tailed kitsunes are considered extremely powerful and wise, and generally live up to that. they can also generate blue flames from their tail tips and project them offensively.
Kitsunes are sapient creatures and capable of speaking via telepathy.
While very powerful and hard to hurt, Kitsunes are vulnerable to blessed weapons and spiritual weaponry. Shisa will also drive away any malevolent ones or possibly even devour them.
Habitat:
Kitsunes make their homes wherever they please, but typically live in homes and temples which they protect or torment depending on which type it is.
Danger:
Kitsunes are low to medium threat. The kind ones are just mischief makers while the malevolent ones are generally more of a nuisance than dangerous, though they CAN be if they choose to be so.
Kraken
Scientific Name:
“The island… it moved!”
Krakens (also known by many names around the world) are gigantic Cephalopods indigenous to oceans worldwide.
Krakens are in the class of creatures known as Kaiju, and are some of the more commonly seen. While normally deep sea dwellers, on occasion they will come to the surface, sometimes attacking ships or even coastal cities.
The Neighponese version (known as Akkorokamui or Oodako) are among some of the most frequent kaiju that attack the country and the resident benevolent kaijus either find them a nuisance... or extremely delicious.
Another notable occasion saw Princess Celestia, the Sunraiser defeating one that was attacking San Franciscolt and nearly destroyed the city's iconic bridge.
Biology:
Krakens are gigantic octopus-like creatures so massive they have been mistaken for small islands while sleeping. They are carnivores by nature.
Krakens possess eight powerful tentacles with suction cups to allow them grab and hang on tight to their prey. These tentacles are strong enough to rip ships and buildings apart. But these are mainly to pull their prey into their powerful beak, which can make mincemeat out of a ship's haul.
These creatures do have a few major weaknesses though. One of which is fire and heat, which can badly wound them. The best way to deal with one attacking your ship is to light the offending tentacles on fire, which will often drive it away. This is why many ships that will be in the ocean for extended period have a unicorn with fire magic available. There are also certain chemicals used by King Leo's sea ponies that can drive them away.
Habitat:
Krakens are deep sea monsters that make their home at the bottom of trenches and generally only venture out to hunt or if disturbed.
Danger:
Krakens are considered highly dangerous, though among kaiju are one of the better understood and fairly easy to dry off by kaiju standards.
Laughing Lily
"Tickle tickle."
Laughing Lily is a species of plant indigenous to Everfree Forest, but has been transplanted to other areas, often by party ponies.
Despite it's name, it's not actually a variety of Lily, as it's actually a type of tree. It's name comes from the flowers that grow resembling them. That, and it's a better pun.
The Laughing Lily strange in that it is a emotivorous plant. Laughing Lily feeds off the emotions of joy, or more broadly laughter. To accomplish this, the Laughing Lily possesses numerous vines that it can extend off of itself, which are powerful enough to restrain ponies or even some large animals. One restrained, the Laughing Lily will proceed to tickle their 'prey' with their vines while releasing relaxing scents from it's flowers. It will continue tickling until it senses the target has had enough at which point they'll be released.
Contrary to some beliefs, these encounters will never get more perverse than that.
Furthermore, the Laughing Lily will not continue restraining a target to whom the experience is becoming torturous, as it's emotivorous nature allows it to sense when the joy is ebbing away, and since that joy is the thing it feeds on, it has no reason to continue. This has foiled many attempts by unsavory types to turn one into a thing for torture purposes, though some very rare cases have succeeded. The one exception to this is if a Laughing Lily feels threatened, in which case it will continue past this threshold to defend itself and discourage future threats to itself.
For this reason, and for their fruit (covered below), these plants are very popular with Party Ponies and even therapists, for the simply fact they make great stress relievers due to the combination of the tickling and relaxing scent it releases. It is by this that the plant has been transplanted to various areas.
Biology
Laughing Lilies feed off a combination of nutrients in the ground, sunlight, water, and joy energy.
They are large flowering trees that can be identified by the lily like flowers in their branches, as well as long vines. Their base color is similar to most trees, but when their fruit grows ripe and ready for picking, the leaves will turn pink.
Laughing Lilies can detect various emotions, including stress and naturally the joy they feed off of. Due to this, they are more likely to target someone stressed, as relaxing them and giving them a laugh typically gives them a better haul of love than other times. It for this reason that the prospect of more perverted encounters are complete fiction: Laughing Lilies can only feed off of joy, not lust.
They also can sense when their prey is not enjoying the experience and will let them go. After all, no use trying to pump water out of an empty well.
The flowers of the plant have a very pleasant and relaxing aroma, which makes them rather popular. When fruit eventually grows on the Laughing Lily, it contains all the run off joy the plant has collected. This makes Laughing Lily fruit very sweet and pleasant to the taste, as well as having the secondary effect of making it's consumer feel the urge to laugh and relieve stress.
The better fed the Laughing Lily, the better fruit it will produce, as the more joy will go into making them. This food is also believed to have medicinal properties, as it not only lowers stress, but boosts the immune system.
There is a subspecies of Laughing Lily known as 'Hearth's Warming Lilies' which only blossom during the Hearth's Warming season and feed off the large amounts of Hearth's Warming Joy available. The fruit of this subspecies has a distinct minty flavor to it. This subspecies is identifiable by it's red and white colored flowers.
Laughing Lilies, while not sapient, do have a basic intelligence to them. Enough that a patient farmer can teach them to do simple actions. Party ponies take advantage of this by teaching them to help at parties or hand out candy, as such things are both a benefit to their owner, as well as to the Tree, which gain joy from the action.
Laughing Lilies' main form of defense is their tickling, which they will continue far past the point of enjoyment and into torture if they're in danger. While not necessary for them, many Laughing Lilies have found keeping their 'prey' save in their own best interests, and will often protect those they're feeding on from outside harm.
Habitat
Laughing Lilies are native to the Everfree Forest, but more often found on the outskirts where ponies are more likely to be found, as they're easier to feed off of than other animals. Transplanted Laughing Lilies simply require sufficient sun, soil, water, and joy to thrive. They are often found at theme parks or in possession of party ponies and therapists.
Danger:
Laughing Lilies are completely harmless, and considered a beneficial plant. Their feeding is symbiotic in nature, as the 'prey' receives stress relief and a good laugh (and good food in the long run) while the Laughing Lily receives food and sustenance.
Even if threatened, the worst the tree will do is do 'tickle torture' until it feels the victim has gotten the point.
The only danger may be from other predators who might try to take advantage of the restrained creature, but most likely the Laughing Lily will view these as a threat to itself and work to protect them.
Ropen
"Just because it's blind, doesn't mean it's dangerous."
The Ropen is a predatory animal indigenous to several parts of Equestria. The beast is a species of bat with a wingspan measuring 15 to 25 feet. The creature's most notable feature is the constant bioluminescent glow, used to lure prey in the dark like an angler fish or like a bug zapper drawing in instincts.
The creature is normally solitary, though females do care for their young until they're old enough to depart.
Biology:
The Ropen's bioluminescent body comes from various chemicals and magic in it's body that mix together to produce the glow. The creature has some degree of control over the intensity of the glow, and uses it both to lure prey as well as a warning. An enraged Ropen exhibits a full body glow.
The other peculiarity about the Ropen is it is completely blind, with vestigial eyes implying this was an eventual evolution in the species. Instead of using sight, the creature navigates and hunts completely via advanced echolocation. This makes it particularly dangerous given typical options of losing it will not work if one comes after a pony.
This echolocation, however, is ALSO it's main weakness: loud noises will blind it rather than simply hurt it's ears (which it will quite a bit). This is the best means of defense against this creature, so if traveling through an area where Ropen are likely to bed, various means of creating loud noises to scare them off or blind it long enough to escape.
They are also completely nocturnal and generally sleep inside of caves during the day. While their lack of eyesight allows them to attack during the day without the light blinding them, a Ropen is more likely to give up an attack during the day due to more likely being protecting its turf than actually hunting.
Habitat:
Ropens are known to live in dark, reclusive areas where their light based hunting style is at the most optimal such as dark forests or large caves. These include the heavily canopied Everfree Forest and the 'Scariest Cave in Equestria'.
During the day, Ropens typically make their roosts in caves during the day, normally deep ones where they won't be seen. Remains of their prey is a common sign you have happened upon a Ropen's lair, as well as droppings.
Danger:
Ropens are considered moderately dangerous, as they typically only attack ponies who happen upon their roost and disturb them or are mother Ropens protecting their offspring. However, if they're hungry enough they may attempt to devour ponies and foals are in particular danger due to being around the size of its preferred prey. An adult Ropen is capable of killing an adult pony if given the chance.
Rapid Ropens are considered highly dangerous, as they're no longer limited to nocturnal and may attack outside of the normal situations.
Shisa
"The strength of a lion and the loyalty of a dog."
Shisa are mammalian creatures indigenous to Neighpon. Actually, narrowing down what they are is a bit difficult, as they are effectively a hybrid of a lion and a dog made partially or completely from stone.
The average adult Shisa ranges from the size of a lion to three times that size. While quite uncommon, Shisa large enough to do battle with dragons are not unheard of, and Neigha Port in Okineighwa is home to one of such size which has killed a horrible sea dragon in the past.
Shisa pups, however, are extremely small, capable of fitting in your hoof. However, these small ones are still capable of frightening off or devouring evil spirits.
Okineighwa is also home to a Kaiju-sized version of these creatures that is the guardian of the entire island, who is on good terms with Queen Supia, but this is the only member of their kind known to grow this large.
Shisa are extremely loyal creatures who protect their owner's home from all that would threaten them, and typically act as guardian creatures.
Biology:
Shisa contain both feline and canine traits. They have an incredible sense of smell, hearing, and sight. Quite impressive ones, in fact. Shisa are some of the few creatures capable of sensing spirits. Shisa can sense the evil in the hearts of others, no matter what they are.
Shisa are also made of a mixture of stone and flesh, and are considered magical creatures as a result. This composition makes them incredibly resistant to damage and take a very large amount of damage if one hopes to kill one. Their physical strength is also tremendous, with claws capable of ripping through steel. This makes them perfect guardians, which they have a natural affinity for.
For reasons scientists currently have yet to find, Shisa project a natural protective ward that fend off evil spirits with their mere presence. Their roars are also known to be extremely painful to evil spirits.
The kaiju-sized variant in Okineighwa has crystal eyes that can deflect beam or energy attacks back to sender, but is the only known member of the species to do so.
Shisa are very wise and intelligent creatures, and can understand and obey complex commands.
All this, however, does not make Shisa INVINCIBLE. Their stone bodies make them incredibly dense and near incapable of swimming in water. They are also vulnerable to ice and temperature shock. Certain glamours can also conceal people's hearts from their sight. They also are vulnerable to loud sounds and strong odors due to their enhanced senses.
Shisa are similar to dragons in that they feed off of jewels and other such minerals. Though they are also capable of consuming the physical forms of evil spirits or eating meat if they need to.
Habitat:
Shisa's natural habitats are mountain caves. This translates well to living in temples and other such places where domesticated Shisa live.
They prefer high places and places with plenty of stone and rock where their natural camouflage works to their advantage.
Danger:
Shisa are low danger. While they are powerful, strong, and fierce, they are also entirely benevolent and will not attack unprovoked. Even wild ones have an instinctive avoidance of those without evil in their heart and will only attack those they sense evil from.