//------------------------------// // Mother Forest // Story: Winter's Dusk // by SubaruGeki //------------------------------// Rainbow Blitz flew to Dusk Shine and patted his friend on the back, excitedly complimenting him: “Dude, what you just did was so… freaking… awesome!” “Not now…” Dusk Shine couldn’t take his eyes off the strange figure lying far away from them in the snowy fields. “What’s wrong?” Blitz turned his sight to where Dusk was looking. “Can’t you see it, Blitz?” “See what?” “Look more carefully.” The pegasus forced his eyes to have a more detailed look and then he also spotted the black figure in the horizon just seconds before it disappeared into thin air. “What was that?” the surprised blue stallion asked. “I don’t know, but I fear we’ll find out soon enough.” Dusk replied. A few hours passed and night installed itself upon Ponyville. Dusk Shine was relaxing in his bed, his eyes’ gaze glued at the ceiling. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t get that day’s happenings out of his head. He considered himself to be a rational pony and as such he did not give in to superstitious beliefs, and yet one of said superstitions had been proven real to him. Or was it an illusion all along? It had to be. He reached his hoof and grabbed the mythology book he held on his porch and then he stared at its cover which depicted two ponies wearing wool jackets and wolf masks, one of them wielding a wooden staff. Turning it around, he began to read the message on the back cover: “Some would say that our kind is marked by ‘fatality’. Is it so? The idea of ‘superstition’ is old, through superstitio ancient ponies understanding during their time a useless religious activity, something not called for by rituals. What is certain is that in all cultures superstition is expressed under the guise of beliefs and practices, and these beliefs could be collective or individual, personal. Psychologists say that superstition is an irrational belief in the fact that the future is influenced by behavior. On another hand, sociologists believe that the presence of myth and magic in the life of the contemporary pony comes from the need of connecting both ideologically and practically the imaginary world with reality. The need for the irrational is a compromise that the pony spirit does with its own fantasies, own disorder, own contradictions… This book gathers over 5000 samples of such beliefs from pony folklore. Beyond the priceless information regarding our village culture, we find here a strange world, rich in meaning and filled with poetry: birds, butterflies, coal, snakes, fleas, devils, angels, water, treasures, body parts, wind, sky, earrings…” Dusk Shine giggled. The idea that irrational belief was just another spiritual need of ponies seemed ridiculous. But in the same time, having in mind what had happened, a few questions did arise in the back of his head: What were those beings he had faced? Why did the stanza he chanted three times work? Could any part of said irrational beliefs actually be true? Everything seemed so confusing. “Dusk!” Barb busted in his room, her mouth burping with green fire. “What is it, Barb?” the unicorn got up from his bed. “A letter from the Prince!” the small female dragon said and then she burped out a piece of paper which the stallion caught. My faithful student Dusk Shine, It has come to my attention that a snowstorm of strange origins is approaching Ponyville. I have my fears that it might be caused by certain forces that are far beyond pony understanding. Unfortunately, Prince Artemis and I are stuck in Canterlot with royal duties and thus cannot assist you in this matter. However, there is a source which can provide you with the information needed to face these uprising forces, and that source is the elders. Be sure to visit them and bring with you that book regarding pony mythology and folklore which I had gifted you, for it will definitely come in handy. Your teacher and friend, Prince Solaris P.S: Have an open mind; things might not always be the way they seem to be. An hour later, Dusk Shine found himself heading towards Sweet Apple Acres with a small bag filled with books on his back and his shining horn to light the path. The cold air made him tremble a bit. The thick snow rendered his path a little difficult and made him wish he had been born with pegasus wings. But the worst thing was the fact that he was all alone outside during a winter night. Only a mad pony would have been stupid enough to be in that situation. The walk seemed to last an eternity and for some reason he could not find the farm house, being stuck in the orchards. The sound of tree branches moving startled him. But he kept on going, saying to himself: “Stay calm, Dusk, it’s just the wind.” All of a sudden, he stepped into something gooey. Lowering his sight, he was shocked to see that it was a red puddle in the snow. The unicorn backed down, but then he hit something or somepony. Turning his trembling head, he saw that one of the apple trees had eyes and a sharp toothed mouth carved in its trunk. Dusk Shine yelled and ran off, not caring anymore for reaching the farm; all he wanted was to get away from the orchard as quick as possible. After a few minutes of endless galloping, he tripped over a rock and fell, his body rolling down the snowy ground until it stopped against a tree. He stood there, staring at the night’s cloudy sky, hoping it was all a terrible nightmare from which he would soon wake up. Alas, his wish did not come true. The sounds of hoof steps in the snow echoed and very soon he saw two grey furry legs stop next to him. Looking up, he had the horror of witnessing a being which resembled an old woman; her upper body covered in green moss, her long black hair falling upon her breasts, her face so ugly that it would have brought fear even in the bravest of hearts. She fixated her blank white eyes on him and grinned, revealing her fanged mouth which had bloodstains. Dusk Shine tried getting up, but it was no use. Every bone of his was paralyzed with fear. The being leaned to grab him with its bird like claws, when all of a sudden a familiar voice yelled from the distance: “Ye Mother Forest,/Ye fanged one,/Ye ugly one,/Ye twisted one,/Run away, go away!” The creature began to slowly back away, baring her fangs and growling at the one chanting, who persisted: “In forests, in depths, in swamps,/Where the bell doesn’t toll,/Where the rooster doesn’t sing,/Where the dogs don’t bark!” A loud hiss was heard from the monster, but that was all she could do. Dusk Shine finally found the power to get on his hooves and he saw an old stallion of olive green color with a white moustache and beard walk towards him, glaring angrily at the one which tried to harm him. “You go away,/At your fanged ones,/Sadden them,/Sadden yourself!” “Grampy Smith!” Dusk Shine spoke with relief and ran to the one who saved him. The female creature did not give up yet and tried lashing at the two ponies one last time, but the old stallion also refused to back down and he finished the incantation: “If I’ll find out your name/Like the axe I’ll cut you,/Like the fire I’ll burn you,/Like the incense I’ll incense you!” Giving out a painful screech, the monster finally disappeared from sight. A small smile appeared on the old stallion’s mouth, making it seem as if he had done such a thing before. “Well, that takes care of that ugly hag.” Grampy Smith said. “Thank you for coming to my aid, sir!” Dusk Shine bowed to show his gratitude. “No problem, partner. What’s a fine colt like ya doin’ outside at such a time?” “I know this might sound strange, but I came for you.” “For me? What can Ah help ya with?” “How about we go inside? We’ve got a lot to discuss, sir.” Few lights were still shining inside the farm house. Applejack, Macareina and Applebuck were asleep upstairs and it was only Dusk Shine and Grampy Smith savoring an apple pie and some cider in the kitchen. The unicorn managed to explain to the farm pony the happenings of that day, as well as the letter from Prince Solaris. “And then I ran into that… thing. If you didn’t come to my rescue, I probably would’ve been no more.” Dusk Shine concluded his narration. “Ah see.” Grampy Smith rubbed his beard, reflecting upon certain things. “It seems that the time’s come.” “What time?” “There’s an old tale passed from generation to generation between us farm ponies. It says that many years ago, in order to defeat Solaris, Darkhorse Knight awakened many ancient creatures which inhabited our forests. But since they were made of darkness, their weakness was the sun. To make sure they could operate even if daytime would arise once more, Darkhorse Knight used his magic to tie all his new minions to the season of winter, when nature is dead and the sun is mostly hidden away by clouds. Before his defeat and banishing to the moon, he managed to seal the creatures away, hoping that one day they would come back to finish what he had started.” “So these monsters from our folk tales…” “Yup, we believe they were tied to him.” “But that just raises more questions!” Dusk Shine put his empty cup of cider on the table and began walking in circles. “How did the elders come up with all these chants against them? Why didn’t Prince Artemis remember about them and their possible threat? Why did they awaken this winter out of them all?” “Ah’m afraid Ah don’t have the answers, sugarcube.” Grampy Smith apologized. “This is all one huge headache. And if what you said is true, then the snowstorm coming here most likely is tied with these creatures. Oh boy, we’ve got one long winter ahead.” “If there’s anythin’ we can do to help ya, ya can count on the Apple family!” “Thank you, your support is appreciated. I wonder… what was that being we encountered back then?” “That was Mother Forest. She’s said to be the strongest of all them critters and possibly their leader.” “I think I might have seen that name…” Dusk Shine pulled out his book and began browsing it until he reached the mentioned name, after which he began reading out loud: “Mother Forest – she is an ugly evil hag who lives in the forest’s depths and is usually the enemy of heroes in various pony myths, along with the Giant and the Dragon. Sometimes she captures those who are brave enough to wander by her home, other times she wanders by the houses of ponies to cause them different harms, such as taking their voice away.” “Yup, that’s her alright.” Grampy Smith nodded. “The chant you used against her, it’s present here as well.” Dusk Shine continued. “So what are ya gonna do now?” “I guess I will go home and continue my research. There has to be a way we can seal back these spirits. But for the time being… would you mind if I spent the night here?” “Not at all, partner! Ah’ll go prepare the guest room.” As the old stallion rushed out of the kitchen, Dusk Shine stared outside the window at the darkened snowy night outside. He knew there were more of those creatures out there, roaming the woods and possibly the streets too. All he could do was hope that everypony would be safe until he found a way to stop them.