//------------------------------// // Chapter one Arrival // Story: The great tree // by Thestoryteller //------------------------------// Deer and Ponies come from the dirt. They are given the gift, and are left to choose their own path. Words from the First Book. The Ponyville train speeds down the metal tracks. Meanwhile Nightwing and Fluttershy are in a car, both are reading a book to pass the time. Fluttershy is reading her religions Bible. And Nightwing is reading the book discord gave him called 'The Elements of Chaos. By Discord.' 'When Nature presented its gift to the Deer and the Ponies, the Deer took the gift and admired and treasured it forever. Where the Ponies took natures gift and turned it into something else.' Fluttershy read in her Bible. 'The Element of Nature controls all forms of plant and wood. Basically if it grows form the ground, the Element of Nature can control it.' Nightwing read in his book. 'The Element of Nature can also communicate with certain creatures as well, because they came from the ground such as every living thing did. Or that's what the Deer believe anyways.' "Anypony going to Whitetail forest, all depart!" The conductor said. Nightwing and Fluttershy put their books in their saddle bags and walked towards the door on the chair. When the door opened it revealed...a ton of dirt. "This isn't Whitetail forest." Nightwing told the conductor. "Sorry but this is as far as the train can go." The conductor said. "Oh sorry, I forgot to tell you Nightwing. Deer don't like ponies inventions." Fluttershy said while hiding her face in her mane. "Of course they do." Nightwing sighed as he and Fluttershy got off the train. The train then rolled away as Nightwing and Dluttershy began walking. "You do know where we're going right?" Nightwing asked Fluttershy. "Of course, Whitetail forest is just south of here, we'll be there in a couple of minutes." Fluttershy said as she began to walk south, and Nightwing began to follow her. "Hey Nightwing, can I ask you a question?" "Of course." "Why did you really come here? I mean to Whitetail forest?" Fluttershy asked. "Well one, I wanted to come and study your religion because there Arn't that many books in Equestria on Deer religion. And two, if I didn't supervise you I'd never hear the end of it from Flash and Lightning strike." Nightwing answered. "Speaking of my two brothers, how are they doing?" "Both are in a comma, how you doing?" "Oh I wish I knew why they were in a comma, but no pony knows. Do you know Nightwing?" "I wish, but I don't remember what caused them to be in a comma state." "Oh, well thanks for answering honestly." "No problem." "We're here." Nightwing looked away from Fluttershy to see they were in front of a very large forest. Trees of all variety were in front of them. "This is Whitetail forest?" Nightwing asked. "Yes, or at least the entrance anyways." Fluttershy said as she walked into the forest. Nightwing soon followed behind her. "Now are you sure we're supposed to be going through the forest this way?" Nightwing asked as he cautiously looked at the trees. "Yes I'm sure, I have been here before remember?" Fluttershy responded. "Yeah I know you've been here I'm just worried that something may come out of nowhere and jump us." "Oh don't be ridiculous Nightwing." Fluttershy assured Nightwing. "There are no dangerous creatures in Whitetail forest." "Fluttershy stop." Nightwing said as he and Fluttershy came to a halt. "Yes Nightwing what is it?" Fluttershy asked as Nightwing approached her. "Something's not right." Nightwing whispered in Fluttershy's ear. "What makes you think that?" Fluttershy asked in the same whisper. "I can't put my hoof on it, but something's wrong with this forest. I can feel it." "Well I have to admit this forest does seem a bit more...intimate than usual." Fluttershy said meekly. "Fluttershy hit the dirt!" Nightwing yelled as he tackled Fluttershy. "Nightwing, I'm sorry but, what was that for!?" Fluttershy demanded. "I got you away from that." Nightwing said as he got off Fluttershy and pointed to where they once stood. There, where Fluttershy and Nightwing once stood, was a pony. But he had no fur, no mane, and no pupils. What stood in front of them was a pony figure made of what appeared to be sand. But the sand was colored black, and it's eyes were fully white and had no pupils. "What is that?" Fluttershy asked Nightwing. "Not sure, lets find out." Nightwing said as he turned towards the sand pony. "Hey who are you, and side not, what are you?" The sand pony responded by closing the distance between it and Nightwing almost instantly, with a swing of it's sand hoof it upper cut Nightwing in the jaw and made him stagger back. "Nightwing!" Fluttershy shouted. Hearing Fluttershy the sand pony then drew his attention to Fluttershy and was about to attack but was intercepted by Nightwing kicking him in the side, and sending him back a few feet. The sand pony quickly recovered by shoving his hooves into the ground, using them as brakes. "Okay, I don't know who you are. What you are. Or what your capable of. But if you want to get to her, you gotta go through me first." Nightwing said boldly as he stood in front of Fluttershy. The sand pony once again closed the distance between it and Nightwing again. Only difference was that Nightwing was ready for the sand pony. The sand pony stood on its hind legs and began throwing punch's at Nightwing. Nightwing got on his hind legs as well and began blocking the sand ponies punch's. The two kept up at this until the sand pony finally landed a punch on Nightwing and Nightwing kicked the sand pony in the chest. The two were sent back a few feet, both landed on their hooves, using them as brakes, Nightwing had some scratch marks here and there on his face, but the sand pony showed no sign of injury. "Fluttershy, I don't know how much longer I can hold this thing off. I want you to get out of here now!" Nightwing ordered. "Are you joking? This may be super scary, but I'm not leaving one of my friends behind." Fluttershy said. "In need of some assistance?" A voice came from one of the trees. Fluttershy, Nightwing, and the sand pony all looked up from where the voice came from. On one of the trees branches they saw a buck Deer with orange eyes, half grown antlers, and was wearing golden armor. Next to him was a creature, made of dark brown wood, that had the figure of a pony that had no mane and where its eyes where supposed to be were two empty sockets. "Woodslan, care to do the honors?" The deer asked. "Sure thing partner." The wood pony said. With a wave of the wood ponies hoof a bow and arrows were created from the branch. "Thanks dear friend." The deer said as he grabbed an arrow with his mouth, nock an arrow in the bows string, aimed at the sand ponies head and fired. The arrow then sank into the sand ponies head, instantly killing it. In the time that took Nightwing had just blinked. "Their good." Nightwing muttered. The deer then jumped from the branch and landed on the ground with the wood pony following him. "Hello there my name is Thorn, Thorn leaf." The deer introduced himself. "Nightwing, pleasure to meet you." Nightwing said. "Thorn?" Fluttershy repeated. "Is it really you?" Thorn looked away from Nightwing and at Fluttershy. When he saw her a smile broke out on his face and he approached her. "Fluttershy, it's so good to see you again." Thorn said. "It's good to see you too thorn." Fluttershy said, a light blush appeared on her face. "Wait...you know this deer?" Nightwing asked Fluttershy. "Yeah, he was my friend when I was in school here." "Okay, I know who you are. But who's this guy?" Nightwing asked Thorn as he turned to the wood pony. "Him, he's my partner. Woodslan." Thorn answered. "And he's a Woodscolt. I haven't seen one in a long time." Fluttershy gasped. "It's a pleasure to meet you all." Woodslan said. "Well now that formalitys are out of the way, can someone tell me what the hay that...thing was?" Nightwing asked. "Of course." Thorn began. "But first we must leave this place, it's not safe. To the trees." With that Thorn and Woodslan climbed the trees and jumped from branch to branch. While Nightwing and Fluttershy flew beside them. "So, ya gonna tell us what that thing was?" Nightwing asked Thorn. "That thing, your referring too is what we call a dark sand pony." Thorn answered. "Okay, I can see why. But what was it doing in the forest?" Fluttershy asked. "Ever since you left Fluttershy the Forest has been sick. A plague lies on the forest and those creatures are connected to it." Thorn answered. "Wait, how is the Forest sick?" Nightwing asked. "The plants, the animals, even the trees are affected by the plague." Thorn answered. "Define affected." "They are all sick, as in the animals are dying, the plants are poisoned, and the trees are withering away." "That's horrible." Fluttershy gasped as she covered her mouth with her two hooves. "Indeed, we've tried all we can to stop them, but no luck. By the way, what brings you back to Whitetail Fluttershy?" Thorn asked. "Oh, I'm here to take my test. And Nightwings here to study your religion." "Interesting, however I don't know how others will react with you ponies." "Whys that?" Nightwing asked. "In our religion, we see ponies as our...opposite. Not our enemy of course, but...different." Thorn answered. "Okay, good to know." "There it is." Thorn said as the group saw a go,den gate in the distance. The group landed in front of the gate. "Who goes there?" A voice from the top of gate asked. "Thorn leaf, Woodslan, and guests." Thorn answered. The golden door soon began to open revealing the great city of Whitetail. Inside where trees that doors at the trunk and windows in it, they were homes for the deer residence. All around the place where trees, each tree had several house parts on them. But the most unique thing of the city was a humongous tree. It was the size of a mountain it was so big, and it had several house parts in it as well. "Welcome to Whitetail city." Thorn said as he walked in. The group followed him and the gate began to close behind them. "This place is...amazing!" Nightwing said with excitement. "Thank you, we consider the great tree to be our jewel of our city." Thorn said. As the group passed the trees a thought crossed Nightwings mind. "Hey quick question Fluttershy, where are we gonna stay?" Nightwing asked. "Oh don't worry, I bet we can stay in my old house." "And where's that?" "It's right over there." Thorn pointed to a tree house. "You remembered." Fluttershy said. "How could I forget?" Thorn asked. Causing Fluttershy to blush. "Well I'll leave you to your things, goodbye old friend, and good luck on that test." "Thank you Thorn." Fluttershy said as Thron began to walk away. Meanwhile in the huge tree that no one can miss. On a balcony two deer were observing Fluttershy and Nightwing. One was a buck with dark red fur, orange eyes, and full grown antlers. Next to him was a doe deer with white fur, and blue eyes. "Are you sure about this Fallwood?" The doe asked the buck. "I'm not entirely sure Winterwood. But we are not to question Natures way." Fallwood replied. "But all throughout history it was always a deer that was the Arbor susurro. Why would Nature change its way?" Winterwood asked. "I do not know but perhaps Nature wishes us to change our way?" "Well perhaps, but what will the others think?" "We will have to wait and see." Fallwood said as he walked away from the balcony and into the tree. Winterwood soon followed behind him.