//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: The Solution 
// by P-Jay 
//------------------------------//

	
Abel held out his hoof. Hiero hesitated, before putting out his own, connecting for a bump. "Yeah...We're here, because, well..." Hiero swallowed his pride, remembering his father's words. They couldn't afford to act high and mighty, while they were in need. "We need help. Our crops got torn apart by some imps last night, and--"

"Oh no." Abel's concerned expression conveyed that he knew the rest of the problem, without Hiero explaining. "Winters just around the corner, you wouldn't--"

"--Survive the following year." Hiero cut him off irritably, "yeah, we know. That's why we're here." 

Abel cocked his head. "Weird. Aren't you guys magic-users? Can't you just magic your crops back, or...?"

"No, it...It just doesn't work that way." Hiero explained halfheartedly. He didn't want to say it outright--that the unicorns knew so little about their own craft, that taking a gamble on it could prove life-threatening. 

Abel had started to look almost relieved at this point. "So you're still wary of other creatures, and setbacks can be dangerous for your Tribe?"

"Kingdom," Hiero corrected him.

"No, the three pony species are actually referred to as Trib--"

"The unicorns have a kingdom." 

Abel narrowed his eyes. Hiero stared back, while the cart passed them by. Hiero saw, form the corner of his eye, his father giving an approving nod at his mingling. Breaking eye-contact with the earth pony, Hiero started to look around, noticing that many of the ponies walking around seemed in uplifted spirits. Talking excitedly amongst themselves, whispering about some piece of euphoric news. 

Abel noticed Hiero watching, and decided to answer his question for him.

"Farrier returned."

"Who?"

"You don't know who Farrier is? The blacksmith who basically crafts weapons and armor, for all three Tribes to use?"

Hiero blinked. He knew the unicorns got their gear from the Earth Ponies--he just didn't know it all came from one pony in particular. And he certainly didn't know that this Farrier character provided for all the ponies. "...Oh. What do you mean 'returned'? Did he leave?"

"For three years."

Hiero gagged. Three years? Outside a Tribe? "And he's still alive?!"

Abel grinned, with a nod. "Looks like his kid had enough skill to keep him safe through the tough times." 

"His kid?!"

Abel laughed. "An Earth Pony, like the rest of us here in the Earth Tribe."

Hiero blinked. Two Earth ponies, living in the wilderness, for a full three years? Unheard of. The only previous pony that made an expedition outside their walls was Starswirl--and he only stayed out for barely a week. Their most talented member was outdone by this much?

"That's not all." Abel added, which brought Hiero's curiosity full circle. 

"What d'you mean?"

"There's a rumor going around that Farrier found what he wanted: a new, magic-infused ore."

"...That's..." Hiero frowned. "Impossible. Only living things can produce magic, or energy. "

"Tell that to the ore Farrier found." Abel muttered, bending down to peculiar rock. Staring at it, before pocketing it.  "My dad says he's made three weapons out of it."

"And...That's why everyone's so happy?" Hiero asked, looking back to the cart, which had attracted a few ponies, who were trading with his father. "Because of a few swords?"

"...Farrier claims those swords will be the key, to a golden age where we don't have to be afraid of the creatures outside our walls."

"Impossible."

Abel shrugged. "You're not the only one to think so. A lot of ponies think that his dream is a fool's goal, but hey...A little hope never hurt, eh?"

Hiero bit his lip. "Then again...This is the same guy that lived outside walls, for three years..." He muttered, looking down at his hooves.

Abel shrugged. "Hey, it's not like his dream is 'finished' yet."

"What d'you mean?" Hiero asked, looking up, feeling more left in the dark with each passing second.

"He's still looking for the ponies to actually use the swords he made. He's saying one pony from each Tribe, will use them to protect their Tribe accordingly."

"And...How would he decide, on the three?"

"He's not. Ferric is. At least, Ferric would be the one picking out possible candidates."

Hiero frowned. Why did he get this bad vibe, from this Ferric character? "I see...And, if he doesn't find anybody suitable?" 

Abel shrugged. "You'd have to ask him yourself."

"...Well...I don't think I'd be allowed to. I have to stick close to the cart." Hiero looked at the cart, still a few meters away, trading occurring near it. It looks like they were getting a large sum of food...If they pulled this off a few more times, they might actually make it through winter with minimal casualties. 

Abel looked up, at the sky. "...I might need to start getting ready, for my training. It's almost noon."

"Training?" Hiero echoed, cocking head. "You mean, earth ponies don't just...Hit things?"

Abel scowled, and didn't reply. Hiero felt like he had just said something offensive. 

"...What...What do you train for?" He asked, hoping to shift focus from what he just said. 

"What do you think? Not dying next time a wendigo decides on ponies for dinner, by sticking a sword in it's eye."

Hiero mentally kicked himself, for such an obvious question, and frowned. He didn't know that the earth ponies were so...Prepared, to do what it took to survive. As far as he knew, the unicorns all repulsed predators away, using their magic in synchronization. 

Abel checked his satchel. "Anything else, before I go?"

"Um..." Hiero frowned, trying to think of something. "No, I don't think so...Unless you can tell me how long it'll be, before Ferric finds some people to use the swords."

"Personally? I think it'll be a few months. But again, you'd have to ask him yourself." He gave Hiero a curt nod, beginning to walk towards the gates of the village. "Until next time, Hiero."

Hiero waved him goodbye. And he couldn't help but feel obliged to leave the cart, in search of this Ferric character. After all, he was still feeling rather curious, about this entire business, wondering exactly what magic the swords held, how powerful they were, and if this would cause scuffle between the Tribes, over greed.

He decided that he'll just do as he was told, and stick by the cart, slumping away from where he was sitting, to join his father. Who was in high spirits, considering the amount of food they were securing. No doubt that they'd be back, for another bout of trade. 

After a number of hours, seeing as the sun was beginning to set, Hiero's father called out, to round up the others. "Alright! Pack up, secure any loose food, make the last trades, and get ready to depart!" 

Hiero merely sat beside the cart, as the other unicorns began to ready themselves to leave. Some looked queasy--he didn't blame them. After all, some monsters were known to attack in the light of day. And a few have been getting bolder, around these parts. They'd have to be careful, on the way back to the castle. An Alpha Manticore had settled near the Earth Village, and despite the Tribe's best efforts to dispatch it, it's still kicking. Rather hard, he might think, considering some ponies have dropped dead from a single swipe from that...Thing.

Hiero cursed their luck. Alphas were a variant, of only the most dominant predators, in the land. A type of the species in question, that're simply born stronger, and more fierce then their normal counterparts. An Alpha Timberwolf, for instance, would appear as more bulky then the rest. Along with being differently colored--perhaps solid redwood. Regardless, the change was evident. A normal Timberwolf could not even begin to hope to quell an Alpha. And of course, the one time an Alpha crops up in the land near them, it had to be a Manticore. 

Before, they were certain it wouldn't attack, due to the supplies they were carrying. Which amounted to pleasantries, such as pillows, covers, and the like, expertly made. They knew the Earth Ponies typically didn't have supplies as exquisite, or effective, as this, but had plenty of food to spare. So, naturally, a trade was in order. But...Now that they were loaded with food--both grown and butchered--it just might attract unwanted attention. 

Namely, the Alpha.

After counting all their ponies, they set off, from the village, towards the path that'd lead to the castle. Along the way, from the corner of Hiero's eyes, he noticed Abel, training with a larger earth pony. Training, no doubt. 

He frowned. That looked like it hurt.

They passed by the outer territory of the Village, with no problem. But along the way, they noticed a pony, traveling alone, on the road. Hiero looked at the other unicorns, who looked just as surprised, at the fact that a pony was traveling alone. With nothing but a sword, no less. 

They passed by him, where the driver of the cart leaned over, to offer him a lift, to wherever he was going.

The pony--Hiero noticed he was of the earth pony variant--stared at the cart for a moment, before shrugging. He spoke in a gruff, scarred voice. 

"Sure." He muttered, climbing onto the cart. "Your help is...Appreciated." 

Hiero stared, from his side in the cart. This new guy seemed to radiate a kind of battle-born vibe. And considering the scars that decorated his pelt, he was indeed no stranger to life-or-death situations. A simple garb coated most of his neck, where a single shoulder plate rested as his one piece of defense. Then again, Hiero thought to himself, all that scar tissue has got to be pretty tough to scratch past...

One of them asked his name. His reply rather rattle Hiero.

"Ferric."

"You mean the son of Farrier, who's looking for suitable users of--" Hiero cut himself off. 

Ferric's gaze was locked on him. Before he actually made a small smile. "...That's right."

Hiero mentally sighed in relief. He hadn't made a fool of himself. Not yet, at least. "What're you doing, on the pathways...?" He asked, after a moment. 

"I'm on my way...To the Unicorn Tribe."

"Kingdom."

"Tribe."

Hiero decided against refuting. "Don't you need to find a swordspony in the Earth Village, first, before going to the others?" 

Ferric shook his head. "Farrier told me, that despite our place of birth...I should look, in the unicorns, first." 

Hiero blinked, but went with it. After all, someone like Farrier should know what he's doing--he'd be insane to question him. "I see...And you were, just, walking there?"

Ferric nodded. Hiero wondered just what he'd been through, to grow that confident. He kept silent, as the pony continued. 

"Yes." He said, closing his eyes with a vague annoyed expression. "I have a mission. And I intend to make progress on it." He said simply.

Hiero blinked, before a thought struck him. Did he know about the Alpha Manticore in the area...?

Ferric had his eyes closed, staring down, at a slight angle. His blade, laid across his shoulder, suggested ease. Hiero decided to warn him. After all...Ponies help eachother avoid threats, right?

"There's an Alpha Manticore, going around, right now. It might be attracted to this cart, because we have food. I'm just letting you know, in case we get attacked."

Ferric slowly raised his head, to stare into his eyes. Two pale blue irises stared into his own, and it felt as if no soul were behind them. He merely raised the sword, an inch, out of it's sheath in response. It was a silent sign of acknowledgment. Hiero felt safer. 


~~~


Meanwhile, a massive beast would be on the hunt. Turning it's gargantuan head, slowly, side to side, as it tasted the air for prey. It had been too long, since it fed. Stalking, through the thick forest, that it had claimed as it's own land, it tensed. A flicker of movement, from the corner of it's eye, caught it's interest. It crouched, watching the deer wander through the forest, stalking ever so closer. It's wings, folded against it's back, it's tail, held low, as to not attract attention...But alas...The deer's head just so happened to turn, and lock eyes with the manticore.

They stared at eachother, for a long moment. The manticore took a step. The deer tensed, and began to sprint away gracefully. With the roar of one who's meal had just been jeopardized, the giant Alpha would begin to tear after it, bowling through the undergrowth, and uprooting various small trees, as it charged past. The deer turned up ground, as it tried with every fiber of it's being, to get away from it's death hurtling towards it. 

Finally managing to leap between two closely-grown trees, in which the manticore was stuck in, for just a moment, when it tried to follow. But it wasn't held long. Within seconds, it's claws and tail had reduced it's wooden cage into splinters. It resumed charging after the deer, but that second the trees bought it was enough. 

The manticore burst out from the forest's edge, snarling, turning this way and that, looking for the deer with it's one working eye...And finding nothing. 

It felt an overpowering urge to roar.

But that had to wait. It would turn that pent up roar of frustration, into a roar of sheer triumph...Once it caught it's prey. And as it's eye locked on a moving caravan, in the distance...

...It decided that it's next meal would be ponies. And unlike the deer...It wouldn't get away.