Shamanon In Equestria Chapter One

>Day wandering on the Long Road.
>You are Anonymous, traveling con-man and part-time shaman.
>By part-time, you mean whenever there's a copper to be made.
>Many people like the small parlor tricks you can do, but they tend to be hesitant to part with their money.
>Still though, you make enough to live off of, and whatever you need the Long Road will provide.
>It has kept you humble and true to yourself, and you thank the ancestors for that.
>You don't remember how long ago you started your journey, but it's not like you mind the wandering.
>So many faces you have seen, and so many places you've been...
>You lightly chuckle to yourself because of the rhyme.
>Right now, you're on a dusty path headed towards ancestors know where, your shaministic implements hanging on your side and clanging away with each movement.
>The sun is low in the sky, and the air is comfortably cool.
>A light breeze rustles the long grasses around the path, and you take a moment to bask in nature's glow.
>Opening your eyes, you continue down the path.
>You hope that a town is near, as you require supplies to continue your journey.
>Of course, bought with the money that is sure to be made from various townspeople.
>A smile cracks upon your weathered face, thinking of the surprises the next town holds in store.
>Walking down the gentle slopes, you look out from under the brim of your straw hat towards the distance.
>As you continue to step along the Long Road, you blink.
>The small fraction of time that is eclipsed by your eyes closing passes very quickly, but when you open your eyes...
>Something is amiss.
>You were just on a dusty savannah path in the evening...
>And now there is a similar path, but this time there are leafy trees with twisted branches and roots and it's day-time.
>Stopping for a moment, your eyes narrow.
>High grade magics take time to cast...
>You couldn't have been sent here by a mage, or anything like that.
>Though, perhaps, an arcaner by the name of Carl could have done it.
>Though he is more myth than man, he is one who could have.
>Taking the fish-bones on a string from your pack, you hold them in front of you in the air.
>A gentle breeze blows and moves the bones very slightly.
>...Hmmm.
>The spirits are not saying that it is wrong for you to be here.
>You are confused, but only for a moment.
>If the spirits say that it is alright for you to be here, you don't mind it.
>You place the bones back in your pack, shift your shoulders, and resume your leisurely pace.
>And so your journey on the Long Road continues.
>...
>Some time has passed since the ancestors led you into this strange land, and you see the end of the forest.
>You passed a strange hut on the way here, but thought to not disturb it's owner.
>Either in kindness, or simply the location of it.
>One does not build a hut in the middle of a forest to want to be bothered by people.
>Though there was something strange about the hut's aura...
>You consulted the ancestors after passing it, and they deemed it wise to continue your journey.
>And the ancestors have always kept you safe, so you listened to their knowledge.
>Which leads you to where you are right now, approaching the end of the forest.
>Stepping out of it, you find yourself in a wide-open field full of flowers, a strangely shaped mountain in the distance.
>Shifting your hat, you squint your eyes at the object in the distance.
>Is that...a castle?
>Oh, this is wonderful!
>There should be outlying villages all around this valley for you to make your living off of!
>You move to take a step, but a voice stops you.
>"Oh my, I've never seen an animal like you before!"
>Turning towards the voice, you're mildly surprised by what you find.
>A waist-high horse who's coat is a butter yellow, with an oddly intricate pink mane.
>She has a mark on her butt, which is a trio of pink butterflies.
>It's face looks strangely human, instead of more like a horses.
>Maybe a new type of centaur?
>But she has wings, you notice.
>So she's a pegasus?
>Combining the terms, you come up with a new one.
>Cegasus?
>...nope.
>Still, though, it's interesting to look at.
>Looking around, you see that there is no one else in the field but you and the horse.
>"An animal that wears clothes, no less!"
>She trots around you in a circle, and you are forced to accept that she did, in fact, speak.
>But in a world full of various creatures that can talk, you can't say you're that surprised by it.
>In fact, it's more of an eventuality that you would find one in your travels.
>Blinking as she ends her circle around you, you clear your throat.
"Hello there, fellow traveler!"
>The small yellow horse (pony, you decide to call it from now on) does a complete reversal of personality.
>With a 'EEP', she speeds behind a nearby log and tries to hide behind it.
>You're miffed, to say the least.
>A couple of seconds later, she pokes her head above the log.
>"Y-you can talk?"
>Raising an eyebrow at her, she sheepishly smiles.
>"R-right...s-so...where did you come from?"
>Turning your torso, you raise an arm and point towards the forest.
"I wandered from that forest over there."
>Her eyes widen, and she comes immidiately over to you.
>"Oh my, you came from the Everfree? Oh, it's so dangerous there!"
>Her nervous demeanor is instantly gone, replaced with concern.
>Yours, however, is a slight air of confusion.
"It was dangerous there? I really couldn't tell."
>She shakes her head, staring at you in regards to your apparent disregard for danger.
>"Oh yes, it's very dangerous! There's manticores, timberwolves, and bears, oh my!"
>Your only response is a shrug.
>She looks your gaunt form over, and raises a hoof to her lips.
>"How are you so skinny?"
>Once again, you shrug, but decide to add some words this time.
"The Long Road sometimes provides, and sometimes it does not. You have found me in between towns, and food is low in supply for wanderers like me."
>She gasps, and starts to push you in a certain direction.
>You resist, and pipe up inquisitively.
"Miss, where are you herding my physical form?"
>She continues to push.
>"You're starving! I can't just let somepony go hungry!"
>Thinking for a second, you decide to take the proverbial hand extended to you.
>After all, you didn't even have to do any work for it!
>And you'll always take free food over an empty stomach.
"I will accompany you, but please refrain from pushing this one."
>She halts her advance, and trots around in front of you.
>"Alright then, follow me!"
>She starts off towards the direction she was pushing you towards earlier, and you start to follow her, remaining in companionable silence along the way.
>Eventually, you reach the location, a cottage on the top of a hill.
>It looks..very inviting.
>It will be a great relief to be able to lay down on an actual bed for once.
>Walking up the small path, she opens the door for you and ushers you inside.
>Guiding you to a couch, she beckons you to sit.
>Once you do so, she points a hoof at you.
>"Now you just stay right there, I'll have something for you to eat in just a moment."
>You nod, and watch her as she quickly exits the room.
>Looking around the room, you notice that there are a plethora of pet cages and small animals about.
>You wonder if she's going to serve some of them to you.
>A tapping makes itself known on your foot.
>Leaning over, you notice a small rabbit looking up at you.
>You make a shooing gesture, and return to your comfortable sitting pose.
>The tapping resumes, but this time you try to ignore it.
>The rabbit stops it's tapping, and jumps up on the couch.
>He points at you, and then points towards the floor, and makes a shooing gesture of his own.
>Your eyebrows raise at it's showing of intelligence.
>And then furrow at the gall of this little runt.
>You shake your head, and push him off the couch.
>It jumps up again, and you ignore his presence.
>It angrily chatters for a moment, then goes silent.
>A searing pain erupts in one of your fingers, and you pull it back with a yelp.
>Shaking it out, you hold it with your other hand, and glare at the little rabbit.
>It has a smug expression on it's face, then does the same motions it did before.
>But he's become rather irritating, so you raise your hands, and weave a hex.
"Bukaaw!"
http://hydra-media.cursecdn.com/dota2.gamepedia.com/4/40/Shad_ability_voodoo_05.mp3?version=da45c42d2e28c093cde6984b87d02108
>As the rabbit dissappears in a puff of smoke, a chicken appears in it's place.
>Slapping your knee, you laugh at the unfortunate rodent before speaking up.
"Your TRUE form!"
http://hydra-media.cursecdn.com/dota2.gamepedia.com/9/91/Shad_ability_voodoo_04.mp3?version=e364f38883285ddb9db11e1ad5c57240
>The butter yellow pegasus returns, and looks over at the new chicken.
>"Oh my, what are you doing out of your roost, Mister Rooster?"
>She picks it up, and the chicken clucks desperately to get her attention.
>Nuzzling to calm it, she looks over to you.
>"Oh, I'm so sorry, but I have to put Mister Rooster here back at his Roost! I'll be back in just a moment!"
>She flies out of the house towards the backyard.
>...
>You snerk, and try to suppress your chuckles.
>Failing miserably, you guffaw loudly, and reign yourself in by the time the pegasus returns.
>"I'm sorry for taking so long, but Mister Rooster didn't want to go to his roost."
>Biting your tongue to prevent laughter, you simply nod.
>"Now, just give me a second, and I'll have some food for you. Until then, though-"
>She waves her hoof over the table, and you notice a small bowl of fruit.
>How you didn't notice it before, you have no idea.
>Possibly, you were too hungry to look closely at it.
>"-please, help yourself to some of this."
>You deeply bow, at least, as much as the couch will allow.
"My deepest thanks for your graciousness, miss...?"
>She meeps, and responds to your bow with her own.
>"I-I'm Fluttershy...and you?"
>You slowly rise from your bow, and she rises from her own.
"Anonymous, traveling shaman and con-*ahem*, traveling shaman."
>She cocks her head, but decides to not press you for info.
>"Alright then, it's nice to meet you, Anonymous."
>You allow a slight smile to grace your face, and reply.
"Likewise, Miss Fluttershy."
>She shyly smiles, and starts to trot out of the room.
>"Please don't call me Miss, we're friends, after all!"
>She winces, and looks to you.
>"I-if that's okay with you, that is."
>You nod, and gently smile.
"Alright then, Fluttershy."
>She returns your smile with her own, and then trots out of the room, calling back to you one last time.
>"I'll be back with some food soon."
>She turns the corner into the kitchen, and fades from sight.
>You wonder how the little rabbit you hexed is doing.
>...he's probably fine.
>...probably.