"The Book Of Lore, Prologue.
Written by Mane6."
"Life had been peaceful in the world of Fœnum.
The inhabitants of this world – furry, four-footed, hooved – had thrived for generations, creating
culture, building societies.
They lived happily, with sweet, grassy pastures at their disposal and great, expansive fields
to gallop across.
They were free.
But it has not always been so.
Long ago, they shared their world with others, also furry and four-footed, but these creatures
had teeth.
Sharp teeth.
They were Predators, and they filled the ungulates of Fœnum with fear.
BearPredator
No one knows exactly just when or how the predators disappeared, but the most famous
legend says that a great elder, long of leg, long of horn, and long of beard, had finally
grown weary of living in fear.
A desert creature, this Bearded Prophet hailed from the time of pharaohs and pyramids, and
most importantly, magic.
Guided by the souls of her ancestors, she discovered a portal her predecessors used
as a passageway to the afterlife.
It led to a void, a limbo-like antechamber – a lobby, if you will – with countless
other portals that led to other worlds.
She floated in the abyss, behind her was the door to Fœnum itself, and before her was
an empty realm she called the THE HOLD.
This place, she knew, was where the Predators belonged.
Under her wise guidance, the nations of Fœnum united against the Predators.
After a long and costly war, they drove the toothed ones through Limbo and into The Hold.
There, the Prophet locked them away, using an ENCHANTED KEY she made from one of her
own magnificent horns.
For good measure, she locked the door to Foenum as well so that no one should enter their
world uninvited and ensuring peace for Fœnum forever.
But nothing lasts forever.
They are coming back.
All of them.
The wolves, the lions, the hyenas, the crocodiles, the bears, the jaguars and many, many more.
Ghostlike figures, dark and misty, were glimpsed just outside the limits of cities or towns.
Sometimes they even floated through encampments, or followed not far behind the nomadic herds.
Their glowing, angry eyes hinted at what they were, but it was the sharp, shining teeth
that told all.
Eventually one spoke, “Do not fear us, grass eater,” it said to a terrified foal, alone
at the edge of a prairie.
“We are merely scouts here to warn you.
The Bearded Prophet’s magic is finally wearing thin.
We have broken her lock, and soon enough we will break your lock so our kind may return
to Fœnum, led by the most horrible of us all, THE DEVOURER.
The Predators are returning, and they are hungry.”
WolfPredatorThe Elders conferred for the first time in generations.
They knew that with the Prophet’s Key, they could renew the magic and strengthen the locks.
But they knew it would take only the the bravest, the strongest, the most skilled among them
to get past The Devourer to even reach the door to The Hold.
They had to find a champion, THE KEY KEEPER!
Without the Prophet’s guidance, the nations of Fœnum could not find it in themselves
to come together to choose one Key Keeper.
Instead, every nation – Bison from The Plains, Goats from The Mountains, Antelopes from The
Valleys, Equines from The Steppes, Camels from The Deserts, Deer from The Forests and
countless others – chose their own champion to face The Devourer and save the world.
But it is only the one with the Key who will be able to reach Limbo through Fœnum’s
portal.
So these champions must hunt down the key for themselves.
To fulfill their duty, they must take the key from whichever “imposter” happens
to have it – one on one, horn against hoof against antler, until the greatest emerges
Champion of them all, Protector of Fœnum!
He or she shall face the The Devourer and lock him and his kind back to the realm of
their banishment.
And if he or she does not, all the ungulates of Fœnum shall surely perish."
Chapter 1
The Future Belongs To The Young
"Under a cornflower blue sky, filled with billowing white clouds, an enormous herd of
cattle gather across an expanse of tall brown-green grass.
Their noses point to the center of the herd, focused intently.
Their homes, dozens of dusty covered wagons, surround the group.
Mumbles of concern and curiosity mix with long, drawn out moos.
Their attention is fixed on a simple, newly constructed stage, the wood still pale and
clean.
A massive brown bull stands atop it before his herd.
His horns are impressively long, sprouting horizontally from his head, their black tips
curved forward just at the ends.
He wears a heavy, wooden yoke to signify his station.
He is the Head Bull, TEXAS.
Beside him is a strong, blue-eyed cow, her short coarse coat patched white and tan, his
wife, MINNESOTA.
“Gather ‘round friends, I’ve got news from outside our beloved home, The Prairie,”
he calls out to the throng of bovines.
“We’ve all heard the tall tale of old, the story of The Horned Prophet, the little
lady who locked away our old enemies long ago, keeping us safe to roam the country,
looking for sweet grass and golden sunsets just at Mother Fœnum intended for her calves.
Welp, I’ll tell you now, the tale, it was true.
And the story, well, a new chapter is startin’.
“
Texas’ eyes, narrow with gravity
“The Predators, they’re a-fixin’ to come back.”
The crowd shifts, voices raised with concern.
Minnesota tries to calm them, the last thing they need is a stampede.
“Now don’t get your tails in a knot, folks.
There’s something we can do about it, don’tcha know.”
“Yup,” Texas continues, “the varmints ain’t here yet, and with the Prophet’s
key, the lock can be mended.
We can still lock ‘em back up in The Hold.
But it will take someone with strong moral fiber, someone rough, tough, and bull-headed
to boot.
So naturally, that means one of us – Cattlekind.”
Texas looks out to his people, some with faces twisted with concern, others with determination,
others still, with anger.
“Are there any volunteers?”
The cattle rush the stage, moo-ing with purpose!
“That’s right,” Minnesota calls out and motions to a old rain barrel at the end
of the stage, “just put’cher name there in the barrel, we’ll be pickin’ lottery
style, don’tcha know.”
One by one, each Bovine presses their nose in a dish full of mud and slams it onto a
piece of torn cloth, stamping it with their unique, individual prints.
They fill the barrel to overflowing with their “names.”
“Spread the word to our brethren across The Prairie,” Texas informs them.
“Yah.
We’ll be drawin’ the noseprint of the champion tomorrow mornin’.”
Minnesota finishes.
For the rest of the day, bulls and cows from across the nation migrate to the main Wagon
Train to throw their nose prints into the barrel.
But it is not until late at night that the final name is added.
The entire herd sleeps as, under the dim light of a half moon, a small calf stealthily approaches
the empty stage.
As if doing something forbidden, the young one looks around carefully, makes the print
and adds it to the barrel before quickly dashing away.
AriLazyBrush2
The next day, just after the sun rises, the herd reconvenes, eager to find out who among
them will be chosen to save the land.
“Friends,” Texas announces, “get ready to meet your champion!”
Minnesota shoves her whole head into the barrel and emerges with the fateful name.
Texas inspects it closely, then gasps in horror!
“No!
It can’t be!”
Minnesota, unable to speak with the print in her mouth, questions her husband with darting,
concerned eyes.
“Our youngest daughter…” he cries out, “ARIZONA!”
The crowd gasps!
Minnesota gasps!
The noseprint falls from her lips to the ground before the hooves of…
The young calf!
She bravely stands the before the herd, determined to claim her title!
She is small, her horns only just budding, but she is sturdy and sure!
“Young lady,” Texas scolds, his voice a combination of fear and indignation, “what
were you thinking!
I won’t allow it!”
“Sorry Pa,” Arizona yells right back, unintimidated, “but it’s my right!
I am Cattlekind, too, and I love The Prairie as much as anybody else.”
Minnesota steps in to reason with her husband, “It’s the law of The Prairie, don’tcha
know.
Her name was drawn, it really is her right.”
Texas and Arizona face off, nose to nose, overprotective father against rebellious daughter.
“She is too young!” he proclaims.
“The future belongs to the young!
Let a young one protect it!” she defies.
“Then it is my right, as Head Bull, to take your place!”
“Not unless I defeat you first, Pa.”
AriLore
“Very well, calf.
But remember, you mess with the bull…”
Texas paws the ground and lowers his immense horns.
Minnesota rolls her eyes as he booms: “YOU GET THE HORNS!”
“Hoo boy,” Minnesota says to herself, shaking her head, “here we go…”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Arizona rushes her dad.
He is prepared, though.
He lowers his head and throws her high into the air.
She flips nose over tail through the air and lands square on her feet, the force of her
landing rocking the bull off balance.
“Don’t go easy on me, old timer!”
Texas is surprised!
Not just by her sass, but by her strength.
He narrows his eyes, resolved to give her his all.
He rears up and brings his massive hooves down on her, but she is fast.
She rolls and weaves between the furious stomps, unencumbered by the deafening booms of his
hooves on the ground.
Finally, he pins her by the tail.
“Ha!
Don’t mess with Texas!”
Minnesota face-hooves.
Unbelievable.
The calf kicks him in the face!
Stunned, he stammers back, releasing her tail.
They position themselves for a final face off, staring each other down.
Texas lets out a mighty bellow and catapults himself towards his daughter!
The entire herd is shaken by the thundering of his hooves.
Arizona waits a moment, then coils.
She lowers her head, raises her hoof, then POUNDS the dirt, rocketing herself towards
the raging bull like a battering ram!
AriLore3
The impact throws him into the air!
But before he lands, Arizona banks off the side of the stage, twists her hind legs before
her and lands a mighty buck square into his chest!
The herd watches, mouths agape as their powerful leader is launched into the air spinning uncontrollably,
before falling with a cacophonous, booming THUD!
And when the dust clears, the bovines see their champion.
Arizona stands above – no, on – her fallen father, a vision of youthful independence
and strength.
“No use crying over spilt milk!” she crows triumphantly.
Minnesota winces.
“Oh geez, c’mon…”
The cattle cheer, “MOOOO!
Yee haw!
Wee dogie!”
Minnesota looks on, filled with pride.
“Well done, little calf.”
She says softly to herself, “Yah, you bet’cha.”
Texas gets up and watches as Arizona is swarmed by the crowd, cheering for their champion.
“Moooo!
Our champ-een!” they hoot and holler, “This calls for a hoe down!
Git along little cowgirl!
Moooo!”
With a smug, knowing expression, Minnesota sidles up by Texas.
He looks on angry, humbled.
With her great weight, she nudges him with her shoulder, knocking him off balance, if
only slightly.
He gives her a side eye before looking out at his little girl, carried high on the backs
of her happy brethren.
His face softens and a proud smile crosses his lips as Minnesota puts her head on his
shoulder.
With a hint of a tear in his mighty, brown eye, he opens his mouth to speak.
Minnesota braces herself for the worst…
“The future belongs to the young.”
He says, quietly expressing his approval.
Minnesota breathes a sigh of relief.
That wasn’t so bad."
End of Chapter 1
"Hello everypony, Snogwritts here!
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