Post by Starry Dancer on Jan 1, 2011 19:44:56 GMT -5
This is a fanfiction I wrote over the summer and originally published on BSC- it has illustrations! I hope you like it!
Chapter 1
A fresh spring breeze stirred the smoke rising from the chimneys of Midhaven, one of the largest cities in North of North. The sun was just beginning to rise over its sea of rooftops when twelve-year-old Mina Lind turned to look at the houses and shops spread before her. The road she had taken out of the city, heading west towards the rolling plain of the Grass Sea, afforded her a magnificent view of the metropolis where she had lived her entire life.
And I’m free for today! Mina thought happily, turning her back towards the rising sun and continuing down the road. She began to whistle a merry jig as she skipped down the path, her sturdy brown riding boots kicking up a cloud of late May dust. A flock of birds wheeled overhead, joining her in her song. What an amazing day for an adventure! Mina thought with a smile. Too bad it’s only one day…
The Lind family’s mapmaking business in Midhaven was a small but well-established firm, and Mina loved helping her parents create maps that were both beautiful and useful. Her job, painting detailed pictures of villages and castles, forests and deserts, was enjoyable, yes. As she painted, Mina could almost imagine herself riding the wind in the Overgaard skylands or exploring the splendid palace at the bottom of the Equinesian sea. But that was just the problem- her imagination could only take her so far. Mina devoured books that told tales of the distant lands of North of North and the magical horses that inhabited them. But even this wasn’t enough; Mina wanted to experience the adventures she read about, to blaze new trails, and, most of all, to encounter a steed of her own to accompany her on her journeys. Her favorite stories involved the Valkyries, immortal women that aided heroes and protected the realm in days of old with their flying steeds. Mina often daydreamed that the Valkyries would swoop down and pluck her out of her uneventful, albeit pleasant, life in the city. Midhaven was no place for adventure! It was full of mundane things, like vegetable stands, thatched-roof cottages, and ordinary, workaday horses that were used strictly for business. That was why she had asked her parents for a day off; to go out and see the world, even if she was only a few hours’ walk from home. The splendor of the Grass Sea, today’s destination, was sure to make up for the lack of adventure that has been the norm in her life so far. But what fun was some epic locale like the Grass Sea when you were alone? Mina sighed, interrupting her tune, and the birds flew away with a farewell tweet. Even if she were to meet the perfect horse for her, Mina’s family had no room to keep an equine! In fact, the family’s small yard could barely contain her mother’s robust garden, let alone a spirited horse! A brown study was about to settle over Mina when she crested the final hill on the way to the Grass Sea.
Mina’s breath was snatched by the infinite expanse of green. She knew like all children of North of North that the Grass Sea was really a giant mat of plants floating atop a huge reservoir teeming with life. Perhaps she would see a rare and elusive Pool Diver today! On the surface, colossal trees known as emerald cloud trees sheltered many species of animals such as small, friendly root ponies and pufferfoxes. Herds of Frondessence horses, beautiful equines with grass in place of manes and tails, roamed the meadows throughout. Mina had even brought her sketchpad in case she met any of these creatures. Or had she? Just to make sure, she checked her canvas bag. Edged in emerald-green leather, the bag held everything a girl could wish for when seeking adventure. Besides her sketchpad and a few writing utensils, Mina had packed a compass, a delicious lunch of homemade bread and cheese, her slingshot (for plinking away at boulders and things), her favorite map of North of North, and a warm blue cloak to use as a picnic blanket. The last item in Mina’s bag was particularly special: a blank book, bound in warm, honey-colored cloth. Though the book had been accompanying Mina everywhere for years now, she was waiting for the perfect adventure to happen in order to fill its pages. It would be the story of her experiences. Might she be able to add the first chapter today? Mina smiled at the possibility and picked up where she left off on her song, back into her previously ebullient mood.
An hour later, Mina was thick in the hip-high grass that covered the plains of the Grass Sea- or, the Grassy, as many local people called it. The sun had finally made its ascent, and was smiling down upon countless miles of waving prairie. Already, Mina had spotted a small herd of Frondessences grazing a few miles off. Now, she was approaching the base of an emerald cloud tree. Her house back in Midhaven could have fit inside of its trunk with plenty of room to spare! Mina leapt onto a benchlike root and gazed upwards, becoming dizzy from the astounding height of the branches. Soon, a trio of pufferfoxes had poked their orange heads out of a burrow beneath the trunk, and were sniffing at her bag. “You’re adorable!” cooed Mina, and pulled out her sketchpad to capture the foxes’ capers in drawing. Presently, a small gathering of Root ponies had come to see what the ruckus was about, and Mina added them to the picture. Chocolate-brown with snow-white manes and tails, the ponies seemed to accept Mina with ease. “We match,” she observed to one inquisitive pony that came up to sniff at her boot. Her cropped hair was indeed the same color as the ponies’ coats, as were her eyes. How she wished that personable horses like this lived in Midhaven! Their company was a joy. It was almost as if she had a natural affinity for horses, and they for her. If only she was able to be near them more often! If only she had a horse of her own! She could picture it now: a strong, beautiful horse, a best friend who understood her completely. Together, they would ride to the ends of the earth! They would see everything there was to see, experience the wonders that North of North had to offer! They would fight for justice and peace, protect their beloved land… Mina was about to settle into her favorite daydream when a confused rush hoofbeats erupted from somewhere not too far off. A herd of Frondessence horses suddenly came charging over a nearby drumlin, snorting and shaking their heads in fear.
Fear?
Mina knew very well that no predators were indigenous to the Grassy. What could have frightened the herd? She was almost too shaken to wonder, but her fears were confirmed by a second sound: a distant growling, coming from where the Frondessences had just been. Mina rushed to her bag and grabbed her slingshot. This could, after all, become an emergency situation. Mina slung her sack over her shoulders, ready for flight. Steeling her nerve, she crept forward in a crouch. Every step she took widened the gap between herself and the comfort of her Emerald Cloud tree. Would she be able to make it back to safety if the mysterious growler chose to pursue her?
Chapter 1
A fresh spring breeze stirred the smoke rising from the chimneys of Midhaven, one of the largest cities in North of North. The sun was just beginning to rise over its sea of rooftops when twelve-year-old Mina Lind turned to look at the houses and shops spread before her. The road she had taken out of the city, heading west towards the rolling plain of the Grass Sea, afforded her a magnificent view of the metropolis where she had lived her entire life.
And I’m free for today! Mina thought happily, turning her back towards the rising sun and continuing down the road. She began to whistle a merry jig as she skipped down the path, her sturdy brown riding boots kicking up a cloud of late May dust. A flock of birds wheeled overhead, joining her in her song. What an amazing day for an adventure! Mina thought with a smile. Too bad it’s only one day…
The Lind family’s mapmaking business in Midhaven was a small but well-established firm, and Mina loved helping her parents create maps that were both beautiful and useful. Her job, painting detailed pictures of villages and castles, forests and deserts, was enjoyable, yes. As she painted, Mina could almost imagine herself riding the wind in the Overgaard skylands or exploring the splendid palace at the bottom of the Equinesian sea. But that was just the problem- her imagination could only take her so far. Mina devoured books that told tales of the distant lands of North of North and the magical horses that inhabited them. But even this wasn’t enough; Mina wanted to experience the adventures she read about, to blaze new trails, and, most of all, to encounter a steed of her own to accompany her on her journeys. Her favorite stories involved the Valkyries, immortal women that aided heroes and protected the realm in days of old with their flying steeds. Mina often daydreamed that the Valkyries would swoop down and pluck her out of her uneventful, albeit pleasant, life in the city. Midhaven was no place for adventure! It was full of mundane things, like vegetable stands, thatched-roof cottages, and ordinary, workaday horses that were used strictly for business. That was why she had asked her parents for a day off; to go out and see the world, even if she was only a few hours’ walk from home. The splendor of the Grass Sea, today’s destination, was sure to make up for the lack of adventure that has been the norm in her life so far. But what fun was some epic locale like the Grass Sea when you were alone? Mina sighed, interrupting her tune, and the birds flew away with a farewell tweet. Even if she were to meet the perfect horse for her, Mina’s family had no room to keep an equine! In fact, the family’s small yard could barely contain her mother’s robust garden, let alone a spirited horse! A brown study was about to settle over Mina when she crested the final hill on the way to the Grass Sea.
Mina’s breath was snatched by the infinite expanse of green. She knew like all children of North of North that the Grass Sea was really a giant mat of plants floating atop a huge reservoir teeming with life. Perhaps she would see a rare and elusive Pool Diver today! On the surface, colossal trees known as emerald cloud trees sheltered many species of animals such as small, friendly root ponies and pufferfoxes. Herds of Frondessence horses, beautiful equines with grass in place of manes and tails, roamed the meadows throughout. Mina had even brought her sketchpad in case she met any of these creatures. Or had she? Just to make sure, she checked her canvas bag. Edged in emerald-green leather, the bag held everything a girl could wish for when seeking adventure. Besides her sketchpad and a few writing utensils, Mina had packed a compass, a delicious lunch of homemade bread and cheese, her slingshot (for plinking away at boulders and things), her favorite map of North of North, and a warm blue cloak to use as a picnic blanket. The last item in Mina’s bag was particularly special: a blank book, bound in warm, honey-colored cloth. Though the book had been accompanying Mina everywhere for years now, she was waiting for the perfect adventure to happen in order to fill its pages. It would be the story of her experiences. Might she be able to add the first chapter today? Mina smiled at the possibility and picked up where she left off on her song, back into her previously ebullient mood.
An hour later, Mina was thick in the hip-high grass that covered the plains of the Grass Sea- or, the Grassy, as many local people called it. The sun had finally made its ascent, and was smiling down upon countless miles of waving prairie. Already, Mina had spotted a small herd of Frondessences grazing a few miles off. Now, she was approaching the base of an emerald cloud tree. Her house back in Midhaven could have fit inside of its trunk with plenty of room to spare! Mina leapt onto a benchlike root and gazed upwards, becoming dizzy from the astounding height of the branches. Soon, a trio of pufferfoxes had poked their orange heads out of a burrow beneath the trunk, and were sniffing at her bag. “You’re adorable!” cooed Mina, and pulled out her sketchpad to capture the foxes’ capers in drawing. Presently, a small gathering of Root ponies had come to see what the ruckus was about, and Mina added them to the picture. Chocolate-brown with snow-white manes and tails, the ponies seemed to accept Mina with ease. “We match,” she observed to one inquisitive pony that came up to sniff at her boot. Her cropped hair was indeed the same color as the ponies’ coats, as were her eyes. How she wished that personable horses like this lived in Midhaven! Their company was a joy. It was almost as if she had a natural affinity for horses, and they for her. If only she was able to be near them more often! If only she had a horse of her own! She could picture it now: a strong, beautiful horse, a best friend who understood her completely. Together, they would ride to the ends of the earth! They would see everything there was to see, experience the wonders that North of North had to offer! They would fight for justice and peace, protect their beloved land… Mina was about to settle into her favorite daydream when a confused rush hoofbeats erupted from somewhere not too far off. A herd of Frondessence horses suddenly came charging over a nearby drumlin, snorting and shaking their heads in fear.
Fear?
Mina knew very well that no predators were indigenous to the Grassy. What could have frightened the herd? She was almost too shaken to wonder, but her fears were confirmed by a second sound: a distant growling, coming from where the Frondessences had just been. Mina rushed to her bag and grabbed her slingshot. This could, after all, become an emergency situation. Mina slung her sack over her shoulders, ready for flight. Steeling her nerve, she crept forward in a crouch. Every step she took widened the gap between herself and the comfort of her Emerald Cloud tree. Would she be able to make it back to safety if the mysterious growler chose to pursue her?