"Finally! We made it to Druid Lake!" Ruby cheered.

"Huh... did everyone sleep in today, or what?" Justin asked, looking around the camp.

"HALT!" Swift Justice yelled from behind a bush.

"W-wait... was it you who defeated the Black Wings?!" A guard asked from the distance.

"He sure did! He saved both me, and Gilded Blade here!" Ruby replied.

Swift Justice walked up to Justin. "... We really need your help!"

"Wait, you're saying you lost ninety men in just two days?!" Justin asked.

A black-furred paw broke through the metal gate, revealing a pair of glowing red eyes, and pure white teeth. "Um, Swift? What... in the name of Tartarus... was THAT?!" Justin asked.

"Did they give up?" A guard asked.

"Everyone get to the sides! I think they're about to charge in!" Justin said.

The gates blasted open, while Justin blasted a large fireball into the large monster, vaporizing it.

Gilded Blade jumped in, and started slicing through the creatures alongside Justin.

The creatures were all dead, which made the guards cheer.

"Justin... do you get the feeling that was a little... too easy?"

The corpses all melted into a puddle, which moved to the center of the pile of corpses.

A giant creature rose from the large puddle, that stood five stories tall.

"Gilded? Go to Ruby!" Justin said, glaring at the monster.

"Alright, then! It's just you and me!" Justin said to the behemoth.

He braced for impact, as the creature swung its giant fist towards him.

Ruby looked around nervously, as a group of Horses, Minotaurs, Wyverns, and Zebras all sat underneath the underground bunker that served as a safe place. There were torches lit around the stone walls, and a few hanging lanterns in the middle of the large room. Out of curiosity, Ruby walked around the place, unaware of the fact that her wings were no longer tucked inside her dress.

At once, a Pony stallion opened his eyes widely, and stuttered, "A... an Alicorn?!"

Ruby's ears perked up at that statement, and at once, she turned around, only to find out that all eyes were on her now.

"Oh, praise Celestia! We're saved!" A Wyvern man said. "Please! Teleport us to a safer place!" The group of survivors started agreeing with the Wyvern, which caused Ruby to stare at them nervously.

With a sigh, she said, "I'm sorry, everyone... I don't even know how to cast magic, yet!" This caused the group to gasp.

"Oh, great! Just like Royalty, ALWAYS LYING TO THEIR SUBJECTS!" The stallion glared at her as he yelled. Then he proceeded closer to Ruby, which caused her to back into a corner, and curl up in a ball. "TAKE US SOMEWHERE SAFE, OR YOU'LL BE OUT THERE WITH THE REST OF THOSE MONSTERS!"

The minute he finished that sentence, he found himself thrown into the wall on the opposite side of the building by a pair of claws. When he saw who it was that threw him, his eyes widened when he saw Gilded Blade aiming one of his swords at his throat.

With a bitter tone, Gilded said to him, "If you so much as WHISPER to her again, then I will have no trouble gutting you like the pig you are!" Then, while drawing his other sword, he pierced the stone wall on both directions of the stallion's head, causing him to flinch. "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!" Gilded shouted, causing the whole room to fill with his voice.

While whimpering, the stallion nodded his head, which caused Gilded to pull the blades from the stone wall, and sheathe them on the back of his belt. "Good." He said, before spitting in the stallion's face.

Then he walked back up to Ruby, and held his right claw out for her to take. Out of fear, she shook her head. Then Gilded sighed, and shrugged, before sitting next to her. "It's okay, Ruby... your dad's out there fighting the monsters! I'm sure we'll be fine!"

"H-how do you know that, though?!" Ruby weakly asked. "S-sure he was able to beat Iron-Hoof, and those pirates single-handedly, but he has a bad knee, now!"

"Wait..." a Zebra lady said from the distance, which caused Ruby and Gilded to look her direction. "Did you say... 'Iron-Hoof'?"

Gilded nodded his head, and replied, "Her dad saved Goldwood Village from Iron-Hoof and his gang of pirates... by himself." This statement caused the crowd of survivors to talk amongst themselves.

The Zebra smiled, and sat in front of Ruby. "Please forgive these people... they know not what you have endured. Though with news like that, I know our safety is assured!" Ruby smiled at the Zebra and nodded her head.

Gilded looked at her, and asked, "I take it you're from Goldwood Village?"

The Zebra nodded her head, and replied, "Indeed, I am! Zula is my name. Herbalism is my talent, and I bring it no shame!"

Gilded smirked, then said, "You know we can understand Druathican, right?" This caused the Zebra's eyes to widen.

Then in Druathican, she replied, "Ah, that is good to know! I was worried that you didn't, seeing how you three came from another land." This made Ruby chuckle.

"It's alright... and it's nice to meet you, Miss Zula!" Ruby said, bowing her head politely. Zula smiled at the Alicorn Filly, and bowed her head in return.

"A child who's well mannered, I see! That is quite a rarity!" Then she smirked. "I suppose I can rhyme, even without thinking about it!" Ruby laughed again, while Zula looked at Gilded. "If it's alright with you two, I was wondering if I could hear the story of your travels?"

Gilded looked at Ruby, who smiled at him, and nodded her head, then back at Zula. "Alright, then... it all started like this..."

Justin sat behind a market stall and breathed heavily, while his back rested on the corner of the stall. Turning to his right, he asked Swift, who sat opposite of him, "Any MORE bright ideas, Captain?!"

Swift Justice breathed in a similar fashion as Justin, before shaking his head. "I didn't expect this thing to even appear!" As soon as he said that, they both flinched at the sound of the creature roaring behind them. "But at least it's the only one left, right?"

Justin shook his head, and replied, "As long as there's one, I think that's all it'll take for them to come back tomorrow! And in case you didn't notice, I've kinda got a wounded knee!"

"Perhaps you could make a fine guard, then!" Swift stated, to which Justin glared at him.

"Please... tell me you didn't go there..." Justin said, while his annoyed glare was glued on the knight next to him.

"What?" Swift asked, shrugging his shoulders. "Guards don't have to move as much, y'know!"

Justin pinched the area between his eyes, and said, "You know what? I think we should figure out what it is we're going against, before we throw more punches at it!" He looked at the fort in the center of the island, and back at the monster, who continued searching for it's targets, each of which were hiding behind separate stalls and debris, awaiting their orders. "Is there any books in that place?"

Swift nodded his head and replied, "As far as we know, yes sir... but how can we describe this creature?!"

Justin thought for a moment, until a smile crept on his face. Reaching into his Saddlebag, he pulled out a thin, black device with a touchscreen that reacted to his finger sliding on it. The device itself caused Swift to stare in awe at it. "W-what is THAT?!" He asked.

Justin sighed, and replied, "It's a Cell Phone. No, it isn't a weapon, yes, it's fragile, and yes, it can take pictures, with the addition of recording live footage. Now, I'm gonna take a picture of this thing. You take this to my daughter, Ruby. She's the little yellow filly with red hair. When you return, tell me if anyone gave her a hard time. If they did, please send that person, or even those persons, out, so I can teach them a lesson about what happens when you pick the wrong target."

Swift stared at him wide-eyed, slightly shaky and nervous, as sweat poured from his forehead at the last statement. He felt like it would be best not to say anything at that point, so he merely chuckled weakly, and nodded his head.

Finally, after Justin lifted the phone, and tapped on the screen, it made a small flash, which exposed their positions, and made the creature roar, while it loudly stomped towards the source of light.

"Damn... should've turned the flash off!" Justin muttered beneath his breath, before handing the phone to Swift, locking the screen in the process. "Take this to my daughter. DON'T drop it! It can't get wet, under any circumstances! Alright?"

Swift nodded his head, and accepted the phone. "W-what about you, though?" He asked, right before they realized that the stall was no longer on the ground.

Turning around, Justin casually replied, "Well, I'll just keep this guy busy, of course!" Then, with his wind magic, Justin grabbed onto Swift Justice, and sent him in front of the entrance to the island's bunker, while Justin remained in place, with his staff drawn.

"Something tells me I'm gonna need a side plan..." Justin said to himself, as the creature lifted its right foot, and quickly lowered it over Justin.

Swift quickly ran into the building, frantically looking through the bookcases that surrounded the walls. "No... no... what in the world is this doing here?!" He murmured to himself, as he skimmed through the books. Finally, after about a minute of searching the bookcase, he groaned, and ran to another bookcase.

Suddenly the door to the basement swung open, revealing Gilded Blade and Ruby standing at the other end. The second Swift heard the door open, he turned his head, and smiled. "Oh, it's just you two. Quickly, now! We need to find a book that might help us identify this creature!" He pointed at the phone, then handed it to Ruby.

At first, Gilded Blade and Ruby looked at each other confusedly, but when the creature roared, Ruby unlocked the picture on the phone, and examined it, while Gilded and Swift took a quick peek outside from one of the windows. The second they saw the creature on the phone, and in real life, they ran to the bookshelves, and began skimming through books, throwing the useless ones on the ground as they quickly scavenged through the countless bookcases.

Finally, once they reached the five minute mark, Ruby looked closer in the bookshelves, and gasped when she saw a book called "Pony-Tales: The Beast of the Dark Meadows". When she pulled it out, she brought the book to the window, and examined the creature on the cover, on the phone, and outside. Then she compared the three, and came up with the conclusion that they were all one in the same. "Gilded! I found something!" She said, while turning to Gilded Blade, who was standing at Swift's left. Her sudden announcement caused the two of them to turn around, and walk towards her.

Gilded lowered himself to one knee, and held his claw out, while Ruby placed the book in it. Then, with a smile, he brushed Ruby's mane with his left claw, and said, "Well done, Ruby! This might be what we're looking for!"

Swift raised an eyebrow at the title of the book, and asked, "Um, Gilded? You sure that's the right book?"

Gilded nodded his head, and replied, "Of course it is! Look at the creature in the picture, and compare it to that one out there!" He said, first pointing at the book, then to the creature in the distance.

Without even waiting for a response, the three of them ran back into the basement, where they can read through the book, hoping to find the creature's weakness.

Justin groaned, and continued shooting fireballs at the creature, all while dodging its fists and feet that continued smashing through the now completely desecrated Druid Lake. With each dodge, however, another crater was formed where the creature's fists and feet landed. At first, Justin tried attacking it with force, but soon he found that it was practically useless to even try getting near it.

Finally, once the creature had enough of Justin's shenanigans, it took an extra large breath of air, strong enough to cause the trees to start shaking towards it. The next thing Justin knew, he was picked up off his feet, and was about to be this monster's next meal.

Quickly he pulled his bow out, and drew a ghost arrow. When he shot it, however, he found that he was too close to the creature's mouth, and would be eaten before the arrow could even land. Cursing beneath his breath, he wrapped his bow around his right shoulder, and drew his staff once more, bracing for impact against this creature's jaws.

Before he could even reach the creature's jawline, however, the creature was knocked in the scalp by a large rock that fell from the sky. This caused it to fall to the ground, while Justin continued flying in the air, until the ghost arrow landed. Then he appeared in the area the arrow landed in, only to fall on his rump, and look up. When he saw his mysterious hero, however, his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

From the sky, the stranger landed directly in-between Justin and the creature, with his back turned towards Justin. After Justin got his bearings, however, the figure turned around, revealing his appearance.

The figure had a face that slightly resembled a human's, but instead of hair, a large group of white feathers swept from his forehead to the back of his neck, while shorter feathers lowered from his shoulders to his waist, with a patch of flesh over his face and his chest, which lowered down to below his stomach. He didn't have any arms, though. Instead, his arms were his wings, which had long white feathers that stretched out around three feet wide, and five feet long. His legs, however, were covered in brown hair, down to his knees. Below his knees, his shins were similar to a bird's claws, and instead of feet or hooves, he had talons below his ankles.

On his waist, he wore a golden belt with a blue waistcoat that lowered halfway down his knees in the front, and all the way down to his ankles in the back. His chest was decorated with a mixture of silver and gold necklaces. On his shoulders, he had a pair of harnessed silver shoulder pads, shaped similarly to how a royal knight's armor would look.

His red eyes focused on Justin at that point, and for a split second, Justin could've sworn he was looking at another human, but before he could even ask, the figure said, "Now is not the time for introductions! It isn't over yet!"

With a nod, Justin stood from the ground, white the figure turned back to the creature with both wings crossed. "It looks like someone, or something, disturbed Grimsley."

Justin tilted his head in confusion, and asked, "Who's 'Grimsley'?"

"Grimsley, the Beast of the Dark Meadows. Legends have it that it is created from a large number of Shadow Spawns, which are weak to fire and light! Grimsley, however, is not affected by the same elements that made him whole. Instead, it is by the forces of nature that the heroes of the ancient times were able to weaken him, while one hero, wearing the Necklace of Wisdom, pulled Grimsley's diamond heart out of his chest. When the deed was done, the mysterious hero, known only by the name, 'Nightshade', carried it back to the cave where Grimsley's curse was sealed under." Gilded Blade read through the book, while Ruby and Swift Justice listened closely to the words.

"You don't think that Nightshade person will show up again, do you?" Ruby asked, looking back-and-forth between Gilded and Swift, who exchanged glances before looking at her.

Swift shrugged his shoulders, and replied, "I'm not sure... it was difficult to describe him, as well."

Gilded pointed at a picture in the book, and said, "At least the author drew a picture of him. Here, Ruby. Perhaps you can decipher it?" Swift raised an eyebrow, and looked at Ruby with disbelief, starting to feel slightly annoyed, since he knew a child wouldn't be able to find out what Nightshade looked like.

"It kinda looks like a human mixed with a bird, to be honest!" Ruby said, causing Swift and Gilded's eyes to widen at the realization.

Gilded quickly looked at the picture again, and gasped. "You're right! After seeing what your father looks like... it does look a bit like him! Well, the face at least..." He looked up, and said, "You don't suppose..."

Before he could finish the sentence, a loud explosion could be heard from overhead, causing the entire room to fill with panic. Ruby, Gilded, and Swift all three looked at each other, and nodded their heads, without saying a word. Then, without hesitation, the three ran to the door that led out of the basement.

Justin dodged Grimsley's fist again, while the mysterious figure, who revealed his name to him as "Nightshade", flew from overhead, and distracted Grimsley by flying up in his face. Then Justin looked at Nightshade, and asked, "So, you're saying you've faced this guy before?!" Quickly Justin ducked, dodging a horizontal swipe Grimsley made at him.

Nightshade nodded his head, and replied, "Over five thousand years ago, yeah!" He dodged a swipe that Grimsley made in the air when he finished his sentence.

Justin then asked, "So you know his weakness?"

Grimsley roared loudly, as he jumped up, and attempted to smash Justin, only for him to roll out of the way in time. Nightshade nodded his head then, and replied, "Try Nature Magic! That's his biggest weakness!"

Justin stared at him in disbelief, before shrugging his shoulders, and flicking his Emerald Ring with his thumb. Then, after stretching his hands out, he levitated a distant rock, the same one as before, into the air behind Grimsley, and bashed him in the back of the head, which caused him to fall to the ground. After landing, Justin used his ring again to create roots from the grass, which wrapped around Grimsley's arms, legs, and neck, while in the center of his lungs, a hole started to open, revealing a purple diamond in the center of his chest.

The minute it became visible, Nightshade swooped to the ground level, and grabbed a hold of the diamond with his talons, before flapping his wings rapidly. While tugging on the diamond, Grimsley started roaring in even more pain, until the diamond was ripped from his chest entirely.

Grimsley's bindings soon disappeared, as he stood from the ground, and roared in pain. Wobbling back and forth, he made one last attempt to crush Justin and Nightshade, only for the sun to rise from behind him.

With his red crystalline eyes widened, his chest started to glow white, while he roared even louder. Then, after the light was covering the entire hole in his chest, he exploded mid-roar, causing the shadows from his fur to vanish into thin air, and vaporize in a black mist.

After letting out a sigh of relief, Justin turned to Nightshade, and smiled. Then he stretched his right hand out, and said, "Thanks for the help, Nightshade. My name's Justin, by the way. It's nice to meet you."

Nightshade merely turned his back, and placed the diamond in a stone chest that he pulled from his saddlebag. Justin stared at him confusedly, until he lifted the chest, and placed it back in his saddlebag. Then he turned to Justin, and said, "Perhaps one day, we'll meet again..."

Justin tilted his head in confusion, and asked, "What're you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he heard Ruby call out, "DADDY!" Turning his head, he smiled when he saw his daughter running up to him with her arms stretched out.

While they were focused on each other, Nightshade turned his back towards them again, and vanished into a puff of white smoke.

Lowering himself to the ground, Justin stretched his arms out, and lifted Ruby in another heartwarming hug, as the people from the bunker walked out of the boats they used to get to the other side. Gilded, of course, landed near them, after flying over there.

"Ruby! Thank goodness you're alright!" He then turned towards the crowd, and back at her, before asking, "Nobody gave you a hard time, did they?!"

From the corner of his eye, Justin could've sworn he saw a stallion sweating a riverbed. Ruby, however, chuckled, before replying, "No, Daddy! Everything was okay!" She then turned towards the Stallion, and said, "He almost did, but he apologized for it shortly after."

Justin shot the stallion a glare, and gently placed Ruby on the ground. Then he slowly walked towards the stallion, who was crouched to the ground. Before Justin could even say anything, however, the stallion stuttered, "I-I'm s-sorry, sir! I p-promise it w-won't h-happen again!"

Justin sighed, before lifting the stallion in the air with his left hand, and had his right fist balled up, and held between their faces. "You better not let it happen again... to anyone for that matter!" Then he released the stallion from his grip, which caused the stallion to fall to the ground, and land on his flanks. "You're lucky my daughter spared you... because I could've made your moment of peace a living hell, otherwise!"

This statement caused the crowd to go silent, before he looked at them. "My daughter wasn't always an Alicorn, so if you think that she has control of her magic, you're wrong." Then he took a deep breath, and tried to cool himself off. "And in case you didn't know... if you let her power go out of control, I'm certain she would've accidentally killed you all in the process!"

Then he turned to Ruby, and smiled, before lifting her from the ground, and walking towards the gate that was once magically sealed off. Thanks to the events that transpired, though, a hole was conveniently placed next to it. As he walked on, Gilded joined him, followed by Swift. Before they could leave, however, Zula shouted, "WAIT!"

When they turned around, she asked, "I know the challenges will put your lives to the test... but if you wish, I would like to aid you on your quest!"

With a smile, Justin replied in Druathican, "Of course you can come with us! Just please be careful, and make sure you're certain about your decision!"

Zula chuckled, and nodded her head. Then, as they left the city, the ten guards that were stationed there started to repair the damages done to the lake.

Finally, one villager looked out of the hole in the wall, and smiled, as he waved good-bye to the five adventurers who walked towards the horizon, following the rising sun.

Author's Notes:

The credit of the character, "Nightshade" goes to my buddy, "troublecake17"! The character is HIS, and was added to this story by HIS request!

Would you like a character to be added to the story? Let me know via PM, and I'll see to it that I get it done, if it doesn't conflict with anything else!

Oh, and while I'm at it, in case you didn't notice, pairing requests are also acceptable, as long as they don't conflict with any other characters! My character, of course, will be paired with Pinkie Pie later on in the series, so that one's a no-go. Nightshade will probably remain single, yet he will still develop close friendships later on in the storyline, especially Fluttershy. Whether he couples with Fluttershy or not is entirely up to troublecake17. Gilded Blade is also planned to be paired with Rainbow Dash, so heads-up for that one, too!

For an application of a character, please write, in full detail, these things that will be important for your character's appearance! (And please make it neat! If possible, have "NAME, AGE, RACE, APPEARANCE, PERSONALITY, PURPOSE, and ORIGINS" in BOLD format, while everything else remains in the normal format!) Also you have to read through the instructions. Yes, I'm aware of the fact that you just read through, like, 4,212 words, but let's be honest. How much reading do you have planned for today, anyways? Besides, this will also be useful for those of you who are curious about the geography of the world outside of Equestria, as well as the many different sentient creatures out there!

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I know it's hard, but you HAVE to read this, if you want a character! It's important!

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NAME: What is your character's name? Think of something you might find in the Equestrian World! THIS could prove useful, if you have trouble thinking of a name! Of course, you can also get creative, but no "l33KsP33K3R", "tiffany" or "Jeffrey" names are allowed! The characters that are "Cursed Ones" once had a name, but they dropped their names thousands of years ago, and replaced them with nicknames. (If you want YOUR name mentioned, you can always check what your name means, and use that as a reference!) Also, please use "Proper formatting" when dealing with names! It's important to do that, for if you forget to do that, your application may be ignored! (Sorry, but I have to test y'all, and see if y'all are paying attention, y'know? Nothing personal, but it's meant to narrow down the list of adventurers! Don't want my character walking with an army, y'know? It'll raise suspicions when he reaches Equestria, and cause people to think they're being invaded.)

AGE: How old is your character? Is he/she a child lost in the woods that the adventurers find? Is he/she a fully-grown wanderer who crosses paths with the adventurers? Perhaps an assassin sent to kill the group, only to realize that their failure in doing so forces them to join their targets, due to the assassins' strict codes?

RACE: Due to obvious reasons, your character can't be a full-blooded human. You CAN, however, have human-like features, like Nightshade, but you'd have to have another creature in the mix! (Before you ask, Nightshade WAS human, but was cursed by something even HE doesn't know! If your character is Half-Human, then it is also to be noted that he/she will most likely be dark/serious natured, due to their lack of communication. The life of a Cursed One is filled with loneliness.) An important thing to note is this as well: The Cursed Ones are older than Celestia herself, and have existed from long before Equestria and it's surrounding kingdoms were even formed! A list of available races will be at the bottom of this list! Please include the Sub-Race of your character, as you choose the race! (I.E. : Pegasus | Pony, Pegasus | Unicorn Pony | Pony, Unicorn | Earth Pony. Do NOT just say "Pony", though! Also, if you're not part-human, then you are classified as a "Mixed Breed". In that case, please describe, in deep detail, how your character looks, as well as who the parent of any specific traits are! ("You have your mother's beautiful Equine eyes... and your father's Minotaur-sized tusks...")

APPEARANCE: I'm going to need a finely detailed description on this one! If words aren't your talents, then don't fret! I'll also accept pictures, maybe with arrows that tell me what certain pieces of equipment are that your character(s) wear(s)! Don't forget, though, this is an Anthro World! If you describe your character in words, I will need these things; Eye + Iris Color (Pupil too, if necessary!), Skin/Scale/Feather Color, Hairstyle/Manestyle/Spikestyle, Hair/Mane/Spike Color, Clothes/Armor, Clothes/Armor Color, Height (It has to be within, or around the area of, the race's normal scale!), Weight (Same with the Height!), Strength (Again same with the "racial norm"!), and any extra details you can throw in! (For example, a few accessories that stand out from the rest, maybe a chipped claw, a scar in the face, etc. etc.)

PERSONALITY: If you're a Cursed One, then you can use this as how your character ends up personality-wise! Otherwise, this is how your character responds to the world around them. Is your character a kind-hearted individual who, even in the worst of times, can keep their cool? Is your character a brash, ruthless barbaric person who turns a lot of faces in his/her direction, due to their odd sense of humor? ("Honestly, I would've LOVED to see the look on 'is face, while it's impaled at the end o' my spear! HA HA HA!")

PURPOSE: What is your character's goal? Why do they need to go to Equestria? Are they wanting to escape the dangers of the world outside of it? Are they just wanting to go there for fame and fortune? Maybe wanting to settle down in the only place in the world untouched by war? (Maybe wanting to see the princesses about something personal? (Do tell what it is, if that's the case!))

ORIGINS: If you're a Cursed One, then you may skip this one, since they all have the same Origin, as described in the race list. Otherwise, please tell me the location your character came from! If you wish for your character to be an Adventurer, and not a side character, please type "An Adventure's Life for Me!" on the line above "NAME". Also, please explain what job your character had, what talent they have/are destined to have, and what they did to arrive outside Equestria, or whatever location they wish to stay at. Was your character a Farmer, or perhaps a Medic from Equestria? Where at in Equestria? (Use THIS for a reference! It's what I always use as a reference!) Quick heads-up, though! "Hollow Shades" is a secret area in Equestria, that isn't even shown in the maps in the world! Only Royal Guards ever trot CLOSE to that place, since it's cursed with an Undead Plague! The Guards, of course, fight there on a daily basis, and keep any wandering eyes as far away from it as possible, while keeping the Undead at bay. Thanks to the guards there being Elite, the Undead still have yet to escape past their barriers. (In other words, if your character was from Hollow Shades, they HAVE to be an Elite Royal Guard of Equestria that was stationed there. Then we could say that your character was told to go to Gryphonia, and other places, in search for reinforcements that could help them keep the Undead from escaping.) Below the "RACE LIST", I'll also throw in the locations of the other islands!

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RACE LIST

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Cursed One: For countless millennia, the Cursed Ones have wandered the world, guarding what was left of their civilizations long forgotten by history. Only a select few have ever been seen, but only in rumors, and stories. The ones from the rumors, however, had one thing in common; they only work alone. Due to their immortality, their hearts have grown colder and some, even bitter. As a result, they avoid seeking relationships at all costs, most likely due to their protective nature for their own hearts, and what little sentience remains within them.

Having the appearance of the mythological creatures, "Humans", and a mix of another creature of the land, sky, or sea, their heights range from five feet tall, all the way to eight. Their weight varies from sixty pounds for those who have a bird-like sub-race, up to four hundred and fifty pounds for those who have larger creatures like cows for a sub-race. They can have one of any known creature as a sub-race, excluding giant creatures like golems and whales, and also excluding the main sentient creatures that already exist (Ponies, Zebras, Foxes, Minotaurs, Goats, Horses, Slithians, Dragons, Wyverns, Diamond Dogs, and/or Changelings.)

Although they may seem like Magical creatures, none of them can truly cast Magic, without the aid of enchanted equipment. Instead, they are naturally able to manipulate Magic from spells that are cast near them. Another significant feature about them is that they also hold a great resistance to Magic, which means that they can't be harmed by anything created by Magic. That resistance, however, can prove dangerous for them, too, for they also can't be healed by Magic, as well.

Pony: Natives of Equestria. Short, yet filled with varying personalities, the Pony race has been known to be the most diverse of the world. Powered by teamwork, it is rare to find a single Pony alone. By nature, they tend to be more curious about other creatures at first glance, but rarely do they attack those different from them. They have three sub-races altogether; Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns.

-The Earth Ponies, as their names suggest, are earthbound, and lack both wings and magic. Even so, they have been known as the strongest of the bunch, with the addition of endurance. Their origins can vary from large numbers of locations, but the rumors state that their most common home is Ponyville, a small little town in the central-western side of Equestria.

-The Pegasi, or Pegasus for singularity, are the winged ponies of the sky. Capable of controlling weather, they tend to spend more time in the skies, rather than on the land. The Pegasi from Cloudsdale have a naturally proud nature, which makes most of them hard-headed, and incapable of taking "no" for an answer. Despite that, however, there have been some from Los Pegasus who were raised in the lower halves of the sky, making them more weaker and slower than their higher-up relatives. In return, they have communicated with their fellow Ponies of different races, and have a tendency to being more nicer than the others.

-The Unicorns are Ponies of Nobility and Honor, most commonly located in Canterlot, the Capital City of Equestria. Despite their noble bloodline, however, there have been several other locations throughout the world that Unicorns have inhabited: namely Ponyville, the village just south of Canterlot. The Unicorns of Canterlot uphold their noble blood, and usually frown upon those who come from Ponyville, and any other small communities, viewing them as mere peasants. The Unicorns of Ponyville, however, are far more kind-hearted, and tend to be more hospitable than their upper-class siblings.

Regardless of sub-races, they are considered one of the shortest of all races, second to the Goats, and third to the Foxes. Earth Ponies and Unicorns usually stand up with a height that ranges from four feet tall, all the way up to five feet, and usually weigh from twenty pounds, up to two hundred. The Pegasi, however, have a weight limit of one hundred and twenty five pounds. Any heavier, and their wings wouldn't be strong enough for them to fly.

Gryphon: Though fierce in peace, as they are in battle, the Gryphons of Gryphonia are a dangerous race to compete against. With natural strength and speed, a Gryphon can fly the speed of a Pegasus, and have the strength of an Earth Pony in unison, making them deadly Mercenaries or Warriors.

The Job Opportunities that Gryphons normally have rely on their predatory skills, allowing them to be flawless Hunters, Herbalists, and Gatherers, while their keen eye for details could also make them flawless Chefs, Archaeologists, Leaders, and Investigators.

Normally, a Gryphon would be around six feet high at least, but they have been able to grow up to nine feet tall, as well. For weight, they normally range from one hundred pounds to two hundred and twenty five. Most of that, of course, is normally just muscle.

Zebra: Natives of Druathica, the Zebras are a mysterious, daring race. Where most creatures fear to tread, the Zebras look deeper into the sources of evil, and rely on nature as their ally. While avoiding large civilizations, the Zebras still band together in humble communities, and never discriminate a creature by it's race or origin. Instead, they focus more on the creature's current standings, and when they find problems that the creature could cause, they do their best to right the creature's wrongs, even if it risks their very lives. Naturally, they are a two-sided coin in personality, where they are either kind-hearted and benevolent, or cruel and merciless.

-The benevolent Zebras hail from the central village of Druathica, known as "Goldwood Village", a humble little place that relies more on defense, rather than offense. For job opportunities, they usually focused on Gathering Resources, Pottery, Cooking, Hunting, Nurturing, and Teaching, but they also have Warriors. Due to their good nature, though, they aren't as strong of Warriors as their neighbors, the merciless Zebras of "Redwood Peak".

-The Zebras of the far Western Mountain-Town, also known as the "Redwood Peak", are the polar opposite in personality, compared to their Goldwood neighbors. Instead of the belief of equality, they operate by honor and glory, spilling the blood of those who dishonor them intentionally. To tell the difference of them from their neighbors is easier than most would think. Naturally stronger, the Zebras of Redwood usually paint the white of their coats red, as a sign of honor for their homeland. Painting themselves blue, however, would be a total disgrace, and has even resulted in ten lashes from a whip, a bath in salted vinegar, and a slow execution if they refuse to color their fur red. This, of course, was what they classified as a "simple little warning". For job opportunities, they tended to have Gatherers, Hunters, Barbarians, Wandering Traders, and Mercenaries. Unlike the Goldwood Villagers, however, they are better at close combat, at the cost of ranged combat.

After ten years of war in their blood-soaked history, the Goldwood Villagers, along with the Redwood Barbarians, have finally seen past their differences, and have accepted their union in a "Spiritual Bonding Ritual", where the spirits of their ancestors were raised by Celestia herself, as a final act of retribution. Should they have refused to get along, then their numbers would, without a doubt, be lesser than a quarter percent of what they are to this day.

Now they co-exist in both areas, although by nature, their different personalities still tend to bring about more conflicts, despite the sacred peace treaty. Even then, there is still one thing they have knowledge of, which helps their differences settle... they both have a close connection with nature, and as such, can create artifacts that enable Magic to be cast by those who, otherwise, couldn't even cast it to begin with.

Their heights vary, with the Goldwoodians ranging from four feet high, up to five, and the Redwoodians ranging from five and a half feet, up to six and a half feet high. Their weights are similar, with the Goldwoodians weighing around forty pounds, up to ninety, while the Redwoodians weighing from one hundred, up to three hundred pounds, due to their muscles.

Fox: Sly, and unmistakably cunning, the Foxes of the Far-Eastern side of Druathica are weaker than most known living creatures out there, and, without a doubt, the shortest, as well. Naturally unable to wear heavy equipment, the Foxes rely more on light armor. Though they are weak when it comes to upper-body strength, that does not make them completely incapable, however, for their reflexes, to this day, have been unmatched, and their speed, none can compare. For job opportunities, they make the best Hunters, Assassins, Foragers, Scouts, and Engineers.

With an intellect that can compete with Unicorns, the Foxes have been known to be the most cunning in technology, even being the ones to invent the "Airship", a floating ship that flies hundreds of passengers at a time. They have even created secret weaponry that only the most trusted of their kind could ever use; the Handgun, and the Rifle. Capable of firing magic projectiles, the Handgun is, without a doubt, the most deadliest invention they have ever created, putting bows to shame. While it is able to fire the projectiles as fast as the user's fingers can move, the biggest downfall is that the range is far more limited. That is when the Rifle comes into play. Sacrificing speed for range and power, the Rifle is more deadlier than the Handgun when it comes to long-ranged combat. While the shots are magically boosted, the built-in boosters have to recharge before another shot can be made.

Since they are the shortest sentient beings ever known, they are rarely seen in combat situations, and tend to keep to themselves. For height, the Foxes tend to range from three feet, up to four, and for weight, they weigh from ten pounds, up to fifty.

Minotaur: All the way from the coldest regions of The Highlands, the brutish Minotaurs are known to be, without a doubt, one of the strongest of the entire world, second only to the Dragons, yet only by a little. Always the first to accept a challenge, they rarely run from a battle, and stand firmly in their beliefs, be it good or bad. Through dedication, and hard work, they tend to make the strongest Warriors, Barbarians, and Knights, but have also been known to live the life of a Mercenary, Wandering Trader, Businessman, Miner, Smith, and Teacher.

Standing as the third-tallest sentient beings, the Minotaurs shortest height has been six foot eight, while the tallest recorded height was well over ten feet high, and growing. Though their weight is, at a minimum, two hundred pounds, most of it is gone to muscle that boosts them up to a thousand pounds of weight, making them ruthless, and unmatched in close combat.

Goat: From the warmer, lower islands of The Highlands, the charismatic Goats of "Port Greenhold" have been unmatched in striking deals that benefit both, the Salesmen and the Consumers alike. Physically, they are incapable of even fighting, so they avoid it altogether, and leave the violence to their brethren, the Minotaurs. Mentally, though, they are capable of working with economic situations, making them perfect Salesmen, Businessmen, Traveling Merchants, and occasionally, the ones who choose to take a darker path could make the most convincing Thieves, due to their clever Negotiation skills.

Unlike any other races, however, they are incapable of speaking anything other than Highlandian, making communication for many countries difficult without a translator around.

Height-wise, they can be close to foxes, starting at three and a half feet, and ending at four and a half feet tall. Weight-wise, they range from forty five pounds, and end at eighty pounds.

Horse: Unlike their Equestrian allies, the Horses of Saddle Arabia are a race of Nobility, Power, and Strength, at the cost of Magic. While they oftentimes have visitors from Equestria, and even settlers from other places, they are the primary inhabitants of Saddle Arabia. While Nobility is in their blood, with their direct connection of Equestria, they have adapted to kindheartedness, and generosity as a personality quirk.

Their strength is twice as much as a Pony's, making them balanced Warriors, Knights, and Archers alike. What makes them unique from the rest, however, is their remarkable Leadership skills, and unbreakable Dedication to their causes.

Common Job Opportunities that Horses normally specialize in can range from creative tasks like Pottery, Mining, Smithing, Painting, Carving, Construction, and Architecture, to defensive tasks like Guarding, Retaliating, and Escorting.

While Ponies' heights range from four feet to five, the Horses surpass them by two feet, making their minimum height six feet, and ending at seven. Their weight, due to their extra strength, ranges from seventy-five pounds, but can end at two hundred.

Slithian: Supported by their noble allies and neighbors, the Horses, the Slithian race is a protective, yet dangerous being to ever cross paths with. Due to their snake-like stature, they require constant warmth, and sources of heat nearby. For that reason, they are often found wearing thick clothing over their scales, even in the middle of Summer.

Born in a dying island, the first of the Slithian were rescued by a group of Horses who, to this day, they honor in their shrines within their beloved "Sandstone Village", where they pay tributes on a weekly basis.

Thanks to their constant digging and burrowing underground, they have gained great strength, and make excellent Warriors, Barbarians, Guards, and Knights, and with their capabilities of going underground, they could also be skilled Assassins, Thieves, and Spies. Their eyesight isn't very good, however, so they are incapable of ranged combat.

For Common Jobs, they can make great Miners, Smiths, and Forgers, due to their warmth resistance, and with their digging talents, they have also taken jobs like Pottery, Archaeology, and even Herbalism.

While they stand at seven feet, if they were stretched out, they actually span from twenty feet up to a total of fifty. For that reason, they oftentimes keep their tails curled up. Also, they have no legs.

Wyvern: Whether they fly through the skies, or roam through the jungles and mountains by claw, the proud Wyverns of Drakensonia stand together with their Dragon brethren, always seeking treasures and riches, not to spend, but rather, to quench their unnatural appetite for competition. Just like their Dragon kin, the Wyverns feast on nothing more than minerals of the earth, whether it be jewel or metal.

With their sharp scales, they are unable to wear average clothing, so they tend to only dress in either custom-tailored leather equipment, chainmail, or even plated armor.

The Wyverns are the second-strongest in the world, and stand between the Dragons and Minotaurs in strength. Like the Cursed Ones, the Wyverns are never found doing any jobs specifically, though they still live in communities, and rely on team work. As a result, they make great Mercenaries, but anything else would be slightly chaotic for them.

Standing up, a Wyvern is always considerably tall, with a minimum height of nine feet, and a maximum height of thirteen feet, although the maximum is still capable of change. Due to their enormous strength, their minimum weight is around five hundred pounds, with the maximum weight of one thousand, five hundred pounds for the stronger ones.

Diamond Dog: Born from any of the continents of the world, the Diamond Dogs are a mysterious canine race that compete with Slithians in their digging skills. Unlike the Slithians, however, the Diamond Dogs are more than open for accepting challenges, and threaten those who get in their way.

For a job, the Diamond Dogs usually tend to do manual labor, such as Mining, Forging, Smithing, Pottery, Cooking, and Hunting. With their variable strength, however, the bigger ones can also be great Knights and Barbarians.

The average height of a Diamond Dog is highly complex, starting at four feet, and ending at eight. For weight, the smaller ones can weigh from thirty pounds, up to seventy-five, while the medium and large ones can weigh up to two hundred pounds.

Changeling: From the depths of Atlantis, the Changelings with the blue Atlantic eye-color are known as the peace-walkers. Freed from their evil queen's desires, these Changelings have sought peace throughout the lands, and have lived on, accepting love from their allies, rather than forcing it out.

With their genetic capabilities, the Changelings are capable of shape-shifting into any creature that their magic-filled gaze can see. Those who are immune, however, cannot be mimicked.

With the holes in their arms and legs, the Changelings are unable to grow in strength, which means that they are easily capable of being toppled in a battle. Even so, they are still deadly when it comes to Assassinations, for they can not only get away with murder, but they are also capable of framing their "Targets" that they transform into. Not only that, but with their insect-like eyes, they can easily see in the darkest of environments, making them also capable of being great Spies and Hunters.

Aside from that, the Changelings of Atlantis have learned to be kind towards all, and only use their deadly abilities as an act of defense. They can easily adapt to any Job openings, so long as they don't need to lift things too heavy for their own good.

Like the Ponies, the Changelings can stand from four feet tall, up to five. They have a minimum weight of ten pounds, but unlike the others, however, they can only weigh up to twenty pounds, and not an ounce more, due to their chitinous coat.

If you choose to be a Changeling, then your eye color will be "Light Blue" or "Cyan".

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Geography

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Gryphonia: Also known as the "Islands of the Sky", Gryphonia is the only known territory to be settled on the top of flying islands. The inhabitants that have originated from it are Gryphons, Minotaurs, Foxes, Zebras, and occasionally, Ponies.

-Skyhaven: The Capital City of Gryphonia, and the largest island, even holding a large forest on it. Skyhaven is the link between Gryphonia and Druathica, with Airships that make a weekly trip in-between. The schedule is unable to be delayed, however, as the trips require long periods of time to get from place to place.

-Featherwood Town: A small little island town just south of Skyhaven. Instead of living in the loud hustle-and-bustle of the city, those who live here prefer peace and quiet, making most of them loners, and grouches. Not all of them, though.

Druathica: Home of the Zebras and Foxes. The creatures that can have an Origin here are Zebras, Foxes, Diamond Dogs, and Gryphons.

-Druid Lake: The Center of Druathica. Here is where the "Spiritual Bonding Ritual" was performed, which saved the Zebras of Goldwood Village and Redwood Peak from destruction.

-Goldwood Village: Home of the Peace-loving Zebras. For countless generations, the Goldwoodians have lived without war, until ten years ago, when the Redwoodians threw the first punch.

-Redwood Peak: Home of the War-mongering Zebras. After arriving longer than hundreds of years ago, they have always found the Goldwoodians to be weak and futile, but after the "Spiritual Bonding Ritual", they have learned to accept their differences, and aid their weaker allies, whether they like it or not.

-Draemarth City: Perhaps the only non-tribal area in all of Druathica. Here is where trade and travel is prime. While a few Zebras appear here-and-there, most of them avoid this area at all costs, and remain in the comfort of the forest areas.

The Highlands: The highest of all places to contain civilization, even spanning higher than Gryphonia. The only locals of these lands are Minotaurs, Goats, and Horses, but they still allow visitors into their territory, either for trade, vacations, or mere visits.

-Port Greenhold: The Port City of The Highlands. Filled with blood-thirsty pirates and mischievous businessmen, this very place has been known as the most corrupted city in the world. Only the brave or foolish ever tread in these streets alone.

-Diamond Peak: The Capital of The Highlands, rested at the very top of the tallest mountain. Only the strongest are even capable of reaching these parts, making it the least populated Capital City in the world.

-Shaded Meadows: Some call this place the "End of the Sun". The reason is quite clear, at first glance. Nowhere in this area is where the Sun shines, making it the coldest place in the world, even putting the Frozen North of Equestria to shame. Even so, deep within the land of blistering cold, a small fortress, built for research on the plants that somehow grow there, was built. Though communication from the place is rare, the existence of this fortress has been proven true.

--Fort Shivercrest: A fortress built in the coldest region of the world, Shaded Meadows. While it looks more like a desert at night, this place is rumored to be home of an ancient civilization long forgotten. As a result, it is not uncommon to find many adventurers in these lands, though most of them are Archaeologists.

Atlantis: A land of many secrets, where the Rock Golems and the "Converted" Changelings were first discovered. The creatures who originate from this land are Ponies, Minotaurs, Goats, Diamond Dogs, Changelings, Horses, and Gryphons.

-Atlantis: Unlike the other continents, the city IS the continent! Many researchers and archaeologists find themselves compelled at the wonders of this mighty city below the sea, making it the perfect place for trading with the Zebras of Druathica. Due to the size of it, however, the Zebras refuse to live in this mighty city.

Saddle Arabia: The desert wasteland, most may think at first glance. Take a closer look, however, and you might be able to see the majestic grassy fields past the relentless sandstorms that surround the lands. Home to the Horses and Slithians, this sun-touched land is one of the top traders for Equestria, exchanging their valuable metals from their underground caves, along with their artistic pottery, in exchange for the food, water, and resources that they need to survive. The only creatures that could originate from this land, however, are the Horses, Ponies, and Diamond Dogs. Many other creatures, however, are able to visit these humid lands... that is, if they are capable of taking the heat.

-Sandstone City: The Capital of Saddle Arabia. Only the Horses and Slithians can originate from this part, due to it being the capital city of their homeland.

-Rockwell Village: Unlike Sandstone City, Rockwell Village is home of the other races that originate from Saddle Arabia, with the population primarily being Slithians. Despite being a village, it is considerably taller than the average village, even having a fortified wall that surrounds it.

Drakensonia: Deep inside the hottest region in the world, Drakensonia is known to be the birthplace of the Dragons, and their relatives, the Wyverns. Unlike any of the other regions, the only creatures that can originate from this place are the Dragons and the Wyverns.

-Lava Grove: Rested directly on the outskirts of the always active volcanoes of Drakensonia, Lava Grove is the only town that the Wyverns can originate from in the volcanic region. With a village populated only by Wyverns, they rarely allow any visitors who are not invited directly by their leader, Lord Spike.

-Molten Village: The village of the Dragons. Unwelcome visitors are usually treated with a thousand-degree burning on the spot. The only other welcomed race, besides Dragons, are Wyverns, and any individuals that the Wyverns allow inside.

Equestria: As the only known continent that has never been touched by war, the proud kingdom of Equestria houses Ponies of all kinds, along with Diamond Dogs and Gryphons. Many individuals claim that the grass is always greener in these parts, due to the magic that surrounds the peaceful community.

-Locations: Please refer to THIS map for where your character can originate from! The excluded places are: The Frozen North, The Badlands (Unless you're a Wyvern!), and Hollow Shades (Unless you're a Pony Knight!).

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Yes, I'm aware that I left out "Rock Golems" and "Dragons". Sorry, but those are a no-go, for obvious reasons. (No, I don't hate Dragons! ) Anyways, remember that if you want your character in my story, you'll have to send me a private message with your application filled out! I will NOT accept any applications sent through the "Comments" section, so please bear that in mind. They MUST be in my inbox, via PM! (If you're wondering how to PM someone, just click the icon with the envelope next to my account picture, on the left side of the "Follow" or "Unfollow" button.