Arrow

By Ano170

• June 2, 2013




Age: Mid-thirties

Gender: Male

Species: Pegasus

Cutie Mark: His cutie mark is a compass, to show his talent as an explorer and adventurer. He got it at a slightly older age than most ponies, after he was separated from the rest of his group on a school trip of a tour through a set of underground catacombs and managed to navigate deadly the maze of tunnels and traps and find the exit.

Personality: Brave, quick-thinking, reserved and a little stubborn at times. Also has a rather fierce temper despite his usual reserved attitude. He was rather idealistic and had a strong sense of honour when he was young, fancying himself a bit of a hero, but has since hardened and become somewhat more cynical and disillusioned, although he will still fight to defend other ponies.

Backstory: Arrow was born in Trotland, in the North of Equestria. In his youth, Arrow was a very successful explorer, travelling all across Equestria and beyond in search of riches, fame and adventure. He also liked to play hero, always rushing headfirst into danger to help those in need wherever he went. However, as Arrow travelled, he was faced with many awful sights, slowly eating away his idealism and optimism. In the end this left him hardened and cold, although a small, stubborn part of him was still determined to make the world better, even if he was no longer sure he could.<br /><br />Eventually, Arrow fell in love with a pegasus mare and had a foal. He attempted to settle down, but was restless and soon began going out on expeditions again, going out for longer periods each time. Eventually Arrow heard about legends of ancient temples far off the in the Zebra lands full of riches, and set out as part of a small team to investigate them on a trip that was expected to last two years at most, although his wife was less certain.<br /><br />However, the ruins proved to be very much still inhabited, only by Diamond Dogs rather than zebras or ponies. The Dogs were less than pleased to find a team of treasure hunters snooping around their home, and the entirety of the team was killed or enslaved. Arrow spent four years hauling cartloads of gems for the Diamond Dogs in their hidden mines beneath the ground, barely clinging to the hope of ever seeing his family again, until a chance explosion caused a cave-in in a section of tunnels he was working in. Arrow was able to escape the mines in the confusion, although he was forced to leave the remaining survivors of his team behind.<br /><br />With no currency or supplies, Arrow had to spend another year working, bartering, stealing and fighting his way back across the Zebra lands, from vast treetop cities and tiny stone hut tribe villages, to sprawling tropic jungles and savannahs filled with mysterious and deadly creatures. Finally he was able to stow away on a ship bound for Equestria, but when the ship docked he was discovered during the disembarking of the cargo, and was quickly chased from the harbour. Flying from the angry seaponies into the wastes, Arrow saw a city in the far distance and decided to head towards it, unaware that it was in fact the newly restored Crystal Empire.<br /><br /><br />