Long Stride

By The-Master

• December 11, 2012




Age: 37

Gender: Male

Species: Earth Pony

Appearance: -Unkempt Grey Mane<br />-Weathered brown coat<br />-Worn travel gear<br />-Militia Issue Armour

Cutie Mark: Arrow Head:<br />Precise and accurate. Always sharp and quick in a situation.

Personality: Long Stride is haunted by the memories of his old home and the days he spent in the Everfree Forest. His fear has gained him a grim and blunt attitude, caring little what others may think or say. He lives each day as it comes and questions nothing. In battle however he has a chance to exert his raw emotion. He flails himself around madly, setting his eye on targets till they are destroyed. Because of the relief he gains from battle he longs for each day he is placed on the front line.

Backstory: Long Stride was born in Ponyville, living out most of his boyhood in the small town. It was a reasonably simple life, no fuss, no drama. His parents one day decided to move out into the country to get away from the hustle and bustle. They built a small cottage on the rivers edge many miles south of Ponyville. Here Long Stride grew into a stallion, exceeding his fathers height in his early teens. Often they would sit and watch as the sun set over the distant hills, admiring its warm farewell. He treasured these moments dearly over the years.<br /><br />Long was growing older, now eager to prove himself a proper Stallion. He was showing himself more than capable of watching his own back, often venturing out for days before returning home. He visited towns and cities in the southern reaches, returning to Ponyville frequently. When he turned 22 , however, everything changed. From the forests of Everfree marauding Timberwolves came from the shadows. Long Stride was in town when they attacked his parents home, returning in three days only to find what was left of the attack. They were gone, both of them. He went into a blind rage, seizing his bow and galloping off into the forest in search of the pack. He traveled into the woods for many days before he realized the pursuit was hopeless, he was barely alive as it was, constantly on watch for the creatures dwelling in these sinister woods. Fueled by fear he searched for the way out, aimlessly galloping through the groves. Long Stride managed to escape the forest as the sun began to set once more. He looked out over the grassy vale and simply thought of every memory and every moment he could still grasp. He broke down in tears, unable to go on any further without losing his composure.<br /><br />He woke the next morning to see that he had gone undisturbed. He had heard many rumors in Ponyville of the possibility of war but never took them seriously. But now as he looked across the land all he could see were plumes of smoke drifting across the sky. War had already begun. He dared not return home, his first thoughts were to flee back to Ponyville. There at least he would be safe for some time.<br /><br />The years had worn heavily on his mind. When word had reached him of the Princesses disappearance he gave little thought to it, far too consumed in his own thoughts to give a damn about the wider world. The sun till rose and the sun still set, that was god enough for him. After Ponyville was flooded Long Stride fled with the refugees to the West, venturing back into the Everfree. On the boarder to the forest he halted, frozen in place. Long Stride didn't budge, refusing to enter the woodland again. The others had no choice but to abandon him and sought shelter under the forest canopy. Above all else he held a strong fear for the creatures of the Everfree, the forest sending chills through his spine after his unfortunate experience with the Timberwolves.<br /><br />He turned and fled south, arriving in Dodge Junction after two days of travel. Here he collapsed at the gates, unable to carry himself any further. The guards brought him in and took him to the barracks. They fed him and offered the option to stay on as a Pony at Arms. He did not answer and kept his head low and his body hunched. After a day of persistent offers he nodded his head in agreement and signed up to the Earthborn Military. He spoke to no other pony in his service, a smile refusing to creep up onto his face. After a three years of service he had not changed, the only difference being that he had accumulated a few scars. When he did speak it was often rude and arrogant, earning a decent retaliation from the pony in question. He remained a soldier of House Earthborn for many years and has fought enough battles to be elevated in rank four times over but he has remained as a simple Pony at Arms.<br /><br />Long Stride has long since blocked the old memories of home, now all they bring him is pain. He mourns still for his parents, he never fully got over their tragic demise. Long Stride talks to few and only if he has no way to get around it. His tone is low and dreary, his voice giving away much of what weighed on his heart. If he was to confess all he may in some way feel relief outside of battle, but until that day comes he will live each year as the next.