"A Soquili Fairy Tale" - Once Upon a Time...
Username: Merci`
Main image: Mask EntryAdditional Image links (optional): N/A
Story mask is trying to tell: Once upon a time, there was a strong and brave stallion. He was widely admired by his peers as being particularly beautiful. His mane was long and silky, as was his tail. His hooves shone with a luster, no matter what sort of work he seemed to do. The stallion's coat was flawless, and always seemed to get him the attention of the local mares. Yet somehow despite how gifted he was, he was humble and trustworthy.
He lived in a small herd, out in the country. They all lived a happy, but hard life. It was constant work to make sure he and the rest of the Soquili had enough to feed themselves and their foals. Over the generations the land had become fallow and they got most of their food from the surrounding forests. It had been suggested that they move on and find a more fertile valley to settle in, but most of the herd was unhappy with the idea of leaving behind the land their ancestors had claimed for them.
One day, the elder called all of the adults together. Her eyes were sad when she informed them that the fields had failed, and the berries and plants they managed to harvest from the forests alone would not be enough to support them. They would have to move on shortly if they had any hope of surviving the winter.
The stallion was broken hearted, his parents, and theirs before him had settled this land long ago. It was where they belonged, it was their home. Leaving it behind so easily did not settle well with him. The elder told them they had three days to gather everything to prepare for the migration to greener pastures. They all consented, as it seemed they had no choice if their foals were to survive the cold.
This young stallion did not like the idea of giving up without a fight, but how did you fight something like this? He decided to go for a walk before he went to sleep for the night. Tomorrow he would have to begin helping the village prepare, and he felt like having a private moment to say goodbye to the farmland and meadows he'd grown up in. His hooves made soft thudding noises, and little poofs of dirt kicked up with each step he took. The once green fields were now nothing more then dirt patches, and the dust stirred with his passing.
It was then he heard a strange noise. It sounded an awful lot like laughter. He turned his head and his ears perked toward the faint noise, as he strained to hear it more clearly. The peal of bell like laughter could again be heard over the barren landscape. The stallion lowered his head, and as quietly as possible he walked toward the noise, trying to stay low so he wouldn't be seen. Over the rise of a hill he saw something amazing. Tiny creatures dancing and singing, and where they danced, flowers and all manner of foliage seemed to grow.
His eyes widened, and he stood totally still. He was afraid of scaring them off, but it was secondary to the feeling of utter awe. Wherever a foot touched the ground, a sprout of sweet grass seemed to spring from the desolate land. The stallion shifted his weight to try and move back away, but his hoof scraped against a rock. Suddenly he was the center of attention, most of the odd fae things made a shrieking noise and disappeared into the night, fading as if they had never been. One of them however, a rather plump looking critter, keep it's eye on him. A wicked smile curved it's features before it raised one of it's hands up to wave at him in greeting. "Hello, it's rude to eavesdrop and spy you know."
The stallion was shocked, not only had it not fled at his appearance, but it seemed it was able to speak to him as well. He stammered "I-I-I'm... I'm sorry. I've never seen anything quite like you before."
The plump fellow looked up at him and the mischievous twinkle in his eye was missed by the stallion. "You look like a man in need, perhaps I would be able to help. Why don't you tell me your troubles?"
He lowered his head, so his nose was even with his new acquaintance. "How do you know that I need any help?"
The rumble of laughter was immediate, "Your demeanor is easily recognizable. Droopy ears, lowered head. You're upset about something alright, and I might have just the thing to help. So why don't you tell me about it?"
The stallion hesitated for only a moment, it felt so good to have someone to talk to. He didn't want to burden anyone else in the herd with his worries and sorrow, after all they were going through the same thing. The story poured out in moments, and the little creature regarded him for a moment before he declared, "Why that's simple. I can restore your fields, but I want something in return."
It was too good to be true. His home would be livable again, and they wouldn't have to move so close to winter. He didn't even think before he cried, "Anything! I'd give anything for the fields to be green again!"
With a satisfied smile he was told to return to his home, and in the morning he'd see what had been wrought. The stallion turned and with some elation galloped back to the herd, without asking what the price would be.
When he awoke the next morning it was to the surprised and excited sounds of his neighbors. He was confused for a moment, but then he remembered the night before. Without doing his usual morning rituals he trotted out to see what the commotion was about. He couldn't believe his eyes. All around him, where the day before had been brown sterile land, blossoming green fields met the eye.
He was overwhelmed with joy, until one of the mares looked at him and gasped. "What is that!"
The stallion looked at her, and remembered that the plump thing had told him there would be a price. His stomach dropped out as he turned and retreated back into his home. He found his mirror and a surprised cry escaped him. His once beautiful mane and tail were gone, instead it seemed that he was wrapped in long vines, leaves covering his skin. His shining hooves were now as dull as stones.
He turned and he ran from the mirror, out of his home and past all his neighbors. Behind him as he ran he could hear the cries of surprise and alarm as no one seemed to recognize him. The stallion ran until he found the flowers he'd seen the night before, and sitting between them was the fat little troll. It looked up at him and held out it's arms, "I kept my bargain, the fields are as green as they ever were." His smug tone made the stallion feel betrayed and angry.
"You did this to me!" The sound of his voice was even different, somehow deeper and more gravelly.
The cackle that came from the troll was somewhat vicious as it replied, "Ah ah, I warned you there would be a price. You said anything. The price is you. As long as you give yourself over to this spell the lands will remain green. If you reject it now, you and the land will die, never to return."
Anger welled up and blinded him for a moment. He struck out with a hoof to try and stomp the little troll, but even for being as fat as it was, it dodged nimbly. With insane giggles it faded from sight, leaving the stallion alone. He stood, feeling ashamed and fled into the trees.
From that day forward the herd enjoyed vast harvests of whatever it needed. The land provided whatever it was they seemed to need the most. Stories circulated of eyes in the leaves that watched over them, a protective spirit. Younglings who got lost in the trees told stories of a moving plant that would lead them from the tangled brambles of the forest.
No one ever found out what became of the stallion, he was thought to have left the herd and found a new home elsewhere. After all with beauty like that, who wouldn't have taken him?
Additional info (optional): The mask was made based of the iconic images of the Green Man/Jack o' the Green. Fairytales always seem to have a moral, the one I went with was "Look before you leap."
