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- >You look down into a metal cup and stare at the brown liquid.
- >It was oddly flat for a supposedly alcoholic drink, especially the mead you’d ordered.
- >Turning around in your seat at the small table, you spot the bar maid.
- “Is this mead?” You say to the her.
- >She was a large hipped woman with proportional breasts looking like they were going to burst out of her ill-fitting outfit.
- > “Course’ it is. Well, most of it anyway,” she responds with a shrug as she washed a dish with a rag.
- >Sighing, you take a quick drink of it, figuring that one wouldn’t kill you.
- >Putting down the drink, you swallow heavily before hissing out of grit teeth.
- “Good gods, that burned my throat!” you say, swiveling towards her.
- > “Well, I did say most of it. Rest is some cleaning alcohol,” she said, gesturing to a clear flask on the counter.
- “That’s not for people to drink!” you say, holding the mug up angrily.
- > “You want to pay for another then?” she said, placing her hand on her shapely hips.
- >Both of you glare at each other for a few moments.
- >She knew from when you’d ordered a room yesterday that you had very little money left.
- >You begrudgingly sit down again and mumble small curses into the near poisonous liquid.
- > “Normally we wouldn’t do it, but times are tough. Hell, you should know. When was the last time you guarded some youngins’?” she said, moving to the counter.
- >The way you earned money was by escorting new adventurers around old dungeons to break them into the field.
- >You once did the exploring yourself, but the risk grew too fast for your tastes.
- >Not to say you couldn’t keep up, but you were hardly the type to go leaping from country to country killing evil.
- >Leave that for those with conviction.
- “I was thinking of heading out myself, heard there were some bandits making trouble in Baltimare that earned themselves a bounty,” you say, taking another swig.
- > “Well, until you do, take off that blasted armor and over sized sword. You make the more skittish customers jumpy” she told you.
- >You wore a suit of steel plate, having no other clothes aside from sleeping gear.
- >Normally, you’d be wearing street clothes, but this place was dangerous for someone to go around unprotected.
- >Plus, you’d had to sell your clothes a while ago to afford this place.
- “Times are tough, this is the best I can do.”
- >She said nothing, instead choosing to discipline a nearby bar maid who’d spilled some drinks.
- >Just you and your deadly drink to keep you company.
- >Better than being gutted by some cutthroats while laying in the street at least.
- >Taking another drink, you briefly question that thought.
- >Nearby, you hear some hushed quarreling from two women.
- >Eventually, they stop suddenly and both approach your table looking distressed.
- >From the fact they were whispering in a place like this, you’d figured them for criminals.
- >Instead, they wore very fine looking outfits denoting them as official mages underneath some linen cloaks.
- >One of the biggest mistakes the mages guild did was give every mage an outfit like that, it always begged to be robbed.
- > “H-hello sir,” said the girl wearing a purple dress.
- >Her outfit looked strange, even for a mage.
- >To her right sat her glaring partner who wore a bright blue outfit under her cloak.
- >From the way she had kept hers unbuttoned, you could tell that the cloaks were not her idea.
- > “Did we hear you say you’re an escort?” the girl in purple asked, leaning forward slightly.
- > “Twilight, an escort is someone who sleeps with people for money. You’re not that, are you?” the girl in blue asks.
- >The girl in blue continued to hold her glare at you, but softened it for some reason.
- “No, I’m not a man-whore if that’s what you’re asking. I work as a sort of bodyguard for hire to help with quests.”
- >The girl in purple was looking angrily towards the girl in blue.
- > “I thought we said we wouldn’t say who we are until we hired them!”
- > “Trixie doesn’t understand what you’re complaining about, he just told us he could help” the girl in blue responded, pointing a finger at you.
- >In the past you held off helping certain people, but you were fairly desperate for coin.
- >The girl in purple, Twilight, turns back to you and sighs.
- > “Sir, we need some help on a quest,” she says, leaning back in her seat.
- >You look between the two of them and try to assess how much money you could get from them.
- >Passing the mages guild exams and earning your robes generally took a decent income.
- “I think I can help. What’s the job?” you say, pushing aside the now empty cup and hoping you didn’t die from it.
- >Until you got paid at least.
- > “Well...here’s the thing...the job is...” Twilight repeatedly drifts off, looking very worried.
- >Were they on the run from the law or something?
- >You didn’t work with criminals because of the risk of getting caught.
- >Oh, and something about the warrior’s code, but that’s mostly semantics.
- > “Oh just out with it, Trixie is sure this barbarian lacks fear of a task like this,” Trixie says, gesturing to you with one hand.
- “Hey, I’m no barbarian. I’m a warrior,” you say, sticking a thumb against your armor.
- > “Alright...we need to get our friend back from a dragon’s nest” Twilight says with a very serious look on her face.
- >All three of you go quiet for a few moments.
- >You blink a few times before furrowing your brow.
- “A dragon’s nest?”
- > “Yes.”
- >Another pause of silence, this time with Twilight growing visibly more anxious.
- “Sorry for your loss, but your friend is dead,” you say, gesturing for a barmaid to refill your drink.
- > “Ah, see, that’s where things get complicated,” Twilight says with an awkward and forced laugh.
- >You lift another drink, waiting for the sudden burning to hopefully take away the sudden feeling of not being able to get paid.
- > “See...our friend is a dragon as well,” Twilight says in a hushed tone.
- >The sudden news makes you almost choke on your drink more than you already would’ve.
- >Where the drink hit the table, it actually helped clean the old wood up.
- “I’m sorry, I think I misheard you,” you say, wiping some spatters from your face with the leather of your glove.
- > “He ran away while I was asleep and he’s been spotted traveling with a dragon horde which is at the Dragon’s Maw,” she said, placing her hands in her lap.
- >Both of the girls look at you expectantly, waiting for your response.
- “So, stop me if I’m wrong, but you want me to travel North into the fire mountains, named so because they’re filled with dragons--” you start to say.
- > “Well, yes but--” Twilight tries to interrupt, but you hold your hand up to stop her.
- “Into the most notorious and deadly of all the dragon nests, and on top of that I need to retrieve a dragon from inside of it?”
- > “Yes, we will also need to travel by the trader’s roads as opposed to by teleportation because we need to do this in secret,” Twilight adds.
- > “And the dragon can’t be harmed because Twilight coddles the overgrown salamander,” Trixie shares, rolling her eyes heavily.
- >Twilight shoots her a vicious look before turning back to you with wide eyes.
- “...Exactly how much would this pay?” you ask, unfazed by her puppy dog stare.
- > “Well, we can’t actually pay you now because I’m a librarian and she’s homeless as of recently,” Twilight says, gesturing to Trixie.
- > “Trixie lost her wagon because Sparkle had to show her up,” Trixie says with a huff.
- >Both girls glared at each other momentarily before Twilight turned back to you with a clearly forced smile.
- “So you want me to do this out of the kindness of my heart?” you ask, placing a hand on your chestplate.
- >Twilight lets out an awkward chuckle before elbowing Trixie, signaling her to do the same.
- > “So the answer is...?” she asks, eyes filled with hope.
- “No. Never ever have I heard such an awful job offer in my life. I would be hard pressed to find anyone in her willing to do it,” you tell them, taking a drink.
- >It was difficult to be harsh, but sometimes people needed to tough love.
- >Especially two girls who were most certainly trying to get you and themselves killed.
- >Sad to see two young girls trying something so stupid, but new people will do these things.
- > “S-sorry to waste your--” Twilight starts to apologize sadly.
- > “No, Trixie has another idea,” Trixie says, grabbing Twilight's shoulder before moving close to you.
- >Trixie recrossed her legs before wrapping an arm around you and pulling you close.
- > “Since you are playing hardball, Trixie will offer her body as payment for your services,” Trixie says, tracing a finger on your chest piece.
- “The answer is still no” you says, pulling her hand away gently.
- > “W-what? Are you calling Trixie ugly?” she says, balling her hands into fists.
- >You lean away from here, fearing a blow to your unprotected face coming.
- “No, but there are women in this very building I can pay for sex that won’t make me go on a suicide mission," you say as she stands up.
- >They will try to steal your wallet, but not having any money tended to help keep that at bay.
- > “How dare you! Trixie is more beautiful than any cheap harlot in this rotting old bar!” she said, raising her voice.
- >A few girls gave her some angry looks, but most customers only gave her a glance.
- > “Trixie, please we should just--” Twilight tried to calm her down as she stood up as well.
- > “No! Trixie will not stand having come to three places in a row to be rejected yet again in place of more glorified whores,” she yells.
- >Your eyes go wide as a very large shadow appears behind Trixie, making her pause and turn around.
- >The innkeeper was not just a very wide woman, but also stood a few inches taller than Trixie, not even counting her large red hair.
- >She tapped a small frying pan gently into her hand as one eye twitched in anger.
- > “Ah think it’s time you an’ your friends leave missy,” she says, looming over the blue haired girl.
- > “Trixie isn’t scared of some land whale,” Trixie hisses at the woman.
- >Well, she must have led a good life if she was so willing to die.
- >You stand up and try to sneak away from this scene as Twilight freezes.
- > “Hold it right there!” she says, pointing at you past Trixie.
- >Squeezing your eyes shut, you turn around slowly and accept your poor fortune.
- > “You are going to pay for those drinks and the NEVER coming back. All of you!” she says, waving her pan at all three of you.
- >Most of the customers were silent, watching with wide eyes at this public punishment.
- “But I’m not even with these girls!” you try to defend yourself.
- > “Oh yeah, so this one was just feelin’ up some stranger she met today? Fat chance mister,” she says, pointing from Trixie to you
- >Just your luck.
- > “We’re very sorry to have caused so much trouble, we’ll leave right now. Trixie, come on,” Twilight says, blushing from embarrassment.
- >Twilight waves for you to follow after paying for the drinks, and you do so with a defeated sigh.
- >Both of you move quickly out of the building as Trixie attempts to put up a struggle.
- “Hey, what about my--” you try to say to retrieve your belongings.
- >The sudden blow of your carry bag knocking you to the ground both cut you off and answered your question.
- >You were out in the afternoon street now, Twilight standing over you and helping you up.
- >Giving her a glare but accepting the help, you both turn to the doorway.
- >Trixie was holding herself inside the door frame with a determined look of anger on her face.
- > “Beat it lady!” said the innkeeper’s equally large husband as he pressed his foot against her back.
- >Trixie’s back arched but she didn’t budge from her spot.
- > “You can’t kick Trixie out of a place like this! This sheep shack is not worthy of her beautiful face and sexy body!” she yelled at the man.
- >He pressed further against her back, veins popping on his slick forehead and temples.
- > “You’re starting to get on my nerves lady!” He said.
- > “Trixie please! Stop making trouble and just leave!” Twilight pleaded with her friend.
- >Well, “friend” in any case.
- > “No! Trixie will see this place in flames before she will be removed for being better than these savage underlings!” she curses defiantly.
- >Some of the barmaids moved in and aided the innkeeper’s husband in evicting Trixie with their feet.
- >For a mage, her finger strength was amazing.
- >Eventually, she gave way and was flung from the doorway to an unceremonious spot on the dirt road.
- >She glared up at the sky as if it was the sun’s fault for her being on the ground.
- > “Well, I guess it’s time to go to another town then...” Twilight says sadly rubbing her arm after helping Trixie up.
- > “No. No more getting treated badly by these yokels. Just show him your thing already!” Trixie said, pointing to Twilight’s crotch.
- >Wait, what was she pointing at?
- “What thing?”
- > “Trixie, I can’t just go around showing it off to everybody!” Twilight said, checking to see if anyone heard Trixie.
- > “Oh please, there’s no way this stranger will actually tell anyone important till we’re done,” Trixie says, moving to you and placing a hand on your shoulder.
- >As she did, she flashed you a corny smile with large teeth before turning back to Twilight.
- > “Besides, who would believe a random barbarian?” she said, patting you on the back.
- >You started to protest but paused as she moved away.
- >The numerous footprints on her cloak brought a smile to your face.
- > “I guess you’re right. I’m going to show it to you, but try not to tell anyone what you see alright?” Twilight said, moving towards you.
- >A small blush comes to your face as she moves forward and starts to undo her cloak.
- >Was she going to just show you out here in public?
- >Reaching down into her cloak, she starts to lift...
- >...And pulls out a small badge.
- >You felt slightly disappointed but wondered what this badge was.
- “You with the city guard?” you say, picking up the golden medallion.
- > “Not...exactly,” Twilight says, checking again to make sure only you could see it.
- >Squinting your eyes, you start to read the small type on the border.
- >It read “In Honor of Twilight Sparkle and her Heroics” at the top and “Royal Hand and Favorite Pupil of Her Majesty, Princess Celestia” on the bottom.
- >Your eyes slowly go wide as you finish reading the embossed text.
- >Slowly, you hand the medal back to Twilight and look at her with a very distant stare.
- >Royal hand and even the star pupil of the Princess.
- >This girl knew the immortal ruler of the land and here she was asking for help.
- >And like that, your very dim looking situation had just turned itself into a cozy existence.
- “Miss Sparkle, I believe it is my duty as a loyal subject to help you,” you say, holding out a hand eagerly.
- > “So you’ll help us? Wonderful!” Twilight said, equally happy as she shook your hand.
- > “See? Trixie told you that was all you had to do. Though, if you would like to take Trixie up on her offer as a bonus, go ahead,” Trixie offered, pointing to her hip.
- >You and Twilight both give her a slightly shocked look.
- “Uh, no thank you. Shall we get going then? I assume you have supplies,” you say, gesturing for Twilight to lead the way.
- >Trixie scoffs as Twilight nods and walks you both towards three stabled horses with stuffed saddle bags.
- > “We only brought three because we need to travel small. No one is actually supposed to know about our friend going missing,” Twilight admits.
- “You told me pretty easily,” you say, mounting one of the horses.
- > ‘Well of course, but you’d have just thought we were going to die so it would be fine,” Twilight admits as you all head out of town together.
- >Oh right, this was still a suicide mission.
- >To starve to death or get roasted into dragon meal?
- >The irony was almost palpable.
- >Or was that just whatever poison they added to the mead you’d been drinking.
- >Either way, the trader’s road was pretty calm for the first stretch so you could gather your thoughts.
- >The girls had both discarded their cloaks once you were out of town.
- >Twilight wore an elegant dress of purple, much like a standard mage uniform but with a more regal look to it.
- >Trixie on the other hand wore a pure blue dress that marked her as a simple mage.
- >However, she had decided to add onto this outfit a cloak of sky blues and stars with a large brimmed hat to match.
- >She looked very much the part of a witch, which was only one letter off of your own guess.
- >Good to be on the road again, even if you didn’t want to think about where it led.
- >Actually, you were uncertain if this road even went in the correct direction that they wanted.
- “Is this the right road?” you ask back to them.
- >Being the “guide” they let you be in the front.
- >To be honest, you were fairly sure that they were just hiding behind you.
- > “Yes, sort of. Like I said, we need to move discreetly if possible because--” Twilight started to explain when a bush shuddered.
- >Out from the rattling foliage lept three small bandits decked in a mismatched armor.
- >They all three wore a small deep red bandana over their mouths emblazoned with some strange crest.
- > “Cutie mark crusader highwaymen!” They all shouted in unison, striking a pose.
- >One of the girls with puffy purple and white hair tumbled from her stance and fell to the ground.
- > “Dangit Sweetie Belle, ya can’t break formation!” said the girl with red hair.
- > “Scootaloo pushed me!” said the girl as she pushed herself up and pointed at with deep purple hair.
- > “Did not!” Scootaloo said, putting her hands on her hips.
- > “Did too!” Sweetie Belle responded, both girls touching foreheads aggressively.
- “Who are you?” you ask the group of them.
- >They appeared to just be little kids, but kids could be dangerous.
- >Especially when they appeared to have tiny daggers holstered to their belts.
- > “Huh? Oh! Right, we’re here tah rob ya’ll!” said the one with red hair.
- > “Excuse me?” Twilight asked, shocked.
- > “Trixie will not be robbed by some street urchins that can’t even be bothered to urch on a street!” Trixie scolded the girls.
- >The girl in purple started rubbing the toe of her boot in the dirt like a little kid.
- > “We’re new to this, you don’t need to be so mean...” she said mumbled towards the dirt.
- >Sighing, you dismount your horse and walk up to them.
- “Listen, a life of crime isn’t one that actually works. Especially when you pick fights you can’t win.”
- > “Who says we can’t? Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Tower of blades, go!” Scootaloo shouts before hunching down.
- >Applebloom, the girl with red hair, leapt onto Scootaloo’s shoulders and then Sweetie Belle lept onto hers.
- >In this position, the girls were roughly an inch or two below your height and were shakily holding their blades.
- > “In this...gah...form, we can...dangit Applebloom, stop moving so much!” Scootaloo forced out as she tried to balance all three girls.
- > “S’not my fault, we never actually practiced this move!” Applebloom replied, trying to hold her knife up while steadying Sweetie Belle.
- >Sighing, you draw your blade and place the tip of it into the dirt.
- >It was an old sword made of some enchanted iron from some old keep you raided a few years back.
- >You’d always been a fan of large weapons and this one certainly fit the bill.
- >It was around 6ft long from handle to blade point, made of an incredibly durable type of metal.
- >Not only that, but it’s enchantment made it so the wielder could swing it as easily as a large longsword.
- >It was still awkward to swing for most, but far less than an eye’s judgement would let on.
- >The second the drawn blade pierces the ground, the girls stop their bickering and look at it.
- “This is my blade. I see your daggers are made from some homemade flint. Care to see which does more damage?” you say, shouldering it.
- >The girls look from the sword to you and finally to your armor.
- >Circling this a few times, the girls give each other a look before nodding.
- > “Cutie mark crusader crime scene fleerers!” They all shout in unison.
- >Turning around, the girls hold their shaky formation as they wiggle their way back into the bushes.
- > “Did you really need to threaten those girls? I think I know them,” Twilight asked as you went to saddle your horse.
- “What did you want me to do? Let them rob us?” you say before starting down the path again.
- > “Trixie doesn’t see why you didn’t just chop the air in front of them or something,” Trixie replies casually.
- “I could’ve hit them!” you defend.
- > “He’s not going to just murder some children Trixie...you’re not, right?” Twilight asks you from behind.
- “Of course I wouldn’t!” you say, anger starting to rise.
- > “Jeez, no need to attack Trixie, just a question. How far away are the mountains now?” Trixie continued.
- “Following this road with no teleportation? Around a week” you say, trying to judge the time from memory.
- > “A week?!” Both of them ask.
- >You turn back to see their confused faces and try to tell if they were joking.
- “You mean you didn’t look at a map of the way there?” you ask, equally stunned.
- > “Well, we did, but we’re mages so we don’t really know how long it takes to get somewhere without teleportation. Are you sure a week?”
- “Yes, a week. These are backroads and we’re heading to the south from the north. How long did you think it would take?”
- > “Well, last time Spike ran away, it took us only a few hours to get there,” Twilight admitted.
- “Last time? You’re saying this has happened before?”
- > “Sparkle is awful with pets,” Trixie interjected.
- > “I am not! Spike is not a pet, he's a friend, just...troubled. It’s tough being a dragon away from his kind,” Twilight admits forlornly.
- >The thought of a troubled dragon hanging around royalty seemed like a pretty bad idea.
- >Still, you weren’t a mage so maybe it actually made sense.
- >Governments are weird.
- >The three of you continued down the road for an hour bickering occasionally about small things.
- >Trixie, as it turns out, was very opinionated about her knowledge of flora and fauna.
- > “...And there’s a boot licker fly trap” she said, pointing to a nearby flower.
- “That’s just a clover! Seriously, you can’t just name flowers and weeds what you want,” you tell her once again.
- >What was this? The fifth time now?
- >The trees broke away as you started into a small outcropping.
- >A small mountain pass rose as you all traversed along it’s side, ending in a flat plane of dirt.
- >Strange piles of dirt began to arise around you.
- >And with them, the odd sensation of being watched.
- > “Do you all feel that too? I swear there’s something nearby, but it’s too dim to pinpoint,” Twilight mentions.
- > “Trixie does, but who cares? Let them gaze upon Trixie’s beautiful body,” Trixie replied, puffing out her chest.
- “What if they're bandits? Real adult ones this time. Can you both defend yourselves in a fight?”
- >In hindsight, you probably should’ve asked them this before heading off to a dragon’s nest with them.
- > “I know some basic attack and shield spells. Most of my knowledge is in research, sadly,” Twilight says, still scanning her surroundings.
- > “Trixie is an illusionist, combat would only distract her from her natural talent. Though, she obviously can defend herself,” Trixie adds.
- >Yeah, you just have to keep talking and they run in fear.
- >A slight rustling of dirt nearby made you stop and reflexively grip your sword hilt.
- “Who’s there? Show yourself,” you demand of the mysterious onlookers.
- >Over one of the mounds, a set of yellow eyes peered intrusively.
- >Soon, it was joined by two more eyes each hovering behind their own mounds.
- “Who are you?” you ask, gripping the hilt tighter.
- > “Ask us? You in OUR land!” One of the eyes accused.
- > “Yeah, yeah! Our land, our questions first” Another pair added.
- “This is a public road,” you narrowing your eyes, trying to see what the creatures were.
- > “Road? No road, our land! You--” the voice gets cut off with a strange yelp.
- >The other eyes snap away as their head suddenly come into view.
- >One was small, but the other looked a great deal larger.
- >They wore vest decked in various jewels that looked finely cut and polished, a sharp contrast to the rest of their outfits.
- >Their partner still hadn’t shown his face, but you could hear him arguing in a hushed tone with a feminine voice.
- >Wait, a woman was with these things?
- >Suddenly, the third one stood up and dashed over to the others.
- >Only as you saw this one rushing did it become apparent all of them carried small shovels with them.
- >Along their belts were also a set of tools for excavation work and jewel making.
- >All three huddled together before one lept into a small hole and the other moved over to the side.
- >The third climbed to the top of a pile of dirt and cleared his throat.
- >Looking back briefly, he nodded to something below before turning and nodding to the large one.
- >Returning the final nod, he raised both hands and mimicked the sound of a royal trumpet.
- > “We now present, fairest in the land and queen of the diamond dogs...Miss Rarity!” He said before starting to applaud.
- >A sudden burst of applause filled the area as various other men climbed out of holes and joined in.
- >Finally, out from behind a pile of dirt rose a large and golden throne of sorts carried by six of the men from this small group.
- >It was covered in so many jewels that just looking at it at first strained the eyes.
- >A woman was sitting on top of a plush cushioned seat and looked off to the side.
- >She was wearing a revealing white outfit that denoted her as a figure of some importance.
- >Well, one that dressed better than jewel studded leather in any case.
- > “Welcome, travelers to my--” the woman started before freezing upon looking at your group.
- >An odd silence followed, with the woman holding her mouth open and sweat starting to form on her head.
- > “...Rarity? I thought you said you were going to Canterlot on business,” Twilight asked her.
- “Rarity? You mean you know this girl?” you turn around as Trixie starts laughing.
- > “Trixie, don’t be rude!” Twilight said to her to no avail.
- > “Hello Twilight, Trixie, and...whoever you are,” rarity said, finally finding the ability to speak again.
- “My name is--” you start to tell her before Trixie cuts you off.
- > “And here Trixie was thinking SHE was desperate! You’re ruling a bunch of miners!” she shouted before bursting into laughter again.
- >Rarity said nothing but put on a pouty face and began to blush heavily.
- > “Rarity, you could’ve just told--” Twilight started.
- > “Miss Rarity. You have to say Miss Rarity” the smaller of the first three corrected her.
- > “No, no Dozer, these are friends. They may call me Rarity,” rarity said with a wave of a hand.
- >He nodded quickly before turning with a smile towards the group.
- >Looking to his larger partner, he knudged his shoulder and gestured to your group.
- >He jumped with realization and joined his friend in smiling at you.
- >They had strangely yellow teeth, as if they had only eaten food best given to dogs.
- >Perhaps that’s were they got there name.
- “So...can we pass?” you ask Rarity.
- >Rarity looked lost in her embarrassment before snapping back to reality at your voice.
- > “What? Oh, of course.”
- “Thank you,” you say as you get your horse moving again.
- > “Um...say Twilight? Could you be a dear and never mention this to anyone."
- >Twilight nods as she passes, but Trixie lags behind you both.
- > “Trixie will” she says with a large grin.
- > “Well...who would believe you anyway?” Rarity returns.
- > “Trixie knows lots of people who would believe her!...Just, not any right now! Shut up!” Trixie says, quickly getting angry.
- >You close your eyes and hope Trixie wouldn’t take this out on you in the form of talking.
- >As you leave, you hear her throne return to the Earth and hear Rarity being showered with compliments from the three diamond dogs.
- >You wonder if every person Twilight knew was crazy.
- >Then again, they did all seem to be fairly attractive crazy women.
- >Hell, maybe there was one of her friends that was the good kind of crazy, like an adventurer or something.
- >Thinking up what sort of dream date you could get with a hook up from Twilight kept you pretty distracted for a while.
- >Eventually, it started getting dark, so you all need to set up camp.
- >Having done this many times in the past while making long journeys, you knew how to set up a tent easily.
- >Twilight had apparently gone camping with her brother while she was a kid, so it only took her a few dozen times.
- > “Sorry, I guess I’m used to them being twice my height,” she admitted after finally finishing it.
- >Trixie sat nearby, angrily staring at a pile of cloth and sticks.
- > “Trixie hates tents. She misses her wagon, things would be so much easier if she had her wagon,” Trixie lamented, poking her tent.
- > “Trixie, please just pitch your tent,” Twilight pleaded.
- >Instead, Trixie folded her arms out of spite after dropping the stick into the tent cloth.
- > “Maybe she doesn’t want to. Trixie can handle the cold just fine,” she pouted.
- >Twilight sighed before moving to gather some sticks.
- >You joined her and started picking up rocks to form a barrier around the fire as well.
- “So, why does she hate you so much?” you ask as you place a large stone into your now empty pack.
- > “I showed her up on stage one time. Things kind of went downhill after that, so now she blames me.”
- “Downhill? You mean her losing her wagon?”
- > “Yes. The wagon was apparently her house. It was destroyed when some enthusiastic fans tried to force her to show off.”
- “She destroyed her own wagon in a trick?”
- > “Not...exactly. They woke up an ursa minor and I had to lull it back to sleep to save the town.”
- >She was able to stop an ursa minor all by herself.
- >If she could pull that off, why didn’t she say so when you asked about her combat prowess?
- > “Anyway, apparently the whole ordeal earned her a nasty reputation, making her drift from town to town...which is when she found me.”
- >Twilight stopped gathering sticks for a moment and looked back to the campsite before sitting down.
- >The soft sound of crickets chirped and signaled that night was now fully on you.
- >Thankfully, this was a more peaceful part of the woods and so you knew you could relax.
- >Why they were relaxing you assumed was just blissful ignorance.
- > “She was on the road when I started looking for Spike. He had been missing a few hours at that point, so I was just searching.”
- “A few hours and you were only searching? I thought your friend was a dragon.”
- > “He is, but he’s still only a baby dragon. I scolded him pretty hard for acting greedy and trying to take some of my money.”
- >Twilight paused and looked to the ground before she continued.
- > “Anyway, so Trixie was on the road when she spotted me and accused me of stealing away her fame and wealth.”
- >How could anyone like Trixie have fame and wealth?
- >You sat down facing Twilight after brushing off the spot with one of your boots.
- > “At first I was mad at her, but then I saw that her cape and hat were in rags and she had no home in sight. She was destitute.”
- >Thinking of Trixie alone on some empty stretch of road in rags made you feel bad for her.
- >But then the idea of her clothes being in rags made you feel something else.
- >Good thing you were wearing a crotch plate.
- >Even though you thought she was an arrogant little demon, you had to admit Trixie was attractive.
- > “So, I took pity on her and offered to help her back on her feet after I finished looking for Spike. Want to guess what she told me?”
- “Something incredibly bull headed?”
- > “She said ‘Trixie doesn’t accept charity, but she will accompany you to make sure she gets what’s due to her.’ Can you believe that?”
- “Sounds like her,” you reply, feeling your one day experience gave you some credibility.
- > “Right, but it was odd. It was almost like she wanted to be around me, or to actually help me get Spike back,” Twilight drifted off.
- “Maybe the idea of a dragon roaming free doesn’t rest easy with her either?”
- > “Maybe. But I like to think she’s got a good heart, and you do have to admit she can be fun to be with sometimes.”
- >You watch to see if Twilight was being serious or not.
- > “You get used to her. She might be a handful sometimes, but I think I do owe her something. No one deserves to just lose their home.”
- >Both of you go quiet for a moment before you clear your throat.
- “Say, you don’t...you know...like girls or anything do you?”
- >Twilight begins blush heavily before looking at you with slight indignance.
- > “No, for your information, I like boys, alright?” she says defensively.
- “Alright, just curious. The way you were talking about her just seemed kind of...affectionate.”
- > “Sorry, I just get asked that at home a lot. No boyfriends makes the parents ask questions.”
- >You nod along, completely unaware of how royal families talked or dealt with things.
- > “Where’s our grandkids? It’s like, boys are hard to figure out mom. You have to talk to them just freaking right.”
- “Uh, Twilight?” you say, starting to stand up.
- > “And oh my god do they get antsy when you do magic tests on them. I’m not talking bad about you by the way, just most guys,” she continues obliviously.
- “Twilight?”
- > “Not to say I want to date you or anything, because we just met and you look pretty scary compared to--” she continued.
- “Twilight!” you cut her off.
- > “What? What is it?” she replies angrily.
- “The firewood?” you say, shaking a small bundle of kindling.
- > “Oh, right. Sorry about that,” she says, blushing as she stands up.
- >Both of you return to the fire and you begin to make a small circle of rocks.
- > “Finally! What took you so long? Trixie is freezing her cute butt off!”
- “We got a little side tracked.”
- > “An awful excuse. Trixie saw you two lounging around by those trees,” she says, starting to shake.
- >It wasn’t very cold out, but you couldn’t imagine the warming properties of such a dress when you were sitting on the ground.
- > “We were just talking about the road ahead and any alternate routes, nothing important,” Twilight assured her.
- >Trixie squinted at her before moving closer and widening one eye towards her for a moment.
- > “...You’re lying.”
- >Was she psychic or just paranoid?
- “No she isn’t Trixie. Why do you care anyway?” you ask, trying to get her off of Twilight’s back.
- > “Because Trixie is more attractive, so she should be the one to be the love interest, the first one at least.”
- > “Love interest?” Twilight stated confusedly.
- > “Yes, but Trixie supposes you could have her sloppy seconds once she is done with the nameless warrior.”
- “I have a name, it’s--” you try to tell her before getting cut off again.
- > “Trixie prefers her lovers nameless, it assures she gets top billing.”
- >Everyone except for the crickets paused in silence.
- “...Right. Let’s just set up a campfire and move on then,” you say, trying not to get into another hopeless battle with Trixie.
- >Finishing the rock circle, you and Twilight place you kindling in before Twilight lights it up with some magic.
- >After warming up by the fire and making some small banter, things become relaxed.
- >Trixie starts to lose her entirely bull headed nature and joins in with you and Twilight.
- >Though she still stuck to the third person thing.
- >Soon, the embers began to die down so you stomp out the remaining fire and wave them both good night.
- “We leave tomorrow morning as soon as we can. Anyone who wakes up first, try to get the others up as well.”
- >They nod in agreeance before moving into their own tents and giving their good night wishes.
- >Once inside your tent, you strip off the slightly cool armor and feel the brisk night air against your skin.
- >You’d had to use a rather ill fitting cloth to serve as underwear, but it served it’s job.
- >Placing the armor next to your bedding in a ordered set up, you crawl in a start to drift off to sleep.
- >Lazily, you wondered if tomorrow would be as hectic as today was.
- >Moving through a large stone temple, you try to recollect where you are.
- >Large stone pillars appear to warp as they reach high into what looks like the very heavens.
- >Each one was covered in a variety of glittering symbols depicting various famous events.
- >Gold films stretched over each of the many doors across the beautiful court yard.
- >A soft laugh makes you turn your head down and follow it to it’s source.
- >Entering a doorway, you start to chase after it as a slim finger guides you to another door each time.
- >Finally, you reach a large and elegant bed room draped in fine cloth.
- >Lying on the bed was a slender women completely naked, beckoning you further with her finger.
- > “Come brave warrior, join me in my bed tonight,” she calls out.
- “Hold on, don’t I know you from somewhere?” you ask, vaguely remembering her face.
- > “What? No, I’m sure you’re just--” she tries to nervously reply.
- “No wait, I remember now. You’re that goddess Luna right? Controller of the moon and dreams?”
- >She sits up into a cross legged position and folds her arms.
- > “Dammit, how did you know?” she asks with a pout as you approach.
- “Pictures of you and your sister are in the warrior’s hall. Hold on, why were you trying to sleep with me?”
- >Luna looks away as you sit down in the bed beside her.
- >It became apparent that you were wearing a very loose fitting robe.
- > “Do you know how hard it is to get laid as a god? All of the guards think they’ll die or something if they so much as touch me,” she says agitatedly.
- >You glance around the shimmering chamber as you remember being told the princesses were gods made flesh.
- >And gods made flesh were not bound by common desires of sleep, food, or lust.
- > “Occasionally I chance upon someone who doesn't know my real identity, so I can get lucky in that regard,” luna concedes, rolling onto the bed.
- >Following her lead, you wonder if this was still sacrilege if she was asking you to do it.
- >Could be a test?
- >Better to stay on the safe side in any case.
- > “Crap, you’re going to do the same thing aren’t you? Dammit.”
- “Yeah, sorry.”
- >She rolls onto her side, exposing her shapely rear towards you, making you have second thoughts about the safe side.
- > “Dreams suck. Can’t believe I got shackled with this job,” she complained.
- >She goes quiet as you stare at her ass before becoming aware of her disappointed eyes.
- > “Oh, so sex is a no-go but ogling is a-ok?”
- “You wanted to have sex with me, isn’t staring a lot tamer than that?” you reply indignantly.
- > “I can get checked out anytime, but what I want is more than just wandering eyes. What’s the point of eternal youth without sex?” she whines.
- >It was odd, but you felt a small amount of pity towards the immortal goddess.
- “Look, how about we just...cuddle or something? That good?” you ask, moving further onto the bed.
- >She looks you up and down before placing her head back on the pillow.
- > “Knock yourself out, I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth. You better not be one of those ‘I won’t touch a woman’ types.”
- >Wondering whether that meant Luna had tried to sleep with clerics, you move behind her.
- >Pressing yourself along her back, you noticed that her skin was slightly cool to the touch.
- >The room’s actual temperature was fairly warm, so you assumed where she was sleeping must be cooler.
- >Your hand slides along down her chest before draping freely over breasts, feeling her perked nipples press into your arm.
- >It was strange, but there was something almost surreal about the feeling.
- >Luna adjusted herself under your arm before pressing you tighter against her chest.
- > “So where are you sleeping anyway? I can feel your sleep is somewhat troubled.”
- >Even though it was a dream, you were pretty sure it was weird for her to ask something like that while naked.
- “I’m on a quest. We’re sleeping in the woods right now,” you reply, shifting your grip on her body.
- >What was this sensation you got from her skin?
- > “I see...any woman on this quest?”
- “Yeah, it’s just me and two...wait, how did you know? Can you read my mind or something?”
- > “Didn’t really need to,” she replied, adjusting her rear against your groin.
- “Why is that?”
- > “You’ll see when you wake up in a couple seconds.”
- “Alright then,” you answer confusedly.
- >A few moments passes as Luna continues to press against your body in awkward silence.
- “So...by a few seconds how long did you--” you start to ask her.
- > “Now,” she replies as a wave of white evaporates the world around you.
- >Luna quickly departs, but the foreign sensation you had from her skin remained with you.
- >And you slowly become aware of the poor lighting within your small tent.
- >Your sleeping roll comfortably covered, with your armor laying in a pile near your head.
- >Blinking the weariness from your eyes, you let out a yawn before adjusting your body out of reflex.
- > “Mmm...a few more minutes...” came Trixie’s voice.
- “Whatever,” you reply in a daze.
- >It takes a few moments and your hands listfully squeezing one of her bare breasts for the knowledge to hit you.
- >Your eyes shoot open but you remain still as thoughts shoot through your head.
- >The odd feeling on Luna’s skin, it must have been caused by Trixie actually being in her place.
- >What was she even doing here when she had her own tent?
- >Didn’t matter now, you just knew you should get out of the tent.
- >Grabbing the leather britches the go under your leg plate, you slide out of your bed roll carefully.
- >Trixie rolled around under your arm as you slowly lifted it and retreated from her.
- >Either you or her had some serious explaining to do, and you were leaning towards her.
- >Truthfully, you should have just kicked her out and chewed her out later for sneaking into your tent.
- >But the fact both of you were naked might make Twilight think something else went down.
- >Wait, why’d care what Twilight thought about you two?
- >Oh right, she was the one who was paying you and she might not be so nice if she thought you were sleeping with her destitute friend.
- >You rise to a hunched position as you struggle to get your feet into the legs.
- >Stumbling, you freeze when you hear Trixie start to move.
- >Looking down at her, you watch as she blinks awake before a large blush forms on her face.
- >Neither of you say anything for a long period, confused and angry looks on both of your faces.
- >Trixie glances up and down your body before pulling some of the covers off of herself.
- >It was only a side view, but the sight of her bare curves threatened to get you excited, which would not look to good.
- > “Trixie is willing to forgive this if you leave now,” she says, pausing with the cover barely hiding her sensual areas.
- “Forgive me? You’re in my tent!” you hiss at her, trying not to wake up Twilight.
- >Trixie cocks an eyebrow at you before glancing around, finally settling her eyes on your armor.
- > “Oh. So we are,” she comments casually before rolling onto her back.
- >In silence, you watch her and wait for her to start getting up to leave.
- >As she rests her head back onto the bedding, it hits you she doesn’t intend to go.
- “Trixie. Get out of my tent,” you say, adjusting uncomfortably in your hunched state.
- > “And go outside in the nude? How barbaric of you,” she returns without lifting her head.
- “I didn’t ask you to sneak in here naked!” you growl, straining to keep your voice down.
- >This was getting ridiculous, but at least her eyes were downward.
- >Watching to see if she lifts her head again, you start to put on your pants.
- >About halfway through Trixie starts to talk and lift her head again.
- > “Trixie likes sleeping nude, it’s far more--” she says before stopping and staring at your groin.
- >Her hazy dream like expression becomes a wicked grin.
- > “--Comfortable,” she finishes looking between you and your crotch.
- >You feel your eye twitch for a moment before finishing tying your pants knot.
- >After that, you grab Trixie’s legs through the bedroll and start to drag her outside as she thrashes about.
- > “Unhand Trixie!” she demands, keeping herself covered while also trying to kick at you.
- >The sound of her struggling obviously wakes up Twilight, who lazily leans out of her tent wearing a thin sleep shirt.
- > “Trixie? Why are you fighting with...” she sleepily asks before noticing you and Trixie’s lack of clothing.
- >All three of you go silent as you prepare to explain yourself.
- > “Twilight, it’s not what you think,” Trixie holds up her hands towards Twilight.
- >Was she really going to defend you?
- > “Me and the warrior were simply sleeping together with some slight groping. No big deal,” she says with a confident smile.
- >No, you should have guessed she wouldn’t help you.
- > “What?” Twilight says moving out of her tent.
- “She snuck into my tent last night. I have no idea why she’s naked,” you tell her, dropping Trixie’s legs to the ground.
- > “That’s a lie. Trixie told you she felt more comfortable nude, just like you,” she said, pulling herself deeper into the bedroll.
- >You shoot her a glare, which she returns with a smile.
- > “What does she mean by...you were both naked together in bed?” Twilight asks, a small blush forming on her face.
- “No, Trixie snuck in while I was--” you start to defend yourself.
- > “Yes, we were. And this one even started to mumble and grope me,” she cut you off as she inched to her own tent.
- “I did not!” you say, moving towards her.
- >Then it hit you that you technically had, thinking that it was still Luna lying in bed with you.
- >But if you let Trixie hear that, you knew she’d stretch the truth even more.
- >You turn back to face Twilight, who was holding a hand up to her chin and looking at the ground in thought.
- > “I didn’t know you could be so bold...” she mumbles to herself.
- “Hey, don’t think I wanted her to do that,” you reply, moving back to your tent for your armor.
- > “Oh, I know she probably did that. You don’t seem confident enough to move that fast,” Twilight replies with a small laugh.
- >Was that an insult or a compliment?
- >You start to put your armor on while Twilight prepares the horse to leave again.
- >Finishing putting on your gauntlets, you exit the tent and check the fastenings on your gear.
- >Looking back up, you spy Trixie in her usual dress, cape and hat.
- >Having seen her naked skewed your view of her towards being more lewd than it was before though.
- >Dammit, you refused to believe you found her sexy.
- >Shaking off the thoughts about a naked Trixie, you get on your horse.
- >The three of you continue down the long road until you eventually exit out of the forest and reach a field.
- >Golden grass stretched for miles out from the forest to the point where the other end of the fields were not visible.
- >It was a long and boring stretch of road, made that much worse by Trixie reminding you all of this fact.
- > “How much longer? Trixie is tired of stupid grass,” she whined, leaning on her horse slightly.
- >How that poor creature could stand to carry her was a testament to it’s persevering nature.
- “A few more miles, you can see the tops of the trees now,” you tell her, too bored to get mad at her.
- > “More woods? But we just left those. Trixie is tired of nature, when can we go to a town?” she asks Twilight.
- > “Sorry Trixie, but we need to stay on these roads, that means no towns until we’re done,” Twilight replies.
- > “At all? What’s even with all of this secrecy stuff?” Trixie asks Twilight.
- >Something was disturbing the waves of gentle heat you saw towards the trees.
- >It looked like something was bolting towards your group, but was moving far too slow for that.
- > “I told you Trixie, if the people knew Spike was running amok, people might blow the situation out of proportions,” Twilight replied in monotone.
- >You could tell that the thing coming towards you was a bouncing person.
- >Or, at least something that looked human.
- >What kind of person bounces across a huge field like this without signs of fatigue?
- >Over Trixie’s sighing you could make out a gentle strumming as the person drew nearer.
- > “Hello there!” Came the female voice.
- >It was a woman with a cloud of pink hair bouncing along with her as she moved.
- > “Pinkie Pie?” Twilight remarked, moving closer to your side.
- >Twilight stops and the rest of you follow her example as Pinkie closes the gap between you.
- > “Oh, hi Twilight! And Trixie! And whoever you are!” Pinkie says, waving to each of you.
- “My name is--” you try to answer before getting cut off by Twilight.
- > “Pinkie, what’re you doing here?” Twilight asks her with concern.
- >Pinkie strums her ukelele and bounces around a bit before she continues.
- > “The cakes gave me a vacation, so I’ve been wondering a little bit and learning some new songs!” she says, finishing with a strum.
- > “But Pinkie, you were a few town north of us last time we met. How’d you get here?” Twilight continued.
- > “By taking the main roads silly!” she replied cheerfully.
- > “Oh, right,” Twilight replied before blushing slightly.
- “So you’re a bard?” you ask, having an interest in travelling bards.
- >Being on the road helping adventurers, you’d often come about them and they were always kind.
- >Their behavior was far from normal, sure, but they were always a joy to listen too.
- > “Yep! Want to hear a song?” Pinkie asks, holding up her instrument.
- > “Trixie would love to hear what passes for a song in your fluff covered head. Better than bland silence she supposes,” Trixie chimes in
- >Pinkie smiles and clears her throat before starting a cheery tune.
- > “Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! Fal lal the willow!” she begins to sing.
- >There were some fairly nonsensical lyrics after this, with you only being able to pick out something about the sun and water.
- >You get the impression this song was meant for a specific person to sing and not her.
- > “Hey! Come derry dol! Can you hear me singing?” Pinkie finishes before strumming violently on her ukelele.
- >After ending, she begins to breathe heavily as well as wipe some sweat from her brow.
- > “Well Pinkie, that was...” Twilight trails off.
- “Great,” you finish.
- > “Confusing. Half of those words weren’t even real words, you just made them up,” Trixie complains.
- “Well I liked it. Thank you for singing Pinkie,” you say with a smile towards her.
- >Pinkie smiles as she regains her breath and begins bouncing once more.
- > “Glad that you enjoyed it! Before I go, a word of advice,” pinkie says moving closer to you.
- >With one swift bounce, she leaps until her head is next to your ear and whispers into it.
- > “Don’t be fooled by appearances,” she’s says in an oddly prophetic tone.
- >She lands and bounces past you, waving goodbye to you all as she leaves.
- > “Good-bye Pinkie,” Twilight waves as you all resume your travel.
- > “Well? What was the advice she give you?” Trixie asked, more out of boredom than interest.
- “She told me not to be fooled by appearances,” you say, trying to work out what she meant.
- > “Do you know what she could mean by that?” Twilight asks you.
- >You look at the ground and mull over possible ideas as to what she referred to.
- >Could she be talking about Trixie or Twilight?
- > “Who cares? She always gives stupid and cryptic advice,” Trixie says spitefully.
- > “How would you know about her advice?” Twilight asks her.
- >Trixie says nothing, but you could imagine she rolled her eyes and glared as usual.
- >After that, the trip was fairly quiet as you continued to wonder about what Pinkie said.
- >Bards are known for being random but also fairly wise from their travels.
- >The trio of you pass under the foliage of the trees and feel the coolness of their shade immediately.
- >Unlike the previous forest, these trees were far taller with thicker canopies
- >Lucky for all of you, some old magic spell kept the trees from covering the road and making it pitch black.
- >Or at least, that’s what you’d been told by other warriors.
- >Twilight was happy to give you the entire history of how that was wrong.
- >It really dug in your thoughts about mages.
- >Just as she was about to continue about how it was a series of spells involving rerouting of all kinds of magic stuff, Trixie interrupts her.
- > “Twilight, no one cares. At all,” Trixie says with clear agitation.
- >She goes silent, obviously embarrassed by the fact she was ranting for however long she did.
- >A breaking twig nearby caught your attention.
- >You motion for the group to stop and you all go quiet, listening for another noise of movement.
- >The loud clanking of metal together followed by a small curse told you someone was there.
- “Who’s there? Come out so we can see you,” you say, looking around the the shaded areas on either side of the road.
- >You could swear it was ahead of you on the road, but you could never be too careful.
- > “There’s...there’s no one here,” came a female voice from the trees.
- >All of you go quiet before looking at each other.
- “...What?” you ask again.
- > “There’s no one...fuck it,” she says before dashing out from above you all in the tree line.
- >She lands with a soft thud on the ground in front of your horses before turning to face you with a large grin.
- >Her hair was a light teal and her eyes were a shockingly bright shade of gold.
- > “My name is...the ten-fingered bandit! And I’m here to rob you!” she says before flashing you her dual daggers.
- >Even though they were just sai, you knew better than to doubt someone wielding an unorthodox weapon set up like that.
- >You dismount your horse and place your hand onto the grip of your sword.
- > “Wait, don’t use your sword,” Twilight tells you, prompting you to turn around.
- “Excuse me?” you ask.
- > “Well, look at her. She’s wearing light leather, you might kill her if you use that thing,” Twilight says in a low voice.
- >You made a mental note to blame her if you died in this fight.
- >She was the one paying you in any case, so you decide it best to listen to her.
- >It wasn’t as if the bandit was particularly imposing in any case, she was just a woman who was on the short side.
- >Striding up to her, you see her tense up, signaling that you should stop.
- > “Just hand over the money,” she says narrowing her eyes at you.
- “We don’t have any money. And even if we did, we don’t just hand our money to strangers,” you tell her, crossing your arms.
- > “Dammit, why is everyone so poor here?” she says before pouting.
- >How was this person an actual bandit.
- > “Well, these are the backroads. People would only travel these if they were doing things in secret, guarded, or both,” Twilight comments.
- >What was Pinkie doing coming down these roads if that’s the case?
- > “That’s stupid. I’m not just some rookie bandit you know, I’ve fought for years! Sure, most of them were stealth attacks, but still,” the bandit continues.
- >She waves her sai around in a relaxed manner before looking back at you with a grin.
- > “So, I’ll take what money you have then. It does go towards a noble cause if that makes you feel any better,” she replies.
- “Noble cause?” you ask, lowering your arms.
- > “Yep. To fulfil my life long dream!” she boasts before striking a dramatic pose again.
- >A silent moment passes before she looks at you, and gestures for you to continue speaking.
- “What? Oh, what’s your dream?”
- > “Glad you asked! My dream is to one day be able to afford a handsome guard and to fall in love!” she shouts with a blissful look on her face.
- “That’s not a noble cause. In fact, that’s almost the opposite of a noble cause,” you say, rolling your eyes.
- > “It is noble! I’ll pay him to watch me, and he’ll carry me in his big arms with large hands, caressing my wounded body...” she drifts off.
- >You notice that the girl had actually started to drool at her own fantasy.
- >This sure was one hell of a highway robbery.
- > “Trixie tires of this girl’s lewd fantasies. How can one person honestly be so vulgar?” Trixie pipes in.
- >Turning around to chastise her hypocrisy, you hear a yell behind you.
- >Swiveling on your feet, you see a blur of the girl jumping towards you, which you dodge and land a blow onto her side.
- >It was only a punch, but it did connect directly onto her side, sending her flying off to the side of the road.
- >Trixie let out a loud laugh as the girl fell, which Twilight quickly shushed.
- > “Ow, ow, ow...you jerk!” she says, clutching her side and trying to stand.
- “You leapt at me with daggers!” you defend yourself.
- > “You didn’t really need to hit her if you dodged her attack,” Twilight adds.
- “What?!” you turn back towards her in surprise and anger.
- > “Yeah! You...wait, what kind of gauntlet is that?” the bandit asks suddenly.
- “What, this?” you say, holding up your hand.
- >She nods enthusiastically as she manages to stand and begins moving towards you.
- “Just another piece of my armor. Wait, what kind of question is--?” you start to ask before she jumps again.
- >For someone rolling in pain a few seconds ago, she certainly recovered quickly.
- >Instead of going for another attack, she jumps at your hands and snatches one.
- > “Oh wow, this is real good stuff! And with such a large hand too...” she says, staring in awe at your hand.
- >There was something violating about the way she was eying your fingers.
- “Okay then, time to go,” you say quickly yanking your hand away.
- > “W-wait! You don’t need to go just yet!” she calls after you as you mount your horse.
- >You try to start moving the horse, but the girl moves in front of the horse.
- > “Now, just hear me out okay? Can I at least get one chance?”
- “You attacked us!”
- > “Trixie thinks she should speak. If only to make our warrior frightened again,” Trixie says with dull glee.
- >The girl relaxes, evidently taking the joke as a serious consent.
- >Something told you to run her down, but if Twilight didn’t want you using the sword, you thought she might not like that.
- > “Okay then...can I come with? It’s so boring out here!” she pleads.
- >Like hell you were letting her tag along.
- “No, we’re on important business and can’t take another person along without good reason,” you make up on the spot.
- >Looking back to Twilight, she thankfully agrees.
- > “Oh...can you do something for me before you go though?” she asks, visibly more sober.
- “Alright, fine. What is it?”
- > “...Can you rub my cheek?” she asks innocently.
- “Excuse me?”
- > “Or a pat on the head or something! Just let me feel those hands one more time!” she says, a wild look coming over her.
- >You stare down at her with a disappointed look before looking back to Twilight
- >Twilight shrugs, making you sigh as you turn back to face her.
- >Moving your horse up next to her, you look from side to side to try and spot any invisible spies of the event.
- >Leaning over, you lightly caress the bandit’s cheek.
- >The light touch makes her eyelids flutter and one of her legs start to twitch.
- >After a few seconds you quickly remove your hands and place them on the reins.
- “Satisfied?”
- > “Oh yeah...” she drifts off, blissfully rubbing the spot where your hands touched.
- >You silently wish that she’d been a real robber, at least then she’d have just taken your money.
- >The group of you move down the road again as she waves goodbye between giggles.
- >Hopefully you would come across somebody who wasn’t insane on this road.
- >Seriously, how many people could you possibly meet with estranged ties to one or more members of the group?
- >A figure becomes visible marking some nearby trees with a short sword.
- >Don’t speak too soon.
- >As the figure steps back you can tell it’s another woman, but this one was familiar.
- >Strange, you normally remembered people’s faces or occasionally their weapons, why did this body look familiar?
- >In any case, the woman looked distress, so you called out to her.
- “Hello there, do you need help?” you say reaching a few yards behind her.
- > “No thanks, just looking for--” she says as she turns around.
- >As she does, she removes a small leather helm to reveal a short cut of rainbow hair.
- >God dammit, why did it have to be her?
- >An angry glare comes over both of your faces as you remember each other.
- > “Pervert!” she shouts, pointing her sword at you.
- “Thief!” you say, hopping off your horse and grabbing your sword.
- > “Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asks.
- “Rainbow Dash?”
- > “Twilight?” the thief asks.
- > “Lame-bow Dash?” Trixie asks with a laugh.
- > “Trixie?!” the thief asks again, pointing her sword at Trixie now.
- > “Warrior?” Trixie calls to you.
- > “Warrior?” Rainbow asks.
- “Everybody shut up!” you shout, ending the loop of name dropping.
- >Everyone goes quiet from your outburst and looks towards you.
- >Glancing around, you ensure everyone understands that you’re going to speak.
- “Alright, so it’s clear we all know each other. Let’s just--” you try to calmly reason before Dash cuts you off.
- > “Twilight, what’re you doing on roads like these with a pervert and Trixie?” she asks, returning her glare towards you.
- “Me? A pervert? You broke into my room while I was asleep!” you say, drawing your own sword.
- >She glances over the weapon before narrowing her eyes and lowering her body, preparing for a fight.
- >Twilight hops off her horse and dashes between the two of you.
- > “Okay, hold it, both of you. How about one of you explains how you know each other?” she says diplomatically.
- > “Gladly,” Dash says with a smirk, lowering her sword and shield.
- >You rest the tip of your blade on the ground, not wanting to have to re-draw it should she decide to go after you.
- > “About a few months ago now, I was in a small town looking for some relaxation. I got a room at an inn and stayed for a few days.”
- >She moves over to a tree and leans against it.
- > “Afterwards, I left and was about to leave town when I noticed that I’d left my shield. I had already checked out, so I had to sneak in.”
- >Reflexively, you grip the handle of your sword harder, trying not to interrupt her.
- > “But when I did sneak in, that’s when I found this pervert in my old room,” she says, pointing her blade at you.
- “Pervert?!” you say through grit teeth.
- > “Yes, pervert! When I went into his room, he tackled me while he was completely naked! If I had not escaped earlier--”
- “Nothing would’ve happened! I was naked because I sleep naked! I saw you sneak into my room to steal things in the night!”
- > “I’m not a criminal, freak!”
- “And I’m not a pervert, burglar!”
- >Both of you move towards each other with murderous intent in your eyes.
- > “Cool it you two! I’m not going to just let you tear each other apart over some silly misunderstanding,” Twilight tells you both.
- > “Oh, just let them Sparkle. Trixie would love to see our big friend knock Rainbow-CRASH’s head off,” Trixie adds in.
- “I’m not going to kill someone just because you want me to Trixie,” you say, turning around.
- > “Yeah. Like he could even kill me with a sword like that,” Rainbow says with a condescending laugh.
- >The hell did she just say?
- “What do you mean a sword like mine? You got a problem with it?” you say, shouldering the blade.
- > “Aside from the fact I could walk away in the time it took you to swing that thing? It’s a real big overcompensation sign,” Dash says mockingly.
- >She starts to grin as you growl before placing her short sword between her legs.
- > “Look at me with my big sword! I’m so tough and cool!” she says in a poor mimic of your own voice.
- “Shut it, you thief!” you say, gripping your blade with both hands.
- > “Oh you wanna go? We’ll go!” Dash says, retrieving her own sword.
- >You lower it until it was in position for a quick downward chop.
- >The blade weighed heavily on your shoulders but felt much lighter underneath your hands.
- >Both of you had your weapons ready for an attack and were sizing each other up.
- > “Both of you, can we please come to a reasonable understanding?” Twilight suggest diplomatically.
- > “Nope” Dash replies, holding eye contact.
- “Nope,” you say at the same time.
- >Twilight looks worried, but you could care less when this madwoman was ready to jump.
- >She lowers herself down and you prepare for her to run at you.
- >Instead, she makes an incredible leap forward towards you with her sword pointed at one of the exposed areas of your shoulder.
- >Even though you're wearing chainmail, a short sword might be able to pierce it when the force of an entire body was pressed against it.
- >You opted to let the mystery of if she could break through remain unsolved and dodge to the side.
- >As you land, you ready a heavy downward strike.
- >Normally such a blow would leave you open since it would clearly be blocked by the opponent's shield.
- >But Dash’s shield was wood and likely lacked any enchantment, which meant it wouldn’t stand against a sword like yours very well.
- >Dash sees your blow and starts to leap away just as you start to bring down the blow.
- >Something flashes across Dash’s body just as you swing downward.
- >Did she really have something on her enchanted?
- >Your blade crashes into the ground when you feel a sudden force push against your chest.
- >The blow sends you onto your back but otherwise leaves you unharmed.
- > “Enough! Both of you!” Twilight says.
- >Lifting your head up you see Twilight's hands slowly lose a soft glow and begin to lower.
- >A bead of sweat rolled down her head as she held a frown and looked at you.
- > “Was it really necessary to swing at her like that? You could’ve killed her!” Twilight scolds you before turning to Dash.
- >She was lying on the ground as well, but from the groans of pain it was clear she was alive.
- >How did she survive a blow like that?
- > “I shielded you at the last second the best I could, anything less and you might’ve been seriously hurt or killed!” Twilight continues.
- >Well, that explains that.
- >But you could’ve sworn that something had gotten cut, you felt it.
- >Dash pushes herself up while rubbing the back of her head, revealing what you’d cut.
- >After getting to a sitting position, the effect of your blow dawns on her.
- >Turns out she failed to parry your attack and had left herself wide open.
- >Had Twilight not put a shield up over her body, you’d surely have done some serious damage.
- > “W-what the hell happened to my armor?!” Dash shouts, pushing together the split ends of her leather gear.
- > “Our friend here struck at you after you jumped him. I barely had time to make a shield over your body,” Twilight says, refusing to lose her pout.
- >Dash started to blush before looking at you watching and growling.
- > “You bastard, I bet you planned this!” she shouts before covering herself further.
- “How the hell could’ve known she’d shield just your skin?” you return angrily.
- > “I didn’t, your sword was enough to break the shield as it went over her. She got pushed away, but thankfully not hurt,” Twilight said, helping Dash up.
- >Trixie started to giggle as she moved off her horse to stand next to you.
- > “Yes, but Twilight dear could you explain how it didn’t catch on anything on it’s way down?” Trixie asked with a laugh.
- >Catch on anything?
- > “What does she mean Twilight?” Dash asked, wrapping herself in Twilight's blanket.
- >Twilight blushes and rubs the back of her head before shooting Trixie a glare.
- > “Twilight?” Dash asked again.
- >For a few seconds, Twilight hesitates before sighing and leaning in to whisper in Dash’s ear.
- >Dash listens before a large blush reappears on her cheeks and she grows furious.
- “What? What happened?”
- > “Our fiery prism head here only survived your attack because she had no breasts for the sword to catch on and split the shield,” Trixie tells you.
- > “S-shut it Trixie!” Dash shouts.
- >It hits you that you nearly just killed that woman and she was more concerned with her cup size.
- >You felt like a bit of an ass, having almost killed someone over something so stupid.
- >Wait a second, she attacked first.
- “Well, now that that’s sorted, let’s go,” you say, standing up and moving over to your horse.
- > “Oh come on, we can’t just leave her here with her armor all split up!” Twilight pleads.
- “We most certainly can, here, I’ll show you how.”
- > “Trixie will help. Don’t worry Sparkle, we can get through this!” Trixie says, mounting her own horse and following you.
- >If Trixie was on your side, was that a good or a bad thing?
- >Twilight moves in front of your horse and holds your hands up in front of her.
- > “I’m the one leading this journey! You just attacked one of my close friends and nearly killed her!” Twilight shouts.
- >She grabs Dash’s hand and leads her over to her horse where she lets her get on before mounting it herself.
- > “So if you think you’re getting paid for this then you are mistaken!” she says, a fire in her eyes and voice.
- “But...she attacked me first!” you say, fearing the loss of payment.
- > “Only because you--” Dash tries to return before getting cut off by Twilight.
- > “I don’t care who started it, it’s done! Both of you, apologize now!” she shouts with a shrill voice.
- >Everyone winces at the high pitch of her voice.
- “Gah, fine...Dash, I’m sorry,” you begrudgingly say.
- > “Apology accepted,” Dash says.
- >Twilight reaches back and tugs at the blanket covering up Dash’s broken armor.
- > “W-wait! I’m sorry, alright? Don’t pull it off!” Dash shouts quickly.
- >Everyone goes quiet as Twilight holds her serious expression all the way until sundown when you set up camp.
- >All of you were putting up your tents while Dash sat in a corner wearing a spare shirt that Twilight had brought along.
- >She was repairing her armor with some loose thread from the same shirt.
- >It would be a poor fix, but one that would last her till the next town where should could get a proper fix.
- >The longer she stayed, the more it sank in that you almost killed her.
- > “If you so much as glance at me while I wear this thing, I’ll cut your head off,” Dash remarked as you propped up a tent pole.
- >Were she not such an ass, you might’ve felt bad about it.
- >You choose not to raise to her threat, just in case Twilight was still on edge about the “almost murdered my friend” thing.
- >After you finished your tent you started making a circle of stones for a camp fire.
- > “Dash, before you get a move on how about you stay for some food?” Twilight offers.
- >Rainbow moves from behind Twilight’s tent, wearing her newly fixed gear.
- > “And stay here with those two? No thanks, I’m heading out,” she says before starting to move away.
- >Twilight places a hand on Dash’s shoulder before pulling Dash closer.
- > “But Dash, if you leave now the cold air might break apart those fresh seams, wouldn’t want that now would we?” Twilight says coldly.
- > “Uh, sure, but how is that going too--” Dash starts to reply.
- > “Rainbow Dash. You are going to help me get fire wood. You’re going to stay for a while and make light conversation,” Twilight starts to instruct Dash
- >She moves closer and closer towards Rainbow Dash, making the shorter girl appear even smaller.
- > “But Twilight--” Dash starts up again when Twilight cuts her off
- > “And then we’re going to eat, and then you may leave once everybody has gotten over their stupid misunderstandings. Do I make myself clear?” she asks again, closing the distance between her and Dash.
- >Everybody goes quiet, watching to see what Twilight would do next.
- > “I said, do I make myself clear?!” she says, gripping Dash’s shoulder tighter.
- > “Gah! Y-yes, very clear!” Dash whines.
- >Twilight snaps her head over to you and Trixie sitting frozen by the stones.
- “Friends. Got it,” you reply.
- > “Crystal clear,” Trixie acknowledges.
- >With all of your replies, Twilight lets out a sigh and turns her intense look into a bright smile.
- > “Good! Now, let’s go get some firewood,” Twilight says, turning and walking away.
- >Dash quickly follows suit in an odd sort of trance.
- >With Twilight and Dash gone, that left just you and Trixie waiting in the quickly darkening tent area.
- >The quietness made your mind think back to the morning and how Trixie had just snuck in.
- >Not only was it unsettling that she would just do that, but what was stranger was that she hadn’t woken you up.
- >Being a fighter, you often had to sleep lightly in order to avoid getting snuck up on.
- >In fact, that was how you had caught Dash when she broke into your room.
- >So how was that Trixie was able to not only get in your tent, but sneak under your arms as well?
- >It was a frightening thought at the least.
- >Trixie sits by the circle of rocks and glares down into the center of them.
- > “Trixie tires of the sounds of crickets. Is there something you wish to talk about?” she says, breaking away to look at you.
- “Well, sort of. When you snuck into my tent, how’d you do it?” you ask, not bothering to dance around the point.
- >She may be arrogant, but she would figure out what you were asking at some point, might as well ask directly.
- > “Easily. Trixie would’ve gotten away as well, had you not begun too--” she tries to boast.
- “Alright, I get it. Not like I expected you to answer my question anyway,” you say, fixing a rock that had shifted out of place.
- >There was an awkward silence before Trixie began speaking again.
- > “Do you not like Trixie?” Trixie asked innocently.
- >Great, first Thieves and bandits, now this.
- >Wonderful day.
- “No, I don’t,” you reply, trying not to sound coarse.
- >It wasn’t far from the truth, honestly speaking.
- >Trixie’s mannerisms and attitude were insufferable at times and she had a tendency to make fights out of simple things.
- >Still, she was undeniably cute as well as being good at making awkward or silent moments eventful.
- >Often she made them eventful by starting fights, but at least they were interesting ones.
- > “Trixie knows that you do not like her,” Trixie states, coldly.
- >What game was she playing at here?
- “Trixie, I told you I don’t--” you start to assure her.
- >Trixie holds up a hand to dismiss you before she continues.
- > “Trixie is not stupid, she’s very smart you know. But the curious thing is for some reason she doesn’t want you to dislike her,” Trixie finishes.
- >Was this her form of a love confession?
- > “Trixie is not the type to fall for idiots of course, so you have beaten the odds and earned her mild interest. Congratulations.”
- >You stare at her blankly for a few moments as she corrects a rock on her side of the circle.
- “Wait, are you trying to confess to me or something?” you ask, shifting to a cross legged position.
- > “Was this not obvious when Trixie snuck into your bedroll naked? She knew you might be thick, but come on,” Trixie said with a roll of her eyes.
- >That explains that mystery.
- >Well, explains it enough for Trixie in any case.
- “Fine, but you should know that I don’t feel the same way,” you tell her.
- >Better to let her know now than get disillusioned and cause problems along the journey.
- > “What, a simple attraction? Please, I told you this was mere interest, nothing more or less,” she says, sitting the same as you.
- “But you snuck into my tent naked. That’s your way of showing interest?”
- > “Trixie used it to show two things. First, that she could be sexy and spontaneous,” she says, holding up her thumb.
- >Spontaneous maybe, but sexy was more debatable.
- > “And secondly to show you that she could sneak into your tent and get close to you without you waking up,” she finishes.
- >Your eyes go wide for a moment before you look over to Trixie as she holds a large smile.
- > “Just kidding. She doesn’t need another reason, unless getting to entice your clearly depraved mind and fill it with images of her counts.”
- >Staring for a few moments, you figure she must be telling the truth and decide not to pry any further.
- >It struck you a few minutes later just how surreal that conversation was.
- >Pinkie’s warning comes back to you as you think about it.
- >Was this what she was warning you about?
- >The thought about what that could mean stews around in your head for a while before Twilight and Dash come back.
- >Both of them place a pile of sticks next to each other on the ground.
- >The piles seemed to be unfairly split, with Twilight having around half of what Dash carried.
- > “How come her pile is bigger?” Trixie asks, pointing to the piles.
- > “Well, I am stronger. Twilight didn’t have to do much lifting or fighting with her hands at that academy,” Dash replies confidently.
- >Twilight brushes some bits of bark and a stray leaf off of her bust, prompting both Trixie and you to look between Twilight and Dash.
- >Dash notices and looks down before brushing some things off of her chest as well.
- > “What?” Dash asks.
- >You start to reply before Trixie holds up a hand to stop you.
- > “Let Trixie explain,” Trixie tells you, standing up.
- >She moves towards Dash and stand up straight next to her before cupping her own breasts.
- >Taking her hands away, she keeps them frozen in the shape of her bust before using them to pick up sticks from Dash’s pile.
- >It was roughly half of Dash’s pile.
- >Dash began shouting again and made various boasts about things she’d fought or lifted.
- >Both you and Trixie remained silent as Twilight set up the fire.
- >Soon after, Dash calmed down and you all did share in some light banter as Twilight had demanded of you all earlier.
- >Everyone seemed more jovial when there was food to eat, so perhaps you’d all just been hungry.
- >Then Dash and Trixie began fighting over which was the best kind of meat, dark or light.
- >Rainbow Dash left soon after that thankfully in a better mood, queuing the rest of you to go to bed.
- >You waited a little while longer, making sure you saw Trixie go into her own tent before going into yours.
- >Would she sneak in again?
- >Not that it mattered all that much, what could some arrogant mage with an overactive imagination do to you in your sleep anyway?
- >Best not to think about it and catch some sleep.
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