Land or sea, we'll be there [RGRE]

I'm back, girls and boys.

>The stale air in the cell feels dry, like a bad lava bath
>You would know, considering the fact that you're a dragoness
>It doesn't feel right behind bars
>There's a constant discomfort, like you're restrained from head to tail
>But you can't complain, since you deserve this
>After all, thieves don't get to choose
>Too large to fit on the bunkbeds, you curl up, back brushing the stone walls
>While your cache is taken, your age certainly makes you quite big
>For them, at least
>"Why don't you break out?" A male voice spoke out
>Your ear flaps perk up, eyes darting toward the source of the sound
>There, on the top of the bunks, sits a hefty biped
>Judging by the grey streaks in his mane, he's probably old enough to just be having grandchildren
>Whatever he is
>Strangely, his torso is completely bound in chains, but you choose to ignore it
>There are more bizarre instances in life, and this just happens to be one of them
"It's impolite to address a stranger without introducing yourself."
>The ape-creature guffaws, as if that is the most hilarious thing he's heard
>"Well, no one's ever felt the need to ask for my name, so why should I?"
"Because it's common decency to do so."
>He smiles widely, revealing several canines among rows of sparkling teeth
>"OK, Ms.Dragon. You may call me 'Anonymous'. Now, may you answer my inquiry?"
>Smartass, literally calling himself nameless
"Didn't expect you to play along. I guess I don't have a name, either, other than "Monster" or "Get away from me!", and to answer your question, no. I'm not breaking out because my fate will eventually lead to me in confinement."
>"Break it, then."
"Huh?"
>"Your fate. I've met the Moirai before- angry grannies beyond time itself who weave the fabric of destiny. They actually riddled my weaving with holes after I made fun of their tapestry, saying that I would life a short and gruesome life, but I'm still here, aren't I? Mid-forties and counting."
>Not one part of whatever he said made sense
"You old loon."
>He laughs again, chains ratting against his uncannily burly frame, as if his body didn't age after he's hit his primes
>"You don't look too young, either. What are you, between your 500s and 600s? Shame, I bet you had much more lustrous scales as a strapping, young drake."
>You're not sure whether to be offended or be flustered at that sudden statement
"Hey-"
>Out of nowhere, a loud banging interrupts the two of you
>Heads cocking, the two of you see an armored mare unlocking the door
>>"Out, you geezers. Hurry up to the market before I resort to force."
"Market?"
>Anonymous looks at you, amused
>"You don't know? We're going to a slave auction. I think you still have a chance to start a new life."
"I'm going to be a slave?"
>A stomping of hooves brings you to attention
>>"H-HEY! Don't ignore me, inmates, or there will be consequences!"
>"Alright, officer. We'll comply."
>Then, he stands upright and leaps off the top of the bunk
>Your eyes widen as he lands on both of his hind legs, no broken bones whatsoever
>Anonymous scuttles a bit closer to you, his beard almost brushing against you
>"No, we wont," he whispers
>Unsure what to make of the situation, you decide to follow the guard
>Anonymous does the same, marching behind you at a leisurely pace, chains jingling
>Slivers of light enters your eyes the instant you step out of the cell
>While it isn't much, the sudden change allows you to see much better than before
>The three of you are traveling down a spacious hall, various holding cells line the wall
>You can't help but feel as if every eye here is staring at you, and uneasiness takes over
>It seems that Anonymous notices this, too, and decides to speak up
>"Excuse me, little lady, but can you take off these confounded restraints? The binds are chafing me."
>Unfortunately, silence is all he receives
>"Oh, come on. The dragon gets to stroll around freely, but an old stallion has to be subjected to bondage? There's clearly a bias here."
>The mare scowls, clearly annoyed with the biped's banter
>>"As per instructions, it is utmost priority to have you secured. Hundreds of dragons, ponies, and whatnot are sold here every day, but from what I can tell, you're something the gals running this and I have never seen."
>She smiles smugly, doing one of those equine gestures where they jut out their teeth before looking forward
>With that, Anonymous pipes down, but for some reason, he's still smiling
"What are you happy about?" You whisper, craning your neck backwards
>"She just said that I'm a rare commodity. That means they'll pay high prices for me here."
"Yeah, but you're too decrepit to be assigned to anything pleasant."
>He raises his brows
>"Who said I wanted to live like a slave?"
"You, apparently, since you were so happy about being an expensive item."
>"Rare commodity," Anonymous emphasizes, as if there's a difference, "Rich morons love buying rare stuff, and that will enable me take a few valuables from them to pawn away. When I decide to run, at least."
"And what will you do with the bits?"
>He hums, clearly satisfied with whatever he's thinking about
>"...Gambling."
>You can't help but to roll your eyes
"For shame, grandpa."
>"It's a hobby-"
>A sword cuts off Anonymous's retort, coated in the guards magic
>>"More fighting, and both of you will lose your tongues."
>As aggravating this pony can be, you would rather not be dealing with more guards at the moment
>Anonymous, however, frowns for the first time you've been with him
>>"What, are grandpa's feelings hurt?" She puckers out her lips, imitating baby-talk, "Angry because I don't talk like your foals?"
>Before you could say "don't", Anonymous goes into motion
>Faster and much more flexible than you thought, Anonymous hops back and raises a leg skyward
>The guard reacts to the sudden movements, driving the sword towards the still-standing limb in an attempt to render him off-balance
>He brings his heel down, intercepting the sword's hilt
>Upon making contact, the guard's aura dissipates, and the sword falls, clattering against the ground
>The mare stands there, dumbfounded
>>"What."
>And that's all she got to say as the offending appendage delivers a kick to her head, sending her flying a good distance
>The entire exchange happened less in a minute, but the tension in you made every second passed feel like hours
>Oh, Dragon Lord, why did you get yourself into this?
>"Take her keys."
>Slack-jawed, you push your chin back up with a claw before speaking
"O-Okay."
>Walking over, you gingerly take the key ring from the unconscious unicorn and began trying each key on Anonymous's lock
>Within several tries, the contraption pops, and metal falls to the ground with a satisfied sigh
>Underneath the chains is a sturdy frame dressed in tattered clothing
>The exposed flesh are covered in irritations from the bonds and various scars- cuts, gashes, and others in a myriad of incredulous shapes
>Still, you can't help but be flushed as Anonymous raises his arms and stretches in front of you, suggestive groans exiting him
>"C'mon. No time for dilly-dallying," he smiles, "We better get outta here before more come."
"...Why?"
>Anonymous cracks his neck, still content and feeling zero regret from his actions
>"I'm impulsive, I guess."
>Now, the eyes that have been staring feels much less imposing than than your current conversation partner
>A final stretch and joint pop later, Anonymous saunters over to the blade
>As the pony equivalent of a broadsword, the weapon looks more like a rapier with the ape stands next to it
>He picks up the sword, and your breath hitches
>For some reason, fear began to well up inside you
>While you were shocked when Anonymous knocked out the guard, your surprise is not synonymous with the pure animosity radiating off of him right now
>Every bone within you screams, "RUN!", and a word you haven't heard since you're a hatchling came to mind
"Human."
>"Hm?"
"N-Nothing!"
>It's irrational to think so, but your instincts tell you otherwise
>Picking up the scabbard, Anonymous sheathes the weapon, and the pressure you were experiencing vanished,
>You can't help but think how he looks weird to you now, like a wolf without its teeth
>Fantasy has invaded reality; the fables of fierce simians snatching away princes to their abode has came true
>Anonymous, however, doesn't notice your hysteria and smiles
>"Let's get going, eh? We're gonna start a ruckus in the auction hall!"
>Immediately, he picks up the keys and tosses them into a nearby cell
>"Be sure to share! The more noise we make, the better!" He turns back to you, "Shall we?"
>He extends an arm as in appreciation, and you can feel benign intent in his expression
>Well, you've lived long enough
>After all, there are weirder ways to pass away
>Tentatively holding out a talon, you allow him to shake it
"Yes...We shall."
>Nodding, Anonymous continues his way down hall
"Wait, we're going to the auction?"
>"Yup."
>In the background, you can hear a series of yelling, increasing in intensity as cell by cell are freed
"Why not just sneak out in the riot?"
>Anonymous turns to you, flashing a toothy grin
>"That wouldn't be fun now, would it?"
>He has a excited gleam in his eyes, like a moppet in a sweets store
>"Plus, there's no way I'm missing out on scaring some nobles."
"Nobles?"
>"Mm hmm. Just imagine all of them pissing their pants. All several hundred of them."
>For being such an optimist, he sure is sadistic
>But, you can't deny it
"You've piqued my interest."
---
>It didn't take long before you two reach the end of the corridor
>A large portcullis stands in front of you, fashioned in heavy-duty metals
>Meanwhile, you can see some sort of backstage area behind the massive gate
>You pick up some echoes coming from a loudspeaker, repeatedly mumbling something
>>"1000...1250..sold!"
>"Looks like we're in time," Anonymous remarks
>To the side of the gate lies a lever, and Anonymous pulls it down, raising the entrance
"Uhm," you peep hesitantly, "what's our plan?"
>"Follow me and look menacing," he beams, as if that's supposed to be obvious
>Before you could ask more, the human strides in
>You scurry after him, and the previous mumbling is becoming more distinct
>>"Aaaannd up next we have a double deal!" A female voice booms, enhanced by loudspeakers, "That's right, sirs and gentlemares, up next there will be a full-grown dragoness, ALONG with a mysterious vagabond the guards here found, but we're not just selling to you a random bum. This BEAST was reported to have caused the destruction of a Las Pegasus casino before turning itself in!"
>Staff members, intermixed with guards, stand throughout the expanse
>Several of the ponies are gaping at both you and Anonymous, clearly alarmed by the fact that neither of you are accompanied by a guard
>You put up a "menacing" look, and the puny quadrupeds freeze, unable to speak up
>Pride fills you as you smirk at the irony
>As you accompany Anonymous, a thought comes to you
>Are you the first dragon to befriend a human?
>An ape of legend that doesn't jump on your back and slice your throat on sight?
>Does that make you a human TAMER?
>>"Here it is," Anonymous halts, a red, silken curtain in front of him, "They've been sweet-talking us for a while now, isn't that nice?"
>He pivots, facing you
>The two of you lock eyes and, in an instant, goosebumps begin to crawl across you
>You're knocked out of your fantasy, feeling a bit depressed
>In this situation, you're the tamed one
"It's not nice if we're being described like goods."
>He shrugs
>"I guess it's a matter of perspective, then."
>The human waves, gesturing you to go through
>Together, you walk through the curtain
>You're blinded by the sudden burst of light, shielding your eyes
>Meanwhile, Anonymous struts further out onto the stage, ectastic about the attention he's soaking in
>To the side of the stage, you notice a mare holding a mic
>>"Uhh," The pony stutters, her voice boosted by the speakers, "T-This is intentional, everypony!"
>Murmuring fills the crowd, composed mostly of unicorns with a few other races scattered throughout
>She yanks the mic away from her face, "Get the guards!" She whispers into the curtain
>Instantly, four ponies clad in armor rush out from the sides, surrounding you
>Multiple spears are pointed at you, but you just look at the guards nonchalantly
>Noticing your indifference, they gulp before retreating a few steps
>>"What the, shouldn't there be more?" She yelps in panic, "A riot? Who caused-"
>She twists her body towards you, but you shake your head
"It's not me," you say, pointing to your partner
>The mare snaps her neck to Anonymous, sword unsheathed
>While it isn't directed right at you, the weapon at hand is pointed in your general direction, making you very uncomfortable
>"HEY!" He yells, gathering attention of the guards, "Any of you ladies want to take this dance?"