Anon Quest: 2.1 Live Bait.

Mission #2.1; Live Bait.

>Game Night at the Twilight's library.
>Everyone's having a nice time; playing games, enjoying Rarity's made potato casserole, losing Monopoly to Pinkie, but the time has come once again for a new quest.
>Most of the guys have taken on similar roles, but the classes have been shifted slightly.
>The classes are now Red Anonymous remains as the crimson armored Soldier, Rarity as the ebony dressed Domineer, Dash as the brown vested Hunter, and Twilight as the purple robed Mage, but now Fluttershy is a brown dressed Beast Master, and Pinkie is a spoony red Bard. Applejack unfortunately cannot join today as she is visiting her cousin Braeburn for his birthday, but that's okay. You'll just work around that rather than wipe her out of your story's existence.
>Let the quest begin.

>It is a shining day in the rustic town of Ponyville.
>The sun is chirping and the birds are shining. It seems the perfect time to go out and enjoy the day, but not for Anon and his party.
>Earlier this morning, Applejack was reportedly kidnapped.
>It was the fourth hour of the day at Sweet Apple Acres.
>Apple Bloom was awoken by the sound of steps and unusual murmurs from a voice she had not recognized. Concerned, Apple Bloom took her child sized battle ax and exited her room to investigate.
>The sound led her to her Applejack's closed room, and upon opening the door, she found her standing by her window in a daze. With her was a strange human in a blue robe.
> His face was obscured by his hood, but she could see a large and crooked smile on his face.
>Without warning, Applejack jumped out of the window, and before Apple Bloom could get to the man, he jumped out with her. By the time Apple Bloom came to the window, they vanished from the farm. All that was left was a letter left on Applejack's pillow.
"To whom it may concern,
I've taken Applejack to Appleloosa to join my society. Please inform the leader of Applejack's party as soon as possible. I'll be waiting for him.
With love, Arcadia."

>Flash forward to now.
>Anon and his party have departed Ponyville and have begun their travels through the long dirt road that leads to Appleloosa. Unfortunately, they can't access a speedy and convenient motorized wagon without an engineer, so they've had to go with more conventional means of travel; a caravan being pulled by Junebug.
>From the outside of the caravan, Junebug asks the party, "Are you sure this will be a straight forward quest? Last time you had me travel a bridge over a lake of poison."
It's just a trip to Appleloosha, not Mordor. If you're doing to keep whining, we can go back to Ponyville and get another horse.
>"No! That's okay. I'll be quiet," she says wanting to keep her job.
Your service is always appreciated, Junebug. Don't forget that.
>From the inside of the caravan, Dash tells Anon, "I still think we should've gotten a remedy potion from Zecora. If Applejack was cursed, I don't wanna catch keep what she caught."
Rainbow, I already told you that we don't need something for curses. Chances are she was just hypnotized or something. Besides, Fluttershy's a practitioner; She could just fix it with "Holy Grace".
>"Um...I kind of changed classes to Beast Master," says Fluttershy.
When did you do that?
>"I told you I was going to change classes before we started, but maybe you didn't hear me. Sorry."
>Despite not being physical in this world, you somehow tell them, "Stop breaking the flow of this world!"
What in the hay was that?

>RETCON.
Rainbow, I already told you that we don't need something for curses. Chances are she was just hypnotized or something. Besides, Pinkie's a bard; She could just fix it with a 'Song of Remedi'.
>"A good song can help in the nastiest of times," says Pinkie tuning her balalaika.
>Dash rolls her eyes at the statement, but she can't say Pinkie's music hasn't helped the party before. If that were the case, she wouldn't be in the party.
>The six of them continue to roll along for around five minutes, until Junebug comes to a complete stop.
Why are we stopping?
>Anon takes a look out of the front.
Junebug, why are we stopping?
>Junebug begins stammering in a desperate attempt to speak with him. She can't form anything cohesive, but she does point out to the horizon to show Anon what you two are looking at.
>There's a colossal caramel snail approaching.
Oh.
>This lovely mollusk is nine feet tall, completely gelatinous, rolls along it's shell, can engulf anything, and painfully dissolves it's pray for nurturance. They are common creatures for events of torture after proper training, because death can take agonizing hours if the victim's head is not engulfed. For a sadist, it's some darn good entertainment.
>"T-that thing almost absorbed me last time we went to Smokey Mountain," says Junebug. "I'm sorry, but I don't want to risk passing that thing.
For the love of Celestia. Twilight?! Come out here for a second.
>She teleports to Anon's side.
>"What do you need, boss?" says Twilight.
There's a snail on the horizon. Could you do me a favor and freeze it?
>"Oh. Okay then."
>With a 'Touch of Chione', she shoots a white beam across the fields and turns your creature into a giant frosted statue. It's a shame snails have such a weakness to ice.
>Spike encouragingly says from the caravan, "Nice job Twilight. I guess that guy will be pretty 'cool' with us passing.
>Fluttershy tells him, "Spike, that's a horrible pun."
>Literally kill yourself, Spike.
>She then exits and flies ahead of everyone to the freezing snail. With pure compassion she begins rubbing it's acidic cheek with her hoof to try and comfort it, and as it freezes to death, these are the last words it hears.
>"Shh-shh-shhh. There, there little guy. It's going to be okay. I'm sorry it had to end this way, but don't worry. Soon, you will serve a greater purpose."
>Despite the creature dying, this single act manages to bring a touch of comfort to your creature.
>"Rest in peace little critter."
>The colossus snail soon dies, but upon death, it's soul leaves it's body in the form of white streams of light, and slowly begins to enter Fluttershy's body as if she were an apartment complex.
>She doesn't mind, it only makes her stronger that her body is now haunted.
>Fluttershy used "unify" and has successfully learned "absorb".
>Two more snails start to roll in from the distance, but Fluttershy doesn't notice.
---
>After Fluttershy caused Rainbow to get swallowed by a snail in an immediate ambush. The party continued their quest spending the next twenty minutes in an uncomfortable silence. Morale is especially low right now.
>Wanting to try and make the atmosphere less awkward, Rarity tries to drum up a conversation.
>"Sooo, Rainbow Dash, did you ever get that hot tub like you were planning?" asks Rarity?
>"It broke a week after I bought it," she bitterly replies.
>"Oh."
>Rarity's head starts to slowly shift back to the window.
>The silence begins to creep back in, but Pinkie aggressively breaks it.
>"Ugh, I can't take this! It's way too quiet. I bet some music would help lighten the mood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN6XyXkvUgM
I guess some music wouldn't be too bad. That actually sounds pretty nice.
>"Thanks, I've been practicing."
>With the mood lifted slightly, Fluttershy begins to speak.
>"Um, Dash? I'm sorry but, are you still mad at me for what happened?"
>Rainbow sighs a little.
>"Fluttershy, I already told you I wasn't mad to begin with. Yeah, my backside's kinda singed, but I'm not gonna hold it against you."
>"Really?!" says Fluttershy.
>"Of course. We're friends after all, and if I hold a grudge, that'll mess up the entire team's mojo."
She's right you know. The last thing we need is somepony getting hurt because their heads somewhere else.
>From outside, Junebug calls the party and Pinkie stops playing.
>"Everypony inside, looks like we have more trouble."
>The caravan stops, and everyone gets out to see what's wrong this time.
>On the border of the bridge, there is a quartet of bandits. They're humans on your enemy card, buuut you've already warped the world of Eldrana into an entirely new one, so you might as well make the humans into Diamond Dogs or something.
>The largest bandit, who is their leader,  walks forward to the wagon carrying a studded club over his shoulder.
>Rarity tells the party, "Don't worry everypony. I've got this covered."
>She slowly trots her way to the leader meeting him half way.
>With the most innocent voice she says, "Well, hello there, darling. Do you mind moving aside so my friends and I can pass?"
>"We only pass for money. Three-hundred bits, or items," he says.
>The party only has 175 bits, but with their heart potion, bread, death lily, and mana potion, they have more than enough to pay.
>"Wouldn't it make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside if you let us pass though?" she says with a temptress expression signature to the domineer.
>The shortest bandit comes forward and tells her, "We don't do charity for ponies. Now pay money, or we'll take it from you!"
>Before he sees it coming, Dash tackles into him, and he slams the bridge hard.
>"Don't even think about threatening my friends!" she yells.
>Another lankier bandit that's an archer yells out, "Get the ponies!" and the remaining fat bandit charge forward to give their captain backup.
>The captain raises his club to slam Rarity, but to his surprise, he's put in a grapple by her topaz twin minions.
>These two are much more decent than the trio of minions, having a fair 40 defense max, 60 attack max, with a 20 health point maximum. Though there defense is worse than the Tri-Minion's 50, the fact that they can take multiple rounds of damage more than make up for it.
>"You should've just let us pass darling," says Rarity.
>With the fight starting up, Pinkie yells to the party, "These guys look tough. Don't worry though. A good song will get you guys pumped."
>She begins playing "Hope of the Commoner."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBSH75dHhsU&feature=youtu.be&t=42s
>This was a short, yet complex melody that was made during the original Nightmare Moon takeover of Eastern Equestria over 1000 years ago. It was said with this, the protective light of their Princess would shine upon all who wished to fight. It seems silly to some, but what they say is completely true. A golden aura begins to release itself from Pinkie's instrument before separating and traveling to herself and her party to give them strength. With her encouraging tune, the party's defense is boosted by ten for the next two phases.
>From the back, the lanky bandit pulls out an arrow and fires it into Fluttershy successfully lodging itself into her leg. She gives a sharp screech, before Anon runs to her aid.
>"Please get it out! Oh please?! It really stings," she cries.
>It's pretty deep in there.
Stand still.
>Anon grabs the arrow, and gives it a sharp pull forcing it out. There's no time to be gentle. Fluttershy goes defensive as she tries to regain herself.
>With the open chance, The fattest bandit runs over and leaps to Anon yelling, "Don't lose your focus, Soldier!"
>The bandit then drives his claws deep into Anon's armor knocking him away and tearing clean into the metal. Dash however flies in to their aid, and pulls the bandit straight into the air, only to spike him back into the dirt like a glorified volleyball.
>Twilight tries to fire a basic magical blast at their leader, but due to a bad roll and superior defense, there's no affect, and gives a cocky smile as he's unphased. The leader then throws the two minions off, and knocks Rarity aside with his monstrous club. She tumbles through the grass staining her pure white coat with dirt, as the leader slowly walks his way to Twilight.
>With a new phase beginning, Twilight fires another blast, but he completely sidesteps it. Luckily Anon rushes in and drives his great-sword across the dog's giant right arm.
>The archer ready's another arrow to fire at Fluttershy, but Pinkie hops across all of the action and swings her balalaika straight into the top of his skull.
>Angrily, she tells him, "That wasn't very nice hurting Fluttershy back there."
>The arrow misfires and almost shoots Junebug who's far into the background. It lodges itself in the caravan less than a feet to her side.
>She yells to them, "Careful guys! I'm not made for fighting!"
>One of the Topaz Twins heads to the archer to help give him a beat down, but the stubby bandit uses an item he brought to the fight. It's a "De-Spell Pendent." He points it to Rarity, and engulfs her in a purple beam. In an instant, her minions fall to pieces, and her spells becomes completely disabled. It will remain this way for three turns.
>As Rarity sees the topazes of her earrings fall to the grass, she's overcome with a sudden rage, and throws her whip around his neck.
>"You horrible, insignificant, little dog! What did you do to my magic?!" she screams.
>"You like what I did pony?" he cockily says.
>Dash drives her hooves into his back and he gives a high pitched yell as she tells him, "Just shut up. Fluttershy, smack the leader for me."
>She reluctantly gets off of the ground and floats over to the leader.
>With no idea who Fluttershy is, she gets behind him and delivers the most non-aggressive haymaker possible to his skull.
>Dash then follows it up and grounds him with a lightning fast flying buck.
>Stubby yells out, "Boss!" before his windpipe is completely crushed under Rarity's whip. She tightens the grip using her own teeth, but in retaliation, he pulls Rarity in and readbutts her skull. She tries to swing a hook at him, but he leaps out of the way, only to be blown in half by Twilight. As always, it's just a flesh wound.
>The other bandits are in an immediate state of shock at the death of their partner, and the archer who's on the ground dazed from Pinkie's attack, is especially broken right now. They were very good friends.
>Enraged at the loss of stubby, the leader swings his club into Anon sending him grinding through the dirt.
>Dash tries to attack the leader, but he knocks her away and gets ready to charge Twilight.
>Suddenly, the sound of footsteps are heard from behind him and he turns to see a sword between his face.
>Red Anon just used his ability 'Hero's Strength' and boosted his attack by +20.
>Yup, the leader's pretty dead.
>The fat bandit, in an attempt to at least do something, lunges out of to Dash and begins crushing her in a massive bear hug to the back. She begins shaking wildly to try and knock him away, but he takes a fair sum of health before it happens. Fluttershy comes to the rescue to throw him off, and then Pinkie slams his skull with her balalaika.
>The archer fires an arrow at Pinkie, but she leaps out of the way. Things don't seem to be going his way anymore.
>Dash flies at her dizzying speed and tackles the poor guy sending him deep into the ground as Twilight knocks the other bandit into the river with a blast of magic.
>All that's left is the archer, who Dash throws into the middle of the party.
>The archer desperately forces himself up, but Pinkie applies her front hoof to the side of his face, keeping him from getting away.
>"Sorry buddy, but it's just about over. Who wants to try and finish this guy?" says Pinkie.
"Allow me," says Anon with her sword ready.
>Anon walks to the archer ready to cut his head off, but Fluttershy stops him.
>"Wait, Anon. I...kind of...want to have my turn first," she says.
Oh. Well by all means, do what you may.
>With her leg still injured, Fluttershy floats her way to the last bandit. His eyes fill with horror, completely unsure what's going to happen next.
>"It's okay Pinkie. You can take your hoof off now," says Fluttershy.
>Pinkie accordingly removes her hoof and backs away slightly. For a brief instant, your archer considers running, but he believes his fate will probably be worse if he does so.
>"You know, I didn't really like getting shot in the leg with an arrow. It didn't feel very nice," says Fluttershy in an unchanged tone.
>He begins to weakly whimper like the dog he is until he fearfully tells her, "S-sorry, Miss Pony."
>She begins to move her face closer to his.
>"If you woundn't mind, could you please tell me what you know about a human named Arcadia," she says.
> He tries speaking, but his voice begins to choke up slightly, and he starts to sniffle fighting back the urge to cry.
>"Go on now. Talk," she says.
>"I don't know much. He crossed the bridge about an hour ago with some orange horse following him from behind. We let him pass, no problem, because he's very much scary."
>"Why did he take her?" she asks.
> He likes to take random ponies and add them to his cult. Maybe she just w-wanted to join him. He has a way with words. If you want to find him, he lives in the outskirts of Appleloosa . T-That's all I know. Please don't kill me! I promise I won't give you any more trouble."
>With a soft smile, she tells him, "I know you won't."
>Suddenly, her eyes begin to glow with a bright white, and her body begins to produces a light so radiant that it takes over the entire area. Anon tries to come to her aid, unsure of what's happening, but the light is so blinding that he can't proceed. When things begin to dim, a large and obscured figure is seen, still glowing white. What's left when the light clears, is a surprise to everyone.
>A colossal caramel snail is seen where she is, and in its stomach, is the silhouette of Fluttershy in the fetal position.
>The archer begins screaming in shock and horror, and even her friends in the background are pretty startled right now.
>The figure's slimy body touches the bandit's hind hooves, and slowly, it begins to suck him in. He continues to scream in both fear and pain the entire time, but his fear is most prevalent. Eventually, his entire body is sucked up.
Fluttershy?! Fluttershy, can you hear me?!
>Anon gets heady to drive his blade into the snail, but suddenly the light happens once again and his swing somehow misses.
>When the light fades away, all traces of the colossus snail are gone, and Fluttershy remains in the fetal position, next to a completely singed and dried to the bone archer.
>Twilight asks, "Fluttershy? Are you okay?"
>Slowly, her eyes begin to open as if she were asleep, and she asks innocently, "What happened?"
>Dash tells her, "You transformed into a colossal snail and completely absorbed that guy like with what almost to me."
>She finally notices the body and jumps back in shock, standing a few feet away.
>"I...don't remember that," she says. "My leg feels better though."
>She observes it to see that there is no blood or even a visible wound anymore.
>"I wanted to absorb some of his health to heal, but I've never transformed before when using abilities," she worriedly says. "Is he going to be okay?"
>Anon brings his fingers to the colts neck and checks for a pulse.
He's dead.
>Dash tells her, "I've seen you take the souls of animals before they're done for, but I've never seen you...finish somepony off before."
>"It was an accident! I swear!" she yells.
Don't worry Fluttershy, we all need to dirty our hooves once in a while. Come on; let's get back on the caravan and you can forget all about this.
>Everyone heads back, with the thought of Fluttershy's unintentional actions rattling through everyone's head the entire time.
>Once everyone's on board Spike congratulates them.
>" This is going to be an awesome adventure to right to the Princess about. Good job team."
>It's cute how he flatters himself by pretending he's part of a team.
>As Junebug begins pulling the caravan one more, Pinkie tells the party, "It looks like it's time for a "Song of Blossoming."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlHW1SZJEeM
>Pinkie begins to pluck them a chipper tune that was made by practitioners to cheer up patients. It's been around longer than history can even say, but it's tune bring an orange aura of joy that heals Fluttershy, Anon, and Dash by 15 points each.
>At least now, the trip can be a bit more comfortable.
>They continue across the bridge.