//------------------------------// // Wind Nation Arc - Ghost of the East // Story: What It Means // by Dustchu //------------------------------// A Couple of Hours Later The weather had gotten a bit chillier as I headed further east towards the mountains and I eventually wound up on a beaten path leading towards them, making the walk less of a hassle. I felt excitement welling up in my gut alongside a bit of fear and anxiousness of course as I continued to walk down this dirt path. Who wouldn't when thrust into a situation like the one I was in right now? I was alone, I had no way of contacting anyone for help, no resets or respawns. I had no idea of what lay ahead of me, but that was part of the excitement of adventuring around the land! The path up the mountain was quite pretty looking once I got past the desert sands that now lay behind me. I saw a few colorful looking trees and a few birds flying about. The sand eventually disappeared and slowly morphed into bright green grass that made me think of a nice little path through the grass fields of Skyrim or Cyrodill. I liked it and I wish I had a camera. I probably could use my phone, but once the battery's dead... ... Ehh, fuck it. I pulled out my phone and took a few photos of the area around me, noting that my battery was actually full... huh. I ignored it in favor of taking some more photos, which I took a few of the trees, grass, the skies, and some other neat looking shit. After getting my fill I put my phone away before continuing on down the road, hands in my pocket and whistling a tune to myself, one from my childhood. I wondered where Daring was while I walked, a part of knowing she must be looking for those other keys. I don't know if she found the others though. I hope she finds the others, I know she has to. Otherwise, those Caribou will bring back their king... whoever the sweet fuck that is. I had a distinct feeling I knew who it was. King Dainn, King of the Caribou who enslaved Equestria in the Fall of Equestria-verse through impossible means... well, not so impossible, but stupid that it shouldn't have happened, but it did anyway. I shook my head, so King Dainn (I guess) was probably dead and almost enslaved the world eons ago, and was sent to Tartarus and the only way to get him out is with those keys... sounds about right, but I don't know if it's Dainn or some other hecka bad king of darkness. I hoped that something like that would never happen here because fuck the Caribou. I'm sure there are some good ones, but the ones I've met so far just want me dead, or are just assholes... No racism buuuut... After some time I paused when I came across a clearing, a nice little field that was quite windy and led towards some other mountains really far away. The entire scenery around me was so beautiful, misty mountains and clouds, a nice chilling air cascading across the grassy land and birds flying all around. Hell, it looked like something out of the countryside of Japan, it was awesome. So I took a picture of it. After looking around for a bit, I wandered onto the field with a smile and felt the breeze. Snowdrop flew around quite happily as I walked, wondering where this would take me. It was quite a change from the desert behind me, but I was totally for it, nice and cool just the way I liked it. The air was really fresh, like how it smelled when you walked into an untouched forest and it just hits you. It was like this. This is fantastic. I smiled as I continued to walk, smiling a bit as I spotted a river... and by river I mean a massive crystal clear river that ran through the mountains. It was huge and rushing south, I could see hundreds of more trees nearby, large lush forests and crystal blue skies. I could even see what looked like a city over the mountains in the distance, it was hella far away though and I could only tell it was one from the spires. The river that went north to south turned into rapids a small distance away north wise, with the mist rising up into the air. It was in those few moments I was convinced I stepped into a fantasy land... like, Final Fantasy type shit. "Holy fuck... this is so cool." I couldn't stop the childish grin from breaking out across my face as I stopped walking. Such a nice serene view, it was ni- My inner monologue was cut off when I heard Snowdrop screech, and when I looked ahead of me I saw her flying circles around something. I sighed, going over to her. "Snowy, what's u-" I was stopped once more when I saw a tipped over canoe looking boat washed up on shore nearby, and lying nearby was a figure of sorts. "Well shit." I jogged over, looking left and right for any threats before turning the figure over. It was a pony, a mare to be specific. She was, oddly enough wearing a flowery looking kimono that hung loosely to her body, and the part that covered her chest was... off to the side, thankfully she was wearing some wrapping around her small bust to keep her decency. She was a pretty pink color like sakura tree petals. and her mane was a deep chocolate brown color that was put up in one of those ponytails that had the decorative sticks in it... or chopsticks... whatever they're called. I knelt down and checked her pulse, and I felt a faint beat. With a sigh, I quickly pulled her kimono back over her chest and gently shook her. "Yo... hello? Wakey wakey hands off snakey." I muttered... I hoped she wasn't dying. That would suck, I wasn; in the mood to bury a corpse. But to my immense relief, she groaned a little, eyes fluttering open and I saw pink eyes look up... and then lock on me. Then I was kicked back, sent flying a short way as I heard an ear piercing shriek of terror escaped her like a siren. "CHRIST!" I screamed as I landed on my back with a thump and holding my ears. She's got some lungs on her! I shook my head a few times before I sat up and I saw the mare was sitting with her legs folded up and out to the side. One of her knees was bloody as she looked at me, fear radiating in her eyes. "The scream, and the kick... was totally not cool," I told her with a groan and rubbing my chest. She had some strength in her for being so small, jeez. The mare reached into her kimono and pulled out a bag that shook with coin. Her body trembled with fear and she barely held back tears. "T-take! P-please don't hurt me!" She told me, tossing the bag at me and crawling back. Christ, she had nothing but fear in her eyes. I looked down at the bit bag, and then back up to her. "Uuuhh... I'm not robbing ya." I told her, picking up her bit bag and slowly making my way over to her. She whimpered in fear and held her kimono close to her chest, as if it would protect her, and my heart broke. Jeez! I stopped and held out the bag, and she gave me a scared and confused look. Then I saw her eyes go wide, and she blushed before looking down and to the side. "I s-see..." She muttered quietly, before I saw her grip loosen on her kimono. "You... d-desire s-something... more?" She asked me, and when I gave her a confused look in return, her hands slowly fell to her lap... alongside her kimono top, revealing a bit more then what was safe for work. Was she...? ... She was... I blushed hard. "What?! No no no!" I shook my head, going over to her as she turned her head and closed her eyes. I should be delicate here... so I-carefully-grabbed her kimono and pulled it back up over her shoulders to cover her chest. The Dee-Train didn't roll like that! As tempting as it is to get it on with a cutie like her, I don't do the rapey wapey. The mare slowly turned to look at me through the corner of her eyes, and I saw tears welling up in her eyes. I sighed heavily and gently took her hand, placing the bag of gold in it and saying. "I don't want to hurt you, I don't want your gold... okay?" I told her carefully, softly like a parent would to a child. "I saw you washed up on shore and I wanted to help you... understand?" A blush and she shook slightly as I coiled her fingers around the bag. Her eyes searched mine as if looking for something, until finally her head drooped low and she held her kimono tight against her chest. "I am sorry... you must think me a fool, stranger..." I just chuckled, hoping to get rid of the awkwardness. "It's uh... it's okay," I told her as I took off my backpack, putting it down next to me and unzipping it. I could feel her gaze on me, a nervous look that pierced through into my very soul. "W-who are you?" She asked me as I pulled out my first aid kit from my bag. "Me?" I turned back to her, opening up the kit and pulling out some stereotypical healing things one might find in a First Aid Kit. I grabbed some antiseptic spray and some gauze before saying, "I'm Dustin, you can just call me Dee though, everyone else does." I told her with a tiny smile as I looked at her knee, it was just a tiny cut. Nothing I couldn't handle... assuming she doesn't have some kind of bad reaction to the antiseptic spray. Ahh well, yolo. The pretty young mare winced when I sprayed the stuff on her wounds, and she must have guessed I was actually trying to help because she calmed down... a tiny bit. "D-Dee?" She asked and I nodded, clearing my throat slightly. I was still anxious from her little... offer from earlier, so I was a bit shaky. "Yep... what's your name?" I decided to ask her name, no sense in not being a gentledude. She hesitated for a moment, before saying. "My n-name is S-Sakura Petal." Oh... mai...gawd! That is the cutest name for her. I had to keep myself from squeeing in absolute delight as I started to bandage up her knee the best I could. "Sakura Petal? Cute name." I smiled at her as I tied up the bandage and leaned away slightly. "Looks good, think you can walk?" I looked at the mare, still seeing some uncertainty in her eyes. She still looked scared, but it was... not as pronounced as before. She tried to stand up, slowly and causing the folds of her kimono around her chest to drop down, once more giving me a nice view of her chest before she stumbled forward. I caught her though, steadying her. "Whoah whoah whoah, baby steps," I told her, and she looked up at me with a heavy blush before stepping away, favoring her uninjured leg as she hugged herself awkwardly. Like a straight up anime girl in high school... christ. This just triggered my weaboo senses, cute waifu detected! I shook my head, Snowdrop landing nearby as I looked around. "Uhm... you live nearby?" I asked her, and she nodded, pointing towards the city in the distance. "Jeez girl, how'd you get all the way over here?" Another blush, and a look of shame washed over her features. "I'm... I wanted to..." She didn't see, sighing heavily as she looked down. "I cannot say..." I furrowed my eyebrows at that, and shrugged. "Kay, your business, not mine." With a sigh I picked up my kit before fixing it up and putting it back into my backpack. I brushed my hands on my knees as I noticed the mare wringing her hands together near her chest, as if she were... troubled. "Problems?" She made a noise, and looked up at me. "A-are... are you an adventurer?" She asked me, gulping before adding. "Y-you look l-like the adventurers of old..." Adventurers of old huh? I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Adventurer? You could say that." I smirked at Sakura. "Though I haven't been on many just yet... I guess you could say I'm just starting out." That was very true, the only thing I could tell her if I were to recall my adventures would be what happened with me and Daring and how I got here... but I could always tell her the stories I've learned from video games, spin some epic tales from my many years of gaming. The girl perked up slightly, and she gained a bit more confidence as she stepped towards me. "I k-know this may seem a bit forward of me... seeing how we've only just met, b-but..." A few moments of hesitation, and finally the mare finished her line of speech. "M-may I join you on your adventure?" Before I could even get a single word in edge wise, she quickly followed up with, "I've always wanted to study abroad, but I've never had the chance! I... I would like to come with you, please..." Well... this... went a certain route. Not even a full day here and already I have someone willing to join my party. The cute shy mare who looks like something out of final fantasy, with the cool hairstyle and clothing choice, and voice. Gosh she was cute. "Uhm..." "I-I know I may not look like much, but I... I could offer... uhm." She looked nervous again, blushing heavily before saying, to my shock, "Offer... myself, to you... to use as you please." I blinked and tried to fight the insane blush I no doubt had. I shook my head violently and began waving my hands around, "No no no, you don't need to do any of that!" I chuckled awkwardly, fighting back the inward thoughts telling me I should take advantage of such an offer. But my awesomeness thankfully overpowered the perverted part of me. "Hehehe, just..." I sighed heavily, closing my eyes and rubbing the bridge of my nose. Jeez, why does she think she has to offer herself up to me? A shake of my head once more and said, "Uhm... look, you can come with me, bu-" I was stopped when something suddenly collided with me and sent me flying back. "OOF!" "Thank you!" I heard Sakura tell me with a delighted squeal, as all the air in my lungs left me and I smacked onto the ground hard. As she gripped onto me like a vice... I just whimpered slightly. My back.... oh Christ.... On The Road Again After regaining my breath and making sure I had all my shit still on me, I helped Sakura out by carrying her on my back. As it turns out she can't walk very well without wincing or giving a heart-wrenching whimper. So I just opted to carry her while she wore my backpack. Snowdrop flew all around the place, a few happy screeches leaving her as I walked down the road heading away from the city nearby. While I originally wanted to go there, Sakura told me that it wasn't safe there... at all, actually. I asked Sakura why that was, but she was silent on the matter and only told me she just wanted to journey around the region. Ahhh well... that did give me some cause for concern, but I opted to head southeast, where Sakura told me was a rather small village where we could rest and she could get fixed up if I had the gold. Which fortunately I did, she as well. The walk down the road was pretty quiet, so I decided to learn a bit more about my companion. "So... Sakura." She made a humming noise. "Yes, Sir Dee?" I blinked, before I chuckled at that. "Just call me Dee, I don't have any titles." I couldn't help but laugh at that. What kind of titles could an idiot like me earn anyhow? Sir Dustin, Knight of the Doritos. I snickered. "Anyway, why do you want to go journey around so badly? I can understand wanting to sate the call for adventure and all but..." "I... I have always wanted to study abroad." She told me quietly, almost as if she were embarrassed to tell me. "I wish to see the world and all it has to offer, I want to meet new people, see all the many different cultures." I could hear her smile behind me, as her grip tightened around my chest. "I've always wanted the chance to go on an adventure... but..." "There's not really anything stoppin' ya." I pointed out, turning my head to look at her from the corner of my eye, my hazel eyes caught a single bright pink one. "If you want to go on your own little journey, then go right for it." I told her. She frowned however, sadly. When I looked back out ahead, I eventually heard her speak up again, "I would have earlier... b-but my f-father wouldn't let me..." I rose an eyebrow, even though she couldn't see it. "Your old man wouldn't?" I weighed that around in my mind and nodded slightly. "I can understand that..." If I had a daughter as pretty as Sakura I wouldn't want her going out on her own either. "What?" Sakura asked. "Well, I can understand why he wouldn't want you to go out on your own." I started, thinking of how to word this so I wouldn't sound like a complete imbecile. "You're a pretty young mare, cute face, nice smile and a lovely accent. I'm sure he's just worried about you getting hurt." I theorized. It'd make sense, Sakura is really pretty... like borderline Waifu material. So naturally I can understand as a fellow dude why he wouldn't want her going out alone in such a big dangerous world. While I wouldn't keep her cooped up, I would at least like someone to go with her and protect her, that or teach her how to defend herself from thugs. Silence from Sakura as I continued to walk down the road, and I figured she was deep in thought about something. So I kept quiet, not wanting to disturb her as I continued walk down the road towards the town ahead, however far it was. It was looking to be a long walk ahead of us, one that would take a day or so... maybe, I didn't know how far away this town was. Hell I didn't even know where I was. After some time we came across a sign... and of course it was in a language I couldn't understand for shit. It was a language, I could tell from the symbols, though the set of symbols above differed from the ones below and I couldn't read them... just like in the town with the train station I was at. What language is this? "What does that say?" I asked Sakura. I could imagine her blinking stupidly, before asking, "Can you not read?" "Uuuhh... I can read, just not whatever the hell that is." I pointed at the sign. "So what does it say? I gathered it's a sign pointing to the town ahead, I'm just wondering what the name is." She cleared her throat, and said, "Jainko, the Town of the Southern Winds, 10 Kilometers." I blinked. Wait... 10 Kilometers... oooohh fuck me. I groaned. "Well... this'll be quite a walk." I sighed as I started walking. This was gonna be a bitch of a walk... As I began walking with the relatively light mare on my back, my mind began thinking up new questions I could ask Sakura. "So... how old are you? You don't look old enough to actually be journeying around, let alone leaving your city unguarded." Then again in Pokemon you can leave when you're ten to go capture gods so... "I... I am fourteen." She said hesitantly. Oooooh wow... and she offered herse-nope... I shook my head. "Really? Damn kid, you're young." I commented. "Just turned twenty one a few months ago in July myself." A squeak. "You were born in July?" She asked. "As was I, what day? Perhaps it is the same." "Doubtful, its on the third." I told her, and I heard her giggle, a melodious noise that warmed me cruel heart. "I too was born on the third, Sir Dee!" Sakura told me with a smile, hugging me a little. "On a full moon night when the sakura trees shed their leaves." "Really? That's pretty neat!" That actually was pretty cool, like some legendary storybook shit or something. "Not sure what time I was born, but I guess it was day or something... my life isn't really all that interesting, to be honest." It really wasn't interesting. The most I did was write fanfiction and talk about how I was gonna make it big. Pfft. "I-I'm sure y-you have some interesting tales..." Sakura said, in an attempt to cheer me up I suppose. "H-have you slain any deadly beasts?" "I killed a spider." I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "A little Frostbite baby." "Oh, my." She said in a tiny voice. "I've heard those w-were... quite deadly." "Ehh, they're just big furry shits." I snickered. She chuckled a tiny bit too as we continued on down the road. I doubt we even crossed a mile yet, but already I was tired as hell and my legs burned... and I was a little bit cold. I'm sure Sakura was the same, considering she was wearing a thin silk kimono and wrapping around her body in places. Thankfully after awhile we came across a little inn of sorts that looked like something out of old school Japan. Some benches were sitting out frontwith a few older ponies sitting on them, using those long smoking pipes I keep forgetting the name of. I walked up to the inn and breathed a sigh of relief as I saw it was open... I think and made my way inside. I was immediately hit with the smell of something that I quickly distinguished as alcohol. A thin haze of smoke filled the air as I made my way inside. There were little sitting pallets around some small tables where plenty of ponies sat. A bar like area was over to the far left with a pretty older mare standing behind it dealing out drinks to a few stallions in robes. Some exotic plants were sitting around in pots and plantersgiving the place a nice feel to it. Paper lamps hung over every table and gave the place a soft glow, each one adorned with some exotic design. I saw a couple of those dividers that had the scenery on it, the ones told stories and such. Near one part of the inn I saw a couple of mares playing a few instruments, plucking strings and gently hitting drums to fill the air with a pleasent tune. "T-this is a nice place." Sakura said. I was about to answer her and agree, as I liked how it looked. Made me think of Final Fantasy. But then every single head turned to gaze at us at the same time. The music stopped playing and the conversation ceased in an instant. I saw wide eyes, some curious, others threatening as they stared directly into my fucking soul, like they were trying to find the meaning of life... or were just wondering who in the sweet fuck I was and why I had a pretty teenage mare on my back with a fucked up knee. Fuck I have never felt so awkward in my life... I thought to myself, looking to the left and right. And I swear to the holy balls on a Jesus statue, I saw some shady looking fuckers in the back with three swords each, Samurai Champloo motherfuckers. And to my great displeasure our eyes locked and they gripped their swords. And I could feel Sakura tighten her grip on me in fear, the filly was practically shaking on my back. Fuck... I might have to bolt, it'll be fucking hard with Sakura on my back... shit! I didn't want to have to dump her to run. because I'm not a douche like that... but I honestly might have to. Fuck me in the ass. Before I could think about running, I suddenly heard a loud mare's voice yell out, "Haha! It's been awhile, my old friend!" Then I heard some heavy footsteps and when I looked over to the right I saw a very... tall thestral walk over to me. She was like... if I had to guess, seven feet tall and packing plenty of toned muscle The mare was well endowed with a pair of Double D's and a fine body that I was scared to even try looking at lest she crack me upside the head for looking. She was wearing a black kimono that was wrapped more tightly around her form than most, especially around the chest and was cut down the sides near her hips allowing them to be shown. Her cutie mark was shown, which was a pair of serrated swords with ribbons on the hilts curling around one another. Over that kimono was some light armor around the shoulders, waist, stomach, and some covering her chest slightly. Her coloration was a pretty midnight blue, with her hair reaching all the way down to her shapely rear, even though it was in a ponytail. She had very long hair... but the one feature about her that caught my attention the most... were her eyes, a pair of sharp and piercing dark blue eyes that made me freeze even though she had a fang filled smile plastered on her face when she strode over to me and Sakura. "I've been waiting for you, it's about time!" She said with a hearty chuckle and clasped her arm around mine before dragging me and Sakura deeper into the inn over to some tables. "I've been waiting for a few days now, kid, now let's have a drink!" "Uh-wait what?" I asked as I saw the people around us go back to what they were doing. Whoever this chick is probably just saved me from having to run, same with Sakura being dumped. But why exactly? The mare led us over to some tables before she let go of my arm, and I hesitantly let Sakura slide off of my back before helping her get seated. Once she was sitting down, I took a seat next to her protectively, sure I probably couldn't do shit against a mare like the one in front of me... but I could damn sure try. I watched her carefully, leaning back slightly despite not even sitting properly on it like Sakura or our mystery mare was. Before I could ask, a waitress came over and the mare ordered something in a language I didn't understand. but it did sound a bit like Japanese. She turned to me and set her fiery gaze upon my own. I just awkwardly sat on the pallet, cheeks puffed out and lips pressed firmly together as my eyes darted from side to side. I could see Sakura was likewise as nervous as I was, understandable when a seven-foot tall thestral with big tits and a scary atmosphere casually strolls up to you and invites you for a drink. "Relax you two, I'm not gonna hurt you." She said quietly with a calm smile. The cute looking waitress wearing a very revealing outfit returned with a small wooden plate with a small little bottle on it, along with three small cups filled with some liquid. She set it down on the table, bowing and then leaving us alone as I eyed the selection of drinks with a curious gaze. I shook my head, getting back to the topic at hand which was. "Uh... whatever you say but... why'd you stick your neck out for us?" I was curious as to why she would do that. But then again I'm not surprised no one one wanted to fuck with her, she was huge, and could probably snap my neck with a flick of her finger. "You don't really know us and... shit..." She just smiled as she picked up one of the cups and then drank from it. I pondered if I had stepped into an MLPFIM version of old timey Japan with sake and shit. "Cause you my friend... are different." She told me after drinking her... thing, whatever it was. I saw Sakura politely take one of the cups and sip from it. I didn't... yet, and just continued to wonder. "Well... I'm thankful... honest! But... you didn't exactly have to, not that I'm... not glad, or anything." I said as I looked at the swordsponies out of the corner of my eye, they were standing near the back with a few mares carrying blades as well. "But I'm... slightly suspicious..." "Oh?" She asked, with a little smirk on her face I didn't like as she poured some more, I'm just gonna say its Sake, into her sake cup. I narrowed my eyes slightly, taking the only cup left and downing it in one go. It tasted kinda... good, I suppose. After setting down my cup, I quietly replied. "... I just don't think you helped us out just cause we might have been in trouble with those goons over there." I told her, with a subtle head gesture towards the ponies with the blades. The mare looked towards them and chuckled, before turning back to me with a wider smile. "Maybe you're right... maybe you're wrong." She drank again, taking only a couple of sips before setting down her cup with a sigh. She then leaned against the small wooden block thing behind her, causing her Double D bust to push out slightly. "Maybe I just wanted to do something nice for a pair of strangers, or perhaps... I have a darker purpose for dragging you into this little-secluded corner." She grinned a mischievous glint in her eyes I didn't like how she talked, it reminded me of some mysterious person who might be a hero or a villain but didn't specify and it bugged the crap out of ya. Or an Anti-hero, does bad things for the good of everyone, or something like that. I dunno. She didn't seem like a bad pony, but I needed to learn more before I made any solid decisions on what to do now, for now... we rest, and hopefully get someone to look at Sakura's knee. I kept my eye on the mare as she relaxed where she sat, pulling out a Gandalf smoking pipe and lighting it with a match. I am unsure of how she struck it considering I hadn't taken my eyes off of her, but I digress. Sakura just timidly sat next to me, wringing her hands together in her lap as her cute pink eyes flicked between me and the mare. I guess in an effort to break the unease, Sakura said, "M-my name is Sakura Petal." She introduced, holding out her hand to the older mare. Smiling a little. Gawshdamn it, she's a definite contender for Sweetie Belle's cuteness. The mare looked at Sakura's hand for a moment, before a sweet smile broke out and she gently took it. And her hand practically dwarfed Sakura's as she gave her a gentle shake. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, I am Blade Dancer." Well, that's an innocent name... I remarked sarcastically. "Name's Dustin, you can just call me Dee if you want, or Dustchu." I told her with some hesitation. Not much she could do knowing my name, but I couldn't help but feel... nervous around her. It probably had to do with her name, and the... atmosphere I could feel coming from her. Who was this mare? I feel like there's something I'm missing. "Dee and Sakura eh?" Dancer grinned as she looked at us both, dark blue eyes half lidded. "Well, you two are an interesting pair, if I do say so myself." When she said that, I probably looked confused, eyebrow raised up high as can be because she continued. "It's interesting because, well... we don't get many humans around here, none... at all, as far as I know, you're the first one to ever enter this region in a few eons." She told me, and I felt a bit of a... chill about that. "And you're traveling with a pretty looking young filly, who looks a bit too young to be traveling, to begin with." I grunted at that, leaning back against the wall I was sitting in front of and crossing my arms. Only human to appear in this region in eons? Damn... where exactly do these other humans live? That was a question I was quite interested in finding out because apparently, they're isolationists, speak a different language, German most likely... if the Minotaur from the station is anything to go by. And haven't set foot in Equestria in eons... Christ, they must not like outsiders much if they've been hidden this long... "Okay... I guess we're quite an interesting pair, but we're just... two adventurers making our way through the region." I told Dancer. We were adventurers, just looking for fun times and good memories ahead. "Adventurers eh?" Dancer hummed, looking at us both again. "You don't really look like the adventuring types if I'm being honest." Dancer quirked her lips. "No weapons, cept for that little dagger you got, your clothes are fairly new and barely scuffed up... you two just starting out?" Sakura nodded her head, bangs flopping about. "Yes. I... recently joined Sir Dee on his quest!" She smiled. I just rolled my eyes, but I did smile so it wasn't in a mean way. Dancer had the audacity to ask me, "You a knight? You certainly don't look it." And she had this... weird look in her eyes, like she was actually worried or something. Wonder why? A scoff escaped me. "Pfft, naah. I'm just a regular human dude looking to adventure around before I head on to Equestria proper, I plan on going to a small little farming town called Ponyville when I'm done journeying around." That was going to be awesome, get some cool adventures under my belt, maybe even a few stories or so along with maybe a trinket and I'll have something impressive to show off. Sure I was a noob so far, but hopefully, by the end of this journey of mine, I would be more experienced in some things. "No idea where the roads on this path will take me, guess I'm just... flowing like a leaf in the wind." I smiled with a tiny sigh. I'm such a poetic fuck. "That's always a good thing to do. Go on an adventure, stretch our legs and see the sights before settling down." Dancer sighed slightly, snorting as she drank her sake again. Once she was done, she set it down and smiled before looking at me. "Say kid...?" "Mmm?" Hazel eyes catching blue ones, I saw something swirling around in them... something that made me think something bad was gonna happen. "Got room for one more in your party?" Dancer asked me as I heard the front entrance burst open loudly. We all turned to look at who rudely interrupted our swagging drinking session... And I saw four large caribou with sharpened antlers, and one of them bellowed. "WHERE IS THE HUMAN?!" One by one... all the eyes in the inn turned to look at me..., including Dancer and Sakura... I gulped. "Fuck me."