//------------------------------// // 12 - A Muse's Company // Story: Age of Kings // by A bag of plums //------------------------------// “Hello, and welcome to- Oh! Emerald Edge! Welcome!” Jewel Pin squeaked excitedly and ran over, grasping the spymaster in an iron hug. “It’s so good to see you!” “Ri-ght!” Emerald fought for air. “Is there… a reason… why you’re… grabbing me… like this?” “Why of course.” Jewel Pin quickly let go and motioned Emerald to take a seat by her sewing table. “You see, people have been coming to my shop because of your cloak.” Emerald thought back to her time here. People have been walking up to her, asking where she got that cloak. She simply directed them to Jewel Pin’s shop. “Well, there have been a few people that asked.” “And that’s why I must thank you!” Jewel Pin squealed. “I’ve made more money this week than I have in the last three months combined! Perhaps one day, I’ll be able to sell to Canterlot’s nobility. That’s my dream, Emerald. To be among the high social members of our town.” “That’s some dream, Jewel Pin,” Emerald tried to imagine the seamstress handing out dresses to the rich of Canterlot. “Anyway, I did come here for a reason. I actually needed more clothes. Maybe a new pair or two. The one I have is starting to smell and is in dire need for a wash.” “Absolutely, Emerald.” Jewel Pin walked over and picked at the spymaster’s worn clothes. “Ooh, yes, you definitely need new clothes. Fear not! Jewel Pin is here!” The purple haired seamstress glided to a shelf of clothes and began shuffling through them. “Umm, just something simple would do, Jewel Pin. I’ll be having my armor over it most of the time.” “But Emerald, what if one day, you’re not?” Jewel Pin asked without turning. She pulled out a grey shirt from the shelf and looked at it. “You still want to look your best! Well, if you don’t, I do.” “As you wish,” Emerald gave up. “As long as it’s not too showy.” Jewel Pin returned to the spymaster with a set of grey and beige clothes. “Will these do?” “Yes,” she nodded and picked at the new set. “What are these ones?” Emerald lifted what looks like a regular shirt and pants, only that they were a lot shorter than any of the other clothes she’d seen in this world. “Aren’t they a little too small?” “Those are your smallclothes, dear,” Jewel Pin raised an eyebrow as if expecting Emerald to know what they are. Emerald didn’t. “Smallclothes?” “Oh dear...” Jewel Pin looked aghast. “Do you mean you’ve been walking about town without them?” Emerald looked at herself. “Well… This is all I have. Is… Is it a problem?” Jewel Pin seemed to have trouble figuring out what to say. “Well, you see, Emerald… Umm, smallclothes… Hmm… You wear them under your regular clothes to… to better conceal your… Well, the places you don’t want people to see.” “I… Still don’t quite understand.” Back in Equestria, some ponies, like Emerald herself, wore clothes, but they never did have these ‘smallclothes’ as Jewel Pin mentioned. “Do I need these?” “Let’s put it this way, Emerald. Everyone in this town wears these. I’m not sure how else to explain them to you. Sometimes, clothes alone aren’t enough.” The spymaster still didn’t get all of it. Back when she first entered this world, walking around with nothing on was a problem. Now she was being told that walking around without clothes under clothes was a problem. This is still a strange world. “Alright, if you insist I wear them, then I shall,” Emerald conceded. Sometimes, maybe it was better to just do as she was told, seeing as she was the alien here. “How much for all this?” “I couldn’t ask you to pay, Emerald,” Jewel Pin waved her hand. “You’ve brought me so much business. That’s payment enough.” “I couldn’t. You already gave me this cloak for free.” Emerald lifted it in her hand and held it out as far as she could. “I shouldn’t take more from you like that. You wanted to get to the nobility.” “Yes, but I can do it without your bits, Emerald. Don’t worry. It’s fine, just take these. You’ve done so much already.” “Are-are you sure?” Emerald didn’t want to fight a pointless fight if she could help it. Jewel Pin nodded and returned to her table, picking up a pair of scissors. “See, I’ve already made it this far. I just need to be patient. You know, I grew up with nothing. We didn’t have much money or even food back in Trottingham.” The spymaster remembered the little town she had helped Posey save from the clutches of their terrible sheriff. “You’re from Trottingham? I’ve been there. Small place.” “Yes I was,” the seamstress said proudly. “I found my talent in making clothes and after years in this business, I made enough bits to buy this place here in the Loft District. It isn’t much, but I make do, so believe me when I say, I can wait a little longer. These clothes are my gift to you, Emerald. I don’t want to take your bits for these.” “Okay. This doesn’t make you any less generous, Jewel Pin. Thank you.” “Anytime, Emerald Edge,” Jewel Pin smiled and got back to work. “You’re fun to talk to. If you don’t mind, perhaps you could drop by from time to time?” Emerald pushed open the front door and nodded. “Of course. Thanks again, Jewel Pin. It means a lot.” Emerald Edge had left her old shirt and pants to dry back home before heading over to Canterlot Castle to meet Sir Morn Dread for another day of training. She had put one of the new sets of clothes, including the beige colored smallclothes that Jewel Pin said she should wear. Surprisingly enough, they were rather comfortable, even with her armor over it. The Knight of the Round Table saw her first, waving to her as she jogged over to him. “Lady Emerald! I was about to look for you. I thought perhaps you were being held up by a pack of scoundrels.” “Oh, nothing like that, Sir Morn,” Emerald chuckled at his assumption. “I just needed more clothes, so I went over to Canterlot Fabrics to get some.” “Ah, then you are fine. That is good.” Sir Morn lead her over to the training grounds. “Shall we begin?” “The sooner the better, Sir Morn.” Emerald whipped out her steel blade and got her stance ready. Sir Morn Dread unsheathed Clarent, his famous blade, and held it at his side. “On your move, my lady.” Emerald narrowed her eyes and dashed for the knight, her sword poised by her side, ready to lash out at Morn’s torso. This time, Sir Morn placed a foot forward, and bent an elbow out. Emerald reacted quickly, stepping out of the way, but Sir Morn’s other arm was already there. He caught her by the shoulder and kicked out her legs from under her. She would’ve fallen if not for his arm’s support. “You have to watch your footing, Emerald,” the knight explained as he brought his blade close to her face. “An opponent can change his attack anytime. You need to watch out for more possibilities.” Emerald gritted her teeth, recalling her old trainer in Equestria. “Yes, Sir Morn.” “Let’s try again.” Morn let go of her and walked to the opposite side. “I will attack you from any angle I choose. Be ready to defend.” The spymaster readied herself and waited, her eyes more alert than they have ever been. As royal spymaster, it was her duty to never be caught off guard. Emerald held her sword up firmly in both hands, ready for anything. Morn came at her from the side, his blade swinging for her left arm. Immediately, she jerked her sword in that direction and parried it away, only for Sir Morn to rally and go for a stab instead. Emerald twisted her body and jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blade tip. The knight moved almost impossibly fast. He turned his blade to the side and swung back, hitting Emerald’s back with the flat of the sword. “Keep your guard up, my lady,” he admonished. “And move your feet more! Staying still on the battlefield will bring naught but death.” Emerald panted and gave her sweaty face a good wipe. “I’ll keep that in mind…” Emerald didn’t realize she wasn’t moving enough. That was a basic lesson her mentor had taught her: if you can’t move quick enough, you die. As a pegasus, she’d been used to her finer mobility; she had to apply the same to her human form. She mentally hit herself for not using any of her teachings to this fight. “Again,” Sir Morn said as he walked back to his spot. “Remember, Emerald. The enemy will always try to catch you off guard.” Sir Morn attacked again, slashing vertically at Emerald’s head. The spymaster parried up and quickly blocked to the right as Morn changed directions, meeting is blade in the middle with her own. “That was good,” he smiled as they locked blades. “Do it again.” The knight spun in a circle and attacked from the opposite direction, but Emerald was ready again, deflecting his blade. Morn came in and out again and again with Emerald able to block most of them. Those that she didn’t, she avoided, swaying and sidestepping with every fiber of her being. The two clashed blades again, locking both their swords at the hilt, both fighters pushing against the other to try and gain leverage. Sparks flew as Morn Dread and Emerald Edge shoved, but then Emerald suddenly let go of her sword, ducking under Sir Morn as his momentum carried him down onto one knee. At the same time, Emerald flexed her forearm, the mechanism in her gauntlet clicking and unfurling one of her hidden blades against the back of Sir Morn’s neck. “Ah, I had forgotten about those arm blades of yours…” The knight placed his blade on the ground. “Good move, my lady.” “Thanks,” Emerald panted, reaching out to help Sir Morn back to his feet. “You weren’t half bad yourself.” “Weren’t half bad?” Sir Morn asked with a chuckle. “You’ve just gained more of my respect, Emerald. You are indeed a good spymaster. “Lady Emerald, you just defeated, in a duel, one of the Knights of the Round Table. I think you really do have a chance in the upcoming tournament.” “That she does, Sir Morn,” a voice sounded from Emerald’s right. Emerald turned to see a knight with light green skin walking over, helmet under one arm. “Sir Ganeighn.” Morn walked over and gave the knight a clap on the back. “She’s got a chance alright. Ah, my lady, let me introduce Sir Ganeighn, another of the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Ganeighn, this is Emerald Edge.” “Charmed,” Sir Ganeighn bowed to Emerald. “I was watching your contest from afar; you have some uncommon skill, my lady. Nothing like what I’ve seen before in the kingdom of Canterlot.” “She’s not local,” Morn Dread quickly added. “Hmm, I thought not. I think I’d remember meeting such a dame before today,” Ganeighn chuckled to himself before composing his face into a more serious expression. “Although I’d love to stay and chat, I must borrow Sir Morn for a moment. Knightly business, you understand.” “Oh, sure,” Emerald nodded. “Take all the time you need.” “Thank you, my lady,” Sir Morn returned her nod. “Take a break for now. We shall resume practice when I return.” He waved and left with Sir Ganeighn, walking back up to the castle. “Thanks. I’ll be here,” she smiled and sat down on the grass, sliding her sword into its scabbard. Emerald sighed, idly plucking a dandelion from the grass and turning it over in her fingers. Even now, she was fascinated by her new digits, how much better than hooves they were at manipulating objects. Emerald got to work on her lunch, opening the bag to retrieve her waterskin and a loaf of bread. Unstoppering the waterskin, the former pegasus took a long, deep drink of the faintly grass-tasting liquid. Halfway through her second draught of water, Emerald became aware of someone approaching from the direction of the Mages’ Tower. It was the muse, Sonata Dusk, skipping along the path toward Emerald with a covered wicker basket under one arm. “Hiya, Emerald!” she greeted once the former pegasus was within earshot. “You hungry?” “Hello, Sonata,” Emerald greeted as she pulled out her loaf of bread. “I am. That’s why I have this.” “Psssh.” Sonata made a weird face, but shot a hand into her basket, returning with a small pie of sorts. “Wait till you try some of Moon Tide’s food. She made some specially for you after seeing you working so hard everyday.” “For me?” Emerald looked between her breadloaf and the pie, but it was no contest. She replaced the loaf back in her bag and gratefully accepted the pie from Sonata. “It’s not meat or anything, is it? I can’t eat meat.” “Don’t worry about it!” Sonata waved a hand across Emerald’s worry. “Moon Tide knew that. She put peas, corn, and tomatoes in this one.” Not wasting another second, the former pegasus dug into her pie, her face emerging from it a few seconds later with a look of happiness. It was sweet with the peas and corn, yet the tomatoes added a savory aftertaste. The pastry was thick and crunchy. “This. Is. Really. Good.” “Told ya,” Sonata snickered and took one for herself. “Oh, and I’ve got drinks too.” The muse brought out a bottle of reddish liquid. “It’s juice. Adagio made this one. I think it’s carrot.” “Wow,” Emerald said while chewing. “What’s the occasion?” Sonata placed a finger to her cheek as she thought about it. “I dunno. I guess Moon Tide just wanted to be nice, so I thought I’d come out here to hang out, you know?” “Oh, sure.” Emerald continued on her meal. “I don’t mind the company. Sir Morn Dread had to go deal with something, so I’m all by myself.” “Is it tough? Training, I mean. Adagio said you aren’t from around here, so I don’t know how you’re getting used to it.” “I’m doing alright.” Emerald wiggled a hand, watching the fingers squirm like little worms. “These still disgust me a little, but don’t get me wrong, they’re incredibly useful.” “So you’re entering this tournament for the shield they keep up in the castle,” Sonata rested her head on a hand as she to munched on her second pie. “Then after that you’ll be taking it home? Back to your world?” Emerald nodded as she poured the juice into two cups. “Yes. I have to get back as quickly as I can before Sombra wrecks the entire empire. About learning how to use the artifact, I think I can figure it out on the way back.” “Hmm,” Sonata seemed to pause mid-bite. “But,” she said, holding up a finger. “Do you have a way back?” “I…” Emerald never thought about it, but she remembered Light Speckle saying something about the mirror overloading before she tossed her through. Could she still go back the same way she came in? “I don’t know, Sonata. What I remember is that the mirror opens every thirty moons. Maybe I can get back through to the regular mirror? The one I took to get here was a prototype. I guess I won’t really know until then.” “That’s too bad.” The muse seemed disappointed. “Well, I hope you find a way home, Emerald. You can’t let that meanie ruin your world.” “Yeah, you can bet I won’t let him win.” Emerald looked to the sky with fierce determination. “He killed my friends, Sonata. I won’t let him kill anypony else.” Sonata reached over and patted Emerald on the back. “I’m sorry to hear all that. If there’s any way we can help, we’d be happy to.” “Well… There’s no way I can just take the shield, is there?” Emerald decided to try asking. “I’m pretty sure we can sing the guards to sleep,” Sonata said. Then she widened her eyes for a second before letting out a nervous laugh. “That was a joke, by the way. Ha, I mean, I wish we could do that. You could always take the shield, I guess, but you’ll become a wanted criminal. Bad idea.” “True…” Emerald sighed and looked down. There really was no alternative but to participate in the upcoming tournament and win. Even if she ran, there was no way of finding out if the portal still worked until the right time. “I really hope I can win. Sir Morn believes in me, but I don’t know.” “We believe you can do it, Emerald,” Sonata said with a mouthful of pie. “You’re different. Not like most people around here. All you have to do is beat Sir Morn a few more times during your training and you’ll be fine!” “You saw that?” Sonata panned a hand around the expansive castle grounds. “I’m pretty sure a lot of people saw it. You better believe some of the knights have their eyes on you.” “Ugh, great…” Emerald buried her face in a hand. Maybe she should’ve gone a little easier on the good knight. Letting your enemy analyze your fighting style and skills was very high on Emerald’s ‘not to do list’. “Maybe I can request a more private training space?” “I don’t think there is one, Emerald.” Sonata thought hard. “There are a few indoor courtyards, but those are usually taken up by knights in training.” “Do you think they’d let me? I mean, I am being trained by a Knight of the Round Table.” “You could always ask Sir Morn,” Sonata shrugged. “Remember, I’m just a muse. I won’t have all your answers.” “Well, speaking of Sir Morn…” Emerald turned her head to the direction the knight had gone. “I wonder what’s so important. He still isn’t back yet.” Sonata shrugged happily. “No idea, but it must be important. If it wasn’t, they’d have gone to the not-Knights of the Round Table.” “Oh. So what do the other knights do here, Sonata?” “Well, for the most part they protect the kingdom, or go on quests with the Knights of the Round Table. They’re a step up from the local townsguard, but not quite in the same league as Sir Morn and his brothers in arms.” “Huh,” Emerald said pensively. “Sonata, how does one become a Knight of the Round Table?” Sonata bounced happily. “Oh, I know this one! It’s said that the Knights of the Round Table are handpicked by the king himself, after he’s seen a demonstration of their valor and skill in combat.” “So… a Knight of the Round Table can be anyone?” “Not just anyone,” Sir Morn’s voice came drifting toward them from the castle, Sir Ganeighn in tow. “A knight must be chivalrous, brave, and skilled to join our ranks! Were you thinking of applying, my lady?” Emerald blushed. “Oh, no, not really. I was just curious.” She downed the last of her meal and stood up, readying her sword. “So, are we ready to go again?” “Forgive me, Emerald.” Sir Morn bowed, a look of urgency scrawled across his handsome grey face. “We’ve received reports that druids had entered Canterlot. When we found out, they fled, but not before taking some of our people with them. Likely for sacrifices. I must go retrieve them, your training will have to wait.” “Druids?” Emerald raised an eyebrow. What in the world is a druid? As if reading her thoughts, Sonata raised a hand and hopped on the spot. “I know, I know! Druids are like evil mages, Emerald. They’re not nice and they prefer dark magic!” “Dark magic…” Emerald easily thought back to Sombra and his glowing green eyes and purple smoke. “Sir Morn, allow me to accompany you.” “My lady?” The knight shook his head. “I cannot. Tis too dangerous for you.” “I can hold my own,” Emerald insisted, lifting her sword. “You’ve been teaching me. Let me put it to use. Besides, I have these too.” Emerald unsheathed a hidden blade. The former pegasus stared into the knight’s eyes until he could look at them no longer. “Very well, my lady. You may accompany me, though if things look bad, you leave me and run.” Emerald wasn’t having any of that, but nodded. At most, she wasn’t going to give things a chance to go bad. “As you say, Sir Morn.” “Then we must be off,” he began walking for the stables. “The people need us.”