//------------------------------// // Blood that Flows // Story: The Great and Powerful Slayers: Next // by Belligerent Bindlestiff //------------------------------// Blood That Flows It was a strange place to be gathered. Furniture strewn about in the middle of the forest. The three sitting around a cooking fire amid luxurious chairs in an outdoor “mansion”. “Is this normal for you in your world?” Trixie asked. “To just live outside without a roof?” Lina looked puzzled. “Oh this? No, Gourry and I just cleared out some bandits from here.” She said. “By the looks of it, they must have hit a really high end place to get all of this stuff.” She turned to the swordsman. “That reminds me. Gourry, get started on dinner will you? It’s your turn to cook. These bandits have got to have something to cook around here.” “On it Lina!” Gourry replied as he sprang up to search the bounty. The sun was beginning to set, and Lina took the time to continue her inquiry of Trixie’s presence on this world. “So what gives?” she asked. “You don’t look particularly excited to see me, and usually those are people I have thrown a fireball at.” Trixie frowned and spoke, “Your advice did not do Trixie well. Not in the slightest! She wanted to get more power, she even toiled on a rock farm for weeks to be able to afford the final piece in her plans to best that Twilight Sparkle once and for all!” The former showmare had stood up with a fist in the air. “But it wasn’t to be. Trixie was foiled in the end by a simple trick and worse yet, she’d been controlled by the very powers she used!” she said. Lina squinted her eyes and bent her neck before slowly asking, “Martina?” “Who?” Trixie replied. “Nevermind.” Lina said, waving her hand. “But just hold up for a moment. You said a whole lot that confused me back there. What was this about being controlled by the power you used?” “Trixie acquitted the alicorn amulet from a shopkeeper at the Dry Outpost. With it, she had the power to defeat Twilight Sparkle in a magic duel.” Lina pinched the bridge of her nose. “So that was the dark presence I felt when we walked at the outpost.” She said. “Why would you go after something like that after I specifically said not to?” Trixie leaned forward. “You were the one that said if I saw a way to get stronger, I should take it. And that’s exactly what Trixie did!” She then sunk back into her chair, with half laden eyes. “But a lot of good that did. It made Trixie almost do terrible things. She took over a town and put a bubble keeping everypony out.” “Yeah, dark magic will do that.” Lina said. “And it’s easy to let being powerful go to your head too. Unless you're me of course.” Trixie raised a brow at Lina. “Come on! You’ve seen what I can do.” Lina said. “Not just anyone can wield the Dragon Slave and still maintain the maturity and poise I have.” She turned to her partner. “Hey Gourry, hurry up already, I’m starving here!” “Of course.” Trixie said. “Well, it seems to me that you tried to take the shortcut to getting stronger, but that doesn’t mean anything if you can’t control your powers.” Lina said. “Luckily for you, you’ve got on the best around to teach you. A sorcery genius no less. Just don’t ask me to teach you the Dragon Slave, OK?” “Trixie isn’t looking to be powerful anymore.” She said lamenting. “Jeez, you’ve been gloomy ever since I saw you again.” Lina said. “Whatever happened to, ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie!’?” Lina had stood up with a leg on her chair. “She never had a great hold over actual magic, just the stage variety.” Trixie said. “Now Trixie isn’t even sure if she can manage that anymore.” Lina scowled. “Look, did anyone get hurt when you under the amulet’s influence?” Trixie shook her head. “I’ve known plenty of times when a fireball spell was miscast by some newbie and it got people hurt.” Lina said. “But I’m not gonna let you be one of those people who run away from magic because they’re scared of it. Especially stage magic. AND BESIDES, you said you wanted to become more powerful, and I’m going to help you.” Trixie looked at Lina with a renewed sense of hope. “In exchange for you working for me!” Lina said. “Soup’s ready!” Gourry said, bringing back three bowls of their meal. “Great, I’ve been dying of hunger over here!” Lina said, and began to wolf down the stew. Trixie looked at her bowl. It smelled amazing and she couldn’t help but dig in. Without her horn to levitate the utensil, she’d have to use this new claw on her foreleg…arm? Her new appendages worked similarly to the way hooves grabbed everyday items, so holding onto a spoon required little effort. It was a savory mix of flavors. Since Trixie hadn’t eaten for the better part of the day, she welcomed anything right now. There was, however, a new flavor in this stew, one that was quite off. It wasn’t sort of the savory nature of a mushroom, but with a different texture. “This food is fantastic! Trixie has never had anything quite like this.” Trixie said. Lina, while in the midst of slurping down her bowl of soup, suddenly went still. “Say Trixie, have you ever had beef stew?” she slowly asked. “What’s beef? Trixie asked, having just eaten through more than half of her portion. “Oh, its cow meat.” Gourry said, with a finger to his chin. “but I guess since cow meat sounds weird, beef sounds better.” Lina turned to him and glared, only for moments later to hear Trixie let out a blood curdling scream. Trixie threw her bowl into the air. “I ate meat?!” she exclaimed. “Trixie ate a cow!? She’s no griffon! For shame! If the ponies back in Equestria found out about this, there’d never be a way for her to return!” “Well, technically we still don’t know if there is a way to send you home.” Lina said. “But either way, as long as your with us, you’re going to be seeing us eat a lot of meat.” “Well, Trixie isn’t too bothered with others eating it, but to eat it herself,” Trixie shuddered. “Brrr, that’s another story.” “Let’s see.” Gourry said, bringing out a sack of food. “Something that doesn’t have meat. Bread, cheese, tomatoes.” “That will do.” Trixie said, taking the bag. “A sandwich will do.” //// After they had eaten, Lina had set down her fifth bowl of stew; something that still horrified Trixie was the sheer amount of food the sorceress could eat, aside from the fact that she’d actually eaten some of it. “So Trixie,” Lina said. “What do you say? Do you want to learn from The Lina Inverse? Or are you just going to sit there? Because honestly, I’ve got things to do, treasures to claim, and enemies to defeat. So I could really care less if you join or not, but I could really use a personal assistant though. “For Trixie, there really wasn’t much of an option now. With the mirror that would send her home in pieces, she’d probably need to get accustomed to this world and quick. While Lina was not the most pleasant person to be around, she did know who to use magic and at least she’d gain learn something from this proclaimed sorcery genius. “Deal!” Trixie said, holding a fist towards Lina. The sorceress then extended her own hand and opened Trixie’s fist into a handshake. “Great!” you can start by cleaning up here!” Lina said. Trixie looked around the campfire. Somehow the three of them managed to create an extensive mess. She let out a sigh. //// In the morning, Trixie was already put to work again, Lina had begun sorting through the bandit’s bounty. “Alright Gourry, get started on loading a cart up.” She said. Trixie looked on as Gourry moved many heavy looking items and placed them on one of the bandit’s carts. He moved almost effortlessly with a treasure chest in his arms. She remembered that brief encounter with him when he was an earth pony. How firmly built he was, how confidently he used his blade. In a way, him turning back into a human hardly changed his handsomeness. He certainly wasn’t the brightest pony, or human, but Trixie felt there was something about him. “Hey Trixie!” Gourry said. “How about passing me that stuff near you to load up?” The former mare realized that she had been idle for a great while before she reset and handed Gourry what she had been carrying over. “So you’re going to learn magic from Lina, huh?” Gourry asked. “You know, she’s pretty strong, so you’re probably going to get strong like her from all that training. Well, unless you make her angry, then she gets really scary.” He continued, while smiling. “But I don’t think you’ll do that!” Gourry then picked up the cart by its shaft and pulled it. “Right.” Trixie said, trying to recover from the swordsman’s mixed speech. When they caught up with Lina, the sorceress had just about ransacked every last piece of furniture that the bandits had in their makeshift living space. “Well, we’ve pretty much have got everything we need.” Lina said. “Now we just got to get to town and sell this loot.” //// The three travelers made their way down the first path that connected with the forest. Lina carried herself at a leisurely pace with Gourry behind her, who seemed to hardly be troubled by the cart he was towing. Trixie found it odd, that she herself was moving at a brisk pace on only two legs. It hadn’t been a full day in this human body and she’d already become accustomed to walking. “Alright then.” Lina said. “First lesson: What is the most basic of fire spells?” Trixie had seen Lina use fire attacks during the Aneighbus incident.” Is it a fireball?” Trixie asked. Lina then began to charge magic into her hands until a glow of yellow light concentrated itself. Then, in a quick motion, she chucked the spell directly at Trixie. “Heads up!” Lina said. Trixie didn’t have any time to react, apart from falling to the ground with her arms over her head. However, instead of fiery pain or death, Trixie only felt a slight bit of warmth just above her. “Come on Trixie.” Lina said. “Don’t you remember that time back at the inn? I heated up the bath with a weaker version of the fireball spell.” Trixie looked up to see a floating orb above her. “This is a light spell that uses the smallest amount of fire magic to create light.” Lina said “There are other types of light spells, but the one you see here is more like a candle.” Trixie stood up and reached for the floating orb. “Trixie can feel it. It’s like a small flame.” “So have you ever cast a light spell before?” Lina asked. “Yes, it’s one of the first spells a unicorn learns.” Trixie replied. “But Trixie doesn’t have a horn anymore.” “Yeah, but I didn’t have hands when I was in your world and I could still cast my spells.” Lina said. “You just need to try to cast it differently.” Trixie remembered what it felt like to channel magic into her horn, but instead sent the energy towards her hands. To her surprise, her hands became encased in the same purple aura her horn would have cast. Light began to focus into small spheres at the ends of her hands. “Wow, I’ve never seen it done like that by a beginner.” Lina said. “Each of your fingers has a small point of light. While that does look interesting, it’s better to concentrate your magic into a single point.” Lina held up a finger and it began to glow with power. “I recommend your index finger.” “Index finger?” Trixie asked. “Yeah, this one.” Lina said, making a circle with hers. “It’s the focus for most types of spells you cast. I suspect it’s the same way for you unicorns.” She then turned the energy into a small flame. “Now try to do the same with your light magic.” Lina said. Trixie then pulled the energy she was using from each of her fingers and began to direct it to where Lina told her to. All of the light focused on her left index finger. Trixie stared at the glowing point. She’d never been able to inspect it this closely as her horn was above her eyes whenever she used magic before. “A lefty huh?” Lina asked. “Well, now that you’ve got this spell channeled, see if you can send it outward.” Trixie then shot the spell forward and glowing ball of light moved straight ahead of the group. “So now, you’ve got a basic grip on preparing a spell.” Lina said. “Now you need to make your light spell into a fire spell. For that, you need to understand a few things about black, or destruction magic.” “Black magic?” Trixie asked with hesitancy. “Isn’t that dark magic?” “Not necessarily.” Lina said. “It’s more along the vein of destruction, like I originally said. It’s just that it’s easier to say ‘black magic’. Need something blown up? Use black magic!” Lina pointed her finger at a rock and not a second later a small fireball collided with it and shattered it. “Need healing? Use white magic!” Lina said, and then weaved her magic into a glowing sweep of ethereal force around Trixie. “Want to harness the elements around you? Use shamanism!” Lina said, then putting her hand to the ground and causing a small chunk of the earth to sprout up. Trixie still wore a look of confusion. “Okay, so it’s something I noticed when I went to your world.” Lina said. “Normally, black magic relies on using negative feelings and energy to use. But when I was a pony, there was a different source for my spells. It was like magical energy was everywhere. I didn’t need to channel it from the usual sources.” “Not that it was easy to use them in the first place. “ Lina said, pointing with her hand in a matter of fact manner. “So what does this all mean for Trixie?” Trixie asked. “Well, you’re going to need to learn to draw power from all those negative feelings, for fire spells, anger just about does the trick.” Lina said. “There are almost always people angry about something. Give it a try.” Trixie looked at another ball of light she had formed on her finger. She then began to think about the indignities she’d suffered, and most of all that feeling he had when she was first driven out of Ponyville. “No.” Lina said. “I can see it in your face. You’re not supposed to get angry. You need to feel the energy around you for it.” As they continued walking, Trixie was trying to feel for the angry energy Lina was talking about. There was magic around her in this world just like in Equestria, but it felt so different. It felt wild and chaotic. It reminded her of the a similar feeling when she passed near the Everfree forest near Ponyville. Once again, her fingertip had a light glowing upon it, but she began to see it change into a small flame. “Ahhh!” Trixie yelped. Lina stared flatly at her. “Eh heh heh.” Trixie laughed. “Right.” she then refocused her magic and continued to practice using fire magic. //// About an hour further of traveling, the group was met by what appeared to be a small contingence of soldiers. They stopped directly in front of the trio, forcing Lina and company to stop in their tracks. “By order of Lord Nexpanor, identify yourselves!” the captain of the group said as he stepped forward. “Hey, what gives?” Lina asked indignantly. “Can’t a bunch of mercenaries just get to town?” she muttered to herself. “We’ll be the ones asking the questions.” The captain said. “We need to keep this area safe from bandits.” “Oh, is that all?” Lina asked. “Well, then you’ll be happy to know that they’ve been dealt with. So how’s about a reward for saving you the trouble of finding them? The captain wore a look of shock. “A reward? You’re under arrest for interfering on official Nexpanor business!” “What the heck?” Lina asked incredulously. “What kind of soldiers are you all?” We just did you a favor by getting rid of those bandits! Who wants bandits around?” Lina’s eyes then widened a bit in realization before turning to a glare. “So you took care of them eh?” the captain said. “Well, that just makes thing easier then I can assume all of those items came from the bandit group?” “What’s it to you? Lina asked. “Are you going to pay us for recovering this stuff?” “That’s none of your concern.” The captain said. “Those are Nexpanor goods.” “Did they steal them from you?” Lina asked. “You should be nice enough to pay us for getting them back to you!” “Hmm.” The captain scoffed. “Oh, so it’s an arrangement you had then?” Lina asked. “Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Trixie looked at the Captain and at Lina during this exchange. “Soldiers that make deals like this? Why would they associate themselves with bandits?” she thought. “I suppose if my lord sees it fit, I can make sure you’ll be handsomely rewarded.” The captain said. “On second thought.” Lina said. “I think I’ll try to see who’ll buy this stuff for a higher price. Gotta keep my options open.” She smiled and then called out to Gourry. “Gourry, get ready. Trixie, get on the cart!” Lina and Trixie then jumped aboard. “Now, don’t be foolish.” The captain said. “You’ve got nowhere to go and I’ve got my men in your way. You can’t get around us!” “Let’s go Gourry!” Lina yelled. The swordsman then made a dash forward. Several spearmen pointed their weapons at the oncoming cart. Trixie just braced herself for the worst. Gourry wasn’t a pegasus, and even then a lone pegasus wouldn’t be able to lift a load this large over that many soldiers. “Ray wing!” Lina invoked, and a burst of air pushed everyone high into the air. Trixie remembered the time Lina jumped off an airship and used this spell and forced her to hold on for dear life, impressive since Lina moved through the air without wings. But to bring this whole cart like this was nothing short of amazing. Lina wasn’t finished quite yet. As soon as the cart cleared the soldiers, Lina made her way to the back of the cart. She had her right arm raised and a faint, blue glow in the palm of her hand. Trixie wondered if this was another light spell, but then saw the spell take shape. It looked as if Lina had conjured a giant icicle in her hand. “Freeze arrow!” She then launched it downward at the soldiers, and when it hit, it encased them all in ice. “Yeah, try and stop us now!” Lina yelled, taunting the captain. The cart landed with a clunk, but remained intact. Gourry landed otherwise okay and continued to pull the cart after Trixie and Lina disembarked. The group continued down the path without any further interruptions.