Roll for Initiative

by David Silver


Start Episode 8 - Gather Your Party

Big Mac walked towards Twilight's Castle. It was game day. He should be excited and happy, he was sure, but the presence beside him dampened the enthusiasm. He glanced aside at his sister as she marched along with a mild frown on her face. "Ya don't have--"

"--Yes, ah do." She nodded. "Ah'm gonna see what this game's all about and put the whole thin' ta rest, one way or the other." Applejack met his furtive glance. "Don't you worry none. If this is just a silly game, ah'll play along." She put a hoof to her chest as she walked along. "Ah ain't here to be a wet blanket any."

Big Mac rolled his eyes doubtfully before they reached the door. He rose a hoof and knocked three times.

The door opened to reveal a figure that was not what he expected. Twilight stood there with a kind smile. "Welcome!"

Applejack tilted her head. "Yer in the game now?"

Twilight shook her head. "I'm just greeting ponies as they come." She stepped to the side and waved them in. "I hope you both have a pleasant time. I've prepared light snacks to enjoy before the game starts properly."

Big Mac moved past with a little smile. "Mighty kind of ya."

Applejack looked more confused. "Don't Spike do most of the cookin' 'round here?"

"He does." Twilight led them to a table with small sandwiches, nachos, and other snacks and drinks. "But I decided to let today be his day, so I did it. Besides, I can cook just as well."

"She just doesn't, usually," came Spike's voice as he poked his head into the room. "Heya! Enjoy the snacks, not everyone's here yet. Thanks again, Twi. That was really nice of you."

Twilight dipped her head towards Spike. "Have a good time. You know where I am if you need me." They shared a look before she vanished in a faint shower of sparkles.

Spike approached Applejack with a cautious smile. "So, uh, since you're the only one without a character, we could get that out of the way beforehoof."

Applejack hiked a brow. "A character? Ah got plenty ah character."

Spike glanced towards Big Mac, who was very carefully examining the food selection and not taking part in that conversation. "Not that kind of character." He put on his best big smile. "Everypony has one. I'm playing Garbuncle, the wizard." He fished out his figure. "You saw me."

"About that." She raised a hoof to point at the little figure. "How do ya cast spells without a horn?"

Spike shrugged softly. "What, you think unicorns invented magic? They may have the market dominated these days, but they aren't the only ones in that game. Garbuncle channels his magic through a staff. Big Mac is playing a stalwart warrior, working to protect his people."

Applejack hiked a brow. "Mighty respectable. Does he do magic too?"

Spike shrugged. "Not really? I mean, unless you count holding his sword? Anyway, we need to make who you are." He clapped his hands together. "There are tons of options. You could be a warrior, a wizard, maybe a performer, or a diplomat?"

Applejack sank to her haunches as she reached out for a little sandwich and popped it in her mouth. "Ah'm pretty happy the way I am."

"Alright, well..." He tapped his chin. "I guess that makes you a warrior. You're strong, unshakeable, and ready to leap into danger to save your friends."

Applejack smiled at the description. "Reckon that sounds fairly accurate."

"But what kind of warrior? You can be anything you want!" He threw his arms wide to encompass the possibilities. "You could be a dragon, or a griffon, or maybe a breezy? Whatever you want to be."

Appplejack reached out and prodded Spike in the chest with a hoof. "Didn't ah just say ah'm pretty happy the way ah am?"

"Right." He tapped his right foot lightly. "So, earth pony warrior. You wear a stetson and have a red ribbon on your tail."

"Now yer gettin' it." Applejack looked pleased indeed as she helped herself to a cup of red drink. "That ain't a problem, right?"

"No! No..." He rubbed behind his head. "Just never had somepony play themselves before. No rule against it, I guess."

The room suddenly went dark. A shaft of light came down on the door as dramatic music swelled. "Announcing," called a familiar voice. "--Discord!" Cheering and applauding sounded from nowhere as the lord of chaos faded into being, bowing and waving to his unseen adoring fans as roses were tossed at his feet. "Thank you, Thank you. You're all too kind."

Spike wriggled a few claws at his unpredictable friend. "Hey, Discord, grab a snack. I was just getting Applejack's character sorted."

He was suddenly beside her. "Ooo, you're joining us, dear Applejack? To what we do owe this pleasure?"

Her frown returned. "Ah'm just watchin' out fer mah kin."

"Hmm, yes, and what have you settled on playing?" He had his hands under his chin and batted his lashes at Applejack. "Don't keep me waiting. No, wait, let me guess. You're playing a mare, strong, probably has a hat, and a ribbon in her tail isn't out of the question."

Applejack's expression only darkened. "Ah'm 'playing' me, alright?"

"That's boring. Why don't we play more you?"

"More... me?"

Spike hiked a brow. "Can you do that?"

"Whyever not?" Discord clapped his hands. "No normal earth pony, but the paragon of earth ponies. The strongest, most durable, best farming earth pony we ever saw. Animals go weak in their little knees at the sight of this, the true reflection of all that makes an earth pony what it is."

It was patently ridiculous, but Applejack felt a little smile quirking at the edges of her lips. "That... sounds kinda nice..."

Discord nudged Spike with an elbow. "Well, you're the one in charge. Whattaya say? I can have her suited up in no time at all."

Spike lifted his shoulders. "If she isn't gonna solve everything by giving it a hard look, I guess it's alright." He thrust out a thumbs up before waving the same hand at the table of snacks. "Help yourself to some pre-game nibbles, courtesy of Twilight."

He popped up beside the table. "Twilight was the chef of the day? Well, then I just have to try some." He started putting one of each thing on a plate he wasn't holding before.

The door opened without a knock, admitting a streak of rainbows to land in front of Spike, Rainbow grinning wide. "Hey." She turned to Applejack. "Decided to join us, huh? You aiming for a big sword too?"

Applejack lifted a hoof. "Ah got mah weapons right here. Reckon ah don't need no weapons on top of these."

Rainbow's brows rose in unison. "If it was anypony else, I'd laugh, but I know you take your hooves seriously. Seriously, cool to have you with us. What are you playing?"

"Me."

Rainbow tilted her head. "Just... you?" When Applejack nodded, she crossed her hooves. "Why does she get to not be harassed about playing something different? I bet you didn't even ask her about playing a stallion."

Applejack blinked at that. "Say what now?"

Discord popped in beside Applejack. "That's because Spike got to her before I did and he didn't bring it up."

Spike looked up from his own bit of hard candy. "What? Oh, I mean, Applejack was pretty insistent on being herself, so I didn't even ask about stallion or mare. I mean, do you want to be a stallion?"

Applejack went red, with fury or embarrassment was difficult to say. "No! Thank you. Ah'm fine just the way ah am."

"Are ponies partying without me?" Pinkie pronked through the open door, her tail knocking it closed behind herself. "It isn't a real party without the head party planner around." With an extended tongue, she bounced towards the meeting. "Oh, hey AJ! I didn't know you were playing."

Applejack nodded to Pinkie. "Jus' checkin' it out."

Pinkie threw an arm over Applejack, drawing her in tight. "Well, prepare to have a great time! We're gonna save the day and look good doing it."

Discord dropped his plate of half-eaten snacks, though it vanished before it hit the floor. "If everyone's ready, we can start the adventure?"

Big Mac nodded. "Ayup."

Pinkie, Spike, and Rainbow looked eager to start, all smiling with anticipation. Applejack did not share the enthusiasm, looking more like a colt about to be given a shot but trying to be brave about it. With a snap that echoed against walls that weren't there anymore, the party was dumped around a campfire. Suddenly, Applejack, Pinkie, and Rainbow vanished.

Spike blinked at that. "What the? Where'd they go?"

"We haven't met them yet." Discord shrugged.

"We met Pinkamena and, uh, what did Rainbow go as?"

"Dark Rainbow."

"Yeah, that." Spike bobbed his bearded face. "We met them in the last fight. We just haven't finished introductions."

Suddenly Rainbow Dash and Pinkie re-appeared. With her full gypsy attire on, Pinkie looked quite happy. "Whew! Wherever Discord puts a pony not playing, that was funny."

Rainbow cocked a brow as she spoke through her mask, "You probably want to get Applejack, she'll get really angry if you keep her in there."

"Ayup."

With a snap of his fingers, Applejack was drawn from whatever holding place she had been.

Spike nodded and gestured out into the distance. "Applejack is just arriving, a little late to the last fight, but coming with the others."

Applejack was suddenly half a football field away. She shouted something with clear annoyance and started to hike towards the group.

Big Mac cleared his throat softly. "Um... hello."

Pinkie bobbed her head at Big Mac. "Good day, Sir McBiggun! I'm overjoyed to have caught up with you."

He raised a brow at that. "Ya were lookin fer me?"

"Why else would I be here?" She waved a pink hoof at Rainbow, then onwards to the distant Applejack. "My compatriots and I followed after you when you left the keep, hoping to join your efforts, for the good of the country." She leaned in close. "It's the right thing to do, and looked fun too."

Spike raised his staff into the air. "It is good to have companions on this journey. I am Garbuncle. This is Sir McBiggun, whom you seem to already know, and Captain Wuzz."

Rainbow suddenly sputtered before falling back on her haunches. "Captain... Wuzz?" She keeled over to the side as she began to laugh in an uproar. "That is the best name... ever!"

Discord snorted indignantly as he crossed his arms over one another. "It was my mother's dying wish."

Rainbow blinked, tears leaking from her eyes. "Wait, what?"

"The name."

"Oh..." Rainbow looked a little guilty. "Well, uh, I'm Dark Rainbow."

Pinkie put a hoof to her chest. "And I am Pinkamena! I coulda sworn I said that before actually." She shrugged softly. "Never too many times to make friends."

"Ah'm Applejack," announced Applejack as she reached easy talking distance. "Now remind me what we're doin' out in the middle of nowhere?"

Pinkie thrust a hoof up. "We're chasing the big mean Squizzard who's being mean to the whole country and kidnapped Princess Schmarity!"

Applejack cocked a brow. "Princess Schmarity, huh?"

Spike pinkened at the tone Applejack was using. "It's a common name in Spiketopia."

"Uh huh." She offered a hoof towards Spike. "Well, nice to meet you, uh, Garbuncle was it?"

He met it with a balled fist. "The honor is mine, Lady Applejack." He cleared his throat softly and shifting his tone. "But before our heroes could settle in for the evening, a chill wind blew over the hills. A low whispering howl joined it. They were not to have peace, not that night."

Discord took the cue clearly enough as the temperature sunk and eerie howls echoes over the hills.

Rainbow bobbed her head. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's find whatever's making that noise and teach it a lesson."