//------------------------------// // Feud or Friends // Story: Pony Side Story // by Catrina37 //------------------------------// Chapter 9: Feud or Friends At the Market... Rep was standing by the checkout counter, checking out something that seemed to have really caught his interest. It was a golden locket, with a star symbol similar to Twilight’s cutie mark, but with four small stars surrounding it. Nearby, Catrina was looking around, checking out the shelves and seeing what they beheld. “Bueno Dias, Rep,” Someone said from behind Rep. Turning around, he found that the local jeweler, who was a chubby-looking anthropomorphic hog with short tusks, was standing behind the counter. “Oh, hello Mr. GiChino,” Rep greeted in return. “You have your eye on something you like, Señor?” Mr. GiChino asked. “Yes, Sir. It’s this locket right here.” Following Rep’s finger, Mr. GiChino saw what Rep was looking at. “Ah. Beautiful one,” GiChino comments, “A gift for a Señorita, no?” “Uh-huh,” Rep replies, “She’s right over there.” Following the direction of where Rep was looking, Mr. GiChino found Catrina, who had a dove on her finger. The warmness in her soul helped the dove to consistently enjoy her company, as well as the petting. “Ah, my friend. She is wonderful inside and out. Locket you are eyeing will be perfect for her.” GiChino told him. “That’s what I was thinking.” Rep agreed, “How much is it?” “Oh, if you’re willing to pay, the locket will be ten pesos.” Without a moment of hesitation, Rep reached into his pocket, and pulled out the exact amount needed to buy the locket. “Here you go,” Rep said, handing him the money. Being handed the money, GiChino grabbed the locket from out of the glass casing, and handed Rep the locket. “There you are, Señor Rep,” Mr. GiChino said, before assuring, “Go ahead and take it to the lovely flower you seek.” He didn’t need to be told twice. Without a moment of hesitation, he strolled right to Catrina, putting the locket in both of his hands before putting them behind his back. When he made it to her, he said, “Hey, Catrina.” Her attention caught, she turned to find Rep behind her. “Oh, hey Rep,” she greeted, “What’s up?” “I brought you something,” he told her. He took the locket out from behind his back, showing it to her. She gasped in awe upon seeing it. As Rep gave her the locket, an excited Catrina said, “Oh thank you, Rep! I’ll cherish this locket just like I cherish our friendship.” “I’m glad.” Catrina held Rep’s hands and asked, “Speaking of which, I want to invite you to the Magic Show tomorrow night. Can you make it?” “You bet I will. I can’t wait.” With their plans in mind, they decided to leave together. “Catrina!” A yell suddenly made itself known. They turned and saw Catrina’s Clan coming from the south of the Square, yelling and growling with pitchforks. They gasped upon seeing this, until... “Rep!” Another yell sounded. They turned to find Rep’s family, and the rest of the squad, coming from the north of the Square, with swords and maces in hand. “Oh no!” Rep shouted. “H-how did they find us?!” Catrina yelled in fear. The two groups finally meet at the center of the Square where the two kids are. Both fathers gasped with shock to see the two together. “Catrina! Away from that two-faced reptile!” Ioz commanded. “My son is not two-faced! But your daughter is trying to steal him away! Typical Abyssinians to con others!” Lt. Chamel said. “You dare call my daughter a con cat?!” “Only if you dare call my son two-faced!” Ioz and Chamel charged at each other with their weapons in hand and their families following them. Rep and Catrina watched in horror as their families clashed with each other. Both sides swung their weapons at each other as they tried to hit, but each were blocked by the other, unable to land a hit at the moment. The sound of metal clashing hurt the childrens’ ears. “Stop!” Rep cried. “Please, don’t do this!” Catrina also cried. Suddenly, the sound of a horn blew. A group of knights, lead by Vorak and his son Tirek, blocked the two clans from each other as they ran through. Vorak looked very gruff and irate. “Who started this?!” he bellowed. As if each were wanting to respond first, Ioz and Chamel unwittingly started talking at the same time. Each of them were blaming the whole thing on the other, but it came to the point of being nothing but babbling, until they faced each other again and babbled angrily at each other. “ENOUGH!!!” Vorak bellowed, having had enough of it all. The shout was enough to silence the two leaders from ever speaking at the moment. “The Moochik has warned both you and the rest of your clans about this feud! If anyone, including the two of you, is caught fighting again, you will face the Moochik in a court of law! No exceptions!” Upon hearing this, the leaders and their clans (with the exception of Rep and Catrina, who are looking around each other with fear) growled at each other and walked in opposite directions away from each other. “Rep, come to us!” Lt. Chamel commanded. “Catrina, come here!” Ioz shouted. With heavy hearts of sorrow, Rep and Catrina looked at each other with forlorn looks, before they walked towards their respective families. “Goodbye, Rep,” Catrina sobbed. “Bye, Catrina,” Rep said, tears cascading down his eyes. As they walked away with their families, they looked toward each other. Without anyone else looking, Catrina showed him the locket he gave her, giving a sign that their friendship would remain strong. Rep smiled with hope in his heart.