After some more time walking, you eventually get to a shack near a river.
“Hey, wait a second, I think dad talked about a donkey with a raft business that helped Spike when he went to the dragon lands,” you speak up.
“It is a quick way to get through without wandering through dense forest,” Grandbuggy says.
“Hmm, if there is no road, then I suppose that’s it then,” the merchant says and you turn to him.
Kichi’s Comment
“What do you mean?” you ask.
“There’s no sense in me trying to pull this wagon around that river, too much time and effort,” he answers as he unhitches himself. “So I suppose it’s time for me to bid you farewell for now.”
“Huh? You’re leaving already?” asks Grandbuggy.
“That’s right stranger. Now that I’ve dragged ya as far as I could, it’s time for me to get back to business and set up shop elsewhere.”
“Ahh, that sucks. I was getting used to having a travel trailer,” Greta whines.
“Heh heh heh,” the merchant chuckles. “Always a sound investment in my opinion. Now,” he claps his hooves together before he holds them out to you expectedly. “If you don't mind returning me the weapons, I can be on my way."
"Wait, you want us to return these amazing weapons? Why?" asks Ahuizotl.
“Well one, you never paid me for them and they fetch quite the penny, and two they are far too powerful for you lot,” he explains. “Back at the exchange was an emergency situation, but now that the crisis is over, would you kindly return them?”
"And what if we don't want to return them?" asks Greta as she holds her weapon close to her chest.
The merchant’s eyes glow red at that as he stares you all down.
"Then, I will curse you all,” he threatens before looking at Grandbuggy. “If you thought you had bad luck before, wait until you get hit with my speciality. Bits will disappear, equipment will be lost in the laundry, your enemies will manage to find you in your worst moments one after the other...Should I continue?"
Ello Calebero’s Comment
“Well, I mean, that kind of has already happened to me my whole life,” you point out remembering how Dad has won and lost several fortunes, your inventory roster keeps changing and your enemies always seem to find you.
"Also, you'll never be able to see a movie, show, or play a videogame without spoilers ever again…”
Your eyes widen at that declaration as you turn to the others.
“Give them up! Give them up right the buck now!”
“Yeah, good call,” Greta nods as she tosses over hers.
“Indeed,” Ahuizotl follows suit.
“I do hate spoilers,” Grandbuggy agrees. “Which is funny considering I traveled with the Doctor.”
“I mean, is it really that big a deal?” Garble asks and you glare at him with immense fury.
“Do it now scaly or I’ll descale you!” you threaten.
“OK, Fine! Jeeze!” he relents.
Kichi’s Comment
Puzzling Frost’s Comment
After everyone has reluctantly given their weapons to him, the Merchant’s eyes stop glowing and he even seems to smile through his mask.
"Good doing business with ya," he says before he walks over to a tree with a piece of chalk and starts drawing a door on it.
“Well, thanks for all your help and for looking after me when I was out,” you thank as he finishes his drawing and sets a blue flamed torch at the base of the true.
“You’re welcome Little One. I’m sure I’ll see you again in the future. If you do, stop by and see what I’ve added to my collection,” he says as he suddenly opens the chalk door inwards and light comes out of the tree.
“What the…” you blather as he re-hitches himself to the cart and starts walking into the doorway. He stops for a moment though and looks back at you.
“It’s been fun traveling with you all. I hope to do it again sometime. Oh and one more thing I forgot to mention, that staff you purchased has a little something extra to it. I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” he says with a wink before he completely walks all the way in with his cart and closes the door behind him. As it closes, the chalk outline fades away and the torch goes out.
You look to Grandbuggy for an explanation.
“You got me kiddo,” he shrugs. “I may be old, but I don’t know everything.”
“It’s like he glitched through reality itself,” Greta mutters.
“I say we just chalk it up to arcane forces outside of our control,” Ahuizotl suggests.
“So weird pony magic mumbo jumbo, got it,” Garble nods.
“…Yeah sure, why the buck not,” you shrug as you look at your Power Pole. “Hmm, I wonder what the secret is?”
“Well no use crying over otherworldly milk, let’s get going to that raft house before our faceless stalker catches up,” Grandbuggy urges.
You look back down the trail and see Slendermane slowly but surely making his way towards you.
“He’s determined, I’ll give him that,” Greta says as you all start walking towards the shack.
“So quick question, why do we even need the raft? We can all fly can’t we?” Garble asks.
“I can’t,” Ahuizotl says and you all look to him.
“Huh…I guess you are the only one Ahz,” Grandbuggy notes.
“So can’t we just carry him or something?” asks Garble.
“Heh, good luck with that. I ain’t carry this heavy jackass all the way down this river,” Grandbuggy chuckles.
“Me neither!” you agree.
“Same,” Greta nods.
“I don’t weigh that much…” Ahuizotl mutters sadly.
“Well alright then, but you’re paying,” Garble says as he points to the chalkboard by the front door which reads 150 Bits Per Trip
Ahuizotl sighs at that. “I sure hope that’s not per person.”
Grandbuggy takes the initiative and knocks on the door. After a few seconds, the door opens, but instead of a donkey like you were expecting…
“Yes, how can I help you?” asks a Pink Mare in overalls and a floppy hat.
“Hey! I thought we left you behind at Rainbow Falls!” Garble accuses pointing a claw at the Pinkie clone.
“Rainbow Falls…? Oh, did you see Mary? I ain’t seen her in a good long while,” the clone says.
“What are you twins or something?” asks Garble.
“Something like that,” you interject.
“What she said,” the clone says with a smile. “Name’s Pickle Barrel, how can I help you?”
“Uh, we’d like to go to the dragon lands please,” Ahuizotl says.
“Hmm, well I hope you got the coin for it,” she says with a smile.
Some Time Later
We now find you all on a raft as Pickle Barrel rows you all down the river.
“Ha! Suck It No Face!” Grandbuggy taunts Slendermane as he is forced to walk along the riverbanks and losing distance.
You roll your eyes at this before looking to the Pinkie Clone.
“So, didn’t a donkey used to work here?”
“Oh yeah he did, but Cranky decided to retire completely after I…or rather a part of me helped him find his true love again…” Pickle says a bit sadly.
“Oh hey, I remember that guy. He’s got a fancy wig,” you say in remembrance. “I always thought he was too grumpy to like, but if he helped Spike out he can’t be too bad.”
“So, to cut her off before she starts gushing about him again, let’s plan out what we’re gonna do when we start seeing dragons,” Greta says quickly over you and you give her the stink eye.
“I don’t gush about him!”
You are promptly ignored though as Grandbuggy nods to Greta.
“Well first of all, we’re not going to start any fights. There’s a lot more easier ways to commit suicide than fighting off a group of dragons.”
“Daddy turned out alright,” you point out.
“Yeah, but that was a bunch of piss ants and one grown up. I’m talking a horde of grown ups.”
“Oh…” you trail off imagining a swarm of kaiju.
“So yeah, we go in, play all nice like, and when we get to Torch, I’ll remind him of the good times, and I’ll ask him for what we need.”
“And he’ll just give it to us right?” asks Ahuizotl.
“Pfft, Tartarus no. The old bastard will want to gamble again for sure. I’ll give Torchy this, he’s never changed when it comes to his vices,” Grandbuggy smirks.
Changer T. Emerald’s Comment
“Oh, can I play too?” you ask. “Sombra taught me how to always win at poker.” Grandbuggy gives you a stern look at that.
“Did she just say Sombra?” asks Pickle Barrel, but she is ignored.
“What that jerkoff taught you was how to cheat Shade, and the last thing you want to do is cheat a dragon. Not even that cigar thieving Gallant True would be that dumb.”
“Oh ok, can I still play though?”
“Nah, this is gonna be for the grownups Shade, there’s no room for little kids,” he tells you.
“…Really?!” you huff angrily. “There’s no room? If you don’t remember I’m the one who pulled the most weight in the last town!”
“Don’t get snippy with me missy,” he scolds. “And trust me, the last thing I need is you attacking the dragon lord.”
“Who says I’m going to attack him?! I’m not crazy like daddy!” you growl and your shards glow faintly.
“No gambling kid, and that’s final,” Grandbuggy puts his hoof down.
“Oh fine!” you grunt and turn away from him crossing your arms as you pout.
Ello Calebero’s Comment
“Quick, maybe you could relent a bit?” you hear Ahuizotl whisper.
“No can do,” Grandbuggy reaffirms. “The card games with Torch can get out of hand and intense and I don’t need her blowing up with that thing in her chest.”
You’re just using that as an excuse, just like Daddy always had excuses for keeping me in the bag, you think bitterly.
“I mean, you and Catbird can either join or watch at your own leisure, but just be warned, some sportsmanlike violence may occur.”
“Quit calling me that,” Greta scolds. “And how bad are we talking?”
“Well, let’s just say the last time I played, friendly relations between the kirins and the dragons became a thing of the past, and Hippogriffs could still fly.”
“The heck are kirins and hippogriffs?” Greta asks.
“My point exactly,” Grandbuggy nods without explaining.
And while Greta groans at this vagueness, you continue to grumble.
Down With Chrysalis’s Comment
Mmhmm, excuses and vague answers, just like my whole life. You snort and look out at the passing riverbanks. Daddy wants to keep me in the bag forever, Mommy doesn’t want me to dreamwalk too much, noling wants to explain “Adult Stuff” to me. I can handle Adult Stuff, I’m not a baby! I’m a big filly! I’m strong as buck too!
You grit your teeth and the gem shards glow again.
They just want me to be a filly forever! Sure I don’t have a cutie mark, but I’ll get one eventually! I know I’m only four, but I’m just like Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo! You huff again as your body tingles with faint green flame.
Noling wants to explain that to me either! Why am I so much different? Why was I never a baby like the Cake Twins? Will I ever get answers when Mommy gets a body? Will anything ever really change? Will everyone always hate us?
“Uh, are you alright?” asks Pickle Barrel and you look at her.
“Yeah I’m fine,” you grunt. “What’s it to you?”
“It’s just…um…” she gestures towards the water and you look at it.
“What? What am I suppo-“ your eyes widen as you see your reflection.
Your mane is black and is a different style, with part of it covering one of your eyes. Speaking of your eyes, there is black mascara looking smudges around them and to top it all off, you appear to have a nose piercing.
“Ah! What the buck?!” you say startled as with a green flame, your face and hair return to normal.
“Huh? What is it kid?” asks Greta from the other side of the raft. You look back at her and realize that none of the others aside from Pickle Barrel saw your little transformation.
“Uh, n-nothing. Just saw a fish jump,” you lie.
She shrugs and turns back to Grandbuggy’s discussion and you look back at the clone.
“Why did I look like that?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing,” she responds.
“I don’t know, but I looked like that weird vampire looking teenager that likes to hang around the bowling alley,” you shudder. “She always speaks in a bored voice and rolls her eyes a lot.”
“Oh, so a typical emo teen?” she asks.
“I guess? Though I wonder what brought that on…?”
“Maybe you’re just feeling sad. You know what will cheer you right up?”
“What?”
Ello Calebero’s Comment
“CHURROS!” she declares as pulls four of them from nowhere.
“Oh heck ya!” you cheer, your grumpy mood melting a bit and your shards to dim.
And as the others ponder the impossibility of hot and fresh churros appearing out of nowhere, you continue down the river.
Some More Time Later
“Alright, you all be safe now you hear? Dragons can be pretty dangerous,” Pickle Barrel warns as she waves goodbye.
“You’re danged right we are,” Garble boasts.
“Oh…Well, I kind of meant real dragons…” she says awkwardly.
“I Am A Real Dragon!” he whines in outrage.
“Uhhh…well bye now, I’ll see you if you get back.”
“Don’t you mean when?” asks Greta.
“…Sure.”
And while Greta and Ahuizotl exchange uncertain glances, you wave goodbye.
“We’ll be back, don’t worry,” you assure before you all start walking through a forest path towards the base of the volcano.
After a few miles, Garble turns you all.
“OK, so the volcano leads to the rest of the range which is near the coast, which is where Dragon Lord Torch will be.”
“Yeah Yeah, I know the dang layout kid,” Grandbuggy rolls his eyes. “It may have been about 300 years since I was last here, but I know the route.”
Garble just gawks at that.
“How old are you?”
“Heh, that’s the mystery ain’t it?” he says smugly as you all keep walking on.
You all then start scaling the side of the mountain, and as you near the top the temperature increases and you hear several voices.
Alright, entering a new place in three, two, o-HOLY CRAP!
Cresting the ridge, you spy a buck ton of dragons, and you mean a BUCK TON.
They come in all shapes in sizes and colors. There are some just snoozing on the blackened rocks, some are flying around, and still others are actually swimming in lava. You’ve only met a handful of dragons, but they are all shrimps in comparison to many of them.
“Hmm, it seems they still haven’t adopted basic culture yet,” Ahuizotl observes.
“I know right? Even we have huts,” Greta agrees.
“Well, they’re a fair sight better than changeling homes. A giant cocoon in the middle of the desert does not a good view make,” Grandbuggy informs as he adjusts his bowler.
“Well…I guess we should just keep walking then?” you suggest as you look the gigantic firebreathing lizards.
“Yeah alright, follow me,” Garble nods as he leads you down a path.
Down With Chrysalis’s Comment
As you and the Outcasts continue to walk through the Dragon Lands, you get all kinds of looks from the surrounding dragons. Most of them are those 'looks like a couple of idiots are going to do something stupid' looks your Daddy gets whenever he...well acts like Daddy. You’re used to them though so shrug them off.
What you can't shrug off are the occasional looks of fear, awe, and hesitation you get from some of the younger looking dragons. You haven't done a Daddy (yet) so you don't get what's up with all those kind of stares.
"Geeze, you'd think they've never seen a diverse group of creatures walking together before,” you say aloud as a dragon about Spike’s size ducks down behind a rock. Your Grandbuggy lets out a chuckle at your observation before he says,
"Well sweetie, that's probably because they haven't seen us before. Most young dragons don't leave the Dragon Lands till they come of age and go out to claim their own hoard. This is probably the first time any of them have seen a living creature that doesn't have scales on them, much less feathers, fur and chitin."
"It’s true, with how bothersome you ponies can be, our parents don't usually let us leave unless it’s to one of our hang-out spots in the mountains. Course that hasn't stopped me from sneaking out to mess with some ponies with my buddies," Garble adds in as he chuckles cruelly at what was probably some past 'prank' he pulled.
"And now look at you, forced to follow around some filly half your age because she kicked your flank,” you say in deadpan. “Real impressive what that sneakiness did for ya buddy."
Grable stutters out a bunch of gibberish at your comeback before settling on just grumbling angrily while glaring at you. You just return a smug look of your own, while pointedly ignoring a tiny voice in your head saying to go further with your teasing.
"Hey, speaking of scaly over there, you think we’re gonna run into his Pops while we're here? I don't think I wanna stick around if he gets pissed we dragged his son all the way here,” Greta asks the group a bit as her eyes continue to scan the creatures.
Garble scratches the back of his head nervously at that.
"I doubt we will since he lives on the other side of the mountains. Besides even if we do he'd be more pissed at me than you guys for showing up before my exile was finished. So unless you guys start seeing fiery death in the sky we should be fine...hopefully."
While the prospect of running into Smaug does scare you slightly (and a smaller part of you to get excited at the prospect of fighting a fully grown dragon) you simply blow off Garble's worries.
"Garble, trust me when I say your pissed off dad is the least of my concerns. If my Daddy finds out I got this stupid Amulet on me..." A brief image of your Dad in his Cloak blowing up a mountain while cursing Lady Luck with a whole slew of insults even you wouldn't dare say flashes in your mind before you shake your head and continue, "Well let's just property value will be dropping around here by a lot."
Garble, who has actually seen your dad when truly pissed off, can't help but shiver in fear at that.
"On second thought, yeah my dad is probably the smallest problem we'd have if your dad showed up. I still get phantom pain when I see a drill..."
While the others, aside from Grandbuggy, look at the young drake in confusion you just sigh in sympathy before saying,
"Well the chances of running into either of our dads is pretty slim, especially mine. So we should be all go-"
"GARBLE!"
"-od oh Gorramit!"
Puzzling Frost’s Comment
You stare up as a large shadow descends from the clouds. With a loud boom you look as Smaug lands and glares at your group, or rather the dragon currently cowering behind you.
“GARBLE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! YOUR EXILE ISN’T OVER YET!” He roars glaring daggers at him, seemingly ignoring you and your little group. You’d normally be intimidated by this but after the giant op plant monster, you feel rather annoyed than scared. And unknown to you, your shards glow at this annoyance. Your Grandbuggy would’ve taken notice of this if he wasn’t currently struggling to hold up your other two companions as they cling onto him in fear.
“EXPLAIN YOURSELF SON! AND YOU BETTER HAVE A DARN GOOD REASON FOR BEING HERE!” Smaug growls.
“Well, uh… you see...” Garble stutters under his breath.
“Oh come on, stallion up, it’s just your dad,” you scold him.
“Yeah, as if it’s that easy,” he grumbles.
“It is. I’ve beaten up my dad more than once,” you point out.
“You have?” he says wide eyed and you roll your eyes as your annoyance grows.
“Garble! Answer Your Father!” the giant roars and the teen cowers again.
Seeing as how he’s wussing out and getting nowhwere, you spread your wings and hover above the group, getting near hs snout.
“Hi! Big Red Dragon, Excuse Me?” you say staring into his eyes.
“Hmm?” Smaug notices your flapping form and stares at you for a moment. “Who are you again pony?”
“Yeah hi, this is the first time you and I are officially meeting, but I’m Nightshade, daughter of The Hooded Offender? You know, the guy who drilled you and took some of your hoard?” His eyes widen immediately at that and he looks down at your group right at Grandbuggy?
“Offender…? How did you get so old?” he says fearfully, his voice no longer booming.
“Guess again buddy,” Grandbuggy chuckles as he puffs out some smoke.
“Yeah no, that’s my Grandbuggy, he’s my Daddy’s grandpa,” you explain.
“Oh…OK,” he says still looking left and right. “He’s not here is he? I really don’t want to go another round of his insanity.”
“Nah, he’s off in another dimension or something with my Mommy,” you say as you flap back down to your group.. The dragon just tilts his head in confusion before shaking it off.
“Right, but that still doesn’t explain why you and my son are here along with a chicken and a large weasel.”
“Hey!” Ahuizotl scoffs.
“What did you just call me?” Greta growls, but both are ignored as the dragon looks right back at his offspring with a glare.
“Especially when his banishment isn’t over,” he sighs.
“Oh yeah, he said I’m like his lifelong rival or something and by his dragon code he has to beat me, and he thinks the best way to do that is to follow me wherever I go to find my weakness,” you say rolling your eyes. Smaug ponders this for a moment before sighing.
“Fine, I’ll allow him to enter this one time, but only to honor the code.” Garble sighs at this but his father continues. “HOWEVER, he has to go see his sister while he’s here.”
“What?! Come on Dad, anything but that!” Garble pleads on his knees.
“Smolder misses you young drake, so you go visit with my little princess!” he orders causing Garble to groan in defeat.
“Hey, you didn’t tell me you had a little sister,” you accuse the dragon.
“Why would I? Mentioning her wouldn’t help me defeat you,” he points out.
“Well I don’t know, maybe I would have gone easier on you if I realized you had a sibling that would miss you if you were gone!” you snarl.
“You would have?” he says taken aback.
“Well not now,” you huff.
“Great thanks,” he monotones. “But yeah, what do you mean by ‘if I were gone’? You haven’t tried to kill me have you?”
“Not actively, but from what I heard about the hippie camp, I messed you up pretty badly.”
“From what you heard? You don’t even remember?!” he says exasperated and you shrug.
“The hippie smell made me forget a lot of that night.”
“Wait, what’s this about Hippies?” Smaug says as his eyes hone in on his son.
“NOTHING! I wasn’t smoking anything I wasn’t supposed to!” he says rapidly causing the older dragon to raise a brow. By now a whole group of dragons young and old are watching this scene unfold with rapt attention, which causes Grandbuggy to cough into his hoof.
“Not that I don’t want to talk about your son’s experimental phases, but do you two just want a moment? The rest of us got a schedule to keep.”
Smaug turns his attention to the old bug with interest.
“And what business do you have here Grandsire of the Offender?” he asks.
“Oh not much, we’re just here to see Dragon Lord Torch about personal matters,” Grandbuggy states.
“YOU have business with the Dragon Lord?” he sputters which causes many more dragons to turn their heads to your conversation.
“Heck yeah I do, though business is kind of a strong word. I prefer catching up with a drinking buddy that owes me one.” Hearing that, Smaug squints his eyes and lowers his head to get a better look at Grandbuggy. After a few seconds, his eyes widen in recognition.
“Wait, you’re the one who beat Torch at the 777th annual dragon drinking contest!” Smaug says in amazement.
Gasps erupt from many of the older dragons in the crowd and Grandbuggy smiles smugly. Garble turns around with his mouth agape.
“That was you?!” Grandbuggy chuckles and puffs out his chest.
“The one and only!” He says proudly.
“That’s…that’s not possible,” Garble says as he looks back at his dad. “How can he be the Drunken Disaster? You said that happened when YOU were young?” Grandbuggy slumps at that nickname, as does the cigar in his mouth.
“I don’t know Garble, but it is him, I’d never forget that scent, or that hat,” Smaug says.
“Yeah that’s him alright,” says another large dragon.
“For sure!” says a large female.
“The Drunken Disaster has returned! Everyone, put tarps over your treasure!” cries out another one and many of the dragons disperse.
You look at Grandbuggy with a giggle, “The Drunken Disaster?”
He lets out a sigh, “Yeah…yeah that’s what they called me after the last time.”
“What did you do?” asks Ahuizotl as he chuckles.
“Yeah, oh great disaster artist?” Greta teases.
“Ha ha ha, laugh it up ya ingrates,” he shakes his head. “Let’s see you all try to hold your wits together after drinking ten mountains worth of ancient dragon booze in under thirty minutes! And what happened afterwards I will not go into because there’s a child present."
“Oh Come On!”
“Nope, and that’s final,” he says in determination.
“So, have you come to play yet another game of chance with Torch?” asks Smaug.
“Yeah, that’s about the gist of it,” Grandbuggy nods.
“Ah, well, carry on then,” he steps aside and raises his arm to allow you all to pass.
“But seriously, no urinating on the gold again,” he instructs.
“Oh shut yer yap!” Grandbuggy grunts as you, Greta and Ahuizotl start laughing again.
As you all start walking again, Smaug cuts Garble off.
“Ah Ah Ah Mister, you and I are going to visit your sister, and you are going to tell me what you’ve accomplished so far in Exile.”
“Aaaaahhh, but I don’t want to hang around the twerp! She’s so annoying!” Garble whines as you leave him behind.
“Hmmph, he should be more grateful. If I had a little sister or brother, I would always appreciate them,” you announce as he is flown off by his dad.
“Heh, who knows, maybe that’s in your future kid. Once your ma gets a body she and your pops will probably get to testing it immediately,” Grandbuggy chuckles and you look at him confused.
“Huh? How does mom getting a body lead to that?” you ask and Grandbuggy’s face stiffens.
“…Magic mostly,” he coughs awkwardly before Greta jumps in.
“Uh yeah, don’t put too much stock in brothers and sisters kid. They can get real annoying real fast. Take my sister Gabby for instance, she never shuts her dang beak, Ugh!”
“Hmmph, so says you ya video game nerd,” you insult.
“Oi!” she responds.
Pretty soon, you all enter the heart of the Dragon Lands proper and see the coast far in the distance.
“Dang it Ahuizotl, why can’t you learn to fly already?” you grumble as you see the long path over sharp obsidian rocks.
“With what wings?!” he exclaims.
MEANWHILE
Flash Sentry gasps as his mecha suit dives into the trees at the edge of the river.
“Ugh, I need to remind Armor to add a cooling system into this thing. It feels like an oven in here,” he sighs as he splashes some water on his mech. After a few moments of sizzling, he looks forward as his HUD appears before him.
“OK, the trail of dark magical energy is still heading this way,” he says as his suit picks up fading signatures on the path. He then pulls up a map and after cross referencing it, he bites his lip in worry.
“If this path continues, I’ll be heading into the dragon lands...” he thinks aloud, wondering if he should head back now, or continue while the path is fairly fresh.
“If this is her, then why would Nightmare Moon go to the dragon lands? Is she making an alliance with them? Oh that would not be a good combo,” he shivers at the implications.
“Better go into stealth mode. I’d rather I find out proof before trying to get more troops into a dangerous situation. Also who knows, maybe the dragons will rough her up and I can save the Changeling’s body while she’s weak.”
Nodding at his plan, he pushes a button on his gauntlet and almost instantly, the color fades as he camouflages into the background.
“By Celestia, these things are cool,” he says giddily as he once more flies above the trees, following the river. From his position, he spots some movement some distance ahead.
“Ah, there’s that guy in the suit that makes things all staticy when I try to look at him properly,” Flash says as he sees the slowly walking individual. “Are you following the trail too?”
And as Flash keeps the strange stallion in his sites, a couple miles behind him a blue unicorn in a tree watches him with a pair of binoculars.
“Wow, these new binoculars can track anything! That guy’s lit up like a parade,” he chuckles as he can see both the heat and magical output of the mech. He then points his binocs lower and sees the same particle trail that Flash saw.
“Hmm, strange. It is dark magic, but it seems more powerful than what’s on file for the Offender. Has Nightmare Moon grown stronger, or is this something else? And why’s there a red tint to it as well?” he ponders for a moment before putting his tool away.
“If Sentry keeps following this path, he’ll end up in the Dragon Lands chasing whatever this is…Ah screw it, I came this far, might as well see what that source is. Plus, if Sentry gets eaten by the dragons, well, that’s just more valuable scrap to recover.”
The unicorn then hops from his tree, deploying two green claws from his hoof gauntlet which he digs into the bark, slowing his descent. Landing without a noise on the forest floor, he follows after the camouflaged mech, leaving a trail of ice in his hoof prints.
“Well, on with the show,” he sighs.
Zapper frost’s Comment
After what feels like forever walking over the blackened stones, you come across a cave that’s entrance is as big a skyscraper. Ahuizotl lets out an impressed whistle, and Greta just gawks.
“That’s a big hole,” you say elegantly.
“That it is honey, that it is,” Grandbuggy nods before becoming slightly serious. “Now remember what I said Shade.”
“Yeah yeah, no gambling or whatever and go hang out with the Dragon Lord’s daughter,” you huff and cross your arms. “Just putting me at the kid’s table like usual. I bet she’s boring and all full of herself to boot.”
“Heh, well screw you too then,” comes an amused yet stern voice from within the cave. You all turn your heads to the source and see a female blue dragon teen about the size of Garble, with curled horns, lazily flying out of the darkness.
“And who said I wanted to hang out with a bratty little pony?” she quips crossing her arms as she eyes you curiously.
“…Not me, that’s for sure,” you grumble as you get a pretty good read on her. Teenager is practically highlighted above her head.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
