//------------------------------// // Chapter forty-seven, Neighpon Nitwits: Ni. // Story: Airship Mauled // by Darkonshadows //------------------------------// -Neighpon Noodles, Fortitude- The food here is nice, I showed that I liked it by slurping up the noodles with rich flavor from their broth. Across from me sat Blade eating slowly and to my left Skelly was eating her own with some amount of enjoyment showing on her face. “Is it to your taste? Our noodle soup is served hot! Enjoyment is found here.” Sweetcakes knew the restaurant owners, mostly because she worked here. There were more of these multiple tailed foxes, but they didn’t speak in haiku’s quite like Sweetcakes did, in fact they didn’t say much at all. “A nice dessert waits. Sweet bean buns are quite tasty. I make them quite well.” I am learning a lot from being here, Blade is searching for the three other stars and is one. They are beings around the world that will fulfill a prophecy, we arrived just in time to save Blade and help her with her current quest to find one of the stars she needs. Apparently Blade has run afoul of someone who knows exactly who one of the stars is and doesn’t want them to take part in a prophecy. Said someone has a lot of backing and ninja ponies and tried to eliminate Blade so the prophecy would not come to pass, they are either protecting the star here or they are trying to destroy the prophecy. At least we now had our purpose and apparently Travel On wanted us to aid Blade… that or find out what was the right thing to do in this situation. As we were close to finishing our meal Sweetcakes Crumble Tail stood up and went to go grab something, she eventually came back with a platter loaded with round fluffy white buns balanced on two of her tails. “With bean paste we fill, these buns are certainly rare, served by kitsune waiter.” Sweetcakes smiled broadly as she place a platter down and took up one of the buns and bit into it deeply. “Make sure they are good! I always get the first taste. They won’t go to waste.” Blade sighed and took up a bean bun and bit into it, she perked up a bit and chewed while humming in approval of the taste. “Lucky customer, finding one with fruit that fizzes, cheer up her journey.” We continue to enjoy our food and even Skelly got one, the fox watched as Skelly consumed the bean bun with curiosity. She turned to some of the other foxes walking around serving guest, one in particular was staring curiously at Skelly. “There is no evil. She is quite clean like a saint. Pure sweet buns cleanse taint.” The three tailed orange fox nodded, but continued to scrutinize Skelly for a bit. The fox soon huffed and went off to serve some other guests in the restaurant. “So how are you going to find this pony of the stars?” I am willing to aid Blade if she needs my help in locating the pony she needs to convince to join her in her quest. “That task is easy. Blade already knows them well. Finding help troubling.” Sweetcakes frowned as she put another sweet bun in her mouth and chewed. “They have wings to fly. Highly placed on a ladder. Royalty to flatter.” Blade just let her head fall to the table, if she is knowing then there must be a lot of trouble between her and the one she needs to convince to join her. It is not easy to convince someone to do something when you are mute, so Travel On brought us to be loud and noisy… we can do that easily! “Worry not my friend, we can assist you in your endeavors… I just need to find my brother first.” Leaning of to slap my hoof on her back, she went straight into the floor. I realize then that I hadn’t introduced myself to Sweetcakes. “I am Fortitude the Fantastically Fragrant and this is Skeletal Noria the superbly spirited!” Skelly just idly waved to the six tailed fox, who moved closer to me and sniffed me. Blade got back into her seat giving me a dirty look. “Fragrant is fairly right. Your smell has powerful might. You control it well.” Sweetcakes didn’t cringe, back off or look like her nose was about to fall off and grow legs… that is only happening to me once and I am never living it down. She turned to Skelly. “Spirited he says. Not far from the truth of it. Superbly odd you are.” “You are one to talk.” At my bland statement she just nodded and continued to smile cheerfully. “What are the problems we’re facing exactly and how do we get them out of the way to meet this pony?” “Pony is not correct, you are seeking a stallion longma, criminal royalty.” Taking a breath Sweetcakes continued. “He is quite friendly, his family is not nice, take care approaching.” Blade sent Sweetcakes a glare and the fox just continued to be falsely innocent, I am thinking Blade is ending up in trouble because of her. “Criminal royalty?” I can understand Blade getting a headache, but I had to ask. “Is he cruel and nasty, is Blade having anything to fear from him?” “He is quite friendly, kindest in the mafia by far, golden heart and mind.” Sweetcakes narrowed her eyes at me and her voice became slightly grim. “Do not anger him, his strength outstrips yours greatly, he fights very well!” Not knowing what to say to the sudden change in tone, I just nodded. Sweetcakes returns to smiling brightly. “You need understand, he has an unbreakable spirit, don’t start anything.” Rolling her eyes at Sweetcakes warning, Blade just tapped the table twice. “You don’t pay for this, I did say it is my treat, need my help you do.” Blade groaned out loud, she really didn’t like Sweetcakes. “We need to find my brother first and then we’ll see about finding… you didn’t give me a name, why not?” My question made Sweetcakes happy, her tails waggled with mischievous enthusiasm. “Ryu the blazing hoof, always question everything, shows you are smart.” Sweetcakes grin was rather annoying. “About your brother, does he look a lot like you, a smelly sumo yak?” “No he is being red dragon, he went to scout around and learn about our surroundings.” My brother Flamberge better not be lighting himself on fire again, we also do not need an angry mob incident. Skelly waved a hoof and opened her mouth, nodding to her Sweetcakes got up and came back with a few more bean buns. Skelly smiled to her and started eating more bean buns, several foxes with multiple tails were now staring at her in disbelief for some reason. “A dragon you say? He sounds rather attractive. He available?” All of Sweetcakes tails were now pointing straight up and fanning out, I think I understood her body language on this one. “You’d have to ask him, I don’t know what he finds attractive.” I was not going to set him up with the large lithe fox. If she want to, she can chase after him all she wants and if she can make my brother happy then I would be okay with that. -Blade- The fox was right, I should have asked her more questions. I ran into trouble because I didn’t get the kitsune to clarify anything and the main reason why I even rushed things is because she is annoying with all the nonstop haikus! I miss Kuril greatly, but I had a job to do and a little help from two of the Vibrant Vikings and their new member would be nice. Skelly was definitely no normal pony and could prove invaluable to this situation. I was not able to talk, but I could get my point across fairly well when it came to beating up some of the punks around here. The yakuza were a big problem standing in the way of my mission, Sweetcakes said they were mafia and that was accurate enough that I didn’t see the point in trying to correct her for Fortitude’s sake. Ryu, the spirit dragon of Neighpon, he’s a hard guy to approach when there are always various agents watching out for him. The guy attracted a lot of the wrong kind of attention, ninja, yakuza and even the local police would attack anyone for some information on how to get a meeting with him. Heck people just attack me to see if I even have any money. Taking a page from Jade’s book, I’ve been robbing anyone who dares attack me outright and apparently no one bats an eye at theft around here. Broke every darn knife I had on me, I did not like how just about everyone was armed with a melee weapon of some kind. Still don’t know how that guy kept a metal bat hidden where it was and Tonfa have been the absolute bane of my existence since I arrived. Jade would have loved it here, being able to brawl and steal to your hearts content with the only repercussions coming from losing a fight. … Fortitude left Flamberge alone… Flamberge… the same guy who forgot he was a dragon after being set on fire. I sat up and looked to Fortitude, we had to go find Flamberge this instant, who knows what kind of idiot thing he’s gotten up to since they arrived! Skelly seemed to notice my panic and sat up. I could work with someone as silent as me, but I wasn’t quite yet willing to trust my back to someone who can get run through with a sword and walk away without a single scratch. There is something very disturbing going on with that mare and Sweetcakes confirmed it several times. Still we waited for Skelly to finish her bean bun snacks and then the four of us rushed out to look for the wayward dragon. -Neighpon Training Grounds, Flamberge- With a mighty clang the two swords met and rebounded off another sending me into a crouch, but I wasn’t the only one that was crouching from that last blow. I wiped the sweat from my head and stared at the old pony, he hid a smile beneath his hat and blue robe as I sheathed my sword. His pale orange fur and black mane barely visible in his clothing, he chuckled. “That sword is perfect for you, treasure it always.” The sword wielding pony sheathed his own sword. “I am Flamberge, the fiercely flammable! Who are you stranger?!” After asking my question, the pony looked up a bit revealing a single brown eye. “Blur Step, my special talent is Iaijutsu or quick draw techniques.” He bowed to me with a calm smile. “I think you’ve learned a thing or two today… as have I. The sword can choose its wielder and the wielder can choose their sword. If they both are lucky enough to choose each other, then greatness unfolds unto the world.” “You are a really strong and honorable warrior, I’m glad I got to meet you!” I bowed back to him. “Now, now, no bowing to me, the pleasure was all mine from the start.” He waved a hoof at me. “What brings you to Neighpon friend?” “Is that where we are?! My brother, a friend and I were on a magical boat that takes you to where you absolutely need to be! Its magic leads to endless adventures, we are quite lost now because of it and that’s our plan!” I got a hoof on my shoulder and a friendly smile, Blur patted it twice and then motioned for me to follow him. “Follow me wanderer Flamberge the fiercely flammable, you seem hungry and I know a place that is quite filling and has plenty of foxy ladies.” The pony set off and I followed him. “Being able to fight you is worth a good meal on me.” -Neighpon Noodles- “Table for two, I’ve met someone who can keep up with me in a spar.” As Blur spoke to the fox, I looked around and just shrugged. He was right there were a lot of foxy ladies here, all of them foxes with multiple tails… they looked cute at least. “I’m paying for this.” I wasn’t one of those macho dragons, I could understand beauty as I define it and they were somewhat attractive. Mostly because I had acquire a taste for fluffy looking girls. “The peachy keen sword stallion returns to my establishment once again and with a friend no less, I’ll set up a table and will get you your usual drink order prepared.” The masculine red fox with nine tails started to walk off and then he stopped, he turned his gaze to the vixens about the room giving me hungry looks. “None of you better even think about it, no girl of mine is falling for a gaijin dragon!” His tails whipped around angrily, but they didn’t hit anything and we were swiftly seated. Minutes later after being seated, the fox came back with a bottle and a small cup. Blur poured some and I could smell the scent of something alcoholic coming from it as he swiftly swallowed his first pour. “Is something the matter old friend?” Blur asked of the fox after licking his lips. “I saw a strange being in my restaurant recently, it has me agitated that they could eat our sweet bean buns without perishing. They were not yokai, oni or any monster of the likes I’ve ever seen before and they must be powerful to survive the purifying effects our food has. My daughter says they are not dark or evil, but I have my misgivings about the smell of death and life permeating them.” The fox shook his head and continued to address Blur personably. “That anomaly left with a group and one of my daughters, they are likely going pursue Ryu.” “Are you worried the Yakuza will hurt your daughter?” Blur asked, I stayed silent and listened to them. I’m told I don’t do that often enough. “Also I want the pasta salad soup.” “No I am not worried that they will hurt her, I’m worried Sweetcakes will cause a large mess… again. My wonderful daughters are always such a headache to deal with, I wash my paws of that situation and my curiosity about the being that visited us will not be sated anytime soon.” The fox turned to me. “What will my honorable customer and friend of my friend be having?” “Large shrimp and fish noodle bowl, if you have any hard minerals that would be to my taste as well!” The large fox nodded and set off with our orders. “He has me intrigued now, a strange creature that is of a powerful undying spirit, what do you make of it?” Blur was asking me? Well I had an idea as to who it could be. “It might have been my friend Skelly along with my brother Fortitude!" Should I explain it to him? It couldn’t hurt, Fortitude still needed a new shield and I doubt this guy could seriously injure Skelly. “Skeletal Noria, or Skelly as we call her, has a bit of a problem! She ran afoul of a unicorn that used dark magic a long time ago! We took care of the unicorn, but Skelly is stuck as a skeleton!” "We live in interesting times." Blur took another drink.