//------------------------------//
// 11 - Psst 
// Story: Bind on Pickup 
// by David Silver 
//------------------------------//

Garble angled himself downward, aiming for the dense alleyways he knew were in that direction. He checked and doublechecked to see if his sister or the dweeb were watching out for him, and neither was.

Good. That mushy stuff was not what he wanted to deal with. Who cares if those jerks, who laughed at his poetry, who didn’t really treat him the same after they knew, even with Ember ordering them to, were a world away. It wasn’t just good, it was better that way, he bet. He didn’t even miss Fume’s jokes, or how Clump would be down for just about anything.

He snorted. He didn’t need 'em.

But it woulda been nice if things were like they used to be, but you can’t just do crap like leaping into a girl’s arms to cry about your missing fwiends. There’s no coming back from that. Or any other mushy stuff like showing your carefully crafted beat poetry to your friends, hoping that maybe it’ll become normal afterward.

It won’t.

He stomped through the alley, fuming. He jingled his bag of gold. Upshot of this city, he thought with a wicked smirk. All you need is some gold and someone will have already caught some meat for you. Judging by the smell, he was about to find one there.

"You're the dragon, aren't you?" asked a seedy male voice from the darkness, tucked into a niche. Clawed and furry hands came into the dim light, clasping together. "A moment of your time, perhaps?"

"Hard pass," he spat, remembering when his sister had said much the same thing. "The only thing I care about is getting something to eat, unless you're volunteering." He exposed his sharp draconic teeth, not that he had torn apart a creature capable of asking him nicely not to, but he was a dragon, dang it all.

The hands recoiled back with caution, and a mild nervous laughter could be heard. “Well, the ferocity is there, for sure. By all means, eat, and I will go without offering you a place to express that ferocity, to fight and compete free of the gaze of the humans… free of the guild...”

Garble was already looking away, but his earfin still perked at what he was hearing… and he turned around to see the outline of the figure still somewhat visible in the darkness already slinking away. “Wait. Hold on.” Garble’s stomach growled. “I’m serious, I need something to eat first.”

Shortly, Garble was munching on some kind of fluffy pocket of food with meat inside, and was following the now-obviously-cloaked figure through the streets. Whatever he was, he had full fur on his hands, and a muzzle occasionally poked out. Also, he was creepy.

He led Garble through the city, the winding streets, until Garble lost his way. “Hey! Just where do you think you’re taking me?”

The figure turned around and pointed nearby. “Right underneath the red roof tiling. Do you see it?”

Garble didn’t even need to search to notice it. “Yeah, I see it.”

There was a hint of a smile on the figure’s muzzle. “Only one like it in the city. Underneath is where we are going. Come, come.” He continued through the streets, and shortly they were there.

Right next to the structure, there was a path leading down into the city. A dull light emanated from deep within the passage. Garble hesitated. Sure, he was told how to get there, but for all he knew it was still just someone who was gonna attack him.

“Come, come.” The figure beckoned him with a hand. “We are so close, now. Set aside your fears.”

“What fears?” Garble shouted, pushing aside exactly those fears and stomping down the stairs.

The figure laughed a wheezy laugh. “Of course, of course. Come come.”

Garble followed down into the dimly lit passageway. There was a switchback ahead, and a great roar emanated from it, causing Garble to immediately go for his sword and shield.

The sound was immediately followed by a metallic ringing and a loud clearly-voiced cry out. The figure stopped, his head tilting. He laughed again. “Is this just a coincidence? He always had a flair for the dramatic. Hurry, we don’t want to miss this.” The figure increased his pace.

As hurried through the passages, a din could be heard, as well as more snarling and what was now more clearly sounds of a battle. Finally turning a corner that could see, Garble found he was in a surprisingly large arena, with an arena and stands, which weren’t full but had people crowded up in the enter.

And in the center, a large four legged monster, a great canine creature, was circling a bipedal figure, and as Garble approached, he realized the figure was the Felisurra man he had met before, who was holding his curved sword with two hands, calm as the monster circled him.

When the monster was near his back, it pounced, but the man simply pivoted, lowered his sword and cut upward, the monster getting a fine slice across its side for its effort. The crowd erupted in cheers. The man pursued his attack, striking across the monster several times, until the monster was panting and struggling to keep up. It was on its last legs.

The man resheathed his blade, his hand still on his hilt, and the crowd went silent. The beast reared back, unable to do anything but pounce once more, and the man began to speak:

"The sun rises high."
"Monsterous roar calls for blood."

The beast pounced and the man drew and struck with his sword all at once, with energy exploding out of the sheath and slashing across the foe, cleaving it in two as it dissipated into the aether.

"The twilight fades fast."

The crowd erupted into cheers at the dramatic finish. But Garble, instead, just stood there stunned. The Felisurra man was walking back, a picture of calm success, after delivering a poem mid fight, and everyone was cheering.

It was the most awesome thing Garble had ever seen.

"Hey!" he called in an urge of eloquence. Even as his new friend reached for him, Garble advanced without a thought, his wings carrying him over the barrier that normally kept the audience from the arena.

The warrior scowled at the approaching dragon. "What is this, another challenger? Await your turn to feel my steel."

Garble lowered his sword with a deft smoothness he was only just starting to realize was possible, too smooth. The sword clattered to the ground, slipping from his grip. "Uh, hey. I just want to talk to someone who's not stupid for a change. Got a minute?"





Sandra set Spike down carefully. "Here's his usual meat stand, but I don't see any angry dragons anywhere around here."

Spike shrugged softly. "Well, that means we could get something new for a change."

Smolder peered at the two of them. "Hey, Gar Gar could be in trouble."

"I doubt it." Sandra shrugged as she turned in place. "He's pretty tough, and he's even specialized in taking a hit. I doubt anything will get the drop on him in town. For now, dinner. Do you want something different?"

"Well…" She examined the kebabs and the rabbit tender. "We have had those most of the days here. Let's do something new. Hey! Any tips?"

The bunny's ears lifted and his bucked teeth were displayed in a smile. "How cruel, to ask me where to go to spend money away from me. Truly you are a vicious customer." He laughed despite his words, raising a finger to point the way. "Have you tried the pasta just on the corner? They are a delight for the tongue. Not as good as mine, but worth it for a change of pace. You will come back tomorrow, yes?"

Sandra was already walking off as if the conversation was over, but Spike waved eagerly. "Yeah sure, you got it. Pasta sounds good to me."

Smolder fired an energetic thumbs up. "Keep it cool, rabbit dude. Hope you sell out." She went with Spike, trailing after Sandra to get some food.

The pasta shop was an actual dine-in eatery, unlike the cart that the demi-human offered, and the woman who stood in front smiled as Sandra approached, only for the expression to sour on seeing her two draconic friends. "Demi-humans sit in the back." She hiked a thumb. "If you're with them, that goes for you too."

Sandra returned the frown, but the others were already walking past her and she moved to join them quickly. "How about that one?" They went to the table she pointed to. The back only had one other demi-human, an otter that fastidously nibbled at her food with two clutching hands, despite how messy that was with saucy pasta.

Spike hopped up onto a chair, Smolder across from him, and Sandra taking a spot next to him. "I haven't had spaghetti in ages, think they have any gem-based condiments?"

"Yeah, right," bitterly laughed Smolder with a great smirk. "But hey, we can ask." She waved at a waitress wandering past, to no response.

Sandra barely got her hand up before the same waitress somehow saw behind her and turned around. "How can I help you?"

"Oh, hello." Sandra smiled awkwardly. "My friends were wondering if you had any… gem flakes or stuff you can put on food?"

The waitress' eyes grew. "Are you joking? Is this another little demi-human trick?"

Spike shook his head quickly. "Nope. If you got 'em, we want 'em."

"Well… yes. We have the 'Tower Survivor Special'" She pulled out a menu and flipped it open, revealing a drawing of a towering mess of pasta, rigatoni glittering with something. "Made for party celebrations. It feeds four, and is dusted with real gemstones. Can you afford it?" She had not mentioned a price.

Smolder licked her lips appreciatively. "I am suddenly entirely interested in this place. How much?"

Sandra drew out her money pouch and some of the hesitation seemed to fade from the waitress. She quoted an amount and all three winced. It was not beyond their reach entirely, but it was dangerously close, and quite a bit for a simple dinner.

Spike lifted his shoulders. "I really do want that, but let's wait until we actually get into the tower, then we're coming back and getting that."

"You're on." Smolder thrust a hand forward, the two meeting in a fistbump of solidarity. "For today, let's just go simple. Spaghetti and meatballs, pile on the meat."

"Sounds good," quickly agreed Spike.

"Do you have a party of that? Just bring us a big serving plate for us all," suggested Sandra as she waved a hand over the table. "Probably easier."

"As you wish, ma'am. Anything to drink?" She gathered their ordered and hurried off, leaving them alone.

Spike reached up for the crown still on his head, fiddling it left and right. "So… how to turn this on…"

Smolder leaned in over the table. "Have you tried thinking like a king? I mean, your friends with a princess, it's like that, but more like a guy. Shoot, she's a magic princess, even better. Just guy that up and you're practically there! Oh oh--"

"--I have no idea who you're talking about." Sandra drummed a few fingers on the table. "It's hard to believe sometimes, but you really have a past… I'm sorry it took me so long to really see that."

Spike waved Sandra's apology away. "Water under the bridge. So, just to be sure, if I unlock this thing, I don't have to use it, right? It's just another thing I could use, right?"

Sandra quickly nodded, reaching for the crown, though Spike shied away. "That's why I'm saying you should go ahead. If you don't like it, no harm done. Just another option."

"Another option…" He looked up at his crown as best he could with it on his head. "I mean, I guess trying wouldn't kill me… It's still a healing class, so I still get to use the magic I learned, right?"

"She said that." Smolder's eyes wandered towards the waitress returning, grabbing her drink when it was in range to take a big gulp. "Mmm. She said that. If not, well, switch back. What did you lose?"

"Nothing, I guess. Alright, Twilight. Twilight with a stick to beat people with who she doesn't like." Visions of Twilight with a stick floating beside her, bashing the various villains they had faced. Tirek, bonk. Chrysalis, bonk. Sombra, two bonks. Every bad guy got a bonk as she hovered and glowed with magic power.

He couldn't help a soft chuckle as the silly mental image. "That would be kinda funny… Hey!" He reached up suddenly for his itchy crown. "What… Woah?"

His crown was glowing dimly on his head. "Did I do it?"

Sandra shook her head. "Don't think so, your guildchain didn't change."