Stormius Weathre was sitting on a bench counting out the bits she'd looted from the armored colt. Oh, she was just too good at her job. Well...stealing bits wasn't her job, assassinating ponies was. Stormy, as she liked to be called, got up and was about to walk before a hoof grabbed her, spun her around, and pressed her against a wall. "Oh!" She exclaimed, facing the colt from before "Um...How can I help you good sir?" She asked in an innocent tone. Lead growled. "I want my bits back." He said firmly, keeping her pinned against the wall. Stormy thought it over slightly. He had the upperhoof, and on top of that she didn’t have her hidden blades on her! She was only going to the market for food! Then of course all this happened, so Stormy began to cry softly. “Oh...no...I’m so sorry! I… I’m just...Really on the low end of things...and-” Stormy gave up a sniffle “I...I just really needed the bits...and-” She looked up to Lead with puppy dog eyes and a tear slowly rolled down her cheek. Lead deadpanned “Really...You expect me to fall for /that/?” Lead rolls his eyes and yanks his bag of bits back. Stormy gave him a frown. “I guess you’re not as stupid as you look...” She was about to say something else but Lead was just walking away from her!
Stormy stalked after the colt. “Now wait just a minute!” She said as she yanked him around this time. “I stole from you fair and square and I should get SOME bits at least!” she complained, looking up at the much larger colt. Lead grunted “How about I buy you a drink instead?” Stormy closed her mouth and remained quiet. “Th...That could work too...” Lead smirked. Charm always worked. Stormy wasn’t sure...Was he hitting on her?
Once Lead arrived back at the Laughing Angel Inn, Soul and Applejack both resisted the urge to facehoof. “Lead...Can you tell me why you brought /her/ here for a drink?” Lead replied with “I owe her one.” Applejack did in fact facehoof. “Lead...She stole from YOU. How do you owe her?” Lead sighed “It’s part of a warrior’s code and all that stuff. Too long to explain.” Stormy blinked. Yep he was hitting on her alright. But she wasn’t going to go for it.
After getting her a drink Stormy left, and Lead, Soul, and Applejack got one room and headed upstairs. “How long are we staying for?” Applejack asked. Lead shrugged “Maybe a week at the most...” Applejack nodded. “Alright, then what?” Lead smiled. “We move on to the next village and see what we find!” Soul frowned. “Lead, don’t you ever make a plan?” Lead turned to face them with a smirk. “When you plan ahead you miss the small things that can make the biggest difference. Now let’s rest up.”
It was late at night when Stormy began to open the window to the group’s room, very slowly and quietly. After achieving this, she stepped in and quietly walked over to Lead. She was going to take his bits again and-. Stormy frowned; Lead had suddenly rolled over, wrapped his hooves around her, and was cuddling her like a teddy bear. She let out an annoyed sigh. “Well, it’s better than being stabbed I suppose.” Stormy thought to herself as she stayed in that exact spot, and then...uh oh...fell asleep.
When Lead woke up with Stormy in his arms, a few thoughts drifted through his mind, and yes, a few were a little dirty. But he never got drunk, so obviously something was up. While Stormy was still asleep, Lead tied her to the bed. Soul and Applejack shrugged and went downstairs for breakfast as Lead prepared to interrogate his “prisoner”.
When Stormy woke up, she started to freak out because she was tied down. “Oh no! NOT good!” She thought to herself and looked up ahead, spotting Lead who was sharpening a sword. Stormy frowned. What was he going to do? Lead suddenly stood up. “Good, you’re awake. Last words?” Stormy blinked. “L...Last words!? Are you kidding me!?” Stormy yelled at him and trashed against her restraints. Lead shook his head and raised the sword. Stormy closed her eyes and just hoped it would be quick.
Suddenly, she was bopped lightly on the head. She peaked an eye open to see Lead, face to face with her. “So are you done trying to steal from me?” Lead asked. Stormy opened her other eye. “W...What? Yes! I’ll never steal again! From you!” Lead smirked, “Good girl, now I’ll ask you a new question.” Stormy blinked. “And... what is that?” Lead smiled. “Well obviously you’re quite talented at sneaking, and... I was wondering if you’d like to join me on my quest.” Stormy deadpanned. “So I’ve tried to steal from you twice and... you’d trust me to cover your back?” Lead was quiet for a moment. “Yeah.” Stormy blinked. On one hoof, Marrock was boring lately and a quest sounded cool. On the other hoof, adventure was full of thrill and... Why was she even questioning this? Stormy beamed and nodded. “I’ll join you...” She blinked. “Uh...I don’t know your name yet and we’re already questing! I can tell we’ll be good friends. I’m Stormius Weathre.” Stormy beamed. Lead smiled and undid her restraints. “I’m Leadith of Eucadia, pleasure to meet you Stormius.” Lead took her hoof and kissed it. Stormy blushed. “Heh, save it charmer boy, and call me Stormy.” And with that, the pair laughed and headed downstairs for their meal.
Soulstudy and Applejack looked up to see Lead and Stormy coming down the stairs, both slightly relieved he hadn’t lopped off her head. “Ah’ take it negotiations went well?” Applejack said, looking up from her morning porridge. Lead nodded. “Meet Stormy. She’s joining us on our quest.” Soulstudy sighed and looked up at lead. “Do you honestly plan on inviting every single mare we meet into your little group?” All three of the mares looked directly at Lead. Leadith rolled his eyes. “Tell you what, if a stallion or colt crashes through that window right over there,” Lead said pointing a hoof at a nearby window, “I’ll invite him into the group too.” He looked at the window with a smirk. That’s one thing that would /never/ happen.