Iron Shield
As we broke I made my way through the left corridor. I only gave the rooms a quick glance.
When Nightlight told us to do our best to keep the Orochi members occupied if we run into them I knew that it could only mean one thing.
We will need to.
Eventually I heard the sound of some kind of flute coming from the courtyard.
I managed to see where the music was coming from. A naga with pure white scales was wrapped around a tree near the center of the yard.
I noticed that they had their eyes closed and began to sneak towards them.
As I got closer I noticed the Orochi tattoo had only three red heads.
If I was lucky I could take them down without even fighting.
The music suddenly stopped when a snapping sound came from under my hoof.
The nagas' eyes opened and focused on me.
The naga had piercing red eyes and as I got a better look at the face I noticed two horns on its' head.
A white glow came from the nagas' horns and a thick fog spread throughout the yard.
I heard the sound of leaves and a sudden thump, but I couldn't figure out where it came from.
A female voice called out from all directions, "An intruder here. To get this far without my knowledge.
I cannot let you leave this courtyard alive.
I am Cerastes a Orochi member."
Well keeping her here may be easier than I thought.
Or just deadlier.
The fog was so thick that I could just barely see passed my back hoof.
There was a sound of clanking metal.
A pair of empty suits of armor came out of the fog to attack me.
Do to their age they pretty much crumbled from the rust when I hit them.
Suddenly a scythe came down from the front left.
As I dodged I felt a blade came down from the back right.
This happened a few more times from different directions.
But this fight would be the death of me if I didn't do something about it.
Suddenly from in front of me the scythe came from the side, going for my neck.
All these attacks had been from above.
There was something strange about this attack.
As the attack approached my neck I thought about how to end it.
Trick Star
When I found a spiral staircase downward I thought I could slide down the hand rails.
It didn't work out but I have a lot more practice falling down stairs than most.
When I hit the bottom I was a little confused and disoriented.
A deep voice resounded through the hall,"Are you okay little pony?"
I was fine and when I saw the size of the naga I was impressed.
I am not even joking when I say this guy was big like titan big.
With his deep resounding voice he introduced himself, "I am Cerrejonensis the Dragon eater. Younger brother of Bashmu. Hero of a thousand battles. And member of the Orochi."
Looking at him I could believe that he ate a dragon. Wait this guy is the brother of that evil king guy. I asked if his brother was the same size but apparently he was even bigger.
Cerrejonensis
Wait before I carry on his this conversation I must ask who they are.
When I asked he stood on his hind legs and said as flashes of light blasted behind him, "I am The Great and Powerful Trick Star though I don't really like to brag about my many achievements."
Admirable and modest. I can respect this stallion and his ability.
So like any proud warrior I challenged him to a dual as he was obviously an intruder.
He was obligated to complete his own mission and while he would rather continue our conversation and show me pictures of his daughter the mission comes first.
While I had neither my weapons or armor and could not cast magic but I had confidence in my physical ability.
His spells could not harm me but I was not able to hit him either.
What I noticed was that some of his spells were actually quite skilled parlor tricks. Using these he could save his magic for more impactful spells.
Unfortunately in his haste he allowed me to circle him with me massive body.
Unfortunately I could not constrict his with the difference in our sizes.
Years ago my beloved niece gave me a potion that let me grow a pair of small fangs.
These fangs held a venom that could put even a dragon to sleep.
I leaned into him and gently bit.
Silver Arrow
When I was told that I was basically had to guard a doorway I thought it would be easy.
Then I realized that Nightlight had implied that the others would be fighting Orochi members one on one.
There is an army on the other side of this door.
The only reason that there is not a fight going on right now is that they were settling in but eventually someone would have to report to higher ups.
I had to set something up.
The first thing I did was use spells that would jam the doors such as melting the lock and bolts.
I also took the time to board up the windows with magic.
Eventually someone tried to open the door.
When they couldn't open the door I heard confused conversation on the other side.
I had to considered bluffing about working to fixing the door, but I felt that they would call my bluff.
When I heard them say that they should send in some naga called Atheris Hispida.
After they agreed on that they went quite and I readied my magic bow.
Eventually a rather small naga easily slipped through the gaps in the boards.
Their spiked scales resembled leaves.
As my arrow flew towards them they noticed and grabbed it out of the air and looked at me.
As it did I noticed the Orochi tattoo on their chest.
Dizzy Twister
As we approached where we thought I could rise up the tower we entered a open room.
In the center of this room was a light brown naga with a dark brown diamond pattern.
Its' piercing glance filled me with unease. Something about it's eyes were unnatural.
It had two pairs of forelimbs but the bottom pair seemed to end in hands that more resembled those of a griffin.
The end of it's tail had some kind of rattle.
Nightlight and I glanced at each other and I made my move.
As I passed the naga did nothing to stop me.
I hoped that was a good sign.