//------------------------------// // Sugar Hoof, Klugetown's Newest Sugar Merchant // Story: Sugar Hoof the Wizard Colt // by Furenstein //------------------------------// Two treants walked into Klugetown with me, much to the shock of many of the town's inhabitants. To be honest though, I'm not sure if they were shocked by the walking trees or the cart full of bags of sugar being wheeled into town by the trees. I paid them no mind, so the trees paid them no mind. The pig man was there again today too, he didn't seem as shocked as he was yesterday, so that was good. I couldn't help but sense his one good eye lingering on me though. As we walked along the path, we did see multiple banners out sharing the same markings as the storm bucks I had gotten. These banners however also had what looked to be a primitive satyr creature onto it with piercing blue eyes. We walked into the market square, where a whole bunch of other stalls were set up and merchants were already shouting their advertisements into a mostly uninterested crowd. It was good to see that there really was no competition here at all for me to worry about. I pulled up some rocks from the ground and fashioned myself a make-shift market stall out on the end of the road. The two treants delicately placed the sugar they were hauling beside me and then stood guard. They weren't very strong, but hopefully they'd help persuade these people that it isn't worth it to rob me. I sighed lowly as I concentrated on my magic and began humming a soft and gentle melody. The tip of my horn turned a grim purple and my eyes followed suit. The town seemingly grew silent, at least to my ears they did. "Mmmmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmmmm-hmmm-hmmm-hmmmm." I hummed as the crowd of people going about their daily lives reached into their pockets to get their bags of storm bucks and walk over to see what was going on. The first one who reached my stall was a cat woman, "Howdy, could I interest you in some sugar?" I said, levitating up a bag from behind. The cat woman shared the grim purple in her eyes as my spell aided my intentions for knowledge and wealth. "Yes, please, I'll take five bags." She said a bit sluggishly as I grinned. "Of course, that'll be ten storm bucks." I said as I gathered five bags. She paid for them and took the bags as she wandered off. "You're selling bags of sugar for two storm bucks each?" The next customer, a mole asked incredulously. "Of course, how much are they usually sold for?"I asked in kind, hoping to get more information about the sugar market. "Bags of sugar need to be imported from other countries, so they're usually seven storm bucks a bag. They usually come in smaller bags than yours too." He said with a half frown. "Woah, that's pretty expensive." I said, to which many in the crowd nodded. "Well you won't have to worry about that here, all my sugar is locally grown." "How, the desert's too hot to grow much beyond cacti." Another customer said. Now they were asking questions about me, despite my lacking in the socializing departments, I needed to bring the conversation back in my favor. So I allowed more shadow magic to take my horn as the people of Klugetown were drawn deeper into my clutches. "well, because I'm your friend of course." That got many smiles from the crowd. "If those other sugar merchants want you to pay seven storm bucks a bag, then..." I made sure to increase my magic supply so they'd remember this next part. "Don't buy your sugar from them. From now on, come buy your sugar from me." Loud talking fell over the crowd as many brainwashed people traded storm bucks for my near sugar bags. "Please, what's your name?!" Shouted a man from the back, I hadn't even gotten that far yet. I can't give them my real name, just in case someone here knows me, the university has spies everywhere. "You all just call me Sugar Hoof, so it'll be easy to remember. If you need sugar, just come see your friend, Sugar Hoof." Eventually the day wound down, and I ran out of bags of sugar. I could've teleported more, but I didn't think I'd get much more business today unless I forced it again. I was carrying five bags of storm bucks and one of my treants were carrying three more, so all in all, a successful day. By the time night fell proper, it was cold out and I could feel the shadows still in my horn grow ornery. I levitated myself into the wooden cart being pulled by the treant and let my magic fall. Thankfully there weren't any sand storms so I didn't need my shield. The second my magic fell though, I was racked with headaches. Clutching my head with my hooves did nothing as I groaned. All the minds of every creature I brainwashed assaulted my head at once, causing my head to throb violently. For a second, I feared my head would pop open at the pressure. Unbeknownst to me, my two treants were watching me uncharacteristically. "Do you think he's okay?" Came the gentle and deep voice of one. "The master is hurt, there is nothing we can do though." Replied the other one. This is why shadow magic is illegal among almost all places were magic is practiced and taught, it always has its price. While I was hurt, this isn't the kind of pain that can be healed or cured, all you can do against shadow magic is push through it and hope you survive. This wasn't my first bought with the forbidden arts, but it was my first time in my new body. The strain on my small horse head was great, greater than when I was human. If I've recovered by tomorrow, I'd journey back into town and buy some stuff for travel and maybe some books and maps while I'm at it. I was feeling weak though, I'm sure the treants will wake me up when we arrive. I doubt they'll mind me taking a small nap. I tucked the master into bed as we returned home, he was too tired to walk himself anymore. Balling up my fist did nothing to stop tree sap from filling my eye at the thought of the master being hurt. My brothers joined me close by, all feeling the same sorrow for the master as I am. "I don't know what it was, but the second the master brought me into this world, I got to see that face..." I said as I placed my wooden hand on his door as I remembered him bringing me and my brothers into the world out in the garden. "I knew I'd protect him until the end of my days." I said before tree sap finally broke through my defenses and I sniffled. "And we will, all who would threaten the master will suffer the consequences." My brother replied. "How do we protect the master from himself?" I said as I turned to meet my treant brothers. Nobody could answer, how could they? The master was master, we can't stop him from hurting himself if that's what he wishes. I clutched my chest, where I can feel the magical imprint of the master keeping me alive. "I'd rather die than see him hurt again."