The next month was… interesting. Once the supplies were all set up and the mine operational again the Griffons at least took some of the extra income they now had to fix up their homes at least.
Gallus has been… difficult. He's smart, but definitely does not act like a kid. Put school work in front of him and he doesn't do anything… also, he can't read or write so… that didn't help. Have him do chores though and he can work his feathers off and keep going.
By the time we were about ready to go, Griffonstone looked… more like a colony than a town but it at least was better than when we arrived.
Now where is Fluffy?
“Alright, now where is my emotional support fluff snek?” I muttered, looking around for the chibi slithery fluff ball of adorableness.
I eventually found her on the back of a young Griffoness. She had a dark blue/grey feathers and fur. A bit of white under her chin and neck, big blue eyes and really golden yellow talons.
"Hello there." I said softly to the young griffoness. "I see you found my friend there."
"Hi! I'm Gabby!" The young Griffoness greeted me with an abnormal amount of cheer and energy compared to the other Griffons I've met so far.
“It’s nice to meet you Gabby, my name is Coyote Starrk.” I said politely. “I see your…also very energetic compared to everyone else here.”
"Yeah. Most other Griffons don't like me for that reason." She said with a sad sigh. "But then Fluffy came up and said I'm her daughter now!"
“And I can see why.” I chuckled, lightly patting her head. “Cause you are just adorable, like Fluffy here.”
Fluffy gave Gabby a kiss on her head. 'She's obviously coming with us.' Her new sign read.
“Of course she is, why wouldn’t she?” I chuckled. “Her energy and outright joy would be wonderful back in Ponyville.”
"Yay, thanks mom!" Gabby said, hugging Fluffy.
With that, we took Gabby back home with us. Apparently she and Gallus knew each other.
The new airship arrived and the dead were loaded on and we were off.
I sat in my room and began playing games. Seeing as I had… all of them I figured something classic.
“Alright, something classic…something classic…” I muttered…before booting up an old favorite of mine, Tales of Symphonia. “Gonna have so much fun with this…” I muttered with a smile, hoping to get some gaming in and hoping to whatever the hell Fluffy, Princess and Crescent are that we won’t accidentally have Hollow’s on board with all the dead. “Don’t know how spirits work here…hopefully it won’t come back to bite us…”
I began playing and in the background I could hear Gabby playing, Gallus snoring, and Lillinette was doing something.
Some hours later I took a break, and saw Gabby playing Monopoly with Fluffy. Gallus still sleeping and Lillinette was eating a pizza.
“I see you three are having fun.” I chuckled to see the game and Lilly just chilling.
"Eh. I wanted a sausage pizza but Ponies are all veggies only. So mushroom it is." Lillinette said.
"This game is fun." Gabby said. She only had two properties and about three hundred dollars left while Fluffy somehow only had one property and a lot of money.
'She is really bad with money…'
“I can see that…” I muttered, looking at the board. “Also…did the game just start or something? Cause there’s a lot less properties bought than I thought…”
"We've been playing for half an hour!" Gabby declared.
“Right then…” I nodded, knowing Gabby was still a child and that this was probably her first time playing but wow is this game slow. “How goes the game so far Gabby?”
"This is fun!" Gabby said.
I chuckled, lightly rubbing her head. “Glad your having fun Gabby.”
Gallus was still out cold so I decided to head off and explore the new ship.
I managed to find Shining Armor, who was reading a book in a main lobby area. "Oh, hey Starrk."
“Sup.” I nodded. “How you doing?”
"Better, I guess. For the most part I guess I'm still mostly processing all that happened."
“It’s good that you're processing, cause it’s a lot better than…rejecting what happened and or breaking things.” I said honestly. “What are you going to do after we get back?”
"Well, First I'm to report to Princess Celestia about everything. The meeting went well but she wants a report on the hive and Silk herself. After that I'll be on leave given the lost troops and crew."
“That’s fair.” I nodded. “Give time to grieve and tell the family’s…” I sighed, still feeling like I could have done something to at least prevent even a single death. “But at least we saved the few that we could.”
"And once we get back to Canterlot, Princess Celestia and Luna wanted to each speak with you privately."
“Cause of course…” I grumbled. “Well they better be down in Ponyville for that, cause I have a date.”
“We’ll be docking in Canterlot actually. They’ll be meeting us at the dock.”
"Right…" I sighed. "Can't wait to hear what they have to talk about."
“If I were to guess they mostly just want to ask about the crash and the monsters that attacked. Given you are currently the most combat capable person I’m willing to bet Luna or Celestia will probably ask you for help in this. Though, given Cherry, it’s most likely Celestia that will ask for the help. Luna might just ask about the threat at hoof.”
"Yeah, that's probably what they'll want to talk about." I nodded. "Even though I'm…not really as combat capable as one would think…"
“Well, whatever the case it will be just you and them so, good luck.”
"Well…lucks been kind enough." I shrugged.
It was still going to be a while before we made it to Canterlot. I got something to eat and then went back to my room. Gallus was awake now and kinda doing nothing. Well, time to find out more about my student/son.
"Hey Gallus." I said to the young griffon. "How was your nap?"
“Better than usual. So, we’re heading to Equestria then?”
"Yes we are." I nodded. "What do you think of going to Equestria?"
“Well, food will probably be better than back in Griffonstone, even if odds are meat won’t be as available.”
"That is true." I nodded. "As well as things being a lot more friendly."
“I don’t really care about that.” Gallus shrugged.
"Don't care about things being more 'at face value'?" I inquired.
“Not really.”
Hmm, guess he’s just too used to the weird ways of Griffonstone. Speaking of, I wonder how he ended up on the streets. Cherry said most are just tossed out shortly after hatching…
"What caused you to be on the street?" I inquired, cutting straight to the point knowing he didn't much care.
“I’ve just always been on them. No idea who my parents are or were. None claimed and no one told. I think old Grandpa Gruff said I was probably left on the streets as an egg but I doubt that. If I was I’d be dead before I hatched.”
"True." I shrugged. "Someone cared enough to keep you safe, without any strings attached."
“If that were true I wouldn’t have been on the streets.” Gallus huffed a laugh.
"Life is weird sometimes." I shrugged. "But who's Grandpa Gruff?" I inquired, thinking that they might have at least some caretaker.
“He’s this old coot back in Griffonstone. If we want to take a bath or sleep under something resembling a roof he lets the street kids do that but in exchange he works us like dogs around his house.”
"Ah, that makes sense, also answers why you're so hard working." I said honestly.
“Yeah. I guess. Was mostly cleaning, fetching water or some repair work if the old fart cashed out for the supplies.”
"I understand." I nodded. "But I'm here to help show you that there's more to life than what you've experienced…cause trust me, being stuck like this can lead to…bad things."
“Speaking from personal experience?”
"Kinda." I said. "Not in the 'i'm a homeless orphan' and more on the 'I don't care about anything because', and that's a slippery slope that can lead to terrible…terrible things."
“Sounds about right. So, what will I be doing once we get there?”
“Well first we’re heading to Canterlot to do a lot of debriefing on things…and the first thing you’ll be doing is going to a doctor and making sure you’re healthy.” I answered simply.
“Huh. Alright.”
“Surprised there wasn’t any ‘I’m perfectly fine’ argument.” I pointed out. “Given how…everything back there happened.”
“Considering the closest thing to a doctor we had in Griffonstone was some few herbs that did more or less not much, I figure an actual doctor can make sure I don’t die in a year or so.”
“That is correct.” I nodded. “Then after that…probably ask the doctor for a proper diet to get your body back up to speed, cause I don’t know if you were eating fully back in Griffonstone and I’d rather not take that chance.”
“Well, I mostly ate rats when I could catch them or grubs and worms from the various bits of rotting wood around so, not too low on protein.”
“Protein is good…all the other vitamins and minerals your body needs…not so much.” I said simply.
“Do wild onions and berries count?”
“Kinda? Berries can have Vitamin C and a few other things…and Onion’s can help a little bit with blood sugar and bones but you’ll be needing a whole lot more than that.” I explained.
Gallus shrugged. “That’s been my diet since… forever so, I think I did alright.”
“Well, you're alive and still functioning so there’s that.” I nodded. “But we won’t know the real problem until we see a doctor.” I shrugged. “So, do you have any questions for me?”
“When are you going to teach me that fighting, sword stuff? Isn’t that part of the deal Cherry said for coming with you?”
“That was explicitly because I barely know anything about Griffon culture, and also because you believed I was some sick bastard before she came in.” I frowned. “But we’re going to be waiting on training, cause I don’t know what your health really is, and if we start now when you're not truly healthy, that’ll only cause more problems for you.”
“I guess. What about Gabby?” Gallus asked, looking over at Gabby who was now playing Connect Four with Fluffy. And losing. “Is it safe for that small snake dog to… take care of her?”
“That is Fluffy, she is what’s called a Floof Noodle…don’t ask.” I immediately said as the child was about to question and laugh at the silly name. “And yes…to be honest, I don’t think there’s literally anything on this planet that can hurt them besides Crescent and Princess.”
“Who?”
I was about to answer, before I felt a certain fluff potato land on my head. “This is Princess.” I said, as they waved to Gallus. “And Crescent is the naga you probably saw with…I believe Fluttershy?” I questioned, trying to remember the last time I saw the adorable snek.
“Oh. Well, alright I guess. So, what are they exactly?”
“Princess is a Dire Wolf, don’t know what species, and Fluffy over there is a Floof Noodle…which I can only assume is a mix between a Naga and a Dire Wolf.” I answered simply. “But…what are they exactly? No idea what they are besides that besides ‘retired and bored’.”
“Alright? So, do they like, live with you or something?”
“Yes…” I said carefully, not bringing up that this was mostly because they lost a bet. “And might be a teacher for me as well depending on things…”
The rest of the trip went by fairly uneventful. We landed in Canterlot and once the ship was properly Docked I saw Celestia and Luna walk up to me.
“It is good to see you again Starrk.” Celestia said, looking and the clear relief plain on her face at seeing Twilight and her friends were all looking okay. “Come. I will talk with you first then Luna shall.”
I nodded and followed her into a small room on the ship.
“So what’s up princess?’ I inquired.
“First off, I’d like to thank you for keeping Twilight and her friends safe. When the news of the ships crashing, horrid monsters and deaths amongst the guard and crew reached me I feared the worst.”
“It was Shining that kept them all safe, I just played demon killer after I woke up from the explosions.” I sighed.
“Regardless, according to Shining Armor you took down the enemy monster ship. For this, you have my thanks. I… underestimated the danger.”
“We all did.” I sighed. “I thought we would have been fighting base version of my race, or these Shadow’s that you talked about when Nightmare Moon was around…” I shook my head. “But sadly…forces outside any of our grasps are at work and want to spice things up for their ‘entertainment’.”
“Yes. It is for this reason I’m leaving Luna in charge of the counter attack, defense and military assets of the kingdom for the time being. I’ve spent the last thousand years of my rule using diplomacy and common ground to avoid conflicts. The last war I was in has long since been forgotten by history. But Luna still has the warrior's edge I lost long ago, and honestly, never really had.”
“And that’s a good thing.” I shrugged. “Violence can be seen in many ways, as either ‘a solution’ or a question, and sometimes there are other solutions, or the answer being ‘no’.”
“True. Thank you for your time. Oh, and also, the crown has purchased a housing for you and Lillenette in Ponyville. A little gift of thanks from myself.”
I winced a little bit at that. “Thanks Celestia…uh, question, how good is that house?” I asked, remembering my past conversations that I should probably try and ask to move in with Derpy by my fifth or so date.
“If I recall correctly it is a four bedroom house with attic and basement spaces. It’s a newer construction. Why?”
“Well…I had a talk with Pain…and she gave me some advice and that I really should start seriously dating Derpy Hooves…and she not only threatened me with extreme violence, but also mentioned that I should ask to move in with her by the fifth date…so there’s that.” I explained sheepishly.
“Hm, well, either way the house is yours and I doubt Lilynette will want to move in with you and your marefriend.”
“Probably.” I shrugged. “So yeah, that’s why I asked about the house…anything else you want to ask me Princess?”
“No, that was all really. Thank you Starrk.”
Celestia took her leave and not long after she was out the door Luna walked in and sat where Celestia was just sitting. “I take it my sister has informed you of my new position on this conflict?”
“You have answered ‘Yes’ to the question of Violence.” I nodded. “And that’s fine, cause with the shit that might be spawning, Violence is indeed a solution to the growing problem.”
“I’m glad we are in agreement.” Luna said with a smirk. “Fact of the matter is, modern guards and soldiers aren’t equipped to handle these issues. This event and Cherry alone are evidence that a more traditional, now slightly taboo means of combat is the best course of action. I’m sure Cherry explained to you the ritual she underwent that gave her the strength and skills she has now?”
“Yes, and I’m still wondering why in god’s name you did that?” I asked bluntly. “Seriously…there’s taking ‘not fearing death’ seriously…and then there’s that shit.”
“Simple. She is a lot like you.” Luna answered plainly. “She died, and came back something stronger while still growing in power. Sound familiar?”
“You…you didn’t make her into a Hollow did you?” I asked worriedly. “Which…because of everything that’s been going on, I forgot, do you even know what a Hollow is?”
“The name for them in the old days was Soul Bound. Though there are differences. For example, she will age and die, but her strength will never stop growing even in her twilight years, she can easily keep her own in a war.”
I sighed, rubbing my temple bitterly. “Damn it…what other differences are there so I can at least get some bearings on if I have to help train these people…”
“Illness will never affect them. They can be wounded, but with their age and strength their risk of death by injury also drops to extremely low. An example is one Soul Bound I knew, he was eighty, lost his head and simply put it back on and healed rapidly. But a younger one, who had only been a Soul Bound for three years was slain in the same manner, despite the hoof sized hole in his lung, the decapitation is what ended him.”
“So durability is a toss up at best depending on a lot of things…” I sighed. “Are they able to do any extraordinary abilities that their race normally can’t?” I inquired. “Like walking in mid air when they’re an earth pony, or casting unicorn spells as a pegasi?”
“The boosts are largely just physical enhancements, though they are capable of slaying undead and specters typically unharmed by physical attacks and strikes. They were invaluable in dealing with ancient necromancers and Liches back in the old days.”
I hummed, thinking about that in detail. That could technically make their bodies Zanpakuto, weapons that are able to harm and even kill Hollow’s, or in this case, the undead even to the point where Lich’s phylacteries didn’t mean shit. “Hmm…have you ever witnessed anything…weird with these Soul Bound? Like a transformation or even a slight change to their body or abilities in anyway besides the physical?”
“Hmm… Languages. Somehow all Soul Bound have a still unexplaine ability to learn, read and speak any language, common, rare or long dead and forgotten. Aside from that, infertility and immunity to hypnosis. But nothing like what you describe.”
I sighed. “Gonna need to see this procedure, even if I don’t like it.” I sighed. “Cause it might be possible that there are some similarities that can be bridgeable between what I can do and what these Soul Bound can do…hmm, actually, is Cherry nearby?” I asked, completely forgetting that I literally had the answer to a lot of problems literally magically grafted to my arm. “Or any other Soul Bound?”
“Cherry so far is the only Soul Bound in this new era. She should be heading back to her barracks at the castle right now.”
“Crap…” I muttered. “But mind calling her here? I need to check something about these Soul Bound and how close they are to me and Lily.”
“I can have her sent to Ponyville in a few days. Right now she is due for rest and relaxation. But I can mail you a copy of the ritual texts for you to oversee.”
“Alright.” I nodded. “Cause there’s a lot of things that could happen if I’m right.” I said honestly. “And if I’m wrong…well nothing changes.” I shrugged.
“Alright. That aside, I was hoping to look at your weapons. I’d like to see if we are capable of crafting replicas or something similar.”
“The only thing that can’t be replicated in it’s entirety is mine and Lilinette’s swords cause it…technically is the sealed form of out ‘released form’.” I answered carefully. “Everything else should be fine.”
“I see. Well, we will work with what we can. That is all Starrk, you can return to Ponyville.”
“Oh, a date?” Derpy asked when I finally found her. “Sure!”
“Oh thank god…” I muttered happily. “Alright, so this is fantastic…where do you want to go on our date?”
“Well, Dinky is off school so I can get my roommate to babysit her. Maybe a picnic?”
“That would be great.” I nodded with a smile. “A nice simple picnic…it would be fantastic.”
“We can have some sandwiches, salads and sweets. I’ll bring the sandwiches and salad, you can bring the sweets?”
“Sure.” I nodded. “Got any sweets in mind?”
“Anything from Sugar Cube Corner or Bon Bon’s candy shop is fine. Both sell good stuff.”
“Alright.” I nodded. “Sounds like a plan, when do you want the picnic?”
“Well, how about tomorrow afternoon? I don’t have work tomorrow.”
“It’s…” I couldn’t help but feel warm with the next words. “A date.”
Derpy gave me a smile and a nod before flying off. Okay… just need to get sweets. Two stores as an option. I… hopefully won’t mess this up. Guess if anything I can check out the stores now, maybe place an order for tomorrow morning so I can make it for the date in the afternoon.
“Alright…let’s head to Bon Bon’s first since I haven’t been there yet.” I muttered, heading off to find Bon Bon’s shop.
It wasn’t that hard to find, the sign on the building had the picture of a large bon bon candy on it. I walked in and spotted the cream colored mare with a pink and blue mane. “Hello, you must be Starrk.” She said with a wave.
“Yep.” I nodded. “And you must be the titular Bon Bon?” I inquired.
“That’s me. Candies and, well, candies. All hoof made here in store. Looking for anything specific?”
“Going on a first date…so any recommendations?” I asked nervously. “It’s with…Derpy Hooves if that helps.”
“OOOhh. I think I have an idea.” Bon Bon said, quickly ducking under the counter and coming back up with a small bag. She put it on the table. “These are my Cherry and Dark Chocolate with cream bars. Derpy loves them, usually takes a few with her when she buys something for Dinky.” She ducked back under the table and came back out with a small box. “And these are my Peppermint licorice sticks. I usually only make these around the holidays but I still have some here leftover from a party Pinkie Special Requested them from a month ago. They’re still good.”
"This is awesome…" I said. "There's…how much do I owe you for this great blessing?"
“Thirty bits in total.”
I handed her fourty. "So there's a tip as well for a massive thank you for this."
“Thanks.” She said, taking the bits. “Good luck on your date with Derpy.”
“No problem, have a nice day.” I nodded, taking the goodies and heading off to Sugar Cube Corner.
I entered and spotted Mrs. Cake at the counter. “Why hello there, need something hun?” She asked me.
“Got any recommendations for me on my first date with Derpy tomorrow?” I asked Mrs. Cake.
“Oh my goodness, congratulations dear. I’ve been hoping that filly gets a date at some point. Well, for a first date I’d recommend half a dozen pumpkin muffins. They’re her favorite. I can have a batch hot and ready for you tomorrow morning.”
“That would be fantastic.” I nodded. “So how much will that cost?”
“It’s twelve for the muffins and five bits for the order placement, so seventeen bits in total.”
I gave her twenty seven bits. “And tip because thank you very much Mrs. Cake.”
“Thank you kindly dear, your order will be ready by ten am tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” I nodded, even though my Assistant can probably keep it fresh, I’d rather wait for it tomorrow. “I want to make this as special as possible for her.”
“Alright, see you tomorrow.” Mrs Cake said.
With that all done I decided to check out my new house. Lillenette, Gabby, Gallus, Fluffy, Crescent and Princess should all be there now. Now, let’s see where it was…
I eventually found the place, it was a distance from the main town but not near the borders of it. It was two stories, I guess three if you include the attic. Four, actually. Basement. I opened the door- What in the name of fuck?
The inside looked like… a normal living room you’d see on earth. Modern Kitchen, Livingroom, Dining Room, other rooms, long hallways, stairs… this place looks way bigger inside than it should be.
"I'm home!" I called out to anyone in the house.
“Hey.” Lillenette waved from the large couch in the living room. There was a flatscreen TV and… a lot here.
“Certainly feeling like home huh?” I asked Lillinette.
“Yeah. Fluffy and Princess decorated. Probably broke some laws of physics too but, eh.” She shrugged.
“All things considered, I’m surprised that’s all they broke.” I shook my head. “So how’s Gabby and Gallus adjusting?” I inquired.
“Gabby is happy to have a big, neat house with her snake-dog mom. Gallus was just happy to have a real bed.”
“That’s fair.” I nodded. “Just glad the both of them are enjoying being here.”
“In their own way.” She shrugged. “So, like the house?”
“It’s a really good house.” I nodded. “And again, thankful for Fluffy to just…solve all their medical issues…and also, got a picnic date set up with Derpy tomorrow.”
“Nice. Good luck, bring condoms.”
“We’re not going to immediately do that!” I blushed furiously at the insinuation. “Why would you think that?”
She shrugged. “You’re a lonely nerd. She’s a lonely milf. Feels like a possibility.”
“And I…hate how you're right…” I grumbled bitterly. “But seriously, there’s no way it’ll happen that soon…”
She shrugged. “Polka Dot was ready to pounce you and you weren’t even on a date with her.”
I sighed, yet again being proven that maybe people in this world are extra horny for those willing. “Fine…fine…” I grumbled. “I’ll see what I can find…ugh, now I’m getting worried about tomorrow being a nightmare…”
“Hey, if you do get laid then it won’t be much of a nightmare.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes and looking for my room. I found it and… woah…
I walked in, feeling… surreal. It was… basically my room back home… down to the smell… man, I lived like this?
“Ugh, don’t remember my room smelling like this…” I grumbled, pulling out a febreeze bottle and spraying it around. “I at least…kept it semi-clean at least…”
Before anything I pushed aside dirty clothes on the floor into a pile, tossed some various bits of trash on my desk away and finally changed my clothes. It felt weird being in my normal sleepwear, the fact they fit I wasn’t even going to question, and went to sleep.
I woke up with a yawn. Seeing my room I almost thought it was all a dream til I looked in the mirror I kept in here. Yup, wasn’t all a dream… actually, thank god for that. I got a date today. Oh shit I got a date today!
“Shit!” I panicked and threw the blankets off and accidentally fell out of my bed and hit the ground with an audible thud. “What time is it?” I panicked, having to grab the muffin’s from Sugar Cube Corner at ten am.
I found my clock after getting back up. Seven forty three in the morning? Woah… since when do I wake up this early? Well, at least I’m not late for anything.
I let out an audible sigh as I got up and stretched a bit. “Ugh, that’s…never happened before.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and walked out my room and into the kitchen. To my surprise, Flutty was here cooking. ‘Morning.’ The sign in her tale said.
“Morning.” I yawned. “What’s for breakfast?”
‘Eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, cereal, fruit salad, breakfast pizza, bagels, fried potatoes, grits, toast, and with your choice of milk, juice or shake.’
It was at that moment I looked into the dining room to see the table beyond stacked with huge plates of all the aforementioned foods in two foot tall piles on the plates…
“Holy hell…” I muttered in awe. “This…well, I’m undead so I might have a bottomless stomach…”
Once Fluffy was doing… Whatever she was doing in the kitchen still, she woke up the others and needless to say, while Lilletette was picking her jaw off the floor, Gallus and Gabby ate with reckless abandon. Neither seems to have ever had a truly filling meal and so the two ate themselves into a possible food coma. I ate my fill, apparently not having a bottomless stomach and only Lillenette ate a proper amount.
I then watched as the three tiny beings eat the plates clean like true bottomless pits and then Princess take the empty plates to wash them.
“Now that was delicious.” I said, honestly feeling a lot better after my freak out and…even after a month or two of being here, it still felt weird and…really nice to feel happy for once in my life without something ruining it.
“So, what are you going to wear? I doubt that shirt is appropriate?” Lillenette asked. It was then I realized I was wearing my shirt that said ‘Anime Titties’... why do I even have this shirt? Right… mom thought it was funny…
“Well that kinda ruined my mood immediately.” I muttered bitterly, remembering that I’ll never see my family again. “I’m not going to wear this…but thanks for reminding me about that.”
‘Need a suit?’ Crescent asked, with a sign.
“It’s a picnic…I shouldn’t really overdue it on the outfit…” I said, trying to think on how to do this properly. “First actual date I’ve ever had…and I don’t know…”
“So wear something casual. That’s at least half your usual outdoor clothes you own anyway.” Lillenette said.
“Yeah, just thinking of what to wear…cause again, I want to make this special for her.”
‘Start with a kiss then slowly trace your hand down to her flank and-’ Flurry used her tail to swat Princess’s sign out of her hand.
‘Not like that. Blue jeans and a black or blue shirt with basic sneakers is alright. Casual and comfortable. Not fancy but also not showing you didn’t care enough to at least look decent.’ Fluffy’s sign said.
‘Fluffy being the non-horny one? Is it Winter in Hell already?’ Crescent raised a sign as an obvious joke.
‘You’re one to talk, Miss Chokers and Pet Play.’ Fluffy’s sign replied.
“Okay…so the three of you are extra horny…” I said, getting a three way sign of ‘yes, yes we are’. “But thank you for the advice…it means a lot to have the help.”
With that, I got up and went to look for those jeans and shirt.
I found both easily and managed to fix my hair a bit before heading out. I had the sweets from Bon Bon’s, now time to pick up my order from Sugarcube Corner.
I got in, grabbed the muffins, thanked Mrs. Cake and left, finding Derpy in town center.
She wore a cute little yellow sundress, her mane was brushed back and she even wore some lipstick.
“Hey Starrk!” She greeted me.
“Hey Derpy, how are you doing?” I asked. “And you look beautiful.”
“Thanks. My Roommate might have gone a bit overboard for me. I haven’t been on a real date in years so, she was more excited than I was actually.” She said with a smile and chuckle.
"I can imagine." I chuckled. "This would be…my first 'official' date in my entire life, and at least some of my roommates were excited…but Lily mostly wanted to tease the shit out of me."
"Let me guess, protection?" Derpy asked. "Carrot was the same. I swear, that mare acts like I don't have common sense. Or self restraint."
"Same here…her reason was 'im a lonely nerd' and 'your a lonely MILF'...but we both have self restraint and know better." I said simply.
Derpy laughed. "Carrot said the same thing. Though replace nerd with alien."
"We should keep those two away from each other at this point." I chuckled. "Who knows what nonsense they'll try and put us in for our dates."
"True." Derpy smirked. "So, shall we? I already have a spot set up."
"Yes please." I nodded. "Lead the way my lady."
Derpy flapped her wings, keeping a low flight as she lead me to the nearby park. We sat at a picnic blanket under a tree. The Tupperware of fruit salad and sandwiches.
I put the sweets down, Derpy was really happy they were all her favorites. We sat and ate, talked and told some stories. Laughed.
"So, you adopted a Griffon while you were in Griffonstone?"
“Yes I did, and a roommate also adopted a griffon.” I nodded. “Only problem is…the one I ‘adopted’ is in the ‘griffon’ mindset and I don’t know how to…make him see the world is better than all that like the other child.”
"Well, maybe enroll him in school? He might benefit from it?"
"True, but he might think it's not worth the trouble cause he never went to school due to…well Griffonstone being what it was." I said nervously. "Seriously, to 'adopt' the kid I had someone else offer up me training him how to fight to even understand some basis of 'common decency'."
"Hmm. That's tough. But I think it's similar to how parenting normally is." Derpy said. "Like, when Dinky has a big test coming up, I tell her the effort and grade she gets will determine the reward she gets. If she gets and A, she gets ten whole bits for herself. A B, she gets a single piece of candy, and a C gets her a trip to the library. Course I based those rewards on what she likes more or less."
"Understandable…" I sighed. "Just…I suppose being a first time parent and all that is a little hard…"
"Oh just be glad you don't have to deal with diapers vomit, thrown food and since Dinky is a unicorn, magic surges. Pegasi parents normally deal with their little winged ones flying around like crazy, but baby unicorn magic surges we're a whole other league I had no idea how to deal with. Dinky once sneezed and turned the toaster into beehive."
"That doesn't sound fun in the slightest." I shuddered.
"Yeah. It was a nightmare, but I got a lot of fun stories out of it." Derpy chuckled. "I'm sure you'll eventually make a few with Gallus over time."
"Hopefully…" I sighed out.
"Trust me, parenting is a learned thing. My advice, take help and advice where you can and when cause even if you do have multiple each child is going to be rather different from the last."
"Understandable." I nodded. "Gonna be a whole lot of new experiences…but hey, at least I can make them with you."
"Heh, well I won't mind so long as we get to go on more dates like this or just hang out and do whatever."
"And I would be super happy to go on more dates with you."
"Heh. Thanks Starrk. It's been a while since I just got to have fun like this and feel special."
"Well, I wanted to make you feel special, and I'm glad to know I'm doing good." I said warmly.
Derpy gave me a smile, leaned in and placed a light kiss on my cheek. "I'm glad I mean so much to you."
I blushed brightly, but smiled nonetheless. "And I you my wonderful pegasus."
My date ended when the last of the food was gone. Our next one was going to be a week away, since that's the next day off Derpy gets. Life of a mailmare is quite busy it seems. Still, even with that she says all I have to do for a hangout is to stop by her place around seven and she, Dinky and anyone I wanna bring with me can go out for Hay burgers.
It was a few days later, I was lazing around the livingroom when Cherry finally showed up.
"Princess Luna said you wanted to see me?" She asked. "I also bring the ritual document copies."
"Yes, and this is two fold." I answered, bringing up my Assistant and using it to scan Cherry to see what Soul Bound is.
Species: Equis Undead.
Classification: Soul Bound.Soul Bound are a still living form of the necromantic item known as a Soul Jar. A soul jar contains pieces or a whole soul pulled from a living organism. The Soul in the case of a Soul Bound is actually bound to the flesh of their body rather than reading within it as typical. The older they get the stronger the soul gets and the harder they are to kill. Only natural age at their bodies biological natural end can put a Soul Bound to rest in their later years, while earlier years can withstand lethal damages but the younger the Soul Bound the less likely they are to survive certain lethal injurie.
While illnesses can not harm them, they also lack a biological ability to reproduce, but in exchange can pass along their Souls energy into their weapons, allowing them to deal damage to enemies and undead typically immune to physical attacks and slay them.
The Soul Bound can only be created through one of several specific taboo rituals combining the Divine arts with Necromantic energies, as well as tools and a specific items known as a Soul Stone.
Soul Bound , do to being classified as Undead yet still biologically alive means they do not gain other Undead benefits or abilities. Save a special ability to learn and understand and speak any language as The Soul can communicate directly to the soul of another regardless of spoken language.
"Hmm…" I hummed. "Where is your Soul Stone?" I inquired, cause this is kinda sounding like a weird lich ritual but the other way around.
"As part of the ritual it is ground up, coated around my heart then my heart is placed back inside my chest." Cherry said, pulling out some scrolls from her saddle bags and giving them to me. "It's all here in the documents."
I grabbed the scrolls and started to read through them carefully, trying to get a full understanding on how it works and how it uses the Soul.
And… it's way over my head… shit I can't read this, at least not all of it. I don't even know how Equestrian magic works, let alone my own magic…
"Right…should have thought this through…" I muttered. "This is honestly way over my head…but I know there's a connection here…hmm, have you ever tried to manifest your soul power into a physical object?"
"It does that passive into my weapons. It's how Soul Bound can even combat undead and spirits without magic."
"I know I know." I said. "There's just something about this that feels like I can help make you even stronger…hmm…" I hummed. "And this is mostly because I am technically an undead that uses their soul to do a lot of things."
"Hm. Well,.maybe it's a 'same family tree, different branch' kinda thing?"
I thought for a moment, then decided to check my Assistant on a. If that was the case and b. If I had a skill tree cause that just hit me.
Inside indeed have a skill tree, and yes a quick search states that Soul Bound are a distant family member, like a third cousin to Hollows.
"Alright, so you are right with the 'same tree, different branch's." I admitted. "Rather distant to be honest…hmm, well this kinda throws a wrench into any ideas I had…"
Cherry shrugged. "Eh. So, was this all?"
"Hmm…" I thought for a moment. "What did you see when the ritual was happening?" I asked, might as well take that shot in the dark to see if there's any knowledge of Soul power I know that could help.
"Everything kinda went bland once my heart was cut out of my chest. Plus the pain didn't help." Cherry said flatly.
"Understandable considering you were literally having your heart surgically removed while still conscious…" I hummed.
"Psst. I wish it was surgical. No, try more occult sacrificial. Big knife. Lot of pain. Broken bones… I don't like remembering it."
"That's…fair." I nodded. "Best not dig deeper into that…well this kinda sucks, cause I don't know enough about this worlds magic to help, and the only things I would know that could help might be too far generation wise…"
"Fair." She nodded. "If you want to know about this world's magic, why not ask Twilight? She is Celestia's student and her special talent is in magic."
"Yeah, that's true." I said. "Still need to talk to the old griffon king to also get some training from him…" I muttered.
Somewhere, very far away from Starrk, laid a green haired woman in bone white armor covered in grayish fluffy fur. “Ugh…the fuck happened?” Claire groaned, a splitting headache keeping her eyes shut besides the sun bearing down on her.
"Well, looks like I have a newcomer to my home. What brings a creature like you so far from home?" Claire looked up, and saw a Zebra, a talking Zebra with an all bone face mask on her head looking at her.
“Talking…Zebra…” Claire muttered, not…really sure how to process that but she shook her head. “Hi, my name's Claire…and I’m here to find my boyfriend because some guy’s named Genie and Demon sent him…to wherever the hell ‘here’ is.” She waved a hand around to motion to whatever place they were at…then noticed her arm covered in the bone-like outfit.
"I see that you and I are a lot alike. Brought back from death into life with no guide to follow."
“What?” Claire asked in confusion. “What do you mean?” She asked, only to now notice that she felt something on her hip, and looking down she saw a katana and it’s scabbard there. “Wait…what?”
"Hm, it seems you are a new blood. Maybe a student? That sounds like fun."
“Well…since I’m apparently in a new world with a talking Zebra as…I’m probably Neiliel…being a student would most definitely help yes.” Claire said readily.
"My name is Ajin. And perhaps I can help you find your friend."
“It’s nice to meet you Ajin.” She said, getting up and dusting herself off. “So, where do we start?”
To be continued...