"News!" An orc of a pony charged into the area with a scowl. "News! War has erupted."
Another adventurer squinted at the orc pony. "We're an adventurer's guild. We don't get involved in wars."
"Sure, but the other side's Millie-steps!" The group filled with gasps of alarm. "And they're bringing their monsters with them!"
The secretary at the front desk brought down a gavel smartly. "The heroes banished the monster lord. How can anycreature bring them back, and lead them in an army? Explain this."
Sweetie blinked at the sudden plot. "That is not in the game... I don't think?"
"We're past the game." Button rubbed at his cheek. "Anything that happens now is not in it." He hopped in place, beanie bouncing on his head. "But forget that. How did you not know you were a bard? Didn't they do that whole big scan thing when you joined the guild?"
Sure Shale put a hoof over his face. "That was my first hint that something was awry. The miss here isn't in the guild."
Burning gaped at his new dwarven friend. "Why are you anywhere with her then?" He leveled a hoof at Button. "I shoved that one to the counter. That ain't somethin' to negotiate about."
Sidestep clucked softly, but her eyes went to Sweetie, not Sure Shale. "You had something to do with this impropriety, didn't you?"
While they were having this chat, the loud argument about the return of a new threat to the lands was being hashed out. The secretary went over and began tacking down missions one by one, leaving the board a barren wasteland. "You all know the deal. We can't send anyone outside a city during these things. We don't want you dying out there."
The room groaned as one, but the actual arguments about it were few and far between. They weren't heroes. They didn't want to face what was coming.
Burning prodded the other extra-worldly foal, peering at Sweetie. "Well, this won't stand! You want to risk your young life, fine, but you follow the blasted rules while you do it!"
Sure Shale slumped with obvious shame. "Don't tell them."
Burning glared at Sure. "Fer all we know, there's somepony out there looking fer that little lass! The rules are there fer a reason." He prodded at Sweetie all the more firmly. "Get up there and sign up. Tell 'em ah asked and found out and pointed you that way. Maybe they won't toss any books at you."
Sweetie squirmed in place. "Okay... Button, wait for me?"
Button bobbed quickly. "'Course! Then we gotta talk about this new thing." He waved at the mostly empty job board. "If it's like the last one, things could get real rough."
Sweetie flashed a bright smile. "That just means we might get to be heroes."
Burning grunted at that. "We're adventurers, not heroes."
Button had seen Sweetie and his designation. Two of them were heroes. The other three? Maybe heroes too? Could become heroes, hanging out with heroes, doing hero things... He tapped his hooves together before looking to Sidestep. "Are you ready to be a hero?"
Side perked. "M'lord? If you would wish it of me, I would gladly do so. I was ready to become one before. That is how we met."
Button had forgotten that! "Oh yeah! Well, here's your second chance."
Burning pinned his head between his hooves. "Gonna guess that invite goes fer me too."
Button watched Sweetie walk towards the counter. "Duh! Besides, think of all the treasure we may find on the way. We'll be the first ones there this time."
Burning hummed softly. "You make a compelling case there... On the other hoof, you sounded like we're leavin' the parts you know."
Button saluted sharply. "That just means I have to do my job and scout! For real!"
Sidestep smiled with pride at her small lord. "As if he would allow his assignment to go unfulfilled. I will be the blade of this party, this should go without saying."
Sure Shale peered between the three. "Really? We just heard of it and you're already charging in?"
Burning shrugged at that. "You get used to it..."
Sure Shale took a big swig from his mug. "Let's see how Miss Belle does."
Sweetie was being escorted into the back by a cheerful stallion of a secretary. "I had no idea," gushed the secretary. "To think, such an enterprising soul, working unlicensed. That's against the rules, you know."
Sweetie sagged a little, but kept up easily enough. "I was just told, which is why I'm here."
"I'm glad to hear it." He waved to the room. "Step inside and we'll get you signed up properly." Much like Button before her, she was invited to step onto a platform that scanned her with more power than Button could muster. "Bard. No element..." He took busy notes as he read through her stats, swiping along to the next page. "Song of Unity?!" He recoiled, going pale around the end of his snout. "Please... wait here a moment." He scurried right out of the room, leaving a baffled Sweetie behind.
"Is that power that unusual?" she asked of the empty room. Alas, the scanners provided no reply.
The secretary fled to the table where the others were waiting. "Do any of you have a relationship with Miss Sweetie Belle?"
Sure peered at Button. "Pretty sure only Button and I qualify."
"Both friends," finished Button. "Why?"
"No... A lot of reasons." The secretary slumped with a tired huff of air. "She has the song of unity."
Burning waved towards Button. "He told us as much. You know what it does then?"
"Yes, yes I do... But I had to be sure first." He looked over at the ponies at the table. "In order for it to work, she needs a party. She has one of those, good good... She has to be a hero... which she is..." He swallowed thickly. "Awful young for a hero, but one can't age gate destiny... Are you willing to face what lies ahead if she joins you? If not... I will turn her down gently."
Burning slammed a hoof down on the table. "Blast it all," he fumed, fire escaping in angry gusts. "She's a hero?!" He shoved at Button roughly, almost knocking him clear of the table. "And there you were, already planning it! You knew! You could see it, couldn't you?! Blast it all..."
Sure leaned back. "Do we all have to go?"
"Five." The secretary raised but one hoof. "That is the magic number, including her. Five in total. It can't be coincidence that just the right number of ponies is right here... sirs, ma'am... I just wanted to be sure before I told her."
"Told me what?"
The secretary yelped like a startled child, coming down from his jump to be facing Sweetie, who was not waiting in the scanning room. "You were supposed to stay in there!"
Sweetie inclined her head towards the table. "Why are you whispering to my party instead of talking to me?"
The secretary laughed a bit manically before he could catch himself. "Ahem, yes, of course..."
Button hopped down next to Sweetie. "This is it!"
"What is it?" Sweetie peered at him curiously. "You hear something?"
"Yes. This is how we finish the game, this game. We go with you and punch the bad thing in the face." Button excitedly danced in place. "And then it's done, ta da!"
Burning hiked a brow at the description. "You that ready to leave this behind?"
Sidestep swatted at Burning, elbowing him from the side. "M'lord has said before that he wishes to return home. That has ever been his goal." And because her lord had said it, it was law. At least in her eyes.
Sure Shale pushed his empty mug away. "Well, looks like the only way I stop foalsitting is to get the foal back to where she belongs."
The secretary relaxed. "Good... Good good. Alright then. That skill you have requires friends that will stand at your side. In your moment of darkness, you can and will draw on it to save yourself, and the world around you. Do you accept this responsibility, Miss Belle?"
Sweetie perked an ear. "It's like sis' element? I get to pull it out when a big enough baddie needs to be dealt with? Neat!"
"Right?!" burst Button in eager agreement. "I'm super jealous." Despite the words, he was grinning like a fool. "Does that make you Twilight Sparkle?"
Sweetie laughed musically. "I'd rather be Rarity." She stuck out her tongue. "But I guess so, if I'm the center of it. That makes you..." Button grinned, tense and shaking with anticipation. "That makes you... Applejack. You see things how they are and keep ponies' head straight."
"Applejack? Not my first pick, but... alright. I'll be the party's Applejack."
Burning blinked at the exchange. "Yer both usin' a lot of words we ain't never heard before. Well, I know what an Applejack is. Any in stock? I feel like I could use one right about now."
The secretary headed towards the scanning rooms. "One moment." He scurried off and returned with the badge and card. "Now you are a proper member of the guild." He nodded to Burning. "You've already made friends with an experienced agent that can break down the basic rules for you."
Burning grunted softly. "One 'perk' of being a veteran is being looked to for knowing this stuff. Get up here." He tapped the center of the table easily with a long arm and hoof. Sweetie bounced up, looking at him curiously. "The guild? Where we're going, we won't be thinking about it much. End lesson. If we survive and you still exist, I can teach you more about it. If not, it doesn't matter."
Sweetie blinked at the blunt explanation. "I guess there's a point there..." She pointed to the picked clean job board. "We won't be doing much there."
Sure Shale sighed at that. "No jobs while the world is in peril for anyone below 2nd grade." He glanced aside at Burning. "You could get some jobs."
Burning snorted at that. "Could, won't. Jobs like that pay the bills, but they're boring! Boring as anything can be."
Sidestep smiled brightly. "The gods smile on my lord's venture, providing the very key to its success." She nodded at Sweetie. "It is clearly meant to be, m'lord. Let's see your wishes made true."
Sweetie accepted the card and stuffed it away. The badge she seemed less sure about, turning it this way and that in her glowing magic.
Burning reached for it, plucking it free of her magic and swiftly attaching it to her shoulder. "There you are. Welcome to the guild."
Sweetie beamed joyously. "Officially! So... you're joining my party?"
Button sat next to her. "About that." He pointed to Burning. "He's the highest ranking member here, so..."
"So I'm in charge," grunted Burning to make that clear. "Welcome to my party." He sighed softly. "Which is going to go save the world. Blasted world just got saved! How many times does a world need savin'?!" He perked as a mug was set in front of him. "Thanks." He nodded to the waiter already dashing off. With a sniff, he confirmed. "Ah, applejack." He got to nursing that with a pleased rumble.
Button swatted at Sweetie's back. "Welcome aboard! Now, I'm the more experienced at this game, so just let me--"
She popped a hoof in his mouth, silencing him. "We're already outside the game, and I was a fan too!"
Sidestep scowled. To her credit, she avoided drawing her sword on the situation. "Unhoof my lord."
Sweetie pulled her hoof free with a cork popping sound. "Protective, isn't she? Either way, I'm a partner, not a lackey, so get way over that."
Button crossed his arms with a huff. At least he had Sidestep to be definitively in charge of... "If you know so much, where do we need to go first?"
"That's obvious." She pointed to the map of the world posted on the wall. "We head for the problem! And probably run into trouble along the way."