//------------------------------// // Chapter 72 - Thrum // Story: Ark: Friendship is Survival // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -Eastern Swamp Biome: Outpost of the Traveling Merchant- “And now for the final selections of our wares,” Tharn excitedly declared, gesturing toward a collective of shelves, crates, and barrels. “This section is for our more ‘Combat Experienced’ customers—if you catch my drift.” He finished with a wink. Nearby, Harley and Moss aided the male and female armored apes in moving several large and heavy goods. And true to their word, the apes had always kept an eye on the rainbow mare.  Despite the watchful security protocol, Rainbow Dash is filled with awe as she absorbs all that is laid bare before her eyes: weapons and armor of several varieties and compositions, along with saddles for nearly all of The Island’s prehistoric lifeforms.  “So, whaddya think?” Tharn inquired, although he already knew the answer just by looking at the equine’s expression. “Th-this is… wow, you guys don’t play around.” However, a nearby shelf instantly garnered Rainbow’s interest. And as she approached, she could make out several vials filled with two different colors of liquids, green and red, each separated and evenly displayed on either side of the shelving. “Whoa,” She said while leaning in, eyeing the vials. “What are these?” “Ah!” Tharn claps his hands together, walking over to the merchandise to join the equine. He then rests an arm against the shelf, followed by his remaining limb draping a hand across the inventory.  “These beauties are among our most famous of wares. See, they’re crafted by Sir. Gideon Apesworth from the Tribe of Maimuta, and we engage in friendly trade with them to procure these fine concoctions. Then, we sell them to the other tribes of the island.”    “What do they do?” Rainbow asked. “They kind of look like… potions.” She could only reminisce about a particular Zebra living in the Everfree Forest. Tharn chuckles. “You could say that.” He plucks one of the green vials from the inventory with his right hand, presenting it before the pegasus. “This simple green tonic, which Gideon dubbed Energy Brew, quickly rejuvenates your body’s natural energy stores. I can assure you that the name is very well-deserved.” The equine’s eyes shot wide open. “W-wait, you mean to tell me that it can make you feel one-hundred percent awesome after or even during a workout?!” “Hah!” Tharn cackled. “Yup, it sure can, but don’t you go thinkin’ I’m gonna explain the science behind it, that’s Sir. Gideon’s thing. It comes in handy during any and all types of physical activities, but between you and me, it’s especially famous amongst our more, well,” He leans in closer, an open palm against his right cheek as Rainbow perks an ear up. “Reproductive customers,” Tharn whispered, pulling away from a now flustered and wide-eyed equine before dancing and rolling his hips in place.  “Bow chica bow wowwa.”  “Ehehehe,” Rainbow flustered sheepishly, looking away and flagging her tail. But a sudden thought comes to her, conjuring a chuckle. “Better hope Princess Cadence never gets her hooves on those.” “Uh, what…? Who?” Tharn blinks. “That some kind of Oviraptor or somethin’?” “Oh, hah, n-never mind that, j-just rambling on,” Rainbow quickly answered, clearing her throat. “A-anyway.” “Nice segues.” Tharn deadpanned. “Energy Brew makes you recover faster, got it.” Rainbow desperately wanted to change the subject, gesturing to the red vials with a wing. “What about those?” Tharn nods as he places the Energy Brew back onto the appropriate shelf side, plucking a red vial from the adjacent side and presenting it like its counterpart. “This one is called Medical Brew,” He began. “It’s pretty self-explanatory, but if you want the science behind it, Gideon’s the ape you want to talk to; I just sell it. You know, I often try to bug the old coot for the recipe, but he never caved.”    Rainbow’s astonishment was absolute, and she certainly did not regret following Herbert and Shirley. Her gamble had paid off, and this was an opportunity just ripe for the pickings.  A sudden and encroaching presence causes her ears to flicker in response, her head turning back to the direction of the nearby house, reminding her mildly of Fluttershy’s cottage.  The armored female Giganto stops before Rainbow Dash, having broken away from Harley, Moss, and the male Giganto, seemingly departing from the home before starting their approach.  “Thrum want see you,” The armored female said, her way of talking almost akin to the Diamond Dogs by Rainbow’s comparison. “Come with, now.” “You heard her,” Tharn comments, Rainbow gazing back at him. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again, and hey, maybe you’ll make a proper purchase next time.” He finished, turning around and walking away. “Wait, hold on a second,” Rainbow called out with an extended forelimb. “What do you guys even use as currency?” “The big guy will explain that,” Tharn drops while walking away, waving a backward hand and heading towards the watch tower. Rainbow sighs, turning her gaze back to the armored giganto. “Sorry about that; uh, what’s your name?” “Brega,” She responds, pointing over her shoulder with a thumb, indicating the armored male in the short distance, “That is husband. Name Fraugher. No more talk, you come.” “A-alright…”    Brega turns around and leads the way back to the nearby home, Rainbow following close behind yet keeping a respective distance. Along the way, she spots another large variety of Giganto tending to a pair of Sarcosuchus… and a frog large enough to swallow a pony whole. Rainbow’s hooves continued to carry her forth, but her head remained glued on that frog for a moment longer before turning her gaze forward again.   Brega suddenly stops, standing aside and gesturing toward the most prominent structure of the entire outpost, two large mammalians guarding either side of the entrance:   “You go. Thrum inside. No try anything, or Brega make you dead.” Rainbow winced, followed by saluting Brega with a forelimb. “You won’t need to worry about that with me.” -No way in Tartarus am I messing with these guys after all that stuff I just saw!- She cautioned inertly. -But If I play my cards right, they can definitely help us.- “Good. Brega leave. Bye.”  The female ape departs, leaving Rainbow Dash to stare at the structure for a moment. She takes a breath and steels her nerves, trotting forth and steadily approaching the small flight of stairs resting between the two mammalian guards.  “Hey guys,” The pegasus greets, waving a forelimb. “I, uh, was invited to see Thrum. Can I pass without you guys, you know… turning me into paste?” The mammals shared a glance before turning back to Rainbow and snorting in unison. In truth, and upon the rainbow mare’s closer observation, their appearance looked like something that could’ve existed on Equus, a hybrid of a pony, or a saddle arabian, with an ape. The mammal to the right taps the stairs with a powerful and extended arm, snorting again while flickering its ears. Rainbow could only pray to Celestia that that meant she could proceed. She envied Fluttershy’s ability to speak to animals right about now…  Her hooves clopped loudly against the wooden stairs as she scaled them, reaching their precipice where a circular closed door waited to greet her climb. Through the door’s window, Rainbow could tell that the sound of her clopping had stirred a presence within, and someone soon fidgets with the door’s handle from the other side of the obstacle. The door is pushed wide open with a creak, and the cyan mare is momentarily stunned by what she saw: “Well, what do we have here?!” The top-hat-wearing ape with a fruity and powerful male voice inquired. “Wait!” He suddenly boomed with a raised hand, stopping Rainbow from properly forming a response.  “I smell the scent of a potentially lucrative relationship with a potentially invaluable customer! Then again, that could always be the swamp—but still!”   -Wait... d-did I just get insulted…?- “My name is Thrum, as I’m sure you already know,” He greets with his arms spread apart. “But you can also call me the Traveling Merchant. Welcome to my Outpost, ohoho!”  “Hey there,” The pegasus greets, but mildly thrown off. She was not expecting Thrum to be so... expressive. “My name’s Rainbow Dash, from the Tribe of Harmony. Nice to meet ya.” “Haha, well, I can certainly see how you got that name.” The ape ‘Hums’ in thought with a hand placed at his chin. “I must say, you’re a unique looking Equus.” Rainbow chuckles. “Yeah, I get that a lot around here. Also, the appropriate word is ‘Awesome,’ but the unique thing works, too.” "Heh, I like you already, Rainbow. Ah! But why are we out here? This simply won't do." Thrum backs up into the home and stands aside. “Please, come in, come in! And have a seat!” He welcomed her with a gesture before pointing to a nearby table with accompanying chairs, his arm lowering to his side. Rainbow beams. "Sounds good," She said while trotting in merrily, Thrum gently closing the door behind her. The pegasus takes her seat at the table, particularly at the side closer to the exit while Thrum makes his way around and rests directly across from her. "Now then.“ The merchant pulls out his chair, takes his seat, and maneuvers himself closer to the table, resting his large arms onto the furniture. "Let us discuss and plan out our next transaction—ohoho, quite! Shall we?”