//------------------------------// // Have Group, Will Travel. // Story: Cross-Realm Raiding // by Bishibosh the Shaman //------------------------------// Cross-Realm Raiding Chapter Nine It was the beginning of the next day. Rainbow Dash returned from her scouting mission with the location of a possible roost but nothing else. The skies were clear, everypony was present, and there were no immediate threats. This news relieved Bishibosh as he made a few final preparations for the trek. After spending the whole night communing with the elemental spirits of this world, he concluded that the twilight's hammer was not enslaving any of them, as of now. That meant that the dragons were the only threat to worry about. Bishibosh had just one more concern. "Twilight, may I have a word with you in private?" Bishi asked. "What do you need? I'm kind of organizing our supplies into daily meals." Twilight responded. "I just need to cover some statistics with you" "That doesn't sound very private" "Well I'de rather speak of them away so that everyone can prepare in peace." "Ooooooo-kay" Twilight followed Bishibosh to the other side of the hill they are preparing on. "Twilight, what exactly is Fluttershy's talent? You suggested we bring her because of the dragons and I trust your judgement. I'm just curious" "Well, it's hard to explain. We took her to a dragon's lair once and she kinda... stared it down." "Stared it down..." "Yeah... Now that I think of it, these dragons are a little more fierce than the last she faced." "Much more fierce if it submitted to a stare down. Perhaps I should go speak with her" Bishibosh went back to the group and approached Fluttershy, who was dawned in an awkward looking suit of pillow armor. "Uh Fluttershy?" Bishi tried to conceal his obvious smirk. "Y-yes?" "May I speak to you in private also?" "Y-y-you want to talk to... me?" "Yes, it's rather important." Fluttershy backed her head into the pillow armor and nodded, and then followed Bishibosh away from the group, only this time Rainbow Dash snuck up behind to listen. "I had a talk with Twilight, and she told me of your last experience with a dragon." Bishibosh started. Fluttershy just watched, almost like she was expecting to be scolded. "It sound's impressive and very brave, many warriors in my world have met their ends trying to stare down a dragon." "H-h-he was really big." Fluttershy whispered. "I bet, but the reason I'm bringing this up is, these dragons are not going to be the same. This is dangerous. Very dangerous." "I will be bra..." "I want you to stay behind where it's safe" "-ve what!? but that if the dragon eats you!" Fluttershy shot out at Bishi pressing her hooves to his chest, the second of her being on him felt like forever to both but then she lept down and blushed. "What if you don't come back?" Bishibosh, still recovering from the shock of Fluttershy almost tackling him struggled with an answer. Rainbow almost lept out at the mention of Fluttershy staying behind but was caught by Rarity, also spying on the conversation. "What gives Rarity!" Rainbow whispered angrily. Rarity just shushed and motioned for Rainbow to watch. Bishibosh was speechless. He just looked at Fluttershy. Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he raises a hoof and places it by her cheek. "I will be fine Fluttershy, but thanks for that." "F-for what?" "The concern. I promise I will be fine, I've handled bigger monsters than dragons." Bishibosh turned around and began making his way to the group. The look in her eyes tore at his heart, he could feel what she felt because he knew the feel as well. Before he made it five feet... "I'm going" Fluttershy whispered as he walked away, but he didn't seem to hear so she said it again. "I'm going." He still didn't pay any attention. "Bishibosh! I said I'm going!" Fluttershy yelled at the top of her lungs. Bishibosh jumped at the shock again, but turned around. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yes, my friends need me, you need me, and I cannot be scared. I may get hurt but if I stay behind and none of you return then I'll just be alone... So I'm going!" Bishibosh couldn't help but smile. Maybe he was wrong, maybe she has what it takes to bring down a dragon, after all. She did it before. As Bishibosh and Fluttershy made their way back to the group, Rainbow and Rarity rushed ahead so they didn't arouse suspicion. Rainbow wanted to jump out and tackle Bishi for telling Fluttershy to stay but Rarity was right to stay her hoof. Even if he didn't intend it, Bishibosh inspired more courage out of the timid shell of Fluttershy than they could have ever hoped for. The nine ponies left for the roost site, but none of them were sure if they hoped to find it empty or full, one thing they were sure of, they wouldn't be returning until the threat of another dragon was over. The trek lasted almost two days, and finally they stopped at a clearing near the end of the second day. It was a nice spot to set up camp so everypony unloaded their tents and made camp. "How ya holdin up there Rarity?" Applejack asked. "Oh, just fine darling. I'm about to have this place looking much more presentable." Rarity commented as she pulled out a long rubbery looking sheet. Pulling a string on the end made the whole tent fling up into a mansion of tents. "Jeeze, I thought this was camp, not Silvermoon..." Fayt sighed. "Well, you certainly dont expect a lady to sleep in such a primitive looking creation. And whats this 'Silvermoon' you are talking about" Rarity sneered. "It's the capital city of the Sin'dorei, or the blood elves as they are calling themselves. Golden city, very elegant. Runs almost completely on magic." Bishibosh explained. "It's a nice city but us primitive folk prefer the moonlight and stars." "Why it sounds especially Gorgeous! Say, if we find a portal to your land can we go in and visit? I would loooove to see it." Rarity began to ogle the thought. "I don't see why not, that is unless the portal changes you from ponies to an Alliance race." Bishibosh said. "Alliance race?" Twilight asked. "Yes, this must seem foreign to you all, being as this land isn't war torn like ours, but the many races that inhabit my home land are in a constant war against each other." Bishi continued. "That sounds scary..." Fluttershy commented. "It is, it's very scary... The war has been raging for as long as I can remember. It's between two factions. The Alliance which you heard me say, and the Horde..." "And that side were you on?" Rainbow asked. "Korin, Fayt and I were with the Horde. Stood proud over it as well, until recently... Bishibosh spent the night telling all his new friends about his home world and all the battle he had fought in. Everyone was enthralled by his stories, they could not believe that a world could get so bad. At that point Bishi said... "But it wasn't always as bad as I make it sound, there were times temporary alliances were made. I have shed blood with soldiers born of human and of orc, to me they all dye the same... That is why I left the horde, and joined The Earthen Ring, now I fight to defend that war torn land. Well, I did. Now I fight for this peaceful land." "What about when you find out how to get home?" Applejack asked. "I... don't know yet." Bishi replied. "Of course you know brother, you will come back home and celebrate our victory!" Korin rocked his brothers side and cheered himself. "Yeah... maybe" The group called it a night, they had a very long day ahead.