“Crap, crap, crap, I’m late, I hope she doesn’t still have that stick from the last time this happened”, dressed in what he dubbed his “Awesome Analyzing Cloak”, Mark was currently free-running through Ponyville marketplace to Twilight’s treebrary as fast as he could.
'Awesome Analyzing Cloak? Treebrary? Celestia, you need some drastic help.'
It had been three weeks since his first day in Ponyville. Despite his rather, chaotic introduction to town, Mark still remained a friend to Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie. Pinkie even threw him a big welcome surprise party the day after, though he couldn’t remember all the details due to passing out after losing a cider drinking contest to the pink pony.
He eventually got on Rainbow's good side after he said he could get her front row tickets to the next Wonderbolts show since FleetFoot owed him a favor.
Applejack on the other hand...he was pretty sure that she didn't hate him anymore. Didn't mean she liked him, but she was warming up since he was good on his word for working for her family. Luckily for him, she never caught him during one of his hour long breaks.
When he wasn't goofing off, working for AJ, or both, Twilight decided that it was best to utilize that time to practice and study magic so that Mark didn't make any mistakes again. Especially when it involved fire. Mark didn't really have much of a say in whether he wanted to or not, since Twilight apparently wouldn't take no for an answer. Despite this though, Mark considered Twilight a friend, albeit a strict one, and was surprised to find himself mostly enjoying his stay in Ponyville.
As Mark caught Twilight’s tree in sight he smiled. ‘I think I I’m gonna make it, no chance of another lecture and headache tonight.’
‘Why are you constantly tempting fate?’
****************************************************************************************
Mark’s stopped to catch his breath before he would enter. As he was about to knock he swore he heard Pinkie Pie in the distance.
“Ear-Flop, Eye-flutter, knee-twitch!!!”
“Wait, what was that abou-” Before he could comprehend the pink enigma, the door slammed open crushing him between the door and the bark of the tree and Twilight walked out with a small dragon on her back munching on a ruby.
“Jeez Twi, you need to calm down he’ll probably be here soon,” said the dragon.
“Sure Spike, and when he does I’ll have to give him yet another lecture of about how being late affects my schedule,” Twilight huffed.
“But isn't this kind of thing that Future-Twilight warned you about that one time?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.
Twilight frowned, “Spike, that isn't the point, this is the fourth time he’s ran late, and the last time I had to hit him over the head with a stick, like Bastion said in that letter, just to keep him awake.”
“Which was HILARIOUS, seriously you should have seen you two!” Spike began laughing at the memory, as Twilight’s frown deepened.
“Spike, this is important! I need another unicorn’s help with this new and improved teleportation spell and Rarity is busy with her spa day with Fluttershy. With this spell, I theorize it will lessen the consumption of magic in the caster and-” She was interrupted as a groan emanated from the behind the opened door.
Twilight closed the door to see Mark who was sticking to the the tree, slowly slide down to the ground.
“Ooooohhh, did someone catch the number on that cart?” Mark said as he held a hoof to his head still dazed and confused.
“OH MY GOSH! I’m so sorry Mark, I didn't know you were there, are you okay?” Twilight spoke, worry and guilt evident on her face as Spike was on the ground rolling with laughter from seeing this.
“I’ve been better but no damage-” he stood only to fall back down and scowl, “-permanent damage done anyways.” Mark stood up again with a smirk replacing his scowl. “Besides, it's not like it's the first time I've been hit in the head with a piece of wood,” he stated with as much sarcasm as his dazed head could currently muster.
“Well as THE student of the royal tactician you need to learn to stay awake when somepony is teaching, lecturing, or talking-” Twilight glared at Mark as he pretended to sleep, adding a loud snore. Her horn glowed with purple aura and a reasonably thick, four foot stick popped out of thin air and began to approach Mark.
Sensing something amiss, Mark peeked open an eye to see what she was doing and immediately, his eyes shot open and he desperately jumped away upon seeing the stick.“OKAYOKAYOKAY! No sleeping on the job, I get it! Now please put that thing away!”
Mark’s gaze never left the stick as Twilight nodded and the stick popped back out of existence...for now.
Twilight smirked and lifted Spike back onto her back. “Good. Now lets get going."
*****************************************************************************************
“So why are we doing this at the edge of Everfree?” Mark asked, occasionally breaking eye contact with Twilight to glance uneasily at the forest.
“Its so nothing bad happens if we do the spell in town.”
“So basically you want the guaranteed bad thing to happen outside of town. I guess your calculation for the spell isn't all that it’s cracked up to be,” Mark said provocatively and chuckled as he got an annoyed glare from Twilight.
'You think she'd be used to this by now.'
“We both know that new spells should always be tested in a controlled environment where no one will get hurt,” she responded, eyes still locked on Mark.
“Except for possibly the tester, the tested upon, and the spectators,” Mark smiled knowingly, looking over Twilight's shoulder.
Twilight's brow furrowed in confusion. “Spectators?”, she turned her head and followed his gaze only to have her vision filled with large blue eyes. “GAH!!!”
“HEYATWILIGHTWEHEARDYOUWEREDOINGANEWSPELLANDWEWANTEDTOWATCHANDHAVEAPICNICWELLCANWECANWEHUHHUHHUH?!?” Pinkie practically shouted into Twilight’s startled face.
“Pinkie, darling, you simply must calm down, Twilight will need absolute concentration if she’s going to get this spell done correctly. Now please be a dear and help Fluttershy and I set up the blanket and food,” Rarity said as she levitated a picnic basket while the timid yellow pegasus carried a blanket on her back.
Mark wondering if the rest of their friends were going to show up scanned his surroundings to look for them. He was rewarded with the sight of an orange, stetson wearing mare off in the distance carrying another picnic basket and walking in their direction.
‘I bet myself 100 bits that its full of apple products’ he thought, as he then started looking in the only possible place for their last friend Rainbow Dash, the sky.
Looking up he spotted a few clouds but nothing to indicate Dash was nearby so he just sat on his haunches and cloud-gazed until it was time for the experiment, which, judging by how well he knew the mares wouldn't start until AJ showed up with the last of the food. After a few minutes of waiting he caught something in the corner of his eye, something off about one particular cloud namely the fact that it wasn't moving with the wind like the other clouds. Casting a small spell to increase his vision a bit, he examined the cloud more until he was rewarded with a glimpse of part of somepony's prismatic tail barely sticking out.
‘She must be asleep.......I think a little wakey-wakey is in order.’
'Just be ready for her vengeance cause knowing her, it'll be swift.'
Mark’s horn became surrounded by the yellow aura of his magic and the cloud that Rainbow was napping on now moved towards the picnic area Rarity and the others set up. Then, with a quick ten second long cloudwalking spell, Mark lightly bucked the cloud towards a nearby tree so that it moved a reasonable speed. He turned and started skipping back to the picnic when he heard a small but satisfying *thump*.
'Looks like those magic lessons are paying off.'
'Yeah yeah, I'll be impressed when you can actually remain awake halfway through said lessons.'
“WHAT THE HAY!” Rainbow shouted, having awoken from her nap and now looking for the culprit. She almost immediately spotted Mark skipping towards her friends and he stopped, turned his head towards her, then with a twinkle in his eye gave a grin that would make Pinkie proud before chuckling and returning to his skipping. “OH, IT. IS. ON!” Rainbow said loudly, more to herself then Mark.
“I thought you and Fluttershy were going to the spa today,” Twilight said looking between the ivory unicorn and yellow pegasus.
“Well dear, we were, but once we heard you were finally coming back out of that dusty library, we decided it was best for all of us to spend some time together,” Rarity stated, taking a small sip of tea from her thermos.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Oh, I wasn't cooped up for that long.”
“Twilight, between helping Mark with his magic, reading that spell-book by Starswirl, theorizing, and calculating for the new spell, you haven’t exactly left the library all week,” Spike chimed in a matter-of-fact manner.
“Oh, well, um...heh.” Twilight blushed and she scratched her head sheepishly. “But, couldn't it wait for later, I mean, if something-”
“Don’t you mean When something goes wron-YIPE!” Mark was interrupted when a stick suddenly materialized and smacked his flank.
With a victorious smile, Twilight released the 'stick' spell and continued, “As I was saying, IF something goes wrong, then I don’t want anypony else getting caught up in the possible crossfire, after-effects, I mean what if....”
As Twilight continued talking to her friends about the possible dangers to being here, Mark was still nursing the spot Twilight smacked and began to theorize all possible ways that Rainbow could get back at him.
********************************************************************************************
Rainbow on the other hand had gotten to know Mark well enough to know that he would probably think of all the logical and long-winded ways to for her to get back at him. So she decided that today’s payback would be quick, extremely simple, but still funny.
He would get a pie to the face.
‘Mark’ll never see this coming.’ She schemed as she rapidly made her way to Sugarcube Corner, leaving a rainbow streak.
*******************************************************************************************
“-or, the possibility of magical backfire-”
“Hey, Twilight,” Mark tried getting her attention. Though she was too focused on explaining to pay any heed.
“-I mean I don’t want anypony to get hurt-”
“TWILIGHT!” The mare jumped as Mark shouted at her.
“Look, your always good at safety-inspecting your own spells. I highly doubt that anypony but me will be affected by whatever you have planned and I'm pretty tough, I mean I did get bucked by AJ a few times after all. So sit down, shut up, and eat some of this delicious apple fritter,” Mark said, stuffing some of said fritter in his mouth.
Twilight sighed in defeat then smiled warmly, “Fine, but don’t blame me if the teleportation causes you to lose your lunch.” That caused Mark to pause and stare at the rest of his fritter before slowly continuing to munch, eliciting a giggle from Twilight as she sat down and began to enjoy the meal with her friends.
***************************************************************************************
Mark let out a groan.
“Are you awake?” Asked an unfamiliar voice.
Mark’s eyes began to flutter open trying to adjust to the light. When he opened them he noticed that he was in a large hut-tent hybrid and was greeted by the sight of a strange creature. It had green eyes, cream colored skin, wore a blue dress/outfit with golden trim, and had its dark green mane tied like a ponytail. All in all, it looked kinda like a strange furless monkey.
‘Where in Equestria did Twilight send me? What is that, some kind of sapient monkey? I've never seen this species before.' Mark's thoughts came slower than usual and his head throbbed a bit. Why does something just feel...off?’
“I found you unconscious on the plains,” The creature continued.
Upon hearing plains, Mark dug into his knowledge of Equestrian geography for his location, ‘Am I somewhere between Everfree and Appleloosa? Those are the only plains I know of and I thought only Buffalo lived there.’
“I am Lyn, of the Lorca tribe. You’re safe now. I hope the clothes fit you alright, when I found you all you had on was this green cloak,” Lyn said as she blushed a little.
‘Lorca? Clothes?’ Mark kicked off the blanket that covered him and began to examine his new articles of clothing, they were similar to Lyn's except they were of a lighter green than his cloak. Overall they looked pretty alright and felt soft to touch but Mark stopped when he realized something.
‘Wait, what was that? My hooves don’t feel like that!’ Mark instantly sat up and held his front hooves to his face. What once were hooves were now claws, like Spike had, but were soft instead of sharp, and of similar color to the 'Lyn'.
‘Deep breaths, breathe deeply, no seriously, try to remain fucking calm!’
Mark was beginning to hyperventilate as more confused thoughts rushed through his head.
‘What happened to me? Is this part of Twilight’s spell?!? No, ponies haven't figured out complete transformation spells. That's only changelings. Oh, I know this is a dream, a big, lucid dream. Probably a prank by Luna! Haha, yeah, that's it, a prank.’
‘Well...denial works too I guess. At least for now. Just don’t go overboard with it.’
Noticing Mark beginning to shiver and breathe rapidly, Lyn rushed over to a jug before pouring some of its contents into a bowl. “Here take this, it should help you calm down,” she said as she watched him grab it and almost drop it with his new appendages. Then she continued her questions. “Who are you? Can you remember your name?”
It took the former pony to process that he was just asked a question. “Um, j-just call me Mark,” he said as he shakily sipped the concoction. ‘Is that peppermint?’
“Your name is Mark? What an odd-sounding name.” Mark raised an eyebrow at her while she giggled. “But pay me no mind. It is a good name.”
'It's also not even my full name.'
“So why were you naked in nought but a cloak on the plains? Also when I found you why were you covered in crushed cherries? I thought you were seriously wounded with all that red.”
Mark stopped drinking the peppermint drink as remembered how Rainbow Dash had dropped the cherry pie on his head when he wasn't looking. He honestly didn't think that Rainbow would do something so simple yet effective. But then focusing back on his strange dream returned to the forefront of his mind. “Where I come from clothes aren't necessarily required. And the cherries were just kinda payback.” Mark responded with a shrug.
Lyn’s eyebrow raised at that statement “W-Well, your a traveler then. What brings you to the Sacae Plains? Would you share your story with me?”
'Sacae Plains? Never heard of it, must have made it in my imagination.'
'No, but as long as your not freaking the hell out, I'll let you remain in your denial.'
Mark opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted as a crash and shouts erupted from somewhere in the distance.
“What was that noise? I’ll go see what’s happening. Mark, wait here for me,” Lyn said as she got up and exited the tent hybrid.
‘Yeah, like I’m just gonna go walking around on my hind legs when I've barely figured out my body.’
‘Out of context that could sound so dirty.’
'Then again...This is probably the best dream I've had in a long time.'
Mark carefully lifted his legs off of the bed he was on and began his attempts to stand, just like Lyn, before losing his balance and falling back on the bed. Noticing a nearby staff, he grabbed it, unsteadily with his new hands, and lifted himself back off the bed using the staff to support him. He made it about 4 steps before Lyn burst back into the tent-hybrid surprising him, causing him to lose focus, and fall onto the floor.
“Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern Mountains! Oh, are you ok?” She helped Mark get back onto his feet (and staff).
‘There’s bandits here? How exciting. At least I get some application for tactics. There's probably a large group and I can command the local militia or something’ Mark thought to himself as he watched Lyn pull a sword out of trunk.
“Lyn, what are you doing?”
She hesitated a bit before responding with a look mixed with fear and determination. “They must be planning on raiding the local villages. I...I have to stop them! If that’s all of them, I think I can handle them on my own.” She went to the tent’s opening before turning back to Mark, “You’ll be safe in here, Mark.”
Mark gave her a flat look, “Seriously, your just gonna leave me here, in this tent-thing, in my own dream, when something exciting is happening. I don’t think so Lyn.”
Lyn raised her eyebrow when he said dream, but replied, “What? Do you want to help? Well can you use a weapon?”
Mark cringed as he recalled what Bastion had said after one day of sword training...with wooden swords, “Mark, in all my years in the Royal Guard, I have never seen somepony hurt themselves more with a piece of wood than you have in just five minutes with a wooden shortsword. Especially when the training dummy is stationary.”
“Um...no. Good at running, dodging, and tactics but I usually can't actually do direct damage that well” 'Unless its to myself.' Mark responded with a sheepish grin.
“Ah, I see... so you’re a strategist by trade? An odd profession, but...” Before she could say anything else another shout was heard and it was closer. “Very well. We’ll go together! Come on!” Lyn exclaimed grabbing Mark, who barely had time to grab the staff, and then practically dragging him with her to a group of nearby trees overlooking a vast plain.
“Over here! If you want to help, Mark, I could use your advice. I’ll protect you, so just stay close to me.”
Mark scanned the soon to be battlefield. There were three bandits all with axes, the toughest looking one and probable leader was at the entrance to a much larger tent-hybrid while the other two were on their way. The area was simply a big expanse of plains so stealth and terrain advantage was out of the question.
“Lyn, how fast are you?” He sighed from disappointment there was no challenge in his own dream.
“I’m quick with a blade if that’s what your asking, why?”
“Those bandits look like they rely more on their strength than anything else. Quickly take out that one-” he pointed to the closest “-by surprise, the other will probably see you. Then rely on your speed to take him out too. Go now, I’ll catch up.” And with that Lyn began to sprint towards the closest bandit, sword at the ready. Mark on the other hand was slowly following her as he still kept learning how to walk again.
Mark looked up from his feet a brief moment to see that Lyn had already taken out the first bandit, and like he predicted the second bandit was on his way.
‘I think I’m getting the hang of this, still why in Tartarus would I dream of something like this, it doesn’t make sense, my imagination isn’t that bad. There should have at least been forty bandits and a small group of militia or army squad to command. What do you think Brain?’
‘Are you going to finally listen to me again or are you just going to keep ignoring the fact that you’re in DENIAL!’
‘Denial of what? That even I can have some kick-ass dreams that utilize what I learned? Besides its better than those memory-dreams I have occasionally.’
‘Oh so now you hear me. Now you finally hear your frickin subconscious, seriously I’m trying to keep you us sane and alive.’
‘Do you really think it’s sane to actively talk to my subconscious like this?’
‘...Shut up and go help Lyn.’
‘Thought so.’
When Mark caught up to a waiting Lyn, she was holding her left arm as some red seeped through.
“Sorry to ask you this but can you please help me apply some vulnerary to my arm? That other bandit was faster than I gave him credit for. It’s in the pouch here-” she indicated to the pouch hanging on her left thigh.
“Um, sure but first off what’s a vulnerary and how do I apply it?” Mark asked while sifting through her pouch.
Lyn gritted her teeth a bit, “Its basically a poultice that heals wounds up to a certain point, just take some and rub it onto my arm.”
“Won’t that hurt?”
“Whatever’s in it numbs the nerves before healing, now please before that last bandit hurts anyone in that ger.”
“Ger?”
Lyn gave Mark a look indicating she wasn't in the mood for explanations. “The building.”
Mark’s mouth made an O shape as he did as instructed and watched in wonder as the cut on Lyn’s arm healed almost completely. He then proceeded to wrap it in some cloth.
“Ok Lyn, there’s only one bandit left and he’s probably the idiotic leader, I mean seriously you just took out his two only men and he didn't notice, and a bandit group of three? Come on. I'll provoke him into anger, though a strong motivator, it’s harder to think clearer, and that leads to stupid mistakes. So just use your speed to your advantage and he should be a piece of cake. Also be careful of that wound since it's still fresh.” Mark said still holding the staff, but now standing up straighter and able to walk slowly rather than hobble.
Lyn nodded closely following Mark as they walked towards the last bandit who turned his head away from the Ger and finally noticed the two and his dead men.
“MY MEN! Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?”
Mark chuckled, “Wait just a sec, "the beast"? Couldn’t you think of something better like "the evicerator"? Are you called the beast because your as stupid as one? Nah, its probably because beasts are all you have any experience with, if you know what I mean.” Mark said as provocatively as possible.
Lyn tried stifling a laugh but was a little too late, while Batta’s face turned red from anger (and probably embarrassment).
“I’ll fucking kill you, you little piece of shit!”
Mark continued, “My, my, do you kiss your mother with that mouth? I thought you were only kissing bea-” Lyn barely managed to push Mark out of the way as Batta’s axe came down where Mark was, instead only getting a gash on Lyn’s side.
“Mark, if I fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!” Lyn shouted at Mark before dodging and cutting Batta’s leg.
Adrenaline at its highest, Lyn focused and took a brief step back before practically disappearing. All Mark saw was the few glints of her sword as she then reappeared next to Batta who was suddenly sporting a new gash across his chest and neck.
'That was pretty damn cool.'
'Please for your own sake and mine, never piss her off.'
“What? How...How did you-” was all Batta was able to mutter before both cuts shot out blood, covering a fourth of Mark’s face. Mark touched the blood, on his face and stared at his now red hand, eyes frozen on the red as it seeped down.
‘This won’t be pretty. Deep breaths. DEEP BREATHS!’
‘It's warm...I can feel it...I can smell it.......it-it’s not a dream......IT’S NOT A DREAM!!!’
Darkness was all Mark saw as he fell to the ground.
*******************************************************************************************
It had been about 12 hours since the magical experiment and Twilight was pacing a circular hole in the library.
Upon arriving at Canterlot, Mark was supposed to immediately send a letter with a spell to Spike stating that it was either successful or needed work. After the first hour of waiting for Mark and no response the picnic ended and everypony returned to their lives assuming that Mark was just being himself. Now though, it was obvious that something had gone wrong and Twilight had sent a letter to the Princess in hopes of a solution or Mark’s whereabouts.
A bright flash of light practically blinded Twilight, as Princess Luna made her appearance.
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE, THY NEWS HAS BROUGHT GREAT DISTRESS AMONGST US ABOUT OUR FRIEND MARKED DEFIANCE!!!” Luna said in her Royal Canterlot Voice, almost deafening Twilight.
“Princess Luna please, we’re inside, and also, I KNOW! HE WAS SUPPOSED TO REPLY BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT HE NEVER DID!” Tears began to form in Twilight’s eyes as she also lowered the volume of her voice, “A-And now I don’t know if he’s safe or if I just put him in danger. He joked about their probably being a mistake or that he would relax a bit once he got here but... I mean he wouldn't make his friends worry about him this much for a prank would he?” She looked up at the Princess, the tears now falling freely.
Luna looked at the crying lavendar unicorn, it hurt her to see one of the few ponies who reached out to be her friend in this state, but she also had to know the truth at what she and Celestia had discovered about Mark’s disappearance. “Twilight Sparkle, the situation is currently very serious, Celestia and I upon receiving thy letter several hours ago, both cast spells to detect him and see if he was in Canterlot. He did not show, so we had expanded our spells to Ponyville with still no such luck. My sister decided to take the work upon herself so that I may raise the moon, and expanded the spell......Twilight...... Marked Defiance is nowhere in Equestria.”
Twilight began to sob, “Oh no, this is all my fault, I must have made a mistake, if I had only checked the calculations again-” but before she could berate herself anymore, Luna placed her hoof across Twilights mouth to keep her from talking.
“However, Twilight, you must remember, this is Marked Defiance of whom we are speaking, he may cause as much trouble as Discord sometimes, but Armored Bastion has said many things about him, including that he has the most annoying habit of doing whatever he wants no matter the obstacle. If we cannot find him, then he will find us or in the most likely case, cause a noticeable incident. Now, as much as we love having ponies enjoy our night, you need to sleep or you will not be able to think clearly.”
Twilight sniffed then nodded, her eyes red from crying, “Yes princess, and thank you. I'll try to find out what went wrong tomorrow after I get some rest.”, she sniffed again before turning and walking up the stairs, head hung low.
Princess Luna looked down at a silver band, which currently glowed a light blue, she wore on her fore hoof as she remembered how she got it.
"Oh don't give me that look you're the first real friend I've had in awhile, it's a gift, here take it." Mark clasped the silver band onto Luna. "I enchanted it myself. It's supposed to help warn you of danger, kinda like spider-mane's spider sense! Oh right you don't know who that is, well whatever. Now while the night is young, lets go put green dye in Blueblood's conditioner." Mark said with a smile as he began trotting down the moonlit hallway.
Luna sighed, 'Please stay safe Mark', before teleporting back to Canterlot.
*****************************************************************************************
Mark’s eyes fluttered open for the second time and was greeted by the same sight he had the first time except Lyn’s expression was one of worry.
“Good morning Mark, are you awake yet?”
Mark nodded, “Yes, I just need some time to think. I've got a lot on my mind right now.”
“Alright, I’ll go make us some breakfast then and leave you to your thoughts, call for me if you need anything,” Lyn said uncertainly as she exited the ger, leaving Mark alone.
‘I’m not in Equestri- no not even Equis anymore am I?’
‘I know only as much as you do so I can’t say for certain.’
‘Well thats just fucking fantastic, at least the people who aren’t trying to kill us are nice.’
‘Nice? Lyn took you in when we were unconscious, fed you, defended you, and is now cooking you breakfast, she’s the fucking paragon of whatever species she is.’
‘Oh thats right I’m some kind of monkey thing now too. Its actually not that bad, if only I could walk normal without the stick.’
‘At least its not being used on your head anymore.’
‘Do you think we’ll be able to get back home?’
‘I already told you, I know only as much as you do, but if Pinkie can break any kind of explanation for how she does stuff, I’m sure you’ll eventually figure it out and we’ll be home in no time.’
‘Good to know.’
Mark stretched before lifting his legs so he was sitting on the bed. ‘Ok so first things first, lets see if I still have magic.’ He instinctively pointed his head towards the a nearby trunk and felt the magic flow, but nothing happened. ‘What the hay, why won’t it work!’
‘Well you don’t have a horn to focus it from.’
Mark placed a hand where his horn should have been. ‘So, no magic. Fan-fucking-tastic.'
]‘Well you could try using another part of your body as a focus.’
‘Thats a possibility but first, I’m honestly getting kinda warm in these clothes. Seriously whats the point in wearing this full set of clothing, the bandits only had pants on basically.’
]‘Well they were probably poor.’
‘Because they were idiots.’
]‘Yup.’
Mark, mostly used to using the muscles in his new hands, managed to get undressed.
‘Wait a sec, there’s one last one here, kinda like the pants but alot more tight and shorter, what the hay is the point of more clothes underneath.’
]‘Must be a cultural thing.’
Mark slipped the final article of clothing off. ‘You know, now that I think about it, I actually don’t know what I look like ever since I changed into...whatever I am.’
“Hey Lyn, is there a mirror I can borrow?” Mark called out.
“Sure, its behind the dresser, also breakfast is almost ready.”
“Thank you Lyn.”
Mark looked behind the dresser, found the mirror, which was about half his height, and glanced into it. What stared back at him was a creature like Lyn, except the creature staring back had Mark’s familiar ice blue eyes, brown mane with white highlights, and a stronger chin.
‘I may not know what counts as handsome here, but I bet I’m still a sexy beast.’
]‘Don’t get cocky. Speaking of, you should probably cover up before-.’
Mark turned from the mirror as he heard Lyn enter the ger.
“Mark, breakfast is-AH, MARK!" Lyn’s whole face was red as she tried to avoid looking directly at Mark. "PLEASE PUT YOUR CLOTHES BACK ON!!!”
‘Did she just glance between my legs? Why? its not like she can see-’
Mark looked down.
‘While you were being a narcissist, I noticed you don't have a sheathe anymore, dumbass. In other news, she just saw everything.’
Now it was Mark’s turn to turn red as he fumbled to get his clothes back on.
Several minutes later...
The following breakfast was met with an awkward silence until Mark decided it was time to break it.
“Hey Lyn, I’m sorry, I was worried about something, and was being selfish. I haven’t even asked if you were alright. The wound that the bandit gave you looked like it could have been serious. I should have been paying more attention rather than thinking of my next insult.”
“Mark, I’m fine thank you for the concern but I was carrying plenty of vulneraries. But you need to be more careful. If I hadn't acted, you would have been split in two.”
Mark sighed, “Yeah, I know. Also I’m sorry about earlier with the clothes thing.”
Blushing at the memory Lyn replied. “It’s okay Mark, you said it yourself that you don’t wear clothes often where your from, I was just... surprised is all.”
“I think that’s an understatement,” Mark chuckled.
Lyn’s expression changed back to the worried one from earlier. “Are you sure you're okay? After the fight you fainted, and you've been unconscious till this morning.”
“Lyn I’m fine but even though my profession is tactics, this was honestly my first real live battle. ‘It also didn't help that I thought this was some elaborate dream.’
“Ah, then that fight must have taken a lot out of you, especially since you had just woken up.” Lyn paused for a moment in thought before continuing, "Say Mark... I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing now.” Mark responded with a smile though Lyn still looked serious.
“You have some experience in the ways of war, even if you it’s not from real battles yet. It’s just.... would you allow me to travel with you?”
‘Crap. As friendly as she is, I should try to find a way home.’
‘Well a bodyguard would be nice.’
‘But I don’t want to put her in anymore danger, especially since you know how I am when talking to other people. I think an intervention for her is required.’
“Only if it’s okay with your parents,” Mark said in a matter of fact tone.
‘That should do it.’
“What? You...want me to get permission from my parents?” Lyn’s expression fell as she seemed like holding back tears. “My mother and my father...died six months ago.”
Mark physically cringed.
‘Shit, shit, shit, now I’m an insensitive prick.’
‘You were already one.’
‘Shut up brain.’
“My people, the Lorca, they don’t...I’m the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and... they killed so many people.” Lyn struggled as she said the last part. “The tribe was scattered. My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people, but I’m so young and our tribe is very old fashion. They wouldn’t follow a woman. No one would follow me.” Lyn closed her eyes to hold back the tears but felt something warm envelope her. She opened her eyes again as Mark had her in a hug, then the dam finally burst for Lyn as she openly sobbed into Mark’s shoulder.
Mark began to pat her head.‘She’s just like how I used to be, huh?’
‘Except there was no one to comfort her. No one to force her to make friends, to help her.’
‘Well, there is now.’
“Sniff..I’m sorry. I’ve been alone for so long...”
“Lyn, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. You took care of me, saved me, fought bandits to protect others, and I have the feeling you're a natural leader. If those others don't want to follow you then that is their loss and you're better off without them,” Mark said comfortingly.
“*Sniff*, you're right. No. No more. I will shed no more tears.” She said as she wiped her eyes and took a moment to compose herself. “Thank you, I needed that. I feel much better now.”
Mark released the hug and sat where he was earlier. “Lyn, why do you want to travel with me?”
Lyn looked into Mark’s eyes, fierce determination making itself clear. “Mark, I want-no I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father’s death! Yesterday’s battle taught me something. I won’t become stronger by sitting here alone. Mark tell me that you’ll help me train, that you’ll let me travel with you! Please,” she pleaded, holding Mark’s hand in a vice-like grip.
‘I don’t think I can say no to that.’
‘Why would you?’
‘Just thinking of how this can all go wrong, luckily she hasn't actually asked any questions that are too personal yet, like where I’m from.’
‘You can’t hide it forever though.’
Mark gave her a trademark smirk, “Sure, I mean how can I say no to that face,” Mark said, pointing at Lyn.
Suddenly Mark was trapped in the hardest hug of his life, “You will? That’s wonderful! Thank you! Oh, Thank you! We’ll be better off working together, I just know it. You’ll be my master strategist and I’ll be your peerless warrior.”
“L-Lyn..can..t...bre...ath!”
*******************************************************************************************
“Nergal, I have everything you asked, now remember your end of our little deal or I’ll be sure to make your death extremely painful,” said the shadowed figure, only his bright yellow eyes visible.
“Yes yes, you will get your supply of quintessence soon. But if you threaten me again, we’ll just see who dies,” replied the bearded man with a scowl, his head and right eye covered by wraps. “Now give them to me, so my plans can begin.”
The yellow eyed figure chuckled darkly. “So be it,” he said as a portion of his head glowed with a dark grey aura and two bound unconscious figures appeared in a flash of grey. “Don’t lose them now, ice dragons are hard to come by.”
“You worry about yourself,” Nergal replied icily before dark tendrils surrounded him and the figures before dissipating, leaving an empty space as if nothing had existed there.
The figure turned to his left, eyes scanning the darkness of the fortress for his minion. “Puppet-Master. Come out now, I have a task for you.”
After waiting for a moment, scratching noises were heard and large spidery legs appeared in view of the torchlight. Soon the rest of the body followed and revealed a pony head with fangs protruding on both its jaws. The pony-spider hybrid bowed, “Yes, master. What is it that you require of me?”
“I am in need of another piece in my game, go to the Crystal Empire and revive Sombra using the method I explained earlier. The elements recently banished him but he lives yet, if you consider being broken and scattered alive that is. Persuade him to come to me, promise him the power that I will grant. If he is not forthcoming.....you know what to do.” The figure grinned maniacally as he said that last part, revealing the glint of sharpened teeth, before the grey aura enveloped him, flashing, and leaving an empty space.