//------------------------------// // Once Upon a Time in Oakvail // Story: The Road to Royalty // by RemareShadows //------------------------------// The Road to Royalty Chapter 2-Once Upon a Time in Oakvail Hey, I think I remembered what pain feels like now! Not pleasant, not pleasant in the least, really, how can some ponies find it appealing? Ugh, now remember how I was screaming my head off as I finished my character?.. Wellllll that’s not the first thing you want to do when you log in.         “Noooooooo-!” I screamed, while I registered that I had unlocked a night stalker whom was watching my every move. The feelings I had lost in character creation suddenly returned in full force. First sense, that returned was sight. I went from  being saturated in pure darkness, to staring straight at the sun…. “Gaahhhhaaaa” Needless to say, my eyes were kinda toasty. “What the hay, Celestia, trying to blind me, much?” I complained.          The second thing I can remember is the sound… so many sounds. Some mare was screaming her head off, not to mention, she had a opera house lungs. Shattered glass was an understatement. Ohhhh yeah, did I happen to tell you about that speeding carriage? That was getting louder by the second. “-noooooooooo- Ack” -Crack- . I’m hit, pegasus down! I haven’t even started flying yet… Well now I am, right into that tree over there, on course with my muzzle. -Crack- Hhmm, Applewood is tasty. "oww-bonk-, oww-bonk-, oww-bonk-,” Oh look, the apples have joined me, in threes. “A-chievement unlocked, I got lunch!” Well, I hope I did at least. My sweet mistress of darkness greeted me once again. I think she did this on purpose. … … … “Hey” Huh, I heard a voice. “Are you ok?” Why no, I’m not. “Here take this” No thank- -Splash- OOoooOOhhh, that’s so cold. “Ahhhhhhhhh, I’m up, I’m up!” I desperately gasped. It took a few seconds for my vision to return to me. The scene before me reminded me of the day when my Derpy investment went horribly wrong. Broken cart, check, destroyed products… “Oh noo, all of my food is  ruined!” Cried out a distressed female voice, check. Now for the pony who has taken all of that damage. I looked around for him and saw a full green health bar, in the left side of my vision. Nope nop-- “oowww, oww, owww.” a sharp pain in my head blindsided me. It hit me after I tried to look around, oh yeah, that pony, was me… Check. Now for the final element of chaos, an explosion, or random flash fire. I sat there, zoning out and waiting for the last element to spark… hmm, nothing happened. “-re you even listening to me?” My eyes drifted over to the voice that was probably addressing me. It was of female nature, and gave off a distressed tone. I looked at her as she tried to assess the damage. Her eyes frantically examined my whole body for any signs of bleeding or fatal damage, I assume. She relaxed as I seemed to be physically okay and looked me in the eyes. I returned her gaze in that bedroom eyes manner. “So, do you like what you see?” I snarked. Her orange eyes widened, as she stepped back once. I looked over and saw a light blush on her brown cheeks, but after a moment, she adopted a smug look. “Yeah,” She said as she came forward and lifted a hoof. “I really like your mane,” She flicked her hoof through it and laughed. I know, I must of really had a goofy look on my muzzle right then. That one combo line made me enter ‘scrunch-off battle mode’. She trotted around behind me and tried to help me get up. “Come on now, don't keep sitting there; you're making the locals nervous.” She informed me, motioning around us. Sure enough, everypony there that I made eye contact with looked like they were going to stare me into submission. Ohh yeah, I think I should go. The mare pulled me up, led me through the crowd, and around a few corners. We trotted around some new area, I didn’t really pay attention to our erratic movements any more. We turned one last corner and she waved me over, before ducking into a bar. I looked up at the sign, ‘The Wooden Harvest Inn’. I trotted inside, wary of any searching eyes. I don’t think I want somepony from that wreck following me, ugh, what a disaster area. “Hello, good traveler.” Hailed a booming voice from behind the counter. “Welcome to the ‘Wooden Harvest’.” I looked at the big red earth pony and nodded in greeting. “The name’s Cliff Hanger, and I own this here Inn.” He slapped the counter and continued. “Come, stay a while for a nice treat, the food service here will really leave you hanging on the edge of your seat.” He let out a hearty laugh and I cringed at his pun. I walked passed him, into the bar area to look around. I noticed my guide had seated herself by a far wall and trotted over. The cringe I had still hadn’t changed in the slightest. As I sat down, the brown pegasus mare- Yes, she has wings.- shot me a questioning glance. “So, I’m guessing you’re new around here?” She mused. “What a way to make a memorable first impression.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Yeah, it was a doozy.” She smiled, “Well how about we make some new impressions. My name’s Midnight Desire, and you?” She gestured a hoof at me. “Arcadia Skys.” I stated promptly. To me, her name sounded laced with trouble. “Sir Arcadia.. Skys...” she tested it out on her tongue, “I like it, it has a certain high class ring to it.” A orange coated mare suddenly waked up to our table. “Pardon, ‘ahm your waiter, Orange Puzzle, what can I do ya for?” “Fifty bits.” I chirped. She recoiled, “What in tarnation is that spose ta mean?” she said. “Ah, never mind, ughhh.” I picked up a menu. “I’ll have an apple turnover.” “Alright, and you missy?” Orange addressed my companion. “The Pinkie Surprise.”... as soon as Desire got those words out, the whole bar went silent. Orange stated sweating nervously and asked, “Ya sure there missy? I’d honestly recommend something else.” “Why of course, darling, I wish to expand my horizons.”  my companion elegantly stated. “Well if’n you say so.” Our orange waitress trotted away, calling out, “Suds! Get the soap en’ mop bucket. It’s about ta get messy!” So, that now leaves us to our previous conversation. “My my, what service.” she stated idly. The rest of the bar’s conversations all turned into hushed whispers. Desire waved a hoof at me, “So tell me, what are your plans for this evening, if you don’t mind me asking?” she inquired. I scrunched up my muzzle, “You’re just going to ignore that, are you?” I made a show of scanning the bar’s crowd. “Ha, everypony would want to share a few words about the most beautiful mare they’ve seen in their lives.” she stated with a flourish of her hooves. The bar crowd let out a chuckle, “Ain’t no pony got time fer dat.” Oranges voice echoed, Which was then drowned out the sound of the crowd’s responding laughter, revamping.  “But enough about that,” She continued, oblivious, “What are you going to do? Being so new and all.” I was going to have to get my bearings soon, so I might as well think out loud. “I’m going to beat this race and win those royalties. The first thing I’m going to do is hunt an-” “Hold on Arc, one does not simply trot out of Oakvail!” She looked at me with a fierce look in her eye, “There are procedures that need to take place, you have to stay for one week, in town, until the Goddess, Selene, can finish blessing you and the adventures guild gives you, a adventures license.” “What? But I was gonna- Ah to chaos with it, I don’t want to fall behind anymore than I already have.” I said, crestfallen. “You really should plan for these things, Arc.” She chided me. “Have you at least thought about raising your stats?” I looked up at her and replied, “Of course, I was going to, when... I leveled.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, you should know that you can raise stats through daily work. Here, let me see your stats.” Really, now she wants to see my personal stats? Meh, I just started, I’ve nothing to hide yet. “Sure, might as well frisk me too.” “Hmpf.” I picked my head up and faced the bar. ☾Status window☽ ☾-----☽ Name- Arcadia Skys         Type-Neutral Level - 1                              Class -  None Title - None                         Fame - 0 Health - 151         Mana - 229 Strength - 12                       Dexterity - 20 Intelligence - 8                     Wisdom - 10 Stamina - 10 Leadership - 0                      Luck - 0 Offense - 0                           Defense - 0 Resistance to Magic - 10% resistance to wind magic ☾-----☽ “Hmm, it seems your intelligence is great, you actually made it to an eight.” She snarked at me. I shoot her a glare,“How witty of you.” I responded deadpanned. “Why of course darling, I’m a perfect ten.” She waved a hoof at me, “But you are so dexterous, you could do wonders with your mane.” Okay, that makes no sense at all. How can being dexterous have anything to do with manes? Right when I was about to voice my thought, Orange decided to return. “Alright y’all, the foods nice and hot.” She said while walking over. “Ah hope you two can handle it.” She placed our plates down, my apple turnover looked gorgeous. It has that flakey crust, a sweet smell wafting off it, and it’s huge. The food takes up the whole plate. Oohh this is gonna be good. I put the loop fork on my hoof and got ready to dig in. “Oh my, that looks wonderful.” Desire compliments. I look up from my plate, about to reply, when I spied her plate. What I saw… to say the least, was pathetic. The plate was dressed up like one of those nobility snobs dinners. The outside ring was a few greens, mostly broccoli, shaped into a smile. A few garnishes were set around it here and there. Then in the middle sat the main dish… A single pink, perfectly square, cube. What? That's not even a full meal! I thought looking around. I took a little more notice to my surroundings. Orange, after setting that plate down, had apparently backed away. “Ya-ya’ll enjoy your meal now, your check’s on that there table.” She informed us. I looked down at the paper check and froze. I don’t have any bits yet. I shot a quick glance at Desire. Screw chivalry, I’m as broke as a rock farm funding parties.         My companion took notice of my glance and saw me looking at the check. A few drops of sweat formed on my muzzle, as I waited for her to speak. She blinked, I pointed with my eyes to the offending paper, she blinked again. I let out a groan, she blinked once more, I opened my mou- “OOOooohhhhhh.” She finally responded. I relaxed, figuring she knows I don’t have any bits yet, problem solved. “That’s the cutie mark I’ve been looking for!” she exclaimed in excited revelation. My irises shrunk to pin pricks. You’ve gotta be bucken kidding me! I turn to face her direction, as red veins joined my white eyes. She had trotted over to some random orange unicorn stallion, with a totally unique cutie mark. It was some stupid sword crossed over an hour glass. I almost slammed my hoof on the table in outrage… Wait, why don’t I just do that? I raised my hoof an-         The stallion saw my eyes staring into his soul and fled the scene. Desire turned around with a smik. “Why darling, what ever are you doing?” she asked smartly. “What am I doing!? What are you- doing!” I almost screamed. She spun around sideways and tossed some bits at Orange… who was hiding behind that stallion, who had just ran for his life. “Why, paying for dinner of course.” she stated smugly. My anger dissipated, like I was shot with an arrow, and was replaced with embarrassment, as my hoof floated downwards. Desire trotted back over and sat down. “You're hardly a stallion really, if you are getting so angry over nothing.” She picks up her hoof fork and declares. “Let us enjoy this gorgeous meal.” I started poking at my apple-turnover. The crispy flakiness crumbled just right and it stuck to the fork. The first bite was so divine. Eeer, yeah, it was that awesome. A bit of my embarrassment started to fade away. I looked over at my companion's so called ‘dinner’. She was slowly eating her greens with a slight flush to her face. “This dish is absolutely splendid.” she stated a bit short of breath. I shrugged, I don't know why everypony was so worried about it. We both seemed to be enjoying our dinner. I know I really am. I dove right into destroying the outside of my turnover. Due to present company though, I restrained myself to eating with more manners, rather than a wild hungry beast with its’ only prey for the whole week. I haven’t had food this good in a while. I looked over to see Desire slide the pink main cube past her lips. The result was almost instant, as she finished swallowing it. Time stopped, the bar’s crowd gasped. Were they waiting for this? Desire's eyes went wide, her coat changed pink and then swiftly to red, she started sweating bullets the size of Celestia’s fat flank- I mean really that thing’s HUGE-, then her body expanded and contracted. Man, this was definitely weird. This was too weird for me, I had to say something,“Hey, I just met you… But THIS,” I waved a hoof in her direction franticly,“is crazy!” Steam hissed out of her ears and she compressed back to a normal, more flushed state… the floor was drenched. Desire slowly rose up in her seat, mane hanging down, emphasizing her figure, as her coat shone glistening with sweat. She looked at me with fire blazing behind her half-lidded eyes. She opened her mouth and hot breath came out in a huff, all the way across the table. “Theres other ways, that you can pay me for dinner," she licked her lips,"maybe.” -Gulp- “Oh boy, I’m on the edge.”