//------------------------------// // The Toss of a Coin // Story: Family Relics: Adventures of the Past and Present // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// The Toss of a Coin "Daring! You're the expert when it comes to this kinda stuff!" Rainbow declared, as one of the spear tips pointed into her face. "Why don't you try saying something to these guys?" "What am I supposed to say?" The other mare asked in desperation, looking around at all the angry faces surrounding them. "Penna was the one language I didn't study at the university!" One of the birds poked her with a spear, and made several clicking and chirping noises at the two ponies. Tying to think of something desperate, Yearling raised a hoof at the spearbirds. "Um... Bah weep gragh nah weep ninny bong?" She said hopefully. Unfortunately, the only response her greeting got was another poke with one of the spears. "Ow! Well, that didn't work!" The standoff with the birdfolk continued for several minutes, until a large rotund figure came running out of the nearby ruins. "I say there my dear Penna, what is going on out here?" The newcomer yelled, running right into the middle of the fracas. "Who are these ponies, and what are they doing here?" The two mares couldn't believe their eyes... a small, squat humanoid covered in warts and facial blemishes was apparently talking to the lead bird, would also seemed to understand him! Pondering over what the diminutive creature in the tan breeches, tunic, and spectacles actually was, Yearling whispered over to rainbow; "Rainbow is that thing... a troll?" The Pegasus asked in disbelief, shaking her mane. "I've never seen one that... short." "And I've never seen one that smart." Rainbow replied in disbelief. "He looks like a real egghead to me!" "Ladies, ladies! I'm so sorry that my friends here gave you such a hostile reception." The troll declared, as the birds pulled their spears away from the two mares. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nibblik, and I am an apprentice mage, here to study Penna magic amongst this tribe." "Wait, these birds are Penna?!" A.K. Yearling sputtered, her eyes going wide as she looked at the birds. "B-but I though they went extinct ages ago!" "Oh, heavens no!" Nibblik declared, adjusting his glasses. "There are two tribes that survived the ancient war with the draconequui, and one settled here, in the ruins of their capital. They guard their people's greatest treasure; the necklace of the great King Ruff." "Wait, they have the necklace here?" Rainbow asked in shock. "May we please see it?" The troll nodded, as he motioned for the two ponies to follow him. Down though the passageways they went, passing crude huts the Penna had set up amongst the ruins. At the center of the crumbling walls, they found a large tent with many feathered decorations hanging all over it. As they stepped though the tent flap, they saw a glistening golden necklace on a pedestal, made up of several golden coins beaded together, the whole piece glittering in the torchlight. "Wait, this is it? It's just laying here?" An almost disappointed Yearling sighed. "No death traps? No angry natives? No long and winding corridors swarming with supernatural horrors?" "Bet you're happy, little miss 'I can't wait to retire'. " Dash replied with a smug smirk. "Hmph. Just gives me less to work with in my next book is all!" The mare scowled, crossing her hooves. "So Nibblik, you've been studying this thing, right? What exactly does the necklace's magic do?" "Ohhh, it is a powerful enchantment, I can assure you! The coins each have a symbol on them, each of them containing a different spell charged into the metal." The troll mage explained excitedly, running up to gaze at the artifact. "When anyone- or anypony, as you equines say it- says a specific command while touching one of the coins, it creates the spell inside the coin and causes it to dissolve." "So that's why those goons are after the necklace!" Yearling exclaimed, stamping her hoof. "With that kind of power, Ahuizotl. could easily take over Equestria with a few coins and the proper command phrases!" "We gotta stop that loser, before he gets his grubby hands on the necklace!" Dash looked over at the troll. "Nibblik, could you tell your buds here to prepare themselves for battle? We're about to get a really bad situation here!" "My word, you mean to tell me that that infamous ruffian Ahuizotl after the necklace?" The astounded troll gasped. "Then-then you must be that famous pony adventurer, Daring Do!" He bowed to the adventuring mare. "This is indeed a great honor! I have read all of your fantastic adventures!" "See? Told you most academics believe my adventures are real." Yearling told Dash smugly. "Of course I'll help you defend the necklace." Nibblik looked over, and chirped something tp the nearby Penna guard, who ran off. "When that fiendish feline gets here, he is going to be in for a world of pain!" It was at that point that the three heard the sounds of several of the Penna birds squawking and flapping around wildly outside. Rushing back to see what all the commotion was, they saw a great shadow covering the ruins of the great courtyard. Looking up, Daring and A.K. gazed upon the gargantuan form of a dirigible floating over their heads. "Uh oh- Amy?" Dash yelled to her friend. "I think we've got company here!" They saw three figures standing on the gondola, all of which they immediately. "Hello, ladies. So good to see you again." Cabellerion sneered. "And look! I've brought you csome company." "Heya, Daring!" The ratling called out, waving a claw at the Pegasus. "Good ta see ya again!" "Omar!" Yearling snorted, glaring up at him angrily. "You traitorous little worm!" "And he is not the only one here, senoras." The biggest figure on the dirigible declared. "Or have you forgotten about me, por favor?" "Ahuizotl, you filthy slimeball!" Dash snapped, taking to the air. "Penna, get your spears ready, and let's go kick some flank!" AS several henchponies leapt off the airship, the tribal brids flew up to meet them. And the battle for the future of Equestria was joined...