//------------------------------// // The Phoenix King // Story: Button and the Dungeon Master // by Ron Jeremy Pony //------------------------------// Button and the Dungeon Master Chapter 3 – The Phoenix King (The Mash Home – Button Mash’s bedroom) Button stretched and snuggled against the added warmth in his bed. He wasn’t sure what it was that was beside him, but it smelled nice, and felt soft, and was snoring lightly. He opened one eye and looked to see a light tan body next to him. The body had a man fixed into a simple braid, and the smell was completely familiar. It took a few seconds for it to register that he was lying next to his mother. He tried to figure out why she was in his bed instead of hers, but soon that was forgotten as soon as the urge that woke him up made itself known again. He scooted out of bed and began to slowly trot to the bathroom. He rounded the corner and heard the shower going. He knew he passed Grandpa Di in the living room… He knocked on the door and waited for a second. “Busy!” shouted Sweetie Bell. His eyes opened wide as he heard her voice and it all came back to him. Rarity and Sweetie Bell had stayed the night. That’s why his mom had slept in his bed. He was starting to wonder if maybe she trying to do what he would do when he was still a little foal. After all that was when he was six. He was eight now, and that meant he was practically a stallion, or at least that’s what he thought. “Sweetie Bell I gotta go!” he exclaimed through the door. “Oh… Um… Don’t you have another bathroom?” she asked. He shook his head and realized that she couldn’t see him shaking his head. “Nooooo,” he almost whined as he stood there. The shower stops and after a moment the door cracks open to reveal Sweetie Bell with two towels wrapped around her. The first one is over her mane, which she has wrapped similar to a turban, and the other around her flanks. “You sure you can’t hold it for just a couple more minutes?” she asked. He looked at her, the bathroom behind her, and then back at her. He closed his eyes and nodded. “Thank you,” she said before she shut the door. He wasn’t sure how he was going to make it another two minutes. Then again what if it took longer than two minutes for what she was doing? He instantly began regretting agreeing to wait and looked around. This was the only bathroom in the house, and there really wasn’t anywhere else he could go. He stood, although his hind legs were beginning to cross, and waited. He heard the sound of someone coming out of his mom’s room and saw Rarity. This was the first time he had ever seen her when her mane wasn’t absolutely perfect. Instead it appeared as though she was suffering a horrible case of bed head. Button stared at her for a moment until the older white unicorn glanced around her, saw Button and gave a slight grin. “Done!” Sweetie Bell said as she came out of the Bathroom. “Sweetie Bell, you could have waited until we returned to the boutique before taking a shower,” Rarity said. “But we don’t have Dazzling Daring Doo Green Apple shampoo,” she replied. Button decided to squeeze by the two of them and shut the door behind him. He made it over to the toilet and never felt so happy to be in his bathroom as he did at that moment. He finished, washed his hooves, and then trotted out of the bathroom. He looked at Rarity and grinned indicating the bathroom if she needed it. She nodded, disappeared into it, and he walked toward the kitchen. He expected to see his mom there, but she wasn’t up yet. He went over to the fridge and looked for an apple juice box. He saw one and dug it out. Put the straw into the juice box and heard the sounds of somepony trotting over to him. He looked up to see Sweetie Bell. “Do you have another one for me?” she asked. He looked back at the juice box and then at her. He handed it over and walked back to the fridge. It wasn’t like that was the last juice box in the entire fridge… His eyes widened as he scanned the shelf where his juice was always at. It wasn’t there. He looked at the shelf below to see if maybe his mom had put it on a different shelf, that happened sometimes, but it wasn’t there. His eyes frantically scanned the entire fridge for several agonizing minutes until he realized that he had just given his last juice box away. He turned toward Sweetie Bell who was drinking on it. “Want a drink?” she asked. He nodded and she handed the juice box back over to him. He had expected it to simply be gone, but instead she was sharing it with him. He took a small swallow and discovered that was all that was left in it. His eyes moved down to the ‘Are you a Winner’ Sticker. He grabbed it and pulled. It began peeling off. He closed his eyes unsure if he wanted to look and see what the message was under the sticker. He opened one eye and looking back up at him was an instant win message. His eyes widened at the sight of it. He had been pulling the tabs off of these juice boxes for the last eight months, and finally he won! He looked at the message. “Congratulations! You’ve won 1 (one) free Appletastic Apple Juice Box! (Sales tax not included),” he read aloud. Sweetie Bell watched him for a second, but instead of doing anything he walked over to the counter and rooted around in the cabinet for a moment before finding a small paper bag. He pulled it out and put the juice box in it. “What are you doing?” she asked. “I won, and I want to be able to get the juice box when we go to the store,” he said. He was going to take the juice box and get a free one. Sweetie Bell understood that, but she wasn’t sure why he wasn’t celebrating it like he normally would. Then again, he mainly celebrated when he was playing with or against someone else. The sound of a yawn drew their attention and Sweetie Bell looked to see Love Mash walking out of Button’s bedroom. Love brought a hoof up to her muzzle and stifled another yawn. She looked toward the living room and walked to the futon. “Dad, good morning,” she said. “Mmmm? Oh yeah, good morning,” he said as he stretched out his legs. He moved off of the futon and stood up. “Sweetie Bell will you and Rarity be joining us for breakfast?” Love asked. Rarity came walking out of the hall and near where the others were standing. “Actually, since you were kind enough to let both of us stay here last night would you mind so much if I treated all of you to a little breakfast? I was going to take Sweetie Bell to the Café this morning and treat her to some hay bacon and eggs,” Rarity said. “Are you sure? I don’t mind to cook all of us some breakfast,” Love replied. “It’s no problem, and besides, like I said this is a thank you for letting us stay the night,” Rarity said. “Okay, I just need to get ready,” Love said. “Love, have you changed how you get ready since you lived at home?” Grandpa Di asked. “No, not really,” she said. “We’re going to be here for a while,” he said. She narrowed her eyes at him and walked over to the futon. She grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. He let out a bark of laughter and did the same to her. Both Button and Sweetie watched the small pillow fight and after a few minutes joined in. Rarity stood watching this loving family play for a few minutes before a pillow was sent toward her and collided with the end of her muzzle. She saw Sweetie Bell laughing and grabbed said pillow. Breakfast could wait, there was something that had to be settled now. Two and half hours later found them sitting together at the Café. The pillow fight, short lived as it was, ended when Grandpa Di finally surrendered to Love. It had been a good deal of fun, but in the end Button had seen his mom’s secret weapon against his Grandpa. She gave him the sad eyes and asked if she was still his princess. Poor Grandpa didn’t have a chance. “Rarity, thank you so much for breakfast. Button, what do you say?” Love Mash asked. “Thank you Ms Rarity,” he said. “You’re very welcomed,” she said, “Button, where did you get your hat?” “Oh, Dad got it for me from Neightendo! He works with them, and they had the special Pony-O flying beanie! It doesn’t really fly, but the glide calculator really turns!” he exclaimed. She studied it for a few minutes and grinned brightly. “Oh inspiration! Sweetie Bell, how would you like to help me make some clothes?” Rarity asked. “Really?!” Sweetie Bell asked. “Really,” Rarity answered. “You’ll… You’ll still both come over and play right?” Button asked. “I promise that we’ll try to,” Rarity said as they excused themselves and got up. Button watched as Sweetie Bell walked beside Rarity talking happily with her sister. (Mash Home – Family Table – Later that evening) Love looked at Button as he sat with his character sheet. She walks over to him and takes a seat beside him. She pulls him into a hug as he looks down at the sheet. “Do you think that they’ll get to come and play?” he asked. “Well, I know that Rarity promised they would try to, but even if they don’t we’ll find something else to do,” she said. He nodded and looked back at his character sheet. He wanted to know what Cloud Hopper, Magick, and Rock Kicker was going to do. What would they run into, and what would stand in their way? He began to get up when there came a knocking on the door. Love went to answer it and walked back toward the table with Rarity who was carrying several different, and improved, versions of Button’s Beanie. “What’s that?” Button asked. “It occurred to me that there are a lot of young foals who might would like to have a chapeau like yours,” Rarity said as she made one float over to him. “Consider it a gift for the inspiration your ‘beanie’ gave me,” she said. He cheered as he held the soft velvet like hat. “So, do you want to play?” he asked. Sweetie Bell nodded her head and Rarity grinned. “Well, she has worked very hard with me today, so I suppose we could both play,” Rarity said. “I was hoping that you would be coming back. I kept your character sheet you had me help you make last night,” Grandpa Di said as he walked into the room. “That’s what you did before you came to bed?!” Sweetie Bell asked. “What character are you?” Button asked. “You’ll see,” she said as she took a seat. “Well, let’s see… Where did we leave off at?” Grandpa Di asked, “Ah, that’s right we’re in the Forbidden Forest.” (Forbidden Forest – about two hundred yards in) Rock Kicker tried to scratch the Gygax weed pack Magick had woven together and put on and in his wound. There was a slight burning sensation, and it was beginning to drive him nuts. “Don’t pick at it,” Magick said as she walked behind him. “It itches,” he replied. “It’s going to itch. That means that it’s healing. It’s perfectly normal for it to itch because that means it’s healing,” Magick said. “How far into the forest is the mountain?” Cloud Hopper asked. “It’s about a day’s journey,” Rock Kicker said as he looked around the area they were in, “You’ll see it when we’re there.” They walked, and as he promised Rock Kicker continued to lead them. It was well past half a day when they stopped and looked at a huge rock formation. Rock Kicker walked toward it and walked around a black stone in the middle several times. “What is it?” Magick asked. “Someone has moved the stone and uncovered a hidden stairwell,” he said back. “What’s down there?” Cloud Hopper asked. “I’m not sure. There are a lot of ruins out in the forest. Civilizations that date back hundreds, and some thousands, of years. I sometimes raid them to find treasure and take it back with me to sell in Neighdowell, or other places,” Rock Kicker said. “Is it important to our...” Magic was about to ask when a scream erupted from within the now uncovered hidden room. “Someone might be hurt,” Cloud Hopper said. “If they are in the Forbidden Forest then they have chosen their fate,” Magick replied. The screak erupted out of the hole again and Rock Kicker groaned. Looked at it, and then back at two with him. “I agree they should have earned a one way ticket to whatever fate they’ve chosen for themselves, but I’m not going to stand by and let a chance to fight, and maybe get a little treasure or weapons, pass me by,” he said. Magick rolled her eyes and knew that talking to either of them right now would be futile. They were going to follow the underground stairwell down, and they were going find the owner of that voice that’s screaking. She also knew that Rock Kicker is the one who knows the safest route to the mountain. If he didn’t she would seriously consider leaving both of them to their own devices. Instead she found herself following them into the darken cavern. The stone that makes up the stairs and walls appeared to be crumbling. Each step is followed by the sound of a stone shifting under the weight of somepony’s hoof, and it only seems to get louder the deeper they go. The stairwell itself seems to go on forever. In front of them is darkened, and so is behind them. It is Magick who produced them the small amount of illumination they have. She stops once they reach the floor. Rock Kicker looked at her and then motioned his head toward the wall. She saw a torch and lit it with the small fireball she had created. The torch sputters slightly but remains lit and the flame it produces shines brighter than the small orb of fire she had made. “HELP ME!!!!” the voice they heard earlier screaked. Nodding the three of them head in the direction of the voice and find a soft orange unicorn. She turns toward them and screamed again. “For the love of Celestia help me!!!!” she screamed. Rock Kicker moved forward and found what she was screaming about. The animated skeleton was pushing against the rotted wooden door she is holding shut. Every once in a while it shoved a sword into the door which comes out the other side. “Stand back,” he said. She followed his command and the door opened revealing the skeleton of a long dead Earth Pony. Before it could come any closer Rock Kicker took his club and swung it hard at the skeleton. It brought up the sword to block and to his surprise it held its own. He pulled back and the skeleton began to push the blade forward. He dodged, but not as quickly as he would hope. The tip of the blade managed to graze his chest. Still, this time his club connected with the skeleton caving its skull in. He watched as it fell to the ground and spat at it. Even though he himself didn’t use magic he could sense the dark power that rose off of the bones and seemed to linger in the air. “There is powerful magic here,” Magick said. “Of course, that is why I am down here. I heard of this tomb from the local legends and came seeking the golden fleece of the Phoenix King. It is said to hold all of the magic of every unicorn that was part of his council. He had each of them drained, and their powers placed into the fleece,” the soft orange pony said. “Who are you?” Magick asked. The orange pony smiles and looks at her. “I am known as Jewel Chaser,” she said. “And why do you need the fleece?” Cloud Hopper asked. “I make magical armor and weapons. Well, fashionable armor and weapons. The cloak you’re wearing works, I suppose, but it seems so dated. Perhaps you would prefer to have a newer one yes? It is something that I could do with all ease. As I said I make armor, weapons, and other magical items,” Jewel Chaser replied. “My cloak is fine, but you should rethink your quest,” Magick said. “I can’t. The order I must fill demands something as powerful as the fleece,” Jewel Chaser said. “Why did you take the order if you knew you would have to get something like this?” Rock Kicker asked. “You don’t turn down the General of the Pegasus Warriors for a commission when they come to you. You agree to do it and find a way of doing it on time,” Jewel Chaser said. Rock Kicker snorted and shook his head. “How could you work for them? Don’t you see what they treat your and my people? Do you not understand how they are?” Rock Kicker asked. “It doesn’t matter. If I turned down his commission they would have found someone else to do it, and I would have been tried for something that I had not done,” she said. “What does, whatever it is, that you’re making for the general do?” Cloud Hopper asked. Jewel Chaser smiled and sat down on her haunches. “It is able to absorb the magical abilities of the Unicorns around it and channel it into magic the wearer can use,” she said. “And you thought this was a good idea to make for a Pegasus Warrior General?!” Magick asked. “Well, when you say it that way,” Jewel Chaser began. “If what she’s saying true then we need to find this fleece,” Rock Kicker said. “Why?” Cloud Hopper asked. “Think about it. Even if she doesn’t finish someone else will find out about this place. They will come looking for it, and when they do I’m certain it won’t be pretty,” Rock Kicker said. “Okay, what did you hear about this place?” Magick asked. “Well, that the Phoenix King himself had it built, and that he walled the fleece up with himself. There’s legends that he had a cursed black magic user trap his very soul inside of his body making it immortal, and giving him the magical ability to animate the dead,” Jewel Chaser said. “Oh, this is so much fun. You know you were absolutely right, we needed to come down here. I can see how well this is going turn out,” Magick said to both Cloud Hopper and Rock Kicker.