//------------------------------// // A Rookies Mistake // Story: The Dragon Empire Chronicles // by norwegian-brony //------------------------------// I have been traveling for two days now and I could finally admit to myself that I’m lost. Well not completely lost … I was following a dirt road, but I’ve been walking past endless plains for hours on this damned neverending road. I followed the path for a while longer before I stopped completely and looked back at the direction I came. “There is no shame turning back, or is there?” I asked myself. “That depends on how much you enjoy traveling ,” somepony answered. “Where’re you from?”     I turned around and saw a tall pony behind me, and he had a small smile on his face. He wore old, rusted steel-plated armour and had a sword strapped to his waist. “Ponyville, sir. I started in Ponyville,” I said with a sheepish smile. “Then it would be a shame turning back,” said the man, “Because you haven’t traveled far enough.” “Then I assume you know what is long enough before turning back,” I questioned him. “From the capital and back” the man said. “The capital … You mean, The Capital?” I asked in disbelief. “Yes. I have been to the Capital city of the empire. Is it that hard to understand?” “Don’t you have to be really rich or have a seriously good reason to be there?” I asked him. “I was born there,” the man said. “My mother and father are a part of the nobility.”   “What is your name, if I may?” I asked him. “My name is Silver Wing,”  he said. “That’s a pegasus’s name, and you don’t have the wings!” I exclaimed, pointing at his back. Silver quickly unequipped his armour and took off his shirt and pointed to some purple scars on his back, the marks sticking out from under the white grayish hair, before quickly putting his shirt and armour back on. “Makes you want to puke, eh?” Silver chuckled weakly. “How did that happened?” I asked him . “Things like this happens when you go into battle…without Equipment ” Silver explained solemnly.   “So where are ya heading kid?” he asked me.   I never actually thought about where I was going, and truth be told, I have only been wandering around. What should I say to him? “Canterlot,” I answered quickly.   “The old Capital of Equestria? Why would you go there?” Silver asked. “To see if I can find some clues on where there might be treasure or work,” I answered. “Well, Canterlot is that way,” Silver said pointing at the opposite direction. “You’re heading towards Detrot right now.”     “Gee, thanks, Silver. I hope I see you again in the future,” I said as I part with him. “May the roads lead you to what you seek,” Silver said waving.  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I followed the dirt road for several hours before I found a small village that reminded me of a bit of home: small, quiet, peaceful, boring. An old inn caught my attention, completely wretched but I was so starving I could lick the ground I was walking on. I stepped in, greeted by the nauseating scent of dust and mold. Even so, the inn had a big fire pit in the middle of the room, burning ashes and embers like a campfire. I walked up to the counter and sat down on one of the barstools near the counter. The place was deserted, not even an employee. “Hello? Anybody here?” I asked. “Yeah. I’ll be with you in a minute,” said a tough, rusty voice. I sat quietly waiting for the inn keeper. I started tapping my fingers on the bar counter impatiently and soon after I started humming more impatient.  “So what can I get you?” asked the same rough voice. I looked around before I saw a minotaur with one and a half horns standing behind the counter. “Do you have anything to eat here?” I asked the inn keeper.   “Yeah. The day vegetable soup, and there are other items on the menu,” said the inn keeper. “I’ll take the soup and some cider,” I said, keeping my eyes on the half horn. “Umm... What happened to your horn, if you don’t mind me asking?” “I lost it while fighting the empire in my homeland, in the battle of my capital, to be more accurate… Those damned imperial soldiers actually knew how to fight. I was stationed near the palace we had orders to guard it with our lives and yet I still stand here today, telling you.” The innkeeper with a sigh. “What do you want to drink?”     “Apple cider if you got that,” I said.   “Coming right up,” said the innkeeper. The innkeeper placed a mug of apple cider and a bowl of soup in front of me. I start eating the soup, diving in headfirst. Immediately, I started gagging, looking for anywhere to spit it out. Then I realized I should try to hide the fact that it was horrible because the big ass minotaure was standing right in front of me. I had nothing against other races but minotaurs are just sticking out of the crowd here in Equestria. Most minotaurs were either bandits or petty criminals anyway. Everyone hated them. I took a sip of the apple cider, and to my relief it was far better than the soup. I quickly drowned out the soup’s flavor with the cider and threw the rest of the soup under the counter. The innkeeper seemed to glare at me for a moment. Then again, minotaurs always look a bit angry. I thought about what I could do, away from home. For starters, a job. “Um … do you know if it is some kind of job for the likes of me around here?” I asked the innkeeper. “Well, you can ask Mister. Hat and Clogs for work,” said the innkeeper “Hat and Clogs?” I asked “That’s the name of his shop but we just call him Mister Hat and Clogs,” said the innkeeper. He pointed towards a cobblestone road. “His shop should be on Salted Acorn Avenue.” “Thank you.” I paid for my meal and quickly left the inn, heading for Mister Hat and Clogs shop. I noticed that this village looked very much like Ponyvile except it seemed better for travellers. I found Mister hat and clogs shop and went inside. I saw immediately that this was just a typical clothing store.      “Hello? … Mister Hat and Clogs? Are you home?” I asked.     Nobody answered but I could hear something that sounded like sobbing, I walked further in and saw a lot of different fabrics and clothes. After some searching, I found a staircase. The sobbing must have been from the second floor. I climbed up the steps very slowly and careful. The second floor was  stuffed with mannequins and chests probably filled with fabrics. I made my way to a door and tried open it.   “Go away. There is nothing here to steal,” cried a voice behind the door. “Mister Hat and Clogs?” I asked. “Yes that’s me, and who are you? … a thief, maybe or a murder?” spat Hat and Clogs between gasps. “No. I heard that you needed help so I came to take the job,” I explained. The door was quickly unlocked, and I was dragged inside the room. Mister Hat and Clogs had apparently taken me inside his work room/ bedroom. Sketches of clothes were on his desk, and a tear-stained pillow on his bed. “What is is you need help with?” I asked him. “I NEED YOU TO HELP ME FIND MY HAT!” cried Mister Hat and Clogs with watery eyes. “What?” I asked. “My favorite hat. I’ve lost it! Oh what a tragedy, I tell you. WHAT A TRAGEDY!” Mister Hat and Clogs said hysterically.   “Your hat?” I asked in disbelief. “You sir don’t understand true fashion if you picked that outfit,” Mister Hat and Clogs said, looking at me completely disgusted.    “Um... Okay. I’ll help you find your hat,” I said.