A loud noise came from outside the cave a few hours after Gilda had woke up, and met Jason again, drawing her attention. She got up from the floor of the cave and walked to the entrance, looking outside. Jason was messing with his body, turning his arm into some sort of round stone saw. She shook her head, the way he looked before was odd, now he just looked incredibly weird and unnerving, especially with the whole, ‘weapons changing’ thing he could do with his body. Jason’s new, more expressive ears swiveled slightly, hearing the slight rustle of the bushes as he turned around, “Feeling any better?” He asked, changing his hand back to normal.
Gilda nodded, “Yeah, it was good I guess that you skewered a whole den, the food you didn't eat was good enough to keep me full for awhile. Hard to fly when you got nothing in ya to help.”
Jason frowned, his eyes becoming a slight blue, “Still not happy I had to do that…” He muttered, before sighing, “Guess I couldn’t avoid it, kill or be killed, I suppose.”
Gilda shrugged, “I heard about some ponies or whatever getting stranded in a desert awhile back before I left home, mighta been a myth, but the pony ate smaller animals it could find, but said sorry and thank you to what it killed for letting it live on till it could get home. Seems sorta dumb, but if you feel sad about killing them, you could probably do that… since the badlands are a desert type area, and the fact that you found this small grassy area is a miracle in itself.”
Jason frowned, “That won’t help us when we’re miles away from any water source, I can sense animals easy, but finding water will be a different thing entirely. Unless we find an oasis, or some cacti, we might be fucked.” He said, his eyes turning a stormy grey.
“Arent you technically a bug, with mood ring eyes?” Gilda said, “Can’t they do something to get water, like...regurgitate food or something?”
Jason looked at her like she was insane, “I don’t think so, and anyway, how would that help you?” He asked, “I don’t think I could get enough water for one person, let alone two by regurgitating food.”
“Not like my mother never did that when I was young.” Gilda replied.
Jason shuddered slightly, “Alright, a bit TMI, but aren’t you part feline, more specifically lion? Griffons do that as well?”
Gilda shrugged, “We got wings like an eagle, we got beaks and claws, I can make a bird noise. We are little fluff balls as kits, useless little things, of course griffons would do a few things the same as a bird.” she rolled her eyes, like it was obvious.
Jason glared at her, his eyes flashing red, “Well excuse me for not knowing about a supposedly mythical creature.” He said.
Gilda smiled, “What were you doing anyway playin with your arm?”
Jason’s eyes didn’t lose their red coloration, “I was testing what I could do with my arm. I made a working circular saw, a construction tool from where I was from. I played a video game once, you killed the living dead by the thousands, and one of the weapons was a sledgehammer mixed with a concrete saw, which is a handheld circular saw, which can cut through flesh, skin, bone, stone, concrete, and if you keep at it, some weaker metals.”
“Ok...” Gilda said.
Jason smirked, his eyes turning bright yellow, “It’s one of the best cutting tools, and, now with my new Evo-Ling Abilities, It’s capabilities have advanced even further, watch.” Jason morphed his hand back into the circular saw, this time with a five foot pole attached to it, “Adds some extra range, and I can also do this…” His entire arm, the pole included became jagged, before rotating along with the blade.
Gilda nodded, a big false smile on her face, “Good for you...” she said, backing up back into the cave.
Jason sighed, his arm returning to normal, “You really can’t pretend to be happy, It is literally impossible for someone to lie to me. You are freaked out to shit right now, and you know what? So am I.” He muttered, “Do you really even know what I am? ‘Cause I sure as hell don’t. Me doing this, seeing what I can do, experimenting on how I can change my body, it’s my way of coping, my way of not having a complete and total mental breakdown, which would cause both of us to die, me from being eaten alive or something, you from not being able to eat.”
“You have people waiting for ya, is all I know about you.” Gildas voice said from the cave.
“And you as well. As long as we get roughly halfway, Imloch and Emily should be able to get to us.” He muttered, “I’m not leaving you alone.”
Gildas sigh echoed, “Ya know, flying away from Ponyville only to be brought back is a stupid thing to have happen.”
“I never said I was going back to Ponyville, did I?” Jason said sadly, “I don’t know how to change my appearance besides my hands and stuff, and I think most ponies would freak out big time…”
Gilda poked her head out of the cave, “Maybe you, being a changeling, just have to work on that. It might be like flight and magic, It might not come naturally?” she guessed, walking out of the cave over to him.
“Maybe… I still don’t know how I could even try living there… I’m just meeting up with Emily and Imloch so that I can tell them where I’m going… Maybe the griffon empire?” He wondered.
“No.” Gilda said instantly.
Jason stared at her, his eyes stormy grey, “Yeah… I think I can go where I want. We only have to have this one journey, then we go our separate ways. Griffon Empire is large enough for us to both live there and never see each other again.”
Gilda shook her head, “I can't go back there, why do you think I went to Equestria anyway?”
Jason looked at her, his eyes now cloudy silver, “Why can’t you-” He let out an “Oh” of understanding, “You were exiled, weren’t you?”
Gilda sighed, “Yeah, and it sucks cause my parents are the king and queen.”
Jason’s eyes widened, turning a bright orange, “So, what you're saying, is that you’re royalty?”
“Disowned and cast out, not royalty anymore.” Gilda growled.
Jason gazed at her, his eyes turning a bit blue, “What happened?” He asked softly.
Gilda shrugged, “Not much for sob stories. I don't care that much, just annoyed that I don't have my own place anymore.” she said.
“Well, wherever I set up, you’re welcome to stay with me, doesn’t have to be in Equestria or the Griffon Empire, I could literally set up anywhere I wish, I’ve heard that Minotauria is supposed to be nice.” Jason said, getting up, “We should probably begin on our way, are you alright enough to walk?”
“Im right next to you. I walked over to you a minute ago. I think I’m good right now.” Gilda said.
Jason sighed, “Then let’s go.” He said, striding forwards.
“I hate slimes!” Imloch growled, casting a burning hands spell to incinerate them, “They always break apart when you slice them.”
Emily sighed, thinking about the dream instead of listening to him complain, thinking about how to explain it without sounding insane, “Just turn into a staff so I can walk if you're only going to whine all the time.”
“I’ll change after you help me, we walked into a bloody nest of them, remember!?” He yelled, casting a fireball, which took out another group, “Burning hands, Flare or Magic missile should work.”
Emily looked down at one bouncing at her feet, “There adorable. I want one as a pet. Lets do a pet familiar binding spell or whatever the fuck you call it.” She said, picking up the slime at her feet. The Slime escaped her hands, attaching itself to her face, immense pain searing into her skin. Emily screamed and ran around, yelling to Imloch to get it off her.
Imloch sighed, casting a ray of frost with one hand, freezing the one on her face while burning another, “Slimes do not make suitable Familiars. If we find a Phoenix or something, that would be better.”
Emily put a hand over her face, feeling it as she looked down, “The small ones looked harmless though, the fucking little monsters...” She muttered.
Imloch chuckled, “The little ones are the worst, aren’t they?” He said, before summoning his familiar, a small beholder, “Get ‘em Bobo.” He said, as the Beholder charged the remaining slimes.
Emily watched it, “Yeah...I think I would like a pet that wasn't a huge eye...”
Imloch chuckled again, “Yeah, Beholders are normally evil creatures, but Bobo is a good Familiar who has saved my bacon more than once.”
“Thats...nice, I think.” Emily said, walking away from the beholders work.
Imloch smirked, leaning against a tree, “Yeah, every wizard should have a familiar. When I was actually alive, they were more vicious animals and magical beings, like imps, small dragons, panthers, hellhounds, and other things. Wizards 200ish years later were using rabbits, beetles, bats and other really weak animals that were no actual use in combat.”
Emily turned and looked at him, “Maybe they just wanted a pet instead of a fighting animal.” She suggested.
Imloch shrugged, “Wizards were in combat a lot, and if their Familiars weren’t strong enough, they died.” He sighed sadly, “A wizard is connected with his Familiar in the most intimate way, and when a connection like that is severed, bang, wizard is dropped, totally incapacitated.”
Emily frowned, “Alright... Do you think I could make Jason a familiar, just to mess with him?” She asked.
Imloch looked at her, “A familiar spell was never intended to be cast on a human being… But theoretically It could work… I wouldn’t recommend it though.”
Emily rubbed the back of her neck and sighed, “He isn't exactly a human, by human standards right now. You know how you woke me up because I set part of the tent on fire and melted it in my sleep?”
Imloch nodded slowly, “Yes…”
“Apparently, Jason is a bug now.” Emily said.
Imloch had taken a draught from his canteen, doing a magnificent spit take at what she said, “Excuse me?” He coughed, trying to get his breath back.
Emily shrugged, “Probably a bad way of telling you apparently. He’s pretty much almost all bug, but still kinda human shaped.” She explained.
Imloch stared at her, “How do you know this!?” He exclaimed, “Leave out no detail!”
“I guess, since Twilight put that spell in our heads so we could track him, and he is whatever sort of bug has telepathy, he got a link with me or something? I don't know! I also don't know why the dream decided for us to meet each other at the school again...” She put a hand to her chin as she thought.
Imloch stared at her, “Bug, badlands? He’s a Changeling!?” He yelled, beginning to freak out.
Emily flinched, “Yeah...I guess he is. I almost killed him too, if thats even possible in a dream, with the spells you showed me.” she said.
“Who did it to him, did he tell you!?” Imloch yelled, really freaking out.
Emily sighed, “Well, first you need to calm down, and second, I think he did, but I forgot. Because I forget dreams sometimes, because people forget shit thats important.” she said.
“Calm down, CALM DOWN?!” He screeched, “Do you know how much energy it takes to fully and permanently transform a being into something else like that?! Changing a person’s entire biology takes colossal energy, and permanently is even tougher!”
Emily walked over to where he was, avoiding the slime puddles on the ground, “By the looks of him, it didn't seem like it was that hard for a changeling to do, besides, we're going back for him and bringing him home! We can get him fixed up later.”
“If he can get fixed…” Imloch muttered, glowing as he changed back into the staff, forming inside Emily’s hand, ”Let’s keep going. Keep practicing Magic missile along the way.”
Emily sighed, “Fine...” she muttered, “Call of Bobo or whatever you called him though.” she said, starting to walk again.
Jason groaned, “And we just had to reach the biggest god damned canyon in the fucking badlands…” His eyes turning stormy grey. The canyon was at least a mile in width, and a couple miles deep.
Gilda rolled her eyes, “Maybe I would be able to fly myself if I was at my usual great self, but I'm still not strong enough yet to fly long distances, and even if I was, I can't carry you.”
Jason sighed, “Yeah I figured that… Any ideas for how to get across? Cause I can’t fly yet… Nor can I use Magic…”
Gilda stared at him like he was an idiot, “Cant fly over, can't go through. We can walk along with cliff face of this canyon until we get to the end of it, it isn't like its impossible to get across it.” She said.
“It appears to be at least a dozen miles in length, maybe more…”
Gilda shrugged, “We got no other way across. Might as well get movin.” She said.
Jason nodded, “I do agree, but this is gonna take a while.” He said, beginning to walk.
Gilda started walking, moving carefully so she wouldn't slip as she watched where she walked, “We might get there in an hour.”
Jason nodded, walking along side her, “Since we’re going to be traveling together, we should probably get to know each other a bit better.”
Gilda sighed, “I don't see the reason for that really. I also am questioning why I am the one walking close to the canyon...” she shook her head, and moved further away from the ledge.
“Probably a good idea…” He said, walking away from the edge as well, “But I kind of want to know the person who I’m gonna be traveling with for the foreseeable future, and longer, you know, for trust reasons. Can’t fight with someone who I don’t trust with my life and all that Jazz…” He said, looking around.
Gilda sighed, “What is it you need to know besides what you have seen already?”
“Just, anything, favorite foods, likes, dislikes, fears.” He said, “Stuff I know so I don’t piss you off.”
Gilda shrugged, “I like chicken more than anything else to eat, since I can eat them without a pony losing their cool about it. You know already I don't really like ponies, and stuff I do like is personal.”
“Any fears? Stuff I know that you’ll freak out when faced with? So I know when to put on the defense.” He replied.
“If I got fears, I try to fight em. I don't want to come off as a griffon who can't handle her own.” Gilda growled.
“Never hurts to have backup. Never said you couldn’t help yourself, but theres a limit that every being can take, and having someone to back you up can help big time.” He said, continuing to look around.
“Whatever.” Gilda said.
Jason quickened his pace ever so slightly, “There’s been something following us for the past fifteen minutes, and whoever or whatever it is just speeded up.” He whispered to Gilda.
Gilda glared at him, “And you decide to tell me this now?” She asked angrily.
“I was hoping that It was nothing, but now I know that something is after us, I would DUCK!” He yelled, whipping around and bringing up a shield from his arms as a giant four legged monster impacted it sending him skidding backwards.
Gilda looked at what had fallen to the ground, “Ya know, a shield you can make with your own body is kinda cool.”
“Thanks.” Jason said, turning the shield into a sword, “But this fight isn’t over yet.” He turned to glare at the beast, “Now what the hell are you.”
The beast roared deafeningly. It was a giant, purple translucent bear with star shapes in it’s body, and a giant red one in it’s forehead.
Gilda backed up, “Yeah… this I’m not gunna fight, cause no one can win against an Ursa Major, and they are totally invincible to ponies and other stuff.” She turned tail and ran away.
“GET TO SAFETY!!!” He roared, before growling menacingly, his eyes flashing an ugly red, “Well, it’s time someone tried, and I’m gonna die, but might as well give Gilda a chance to run away.” He charged at the beast his sword raised high, as the beast slammed into him with a paw throwing him to the edge. “This is gonna end in my death, so might as well run!” He yelled, making small wheels at the bottom of his feet and roller skating towards the direction that Gilda ran, catching up to her rather quickly.
Gilda panted, looking at him, “This thing is going to kill us both. Why is it even here?! Did someone piss off its baby and bring it outside the everfree?!” she exclaimed.
“THAT WOULD REALLY NOT BE GOOD!” He yelled, “I can outpace you easy, get on my back, with both of our wings beating, we can get away from that bastard really quick!”
“Your wings are barely over a foot long, you cannot fly and I cannot fly, with our weight.” she said, running faster, avoiding her tail getting stepped on by an inch.
“Never said anything about flight,” The wheels on his feet changed into a board with wheels on the bottom, “Called a skateboard, the propulsion from both our wings should rocket us away from that oversized constellation.”
Gilda looked at it as she ran beside him, “Looks like a dumber version of that pegasus fillies scooter.” she looked back at the Ursa right behind them, and jumped onto the skateboard, “I’ll do this anyway.” she said, flapping her wings quickly.
“Good, that filly does the same thing that we’re about to do, and she goes really fast, so with two of us, we should go even faster, let’s do it!” He said, beating his wings at a rapid pace and creating a buzzing sound.
Gildas eyes twitched from the noise, but she beat her wings faster, syncing up with Jasons as they both tried getting the skateboard to go faster.
Jason glanced backwards, smiling at noticing that the big bear was falling behind, “How much longer can you keep up the pace?”
Gilda groaned, burning in her wings, “I don't even know how its possible we are even getting away from it on a skateboard.” She said.
“We flap our wings, which creates thrust, the thrust pushes backwards, and newton’s third law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so we move forwards at the same speed.” Jason explained, jumping slightly at the roar that the bear gave. Jason turned back again, paling at the bear speeding up, “Oh Fuck…”
“I knew we could never outrun an Ursa Major, it should not be possible.” Gilda gritted her teeth, and her wings started slowing down.
“Crapcrapcrapcrap…” Jason muttered repeatedly, “What to do…” He glanced at the canyon, grimacing, “I got an Idea… It’ll either kill us or save our asses…”
“We die either way here.” Gilda sighed. “Just do it.”
Jason nodded, gulping, “Alright… but I’m gonna need you to flap as hard as you can when I say to, alright?” He asked, turning back to the canyon, narrowly avoiding the purple space bear.
Gilda nodded, “Alright.” she said, her wings flapping slowly due to the burning.
“You get about 5.678 seconds of rest before we go over.” Jason shouted over the wind, flapping his wings harder, “GET READY!” Gilda nodded, waiting as she stopped flapping her wings.
Jason’s face gained a manic smirk, his eyes glistening gold, “I AM THE CONDUCTOR OF THE POOP TRAIN!” He screamed, letting loose a maniacal laugh as they went over the edge. “FLAP! NOW!” He roared, turning his arms into giant wings, adding extra stability.
“I don't even know what that even meant!” Gilda yelled, gritting her teeth as she flapped her wings, the burning immense.
Imloch sighed, sitting down next to Emily, panting slightly, “That… was tiring…” He groaned, “Never… try to take a dragon… for a Familiar again…” He glared at the female next to her, who blushed slightly, as she remembered what had happened a couple of hours ago.
Imloch walked forward, a thick tree branch in his hands, “There should be a clearing up ahead, if Bobo’s information is correct.”
Emily sighed, “I'm just waiting until this actually becomes a badlands and not a forest.” She said, looking around.
Imloch stuck out his arm, stopping Emily from moving, “There’s someone up ahead, listen.” A sound reached their ears, a sound like cracking eggshells. “You hear that?”
Emily frowned, “Yes...who the hell is this far out?” she asked.
“Someone looking for trouble…” A new voice said from right behind them, causing them to jump. A bipedal dragon like Spike stood behind them, except this one was crimson and at least three to four times his size, and was looking at Emily strangely. “Why would anyone be out this far? Only reason is that they’re looking for trouble.”
Emily looked at the red dragon, “I’m not looking for anything but my best friend.”
The red dragon’s look became flirtatious, “Loyalty, I like that in a woman. Why don’t you come meet my friends, they’re having a great time up ahead.”
Emily blinked, before she looked at the ground, “What the fuck is happening...” she muttered, looking up at Imloch, “Technically, you should be my father figure right now.”
Imloch looked back at Emily, ”Lets see what happens before I lay the smack down on them…” He said telepathically to Emily, ”You heard what he said, only people out here are looking for trouble, so what is he doing?” He asked.
The red dragon looked at them, “What do you say, sweet cheeks?” He asked Emily.
Emily glared at him, “I'm going to break you, and then make you my familiar… maybe that way I can make you not be a creepy ass.” she said.
The dragon snorted, “Feisty, I like that as well,” He smiled, “Names Garble, and yours?” He asked, giving half lidded eyes to Emily.
“Holy fucking shit, your a dragon. Stay in your own species pervert.” Emily said, picking up a good sized rock from the ground and throwing it at him.
Garble’s eyes widened as he slowly looked downwards towards his male parts, before screeching in pain, as he fell onto the ground. “OH FUCK YOU BITCH!” He roared, glaring at her, “WHEN I’M DONE WITH YOU, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO WALK STRAIGHT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!” His head whipped towards the clearing, “GET OVER HERE YOU IDIOTS!”
Two more dragons lumbered through the trees, one was a brown color and exceedingly fat, and the other was purple with skater hair, “What’s up?” The black brown one said with a dopey voice, “We were in the middle of smashing the Phoenix nest, theres only one left,” He held up a egg with fire designs on it, “The alpha egg!” He said proudly, “I saved it for you Garble.”
Garble glared at them, “KILL THEM!” He screamed, “KILL THEM AND CHAR THEIR BONES!”
Emily groaned, “This sucks sooo hard.” she said, running away back the way they had come.
Imloch’s eyes were smouldering, “You smashed Phoenix eggs?” He growled, “I’m going to kill you so hard.” His hands lit up as he performed a complex spell. A bright flash blinded everyone in the woods, and as it fell, a giant red dragon, at least twenty stories tall appeared in Imloch’s place, more like the classic dragons of western lore. “Saw a man, but instead found a god?” He growled, looking down upon the now shaking drakes, “I know magics that would spell destruction for even the greatest of gods, puny mortals like yourselves don’t stand a chance.” He growled, his mouth glowing with an internal fire, “Begone from my sight.” This was the final straw for the dragons, as they screamed, fleeing as they left small puddles beneath where they were. “Good riddance.” He chuckled, changing back into his human form. “They won’t be smashing any eggs anytime soon.” He chuckled, picking up his tree branch staff, glancing at the egg, before picking it up. “Maybe Emily will get a Familiar after all.” He chuckled once more.
The dragons had noticed that the giant dragon had gone, and they wanted revenge. When Emily had walked back to imloch, and they had settled down around a campfire in a clearing, the woods around them burst into flames. “Well well well…” Said a familiar voice, “Looks like we caught some eggs in need of squishing.” Garble and his two cronies landed in the clearing next to them.
Emily slapped herself in the face, “Why do teenage dragons seem to all be assholes.” she muttered.
Garble grabbed her by the neck, glaring her down, “I want you.” He hissed, “And I always get what I want.”
“Rape!” Emily yelled, “This completely counts as rape to the highest degree!” she thought quickly, and started casting a spell, her mind pushing itself on Garbles’ as she tried forcibly making him a familiar.
Garble snarled, smashing Emily with the mental equivalent of a sledgehammer, “I am no-ones’, you are mine, and mine alone.” He growled, tightening his grip on Emily’s neck, before sighing as Imloch sent his two cronies flying, “How hard is it to kill one non-armored pony?!” He roared.
Emily coughed, trying to get air, as Imloch prepared another spell, “GET AWAY FROM HER!” He roared, casting an advanced version of Magic Missile, sending a couple dozen more powerful missiles at Garble, who was thrown backwards, dropping Emily on a rock. As the three dragons stumbled trying to get up, Imloch cast another spell, which turned their flesh into stone, “Don’t worry, it only lasts an hour to twenty four,” He smirked, “And you’ll be conscious the whole time, so enjoy.” He smirked, picking up Emily from the rock and running out of the glen, casting a cone of cold spell to put out the fires in his way.
Emily rubbed her neck, “Don't worry, I won't ever try that again, even if it is to save my life. Jesus, I have never thought that I would ever even get attempted to be raped by a dragon. Even an asshole one...” she muttered.
Imloch’s eyes were glowing black, “That bastard got off easy…” He muttered, before taking the egg out of his bag, “For you.” He said, his scowl morphing into a small smile.
Emily picked it up, looking at it, “Did one of those dragons lay an egg in terror at some point?” She asked.
Imloch let out a loose chuckle, “No, when we first saw those dragons, they were smashing Phoenix eggs…” He said sadly, “This is the last egg, and this is an Alpha Phoenix egg.” He said.
Emily sighed, “I don't understand your wording, whenever you talk about something like this. What does Alpha Phoenix egg even mean?!” She exclaimed.
“An Alpha Phoenix egg hatches an Alpha Phoenix, think of it as the equivalent of a Alpha wolf in a wolf pack, Stronger, Faster, and much more Magically attuned.” He said, “And the time when they just hatch is the best for making a Familiar. Which should be, now.” A crack echoed throughout the small clearing, a head popping out of the top of the egg, a piece of the shell like a hat. “Now, cast the spell.”
Emily looked at the baby phoenix, and cast the spell, her mind pushing gently on its own, showing it stuff from her life to form the bond. The Phoenix chirped, tilting it’s head as it accepted the bond. It chirped again, flying upwards shakily and nuzzling Emily, a slight warmth coming from the area. She smiled, “What should I name you then?” She wondered.
“Fawks?” Imloch suggested, “Sounds noble.”
Emily frowned, “No, that sounds dumb...” something in her mind clicked, “Am I going to be murdered by two very angry parents if they find out I have their baby?”
A shadow crossed across Imloch’s face, “No… The dragon’s took care of that…” He sighed, “You, in the eyes of the Phoenix, are it’s mother.”
Emily sighed sadly, “Oh, alright then. I guess thats good for me then.” She looked at the phoenix, “His or her name is Blaze.”
“Blaze, I like Blaze.” Imloch said, “We should keep going, get some distance between us and those assholes.” Imloch said, casting a ray of frost at the fire and putting it out, “Are you and Blaze ready?” He asked as he stood up.
Emily nodded, standing up, “Yeah, lets go.” she said, holding Blaze in one hand as they began walking.