//------------------------------// // Top 'o the mountain // Story: Mocha's Story // by Mocha Star //------------------------------// The next afternoon we were traversing the town, heading to the mountain. I couldn’t wait, and I don’t mean that in excitement to potentially see other humans. I hated being surrounded by minotaurs. I had one that I was paying to keep me safe. Turns out, big shock, acanacite wasn’t worth much where it’s farmed. The gem I had was worth one hundred coins. That was it. Sounds like a lot, but before the gem boom I’d have gotten, well you know what I got before. So, we reach the base of the mountain around three. “So, how long to get to the top again?” I asked wiping my face. It wasn’t hot, just humid. All the clouds around the mountain had an effect. “As I told you before we left, to reach the top would take two days, our goal is the cloud layer by tomorrow morning. If we survive past the cloud layer, then we see how far we need to travel. Your kind hasn’t been there long, but no telling what they’ve done to the houses that were there for generations before they purchased-” “Yeah yeah, I remember your rant. Lom, Heart, are you okay in the cart?” I asked. “I okay.” “Me too.” They giggled and began to whisper. Both Rus and I chuckled at the sight of two young mares in the back of a cart sharing secrets and acting like they should. “You know,” Rus’ baritone voice said softly, “since I first saw you with those two I knew you were odd, but to have those two as family,” he smiled at me and nodded. We had an understanding. I was okay adopting two equines and had an open heart. Hours passed as the mules walked a steady pace up the mountains winding path, Rus and I became a little closer through stories, Lom and Heart were playing tag, of sorts, while we walked, and it was a great time, until I saw the first sign. A literal sign written in one of their languages and another above it written in mine. “It says ‘stay out’,” he read. I sniffled and wiped a fake tear from my eyes. “No, it says ‘armor up’.” “What’s that mean?” he asked, hands on his hips. I gave him a wide smile. “It means I have to put on my dress clothes.” He raised an eyebrow and I patted his shoulder, as hairy as it was, before I called to the girls. “Hey, daddy’s putting on his big boy pants!” They giggled and ran to the front of the cart to stop the mules while I hopped up and climbed under the tarp. I’d had my power armor hidden the whole time, so when I climbed under the tarp I imagine he was a bit concerned. Especially when it powered up and the systems warmed. There was a unique hiss of air being sucked into the suit to pressurize it as well as load certain defenses and my pellet rounds. One thousand little plastic balls that when they hit a target would pop, spreading a color on it. Often they would jam, so it was a waste of space that I didn’t wanna get rid of. Anyway, I move my arms and sit up, the smooth silence that was offered was blissful as I saw the tarp fall away and the look on his face. Heh, it took him three seconds to have his battleaxe at the ready, a war face on, and I could feel the cart vibrate from his roar. I slid down and landed on my feet in front of him, now about a foot taller than I was. “Hey, tiny,” I said as he swung his axe. I grabbed his wrist before the blade struck me with my left hand, took a step and pushed him with my right making him fall back, and I leveled his axe to his face. “I dub thee, sir chops a lot,” then I tossed his bladed weapon to his right. “C’mon Rus, don’t you recognize me?” He sneered and stood up grabbing his weapon, backing up, leveling his weapon at me again. “You’re one of them?! The beasts that burn my home to the ground?! They were HUMANS?!” he shouted. Oh shit, this’ not going as planned. He’s entering bloodlust, I don’t want to hurt him, what do I do? I take my rifle and swing it to him and spin a stun round into it. “Calm the fuck down, Rus. I’m me, not one of them. It was at that moment my girls entered the fray. “Leave Mocha alone!” Lom shouted in as close to a roar as her little body could, she took a pounce stance, like an angry dog. Heart jumped to my shoulder and screamed at him: Just screamed a lung’s worth of air at him in a tiny pony roar. Hashtag cute. I’ll explain later. He relented as he was outmatched by size, weaponry, logic, and cuteness. He lowered his axe and huffed. “If you’re not with them, why do you have their armor and weapons?” “Because, numb nuts, we’re from the same planet. Of course we’d have the same stuff to keep us safe. You saw how weak I am outside this thing,” he nodded unconsciously, “so let’s get up this mountain already.” He sneered, I turned and started walking. “Mules, move!” My girls were still watching him closely. He didn’t sheath his axe and I didn’t trust him yet, so I just walked the path. Two more signs and the cloud layer was coming close. I started to see pegasi flying in the clouds in scouting patterns, there was no sneaking up on the mountain. We made camp and rested, I stayed in my armor. Not comfortable, but it worked just fine and kept me alive from some raging bull scenario. We got up before sunrise and started making the final leg of our path. “Okay, stick with me and I think we’ll get through fine. Anything I say, just play along. Lom and Heart, you can’t lie so don’t say anything unless I ask you. It’s better to think you’re simple and leave you alone. Rus, you’re my bodyguard as we travel the world.” “I have no plans to follow you that far, human.” “It’s a cover story, a lie to get us in,” I told him flatly. I know he was smarter than that, right? “Once we’re in stay close. I know how my people are. Trust no one and say nothing, everything will be used against you.” “Typical humans,” he groaned. We reached the cloud layer to be greeted by four hovering pegasi, no weapons, but they had more than enough skill to draw them while running a distraction. I took the lead for our group. All white or blue and fully armored in light blue armor. Clever to stay hidden in their element. “Greetings, let me pass,” I stated firmly. “Human?” one asked. “Yes, here with my caravan.” “Before you pass you must answer these questions three,” a female droned. Oh no, we’re not really going to do this… “What, is your name?” the one at the far left asked. If I could have face palmed, I would have bruised myself. “Mocha.” “What, is your quest?” the next one asked, like it was the most annoying question ever. Okay, how should I answer? Literal or the quote. Either way they can’t deny me, I’ll just pull the ‘wait’. “To find the holy grail.” They nodded to me then pointed to a smaller blue female. She shook her head in silence, but a grunt from another made her wince. She flew up to us and spoke softly. “What is the speed of heavy swallow,” she practically whispered. Might as well have a little fun with her. “I’m sorry, what was that?” “What’s the speed of a swallow?” she said quickly. “You gotta speak up, I can’t hear you in this thing,” I tapped my chest for the sound effect. The pegasi behind her snickered as her face turned a shade redder. She grit her teeth and yelled at me. “HOW QUICK CAN YOU SWALLOW A BIRD?” It was, hilarious! Her pals were holding their sides, I was laughing. My girls were laughing. The mules were looking at the ground. It was a great moment. “I can swallow okay; how ‘bout you, pretty lady?” She gasped and blushed, hiding her face in her hooves as she took to the skies, disappearing into the clouds. “She’s never gonna live that one down!” one of them shouted as a roar of laughter came from above. Seems I’d have a fight on my hands if I tried to rush ‘em. Great strategy on their part. The pegasi calmed a bit and a white one flew to me, eye level. “That was awesome. I’m Skydancer, good to meet ya, Mocha.” I sighed in relief. They’re not hardened soldiers. I can work with this. “Yup, she’s an easy target. She a noob?” “What’s a noob?” the white pegasus asked. “Anyone who’s new and doesn’t know what’s going on. She’s a noob,” He grinned. “Noob, I like that. So, you’re here to meet the other humans? With a group like that?” he pointed at my motley crew… “We’re the Motley Crew,” I said opening my helmet, “my mules, a pony, a horse, and my body guard, a minotaur.” “Hrm, I see. Unusual but I’ve seen weirder groups, follow me.” He turned and flew ahead slowly as I sealed my helmet again as we headed into the clouds. Breaking the cloud layer took a few minutes and without a guide we’d have fallen into a broken part of the road. More clever tactics from a flying pony. The sun shone upon us with its warmth and brightness and I could tell the others were content. I was unable to enjoy it at the time, but I’d get my chance.