Trade Tribulations
The sun was high in the sky when Baen disembarked the train. He stared at the area that was now around him. Tents and stalls rose up in droves and multicolored waters of the aptly named Rainbow Falls, fell into pools nearby. Equestria still amazed the barbarian to no end, its wonder many, and its dangers numerous. Though he had been looking forward to this day, because today was the day he could be with his friends, he still didn’t know why there was a mass of tents set up. He knew what a traders exchange was, but the mere fact there was so many ponies confused him.
Twilight noted his confusion, “Something wrong Baen?”
Baen shrugged, “Just musing.”
Twilight stared at him for a few moments but shrugged it off.
Pinkie bounced past Baen and was all smiles, “Best day ever! We're all going to the Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange! And not just going – we're accompanying a princess on an official royal duty!”
Twilight Sparkle glanced around nervously, “Please, it's not that big of a deal. There always has to be a princess at the Exchange. Last year was Princess Cadance, this year it's me. It's just a formality. I'm sure none of the other ponies will even notice I'm here.”
A series of cheering ponies proved that theory wrong.
Applejack playfully added, “Could be wrong, but I think they might've noticed.”
Baen rolled his eyes, “Not that hard, she kind of sticks out.”
Twilight nervously laughed as they continued into the Exchange. Numerous booths and stands even seemed to have a theme to them or they only sold one specific item. Baen stared around with a raised eyebrow at each stand. Twilight endured the various perks of being a royal that arrived at a social event, and she clearly hated the attention. As Baen passed one stand, he stopped. The stand was an open scarlet tent and within it had a pony sitting behind a table with a clear sphere atop it. The girls though further ahead took no notice of their friend’s halting. The pony behind the tail was a dull grey and had a black cloth over his eyes; he was garbed in faded azure robes with silver trim and patterns on it.
“Greetings warrior,” the pony said, “I’ve been expecting you.”
Baen glanced around, “Do I know you?”
“You do not,” the pony stated with a small smile, “But you will in due time.”
Baen tilted his head, “Speak meaning Soothsayer.”
The Soothsayer chuckled, “You young’uns so impatient. Has anypony ever told you that one should be patient to get what one desires?”
Baen blinked, “Um….I’ve heard it before,” he shook his head in annoyance, “Listen, if you’ve stopped me just for small talk then I’ll be on my way.”
The Soothsayer sat silently as he turned to leave.
The Soothsayer then whispered as Baen was out of earshot, “You’ll be back.”
Baen stopped as the girls separated. He approached Twilight who was setting up a stand; a ruffling in his mane alerted him to its occupant having awakened. Nibbles poked his head out and yawned with a slight gurgle. Twilight turned her head and jumped when she saw Nibbles.
“You brought HIM here!?”
Baen was surprised by this, “Um yeah, he’s my pet.”
Twilight opened her mouth to say something but sighed, “Just…stay out of trouble alright? The last thing I want to do is have to remove you from here due to property damages.”
Baen rolled his eyes, “Yes Mom.”
“None of the sass mister,” Twilight raised her hoof, “Hand it over.”
Baen unsheathed his axe and passed it to her, “Keep that safe and secure.”
Twilight smiled, “Of course.”
Baen nodded, “Good. I don’t want to come back and find out you traded it for, I don’t know, a frying pan.”
Twilight was a touch hurt by the statement but gave a small smile as Baen left.
*
As Baen looked around the exchange, one thought circulated through his mind, where was everypony? They said they would meet him and suddenly there was no sign of them? Baen noticed a picnic area for some outdoor eating and sat down to take in the scenery. Hoof steps behind him alerted to the coming presence of somepony or ponies.
“You’re all late,” he smirked without turning, “for shame for making me wait.”
Shining mock bowed, “Our fowl your barbarianess,” he gestured to Vinyl, “a certain DJ wanted to grab some…what did you call it?”
Vinyl raised a mass of records, “Swag.”
Shining nodded, “Yes that.”
Baen stood up and noted his friends were all there, even Coco.
Baen smiled at the mare when she approached and nuzzled him lovingly which he returned.
Shining smiled, “Well, well, what have we here?”
“Aw,” Cheerilee added, “You make such a cute couple.”
Baen raised a hoof as both he and Coco blushed, “Um…we’re taking it slow.”
Coco nodded frantically, “Yes. N-not that it’s.”
Vinyl raised a hoof with a good natured smile, “Calm down there marefriend, we’re just messing around.”
Baen snorted as his the three ponies chuckled.
“Well, what’s there to do around here anyway?”
Shining shrugged as he gestured to a mass of boxes behind him, “Well Cadance wanted me to clean out some of the…non-Equestria destroying objects from the castle. So she said I could trade them.”
Cheerilee clapped her hooves together, “I know! Why don’t we help Shining trade some of the items off?”
Vinyl glanced at her swag, “Hm, well I guess. I mean I traded a lot of my stuff already.”
Baen glanced at the rest of his companions and clapped his hooves, “Well we said we would make a day of it. So let’s do it!”
*
Baen sat behind the stall glaring at the pony across from him, “You’re serious? You want to trade a whisk for this snow globe?”
The pony nodded with an irritated look, “Yes, and I intend to get it to complete my collection.”
Shining trotted over to Baen and stared at the situation, “So how goes the trading Baen?”
“This nozzle wants to trade a whisk for a snow globe,” he gestured to the now offended pony.
“Well if that’s the case,” the pony placed a pot on the counter, “I’ll raise you a pot.”
Shining’s eyes widened, “SOLD!”
Baen and the others glanced at him, “WHAT?!”
Shining blinked, “What? Cadance says the cooks need more pots.”
Baen grumbled then he visibly started sweating.
Coco trotted over to him, “Baen, aren’t you hot in that?”
“A little bit, but it’s fine.”
Coco shook her head, “Come with me, Let’s get you into something a little more cooler.”
Baen sighed but smiled, “Only for you Coco.”
Both ponies walked behind the stand. The sound of metal being placed was heard, and soon Baen walked back out. He was wearing a red vest like shirt that was made of a slightly thin material to allow for better breathability in the heat. His necklace swung from side to side as he smiled. Cheerilee glanced down and noticed a few very faint marks on his hooves and the areas his greaves covered.
“Oh my,” Cheerilee gasped.
Vinyl ogled the marks, “Cool!”
Shining raised an eyebrow, “Battle scars?”
Baen nodded, “Some more recent.”
Cheerilee gasped, “Recent?”
Coco and the group gathered around as Baen nodded, “Yeah, there’s this….spirit in the Everfree Forest. Coco’s met him in Manehatten,” Coco nodded as Baen removed his necklace and placed it on the counter, “That’s better, chain was heating up. But yeah, the longer he remains and lives, the more he mocks me. He’s been plaguing and just, tormenting my mind with the fact I haven’t beaten him yet.”
Vinyl sat in front of him, “What’s his beef what’s you?”
Baen shrugged, “He claims to have come here to test me.”
A pony beside Baen’s head ooed at something as the barbarian continued to speak, “So as a warrior, I have to vanquish him.”
Shining placed a hoof on his friend, “Take it from me. Don’t push yourself to hard. I did that when I was training to be Guard Captain and I almost lost it from stress….and pain.”
The pony then said, “Excuse me, can I trade this bronze goblet for thi-“
Baen waved him off, “Yes, yes, sure.”
The pony squeed and trotted off.
Vinyl tapped her chin, “Say Baen, where’s your axe?”
“Plum butt,” Shining raised an eyebrow, “Twilight confiscated it. She doesn't want me to cause damage.”
Nibbles was sitting in the goblet and made his noise as Baen turned his head, “What is it boy?”
Baen’s eyes then grew wide with panic when he noticed something, “WHAT?!”
He frantically flung things around as he searched the table top, “Where is it?!”
Shining dodged a stone bust, “Where’s what?”
Baen lifted Shining off his hooves with desperation, “MY NECKLACE! I put it right there!”
Shining glanced over, “Uh….yeah I got nothing.”
Baen dropped him.
Vinyl approached, “Uh dude, is that it over there?”
Baen’s eyes flicked over to a vendor who was passing off a familiar jewel to a hoof in the crowd.
Baen then yelled out, “NOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Baen cleared the counter and rushed the stand but halted when he noticed one thing, the pony that was given his necklace was gone.
Baen reeled on the vendor who was a connoisseur of jewels, “Who did you give that to?”
The vendor raised an eyebrow, “Excuse me?”
Baen grabbed the stallion by his coat and yanked him over the counter as his eyes burned with fury.
Speaking through clenched teeth, “MY NECKLACE. WHO HAS IT.”
The stallion was trembling in fear, “Oh! T-the teardrop one? A s-stallion took it.”
Baen grit his teeth, “Tell me who or I’ll rip your hide off you an-“
Baen was yanked away by Shining’s magic, “Cool it Baen,” he glanced apologetically at the trembling vendor, “Sorry about that,” he cast a slightly scolding look at Baen, “my friend’s manners seemed to have left him recently. But that necklace is very important to him and we’d really like to know who has it.”
The vendor steadied himself, “Well it’s…”
Shining’s eyes widened as he heard the explanation, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he face hoofed, “this is just perfect.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “What?”
*
Blueblood was having a perfectly reasonable day, blending in with the common folk and enjoying some time away from the hubbub of the castle. Granted he hated the fact that the commoners were trying to ideally chit chat with him. Imagine his surprise however when he had found a jewel that practically matched his red outdoor suit. Though after a while of wearing it, he felt it was tacky and recently parted with it. As he was going with his newly acquired Wonderbolts poster, one of his secret shames, he was not expecting a blur to barrel into him and pin him against a tree.
Blueblood wheezed when he noticed who it was, “YOU!”
Baen grimaced, “Ponce.”
Coco ran up beside him, “Baen you’re choking him!”
“Good,” Baen stated, “Now Ponceblood, where’s my necklace?”
Blueblood smirked, “Oh, you mean that tacky piece of jewelry, I traded it away.”
Baen growled like an animal as his foreleg pressed harder against Blueblood’s windpipe.
Baen however was pulled from Blueblood by everypony else.
Cheerilee and Vinyl restrained him as Shining approached the downed noble, “Blueblood I’ll be brief. I don’t like you, you don’t like me, but Baen wants to know where is necklace is.”
Blueblood glared at Baen, “Well too bad because I’m not saying a word.”
Shining shook his head in disappointment, “Well that’s too bad,” he glanced at Baen, “because I don’t think my friend over there can be held much longer.”
Blueblood whimpered when he noticed Baen’s blood thirsty smile, “OKAY! I’LL TALK, JUST DON’T LET HIM HURT ME!”
Baen glared, “Who?”
Blueblood sighed, “Just some stallion.”
Baen felt his spirit break.
*
Baen stood before Twilight entirely exhausted, “Listen…Twilight, I need your help. We’ve been tearing this entire place up for hours looking for my necklace.”
Twilight glanced over his shoulder and noted her brother nodding.
Twilight looked sighed, “I’m sorry Baen, but you traded it away. As far as we both know, it might be long gone by now.”
Baen’s eyes started to water as Twilight was gripped by him much to her surprise, “You don’t understand! That necklace is,” he was tearing up, “it’s the only thing I have that…”
Twilight glanced to the side, “I’m sorry Baen. I really wish I could help you.”
Baen slumped as he sulked away with his friends beside him.
“Well, well, look who it is.”
Baen glanced over and stared straight at the Soothsayer.
The Soothsayer raised his hoof as a familiar teardrop shaped jewel attached to a silver chain dangled from it, “I believe this is yours?”
Baen blinked and lunged for it only for the Soothsayer to dodge him.
“Now so fast young’un,” he smiled, “You owe me the honor of having your fortune told.”
Baen grumbled as The Soothsayer lead him inside the tent. The flaps fell shut as Baen seated himself. The Soothsayer removed his blindfold to reveal completely white eyes.
“Now,” The Soothsayer placed his hoof on the crystal ball as it softly glowed, “Hm….though your past was great, your future holds much promise.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “What?”
The Soothsayer smiled warmly, “You do not yet know it, but you will soon acquire a great power that only few have the privilege of possessing. But in saying that,” the air seemed to darken as the crystal had a red mist consume it, “There also comes a great threat to yourself and this power. Your future is plagued with great peril young warrior. Soon you will fell a worthy enemy and a soon afterwards,” the mist then had a pair of glowing yellow eyes appear in it, “you will assist in felling an even greater threat.”
Baen gazed at the eyes as they vanished, “Assist? Great power?”
The Soothsayer nodded, “All will become clear soon enough. But be warned,” the mist transitioned from red, to yellow, to black, then to an unnatural white, “Foes of old will move against you.”
The Soothsayer groaned as he covered his eyes, “I am afraid that is all I can tell you,” Baen’s necklace was slid to him, “I bid you good luck Baen.”
As Baen exited he halted outside, “Wait, how did,” the Soothsayer and his ball were gone, “know my name…..”
Shining approached his friend with concern, “Everything alright?”
“Yeah….,” he sighed, “Sorry our day was ruined.”
Vinyl shrugged with a smile, “It’s cool, it was actually kinda fun to see you go Barbarian on ponies.”
Cheerilee rubbed the back of her head, “Well though the violence wasn’t exciting for me. I liked seeing you again.”
Coco kissed him on the cheek, “I’m just happy that I got to see you again after so long.”
Shining nodded, “Come on, let’s go close the stall and get your armor.”
Baen smiled as he followed his friends, but his mind drifted back to the prophecy he had been given.
*
After bidding a fond farewell to his friends and giving a promise of a much better planned day, Baen departed with the girls. Baen sat on the train in silence as the girls went over something further away from him. But he tuned into the conversation none the less.
Rainbow smiled at the girls, “Oh, come on! You both gave up what you wanted to get something for each other! That's the coolest thing a friend can do. Trust me, I know.”
Pinkie Pie glanced at Fluttershy slightly confused, “Hey, where's your double-doggie?”
Rainbow Dash smirked, “I traded it for something way better.”
Fluttershy then blew a bird shaped whistle which caused a bird to flutter inside the car.
Twilight Sparkle however finished searching through box and levitated a book out, “Well, what do you know? My copy of Daring Do and the Sapphire Statue. It's just a beat up old paperback, not a one-of-a-kind first edition...”
Rainbow Dash gasped then smiled, “Even better, because I can read this one with all my friends!”
Baen sighed and looked at the necklace as he cradled the gem in his hoof.
“Yo Baen.”
Baen glanced up at the smiling mares as Rainbow ushered him over, “Come on, you’ll like this.”
Baen shook his head then clicked his tongue, “Alright, might as well.”
Rainbow Dash squeed at the small victory.
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What could this prophecy mean?
4356902 it's your story you know quite well what it means.
4356931
I know, I just like seeing if anyone has any ideas is all
Did you base baen off of the warrior class from final fantasy?
4356902
I haven't yet read a single word of the story, but here I go:
Equestria's legends speak of a great destruction. A great destruction which can only be escaped through the power of one stallion. One stallion, with the strength to save ponykind. Baen is this stallion. This Summer... Baen shall become... The Chicken Nugget Warrior.
In theaters August 17.
Alicorn Baen!
4357245 no!
i shall not stand by and watch people sully great characters with things like 'Alicornification'
seriously though, this is an awesome story, the character of Baen is one that i enjoy completely, especially seeing as during the early chapters he was more out of date than Luna, and still is!
i shall be watching closely mein freund *hides behind Baen's couch*
4357460
I was kidding!
mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw8564_small.png
Hmm... Vilda. That's right, I know!!
Also, Cryptic... You might wanna read this.
4357578 i.imgflip.com/8o1l4.jpg
i take this stuff seriously, otherwise, we would have crappy OC alicorns everywhere, we dont want that
4359749 I find them funny.
Dude, do you even laugh?
It should be "foul"
Fowl is a bird.