Unlikely Heroes

by Raptor

Act I: Epilogue

"Alright... So far, so good."
Mm.
"Step one complete."
Not quite...
"...You're right. I'll check in with them... see if anyone wants to turn back."
Are you going to tell them your plans...?
"I'm going to tell them the truth. About what this mission might have in store..."
...
"...You alright...?"
Hm...? Yes... Yes, I'm fine.
"...Relax."
...
"We'll get you sorted out, too..."
My problem should be the least of your concerns...

---

Day VIII
Golden Wood Inn, Canterlot, Equestria
Third stage of Rising Moon

Entry 1

I guess I might as well start from the beginning.

I was borne to a prodigious family of blacksmiths, I was taught the finest points in the craft. I was quite excelled in it, but my heart wasn't in my work. My family was one of Thr the main suppliers for the army, thus I was taught to craft weapons. With my displeasure in what I made with my hooves, I began to experiment with what I could build. Soon, I discovered that I could ienvision and create wonderful things. My father, seeing my creations as nothing more than pieces of wasted metal, highly disapproved. My brothers turned their backs on me, and many began to avoid me. It seemed only my sister still felt love for me, and for that I w

"HI!!"

"GAH!" Bronze stumbled back from his journal when he heard the sudden, chipper voice. Standing in front of him was a young pink mare, staring at him with a huge grin on her face.

"Sorry!" She giggled. "I just wanted to say hi! I'm Melody! Melody Roseshine!" She extended her hoof out to the startled pegasus.

Bronze gave her a deadpan look. "Melody, we already introduced ourselves yesterday," he said. "Twice."

"Oh yeah!" She giggled again. "Sorry. I just really really really really like meeting new ponies, and since we haven't gotten to know each other that much, I figured, 'hey, why not get to know each other that much?' And what better way to-" Much to the stallion's relief, Melody's ramble was cut short by the sound of the chamber door opening. In came a gray stallion in black coat, known to all present as Silver Mine.

Silver looked around the room. Nearly everypony was looking at him. Aurora Dancer was lying on her side, on one of the top bunks, smiling and waving when she saw him. Carina was tucked away in a corner, clutching her stuffed phoenix, seemingly isolated from the group. However, when she noticed Silver, she warmed up a bit, smiling and giving a small wave as well. Oathbound and Coal Scorcher were currently locked in a hoof wrestle, oblivious to the stallion who just entered. They appeared to be evenly matched, as their hooves were barely moving. Bronze Feather was sitting on one of the beds, with a journal in front of him. Melody Roseshine was standing nearby, and she waved ecstatically at Silver.

"Hello, everyone," the miner greeted. There was an assortment of greetings in response. Coal looked at Silver, distracting himself and giving Oath the opportunity he needed to slam Coal's hoof on the table. Coal snapped his head back at the veteran, who smiled cockily at him.

"So where's the last member of our crew, Silver?" Aurora asked, noticing he came alone.

"He'll be here shortly," Silver answered. "Have you all gotten acquainted with one another...?"

Aurora shrugged. "Some of us more than others..." she motioned to the shy blue unicorn in the corner, who hid her muzzle behind her plush phoenix.

"Hm." Silver sighed. "I'll have a talk with her later," he muttered quietly. "Don't worry." He turned to the other four in the room, and looked at the two burly stallions. He smiled. "I see you two are getting along well."

Scorcher smiled. "You could say that."

Silver looked at Bronze. "Bronze. How are you doing?"

"Pretty well," was the reply. The pegasus smiled and nodded toward the pink filly next to him. "...Considering."

Silver smiled and turned to said filly. "And sweet, sweet Melody, how are you doing?"

Melody hopped straight up and squealed, as if she was waiting for that question. Which she probably was. "I'm so EXCITED~!" she sang. "Everypony here is so so nice! I love meeting new ponies! Especially nice ones! And today, these ponies are nice, and I'm meeting them! Yay~!"

"Wonderful." He turned to the entirety of the group. "I'm glad you all are getting along so well. Cooperation is going to be the key here." He smiled. "Not to mention it'll make our lives easier." A knock on the door diverted Silver's attention. "Come in," he called out. The door opened, and a red unicorn poked his head in. Once he saw Silver, he smiled slightly.

"Ah, good, I got the room number right," he said. He opened the door fully and entered, taking a look around. All eyes were on him. "Um, hello, all. I'm Quill. Quill the Scribe." He gave a small wave. Melody waved back vigorously.

"So that's our new number seven," Coal said, taking in Quill's appearance. The unicorn certainly came prepared. He wore a brown cloak and saddlebags, the right one filled with several scrolls and small books, while the left seemed to be containing quills, inkwells, and a few miscellaneous objects. "A scribe, huh...?"

Quill shrugged. "More or less." While Coal pondered on that for a moment, Melody approached him.

"Hiya!" she chirped.

Quill was obviously taken aback by Melody's... forthright behavior, but he kept his cool demeanor all the same. "Well hello," he said politely.

"I'm Melody! Melody Roseshine!" The young mare extended a hoof out to him. Quill shook it politely, but was surprised at the speed his hoof was moving.

"N-nice to meet you..." he said once the shaking had stopped. He spotted Bronze looking a him with a puzzled expression. "Something wrong?"

Bronze blinked. "Oh, uh, no. It's just... Have I met you before?"

Quill cocked his head at the pegasus and thought for a moment. Then his face lit up. "Oh! Are you a stall vendor?"

Bronze perked up and nodded. "Yes! That's it!" he said. "You bought something from me. Oh, what was it...?" Quill's horn lit up and his left saddlebag opened. Out from the bag rose a bronze compass, engraved with intricate carvings and clear, precise notches. Bronze pointed at it. "Right! You bought my compass!" He raised an eyebrow. "Wait... you're a scribe? Why would a scribe need a compass?"

Quill shrugged. "I like to get out a lot. Or at least, I try to. Very fine craftsmanship, by the way."

"Thanks. The name's Bronze Feather."

"You're welcome, and nice to meet you." Quill turned to Oathbound. "I feel like I've seen you before, too," he said.

Oathbound grunted. "Wouldn't surprise me," he replied. "Do you work in Canterlot Castle?"

Quill nodded. "Mhm. I'm one of the royal scribes, and the librarian."

"Well there's your answer," Oath said with a gesture. "I used to be the Captain of the Royal Guard. I'm retired now, but I still live on castle grounds. Oathbound. Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

He cocked an eyebrow and smiled. "Funny how you recognize me, but I've never seen you before. You must be pretty perceptive."

Quill shrugged. "It's my job, in a sense." He looked at the other stallion sitting at the table; the one who had first addressed him. "And you are...?" he asked politely.

Coal smiled. The newbie's alright. "Coal Scorcher. Nice to meet you."

Quill nodded and turned around, facing the other two mares.

"Aurora Dancer," said the pegasus, smiling. Quill nodded to her and looked at the shy one, who poked her head out from behind the phoenix doll.

"Oh, um... I'm Carina..." she said quietly. She hid her muzzle behind the doll again, muffling: "It's nice to meet you..."

Quill couldn't help but smile at the mare's timidity.

"If, um... If I could get everyone's attention, please...?" Everypony in the room fully turned to Silver and looked at him expectantly. Silver closed his eyes and sighed through his nostrils.

"This mission... is not going to be easy," he began, looking up at everyone with a grave expression. "It will be life-threatening. Some of you may die. If you want to turn back, now's your chance. I won't hold it against you. But this is for a good cause. For Canterlot... For Equestria... For more than you know. Your lives will be in danger... so that others' won't be. So... who's in?"

Coal rose to his hooves and stepped forward. "I will go to the ends of the Earth to find that dragon and make him pay," he said. He nodded to Silver. "I'm in."

"Death has always been a concern in my line of work," said Oathbound as he rose to his hooves. "It never bothered me before. I don't see why it should now. Not to mention... I never go against my promises." He smiled and nodded. "I'm in as well."

Silver nodded to both of them. "Good. Who else?"

Quill took a step forward and smirked. "I'll never turn down an adventure, nor will I ignore an important historical happening. I'm in."

"You've shown me the role I play in all this," said Aurora, dropping down from the bunk and standing in front of Silver. "It would be a crime to turn back now. Count me in."

"I'm not going to let those dragons hurt any more innocents," said Bronze, rising to his hooves. "I'm in."

"This adventure's going to be so fun!" Melody chirped, jumping straight up. "I know it'll be dangerous, but if we stick together, I know we'll be alright!" She grinned and nodded. "I'm in!"

Silver nodded. "Good." Everypony's eyes fell upon Carina, who was still tucked away in the corner, causing her to squeak and hide her muzzle behind Flare again. She looked around the room at all the unfamiliar faces, the pressure not helping her anxiety. But when her eyes fell upon Silver, who was giving her a calm, trustworthy smile, she slowly came out of her shell, and smiled.

"I... was skeptical about this to begin with..." she said quietly. "Now that I know that it will be even more dangerous than I imagined... I'm even less convinced to go..." Everypony's expression shifted to that of concern, disappointment, or pity. Everyone but Silver, who looked as if he was waiting for Carina to finish. "But..." Carina continued. There it was. "I don't want to sit around while other ponies are in danger. Although I may not like it..." She put on a small smile. "I want to help." Slowly, she stood up, still holding Flare. "I'm in."

Silver smiled sincerely as he looked at her for a moment. Then, he looked at everypony in the room. "Thank you," he said. "All of you. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"May I have a word now...?"

Everyone in the room froze.

"Who... said that....?" Aurora asked, looking around. Slowly, Silver reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a glowing red orb. Everypony else gaped at the object before them.

"I did."

"Everypony, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine," Silver said. "He's the one who sent out the 'applications', and is also responsible for the memory wipe. It's thanks to him that we're all here today."

"What is it...?" Quill asked. He quickly cleared his throat. "I-I mean... what is he?"

"Let's just say I'm not normally like this, and just leave it at that, hm?"

"Well, who is he?" Coal asked.

Silver paused and looked down at the orb, then back up at the stallion. "He... doesn't like to say. But don't worry, we can trust him. Like I said, he's a good friend of mine."

"Well, what do you call him...?" Bronze asked.

"I don't like names..."

"Yeah, he... doesn't really like being named," Silver explained.

"...Like a pet."

"Well, can we be your friends, Mr. Orby?" Melody asked, hopping up to Silver and looking down at the ball, grinning.

"..."

Aurora snickered. Silver couldn't help but smile as well.

"Please... don't call me that..."

"Anyway," Silver interrupted. "You had something to say?"

"Yes. I do."

The orb gave off a quiet sighing sound.

"...This journey... will affect much more than you think it will. It will affect more than just Canterlot... more than the dragons... more than Equestria... it will affect you."

Some of the ponies in the room exchanged glances. Silver was looking at the orb with an unreadable expression.

"Each and every one of you... will be changed by this mission. I can tell you this now... that, for better or worse... when you come back... you will never be the same pony again."

"What do you mean by that?" Bronze asked.

...The orb chuckled.

"That... is for you to find out."

Silver gave the orb a small smile. He looked at the others. "It's getting late. We should turn in. We've got a big day tomorrow." He put the orb back in his saddlebag and placed it next to one of the bunks. The others still remained confused, but they all muttered in agreement. They dispersed to their own bunks. Melody hopped into one of the lower bunks and fell asleep immediately. Oathbound took the lower bunk next to Silver's, laying down, and sighing contently. Although, his face showed no content at all. Aurora fluttered up to one of the top bunks, stretching and yawning. Carina lied down on the bunk beneath the pegasus, levitating a blanket over and snuggling up with Flare. Her eyes showed worry. Bronze flew up onto the bunk above Melody, using his cloak as a blanket. Coal opted to use his bedroll on the floor, saying that he was used to it. Quill climbed the ladder up to the bunk above Oathbound, settling down and staring off into space, thinking.

Silver watched them all and, satisfied they were comfortable, blew out the only remaining candle next to him, engulfing the room in darkness. He lied down in his bunk and pulled the covers over him. After everything he'd been through the past week, it didn't take long for the gift of sleep to overcome him...

Our heroes are finally all assembled-- together... eight strangers... Most of which have not known each other for more than a week. These strangers must work together-- trust one another, protect one another. If they fail to do this, many lives will be placed at great risk. But how is this ragtag group of civilians supposed to accomplish all this... And what dangers or obstacles will interfere with this already troubled band of adventurers...?

One thing is for certain... each and every one of them... will suffer greatly.

Some... more than others.

---

Well well well, what have we here...
A dimly glowing green form appeared in the middle of the room. It was in the shape of a pony, and was walking towards where Silver lay.
So many playmates I find so near...
The closer the figure stepped, the clearer his form became. His eyes were wide and wild...
But not sweet Carina, not for this round...
His ears twitched, his horn aglow... And his mouth... was formed in a painfully wide shape of a smile.
I've found someone with a more... interesting background...

Nhnhhnnhnhnhnhnhhnnhhnhnhnnnn~...

Author's Note:

And that concludes Act I of "Unlikely Heroes!"
I'd like to thank each and every one of you for supporting me with your most flattering comments.
Not gonna lie, I was a little unmotivated to finish this chapter toward the end of writing it, but after looking back at some of your comments, it gave me an inspiration unlike any other.
One that I had had before... And one that I will keep.

Thank you.

See you at Ragnarok,
--Raptor

Comments

[Brother Roga]

My reaction to this chapter:

My reaction everytime I see that this story has been updated:

Need I say more?

[SHMANDER]

Allegiance: Servant, jack-of-all-trades
Name: Nightshade (I know it's unoriginal shut up)
Race: Unicorn
Appearance: Slightly shorter than Big Mac, black coat, silver mane and tail. Polychromatic eyes, left one is eerie yellow, right one is bright violet.
Desc: unable to use normal unicorn magic, but has full control over darkness. Able to morph his appearance and the appearance of those around them so long as they aren't in direct sunlight or moonlight. Turn oneself into a shadow and move at incredibly high speeds or under doors. Works for the strongest power beside himself. Will perform any task the one that instructs him to perform without question.
(make him work for good or evil originally i don't care, I just want him to become good)

[Saga529]

The chapters continue and so does the development. Keep it up Raptor

[Equestrian Wyvern]

I do have to say things are really getting interesting with the story. Can't help but get an eerie feeling that either you somehow found a copy of the Savage Worlds session of mine that dealt with the OC pony who directly inspired Carina, or that there is some absurd coincidence building...

[Raptor]

3019355 Wait... what...?

[Wonderstruck]

I love reading how you write about Melody, and everypony else too, but I can imagine Melody acting like however you write, it's great!

I look forward to your future chapters!!!

3017482 This is sooooo true!

[Mr Pones]

2365176
I have at least three dozen in my fic planned, not including others who aren't important to my story...

Four seems rather little as an amount, really.