Chapters I get a unwilling travel partner
I was running from the royal guards after teleporting into the Canterlot throne room after a interdimensional spell malfunctioned. Looking back as I ran by many ritzy shops in the upper class market just south of the Canterlot Castle gates. They were very brightly colored and godly. I turned the corner and saw somepony that I could take hostage. She was tall with a whitish pink coat and a pink mane. I grabbed her and pulled out my magic dagger. Putting it to her neck and held her against my head..
“I am sorry about this but this is my only option.” I whispered into Fleur’s ear as the guards turned the corner and stopped dead in their tracks. Turning her and myself around so we were facing the guards.
“Take one more step and I will slit her throat!” I yelled to the guards with a false voice of bravery. Starting to pull magic out of the air so I could teleport out of the city and into the countryside. After a few seconds there was a large flash of light and when the light dimmed I was standing at the edge of The Everfree Forest. Taking the blade away from her throat, I stepped back looking at her.
“I am sorry about all of this but I won’t allow you to leave I don’t really want to die it hurts to much.” I said to Fleur with a truthful sadness to my voice. Standing up from my crouched position, I reached my arms up into the air and stretched.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Fleur asked with a very hostile voice. She took a threatening step towards me with a glare firmly plastered on her face.
“It means that I have done it more than once and it hurts like a bitch.” I said slowly recalling the few times that I had died. Starting to gather magic into my palms as they were facing backwards so she couldn't see what I was doing. After collecting enough magic to perform a binding so she could not physically leave me side by the distance of ten yards. I quickly shot out my hand and put it on her chest making a red hand print appear. She looked at herself and then at me with rage.
“What did you just do to me?” She hollered as I started walking away from her. Once I reached the ten yards mark she started to follow me.
“Why am I moving closer to you.....WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?” She yelled scared now as she didn't know what I had did.
“It’s a form of mind control. If your aren't within ten yards of me your body will automatically try everything it can to correct that. It means that you are physically incapable of running away. Oh and at 300 hundred yard you will die...and if I die you will die.” I said finishing my rant with a smile on my face as my safety is now assured. Continuing walking further into the forest, Fleurs body following obediently behind me. I looked over hearing hooves getting closer as Fleur trotted up next to me.
“If I am going to be forced to stay with you I will walk alongside you as an equal.” She snapped at me seeing my questioning look. This caused me to laugh happily as I had never actually had someone to talk to.
“What are laughing at?” She snapped again as she glared at me with a blush on her face, anger clearly in her eyes.
“Oh it’s just funny that a mortal would have the audacity to back talk a 4000 year old god.” I laughed out with glee. I continued walking for a few seconds, until I realized that Fleur had stopped walking and was looking at me with fear clearly on her face. Turning to her, I looked her up and down with a slight frown on my face.
“Come on stop with the face. I am not going to hurt you and on top of that your world has nothing to fear from me.” I said as I looked at her with a friendly smile. She stiffened for a second then relaxed as she slowly walked up next to me. She looked at me for a few seconds and took a big breath.
“What is your name? I refuse to just call you whatever species you are.” She said as I started to walk again.
“My name is Author.” I said while walking forward without looking back at her. Hearing a snarl I ducked and a Timberwolf flew over my head. As it passed I reached up and grabbed its tail, throwing it over to where the other two wolves were hiding, causing them all to explode into piles of sticks.
“How did you do that?” Asked Fleur a little intimidated that I killed three of The Everfree Forest’s most dangerous beasts at once. Looked over to her with a smile on my face I started to talk.
“Its easy once you have been training your instincts for 1000 years.” I said, walking over to the wood piles and used my magic to burn them to cinders. I then kicked the ash all over the path just to be safe. Looking over to Fleur who was shaking like a leaf. I walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.
“Shhh little one, as long as you stay with me you will be safe this I promise you.” I said with a calming tone. I started rubbing her neck with my right hand. She stiffened at the touch but slowly hugged me back as she needed somepony to hold her even if it was the one who put her into this situation.
“Why are you here on this world?” She asked through her tears shocking me to the core as she was the first one to figure it out on her own. I pulled back away from her and looked her in the eyes, tears coming back to me as the memories of my failure on my own world came flooding back to the front of my mind.
“I am seeking redemption for the all the once I failed protecting on my own world.” I said barely over a whisper. Starting to fade into the past, I fell onto my side visibly shaking.
“All the fire, and the Mad God’s laughter. I couldn't do anything to protect them all they were my charges and I failed them all.” I said with a huge amount of chattering teeth. I curled into a ball as the memories of the first year of my god hood started to wash over my mind and I blacked out.
The first morning....I hate mornings
The whole world was bathed in fire and The Mad God was sitting in his throne of thorns. Slowly crawling away from him and into a hole to hide. Passing out, I woke up in a long marble hall with pillars going into the ceiling which is out of view. Slowly walking down the hallway, I found myself inside The Court of the Elder God’s, were all the oldest gods give their verdicts on us younger gods. The Great Hyena, the god of laughter stood up and pointed at me.
“Author your punishment for failing you task is..........” He said as the whole world started to shake. I slowly came out of my memory and back into the real world. Looking up I saw Fleur shaking me with tears in her eyes.
“Please don't leave me alone out here I was scared.” Fleur cried with tears leaking down her face and onto my shirt mixing with the stains of cold sweat. She stopped shaking me and stood back up. I sat up and rubbed my head.
“I am sorry that wasn't supposed to happen.” I said with a grown. Slowly standing up as to not aggravate my head any more. I looked up only to see that it was time to find some shelter for the night. Quickly scanning the trees for a large branch to sleep on.
“Why exactly did you choose The Everfree Forest to as the place to teleport us to?” Fleur asked as she looked around the path we were on.Not answering at first as I was still looking for a good branch to sleep on. After a few seconds I found a branch that would work nicely. Looking down at Fleur with a serious face I started to speak with an even tone.
“I chose this place as the Canterlot guards would have a hard time finding us, on top of that I know that this place is very dangerous and most mortals wouldn't come in here, if not forced to.” I said, while picking her up, jumping the thirty feet to the tree branch; I looked at Fleur who had a shocked expression clearly on her face.
“H-h-how did you do that?” She asked after I put her down, she walked over to the side of the branch and looked down. When she saw how far up we were she crawled backwards. She started breathing very shallowly and sweating heavily.
“What’s got your panties in a wad miss princess?” I asked with a snarky tone. looking her over with a slightly raised eyebrow I noticed that she was shaking like a leaf. She glared at me for several seconds till she shakes her head and looks at me with confusion.
“What are panties?” She asked clueless as to what the article of human clothes was. I just shook my head and asked in a dumbed down version of the question.
“What has you spooked?” I asked in an even tone. Sitting down, I pulled my bag from my side and pulled out a package of fruit and nuts. Pouring a small amount into my hands, I tossed the bag to Fleur who caught it in her magic field.
“I-I-If you must know, If you must know me and heights don’t get along.” She said sarcastically as she sniffed the bag and took a tentative bite of the food that I had given her. Causing me to chuckle lightly. She looked at me with a glare that would have shattered black ice.
“What is this drivel that you are trying to feed me?” She asked in a cold whisper making my face slowly break out in a grin.
“If you must know it is nuts and dried fruit.” I said putting heavy ephesus on “you.” I pulled out a walnut and popped it into my mouth crouching away with a small smile as it is good to have food in one’s stomach. Looking at the moon and feeling of small amount of nostalgia slowly wash over me.
“Why are you looking at the moon like that?” She asked in a patronizing tone. Rolling up into my long coat I was trying to fall asleep.
“I asked you a question, why aren't you answering me?” She asked me with a tone that suggested that a rant was on the horizon. Slowly sitting up, I looked at Fleur over my shoulder.
“I am trying to sleep I suggest you do the same we have an early morning tomorrow. I said with a heaping dose of hostility. I then proceeded to curl back onto myself and go to sleep.
I woke up an hour before the sun had risen and stretched my back. Standing up, I looked over the forest and saw that it was getting late in the morning. I walked over to Fleur and slowly shook her awake. She groggily sat up and looked at the sky trying to see what time it was. Once she had blinked a few times she looked at me with disbelief.
“Its still dark out. Why in the name of Celestia did you wake me up--and for that matter why are you up?” She asked with a furious expression firmly plastered onto her face. She rose her head up and looked at me with a glare that would scare a mortal man.
“Get used to it princess, we will most likely be up at this time for a while.” I said trying not to laugh at her attempts of intimidating me. Grabbing my bag, I brought it closer to me to check its contents. Inside was my magic dagger, two more two pound bags of nuts and fruit, and my pride and joy, my collapsible staff. I put my bag over my shoulder and stood up my 7’’0 height nearly making my head reach the next branch. Fleur curled into a ball and tried to go back to sleep and I was going to have non of that noise. Sighing I walked over to her and picked her up to which I was rewarded with a loud yell of displeasure.
“I demand that you put me down this instant.” Fleur shrieked in a good mimic of a banshee. Jumping down to the forest floor, I put her down on her hooves. She turned to me and throw a extremely weak punch to my stomach. Starting to snicker and was trying to not laugh out loud which was a complete lose my part. In just a few seconds I was on the forest floor rolling around laughing my ass off. After a few wasted minutes of laughter I was back onto my feet and walking down the path. Hearing a growl from right besides me, on my left side I instinctively ducked under an assailant that was not really there. Turning my head left to look for the source of the growling only to realize the cause was Fleur’s stomach.
“Is somebody hungry?” I asked in my best baby voice. Turning to Fleur who had a look of pure embarrassed rage clearly on her face. She opened her mouth but her stomach betrayed her in her time of need. It gave out a loud growl much like the first only sounding more desperate. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out the half empty bag from last night and held it out to her with a smile of victory on my face. She looked at me and then back at the bag before she took it out of my hand and slowly started to eat the food that I just gave her.
“I hate you with all my heart.” She clearly stated through her food as she followed in my footsteps. Continuing to walk forward, the first rays of morning sunlight shone through the canopy and right into my eyes.
“I hate mornings.” I said with a frown on my face. Pulling out my staff, I put it together and started to walk deeper into the forest.
I am bad at fishing and past pains reveiled
We had stopped at a clean water river and were sitting down on the grass. Looking up from my project and at Fleur who was sleeping on the grass at the water's edge. Looking back down at my project I took a long breath and sighed; it has been a long time since I had to do this by hand. A few minutes passed in silence; I started to tie a hand grip into the middle with vines. Looking at my creation I let a smug grin slowly worm its way onto my face. Having a fishing spear ready for use, I slowly took off my hiking boots and walked into the water with my spear held over my head. Letting the fish come and inspect my feet I waited for the perfect time to strike. Suddenly a huge catfish that was a few inches out of my reach came out of a sun glare that was shining of the surface of the water. Waiting a few for second for him to get closer. Once he was in range I struck.
“Fucking hell, I missed.” I swore like a sailor. Starting to rapidly stab at the fish, but missing repeatedly I felt my anger slowly building, once my anger reached critical point I threw the fishing spear into the water a few feet away, hitting the catfish dead in the gills. I looked at the fish that was now firmly pinned to the bottom of the river and slowly shook my head as I chuckled. I stood completely still thinking about fate and how random it can be.
“What are you doing Author?” Fleur asked with a hint of amusement in her voice. Stopping stone cold I slowly turned around to look at her. Once my eyes were fixed on her I asked a question, but I wasn't sure I would like the answer.
“How much of that did you see?” I asked with a barely audible whimper; as my manliness is very important to me.
“Oh, I woke up and saw you wading in the water....I must say you have quite the vocabulary don’t you.” She said with a small giggle at my whimpering. I turned around silently, completely ignoring her taunting. I marched over to the fish with a straight spine. I pulled the fish out of the water; it easily weighed three pounds. I carried the fish to shore and as I did, I looked up through the treetops to see how late it was. Judging by the sun it was roughly 11:30 Am.
“Fleur could you use your magic to collect some dry sticks while I set up the fire pit?” I asked in a voice that simply oozes false companionship. She huffed and walked over to the ten meter limit. After a few minutes she had a big pile of sticks that nearly came up to my waist; I was done with the rings of stones. Looking up, I whistled in approval at the huge pile that had had been collected. Pulling out my magic dagger I started to peel the bark off the sticks for kindling. Once that was done I made a small pile of shavings and stacked the sticks around it. Using my magic to set some embers into the pit I started to slowly blow into the pit. As the fire took I sat down on one side of the fire pit and Fleur sat across from me.
“So what are you going to do now, oh mister Author?” Fleur said in a sarcastic tone that stated she really didn't want to know. As she was once again showing that the rich are very rude people. Making a spit to put my large ass fish on I simply ignored her for a few moments.
“If you must know I am going to cook up this fish that I killed and eat it as my metabolism is much faster than most.” I said in a bored tone not looking up at Fleur as I spoke. Continuing to work on my spit I added sticks to the fire every once in awhile to keep it in a good blaze.
“That's simply barbaric; how in Celestia’s mane do you sleep at night?” She yelled at me with a stern glare that I ignored.
“Ah done.” I said with glee. Finishing the spit, I started the process of cleaning my fish so I could cook it. Once that was done I buried the insides and the skeleton in a patch of wild flower so they could gain from the nutrients that the corpse would provide. Letting the meats hang them over the fire by piercing it with a thick stick and then placing it on the spit. Sitting back I looked at Fleur who had a slightly green face which made me laugh.
“S-s-so how are you liking our little adventure so far?” I asked through my laughter. Leaning back I set my elbows on the
ground and leaned back into a slouching posture.
“Well let's see. I was abducted against my will, I am in The Everfree Forest, and with a meat eater as well so.........I am very scared and angry.” She shouted with a voice that rattled my chest. Frowning at her I shook my head in fake sadness at her choice of words.
“Abducted is such a strong word. I prefer to use forced relocation.” I said with a completely even tone. Fleur looked at me with her eyes full of hate; she started to grind her teeth together. Trying hard not to snigger and failing miserably I reached over the fire and patted her on the head.
“Ok calm down, there’s no reason to get angry.” I said truthfully, keeping a straight face. Glancing down at the fish and finding that it was completely cooked I pulled it off the stick. Placing it on a rock, I stood up and walked over to the trees that stood eleven yards away from Fleur, making her skid along the ground for a bit.
“This is just unseemly.” Fleur said with a tired air of one who is definitely at the lowest point in their life making me freeze in place as I was reaching for the leaves. She stood up and walked over to me. She sat down looking at me as I gritting my teeth in anger. I turned to her with a glare that held barely controlled fury.
“If you think this is bad you should have lived fifteen years in The Grand Copper Mine as a slave, on the planet Stagmalma. I was whipped over a thousand times a day for fifteen years.” As I was saying this, I turned around and lifted my shirt to show the grizzly scar tissue that covered the whole of my back.
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Manticores are boring and Fleur's life goal is not half bad
Holding my shirt up for a few more seconds I let what was said sink in. After that I let it slide down and walked pasted Fleur who was sitting still with her mouth agape. Walking back over to the cooked fish, dragging Fleur along the ground at the same time. Once I reached the fish I cut it into four pieces. Wrapping up three of them in leaves I quickly ate the fourth. Quickly putting out the embers of our campfire. Once the embers were out I stood up and turned to Fleur who had not moved on her own accord since I showed her my back.
“Fleur get a move on; we have to go.” I said with an even tone concealing my anger. She slowly turned around and walked towards me with her head held low. She looked up at me and started to speak.
“I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” I said my voice shaking slightly by the repressed anger inside me.
My anger would be revealed if we were to begin a conversation. I walked past her again my face in a displeased scowl. She followed slightly behind me, on my right side.
After walking for a few hours we came upon a clearing. As we entered we heard the sound of gnashing jaws and smacking lips. Fleur and I turned to the left side of the clearing and noticed a Manticore hunched over, feasting on a deer. The beast slowly lifted its head and turned to us; growing as it did so. It started to paw the ground, readying itself for an attack. I simply looked at it with a bored expression. The Manticore charged, taking its time as it knew that it could outlast anything in the forest. Once the beast had reached half way across the clearing, I reached into my bag. Pulling out my dagger, I held it in front of my chest; its tip pointing toward me.
“Sacred key of the Master of Roads, unlock that which is held within me.” I said barely over a whisper. Slowly piercing my chest cavity with the dagger I grimaced as I felt power swell through my whole being. My chest started to ripple as the handle disappeared. Waiting for the Manticore to get closer I was lightly moving side to side ready to move at a moments notice. Once it was within striking range it stopped and whipped it’s tail forward at a rate that was faster than the mortal eye could see. As the stinger was getting closer to my chest the full effects of my dagger’s ability became apparent. The tip of the stinger was half an inch away from my chest...and then I disappeared, moving too fast to see. Trapping the stinger in the dirt, I reappeared right next to the tail with one of my feet straight up in the air. Bringing the foot down on the link in the armored attachment, snapping it off at the stinger.
“What, is that all you’ve got?” I asked completely bored. The beast stepped back and looked at me with hate filled eyes. It once again roared and charged me, swinging its claws in a vertical swipe. Leaning back I let the beast’s claws lightly run on my skin, but not enough to break the surface. Once the claws had flown past me, I leaned in and punched the Manticore in the eye, sending him flying a good two yards before landing on the ground only to skid a few more feet. The Manticore stood up once more and tried to charge me yet again. I waited for the monster to get within a few feet; running forward in a burst of speed I brought my knee into it’s nose completely shattering it. The beast looked up at me and tried to growl through it’s broken nostrils before turning and running out of the clearing. Its mutilated tail clung between its legs.
“Well that was boring.” I said in a monotone voice. Looking down at my only shirt which had five long cuts in the front were the Manticore tried to claw me. Looking over to where Fleur was standing last time I saw her. She was laying on the ground unconscious. Sighing I walked over to her; picking her up I walked into the clearing and sat down. Placing Fleur next to me and started to pull power out of the air. Slowly but surely, sticks from outside of the glade started to float towards me. After a few minutes I had enough sticks to last the night. Reaching into my chest and pulled out my dagger. Starting to prepare the sticks to make a campfire for the night, as I did so I looked over to Fleur time to time to make sure she was ok. Once the sticks were peeled, I made them into the same campfire style from earlier today. As soon as the fire was good and started, I heard Fleur starting to groan as she came back to the land of the living.
“Who hit my head with a hammer?” She asked with a loud whimper. She sat up and rubbed her head only to see that she was sitting close to a fire and next to her captor. She scooted away from me and layed back down.
“For your information, no one did. You passed out and hit your head.” I said with a sigh. Throwing some sticks into the fire I leaned back onto my elbows. Looking over at Fleur I noticed she had a displeased look on her face.
“A lady does not “Pass out”; They faint.” She said with a massive amount of ego in her voice as she put her right hoof on her chest in a noble fashion. Looking at her for a few seconds before I started to chuckle quietly to myself.
“Whatever you say princess.” I said still chuckling. Sitting up, I threw a few more sticks into the fire.
“Quit calling me that!” Fleur shouted in a commanding voice that I was slightly tempted to listen to. Ignoring her comment, I stood up and walked over to the ten yard mark and started to draw marks into the dirt to ward off wild animals. After a few minutes I was done with that task; walking back over to the campfire I sat down. Looking at Fleur, I smiled tiredly; my dagger’s ability takes a lot of energy out of me.
“So Madam Fleur, what is it you did for a living?” I asked truthfully interested in her answer. Leaning forward I sat with my legs crossed and with my elbows on my knees.
“And why would I tell you anything about my past?” She sneered at me with disdain and hate. I looked at her with a confused expression on my face as I pointed at my back.
“Because I told you something about my past.” I answered her with a slight amount of frustration. Leaning back so I was lying with my back on the ground but my legs were still crossed. Hearing Fleur let out a sigh I lifted my head for a second to see that her muzzle was pointing at the ground and that she had her eyes closed.
“I was a model for Fancy Pants’ modeling company. Though I never really liked that job, I was always pressed to go to modeling school instead of beauty school like I wanted.” She said slowly, like each word came out kicking and screaming. I raised my head up higher so that she could look at my face clearly and looked at Fleur with a raised eyebrow.
“You wanted to spread beauty to others? Huh. Not a bad life goal if you ask me.” I said with the first sign of approval I have shown her. Letting my head fall back to the ground, I fell asleep almost instantly.
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How I became a god...Enter first real challenge
Walking around my home I was listening to the windstorm that raged outside and shook my house’s shingles. Thinking about the problem that had plagued me for months I paced outside my study. Walked in I looked around, the walls were a rich chocolate brown; there was a mahogany writing desk with many pictures decorating the surface, and bookshelves covered almost the whole back wall behind my desk. I looked at my many pictures of dig sites that I was part of, I sat down in my chair, and held my head in my hands. Looking at the only picture that didn’t have to do with my work; the picture of my late wife, Luann. Realization came over me, telling me that my path was clear.
“The travelers of this world will be protected. So no one will go through the loss that I did.” I said quietly to myself. Sitting up straight in my chair I looked over to my pads of paper. Reaching out I started to write a note.
To Whomever May Be Reading This,
I will protect you all who travel, all you must do is call out my name, Author
The Master of Roads.
Once that had been done I threw the note outside into the wind; sending the message into the wide blue yonder. Walking into the bathroom, I closed the door. Turning around I turned on the hot water in the shower; I closed the curtain as to avoid getting wet. After about ten minutes, the mirror was completely fogged over. Tracing a pattern into the glass not knowing what it meant; just remembering what it looked like because when they gave me their offer it was permanently burned into my memory. Once the sigil was completed, the mirror glowed white for a second and then the light dimmed till all I saw was an old man in golden armor that covered white robes. Just like last time I felt a massive desire to bow and grovel before him.
“So you have made your decision?” The old man asked in a deep but gentle voice. Looking at the old man with a grim face, I nodded my head.
“Yes I have made my choice, I accept your offer... Lord Odin” I said, my voice sounding course. Giving him a barely noticeable head bow as I spoke.
“Well then lets get the process over with.” Odin said as he reached through the glass and touched my forehead. Feeling pain course through my whole body I fell to the floor. It felt as if my blood had turned to fire and my bones to sand. The Mirror shown white again and pulled me off of the floor and into its bright light at which point I fell about two feet then flipped over and landed on my ass.
“Welcome young one to your godhood.” Odin said in a voice that ringed with laughter. He walked up to a chair that was in a half circle with other chairs. He turned and sat down his height of fifty feet, easily staggering me with his power. It was so thick it literally stained the air that I was breathing and made it hard to move, as if the gravity was being amplified just by his presence.
“T-t-thank you for y-y-your kind welcome.” I stuttered out even though it felt like my lungs were being forcefully deflated. Staring to shake from the power, I fell over onto my ass where I promptly passed out.
I awoke from my dream/memory and looked around; Noticing that the fire was getting low, I sat up and threw some sticks into the pit. Standing up, I pulled out my twelve part staff. Each piece had a Etching that amplified my magical powers. Holding the staff out in front of me and started to practice my fighting. Each pass of my staff made a slight whistling sound. After a few hours had passed and I was covered in sweat, I collapsed my staff and put it back in my bag. Walking over to Fleur I shook her awake.
“Hey Fleur it’s time to get going.” I said as I continued to shake her. She turned over and gave me the stink eye but got up. Packing the little camp supplies that I had with us, we started walking across the clearing to the opposite side that we came in yesterday. We were walking down the road and I heard Fleur groan. So I turned to her with a questioning look on my face.
“Is there a problem that I am not aware of?” I asked with a hint of worry cause no one can say I am a bad host.
“I am bored out of my mind.” She whined like a little foal. Nodding my head in understanding I thought for a few seconds then it hit me. Why don’t I tell her a story. I thought to myself as I turned around and started to think of a good story that I had heard.
“Here, listen and I will try to ease your boredom.” I said with a tone of happiness as I love to tell stories almost as much as traveling.
“Many moons ago, two brothers lived with their father in a small house in Korea. The younger brother worked hard and was kind to all he met. The elder, knowing he was to inherit his father's prosperous rice farm, was arrogant and proud. He scorned his younger brother and ignored his aging father.
“Every night after supper the father would say: "Remember, my sons. What you plant you will eat. " The younger son nodded politely, for he loved his parent and honored him. But the elder son would yawn and walk away. The father watched him go with sadness.
“On his deathbed, the father beckoned the two brothers close to him. "Remember, my sons. Nothing is as important as family. Share this property and work together. I leave this land to both of you." And so saying, he died.
“The elder brother was furious. The law of the land said that an elder son inherited everything. As soon as the funeral ceremonies were past, he thrust the younger brother from their home, ignoring the last wish of his dying father.
“Heartbroken, the younger brother walked for many miles, far away from his home and village until he found some broken down land that nobody wanted. He tended it carefully, planting a small crop of rice and building a mud cottage that was thatched from the dirty straw that dropped from passing farm carts. By saving and scraping, he managed to make enough money to build a small house and make a profit. So he was able to marry and have a family.
“One year, a drought overcame the land and the younger son's rice crop failed. Without assistance, his family would starve. It broke his heart to hear his wife and children moaning with hunger in their sleep, so he went to his wealthy brother to ask him to share some of the rice raised on the property which their father had willed to them both. "It's my rice crop now," the elder brother cried with a cruel laugh. "Go away." So saying, he slammed the front door in his younger brother's face and locked it against him.
“Brokenhearted, the younger brother turned away. As he left the village, he heard a shrill cry from a tree above him. A snake was attacking a baby swallow. Flapping frantically, the tiny bird tried to escape, but it was too young to fly and fell to the ground instead. The younger brother picked the helpless baby up and cradled the tiny bird in his hands. Its leg was broken, and so he tore a strip of cloth from his shirt and set the swallow's leg. When the snake slid away, he returned the baby to its nest and went home to his starving family.
“The next few weeks were hard. The younger brother gave every spare scrap of food to his tiny children, who were so thin he could count their ribs. His wife walked over the fields searching for any edible plants she could find, but her harvest was scant.
“Then one day a tiny swallow flew to their house and landed on the thatch. It was the baby swallow the younger brother had rescued. Leg now healed and able to fly, the swallow sat on the thatch and sang a merry song of thanks to the marveling family. Then it circled the younger brother's house three times and dropped a large seed into a damp patch of earth.
“The family stared at the seed, and the youngest daughter wanted to touch it, but her father held her back. As they watched, the seed put out a root, and started to grow. The starving family watching in astonishment as the seed became a vine, and the vine grew and grew. Within minutes, luscious melons were growing on the vine. Within an hour, they were ripe and ready to pick.
“"Father, father! May we eat a magic melon?" cried the hungry children. Laughing in delight, the younger brother pulled a melon off the vine and cut it open. Beside him, his wife gasped in astonishment. Inside, the melon was filled with so many gold coins that they spilled to the ground all around the starving family's feet. Every melon was full of gold.
“The younger brother and his family were rich beyond their wildest dreams. They had plenty to eat, they bought a large house with land, and they had brand-new clothes to wear. It was amazing.
“When the elder brother heard of this good fortune, he was filled with jealousy and started searching for his own magic bird. He spent days combing the lands around his village, greedy for more power, more money, and more land. When at last he stumbled upon a little bird with a broken leg, he picked it up, saying: "I will help you, little bird, if you will help me." The little bird stared up at him with wise eyes, seeing through the fake sympathy into the greedy heart beneath.
“When the bird's leg healed, it flew to the elder brother's house, circled his head three times and dropped a seed into the moist soil. With a triumphant laugh, the elder brother watched the seed grow into a vine. Melons swelled up larger and larger until they were as tall as a man. The elder brother was delighted. Obviously he was much worthier than his brother, to merit such large melons. He picked the largest melon and cut it open. Instantly. a band of warriors burst from the melon and fell on him with clubs. They stole his money and left him moaning on the ground.
“Unable to believe that all the melons were bad, the elder brother crawled over to the second largest melon, expecting to find enough gold and silver to make up for the beating he'd received from the warriors in the first melon. Whack! He cut open the first melon and was overwhelmed by a huge ball of hissing snakes that slithered straight into his house. He cut open a third melon, and had to dodge out of the way as a huge colony of rats rustled past. By this time, the magical melons were overripe and began bursting on their own. Spiders, ants, termites, bees, and many other hissing, biting, crawling creatures invaded the house and yard. Within an hour, the elder brother's property was completely destroyed.
“The elder brother ran away from his ruined house and lands. Poorer even than his younger brother had once been, he wandered from village to village, begging for food. One day, he looked up from his begging and saw his younger brother standing a few feet away, holding a hoe. Ashamed, the elder brother looked down, until the blade of the hoe landed on the ground beside his foot.
“"I have lost everything," the elder brother said, staring at the blade of the hoe. "I have no place to go. No food. I won't blame you if you send me away too."
“He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Come, brother," the prosperous farmer said. "Let us sow a new crop, together. For what we plant, we will eat."
“The elder brother looked up with tears in his eyes, and accepted the hoe from his younger brother's hand.”
I finished the story as we stopped for lunch at a small glade with wild flowers; I turned to Fleur who had a look of interest on her face.
“I didn’t know you could tell stories that well.” Fleur said quietly as she sat down on the ground and thought about the story.
“I’m not that great. Now if I had came up with that story, then I would be worthy of praise. But alas I am just telling a story that I had heard on my many travels.” I said pulling out the almost empty bag of Nuts and Fruit and one of the leaf wrapped fish pieces. Opening the fish I brought it to my mouth, but was interrupted by a shout.
“My name is Blitz Gamer, I am here to take Fleur di Lis home and collect you, for your 500 bit bounty.” Someone yelled making me turn. What I saw made drop my fish in shock. Standing there at the edge of the fifty foot clearing was a human wearing a blue hoodie , denim pants, and purple sneakers. His hood was up so I couldn’t see his face.
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I need to get stronger.......Did Fleur just Blush
The following chapters haven't been edited due to my editor being away so long I will let you know when a chapter is edited.
Looking at the human named Blitz for a few seconds before I slowly stood to my feet. Turing to the human I took slow steps towards him. Once I was at the ten meter mark away from Fleur I stopped and used all my senses including the godly ones to learn as much as I could from him, and what I found out is he is a Game Lord which is just as powerful as some of the stronger gods. Starting to sweat profusely for I knew that right now running is not an option. Bracing myself, I hoped that I could use my speed to my advantage.
“Just what am I being accused of?” I asked choosing not to hide the fear that I felt from my voice. Slowly starting to sink so it looked like I was on my hands and knees. Seeing Blitz smile as he unsheathed his claws and started to walk towards me filled me with anger, which I quickly squashed, as anger on the battlefield will get you killed. As Blitz was walking closer to me I started to alter the spell that I put on Fleur so I could fight freely. She now head one-hundred yards before the spell started to affect her. I looked at Blitz again to see that he was staring at my with a frown on his face.
“I just realized that I don’t know your name.... what is it as I would like to know the your name before I start to kick your ass.” Blitz said as he started walking closer and raised his claws to cut off my head.
“My name is Author, The Master of Roads.” I said calmly and with focus. Disappearing, moving too fast for Blitz to see....or so I thought, I reappeared in the air next him trying to deliver a kick that would render him unconscious. Severely surprising was the fact that my ankle held was in his hand and he was grinning as he threw me across the clearing and into a huge oak that was easily thirty feet around. Impacting with an audible thud, I stopped moving suddenly letting out all the air in my lungs and was shocked to see my golden ichor plastered on the ground mixed with my spit. Blitz calmly walked over to me but stopped when he saw the gold blood of the gods. He frowned, waving his hand in front of him a viewing portal opened.
“Master Stratigim I have found the person that has infiltrated my world but he seems to be a god of some sorts. What I need to ask you is have you heard of the god Author, The Master of Roads?” Blitz asked into the portal. A voice that I couldn’t understand said something and Blitz looked at me with disbelief before frowning. He closed the portal and walked away from me and Fleur who had just shaken like a leaf. Blitz stopped at the edge of the clearing, looking over his shoulder he started to speak.
“Well then Author you live only because my master said that you are imperative to this world’s survival, but step one toe out of line and I won't hesitate to kill you.” Blitz said with venom as he left the clearing. Feeling my body start to come loose of the tree I started to move harshly ripping my limbs from their woody prison. Slowly walking over to Fleur, I brought her into a hug. She stiffened for a second before she gave a big sniff and hugged me back. I rubbed the back of her neck as she started to cry into my shoulder.
Why are you doing this comforting me and making me feel safe?” Fleur asked with a few more sniffles. She finally pulled away and looked me in the eyes her blue ones gazing into my brown and green ones. Smiled at her and pulled her into another hug.
“It’s because I care.” I whispered into her ear. Standing up, I offered my hand for Fleur to use to pull herself up with. She looked at me with a blush for a second before she grabbed my hand and pulled herself to her hooves. Looking at where Blitz had gone, I frowned as my godly instincts told me that he would be in our future. Shrugging my shoulders thinking that what happened would happen.
“So your should we get going?” I asked, started to walk away from her. She shook her head and followed close behind as we were walking I shortened the magic tether that tied us together. We walked through the trees and down the forest paths.
“So Author what is it like never truly dying? I bet it’s awesome never getting old.” Fleur asked while we walked. Looking at her with great sadness on my face as I shook my head.
“It felt like the greatest thing in the whole of creation at first....but then I noticed that my loved were getting older and dying around me. As I am the god of travel it was I who had to take them to their final resting place in the afterlife. It was then that I learned that immortality is not a gift but a curse.” I said with a pained expression. Already feeling my mind slipping into the past, I fell to the ground with an audible thud.
I was sitting around the people that loved him, his wife, his children, his whole family. They all looked at me with strange looks as I sat down next to his wife. She turned around and glared at me with vigor.
“Who are you and what are you doing at my husband's funeral?” She nearly shouted with grief. She stood up and pulled back her hand to slap me but what I said nearly through her for a loop.
“I am his father.” I said quietly. Standing up I walked over to the casket and looked down to the child that I had raise only to have him die at the old ripe age of 91. The whole of the room was silent as they looked at with wonder on their faces. hearing some whispering from the back of the room I turned and looked at them.
“Was he telling the truth after all, He always said he was the son of a god, if he is his father then that means that he can bring him back.” The group were whispering amongst themselves as I shed tears of grief for the life lost. I fell to my knees letting out a primal shout of grief as I pulled out my dagger and tried to slit my throat to end all of my suffering. It hurt like hell but I was still very much alive. The images started to fade as the whole world exploded and a manic god descended from the sky which was on fire. The Mad God had come to my world.
The memory slowly faded as I awoke. Sitting up, I rubbed my head and looked to the right and saw that Fleur had, while I was knocked out laid right next to me, her side touching my arm. I looked at the sky and thought to myself, this is going to get interesting real fast. The next day we didn’t say a thing as we packed up and started to walk down the road. We were walking for a few hours when the trees started to thin and I heard the sound of a small town in the distance.
The first town..and a new companion
It took a few days but we made it out of the forest. Smiling at Fleur, I looked up at the sky to see that is was just after midday. Then looking forward I saw a town that was brightly colored and had many good looking farms around its sides. Sitting about a hundred feet away from the first farm was a sign that read, Welcome to Foalsville. Smiling at the name I stood up; starting to walk forward and passed the farms. With Fleur following behind me, I started to enter the town. Walking into the town center, most of the ponies ran in fear but there were a few brave souls that stayed to see what I would do. Looking over the town I saw that most of the buildings were cottages that were rough wood sidings and thatch roofs. I smiled at the old world theme. Putting my hand over my mouth and covering a yawn, I stepped up to a black earth pony mare with a grey mane and her cutie mark was a sword on a sharpening wheel. She was standing at a weapons and tools stand that was connected to the town's Blacksmith. The pony looked at me with a curious expression on her face.
“Can I help you?” She asked with a smile. Shaking my head no, I stepped closer to the stall and looked over there collection and smiled as these were good pieces.
“No miss I am looking for a one day job. Oh and the pay can be food and shelter for the night or enough to cover the same thing at the local inn.” I said still looking at the craftsmanship of the tools and weapons that decorated the stall. Picking up a sword, I looked at it closely with a trained eye as I had traveled with many weapon caravans in my journey’s through the worlds. The mare turned and walked to the door and nudged it open with her snout, sticking her head inside she started to bellow at someone.
“Pa there is this weird thing asking if he can have a one day job what should I say!?” She hollered into the smithy with a booming voice that rattled my ear drums. The response was broken and intangible with the sound of hammering and steam coming out of the door. The mare turned to us and smiled.
“Go talk to my pa.” The mare said as she went back to working at her stand. Nodding my head in thanks; I walked through the door and into the room beyond. Coming upon a buff unicorn stallion who was matte black and had snow white hair showing that he is an elder of sorts. Bowing to him in courtesy as his life was coming to a close and I would walk him to the gates of the afterlife in a few years.
“She wasn’t kidding when she said strange...Well sonny you want a one day job I hear, have you ever worked in a forge before?” The old stallion said looking over my slight frame with a hint of a smirk on his face, as if to say that I wouldn’t be able to handle the work.
“On multiple occasions.” I replied with a smug tone that as I had caught his hidden meaning about my frame. He spluttered and looked over my body with a glare.
“Alright you runt lets see if you can stay with me while you work. There is a spare anvil in the corner you can use that.” He said in a huff as I think I may have hurt his pride. Nodding my head I walked over to the anvil that was easily outside of the most strongest ponies to move on their own...and I lifted it with a small grunt and carried it over to the shocked pony that was staring at me with his jaw literally hanging to the ground. Setting the anvil on the ground a few feet away from him, I shut his mouth by placing a single pointer finger under his chin and pushing up. Once his mouth was closed he turned away in a huff and started to barnard me with orders for the day and I did them all no matter how hard or tedious they were.
“And done with the last you order gave me Mister Smith. What is the next one on the list?” I asked as I wiped my brow with the back of my hand. Turning to Mister Smith, I saw him looking at me with a small grin.
“Not once in the whole time I have owned this shop has this happened but there aren’t any more orders, that was the last one.” He said with a whisper and looked at me with a slight grin. He turned and yelled out the door.
“Sharp Stone get your butt in here!” He hollered outside, to which the mare that is supposedly his daughter came in. She looked at him and then at the order and finished list and I swear to myself that her eyes jumped out of her head for a second. Once she had calmed down she had looked back at me and her father expectantly.
“Now do you remember our agreement?” Mister Smith asked Sharp Stone with a grin on his face that only confused his daughter.
“Yes if you found somepony that was better than you at your trade and they agreed to take me I could go see the world. But I don’t see as how that is relevant right now.” Sharp said to her father with a confused face clearly plastered onto her head. Mister Smith turned to me and bowed.
“Would you help an old stallion keep his word and take my daughter to see the world?” The aging pony asked me. Looking at the daughter I saw that she was looking at me and back to him with a lot of excitement. Coughing a few times, I started to speak painfully slow.
“I will ...but on one condition. I am aloud to forcefully teleport her back here to this house at any time in our journey.” I said crossing my arms and giving Sharp a stern glare as I am still a little steamed at the weird comment. The father had a look of thought for a few second before slowly nodding his head.
“Ok then Miss Sharp go get your things it is time to get going.” I said walking to the main doorway and leaning on the frame. Looking at Fleur who had fallen asleep on a couch that was sitting on the outside of the forge. The gentle rise and fall of her sides as she breathed were kind of cute. Hearing yelling from inside the main room of the forge I turned and was almost plowed over by Sharp who had ran right into my legs. Looking down at her I smiled at her energy and joy.
“So where to first...Oh and here is your pay.” Sharp Stone said as she tossed a huge cloth sack filled with golden bits that were worth a hundred bits each. Marveling at the amount of money that I now had in my possession I shook my head. Taking out 20 of the gold coins, I put them into my bag. I then teleported the rest of the money into the safe at the back of the forge room. Starting to walk down the road I looked down at my new companion who was walking on my right and Fleur was walking on my left.
“So where to first?” Sharp said not noticing that I had left most of the money back at the blacksmith. Pointed at the setting sun I looked at Sharp with a smirk.
“The first place we are going it to the inn and we are going to get a good meal then some sleep.” I said with a hint of silliness in my voice. Not wanting to miss the dinner and have it made for us especially. Quickening my step and the two ponies doing the same. We came up to the door and stopped to take a quick breath before entering. After we had caught our breaths I started to reach for the door handle.
I tell a ghost story and scare some ponies
We arrived at the Inn in a few minutes before the dinner was served. Walking in through the front door I looked over the Inn with an eye for good quality and that the place was well cared for. I was happily surprised to find both those expectations met. The wood that make up the building was a good strong oak and chestnut mix, there were round tables situated around the whole place and had pillows to sit on, that were filled with straw from the farms that surrounded the town. There was a stage that was at the wall to the right of the door and on the other side of the big mingling room was a bar.The room was only 7”0 even so I had to slouch a little so as not to scrape my head on the ceiling when I walk. Walking up to the bartender who was a bright yellow unicorn stallion with a chocolate brown mane. That is one of the worst color schemes that I have ever seen, I thought to myself as I reached the bar and tapped the countertop with my middle finger to get his attention. He turned to me with a smile that quickly turned to a shocked look. Looking at the other ponies in the Inn I saw that they were looking at me with a mix of fear and wonder. Sighing I shook my head with annoyance. The bartender cleared his throat to get my attention back on him.
“Hello my name is Stiff Drink and what can I do for you today?” Mister Stiff said as he started to polish a glass in his magical grip. Laughing at his now no nonsense attitude I slowly shook my head as the pony races of this world will never stop shocking my.
“Me and my companions are here to use your fine and might I say well cared for establishment. But I am not in a position to pay with money as I would like to hold on to it for now. So I was wondering if I could entertain your fine customers with a song of story instead.” I said smiling politely as I am a good guest... and if my mother were to find out that I didn’t use good manners she would come out of the afterlife and slap me for throwing away her teachings. Stiff Drink nodded a few times and put his hoof over the counter top.
“Buddy I don’t know what you are but if you can tell a good enough story tonight you can stay the night and partake in supper free of charge.” The bartender said with a smile on his face. Reaching out I grabbed his hoof, shaking it once in a downward fashion to seal the deal. Mister Stiff Drink walked out from behind the bar and out into the town proper. Hearing him shout something that I didn’t catch I just shrugged my shoulders thinking that I would learn soon enough. After a few seconds he came back in and walked up to me.
“Just wait till we get good and packed for you to start your story.” Stiff Drink said walking back behind the bar and serving up a few drinks. Walking up onto the stage I sat down on the pillow with my legs crossed Thinking about the incident that my mind made earlier today.
“Did I really think that she was cute? Am I falling for this pony...no don’t be absurd that is ridiculous there not even humanoid.” I said under my breath while waiting for the sign to start from Mister Stiff.
After a few minutes the whole floor was packed with ponies holding drinks and waiting on my to start my story. Well this is interesting I might just have to come back here one day. I thought to myself as I looked over the ponies that had come to listen to the strange creature spin a web. I opened my mouth and heard thunder boom with rain starting to hit the roof of the inn, I smiled as I knew just what story to tell.
“This story is about a girl , a boy, and a ghost; on a night very much like this one...” I said taking a pause in the starting of my story for dramatic effect.
“Susan and Ned were driving through a wooded empty section of back country road. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, the sky went dark in the torrential downpour.
“We’d better stop,” said Susan.
Ned nodded his head in agreement. He stepped on the brake, and suddenly the car started to slide on the slick pavement. They plunged off the road and slid to a halt at the bottom of an incline.
Pale and shaking, Ned quickly turned to check if Susan was all right. When she nodded, Ned relaxed and looked through the rain soaked windows.
“I’m going to see how bad it is,” he told Susan, and when out into the storm. She saw his blurry figure in the headlight, walking around the front of the car. A moment later, he jumped in beside her, soaking wet.
“The car’s not badly damaged, but we’re wheel-deep in mud,” he said. “I’m going to have to go for help.”
Susan swallowed nervously. There would be no quick rescue here. He told her to turn off the headlights and lock the doors until he returned.
Axe Murder Hollow. Although Ned hadn’t said the name aloud, they both knew what he had been thinking when he told her to lock the car. This was the place where a man had once taken an axe and hacked his wife to death in a jealous rage over an alleged affair. Supposedly, the axe-wielding spirit of the husband continued to haunt this section of the road.
Outside the car, Susan heard a shriek, a loud thump, and a strange gurgling noise. But she couldn’t see anything in the darkness.
Frightened, she shrank down into her seat. She sat in silence for a while, and then she noticed another sound. Bump. Bump. Bump. It was a soft sound, like something being blown by the wind.
Suddenly, the car was illuminated by a bright light. An official sounding voice told her to get out of the car. Ned must have found a police officer. Susan unlocked the door and stepped out of the car. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light, she saw it.
Hanging by his feet from the tree next to the car was the dead body of Ned. His bloody throat had been cut so deeply that he was nearly decapitated. The wind swung his corpse back and forth so that it thumped against the tree. Bump. Bump. Bump.
Susan screamed and ran toward the voice and the light. As she drew close, she realized the light was not coming from a flashlight. Standing there was the glowing figure of a man with a smile on his face and a large, solid, and definitely real axe in his hands. She backed away from the glowing figure until she bumped into the car.
“Playing around when my back was turned,” the ghost whispered, stroking the sharp blade of the axe with his fingers. “You’ve been very naughty.”
The last thing she saw was the glint of the axe blade in the eerie, incandescent light.” I finished my story as lightning flashed and and as the light was shining I quickly teleported to the back of the room making the ponies scream in fear once they had regained their sight. One of the ponies heard me chuckling and turned around to see me leaning on the counter. The pony nudged his buddy and soon the ponies were all cheering and stomping their hooves. They liked my story so much that almost all of the ponies walked up to the stage and placed some money on the surface. After the ponies that only came to hear my story walked out of the Inn and I could move again. Walking over to the stage I counted up the money. There were twenty lead one bit pieces, fifty bronze ten bit pieces, and one fifty silver bit piece on the stage. I scooped them all except the silver piece which I tossed to Mister Stiff. I walked to the table that Fleur and Sharp were sitting at. I sat down and not a few seconds later Mister Stiff walked up to our table and put down three shots of scotch.
“This is for bringing more business in one night then I have had in the last month, and you have earned your keep tonight.” Stiff said as he walked back to the bar tossing the silver piece over his shoulder and onto the tabletop where is spoon like a top for a few seconds before settling on the table. Reaching out with both hands I grabbed the drink and throw it back drinking it in one painful gulp and with the other I grabbed the silver piece and put it in my bag. I now had to thank him for his generosity somehow and I started to rub my chin in thought. After a few seconds I snapped my fingers and walked over to Mister Stiff. Once there I leaned down and whispered into his ear. Stiff nodded a few times and he got a huge grin on his face. We shook hand and hooves for the second time today. I walked back to my table and sat down a small smile on my face.
“What was that about?” Asked Sharp completely confused as to what just happened; she looked at me and back to Mister Stiff. I shook my head while my smile grew a few inches causing her to huff in mock annoyance. A bowl of mixed greens stew was placed in front of me by a teenaged filly Unicorn who had the same color scheme as Stiff, just that it was inverted so that her coat was chocolate brown and her main was bright yellow. She placed down a few more bowls and then bread and walked back to the kitchen to get the next tables food. There was no talking between us as we ate our dinner and after that we went up to our room each of us falling asleep a few seconds after each other.
The keys second power. The Nexus of Roads
Slowly waking up from a pleasant dream that I couldn't remember except that it had Fleur in it. I sat up from my position on the floor and looked around our small room. The first thing I noticed is that Fleur and Sharp were cuddled up together. Slightly chuckling I took in the furniture in the room. There was the pony sized bed that the two ladies were laying on, then there was the bedside table, and finally a wash basin to clean up with. Standing up I stretched, turning to the door I walked out into the hall and from there down the hall into the main room. I walked up to the bartender who was sitting polishing glasses from last night.
“Hey Stiff is there any of the stew from last night left over?” I asked as I kneeled down so I could reach the countertop. I reached into my bag and started to pull out some bits but I was stopped by Stiff’s hoof on my arm.
“With the money I made last night I think you deserve more than food and a place to stay could ever be enough.” Stiff said taking his hoof off my arm and walking back into the kitchen started to rummaging for something. After a few seconds he came back with three bowls of cold stew. I thanked him and walked upstairs slightly warming two of the bowls. I used my magic to open the door and walked inside.
“Wakey wakey its time to rise and shine.” I said in an even tone with a small smirk on my face. Setting down the two bowls on the bedside table and sat down next to the door with my bowl eating the cold stew as they ate the warm ones.
“So where are we going to head to first?” Sharp asked with happiness in her voice. She set down the bowl and looked over me with a barely constrained grin. I looked over her with a raised eyebrow.
“I don’t know, I was actually planning on heading out of the country.” I said with a shrug. Standing up I walked over to the door to the room, pulling out my dagger and used its second out of three powers. It slowly rippled and turned into an old iron key, I slid it into the keyhole in the door and turned it.upside down, I then gave it another turn putting it into the position that it started in. The border of the door flashed bright white for a second before it turned black as if the other side of the door was holding back the vast expanse of space. Turning around I looked to the girls with a small smile as my long raven hair started to flow in a non-existent wind. Both of the girls in the room gasped as they looked on my godly form as my skin started to darken to a light tan and my eyes glowed a shining with a warm green, like the sun filtering through the leaves of a giant oak.
“W-w-what are you?” Sharp asked with fear clearly in her voice. She was holding onto Fleur who had a shocked face lightly laying over her beautiful features. Wait did I just think that. I thought to myself, shaking my head I looked at the quivering mass of pony that was Sharp Stone.
“My name is Author and I am the god of travelers.” I said as I picked up Sharp holding her in a light hug. She stiffened at first then slowly relaxed. Once she stopped shaking I put her down on the floor and opened the door to show a void filled with dirt paths. I walked through the door which was on the side of one of such roads. I turned to the ponies and waved them in, they slowly walked through the door. Once they were all the way through it, it slowly swung shut and the key disappeared only to show up in my hand. I put the key into my bag and then held my arms out.
“Welcome to the Nexus of Roads. From here we can go anywhere or anywhen......as long as you know which path to travel.” I said with a huge wave of my arms to the whole of the infinite place that we were currently in. Sharp looked over the the whole of what was in sight with a curious look on her face.
“Can we go to the capital of the Diamond Dogs, The Great Burrow? I have always wanted to see some of the finest smithing to ever be done.” She asked while giving me the puppy dog look. Looking away I slowly started to stroked my chin in thought. Bringing my hand down I smiled while nodding my head. She squealed and jumped around the dirt path that we were standing on. After a few seconds and she had calmed down I started walking down a path pulling a huge roll of paper out of nowhere, I unrolled it to show a map that was so finely detailed that I could see every path in detail. After a few minutes of seemingly random turns and down random stairs. I stopped at a door that was made of a slate gray stone. I took out my key and put it in the the keyhole and turned it twice, pushing open the door we walked out of the door and onto the paved roads of The Great Burrow.
Welcome to the largest city in the world.” I said with a dramatic wave of my arms. I turned to the girls and smiled. They had stunned expressions again. I chuckled at them and the light shown off my hair making it shine. I saw Fleur had another shocked...and is that a slight blush on her cheeks. I looked closer and it was gone before I could tell if I was just hallucinating or not. I shrugged my shoulders and walked on heading to the center of the city. I looked around till I found The Water Dish Inn. Walking up to the huge granite door I opened it slowly. Walking up to the Diamond Dog that was standing looking at me with a small frown on her face. Being the gentleman that I was I bowed and brought my right hand over my chest.
“Madam how much would it be to spend the night here in this fine establishment?” I asked as she looked over me with a critical eye. She leaned on the the counter top and slowly started to smile.
“Well I would usually ask for 20 bits per person but I can use you for something else. You see I need someone to carry the heavy barrels of mead from the cellar and up here to behind the bar, but I can't do it with my age.” The Diamond Dog said with a pout that made me smile slightly.
“And how do you expect a weakling like me to carry them look at these noodle arms that I have.” I said with a slightly joking air to my words. I put my arms on the tabletop and looked at the Dog bartender. She smiled at me for a second before she got down to business.
“I can tell you're very strong just by how you carry yourself. You move slower than your frame allows so you don’t accidently hurt anyone.” She said as he smile got bigger as mine got smaller, at the end of her little speech I had a frown on my face and she had a shit eating grin. I stood up and nodded my head, turning around I walked towards the large doorway that had a staircase going down towards what I can only assume was the cellar. Once I got down there I realized why the door was so big the barrels were about ten eight feet tall and roughly five wide, Did I mention that they are made of polished quartz. Whistling at their size I lifted the first of many up with a grunt.
“This is going to be a long night.” I said as I carried the huge quartz barrel up the stairs.
The adventure starts here
There was a loud scream coming from outside that woke me up. I looked around the room with my face in a frown. Waiting a few moments listening for the sound again. Hearing nothing I lay my head down on the pillow. Hearing the noise again, I bolted upright and looked around the room again noticing that the sound was coming from the window. I got up and ran down the looking out at the street. Standing in the road was Ares the god of war and he was killing Diamond Dog guards like a tiger would a rabbit, easy and with no mercy. Running out of my room lengthening Fleur’s tether while doing so. Running out of the building and out into the street. Seeing that the bartender whose name I didn’t know had her leg broken and was laying on the ground, Ares was standing over her with his long sword ready to cut her in half. Rushing forward and grabbed her jumping out of the way, but I was not fast enough and got a long cut on my back. Hissing in pain, but I powered through and still ran over to the other side of the street. I set her down as she looked at me with a mix of happiness and worry. Turning around and looking at Ares who was looking at me with a smile.
“Well it seems that my favorite target dummy has shown up for a beating.” Ares said with a malicious grin. I felt a portal open, turning my head to look over at the portal, only to see Blitz walk out. He saw the two of us and drew his claws.
“Did you bring him here, Author?” Blitz hissed with anger clearly evident in his voice. Shaking my head no, I turned to look at Ares again only to find him right in my face and raising his sword up to cut my neck trying to finish me off quickly. Lowering myself under his swing my gaze flew up, only to see some of my hair getting cut off, and I gulped and jumped back a good ten feet. Still once again, I looked at Ares and frowned as he had a big grin on his face. I was about to run at him, but Biltz put his hand in front of my face stopping me.
“Don’t even try it he will kill you.” He said with steel in his voice. He walked in front of me and turned to face Ares with a glare. Blitz blinked when I pushed him out of the way, he looked at me funny and shaking my head I turned to Ares who was watching the whole thing with interest.
“You are actually going to try to fight me?” Ares asked through some laughter. He was bent over holding his gut in pain from all the laughing he was doing, he looked up at my eyes and what he found turned his face into a displeased frown.
“So then you found it have you....the thing that truly separates us gods from mortals?” Ares asked as he slowly brought his serrated bastard sword in front of himself and snarled as he ran towards my with a roar that would scare a lesser god. I reached into my bag and pulled out my staff and dagger. Ares stopped and looked at my with a smile thinking that he had already won.
“You're going to try that, you and I know that you can’t do it it will just explode in your hands.” Ares taunted as he put the tip of his sword on the ground and leaned on the pommel waiting for me to fail. I put the handle of the dagger to the to the top of the staff. The air started to get heavy as I started to pull power out of the air. The air started to move and swirl as I gritted my teeth. Flecks of rock started to float in the air and my body started to sweat. The air moved faster and faster till it started moving all the dust in the whole city to me. I was completely hidden by the swirling cloud of dust. There was a huge blast of wind dispelling the dust. While the others were wiping their eyes I stood up and gripped my spear. On my arms were two thick black metal vambraces.
“The fuck you actually did it.” Ares yelled as he picked up his sword and charged me with hate in his eyes. He swung only to hit air. I had jumped up and flipped over to that I was standing on his shoulders. I stabbed him in the forehead with the but of the spear. He fell down his head slamming into the ground he got slowly got to his feet. He looked in my eyes and took a step back. He then growled and rushed me his sword growing longer and the material changing from matte black to a glowing red. As he struck downward with his sword there was a huge explosion. I flew back into a wall, once my vision was returned to me I looked over to Ares and started shaking in my boots for he was holding his godly weapon. It was a ten foot bastard sword that was made of solidified magma with bits of obsidian sticking out from the sides. I slowly stood up and held up the spear before teleporting behind him and swung my spear at his neck. I was shocked that he had positioned his sword to intercept my spear blade but I had a trick up my sleeve. As I swung my spear at him I twisted the spear in my hands making it separated into twelve pieces. I jumped over him letting my blade trial behind me. I saw Ares look up at me and smile until that is he noticed that my spear was in a long flexible whip like state. He quickly moved to the side but I got a good deep cut on his arm. He ground his teeth and started yelling at me with anger.
“Do you think that will get rid of me...if you do then you're an idiot.” Ares howled at us with animalistic fury. Looking at him with a smile I pointed at the cut I gave him and he looked down to see that the spear had made a portal out of his cut and was actively pulling him inside. He looked at me with fear in his eyes. He then flew at me with a shout that shook the very air and made my bones rattle. I brought my spear up and blocked his ever weaker and slower attacks until he couldn’t move any more. He looked at me as his chest slowly was sucked into the portal.
“You really found your resolve....thats good you will need it on the path that you now follow.” Ares said as his head slowly was pulled into the portal and then it closed and the only thing that showed that he was here at all was the destruction that he had wrought. I looked at the spear and in a flash of light it once again was the dagger and staff that I have know for so long. I turned around and looked at the window that led to our room and smiled when I saw both Fleur and Sharp looking at me with different level of grins. I looked down once I felt my shirt being pulled on slightly. It was the bartender from the Inn. She got down on her knees and bowed from the kneeling position. Without getting up she started to speak.
“I Liza All Day, as the law of the Diamond Dogs clearly state must give my life into your service till the day I die.” Liza said with a hint of of anger in her voice. She then got down lower and kissed the top of both boots making me blush. Looking over at Blitz, he nodded his head and turned away walking into the Inn. I picked up Liza and walked into the Inn after him. Seeing Blitz sitting in the only both that had a whole view of the place. He beckoned over to me to which I put down the blushing Diamond Dog and walked over to him. I sat down and folded my arms onto the table.
“I talked to Celestia for you and she will lift your bounty if you do two things first. One you must let Fleur de Lis go and two I must stay by your side through the rest of your stay on this world.” Blitz said with a hint of anger in his voice. I slowly nodded looking at Fleur who had walked into the room.
“Guess what Fleur you get to go home.” I said waving a portal into existence. I looked at Fleur who was looking at the ground, she started to trace her hoof on the ground, she mumbled something at the ground.
“What I didn’t catch that.” I said leaning my head to the side and looking at her with a small frown on my face. She stayed silent for a few moments, my mind started to wonder. Why is it that I can’t stand to see her cry and why did I feel happy when she looked me in the eyes. A-am I falling in love. With that last thought I looked over to Fleur again and saw that she was a few moments away from my face. I blushed and looked away. She grabbed my face and pulled it into her own giving me a light kiss on the lips with her eyes closed.
“I want to stay here cause this has been the most interesting thing that has ever happened to me.” Fleur said looking down at the ground running her hooves on the ground. I looked at her and shrugged, turning to the portal I waved my hand once again closing it. Turning back to Fleur I looked at her with a smile and was confused when she blushed and looked away. Shrugging my shoulders I turned back to the table and put my hands around my mouth.
“Alright Liza and sharp get your butts down here!” Yelling with godly force and making the walls shake. Hearing them running towards the main room in the Inn I turned back to the table seeing that Fleur had sat down. She looked at me with a slight grin on her face, turning to Blitz who had watched the whole thing with a raised eyebrow. I put my hands on the tabletop and used it to push myself off of the chair. Walking back up to my room I glanced over the things that we had. I grabbed my coat and slid it on. I looked over to the mirror on the side of the room. I was 7” even, I had on blue jeans, a pair of brown hiking boots, a long sleeved black shirt, a black trench coat, and had a black shoulder bag hanging on my right side.
“Are you going to come down any time today.” Fleur asked in an irritated voice. I looked at me again and smiled with actual happiness for the first time in three thousand years. Slowly wiping my face, I brought it under control, walking out of the room and into the main room I looked over the whole group that I had found. Fleur, Sharp, Blitz, and Liza. Finding myself unable to keep my face in a neutral tone it slowly against my will broke into a smile.
“Well everyone lets go see this interesting world that I find myself in.” I said while walking to the door of the Inn and opening it, walking into the world that I would die protecting.
We exited the tunnel half an hour after leaving the city. Looking around I noticed that the whole of the landscape was flat except for small pillars of stone that stuck out of the ground at random intervals. Shrugging I pulled my pack further onto my shoulder. I looked at the group and smiled at them all even Liza as I don't hold a grudge. Starting to walk down road I pulled out my staff and assembled it, placing the butt on the ground, I started the age old activity of traveling. We came over a hill and saw a pony caravan that was being attacked by some Diamond Dog Bandits. Grinding my teeth I ran forward towards the four huge Diamond Dogs pulling out my dagger as I did so. Running past the closest Diamond Dog I went low and cut out his back leg muscles. The wounded Diamond Dog gave out a pain filled howl alerting the others that I was coming. The quickest one to turn around was rewarded with my dagger ripping out his throat. The third Diamond Dog saw me out of the corner of his eye and swung his sword at me in a horizontal slash. I brought my dagger out and blocked his swing with my smaller blade shooking the Diamond Dog into taking a step back, he didn’t stand a chance. As he was moving backwards I lunged forward, I saw the Diamond Dog that I was lunging at smile. Feeling a sharp pain spear through my lower back and out of my stomach, I looked down to find the fourth Diamond Dog’s sword sticking out of my stomach. I gritted my teeth against the pain and ran forward again, the Diamond Dog’s eyes got really big and he stabbed at me with his sword. Doing the stupid thing I grabbed his sword and pulled him closer to me, stabbing him in the eye, killing him when my dagger went through his eye and into his brain. Turning to the last Diamond Dog whose sword was still stuck inside me, I started walking towards her slowly. She took a few steps back and fell over a bit of the wagon that they destroyed. Finally arriving in front of her I slowly leaned forward and picked her up by the throat.
“Please don’t kill me I have children to look after.” She said begging for her life. Turning my head to look over the ponies that there group of bandits had killed, I noticed that not even the children were spared. While looking at the death that had been done here I felt a pain in my head. Turning to her I looked at her with unhappy eyes. With my other hand I reached up and pulled out the dagger that had been embedded in the side of my head. The Diamond Dog Bandit that I was still holding looked at me with fear.
“What the fuck are you!” She yelled while trying to pull my fingers away from her neck. Tightening my hold on her neck she looked at me one final time.
“I am your death.” I said with a voice that was full of anger. Twisting my wrist I swiftly broke her neck killing her almost instantly. Dropping her on the ground, I let a single tear fall down my face. Gritting my teeth I reached back with my non-cut-up hand and pulled the blade from my body letting the shiny gold ichor flow from my body onto the ground. Hearing running, I turned around and looked over the group of creatures that I would over time call my friend running towards me with worried looks. Ignoring their cries of worry I started walking around the ponies and Diamond Dogs that had died today, closing their eyes I said a silent prayer that would help them on the road to the afterlife. Turning once again I looked over the.....You know what from now on I am going to refer to them as people, Once again I looked over the group of people that I have grouped up with for reasons that I am still not sure of.
“Blitz keep them safe while I regenerate.” I said with a barely audible whisper. Falling to the ground I felt my heart steadily getting weaker as my world slowly faded to black.
Slowly coming back to the land of the living I heard hushed talking and the sound of a campfire slowly going. Sitting up I looked around seeing a few yards away was the people of my group. Standing up I walked over to them and sat down, looking around I saw shocked faces on everyone but Blitz. Shaking my head I took a tentative sniff and was happy to smell some food as coming back from the dead makes a god hungry.
“So what's for dinner?” I asked with a small smirk on my face. Liza looked at me before shaking her head and pulling out bowl of soup from behind her, holding it out for me she looked at me with a grim expression. Looking at her expression first then taking the food off her paws I sat down with a thump on the dirt. Eating the soup which was very tasty I might add, I looked around the group as they all got to know each other. We had Blitz the disgruntled Game Lord, Liza the angry cook, Fleur the X-model, and Sharp the wannabe traveler.
“If this group is going to get any bigger we are going to need a name.” I said stroking my non-existent beard. Snapping my fingers I looked at each of my group mates and let a small smile pull its way onto my face.
“The Rowdy Bunch of Misfits.” I said with barely contained snickers. Looking over the group my idea received mixed reactions. The group minus Blitz started arguing about the name that I had chosen. Looking over to Blitz I noticed that he was looking down with a look of concentration. He looked up from his thoughtful musings and started talking.
“As much as I hate being called a misfit, the name kind of fits.” Blitz said with a sigh that spoke of being tired of dealing with someone. He turned to me with a glare that would have shattered ice.
“Don’t let the fact that I am agreeing with you get over your head. I still hate the fact that you're on my world and I still will kill you if you so much as step a toe out of line.” Blitz nearly growled out with enough hostility to kill a Ursa Minor. He was trying so hard to give me a death glare that I could only chuckle which made him all the madder. He turned over and went to sleep with an angry groan. Turning to the other members of the group I looked them over as they were snickering as well.
“Well as much as I like seeing Blitz be laughed at, we need to get to bed so to sleep with all of you.” I said with finality that said NO SAS MISSY. Quietly laughing to myself as the rest of the group ground and went to sleep.
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I sing for the first time in four thousand years
I awoke to the smell of veggie stock, slowly lifting my head I looked towards the fire pit and saw that it was just Liza cooking breakfast. Happy that no one had snuck into our camp I slowly stood up and stretched before walking around and waking the others up from their slumber. Once that was done I picked my bowl from last night and dipped it into the small cauldron and started sipping my stock. I watched the flat landscape as the other Misfits grabbed their own breakfastes and started slurping down there own stock. Once I was done I placed my bowl inside the bowl bag and then reached behind me to grab the Map Scroll. Unrolling it to the Diamond Dog Flats I looked over the very detailed map trying to plot out the best path. After a few minutes and the rest of the group had finished eating I stood up and replaced the scroll on my back. Turning to the group who were waiting around for me to start doing something.
“Ok so this is what we are going to do we are going to head along this road till we get to the cross roads and then from there we are going to turn east and head to the small farming village of Westbrook. Once there we are going to provide our many talents to get some surplus spending money.” I said with conviction. The group nodded their heads probably thinking that this was a good idea. Quickly turning I started walking down the road with a stiff back.
“So Author what is your skill?” Liza taunted me with a sneer that I didn’t even need to look at to know that it was there. I stopped and frowned as I don’t want to have someone who I am traveling with hate me as much as she clearly does.
“Liza if you must know my skills are the godly gifts that I have and storytelling.” I said gritting my teeth and not looking at her. I started walking again but what Liza said stopped me in my tracks.
“So you're saying that you're completely useless to society.” She said with a smug voice that spoke of superiority. I slowly turned to her with a frown on my face, slowly walking up to her and got right into her face.
“Even though you don’t like me could you at least be civil.” I said through gritted teeth. Liza opened her mouth to make a retort, but once she looked into my eyes she gulped and closed it before slowly nodding her head. Now smiling I turned and started walking forward once again. Walking forward I started to hum a little tune that has been stuck in my head for a while.
“Hey Author what is it that you're humming?” Fleur asked as she trotted up to me. Looking down at her I sighed and rubbed her mane. Looking foward again I considered singing to the mare that I might have feelings for.
“How about instead of telling you about it, I sing the song that it belongs to?” I asked Fleur to which I received an enthusiastic nod. Sighing once again I take a deep breath and started to sing in a slow, deep, and rich voice.
“Now the hour has come at last
The soft and fading light
Has crossed the west horizon
And has bidden us goodnight
And what a lovely night it is
To walk a moonlit field
To see the softer shades
That are by starlight now revealed
So why is it that now,
When all is quiet and at rest
When candles glow and all the world
Is at its very best
The ponies of Equestria
Should lock themselves away
To shun the moon and wait instead
For Sister's sunny day?
In umbra Luna est (the moon is in shadow)
Am I so wrong to wish that they
Would see things like I do?
And am I so wrong to think
That they might love me too?
Why shouldn't they adore me?
Is it not within my right?
I'll not be overshadowed!
Mine is not the lesser light!
I've waited long enough now
For them all to come around
And though the Sun may plead and threaten,
The Moon will stand her ground
And all will know the wonder
Of my dark and jeweled sky
When all the world is wrapped
In an eternal lullaby
So say goodnight at this,
The final setting of the sun
Tomorrow dawns in darkness
The nighttime has begun!” As the last words of the song escaped my lips I stepped onto the crossroads. I looked around and saw that the sun was at noon so we set up a place to eat lunch of to the side of the road and started to eat sandwiches. After a few minutes a eating I had a question to ask Blitz.
“Blitz have you ever played any of the Elder scrolls games?” I asked with a look of curiosity that changed to laughter as he did a spit take all over Sharp Stone.
“Blitz you plothole, you just spit all over me!” Sharp screamed as she hit him upside the head leaving a rather large welt. Wincing at the blow Blitz started to rub the offending injury as he gave me a death glare.
“How in Celestia’s mane do you know about those?” Blitz growled out as he activated his claws. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow while chuckling at him.
“I played those games when I was a kid.” I said as I leaned back onto my arms. Looking over the whole group they looked at the both of us like we were crazy and we were, I mean who would play along in such a terrible fanfic about little ponies.
“Author are you feeling ok?” Asked a worried Fleur as she look around my head for injuries. Laughing I waved her hooves away and finished my sandwich. I stood up and looked down the east road and saw a wagon had gotten stuck down the way.
“Hmm we probably should help them out.” I said to noone in particular while stretching out my legs and picking up my stuff. Looking up I noticed that there were a lot more clouds than when we started walking this morning.
“And it’s probably going to rain....” I said to myself with a quiet voice that not even a fox could hear. Shrugging my shoulders I started walking towards the stuck wagon with a happy pep in my feet.
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That was a false start lets try this again The Adventure Starts Here
Walking down the street of The Great Burrow I was looking at the architecture. The building were carved out of the grey stone and they were a lot of ninety-five degree angles. Smiling because the city reminded me of Ironforge from World of Warcraft; I continued walking down the street some of the Diamond Dogs and Griffins that were on the street gave me funny looks that seemed to say what the fuck it that, but besides that nothing happened. I was walking around and found a shop that interested me greatly The World Map emporium. Walking in I saw that there was maps of the world with varying detail. Walking up to the counter I looked at the Diamond Dog that had lots of ink on his paws. He had his back to the counter and was working on a map with a few different tools.
“Excuse me sir but I would like to purchase your best map.” I said with a happy tone because this would make my traveling much easier. The Diamond Dog looked over his shoulder at me, he stared for a few seconds before nodding his head and slowly standing up and walking to a glass case at the back of the room, he opened it pulling out a large scroll. He turned and put the scroll on the ten foot long counter and started to unroll the scroll when the scroll had been unrolled to the end of the counter it didn’t even look one-fourth of the way unrolled. Gazing at the map that was actually many maps that were on the same piece of paper I whistled at their detail.
“It will cost you 1500 bits.” The shop owner said in a voice that wheezed a little. Nodding I reached into my bag, pulling out 15 gold bit pieces, I placed them on the counter and slid the huge scroll over to me. Once the scroll was in my hands the shopkeeper walked back over to the cabinet. He grabbed a harness of sorts and turned placing it on the counter as well. He went back to his work on what I geuss is a new map. Placing the map into the holder I then placed the harness over my body. I felt the scroll lay nice and easily on my back. Stretching my body around I was pleasantly surprised to find that the map didn’t impede on my movement much. Turning around to face our little band of misfits I let s small smile worm its way onto my face.
“Well then now that we have a good map lets try to find some food for the trip.” I said with a hint of amusement at the shocked faces of the group. Walking past them I entered into the main hub of the market district of the city. Taking a long sniff of the world around me I picked up the smell of lots of food coming from behind the next street over. Starting to walk down the road I came across a turn that would lead me to the food that we would need to travel long distances. Arriving at the food market I looked around to find a good first place to stop at, but before I could locate such a place I felt a tapping on my shoulder. Turning around I saw that Liza was standing out with one of her paws out.
“Give me some money and I will get food that will last long and be full of nutrients.” She said with a frown on her face. Nodding my head I placed two gold coins in her paw and let her do her thing.
Two hours later Liza came back with several bags filled to the brim with food. Each member of our group had to carry two.....well excluding me that is, I was already carrying my bag and the map. So we started towards the entrance of the city. We passed many small almost sad little houses and shacks that held whole families of starving Diamond Dogs. Frowning I turned my head saddened that I couldn’t do anything at the moment to help them. We reached the Gates that lead to the outside world. We were stopped by some burly guards.
“Halt no one may pass by the orders of Lord Doomhowl the Head Alpha of the Country of The Diamond Dog Flats.” Said the guard on the left side of the gate without actually looking at me. Frowning I walked into his sight and put on the small smirk that I was known for.
“Are you sure that you cant let us pass?” I said with slightly larger smirk as my hand flashed silver for a second as they clasped with the guards paws. The guard frowned and after several seconds looked down into his paw and I swear to this day that his eyes literally bugged out of his head. The guard looked at me with a slight smile as he walked over to the other guard and started to whisper amongst themselves. After a few seconds a whispering they broke apart and opened the door a crack just enough so that we could get through.
“Thank you for visiting The Great Burrow, we hope that you come again sometime.” The guards said in unison with big dopey smiles on their faces. We walked through them and into the main exit tunnel that would lead us to the surface of the flatlands that is The Diamond Dog Flats. Once we were a few yards away from the closed gate Liza grabbed my arm and pinned me to the wall.
“Why did you bribe them, is it because you will only fight when backed into a corner, huh are you some kind of coward that can’t rely on their own strength.” She said as she lifted me off the ground with ease. She must have been lying about needing help with the barrels if she can pick me up with such ease. I thought to myself with a hint of annoyance.
“Real strength comes not from fighting at every chance you get but knowing which fight is worth getting in.” I said with anger in my voice. Grabbing her arm at the wrist I started to squeeze making drop me to the ground. She looked at me with barely suppressed hate and started walking down the tunnel and towards the outside world.
“Come on everyone the world won’t explore itself.” I said, walking down the tunnel after Liza who just a moment before had held me up in the air by my throat. The group shared glances amongst themselves and slowly followed after me into the wide blue yonder.