The Road to Royalty

The Road to Royalty

Chapter.3- Bit Hunter

All of my muscles ached. My stiff wings were fully spread and over worked. I was drenched in sweat and I couldn’t stop, even if I wanted to.

“Darling really, is that all you’ve got?” Desire chided me.

My breath came out in a huff, as I redoubled my efforts. Smack, smack, smack, the sound rang out and bounced off the walls.

“Come now, you move like an amature, Harder!” She commanded.
I felt the zone kick in, as I quickened my pace and let down some heavy blows. I wasn’t about to let her tell me I wasn’t good enough. “Thatssss the spot, right thereeee.”
I felt the last of my energy was coming to an end and decided to give it my all, for the last few seconds.

Smack,Smack,Smack, SMACK! I knew I was at my breaking point and gave one last good smack. A message popped up before my eyes☾Str +1☽ and then I fell down in exhaustion, like a doll after being used, with his strings cut. “Nooooooooooooooooo,” She Shrieked, almost shattering my ears, Luna, she has some lungs…heh, if she was screaming yesterday at that accident, I will personally kill her.

“Don’t stop! You were soooo close!” she cried waving her hooves at me.

“Huff,huff, can’t… too tired,” I informed the distressed maiden.

She gave me a death glare. “You will get back up this instant, and put that, weapon back to work.”

“We have been going at it for hours, my pony body needs a break... but I would be happy to continue later.”

“Hmp,” Desire huffed. “Well then you can continue, without me then, as long as I get results.”

She then got up and stomped off, tail swaying back and forth high in the air, as well as her nose.

Really now? It’s just training. I sat up and flexed my stiff wings, flicking sweat in every direction. How did I let her rope me into this? I looked around my area at the many straw pony shaped dummies. Beyond that was a big open area and stone walls. I looked back to the ground before me, there was the wooden sword I was using to hit the imaginary pressure points on the doll.

She tells me of a way to pay, for that dinner, is to get stronger...
Yeah, I was already planning to do that, but I don’t really trust that mare. That whole thing with the bill was not, o-k. I hate being put on the spot by so called 'Rich', ponies. Ugh, that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I’m going to get me something to snack on.

"Huff, huff, huff," Taking a few breaths I calmed down a bit, then stood up. My stomach confirmed my idea of getting something to eat, by making a loud growling sound. "Guuurrrrr."
Good thing not many ponies come to the training hall. The training instructor on the other hoof… “I just heard some pony with a, weak resolve.” his voice boomed.

Yeah, he’s one of those. I tried to slip out the door, but the instructor blocked my way, I let out a groan. “What's this that Iron Will sees? A pony that doesn’t have the fight. To get what's right.”

I open my inventory and tried to ignore him. Ten baked breads and one canteen greeted me. Oh, that and a bit counter that has an ominous number zero. I frowned, then taped my hoof on my bread to take one out. It materialized in front of me and I raised a hoof up to catch it.

The bread that I had just taken out hit the floor. Five hoofs away from my current position… let me re-play that. Bread in air, I raise my hoof, Bread falls towards my hoof. A blue blur darts past my face, smacking into my food, bread hits floor. My left eye twitches, a minotaurs hand lingers in the air. Oh, Buck No!

“You FEATHERING block head! Don’t touch my food,” I stomped up to him, wings flared.

“That's the spirit I'm looking for! Get into the zoneeee,” he energetically replies, also stepping forward.

“Outta my way, idiot minotaur,” I growled , trotting straight past him.

“That's RIGHT, don’t settle for a measly baked bread, get out there and get some reeeaaalll food,”

I stomped out of his range before he could say anymore crap. That was one down side to the training hall. A minotaur that thinks he’s Iron Will… I hope he’s not the real thing, that would mean, theres a guy giving bad advice and getting paid for it. Anyway, looking into my inventory and seeing that zero makes me angry. I’m going to fix that right now.

I swiped my hoof in the air, re-opening my menu, to grab a new baked bread. This time it actually made it to my hoof. I took my first bite of my reward… “UGH, this is so dry!”

The bread was baked to last and not to be tasty at all. Even if my taste buds were not pleased in the slightest, my satisfaction bar was rising to full. “It’s better than starving, no pony deserves that,” I read that you die ingame, if you starve.

“Guess I should get some better food and to do that I need bits,” I declared, “I wonder what kinda jobs they have around here.”

I started walking away from the training hall and headed south. The streets seemed moderately teeming with ponies, minotaurs, and a few zebras. Yeah, it’s definitely a bit more diverse than home. I normally see only the three pony races on the streets. A few of the ponies I passed gave me a judging eye. What's all that about? I wonder.

I walked into my first destination for making bits. Silver Wood Weaponry, I figured that I could make some bits and prepare for battle at the same time. The first thing that hit me, was the heat. The little hairs on my coat curled up, burning the tips. Hmm, thats a bit warm for my tastes, but it’ll have to do. I took a look around to check out my potential work area.

There were swords lining the walls in glorious detail. Blades of silver and gray, with handles that had straps of magic weaved leather and dark black bindings. I looked to the counter and noticed a barrel of swords with much less detail and polish, among those sat a lone pata blade. Those must be the beginner swords, I need one soon.

“Hold on a second,” a voice calls from the back.

I guess that’s the owner, time to make a good impression. I fixed my gaze over at the counter and awaited his arrival. Two minutes had passed before I heard something.
“Sorry for the wait, what can I get for you, mister?”

I looked over at the space between the counter and the way to the back. Strange, there was no pony there. I assumed they were talking on there way out, so I raised my voice. “I’m here looking for some work, from such a fine place as th-”

“Owww OWww, hey, no need to yell mister, I’m right here,” the owner replied, clearly in pain.

I looked back to the counter and then to the backroom. Yeah, still no- “Aghhhh” I jumped back as I was kicked in the left fore-leg.

“I’m down here, you slowpoke,” the owner huffed.

I landed and looked down… shes sooo smallll. It must of been the look on my face that gave it away, because with that I earned yet another kick to my leg. “You must really not want that job,” she snapped at me.

That got my wits back to me. I snapped back up and adopted a neutral expression. “Hello boss, I’m Arcadia Skys, nice to meet you.”

“Shut up mister, I’m not your boss yet…” she stated while poking me in the chest.

I looked down at her and gave the boss a once over. Her coat was bright red, she had a dirty brown mane, and the cutest silver eyes.
“The names Silver Frame, and don’t get so close mister,” she said as she pushed off my chest again and made me take a few steps back.

She’s strong… but she looks so smalll, Oopss. That slip in thought lead to another glare.
Err, let me try to redirect my situation. “So can you hire me?” I finally asked the question that was on my mind.

She trotted over and poked me again. “Your real weak, you know that mister?” I winced.

She trotted around me and checked my physical appearance. Then she took out a tape measure and made another round. Yeah yeah, I heard that weak line, like twice already. “Ok then, everything else looks good,” she confirmed.

“So then I got the job?” I asked her looking hope full.

“Buck NO!!, You're a party crasher” she snaps.

“What!! I didn’t do anything like that.” I state swiftly, a disbelieving look upon my muzzle.

“What do you call screaming at the top of your lungs, making the party cart lose control, standing in the middle of the street, damaging city property, and RUNNING AWAY FROM THE CRIME SCENE!!” Some how she was in the air yelling, but also pushing me back.

She landed on her hooves and looked at me. I spent a few seconds staring at her before she opened her mouth again."Well? What do you call it huh?"

After all that the only thing I could possibly say was… “Awwwwww”
“Ugh, just get outta my shop mister” she spat as she tossed me out the door.

I was unceremoniously dumped onto the street. So there I sat… outside on display, there were other ponies looking at me, with those same judging eyes. I realized that all those glares were not curious stares, but they were all looking down on me as a ‘party crasher’. What kind of party would make a whole town that mad at me?

I looked back at my first choice for some bits. “It’s just a single party, it can’t be that bad.”

I got up and dusted myself off, ignoring the looks of the crowd as best as possible. I decide to just re-start the searching process. I trotted into the crowd, receiving a not too friendly nudge as I passed. Hey, watch it buddy.Arriving across the street I read the sign of my next destination, Bubble Sap Potions.

I trotted up to the doorwa- slam, the door closed so fast, I can’t believe it was open. I once again landed on the ground, this time was accompanied by the crowds laughter. I got back up and once more dusted off… “Where did this sap come from?”

My left foreleg was covered in fresh sap, anddddd pine needles?

"Ugh," I looked up at the closed door and right where it touched me, a outline of my foreleg was embodied into it.

The ponies around me apparently thought this new development was worth laughing at even more. My left eye twitched. Say calm, I already have enough heat on me. I looked out and smiled at them. All for the bits. Receiving no other reaction from the crowd. I opened my inventory, to take out my canteen of water.

I used it all to wash my fore-hoof off. Most of the crowd was now uninterested in me, as I was back to normal. I looked up the street. "Time to hunt, for a job, " I walked into the crowd, "It's gonna be a bit tougher then I thought."

From business to business, I trotted on. The third try, was better then the second. I got in the door, that was about it though. The owner demanded that I leave, so I did. No use making my new reputation worse. Even after the business rejected me I continued, the next stop stalls.

"Hey you over there." A voice called out.
I turned to see it was another pony, other then the vender I was currently headed to.

The dis-heartening fact was, his stall was in a ally way. "Come on over here my good pegasus, we should chat."

Couldn't hurt. I trotted over, into the shadow filled ally.
"Sooo," The vender started, "Word on the street is, you're looking for a, Job."

"Yeah, I am, I need to make some bits." I took a quick look around, then back at the merchant. He was draped in shadows, melting into the scenery and his teeth were a bit crooked, better be on my guard.
"Well the names Root Dust, and I have just the job you’re looking for,"

"Does it pay well?," I lifted a hoof to my chin.

"Oh, of course, doing this job, could get you some hefty silver bits, no need to worry about copper bits here. We pay our workers well,"
Root stuck his hoof out of the shadows and silver bits gleamed in the dark ally. I noticed he was covered head to hoof in a black cloak.

My eyes locked on to the precious bits I was searching for. My hoof shot out to grab them, but he pulled back faster then I could even see... taking my prize with him.
"Woah there boy, The job always comes before the pay."

I squinted at him, "So who is this 'We' and what's the job."

"Simple really, you do this job and you get paid. We contact you, not the other way around." He tried to snake his hoof over my shoulder, but I backed out of range.

He shrugged, "Suit yourself then, but here's the deal," he leaned in. "There's this smith named Silver, she been getting big deals lately and had a rare, expensive Sword commissioned, All we want you to do is be a distraction. A stallion of your talents should be able to do it easily. 'Party Crasher'."

I looked at him and quickly thought about this situation. I just been scouted by some dangerous organization, after only just arriving in this game a day ago. My reputation is already low, due to my entrance and now if I refuse, I could only gain even more enemies.What rotten luck... heh who cares.

In this situation, if I play my cards right, bits will be mine. I adopted a neutral expression, as my mask.
" So, you require my services as the 'Party Crasher' eh, well i'm gonna need a deposit up front. " I stepped towards him.

He laughs, "Ha , are you deaf boy. Work first, pay after."

"Now think about this, using a quick flash of coins to entice the naive an greedy Blacksmith to pay attention to me, is better then some haggler off the street with nothing to show right?"

"Well of course sh-"

"You want a quick success to your mission, and ensure you get the sword."

"Why do you think we are telling you this ki-."

"Then the best way to handle this is with only half of the bits. Just enough to lure her out. You found me once didn't you. Not like I'm going anywhere soon."

Dust ruffled his cloak, with a scowl on his face. He looked pissed, but he clearly was in deep thought. Here we go, if this works I could get my first thing of bits.
Dust suddenly stopped and swiped his hoof out at me. I leaned to the side to avoid it, raising my left hoof.
Three sliver bits dropped in instead.
"I'll be expecting results 'Party Crasher'...." His eyes gleamed , Sending a cold shivering up my back.

I grinned at the shiny sliverbits in my hoof. "No worries Dust, there's no party left un crashed."

I stepped out of the alleyway with my reward. All about the bits. I continued on my search for a real job. Suckers.

After I was farther away from the ally I dropped the 'Party Crasher' mask. Well that went better then I thought. Even If I could not avoid having more enemies I at least made a profit while making them.heh.

The rest of my day was uneventful to say the least. Every shop I went to rejected me. Most venders just outright ignored me. I walked around until the sun was about to set on my second day. I ended up walking right back into the area where I caused this mess.

I looked out over the area. There was a small brick path way, in the middle of a dirt road. The houses and shops were make of oak wood... Go figure. Painted in very earthy colors of Autumn's brown,red,orange and yellow mixes. They sat along a simi circle path, with a central road.
I looked to the right, there a little ways off the road, was the tree that had gave me apples... ohhhh I forgot about lunch. I quickly looked at my hunger bar. It was dangerously low.

I decided to go over by that tree, that had given me my lunch.It also provided a nice grove of tress behind it, away from the main city.
I sat down beside it and waved my menu hoof.

I tapped on the apples that I forgot about. It dropped into my hoof. It's red color looked great as fallen leaves danced around me. I took a bite of the sweet fruit, the flavor was much better then my last meal. The sun dropped down further as I ate. Biting into the last apple was great, but half way thru I felt a tap on my back.

I looked over, "hhmmm?"

"Um, Could you not steal our apples, mister criminal sucm?" A cute voice said.

The apple caught in my throat as my brain processed that.-Cough, cough, cough- "What?"

The Violet earthpony mare smiled, " Come on, get up worm~, eating our apples with out paying means you want to work~! Oh this is great, we can get a new worker right when we need one, that aslo solves our theif problem too."

My brain rebooted , a few seconds after. " Who are you?"

"Oh, me? I'm Melony Lash."

Really luck? This is the frist real job you can think of. ". What do you mean your offering me a job, how much does it pay?"

"Who said you had a choice? Criminal~. Everypony knows the 'Party Crasher' in this small town. Ex specially when he crashes the party everypony was required to attend."

-my let eye twiched- Hmmm, "How much, am I getting paid."

She smiled, my background music changed to some slickly sweet country jingle.
"Payment varies depending on how much your worth, are you better then dirt criminal? Can you do real work?"
I Shot up tossing the apple at her. " What ever work you got is nothing to me. I would work so good, you would toss all your bits at me."

The apple flew right at her face, she twiched.... The apple flew through her?
Wait, it was now on the ground behind her choped into perfect slices, on a plate... Next to a picnic basket.

What?

" Oh, mister Criminal, I'm so sorry I think nothing of your great boasting skills," She turns to the farm," I look forward to your services."

"Hmp," I slam my hoof down," that's right..."

Then it hits me "Hey!"