//-------------------------------------------------------// The Adventures of Marco Polo -by redfed24- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Trade //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Beginning of the Journy Even when he was attacked, he still prevailed. He knew that since his father can't work since he was in the guard, he was the only one able to make some bits. He had been successful all his life and he was used to the dangers of traveling alone with valuable items. But he sometimes wondered whether or not that his life would mean anything and whether or not he would be remembered. Although he had a lot of worry, he set off on his trade mission anyway. He had been anticipating this route all his life. He had studied maps. He was in a heat condensed room to get used to the climate. He had pulled his cart around his small village to work up his endurance for the long journey. Right before he set off, he had bought many tools that he thought the dragons could use. Such as, shovels, pots, pans, and a few rakes. He also bought some food to eat on the way there and the way back. He also bought a blanket to keep himself warm when he was climbing the mountain that separated Equestria and them. When he left his village the elder that oversaw everything had said a farewell to him. Marco said farewell back and he knew that he couldn't chicken out now. He knew that there was a ten mile journey to get there and back so he decided to walk two miles everyday. On the first day, he had not encountered much of anything since he was in the vicinity of a safe haven in the entire country. Canterlot. He had seen many trees here and there and a few other ponies wandering about to get to their work places.  Although one thing had peaked his interest. He had seen a golden glint of metal flying over head toward his village. He knew that the only golden flying chariot was the princesses personal transport. He wondered " What is she doing  heading for my village? Could I be that well known that even the princess would like to say farewell? Highly unlikely. She's probably there just to go and collect her war taxes like she does every month." Although he dismissed the thought, it still bothered him to the point where he considered turning back but he knew that if he had he would be greeted with a celebration which would have them thinking that he had been so successful since he was in the past. //-------------------------------------------------------// A Little Background Knowladge //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4: The Return Home On the way back from Marco's extremely dangerous trade mission, the princess and Marco chatted along the way. Marco asked what it was like being the ruler of all and Celestia had explained in a very soothing voice to Marco "It can be very difficult but the best part is when I spend my day with my subjects" "Really your highness?" Marco asked "Really" She had replied. When Marco Polo got back form the dragon lands he had been greeted with a celebration. Everyone cheered for him and bowed at the same time when the princess had walked inside their boundary behind him. After that, there was a huge party that would be remembered for decades to come by anyone who was there. Although Marco Polo had not made any bits, he had an adventure of a life time. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: Who is Marco Polo? //-------------------------------------------------------// A Little Background Knowladge Equestria is in turmoil. A deadly war has been declared to expand the borders to the Griffionian Mountains. Everypony has suffered the terrible effects of war. Peasants, Craftsponys, even traders. One trader in particular is willing to go to the Griffins most powerful ally, the dragons. This will surely be a trade mission that he will never forget due to some divine intervention //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: The Beginning of the Journy //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: Who is Marco Polo? The breeze in the air was just perfect as Marco Polo set out on his journey to the dragon lands the mysterious and elusive trader had brought with him many wares from his homeland with him hoping to make a profit. He had some metal tools used for miscellaneous purposes. Also he had with him a cart to put all his wares in instead of carrying it around all day.  He needed all the strength he could muster up in order to pull the cart to his desired location. Marco Polo himself was an earth pony so he would have a lot of the needed endurance to pull it. Marco had a brown coat and an orange swirly tail. His cutie mark was a picture of two crates with green arrows making them swap. It depicted his special talent being trade and bartering. He was a wealthy merchant for his time. Since most had paid a lot of their bits to Celestia in order to fund the war effort. Although this did not stop him for he has been successful before and he will be successful again. He has been warned that the dragon lands were dangerous and not suitable for any pony. This did not stop him though. He had faced terrible creatures before and he will face them again for he was the one to go into the center of the Everfree Forest and set up a trade post so that ponies and zebras can exchange items between each other. But since people were going poor because of the troubled time, there has been a lot of thievery. And, since Marco had been the only one to make money in trade, he had made quite a few enemies lately. He was hunted by other merchants. He had faced their hired blades since they themselves didn't want to get injured. He warded them off quite easily. Although, the attacks on him had been increasingly more severe. Lately, he had been losing most of his cargo to the mercenaries. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4: The Return Home //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Trade He wondered this all the way there. Surprisingly, the rest of the journey had been very uneventful. He had expected that he would see a band of  mercenaries trying to attack him and scare him to the point where he wouldn't trade anything anymore. He knew that it wouldn't work but it was interesting to seem them try. When he got there, we was unexpected to see so many rough fire breathing dragons. He had read quite a lot about their culture and how dangerous they were but even books couldn't describe how terrifying they were. There was huge red and green lizards everywhere and the heat was just blistering and unbearable. Though he knew that he had to prevail. He decided that he would make the trade as quick as possible and he would be relived when he started to climb down the mountain with all the snow. He expected that the dragons knew perfect Equish so he started to speak with the closest one.  "Hello! I have come from a far away land in order to exchange some goods with you!" Marco yelled in order to be heard by the massive red dragon that payed no attention to him. "Would you like to trade with me?" The dragon finally noticed the brown speck of dust and then he thought about what he had said.  " What do you have on you?" the dragon said with a booming voice. "I have tools so you can live easier lives!" Marco Polo yelled back at him. "We have no need of your petty tools since we are already living the easiest of lives!" the gigantic dragon roared back at him. "You don't even need something to cook your food in?" Marco asked quizzically. Since he didn't know that the dragons had eaten gems for their entire species survived, he thought that they liked some of their meals crispy. "NOOOOO!" The dragon had obliterated Marco's ear drums with that massive roar. The dragon leaned in to throw Marco away but then he stopped as a white figure blinded him. He shielded his eyes and then when Marco found out who it was, he was in awe. He didn't believe his eyes when he saw the princess herself protected him. He was just gaping at her. "No need to fear Marco, I have heard where you were going and I needed to warn you to not go." Celestia said in a nice calming voice "Oh, so that's why you were flying to my village! To warn me about the dragons!" Marco realized. "Yes Marco now go back and never try to trade with the dragons ever again. We are on thin ice with them since one of the ponies at my court insulted their leader." Celestia explained.