Adventures in Halferd

     The city gates were closed when they got there. It had taken them a mere ten minutes to traverse the plains. Silver Melodies had stopped Silver Mic and  Vinyl Scratch while they caught up with a whistle. Once they were together again, they finished to trip to the cities.

     Melody looked around. It was still day time, high noon from the looks of it. Why were the gates shut? She had played enough to know this probably meant some sort of problem.

     Mic stepped up. “Hey? Can you let us in? We need to get supplies and information.”

     After a few seconds, a guard popped his head over the wall. “Who goes there?”

     “A group of travelers. We are seeking information and rest from the road. Why are the gates shut?”

     “Have you lived in a cave these years?  A dragon is on the loose. There are those who would help him in his destruction. How shall we know you are not an enemy?”

     “Uh…” Mic turned to his companions. “Any ideas?”

     Melody shook her head. Vinyl scratched shrugged. She turned to Fluttershy, who had her back to the wall. “Fluttershy? Any ideas?”

     She spun around. “Huh?”

     Upon seeing Fluttershy’s face, the guard did a double take and disappeared. “Hold on one moment.” He shouted down.

     The gates opened enough for them to get through, then shut once more. Waiting for them was the guard, helm off, staring at Fluttershy. “Hope you find what you’re looking for.” He bowed to Fluttershy. “Good day, ma’am.”

     Fluttershy didn’t seem to notice the guards obvious affection and simply nodded his direction with a quiet, “Thanks.”

     Melody made a mental note to use Fluttershy’s charm when they needed it. It might come in handy.

     They wandered the streets, looking for some where to gather information. Luckily, whoever created this ‘game’ had the sense to leave the writing in normal, pony language and not some ancient writing. They passed several shops, but they realized they had no money. Many of the buildings were only homes, or manors. One was even a graveyard.

     Finally, they found one named ‘The Dancing Nymph’ and decided to check it out. It sounded like a bar. Before they got inside, Melody noticed a shadow in the alleyways. She did a double take, then saw nothing. She was wary now to make sure they didn’t get ambushed.

     Inside was loud and lively, with many different ponies here drinking and dancing and singing. Melody wondered just how many in this room were actually from the real world and how many were from the game. It was strange to think about.

     Mic went straight for the bar, followed by Vinyl. Melody tried to keep up, but without Mic in front of her to carve a path, she got shut off by the crowd. She gave up and just found a table with Fluttershy to sit by.

     She looked around, still wary of what she had seen in the shadows. She might have been seeing things, but she knew from experience that things in the shadows were almost never good.

     She knew it would be hard for her in this world without being able to speak much. It wasn’t that she couldn’t. She just didn’t, and didn’t want to. It was strange. But she wouldn’t really be able to find information or communicate without speaking.

     A sudden bang followed by screaming and shouting caught Melody’s attention. She turned to the source of the commotion. Vinyl Scratch was behind Mic, who had his sword drawn. Another pony stood in front of him, his own sword drawn. He pointed at Vinyl.

     “She’s a vampire! Look at her eyes!”

     Melody saw her eyes, and indeed they were red, but that was normal. Vinyl always had red eyes. But the people here didn’t know that. It was kind of an abnormality.

     “She is not!” Mic shouted back. “She was born with them!”

     “Ha!” the other pony said. “You are probably just her servant!”

     Another pony spoke up. “A mage can tell a true vampire.”

     “Ah yes” the first pony said. He pointed at none other than Melody. “You there!” Melody was taken back. She pointed at herself. He nodded his head. “You can tell if she is a vampire. Come forth and tell us if she is one of those abominations.”

     Melody walked forward, but was kind of scared. She knew that now she’d have to talk. If she didn’t Vinyl would probably die. She stepped up to Vinyl. She knew all the qualities of a vampire, so she pointed out how her friend didn’t have them.

      She started in a soft tone, not really wanting to speak but not having a choice. “Well, um… vampires have fangs.” She pulled open Vinyl’s mouth, much to the annoyance of the DJ. “She doesn’t… have any. Um… also,” she pointed at her eyes. “Her eyes are red, but vampire eyes… well, they are normally… um… bloodshot.”  She pointed at Vinyl’s skin. “And, uh… her skin is… well… not pale. White, but note pale…”

     She stepped back, thinking she had given enough information as to why she wasn’t a vampire. Of course, anyone could have noticed that. It didn’t take a mage, which made her more upset because she had to talk due to their blind rage.

     The pony stood down with a reluctant nod and soon the crowd dispersed. Melody rushed over to Vinyl to check on her. She saw a big bruise and a few scrapes on her back, but nothing else. Vinyl turned in annoyance to Melody. “You could have asked for me to open my mouth.” She laughed. "I forgot I don’t have my glasses. Guess I should be more careful, huh?”

     Mic nodded, sheathing his sword. He turned to Melody. “Good job sis.” He looked around. “Where’s Fluttershy?”

     Melody pointed to the table she had been sitting at. Sure enough, Fluttershy sat still, haven’t moving even an inch since she sat down.

     Mic took a cup of ale and followed Melody to the table. They were soon joined by Vinyl. “So,” Vinyl said. “Thanks. I wonder what we would have had to do if you hadn’t spoken up. By the way, you have a lovely voice.”

     That made Melody blush, but she didn’t feel any better about having to talk.

     “Okay.” Mic said. “Based on what the guard said, and a small conversation I overheard before Vinyl was attacked, that mountain we saw is our destination. The dragon is also a High Dragon, which I guess means that is very old. Don’t know how that will affect us.”

     Vinyl spoke up. “Being old will probably mean its old and slow, right?”

     Mic shrugged. “I guess. Anyway, since we don’t have any money, we’ll have to either leave now with what we have, or try to make or find money here.”

     “I suggest we leave now.” Vinyl said.

     “But we could get good stuff, like food, or something.” Fluttershy spoke up.

     Melody couldn’t get the image of the shadow she had seen out of her head. She got up and decided to check it out.

     “Hey melody!” Mic called out. “Where ya going?”

     She didn’t stop and stepped out of the bar. She found the alley and peered inside. Nothing.

     “Melody!” Vinyl called out. “What are you doin’?”

     She pointed at the alley. She looked again, and this time heard a rustle. But not from the alley. This time from a nearby building. She turned to see a shadow in the window highest from the ground. It moved, then uttered a “Pssst!”

     Melody was confused, but wary and curious. She walked toward the building.

     “Melody? What’s going on?” Mic asked.

     She ignored him and entered the building. She climbed up the steps and found the only room on the top floor. She carefully opened the door and crept in.

     “Melody!” Vinyl whispered. “What are you doin’?”

     She entered the room and looked around, followed by her friends. Once they were all in the room, Fluttershy spoke up. “Uh… maybe we shouldn’t be here… let’s go!”

     She made a bolt for the door, but it was slammed shut before she could exit. A shadowy figure dressed in skin tight clothes and a cape stood next to the door, holding it shut. Fluttershy jumped back. “Eeep!” she scrambled to get behind her friends.

     Mic stepped forward. “Who are you?”

     The figure removed the mask it was wearing to reveal Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy got up. “Pinkie Pie?”

     “Yep! Bet you didn’t think you’d find me hear, did ya?”

     “Actually, I wasn’t expecting to find you at all.”

     “Well, you did!” Pinkie laughed a bounced around the room.

     “So, what are you doing here?” Mic asked.

     “Yeah.” Vinyl added. “And what was with the whole sneaking and shadows?”

     “Oh!” Pinkie said. “I needed to talk to you. And the shadows were just for fun. Plus, as you can tell from my attire, I am a rouge, so shadows are kinda my thing.” She smiled wide.

     “What do you need to talk about.” Mic asked.

     “I want to join you on your quest!” She began to speak very quickly. “You see, I found this game back in Ponyville and decided to try it but I ended up here and then I tried to go alone but I almost got lost then I almost died then I almost got lost again then I got in a fight and now I don’t want to go alone and the ale here is delicious!”

     Everypony stared at her. “Okay.” Vinyl said. “You can come with us. You got any money?”

     Pinkie threw a bag of gold at the floor. “Twenty bits!”

     Vinyl scooped up the coins. “I hope we can get something useful with these.”

     “Only one way to find out.” Mic headed out the door.

     After their visit to the market, they now had some extra food, supplies like rope, and sleeping blankets for everyone. They had all taken one last trip to the bar for a refreshing drink with the last of their money.

     Once they were all ready, they got together at the city gates. The guard, upon seeing Fluttershy again, opened them immediately.

     Once they left, Pinkie Pie bounded over to her friend. “Ooo! Looks like someone has a crush on you!”

     Fluttershy looked perplexed and turned to Mic. “Who?”

     “That guard!” Pinkie said. “Didn’t you see the looks he gave you?”

     Fluttershy blushed and turned her head while Pinkie Pie. Eventually, Pinkie’s jokes and positive attitude got everyone into a bright spirit. Melody knew the trip would be long, but she was glad Pinkie Pie was with them.