An Equestrian Odyssey

8 Amicos et viris fortibus

Iron’s cousin Bronze Day was far more of the typical farmer than she was. The olive pegasus had come upstairs after dinner and welcomed Rare and Char into his home, asked after their injuries, said he reckoned they just needed a few good days of rest and some proper food and that he would be more than happy to get them back up and walking. He had also dropped the clothing Iron had promised Char off, and given the mares a bucket of drinking water for the night before leaving them to their own business.

With the pegasus gone Char had quickly tried on the clothes, still quite embarrassed at her lack of coverings. The clothes were right out of an old wild west movie. The Poncho was a light brown homespun fabric decorated with white markings of a simple pattern of rectangles around the neck, waist, and hem. The hat was some sort of cowboy hat made from dark brown, leathery material. It had a circular brim about as wide her hoof, and the top was flat rather than decoratively shaped. A single dark brown hatband with a silver buckle was fastened around the hat’s base giving the hat a sort of unique yet generic look. Perhaps the right phrase is an ‘individual appearance.’ She mused as she tossed the hat on, delighting in how it fit her well as it was the first hat to ever do so.

Once she put it on the poncho covered her up well enough for her sense of modesty. As a bonus it was loose fitting enough where she could still spread her wings under it. Oddly enough no matter how many times Char stood on her hind legs or all fours the poncho always covered her in a way where she wouldn't trip on the cloth and the poncho also covered her body. It was as if rearing up made the garment change shape. Whatever, it’s probably magic. Charlotte rationalized after the twelfth attempt at figuring out exactly how it apparently changed length.

Char trotted downstairs to ask why the clothes seemed so out of place but only got an unsatisfactory answer about Iron’s brother buying them at a market from a merchant whose circuit took him far to the north. On the way back upstairs she caught her reflection in a bronze mirror hung in the ranch house's hallway. So that’s what I look like. Char looked at her reflection, taking in her entirely new body.

It’s not all that bad I guess. She decided, I mean four legs is a bit distracting, but I’m a nice color and having fur is cool. This wings are awesome too! My face is going to take getting used to though, the short muzzle is just… not human. And my eyes… My eyes are just… not wrong… but not quite right either.

Char’s examination of her reflection made her think about her prosthetic left leg. She held it up to examine in the light, the metal looked to be a single sheet, it flexed and bent silently and seemed to follow all the rules of a normal body part. It mirrored how her other front leg moved at least. Hold on, I can move my front legs about as much as I could my old arms… Char carefully reared up onto her hind legs, flapping her wings for balance.

Tottering on her rear legs she moved her left arm around, noting the range of motion, “So my shoulder joints are still human like… weird.”

As she held her arm straight out in front of her Char grinned at her reflection, I look like a cowboy pony version of megaman. She moved her other forehoof to brace her fake arm, mimicking as best she could on her unsteady hindlegs and imagined shooting a few evil robots.

Instantly she felt her arm lock in a straight position, the bottom of the hoof irised open, and a small panel slid back on the inside of her foreleg showing a tiny control panel and the familiar display of her blaster. “Holy shit! I am a cowboy pony version of megaman. Awesome!” Grinning widely Char tried to whip around and strike another action pose but promptly fell over on her back. Her gun-leg closed and unlocked the moment she stopped thinking about shooting with it, a feature she figured would get irritating at some point.

After a few minutes of posing in the mirror, trying to figure out how to look awesome rocking her new gun arm and prefect a Clint Eastwood squint to go with the poses Char grew bored and trotted back up stairs. Rare had apparently also been busy and had a small ball of blue light hovering over her head as she read from a large tome written by making all of the page except for the letters black. “Whatcha reading?” Char asked as she sat down on her bed.

“My spellbook. I thought I should study a bit more magic while I have the chance.” the unicorn replied, not looking up from the page.

“Neat. What are you studying specifically? You threw one hell of a fireball the other day, are you looking up how to make that better?”

“No… I’m currently trying to understand how the force of a punch works. If I can learn that, I could make a spell which well… punched things I couldn't touch normally. I want a good low power repeatable attack spell.”

“You could try using your sword.” Char pointed with her gun-leg to the sword laid beside Rare’s bed.

“Yeah… I guess I could just levitate it and slash around. But its a pretty badly damaged sword. Besides, I already failed making a magical arrow spell… Look this is kind of hard for me to learn already ok?”

Char sighed and rolled onto her back, “Fine… Sorry I’m just bored. And well I kinda should talk to you anyways. I need to learn well pony stuff.”

Rare looked up from her spellbook, raising an eyebrow, “Pony stuff?”

“Yeah, like what is your society like? What are some of the local legends everyone knows? I need to pass for pony now you know.”

“Everypony.”

“What?”

“You say everypony, everybody is for when you are talking about people who are not ponies.”

Char nodded, “Yeah stuff like that. Thanks! What else should I know?”

Rare sighed, putting one hoof to her forehead in irritation, “If I fill you in today I have two conditions.”

“What?”

“I like stories, so you have to tell me one story from your world. Also you need to let me invent my spell tomorrow. Because we will need more spells for our journey.”

Char thought for a few minutes, then nodded, “Ok fair points. Who goes first?”

Rare pointed to Char with one hoof.

“Ummm ok let me think… What kind of stories do you like?”

“You said the other day that humans had stories where people go to another dimension. Tell me one that does not take place in your home plane. It would be neat to see what humans imagined other worlds would be like.”

Char nodded again and sat in thought for a long time. There is a ton of stories like that… But whats a good one I could even hope to retell? One suddenly came to mind. Char’s favorite childhood novel. Standing up Char started to pace the space in front of her bed as she thought of how to begin. Sitting down she cleared her throat and began.

“This story takes place in a world where there are no humans, but most animals stand on two legs all of them can talk and they live in a dangerous medieval land where battles are fought and won by the sword without the aid of any magic other than the rare intervention by ancestral spirits. This is the tale of Redwall, and it begins in a place called Mossflower Woods.”

~~

Rare quickly became enthralled by Char’s rendition of what she assumed must be a valuable piece of human mythology. Certainly it was meant to instill a sense of courage and virtue within children but it was so much more than that. Char presented the story with such vivid descriptions and actually performed certain parts, getting fully engaged in telling the story to the point of giving each character a voice as best she could. Char even sung several short songs humans had apparently created simply to enhance the narrative. Telling the entire story must have taken the better part of an hour but Rare didn't care in the slightest.

Standing atop her bed, hat tipped down to shade her face dramatically Charlotte continued telling the tale, “So everyone stood gathered around the Abbot in the gardens to soothe his passage from the world. Content in the knowledge that his Abbey and every creature within would be free of the tyrant Cluny forever and that they were under the safe care of a new Abby Champion chosen by Martin himself Abbot Mortimer closed his eyes for the last time and died, a peaceful smile on his lips… The End.” Char bowed, sweeping her hat off of her head in a bow as she finished.

Rare clapped her forehooves together, she had never seen a bardic performance before but this simply had to be one! “That was amazing! Are you a bard? It cant end there can it? There just has to be more! What happens to Matthias and Cornflower?”

Char smiled and put her hat back on, “That was actually the first time I have ever told anyone a story… Thanks! I um… guess I just have talent. I also happen to love the entire Redwall Saga, I memorized most of it as a kid.”

Rare moved her hoof in a ‘continue’ gesture. Char frowned confused for a moment before giggling, “Oh sorry! Matt and Cornflower have a son named Mattimeo who gets kidnapped by a villainous fox named ‘Slagar the Cruel’. But that’s the next book so I stopped there.”

I have to know the rest! Rare gave Char a hopeful look, “I don’t suppose you would…”

“Later. I actually liked telling the story, but you promised me one you know.”

“Yeah I did… I won’t be able to tell it anywhere like you just did though. I also don't know very many stories. I want taught much of the old lore growing up, only enough to participate in services and rituals.” Rare tapped her hoof against the bed as she tried to think of a more interesting story she could tell. Something besides the origin of life, or the birth of the gods. “Well… There is one story which I like a lot. Actually it’s really a bunch of parts of different stories which all connect with each other.”

Char nodded, “That sounds interesting.”

“It’s the story of a heroine who appears in stories from all the different periods of the Old Imperium, and I even heard one that is from my own lifetime. She’s a pegasus who travels with her husband, and sometimes her sister or daughter. Almost every big event ever has her pop up, the stories call her ‘The Companion’ but a few give her the name ‘Ditzy Doo’ and reveal that her husband is… a healer of some kind, I believe he is a surgeon.. Sorry I’m not sure on that one. Ditzy is a grey pegasus, with a blond mane, crossed honey colored eyes, and strangely enough has markings which look like a series of little bubbles on her flanks.

“According to legend, whenever something huge is to happen, a plague, a drought, a rampaging monster there is a very good chance that Ditzy and her husband will show up and stop it. A lot of stories mothers tell their foals to help them not fear the dark or monsters at night are about her, but there are plenty of tales for grown ponies too.”

Char nodded, sitting back against the bedside to pay attention. “That sounds pretty cool. Tell me one.”

“Alright… Well a long time ago-”

“In a galaxy far far away…”

Rare shot Char a glare, “Do you want me to tell you a story or not?”

“Sorry… It’s just that you started the same way as Star… never mind it’s a human thing. I’ll shut up.”

“Thank you. So, a long time ago Ditzy Doo arrived at a small village which the local ponies had fled claiming it was besieged by an army of bees the size of a horse...”

~~

“.. So having broken the curse the old god Jervrick had placed upon the village all of the transformed ponies were returned to their normal forms, the Imperium was spared the fate of being consumed by a massive army of giant bees, and once more Ditzy Doo vanished to history.” Rare finished, quickly filling the empty flask from dinner from the water bucket for a drink.

Char grinned, “That was a good one. She’s sort of like an American Folk Hero… Yeah she’s a lot like Pecos Bill. He could create and ride tornadoes too.”

Rare gave Char an odd look before her face softened, “Oh right… You are not a natural pegasus. You have the power to control the weather Char. Any Pegasi with enough training can make a tornado, punch clouds away, make a lightning bolt, create rain… Some can even make clouds permanently stay in one place. There are pegasi villages made from clouds which float in the sky.”

What? Realy? “Sooo you are saying that not only am I a cowboy pony version of megaman, but I am also Storm from the X-Men?”

Rare shrugged, “If Storm could control the weather with practice and training… yes.”

“Well… That’s… cool I guess.” Her face pulled into a look somewhere between frightened and amazed.

Rare hummed concerned, “I-I’m just guessing here but you are aware that you are an inherently magical creature now right?”

“No. I wasn’t… I’m going to have to get used to… everything. Aren’t I?”

Rare nodded, “Yes. I am guessing that humans don’t have any magic of their own?”

“Nope. It’s just a lot to take in… W-would you please tell me another one of those? Ditzy’s a pretty awesome legend. Help me take my mind off things for a bit?” Char asked, looking up at Rare with hopeful eyes.

“Well… Ok. But only if you tell me Mattimeo’s story after that.”

“Deal!” That will be cake, it’s my favorite one. Char smiled happily as Rare began to tell another of the short bits of Imperial Lore.

~~

The two ponies spent a full week doing little more than recuperating, learning how to properly do everyday tasks, and swapping stories. Rare’s desire to make a new spell was almost entirely forgotten thanks to her love of a good story. Char’s personal rendition of the Redwall Saga took up a full five days for her to tell “properly” as she put it. By the end of the entire tale, or at least all Char had memorized Rare honestly wished she could read the original written works. Char admitted she didn’t have every single last detail of every story memorized, just the characters, events and general locations.

They enjoyed talking about the fictional world together, discussing little nuances and engaging in what Char called “nerd stuff” leading Rare to believe that humans must call bards nerds. Rare told Char all the stories she knew whenever Char needed a break from talking and the two quickly grew to enjoy each other's company. Both ponies could appreciate a good story, and both loved to talk about the stuff which might happen in the stories worlds. Somewhere during their fun the two mares became friends. No words needed to be said, each of them simply came to realize the other was a friend.

The day came when Rare felt great, no pain in her legs, plenty of energy in her body, and Rare was certain she was back in top shape after her two weeks of near starvation. Char and Rare had thanked Iron and Bronze for their assistance, Rare split the cords of firewood for the ranchers as thanks, and then the two mares headed for town. While they had no money to their name they both knew they would need supplies for the next segment of their journey and surely somepony in town would need help with something.

They arrived in town a few hours after breakfast. The town of Nomareus was actually quite large for a simple farming town. It’s buildings were quite old in design but well maintained, the streets were filled with ponies going about their daily business, the scent of baked goods filled their noses, and the sound of ponies in a nearby market selling their wares rang in their ears. The two decided it would be best to split up to look for some way to make money and meet back at he market in the afternoon. Rare trotted towards the market, figuring somepony could use a hoof with spellcraft and maybe she could make a buck or two.

Char on the other hoof wandered about the town. Maybe someone er-somepony needs help with an odd job or two. As she walked through the streets, a large park caught her eye. The park was filled with ponies of all ages, simply relaxing around a fountain, on benches, playing games, or listening to a street musician. Char trotted towards the performing pony, a pleased gleam flashing in her eyes as she noticed a few ponies toss some silver coins into his lute’s case. I could try singing for money. Rare thinks I am amazing at it, I mean I don’t but he’s not really that good sounding but making money. Might as well give it a shot.

Rare moved to the opposite end of the park so as not to take the other performer's business, set her hat out for coins, then thought for a few moments on what songs she could remember. There were plenty, too many to think through realy. Char had spent a lot of her life headphones in and world tuned out listening from everything from J-pop to old blues numbers. Hell she even listened to old 80’s metal and Minecraft songs from YouTube. Hey… Minecraft songs. Fallen Kingdom sound kinda like an old medieval ballad. Charlotte cleared her throat and began to sing.

“I used to rule the world / Chunks would load when I gave the word / Now every night I go stow away / Hide from the mobs I used to slay.”

A few ponies trotted over, listening to her as she kept singing. The crowd slowly grew larger, Char smiling nervously as they gathered, whispering or wordlessly watching. It was honestly creepy, but she couldn’t just stop that just might make them angry. As her song drew to a close Char finished with a nervous grin, bowing low to hide the wince she made, Oh god they hated it.

Then suddenly a few ponies clapped their hooves, others stamped one hoof against the ground. A few dropped a silver or copper coin into her hat. A few ponies trotted away from the group, Char could here them talking about how she sung well even if the song was strange. A pink unicorn mare smiled and called out “Do another one!”

Grinning widely Char nodded, “Thank you everyon-pony. Sorry if you don’t know any of my songs I’m not from around here. Lets see…” Char tapped her bronze hoof to her chin in thought before nodding and starting to sing the next song that came to mind, Bad Moon Rising. When she had finished her audience clearly preferred the old blues style song better, the performance earned her a few more coins then the first song had. A pattern thus established, Char spent the next two hours singing every blues song she could remember, throwing in the odd rock or metal song when she could.

At the end of the hour the stallion who had been playing his lute came up to her. Char frowned wondering if he was upset, “I’m sorry sir I didn’t mean to cut into your business. My companion and I ran out of money and have a long ways to go still-”

He shook his head, black mane brushing over his eyes, “I am not upset miss, in fact you are doing far better than I am today. But together, with your voice and my lute I bet we could make more bucks performing for these fine fillies and gentlecolts.” He plucked a cord on his lute melodiously, “What say you keep the bucks you have currently, we play together for a while and split the take evenly.”

Well… I guess that might work. “Sure. I don’t know how to play any of the songs I can sing though.”

“That’s all right, I wouldn’t be a good bard if I couldn't play along to a tune.” He sat down on the grass some distance from Char and gave her a nod, plucking a few strings gently.

Char nodded back and started her next song. The bard took a few seconds to figure out the tune then skillfully strummed a simple melody in time with the words. They worked well together, not necessarily great, but they definitely kept a small crowd of listeners around, and for the two more hours Char had songs she could sing the bucks steadily rolled in. But as the sun reached it’s peak and Char ran out of songs, she had to stop.

After splitting the earnings with the bard, safely storing the small pile of coins within a handy pocket on the inside of her poncho, and tossing her hat back on Char trotted back towards the market. The market was still quite busy, not as packed as it had been in the morning but many carts, booths, and storefronts had at least one pony buying or selling something. The more she looked around the more Char wondered how she would find Rare, just looking for her red cloak wouldn't help, a lot of the ponies here were the same color as the cloth.

Duh! She’s in a legion uniform. I’ll just ask somepony where I can find her. Turning to a shop keeper Char asked, “Excuse me sir, I’m looking for my companion. She’s a legionnaire, unicorn, has orange fur.”

The shopkeeper nodded and pointed towards the edge of a market, “Yes she went that way a few minutes ago. Are the two of you short money? She has been looking for odd jobs all morning.”

Char shook her head, “Not anymore.” Tipping her hat Char trotted off stating, “The Legion thanks you.”

It took her a few minutes to find her friend. Rare was standing next to a shop, levitating a large carved wooden sign up while a pegasus nailed it to the wall of a shop. Rare looked over as Char approached giving her a nod, “I’m nearly done here. I’ve made a few bucks with odd jobs. Did you get anything?”

Char nodded, “Yeah. I don’t know how much though I didn’t count it.”

Rare gave her a nod asking, “Are the nails in yet?”

The pegasi she was helping called back, “Yeah, just one more nail to go. Here.” He tossed three silver coins down, which Rare caught in her magic.

“Ok I have 8 bucks and 9 nibs,” Rare calculated, tucking the coins into her cloak, “Lets see what you got… What did you do anyways?”

Char reached for her own pocket, “Well you said I was good at singing, so I decided to sing for peo-er ponies in a park. It worked out well.”

Just before she could take the pile of coins out to show Rare a tall green stallion came sprinting up to them calling, “Legionnaire! Legionnaire! Come quick!”

Rare blinked in confusion looking around for a moment before Char hissed, “You are in uniform.”

“Oh! Right!” Doing her best to look like a hardened military mare and failing Rare turned to the green pony as he slid to a stop asking, “What’s the trouble sir?”

The stallion waved a hoof indicating for her to follow, “We caught a nendaite coming into town. You’re the first imperial law officer I found, somepony needs to oversee the hanging.”

Char gave Rare a confused look. Hanging?

Rare’s face took on a disgusted look for a moment as she nodded, “Alright, I’m on my way. Char, come with me.”

The stallion took off ahead of them, Rare following behind at what she assumed would be out of earshot, Char moved along at her side, “What the hell is a nendaite?”

“They are kind of like a pegasus, only they take after bats. Someponies call them 'bat-ponies', but most ponies don't like to... dignafy them by calling them a pony.”

“Ok, why would one be lynch mobbed on sight?”

“Most ponies think they drink your blood. They also are pretty much all thieves, and farmers don't like them setting up camps in their fields.” Rare answered.

“Sooo they are vampire gypsies?”

“I don't know what a ‘gypsies’ is Char.” Rare rolled her eyes it irritated her when Char forgot they didn't share the same dialect. “But I know they aren’t vampires. I heard the Commissar mention he drove a whole colony of them out of an orchard they were trying to settle once. They eat fruit as far as I know.”

Char’s eyes narrowed, “So we are going to let these assholes hang someone because of superstition?”

“We might have to… It’s a lynchmob Char. We could easily be strung up too.”

A large group of ponies of all kinds quickly came into view. A loud angry voice shouting could be heard before the two mares even reached the group, “You light-addled morons! Let me go! This is the thanks I get for trying to warn you? HA! No wonder mom says you are all a bunch of-” A loud screeching hiss interrupted the voice’s words, “Yeah that’s right! That’s what all of you are!”

“Somepony gag it.” another voice ordered.

“Gag it yourself! I’m not getting my hooves near those fangs.”

The stallion Rare and Char had followed whistled, “Hey! I got a legionnaire. We can kill this monster now.”

We have to do something! Char shot Rare a look of pure hate as she hissed, “If you don't do something, I’m going to start shooting.”

Rare nodded whispering, “I’ll try ok. We talk about this later.” Rare trotted forwards clearing her throat, “Ponies, ponies, calm down. I’ll handle this, it’s my job.”

A few ponies muttered darkly but enough parted to leave a path for Rare to walk into the middle of their group. As they parted Char could see the captured nendaite, the grey-purple coated mare glared at Rare with slit-pupil pumpkin orange eyes as she struggled against multiple ropes binding her hooves together and wings down. “What’s the matter daywalkers? Can't handle one nendaite all on her own? You have to go run and get a soldier to protect you?”

“Just cut it’s head off and be done with it!” A mare called.

Char recognized Rare’s ‘thinking quickly’ face as the unicorn did her best to come up with any sort of thing which might solve the problem they found themselves in. Char grinned as Rare’s face took on a determined look. She has something!

Rare spun in the direction the blood thirsty mare had called from, “There will be no more of that! His majesty the Emperor has issued standing orders to conscript nendaite when possible. He believes if they can be controlled that they will be of service on the front.”

A few ponies scoffed at her words, but one Stallion nodded, “That’s a good idea really, make the layabouts useful.”

Rare bit her lip, left forehoof kicking the ground. She bend her front legs to get on more even ground with the captive, “Why did you come here? It’s the middle of the day, and we both know your kind isn’t stupid. You know what a bunch of farmers will do to you if you let yourself get caught. So by the gods, why are you here?”

The nendaite spat at Rare’s hooves, “I was trying to warn you undeserving dungheaps that a necromancer has set up shop just north of here but screw it! Tartarus can take you all!”

Rare’s face took on a far more serious look, a tinge of horror spreading over her face, “A necromancer? Are you sure?”

The nendaite rolled her eyes, “I don’t know, rotting corpses raid farms and carry off young ponies so often. It might just be Tuesday.”

The green stallion scoffed, “Bah don't listen to the thieving thing. It’s probably just trying to lure somepony out into the woods to be mugged.”

Rare wheeled around, “I will be the judge of that. You asked me to handle this problem, and I am handling it. Do you want me to report to my commanding officer that you entrusted a matter other legion then told the legion how to do it’s job?”

The stallion took a step back, holding up one hoof, “There’s no need for that ma’am! I-um-”

“You remember what happened to Equuinea don’t you?”

A few ponies nervously started to back up. The stallion nodded, “Yes… Very well ma’am. It's yours.”

Rare nodded, “Good. I don’t want to waste time having to tell my commander this town is full of heretics.” She turned to the nendaite “I’m going to untie your legs, and you are going to lead me to the farm you mentioned. If you are telling the truth I’ll grant you a chance to join the Emperor’s Legion, if not I’ll put you two the sword.” Rare gave the nendaite a quick wink, Char hoped that she understood the signal.

The nendaite's eyes dilated quickly, “Oh what an honor, be killed now, or be killed later. Although… later would be nice.”

Rare nodded and quickly undid the ropes tying her legs together with her magic, “Everypony stay back, if she runs I don't want to hit anyone with a fireball.”

The crowd of ponies fell back muttering to themselves as the nendaite stood up. Char looked around, the glares or indifferent looks on ponies faces she understood, but quite a few looked disappointed, Wow. Where are their pony white hoods? Screw these fucks.

Rare nodded at Char, “Come on. If she slips the wing binding I’ll need help chasing her down. Now you, lead us to the farm. Oh and the lot of you, tell the town elders there might be a necromancer on the loose. She might not be the most trustworthy of sources, but I am sure we can all agree we don't want the town streets filled with undead.”

The nendaite shook her head, “I honestly can’t believe I found a sensible pony. What are their like three of you to go around or something? Come on it’s this way.” She started to trot off.

Rare and Char followed along, the nendaite leading them at a brisk pace until they entered the woods just off the side of the road and were out of sight. Char looked back over her shoulder and seeing nopony watching them nodded to Rare, “We’re clear.”

Rare sighed in relief, “Oh thank the gods I grew up around legionnaires constantly. Here, you should fly off before somepony decides they want to see me run you through.” Rare’s magic nimbly untied the rope around the nendaite’s wings.

She looked at Rare suspiciously, “You're not really a bloodcloak are you? What’s your con?”

Char frowned, “Oh wow you guys really are thieves.”

“Duh. It’s not like we can just go and buy things, you ponies kill us on sight! Well… most ponies… Um thanks I guess.” She frowned, pawing the ground with one hoof.

“Don’t mention it.” Rare sighed adding, “Seriously don’t mention it. Anypony with a brain will realize that the Emperor doesn't want to recruit nendaite and then I’ll need a new disguise ok?’

“Hey no worries!” she grinned widely showing off a pair of frankly cute fangs, “I know ponies don't have any, but we nendaite have honor, especially towards fellow thieves. You saved my life, I won't say a word to anyone.”

Char looked at the thestral giving her a suspicious look, “Is there really a necromancer? Or was that just a plan to-”

Her ears fell, “Oh yeah… There is. I thought even ponies could understand a common bucking enemy. Right. Well, I’ll just have to save that colt and filly myself then.” She spread her wings, hopping into the air and hovering as she looked at the two mares, “Unless… you two want to help. I mean they are ponies after all.”

Rare gave her a suspicious look, “If they are ponies why would you want to save them? I’m pretty sure you hate us.”

The nendaite gave Rare an incredulous look, “Because they are just pups, duh! They are too young to be hateful dungheaps yet and well you two are nice enough. So some ponies have to grow up ice sometimes.”

You know what, I believe her. Char decided her doubts on the nendaite cast aside. “Rare, we have to help her.”

Rare chewed her lip as she mulled it over. “I… I don’t know. It still could be a trap. But even if she is telling the truth, I don’t know if I can handle a necromancer. I’m just a novice after all. I do have a mean fireball but a proper necromancer would have a lot of their own power. Also you can't forget the zombies… Oh gods and if he can raise a wraith or windago…” Rare shuddered.

Char frowned, “We don't have to kill him, we just save the kids. And you wouldn't be handling him on your own. You have me and… um…”

“Aurora.” The nendaite informed.

“Thanks. You have me and Aurora to back you up. I got my blaster, she has her um…”

“I’m pretty sneaky, not to mention I can pick locks and know Chiroptora.” Aurora informed, adjusting her hovering position into something which resembled a kung-fu stance.

“Then how were you caught?” Rare asked raising an eyebrow.

Aurora looked down at her hooves sadly, “Bad luck, being stupid, and assuming ponies would listen to me.”

I need to make Rare realize that we can't let a necromancer experiment on kids. Char thought hard, What’s a good way to inspire someone to be courageous? Her eyes flashed as if lit from within for a brief moment by a orange flame. In that instant she realized exactly how she could get Rare to help. Those ponies in the park thought I was a bard. D&D bards can inspire courage though song. Rare thinks my singing is awesome, maybe a good heroic song would do the trick!

She paused for a moment to try and think of a song which would work and realized, A song about a human hero won't work… But I don't know any songs about pony heroes… Well I guess It's time to improvise. Rare seemed to like the myth of Ditzy Doo best... I need a simple song about a hero.

Char’s sudden grin and exclamation of “Thank you South Park!” surprised Aurora enough to make her drop from the air. Char walked in front of Rare took a breath and rolled out a quick and dirty parody.

“What would Ditzy Doo do / If she was here right now? / She'd make a plan / And she'd follow through, / That's what Ditzy Doo'd do.”

Rare blinked in surprise, “Um… what?”

Aurora facehoofed, “Oh bucking hell she’s a bard.”

Char decided to ignore them and just keep going, “When Ditzy Doo was in Equestria, / Skating for the gold, / She did two salchows and a triple lutz / While wearing a blind fold. // When Ditzy Doo was in the alps, / Fighting grizzly bears, / She used her magical fire breath, / And saved the mares fair! // So what would Ditzy Doo do / If she were here today? / I'm sure she'd kick a flank or two, / That's what Ditzy Doo'd do!”

Rare signed, “Char… Your singing is great, but you can stop it ok?”

“Not until you say you’ll help,” Char declared, jumping up onto a nearby log to rear up and continue with the next verse, “When Ditzy Doo traveled through time / To the year three-thousand-ten / She fought the evil Nightmare Moon / and saved the pony race again.”

Aurora gave Rare a pleading look.

“Ok, I’ll help! Just… don’t make up your own songs Char. That was bad. Sung very well mind but… well… bad.” Rare conceded.

“Let-me-finish-it!,“ Char grumbled. Might as well skip the bit about Kubla Kahn since it's almost over, “So let’s all get together, / And unite to save this town, / And we'll save the colt and filly too, / Cos that's what Ditzy Doo do!”

Aurora shook her head once Char stopped singing, “Your friend is right. You can sing, but that just made singing something that stupid sooo much more embarrassing. Umm what are your names?”

Rare pointed to herself then Char, “I’m Rare Luck novice warlock, this is Char Wattz... she can shoot things.”

Aurora stuck out her left hoof, “Well then Rare and Char, let’s shake on it.”

“Shake on what?” Char asked.

“We are forming a wing to attack a necromancer and save some pups. It’s a business deal. So we shake on it.” Aurora informed, frowning, “What do ponies not shake on things?”

“We do.” Rare answered placing her hoof atop Aurora’s.

Charlotte placed her bronze hoof atop the stack.

“Take off the boot, that’s rude.” Aurora sighed.

“That’s not a boot, it’s my leg. Also I don't know if it comes off. I think it’s fuzed at the cellular level.”

“Oh… Sorry. Right. So we all agree to do our best to prevent the colt and the filly I saw get snatched by zombies from all the harm we can?”

Char and Rare nodded. Aurora nodded as well then broke the stack of hooves by sweeping her’s upwards through the pile. “Awesome! We plan on the way. Follow me!”

Aurora took off and zipped north through the trees forcing Rare and Char to sprint to keep up. As they ran Char looked at Rare, “Hey.”

“Yes?”

“I just realized we are running into battle to save some kids. That totally makes us heroes.”

“Not if we die it doesn't.” Rare pointed out.

“True, but I know how I can make you ok with this.”

Rare sighed, “I doubt you c-”

“We are totally doing something you would see in a Redwall story.”

Rare blinked in surprise then grinned, “We totally are! Ok, so maybe this is a little cool.”

Char grinned back, “If we end up having to charge a bunch of zombies you want to use a war cry? C'mon you know that would be an awesome story to tell your grandkids!”

Rare nodded, a determined look spreading over her face, “It would… Ok, I will. But I get to use 'Eulalia'.”

Aurora groaned ahead of them, “This is exactly why bards irritate me…”