Bionicle: Equestrian Saga Side Stories

Soon the desert gave way to suburbs filled with metal houses.

"Is this Po-Altero?" I asked, my voice slightly muffled by the 'protodermis' that we were traveling through, Bour nodded.

"Po-Altero is the district where all the building work is done, alongside the Ta, Fe and Fa-Altero districts" he said.

"How many districts are there?" I asked, he thought for a moment.

"15 in total" he said.

"That many!?" I asked.

"There's a reason it's called a metropolis; it's a big city" he said, before looking ahead, at that moment we entered a tunnel, signifying the end of our journey "come on, we're almost there, and we're gonna have to time this just right" he then grabbed my forehoof and pulled me out, I ended up sprawled on the floor.

"You really need to get out more from...where did you say you were from?" Bour asked, pulling me up.

"I didn't" I said, quickly checking my saddlebags "I'm from Trottingham"

"Long way from home then" he said, I nodded "I kind of figured you were from around those parts, seeing as some of the Nue-Toa hail from there, and your accent is a dead match to theirs" I went to say something but was interrupted by my stomach rumbling, my cheeks flushed

"Heh heh, you wouldn't know where a good place to get some food would be, would you?" he thought for a moment.

"let me think" Bour said, rubbing his chin in thought "I think I know of a place to get something to eat" He soon led me towards a market of some sorts, I was slightly overwhelmed by the strange and new sights, sounds and smells. Be it stall owners trying to persuade potential customers into purchasing items for a supposedly cheap price, the smell of unfamiliar spices that tickled my nose, or a side show with a tall, troll-like creature with a spine running down its back, trying to draw passers by in with the promise of incredible spectacles.

"Step right up!" he announced "come see a living Tower of Visorak, right here"

"Don't get too distracted" Bour said quietly "most of the people here are honest enough, but some are just up to no good" at that moment I felt a tugging from my saddle bags I quickly turned around to see a 5 foot tall biped with black armour in the process of trying to pickpocket me.

"'ey! What the bloody 'ell do you think you're doin'?" I asked, my horn flashing with magic.

"Um, Surefire?" Bour said, stepping forward "I think it's best if I deal with him"

"I was brought up to deal with my own problems" I said, before turning to the 5 ft tall being "I'll ask you again, what do you think you're doing?"

"Give me your money and I'll let you got without a scratch" he said, flashing a large knife. I walked up to him, by now a small number of passers by had started to notice what was happening.

"How about this for an idea?" I asked, looking him dead in the eyes "you go buck yourself with that knife of yours" the crowd began muttering.

"You gotta lot of talk for such a fragile sack of flesh" he said. I chuckled

"A word of advice" I said, before turning around and bucking him down the street, using my magic to add extra force to the buck "you don't mess with a pony from Trotting'am!" I then carried on down the street, the crowd quickly went about their business, seems what happened wasn't unusual. as we walked I noticed Bour was staring at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Are you sure that was the best way to deal with him?" Bour asked, jerking a thumb behind us "you could have just let me deal with it"

"Like I said, I was brought up to deal with my problems, not go running from them" I said "and let's just say I have enough experience to handle myself in a fight, kind of a necessity of living in Trottingham. Equestria isn't all sunshine and rainbows, mate, savvy?"

"He had a knife" Bour said, I levitated the knife into view.

"You mean this knife?" I asked smugly, he deadpanned.

"you ponies and your magic" he muttered.

"You gotta admit, that was good" I said.

"I admit nothing" he said, before nodding his head to one side of the street, where what looked like a restaurant was set up "we're here" he led me inside and we took a seat at one of the tables. The interior was similar to a restaurant from Southern Equestria, with a small number of individuals either at the bar, drinking, eating at one of the tables. I levitated a Menu over and began to browse the options, only to immediately slam my face onto the table.

"Are you okay?" Bour asked.

"I need to learn how read the bloody language" I muttered "I need a guidebook for translating text"

"How long do you plan to spend in New Altero?" he asked.

"Till the first day of next week" I said.

"Then it's not worth it" he said "you've only got a couple of days in this city, so why bother? I could just translate for you"

"Good point" I conceded, I suddenly thought about something "Um, what is the currency used here?"

"Businesses around here accept most currencies" Bour said.

"Why?" i asked.

"This City was practically built off of the backbone of other nations" he said "in return, we accept their currencies and provide a large amount of raw material to the countries that helped"

"Right" i said "What would you suggest i have to eat?"

"anything vegetarian will do for you" he said "just don't get a Thornax soup" after a few minutes of generally making conversation a waiter came over and after explaining what was on the menu ans what was okay for me to eat, I ordered my food. Once the waiter had gone i turned to Bour.

"Bour?" i asked "what are all the different species here?" he chuckled slightly.

"You had to ask that one" he said "let me think for a moment" he then began to scan the crowd.

"You see the tall, snake looking one over there?" he asked, pointing at a slender, 15 hoof tall biped that was talking to the bar tender.

I nodded

"That's a Vortixx" he said "they're usually found on Moutere Xia, an island near the south-eastern tip of the continent, you're most likely to come across a female. Just try and keep out of their way as they're know for their...promiscuousness"

"...Right.." I said. he then pointed out another 15 hoof tall sat at a table in the corner, this one was more bulky compared to the Vortixx.

.

That's a Higher Steltian" he said "again, stay out of their way" he then pointed out a 7 hoof tall troll like creature with a huge grin and an organic spine running down its back.

"That's a Skakdi" he said "Again, stay out of their way..."

"is every species here like this?" i asked, he laughed.

"You'd think it, wouldn't you?" he said "but no, not every species is like that" at that moment a 10 ft tall dragon-esc looking being with red armour walked into the restaurant and took a seat at the bar, his predatory eyes momentarily lingered on me before he gestured to the bartender and promptly received a whisky glass containing a golden liquid

"W-Who is that?" I asked nervously.

"He's a Makuta" Bour said quietly, leaning in "from what i've heard, he used to be a pony like you, 'till Teridax turned him" I shuddered, Teridax was one...thing I'd rather not hear about.

"If he was with Teridax then why is he able to walk in here without getting jumped?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"He switched sides at the first chance he got, helped Equestria to win the war" Bour said.

"Then what's he doing here, getting himself pissed on whiskey?" I asked, noting that the Makuta had just finished his third glass and was about to down the forth.

"He isn't exactly happy with his current physical state" Bour said, shaking his head sadly. The waiter eventually brought my food over and I promptly began eating, by the time I'd finished a female, bipedal griffin had walked into the restaurant and quickly spoke with the now drunk Makuta before helping him out. Once again his eyes lingered on me before looking where he was going.