Chapter 1: Seahaven Bound
The sun begins to rise over a multitude of sailing ships. They all remain close to each other, in formation, as they begin to near a colonized speck of land on the horizon. Beneath the exteriors of each and every ship is a conglomeration of sleeping stallions, colts, and mares. They’ve been doing nothing but resting and looking about the ship for days--weeks on end. They all remain asleep, whilst the boat gently rocks against the waters of the ocean.
Bells of announcement chime, up above the wooden shell of each and every boat. All the passengers within begin to stir. Some are grumpy, and others are ecstatic and eager. They all know what the ringing of the bells mean.
One mare quietly grumbles within her hammock. The crashing of waves meet her ears, as they gently flick and twitch as the reception of the sounds. She sits up, rubbing her eyes, brushing her mane out of her face. She looks over to her window on the side of the ship, which illuminates her room with light.
She can see a port and a town within her sleepy sights. Squinting her eyes a little, she can observe other ships docking in and out at the port, unloading each and every passenger. They look like a hive of ants from this distance.
She chuckles a little at the thought, a smile crawling onto her face. She stretches out her arms and wings, quietly grunting, before whisking her portable mirror into her hand from her desk, looking herself over.
She’s a pegasus with 20 years under her belt. Her coat is of a dark-mint green, her mane and tail of a lighter shade, with a rough style that trails down to the back of her neck. Her eyes are a contrast of blue, which neatly adorn her colouring. As of now, she is wearing a white sleeveless vest and a pair of washed-away green pants with pockets to boot.
Her attention is caught by loud snoring beside her own hammock. She jumps a little in response, before looking over to her roommate, who has her hands behind her head, and one leg idly swaying back and forth off of her own hammock.
Her roommate's colours are of a crimson red, her mane and tail’s style seemingly similar, albeit a little shorter. She, too, dons a sleeveless vest (Albeit a little dusty and dirty), but is wearing washed-away crimson red shorts in favour of pants. She has 19 years of age under her own belt.
She quietly sighs, before pocketing her mirror, standing up. She gently nudges her roommate’s leg with her own, and that seems to be enough to stir her.
“..Mmn..?” Her roommate’s brown eyes open up, as groggy as hers when she awoke to the chiming of the bells. She lifts up her head, looking over. “..What’s goin’ on, Leafie..?”
Everleaf has a light smile on her face, looking back at her roommate as she approaches her room’s door. “Rise and shine, Bauxi. We’re here.”
Bauxi’s facial expression immediately perks up from a groggy one to an excited one. She rolls out of her hammock, looking over to the window within their room, before grinning.
“..Heh..Well, whadya’ know. Took us long enough, but we’re finally here.”
“Mmhmm..If I were you, I’d make my way onto the deck before everyone else does, so we don’t get into a jam-packed mess when we leave.” Everleaf advises, before opening her room’s door, taking her leave.
Bauxi looks back, quickly realising that Everleaf has already left the room.
“G-Gh..wait up, Leafie!”
A couple of hallways and stairways later, they both reach the surface of the ships, standing on the edge of the boat. The morning sun’s light washes over the planks and the sails of the boat, and across all the adventurers who are standing atop the decks. They can see the newly founded town with a whole lot more clarity. Cobblestone lines the docks and the stairs up to the central plaza of the town. Past the town is an immediate forest that practically surrounds the villa.
The drawbridge on the ship is lowered down, as the captain motions for each and every adventurer to take their leave from the ship. Whilst Everleaf isn’t in much time to rush. Bauxi half-jogs ahead, taking in the blue skies and a breath of fresh air, as it blends in with the salty fumes brought about by ocean waters.
“..Hhaahh...How long have we even been at sea, Leafie? Weeks?”
Everleaf frowns a little at the question. She approaches Bauxi, scratching the back of her own head and her own mane.
“I’m not too sure..Definitely a week or two? Maybe a little more..” She places a finger and thumb on her chin.
“..Yeah, whatever. But we’re finally here, though! Completely uncharted land, and we’re, like, the first to discover and conquer it!” There’s a gleam in Bauxi’s eye, alongside a wide grin on her face. “Come ooonn, Leafie, that’s gotta be at least *SOMEWHAT* cool!”
Everleaf can’t help but chuckle and smirk at Bauxi’s eagerness. “Yeah, it definitely is pretty cool. But..” She looks over the town, crossing her arms. The villa’s rather bustling with many adventurers and cityfolk already. “We haven’t got any money at all, and I’m not too sure where to start earning it.” She gently bites her lower lip, keeping a frown on her face.
Bauxi can’t help but lightly snicker, gently patting Everleaf’s shoulder.
“Then It’s a good thing I did my research, huh?”
Everleaf’s expression softens, as Bauxi moves on ahead. Everleaf follows suit, her curiosity piqued by what Bauxi has to say.
The two of them arrive within the central plaza of the town. What stands out in the middle is a bulletin board of sorts. Dozens of adventurers are circled around both sides, looking at all of the stamped papers on the board.
Everleaf tilts her head a little in slight confusion. “..So, what’s going on here?”
Bauxi lightly grins. “This is the Bulletin Board, ya’ rockhead!” She gently taps Everleaf’s head with the knuckles on her fingers, as Everleaf reels back from it a little. “This is where adventurers claim quests to do.”
Everleaf’s posture straightens. “..Huh. I guess it’s a nice way of doing things.”
“..It saves a lot of time running around the place looking for someone to hire you,too,” Everleaf thinks to herself.
Bauxi nods, keeping her grin. “Tell you what. You go look around the place, and I’ll go find us a nice quest to do. Meet you at..errh..” She looks around the plaza, before pointing to a noticeably large building. “Over there! That looks like some sort of tavern place.”
Everleaf looks over in the direction Bauxi pointed in, before nodding in approval, keeping a smile on her face. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Damn right it does! Meetcha’ there, then!” Bauxi quickly turns tail, running up to the crowd around the bulletin. Everleaf rolls her eyes, shaking her head a little, before wandering off.
She looks up at the blue, cloudy sky. All of the clouds are naturally moving about, which takes her curiosity and her focus.
"..It’s already different from Equestria. Sure feels a little weird without any weather team to keep us supported up in the skies."
She glances down to her longsword that’s sheathed on her belt. She takes the time to unsheathe it, looking over her blade.
It’s of simple, standard-tier design that she was able to acquire back at Equestria before she set sail. She’s adorned the hilt with extra leather strapping for the sake of comfort whilst wielding it. She gives it a swing or two, as steel cuts through air, glistening in the sunlight.
She quietly sighs.
“..By Celly, my sword arm’s rusty. Why couldn’t we even get the chance to spar with a bit of swordplay on the ship?”
Her attention is then caught by a mischievous, playful chuckle emanating from a back alley, as she looks in that direction.
“Are you lost, dearie? You’re all on your own, down here.” Two half-lidded pinkish eyes look over to her from the shadows The faint line of a smirk can be seen on the figure’s face. Everleaf keeps her sword low, whilst having it at the ready.
“Who are you?” Everleaf retorts, lightly glaring at the two eyes in return.
“Why, just someone who’s a little..curious, on what a sweet little mare like you is doing here, all by herself~.”
____________________
Bauxi's Stat Sheet
Everleaf's Stat Sheet
Chapter 2: Back-Alley Brawling
The shady figure that hid within the shadows of the back alley slowly took a couple steps forward, coaxing herself out of her blanket of darkness. What stood before Everleaf was a mare just like herself. She had a cream colouration and a stark brown mane and tail to boot. She wore upon herself a plain skimpy skirt and a half-cut top, which showed off her impressive cleavage. Amongst all this, her pink-shaded eyes were certainly off-putting.
Everleaf narrows her eyes. "You've approached me out of a back alley, and you expect me to believe a word you're saying?"
The mare quietly giggles with a smirk, hands behind her back. "I'm not the one drawing a weapon here, dearie~."
"..Touché." Everleaf gently sheaths her sword. The mare looks at her, up and down.
"..You're one of those adventuring types, aren't you? Why, I've been looking for someone like you!" She beams a giddy grin. "Come with me, will you dearie? This rat problem won't solve itself, you know."
A rat problem. Awfully and suspiciously generic. Everleaf questions, as furrowing her brow as the mare turns tail, skipping back into the back alley, turning a corner or two. She cautiously follows suit, keeping a hand beside her weapon's hilt, ready to draw it at will.
..That's not to say it'll be a stupid thing to accomplish. I'd expect killing large rats to be a serviceable feat.
Everleaf finally comes to a dead end after sprawling through a couple of winding back alleys.
..Oh, great. Where'd she go..? Did I lose her? She looks behind her, trying to find that one figure, calling out. "Hello? I think I've lost where you were going!"
. . .
Everleaf's ears lower, as she slowly draws her blade with a comforting 'shing'. An eerie feeling sends a shiver or two down her spine, as she begins to back up into a back-alley crossroad, the buildings still draping a blanket of darkened visibility over her. Her ears gently flicker, hoofsteps against cobble gently echoing across the concrete walls.
The sound of running quickly nears her. She perks up and ducks, narrowly dodging a swift spinning hook kick to the face.
"Oh, god damnit!" The attacking figure replied. Everleaf backs up, wielding her sword in both hands, catching a glimpse of the figure. Those same pink eyes are visible, gently fluorescent beneath the shadowy veil of the back alley. Her fur colouration is now a stark purple, as is her hair colour. Two small devil horns adorn her head, her pony tail replaced with a long, thin spaded one. She hisses. "I thought I finally had someone to knock out and bring back to the den, but nooo, you had to be one of those gut-instinct types!"
Succubus/Incubus (Suck-Cue-Bus/Inn-Cue-Bus) (011)
______________________________________________________
Succubi/Incubi are surprisingly common demons from the second circle
of hell. They usually desguise themselves as normal, female/male
mares/colts. Their true form can usually consist of having
lingere equipped, bat wings, or a demonic tail; sometimes
having all of them, with horns to boot. Their preferred weapon of choice is
a whip.
Succubi/Incubi are known to arouse their prey and/or subdue
them, before binding them down, having them do whatever they
desire, their prey brainwashed by arousal, and lust.
Their reason for invading Equestria is unknown.
"..What the hell..?" Everleaf gently mouthed under her breath, slightly confused. She quickly shook off her confusion, as the Succubus relentlessly followed up with a warcry, and a one-two-three flurry of a left-right punch and a kick, which Everleaf backed up from, before her back hit a building wall. "Wh-who the hell are you?"
The only response Everleaf got was an aimed back kick directed towards her stomach. Anticipating this, she quickly sidestepped out of the way, as the figure's hoof painfully collided with the brick wall that recently occupied the mare's body.
"N-Ngh--..!" The Succubus grunted, in pain. Everleaf took the opportunity to run up, cleaving away at the Succubi's side with a horizontal slash, as the ground and walls around them were painted a new shade of red, signalled with a cry of agony. Everleaf doubled up with an uppercut slash to the chest, tearing at shirt and flesh, enough to send the Succubi reeling back, colliding with the wall before sliding down to the floor.
"That's enough of that." Everleaf proclaimed, threatening the demon with the blade's bloody tip at her throat, hilt in one hand. "Explain yourself, or you're not seeing the light of day ever again."
The Succubus hisses in retortion. "Like I'd give everything away to the likes of you, you..You hag!"
Everleaf gently sighs through her snout. "Hmhf. Suit yourself." With one deft half-baked slice to the neck, the Succubus was no more, limp against the ground.
She sighs, gazing over the pitiful sight, and the blood on her blade.
I don't like this place already.
Backing out of the alleyways and back into the Plaza, Everleaf decided it was time to find her companion, and not wander off into any more trouble. Upon entering the tavern, the sounds of dining and chitchat met her ears. She could see all kinds of strange, foreign races and creatures sitting amongst ponyfolk. What caught her eye most of all was the waitress. She looked identical to the demon that she just fought, except this one was wearing appropriate clothing for her job, and more importantly, had a smile on her face. Everleaf narrowed her eyes, quietly grumbling in disgust.
"Hey! Leafie!" A very familiar voice called out, as Everleaf quickly jerked her head towards the source of it. Bauxi was sitting there, occupying a table, waving. "Over here!"
Everleaf frowned, approaching Bauxi and taking a seat. "..Don't mind me saying, but do you know what that waitress is?"
"..Some sort of..purple horned pony? She's nice, I guess."
"One of those things just tried to kill me, you know." Everleaf retorted, shooting Bauxi a deadpanned glance, to which Bauxi gave a look of confusion and slight shock.
"Kill you? Already? Geez, Leafie. I didn't know you led that kind of life." She gently breaks a sweat. "I know you said you're a mercenary, but.."
"..Whatever. I just want you to know that you should keep your wits about you. This place makes me uncomfortable already as it is." Said Everleaf, resting her head atop her crossed arms on the table, lightly fatigued.
"..Well, I, uh.." Bauxi holds a rolled-up sheet of paper. "I've got us a quest that we could both do. Right here. You up for that?"
"In a little. I think I'll want to get my bearings first in a world that wants to have my head on a platter."
"..Well, suit yourself, Leafie." Bauxi replied. She made herself comfortable after placing the paper back in her pockets, leaning back in her chair, stretching out her legs, crossing both them and her arms, letting the time while away.
