We regathered at Bed Time's inn and spread the map out wide between ourselves. Bed Time pointed at a circle. "This one's not that far away, just at the edge of the Everfree. We could start there?"

I nodded in agreement. "No reason to go rushing half-way across Equestria when there's one in our backyard, so to speak."

Brad shrugged her shoulders. "As long as we get back by night. I have a date I don't plan on missing."

Joe raised a brow. "Some 'lusty mare'?"

Brad waved a hoof. "Nah. I'm over that. I'm going for the classy ones like I always wanted to. I was getting carried away."

Paul paused a moment. "You... didn't go after Rarity did you?"

Brad smiled. "She'd be an alright catch, but no. Octavia has her beat for class, and she agreed to a nice swanky time out. I'd rather Luna--"

Bed Time jerked upright. "Don't even joke about that! Princess Luna has better things to do."

Joe shook his head. "How did you convince Octavia to do that? Wait, which one's Octavia again?"

I offered a description. "Grey earth pony, wears a little bowtie, looks cultured? She plays, uh, that thing that looks like a person-sized violin?"

Joe nodded slowly. "OK, I remember her. How did you get her not to run away in abject terror?"

Brad gestured vaguely. "I used my charisma."

I didn't get it. "What?"

Brad flashed a bright smile. "Twenty charisma, ten ranks in diplomacy, bluff, and sense motive."

Paul frowned quickly. "You were level eight, how did you get ten ranks in anything?"

Brad shrugged softly. "Ooops? Guess I must have gained a level or two..."

Joe joined in the scowling. "So, you cheated?"

Brad waved a hoof. "You mean I was smart? Yes! We're in a game. Why wouldn't we cheat?"

Paul, or rather Blank Slate, fell to the ground in a heap.

"You must be punished!" The angry voice of Paul the GM boomed. "Since you can't stop thinking with your genitals, you will learn that too much of a good thing can turn quite sour." The ground trembled under us. Bed Time pressed against me fearfully as the others looked around, waiting for something to happen.

Brad scoffed. "Chill out, Paul. You're just angry you didn't think of it first. We're going to smash the hell out of the next dungeon."

"Brad jeered and mocked the game, but he would find his just desserts soon enough. He forgot all about the ill-fated conversation and instead focused on hunger that filled his mare of a body."

Paul sat up, occupying Blank Slate again. Brad glanced around. "Bed Time, can you get us some dinner? I'm starved."

Bed Time gave a stiff nod before she wandered towards the kitchen. Everyone else was a bit quiet. Brad looked confused. "What? So we're going to the Everfree dungeon first right?"

I nodded. "Yeah... I vote we get a good night's sleep and head out first thing in the morning. Maybe Rarity will have Bed Time's armor ready by then too."

Brad shrugged. "Great. That means I can enjoy my date in peace."

I looked to Brad. "So... how do you 'use' a stat like that? I mean, besides just... talking?"

Brad frowned a little. "You have to focus on it, then your words get more weight, depending on your stats. Just like Joe just had to focus on spellcrafting the magic item. We have all of our skills and stats."

I nodded lightly. "Like how I can fly despite not having wings for most of my life?"

Joe nodded. "And how I got a grip on casting so quickly. Makes sense enough. It wouldn't be a very fair game if we couldn't use what was on our sheets."

Paul shook herself out. "I'm still getting the hang of it. I wasn't exactly in a body last time."

Bed Time trotted back into view, platters of food balanced on her back expertly. She gently set down the hot food in front of us, setting one right in front of me and sliding up beside me to share it with me. She was kind of adorable. "Bed Time, I have a question." She looked at me quizzically. "What do you like about me?"

She frowned in sudden thought. "You're nice, loyal to your friends, brave... Handsome, strong... You're..." Her head sunk a little and she leaned in, her voice lowering to a soft whisper. "You are a gentle lover." She leaned back upright and smiled hopefully.

I leaned in and nuzzled her gently. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around you, Bed Time. I never got a girlfriend so fast, and so hard. You act like we've been married for a while already."

"Do you want to be?" She tilted her head. "Isn't it destiny that brought us together? I'm happy when I'm next to you, and you seem happy next to me. What's missing?"

I chuckled a little. "I guess not much more, besides me not really being a pony."

She nuzzled into my chest. "Eat, and you're pony enough by my viewing." She snapped up a plate in her mouth and brought it up to me, teasing me with its delectable aroma. My questions were defeated in favor of enjoying the meal with her.

Brad rose to her hooves after dinner, sprouting wide wings. "I'm taking off. Don't wait up for me. I plan to go all the way with that fine slice of mare." She trotted off with a happy whistling to the door, soon gone.

Paul raised a brow. "She shouldn't have cheated..."

Author's Note

Brad, come on... you don't admit to the GM you cheated. That's not a good idea...

Arguably even worse than typos, and very few things compete with typos.