Ponyfinder: Get in the Game

"And so, refreshed and ready, our displaced ponies rouse from their slumber."

I cracked open an eye and peeked upwards. "Hey Paul."

"Hey. Time to get up."

I slid off the bed and noticed Joe was already up and getting ready for a new day. "Hey Joe."

"Stout Word." Joe perked an ear at me. "I might as well go with the pony name too, right? Being the only pony in the world named 'Joe' won't work."

I snorted softly. "Funny thing, that. There is another pony named Joe. Notice she didn't comment on your name."

"Really?" Joe shook his head. "Well fine then, I'm sticking with Joe."

"Getting dressed and prepared, our adventures were soon ready to face the day."

I opened my mouth to complained, then realized I was dressed and clean. "That's... creepy but cool. So what's the adventure?"

"What, you're ready now? I thought you wanted to hide from adventure last night?"

I shrugged, casting caution to wind. "The way I see it, you're either bringing adventure to us, or us to the adventure. Maybe we'll go home after we get off our, uh, flanks, and do what adventurers do. So what's on the agenda?"

Joe looked less sure. "I still haven't figured out this whole 'praying' thing. I mean, I'm not very religious back home."

I reached up and pat Joe's shoulder with a hoof. "Just remember, it's not really faith. We aren't unsure if your god's there. You healed me with her power and all that. We're in the world man! She's there. You just have to say hi."

"Right, just say hi..." Joe sank to his belly and looked like he was concentrating.

I looked upwards. "Don't suppose you could help with this?"

"That would be cheating."

Minutes passed slowly before Joe's eyes snapped open. "I saw her!" He hopped up to his hooves and rushed me. "I saw her! She was super bright, like blinding, and she was warm. She looked worried about me, and I felt power running through me. It was fucking amazing!"

"Faith renewed, there was nothing else standing in the way of adventure!"

Joe fell back sheepishly. "Oh, uh, I guess not? Where are we going, Paul? Is Brad OK?"

"Oh she's fine..."

Vinyl licked over the healed neck of her newest toy, giving a sultry purr as her hooves rubbed over Brad's massive belly. "Such a big mare you are. Where are you from?"

"Earth."

Vinyl tilted her head. "Never heard of it. Is it far?"

"Another world."

Vinyl leaned in close. "How intriguing..." Her tail lashed softly as her fangs were exposed. "Tell me more about it..."

The door opened and admitted a grey earth pony. Octavia peered at Vinyl a moment. "Are you roleplaying again? Take off those fake teeth."

Just like that, whatever grip Paul had on her shattered. Vinyl spat out the teeth. "Oh, yeah, heh... Meet my new friend, Brad!"

Octavia raised a brow high. "Not interested." She trotted past, and a door closed soon afterwards.

Vinyl shrugged. "Well, it was fun, but I should get some sleep. Later."

A stunned Brad was evicted from the house, landing in a naked pile in front of the door. Her clothes and equipment were tossed out after her, draping over her large form.

"I'll make sure she meets you on the way."

We emerged from our room and noticed the end of the hallway was a collection of debris. The door to the right of the disaster zone was kicked in. "Uh... I think Daring Do found what she came for."

Joe peeked over my shoulder at the mess. "Shit. That looks like it was one hell of a fight."

Bed Time emerged from the mess with an apologetic look. "Sorry! I'll have this mess cleaned up soon. I hope the noise didn't disturb you." she shuffled nervously. "You aren't leaving, are you?"

I tried to reassure the worried pony. "We're just getting things done, we'll probably be back tonight. It didn't bother us at all."

"Oh thank Celestia!" She smiled brightly and went back to cleaning. I noticed Joe's eyes looking where I didn't like and nudged him towards the stairs.

"You can ogle the mares later."

Joe descended to the ground floor with a huff. "What are you talking about? I was thinking she might need help."

Maybe I was the big lech. "If she's still busy when we get back, we can ask."

"There was trouble in the air, they could feel it. A soft urging from his god led Joe East, where the disturbance beckoned to them."

Joe shuddered from top to bottom. "Oh fuck that feels... This way." He turned and began trotting away from Ponyville, heading out towards the mountain that held Canterlot.

I followed along after him. "So... what does your, uh, god, feel like?"

"Like my nose is a compass, except north is also hot, and north in this case..." He pointed ahead. As we hiked along, Brad came loping into view from the side, soon joining us.

"Hey guys."

Joe tilted his head at Brad. "Hey. So... had fun with Shiny Scratch?"

Brad huffed as she rolled her eyes. "Vinyl Scratch, and yes. No thanks to Paul."

"You're welcome. Don't split the party next time."

Brad looked aside at Joe. "If I can't have fun with the locals, I'll settle for what's close at hand, or hoof."

Joe edged away quickly. "Dude, I didn't forget you as fat and a guy, man."

Brad shrugged. "So? Now I'm all muscle and female. You have a horse dick, right?"

I stuck out my tongue, feeling my belly coil a little at Brad's shamelessness. "Chill out. Don't pressure Joe into things. We're looking for adventure, by the way."

Brad raised her brows. "Now we're talking. I'll take point, but I call dibs on the loot." She trotted up ahead of us.

Joe looked over his shoulder at me. "What class was Brad again?"

I shrugged. "Don't remember. Some kind of rogue or something? They disarmed those traps before, remember?"

Our destination came into view soon, with Paul announcing the fact in case we missed it. "Before the party rose the forgotten castle. Once it served as a way station for weary travelers, operated by stalwart ponies in the time of war before the current peaceful regime. Without the guardians, it has become a haven for monsters and ne'er-do-wells. Perhaps our heroes can restore the fortress to sanctity, and discover its secrets."