Displacer Tales: Cold Storm
I sighed. Anger and sorrow clouding my mind. I rub my head with a… hand. Yes, a hand. But that wasn’t always the case. I used to be a unicorn pony, hooves in the front and in the back. I was also the brother of Celestia and Luna… Don’t look at me like that, I was adopted by their mother.
That was until… Just see for yourself.
I trotted through an unnamed forest. I was a dark blue Unicorn, with a black messy mane. My eyes were silver, and as for my cutie mark, it was a black hole with purple lightning sparking off. I wasn’t as tall as most stallions, but that doesn’t matter to me. I didn’t have a beard, I hated those things, and a funny looking wizard hat sat atop my head. I wore no cape though, as I didn’t want to mess it up. I never even liked this look, but Tia said I’d be safer if I wore it to show everypony I was the, as she called it, ‘Starswirl Mage’, and was under her protection. I was twenty-seven years old, but I digress.
As I said, I was trotting through an unnamed forest. I did this regularly, and it was good for me to get out of that library. After everything we’ve been through, from Discord, to Lord Tirek, and Scorpan. Man I miss that guy…
Anyways. I needed a breather from everything that’s been going on. I rounded a corner, and found the Tree of Harmony. I trotted over to it, and sat down under it, resting my back on it.
If you hadn’t guessed, I was Starswirl the Bearded. Why ponies always called me that instead of my real name, I’ll never know. Surge is much easier than Starswirl. Other than that, everythings been great! Though, the Canterlot Royal Voice has been keeping me up…
I suddenly hear a gasping from beside me. I whip my head around to see a tall, curvy, bipedal creature fall over. I recoil, and fall over onto my side. The creature holds it’s hand(I know Anthropology) out to me, and whispers, “Help… Me…”
Awww… That’s the universal trouble calling card. But I can’t just leave… Her? Out here!
I trot towards her as if she were a deer. “What happened?” I asked.
Yep, universal. As soon as I say that, she lunges at me! Her hand at my throat, and I see two, dead eyes… Now that I see her, she wore a white trench coat with a pink undershirt with blood trailed down her body.
She spoke in a raspy voice, that held pain and suffering. “You… Will… Ascend…”
Before I could respond, I passed out.
As I awoke, pain shot through me, and I heard millions of voices screaming. I yelped, and slammed my hands over my ears.
Sitting on a tree stump in front of a booth, with a pistol in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, was a man with a small black beard, tan skin, and a red and black suit said, “So, you gonna buy something, or should I just kill you faster than my nightmare gun?” The thing was that his face was calm but his eyes showed a rage that only comes from a sociopath.
I gulped, “Where am I...? I might buy something!” I quickly added.
Still keeping that look, he pulled out a bunch of briefcases and showed a wide assortment of goods, from apples to a rocket launcher. “Just remember, dear customer, every thing has a price.”
I suddenly froze. Something was wrong. I looked down to my hooves… only to find I had to pale white hands with no hair! I also seemed to be wearing some kind of white trench coat, a black undershirt, and… something on my bottom half. Purple lightning coursed through each hand like it was a powerline… Powerline? What was that? And what was a Rocket Launcher!?
These questions filled my head, but I decided to buy something from this guy so he didn’t murder me with a shovel, or a spoon… Mostly the spoon…
I look to see if my new cloths had any bits. I found the same pouch I always carried, and pulled it out, but having trouble with my new fingers. I finally got them out after a moment, the man’s stare started to scare me. I may be a wizard with years of experience, but I wasn’t sure what I could still do in this body, and I quit frankly didn’t want to fight him.
The salesman raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps I could interest you in this?” He pulled out a large tome that seemed to radiate magic. “This can be yours for two hundred bits, or three days as my apprentice. Your choice.”
I peered at the book, wonder in my eyes, “What is it? Other that a magic book.”
“This, my dear customer, is the completed tome of storms. If you use this wisely, you can control storms better than an army of pegasi. And on the last two pages, is a song, that when played, can summon an unnatural storm who’s rainfall you control. I can play it now if you doubt it.” He pulled out a violin.
“Nono! I believe you! I just… Might not have all the bits at the moment. And I need a second to calm down. I wasn’t… Whatever I am now.
“Ah, I can feel your pain on that one, but life will carry on and so shall you. If you don’t find this in your price range, I am willing to let you haggle.” said the red sailsman putting away the violin.
After getting the rest of my body checked out, I saw my left eye was red, and my right was silver(the original color). My hair was white, and I wore some kind of black boots. I had a strange feeling that I didn’t want to take them off, so I didn’t. I always liked clothes anyway. As for his offer, I really did want to have that book, but haggling wasn’t my style.
It turned out I had more than enough. At least four-hundred of them. Luna and Celestia must have put extra in my pouch. I handed them to the sailsman.
“So, where am I? And why did I do a species one-eighty? I was equine last time I checked. And who are you?” I asked.
“You are in Maretropolis. I think that your species change has to deal with you being displaced from your home. And please don’t call yourself prey while around me, I am trying to be nice.”
I cock my head. “Prey? No idea what that is. My names Surge.”
The salesman just groaned, “My name is Daniel, and prey is the species that other species higher on the food chain hunt. Kind of like a wolf hunting a squirrel after the squirrel ate a nut.”
I was confused, “I know that, just the way you phrased it. And I guess it’s nice to meet you Daniel.” I hoo- Hand him the bits.
Dan took the money and passed me the tome, “I said it like that because.” He then shifted into and eight foot tall, werewolf with a suit slightly stretched. “I would be the wolf in that scenario.”
I don’t freak out… It’s weird… I did make friends with Scorpan, so nothing surprises me. Especially since my… drastic change…
“You don’t seem that bad.” I said. But then again, that look he gave me…
He just sighed, “If this is about the look, I used that because you popped out of nowhere while I was building my nightmare gun. If you were going to take it, I would have slaughtered you.”
Was… was he reading my mind!?!? I didn’t show my fear. “Noted. I think I’ll get used to being on two legs and then I’ll be going.” I said as I started getting used to my new hight. Buck, this was weird!
“I have another deal for you as well.” He pulled out a small amulet. “This will allow you to get the swing of things much faster. All you have to do is bring someone to my shop and this will be all yours, and yes, I can read minds.”
‘Noted.’ I thought. “So who is it you need me to get.” ‘Feels like a fetch quest… Wait, what?’
Daniel just chuckled reverting back to his previous form, “What I need is someone who has a large amount of cash, but doesn’t look that bright. I can use them to sell some useless trinkets.”
‘Won’t they run away is this is MAREtropolis? Not the wolf part, but the non-pony part. If these are ponies we’re talking about. Unless you have a disguise. And how would I if I’m the same thing as you?’
“Simple, I am not the weirdest thing in here and they know that stranger things exist. Just don’t show your canines.” Daniel pointed out.
I didn’t realize it until I felt it. ALL my teeth were sharp! My eyes were wide, but I didn’t panic. Panicking would result in losing sense and annoying Daniel. I shake my head, and nodded.
“I’ll do my best!” I turned towards the door, and stumbled towards it. ‘Buck...’
Author's Note
The reason he's responding is because he hasn't had the time to process things.
Daniel is Ink Sword's character. I didn't want it to happen like this, but I improvised. He won't bother the story to much as long as he doesn't mess with events too much.
