Chapter 3

Dungeoneering and sundae

"So how was the party, son?" Thunder Barrel asked Scroll Pen as they drank tea together after the evening meal.

"It was nice, Dad," the young teenager smiled. "Pinkie Pie was very accommodating, and invited a DJ who knows her stuff in retro music, a classmate of hers called Vinyl Scratch. We danced, made photos, had some pizza, chatted and even played videogames."

"Even videogames? I thought girls did not really like videogames."

"Well either Pinkie does or she just keeps the console for her friends. Rainbow Dash and Applejack really love going at each other when playing..."

"The same Rainbow Dash whose smirk you really wanted to wipe off her face on your first P.E. lesson?"

"The one and only. I played against her as well in Power Fists of Magic III."

"I can barely tell one of those games apart from each other, son, you know it. So who won?"

"We played a best three out of five tournament. And I won it," Scroll smiled broadly.

"And the count was?"

"Three versus two. Rainbow gave me a hard time. Credit where it's due, she knows how to play."

"Athletic and a video game fan? An interesting combination. That said, do you have photos on your phone?"

"Some, yeah. Pinkie also promised to upload some to MyStable."

Pinkie indeed uploaded the photos from the party, and the next morning, while Scroll was preparing himself for the D&D session with Flash, Micro Chips and Sandalwood, the discussion of said party was actively going on online.

Scroll glanced at the last photo that was currently open, where Rarity made a selfie with him and which was photobombed by Spike. The discussion went as follows:

Rainbow Dash commented 23 minutes ago:

hahaha, spike's cool :)

---

Rarity replied to Rainbow Dash 21 minute ago:

Cool or not, I'm kinda getting tired of my selfies getting photobombed. It's like a conspiracy.

---

Pinkamena D. Pie replied to Rarity 20 minutes ago:

A conspiracy of Spike's to photobomb Rarity's selfies? That's horrible! :((((

---

Twilight Sparkle replied to Pinkamena D. Pie 18 minutes ago:

Stop making things up, Pinkie. Spike was there by accident.

---

Rarity replied to Twilight Sparkle 15 minutes ago:

Sorry, darling. I know you love Spike, and I love him too, but this is getting ridiculous.

---

Scroll Pen replied to Rarity 12 minutes ago:

Relax, Rarity, I think the selfie's great. But if you really want an un-photobombed selfie, just ask me :)

---

Rarity replied to Scroll Pen 9 minutes ago:

I might take you up on that offer, darling ;)

---

Rainbow Dash replied to Rarity and Scroll Pen 7 minutes ago:

Yeah, don't forget to kiss.

---

Rarity replied to Rainbow Dash 6 minutes ago:

Rainbow Dash, that is extremely uncouth! >:(

---

Scroll Pen replied to Rainbow Dash 6 minutes ago:

I agree with Rarity, Dash, that's a highly inappropriate suggestion. What if she has a boyfriend?

---

Applejack replied to Rarity 5 minutes ago:

Did you expect something else from RD, Rares?

BTW, @Scroll Pen, nice look :)

---

Scroll Pen replied to Applejack 4 minutes ago:

Thanks, Applejack :)

---

Applejack replied to Scroll Pen 4 minutes ago:

No prob, saying it as it is :)

---

Rainbow Dash replied to Scroll Pen 3 minutes ago:

nah, Rarity doesn't have a bf, chill.

---

Rarity replied to Scroll Pen 2 minutes ago:

It's true, I don't have a boyfriend - not for lack of trying, of course.

Strange, Scroll thought, of all people, I'd think Rarity would definitely have a boyfriend. Pretty face, gorgeous figure, dresses well and, as far as I know, has a good personality... wouldn't she the best chances on dating market?

He started typing again:

Scroll Pen replied to Rarity just now:

O_O how come?

He turned away from the screen to get his box of dice. Not finding it in the usual place, he frowned, and went to check his rucksack. While rummaging there, he heard a ping from his computer, which meant that Rarity or someone else replied to him.

"Ah, there you are," he said, taking out the transparent circular plastic box with ruby-red dice within. He hurried back to the computer and saw the response:

Rarity replied to Scroll Pen just now:

Well, too many guys seem to be interested solely in my looks. And one guy I had dated thought that if I was generous, then he owed me nothing. But to me, relationship is not a one-way street, so we parted ways.

Recognizing the wisdom, Scroll decided to type something in response when another message popped up.

Rainbow Dash replied to Rarity just now:

also u tend to be a drama queen

Drama queen? Scroll thought, dumbfounded. Making sure he had his miniatures packed in protective box (metal would be more reliable, but damn it, metal models are too freaking expensive now, he thought), he heard two pings.

Rarity replied to Rainbow Dash just now:

Do not! Take that back!

---

Applejack replied to Scroll Pen, Rarity and Rainbow Dash just now:

@Rarity: Sorry Rares, but it's not just guys, although they were kinda rotten. You have pretty high standards for a person whom you'd like to date, it's no wonder many guys don't fit them.
@Rainbow Dash: RD, shut up.
@Scroll Pen: Why're you asking? Got an eye out for Rares? ;)

Scroll got flustered, and quickly typed a response:

Scroll Pen replied to Applejack just now:

Not at this moment. Was just surprised that Rarity of all people would have problems in romance.

Plus, I haven't been in CHS for long, so I'm not putting myself on dating market right now.

Suddenly, Scroll's wristwatch beeped, which meant it was time to go to Flash's place for a D&D. He gasped and quickly typed:

Scroll Pen commented just now:

Look everyone, I gotta run. I'm being a dungeon master for a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, and it's almost time. Talk to you later.

He turned off the computer, grabbed the essentials and ran out. As he said goodbyes to father and left the house, his phone pinged, and Scroll saw a response from Rainbow Dash:

Rainbow Dash replied to Scroll Pen just now:

dungeon master? sounds like a title for a porn movie >:DDD

As Scroll's eyes read it, he stared dumbfounded for a moment until his brain rebooted. A surge of annoyance flowed through him at the joke he just saw.

Asshole! he snarled internally at the prismatic-haired tomboy, and went in the direction of Flash's house.

Four travelers were fighting for their lives in the remains of a one majestic city.

Their mission was to retrieve a powerful and dangerous artifact that belonged to a line of wizards that went extinct. The city has fallen to malicious goblins long ago, but the goblins were not the cause of concern - if no one tried to deliberately attract the creatures' attention, it would be improbable to have a horde of goblins on one's tail, provided that Lady Luck was feeling generous to one today.

What did concern this group of travelers was that a band of mercenaries sought the same artifact they had just retrieved. This band of various beings was hired by a rogue wizard who fell from grace and consorted with dark powers. With the artifact in his hands, the fallen wizard could unleash uncountable woes upon the land.

Knowing this, the four people held nothing back as they tried to escape the city.

One of them was Bharash Ulimates, a dragonborn who excelled in fighting. In combat, he was the first one to start swinging his battle axe around, issuing challenges to his enemies.

Another one was Corrin Sentipedar, a halfling who skirted on the edge of the law, and was a master of unexpected sneak attacks between the chinks of enemy armour. He also was a master of words, keeping the attention on himself when needed and charming extra coins if he wanted to.

The third one was Regdar Nomadar, a human invoker, who made a pact with Raven Queen - a rare but not unwelcome sight, and his divine attacks turned the tide against the enemies on several occasions already.

And the last one was Enna Mu'sarena, a cleric who also followed Raven Queen and whose medical knowledge was invaluable.

As the time went, the quartet almost made their way out of the city when they were intercepted by the very mercenary gang they tried to avoid...

"Let's take a small break, guys," Scroll Pen said, "the next part will be the climax of the whole adventure, and whether you succeed or fail in your quest heavily depends on it. Let's stretch our limbs a bit and have some pizza while we're at it. Flash, we still have double pepperoni?"

"Yep, gimme a minute, I'll warm the slices," Flash left for the kitchen. "Who wants some soda while I'm at it?"

Everyone expressed their wish for a soft drink.

"Gotcha, guys. Be back soon."

"Man, a cliffhanger," Sandalwood mock-complained, standing up and stretching his back.

"Gotta say, Scroll, you kept us on our toes there," Micro Chips said. "I still can't believe we managed to stumble on that goblin patrol."

"Blame the dice," Scroll said dismissively. "A random encounter is a random encounter. I myself can't believe you managed to roll a 20 on a Stealth check and pass it when all your halfling did was grab some branches with leaves, squat on the grass and pretend he is a bush."

"Random numbers magic," Micro Chips grinned. "Besides, aren't such situations fun?"

"They are, but when they defy logic, it exasperates a little bit. Especially if it screws with the campaign. Back at Cloudsdale, I remember it when someone managed to roll a 20 on Streetwise, when the whole party was in a town where they have never been before and just could not know where to go. I was the DM there, too."

"So what did you say when you saw that?" Flash returned with the pizza and the soda.

"A few swear words directed at no one, and then I told him that he had absolutely no fracking idea where the right way was, but his gut told him to go to the north-western direction."

Everyone laughed.

"That said, I haven't heard of an Invoker class until we met you," Flash continued. "Where did you get it?"

"It is mentioned in another player's handbook, numbered two," Scroll munched on the pizza. "That book is for more advanced players, though, so I think that your older brother must have not known about it or just decided not to complicate things. You can make a pretty balanced party with the classes from the standard handbook; the handbooks number two and three are there in case players want to try something new, and you need to be careful not to ruin the balance if you add classes from expansions."

"I see. Gotta say, I like that class, though. Mind if we read the expansion handbooks just for reference?"

"Remind me to drop you the files after we finish today's session. Now then, ready to immerse yourselves in the story again?"

"Yeah, bring it on!"

"I see you haven't been idle," the mercenary closest to the quartet spoke in a way that was definitely not friendly.

"How did you find us?" Regdar inquired.

"Our wizard has felt that you were carrying the Wrathstone with you with the help of some magical mumbo-jumbo. Basically, we only had to follow the Wrathstone's aura. Coulda gotten there sooner, but damn goblins and kobolds kept getting in the way, and then we noticed that the Wrathstone was moving. We doubled back here."

"So you're after the Wrathstone as well?" Enna asked.

"Isn't that obvious? Our contractor wishes to have the Wrathstone, and we are not the people to disappoint our contractors."

"Would that contractor be a certain wizard known as Amadeus Rothfall?" Corrin inquired.

"Does it matter who our contractor is?" the merc spat out.

"Yes it does," Bharash said, "because very few would desire an artifact as dangerous as Wrathstone, and fewer would want to use it for good. I am sure that if your contractor knew the truth behind Wrathstones, he or she would not be disappointed if you were to return empty-handed."

"Oh our contractor knows a lot about Wrathstones, rest assured. That said, why would you want the Wrathstone?"

"We want it gone," Bharash almost growled, "for this artifact has brought ruin upon the city where we lived. Me and my partners here might be the last survivors of Dennemargh; perhaps you have heard of it?"

"The city destroyed by something described only as the "wrath of demons coming from the crimson sky"? I have heard of it. But you do know that Wrathstones cannot be destroyed that easily?"

"We do. Let's just say we know a way around the obstacle."

"Well that just won't do at all. Attack!"

"Roll the initiative!" Scroll declared.

"Well, that escalated quickly!" Micro Chips said, rolling the icosahedron-shaped d20 dice along with the others...

Before anyone could utter even a word, Edna managed to cast her Lance of Faith. The golden light struck the leader of the mercenaries squarely in the chest, leaving sparkles of light next to him.

"I challenge you to combat in the name of my ancestors, my clan and my honour!" Bharash growled at the mercenary leader, showing everyone his fury of the Dragonborn, and charged forward, swinging his battle axe. The heavy weapon collided with the mercenary's armour, leaving visible damage. The enemy leader hissed in pain as the axe tore his skin, and thanked whatever deity he believed in that the axe did not have the energy to cut through his arm.

"Have some of this!" he swiped his two-handed sword, and Bharash roared as it pierced his hide.

"Good strike!" he praised his enemy, as his comrades burst into action. Corrin launched a shuriken that striked another mercenary, and Regdar cast his Avenging Light spell.

"You will not avoid the grasp of the Raven Queen!" he declared.

And then, mercenaries charged them...

"Snap!" Micro Chips exclaimed as he saw Scroll roll 17 on his d20 dice as an attack against Corrin.

"Twenty-six versus AC," Scroll said.

"A hit," Micro grumbled, and Scroll threw an octahedron-shaped d8 dice, rolling a seven.

"That's ten HP lost," he declared.

Micro Chips muttered several choice words, while Sandalwood said:

"Strength bonus equals plus three, then."

"No metagaming," Scroll reminded him, and moved one of the figurines representing a mercenary on the "battlefield". It stood straight behind Bharash's figurine, forming a straight line through him to the mercenary leader.

"One of the mercs attacks Bharash in the back," Scroll rolled a d20 dice. "That's sixteen versus AC, Flash."

"Miss," Flash said, looking at his character list, where the AC equaled 21.

"His hit grazes against Bharash's armour, failing to deal damage."

"You coward!" Bharash rounded on the mercenary who tried to stab him in the back. "You dare to fight dirty and attack from the back like a thief? I will tear your guts out through your colon for this and make you ingest them!"

"That was brutal, Flash," Scroll laughed at the latest threat made by Bharash. "You gonna live up to that promise or is that just Bharash talking shit?"

"I'll have you know that Dragonborn don't talk shit, Scroll," Flash said in his best impression of his character - which still turned out to be overplayed. "If he doesn't die before that, I will definitely do that to him."

Everyone laughed at Flash's antics, the blue-haired rocker joining their mirth in a self-deprecating humour.

"Yeah, well, you'd better survive before that," Scroll said. "There are three mercs ganging up on you now."

"Let them come!" Flash exclaimed, still roleplaying his character. "I shall smite them with my mighty axe of retribution and I shall know no fear!"

"With that much pathos, you should've played Dark Heresy," Scroll said, trying to get his words through the chuckles that burst forth at Flash's latest remark. "On the other hand, maybe not. You would wind up making speeches in pathos about burning heretics and what-not."

"Burning heretics?"

"Nevermind. Sandalwood, you ready to act? It's Edna's turn again."

"Yes, I am."

The heroes and the mercenaries exchanged blows with each other, aiming to bring their foes down for good.

Edna and Regdar were praying to Raven Queen to gain her favour and to punish their enemies, and it appeared that their deity of choice was being kind to them at the time, as they barely missed.

Corrin was desperately dodging enemy blows while flinging shurikens and doing his best to land his deadly tricks upon the enemy, but he did not always have the best of luck, and when the enemies managed to hit him several times, he started bleeding badly. Even with Edna's Healing Word, it was obvious that he would perish if their enemy was not defeated soon.

Bharash was roaring as he traded blows with several enemies at once. His foes were no slouches, and he already was in great pain from the wounds he gained. When one of the mercs hit him in the back, he roared in madness and swung his axe in fury...

"A natural twenty!" Flash cheered as the number "20" was looking up at him from the icosahedron dice.

"That's a critical hit," Scroll said, then checked his writings for something. "Bharash's axe cleaves through the mercenary's helmet, splitting the skull and embedding itself in his head. The merc's body twitches several times before Bharash pulls the axe back; after that, the corpse falls on the ground, splattering blood, skull fragments and brain matter."

"A fitting death for the backstabber!" Flash exclaimed in character.

"Must your descriptions be this gory, Scroll?" Sandalwood asked. "I know this is a fight, but, er, I'm not sure we need that detailed descriptions."

"Now where's the fun in that? Blood for the blood god!"

"HERETIC!" Micro Chips exclaimed.

Turning back from the backstabber, Bharash turned to his other enemies, ready to block another hit - but he was too slow, and another wound appeared on his limb.

"You're too slow, lizard," the mercenary leader taunted him.

"You dare..!" Bharash growled, struggling to remain afoot. Blood was seeping from his wounds, and his mind was clouded in rage; he had trouble articulating words at that point. Suddenly, the enemy leader gurgled as blood came from his mouth.

Corrin came from Bharash's side and made a surprise attack at the merc's unprotected flank. Already weakened by a battle with an enraged Dragonborn, he fell down on the ground.

Unfortunately, this left both Corrin and Bharash against the remaining mercenaries, who were not inclined to give them any mercy for their killed commander...

The situation turned grim for Bharash and Corrin, and Flash and Micro Chips, respectively, frowned as their position was unenviable. Sandalwood managed to cast an attack that killed one more merc, but the situation was still not in their favour.

"Scroll, can I ask you as a DM?" Flash spoke up.

"Yes."

"Can I make a delayed action - if an enemy attacks Corrin, Bharash pushes him away?"

"Thus becoming the target of the attack?"

"Yes."

"Hmmmm. Alright, for sake of amusement, let's do it. Delayed action of Bharash - push Corrin away, trigger - an attack on Corrin. You will replace Corrin in his tile, while Corrin will be pushed away from you one tile and knocked prone."

For sake of whose amusement? everyone thought. While Scroll was not a "kill them all" dungeon master, he still turned out to have a trolling streak which already gave them trouble.

As the turn of the mercenary arrived, Scroll declared:

"Alright, the merc tries to strike... Corrin."

"Corrin, get away!" Flash spoke in his "Bharash" voice, mimicking pushing his friend away. Meanwhile, Scroll rolled his d20 dice.

The number "20" looked up at everyone.

Silence reigned for a few seconds.

"Well..." Scroll looked at the blue-haired rocker. "Flash, you're so screwed."

Bharash pushed Corrin away, but was unable to dodge in time as a heavy two-handed sword sliced at him. A fountain of blood burst forth, and the proud Dragonborn fell on the earth...

"That's eighteen HP lost right there," Scroll said. "That puts your HP in negative, right?"

"Yes it does," Flash grumbled, putting the figurine representing his character on its back. "Now I've gotta pray to Random Numbers God that my saving throws from death aren't screwed."

"Actually, it might be better if you screwed one."

"Eh?"

"You'll see if you fail. Edna?"

"Lance of Faith!" Sandalwood rolled his d20. "Aha! Twenty!"

"What is it with RNG and the crits today?" Scroll laughed. "The lance pierces the merc's head, tearing it off, and the fountain of blood sprays from its carotid arteries as the body topples on earth, most definitely dead."

"Now I do the saving throws?" Flash asked.

"Yep."

Flash rolled the icosahedron dice, rolling an eight.

"That's a fail," Scroll commented. "Hold on..."

Regdar approached the fallen Dragonborn, holding a mysterious antracite-black artifact in his hand. Putting it on the wound that brought Bharash down, he dropped to his knees and chanted:

"Oh Raven Queen, I, your humble servant, beseech you: if it is not the time of this one to meet you, grant me the sign!.."

Scroll rolled a d20, rolling a seventeen.

"OK then," he said. "Bharash is considered saved from death and has one health point. The artifact used by Regdar is gone."

"What is this artifact?" Flash asked. "I never heard of that."

"Well, that was a leftover from one of my former campaigns where I used Regdar as my PC. The DM made this artifact up from scratch. Personally, I feel this is somewhat of a cheat, but since I brought Regdar into this campaign, I could make him use it as well. Anyway, after the victory over the mercs, you do not have any more problems on the way back to your base, so how about we call it a day?"

A chorus of agreements followed.

"Well, thanks for the game, everyone," Scroll stood up and started gathering his dice, game papers and figurines.

"Thanks, Scroll," Micro Chips said. "That was fun, although I kinda need to get used to your DM-ing style."

"You're welcome, and you'd better," Scroll smirked. "Let's clean the mess up, guys."

After all garbage was thrown out and personal belongings were collected, the boys left Flash's house and went in separate directions. Scroll Pen felt very happy that the campaign he had with Flash, Micro and Sandalwood went fine. A good company was a treasure when it came to finding people for the campaign.

Then again, the boys were different from the jocks in Cloudsdale. If all went well, maybe in the future he could call them friends.

For the first time in ages I would have male friends, he thought. I don't think I was friends with boys since I was... what, eleven, twelve years old? Blast, I can't remember.

Since middle school, the rift between him and the other boys his age began growing. While many boys were fooling around (in his opinion), he focused on his education and marks, which was detrimental to his standing in the social structure that the other boys built.

Not that he cared, anyway. He was outside it, and wanted to have nothing to do with it.

"Hey, egghead!" a familiar and slightly raspy voice sounded from behind

I wonder if I should chuck an egg at your head and call you an egghead? Scroll growled internally, then stopped, surprised at his own hostility.

OK, man, you don't like that callsign, but you've grown used to it, so why you're pissed? he tried to reason with himself, but wasn't able to find an answer in the short time he took to turn around.

Lo and behold, there was the prismatic-haired jockette, accompanied by Applejack and Rarity.

"Hello, Rainbow Dash," he greeted the athletic girl in a flat tone, then turned to the others, "Hi, Rarity, Applejack."

"Howdy, Scroll."

"Good day, darling. How are you doing?"

"Fine, just left Flash's house. We just finished a session of Dungeons and Dragons, and I was on my way home."

"We're heading to the Sugarcube Corner right now, would you like to join us?"

"Hmmm..." Scroll looked at his watch. He had time.

"Why not?"

As it turned out, Sugarcube Corner had good ice cream. Scroll was not a great fan of the treat, but the sundae he got was quite tasty. He ate slowly, so as not to get a brain freeze.

"So what is this "Dungeons and Dragons" game you have mentioned?" Rarity inquired.

"Well, it's a tabletop role-playing game where you pretend to be a certain character and cooperate with other players in your party to achieve a certain goal. Characters can be of various races, be it humans, dwarves, elves and others, and have classes which determine what they do and how they fight."

"Fight?" Rarity had a pensive look. "Does the game focus solely on fights?"

"No. In fact, there are skills designed for diplomacy, to charm, bluff, or intimidate other characters. But fights do happen."

"An' how do characters know what happens around?"

"One of the players is a so-called dungeon master..."

Rainbow snickered into her cup with sundae.

"Somethin' funny?" Applejack frowned at Rainbow.

"Well, just listen: "dungeon master", ha-ha-ha!" the cyan-skinned girl laughed. "That sounds so wrong!"

OK, jockette, payback time, Scroll thought, and said: "I see someone had read Fifty Shades of Grey, apparently."

Flat stares followed.

"I'm not into those kinds of books!" Rainbow exclaimed indignantly.

"Oh, so you're into dungeon porn, then?" Scroll struggled to maintain a flat look on his face. "If you want to re-enact it, find a boyfriend. Or a girlfriend, if your proverbial barn door swings that way."

"I'm NOT into dungeon porn!" Rainbow exclaimed, thrown off the rails. "And I prefer boys! Why do people think that I am lesbian or bisexual?"

Because you are a walking gay pride banner? Scroll was tempted to snark, but decided not to add petrol into the fire.

"Wow, Scroll's got some teeth," Applejack commented. "He got ya good there, RD."

"Did he have to bring up dungeon porn of all things?"

"Well that's what you get for making fun of the term "dungeon master", Dash," Scroll replied. "Honestly, this particular object of amusement is older than hills."

Rainbow did not reply, but instead shoved a piece of sundae into her mouth.

"That said, where did you three come from, if it's not a secret?" Scroll wondered.

"We went to the spa," Rarity said. "Although Applejack and Rarity were somewhat... reticent."

"I imagine," the young teenager replied, noting how Rainbow looked uncomfortable. "Neither of them look like someone who'd visit a spa, at least from the first look. How did you manage to strong-arm them into this, Rarity?"

"I did not strong-arm them, they came with me of their own accord."

"OK, I'm legitimately surprised. How come?"

"Well, Ah ain't really into that type of stuff, at least not as much as Rarity," Applejack said. "But sometimes it's just good ta relax there after all the hard work on th' farm. An' Rarity knows some real good pros."

"I see, and Rainbow? Judging by her face, she's the type that wouldn't be caught dead in the spa," Scroll looked at Rainbow while speaking.

"You're damn right I wouldn't," the athlete grumbled.

"Well, she joined us for the first time when she lost a bet. Complained a lot, but she actually enjoyed the massage..."

"Rarity!" Rainbow exclaimed.

Apparently, Rainbow considers this embarrassing and destroying her tough girl image. Hmm. While I wouldn't mind more payback for that stupid "dungeon master" porn-related joke, I think it would be too far.

"Did you know that professional sports competitors often employ masseurs?" he spoke up.

"Huh? They do? What for?" Rainbow turned to him.

"To loosen the knots in their muscles. While training them is paramount, it is no less important to let them rest and relax. Although, as far as I recall, the massage against muscle knots kinda differs from the usual relaxing massage one expects in the spa."

"Oh, Aloe and Lotus - my friends - can do all kinds of massages, except for those which require great muscle strength."

"Well, I think I can make do without all of that, 'cause I'm awesome," Rainbow made a cocky smile. Rarity pointedly ignored her friend's boast, and Applejack rolled her eyes, but it was Scroll who broke silence.

"Sure, until the moment when you drop face first into the mud when something goes wrong in your muscles because you weren't maintaining them properly," he snarked. "That would be reaaaaallly awesome."

He almost regretted saying this, as Rainbow was now looking at him with ire, her magenta eyes boring into his own and giving an intimidating look.

"Not cool," she said.

"What's not, to borrow your lexicon, "cool", is that you're being stubborn where it's not warranted, Rainbow Dash. Even the toughest body will break without taking care of it, and unless you happen to be an alien from another planet, you aren't an exception."

"Says the nerd who looks like he'll drop dead if he were to run a marathon, without getting to finish line," the prismatic-haired girl fired back.

OK, that was below the belt, Scroll felt his insides boil from stung manly pride.

"If I were to overstrain myself, yes. But that's what I got the grey mass called "brain" inside my skull for - to calculate how I can preserve enough strength to avoid such consequences."

"Alright, ya two, can it," Applejack demanded with a serious expression. Both Scroll and Rainbow looked displeased that they were interrupted, but thought it wise not to antagonize the farm girl.

The quartet finished eating their sundaes (of which there was little left) and paid for their food, leaving the Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow and Rarity went ahead, while Applejack kept slightly behind, keeping Scroll slightly behind.

"Can I tell ya somethin', Scroll?"

"Of course."

"Did ya get annoyed with Rainbow?"

The teenager slightly jerked, not expecting the blunt question, but recovered himself.

"Truthfully? Yes, I did."

"Listen," Applejack told him, "Rainbow isn't an easy person ta deal with. Doesn't help that you two have opposing views on some matters. But Ah've known her for long, and Ah want ya ta know - she isn't a bad person."

"I never said she was."

"Yeah, but with all that antagonism between ya two, ya might think she is."

"Applejack, have you ever considered becoming a psychologist?"

"Where'd that come from?"

"You just seem to read minds."

"Hay no, Scroll, Ah'm just a little more perceptive than those stereotypes 'bout blondes say."

"...I never thought you were dumb."

"Ah know ya didn't. Bottom line is, Ah know Rainbow is a friend that can drive a stone ta hysterics. Heavens know we all had a moment where we wanted ta smack her, even Fluttershy, an' she ain't no girl to wanna smack someone. But Ah'll let ya know this: if you can get used to her antics, then you'd gain a good and loyal friend."

"Well, loyal friends are quite hard to come by, but I just don't know, Applejack. From the time I've known her - admittedly a short time - she appears to behave like the dumb jocks back in Cloudsdale I never wanted to interact with."

"Ah dunno what kind of jocks you went to school with, but all Ah ask is not ta paint Rainbow with same brush that quick."

"Alright, Applejack, I'll give it a try. Truth be told, I enjoyed what little time we spent together - me and your whole group, I mean - and it's not like you'll kick Rainbow out just because I don't get along with her."

"Thanks, Scroll. Ya won't regret it."

I hope you are right, Scroll thought. Rainbow Dash has an ability to get on my nerves pretty easily.

Author's Note

Hmmmpf. I have tried various ways to write this chapter, but could make it decent enough for a long time, and my work did not help either. (Doesn't help that I had to write characters playing D&D in a way that does not delve too deep into game mechanics. And yes, Regdar's artifact is a damn cheating device that he had gotten in a campaign made by a DM who enjoyed being creative with rules and magical artifacts. Said DM was the one who got Scroll Pen into D&D.)

But this story has been without updates for too long of a time, so I decided to make this a short bridge chapter between the beginning and the part where Scroll and Rainbow begin interacting as the time passes.

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below

Merry belated Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a happy New Year! See you in year 2017