Life Level

"Tell me, why we are doing this?" Rainbow whines.

"Because a good herbal bath is good for injuries, the coat, tail, and mane," Octavia says.

"Yeah. Come on Dashie. You want to impress Lockheed, right?" Vinyl asks.

"Of course I do. But a bath like this? Really?" Rainbow complains.

"I'm sorry, but there is only one bath not full and is occupied. Are you ok with bathing with a stallion?" a spa mare asks walking up.

"I should have expected this with how it is the first day. What do you two think?" Octavia asks.

"As long as it's Lockheed," Rainbow says.

"The Wonderbolts are not here," the spa mare says.

"Aww," Rainbow moans. "Then who?"

"The customer prefers to remain anonymous," the spa mare says.

"Well seeing as we had to come back four hours later, I say we join him. I mean it's not like we will be naked or anything," Vinyl says nonchalantly.

"You do realize we sometimes don't wear clothes," Octavia says as they walk to the bath.

"Meh," Vinyl says as they are lead to the changing room. Half way through the changing, Rainbow notices a familiar coat on the coat stand.

Rainbow hums as she looks closer.

"What is it Dash?" Vinyl asks.

Rainbow lifts up the coat. "I've seen this before."

"Oh, on who?" Octavia asks as Rainbow remembers who.

"That bastard who talk down Dusk," She says bitterly.

"Come on. Let's get in there," Vinyl says pushing the bikini clad mare towards the bath's door.

"Actually, I will get to see what he looks like this time," Rainbow says as the thought occurred to her.

"Oh. Thinking of a hot bod?" Vinyl asks teasingly.

"Vinyl, don't embarrass me or make this awkward," Octavia instructs before opening the door to the very thick steam filled room.

"Hey, buddy, you in here?" Rainbow asks frowning.

The outline of a pony didn't say anything and just sits in the bath.

"I know it's you," Rainbow says watching him as Vinyl and Octavia gets in.

"I would rather just sit in silence. So just pretend I am not here," Trial says hidden in the steam.

Rainbow scoffs. "Still the same. Can't wait till you leave."

"Same here, but along with that payment for the razor boar was a contract to become a part of the town's guards for a few months in the fine print so I am stuck here," Trial says miffed.

"Are you the one who talked off Dusk?" Vinyl asks.

"Who?" Trial asks annoyed.

"Octavia, where are you?" Rainbow asks.

"One moment. Trying to find the fan switch," Octavia says.

Rainbow held a frown as they hear being turned on and then the stream being lifted and blown away to show a light blue coated stallion with several scars all over his body including one running over his left eye with a black mane and tail sitting at the edge of the tub. "Damn," Vinyl says quietly.

Trial didn't lose his sour look as he looks around before sinking more into the water.

"Hey. At least we are noticing you than ignoring you as you say," Rainbow argues.

"I would prefer it," Trial says.

"Oh my, you must be here for it is good for healing," Octavia says climbing in.

Trial cracks open an eye at her. "No. Just here to relax."

"Damn, we got us a fine specimen here," Vinyl comments smirking.

Trial cracks open another eye. "If by fine, you mean killer, then yes."

"Rainbow, how could you keep such a stud from the rest of Ponyville?" Vinyl asks accusingly.

"Shut up. He dissed my friend. I wouldn't let that go," Rainbow says crossing her arms.

"And I stand by it," Trial says coldly.

"Well then maybe you leave or at least apologize," Rainbow says rolling her eyes.

"I don't apologize for speaking the truth," Trial says.

"Please let's not be hostile. We all came here to relax," Octavia pleads.

"I don't think I can when one of us talks that way about my friend," Rainbow says bitterly.

Trial says nothing and closes his eyes again and starts blocking them out and slowly sinks further into the bath where his nose is barely above the water.

"Well…he's exactly as you say he is Rainbow," Octavia says trying to relax against the edge.

"Go hug him Rainbow," Vinyl instructs.

"Excuse me?" Rainbow asks sharply looking to her.

"He is hiding any pain he has," Vinyl informs.

Rainbow growls to herself before slowly looking to him trying to ignore them.

"How can you tell Vinyl?" Octavia asks.

Vinyl looks to her and her eyes flash red as she taps her nose. "The nose knows."

"Why do I have to do this?" Rainbow grumbled.

"You know him more," Octavia says as they move away.

"And," Vinyl stops as the moment Rainbow wraps her arms around him, he tensed up greatly.

"There. Happy?" Rainbow asks not enjoying this.

"Rainbow, he isn't moving," Vinyl points out.

Rainbow looks to him to find not even breathing as his eyes were now wide open.

"Did you kill him?" Vinyl asks.

"No!" Rainbow hastily yells.

Octavia hums as she reaches over and pokes him a few times before placing her fingers on his neck. "Still got a pulse. At least they won't charge you for murder…and Dusk won't have to pull a favor," she adds as an afterthought.

"Have to be pretty big. But as a big hero, I'm sure I got sympathy on my side," Rainbow says smirking before knocking Trial's head. "Wonder if he's sleeping."

Dusk frowns as he sat at his desk, reading through some books. "If you're moopy about what he said, get over it," Barb says walking in as she stirs some kind of dough in a bowl.

"Can't. He really meant those things and he stands by them. I have to show we're different than whatever he saw. Funnily enough, I don't even know my own lineage at all. I just know my parents," he says scratching his head in thought.

Barb shrugs. "True. You never really bothered to learn about it. But then again, you did go out into the libraries all the time. I remember having to help you sneak into the restricted section of the Canterlot Library just to get a book on more advanced spells," she says flicking the mixing spoon around.

"I was finished and learned the current ones we had at the time," Dusk says flipping a page.

"So…how was the date?" Barb asks smirking.

"Wasn't a date. It was a banishment," Dusk corrects looking to her. "And I'm trying to find out what that thing was. It wasn't anything we have faced, that's for sure," he says closing the book and grabs another one before opening it. "High and mighty my flank. I don't think or act that way."

"You sort of do," Barb says, making him look at her. "You live in this place that's fit for a hundred ponies, even more, to live in. Whatever thoughts he might have, it looks like it's generalized all over…wonder what he thinks of somepony who has to many bits?" she thinks to herself as she looks to the side at her bag of gems stashed all over the castle.

"Gems are expensive. But if he calls you out, I'm punching him," Dusk declares before going back to his book.

Barb smiles. "Thanks, bro. Now then, cookies, right?"

"Yeah. Good old chocolate chiOH MY SOLARIS!" Dusk yells suddenly as he facepalms. "I am treating you like a servant and being high and mighty!"

Barb sighs as she looks at him with pity. "Dusk," she says and sees Dusk muttering to himself. "Dusk!" she calls and catches his attention. "I am cooking because I am your number one assistant. Not a servant. And two, you can't cook a day in your life," she says dryly at the end.

Dusk raises an eyebrow. "Name one…"

"You blew up Solaris's personal kitchen," Barb says with the same dry tone.

Dusk slouches. "Nopony told me he had a setting for the sun."

Barb rolls her eyes. "And three, you're my big bro. I'm always happy to help you out…even if it is taking over the world. You going to take the title of Overlord if you do that?" she asks giggling.

"And you keep trying to talk me into paying for a spa date for you," Dusk reminds.

"And lava. Lava baths are cool," Barb says remembering when she traveled to the dragon lands.

"He still hasn't moved," Vinyl says.

Octavia checks his pulse again and sighs in relief. "And he's still alive. Thank goodness. Must be very tired."

"Oh, Rainbow did something to put him in a catatonic state," Vinyl points out.

Rainbow crosses her arms. "I have not. I haven't really bothered him that much."

"So how is he?" Vinyl asks smirking.

"A jerk," Rainbow says simply.

"I mean you got to feel him up a bit. So how is he?" Vinyl inquired again, making Rainbow blush.

"Vinyl!" Rainbow hissed.

"Well?" Vinyl says leaning back and relaxes against the edge.

Rainbow frowns at her before sighing, "He's good…almost like an athlete."

"Oh, how good?" Vinyl says, her smirk growing.

Rainbow blushes. "Very."

"Oh. So I'll try for him if you won't," Vinyl says, making Rainbow stutter.

"S-stay out of this!" Rainbow declares blushing red.

"Oh, she is interested," Vinyl says smirking.

"Shut up!" Rainbow yells, trying to hide her blush by going underwater.

Suddenly, Trial raises out of the water and starts to get out.

"I'm sorry. Are we bothering you?" Octavia asks, trying to play peace.

"No. Being in it any longer would start to hurt my health," Trial informs.

"How could water hurt you that bad?" Vinyl asks bashly.

"It's the strong herbs in the bath. Too much soaking in them would overwhelm your body," Trial informs.

"You seem to know your herbs well," Octavia says intrigued at what he knows.

"I had a friend who is no longer around to teach me," Trial says walking off.

A moment of silence hits the room. "Well that's a bummer," Vinyl says somewhat bored.

"What did he mean by no longer around?" Rainbow asks.

"Maybe he lost his teacher a long time ago," Octavia says trying to understand his attitude.

"The one is dead," Vinyl says bluntly.

"Yes. Dead. Which is what I am saying," Octavia says dryly.

"Oh," Rainbow says in realization.

Octavia sighs. "Anyways, maybe we should take it easy…and keep the princes away from him…and maybe the nobles. He probably shouldn't know who I am."

"Take off Leandra. It's my shift," Trial says.

Leandra looks to him as she sits on the roof. "Sure. Night," she says jumping off and walks back to their temporary home.

Trial says nothing as the sun starts to set and some ponies were bringing in a harvest of apples.

"Hi," a cheery voice says behind him. "Whatcha doing?"

"Guard duty," Trail says, not turning around.

"Oh. I can guard too. I learned from Barb," the voice says before clattering was heard and it settles next to him in a form of heavy knight armor. "I am ready to be a stone face guard," the pink stallion says cheerfully before shutting up and sitting straight.

Trial says nothing as they watch until the silence was broken by heavy breathing coming from the heavy armor helmet. "How do the royal guards do this? It's stuffy," he says and takes off his helmet, letting his mane poof back up.

Trial says nothing as the ponies hauling apples enter.

The pink stallion slowly leans over. "So? What's your name?"

Trial says nothing as the stallion waves up at them.

"Hi, guys. How are you?" the pink stallion calls back as he waves.

"Berry, what in tarnation you doin up there?" the stallion calls.

"Meeting the new guy," Berry says pointing to Trial. "What's your name, my good sir?"

Trial says nothing as he keeps watch.

"Come on. Everypony has a name. Even Death," Berry says cheerfully.

Trial continues to sit there in silence as time passes and Berry constantly changed sitting positions. "This is so boring," Berry complains.

Trial still says nothing as he kept staring.

"No wonder ponies don't like you. You don't open up," Berry says finally getting off the roof and walks off yawning.

Trial doesn't respond as he kept watching. "Berry, what are you doing?" a pony asks.

"Trying to get Mr. Grumpy Pants to talk," Berry says pointing behind him. "Oh well. There is always tomorrow," he says cheerfully.

"Berry, those who are on guard duty are not allowed to talk," the pony says.

"OH!" Berry calls. "I'll see you when you're not on guard duty!" he calls waving to Trial.

Trial made a small wave of his hand but didn't divert this gaze.

"See ya buddy!" Berry calls hopping off.

"Timberwolf sighted," Trial says grabbing the bow hanging from the guard post. "Sixteen km," Trial says before firing.

Dusk sighs as he packs up the books onto the shelf. "Damn. Nothing," he says looking at the exhaustive creature and spirit books.

"It's a wombat Dusk," Barb says looking at the creature in the glass case.

Dusk leans over. "I'm talking about what that mare brought in. Not…that thing. Besides, you wanted a pet, here it is. Make sure to feed him."

"Her," Barb corrects.

Dusk waves her off dismissively and walks by her and watches as she places her hand on the glass and the wombat growls almost silently as his eyes trail downward before shaking his head. 'Sister. She is a sister,' he thinks to himself as he walks off.

"Dusk," Berry says hopping in.

Dusk sighs. "Yes, Berry?"

"I heard you couldn't identify a wombat so I brought you this," Berry says holding up 'My First Animal Book.'

Dusk frowns and his eye twitches. "Thanks…Berry," he says through clenched teeth as he takes it.

"Also, I brought him an exercising wheel," Berry says pulling one out.

"Thanks, Berry," Barb says taking it and starts to fit it into the large cage.

"Also, we have a new guard for the town," Berry informs.

Dusk sighs as he rubs his head. "Who?"

"He wouldn't say. He just sat in the watch tower motionlessly and watched," Berry says shrugging.

Dusk shakes his head. "We need to figure these guys out."

"Sounds like your sister when she was on watch," Barb reminds.

Dusk sighs. "At least she's family and not a stone asshole. Where did these guys come from?"

"Dusk is salty because he lost, isn't he?" Berry asks.

"And insulted," Barb adds.

"Got it. Dusk's ego is bruised and is pouty," Berry says.

Barb smirks. "Let's take him out on a night on the town. Maybe…a little stripping?"

Berry grins. "Yep. Let's go," he says taking one of Dusk's arm.

"I protest…" Dusk starts.

"Enjoy," Barb says taking his other arm and they both drag him off into the town.

"I hate you guys," Dusk grumbles as Berry and Barb laugh on each side of him and they give a toast to each other with their simple bottles of water as Barb is treated with some gems.

"Come on Dusky, you need to feel some mares other than me," Barb says eating away. "Besides, they got dragon dancers if you like me that much," She says with her mouth full.

"Yeah, Dusk. I go to this place all the time and all the dancers are nice. I even make sure they all get their birthday dancing in on time," Berry states as he sips away and whistles to the dancers on stage.

Dusk punches the bridge between his eyes as the dancing went on and Barb whistles beside him. "Give my brother here a good dance," Barb says.

Dusk looks up to see, "You?" he asks seeing the pink mare here in her usual clothes. Does she ever change clothes?

Sentire sighs. "I wonder what was so popular about this place. Mortals seem to enjoy pleasure and flesh that much, but doesn't seem to act on it out in the open if accepted so freely here."

Dusk blinks as he slowly blushes and both Berry and Barb slide away from him on the couch. "Um…well…it's…somewhat private here," he studders as Sentire sits by him and makes him blush more as he looks over her gifted body.

Sentire hums. "Do you think of me as them?"

Dusk gulps fearfully as he had seen her when using a scythe and fears she might use it on him. "Well…um…at first…not so much now," he admits.

Sentire nods and looks to him. "You are not what he says."

Now Dusk becomes agitated hearing that. "I am never what he says. Ever. The day I become that is the day I turn in my prince status and die alone," he declares.

Sentire nods and looks back to the crowd. "Seems one of my traveling companions is here," she says before hearing the voice.

"Woo hoo! Go for it girl!" they hear the lion looking pony cheer in the middle of the seats.

Sentire sighs. "I don't know what to think anymore, but I am trusting them less and less. They insulted those who saved me," she says bringing her head down.

"And who did that?" Dusk asks a bit worried.

Sentire looks to him. "The same gods he says that don't give a damn about the mortal world."

Dusk stares at her before sighing and saying, "I doubt there will be a way to change his mind," he says looking to the crowd as they both don't notice Berry and Barb leaving for the bar.

Sentire shakes her head. "He will never trust gods, spirits, or even agents of them. I don't think anyone can change his mind."

Dusk shakes his head as well as he leans back into the seat with her. "Who are you by the way?"

Sentire slowly looks to him. "They have given me the name Sentire Vita. They say it's supposed to be a strong name."

Dusk smiles a bit. "It's a good one. I admit."

Sentire slowly smiles as she finally got some form of approval and understanding.

Barb smiles as the bartender fills their drinks. "Game, set, and match. Bro finally got a marefriend," she says as Berry nods and knocks back his drink.

Soon, a stallion came flying in.

Dusk and Sentire looks to see the stallion look around the place and sees Leandra relaxing and cheering in her seat and walks up to her. "Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Yes?" Leandra says cracking her knuckles.

The stallion grins. "How would you like to work here since you like it that much?"

"I'm here for the drinks and like I told the last one, I am not interested," Leandra says taking a drink.

"Aw come on. You got a great body. I'm sure you can pull a few bits around here. Some of the stallions here like exotic," he tries to persuade.

"Sorry, but know I already got someone," Leandra says.

"Who? I can pay you graciously," the stallion offers.

"The night shift guard for the town and it's not a question of money," Leandra informs taking the seventh shot.

"Then what is it?" The stallion asks, getting impatient.

"I already have a job," Leandra says, finishing the second bottle.

"And what is that because I would happily double it," the stallion says grinning to himself.

"I am a merc and my job is killing. So unless you want me overtime without pay, drop it," Leandra threatens.

"Hey. I can pull any mare here and they would happy with the bits I give them as pay. So now how about it? You dance, get paid, I get profits. Everyone wins," he tries again with a slight frown.

Leandra punches the stallion and he flies through the wall on the other end of the place. "There is your answer."

The stallion groans as he gets up. "Listen up youWHOA!" he yells as he lifted up in a magical aura.

"I'm sorry. Are you trying to solicit a job she doesn't want from that mare?" Dusk asks floating over the stallion to him.

"No sir," the owner says quickly as he remembers, along with the town, what he did with Lady Tirek.

Dusk hums. "Not buying it. I wonder if you did the same with the other dancers around here. Some look…official," he says looking to the non-pony dancers on stage as the whole place watches them. "Have you been targeting diplomats that have come here?"

"No, sir. I would never harm…relations with this country," he tries to defend as Dusk stares at him and kept holding up his hand covered in a magical aura.

"Yeah. Still not buying it. That comes when you are friends with the Element of Honesty," Dusk says before flicking his hands and sends him flying through the stone wall and outside the building. "Arrest him for now. He needs to see what the inside of a dungeon looks like. The assistant here can take over for that time," he says to the burly stallion at the door

"Um…I'm actually a diplomat," a zebra says on stage, holding up a hand.

Dusk's eye twitches. "Okay! That tears it. Barb!" he calls.

"Yeah?!" Barb calls back as she knocks back a shot.

"Get this place vetted, check the dancers, and put this place under the ownership of me, and make sure that the owner is sent to Canterlot for a trial," Dusk declares.

"With what guards?" Barb asks bluntly making Dusk groan as he knew he had to call the insulter.