Shifted

Luna awoke in the morning with a soft yawn on her bed, given to her by Phil the evening before. She blinked her eyes open and sighed, a restful night with no nightmares to be had in her sphere of nighttime influence was what she needed. She looked around the poorly lit room and took in the males and the place where Viv had fallen asleep against the wall, still in full armor and weapon ready.

“May her travels be fortuitous,” Luna whispered and lowered her head, gasping. "My regalia!? That wench hath stolen from me my royal regalia! I shall have her flayed alive and suffer the sparrow’s bloom by my own, "she stood and stamped her hoof, shattering the bed, “hoof!”

“Luna! Please stop shouting… shit,” the men were all on the floor covering their ears while Raul shouted, “my ears are gonna be ringing for hours.”

“That insolent wench hath robbed me in my slumber! Find her, post haste and I will pay you your weight in bits.”

“...What?"

Luna growled but regained her calm. “Thy hearing shall return shortly, then we will discuss finding Viv, and her subsequent execution.”

“...What?”

“Hrugh!” Luna grunted as she began to pace, her ethereal mane showing some supernovae as she fumed.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

“So, she stole your… jewels, and you want us to find her for you?” Dave asked.

“‘Tis not jewelery, it is my royal regalia. Enchanted with spells that would shift the power of an empire should it be misused. I have with me ten bits as a reward,” she lifted a hoof and took two from her front right hoofshoe, “bring me her head and I will reward you as promised.”

“Okay, look, that’s not gonna happen,” Phil said, “she’s gone and we don’t know where. There’s a whole city in ruins she can hide in for half a click and then it’s death heads everywhere beyond that. Their patrols are going to get worse now that they lost a battle, so that’s problem number tw- holy shit is that gold?!”

“A bit is gold covered palladium with an arcanite core. I will pay you ten thousand to find her and this shifter and return to me.”

The men looked to each other and took a knee, bowing deeply as they could. “Yes, my princess.” Phil said. Luna smiled and raised a hoof to Raul and he kissed it before standing, holding it in his hand.

“Uh, you know that one of your bits is probably worth about three thousand credits here.”

“Your credit is worthy to me as thy haven’t done anything to lose it and I trust thee the carry out thy mission.” The men took to their feet and held out their hands, Phil and dave got them while Raul looked to his empty palms. “Should you fulfil your task, Raul, I will make you a deal you would be a fool to refuse.”

He gulped and nodded as the others toyed with their bits. “Hey, I can feel magic in here! Is that what arcanite is? Magic something?”

“‘Tis a piece of gem common to the mountain my sister and I live on. It has some low level magic within it, however it may be worthless here on your earth.”

“Okay, so, now we have to find one woman carrying a pony princess’ gems and regal-ness-stuff-”

“Regalia,” Luna corrected.

“Yeah, that. Avoid certain death at every turn and, while we’re at it, find a shifter who can teleport between realities at will,” Phil stated then groaned loudly, clenching the bit before he opened his hand and let it fall. “It’s been fun, guys. The best year of my life was with you, but I know when it just got too stupid to bother.

“Luna, I hope you, Dave, and Raul find everything you’re all looking for, but as of now, I’m out of this one. Ya have my comms ID, Dave, hit me up if you need me. Maybe I’ll be in range to answer,” he finished with a final bow and placed his bit in Raul’s hands, silently walked to his area and collected several items, packed them quickly, and made to leave.

“Phil, may the stars guide you to the fortune you desire,” Luna said as a bit floated to him. “You are owed for your assistance yesterday, we are even now.”

He took the bit and nodded, slinging his bag over his shoulder and placing his helmet on. Then he was gone.

“And then there were two,” Luna said firmly, “do either of you wish to vacate the quest?”

“Nay, princess,” Dave chuckled until he was punched by Raul.

“Show respect for the richest pony on the planet,” he hissed and nodded to Luna.

“I may very well be the only one of my kind on your planet,” she chuckled as she turned and walked the path out, “now come alone and stay safe, I shant save your ‘butts’ everytime we get in a scrap.”

“You just had to teach her the basics,” Dave grumbled about Phil as they followed her outside.

“Well, can you feel your stuff, Luna?”

“Nay,” she looked back with a smirk, “the magic in this land is chaotic in its own harmonious way, I can narry sense beyond a hundred pony lengths.”

“Uh, how far is that, exactly?”

Luna tapped the ground and took a pace forward. “That far is one.”

“So, about a meter. I can work with that. A hundred meters… That’s a decimeter,” Dave said, “so it’s not much but it’s something at least. Let’s look at this logically now, she knows the patrols are that way and that way,” he pointed two directions, “and she’s not exactly carrying something that can be hidden easily so that means she won’t go deeper into the city,” he pointed towards the denser metropolis in the distance that looked to be minorly maintained.

“So that leaves that way, to the friggin’ forest full of no one knows.”

“You don’t know?” Luna asked turning around and lighting her horn. A dark light began to cover her body.

“We’re not from around here, we traveled here to find that mirror in a coalition supply dump and you showed up. Everything about this is just fucked.”

“Hey, esse, watch the language!” Raul scolded.

“‘Tis fine. I have moments where I defecate most profusely…” she paused, “I swear sometimes too.”

“We all do, your Highness. Now,” Raul sealed his helmet and slung his weapon, adjusted his backpack straps, and took to a light jog, “let’s find a thief.”