of kings and perils ♛ book one
♜ i. - bonjour, sir, forever a crook! ♜
Author's Note
this is my first story on here, but the reason I'm good with writing is because of the support of family and friends. I'd love to see people enjoy my writing as much as possible! If you want, you can message me and ask for my discord, and I'll think of adding my Wattpad soon enough too! Happy readings >u<
P.S.
sorry if i never finish the story, I can get easily sidetracked and never have the motivation to finish. But I'll try :p
♜ i. - bonjour, sir, forever a crook! ♜
History has remembered the kings and warriors, because they destroyed; art has remembered the people, because they created
Feeling rain slide down his unwashed fur, and chill him down to his aching bones, a stallion wearing only a ragged navy cloak walked through the rain, horn poking out of the disguise. With lightning flashing on and off in the distance like a small bug, it illuminated his light as feathers gray eyes. Stormy as the chaos from hell above his head. Straight from the heavens. Even with the downpour, his pace was calm with the raging waters. Seeing what he was apparently looking for, the youngster stepped into a shop, coins jingling in his satchel as an old and hardened mare with roughed-up ears and a blind eye appeared to take his order. Her smile was grisly, and not at all welcoming. Still, the youth seemed unfazed by her appearance.
After all, hadn’t he done this too many times to count? The wandering about in a hell storm or in the dead of night with no moon to guide him? Nothing got to him anymore.
With the jingle of his satchel's little bells, he took the coins out of his sack and carefully placed them on to the counter made of roughened steel. Hoof landing on as he sat on his haunches, tapping it. “You know want I want, Silver Dime.” The elder’s eyes seemed amused as she tilted her head and shook her head.
“Aren’t you a little too old to still be running errands for your daddy, boy?” She hawked out, her voice rough as she gestured towards the dark gray stallion. Silent, he took the cigar out of his satchel, horn illuminating a ghostly green, and dark eyes narrowing as Silver Dime took it into her mouth and motioned towards the lighter. Rolling his eyes now, he lit the cigar as she grinned. “Thank you, Penski. You’ve always been so helpful, even when you were a wee colt. You still are I suppose.”
Now she grabbed the cage, and a wild twittering was heard, until it was quieted down again. “Take the Phenny to your father then. Tell Scrounger to start doing things himself too, shouldn’t be sending ya out. Now get out!” She crowed, and Penski made no haste in hurrying off, wanting to get home as quickly as possible. The clicking and chattering cage attached to his back not helping his grouchy mood. Raindrops slicking down his legs. Not saying anything to Silver Dime, it was obvious he didn't have the current mood to talk to anyone.
Going down the muddy road, his breath fogged in the cold, immediately slashed by the rain cutting through in a rush to get to the dusty and barren dust ground. “Damn him, always making me go out in this ridiculous weather!” He grumbled angrily to himself, knowing everypony else was safely tucked away. Warm and by their fireplaces. Safe and away from whatever Penski was forced to do. The cage grew more and more restless, as Penski kicked up his back legs and yelled something in Olde Ponish. Probably something about the beast in his special package.
Yup, he just loved running errands for Scrounger. The damn rat couldn’t do anything himself, so he decided to send out his only child in hopes he didn’t die. Old man probably cared more about the dumb animal then his own son.
Seeing the town of Aurithune, a sigh of relief left his muzzle. Dear Moon, he hated walking in the mud and rain. And the last thing he wanted was to start getting harassed by some hagglers or burglars along the road. Smelling his Aunt Sandy Diamond’s roses in the wasteland, his ears perked up slightly at the thought of home. Where he would be dry and comfortable again. Instead of running errands in a boiling hellhole made of water.
Shoving over the door in haste, and forgetting to use his magic, he shook himself out, startling the Phenny and making it squawk loudly. “Auntie! I’m home!” He called out, but instead saw his father at the dining room table, reading a newspaper. Just the local one. The mere sight of his father made his nose scrunch up as the blue-haired stallion looked up. A cigarette in his mouth. Simply staring at one another as Penski put down the cage and went off to look for his Aunt.
Aunt Sandy Diamond was just a diamond in the rough in one of the worst towns. She was lovely, with sandy fur just like her brother’s, except she kept herself neat. And her hair was a dark brown, and curly. Penski always remembered playing with her hair and braiding it with his magic as she, the simple earth pony, made dinner for the family.
That was when mom was still around.
Shaking himself off at the bad thought, the stallion focused back to listen closely. Hearing his Auntie’s gentle humming from the attic, he clomped up the stairs and peeked through the opening. Seeing his Aunt and watching her neatly put thing into boxes, folding things with her bare hooves.
“Let me help with that, Auntie.” He whispered and saw his Aunt’s sad smile. Shaking her head at his sudden usefulness.
“You know what today is, don’t you?”
Now he remembered why the sudden memory of his mother came to mind, and he stared at the clothes. They were vintage dresses; the ones mother would buy with her own funds. And of course, there was her old jewelry. It was a Marenhert tradition to look through Azure Dusk’s belongings and allow a family member to keep a single item.
Coming over, he sat next to his Auntie, who he had grown taller than over the years, yet only a smidge. Using his magic to sift through the items, he found an old brooch made of silver and amethyst. Remembering how it went with his cloak, which was once hers. A keepsake from last year’s mourning. His horn lit up the room a pale green, and his eyes filled with sadness and grief. Holding up a pendant with a clock attached to it, he popped it open, having never looked at its contents. Somehow, with her magic, Azure had kept this clock tickling without mechanics, and instead it had a photo of her family. Auntie Diamond, Scrounger, Azure herself, and little foal Penski.
“This is what I choose this year.” Was all he mumbled, and nuzzling his Auntie’s cheek with gratitude, he got up, and left. So tired, he fell asleep in front of the hearth and fell asleep, the last thing he heard was the gentle crackling of kindled wood, and the sound of his own Auntie crying in the attic.
Nightmares was all that kept him sane, somehow.
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Waking up drowsy from fitful rest, he stretched himself out and sniffed the air. The pleasing aroma of his Auntie’s breakfast of omelets with grated cheese and hash browns lifting his sleepy fog. Scrounger was gone, which pleased Penski further as he sat down at the kitchen table, being served by his Aunt and thanking her. Sandy Diamond seemed tired, and had bags under her beautifully olive eyes, which many adored. “Is Elmrich awake yet?” He inquired quietly, speaking of his young cousin. A little brown thing with white freckles, lovely socks on his slender legs and the blonde hairs of his father. Just, straighter. Penski always believed Elm always looked like Kindle Spark, Auntie’s deployed husband.