Pinkie Pie laughed at my chess reference as I just continued to smile before running my left hand through my hair. The others were still standing there in shock at the bombs that I had just dropped, the rest of the mane six being shocked by the fact that Celestia and Luna would ignore a worldwide problem until it affected Equestria while the princesses were shocked that I truly wanted to help the entire world and not just Equestria. Of course I felt like breaking the tension in the air so I did the only thing that came to mind.

"Well that was fun! Who's for Neighnese?" I asked in my Joker voice as I clapped my hands together and looked around at the group of ponies as they finally snapped out of their shocked state.

"Ooh! Ooh! Memememememe!" Pinkie said while raising her hoof and jumping up and down in the back of the group. The others were just confused and looked hesitant before me and Pinkie just burst out laughing. Eventually everyone was either laughing or chuckling at the absurdity of it all. I stopped laughing and just picked up my duffel bags before putting them on my back and walking towards the exit of the ruins as the others followed while smiling, since they knew I could be trusted. Celestia and Luna were carrying their unconscious guards, since they still hadn't woken up.

"I was actually being serious abo-" I started to say before I stepped on something small and ended up falling face first into a nearby wall. Of course Rainbow and Pinkie were laughing while the others were concerned for my well being. After assuring them that I was fine, I went back over to where I fell in search of the object that I stepped on. As I searched a metallic glint caught my eye and I looked down to see a platinum coin wedged in between a crack in the stone. I chuckled to myself a bit before reaching down and pulling out the coin. As I did so I could hear a voice in my head that caused my body to shiver a little and caused Nighty to let out a small yelp.

"A coin of quarter size
One side smiles, while the other beguiles
A flip to see your fate
Be it doom or a trick of mind
Summon I, N̸̖̕o̸͕̍ẍ̷̡́ , but only when you have something to offer
Or be befouled by ĉ̷̖ů̴͚ŕ̴͎s̶̤͘e̷̻͝d̴͓̍ ̴̘̅l̸̛̫u̸̻̒c̵̻͗k."

I simply smirked upon realizing what I had found. I turned it around in my hands, carefully inspecting the two different sides of the coin. I smiled before putting it into my pocket and continuing to walk into the forest.

"As I was saying, I was serious about that Neighnese food. Oh and would one of you mind helping me with that manticore that I took down. I feel like a manticore's fur would make an excellent coat. I am also interested in trying some properly cooked manticore steak." I said causing the others to look a bit shocked, as they remembered seeing the manticore's corpse on their way to the ruins. Fluttershy was the first to speak up.

"B-but why w-would you kill that innocent animal?" She asked causing me to shake my head at her naivete.

"They wanted me dead for a meal and I wanted to live. I just did what I had to do to ensure my continued survival." I said calmly as we crossed the bridge and got to the body.

"Do not mistake me for a good man. The only thing that me and a good man have in common is that neither of us would throw the first punch. I gave this manticore a painful death, since I could not reliably give it a quick one. In my mind it does not matter whether or not someone dies painfully. In my mind all that matters is survival." I said before motioning for Applejack and Rainbow to help me with the body. They all looked either shocked or terrified at my thought process, save for Applejack, Rainbow and the princesses. Their faces held only pity for me. I chuckled upon seeing that they felt bad for me as the three of us lifted up the body.

"Don't feel bad for me. My mindset is what drove me to learn survival skills. I would most likely be dead if it wasn't for my way of thinking." I said before starting to walk in the direction of Ponyville.

Twenty Minutes Later

We arrived back at Ponyville and went our separate ways, since the princesses had to go back to Canterlot with their, now conscious, guards. Applejack, Rainbow and I agreed to store my manticore in the Sweet Apple Acres' barn until the next day so I could skin it and have Rarity turn it into a nice outfit. Afterwards me and Twilight discussed fixing the spell book that I had found on our way back to the treebrary. Once we arrived I quickly went into the basement that had become my room. I put all of my duffel bags in the secret compartment before taking out the platinum coin and smirking.

"Well it looks like I get to meet a character that's purely fiction in my universe. Nox the Unfortunate, I would like to make a deal."

Author's Note

Neighnese is meant to be Chinese just like Neighpone is Japan and Neighponese is Japanese. This chapter might be edited in the future in order to make it longer, since I could've made it longer but felt that I had reached a good stopping point. If I do I'll probably just add more in the middle and reveal more of Joseph's/my life. To find out what happens next, check out this story right here👇 https://www.fimfiction.net/story/443430/cursed-reliquary