Author's Note

Sorry this is late had a bunch of exams.

Walking through Running past

The assault of smells that overstimulate the senses. The shouting and pushing of bodies; both rough and light. The beckoning motions and performances of the various merchants and employees. The moisture of anticipation builds up in one’s mouth when gazing at the cacophony of flavors and shapes.

All of this is an experience unlike any other. None of her passengers, nor herself, have experienced something remotely close to this. She had once read about a truly open market in books during history class or seen in various movies. Nothing does this well-orchestrated ballet of movement and chaos justice. Seeing it take place before she is something that will remain etched into her memory.

“Is there… anything you see; you want to try?” One of her guides asks. She believes his name had something to do with royalty, but the only thing clouding her mind was the spread before her. She would have to at least start with one of everything.

After that, she will have to see where her mouth takes her. And her nose. After all, she was a lady of both exquisite and simple tastes now. This is simply due to the mingling of memories in her head, but this isn't anything new to her.

Despite her memories telling her how everything should taste, she knows better than to trust them. Her head has been so messy with memories, both foreign and familiar, that she could hardly call them her own. Hell, she could hardly remember the things she wanted to remember when she wanted. To remember everything and yet retain nothing. A curse disguised as a blessing. Or perhaps a gift that hasn't shown its true brilliance?

What even was her name anymore? Did she know what her actual appearance was? What does she actually hate and like? Does she have a sister? Is she who she thinks she is? What even was the point of her being alive? It was always hard to tell. At one point, she knew all the answers. And then it fell apart. Her memories are like sands through a grate leaving nothing behind but the treasures she hardly wants nor seeks. Thus, she continues to search. Forever lost in her mind and memories. Or was it their heads and memories? To share a place with beings that you hardly understand or agree with is something she could go without for a while. Despite that, she's stuck this way with them and in this place, none of them could call home.

“Sad.”

The cacophony of noise fades from the cheers and booms of merchants to that of the cries of stallions and mares weeping into their products, themselves, or one another. Tears flow freely from the creature’s eyes much like those around her. She openly weeps and gazes at the scene before her. Everyone weeping alongside her for the memories both gained and lost.

She places a hand against her lips remembering that she has to pay more attention to what she says. All the powers in her body have managed to manifest themselves in all sorts of different ways. Both bad and good. While she feels as healthy as can be, she also can't help but constantly feel sick and lost. On top of that, the words she speaks are infused with magic. Empathy magic to be more precise. Due to the fusion of both friendship and authority magic, she has managed to create something new and all the more powerful. The connection she feels with everyone around her through Twilight and the absolute authority she can breathe through the power of Celestia. Her gaze alone could probably cause someone to fall to their knees in benevolence. It is why she has to constantly keep everything in check and balance. If something were to overcome something else, it would be too much. Same to say with someone and someone else.

"Reset." She breathes out with a sigh.

With that, the flowing of tears and snot stops leaving only confusion in its wake. Bystanders and shop owners begin to pull themselves together and quickly aim to get all of their produce and money in line again. They all act as if nothing had ever happened and quickly get back into the swing of things.

"W-What was that?" Regal asks wiping away tears from his face, "I... I never felt..."

"Sorry. Sometimes I forget what I can do. And remember what I can other times. Its... complicated. But enough of that. I'd love to sample at least one of everything." She says clapping her hands together not even bothering with the tears as they seem to soak into her skin.

"R-Right... W-Well... Let's start with this over here first."

And so began the flourish of steps against the crowds. The spearhead of their charge from stand to stand snapping delights up into the maw of the never-ending maw of gluttony. No matter the size, shape, or amount, nothing was safe. Regal and Arbour can only look on in horror and amusement, respectively. Before they knew it, they were already on the other end watching as she spins in circles a strip of toast coated in cinnamon and butter hanging between a lip.

“I don't know about you, but I like her.” Arbour leans over and says to Regal.

“She certainly has her…. Charm.”

“Charm ain’t the half of it. It’s like a mixture of proper and down south that ain’t even know was possible. A unity of chaos and order mixed into one bundle of confusion.”

“Yes… I feel like she might be a problem unlike any we have ever seen.” Regal says narrowing his eyes as she finishes her toast and bends over to greet some shinier stones.

“Sure she’s a half-baked potato, but that ain’t no fault of her own. Can’t rightly blame her for it.”

“You know it is dishonorable to speak of a lady’s worth within earshot you know.” She speaks up looking to chuckle at their embarrassed faces, “Déjà Vu huh?”

“S-Sorry, Thems. Seeing as we have a bit of free time, I was hoping to talk more with you.” Regal says trying to keep his stoicism up.

“Shhhh. The mountain is speaking.” She says leaning closer to the crystal.

The two ponies just give each other a curious glance before watching as she nods her head. She makes noises of affirmation and shock before standing up and clasping her hands together.

“Alright! I know what I have to do now!”

“And that would be?” The two ask at the same time.

“The mountain hungers and it requires a sacrifice.” She says as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

One. Two. Three beats pass. The expression of confusion slowly morphs into horror followed by despair. The silence between the three is going into labor with the tension.

“Just kidding~”

For a moment, Arbour agrees with Regal. She will be a big problem.

“Thank you, come again!”

A blushing stallion rubs the back of his head as he walks away from the storefront. Another successful night of indulging in the passions of the weaker-willed sex. Some creatures believe that her profession is disgusting and immoral and will “corrupt the youth”. She's a succubus, as some of her customers call her, and her prey is that of those with idle wealth and youth to spare.

They're not all bad. There are a few nice ones that only want a companion to keep them company during these turmoil and trying times. They weep and mourn all that they have lost. Wives, children, loved ones, etc. It's heartbreaking and she's heard so much and learned everything she could from everyone here. Every single pony has a secret, something they have lost, or something they can't give to anyone else.

“E-excuse me miss.”

And her favorite one of all has just arrived. Smile still plastered on her face, she turns toward the voice from the side of the building.

“You’re pretty early tonight~”

There was none of the usual charm to her voice that she would use with her usual customers. The charm of words is ineffective against this one. Too stubborn and dense for it. Always the straightforward approach for him else he’ll miss the mark.

“W-well you said I needed to stop coming so close to closing, so.”

“I meant I would like to see you first, for once.”

Despite his shrouded appearance, she could see the blush across his face, “N-N-No! Never! I I I I couldn't! T-they would say me in a heartbeat!”

“You wouldn't risk a little death for me?”

“Not for anyone!”

Her smile falters as she sighs before giving a genuine one. She motions with her head to the door behind her. “Come on, Lugnut”

“Not my name...”

“Should I call you 148-”

“A-stop! Lugnut is fine...”

“See how much better things are when you listen to me?~”

Lugnut says nothing as he moves past her keeping his head low and clutching to his hood with a hoof. Once inside he seems to straighten his posture and relax a bit letting his hoof slip away. Once his grip is relaxed, he soon finds a shoal ripped from the top of him revealing his form.

“H-Hey!”

“Oh, hush. You don't get to wear that ratty thing here,” she says closing the door as she enters.

Before she stood something that could be considered a pony upon first glance. Green and yellow fur mixed with highlights of white covered his body. The part not covered by this, specifically his hind legs and the left side of his face seems to be grey and metallic in makeup. The fur and skin that would be there to protect his insides are replaced with that hard unfeeling metal.

Despite his name being Lugnut, that was not it before the incident. It was only after he was discovered that the name was given to him. Based upon the numbers etched into the metallic side of his face. 148-n47.

“You know I hate it w-when you do that..."

"Don't fret about it too much. Now go get cleaned up, there's some libs stun in your leg still."

"F-Fine.."

Once he's upstairs, the mare sighs and brushes some of her curled hair behind her head. She can't help but wonder how the two of them got so involved in one another. She has always considered it up to fate, but if he hadn't been there when he was.

She shakes her head to clear her mind from some of the darker thoughts in her head. This is their life and nothing would change that. As long as they're safe about it. She would never do anything to hurt him. As much as he might imagine so, she only has the best in mind for him. His self-destructive tendencies make it hard on not just himself, but her as well. He's her savior and he deserves so much more than he already has.

"Get it together, mare. You gotta get everything together."

She takes a big breath and makes her way to the kitchen to start on late-night snacks and some appropriate drinks for the house. After all, it wasn't like they were the only two that were here in the first place. In the kitchen hunched over the sink washing dishes is a dwarfed Changeling humming away a tune of unknown origin. She once tried to ask her about it, but she refused to elaborate other than "when the time comes you'll know". Such a useful and mysterious mare...

"Evening, Ink." She says while rummaging through the cupboard.

"Evening, Mistress." The Changeling, "I'm assuming sir Lugnut is in?"

"You would assume correctly. Are the other girls in?"

"I don't believe so. Snow and Aura are currently taking their time coming back from a client's house. Isabelle said that she was going to go collect a bounty and would most likely be at the tavern most of the night."

"Hm. I see. Whelp, nothing to be done about it. They're all smart girls, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Especially Isabelle. Out of everywhere to stay, she chooses here. I'll never understand it."

"At least you don't have to get hired muscle to keep some of the rowdier boys in line." The Changling snickers, "Aside from that, I hear Lugnut has taken quite a liking to her."

"I think he sees her more as a protective older sister than anything else..."

"Is that jealousy I hear, Mistress~"

"Watch your tongue!" She stammers out nearly cutting herself with a knife.

"I kid I kid~ Unless~"

"Ink..."

"I'll let it go, for now, Mistress. But you'll have to face your feelings at some point."

"Hm."

A few minutes pass and the living room finds itself full of life and noise. Lugnut rolls the dice across the living room table pumping his hoof upon rolling doubles for the second time.

"Lucky~" He comments moving his piece across the board before drawing a card, "Reveal one card from a player's hand and have them perform the action or answer the question. I'm going with you, Mistress."

Mistress sighs and flicks some hair from her muzzle before holding out the hoofful of cards she's managed to, unfortunately, collect during the runtime. He takes his time examining each one before pulling from the middle.

"Chance! Now let s... Uh... C-Can I put this one back?"

"Sorry young Lugnut, once chosen there's no going back." The Changeling speaks grinning earhole to earhole, "So what have you gotten for her?"

"I... Er... It says... Selected player has to flirt with you for the rest of the game or a null card is played."

Silence. A beat passes. A devilish smirk is formed. Nervousness enters his eyes as he glances from the card to her he feels as if he's prey caught by an apex predator. In this case, it was true.

"Oh?~ What an interesting card~ If the card says so, I wouldn't mind flirting with such a young strapping stallion such as yourself~" She says leaning forward towards him from across the table.

"W-Wait! H-Hold on! My heart isn't ready!"

"Your heart may not be, but I'm sure we could get another part of you ready~" She says flicking her eyes down before meeting his.

A large blush spreads across his face. Something inside of him was beginning to stir and the two females could easily tell.

"H-Hey! Y-Y-Y"

"Enough talk, dear~ You can use that mouth for so~ Much~ More~"

Suddenly Lugnut's luck was beginning to turn against him.