Button Mash stretched as soon as he exited through the chapel’s main doors and stepped out into the street, his robe hanging over his svette body loosely. The clothing he wore marked him as a devotee of Cadance, the god of love, and healing, and more importantly that he was a full blown priest. For upon his chest, just over his heart was the pink ribbon of an ordained priest which blended in nearly perfectly with the rest of his outfit.

The collar of his robes was high, though the outfit itself did little to hide his feminine body, and especially not his sleek legs which were made all the more eye catching by the strips of clothes that draped down them. The robe itself was a mix of white, soft pink, and light purple, the entire color scheme serving to further bring out the male’s more feminine features. Upon his flanks he bore his god’s seal, the crystal heart of legend, which bound all of Cadance’s followers.

Breathing deeply, the male puffed out his chest, proudly displaying the ribbon which marked this change. A wide grin quickly split his face, his inner mirth shining through as he reveled in his most recent achievement.

Looking up at the sky, Button Mash breathed deep of the warm summer air, letting it fill his lungs and giving him a sense of calm and peace. Which was quickly broken the second he heard the clank of heavy, booted hooves coming up beside him. His smile quickly became a frown and his long, two toned brown hair fell over the right side of his face.

“Babs Seed.” He muttered, only to sigh. “How did I know you were going to be late?”

“Because we’ve been friends for years.” Replied the mare, who came to a stop to the male’s right.

With a sigh, Button Mash shook his head and looked upon one of his oldest friends, noting that she was sporting a fresh, and rather large bruise on her cheek. The rest of her was much harder to see given the fact that the patchwork of scale armor, mixed with studded leather hid everything from the neck down. A long poleaxe rested in the crook of her right shoulder, and she wore a wide grin on her face.

Button Mash sighed. “Hold still a moment.”

Babs raised an eyebrow but otherwise did as she was told. “Gonna use some of your fancy magic on this little thing? Don't bother. It's not worth the effort.”

The male merely rolled his eyes, raised his hoof to her cheek and began to mutter a prayer to his goddess under his breath while twisting his body this way and that. Immediately his hoof began to glow, and the bruise shrink, until there was nothing left of the blemish.

“There. Now do try and resist getting another one. Your never going to get a boyfriend looking like that.” Commented the male.

The much larger, and much stronger pony snorted, and blew her short red mane from her eyes. “Cus thats worked out so well for you.” She remarked with a smirk.

The male sputtered, a blush crossing his face. “I am not, I don't, you…” He took a breath, and placed a hoof against his chest. “I don't swing that way.”

Babs Seed rolled her eyes. “And I hate apples.”

“So what is your excuse this time?” Button Mash asked. “Let me guess, you were busy running into a doorknob again, hmm?”

Babs Seed smiled wolfishly. “I was defending your honor.”

Button Mash blinked in surprise, before turning fully to his companion. “You what?”

“You heard me. Some blighter heard where I was going and called you the f word. I took offence to that.” Babs Seed chuckled darkly. “And his buddy took offence to me knocking the first guy on his ass.”

“I well… thank you Babs.” Button Mash muttered, before straightening his back and looking forward once more. “Though as a member of the church of love I must admonish you for your violent response.”

“But as Button Mash…” Babs Seed urged playfully.

“Speaking purely for myself, that was… very nice of you.” Button Mash replied at length.

Babs Seed chuckled. “I’m surprised you stuck with the robes. I was sure you would have asked Cadance for a proper priestly attire after that whole debacle when you first joined.”

Button Mash groaned. “Don't remind me. That old fu-ogey.” The male pressed a hoof into his chest and took another steadying breathe. “That old stallion didn't believe I was actually male for years and it seems as though her radiance agrees with him in some small way.”

Babs Seed raised an eyebrow. “Cadance thinks your a girl? Isn't she a goddess?”

“Oh she knows my gender, she just thinks its funny. It was why I was taught how to channel her power like the girls.” Button Mash muttered angrily, though Babs Seed could tell most of that anger was just for show.

“So that's why you have to do that wiggle every time you cast a spell.” Babs Seed remarked. “Not that I mind, I rather enjoy the show.”

The male snorted, his blush returning with a vengeance. “Yeah well, your accent is gone and now your twenty percent less attractive.”

Babs seed shrugged. “I don't mind too much. Besides, it comes out occasionally, as much as my old teachers hate it.”

The two stood there in silence, merely watching the white fluffy clouds float overhead, and the various ponies of Ponyville trot to and fro. A few other priests and priestesses trotted out of the small chapel set near the center of Ponyville, but the majority of traffic were farmers and other common folk going to and from the market nearby. It was all rather scenic, and Button Mash resisted ruining the moment for as long as possible, but eventually his patience simply ran out.

“Soo… did you find any other potential party members?” He asked nervously.

Babs Seed shrugged her armored shoulders. “Not exactly. I mean, I found one, maybe. Though I’m not sure about it.”

“what's there not to be sure of? We can't go adventuring just the two of us. We’d never be able to help anyone like that.” Button Mash remarked.

“Okay first. Owch.” Babs Seed began, faking insult. “Secondly, the individual in question slipped a letter into my locker the last time I was at the gym, and it didn't give a name.”

“What information did it give?” Button Mash inquired, the male looking up at his hulking friend.

“Table three, the Pig and Cub, three o clock, thursday.” Babs Seed replied evenly.

“That's today, and in like ten minutes. Why didn't you say something earlier?” Whined Button Mash.

“I’m telling you right now aren't I?” Babs Seed replied simply.

The male groaned and rolled his eyes. “Your not wrong, your just an ass.”

Babs Seed chuckled. “No argument there, so what do you think. Should we bother?”

Button Mash grumbled to himself for a moment. “We haven't garnered any other interest, have we?”

Babs Seed shook her head. “Noone wants to party up with the two newbies I’m afraid.”

Sighing to himself, Button Mash raised his hoof into the air and uttered a quick prayer, at the end of which a long white staff with a pink gem embedded on the end appeared in his open hoof. “Then we might as well hear whoever this is out. If we are lucky they already have a group of two.”

“With our luck it's more likely to be someone pulling a con or running a pyramid scheme.” Babs Seed added.

“Don't jinx it.” Button Mash shot back.

Babs Seed shrugged. “I calls em like I sees em.”

“Still. Lets just pretend like our luck is finally going to turn around.” Button Mash exclaimed optimistically.

Babs Seed sighed, and grabbed her weapon. “Sure, why not? Because today is working out so well already.”

Pushing open the saloon style doors, the two adventurers looked out over the more or less empty tavern. A few ponies armed with spears, and wearing plate mail sat by the bar, while the rest of the place was empty, the bartender chatting with the two armored ponies. Button Mash took a step further inside and looked around, his eyes narrowing as they adapted to the relative gloom of the building.

“I don't see anyone. Also, who the hell knows which table is which? It's not like they have numbers on em.” Babs Seed muttered irritably.

“There. I see someone, but they are wearing a hood.” Button Mash whispered, leaning towards his companion and pointing out the individual in question. “See?”

Babs Seed nodded. “I see em. Well, let's go say hello.”

“Wait, aren't those the robes of a necromancer?” Button Mash whispered under his breath.

Babs Seed’s eyes narrowed and she nodded slowly. “Sure look like it. What's the problem? Necromancers are wizards right? We need a wizard.”

“Yes but they are evil.” Button Mash hissed. “Cadance warned against their unnatural magic, and vile nature.”

“Oh is this some religious thing? Why don't we go talk to them and get it figured out then?” Babs Seed remarked, before turning and walking towards the mystery pony.

Leaving Button Mash sputtering weakly. “Babs, wait, Babs!” He sighed and hung his head. “Cadance grant me patience.” He muttered before trotting after his companion.

“Hey, I got your note.” Babs Seed remarked, as she took a seat to the hooded figure’s right, the fighter noting that the strange pony seemed tall, and very thin.

“Good.” Replied the pony, their voice altered by what was likely magic, making it difficult to tell what gender the speaker was.

“And we got some questions.” Added Button Mash, who sat on the other side of the pony, his gaze narrowing.

The pony seemed to have a vaguely feminine build to them, their form tall, and a little lanky, their black robes hanging loose about their body, hiding most of their features. All save for a horn was obscured by the deep robes, the long black appendage poking out from the top of their hood.

“Such as?” Asked the pony.

“The fuck is up with the mystery pony act?” Babs Seed blurted out.

The mystery pony in question sighed. “I did not wish to be spotted by anypony, but as mother always says, trust must first be given.”

Button Mash blinked. “Wait, thats… oh my.”

The pony pulled back her hood, revealing a curly cerise and violet mane which was cut short just above her eye line, her bright opal orbs bellying an inner fire. Her fur was a soft pink, and though her features were slightly gaunt there was no mistaking the princess of love and daughter of Cadance.

“Flurry Heart?” Button Mash muttered in shock. “But I thought you were in the Crystal empire.”

“That's what they all think and how I’d like to keep it.” Flurry heart replied, hastily tugging her hood back into place and making her features vanish once more, her voice gaining the same mysterious edge to it.

“Huh, so you know any fancy spells? Other than for hidin?” Babs Seed asked, leaning on the table.

“Does she know… Babs this is the princess of the crystal empire, daughter of her radiance.” Button Mash hissed.

“And she is sitting right here.” Flurry Heart added. “Oh, and she hates it when her worshippers call her that.”

Button Mash threw his hooves in the air. “What are you doing out here miss Flurry Heart and why are you dressed like a necromancer?”

“Because I am one. I want to help ponies. Really help ponies, and I can't do that from some ivory tower.” Replied Flurry Heart. “And please, call me Bleeding Heart.”

“Metal.” Babs Seed declared with a grin.

“Thank you. I think it fits my new persona quite well.” Flurry Heart replied.

“I er…” Button Mash fell into his seat. “The goddess is testing me, that must be it.”

Flurry Heart snorted. “If this is one of mother’s tests then she had best tell me. I hate being a peice on her board or a tack on her wall.”

“Wait, tack on her wall?” Babs Seed interrupted.

Flurry Heart sighed. “It's a shipping wall and she… you know what, its better that you don't know. I need experience, experience which can only come from actually being out there, and doing something. So are you going to take me on or what?”

Babs Seed nodded. “Hell yeah we are. Dungeons are going to be a breeze if we have an alicorn on our side.”

“Wait, you can't seriously be considering this.” Hissed Button Mash, who was glaring at his companion. “If something happens to her we are going straight to Tartarus, do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, no appeals.”

Flurry Heart shook her head. “That's not how it works. Also, don't rely on me too much. Father was a bit… overprotective for most of my youth. I don't know many spells and the few I do came from a grimoire I found.”

“That explains the necromancy thing.” Babs Seed remarked idyly.

Flurry Heart nodded. “Indeed. In time I wish to expand my knowledge but for now I know only a few necromancy spells, and a teleportation spell aunty taught me.”

“Well that is useful…” Button Mash remarked only to shake his head. “What am I saying? We can't do this. Its heretical!”

“Look, your a fan of mom’s which means you know how important it is to look after the weak, and the innocent. So think of it this way. I’m going to adventure with or without you, and with you, I have a better chance of surviving.” Flurry Heart reasoned.

Button Mash frowned, and tapped his hoof impatiently against the desk, his gaze distant for an entire minute. “Fine. Though I feel like I’m still committing some light heresy, I’ll allow you into our party.”

“You say that like it was your decision.” Remarked Babs Seed with a snort, the fighter crossing her armored hooves over her chest.

“Yes well, its decided now.” Button Mash concluded.

“Great, because I even have our first job.” Declared Flurry Heart, who reached deep into her cloak, and placed a sheet of paper on the center of the table.

Babs Seed and Button Mash both leaned in. “Slimes?” They asked in unison, turning to Flurry heart.

“Slimes.” Declared the alicorn. “They are a good way to test our abilities, as they are rarely fatal, and should be pretty easy. Plus they are plaguing this one spice merchant in particular, so he's paying a pretty bit to get rid of them.”

“A hundred bits just to kill some slimes? Woah, that is quite a bit.” Button Mash admitted.

“That's like a week’s wages.” Added Babs Seed.

“Really? Huh. Well that's better than what I thought.” Flurry Heart muttered.

“Right.” Babs Seed declared, the mare snatching up the notice and tucking it into one of her front pockets. “Let's get started.”

“The cave they are coming from is along the freedom road, just a few minutes into the Everfree. It shouldn't take long to get there.” Flurry Heart added.

Babs Seed nodded a small smile crossing her face. “You know Button, I think our luck really is turning around.”

“See? I told you. Plus I mean law of averages, it had to turn around eventually.” Button Mash replied with a grin of his own.

“Wait, how unlucky are you two, exactly?” Flurry Heart asked nervously, glancing from one pony to the other.

“I mean we aren't that unlucky.” Button Mash offered weakly.

“Y-yeah.” Babs Seed declared. “Besides, now it's over so its nothing to worry about.”

Flurry Heart frowned, and crossed her forehooves over her chest. “You two are going to make me regret this aren't you?”

Button Mash scoffed. “Us? No way.”

“Totally. We are the luckiest ponies around.” Babs Seed added.

Flurry Heart sighed. “Let's just get moving already before I change my mind.”

Author's Note

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