Bronze Tiara

Chapter two

With a hefty cough, Bronze spewed what water remained in her lungs on the banks of the river downstream. All the while her heavy head fell flat against the dirt and foliage, that grew along the edges of what could have been her watery grave. Looking up to the sky, what the mare saw to greet her were the stars above, as they twinkled away in the night sky. While the moon itself shined almost as bright it seemed as its day time counterpart.

“What do you want from me?” she asked to the heavens, and to the equestrian princess that called the lunar landscape home now, “I get that I haven’t been the best of ponies in these parts, but if you’re going to kill me at least make it quicker than drowning?”

With a sudden leap in her chest though, the mare immediately started to pat herself down as she tried to feel for it. As seconds later she brought out the hammer that had remained in her cloaks’ pocket and held on to his in her hooves like a memory.

Finding what little strength left in her limbs, Bronze managed to put one hoof in front of the other and knelt against the rivers’ edge. Gorging herself on the cool water to quench her thirst and stave off as much of her growing hunger as she could. The mare took a few painting breaths between gulps before turning her attention away, and marched her way down the banks of the river. Thankful that her creations didn’t bother to chase her down the falls and finish her off while she made love to unconsciousness.

With a smidge of luck given her day, Bronze looked onwards to a cottage just at the edge of the river. Even more so to the lights inside that all seemed to be extinguished for the night. Creeping her way to the property, the mare laid there prone, waiting and watching for any sign of some creature still afoot. However, with the night air as stagnant around her as it was in the house. She took it upon herself to creep over towards the shed built just away from the main home near the small field of crops.

Slowly twisting the knob with her talon, Bronze crept her way inside. Looking at the various farm tools used to work the fields, their weight alone told her most of them were of wooden construction, and all but useless to her. Until her eyes laid on the pipe of what looked to be a section of irrigation. Unable to see clearly in the dim light she held the metal up to her tongue, and Bronze tasted the metallic citrusy tang it gave off over her pallet.

“Hmm… copper,” she noted and braced part of the piping on the ground with a back hoof before gripping the other end with her talon.

A quick snap later, and she had a section of piping that could actually be worked for her uses. Still held in her talon, Bronze took a few breaths, and relaxed herself as she braced for the pain to come before finally just shrugging her shoulders to get it over with.

Ramming the rod of metal in to her stump, the mare arched her back over into almost a pretzel as she tried to push the agony out of her mind. Wary not to scream and alert those occupying the house. Biting down on her tongue, she felt the few tears drip down her cheeks as she fought to silence herself over having a piece of metal now grinding its way in to her stump as it wedged between the plating. Knowing full well that would only be part of the pain she’d be dealing with shortly.

Putting said stub on the ground, Bronze tipped her horn down and lit a small flame at its edge. Once again fortifying herself for what she was about to do; the mare slowly ran the flame along the joint from her stump to the pipe. Smelling the searing coat soon after the heat met her skin so close to the fused metal. She knew the brazing wouldn’t be all that strong, copper was a rather fickle metal after all. However, it would hold it in place so she didn’t have to keep stabbing it in to her limb.

Letting out a pained breath after gritting her teeth, Bronze sulked against the door to the shed already wanting to take another nap. Though with no intent on being caught by a farmer the next morning, she pushed herself and put pressure on the new leg.

At first the joint threatened to give way, but as she eased it more and more the crude replacement eventually took hold and supported her frame. Doing a few strides around the shed itself; the mare was satisfied at least that she’d be able to walk normal enough for the time being.

Poking her head out the door, Bronze walked amongst the fields of what appeared to be tomatoes in the lunar light. Swiping up several in one pass, she voraciously tore in to the skins and slurped down the juice on the inside. Downing one after the other to supplement half the river she drank.

At the front door to the cottage Bronze peered inside through the windows, and just as she figured no pony seemed to be awake at all. Resting a talon on the knob a gentle twist unlatched the door and welcomed her in to the home without heed. Keeping her limbs on the various rugs, Bronze kept the sounds of her metal limbs to a minimum as she walked through the lower floor of the home.

Eying a cloak hanging near the back door, Bronze looked down to her own. It remained well waterlogged from her trip down the river, and brand-new tears had been made from the rocks along the way. Quickly swiping the replacement off its hook, she threw it around her form. It was a bit large for her size, but at the very least there were pockets, and it was warm. Bronze immediately set about filling said pockets, feeling a little bad about snatching the ‘rainy day fund’ jar on top of a cabinet.

“I’m sorry about this…” she muttered to the family under her breath, and dumped the contents of the jar to help hold her over.

Satisfied that she isn’t going to starve in the next few hours the mare left the jar on the kitchen table, and made her way for the front door. Slowly opening it once more to let herself out, Bronze looked back to the quiet home and shook her head.

“I go from suppling weapons to countries in a war and trying to wipe them all off the face of this earth, to stealing from a cottage in the middle of the woods,” Seeing truly how far she has fallen since she was but a foal. Bronze took her leave and made her way to the road just next to the home.

Not before nabbing a few more tomatoes for the trip.

***

With a renewed sense of strength from both the impromptu rest along the river back, to the food now in her gut. Bronze reached the outskirts of what looked like just another boarder town to the country, just as the day began to break. The few guards here and there that she would have normally seen in such a small dwelling, now had swelled to half a dozen at a time roaming the streets in packs.

Shrugging her shoulders and pulling the hood up over her head more, Bronze walked with her eyes down low trying to avoid any direct eye contact to those that would likely be looking for her. Silently she remained thankful that the cloak was a few sizes too large, it may have nearly been tripping her, but her limbs were more than covered. The breeze was cold, so a pony trying to bundle up would go by unnoticed… her hooves, or lack thereof however, maybe not.

Walking along the different shops and buildings, she kept her make shift peg leg facing the structures to help draw attention away, knowing full well it would be a dead giveaway to any looking out with a keen eye.

Ducking in to a shop as a patrol walked ahead. Bronze looked out the window as the guards strolled by, before a creak of a floor board perked her ears up. Turning about, an older earth pony colt minded the store as he wiped a few shelves free from the dust that settled.

“Good mornin’ there miss,” he called out to her over the across his beard, having glanced at her for but a moment, “just opened up shop for the day, so everythin’ is freshly stocked, any questions just give me a holler.”

Bronze nodded to the stallion as she walked the aisle, “Much appreciated there,” she looked to the various goods on the shelves as she replied.

Jars of honey and preserved fruits, bundles of fabric for a quick clothing mend, and various tools for your average homeowner. The general store certainly lived up to its name it seemed, however, while she had a moment to breathe. Bronze poked her head around the corner to the colt.

“There does seem to be an awful lot of guards out this morning,” the mare made small talk as she looked over some of the goods from the shelves he cleaned, “Is there something that’s happened?”

With a quick sneeze from the dust getting to him, the stallion brushed his nose with a handkerchief, “you aren’t from around here are ya?” he quickly noted the odd limbs about her, seeing just the smallest protrusion from the hood of what could be a horn.

“I’m afraid not, just passing through actually after coming from capital.”

“Hmm… I see,” he nodded while stroking his beard, “Well the guards are on the lookout for something that dropped from that airship, and crashed near the capital.” He went back to work, putting the duster in his apron and moved towards the counter, as Bronze followed. “Seems there’s some sort of soldiers that doesn’t realize the fight is over.”

Bronze tried to keep her eyes as level as possible, even though they desired to grow with just those few details. Just that alone told her one thing. They likely weren’t keeping an eye out for her, at least not as their main target, “The guards told you this I assume? Seems like it’d be a sensitive matter.”

“Na,” he chuckled, sorting out some papers, “I’m friends with the old garrison leader here in these parts, so I just asked him when he last came over for supper.”

Sharing his smile, Bronze felt her talon drag against the ground for a moment before finally responding to her will. Looking down to the appendage, the gems along it may have not been the brightest to begin with, but this time though they looked as if the life had been snuffed out of them.

“Considering I’ve never been to these parts; do you think you can point me in the direction of a good drink?” she asked, keeping up the mask of just a weary traveler.

“Well, I don’t know about a good drink,” he snickered to himself, “but if you’re looking to get a warm feeling in your belly, I’d try for the local tavern, Bakers Barrel.”

With a nod and a thanks, Bronze took what little directions were needed to find the spot. Which given the size of the town to begin with, wasn’t much of a trek. The tavern looked barely able to hold more than two dozen creatures. Though as she walked inside the mare felt her joints almost lock up, even more than the draining vigor in her gems could cause.

Out of the two dozen that could be customers, at least half of that looked to be some of the guards stationed in this area. All of which remained armed, and armored in Serens’ colors even in this place of drink. Judging by the number of steins that were being passed around, Bronze figured they had all be here a while, and likely well under its effects.

‘I’ve handled drunk colts before…’ Bronze prided herself with at first, before quickly remembering in the end who bested her. While on top of that noting, not all these patrons were ponies.

A few gryphons dotted the ranks of those under the princesses’ crown, along with a zebra here and there, and a lone dwarf drake sitting idly as he drank straight from the barrel. A pony or two she could handle, but between the gryphons’ talons, the zebras natural speed and agility, and the drakes… well, fire. Bronze knew if things turned south, she’d be ash before making it to the door.

With a little extra pep in her step, Bronze sat at the bar counter and waited for the keep to work around to her. “Well seems every creature wants to be an early bird today,” the gruff looking gryphon chortled as he wiped his talons on his apron, “what can I get for ya there miss?”

“Mead? If you have it,” she answered and pulled out a few bits from the bag she swiped with a little levitation from her horn under the hood, “large crowed it seems, eh?”

“Ah I can’t blame them, Frakton over there just had a newly hatched son,” he pointed to a particularly inebriated gryphon, “got the whole day off, and decided to celebrate with some coworkers.”

With nearly another dozen drinks dropped off at the table of the lucky male, Bronze sipped slowly at her own, “As good as any reason.”

“So, what of you?” the barkeep asked, watching Bronze raise a brow from over her glass in an aura, “I know just about every face in this part of the woods of Seren, haven’t see you around before though. Passing through?”

With a simple nod, Bronze lined her story up with that from the shopkeeper, “just came from the capital and wanted a drink after trekking all night through the woods.”

“Ya came to the right place,” he smiles, refilling her mug, “though if you’d been out all night and were looking to get some shut eye, I’d check out the small inn a few doors down from me.” Looking over her shoulder, the gryphons’ smile grew ever wider as he watched one approach, “unless, someone pony out here catches your fancy and takes you home first…”

A moment later, one of the guards from the group sat right next to the mare and leaned against the counter. “Well good mornin’ there miss,” He smiled warmly at her, “May I buy you one? If you’d allow me.”

Meanwhile, Bronze kept her attention to the mug in her horns grasp and only glanced over to the colt as she sized him up. Unicorn, probably around her own age, and from the glassing in his eyes… at least a third his weight in alcohol down for the day.

Fluttering her eyes to the colt as she dropped the hood, she put on the same face she knew all too well for a male, “Why you certainly may.” With that fresh refill in her mug, Bronze returned the gesture to the stallion.

“The names Stellar Star,” he about hiccupped over his lips.

“Cobalt, Cobalt Shield,” Bronze followed up with, before glancing back at the rest of his party. Some of which couldn’t be more obvious they silently egged him on, and let the mare in on one thing, “So tell me… was it a bet that brought you over here, or peer pressure?” she replied with a husk of a grin.

“Ahh… hmm…” Stellar awkwardly scratched the back of his head, feeling some of the drink leave his system after the call out, “would you believe me if I said neither?”

“Perhaps…”

“Noticed when ya first walked in and I wanted to say hello,” he put on his best face, trying to convince her, “… I mean it’d be a shame for such a pretty thing like yourself to drink alone.”

“Well then… don’t let me,” Bronze passed him a wink, and hailed the tender to bring two glasses of bourbon. With a clank she and Stellar toasted their glasses and shot them back. If it hadn’t been for the other thoughts in her head, Bronze may have heard his friends clapping in the background to his praise.

***

“So, what of your horn?” Stellar slurred across from his mug, as he took in the gem encrusted appendage atop her head.

A number of hours had passed sense he sat down with the mare, and while many of his cohorts may have taken it upon themselves to call it an evening and get some shut eye before the following day. Bronze had to give him one thing at least, the colt was a tenacious. Though, in the end, she’d happily spend as little of the bits she procured while he was willing to get her tab.

“Injury from years ago,” Bronze answered like she had so many times in the past when the question would come up, “wanted to feel a little normal afterwards.”

“Well… it certainly doesn’t take away from the rest of ya,” he grinned like a colt trying to ask a mare to dance.

‘That’s the best you can do?’ Bronze thought in her head, forcing a blush to her face to keep the act going. “Why thank you kind sir,” she purred out from under her breath.

Looking out the window at the lights that have all but faded from the early evening coming this time of year, the mare noted that even with the hours that had passed. It seemed they were the last two in there for the night.

“I have been traveling for quite some time last night, and… it would be nice to find somewhere warm to sleep tonight,” she finished the rest of her glass and watched as his ears all but shot up at the prospect.

“Ha-ha,” he stammered over his words, “there’s an inn not far from here… I could walk you there.”

Levitating a few bits on the counter as a tip, Bronze hopped off the stool and beckoned the stallion to follow with all but a flick of her tail. “I’d be honored…” she left him with a purse of her lips, and slithered out the door.

It didn’t take long for the hormone driven male to almost gallop out after her, and soon they were walking along the streets towards the inn. Quiet for this time of night, Bronze still saw many guards walking about the town doing their own rounds. Thankfully paying no heed to the couple pacing towards their bed for the night.

A quick check in rewarded her with a key to a one bedroom, and with a thanks to the inn keeper the pair walked in to the quaint dwelling. A desk for those more inclined to work while they travel, one window overlooking some of the town as its lanterns flickered in the night, and a small but functional toiletries and bath. Something the mare could certainly use after the last few days she’s had. Granted some of that time was laying out in the rain and almost drowning, but there’s nothing like hot water to cure the aches and pains.

Just one thing though was left to attend to.

“May I take your cloak?” Stellar asked as he grasped the collar lightly with a tinge of his own magic.

“Why… of course,” Bronze whipped the garment from over her and on to him. Pulling the cloak off his head welcomed the stallion with the full view of the mare before him, and an immediate case of ‘hoof in mouth’ syndrome.

Tattered, beaten, and bruised skin dotted along her frame from the journey she had taken. As the appendages she had become known for by certain individuals, all but knocked the wind out of Stellars’ lungs without even throwing a punch.

Bronzes’ dinged up and dilapidated talon dragged against the grains of the floor boards, and the limp from her peg carried her closer and closer to the colt. Had he not been in the state he was in, the guard may have actually noticed them on their way over here, but like she had experienced before. He had just one thing on his mind.

Making her job even easier.

“Wha-a-a-?”

“Oh? What is it there Stellar?” she chomped on his name and gestured to the rest of herself, letting one talon run over his cheek as he backed himself against the door, “does this take away from the rest of me?”

“What are you?” he asked in shock, and from those words alone the mare felt the subtle stab at her image for what she had become in recent years.

“I… am the very last mare you should have tried to bed,” snapping her talon out. Bronze grasped on to his horn before he could move out of the way.

Sober he might have stood a chance, but with his reaction time dwindling to that of a snail. The mare was free to do as she pleased. A single pulse of energy laced its way through her limb and in to the skull of her victim, pulling what it needed from him and leaving nothing left.

The light in his eyes faded as the gems of her own limb started to charge back to their full potential. When he began to slip to his flank, she followed, sure to get every last drop she could manage. The silent voice on his lips begging the question of why to the mare, as she watched him helplessly start to shutter under the forceful incursion from her special talent.

With a thud, Stellar dropped face first in to the ground, and Bronze stood over top of her fallen prey. “Sleep tight… Mister Star,” she used the newfound energy to pick the colt up and lay him at the foot of the bed, as she watched him slump against its frame. “It really was nothing personal,” Bronze muttered to the comatose colt, as she slipped behind the bathroom door for a much-needed refresher.