Advent Of A Gunslinger

They both would read over the contents of the letter. In essence, it stated that Tony was about to leave Klugetown come the next day--Sunday--and wanted to let his daughter know beforehand.

Roseanne, however, was not going to settle for that.

“Ah ain’t about’ta let him stay there another day,” she mumbled lowly, “And since ya know him too, I figured I should let ya know first.”

Confused by this, Axel would ask her a question. “Hang on now. Why’dja come’ta me first? Why not let yer cap’n know?”

“Because...she ain’t got no connection to him like you do,” Rose continued, “And Ah wanted’ta vent myself to ya so I don’t make a fool’a mahself in front of her.”

The news that Tony was in danger rattled Axel to his core. Beneath his mask, he grit his teeth. Beneath his leather armor, his wings quivered. While he didn’t express it outright, he was quite concerned for the minotaur man, and wanted him to survive.

After all, too many lives had already been lost in the past and present. And Axel wasn’t going to allow the body count to increase.

“Go let ‘er know,” he said, pointing in the direction of the captain’s quarters. Then he would put that same claw on one of her shoulders. “We’ll keep yer pa safe. I can promise you that. Thankfully, we’re already moseyin’ our way down there. Soon as we cash in this here kitty mage, then we’re off.”

Thanks to Axel’s words, Roseanne felt more calm than before. She was able to think clearly as she took deep breaths. In, then out.

“...Alright, pard,” she replied with a sigh, “Ah think Ah’m ready’ta let Celaeno know about what Ah’m dealin’ with. Thanks fer listenin’...”

That was unexpected. Did such a small act of giving Rose an ear to listen to really help that much? Axel had slowly started to realize the importance of communication with others, and had a feeling that the time he spent with Tony would only further cause pain if something bad were to happen.

“No problem,” he nodded, “Now go on. Let yer cap’n know.”

With no further words, Roseanne would leave Axel be, and head back down to Celaeno’s quarters.

Now alone, the gunslinger took a moment to weigh the potential outcomes. The fact that Tony’s life was now on the line altered his priorities ever so slightly.

“Old man...we’re comin’ for ya. Don’t croak on us, alright?”

The truth was that he was afraid. Afraid of losing another innocent person to these ‘Felidae’ folks. And afraid of how it would affect Rose if she lost her only remaining parental figure. It simply wasn’t something he was mentally prepared to face.

So he’d make sure it’d never happen.

About an hour later….

The ship would make a stop in the middle of the desert. Much to the confusion of Axel and Kora, who could see nothing but sand below them.

“Hold up now,” he muttered, “Just where is this guild that the cap’n was talkin’ about?”

“Is it hidden?” Kora mused as she stroked her chin, “I’m not too familiar with this area to know.”

Luckily, their griffon friend had the knowledge they sought. “No no, amigos,” he said while stepping up to greet them on the main deck. “I’ve given many a tour past this area. The Erosion Trade Guild is hidden beneath the mirage of the desert sands.”

“Hmph,” a voice called out to them, “You sure know your stuff, Vido.”

The trio turned their heads, and found Celaeno walking up to greet them with a burlap sack flung over her shoulder.

“Señorita,” Vido answered, “That I do. Research on unexplored areas is one of my favorite pastimes.”

“Alright then,” she shot the griffon a challenging glare, “Why don’t you come down and join me? Make sure the transaction goes smoothly.”

The griffon was in disbelief. She wanted him to accompany her down there? That was just about the last thing he would have expected from her. “Woah! What?! No--focus, Vido. Don’t screw this up by saying something abnormal.” After a few thoughts raced around his head, he gave a quick response. “No problem, Captain. I’m with ya the whole way.”

“Good,” Celaeno looked at Kora and Axel, “You two stay here. It shouldn’t take us more than ten minutes.”

Neither the gunslinger nor the martial artist had an issue with this order.

“Heard,” Axel replied.

“Understood, ma’am,” Kora added.

Once the ship touched down into the sand, both Celaeno and Vido would step off, and begin their trek towards this hidden guild…

Meanwhile, in Klugetown…

Mio had entered Rongu’s office to discuss what he had accomplished.

“I tailed him,” said the tom, “He didn’t see anything, and thus, is of no use to us.”

“Hm…” the dragon man stared the cat man in the eyes. Trying to weed out any shakiness, but it was futile. Mio’s yellow eyes were cold and showed no sign of weakness. “I see,” he replied while leaning back in his chair. “Guess we better put our focus into the train that’s going to arrive tomorrow, hm?”

Mio adjusted his half-rim glasses. “That would be the most beneficial course of action, yes.”

Rongu got up from his desk, and beckoned the tom with a claw. “Come this way, kid. I wanna show you something.” Seconds afterwards, he would press a button beneath his desk that was right next to a framed photo of himself alongside a red dragon female. This would reveal a passageway behind a bookshelf that was to his left. “Follow me.”

“...What in the gods name?” Mio flicked his tail. This wasn’t something he was familiar with. In fact, he was instantly more wary of the dragon because of it.

Rongu would lead him through the passageway and into an elevator--not unlike the ones used to traverse floors in the rest of Klugetown. However, there was one major, key difference.

This was not for taking someone through different residential areas.

“This way,” the dragon gestured, “It’s time you see for yourself just what’s going on down here.”

“Oh really?” Mio replied with an apprehensive tone, “Are you sure it’s something actually worth my time?”

Rongu simply chuckled in response. “Oh you! You’re quite the funny character, aren’t you? Come on, let’s not waste anymore time.”

The two entered the elevator, and the dragon would press a button that took them down. Rongu then grabbed a flashlight, and offered one to Mio.

“Here,” he said, “You’ll need this.”

“Just how dark is this place?” Mio questioned as he took the flashlight.

“Don’t worry, it won’t be for much longer.”

Once the elevator came to a stop, they would exit into what appeared to be a large mineshaft with loads of minecarts on tracks being pushed and pulled by ponies who were attached to them. Within the carts were loads of valuable materials such as rare gems, ores, and even gold!

“....Rrrrwow…is there where the ponies you buy end up?” Mio muttered aloud to conceal what he truly felt at that moment. “...What sort of cruelty is this?”

“That’s right,” Rongu went on, leading Mio through the mine, “I figured it was about time that I show you what this place is really like. Just to let you know what it is we’re striving to accomplish here.”

“...And that is?”

The dragon glared at the tomcat with a smug expression, showing off his dagger-like teeth. “What else? Unlock the secrets that are hidden within these mines. Secrets that could grant someone the ability to have whatever they wanted…”

Unimpressed, the tom would speak his mind. “Hrm...sounds quite far-fetched if you ask me. I read a lot of books, Rongu. Those sorts of artifacts are things you only find in the stuff of legends.”

“Or so you think…” said the dragon.

Eventually, they would come to a stop and see a group of about a dozen ponies constantly hacking away at rubble with pickaxes.

“But I know what’s buried here,” he went on, “My ancestors used to roam this land in their respective tribes before they were forced out by the settlers…”

That was something you didn’t hear every day. The mere idea that dragons could be driven out by others was quite the tale. Even Mio was slightly invested at this point.

“But how?” said the tom, “Who…?”

“It matters not!” Rongu suddenly shouted, then cleared his throat. “...Ahem. What I mean is that we have more important things to focus on. And if you continue to do your job well enough, then you’ll be in a better position than where you started from. After all…” he put a claw on Mio’s shoulder, “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to go back onto the streets, fending for yourself, now would you?”

The tom fell silent, and his tail went limp. The idea of returning to that life at this stage sent a sensation of true fear through his body. Was this really something he could overcome?

“Would you?” Rongu asked again with a threatening growl, prying for an answer.

“...No. I wouldn’t,” Mio finally replied.

“Good,” he let the tom go, “Now get back to your station. I have a...meeting to attend.”

Fearful thoughts wormed their way into Mio’s head. “What could he mean by that? Why is he so needlessly cryptic? Pull yourself together, man…”