Canterlot Academy Trials

Eventually, our party would sail down to a smaller landmass connected to the continent in which Trotsylvania was a part of. There was a port located there that opened up to a wide crevasse that transitioned into a canyon made of orange-ish brown rock that was split into a wide path.

On that path is where the Kobold Canyon itself was located. And with that, came the kobolds that the region was named after. Small dragon-like creatures with stocky bodies and no wings. They looked extremely similar to dragons and to the untrained eye, outright identical…

“And here we are!” Marrow squeaked as they made port at the canyon, “I’ll join in and look around for any treasures we can bring back.”

“Alright,” Nebula replied with a nod as they walked down the loading plank and onto the port’s dock. “We’ll call out for you if we need your help.”

“Right-o, mateys! I’ll be here whenever you need me!” Marrow replied as he set off with a few of his rodent crewmates in tow.

With that, Nebula’s group would split off from Marrow’s. The stallion, kirin, dragon, and demon-pegasus would jog in the direction of the canyon where they’d funnel into the Kobold civilization. On both sides of the canyon, they’d see lots of wingless dragonfolk selling items at various stalls for tourists. To their left, there was a stall where a female kobold was selling necklaces made of their very shedded scales. To their right, a male kobold was selling various weapons made with the crystals they mined here in the canyon.

Beyond those, there was a stall that sold pottery, musical instruments, local foods, parchments, mining equipment, and more. Somehow, the desert landscape of the canyon was perfect for them.

“Huh…” Blue muttered as he took a look around, “I didn’t think this place would actually be this populated.”

“I know, right?” Nebula agreed, “But it looks like it’s working out for them just fine, huh? Oh how I’d love to engage in their culture. Those instruments look amazing…”

Grimrose would interject, “Except we’re not here as tourists, Atomic. We’re here on a mission. Bonetail is lurking around here somewhere and we need to find him.”

“You’re the leader,” Mei spoke up as she glanced at Nebula, “Where do you think we should go to get our start? Should we split up, stick together…?”

Both were ideal options and Nebula knew this. However, he wanted to take care of this with as much precision and care as possible since he also knew that Grimrose’s relationship with her parents was at stake to some degree.

‘If we do well here, maybe she’ll be less annoyed by the time we get back. This is important for her.’

Before he could make a proper plan though, he was interrupted by what appeared to be an elderly kobold with large glasses over her eyes. She had green scales, walked with a cane, and wore purple robes over her body, giving her the appearance of a wise elder.

“Excuse me…” her low, yet caring voice called out to the group. “Would you perhaps be the group of adventurers here looking for a certain…criminal?”

Everyone glanced at the elderly kobold and Nebula spoke up first. “Yes ma’am. We’re here on a mission to find an individual named--”

“...Bonetail I take it?” she raised a brow and coughed, “Argh! Ahem…look around, sonny. We’ve been trying to locate him with the aid of Count Orcus’ soldiers to no avail.”

Nebula’s group would pause and take a look around the canyon. True to the elder’s words, there were various batpony guards dressed in jet-black armor located at the edges of the canyon’s peaks and stationed around the inner canyon itself. They all were on the lookout for any sign or information on the lich dragon known as Bonetail.

“Think you could help us?” the elderly reptilian asked.

“Of course,” Nebula replied, “My name is Atomic Nebula. This is Mei Bi-Ju, Blue Blazes, and Grimrose Orcus. We arrived here on the SS Apodemus led by Captain Marrow.”

An exchange of information was the key to keeping things civil. If the kobold lady wanted to help them, then he wanted nothing to be hidden between them. And in turn, she would introduce herself.

“My name is Geki,” she answered, “A pleasure to meet you all. Please follow me.”

The elderly kobold led them through the opening of the canyon. As they walked, a few other kobold-folk would stop and gaze at the group. Some were glancing at Blue, curious as to the nature of a dragon and his wings. Others were interested in the pony-like creatures and wondered how they’d manage in a fight. Even some of the younger, child kobolds were interested, gazing at them with large eyes. Each of the group’s members would react in their own ways.

Nebula would smile and wave at the kobolds who glanced in his direction as he walked.

Blue would smirk and flex his wings, showing off the extraneous limbs that kobolds lacked.

Mei would push up her glasses and keep her head held high with an aura of professionalism.

Grimrose would shy away from the attention, tilting her head downwards in order to focus.

“Apologies,” Geki called out as the dirt path of the canyon they walked on turned into a brick-layered one, “They’re very curious about outsiders. Please don’t mind them.”

Along with the path change would come a scenery change. Now they had entered the residential area of Kobold Canyon complete with stony homes built into the side of the canyon itself. Some of the kobolds could be seen training with various weapons near the square. Others were gardening, playing, or heading into a nearby cave to mine crystals.

“Wow…this place is actually pretty relaxing,” Blue commented on the area, “A bit colder than the Dragon Lands but still.”

“I agree,” Mei added, “I get a nice, cozy feeling when I look at this place.”

Nebula would jump in, “It’s very nice, Ms. Geki--”

But Grimrose cut everyone off, “...can we please speak with you about Bonetail??”

“Of course,” Geki pointed her cane to a home that rested in the middle of the square that required stepping up a flight of wooden steps to access. “There.”