Author's Note

Made some edits; minorish

Chapter 017: Dodge Village.

As they went down the path offered by the mountain, the royal knights arrived at a little settlement.

"You know of this village, Apple?" Treasure inquired.

"I believe it's called Dodge Village."

" Are they as hostile as your village?" Bubble asked.

" I recall my aunt getting eaten alive by them," Apple casually replied.

" Say what?" Quilt was stunned at what she just divulged.

" I don't mind sleeping on the ground for another week. Maybe we should go find some other village; the ones that don't eat ponies," Tapper replied.

"Then perhaps we can kill them and take their essence?" Bubble suggested.

Bright would react to her actions and try to calm the situation down. " We should try and avoid bloodshed, and who knows, maybe they changed?"

Everyone doubted his logic.

Cross would voice his concern about Bright's logic: "You've seen what this world has turned out to be right; what made you sure that this one is sane?"

"Well, we haven't seen one; maybe the boars, but who knows, right?"

Treasure would roll his eyes and be over with it. "Well, one thing is for sure: standing here won't do nothin. You guys stay; I'll check this town out."

As Treasure walked towards the village, Bubble would walk past him and bump him on the way. " Move; it's the leader's job to be at the front, Treasure."

"You, Bi..." he says, holding his tongue less he wants it cut off.

They may have bonded and gotten to know each other, but they were still knights, bound by their oath to the princess.
They may have breached a few rules, but not all of them.

Treasure knows his place and sees how she is leagues away from him; it wouldn't even take a second for her to cut him down. " Forgive my actions."

He bows down toward Bubbles.

She, in turn, would turn off her glare towards him and continue to walk forward.

Tapper and Cross would tap him on the back and shrug.

Bright would go to their side and share his thoughts on the matter.

" She acts like that, but she cares for us all."

He bows down to them and follows his love from the back.

As he got near Bubbles, she remarked on his words towards their subordinates.
" Are you making me look soft, love?"

He'd just scoff at her and say, "Surely you jest? You've always been hard, even in bed."

Bubbles would jab him at his side; it was so fast and solid that Bright was knocked to the side.

It took him a second before he could pick himself up again. It was quite painful.

" Those two show their love differently, huh?" Cross remarked.

Bluebell would look at him curiously and wonder. " So is that the way you want it too?"

" No! Please... No, what you do is fine," he quickly replied.

And because of that, she leaps on his back and hugs him.

" Then carry me!" She gleefully demanded.

Cross could only agree and wonder how it ended like this.

Apple, on the other hand, would look at Treasure with curious eyes.

" No!..." Treasure answered before she could ask.

She'd just blush and bow to her master.

While the two head towards the village and the rest hide and scout the village from afar, nothing seems to happen.

The village looked abandoned.
It has the same design and motif as Appleoosa, but this one is more worn down and abandoned.

Bright would shout, " Hello! We come in peace!"

No answer.

Meanwhile, the rest would follow and be by their side.

This made Bubble question their actions, as she thought they were cowardly enough to do so. " What made you come out of your holes?"

Bluebell would stand in front and report with a salute. " Ma'am, my detection magic spots no life forms or magic within the range of my spells, only a faint source of magic from the ground, which is not toxic to say the least."

Bubble was impressed with how she reported and gave her quite a lot of respect. In return, she would rub her head and thank her.

" Nicely done."

She'd continue patting her head, which she deeply liked.

Tapper saw this and felt that he should get a pat on the head too. "Hey, we did our part too!"

She'd just continued to hug and pat Bluebell and didn't hear a word that came out of Tapper.

"Then perhaps it's best we rest here?" Cross suggested.

Bright would ponder this before he gave his thoughts. "Maybe we can, but we need to keep guard. Who knows what awaits us here at night? What do you think, Leader?"

She was caught looking at him dearly to her love, which caught her off guard for a bit.

"Oh uhm, YES! WE SHALL DO THAT AHM... We switch turn guarding at night while the rest sleeps. This way we won't get caught off guard. I suggest that Bluebell, Treasure, Bright, and me take turns since we are highly adapted to these kinds of situations."

Treasure was a bit uneasy about what Apple just said and was sleeping in this abandoned village.

" You guys sure we won't regret this? How bout you, Apple? Are you okay with this?"

She'd simply bow and reply, " I don't mind if I'm with you, master."

Treasure would blush a bit and agree with the plan in the end. " Fine, but if shit hits the fan, then don't say i didn told you so!"

They all explored the village and searched for a place to rest. In the end, they chose an abandoned inn found in the center of the village.

The sun is about to set, and they couldn't rummage anything in this village; it is truly abandoned.

All they could find were the run-down beds and broken stuff inside the inn.

And there they slept. The first on guard duty was Bluebell.