Reborn in a Dating Sim: Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game! Book 2

Reborn in a Dating Sim:

Life as a Mob is hard in an Equestria Girl’s Dating Game!

Book 2

Chapter Two

The moment they arrived at the Capital the airship docked. Copper looked to see the dock workers moving to secure it in place, and he noticed the other ship that was docked next to it. That ship had been the one that his Father had purchased for the drone that had taken his mother’s place. He could see the thin layer of dust that covered it, and part of him wondered how long they were going to let it just remained docked.

There was no denying that it was certainly a reminder of what had happened. He couldn’t blame his Dad for not wanting to use it. In a way he could see that it was a painful memory. It was a reminder of what had happened, and he couldn’t deny that it would bother him too. Still, if they weren’t going to use it then the next best thing would be to sell it. That was kind of the rub though. He knew that his Father wanted to justify the purchase. He wanted to justify the reason for having it.

It came from them having to struggle for so long. For as long as he could remember they had struggled endlessly when it came to the finances, and that was mostly because of the actions of the drone that had taken his mother’s place. That drone had demanded the ship, that drone had demanded the house in the capital, and that drone had done everything it could to belittle and emasculate his Dad. It had treated him like a subhuman, and the end result was it had been using him. It had been doing all it could to undermine his feelings toward his family.

He knew the reasonings for it, thanks to Queen Celestia, but he didn’t know exactly what Queen Chrysalis had gotten out of it. All he knew was that she somehow fed from their emotions. That in a way she was a sort of a vampire. A creature that fed from the emotions of those around it. As it was she still useful, and currently she was being used to teach at the academy. There was no reason to disrupt that part of her life.

The choker that Artemis had put on her completely put her under his control. She was still her own person, but thanks to the choker she wanted to serve him. She had offered to become a mere lover to be used by him and all of his wives. Her action, her decision, felt so odd. He wasn’t sure why she would want to debase herself like that. In truth it made so little sense that he wasn’t sure how to answer her.

Instead, he had told her no, a simple answer, and he decided to keep an eye on her from afar. His thoughts were directed back to the present with the final sounds of the all clear. He looked toward the others, and then he watched as the five idiots began to leave the ship. He then saw Satin. Artemis had went ahead and placed a few listening devices in her cabin. Other than hearing the sound of her being a power bottom there wasn’t really much that was discussed. That said, listening to that made him feel weird. Not just because he didn’t specifically like her, but because it was like listening to his sister from his previous life.

He hadn’t wanted to listen to that then. And he sure didn’t want to listen to it now. In the end, it was obvious that if she was going to talk about what had happened, and how she became the saint, it would be on this trip. The other thing he realized was that the prince and his buddies apparently liked to do multiples with her. He shook his head, surprised that the girl could walk straight, let alone have the energy to make her way to the temple.

The group of them began to make their way. Ahead of them were a collection of knights in full armor. Where most adventurers, and other warriors, tended to wear light armor which allowed for greater movement the Temple Knights were dressed in traditional looking armor. It was easy to see that the inspiration for it came from ancient roman armor. The helms had tall plums, all of which were blue. The helms themselves were golden, and the chest armor was the same.

The Pteruges were something that was certainly different. To see them on the knights was to want to say they were wearing leather skirts that were covered with metal strips. Of course it wasn’t incorrect, but he knew that they had more than going for them. Each of the strips of leather had runes burned into them. Those runes made up barrier spells, and they activated when magic was hurled at one of them. It was a decent protection, or at least it was up to a mid tier spell. Anything on the higher range was absolutely getting through.

He knew because technically he was supposed to be wearing the same thing. The one problem was that since he was still in the academy he couldn’t be awarded the armor until after he graduated. So, his armor was prepared, stored, and would be given to him upon his graduation. And then he would only be required to wear it when he was acting in his role as a temple knight. The knights surrounded Satin, and he watched as they separated her from the five idiots. Of course there was a small ruckus, but it quieted down when the other person traveling with the knights stepped forward.

He watched as she neared the group, and all of the complaints just ended. Not a single person wanted to say something that could be considered offensive to the one standing there before Satin. He watched as Head Priestess Luna neared the petite girl, “Saint,” she said, her voice firm, “I have contacted Viscount Copper Plum Bit, and I have informed him of the situation. I believe that he will hand over the last bit of the needed artifacts upon our arrival at the temple,” she said as she looked at her, “But, I must request that you please demonstrate your power.”

This was directly from the game. It was part of the stupid minigame that happened when the saint was discovered. The minigame had to be passed. There was no way around it. Failing it meant failing the game itself. The saint had to perform a miracle in front of the Head Priestess. And he knew what the miracle was. There was someone grievously wounded, and it would be up to Satin to heal that person.

Part of him was curious to see if she could even do it. Normal healing magic was something that anyone could learn. It could heal up to broken bones, but it couldn’t restore anything that was already gone. A missing arm or leg would remain missing. Gouged out eyes were simply gone, and bones that had been shattered into splinters would never be pulled back together. Normal healing magic was merely to repair simple injuries.

It was useful, and there was no doubt of that, but the test of the saint wasn’t the power. It was the fact that she could completely restore a person who was beyond the scope of normal healing. Head Priestess Luna stepped back, and there lying on a gurney, which was held by two temple knights, was a young adventurer. Copper had seen her before. She had been at the Academy, but she wasn’t a student. Instead her golden hair looked matted now. She’d had lovely green eyes, both of which were covered by bandages. Her left arm was wrapped in what could only be called healing gauze.

She was in all honest truth in dire straights. There was no denying the dangerous position she was in. He felt someone grab his arm, “Sis, no, it cain’t be!” Applebloom said, her voice sounding worried, “It jest cain’t be!”

He could feel the worry pouring off of her, and he could understand why. His own mind pushed as hard as it could to figure out what she was doing here. There had to be a reason for it. He looked toward Head Priestess Luna who shook her head. Obviously she knew the reason, but she couldn’t divulge it at the moment. She had to allow this test to happen. He understood exactly what she meant. In order for it to take place, in order for Satin to be instated as the true saint, she had to do this on her own.

She couldn’t use any of the artifacts to do it. That was the test. The saint was supposed to be able to completely heal, from the point of near death, anyone that she came across. Her abilities to protect were supposed to be beyond the scope of normal magic. As far as tests went he had to admit that this was a good one. He knew that High Priestess Luna could restore Applebloom’s sister, and if Satin failed then she would do it for her.

Afterward she would likely get a slap on the wrists for claiming to be the saint. Since the title wasn’t officially given yet they couldn’t try her for treason. Instead she had merely managed to get to a place within the labyrinth that she shouldn’t have been able to get to. The thing was that Copper knew that there were passages in the labyrinth that could lead directly to the artifact that was lying in wait. Those passages negated most of the fights through the labyrinth itself.

It was even possible to nab the artifact without getting the attention of the creatures guarding it if a person was moving quietly enough and had enough camouflage charms on. It would be a matter of getting back up to the entrance of the labyrinth without drawing attention that would be the trick. Even then it was tricky. He’d done it because it was one of the stupid achievements that his sister had wanted. She wanted a complete hundred percent, and it meant unlocking those stupid cutscenes.

He watched as Satin moved forward, she looked nervous, but then she closed her eyes, and like in what he could remember of the game her hands began to glow a soft green. It spread up to her elbows, but that was it. He remembered the game, and he remembered that Applebloom glowed green all over. It was her entire body that was a complete conduit for the magic that she had. There was no doubt that Satin was indeed powerful. He couldn’t deny that anymore. She had ability, and she had power, but where Satin was a thunderstorm, granted a powerful one, Applebloom was the largest of tornadoes. The difference in their power was staggering.

Satin neared her, and she touched the adventurer. For a moment there was nothing, and then all of the adventurer’s body began to glow the same green. He watched as she moved, as the healing gauze fell off, and the arm looked whole. The bandages around her eyes disappeared, and he watched as he eyes began to form back in her head. Every single laceration, every single mark was healed. After a few moments Satin shook her head, and she stumbled. It was Apollo that caught her, and kept her from falling over.

Yes, Satin was strong, she was powerful, but she wasn’t the saint. Copper remembered the game, and he remembered that Applebloom had done all of the healing in the game with no problem. She never stumbled, she never fell, and she showed no signs of being fazed at all. It was merely something she had to do. Satin breathed out, and she watched as the adventurer began to look around, “Where in tarnation,” she asked as she laid there, “Wait, Head Priestess Luna?”

Her voice held a reverence that was difficult to ignore, “Oh, forgive a simple adventurer like me fer not showing the kind of respect y’all’s owed,” she said taking a knee, “Ah ask that y’all spare mah family from the potential wrath of not bein’ acknowledged ‘fore Ah did.”

He watched as Head Priestess Luna shook her head, “Rise,” she said, her voice soft, “There is no worry, there is no need for this,” she stated, “You have simply assisted me in a matter that I am most pleased to announce is now resolved. Satin, you have proven yourself. The test is complete, and I acknowledge you as the saint,” she said before she looked to Copper, “Temple Knight Copper Plum Bit, I hereby ask that you return the necklace of power to the saint.”

He moved toward her, and he took it out. The look on Satin’s face wasn’t a smug look. It wasn’t a look of accomplishment, but instead it almost looked like she was shamed. She held out her hand, “I accept,” she said, her voice sounding almost depressed, “Thank you.”

He gave it to her, and she wiped her eyes, “I mean it, thank you,” she said as she looked up, “Bubby.”

The word struck a cord with him. The memories came flooding back from his previous life. His bratty little sister, and all of the times that she’d gotten hurt, and he’d been the one to help her. The same little sister that leaned on him and called him bubby. The same one that wanted to be around him until she got older, and even then she seemed to think that her cute nature should have gotten her out of trouble.

“Wait… What?”

It was Diamond Tiara’s who’s eyes widened, “bubby?” she asked, her voice eyes wide, “What are you… Wait, no, is Baron Gold Bit your father?”

The mistake had been made, and there was no recorking this bottle. The idea had already spread, and instantly Copper felt sorry for his Dad. Of course the simplest answer would be to say that it was Chrysalis’ fault. That she had a drone appear as Delicate Emerald, take his father’s seed, and then turn back into Satin’s mother. It would keep his father clear, and it would be in the realm of possibilities.

He could already hear the talking, and he knew that his parents heard it. He hoped, honestly hoped, that it wouldn’t kill their marriage. Not when his Father had finally gotten his Delicate Emerald back. He looked at her, “I guess that Chrysalis really did screw with all of us even worse than I thought,’ he said, hoping that he didn’t screw this up, “If we’re siblings, then I can only imagine that she somehow made one of her drones take the form of mom and come to my Dad. At that point she likely had her leave, take your mother’s form, and then make it seem as if nothing ever happened.”

He saw the realization hit her, and she looked behind him, “I… Yes,” she admitted after a moment, “Mom apologized to my dad about it. She apologized because he had been raising a child that wasn’t fully his,” she said, her own lies coming forth to back his own up, “I didn’t mean to cause any problems, not now, but I wanted to let you know.”

He felt Diamond Tiara hold onto his arm, “I see,” she said, her voice making it sound as if she wasn’t fully convinced, “Then I suppose that there is no sense in attempting to completely distancing myself from you. If you are my bethrowed’s half sibling then I must accept that we will be in each other’s life. However,” she said her voice firm, “If you so much as even attempt to come onto him, even a little, and I shall do all that is within my power to make your life a living hell, do we understand one another?”

Surprisingly he saw Satin nod her head. She acknowledged what Diamond Tiara had said, and she seemed to understand where her place was. He wasn’t going to push for more than that. He’d done what he could to save his parent’s marriage. It had been damaged thanks to the things that the fake Delicate Emerald had done. Laying this at her feet again seemed only right. Besides, he was more than sure that the drone had taken some sick pleasure from watching him suffer.

There was something just wrong with how she acted, and if he ever saw the fake delicate emerald again then it would be far too soon. He was fine with her simply being gone forever. Whatever Chrysalis had done with them was fine with him. They weren’t here, and they weren’t interacting with any of the students, as far as he knew, and that was fine. They didn’t need any more of this bullshit that had happened to keep the border barons in check.

He chanced a look at his parents, and he saw his mother hugging his Father. There was no deception or anger, but instead it was a woman in love with a man that was comforting him. She was comforting him because in her mind he was taken advantage of in a way he hadn’t wanted to be. It had led to a child that he’d never known, and one that he would never get the chance to really know.

The life, for what it was, had hurt his father again. He hoped that it would be something that would heal, but he had been thinking quickly to explain it away. This way it wasn’t really his father’s actions that caused it, and his father wasn’t guilty of infidelity. Instead he had simply been a victim of an insidious plan.

“Let us go to the temple,” Head Priestess Luna said as she looked at Copper, “And there is much that must be discussed there.”

The lie, it seemed, was not completely accepted by all that happened to be there. But then again Head Priestess Luna remembered multiple life times, like her sister, and she likely knew all of the secrets that surrounded Queen Chrysalis.