My Little Pony: When Friendship Shimmers - Rewriting Fate

The following day after an impromptu party curtesy of Pinkie Pie saw the group of seven ponies plus Moon Dancer assisting Sunset & Twilight with moving from Canterlot to Ponyville. Moon Dancer was understandable, especially after learning from Sunset about Sunburst; and Twilight promised to keep Moon Dancer up to date.

As this was all going down, in the slums of Goug, we see Zalmeno doing his part to gather information about the crystal that landed there. However, it is in the trade alley where Zalmeno is approached by three Bangaa. "You. Figured we'd find you here at some point." The obvious leader of the trio said. "So, Garrison went and made you a Moogle Knight it seems. A nobody like you doesn't deserve that monicker."

"Last I checked kupo, Garrison is in charge of the Knight's Order." Zalmeno said.

"Tch. If you weren't helping him with his investigation, I highly doubt the three of us would've gotten kicked out of the Knight's Order." The leader Bangaa said. "Compared to me, you were a nobody. You practically got a free pass into the order all because you assisted in the one battle."

"Last I checked kupo, I did more than that: I helped Garrison clean up the Knight's Order, kupo." Zalmeno said.

"Oh, you must think you're so special because you got fast tracked but you're not. And today, I'm going to prove it." The leader Bangaa said. Suddenly, a morter shell it the leader square on. "What the..."

The other two Bangaa began to look around. "I-I don't see a Cannoneer or even a Flintlock anywhere close to us..." One of the Bangaa said.

"B-but that can't be right...there's only one way that's possible..." The second bangaa goon said. Another morter shell hit the first bangaa goon. "IT'S THE SNIPING THORN! SHE'S GOT US IN HER SIGHTS!"

Several morter shell hits followed suit. "Gah, I thought the Flintlock who can hit from a large distance was only a myth. Seems you got lucky all over again furball!" The leader Bangaa said. "Seems the three of us must retreat."

The trio then retreated to avoid getting hit by more cannon fire. And that's when a female Moogle with a big hat carrying a cannon soon came up to Zalmeno. "Yeah, take that you crooks, kupo." The female Moogle said.

"I don't understand; what's The Sniping Thorn doing in the slums?" The Moogle who was running the shop Zalmeno was in front of asked.

"I was exploring kupo." The Moogle Flintlock said.

Zalmeno took a good look at the flintlock's cannon. "That's quite the cannon you've got there, kupo."

"Thanks; I crafted it myself out of this crystal I found three years ago, kupo." The Moogle Flintlock said. "It's done wonders for damage like you wouldn't believe, kupo."

Crystal? So then...she's the one who found that crystal. Zalmeno thought to himself. "I was actually referring to the scope that seemingly is on the cannon, kupo."

"Oh that? That's my own personal modification, kupo. You would not believe the distance I get thanks to that scope, kupo." The Flintlock said.

"So, what are you planning on using this cannon for, kupo?" Zalmeno asked.

"Same thing I just did here: Helping others, kupo." The Moogle Flintlock said. "By the way, my name's Rose, kupo. What's your name?"

"Me? I'm Zalmeno, kupo." Zalmeno introduced himself.

"Hmm...I think I'll just call you 'Zal' for short. You don't mind, do you kupo?" Rose asked.

"I can't exactly stop you, kupo." Zalmeno said. She's way too pure. I highly doubt she's evil.

"And you know what you can do, kupo?" Rose asked. "You can do a 'you scratched my back, so I'll scratch yours' situation."

"What exactly does that mean, kupo?" Zalmeno asked.

"Well, see ever since I found that crystal, I've been feeling like some one's been after my life, kupo." Rose said. "And since you're a Moogle Knight, I think I'd feel much safer with you looking out for me, kupo."

"Well, I suppose I can do that, kupo." Zalmeno said. "A Knight must always be willing to help a citizen in need, kupo."

"Great. Just let me finish my shopping kupo, and I'll gladly take you to my house. It's up in the main part of Goug, kupo." Rose said.

Sometime later, Garrison arrived to meet Zalmeno at Rose's place in Upper Goug otherwise referred to as the Flying District. Zalmeno explained the events leading up to Rose bringing the Moogle Knight to the Flintlock's place.

"Hmm...I see your conundrum." Garrison said. "Despite having live up here for so long, she's not like the rest of those who do. She's very pure, and not really much of a threat." He added. "And we also have to consider the fact that she gave you her assist; not a lot of Upper Goug residents would do that all willy nilly. The fact that all she wants in return is some protection, means she's very pure."

"So what do we do, kupo?" Zalmeno asked.

"It's very likely that the Behemoth who lost that crystal half is hiring assassins to reclaim it. As such, the mission has changed slightly: Protect this moogle with your life, for if she dies and the Behemoth gets that crystal half back, the world as we know it, is doomed." Garrison said.

"Understood, kupo." Zalmeno said. "I won't disappoint, kupo!"

"I highly doubt you ever will." Garrison said and then left with the other Moogle Knight in the unit with him.

The two got some distance away before they began talking. "So, what are you thinking, kupo?" Cinnamon asked.

"I think I need to talk with that Moogle Elder Goug has. I couldn't find any data on Zalmeno's record. As in, there didn't seem to be any data to find. If that Moogle Elder knows everything, he'll know who Zalmeno really is." Garrison said.

However, Garrison's conversation was overheard slightly by the Bangaa Leader that Rose scared off. He was now alone. "Who the heck doesn't have any sort of record? Well, I'll find out first, and when I do, that nobody moogle is going down." The bangaa said. "It just sucks because my group ran into the Chocobo Patrol; and only I was able to escape getting jail time."

"Have you found him yet, kupo?" A Chocobo Knight could be heard in the background.

"Cripes, it's the Chocobo Patrol again!" The Bangaa then fled all over again.