'Magic was magic as I grew up. However, it seems that others wanted to follow a more complex design rather a simple one. So it was that magic split into two. One of dark, one of light. I don't know what they were thinking. What were they thinking of making a purpose out of magic? Magic was magic. An extension of ourselves. An extension of our strength and soul. And so, to make sure my status was upheld and my words listened to and of course nopony blows themselves up or send their souls to Tartarus, I had to keep my 'dark' magic use hidden. Though Solaris didn't seem to mind. In fact, he had some ideas of what kinds of magic to use on me. Young minds are imaginative. And I don't regret it.' Dusk reads from the first edition of Magic Fundamentals by Starlike the Longmane.
'I am regretting asking Solaris for this book now,' Dusk thinks closing it as he catches some…fruitful words on the next page.
"Hey, Dusk. I got the dinner ready," Barbara, Dusk's adopted little sister, even though she is a head smaller than him, and purple dragon, says walking in wearing a red apron.
And Dusk is still helpless when she wears that apron as it makes her look sexier than usual with her hourglass figure and large breasts and even her wide and large flank. Though he tries to stomach that for some food. "Good. Anypony came by?" he asks getting up from the desk and walks with her.
"No, but rumors are going around that you are a spoiled stuck up prince, though," Barb says.
Dusk frowns. "Who the hay says that?"
"A few ponies are talking about it and how gaudy and stupid the castle is," Barb informed.
"I did say that first day after a while," Dusk admits as he looks around. "It still doesn't fit with the town look."
"Also calling you the protege of the genocide king," Barb adds.
Dusk groans. "I think I figured out where these rumors are coming from," he says as he remembers that Solaris hasn't messaged him back on the rumors about him.
"Also the rumors that you are going out with Rainbow and ones about you being gay are back," Barb says.
"Fuck!" Dusk yells before looking to her.
"It's ok Dusk. I will let you come with me to watch stallions," Barb teases.
"I was going to suggest that since you are adopted that we go out. Would make a great connection to the dragons and ponies and since when do you go after stallions…are you going after our friends?" Dusk asks.
"Not interested. You're too…what is the word?" Barb asks.
Dusk frowns at her as she thinks up one good insult.
"Oh yeah. You're too big on wings, but not on your tool," Barb says teasingly as she walks ahead.
Dusk slams his head into the table a few times as Barb starts laughing.
Barb giggles as she watches her brother hurt himself. "Aw, come on Dusky. At least you caught some eyes down in town. Who knows, maybe you can dash the rumors away with a few dates out on town…just try not to appear too cheap or rich," Barb advises.
Dusk stops banging his head and looks at her. "Oh yeah. Like some great mare will show up and offer a date," he says before the doorbell rings. "That could be Rainbow," he quickly says.
Barb shrugs as she walks to the main door and opens it. "Dusk!" she calls.
Dusk groans as he gets moving and walks to the front door to see the same risqué pink mare that he met on the way to fight the beast. "Wha…?"
Sentire just holds up a jaw of dark cloud swirling around inside. "I need a banishment. Also, your friend is stalking one of mine."
Dusk blinks frozen. "Well. Good luck on your date," Barb quickly says, walking off happy her brother got a good looking mare…if she isn't a prostitute.
Dusk drones dumbly as he tries to catch his voice before a muffled screech came from the bottle and made him stop and peer closer to it. "Huh. Simple demon. I can do that," he says looking around inside. "Stay here," he says heading inside and the door closes before she hears things being thrown. "I know I placed a spell circle book here somewhere," she hears as she tilts her head. "Ah hah!" Dusk yells and the door opens again to him holding a book and some powder and a water bottle. "Let's go," he says walking past her before she follows.
"Is that the lousy prince I'm hearing about?" somepony asks a bit away and Sentire perks her ears toward them.
"The gay one?" another asks.
"Yeah." the first one confirms.
Sentire looks in their direction and they quickly notice her staring, making them walk off in their own separate directions. "Okay. This should be good," Dusk says as Sentire looks to him to see that he is on a grassless land as he waters the powder before using his magic to make a circle and draw shapes as he opens the book and traces the lines. "Place…whatever that is, in the middle and I'll handle the rest," Dusk instructs as he pre-reads the incantation carefully and Sentire walks over the lines and places the jar in it before jumping away next to him. "Okay," the next few lines coming from him sounded off as Sentire looks to him and understands some words coming from his voice, but the rest seem to talk in a different and level. Almost as if…her thoughts were cut short as the jar starts to glow along with the red circle, the cloud shrieking in, what she can describe, pain before it collapses on itself and the only thing left was a puff of smoke. "Okay. That should do it. That thing won't be coming back," Dusk says closing his book and looks to her. "You were with the asshole."
"He says you are not a good ruler," Sentire counters looking to him as well.
Dusk groans. "He is probably just angry at my teacher and thinks we are all bad. I already gave this lesson on zebras…though they are supposed to be…hum. Better ask Zicoro is he knows any good mares," he thinks to himself.
Sentire tilts her head. "Are you supposed to be what he says?"
"Wait. You said something about stalking your friend?" Dusk asks, trying to change the subject.
"Your friend stalking mine," Sentire corrects. "And yes. She has to be bothering him right now."
"Geez Rainbow," Dusk mutters.
"Rainbow. Such a strange name to give," Sentire thinks to herself out loud.
"Well it must be to do with her mane," Dusk says.
"Also, my friend wanted to know how your library never collapsed on itself," Sentire says.
"I wondered myself on the first day I moved in. And I never got an answer," Dusk says dryly before walking off to find Rainbow and the jackass with Sentire following.
"Why is it so hard to find somepony who sales steak in this town, right?" Trial asks the dog.
The dog barks and was starting to look around more frantically.
"Don't worry. You will get meat tonight, even if we have to go hunt something down for it," Trial says.
The dog barks happily and pants as everyone gives them a wide berth, hearing they wanted meat.
"At least the mayor wasn't cheap with the reward," Trial muttered as the dog walked with him.
The dog nods. 'Though she is good looking for someone so old.'
"Now then, where to look next?" Trial asks and next thing he knew, the dog was wagging his tail in front of a store with a griffon symbol on it. "In here?"
The dog barks happily and rushes inside, eliciting screams of terror.
Trial chuckles and walks in to find the dog leaning on the counter, looking at the many types of meat laid out before them.
"One of everything," Trial says walking up.
The griffon behind the counter could only stare at the large shadowy dog that looked demon like. "Right…" he says slowly moving away as he tries to pack all of the meat.
"See. I keep my promises boy," Trial says patting his head.
The dog pants happily with his tongue and licks his jaws as the griffon hurries to pack as he hears the dog's hunger before shoving them all into a bag and places it on the counter. "Here you go," he says quickly as he backs away from the dog salivating.
"Ok. Let's get back then you can try them one at a time," Trial says to the excited dog.
The dog barks and snatches the bag and pads happily out of the shop, the meat bag waving under his mouth as he walks in a happy trot.
"So you watch through the window instead of coming in?" Trial asks looking to the right as he walks out the door.
"Following the screams is always troubling," Rainbow says crossing her arms.
"Your village is too skittish. I wouldn't be surprised it they fainted at a bunny stampede," Trial says.
Rainbow blushes and coughs as she looks away.
"You're kidding, right?" Trial asks, raising his eyebrow underneath his full head scarf.
"Shut up," Rainbow says quickly.
"You ponies are beyond help," Trial says walking away.
"Hey! Asshole!" Rainbow yells flying after him.
Trial didn't respond as he walks with the dog.
"I'm talking to you!" Rainbow yells trying to fly in front of him.
"Then learn my name," Trial replies.
"You never told me," Rainbow shoots back.
"Earn the right," Trial says offhandedly.
Rainbow frowns. "Then how would I talk to you?"
"You don't unless it is work related," Trial says.
Rainbow groans as she scratches at her head. "You are a complete headache."
"The simple fact is I don't like your master," Trial says, freezing her and letting her know he had a very wrong idea about her and Dusk's relationship.
"He's not my master. I'm his friend. And he's a good guy," Rainbow defends.
"Yeah. Well royalty can never be trusted and when they are good, they are far too weak and become controlled," Trial says, sounding like he had first-hand knowledge.
"Want to tell that to my face? I would glad to give you a first-hand account of how I faced Lady Tirek," Dusk calls coming around a corner with Sentire behind him.
"And I would be happy to kill you," Trial says, sending a shiver down Dusk's spine.
Dusk frowns. "Go ahead. Let's see what you'reOMF!" Dusk yells as he sent into a wall.
"Were you talking tough? I couldn't tell," Trial says as the dog seemed to laugh.
Dusk growls as he pulls himself off the wall before stopping. "Come on," He says calmly.
"You fool. The truth of the matter is, if I wanted you dead, your head would roll on the ground instead being punched," Trial says.
"So why didn't you?" Dusk asks, patting down his robes.
"Do you really want to die that much?" Trial asks and Dusk's every instinct screamed at him if he says yes, he would die.
Dusk frowns and tries to keep his cool. "You do realize that your argument goes on two sides. One says I'm weak and not worth anyone's time. The other says I'm too high and mighty and don't care crap. Which do you want?"
"Or three, you are too naive to your own weakness and don't know what is really going on around the country. I would go with that for I saved your life once already killing that monster," Trial says.
Dusk raises an eyebrow. "Is that it? Just because you have been around and can one up someone at a whim? You don't even know who I am? Do you?"
"I don't give a damn you little shit. I don't care about your status or your lineage! I live in the real world unlike you. Where the monsters are real and constantly every moment can be your last!" Trial yells, making Dusk shrink back in a bit of fear as no one had ever taken that tone with him or been that serious.
Dusk was still taken back before suddenly chuckling and then laughing as he doubles over in laughter. "You know, maybe I should kill you. It will be my twenty-seventh royalty I have killed." Trial says, freezing him cold as he knew Trial was completely serious now.
Dusk still let's a few chuckles through he tries the tricks on emotions like Solaris taught him. "No. It's the fact you say that monsters are real and every moment can be your last. This town, Ponyville, is nicknamed the disaster town. We get an attack every week."
"Tell me, how many have died then?" Trial asks, freezing Dusk again.
Dusk huffs. "None. Because I and friends and even some of the towns ponies always help deal with the problems personally. I would rather put my life on the line to protect my friends and family."
"Then you have no right to speak to me about such things. Come back after you have had to bury an entire village after discovering the aftermath of a monster swarm," Trial says darkly.
Dusk stops at that point as Trial walks off with the dog staying behind before walking over to Sentire and stands by her as they look to Dusk standing still and some of the ponies around them listening in, mutter about themselves. "What's your name?" Sentire asks, trying to figure out the sides here once and for all.
"Dusk. Dusk Shine," Dusk manages, not sure how to feel about what he was just told.
Sentire tilts her head and places a hand on his shoulder before turning his head toward her. "The words you spoke. You are connected to something. This land is different than whatever he spoke about on my travels. I think he just needs time. Please don't take the words too harshly. He probably had a hard past," she says, seeing a white speck pass by in his eyes.
The dog moans and nudges her, causing her to see the packaged meat in its bag.
"Oh. I'm sorry. But I must feed him. Please…if you have these friends of which you speak, go to them. It might help or it might not, but you will have some form of help," Sentire says before walking off with the dog to find a spot to eat.
"He challenged you in broad daylight like that?" Leandra asks shocked.
"Yeah. That type, this country is doomed. Let's do our job quick and get out before we are hired to assassinate the royal family like the last civil war," Trial says, getting Leandra to nod as they sit in the vacant house they were assigned to be their barracks.
Leandra sighs. "Hard to believe there's another prince. Damn. And he said this place gets attacked every week?"
"I doubt it is anything big. These ponies consider a bunny stampede an attack," Trial says.
Leandra sweatdrops. "Okay. That's just stupid…and weak."
"I know. When this contract to guard the village for the mayor is over, let's get out of here before she can renew it," Trial says.
Leandra nods and stretches. "Guess so. When do you think this so-called weekly attack comes in?"
"The Razor boar was the weekly attack for a while," Trial says now counting their money they received.
Leandra sighs. "Well…what are we going to do once we're off the country?"
"How about we go see the boss? It has been awhile," Trail asks.
"You really want to the ruler who tried to kill us and send us on ordered kills?" Leandra asks.
"You know who I mean. The one who ran our unit back then," Trial says.
"You think she's still in the same spot?" Leandra asks.
"She is a high ranking member of the republic," Trial reminds.
"Then let's go. I think she can easily get us out," Leandra says.
"Yeah. Once all our business here is settled, we will be off," Trial says.
Leandra sighs. "By the way, is our contract with that mare still up?"
"Job not finished with her yet," Trial informs, putting all the money into a bag that should have been too small for it all.
"Let's go…or would you rather face another jab at that prince?" Leandra asks getting up and stretching.
"Contract with the mayor and when we make a contract, we see it through. Besides you are already scouting for mares to seduce," Trial says.
"Got to give it to them. They know how to make great bodies to enjoy," Leandra says happily.
"Like the ass of the one that was following me," Trial says.
Leandra hums. "Too lean."
"We both know that you would change that if you got your claws on her," Trial says.
Leandra grins as she flexes her claws at him. "I know other things I have grabbed onto."
"Oh shut it. We both want it and yet can't have it. Especially here," Trial says rolling his eyes amused.
"I can still sleep in your bed," Leandra teases.
"And tease me, yes. But nothing else…still want to try something and can't," Trial says longingly.
"What is stopping y…" Leandra stops when Sentire enters.
Sentire looks between the both of them and the little sack of gold on the table. "You found a little home."
"The mayor hired us to guard the town for a few months. Apparently, fine print, this vacant house is to be our barracks," Trial says.
Sentire hums. "You said many things."
"Yes. Mostly about his master, the genocide king as we like to call him. The fool has shown me just how inexperienced he is," Trial says.
"Is he or are you?" Sentire questions.
"When he has never even seen a dead body, he is green. He could have dealt with the Razor that has been here for weeks, but he didn't. Lack of involvement or possibly care on his part," Trial points out.
"And yet you have seen these lands. You speak as though there are monsters every five steps," Sentire points out.
"There are. The most dangerous kind. Pony kind," Trial says darkly.
Sentire stares at him. "So I am a danger? A thing you would kill for nothing?"
"No. You are a client, but if you turn evil, yes," Trial says.
"And what do you define as evil?" Sentire asks.
"Those who knowingly do harm to others, be it directly or indirectly murdering somepony, making others suffer for one of their own profits," Trial says bluntly.
"And what if you kill one to save a thousand?" Sentire questions, using the same ones that the gods asked her upon her teachings.
"It is still an act of evil, even if it is down for the sake of good," Trial informs.
"Then you doomed a thousand and, thereby, condemning yourself as the evil one. Where does the line be drawn for yourself and not others?" Sentire asks raising an eyebrow.
"Not saying don't do it, but you need to learn the ramifications of what you are doing," Trial informs.
"I do," Sentire says hard as Leandra could only watch between the two of them.
"Then you know I am also considered evil. I have killed countless," Trial says bluntly.
"So kill yourself," Sentire declares. "You want to rid the world of evil. What about yourself?"
"Then who will do the dirty work that needs to be done?" Trial says unfazed, taking her aback. "I'm not some grand idealist who thinks he can fix the world. No, I am more like a clean up pony. I get rid of the trash and dangerous wildlife so no one else has to," Trial says.
"I'm the balancer," Sentire says nodding her head to the dog who is now lounging on a couch, watching them.
"And what do you balance? Can you save the starving in the streets? Can you cure the incurable? Can you bring back the dead?" Trial asks.
"I'm part of the grand problems. Not everything can be there at once. I take care of the gods, spirits, and artifacts. Like these," she says holding up a chess piece they had. "One of the gods lost it," she says before tossing it to the dog who snaps it up.
"I don't care. The gods are worthless," Trial says.
"Then I guess my scythe is too and I am worthless and should never have beaten you," Sentire counters.
"No. They are worthless because they don't give a damn or can't help. That is the long and simple of it," Trial says.
"Then they would have let me die!" Sentire finally yells.
"And how many did they?" Trial asks, freezing her.
Sentire stares at him before huffing and walking off to a random room. Leandra hums as she watches her leave down the hall. "Well…that's something."
"And how," they hear behind them.
"She is also ignorant of the world. Maybe over time, she will lose that naivety like I did," Trial says.
"Yes. See the world through your bloodstained eyes. Watching the world burn under its own life and fire," they hear the same voice behind them.
"At least my eyes are open dog," Trial says.
The dog laughs deeply and looks to him. "The gods did save her. She was a foal, all alone when we all found her. She couldn't survive another night without us. You speak of the sick and dying. Yet we see them every day. Their place of death or rotting flesh burning into our eyes. Yet nothing we can do will stop the main source. The problem doesn't lie with us. It lies with all of you."
"I know that all too well," Trial says unfazed, shutting even the dog up at that.
"You heart has been darkened by an event. One that has left a scar on your mind and soul," the dog concludes.
"I experienced a revolution in one of the most corrupt countries ever and I am glad I burnt it away," Trial informs.
"Was it worth it?" the dog asks.
"Ask the graves of the fallen and of the those who couldn't be saved and see what their answer is," Trial says going out for the start of the night patrol of their guard duty.
The dog slowly looks to Leandra as the door closes behind him. "Hearts and souls can be mended," he says before getting up and walks to where Sentire went.
'Great, a talking dog,' Leandra thinks not happy.