"Well…this place is a mess," Sentire simply states as they all look upon the nest that leads into a hole in the ground where many kinds of creatures of some form of spiders, rats, many dogs, walking plants, trees, bears, bugs, and hawks were coming out of it and moving around the hole, seemingly guarding it. "We were able to burn the last one, right? How hard would that be here?"
"Somewhat easy. I got a little homemade firebomb," Trial says smirking at the idea of this place burning.
"Okay…are they going to help rather than stare at my flank all day?" Sentire finally asks the alicorn in the room as she throws her thumb to the group of fighters in a mess of armor pieces with the mare leader from before leading them. The stallions' gaze fixated on Sentire most of the time. "Because I would love to test my training on their dicks."
"Use that on the monsters. So…I'll keep the big ones away. You work on cutting down the little guys," Trial promises as he wraps the wires around his hands and fingers.
"That's a way better deal than last time," Sentire sighs in relief as she takes out her scythe and gives it a test swing that is more a refined form that Trial only had to move one step away to dodge.
"We going or not?" Leone asks, cracking her knuckles.
"Make sure they are dead. You made the mistake last time," Trial says as an entire regiment of Equites arrive, armed to the teeth and being lead by the mare from yesterday.
(youtube,com ' / ' watch?v=EZrD_OYD5T4)
"Okay. I got it. Geez. Cut them apart before throwing them off," Sentire recites back and makes Trial nod. "Now…can we jump down there and fuck shit up?"
"Trial, start us off," Leone says.
"Gotcha," Trial says stepping forward and starts to summon forth a fireball in his hand, shocking the Equites there, but their discipline holds and they don't break formation before Trial makes a few more movements and breathes into the fireball, shooting it forward and erupting into a tidal wave of flame that gradually forms into the head of a fire dragon.
The dragon head seemingly gives a roar as it charges before cutting a path of destruction through the mess of monsters, leaving a burning path that slowly spreads from the area and burns the monsters in its path clean through while others were caught on fire and left to burn as they try to get away from it all. Trial stops blowing and lowers his hands, ending the spell that left the rest of the fire to still travel on, burning whatever it can before it wafts into the air, leaving a sulfuric stench.
"Damn," Sentire could only say for all of them as the mare leader gives a pleasing look to Trial and starts to wonder if they can get him to breed a few foals for them.
"Now, now. No need to applause. I rather not take roses and whatever else the shit they throw onto the stage for rather the heads of the monsters," Trial says snootily and Leone giggles. "Now Leone, make the earth tremble."
Leone chuckles as she cracked her other knuckles before starting to the run to the edge of the cliff before jumping into the air. All the eyes following her as she rises up high before she starts to fall and then positions herself where she angles her already made fist toward the ground before she crashes down hard. Almost all the ponies shake from the unsteady rumble while some rocks broke from the crater that was formed and rose up. Leone herself in the middle of all of this as she punches the rocks and makes them land and crushes some or a single monster in their tracks, making a splattering sound each time as Sentire notices some kind of sludge coming out instead of blood.
"She's got the attention of the big boys. Go and keep the little guys away from us," Trial orders to Sentire before jumping down himself and claps his hands before swinging a hand around in front of him, shining pieces catching the Equites' eyes when the monsters caught in the way were sliced apart into thinly veiled slices.
Sentire grips her handle tight before running off the side and steps off the cliff edge, sliding down the edge as carefully as she could, not sure about landing to the ground that is twenty feet below on her own like Trial and Leone just did as they kept the big monsters' attention on them. Though the small time ones started to notice her landing nearby and make her hold up her scythe at the ready. When a mangy dog runs up, she spins her scythe once in front of her, cutting off the head and making the dog slide apart past her sides. She then runs to the little critters as they run at her until they met. Sentire blocking a spider trying to jump onto her and holds up her blade, having it land on her weapon, she then throws against the ground before stepping on the end of the handle and grabs the hilt before spinning and slicing off the spider in half and even getting a few cuts in on those that got close. She glares down the other creatures before charging into the fray, looping off limbs and heads as best she could within her limited range of moves at the moment, but also getting some cuts and bruises in when some got close.
"Formation! Advance!" the mare calls out and groups of lined fighters with archers came up and formed a line along the cliff edge before notching an arrow with precise training before firing off a swarm of arrows that rain down directly onto the nest and take down some monsters that were caught in the hail of arrows. Pegasus teams making a strong set of lines in the sky as they fire arrows directly down into the monsters. Those that had swords and shields slide down the cliff edge or jump down piece by piece before lining up in formation, making a wall of shields that also had some areas parted as those in the second line push their swords through the line, stabbing the monsters and killing them. Some slipped through, but they were promptly cut down when they entered the formation of the strong stallions holding this formation held fast, making sure no monster got past them. "Mage line, advance!" the leader mare calls out and another line of stallions in mage robes all held up their hands before they charge up a fire spell in their hands and fire together at the same time, combing their power here into one large fire stream that bathes the ground in a fiery bath of red-hot magic. Burning any monster that crosses their path as the two in the middle turn their hands and guides the fire around, leading the magic to carve a path and leave only melted corpses and glass in its wake.
"If they can do this that easily, why our help?" Leone asks as she grabs a monster and throws it away with a punch after throwing it into the air while stomping her hoof on another getting close.
"Idiot royal guard not giving backup? Not enough at the time? Or maybe something big they can't handle," Trial gives suggestions as he keeps waving his hands around, cutting down any monster getting in his path.
"I say big if left too long," Leone bets as she claws at another and makes it come apart into pieces.
"I'll take that bet and if you win, I'll be the one tied up. And if I do on the others, then I get to tie you up," Trial bets as well and grins at the thought.
"Oh. I'm so going to win!" Leone cheers and punches a monster so hard, it flew through the air and flies through other monsters, punching through them before it becomes sliced when Sentire holds her blade out and makes it become in two.
Sentire swings it around and spins herself, cutting down the hawk and dog coming at her, slicing it into two and sending the gunk onto her coat. Sentire groans and knows she can't stop to wipe it off with the rest of the stuff on her coat and clothing, so she keeps spinning her blade around, slicing any that got close. Taking their heads off and even making some limbs smacking into another monster that makes it off balance before it's head or body got cut. She grits her teeth when she spikes a spider and sends it flying into the trees when she comes out of a single swing. Her eyes followed it before seeing it snapped up by a familiar mouth and sees the dog grinning at her as it chews the spider before running off deeper into the forest to hunt for more. Sentire smiles a little before returning to swinging her scythe around, getting a few dogs and rats getting close enough for her to cut them apart. Stabbing a dog getting close and makes it whine in fear before tossing it at Leone and Trial, Leone slices the beast with her claws as Leone notices how much damage Sentire is doing but also noticing how damaged she is getting from the cuts and bruises on her coat, even the blood staining what clothes she has as her bra like shirt start to be cut and rip.
"She's doing well," Leone says before wincing a bit when a dog bites onto Sentire's leg and shakes its head to tear it off before Sentire spins her blade around violently and messily tears the dog apart and then stabs the renaming piece in the head, making it let go before spinning and stabs a bear coming close in the head and drags it across the ground by yanking hard. She then watches as Sentire brings her scythe up before using the end and pole vaults over the bear's body, quickly spinning once she is off completely and slicing the bear into two. Landing messily on the other end as she struggles to stand with a bitten and bleeding leg. "Well enough to survive."
"She needs training and more resistance, but I can work with it. She can pass for a trainee in our time under us," Trial admits smiling as a hawk head flew by them.
Leone chuckles before looking to Trial and reaches past him to grab an incoming bear in the snout before squeezing and breaking the muzzle off before grabbing the ear and pulls before punching the head into the ground and breaks it partly off, hanging on by sludge skin. "You aren't going to have her?"
"She's not interested. Besides, she seems to be interested in that prince and the other two stallions," Trial reminds as he claps his hands before spreading out quickly, cutting down even the large set of trees in his way as some were hanging on the edges of them.
"Oh…I will make them mares if they don't treat her well," Leone promises and kicks a monster into the air and gives some hard punches into the ground, kicking up rocks before punching those into the monsters like last time before the one she threw up came down and she punches it, splattering it against her arms and herself. "Ew…hope this isn't poisonous."
"Shouldn't if princy has been working with it for a long time and still standing," Trial reassures as he flings some monsters at the Equites. 'I hope.'
The line of shield bearers cut those down as they kept marching forward, pushing many monsters out of the way and even cutting those that slip past as the second line kept stabbing above and below the large shields. Archers on the cliff side and pegasus teams were still firing upon the monsters still coming out of the nest, giving enough time for the shield bearers to get close enough. Passing even Leone and Trial holding the main line.
"Okay, they got their attention," Trial remarks, seeing the monsters start to turn their attention at the shield forces and pounce all over them. "Leone, give me cover," Trial requests, reaching into his cloak and takes out a bag with a fuse coming out of the top. He then lights the fuse with a magic snap of fire and sees it spark and start to burn away before throwing it at the nest and sees it enter the hole. A monster being punched past his vision. "Shields up! Move back!" the mare calls as she swipes away at a hawk coming at her.
The forces start to quickly step back, keeping one of their arms behind them on the soldiers' shoulder behind them, making sure not to trip each other as the fuse burns inside the nest before it explodes and dust particles on fire spew out and rain down on the area, burning away the monsters before they are quickly killed off from a rock or wire.
Sentire looks up when she hears the explosion and smiles at the right before yelping when a dog pounces on her and brings her down, it's jaw biting into the handle as she tries to hold it back. A sudden gush of gunk spews up from its as it goes limp and she throws it off before sitting up to see Trial nod at her before turning to cutting down the remaining monsters. Sentire smiles and swipes in front of her the remaining creatures, cutting down some rats as she stands up again and returns to her usual battle stances and moves.
"Now this would make things easy and…" Leone shuts up when some rumbling is heard and the ground started to shake, making everyone stop and stand their ground against the ones still coming at them. "Um…big monster?" Leone asks, leaning over to Trial and he nods slowly before the nest hole exploded in a shower of rocks as a large gargoyle-like being with red eyes and demonic claws flew up and screeches loudly that actually make Leone and Sentire cover their ears while the rest flinch. "Shit…um…Trial?" Leone asks and Trial glares up at the beast as it glares back at them, possibly standing more than two or three times their height.
"Gargoyle. Leone, you are the best at breaking shit. Go break it," Trial says before suddenly being smacked away by a fast moving object that neither of them was able to see. Trial groans as he slides back onto the ground and looks up to see a fast looking large winged creature that seems to resemble a bat. "And I got this asshole," he spits as he gets up and reels back his wires, preparing to throw them. He then makes his wings come out from under his cloak before taking off and flying after it, swiping at it with his wires to catch, but it seems to dodge at it. "A speed type, huh? A good challenge," he grins as he chases it around the area.
Leone chuckles, punching her fists together before jumping at the gargoyle and punches it in the face, sending it reeling back as tiny crumbs of rocks fly off. She then grabs onto the foot before bringing it back down onto the ground and makes a crater with it.
"All forces, move back! Archers, mages, finish off the rest!" the mare calls and the shield bearers keeps moving back in the same formation they have been in for a while before they reach the wall and start climbing. Leaving the three mercenaries stuck on the ground.
Sentire grunting from the exertion of swinging her scythe as she gets a bear in the head and yanks it out. Her arms starting to burn as hardly any creature remained now that the two big ones are out and about. Her eyes catching Leone jumping out of the crater before falling back in with a bang as she punches the gargoyle in the head before it smacks her away into the wall of the crater and zooms in close before taking a swipe which she holds back and cries out as she struggles to lift the monster and throw on the opposite side of the crater. Trail zooms by their heads as he kept chasing the bat creature, swiping his hands all over the place, trying to make his wires grab onto any piece of it, but it seems to anticipate where his wires are going to move and kept dodging each one. Trial growling as he tries to throw fireballs at it and it easily dodges those while he burns the gunk on his wires and has them flame up. Making it pretty easy for others to follow where he is moving his wires around.
Sentire grunts as she swings her scythe around, sending a mangy dog away that got cut into two while getting the little scampers that bite at her while kicking off others and slices them in half as well. She pants heavily as there is hardly anymore left, leaving her covered in gunk stained clothes and coat, her cuts and bruises being more numerous than before. Sentire then looks up to see that the two are actually keeping them back and rushes up to the crater before looking and sees Leone punching the gargoyle in a frenzy, pushing it back little by little. Trial himself still chasing the little thing as she sees the blur flying around.
Sentire leans against the edge of the burned crater and keeps watching Trail fly around before looking back to the gargoyle and groans while holding her head a little. "Okay, you idiot office worker. How can you help? Think!" she then stops and opens her eyes and keeps watching the creature move around as Trial kept taking swipes at it. Sentire then takes a few steps back and holds her scythe above her head and turns the blade exactly the way she wants as she listens to the banging going on below her. "Please let this work!" she cries out and throws her scythe, Trial catching the yell and sees the spinning scythe fly through the air before it spikes the creatures and makes it screech out as it spins through the air. His eyes watching as it goes into the crater and spikes itself onto the gargoyle. Sentire groans as she falls to her knees before falling to the ground, her wounds finally getting to her.
Trial blinks in surprise before frowning at Leone. "Finish them!" he calls before flying at Sentire. Leone herself smirking before she reels her arm back as the gargoyle tries to take the scythe out of its chest, the other creature long since dead. She then flew at great speed at the gargoyle, rocks breaking where she stood and grunts as she punches the scythe hard, pushing it further into the monster and makes large cracks appear before she gives another uppercut to the base of the handle and sends it cutting through the rock monster, breaking it apart and falling to the pieces. Leone smiles as the scythe fly up before she reaches out and grabs it, able to head back to the other two.
"Did I hit it…?" Sentire groans as she is lifted up into Trial's arms when he picks her up.
"It's done now. Back to clearing the hive," Trial says, tossing something to the hive that Sentire caught what looked like an orb of fire.
Sentire groans and turns her head to the see the nest as the orb lands inside before it lights up in red burning light before a pillar of fire comes out of the nest hole and then more pillars of fire spew out from other areas, burning away the remaining trees before the fire stops and leaves a burning landscape. "Wow…nighty night," Sentire mumbles before falling asleep in his arms.
"Hey, Leone!" Trial calls.
"Coming!" Leone calls back as she crawls over the crater edge and hurries up to him, the scythe in her hands. "Yeah?"
"Carry her, will ya? I am still feeling the effects of creating that mini portal to the realm of fire," Trial says.
Leone nods as she packs the scythe on her back before taking Sentire and heading back to the cliff.
"We best get a bonus for wiping out the nest entirely," Trial says before following her, too tired to fly at the moment.
Leone chuckles as she lands on the edge of the cliff, looking to the commander while grinning. "So…our pay?"
"I killed twenty-three," Trial informs.
"Twenty-six," Leone answers before they look to Sentire still out. "How much would you say she did?"
"Ah…let's cut it even and say twenty," Trial says.
"Not bad. You three certainly did work," the mare says, looking all three of them over. "Well…a deal is a deal," she says, waving over a group with a chest.
"Bring it to the nearest inn. We are tired and need food and drink," Trial informs and the mare nods understandingly from a hard days work on the battlefield.
"Well, let's celebrate…after getting this one to bed," Leone jokes as she holds up Sentire who leans against her now.
The mare nods before waving her hand in the air and everyone starts to walk off with Trial and Leone staring at their backs. "You felt that look from her?" Trial asks.
"She was sizing us up, but mostly you. You may have a shot at that general," Leone teases.
Trial shakes his head. "Nah. Doesn't seem that interesting…especially with who she is with."
"Considering…yeah. Come on. Let's get that pay and some sleep," Leone says walking off. "She did bring more clothes, right?" she asks after a while, seeing the state of Sentire's clothing.
"All the meat, right?" Trial asks.
"Yeah," Leone says before grinning. "I wish she wakes to enjoy it too."
"So…how's the pay?" Barb asks, seeing them count the bits on the main table as she drops a tray of food on the table for them.
"High. Very high," Leone says happily as she giggles and laughs while hugging the gold coins.
"Enough to buy a farm and live off the land if need be," Trial says seriously, making Applejack, who had recovered from last night's drinking, stare at him as he nearly lays in the chair exhausted.
"Yeah. That too," Leone says pointing at him, still hugging the pile of coins.
"You're serious? You and a farm?" Sentire as she rubs her head, trying to get her footing still.
"Yeah. I want to live a normal happy life with my girl…or girls if more want to come live with me…come to think of it, I could have some fertile land here and just live there since most of my favorite ponies live here as well," Trial says, starting to smile as Applejack leans closer in.
"He was born to a poor farming family," Leone informs.
"And you?" Sentire asks, seeing Applejack step closer behind them.
"Well, now…that's a secret," Leone says smirking.
"She won't tell?" Sentire asks.
"Got to worm it out of her. Don't you?" Trial asks.
Leone sticks her tongue out at them. "Got that right."
"Also…you know that general that we met with?" Trial asks.
"What about her?" Sentire asks as she puts her head on the table.
"I want info on her," Trial says turning to Dusk and Rainbow, gesturing them to tell him what they knew.
Dusk raises an eyebrow as Rainbow sighs and rubs her forehead. "She's named Iron Resolve. Famous for cleaning out nests," Dusk explains as they sit on the couch.
"But never a nest this size. You kinda gave her a free promotion," Rainbow sighs.
"She is with the Equites, not the guard," Dusk informs, surprising Rainbow that there was a mare general in the Equites.
"Seriously? I thought…?" Rainbow starts.
"She bred six foals before she started to fight after an attack. They gave her a chance and…you can see the results," Dusk explains.
"So the position of a broodmother is an optional one?" Rainbow asks.
"That or military service," Dusk informs.
"So…if you are a broodmother already…you can still change position or something?" Sentire asks.
"There's a dirty joke there somewhere," Leone says wistfully, nuzzling the bits.
"Yeah. They can't leave the mares tied up just to fuck. So after they confirm they are pregnant, they let them get back to whatever job they had before. A shop, farm, whatever. If it helps the group, it's going to be done and allowed. The only thing is they ask that those mares come back after they give birth, give a few days rest, wait for a good amount of time, and then back to breeding stocks. In reality…they kinda control most of lower Canterlot for all those jobs. Heck, almost all of it," Dusk explains further.
"That is a misconception. We work business hours and don't constantly mate," Iron says entering.
They all yelp, except Leone and Trial, and look surprised at the doorway to see the certain mare leader. "Barb! I told you to lock the door every time!" Dusk calls to the kitchen.
"What's your breeding time then?" Trial asks, hearing grumbling from Barb in the kitchen.
"Estrus. Put enough mares together and their cycles sync up. We are hoping for that really. One or two days later, then breeding," Iron fleshes out.
"That makes more sense…who the fuck came up with the original idea of what you guys do?" Sentire asks, looking at her.
"Could be anyone who hates us," Iron admits and slowly eyes Dusk.
"Don't look at me. I work here most of the time and don't have time for you. I let my sister and her husband handle the big stuff," Dusk says.
"I think I know…Solaris?" Trial asks and gets her eyes to land on him now. "Thought so. He probably wants all of this to stop and will do anything to have the old life back."
"And rule," Leone adds before going back to nuzzling the bits.
"Yeah, good luck with that. After all, he did abandon his capital," Trial says to Dusk's shock, getting a grin from Iron.
"Very true. Now I wish to speak with you alone," Iron says, pointing to Trial, obviously wanting to talk away from Dusk.
"Alright, one moment," Trial says getting up a bit tiredly. "Where do you want to talk?"
"The inn called the Crimson Lance," Iron informs him before turning to Dusk. "And for the record, I don't have foals. That is general Fire Wisp. She is also in town right now to get the story straight as she hates when ponies mistake another of the ten generals for her," Iron informs.
"Noted," Dusk says quietly.
"Alright, let's go…Leone, pack up the gold and go buy supplies and commission a local smith to make a hundred of these," Trial informs, setting one of his throwing daggers down.
"Got it," Leone salutes and picks up the dagger before packing the bits away.
"So before we start, let me ask, is this about my magic?" Trial asks, both having gotten non-alcoholic drinks for this talk.
"Partly," Iron answers as she takes one from him.
"…not looking to help your breeding course or join your faction right now. Kinda on basically a delay on the current job. Looking for information and for knowledge for it right now. Basically research detour," Trial informs tiredly taking a drink.
"The spell take it out of you?" Iron asks.
"It is not easy to do a fire spell that powerful and then create a mini portal to the realm of fire…judging from your expression, no idea what that is, huh?" Trial asks seeing her expression.
"We have to work with basic spells and such. You…I don't know where to begin," Iron tries to explain.
"The realm of fire is where the power behind fire spells comes from and is home of elemental like beings of fire that is," Trial informs.
"So you tapped into primordial firepower?" Iron asks, shocking Trial.
"No one ever gets that until I have to lecture them on it," Trial admits.
"When one has to deal with mages, one has to learn," Iron recites.
"Even for most mages, the concept usually eludes them," Trial informs.
"Magic helps around here. We have to learn all we can from it. We are actually looking to make a burning land spell," Iron says shrugging.
"I would not advise that. The concept sounds good, but a spell like that for the desired effects you want with it requires you to have no control over it and that makes it a hindrance rather than an asset, if not a major problem," Trial advises.
"Is that so?" Iron says thinking about it before looking back to him.
"Also, I wouldn't try opening a portal to the realm of fire unless you know the layout. Instead of water, there is fire. So yeah, at the bottom of a fire lake is where I opened the small portal basically," Trial informs.
"Is it possible for you to teach a mage group? Maybe join us to make it easier. We can offer a good room and great food," Iron says smiling.
"I can point you in the right direction, maybe write down a few spells, but once we have enough info, we are most likely heading out, continuing the big job," Trial says.
"We can pay you," Iron adds.
"I have professional courtesy. I can only take on one big job at a time," Trial says unaffected by the mention of money.
Iron hums and smiles subtly at this point. "You would fit right in with our group. Maybe we can help each other. You finish the job and we help along the way, we let you join us and live a life."
"We will see. There is no time limit on the job. It could be done next month or even a few years down the road," Trial says.
Iron still smiles. "All the same."
"Also, could take us anywhere, but for now, you keep hiring us and we will keep working for you on these minor jobs," Trial informs.
"We can handle that. Except for more jobs," Iron agrees.
"Will do…also, I will say nothing about the coup your faction is planning," Trial whispers to her.
Iron's body stiffens up as Trial gets up and leaves. 'How does he know?' Iron thinks.
"I am back," Trial says.
"About time," Sentire sighs as Dusk uses his magic to do a healing spell on her leftover wounds.
"Yeah, they want to hire us more at later dates," Trial says.
"So you get more chances at pay," Sentire shrugs.
"And more chances at some sexy ass," Leone spoke up grinning.
"It will most likely be through her as we know her already and it makes her look like she is getting results," Trial adds.
"At least we have some way to get more information since Elusive was sort of kicked out," Dusk adds as well.
"What for?" Sentire asks.
"Because they have been growing larger and larger. Some of the citizens are fearing that they could grow too much. Especially since they hold most of the farm and food," Dusk explains.
"Forcing you to make a deal and soon an alliance. Starvation for your half of the city, that's a clear possibility," Trial suggested.
Dusk nods before moving Sentire and lifting up her shirt a bit to get a cut to heal. "And the fact is, these citizens haven't been dealt as much damage as any other place. Truth be told, this is the biggest defensible position in all of the land. You can hold out here for an entire lifetime."
"I am going to cut you off there. No, it isn't. Its current state is very vulnerable," Trial informs.
"And what makes you say that?" Dusk asks, turning Sentire around and gets at her back.
"Well, for one, you have no mounted weaponry on your…I am going to say paper mache walls. Two, where you are built at just getting out. One good quake or ground-based attack and most of Canterlot is going crash into the valley below," Trial informs.
"Please don't tell the citizens. You would really make it hard to defend when they are panicking more than ever," Dusk says dryly and lifts up Sentire's arm to get a bruise.
"So you know about it then," Trial says looking to them.
"We all know. Those who are actively involved in government and military know," Rainbow says sighing.
"We lie to make ourselves feel better and make sure, if there are others listening in, they would feel at ease and not cause trouble," Dusk explains before he starts to run his fingers over Sentire's chest to feel for anything. "You're good now."
"Well, lying doesn't change reality, does it?" Trial asks.
"Tell that to the angry citizens that pay us," Rainbow points out.
"Well, that is why you should be fixing it in secret," Trial says looking to Sentire.
Sentire groans as she stands and stretches. "Really…we could. But guess what is blocking us from making almost any change," Dusk starts and they all look to each other.
"Nobles," they all say.
"Considering these guys have been living the same life like almost nothing has changed, they don't want anything to disrupt it. We have to make sure the bits at least get paid to us or we couldn't do anything. And we do have limited means to make changes. A lot of things need bits. Installing, maintenance, manning the canons and whatnot or whatever else is needed. Welcome to bureaucratic life," Dusk huffs. "I just wish they weren't so stuck up…that's why I sent my parents away to Manehattan to live with the princes at least. They can live a better life there."
"But the fact is, many of the guards have gone without pay for a long time, right?" Trial asks.
Dusk sighs. "The nobles have gotten more protective of their bits. Or even precious metals for that matter. Every month is hard to make due. The guards, for instance, is almost a year behind on payments. We struggled to make ends meet…but the Equities taking over most of the areas below and hardly anything worth of value to trade in upper is making things scrape by. Heck, the Wonderbolts are included in the IOUs as well."
Trial and Leone both look to Rainbow as she flutters on by. "Loyalty and trust that those things will turn out for better for all of us. Besides, can't let good friends down."
"And those kinds of ponies are in short supply even. Only a few Wonderbolts and most of the guards are now taking pay from nobles. And they are not letting them help take down creatures that come our way. Instead, it's either protect the business they own or their estate," Dusk explains.
"Well, if that is the case, best prepare an escape route," Trial says.
The Canterlot ponies all look to him in some despair before Dusk sighs. "Barb."
Barb leans out of the kitchen now and looks to them, her ear fin twitching. "Should I get packing?"
"Clothing, food and water, some important spell books I need to learn, and my notes from the basement. Rainbow…you should probably get some of the Wonderbolts out. Without those we are protecting not even paying you guys, no point in staying here. The team is better off relocating to Manehattan. I need to tell my sister and brother-in-law that we might be leaving soon," Dusk orders as he gets up and walks down to his basement.
Rainbow sighs as Barb rushes upstairs to grab a few things. "We were actually afraid you guys would abandon us if you heard all these troubles. You were the best help we had in a long time," she admits, looking to the three.
"Oh, so you know a disgruntled mob is dangerous," Trial says.
"We had to deal with a few once in a while. It's not pretty. Only bits that still roll in will make this place go round," Rainbow mutters before flying up to him. "Sorry for lying."
"It's alright," Trial says before petting her.
Rainbow smiles a little before knocking his hand away. "Cut that out."
"As for us, we are just working folk. After word gets around what we did at the nest, no one is going to try to fight us if they are apart of a mob," Trial states.
"Unless they legitimately try to come at us all at once," Leone points out.
"I think I can scare them off with a trick," Trial says.
"How?" Sentire asks, looking over where her injuries were.
"Remember what I did at the nest?" Trial asks.
"Yeah…your magic and everything…really?" Sentire asks, tilting her head.
"Yeah, I could do a smaller one. Basically, just the head just to hiss and roar at them," Trial says as those who were not at the nest didn't understand.
"Quite easy for him," Leone says wrapping an arm around Trial and hugs him.
"So yeah, going down to the farms in the morning," Trial informs her.
"Going to see the farm gal? Maybe get a romp in the hay bale?" Leone asks teasingly.
"I like the farm," Trial informs.
Leone giggles and kisses him while Sentire rolls her eyes and looks away while Rainbow smiles and flies off to tell the other Wonderbolts that matter. "If you guys want to pack, go ahead. I'll give some bags and anything you need to pack," Barb says coming down with a few suitcases.
"We don't need to pack, we only own what is on our persons…though how to transport all the money?" Trial asks.
Leone hums as she picks up a few bits and weighs them by hand. "We need help for this."
"Leave most of it behind. I got a plan for this place. Take what you think you need," Dusk says coming back up with a letter before rolling it up and throws it to Barb who blows green fire on it and burns it off, sending the smoke away through a window.
"You know, if they do what I think they will, I probably will ask them to hold onto them as a favor," Trial mutters to himself.
"Just be careful," Dusk warns as he goes off into certain sections of the library.
"Sentire, you coming with us to the farm tomorrow?" Trial asks.
"Um…not really…Dusk? What about your other friends?" Sentire calls.
Dusk leans out from behind a bookshelf. "Can you do me a favor and tell them what's going on? Maybe even help?"
"What do you mean? Nothing is going on," Leone says before winking to Sentire and her basically telling them to act like they know nothing.
"Just help…I rather not lose them. Besides, they know a few things about this world that can really help if we are on the move," Dusk explains.
Leone sighs and walks over to him before whispering, "Don't talk about it aloud. Who knows who is listening."
"I rather not leave them in trouble if that part comes to fruition," Dusk whispers back.
"I am saying so they didn't go after said friend," Leone whispers to her.
Dusk kept an eyebrow raised at her before looking to Sentire. "I'm going to give you a list. Pick one you want to join us and only tell them. After that, come back and pack up your things."
"Right and Trial, bedtime," Leone calls.
"As long as the clothes are off," Trial says grinning before Leone picks him up and walks off.
"Their relationship is what again?" Barb asks.
"Fuck buddies," Sentire says dryly before Dusk gives her a list of locations. "So one, huh?"
"You can talk to them. Just don't mention anything about this. I rather not lose anyone…but considering this and considering further, we can leave a few behind since they know how to deal with them," Dusk explains.
"What about your sister?" Barb asks.
"That was the letter Barb," Dusk sighs as Sentire walks off.