Over the next few days, Trial was mostly either at Applejack's farm or at a building the Equites were using where he gave a lecture on his magic and the fundamentals.
Sentire hums as she looks at the list in her hand as Leone skips along with her, walking to someone's house named Butterscotch. "Suppose to be good with animals if I remember what Dusk said."
"That could be good to have out in the wastelands," Leone says smiling before wrapping an arm around her as Sentire kept leading her to a little cottage in lower Canterlot near what seems to be the Everfree forest. "Not bad a place," she says as she spies a few animal pens in the back filled with various forest animals. "Oh," Leone says before giving a lioness roar at them.
All the animals start to freak out and run around. "Oh, dear. Oh, my!" a yellow pegasus stallion panics as he runs out of the house and to the back. "Please. Please calm down. It's okay," he tries to placate.
"Did you have to do that?" Sentire asks turning to Leone who is grinning like an impish foal.
"Yes," Leone says giggling as Sentire walks up to the stallion while he is able to get most of them calmed down to a manageable level.
"Excuse me?" Sentire calls and the stallion squeaks in shock before turning to her while hiding behind his neck long pink mane. "Hi…can we talk for a bit? Maybe about a few animals?" Sentire asks, coming up with a lie on the spot and then hears something being licked and they both turn to see Leone licking her chops as she looks at a few animals. "No! Bad Leone!" Sentire scolds, giving a swat on her head with her bag. Leone snickers to herself as Sentire sighs and looks back to Butterscotch to see him blushing like mad and squeaking. "What?"
"Um…are you naked?" Butterscotch squeaks out and tries to look away.
Sentire sighs. "No. My body is just too big to handle normal clothes so these are the things for my movement. Now…can we talk about animals? And no eating them!" Sentire scolds to Leone who giggles mischievously.
Butterscotch looks to their way again before spotting Leone who seems to be smirking up to Sentire, stopping in his track. "Wha.…a lioness?"
Leone giggles and gives a wave. "Hey there, handsome. Yep. Animal here. Partly…" Leone says and gives a smirk up to Sentire, bothering Sentire that she hasn't told about her past life.
"Oh, my," Butterscotch almost says quietly enough for them to barely hear and rushes up to her. "Can I?" he asks, holding out his hands to hers.
"Sure. Just don't pull," Leone says chuckling at the stallion's enthusiasm as she leans over to Sentire, Butterscotch happily petting and feeling her hand paws. "If you don't want this one, can I keep him?" she whispers grinning.
Sentire just gives her a raised eyebrow and leans past her to see Butterscotch. "Um…the talk?"
"Huh?" Butterscotch mutters before realizing it. "Oh, right. Animals. Come on," he says, leading them to the back.
"So…you tamed all these animals?" Leone asks, looking at the many possible kinds she can eat.
"Yes. I help out the farms too," Butterscotch says happily as he stops in front of a pen of cows. "So what do you need?"
"Actually, I am wondering if you can handle any animals outside the walls. We may be looking to grab a few for a job from a farm," Sentire lies.
"Oh…" Butterscotch says before humming. "I can do that. But I can't do big animals. Like dragons," he shivers.
"Bears, many dogs, maybe spiders," Leone lists off, using what she saw at the last nest.
"That I can do? When's the job?" Butterscotch asks, turning to look at them.
"Next week. We'll see you if we can prepare for it," Sentire says before walking off with Leone who gives a playful wave to him.
"Nice lying," Leone compliments once they are far enough away.
"I hate to do it. But we do need more help. Just need to know who is best for what we may face. Berry and Elusive I already know. Berry is a baker, can make food out of anything. Elusive is a seamstress. Good clothing that can do the job. Applejack…what is she like?" Sentire asks, stopping on the path with her.
Leone hums. "Trial said she's a farm gal. So she must know everything about farming. Maybe help us find good food out in the wastelands."
"I really wish we can take them all," Sentire sighs. "They all sound so good at what they do and we kinda need all of them."
"Didn't the prince mention one more?" Leone asks, a bit confused.
"Yeah. A zebra who was the first to warn everyone before the Ponyville attack…he also mentioned he owns a potion shop. First-hand information and potions…" Sentire lists off.
"Not on the list…but we can't just think for ourselves," Leone points out. "These guys would be somewhat better off here."
Sentire nods. "And they have almost no use for potions unlike spells and the like…and being the one holding information that can help us…come on. Let's go see this guy," she says walking off, trying to remember the direction Dusk pointed.
After heading back to upper Canterlot and passing by the library, they come across a shop that looks like any other, but the sign outside doesn't fit the clean marble look of the place as it is painted on wood bark and seems to be berry paint. "Huh…that's actually taking me back to mine and Trial's days," Leone sighs, reminiscing as Sentire walks in with her and they became a little surprised at how organized the place is with potion bottles lining shelves upon shelves, a few of them hanging from the ceiling with herbs and the like, a few masks and books in one corner, while a bubbling caldron waited in the center as it boiled something green. "Yep. Definitely, like the old days. Feels homey."
"One second," a deep male voice calls out before a zebra stallion enters through some curtains behind a counter and sees them. Their eyes catching the gold rings on his arms and neck, including the many markings that aren't normal stripes. "Can I help you, hunters? A lure for monsters? Or a poison to slow them down?" he suggested, putting both bottles respectfully on the counter.
Leone grins a bit as she walks up and looks over the bottles while Sentire only looked at the zebra. "What's your name?"
The zebra looked genuinely surprised at that point. "My name is Zicoro. What do you need for your next hunt?"
Sentire smiles a little, knowing that he must not have had a good time talking with anypony as of late. "Actually, we are wondering how good are you at potion making? How far can you make things?"
Zicoro leans a bit on the counter now, letting them catch the fact he is only wearing a cloth robe but still showing off his chest which Leone smirks at. "Who wants to know?"
"The hunters who are going to find a couple of beasts and end them. We just need to know if your potion making is good and that's the best potion you made," Sentire states and makes Leone proud of her trickery.
Zicoro hums before heading to the back again behind the curtains as Leone leans over. "I have heard rumors of their race being…big. Want him?"
Sentire pushes her head away as Zicoro came back with a box and opens the top before reaching in and takes out a fancy bottle with a clear watery liquid. "Liquid luck. Lasts for a long time. Hard to make and increasingly dangerous if you get one piece wrong. This is a true test of a potion master. Now," he stares as he snatches up the bottle and puts it back into the box before Leone could snatch it for herself. "What potion do you need to be made that must be difficult for you?"
Sentire clears her throat now as Leone has gone to look at other potions lining the walls. "Actually, you warned Ponyville of the attack. So I was wondering, what did you see that made you warn them all?"
Now Zicoro is slightly interested in what this mare is leading him to. First his skills and now information. "Simply, I saw the corruption spread upon the trees and plants. Then came animals running from what they could. I abandoned my home and warned the town. They too tried to run and even fight the oncoming monsters, but it was too much at that time. So we all ran here. Canterlot. I helped prince Dusk Shine figure out the origins, but I could only do so much. Mostly giving help in the forms of potions and ancient knowledge, but my vast knowledge is limited to what I have seen and read. Though, if I didn't help the prince, he wouldn't be as close as he is today. Now, what potion?" Zicoro asks, now with a steely gaze at her.
Sentire chuckles nervously before backing off and clearing her throat. "Actually…we may need your help crossing the wastelands. Prince Dusk Shine and the Wonderbolts are planning on leaving with me and my friends too. We would appreciate it if you join."
Zicoro now became truly surprised at the request. "A hiring?"
"A plea to leave with us before a possible attack happens from the Equites. We want to get you out before that happens, quickly and quietly under the guise of hunting for a job," Sentire explain. Leone smiling a bit where they can't see as she looks over the merchandise. "The prince would help you of course."
"I have many things here that are valuable. I need assurance that nothing would be taken," Zicoro says, tapping the counter.
"You'll have it," Sentire says before walking off and drags Leone away outside as Zicoro stares at them as they left.
"You pushed yourself into a corner," Leone points out.
"No. I hated it, but I pushed Dusk into it," Sentire says and Leone gleefully became proud of her blooming hunter friend.
"Aw. My little hunter newbie is learning the trade," Leone playfully teases as she hugs her.
Sentire sighs. "You work long enough in an office, you tend to pick up on things they always do, like cheat and lie."
"And Trial took you under his wing," Leone says, fully meaning a pun.
Sentire pushes her off. "Shut up."
Leone giggles and hugs her back again as they head back.
"I'm enjoying his misery. Her phase one training is complete," Trial says happily as Dusk scolds Sentire.
"We should take more trainees," Leone says teasingly.
Trial chuckles while they watch the two.
"Did you have to push yourself into a corner with this? He isn't even on the list I gave you and you decided to go to him, even telling him what's going on?"
"We all need him. And Canterlot doesn't pay him any mind and doesn't need potions, but we could. And since we have two that need potions at times," Sentire explains, pointing to Trial and Leone who is wanting to record Dusk's misery somehow, "it would be beneficial. Heck, he has information on what the heck went on before the Ponyville attack. And we need it…" Sentire stops as Dusk places a hand over her mouth while he gives a tired look.
"Look, I'll take that decision and work with it. I just wasn't expecting you to choose him. The other ones I listed, I was prepared for. But him, not at all. So…I'm just caught off guard. Give an hour or two and I'll see about getting him prepared. As for you…you're done. You can relax, enjoy the town, whatever. Just be ready when we need to get going," Dusk sighs as he takes his hand off her mouth and walks off outside, turning towards the shop.
Sentire blinks before turning back to the others. "You think I went too far?"
"Not far enough. But your phase two training will commence once we are out on the road again," Trial reassures grinning. "I'm going to head out. Got a night planned?" Trial says getting up.
"Oh. Can I join in some sexy fun?" Leone asks teasingly and stood up with him.
"It's with the white unicorn," Trial informs and Leone rushes out the door.
Sentire hums before noticing a book float over to her with the title of 'Pickups on the Go'. Before a set of eyes appeared. "Hey, there sexy. We need to train you if you are leaving," Eris says as she changes out of her book form.
"Are you coming with us?" Sentire asks, watching her float around on a pink cloud.
"No. I'm going straight to the princes. But I am going to train you on how to get to bang Dusky," Eris says in a sultry tone before Barb grabs her horn and pulls her away.
"Seriously?" Barb questions.
Eris just giggles happily and mischievously. Sentire blushes and looks away, not wanting to face further embarrassment. "It's strange to see a mare like yourself, party type and all, be bad at relationships," Eris finally mentions as she picks up her hand and looks at the club stamp.
Sentire yanks her hand away at that. "I was mostly blackout drunk at those places. I never really got into a real relationship."
"Good time as any," Eris says patting her head before stopping and humming as she looks over her body. "Why does this shape remind me of somepony? Good large assets, enough layer of fat, very thick thighs…a bombshell of a body really. Why does it remind me of somepony?"
"And it's time for you to clean the last bit of this place before getting out of here," Barb says, quickly grabbing her tail before making her into a lasso and throws her into the kitchen. "Sorry. Anyways, you can do whatever you want. Enjoy the last bits of this city really," Barb says before leaving to get more supplies. "Or keep an eye on a certain group."
Sentire gulps at that suggestion before looking to the wall separating the city outside the window.
Sentire gulps nervously as she hides behind the buildings and quickly runs between them in lower Canterlot. She then runs behind a brick worn down wall that blocked the alleyway she is in and peeks through the gaps. Her eyes catching onto the encampment of the Equites. Seeing the large imposing gate that resemble an old ancient gate out of wood and metal while torches hung from it, now out since it was mostly daytime. Pathways leading to the main area of the camp and tents filling the area.
Under one looks like shelves of armor and weapons of the same type she saw back at the nest attack, a blacksmith forge, and, what looks like, ore for making the things they need. The main courtyard having many lines of soldiers in armor doing some practice sword strikes. Another larger tent behind them that seems to be the command type with larger imposing guards at the entrance of it, looking stiff and imposing.
Though her eyes were soon drawn to the tent opposite of the armory one. Her breath hitched and she covers her mouth to not let out a noise as she saw mares on tables or on the ground with sheets under them, all of them seem to enjoy a stallion who is fucking them at the moment. Sentire's legs shake as she kept watching the line of mares actually moaning and moving against the stallions. Her gaze somehow zooming in her view and eyeing the shafts plunging into them and she gulps again before ducking and breathes heavily as she hides in the alleyway.
"So…that's how much its normal for them?" she tries to ask herself.
"Kinda," Dusk suddenly says near her and makes her squeak in surprise as she hadn't noticed him approach. "When Barb told me you are heading here, I had to follow. You need to learn how to sneak better," he lectures as he walks up to the wall and peeks through. "Yeah. They offered me that and I declined. Mares in heat would make anyone want to fuck them. Course…I didn't when they asked and when they did it once they knew I was an alicorn. But still…you have to admit that they are brave for doing an orgy out in the open."
"You're joking, right?" Sentire blanched.
"Nope. We grew up in a world where this kind of thing is frowned upon. So give them props for that," Dusk admits before looking at her. "You're not thinking of going there, are you?"
Sentire quickly shakes her head. "Do that? Tartarus no! I rather be eaten by a monster than get into that…unless…uh…well…it's with a special somepony," she finishes blushing.
"As with anypony. Come on. Let's get out of here. They really don't like those that act this way," Dusk says as he wraps an arm around her and pulls her away. "Just play the part," he says as he puts a cloak over her and keeps her close as the guards see them come out from behind the buildings and then goes back to looking straight ahead. "Your body is a dead giveaway. You're very unique in that part. I mean, I have never seen a mare in my entire life like you. So try to handle that by using whatever tricks those two friends of yours use. You might live longer than most that venture into the wastelands."
"And you?" Sentire asks, picking her head up a bit to look at him.
"Magic handles that part. Monsters are weak and I can use some spells to slip away from others. I can take care of myself. What matters is you need to learn fast. Get used to that scythe. And please stay alive," Dusk lists, turning his head to look at her now. "By the way, where are you from originally? Like, before this all happened?"
"Manehattan…wait. If what you said was true…I may have missed the princes without realizing it. I was just thinking of checking out where I worked and where I lived. Heh…grabbed a shower and some bits while I was there too," Sentire almost laughs.
"Like I said, lucky," Dusk says smiling and pulls her closer to his chest as they pass by some guards patrolling. "If you get the chance…never come back here. I don't think it would be worth it."
"Maybe to get your friends once it's all settled down. Under the guise of a job," Sentire offers as she leans into him while keeping her head down.
"If you pull that off, I might kiss you," Dusk chuckles.
Sentire blushes as well and tries to not say anything at this point as they head back to the library.
"So what do you say? Come with us on the road? You and your…I want to say, wife," Trial says.
Vinyl chuckles as the gray mare next to her facepalmed. "Yeah. We are a married couple. Play music up to eleven. And have such raunchy sex in bed, we put the Equites to shame," Vinyl laughs as she wraps an arm around the mare and pulls her close.
"Ok…did you tell her you seduced me yet?" Trial asks smirking.
"Oh yeah. I have asked her if we could marry you into the family and you can give us foals that we can teach some sick beats too," Vinyl says, still chuckling mischievously.
"This true?" Trial asks, looking at the other mare.
"No. She just likes joking as crazy as possible. Octavia," the mare says offering a handshake.
"I call her Octy," Vinyl quips as Octavia frowns while Trial grabs her hand and gives a kiss to it, surprising her.
"Oh. A gentlecolt. Those are in short supply in these times," Octavia says smiling now.
"Yeah, one of my teachers beat it into me…sometimes literally," Trial informs.
"I would love to meet this teacher one day," Octavia says smiling while pushing Vinyl off.
"She died a long time ago," Trial informs soberly.
"Oh…I'm sorry…" Octavia apologizes, not sure what else to say.
"No need to be. Anyways, will you both come?" Trial asks again, showing he was serious on that one.
"Only if you make it fun," Vinyl says as Octavia shakes her head.
"Yes. Just give us time," Octavia agrees before taking a sip from her drink as they say in a far-off table of the club they are in.
"We may be leaving quite soon. Oh, hey Iron," Trial greets, seeing the general walk past them.
"Trial," Iron simply says.
"I need to talk to you," Trial requests.
Iron keeps watching him as he got up and leads her away. Vinyl and Octavia slipping away unnoticed to pack their things. "What is it?"
"Can you hold on to the gold you paid us as with the coup your faction is planning, I have concerns that the riot that may follow will loot and I rather not have to massacre half the population to get back what is mine," Trial whispers to her.
Iron hums before smiling. "Come back and teach once in a while if you do."
"I may come back just to see you," Trial whispers smirking back. Iron blinks and stops in her tracks before he walks off. "I'll bring the chest by in a few hours."
Iron says nothing or even moves from the spot and ten minutes after he and the two mares he was with, an Equites came up to check if he had somehow killed her, but she punches him away through a bar stool before he touches her.
"Get the word out. It's going to happen in one hour," Iron orders and the soldier had no choice but to run off to tell the main camp.
"So is that everything you need for the road?" Dusk asks as he carries a bag on his back with the others having their own. Dusk's vein on his forehead showing as Trial had brought along Vinyl and Octavia without telling him and were now tossing their stuff into the library. "Because we aren't getting another chance here," he warns as he takes one last look at his own bag while everyone goes through their things.
"Yeah, princy. We are set," Leone says while Zicoro picks through his potion vials in a small bag, Sentire eying him and his loincloth piece robe that he mostly wore. "If my memory is correct, they are way tougher than they look," Leon whispers to Sentire's ear. "Nice choice by the way. We needed a potion expert for our days."
"Yeah, sure," Sentire mutters and looks upon everyone as they all had bags in one way or another and were standing in front of a pile of things from their various places. And her stomach is not feeling well enough at the moment.
"Okay. Let's go. And if anyone asks, a big job in the wastelands," Dusk quickly says as they all file out before walking out himself and then stops before turning and looks to see Eris on top of the pile waving at him happily. Dusk gives a few waves back before she snaps her claws and disappears, possibly to tell the princes of what's going on. Dusk smiles a little as he shuts the door and locks it up while everyone waits at the bottom of the steps.
"So…how will this work?" Trial asks as they all look to Dusk.
Dusk takes a deep breath before turning to the library and his hands and horn starts to glow brightly, a magic circle appearing under him that spins before another circle appear over it that spins in the opposite way, and then finally another one appearing over him instead of on the ground, seemingly spinning in both directions with its wave of patterns and letters. The library itself starting to glow as some of the walls gave way and falls off before showing magical crystals that were glowing brightly. All eyes on the building before a loud snap happen that almost killed their ears and them nothing stood in their gaze. A giant hole where once stood the library. Dusk suddenly falls to his knees as he pants and sweats heavily from the spell.
"It will not be in the ground when it gets to Manehattan…but that wouldn't be a problem for the princes there," Dusk quickly explains before Zicoro gives him a vial of something and he drinks it quickly, feeling invigorated, but only halfway to what he had before. "Thanks. Let's get moving before people start to really notice," Dusk orders as he pulls his hood up.
"Right. Well, we best start running as the Equites have to have seen that and they will know something is up and it will be go time for them," Trial informs.
"Let's get moving along the wall alleyways. They always go for the main roads first," Vinyl says as they start to run down to the nearest doorway of the walls.
"Rainbow?" Trial asks.
"Yes. She's right. Trust her. She spends a lot of time behind homes and roads," Rainbow says as she flies a little upwards to spy anyone coming close.
"What about his sister and her husband?" Trial asks.
"Already gone," Rainbow and Dusk said together. "I sent a letter to them and they abandon the castle. Even destroying some important things so they can't get to it once it's taken over. They have already left for Manehattan on a 'governmental mission'," Dusk explains. "I think they were looking for an excuse to leave and sack this place the whole time because they did in a few hours less than expected. The castle…is actually empty now."
"I see…why is there only three members of the wonderbolts with us?" Trial asks.
"The rest were corrupt enough to show it on their suits," Spitfire says dryly.
"…how long did they go without pay?" Trial asks seriously, making Spitfire look nervous.
"Two years," Spitfire says, trying to stay calm.
"Surprised they didn't desert before now," Trial says.
"The nobles kept them up," Rainbow says sighing.
"Well…eight out of ten chance all of them will die and all their assets will be looted in this," Trial informs.
"Believe me, the princes are hoping for this. This whole thing was a long time coming…" Dusk explains before pushing them all into an alleyway behind some crates as a group of soldiers ran up the path they were on, "and they wanted it to happen. But they couldn't really start it if they really wanted the people against them. So what else, wait it out and let the nobles take the blame once explained that their wealth hoarding caused all this as everyone guarding the citizens was given brides too easily," Dusk finished with a whisper before they all start to move in the cramp corridors of the alleyways.
"But you know this destroys any chances of reclaiming this city and maybe the area or more from the Equites after this. Especially after all the princes flee the city," Trial informs before they start hearing horns blowing.
"Yeah. The biggest problem ever considered. Hard to reclaim once it is over, but still being talked about after this long," Dusk sighs and rubs his head. "The princes are hoping that after this monster problem is solved, the ERM is dealt with, then they could rally around the area and squeeze them in, taking it part by part. But they fear that their aggressive breeding program will give them enough numbers to hold out by the end of it. And enough to take over…come on. We have to get to the gates before they close them all," Dusk says passing them as Rainbow scouts ahead.
"It will never be that easy. They hope for the impossible as the EMR, if they are smart, will see the princes conquering the Equites as a very bad thing and will send help, looking to stab them in the back so they come out on top," Trial says.
"You should be an advisor," Dusk says.
"Council means nothing if no one listens," Trial says.
"Ain't that the truth," Leone says pulling Sentire up as they reach a gate. "Shit," she mutters as she sees a few Equites' guards on top, watching for anyone leaving. "I will handle this," Trial says walking out.
"Don't make them see you," Dusk says, pulling his hood up more while using his magic to pull up Sentire's hood as well.
"Open the gate and get Iron," Trial calls up to the Equites members.
Dusk sighs sadly while the members look down to him before one flies off back to the camp to find Iron as the gates are opened by the last one guarding.
"Go on. I will catch up after I finish here," Trial says.
They all look to each other before running out of the gate as Iron is seen by Trial and lands in front of him as he stood in the gate. "You wanted to see me?"
"Wanted to say bye before I head out. The prince is escaping and convinced my current client to help him, but I doubt you or your leader will object. Better a live coward to your cause then a martyr, right?" Trial asks.
Iron nods as she sees the group running out into the wastelands past him. "Yes. Don't make me regret this."
"I will see you when we come back to the area. Try and stay alive till then, alright?" Trial asks placing a hand on her shoulder as he moves to pass.
Iron nods slowly as he walks past her, her eyes tracking him as he left.