"This is why we buy quality locks and chains Dusk," Barb lectures.
"Please, don't remind me," Dusk sighs as he looks at all the dead monster bodies they had to deal with. "Damn. At least we are very close to a nest. So I can trap new ones. Needed new ones anyway," Dusk says to himself as he lights up his horn and starts to clean away the bodies.
"Uh…the nest seems really quiet," Sentire says.
Dusk growls under his breath now. "I'm going to be right back," he says getting up and leaves.
"Hey, we are here," Vinyl calls pushing him right back in.
"And I'm going to check on that damn nest. I need some monsters to test on," Dusk argues.
"Shouldn't you stop and look over everything first," Leone points out.
"Dusk…please just make sure everything is fine in the whole place…I'll go get some critters," Sentire promises.
"You will wait until he has adequate containment for these things," Trial informs.
"He'll have it once I get back," Sentire insists and walks past him. "You might want to hurry and get to work Dusk. Otherwise, there would be more monsters roaming around," Sentire calls over her shoulder and makes Dusk move.
"Those two are too impatient," Rainbow says making Barb look at her in shock.
"Wow…that's…the only mare to move Dusk like that other than his sister and mother," Barb tries to say as the skunk climbs on top of her head.
"There is a skunk on your head. You know that, right?" Trial asks.
"Yeah. It's my pet…remember?" Barb asks as the skunk pats her green spine curiously.
"You had a pet?" Trial asks.
"You seriously don't remember," Barb says dryly.
"Yeah. Sometimes he's my clumsy oaf at times," Leone says giggling as she hugs Trial.
"So where were we again?" Trial asks.
"Dealing with what job should be next?" Leone says as everyone went to grab their things from the pile of stuff.
"Setting up a temporary base?" Trial asks.
"Where through?" Leone asks.
"Roof," Trial suggested.
"Living room," Leone adds.
"Outside as a gateway to this place?" Trial questions.
"Or another building?" Leone asks.
"Nest?" Trial ends.
"How about right here?" Barb says.
"Now style?" Trial asks and brings Leone into consideration. "Should it be old medieval or new age or even the rust style they all are using?"
"First clean up," Rainbow says grabbing his ear.
"Ow. Ow. Ow," Trial moans in pain as Rainbow kept pulling him to the bath.
"Hey Dusk, how about the pipes?" Rainbow calls.
"Found a stream and river. Already setting them," Dusk calls back.
"How…?" Leone tries to ask Barb.
"We had some problems back in Canterlot. However, once we realized we weren't going to get that much maintenance, we decided to grab our own supplies and do it ourselves. He's just going to run the pipes to the source and river. So you will still have clean water," Barb explains.
"What now then?" Leone asks.
"Help clear the corpses," Rainbow says calls.
"Eh. Easy enough," Leone shrugs as she goes off to work.
"How do you lock yourself in your own cage?" Barb asks while they all look at disbelief at Dusk.
"Working a bit too fast," Dusk sighs.
"Almost and got it," Leone says picking the lock.
Dusk sighs in relief as he crawls out. "Well…at least I got the cages set up again."
"Now we just need to wait for our friend," Vinyl says smiling before the door bursts open and in walks Sentire dragging a few monsters as they struggle in her hold. "Or an extremely pissed friend," Vinyl says as Sentire walks over to them and throws each and every monster into the cages while not looking happy.
"I'm going to take a shower…is the water running?" Sentire asks, covered in some of the gunk of the creatures as they bang on the tough cages.
"Yeah…I'll be right up to get it running," Dusk says carefully before they watch her leave upstairs. "Wow…got them all without your help too," he says looking at Trial and Leone.
"Is the heated part working?" Trial asks.
"That I need to light up," Dusk says before walking out of the basement.
"Cold shower Sentire!" Trial calls.
"You think she doesn't care at this point?" Leone asks and they start to hear the water running through the pipes.
"Maybe…" Trial says, trying to think about it.
"Not yet!" Dusk calls as they hear the clacking of stones. "One or two minutes and you can get in."
"Fire stones?" Leone asks a bit surprised.
"Well, I think I am heading to bed now. Want to join me?" Trial whispers the latter into Rainbow's ear.
Rainbow blinks before sighing. "Why not? It's going to be a lonely night anyway," she mutters and follows him back to their old room.
"I will take first watch," Leone says.
"Make sure you join us for a few minutes before I take over," Trial says teasingly as he leads Rainbow.
"Don't worry, I will," Leone says.
"Octy?" Vinyl asks.
"Bed," Octavia simply says and walks off to find a room. "A little help Barb?"
"Sure," Barb says following and leading her to find a room to sleep in.
"Uh…where can we sleep?" Apple Bloom asks.
"Come with me and I'll set up," Barb calls and all three of the fillies run after her.
Dusk yawns as he awakens the next day and looks out to see a mix of white red and blue swirling around the building.
"Weird," Dusk mutters to himself before walking out of his room to find mostly everyone at the kitchen table. "Who put up the barrier?"
"I did," Trial says as Rainbow had the biggest smirk on her face as she drank her coffee.
"Wha…what kind of barrier did you use?" Dusk tries to ask.
"One that encapsulates the entire building in an egg like way," Trial informs.
"Oh. Tell him what it keeps out," Leone says smiling.
"Monsters both in and out and assholes," Trial clearly lies on the last one.
"Yeah…thanks…where's Sentire?" Dusk asks as he looks to everyone eating away.
"Hmm…maybe asleep," Leone mumbles through her meat as Barb keeps cooking the last bits.
"It did look like she just gave up on herself for a moment yesterday," Octavia voices as she eats daintily unlike Vinyl who was going at her meal like the lioness across from her.
"Oh…I'll check on her," Dusk sighs as he rubs his head and heads upstairs.
"We hear anything and Leone will come clawing," Trial calls out as they can clearly hear Leone clawing away messily at her juicy meat.
"Noted," Dusk says, mostly to himself as he heads to Sentire's room before knocking on the door. "Sentire? It's morning. Come on. Breakfast is ready," Dusk calls through the door before humming as he hears light snoring. He sighs before opening the door that Sentire clearly forgot to lock as he sees her in bed sprawled out on but looking like a pony on their day off from work.
Dusk tilts his head as he walks over and then stops as he starts to see her large mounds of breasts showing over the pile of sheets in front of her that was blocking his view at the door and can't help but slowly trail his eyes down her form and sees that she hasn't even bothered to dress in something before averting his eyes a bit. He then walks over before shaking her shoulder a bit as he tries not to look. "Sentire? Wake up now."
Sentire snorts awake and opens her eyes slowly to see Dusk standing over her. "Oh…hey…sorry for the bitchy attitude yesterday…um…I'm naked, aren't I?"
Dusk nods slowly before seeing Sentire sit up and yawn and stretch. "Explains why it felt a bit cooler than usual. And I can tell you are looking away. You know, you are kinda free to stare. Got that a lot when I went clubbing," Sentire yawns as she gets up and keeps stretching.
"You…sure?" Dusk asks, partially surprised as he doesn't want to be clawed out by Leone anytime soon.
Sentire hums in agreement as she kept stretching and now Dusk can't help but look at her form and crevices. "Yeah. You will not believe how many stallions kept trying to grope or take my clothes off. Comes with the body I guess," Sentire shrugs as she grabs her clothes on the floor and puts them on. "Honestly, back when it was all sunshine and cupcakes for me, I would have let any stallion go for me…but I didn't know how to handle sex that well so…yeah. Anyways, you are closest to something I am comfortable with. At least better than…well, Trial and Leone."
"So…a life of leisure…right?" Dusk asks with a big red blush on his face.
"It's kinda what I want. A simple life of leisure. Boring ass and easy job. Nothing to worry about. I kinda want that life since I can do what the Tartarus I want and whenever I want…but that's a long ways away," Sentire sighs as she pulls up her pants and looks back to see him staring. "Haven't seen much of a mare beside your sister and whatever the Equities offered, huh?"
Dusk gulps and looks away sweating now. "You going to tell Leone to claw me?"
Sentire stares at him for a few seconds before shaking her head. "Nah. Kinda would ruin any chance I have of getting with anyone. Even a fling. Well, all dressed. Let's get something to eat," Sentire states as she looks at herself in a small mirror before following the blushing Dusk out.
"Got her," Dusk says as he walks into the kitchen still blushing like crazy with Sentire going to the table and sits at a free seat. "How much food we got?" he asks Barb as he walks to her.
"We got enough to last us a week or two if we are keeping them all here. So yes. We need more…which one of you can hunt?" Barb asks, turning to the table.
"Are you joking?" Leone asks teasingly as she shows her claws.
"Good. Because we need more plants and meat," Barb informs.
"Psh. Easy," Leone boasts before returning to devouring her meal like the lioness she is.
"I'll…make a list of the plants we need," Barb says before giving Dusk his food. "Let's hope they eat cooked meat more than raw," she whispers to him and pushes him to the table as she slides over Sentire's share.
"So what's the plan today?" Trial asks as he gave a few more of his helpings to the fillies.
"Scavenge at the utmost. We need some plants and meat. More monsters to refill my stock of them. And then regular goods and supplies. And finally…what job are you guys going to do now?" Dusk asks the alicorn in the room and grabs their attention. "Your job is pretty much done since you got us here. And grabbing a few more monsters is easy by myself. So, in actuality, you can head out on your own. The only thing that I need from you is just information and any special monsters at other nests. So you can leave if you want."
"Sentire?" Trial asks, almost with a cold tone.
Sentire blinks in some confusion before sighing. "Well…I use to live nearby in Manehattan. I might be going back and forth between here and there. Plus, this is the safest place I know. We can stay here and maybe try to mend our relationship with the settlement…partly. At least get some friends that can help us live here even."
"You sit there and think if that is plausible and if we even want it while I finish clearing the nest," Trial informs.
"Did you see that dark prince's reaction to the whole thing?" Sentire asks.
"Sit down and think about it till I return," Trial instructs as he is leaving.
Leone claps a hand over Sentire's mouth to shut her up as they hear the door shut close before she removes her hand. "Think to how he handles it all and how I do. And then think to yourself," Leone says getting up and goes to help Barb clean up.
Sentire watches her as she left before getting up and leaving to go back to her room as most of them, except the fillies, notice she hasn't touched her food.
"Okay. I'll be in the basement for a bit and then I'll check on her," Dusk says finishing his meal and heads downstairs.
"Dusk, a question?" Leone says following him to the basement.
"And that question is?" Dusk asks in return.
"Are you still working on the spell that made you into a cute mare or working on something else for now?" Leone asks.
"Kinda. Once in a while when I have a chance. Besides, it needs to happen or we won't last. Why? You thinking of changing into a stallion?" Dusk asks nonchalantly as he goes over to the desk and moves the papers around.
"Try it and I would rip your spine out and floss your teeth with it," Leone states as a simple fact.
Dusk freezes now. "So…why the question?"
"I was wondering what you were up to down here and not up there helping us," Leone says.
"Well…now you know," Dusk says and slowly walks over to a cage to look at a monster before freezing when she places a hand on his shoulder.
"Relax. You and Sentire do need to think. Because you may need to check where your loyalties lie. And I don't think Trial likes you as much as he did before after that whole debacle in the meeting room. So…think things over for once while you work. You may find a few things. Plus…you could be better at life overall."
"Um…thanks?" Dusk asks unsure.
"Also, if you hurt Sentire further when you go to her, I'll turn you into a mare permanently," Leone states happily and flexes her claws.
"Noted," Dusk squeaks.
Leone giggles. "Relax, I said. I'm not going to stop her from getting with who she wants and she is very comfortable with you. I'm just saying that you don't break her heart too badly and I won't find her crying in the corner, okay?"
Dusk quickly nods as he doesn't dare to look at her before being spun around to face Leone who has a smile on her face.
"I may be like Trial, but not as cold. I just want everyone who is with me happy. Trial is very easy on that part. Sentire…Sentire is you. Like I said, I won't stop you from dating her. I'm not her mother dammit. If she wants a stallion or a certain life, I'll help her as best I could. She is worth it to me. Call me a godmother if you want," Leone winks as Dusk's frozen face. "No hurt. No tears. And no marks. That's all I'm asking. Oh, and think about what Trial asked for as well. You may need to think about where you stand too," she says before walking off.
Dusk gulps after the door shut close. "That's…the scariest mare second to my mother."
Sentire laid on her bed, thinking heavily to what Trial kept saying and even back when they were traveling, almost hating on the rulers. She understands nobles. By Solaris, she does as well since she lived a low life, but accepted it as it was livable. But the princes…she does somewhat trust Artemis because he questions his brother's authority. As for Solaris, that kinda went away when she saw how he reacted to the whole encounter. Even after encountering the guards while running away. It's obvious he has left it run rampant.
She wants to trust Artemis. The only prince good for it. But even Trial doesn't want to and if she brings it up then he will blow it off. But then again, she doesn't have to follow him. She just has to help Dusk figure this problem out, end the corruption, and she wins. Those two will get the prize automatically as well. They don't seem to care how it happens since it wasn't talked about well enough.
Now she is really considering to fuck these guys off and let them go. No point if they keep dragging it on. Maybe…but then, she needs to grab stuff from nests and she can't do it alone. Dusk may be able to help, but for how long. He needs to keep working to find a way to end this. And here she is. Stuck between forgetting about them and letting them go or stuck with their own idea about how the world should be like if she wants them to stay.
And that tears her apart from…her old life. She is never getting it back. Not a nine to five office job. Not a normal living wage and easy walk to work. Not even trying to be lazy at home. It's not going to happen. Not even in her lifetime. Especially in her enjoyable fun time frame. Solaris dammit. She just wants a life like that back again. And not…
"Sentire, you okay? And maybe not crying?" Dusk asks through the door after giving a few knocks.
Sentire sighs and sits up in bed. "Yeah. Come on in."
Dusk opens the door and sees Sentire dressed normally as she could before shutting it behind him. "Heavy thinking, huh?"
Sentire could only nod along as he walks over and she moves aside for him to sit by her. "I just want my old life back. Not being a hunter."
"Ah…you're just like Solaris then. You want to go back to what was lost. Even if it is impossible," Dusk says.
Sentire slowly nods. "It's the life I knew best and what I really know how to do."
Dusk says nothing as he lets her think about it.
Sentire sighs. "I'm not cut to be a hunter I guess. I mean…I haven't killed at all till I got that thing," she says, gesturing to the scythe leaning against the wall opposite of them.
"You sure? You seem to handle yourself pretty well," Dusk points out.
"It's only because I kept getting help from those two. If I was alone, I would have been eaten a long time ago," Sentire laminates as she curls up on the bed and buries her head in her legs. "Damn…I wish this never happened."
"Most of us wish that. But it's life now. We can't change that part of the past. The best thing is to move forward," Dusk sighs.
Sentire slowly looks to him. "Do you want things to go back to when the princes ruled?"
"They can't. I ran the numbers and too many things have changed," Dusk says.
"But don't you want that sort of life back? Something I'm sure either of the princes describes," Sentire asks.
"I grew up in this. I don't think my idea of normal and yours are the same things," Dusk informs.
"…what is yours?" Sentire asks carefully.
Dusk hums. "It was living in the walls. Hardly going out unless I needed supplies or some monsters to test on. Simple, but my friends made the whole thing bearable."
Sentire sighs and buries her head back in her legs. "I see…you think you would ever get used to living life out here? Especially in the wastelands?"
Dusk shrugs, turning away from her and looking over her scythe in better detail now. "I don't know. But I have to adapt. Otherwise, I will never make it. I have learned how to fight. How to hunt at times. Even what to do with unruly ponies."
"And killed?" Sentire pushes, wondering if he actually killed ponies.
Dusk was silent for a few moments. "Yeah. A few."
Sentire turns her stare at him now. "Have you been able to live with it?"
Dusk sighs. "It's touch and go at times. But Barb and my friends help me out."
"Can you help me if that happens?"
Dusk turns to look at her. "Why not Trial and Leone?"
Sentire shakes her head a little. "I actually trust you more than them."
"Oh…sure. Friendship is sort of my style anyway," Dusk says, giving a small smile.
Sentire slowly smiles now before reaching over and hugs him. "Thanks. That means a lot."
Dusk gives a hug back as well. "No problem."
Sentire sighs in relief and relaxes in his hold. "Were you asked the same question?"
"Kinda. But I am checking my footing," Dusk says letting go of her.
Sentire smiles as she pulls back. "Same…guess I need to…forget about the trusting the princes way too much. I was kinda hoping they would get everything back to normal. Way too much to ask I guess."
Dusk shrugs in agreement. "Kinda is. But at least you figure things out."
Sentire nods. "Yeah…thanks for the talk."
Dusk smiles at her. "No problem. I kinda needed a talk too."
Sentire takes a deep breath now and stands up from the bed. "I'm going to have my meal now…want to join me?"
Dusk nods and stands with her. "Sure. I am feeling a bit hungry," he says following her out the door.
"I am back," Trial says walking in.
"Good. Princy and our girl had a heart to heart chat about what you asked," Leone says eating the leftovers of breakfast.
"I cleared out the nest completely. There was a giant mix of a tiger and spider down there," Trial informs.
"Oh. Was it skully?" Leone asks with a wave of her fingers in a creepy tone.
"You know how much I hate spiders. That thing made no sounds," Trial reminds and informs.
"And you jump like a mare at them," Leone teases.
"More like I start setting fire to everything," Trial reminds.
Leone sticks her tongue at him happily. "Come on. Have a seat and eat the rest of this stuff with me."
"Oh, the nest may also still be on fire," Trial adds.
"There goes studying that for a bit," Leone says smiling. "Maybe princy can study charred remains."
"When will he realize I wonder?" Trial asks.
"By the time he sees the light," Leone jokes.
"Well, good luck to him on that," Trial says starting to eat.
Leone giggles and leans over to kiss his cheek. "Cute as always."
"Also, after a rest for a bit, you and I will start surveying the surrounding lands to see if any good lands for farming are nearby.," Trial informs.
"Do we need a wall?" Leone asks.
"No, I can set up seals and such," Trial says.
"That's why I said walls. For some reason, it would look nice to have old walls like the settlement has," Leone fantasize.
"We don't know how large the area will be so no getting ahead of ourselves," Trial informs.
"Still," Leone says wrapping an arm around him.
"Keep pushing and we won't plant for what is needed for alcohol," Trial says.
Leone sticks her tongue at him all pouty like. "Meanie."
"Now let's take the fillies with us, shall we?" Trial asks.
"Sure. It is getting a bit boring here," Leone says smiling.
"Well, this is downtime. After all, one, if not both, of the princes of the princes' faction has burnt their bridge with us," Trial says.
Leone hums. "All that is left to meet is that other faction. That one that makes to want a government of just everypony."
"What we fought for in our lives as well," Trial says thinking.
"Makes you wonder. What would a scared bunch of citizens behind walls eventually come up with to help themselves?" Leone puts out, thinking as well.
"Either way, I think they and the Equites will be able to come to an accord if given a common enemy," Trial says.
"Yeah. Leave our problem to them," Leone cheers a bit as she leans on him.
"Give it to me bluntly. Do you see a future for the princes' faction? At this rate, they will collapse quickly," Trial says.
"Only if a competent ruler survives. Or two. Since I, hands down, don't trust that white looking one," Leone admits.
"The truth as I see, it is that he clings to a world already long gone and will do anything to keep his delusion going," Trial says.
"Or get it back by any means necessary," Leone adds.
"That isn't possible for him. If it was, we wouldn't have monsters running about," Trial points out.
"Or at least that much of them," Leone adds as well.
"The corruption also runs deep from what we have seen. I wonder if it really started picking up after this or if it was just in the background hidden by him?" Trial ponders aloud.
"Well…I got curious and dug into an old history book. Curious what big events happened while we were gone. Turns out that the dark one was banished to the moon for a thousand years…now brought back after the elements of harmony helped freed him from the darkness that is Darkhorse Knight…stupid name if I ever heard one. And the biggest factor, the dark one was the little brother who thought he was being ignored and got jealous. Now that's a family squabble," Leone chuckles.
"That is such a bs lying cover-up," Trial says unconvinced it was the truth.
"Don't be surprised. It was the truth," Dusk states as he walks into the kitchen with Sentire behind who sat at the table. "My friends handled Artemis after he came back as Darkhorse Night. Elements of Harmony and everything. Ask anybody and they would tell you the same thing. Heck, ask the Equites since you trust them so much."
"I mean the cause. Solaris cannot be trusted and he could have easily ordered a change in the records could he not?" Trial asks seriously.
"Alright then wise guy, what really happened?" Dusk asks.
"If I had to guess, Solaris seized all the power for himself and when his brother wouldn't go along with it, Solaris banished him, making him sole ruler," Trial says.
Dusk raises an eyebrow at him. "Ask Artemis now. Oh, wait…you don't trust rulers. Never mind."
"I am sorry. One whose orders tried to make your friends' little sisters slaves?" Trial asks.
They can see Dusk's horn light up but it soon dies down as he sighs. "You want to push? Fine. Don't believe me, go right ahead. At this point, I don't care," Dusk mutters
"But I do. I care about those who I am trying to protect," Trial says, his words cutting like a hot blade into Dusk as he, in his defense of Solaris, seemed like he was ok with slavery.
Dusk reaches into his robes as he sighs and takes out a scroll which Trial takes out a throwing knife as well before it was burned away with green magic. "Ask him…I'm done," he says walking off and a loud pop of magic happened where he walked past and Artemis stood there, looking like he has been through some tireless nights. "Please deal with them prince Artemis. I need a break from them," Dusk calls as he walks into the basement.
"Are you aware what we were just talking about?" Trial asks.
Artemis raises an eyebrow at him. "Yes. About my brother's…misgivings. I must say…I was blindsided."
"I mean about your banishment," Trial says making Artemis look nervous. "I want the truth. Not a convenient lie."
"Well…I was jealous of his rule and all the praises he got while the citizens slept away in my night. It is not easy to make a canvas of the sky and have them all sleep under it. Never really appreciated it," Artemis admits, slightly embarrassed as he now looks at it now as a foal tantrum he had.
"You are lying. You refuse to look me in the eyes while saying this," Trial states.
"Your heart is also beating faster," Leone says.
Artemis froze. No one had ever dared question this. Most would just accept this and move on. "Unless you tell us what really happens, we will wash our hands of all of your faction for all the wrongs already done," Trial states.
Artemis gave both Trial and Leone a hard look before recognizing they had great martial prowess from their body language and attitudes. "Very well…it is all a lie. I never went berserk. I never even tried to seize power. In fact, it was all quite the opposite. My brother Solaris one day decided with all his popularity as the face of our combined rule decided he should be the true ruler and so plan and executed a coup on me. When it came time for a shift change, I found that all his royal guards waiting for me with him and all of mine nowhere to be found. My brother told me that I should step down from being a prince as he was so much more qualified, having ran the court in the day," Artemis starts.
"And since you were banished, I am guessing you stood up to him, right?" Trial asks.
"Indeed. My brother used some sort of unknown magic to overwhelm and banish me. When I was able to get free and had my encounter with Dusk's friends, he took me aside and told me to go along with it and explained the situation to me. I found myself agreeing with his point of view as Equestria was a very divided realm and with the constant threat of these monsters, we could not afford to rattle my brother's faction anymore," Artemis says finishing his story and sighing.
"So he made you into a scapegoat fully for his greed and ambition as I had thought and he wonders why he is losing control," Trial says.
"There is one thing right about this foal's tale. I did become Darkhorse Knight and came back as such. Which is why so many went along so easily. A dark creature wanting to bathe the world in darkness forever is scarier and believable when heroes come along to defeat it and release me from its hold. However…it happened after I was banished to the moon. All that anger and frustration welling does a lot to some ponies. Suffice to what you think, not all princes are liars and cheaters. Dusk was a regular pony before he joined our ranks. Forgive his knowledge on the matter," Artemis insists.
Trial stood there for several moments of absolute silence thinking before looking to Sentire for her reaction hearing the ugly truth.
Sentire could only gulp as she slowly looks at the two and wonders what else have they been lied about with Solaris.
"Very well…you, we will accept certain jobs from you, but your brother…tell him that if he tries to give us one, we will refuse outright. If he tries to press the issue with a messenger or guards, we will kill them. That is our stance," Trial informs.
Artemis nods. "That would be acceptable terms. If you excuse me, I have to deal with another troubled prince before he becomes dark himself," Artemis says the last part quietly and walks down to the basement.
"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, I know you are listening. Can you come down here?" Trial calls seeing that.
Three yelps are heard before the three came down. "We will be going out for a bit to survey the lands and check for a few things."
"May I come?" Leone asks as she eats the last bit.
"You are coming," Trial says before dragging her out the door with the three fillies and leaves Sentire in a daze with her thoughts.