Hi everypony! I have returned to my Fluttercord Chronicles with another Hearts and Hooves Day story!
This is set one year after the chapter 'Change of Plans'. Fluttershy and Discord have agreed that this year they would spend the day together, so they decide to have a game of Ogres and Oubliettes with all their friends!
The story actually ended up longer than I expected, so it has been broken down into two chapters. Hope you enjoy!
It took a lot of convincing, and by that is meant convincing Twilight. The purple alicorn did not relish the idea of turning her home into a giant game. But she had eventually given in.
Fluttershy had promised Discord that she would spend Hearts and Hooves Day with him this year, and, so she didn't miss hanging out with her other friends, had suggested they all join the traditional Ogres and Oubliettes game.
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had cheered at this idea, Applejack and Rarity had agreed only a little reluctantly, and Twilight's condition was that they not do any permanent damage to her possessions, particularly the books.
And because he was so thrilled at the idea of the big O&O game with Fluttershy, Discord swore not to lay a single thread of chaotic magic on them, and even offered to seal up the library so no one could enter during the course of the game.
It took a little while to decide on teams.
Starlight had chosen to opt out to spend the day with Trixie, which left enough for four teams of three. The CMC, who had somehow become involved, were a team (of course). Discord suggested that each of the guys be on different teams as, to use his wording, 'O&O veterans'. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were on Big Mac's team, representing the Apple/Pie clan. Discord's teammates were Fluttershy and Twilight, leaving Spike with Rarity and Rainbow Dash.
"I do wish we were doing our usual exchange of gifts, though," Rarity sighed.
"No reason we can't do that after," Fluttershy said reasonably.
"Yeah!" exclaimed Rainbow. "In fact, how's this? Everyone bring one gift, and we'll keep them in the library, and whichever team wins gets first pick!"
Everyone chorused their delight with this plan.
So on Hearts and Hooves Day morning, after Fluttershy had fed her critters their special breakfast, she and Discord walked to Twilight's castle together.
The three Apples, Pinkie Pie and Scootaloo were already there, in the process of saying goodbye to Starlight.
Rainbow Dash came charging in as Starlight stepped outside, and Rarity and Sweetie Belle came trotting up not long afterwards.
"Okay," said Twilight, clapping her hooves for attention. "Now that everyone's here, let's put all the presents in the library." She led everyone there and directed them to the large table where two unwrapped presents were already waiting.
The others all placed their own gifts on the table, then exited the room so Discord could seal it.
Once that was done, Discord transformed himself, Spike, Big Mac, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie into their usual characters. The other girls all had great fun choosing theirs. Applejack, like her brother, was a knight, though she chose to remain an earth pony. 'Sir Lady Jacqueline' wore armour that was a slightly more feminine version of Sir McBiggun's, and steel grey instead of black. The CMC also chose warrior personas, though their costumes had very little armour. Instead, they were all wearing old fashioned tunics and breeches with various weapons concealed in pockets or hanging from their belts. Twilight, predictably, wanted to be a magician sage. 'Bright Sparkle' was dressed head to hoof in a deep purple cloak that could camouflage its wearer. After humming and hawing for a moment, Spike (sorry, Garbunkle) suggested that his teammate should be Princess Schmarity. This made Discord and Big Mac (ahem, Captain Wuzz and Sir McBiggun) share a smirk, but Rarity didn't see, and cheerfully agreed to it. Discord obligingly poofed her into an elegant little dress she would have no trouble running and moving about in, and a small golden tiara.
This left Fluttershy, who got flustered when Discord turned to her and asked, "And how about you, my dear?"
"Um...uh...I don't know. Whatever you want..." she mumbled.
"Come on, Fluttershy!" cried Rainbow. "This is your chance to be whatever you want!"
"I don't...I don't know..." she stammered.
"It's alright, Fluttershy," Discord said soothingly. "Do you want me to decide for you?"
Relieved, Fluttershy nodded.
Discord snapped his fingers once more, and Fluttershy was instantly dressed in delicate white armour, her long hair was braided a little like Discord's but with beads and feathers. She had a bow and quiver slung around her shoulder and small sword strapped to her side.
"You are the Maiden Mercy, whose sacred duty is to protect the innocent; a warrior so angelic and beautiful, your victims never feel the pain of their deaths and you can tame even the most savage of beasts." Discord may or may not have been thinking about this character since Fluttershy suggested joining the game today.
Fluttershy blushed, but was saved replying when Spike leapt forward.
"Alright everyone! Listen up!" shouted Garbunkle. "The evil Squizard has stolen one of our most prized treasures, the Jewel of Light! My fellow warriors and I have parted ways, but we all wish to retrieve it. So we have recruited more allies to join our cause! I have teamed up with the deadly assassin Knight Dasher, who has joined me on a previous quest, and Princess Schmarity, who seeks revenge on the Squizard."
At this, Rarity tossed her mane and declared, "That sorcerer will regret ever kidnapping this princess!"
"Sir McBiggun has sought the help of his sister Sir Lady Jacqueline, whose prowess with a sword is unmatched—"
Applejack swung her sword proudly.
"—and another old ally, Pink-a-Laugh."
Pinkie bounced up and down with a "YAY!"
"Captain Wuzz has searched the four corners of the land for the most noble and clever of allies, Maiden Mercy and Bright Sparkle! BUT!" Garbunkle shouted dramatically, and several of them jumped, "there is another elite group of warriors after the Jewel as well, famed throughout the kingdoms for their fighting skills: Appalos, Scoothos and Sweetie Miss."
The CMC giggled with delight.
"We all must try to retrieve the Jewel before another team can get it, facing the Squizard's terrifying skeleton army and magical beasts, for whichever team recovers the Jewel of Light will be honoured heroes!"
The assembled group cheered and Discord snapped his eagle claws, simultaneously transforming the castle into the world of Ogres and Oubliettes and transporting each team to their starting position.
"Where to first, Bright Sparkle?" he asked, turning to her.
"First, we must determine where the Squizard is keeping the Jewel," said the alicorn. "He may be keeping it close by, or have hidden it somewhere safe. Either way, it is sure to be heavily guarded."
"The Squizard wouldn't trust anyone but himself with the Jewel," exclaimed Captain Wuzz.
"Then we need to find him."
"Eep!" squeaked Maiden Mercy. The other two looked at her, and she pointed with a trembling hoof. "Skeleton soldiers!"
Captain Wuzz drew out his bow.
"Wait!" cried Bright Sparkle. "They might know where the Squizard is!"
"Hmm," muttered the draconequus, lowering it again. "You're right. We need to trap them and make them tell us. But how do you trap a skeleton?"
Bright Sparkle grinned. "Leave that to me."
The Apple Pie team had also run into trouble early on, and were fiercely battling a horde of skeleton warriors. The two knights fought back to back, while Pink-a-Laugh ran through the ranks of skeletons, giggling and kicking them into oblivion.
Sir McBiggun narrowly avoided an enemy's sword and was thrown off-balance. Pink-a-Laugh jumped on top of the skeleton before Sir McBiggun could be hit again.
"You okay, Sir McBiggun?"
The knight nodded in gratitude. "Eeyup."
"Awesome. I think the Jewel of Light is being hidden in the throne room!"
"How d'ya know that?" asked Sir Lady Jacqueline, yelling over her shoulder and keeping one eye on the attackers in front of her.
Pinkie shrugged. "Pink-a-Laugh also has a Pinkie Sense."
"And where are we now?" The castle was unrecognisable. Sir Lady Jacqueline kicked one of the skeletons into a pit of lava as she spoke.
"Ballroom."
"Alright, then the throne room's where we're headed!" She slashed furiously at another skeleton, reducing him to dust. "Just as soon as we get rid of these guys!"
"Eeyup."
"Okie dokie lokie!"
Meanwhile, Knight Dasher was leading her teammates along a hallway, creeping after another patrol of skeleton guards. They were sure that following them, they would eventually come to the Squizard and the Jewel.
They were following Knight Dasher's lead and keeping out of sight, though Garbunkle had also cast a cloaking spell over them just in case.
Eventually, the patrol they were following met up with a larger group of soldiers and started talking.
"What are they saying?" whispered Princess Schmarity.
"Hold on, maybe I can cast a spell to let us hear properly," Garbunkle whispered back.
Before he could, however, the skeleton soldiers all nodded in agreement and opened a huge door beside them. More soldiers vanished inside it, and the three heroes heard chains rattling and something huge moving.
They stared in horror at the thing that was being led out.
"What is that?" gasped Knight Dasher.
"One of the Squizard's magical beasts, no doubt," Garbunkle replied. "He creates them. This lot must be training a new beast."
The creature was twice as tall as Discord and four times as long, with a green reptilian body on squat-looking legs that ended in viciously long claws. It had curled rams' horns, slitted nostrils, and its mouth dripped with saliva. Its cat-like eyes were half closed as it growled at its captors, as though it were still half-asleep. Its long, thick tail was tipped with three deadly spikes.
The creature seemed to be on the verge of attacking the skeleton soldiers that held the chains around its legs, when it raised its head and sniffed at the air.
The three heroes, speechless with shock, did not immediately recognise what it was doing.
"s," the beast hissed. Like lightning, its long neck whipped around to stare directly at them.
"Get them!" screamed the soldiers.
Appalos, Scoothos and Sweetie Miss had landed just outside what looked vaguely like a forest. On the other side were purple, cliff-like rocks dotted with caves.
"Alright, CMC!" shouted Appalos, turning to her friends. "We need to find that Jewel before those heroes! Where to?"
"Uh...how about that way?" said Sweetie Miss, pointing towards the rocks.
"Why?" asked Appalos.
Sweetie Miss was embarrassed. "I don't want to go through that forest. It looks scary."
"That means it's probably the right way to go," Scoothos pointed out.
"How do we know that? We have no idea where the Jewel is, or even where we are, except that we're both inside the castle," Sweetie Miss replied hotly.
Appalos cut in before Scoothos could argue. "Sweetie Miss is right. Besides, it looks like it'd be easy to get lost in those caves. It'd be a good place to hide something."
Scoothos agreed with a grumble.
The three little ponies began to climb, peering into every opening as they went past. The first several caves, they could see at a glance were empty. Some required a little more exploring.
After making it over the first hillock, they were exhausted, and stared miserably at the mountains still to climb.
"How are we ever going to find the Jewel?" Appalos wailed in despair. "It could be a million places in these mountains, or somewhere else completely!"
Sweetie Miss was also discouraged, and was considering suggesting they go back to the forest after all. At least walking through it wouldn't be so tiring.
But Scoothos suddenly perked up. "Hey! Wait a minute!" She flapped her wings, and instantly rose into the air. "I LOVE this game!" she shouted.
The other two watched and cheered as Scoothos rocketed towards the mountaintops, her powerful wings getting her there in a matter of seconds. She sped through all the caves she could find, but like the others, they were all empty. Save one.
Appalos and Sweetie Miss heard a distant roar and looked up. Scoothos was flying towards them, panic-stricken. "RUN!" she screamed.
The terror on their friend's face was warning enough. They turned tail and galloped away as fast as they could.
The monster behind them bellowed in fury and gave chase.
End Part 1.
I would like to say that I have a very limited knowledge of how Ogres and Oubliettes is played (or Dungeons and Dragons). I don't believe the players split into teams, but these guys have done so for the fun of competition and convenience of my story line XD
And in case anyone was wondering, the CMC's characters are based on the three musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis.