A Strange New World: CH8

>You awaken the following morning with a strange exuberance, excited for the day to come.

>A single, lazy yawn escapes your lips before you get to work. To keep Rainbow Dash waiting would just be rude, if she so happened to be waiting for you.

>You quickly put on your armour, stretching your arms and legs as you do. With only a slight hesitation you put on the helmet, before fixing your sheath to your belt and your shield to your back.

“She may find it unnerving if I hide my face, but I’ll be damned before I carry my helmet everywhere” you mutter, checking your person to make sure you weren’t leaving anything behind.

>Your eye falls on the collection of books that lay mostly untouched, and you shrug.

“I’ll return them later…” you chuckle to yourself, bundling them up into a cloth bag.

>Confident that you weren’t leaving anything behind, you close the door to your quarters for the last time, or at least the last time for a while to come.

>As you arrive at the palace entrance, you see Solaire and Celestia chatting amicably with Rainbow Dash, who seemed to be much peppier today than usual.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

>”You wouldn’t care if you were” Solaire chuckles. “No, your friend here showed up a while back and I thought it’d courteous to offer my sympathies.”

>”It’s fine, really!” Rainbow Dash protests. “I’ve had worse.”

>”That doesn’t mean it’s not awful in its own right” Celestia adds softly.

“So,” you cough as you turn to your unconventional travelling partner. “Are you ready to go?”

>”Yeah, but aren’t you going to say goodbye?” Rainbow Dash asks hesitantly.

“Saying goodbye?”

>You turn to face Solaire, who sports a knowing smile.

“Nay, you say goodbye when you won’t be seeing your companions again. I’ll be back before anyone knows it.”

>”You better be, you have a habit of finding trouble… and if you don’t find it, you make it!” Solaire laughs, grasping you roughly by the shoulder.

“I don’t find trouble, it finds me…” you mutter, before sighing. “No sense dawdling around now. Rainbow Dash, shall we be off?”

>”You’re the boss!” she replies, and you shrug.

“Er, right… anyway, I’ll be sure to stay safe, Solaire. Best of luck to you both!”

>With a final nod of the head, you make your way out of the palace, flanked by Rainbow Dash.

>”That wasn’t a very emotional goodbye!” Dash complains, raising an eyebrow at you.

“I’m surprised you expected it to be. This is nothing more than a sightseeing expedition.”

>”Whatever ya say Anon” She chortles, before taking the lead in front of you, her sole working wing flapping excitedly.

“Something got you excited, or has the novelty of my presence not been worn away yet?”

>”I don’t think your novelty is ever going to wear off.”

“Good, I’m not going to be alone in that feeling then.”

>”Wait, what?”

“Novelty. Here I am talking to a prismatic pegasus, that strikes me as utterly unbelievable.”

 >”Prismatic? Heh, that’s a nice term…”

>She mulls the newly learnt word over for a second, before chuckling.

>”The Prismatic Rainbow Dash… yeah, that fits well.”

“Don’t go around signing your own praises, now.”

>”Why would I do that? Other ponies do that for me!” She exclaims, her head raised back pompously.

>You run your hand through her mane, relishing her splutter of indignation as her mane droops over her face.

>”Hey, cut that out!”

“Less self appraisal, you can sing a song of your own glory when we’re where we need to be.”

>With a pout, Rainbow Dash sets off again, and you follow quickly.

>Within a few minutes, you were standing outside a strange building, the crowd around you giving you strange looks as always.

“What is this place?”

>”This is the train station, ya dunce.”

“I’m very capable of reading Miss Dash, but I’m afraid I don’t know what a train is.”

>”Hah! You’re gonna be amazed at this then.”

“That sounds ominous. I dislike ominous things: they usually try to kill me.”

>”Pffh, get a load of this baby.”

“Don’t insult something that can lift you with one hand… by the broken wing too.”

>A quick twinge of annoyance passes through Dash’s eyes. “Hey! Don’t joke about that, dude.”

“I wasn’t joking… could you please direct me through this place before I do it myself and invariably make a mockery of us both?”

>”Sure, just let me do all the talking.”

>You push your way through the crowds in the entrance, much to the chagrin of both Rainbow Dash and the ponies around you. For some unknown reason, no-one seemed to want to argue with you for long once they took in your full height.

>As you pass a counter with a shocked pony behind it, you come to a strange, low contraption with multiple spokes jutting out of it.

>You lazily step over it, before recoiling in surprise as Rainbow Dash berates you.

>”What the hay are you doing? You can’t just walk past without paying!”

“Evidently, I just did.”

>”But-“

>A faint coughing from the counter catches both your attentions, and you turn in unison.

>”I’ll w-waiver this one…” the counter worker gulps, his eyes fixating on your longsword. “Your friend doesn’t have to p-pay either!!”

“Ah, why thank you. I apologise for my apparent rudeness, but I have no means to pay anyway.”

>Rainbow Dash covers her eyes with her free wing, groaning in embarrassment, before reluctantly following you through the mechanical device.

>”I told you to follow me!” she hisses, shooing you towards a platform.

“I’m much better at clearing crowds!”

>”It wasn’t a crowd, it was a queue! You can’t just jump to the front of them… and you can’t avoid paying the fees!”

“How did you plan on getting past anyway? I don’t see any coin on you.”

>”I was… I was going to nab a sympathy ticket cause of the wing…”

>You splutter with laughter, eliciting a fierce blush from the pegasus.

>”H-hey! At least I don’t just vault over the turnstile like I own the joint!”

“You’re just as bad as me, Rainbow Dash…” you giggle. “Come on and let’s get on this ‘train’ as you refer to it.”

>Rainbow Dash grits her teeth in frustration, before approaching a huge, mechanical steel beast.

“This is the train?” you ask cautiously, half expecting the thing to lurch at you.

>”It’s ‘a’ train, there ain’t just one you know.”

“It’s rather impressive from a design standpoint… do we go in, or what?”

>”Hop in, take a seat and let the locomotive do the rest!”

>Rainbow Dash leads you in to the belly of the steel beast, hopping deftly onto a comfortable looking seat.

>You nestle in opposite her, the seats obviously designed for an occupant half your size and lacking armour.

“So, what do we do now?”

>”Relax, dude. We just wait and enjoy the journey.”

“I’d be safe to assume that this ‘train’ is going to do the moving for us, correct?”

>”We wouldn’t have got on it if it wasn’t going to save our flanks the effort” Rainbow Dash chuckles, her voice laden with sarcasm.

“Right…” you mutter, looking through the window at the station.

>You remain silent as the train fills up, filtering out the whispers that nestled in the surrounding conversations.

>Your silence slowly turns into a snore as you begin to doze off, prompting a harsh rap on the helmet from Rainbow Dash.

>”You don’t want to miss this view!”

>Your stomach suddenly drops as the train begins to inch backwards, slowly leaving the station behind.

“Pardon my unease here… I’d be lying if I said I was accustomed to this sort of travel.”

>”I’ll excuse it but don’t expect me not make fun of ya for it!”

“Damn you…”

>The train slowly picks up speed, exiting the station at an agonizing pace.

“Wait, what if this thing tips over?”

>”Relax, we’re on rails. These things are as safe as can be.”

>Her ears suddenly twitch, her head cocked to one side.

>”Although, if you’re already getting distressed, and I can tell by your breathing: you should probably ditch the helmet.

“Why do you advise that?”

>”If you’re gonna barf, I’d seriously recommend not doing it in the helmet.”

“Oh dear, you’re right…”

>You wrestle the helmet off and set it on the table, as the sight Dash mentioned rolls into view.

“That’s… wow.”

>For miles and miles below the mountain lay unspoiled country: a scattering of towns and villages stood below, while above floated a magnificent cloud city.

>”Neat, isn’t it?”

“It’s breath-taking…” you whisper, your smile widening.

>Rainbow Dash returns the smile, before suddenly frowning.

>”Er, you’re looking kinda white dude.”

“I’m probably about to evacuate my breakfast onto the table.”

>”Get to the damn toilet dude, it’s behind ya!” Rainbow Dash cries, prompting you to scramble for the toilet.

>You reach the tiny vestibule with barely any time to spare, as you spew bile into the ceramic bowl.

>”Hah, if you’re motion sick already then you’re never going to last the whole journey!”

>You ignore Rainbow Dash taunt and instead huddle by the toilet, resting your arm on a strange lever.

>It flips, filling the toilet with running water, the bile seemingly sucked away by the current.

>It’d be a neat trick if you were in a position to appreciate it.

“S-say, Dash… how long is this journey going to be?”

>”A couple of hours, give or take…”

>You return your gaze to the rippling water, grimacing.

“I can already tell this ride is never going to end…”

 

>The train doors open, your destination finally reached after an endless age of discomfort.

>You stumble out of them and gulp down the cool outdoor air, grunting in dizziness and discomfort.

>”You almost forgot this!” Rainbow Dash yells, running out with your helmet perched on her head.

“Thank you, I’d kick myself if I lost that…”

>Vomit suddenly rises in your throat once more and you retch into a nearby bush, as Rainbow Dash howls with laughter.

>”You’re hopeless dude!”

“I’m not very good with first time experiences…” you groan, doubled over in pain.

>”Come on ya big filly, you can’t curl up here with the whole town looking!”

>Rainbow Dash presses her head against the back of your legs, encouraging you to stumble forward, as ponies around look on in curiosity.

>As you reluctantly walk forward towards an unknown destination, a trio of small ponies dart in front of you, forcing you to stop.

>”What in the hay are ya?” one of the fillies asks with a familiar, unusual accent.

“I’m currently very sick. Where can I get accommodation in this town?”

>”Well, uh…” the filly thinks it over, while her friends stare up at you with childish delight. “Y’could probably stay at Sweet Apple Acres, but ah ain’t sure if Applejack would want me bringin’ talkin’ suits of armour home with me-“

>”Ah sure wouldn’t, but ah can make exceptions!”

>Applejack walks up to you from a stall she had evidently been maintaining, tipping her hat in respect.

>”Glad t’see you made it down here after all. Howdy Rainbow Dash!”

>”Hey Applejack!”

>As the two ponies giggle and hug, you return your attention to the fillies.

“Please, I’d rather not make a mess of myself out in the public.”

>”You could always stay at The Three Manticores!” the pegasus chimes in, before smiling nervously under your gaze.

“The Three Manticores? Is that tavern of some sort?”

>”Yeah, it is!”

“Well, that sounds adequate for me needs. Thank you… er, what is your name, child?”

>”I’m Scootaloo!” she replies enthusiastically. “My friends here are Sweetie Belle and Applebloom!”

“You seem unusually fearless for a little filly… that is good. I’ll be seeing you around, no doubt…”

>”Er, ok then! Mister… tall armour thing!”

“The name’s Anonymous. Make of that what you will.”

>As you leave the pegasus filly in confusion, you tap Rainbow Dash gently on the shoulder.

“Not to be rude, but could you point me to the… uh, the Three Manticores? I’m honestly not feeling well…”

>”Pffh, sure thing. Talk to ya later, Applejack.”

>”Alright then Rainbow Dash, stay safe. Anonywhatchacallit, you’re always welcome round these parts, so feel free to stop by th’farm if ya got the time!”

“I’ll remember that offer. Thank you.”

>Applejack walks back to the stall and you follow Rainbow Dash, as she leads you through the town.

>Within a few minutes, you’ve reached a cosy looking building, its sign emblazoned with a trio of animalistic heads.

“Well, it’s certainly appropriate…”

>Rainbow Dash quietly leads you into the tavern, which was filled with to the brim with cheerful drinkers, both stallions and mares alike.

>As always, the room falls silent as your presence is noticed, and you take the opportunity to stride to the serving bar.

“Do you lease rooms?” you ask, your voice punctuating the silence of the tavern.

>”Er, yeah…” the barkeeper responds, eyeing you with confusion rather than caution.

>You pause, before reaching a hand into the bottomless box hanging by your side.

>You reach into its depths before pulling out a single solid gold coin, before loudly laying it on the counter.

“I’m not attuned to the ways of money, but I hope this covers my immediate stay…”

>”Is that… solid gold?” Rainbow Dash asks, her eyes widening.

“Probably.”

>”D-dude… do you have any idea how much that is worth? You could probably buy this whole building with that coin!”

“Well then, it’s a good thing I don’t want to lease the building. Just a single room, thank you…” you mutter, too tired to argue with Rainbow Dash.

>The barkeeper silently pockets the gold coin, his eyes wide with disbelief, before he hands a single key over to you.

>”Last room on the right upstairs…”

“Thank you” you reply blearily before making your way upstairs, flanked by the spluttering pegasus.

>”B-but why didn’t you use that at the train station! Why are you walking around with that much gold on you! Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Are you even listening?”

“Because I forgot about it, because I happened to find it on my trek through Lordran, yes and no.”

>”You’re so going to need my help round these parts, it’s not even funny…”

“I’ll ask for your help when I need it.”

>You open the door to your lodgings, despite the shakiness in your hands, before dropping your bag of books by the table.

>You then promptly lay down on the hilariously undersized bed, the woodwork groaning as your weight spreads across it..

“I’m going to sleep off my delirium, goodbye for the next few hours.”

>Rainbow Dash opens her mouth to retort, before simply rolling her eyes in frustration.

“Cya dude.”

>As she shuts the door in finality, you close your eyes, exhaustion already claiming you.

>Within seconds, you’re asleep…