R: “Wake up”
>silence
R: “Sir wake up”
“You called me sir, that means I’m your superior and thus do not need to listen to you.”
>Richards stood over him
R: “Sir if you don’t get up I’m setting your bed on fire”
…
>Arm rises off the bed
“Mind helping this old man up?”
>Grasping each other’s arms Robert sat up looking as mess as usual
“Any idea on how I’m up?”
R: “Most likely the collected magical beings that were attached to you transferred a bit of their powers to wake you up.”
“Yeah that makes sense I think.”
R: “You have no idea what I’m talking about do you?”
“Not in the slightest bit.”
>Robert rose off the bed
“Not that it matters.”
R: “Anything new I should know?”
“The mare in the moon is living in my head so she can steal some of my magic to make her whole again.”
R: “So that’s a demon AND an evil princess living inside you?”
“Yep, I should just invite people’s souls to inhabit me. Have them pay rent. Make them do musical numbers so it can be my own personal Avenue Q.”
>Richards gave a ‘youbestbefuckingwithme’ look.
“Easy I’m kidding, so anything I should know before I do the sealing?”
R: “I’m taking your Russians friends back with me and here’s the pay for the cannon repair.”
>Handing Robert an envelope opened to find 20,000 credits ready for transfer. Robert shrugged at the amount and put it into one of his pockets.
“I’ll need to visit the treasury later, I don’t think these ponies are on the grid so credits are useless here.”
R: “Better get a piece of their currency then. The treasury can’t make the money if they don’t have a sample.”
“Aye”
>Robert stood in the middle of his room. A purple circle appeared as he chanted under his breath. Words scrolled off the floor and wrapped around his arm. Seven bands each sporting roman numerals one to seven burned onto his arm. As the bands turned black the light faded.
>The house now fell in on itself disappearing as their connection to magic was severed.
>Robert stood there in an empty field with Richards, his skin now different. The usual whiteness was now replaced with a tanner colour covered in burns, scratches, cuts and scar.
>Most notable is a scar starting above his right eye going down to the corner of his mouth. Any exposed skin showed scars except for his right arm.
>That instead lost all its whiteness, turning into a metallic arm, fingers clinking together as the seal died down.  
R: “I’ll be sending two people to watch over you while you are sealed off.”
“Can one be Narrock?”
R: “your old teacher? I’ll have to see if he’s busy but “
“YAY!”
>Surveying around Anon and the rest were no longer there.
R: “I’ve already taken them.”
“Thank you Captain Obvious I already figured that.”
>Whipping out his IPod placed the ear buds in and started walking
R: “Where are you going?”
>Robert looked back with a small smile
“Traveling.”
 
>And traveled he did he, traveled around the outskirts of ponyvillie and successfully getting himself lost in the process only to become unlost upon finding a house outside of ponyvillie.
>approaching the door Robert knelt down to knock
>The door was riddled with dents and one of the hinges was off
>he proceeded with a small knock
>The door opened to a Pegasus with unusual eyes that pointed in different directions.
>”Hello” she said meekly.
>intense stare
>”um…”
“Your eyes…
>She drooped her face and started to close the door.
>Stopped only by Robert’s hands to meet her face.
“Are AWESOME!”
>She looked confused… more confused then usual
“Man I wish I could get my eyes to do that. I could look both ways at the same time, not that I look both ways anymore anyway.”
>Terrified the Pegasus tried backing away from Robert’s hands.
>feeling the tug he launched his hands off of her
“Crap, sorry personal space my bad didn’t mean for ya to get uncomfortable.”
>Extending his hand out to her (the scarred one)
“Well met, I am Robert Shepard. Traveler slash mercenary.”
>”Derpy Hooves”
>She attempted to shake his hand but her vision left her unable to get a good feel of where his hand is. Instead Robert met hers.
>”Would you like to come in?”
“Thank you.”
>Robert bowed before stepping in.
>The house was well furnished but scuff marks were easily seen on the floor as was blood, attempting to be hidden under carpets and furniture. Robert took note of these as he followed Ms.Hooves to the kitchen.
>Again well stock for a kitchen by the noticeable amount of dry blood on cabinets.
>”Muffins?”
>pulling out a tray from the oven, various muffins were on it.
“Thank you”
>Reaching out and taking one with strawberries in it, not waiting for it to cool, he started eating
>”Doesn’t that hurt?”
“No, but I’m sure you are.”
>Derpy showed signs of worry, but managed to keep her cool
>”I don’t know wha”
“Dried blood both in here and the kitchen, scuff marks and the fact that your door is battered worse then the gates of Troy… you’ve got a problem.
>Tears welled up as she flung to close the curtains
>Turning around to sit on her couch she was already crying
>Robert on instinct took a tissue out of his pouch and handed it to her while draping his arm onto his back and rubbing. She showed no sign of pain as the metal stroked her fur
>”T-thank you.”
“Talk when you’re ready.”
 
> After a few minutes Derpy had calmed down to breathe regularly
>” A mercenary helps people right?”
“We do our best.”
>”I… I’ve been getting raped by three of the stallions in town.”
>The mention of the word rape had Robert’s free hand to rest on his sword.
“You want them gone?”
>” I don’t want them hurting anyone else so I need them gone for good.”
>Robert smiled
“No problem, I’ll make sure they never come back or ever found.”
>”How are you going to do that?”
“Well…
>Derpy’s door fell as a blue stallion busted into the house
>”Come Derpy it’s time for GRUK!
The stallion has now held in the air as Robert slightly squeezed his neck. His face now sporting an evil grin, his eyes staring malice into the stallions’.
“Would you like to see how I get rid of this filth?’
>Derpy simply nodded
 
>Flung out of the house, Robert followed sword now drawn; now chuckling under his breath.
>Before the stallion could rise, he stabbed both of his front hooves, making it unable for the stallion to rise.
>He cried in pain as Robert sheathed his sword, and took a deep breath.
>”WHY?!?”
“YOL TOOR SHUL!”
>Fire erupted from Robert’s mouth solely targeting the rapist burning its flesh and bone until all that was left was ash.
>Derpy gasped as Robert turned, wiping his mouth
“No body no case.”
>”That was…was”
“Yeah people who first witness a Shout are like that, completely baffled.”
>Walking back inside Robert went to finish the rest of his muffin, wiping the crumbs off his hands into the garbage.
>”They’ll be back, the other two over the next couple of days.”
“Then to ensure I’m there to deal with them, I’d like to ask if I can room here until the deed is done.”
>”It’s fine by me but…”
“But?”
>”My girl Dinky.”
“I’ll have to win her over then.”
>Robert walked back out turning back to Derpy at the door.
“Normally mercenaries would ask for payment but I’ll do this for free, since it’s a noble reason for a pretty girl.”
>Blushing at the compliment Derpy closed the door as Robert began walking towards town.
 
>On the other side Derpy sat back down on the couch
>”Damn I didn’t think he was so intense”
>Derpy turned to see Rainbow walking down the stairs
>”When did you wake up?”
>”After the door was knocked down, I was going to rush down but Robert seemed to take care of the problem.”
>”He’s staying here for the next couple of days to deal with the others.”
>”With the kind of power he has, those other rapists are dead.”
>Rainbow went for the broken door
>”You sure you’ve had enough sleep?”
> “This is the Dash you’re talking about. I’ll be fine.”
> “You are off to see him?”
> “He’s interesting, I want to watch him a bit”, smirking as she started to fly off.
 
>Back in town Robert wasn’t there, instead wondering off again and landing himself on a hill overlooking a lake.
>There was a sole tree on the hill and Robert rested underneath.
>Rainbow floated down from behind and landed near the tree
>”Yo.”
“Hey, you sure you should be up?”
>”I’d still be asleep if that guy didn’t bust down Derpy’s door.”
“Ah so you were there?”
>Rainbow nodded “Yeah”
>Shifting his weight Robert now was lying on his stomach looking at Dash
“You here to cop me out?”
>”We don’t have a police force here. The town is quite enough, minor crimes sort themselves out. Anything major and the royal guards get called in.”
“So rape is a minor crime?”
>She signed at that comment, “No but Derpy doesn’t know who her assailants are because they don’t seem to receive mail. The mayor has written it off as nothing but paranoia and welfare for her kid.”
“Your mayor is irresponsible, and should be kicked out.”
>”No one would support that; she’s been running this town for decades.”
“Done it before and I can probably do it again.”
>No retort was made at the comment instead Rainbow walked up beside Robert and sat down
>”So who are you?”
>He looked at her with a slight eyebrow raised but still looking smug
“Nice job paying attention last time, I am Robert Shepard.”
>”Yeah but what’s a Traveler?”
“Would you prefer the short or long answer to that?”
>TS “Both please”
>Robert rolled his head up to see Twilight Sparkle walking up from behind.
“Have fun inside my head?”
>TS “You blocked a lot of the knowledge saying it was ‘too high level’ but from what I gathered you are part of a powerful organization of some sort.”
“That powerful organization would be the Traveler’s Union.”
>Robert rolled back up to the tree using it to lift himself up.
“The short answer is that a Traveler is a mercenary but not a mercenary.”
>TS “How can you be a mercenary and not a mercenary?”
“Now that’s where the long answer comes in, so take a seat it’s gonna take a lot of explaining.”
>RD “Shouldn’t we wait for the others then twi?”
“If you wish it I will wait.”
>TS “No please go ahead I can explain it to everypony else later.”
>Both Twilight and Rainbow got comfortable as Robert looked up at the sky.
“I am everything and nothing; I am the air you breathe, the water you drink, the ground you feel, the fire that warms you. I am the spirit that guards children from monsters but then I’m also the monster that preys upon the weak. I am the protector, I am the instigator, I am the thief and I am the assassin, I am the fool and the scholar. I am a Traveler.”
>…
>TS “Uhmm what?”
>Robert turned to look at Twilight
“Well that’s the official way to look at a traveler, far too poetic for most of us thought. The Traveler’s Union is the largest mercenary/military organization in the capitol and we rule half of the government. The other half is ruled by our partners in crime, The Trader’s guild. While we run military and stealth operations, The Trader’s Guild deals in all diplomatic and economic situations around the capital and on other worlds. The two of them together are often referred to as the Free Empire by newcomers or on any extranet advertisement. To put it simply Travelers are hired muscle, spies, assassins, soldiers, agents, and anything related around those areas. Traders are diplomats, merchants, artisans, business people and anything related.”
>RD “And you specialize in all those categories?”
“No not everyone is specialized in that work, in my case being a soldier and an assassin came easily to me and thus any related military operations or targets got passed to me to see if I’d take the job.”
>TS “So you’re a murderer?!?”
“Every Traveler is a murderer but we are also protectors, instigators, everything that I said before that is who we are.”
>TS “So what do you intend to do here?”
“Well I do have a contract for a search and rescue from an old client, I’ve got Derpy’s contract but other than that nothing really.”
>TS “Good then you sho-“
“But if you mean right now right now then…”
>Robert flung off his shirt
“I intend to go down to that lake over there and take a swim.”
>No response came from the two as he went down the hill
>Rainbow stared at his ass
>While Twilight watched his back, now covered in scars. Most concerning was the two that started just below the neck and down the most part of his back.
>They both walked down as Robert was getting his pants off
>TS “Where did these scars appear from and why is there so many?”
>Robert stopped undress, pants around his knees.
>Raising up his arm he showed twilight the seven bands.
“My magic is cut off; with magic on my scars are transparent making my skin go back to normal. As for why so many, you don’t get called the immortal soldier just because you can’t die. These scars are from every major injury or death I’ve obtained over the centuries.”
>TS “So then ones on your back are from something killing you.”
“What no, that’s where the wings come out of.”
>Twilight gave a look of confusion
>Rainbow just kept looking at Robert’s legs
“Remember when I went all psycho killer yesterday, had scales and wings. I still got those and I can do that whenever I want.”
>TS “Is that some kind of Traveler power?”
“Nah, you get transformed into a half dragon once who’ve become a full Dragon Disciple complete wit scales, wings, tail and the ability to speak draconic."
>RD “Can I see your wings?”
>she’s still trying to look between his legs
“That depends are ya gonna stop trying to look at my package?”
>RD “Noooope”
“Well there’s my answer then, beside without magic I can’t stuff them back into my back.”
>Pants now successfully off, Robert threw his pants at Rainbow as he started rolling
>Hitting her in the face and ensuring no ass shot for her to look at
“Mind placing that with my shirt or bringing my shirt down here?”
>RD “Yeah sure” she said while walking back up the hill, leaving Twilight as she sat down by the edge
>TS “You should meet with the princess.”
“Why?”
>TS”Because she asked to see you when you got better, she lives in Canterlot. I can take you tomorrow to meet my teacher and “
“No”
>TS “W-what do you mean no?”
“If your ‘highness’ wants to see me she can come herself. Besides me plus any person of nobility or extreme wealth do NOT work well, even if they’re clients.”
>TS “But she insists.”
“Then she can insist her ass over here, I got to wait for my teacher anyway.”
>Twilight perks up at this, “You invited one of your teachers?”
“Technically Richards invited him, the elf who taught me all about the druidic arts and most likely one of my longest living teachers. Well unless we include Demostine then he’s the second longest living… well actually technically Demostine is dead sooo hmmm… Now I’ve confused myself never mind.”
>Rainbow had returned during Robert’s rambling shirt and pants on her back placing them near the side of the lake.
>Robert submerged himself under the water and started swimming about, not caring about anything leaving Twilight and Rainbow to themselves.
>RD “Did you get a good look?”
>TS “Dash he’s been here like three days and you’re already trying to jump his bones.”
>RD “Come on nothing says welcome the area like sex.”
>A small laugh came from Robert
“I’ve got a friend who’s on that exact wavelength; bugger does not know how to keep his pants on.”
>RD “Where is he now?”
“In jail apparently he got jail baited, sucks for him but he told me it was worth it.”
>TS “Jail baited?”
“Sex with someone ‘under age’, the law is complete bullshit but it’s still enforced by like maybe one cop in the entire capital. He’s the only one that doesn’t accept the bribes from the Trader’s Guild, and a man who wants to put me away for a horde of reasons.”
>TS “You shouldn’t break the law.”
“I am the law, well at least the Travelers/Traders are.”
>Robert swam back to the side, grabbing his shirt to dry his face.
>TS “You done already?”
“Yeah just give me a sec”
>Struggling with his pants for a minute, Rainbow watching the entire time, Robert finally stood up
>Only to be tackled down by a pink blur
>everyday misfortune
>Pinkie stared into Robert’s iced eyes and he stared into hers
“Off ya go”
>Small toss to the side Pinkie gets up as she was flung off Robert
>PP “You are up!”
“Thank you captain Obvious I just noticed.”
>Pinkie’s confused face met with Robert’s troll face
“And now I leave!”
>RD “Whoa whoa where do you think you’re going?”
“Derpys my contract still needs to be fulfilled, and I must meet her daughter if I am to be allowed to stay the next couple of nights.”
>RD I’ll walk with ya.”
>TS “I will take my leave, Pinkie can you come with me?”
>PP “Sure thing Twi.”
 
>Walking back to Derpy’s house, Rainbow flew in front shifting her hips in front of Robert who didn’t even glance
>The door was propped slightly to block any wind but not bar entry, nonetheless Robert still knocked
>The door fell
“Shit”
>RD “nice job dude”
“No problem dude”
>Walking inside Robert was greeted by a small unicorn
>dH “Hello”
>adorableness levels: 9001
“Well met. I am Robert Shepard, protector of your mother until my contract is done”
>dH “Will you protect her from the bad guys?”
“I will use everything within my power to stop it.”
>dH “Thank mister Shepard” she bowed then trotted upstairs
>Turning around Robert clutch his chest while Rainbow was looking in
“So adorable.”
>DH “She seems to like you.”
>Derpy descended down the stairs eyeing both Robert and Dash
>DH “Are you staying as well?”
>RD “I should go.”
“Nonsense, you can stay.”
>RD “I don’t have a place to sleep.”
“Dash let me tell of magical device that will let you sleep as good as any bed called a couch”
>Pointing right at Derpy’s couch
>RD “Har har you are so hilarious” (sarcastic tone)
“I know right.”
>Rainbow departed afterwards
>DH “I’ll be going to bed now.”
“I will watch for danger.”
>DH “Thank you again”
>no response came as Robert glanced out the window
>As soon as Derpy was upstairs he opened the window and took a seat at the steps, looking through his bag for the right weapon
 
*elsewhere*
>Back the forest where Robert’s house was, another portal opened up. Two people came out.
>The light showed both as hooded but a eye patch still seen going down one of their faces.
>As the portal closed one bent down to the ground, gliding his hand over the grass
“Any sign of him?”
“Yeah Robert was never good at hiding himself, no idea how he passed your classes with such hor”
“My classes didn’t involve stealth Langlas they involved being attuned to nature.”
>Langlas stood back up, unslinging his bow from his shoulder
“This a good spot Narrock?”
“Yes it will do nicely, be sure to wipe out any hostile creatures would you?”
>Langlas grabbed three arrows out of his quiver
“No problem boss”