My Little Tactics

Chapter One: Class Chosen.

“Come on man, I just-I just want to check some things out and buy some cool souv-souv-trinkets. Besides its my fuckin’ money why can’t I spend it?” The skinny shirtless man said to his shorter companion. Said shirtless one was wearing only a red cape with gold thread and black emblem on the back, bandages around his middle as well as wearing loose black pants held up by a white belt. All this was combined with an Eastern style bokken, blue hair, and a pair of angular red glasses that anyone who watches anime would recognize from a hundred feet away. This man was dressed as Kamina from Gurren Lagann.

Shaking his head and trying to drag him away from the stands that were closing up for the night was a shorter, though only compared to his friend who was six foot two inches while he himself was only five eleven, friend who was sighing and doing his best to pull him towards an elevator. “Look, the rest of the guys already went up to the rooms so I don’t have to worry about them, but Pat you are wasted. You guys made me and I quote ‘The Sober Guy’ so I can drag all your collective asses back up to our rooms.”

Patrick glared down at his friend as he wobbled to and fro before pulling his arm away and continuing towards the stands. “Don’t give me that good guy shit, I paid for you to be here like a good friend would Dusty. You should be grateful I even brought you to the con.”

Dusty, or Dustan as his name was, simply sighed and nodded. “Dude I know and you have no clue how much I appreciate it. It’s been a blast so far; I sat in on some card games, a game of Werewolf, hell even a live action Town of Salem game, not to mention cards against humanity and more. Saw all kinds of anime and gaming related stuff that I honestly will remember for years to come. I am just happy to be here.”

The Kamina look-a-like once more glared at his friend who took off his fedora with a feather in it to scratch at his shaggy brown hair. “Dude you couldn’t even make decent cost-cost-cost-get up.” Again Patrick had forgotten some of his vocabulary in his inebriated state as he poked fun of his friend’s lack of funds and time to put together something worthwhile. “What are you even supposed to be.”

Dustan himself had no money nor resources to make a good costume and ended up having to cobble together a decent looking costume made up an old renaissance fair of a leather breastplate with male blouse that he had from a few years ago during better times, two leather bracers also from the fair, some loose fitting pants, a home-made carved and painted wooden sword and his shoes along with a fedora with a feather in it.

Sighing once more, which seemed to be common for Dustan at this point, merely stated simple to Patrick. “Look I have been over this before and I doubt you will even remember this tomorrow so I am not going to explain it a-”

“Something about that lame Final Fuckacy right?” Patrick taunted wobbling towards one of the open stalls that seemed to house a myriad of souv, ahem, trinkets for sale. “The one that you can change your class or something right?”

Face palming Dustan just nodded and spoke to his friend in a calm voice, something he did when his friend was getting on his nerves even if he couldn’t blame him for it cause of him being drunk. “Final Fantasy and yes. Specifically: Final Fantasy Tactics. Figured I could dress up in what would closely be a Squire’s attire. Feathered cape, Leather plate, even got a sword. It’s all I could manage to get on such short notice since you called me three days ago saying ‘Pack your shit your coming to the con with us.’ That and I am broke so…yeah there is that as well.”

“Yeah yeah, job downsizing and all that. Just admit you were fired.” Taunted his costume friend once again. “Artist my ass, you were just drawing up posters and what not for advertisers.”

“Technically I am a freelancer so I was never hired by the place that was giving me work.” Dustan spoke a bit bitterly remembering the call from the small business that he helped design more than a few posters and graphics for that told him they were taking the company in a different direction and wouldn’t require him anymore. In truth they found someone to work on things cheaper who was quicker as well. That was life though; there was always someone with more talent then you or someone quicker. He just got done in by someone with both was all.

“So you weren’t even fired since you were just scrounging on their crumbs.” Dustan loved his friend dearly, they had been best friends for so long but Pat had a really bad habit of being a nasty drunk. However considering that if push came to shove there was no one more reliable to have in your corner then Pat by a long shot. Pat had put him up for a year at his place before when they had got out of college, then another three months when Dustan’s girlfriend kicked him out. They had been friends since high school. There were many types of friendships, conditional ones where you were friends once you saw the person, friends of mutual interest where you enjoyed a game or two in common or an anime or show. There were friendships that were based on give and take where it was only by what you could give or take they stood by.

Then there was this type of friendship that Dustan had with Patrick, the type that if either one of them said: “I need to hide a dead body.” The other would grab tools and a map without question besides the question of “How badly did you fuck up?”. This was a bond that was as strong as family and unshakeable, even if one was a belligerent drunk.

Speaking of, because of his lack of coordination Patrick ended up bumping into the stall they were heading towards. The man who was running the stand just watched passively and with no reaction, even though he himself was wearing a costume that covered his face making it hard to tell. There was to be an expected shattering of the glass bauble to be heard as it hit the ground only none came.

“Oomph!” What was heard was the leather wearing Dustan hitting the ground and just barely managing to catch the item in question. “Gotcha!”

“Right catch there.” The costumed stall owner said with a thick accent that could be mistaken for none other than Cockney.

Grunting a bit as he got up, the wooden swordsman placed the item back on its stand. “Thanks.” Though, he said that with a bit of a wince. He had dived to catch the item and his sword wasn’t in a proper holster so it ended up catching him across the gut. “Didn’t want anything to happen to this…snow globe?”

“Cheap tourist trap trash if you ask me.” Kamina slurred as he leaned down slightly to look at the globe. “Doesn’t even look like this area.”

The man behind the counter spoke up at that. “That is because it ain’t this area. It is from a scene in a video game.”

Kamina looked up staring at the man for a moment before his eyes widen. “I know that costume. Come on say the line.”

The costumed owner just rolled his eyes at that. “Everybody wants me ter say that line, it’s gotten right ole at this point.”

“What line?” Confusion must have shown plainly enough on his face where even in his drunken state Patrick face palmed…or tried to if his hand didn’t miss his forehead and hit his cheek.

Giving a growl of frustration his friend spoke up. “Right I forgot your pansy ass hasn’t played any of the Resident Evil games.”

With a shrug of his shoulders Dustan just stated. “Not everyone can play every game Pat. I have played some games I know you haven’t played just like you have played some I haven’t.”

“Hey hey hey, I am THE best gamer around an there aint a damn game I don’t know of.” Pat boasted though that meant his was gradually getting more sober, or was about to pass out. “Anyways, say it come on!”

“Ok, right, but only if yer buy sumfink.” Dustan wasn’t sure if the accent was spot on or not but it was definitely something.

There was just one problem with all that. “Sorry, sir, but he can’t.” Came the patch work con goer’s voice.

“And why not?” Pat said at the same time as the man spoke. “And w not, isit?”

He was just going to assume the stand owner meant the same thing as Pat did. “Because before he got drunk he and his other friends made me the ‘Sober Guy’ the one to see them to their beds when they got drunk and make sure they don’t cause trouble or break anything. That and not to drunkenly spend money while wasted. I really do apologize for the racket he caused; if you want I will come by help you set up in the morning as long you don’t report him or anything.”

The cloak wearing gentleman rubbed at his chin as if thinking about the offer before asking. “W would yer be willin’ ter do that for ‘im, then, squire?”

It took him a second to realize what the man was saying as he was starting to pull a drowsy Patrick towards the elevator hall. “Because we are friends and if he was sober he would do it for me. So see you in the morning?”

The man nodded but Patrick still had a bit of fight left in him. “Say it.” Though it was so groaned out not many people would even understand it.

Hearing the drunk request the man hunched over slightly and looked shifty, no doubt getting into character as he tugged open his coat revealing all kinds of goods. “Whaddaya buyin’?”

Patrick promptly let out a holler of triumph before promptly passing out. “See you in the morning.”

“Bright and early.” The Merchant said back.

Rising out of bed early Dustan got through his daily routine of shower, shave, teeth care and such before dressing up in his con gear once more. Well maybe after a quick spray to take some of the musk off the armor since it did cause him to sweat a bit. In the hallway he noticed his friend’s doors still held the ‘Do not disturb’ signs that were on them last night meaning no one had gotten up yet.

The con was still asleep, well those that didn’t have people to go round the clock that was, with only a few stands still open. The others were in the process of either setting up or still closed down. When he got to where he remembered the man’s stand it was gone and for a moment he thought he might have taken a wrong turn.

“Over here stranger.” The voice called to him making the final fantasy enthusiast turn to see the stand and the man behind it just opening up his shop.

Heading over to him quickly he gave a friendly smile and chuckled. “For a moment I thought I came to the wrong place but you moved your stand over here. Wait is that even allowed?”

The sense of a smile came from behind that purple scarf…mask thing that he wore. “Oh, don’t yer worry about that. I got it all squared up.” Moving behind the counter he then brought out a few boxes. “Right, now that I yor good ter yor word, start openin’ up these boxes and puttin’ the items on the shelf ter me left.”

Just like that Dustan went to work putting the various knickknacks on the shelves without so much as a word, though he did start humming various tunes he enjoyed. It wasn’t till about the second box being finished that words even came from either of them.

“I won’t lie, right, I ‘alf expected yer not ter show up and I would ‘ave ter make a report.” Came the costume conveyer of good’s voice. “It is actually rare that I meet any sort o’ decent folk in me line o’ work.”

His visible wince must have shown as the Merchant looked on a bit amused. “Sorry to hear that. My friends always get on to me for being the stick in the mud or being too straight-laced but I believe there is just too much of people looking out for themselves. ‘Nice guys always finish last’ they say, but I say ‘Nice guys always finish last in other people’s eyes but not their own.’”

The man in costume brought out what looked to be a simple trinket and tossed it in his hands a few times as he spoke. “Well, yor mate didn’t seem ter appreciate yer last night if ‘is words were any indication. Especially, because they say ‘the bloody drink brings out who yer right are’, I’n it?”

Grabbing a few more items Dustan turned his back and reached up to place them on the top shelf one by one, not even realizing the Merchant was coming up behind him the item he was holding seemed to be a pin stylized to look like a feather of some type. Said item was also starting to glow.

“Well that maybe true but I personally think it only brings down the walls of things such as the part of us that wants to curse, rage, and scream at things for not being the way we want them, but that doesn’t mean that is who we are.” He said putting another item on the shelf. “I mean I want to curse and yell at my friends as well for when they are stupid idiots but in the end we are friends and we know that something said in haste or anger isn’t what we truly feel. I have no doubt that Pat will apologize or something later, usually with the attitude of he didn’t have to do it and making it seem like a favor to me but he is good guy.”

“Sure ‘e is.” The man opened the pin up and seemed to about to stick the unaware helper.

“Kinda like you.” What Dustan said cause the man to stop in his tracks inches away from pressing the glowing pin into the small of the con goer’s back.

He only was able to get a simple word out in response. “Wot?”

The trinkets in Dustan’s arm were slowly becoming lighter as he placed more and more on the high shelf. “Yeah, like you. I mean you could have called security on us last night or even this morning if I didn’t show up when you thought it was early enough. Instead you waited which shows you were willing to give me a chance. Nasty people don’t give chances they give warnings. You gave me a chance so that must mean that you are a decent sort of person right?”

There was a moment of silence in the air, heavy and almost stifling. The merchant looked down at his hand to the glowing pin and quickly closed it making it loose its glow before he wrapped his fingers around it and put it away in a pocket.

“Yeah.” He spoke simply. “I s’pose I am.” Looking around and bringing out a few more boxes he said. “I got a few more yer can shelf over ‘ere, stick’em on the uvver side wen yor done there. I’ll make us a nice cup a’ tea.”

“Sure.” Dustan called over his shoulder seeing the man vanish in the back of the stand where he couldn’t see him.

When they took a break to drink the tea the merchant couldn’t help but ask. “W’ are yer a good bloke, isit?”

He didn’t understand the question at first and simply asked. “Why am I a good person?” Getting confirmation of a nod from the man Dustan rubbed his chin and said. “Honestly it’s just who I am. I mean a few years back in high school I tried being a dick; I tried to be an asshole to someone that used to bully me in middle school. He was lost and I told him the wrong directions on purpose so he would be late to class. He only got to turn around before I stopped him and told him the right way saying that I was thinking of the wrong way.” Sipping the tea and while it not being the greatest, it wasn’t the worst in the world either. “He thanked me, even stopped me later on and said sorry he was such a prick to me in middle school. Turns out his family was getting a divorce at the time and he was taking it hard and ended up taking it out on me.”

“Did yer ever spot ‘im again, then, eh, guv?” The merchant had been genuinely curious it seemed.

Dustan merely nodded and chuckled. “Yep, he became my best friend and is the one responsible for bringing me here.”

“There you are.” A voice called out. As Dustan and The Merchant turned they saw it was Patrick in his Kamina costume carrying a bag in one hand.

“Speak of the devil.” He said rising up to meet his friend who held out his fist and then proceeded to fist bump. “Hope you aren’t too hung over.”

The man in the trench coat just sipped his tea through his mask, something that no one seemed to notice at all as he watched the two talk and interact. “Oh I am. I am just used to dealing with it.”

Dustan almost seemed to gag as he heard that. “A Prairie Oyster?” Pat just grinned and chuckled. “I don’t care if it does work for you, that thing is nasty and I don’t see how you can stomach it.”

The tall blue haired man just laughed at that before his chuckling died down and he tossed the bag at his friend. “Anyways here. Found this out while I was wondering this morning.” Dustan was pulling the item out of the bag as Pat said that only to find a long and well made brown cloak inside. “The person said it was highly durable, water proof as we as ornamental. They made it to look like-.”

But Patrick was cut off as Dustain recognized what it was. “T.G.Cid’s cloak! See it even has the x pattern thread right here at the neck.”

“Ha figures a fanboy like you would know. Yeah I just happen to see it with a bunch of other stuff from those games and figured ‘hey Dusty could use that to hide his shitty costume and spare the rest of us from looking at it’.” Putting it on and pulling the hood up Dustan smiled brightly as Pat rubbed the back of his head. “Anyways I am going to check out some of the stuff early see if I can get a good price on things and such that and to get the stink of the My Little Pony booth they had next to the stand with your cloak on it, I never understood how you could enjoy that show. Meet up with you later, peace.”

“Peace man.” As his friend left he took a moment to feel the quality in the cloak and it was superbly made for sure.

“Seems yer were right about ‘im.” The accented stall owner said calling Dustan’s attention back over to him.

Nodding and heading back over he just shrugged and said. “Maybe, but he really must have went out of his way for this.” The only got an inquisitive ‘oh’ from the Merchant prompting Dustan to explain. “Before we met up for drinks last night I saw several stands that sold things like this, nice to look at for sure when you are broke and they all cost a pretty penny for things that were half as good as this.”

“That right?” Dustan gave a nod. “So yer like Final Fantasy Tactics a bit ‘uh, eh? Yor mate called yer a fanboy after all.”

Nodding and chuckling. “Yeah, I like all Final Fantasy games that I could play which include one through twelve as well as the tactics games. Sadly never got to beat Tactics A2 cause my Game Boy burnt out. Those were the last ones I got to play before I couldn’t afford to anymore.”

The man ducked down and pulled out another box, this one a lot smaller and more ornate looking. “Fen ‘ow about takin’ a look at these and tellin’ me wot yer think, I’n it?”

Opening up the case Dustan could only widen his eyes as he looked at the thirteen items held within. “Those are the ‘Zodiac Stones’ or the ‘Auracite’ if you liked the War of the Lions version better. Even Serpentarius is in there and they all look so well made.”

The merchant motioned with his hands towards them. “W’ don’t yer pick one up and ‘ave a look at it.”

“Really?” The man nodded and Dustan turned away so he didn’t see the man make a gesture towards the stones. Dustan picked up the tear drop sapphire looking stone that had the carving for the symbol of Virgo inside of it. “Wow they are even slightly see through. I figured from them being stones they would be more opaque. A nice touch for sure.”

The man in costume simply asked him. “Wich one is yor favorite, isit?”

“Has to be this one.” Came Dustan’s quick reply. “I am a Virgo myself and though I hate the idea they can bring about demons and what not, the idea the final and most powerful stone bringing about the final boss in the story is neat. It is also a good commentary on how anyone can be good or evil but it’s our actions that define us, so are the stones good or evil depending on the actions of the person using them.”

“S’pose they are.” The man said simply as Dustan put the stone back. “I ‘ave ter say, yer ‘ave been a right treat ter ‘ave ‘ere. But I think I can cop the rest on me own, right, w don’t yer go out and enjoy the rest o’ the bleedin’ con, then?”

Looking up at the man Dustan’s face wasn’t sure what to make of it. “You sure, I don’t mind staying here to make sure everything is out.”

“I am sure. Now go on then, don’t make a geezer regret ‘is choice now.” The Merchant told him with a genuine smile on his face.

“Thanks, I will see if any of my friends want to come by and check your stuff later if they aren’t too drunk.” Dustan said making sure his new cloak was secured.

The trench coat wearing man just chuckled as Dustan started to make his way out of the booth before something happened. Dustan could feel the sense of…right, about the area change, suddenly there seemed to be no one in the con anymore, no sounds, empty booths, everything. All was dead silent except for the sound of boots on the linoleum flooring.

Looking forward to where the sounds were coming from he saw…the Merchant? Looking back to the stand he saw the man had not moved from his spot except to stand up looking slightly…scared?

“Everything alright?” He questioned though obviously it wasn’t if the world had gone dead like that but it was the only thing he could think to ask.

The man shook his head. “No, no its not.”

Turning back the other merchant was a lot closer then Dustan expected him to be. “Excuse me sir but-”

Whatever it was that he was going to say was cut off as the man simply waved his hand and he found himself unable to move in any except his eyes and his breathing. “’ow come yer haven’t met yer quota, then, eh Merchant Twelve-Twenty?”

The first Merchant simply seemed to be grinding his teeth behind his mask for a moment before he calmed himself down enough to speak. “I ‘aven’t found the right one ter give it ter yet Ten-Twenty-one.”

The second one merely turn his head and jerked his thumb towards Dustan who seemed to be trying to struggle in his bonds. “Wot about that one?”

“’e ain’t a good one ter choose.” Came Twelve-Twenty’s voice.

Ten-Twenty-one moved over to Dustan and grabbed him by the neck and slammed him on the display table of the booth and asked the first one. “Good or not yor are behind schedule. This one will ‘ave ter do.”

Mobility seemed to have come back to Dustan once he sucked in a breath from having the air pushed from him when he got slammed and his first reaction was to fight back. Managing to get a hold of his wooden sword he started to swing at the head of Ten-Twenty-One seemed to get annoyed by the attack more than anything.

“Oi, quit that.” Said the one gripping his throat as his eyes narrowed.

Twelve-Twenty moved to go beside the other. “Come on Ten-Twenty-One. Surely we can find aunuvver and not this one, then?”

Ten-Twenty-One seemed to want to say something but a particularly good swing from Dustan caught him partially over the eye. “Ok, that tears it. Yer want to use that little sword so much yer wee annoyance. ‘ere let me show yer wot yer do wiv it.” He simply grabbed the sword from Dustan like taking a toy from a toddler and with a flick of his wrist Dustan swore the blunt wood gain a glint that only sharpened weapons had.

He was only proven right when The Merchant pinned him to the table by stabbing the sword through his chest. Dustan’s immediate reaction, besides shock to being impaled, was to immediately realize his lung had been pierced as he coughed up blood.

Grinning a bit evilly behind his mask the new Merchant just gave a smug self answer to his own question. “See, that is wot yer can do.”

Scrambling over to him the other Merchant pulled the sword out from the con goer’s chest with a sickening suction sound. “Shit, w’ did yer go and do that for?” Dustan dimly noted in his mind that it seemed the silver of the blade had turned red, then again it might have just been where it had stabbed him. It was hard to tell with his vision dimming.

The other merchant said nothing for a moment before turning to walk away except one thing. “’e annoyed me. Now yer better tidy that up and find some bloke soon or I will ‘ave ter bring yer back.”

With the other merchant gone the first one quickly started to move. “Fuck, yor bleedin' out too much for me ter fix normally. Sorry kid but looks like I 'ave ter choose yer after all. Its eever that or die 'ere and no one ever find yor body. Right. 'opefully yer will forgive me in time. I'll make us all a nice cup a' tea then.” Reaching over Dustan saw him grab something that right away started to glow, but things were too dark to tell. Whatever it was the Merchant forced Dustan’s fingers around them. “Good luck.”

With that the sensation of falling came right before he blacked out.

When next Dustan woke up it was with a gasp. “Fuck!” He shouted loudly startling some nearby birds. Hearing their flaps of retreat brought about some confusion with the young man as he stood up for a moment only to hear a couple of things hitting the ground. Looking down he saw that it was his sword…or at least it was at one point. Now the blade of the sword was dyed red and seemed to be part of the metal itself, as well to have been looking really well made in general for what was once a wooden sword. It had come with a sheath and a belt for it which was the second thing that had hit the ground.

Something else was off as well though Dustan was still trying to peace things together. In his hand he found he was clutching something dearly and opening up his fingers he found the clear sapphire of the Virgo Auracite he had examined back at the Merchant’s booth.

THE MERCHANT! Looking around quickly he looked for the booth but saw nothing, in fact he wasn’t even inside anymore which now explained the feeling of something being off as well as the sounds of birds. He was in some kind of forest. It was actually kind of peaceful, trees not too clustered, sunlight shining through the leaves even some animals skittered by as if no care in the world. Overall, very nice. The peace of that was ruined for Dustan as the glint of sunlight was reflected with a red tint into his eyes making him once more examine the sword. Eyes going wide his hand went to his chest only to find no hole and no dried blood.

Quickly stripping from his armored showed the same result nothing at all wrong with him. “I couldn’t have dreamed that. I have the bauble from the stand. Am I in a coma or something then?” Looking around the woods he frowned. “Maybe I died, I mean kinda would explain why I am in such a lovely place. Especially because I don’t think there are many wooded areas like this around the city.”

He realized he was talking to no one at this point and sighed wondering if he had hit his head as well sometimes during all of that. Moving the stone around in his fingers he decided to put it in his pants pocket for now before grabbing the sheath and belt putting it on. Next he gingerly took hold of the sword and lifted it; it was metal alright if its weight told the story. Sliding it into the scabbard he found it was a perfect fit. Last he put his armor back on, unknown territory meant not to take any chances.

“Alright first things first.” He lifted his head to the sky seeing it was either early morning or about to be night. “I will wait about thirty minutes or so and see if it’s gone up or down. Then I can find my way around. The nearest set of woods is to the North-West so if I travel South-East then I should come to town. Let’s hope I am not in a coma or that at least logic applies in them. If not, I am going to be lost really quick.”

After some time he did indeed find it was sun up and proceeded to make his way South-East. It only took an hour and a half travel before he started to be able to see things in the distance. To the South-West a bit away seemed to be a much thicker set of woods with much less of a friendly tone then before. Somewhat east of that seemed to be an orchard filled with some kind of trees, hard to say what it was from the distance but it was a huge orchard which worried Dustan. There were no orchards anywhere NEAR his town.

Following what looked to be a road from said orchard his eyes spotted a town that had a very rustic feel to it as well as a familiar one. ‘Why do I feel like I should know that place and why does that scare me?’ He asked rubbing the back of his head through the cloak. ‘Oh shit I am armed, if they see that they may arrest me when I get into town.’ Pulling his cloak around him and lifting the hood he decided best to make him seem like a cosplayer, which wasn’t wrong, and if he wasn’t openly brandishing his sword and found out later he can just remark it’s a costume piece even though he knew it clearly wasn’t.

It took him a bit more to get to town and more and more was it starting to bring about a horrible feeling in the pit of his gut. As he got closer and closer to town he could make out people wearing colorful clothing quickly dashing towards their homes though judging by the distance he was still a ways away. Except that he wasn’t.

The homes were just small, really small. ‘Huh it’s like a stumbled into homes made a couple of centuries ago. And made for hobbits. And the windows being closed. Oh…this isn’t good.’ Passing a rather nice clock tower and a bit further did Dustan see something that shook him to his core. ‘No…nonono.’

Quickly he ran towards the front of the giant tree in the middle of town where a sign was. It read: Golden Oak’s Library is currently closed due to lack of Librarian position being filled.

‘Let’s see. Merchant…check. Treebary…check. Dense scary woods…check. What is likely an Apple orchard…check. Colorful pony currently looking at me like I am a monster…che-wait.’ Sadly Dustan couldn’t continue his check list as the pony gawking at him was a familiar off white with two toned rose colored hair. “I don’t suppose you won’t scream if I ask nic-” The pony screamed loudly. “Yeah I didn’t think so.”

She left so quickly that it left a dust cloud behind in her wake. Dustan looked around seeing windows open slightly large colorful eyes glance out at him and then the shutters quickly closing again. Sighing at his luck, or rather Roseluck, said pun making him chuckle a bit, he went off to explore the town. He knew the ponies with how skittish they were would likely leave him alone till one of the more brash or stubborn ones appeared. Hopefully then he would be able to explain himself and how he was lost.

Problem was no one seemed to come and was about to give up hope on finding a pony to talk to when he noticed in the middle of the street a pony in a brown cloak. “Excuse me, can you help me out, I seem to be lost.”

The hooded pony looked over to him and gave a slight start before looking up. “What is it that I see here? Some kind of creature to fear?”

With the, decidedly female speaker judging by the voice, looking up at him he could see her blue eyes as well as various gray colors in patterns of stripes staring back at him. ‘Oh crap its Zecora, I like her character but that has some connotations there if she is still not trusted by the people here…ponies here, whatever.’ “I seem to be-”

“The Witch has summoned a monster!” There was various screams after words as well as hooves hitting the ground in a run.

Dustan’s eye twitched a bit as he face palmed. “Ok so that is how it’s going to be.” ‘That and I could have sworn that was Pinkie Pie’s voice.’ Honestly he loved the show of My Little Pony and got made fun of it a lot by his friends, but he supported the message completely. Except when it came to things like this and the inconstancies that led the fan base to create some really wild, though interesting, theories. Pinkie Pie, someone willing to throw a party and welcome anyone, anypony rather, to the town ostracizing Zecora based on looks always bugged him.

Feeling a tug on his cloak he looked down at the outcast Zebra who looked up at him. “I am sorry my presence has caused you to be labeled with jeers. It may be best if we were to move out of sight from their leers.”

“Sure, I don’t think anyone here will offer me help finding my way back anyways.” Dustan said with genuine sadness in his voice. Sure he had read about fanfics where people appeared in Equestria and were out casted by the beloved ponies found there, but considering he loved and accepted the message of the show it still hurt to feel it firsthand.

Making their way towards the thick woods that he likely guessed to be the Everfree, of which he was glad he didn’t appear there, not only did that feel like he read that too many times in other fics, but he honestly didn’t want to come across something that could eat him…or turn him to stone, or was made of wood and hunted in packs, or anything ELSE that was a mythical monstrosity that could be found within.

When they were out of earshot the Zebra mare decided to speak up to break the silence. “I am sorry if this question will cause the silence to mar. However I find myself still wondering what it is you are.”

There was a question for sure and how to answer that without giving the obvious one of ‘I am a human, surely you have heard of me.’ Sadly there was no good answer for this so he had no choice but to give the one that would cause more questions. “I am human.” To his surprise Zecora just gave a hum and nodded before looking forward.

When it finally came time for them to stop he found himself standing before the shaman’s hut built inside the living tree just like in the show outside of which hang potion bottles from vines as well as a mask leaning up against a visible root.

“Come inside and let me make you something to drink. Hopefully it will help our mood to rise and not sink.” The rhythmic homeowner said heading inside.

It was at this moment that he realized how much taller he was then the ponies, likely if they stood on their back legs they would be quite nearly as tall as him but as it stood he was a good two feet taller than them and it showed with him having to duck down to get inside. Good news was that once inside there was plenty of space around for him to stretch if he chose to.

More masks and bottles were to be found inside, as well as a cauldron for which the bottles brews were, well, brewed. “Nice home you have and thank you for inviting me in.” He told her looking around and seeing there was more to the home then normal as there was a dining area as well as a bedding area that was separate from the main area.

She called out from another area he had not see and found it to be a rather quaint kitchen area secluded near the back. “I thank you for your kind analysis. I just wished the ponies would get over their callousness.”

“Yeah that does kinda suck a lot for sure.” Sitting down on the floor at the table nearby, with a bit of difficulty thanks to the sword at his hip, though not in a seat as he wasn’t sure if it would fit him he continued to look around as he spoke. “I heard so much about the kind acceptance of ponies and how just generally nice they are. Sad to see that wasn’t true.”

Eventually Zecora came over with a tray in her mouth which she set down on the table. “Permit this question if you may, but you sound as if you come from far away?”

He watched her pour two cups full of tea which she then offered one to him. “Yeah, very far.” Dustan said quietly realizing slowly what that meant.

“I, too, know what it is like to be far from one’s home. That is sadly the price you pay for when you roam.” The shaman of the Everfree told him in her lyrical tones.

He found his cup shaking a bit, the more he thought of things the more he realized that he was in another world having a cup of tea with a talking Zebra, something that was impossible and meant he was so far away from home that there was no measure of even how far away he was. “I-I..ahem.” he was having trouble speaking now as he found a lump growing in his throat. “Sorry to ask, but is it possible for me to stay here tonight. I have no bits but I can do something, chores or something to make up for it.”

He wasn’t good at woodlands stuff at all he had no clue what he was doing in the woods and didn’t know how to survive at all. He realized if he had to camp out he was more than screwed in a variety of ways. ESPECIALLY, so close to the forest of every mythical monster possible.

Zecora for her part seemed to sense something about him was off if nothing else. “Thanks to me you were chased off and forced to come to my nest. It is the least I can do to offer you a place to rest.”

“T-thank you Zecora. It means a lot to me. Also I hope I am not being rude but I think I may call it a bit early. I have had a long day.” Dustan said putting the tea that he barely even drank down.

Nodding she got up as she told him. “The couch over there should do. The window also provides a view too.”

He thanked her and went to remove his armor and sword wanting to rest finding himself just wanting to sleep and hopefully find out this was a dream. This left Zecora to find a blanket for her guest only to stop rummaging to ask a simple question: How did he know her name?

Author's Notes:

So this is my hand at trying a displace fic. How did this story come about? Simple, while writing down notes for another story of mine I started to find bits and peaces that didnt fit in with it and put them in a separate area. That and I dislike just tossing out interesting ideas out of hand in case I can find a way for them to fit later. This led to more and more ideas building and building then when an interesting, thought/idea popped into my head, all the unused ideas cluttering my notes suddenly all fit onto the idea and in short I said F-it.

So here is the culmination of that. I hope you enjoy.