“I hab nu idea why anyone wouwd wan’ to wibe next to that pwace, neaw dah stowm… Dah onwy thin’ fwuffy know am that fo’ someone to wibe dewe, dey must awweady be hawf cwazy.”
[A quote from a Trader’s observation of Outer Glow]
[Pov Ix]
The day after meeting Ozymandias started out pretty smooth, with Ozymandias telling Maurice to watch over the place as he brought a giant trunk to the wagon. And after boarding I saw the driver look a bit surprised that another person was coming but shrugged as we resumed our journey to Outer Glow. And than… Problems started to happen. It seems that Ozymandias has a deep love for his own voice, as he talked almost the entire journey. With topics ranging from gossip about people I had never heard of, to “real” stories about how he discovered a underground civilization of mole people. Charles looked just as amused as I was, and it seemed like it was going to be a very… Very long day. As we entered the afternoon we had exited Inner Motor, and were now getting close to Outer Glow. I had heard stories of Outer Glow before, it was a rough type of town with storms from the Glow causing the place to have a washed out and sad appearance. And the people there are known not to be the friendliest bunch. As I thought my mind came to the storm, how did it work?
Of course over 100 years ago there was no glow, instead you had The Compound headquarters of the Order of the Mask. When it was destroyed it unleashed a storm and a sickness that coated the land, leaving large parts of it inhospitable. Outer Glow is right at the safe zone of The Glow, and I wondered what mad man would want to build a city right next to such a horrible place… As I was about to think of something else the wagon stopped and the driver spoke.
“Dis am as faw as fwuffy can take ‘ou, waccoons awen’t awwowed inside dah city. Fank ‘ou fo’ choosin’ my wagon an’ hab a nice day.”
All of us got off with our stuff and in the distance I could see it, Outer Glow. With a wave goodbye the driver left and we began making our way to the city as Ozymandias spoke.
“Wow, Outah Gwow! ‘Ou know Ozymandias knew a pewson once, who twied to make it to gwound zewo. Of couwse Ozymandias nebah saw him again… Buh fwuffy assume he made it an’ dah peopwe dewe wewe su nice he decided to stay fowebew!”
Ozymandias grins ear to ear, while Charles looks at him and sighs.
As we made it to the gate of the city I was able to look inside a bit, and the damage caused by the storm was quite obvious. None of the stone buildings in Outer Glow had any color at all, with them all looking extremely weathered with multiple large repairs on each one. As we made our way to the gate, a single guard came out and approached us and spoke.
“why!? why did 'ou come hewe!”
What was he talking about? Charles speaks.
“Am a Woyaw Guawd fo’ his majesty, am hewe on business.”
The city guard shakes his head and speaks.
“whatebew! 'Ou shouwd hab nebah come hewe!”
Before Charles could speak, that guard and run off back inside. Charles speaks.
“Dammit! Come wet’s go find Mac an’ Dac.”
The place seemed at first deserted as we entered, with me only seeing people glaring at us out some windows. And as we looked around for a blacksmiths shop I speak, starting to feel a bit worried.
“Do you think we should wait until tomorrow, everyone is inside. Maybe a storm is coming?”
Charles didn’t respond and as we continued to look, Ozymandias tapped Charles shoulder speaking in a excited tone.
“Wook obah dewe!”
Looking to our north, towards the end of the safe zone and into the beginnings of the
light brown storm we say a shop. It was larger than all the other buildings, with it being two stories instead of one, and the shop was different in that there was a metal arm sticking out of it and was holding a hammer. Underneath the arm was a sign, and as we approached I was able to read it. “Mac and Dac’s Blacksmithing” Making our way to the door I got there first and began to knock, nobody answered. I knock again and I think I hear the sounds of whispers, than again I can clearly hear somebody.
“Am it them, am dey hewe to sacwifice us!”
What is goin on! For a few seconds there is nothing, until Charles speaks knocking on the door as well.
“Hewwo, we am wiff his majesties Woyaw Guawd. We wish to speak to 'ou.”
I can hear speaking on the other side of the door.
“What did he say!”
There is around 10 more seconds of silent whispering, before I hear them again.
“Dey nu sound cwazy… Wet them in, quick!”
With a sudden jolt the door opens and I see a large earthie stallion, he has a orange coat with a scruffy green mane. This must be Dac. Before any of us have the chance to speak, Dac does first.
“Come in quick, dewe goin’ to be hewe soon!”
Following Dac we head inside, and once we do the door is shut with a loud thud. And before I could look I hear a older voice coming from deeper inside the house.
“'ou chose a bad time to come hewe, Woyaw Guawdsmen.”
Looking I saw a older Pegasus toughie, with him having a much darker orange coat and long silvery hair and several wrinkles beneath his eyes. This must be Mac. Looking around I see multiple other fluffies looking at us confused and scared, they must be there other family members. Than I saw a front desk, with some of the highest quality weapons and equipment on it that I had ever seen, and a blacksmithing station in the back. Mac speaks again, approaching Charles in a condescending voice.
"what do ‘ou wan’?
Charles speaks, pulling out the recruitment paper.
“Simpwy we wan’ ‘ou am am son Dac’s assistance wiff bwacksmithin’. We wan’ 'ou to be apawt of dah Woyaw Guawd.”
Mac looked unconvinced, with him chuckling as he spoke again.
“What su Ican put my wife on dah wine, what am in it fo’ me?”
I speak.
“Some of the best forges in Stablelot that is! And you don’t have to worry about you’re life, we want you to help us make equipment!”
Mac looks at me and speaks.
“Shut it bug! Mac won’t weabe his home, just to go spend time wiff a bunch of stuck up-”
Dac chimes in, still surprised about what he heard.
“Daddeh ‘ou know how much a Woyaw Guawd makes!? We can weabe dis howwibwe pwace once an’ fo’ aww.”
Mac speaks sounding aggravated.
“Dis pwace am ouw histowy Dac! Su what that we hab to sometimes deaw with-”
We all heard a loud clanking noise outside and I saw a bit of fear in Mac’s eyes as he spoke.
“Dewe, dewe hewe…”
For a second everyone went silent, that was until Ozymandias spoke sounding confused.
“Who’s he-”
Dac covers Ozymandias mouth but it was to late, whatever was outside starting walking towards us. Wait no! It wasn’t just one person, but the sound of multiple! They all stop, before we hear a knock at the door, and a rough voice that sounded like sandpaper.
“Weww weww weww, Mac an’ Dac. ‘Ou hab been to pwospewous fo’ to wong, bwin’ fwuffy sacwifice, nao.”
Both Mac and Dac seemed frozen in fear, what were we going to do!? Than I heard Mac speak in a defeatist sort of voice with tears beginning to roll down his eyes.
“Fine… Just pwease nu tawget us again.”
I saw Mac go over to his family, and to my horror he had gently picked up a sleeping unicorn filly, who had a ginger coat and the beginnings of a gray mane. And began to take her to the door. The mother of the Filly, a earthie with a yellow coat and light blue mane began to weep, looking at Dac (Who I assume is the father) and speaking in a hushed voice.
“Do something!”
Dac looked somber and conflicted, than as Mac was about to open the door I saw Charles grab him with one hoove and with the other his sword and pushed him back, yelling at the top of his lungs.
“WISTEN HEWE 'OU MOTHEWFUCKEW! WEABE DIS PWACE AT ONCE, OW HEWP ANU!”
We can now hear the sounds of several high pitched screeching as Charles looks at Dac and Mac and speaks.
“Sacwificin’ am own famiwy, ‘ou shouwd be ashamed! Come wiff fwuffy nao, an’ wet’s deaw wiff dis.”
The screeching continued and I could feel the outside of the shop being attack. I grab my sword, Ozymandias shuffled around in his trunk grabbing a dagger and I saw Dac grab a axe, while Mac returns the filly to her relived mother and grabs a mace and speaks in a low voice.
"What dah heww am Mac doing, ‘ou am wite Mac am actin’ wike a cowawd. Wet’s go!
With that we go outside, ready to confront whatever horrible creatures lurk on the other side of the walls. Fin
Thank you for reading my story! I hope to have the next part done in a few day’s to a week and of course constructive criticism is appreciated. May you have a good day!