Ponyfinder: Kind Blades and Cruel Divinities

Ponfinder

Kind Blades and Cruel Divinity

By David Silver

Copyright 2018 David Silver

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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This book is also available in print.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

About David Silver

About Ponyfinder

Chapter 1

I crested the final hill and saw it, the goal of what had been weeks of mind-numbing walking. They say to travel is an adventure in itself, but I would be just as fine leaving that part out. At least I made it. My words were meant for none other than myself.

Below me, spreading out like a glittering jewel of smooth curves and flowing spires, was Viljatown, capital of the pony nation. I had heard tales that the various kingdoms of the pony empire had all manner of fancy names, but it all became 'The Pony Empire' in the end. Why? Only the horses knew.

I should mention, I was not one of those. I ambled down from the hill in a relieved jog on my two legs, my hands swinging freely. A bed and a bath, I promised myself as I went. The heat of the sun and the dust of the road had not been kind to me. My clothes, which had started as reasonably presentable traveling leathers, had become dirty and rough, and I emitted a few interestingly foul aromas that spoke poorly of my journey. Yes, a bath would be lovely.

Shame I couldn't afford one of those. I was a human entering the heart of the pony lands with little but ambition left to my name. I was risking everything for the chance the city represented, but I felt those were good odds. My mind wandered towards my plan.

I would become a famed adventurer. With polished steel and a roguish smile, people all across the world would speak of me in awed tones. There would be no obstacle big enough to stand in my way! This is what I was hoping at least. It all hinged on my getting past the tall walls I walked alongside. Then it would simply be a task entering the academy.

As I circled around the city, other weary travelers came into view. Some were walking along on their own, most were in small groups. Many were the carts laden with various goods. Most of the carts had no drivers; they didn't need any. The bright colors of their pullers were the first hint. The ornate brands that stood out with vibrantly colorful images was another, to say nothing of the clothing that many of them wore. These were ponies, and they needed no will save their own.

They came in as many colors as their pelts, which were quite a few to choose from. Most of them were complementary, but some looked purposefully clashing. If you forgot that these were fey, they weren't that unusual. You could tell who was a farmer, or a merchant. A few guard-ponies strode alongside a larger wagon, their armor glinting in the sun.

One wagon drew past and a friendly voice called down to me, Need a ride? It was a pony, a female. She was smiling down at me, equine teeth on display. You look tired. She wore a wide-brimmed hat clearly designed to keep the sun at bay, and had the reins wrapped around one of her hooves which led down to actual horses, larger and more mundanely colored without any ornate symbols on their rumps. A pony with horses? There was no rule against it. The horses didn't seem to mind being led by an intelligent equine, even if it seemed odd to me on some basic level.

I wasn't going to say no to a chance to sit down, though. Please and thank you. I easily grabbed a bit of rope on the wagon and swung up onto the bed in the back. It turned out she was carrying potatoes. I landed face first in a pile of the tubers, sending them scattered around the bed and jostling against the sides. The mare laughed at my mistake as I scrambled upright. At least I hadn't damaged any of them that I could see. My ego had taken more of a hit in the end.

Reckless, aren't we? she asked without turning around to look at me. Don't get too many humans around these parts, and not even by train? Where're you from?

I made my way carefully to the front where I could be closer to the pony. The name's Christopher, but Chris is fine. I'm from Kadiston.

Oh! That makes sense then. She waved her free hoof in the air. "Practically in the human lands, that city is, isn't it? Pretty sure I remember seeing it on a map somewhere. So far away, and you walked all of that? You didn't get eaten by something?"

I couldn’t resist a laugh. This conversation would be hard to have if they did. Not that they didn't try.

You a warrior? She guided her horses as if by long practice along the road headed into the city. Forgive me, but you don't look like it.

Just what did a 'real' pony warrior look like? I tried to contain the scowl that I was sure had managed to get out despite my efforts. I managed to get here, through a few sticky spots along the way. Those monsters weren't playing nice as I went, even if I snuck and fled past more of them than I vanquished in any heroic clashes.

I'm not trying to offend you, Chris. I should exchange names properly. She curled a hoof to her own chest. I am Spring Breeze, but Spring can work, in exchange for your own simple name. Do you have a last name? I hear humans usually do.

King.

King of what? She had an ear turned all the way back towards me, focused even as the rest of her faced the road.

Only myself. It's just a name. I shrugged softly and leaned against the front of the wagon. Looks like a good crowd. Is this the usual amount?

Mmm, a bit slow, actually. We'll get in before lunchtime, which is nice when it works out. I pack some food just in case, for the more crowded days. She peeked back at me for just a moment. You didn't seem very surprised to see me, or the rest of us. You're used to ponies then?

I gestured off towards the east where I had come from. Kadiston is on the border of the Pony Empire; how can I not be?

Is it? Sun Queen above, I thought it was a bit out of it, my apologies. My geography is usually limited to where my routes take me. Spring slowed the wagon as a queue formed up. We'll have to be inspected before we go in. You're not carrying anything illegal besides that road perfume, I hope?

I tried to resist the coloring that came with my stench being so casually identified. I succeeded, mostly… or so I hoped. It wasn't as if I had a mirror to check. I do have a weapon. Only the insane travel outside a city without one.

Oh? I didn't see one. Dagger? Her left ear twitched. My friends would say I'm nuts, trusting an armed human to sit right behind me like this, but you have a good air about you, besides the smell. You here to do some good, or am I a lousy judge of personality?

I patted my shirt where a short blade was hidden beneath, fastened to my chest and ready for me to slip a hand into the cloth and emerge with protection. Called it in one. I was hoping to join the academy. Did she know of it? I wondered quite curiously.

Which academy? She gave a snort, nostrils flaring. We have temples, magic schools, classical education... You're a smart human, coming to the ponies for some learning. She spat off to the side of the wagon suddenly. I confess, I was never big into book learning.

The Academy of Kind Blades? My question made clear my uncertainty that she would recognize it.

She did. Oh, the Queen's school for--Wait, that means you're an adventurer, or want to be one? She burst into a musical fit of laughter, ears dancing atop her head. I've never been with an adventurer before. If I get foalnapped, how much will you charge to rescue me?

Foalnapped? It took a moment for that to process. I would hope you never are, Spring. If I were in the area, I would try to stop it from happening in the first place.

Oh, see, that makes you not an adventurer.

Then what would you call it?

She peered over her shoulder. A hero. Subtle difference, but important. Our turn to be reviewed. She waved gently at an approaching set of ponies in thick ringmail. Good afternoon, boys. Nice to see you again.

One stepped ahead of the other. Afternoon, Miss Breeze. You have a passenger today, he said suspiciously, peered up at me with a look to match on his equine face. He had a relatively normal coloration, a dappled brown and white, though his blonde mane and tail ruined it. Identify yourself and your business, kindly.

Christopher King. I stood up as best I could. Turned out that wasn't very good on a wagon full of potatoes. I want to join the Academy of Kind Blades.

The one that lagged behind, a vibrant purple color with equally attention-grabbing green mane and tail, raised a furry brow. Do they even let in foreigners?

The one in front shook his head. Can't say I've seen one there before.

I climbed over onto the bench, sitting down next to Spring Breeze. I'm not a foreigner, first. I'm from Kadiston, and that's part of the Empire, fair and square.

The one in the back shrugged, an act I had never seen a horse manage. Barely, but it might count.

Might, agreed the one in the front. Are you armed? I waved a few fingers at where the hidden weapon was and he just nodded. Just checking if you were a liar. Welcome to Viljatown, don't make us care that you're here. The two trotted past the wagon.

Huh. I looked aside at the mare I was seated beside instead of behind. They never checked the wagon?

Why would they? She rolled her eyes as she gave a flick of the reins, spurring the larger equines in front of the cart to start drawing it forward again. I've been in and out through this gate dozens of times before. I'm not going to sneak anything in. Besides, if I was, I'd know exactly where to hide it so they wouldn't find anything. They know it, I know it. Trust, it makes the day go faster.

We rolled in under the gate. The massive stone wall passed over us slowly, hiding the sun for a few precious moments, with the sound of many hooves hitting cobbled stone clattering all around. The wagon gave a mild jump as it lifted from dirt onto those stones, the rolling becoming smoother and faster as a result.

Spring gestured off to the right as we emerged from the other end. She spoke in a louder tone to be heard over the sudden din of a busy city, Here you go. Good luck with the academy. They better let you in! Seriously, coming all this way… Walk in the sun.

She said the last as a well-meaning parting. I had heard it before from other ponies. Their highest god was the Sun Queen, so it fit well enough. May she warm your path, I replied, echoing a counter-statement I had also heard before. She looked surprised that I knew it. I hopped down to the side of the path and waved at her. She got her cart moving and was soon lost in the crowd of equines. She was the normal one. I was the only biped in immediate sight.

Ponies moved around me in an unending sea, just as humans did back in Kadiston. Cities were cities, no matter the species. They all had places to be, and I was just an awkward tree that stood in their way, so they brushed past with barely a glance.

If you went just by height, they were all smaller than me, but that was a foolish way to look at it. I could feel their great bulks whenever one pushed past. They were long and heavy, just like the horses they resembled.

I made it, I said to myself as I turned slowly and set my eyes on my next goal. Inside the city was well and good, but the gleaming edifice that was their castle was the true target. That was where the Kind Blades trained hopeful adventurers in the fine arts I wanted to acquire.

Now, the ponies that lived in Kadiston were pretty clean, but part of me wondered if that was because they were used to living with people. Ponies in their own city, well, some part of me had expected to smell horse everywhere, to say nothing of their leavings. As it turned, I