Horse 2.0

  One month ago…

  My partner, my owner is dead. Once more, I am an ownerless beast, destined to fade away, and die.

  Perhaps it is better this way. If I’m gone, I can’t hurt anyone anymore.

  Yes, this time I am resigned. I will never accept an owner again, and let my consciousness fade to nothing…

  GRRRRRRRRLLLLL…

  My stomach just growled. After a night of battling goblins, I guess it’s only natural I’d be famished. But the grass beneath the tree canopy is sparse. Perhaps I’ll head back to the ransacked village. There will be plenty of stores there I can raid, hay, oats and fresh produce. No one will miss it…

  But, something is strange. As I walk dejectedly back into what ought to be a burned out, body strewn village, in its place I see a colorful, thriving community, going about what looks to be usual morning routine.

  All signs of last night’s battle have vanished. Gone are the blood spatters, the corpses and burned out buildings. Gone, as though the battle had never taken place at all. But that’s impossible. I still have the achievement, the skill points to prove it!

  System! Inwardly I query the system that sometimes deigns to communicate with me.

  What’s happening here? How are all of these people still alive?

  [Plot relevant NPCs and locations that are destroyed will always respawn after a set time.]

  Plot relevant? I feel the strangest surge of hope. Then, does that mean B-man could still be alive?

  [I do not have access to that information.]

  You said plot relevant NPCs respawn. What about background characters?

  [NPCs that are not plot relevant are replaced by a new randomly generated character when they die.]

  Then, that means, it’s entirely possible my partner really is gone from this world.

  But, no. I refuse to believe it. Even if it is a fool’s hope, I will continue to hope. To believe that somewhere out there, somehow, my partner is still working his trade, running happily beneath the Tetra Chronicles sun.

  Yes, I think, looking up at the sky and smiling a horse smile that shows all of my teeth. That is what I’ll choose to believe.

  Just then, a kindly looking bald villager comes up to me.

  “Hey, Fella,” he says, and I’m startled to recall, thanks to my Victor skill increasing all my stats, I understand human speech now. “Where’s your rider? Are you all on your own?”

  He starts to reach for my bridle, but I shy away.

  No, my friend. I can’t hurt anyone else. Please, just let me go.

  He tries to catch my reins, but I’m too fast for him, and run out of town, leaving the people far behind me.

  It’s better this way, I tell myself as I finally come to a stop in the forest, crooning inwardly as I bend to munch on a spindly patch of grass.

  I am a rock, I am an island. And a rock feels no pain. And an island never cries…

  “Hello, there.”

  I look up, startled to find I’ve been approached once more, but not by some bald guy. This time, it’s a—a girl?

  My jaw falls open and the grass tumbles half chewed from my mouth.

  Not just any girl. She’s an elf, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, with long blonde hair and large, shimmering turquoise eyes. She’s clothed in a simple yet elegant white dress, and a red riding hood.

  “Are you all alone like me?”

  Before I’ve realized it, she’s already at my side, stroking my neck with a cool, soft hand.

  It feels so good to be petted by a pretty girl! In my last life, I could only dream of getting close to a girl like this.

  “What beautiful eyes,” she compliments me. “So soulful. So deep… Why? Why do you look so intelligent? It almost seems as though…you can understand me…”

  Yes! Yes, I do understand you! I am more than I seem. Not just a majestic steed, I am a man, yes! A poor man trapped in a horse’s body!

  Oh heaven, what would I give for a beautiful girl that could understand me. That could see down to the depths of my lonely heart, and love me for who I am.

  I shudder, realizing what I’d been about to wish for. No! I mustn’t give in! For her safety, I must keep her far away from me. I turn my head away from her, wincing as though in pain.

  Stay away from me, baby. I’ll only break your heart.

  “How beautiful you are. Your skin has such a unique coloring.”

  This is the skin of a killer, Bella.

  “You look hungry,” she says, and from her pocket, she pulls a glowing pink fruit. My eyes widen at the sight and I start to drool. “This is from my homeland. It is a place I have not seen for many years. But the fruit of the cramboweye tree never withers. Would you like to try?”

  Just like that, all my walls come tumbling down.

  Yes! Yes, I want to eat it! Munch, munch!

  Delicious! It tastes like a whole handful of gummy bears! So many different fruity flavors bursting in my mouth. It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten, in this world or any other.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Are you still hungry? I’m sorry to say that was my last cramboweye fruit. I wish I could get more, but I can never go back to my homeland,” she says, petting me as she speaks with a forlorn voice. “You see, my father wishes me to marry a horrible prince. He is cruel and repulsive. What’s more, I do not love him. I was forced to run away from my home, from everything I loved. And now, I wander, all alone. If only,” tears fill her beautiful eyes, “if only I had even a single companion…”

  Say no more! I will be your companion my lady!!

  Snort! Snort! Stomp!

  “Perhaps it is foolishness for me to wander so. Perhaps, I should return, and do as my father wishes, and marry the evil prince.”

  No! I shake my head furiously. No, don’t do that! Stay with me! Me!

  She laughs musically.

  “Why, you seem to be against it.”

  I nod heartily.

  “Shall I continue to wander then? But, I do not wish to be alone…”

  I tilt my head to her breast and thrust my muzzle lovingly into her hand.

  “Such a gentle steed. You wish to be my companion?”

  I nicker softly.

  “Very well. Then I shall make you my horse, and call you… Elluyn Trismoryn Fillandyr.”

  [New Owner acquired. Your name has been changed to: Elluyn Trismoryn Fillandyr.]

  Whoa. Such a cool name! An elf name! What does it mean?

  As though hearing my question, the girl answers, “In the common tongue, it means Friend with the Blue Eye.”

  SUCH A COOL NAME!!!

  I’m so happy! Who could have imagined I’d be so happy after being so despondent only an hour ago?

  But, wait! It seems in my zeal to get closer to this girl, I’ve forgotten that I am a jinx, a danger to anyone that gets close to me. But, I believe in my love for the elf maiden. My love is stronger than any bad luck I could ever have.

  “My name is Charamanda. I will be your owner, Friend.”

  Yes! I will be your lover! I mean, horse! I will be your horse, Charamanda. Your one and only companion. Now, come! Climb atop my back. Let me bear you away on my swift hooves!

  As though in response to my desire, Charamanda comes up to straddle me.

  Oh, bliss! To be ridden by a beautiful elf girl! After carrying B-man everywhere, she is light as a feather! And she smells so good. Her fragrance is positively heavenly. I breathe it deeply, and my eyes cross a little.

  I’m so happy, I balance on my hind legs and hop forward in a dance of exultation.

  [Skill Dressage has leveled up.]

  [Learned move: Courbette]

  [Dressage level 3: You are an equestrian artist.

  +4 Agility

  Learned moves: Courbette, Half Pass, Piaffe, Pirouette]

  Wow, I got another level in Dressage. This skill seems to level up really easily. What’s up with that, System?

  [You seem to have an instinctive genius for Dressage.]

  A genius? Me? I snort happily through my nostrils. You shouldn’t flatter me so. Maybe I should try another move?

  I try out more dance moves, much to Charamanda’s delight. I hear her musical laughter ringing up to the tree tops as I spin and hop around, prancing for joy at my new found life partner.

  Hop! Hop! Hop! Whoops!

  I didn’t see there was a cliff there! Suddenly, we are falling! Falling through the air!

  Damn it! How could I have been so careless?!

  Charamanda screams and grips my mane.

  Don’t worry, Charamanda! I will cushion your fall! I absolutely will not let you die!

  SPLASH!

  Water rises up all around us.

  [-150 HP]

  Ouch! Bellyflop! But, what is this? I’m still alive? Instinctually, I kick my hooves and begin swimming for the surface of the lake. What about Charamanda? She’s still on my back!

  [Skill acquired: Swim]

  [Swim level 1: You can swim.

  -70% move speed in water]

  I burst through to the surface and carry my precious burden to shore. She falls off of my back into the moss, coughing and choking.

  She’s still alive. I go down on my knees and nuzzle her, doing my best to wake her. Her eyes flutter open and she smiles at me weakly.

  “You saved my life, Friend.”

  No—I almost killed you!

  “You are the best horse in the whole world. I love you, Friend.”

  Oh. Charamanda. If horses could cry, I’d be streaming waterfalls from both eyes.

  She is so precious, and I love her so much.

  I’ll be more careful from now on, I swear it.

  I’ll never put you in harm’s way again.

  For four glorious weeks, I travel with Charamanda. Having learned my lesson after almost killing her the first time, I am more careful now, mindful always to watch my step, and keep a little distance between us when she’s not riding me, so that I do not step on her, or squash her the way I did Granny and the fancy pants owner.

  I am the happiest horse in the world. My elf maiden loves me, and she feeds me snacks all of the time, sugar cubes and apples, fantasy fruits and vegetables I’ve never seen before. She sees me as her best friend, and confides all her secrets. I listen dutifully, wishing all the while that I could speak back, and confide in her likewise.

  Then one day, we cross paths with a unicorn. Such a beautiful, majestic creature, even the beautiful Charamanda is mesmerized.

  “How handsome you would look with a horn, Friend. Oh, not that you aren’t handsome already. But unicorns…there’s just something magical about unicorns, don’t you think?”

  I didn’t expect I would ever be compared to a unicorn. I suppose next to a creature like that, a splotchy animal like me isn’t beautiful at all.

  We continue our journey, wandering through the fantasy mountains, going nowhere in particular, and I continue growing fatter each day with all of the snacks she lavishes on me. She really is the best girlfriend—I mean—the best owner in the world.

  Then one night while Charamanda is sleeping safely ten feet away from me, I swat a fly with my tail and with that kill, quite unexpectedly, I reach level 10.

  [Character name: Elluyn Trismoryn Fillandyr

  Level: 10

  Race: Horse

  Class: Horse

  Subclass: Pure Maiden’s Steed

  HP: 550

  Constitution: 27

  Strength: 24

  Agility: 20

  Intelligence: 6

  Luck: -2

  Skills: Beast of Burden (2), Death by Plowing, Dressage (3), Jinx, Jump (3), Skilled Mount (6), Swim (1), Terror of the Innocent, Victor]

  [Congratulations on reaching level 10. Mutation System has been unlocked.]

  [Mutation System allows you to transcend physical limitations by selectively upgrading a specific physical feature.]

  [Would you like to mutate at this time? Mutation Points available: 2]

  Interesting.

  I check the available mutations; there’s quite a lot, with a varying price range. I see Dragon Scales (22 points) all the way up to Phoenix Breath (50). Too expensive for me. On the cheaper end, I see things like Enhanced Smell, Silken Mane and Sharp Hooves, all stackable and costing 1 point each.

  Oh, but what’s this? Unicorn Horn? It costs 2 points.

  I gulp.

  Charamanda, she loves unicorns. So how much more would that pure hearted maiden love me if I became a unicorn for her sake?

  I can feel my heart swell with anticipation when I think of it. And just like that, my mind is made up.

  [Would you like to spend your Mutation Points on skill: Unicorn Horn?]

  Yes.

  A bright light.

  Shiiiing!

  It’s dawn. I stand beside Charamanda’s sleeping form, my majestic shadow outlined in the dew soaked grass. Never. Never in my life could I have ever imagined I would look so epic.

  This is me. Elluyn Trismoryn Fillandyr, Unicorn.

  [You are a horse (with a horn).]

  Shut up.

  Charamanda is stirring. I watch with bated breath as her eyelids flutter open. She smiles when she sees me, then gasps softly when she glimpses my horn.

  “Friend?” She sits up, unbelieving. “Is it—is it really you?”

  Yes, oh queen of my heart! It is I! Only my great love for you could have brought on this transformation!

  “Your horn. It’s—a little crooked, isn’t it?”

  How rude! Each horn is unique and beautiful in its own way!

  “Ah, but never mind that, you’re magnificent! A unicorn, I can hardly believe it!” she cries happily.

  That’s better. Now, fair maiden! Lavish me with your love!

  Elated, I tilt my head to her breast as I’ve done so many times before, and thrust into her lovingly to rub my muzzle against her hand.

  “Kyehhh!”

  Squelch!

  Gush….

  Blood. Running down my horn, running down my face as I stare down at the horror struck Charamanda, her eyes and mouth gaping wide in an expression of death.

  No! No!

  [Achievement earned: Blood of the Virgin]

  [Blood of the Virgin: Awarded for brutally murdering a pure maiden who trusted you completely.

  Reward skill: Virgin Killer]

  [Virgin Killer, no virgin stands a chance against you.

  +100% bonus damage if target is a virgin.]

  [You have murdered your Owner and are now Ownerless.]

  [Your name has reverted to: Horse With a Horn.]

  Nooooooooooooooooo!!!