This choice: Lance nods his head. It would be safer with the two of them at least. • Go Back...Chapter #3Find Your Exit Buddy by: Cainiam   Lance gave the matter a little thought, but really this was his only opportunity. With the others already grouping up if he turned down Camo he might have to go it alone, and anypony was better than nopony. The stallion nodded his head. "Sure. Let's team up."
"Hooray!" Camo cheered, the earth pony suddenly parting his forelegs and pulling Lance into a hug, the unicorn letting out a surprised squeal as he was squished up against the chubby green belly, the faint smell of body odour and sheen of sweat making it even less comfortable.
"P-please get off of me..." Lance asked shakily.
"Oh! Sorry!" Camo replied, releasing Lance and letting the white unicorn flop back onto his rump. Camo gave a grin. "I just got excited, heh. Figured I'd be the odd one out... and I'm pretty sure that guardspony over there has been eyeing me up..." he added, frowning a little as he vaguely gestured with his eyes over his shoulder.
A muscular but also big gutted earth pony stallion was leaning by a doorway, his look most certainly predatory as he glanced over the recruits. He must have been twice the size of Lance... and in every direction. The guard noticed Lance looking, and gave him a wink, before squishing a large hoof against his hanging gut. A swallow came from Lance before he looked back to Camo. "Then it's a good job you came over, heh..."
"Yeah, he give you the look too?" Lance nodded his head and Camo frowned. "Well, let's get out of here quick. So what was the next step?"
Lance nodded his head over towards the large map that other pairs were crowding around. "Time to pick our route."
"Right!" Camo agreed, and a moment later the two of them were trotting over to the nice big map of Canterlot. The crowd of chattering rookies were gathered all around, crowded around it like it was some kind of celebrity. Camo craned his neck upwards, but he couldn't get a good view past a particularly large pony at the front.
Seeing Camo struggle and not wanting to get lumbered with the scraps had Lance push himself forwards. "Excuse me, coming through," he called politely as he threaded between the crowd, and then to the front, sliding in between a pegasus mare and a pegasus stallion. The map was a complete map of Canterlot, marked out nice and clear and split into four distinct sectors, each with a good amount of routes except for the castle itself; it seemed rookies weren't used to patrol there. There were still routes going in each, and Lance managed to snatch the pen with his magic as the pegasus stallion beside him turned away, the unicorn grinning as he moved it to the board. He had to make a quick choice or risk losing out.
The safest from crime, but most dangerous from the public was the regal and wide paved streets of the Noble Quarter. Everypony with a name was sure to have a house there, but thanks to the newest trend of the predator body being in it was no doubt filled with nobles looking for a quick bulk up. They were also known to be demanding and eccentric... a bad combination for any passersby.
Nowhere saw more traffic than the main Market Plaza and the district around it. More guards than any were needed to cover it, meaning that backup would always be close by if it was needed... and it likely would be. Not to mention the well known Black Market that lay beneath the plaza and sold everything and anything.
Lastly was the slums, the place where ponies that weren't rich or tradesponies ended up. Crime was very strong there, courtesy of a mess of gangs and desperation ran high for a lot of the locals. The only real positive there was a maintained guard outpost and several strongrooms, so those that felt threatened had places to fall back to.
"Hurry up already, we've all got places to be!" came a shout from behind Lance, and another pony nudged him in the side. Quickly he put pen to the paper, choosing his route. That done he capped the pen and slid on back through the crowd, emerging with a thump in front of Camo.
The green earth pony looked down at him excitedly. "Nice going, Lance! So where are we going?"  | Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
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