ActFast231

@, (Likewise. I had not an idea of what to post in response.) Nexus entered the room, and wrinkled his nose at the stench and sight. The King-or what's left of him-lay off to the side. "Merda. I don't think I've ever seen a pony shredded like that. This Presence isn't screwing around." He took a last glance over to the pile, whispering under his breath. "Che tu possa riposare in pace, altezza." Before beginning to search the room.

Xbox 360

In Revelations, I went through and did all of the first person Desmond Puzzle sections. And after completing the last one, it reset my progress to zero. 23 Hours of gameplay just gone. Like it never happened.

@, @, I was wondering when we could get going again. I understand if time is an issue due to real life.

@, @, (Might as well) Nexus followed closely behind, claws and blades at the ready. Every now and again, he would glance over to Lume, to make sure nothing had happened. He really should give her more freedom, and he wanted to, but damnit he just knew something bad was going to happen. He felt it deep inside him. When they found the seal for the Presence, he remembered something. "Do we have a status on the emerald? Like, is it there yet?"

@, @, Nexus said nor did nothing as Lume began to hit her head against his armored chest, before jumping slightly at her sudden bright mood. He walked slowly to Karma, speaking lowly. "I uh....I think I broke my marefriend." He spoke up to a normal tone. "Anyway, shall we be off to the study? As soon as we trap the Presence, we should get that giant emerald ready for the blast. Let's hope this works."

@, @, Nexus chuckled lightly, moving closer to Lume and placing a foreleg on her shoulder. "If the Presence is here, splitting up wouldn't be a good idea. Nopony here would survive a one-on-one confrontation with it. But don't think for a second that your input is not valued, even if it isn't followed. You just got to look at it logically, not emotionally. And I know your smart enough to do it." He finished with a light nuzzle to her cheek, before turning his head towards Karma. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna make out with her this time. That comes later." He said, hoping that Lume would calm down so they could move on.

@, @, Nexus entered the Inner Castle with the group of Inquisitors, who looked quite nervous, and began to search for anything of use. He felt something crawling on his leg, and looked down to see a medium sized spider crawling on it. With a quick fluid motion, he swatted the creature off, luckily without being bit. "Cazzo cosa..." He muttered to himself. He approached Karma and Lume in time to here about the idea of searching the library. "That is an option, but I would imagine thatif this spell is as important as it is, the King would hide it either in the throne room or his private quarters. At least, that's my guess."

@@slimmyjimjim, Nexus looked over at him,a neutral expression on his face. He wasn't surprised that he fed off somepony else, as that was likely the reason he was in a feeding frenzy, but it raised a thought. "Why can't you control yourself after feeding. No other changeling I've encountered has lost themselves after feeding like that. Usually, it takes a life or death scenario for a changeling to go feral." "You sure do know a lot bout these changelings." "Well, I have spent the better half of my life hunting them." Dusty was understandably surprised, but remained silent as they continued to the doctor. Or whoever this was that they were being led to. "How are you able to keep moving with such a wound, by the way?"

@@slimmyjimjim, Dusty ran over, ready to attack, but Nexus held a hoof up to signal him to stay back. Nexus returned the hug-rather awkwardly-before speaking up. "Yes, well, despite my best efforts, I am still alive. Though things have changed. As for Luminari, I don't know. I think she said something about returning to town." Nexus slowly pried off the changeling, noticing his leather armor stained in a green substance. "Parcel, your bleeding. Badly. You attacked an innocent pony and without knowledge of who you were, I knocked you off with my blade. Come, let us find you a doctor." He turned to Dusty, who had a mixed look, ranging from caution, concern, and confusion. "Do you think we could make a detour to the hospital? "Ah don't think bringin' a changeling to a hospital that was invaded by their kind would be the best idea, Axel." This caused a deep frown on the hybrids face, though his eyes were shielded from view. "But Ah no somepony that can help ya out. He owes me a favor anyway. But uh, ya sure we can trust him. He did just try to bite mah neck." "Yeah, he gets that way when he feeds, that's why he almost never does. He nearly killed me before, but that is behind me." "Alright. Follow me."

@@slimmyjimjim, Nexus and Dusty engaged in small talk, though the brown earth pony was the one leading, as Nexus wasn't really in the mood to talk. The southerner was proving to be enjoyable companionship, though in the back of his mind, the hybrid still worried that his partner was out feeding on some poor bastard with a soft spot for mares. He figured he could just hit her with some negativity. Not enough to drain her, just enough to make his point. He had plenty to go around. "So this funny little pegasus nearly rams into me, carryin' all kindsa papers I can't make heads r tails of, sa-GAH!" Nexus was blown on his back, but he was quick to get to his hooves, seeing a cloaked figure on his new friend, trying to sink a pair of fangs into him. Luckily, it looks like Dusty was holding it back, but he couldn't keep it up forever. The hybrid was quick to act, galloping forward. "No, you don't!" He brought a foreleg back, a blade extending out of his gauntlet, and he gave it a underhoof swing, knocking the cloaked figure off, creating a deep gash in it's chest. He helped Dusty off, asking if he was OK. "Ahm fine. But what the hay was that thing?" "If I had to guess, I'd say a...changeling." Nexus facehoofed, thankful that his blade was retracted. "What's the matter, pardner?" "Damnit, I think I know this changeling, and if so, then she has nopony to blame for her injury but herself!" He said loudly enough for the figure to hear. "Wait...is that your friend you're talkin bout earlier?" Damn, he gave away too much. "It's complicated. I'll explain later, for now I need to go check to see if this is who I think it is." Nexus trotted over to the figure, pulling to hood back to find... "Parcel?!?!"

Nexus slowly got up, his green eyes showing orange rim around them, his bags much larger now. He put his goggles on, and slowly made his way back into town. He couldn't bear to look at that statue, less guilt eat him alive again. "You OK, mister?" Nexus turned to face the voice, and found a brown earth pony, a bit slim but taller than him, wearing an identical copy of his current bandanna. He had a light southern accent. Nexus was thankful for the goggles, as he didn't want his eyes seen for more than the obvious reason. "Yeah, I'm fine." He answered numbly. A drunken griffon would of been able to see threw that paper thin lie, though. "Sir, with all do respect, you look like the trottin' dead." "It's fine really, I don't want to be a burden." "Nonsense. Ahm always looking to give a helpin' hoof. Now, whats seems to be eatin' ya?" Nexus sighed in resignation, accepting that he would have to tell this stallion SOMETHING. "Well, I've been travelling for a while, and well, it's been a long and trying road." "Ah know the feelin'. I used ta travel a lot 'fore settlin' here in Ponyville. Sometimes, things happen on the road that keep ya up at night, ahm I right?" "Yeah, something like that." "Well ah think a good long rest will do ya wonders. Where ya staying?" "I haven't figured that out yet." "Well, if ya ain't got a place to stay, you're more than welcome to stay with me and mah wife." "That's OK, I wouldn't want to burden you..." "Ain't no burden. It would be mah pleasure. Me and Gusty love company." "Well..." Nexus thought for a moment. He did need a place to stay, and he didn't have enough bits for a motel room. "Would you be able to accommodate a friend of mine as well?" "Course we could." "Alright, I guess I'll stay with you and wife until I move on. By the way, I never caught your name." "Name's Dust. But you can call me Dusty." "My name is...Axel. Thank you for the hospitality, Dusty." "Notta problem, Axel. Come on, lemme show ya to mah house." Nexus followed the southerner, eager to get off his hooves and into a bed. Once he got there, he would retrieve Cypriss and call it a day. Sunset was approaching.