ActFast231

OK, I am getting closer to the final version of this. I think the issue with this one is the body is too low, making the length of the neck area too long. Beyond that this looks pretty good. Feedback as always.

Reading the argument between Apollo and the group, I am fighting the urge to have Nexus or Crystal give the group the business. So to speak. Showing them up will have to do I suppose Anyway, what shall be next on the agenda after this?

@, Crystal thought a moment. She was actually proud of herself and Dusty for being able to get as far as they did. They found the resources, got it together, did the work. They improvised pretty well. Then again, Dusty was probably used to it. They trotted over to the fire pit, and ignoring everypony else, Crystal TK'd a pie and set it gently on the flame to let it cook. @@Umbreon, @@MagicalStarRain, @, @@Alex Kennedy, (Time to show this group how a man...mare....unicorn, improves a pie. Let us put up or shut up )

@, Nexus, for a brief second, actually believed he would have to fill out a requisition form. But that was quickly crushed. He tension in the area was near palpable. But he ignored it for now, as he had more pressing matters to attend to. "I would like to request a pair of hoof claws sir. Preferable ones augmented with a electric shock spell." He wasn't 100% sure if Apollo would have such a weapon, but he WAS a general. Surely he had these things to keep his troops stocked. Nexus couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than a simple vacation, but he brushed it off for now. Get the hoof claws, figure the rest out later.

@, Nexus finished his song, and decided to go find Apollo to see about procuring a weapon. He knew he likely wouldn't need one, but he slept better at night with some manner of defense. He managed to find him by a fire pit, talking to some other ponies. One of them was talking in a very condescending way. This made the bat pony roll his eyes. Another ingrate giving Guards the business. Nexus had a deep respect for Guards, so he always made sure to give them such respect. "General Apollo. I hate to interrupt sir, but I wanted to request that a weapon be put in my room in the barracks." He said in his best stoic voice. He remembered his father telling him to address Guards in this manner, on duty or otherwise. It was to show them respect. He was actually embarrassed he didn't do so before. "I sleep better at night with a means of defense in hoofs reach, sir." He added.

@, Nexus nodded at that. "Good. Make sure of it." He deadpanned. He decided that he should go set up in his room. He said his goodbyes and departed for the barracks. When he got their, selecting the third room to the right, he set his med-kit on a shelf and the headed back out. He decided to go introduce himself to some of the other groups. After Nexus left, Crystal turned to Dusty. "Nexus means well, but...his home was invaded when he was young, and I don't think he ever really got over it." She began to walk over to the fire pit, noticing that another group had started to use it. She frowned, realizing something. "How do we cook pies on a pit?" Nexus began wandering around the farm, not sure what to do. He remembered a song he learned, and decided, since he was alone, to . Why not? He had nothing better to do.

@, Nexus thought about that for a moment. A cliched response, but a noble one, non the less. And he could think of several tools that could make good weapons (Plasma Cutter FTW) but he needed to be clear on something. "I should tell you that I have faced changelings before. They are stronger than they appear, and will feed off your love like a tick feeds off blood. They can use mind control and will not hesitate to turn those you love against you, forcing you abandon everything you know for your own survival." Nexus may have been transferring a little. He never truly got over what happened. He does his best to cover it up, but he has been living with regret for the past 20 years, and it has taken its toll. "They are sick, evil, demented parasites that are to be killed on sight. And if they take the mind of those you love, kill them too. Better they die then and there than be a buffet for changelings for the rest of their lives." His mind raced with flashbacks, and his face portrayed pain and misery, with a little anger. It looking at Crystal, with a very concerned-and slightly frightened-look on her face that snapped him out of it. He punched his jaw, and began to speak again. "Sorry. Anyway, glad to hear you got things covered. I am sure you will keep her safe." He said in a calm tone. That was three times he lost himself like that now. The first being when he was told by some hotshot pegasus mare in Ponyville that she could handle anything-including changelings-and the second was during the attack on Canterlot.

@ Crystal blushed heavily at the words of her lover. He would give up wandering and settle for her. It made her love him even more. Nexus was caught off guard by his response, the the affection he displayed when looking over. Crystal seemed to share the look, and was blushing a lot. It amazed him how ponies could fall in love so fast. It was truly remarkable. And he felt better about Dusty settling down instead of wandering around with Crystal, who was clearly not the traveling type. He found his mind wandering to his parents, and how they shared the same affection for each other. And how that affection probably was feeding...the... "And how well, Dusty, could you defend yourself and Crystal if anything ever happened? Like oh I don't know...maybe...changelings attacking? Just throwing that out there." He asked suddenly. To this day, Nexus always slept with a pair of claws designed for the night guard and a med kit close by. He remembered when the changelings invaded Canterlot, and how many he killed in defense of others...and in vengeance. Crystal knew the meaning behind that question, and the look on Nexus' face. She gave him a concerned look, remembering the story she was told, and the changelings he nearly ripped apart during the Royal Wedding.

@, Nexus nodded as he spoke, giving a thoughtful gaze as he spoke. He was establishing what he knew of him. City born, wanderer, freelance work, good with tools, well traveled. He seemed to be somewhat of an engineer, like his father. Nexus didn't like his method of work, as he believed that if was strained to support himself at times, how would he accommodation a marefriend? He at least seemed to know what he was doing when it came to his passion, so he had to respect that. He seemed nice enough and was complying without suspicion or complaint. As of what he knew now, on a personal level, he seemed like a nice match for Crystal. Polite, kind, honest and hardworking. It did bother him that he lived a gypsy life style, as that rarely brought in a lot of income. He remembered the years he spent wandering after the incident, and how he just scraped by. "If you don't mind me asking, how would you accommodation two ponies, financially speaking, with the life you lead?" He said, his thoughtful look still present. He talked in a manner similar to a job interview. Not hostile, but there was pressure there.

@, Nexus reached out and shook his hoof firmly. "Nexus. Pleasure to meet you." He said kindly. Nexus decided to get a good look at this pony. He was an earth pony, well built, grey color scale. Seemed pleasant so far. No negative emotions can be seen. He would have to get to know him better, but he seemed nice enough, and Crystal liked him a lot. Nexus would never admit it, but he thought of Crystal almost like a daughter. He certainly acted it. So naturally he is going to be protective of her. "So Dusty, tell me about yourself." He asked plainly. He wanted to get a better feel for the colt dating Crystal, like if he lived a high risk life, or if he could support the both of them. Crystal, meanwhile, just sat on her haunches and watch the two converse. She had an idea of what Nexus was getting at-based on the look he was giving-but couldn't be sure.

@, Crystal was eating a few of the leftover apple slices as Dusty was finishing the pie prep. She decided to flip through her journal and see about writing more about that griffon. She pulled her pencil out when she heard the sound of wings flapping. They weren't normal wings, they sounded...No, couldn't be. She looked up, and saw her lover looking over at Apollo. He was talking to somepony, but who? She turned her heard to the left to get a better view. It was a midnight blue bat pony she knew all too well. "Nexus!" She exclaimed as she got up and nearly galloped to. @, "No need to be sorry. Our clan was set in a cave that rested in the side of the Macintosh Mountains. Which are on the border of the Badlands. We had prepared for changelings attacks, but not full scale invasions." They had defenses set for strike teams and platoons, not the entire damned army coming at them. His ears perked when he heard him mention the position of field medic. "I have considered joining the guard a few times, but it just doesn't seem like my kind of life. I am one of those cliched 'free spirits' so discipline and authority would really put a damper on that." He said with a chuckle. He was going to continue when he heard something. (Nexus shall be blue and Crystal will be red) "Nexus!" "Did you hear that? Was th-" Nexus was cut short by a strong hug from a red unicorn with a green mane giving him a tight hug. "Crystal! There you are. How's it going?" He said, returning the hug as best he could to a unicorn half his size. "It is amazing! It's only been a day and I already met a special somepony!" She said with much enthusiasm. She was beaming with happiness. This surprised Nexus immensely He hadn't expected her to make good friends with anypony so quick, let alone a coltfriend. "Really? That's impressive. You give Max a run for his money. Who is he?" He looked around the farm to see if he couldn't spot somepony "He is over there by the fire pit. His name is Dusty Hoofprints and he is the most amazing colt ever!" "Even more amazing than me?" He said with a grin. "Well...you know. Dusty, come here!" She called out.

Well, I guess sooner or later I would have to indulge my curiosity. I would like a review for my OC Max. Link is the top on in the signature. Here are two pictures for you. One full body one, and one for a closer look at the head.

@, It was rare that Nexus got to converse with a Guard. He was never given opportunity back home. He enjoyed the chance. "He was. He served as a sentry for the armory. It was the dullest job imaginable, as he described it." He looked down at his chest plate. It bore the logo for the night guard on the center, and was actually a sturdy, well made piece of armor. It was made green a few years back by a magic accident with Crystal a few years back. He kind of liked it green. Matched his other apparel. "No, I am not in the guard. This was worn by my father. It is all I have left of him. My clan was attacked by changelings when I was a teenager...and I think I was the only one who made it out. No idea what happened to the others." He said with a frown. He hardly considered that a secret, but it did hurt to remember. Changelings aren't known to be merciful. But he figured a Guard would understand situations like that. "Tending to the wounded was how I got my cutie mark." He added, lifting hid bat wing up to reveal it.

@, Nexus was taken back by his anger. He seemed upset about his use of military terms. "Oh, my name is Nexus. Pleasure to meet you." He said kindly. He seemed...troubled. Naturally, the bat pony has no reserves about indulging his curiosity. "By any chance, were you in the Royal Guard? You seem like the type." He thought for a second, feeling like that was rude to say. "What I mean is that my father was a Guard for our clan, so I grew up around Guards. You seem like the kind of pony he would of worked with." He glanced over at the barracks. He would have to get a room, but he didn't need to unpack. All he brought was the armor on his back...and the bands on his legs.

(BIIIIIIIG POST INBOUND) Nexus sent his close friend Crystal on her way to the vacation on a old guards homestead, and sat around for a while, with nothing to do. He had a thought then, and went to go pack. "Who says she is the only one to go? This could be my chance to get out there more." Nexus wasn't the shy type like Crystal, and in fact, was quite confident in himself-despite his past-but he never really hung out with anypony other than Crystal and Max. Sometimes Star, but not enough to warrant anything beyond acquaintance He still didn't have a special somepony in his life, and being in his 30s, he is running out of time. Nexus was a bat pony, standing about as tall as Max Allen, who stands almost as tall as Luna. He wore a green tinted chestplate from the armor the Guards from his clan wore. He wore on the lower part of his legs silver bands with green jewels on them, while wearing green cloth bands on his upper legs. He remembered seeing his father where similar attire, and wore it as a sort of remembrance. He had no idea if he was dead or not, but wore the gear all the same. He wasn't extremely muscular, but he did have some muscle on him. The gear wasn't that heavy to him. He has been wearing it for years. He only brought with him his first aid kit, and a few medicinal potions. Courtesy of Max. He made sure they were all red though. No incidents this time. Nexus took to the sky and headed to the farm. 4 HOURS LATER Nexus landed on the farm, more worn than he would of liked. He hadn't flown that long or far since the Changeling Incident. He looked around, trying to see if he could spot anypony that looked to be in charge. Or Crystal. He wondered if she found a special somepony. He shook it off, thinking that she was too shy and that would have been quick even for Max. He looked around until he ran into a stallion standing by a group. @, "Excuse me. Is this your farm? I got an invite here." He said, holding out the invite with his wing.

@, OK. I am going to make a post for Nexus. It may be rough while I figure out his character. And I am going to try and pace the romance this time...I hope.

@, I cant guarantee my performance will be amazing, but I can throw in Nexus to even things out. Unless the 2 odd out mares wish to fillyfool.

@, Tis alright. Such things are understandable. Good luck with whatever it is that vexes you though.

@, As they finished, and the dough was laid out in tins (Which we totally had this whole time >.>) Crystal brought the apples to fill in the dough. They filled it in a neat order, and soon enough, three trays were full. There was not enough apple slices to fill another tray, so she put them back in the basket for later. "Now we need to cover them with the remaining dough and bake them." She said cheerfully. "And then we get some time together." An afterthought arose.

@, (More filler inbound) Crystal nodded, and began to lift the water container in place in a red aura. She slowly began to pour it in. TK works like actual lifting, in the sense that a pony can only carry a certain amount of weight before the spell fails them. Picking up heavier objects puts a strain on the unicorn, and brings magic fatigue faster. The weight limit varies between ponies. Crystal, having a near mastery of TK, can handle a substantial amount of weight, more so than the average pony. Maybe not as much a adept magic user, like Celestia or Twilight, but pretty close. This large bucket of water, for example, is like lifting a feather for her, so she must take extra precaution to avoid spilling it.

@, Soon enough, and just as Dusty had returned to the pit with the necessary ingredients, she had finished the slices, placing them in the basket. She kept one, and was nibbling at it as she saw her coltfriend return. She remembered learning something about pie in school, but that was 3 years ago, so she barely remembers it. Still, she couldn't let her lover do this alone. "Anything I can do to help now?" She asked.

@, Crystal broke the kiss, and hugged Dusty tightly before stepping back. "Right, I should...finish the apples. And I suppose you need to get the dough going." She said, slightly disappointed. She didn't want that moment to end. But they had work to do. But she made a mental note to pick it up when they got back to the barracks. Gives her a reason to get this job done. She started to cut that apples with her TK spell again.