00Pony

My ringtone is this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd4YGvZ_fJI With my text tone being this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60MJ6xoRHoA I like Bioshock, can you tell?

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saron held his silence as Ariel began to describe who Galatea was. By the words 'engineer' his assumption of her being a Unicorn became questionable. How far had the arcane sciences advanced by the time her future came around? He wished he could see it. He caught himself staring rather blankly at the ground as his mind wandered down that path, and he quickly reasserted where his attention should be. He'd inquired, so he'd better listen. The Crystal felt his ears perk slightly as Ariel's speech grew halting, as if she were struggling to find the words. It didn't take him very long to decipher that this was indeed the case. His curious expression was instantly replaced by one of genuine concern as the tremors began to course through her body. For a few seconds he wasn't sure what to do, merely fighting the urge to step away to get a better look at her. Luckily he was able to succeed in that - she was already having enough trouble standing and that would completely upset her balance. So what did you do in this situation? The Crystal Visionary opened his mouth to say something, but what? Would she even hear him? And would it even help? Already he'd said two things that sent her into an anxiety attack. Would his speaking even help at all? He cast a helpless glance at Break, trying to figure out what to do. Mercifully, he was able to find one solution. Question now was, would that solution work? He'd had good experience with it working in the past. It had calmed Serenity when he used it on her, and even worked for himself when she did so to him. But they were foals then, and their situation was rather different... Not to mention they were family. But that didn't matter. Suffering was suffering, no matter how you painted it. It was worth a shot, at least. Turning his silver gaze back to Ariel, Saron shifted his stance gently so as not to undo her faltering balance, and hugged her. It was admittedly lackluster, to start, as he tried to convince himself that this would work. A second later, he tightened his hold and gently lowered himself - and her with him - to more of a sitting position. He spoke once again in a calming tone, "It's alright... You're not there... You are among friends, Ariel. You're safe... It's alright." But what had happened there that would cause this? He couldn't know. For a brief second, he was back in the Crystal Empire. The skies were that dreaded burnt hue and the air was thick as he held Serenity this same way, fighting against his own tears as she sobbed into his coat, her hooves hugging onto him as if she were trying to escape from the world. The pair of them seated before the collapsed mouth of the mine that left the twins alone in the world. Just as suddenly as the vivid memory returned, it was gone. He was in Ponyville, one thousand years later. The sky was bright and blue, the air was clean. Serenity was vacationing; safe in Canterlot. This mare wasn't her, but she needed help all the same. Saronyx still knew very little of Ariel's situation, only knowing she'd followed someone she was close to through a portal, and suffered from a mysterious condition that made life difficult. The Crystal blinked, gently stroking Ariel's mane as he looked back to Break, his eyes and expression clearly stating his thoughts, "What has this poor girl gone through?" Whatever it was she was suffering, whatever she had gone through, Saron knew one thing was sure. The Heart curse him if he didn't do whatever he could to help her.

@, Saronyx stumbled forward, not expecting to be shoved forward. Mercifully, he didn't lose his balance entirely and managed to keep his hooves beneath him. He stayed still for a few seconds to be sure that he really had his sense of balance under control before he moved onward. Right, so laughing - and likely calling her by name - was not something he was allowed to do. Good to know. Saron maintained silence as she responded to him. Of course she didn't trust his word. He could understand that. After all, in Sonnet's eyes he really was a trespasser. Were he in her place, would he trust himself? Probably not. She did raise an excellent point, one that he - as much as he hated to admit it - had not taken into consideration. Would they allow him to leave? Sonnet already practically told him 'no'. So he would be expected to stay here. He doubted they'd go out of their way to retrieve food that wasn't infected with the Equibane. Despite the anxiety he felt's overwhelming presence, Saronyx did not show it. She fell silent after that. The Visionary kept a straight face, looking forward. He was not keen on staying here and becoming like them. It wasn't like he was able to just vanish from the face of Equestria. While most of his family was truly dead, and he had no mare who would be expecting him back, he still had someone to get back to. Serenity would likely not take it well to know that her brother was effectively dead. Corvus could be sent to relay the message but... That would likely not lessen the blow. Saron drew in his breath and let it out in a long sigh. He had grown overzealous in his orders and failed to consider the ramifications. He tensed slightly when Sonnet began to speak once again. He half expected to be struck, but thankfully she kept her offense to just her tone. Despite his position, it was rather amusing to him that she felt she had to specify that. However, before he could stop his tongue, he responded to her words with, "You expected a fight from me. I'll take that as a complement." He bit his tongue after that, unsure of how she would respond. Mercifully, he had said it quieter. Perhaps she hadn't heard. Eventually however, they arrived to where he would be held. From first glance he could gather that this was predominantly inhabited by mares. Then again, it probably helped that he had heard the other Ferals state where the prisoners were to be taken. Saronyx glanced back at Sonnet as she spoke, giving her a firm nod to show he understood her warnings. He lowered his head, in a way rather like you would have found during Sombra's reign. In a way, this was a lot like that. --- "Well? What do you see?" Said one, nudging his neighbor with his elbow. "Whole lotta nothing. Just debris and rain. That's it. No Ferals, no Outlanders." The second replied, swatting at the offending limb. "That's good. That means they're gone. Come on, we've got a job to do." The third spoke up, signaling to the others. Rising from beneath their rotten, wooden covers, the trio crawled forwards. They kept low to the ground and moved slowly at first. The second collapsed the old, battered spyglass he carried and slipped its worn sling over her neck as they went. The closer to the ghost town they got, the more confident they grew. All the Ferals really were gone, having dragged their newest pets into the forest. Poor souls. That was a fate every Tribal feared, though they were often fortunate enough to be smashed like dry twigs beneath the Feral's hooves, rather than indoctrinated. The third of the gaunt ponies slowed, looking up to the sky and smiling slightly as his horn began to glow. He gathered te water as it fell from the sky and what had collected on the ground - separating it from the filth with his magic a he went. What he gathered he siphoned into the containers he carried. That was one thing the Ferals were good for. Some produced rain. While the unicorn did this, the second, a Pegasus, darted about from building to building. She'd checked these same structures time and time again, but she hoped, in vain, that some new trinkets had been brought along. Many of the old buildings were collapsed now, a result of the skirmish between the Outlanders and the Ferals. Dejectedly, she walked out to the Unicorn, watching him as he gathered water for a few seconds before she sighed, "I've got nothing, Atlas." The light blue stallion spared her a pitying glance, but ultimately looked back to his task as he spoke, "Don't just stop at the buildings, Aileron. The Outlanders could have dropped something when they were attacked. Help Chalk search." "Yeah!" Their Earth pony companion called out, his sunken eyes veritably beaming as he held aloft a package, "This smells good!" Aileron turned to look at him, staying still for a few seconds before darting quickly over and snatching the package in her teeth. Ignoring Chalk's shouts of protest, she opened it and hovered as she peered down in. She glanced up, "It's leaves. Dried leaves." "Why would someone dry leaves?" Chalk asked, "Can you preserve leaves like meat?" Atlas trotted over, enveloping the package in his magic and taking it from Aileron before she could pour any into her mouth. He shut it and slipped it into a pouch, "We can sample it later. Now keep searching. If one of them dropped this, maybe they dropped weapons, or if we're lucky, maybe even food." His two friends gave him dark glares, but relented and returned to their searching.

@, She took her time in answering. Saron shrugged slightly to himself, figuring that she was not going to give an answer, which he had expected. He was surprised when she finally spoke up, dubbing herself as 'Sonnet'. The Crystal didn't turn to look at her, nor slow his pace. He only smiled a little and glanced up at the black form of Corvus alighting on branches ahead of them. He was not sure where he was going, but judging by the lack of direction from the mare behind him, he figured he must be going in the right direction. Once again, Saronyx's ears swiveled in her direction as she spoke up, stating his 'herd' were fools and questioning why they fought and he did not. Initially, the Visionary's only response was to give a dry chuckle. It lasted for a few seconds before he caught himself, cleared his throat, then spoke, "I agree with you on my companions being fools, though I do not wish death upon them. They are no friends of mine - I met them just this morning - but they are of my kingdom, so I cannot outright dislike them." He stretched slightly as he stepped forward, allowing his back to crack slightly before continuing, "Violence rarely gets us anywhere worthwhile. All it did today was get many of us captured and injured. I did not fight because I am not combatant by nature. I've been around long enough to pick up a few Fallen Caesar techniques, and while that is a formidable style, I do not know how effective it would have been on your herd," here he actually glanced back in her direction, "And would you really have let me off so easily had I joined the fray, Sonnet?" He chuckled once more, "All fighting would have gotten me was broken. I did not come here to fight. I merely came to learn."

@, Either way, he soon became gratefully aware of her weight having left him, though it didn't last too long, as she promptly kicked his side. The Crystal winced, but held in the grunt that fought to escape his lungs. He'd suffered abuse like this and worse in the past, he could move through it. Granted, that had been a very, very long time ago, so he figured he could excuse himself just if only a little. The Crystal Pegasus mare ordered him to stand, stating that - unlike the others - he was still able to travel. Truth be told, he truly did get off easiest of the group, with the exception of those who got away. The Feral mare inquired if he preferred to be ferried off like the rest, though it seemed to be rhetorical. He only shook his head in response, though that soon changed to a nod of understanding at her threat should he try and escape. Truth be told, he had no intentions of escaping. While he would have preferred not to have been slammed into the earth, it was almost his intention to be taken, after all. While his mind was dwelling on this, he soon became aware of the sensation of being yanked to his hooves and shortly after being shoved roughly in the direction he'd seen the others taken. Saronyx stumbled slightly as he fought to reassert his sense of balance. Once that was accomplished, he began to move off at a pace somewhere between a walk and a trot. He ached at the points of impact from his captor's assault, but he moved in spite of them. The Visionary presently became aware of her speaking once again, though he didn't turn to face here, merely swiveling his ears in the direction of her voice. What she said was almost what he planned on doing, watching and listening. Being what he was, he was accustomed to just observing life as it happened, never touching it himself. And while he would have opportunity here, he did not intend to give them the wrong impression of his intentions. After a short time, Saronyx cleared his throat and spoke once more, "If it isn't too much to ask, do you have a name or something like it that I may refer to you as?" Granted, he had other questions, but he thought it best to let those wait. Likely asking, 'Why and how is there a Crystal pony all the way out here?' - or some variation thereof - at just this moment would not end well for him. So with this in mind, he kept his question simple.

@, Saron winced slightly at the mare's voice. It was both a mix of a relapse of pain from her impact, and the volume of her speech. But to look on the bright side, at least she wasn't slamming her hooves repeatedly into his sides. He drew in a breath to respond, but the action of doing so caused him to descend into a fit of coughing, which when coupled with the pain in his sides, was an altogether unpleasant experience. It didn't last too long however, and eventually he was able to respond. With a grimace and a slight grunt, he turned his gaze to the mare pinning him, rather than the ghost town in the distance. First impressions, exceptionally bright, hostile, and certainly out of place. She demanded that he speak, voicing two more questions. He finally spoke, "I am known by the name Saronyx." Saronyx cleared his throat, then continued, "I was sent here on order of the Princesses, Celestia and Luna, to research the Equibane plant." He kept his voice civil and calm. Despite the irritation that he admittedly felt, putting voice to it would not help his case, "I realize now that we are trespassing, and it is something for which I will apologize. It is just one of those things that you do when your monarch orders it." - "The Equibane likely has some form of ward spell. I spent hours viewing the history of this place before departure, but all I saw was the original team set out, but everything after that was a painful black blur. Even just contact with this mare is giving up nothing. This plant and its properties are truly frightening." He thought to himself. Glancing away from his assailant, Saron spied the other Ferals gathering up the members of the research team that had not succeeded in escaping. There was the old soldier, Soul. The warlock, Mantorok, and the rather hyper young Unicorn, Technicolor. The others had escaped, it seemed. Saron turned his attention back to the Crystal Pegasus mare, but didn't speak, waiting merely to see whether he would be expected to walk himself. Beyond the mare, he was able to faintly spot Corvus circling, keeping a silent vigil.

@, As he had done since starting the expedition, Saronyx held his tongue throughout the entire discussion. He was always an observer of sorts, and this was an excellent chance to do just that. Words were thrown back and forth, tempers rose, and eventually it all coalesced in a chaotic skirmish. Most of the team began to flee, but a few stayed and tried to fight, the only ones he saw being Soul and the young Technicolor. When everything began to spiral out of control, the calm Crystal stallion had backed off slightly, out of the way of the combat. Somehow, he had managed to avoid being involved yet again. His raven danced back and forth beside him, feathers fluffed as the black bird cried out. Saronyx paid him little mind, merely watching the chaos unfolding before him with varying levels of concern, pity, and fascination. It wasn't until he felt Corvus' beak pecking at his leg and subsequently taking wing that he tore his attention away. The first hint he had of his imminent danger was the colorful reflection of light against an airborne object, and from that point things seemed to start moving in slow motion. Really they were advancing just as quickly as they normally would, but his mind's fast pace felt like everything was moving as if submerged in water. It took him but a second to realize that this particular object was actually a pony. To be specific, a Crystal much like himself, though they were larger and bore wings. One conclusion he could make was that Equibane caused exponential growth, and if he did not step out of the way, he may very well end up in a bad state. With this in mind, he attempted to tear his gaze from the dazzling sight and move out of the immediate zone of danger, but for some inexplicable reason he found he was unable to do as he wished. The Crystal stallion growled slightly at this turn of events. But perhaps it wouldn't be too bad. He was a Crystal pony after all and they were able to take an impressive amount of punishment. Besides, they had mentioned seeking prisoners. What better way to observe them than from within their own home? Saronyx's train of thought was promptly interrupted when the sudden - and immensely painful - impact of his assailant's dive struck him. He did not struggle, knowing to do so would likely just make his position worse. Not that it would have been very easy to struggle given the force with which he'd been struck. It was a chore merely to draw breath for a few seconds, though he managed to stay conscious, if barely. Whether that was a good thing, however, still remained to be seen.

Want some sexy? Why not Zoidberg?

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saronyx shook his head in response to Break's second question, "I saw none." He said. That was when Ariel spoke up. Saronyx's ears swiveled in her direction and he moved his head to match them, looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She had only said a name, 'Galatea', to start. She paused for a few seconds before adding onto it, stating that she had followed Galatea through a portal that the latter had created. That was curious. Galatea must would have to be an exceptionally powerful Unicorn to create a time travel spell that manifested as a portal through which others could step. Not even Starswirl, the original creator of such magic, had been able to do that. But then again, it was the future, and things have a habit of changing. Saron's expression changed from one of contemplation to one of slight concern as he felt Ariel's jolt, and he carefully resituated his stance to offer more support. He remained silent for a few seconds this before asking, "Who is 'Galatea', Ariel?"

@@Pripyat Pony,@, @, @@Grapz224, @@The565er, @@Technicolor_Pony, @@Malinter, Saronyx had thought it better to hold his tongue for the time being, finding nothing to say that would be of any constructive nature. He contented himself to simply watching the rest of the researchers, listening to their various discussions. Eventually, the train arrived, they boarded and were on their way. Still Saron chose to hold his tongue, simply resting on his own and poring the knowledge he had of the plant they sought. Even for him, there wasn't much that was known. It was always difficult to view the Badlands. Perhaps the Equibane had something to do with that? It was very possible. Eventually he allowed himself to drift into sleep until such time as they arrived to their destination, cancelling out the sounds of his companions. He did not know the passage of the time, but the sound of the train's whistle brought Saron out of his sleeping state, simultaneously notifying their arrival. He blinked the sleep from his eyes for a second then hopped off of his seat, stretching for a second before trotting out of the train after the rest of the group, Corvus hopping along behind him. As soon as the entire team was off the locomotive, the train left. Saronyx paid it no mind, instead casting his gaze over the town. Corvus had taken wing and alighted on a sagging roof a short distance off, staring down at the group. The Crystal pony allowed himself some amusement at how well the large, black bird fit into the atmosphere of the ghost town. But he hadn't come here to admire the scenery. Leaving the raven to his perch, Saronyx turned his attention to Soul and Mantorok, the former outlining basic survival tactics for such an environment. That was wise, and the Crystal was glad that at least one of them decided to bring it up. Any words that he had been going to say however were lost when he caught Mantorok's response, offering that they could consume portions of him if need be. Saron decided then and there that he did not like this stallion. He kept a 'pony' that he referred to simply as a slave, and even reprimanded another of the group for perceiving it with some measure of equinity, and now he was suggesting they resort to cannibalism. Saron himself had been a slave at one point, as had many of the Crystal ponies in the world these days. Needless to say, he was greatly opposed to it, and the concept of cannibalism did not sit well with him in the slightest. He had been in the process of working his way over to Glory, who as far as he was aware was heading up this expedition, when the sound of Corvus' coarse cawing caught his attention. The Crystal stallion looked up at the raven as the black bird flapped his wings emphatically, before taking flight and swooping over the research team, still crying out for their attention. Whether they paid attention to him or not, the avian took wing off in a opposite direction of the tracks before circling back around and hovering for a few seconds before winging off again. Saronyx watched him for a short time before looking at his companions and speaking up, "Excuse me, I do not mean to change the subject or interrupt any of these, undoubtedly important, disputes, but I believe my bird has seen something." He was unable to know what had sparked the raven's behavior, but in the time Saron had the bird, he proved useful on many occasions.

@@Pripyat Pony,@@Grapz224,@,@,@@Technicolor_Pony,@, (I believe that is everyone) Saron maintained his silence for a short time longer. He had been spoken to, but the others began to introduce themselves first. That was well enough. Glory, the lavender Unicorn, introduced herself first but offered only a name with no mention of skillset. Next was another Unicorn mare who seemed rather shy, but spoke readily enough. She introduced herself as Technicolor - amongst other titles - and labeled herself as 'survival expert'. Next to speak was a stallion called Soul, a former royal guard. His skillset was likely in the field of protection, despite an apparently advanced age. Saronyx had learned that one' sage does not decide their worth. He was over a millennia in age, technically speaking after all. Then again, most Crystals nowadays were. He took note of Soul's application of a type of ointment to his horn. He was advanced in age, so his grasp of physical magic was likely fleeting. That probably had something to do with it. Soul and Technicolor began to converse about the properties of the plant, at least what they knew. Another pony strolled up, a Pegasus mare with a wolf companion. Saronyx' ear swiveled slightly towards Corvus as the black bird gave a quiet caw, but made no sort of movement. The sight of the typically hostile canine wasn't to jarring for the Crystal. He'd seen stranger. The Pegasus asked whether this was the group of researchers, and Saron took it upon himself to answer, "That we are. Glory is the lavender Unicorn." He glanced at the group, shrugging slightly, "Whether you hear me or not, I suppose I may as well make myself known. I am Saronyx, I believe I have been chosen as a historical consultant and documenter of this expedition." Saron returned to his silence shortly after that, not pursuing conversation lest approached. He contented himself to looking to the rest of the group. The two Earth ponies who we're hear before him specifically. One was a hyper active brown stallion, and the other an elder, apparently crippled individual. The cripple had a companion who bore most, if not all, his weight. Saronyx felt a chill run through his spine at this particular stallion. One aspect of being a Crystal pony was your empathy. Crystals felt feelings more potently than others - with the exception of such races as Changelings who fed on them - and were affected by them accordingly. This stallion was analytical and something about him felt... Off. Saronyx did not dwell long on this. He couldn't say he trusted everyone here, having only just learned most of their names and had no opportunity to communicate further with any. But that would change, given time. After all, they were all on this endeavor together. He wondered with some measure of amused curiosity the lack of a Zebra herbalist. Some may call it stereotyping, but there was no denying the evidently natural affinity Zebras had for exotic plants and their magical properties, of which their homeland was abundant. One might think such a Zebra would be brought along to research something like the Equibane. But, perhaps one of his companions bore such knowledge as one of the striped herbalists. Only time would tell.

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saronyx drew in a deep breath at Break's question, sifting through his mental archives to the point when he'd met Ariel only a few hours prior. It wasn't very hard to remember the name of the forest, but he doubted that was where the questions would end. It helped to be prepared ahead of time. The Crystal stallion glanced at his surroundings for a few seconds before responding to the Unicorn's question, "The Everfree Forest. I find the ambiance of the forest calming. I had only just come out of a rift trance when I saw another opening in the sky. From which Ariel fell." It wasn't a spectacular story, but it got the point across. That was all that was really needed. The Visionary kept his ears alert for any more questions from Break, though he was no longer looking at him, but rather at the surrounding town once more. Saron was aware of Ariel's continued pressure against his side, but he didn't think much on it. She was recovering from an anxiety attack, so it stood to reason that she was still unsteady on her hooves. A wandering mind never did anyone much good, and to assume things only caused the one assuming to look like a fool, and Saronyx often kept his in check. There was not much to be done now but wait for either of his companions to speak.

(Okay, I lied about Serenity not appearing physically. She'll just be here for my introduction post because, y'know. Reasons.) "This seems awfully dangerous. I mean, the last time a team of ponies were sent out towards the Badlands looking for this plant, they never came back," the mare called out, looking up from the letter her brother had left on the table after she finished reading it, "And you yourself said that even you don't know what exactly happened to them. You! A Visionary! If that doesn't just scream 'this is terribly dangerous', I don't know what does." She rose from the table, trotting out into the foyer and raising an eyebrow at her brother, "Are you even listening to me, Saronyx?" The stallion in question glanced up from his saddlebags and locked his silver eyes with her own. He held the stare for a few seconds before nodding and looking back down at his saddlebags, "Yes, Serenity, I hear you. And to be frank, I already know. I was the one who told you about the last group. I realize it's dangerous, but the Princesses would not have selected me if they didn't believe I could handle it," He turned to look at her again, "My ability may prove useful in unraveling the mystery behind Equibane and the original team's disappearance. Besides, it's not like I'm going in alone." Serenity made a slight face and trotted over, helping her brother to sling his saddlebags over his back, seizing the opportunity to wrap her hooves around him in a tight hug, "I know, it's just that I care about you, Saron. You are my brother after all. I don't want to find out that I'm the only one of this bloodline left without being able to at least say goodbye." Saronyx had returned the hug, but before he was able to respond his sister trotted backwards, bearing an expression that screamed 'idea'. The Crystal mare whipped around and shot off into another room. Saronyx could hear the sound of hooves going up the stairs. He shook his head and glanced at the clock. At this rate he was going to be late for the train station. It wasn't anything new for him to be late every now and again, but that didn't mean it still irritated him. A few seconds later he head his sister come racing back down the stairs. He turned to face her as she came sliding into the room, still grinning, "Take Corvus with you!" She exclaimed, gesturing adamantly to the black form of a raven perched on her back, "You can use him to send messages or reports or something." Saronyx watched her, a faintly amused smile playing over his lips. Eventually he held out a hoof and gave a shrill whistle. The raven watched him for a second before spreading its wings and gliding lazily over to him, perching on the outstretched limb with a slight call. From the hoof he flitted over to Saronyx's back and sat there. Serenity smiled, "You should probably get going, brother." She said. The Crystal stallion chuckled dryly and nodded, making for the door, "I am fully aware of this sister. Take care, and try not to get into too much trouble while I'm away, would you?" As the door closed, he heard his sister calling after him, "I can promise no such thing!" -- @@Pripyat Pony,@,@, The Visionary was pleasantly surprised to find that he wasn't actually going to be late for the train. It may have been due in part to his moving a quick enough pace for Corvus to have to lift from his back and fly along above him. He found before that others in the residential district didn't appreciate ponies running about at early hours (assuming it's morning). Normally he would walk at a leisurely pace, appreciating the world around him. Being in an enchanted state of slumber for over one thousand years tends to help one appreciate his surroundings. But he had a destination to reach now, and taking his sweet time getting there wouldn't do him any favors. With this in mind, he continued onward at his swift pace. It was several minutes before his destination was in sight. The Crystal stallion slowed his pace gradually as he grew nearer and nearer to the station. From here, he could see at least three others that he assumed would be on the research team. A Unicorn mare and two Earth Pony stallions. Saronyx highly doubted that only four would be on this expedition. All the same, he slowed his pace to a walk, Corvus perching himself once again on the Crystal's back. The Visionary didn't speak as he drew up to the group - now able to see at least one other - and positioned himself slightly off to an unoccupied side of the group, contenting himself to listen to them converse until such time as he was noticed. (well, this is some measure of a post, I suppose.)

@, A couple of the soldiers chuckled in a mocking way at her statement of not liking being watched, but they didn't speak up on that point. The team of five divided slightly, three of them sleaning against the adjacent wall or sitting with their weapons cradled in their arms, looking in her direction. One stationed themselves before the door while another remained standing before the window, doing as they had been ordered to and watching her. Her request of being respected in that area was honored. One of the team, a stocky soldier bearing an Atchisson Assault shotgun, glanced at his one of his team mates, who bore a Bushmaster ACR, and scoffed, "Keep our minds out of the gutter? Last I checked my mind didn't go into gutters about anything that ain't human." His team mate glanced at him from his position against the wall but only gave him a hard look that easily said 'shut up, you idiot'. The stare was enough to make the stocky man fall silent like the rest of the team. --- @@Hypn0ticD,@@Pripyat Pony, Angie pursed her lips, her eyebrows furred and her arms crossed as she observed his stance for a few seconds before stepping over, "You've got the grip correct, but your stance is a teensy bit off. While there are shooting stances sorta like that, it's best to start simpler. Hold still except for where I move you," she knelt down and wrapped her hands around one knee and pushed back slightly, "Straighten out your knees, as if you were just standing there. Don't lock or tense them though, keep 'em relaxed." She then stood, turning her gaze to his torso briefly before she put one hand over his chest, at the center of his gravity, and another slightly lower on his spine and pushed gently in opposite directions, "You still have to lean into the weapon. A gun's kick varies with the size of the bullet if fires. 22. caliber rounds have little more kick than a BB gun. 9mm. are a bit stronger, and 45.s have a very nice kick, and by nice I mean hefty. The pistol your holding is chambered for a 45. caliber round, and though pistols are more in keeping your arms steady, you still want your center of gravity to be centered better than that." When she was satisfied with how he was standing, she stepped back slightly and glanced at the pistol's sights. She had to stand on her toe tips and lean slightly to get a better look at them, which brought her head a couple inches from Shawn's, "It's a bit difficult to tell from my angle, but it looks like you've got them lined up well enough. Just be sure when you're actually shooting to have the front most sight to be lined up with the two back sights when you look at them with your dominant eye. That way you know that you'll have a good chance of hitting whatever you're aiming at." (this bit was written assuming Shawn is nearer the six foot range, whereas Angie is in the 5'4"-5" range) Angie smirks slightly, fully aware of the contact she was making, but she was sure to stop at the smirk and returned to standing normally. She holds her hand out for the weapon, "Alright, so you've got an idea of the stance. I'll show you how to eject the magazine and toggle the safety on or off." --- Logan shook his head slightly at Applejack's apology for her small vent, "There's no need to be sorry about it. That's one of the perks about me; I have no problem listening, be it to a rant or typical conversation. Especially with that accent." he responded with a slight chuckle, a smile creeping over his features at Ulysses' swishing tail. He stopped moving when her arms wrapped around him, and almost instinctively he returned the gesture, giving a slight hum at her question - despite assuming it to be rhetorical. Whether she took his hum as a 'yes' or if his assumption was correct, Applejack continued, stating that though she had seen some of the devices humans had created and they potential, she was less afraid of them than the Changelings. Logan carried one such device only but a few inches from her arms, "Yeah, it is a bit strange." He tightened his embrace on her slightly, "But I can understand why you wouldn't trust them. If what I've heard about their actions against your home is fact, I wouldn't be too quick to trust them, either." He held the embrace for a short time longer before releasing her and stepping back, taking in her presence beneath the light of a nearly full moon. It was something he told himself often, and he was sure he had told her before, but he wanted to say it again, "You are exceptionally beautiful, you know that, Applejack?" It was a simple thing to say, but it still felt a bit foreign to him. He'd told women they were beautiful before, but they were usually family friends or personal friends that he cared about as just that. Never anyone he cared about the way he cared for her. (I'm often really bad at this aspect of rp's. Forgive me.) --- At the knock, Diliges had entered a type of 'guard dog' mind frame. He didn't stand, or make a bolt for the door. His muscles tensed and he glared at the door, his body like a coiled spring as he waited to see who was beyond. From the 'scent' it wasn't anyone with a hostile intent, but then again, he hadn't had any hint of it from anyone here and he still felt something was wrong. He watched as it was opened. Ah, it was just Stephen, the man responsible for providing Cicada with a home while she was here. The Changeling captain remained silent as Clare and the other human conversed for a few seconds, the former bringing up the point of their shared paranoia as a reason for her being tense. She passed it off as 'woman's intuition', and that prompted Diliges to speak, "Or in my case, being a military officer of an espionage unit. Last I checked I'm male." He said with little pause between Clare's sentence and his own. The Changeling stood and glanced at the door leading to the hallway, before looking back to the two humans, "I cannot shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen. It may just be worry for my Queen, or her emotions bleeding off onto me - and the fact that she relayed to me that the same people that nabbed her were seeking to take us and the ponies in our company as well - and as such I cannot allow myself to relax with this feeling in my mind. Last time I did so I nearly got myself killed. Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary, Stephen?" --- The Desk Clerk hadn't really let up her typing on the computer since the group had left. A few times she stopped to stretch and massage her hand's muscles, or take a sip from the mug of lukewarm tea beside her. She glanced up at some of the other staff walking about in the foyer, and even a few of the other guests. Their eyes were turned to her. None of the group were out here, some of them were outside but most were in their rooms. Two had gone out one of the back doors, as evidenced by the establishment's security feed on her computer monitor. They were just humans, so there wasn't much of a need to seek them out. Besides, she didn't want to think to deeply on what they might be doing. She was slightly more interested in the human and Equestrian that had left the normal way a little earlier. Them they might have to seek out. Something told her that as soon as they heard any hint of an altercation or commotion coming from here, they'd come running. From what she'd heard about them in briefing, the human was a cop and the Equestrian was keen on her pals being safe. Even with four of them out of the building, and the others in their respective rooms, speaking aloud wouldn't be a wise decision. You can never know, after all. If two of these extraterrestrials were in some way connected to the one they already had in custody, they might be suspicious. Best to keep it as low key as possible. She took her hands from the keyboard, grasping her mug with one and resting her other on the counter top where it would be visible. She tapped her fingers, as if bored and she was trying to imitate the rhythm of a song that she had stuck in her head. She kept this up for a bit, then glanced at the other occupants. A few nodded, one tapped his fingers on the coffee table before him in a similar pattern and stood, making his way for the door, fishing a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Once outside, the man walked out to the corner of the sidewalk and took a cigarette from the packet and placed it in his lips, returning the pack to it's pocket. He then removed a lighter and turned the wheel, causing a flame to materialize. He left it on for a short while, moving it to the cigarette in his lips but not allowing it to catch. He extinguished it before lighting it again, and once more not moving it to light his cigarette. As before, he extinguished it and repeated the process several more times before he finally raised the lighter to his smoke and lit it. From a normal perspective, it might seem fairly normal, if a bit dumb on the man's part not to shield it. But if you were aware of the code and were looking at the action from a mile's distance, through a scope mounted on a high powered sniper rifle, and lying down in front of a helicopter in the middle of a field, it meant that things were going to kick off before too long. Warlord nodded slightly, despite it being invisible to the man before the motel. Reaching over, he tapped the old phone beside him, watching as the man before the motel reached into his pocket and answered the call only to hang up shortly after. Everyone knew what was going on now. Just a few more minutes before the party got started. He wasn't sure if they'd wait for the two that had wandered off to come back, but either way, things were going to start happening before too long. He got started on steeling himself for what he may have to do. A rifle like his wouldn't really be the best for taking folks 'alive', but he would be able to help keep their heads down for a bit before firing up the chopper and flying over. Things were going to go well, he felt that in his gut. (Might have been able to do better on this post, but eh.)

@, She'd only been walking for a few minutes when she heard the quiet wail of an alarm from down the hall she had entered. She sighed, brushing her once again red hair back behind one ear, and made her way towards the surveillance room. Upon entering she saw exactly what she'd expect. Several walls of monitors, each individual screen scanning a different neck of the ocean bound headquarters. One of the monitors was filled with static, and leaning before it typing madly at a keyboard before it was the surveillance officer responsible for that section of wall. He glanced back at her when she entered and fumbled to stand and throw a salute to her, along with the rest of the surveillance team. Kai'sa gave them a slight nod and the team relaxed and sat back in their chairs and resumed watching the monitors. The officer responsible for the malfunctioned screen ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair a couple times before tapping at the keyboard for a few seconds before sighing and looked at his superior. Kai'sa furrowed her brow at the code on the monitor's frame, and realized it was Chrysalis' holding cell. What was she doing? The Changeling glanced at the man who was giving her a mildly frustrated look, and she nodded towards the screen, crossing her arms over her chest, "What's going on with that?" He threw his hands in the air in an exaggerated show of exasperation, "Hell if I know," at her hardened glance he swallowed, cleared his throat and spoke again, "I'm not one hundred percent sure what she did. Last I saw was her tearing a strip of her dress and tying it around her face for some reason. Then she started dancing around, managed to move faster than the camera, then it went all fuzzy. I guess she knocked it out of its chassis and as such disabled it. The bitch." The surveillance officer rubbed one temple with two fingers, looking back at the screen as he did so before turning his gaze back to his superior, "What do you suggest we do, ma'am?" Kai'sa gave him a slightly pained look, likely from trying to comprehend how he didn't figure this out for himself, before speaking, "Send a team up there to keep an eye on her." At his raised eyebrow she sighed and elaborated, "There's a big ballistic glass window up there. Just send a team up to stand in the observation room and watch her." "But... Would the Orchestrator approve of that?" He asked. "We only had cameras installed so we didn't have to expend too much manpower on watching them. But seeing as she's managed to disable hers, and also taking into account the fact that she's a high priority to Orchestrator, I think he would be able to forgive sending a team up to keep an eye on her." He took a second to consider that before nodding and reaching out to the intercom, hesitating for a second before looking at her, "Want to give the order yourself?" Kai'sa sighed and pushed the button, speaking in a clear tone as her voice was carried through most of the ship, "Charlie, report to holding cell A. We have a very important guest that I'd like all of you to keep an eye on. Just remain in the observation room, but don't get too comfortable. Remain on the alert in case she somehow manages to do something too drastic. If she starts ranting at you, just mute the microphone. If she starts getting rowdy, radio up here and they'll fill the room with the tear gas until she's subdued. That's all." She takes her finger off the intercom and brushes her hair behind her ear once again, and glancing at the surveillance officer, "Try not to gas her so long she can't speak. Or dies." With that Kai'sa turns and leaves the room, resolving to wait until Justus returned from his op. -- Charlie team, took only a few minutes to ready up and get to the holding cell. They stood in the same room that Kai'sa had stood in just ten minutes before, weapons at the ready and watching the Changeling queen through the large security window with stark silence. (the one problem about taking out the lighting is the fact it's on the ceiling, out of reach from occupants.) --- @@Hypn0ticD, Angie laughed, clasping her hands behind her head, "Well, alright then!" She followed Shawn to the room that - to her surprise and slight amusement - they were sharing. She took a moment to check through her gear and draw out an empty, spare clip, then once again follow him out to the woods behind the establishment. She took the lead from there, leading him out a few yards before glancing around, nodding slightly and spinning around to face him, "Okay! Seems as good a place as any. Like I said, can't really shoot it, but I can show you how to hold it and such," as she spoke, Angelica drew her sidearm, dropped the clip into her other hand and pocketed it, pulled back the slide to eject the round already in the chamber, catch it and in turn pocket it as well. Once this was done, she slid the empty clip in and glanced to Shawn and grinned, "Alright, now pay attention. Just look how I hold the gun, my stance, and then try to replicate it. I'll explain a bit as I go." The brunette clasps the pistol, explaining how to hold the weapon and assumed the stance, outlining as she went. Once she was finished with that she held the pistol to Shawn, "Alright, now you try. And even though it's not loaded, treat it like it is. Don't point it at me and keep your finger off the trigger. Unless you're aiming as if to fire, keep it pointed upward at the sky, or pointed down at the ground. I only wish I'd thought about it sooner, I could've gotten some dummy rounds before now so you'd get the proper idea of the weapon's weight. But anyway, just assume the position, and aim for a tree or something. I'll show you how to fix your stance as needed." (since I'm too lazy to actually explain it right now, I'll just add links) -- Logan had remained in the doorway during the 'discussion' between Applejack and Cicada. When she exited and stated she didn't want to be away from Twilight for long, he gave a slight hum, "I can understand that." he responded under his breath, intertwining his fingers with hers when she clasped his hand in her own. He stepped forward slightly to push the door open and waited until she was completely through before letting it go. The officer nodded to her at her suggestion, "That sounds just fine." Was all he said for a minute or so. Eventually, he let out a slight sigh, glancing at the sky before looking back to the woman beside him, gently tightening his grip on her hand, "How're you holding up?" (Well, there's some measure of a post. Part of me says I did something weird.)

@, (She's in a padded cell. That's about it.) --- @@Hypn0ticD, The woman had glanced down at her computer at Shawn's first question, even if it had been a joke. When he'd spoken again she had taken a second before finally responding, working something out that got the group a decent price cut. She gave them a friendly smile and a wave after handing them the key-cards, going back to tacking away at her computer. -- When the Scotsman wrapped his arm about her shoulders, Angelica leaned slightly into the side of him on natural impulse. She glanced at the weapon tucked in its holster for a second before speaking, "As much fun as shooting would be, I don't think it'd go over too well with the feds if we fired a weapon at a place that wasn't a range, or one of us didn't own. I can still demonstrate how to hold it and the basics, just without... you know, the really fun part." She shrugged slightly, "But in all honesty all choices sound fun! What are you keen on doing?" -- (Applejack was examining the small plastic thingy that was handed to her when Logan approached her. She looked up to him with a look of utter confusion on her face. "Now whay'd give us these ere- whadda dry call it? kre-dit carrds? Do we hafta pay ta git in ar rooms? Ah ain't got no bits on me…" Realizing she may have just made herself sound incredibly dense, she let out a sheepish chuckle. "Why dontcha show me how this ere thingy works, then we take that walk?") Logan crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow in amusement at Applejack's trying to figure out the function of the card. When she asked to be shown how it worked, he wrapped her in a partial hug, "That was probably cuter than you think, just so you know." He commented with a slight chuckle before stepping away, taking the card between two fingers and holding it up as he spoke, "This is actually a key card for your motel room here, not a credit card, though it works in sort of the same way. Rather than being a little card that you run through a scanner to pay for something, you slide it into a slot on your room's door and it unlocks it, so only you or someone else with the appropriate card can access it." He hands it back, gesturing towards the hall some of the others had started down, "Lets find your room so you can give the card a try." (That feels a little better than the original version. I'm not 100% sure what room she's in anymore, so I'll leave that bit to you.) --- @@Pripyat Pony, Diliges had resorted himself to sitting in a chair within the room, one foot resting on the other knee and his hands clasped over his chest as he looked towards the doorway of the room. He glanced over at Clare when she spoke, and he gave a slow nod, "I do. I've been having that feeling since my Queen was taken, but I feel worse about it now. If they took her, it stands to reason they'll be coming after us. It doesn't help that she contacted my Commander and I, relaying that they are in fact doing just that. I don't like the idea of them searching and my not having seen them yet. It just means the worst is yet to come. I do not like feeling uneasy, but it cannot be helped right now."

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saronyx had only given a distinct hum in response to Ariel's display of gratitude. He would have wanted to actually say something, it would have been more fitting had he done so, but he had asked Break a question that the stallion was now answering. From his explanation, Saron would classify his talent as another exceptionally rare one. The ability to sense lies, and occasionally thoughts? As he stated, it would be painful. Useful, but a double edged sword. Sensing emotions was something the Crystal could relate to. He gave a dry chuckle, "What are the odds that two ponies with unusual talents would be in the same place at this particular time? Apparently pretty good." He thought to himself. He glanced to Ariel as she thanked Break as well. Smiling faintly, he spoke, "Told you Ponyville was a friendly little town, didn't I?" And mirth in his tone died out however when his ears finally picked up the sound of her breathing. He didn't quite realize he'd stopped moving when Break spoke. Clearing his throat in slight embarrassment, he continued aiding her along until they were finally back out in the open air. The day outside hadn't changed much in the short time they were in the library. The sun still shone brightly, the town went about its business as usual. After a short time Saronyx once more looked to the mare beside him, "Feeling better?" He really was asking a lot of questions, wasn't he?

@@Miss Reaper, @@CharChar, Saronyx only let a low hum escape his chest at Break's words, not taking his eyes from Ariel. There was good reason to believe his words. They were sincere. But it didn't deter the Crystal. He didn't speak for a little while, hearing Twilight's gasp as she herself registered the Unicorn stallion's words. The recently ascended Alicorn trotted forward, ears perked forward and wings half flared, as she spoke, "Ice Eye? I've read about that but... I thought that it was an inert condition," she let her eyes come to rest on Ariel, a look of sadness within them, "I guess it came back." She said in a quieter tone. She folded her wings against her sides again, rubbing her chin with one hoof as she stared at no specific thing. Eventually she muttered, "I should probably tell Celestia about this... She might be able to do something to help." She however made no immediate move to do so. Probably due in part to Ariel responding to some of Saronyx's questions. The Crystal stallion nodded slightly at her words, moving away from Break's contact and stepping to Ariel's side. He glanced at Break, giving him an actual response, "Be that as it may, I'm not going to leave her be. I found her here, and it was my choice of words that sent her into this state. I feel that makes her my responsibility and I am not going to neglect that fact." When he finished speaking, Saron leaned down and gently assisted Ariel in standing, letting her lean her weight on him so as to lessen the chance of her falling once again. As before, he spoke calmly, "Come along, Ariel. Let's get you outside, into some fresher air." Saronyx looked to Twilight, giving her a brief nod, "Write the Donec reginae* if you feel you must, Twilight." She nodded and began to float out a quill and paper. As she did this, Saronyx turned his eyes to Break, gesturing to the door with his head, "Would you mind getting the door? ... And perhaps explain to me in a little more detail exactly what it is you do?" *(Donec reginae - loosely 'Solar Princess'.) (Also experimenting with colored text. It might be spotty at first, but I'll try and make it linear.)

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saronyx's jaw set as he watched Ariel. Judging by her words it wasn't a time spell cast by herself, which was obvious enough. Rather, it was a portal that had seemed to send her here. Someone named 'Galatea' had something to do with it. Was the spell cast by this pony? Or was it not a spell at all? What the green Unicorn mare before him was experiencing would easily be classified as an anxiety attack, and it only seemed to be getting worse. He took a slight step forward, but said nothing, his expression and eyes bearing the emotion of pity, and pain. Being an empathetic being was often that way. Understanding and sometimes feeling what others felt... Some could go mad from it if they weren't prepared. He heard Twilight begin to say something as Ariel's horn began to glow with her magical manifestation. The Princess was cut off however when the gathering energy reached its apex and Ariel vanished in a flash of light. Only to reappear halfway across the room. Saronyx groaned quietly, looking to Twilight who met his stare, "Saron, what is going on?" She asked. The Crystal shrugged, "I don't fully know, Twilight," He gestured to Break, "Could you ask him what he saw in that book of his?" Twilight nodded, stepping over to Break and tilting her head, fixing her eyes on what of his face she could see, "Break? You have anything to add?" While she did this, Saron had been carefully stepping towards Ariel, speaking calmly as he did, "Ariel? Can you hear me?" He stopped just two feet before her, slowly sitting as he continued, "Just take deep breaths... What's the matter, amore?*" He had many more questions than that, like who Galatea was, what she meant by the portal and so on, but he could wait to ask them until she was stable once again. *(Amor = 'love', used in the same way that Applejack calls everyone 'sugarcube', or in the way some may expect a British person to call someone 'love'. I imagine Saron speaking with a form of speech much like that) (Two posts from me in one day?! What is this madness?!)

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saronyx turned his attention briefly to Break upon hearing the book hit the floor, but the Crystal didn't pursue that trail of action, maintaining his place before Ariel and the Princess. But then, he didn't have to. He had only just turned to look back at Ariel, trying to read her expression when he was hit with a wave of uneasiness. There were plenty of other feelings mixed in with it. A slight groan was the Crystal stallion's only indicator of this, however. But he knew that things could easily take a turn for... something. He'd witnessed Ariel's destructive powers back in Everfree and was not keen to see them unleashed here. He had no solid reason to believe that Ariel would, but he'd encountered many surprises in his life time and those he'd watched. Anything was possible. Saronyx felt his attention diverted from this train of thought by Break's voice. The Unicorn stallion was inquiring about the nature of his special talent. Saron narrowed his eyes at Break, for he was not facing them. He didn't like that. His body language and tone suggested something he knew that Saronyx didn't about their situation. All the same, the Visionary sighed after a few seconds and spoke, his tone still as it had been, "Writing and imagination," he initially said, in a blunt manner. A second later, and he spoke again, "At least, that's what I tell everyone that asks. It's true, for the most part. But I'm leaving out one very, very important detail. I'm what is known as a 'Videns', in my tongue. In the common speech you all use, it would translate to 'Visionary'. Aside from my sister, the only ponies I've ever told this are the Princesses. I suppose you and Ariel will make that number to be seven. I would appreciate it if you keep it under wraps." Saronyx looks back to Twilight - who had moved from behind him to a different position so that she could face all three of her visitors - and then to Break as he speaks, "I can see the past. Everything that ever was, in this reality or another, is visible to me. The one place I cannot look, however, is the future." He finishes, his silver eyes coming to rest finally on Ariel.

@, It doesn't strike me that this has been updated recently, so I'm not sure if you guys still have room or need any more, but I just felt I should mention a couple things and inquire if for certain any more are indeed needed. Anyway, to start, Saronyx has once again gone through revitalization into what I feel is far more streamlined of a character, making him exist in but one universe but still be able to gaze into many. Secondly, his former R63 counterpart, Serenity, has become her own separate character in the form of his twin sister.

@@Miss Reaper,@@CharChar, Saronyx stared levelly at Ariel, his mind trying to work out what was going on behind that violet eye of hers. First off, shock and disbelief. That was clear just from her tone and body language. But it was the unwillingness to believe what he had just said. Judging by the fact that she repeated 'recently ascended' and asked what was going on, Saronyx began to realize his folly. He gave a sigh, "Propter cordis,* Saronyx you are a fool." He grumbled as he heard Twilight's hooves clopping against the wooden floor of her home to stand before him and Ariel. The Crystal pony looked to her, the expression on the Princess's face one of confusion. From her he looked back to Ariel, moving to stand between her and Twilight. He reached out a hoof slowly, speaking in the softest and most calming tone he could muster, "Ariel, I'm going to ask you to be very calm and listen to me, alright? I was trying to figure out a way to tell you this that would've come as less of a shock... But I guess that would be near impossible and now's as good a chance as any," one more sigh and then, "Amice mi...** You're in the past. A very long way, I would assume." Saronyx's tone could be likened to that of Celestia, or one of her age and experience. After all, technically speaking, he was. Twilight's own violet eyes widened at that little revelation. The past? So this mare, Ariel, was from the future? What was it like? Who was still there? How did she managed to get back here? A perfected time travel spell? But that wouldn't make sense, she would know where she was if that were it. But maybe it was an accident? These and many more thoughts and questions shot through her mind in the span of a few seconds, but she held her tongue as she and the Crystal waited for Ariel's response. Whether Break had heard was unclear. *(Propter cordis = loosely translated 'Heart's Sake'. A Crystal pony expletive used in place of 'For Celestia's sake' or something of that nature. **(Amice mi = loosely translated 'My friend'.)