Illiad Easle

@Blitz Boom (There's going to be a bit of a time skip, just jumping to the next morning when the next group of events kick off.) (Cherish) Mostly it was the wind that made it difficult for Elef to hear what Cherish was saying, though he did react a bit when she shouted, pushing ahead a bit faster, maybe he thought he was being chased? He didn't look back. The sun was just starting to rise when he dropped from the upper air current, heading for a large red mesa standing in the middle of the desert a short distance from a city. It might occur to Cherish then just how long they had been flying, and how far they had gone. Elef's sudden drop out of the air current might cause Cherish to overshoot, having to swing around and return. (continued below) (Void) Llambda smiled as Crow accepted her gift, "Oh, Always happy to help." Selena returned from talking with the guards, Nova being carried off with two of them back to the city. "So, there's good news and bad news. Good news is that we were able to find them, and we have a good idea where they're headed. The bad news is that they're too fast for the guards to catch up. But that's not entirely a bad thing, as we have some friends where they're going." She turned towards Void, "Null is still in New Pegas, right? I'll get a message out to her, she should be able to find the two of them quicker than we can get some guards out there." She seemed to recognize that that wouldn't be enough to placate her, or that it definitely wouldn't be enough for Crow. "In addition, we're getting an airship ready to head out as soon as possible. If you don't think you'd be better suited to care for the ones here, there's room for you to join us." She turned towards Crow, "You're welcome to join as well, or to fly there yourself if you'd be more comfortable. We can get you a map as to where we think they're going." Llambda moved to stand beside Void, "Oh, um, I'd still like to help. I was heading towards New Pegas anyway, but I can also stay here and help with your foals if you need me to." Teal and Gemini looked conflicted, as though they wanted to go after Elef as well, but also recognizing that the foals back home also needed their care. Whatever Crow and Void's choices, Selena would indicate that the airship would leave in an hour, giving them time to prepare if they were going to leave with it. (continued below) (Grey) Basher smirked, "As you should be. Nothing without a price, but sometimes the price is worth paying." He waved dismissively, "So long as you don't wear it, it's safe to hold. At least, I held and handled it plenty while I had it, and I didn't notice any ill effects." He shook his head, "I wouldn't be so hesitant, she certainly won't be. Though, I think you may already know something about her. Maybe you've even met her? She's gone by many faces and disguises. At least, I'm sure some of the more important changelings here know about her, though they probably know her by a different name, Red." Depending on when Craven, Yavin, and Mongoose joined up with the changelings here, they may or may not have heard about Red. Red first came to town about a year ago, standing out as the only red accented changeling any of them had seen. She claimed to be from the Stalliongrad hive, like Rasputin had. But unlike Rasputin, she had no restraint on her bloodlust. Violence towards the ponies of New Pegas was one thing, but she had also been violent towards some of the changelings, and had been kicked out of the group after a short while, not to be seen again. Many of the changelings figured that she had simply left town after that, and thanked the stars and mother for it. As such, her tale wasn't much shared with newer changelings. Nonetheless, Basher continued, "She was always on the move, even more so than me, but never failed to turn up for a fight, like a moth to a flame. Hence her name. Now that she seems to be in charge?" He thought for a moment, "I'm sure you spoke to Razzi or Papa while you were up on the cloud layer? They were in charge of talking to any newcomers and finding information. They'll know where she's gathering, or know where to look for gathering. That's your best bet, play along, wait for her to reveal herself, then get as close as you can." He nodded, "That's what I would do at least. Like I said at the beginning, I wouldn't hesitate to kill her. She certainly won't hesitate to kill you, given the chance." [The Next Morning] (Cherish) Elef was digging at a hole in the ground when Cherish caught up to him, it looked like a small tunnel had been dug out around a sort of sealed larger tunnel, likely the small tunnel had originally been dug by some small animal, and Elef was trying to widen the tunnel enough that he could crawl through. Depending on how Cherish would approach, Elef would respond. "You shouldn't have followed me, I'll just get you hurt." (Null) Nine would wake Null up a bit earlier than she might have liked, "There's a message for you. The Grey dropped it off. That little thestral colt ran off from Troy, along with a young pegasus. They think they're headed for Red Mesa, and they want you to find them and keep them out of trouble until a group from Troy can come pick them up." (Ranger) Ranger would also be up a bit earlier than most, but was doing her best to move quietly as she prepared for her own excursion, unknowingly to the same destination as the others. She didn't want to wake Null or Arcade as she prepared, grabbing a few brochures for Speck, before heading down to breakfast, hoping it would be available that early. (Void) If Void had elected to travel on the airship, she and whoever had elected to join her (Like Crow or Llambda) would be on their way towards the Red Mesa. They'd get there in a few hours, and some pegasus guards were sweeping the area around the ship as it traveled, just in case the pair had veered off or landed somewhere else along the way.

@Skylight Scintillate Nova shrugged, "I guess we only went for the anniversary as it was the only time it was necessary? I mean, do you often leave Canterlot to go to other cities without an important reason?" He posed that as a rhetorical, but his tone betrayed that he wasn't entirely sure as to the answer. Maybe Speckle's family had a history of spontaneous excursions? Nonetheless, he moved on to the other questions he hadn't answered yet, "I think the thestrals there are nice enough, they acted a bit friendlier than the thestrals from my colony, but I thought it was just because of the occasion. There'd be a lot of food there, like the feast we had the other night, and we would hear stories of the clan's history from the Chronicler, which is this really old thestral who I guess is in charge of knowing all the stories." Indigo stepped in to give Nova a bit of a break, "I don't know if the staff is still there, it was a long time ago, like two hundred years, when the clan was founded. But they do have a special amulet of protection that has been passed down by the leaders." (I think her other questions were already answered, but if not she'll get more answers once they get there.) It would be a bit longer before Indigo would get their help in closing up her booth, a bit later than she usually did, and soon they were heading back towards the colony. On their way through the forest they were passed by another group of thestrals similarly burdened as the old zebra mare had described. Passing with a simple nod and a wave. Nova asked, "Were those the others that the zebra talked about? I didn't recognize them." Indigo simply continued forward, "I would imagine so, but we'll know for sure tomorrow." Once they were back in the colony, she sent the pair up to the treehouse, "Get on ready for bed you two, we'll be getting an early start tomorrow, and I have to arrange for someone to care for Lilac while we're gone."

@Emerald Heart Well, if this is open to anyone (Given it was announced in all my threads), here's some of my favorites: https://mlpforums.com/topic/142290-a-cultural-exchange-1x1-with-randimaxis/ (Which has already been story adapted here: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/325624/a-cultural-exchange) https://mlpforums.com/topic/137156-a-personal-letter-for-the-one-i-have-wronged-1x1-rp-with-illiad-easle/ https://mlpforums.com/topic/197030-ponyville-weather-team/ https://mlpforums.com/topic/180332-deep-science-1x1-with-blitz-boom/ https://mlpforums.com/topic/193347-the-æther-project/

(OOC Thread: https://mlpforums.com/topic/198041-another-cultural-exchange/page/3/) @Skylight Scintillate It was cold, dark, and quiet in the Shimmerwood forest, which suited the thestrals that called it home just fine. Most of them, that was. Nova had always thought that the forest was a little too cold, too dark, and too quiet, and had made it his mission in life to correct at least one of those things, as was in his power. At the present, he was sat at the edge of the clearing where the road through the forest entered the area where the clan had built their houses in the trees above. This was the road where the mail was delivered by the carrier, to then be distributed to those in the clan who had business receiving mail, and today Nova hoped to be one of those ponies, as he had hoped every day since he first sent in his application to the cultural exchange. This was something everyone in the clan was well aware of, given Nova's propensity to tell anyone who came close enough for him to engage in conversation, leading many to simply avoid the colt, lest they risk being chosen as his new conversation partner. At the moment, he was simply talking to himself, thinking of all the possible creatures he could be paired with, and all the possible places they could be from, compiling an exhaustive list of them and ranking them as he went in an effort to figure out which possibility he was MOST excited for. Unfortunately, he wasn't very methodical about it, so often had the same combination come up for evaluation, and would frequently lose track of where he was, thus needing to start over. When he stopped, those who had grown used to the chatter turned to see who, or what, they ought to thank for their relief from the noise. They found their relief momentary as Nova cheered: "He's here! The mail is here!" The mailpony was well used to Nova's antics, and was happy to see Nova this time, "Well look who it is, how are you doing Nova?" "Do you have a letter for me?" The mailpony raised an eyebrow, "That doesn't answer my question." Nova shook his head, "Of course it does, if you have a letter for me then I'm doing great! Otherwise... I'm okay I guess." The mailpony chuckled, "Well, today you're in luck, because I do have a letter for you!" Nova bounced in place as he waited for the mailpony to retrieve his letter, snatching it from his hoof as soon as it was clear of the bag, his smile somehow growing wider as he saw who it was from, "YES! IT CAME! Thank you mister mailpony!" He then took off back towards his home without waiting for the mailpony to respond, who simply chuckled to themselves as they went about putting the rest of the clan's mail into the proper recepticles. Nova wasted no time showing the letter to his mother, indicating that he had been accepted to the cultural exchange program and paired with a bat pony in Canterlot, a combination he had not considered in his earlier list. He had heard of bat ponies living in Canterlot from his father who worked there, but he never thought they would be interested in something like this given how disinterested everyone here had been. Still, with his mother's help, he set out to write his introductory letter: Dear Scotia, Hiya! I'm Nova Fastar, I live in the Fastar clan's primary settlement in the heart of the Shimmerwood forest west of Las Pegasus, north of Archback, and south of Griffonstone. I'm a thestral pony, which is like a bat pony, but more bat-like I guess? I don't have my mark yet, but most of the other thestrals my age don't either, so I'm not worried. I hope it will be for something cool, like adventuring, even if my teachers say I should focus on more useful skills like woodworking. Anyway, I'm excited to get to know you and learn what it's like living in Canterlot! I've heard so much about it from my dad, he's the head of the Canterlot City Night Guard, maybe you've met him already? Excitedly, Nova Given his speed and excitement, he was able to get the written letter back to the mailpony before they left the clearing, ensuring that he would get a response at the earliest possible opportunity. Much to the chagrin of the other members of the clan, he seemed intent to wait by the mailbox again for said response to arrive. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scotia would receive a notification from the Cultural Exchange program stating her acceptance and informing her that she had been paired with Nova Fastar, a young thestral colt from the Fastar Clan. It would instruct her to watch for a letter from him and to respond in kind when it arrives. She would receive receive Nova's letter the very next day.

Looks like some ponies here are interested in this coming back! For those of you who don't know what A Cultural Exchange is, I'd invite you to take a look at the original thread: Or at the story that was created as a result of the most successful rendition of it: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/325624/a-cultural-exchange In short, I invite you to explore the world I've made, and I extend the same courtesy to you. Do you have a character you'd like to explore? A situation? A nation? A world? Let me know, and I'll help you out. Active threads: With Skylight Scintillate With Courageous Thunder Dash

@@Blitz Boom (OOC Thread) It had been a rather normal day for Null and Void, for once they were beginning to feel, something, in this town of theirs. Acceptance, maybe a sense of belonging? Whatever it was, they finally felt like they didn't need to be so on the run anymore. The two of them sat on a hill that overlooked the town at sunset, it was a truly tranquil moment. Void was peacefully asleep in the grass while Null was up, keeping watch, she thought to herself, an old habit from a time now further behind them. Null found herself doing something she had not done in a very long time, smiling. It wasn't a big one to be certain, in fact anyone who didn't know her would never even know she was smiling, but she knew it in her heart. It was at that very moment, the minuscule moment when she let her guard down, when it all went wrong. Though honestly one can't exactly prepare for a large portal opening in front of them. Less for what they saw on the other side. Through the portal was a room, so white it almost gleamed, though that was secondary to the all too familiar looking grey robed figures that dashed through it, and the pair of darts that struck the two of them. Void, having only barely been woken up by the portal quickly fell back asleep as the dart, a purely chemical rather than magical reaction, did it's job. Null did not fare much better as the Grey enforcers subdued her drugged form using her own weak points against her. Whoever had sent them clearly knew them well. She was only vaguely aware that some sort of harness was strapped around her midsection, a powerful humming, then darkness. ... A. Clave Bunsen scratched his small beard thoughtfully as he watched the enforcers drag his newest test subjects to the portal. He had heard of their rare abilities to nullify even the most powerful of magics, and knew the benefit it would bring to all of Equis if it could be replicated. The only problem was getting them to his lab. Which is where the portal came in, but bringing non magical creatures through a magical portal? That was what he was testing. The harnesses were designed as a counter, a shield specifically against anti-magic called the Re-Generator. And here was it's first test. Whether said field could contain the reversed field long enough to get them through? As the enforcers dragged the limp bodies, now much heavier due to the harnesses, the portal seemed to shimmer as the field came near, in the center it started to waver rather drastically, but it held long enough before finally snapping closed. Bunsen smiled as he looked down at the smoking harnesses around the two mares now in his lab. Sure it had bisected two of the enforcers and left another pair very deep in Equestrian territory, but he had his prize. Some time later... Null and Void wake up in another stark white room strapped down barrel up to exam tables with their legs, and wing in the case of Null spread out.

@@Blitz Boom Here's the OOC thread, you already know the premise. Null and Void have been abducted by a secret science organization, now they look to escape. Here's the RP Thread!