Illiad Easle

@Blitz Boom (Null) Ardee matched the strength of Null's expression. There was a fire there, that Ardee would fight her for it if she had to. Grey Mare raised an eyebrow, but otherwise her face betrayed no emotion as she nodded, "Very well." She wasn't bleeding, much, just a few scratches here and there, and a bit where she had amateurishly stabbed the stolen feather into her own wing. She wouldn't fight Null if she wanted to take it out. That being said, Ardee did have a number of bruises forming, most especially around her wing joints, where her wings met her body. Signs that she had extremely overexerted her wings, further demonstrated by how they hung more or less limply at her sides. The rest of her bruises were around her barrel where Basher had struck her. (I don't know if that's enough to stop Null or not. I'll respond to the rest just in case.) Ardee looked confused by Null's comment, and a bit angry, "What are you talking about? I don't have a mark, I'm a... " she looked at her flank, " just a..." She looked again, and most of the fire went out of her as she really saw it. " a... a..." She shifted as best as she could to see it better, tears coming to her eyes as she touched it with a hoof, as though to check that it wasn't just a sticker or drawn on. "I... I..." Her hoof fell to the ground. "It... I... I did it." The tears flowed freely with silent shuddering breaths. Arcade arrived, well out of breath, but he was otherwise uninjured, at least visibly. It took him a few attempts to get his voice back before he quietly asked, "How is she? What happened?" Once the fox arrived, Ardee wouldn't stop it from approaching her, or even climbing on her, and would in fact welcome it, as overwhelmed as she was. Maybe it had some ways it could heal her body a bit while she recovered emotionally from the experiences? Sooth was actually one of the ponies that were being screened for interacting with the clones, and as such she had been told a bit about Teal, Toupé, and Elef, namely that they had experienced loosing those close to them on several occasions, as well as what could be described as an abusive childhood, though many of the specific details were not yet shared with her at this time. So, Sooth had a basis to say that all of the young ponies had at least that in common. That being said, most of them looked confused about many of the more complicated words that Sooth had used, including Gypsum who, as Sooth was informed, spoke Equish as a second language. She offered some suggestions as to how Sooth could adjust what she planned to speak on, "Maybe it would help the pups if you spoke more simply? This one was just teaching them about how marks are different for different creatures, and that the process and meaning is different for different ponies. What you do helps ponies to understand themselves, yes? Maybe you could teach how understanding self helps in gaining and understanding a mark? One pup here recently got their mark, and I am told that others are worried that they may not get marks, were told they would not." She said this quietly to Sooth, so as to not share this with the students, who were curious to see what Sooth would teach them.

@Evil Pink One Fuoco acted quickly, once the alicorns were asleep she could open her throat node again, and with a shrill whistle a ring of fire dispelled all the shadows in her vicinity. She would move out of the city walls where the only shadow near her would be her own, so as to minimize the shadowmancer's avenues for attack, and to continue with her goal of stopping the refugees from being brought into the city, given it was growing more and more clear that this place had been breached. Blu snorted as he set up his weapon, everything had happened as he had predicted, albeit at a much faster timeframe than he had expected. Cleary this place had already been infiltrated, and he had been right not to trust what looked like too pristine a setup. How much of it was just a facade remained to be seen. Nonetheless, he wasn't about to watch as someone he had denounced as a tyrant killed the one he was looking forward to bringing to proper justice. He prepared his weapon, the range was closer, and due to the lack of time the shot would be less powerful than when he had killed the previous alicorn. He was also going for a body shot this time to increase the chance of hitting the moving target, depending on how still Alpha could hold. But, given Flurry was smaller than the previous alicorn, and drained by Fuoco's trap, even a reduced power body shot could prove fatal. Against all Tyrants... Blu took the shot, and hoped his perception of the situation was correct. He was aiming for Flurry, center of mass. The bullet passing through Alpha in the process was likely, but acceptable given how easily she seemed to recover from injuries.

@Skylight Scintillate Nova looked a bit placated at that thought, "Maybe, I think that would be nice." Nova looked unsure, "Well, I mean, most of the stories we are told are just like, those stories with lessons from my parents, and every so often a chronicler will come to our colony from the central village to tell us all stories from our past, like, things that our ancestors did that we can learn from. I think they will be coming one of the days that you'll be there actually." Nova felt the beds, but shook his head, "No, it's... different. This is nicer than the floor though, but a hammock is more... touchy? I don't know how to explain it other than that a hammock, at least for me, is like being hugged all over. It's comforting in a way. This is nice in a different way, I like how it feel cool and soft, without being cold." Nova looked in the direction of the brightening sky, squinting a bit, "We'll have to go get my sunglasses, but unless there's something you forgot to show me I think we can come back later? I think I'd like to see a bunch of different stuff today, then we can go back to the coolest stuff afterwards?"

@Blitz Boom I totally get it, I'm actually on a family trip at the moment. If you want to just put your initial reactions in the ooc, that will hold me over until you can write a proper response. But no worries if that isn't possible.

@Randimaxis And then I come in, saying something suitably relevant. (That makes three waiting for your return)

So nothing is on fire then? How is Flurry awake already after having been drained of all her energy by the trap song?

@Evil Pink One I'm confused as to the sequence of events, it is unclear what events have still happened and what events have no longer happened. Can you recap the sequence of events and the present state of things?

@Skylight Scintillate Nova looked a bit uncomfortable at the thought of causing work for his hosts, "Maybe the blankets would work? I don't want to be a bother." He did seem excited by that idea, "That would be cool!" Nova seemed surprised, "You've met both Princess Luna AND one of the Elements of Harmony?!" He looked down, "I wish cool ponies like that would come out to where I live." Nova shrugged, "I guess? I mean, ponies regularly walk up and down Archback Mountain, but I had to take a train to get up here, so maybe?" Nova looked disappointed to hear that they weren't real, "Oh, then they're like story characters? I've hard about things like that from the ponies at Archback, but in Mohotma and in the colony it's all mostly historical accounts, nothing cool like that." He seemed reinvigorated by that thought. "Huh," Seeing the example helped him understand that it was more of a snack, and a convenient way to move the food, rather than a formal method, "I guess that makes sense, with so many ponies here it's be hard to have them all sit to eat together like we do in the colony." Nova looked very nervous at being talked to by an adult, "Um... no... I don't think so.... I'm just visiting..." He wanted to go join Speckle, but he was taught to never leave if an adult was talking to him, so he stayed put until the adult told him to do something or left him alone.

@Blitz Boom (Null) If she heard her, she didn't show any reaction. It would likely surprise her to find Ardee glaring at her, "He's not your captive. He's mine." It was probably just the adrenalin talking there, right? Basher winced as Ardee pressed the blade closer, "I didn't hear an answer." "I... I yield." Ardee relaxed a bit, and Basher started to move, but he didn't get far before something dark struck him and he fell unconscious, "I'll take it from here." Behind Null stood the Grey Mare, looking at though she had been there the whole time, but Ardee moved on the defensive, "And who are you? Another lacky?" Grey Mare simply shook her head, "I'm not here to take your glory or your prize. You've earned that much. There's a steep bounty on that stallion, one your friend here has been working hard to collect. I'm here to pay it, unless you'd rather take care of him yourself?" Ardee looked conflicted, but calmed, "No, you can have him, and you can give her the reward, I don't need it. I got what I need out of this." Grey Mare nodded, and two others landed nearby to collect Basher as Ardee moved over towards Null, they could see Arcade running towards them, but he was still a ways off. Grey Mare spoke softly to Null before leaving, "Come by the judgement hall later to make it official, whenever is convenient." Ardee was content to be quiet until she fully recovered from the exertion, unless Null spoke to her, but if Null looked, likely as part of checking her for injuries, she'd find something interesting on Ardee's flank. (Cherish) The introduction of a new pony to the classroom made all but one of the ponies present curious, with Nova being more suspicious and defensive. (Looks like you named her Sooth Sayer at the bottom of 53) The guardians of Nova and Lilac had brought Nova in to see Sooth before, but she hadn't been able to get much out of him other than that he was only concerned with protecting his sister. If Lilac wasn't involved he wasn't interested, and being separated from her, like he was brought to her, made him agitated and anxious. Seeing her here made him suspicious, he moved a bit closer to Lilac, who affectionately leaned against him unaware of his feelings towards the guest speaker. Still, the promise of a guest got the ponies eating faster and soon they were back in their seats ready for the lesson to continue. Gypsum would bring Cherish's mom up to the front before addressing the class, "This is Sooth Sayer, she is a pony who helps ponies solve problems and answer questions about themselves. Today she is going to teach us something that she has prepared. Please treat her as you would Gypsum, and pay close attention."

@Blitz Boom (Null) Basher snorted at that, "Hardly. She signed the nine of us on as mercenaries to do a job in exchange for a pardon." He held one of the plated feathers where she could see it, "See this? Minostralium. Has a whole range of benefits when ingested or attached to the magic pathways. I don't know how it works, that was Doc and Engi's business. All I know is it makes me faster and stronger, and Celestia wanted us to get a whole bunch of it for her. Then once we returned she had a whole legion try to execute us. She never planned to pardon us." He sighed, "It's a shame, that Miss Pauling she used as a liaison was a real looker." He got serious again, "Maybe you can get more info out of Heavy, if you can understand anything he says. Now then, what'll it be?" He stuck the feathers he recovered back in his wings, rejuvenating a bit with a shudder, "Work for me? O-" *thhhik!* An arrow lodged itself in Basher's wither, on the side that he was holding Null down, the leg went limp and Basher started to fall before he lifted himself up with his wings, turning to face- If Null looked back towards the figure she had seen approaching earlier, she'd now recognize it as Ardee, now approaching on hoof with her wingblades ready. Her bow discarded on the ground a short distance away. She jumped at Basher then used her wings to spin her body in the air so that her rear hooves were now the point of her attack, striking Basher's chest as he turned to face her. She used the kick to bounce off of him, using her wings to spin in a tight arc to strike him again, this time from above. Again she used the reversal to strike with her hind legs. She prepped for a third strike but Basjer was ready for her this time, dodging out of the way as Ardee struck the ground instead with a tumble. "Didn't expect you here, after all I told you I-" A knife flew past, a small one, close enough to cut his cheek. Ardee had thrown it. "Your words are why I'm here. I'm not living under any more shadows." She quickly launched back into combat. It was clear that while she wasn't the most experienced, she was a good brawler in the air, leveraging her superior speed to make dozens of quick attacks and slashes without letting Basher touch her. And soon it was clear why: She had stolen one of Basher's plated feathers, likely in her first or second strike. That, combined with her more youthful physique and the fact that Basher had already expended his energy running and fighting Null, made him more susceptible to her attacks. But even then, something was wrong. It was clear to Null that Basher wasn't fighting Ardee as hard as he had fought her. She saw several openings that Basher did not exploit, and strikes that he had obviously pulled. Ardee would eventually gain the upper hoof, grappling Basher with a wing blade to his neck while panting, "ye.... yield." (If you feel like it, you can have Null try and step in at any time before this. I just want to make clear that Ardee couldn't normally take Null in a fight, much less Basher, but a combination of factors gives her the advantage here, the primary one being that Basher doesn't really want to hurt Ardee like he didn't mind hurting Null.) (Cherish) Nova didn't look to sure, and simply shrugged. Gypsum picked up the topic though, "That is a good example, and both of you are thanked for sharing. That is an important point, unlike other creatures, there is not a set time when a pony mark appears. Many times it happens when young, like other creatures, but a mark can appear much later in life, though rare. Many ponies can have the same mark, though it is rare for it to mean the same thing for all of them. And like Cherish shared, having a mark does not mean one knows for sure what it means. Like with deer, it is the start of understanding, rather than a culmination." She nodded, "Now, unless there are questions? Gypsum thinks it is time for lunch, then we will have a pony visitor talk more about marks. Since they know more than this one." (Cherish can ask a question, or we can proceed to lunch. This is also an opportunity for you to do some teaching in a small capacity. Maybe Cherish's guardian, the therapist, could come in to speak?) (Also, here's Toupé's mark)

@Evil Pink One Fuoco shook her head, "I can't stop it. And they won't be harmed. Once they pass out it will stop." Seeing weapons pointed at her triggered something within Fuoco, the fire within her rising, "I had to stop them before they could hurt anyone. And I did. They will emerge unharmed, and so long as they do not threaten anyone the lesson will not need to be repeated." She moved into a defensive position. While she wasn't a good fighter she was pretty fast on her hooves when it came to dodging. "If some mage here can deafen them, that will also stop it." (This will depend on which side of Fuoco her shadow is. If her shadow is behind her, then this will work, but if her shadow is in front of her she will be able to dodge given she is on alert.) Fuoco's attention was more on the guards, though she would move to retreat, "We have to warn the others, they aren't safe here." Blu, watching from outside, would simply nod, "Yeah, there it is. Happened much faster than I thought." He again turned to put some distance between himself and the fire, I'm not in a position to fix the societal faults caused by ineffectual leaders. Once it all burns down maybe I can help rebuild a better society out of what remains." Blu would look for some sort of overlook with a good vantage point, close enough that he could return if/when things calmed down, but far enough that he'd have time to escape if things got worse.

@Skylight Scintillate Nova looked a bit embarrassed, "Well, um, I haven't done it before, I've only ever sat on a cloud before, I just thought it might be more comfortable than the bag being on the floor. Back home we sleep in hammocks, which is different." He looked confused at how wearing something could be more comfortable than wearing nothing. He had never really been one to wear clothes though, so maybe this was just a Canterlot thing? He did nod at her question, "Yeah, that is cool. Are there any thestrals or bat ponies in the Wonderbolts?" Nova was surprised by her sudden burst of speed, but found it east to keep up with her once he got going, not even shaken off by her sudden turns as her attention jumped from subject to subject on the tour. Nova also didn't know what a bank was, but appreciated that it was some sort of job that Speckle's family did for the group. Nova looked curious, "Pinkie Pie? The Element of Laughter? What does Laughter have to do with music? But, um, if we're allowed, I'd like to go." Nova looked more comfortable here, "Wow! you can really see a long way away from here! Actually..." He squinted towards the southwest, "Over there, I think that mountain is Archback. It looks so small from over here... I guess Canterlot is on a taller mountain." Nova looked especially confused there, "Power Ponies? I've never heard of them, are they like the Elements of Harmony? Or... um... could you tell me more?" Nova nodded at that, "I hope I get to see Princess Luna up close. I've heard so much about her, everyone in my clan look up to her." Nova was curious, "On a stick? Why not on a plate? Wouldn't putting the fish on a stick make it harder to cook and eat? Or do you eat the stick too?" Outside of the questions he had asked along the way, he nodded, "Well, maybe not so much a question, but... it's so busy here, so many ponies all over all the time. I think there's more ponies here than in all of Archback, Mohotma, and the colonies combined. It's just... a lot to take in, how are you so used to it?"

@Evil Pink One As the song hijacks the throat node, neither alicorn would be able to speak as they are forced to continue the song. Fuoco, having to close her own throat node, would of necessity have already stopped playing. Also, since Blu and Fuoco are both present, if you're doing mind altering aspects on one you'll have to describe what the other is seeing as well, or somehow also subject the other to the same alteration.

@Evil Pink One Blu snorted, "What part of: 'lock her up and give her a fair trial' indicates that I forgave her? I never said she was innocent, just that she deserves a proper trial, like you do. I said she was more useful alive than dead and that she might not be guilty, but that isn't forgiveness. Besides, forgiveness is earned. Flurry has acted as a tyrant and will be treated as one until she demonstrates that she is not." Blu motioned, "See? It's already started. Flurry is too concerned with revenge to even let her own stated punishment stand because it didn't have the effect she wanted." Blu would continue, but Fuoco started to play, hijacking the alicorns' throat nodes with the same simple ostinato that she had used on the alicorn in the Everfree. As it would draw all of the alicorns' magic into itself, making the song self sustaining within them, it would undo any magic effects that either alicorn was keeping active, like protection spells or control spells. Given there were two of them, even if one managed to stop the other would cause it to start again, and so close together it would also drain any active magic cast on them. Should an alicorn hear it or any others with a developed throat node, say, through mental projection, they would also fall under its effect, though Fuoco would be unaware. The side effect being that Fuoco would have to keep her throat node closed until the alicorn collapsed, meaning that she couldn't use any other magic while the alicorn was incapacitated. Unlike the previous occasion though, Fuoco didn't have a group to back her up, no plan beyond disabling the attacking alicorn, the reactions of those around her would determine what happened next. Blu was surprised by the development, "Well shoot, if I knew alicorns could be disabled by sound... maybe this will play out differently." He stopped his departure to watch what came next.

@Evil Pink One Blu snorted, "It hardly surprises me that you would support slavery on top of murdering foals. But I had hoped there was something worth saving here. But no, this place deserves what it got, rotten to the core as it is. As for Cozy, if she is truly my property then harming her would be an attack against me, and would reveal Flurry to be a murderer and a hypocrite, two common traits for a tyrant, they suit her well. If she is not my property then Flurry is a liar, a third common trait for tyrants. In either case I'll have no part in it. I gave her an out, she could have locked her in a tower or a dungeon, but she chose this out death instead. I'm going to find somewhere to watch how it all goes down." He stopped, and turned to face Alpha, "Actually, why don't I tell you how this goes down. First, Flurry executes Cozy despite her words because Flurry cares far more about revenge than being a good leader. The guards see that Flurry is fallible and just as likely to kill them should they make a mistake. They follow through fear and plot a coup. The enemy exploits this dissension in the guard, some fall in with them to secure their lives, selling themselves into slavery to save themselves. This city falls and everyone is subjugated. Flurry finds out that Cozy was telling the truth, and that she murdered her only friend over a misunderstanding, then kills herself out of shame after realizing that her quest for revenge lost her everything." "I meanwhile will watch, and wait. Maybe she'll come to her senses before this all plays out and send someone to beg for my help, but know this: If Cozy dies, so to dies any chance that I will help any pony who follows Flurry." He turned away again, eyes scanning the horizon, "I help those who deserve it, and Flurry does not deserve my help." (Blu is far enough away and speaking softly enough that it would be difficult for anyone else to hear him other than Fuoco and Alpha being the closest. But if the alicorns have superior hearing then they might hear him too if they cared to.) Fuoco only partially heard what Blu said to Alpha, but the words she did hear struck something inside her, "A... tyrant... alicorn...?" Her eyes focused on Flurry. If Flurry struck Cozy, or acted too agressive towards anyone present, she would use her incapacitation song like she had on the alicorn in the Everfree, locking both Cozy and Flurry into an energy draining note while she struggled to figure out what to do next. If Flurry calmed, then Fuoco would calm a bit too, but would still be especially wary of her despite having seen her before given the trauma she endured at the hooves of the alicorn in the Everfree.

@Evil Pink One (Blu) Blu raised an eyebrow at that, though his face showed disappointment. Blu did not deign her question with a response. He nodded, "Indeed it did. Enjoy your imminent subjugation." With that he turned and left the way he had come, intending to leave the city. Given they were just five steps from the gates, it should prove an easy task. If the gates were closed, well, they would soon open for the new arrivals. (Assuming they both arrived at the empire from the same side, which I think is fair given how northerly the empire is.) Blu would simply walk out when the gates were opened to let in Fuoco and Tiara. (Fuoco) (This does assume quite a bit, I can rewrite if you want things to not happen this way.) Fuoco would pay the blue colt little mind as she entered the city, though she would stop immediately when she saw not one, but two alicorns present (Again, since the confrontation was set just inside the gates). She seemed frozen, the emotions behind her eyes swaying between terror and fury as she contemplated what to do. (If instead they enter through a different gate) (Blu) Blu would ask for the gate to be opened to let him out, citing that he had left something important outside that would be dangerous for anyone but him to handle. (Fuoco) Fuoco would nod, but was on high alert. Things seemed too peaceful here, too calm for all of the anxiety in the guards. Fuoco didn't react to the hooded figure's sudden presence, she could have easily teleported in. She didn't know the customs here and was not about to risk sounding an alarm if nothing was apparently wrong.

@Evil Pink One Are you going to edit it to fix the issue? Like I said, Blu's response depends on the guards'.

@Evil Pink One You got it backwards, a guard raising a hoof would be supporting Flurry, since Blu asked who supports slavery. I phrased it that way at that the guards couldn't remain inactive and still support her. Blu's response will depend on how many guards show active support for Flurry's slavery decree.

@Evil Pink One Considering many of the Crystal Guards would remember or have heard about life under Sombra, I imagine most would have a pretty negative view of slavery. I'm actually surprised you went with that to be honest, though I was tempted to have Blu be less aggressive and simply demand compensation for property damage after Flurry hit Cozy. Then again, he still might get that chance depending on how things play out.

@Evil Pink One (Blu) Blu looked shocked at that, as well as a bit indignant. His expression grew furious at that. "Absa-bucking-lutely NOT!" He was tempted to strike her himself, but settled for turning his attention to those present, "Show of hooves, who here approves of slavery? Because I don't. And I'm not going to stick around if that's how things are done here." (You'll need to decide if Flurry continues as you planned, or if Blu's rebuke has any effect.) (Fuoco) (Wasn't she the mayor of Ponyville?) Fuoco waved them off, "I'm unharmed. We're the forward scouts for our group, save your resources for those who need it. Starlight sent us to find and connect with groups outside Ponyville, and we've brought with us a group of ponies who need aid more than we do. They should be arriving shortly if they haven't been attacked in our absense."

@Blitz Boom (Null) Once he hit the sunlight he tossed the orb behind him, where it disappeared in a blinding flash. He took advantage of that to dodge Null's tackle and down the last of his flask before dropping it as well. "Woo hoo hoo! Let's go, you and me." He would prove especially nimble in close quarters, keeping in the air to leave Null disadvantaged as she didn't have much experience brawling in the air, evading her strikes with ease while getting some jabs in of his own. "Pow, I make this look easy. That all you got? Are you even trying?" He seemed to start slowing down, the effects of his potion starting to wear off. Null would get one good hit in before Basher got serious, "Party's over pally." A series of quick strikes to the back and wings put Null on the ground, chest down, with Basher holding her down, "Lotta good the Grey did ya. Here's a better deal: You work for me instead." Basher would move to retrieve his feathers from under Null's beret, From her position Null could see someone approaching fast and low heading right for them. (School) Miss Gypsum nodded, "Very good, thankyou for sharing. Would you like to share what your mark means to you? Or what you were doing when you got it?" Weather she shared her not, Gypsum would turn her attention over to Nova, who looked slightly confused, "You would like to share, yes?" "Well, I was taught that, while you earn your mark by doing something, it isn't so much that that action defines you, but rather reminds you of when you figured out who you were and who you wanted to be? I mean, having a mark in something doesn't make you the best at it, and it doesn't mean that it is what you are best at, but rather it's what fulfills you?" He shrugged, "Maybe it's different for thestrals." Gypsum nodded, "It is possible yes, this one is less familiar with thestrals than with ponies." (We'll have cherish add more if she wants and react to Nova's contribution before moving on.)

(Blu) Blu's expression hardened, "That you would execute her without trial or due process is reason enough. However, I'll give you 4 more reasons: Cozy's actions were the result of manipulation by one she trusted. She believed she was acting in your best interest. We're in the middle of a war, and we can't afford to lose any potential allies. She has information on the enemy that would be lost with her death. She owes me her life and I intend to see that debt repaid." If Flurry looked sufficiently placated by those answers he would continue, "While her actions may yet warrant her execution, she deserves a fair trial. As now is hardly the time for a trial to be conducted in a fair and just manner it is in our better interests for her to be useful in the meantime, either in defense or in information. If you do not trust her for defense or to move freely, and given what I've heard I don't blame you, then put her under guard until such time as you do trust her, or a proper trial can be held." (Fuoco) Fuoco raised an eyebrow, "It's good that you want to do your part, but be careful who you indebt yourself to. All I expect from you ponies is respect, not favors, not power, not obligation. If you fight, don't do it because you feel you owe it. Fight for those who deserve it."

@Blitz Boom I'm more than a little disappointed that Null didn't respond to my favorite line: (I say more in a "darn, I thought that would be more impactful" sort of way, but maybe Null has other things to worry about?) I'll do my post sometime tomorrow if you want to add something, I guess she can consider this internally later or ask someone else.

(Blu) Blu really considered what he was about to do, and really hoped it wasn't about to bite him in the flank, but he was betting that between the changeling cloak and Flurry not wanting to be seen murdering a young pony in front of her guards, he should emerge unscathed. He stood between Cozy and Flurry, more symbolically than anything given their relative sizes, but standing on his hind legs would help a bit even if it was a bit more precarious than he would have liked. Despite wobbling he fixed his gaze on Flurry, "No. You want her, you go through me." (Fuoco) Fuoco let out a long tired sigh, "I watched my family die, you know, before I came here. There's a certainty in that, but there's no hope. Our team may be missing, but that means they may yet be alive, and in the mean time we have this village to save. We can stop, turn back, and look for them. Put everyone at risk to make certain of their deaths. Or we can continue, get these ponies to safety, and hope that they will one day return." She looked over at Tiara, "I am sad that Misty is missing, I can only fear that she was abducted in the night. I understand that this whole experience is new for you all. You've never suffered loss of this magnitude or frequency before. I've lived it, and I hope to help as many of you as I can to survive it better than I have, so you don't end up like me." Fuoco nodded, "I'll go as well."

(Blu) For once, Blu didn't have any notes, and simply nodded, "Sounds like a plan. We'll meet you on the inside then." He would look over at Cozy, "Well, we can play up my young stature, say you rescued me? As for the stuff I'm carrying, we can say they used to belong to my parents, who didn't make it. That should be enough for them to not look too closely, nor question why I wouldn't want to be separated from them." He would nod, stowing his stuff carefully for the journey and to hide his weapons from plain view. Neither the pistol nor the rifle should be recognizable to anyone who hadn't seen them in action as weapons, but adjusting some of the pieces would further obfuscate the rifle's purpose. "Let's get moving then, I hope it's warmer in there than it is out here." (Fuoco) Once everyone was moving Fuoco would look for a cart near the back with enough room for her to sit in. She was more effective with magic if she didn't have to move, since it would free up her hooves to play the flute, but if one was not available close enough to the back she would be content to walk. When Tiara approached Fuoco simply made eye contact and raised an eyebrow, "Need something?"