purple.teal

@ "A few, first how long do you plan on this trip taking? I suppose this was a question better asked before leaving, but oh well. Second, actually not much of a question, just something that bothers me. In Starswirl's notes, he mentioned the reward for alicorns taking this trip would be to become divine. I've been under the assumption that they were so already. Have I missed something?" Everlast paused for an answer and put the maps back into his pack. This sounds exactly like the kind of trip Sunny would take us on. She was always after power, and to potentially be granted her greatest desire... I can't decide if that would be something I would want to see. Everlast sighed. Where is she now? he sighed again Why do I still care for someone who I know would have thrown us away in a heartbeat if she found it profitable?

Everlast heard the marching order and put his pack on, keeping out a few maps. In the small space he slept in, he piled all the artifacts he wanted and then thought about charming them, but didn't want to possibly ruin anything by leaving his aura smudges all over, so he left them. @ He walked toward Raze and began to unroll the maps. "Sir, if you have time, I was wondering if you could take a look at these and tell me if any of them match the map you have. In addition, if you don't mind divulging, I would like to know everything you know about the trip ahead."

Everlast awoke on a hard floor and laid there for a few seconds until he remembered where he was. He rolled over and into the pile of papers he went through last night. He got up a little groggy and began putting all of the notes he thought could be useful in his pack. I'll be back for the rest. Now that I know where this is. I'll grab it all on the return trip. So much knowledge, how did one wizard have enough time for all of this? Wasn't there three alicorns in this party? I'll interview the last one later. I've got time it seems and I've made progress.

@@Lightning Bliss "You said your father was there? He was there at the time of your ascension? What is his name?" Everlast quickly flipped through the pages of the tome, then turned to the smaller notebook and did the same. After repeating this process a few times, flipping back and forth through the pages, he closed the books, stacked them neatly by the pile of Starswirl's relics he collected, and got up. "Well, If today, only our first day on the road is any indication of what is to come, we are going to need our rest. So, if you don't mind, I will take my leave now." With that, Everlast returned to his space in the lab and laid down. He reached for a paper in the pile and began to glance through Starswirl's notes, thinking more of his own research than whatever may be on the ancient report in front of him. 'Four powers and then a fifth. Three fives and then the one.' I hate it when numbers don't add up. Getting closer at least. Think, I didn't even know there were more beyond the four ruling alicorn princesses... And today, I find myself in the presence of three more. This may add up to something after all. Four powers, I already assume that would be the four princess rulers, each with their own seat of power... If I just keep patching the new ones in there over time... Definitely getting closer.

@@Lightning Bliss "I was wondering If you could tell me about yourself as an alicorn, Mainly, how it all began. Today you stand before me as the princess of peace. Forgive me for eavesdropping, but I overheard you mention marriage to a dragon in a time of crisis. Would you mind telling me more of that time?"

Everlast followed the others into the statues secret base, and as they prepared their bedrolls, he admired the surroundings and began levitating Starswirl's artifacts to himself. A great and powerful wizard... We are going to see what he saw. Something he saw fit to die for apparently. @@Lightning Bliss, Setting the artifacts aside for a second, he grabbed his own two books and walked toward Bliss. I should probably start with her before she falls asleep. "My lady, Might I ask you a few questions before we sleep? If you are tired from today I will understand and push no further tonight."

@ "Alright. I think that will be all I need for now. Thank you for your time." He seems to fit the bill perfectly, does he know? does he keep it secret intentionally, or does he not understand fully? @@Lightning Bliss After hearing mention of someone hurting, Everlast looked up then remembered who he was with. he saw the rainbow alicorn lift off and he saw the leg. Not a great wound. Still something. Perhaps... Everlast sent a thin tendril of his aura creeping toward her, seemingly undetected by the others. When it latched it to her leg, Everlast transferred the wound and pain into himself, curing her without notice. Everlast stumbled a little as he began to suffer a hurting leg. He released Bliss from his magic and began to diffuse the pain into the ether.

@, Everlast trotted up beside Blaze, ignoring and cutting off another argument from the aggressive pegasus. Both books now hovering in front of him. "How did you learn to control the fire the way you do. Understandably it possibly could be done with a few spells or whatnot. By what I see, you are not using any magic. It seems to be done internally in a sense." Everlast paused in his question to flip through a few pages in the elaborately bound book. "How did you become an alicorn, If you were an alicorn from birth, might I know the names of your parents?"

@ "Alright. It seems we are all in travelling condition, Is anyone not?" Turning to Raze, "I believe our best interests lie with pushing on. Of course, if you think a rest would be necessary, I will not be one to argue." After saying his piece, Everlast walked over to the small burn made in the forest, opened up his satchel, pulled out the notebook and started reading and looking at the patch. @ Turning to the one he saw cause the fire, "If you don't mind, may I ask you a few questions about you and fire?"

Everlast crawled out from his hiding place. COWARD! COWARD! Internally screaming at himself he looked around and was figured he wasn't noticed. He saw some of the party tending to their wounds and sighed. The part I CAN take care of and they don't need me for it. What am I doing? Attempting to relive the "good ol' days"? I'm past prime. An old man who will slow them down. What skills I do have, they don't need me for. They have that covered. And I don't think they would be pleased if they realized they had a necromancer within the group. Sighing once more, Everlast made his way toward the group where the pegasus was getting into another argument.

IT'S TF2. The hype is always real!

Everlast looked at the two young ponies fighting in the air, shook his head and chuckled. Were we ever like that? Wishing to stop the fighting, but being unable to go up to them, Everlast grabbed them both by the mane with his magic and dragged them down to the ground. He turned first to the princess. "You may not have started this, but you are not innocent, You used words first, I don't blame you for that. However, you did eventually revert to violence. A princess of peace may not be required to hold her temper all the time, but if you face all problems like this, there may be problems with you being able to claim being a princess of peace." Then he turned to the instigator. "You also used words first, but your words were meant to hurt just as much as the physical damage you may have dealt afterwords. You have to understand that you will not always be the best. I am not saying that her being an Alicorn or a princess makes her better than you, but the fact that she was able to civilly integrate herself into our band of travelling compatriots does. I understand your caution and fear of your homeland being destroyed, but caution unfounded is paranoia. And that, causes problems." After his little lecture, Everlast let them both go. "Looks like your commotion brought us more friends."

"Alright then," Everlast rose from his sitting position, "We have a chance to find the final resting place of the great wizard Starswirl the Bearded, in addition to finding what he died seeking. normally this is the part where someone would say they are going at it alone if no one else want to go, but we all seem to be adventurous types. We have all been thoroughly introduced and I don't see any reason for delay. Of course the notice said we don't leave until late in the night, but we are all here right? Are we waiting on anyone? Any last minute items we need to grab before we leave?"

Leaving the hospital, Everlast noticed a small group of ponies standing around, the group included a few alicorns and that drew him nearer. He looked at the sign that had everyone's attention and then walked home. I'll have time to prepare. He thought as he opened the door to his rented home. He went into his office and grabbed two books from a shelf one, a richly bound textbook; "Mazzerin's Mystery", and the other a simple notebook; "Chart of Runes". He put those into his saddlebag and grabbed his small money purse. He glanced inside quickly and nodded. This should last. He went back to he gathering and sat down in the group. "So who has details on this self proclaimed lucrative offer?"

"Fight or flight, Ready to go." "Put the Equalizer down and shut up!" - Video game use. "Smiles are contagious" - Daily use in every occasion. What's the plan?" "LET'S DO IT!" - Executing an idea. "Vell zen," - Usually followed by; "zat vas interesting." - After the previous idea is done. "For the table at the end!" - Battle cry

"Alright fine, all of our lives are on the line, we don't have time to bicker about who gets to go first. We've decided that shelter is our number one priority, but where to set up and how? The biggest reason for shelter is for defense, and the most defensible area I can see are those ridges out there." Everlast points to the cliffs in the distance. "Are we all in well enough conditions to travel that distance?"

Story. It is definitely the story that makes a game for me. If the characters make you feel something, and the ending makes you think... It is a good game regardless of all other aspects.