Loud Opinion

@ExplosionMare @Starforce Everyone granted Moonlight the attention she demanded. Then, as she described her ability to see the truth, Twilight and her friends started to back away slowly. They were looking for any excuse to get away from the crazy pony. Rainbow visibly tuned out as she moved in to inspect BonBon's missing facial features as if a closer look would be more effective than a conversation. However, a burning sensation quickly grabbed their attention. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash all began to blink rapidly as their eyes watered. It was not enough as the building tears evaporated. The burning sensation came to a head when their eyes shined from the inside. A flood of Light escaped their pupils. Even when they closed their eyes, the Light still shined through. They looked around for the source of the burning and focused on Moonlight as the most likely source. Twilight was alight with counterspells that all proved fruitless. Fluttershy looked to her friends with confusion and worry. Panic set in for the group as nothing worked. Twilight, in desperation, teleported herself and her friends away from Moonlight's speech. Well, all except one. Pinkie Pie sprang her head out of the barrel, "What'd I miss?"

I'll be skipping @ExplosionMare this time just because of how rapid the mane six's response is to what @Starforce posted. Hopefully this'll be the only time I have to do this.

@ExplosionMare @Starforce Starlight's heart beated faster but fell out of sync with the crowd. In an instant, the spell was broken. The crowd's aggression dissipated, but so did their enthusiasm. Most looked ready to accept Starlight as a guide, but now that their passion was denied, so to will they deny her. Many lost interest in the affair altogether. The ones that were ready to throw their stones lazily tossed them at Starlight out of spite. Some of the more distant onlookers still gave their attention but had no intention of approaching. "What was that?!" Lyra finally snapped, "Someone's gotta give me some answers! That was crazy!" "Where's everypony going?" asked a very iconic voice, "Am I late for my own party?" Twilight Sparkle looked around the square in confusion before returning her attention to the shouting Lyra. "Oh, my stars! What is wrong with her?!" Applejack blurted out in shock. "Trixie's back in town!" Pinky Pie shrilled out before jumping into a nearby barrel, "Everypony for themselves!"

@ExplosionMare Sombra hasn't gotten any better. You don't have to play it up. So long as she acts sick, the point will come across. I'll admit, I didn't give you a lot to work with.

@Windy Breeze @Kujamih @Zoom Jetstream @Starforce The stone pony then produced more trays of the requested food items. "Don't wait for a check. Our food is free of charge!" Once the serving was done, she returned to the front counter.

@abrony-mouse "You worry too much, Fuchsia," Limbo Dreams says with a smile. The ranch swelled into vision as the train ground its rails to halt. The silent train had met its destination. Part of her drifted to her past. Miss Dreams couldn't help but feel a little happy about what was up and coming. Limbo Pass. For the first time, she would see her face to face. It made her wonder about other ponies she would like to see with her own eyes. "It is not my right to say what my life will amount to," She continues, "If I were to fight. If I were to defy my creator. To what end? If your mother wanted your house, would you deny her? What right do you have to claim a life you had no part in making?" Limbo sighed in resignment. She knew her message had little chance of resonating. "I waste my breath. I will live to see tomorrow and our cause will go on. Destiny has plans for us, and she does not like to be cheated."

@ExplosionMare @Starforce Clover the Clever. A founder of Equestria and Radiant's last hope. He ignored the pounding upon his study door for a good while. Instead, he marveled at Clover's ingenious work in magic theory. A harsh pony, but one Radiant could respect. She proved that magic originating from the soul was more effective than magic from the mind. It required commitment. The slightest shred of doubt would unravel even the simplest spell, but its staying power and efficacy were undeniable. Fear. That would have to be his conviction. The knocking increased in intensity, and Radiant obeyed. With the door now open, and giving light to the darkened room, the guard began to speak, "Your majesty! Conscious ponies are taking advantage of the masked ones." "I don't have time!" Radiant snapped, "Throw them all in chains if you have to. Just buy me a few months to figure this out." There was a time the guard would retort; Back when Radient's form wasn't so intimidating. The light around him wavered and flickered. The image of his legs became less defined as his hours of study dragged on. At this moment, they were a black mist. "Hey Sombra," Limbo Pass said as she entered Sombra's room, "The kids are fine. I just needed to talk to you about something." Limbo's voice was melancholy and defeated. Her lively legs and spine were weighed by an unspoken burden. "Magloria," echoed Miss Dreams' voice through Magloria's mind, "You have been dreaming for some time. The alarm is about to wake you up to a cold room." It was in the middle of one of their games that she chose to speak up. "Life is good now. Remember that when it is taken away, and know that I understand your pain, for I never go long without experiencing it myself."

@Starforce @ExplosionMare After a moment of uneasy beats, Starlight's heart redoubled in defiance. With this new internal vigor, the crowd showed equal enthusiasm. The crowd around them grew restless. When Starlight finished talking one, particularly bold pony chimed in, "Ya! Get off her back!" Another said, "She would never do something like that." The crowd was now glaring at Moonlight. BonBon was all but forgotten in their frustration toward Moonlight. Lyra's distraught scowl grew shifty as fear crept in. At first, she looked for validation. Now she searches for an escape. "What's going on," Lyra muttered under her breath in an effort to understand the upset. Moonlight could hear the heartbeats around her. Like a marching army, the ground itself trembled with the strength of their unity. Some even looked ready to start throwing stones.

@Starforce A lot of Radiant's decent into tyranny isn't interactive, so I was going to summarize it in a single post. We'll be going close to the end of Radiant's rule.

@Ocean Wavedream @Windy Breeze @Starforce @Kujamih Between Monsoon and Thamani, a light downward gust flowed past their ears. From Monsoon's seat, she could see that the stone cook was no longer at his counter. Before either of them could blink, a bone-shaking crash vibrated where the breeze was. "Lunch is served!" echoed the marble menace with a smile, "Have a selection of our beverages!" A second later, a trey of jugs landed on his outstretched hoof. Some were full of different punches, while others had tea, and one held humble water.

@Starforce @ExplosionMare I've been mulling over a blank page for a while thinking of a response. So far, everything I'm coming up with is supremely boring. Who here is in favor of a time-skip?

To clarify. I never gave a source for the light. The implication is that Starlight has spontaneously become much more sensitive to light.

More at eleven from our hooves on the ground at the Pony News Network: Are the Glovers the targets of assassination, or is the shame of their latest scandal too much to face?

@ExplosionMare@Starforce Starlight's vision was assaulted by an intense rise in brightness. It was not enough to be blinding, but her eyes squinted automatically. Starlight's heartbeat felt weak. It was as though any 'thump' could be her last. Yet, it never ceased. Her rhythm could not be trusted, but it delivered all the same. BonBon looked like she wanted to say something. Lyra noticed and looked at Starlight with frustration. "Something must have happened! Ponies don't just lose their mouth for no reason!" Deep in Moonlight's mind, a phrase resonated "Dead mares tell no tales." @abrony-mouse A conflict could be seen in those striking red eyes: A paradox of shame and pride occupying the same memory. Pride won the fight, as it often does. She scanned the sparse train before speaking in a hushed tone, "My mother's name is Limbo Pass. More importantly, my mother is a monster. We were separated before I could see her face, but I recognized her this morning. Don't ask me how." "A single tooth could split you in half. She moves like a streak of lightning: unpredictable, targeted, and too fast for father time." "Equestria at large will stop her eventually. I can't correct her. This is the reality of the situation. The best we can do is distance ourselves until the inevitable happens."

@Imperium Welcome. The effort you put into your character is remarkable. I want to keep that in mind. I do have some reservations, but that shouldn't distract from what you've managed so far. Now, this RP has a unique tone, and there are some tonal clashes with Calamitous. Power: the story thus far follows Starlight, Magnolia, and Fuchsia. They are all more capable than the average pony, but only slightly. If any one of them were outnumbered, they would be in danger. Calamitous being a dragon already puts him over that threshold. My first instinct is to say the lightning that struck his egg did give him magic, but also stunted his physical growth. Morality: I noticed that he went out of his way to save some ponies from a timber wolf attack, and befriends a unicorn latter. This puts him a little too close to 'good guy' territory. This isn't an issue as a starting point. The characters here though, have some quality that would make them evil from the right perspective. Starlight Glimmer needs no explanation, Magnolia carries herself in a very domineering fashion and is quick to condemn others, Silver Tongue is an expert in hexs and curses, and Fuchsia steals artifacts from sacred grounds. Him being a weird dragon makes it understandable for people in the world to be suspicious of him, but it's not a reason to make the reader suspicious of him. The moral element is dependent on how you play your character, but the power will need to be adjusted. You don't have to alter your character sheet, just explain here or in my DM's what changes you'll commit to.

@Ocean Wavedream @Starforce @Kujamih @Windy Breeze With all the sudden power of a stick of dynamite, the statue came to life. His webbed wings burst to full length as they reached for the sky. He reared up to stretch his legs. He then defaulted back to the same position. One could mistake it for a trick of the mind --if chips of marble hadn't been sent flying in all directions. "I'll get those to you right away!" He proclaimed in a voice more befitting a lizard than a pony, "In the meantime, please relax at the table of your choice. I recommend the Luna table, as it has the best view of the school, or the Tirek table if you prefer to see the forest canopy." Before anyone could object, he flew up and over to another counter at the far end of the building.

@Ocean Wavedream @Kujamih @Windy Breeze @Starforce Silver patiently waited for the students to finish talking with one another. He paid Void's accidental vandalism little mind. The other students seemed more than capable of discouraging it in the future. He only spoke up when Thamani did. "It is about that time. Well, this is a great opportunity to introduce you to our cook." "He's over on the other end. Take your order, take your seat, and take your time before returning to the tour." The basalt floor was interrupted by the silver accents around the stained glass tables. The ash-wood chairs surrounding them were of an eloquent carving holding silk cushions of a deep yellow. The tables themselves would depict abstract portraits of historical figures. The one of Star Swirl was dominated by blues and greys. Most showed great heroes and benevolent leaders, while others depicted less reputable ponies like King Sombra and Princess Platinum. Mr. Tongue pointed to the counter of ash-wood before them. The counter obscured the bottom half of a marble statue of a bat-pony. The statue was positioned like a waiter at a restaurant.

@ExplosionMare What I've posted hasn't been addressed. I can have something else happen, but I want to give you a chance to respond to what I've put in front of Starlight.

@abrony-mouse Limbo was silent through the rest of the train ride. She despised simplifying her words. It was soul-crushing and fostered a resentment for pony-kind. Better to let questions hang with her company than to debase her art. "Ah, there it is," Limbo said, interrupting Fuchsia's asinine pestering. "I saw a pony in your dreams before you acquired that 'thing' that you so righteously destroyed. She was bright pink and lashed at you with her words. Do you believe she will be a problem at the ranch?" "My plan was to enter first, and for you to sneak around the back and evacuate the ponies there. I know my mother would never do anything to hurt me, so I'll be relying on you to capitalize on my distraction." As they exited the train, a cold trepidation washed over her. Would it be so simple?

@Starforce @Ocean Wavedream @Kujamih @Windy Breeze Silver rolled his eyes at Spiral asking for the same answer twice. Every neuron in his brain seethed with the need to mock and jest, but Silver knew better. If this pony was anything like him, then this would only bread resentment. "All in due time," was his final answer. The school grounds as a whole were very open. There was a building at the heart of the property. The two-story brickwork contrasted from the surrounding Parthenon-like buildings, with a series of columns instead of walls, blurring the line between inside and outside. Unlike the Parthenon, the stones used were jet-black, likely basalt. The paths between the Parthenon's were sunken in, like a river flowing between a series of hills. This gave those inside the Parthenon's a great view of the school grounds and the surrounding forest, but the ponies walking the path would only see the roofs of the buildings. Silver Tongue lead the group up to the highest pillared structure, where skeletal ponies stood. They had shields on their backs, did not move, and did not slouch. Instead of going inside, he gestured for the group to turn around. Behind them, they could see the whole school: A web of paths carving around the structures, and at the center was the brick building, noticeably lower than the other buildings. Even the path had to sink lower to connect to the doorway. Perhaps it even went below sea level. A few ghosts were patrolling the paths, while the other structures had skeletal guards of their own. Beyond the school, in each cardinal direction, was a giant weeping-willow. They towered over the surrounding forest and higher still. The forest was like a field of grass compared to their mournful majesty. "I never tire of this view," The headmaster said with a hint of nostalgia, "Which is why we built the cafeteria here. Every day, we serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner with this view surrounding us."

Hey everyone. I've noticed things have slowed down. I can post again to speed things up. Let me know what you think.

@Starforce @Kujamih @Windy Breeze @Ocean Wavedream The headmaster was silent through the student's squabble. He wanted to be sure Spiral was confident in her curiosity before answering her question. Seeing her talking back to her detractors was enough evidence. "A fair question," he interrupted, "though one I don't have the answer for. We don't have a precise understanding of The Monolith, as it has no definable origin. I hope that answers your question because that's about as far as we know about it ourselves." "If that's all, then I suppose we should get started. Besides, there'll be more time for questions as we proceed." The headmaster leads the way beyond the archway with the creature under his cloak following after.

@Ocean Wavedream @Windy Breeze @Kujamih @Starforce A green-coated stallion walled through the archway to meet the crowd. His face was youthful and chiseled, yet his combed-back mane was grey as a tombstone. His long cloak hid his mark and would have dragged on the dirt, were it not for some unseen thing scuttling underneath. The only hint of what it could be were the insectoid legs hustling to keep up with their master's stride. He paid the thing no mind as it crawled behind him. Instead, he put his focus on the ponies in front of him. "I am headmaster Silver Tongue, and I built this school with my own talents. I welcome you all to our grand opening." He paused to inspect the new prospects. One was of no comment whatsoever. A face in the crowd. That was until he looked her in the eyes. There was a spark; one part fear, two parts drive, and no desire for a higher station. He concluded that Monsoon hadn't thought through what they specifically have to gain from necromancy, but was confident that they would figure it out once they acquire it. Next was a zebra. Her posture was slightly closed off, but her eyes were hopeful. Silver felt cruel and guilty whenever he saw that look on the face of others. It was a mystery within himself that he may never solve, but perhaps that is for the best. A timid thing came after. This was no surprise to Silver. Those that have the most to fear have the most to gain from necromancy. If Silver was lucky, Void could be the most promising student among them. Beside her was a mirror image. They seemed opposites on the surface, but their posture and expression were both identical. That put him on edge. No matter the difference in their skill, he knew that she could be just as dangerous. He did a mental checklist of the safety precautions applied to students. "I can tell some of you are on edge after our music teacher's 'interpretation' of our goals. I encourage you all not to let this art put you above everyone else. Humility is just as important here as anywhere else." "With that being said, are there any questions before we start our tour of the school grounds?"

It is a simple pile of dust

@Goat-kun those that cannot learn, teach~