nx9100

@Techno Universal Quiet, his mind was suddenly quiet. Eventually he realized the truth: his body was unconscious. But his mind remained active, as if linked to some outside source. "Strange," he thought, "to be awake, yet unawake at the same time. An interesting sensation....." He focused on the link with Techno. "As to the power, I must thank you, the Other, for showing it to me. Such potential, like nothing I had ever dreamed. And to think, I was formerly obsessed with releasing Nightmare Moon herself. But this....... this has far more potential....." ------------------------------------- The guards kept out of his way as he marched through the halls of the tower. Ravage was in no mood for excuses, and simply ignored them. Why bother punishing incompetents who will simply fail him again regardless? No, a more direct approach was required. He finally stepped up to the door to his master's suite, left open by the earlier intrusion, and took in the sight. He had his suspicions about his master's recent behavior, but nothing prepared him for this. Carefully entering the room, he looked around at the random items scattered around. Dozens of papers, scrolls, and other documents covered most of the floor. But not one spot. Just inside the study, he noticed an area that appeared clean. As if somepony had removed any papers from that spot. "They must have taken them when he was abducted," he said to himself, looking around for any other clues. But nothing stood out, no obvious means of exit. Which probably meant teleportation. Not all he needed was to decide where to start looking.....

@Techno Universal @Star48955 @Maple Bat Ah, there you are, he thought back at Techno, the Other. I wondered when you would return. You can see it, can you not? The links between everything, the strands connecting us all. Like a fantastic piece of art! While communicating with Techno, he had ignored the attack by Maple, and now was suspended in Moon's magic. Suddenly, be began to laugh, a deep laugh that started slowly, and picked up intensity.....

@Star48955 He blinked in surprise, as the papers floated in front of his face. "Ah... so there IS a power here. I understand that..." he looked over the papers ..."yes, here it is. The link between unicorn power and the Universal. wait...." he turned around to a large parchment that he has drawn a strange looking diagram on. "yes.... this is the key.... if I can only...." His eyes narrowed, and he blinked..... .....and with a flash, the desk to his left suddenly changed. Formally an old wooden desk, now it was a metal one. "Hmmmm.... that was not what was supposed..... wait....." he scrambled around for another diagram.... @Maple Bat Ravage let out the slightest hint of a grin. "Perhaps another time," he said to Maple, "a time of MY own choosing." Just behind her, he could see a group of changling guards flying past.... headed towards his Master's Tower. "For now, it appears I have other business to attend to." With a nod of respect, he turned and ran across the roof, following the group of guards....

@Star48955 He was busy fanatically reading yet another scroll, when he heard a voice from the main room of the suite. "Ennex.What is going on?" He froze, and the scroll dropped to the floor. "Starshine? Wait, Starshine will not be back until.....with dinner. Then you...." his head moved about, as if looking for something, but not looking behind him. "Ah.... perhaps you are the Other? That would explain....wait......no...." he picked up a piece of paper with scribbled writing..... "no, the Other comes later.....hmmm......." he moved around the study, searching random papers for something....

@Maple Bat Ravage scowled. "So, you want me to attack you for training?" He started to turn away from her. "Perhaps I would have, if not under orders preventing such actions." He glanced back at her. "Your rebellion will fade away anyway, so I still fail to see a point...." (ooc: bedtime......)

@Maple Bat Ravage didn't flinch. "I am wondering, what is the point? There is no plot or master plan against you and your allies. My Master is locked away..." He didn't mention his own doubts of Ennex's sanity ..."and no actions against the rebellion have been undertaken. Tell me, what do you think to accomplish?"

@Star48955 A shadow moved in the study as he shifted to another bookshelf, not paying the suite door falling down any attention. If one could see him when he walked through the light from the windows, one would see his mane mostly unkempt, a few random empty food containers scattered about, papers and scrolls all over the suite. But the biggest thing was his eyes.... .....and the look of a current lack of sanity....

Ravage watched the remaining guards scatter away from Maple. Weaklings,he thought, and stepped over to stand at the edge of the roof he was on, looking down at her. "So, you have defeated a group of drones," his deep, accented voice called out to her, "Now tell me, what is it you are attempting to accomplish, here. You deliberately draw attention to yourself, for what end? Covering for some other plan?"

@Maple Bat The roof he was standing on was a floor taller than the one Maple was fighting on. Ravage watched her engage the changlings, studying her movements. He grimaced at the guards were bested, knowing they were not the greatest fighters. Waiting to choose his moment to strike, he watched... @Star48955 "No... no... no!!!!" he flung the scroll across the room, ignoring as it stuck the far wall. Stumbling about in the weak light, (only coming from the windows), he stepped over dozens of other papers and scrolls, some old, some new, many with fresh scribble all over them. Ever since getting the data overload from the android pony, he'd been struggling to make sense of everything.... and find some way to use it to his advantage. Finally, he left the main room of the suite, and started pulling more scrolls off a shelf in the side room, which was set up as a personal library/study. "I must find the key..." he muttered..... "must find the Nightmare...."

He saw the arrow headed right towards him, but it was too late, as he was already in mid-leap. He grunted and came down hard onto the next rooftop, pausing to catch his breath, the arrow stuck just below his neck between his front legs. While his bodysuit protected him from most of it, the tip did break through to dig nearly an inch into his chest. Silently, he twisted his head to grasp the shaft with his teeth, and pulled it free. He turned to look up at Maple, and dropped it onto the ground in front of him, a few drops of red falling beside it....

Ravage dodged the arrow that was shot towards him, surprised that the aim wasn't exact. He ignored the shouts and cries of the injured guards, and kept up his pursuit, determined to take down at least one rebel in retaliation for his failing to capture them months ago...

421618 I wonder how long this will take, lol

He had just taken a moment to rest, when a shout came from above. "Guess who's back?! Did'ja miss me?!" Glancing up and back, he saw Maple fly past and away. He tensed to run after her, but a single thought restrained him. My orders are to not fight rebels... but I cannot allow this challenge to go unanswered! Making up his mind, Ravage galloped to the edge of the roof, and leaped over to the next, not breaking stride as he landed and continued on, chasing after Maple....

Sakuya stepped out of the tower's lobby, nodding at the two changling guards standing at attention to either side of the doors. She slowly walked out from under the entrance awning, before turning to look up at the tower. With Ravage wandering the rooftops, and her having to leave for a meeting at City Hall, Ennex would be alone in the tower. Well, except for a few dozen guards spread among the floors. She signed, and turned back towards the street. It couldn't be helped, having to leave him. Ever since he locked himself in his penthouse, Ennex had remained silent to them, only seen by Starshine when she brought him food. And with Ravage ordered to behave, and her having the duties of running the city..... After a moment, she trotted along, citizens giving her a wide path through the street. While she had carried out his orders to keep the guards from causing trouble, the ponies of the city still were afraid of her, and keep out of her way. They never new when the peaceful mood would snap.....

Leaving his rooftop vigil, Ravage headed down the fire escape stairs, pausing at a landing. After but a moment of hesitation, he leaped across the alley onto the next building's roof. He rolled his landing, breaking into a full gallop across the roof. Upon reaching the far edge, he launched himself to the next one, landing and continuing on. It had become his routine, after standing watch upon the tower, to then go for a long exercise run over the rooftops. It was more challenging than running the streets below, and prevented contact with the city's residents. For the most part. Another great leap onto the next building, he continued on...

Up on the rooftop of his master's skyscraper, Ravage ignored the high winds and watched the city below. His trained eyes followed the movements of individual ponies as they went about their business, unaware that somepony besides the normal guards was observing them. This had become his routine. No spying, no stalking rebels..... simply watching. And waiting. It had been three months since the fight with the android pony. After regaining consciousness, Ennex had named Sakuya as Acting Governor of Manehattan, with orders to control her guards and, for the most part, leave the population alone. He had sent a letter to the King and Queen asking them to do the same. It was a brilliant plan, really. Without any major threats to their lives, the Ponies of Equestria would slowly loose interest in supporting any kind of rebellion. Life would return to a level of normal, and their enemies would simply vanish away. At least, that was the plan Ennex told everypony. But the reality was much different. Ravage sighed, and shifted to a different side of the roof. His master had then locked himself away in his chambers, not to be disturbed for any reason. A single servant, his brother's marefriend as a matter of fact, was allowed in to bring food. But she didn't speak of his condition, what he was doing... only that he was still alive. As he watched the city, Ravage swallowed down his frustration. Once, he was one of the most feared ponies in Manehattan, possibly even Equestria. But now, he was powerless. Trapped within his oath to obey his master's orders, which in this case was to not interfere with pretty much anything. Growling to himself, he continued to watch. And wait........

His eyelids fluttered, slowly opening to gaze upon the world once more. Blinking to bring the random colors and shapes into focus, he squinted at a large black shape in front of him. "Ravage?" The figure moved, and something slid over his face.... and suddenly everything became clear. "We have been worried about you," Ravage said as Ennex adjusted his glasses. "Sakuya provided many potions to try and wake you, but nothing appeared to be working." The blue pony stretched his limbs. "How long was I unconscious?" "Many hours," the bodyguard replied, passing him a glass of water. "Far to long to have simply been sleeping. I was teleported back to your office, and found you collapsed on the floor." "Yes... I remember now..." he replied, rubbing his head. "I was studying sever scrolls, trying to understand the information downloaded from the android." He paused to drink. "Hmmm. Suddenly my entire mind seemed to... overload, I guess is the best word." Another drink, then he looked directly at Ravage. "Status?" "Sakuya is running government affairs," Ravage replied, "I was unable to capture the rebels. The android was able to break your control, and sent me back here. We haven't had any leads on the rebels since." "Very well," Ennex said, slipping out of his bed. "I need to take a walk. Let us go visit Sakuya..."

a few i've used as facebook replies....

After flying through the portal, Ravage landing in a heap against the desk in the middle of the office. He shook his head to clear it, just as the portal closed behind him. Getting up on his hoofs, he mentally checked himself over, not noticing any major wounds, and noticed Ennex slumped over the desk. "Master!" he shouted, leaping over the desk to the other's side. Ennex was unconscious, and surrounded by a scattering of papers and scrolls....

While the remaining guards surrounded Woody, Ravage watched from his hidden position as Techno captured Maple. With a little luck, he wouldn't have to reveal himself, and the reprogrammed android would do all the work....

More scrolls were scattered, as he lost his concentration. This is growing tiresome, he thought to himself. The information he had gained from Techno's mind was part of a puzzle, and now he needed to find the remainder. I have other things to do, let Ravage handle this. He took a deep breath, and sent a message back to Techno: Fine, do whatever is necessary. Give the leaders to Ravage, and eliminate the remainder.

@Techno Universal, Papers and maps, some new, some old, some very old, littered the floor surrounding his desk. Others were piled on the desk, scattered around in no particular order. Off to one side of the room, he was hunched over a chest, tossing random scrolls and more papers over his shoulders. "No...no....no...no..." he keep muttering to himself. Suddenly, a random voice filled his mind, throwing him off track: So Ennex what should I do next? It took him a moment to realize it was Techno, still communicating through their link. Capture the rebels! he thought back. Bring me their leader, eliminate the rest. Knowing his message was sent, he resumed his search. "No.... no......no......"

The changlings all looked to Ravage, as he watched the rebels and Techno. Feeling that the time was right, he flicked his hoof.... With a shout, all twelve changling guards rushed out of the bushes and charged at the three rebels, coming at them from three sides... (ooc: I don't care what happens to the changlings...)