Hazard Time

...well, I can't say there's anything in the lore that says that WON'T happen

That would be interesting...but consider that Prince Rutherford alone is about twice the size and mass of Big Mac. This wouldn't exactly be an easy fight, but what would be more damaging would be the political implications. As belligerent as Prince Rutherford is, simply returning his belligerence would probably be enough to make him declare war on all of Equestria. It isn't as if he almost did the same thing over less XP

@@The Down Trotten "Quite the demagogue, you are." Carnelian propped her head on the table with her hoof, popping another bruschetta into her mouth. "I'm impressed. It's hard to find a stallion these days with your...how do you say...chutzpah. What I would give to see a spectacle like that." Having finished half her plate, the baroness pushed it away, where it was immediately engulfed in a blue aura and levitated off to the side. "I would think Mr. Rhetoric will be done very soon. You may retrieve the second course, dear." Low Key nodded and exited with her plate in his magic. "So, for all your talk of revolution, you must have some natural public speaking skills. Any stories about them I might enjoy?"

After all the orders were made, Ametrine turned her attention to her guests. Zoisite was more than happy to stay out of the conversation and focus on his water glass, which he began to tilt in a circular motion. "So how long have you two been in Bangcolt? It seems as though you've seen more than a few things around."

@@Orion Caelum "If I ever see you again, I will leave your desiccated corpse for a yeti. NEVER come back. "...Imbeciles, comparing me to HIM. I may have sadist tendencies, but my madness is methodical. I will not tolerate a weak seed to inherit my empire. I could care less what they think of me, especially Ametrine. She seeks to toss away the boons which It-That-Should-Not-Be has bestowed upon our house, and for what? The moral high-ground? She's a crime lord! Her business sells drugs to foals, harasses businessponies, and leaves debtors dying in the gutters. She can continue to delude herself that her ends will eventually justify the means, but she will not delude me. "You cannot run away from destiny, Ametrine. I'm sure you know this, and I'm sure that you are impatiently waiting for the day you and I finally reunite. I can't wait, either. I'm curious to see how your powers have developed, how your emotions have shaped them differently to mine. I await your arrival, and unlike my parents, I will be ready."

@@Blitz Boom @@Seamore Sandwich @@Moonlit Succulent's eyes were completely locked on the mimic in fascination. She had never seen anything like it before! "She's adorable!" she squealed, cocking her head back and forth and watching Fah'lina sway in front of her. "What is she? Can she do any cool tricks?"

@Fallen Stars @Stardust* @Frannis @@BronyNumber42 Zoisite could not have been any more bored. First billiards, and now horticulture. Nothing engaged him, and the initial fear of being without his other half was soon replaced by indignation. How DARE his sister simply drop him off with these imbeciles. Why couldn't SHE have handled this herself? She always handled every situation for him, why the sudden turnaround? At least whatever was being made in the kitchen was good. Hopefully the meal would be satisfying enough to make this terrible diversion worth it. Perhaps he'd be able to retire to his room early? Surely the lawyers could do everything without him present...right? Please?

@@Golbez "Did you...just...How dare you?! "You seek to toss me away like some pase fashion trend?! L-like a decrepit sheepdog?! I will not be forgotten! I'm still relevant! "...I'M NOT SOME OLD HAG! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" (( In an OOC note, after a conversation with @@BabylonSister, I've decided to retcon Carnelian being the avatar of Lust in favor of Pride. It makes much more sense as while she is a very sexual character, her motives all point to supporting her lofty ego instead of just an overactive sexual appetite. ))

@@Blitz Boom @@Moonlit @@Seamore Sandwich Still hesitant to wade out further, Succulent was content to lay down in the shallows and watch the swim lessons from afar. She barely noticed the flying rodent until it had landed on her head, looking up and smiling in curiosity. "Hi there! Where'd you come from, little guy? You're so cute and fluffy! What's your name?"

@Fallen Stars @BronyNumber42 @Frannis @@Stardust* Zoisite considered his choices and realized he had none. While the melodious sound of the clock ticking away was soothing and the armchair he relaxed in was his brand of soft, it would have been a terrible choice to stay where he was. Perhaps his sister was right about exercising his social skills, as non-existent as they might be. "I will come," he announced quietly, standing to his hooves and following after the group. Upon entering the billiard room, the crystal pony looked about the fixtures. He could never get into billiards. He attempted, but it required keen reflexes as well as a keen mind. He'd much rather stick to chess.

@@The Down Trotten "And Low's door revolves," Carnelian quipped before segueing into Rhetoric's other topic. "In all seriousness, do go on! I might tell you a few stories of my own. You show me yours, and I'll show you mine?" At the moment, Low Key returned with a platter of appetizers, two plates, two glasses, and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon in his magic. The plates and glasses went before each pony before each were promptly filled with their respective fair. The first course of the meal, the appetizer, was to be Bruschetta, small slices of toasted baguette rubbed with garlic, olive oil, and salt, and topped with tomatoes. A basalmic vinaigrette laced atop each individual slice. "Thank you, dear," Carnelian said, flashing a warm smile towards her secretary. Low blushed and moved off to the side, watching and waiting for his baroness' next command. "Should you choose, you are more than free to pause to finish your first course," Carnelian stated to her guest before picking up a bite-sized bruschetta and eating it whole. "Be sure to save room, though. You and I have six more courses to go through."

@@The Down Trotten Carnelian guffawed uproariously, swatting a hoof in Rhetoric's direction. "Oh, you are too much!" she said in between gasps. "I'm keeping you!" After finally coming down from her laughing fit, she waved over to Low Key, who was immediately by her side. "The appetizers should be ready now. Please bring them in, dear. Oh! And break out the good Cab." "On it!" The secretary nearly bounced as he trotted out the door, leaving the baroness and the revolutionary alone. Carnelian turned her gaze to Rhetoric, a sly smile brightening her face. "Adorable, isn't he? I was so lucky to find him at that soiree in Canterlot, such a perfect storm of beauty, diligence, social awkwardness, and cripplingly low self-esteem. He doesn't even think, he just does. The perfect stallion, if I ever had one." She took a moment to taste her grin, and after confirming it tasted good, she began a new subject. "So how's the revolution coming along? 'Sticking it to the mare', out there?"

@@The Down Trotten The unicorn stopped in the middle of the hallway, looking the other stallion over. He seemed to blush, his eyes barely holding eye contact. "You look...really nice," he stammered, nervously pawing at the ground. When he finally lifted his deep blue gaze from the marble tiles, he gave a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. "And my name is Low Key," he answered, stopping for a moment to shake the other's hoof. His grip was very light, his hooves incredibly smooth from a recent (and no-doubt expensive) hooficure. "I'm Lady Carnelian's personal secretary. I keep track of her arrangements, keep her up to date on the progress of her investments, and I also, um..." Low hesitated, his eyes shifting. "I also...make her comfortable! Anyway, we shouldn't keep my Lady waiting much longer." With that, he quickly turned around and continued down the corridor. There was a bit of a spring in his step, as if he was suddenly in a hurry to get her to Carnelian. It was barely a short trot before they reached a room with large double doors. Low Key opened it with his magic, revealing a large dining room, the centerpiece being a table long enough to feed a dozen ponies. On the far end, watching the door with anticipation, was the baroness, herself. If her vacation home was magnificent, her attire was even more so. Draped about her body was a sparkling silver dress, and not a cheap one. Her signature silver and carnelian crown upon her head, she also wore a ruby amulet about her neck. "Mr. Rhetoric, such a pleasure to see you again," she called out. "Please have a seat, any seat."

@@Orion Caelum "Do you honestly believe that I wanted foals? If I had the choice, I would never have chained myself into a loveless marriage. "But I didn't have that choice. It was either wear a ring about my neck and let some stallion fill me with his heirs, or my parents would disown me. Bastards. I'm so glad they're all gone. "As for Zoisite and Ametrine, why should I care what they think? My parents put me through Tartarus, and it made me stronger. Why should I give them a choice I never had when they would NEVER know the pain I felt, the torment I endured, when I was provided with the illusion of free will only for it to be taken away the moment I resisted their commands?! They want to be their own masters? Then let them come and show me that they're stronger, that they have the guts to take what they want, do what they want, and be what they want! I will be waiting here, ready to beat both of them within an inch of their life! Maybe then they'll understand the lessons I tried to teach them: that free will is a privilege and that it is the prerogative of the strong to rule and lord over the weak! "I will make them see true power, and they will learn!"

Twilight approached as the last vestiges of sunlight peaked out from behind the many tall peaks of the Unicorn Mountains in the distance. Far to the east, Canterlot glowed with candlelight as night descended. To the north, the rolling farmland was silent, the many peasants who worked them turning in. Between all of it, sat Rollicking Hills. Ten-foot high brick walls kept the prying eyes of the common riff-raff away, the perimeter under tight surveillance by a few dozen crystal pony guards armed with spears and xiphosi. Past the gilded iron gates emblazoned with a silver linnorm, was a verdant and well-maintained garden. Flowers of virtually every type lined the path, which led straight to a central roundabout featuring a marble fountain depicting the goddess Iridia supported by her seven Virtues. Twin paths branched out to either side of the estate, and simply a peek might yield another colorful display of expert landscaping or even one of the dozen or so peacocks that dwelled within the gardens. The manor itself, however, was immense, a magnificent piece of baroque architecture with white plaster walls and a green tile roof. From the center rose a large, hemispherical cupola adorned with a silver linnorm, rearing up on its tail with its maw open wide as if to consume the setting sun. An east and a west wing were clearly present, the number of windows indicating a large number of rooms, possibly enough to entertain two dozen ponies. In spite of its large size, it took merely a few seconds for a pony to answer the door. The pony, however, was not Carnelian. In fact, it was a grey unicorn stallion in a neatly-pressed and well-fitted waistcoat, his blonde mane short and neatly combed. His deep blue eyes hesitated on the earth pony for a moment, as if he was attempting to reconcile the stallion that stood before him with the stallion that was in his head. "Oh, good evening, Mr. Rhetoric," he greeted with a genuine smile, snapping to attention and opening the door wider. "Please, come in! My Lady is waiting for us in the dining room." As soon as Rhetoric stepped inside, he would be greeted by a blinding display of obscene luxury. Before him lay pristine marble floors, waxed and polished to the Nth degree. A grand staircase bifurcated the manor, two corridors leading off to either wing, both on the first and second floors. Upon the walls were priceless works of art, from sculptures to artifacts to modern art paintings. Above, though, was where the true magnificence was. The inside of the cupola was completely painted, depicting the creation of the earth moon, and sun by Iridia and her angels. From the center hung a massive crystal chandelier, with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires dangling from gold chains. Altogether, the sight was at once awe-inspiring and confusing. Was the pilgrim in Heaven or still on earth? "The dining room is right down this way," the unicorn's tenor voice announced, leading the alien visitor past even more disgusting displays of opulence and into the east wing.

@@Blitz Boom @@Moonlit @@Seamore Sandwich Really sorry for my absence, I bit off a bit more than I could chew. I currently have six threads to juggle both here and on Skype, and this one kinda got pushed off to the side :\ If one of you would be willing to give a brief recap of what happened in between now and my last post, I would really appreciate it ovo

@@Orion Caelum "Remind me to ask you later how you learned of this. I may have need to hire a 'plumber' soon. "But to answer your question, there is no sensation of being soulless. There are simply effects, which I would divide into two categories: contractual effects and side effects. The former are the actual powers which you traded your soul for. In my family's case, it is charisma, beauty, and aimaturgy. "The side effects, on the other hoof, are a general symptom of soullessness. Besides being the immortal self, the soul also represents one's moral compass. Without it, one comes to realize that morality is a construct of ponykind, a way for the simple-minded to bring a sense of order to their world. The concepts of Good and Evil no longer hold the weight they once did, and you are left to pursue your own destiny, unburdened by guilt. "However, it is a hard and often vain life living on the edge, straddling the line between Good and Evil. I've found out it's much easier to give into temptation; after all, why swim away from the current when you could be enjoying the ride? Of course, being soulless, the temptation to fall into sin is much, much stronger, and it takes much too much willpower to resist becoming an avatar of a sin appropriate to your personality. For example, my son, Soft Zoisite, is a shut-in, and so is Sloth Incarnate. My daughter is incredibly passionate and driven, and while I'm sure she is still fighting it, she will inevitably become Wrath Incarnate. As for me..." "I have become Lust Incarnate."

@@BronyNumber42 @ @@Stardust* @ Zoisite raised his gaze from his book. Saddleartha may have been one of his favorites, but after the dozenth read-through, all of the magic had been lost. To compensate for the boredom, his hoof had begun making strange circular motions in the air. "I would think that would be obvious," he murmured, placing the book off to the side and laying back with a huff. "Every pony in this room has received a letter in regards to an inheritance from a relative none of them knew they had. Were it not for Mr. Body's large material wealth, my sister would not have dispatched me in her stead to collect whatever was left to me." For a brief moment, a look of indignation flashed across his face before he blinked it away. His eyes stared at the floor boards, and his hoof began to make circles again.

It can be anything you want. When it comes to magic, the concept of "How do you kill a vampire" applies. Neither exist in real life, so you can make up the rules however you want. Of course, there are a few conventions that need to be observed, but if you're going to play with magic, it's important to be creative. The various schools of magic could include things such as the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, etc), it could be like Elder Scrolls schools (Conjuration, Illusion, Alteration, etc), or it could even be like Final Fantasy's colored magic (Black, White, Red, Blue, etc.). The point is, Magic is to High Fantasy as Science is to Reality; simply saying that you're good at Science means nothing. Do you mean Chemistry? Physics? Biology? The same applies to Magic, which is a vast and powerful force whose workings will never be completely understood by any intelligent race.

I would choose a particular school of magic instead of just magic in general. Of course, you could just as easily go for the latter option, but more justification or drawbacks would be needed. The former option is much more dialed back and easier to come up with drawbacks to.

A mulatto is someone of mixed white and black race, yes. Also, Hispanic and Latino are technically a cultural heritage. As I said before, Hispanic describes someone who hails from a Spanish-speaking country. Latino, however, describes someone from Latin America, which includes every country and island from Mexico to Argentina. This creates interesting exceptions, such as Brazilians: They are technically Latino because they exist within Latin America, but they aren't Hispanic, since they speak Portuguese.

Hispanic actually refers to anyone whose first language is Spanish. For example, someone born in Spain is Hispanic. So is someone born in Mexico, or Cuba, or Guatemala, or Venezuela, or Equatorial Guinea, etc.

I don't know where Caucasian came from, but I don't like it as a racial descriptor. IMHO, the only way to be a Caucasian is if you were born in the area around the Caucasus mountain range and are a member of an Altaic ethnicity, such as Georgian, Abkhaz, Circassian, Ossetian, Chechen, Azeri, Dagestani, etc. Everyone else is just White. Negro comes from the Spanish word of the same spelling, which translates literally to "Black". Back in the days when segregation was still a thing, it wasn't considered that offensive, especially when the alternative was...well, the OTHER N-word. Finally, no idea why they used Mongoloid, if they even used that, since a Mongoloid has since come to describe anyone with Down's Syndrome. EDIT: To answer the question posed in your latest edit, Negro is considered a racist epithet here in America due to segregation, which was adopted in most if not all of the former Confederate states after the Civil War. It lasted from 1868 until about 1964, when it was deemed unconstitutional to discriminate against someone based on their skin color. During the time that it was a thing, however, "negro" saw a lot of use alongside "colored people". Now that segregation is illegal, words like "negro" have since been given the label of racial epithet since they harken back to that era.