Maple Bat

Treasured took a step back "W-Woah..." His horn started to glow and his wings flaired outwards "Alright I don't know how you are but that proved you're too dangerous to be left alive... Die, Now!" He ran, full stride wing extended out like a lance, moving full speed to impale the mare. Since they were now a threat. ------------------------------------------------- Evelyn sighed "Jack... You are in too bad of a condition to fight. You really need to get some rest. We can handle this, I just... Like this, you really are a liability like that. More so than what you could help with... I'm sorry Jack. I know you really want to help... but If you're going to the center later... then you'll need all your strength." Luna agreed "Her words are true. You really do need rest, you haven't gotten any since we left and you've had it very bad so far. Sit out, Just this once and then we'll have you back in action in no time!"

Treasured finally managed to get away from Shining without him noticing and he teleported to the sewer system putting the mare back together. "Now... Let's continue our chat from earlier shall we?" Treasured broke... Most of the crystal of the mare's body, removing them from stasis. "He's betrayed us... I don't know what he did... but He's hiding something Find Treasured and I'm going to have a chat with Graystone..." Shining was angry since he noticed he was trying to hide something he knew without a doubt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luna smiled again "Well that's simple we'll just stop that from getting to where it's going! I mean if its vital stuff then why let the enemy keep it?" Luna asked rhetorically. "Sister should we go to it?" "Oh for sure! Maybe we can get some stuff that our party needs from the convoy. It's kinda a stretch but they'd need food and water. What do you thinkg Edgar? Jack? Eve-" Celestia was quickly interupeted by Evelyne and Celestia flinched when she spoke she thought she'd finish "Well I like the idea, Been too long since our last scrap!" Evelyn was showing that usual dragon's firey blood with that comment.

Maple tried to slip the sabaton back and smiled at her own success, "We should be close. I'm just as ready as you are... I really hope you are ready but... Thanks, Speechless I really needed that. Lets go." She said determined to finish what the two started, She stumbled getting up so fast but she recovered quickly drawing her spear ready for battle now. The weapon was sharp since she hadn't used it but still kept care of it and her armor was a bit dented but again, kept well by Maple.

Maple tossed her bow, arrow still knocked into it, into the air, "Well they don't deserve to be tortured by you lot!" She flew into the air catching her bow and firing the arrow, drawing another one and firing it within a few seconds of airtime. Firing the second, she realized that she needed to start moving around "Personal I don't want to kill them either. I mean... I'm not even one of War's followers." She was talking trying to distract the deer or make them do something reckless so she'd have an opening. Little did Maple realize talking was throwing her off. Woody jumped and brushed his mane. "Right, sorry. I have created a dimension before... I got rid of it that time since I mostly used dads..." Woody flips through his songbook and tried to locate the spell, HE found it and started to sing, IT was similar to that he used to transform the mountain from before, Very grounded and deep sounding but it had a mix of different tunes and for some reason... It sounded far off despite him being beside his siblings. He sang for a good amount of time before he reached a paw out and well... Pulled back reality to reveal a gateway to the new dimension. He was tired, Sweating and taking deep breaths "T-There... I think I did it right." As it stood the new place woody created was completely blank. As He had created it but it still lacked anything inside it.

Shining got angry quickly as he was completely disregarded "Hey! Treasured! I need to interview you and a few other guards... Why don't you come with me so we can chat? We still need to agree on our next move right?" Treasured let out a painfully long sigh "Right... Well, let's think... There's only one true outcome we can seek here is safeguarding Equestria as a haven for our surviving ponies right? That means that step one should either be getting rid of the rest of the infected... Or providing a helping hoof to those that are living in safety. I see no other options." "I'll have my ponies give out supplies... We have plenty and those down there... Those ponies need supplies." Shining armor called up his men and gave some simple orders to provide provisions for any pony who needed them that meant excluding nobles. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luna smiled "I'm sure your friends are ok, If they're anywhere near as strong as you then I have no doubt about that." She smiled, She wasn't trying to give false hope but Luna didn't necessarily believe her own words in this instance Celestia was still caught on the same thing but she'd managed to snap out of it. "I wouldn't worry too much about that... Betrayal feeling. Your friends won't be mad at you they'll be overjoyed trust me that's how it always is. You can trust a pony who's well over 1000 years old." She added with a chuckle

Maple let go of Speechless, "R-Right... I... we can't give up now. We've come this far." Mpale presented the hurt hoof to speechless hoping he would avoid dressing the injury SHe wasn't sure if she could put her sabaton back on if he was to do so. "Y-You trust that we can do this...right? You know we can without a doubt?" She looked worried obviously needing reassurance herself.

Treasured smiled "Calling my bluff are you? Fine then." He focused his magic and the crystals completely enveloped the Mare. He smashed the now statue with his wing, putting the pieces in a compartment of his metal body parts. "Then let's see what you think of stasis." He said to himself as he lowered the walks and started to head somewhere more private before putting the mare back together. The crystals didn't cause her to die, more of before she did she was warped to a pocket reality where nothing existed, She couldn't do anything... not even think while suspended in such stasis. Shining was the first to run after the crystal walls fell "Where's the mare?! Treasured You're the only one here so you best answer me." Treasured sighed and faced Shining armor "She got away... I tried to put up my walls to stop her but... She managed to pass it somehow. She has powers... Similar to that Montarion character... I'd be very cautious around her if I were you. Good day Armor." With that Treasured walked away. ---------------------------------------------------- Luna helped Jack down with levitation and she brought out whatever she could find that was soft inside the camp for him to rest on. "There... How's that? Better for you?" She hoped so as she couldn't think of what else to do.

While Woody was alone, He was still working, He was drawing lines on a map of Equestria. "If she's not at Rainbow falls... Where could she have gone in a week... Add the fact she was limping to it... And the fact she may be navigating a hostile environment so..." Woody drew several lines, curving them in spots or sharply zig-zagging them. Most of the lines where in the middle of nothing a few of them hit dangerous areas and another hit canterlot, he erased that one knowing that it was unlikely she was there. He drew one to manehatten... " No... If she was there she'd know how to safely get home... So that's out ." Woody erased the line. He started to get tired, for the past 3 days, Woody had been doing this non-stop. He stretched walking over to the couch that was in the living room. He checked to be sure that the door was unlocked for Will before he got some rest, He wanted to be woken up if Will was to return or anypony came for that matter.

Treasured flinched How did she know all... Never mind that... If she wants answers... She'll get them. The 'alicorn' gave an angry glare and stomped a hoof down and his horn glowed brightly. Crystal walls grew on both sides of them spikes jutting out on the outside so no one could get it "It's quite amazing you noticed all that. You are correct in most regards... When I used the virus I realized that it wasn't exactly a good idea. I had no intentions of taking Jack, I lied to them so I could eliminate a certain pony," A small yellow colored crystal grew out of the ground He lifted it "My rival, That... Bat who always got in my way..." He dropped the crystal, shattering it under his hoof "She is gone... Now no one in the universe can stop my ascension to power. So I do not need more power than what I have" Treasured grew several crystals now into a throne design and he sat on it "You wonder why I want to rule and question why I want to do things the way I do... Well, ponies may not hive mind... but when one defies..." A small colorless crystal sprouted from the ground "... Many more will follow." Hundreds of small crystals sprouted along with the same one and they turned red "The one insect you let slip is now suddenly a swarm and you have no way to combat them. If you make them like you." The crystals turned green. "Then the swarm will serve you. I must earn trust so my plan will flow smoothly and I don't hit many ridges. I'm sure someone like you could understand the most simple of concepts." Treasured rose from the detaching his metal wings, resting them on the sides of the throne and he slowly approached this... corpse. "I still can't help but Feel I'm wasting my time telling you all of this. Why don't I just prove how strong I am to you..." In a blink he had a hoof touching her horn and a sharp, painful magic shot through her body, Crystals grew out of the unicorn's horn blocking off their magical capability... Not only that but most of her body grew crystals as well... They grew out of the surface as opposed to from inside her body, the end result caused the mare's hooves to be rooted to the ground, linked to it by the dark red Sombra-like Crystals. "Now... Shall I take care of you... Or do you wish to join me? Your unique skills would make you a very valuable asset to me... an asset I won't allow to fall into another's hooves." His wings levitated back into place locking into the slots. Treasured swung and stopped his bladed wing, inches from the mare's throat as he prefers to scare ponies by doing that. "5... seconds..." He threatened. Graystone smiled "What a fool. Leaving me with a device that could make my lieges job easier..." He was going to take the weapon to Treasured but he hesitated. "No... Something this strong... no one needs to have this..." Graystone carefully started the process to exract what was currently the power core. Worried about it's capabilities. --------------------------------------------------------- Evelyn chucked "W-Well... You answered most of the questions with that speech... I only have one more." She wondered if she should really ask... "Those few you made a promise to... Aside from them... why is Cyril so important... not to them... or us. But to you... I just don't really get it."

When Maple got hugged by Speechless, she smiled and started to tear up as she hugged him back. She was so sick of pretending to be strong for this... And now... She felt like she didn't have to be, now that the hunters tailing the two where gone, as far as she knew "T-Thank you. Let's get out of here so we can... I.. Don't really know what to do now..." Maple started to use her head rather than just running off instinct. "We can't fight all the hunters... we couldn't even face 3... I... I just don't know."

AS she fired Maple smiled at her own success. When she heard the dear speak to her rose a brow as she knocked another arrow, She didn't pull the string back... yet. She looked at the deer with her bow at rest leaned against her shoulder "I'm not some brute... And I don't think you understand what you're doing here... I've heard about what you few do and I'm not just letting that slide... You can let the civilians go or there will be more trouble than you bargained for." Maple glared at the deer "After all... Looks can only get you so far." She felt that the deer would be easy to take, disregarding the fact they just materialized onto the roof. She wanted a good duel, despite not following any of the current chaos gods she really acted like one of Wars followers. "Oh, I'm not ignoring her comment. I know she just has an odd way of showing affection.Well... The runt comment kinda hurt. That aside, she means well deep down I know it!" Woody said smiling. He looked at slug "Ooh! Biomancy, that's a fun word to say! Biomancy." He repeated, he still liked the way it sounded. He was gently swaying side to side on his legs, as he was standing quadruped, at the moment. His carefree personality was him trying to get the others to like him better since that was mostly his goal now that he would be staying here. "What are we waiting for? I'm itching to get started!"

"Oh please... There's not a planet left in this system that's not infested... Besides you'd need a large ship to carry the whole race to another planet. Not one that Equestria's seen yet even... Plus not even Graystone could make it in his whole lifetime... not only that but Ponies are more inclided to stay close to home... SO staying here is the best option... I'm not saying your plan would be worse...merely commenting on holes that even a "Filly could notice" " He said the last part simply to mock the corpse he was wasting his time with. --------------------------------------------------------- Luna was very happy along with Evelyn too. They both really enjoyed the speech but Celestia... She was caught up in something "Aurora of life... I should do more research on that... "Celestia acted like the remainder of the crowd. Luna gave Edgard a pat on the back "Well said friend... I'm amazed! to say the least... You too Jack!"

Maple didn't move, "My mother, one of Twilights friends, lives there... Along with the other 4 of Twilight's friends... She has appeared in the past yes. But that was only to assist my mother and her friends. The town itself is important to her, however... since it's the homes of those 6." Maple stood up finally meeting Nova's gaze now "We could possibly send a team there to perhaps draw her out if that's what you wish my liege. If we do, however, I'll leave the operation to Force. I don't think that it would be a good idea for me to go back there yet..."

@WiiGuy2014 Woody started to cry with a smile "T-Thank you both... I'll try to calm down before you end up finding anypony to help me... W-When it's over I'll give you two anything... Anything I can. I owe you both so much already I just... " Woody hugged Will, who was still Maple "Thank you both... I can't say that enough, Thank you..." ----------------------------------------------------- @nx9100 When Nova had entered Maple had just bucked the dummy she was using, sending it flying to the other side of the room. She smiled at her own strength the smile she had quickly faded as she realized Nova was standing at the door and she quickly knelt into a bow putting a hoof across her chest and spoke "I used to live in ponyville, My Liege. What exactly would you like to know about my hometown?" Maple asked him so she could be as detailed as Nova saw fit.

" Well... I think I can do that..." Tears welled up for woody but he wiped them away and touched his throat with his paw and magic went into it. "She sounds like this... I'll never forget this voice." The voice was light, had a motherly but authoritative tone to it. It was as if when she asked to do something she was telling you to... but in the nicest way possible letting you still feel like you can say no to her. Woody stopped his magic " It's... very therapeutic for me to see her... Thank you, Wills."

@WiiGuy2014 Woody thought about it for a second " C-Could you turn into her now? I... I want to make sure you know exactly what she looks. " Woody said that... but he really just wanted to See Maple again, even if it was a changeling just looking like her. He wished to remind himself of who he was looking for. "In my little projection I ddin't capture all the details... But with your changeling powers... you can!"

"Me and what was left my own force of alicorn hunters were going to go around Equestria... Exterminating the infested and those that may be. We don't care about that so-called "Cure" That Zecora thinks she's making. Once the infested are removed then our plan can take action, we move all EQuestrians to a condensed area like canterlot or ponyville... Rationing out what we can to those who need it... We need to make sure everypony is ok before we begin to make... rehabitation efforts and we go back to normal. All without that stupid royal guard knowing a thing..." Treasured checked to be sure no royal guard heard him and chuckled knowing that he was clear "What do you say..." Treasured help out a hoof but wasn't meant for a real shake... "Do you want to be a part of this?" His grin showed that he was to be trusted but there was a deep meaning behind his motivation... No that it could be gathered only from his smile. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Luna seemed a bit angry but not towards Jack "That doesn't answer half of my question... Why the hay is all of this happening? Does Valtreck even have a motive? Or is he only out to kill every living creature that might stand in his way. Either one of those makes me angry especially the second... As that's what Nightmare Moon wanted too... So... Tell me more about Valtreck... his motives, skills. Whatever... How did he even get such an army in the first place?"

Woody contemplated it for a while "Generally bat ponies are accepted minus some radical ponies. Changelings... well it depends on the pony, if they have a sour taste for them then maybe not... Me and dad? Well... I'm not too sure, no one says much about it but we get... strange looks. Other than that nothing really. You and C. Will should have no trouble finding ponys that will care enough to help me out... If you find any, and I mean Anypony who will help I mean it... Send them here and I'll fill them in. P-Promise you can do this for me?" Woody looked at him, Will could see he was desprate... why he didn't want to leave himself was his buisness. The only thing was... would the wills help?

Maple took off her sabaton on her right foreleg, exposing the wound to Speechless it was only seen as a red mark across her leg, the landing could've opened the wound but it wasn't... not yet at least. "Ow... Dang, it... That... That drop hurt... Sorry... I should be tougher but... my emotions are getting to me in a way." Maple took a deep breath trying to relax herself. She looked into speechless eyes watching them closely.

"Well... You're talking about... not planning... nor making a strategy to the wrong pony... I mean. I've already got a plan to kill all 4 alicorns... but now is not the time for that... It seems you lack patience... Plans need to be set in motion and we have yet to find the resources nor horsepower to execute it... I know you're upset but honestly you could be a great aid to this plan I'm trying to execute... Care to assist or continue your worthless plight to do it alone..." Tresured walked close his wing scraping the ground Sharpening the wing "Hmm... Well I may need to do more research on this." Graystone said pondering the design... I'll get back to you..." He walked over to the schematics to think on this. --------------------------------------------------------------- "That's inhumane!" Luna roared outraged "I mean how far are they going to kill! You seem to know a whole lot about this... So... Why are they doing this? Control? Do they just want to see everything die? Where does he even recruit from?"

Wasting no time Maple ran out after the other and nocked an arrow drawing it back, firing the shot at a cultist she selected at random. She repeated the process with speed and finesse as she fired at several others until she saw some of the less fortunate civilians and fired shots at the tormentors, she worried she'd hit the civilians but she didn't have time to run over to them otherwise too much damage would be done.She flew up to the roof of the building the portal had dropped the group out of and looked around hunting more tormentors or seeing if they were taking hostages somewhere else. "War... You don't have to be rude about it you know that right... You could have just told her she was the best at it." Woody smiled to salacious "And somewhere to stay would be great. A nice cabin in the woods would do great..." Woody hesitated running a paw along his mane as he realized something "You think that's rather bland... Huh?"

@WiiGuy2014 With a hopeful smile, woody's horns started to glow and a book flew into his paw, Levitation was one of few spells he didn't need to sing to use. He opened the book and flipped through it, the Book was one of Woody's obviously, it had a lot of his writing in it to remember what various magic did, and staffs for music with notes were found on the pages too. He stopped on a page he had written on, he simplified the instructions since they were much more complex. In Woody's paw writing it said Ignore book, Just take and image in you mind and use your magic to push the image out of your head then it will be a projection until you put it back but it can't "Detach" From you. The process seemed simple... even to a point where a filly could figure it out but the draconequus knew what he was talking about... The only question was if Will was magically inclined enough to do it.

@WiiGuy2014 Woody accepted the hug and embraced Will in return he then moved away to talk to Will about what kind of magic he was talking about before hoof "You know... Let me show you," Woody started to hum a light tune and he held out a paw, in his paw, there was a small pony that looked projected it was somewhat see through but you could make out features, the smaller the detail the harder it was to see. The mare was yellow, and she also had vampire-like features, Will could easily compare that image to pictures that were around the house and he knew the pony in the projection was the pony Woody was looking for. "Like this... It's not a high-level spell but it's not a low level... I could probably find a book on it if you need to learn it... or I could just draw a picture of her and you take that?" Looking at the projecting he made of Maple wasn't exactly helping his current mood. Woody wondered about the cape but didn't ask about it... Will would need to focus on the spell he just exampled for him.

@WiiGuy2014 "I've got an idea. Can you use your magic to project an image? If so... maybe you ask around ponyville. Or manehatten... try to find her..." Woody started to lose composure again but he took a deep breath and a drank some of his tea " B-But... Avoid telling any of the royal guards... they'll just dismiss it and be useless as always... If you know anyone who might be able to help PLEASE send them here so I can fill them in on this. I know she's alive. I just... wish I knew where..." Woody set the tea down and let out a long sigh as he stared at the floorboards slowly starting to lose hope. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Maple found her vacant room and did as she usually did when she had time, she took out her spear and set up a training dummy. She stretched before she started her small training session, this time it was more to kill time than to improve. She struck it 4 times in rapid succession each strike in what would be vital points on a pony that would be facing her. It wasn't really accurate... a pony would try to dodge or block... but her strikes were fast so it would be hard unless the pony she faced was being careful. She stared at it and thought about it... that would be a pony soon... possible one she served with before... as she looked into her spears head, she thought. It was worth it to see Luna put into the position of power she deserved.

Treasured held up a hoof, not approaching, wanting to chat with the pony a bit "Well you tell me... you died right? So aren't you supposed to be rotting... No 2 of the princess vanished and now I have no choice but to help find them... I want them both their full powers when I first fight them... otherwise, I might not make the proper statement of power... back to you.. what are you planning on doing? You call us ignorant but won't even tell us what the hay is going on... seems like faulty reasoning to me..." If there was one thing he hated... it would be alicorns... but ignorance was a close second and he slammed a hoof down standing nobly and powerfully. "Well for starters... perhaps if you used a bit of a less... questionable... energy source... then it might not be that strong. However... if you're trying to trap infested... then the weapon will need something strong... Ahh... I've got it. How about a plasma? Like lighting sort of. We could harness it in a crystal... or maybe something else? But it would need to be a lot of whatever plasma. We might only get it to have one shot per recharge... but it will be less powerful initially... that's what you wanted correct ------------------------------------------------------------------- Celestia came over quickly "I've already got one... How's the climate on most of the planet over there? I don't know why but I think it's cold and snowy for some reason..." Luna came over too. She wasn't ready with a question like Celestia was she was interested though. Evelyn smiled. "Quite the crowd right Jack? I bet it's better than what you thought right?"