The-Master

The question took Star Keeper a bit off guard. The group was ready to depart any second, and now it seemed there was a conflicting issue over whether or not two ponies had met beforehand. "I don't remember." Star Keeper looked down at the ground, avoiding any eye contact as he thought over what he knew. There just simply wasn't enough to say he had ever met her before. Besides, at this time it wasn't important, getting to Canterlot as fast as possible was. "No, no I'm sure of it. I don't remember seeing you anywhere. Sorry." He trotted away from Purple power, trying not to seem to rude in doing so. There would be a time later to find out how the seemed familiar, but now was not it.

Star Keeper noticed as every prepared to depart, so he simply shuffled back to avoid getting in anyponies way. 'Well, they were certainly quick to trust. I certainly wouldn't tag along with anypony who couldn't manage a simple greeting. I'm not normally like that, it's just been a rough time. It has been for all of us.' I guess on up side to having everything you own strapped across your back was that you were always ready to depart if the time called for it. Star Keeper slung his bag back over his shoulder and showed he was set to leave any moment. It was nearly 70 miles to Canterlot and the journey would need to be a swift one. Getting caught in the open was probably not a smart idea. "So four's a company."

It was a funny thing. She seemed to have no trouble plucking the strings despite having hooves. 'I know it's just tuning, but it sounds... good.' Star Keeper looked up to Harp's face as she continued to strum the instrument. "So what exactly is a harp player, who obviously has no idea what is actually going on, doing on this ship?" She met his gaze back, and they shared a couple of seconds just viewing each others eyes. Star Keeper broke lock and stared back out across the room. "We don't have much time so I suggest getting it out now."

Star Keeper seemed only more adamant to increase the already stale awkwardness. It had been some time since he had had a proper conversation. While the others looked a bit perplexed, the purple mare still seemed fascinated. "Soooo... you guys were talking about Canterlot. You planning on travelling there? Not that I was eves-dropping, I was just interested." 'Smooth.' His own thoughts seemed out to get him again. "I mean, It sounds like, um... you were all talking about going there. I've been there before, not much in terms of defense, but it's quite pretty. It was along tome ago." It was a long shot. It seemed yet again his curiosity got the better of him, if curiosity is what you would call it. Canterlot would at least be better than this excuse for a living condition. "Have room for one more in your company?"

Star Keeper turned to address Bio. "Well, I'll know that for next time, wont I?" He gave him a smug chuckle, not all that sincere. He threw his gaze back to the mare sitting opposite him. The entire time Harp had sat in her chair, silent as a slow drifting breeze. She looked down at the table with a hollow gaze. She didn't seem in the talking mood as of this moment. Star Keeper begun to recite again in his mind, 'The crossbow prod is very short compared to ordinary bows, resulting in a short draw length. This leads to a higher draw weight in order to store the same amount of energy...'

Star Keeper gazed at the intricate crossbow. It was... unusual. He begun to scan his head for any reference to crossbow mechanics. ‘A crossbow is a weapon bow mounted on a stick (called a tiller or stock) with a mechanism in it which holds the drawn bow string. The earliest designs featured a slot in the stock, down into which the string was placed. To shoot this design, a vertical rod is thrust up through a hole in the bottom of the notch, forcing the string out. This rod is usually attached perpendicular to a rear-facing lever called a trigger or "tickler". A later design implemented a rolling cylindrical pawl called a "nut" to retain the string. This nut has a perpendicular center slot for the bolt, and an intersecting axial slot for the string, along with a lower face or slot against which the internal trigger sits. They often also have some form of strengthening internal "sear" or trigger face, usually of metal… I give up.’ Star Keeper let out a reluctant sigh, turning back to face Avion. He looked pretty cocky at the moment to say the least, he had full right to be. This was his area of expertise, not Star Keepers. "Alight then, lets hear it."

'Well, bugger.' Maybe it wasn't the greatest idea to insult a colt with a crossbow. To late now obviously Star Keeper turned back to face Avion who seemed twice as dominating as before, and he seemed to know it. Star Keeper was by no means a fighter, or even physically capable. 'Reason with him? Like he'll listen to reason. Panic? Panic sounds like a reasonable option.' "I don't know how or why you came to be on this expedition, but I find brute force to be ineffective at most times. You are dull witted and blind, and in that I have the advantage." That... was a terrible choice of words, but hey, he panicked.

'That's it.' Star Keeper turned to address the smug looking stallion, a thought creeping into his mind. "Well then, let me know if you need me to hold your hoof if you get too scared." Star Keeper had a satisfied look on his face, but the mare sitting with him seemed to cringe a bit. He simply looked at Avion with a smug grin, earning a foul expression in return. "Now, where was I"

Star Keeper rested his head in his hooves as he leaned against the table. He was still tired from a restless night with plenty of interruptions. His mood wasn't improved by this fact, and this was plainly shown by his facial expression. "Honestly, just forget it." He looked back up at the black mare. She was looking down at the table, avoiding his gaze. It's then he noticed the small bag strapped around the mares neck. All thoughts of curiosity seemed to shift at once. "What's in the bag?" This sentence seemed to catch her attention, like a dog would perk up on his name being called.

"Must you carry that infernal thing where ever you go?" Star Keeper halted in front of the mess hall when he saw Avion, with his beloved slung over his shoulder. What is with him and that bloody crossbow? Star Keeper beckoned Harp into the hall and towards a chair drawn up to a table. He gave a weary gaze at Avion as he sat across the room throwing back coffee as if it were water. Star Keeper could not help but feel uneasy around him, it was just everything about his look and manner that seemed... off.

Well, that was... awkward. He was a mere inch away from facehoofing himself. Still, at least nobody ran off this time. 'Purplepower, where have I heard that before? Wait, answer the question, then you can think.' He shook his head, regaining some matter of composure. 'Shes... pretty, to say the least. Wait, stop that brain, before you say something you'll regret.' "Sorry, um, I'm... well, I'm Star Keeper. A Historian by profession. Um, nice to meet you Purplepower." He attempted a half smile but ended up looking something like a grinning dog.

Star Keeper rolled his eyes at the annoyed Bio, leading the Harp back down the hall to the mess room. "I'm sure the Captain would be more than willing to help. Just don't get into any trouble before we set off. Anymore delays and we might as well pack up and leave." He gave a sarcastic smile to the captain, who merely scowled back at him. Star Keeper took the black mare into the hall, turning to face her along the way. "We have twenty minutes, that gives you fifteen to tell me exactly why you're here and how you managed to get aboard."

Star Keeper didn't notice the Purple mare until she beckoned him closer. She almost seemed... familiar. It had been a mass panic when the city fell around them (and his mind being focused on saving what he could from the archives), he could not distinguish one pegasus from the other. He tried to focus on his scroll, but curiosity got the better of him. It always did in the end. The sandy blond stallion pulled the scruffy blanket over his back looked back at the purple mare. He wasn't normally this, well... social. This was going to be interesting. He tucked his scrolls into his small saddle bag and dragged himself up from around the fire. His burning curiosity spread as he neared her. 'Have I met her? Cant have, I don't recognize her. And yet she still rings some bells.' He slowly thought in his head as he approached. He raised a nervous hoof in greeting as the group turned to face him, the only smiling face coming from the purple mare in question. She seemed... cheerful enough. "Um... hello. I, um..." He attempted to hide his face under his wing. 'That could have gone a bit better.'

Star Keeper stepped in before the black mare could speak. "Her name is Harp. And don't worry about keeping an eye on her, I'll see to it that she doesn't get in our way. If we just stick to the plan and we'll be out of here soon." He looked back at Harp. The mare still had a fixed blush on her face, but at least she seemed a little more at ease. The other crew members didn't seem to pleased about hauling around extra weight, but what else were they supposed to do? Star Keeper didn't know whether it was out of kindness or pity, but he didn't want to see her come to an ill fate.

"We don't have time for this charade, and honestly I'm not staying on board to foalsit. Bring her with us for now and we'll deal with it later." Star Keeper was at this point quite flustered, his impatience growing. She appeared quite vulnerable, almost cute in a way. He didn't feel entirely okay dragging a mare onto an uncharted island but when times call for it. Star Keeper tucked in his wings, trying to avoid looking too concerned, and addressed the captain. "Whats say you?"

Star Keeper pulled the thin blankets tighter across his shoulders. He was huddled round a small dimly lit fire that didn't give much warmth but was enough that he could feel some comfort. The chill in the air was still present as the breeze carried it in across the far stretching hills. He held in his hooves an old looking scroll and beside him lay yet more of the sort, the only things he had saved from Las Pegasus. They contained some matter of historical record, hoof written by some famous Lore Master in Canterlot. Star Keeper found it was the only thing that kept him sane in these troubling times, the strength of his mind constantly being called into question. He simply went through each day, alternating between staring into the fire and reading his scrolls. Star Keeper noticed in the corner of his eye a number of ponies conversing near another fire place. He was always curious, curiosity being his main attribute. He over herd talk of "travel" and "Canterlot". They were fools if they thought Canterlot would be any safer. No where in Equestria did he feel safe. His wings were nipped again by the cold and he huddled them under the blanket, gazing back at his scroll. He was alone this time...

“No need to explain yourself. Although I am curious as to who you are exactly? You don’t look like a crew member.” Star Keeper examined the mare head to hoof. Her black coat was as sharp as night, her mane was slightly ruffled, yet still had its white sheen. She had an element of beauty to her, not that Star Keeper cared about such traits. He seemed more interested in how she was going to explain herself. “So, who are you now?”

Star Keeper trusted Celestia, well, mostly. She was sometimes less specific than she could have been. When she had asked, ‘Would you like to go on an expedition?’ he couldn’t have imagined this many days of lying on a stone hard mattress. His back was killing him. Ten years of History and Lore studies to end up on a ship similar in hygiene to a urinal. His sandy blond coat was nearly matted from the amount of filth. This better be all it's cracked up to be. His attitude hadn't exactly improved throughout the trip. Star Keeper was disturbed when he heard multiple raised voices echoing down the ship. Reluctantly, he got up from his rock bed and went to go check what was happening. His curiosity was the only thing stronger than his arrogance. It’s probably just another fight. This usually happens with a group of ponies in a small confined ship at sea for days, especially among this eccentric cast of characters. Unhinging the door, Star Keeper brushed his bluish grey mane out of his eyes and walked into the room where the entire ruckus seemed to be coming from. He was met with a strange sight indeed. "Either of you two going to explain what this is about?"

The moon was at half phase and its light glittered off the wet pavement. The rain had eased off and was now just a slight dampness in the air. As always the stars shinned bright in Hollywood in both meanings of the term. After the very successful premier of the latest film “Avatar 3” starring Nicolas Cage, the cast only thought it sensible to celebrate at the Castle Springs hotel. It wasn't too shabby, a pool there and a sauna there, good room service and a nice wine selection. The black limo pulled up in front of the building and the celebrities stepped out, instantly greeted by hordes of photographers. The first to step out was none other than Miranda Cosgrove herself (not famous for her acting just to note), the supporting actress of the film. Her glittering red dress dragged along the carpet that had been laid out for the stars. The next to step out were a bunch of up and coming young actors no body care about. The true hero of this film was about to step out. Putting on his custom shades even though it was 12:30 am was the one and only Nicolas Cage. The paparazzi went frantic, jumping over one another to get a good shot of the actor. Nicolas put on his best fake smile and walked towards the hotel entrance quickly, waving at the mob at either side. Miranda was waiting for him at the door and greeted him with a goofy smile. “Parasites” Nicolas muttered in such a low voice only Miranda was close enough to make it out. She just put an arm around him. “Come on, they don’t matter, who cares? Let’s just have fun tonight.” “Well I sure would like to.” Nicolas replied in his monotone voice used both on and off the cameras. He shrugged off a couple off staff that asked if he would like anything delivered to his room or anyone to help him with his black leather jacket. Nicolas walked through the large dining hall and out into the casino lounge. All the other cast members were enjoying themselves on the flashing pokey machines while old Orlando was trying his luck at Texas Hold’em. Nicolas knew that even an actor like Orlando could not match his poker face. The director, Michael Bay, gave him a firm handshake with both hands on his. “Good work, Cage, good work. Those box offices won’t know what hit ‘em” “It’s money well spent, Michael. Just be sure to throw in a couple more sequels while you’re at it.” They both gave each other looks of ‘I see what you did there’ before Nicolas walked past the director, leaving him standing by himself. He quickly threw off his fake smile and walked over to the overcrowded bar. Miranda had long gone off to talk to some other chicks, he didn't care. He sat up on one of the bar stools and removed his shades, slipping them into his front jacket pocket. The bar tender instantly left his other customers to see that Mr Cage was served. “Anything I can get you?” He asked, trying not to sound too awkward. Cage gave him one of his signature looks that gave him no hint of any emotion. “Scotch on the rocks if you don’t mind.” He said sternly. The bar tender nodded and went to prepare his drink. Cage looked around the bar and saw a bunch of overly intoxicated men with pool cues with drunk women draped around their shoulders. He snared in their direction and nodded as his drink was placed in front of him. The bar tender left him be and went back to the now irritated customers. He threw back his drink and went off to see how Miranda was doing with her ‘friends’. Miranda wrapped herself around his waist and pulled him closer so that all her girlfriend could see. “Aw yeah, so are you two like together?” One of the reasonably skanky looking females said. “No silly, we are just very good pals. Don’t you remember he’s married?” Miranda then suddenly got a surprised reaction from Nicolas. “I am? That’s right.” “So you guys gonna join us tonight?” Miranda giggled at her friend. “Depends what you had in mind.” “Well, it involves dancing, picking up a few guys and probably getting wasted at some point. The order doesn't matter, so long as we are in bed by four if you know what I mean.” “Sounds fun, how about it big guy?” Nicolas snapped back into reality and realized that someone else was talking. He quickly switched to default mode. “Sure, anything you want.” Miranda perked up and tugged him along. “All right, let’s go have fun!” Nicolas barely had time to get a word in. “Have what?” Nicolas flopped onto his bed with a resounding thud. He looked blankly up in the ceiling and concentrated on the throbbing headache that seemed to hammer at the inside of his skull. Miranda and him were split up for a few hours but he found her again when he came back to his room. She was busy upchucking something and he thought it best to do the gentlemen like thing and leave her be. She unlocked the bathroom door and waddled out into the bedroom. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and collapsed on top of the stunned Cage. After a slight hiccup, she begun to hum a slight tune and wandered her eyes up to his. “Sooo, you wanna…” “Tired.” Nicolas gave in a slow drone. Miranda gave a pouty look of disappointment and collapsed on the bed next to him. Nicolas did not want to be rude but got up and went into the living room so he did not have to spend the evening with an excuse for a drunken supporting actress. She instantly fell asleep soon after, letting out heavy sounds of an elephant snoring. Nicolas set himself down on the coach and switched on the wall mounted TV. He flicked through the channels to see if anything related to him was on. After he had come up with no results other than an episode of Police 10/7 he would rather forget, he simply left it on MTV. He stared blankly at the screen for the next thirty or so minutes till he slowly shut his eyes and drifted off into sleep. His head slightly tilted to the left and his arms resting on either side. The TV continued to throw out random sounds and the room fell still. Outside the Castle Springs hotel was a black Toyota Hilux. It was precariously parked on the other side of the street with its two passengers keeping a close eye on a set of audio devices set up in Cage’s room. The man and the women were both dressed in US black combat gear and wore stab proof vests. The blond haired woman was the first to speak. “No signs of movement. He may have gone to sleep now.” She looked over to the African American man on her left. He nodded and signaled to the door. “Alright, now’s the time to move. You know what we need to do, just keep to the mission outline, agent Sarah.” The agent nodded back. “Let’s go then, agent Johnson.” They both exited the car and ran up to the hotel entrance. By now most guests were in their rooms so getting in would not be an issue. They made it past the front desk without a hitch. Once they reached the second floor hallway the two signaled to split up. Agent Sarah would make her way to the security control room and erase the memory from all security cam footage. Agent Johnson would find and deal with the target. Johnson soon reached the fourth floor and located the target room, 126. He pulled out some small devise and pressed it to the lock. In a few seconds a green bulb flashed and the agent opened the door. Johnson saw his target sprawled across the coach. Gripping his gun, he crept behind the sleeping Cage and pulled out a small piece of cloth, pressing it against the actor’s mouth. He struggled for a few second before he was unconscious. Agent Johnson swung him over his shoulder and carried him towards the window. Pulling out a hook from his belt, the agent connected it to the window pane and begun to abseil down the hotel with Nicolas Cage still on his back. After the agent reached the road, he quickly retracted his rope and made his way to the Hilux with target in hand. He arrived to find agent Sarah waiting for him in the driver’s seat. Johnson placed the unconscious Cage in the back and hopped into the passenger’s seat. “Man, next time I’m driving.” He joked. A mobile phone begun to ring from the glove box and Agent Sarah went to answer it. “Yes. Yes, we have him.” Johnson grew a satisfied smile on his face. “We’ll be there in 10 minutes; the stuff we gave him should have him out for hours though.” With that she hung up. Their mission was complete and their target secured, the two agents drove off into the night. Underneath the Hollywood sign resides a top secret research facility owned by the US government, but funded by China. It is here where they conduct the experiments that the world doesn't necessarily need to know about just yet. When the two agents arrived (via secret elevator) they laid the unconscious Nicolas Cage on a gurney as he was wheeled of too medical where he would undergo their most ambitious test to date. Dr Author Humphreys was responsible for the tests undertaking. He had in 2008 discovered the remains of suspected alien technology after his visit to the London Scientists Union. This technology was potentially revolutionizing, but there was a flaw. It was capable of sending a person across space at extraordinary speeds that a conventional craft could never achieve, but there was also the slight chance it could tear the passenger to shreds. A test subject was needed. “Sir.” One of the Medical staff came up to Dr Humphreys as he went over the final preparations. “Yes, what is it.” “Why Nicolas Cage, I mean, of all people he seems...” “Arrogant, cocky, inconsiderate, a bad representation to all of mankind? Yes, he may be all these things, but rest assured he’s going to a better place.” “We’re gonna kill him?!” “Quite possibly, well, most likely. There is still the chance he’ll end up on some world across the galaxy, but the chances of his survival are minimal.” They strapped Nicolas onto a table in the middle of a large empty room, with the exception of the alien device sitting on one side of the room. Behind their bullet proof glass, the team watched as the first stages of testing begun. The portal was set on its lowest setting to first see if he could survive exposure to the energies being emitted. Over the next few minutes all his vitals seemed to be perfectly healthy (except for the obvious presence of alcohol). They began to increase intensity, a portal forming on one side of the room in front of the device. Raw energy was flung from gaping hole in space, and soon the straps keeping Nicolas on the table were straining from the pressure. They set the dial on 13, its highest possible level. The result was catastrophic. The straps holding down Cage gave way, and he was sucked through the portal. Soon after it erupted, shattering the glass and cracking the very walls. Circuits were fired and readings were off the charts. When the portal had subsided, the scientists peaked from under the controls. The lab was ruined and there was nothing to show from it. Meters had been destroyed before any readings could be taken. To make it all worse their test subject was nowhere to be seen. Nicolas woke with a biting hangover still at his skull. He covered his eyes as he felt the harsh sun beat down on him. It was at this point he realized he was no longer lying down in his hotel room. He was lying in the middle of a dirt road in the middle of what looked like an early Victorian village. He picked himself up and brushed the mud off his leather jacket. He slipped on his shades and tried to grasp the situation at hand. All attempts at this were halted when a strange pink miniature horse bounced up to him. It stood at a third of his height but didn't seem to be scarred of him. Its mane was like cotton candy and tattooed on her flank was an image of balloons. This was very strange right from the get go. “Hi, how are you doing?” The pink horse asked. Nicolas instantly recoiled in surprise, his eyes widening to their fullest. “DAFAQ!!!” I hope you enjoyed one of the worst pieces of literature I have ever written. Before you ask, I was bored.

My Favourite Mane 6 Pony: Rainbow Dash How did you find MLP Forums?: So far, well, I can't make a call at this early stage. Ask me at a later date. How you became a fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: My friends are obsessive fans. They convinced me to sit down and watch the first episode. I watched them ALL... Well, where to begin. Ah yes... I just wanted to be involved in the fandom. That simple. Um, I guess I should add some personal details. Lets get started. -I'm interested in history and literature. -Interested in lore from a variate of different fan groups (e.g: LOTR, W40K, MLP, Doctor Who, etc...) -I read books. Books are cool. -Easily impressed. There we go, me in a nutshell. Good to be here...