private A Temporal Odyssey

[Zhooves 843]

North, supported by Midnatt, followed DJ as quickly as they could. Soon after DJ had entered a hut by the jungle, they both stood at the doorstep.

"Oi, Nord, look... That probably be the See-well we are looking for." Midnatts said, shaking North a little to keep him awake, as she also pointed at the zebra.

 

"Ah, it be one of those stripy ponies..." North replied, looking up to see.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

"What kind of favour would that be?" Clover asked the zebra. She wondered what sort of thing the zebra Callaloo would want them to do in return for the information. Magic requests she could do, but anything else... well, that would depend on what the favour was going to be. She waited for his reply.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Steel put down the bobble he was toying with as his ears perked.

 

"Price? Favor? A challenge I here? Name it wise alchemist, and we shall endeavor to complete the task!" Steel said with vitriol, evidently Evening's parting and the mostly uneventful trip had made him a little stir crazy for some activity.

"What kind of favour would that be?" Clover asked the zebra. She wondered what sort of thing the zebra Callaloo would want them to do in return for the information. Magic requests she could do, but anything else... well, that would depend on what the favour was going to be. She waited for his reply.

 

"Sorry your Highness, I'm just a little excited is all. It's been awhile since we've had a life threatening quest by which we may never return and the balance of the world is threatened."   Steel then put a hoof to his chin. " . . . .  Maybe I should get out more." Steel said.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Steel Accord, Clover blushed at the formal address. "Just call me Clover," she replied. "I might be a Princess now, but I'm still the same mare I ever was before."

 

Clover still wasn't quite used to being a Princess. True, she had the wings and she still wore the crown which had the white jewel which had been given her on the group's last journey, but she still needed time to adapt to her new role.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

 

"What favour, you be asking?" Callaloo repeated with a chuckle. "Well, it be not so much for me as it is for de islanders. You see, recently a pony came to de island. We do not know who he be, nor where he come from, but we do know why he come..." He paused, giving a sad sigh. "He be here.. to kill de mayor..."

 

"What!?!" DJ cried, surprised to hear such a peaceful town had such a terrible problem. "Why would he want to kill the mayor? And why has no one captured him?"

 

"You see, he is not just any ordinary pony.." Callaloo replied. "He be very skilful and quiet. When he come, you do not know about it, and when he go, it is as if he never left. The only way we know is from de victims. He has not succeeded in his attempts on de mayor's life, but he has injured several of his bodyguards, who have witnessed dis monster in de flesh. I fear that sooner or later, he will kill our beloved Mayor Deepwood. We all love him, and could not bear to see him lost to us. Please, if you help bring dis monster to justice, I will give you whatever help you be needing."

 

"But... we don't even know where to start looking!" DJ protested. "How are we ever going to...." He was interrupted by a sudden uproar outside, with a lot of angry, frightened voices. "Huh? What's happening...?"

 

Giving a sad smile, Callaloo replied, "I think you be finding your first clue..."

 

Dashing outside, DJ saw a group of ponies all gathered in a circle around a wounded stallion. He was lying on the ground, covered in deep cuts. A small pool of blood was gathering around him, and though the situation seemed critical, he was thankfully still alive. Around him, a chorus of angry voices had struck up.

 

"This is the third victim this week!"

 

"Why is he doing this!"

 

"If I had my hooves on him...!"

 

"What'll we do...?"

 

Suddenly, a deep, powerful voice struck up. "EVERYPONY! Please, calm down! This will not solve the problem!" A red earth pony with a dark brown mane and the cutie mark of a pen and paper stepped into the group, and they all parted. From DJ's reckoning, he seemed to be the very Mayor Deepwood that Callaloo had just told them about. He knelt down next to the fallen pony and touched his shoulder gently. "Please rest, friend. I will see to it that the island hospital takes good care of you, while I deal with the monster that did this to you..." The pony looked up at the mayor and whispered something in his ear, to which Deepwood nodded.

 

Standing back up to address the crowd, the mayor said, "As you can see, another of my guards has fallen victim to the mysterious assassin that continues to terrorize our beautiful island! This has gone on too far. We WILL catch him and put him to justice! This time, our friend here has told me he saw where the culprit fled! He made his way into the jungle!" The mayor pointed to the thick undergrowth in the distance, causing the crowd to gasp. "Now, we know where he hides, it will not be long til we mount a search operation to bring him in for good! If only we had the ponies for the job..."

[lincolnshirepony 527]

 

Sterling jumped slightly when he noticed that it was Blue Note who came out of her cabin door. He then chuckled lightly before responding to Blue Note's question,

 

"Well... it looks like that's the case... Everyone's gone off before us it seems... Shall we go as well?" Sterling was feeling very apprehensive about the idea of going out into the jungle, especially when it was alone with somepony he barely knew... But at the same time, they needed to join the rest of the group... they couldn't be on the ship alone.

"They left without us?" Blue Note asked. It was like somepony had put a rock in her stomach. "This was a mistake. A huge mistake." But she could not go back to Manehatten now, there was absolutely no way. So Blue Note did was she was accustomed to doing in times of adversity. She stood up a little straighter, composed herself, and replied, "Yes, I suppose they will be needing us. Did they say where on the island they were going?"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Clover's sense of justice was heightened by this attack. A cowardly assassin, who struck from the shadows and then fled, stirred her temper more than anything. Besides, they had defeated Raven. She was sure that they could defeat this assassin, and in any case, the deed would earn them the support of the islanders with their quest.

 

When the mayor spoke up about needing ponies to find the assassin, Clover stepped forward.

 

"My friends and I would be willing to help," she said.

[Zhooves 843]

@, 

Both of their ears perked up and they looked at each other for a second as they heard a lot of noise from outside.

North placed a wing onto Midnatt's back for guidance, and they followed the others to where the noise came from.

 

"That look painful..." Midnatt spoke, as they approached the scene.

"What be it?" North asked, looking around him at the different shapes and colours of ponies. "A wounded pony."

They listened as the mayor spoke.

"Um... Would not the jungle be the first obvious place to look for-" North begun before he got interrupted by his sister placing her hoof in his face like a mild punch. As soon as she removed her hoof, and North gave her a quick "Thank ye..." with a somewhat annoyed expression, before he continued.

"So we are heading into the jungle? Would that not be bad for us? I mean, this pony, or whatever it might be, is good at staying out of sight and hiding... There be probably loads of hidey places in there..." North spoke, seeming to think for a bit.

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling shook his head,completely unsure of where the ponies had gone off to. He was sitting in his cabin, too worried about his Evening to see where his friends had gone off to in the island. All Sterling knew was that the island looked dangerous and that there was an inhabitant named Callaloo they were looking for.

 

"Well all I know's that they were searching for a zebra named Callaloo to help us on our quest. So there must be a village they're searching for. But none of us have any idea where that village is..." Sterling replied with a shrug. Seeing that Blue Note had a determined vibe about her, he too elected to go with Blue Note into the jungles. Perhaps it would help him take his mind off Evening...

Edited July 5, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Pripyat Pony

@@Zhooves

 

"You would?" Mayor Deepwood cried joyfully. "Oh thank you! We would be forever indebted to you if you were able to capture this mysterious pony!" He paused, a sudden thought entering his head. "But it will be dangerous... Are you sure you are willing to go? I don't want to endanger anypony on my island, guests or residents alike!"

 

DJ stepped forward, nodding at Clover's volunteering. "We'd be more than happy to help, as Clover suggested!" DJ said with a smile. "Don't worry, we're used to getting into scrapes! We've had a lot of tough encounters, and if we've come through those we can succeed here too!"

 

DJ felt a tap on his shoulder, turning to see Chronos behind him, looking a little anxious. "Umm... Are you sure about this...?" he asked nervously. "I mean... just look at what he did to that guy! He's cut to ribbons! Are you sure...?"

 

DJ chuckled. "We'll be fine!" he replied with a grin. "Don't worry about it!"

 

"Oh... If you're sure then..." Chronos smiled back, though it was far from convincing.

 

Turning to North, DJ thought about what the young pegasus was saying, before replying. "I agree... There will be a lot of good places for him to hide and attack suddenly..." He chuckled. "We'll get him though! Just you wait and see!"

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Blue Note considered this. "Okay, so I suppose we'll have to find the village." She turned around to get her bag, and began filling it up with essentials. "We'll need water for sure," she said. She wanted to be prepared, but she was more accustomed to jungles filled with buildings and rude ponies, and had no idea what to do with plant life and wild creatures. "I don't suppose there will be anypony around to give us directions." 

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling nodded at everything Blue Note was saying. She was also most certainly a very different figure from what Evening was from first impressions. While Evening was much more reserved and shy, Blue Note seemed to strike at her fellow ponies much more bluntly and assertively. Was this a character she always had, or was it recently acquired? Sterling decided though that since he was very knowledgeable about plant life, that he should speak up about it. 

 

"Well, since there's lots of plants, I guess I could help and see which ones are healthy to eat, and which ones aren't.. And oh, did you find any possible weapons we could carry? Maybe there's some really dangerous things around that we have to watch for..." Sterling jittered when he mentioned the scary things. He didn't want his life to end here... he tasted death, and he didn't want another one so soon.

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Perfect," Blue Note said. The last thing she needed was some sort of poison berry to do her in. The mention of weapons made her feel weak. She didn't know how to use any weapons; she had never needed to know before, but this was a whole new territory. "What kind of weapons do you think we should we have?" she asked. "I know some defense spells, but those are mostly for ponies..." The thought of going out into the jungle was getting more and more daunting.

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling gave a shake of his head, having only known the very basic of defense fighting after learning it from the one and only @Steel Accord. Still, Sterling tried to give as good an answer as he could about defense fighting, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of her,

 

"Well with regards to defense, a dagger is a must. It's a portable weapon you can use so you can fool the enemy to thinking you don't have a weapon... And I also learned some defense mechanisms!" Sterling then began to act silly by flailing his back hooves up in the air, kicking aimlessly to show all that Steel Accord had taught him. Once Sterling finished, Sterling asked Blue Note with quite a bit of panting,

 

"You wanna learn some of the techniques I learned from the warrior himself?"

Edited July 6, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

@@Sterling Crimson

@@Budding Night

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@@lincolnshirepony

@@Zhooves

 

Sharpening his knife, Red slowly raised his head from his work to see the other ponies preparing for the adventure to this village as well. Red was never a heavy packer, only carrying his most basic needs. Water? Check. Weapon? Check. Basic first-aid? We'll leave that to Sterling Crimson. As if in a compulsive manner, Red whipped his knife out again, sharpening it once more with the stone tools on the small workbench. After all, he wanted it to look its best when he faced those who incapacitated Applejack. But why was he so vehement on killing these ponies who possibly killed her? Yes, she is one of his closest friends, but perhaps he felt stronger than such, or so Red felt.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Steel was right behind his Captain and his Princess. He had faced many a foe before, but the swordpony had a particular distaste for assassins. True, there were a few that were legitimately skilled fighters, but for the most part they were not. Poison, shadows, and hidden blades are the weapons of cowards.

 

The assassin himself is the weapon of a coward, employed by those who don't have the courage to challenge their foe directly, and send a proxy murderer in their stead. Steel wished to further their quest for the Dark Star, but he would take a level of personal pride in stopping this pony. 

 

"Despicable." Steel said at the sight of the murdered guard. "If you must kill, have the honor to look your foe in the eye."

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Blue Note did not particularly want to learn about weapons or fighting. Practicing it looked ridiculous, and she would feel ridiculous doing it. Deeper in her consciousness, she detested violence. By avoiding learning how to fight, she avoid violence, in herself and others. But Blue Note was a pony of self-preservation. Being torn apart by jungle-dwelling dragons or eaten by a giant snake were not ways she wanted to die, and if using a dagger and looking silly in front Sterling Crimson were how she would prevent it, then so be it. 

 

"All right," she said.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@@Zhooves

@

 

(OOC: This enemy will be unlike anything we've faced before! You'll see why very soon... It's time to enter the jungle!)

 

DJ couldn't bear to think what would happen to these poor folk if they didn't act. With his friends' support, he decided it was time they began their search. "Ok everypony! It's time we explored this jungle!" He nodded to the mayor with a grin. "We'll. not let him run amok on your island any more, I guarantee that, Mayor Deepwood!" DJ then turned towards the jungle, hoping his friends would follow...

 

It was dark in the jungle. The high canopy obscured most of the light from above. Creatures chittered in the trees, and strange shadows moved in the undergrowth. DJ felt like they were being watched on all sides, some friendly, some dangerous... Vinyl trotted alongside her coltfriend, putting a hoof around his neck. "DJ... If this gets dangerous, don't do anything risky.... I don't want to lose you again...." She kissed him lightly, worried for his safety.

 

DJ smiled back at her. "I'll be alright. And I promise nopony will harm a single hair on my darling Vi's head! My biggest aim is to keep you safe!" He added, kissing her back.

 

Chronos trotted up alongside, looking very nervous. "Umm... Uhh... You sure this is a good idea? From what I can see, the assassin could be right next to us and we wouldn't know it! Can't we turn back and try tomorrow...?"

 

"Listen Chronos, you've nothing to worry about!" DJ replied with a smile. "You're one of us now! And we keep each other safe! We've done a lot of flank kicking in our time, so you don't need to be scared!" Even so, DJ worried a bit about Chronos. Was he really a hero?

 

Either way, they'd have to find later. Right now, they needed to stay alert... The assassin could be anywhere.... "Be on your guard everypony...." DJ said slowly. "Just in case..."

Edited July 6, 2014 by DJ-BRONI3

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover had her own plans to ensure that they wouldn't be taken by surprise. She said, in a low voice in case the assassin was nearby and listening, to DJ; "I'm putting a sort of moveable ward around the group. If the assassin attacks, it'll give us warning so we won't be taken by surprise. It's not as strong as the fixed ones, but it'll do to protect us from a sneak attack. Once the assassin reveals himself or herself to us, then we can act."

 

Clover's horn glowed green as she put the moveable ward up around the group. Magic came naturally to her; it wasn't at all surprising that Princess Celestia had styled Clover as the Princess of Magic. Flying was another thing; Clover had never tried her wings out as she felt nervous about flying. The ward now up, Clover sidled over to @@Steel Accord,.

 

"I know that this isn't the right time," she said. "But when the time is right, could you teach me how to fly?"

[Zhooves 843]

Following DJ and the others, North, with his wing over his sisters back entered the jungle. As soon as they entered in among the trees, North seemed relieved that it was darker, and he let go of his sister.

 

"Aye, this is better." he said, looking around. "Things be moving everywhere, and some sounds, but still better."

Soon enough, Midnatt put a wing over his back. "Now ye lead me if it gets too dark." she said, smiling lightly, before they continued.

[Inactive01 5,299]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Blue Note did not particularly want to learn about weapons or fighting. Practicing it looked ridiculous, and she would feel ridiculous doing it. Deeper in her consciousness, she detested violence. By avoiding learning how to fight, she avoid violence, in herself and others. But Blue Note was a pony of self-preservation. Being torn apart by jungle-dwelling dragons or eaten by a giant snake were not ways she wanted to die, and if using a dagger and looking silly in front Sterling Crimson were how she would prevent it, then so be it. 

 

"All right," she said.

Sterling jumped happily when Blue Note agreed to learn some tricks. Sterling rushed out of the cabin door and headed towards the outside, urging Blue Note onward with him. 

 

"C'mon Blue Note! Let's learn some sword fighting today!" Sterling's suspicions against Blue Note were still there, but at the same time, she was already more friendly than all the ponies he met at the University. Maybe she was different... Maybe she was...

[Wayzer 1,418]

One of his ears pricked up as NightStrike heard some faint movement of a group of ponies. "He must have send them after me.." He thought. He had been suspecting something like this to happen and that's why he took certain measures to ensure his extremely important mission wouldn't be disturbed.

 

"Well there they are" He thought as he looked from his hiding spot in one of the trees not very far from the road, yet far enough to be nearly impossible to see when walking on the road. Not to mention his camouflage making him as good as impossible unless he moved. Which he wasn't planning to do of course.

 

He watched them remaining totally immoble and he could see that not all ponies of the group were warriors. The nervous way some of them reacted to the slightest sound in the forest made it clear to him they haven't had much fighting in their lives.

 

He concentrated on the task at hand when suddenly the leaves around the group started to rustle twigs cracked and bushes moved like somepony was walking trough them. There was movement all around them and it was like they where being followed by 10 ponies instead of just one. NightStrike had the percurilar ability to move many small objects without making the trademark sound an glow unicorns normally have around their horn while using magic. It was the result of a rather.. painful experiment on him in the past, even though he was grateful for it now.

 

He got up and readied his bow, unnoticable among the chaos happening around the group of ponies and quickly shot one arrow just past the ear of a pony who would later be known to him as Chronos. Having done that, he silently retreated further into the jungle. A flash of white could be seen on his black silhouette as he showed himself to the group for a fraction of a second, after which he dissapeared.

 

He hoped it would be enough to scare them off, but he didn't think it was enough, he'll had to do more than just that. He would leave them for a while now.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Pripyat Pony,

@@Wayzer,

 

"Well to be honest Clover, I'm not that good a flyer. Red Talon might actually be a better-"

 

*ZIIIIIIIP-FT!*

 

"Whoa!" Steel drew his blade and stood to face where the arrow had flown from. His eyes darted, demanding a silhouette from the dark wood, but it yielded nothing to sight. "Is everypony okay?" He asked, not changing his stance.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Pripyat Pony

@@Steel Accord

@@Zhooves

@@Wayzer

 

As an arrow suddenly whizzed past Chronos' head, he froze in fright, making a terrified bleating noise before he fainted.

 

"Huh?" DJ turned, seeing the arrow lodge itself in the moist jungle earth. "Chronos! Are you ok!?!" The pony was shaking, but otherwise unharmed. "Just how cowardly is this pony...?" DJ asked himself. "Still, I suppose it's justified this time... Time to act!" DJ reached down to unsheath his sword... "I... an such an idiot..." he said to himself. He'd forgotten his cutlass had been destroyed in the battle with Raven! He could still fight unarmed, but it wasn't going to be easy...

 

Vinyl was looking almost as shaken as Chronos. "DJ... We're gonna be ok right...?" she asked nervously.

 

DJ was scanning the trees, looking for the assassin. "We'll... We'll be fine..." he said, never taking his eyes off the canopy. He thought he noticed a sudden movement and a brief white flash, but he reckons it was his eyes playing tricks on him. "There's nothing here...."

Edited July 6, 2014 by DJ-BRONI3

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover ground her teeth at the cowardly assassin as she completed the spell. "There!" she said. "The wards are now up. If that rotten coward tries to attack again, his attack is going to bounce right back at him. He's not going to expect that, and that will be when we can strike."