private A Temporal Odyssey

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Steel Accord

 

Klackon gasped as Steel's sword pierced through his body. "Ugh... Getting a foal... to do your dirty work...?" he said with a painful grin. "Shouldn't have... brought... him if you didn't want him... to get hurt..." The changelings stopped attacking the others, looking to their leader, awaiting his orders. "I will... not let down my Queen... My orders will be... fulfilled..."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Steel Accord

 

Klackon gasped as Steel's sword pierced through his body. "Ugh... Getting a foal... to do your dirty work...?" he said with a painful grin. "Shouldn't have... brought... him if you didn't want him... to get hurt..." The changelings stopped attacking the others, looking to their leader, awaiting his orders. "I will... not let down my Queen... My orders will be... fulfilled..."

 @@Zhooves,

 

"North has joined us because he is our friend, and given your state I can confidently assert he's tough enough to be here." Steel nodded to North with a smile. 

 

:okiedokielokie: "As for your mission, your lucky we need you ali-"   "Actually. No we don't. Midnight, cover your brother's eyes please." Steel pressed his hoof agains the back of Klackon's head, and drew his blade along the Changeling commander's neck.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Zhooves 843]

@@Steel Accord,
"Hurra..." came from him, raising a hoof, before dropping it down again. "Svimmel... Dizzy still..." 

 

Midnatt went over to him on Steel's order, and poked him a little. "Eh, no need to cover any eyes yet..." she said, dragging him over to the others.

"Might not be over yet... Don't want to risk anything..." she said, helping North up onto his hooves, keeping a wing in his face.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Steel Accord

@@Zhooves

 

Klackon's eyes widened as the sword slit his throat. Giving a final look of pure hatred and anger at his killer, his head slumped to the ground, a small pile of green blood pooling out from where's he wound was made. The changeling guards who were still standing, staring in horror at their leader, immediately fled out of the room, trying to escape the group.

 

--------

 

DJ was still pursuing the changeling. As it dashed outside and took off, he flew after it. "Where are the others? Did they all stay behind? Well, I hope they're ok..."[i/] he thought to himself.

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Sterling had gotten the hang of the stun spell quite well. Blue Note stood beside him, shooting it at any changelings who had gotten too close to her. She was so immersed in defending herself, she did not immediately realize why all the changelings seemed to suddenly retreat. "What are they—"

 

She realized why when she saw Klackon dead, a small pool of green blood around him. She let out a gasp, and the exhaustion and horror hit her all at once. How terrible it was to see a conflict resolved only by death. Her legs were weak and shaky, miraculously she did not collapse. This was like a horrifying nightmare she would never wake up from. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling continued to shoot out his stun spell, not noticing that the changelings were already retreating from their positions after the dark military leader Klackon had perished under the hands of the mighty Steel Accord and North Light. But when Sterling's eyes turned towards Blue Note, he immediately stopped his firing and rushed to her... She looked weak, and he was worried that Blue Note was going to faint from all the firing that she did... He knew that she was going to faint and that she looked very tired after her music spell... Rushing to her aide, Sterling asked with fear,

 

"Blue Note, are you alright?!"

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Blue Note had been rendered speechless very few times in life. Usually she had to dam up the torrent of words that rushed to her mouth, but none came to her now. She shook her head to answer Sterling's question. Any concrete thoughts had fled from her mind. All she could do was look at Klackon, even though the sight horrified her. She was aware of her body trembling, but couldn't stop it. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling only received a blank response from Blue Note after he asked whether she was alright. Wondering why she was so speechless, Sterling turned the direction where Blue Note was looking, and he noticed the dead body of General Klackon... Even though he was a changeling, he was most certainly dead. Sterling looked solemnly at the corpse... Respecting Blue Note's implied wishes, Sterling stepped away slowly hoping to give Blue Note some space to be alone...

[Wayzer 1,418]

NightStrike trotted towards Nord and bit his lip while he spoke to him "You know, you better watch out for some more changeling ambushes now you've killed their leader. I'll advise you to stay close to Steel."

 

He looked around the room, seeing changelings everywhere, some stunned others dead. "blegh...." he looked at Klackons body, or what was left of it "I hate changelings. I'll be going into the village to help the others ramp up the rest of these lings."

 

On the way out he trotted past Blue Note and gave her a soft friendly nudge. "I'm sorry... he would have killed all of you. As a changeling he's connected to the hive leader Chrysalis. He can't disobey direct orders."

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Wayzer

 

Normally, Blue Note did not care for ponies touching her, but NightStrike's nudge offered her a faint reassurance. Somepony wanted to support her, even if it was the pony she trusted least. Why did she trust him least? She couldn't quite remember at that moment. 

 

Somehow she could understand his words, which seemed about the strangest thing in the world to her at that moment. Of course he would have killed her. Of course a killer would be killed. She turned nodded at NightStrike to acknowledge his words. Her blank eyes were finally away from the sight of death. Some part of her knew that she should be doing more, there were words to say, actions to carry out. But she could barely move, and everything around her seemed distant and detached from her reality. 

[Wayzer 1,418]

@@lincolnshirepony,

 

He smiled softly to her "You better get yourself some rest. It looks awful doesn't it, just don't look at it anymore. You'll be fine, I know so" Giving her another slightly worried look he turned around."

 

@,

As he galloped trough the streets he saw a familiar figure pursuing a changeling. He decided to intercept and came to a halt right in front of the pair. 

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Sterling Crimson

@@lincolnshirepony

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@

@@Zhooves

 

(OOC: Everypony still at the mansion, It's time to lay a visit to Callaloo )

 

---------

@@Wayzer

 

As he chased the changeling through the streets, a figure suddenly stood in front ofthe changeling, causing it to stop. "Hey there Nightstrike!" DJ said with a grin. "Klackon captured? Or dead?"

 

Hearing his words and seeing he was outnumbered, the changeling sat down heavily, looking very afraid. "Please... Don't hurt me!" It hissed. "I... I don't want to die...."

[Zhooves 843]

North seemed to think about something for a moment.

 

"Well... We might be done here... But what about that see-well who told us to take out NightStrike? I guess we should go and see him, though is he a changeling too, or was he, like us, and a lot of others here fooled?"

[Steel Accord 6,660]

North seemed to think about something for a moment.

 

"Well... We might be done here... But what about that see-well who told us to take out NightStrike? I guess we should go and see him, though is he a changeling too, or was he, like us, and a lot of others here fooled?"

 

"I think he's legit. Celestia said he held the clue we need. I say we head there now." Steel suggested and made his way to rejoin DJ and the others.

 

With the town safe they could hopefully proceed on their quest for the weapon that would destroy the evil that threatened their world.

[Inactive01 5,299]

Manehattan Hospital, 1 week after excavation, 9:30 pm.

 

Evening was still lying her white hospital bed. The stars were out once again, fully bright and fully gleaming. Evening Glory looked out at the stars at night, wondering... dreaming... Why couldn't she be free like them? All they did was gleam for the world and twinkle for all the ponies to enjoy. But now, she had to be stuck in her sick body... the doctors had declared that her tuberculosis was only getting worse, and that Raven's factory was so dank and dirty that the bacteria somehow clung itself even more tightly to her lungs... even after antibiotic treatment... 

 

It became harder and harder for Evening to breathe... She moaned, trying her best to stay calm and to think of the best that would happen... She would get better... she would see her knight in Shining Armor in her Sterling Crimson... He would come back to Manehattan Hospital victorious and be among the heroes who saved Equestria once again from terror. Sterling would shine the brightest of them all... and he would look all the wiser... all the braver... all the stronger... She would then wrap her arms around her love... kiss him... embrace him... and utter those three simple words...

 

"I love you..."

 

It was her only way of keeping her spirits up... She was the only one in the bland, cream room... All she could do was cough... and cough... and cough...

[Wayzer 1,418]

@,

 

NightStrike shook his head "Don't hurt you? Just like you didn't hurt those innocent villagers I guess eh? I mean they could hardly have dissipated after you took their places now is it. But no, I won't hurt you."

 

He looked up and smiled albeit a little grimly to dj "Klackon is definitely dead."

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@,

 

NightStrike shook his head "Don't hurt you? Just like you didn't hurt those innocent villagers I guess eh? I mean they could hardly have dissipated after you took their places now is it. But no, I won't hurt you."

 

He looked up and smiled albeit a little grimly to dj "Klackon is definitely dead."

Hearing this news, the changeling fell to the ground. DJ thought he was going to cry. When he did though, DJ was surprised by what he said. "He's dead...? Th...thank you..." the changeling said. "Like he said before, we were all terrified of him, and never even questioned him. But we hated that monster! After coming here and posing as villagers , some of us started to care deeply about the islanders, even growing to love them. The love that the friends and relatives of the citizens sustained us too, without need for attacking them. But Klackon wanted more. He wanted to lay waste to the town and use their pain and anguish for his own power." The changeling looked up, tears in his eyes at DJ and Nightstrike. "Please... we want to stay... We will not harm another citizen again, but we care for them. Let those of us that want to stay on this island do so... I beg of you!"

 

DJ thought for a moment. Should he really do this? Would it be safe for the village? After a short while, he came to a decision. "Go." he said. "Live in the village as ponies and zebras now, not as changelings. If you live peacefully there, no harm will come to you. If however you summon more changelings or bring disaster and anguish to this town, Celestia herself will know of your presence and come here to eradicate each and every changeling on this island. Or, even worse.... WE will..."

 

"Th...thank you!" the changeling cried. In a blaze of green fire, he had turned back into a zebra. He ran off happily, wanting to tell the other changelings the promise that had been made.

 

"C'mon," DJ said to Nightstrike with a smile. "Something tell me he'll keep his promise ok. We need to get moving. There's a zebra here looking to see us now..." Turning towards the village, he began trotting away, hoping Nightstike would follow...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note couldn't say how long she her shock had lasted. Her thoughts were clearer, even though she was unsure of her feelings. She could discern NightStrike gently telling her to look away and that she would be okay. "I'll be okay." Thinking this to herself brought reassurance. She felt unsteady on her legs, but she could move. The first thing she did was turn away from Klackon's dead body. The group was moving away from him in search of DJ. She followed, doing her best to keep up.

 

She stopped short, trembling. DJ had caught a changeling, scared of death. She didn't mean to exhale so loudly when NightStrike said he wouldn't hurt him. The changeling's words painted a picture of Klackon ruling as a tyrant with an iron hoof. The changeling's pure joy at being allowed to live as a zebra jarred her from the serious mood that colored her view of the situation. But it made sense, she supposed. Who wouldn't be happy to gain a peaceful life after living in so much fear? She couldn't help but wonder about the ponies and zebras the changelings were replacing. Were they rotting in a changeling prison somewhere? Had they been forced to suffer and then killed? Did the village ponies know that their loved ones were gone, replaced with copies? Would they ever know? Did that matter? (She thought it did.)

 

Time was still of the essence. As she trotted with the others in pursuit of Callaloo, her mind tried to put the night's events together. She had seen justice served through killing. She had seen mercy given through deception. There was no immediate right answer, and neither celebration nor outrage seemed an appropriate response to her. The village was better off, one way or another, but the truth was she didn't know if what she had witnessed was right. 

 

She did believe that keeping Equestria safe was a noble pursuit, and that thought allowed her to continue moving forward. As long as she stopped herself from wondering if she was able to help carry out that noble pursuit 

Edited July 24, 2014 by lincolnshirepony

[Inactive01 5,299]

Manehattan Hospital, 1 week after excavation, 10:00 pm.

 

It felt like an eternity for Evening Glory. She continued to look up monotonously at the cream ceiling that was placed above her head... She was now back to her tears and sobs... Why did she have to get sick? Everypony else was healthy and trying to save the world or having fun... while she lay down on her hospital bed feeling more and more miserable... She could feel her dreams of seeing her knight in shining armor fade away slowly... like a leech slowly drawing blood away from a pony's life... Just as she was about to moan louder and louder at her sadness, Nurse Redheart trotted into the room... 

Nurse Redheart could clearly see Evening struggling to breathe... if things didn't change soon, she would need to be placed on life support... and even with it, there was no way she would last longer than another 2 or 3 weeks if Raven's resilient bacteria refused to leave... What was she to do...? And what was she to say to Sterling, who had reluctantly placed his faith in the medical system to cure her of her frailties... All she could do at the moment though was to see how she was doing...

 

"Evening... how... how are you?" Nurse Redheart asked solemnly before asking another question, "And is there anything you'd like me to do for you?" Evening turned towards Nurse Redheart, trying to think of anything that would help her situation... She decided... that perhaps what she was thinking now would alleviate her pain...

 

"Nurse Redheart... I... I was wondering... if you'd listen for a little... I... I want to tell a story..." Evening replied weakly, her coughs continuing to grow and grow... Perhaps her telling that story would help her heart feel that much better... and comforted... Seeing that there wasn't much else she could do, Redheart replied with a smile,

 

"Sure Evening. What story did you have in mind?" It was now Evening's chance to tell her story...

 

------

Unknown Village, 1 week after excavation...

Sterling trotted away from the general's dead body before he trotted away towards the real Callaloo with the rest of the gang. The scenes of death didn't hurt him as much, since he knew deep down that it was for the sake of saving Equestria... but the changeling appearing in such a manner left him wondering whether there was any connection between them and the Dark Star... Plus, at the moment, the ponies were nowhere nearer to knowing how to defeat the evil that had turned the living Elements of Harmony into stone... after that battle, he was hoping for some answers soon...

Edited July 24, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Sterling Crimson

@@lincolnshirepony

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@

@@Zhooves

@@Wayzer

 

((OOC: I think that's plenty of time for the group to meet up. Time to meet Callaloo again! ))

 

Meeting up at Callaloo's shop, the group entered his store. They found him making some sort of stew for himself in a bubbling cauldron inside. Turning, he greeted them warmly. "Ah! I see you be returning!" he cried happily. "I trust you have rid de island of our changeling problem?"

 

"Yeah, we ha..." DJ stopped. "Wait... How did you know that?"

 

Callaloo grinned. "I always suspected it, but did not say, as de ones who be knowing too much "changed" very quickly... Now dat dis be over, maybe we can return to normal! And I am sorry, assassin, that we be treating you harshly. Many on de island took de mayor's word rather than yours, for obvious reasons.

 

"Now! You be being rewarded for dis! Look around my shop! Have anything that be being of interest to you! And I will also be telling you about the Darkstar, as I promised before!"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Clover was glad that they had avoided causing too much unnecessary bloodshed. The tyrant Klackon was now dead, and his former  followers seemed to want nothing more than to live in the village in peace and harmony. Clover had removed the shield after the battle and after hearing the news about the changelings from DJ, had brought round the changelings she had put to sleep. Now, they were heading towards the zebra Callaloo in order for him to carry out his end of the bargain, and hopefully he could help them with their problem.

 

Once at Callaloo's place, and being given the offer of a reward, Clover took her time looking around the shop. She wanted to choose wisely, and that took time and consideration.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

As DJ wanderer around the shop, he noticed an interesting set of trinkets in one corner of the shop. The were two small glass vases, each containing a little flower, one blue, one pink. Callaloo followed his gaze and noticed the items. "Ah! I see you be interested in these little gems, yes?" he asked. "It would be being handy for you and your marefriend from earlier! Those jars be containing de Navita Flowers. They be rare flowers that blossom only twice a year on our island, and so are of a limited supply. De special thing about them, is they live exactly the same time as each other, when contained in this fashion. It be possible to connect two ponies with dese flowers, as they each be knowing that de other is safe from harm." He handed DJ the two flowers in their glass jars. "You were them on your neck, like necklaces, or keep in a pouch if you be preferring."

[Inactive01 5,299]

 

Sterling now entered the shop of goods that Callaloo owned. He looked at all the trinkets and souvenirs with intrigue, and his excitement piqued when he heard Callaloo saying that they could get anything they wanted... Perhaps he could try grabbing something for his dear Evening while at the shop. The one thing that particularly caught his eye were a bunch of flowers that were found nearby DJ... perhaps he could buy some flowers to put on a vase just for Evening... there was also a vase ready for purchase as well... If only Callaloo shifted his attention away from DJ so he could have a gander...

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Sterling Crimson

 

DJ placed the blue flower's jar over his head, so the tiny flower hung around his neck. He placed the other in his pouch , leaving it for Vinyl. Callaloo noticed Sterling was looking at some of he items nearby , and went over to him. "And what is it you be interested in?" he asked with a smile.

[Inactive01 5,299]

 

Sterling looked around the shop, and became more and more unsure of what he wanted... at first, he wanted a nice jewel just for Evening, but there were also flowers and other necklaces of moons and suns! Sterling loved all of the trinkets, but he wasn't sure which one would be perfect for Evening...

 

"I'm honestly not sure... I want to get something for my wife in Manehattan... she loves flowers, but I'm not sure what would be better... a flower trinket or a bouquet of flowers... I think I'll go with the former, but I'm not sure what type of trinket I should get her..." Sterling replied in a pondering tone... he really could not make up his mind, it was annoying Sterling... he wanted to make a decision soon....