private A Temporal Odyssey

[Steel Accord 6,660]

The Wonderbolts were impressive as always, but Steel's mind was more in the previous show bout. As a pegasus, he was a bit of the odd pony out in how his passion for the Wonderbolts was more akin to passing encouragement. Not that he minded, he was never the sports colt in the first place.

 

With that being said, he did always enjoy a good spectacle and the Bolts were the best at what they did. Hearing the dinner bells ring, Steel made his way back inside to join his friends at dinner.

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note was glad to hear the guard's announcement. As nice as it would be to get paid to sit an watch the Wonderbolts, that was not why she was here. The aroma of the banquet being prepared made her wish she had eaten more before she had left home, or at least had eaten better food. She did not have much time to think about it though. The conductor was signaling for their attention. She could pick something up on her way home. It was time to play some Marezart.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Sterling Crimson

@@Budding Night

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@

@@Zhooves

@@lincolnshirepony

 

Entering the banquet hall, DJ chose a set of seats that were all still empty, with Vinyl sitting beside him. He guessed that they'd all have more time to talk while they were eating, as there weren't going to be many more fast-paced event for the day! "Oh man! I've only just realised how hungry I am!" DJ cried. "I hope they have some good stuff!"

 

"Of course they'll have good food, DJ!" Vinyl replied, smiling. "It's a Canterlot banquet extravaganza! You'll find only the best here!"

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

Red slowly made his way into the banquet hall, taking in the fresh aroma of all the delicacies that filled the tables lining the room. He stood for a blissful moment, reveling in the scents that whirled around him before taking his seat. Surely, today was an exciting day, yet some part of Red seemed missing. He felt disconnected from everypony else. But why? All his friends were here, all together to celebrate the coronation of Clover! Why did he feel so sad? Not even the bountiful food seemed to be working! Give it some time, he thought to himself.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

"Thank goodness the food's ready!" Clover exclaimed. "I'm starving!" She trotted back inside, making for the table which had been set aside for her and her friends. Stargazer and Morning Glory were already seated there, as were DJ and Vinyl. Stargazer grinned at Clover.

 

"Better eat up quickly, before it's all gone!" she teased. "Especially once Lightning gets here."

 

"He'd better not, if he knows what's good for him!" Clover teased back, helping herself to some food and sitting at the head of the table. Soon, Lightning entered with the rest of the Wonderbolt team, who had all been invited to the banquet. Lightning, still in his uniform, made for the table where Clover was sitting and, after greeting her and the others, immediately piled his plate high.

[Zhooves 843]

@, 

After watching the display by the Wonderbolts, the siblings went back inside the banquet hall for more food.

 

"Wait... It was NOW we were meant to eat?" his sister exclaimed.

 

"I guess... Ponies and stuff would get hungrier if they waited a little extra. I guess there is no other choice but to eat more." North replied to her, as they both nodded before cooperating on getting up on a free chair next to DJ, which was big enough for both of them.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

((OOC: I apologise in advance to all the peace loving ponies out there, but as you know, peace does not always follow the Odyssey crew for long! I do think it's time "it" began... ))

 

(1 hour earlier...)

The streets of Canterlot had finally fallen under the shadow of night. Even with the brilliant white moon overhead, a thin mist hung at ground level, blocking out some of the light and casting strange shadows in the night.

 

*clip* *clop* *clip* *clop* "Hee hee hee hee..."

 

A figure trotted slowly through the darkness, giggling quietly to itself. Unlike most of Canterlot, it was not asleep, and not attending the party on the hill at the castle. It was looking for something else.

 

"The pony goes, the pony comes,

And wanders where there is no sun... Hee hee hee..."

 

Suddenly, it heard the sound of other hooves. Stopping, it backed slowly into an alleyway and listened.

 

"I'm glad that THAT's over!" it heard a voice say. "That lasted AGES!"

 

"Rainbow, you know we had to go!" another said. "Mayor Mare was counting on us to open the palace to Ponyville!"

 

"But couldn't she have chosen a better day to do it on?" the first voice said.

 

"Yeah! I wanna get this party started!" a third joined in. "I've so many plans! It's gonna be fuuuuuuuuuun!"

 

As the figure watched, it noticed a group of ponies trot by, all talking together. Smiling, it knew it had found who he had been searching for. "Hee hee hee hee..." The ponies stopped at the sound, turning to look for the source.

 

"Who... who's there...?" a yellow pegasus with pink hair whimpered quietly.

 

The figure stepped out of the alleyway, his long, black, unkempt mane obscuring his face.

"Six ponies wander in the night,

Should they be brave, or run... in fright...? Hee hee hee..."

 

....

 

---------

 

@@Sterling Crimson

@@Budding Night

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@

@@Zhooves

@@lincolnshirepony

 

Chapter 1: Shadows of the past

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9IFmErBDvM 

 

 

DJ was really getting hungry now. Seeing all the mouthwatering food on display made him want to dive at one of the stewards, but he kept his cool, waiting to be served. Finally, a pile of hay fries were set in front of him. "Finally! Now I can eat!" he cried happily.

 

Suddenly, the doors of the hall burst open. One of the Royal Guard galloped up to them at the table, looking shaken. "P... princess!" he said, trying to keep his cool. "The Princesses have asked that you come at once with your friends! Something's happened... it's..." He looked around, seeing the nervous faces of other groups at the table. Smiling, he added. "It's something to do with the preparations!" Lowering his voice again, he whispered. "Please... follow me at once...."

 

DJ sighed. "Seriously? Always at bad times..."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@,

 

@Everypony

 

Mid munching his pizza, Steel calmly dabbed his mouth with a napkin and arose from his seat.

 

"Shall we my friends?" He asked. "See? Doesn't even faze me anymore. I love you ponies, but this is the last public event I ever attend with you. Next time, I vote we just go out for ice cream."

Edited June 26, 2014 by Steel Accord

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling was too excited and had already begun to munch on all the food, not even aware that Evening was just nearby and perhaps noticing how much of a mess he was making by grabbing all the food and munching it down... His continuous munching suddenly came to a halt when the Royal Guard entered the room and beckoned for DJ and his friends to come at once. Sterling groaned when he heard that he and his friends were being called. He wanted to keep on munching some delicious food! 

 

"Are you kidding me?! I was just munching down on the best food of the house! I'm still hungry!" Sterling shouted to himself before he got up and trotted in the direction of the rest of his friends...

 

-----------

@lincolnshirepony

Blue Note and the orchestra were now playing some beautiful Marezart. It was always great music to play for banquets, but Blue Note thought Marezart was... overrated somewhat. Still, it was the best opportunity for her to get some money and play in front of ponies, so Marezart it was then! Just then, a loud crash came down on the door and the Royal Guard called out to what seemed like a group of friends, probably the ones who had saved all of Equestria from the wrath of Raven! What she was really annoyed at though was the fact the doors had burst down on the middle of their performance! 

 

Deep down, Blue Note had enough of the interruptions, and out of the blue, Blue Note suddenly had an urge to leave her seat and follow closely behind the friends who were to follow the Royal Guard... Blue Note quietly sneaked out of her seat with her clarinet and when the conductor wasn't noticing, she quickly ran for the door with the rest of the company... Perhaps they wouldn't notice her leaving. After all, they got interrupted enough that she wouldn't be really needed as a member anymore. So trot off she did, and as she walked into the next room, the doors shut on her... No turning back she thought to herself.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Sterling Crimson

@@Steel Accord

 

"Well, I guess I've no objections if it's important!" DJ sighed. "You comin' Vi?"

 

"Of course I am!" she replied. "Last time you went off on your own, I thought you were dead! In fact, TWICE I thought you were dead! This time I'm keeping an eye on you!" she added with a smile and a wink.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Clover sighed. "Already? Well, suppose we'd better go and see what's up." She turned to her Trottingham friends; Ruby had joined the group by now, sitting next to Stargazer.

 

"You don't have to come," she said. "In fact, it would be best if you stuck around here and organised the party. We don't want everypony here knowing that something's up or they might panic."

 

Stargazer nodded; her mouth was full of food. Ruby spoke for the group as a whole. "Sure, Clover," she said. "You go off with the others and we'll keep things going here."

 

Relieved that the party was in safe hooves, Clover turned and trotted after DJ.

[Umbral Noir 1,556]

@@Sterling Crimson

@@Budding Night

@@Steel Accord

@@Pripyat Pony

@

@@Zhooves

@@lincolnshirepony

 

Following the guard, DJ only hoped the others were keeping up with them. Right from the start DJ knew the guard was scared. He had been shaking in the banquet hall, and right now he seemed not only desperate to get where they were going, but also nervous about what was there. What could be scaring him so?

 

"I don't like this..." DJ whispered to Vinyl. "Our guide seems very scared!"

 

"I know!" Vinyl replied, looking worried. "What could be scaring him on a night like this...?"

 

The guard led the group of ponies out of the castle and through the streets of Canterlot. On the way, DJ noticed other guards hurrying to and fro, either joining their party or heading in the other direction hurriedly.

 

Eventually, when they were nearing Canterlot station, the guard slowed to a trot. They had approached a small group consisting of a bunch of citizens and guards alike, all clustered around something and talking loudly. "St... *ahem* STAND ASIDE!" the guard that had been leading them said hesitantly. The crowd parted for DJ and his friends, and DJ stopped to look.

 

It was odd. It appeared to be a group of statues, beautiful in appearance and likeness. They were jet black, seemingly carved from onyx, and each was different. There were two pegasi, two earth ponies, a unicorn and in the centre a majestic alicorn. One of the pegasi was hard to notice, as she was hiding behind the other five pony statues. They looked very familiar to him, as if he'd seem them before... Suddenly, DJ sat down heavily, realising something.

 

"Sweet... mother of Celestia..." he said slowly, hardly able to comprehend it. They weren't statutes. They were ponies.

 

((OOC: Now to let everypony catch up. Enjoy... ))

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, Clover had a very bad feeling as they all followed the guard along the streets. Something bad had happened, she was sure. When she saw the statues, at first she thought that's all they were, then she looked straight at the alicorn. "It's Twilight Sparkle!" she gasped. "What could have done this to them? It would take very strong magic to do this."

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling walked along with the rest of the ponies, exactly wondering what was going on to cause such terror and nervousness from the Royal Guard... They walked through the dark streets of Canterlot, leaving Sterling to wonder what was going on as he continued to trot. The streets were moving darker and darker as they continued to trot... clearly signalling a change into darkness.. of fear... It was just like the days of Raven without the fire... Sterling could feel himself breathe faster and faster...

 

Then... the statues came to full view... Sterling jumped as high as he could upon seeing the statues... They were the Elements of Harmony... as STATUES! What was Sterling to do with this situation?!

 

Sterling looked around and asked nervously to @Steel Accord

"Steel... why... why do they look like statues...?" Sterling then shuffled his hooves around, having just realized that he asked a stupid question... He hoped that Evening (@Budding Night) wasn't going to shake her head... 

Edited June 27, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[Commander Bubbles 1,343]

@@Sterling Crimson
@@Budding Night
@@Steel Accord
@@Pripyat Pony
@
@@Zhooves
@@lincolnshirepony

 

"No..." Red gasped in disbelief as he saw these stone statues. "The Elements... The... The Elements..."

Red was beside himself with fear, quivering as he slowly trotted up to the comatose ponies. 

"They're... They're... Gone..." Red muttered again. The statues became the catalyst for a storm of emotions within Red. He wasn't sure if he was angry, scared, vengeful, or anything. However, as he walked around the statues, he froze when he approached Applejack. Placing a hoof on her forehead, he found his emotions boiling as a tear rolled down his face.

"They... They... They got Applejack, too..." he said, his tone rising. By now, the emotional storm burst into a hurricane of anger and vengeance.

"Shit!" he shouted, slamming his hoof on the ground, breathing heavily, "What are we supposed to do now?"

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling could visibly see that his friends around him were just as confused and lost as he was... he could see Red in tears after he saw Applejack turned into a statue... He remembered how he wanted to save Applejack and her family when they were deep into the depths of Raven's grasp. He had to do something... Maybe now was the time to begin...

 

"Red... I... I guess we should start finding some way to know who did this... I mean, like I said, how did they become statues in the first place?" Sterling asked around, hoping somepony among their group had an answer...

 

@Budding Night

Edited June 27, 2014 by Sterling Crimson

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@@Sterling Crimson,

 

"Your diagnosis is as good as . . . actually probably much better than mine." Steel trotted over to the statue of the frightened pegasus. She was curled into a fetal position, her mane blocking most of her face, but that which Steel could see was beautiful. Such beauty was marred by the fear frozen upon her countenance.

 

Steel longed to reach out to her, perhaps to comfort her, but he pulled back. Would such a gesture be welcomed? She could not voice such. Instead Steel removed his hat and spoke.

 

"I . . . I don't know if you can hear me. I know you only by reputation. But understand my lady, if charged with the task I believe is at hoof, I will cure you and your friends of this curse. You have the word of, Steel Accord." Steel punctuated his vow by drawing his weapons along his wings, crossing them in front of him, and bowing his head to almost rest his neck upon the crossed blades.

 

DJ and his friends would recognize the gesture. It was for when Steel made a deep commitment to somepony of something.

@@Sterling Crimson
@@Budding Night
@@Steel Accord
@@Pripyat Pony
@
@@Zhooves
@@lincolnshirepony

 

"No..." Red gasped in disbelief as he saw these stone statues. "The Elements... The... The Elements..."

Red was beside himself with fear, quivering as he slowly trotted up to the comatose ponies. 

"They're... They're... Gone..." Red muttered again. The statues became the catalyst for a storm of emotions within Red. He wasn't sure if he was angry, scared, vengeful, or anything. However, as he walked around the statues, he froze when he approached Applejack. Placing a hoof on her forehead, he found his emotions boiling as a tear rolled down his face.

"They... They... They got Applejack, too..." he said, his tone rising. By now, the emotional storm burst into a hurricane of anger and vengeance.

"Shit!" he shouted, slamming his hoof on the ground, breathing heavily, "What are we supposed to do now?"

 

 

Sterling could visibly see that his friends around him were just as confused and lost as he was... he could see Red in tears after he saw Applejack turned into a statue... He remembered how he wanted to save Applejack and her family when they were deep into the depths of Raven's grasp. He had to do something... Maybe now was the time to begin...

 

"Red... I... I guess we should start finding some way to know who did this... I mean, like I said, how did they become statues in the first place?" Sterling asked around, hoping somepony among their group had an answer...

 

"Easy Red my friend, we won't get anywhere by panicking." Steel tried to calm the racer. "Doctor, certainly your knowledge of healing spells could grant you some divination as to the cause of their malady? If only to deduce the nature of their state?" Steel asked.

Edited June 27, 2014 by Steel Accord

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note had been enjoying playing Marezart, but yet another interruption had stopped the orchestra. A guard had come into the room and the guests of honor were whisked away. The conductor shook his head as a guard pony whispered something to him. He made an announcement and suddenly everypony around her was packing up. She quickly followed suite. Something strange was going on.

 

As she went out the door, following the other ponies, a sick feeling manifested in the pit of her stomach. It reminded her of walking down the dark streets of Canterlot alone at night as a young pony, except for some reason it was more intense. She quickened her pace out on the street, wanting to get home quickly. But she saw something that stopped her in her tracks. Then heroes of Ponyville had been turned to stone.

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

Sterling was just asked about the stones and whether he had any idea as to why they had been turned to stone. Sterling trotted around in circles thinking how they exactly could have become stone... when his concentration was suddenly impeded when he bumped into a pony he had never seen before... She looked nice enough, but she certainly looked like a stranger...

 

"Ohh... sorry about that... who... who are you, and where did you come from?" Sterling scratched his head trying to rub on the area where he had been hit...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Blue Note stood in shocked silence for moment. She was so caught off guard, it took her several seconds to register the red pony talking to her. "I'm Blue Note," she said. "I was working an orchestra event at the castle, but it was called off, so I was going home..." She looked more closely at the pony and realized he looked familiar. All of the ponies did. She saw Princess Clover and it hit her. "You were one of the ponies who defeated Raven."

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@Sterling Crimson

 

Blue Note stood in shocked silence for moment. She was so caught off guard, it took her several seconds to register the red pony talking to her. "I'm Blue Note," she said. "I was working an orchestra event at the castle, but it was called off, so I was going home..." She looked more closely at the pony and realized he looked familiar. All of the ponies did. She saw Princess Clover and it hit her. "You were one of the ponies who defeated Raven."

 

"Alas our reputation proceeds us." Steel approached the musician mare. "Steel Accord," he introduced himself with the usual hat tipping bow, "my friends Dr. Sterling Crimson, his wife Evening Glory, Red Talon: champion pegasus racer, young North, and the newly crowned Princess Clover."

[Inactive01 5,299]

(This feels so weird @lincolnshirepony xD. Wanna chat on Gmail?)

 

Sterling shook his head as well when he hit the blue mare as he trotted around. He was so deep in thought.. And was suddenly knocked out of it. Sterling then responded with a light blush and some humility,

 

"Well... I didn't defeat him directly... I was... shot on the abdomen... which you can see here... but yes I was among them." Sterling then pointed to his wound on his abdomen. He remembered the incident so clearly... he had been sent into a coma after he was shot down by Raven... to save Evening... it was quite some time ago, but the memories and scars associated with that blow were ever present and clear on his mind... He could never forget that day. It changed his life forever, and sparked his marriage with the lovely Evening Glory...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

@Steel Accord

 

(@Sterling Crimson I agree. I do, but I'm currently without my laptop and I'm not sure if my iPad can use gchat. We could always use PMing or regular email though.)

 

"It's lovely to meet you all," Blue Note said. It was so surreal that she could remember her manners in such a grave situation. She listened to Sterling Crimson and nodded, remembering that detail of their story. The love story being him and Evening Glory was quite an epic one. She looked at the ponies. "So, have you been sent to handle... this?" The situation was too awful for words. "This is some powerful magic."

Edited June 27, 2014 by lincolnshirepony

[Inactive01 5,299]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling was the first to give a nod, albeit a nervous one. It was certainly true that they were sent to handle the situation, but whether they could actually do it or not left Sterling concerned. This was especially given that he didn't even know where to start their search... It had to be somepony of great power to do this, and Blue Note pointed that fact out well. 

 

"That I agree on Blue Note. But I honestly do not know where it could have come from, or where to begin with our search! It definitely seems like our culprit loves to hide itself first, so we certainly have to be on our guard..." Although Sterling knew he said the right stuff, he was still quite nervous about the prospect... hopefully neither he or his Evie would turn into stone either!

[Steel Accord 6,660]

@lincolnshirepony

 

Sterling was the first to give a nod, albeit a nervous one. It was certainly true that they were sent to handle the situation, but whether they could actually do it or not left Sterling concerned. This was especially given that he didn't even know where to start their search... It had to be somepony of great power to do this, and Blue Note pointed that fact out well. 

 

"That I agree on Blue Note. But I honestly do not know where it could have come from, or where to begin with our search! It definitely seems like our culprit loves to hide itself first, so we certainly have to be on our guard..." Although Sterling knew he said the right stuff, he was still quite nervous about the prospect... hopefully neither he or his Evie would turn into stone either!

 

@@Pripyat Pony, 

 

Steel nodded, Sterling was in full on detective mode. Much as he often did not find himself the adventuring type, the good Doctor's sharp mind and academic knowledge often opened solutions that Steel's own straightforward approach would never reveal to him.

 

"What so you, Your Highness? Your realm is that of the arcane, surely you have at least some idea of what enchantment has befallen here?" Steel asked Clover.