open Mercenaries of Equestria: The Betrayal

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

"No problem at all, Delia," Acheron said with a mocking grin in response to her question about Light Diamond. The alicorn's death would have come sooner or later anyway. The unicorn took another look over of the new arrivals. None of them had said anything when Acheron was giving blunt remarks, so maybe they wouldn't be as bad to work with as he thought. Maybe. And as per usual for this group, most of them seemed to come from troubling pasts or have troubles of their own. He only noticed two in particular though: a dark purple unicorn who apparently had a foal, and the Naga-Pony.

 

Acheron had originally taken Sidewinder as a demon since many of those beings came in the form of hybridized creatures. He realized quickly however, that Sidewinder was quite terrestrial... and of royal descent. The markings on his arms gave that much away, and Acheron knowing of many things already, deduced what they were. This one would be interesting.

 

"Make the journey quick Draco," Acheron said disrespectfully as he climbed onto the carriage. 

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

"No, no my friend. My home is beyond help. I am but one pony, and I have a family now. I not can go off and fight and leave my wife behind....I have a new life here and that is all I need." Dimitri responded to Asator as he looked on at the the others in this group. He was taken back by the appearance of one who was reminiscent of a snake. Never had he seen such a strange creature, but he spoke politely and seemed alright. Dimitri was sure to keep an eye on him though out of curiosity. He then looked to Acheron and gave a brief smile. He was glad his familiar friend was sticking with them. One of the only ponies who seemed to fully comprehend his insanity, and be outright kind to him.

 

When Dimitri heard Asator speak again he turned to him. "My beloved?" He wiped a tear that was rolling down his cheek and chuckled. "I could go on for hours about her my friend....." he said softly.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@@dragon4111,

Delia sighs and reluctantly gets into the carriage. She looked around at the ponies and sighed.
*I really hope this group isn't weak willed* she spoke to herself in Swahili. 

@,
"I see you are still lively. That is good...wouldnt want you to slip up like the others have." Delia smiles back at Acheron.
At this point, Delia wasn't sure what she thought of the unicorn with the affinity for knowledge. He seemed a bit creepy at times, and at other times he seemed nice. Only time would tell Delia if Acheron is to be favoured or not.
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@,
"I understand now. I wish I had the good fortune of having a wife. The only thing that I can call a wife is my hammer...though, it would be weird if I...nevermind that." Asator clears his throat and runs his hooves down his beard, "Your wife, do you want to talk about her? 
Asator saw Dimitri's eye well up and felt like they should talk about it. Even though he bonds with other ponies through battle, he heard through a friend back in his village that talking with others and learning what troubles them is a safer and healthier way to bond.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, "Nice to meet you," Shadow Star replied, warmly. She held out a forehoof for a hoofshake. "My name is Shadow Star. I'm a gambler by trade, tho I can turn my hoof to whatever takes my fancy. I've garnered quite a few skills in my lifetime, and found a use for every one."

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@@Pripyat Pony,
Shadow SSSStar, what a nice name. I have gamblers in my king...er village. I've even beat some of my fellow nagas in a game of Blackjack or two." Sidewinder shakes Shadow's hoof, his tongue slithering out, "You say you can turn your hoof into anything? Do you turn it into a weapon to fight with?" Sidewinder asks, intrigued by the pony. He was amazed that the pony was still talking to him an not chasing him with spears or swords.

[THE WILD HUNT 213]

At Sidewinder's moment of questioning, Acheron decided to speak up to maybe spare the Naga-pony some embarrassment. At the very least, he'd be able to explain what it was that Shadow Star meant by her hoof comment.

 

"Naga-Pony, I believe she means she's flexible in learning different skills, not that her hooves can actually take different shapes."

 

His voice lacked the usual biting tone whenever he explained something someone had misunderstood. Acheron was rarely harsh to strange ones such as this Naga-Pony; he knew very well that their kind, along with many other misunderstood individuals like himself and Dimitri, were already rebuked and scorned enough as it was. Nagas for their appearance, Dimitri for his race, and Acheron for his magic.

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

"I would love to talk about her right now...." Dimitri sighed as he looked to the sky as if trying to think of where she could be. "She saved my life in many ways. Physically, mentally, emotionally. First time we met she saved me from dying of heat exhaustion, and then saved me from myself. I always held depression in myself. I have lot of guilt and loathing from my past, and if she did not come along I most definitely would have killed myself...." With a sullen look he recalls his mental traumas, but they soon fade away as he smiles again with the thought of his wife. "She saved me when no other pony would even look at me, she did not fear me when every other pony feared me, she loves me like no pony has ever loved me, and I love her with a passion stronger than that of the brightest sun. I would kill myself if it meant she would be safe..."

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@,
Sidewinder looked over at the unicorn and hung his head, ashamed of himself.
"Oh.....right....I knew that." He chuckles nervously and sighs.
There were a lot of things that Sidewinder was oblivious to. When he was brought up, Sidewinder was never one for slang terms or phrases. Most of his language was very blunt and straight to the point. Thinking back on it, Sidewinder can guess why most ponies were afraid of him when he opens his mouth.

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@,
As Asator listened to Dimitri, he couldn't help but to feel in awe over the red stallion; the way he spoke of his wife, the way he let his emotions go into his words. Asator admired the stallion, for he reminded him of his father who was also very passionate about his wife. 
"I am sure she will be there when you come back from the, i guess you call it, job. Maybe I can meet her? OH! I know, I will throw you two a celebration in the style of my village."

[dragon4111 914]

"Is every pony in?" Draco asked seeing that they were in. Well he pulled out his goggles. He had ignored the greedy Acheron. Once again such scathing remarks. He spread his wings and took off with the carriage in tow. It weighed him down only slightly.  He flew higher than regular pegasi were scared to go. He grinned when they broke through the clouds as the high wings pushed them along. His wings angled  so that they can glide yet retain their speed. "HANG ON!" Draco yelled as he flapped afew times gaining more speed. "So how are you ponies doing back there?" Draco asked/yelled

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

As Asator uttered his comment Dimitri lost his train of thought, and lost sense of everything around him. Everything felt slow and all noises fell silent for what seemed like forever. He did not even feel the carriage as it rocked heavily from its flight. "S-She not home right now...." He stuttered after snapping out of his mental lock. "My wife is Fluttershy. She being held captive right as we speak...." He gritted his teeth together as he tried to hold back the depression and wroth he felt boling in him.

[Concerto Dusk 240]

Flying after the carriage, Mirror Slash finally smiles a bit. :?"So, we are finally going, huh?" Flying alongside Draco, he studied the wing placement, and attempted to replicate it, getting close enough for it to work. "Very efficient for a Pegasus, aren't you?"

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, "Yes, just what the other pony said," Shadow Star replied. "I have many skills; I've had to look after myself for a great deal of my life. I've had quite a few things happen to me, but I've tried hard not to let it sour me permanently. For example, I don't hate on all stallions after one stallion treated me badly, but he had better hope that we never meet again."

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@,

Asator looked at Dimitri as the carriage rocked during take off. He scooted closer to the stallion and looked Dimitri in the eyes.
"She's being held captive?" Asator thought deeply for a moment and remembered a time when his mother was absent for his village.
Asator clenched the grip of his hammer and stood up slightly.
"Dimitri! I will give you my word that your wife will be brought home safely! All I ask is for a mighty battle alongside you!"

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@@Pripyat Pony, 

Sidewinder hisses a bit and raises his head. He listens carefully to the blue pony and nods his head.
"I've never been in a....how you ssssay, relationship. I did hear a sssssaying you ponies have....'Tartarus hath no fury like a mare sssscorned.'" Sidewinder looks into the ponies eyes and hisses once more, "You're optimism will carry you far, SSShadow."
Sidewinder stares into Shadows eyes and remembers his kingdom. He thought back to how the lesser nagas were treated and how some of his parents rules were inhumane. He began to think about how many of his own kind his parents oppressed and how many souls were lost. Was he to do the same when he becomes ruler? 

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

Dimitri smiled slightly at Asator's enthusiasm and kindness to his plight. "Listen, when I find my wife the things that did this to her will suffer. I promise you that. I promise myself that..." He snarled and looked away for a minute. "This is killing me inside. I am dying every second she is gone, and I will not let this go unanswered. When she is safe, when she is back in my arms I will never let her go again...."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, "Thanks," Shadow Star replied. "I don't see the point of being bitter; in any case, I wouldn't have my colt if it wasn't for his father so I regret nothing. However, that saying is true; I would certainly want a few words with that stallion, should I ever meet him again. I was only a dumb blank flank filly; he was certainly old enough to know better."

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@,
Asator is unsure what to do to help. He never had anypony to love like Dimitri has; only a hammer which has been with him since he could remember. He did know that a husband and a wife should never be forcefully separated from each other. Asator can only think of one thing that might cheer Dimitri up.
"I don't think your wife would like to see you like this....how about you use your energy to bash some skulls in? Nothing puts me in a good humor more than feeling the bones of my enemies crackle and give way."
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@@Pripyat Pony,
Sidewinder raises an eye at Shadow, intrigued with her even more.
"A colt you ssssay? Where is he now? And about this stallion....if he were to happen upon him, would you want to get back together with him or yell at him? I am only curious because I have never heard of this kind of situation before."  

[dragon4111 914]

"I fly long distances all the time!" Draco yelled over the winds. He flapped over afew times to gain more speed. They needed to hurry but he was having doubts about the group. He felt optimistic when they first began but now would they save him if it meant a chance at something they really desire or save another pony in the group. Draco's mind filled with these doubts. Acheron well he was a bastard anyway.

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

"I get no humor from killing. Only a short release from this tomb I have put myself in. The more I kill, the more I become infatuated with a bloodlust for these monsters who think they can abduct such sweet mares. How dare they..." Dimitri angrily spoke as he rubbed his throbbing forehead. A headache was beginning to come on from the insurmountable stress. "I hope we make progress soon....the more we dawdle around the more angry I get." He began to take deep breaths to calm himself. He did nkt need another outbreak like the several ones he had already.

 

"I hope Acheron is willing to help me if I need it......because I am really not doing well...." He thought to himself sullenly.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@,
Asator frowns and looks down at his hooves. For some reason, Asator felt compelled to help this stallion...the one known as Dimitri. The only thing that was keeping him from respecting Dimitri fully was the fact that they have not fought together. Once Asator saw Dimitri fight, he was sure he would be able to respect him. Asator looked at Dimitri's face and wondered how he got the scar that was on his right eye. He didn't think now was the right time to ask Dimitri. He could tell he was really distraught over his wife. Clearing his throat, Asator spoke once more to Dimitri, "Stay strong, vinr."

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, "I wouldn't want to get back with him, just let him know that I've moved on from him and survived, despite what he did," Shadow Star replied. "My colt is named Diego, and he's a chaos mage now; his talent is for chaos magic. Mine, as you can probably guess, is for gambling. I play to win." She was liking the naga pony more and more.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

@@Pripyat Pony, 
Sidewinder tilted his head and hissed, "When you sssssay you play to win, are you referring to the game called life? If so, then I ssssssuppose you can ssssay I play to live." Sidewinder looks over the side and hisses at the sight of the ground being far away.
"You know, Im a Pr-" Sidwinder held his tongue, catching himself from making a mistake, "Erm, a pauper...I know what its like to do whatever it takes to survive.....so your sssson, Diego....he's a chaos mage....what prey tell is that?"

[Dimitri Hammer 3,645]

Dimitri looked down at his trembling hooves. He felt a cool chill run down his spine, his head was aching, and his vision was starting to get blurry. "I really hope we get there soon..." he whispered to himself sullenly. Being up in the air was something he never wanted to do, add that to all the previous stress he was enduring and he was losing himself again.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@, "A chaos mage is a unicorn who's talent is for chaos magic," explained Shadow Star. "Apparently, my son is the first to be born for nearly a thousand years; they're not common. Some ridiculous ponies think that Diego is connected to Discord. I might have only been a young filly when I had my foal but I certainly know for a fact that Diego's father was a unicorn stallion, not a draconequus!"

[Concerto Dusk 240]

Listen to the ponies talking, Mirror Slash slowed his pace a bit to be able to better listen. "So a magazine piny and the mother of a chaos mage? well, this should make the job quick. As fire the rest, I will nit speak for." Flying above the chariot now, he looks fire anything that can his wrong.

[Rainbow Dash 1,473]

Delia listens to the various conversations that went on around her. She could only get a few words before the chatter of another conversation blocked out what she was trying to listen to. From what she gathered, she could tell that this group was going to fare a bit better than the anchor that weighed them all down; the anchor that was dispatched with haste. Delia adjusts her mane and looks down at the ground, hoping the flight would be over soon. She didn't have a fear of flying. It was more so the fact that she was anxious to get on the ground and stretch her legs.

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@@Pripyat Pony,
"Forgive me for sounding ignorant again, but who is this Discord you sssspeak of?" Sidewinder asks