open Casual stroll

Lucid_Nightlight · July 4, 2018

"Right, I forgot you could do that."

Well, that was a bust.

Pringle climbed the tree when Lucid was busy with Anomaly and is now chowing down on one of the fruits which turned his claws purple.

"I guess that isn't too bad."

BloodDrops · July 5, 2018

On 7/2/2018 at 9:13 PM, Blitz Boom said:

"And you're a self-righteous, hateful furball with a chicken for a mother!"

It weren't the logical thing to scream at the Sphinx who threatened Nerzhei to her face, but the dragoness were too furious to focus on that.

The way that the sphinx had said that she would cure Droppy, just to end up killing her instead, had been taking it too far already. Even if Nerzhei wanted to do that herself if given the chance, she had at least tried to find out a way to cure the pony and tried to be honest about what she would do, instead of deceiving the mare like this overgrown cat had done.

Even then though, Nerzhei should have been able to deal with things, yet with what were happening to Lyriel, the dragoness were getting close to going over the edge.

After the soil turned to sand, the dryad began weakening. The leaves and flowers on her started to fall flat and slowly wither, whilst she slumped to the ground, halfway squirming in agony, and halfway crying from what the sphinx had told her.

There had been no great creator, nor any purpose. They were just tools to use by the sphinx, and any promise the sphinx had made were likely broken too. There were no salvation for her brothers, the forest had begun to die around her feet, and the creature she had just used her power on, had shown her true colors as nothing more than a vicious tyrant, only wanting what was best for herself. That those she impacted and created suffered, apparently played no role.

Seeing her friend like that, and guessing somewhat what she were going through, were what made Nerzhei now stand defiantly against the large feline, and growl straight up in the creature's face, whilst smoke billowed out of her nostrils.

"You will get what's coming to you, monster."

She rose her good hand from her bag, holding three brown slivers of gems in it that she had fished out whilst the sphinx had rambled on. Research material mainly, containing tiny slivers of earth magic for her studies. Or as it were in this case, things to drain to take back the magic she had once put in them, as she were going to need it herself now. A waste of materials, as it would likely destroy the crystals, but she had little choice right now. Her reserves were low, and she needed to act fast.

Taking back what had once been with her, she felt a small surge of magic, and slammed her hand into the ground. Normally this could take some time to get something really good done, but the sphinx had placed herself on sand. An untold number of tiny rocks, and placed them underneath the feet of a geomancer. It wasn't a wise decision.

A pillar of rock slammed up around Nerzhei, shielding her, whilst several spiky pillars began rising towards the sphinx and her temple. It should prove no problem to remove them for the flying feline either, but that wasn't the point here, which the feline would figure out if she removed the rocks shielding Nerzhei. The dragoness would be gone by then, and traversing far away underground, getting out of the sphinx's reach.

She would attempt to get Lyriel with her as well, but the sphinx might be able to stop that, though if Lyriel didn't get some fertile soil under her hooves soon... Her kind couldn't survive without having at least some contact with nature. Even on concrete, as unpleasant as it were, dryads could still find a connection. But this slice of desert had been ripped of all life, including an oasis. There weren't anything here, and if that didn't change within the next ten minutes, there wouldn't be a dryad left.

The Sphinx smirked and glared down at Nerzhei, "Well maybe banishment is too good for you, though I've considered your life as poultry to be rather comical." she growled stepping closer to the dragon intending to deal with her, she paused as some spiked rocks came out of the ground and flew towards her, she rolled her eyes and roared causing them to shatter to the floor. She was the one that could only do magic in her temple, not some dragon. "I don't think I gave you permission to use that magic here" she growled.

She glared at the dryad and snapped at her, "Stop your wailing, servants are not allowed to wail without permission" she growled at the tree thing before going back to the dragon. "You trying to hide? That won't save you" she growled before sending a large shard towards the pillar of rocks that was hiding the dragon, not noticing her or Lyriel escaping not even thinking they would do so.

The Sphinx let out a loud roar as she discovered that Nerzhei had gone, she glanced down the hole and then turned where the other hole had appeared where her servant had been, she let out another angry roar and stamped her paws on the ground, causing some more of the forest to turn to desert. She would have to go find them, and remove them, or she could think of another way to get back at them for running away.

EQ_Theta · July 5, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Sen and Lin were delighted to hear about Rosa's offer. Sure, it's just one elder who is amenable to learning more but he's got some ideas to share to the other elders. The last time they met, Ghilan had plans to leave for other villages and present some proposals to the other elders. Normally, an elder sends a messenger but he seems content to be the one to send the messages himself. It wasn't unheard of back then but having the elder do the legwork was an uncommon occurrence. Still, it was some semblance of change even if it is only one elder setting an example.

But finding the truth behind their kind's history, that was another matter entirely. There was no record of who exactly made contact with the longma in the centuries when that tale began, no information that could point to even the slightest clue. That was, until Lin was showed that book back at Scarcity's shop... and even that was merely grasping at straws. Without a way to confirm the contents of that book, it was just another lead.

Sen and Lin didn't need to think about what Rosa had offered, and simply jumped in with excitement and glee. Sen moreso, quickly replied with the kind enthusiasm Lin frequently saw as children whenever he got a chance to learn something new from the hunt masters.

"That sounds good! We didn't have a word for what we were trying to achieve with broadening our kind's horizons and perhaps education might just be the thing that can get them to slowly come over to a new way of thinking. Elder Ghilan is always looking for ways to make this work. He'd be more than happy to welcome you to the village and he would love to learn from you!"

FanOfManyShows · July 5, 2018

@Blitz Boom @Dji

"I'd not attack her now if he expects that, we need to talk, for once." She looked around the room, for signs of where Void could've gone. "But if he gives her the power of an element of disharmony, she'll never turn to my side again. Even in a time of crisis."

Astral looked to Sapphire, standing near the blast marks on the floor. "You can take us straight to him if you sense him doing that." Astral looked to the general. "I assume we'll check if Void is there at the infirmary before we do anything else, right?"

Sapphire sighed to herself, glancing to the general, a look of concern in her eyes. The weight of what Zhu had planned weighed on her a lot, as well as the concern that this general was only a house for Emerald to watch Sapphire's movements. She turned to look. "Yes, let's do that."

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@Blitz Boom

Warlock found a smirk and light chuckle exit him. "They won't like what case I'd have to present, miss. I am the reason they banned the magic I use, after all."

The guard next to him, gave him a glance of surprise, trying not to break his stance. "Surprised they haven't banned unicorn magic yet, then."

"They are born with it, the magic I use is something you learn."

He chuckled to himself. "Right, unicorn magic is learned too."

Warlock looked back to Hogweed. "What are your thoughts on this matter?"

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@Blitz Boom

The book only swayed around, Iron Star watching it tilt towards Chow. as it's movement only accelerated towards Chow, His own magical field enwrapping it before Chow could adjust. His eyes widened, Iron Star ducking as the book then flung over him, ripping it out of Chow's magic field. "Definitely something other than a magnet if that happened." He looked to chow, gasping softly as he pieced it together.

"You didn't let him practice long enough! That's probably it."

He looked down at Misty. "Misty, Chow's magical field is just unstable it seems, even if I let him practice, it would've fallen apart entirely when casting powerful spells." He pointed to Chow. "So from what I see, your magic field is two separate fields, judging from the two colors, which would cause the magical fields to battle for control." Iron Star returned to a standing position. "But unless Emerald left some of her magic field in you, there would need something else creating it." He leaned forward, walking close to Chow. "Can you think of anything?"

Rising Dusk · July 6, 2018

@Blitz Boom

At this point, Rising Dusk was starting to feel like he'd have a calling as an Equestria ambassador. The jest of course made him chuckle to himself. He was quite happy with his calling in life. Sure, the work could get dirty, more figuratively, but really anypony's job could in it's own way.

"You were the one wondering yesterday about the feelings of your creation. Well now you know. So, it's more and win win."

The midnight blue stallion chuckled as Blitz Boom joined in onto Felicia's side. Maybe their relationship wasn't as bad as Dusk assumed it was. Granted, now that he though about it more, Blitz Boom probably didn't have the attention spam to really be all that bothersome to the large spider. Felicia could probably just toss a spring she's been holding onto and it might completely distract the small filly in an instant.

When Molotov started listing off his conditions to finally release Felicia from her duties as guard of Workshop 05, Dusk felt like he needed to add in his two bits.

"And let's make sure we follow Equestria Laws as well. So yeah, no pony hurting."

Probably a bit more of an added kill joy to Felicia's sense of freedom. But an officer of the law is an officer of the law.

When is assistance as asked for, he couldn't help but be curious on why Molotov was asking Dusk for help and not somepony more mechanically inclined like his sister Blitz. When he was about to bring it up though, something else caught his attention.

"Uh... Molotov. You might want to shower first. You may have become the unwitting canvas for Equestria's new rising artist."

Dusk pointed his hoof at Molotov's charcoal covered coat.

Moonlit · July 6, 2018

@Blitz Boom The wolf cocked his head to one side "Midnight Castle, it's gates open and unbarred. Paradise Valley, unlit but for the moon".

@Dji @Seamore Sandwich @Blitz Boom Serenade stops as soon as she exits the room, and spots Aurora. "Um...Hello"

Blitz Boom · July 6, 2018

@Lloyd

"I'd be more comfy if you talked whilst she were in chains, but we'll look at that when we get there."

Tidal had the feeling that the two witches weren't gonna bring her along once the big battle were gonna happen. Not for safety reasons, but to try and talk some sense into this Emerald chick that seemed to be the focal point for what was going on right now. Tidal might be an unconventional sort of general, but Emerald was a criminal, and as such, chaining the parasite up good were the option that she'd go with. Something Sapphire and Astral would know, unless they had been smacked a few too many times in the noggin these days.

Getting out of the room they were in the conventional way, Tidal took notice that one of the guards were missing, and turned to the nearest one.

"The mare that were in there before, did you folks take her to the infirmary?"

He'd nod, but didn't talk. How in the world this group got through the day when it rarely seemed like they talked, Tidal had no idea about, but she assumed it involved some kind of fanaticism with their job. The psychotic levels of loyalty to the throne you could find sometimes were staggering, even among the guards and varied heroes spread around Equestria.

"Seems like she'd there alright. Follow me, and we'll be there in a few minutes if nothing goes wrong. Any bets on how likely that's gonna be?"

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@Lloyd

Hogweed opened her muzzle, but paused. It was a pretty difficult question that was asked of her here, in parts because it involved some degree of justification to Warlock's magic. A magic mind you, that were currently outlawed, and had been for a long time for a likely good reason, seemingly involving the chained up stallion himself.

"...I uhm... What I mean is..."

Even when she had thought on it for a bit, she still stumbled over things, trying to figure out how to put this. How she had ever gotten a rank above field medic when she had moments like this were beyond herself sometimes.

"I think that the magic is okay, if it's used kindly and responsibly. Magic itself isn't evil. It's how you use it that can be.

Even sacrificial magic can be good, by giving a little of yourself to save others for example, and that is a kind of magic that's even forbidden to unicorns.

If you can prove the magic can be used responsibly and in a way that helps others, as part of your reforming efforts, I think that perhaps the case could be made to the princesses that it is time to give the population a chance again. Or perhaps just let a group learn, and see how it goes from there? It's up to them, though I think it's going to take a little while before they will try and embrace that. They'll have to both see you making personal progress, and proof before things goes on.

Though the uhm... I can't remember the names. Other witches? They used it to help capture you. Perhaps they're going to prove earth pony magic can be better utilized than banned?"

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@Lloyd

So it wasn't just smashing after him then it seemed, but more random folks's heads? What was he, some kind of pinball magician? Should he wander around with a helmet and rubber balls to just boop everything around all the time then?

Considering how many head injuries seemed to want to happen right now, the helmet might not be a bad idea actually...

And then came the kicker in the stomach Chow really should've been expecting: The notion that something was conflicting with what magic he might be able to use. A sort of influence that ere fighting with him over control in the matter. Emerald were finally out of his head, and yet she seemed to still be messing things up for him.

"I'm gonna go ahead and say that it's Emerald that have left something behind. I had her stuck in my head for years, and it's not like this is the first sign that she didn't leave me clean either. Here, lemme show you."

Taking the sharp part of what was left of the spear he had been polishing before, Chow brought it to his left front hoof, and made a small cut in the flesh right above the hoof itself. It wasn't much, and he didn't even twitch doing it, but then again, Chow were used to cuts and bruises, so it'd have to be deeper if he were gonna get all weepy about it.

From the wound came a small drop of blood, that rolled down and hit the floor, where it then started to sizzle at the stone it had landed on. It wouldn't go straight through and keep going, but there were a clear mark where it had dropped before the effect went off and it just dried up to a small, inactive spot.

"Noticed this when Astral and I got chained together earlier. Used it to sizzle through the chains and make a run for it, though I can tell you straight up you that I've never been able to do this before. Blood's always just been regular ol' blood, until Emerald got out of my skull. Looks like she left me a few more *presents* than I first saw under the tree this year."

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@Moonlit

Briar tilted his head to the side, pondering what to say to that.

The wolf could talk, that were a given, yet the words it chose didn't make any sense to him. At least not in the context that were presented, which could seemingly just be random words mashed together. Kind of like a parrot, testing what it had learned to say, though broken up into random bits.

Yet... There seemed to be some kind of meaning behind it. Granted, he hadn't the faintest clue, but what if this were just an olden way to speak? He had heard Princess Luna's quotes here and there, and they seemed very old fashioned. What before that though? Could this have been a way to speak back then? If it were, this wolf had either found some really old books... Or he were ancient himself? Giant wolves weren't exactly common from his knowledge, and it could talk, so how could he say for sure?

"I'm afraid that I cannot comprehend what you speak of. Midnight Castle sounds as if it could be connected to Princess Luna, yet how it connects to the valley you speak of or why it carries no light, I haven't a clue about."

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@Rising Dusk

"Huh?"

With everything going on, Molotov hadn't had the time to think of frivolous things like how he looked or personal hygiene. The small bit he had seen on his hoof barely registered the brief moment he had seen it, in parts because of the ganging up on him that were going on, and in parts because he had fallen asleep on a machine. Some soot were pretty common when that happened.

Now that it got pointed out to him though, he had a closer look, and could see that he wasn't mostly covered in random spots. It was crude drawings, made in charcoal, almost covering one another in an attempt to cram as many unto him as possible

"Gosh darn it, Blitz!"

He turned on the spot to face his sister, who fell on her back and held her stomach as she laughed at him. Times like this, he started to fall back into the old times, before the family and their town were gone, and Blitz lost her memory, as this were exactly the kind of thing she had been a fan of doing. Molotov had to lock his door in seven ways eventually, just to keep her from sneaking in and doing weird stuff like drawing on him, or place his hoof in a bowl of lukewarm water. Completely innocent to her, and just a way to pass time when she couldn't sleep, but a nightmare to her older brother who needed the energy and didn't like waking up looking like a soot goblin.

"Just you wait until I tell mo-"

Molotov had started to raise his voice and fire off the usual sentence to Blitz, when reality hit him like a truck, and caused him to just stand there with a raised hoof and a hanging jar:

There was no mom to tell Blitz on. Heck, his little sister didn't even remember her, no matter how much Molotov had tried to jog her memory with pictures, stories or songs she used to play for them. They were alone now, and the only one he could tell about Blitz being after him that really cared, would be himself. Everypony else were gone.

His hoof fell and his ears slumped as he turned around from the giggling filly. There was no point in getting angry with her. She were just a filly, and literally didn't know better. Every scrap of that kind of memory had seemingly been lost, along with what had happened at Center Zero, and anything that Molotov could do to try and make her remember, were too dangerous to test on her. Far too experimental, and could end up causing him to lose her again. This time, by his own hooves.

No, he had grieved enough over her. It was better to leave her in ignorant bliss than to take any kinds of risk like that.

"I'll... Take a shower when I've shown you the power source, Dusky. It shouldn't take long..."

The spiderbot behind him started to go off on a tangent again, needing a translation before the depressed-looking Molotov left the room.

"Felicia says you need to show her the laws. Get her a law book or something when you have time."

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@EQ_Theta

"When this is all over, and I've been to the orphanage to see if they can help me locate my brother, I'll see if your elder will listen to me."

It would be a strain on his time, but honestly, he doubted King Thorax would mind much, since the time spent went to a good cause that he, if anypony, could relate to. Plus, on a personal note, it would be good for Rosa to do this, since he still felt like he needed to make up for all the damage he had done. Helping a village elder the ways of politics seemed like a good way to carry out some more of his penance, though it depended on whatever or not the longma elder would listen to him. Even if they didn't have spies there, isolated people tended to be less trusting of outsiders in general, so it was likely not open hooves he would be welcomed with.

"It will take time though. Politics have changed from back int he day, when it could be resolved with a duel or an arranged marriage. The nuances are vast and he'd likely need to be told of it over several times.

Would I need to infiltrate the village, or walk straight to his door? I can stay out of sight when needed, and if the locals doesn't trust outside influence, I'd likely have to, whilst you lead the way to whatever building your leader resides in. This is also a part of politics: Making sure you still have the people on your side. A leader is only as strong as the support they have from their people, unless they're a demigod like Discord."

Of course, there were also the case of dictators and tyrants, but they still tended to have some support. Granted, a good deal were through the few they benefited and/or an indoctrinated people, but it were still a factor, and Rosa doubted the siblings cared much for hearing of politics in a fascist government.

Funny how he had taken those courses on politics as a last minute elective to avoid music classes, and it actually turned out that it ended up being a useful skill. He couldn't play a guitar or sing to save his life though.

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@BloodDrops

The pain was growing more intense by the minute...

Nerzhei used as much energy as she could to make for her and Lyriel's escape - who she had been lucky enough to drag with her - but the overuse of magic and the injuries the dragoness already had were getting to her, as she tunneled through layers of rock and dirt, and collapsing the track behind her as they went on as best she could.

She tried to keep her thoughts on other things to get away from the pain, but it were getting harder and harder to focus on anything else.

It had started with her praising her luck that she had taken her book with her when she had left the cave, as the sphinx were likely going to destroy it now in retaliation. Countless hours of work, slivers of crystal that had taken her months to collect and fill with small amounts of magic, and up to years of research notes would be gone, but as long as she had the book and Lotus, she had the most important things with her. Everything else could be remade, relearned or rewritten.

Then the thoughts had gone towards Lyriel, who had started to squirm a little less as they finally broke through the sand, and got into more fertile soil. The Dryad were still encapsulated in rock, but it brought her closer, so her pain eased a little. Well, her physical pain at least, though Nerzhei suspected that the emotional trauma were going to take a good deal longer for her to get past.

A few other things regarding Lotus, the book, what she were going to do now and so on also came and went, but the pain in Nerzhei's head and bad arm increased to a point where it started to be hard for her to even navigate, or move anymore. She didn't have a choice, they had to get to the surface. And quickly, lest they get stuck down here.

Breaking the surface would cause a bit of a stir, since they were in Ponyville at the time, though it were thankfully not in the main street, where the majority of the guards were. Sadly, there were still a couple here, who approached the dragon and the weeping plant pony wrapped in rock with raised swords.

"Halt! Let go of the mare."

They hestiated somewhat, seeing how the dragoness had one arm in a noose, and the other were clutching her head, doing a poor job of disguising the amount of pain that were going over her face right now.

"B-Bag. Hnngh! .. Elix-Argh!"

Surge after surge were going through her head, combining a migraine attack with the aftermath of using too much magic at once, to cause her a mental pain unlike any she had tried before. Frankly, the dragoness would be attacking something out of pure instinct if she had the ability to move much right now.

The guards weren't sure what she were going on about though, and just kept their weapons on the ready. Thankfully for Nerzhei though, there were someone who understood what she were on about. A pink little someone, opening the top of the bag she had been in, and reaching a bottle of strange liquid up towards Nerzhei.

The dragoness quickly took the elixir from the bunny and gobbled up the entire bottle in one go. It was more than she had ever done at once before, but it were how much she had to drink before she could feel the pain starting to subside, and she had the capacity to let go of Lyriel again. Her arm still felt like it was burning, and pearls of sweat were showing on her brow, but she were somewhat lucid again now, and glanced over at the guards that were holding her up.

"The princess. Where is she?"

"State your name and reason for keeping that pony restrained."

The two were more focused on the dragoness than the pony, so they didn't notice the flowers growing on her - a few things were poking through the crackling rock shell - which would be a hard argument against the mare being an all out pony, though that were semantics really. It would still look like a hostage situation no matter what kind of creature had been brought up like that, wrapped in stone.

"There isn't time. She needs to be warned."

"About what?"

Nerzhei looked the most talkative of the two guards straight in the eyes, as she took a deep, raspy breath.

"The sphinx that's taking over your forest."

That seemed to get their attention, though they weren't the only ones who bit notice in this. Some citizens began to talk too, and would spread the word whilst the guards eventually would help the dragoness to her feet, and assist in leading her towards the castle.

Not everypony who listened in had worried thoughts about what they heard though. One in particular, instead eyed an opportunity and began making her way towards the forest whilst everypony were occupied with their own things. The only one following the tall, well dressed pony, were a small, blue mare, who looked like she hadn't slept in a few days, but went on with a smile on her muzzle regardless, as the tall one lead the way towards an unusual situation.

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@Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

Whilst Anomaly was munching on her snack cage, the dracolisk curiously followed Pringle into the tree.

Watching the smaller lizard, and the effect some of the fruit had on him, the dracolisk cautiously sniffed one of the fruits to see if they smelled like actual food, or if Pringle just ate weird things.

The smells differenciated wildly he found, ranging from sweet, to sour, spicy, and so on. None of them really smelled like the food he ate though, until he went over to the side, and smelled a smaller fruit, around the size of a mandarin, and striped like a candy cane.

Oddly, it had a strange odor of fish, a food that the dracolisk did know. So even if this didn't move and wriggle like he were used to, it were good enough for him to try and follow what Pringle had done, and chomped down on it.

Half of it got down before the dracolisk spat the remaining part down on the ground below, where it got absorbed by the ground. While it smelled like fish, it had tasted like chocolate, and even though the dracolisk didn't know what that were, it knew that it didn't like it. Something sweet were perhaps okay, if it were akin to a ripe pear perhaps, but he liked meat, and had expected meat. That thing had been far from it.

Nothing really happened the first few seconds after that, as the dracolisk tried to get the bad taste out of his mouth, until suddenly, he sneezed, and let out a stream of bubbles. Each time one of them popped, a piano tune softly played, causing a weird bucket of noise to come from the two dozen bubbles that had gotten out.

Lucid_Nightlight · July 6, 2018

@EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

"Well, he didn't explode, so I guess it's fine."

Lucid looked at his little lizard, he was so adorable!

"Well it seems Pringle has a new friend. I gotta ask though, how does the dracolisk think like an adult lizard if it just came into existence?"

Edited July 6, 2018 by Lucid_Nightlight

FanOfManyShows · July 6, 2018

It was a bright day for Crystal, having just taken a break from writing for a drink at the cafeteria. She was already headed back home, but the strange thing she noticed when she got there, aside from admiring the view of the sphynx, a strange creature to see in Canterlot of all places. But that moment of awe was stolen when she saw her door was. "It's, unlocked?" She opened it slowly, as she headed inside, suddenly on guard. She was a known writer of a popular series, so the first thought came to mind was somepony stole her book before she published it. She rushed upstairs as quietly as she could straight to the room she wrote the book in, no pony was in there. The manuscript was, still there, with a vial of ink spilled over it. Fury burned in her eyes, swallowed by depression, her work was gone. Her memory could recall most of it. But not near enough to remake the whole thing. She ran over, parting the stack of papers that was the script of the book, getting the ink vial off it, shuffling through the pages. Pausing at the sight of the little writing that wasn't obscured by the ink. "Wait, this isn't my handwriting." She put the papers down, smiling to herself at the revelation, her work wasn't lost. "Then they have stolen it!" She looked around, now looking for evidence that could point to who it was.

=============================================

Zealous sat there in his home, holding the papers in his hooves, shuffling through them as they laid on the floor, na. "Interesting story. So many details, yet no identity for the antagonist to possess has been written." He smirked, standing up. "Well done Crystal, I will give you a name for them then." He chuckled to himself, looking out the window, to the Canterlot train line. "So here's where act one begins, An inciting incident" He put a hoof to his chin, thinking. "But how do I get her on the train?"

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@Blitz Boom

Astral sighed to herself, Sapphire chuckling. As Astral felt uncomfortable with what the general said about Emerald, so Sapphire's chuckle surprised her. "Very likely, But you have the most powerful earth pony witch here with you." Suddenly the chuckle felt deserved, as it was only aimed to the later statement. "Well, as far as I know anyway."

"Warlock did put us at odds for a while there." Astral was quick to point out.

"He wasn't that tough, Astral all things considering. Either that or we've not seem him at his strongest." She exited the room, walking past the guards as she spoke. "And if you become worried of danger, just stay on guard."

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@Blitz Boom

He lowered his head, coming to terms with how society has developed seemed like a smart choice now. His magic might even be outdated too. "Making it out for good, seems like a, Interesting decision. Instead of hiding it like they used to for hundreds of moons." Finding himself without the element of greed, it was what set this reform in motion. But then came the worry of losing his goal if he turned good. "Let's just hope my past accomplice doesn't mess that up, right?" He chuckled to himself, what a day that'd be, making this magic out to be good. And then watching it collapse under their hooves.

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@Blitz Boom

The smile that came from Iron Star would seem undeserved after what Chow said, only solidified by what he said after. "Perfect!"

"How?" Misty blurted out, probably about the same thing Chow would be wondering.

"It means he can use his own magical field if he focuses on it, problem comes when he doesn't know which one is his, so it defaults to both at once." He looked to the book, he levitated it over, placing it where it started before this debacle. "So, try to levitate it. But don't lift it. It could allow me to figure out which of the two auras is yours." He said, observing the book. "If Astral was here though, she could sense which one is yours... Oh! Her ability can be replicated with a spell."

Misty chuckled to herself. "Convenient, isn't it?"

He shrugged. "Most of the magical abilities can be replicated with a spell anyway." He went to fetch another book, pulling it off the shelf and reading it. "You can try to levitate it as I use the spell, since it could be possible to control a contaminated aura. Nopony has tried, after all."

EQ_Theta · July 7, 2018

@Blitz Boom

It is understandable that Rosa would suggest some methods to avoid confrontation with the villagers who are more... averse, so to speak, about having visitors. Especially after the reception with Omen and the lynch mob going after them, they'd preferably be cautious. But times are different, no looming threat hiding in the shadows; now is a time to rebuild and to grow, and that means learning to change and accept that things will be different. They don't have to fear everyone who comes to them. Even so, infiltrating and meeting Elder Ghilan under the cover of darkness just to learn? It sounds like learning about politics is some kind of dark art.

"Sneaking in? Making all of this a secret? Oh no, it shouldn't have to come to that!" Lin scoffed at the notion, unnecessary lengths that do not need to be taken. "You will be our guest, and as our guest, you will be treated with utmost respect. We all have something to learn from you, even if it is a lesson on how not every foreign creature who comes to the village wants to harm us. But should any harm come to you, Sen and I will be held responsible."

A seemingly excessive form of hospitality, sure, but learning from experience, it may be a necessary precaution for the siblings to look after Rosa's needs should he decide to visit their village. The hunters are not always around to cater to the needs of visitors beyond basic security, and it is common knowledge in the village that those who invite guests into the village are more or less responsible for the needs of the guest. Traders are the exception, as their lodging and needs are fulfilled by the village as a whole.

"It's going to be tough for our elder to take in what you have to teach him; he is very young and inexperienced with this kind of matter. He means well, though, and wants the best for the longma."

The remainder of the afternoon was spent trekking along their set path, the afternoon sun bearing down on them and the thoughts of home filled Sen and Lin's minds. They didn't expect to be thinking about that, considering just how many terrible things can be associated with that place. It was about as close as they could get to making sure they still have a roof over their heads. They could've chosen to abandon them all, but some are coming around to their way of thinking. They just needed a little push.

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@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight

Fluttershy observed the dracolisk intently, hoping to learn something she can use to help it acclimate to its new home. The basics were covered and she could manage those, but behavior-wise, it might be necessary to get it to socialize with the other lizards in her home. Mostly geckos but they were about the closest she can get to having the equivalent of Pringle around.

The pegasus eagerly awaited Anomaly's response to Lucid's question, and maybe she could come up with a few more questions of her own. It would be nice to have some idea on how to introduce the dracolisk to the other animals in her home.

Edited July 7, 2018 by EQ_Theta

Sekel · July 7, 2018

@Blitz Boom, @Lloyd

KARMIC FATE

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Zhu," Karmic replied truthfully, looking over her shoulder at him. She honestly had no clue what he was going on about. Influence being tightened? What's that? Who's influence? Atzy's? Far as she knew, Atzy was just a voice in her head causing weird things. It was nothing unusual to her, well, except for the goo spitting and being tripped over a randomly appearing and disappearing root ... nope, nothing unusual at all.

@Blitz Boom, @Moonlit, @Seamore Sandwich

AURORA LIGHTS

"Hello," Aurora blinked, scrabbling away from the door when it opened. She spotted the Pegasus walking and almost immediately smelt something fishy about her. "You smell like fish," she commented in her moment of complete and utter befuddlement as to why a Pegasus of all ponies smelled like fish. "Why?"

@Lloyd

WATTS MECHANO

"Who knew riding trains was such a ... ride," Watts muttered to herself, doing her best to keep herself from stumbling off the platform and to the tracks below. Yes, she could fly, but her motion sickness caused her to sway left and right. Having come to Canterlot for gyro balancer, this was not going according to plan. Maybe she could get it for herself to keep her balance on moving trains? Managing to stumble into the wall of the station, Watts coughed and checked her item locations from a list in her saddlebag. "Phew, let's see. Gyro balancer ... ah, here it is ... now how do I get from here to this alleyway?" she mumbled to herself as she took a couple of slow steps, making sure to keep her balance on the way.

Moonlit · July 7, 2018

@Blitz Boom The wolf narrows his eyes at the mention of Princess Luna, "Tirek, his eyes red, lord of Midnight Castle. Luna and Celestia, unbowed and unbent" He looks back down at the Ponies? and sighs. The chains wrapped around him start to glow, and give off waves of heat. Soon they are cherry red, and the air is filled with the smell of burnt metal. He uses a claw to 'draw' runes into the ground, scratching a dozen of them. He winces as the pain starts to become worse.

@Dji @Seamore Sandwich @Blitz Boom Serenade opens her mouth, then closes it. Her eyes narrow, "And why do you smell of the forest, the Everfree isn't safe"

Rising Dusk · July 8, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Rising Dusk didn't join the young filly in her bout of rolling on her back to have a good belly laugh. He did manage to produce a grin and soft chuckle instead to the little prank that came to light. A pretty typical prank between siblings, or so he's heard. The age gap between the two probably aided more in Blitz being able to get away with such pranks. If they were closer in age, there would probably be more dastardly retaliation or at least an equal prank back from the stallion.

While he didn't get to finish his spat with Blitz, Dusk was pretty sure in where the comment was going. Not all that hard to fill in the last bit that was cut off. Interesting that such an older stallion would result to still telling on his little sister to his mother. Rather than just levitating her off the floor and dunking her in a bucket of cold water. Or maybe that was just something that would be more commonly done between Dusk and his sister.

Sadly the little bit of fun in the morning of Workshop 05 had taken a turn. Dusk could see it in Molotov's face as a realization and painful memories dredged up from a simple prank. Not all that much was known to him about what occurred at Center Zero, but he did know these two were the last Booms. A small ping hit his heart, that short surge of adrenaline a pony gets when one tries to fill in the blanks of a terrible event with their own lives. He never really wanted to think what would happen if he suddenly lost his mother, father or sister.

Nodding to Molotov as he was about to trot away to the shower. His attention turning to Felicia when a new inquiry came from the large spider through translation of Molotov.

"If there is a break in today's activities, I'll be sure to acquire a book that will help you Felicia. I'm sure you'll be an upstanding citizen of Manehatten in no time."

FanOfManyShows · July 8, 2018

Crystal found herself with no evidence that could help her. Rather disappointed at the fact as she sat there, in her chair. For all she knew this pony was planning to steal the book, and publish it. She stood up, sighing to herself. "Well, as much as I already had the break. I need something to think this over with." She mumbled to herself, giving the crime scene another look over. She could hire a real detective to do this, for sure, the thought certainly crossed her mind as she locked the house door behind herself. But she couldn't risk the detective having the ulterior motive to just read a unpublished book. Deciding on a plan, look for it herself, and if that failed, seek help. "Maybe a walk, think about what was there, yeah." Her thoughts trailed off from there as she walked around Canterlot.

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@Dji

Zealous walked by the train, carrying a satchel on his back, contained within was the script he took from Crystal, but with the top closed over it,only a pony who was trying to look inside it would notice that there was paper inside. Chuckling to himself as he spotted a pony in the distance. "Motion sickness eh?" He said, smiling at them.

Blitz Boom · July 8, 2018

@Rising Dusk

"We'll see, interloper."

Was what Felicia meant, but without her translator here to interpret what she were going on about, it would just come out as whirrs and clanks. An annoying limitation of her body, as were the form she had been given, even though she had found some ways around it. She were an intelligent creation, and finding ways to interact with everyday objects had been a learning experience she had taken quite a bit of interest in, and worked on between researching things whilst the Boom ponies were asleep, and planning her escape.

It had seemed it wasn't going to be necessary after all, but it might come in handy another time, in case her creator somehow found out how to contain her again, and hooked her back up with the old system. Much as Felicia loathed Molotov's wrongdoings in containing her like this, she couldn't deny that he were efficient, and resourceful. A good combination, yet ones more likely to be used against her in case something went wrong.

It were not her intent for things to go that way, but they'd see how the world would react, especially before she had a functional voice box, rather than this frankly mediocre job Molotov had bashed out in his rush to make something that could protect his new home. The things she had seen from the little room bathed in shadows, above the front door, had shown her a good deal of ponies judged by what they saw at first, and wouldn't adapt easily. Perhaps it were simply those who wandered around the outskirts - of which there were few - and a lack of context, since she couldn't hear what they said from so far away, but it were what she would work on to begin with. They'd see if the interloper could change things up. He had been resourceful in a very useful way to the spiderbot so far, so she'd put some tentative hope on him being the key to not just freedom, but potential, future acceptance.

Whilst Felicia were thinking over these kinds of things, Blitz were finally getting to her hooves, and noticed how her brother had slumped out of the room.

"Is big bro okay? He looked sad."

Blitz had seen him like this a few other times, but mostly when he were looking at something usually in a locked box. She had snuck over to see what it were a few times when he had it open and were distracted, but best she could see it were letters from somepony, and a few small items like a locket, a couple of gears, and a really crude blue-print. What it, or any of the other things were about, she didn't know though. Big bro hid it well from her, and took it away swiftly when he noticed she were near.

He also got kinda teary-eyed when he showed Blitz pictures of Center Zero and she said she didn't know who anypony in there were. She liked the pictures of their parents though, they looked nice. Pity she couldn't remember them.

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@Moonlit

"Tirek? There is a name which I have heard spoken of before. The one who attacked Ponyville a few years past from what have been told, and got send back to Tartarus by the Princess of Friendship.

Are you by chance speaking of an earlier encounter, where the princesses fought with hi- By the trees!"

Briar were not one for outbursts such as that, but the heat emanating from the chains were getting strong enough for him to feel it, and whilst he were grown in a jungle, it did not mean that he liked the feeling of being near this much heat. It were too close to fire for comfort, and he burned easily.

At the same time though, it seemed as if whilst his burning were a possibility right now, the wolf were quite literally getting scorched. The smell in the air, the look on the enormous creature, and the pained expression, however brief or minuscule, spoke quite a bit of the uncomfortable situation, though it seemed as if the furred beast wasn't getting set aflame himself. Strange, but Briar's heartstrings were being pulled too much for him to find interest in this, over the sadness he felt from seeing this grand creature in pain.

"What is it that ails you, Mister Wolf? Is it something I can assist you in solving, in one manner or the other?"

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@Moonlit @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

So now the two had meet, but they were exchanging smells? Changelings and siren's were apparently pretty weird creatures when trying to socialize.

Perhaps Cherish wouldn't be so odd in a company of other beings as she had originally thought, though it were a hypothesis for another time. The other princess might be here in seconds, and she couldn't let it be known that she were a presence in here until everything were resolved there, or she were forced out of hiding somehow.

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@Dji @Lloyd

"I told you to not fool around with what were locked away, and the bile you now spew is but the first sign of the consequences your folly had. You will become one of them eventually. Perhaps even a queen, who will need a hive to call her own? I cannot see what comes ahead for you clearly, though what influences you will hold a plan for it's own gain that I need no vision to see is hardly born from kindness. Not after being denied a host for so long.

Thread with caution, Karmic, and ask if you doubt your thoughts, or what happens to you. Some things are not meant to be carried alone."

It were perhaps not the kindest way to put things, but they had arrived at the castle now, and the mare sought answers to what he meant. A blunt truth seemed kinder than a false hope, though if she thought so were hard to say. The things Zhu had done had made his ability to differentiate *soothing* from *harsh and unnecessary* somewhat lacking.

Once they reached the castle, Zhu would aim for the main door, and the first stair to the top left. They were not far from their target now.

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@EQ_Theta

Something resembling a brief chuckle escaped Rosa.

"It isn't me you should be worried about getting hurt."

No spy worth his salt got through this job without a fight, and Rosa were no stranger to a brawl that needed to end quickly. Infiltration sometimes required knocking out a guard and stealing their armor, incapacitating a witness and leave them unconsciously in a closet, outright fight off guards or other spies, etc. A need for battle were needed, and whilst not top of his class, Rosa had been close. He didn't fear longma, who at most were trained to hunt and fight beasts. A very different experience than fighting a limber pony who knew how to strike.

Of course, Rosa didn't want it to come to that, but he were not going to just sit there and take it if he were attacked. He would defend himself if it came to it, which whilst not the best first impression, were a simple matter of survival. Wasn't like he'd make a good impression either if he laid down, beaten and bruised.

"As for your leader, I have spent three months now tutoring a changeling turned rebellious king about politics, as a thank you for giving me political asylum. If you knew how little they learn as drones, or how short their maturity takes, you would know changelings to be harder to teach new things than somepony who have an open mind and experience in leadership."

The next hours went on mostly in silence, which fitted Rosa well enough. it gave time to map out where they were, and their progress as they wandered on, which seemed to be marketably better than expected. None of them needed many pauses, and the pace held steadily, so they managed to save some time. A few hours only perhaps, but they would see once they began to pick up the pace eventually, and time were of the essence after all. Each minute saved, were one more to use to ensure their target were returned in time.

As he flew a little upwards and looked around, he saw a small clearing with a flat layer of simple grass about twenty meters to their right, rather than the roots, gnarled shortcuts and traveled roads they had wandered so far, and Rosa signaled for the group to halt.

"Go to the right, until you find a small area of flat ground and grass. We'll camp there for the night."

The sun had gone down, and the moon were rising on the sky, yet of course, they might be able to keep walking. However, this were a large forest area they were in. It was impossible to tell when next they had the chance of good camping ground, so it were best to use it while they could.

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@Lucid_Nightlight @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

"It's all in how you make the brain. I put in basics to make it able to survive and talk, and then the next generations will have it taught naturally by the parents. You can't just make life and not put in some basics, like instincts and survival skill. That's just mean.

Waaay harder to make something smarter than an animal though. Less instinct and more real thoughts. I sorta just copy parts of my mind and give it to them to make it easy, and they get personalities on their own. Well, after the whole *who's the real Anomaly* debacle. That can take a bit. But that's like, smart creatures. Animals just gotta know how to live, and then they'll learn quickly. Like the dracolisk does with Pringle. Lot's of learning to be social there."

Said dracolisk were now blowing up his cheeks with air and trying to let out some noise, just to have a huge, musical bubble escape again and blow towards the group of... Miscellaneous, somewhat equine creatures. It nearly seemed to cause the creature to unhinge its jaws in the process, and it were about the size of a mare's head, but surely it'd be fine. Loud, but fine.

Anomaly didn't care anyway. She had a cage to munch on, with one bar now getting slathered in what one could only hope were hot sauce made from normal ingredients, though it were likely best not to touch or taste it. Nothing about Anomaly's dietary needs had so far indicated that it was safe for regular life forms.

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@Lloyd

"Yeah well, he's in isolation and awaiting incarceration. Long as we find that Emerald chick, that's where he'll stay, and we're making darn sure he's suited up in the right metal to keep his lil' tricks from happening. Ain't gonna have somepony who assaulted the capitol off that easy."

Frankly, she'd like to have a cage of those weird anti-magic rings slumped above the breeding grounds back at her station, ready to welcome Warlock to the consequences of his actions, but she knew well that if he were going to stay somewhere for a while, she wasn't getting him. Her place was fine what the others considered short time, to scare into the more gruff types what could happen if they kept messing up, but they considered the conditions pretty barbaric, even if Tidal wasn't hanging folks up day long. Heck, she hadn't even used that cage she had above the breeding grounds for anything but a dive to see how the sharks were doing safely. She had cells for prisoners.

Granted, not the nicest places either, but they had been greenlit to be used on the right folks, or those who thought taking some years off their sentences at the beach would be a good deal. Something which it didn't turn out to be for many.

There were the odd number here and there though, that tended to actually get fascinated and friendly with the sharks, but she had a different way of dealing with them: Enrolling them into the Coast Guard tryouts.

Might seem odd, but the ones offered to get a clean state and a purpose among some creatures they liked were usually thankful for it, or became it eventually, and it worked as rehabilitation. Several of Tidal's most trusted officers were former criminals, and she didn't hold that against them, since they'd proven to be reformed.

Off topic thinking aside, it seemed like they were hitting the infirmary now, so they could get a good look over things. Though they had a wait a little to get room it looked like.

With all the guards getting hurt in the attacks, the infirmary were filling up pretty well with non-serious injuries. Everything were going on it seemed, from bones needing to be set, wounds to clean and patch up, sewing a few gashes, handling pain killers around to take the worst, and so on. Took a bit before they even got some attention by a random stallion that were throwing away a cloth he had been using to clean a rather nasty leg wound with, before he had stitched the guard back together again and told him to come back if it got worse.

"General Tidal Wave? Are you injured?"

"Nah relax, we're good. We've come here to look for somepony. Taller than usual earth pony mare, pretty dark with a swirling, purple vortex as her cutie mark, a glass eye and a wooden leg?"

"Yes, hard to miss that one... Three rows ahead, behind the curtain. I'd watch out for the gatekeeper though. He is acting a little weird."

"Thanks mate. Is Hogweed dealing with him?

"Captain Hailstorm have requested her elsewhere. Hopefully not for too long, we could use her help here."

Tidal nodded, understanding the point. Hogweed basically ran this place whenever it got hectic, with a frantic, yet effective hoof. It was the reason she had gotten a promotion in the first place, since she acted like somepony of rank would anyway, even if she really wasn't a leader type in the sense like Hailstorm were. She had no cool when a battle started, only when it came to dealing with the aftermath, though she did darn well there.

She'd have to ask Hailstorm later what he had done with the mare, though for the time being, they should probably get over and check up on Void, who'd look like somepony had dropped a bucket of bricks on her, wasn't conscious, and looking into the corner, her wooden leg seemed to have been smashed in half. All in all, it wasn't looking good for this mare being useful to them for the time being.

As for the gatekeeper mentioned, he were as covered and silent as the others from the gate, though he briefly raised his sword once the new ponies showed up from pure instinct. It was only a few inches before it got returned to the scabbard, but it were noticeable.

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@Lloyd

"We won't see before the meeting, but I'm hoping we can p-"

A ruckus outside caught her attention, as the door suddenly burst open, and a pair of soot-covered ponies with singed manes and tails entered the room, carrying several chains with clasps.

"We're here!"

"Chains in hoof!"

"Where's the prisoner?"

"We'll wrap him up good."

"Sure will. Our chains rules."

"Second to none."

"Except for the boss."

"Second to one sound lame."

"Boring even."

"Totally."

"So, who're getting strung up?"

"I bet it's the guy on the wall. He looks seven kinds of crazy."

"Hey, that's what they say about us!"

The twins laughed and bro-hoofed as they looked towards Warlock. Even if they wore dark, protective eye-wear, it should be hard to imagine the crazy looks in their eyes.

Under normal circumstances, these two would be completely unfit for the army. However, after the dragon Benny had taken over the forge, and cranked the heat up, these two were the only ones who could stand staying out there. It gave them a small bit of value, though they were never to be allowed on any missions, and had no, official powers. Wouldn't make sense to have the crazies allowed to arrest somepony if they left the encampment, though they barely did anyway. Usually they stayed near the forge, worked hard in there under the direction of Benny, and got avoided by anypony who wanted to keep their sanity.

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@Lloyd

"I thought levitating it meant that it got lifted."

Chow scratched his head. This here, were why he hunted things. He didn't need a dictionary for it, he just needed to know how and when to hit. That sorta thing he could get, but this had just begun and he were already getting confused.

But, he'd humor this and try seeing what he could do. Perhaps the meaning were that he just had to get it encapsulated in the magic aura, but not try and move it around? Best bet he had, so he might as well do that, and then get laughed at afterwards.

Big funny moment huh? Watch the *Wizard of Weak Sauce* perform his famous trick: Trying to lift a book the right way, and getting served by a filly right after. They should almost open a ticket line and scrounge up a few bits to profit off his dignity.

"Well, here goes nothing. And not a snicker outta you lil' lady, or I'll sneak a *kick me* sign onto ya the next time I get the chance."

It was meant in jest. Misty could likely make him regret it more than the other way 'round, in parts because Chow wasn't gonna hit a filly. It was both a figurative and literal low blow that he wasn't having anything to do with.

Doing his to try to fill the role of *levitate without lifting*, Chow gave it a shot and would try to keep the darn thing down.

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(You mentioned him, might as well)

@Lloyd

Enzo stretched his wings and letting out a loud yawn.

This were so boring. Sure, he had been guarding a mostly empty temple for three hundred years, but at least he had known what he were doing there, much as he hated it. Here? He had been standing in the garden of this *castle* of theirs (really unimpressive in his mind)for like a half hour, waiting to be told what was going to happen , and nothing. He were stuck in uncertainty between being told he could be useful - so he were allowed to stay long as he played nice - and not knowing where they were gonna put him. A sphinx like him took some space, and he needed that, along with a roof over his head.

He could live with it not being a temple, since after three hundred years of being a prisoner in one, he'd rather be anywhere else, but he still wanted a space to lay down that wasn't gonna get him wet when it rained.

...Okay, perhaps he'd entertain the rain once, but only because he hadn't seen it since he were around 15. A roof were still needed. And a large pillow, couldn't forget about that.

Reaching up and scratching behind his right ear, the bone ornament around his wrist made him remember what it were like the last time he had been given a roof over his head. Hadn't been a pillow there. Just a cold, hard rock surface to plant himself on.

He wondered if they could get enough dove feathers to fill one he could lay on without endangering the local population, and then rolled his eyes, whilst several ponies - both guards and civilians - watched him.

Thinking about a pillow like this, when he were in a pretty and unfamiliar place for his kind? Exactly how bored were he right now?

Ancients above, couldn't something just happen already? This were getting torturous!

Lucid_Nightlight · July 8, 2018

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

"Speaking of learning things, I gotta ask one thing. What does a draconequus like?"

It didn't take a genius to know that he was referring to Novia, the draconequus back in the universe he lives in.

"And just so you know, it's not pronounced NO.VEE.AH, it's NAH.VEE.UH. It's from comes from the word Novis, but with an *A* to sound more female. Everyone seems to get that confused for some reason."

Lucid realized he was getting of track.

"Back to the topic at hoof, any idea on how I should make my first move?"

Lucid turned to Discord, to ask an unrelated question.

"So, appearently according to weird science ponies, the sun is supposed to explode in like a billion. So, are you gonna fix it or should I?"

The sun thing didn't really matter considering that's a time away, and Lucid would be able to stop that pretty quickly considering he's be pretty powerful long before that.

Of course, the science ponies could be full of cowpie. Who knows? Lucid didn't really care.

Sekel · July 8, 2018

@Moonlit, @Blitz Boom, @Seamore Sandwich

AURORA LIGHTS

"The Everfree? Why do you assume that? I could be from any forest and I'd still smell the same," Aurora retorted and sat down to look at the Pegasus properly. "I will say this. Pegasi don't normally smell of fish."

@Blitz Boom, @Lloyd

KARMIC FATE

"If you don't think things are meant to be carried alone, let me help you protect the future," Karmic grinned at Zhu. "Its the only thing that sounds right at the moment."

@Lloyd

WATTS MECHANO

"Yeah, I guess," Watts groaned in answer to the question. She stopped walking and turned around to look at the pony who questioned her and found him by the train. Looks like the gyro balancer will have to wait. "Do you have anything that can help me with that?"

FanOfManyShows · July 9, 2018

@Blitz Boom

On her way back, Crystal spotted the sphinx yet again, Looking up at it, alongside the many others there. Her train of thought revolving around her lost book was briefly interrupted by the sight. She already saw it. But now she was right in front of it, having noticed it when the shadow covered her. While she had more important things over all, such as her life's work being destroyed by an unseen pony, but she was taking a break from that to be more focused. "Eh, why not?" She raised her hoof up in the air, looking up to the sphinx, doubting the sphinx would hear her, but if it had she'd be yelling at it, waving her hoof at it. "Hey there!" She was quite the introvert already, only having one friend made it hard to talk to others, but talking to a Sphinx would be a step above that.

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@Dji

Zealous shrugged, walking over to them. "Well, not exactly." He looked to Canterlot. "There's probably a medicinal place that sells something to prevent motion sickness." He looked back to them, chuckling to himself. "In fact I could use some before boarding the train back to Ponyville, with a friend of mine." He smirked slightly, despite never talking to her at all, some part of him wanted Crystal to be a friend. But he knew this moment would give him the inciting incident the story mentioned, something that'd catch her eye for sure. "I do know where it is, so I can lead you there."

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@Blitz Boom

Suddenly Sapphire took a step back at the sight, putting a hoof to her head. "I really would hope she isn't, permanently injured." She put her hoof down, looking at Void. "Since I'd rather not see another pony disabled at my ignorance." She kept her distance from Void after speaking, ignoring the fact a sword was almost drawn.

Astral quivered, she would've drawn a shield spell, but that'd only encourage the guard to slash her with the sword, so she only shook in fear. "W-well, I am curious to why she's under this security."

Sapphire looked to Astral, raising a brow. "Did you forget she was carrying a, powerful artifact?" Despite avoiding saying the name, she still whispered it quietly. "She's probably important enough for this."

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@Blitz Boom

This was one of the few times Warlock found himself with a face of confusion, and also worry as he interpreted what they said in the wrong way. "I thought I was already strung up." He said, the expression turning sly, he tugged at his chains to accentuate it. "Or are these the anti magic chains I heard about?"

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@Blitz Boom

Iron Star's eyes glowed a weird color, seemed to be a color that was the combination of Chow's aura colors. "Agh, the auras both come from you." He grumbled to himself turning away from Chow to go looking at the spell book as it laid on the bed. "It could be a deeper tie to you than just the, oh. Wrong spell, that one just detects magic, not auras." He face hoofed, looking to the aura that was hopefully still enwrapping the book, his eyes glowed again, his eyes turning, a brown color. He blinked a few times after. "Of course, she uses blood magic, so the red part of it is hers." He chuckled to himself, but then just looked a little more, concerned. "Well, now you just need a better control of your aura, to be able to use just the one. More skill than most would have. You could figure it out right?" He looked to Chow, with a smile. There could be writing on controlling two auras, but this was a thing that needed to be dealt with quickly, in the case that Emerald's aura corrupted Chow's own magic field if used to much.

EQ_Theta · July 9, 2018

@Blitz Boom

"We'll take your word for it." Lin replied though thinking about it, Ghilan may be a little easier to teach despite his rather ironic position being an elder and yet about as old as the siblings. Times have changed and many aren't exactly happy.

But now as the day is about to come to an end, Rosa scouting ahead and finding a suitable spot to make camp signaled Sen to begin moving to the designated location. It seemed like a nice place, flat ground with grass around... simple but there weren't any hollow stumps large enough to make a makeshift home. Then again, they will only be there for the evening; a waste of effort if they ever choose to do so. As soon as they arrived at the grounds, Lin opened a gate back to the room where their rations are kept, three sets with their goods neatly packed and full of vegetables familiar and foreign to Lin. It looked fresh enough.

Sen immediately set about with making a fire with gathered sticks and kindling, along with a few stones to create the fire pit. It wasn't easy but three attempts later and there was something burning in the coming moonlight. Then came the tent, or the sorry attempt to set it up even with the instructions. One pole set in, then another, then getting tangled around the folds until the longma found himself wrapped up. It reminded Lin of Omen getting mixed up with string, even with her chuckling a bit. Both eventually got the whole thing set up, about thirty minutes tops minus getting Sen out of the mess he found himself in.

"Come join us, Rosa. I've got the rations here and everything seems about ready." Lin called to Rosa to sit by the fire, tired and hungry but satisfied at their progress. She hasn't done this kind of thing in a while but she enjoys the company.

Storm Shine · July 9, 2018

@Storm Shine @EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom

Discord snagged a copper bar fom Anomaly's metal buffet, "Oh I doubt Celestia would let her toy explode." He answered lazily, drenching the metal in hot sauce and sprinkling a bit of powdered poison joke on it before munching away, "Especially not if it could hurt her little ponies." The spirit of chaos burped, sending out a plume of green fire and orange bubbles.

Moonlit · July 9, 2018

@Blitz Boom Fionrai growls in pain as the chains heat up. The runes in the dirt start to pulse with an almost unnatural light. Visions appear out of thin air, whirling around the wolf and the two in front of him. Visions of ancient battles, a massive Castle illuminated only by lightning, four Alicorns silhouetted by the sun binding the wolf in chains to a mountain, and an ethereal voice reflect on your sins....Wolf. The visions shatter as Fionrai slumps forward, the chains no longer heating up.

@Dji @Seamore Sandwich @Blitz Boom"And Ponies don't smell like the Everfree...The Everfree has a unique smell....and something else...." Her eyes narrow

Victoria Sponge · July 9, 2018

@Blitz Boom

"It's ok Benny, just don't believe everything people tell you."

Victoria smiled sweetly, offering up some genuine advice.

"Though obviously it is important to listen to what other have to say, I've learned that firsthoof."

She continued to smile after she said this, which was a nice change from earlier on when she had looked so ashamed of herself every time she thought back to events from the past.

"Maybe I should try on somepony else, like I said I don't know what ponies want and if they told me I'd probably get it wrong, but who knows? Personally I'd rather stick to baking but it could be an interesting side career. Maybe I should practice on Battenberg, her look could do with a sprucing up."

She shot Battenberg a somewhat sinister look which made her sister a little uncomfortable. Victoria was quick to elaborate however.

"N-not that she isn't amazingly pretty already, would just be interesting to see what I could do to her overall appearance by just changing her face an hair a little."

She chuckled and Battenberg relaxed, smiling back nervously.

"M-maybe some other time. I'd rather not have you experiment on me right now. You'd probably do better experimenting on Heather, she's much more into this kind of thing than I am."

Victoria nodded.

"That's an idea too, but why not both? I could do everyone, we have such a large family, lots of little guinea pigs."

She laughed mischievously, plotting away for her grand make up plan.

"Anyway, enough of that, it's a good idea and I'll try it at some point in the future. As for what we do next, since you two don't seem to be that busy maybe we should introduce you to more of our family."

Battenberg liked the sound of that idea.

"Yes! You simply must meet all of them eventually, they're all such colourful and varied characters! Never a dull moment."

"They can't meet all of them right now though, we'd have to take a round the country trip, not really suitable for a day trip."

"Of course not, but I know where the largest group is right now."

Battenberg seemed excited, she managed to slow down to explain herself though.

"Ok, so you are aware I was closing the shop when you lot showed up, I was actually headed out somewhere. N-nothing urgent of course, don't worry you haven't delayed me or anything, but I was going to meet up with Sprinkles for tea and cakes."

Victoria interrupted,

"They already met Cupcake Sprinkles..."

"Yes Vicky I know, but I'm not the only pony that she invited and she's totally fine with me bringing along anyone."

"Who else did she invite?"

"Sprinkles, Strawberry, Sky, Raspberry and mum too."

Lemon looked down and suddenly put a hoof to her mouth.

"Oh dear me, I completely forgot. I'm such a scatterbrain, forgetting something like that."

Battenberg patted her mother's back.

"It's ok, we all forget things and nopony would have minded."

Meanwhile Victoria had been working things out in her head.

"Why wasn't I invited?"

Battenberg and Lemon looked at eachother sheepishly.

"Sorry Vicky, these arrangements were made a while ago, you know, before you became nice. You're definitely invited now, Sprinkles seems to really like you now which makes a nice change."

"You weren't the only one not invited Vicky."

Heather laughed, seemingly unphased by the fact.

"Probably didn't want my klutziness ruining everything."

Battenberg opened her mouth to reassure Heather that this had not been done maliciously but Heather interrupted.

"It's ok Batty, you made the arrangements a while ago and didn't know if I would be around, I don't mind. Besides, I should probably be getting back to Evergreen so you lot can go on without me."

She smiled, totally fine with this arrangement. She had promised to spend some time with Evergreen and she knew he would be upset if she didn't keep this promise, besides she didn't really want to talk to her mother right now, it had been a while since they last spoke and she was a little nervous that things could get hostile between them.

"If you're sure Heather, I'm sure Raspberry would be happy to see you."

"Yeah, but I need to see Greenie. It was nice meeting you Pop and Benny, I'm sure we'll see each other again."

She was keen to leave and fluttered up into the air, waving a hoof at her new friends before flying straight into the door frame and crashing to the floor. She stood up and shook herself, gave a sheepish laugh and stumbled, onhoof this time, out of the door.

"So... what does everyone think about the tea party?"

Rising Dusk · July 10, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Rising Dusk listened to the whirls and clanks that came from the large spider. He felt he pretty much got the gist of what she was trying to get across. Maybe. Sorta. Oh who was he kidding, it was a wild guess. Ultimately the stallion was well outside his element, but that wouldn't stop him in trying to solve a problem. Sticking his nose where it doesn't belong most likely. Too late to go back now. If Felicia was as intelligent as he thought though, she could indeed be a valuable citizen of Equestria. Now that he was thinking about it though, Dusk wondered if he'd be able to maybe get Felicia a job at the scrapyard with Rusty. It'd be a good starting place, get her some interactions with other ponies. Her skills could be quite useful in the scrapyard... Evident in the hoof work with that 'Interloper' sign. Something to bring up another time perhaps. Dusk wasn't quite sure how Felicia would feel about a job after being the warden of his place she calls a prison.

Moving on to Blitz's concerns though, it was as plain as the Sun that he was upset. Even the little filly could pick up on that. Painful memories were difficult to get rid of. Dusk didn't have the kind of painful memories that Molotov had to endure, but there are a share of cases that have left their mark on his memory. That didn't need to be brought up to present company however. Moving around the table towards where Blitz had gotten up, he simply smile down at her.

"He'll be fine. Probably just jealous of how much better an artist you are."

The detective jibed. Bringing up solemn topics like Center Zero felt more like a task for her older brother than the pony they just met the other day. Of which had taken a strange turn. Just yesterday he'd been invited here to develop some of the plans left behind for one Turntable from some new magic suppression technology to help combat magical crimes. And here was was this morning, now sitting in Workshop 05 helping work through a tension between creator and creation instead of working on the project they collected Deep Iron for. He could already tell this was going to be a looooong day. Luckily it was his day off.

Blitz Boom · July 10, 2018

@Rising Dusk

"Really? I thought he was sad over something. Hehe, guess I should watch big bro more to learn stuff."

Thankfully for Dusky, as smart as Blitz were, she were also incredibly gullible. If somepony who she didn't think would lie to her told her off like this, she'd believe them, and figure she had just seen or remembered wrong. It happened often enough because of her scattered mind, so it wasn't a tough thing for her to believe.

"So, what're you gonna do when you get biiiig spider out, huh? Oh, I know! We should take her to the scrap yard."

Felicia rose her front legs and let out a sound that you didn't need a translator to understand were angry.

"Huh? Ooooh, nonono, we're not gonna scrap you. It's a big, fun place full of metal and parts! It'd be a fun place to take you. Like a park, but with less ponies running away screaming about the trees being on fire. Hehe, yeah, that sounds fun! I need to find my snacks for the trip, yesyesyes!"

Blitz bolted off right after that, to the back room so she could rummage around for a basket and some things to put in it. Or she'd get distracted and play around in the laundry again. It was a toss up between either really.

Seeing as they were alone then, Felicia and Carmen began to speak. It seemed as if the larger one gave her smaller sibling orders as they went on in their machine language, though it were far from the truth. Felicia liked her smaller sibling, even with Carmen's limitations and blind admiration of Molotov, and thought that as time went on, she wanted to try and get the small one upgraded to a better chassis, and more hardware capacity for her AI to grow into.

Carmen on the other hand, actively admired her bigger sibling. They were the only two of their kind currently, and Felicia had gotten so much smarter than Carmen had. The little one wished to learn from her bigger sibling, so she followed pretty much what was asked of her from Felicia, even going to the lengths of disobeying Molotov for her. Felicia was the smartest of the two, and what could be considered family to Carmen, so from the data presented to her, it were only logical that she should support her younger, but larger sibling. Which included not telling Molotov about what Felicia had directed her smaller sibling to do with the mechanisms the larger spiderbot were unable to reach or meddle with on her own.

Such meddle were in play now again, as Felicia made Carmen skitter up on her left side, and then crawl along the outstretched leg that Felicia placed towards the left-mid of the large workbench Molotov usually stood at. When she reached, the small one would start to use her own front leg to pry open one of the locked drawers, and then crawl back as Felicia pulled out the drawer almost the entire way. That then gave Carmen access to crawl down and push up a smallish, 60 page file, that she'd cling on to with her small teeth and front legs while Felicia reached both of the things towards Dusky.

The intent seemed clear: Take the file. Even more so as Carmen whirred along and reached it up towards him.

If he opened it, he'd find something that might be somewhat useful: A mess. Like, it were a detailed instruction on the language that the spiderbots used, that should help as a *dummies guide* to understanding them, but it were out of order, and with several pages turned the wrong way, having sections crossed out or even added words on both front and back, as more had become apparent to Molotov. Thankfully they were numbered, so it weren't too hard to get in order, yet it weren't exactly a professional guidebook, ready for the printer.

=====================================================================================

@Victoria Sponge

A lot of things were happening right now that neither Benny, nor Pop had expected.

Apparently, there had been a family gathering planned that Vicky and Heather didn't know about for varied reasons. The later because Battenberg weren't sure if she were around and/or her clumsiness (hopefully it was just the first option) and the former because up until a few hours ago, Vicky hadn't exactly been the easiest pony to work with.

It was a bit shallow, but they could understand the reasoning, and now that Vicky were all better and eager to show herself as more open to her family, she were invited in a heartbeat. There should be no hard feelings there.

The same could likely not be said as Heather began to go out, and slammed herself into the door frame. Certainly sounded like there were a lot of feelings after slamming into that hard frame, though she were surprisingly resilient from even saying *ouch*. Tough cookie that Heather.

Both Benny and Pop made sure to wave her off and say that they'd see her later before she got too far away, though Pop had a worried tone going over her, as she wondered if Heather were actually okay. She seemed to go off just fine, but surely it couldn't be healthy to ram into things like that? Hopefully if something went wrong, she'd be taken to the local hospital pronto.

"I hope she's okay... A-Anyway, tea party you say? I mean, I wouldn't mind at least. It could be a nice, calm event after all of this ruckus. What do you think, Benny?"

"Well, I'm not the big tea drinker, that's more Toxen, but it could be great to meet more of your family. You got a pretty nice flock of characters, though would they be okay with dragons there? I could hide as a pony easily. I just need a bucket of paint, three apples, and a musical number."

He played off the stereotype from the dragons that ponies were apple-eating, weirdly colored things who sung far too much, though he hoped they could tell from his big grin that it was meant in jest. Though hey, perhaps they didn't even know this stereotype? Guess they'd see.

"Is there some kind of dress code to it, or is it a more calm event? Tea parties can mean a whole lot of things around Equestria, from the casual sort to the finer kind, so I'm just wondering."

"We could get you a manecut if it were?"

"Snip Snap would get pretty cross with me if I did that, so it's probably best not to do something drastic. You could try the scale cleaning place that your sister were at though?"

"Could be fun to give a run at some point. My scales are getting a little dull anyway."

============================================================================================

@Moonlit

Briar and Brittle both felt it in the ground when the wolf slumped forward and hit the ground, yet Briar didn't really react much to it. What he had seen depicted by the wolf in the vision presented to them... Had it been a few days ago, he wouldn't even have been able to see it, but having eyes now, and having seen the princesses of day and night, however briefly, made him potentially understand some more why the wolf had reacted as he had, once Luna had been mentioned. One of the silhouettes had been unmistakably her, with her sister nearby, though who the other two were he had no idea. Princess Twilight weren't part of it, unless she had somehow shrunk in the years since, but perhaps that Cadence he had heard of were part of it? Briar had never seen her of course, yet depending on how long ago this vision may have taken place, she could well not have been there either. Stories went that she weren't that old after all, though what were true and what were lie, he could only guess.

For example, he didn't know if this vision were true. Briar liked to think the best of others until proven wrong, but he'd have to be somewhat cautious to not be too trusting. Something he admittedly tended to fail in at times.

First however, he had to tend to Brittle, who as the lighting crashed had panicked and stated to randomly transform, which didn't decrease as the wolf slumped over and gave her another shock.

Usually he'd hold her to make things seem better, but this time, things were a little tricky, as she more or less looked like a large, albino cave porcupine, and had rolled up into a ball. He had managed to see some kind of scaly posterior in her belly area and potentially suction cups, but it had been brief before she had instinctively reacted. At least this time, she would be in a proper defensive form, which might help her get somewhat better faster, rather than some of the other times, where it just got worse. Once, she had transformed into a kind of weird fish-looking creature, which didn't help when trying to escape anypony.

Whilst he wished that there were something he could do, being unable to touch her, or get his voice through to her right now, made him cringe, and mumble a small prayer before turning to face the wolf again. May Brittle soon feel safer again, or at least enough to poke her ears out so he could help her. He was supposed to protect her, and currently, he felt somewhat useless in that regard.

"Mister wolf, are you okay? I believe I understand what you're trying to tell me now, of the reason the name of the princess finds you displeased, but showing that must have hurt quite substantially, yes? The chains getting to such heat, can surely not be safe.

Please, if you are wounded, allow me to try and help you. I may not be a pony, or even a being of flesh and blood, but I have some understand of how to help those who are bound to such bodies."

==============================================================================================

@Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight @EQ_Theta

"Hey, at least ask before nibbling my lunch."

Anomaly pulled her tongue on Discord, and giggled before taking another bite of the hot sauce stick she had made out of the bar just before. Delicious, melty goodness.

"And what's the big deal wit the sun anyway? It's a billion years. Let somepony else handle it. Or let it go, and start fresh, with a planet of night-life. Could be the next big thing in evolution, and evolution is way important. Stagnation is the enemy. Gotta change or everything's just boring.

You should give your *quu-friend* something you changed yourself too. Nice, chaotic, and fresh. What's better as a gift?

Come on, get creative with something. Give us a show during dinner."

Anomaly had no idea what it were called when you had the hots for a draconequus, so she just took a stab in the dark with *quu-friend*. Guess she could've just used girlfriend though, but that sounded kinda silly.

==================================================================================

@Dji @Lloyd

"Protecting the future is a curse that nopony should bear, unless they have no other choice. Being part of what I am, destroys what you are, what you think of others, and you will become a pariah, because nopony understands the true price of keeping the future safe. They think like the witches and the general, that everything can end happy, but it can't. Something needs to be given, to receive.

If I drew you into this, you would end like me. Destroyed to the core, hated by all, and bound for nothing but a lonely grave, and the thought from those around you of *good riddance*. Even if you help the majority of those in the country, you will find no joy in your work. After a time, you might even forget what joy is in the first place.

Do you truly wish to live like that? As little more than a slave to the balance, and the masters thereof? Could you truly see yourself live through potential lifetime after lifetime, doing unspeakable things that burns every kindness from your soul? Because I have been through that, and I can assure you that it leaves little more than the shell behind, to cover the tortured remains of who I once were."

It were a lengthy explanation, but it needed to be in his mind. Both to emphasize things somewhat, and because he doubted he were going to be able to speak with Karmic for much longer. Thinking over his options, capture seemed like it were the most logical way to go from here, and after that? He doubted freedom would be an option for him anymore. At least not for a long time.

But he would tackle that as it came. For now, they had reached the room he had prepared, and from the cackling laughter emanating from the room, his *guest* had arrived.

Passing into the room, it wasn't long before red lights rose into the air, and a unicorn mare with a dark-pink coat, long, wavy mane and tail in a soft blue color, and red hooves stood and glared at them, with a big grin on her muzzle. A length of rope were seen on the ground, along with an unconscious rat, though those were not important anymore.

"So here I go, and finds a vessel tied up and ready to inhabit, with a note saying that more is to come. Who among you, are this *Zhu* that signed it?"

The serpanther walked forward, and pulled his hood down, meeting the glance of the possessed mare.

"I am, and I know well who you are too. Emerald, wearer of the Element of Deceit."

A chuckle escaped her, as Zhu pulled a funny looking pouch from his robes. A runed pouch tended to mean something interesting, or potentially dangerous.

"A gift? For me? Why, somepony is trying to weasel on to my good side. Although, I don't think I got introduced to everypony here, and I want to know who I am dealing with. Tell me little mare, who are you, and the one who is tagging along in your body? You can't hide another presence like that from me."

Emerald had been trapped in a meat prison for years, after that pesky griffon sealed her up in Chow's head, so she knew what she were talking about. Somepony were definitely tagging along with the mare, though who or why she didn't know, and she didn't want more bad surprises today.

================================================================================

@EQ_Theta

It took a few more minutes before Rosa flapped down to them, after flying around the clearing.

"I had to set up some traps. If you want to leave the clearing before they're taken down again, I'll mark a path you can take soon."

It wasn't a smart move to think it safe to rest, unless you had your surrounding area prepared for anypony trying to ambush you. Perhaps not something that would happen out here, but Rosa didn't trust anypony - including the wildlife - that much.

The rations seemed fine, just as they were packed, so he took one and began to slowly gnaw through it with his mask slid up halfway, to allow access to his muzzle. It were somewhat annoying that he couldn't eat or drink with it on, but it were a small thing really, and considering the filter helped against gas, it were rather useful. You wouldn't think that would be an issue that often, and yet he had found himself happy that he had this on more often than he thought would be needed.

"We've made good headway today. If we increase our speed tomorrow, and start at sunrise, we might be able to be a half day or more ahead.

How have the pacing been for you two so far today? If it have been strenuous, quickening wouldn't help. It would just mean we had to camp earlier."

===========================================================================================

@Lloyd

Bored, bored... Still bored...

Enzo was considering doing something to draw out the generals as time kept on its snail pace. Perhaps if he wrapped up a few guards in cloth and dangled them in front of the castle windows like ornaments he'd get some attention? They'd complain loud enough for someone to hear.

Wasn't like there wasn't enough guards to chose from among the ones going about their business, and the more annoying gawkers and self-imposed *protectors of the civilians* that thought their little sticks and toothpicks could really halt the sphinx from doing basically whatever he wanted.

Enzo was considering which ones among the latter categories of guards he should gift wrap for the generals when a voice suddenly caught his ears, and he looked down to find a mare starring up towards him with her hoof raised up towards him. A pretty big break from the other ponies in town, who were more prone to being gawkers or avoided him at all costs.

Under normal circumstances, Enzo could have just ignored this one and been on his way, but he was just so bored right now... At least this might prove briefly distracting, if not entertaining.

So he turned fully over to the pony, and laid down on his stomach, before lowering his head to ground height to better see eye to eye with this one. His swirled, short chin beard would almost be hitting the mare if she hadn't moved in the process, though he would have just followed on if she took a few steps back. She wanted his attention, so now she were going to get it, regardless of what the guards around him might think, though he wasn't listening to what they were going on right now. They weren't worth his time, much like the ponies around the mare who seemed to mainly run off or at least take some long steps backwards.

"Yes? What causes you to seek me out, small equine?"

Another yawn escaped him after he said this which would likely cause most of the others around Crystal to have taken off by now. A large, open maw like that wasn't easy to stomach for those who thought that sphinxes ate ponies. A common misconception, as Enzo's kind frankly found ponies disgusting to gnaw on, and only threatened to do that if they wanted something from said ponies. Usually crops, though Enzo would personally rather have a fish. He was so sick of bugs and rats...

===================================

@Lloyd

"She got hurt keeping the relics safe. We owe her at protection for now."

Tidal were frankly flabbergasted as she heard the gatekeeper talk. She had tried several things during her years, and not one had made them utter even a chuckle, or a growl. Now this one - who sounded younger than she had expected actually - had just blurted out some words from a simple question about why this here mare were kept under guard? Was he new or something?

"Well, is she gonna be okay? It ain't serious, right?"

The stallion nodded at the first question, then shook on the second. It wasn't much, but at least this were more in character for these ponies, so it was less off-putting to the general.

"Well, seems like things are handled here for the time being, and that whatever things she were lugging around have been contained. We should probably get outta here and let them all get back to work."

=====================================

@Lloyd

The twins turned to the chained up Warlock and rolled their eyes in tandem.

"Pff, if you can call that a chain."

"It's just a cobbled together rush job."

"Does the trick, but it's so impractical."

"Way too much. Doesn't even fit right."

"Keeps you to the wall."

"Looks funny, but not in the rules."

"You gotta follow those."

"Not us though. We're valuable."

"Hah, right on bro. Common, let's string him up right."

"Did you say up right, or upright?"

"Whatever, hah!"

The two of them kept yapping on, not caring the least about who they might annoy as they took the chains with them and clamped one around Warlock's neck, another around his stomach, one on the top of each of his legs/stumps, and held them up with a lock on his back. After that, there were another that was run through said lock, and they went over to the wall.

One of them withdrew a large, metal spike, while the other took out a hammer. As the spike was placed, it got slowly hammered in (would've gone faster if they had one of the big hammers, but they hadn't been able to carry that and the chains) until it was stuck solidly in the wall above the bed, with a 2 meter chains stuck to give Warlock some movement options. If he got his legs sorted eventually anyway.

They removed the old chain and made sure Warlock didn't fall to the floor when they clamped the *necklace* on, and would go on to pulling that one out of the wall. They could use that sorta metal for parts.

Warlock shouldn't feel too uncomfortable with this. The chains and clamps were thin, but sturdy, and weren't so tight that his fur would rub off. It was quality stuff, even if it looked like more of an attire for a different establishment than prison.

"Don't you think this is kinda... Excessive?"

Hogweed were worried seeing all of this, even if she knew it was there for a purpose. It felt like a lot of the special metal had been used for this, and would perhaps make Warlock feel even more imprisoned, even if he could move around now, instead of being stuck to the wall. When he got some prostetics anyway.

"Benny asked the same."

"Yeah, but he's a wuss Generals says it's what we need."

"Gotta listen to those, or it's back on the streets with us."

"Brrr, bad memories bro."

"Totally."

"You're all snuggly now, guard smasher?"

"Hah, nice nickname."

"Thanks, been thinking about it for an hour."

==================================

@Lloyd

"If you wanna teach me how to handle these sort of things, you gotta pull out the ol' *for dummies* guide on things. I ain't used to all this magic talk, and trying to split up or whatever. Tell me what to focus on, and then slam it one step at a time, alright? Have some patience with the guy used to hitting his issues away."

Chow were tempted to add a line about being schooled by a filly, and how it was kinda bashing at his pride but he couldn't fit it in properly. Besides, they each had their strengths. Misty could magic up way better, and Chow could chop and dice a fully grown boar whilst leaving the hide in one piece, and ready for sale, in less than an hour. He'd like to see them beat that.

"But still, I'm game for following. I committed to trying, and nopony can say that Double Chow's a quitter. Bring on the next challenge Iron, and let's hope that we can get something sorted before Emerald makes too much of a ruckus.

She's a patient sort that one, but she'll strike hard when she does get going, and we gotta try and be ready to smack her down then. Perhaps permanently."

Edited July 10, 2018 by Blitz Boom

Lucid_Nightlight · July 10, 2018

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

"Chaotic? Maybe I can make her a pet. What about a combination of a bird, wolf, and chameleon? Then I can leave the thing in her house along with a note."

Lucid clapped his hooves and the new animal appeared.

"What should we call this thing?"

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