open Casual stroll

[Sekel 696]

@Blitz Boom

TWILIGHT SPARKLE

"Okay, since my sister has decided to stay behind," Twilight paused while they waited for the train at the station outside Sanctuary. The forest spread out behind them and the path into the forest ended up being dark and ominous the further it wound its way through the trees. She was still getting used to the idea of having an actual older sister but believed writing letters to each other would have to suffice. "Drone, I would like to meet with your Queen, hopefully to establish relations between the Manetids and Ponies," she told the buzzing insect creature. She knew Last wouldn't take kindly to the option but believed it to be good for the moment.

@Blitz Boom

DAZZLE GLEAM & DAWN STREAK

Most of the house was clear of dust by now and the group has found various scales and pieces of fur amongst the sand particles. With each piece they recovered, Dazzle grew more and more fearful her parents may have actually been forced out of their home rather than simply deciding to leave. "Why would they leave the furniture and not leave a note for me in case I somehow returned?" Dazzle asked out loud, her face a picture of fear, panic, and cluelessness all rolled into one.

"Maybe they were taken. There's a lot of discarded scales around here," Dawn commented, poking at the jar full of blue dragon scales from Dazzle's father. She had no idea what was even going on beyond knowing she had to help Dazzle find her parents. "Is there a way for us to view the past with magic?"

@Blitz Boom

AURORA LIGHTS

"I had no idea there were kinder ways to feed," Aurora commented, now sitting on her haunches in front of Queen Cheshire. They had retired to the Queen's chambers and were all seated quite comfortable within. Aurora was wrapping her head around the fact that there was more than one way to feed off of emotions and it was blowing her mind. So much that she forgot she was in new company and wasn't nervous about it at all. "I thought it was just forcefully taking love but ... I guess Chry ... Chrys ... her. That one. She wanted to do her own thing?"

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE & ATZY

"The fish could be rotten, the fireworks explode blowing limbs off," Karmic muttered, seemingly stuck in her vision loop. Her eyes were a stark white and Atzy winced.

"I'm sorry about this, Karmic," Atzy winced and solidly punched Karmic's face with her gem-studded hoof. Karmic gave a jolt and the light left her eyes before she gasped and shook her head.

"Wh-wha ... what happened?" Karmic muttered, wincing and holding a hoof to the lump forming on her jaw.

[Blitz Boom 4,653]

 @Catpone Cerberus

"I concur on the difference between magic and science wholeheartedly. I still attempted at the time, due to wanting to know more of my situation as well, but the notion of it working is somewhat ridiculous. Elementals are not as the layman might think, magical creatures. Elemental Spirits are, but the two are so notably different, that they have little in common, beyond being beings of nature.

Elementals as for instance a fire elemental, are wholly bound by physical laws. When they cast fireballs and causes smokescreens, among other things, it is not casting magic, but natural, biological processes, in the same vein as a dragon's fire. Some elementals can cast magic, and certainly there are a degree of magic in them passively, as there are in most creatures, but for the most part, their interactions are physical, and not as fantastical as the world of comic books would make one believe.

In truth, I am not even sure if I can cast magic anymore. I have tried some, but thus far, I have failed in my endeavors. Either my transformation are so complete that I lost my natural unicorn connection to the arcane, or it is locked down, and I am yet unable to unlock it. Or it can be that it have changed to being magic of an elemental nature instead, which would involve me having to first learn how they use it in the first place. A lot of uncertainty, but that is simply one more reason for me to research myself, and uncover further my abilities, as well as limitations.

In regards to research and limitations though, I think that if you can get access to the data from Center Zero, or if we go there and I can find the correct paperwork for you, you should look into the work of one of the Boom family members, Molotov Boom. That family have had a fascination with the concept of artificial wings for decades, and while his mother made and attached a pair on herself, they were still controlled via magic, and only really useful in floating.

Molotov however, managed to make a functional pair. Sun powered and attached via surgery, it were peculiar to see a unicorn with wings, flying about like it wasn't a bother, but he were ever a prodigy, in his own right. Wings were one thing, but he also managed to create life, after about a decade of work. Artificial intelligence, despite being told it were a ridiculous waste of time to tinker with.

I cannot deny his genius, nor will I attest to understanding much of his work. He showed me the finer working and calculations for his wings at one point and trying to grasp how it functioned were giving me a headache. You'd likely have a better chance of understanding his work, which I will say is a shame will not be brought further, considering what happened to the town. The stallion in question himself I didn't much care for though. For one so smart, it is incredible how much he shoved his own hoof down his throat. Especially around mares. Never knew there to be more than four days of passage at most, without someone pushing him into a barrel, or something else, because he said something dumb.

*sigh* But I shouldn't speak ill of the dead. That whole family were very... Unique, but they were brilliant, and did do a lot of groundbreaking work. I hope that what they left behind, will come to good use."

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@Catpone Cerberus

Didn't seem like he much cared for seafood, but that were okay. Different folks had different tastes, and she really couldn't blame him about the clam. She usually didn't eat that, unless it were done properly at a restaurant, and even then, it were mostly down to what else were there, to make it taste better. It were better to have something with a bit of chew to it, and just with taste in general. Fish tasted good, but it were a bit mild, and clams were just salty boogers, more or less. That sorta meal needed some spices and steamed veggies, as an example.

Her dreams about seafood dining aside though, she did still like to see that he didn't waste food, and that he had still done a fair enough hunt. Sure it could have been better, but she wasn't gonna be a stickler that only praised him if he did above and beyond. The poor boy needed some encouragement, after all the treatment he'd been through before. It'd help with his confidence, and make him big and proud, just like a proper dragon should be.

Leviathan hadn't much else to do, and she had to conserve her magic, so she'd spent the rest of the time waiting doing some stretches, and looking around the tiny island they were on. Probably nothing to really do, but she couldn't just sit still for nearly an hour. She'd go crazed with boredom.

On 2025-01-26 at 12:30 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

If Leviathan didn't say or do anything more, as the hour passed, Ruby would announce that it was time to go, and would get ready to lead the trio to the mainland, though not before telling Leviathan "You may be older, but here, stay close, and do as I say; And I will apologize in advance, as I may get physical if your safety depends on it, and ask that you trust me when I say, If I grab you, kick you or otherwise slam you to move you, it is to protect you, not to harm you, sometimes there isn't time for words." she was even more serious than she usually were, the homelands were dangerous place, even for her, so there was no room for her usual indifference. 

Leviathan would listen to every word she were told by Ruby. Were the place and timing different, she may have marked how sweet it were that the larger dragoness were starting to feel so protective of her, that she felt she needed to give these warnings, but this were not the time or place. Frankly it didn't even cross her mind, as the dread over where they were going, were more imminent, and hard to ignore.

"I trust you, Ruby. If you slap me around, I know you'd have done so for a reason. Just as I know that you're telling me to do what you say, because it's genuinely dangerous for me to not listen.

I'll do what you say in there. Just... Try and be careful, okay? I'd like to get out of this place, but not without the both of you. And remember that I can still fight. I'm not just gonna sit it out, if something happens. Might be I'm small, but I ain't useless."

She did genuinely worry if they were all three going to be okay, and she didn't much like to take orders and be bashed around by youngsters without them having good reason, or some sort of rank she actually respected. But this were a dangerous place, and Ruby knew best. If she said that she might have to throw her away for her own good, Leviathan would trust that. But she wasn't gonna be a helpless lizard in all this. If she could, she'd help in her own way. And if it seemed Ruby or Charir would get hurt, or worse, she were going to bring the wrath of a storm down upon whoever dared to try. Might be Ruby claimed they were tough and resistant to a point, but let's see how resistant they were to a localized thunderstorm to the back, or getting their limbs encased in ice. Resistant or not, that sorta thing would at the least slow you down.

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@Catpone Cerberus

"An Oni, so far from the mainland? Troubling news, if they have started to spread out from Neighpon. Though I do welcome hearing there are kitsune at the school. I haven't seen their elders for years. It would be good to hear how they're faring these days."

"You have friends among their seniors, doctor?"

"Yes. In this case though, I am speaking of their leaders. The ones from the main village at least. I spent a couple of fascinating, enlightening years there, some time past. They're quite knowledgeable about many things, and if you treat them with respect, they will do so in kind too.

Which also means that I am afraid I cannot answer questions about the Oni. Even among kitsune, their origins are meant only for the elders, and they say nothing about them to anyone, except for their chosen replacement. I know some general warnings, and that they are trouble for the elders to deal with, but beyond that it is merely stories and rumors, that won't help much. Though this is the first I have heard of one outside Neighpon, which I can imagine must be a topic of concern for their elders.

But for now, this is a concern of theirs, while we have our own, more locals trouble. Including the couple you saved. It's remarkable they survived, considering the amount of wounds they had, but from what I am told, none of them seemed to be meant to be fatal. The blood loss could have done it, certainly, but nothing vital were hit. It makes it hard to discern a motive.

Still, it is over for now, and perhaps times have changed to where I can get more of a proper answer now. If not, then at least I have some to visit at the school now. I'm sure they would appreciate someone who knows their customs better too."

"Be that as it may, what happens now?"

"When you are ready, you can leave, and I won't be sharing stories. I know the princess and her ideals towards the reformed changelings, and while I will not lie and say I trust you, I do look forward to seeing the limits to this "reformed" status. Perhaps I can be proven wrong, and it can really change even the darkest of minds to the better. If not... Well, let's try not to cross that bridge, and hope for a brighter outcome, hm?"

Onache narrowed her eyes and scowled at the doctor some, though she didn't change her attitude, and the queen couldn't get a read on her. She were weak, and this mare seemed to know how to steel her mind well. She got nothing from trying to read her, and it annoyed her. But there were little she could do about that currently.

"Believe what you will, but I have no intention of repeating history. I will leave soon."

"Well then. unless I am needed otherwise, have a good day. And if you are looking for the guard you brought in, she is in the room right across from this."

If there were nothing else to Doctor Toxina, she would bow her head at each of them, and then be on her way. Plenty of things to do in a hospital, even at times when there weren't a lot of patients. Though if there were questions, she would stay and answer.

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@EQ_Theta

On 2025-01-27 at 12:21 PM, EQ_Theta said:

“The council of the longma elders has summoned us to speak before them about possibly opening up the longma to the outside world. We’ve been preparing for this, and we’ll be set to leave for this tomorrow, but… I don’t know. Even with our preparations, I can’t help but feel worried. I really want this to succeed, but some part of me can’t help thinking back to the night our parents were taken away… like it might happen again.”

“It’s not just that, Mother…” Lin chimed in, questioning herself if she had to mention more recent events but relenting at the need to come clean. “We’ve also discovered something back home. Old ruins mostly, but while we were there, something, or someone, took over me. It spoke about coming for the longma like it wants to bring us back under its control. Sen and Omen brought me to the kitsune for their help, but it may be a matter of time before it comes back.”

“I suppose we just couldn’t keep this all to ourselves because we thought you should know, and we didn't want to worry you, but it isn’t all bad news. We’ve met some friendly faces back home, and our grandfather helped us out with preparations. It's good knowing that he's still around and doing well. I think he’s getting familiar with Omen and the gates she and I can create. Maybe in time, this could be just another normal thing that happens in the village. Even some young longma in the village have seen Shrimp and have taken a liking to our little friend.”

Mother did not discourage any of them from hugging as much of her large form as they could. Something which Omen joined in on too, when she noticed all the others did too. Shrimp however, would take the chance to get up further than he ever had, by slithering up on Mother, and aiming to get on top of her head. Even when laying down as she did now, she were still huge, and it would be a very tall vantage point for the little longma. She smirked slightly at this, amused, and deciding not to interfere. Let the little one enjoy himself for now, as they spoke of other things.

And quite a lot of things there were to be spoken off. Things that made her smile falter some, as she were worried of several things she were told about. It seemed that things were as ever, very eventful for them, with little sign that things would slow down, or stop. A troubling tendency, and one she hoped would calm down eventually, but it seemed as if life simply were not like that for them now. Omen truly had found herself some very eventful beings to feel attached to, though much as she worried, she were happy that Omen were with them. Through thick and thin, she knew Omen would be with them, and when that much happened, she trusted that she would learn something too, and come closer to being what she had wanted for so long: Normal. Considering her master, a rather peculiar want, but Mother always assumed it were due to her thinking that being normal, meant she could understand others, and not be so far behind everyone. She had a simple mind, though it were clear that it were expanding, due to the good influence of Sen and Lin. Potentially others too, but these were the only ones she had met thus far, from their circle of friends.

"I blame you not for your many worried, my children. Much responsibility is about to be set upon your shoulders, among threats or ancient enemies, set upon conquest. Not to mention fears of history repeating itself, in the most cruel of ways... I envy you not, these troubling tides.

Still, it is good that there are light you can focus upon. The reunion of friends and family, and familiarity to Omen and others, could spell well for your effort, to open the horizon for your kin. I hope that your efforts will bear fruit, though I regret that I cannot offer you more support, than that of comfort, and love. Were they here, I am certain your parents would offer the same, and be proud of the visionaries they had raised."

She'd reach a claw closer to Omen, and poke at her head, to which Omen stood still for. This would not work on Lin, as she were only half of them, but Mother could well read Omen's mind, and get a look of how things had happened. Quite a lot it seemed, and nothing spoke against what the others were saying either. Not that she suspected it. She saw no reason to doubt her children were anything but honest to her, lest they had reason to otherwise.

"I see you also have contact to one of Omen's newly formed siblings. It warms my heart, to see family still stick together, beyond worlds."

"One of?"

"There is another, who reached here. An accident of science he said. A bold tongue, but his heart were kind, and he mastered one of yours. Her master is an inventor of sorts, it sounded like. I know not if perhaps that could be of use to you, in some way? Matters of the soul I can handle with ease, but the mind, and politics, are not topics I have as much understanding with.

Also, this Rosa, that I see in Omen's memories... He seems a troubled child, with much on his own shoulders, yet loyal and kind to you. Remember to visit him soon too, yes? I am always happy to see you, my dear children but your friends matters much too. Relations can be so fleeting in life. One should cherish those they have."

Shrimp had now reached the top of Mother's head, and were standing right above her forehead now, giving a tiny, almost unnoticeable roar, that made Mother chuckle.

"The innocence, and simple pleasures of a growing mind. Many millennia have it been, and yet I cherish such sights all the same."

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

 

@EQ_Theta

"While I can hardly talk with certainty, when it comes to Nightmare Moon, I can fortunately speak well about the reason for the princesses being in charge of Equestria, rather than representatives of the tribes.

Before Equestria, this land were ruled by a Draconequui, named Discord. Their race are very old, so perhaps you know of them? Creatures of chaos, that shows themselves as amalgamations of other beings. They are quite unique, in each their own way. Equestria homes a few now, such as Fright, Avarice, Gluttony, and Discord himself. All reformed, in some fashion, with Fright being the reason for Avarice and Gluttony's change to assets to society, rather than menaces.

Ah, but I digress. Discord is often seen as one of, if not the strongest of the draconequui, and thus this land were under his chaotic rule without much resistance. Chaos and weirdness is ideal for their kind, but it is hard for others to live in well, especially ponies. Discord put everything in disarray, as he declared himself ruler, and there were nothing any could do against him. It were Princess Luna and Celestia, that gathered the famed Elements of Harmony, and together managed to turn him to stone, and restore order to the land. The three tribes were brought together by this act, and they swore their allegiance to their saviors. To them, the princesses had done the impossible, and saved the entire country, from a crazed tyrant. As alicorns too are the embodiment of all three tribes, it likely made the choice all the easier.

Not that the change were overnight, and everypony got along right away. No, there's many tomes of history talking about the early years, and the trouble that there were, in bringing them all together, but the princesses managed it in time. Some did remain apart though. Especially some of the more high ranking unicorns, who refused to mingle with others, but over time, all but the most resilient left their towering cities, and those who remained, faded into obscurity, and old history.

There are still those who oppose the unity of Equestria, but they are few and far between, and few give them much attention.

Ah, and I am sure you will ask... Discord. Why he is now seen as an ally, when he were once a tyrant.

Story is long too, but in essence, he broke free from his stone prison a few years back, and began taking over again. The new wearers of the Elements of Harmony - Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie - managed to encase him in stone again, and some time later, seeing the various threats that have hit Equestria in the time since, Princess Celestia tasked them with reforming him,, under threat of him being imprisoned again, if he failed.

It have been a... Rough process, but he were reformed, and keeps his tricks and chaos to doing minor things for amusement, rather than covering the land in it, and are overall helpful. For a draconequui, that is really all one can hope for at times. Though Fright are different. I met her once, when I were younger. A very calm, wise lady that one. Much different from she once were, as she tells it."

It were many thousands of years ago, but Fright had been around the world here and there, where she had caused fear in others, either locally or wide spread, so perhaps they had encountered her in some way. A shadow, taking many forms, to cause as much fear as she could, to feast upon it. Never one to hurt another, but she were certainly not a welcome presence. Time had certainly changed her quite a bit though.

Could be too that they had never seen a draconequui, or if so, not one that were in Equestria now. Rusty were curious in honest, but he would wait and hear what they might say on the matter.

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@Sekel

"Kkrrkthllk. You wish to see her... Now?"

Drone would look towards Twilight, as well as Last. Her features made it harder to tell her general mood by facial expression, but the voice did sound surprised at the least.

"I'd argue against it, but I doubt that would come far. But I must ask that if we do this, your highness, you must be ready for a hasty retreat. Drone speaks well of their new matriarch, but things could go wrong. If something happened, would you be able to teleport away with little warning? Or are you not at full strength? I will die for your safety if it comes to it, but I still wish to know that you would escape safely."

"Rkkrhthkk. Our princess would not attack an envoy, if they come to parlay. She is not as her mother, who would all but welcome fresh meat, willingly wandering to our hive. If I signal you are there to speak, you will get your chance, lest you try hostilities. That especially goes for the Shrine Maiden. She will not be trusted to wander unguarded."

"If I wasn't guarded, I'd think less of you too."

Last were not pleased with this, as she thought this a crazed risk, but she had learned from her new majesty, that she were one who wanted to meet with a friendly hoof, rather than a sharp sword. And if she wished to speak with Drone's new monarch, then so it would be. Last would get nothing from warning her of it, and instead it were best she spent her energy, preparing to defend her. Though if the eternal queen had still lived, this would be out of the question. That old monster would have personally eaten her alive, legs first.

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@Sekel

"Certainly there are such magics, but that requires specialists, and preparation.

A proposal, if I may? I have a friend who knows the right type of magic. If I ask him, and help him here, then I'm sure he and his friends could prepare the house for the correct viewing, Though I would need to ask for time. They still have work to do, and preparing takes time. I would say... Thirty or so hours? I know you must yearn for answers now, but sadly, some things simply takes time. Perhaps you all three can try to find something enjoyable to do, and clear your minds some of your concerns here? I'm sure there is something you could find enjoyable to do together.

As for the scales, I ask that you leave them here. It will help the viewing, as I understand it, to have something from the right time you wish to see."

Scarcity would need to pay for the specialists in this case, as they were some she knew, and worked with, rather than some who owed her favors, but she wouldn't mind the minor investment. Frankly at this point, her curiosity were well piqued too, and thus she craved answers too. This were not how she imagined it would go, but it would certainly speed up things somewhat, if they could glimpse what may have happened here. Hopefully nothing too grizzly.

"I think we should do this. It takes time, but it's better than guessing, right? Though I don't know what you'd want to do. Are you maybe hungry? My co- I mean-"

"Oh calm yourself sister. I know you and Chop Chop are an item now. Congratulations, by the way. You make an unlikely, yet adorable couple."

She had tried to wander around this subject, but of course, Scarcity already knew. Honestly Stare knew that too, but in the moment, she would admit to have forgotten that. It were odd enough to have Scarcity so openly call her sister, that it ere throwing her off somewhat. And then all of this too, of course.

"Y-Yes, well, thank you, Scarcity. And Chop is a good cook, so he could make something you'd enjoy. He even work with meat, if you prefer that."

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@Sekel

"You were caught in a maelstrom of visions, of all the ways that things could proceeded poorly."

"Yep, and didn't sound like things were looking all that bright. You one of them Oracles? I hear those folks have random visions sometimes. Frankly sound like it'd suck."

"Are you okay now? Or do you need a big hug?"

Blitz stood ready to try and jump down to hug her. She could probably make it from where she stood. If not, Molotov would catch her. He told her he usually did, when she tried to make her early win designs back at their old home too, as she weren't too keen on safety. Still wasn't, but Molotov did what he could for her. She were his sister after all, and he loved her. Plus their mom would roll in her non-existent grave, if she knew he didn't look out for her. Blitz always had been a troublemaker, and needed some oversight. That she had managed several months on her own, were frankly astonishing.

Enzo held her still firmly between his claws, waiting to see if she had truly come back from all of this, but he would move to set her upon the ground for now, that she might find stable hoofing, as she freshened up. It seemed that whatever many troubles she saw, it had not been nice things. Perhaps with so many things that could go wrong, they would eb best off not taking this trip today.

[EQ_Theta 462]

@Blitz Boom

On 2025-02-10 at 7:40 AM, Blitz Boom said:

 Mother did not discourage any of them from hugging as much of her large form as they could. Something which Omen joined in on too, when she noticed all the others did too. Shrimp however, would take the chance to get up further than he ever had, by slithering up on Mother, and aiming to get on top of her head. Even when laying down as she did now, she were still huge, and it would be a very tall vantage point for the little longma. She smirked slightly at this, amused, and deciding not to interfere. Let the little one enjoy himself for now, as they spoke of other things.

The siblings embraced Mother and held this moment close, perhaps a little longer than they thought. Something about moments like this made them want to cherish it, finding what comfort they could before returning to the world outside. It was… invigorating, reminding them to pause and find the strength to face whatever it was that awaited them once this moment of respite had passed. 

As they bared their worries, a weight was lifted, though not entirely. They listened and didn’t want Mother to overexert herself. The answers to their problems reasonably didn’t come from just one place, and with the complicated situation they were in, it might be too much to hope there was a solution that would conveniently fall on their laps. Even so, Mother’s words were reassuring, but something in them also got the siblings thinking.

On 2025-02-10 at 7:40 AM, Blitz Boom said:

"I blame you not for your many worried, my children. Much responsibility is about to be set upon your shoulders, among threats or ancient enemies, set upon conquest. Not to mention fears of history repeating itself, in the most cruel of ways... I envy you not, these troubling tides.

Still, it is good that there are light you can focus upon. The reunion of friends and family, and familiarity to Omen and others, could spell well for your effort, to open the horizon for your kin. I hope that your efforts will bear fruit, though I regret that I cannot offer you more support, than that of comfort, and love. Were they here, I am certain your parents would offer the same, and be proud of the visionaries they had raised."

“Visionaries?” Lin paused and pondered, deep in thought, but her emotions betrayed her. What was meant to lift her spirits didn’t do so, and her face exhibited sadness. It would be something true for Sen, but seeing this on her was unexpected. Even she had to avert her sight from Mother, troubled with thoughts forming in her mind.

“Lin?” Sen looked on, eyebrow cocked.

“I… I don’t know if that word is right to describe me. This whole thing, talking things out with the longma elders? It’s Sen’s… dream, I guess? It’s important to him, so I go along and help however I can, but it’s not something I could call my own. And to be honest, I’m not even sure I have a dream or goal I want to work toward.”

“Sister, are you all right? What brought this on?”

“You know that I haven't had the most positive things to say about the longma. Remember how I felt so angry at their betrayal and inaction that after my exile, I sought to use dark magic to leave the longma villages ruined? In some ways, I still harbor those feelings, or a least believe that all this might be a lost cause. Yet I still go along with what Sen wants, probably because I want to be proven wrong. And honestly? I feel like I am just distracting myself from facing the truth, that once all this is over, I’m not sure what I want to do with myself. I guess… I was hoping I could ask you for advice, Mother. Have you felt… lost, not knowing what to do, or felt like you are lacking purpose? Maybe our pasts are far too different to be relatable, but perhaps you can help me find perspective?”

The longma wasn’t sure if she could Mother had found herself in a situation like hers at the moment, but she felt she needed to ask this question. As for Sen, he was beside himself, unsure how he could help and unaware that Lin felt the way she did. Maybe there was something to this line of questioning, and Lin was looking to a distant yet plausible future. And perhaps Sen ought to do so too. Mother had lots to say and more for the two to think about, but something about this issue ate at Lin, more than she would want to admit. Keeping it all in, bottled up, didn't feel right. But then, she was among those she wholly trusted, and that was enough for her to feel safe about bringing up this issue.

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On 2025-02-10 at 7:40 AM, Blitz Boom said:

Before Equestria, this land were ruled by a Draconequui, named Discord. Their race are very old, so perhaps you know of them? Creatures of chaos, that shows themselves as amalgamations of other beings. They are quite unique, in each their own way. Equestria homes a few now, such as Fright, Avarice, Gluttony, and Discord himself. All reformed, in some fashion, with Fright being the reason for Avarice and Gluttony's change to assets to society, rather than menaces.

Ah, but I digress. Discord is often seen as one of, if not the strongest of the draconequui, and thus this land were under his chaotic rule without much resistance. Chaos and weirdness is ideal for their kind, but it is hard for others to live in well, especially ponies. Discord put everything in disarray, as he declared himself ruler, and there were nothing any could do against him. It were Princess Luna and Celestia, that gathered the famed Elements of Harmony, and together managed to turn him to stone, and restore order to the land. The three tribes were brought together by this act, and they swore their allegiance to their saviors. To them, the princesses had done the impossible, and saved the entire country, from a crazed tyrant. As alicorns too are the embodiment of all three tribes, it likely made the choice all the easier.

“An old race? That’s odd… We’ve never come across the draconequi in our time. What little we know of them comes from tales of Discord, and he gets brought up in conversation when it comes to the recent history of Equestria. To think there are more of them out there… Maybe he wasn't spotted around our areas long ago, and that makes it all the more strange. Having a civilization that spanned multiple large landmasses and coastal settlements would have given the hyracotherians a fairly expansive area of influence. Perhaps the draconequi didn't head our way, or they might not have been interested.”

“All the same, I think it may be best for us to avoid looking for them. A little chaos isn’t such a bad thing, but to spend every waking moment in chaos itself. I couldn’t imagine it.”

Even the other golems remained oddly quiet at the thought. They didn’t need to imagine it, not when they managed to quietly peer into the minds of Sen and Lin, recalling how their village was once affected by Discord’s chaos. It wasn’t something they openly discussed, but it was a memory collectively shared by their village. It may have been unknown collateral on Discord’s part, but the reach of chaos was far, much farther than anyone could have imagined.

On 2025-02-10 at 7:40 AM, Blitz Boom said:

Ah, and I am sure you will ask... Discord. Why he is now seen as an ally, when he were once a tyrant.

Story is long too, but in essence, he broke free from his stone prison a few years back, and began taking over again. The new wearers of the Elements of Harmony - Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie - managed to encase him in stone again, and some time later, seeing the various threats that have hit Equestria in the time since, Princess Celestia tasked them with reforming him,, under threat of him being imprisoned again, if he failed.

It have been a... Rough process, but he were reformed, and keeps his tricks and chaos to doing minor things for amusement, rather than covering the land in it, and are overall helpful. For a draconequui, that is really all one can hope for at times. Though Fright are different. I met her once, when I were younger. A very calm, wise lady that one. Much different from she once were, as she tells it."

Discord now being an ally to Equestria... that wasn’t something anyone thought could happen and yet it did. It could be taken as a lesson on how anyone could change given the right approach or catalyst. And to know Rusty met a draconequus in the flesh, now that is something even the golems could give him props for, knowing that they never had the pleasure of ever seeing a draconequus.

“Huh, personally meeting a draconequus. That must have been quite the experience, Rusty. I don’t think any of us golems could imagine being in your position at the time. You’ve got us feeling envious.”

“Though I suppose it is safe to say the ponies of Equestria didn’t have problems with other draconequi? Or rather, if there were problems with them, it wasn’t on a scale comparable to Discord? I admit to being curious about them just as much as I am intrigued by Equestria’s founding tribes, even if I would prefer to keep the draconequi at a fair distance.” 

[Catpone Cerberus 23,645]

@Blitz Boom
"The nature of elementals is something I don't have much to speak on, mainly because I lack information on them. They, like many other creatures and beings present here, are lacking in my world, or at least in Equestria there, not much was known about rest of the world." "There were mentions implying their existence at some point, but like many others, they seemingly disappeared some time after the sisters' corruption." "How much of it is intentional acts from the sisters, over such creatures fleeing the land, can only be speculated." "However, I believe that comparing yourself directly to them is not good approach, as you are likely something entirely unique." "I think this based on the little information I have on various hybrids and biologically modified ponies; pony attributes don't tend to be replaced or removed, as much as they are evolved." "It may be that your magic is something entirely new." "I unfortunately don't have any guidance to offer in such matters, partly because as a pegasus, I've never been as involved with magic , but I would suggest seeking out someone familiar in the less studied magics, for they tend to have interesting insight." 

"And what comes to the research, I am interested to see what this world is already capable, and if someone capable could use such research to boost this worlds advancement. But if it was up to me, I would encourage them to try to find a less invasive way to use such technology; I can say from experience, even if I won't deny the usefulness of this technology, I would be lying if I said I don't sometimes wish I could go back, even if it meant losing my flight." 

"As for artificial intelligence, I believe the Empire looked into that field too, but the research lost investment for similar reasons to the biological research; a result that would be good enough to justify the time and effort, would inherently cause trouble in control." "Why spend countless years and immense resources to create something with several potential risks, when you can just take already loyal soldier and put them into a machine?"  Solar interrupted his words only to the extend that was necessary to get the business done in the train station, and then board the train. Naturally, since this was a work related trip, Solar took care of Magma's tickets too.

For the comment about Boom's luck with mares. Solar didn't have much to say, after all, he would have been one to speak, if he would comment on such things, such a charmer he was, with his deadpan delivery and dead eyes. Though in his defence, he had never really particularly tried either, partly because of what kind of ponies used to be around him, nopony could probably blame him for not finding bloodthirsty psychopaths and entitled snobs too interesting to have a life together with.  

In the train, it was relatively quiet, few other ponies sitting here and there, though there was one other traveler that got similar attention as Solar and Magma on bases of their appearance, a kobold (Left one). It was a purple, presumably male kobold, that was wearing a chestplate over a robe, an odd outfit to some, maybe, but that most likely wasn't what pulled ones attention to him, not even the weird symbol on said chestplate, rather, the one thing that seemed to pull the attention of at least the other ponies in the train, was that the kobold was wearing a skull on his head, another kobold's skull it specifically; it had been modified, to allow its wearing like a helmet, but it was no doubt a real skull. This kobold seemed to have taken some interest on the two ponies sticking out from the rest, he didn't address them or anything, but he wasn't trying to hide his interest either, as his green eyes studied the two through the open sockets of the skull. 

-----

Ruby stretched as she got ready to fly "The best case scenario, those we see have some sense in them to stay away, in the worst, you will see why I was on the top." she wasn't as worried about herself, because until things had changed since she left, there was no real reason for them to stumble upon someone big enough to threaten her life, but she was bit worried that someone was stupid enough to insist fighting her regardless, because she didn't want Leviathan and Charir to see her at her worst; sure she had been very open about it, and Charir knew what the life was like in the homelands, but there was a difference between knowing and actually seeing something, could either of them look at her the same way if she was forced to kill a young dragon for their safety?

She took flight and led the two smaller dragons towards the mainland. It didn't take long for it to be visible fully in the distance, the tall, seemingly impenetrable mountain range surrounding the land, molten stone spewing out here and there, the water surrounding the land discolored by ash and toxins, it was uninviting, and they weren't yet even there. About hour of flight later, as Ruby had estimated, the would land on a small, flatter part of the mountains, it was rather high compared to the sea level, but still low enough to travel without worry about thinner air, from there they would head through a small pass between the mountains, it was big enough for the smaller dragons to fly without issue, but Ruby had to walk, as she couldn't fly there without flying too high; Not that it was an issue to her, the terrain was quite rugged, but Ruby went through quickly and skillfully, she had traveled terrain like this for most of her life after all. 

The first thing Leviathan was likely to notice was the air, as when they got deeper into the mountain pass, the air brought with it the smell of ash, sulfur and other volcanic smells, and they got even deeper, the air got thicker and heavier to breath; It wasn't to actively dangerous levels, but it was clear that if non-native species like Leviathan would for some reason decide to live here, her lifespan would probably get millennia or couple shorter from just breathing the air.  Then, as they reached the end of the mountain pass, and the wider land on the other side came to view, the true nature of the place became very apparent. 

The distance to which they could see, was limited by the ash in the air in an almost mist like effect, but what they saw already told a lot. The landscape near their arrival point was barren volcanic rock, rugged, hard to travel land with caves and such of various sizes; molten rock decorated the land, mountains constantly spewing more, covering the sky in black smoke. Some distance away, a forest covered the land, big, sickly looking trees growing tall into the sky, the ground covered equally sick looking smaller plantlife, with surprisingly wide array of plants and mushrooms fighting for their existence in the toxic ground. 

Near the edge of the forest, there was remains of a creature that looked something alike to a deer or a moose, but it was big, its antlers thicker and sharper than usual, and sharp spines not unlike those of dragons' growing out of its body; one the corpse there was feasting a group of large birds, they resembled something like crows or ravens, but along being bigger, their beaks and claws looked lot nastier than their Equestrian relatives, seemingly capable of ripping a small dragon apart with ease. 

In the far distance, they could see a dragon flying weakly on the sky, only for another dragon to charge from below and send both dragons plummeting towards the ground, the sounds of violence echoed in the air, as countless unseen battles took place all around. And then there was the one thing Ruby had warned Leviathan more than once, the remains, bones, tried up scales, everything from bones so old they had petrified into permanent part of the environment, to bodies too fresh to even have started rotting, they were everywhere; to call it a cemetery would have been an understatement, generations of death, countless ended bloodlines, the only direction where you could avoid seeing them, was the direction the came from. 

They were of all sizes, but, as Ruby had warned, in this area, the overrepresentation of smaller skeletons was notable, smallest of which were barely the size of Charir. If Leviathan was able to look at it with any attention, a curious note about the various remains was that there was none with black horns and/or claws like Ruby and Charir, there were different shades and colors yes, not all of them were white, but not fully black ones. 

 Ruby stopped on the edge of the mountain, as the pass they came through was above the ground of the rest of the land, gesturing towards the view with her leg "Welcome to The homelands, where joy and compassion comes to die." "Can't say I missed the stench." Like Ruby had said few times now, it truly was a miracle that place had life at all.

Charir wasn't too happy about being there again either, and his body language showed it, a combination of pain and disgust, he despised the place, but he did his best to keep his nerve, he had Ruby to protect him after all, he was so happy she was on his side, because something about her, maybe it was a certain thing in her eye, maybe her body language, he couldn't quite put a claw on it, but she terrified him.

----

The kobolds had already expressed to someone else their thoughts about the stabbing quality of the Oni, and didn't feel like it fit here to bring it up, but they agreed that it was quite a miracle that there was anything to save, they doubted that death was not the intention, since the Oni was so angry about Sheska saving them, but it did show to them just how incompetent the Oni was, since it was so bad it went full around to being kinda impressive. 

"I actually do have a question for you, considering your expertise." Sheska said as Toxina was starting to get ready to leave, she then addressed Trox quickly by stating "I think I'll also go see if the guard is awake, just to update her on the situation." It was the least they could do, because while they disagreed with her choice of career, and she had in the grand scheme been not much help, she did get hurt trying to protect Sheska, so she owed her a thanks if nothing else. "Specifically, as a healer concerned about my kin, I'd like to know how familiar you are with toxins relating to kobolds, and if you know how to potentially use them to get rid of worse problems?" she had a specific example in mind, but she wanted to know the big picture first. 

If Toxina answered without leaving the room, Sheska would wait until the eventual end of the conversation before leaving the room to see the guard, but she was also ready to leave the room with Toxina as she spoke, leaving Trox alone with Onache and Happy. 

 

 

[Blitz Boom 4,653]

@EQ_Theta

On 2025-02-14 at 11:34 AM, EQ_Theta said:

“Visionaries?” Lin paused and pondered, deep in thought, but her emotions betrayed her. What was meant to lift her spirits didn’t do so, and her face exhibited sadness. It would be something true for Sen, but seeing this on her was unexpected. Even she had to avert her sight from Mother, troubled with thoughts forming in her mind.

“Lin?” Sen looked on, eyebrow cocked.

“I… I don’t know if that word is right to describe me. This whole thing, talking things out with the longma elders? It’s Sen’s… dream, I guess? It’s important to him, so I go along and help however I can, but it’s not something I could call my own. And to be honest, I’m not even sure I have a dream or goal I want to work toward.”

“Sister, are you all right? What brought this on?”

“You know that I haven't had the most positive things to say about the longma. Remember how I felt so angry at their betrayal and inaction that after my exile, I sought to use dark magic to leave the longma villages ruined? In some ways, I still harbor those feelings, or a least believe that all this might be a lost cause. Yet I still go along with what Sen wants, probably because I want to be proven wrong. And honestly? I feel like I am just distracting myself from facing the truth, that once all this is over, I’m not sure what I want to do with myself. I guess… I was hoping I could ask you for advice, Mother. Have you felt… lost, not knowing what to do, or felt like you are lacking purpose? Maybe our pasts are far too different to be relatable, but perhaps you can help me find perspective?”

Mother listened, a sad smile laying upon her face, as she heard the worries of her child. The burdens she already had, despite her young age, and such conflicting emotions about what she were doing... She knew not if she could raise Lin's spirit, but she hoped it possible. Yet Lin's question at the end, gave her a small amount of melancholy, as memories she had forgotten for a long time, that recently resurfaced, came to mind. This were something that should be answered

"I know of that feeling, all to well, my child.

Before this, I were just one among many. A myriad of weaker beings of my kin, seeking what purpose we could i life, before we would fade away into nothing, few remembering us after, as we were but small fish, among leviathans. Our presence at best a nuisance, we were little more than frolicking children to them.

Mortimer were amongst the greatest. A serious presence amongst clowns, and one day he came forth to us lesser ones, and said that he had a plan. A great purpose, which he wanted to pursue, and he would use as many of us as were willing.

I were one of hundreds that answered his call. Many did so, because he were powerful, and remembered. We were but fleeting creatures, yet he a force of the very fabric of reality. I were among those who instead listened, because we felt lacking of much purpose, beyond simply being. He instead wanted us to join his. A grand plan, spanning world upon world. Something so much greater than we could ever imagine.

He called us Nez'herath. A word without meaning in your tongue, but many of you have your own word for us. From what Omen have told, most in your world calls us Reapers. Most of us changed shapes, following our purpose. I am not even sure if this is how I once were anymore, but I find it matters little.

As time passed, I found myself questioning if this were what I were meant to do. I were immortal now, and I served a great purpose, but somehow I felt... Unfulfilled, and lost. Then one day, I began to see flaws in the process. The souls left behind, or stuck between planes, not good enough for salvation, yet not evil enough for the pit. I pitied them, and would find myself wandering towards them, trying to soothe them, or help them pass along, yet Mortimer's will is final. If a soul is not ready, then it will wait, and no force can change that fact.

I had forgotten most of this, in being here so long, but Mortimer told me when he last were here, yet I remember well how it changed. The day I abandoned my duties, and rushed from realm to realm, gathering thousands of the lost under my wings, and ran with them through the emptiness between spaces. And there, as I sat with them huddled to my form, floating in the unfathomable nothingness, I knew what to do. So I tore the very essence from my being, and in nothing, made something. A sanctuary, for those who had nowhere else.

I still remember every soul that came with me. I hold on to their names, and their memories, when I wash them clean, and meld them with the shadows of our sanctuary. And though it drains me, I feel nothing but joy, as I cleanse a heavy soul of burdens, and gift them the start of new life. This were my purpose, born of a want to care for, and protect.

Mortimer did not approve of it. I had strayed from his path, and used the sliver of his power I held, along with what I had, to make something were naught were meant to be. Yet he listened as I pleaded my case, and though he disapproved, he told me to maintain this, and what it would entail. That I were never able to leave, and that over time, I were dutybound to not only hold these souls, but to give them freely to new homes, that they might live again, and return to the cycle.

He named this Purgatory, and then took his leave. He now only returns every once in a while, carrying new souls judged for this. Last time, were the first in a whole, when he deigned to stay and talk for a time. It were... Revealing, but it were good to remember again."

"Were I someone else then?"

"sigh* You were, Omen, yet that is all you will ever know of it. Please understand, that this story is not I tell with ease, my children. Many when they learn it, are angry, that I will not tell them who they were, or what they had done, but names are more than just words. They hold the power of the self, and if I give them their names, they will regain their old memories. Their old transgressions... They will never return to the cycle, and I agree with Mortimer's demand, that I will not judge them to such a fate. This is also why I give none names here, my children. I cannot risk such a thing. It is best if their new lives, begins with a name given, from someone that will raise them past what I were able.

Yet my point of this tale, Lin, is for you to understand that while on another scale, I understand you. I too followed a purpose not my own, yet mine were different in the end. Follow this path, my child. Help your family, and enlighten your kin. You may well find your own purpose as you progress. And if not, lest then you know to have done something good, and can leave it behind with a heart freed of worries of your home.

And if ever you need to speak of things, never forget that I am here for you, my dear child. Here you will always be able to find shelter, understanding, and love."

It had been so many thousands of years, that she doubted even Mortimer could remember how long exactly, but through everything she had done, Purgatory were her greatest achievement. A loving home, for weary souls, that needed another chance. It may take eons before it came, but eventually, they would be given a chance for a master, and these were good times. In a short time, five of her children had found new homes. Two in Equestria, and the other three spread to other worlds. It filled her heart with joy, to know that her children were out there, living such wonderful, fulfilling lives, and that when their time came, they would pass away as they were meant to, rather than linger and suffer, as they once had.

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

 

@EQ_Theta

On 2025-02-14 at 11:34 AM, EQ_Theta said:

“An old race? That’s odd… We’ve never come across the draconequi in our time. What little we know of them comes from tales of Discord, and he gets brought up in conversation when it comes to the recent history of Equestria. To think there are more of them out there… Maybe he wasn't spotted around our areas long ago, and that makes it all the more strange. Having a civilization that spanned multiple large landmasses and coastal settlements would have given the hyracotherians a fairly expansive area of influence. Perhaps the draconequi didn't head our way, or they might not have been interested.”

“All the same, I think it may be best for us to avoid looking for them. A little chaos isn’t such a bad thing, but to spend every waking moment in chaos itself. I couldn’t imagine it.”

Even the other golems remained oddly quiet at the thought. They didn’t need to imagine it, not when they managed to quietly peer into the minds of Sen and Lin, recalling how their village was once affected by Discord’s chaos. It wasn’t something they openly discussed, but it was a memory collectively shared by their village. It may have been unknown collateral on Discord’s part, but the reach of chaos was far, much farther than anyone could have imagined.

"Yes, I doubt you would much enjoy living in a world, where randomly you might be turned to a duck, or the color would vanish from everything, or other such oddities. I for one wouldn't.

And truth be told, we have no idea how old their race are, or how expansive. Nor why they were never in certain areas. Discord is seemingly among the oldest, but he apparently claims not to know, and whilst Fright have given some insight, at best I can tell they may well be older than the draconic race, and spread rather randomly around the world. Seemingly, they didn't need one another to reproduce, with draconequui spawning when certain things happen, that can't be predicted, in areas where their chaos is affecting things, so several never goes near another of their kind. There are some half-breeds around however, from what I've heard. Never met one though.

Their whole species are enigmas, but it likely is due to their heavily chaotic background. You can't apply regular logic and expectations to them, and assume it will simply make sense."

On 2025-02-14 at 11:34 AM, EQ_Theta said:

“Huh, personally meeting a draconequus. That must have been quite the experience, Rusty. I don’t think any of us golems could imagine being in your position at the time. You’ve got us feeling envious.”

“Though I suppose it is safe to say the ponies of Equestria didn’t have problems with other draconequi? Or rather, if there were problems with them, it wasn’t on a scale comparable to Discord? I admit to being curious about them just as much as I am intrigued by Equestria’s founding tribes, even if I would prefer to keep the draconequi at a fair distance.”

"Most of them are simply tricksters who have their fun, and doesn't try to take over the country. I always assumed it were because they frankly didn't care for the responsibility, of having to manage a whole country, combined with them knowing that if Discord could be defeated, then so could any of them.

The ones that have been around Equestria have generally been lower rung ones, that didn't do much, so most of the time, the wise ones just steer clear of the area they settle into, and try to ignore the weird sights and sounds. Over time most didn't even remember what a draconequui were, due to the long time it were from Discord's defeat, until more entered the country. Beyond Fright, we have only had their kind reemerge sparingly the last century or so, and most just considers them weirdly mutated dragons of some sort.

Fright have been here for centuries now, but she spends most of her time in her own pocket dimension, where she has a large temple for meditation. Her and Princess Celestia seemingly have an agreement of sorts with her, that meant she were free to remain, long as she didn't try and stir up something, and so far I've never heard a credibly story of her doing so. In fact, several seek out the waypoints that she has set up here and there, so they can enter her realm, and join her other disciples. It's apparently a very good place to find your calm, and be at ease.

She would be your best option for a draconequui to speak with, if you want more direct story from one. Discord might not tell the truth, and the other two... Fright have rehabilitated them over the years, but Avarice would likely want something in return for everything he told you, and Gluttony would mess with you a little. She's apparently somewhat civil, but very direct, and enjoys joking around.

I ah... Yes, you might want to understand how the things I say, matches with their names. Fright is a *reformed* draconequui of sorts, and have acted to do the same for the other two I have mentioned so they were useful, rather than menaces, without denying their nature. I know that Avarice went from just hoarding everything, to learn how to be a loaner, and now runs a successful loaning business, as well as a range of shops. Gluttony meanwhile, went from being one who roamed and consumed everything she pleased, to now having her home in the largest landfill in Equestria. She eats the trash that the country accumulates, making it much easier to keep it clean. I've heard it's a bit of a tourist attraction for others to come see her chomping through the heaps, and showing off.

Fright... Well, she helps others with their fears, and were the first of them to be rehabilitated, though i don't know the story there. You'd have to ask her yourself. I know there's a waypoint somewhere near Canterlot, but you'd need to ask around for details.

If you want the history of the draconequui, and get a good idea of them, without being roped into one of their games, Fright would be your best option. I admit that even including Discord, our lore of draconequui here in the museum, is woefully lacking."

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

 

@Catpone Cerberus

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

"As for artificial intelligence, I believe the Empire looked into that field too, but the research lost investment for similar reasons to the biological research; a result that would be good enough to justify the time and effort, would inherently cause trouble in control." "Why spend countless years and immense resources to create something with several potential risks, when you can just take already loyal soldier and put them into a machine?"  Solar interrupted his words only to the extend that was necessary to get the business done in the train station, and then board the train. Naturally, since this was a work related trip, Solar took care of Magma's tickets too.

"I can certainly see why artificial intelligence were not a priority for your homestead, considering their... Alternative methods, but it does present an interesting breakthrough in our world. Usually if a life is artificially made, it is a golem, or some sort of elemental companion. The concept of one made from technology were long theorized, but never proven possible. There are certainly a number of cautionary options one have to take in mind, which is why I assume he made his first creation a small spider, that wouldn't be harmful, just in case.

As for my own situation, you make an interesting observation. I have tried to look at things purely from a scientific standpoint, going over regular tomes, and what I knew myself, but perhaps you are right that when conventional science cannot answer, I should thread less travelled roads. Mystics, fringe science... Perhaps such a route will bear at least some fruit, and can help to prove your hypothesis about any lingering magic I may have.

Could be beneficial to seek out the zebra of Zebrica actually. What happen ed to me where alchemical in nature, and they know more of that study than any other, as well as having spiritual tides. I wouldn't usually defer to their perspective on a scientific manner, but this does seem to be more upon their field of expertise."

This certainly gave her something to ponder, as they boarded the train, post ticket purchase. She had been prepared to handle it herself, but he did so. Probably because this were work related, and it were thus covered by the operational budget. That would make a certain degree of sense, as they didn't have personal transportation, and the agency would need to attend things in several places. Best to keep the tickets then, as they could act as receipts.

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

In the train, it was relatively quiet, few other ponies sitting here and there, though there was one other traveler that got similar attention as Solar and Magma on bases of their appearance, a kobold (Left one). It was a purple, presumably male kobold, that was wearing a chestplate over a robe, an odd outfit to some, maybe, but that most likely wasn't what pulled ones attention to him, not even the weird symbol on said chestplate, rather, the one thing that seemed to pull the attention of at least the other ponies in the train, was that the kobold was wearing a skull on his head, another kobold's skull it specifically; it had been modified, to allow its wearing like a helmet, but it was no doubt a real skull. This kobold seemed to have taken some interest on the two ponies sticking out from the rest, he didn't address them or anything, but he wasn't trying to hide his interest either, as his green eyes studied the two through the open sockets of the skull. 

The kobold wasn't the only one taking an interest, as Magma would be curious of this kobold, once she bit notice in... Him? She weren't sure, as she didn't interact with kobolds before, and they didn't have the usual equine signs of male of female, so she couldn't say for certain. All she knew were that he were observing them, and that seemingly, he wore a skull of one like himself. The shape would at least indicate so. A hunter of sorts? Hmm... Or a necromancer? It were taboo magic, but she didn't know enough of kobold culture to know if that were something they were for, or against.

Hmm... Well, she supposed there were only one way to get answers now, weren't there? The scientific method would indicate that there were currently no signs of aggression, and it were unlikely to happen here, on a crowded train, lest someone went and did something foolish. If the kobold were aggressive, or an issue of sorts, she were well able to defend herself, and it would allow them to catch a troublemaker before something started. As such, the data would indicate that she should simply do as she were now doing: Get up, and approach the kobold.

When she were close enough, shed bow her head, and give a respectful, small bow towards the kobold.

"Greetings. My apologies if this is somewhat direct, but considering we seem to have mutual interest in the other, it seemed prudent to close the gap, so to speak.

My name is Magma Del Ray. Might I ask yours?"

Direct, cordial, respectful, and not showing a bias. The skull were odd, yes. As were the getup, but for all she knew, this were a revered kobold shaman, and he were looking at them because honestly, her boss were odd looking. Or she had cracked briefly. It happened every now and again, that a small crack would form in her shell, and a bit of steam let itself out, before closing again. She barely registered it anymore, if at all, if she were to be honest.

Could also be that this kobold knew of where Solar came from, at which point things might get somewhat... Complicated and/or awkward.

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

 

@Catpone Cerberus

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

She took flight and led the two smaller dragons towards the mainland. It didn't take long for it to be visible fully in the distance, the tall, seemingly impenetrable mountain range surrounding the land, molten stone spewing out here and there, the water surrounding the land discolored by ash and toxins, it was uninviting, and they weren't yet even there. About hour of flight later, as Ruby had estimated, the would land on a small, flatter part of the mountains, it was rather high compared to the sea level, but still low enough to travel without worry about thinner air, from there they would head through a small pass between the mountains, it was big enough for the smaller dragons to fly without issue, but Ruby had to walk, as she couldn't fly there without flying too high; Not that it was an issue to her, the terrain was quite rugged, but Ruby went through quickly and skillfully, she had traveled terrain like this for most of her life after all. 

Leviathan felt that pit of dread in her stomach weigh heavily as they flew. She had known of places that were seen as uninhabitable, or uninviting before, and usually she could still see why some might chose to settle down upon it. This place though... It felt like the entire place had grown up around a warning sign. Like the land itself were an ominous, slumbering predator. Something that you could gaze at from a distance, yet would devour you, were you foolish enough to disturb it. It felt as if any minute now, the jagged rocks would shift into eyes, and the unwelcome land would look upon them, and roar that they had come to the maw of death, and it hungered.

She were probably being very paranoid about that. This land were probably not alive in that sense. Just a very rough place, inhabited by even rougher beings. The warnings of Ruby began to ring ever more clear now, as she had made some assumptions, but it were nothing compared to seeing this place, and having to imagine what kind would live here.

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

The first thing Leviathan was likely to notice was the air, as when they got deeper into the mountain pass, the air brought with it the smell of ash, sulfur and other volcanic smells, and they got even deeper, the air got thicker and heavier to breath; It wasn't to actively dangerous levels, but it was clear that if non-native species like Leviathan would for some reason decide to live here, her lifespan would probably get millennia or couple shorter from just breathing the air.  Then, as they reached the end of the mountain pass, and the wider land on the other side came to view, the true nature of the place became very apparent. 

Urgh, and the air... On the Dragon Isles, the fire dragons lived inland, inhabiting the areas around the volcano. They enjoyed bathing in the lava, and made settlements of their own around the geysers and warm, natural springs there. Up to a certain point, it were a nice, cozy place, but then you got closer to the volcano, and this reminded her of that. The sulfuric, heavy air. The ash that seemed to tickle at her nostrils, and likely would rummage around her lungs for weeks, until she had cleared it out... She were half water dragon, and did not like this sort of environment.  The faster they finished this, the better.

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

The distance to which they could see, was limited by the ash in the air in an almost mist like effect, but what they saw already told a lot. The landscape near their arrival point was barren volcanic rock, rugged, hard to travel land with caves and such of various sizes; molten rock decorated the land, mountains constantly spewing more, covering the sky in black smoke. Some distance away, a forest covered the land, big, sickly looking trees growing tall into the sky, the ground covered equally sick looking smaller plantlife, with surprisingly wide array of plants and mushrooms fighting for their existence in the toxic ground. 

Near the edge of the forest, there was remains of a creature that looked something alike to a deer or a moose, but it was big, its antlers thicker and sharper than usual, and sharp spines not unlike those of dragons' growing out of its body; one the corpse there was feasting a group of large birds, they resembled something like crows or ravens, but along being bigger, their beaks and claws looked lot nastier than their Equestrian relatives, seemingly capable of ripping a small dragon apart with ease. 

Worst. Tourist spot. Ever.

Not only did the sights not get better, or the air clearer, but now she saw what the inhabitants ate too, and how even the plant life struggled to survive here. Between the volcanic rock, the ash, and whatever were lurking in the soil, it were a wonder that it did as well as it did. Except for the mushrooms. Those things were tough, and resilient to most environments. They also tended to take some stuff from the ground though, and as such, she'd avoid even touching them, if it were an option. No way those things wouldn't make her at the very least, scream for death upon the nearest lavatory. Which around here, she would assume were a pit with lava in, to avoid a mess.

The animals were about as friendly as anything else here too The dead one looking like it would be ale to gore just about anything, when it were alive, and those birds looking like some nasty, violent suckers. Nothing compared to the local dragons no, but put it against the sort of animals she normally saw, and these would be apex predators in the food chain.

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

In the far distance, they could see a dragon flying weakly on the sky, only for another dragon to charge from below and send both dragons plummeting towards the ground, the sounds of violence echoed in the air, as countless unseen battles took place all around. And then there was the one thing Ruby had warned Leviathan more than once, the remains, bones, tried up scales, everything from bones so old they had petrified into permanent part of the environment, to bodies too fresh to even have started rotting, they were everywhere; to call it a cemetery would have been an understatement, generations of death, countless ended bloodlines, the only direction where you could avoid seeing them, was the direction the came from. 

They were of all sizes, but, as Ruby had warned, in this area, the overrepresentation of smaller skeletons was notable, smallest of which were barely the size of Charir. If Leviathan was able to look at it with any attention, a curious note about the various remains was that there was none with black horns and/or claws like Ruby and Charir, there were different shades and colors yes, not all of them were white, but not fully black ones. 

This were the worst bit of the trip, by far The air, the sights, the smells- Everything paled in comparison, to seeing this... This slaughterhouse of a gravesite. Scale and bone of so many sizes that it were clear that young and old, had died here over a long period of time. Some... Some even so recently, that their bodies were still there. Lifeless and broken, waiting for nature to take them.

The only reason she did not vomit from this, were that she managed to keep it down, because she did not want to desecrate the dead any further, though tears still began streaming down her face. It were not something she could stop. The pity and sorrow she felt from all these, were making her shake and weep without her being able to stop it. She were highly emotional, and seeing this raw, unfettered brutality, made her almost break down sobbing. A whimpering sound even escaped her, lasting for about three seconds, as she shakingly moved forward, trying her best to stay near them.

It were horrible to gaze upon, and she wish she could simply look away, but there were everywhere, and closing her eyes did not help. She still saw them in her head. An imprint, that she just knew were going to haunt her dreams for a long time. All she could do were to look towards Ruby as they walked, as close to her as she could, somewhat thankful that the tears were blurring her vision a little.

The visual were so grotesque and vile, that she didn't even register much of the dragon int he sky getting hunted down, seeing but a small glimpse before the ground took her attention, and she felt her hope and whimsy drain from her like water.

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

Ruby stopped on the edge of the mountain, as the pass they came through was above the ground of the rest of the land, gesturing towards the view with her leg "Welcome to The homelands, where joy and compassion comes to die." "Can't say I missed the stench." Like Ruby had said few times now, it truly was a miracle that place had life at all.

Charir wasn't too happy about being there again either, and his body language showed it, a combination of pain and disgust, he despised the place, but he did his best to keep his nerve, he had Ruby to protect him after all, he was so happy she was on his side, because something about her, maybe it was a certain thing in her eye, maybe her body language, he couldn't quite put a claw on it, but she terrified him.

"I-It's working. I *sniff*... S-So much p-pointless death. So m-many... Yo... Y-Young..."

She were doing her absolute best to hold her composure, but her voice cracked, and if her body did not show it enough, it all but confirmed her sorrow, and emotional agony at what she saw. This were truly not a place, for a kind'ish soul like her.

She had thought this place were bad, and had dreaded the moment. Now she were here though, it were magnitudes worse, and the slogan Ruby gave, were entirely accurate, as she could not feel a sliver of joy in her heart right now.

This place were beyond her worst nightmare, and they had only just started.

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

 

@Catpone Cerberus

(Sheska)

She'd find that the guard were awake, and out of bed. Groaning slightly as she stretched her limbs, which seemed to cause her some degree of discomfort, but Harpoon simply couldn't just lay down anymore. She had done that more than enough, and she did not want to seem weak and hurt, when eventually others would come.

It took her a few seconds to notice Sheska though, so there might have been some degree of notice, even though physically, the guardsmare seemed perfectly healthy. Being a forced vessel, likely hurt on another level though, and then there were the way she had been handled before... Totally unscathed she were not, but she were alive at least. That were important.

"Oh, I ah... Didn't expect company.

I've been told you and the others went and dealt with the threat, huh? I wish I had been more useful there. I were just... I got to the castle, then Spike was there, and then this red shape just jumped at me and I... *sigh* I'm happy you got everything handled.

How are you doing, after all of this? Sounds like things got hectic."

 

(Trox)

On 2025-02-16 at 2:36 PM, Catpone Cerberus said:

"I actually do have a question for you, considering your expertise." Sheska said as Toxina was starting to get ready to leave, she then addressed Trox quickly by stating "I think I'll also go see if the guard is awake, just to update her on the situation." It was the least they could do, because while they disagreed with her choice of career, and she had in the grand scheme been not much help, she did get hurt trying to protect Sheska, so she owed her a thanks if nothing else. "Specifically, as a healer concerned about my kin, I'd like to know how familiar you are with toxins relating to kobolds, and if you know how to potentially use them to get rid of worse problems?" she had a specific example in mind, but she wanted to know the big picture first. 

"Well, I know some. Admittedly not as much as I'd like to. I find kobolds somewhat reluctant to let equines work on them, unless the situation is dire. But I've been at the right time, right place sometimes during my travels. A couple of your dwellings I am somewhat welcome around, in case I don't bring trouble, and they can use me.

Many find your kind rather paranoid, but I see a very tight-knitted community, that takes well care of their own, and those they respect. It's admirable traits, if you get a glimpse behind the barrier.

But I digress. My specialty is toxins, and antidotes. Given a sample and some time, I can find out quite a bit. And if I for some reason fall short, my apprentice can likely help you. She's not a doctor, but she has a remarkable intuition and insight around toxins. A rare gift I find.

What specifically is it that you had in mind? The more details, the clearer I can answer it."

Toxina were curious, what her thoughts might be. Were it perhaps using a poison to help cure another? It were feasible, provided she knew what she were dealing with in both cases. Toxins and antidotes required a vast knowledge of these sorts of things, and she had spent much of her life to get the information that she had, and ensure that the medical community were all the better for it.

That she had gotten an apprentice though, were not something she had expected. Few had the skill or tenacity to handle poisons, nor the inclination to remain focused on the topic to the degree that she wanted, for someone to study directly under her. And yet, by chance, she had run into Belladonna. In employ of a nice young stallion, running a construction firm, and with no current interest in leaving her role as his secretary, but it had been an enlightening talk, first time they met. Of all the ones who had shown up to her lecture, Belladonna were the only one who both identified the sort of poison that she were presenting, but also went through the process of how to correctly handle it, synthesize it, and four different usages of it in various states.

They had come to talking after, and the young mare had wanted to show her some of her own work. Toxina had curiously said yes, and followed, and had gotten quite an inspiring shock, at how knowledgeable the mare seemed to be. Making not just antidotes, but usable poisons for self defense, measured in exact amounts, and mixed with various things that could help cure diseases, in her saddlebag, in thin glass slivers, that could function as quick and effective needles.

Toxina wandered around where she lived every now and again, teaching the young mare some of the more complex things that she knew, and the mare kept good notes and actively learned from it, and handled some *homework* of sorts. She had the makings of a brilliant biologist, but for now, she had her place, that she kept at. It seemed her boss had taken her in, and helped her when she had been at her lowest, and she couldn't turn her back on him. An admirable amount of ethics, and she still studied in her own time, and made things, so Toxina would not push it. Perhaps in say, ten, twenty yeas, things might change.

Edited yesterday at 01:22 AM by Blitz Boom

[Catpone Cerberus 23,645]

@Blitz Boom
Solar's suggestion for alternative perspectives came from his own experiences, not because he had used any of them, but because they had been used against him. In a world like his, where conventional science and magic were practically perfected by one side, those fighting against it often sought out less conventional means that the empire ignored as pointless or nonsense, and while none of it had been enough for victory yet, he had been impressed by their effectiveness. Sometimes, even if something originally had been objectively absolute nonsense, it had lead those believing it to find something real. 

Solar had also taken interest in the kobold, but for quite the different reasons, he was an odd sight in the context yes, and the symbol on his armor didn't match anything in Solar's database, but what pulled his attention, was...something, quite literally, his systems detected something from the kobold, but the analysis failed to determine what it was, it couldn't properly even determine if it was magic, some kind of energy, or if it was the kobold himself. 

"Vaz" the kobold responded, offering his hand for a shake "It is nice to meet you Magma, often ponies just stare at me and whisper among themselves." he spoke in calm and friendly manner, the skull limited the readability of his face, but based on his eyes and the lower half of his mouth, the friendliness was genuine "I assume that your travel companion is the one known as Solar Silver?" Having followed bit behind Magma, Solar heard this, so he addressed it himself "Do we know each other?" he had no memory of a kobold like this one "No, but a dragon I met mentioned you, Scorch and her companions were fascinating to converse with." Vaz looked at Solar through the skull "I was told there is couple of my kin here too, sharing your origin, is that true?" Solar nodded "They are somewhere in ponyville." "Ah, Ponyville, so that is what it is called, how...creative." Getting closer hadn't helped Solar to analyze whatever his systems were detecting, but he did notice something else, he scanned the skull to see if it was a real skull, and it was, but there was something else that caught his eye so to speak, the skull was old, ancient even, it didn't necessarily mean anything by itself, but it was odd if nothing else. 

------

While calling the land alive was bit of an overstatement, the Homelands itself was as unpredictable as were its inhabitants, magma, collapses and various other things constantly shifted the land, making falling and getting crushed, or getting trapped in a magma filled cave were risks that existed, not common necessarily, but not out of the question either.

Charir broke out of his own feelings when he noticed Leviathan's reaction, he of course didn't fully understand it, but he could connect some dots to have some idea, and concern overpowered his own negative emotions, after all, he may have despised this place, but Leviathan came from what to him in the short time he had been there was basically a paradise, so this probably terrified her even more than him. So, Charir gave himself a quick mental beating for being such a weakling, the one who had shown him kindness was suffering, and he was self-pitying himself?

He moved next to Leviathan, and while he had no real idea how to comfort someone, nor did he know for sure the exact problem here, he tried his best, and wrapped his legs around Leviathan into a hug, and tried to speak, his pronunciation was mostly still kinda bad, but it could be understood what he tried to say, Leviathan's name he did say almost flawlessly though, as he had been practicing that specifically based on hearing it "Don't, be, sad." "Leviathan, is, safe." naturally, since this was the norm to Charir, he didn't correctly understand where Leviathan's upset came from, and assumed it came from fear, sure Leviathan didn't smell like fear, but as far as Charir knew, this is how it showed for Leviathan's type of dragon, after all, Leviathan hadn't shown fear in front of him yet, at least not in a situation where he had any time to pay attention to it.  

Ruby only agreed with "Pointless indeed." before the whole Charir comforting Leviathan thing, and besides that just stayed quiet, staring down towards the Homelands, as a dragon, about third of Ruby's size, had noticed her red-self standing on the mountain, and the two were now locked staring at each other. After some moments, regardless of the exact interaction between Charir and Leviathan, Ruby would speak again. "My offer to carry you is still an option; We will stay on this side, you two will stay between me and the mountains." "We will travel on ground level, because flying high will make us more visible targets." it was only half of the reason, while not being seen was a big part, there was also something Ruby didn't want to see herself, a certain ravine that would have been visible if they took flight high enough. She then said couple of words to Charir, it was short and included Leviathan's name, so it was probably something along the lines of 'stay with Leviathan' 

After that, depending on Leviathan's answer, if she was able to muster an answer at all in the first place, Ruby would either start leading, or pick Leviathan up to ride on her back and then start leading, them first down the mountain and then east, keeping herself as a shield between the two smaller dragons and rest of the land. Ruby's body language and general demeanor were different from her usual self, as she was lot more focused, and seemed lot more colder than her usual coldness; she wasn't anxious, there was no signs of such, but it was clear that she was ready to fight at moment's notice. This would also be apparent if Leviathan tried to talk to her, as she would only respond with sounds and short matter of fact statements, as if  not interested in talking at the moment. 

The first situation happened pretty quickly, as pretty much the moment they got down, the before mentioned dragon came growling towards the trio, but after what could best be described as a screaming match, it backed down enough for them to continue, though it did still follow them until what was presumably the end of its territory. As they traveled, they weren't alone at any point, as there was always a dragon observing them nearby, sometimes growling, roaring or otherwise warning them to stay back, but since most of them were quite small, everything from Charir's size to less than half of Ruby's size, they kept their distance as it was clear that the trio was not there to pick a fight, after all, violent or not, they knew Ruby could kill them with ease, and they didn't have a death wish. 

Things changed again as they stumbled upon the aftermath of a fight, two male dragons, both bit over half of Ruby's size, one on top of another, the other dead, and as the victor noticed Ruby, he quickly readied himself for another fight. Ruby tried to convince the male to just bug off, as among all the roaring, growling, flames and smoke, the word 'leave' was used, if Leviathan could remember it from their language session, or if she even paid attention to things like that at the moment. This however didn't seem to work, as the male got closer and kept threatening Ruby, so Ruby charged him; it happened too quick to see what exactly went on, but the male was thrown back and was holding one of legs against his throat; and after regaining his balance, he looked at said leg to see if he was bleeding, he was, but only slightly, Ruby had gone for the throat, the scales protecting the males throat were gone, and there were small cuts there, but she had barely missed the vital parts. 

The other dragon suddenly didn't seem so certain of himself anymore, realizing just how close his end was, and Ruby rose her head high, stared the dragon into his eyes, and with a terrifyingly cold voice said something, which caused the male to take off. She then returned to the two smaller dragons "Let's keep going." 

After this they were left alone for a while again, as another row of mountains came to view and soon towered over them, this one going in the north-south direction, they were smaller than the one's surrounding the land, but still high enough that it wasn't reasonable to fly over them, not that they needed to, as there seemed to be a massive pass between them and the one's they had been following, it looked quite unnatural, as if carved into the mountains, though before they would reach it, they had one more encounter.

a female dragon, about 2/3 of Ruby's size was eating one of the local animals, when she spotted the trio, and instantly jumped into a defensive position; Ruby at first did her usual, but then she saw something, from behind the carcass, a tiny head popped up, a dragon small enough for even Charir to tower over it, a hatchling. To add to that, another dragon made an appearance, a slightly smaller male landed near the female, a family, a rare sight in these lands. 

At this point Ruby opened her wings to cover Leviathan and Charir, as the two, understandably hostile dragons moved to protect the young dragon hiding behind the carcass, the tension was high, as Ruby presumably tried to assure that they are merely travelling through, as she also moved backwards, pushing Charir and Leviathan with her wing towards the direction they were going, while also taking a more defensive pose to signal that she wasn't planning to attack. 

Unlike the male before, neither of the assumed parents actively got closer to the trio, so it seemed that there was some kind of understanding, and soon enough the female backed away while the male kept following them from a distance, at which point Ruby turned around back towards the way they were going "It is rare to see dragons taking care of offspring together here, and even when it happens, it's usually two females rather than with a male." "It is a viable survival tactic." 

They then reached the pass. and at closer look, it was clear that it hadn't formed naturally, and it sharply turned to form a kind of S-shape through the mountains, suspicious, but it was their direction, so Ruby lead them in. the travel up to this point had taken few hours or so. 

Suddenly, the air got cleaner, the smell was still faintly there, but it was almost fresh, though what was probably more noticeable, was the sudden increase in the air's electricity levels, which, if Leviathan couldn't sense through her magic, was obvious by the fact that Charir's scales started to once more gather electricity. But before any questions could be risen, a male voice was heard, it spoke in unknown language, some kind of variation of dragonic no doubt, yet, even while all three would be able to tell that it was a language they didn't know, they all could understand it like it was their own. "Two Death-bringers and Equestrian walk through the barrier, that sounds like a start of an awful, violent joke." 

A blue male dragon landed in front of them, it had similar build to Ruby's kind, be it with thinner scales, and size-wise he was about 1/4 smaller than Ruby, notably, he also had feathered wings, and had feathers growing out of his head, and probably most importantly, electricity was arching on his scales, not too different from how it was for Charir. Speaking of Charir, the newcomer seemed to take interest of him "And what do we have here, that maniac actually did it, and with a Black-Horn from all things." he then looked at Ruby "You are a sister I assume, too young to have gotten together with somebody like him." Ruby, not too amused by the sudden appearance, growled while taking an aggressive posture, while Charir hid slightly behind her  "Stay back! Whoever you are", Ruby said it in her native language, but Leviathan would find that while it was clearly in said language, for some reason, she would be able to understand it fine.

The blue dragon took a step back, not from fear, but caution "No need to be so hostile Death-freak." "You can call me Voltaick, we knew we were going to get visitors, so I was sent to welcome you, so welcome, weirdo." his tone was slightly contemptuous, as he challenged Ruby's stare "Brave words towards someone you call 'Death-bringer'." Voltaick let out a spark out of his nostril, similar to how Ruby let out smoke when she was annoyed "I wouldn't in my wildest dreams trust one of your kin to not senselessly end my life, but I do trust the barrier, so you can drop the act, you are not going to attack me." 

Again, everything that was said, was spoken in languages that Leviathan didn't know or understand, yet, somehow, she would still be able to understand everything just fine. 

------------------------------

"I don't blame my brothers and sisters for their reluctance, even without a specific historical justification for it, your species', and the other surface dwellers' individualistic nature goes in direct opposition to our own, we also have some...moral disagreements." Sheska stated, there would always be certain distrust between kobolds and others, simply because they don't share the connection that allows them to trust their own. 

"But to my point." "You may or may not be aware, that due to our kinds diet of whatever is available, we are lot more resistant to poisons and other natural toxins, that most creatures, especially when consumed." "This can be used to cure bigger problems." "A specific example comes from history, in which, while proper study wasn't possible, lot was learned. " "Long and complicated story short, a parasite started spreading through our food source, a parasite, that was relatively harmless to most creatures, causing a period of digestion issues before dying and coming out with rest of the waste." "However, to kobolds, it was deadly, something it produced, maybe its own waste product, shut down our bodies in matter of days, like I mentioned, proper study couldn't be done." "None of the known anti-parasite treatments worked, so something else needed to be done." "In the end, the solution was poison, it spread through food, so we poisoned our food with a nerve-toxin, it killed the parasite, without killing us, even if some symptoms did show up from the toxin." 

"Now, it should be mentioned that this epidemic specifically was highly dependent on the conditions of where it took place, even the toxin used grew in such specific conditions that i don't know if it even exists here, so an exact duplicate is unlikely to happen, especially one where ponies are in any way involved." "But what I worry about is those individual cases, you get one or two kobolds, and thus don't see a reason to study it further, while something like that spreads through your population, only taking down my kind." "Do you have any means to diagnose such things? and if you do, would your code of morality let you provide such treatment?" "And do you in general know how much of what kind of toxin is a deadly to a kobold?" This was partly planning to the journal(s) she was going to write some day, she wanted to know the baseline of what ponies actually knew about her kind. 

(harpoon)
Sheska was frankly surprised to see Harpoon alone, it had been long enough that she had kinda assumed that her daughter would be there if nobody else, but well, none of her concern really. 
"Was visiting Onache so I figured I should visit you too, least I can do." "We are doing fine, there was some other complications after the whole thing, but now things seemed to have calmed down a bit." "If it makes you feel any better, we weren't much use either besides keeping the thing busy until the real help arrived." "It was an Oni, in case nobody mentioned that."  she found it surprisingly hard to be as dismissive of Harpoon as she had been, it was hard to keep up her hatred when there was no armor, especially since they both knew it had nothing to do with the individuals here. "I- Thanks, for at least trying to help." "I can't imagine it feels nice to be possessed like that." she decided to not mention that she would have probably killed her if the Oni didn't flee. "The weapons you brought us are here at the hospital, the staff knows where." "How are you feeling, you aren't bleeding anymore, so that's good, is there any permanent damage?" possession injuries was one of the things she didn't really know anything about, so she was curious if the possession alone had done something more serious.