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Blitz Boom

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(edited)

@Blitz Boom, @Lloyd

KARMIC FATE

“I actually don’t know what it is I talk about sometimes. I just ramble, so,” Karmic admitted to Sapphire and did her best to move towards the retreating Zhu. “I should really get going and follow him though,” she said with a grin and tried to go after Zhu.

Edited by Dji
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13 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"Great, so this isn't biological in nature. It's a sphinx curse."

The horrendous murdering and eating were not getting so much on Nerzhei's nerve as it were to hear that her assumptions had been wrong. Her crystals hadn't reacted to the illness being magical, so she had been certain it was simply nature. Yet this way, either her gems had failed, or this were a magical curse that were still somehow purely natural. Like a magical germ growing approach. The illness itself weren't magical, but the implementation and spreading of it were.

"This might end up complicating a lot of things, though really, what on earth convinced you that you should try and gamble with yourself with a sphinx? They're nothing but bad omens preying on the gullible and desperate.

And Lyriel doesn't like you because your hunger is all-consuming. She is all about trying to keep an ecosystem and a balance in things here, and you could theoretically consume everything in here in a few weeks if you were allowed to. It would be a failing for her as the forest's protector to let you."

While this went on, Lyriel kept leading the sphinx further inside the forest. The things the feline creature told her were highly interesting for someone like her, who wished to know more of the world beyond the small valley she grew up in. Yet as fascinating as it were, there were a few things that were poked at that made the dryad find sadness flow over her again. A small amount of hope might be in order, but when it came to her siblings, things were more complicated than a simple wish.

"The Silver Valley holds no metal, simply a dense forest far within territory of the great atazi. The ones you call dragons.

When the great colored bow shattered and the pieces fell, it made the waters run in many colors, and us spring forth from the earth. There, we lived peacefully tending to the dwindling animal population, and growing the vegetation in the forest for the great scaled ones to harvest.

Yet nothing good can last it seemed. The colored waters would slowly turn those who consumed it into vegetation themselves, and for a long time, we had the strict rule to never drink of it, and suffer the same fate as the animals. Such were the decree of the earth mother.

One in the village finally made the blasphemy though, and it filed him with what he perceived to be strength. He shared this with those would would listen to his words. At first only a few, then eventually, more and more rushed to the banks to take that which we were not supposed to have.

They began to spout that the earth mother had kept us away from this, and denounced her as a false goddess. Her temple were ruined, and those who swore fealty to her, and refused to drink..."

Another tear fell from Lyriel's right eye as she recalled what she had seen. The final sin, which they should have been above making.

"I managed to escape and hide, but I could still see what happened to them. They have lost their way, and wander in hatred and insanity, cursing the earth mother for cursing them. They forgot that they took this upon themselves, and any who meets them will be the subject of their wrath.

If there was a way I could save them, I would, yet I fear what they would do to themselves if they came to their senses and realized what they had done. The heresy, the suffering... It may simply be too much for them to handle.

Not that it matters. If the curse could be lifted, the earth mother would have saved them before they went deeply into heresy and shunted her voice. They are truly lost, and I will carry the sorrow for their descent within me until the day that I wither away."

The sphinx may be a great sorceress, but Lyriel held doubt that something like that could go against what the earth mother had not seemed capable of. The feline were but a mortal, where the earth mother were a goddess. What hope would there be to have power greater than hers?

The thought that the earth mother had decided not to interfere were also an option, but not one that Lyriel had ever thought about. It seemed inconceivable to her that the loving, caring creature they worshiped, would leave her loyal children alone against the onslaught of the corrupted heretics.

"The ponies that fell into my broken home, managed to help me get away from there too. This is why I consider them to be my friends, though I wish to think the best of most creatures. Even the flesh-eating mare were one I met with opened, and kindness, yet her hunger makes her a threat to the ecosystem. She consumes and consumes, with no end in sight. Left to her own devises, entire species could be lost, or diminished too much to make it without aid. It saddened me to do so, but this is my home to protect, and as such, I need to condemn those who do more harm than can be repaired.

But Nerzhei will handle her it seems, so that is a weight off my shoulders. She too helped me escape, and though she is gruff and detached, I have yet to find she lied to me. I trust that she will handle this before too much damage is dealt.

Beyond my worries, I would appreciate the help you could provide if you are able to speak with the timberwolves, great one. Perhaps they would find worth in your strength, and let you consult with the alpha directly.

As for the protection of the forest, I appreciate the offer, but some things I must be able to do on my own. I am also rather poor at riddles I'm afraid, and would prove little entertainment more than likely, though perhaps in time you could speak with the striped one? She speaks in riddles and rhymes, so perhaps she will hold the ability to answer some of what intricate riddles you would hold, great one."

Usually Lyriel only called large dragons *great one* but she had no name for this female, and she did indeed seem like a powerful creature. Befitting a magnificent being of her apparent stature too, and a humbling presence to assist.

Droppy blinked and nodded. "Well you can always ask her nicely to remove it, though i'm suspecting shes planning something else currently. She wouldn't just come here for a vacation after all" she told the dragon. She continued eating the rest of the meat slowly finishing it off, she blinked at the dragon and frowned. "Sphinxes always have a agenda of some sort. She might be trying to behave or she might be planning something much more horrible" she informed her.

Droppy blinked, "I wanted to cross a bridge and she told me to cross I had to guess a riddle. Not like i'm a unicorn or Pegasus who can simply flash there horn or open there wings" she remarked to her rolling her eyes. "and I wasn't stupid enough to try to sneak under her legs so, I had to answer it and got it wrong, easy to do" she remarked to the dragon. "So she sent me on a mission of some sorts" she informed the dragon. 

"Not my fault I get hungry, I couldn't eat everything in the forest in one go, I could give it a good go though" she remarked missing the point entirely. 

 

The Sphinx frowned, didn't she have a temple there at some point? She might have done when she was much younger and less wise. Though she had never encountered any of these tree things there, not that she could recall at any rate. She paused in her movements and frowned, she remembered that valley though she called it something different. She blinked at Lyriel, "So it were your people that destroyed the balance? Interesting, I'd always assumed it was the dragons who had destroyed it, with there fire and all though didn't expect trees to poison the water source." she remarked to her, though the part about the rainbow water troubled her.

"are you referring to rainbow lake at all? it would have traveled down a river of sorts and into a large square rocky building with a tip on the top of it" she asked her quietly. If that were indeed the source of the problems, she would be very angry indeed. That was meant to have been sealed off, that had been her agreement after all and she did hate it when people broke there agreements with her.  

"I do hate it when temples are desecrated, it never ends well for the desecrater when I catch up to them. Even if it wasn't my temple it takes effort to make one, also who is this earth mother you speak off. I would like to meet her. She seems, familiar" she remarked with a frown. 

Sphinx blinked and yawned "Oh yes that plague walker, I'm surprised shes still not fixed, though I suppose she will never be now. 'On the earth you must tread, eat plant, flesh and bread. Till journey end you reach, the cure will be at your feet" she remarked, she rolled her eyes at the ponies stupidness. "The funny thing is she never actually finished her journey. Must be a scatter brain that one" she remarked.

The Sphinx waited from the tree to answer her previous questions, from that she would have to balance the equities.

 

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@Blitz Boom

Rising Dusk could understand the other stallion's reaction to his story.  It wasn't the best example of how his cross agency dealings have been so far when venturing out of the city.  Inside the city, things were far more friendly and the local police had a good relationship with their more magically focused brethren.  It was mutual of course, their aid in securing crime scenes was invaluable while the O.M.I. did their work.  They didn't have nearly the pony power the local police or Royal Guards did.  Competitiveness did occur through at the yearly Buck Ball Tournament between the city's service agencies, but it was all in good fun and a great time.  The casinos of Las Pegasus had pretty well corrupted the city and it showed in many areas.  The local police did their best and their prides had been wounded.  Small victories, even if not as deserved, worked for them.  Why didn't it bother Rising Dusk though?  He wasn't sure.  The right ponies knew who cracked the case, maybe that was enough. 

"Sensing magic is in part what makes my Counter and Dispel magic as effective as it is.  Without being able to see the spell, dispelling it by normal means is a lot of trial and error, research and energy."

The Sun by now had pretty much disappeared behind the high buildings of the city while the trio made their way to the East Side of the city.  He figured there was enough time to finish the story.  Rising Dusk only a few moments with the mare to finish his report.  Her crime wasn't severe enough to take her out of the hooves of Las Pegasus, so ultimately her time would be spent there.

"Oh, a little bit of everything.  Casino servers earn most of their bits on tips.  More ponies gambling, more tips.  As for the random part, it appears it was in attempt to help lower the suspicion if these enchanted charms were only showing from one gift shop.  The charm was selected because it was made popular by a famous poker pony, who also happened to win his biggest game at the casino she worked at.  She figured the charms, that most ponies thought were lucky, would also attribute to the casino he made it popular in."  

"As for the second part.  Dark magic is rather seductive.  It didn't appear she knew, or at least refused to believe, that her charms were hurting anypony.  But it was easy and she saw an increase in her tips at work.  Who knows if she'd gone further in her work what could have happened..."

He ended his little story, letting the creak of the wooden wheels of his chart fill the short silence.

 

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@Blitz Boom

"Let's not cause anymore trouble for the nice shopkeeper, alright?"

Sen looked to Rosa, seemingly without anger or disappointment in his behavior while faking a big, uneasy smile. Fair is fair with the shopkeeper setting his ground rules on what can and can't pass in his shop. It was just like home, except for the more vigilant and possibly violent crafters and artisans. They guard their secrets well, their methods only known to them and their apprentices. Wrong them like theft or a poorly-worded insult might send the offenders off the place with more than just vicious words and broken bones. They wanted the messages to stick, after all, despite how unnecessary it all seemed. Sen inspected the bundle and fiddled with it for a bit before turning to Tracker.

"This has instructions for setting it up, yes?"

Back with Lin, it is a conflicting idea Scarcity put forward. On one hoof, it sounds reasonable; the elderly still have aspirations and they could still pursue them to their capacity. Some children wouldn't want to put a huge strain on them but can be reasonably worried about their elders pushing themselves a little too much. Then again, it could be a way of extending their respect... It was an idea she grappled with ever since she first heard of it but she's slowly coming around to the ponies' way of thinking, not that she's abandoning her views on the matter or anything.

"It makes sense, Scarcity. Is that related to these places I've heard of? I think they were called... um, retirement homes? I think that's the term for them? Homes for the elderly?"

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@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight

That sudden surge of... colorful language... was strange. Do those words exist? The most Fluttershy could get to swearing up a storm was the mere mention of the word 'peeved,' very mild but it made her uneasy whenever she said it. How Discord is involved in that is another mystery for her to think about but would rather not. The draconequus is not above being involved in such a thing. Whatever it was, it might be better to leave it as a noodle incident.

"Such language, Lucid! Was that all necessary?"

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@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

"You don't seem to understand Fluttershy. These are important details I should've been told before I got the stick. What I need to know is why this informa- wait."

He remembered something, the note written before he received the stick. First, that means his trick didn't get him the stick, he was going to get it either way. Another thing it mentioned finding out about his parents.

"It mentioned my parents, I've never met them before. After this garden we gotta find them. They think they could just give me up when I was a baby and get away with it? Whoever they are, they will answer to me!"

It was pretty easy to tell that Lucid held a grudge against the parents he never met. Why would they dump him at an orphanage? In his mind, when they left him, they took his childhood with them.

Sure, the ponies at the orphanage were nice, but he saw no reason for that to justify what happened.

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@Blitz Boom @Dji

Astral, who hadn't done much other than talk. Encased Zhu in a shield, freezing his body in place. It wouldn't last long since she was low on magic already, and would break more easily as a result, but hopefully it'd work long enough to detain him. "Those who resort to evil to get peace tend to not notice when they are overpowered. Like now." 

Sapphire rolled her eyes at Karmic. Who'd find tendrils, similar to the ones sapphire made earlier, wrapping around their hooves, holding them to the ground. "Neither of you are going anywhere."

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@Blitz Boom

"It's not like I could do anything if you did measure me." He said, acknowledging his current situation once again. "And you'd likely find Sapphire in the castle already, Considering she helped take me out, they'd want to talk to her." He grumbled to himself a bit as he said that, if he and her ever met, it would not end well. She was even the one who first fought him, their only experience of each other was fighting with magic.

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(edited)

@Lloyd @Dji

So this were what Astral had done then? Interesting. Of all the options, Zhu had not expected the daughter to be the one to attempt to deal with him, though in a way he should be thankful for that. If it had been Sapphire, the detainment might have actually worked.

As it were however, Astral had made a few mistakes. The first being that she used greatly of magic reserves that were seemingly running low, or had just not thought him worth using more on than she had. The other being that she had only stopped his physical movements, and he didn't need to wave his paws or speak words to use his wind magic.

Using it, he would attempt to throw himself away, and tear Karmic from the tendrils before they stuck too greatly to her, as well as blast against their would-be trappers. It weren't the greatest defense, but immobility left him with little choice in the matter.

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@Lloyd

"That would make things easier. Thank you."

Hogweed were getting a little more at ease here, and though she fumbled a bit when she pulled out the measuring tape she kept under her helmet - surprisingly often she had a need for that one she found - she'd be feeling better as she got up to him and began to measure his stumps.

While at it, she also took the opportunity to see his other scars closer, to get a sense of how possible it were for her to help him with that. Medicine had come a long way the last twenty or so years, so there might be something that she could do, though he'd still need to sign a waiver when it were. Medicine had risks already, but magical remedies tended to increase the odds of side effects, no matter how great they could be, so she were required to go over that with any potential patient.

"I think I got the measurements I need now. It's not the worst case I've had to ask our specialist about, but it is extensive. It might take him a week or two, if he doesn't have others in line first."

Elsewhere in the castle, Hailstorm left the restricted area in the library, and began to slowly wander towards the throne room with quite a bit going through his head. The things he had read, and had scribbled down since it wasn't allowed by anypony other than the princesses to take anything outside of that section, were troubling, and he needed to turn it in his head a few times before he arrived.

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@Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

"Hah, sweet. He's actually swearing."

Anomaly found it more amusing than anything else. Whenever she tried to swear, it was like there was a kind of blockage stopping it, and toning it down to something that you'd hear miffed ponies utter. The same blockage had come a few other times when she had tried to poke dragons and the like to spew some harsh words at her, and to this date, she had only ever heard three beings actually swear properly. Sure, their words got blocked from the authors, but everypony around could still hear it.

Some beings like Fluttershy though, didn't feel too comfortable around such hard words, though Anomaly didn't get why. It wasn't like it hurt anypony, right? It was just words, not bowling balls. Now those things were dangerous to throw around.

"Come one Flutterpony, It's absolutely priceless. Alternate universe Discord got cheated out of his magic stick, so he trolled Lucid through worlds. How isn't this funny?"

It got outright laughable when Lucid started to over-dramatize that he were going to hunt for his parents after they were done gardening. It was like he had been dumped on a scene, told to act, and just thought that it was all or nothing. She were laughing so hard at this that it was surprising that her head didn't pop off again.

"Ahahaha, that's soooo over the top. I... I...Pfffwahaha!"

Anomaly were on her stomach and pounding the ground at this point, and with each hit to the ground, a flower bed sprung up somewhere. A rose bush, some tulips, some venus fly traps, chili's, thorny branches surrounding a beautiful lotus bed, those kinds of things. There'd have to be some relocations, removal and changes when she got her wits about her again, but nothing dangerous had spawned at least... Yet.

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@BloodDrops

"Sphinxes doesn't give anything for free. We might end up having to find a riddle master to be able to cure you in the end."

Which likely meant that she would have to deal with zebra's. Now, Nerzhei didn't have anything against the striped ponies. In fact, she found them to be more interesting than the regular three kinds, and with a history spanning a long time back that made her interested in talking with them. Yet the question weren't so much how she looked on them, as how they looked on her. Dragons and equines had a troubled history together, to put it mildly, and it might make trying to talk to them difficult. Especially since from what she had been able to read about them from the scarce literature she had been able to get hold of, they might be able to do things that would bring even the best unicorns or alicorns to shame, which gave them the upper hand. Or hoof in this situation.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. As for whatever she's planning, I have enough to do dealing with you. Lyriel and the ponies can handle this one.

And speaking of, do not try to eat the entire forest. I have seen what enraged dryad can do, and even if you are protected against vines, I doubt that you could hold your own against everything she is able to throw at you if she believes you to truly be incoming death of her home. Even if not for her, or your own well-being, then restrain yourself for the food sources. If you consume everything, there will be no life to replenish, and that means that you will eventually grow hungry, and unable to return to this place later on when things have stabilized again for a feast. Think of your restraint as an investment that will net you food.

Now then, you speak of a mission? Were it something during that mission that made you like this, or was it something she did before or after sending you off?"

Meanwhile, Lyriel looked with big, confused eyes at the sphinx, and slowed her movements somewhat.

"We called it the Adatzne, but the ponies called it a rainbow river too. Where it leads are forbidden to enter, seen as the holy ground where the fallen Adatzne bow's greatest shards were stored. Those too big to spawn us, and who could not be left unattended, but we know not who put them there. The bow's fall 25 years ago marked our birth, and the At- Dragons, told us that is why the rivers ran with colors. How we had grown as we did."

It was the origin the dryads had told themselves were the cause, as the dragons had told them that the two events happened around the same time, barring a week for the dryads to grow where the small shards had landed. It may well be that something else had caused it, like the temple being breached, the water turning strange, and the longest roots draining it gave birth to the dryads. Yet if that was the case, they did not know of it.

"Have you been to our valley before? Do you know who build this temple? Is... Have you actually talked with the earth mother?"

Confusion were starting to go into reverence. If this sphinx had heard the words of their goddess, and knew of her influence on the valley, could that make the sphinx a messenger of hers? A familiar to her work, who she spoke with? Perhaps even a friend? Great goddess who encompassed them all, what would she do if she were truly in the presence of such a being?

"We never heard her voice directly. Her message comes through the earth she sleeps beneath, and the nature that grows from her will. Emotions ranging far and wide, and a knowledge that when nature flourishes, she keeps gifting the world with her presence. With the bounty of the harvest, upon which all rely.

The earth mother is a nameless being to us, but you think to have known her? The goddess of nature itself? If that is the case, please tell me if our goddess is she bound in chains, or does she rest willingly to provide for the world?"

In truth, the earth mother weren't so much nature itself as a pagan nature spirit of substantial power, and one that relied on belief and praise to be sated and happy, which would in turn make nature flourish. Back in the olden days, most beings had sung her praise, but she had since been forgotten, and grown resentful, until the evergrown had been created. They sung her praises even to this day, even more than the dryads had, and it upheld the balance. If the sphinx had spoken with the earth mother, it had to have been a troubling thing if it were not in the last five hundred years. If it had been after that, and she had found her way into the forgotten halls far beneath the surface, things may have seemed better.

Then again, perhaps the sphinx just knew a fanatic that praised nature and called herself the mother of all trees. There had been a couple of those over the past few centuries before the dryads had grown, and they had all been mad as hatters.

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@Rising Dusk

"Makes sense. Pretty stupid way around it though. I mean, if everypony got more obsessed with gambling as the charms kept upping their mojo, there wouldn't be much of a tip left for her. They'd rather throw that at the tables. Guess that wasn't a thought that got into her mind over the short term profit margin.

Other than that, the plan does hold some merit. I mean sure, it was illegal and unethical, but her reasoning is fair enough. Might've needed some money, and didn't think on how - if she could enchant charms - she could make some with for example small protection spells in them and sell them. Or if you wanted to go into dark magic only, soem sort of emergency protection with an electric shock effect or something alike. Really more shortsightedness than anything that was her issue. You know, beyond the whole *breaking the law* thing."

Molotov believed in keeping the rules set, and to not go into the really deep end and just kidnap test subjects or something, but at times he thought things could get a fair bit too restrictive out here in the wide world. Sure, they had rules back at Center Zero too, but they were more lax,and more lacking of *building permits* and all such nonsense. The things he had to go through to get his workshop approved...

Okay he just paid the right folks, but that took effort too. Had to find the right hooves to pay, and the ones right behind them to bribe.  Might not be the most ethical, but he needed a slice of land where he could work without a health and safety inspector coming over and whining in his face. Science weren't meant to be restrained by minuscule things like danger of something dropping on your head.

."But she's done, her time's getting served or have been served, and all's fine and well.

And you know,w hat you said about needing to be able to sense to dispel? Fair point there, I'll concede to that. I think some of the professors at Center Zero would've loved to meet you and hear about you though. They tried for years and got absolutely nowhere, when it came to tracking magic. I remember one time, Cl- Oh hey, we're back."

Molotov stopped before going on, distracted by seeing they were home. Or rather, by seeing Blitz dangling from a fishing net suspended over the main entrance, with a light on the door pointed straight at her. That sight never failed to crack him up.

"Hey sis, how's it hanging?"

The filly tried to squirm free, but she wasn't getting anywhere. It was a good, solid net that one, and she didn't really hold many points in the strength department as it were. Now if she had her magic it would've been a different story, but as it were right now, Blitz could just pout down at them and keep wriggling.

"Lemme out, lemme out, lemme o-Auwh!"

A simple pull of the lever topmost on his lenses deactivated the defense systems, and slacked the net, causing Blitz to fall right down and get grabbed by his magic. Had to make sure the little troublemaker didn't get hurt, so Molotov floated her down safely.

"Look on the bright side: At least it wasn't the goo canon this time."

"Noooo! I hate that one. It's all sticky and bubbly-gummy without being yummy."

Molotov grinned and ruffled Blitz's mane, causing her to sit down and try and fix it, whilst the stallion turned back to Rising.

"Kids. Gotta love 'em, right? Lemme open up so we can get the things in before it gets too dark to see a thing."

With that, he'd go over and open the double doors properly, so Rising could drive the wagon and metal in. They'd find a place to put it down, and then he supposed the officer would want some rest. Normal ponies tended to sleep when the sun went down.

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@EQ_Theta

"I am not here to cause trouble. I just dislike showing my face."

"How's that? Your work given you regrets?"

Rosa's eyes seemed to unfocus for a moment as he recalled being upon being that he had caused harm with his work, and countless others that he had never even seen.

"More than you can imagine..."

Tracker didn't like spies. That was the short of it, and why he frankly weren't too happy about this one's presence in his store. Sure he'd still sell, but there were a shorter fuse when it came to somepony like this. Troublemakers and lowlife the lot of them.

Yet there were something in Rosa's voice as he had replied that seemed to hold a weight behind it. Like he actually did have regrets, and were ashamed to show his face, rather than just unwilling to be able to be identified. He couldn't see the grim look that went over the spy's face as the memories wandered by, like Sen would be able to, but his posture didn't exactly speak of somepony who thought highly of themselves in the moment.

Tracker liked to think that he could read ponies well, and this youngster didn't strike him as somepony who had no moral qualms. Yet he were still a spy, and those folks were good at manipulating others, so much as he liked to believe him, the shopkeeper had to keep some suspicions up and not grow soft here. Though he'd refrain from throwing the guy out of here right off the bat as he had planned after that rude walking past thing before. That small bit of rope he'd be willing to let go off, so to speak.

"...Tent's got instructions folded inside, but it's one of the easier models to gather. Shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes if you just follow the guide.

So if you're going camping, you must need some other supplies too? Got the rest, or do you need something more?"

"Three durable water bottles, two flashlights, five meters of rope and a first aid kit. Perhaps two sleeping bags too, if Sen thinks they would want them. If not, they might need something to sleep on."

"I got some rolled up patched of fake grass and moss that some of the more nature-loving folks like to rest on, and some air madrases. They're over in the corner. Try and give it a look and see if that's something, and I'll gather up the rest."

Rosa nodded as Tracker went on his way to pack up the order so far, and looked at Sen in silence, waiting for the longma to say whatever Lin and him needed a sleeping bag, or might like something to rest on instead. Perhaps they preferred the ground, but it was safer to ask and find out. Potentially show him first too, as Sen might not know what a sleeping bag even were, if he didn't know what a tent looked like. They still had a good deal of bits to use, so they should be covered for a full kit that the two siblings could use again another time. Except one of the water bottles. He were going to keep that.

Meanwhile, Scarcity shook her head and let out a somewhat dramatic sigh.

"That would be the worst, possible outcome. That is where ponies who do not have families to care for them, and are unable to care for themselves, go. The ones working there generally do their best to ensure that the elderly are treated right and have socializing and fun activities, but there is only so much one can do, and if you look at it long enough, it can seem depressing. For example when it comes to the lack of visitors that some of them receives.

Certain groups have taken it upon themselves to be visitors to these kind of homes, and are doing well in introducing the lonely elderly to ponies of all ages who can talk with them, go on walks, play games, and generally entertain them and make them feel loved. It is a program that does quite a bit of good, and have gotten some prominent sponsors the last few decades or so to ensure that at times, they can all gather with the ones they visit for trips. Before it were mostly small, charitable donations from here and there, which left their budget quite scarce, so it is seen as a substantially good thing that some ponies are putting in a more steady flow.

It is also good publicity for the ones who do donate, but if there is one thing you must always keep in mind about the world deary, it is that one way or another, those who carry riches will want something tangible to let go off a portion of their bits. In fortunate cases like this, that leaves only winners."

Scarcity were a donator herself, though her main contribution in her eyes, were the accountants she had on payroll to make sure the finances of the visitors' leadership were in order. Some before that had done some embezzling that were frankly rather vile in her eyes. She might think well of getting a profit, but stealing it from those who had little to begin with were one of those morals lines she didn't enjoy seeing crosses.

A few leaked documents here and there later, they were imprisoned, and thing had become smoother since, making it a rather respectable group once more, as well as a fine way to earn some tax deductions.

Hmhmhm. As Scarcity had said, one way or another, the rich wanted something for their generosity. She were no different in that regard.

Edited by Blitz Boom
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@EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

In the heat of the moment Lucid forgot that draqonequui probably don't see the severity of situations like a poquus or a pony would. To him, what Anomaly was saying... those were fighting words.

"Now you've crossed the line, ladybug!"

A ring of non-spreading silver fire, 20 feet high surrounded them both. It was a good thing for Anomaly that this silver fire was NOT touching her.

"You don't know what it's like. My parents gave me up, I never had a childhood living in that orphanage. Everyday I would wait and hope someone would come and take me in, but no! Not a single pony wanted me! I only had one friend who grew up with me there and he is dead because of me! Now I have to live with that not for the rest of my life, but for eternity all because of this immortality!"

Lucid then realized the danger he was causing for her. The fire disappeared, and the garden was undamaged. He backed away realizing what he has almost done.

"I'm sorry, I should've never lost my temper like that."

He sat down and looked at the ground. Maybe it was him who was taking things too far. Sure maybe Anomaly was in the wrong too, but did it really give him the right to put anyone in danger like that?

"I just want to go back to the days where I actually was the happy pony I now pretend to be."

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(edited)

@Lucid_Nightlight @Blitz Boom

Discord followed behind, enjoying the chaos the two were sowing. "There are many reasons for many things, perhaps things may not have turned out the way you would want but you may yet find yourself happy again." He said in a friendly manner, hoping to bring some measure of comfort to Lucid.

Edited by Storm Shine
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@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Lucid was still looking at the ground as he replied to Discord's comment.

"Maybe so, but what reason could there be for my parents giving me away and my fr-"

He realized something. The note, his parents, the mysterious pony on the day of his friend's death. It all started to make sense.

"I remember feeling the stuck pulsing with power. That mysterious pony wasn't a pony at all. Could that be the draconequus that created the stick? And the note, it proves that me getting the stick was predetermined. Maybe the creator of the stick was after me, my parents gave me up and hid me in the orphanage and they found me years later, but because I spotted them, they knocked over the stone distract me and get away and my friend happened to be standing there!"

This changed everything. A weight was lifted, he nolonger had to blame himself. There was one thing though, the sticks creator may still be a threat.

"I cannot confirm this for sure, but it is very likely. After this garden, if my parents confirm their reasoning, it will also confirm my suspicion."

There was still something Lucid needed to say to Anomaly.

"Again, I'm sorry for yelling at you and creating silver fire around you. I had no right to do that."

Edited by Lucid_Nightlight
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(edited)
2 hours ago, Blitz Boom said:

"Sphinxes doesn't give anything for free. We might end up having to find a riddle master to be able to cure you in the end."

Which likely meant that she would have to deal with zebra's. Now, Nerzhei didn't have anything against the striped ponies. In fact, she found them to be more interesting than the regular three kinds, and with a history spanning a long time back that made her interested in talking with them. Yet the question weren't so much how she looked on them, as how they looked on her. Dragons and equines had a troubled history together, to put it mildly, and it might make trying to talk to them difficult. Especially since from what she had been able to read about them from the scarce literature she had been able to get hold of, they might be able to do things that would bring even the best unicorns or alicorns to shame, which gave them the upper hand. Or hoof in this situation.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. As for whatever she's planning, I have enough to do dealing with you. Lyriel and the ponies can handle this one.

And speaking of, do not try to eat the entire forest. I have seen what enraged dryad can do, and even if you are protected against vines, I doubt that you could hold your own against everything she is able to throw at you if she believes you to truly be incoming death of her home. Even if not for her, or your own well-being, then restrain yourself for the food sources. If you consume everything, there will be no life to replenish, and that means that you will eventually grow hungry, and unable to return to this place later on when things have stabilized again for a feast. Think of your restraint as an investment that will net you food.

Now then, you speak of a mission? Were it something during that mission that made you like this, or was it something she did before or after sending you off?"

Meanwhile, Lyriel looked with big, confused eyes at the sphinx, and slowed her movements somewhat.

"We called it the Adatzne, but the ponies called it a rainbow river too. Where it leads are forbidden to enter, seen as the holy ground where the fallen Adatzne bow's greatest shards were stored. Those too big to spawn us, and who could not be left unattended, but we know not who put them there. The bow's fall 25 years ago marked our birth, and the At- Dragons, told us that is why the rivers ran with colors. How we had grown as we did."

It was the origin the dryads had told themselves were the cause, as the dragons had told them that the two events happened around the same time, barring a week for the dryads to grow where the small shards had landed. It may well be that something else had caused it, like the temple being breached, the water turning strange, and the longest roots draining it gave birth to the dryads. Yet if that was the case, they did not know of it.

"Have you been to our valley before? Do you know who build this temple? Is... Have you actually talked with the earth mother?"

Confusion were starting to go into reverence. If this sphinx had heard the words of their goddess, and knew of her influence on the valley, could that make the sphinx a messenger of hers? A familiar to her work, who she spoke with? Perhaps even a friend? Great goddess who encompassed them all, what would she do if she were truly in the presence of such a being?

"We never heard her voice directly. Her message comes through the earth she sleeps beneath, and the nature that grows from her will. Emotions ranging far and wide, and a knowledge that when nature flourishes, she keeps gifting the world with her presence. With the bounty of the harvest, upon which all rely.

The earth mother is a nameless being to us, but you think to have known her? The goddess of nature itself? If that is the case, please tell me if our goddess is she bound in chains, or does she rest willingly to provide for the world?"

In truth, the earth mother weren't so much nature itself as a pagan nature spirit of substantial power, and one that relied on belief and praise to be sated and happy, which would in turn make nature flourish. Back in the olden days, most beings had sung her praise, but she had since been forgotten, and grown resentful, until the evergrown had been created. They sung her praises even to this day, even more than the dryads had, and it upheld the balance. If the sphinx had spoken with the earth mother, it had to have been a troubling thing if it were not in the last five hundred years. If it had been after that, and she had found her way into the forgotten halls far beneath the surface, things may have seemed better.

Then again, perhaps the sphinx just knew a fanatic that praised nature and called herself the mother of all trees. There had been a couple of those over the past few centuries before the dryads had grown, and they had all been mad as hatters.

Droppy let out a yawn, "Well let her give you a riddle, then. She won't let me have a riddle" she grumbled to the dragon. She snorted at the remark to not eat everything, it was a had achievement since everything tasted so good anyway. She let out a low groan but agreed "Fine, no eating everything, though a rabbit here or there won't hurt. Unless you expect me to eat dead stuff" she grumbled. 

Droppy frowned and tried to think, "Something to do with water, I can't remember much really. I can try though" she remarked and sat down, this might take awhile. Thinking far back normally did. After a period of time she blinked, "I was carrying a bucket of water and wanted to get somewhere, that Sphinx made me stop and gave me a riddle i got wrong, then I left" she remarked. She frowned, "I lost my bucket of water" she said sadly.

She liked that bucket after all.

 

Sphinx smirked, "Adatzne bow's shards? Sounds like power crystals to me" she remarked, stored energy ready to be released, though that was normally used in powerful sorts of magic. She had kept some nice crystals as decorations in her temple, made it look nicer, not anymore though. Ponies did like to take what wasn't theirs, and those crystals were hard to come by, even by dishonest means. 

The Sphinx smirked as she was asked a question about the temple. "Well obviously I know about that temple and who built it. It was myself, and to answer the next question on who lived in it. Well that was myself. I still don't know how you can consider the valley as yours since it has multiple inhabitants. It's like saying this forest is mine since i'm in it" she remarked. She let out a low hiss at the mention of the earth mother, "Oh yes, I've encountered that troublesome thing" she tilted her head at the tree pony. "Empty promises, but I got my revenge you see"

"Tell you? Why would I do such thing? I can do better, I can show you instead. Oh yes, showing would be much easier. More enlightening as well. You can't argue with what you see in-front of you" she remarked. "You might not like everything you see however, its the same with everything, power corrupts even the purest." she chuckled. She enjoyed tormenting things and preying on the weak. 

The Sphinx paused and let out a loud "RAWR" the leaves around them circled and then they were back, back in her memories of the one with the 'earth mother' Lyriel would find this very interesting after all. The Sphinx smirked "Welcome to my temple, former temple that is, now its a simple ruin. present day, look at this giant pool. This was the source of the water before it was corrupted and tainted by your earth mother. She might have given you life, but at a cost" she remarked with a slice of scorn. She dipped her paw in the black waters and waited for the spell to return her temple to its former self. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

latest?cb=20140907003824

Sphinx Temple 

The temple slowly grew more lifelike until the giant pool slowly glowed to its former rainbow color. The Sphinx sat down on a golden throne and blinked as a angry green dragon walked in, she let out a purr as she watched the supply of crops being offloaded onto the floor. Though instead of the dragon leaving she approached the Sphinx. She glanced up to the large figure and boldly challenged her. 

"Sphinx, may I have a word?"

"Certainly" came the calm reply. 

"Instead of us proving you a cart load of crops, how about we provide you with a dozen cart loads of crops that we grow each month, I only ask one thing" The dragon asked.

The Sphinx looked pleased, she always enjoyed more food. "Ask away" she remarked. 

"I would like a wish" she told the Sphinx.

The Sphinx frowned, "As long as it doesn't wish me harm, or my temple. it is granted" she replied after a short while. "All you must do is drink from that pool and state your wish, though it comes at a cost" she informed her.

The green dragon nodded and went over to the rainbow pool and drank it. She then stated her wish aloud. "I wish we could grow more crops" she stated. 

The Sphinx nodded and kicked a pillar, one of the large crystals fell from the pillar and onto the floor. "Find a place for this, I warn you not to put it anywhere it can get wet. Least your blessing comes a curse." she stated, watching as the dragon picked up the crystal and left with it. She purred at the thought of more food. 

~~~ 

Another memory of this time a dragon town, though the green dragon was a leader now. There was plenty of crops and bountiful harvests. The Sphinx was also walking up the large street noticing her great work. She paused as she stood in front of the dragon, she tilted her head and looked at her, "I am here for my crops" she remarked, she watched the dragon casually flick her tail before replying.

The green dragon dropped a apple to the floor, in a mocking gesture. "This is all that we dragons have grown this month. The rest were grown for us by the creatures of the forest" she replied levelly. Giving the gem a flick with her tail, piled up behind her throne. "Take it or leave it, next month we might not grow anything at all. Sphinx, thank you for allowing us to change our agreement" she replied. 

The Sphinx frowned, then smiled. "I thank you for the offering, though you will keep in mind of what was agreed" she asked her. She had noticed the sky growing a dark color, filling up with rain clouds.   

The green dragon flicked her tail lazily. "Yes yes, now be on your way. There are important matters needing to be addressed" she snorted. Dismissing the Sphinx rudely. 

The Sphinx picked up the apple and made her way back to her temple. Cross at being outwitted, though it started to rain just as she began eating her apple. 

~~~

The Sphinx showed a final memory. One of the fall, she was sat on her throne watching at the chaos happening outside of her forest. She blinked and stared at the dragon in front of her, giving her a hostile stare for her transgression last time. "No, you are not worthy of another wish." she replied, the conversation seems to be at the end of a argument.

The dragon growled. "The gem has broken, the river and lakes are boiling, with a multicolored aurora. The creatures that help us harvest our crops are fighting among themselves? They are blaming me for not letting them drink from the pool" she stated. 

The Sphinx tilted her head, "Yes? I know, who you think caused this to occur? It might be my magic that caused this but you are the one to blame. It was not me who forced you to drink, it was not me who got the gem wet. It was not me who made these creatures be corrupted by this water" she remarked. "I did warn you, this water is magical, without my permission to drink it you are cursed. Why should it be my mess to clean it up?" she asked her.

The dragon growled, "I didn't want this, I just wanted more crops to eat."

The Sphinx blinked, "So did I. Whos fault was that? Hmmm?" she finished opening her wings and flying out of the roof. Leaving the temple and the land to whatever happened next. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Sphinx blinked at Lyriel as they appeared back in the forest. "so where would you think the best place for my home would be?" she asked, not at all bothered by what she had just shown her. 

 

Edited by BloodDrops
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@Blitz Boom, @Lloyd

KARMIC FATE

“Gah!” Karmic gasped at the tendrils wrapping around her hooves. She fell to the ground with a solid whumph and sighed. “This reminds me of fantasies those ponies who watch Neighponese cartoons have,” She grumbled and tried to kick her way out of the tendrils. When that failed, she gritted her teeth at feeling them tighten around her hooves. She curled up in herself as best she could to try to bite at the tendrils instead.

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@Blitz Boom

"You'd be surprised how many crimes aren't all that well thought out.  Sure, it probably sounds all perfect in their heads, but well... They get caught."

"Not having as much time to interrogate her as I'd have liked.  I can only guess that the idea was to keep the ponies coming back to the casinos.  I feel the addictive, near insane levels of gambling was a byproduct she didn't account for.  I can't really speak for why she decided to go that route, rather than doing something like protective charms.  Could simply be that her mind was just focused on making more tips, so she tunnel visioned herself."

Rising Dusk shrugged as they rounded the block, getting all the much closer to their destination.  When the conversation shifted a bit back to his unique abilities, and the mention of Center Zero professors that would love to meet him, he couldn't help but stop an image flash through his mind of being stretched out on a table and experimented on.  All in jest... He hoped.  He already had to wiggle his way out of several meetings with an overly curious Princess.  Luckily they were currently limited to the occasional letter every now and then.  Thinking back though, he remembered the brief encounters with Turntable who also displayed an interest in his abilities.  All of which ended up in the meeting of the Boom siblings.

Molotov was about to bring up another section of the conversation before they were finally brought back to the now and their arrival at the fortress workshop.  Snapped out of his own train of thought to see a wiggling Blitz dangling from a net above the door and flood lights making sure anypony in East Side could see her.  It was short lived through before her brother was nice enough to release her.  A net and goo cannon for intruders didn't sound all that dangerous.  As long as the door wasn't burping out gouts of flame or lightning bolts, then as a officer he could feel better about not having to ask for permits.

"Indeed."

Rising Dusk replied simply with a smirk to his comment about kids.  Molotov might be biased though, Blitz being his sister and all.  He dealt with kids mostly at the community events throughout the year, but he never babysat or anything of that nature to get to truly know many.

When the fortress workshop was unlocked, Rising Dusk made sure to keep in the back of his mind the elusive Felicia that lived here as well.  Stepping past the main threshold and taking the cart with their gathered scrapyard treasure inside.

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@Blitz Boom @Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine

It was one thing to get angry at one's parents for uncertain circumstances, perhaps their reasons were unknown at the time but it is preferably better to hear them out, at least according to Fluttershy. Still, Lucid raising his voice was off-putting despite how legitimate his response is. It is understandable that he had every right to be angry but it is good Discord swayed him from anger for the time being. The last time she heard of such a case of unhinged anger and revenge-seeking, it nearly altered time and reality itself. The fact that she is in the midst of powerful entities that could mess that up like a toy is a terrifying thought. 

"If I could offer a suggestion, Lucid, just don't let your anger cloud your judgement. Staying calm can help you make a more rational decision. I understand you are angry and you have the right to be but don't let it consume you. Be patient when you meet your parents. If you need a neutral party to be a mediator, I can fill in that role."

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

@Blitz Boom

Sen took Tracker's recommendation to look at the fake grass patch though it didn't really seem appealing. Neither does the idea of spending on more bedrolls seem necessary. If needed, Lin could always open a gate to home and pull some bedrolls from their rooms and hop back to wherever they set up camp real quick. Simple and practical use of opening gates without the hassle of weight. If they will eventually need to pull some rations from somewhere, mind as well throw in their bedrolls and other equipment. 

"No need for the sleeping bags. We'll manage without them!"

Sen turned to Rosa and asked, "I suppose this is all we need?"

Back at the shop with Lin, her mood turned a little sullen after hearing what Scarcity had to say on the matter. She couldn't imagine how anyone could leave their parents unable to care for themselves to necessitate an institution designed to care for them instead. It came off as an insult though in some cases, it is understandable. Sure, not all couples or singles would want children; that part is something Lin can get behind. But children unable to care for their own parents, or unwilling... that is a terrible thought. 

"That's terrible! So they help because they stand to gain something? I mean, if there is an agreement to it, I'll understand but helping with an ulterior motive? Is that really how things work around in places like Canterlot? I've never thought that kind of behavior exists! Maybe I've spent so much in time in Ponyville..."

Deep down, Lin hoped it was just an isolated behavoir known to some ponies in Canterlot or some other high society towns. It was disturbing, the idea of riches being more than just a means to exchange goods. In a way, it still sounded like it was a means to a transaction, but why some ponies do it.... That part was equal parts confusing and sad. 

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@EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

"You may be right, but if my suspicions about that mysterious pony actually being the draconequus who created the stick are true, that means they are still a threat, plus there's the fact that I have a bit of a score to settle."

Looking at the current evidence, the suspicions did seem pretty likely. But there was a problem, a multiverse level of power, maybe higher could be reached in the stick, though the way is unknown, that still means the one who created is multiverse level or higher.

Lucid hasn't even unlocked planet level yet, this was a detail he overlooked. Needless to say, even he did find the draconequus, they'd probably mop the floor with Lucid.

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@Blitz Boom

"It must be strange having such a small family, I envy you. If my family were smaller I'd have less ponies to hurt. You deserve a family like mine more than I do, I think I've learned I really shouldn't take things for granted."

Victoria's depressive state sounded a little more positive now, and the positive spin she'd put on the end of it, showing that she had learned a lesson was a clear display that she was changing very quickly for the better. Heather really was rubbing off on her cousin.

"You deserve us Vicky, a big family with lots of members to shower you with love is what you need."

The pegasus flapped her wings, lifting herself onto Victoria's back for a very big hug. She seemed to be crushing Victoria with her front hooves a little as she squeezed the mare's neck tight. Vicky didn't mind though she closed her eyes and smiled, accepting the love she required for her recovery.

"Thank you... Heather... I needed this."

She was clearly a little winded, but in a good way.

"I find it interesting how you mention that your brother and uncle are both single, it's clear that love plays a large part in your life which is a nice thing to see in today's youths. Sometimes it feels like the love I shared for Felix back when I first met him isn't around anymore, clearly that's not the case. You know, if things don't work out with this gentleman you want to set Victoria up with maybe you could introduce her to your brother, I think Vicky would appreciate having someone like you as a sister in law so that would be an added bonus."

"Mother... stop... I know how badly you want... grandfoals... but I'll get there... eventually."

Heather let go of Victoria upon the realisation that the girl was struggling to speak as a result of her bear hug. She released her hooves slightly but remained on her cousin's back, still leaning with her head next to Victoria's, nuzzling her slightly. Vicky could now breath and talk again but she appreciated Heather's presence and was glad she hadn't totally let go of her.

"Sorry, was just a thought. I get carried away sometimes."

"You're uncle sounds nice Pop, he sounds adventurous and cool, a bit like Uncle Felix! I'd love to see the two of them meet, could be an interesting experience!"

Heather's ears twitched excitedly as she giggled at the thought of the two ponies going on a cruise together, meeting fearsome creatures and somehow managing to befriend them.

Victoria seemed to have heard what Pop mumbled at the end of her thoughts on starting a family with Benny and she nodded gently.

"I know the feeling, it's natural instinct I guess, it's programmed into us to want to start a family and it's hard to resist those urges sometimes, so much so that we build our goals around them. I suppose having a big family has it's perks, you'll discover them as your family merges with the dragons, and if you do adopt and start a more tight nit family with Benny then you'll have that too. It sounds like you have good prospects for the future, and it's going to be a bright one for you I think. Hopefully mine will be too. And as much as I protested what my mother said I really would be happy to have another sister, especially if she was you."

She couldn't move due to Heather rolling about on top of her but she gave Pop a very warm smile that almost felt as if it were a hug, floating through the air to be received by the sweet mare.

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(edited)

@BloodDrops

"An animal here and there is just the natural order. It's when you commit whole-scale eradication on this place that it gets worse."

So it seemed like Nerzhei had managed to stop Droppy from eating the entirety of the forest then. A step in the right direction, even though the dragoness had to put it in terms of a future investment of food to get this done. Not that it was a lie, but it weren't the only reason behind her not wanting this place essentially cleared of all life. Lyriel were the main reason for that, whom Nerzhei knew would be either heartbroken or furious beyond belief that the one place she had decided to protect had become doomed. Much as the dryad were a level-headed being who had come to terms with many things, failing her home were one that stung, and two in a row could end up being too great of a strain on her mind.Something which she doubted would lead into many good directions.

"And in regards to your request, I am not going to take a riddle from the sphinx unless I know for a fact that I have no other options. If I loose, she could end up cursing me too, and take all of my research. Years of hard work gone in the blink of an eye. I can't take that risk unless it is the only option, and we have not examined alternatives yet."

She were about to make a snide remark about the bucket, but she would let that one slide for now. It would just be mockery, instead of something constructive that could lead them to finding a solution, as she had nothing to really say to it otherwise. Losing a bucket of water were a weird thing to have said, and didn't really lead anywhere. That is... Unless the bucket of water had contained the curse in some way, and she dropped it over herself? It could be the alternative to how Droppy were cursed, and the pony hadn't been entirely clear about the situation on how exactly the sphinx had doomed her like this.

"That bucket, were there anything with it, or the water inside of it? Cursed objects can come in many forms, including sites such as lakes. Do you remember if the sphinx poured said water over you before your curse hit, or was it directly a spell cast by her paws?"

Meanwhile, some way from them, Lyriel fell to her knees in silence. Her jaw was slacking from what she had just been shown, and her eyes filled with horror at it meant about her kind, their origin, as well as their downfall. Something which she would have not believed had it been only in words, but seeing it, knowing the Sphinx had a great deal of power, and how it explained a great deal where she only had guesswork... She could not deny the truth.

"The Messenger... Had us made, just to fool another out of food..."

The dragon she had seen were not the earth mother that she had spoken of before, but she knew well who she were regardless. All of the dryads had, though her name had never been spoken by any of them. To their kind, she were simply The Messenger, sent by the earthen mother to help them live peacefully with the dragons that she represented.

She had been the one who had told them how they came to be, and guided them in what to grow to make every living being in the valley happier, up until the waters began to transform those who drank it into trees, and forced the dragons to go to the mountains around the valley to live. Places that the dryads had long supported with lumber from rapidly growing trees, who they still tended to, and the dragons still harvested in abundance from the place, even as the valley itself became impossible to live in. Repairing the trees taken was the one thing her crazed siblings would still do, even if the trees they rose were twisted and pained, yet now it seemed it had all been because of a lie.

"She told us that the earth mother wished for us to sing her praises, and tend to the lands of those who needed a bountiful harvest. We thought we were brought forth for that purpose... That the earth mother truly had been our maker... But it was you. You are the reason we exist..."

Lyriel turned her head and looked up upon the sphinx with reverence, fear and confusion roaming in her tear-filled eyes. A child seeking answers in a world that didn't make sense to her anymore, and looking at the only one who she had to believe could guide her.

"Great creator, forgive my insolence, and the heresy done by my siblings. Your name be praised, and your glory eternal."

The sound of wind flowing through a field of fresh grass flowed out of Lyriel's muzzle next, as she followed her praise to the sphinx with a prayer to the earth mother. It was hard to translate this kind of speech, and it lost a good deal in translation, but it roughly spoke about letting the crowns upon the sphinx's trunk grow mighty and strong towards the sun, so that she may gain the greatest of nutrient from it's light.  It didn't make much sense in this contest, but it were all she could think about with her head bowed in reverence before the sphinx.

"Your temple grounds is near, creator. Please, allow me to direct you there promptly, so that you may be grown a home befit of your stature."

Lyriel would slowly get back on her hooves, and move to the left. She were visibly shaking and distraught, though she knew now where she needed to go. Not the rocky grounds she had still been working on finding some creature to inhabit, but the point where she had decided to have her own, small home before this. Surely it would not be worthy enough of the sphinx, but she would do what she were capable of, to try and please the creator as best she could.

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

 

@Rising Dusk

Keeping Felicia in mind might end up being a smart move in the long run for Rising,

As they entered, dangling from the ceiling a few meters from the door, were one of the metal plates that usually were further inside, stuck on a line of what looked like thick spider web, that also went down on the plate itself, spelling out in crude letters:

"Keep the interloper"

Above them, several glassy eyes stared down at them, as the large, metallic spider silently returned to her place above the entrance, ignoring the sounds of her annoying creator and his bratty sister.

One of those sounds were Molotov letting a drawn-out whistle escape his muzzle as he glanced over the message from Felicia, and looked back at Rising with a somewhat torn look on his face.

On one hoof, he were thrilled to see something evolve with Felecia, yet on the other hoof, this were a pretty ambiguous move from the spiderbot, and he weren't exactly sure how to interpret this. Was it a warning? A welcome? There were clearly a meaning behind it, yet it weren't overly clear currently. Perhaps he should keep her off switch ready just in case?

No wait, she stole that after a week, and he hadn't seen it since. Hmmm... Perhaps some kind of cattle prod? Shouldn't be hard to whip one up, though depending on things, he could just grab something else that could give a jolt of electricity. All things considered, that wasn't exactly a small list of things, so they'd have the chance if something happened.

"Alright, I honestly didn't expect this to happen. Fairly certain it's aimed at you Dusky, though if she's welcoming you or not I'm not sure. Frankly I'm more surprised that she can write. I didn't put that into her programming, or the ability to read for that matter. She must've taught herself that somehow.

Sucks that she doesn't let me anywhere near her anymore. I would've loved to figure out how she's doing this, or why for that matter. Either way, it could be fascinating.

Since we can't do anything about that though, let's get the metal set down up the side of the wall near the forge. And no worries Blitz, I didn't forget you."

Molotov floated the assorted crate Blitz had picked together over to her workbench, where she'd quickly lose interest in the spider business and get to work tinkering with the new stuff, as well as some of the other things she had spread around, to see if she could combine them in any way, or get some ideas.

"Heh, silly little thing... Anyway, creepy message aside, what's the plans now, Dusky? Want to see a few schematics and then head home to get some rest? The workshop is likely to still be standing by tomorrow if you need some shut-eye."

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

 

@Victoria Sponge

Pop were going over to assure Victoria that it wasn't true what she said, and that she deserved every family member she had, and then some. However, Heather intercepted her cousin before that, leaving Pop to just look on as the situation got less gloomy.

She could have said something after that, but perhaps it was best not to pick at that. Fighting over who deserved the bigger family were weird, and would perhaps just bring Victoria down if the subject stayed there. Pop wasn't sure if it was the right decision, yet for the time being, she'd just let this be. It seemed better that way from her perspective, so instead she started by addressing Lemon, who had brought up another potential lover for her daughter.

"I'll try and keep it in mind, but my brother is... Kinda messy. He's a bartender and tends to smell quite a lot of sweat and assorted drinks when he gets home, and doesn't shower before bed, among other things. He could be trained to be as tidy as he is at work, but I didn't think he was the best first option for Victoria.

Snip Snap is tidy in everything he does, and impeccably clean. Even if your daughter have opened up and changed quite a bit today, I still think that a neat stallion with a big heart would be better for her.

If it doesn't go, I'll try and whip my brother into shape though. I care deeply for him, but Celestia knows he could use a wake-up call at some point."

Pop loved her brother, as much as they sometimes got on each others nerves, but he just wasn't the kind of stallion that she could see Victoria with, unless he changed himself. Something she knew he'd do for a mare - as evident by past experience - but this might be too big of a challenge for him.

They'd see though. She had high hopes for Snip Snap and Victoria, but as she had just told Lemon, she'd keep this backup plan in mind, in case it was needed. Better safe than sorry after all.

"As for my uncle, I could ask him if he'd like to meet up at some point, and we could try and lure them both into something. He'd love having somepony that knows their way around an adventure to show him how it's really done, or tell him some stories. He's a sucker for a good tale, and could add a few of his own."

Pop tried to imagine the how her uncle would react on meeting an actual adventurer, and the only answer that really sprung to mind included a keg, some mugs and a lot of laughter. That, and the two of them frantically trying to get away from a sea serpent. He'd have a blast either way. Heather's father though... Well, it depended on his alcohol tolerance she supposed.

It went and became a little embarrassing after that, as she sort of had to cover the response to what she said at the end before too, though that had really been meant more as a private thing, not meant to get out. The cousins messing around made it a bit less tense in the situation, since it deflated things a little, yet for Celestia knew how many times, Pop ended up with rosy cheeks again.

"Thank you Victoria. I'd be happy to have a sister in law like you too, but we'll see how it goes before... You know, my brother and all.

As for the mingling of mine and Benny's relatives, I think it's gonna be a little rocky, but family is important to me, and the longer I've known Benny, the more I know that he thinks the same, and will be great with kids. We'll get through it and be blessed with a large, wonderful family too. It's just a matter of timing, you know? We should be married first, and I'm still waiting for him to be ready, though I hope it won't be much longer."

As mentioned some hours earlier, Pop didn't wait because she were too much of a traditional mare - she were dating a dragon after all - and waited mainly because she wanted Benny to be ready firat. She were certain it wouldn't be much longer, after how she had seen his eyes get drawn to bridal stores when they passed them, but there would still be a wait she had to go through.

"Mind if I ask you something actually, Victoria? What sort of thing do you look for in a stallion? I mean, I have made some assumptions, but I never think I actually asked you. Not directly anyway."

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

 

@EQ_Theta

"I won't be needing a tent or sleeping bag, so yes, I believe we're done. As soon as he is done finding everything."

Rosa followed Tracker with his eyes, as the greying stallion hummed around and got the things ready.

It would only be a few minutes, as the shopkeeper knew where everything were, and when he were done, he'd wave them up to the counter.

"Alright, got everything set then. Have a look and see if they're up to par."

Everything was spread on the counter, in front of the box it had been in before, to give a proper look at what the two of them were about to buy.

The two flashlights were predictably headlights with an adjustable belt on each. Ponies not having hands, didn't lend themselves to preferring regular flashlights that often, and they would fit a longma in Tracker's opinion, judging by the head shape of Sen. Comfortably? No idea. Sen would have to try to tell.

The water canteens were simple, faux-leather style things with a strap, the rope solid and rolled up nicely, and the first aid kit seemed to have the essentials in case of field injuries.

To Rosa, this looked fine, but he'd see what Sen said. Him and Lin were going to use these things more than the spy, so it were up to the longma's judgement.

Meanwhile in the antique store, Scarcity chuckled a little for herself as she saw Lin's reaction. A moral one this longma seemed to be, albeit terribly delusional. They'd have to address that at some point, though for now, Scarcity would humor this inquiry and respond to what had been presented.

"Not in all of Canterlot dearie, but when it comes to those who possess great wealth, remember that they are rich for a reason. Of those, some are willing to help others, yet a thought of how it can benefit them too will most commonly be present.

Some still help regardless, such as the volunteers I mentioned, but others need a little push. To that end, some agreements are at times made, or it becomes a good gesture of such a significance that the donor will earn themselves a lot of positive reputation. Such a thing can carry a long way when it comes to making connections and in interesting the public in you, as well as what you potentially sell.

There are more layers in it, yet this is the gist of things. A mutually benefiting agreement, leading to everypony involved being satisfied.

Of course, there are also the nobles - excluding the princesses of course - that simply horde, and would rather let others starve than give back to the kingdom, but those are detestable outliers and should ignored if possible.

Now then, you speak of Ponyville? A small place with little riches directing ponies, and as such, less layers of pleasantries required, yes? Do tell me of your impressions of the place."

As her sister lived there, Scarcity had a minor fascination at times with the opinion on others when it came to Ponyville. She hid it easily by claiming her fascination to be with the princess, but things weren't as simple as that.

Shame she couldn't simply be honest about that  but there were several less intelligent beings who'd think they could use Long Stare to get to Scarcity, and it was so infuriatingly annoying to have to deal with that, as well as crushing the world around whoever had dared crossing that line. Honestly, it were far simpler to keep the cards close.

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

 

@EQ_Theta @Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight

Anomaly didn't respond to much right off the bat, as she had dug herself down the second the silvery firewalls had come up around her. Fire was bad, silver was worse, and silver on fire? Meep! Bad news all around, and since up weren't a way out, down she went and hid.

The words of what went on at the surface filtered mostly through to her down in the dirt, but she didn't show her face until she were positive that it wasn't all a rouse, meant to get her up again.

Eventually she'd breach the surface again, but she let a layer of dirt stay on her, just in case. Lucid might be in some kind of predator mode right now, so best be safe and more non-flammable.

"Jeez, sorry. Didn't know you'd go all up in a tip over that sorta thing.

Don't get why. Everypony comes and goes. That's just how nature goes for regular folks, yet everypony's all upset over that apparently, and can't see it all for the game it is. You folks confuse me. Like, a lot."

To Anomaly, there wasn't really a point in getting glum over things, since that was just another thing to try. Pain, abandonment, love, you name it. Emotions were just tiny things on the large scene that were life. A scene happened, you might weep a bit, then Bam! On to the next.

It left her with a rather poor understanding of other's feelings, especially when it came to long term loss or other things far in the past. To her, they should've just gone past it, and move on to what was next. No point in dwindling on old stuff like that.

"Meh, your headache. I don't wanna carry grudges and bad memories. Just no more silver fire! That stuff's crazy scary."

The talk between the others were mostly about Lucid's parents and Fluttershy helping there, which sounded boring, so Anomaly snapped her tail a few times to make the garden bloom more with colorful flowers and bushes, before turning to Discord.

"Hey  I wanna ask you something. How come you're all zen like? I thought you'd be kinda weird, being the lord of chaos and all. Is it the reformed thing?"

Edited by Blitz Boom
  • Brohoof 1
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(edited)

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Lucid still felt slightly bad about what he did, but he decided what's done is done. The least he could do is try to shed some light on Anomaly's confusion.

"Ponies and anyone who is mortal or was mortal at some point have a sense of time, not eternity. Most of us are so caught up on that little time our friends, family, and ourselves have. Sure, I'm immortal now, but adjusting to such a mindset could take many years if ever. Most immortals will never die unless killed by someone just as or even more powerful. This typically results in less trouble when it comes to death. Judging by the way you talk about it, you may see it as another thing to try and that it would not impact you, but if it doesn't impact you, then you've never truly felt it."

Of course Lucid went on, he had a lot to share, going to the astral realm most nights tends to give a lot of insight on life. He doesn't know everything, no way, but he does have a certain perception on life.

"Life is full of many feelings and emotions. Love, hatred, anger, happiness, grief, joy, you name it. No being mortal or immortal can escape them. No one is souless, not even you. Speaking of mortals and immortals, I was once given a chance to make one individual immortal once. All I knew during that time was Novia, she's that girl I mentioned, and Pringle, he's my lizard. Of course I chose Pringle because Novia is already immortal. Of course Pringle is a lizard therefore is not powerful, so that's kinda why I keep him under the highest protection possible."

Lucid looked up at Pringle who was standing on the poquus' head.

"What do you mean you're hungry? I fed you crickets! You will have to wait until dinner before I feed y-"

Lucid's eyes widened.

"Where did you learn to say such foul language!?"

He froze for a second.

"What do you mean you've learned it from me!?"

Lucid lowered his tone.

"Sure, Fluttershy can carry you if she wants, but we're still having a long talk about this later."

 

Edited by Lucid_Nightlight
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@Blitz Boom @Dji

Sapphire looked to Zhu, slightly distracted as the tendrils would loosen, trying to catch Zhu with one of them. She was in a similar situation as Astral, low on magic, but still able to cast complex spells. Wasting more magic with each one, hopefully this situation didn't repeat with a more powerful foe. But before it could grasp onto Zhu, she retracted all of  them at once back to herself by lifting her hooves off the ground, the tendrils originating from her hooves and slithering back into them. Her crystal eye did seem to have a black smoke swirl like tendrils through it briefly after. "Might be easier to let you go then." She mumbled to herself.

Astral stumbled back when Zhu flew himself out of the shield, pieces of it flying through the air, but dissipating as they hit items in the room. "Gah!" She fell backwards and shook her head. "Wait what? Do you realize what his plan is?" She asked, looking up to Sapphire. 

She looked to Astral. "I'll explain later."

"There might not be a later with him!" Looking to Zhu, Astral got up and ran to him, using what was the last of her magic reserves to create a magic construct, yet another sword, seems to be the only thing they knew how to make, She wasn't exactly aiming to kill him with it, only disable him, swinging the sword at his back legs Sapphire swinging out her hoof, a tendril flying out to grab Astral's hoof and yanking her back, preventing her attack. "Well this is familiar." She said, realizing Zhu was right in front of her shortly after.

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

@Blitz Boom

Warlock looked at her as she took the measurements. "What advances has magic made?" He asked, looking genuinely curious about it. Any new magic he could learn, he would use. But his skill set was already vast, yet he still hadn't even used half of the spells he himself created or wrote down.

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@Blitz Boom @Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine

Those were some profound words from Lucid, an insight into immortality and the downsides of it. Interesting enough to get Fluttershy to think about Discord and what he must've thought about, but then again, he may have not pondered on these things. His change in attitude from long after Tirek's betrayal must've jogged many more things in his mind beyond losing a friend. Even she might have sleepless nights thinking about these things now, given how the topic of loss is coming up again. 

Fluttershy took Pringle and placed him on her back, though this didn't impress Angel. He immediately opened Fluttershy's saddlebag and tucked himself in, shutting the bag shut. The pegasus showed some concern but turned to the lizard to make sure he's comfortable. He really does remind her of Gummy....

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

@Blitz Boom

Nobles... there was a term she's heard leaving the mouths of some ponies in her time in Ponyville. It was scarcely heard but they way they talked about one in particular, one by the name of Prince Blueblood. His reputation was less than stellar, not popular by a long shot and even his name elicits some foul words coming from ponies talking about him. Not like they had a chance to see him with their own eyes but it seems to be common knowledge. Speaking of Ponyville, that town left a positive impression on Lin. She observed it for the longest time but never fully interacting with anyone. Sen's had much more experience with that but from what she's seen, it was the kind of town she'd like to settle in.

"Ponyville was open, the kind of place where you would want to know everyone and they knew you too. No malice beyond petty fighting and the occasional mishap or misunderstanding. It has the quiet, small town feel where you know just where everyone and everything is. It's generally friendly, too, though they seem to have plenty of things to celebrate. Or maybe it's that pink pony I've been hearing about and passively trying to avoid. Nosy and noisy, it sometimes grates my ears. I haven't met her before so I wouldn't really know enough."

Lin doesn't even know that pony's name, but she isn't too interested in finding out who she is. Its probably the bouncy and loud disposition that's turning her off from finding more.

And as for Sen, he looked over the last of the materials and nodded, smiling and feeling content about it. He still isn't too sure about what's to come, a little anxious about what he's getting into, and strangely feeling a little bit concerned about what's happening to Omen, but now is not the time to dwell on it. They seem to be just about ready to return to Scarcity's.

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@EQ_Theta @Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

"Fluttershy, you're good with animals right? Any idea on how to get a lizard to stop swearing?"

He looked over at Pringle.

"So what if I do it all the time? That's different!"

He looked back to Fluttershy.

"Should I take the TV away for a day? Have him stand in the corner? How about washing his mouth out with soap? Or maybe toothpaste? I need to dicipline him, but I don't want to be too cruel though."

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@Blitz Boom (I should be pinging you, right?)

A stretching could be heard as the train from Appleoosa to Ponyville stopped at the station. The sudden jolt shook a young brown Earth Pony (Who was a bit on the smaller size) awake. He looked out of the car’s window, seeing the large group of ponies outside. With a gulp, he fastened his belt, which carried his saddlebag and family heirloom, Jennifer. Mike stepped out of the car and smiled at the Conductor, who gave a friendly wave as he walked onto the platform. “This is PonyVille, Eh?” He muttered to himself.

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@Blitz Boom @Lucid_Nightlight @EQ_Theta

Discord shrugged, "Just because I'm the lord of chaos doesn't mean I can't be calm and go with a situation." He said, drinking a pineapple from a coconut cup. "Perhaps it's a tad bit influenced by my reformation.." The chaos being mused, glancing at Fluttershy. "Besides, there's plenty enough chaos here without me interfering, so it's nice to be able to just sit back and enjoy it, maybe pitch in here or there." His tail snapped suddenly, a stampede of park benches running by like a group of rhinos while somehow projecting a tune that sounded suspiciously like Nothing at all like the theme song for Crash Bandicoot. "I can't always help myself after all.." The spirit added innocently, plucking one of the benches from the herd as it passed by and turning it into a beanbag chair to lounge on as he floated above the group.

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@Storm Shine @Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta

Lucid chimed in because why not?

"It's official then, Fluttershy has contained chaos!"

There was also something else he needed to ask.

"Ok, so once after showing Novia this Universe and showing a few documented accounts of events that happened from the events of Luna's return just after the events of Tirek, me and her made a bet. Novia thinks you'd go great with Fluttershy, but I think you're more into Celestia. Whoever wins owes the other 50 bits. It was one of the three reasons I'm in this Universe. Find out what I can do about my friend, see who won the bet, and get a hayburger."

Bringing his friend back was a bit of a bust, but finding out it likely wasn't his fault made him feel better, now he could move on. Now there were two things; The bet he made with Novia and getting a hayBurger. He'll likely stick around after that's done, he has nothing better to do anyway.

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(edited)

@Blitz Boom

Walking into the fortress workshop this time around was a bit more unsettling than the first time.  Sure, the first time he was greeted by a monster in the attic.  This time through, there was a thick spider web with actual words written with them.  Worst of all, they were words that had a high chance of being targeted at him.  Interloper though?  Rising Dusk wasn't sure he really was an interloper, but he could concede it was a matter of perspective.

So, the monster in the ceiling wanted Molotov to keep him and Dusk hadn't even seen Felicia yet.  And now he's finding out that the creator has basically lost complete control of his creation.  And she was doing things he hadn't intended for it to do.  

Oh boy.  

Rising Dusk has seen his fair share of weird in his career, but a new one will added by the end of this project he can tell.  Occasionally he eyes would glance up at the ceiling as he made his way with the wooden cart over close to the forge.

"Right."

Igniting his horn with magic, he pulled the Deep Iron from the wagon and stacked it into a neat pile near the forge.  Moving his attention for a moment to the little filly as she went right back to work on her bench.  It was almost as if they hadn't left, except she now had more things to use for her own creations and experiments.

"It is getting pretty late.  I think I can at least take a quick look at that solar storage gem of yours, though.  Maybe I can come up with a better holding spell while I'm at home."

He affirmed, turning the wagon around before taking the harness of his back.  This way it faced the exit and he could easily put it back on and leave when it was time.

Edited by Rising Dusk
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