open Casual stroll

[Seamore Sandwich 471]

@Blitz Boom 

@Moonlit 

@Dji 

 

“Twilight, we’ll need to brew a transformation potion.  Would you have the proper supplies for this task?”  Luna knew well that Twilight kept her potion making supplies well stocked, but there was a small chance that her studies would leave her short hooved of a few ingredients, but it was very unlikely.  What Luna didn’t know, is that her future self had already prescribed Serenade with a transformation potion as a temporary solution until she could replace the necklace.

 

@Blitz Boom

 

Dr. Xeno didn’t respond to the nurse, as he was still dealing with a terrible headache.  Both of his hooves were on his head, and his eyes were closed tightly.  “Technically, a ghost is just the spirit of something that was once a living thing, so in that effect, I am a ghost, but it’s also true that I used to be a tree,” Charlie added.

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Lucid_Nightlight

""Uuuh, Chicken Roulette? Love it!"

Anomaly got all giddy as she managed to corner one of the chickens. It looked up at her with big, scared eyes as she licked around her mouth and then opened wide, showing plenty enough room to gobble up an entire chicken in one go-

And then a bronze anvil fell on her back, causing her to fall down in surprise and the chicken to get a chance to move away.

She glared up, seeing no holes in the roof, making her pretty sure that she had some idea of wh- Hey, what's the big idea? I was hungry.

Finally caught on, did you? Short of the long is that you're trying to make somewhat of a better impression, and eating animals in front of Fluttershy is not a good idea. Even if one of he feathery dinosaur descendants can explode, it doesn't set a good precedent.

Then what am I gonna eat? And what of the chickens? Won't anypony think of the chickens?

Eat the anvil. There's only a layer or two of bronze before you hit spam mixed with rusty barbwire. Didn't want to smash the floor in.

Anomaly didn't look too pleased, but spam and barbwire id sound good, so she melted around the anvil and solidified herself behind it, then began to eat that one. With class to it might be added. She even used a knife and fork to cut cubes off it. Bronze sounded like it crunched a lot on the way down though. Almost like pork rinds, though it was doubtful that Fluttershy knew that sound. Lucid perhaps too, though his dimension might be weird enough to have had him see some gnaw on that.Farm savvy Diamond Dogs potentially.

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@Battenberg

"I met him by bottle post.

Things weren't going well with friends and such for me back in the day, so I bottled some messages and tossed them into the ocean to see if I'd get some fun, strange friends like this. Benny was the first, and only, to answer any of them. He says he found it while he was wandering around the shore bored.

It was weird writing with a dragon that had never left the island. The customs and prejudice from both our sides made it a little rocky to begin with, but it was fascinating to learn, and he felt pretty lonely where he grew up, so he liked to have some talks with somepony who wasn't just gruff, into fighting, or a sibling that tormented him.

I'm not entirely sure when it changed, but eventually our letters became more personal, and I saw a whole new side to him that I didn't think a dragon had. it was a little scary, but eventually I wanted to see for myself if he was actually like that, and asked if we could meet, at a coastal town that seemed like nice, neutral territory. You wouldn't believe how wuickly he jumped at the chance, despite having never left the island before."

She got a red tint on her cheeks as she remembered the moment they met, and started to giggle like a filly.

"He was so nervous that he stumbled over himself and hit me in the face with a bouquet of flowers. He's clumsy like that, and a big, scaly goofball, just like his letters had said. Once I got the tulips out of my nose, and he had apologized so much I feared his voice was going to go hoarse, I just threw caution to the wind and embraced him, laughing like a madmare. He had thought that he were the only one that was nervous about it, but really, I had no idea what to expect either, and seeing that he wasn't a scary creature, but just a big, goofy dork like me, it just make me feel a whole lot better.

We wandered around town and talked until the sun set and he had to get back home, but we kept meeting up now and again, and the writing really began taking off. I think it got so bad at the end that the postal service needed to have a few pegasi ready just to keep it going, hehe.

Then a few years later, he wrote that he was going to move to Equestria. His parents weren't too happy about it, and he got a lot of flak from it at home, but he didn't care. He wanted to come and be closer to me, so he'd find steady employment, and do his best to settle down.

There wasn't anything in Ponyville for him sadly, but he kept looking until he stumbled down from the sky and into the training grounds at the Royal Guards.in Canterlot. They thought he were attacking, and he had to be interrogated for a little while until they were sure that he wasn't there for that, but they let him go. He says that he went out through the courtyard and saw a forge there then, with a few ponies trying to figure out how to fix a bundle of their uniforms, and he asked them if they needed help.

Benny had trained to be a blacksmith back in Dragon Land, and since he's one of the sort who lived at the volcano, he's used to heat, so it was pretty easy for him to hammer warm metal around. I don't know why they et him help, and he's a bit cagey about it, but things went pretty well. He helped them, and the forgemaster offered him a job there, which were a bit finicky since that was usually only given to Royal Guards.

He couldn't be a Solar, Night or Coast guard since he's a dragon, but the generals allowed him to still try the training since he worked hard and got some good things done. I've never seen him as proud as when he got through it and actually become a guard. First dragon far as either of us know, but we haven't really checked the history.

He's been there for five years now, and we're together at least two days every week, depending on if I'm traveling. We're planning to settle down together somewhere at some point, but you know, it takes time and planning. He's running the forge in Canterlot now, and he's pretty set on being able to keep doing that, and I don't want to take that away from him.

We get a lot of weird looks, but I can honestly not see a future where I'm not with him. He's caring, sweet, makes me laugh, and I just hope that I can be everything for him that he wants."

Pop walked a few seconds with a big, goofy grin on her face as she remembered one of several times Benny had surprised her when she was feeling down by clowning around, treating her to a good day somewhere outside of town, or whatever else he had to until she started to smile again. He really were wonderful to her...

"I'm sorry, I can sometimes just ramble on with not a care in the world.

When you have somepony great in your life, it's just hard not to, you know? From how you spoke of Evergreen, I could hear the same thing. A ton of love, even in the rough start, and the way you two looked at each other before, really just seemed to shine with emotions. Love should keep strong like that."

She beamed at Victoria, giving a large, joyful smile.

"i can't wait until we find somepony that makes you tingle like that, Victoria."

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@EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Spelt moved cautiously through the hole that had suddenly opened in the air, and were met with a sight that made his jaw drop to the ground.

Melting gems everywhere, Filigree bound on the ground, a strange pony talking to the lord of chaos himself! As well as a baby refraction, another that looked somewhat like Lin, a bat pony with a uniform that would make him more uncomfortable once he had a chance to really have a look at it, and then the most normal seemingly of the bunch, who were just starring at him like she were cataloging him in a library.

"So this is Spelt? I will need to update Clayton on his physical development when I have the opportunity."

"My... What?"

"Your physique. Last mention of you are eight months and thirteen days old, and the last physical confrontation were around three years prior. As a former companion of his, I find it likely that he wants to learn further about your current development, including your apparent state of being marginally healthy."

Spelt just starred at her, not knowing what to say, before putting his head in his hoof. This were getting a little much for him.

"She works for Clayton, that I can understand you have a connection to. She's saying that she wants to tell him that you're fine."

"Correct."

Rosa shook his head a little, though a small smile spread beneath his mask. Belladonna were a strange one who over-complicated most regular things it seemed, but it did have a certain humor and charm to it in his mind. Likely had something to do with how he had to analyze a lot of things too, even if it wasn't to the extreme that she did.

"And to answer your question, Sen, I personally wouldn't want to simply give over Filigree to a court and let them be the judge on her, since I have gotten some idea of how good she can be at weaseling out of things. However, I'm not a savage. Equestria have laws, and they will be the one to judge her. My job were just to stop her from getting her plan with the gems finished, and find my brother. Far as I'm concerned, that's mostly done now, and I don't want to deal with her more than I had to. She never cared for me, or my brother, and I certainly don't care for her..

If she needs to be kept an eye on or something, is a bridge to cross when the time comes. First find out if she gets imprisoned, then what the potential terms of her parole would be, and then take action depending on the information provided from that.

Once we get this place cleaned up, we should be going too, and have her set up in a cell for now. Amethyst should at least have enough to get her to stay in there until sentencing."

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@Moonlit @Seamore Sandwich @Dji

"Uhm, there i-is another ghost in the castle. I haven't seen him for a few days, b-but he's pretty bad. He might have something to do with it. He always does bad things if he finds somepony in the castle..."

Cherish shivered at the thought of some of the things she had seen, It was why she had to try and get ponies out if she found them in there, before he had a chance to get to them. Something she didn't always succeed in.

It was weird she hadn't seen him recently though. Had he finally moved on? He seemed so determined to stay and cause mayhem so it didn't seem likely, but then again... Perhaps the mare with the weird, flaming ears had returned without her noticing? She didn't know, but the malevolent specter of the Castle of Two Sisters were so far a candidate as to what had gone wrong, until proven otherwise. The old, twisted soul had some strange magic he used against those unfortunate enough to stumble upon him, so perhaps something of what he did were affecting the transformation the bunch of them spoke about.

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@Seamore Sandwich

The doctor looked at Xeno worried and went to give him her full attention. As a carer, it was her job to mend those who needed it the most, and right now, her talking nonsense with the overgrown half zebra wasn't going to do much for him, who seemed to have a headache or migraine attack. Likely the headache though, considering some of his ailments had come from a severing of his mind connections. Nasty business that were.

Meanwhile, Ziggy's heart rate lessened some as she were told that this wasn't a spoooooky ghost, but more like a woodland creature. That were dead. And were a tree, not an animal. Sorta.

"So... Tree spirit? Everfree forest is a weird place.

I'm sorry for flailing and stuff. It's just that ghost are, you know, creepy and dangerous. Got all scaredy like.

Wait, if a tree have a spirit, does that mean there's tons wandering around when ponies chop down wood? Are we burning tree spirits?"

Ziggy looked worried at the prospect and imagined tossing Charlie ad his stick into a fireplace, before going *meep* and hiding her head under her blanket. Scary picture, badbadbad imagination.

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom

"Hey author guy, don't make me get another tiny bull!"

Needless to say, seeing an entire chicken being eaten alive would've been cool.

"Doesn't the bronze at least taste somewhat bad and now that we're on the topic of metal, how do you iron clothing without a clothing iron, since you're allergic to it?"

These were questions that could keep someone awake at night for sure, but it was quite foolish to question the logic of something that hasn't been bound to reality before.

Edited April 7, 2018 by Lucid_Nightlight

[BloodDrops 762]

On 04/04/2018 at 9:28 PM, Blitz Boom said:

@BloodDrops

"I accept the terms, including the lack of samples, though I will add my own rules to this.

1. Under no circumstances are you to touch my books, or Lotus. I have a great need for both, and especially the later is more important to me than you can imagine.

2. If I see your feral stage, I will trap you in rocks. If you get to your senses with a half-eaten fish and granite around you, that's why. Stop panicking.

Also, try not to make servants of others while on the trip. I will pack rations as needed be during this... Mission. Slaves will make it complicated."

Nerzhei didn't answer about her head, but it didn't seem like she needed to either really. Blood were right that she had migraine attacks, and they could be something that caused her a substantial amount of pain on occasion. However, no doctor had any idea what it meant back in Dragon Land, and here in Equestria, she had barely gotten within the sight of a town before yesterday. She hadn't had the chance to go see one of them, and see if perhaps they had any ideas, or an expert they could lead her towards. She only had her remedy elixir for now, and that only treated the symptoms, not the cause.

"Grrr, but you're right, rest is needed. There will be a long travel ahead, but not before I catch something."

She slowly rose up, with Lotus jumping on her shoulder as she saw the motion take place, at which point she would grab hold in the last half of the gauze she had been working with to stop it from escaping. All the while, looking continuously annoyed and pained from the motions.

"If your feral stage take overhand now, I am limited in what I can do. I don't trust you're well fed enough for me to simply sleep anywhere near you either, not with how you talked about and looked at Lotus before. I'm going back to my spear to fish something up. You coming, or staying?"

It didn't seem safe to leave Blood either, but she had to make some degree of choice here. Either invest a little time with or without the mare, or potentially find her face being gnawed on in the middle of the night, or  the mare going off to eat a villager. Not really a choice when you looked at it.

Blood blinked as the dragon started making demands. She let out a shrug and yawned at the first rule "Sure, but if I go feral and eat her, then thats not my fault. That your fault. Though I won't go around pawing or licking stuff" I remarked blinking at her. I nodded at the second rule regarding my containment. "Sounds fair, keeping me contained is best during that sort of feral phase" I remark with a small smile. "Im sure I can refrain from making slaves" I add. I tilted my head and frowned thinking "So you suffer from cluster headaches eh? Interesting, You should tell me more about these episodes, unless your potion thing cures it. Though if that were the case then you wouldn't have it so i'm guessing its more of a pain relief then a cure. If only I could get my hooves on you then I could do some analysis" I grumbled.

I tiled my head and blinked at the dragon, thinking hard. "Hmm, how you sleep? head up or down or even on your side with a upwards head would do it." I remarked frowning at your hand, which had trembled during the headache, my ear twitched some before I smiled. "or a trapped nerve leading to increased cranial pressure resulting in a spike in Cortisol levels resulting in a headache occurring. Or something along those lines perhaps" I said yawning again. "unless you get them more frequent, though you've not had them before so unless you've over strained yourself, which would make you more likely to get one of these headaches. Quite the conundrum really, unless you know about these things" I snort. 

I blinked at the notion of me being well fed. "No i'm half fed if that. So yes I will follow you to spear your fish. I like fish, also I can make you a nice remedy to cure your headache" i said smiling, walking towards the dragon though stopping before she walked into her. "Lets go"

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

Victoria was blushing a deep red, she loved stories like this and Pop's comment about finding her something similar filled her with warmth and hope.

"T-that would be nice... hopefully you can actually find someone who does make me feel like that, and who can get past my attitude and let me make them feel that feeling too."

"That's quite the story, super sweet too. I bet those tulips smelled so good, I personally love tulips, one of my favourites!"

Heather paused for a moment, she wasn't sure why she had said that, she loved so many different types of flowers she just couldn't create a list of the best.

"It's nice to hear of a dragon being so soft, it's not often you hear about them in a none-biased way, normally it's just dragons equal bad, stay away. You say he works in Canterlot and is a royal guard? Does that mean he knows Celestia!?"

Her eyes lit up again.

"If he does he's super lucky, I wish I could speak to her again, she's such a lovely pony. Maybe Benny could hook me up?"

She looked adorably hopeful, so desperate to meet her idol again, her mouth watering at the prospect of even potentially befriending the princess.

"It's ok if he can't though of course... it would just be so wonderful."

To busy fantasising the clumsy pony managed to step into a large puddle, the temperature of which shocked her enough for her to lose her balance and fall face first into it. She stood up and shook herself off.

"There I go again, well... at least my mane won't be sticky from that banana anymore."

She smiled and laughed at her mistake and Victoria couldn't contain herself and burst out laughing too, quite the rarity for the mare to laugh as much as she did.

"And I've got this old grumpy guts to laugh too, all's well that ends well."

She hugged Victoria, not at all bothered by the muddy water that was dripping down her face and legs, a true optimist.

"Anyway, I shouldn't have made that story about me and my weird obsession with Princess Celestia, Benny sounds like a wonderful dragon and I think you and him have a long and happy life together ahead of you. You clearly care a lot for one another and that's really sweet. It's exactly how I feel about my Evergreen."

[FanOfManyShows 396]

@Blitz Boom

Sapphire looked to to them with a surprised look at the casing, the gem that was her eye glowed red slightly. "Element of Deceit huh?" She asked walking to them. "The Element of Deceit produces illusionary spells more powerful than anything I have seen." She said, now standing by them. "How do we know that somepony else didn't just make it look like they stole it instead?"

Iron Wing looked at her a bit dumbfounded. "You couldn't do that until you had the element to begin with."

"Exactly, steal the element, and make it look like somepony else stole it while there are witnesses, so how do we know that this wasn't done?" She asked, raising her head a bit. "I'd suggest to think, if any of you saw them do it, or heard of a pony who saw them do it, ask if they acted different, if somepony else took it the spell couldn't copy them perfectly if the pony didn't know them well enough."

"We should take this with skepticism, she is our prisoner currently I believe." He said as he looked to Sapphire, who just rolled her eyes.

[EQ_Theta 459]

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

"I'll take your word for it, Rosa. I really have no idea how dealing with criminals and other unsavory elements like Filigree so all my hope rests in other ponies doing the right thing and being careful. Life in the forest usually meant we deal with offenders by punishment or exile, a way to provide a path for atonement. We couldn't send our fellows away without a very good reason, which was usually for endangering the lives of innocent villagers and kin. I suppose it's better to have Filigree be locked up instead of leaving her be but I doubt she'd be receptive to the idea of change."

The arrival of Spelt and having one less thing to worry about, perhaps there were a few things to clear up with Filigree. The moment was ripe and there were questions lingering in both siblings. Maybe Spelt had a thing or two to ask. Lin approached the bound bat pony and raised one claw in the air before slapping her awake, taking care to avoid hitting the parts of her face Sen pelted back and forth with his improvised flail. Secretly, however, she was tempted to push her buttons just to see if the pain lingered without the crystalline armor surrounding her face. 

"Hey, wake up! You wouldn't mind answering some questions, would you? Though it looks like you don't have much of a choice." 

Sen shot an annoyed look at his sister. She noticed before deciding to change her tune, though she is secretly wishing to keep going but not enough to goad her into a frenzy. That would be a disaster waiting to happen. From then on it would be serious interrogation from her. No fun but she understood why and attempted to anticipate the what ifs.   

[Sekel 693]

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE

"You don't sound so certain!" Karmic shot at Zhu nervously. The enclosed spaces was getting to her and to be honest, she reckoned that the glowing was her suffering the beginnings of a major panic attack. She did her best to keep a level head though and kept an eye and ear out for any visions that may help them. If any popped up at all on this long, straight, narrow, confined path of stone.

@Blitz Boom, @Seamore Sandwich, @Moonlit

TWILIGHT SPARKLE

"I've dealt with your kind before," Twilight started off calm, despite every senses within her telling her otherwise. "They were not nice Sirens. I understand that those three don't represent your entire species. I'm just finding it difficult to think of you as anything but evil. I apologise for that," she then admitted and shook her head. She looked at Princess Luna with a calm outlook. "What ingredients are required? Each transformation potion is unique, depending on what you're transforming into something else. I, of course, have the basic ingredients but it's the specifics that I need to know."

[Moonlit 593]

@Blitz Boom @Seamore Sandwich @Dji Serenade blinks and turns her head away, "♪Actually.....your Highness...those three are very close to the standard of Sirens. We are deep sea Apex Predators♪" She pushes herself, she towers over the smaller ponies and comes up to Celestia in height. "♪Those Sirens who make their living on land tend to adopt the...lifestyle of Ponies, but we are predators among♪" she blinks and looks at the Day and Night Princesses "♪among....prey♪"

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Lloyd

"I have protected this thing for years now. I know the tricks it can play on your mind, and I can tell you that that isn't the real thing. One of the seals would have reacted, and this certainly wouldn't be here!"

Scorn angrily took a step forward and pointed to a crude mark on the side of the container. The source of the foreign energy from what trace were still left of the extraction spell. A clever little bundle of trickery to deceive the seals into thinking the thing it were meant to protect hadn't left i the first place.

"And who else would take it,t han the know it all that just showed up out of nowhere, and kept yapping on about balance? The very creature who have escaped the inefficient, pathetic excuse for a prison you have here."

"There is still no evidence, but the clues leads towards him, unless somepony else would have interest in taking this, and who could get close enough."

Dew sent a wary look towards Sapphire, whom he had started to get a distrustful feeling about after her eye had glowed up before that. He were about to ask about that - forcefully if needed be - when the door to the throne room sudden got kicked open, and a bellowing laughter roared into the room.

"Dew, Screecher! Come here you weary sack of bones!"

The earth pony that wandered in after saying that, didn't match the bellowing voice that had let out the laughter before, but the tone that came after that seemed about right for a mare her size, though more raspy in it than you'd think.

She were about a half head shorted than regular adult mares, were covered in bruises and cuts that seemed to barely be starting to heal, and her clothes were torn. It weren't obvious is there should have been pants to the ensemble, but sleeves for the front and something past her tail seemed to be missing at least. Not that she cared in the slightest it looked like. She just wandered straight up to the taller generals and gave them a small, friendly headbutt. They both lowered their head slightly so she'd have an easier time hitting, and Screecher seemed at least somewhat annoyed about doing this. Dew either hid it well, or were just complacent.

"How'd life going in the big city? Gonna guess badly, what with the big holes in the wall and everything. And say, were that a Sphinx I saw outside? You finally become a cat pony Screecher?"

"No."

"Hah! That's my ray of gloomshine."

She grinned and looked over the others, ending on Null before looking towards Dew and chuckling.

"She's even shorter than I am."

Null took a step forward and sneered at the unknown mare.

"You got a problem, cat post?"

"Uuuh, spicy. I like her."

"Enough of this. We're having a meeting, and these ponies have part in it. The Sphinx as well, though he doesn't need to be in here."

"Alright, better close them doors then. You folks can have a name round in the meantime."

Dew shook his head when she turned around, and let out a small sigh. He then went on to present the rest of them to the mare, ending with Wings. The first one where she seemed to perk up and turn around with a surprised glance going over her face.

"General Wings? You mean... You crazy old sod, you actually did it, didn't you?"

"It's time for new blood to take over, and he needs all the support he can get."

She chuckled as Dew sternly said the last part, and went over to Wings, then stood in front of him and poked him in the chest.

"Well then freshman, you and I are gonna have to figure out what you got going for you later."

The look in her eyes as she said that, made it seem like she were issuing him a challenge, but it was a short-lived stare, as she took a step back and glanced over the muddled mass of wonky ponies with a glint in her eyes and a grin on her muzzle.

"Alright then, my turn. Name's General Tidal Wave, and you best remember it. Now, what're talking about here folks? The message only said something about a witch."

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@Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

"Pff, I'd use one of steel or gold. it's only pure iron that's an issue."

She took down another cube of bronze, then got to the first layer of spam and took a large spoonful into her waiting maw.

"Silver's a real pain too. For some reason I got... I think the author guy said *Fairy weaknesses* once? Whatever a fairy are, they apparently can't have that stuff too. Kinda weird, but meh. There's not a whole lot of pure iron around. Lots and lots of steel though, Pheeeew. You ponies like to smash hard things into other hard things,.Like statues. And boring ones too! They don't even move, and then if I make them move, then aaaaall of a sudden, I'm a *dangerous problem*. No-fun stupid-heads..."

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@BloodDrops

"Doctor's aren't as widely spread among dragons, and they deal with basic stuff. Cuts, bruises, and minor illnesses. We're generally tough. We don't need it.

And then there's me... But I'm not throwing my chance at you. Ponies have actual doctors that can examine this, and elixirs to take the symptoms away. You on the other hand, would just make me into a zombie by trying to examine me. I have enough to deal with without being stuck between life and death.

...But I suppose I can answer your questions. Sleeping on my stomach, flat, on a surface of moss. And i get my migraine attacks when things irritates me substantially."

It was foolish to think that Blood had answers, but it wasn't like she could just go to the hospital right now and be checked out. Partly because she needed to feed the beast first, though her visit would not go faster by being stuck with this mare in general. But what were she to do? She couldn't let a disaster-prone chemical weapon like this just wander around unsupervised, so it had to wait for a more opportune time. Curses be this situation and all it entailed...

"No remedies either. The chances of infection from whatever your illness can be described as, is too great. I can't chance it."

They were getting towards the forest, though there'd still be some time before they were at her home, where she could retrieve the things she needed. Including her spear, and her books. Something told her she wasn't going to return to the cave for a while.

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@Victoria Sponge

Pop giggled a little as she saw Heather go through another accident, of which Victoria started to laugh at this time. What a strange, but wonderful family they had.

"I hope for a long life too. For you and Evergreen as well."

The thought were sometimes there, about how it was going to be based on how long she lasted, and not the other way around, but she tried to brush these things away when they came up. She loved Benny, and she wouldn't want to be reluctant with things just because she knew that she would be gone long, long before old age would catch up with him. They would have the time they were there for, and she would enjoy every second of that. What happened next... That was hopefully a conversation she didn't need to think about for at least sixty more years.

"You should keep hope Victoria. There will be somepony for you, and I still have hope for Snip Snap. He is a loving, caring stallion, but he isn't shy about saying his opinion, and he values not being lied to. It tends to scare mares away that doesn't have the strength of character to stand up and be honest back at him constantly, in parts because they're scared to hurt his feelings. I think you two could end up hitting it off since you can be uhm... Pretty honest too. If you need to be of course.

I bet he'll adore the care you put into your mane too. He tends to look closely at manes, being a stylist and all, and I've caught him judging others on it if he can't find a reasonable excuse for why they don't take care of them. I think there's more to that than his job, but I've not had the nerve to ask.

Perhaps I should send him a latter the next time we pass a post station actually. It'd go faster than waiting until I go there next week. I-Id you'd want that of course, Victoria. I don't want to push things too much if you don't like it."

She felt like she had mashed her hoof down her throat a few times during that conversation, but it were hopefully not as bad as she feared. Not as bad as the misplaced joke she had made earlier at least. That had not gone down well,

"*cough* Anyway, to answer what you asked Heather, I don't know if Benny could get you closer to the princess. Being in the forge most of the day and fixing up uniforms, he doesn't really interact with her that much. Mostly the guards. I bet he could get you a meeting with a general if it were, but I don't know... They sound busy when he talks about them. Well, Screecher and Dew does at least. Tidal Wave apparently got more free time, but she's uhm... He claims she's a little bonkers. Never seen her myself, since I don't really have a reason to go to Shark Bay, so I don't know for sure, but I'd trust his judgement on it."

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@EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Filigree vaguely reacted on the snapping, but her head fell down more or less as it was risen again.

"I had not anticipated that you wished to speak with her at this time. If you insist though, let me administer the antidote."

A small needle with a drop iof liquid in rose from her bag as she said this, and shot towards Filigree's neck, infecting the small amount of liquid. Much like she had done earlier, though back then it had been a concentrated toxin meant to cause the bat pony mare to sleep, and this time around, it were to reverse it. It should get her cognitive soon, though her ordeals had more than likely made her drained regardless. Especially after her body had fought off a triple dosage earlier. Something she assumed the crystals had something to do with.

Slowly, the mare would get to her senses and try to wriggle around. Wrapped as she were in magical ties however, she didn't find it possible to escape, and slowly opened an eye to see what were going on around her.

"...Who are you? W-Why am I bound?"

Her voice sounded scared, and clear. Nothing like the deranged tone that had gone over the several voices from before, but rather that of a regular, down to earth pony.

"You're finished mother, that is why you are bound."

"Star?"

She looked up at the covered stallion, who spoke through a filter beneath his mask.

"No, Rosa."

"So you do remember me. And evidently, my brother too. I want a name."

"What? I-I'm bound here like a beast and you're asking about Stargazer? What's wrong with you? W-What have you done to me? H-Help! Somepony, help me!"

Rosa were not convinced that the frightened words were true. He had read too much of the mare's life to trust anything that escaped her muzzle, though he at least had a name now to go by. Stargazer. Perhaps if he had this by itself, it would be enough to convince the orphanage that she had told him... Something to keep in mind if her confession didn't come in paper form.

Filigree's eyes darted between them, covered in fear, though there were one point where they lingered longer than the others. Only be a second or so, but it was noticeable once she looked over at Omen, who were currently standing and looking up at her master, who apparently weren't all there right now, since he didn't address her. Or he were curious about others things and figured she could wait for a spell.

Of course, it could just be that her eye were drawn to the lord of chaos suddenly being here, like most normal ponies would, but it depended on your interpretation.

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

 

@Dji

"If there is one thing you can be certain about in this life, let it be that everything have an end. Perhaps not the one you wish for, but one regardless.

As for this path, it too will end, and we will move on to our next step in escaping this place. If not by finding the keys, then by forcing our way through the stones. If needed be, I have something which could assist in that, but using it without finding there to be other ways, would be foolish. Magic takes time to prepare, and who knows when next it were needed? One must ration the tools at their disposal.

Think of what I hold as an emergency path, in case we cannot find an exit on our own. Find peace in knowing that we will get out, regardless of what will happen."

His eyes were drawn towards a small loose rock in the wall a little to the front right. It was barely by more than a few inches, but perhaps it were something. If not, they would continue until they succeeded. unless Karmic suddenly went into a panic attack, in which case, things would start to become complicated.

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

 

@Dji @Seamore Sandwich @Moonlit

Last's open eye narrowed as she heard the way that Serenade spoke of the ponies around her.

Being where she had grown up, she were used to beings thinking the lot of them to be prey. Be it from large insects, to mutated birds, bears, and of course, the changelings, there had always been plenty that wanted a piece of the shrine guards. They were all fighters though, they could defend themselves. If the siren were the predator in this town, it were different. The fighters here were few and most wouldn't even try to use force in a dangerous situation, when they could instead try to escape from what she could evaluate. The citizen's here were bound to end up as mostly snacks for the large female if she began to hunt them.

"How many have become prey for you then, siren?"

Her tone didn't hide what sort of prey she assumed the siren made out of ponies. The usually disguised creature were rather large, and with sharp teeth Ponies couldn't be that tough to crunch on with biters like that.

Edited April 8, 2018 by Blitz Boom

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Due to the events taking place, Lucid was reminded of something. It's feeding time for his lizard!

"I almost forgot! Pringle needs his crickets!"

He quickly opened a portal and grabbed a bunch of crickets and began to feed the bearded dragon.

"Yea, we like statues for some reason, which reminds me of this time before I had my abilities when Discord was a statue for a second time and I put a dress on him and released a whole bunch of pigeons!"

It was too bad the ponies guarding the statue got off lunch break early, and Lucid was thrown out.

"Maybe that explains why I have to pay bits to gain full power."

Edited April 8, 2018 by Lucid_Nightlight

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

Victoria chuckled at the mention of her mane.

"Normally perhaps, but look at the state of this thing."

She flipped a long lock of hair back and it flopped loosely by her shoulder, hairs sticking out of it in all directions. "

"I'll have to fix this at somepoint, just been so awfully busy with you lot. Hopefully he can handle my temper if he manages to make me loose it. I'd like it very much if you dropped him a letter, that would be very sweet of you."

She smiled happily at her friend.

"It's a shame he's not more well acquainted with the princess, but that's ok, it would be nice but it's not a major goal for me. Also I like the sound of this Tidal Wave pony, I'm sure she can't be much more bonkers than I am, always been positive no matter the circumstances and almost killing myself in stupid little accidents ever five steps."

She giggled, stumbling a little by total coincidence but maintaining her balance this time.

"Isn't that the zebra's shop there?"

She pointed towards the strange looking shop.

"Hard for it to be anything else really I suppose... though I don't know how many zebras have shops in this city so maybe it's different..."

Victoria nodded.

"No you're right that's the one, Ahadi's shop. Don't stress yourself out with all this overthinking you do Heather, it's easier to get by in life if you act like you know what you're talking about."

[EQ_Theta 459]

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine

The crocodile tears or wounded cub act... or so it appeared. There was some semblance of the two gambits employed by intelligent pack hunters or conniving tricksters. Seemed convincing for a moment but hearing Rosa adamantly going on about how the act wouldn't fool him pretty much got both siblings to stay put and listen, even Lin backed away from the bound mare and listened intently. They didn't really have much in the way of animosity at first though the shift in personality did stun the longma hybrid for a moment in an attempt to figure out if the crystals had some form of personality-altering effect. 

Still, the tone of the whole discussion unnerved them both however understandable the context was. They still find themselves siding with Rosa on the matter but now that Filigree is awake, it was time to get some thoughts off their minds. Lin approached Filigree with a stern look in her eye and started with an equally stern tone. 

"Why did you do it? The crystals, the beast heart, the plan to get back at everyone involved with the mines? What did you hope to achieve with all of that?" 
==================================================================================================================

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight

Hearing about Pringle's feeding time from Lucid got the yellow pegasus to put down the lizard and let it move about and eat. It was the right thing to let it roam and mind its own business after she played and stroked it earlier. She wouldn't mind if Pringle went back to Lucid; he may be getting tired of her.  

Edited April 9, 2018 by EQ_Theta
Overlooked Lucid's post (sorry about that)

[FanOfManyShows 396]

@Blitz Boom

The runes only caught her eye, Sapphire letting out a sigh. "Well then, that works as proof." She looks up to Scorn. "Clearly that creature wants something more than Balance." She jumped back when the door opened, looking to the pony. Backing away as she listened to their ensuing conversation.

Iron Wings let out a bit of a chuckle at her. "We'll see."

Sapphire rolled her eye. "Well that witch is probably me, or my sister." She said, looking to Tidal Wave.

Astral waved her hoof. "I am here too."

"Right" Sapphire said, looking at her briefly. "I am also unsure what we are discussing, since we were supposed to be interrogated."

[Moonlit 593]

@Blitz Boom @Seamore Sandwich @Dji Serenade narrows her eyes, and looks down at Last "♪None Shieldmaiden♪" Her tone is as frosty as a Wendigo. She turns back to Celestia, Luna and Twilight "♪I was raised by Ponies, my mother is Nightlight Harmony, retired Royal Guard. My Father is Professor Sunlight Chaser of the University of Baltimare"

[Sekel 693]

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE

Karmic nearly missed the rock that had interested Zhu but upon back-pedalling, felt her right hind hoof knock it out of the wall. She found herself standing beside Zhu and nervously looked around in case it triggered a trap. She took a step forward and found her eyes glazing over. A vision was forming. She saw herself knock the loose stone out of the wall, which had just happened, and then saw both her and Zhu fall down a trap door. Another vision took its place and saw to it that the wall crumbled, revealing a short corridor with a door at the end.

”Please let it be the second one,” Zhu heard Karmic speak in a light and airy voice, a stark contrast to how she was acting mere moments earlier. What she wasn’t counting was a third option invisible to her visions. The wall did crumble, revealing the door behind it, but the floor below both of them opened up too into a dark sliding tunnel that lead to who knows where.

@Blitz Boom, @Moonlit, @Seamore Sandwich

TWILIGHT SPARKLE

”Apex ... predator,” Twilight sounded like she was on the verge of running away but her logical mind forced herself to think about this rationally. I’d Serenade had really wanted to eat them, none of them would be alive.  She took a breath to steady her voice but it came out in a stuttering, high-pitched squeak instead. “They ... they were ... those Sirens I fought .... they ..th-they were normal for your species!?”

[Moonlit 593]

@Blitz Boom @Seamore Sandwich @Dji "♪Yes Princess. Adagio, Aria and Sonata were typical Sirens. Except for the fact they stayed together. Sirens tend to solitary predators except if they are mothers." Serenade leans down so she's eye level with Princess Twilight. "♪I am not normal, as I was raised by Ponies. And there are a few others I believe to be Sirens as well, hiding their nature because....you spook easy." She blinks and offers a closed-mouth smile to Twilight. 

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Lucid_Nightlight @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Anomaly looked over at Discord, tilting her head from side to side.

"...Meh, I can't see it. Discord looks more like a hula skirt sorta demigod."

She had tried to imagine him with a dress, but nothing really seemed to fit. It got way easier once she tried to imagine him in more traditional clothing though, like a smoking. But what fun were there in that? Even if it looked spiffy with a little color and a dancing flower in the breast pocket, a smoking didn't really fit unless it was a wedding or something.

...Hmmm, Fluttershy would carry a dress well, with that mane and tail really... Something natural and flowery, next to Discord...

She shook the thought after a few minutes. It was a silly one really. Why would he be married to a pony? Sure, he seemed to be really attached to her, and were making order when the chaos around her had gotten too bad, which seemed out of character for the lord of chaos - the title sorta gave a different impression - but she were a mortal. It wasn't like he could jus- No wait, he could do that, couldn't he? Heck, she probably could, and Discord were way, WAY more powerful than her.

Huh. Guess there wouldn't be an issue with those two tying the knot then. Fancy that.

Shrugging her shoulders, she stopped caring much about that for now, and instead tried to follow what were going on with the lizard and its munchy time. Nothing out of the ordinary so far, but perhaps something would suddenly happened? Hopefully nothing with fire. She caught ablaze pretty easily, and while it wasn't that much of a bother for her, having her flame on in here would just cause everything to catch on fire, and Fluttershy was SO not gonna like that. Especially not if she were one of the things that the fire started to get close to. Ponies didn't do well in fire she'd heard.

Then again, could the lizard even spew flames?

"Does tiny lizard have fire like the dragons, or meddle in it like salamanders?"

Salamanders might not technically have much to do with fire, but she defied that, and messed around with some groups of them around Equestria years back. She couldn't get them to breathe fire right without causing huuuge issues - aggressive little things - but the ones she had settled on eventually with tended to walk around in forges and campfires, scaring the ever-living bajesus out of ponies. Utterly hilarious.

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

 

@Victoria Sponge

"I'll drop a letter when I have the chance then Victoria, promise. And I wouldn't worry about him handling your temper. If he can survive listening to the posh nobles he deals with daily without smacking them upside the head, I'm thinking he can handle you on your bad days. We'll see of course. but I like to think things will go okay."

Pop honestly didn't think that Victoria's mane were that bad currently. A little more casual and used in it than the getup earlier, but that was to be expected with everything that had gone on, and the care she took of it normally still showed. She bet if she ran a hoof through it, it'd still be silky smooth and healthy as could be.

Hopefully Snip Snap would agree when he had the chance to meet her, but they'd see how it went. Frankly she were pretty nervous, as how Victoria had been when she first met her would make the meeting pretty volatile, but she were doing better now. Hopefully it would stay that way when the first impression happened.

"And I'm not sure if you would really like the general, Heather. I mean, she sounds interesting, but Benny gets kinda cagey when I ask him why she's the general if she is acting strange. He just keeps mumbling something about sharks and saying that I wouldn't believe him."

Pop glanced at the door to the zebra's shop. They had arrived faster than she had expected.

"Time really flies by it seems. Perhaps you can ask him another time about it? I didn't push it since he seems kinda uncomfortable about it, but it have been a few years since I last asked. Might be he's more comfortable about being asked now.

Anyway, let's see if she's still in. Hopefully Toxen will be here with the coal soon so everything can be in order."

With that, Pop took a few steps onward and knocked thrice on the door. Hopefully Ahadi were still in, and hadn't wandered off to handle something else. Or had other customers for that matter. It'd slow things down, even if they still had to wait for Toxen.

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

 

@EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

"Beast heart? What are you talking about?"

"Cut the act, mother. I found your diaries and tracked down your path from them."

Rosa pulled out his suit a little, briefly showing a dark coat with a faint, purple hue going over the tips, before closing it again, and dropping an old, weary book on the ground in front of the pegasus.

"You think we found out about your plans from nothing? This was your plan the entire time, except the part where you began to loose control I wager. Not as strong as you thought you were?"

"...So your proof is reports from an unverifiable source, that you could easily have fabricated? Pssh, and here I thought you had inherited some of my intellect."

Filigree's demeanor changed as she were presented with the evidence of her wrong doings. Seeing no further reason to feign fear and knowing nothing of what were happening, her muzzle went into a smug smile, her body relaxed in their bonds, and the eyes narrowing and carrying a pure glimmer of superiority in them. Even laid out on the ground like this, her entire being seemed to radiate a feeling of being the one in charge, which didn't lower the impression of how smug she were.

"Evidence brought forth from somepony wandering the steps of a nation suspected often of fabricating information, with the witnesses being a spy, two outlanders, and a brainless oaf of a mare? Dear dear, perhaps I shouldn't have left you with your father after all. You might have learned some things if you had been with me, rather than your father.

Speaking of which, how is the old bat doing? Ever forgiven himself for how easily he were played?"

"Don't you dare."

Rosa took a step forth toward Filigree, who only responded with a chuckle.

"Go ahead, kick your old mother while she's down. The workers around here already heard me yell for help, so I'm sure things will seem perfectly okay if you then start to hurt me too.

They have seen and heard enough to question what's going on already, so you can't just take me away and dump me in a hole somewhere either. Not unless all of you want to be put on wanted posters across the entirety of Equestria. It's a big country. Plenty of places to slap a piece of paper and a description up, no?"

"Even if you get away from this, you've still failed. Equestria stands, and you're never getting the beast heart again."

Filigree didn't even frown as she were told this. Strangely, her smile just seemed to widen.

"By all means, keep it. It was becoming unruly anyway."

Rosa had thought he were able to handle her demeanor from what he had read, but he could feel how she were playing him now, trying to lure him into doing something rash to make the situation worse for himself. And as tempting as it were when she brought up his father, he weren't going to give her the satisfaction. Though he had to fight himself for a control when the subject had been brought up.

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

 

@Lloyd

"3 witches? Jeez, no wonder this place is in tatters."

"These two have nothing to do with that from what I can understand. The fourth witch, named Warlock, are. I take it that her sister is the blood magic user from earlier, who are still on the loose. Since Captain Hailstorm isn't here to tell us otherwise, i assume that you two have part in helping with the capture of Warlock, which you do have our thanks for. However, as- Sapphire were it? As she said, we need to gain some information, and determine whatever or not to pursue legal action against them. As much as it seems unreasonable, witchery is still prohibited."

"What assistance you have given in this endeavor is to be taken into consideration though. The knowledge you provided made it possible to repel and eventually capture him without severe injuries to the civilians and guards. It leaves us with a dilemma."

"True that. I'm going to need a rundown of what have happened to give my say on this, but I vote for keeping an open mind for now. We've dealt with dark forces being taken up for good intentions before, and not all of them ended bellies up."

"I second that."

Screecher nodded to what were said, and looked towards Iron. His input were important here as well, and perhaps more than the rest of theirs in all honesty, since he had been near them through many of the steps of the situation.

"We need more information to be able to determine a verdict on this. Sapphire and Astral. Would you be so kind as to explain your stories to us? Both of what brought you to take up forbidden arts, and what knowledge you have of your sister and Warlock. With the former still on the loose, we may still have a severe problem on our hooves, and we need to know what we can. Including why her current condition have occurred."

"And don't be skipping over the harsh parts. Something's not right here, and we need to truth to move to a decision. I'd also like an update on why the army's in charge, when the ambassador should be around?"

"He were severely injured under one of Warlock's attack, and have been moved to the hospital."

"He's stabilized, and a full security detail are with him, and another individual who have proven helpful in our fight against the witch. I have sent word to see if she can safely come here for a debriefing as well, but it may take some time."

Tidal Wave had gone a little paler in it when she heard that Golden Night had been injured, but eased up when she heard that he was okay. He were a stand up bloke, and she didn't want to have to tell his wife that the job had taken him away from her. Hopefully they had sent word to her too about him.

(A messenger have been sent to the hospital to find the changeling queen. If she is there, a young pegasus from the Solar Guard will knock on her door around this time)

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

 

@Moonlit @Seamore Sandwich @Dji

"You call ponies prey, and yourself an apex predator. If you're not hurting us, then what do you eat? Emotions or animals?"

Last wasn't backing down from questioning the siren, no matter how hard she looked at the smaller pony. She might be severely injured and likely to be beaten up easily, but she wasn't going to back down because of a small stare from this one. It could be as cold as she wanted to, it would just be met with the same icy glance from the mare's narrow, ice-blue eye. Usually something that made others back down, yet Serenade and her seemed to both have an intimidating look to work with, and seemingly no intention of being fearful of the other party, even though one of them surely should be. That being Last, much as she didn't want to think on that.

As for the siren's dietary needs, you'd think that sharp teeth meant that she would be all about meat, but years of dealing with changelings made Last skeptic on judging only based on that. It would be foolish and shortsighted, when this creature might easily feast on something like fear. An emotion that clearly did not need to be spread around town, just for the benefit of one overgrown fishpony.

As Twilight started to seem fearful and somewhat on edge - to put it mildly - Last began to move over so she could stand between the princess and the siren if needed be. Worst came to worst, it was better that she were eaten than the princess. The country needed the alicorn. It didn't need her.

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

 

@Dji

The words Karmic uttered were not too calming, but it were not as if they had other options. To be better prepared however, Zhu began whipping up somewhat of a wind around them. It were not much, as this place constrained him, but if something were shot towards them, it may be the small thing needed to not let said thing hit them.

With that in mind, he pushed the rock with his paw, and pressed.

If the floor truly opened beneath t hem, his wind wouldn't be of much help, as he needed to have some orientation to not just make it worse, and tumbling down a dark path like this were not allowing him to do so. He'd be more likely to smash them around like two bricks in a dryer than help them if he attempted, and since neither of them were immortal, it seemed like a very bad choice to make. Thought he end of the ride - if it happened - might end up quite horrendous as well. You never knew with trap doors.

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Lucid noticed that Anomaly was thinking about something so as if it was natural instinct, he started to read her thoughts.

"I mean he made me immortal, so he probably could do the same to Fluttershy."

He thought for a moment.

"He'd actually go better with Celestia, but I've never been into relationships, too much commitment."

"Pringle is just a lizard, he can't breathe fire, as for meddling in it... I have no clue and I'm not about to find out."

Lucid did have a couple questions.

"So, how did it feel being dead and did you get a chance to troll the cult that brought you back?"

[BloodDrops 762]

On 08/04/2018 at 8:36 PM, Blitz Boom said:

"Doctor's aren't as widely spread among dragons, and they deal with basic stuff. Cuts, bruises, and minor illnesses. We're generally tough. We don't need it.

And then there's me... But I'm not throwing my chance at you. Ponies have actual doctors that can examine this, and elixirs to take the symptoms away. You on the other hand, would just make me into a zombie by trying to examine me. I have enough to deal with without being stuck between life and death.

...But I suppose I can answer your questions. Sleeping on my stomach, flat, on a surface of moss. And i get my migraine attacks when things irritates me substantially."

It was foolish to think that Blood had answers, but it wasn't like she could just go to the hospital right now and be checked out. Partly because she needed to feed the beast first, though her visit would not go faster by being stuck with this mare in general. But what were she to do? She couldn't let a disaster-prone chemical weapon like this just wander around unsupervised, so it had to wait for a more opportune time. Curses be this situation and all it entailed...

"No remedies either. The chances of infection from whatever your illness can be described as, is too great. I can't chance it."

They were getting towards the forest, though there'd still be some time before they were at her home, where she could retrieve the things she needed. Including her spear, and her books. Something told her she wasn't going to return to the cave for a while.

 

Blood blinked at her and snorted "Would cure you though, can't deny that. Oh fire breather" she growled glaring at her. I blinked wondering if she would have another headache, I would have tossed a stone at her but best not to test her too much. "Well your going to need more elixirs, if your going to be watching after me" I remark with a smirk, I was very annoying at the best of times.

"Next question, do you eat before you sleep?" She asked following the dragon. She would bug the dragon with lots of questions, some easier to answer then others. Though the question would be how long it would take for Nerzhei to be very irritated. Though Blood nodded "Fine, no remedies" I grumble, which would make my job harder.

"So where are we off to?" I ask. 

 

[Victoria Sponge 1,017]

@Blitz Boom

The zebra came to the draw to greet the ponies back into her store.

"Hello again, it's good to see you. I see you have adjusted your crew. Did you find the flower I requested?"

"Hee hee, nice rhyme! I heard you zebras were good at that kind of thing. I assume this is the flower in question?"

Heather thrust the flower excitedly into the zebra's face, the zebra mare's eyes lit up upon seeing the beautiful bluebell.

"This is indeed perfect, a fine specimen. I'll take it to my brew and quickly throw it in."

She tossed the flower into a bubbling cauldron causing a huge cloud of blue smoke to burst forth, rising up to the ceiling.

"I trust the dragoness will be on a roll, coming back with a lump of coal?"

 

Lemon was surprised to see her niece enter the store and joyously trotted over to greet her.

"Hi Heather."

"Oh hi Aunty Lemon, Victoria didn't mention you were here... Maybe she was worried I'd complain about her to you. She forgets that I'm not one to complain."

Lemon chuckled, this seemed like normal behaviour for her daughter.

"Is she treating you ok?"

"Yeah, don't worry she's not a bully anymore, thanks to her new friends."

Lemon beamed at Pop.

"You're doing wonders for our family dear, I can't thank you enough."

[EQ_Theta 459]

@Blitz Boom @Storm Shine 

This interrogation isn't going anywhere and Filigree's smugness isn't helping. The way she talked reminded both siblings about the last time they encountered someone just as smug and irreverent; they weren't in a position of power over him and they had Mother to help them with the interrogation. This time wasn't going to be easy and they wouldn't risk bringing Mother into this out of fear that someone would try to take her powers or put her own realm in danger. What they needed was something tangible, proof that there was some weight to what Rosa claims. 

Lin walked away from the scene and approached Omen, who was still with Discord at the moment. She knows it is redundant at this point but it's better to ask the same question from before to hopefully gain something useful against Filigree. 

"Omen, I know I've asked this before but I'm gonna need you think hard about this again. What do you remember about your last encounter with Filigree. Did she say anything about what the beast heart is or what she intended to do about it? Any specifics will help a lot." 

As for Sen, he was already getting tired of the posturing and the attitude, perhaps only *this* close to beating the information out of her. He wouldn't dare do it at first knowing just how likely he will be the one convicted with assault if he lays a claw on her. It wasn't like before when no one else was around, no law to bind them to, but this is a place where he will leave an impression on many ponies unfamiliar with him and his kind. He took a step forward and remembered the other encounter in his village, an embarrassing one if anyone besides Lin ever saw it.

"Filigree, I need to know, did you send a fake Omen to my village? The one made from threadbare clothes, mud, and sticks? I know she came to you." He pulled out the clear gem and showed it to her hoping it will jog her memory and get an answer.

[Blitz Boom 4,627]

@Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine @EQ_Theta

"Hey, get out of my head-space!"

Anomaly hissed at the pony. She hated when others started to mess around in her head! Seeing the conversations with the boring human thing was one thing, but her head room were for her thoughts only? Sadly she didn't know how to biologically make it impossible for him to read her thoughts. Didn't help to not have a brain obviously, as right now, it was mostly just pumpkin spice latte she had rolling around up there. you could crack her open like a barrel and enjoy the sweet nectar. Now 100% brain free!

Meh, times like this it got boring that she wasn't an all-powerful chaos user like Discord. She had done a few things like opening portals, but that was a really power-intense moment, and it had really bitten her in the behind. Not as much as it would if the small pocket dimension suddenly opened up in the shop it was joined with of course, but still.

She created things. Mostly biologically, but you couldn't think Draconequus without at least a little chaos. Big issue was to get rid of it again for her though, and that she couldn't remove consciousness and free will. One of the reasons why a lot of the creatures she meddled with tended to try and eat her. The fact she gave most of the huge teeth were a part of it too, sure, but there were many sides to a story.

...Where was she going with this again? Brain space, pumpkins, limitations, digestion... Well, hopefully it was nothing important, because she had no idea.

"Huh? Oh, being dead? No idea. Apparently being dead for a long time kinda scrubs your soul and memories, go figure. I sometimes get outbursts of hatred and an intense want for destruction, but that's more of an instinct thing if I get jumped. It hardly ever leads anywhere.

And no, I didn't get to mess with the cult"

Anomaly pouted, and grumbled a little to herself before taking up words again.

"No memories, no idea what I could do, I just stood and looked on as Zhu smacked them around like puppets and then told me to follow him. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Not entirely sure, but he's all planning and scheming things constantly, since he can see the future. I bet he had something to do with me getting back in the first place, but Mr. Serious is a big, boring one who doesn't want to tell me fun details or smooch, so no dice on getting anything I want out of him."

As always, the thought of you being friendly like that is terrifying and unnatural. Shush, human person!

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

 

@BloodDrops

Urgh, questions upon questions of mundanity... Really not what she needed right now.

"I am well aware I need more elixir, but there is a list of priorities to go through first. The current one being to return to my home so I can retrieve my spear."

Usually she could fish without, but she was low on magic and not keen on trying something like it in her current state, so the trip there would have to be completed before it would be remotely safe to be around the carnivorous pony.

"And I don't always eat before I sleep. I need peace to research, which takes away from the time to hunt for non-magical crystals."

She had a few at home, but she had a habit of forgetting to eat unless she were reminded by Lotus, so there were times when exhaustion took over before she had the chance to really get anything in her stomach. It was not ideal, but it wasn't like she had expected to be accepted around here. She had never left the isaldn before three weeks ago, and she had constantly expected that she would need to make tiny steps to not get charged out of the forest by angry villagers. She had not expected the town to mostly take her with calm cautiousness, when she had needed to wander in for supplies and books yesterday.

Perhaps she would have more of a life now, and reason to exit her cave, as there were plenty of things that she could use from a civilized town, but there were still difficulties. Among them, her own interpretation of ponies, that needed time to come around. She spoke sometimes to a few ponies in the woods, to try and ease into things, but there were still a lot of prejudice from her side that needed to be faced and overcome. Not an easy thing when you had over a half decade of indoctrination to work through. Blood here didn't help either, and were frankly more of an annoying test of her patience than a way to educate herself on the good side of ponies.

They'd be in the forest soon, and going in a straight line towards her cave. A few things rattled around the forest as they went towards her current home, yet they did the smart thing and kept away from her. Except for one Timberwolf that suddenly leaped at her, but that one got a fist promptly hammered into it's stomach and slid back across the ground, whilst she snarled at it. She really didn't have the patience for things like this right now.

A pity it had not been a boar. They could have saved so much time that way, unless of course the forests self -proclaimed guardian were watching over things again. There had to be a limit to how much Lyriel would accept happened in this place before she took action, and as Nerzhei had personally witnessed, the dryad were not without her ways when it came to protecting the forest against overly harmful forces.

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

 

@Victoria Sponge

Pop lit up like a red bulb when she got complimented by the mare.

"T-Thank you, but I really didn't do much. Lots of things happened."

Mainly the part where the bad example set by Jade made Victoria look at herself in a new light, but before she had the time to bring that up, the door got two hard knocks behind them and opened up.

"Fetch.

Toxen threw in a single lump of coal that rolled across the floor and batted weakly into Heather's hoof. Right after that, Toxen stuck her head in and looked at the assembled ponies with a grin.

"Kidding, kidding. I know I should've used an apple if I wanted to do that. All jokes aside though, somepony wanted a bag of coal?"

She walked through the door and shrug a bag she had been carrying, off her back, and on the floor, where it made a notable thud. It should too, considering the sack of coal was about the size of Victoria.

"You know the saying, go big or go home. This was the biggest one they could sell me without attaching a wagon to it, so I figured hey, why not?. We coal now?"

She knew it was a horrible, horrible pun she let off when she looked at Ahadi, but come on. When else would she have the chance? She did show something else than her bag of comedy gold though, and rose a hand to give a small wave and a wink to the lot of 'em. Not everypony in this group were big on the hug train, and frankly, her back had coal dust on it that'd drizzle down on 'em, and she got the feeling they weren't gonna enjoy that. Ponies and their manes sometimes.

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@EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

Omen turned away from where her master had stood. It had taken her some time to notice it, but it were simply a cardboard cutout she had glanced at. At some point, he had simply vanished without a trace once again.

"I looked for the gem. Hit mare statue and it cracked. She came out, asked who I were. What I did there. I answered."

Do not lie. One of Discord's doctrines that were figuratively - and potentially literally - stuck in her brain. It was possible for her to talk around things if she could understand it, but she couldn't lie, even when a strange mare started to ask her things without even introducing herself.

"She didn't say who she were. Asked me to stand somewhere and she'd tell me soon. Strange words came from her, then light was away, and I was outside."

Essentially, Omen couldn't help them to get evidence. Filigree had not even introduced herself, but simply taken advantage of an extremely gullible mare who didn't even ask questions as she had begun to chant the spell she had prepared ten years earlier. The next Omen had known, things went briefly blank before she were outside, and the others stood over her.

As for the mare in question, she looked up on Sen with a half-confused look in her eyes, before a small glimmer went over them and she began to let out a small, low laughter. She didn't want the workers to hear her after all, or she wouldn't be in the position of victim for much longer in their eyes. And she needed their testimony if this came before a court. If it didn't, then at least she could be satisfied knowing that this group would be wanted criminals throughout Equestria for the rest of their lives. Call it a long term consolation price, or a real large pain in the neck for these semi-draconic creatures, as unless their race were well known, their crimes would be what most would associate their race with. Such a burden it would be for their reputation.

"Pray tell, why would I alert you of my escape? Surely, even a savage like you must be smarter than that.

No, I had intended for your deranged friend over there to rot in the bauble, but it seemed like there were a leak, and she send a part of her away to seek help. I suppose it must have been easy for her to focus on that though, seeing how empty her head is. You really should have stomped the bauble and put her out of her misery."

"Don't react on it. She is attempting to cause one of us to strike her, and strengthen her case."

Filigree's eyes went to the mare who looked at her with the same look you'd give a shelf of books that needed to be sorted..

"Big words coming from a cultist, isn't it, Belladonna?"

Filigree almost felt  glee when she saw the mare narrow her eyes down on her, and grimace. Such a stoic one she were, but as expected, not one who liked to be getting a light shone on her past.

"I used a lot of beings through the years, little mare. You think your delusional group escaped that treatment? Not with the books that you waste away in dusty tombs."

[Sekel 693]

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE

It was the second option. The wall crumbled, revealing a much shorter hallway than the previous ones they'd been in, and had a door at the end. "Think this is it?" Karmic asked nervously, unsure of what to do now.

@Seamore Sandwich, @Blitz Boom, @Moonlit

TWILIGHT SPARKLE

"Apex predator makes too much sense. No wonder ponies haven't been able to study you guys. They get eaten," Twilight replied, babbling as she let her logic side take over while she was rooted to the floor in fear. "Wh-why haven't you eaten us yet?"

[Lucid_Nightlight 923]

@Blitz Boom @EQ_Theta @Storm Shine

"This Zhu guy seems pretty powerful, but how could someone be so powerful and not use it to screw around?"

Lucid guessed that the guy must be more powerful than he is, but it didn't bother him too much as long as he wasn't being threatened, plus that'd only be the case until he got enough bits to upgrade a bit, even then he didn't really care.

"As for the head space, that's what you get for trying to scare me earlier, Jack-o-lantern."