open Casual stroll

EQ_Theta · October 27, 2018

It's a different kind of task talking about now. Redirecting water, and a lot of it to be specific. Where would that be? Probably need a large open area or some place the water could flood into like a reservoir or a deep well. The latter could probably work for moving an animate statue into but going by Rosa's explanation, it would be best to follow it instead of trying to improvise an alternative. Unfortunately, that is where Lin is stumped and in either case, Sen wouldn't be able to provide any options for both scenarios.

"I might know of a place. While in exile, I remember seeing this ditch running along the side of a mountain. It circled it and it seemed to collect into an empty natural basin. The whole area around it is pretty much abandoned and untouched for years, remote if I may add. It's like nothing ever grew there and seemed like nothing will ever grow in that region. I could move the water there if we need to. Not sure about this thing you call a volcano? Or other hot places that fit your description. What is a volcano, if you don't mind me asking?"

Sen, however, had only some degree of forethought into the situation. He remembered hearing Lin's recap at Scarcity's store, what to do and not to do, just the things he knows he could do within the limitations. He knew not to touch the golden statue, just locate the one that has three figures of sirens on it. That's about all the information he could use, but what of the temple itself? What would he expect from it? If someone knew their what was inside meant a lot to collectors, whoever made the temple would want to keep it there. Traps and the like, and with Omen going in first, he's afraid she'd trip some old system set in place.

"We should consider the likelihood of traps being placed in and around the temple," Sen added as he walked up to the rest of the group. "If there is a chance someone didn't want anyone walking in for the statue, there's got to be a thing or two keeping outsiders from entering. Well, apart from the water, that is. I don't know, something's telling me whoever built that place doesn't want anyone getting in. Us included. We should be careful."

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@Blitz Boom @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

A familiar sight was returning into view. Ponyville, less sand, more of the same old little town with another disaster averted. The way back home was a mostly uneventful trek with occasional stops to let Lotus catch up. Seems like everypony had just resumed daily routines the moment the first signs of normalcy was returning. Perhaps the animals back home were also getting back out to see the sun shine once more. But that wasn't the priority; besides bringing Lotus back to her dragon, there was still the meeting with Nerzhei and Fluttershy's anxiety was rising by the second. Every step back to the castle was slower and heavier, the anticipation getting the better of the pegasus.

The way in and around the castle felt more like a walk through a haunted house like those seen on Nightmare Night. Fluttershy walked through the familiar halls and doors, following the pink bunny around until her eyes caught sight of the dragon in question. Admittedly, she might have been better off if Twilight were to give her a head's up when meeting injured visitors. A calming voice and a gentle hoof were what she knew she could best provide. Then again, with Anomaly and Lucid walking into her home to prank her, there probably was no way anyone could have predicted what could have happened when Nerzhei arrived in Ponyville.

"Um... excuse me. N-Nerzhei? If I could answer that for you, the sphinx problem has been fixed." Fluttershy chimed in, slowly raising her voice until it was audible enough across the room. Though Angel would've slapped the pegasus on the back to make sure her tone was consistent, even he is a little intimidated by the dragon despite the gauze and sling.

"There was an issue with the sphinx's crown. It was acting strangely, losing its shine and turning dark, and we had to help a changeling queen come to terms with her old way of life changing to spare Ponyville from being turned into a changeling hive's food."

Even after she finished speaking, Nerzhei's appearance was an intimidating one. Ember's likewise, presented an issue with ponies backing away given their unfortunate reputation amongst ponies. Except for Spike. Being born to and raised by ponies makes him more pony than dragon. Eventually, Ember seemed more comfortable walking around town and ponies don't seem to mind her mingling with the town folk and taking in the sights. Nerzhei? Fiuttershy will need to get used to the appearance but hopefully, their conversations will be just as civil and or casual just like with the other dragons she's met. It would be a bad idea to bring out the stare knowing she could be beat.

Emperor Azurailo · October 28, 2018

On 10/26/2018 at 10:38 PM, Blitz Boom said:

@Emperor Blu Traincrown

"Great uncle Calamity loved to work on transportation devices. From small toys to full scale engines. If it could drive, he'd be game for trying to innovate on it. Whatever his design here is, I don't claim to get all about, but I figure that perhaps you can alter it to fit whatever fuel you have in mind? If not that, then sooner or later somepony will pop up with something. Who knows? Might be one of those I have to deliver papers to out there will know just the thing. Celestia knows that mom's papers would probably be it. She kept working on rockets to get out and see what was out in the great unknown. Never got the rocket made properly before... You know, but she did get rocket fuel made rather well."

Speaking of his mom made Molotov somewhat melancholic, as he missed her dearly, but he had resigned himself to thinking that everypony were probably dead by now. it had been two months without a trace of anypony but Blitz, and the reason she survived were simply because their mother in a last, desperate attempt, shoved the filly into her unfinished rocket and fired it away. A risky move, but it had worked. Though the rocket had crashed, Blitz survived, albeit with a severe memory loss. He had still not been able to make her remember anything about their old lives. It hurt, but at least she were alive. Her memory was secondary compared to that.

When the talk suddenly fell on his specialty though, as well as Carmen, Molotov's mind got clear of his worries and grief, and a big grin spread on his face.

"Carmen ain't just a spider."

He reached up, and the spider climbed on to his hoof, where she'd cling on as she were being put forth close enough for her metallic parts and faux fur to not be clear as day for Blue.

"She is my greatest accomplishment. A breakthrough in the fields of robotics, and not only because of how efficiently she moved, or how she is constructed. No, she is more than that. Carmen is a genuine Artificial Intelligence. Created life, with all the characteristics of a living being, and their individuality of thought.

It took me most of my life to perfect the code required for it, but just look at her, and think of what she represents. Not just a robot with a set programming to follow and never question, but a thinking being, capable of learning. It might not seem like much, yet I can assure you that this is one of the elusive high goals of robotics. Just imagine all the possibilities of creating fully functional artificial life, without the limitations of simple programs, and see for yourself what it could lead to. In your case, say... Trains with their own lives. They could drive themselves, repair as necessary, keep schedules better and adapt to multiple situations, rather than rely on somepony to give them instructions constantly."

Molotov felt and sounded as giggly as a filly on her first day of school speaking about this. He couldn't help himself though. Carmen were his pride and joy, and she sure looked pleased with herself as he gave the sales speech about her. She somewhat puffed her chest forward with a smile on her fanged mouth, and a strange, yet undeniable joy almost danced in her eyes.

"I'm also fond of solar powered energy and applying it with as magic-free connections as possible, so yeah, I'm totally game for seeing your solar engine. Perhaps if I saw one of those up close I could get a grip on how these things work, and see if something pops up in my head about the fuel. Who knows? Perhaps the solar design can work with the other engine if a grid to convert the solar into power in the first place gets integrated? That, or it'd melt, but that's what trial and error is for, right?"

Blue was a pony who liked his work, and were willing to show off his lab right off the bat like this? Now that was Molotov's kind of pony. The sort who got very stingy about showing off what they could were mostly just a bunch of irritating, snobbish folks, who he couldn't wait to get away from. Blue here were willing to show off his toys, long as Molotov didn't try to nick anything. Which were fair really. It was just common courtesy to not steal designs from one another. Getting inspired by and/or trading stuff were fine, but there was an unwritten code to go by when it came to this sort of thing.

"Ah, now I see why I've been chosen to get his back. Like I said though, I'll make sure his project will see reality. I promise it." Blue said as he put his right hoof to his chest. If there was one quality to really notice within Blue, it was this particular one: determination. Blue always thought twice before promising something, and when he did, you could be sure that no matter what, his promise would be kept or really, REALLY close to be kept. This really was an important point in being a nice pony. When he saw Molotov start to go melancholic, a rather concern tone would appear on his blue face. Then he reached a hoof and gently stroked Molotov's arm, to try and make him cheer up. He stopped when the pony smiled again.

"Not just a spider? What do you m-" Blue would shut his mouth while staring at Carmen with widened emerald green eyes as Molotov explained she was an Artificial Intelligence. In one word, he was amazed! He has never ever seen such a thing before, and really started to wish he could have a pal like her with him. It was his turn to go sad as a frown appeared on his head. He would never forget the day when both his parents and sister were sucked in a giant tornado when on holidays in Colsas while he preferred to stay here in Cloudsdale and work on his projects. On a brighter side, so to speak, he made the right choice not to go with them, as he sure enough would never have seen light of life again. But the thought of his family really stung him in the heart and resulted in him feeling lonely, very lonely in his house with no one to talk to. If it wasn't a special somepony, a roommate would've been awesome for the Pegasus. Everything would be accepted as long as it would keep him company.

But he drew a smile on his face again as Molotov spoke about Artificial Intelligence-equipped trains and gave him a smug glance. "Stop right there, bud. You're seducin' me!" He would joke with a chuckle and light blush as he poked the red stallion's shoulder.

"Settled then!" Blue grinned as Molotov agreed to visit his lab and proved himself being eager to know about the solar design. "Please follow me." He then started to walk towards a large door and pushed a button nearby. Then a ding would sound a few seconds later. Yes, Blue had an elevator, in his own home! It would do the second floor and a floor underneath the first. And that last one floor was the one Blue wanted to ge to. He walked in and looked at Molotov, waiting for him to enter the elevator cell so he could have the doors closed and them start descend towards his lab.

Rising Dusk · October 28, 2018

@Blitz Boom

It had only been seventy two hours for the unicorn and he was already on to weird day number three. Normally these things were nice enough to spread themselves out over at least a month's time. With the occasional normal case to take from local law enforcement, of course. First impressions were always important and it appears by that less than subtle eye roll from Null, that Rising Dusk wasn't what she was expecting. Quickly taking mental notes on everything he heard and saw, everything from tone and body language.

The larger yet younger seemed timid, shy and displayed a sense of kindness. The smaller sister on the other hoof, was far on the other end of the spectrum. He was sure both had experiences in their lives that made them the way they are, but it wasn't any of his business at the time. Things to perhaps be sorted out, in time. Not that he'd be able to present any kind of words at this time that would be able to sway the unimpressed Null. The mission they were on was soon brought to light though as Void talked about being sent by the Princess herself. The conversation quickly being taken over by the smaller yet more aggressive Pegasus.

Sixty Four cursed items were being carried in those saddle backs? That made his eyebrow perk a bit. Why had some many items been floating around Equestria in their care rather than being brought right to the attention of the O.M.I. Well, some of that might be easily answered with how new it was in the grand scheme of things for their services. The other might be the curious reason as to why these two were carrying so many cursed items and he couldn't sense any magic at all. No weaves or presence of magic came from those saddle bags.

One of three possibilities. First, they were lying to the Detective and their saddle bags contained nothing but regular items. Second, the saddle bags themselves contained a means to suppress the magic of the items. Third, the ponies themselves possessed some sort of own unique abilities that suppressed the magic. The first didn't seem as likely, as the letter from Princess Celetia seemed authentic with the appropriate seal to make it official. The second could be more likely, yet even if the bags suppressed the bag, he'd be able to sense the suppression spell on the bag itself or at least the magic of the items seeping through the flap. No, the most likely reason was that the two ponies themselves nullified the magic. Which peaked Dusk's interest just as much as the items themselves considering neither of them were unicorns. Fascinating.

It was probably long passed due that he speak again though, having defaulted to his usual state of just listening. Nodding to the pair, especially toward Void who seemed the most worried about his reaction. Considering he couldn't sense the power of the items, he believed her that it was quite safe. "Well, ladies, if you'll follow me we'll head to my work station and see what you got there." Turning about, he moved to the swinging doors and held one open for the two with his hoof. Not using his magic for the theory of what he thought might happen if the two passed by him.

Blitz Boom · October 28, 2018

@EQ_Theta

"A volcano is best described as a mountain with the top cracked open, revealing smoldering lava from the earth's core. Most volcanoes are inactive however, and some from what I've read, have become valleys wherein jungles now reside. There's more variations on this, but this is the gist of it, and most of what I know regardless. Geology was not my strongest class.

Regardless, the area you mention sound far better for the purpose, honestly. Salt water will not help growth, but if things are already dead there, it is not as if it will make things worse."

So they had a contingency plan now. That was good. For a time he had been worried that they may have to ask Omen to transport the water, which might cause them to get some issues with this *Mother* character he had heard a little about thus far. Not a creature you wanted to be on the wrong side of from what he could understand. Lin having a place for them to simply dump the water where it wouldn't react to anything, and potentially the statue too, as a large, empty area where it may roam free wasn't an issue, were by far the best solution in case something went wrong.

However, their worries were not yet over, as Sen then pointed out how the temple itself might be riddled with traps of some kind to keep things where they were. A valid point, considering the statue might hold some value, and it seemed somewhat odd that others had not attempted to get it, though there could be a few other reasons for that. Difficulty of moving and potential greed being their downfall, for example.

"It's a point well made, Sen. The ones who once used the place might well have done something more than simply place a golden statue.

...Perhaps we would do best in having Omen only look around the outside and check to see if the undercurrents are strong, then try to approach it ourselves and carefully poke around and throw some things to see if anything triggers. You were doing some good work with the improvised bolas's and such when we defeated Filigree, Sen. Perhaps I can ask you for your help when we get there, to make some decoy things to throw and roll through?"

It had been pretty good work from what he could recall. Everything he had put together had seemingly worked splendidly for the others as they had used it, even if not everything became necessary to use at the time. More things like those creations would be good here, and Sen's hunter training were effective in this endeavor, whilst Rosa could then look for other traps, and Lin and Omen could be ready to get them out of there, in case they accidentally activated something anyway. It was a rather good setup honestly, with specialists in varied categories able to help them succeed. They even had a *tank* so to speak, in Omen. He'd prefer that nopony got hurt on this trip, but if it were unavoidable that somepony would take a hit, Omen seemed resilient, and the fastest to open the gates. She'd be able to take or redirect something for the team. Especially if it were nerve gas of some kind. What it was with old temples and gas attacks, Rosa didn't know, but there were a definite theme over that sort of thing more often than he cared to think about.

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@Dji @EQ_Theta @Seamore Sandwich

Nerzhei's gaze fell on Fluttershy as the mare started to speak. A nervous one for certain, though if she were that in general, or if it were the presence of the dragont hat did so, were hard to say. She had not been around ponies long enough to know for certain how most ponies reacted to the sight of her, though the general welcome so far had been mostly ignoring her and just wander in a circle away, or nervous glances. Nothing like this though. This mare seemed frightened, as if dragons had caused her great harm in some way. Not a far stretch of the imagination really. Most of Nerhei's more brutish kind were quite frankly jerks, who would antagonize anyone they saw as weaker just for the heck of it. Ponies in particular because of their two races spotted, yet surprisingly scarcely documented past. No one could remember the reason, they just knew that they disliked ponies, and that were then ingrained in their whelps, the whelps of that one, etc. It was a generational thing, which among dragons, meant that it lasted for several millennia. Likely to a point before the princesses, though she still needed evidence of that.

"So the sphinx is handled then? Along with a looming changeling threat? I know not how you and your companions handled that, but I owe you thanks. I believe everyone in this town, and the creatures in the forest, does too."

Lotus squeaked and chittered away after that, explaining some details that wasn't mentioned. Angel and Fluttershy would know well, as it were simply a recap of the important things, but Nerzhei needed to be in the loop, and what she heard were certainly surprising.

When the bunny were done, Nerzhei lowered herself and sat down, to better be in eyesight with the mare. The dragons movements were stiff as she did this, and she had to support herself against the wall to get down smoothly, but you could see her try to hold back the pain this caused, as she kept her eyes on the mare who were apparently a much deeper character than Nerzhei had first thought, even if the recap she had been given were limited to the sight of someone who didn't know the mare well.

"It sounds like I have to offer more gratitude, for keeping an eye on Lotus, and making sure she was safe. As one with a bunny of your own, I doubt I need to explain how attached you can get to the critters after a while. And speaking of which-"

Her eyes landed on Angel, and scrutinized the bunny with a look in her eyes, as if she were studying a piece of art and didn't know whatever she liked it or not.

"...Dragon Land is a harsh place for the small and peaceful, and Lotus inevitably became a product of that. It made it impossible for her to fit in among others of her kind without scaring them. It pleases me to see that she have found someone she can relate to that isn't a predator, though I reserve final judgement until I see more myself. And no, that is not a threat."

It felt like she needed to add that last bit, for the sake of all three creatures who she spoke with. Angel who might feel targeted, Fluttershy who may find herself worried about her pet, and Lotus, whom Nerzhei knew were already sending her narrowed eyes, even though she should know better. Nerzhei would never hurt or hunt bunnies on principle, after getting Lotus. It felt wrong on quite a few levels.

And speaking of Lotus, the bunny had jumped up on her shoulder, and were now poking the dragon with her paw, whilst pointing towards Flutttershy.

"Fluttershy, was it? Lotus says you have something to ask me about."

Now came the time for Lotus to look towards Fluttershy with the same impatient look from earlier, waiting for her to make her move, or for Angel to poke at her about getting a move on. Strange how the two smallest creatures here had to push her along, yet in a way, it felt fitting to have animals be the ones to help Fluttershy for a change. Now it was just to see if she needed any actual help getting things out in the open, or if she had it in her to confront Nerzhei about it herself. Perhaps it helped with the dragon being more down to her level. Nerzhei at least found that towering over someone gave a certain authority, which were good at times, but made it troubling when trying to speak with someone else as it could also be rather intimidating. Good riddance that she wasn't one of the really big ones.

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@Dji

"I see why you're not getting along then. Your wishes does not leave much room for a compromise.

Perhaps you can still find some common ground, and think out a way for you both to live through things? I imagine neither of you wish for death, which is why she is being held down, is it not? You fear she will try to get rid of you, and leave you to die."

Well, this were getting somewhat interesting now at least. No quick solutions over two souls fighting over the same body, and a turmoil both on the inside and the outside, as they fought over a body that Atzy were likely aiming to change. Enzo wouldn't consider it amusing as such, but his bar for entertainment currently were starved enough to make him find it somewhat intriguing at least. They would see if it could raise his spirit enough to make him look less slumped down, but for now, he might as well roll with this, and see what may come from it.

"Have you thought of copying the vessel which you fight about? Or are you both set on being the owner of a unique body? And for Sha'thera's sake, calm yourselves. There won't be much of a vessel to fight over if you cause it distress and damage."

As a sphinx, he weren't one to call upon the leader of Equestria in his expression, but rather the famed goddess of the sphinx, who were said to have once descended upon the earth, and rose the sphinx from the barren sand to rule over all deserts before ascending once more, leaving them only the guidance of the book containing her eternal laws.

That were the story anyway, though Enzo had doubts about it quite frankly. 300 years of mostly praying for salvation for a being who apparently wrote that *True believers shall never be bound by chains eternal* had made him sour to the idea, and somewhat thought that it might just be a giant hoax, with the High Council just feeding this to their kind to keep them complacent. Sure he might be free now, but waiting out until someone came to steal the stone he were forced to guard were not exactly a prophecy come true.

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@Emperor Blu Traincrown

"Seducing? Nah, sorry mate, I don't swing that way."

Molotov had no judgement towards ponies preferring somepony of their own gender, or even something of another species, but he just wanted to set the record straight before this became one of those weird theater plays where it all just turned into an hour of awkwardly missing the point. Better to just get it out in the open and avoid that comedy festival.

But hey, good on Blue to be openly going that way, unless he had meant scientifically? Bah, social norms and their wonky, intol- What the?

The inventor had suspected that when Blue went towards the door that they'd find a staircase, or perhaps that his working area was just in that room, but an elevator? That was just cool! Molotov hadn't seen one of these since that one time he got lost and ended up near that weird mining town he could never remember the name of. Coal... Something. Ridge perhaps? Who cared. The point were that they too had an elevator, but that were for dealing with carts upon carts of things they'd dug outta the ground. Inside a house though? Now this were something new, and frankly rather cool.

Blue didn't have to tell him twice to get on before Molotov stepped in and began looking around, the small levers on his glass changing around rapidly as he scoured every detail of the inside of this thing, and really soaking it all in.

"This right here is just cool. How many stories to you got working with since you need this? 5 or something? Hay, even if it's just a one-liner to the basement, this is still pretty sweet. Can't wait to see what else you got lying around.

Oh hey, while this get moving, I should try and explain something more about AI, since you seemed mighty interested in that. Mainly, that you can't make an AI to do exactly what you want it to.

See, starting out an AI is one thing. I have the raw model for it now, and can program it into a system with some general commands and files that allows for the creation to know of things that most of us picks up in school growing up. But when the personality starts forming, things get tricky. That's when the intelligence part starts taking over and the individuality begins showing.

Like, see Carmen here, right? She's a real sweetheart, and while she's curious and wants to learn more things, she stays nice constantly.

Now Felicia on the other hoof..."

Molotov cringed as the memory of a particularly nasty smack to the back of his head came into mind.

"I made her to guard my new workshop, and she is about the size of three full grown ponies to make sure she got some strength to her. I added the AI because I wanted her to think and be ready for any situation that weren't programmed into her, but her personality wasn't something I anticipated to grow as it did. She doesn't like where she is, and hates being kept there against her will, so she openly resents me. I've gotten some help from a third party to begin mending fences with her, and she's off her leash, but it's still a long way for us both to be on the same page.

I dunno why she turned out this way. I guess her task was too limiting and her hardware able to support far more intelligence than Carmen, so she might have ended up with way higher aspirations than I could have thought, but that's the risk in this. You create a life when you bestow intelligence upon a machine, and you can't guarantee that said life is even going to like you. It's like having a foal frankly. A highly intelligent - and in Felicia's case, very dangerous - foal.

Putting this sort in a train could be a living nightmare if it felt too limiting too, but would that ever be a concern? Would being able to see many places and interact with varied beings make it more fun? I have no idea. Frankly I'd like to tinker a small version up, get some more realistic wheels on it, and then power it up to see if it'd even work. Trains are less dexterous than my spiderbots after all, yet funnily enough, I can't make a train to save my life. It's the engine, you see? The darn engine! Always been an issue for me. I can make a battery that can support a machine to have basically endless, self-rechargeable power, and tinker together robots that can move like real animals, but I can't get a motor to work. Pretty weird, huh?"

Whilst Molotov rambled on, they might have already gotten to the lab, but he'd continue until he were done, whilst Carmen would remain mostly just stationary on his head and look around. When the talk fell on Felicia, she'd raise her front legs and make a happy sound - which sounded something like sandpapering a rusty iron rod - to show her support for her younger, but bigger sister, and otherwise just kept on with the starring.

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@Catpone Cerberus @Moonlit

"Well yeah there ain't too many left in Equestria. The ban hammer must've felt really close by after the three sisters got smacked out of our world. Makes total sense that most of the rest took a dive and migrated way out of here, to somewhere where they weren't in danger of being shoved through a portal to wherever.

I'm just amazed that there's anyone around ponies. I mean yeah, we have dragons, changelings, and yada yada going around, but sirens? Either you folks know how to work a disguise, or I need to reevaluate what I know about prejudice."

Berry couldn't see how they would hide though, but perhaps with the right suit and stilts, they could pretend to be dragons? Or water serpents of some kind? This was a tricky one to crack, but she were sure it was that, and not the prejudice thing. That stuff took a long time to get out of society, which the reformed changelings now integrating were finding out the hard way. Poor bugs honestly.

"Either way, it's amazing that there's two of you here. Who knows what sorta thing you can learn from one another? I can just see it now. Serenade going off on how times have changed and the fresh attitude you need for the hip times, with Nada talking endlessly about how it were back when she were young, and how the kids these days makes too much noise, heh."

She were pretty much setting herself up for a smack at this point, but she didn't care, it was a funny situation that just got more visual in her head after she had spouted it out. Besides, the sirens had to lead the serious topics here, since this was their moment, and that left somepony to handle easing the tension. A few jokes might do the trick, or again, give her a slap and a potential dip, with the latter perhaps being annoying considering the large hammer she carried with her, so she wriggled that one off her for now, just in case, before returning to grinning at the two sirens. What a strange day this were.

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@Catpone Cerberus

"Well, whatever it were, it's gone now. Yet they still left behind a coffin of jewels, and some bloke who apparently stole treasure from dragons, along with a stone tablet depicting it and a ton of Foul Dragon perfume. I figure that if I can find out who this guy were, some vengeful old lizard might be willing to spare a sliver of treasure for the satisfaction in owning an old thorn in the side, or I can get a tax break by donating it to a museum. Either way, a bit saved is a bit earned.

And hey, the perfume as I said, is worth at least a grand each, depending on the auction. Whatever the looters who came here earlier took it still left around twenty thousand bits or so worth of stuff, and it ain't even that heavy, so we can have it in the wagon. Alright, the stone is gonna suck, but we'll get it done, and ride off with a nice profit and some souvenirs for barely any work. Ain't this just the best?"

Spicy grinned towards Ruby, who seemed to have gone into thinking mode. Wondering what sort of profit they'd lost out on in this room exactly perhaps? Couldn't blame the mare, since it would've been nice getting that along too, but when you scrounged through already looted tombs, you had to take the scraps that life now and again gave you. And boy howdy had it been a feast of scraps this time 'round. Weren't any of them that'd leave here without feeling all nice and tingly, if not from the profits then from feeling the stream of bits going over 'em, if you were into that. Spicy preferred higher value bits personally when deals went down. Easier to move around than say, twenty thousand bits in singles.

"Don't worry 'bout what they got away with. We're still reaping the spoils, and we don't have to deal with fencing stolen dragon treasure. I never personally nicked anything from them, since I like not being a pile of ash, but I may or may not have helped offloading some things for a few beings here and there. Come on, let's get back to the coffin and scoop up some sparkling goods."

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@Rising Dusk

How she hated when ponies just stood there and starred at them. Like they were some sort of freaks.

Null's eyes shot metaphorical ice towards Rising the more he just stood there and gawked in silence, feeling the increasing want to risk it and clock him out. The big guy were likely going to grab her after that, so she kept herself in check, but oh how she wanted to stop that stallion from starring like that, with those judging eyes...

Void knew how her sister felt, so she kept close to her and stood ready to try and grab hold in Null, in case the disabled pegasi attempted to lunge at the officer. She wouldn't lie and say that the silent starring didn't make her feel uneasy and extra worried, considering their past experiences, yet were it really them that made him react that way? Couldn't it just be the cursed items, or the fact that the two of them had just wandered in with those sort of things without an escort or special containers, like Equestria possibly did to avoid the bad effects of the items?

It were possible, and Void desperately wanted to think that Equestria were truly better where it mattered - that being the enforcers and rulers - so she were giving Rising some leeway and just waited to hear what he'd say.

She felt a droplet of sweat on her forehead trickle down and her heart beat faster for each passing second, but finally he responded, and not with anything violent. In fact he were acting pretty professionally about it, and even held the door for them. Nopony had ever done that for them before, and though it were about as little a thing as one could do for them, it still meant something for Void. Spending a lifetime getting beaten down by life and the last twenty also feeling next to no sympathy and kindness, all that Equestria had given them so far - patience and a home in Ponyville, citizenship by Celestia, and now a helping hoof from Rising - all hit quite a bit. She wasn't crying, like she had when Celestia had told them the good news, but there were a small shiver along her spine regardless.

Null would go through first, with Void following troop, though she briefly looked at Rising as she passed and uttered a low "T-Thank you..."

He might also feel the confirmation he needed to his theory about their abilities, if he stood close enough to either of them as they passed through, as the feeling of just being completely void of anything magical would hit like a brick wall. It was subtle honestly, and most unicorns only noticed it when they tried to use magic and couldn't, but Rising were well attuned to the magical flow of things, so he may have an easier time with that.

Once they were all through and on the way to Rising's office, Null took control of the conversation again, though at first when she opened her muzzle, her eyes locked with Void's, who begged her sister to be kind, though not through words. It were shining in her nervous, pleading eyes, and though Null loathed being nice to police of any kind, she pulled some of her prepared snark back. For Void's sake.

"If you care to know, the items aren't from Equestria. We took them from all over the world before even going to this country."

"W-We cancel the c-cursed items out. It's o-our curse... What t-took everything from u-us."

A tear fell from her eye as bad memories began to poke their ugly heads out in Void's mind, which Null responded to by promptly going over to lean up against her, and using her presence to comfort Void.

"Easy there, sis. We're away from Troy, and they're never going to take us again. I won't let them."

This might ring a bit of a strange bell to Rising, if he were up on his political history, as Troy were one of the countries that Equestria got along with the least, to a point where both parties refused to even acknowledge that the other existed. Baseline mostly were that the technological kingdom of Troy didn't like the monarchy, and thought that Celestia should be toppled from her self-imposed throne, whilst the vast kingdom of Equestria considered Troy to be unreasonable charlatans, who wanted nothing more than to destroy a governing system that had worked for millennia because it fitted their idea of progress. There were more to it than that, but those were the commonly known details.

If Rising wasn't into that sort of history though, he'd at least know where the two of them came from, and that they thought about it as fondly as one might from wrapping themselves in bacon and jumping into a cage of hungry dogs.

"So what's the deal here? We give you an item and you eat the curse or something? Un-spell it, or whatever you unicorns would call it?"

With Void calmer, Null were now taking her attention back to Rising, wanting to know what exactly were going to happen with the items they had with them. Unicorn said it was a magical solution, but these were curse items. Mostly old and nasty ones too. How'd a simple spell deal with that?

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

@EQ_Theta @Dji @Seamore Sandwich @BloodDrops @Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine

"I have seen a siren, float across a field with no water in sight just to find prey. I do not trust that they can't become desperate enough to search out here for an oasis to lure travelers to. Never underestimate those vile creatures, lest it be the last thing you ever do."

In a physical fight, a siren would destroy a changeling, with even the strongest queens having an issue one on one. As a hive, the chances were more in the changelings favor, but it were a constant battle between the two parties if they met. Especially as times had gone by, and ponies became better at defending themselves, leaving even less prey for them to fight over.

*sigh* And now she did not even need that prey. What now were her reason to wish harm upon the aquatic bards? Beyond the regular ingrained hatred she felt just by imagining one of them near her that were. Perhaps something to ponder later, when things were calmer around here.

"Equestria is not a welcome home for them though, so perhaps they will not thread these lands. Not if they know what is good for them in any case."

The look in Onache's eyes, and the tone of her voice, spoke rather clear words about her new form not meaning that she were without dark, merciless actions. It merely meant that she had let go off her grudges towards Thorax and his ilk, and opened herself to be a better queen for her future subjects. Protecting them from monsters were what a queen should be doing, and soon as the large, floating crystal was gone, she would be more than happy to do so upon the first aggressor that dared face her.

Meanwhile, over at the draconequui and pals, Anomaly listened intently to what Novia were saying about her human friend.

"So he's a human, but not like the author? That's weird... I love it! How do you think he'd feel about growing fur and another set of arms? A pair of new eyes perhaps? Humans in themselves looks kinda neat, but they're still too normal. A little switchy switchy, and presto! Much more fun. Plus, I can add some jellyfish into things and make him effectively immortal. Some real fun genes to use there, long as you don't use too many. I did that before and yikes, jelly bones I tell you. Jelly bones! Poor thing couldn't stand until I replaced them.

I wanna go and see him. Can I? Can I? When there's time of course, duh. I mean, I have lots of it too, but he's human, he doesn't live that long, right? A century or two perhaps? That's no time at all! I think? Short and long starts to get wonky after you turn 400.

Oh, and I am totally calling that bet Sen. 20 bits to whoever gets the right set of heads. 3 heads and above, nopony won, and you can brag about having part hydra in your lineage. There's a winner no matter what, hehehe."

Lucid_Nightlight · October 28, 2018

@EQ_Theta @Dji @Seamore Sandwich @BloodDrops @Storm Shine @Blitz Boom

"Well, I'm pretty sure that you're not exactly Lone Star's type. He'll probably shoot you with a weird shooty thing. Though there is a guy by the name of Lumen Obscurum. The guy is quite a mystery."

"Yea, he's pretty weird. I once saw him throw a rock at a duck because a chicken ate his plant."

He looked at Pringle and back at Anomaly.

"Pringle says he bets he'll have no head, if he eats his crickets."

Edited October 28, 2018 by Lucid_Nightlight

Catpone Cerberus · October 28, 2018

@Moonlit @Blitz Boom

To her usual manner, Nada didn't interrupt Berry, and though not necessary fitting for the situation, she found Berry's joke amusing, but if it that was because it was good joke, or because Nada hadn't heard a joke in millennia, that wasn't clear. After Berry had finished, Nada spoke "It's nice to meet you Serenade" she smiled, but soon became thoughtful "Berry did bring up a good question though..." "...How do they live among ponies?" "I know things have changed since I went hiding, but certainly they don't just let us live among them?" or that was what she was hoping at least, because losing millennia was bad enough, but if it came up that she had nothing to worry about for this whole time....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------@blitz boom

Ruby only half listened what Spicy was explaining through her thoughts, mostly the parts about how much they would gain, she didn't really care about the methods of which the gain was gained, she didn't see it as her problem, she was only here to do what she was told for a high price, and she didn't want to bother thinking about who to sell and what. Ruby broke out of her thoughts when Spicy started her last comment, and after she had finished, Ruby simply commented "Aright" as she followed Spicy, she seemed to have harder time to act natural now that she knew that Marley knew something, this of course wasn't a good thing, she needed to talk to Marley, she needed to know what he had figured out. After the failure to reply to Spicy, Ruby decided to start a new conversation to avoid getting suspicious in eyes of Spicy "You said you haven't personally taken anything from a dragon, so that got me curious, have you ever had the chance to steal from a dragon?" she was actually curious about that, but mostly to know if there was any competition nearby.

FanOfManyShows · October 29, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Astral's house was now visible as she stopped walking. Stepping closer and looking in through the window. "Of course you returned here." A cloud of cyan colored smoke formed together, Sapphire's form appearing out of it, her mane flowing as if in water as her eye glowed.

She jumped back at the sudden appearance, Astral almost falling backwards. "How-"

"Doesn't matter to you, what's more important is my sister needs that book of yours." Sapphire turned to look to Iron, who drew a sword. "And your the only one giving off it's magic." She walked over as an aura surrounded the book, pulling it from his grasp.

His magic held on, the book being caught in between them. "This doesn't have to be done, you know that right?"

Sapphire tugged her head back, ripping the book from his grasp. "I can achieve my goal of helping my sister without harming any of you, all I need is this book."

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

@Dji

He chuckled to himself at her just listing things off that everypony did, seeing as he was asking for what he could help with, outside of her being able to read stuff from the Canterlot archives which not many were able to do. "Everypony does those things, it's not something I'd need to help with, seeing as that's all I need to do as well. I suppose I can see why you'd find more entertainment with what I might be up to with so little to do."

EQ_Theta · October 29, 2018

@Blitz Boom

A mountain with a cracked top and possessed the capability of changing the landscape? Hopefully there isn't one back home. There are a fair number of them dotting the landscape and one is close to the forest's outskirts. If they were looking for something or someplace hot enough to met a solid statue of gold, that kind of temperature harkened back to Lin's conversation with Omen, about fire and melting. A difficult and disturbing thing to imagine. And as for the desolate region, Lin wouldn't say anymore of it but it is a secret kept to herself. It is the same region she first discovered Malvernis, or where his influence was felt. That the whole region of around a mountain could be so devoid of life itself was a testament to what kind of powers Malvernis had. Rot and plague, nothing could grow and nothing can live in that place. Even the sun doesn't shine there, a land blanketed in perpetual darkness.

As for Sen, he had thought about gathering and building more tools for everyone to use. At the very least several stones would be useful to have around. Just toss them wherever there is a place likely to hide a trap. Although there is a concern that once a trap is sprung, it wouldn't reset to its original position and block any way forward. But there is always the benefit of opening a gate to move around those if sight lines are good.

"I've got some spare packs with pebbles in it and about two bolas. Could use them to trip floor and wall traps. If you want, I could grab some long twigs lying around and make us something of them to poke around the temple. It keeps us far enough from a trap when it goes off, saves us time from tending to injuries. I think I can spare a bit of time right now if it means we'll be prepared and if I see something we could use along the way to the fishing village, I might just scrounge those up too."

Sen stood up and walked away for some time, going into the woods nearby and quickly returned carrying some rocks and long sticks in his pack. It wasn't much that it would hamper his movements but once all of it is fixed up and ready to use, the weight issue will be nonexistent.

"I just need some rope to get everything ready." Sen sat down and began work on the long sticks, first sharpening the rocks he's grabbed into a pointed end. He turned to Omen looking concerned even well before they left their camp.

"Are you alright with the plan, Omen? Will you be fine going up to the temple first?"

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

@Blitz Boom @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

Being able to speak with Nerzhei right now in a civl manner, it got Fluttershy a little more confident. Still, it did sound somewhat wrong to tell the dragon she owed her for helping out with the sphinx and the looking after Lotus. Even so, the pink bunny gave her something to work with but perhaps it might be better to just go with the nicer approach. They were all getting acquainted and was no reason to ruin the civil atmosphere. It was worth a shot, if it needed to come to that.

The pegasus gulped and stepped forward, looking as confident as she could towards Nerzhei. Or she did but took a step back before Angel hopped down and held the one leg she moved back. Fluttershy got the hint and proceeded forward.

"I... I wanted to ask if you could teach me to be more assertive. Lotus says you can help me do that without being a jerk about it."

Moonlit · October 29, 2018

@Blitz Boom @Catpone Cerberus Serenade lets out a brief growl upon the mention of the three sisters, before coughing. She rolls her eyes at Berry's joke, almost as bad as Luna. "To answer your question, this is how" She reaches up and touches the jewel hanging around her neck, a flash of light and instead of a full-grown Siren....a water-logged Pegasus stands before them. "Courtesy of Princess Luna and Princess Sparkle"

Rising Dusk · October 30, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Those icy stares Rising Dusk was receiving from Null didn't go unnoticed by the stallion. It was understandable based on the little bits of information he'd gathered already about the two. He probably stared a little too long, even if it was just his inquisitive mind working through a couple of things. That wasn't the norm though it seemed with them, so appeared more as a gawk even if he didn't mean it to be so. Actions were going to speak louder to them and it seemed this small gesture of opening the door, if not what they were use to, seemed to reach at least the taller Earth Pony.

When they passed through the swinging doors though, he was able to confirm his theory about what might happen when they came close to a unicorn. It was a strange feeling to be sure. While most unicorns might not notice it, but Rising Dusk was a lot more aware of the magic both around and inside him. An emptiness wasn't the best way to put it he thought, no. It was more as if somepony had put their hoof over his eyes to block out the light. His magic was still there, just out of sight, tucked away in a closet as if hiding from a terror that would soon pass. Being blinded might set in a degree of panic, but the event registered so quickly through his mind that he was able to quell it just as it had appeared. As the two sisters passed him though, the feeling was gone and magic returned. The only visible reaction the detective was able to produce from the experience was a couple of extra blinks. Nodding with a smile to Void as she whispered a thank you. Taking a note on the estimated range of their ability from the time Null walked by him and until Void was passed him.

Following after the sisters into the back of the agency, the midnight blue stallion remained quiet as he came up next to Null to lead them to their destination. The conversation shifted to Troy and the fact these two sisters were carrying dangerous artifacts from outside of Equestria. Using their unique ability to keep them suppressed and from harming anypony. A noble act, if one was asking Rising Dusk. "Oh? Were you on a mission?" he inquired, curious as to why so many cursed items ended up coming to Equestria. Letting the two sisters console each other for a moment as bad memories over took the younger one. Dusk did know of Troy, although the information about the land was rather limited in the city's libraries. This was the first time he'd ever met a pony from Troy, but considering the state the country seemed to leave these two in, he didn't feel he needed to inquire further about the place at the moment.

Directing the sisters to a staircase in the back corner of the main office that lead both to the basement and second floor. Taking the ladies down the stairs and into the underground structure that O.M.I. used to do most their work on magical items. The basement stretched out vastly further than the two story agency appeared from the outside, ten or so times the width of the building upstairs. It really didn't look all that different from the rare book section of a library. Dim lights revealed rows upon rows of shelves. Some contained old tomes the agency used for research on ancient artifacts, while the rest held labeled boxes from past cases, disenchanted artifacts or labeled ones that were to be kept in the care of the O.M.I. yet contained their properties. Through the middle of the basement were tables that officers and researches could use when pulling things off the shelves. At the very back of the basement was a massive golden vault door, nearly ten ponies high and just a wide. Set with the largest bolts and most complex of locks to keep it in place. And while the sisters wouldn't be able to see it, equally as complex spell work put it behind more layers of magical barriers than Rising Dusk wished to count.

He guided the sisters over to one of the nearby tables so they could work. Upon closer inspection, a pony would be able to see the deep grooves carved into the wood. Magic circles built into the table to help minimize magical harm from items placed upon them. Basic curses mostly, anything more complex would beat this barrier if the pony working it wasn't careful and highly trained.

"I'm not sure how delicious a curse would taste," he chuckled and invited the sisters to sit at one of the stools, if they wished. Dusk took a seat on the stool at the head of the table before looking to the sisters. "But let's take a look at something you have brought, and we'll see what we can do," he added with a smile. He didn't want to disappoint the trust Princess Celestia apparently had in him, but making empty promises also wasn't anything he wanted to do.

Edited October 30, 2018 by Rising Dusk

Emperor Azurailo · October 30, 2018

On 10/28/2018 at 7:16 PM, Blitz Boom said:

"Seducing? Nah, sorry mate, I don't swing that way."

Molotov had no judgement towards ponies preferring somepony of their own gender, or even something of another species, but he just wanted to set the record straight before this became one of those weird theater plays where it all just turned into an hour of awkwardly missing the point. Better to just get it out in the open and avoid that comedy festival.

But hey, good on Blue to be openly going that way, unless he had meant scientifically? Bah, social norms and their wonky, intol- What the?

The inventor had suspected that when Blue went towards the door that they'd find a staircase, or perhaps that his working area was just in that room, but an elevator? That was just cool! Molotov hadn't seen one of these since that one time he got lost and ended up near that weird mining town he could never remember the name of. Coal... Something. Ridge perhaps? Who cared. The point were that they too had an elevator, but that were for dealing with carts upon carts of things they'd dug outta the ground. Inside a house though? Now this were something new, and frankly rather cool.

Blue didn't have to tell him twice to get on before Molotov stepped in and began looking around, the small levers on his glass changing around rapidly as he scoured every detail of the inside of this thing, and really soaking it all in.

"This right here is just cool. How many stories to you got working with since you need this? 5 or something? Hay, even if it's just a one-liner to the basement, this is still pretty sweet. Can't wait to see what else you got lying around.

Oh hey, while this get moving, I should try and explain something more about AI, since you seemed mighty interested in that. Mainly, that you can't make an AI to do exactly what you want it to.

See, starting out an AI is one thing. I have the raw model for it now, and can program it into a system with some general commands and files that allows for the creation to know of things that most of us picks up in school growing up. But when the personality starts forming, things get tricky. That's when the intelligence part starts taking over and the individuality begins showing.

Like, see Carmen here, right? She's a real sweetheart, and while she's curious and wants to learn more things, she stays nice constantly.

Now Felicia on the other hoof..."

Molotov cringed as the memory of a particularly nasty smack to the back of his head came into mind.

"I made her to guard my new workshop, and she is about the size of three full grown ponies to make sure she got some strength to her. I added the AI because I wanted her to think and be ready for any situation that weren't programmed into her, but her personality wasn't something I anticipated to grow as it did. She doesn't like where she is, and hates being kept there against her will, so she openly resents me. I've gotten some help from a third party to begin mending fences with her, and she's off her leash, but it's still a long way for us both to be on the same page.

I dunno why she turned out this way. I guess her task was too limiting and her hardware able to support far more intelligence than Carmen, so she might have ended up with way higher aspirations than I could have thought, but that's the risk in this. You create a life when you bestow intelligence upon a machine, and you can't guarantee that said life is even going to like you. It's like having a foal frankly. A highly intelligent - and in Felicia's case, very dangerous - foal.

Putting this sort in a train could be a living nightmare if it felt too limiting too, but would that ever be a concern? Would being able to see many places and interact with varied beings make it more fun? I have no idea. Frankly I'd like to tinker a small version up, get some more realistic wheels on it, and then power it up to see if it'd even work. Trains are less dexterous than my spiderbots after all, yet funnily enough, I can't make a train to save my life. It's the engine, you see? The darn engine! Always been an issue for me. I can make a battery that can support a machine to have basically endless, self-rechargeable power, and tinker together robots that can move like real animals, but I can't get a motor to work. Pretty weird, huh?"

Whilst Molotov rambled on, they might have already gotten to the lab, but he'd continue until he were done, whilst Carmen would remain mostly just stationary on his head and look around. When the talk fell on Felicia, she'd raise her front legs and make a happy sound - which sounded something like sandpapering a rusty iron rod - to show her support for her younger, but bigger sister, and otherwise just kept on with the starring.

"That's okay, not all ponies need to go open on that and I respect your direction. Was joking though because..." Blue interrupted himself and covered his mouth using a wing. He was really close to revealing he crushed on somepony, who would be his Unicorn childhood friend, Mechanical Spark. Yes, this Pegasus stallion was into stallions, that is true. But it didn't really matter here, as he had to focus on his project, meaning his work.

When both were in the descending elevator and as Molotov wanted to know what was an elevator operating here for, Blue replied with "Well it's easier for me to bring the stuff I bought into my lab with an elevator than stairs. Not to mention I usually transport them thanks to a cart. Have you ever tried to pull or push a cart up or down the stairs without damaging the stuff on it? I have, and boy I swore never to try it again. That's why I requested an elevator to be built at my home. There's still a staircase though, in case the elevator eventually needs some maintenance or has technical difficulties."

While Molotov kept rambling and Blue listening to him, the elevator stopped with a significative ding sound. Here they were, under Blue's house. The doors opened on a short corridor made out of steel and finishing on another door made out of concrete. Blue stepped out of the elevator and walked to a biometrical hoof recognizer next to his lab door and put his right hoof on it. That done the device scrolled a scan all the way down under the Pegasus's hoof to analyse it, resulting in a light sound and a green correct icon appearing on said recognizer. Right after the concrete doors opened to a giant room. There was the lab of the most famous train inventor of all Equestria, right before Molotov's eyes! The room was big, and separated in three sections: The left part of the Lab would be for the motor and electronic parts. The middle part was reserved for the chassis and mechanical pieces like bogeys, wheels and such. And finally the right part would rather be destined to the locomotive's cab features. The three combined would form a new train, ready for its tests and if these were succesful, that train would be ready to be sold and to enter service. To Blue's eyes, it was that simple.

Blitz Boom · October 30, 2018

@Rising Dusk

10 hours ago, Rising Dusk said:

Following after the sisters into the back of the agency, the midnight blue stallion remained quiet as he came up next to Null to lead them to their destination. The conversation shifted to Troy and the fact these two sisters were carrying dangerous artifacts from outside of Equestria. Using their unique ability to keep them suppressed and from harming anypony. A noble act, if one was asking Rising Dusk. "Oh? Were you on a mission?" he inquired, curious as to why so many cursed items ended up coming to Equestria.

"It's just dangerous junk that we took to keep ourselves safe on the road. What, you think anywhere is safe for somepony who can do what we can? Huh? You think that everywhere else, somepony can just waltz through, stop magic, and nothing comes from it? No persecution, and nopony who just wants to take advantage of you? The world isn't that cozy and kind. It's a cesspool of hatred and bigotry."

It weren't the entire story, as sometimes, the two had actually taken something to help, or were given it by beings who were suffering greatly under the curse that were in their midst, but it still ended the same. Them being chased out, or at best given a head start as the weakest sort of *thank you* for saving whoever then pointed weapons at them, which made Null no less bitter and resentful about everything that had gone on in the last twenty years.

The few times they had met some friendly places where they thought things might change, it had almost always just been a trap too, or the ones who helped them would end up taking the eternal rest a little too early. Equestria had so far been openly helpful, but it had only been a few days, and Null still didn't trust that in some way, this was all an elaborate ruse. She were giving some leeway because of the princess though. Celestia had been told what the two of them could do, but she had simply wandered over close to them, and talked within a space where she could do nothing, and with a kindness in her eyes that the sisters hadn't seen in the eyes of anypony but their parents.

Her presence had even calmed Void a good deal, which carried considerable weight with Null, yet for all the princess's kindness and action taken to ensure they had a place in Equestria, the paranoia were still there, as well as her general hate for the population at large. Might be they weren't being openly attacked or dragged to jail here, but the judgmental comments and looks were all the same.

So far, Rising had not done something that were making Null distrust him more than anypony else she first met, but as they approached what she'd assume were the *de-cursing area* she tensed up, expecting there to be some kind of trap lurking somewhere in the shadows.

Void instead, were more focused on the area they wandered through, rather than thinking about what Rising may or may not end up doing to them. She wanted to think the best of Equestria, and he had not been anything but civil to them thus far - except for the starring, yet that might not have to be because of the ponies themselves - so all the negative thoughts were being pushed back as much as she could, though it were being tested when they were following Rising downstairs. Something about underground areas just spelled trouble more often than not.

There were a lot of things on shelves here. Boxes and files of things that she had no idea about, but might relate to the work that this particular branch of police were dealing with. If they had done so many, many things, perhaps these items wouldn't be an issue for them? Well... The coin might, but she were going to keep that one hidden for now. Nothing good had ever come from that thing, and likely never would, though she'd wish that it might also end up on the shelves, labelled and powerless. That would be a nice fate for one of the most evil things they had encountered in their travels, rather than just have it be locked up in her false leg.

something else soon came into view too, which made both siblings wide-eyed. A large, golden door with mechanics to it that they hadn't seen before, and considering how far around they had been, that were saying something.

It were somewhat mesmerizing, but they didn't go anywhere near it, since they both had some kind of idea what it was for, and them meddling around with it were not exactly going to help their new-found placement in the country.

10 hours ago, Rising Dusk said:

He guided the sisters over to one of the nearby tables so they could work. Upon closer inspection, a pony would be able to see the deep grooves carved into the wood. Magic circles built into the table to help minimize magical harm from items placed upon them. Basic curses mostly, anything more complex would beat this barrier if the pony working it wasn't careful and highly trained.

"I'm not sure how delicious a curse would taste," he chuckled and invited the sisters to sit at one of the stools, if they wished. Dusk took a seat on the stool at the head of the table before looking to the sisters. "But let's take a look at something you have brought, and we'll see what we can do," he added with a smile. He didn't want to disappoint the trust Princess Celestia apparently had in him, but making empty promises also wasn't anything he wanted to do.

Once they were seated at the table, the sisters looked between one another in silence, trying to figure out who was going first, which surprisingly ended up being Void, who pulled back to the saddlebag on her left, and pulled out something covered in thick cloth. She didn't give it to the officer though, but instead put it down next to her, before rummaging taking her hoof back again.

"S-Sorry, but that's u-uhm... My weapon. I'd l-like to keep that, p-please."

Finding something from the top of the pile, Void pulled it into view, and revealed what seemed like as harmless a thing as possible: A plush doll of a grey bear cub.

She placed it on the table, but didn't take her hoof away from the worn item, as she braced herself to try and explain what the deal with this were.

"W-We got this in Harrowmark. It looks nice, b-but it compels you to touch it a-and when you do, it p-paralyses you and e-eats you alive. It's uhm... N-Not one of the most d-dangerous things we have, b-but I want to s-see if you can d-deal with this first. I-Is that okay?"

Harrowmark had a lot of disturbing things and items within the farming country, and many of what Equestria would simply define as witches, or heretics, so the two hadn't exactly been able to rest soundly for the three weeks they managed to keep mostly to themselves in the small country, before they had to make a run for it again. They still had several items from that place too in fact, which were one of the larger reasons why they had been chased with pitchforks in the first place. The witches didn't like having neutralizing forces meddle with their local areas, or complicate matters with the varied forest gods and such that they worshiped.

This bear had been one of the last things they had found before crossing the border, and Void wouldn't lie and say that they had never used this in self defense, yet it would be good to have that part of it erased, and reduced to simply a foals toy.

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

@Catpone Cerberus @Moonlit

"Hey, cool. How's it hanging, soggy?"

Berry got closer to Serenade who were now a good deal less terrifying, and had a real good, close look at the kinda familiar mare. She'd ask more into it, but something told her that this was one of those *hush hush* situations that she were actually meant to keep hidden from others, so she kept it down for now, and just wandered around to see if there was any trace on Serenade that she were a siren in disguise.

"Man, if I hadn't seen you change up like that, I wouldn't have believed you were one of them huge sirens. This is really impressive. And you said that Princess Luna and Twilight was in on it too?"

Doing a full 180, Berry ended up facing Nada with a huge grin on her face, and jumped in place from pure joy over what this meant for her new friend.

"I know it might be a little early to pull out the party hats, but this here's great news! We can get you a disguise if needed, and you can hang around ponies like it was nothing too, without having to worry about the princesses going bonkers over you. If Luna and Twilight is in on it, that's a solid 2 outta 3 of the main players in Equestria, and if Serenade here's able to hang out around us small stuff with their permission, I bet we can cut you a deal too."

Flipping on the spot again, Berry nearly stumbled over herself this time, but managed to keep her footing before she crashed into Serenade by accident.

"You'll put in a good word for her, right? Nada's a real peach that wouldn't hurt anypony, scouts honor. And come on, wouldn't it be nice to have somepony around these parts that you can really talk with?"

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@Catpone Cerberus

Ruby had hit a good topic to distract Spicy from the topic at hoof, though the pony hadn't really thought about asking Ruby why she didn't respond more to things. So far she had seemed like the sort who preferred to talk as little as possible, and weren't too impressed with bragging. Only Marley seemed to really get her going, and that was more because of their semi-friendly insults to one another, and the constant poking at one another. The griffon tended to have that effect on others that liked to battle wits, so it hadn't really been something weird in Spicy's eyes.

Besides, they had hit a jackpot today, and Ruby might be thinking about what to use her ill-gotten gains for. Sure that had to be more interesting than listening to the poker mare rambling on, at least for some beings.

"I've had four chances to steal dragon treasure, and seven of actually just taking it because I were owed it. Believe me, ponies and griffons aren't the only ones who likes to gamble, and some dragons are just so easy to read it makes playing against them more like stealing candy from a foal.

But, they get all sorts of irritating to deal with soon as the time comes to pay up, and they have to let loose some of their goods, so I tend to make some other deals with 'em to compensate me. You'd be surprised how many favors I have to call on out and about from that sort of arrangement.

As for actually nicking their stuff, It's been possible, and I've sure been tempted, but I've seen what happens to those who gets frisky with dragon hoards, and I'm not high enough up the food chain to get away with this sorta thing. I'm also not dumb enough to try it. Seriously, some of those lizard folks are fifty times my size or more, and carries grudges for generations. Who's dumb enough to mess with that without having some serious game themselves?"

Well, She did, but that mare also had a good deal of said game to work with. Might be she'd lose in a physical fight, but that wasn't her path either. Frankly what were, Spicy didn't know, but she had seen the aftermath of some of it, and it was rather pretty. And with that she meant that it was spotless, and seemed like whoever had gotten on her bad side had simply been swiped off the face of Equestria.

"Anyway, let's get to work and get this stuff topside. We'll find a drawer for it by then."

During the talking, they would've found themselves at the coffin once more, and Spicy for one would start loading up on what was in there, and just make it fit where she could, including on her wings if needed, so they didn't need to go too many times. She'd come back for the urn later.

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@FanOfManyShows

Awh nuts, seemed like they weren't out of the woods yet, no pun intended.

Once they had gotten to the house, things had seemed fine enough at first, until Sapphire of all ponies suddenly stood there, and had a tug war with Iron about the book. Chow had drawn his spearhead at that point and gotten closer to Astral, but he was confused as to what to do here. If it were really Sapphire, or her ghost or whatever, Astral would never forgive him if he actually managed to hurt her, but if it weren't, and this was just some trick for Emerald to get the book back, this was going to end up worse... Darn it he missed the good old times of *That's a charging boar, stab it before it stabs you*. Simple times that were.

"Why? What exactly are you two gonna do with this book? Because I've had Emerald in my head for years now, and I for sure know that there ain't a good action that comes outta that parasite. You come clear with us right now, or we ain't the ones in danger of being hurt."

Yeah yeah, he knew, *Element of Deceit* and all that, but what else was he gonna do? Tickle her until truth spilled out? Best bet were to let Astral and Iron evaluate whatever anything Sapphire said were good enough, or if it were a complete load of rotten tomatoes, then potentially go get her after that. Sure she might run, but they'd just find 'em later then. Iron had done so already, and probably could so again.

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@EQ_Theta

Sen's resourcefulness were showing quickly again, as he laid out a plan for a few simple, yet effective tools to test things for them, and then quickly gathered the materials for it. He'd still need rope, but they were in luck there. The rope that Lin and Rosa had used were not cut or destroyed in any other way when they had been in the swamp, so they had some material to work with there. They'd just need to unfold it.

On 10/29/2018 at 6:18 AM, EQ_Theta said:

"I just need some rope to get everything ready." Sen sat down and began work on the long sticks, first sharpening the rocks he's grabbed into a pointed end. He turned to Omen looking concerned even well before they left their camp.

"Are you alright with the plan, Omen? Will you be fine going up to the temple first?"

"I left the rope over near your tent. Unless somepony's moved it, it should be there and ready for use, Sen."

There was a certain delightful simplicity in the way that Sen did his things that were almost captivating at times. In spy training, they had learned to improvise, and do what they could with what they had at hoof if their own tools couldn't do the trick, but simple hunter methods like this wasn't among the lessons. They would've been told to crush something with the rocks, sharpen the stick to use it as a weapon, and the rope to... Well, less than nice things, if the situation arose. This here were more intricate in a way. Perhaps it was Sen's hunter training that did it, though Rosa would have to ask about that at another time. They had other things to deal with right now, and the longma were addressing Omen, which the bat pony saw as his cue to go over and help pack the tent down so they could get going that much sooner.

On 10/29/2018 at 6:18 AM, EQ_Theta said:

"Are you alright with the plan, Omen? Will you be fine going up to the temple first?"

"Yes."

Omen had yet to really meet anything in her life that would require her to really fear it, and going to a temple with traps didn't sound like a problem. At least not considering past experiences.

"Master Discord liked traps. Sometimes I walked into them. Are the temple traps also magic that does weird things?"

It were likely the only thing that could really do something against Omen, as for example if a boulder went her way, she'd just remove it through a gate, whereas magic could hit her before she could react, and put her in some sort of stasis, or turn her yellow, or something else. Discord had many things he could and did do that Omen accidentally stumbled into, so her idea of how a trap worked were less in the realm of severely injuring somepony, and more towards making you itch for a week, or make you able to smell nothing but sauerkraut for the rest of the evening.

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@EQ_Theta @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

The dragon followed every move the mare did, and how the bunny more or less had to work as her external spine for a moment. A strange relationship between them, but it seemed somehow fitting for the overly timid mare. Somewhat sad though, as at least in Nerzhei's experience, beings that were too kind of nature were easy to take advantage of, and as this mare had kept an eye on Lotus, it felt somewhat wrong that it would likely be so easy to use Fluttershy as a doormat.

The question that she were then asked though, surprised Nerzhei. Certainly this mare could use a reinforcement of her spine, but to ask a dragon about it? Their kind were not known for carrying their pride without being massive jerks about it as well, so that she had been asked this rather than one of the more strong-willed ponies were a surprise. A welcome one though, as Nerzhei liked to think herself better than her brutish kin usually were, and this felt like somewhat of an external confirmation about that. One likely brought on by Lotus though, yet that were a minor details that were hardly worth bringing up for discussion.

"I won't lie and say that you couldn't use it. However if I wish to do so is another thing. My research takes up much of my time normally, and this library holds many a tome which I'd like to read through."

A fluffy foot struck her face from Lotus, who started to go off about how she could leave the paperwork for another day, along with some... Colorful phrases that were best not repeated in polite conversation.

"I didn't say that I wouldn't do it, Lotus. I said it normally took much of my time, but I feel like I owe you, Fluttershy, to at least make an attempt at helping you, for your assistance in keeping my friend safe.

Yet, I am a researcher by nature, and I need details to work from. I have seen your usual timidness and nervousness, likely brought up somewhat by being near me. Now I want to see how far in the other direction you would go, as it sounded like you know well how to stand up for yourself, but have an attitude problem along with it. So then, when I confront you in a more stereotypical way in a moment, tell me off in the way you would, if you add the attitude you don't want to have tagged along."

Nerzhei leaned forward and started to sneer at the mare. Her eyes were narrowed and the look within spoke of unkind thoughts, supported by the cold tone the voice took on as Nerzhei applied her experiment.

"What was that? How about you go ahead and say that to my face, little pony."

It were an exaggeration as well really, and an act that the dragon usually only used around others of her kind, as force tended to be the only way those fools understood anything. Hopefully the mare would understand so too, and show her assertive, yet likely rude side, as otherwise Nerzhei would have to sent Lotus after her with an apology, and then try to attack this from another angle.

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@Lucid_Nightlight @BloodDrops @Storm Shine @Lucid_Nightlight @Dji

"How's that weird? A chicken took something from him, so poultry had to pay. That's the most sane thing I've heard all day. I frankly hope he hit the duck."

What made them so sure that the guy they mentioned weren't all there, when what he did made perfect sense. At least along the lines of a typical draconequus way of thinking. Perhaps it was weird for a pony or assorted others that looked like them, but those beings were boring, so who cared what they thought about that?

"What more ca you tell me about this Lumen Obscurum? He sounds five times more interesting than just some human who'd shoot me on sight. Sure it'd be fun a few times, but bullets makes a huge mess, and you could hit somepony behind me. No good having a straight through hit somepony that wasn't part of the fun.

And you can tell Pringle that he's on too. This time, I'm gonna be the one who wins a bet over him, you just wait and see."

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@Emperor Blu Traincrown

1 hour ago, Emperor Blu Traincrown said:

When both were in the descending elevator and as Molotov wanted to know what was an elevator operating here for, Blue replied with "Well it's easier for me to bring the stuff I bought into my lab with an elevator than stairs. Not to mention I usually transport them thanks to a cart. Have you ever tried to pull or push a cart up or down the stairs without damaging the stuff on it? I have, and boy I swore never to try it again. That's why I requested an elevator to be built at my home. There's still a staircase though, in case the elevator eventually needs some maintenance or has technical difficulties."

"You just need to add some feet and locomotion to your carts. It's pretty easy, long as you set some sensors up here and there. I'll show you how to set it up later if ya want, so you can take advantage of all the passage ways."

It wasn't that Molotov were uninterested in what were shown in the lab entrance in front of him. Not in the slightest. In fact, the touch pad alone had him wandering up and taking a closer look. It was just that this were a small issue in Molotov's eyes that he knew a solution to, and he loved solutions to problems. It were the sort of thing inventors did after all. Solving issues that others hadn't figured out yet, and he could wait a few seconds to go down that route before going straight into the lab itself.

And boy howdy did he want to do that as he saw the door slide open - he had got to try and get the details on this scanner for his own workshop - and revealed a glorious space that any inventor worth his screwdrivers would be thrilled to work in.

And yes, that was a plural of screwdriver, as in his family, you weren't an inventor unless you had at least six, and that was just in the starting kit. Personally, Molotov had fourteen, not counting the ones in his travel kit. Mainly because they were duplicates, and everything else were for each their own situation.

"Now This is what I'm talking about! Oh, I have got to check out that chassis area."

Unless some kind of security system would stop him. Molotov would wander straight ahead and check out the area where the outer shell got put together. The engine was sure something he wanted to have a look at as well, no doubt about it, but a machine was only as good as it's chassis, and he wanted to see what sort of materials this guy were using to get the job done with that before checking what made it all tick. Perhaps something with Deep Iron? Sturdy stuff, albeit difficult to mine, and with a price tag on it that spoke clearly about that.

"And hey, while I remember it, you don't need to get all embarrassed about your man crush 'round me, Blue. Love's a beautiful thing, and I ain't one of them backwards hicks who gets all icky about same-sex partners. Ain't hurting anypony, so what's the point in meddling with their happiness, right? Now go ahead and tell ol' Molotov here what sweet little things goes through this beauty of a workshop, 'cause it sure looks like a place for solid construction."

Lucid_Nightlight · October 30, 2018

@Blitz Boom @BloodDrops @Storm Shine @Dji

"Lumen is an alright guy, considering how weird you are, you'd probably be his type."

"Yea, you'd like him. The guy managed to staple his couch to the wall, which he did to get revenge on all birds after a flamingo stole his fries."

A framed picture of Lumen appeared. It showed that he was a unicorn with green fur, a red mane and tail, and a cutiemark of a broken lightbulb.

Edited October 30, 2018 by Lucid_Nightlight

Catpone Cerberus · October 30, 2018

@Moonlit @Blitz Boom
Nada's mouth was yet again wide open as the siren in front of her transformed into a pony, and she wasn't broken out of that surprise until Berry started talking to her. Again, she didn't speak until Berry had finished, "That's incredible, that would explain how you have been able to hide among ponies without problems...." her tone was almost admiring, but as she continued it changed to a lower, almost low-spirited "...but as great as that is...I don't know if I'm ready to a such... limiting change, even if that was possibility for me." she looked at Berry who she knew just wanted to help her, "Nor am I willing to live somewhere where I have to be something else than I am, I rather stay in my bond than be something I'm not." this didn't mean she disapproved Serenade's choice, she just wasn't ready to go so far, even if it wasn't permanent, because even ignoring the hassle that would be to learn to walk with legs and fly with wings after over millennia of being a siren, what would be the point in moving from hiding in a bond, to hiding in a fake form, if she would still have to be hiding, and being limited on top of that. "If ponies aren't ready to accept me as me, then I'm not interested in even trying to trust them."

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@Blitz Boom

I was, Ruby thought to herself when Spicy questioned who would be stupid enough to mess with a bigger dragon, the truth had quite literally hit her some time before she had found about and decided to move to Equestria, but thanks to her body being tough and healing relatively quickly, among some lucky happenings, she had seen another day after that. She also had almost commented that it she knew exactly what it was like to do business with a dragon, but she had decided that maybe it wasn't the time to show her knowledge about dragons after what had happened.

"Sure." she simply replied after Spicy said that they should get to work, and she walked to the coffin and started taking things out, putting them between the leather straps keeping her box on her back, and her body, which wasn't necessary the most comfortable thing in the world, since the straps were pretty tight, meaning that anything but under them pressed pretty painfully against her, but she ignored it..

EQ_Theta · October 31, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Lin had just finished cleaning up her pack of rations when she overheard the conversation between Sen and Rosa. Quickly walking over to Sen's tent and grabbing their supply, she tossed it all towards Sen's feet. The longma nodded, saving a little bit of time but it was best he began working. He didn't want to hold Rosa back for small talk right now and let him do what he needed to do. As for Omen, there was something about Discord letting her walk into traps that put a strange image in his head. The kind that reflected a playful Discord that didn't exactly reflect what a real booby-trapped temple would be like. Then again, it might be close enough to the real thing but the traps Omen mentioned might still be harmless.

"I don't know, Omen. Maybe they are magic traps, maybe they're not. We won't know until we get there and that's what worries me. You going in first means you'll probably run into something that will set off a trap or two. I've got something in mind though. These rocks here? I think you can use these to set off traps without risking yourself."

Sen handed a few rocks towards Omen, mostly the large ones. No strings or pouches to get tangled around. Once a trap is sprung, there is a good chance Omen might just be able to see how far it reaches before making it to a safe zone. Then it is all a matter of opening gates to each of them and getting around the hazardous areas. It might even save some travel time for everyone else in the group. Maybe Sen was thinking a little too hard on this plan but he's got something, and he's happy with it. As for the rest of the tools, he was just about to finish his first set of bolas with the rope tossed towards him. Two sets of two and on to the sticks. Three would be a good number, one for himself, Rosa, and Lin. He already got some of the rocks sharpened and all he needed was to tie them down with the sticks to form a polearm.

"If I can guess what kinds of traps you'd expect to see there, I'd say either trap doors, pits with spikes in them, poisonous gas, collapsing floors, or a giant boulder rolling down from the ceiling. Hopefully we just run into the kind of things that we could bypass if we're careful. As for magic traps, I wouldn't know where to begin."

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

@Blitz Boom @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

She knew it was just a demonstration, she knew it wasn't really an insult, she knew well that Nerzhei was going to see just exactly what is wrong, but Fluttershy was paralyzed. Screaming and running away was what she expected herself to do. Angel was behind her and she was likely going to see him attempt to send her back towards the dragon. With all the courage she could muster, she walked up to the dragon, eyeing her while fuming beneath her breath. She wouldn't make too much fuss about it but sometimes, her emotions wouldn't stay in check, and she could let out something loose.

"How about I spare you from wasting your time, researcher, and read yourself a book!" Fluttershy promptly grabbed whatever book she could get her hoof at and threw it at Nerzhei's feet. "I asked nicely but I see you dragons are all the same. It's no wonder no one in Equestria wants to meet your kind! Wanna know why? Maybe you can make that the topic of your research!"

The pegasus hadn't noticed but she was flapping her wings, seeing herself at eye level with Nerzhei, not to mention using her signature stare put on overdrive. Once she did, she promptly put herself back and made herself appear smaller as she slowly began to back away. It wasn't a lesson that easily stuck with her; back when Iron Will stopped by, she was a lot less restrained, nearly ruining her friendships with both Pinkie and Rarity. The same thing happened again back when she stood in for Rarity while running her boutique in Manehattan. That one was a disaster escalating until even she had to kick her friends out of the boutique, not to mention insulting the friendly raccoons helping run the place.

"I'm sorry, Nerzhei." Fluttershy quietly apologized, her voice much softer and more demure. "I got carried away by that. I hope that didn't hurt your feelings."

Off to the side, Angel stood and watched, reminding her of the time Fluttershy became a jerk under Discord's influence. It wasn't pretty, leaving many of the animals residing in the cottage scared, too terrified to come back home until Fluttershy came back to apologize. Frankly, he was just there chattering his teeth and hoping the pegasus's words didn't anger Nerzhei to the point of rescinding her offer to help.

Moonlit · October 31, 2018

@Blitz Boom @Catpone Cerberus Serenade nods, "Understandable. This disguise is simply for my job. And it's not just 2 out of 3" She turns to face Berry, "The Sun Princess also knows, not sure about Princess Lovebutt" She shrugs, "And Ponies can be excitable" She giggles as she points to Berry, "But the ones in Ponyville are a bit more welcoming. The only creature I haven't seen there is a Windigo"

Rising Dusk · November 1, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Listening to Null's response to his inquiry about the type of mission they were on made the detective feel a pain in his heart. He'd hadn't had to opportunity to see outside the borders of Equestria, that weren't written in a book anyways. Here, he was listening to an experience outside his world that had damaged and scared a pair of sisters. Collecting random junk for a purpose of keeping themselves safe from those that might hurt them, or even did. Rising Dusk would never claim Equestria was the perfect country, if it was then there would be no need for his work or the O.M.I. at all. There was darkness that existed in their world and no matter how bright the light shined, there would always be a corner for it to hide in. Shesh, he was starting to sound like his father. It was pretty apparent now that Null had closed her heart to the world and Void was too paranoid. Null's statement was partly true, but the world was also full of happiness and friendship. Heck, he just taught a similar lesson to a mechanical spider the other day. He could only hope that someday here in Equestria, they would get to experience that.

There unique ability appears to be the cause of a great deal of their hardship, but based on the range he observed, it was difficult for him to understand how it bothered a unicorn to the point of violence. Short of them hugging the sisters or them standing too close to a structure or device powered by magic, a unicorn should be mostly unaffected. Maybe that is a big difference between Equestria and the outside world? Most of Equestria runs fine without magic day to day, a lot of places even preferring to not use it for tasks as a sense of pride or tradition.

"I hope your stay in Equestria proves there is still good in this world," he offered Null, still needing more information on their experiences in this country.

With the trio now seated at the table to get down to business, he watched as Void removed an object in cloth that was identified as a weapon. He could understand it was probably used for their own defense, but at the same time, he was wary of allowing a weapon into the agency without checking for a permit. The only thing stopping him from inquiring more about it was the letter from Princess Celestia. For this purpose, the sisters were her envoys and had a degree of leeway. When the first object came out, he listened, absorbing the story about the cursed doll from the land of witches. And this wasn't the most dangerous thing they were carrying with them? Rising Dusk had his work cut out for him if that was the case. With her hoof still on the bear, he couldn't see the magic, but based on her description of the what it did, his could already form a basic idea.

Nodding to the kind sister, "I understand. I'll do everything I can," he told her, offering a reassuring smile.

Blitz Boom · November 1, 2018

@Moonlit @Catpone Cerberus

Berry's grin started to wither away and give place to a look of worry, as Nada's mood fell. Poor new friend had a solution right at her hooves, but she had a point. If you had to stay hidden constantly, what was the point in making contact? Of course Berry did it because she didn't want to be found or connected to somepony who had - unreasonably in her eyes - been put in a mental asylum for a year, but that was different. That was just wanting to hide her identity, whilst the situation Nada were faced with were about hiding her entire species. It'd be like if a pony had to get used to wandering around as a lizard, just to fit in.

Man that were a pretty grim thought... No wonder Nada didn't want to go down that road.

"It's okay, we'll just return to the original plan and find the princess, then ask for a full on acceptance package. You'll see, we'll get you through this and not just back to the lake."

Going a few steps over, Berry once again would attempt to embrace as much as her siren friend as were possible, to attempt getting her out of her slump. They might have to work out something else in time, like some corney jokes or something, but currently this were all that Berry could come up with.

The feeling of Nada's scales against her coat were a sharp contrast to how for example dragon scales felt, but she didn't mind. The softer, somewhat damp/dry scales were kinda snuggly in their own way. Like a rattlesnake or something.

"And Serenade's right you know. Ponyville sees all sorta of varied creatures there that're usually welcome. You'd just be a new sight they'd get used to.

Though it ain't entirely true that no windigo ever got through. There's this weird pony who comes to town sometimes on his route, right? I've seen the head of one of them weird wind ponies poke out behind the counter of his large icecream cart, when I followed him towards Baltimare. I think he uses it to keep the goods cold, though whatever or not the windigo is trapped or there willingly I have no idea."

Berry let go of Nada - if the siren had not floated away by herself before that - and turnes to Serenade, still kinda weirded out by seing the soggy pony disguise.

"You remember him? Bitter Sweet? He always looks like he's bitten down on a sour lemon whilst being kicked in the shins.

Wait... Ooooh nevermind, thinking about a guy I saw in Manehattan, not Ponyville. Whoops. I think you're right then, we've still not had windigo's. Just wait and see though, bet it's gonna happen any day."

Seriously, they had two sirens in and around town now. Everything was possible at this point.

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@Catpone Cerberus

The two of them would get everything sorted quickly, as even though there were a good deal of jewelry in the coffin, it was still only enough for a single pony to wear and walk around with, so it wasn't weighing down like bricks, and the urn wasn't all that bad either. It was just dust in a clay pot. It wasn't exactly a gold bar.

Soon enough they'd have it outside, all nice and snug in the box, and loaded into the wagon. Marley would be well timed in appearing once they were over, carrying two boxes on his back and whistling away all joyfully, though at the sight of the sun, he had to avert his eyes a little, since a certain somepony had left him to deal with this job without any light source.

"Light hurting yer eyes birdie?"

"A minor need for readjustment, nothing else. Is everything set here?"

"Getting there. I'll be needing that section of the wall down there that shows off our toasty pile of ashes living self doing something dumb. You know what to do."

She threw the *controller* for the light bulbs towards Marley without a warning, though he still caught it without any issue. It may be that the light were annoying him a little right now, but that did not mean that his other senses weren't there, so taking something thrown towards his head and grabbing hold of it wasn't out of the realm of his abilities. Perhaps if it had been thrown together with something else to distract him, he might have hesitated in picked for a half second and have a closer, less delicate grip on this thing, yet Spicy wouldn't want her lights to actually be destroyed, so he knew she would not do such a thing unless she were certain that he could deal with it.

"Very well. I bid you both farewell for a few minutes. Do try to not mess things up here."

He put the two boxes with perfume down in front of Spicy, before turning around and going back down, now with the lights floating near him.

It presented Ruby with a choice. Stay out here, and help Spicy pack the sealed perfume jars into the wagon, or go with Marley downstairs again, and have the option to speak with him without oversight.

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@EQ_Theta

On 10/31/2018 at 4:42 AM, EQ_Theta said:

"I don't know, Omen. Maybe they are magic traps, maybe they're not. We won't know until we get there and that's what worries me. You going in first means you'll probably run into something that will set off a trap or two. I've got something in mind though. These rocks here? I think you can use these to set off traps without risking yourself."

Omen took the rock, but she didn't do much else with it beyond that. Since Sen had mentioned that this would work to disarm traps. Though how was it going to do that? Were she supposed to just throw it at the things? But what would happen then?

Glancing around, she saw some of the strong that Rosa had used for the weird things he did every night. Traps he called them too, and there were still a few he hadn't gotten yet. The one she were looking at just seemed like a string strung unevenly between two trees.

So she did as could be expected. Used a gate to port the stone through to Mother's realm, then over where the string were, and saw as it fell. The connection to the string were barely made before one of the small trees it were connected with fell over to where somepony would have stood, had they wandered into it Apparently, as part of the trap, said tree had gotten a deep cut from the bat pony and were basically only held in place by the large tree keeping it pulled in the right direction.

The spectacle were not enough to really hurt somepony, but it would scare away some beasts, and most certainly alert those in the camp if it had been sprung. Lethal traps took longer, and since one of them might accidentally wander into them, Rosa had elected to not go with those sort of things, even if they would have been safer. The noise still made him react instinctively and turn around, dagger in hoof to where he perceived the attacker to be, but there were nothing. Just a dropped rock used by somepony who understood a little of what sort of thing she were supposed to look out for, and activate with the rocks.

On 10/31/2018 at 4:42 AM, EQ_Theta said:

"If I can guess what kinds of traps you'd expect to see there, I'd say either trap doors, pits with spikes in them, poisonous gas, collapsing floors, or a giant boulder rolling down from the ceiling. Hopefully we just run into the kind of things that we could bypass if we're careful. As for magic traps, I wouldn't know where to begin."

As Sen started to explain, Omen began to get a glassy expression in her eyes again, similar to a little before Lin were witness to her shutting down because there were too many things rummaging around her head, when Rosa interrupted.

"It just means you need to be careful not to fall into somewhere, and avoid things getting thrown towards you. As for magic traps, assume simple things like paralysis and fear-inducing illusion magic, which will make you unable to move or will cause you to see things. It's among the more common magical traps, along with fire, though that doesn't seem to do much to you."

He might not be able to see the look in her eyes, but Omen's *overload* mechanic seemed pretty cut and dry to him, all things considered, and required her to have less to figure out on her own to not end up silent and still for hours on end. Certainly this wasn't a full explanation, but it were something, and it seemed to work, as Omen then nodded and locked eyes with Sen.

"I can do that."

"Good, though let's talk more about it once we get there and can have a look at things. Get everything you're doing done everypony, and we'll leave as soon as we can."

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

@EQ_Theta @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

"I take no offense to that, as I asked for it myself. Were you a dragon, I would have in fact been impressed with it too, especially with the added visual at throwing a book near a researcher or scholar. Effective detail."

Carefully, Nerzhei picked up the book - called *Pet maintenance and you, by Poodle Pip* - and dusted it off.

She weren't sure what she had expected from the mare, yet it certainly hadn't been this. The response were more akin to an irate dragon than that of a pony who acted like Fluttershy did, though smarter, as the book were a touch which most of those she knew had not the brain capacity to know would work in their favor. They were more likely to eat said book than to use it in any sort of meaningful way.

The throw of said book had also been the only point when Nerzhei reacted to Fluttershy's assault, with a twitch going off in her right eyebrow, though throughout the rest she had just kept her mask of pretend annoyance with the mare, and observed what had transcribed.

"As for your situation, it seems like you're having an issue with extremes. An insult being met with an insult is not a bad response, as you should not allow yourself to be stepped upon, but it appears that you can't see the point where you need to stop.

In this case, especially adding the last bit where you insult dragons in general back were not needed. Remember that us dragons tend to be prideful creatures, and there is a difference between being accepting of someone standing up to themselves, and being hit multiple on said pride.

I believe the underlying issue is anger. You have a surprising amount of rage hidden within you, and when backed into a corner, or attempting to show some degree of dominance, you let your emotions control you, and that anger is an easy one to fall back on. Believe me, I know that well."

Nerzhei struggled with rage sometimes too, and she were not as calm and collected as she tended to appear, as she could feel it bubbling beneath the surface more often than not, but she had learned to ignore it, or use it constructively, so she managed to live well with it. Fluttershy may as well, but as a pony, she had less time to work with than a dragon like Nerzhei, which excluded some options here.

"Had I fifty years to work with, I could have helped you use that rage better, yet for the time being, perhaps going at another angle will work better: Snark.

As an example, to my previous retort, you could have answered *I could wait until you cleared your ears and then try again if you'd like* or again put the book down, though gentler, and add *If your ears don't work, I could write it down for you*. It wouldn't make a dragon less irritable with you in the situation, but it would cause you to gain some leeway from standing up for yourself without going overboard.

Of course, the best would be to attack your anger issues first. I'm no shrink, but I can venture a guess and say that perhaps you don't like being so easy to step on most of the time, and the anger you use to try and be assertive come from some degree of self-loathing over that? I've heard of worse reasons, if that's it, though you could also just be hiding all that anger normal beings tend to feel away, to try and seem kinder, and it builds up? Perhaps you're simply just overtly emotional and have issues changing from one extreme to another?

I need to know more to get something out of this. Elaborate on what you think, Fluttershy, and don't hold back from telling me plain and simple that I am wrong if that is the case. I'm a scholar, I'm used to not holding all the answers, though try and keep your emotions in check. There's a limit to how many free swings at me you get."

While that went on, Lotus had jumped over to Angel and patted him on the shoulder to try and get him to calm down.

"Relax, everything is going to be okay. My dragon isn't going to hurt your pony for that. She'll have to say worse things for that."

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

@Rising Dusk

8 hours ago, Rising Dusk said:

"I hope your stay in Equestria proves there is still good in this world," he offered Null, still needing more information on their experiences in this country.

"Celestia is accepting and kind. The citizens aren't."

"Well, s-some of them. Ponyville was n-nice enough to us, and the g-group we ran into in t-this town can't be how a-all of them are..."

It was easy to hear that Void didn't have too much confidence in her words, though who could really blame her? The folks that had walked into them and found out what they could had been more than happy to not just talk down to the two of them, and refer to them as little more than freaks, but also encourage others to do the same by loudly proclaiming what the sisters could do to anypony near. Rumors had a tendency to spread, so this did not bode well in their experience. It would have boded even less well if Null had actually gotten her hooves on the one shouting the loudest though. That look in her sister's eyes... Void had seen it many times now, but occasionally, it still frightened her. Even if she knew that Null would never harm her.

"That's what we thought about our home too, and it cost me the open sky."

Void winced at the words and looked away, keeping silent now as she attempted to push some bad memories away, gotten on by the poorly thought out words.

Null on the other hoof, looked at her sister and lifted a hoof towards her, though she didn't make contact. For once, the pegasi didn't look angry, but rather distraught as she knew that she had just picked at an old wound that was shared between them. She had lost her wing then, but Void had lost her leg too in the process, and it had started the escalation that led to them fleeing Troy and having to fend for themselves. It was a comment that caused Void emotional pain, and Null hated when she caused that. She were supposed to protect her younger sister from pain, not worsen it.

8 hours ago, Rising Dusk said:

Nodding to the kind sister, "I understand. I'll do everything I can," he told her, offering a reassuring smile.

The little exchange caused the mares to not respond to Rising for a dozen or so seconds, though finally, Null's expression hardened again, and her risen hoof went towards Voids, where she gently lifted it up, and away from the bear. Her eyes were locked on the officer as both her and Void were about to exit the range from which their effect worked, and lingered for a few seconds as she gave some final, reassuring words to the officer.

"If it starts eating you, we'll deal with it."

More than that Null didn't give Rising before lifting both her and Void's hooves away, allowing the bear to begin its work.

It were a relatively simple thing to not fall under the sway off. It wasn't a forceful entity, or had any sort of locomotion to bring it over and bring itself into your hooves. Rather, it was just giving off a kind of emotional interference, which caused the ones within a few meters of it to feel the strong urge to pick it up, and bring it back home. If you knew what you were dealing with - as Rising basically did - it would be easy enough to not fall under the sway, but it wasn't meant for his type either. It were meant to just sit somewhere, and eventually be stumbled upon by some hapless fool that didn't know better.

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

@BloodDrops @Lucid_Nightlight @Storm Shine @Dji

Anomaly stared at the picture of Lumen for a while, then went into a big grin.

"He needs a third eye and a tentacle, but he's kinda cute even in his boring base form. And he sounds like a real smart pony too. Flamingo's are a bunch of *bird chirping noises*. Oh right, author doesn't want me to swear. Bah.

Anyway, he looks fun. Can I tag along when you slip back to the booping dimension? I dunno how to work those portal thingies.

Say, when Are you going back? Lucid never said anything, and I dunno if you'e here to bring him back or something? Heh, or are you two gonna have some fun here first before going back where nopony knows what you've done? Sounds fun. I haven't had anypony I know on a wanted poster in years.*

Lucid_Nightlight · November 1, 2018

@Blitz Boom @BloodDrops @Storm Shine @Dji

"I'm not really sure when I'm going back. It could be a few week, maybe a lot longer. You never know with this sort of thing."

Novia piped up.

"We could take her to our world, but I don't know if the author guy allows other universes."

"I could just give him a rude gesture and do it anyway if he doesn't allow it."

Please don't, you're gonna get me in trouble.

"Hey! I didn't give you permission to speak!"

Seriously man.

"Fine, I'll only take her there with the author's permission since you are such a big baby."

I'm not a baby!

"Yea, he's not a baby! He's a chicken!"

Catpone Cerberus · November 1, 2018

@Moonlit @Blitz Boom

Nada thought for a moment, there was quite lot of information to consider, her thinking fittingly ended just after Berry had finished her story about Windigo. She was floating close enough to the ground for Berry to be possible to hug her, though her hug was more on the lower part of her body since Nada was floating upright. Nada yet again didn't mind the mentioned hug, though this time it was mostly because she almost didn't even notice it happening since she was thinking stuff.

"Thanks Berry, you're right, we still have the original plan, and..." she looked at Serenade "...I think there might be a change that it will go well, since allowing siren even in pony form to their town is a good sign, and I don't have a reason to not believe you..." she was talking directly to Serenade now "....when you say they're accepting type." "One question though Serenade, would you be willing to help us? since you from sound of it know the princesses well. All I need to is get somepony with any power to listen me before trying to forcibly throw me into an another world."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@Blitz
Ruby was quiet the whole time from collecting the things from the coffin to putting them to wagon and until Marley had already went back down. She didn't need to think long about her next move, even if she ignored the fact that she wanted to talk with Marley, she would still choose to go back down, because she wasn't going to take the risk of getting covered by the foul poison, which, though small, was possible when carrying said substance if for example the jar broke. She started walking before she spoke "I'll go check of he needs an extra hoof with the wall, because no matter how strong he may be, something of that size can be challenging to get up stairs alone." she then headed back in.

When Ruby reached the room where Marley was, she stopped on the doorway and leaned against it with expressionless face, "Though I appreciate you lying to your boss for me, I'd like to know what you have or think you have figured out about me. " her tone was just as emotionless as her face "And on that topic, whatever it is, I'd like to make it clear that it's in your best personal interest to not try to use it against me."

EQ_Theta · November 2, 2018

@Blitz Boom

"Just a few things left for me to work on. Shouldn't take too long now," the longma set some finished bolas and one sharpened spear aside. Two more left and they should be ready to go. "By the way, that necklace Lin made for you? It looks good."

Frankly, it was some of the best work Lin has made in years, if ever. She had an idea of what she wanted, and all it needed was a personal touch. Each one a young longma makes is meant to be special, but they were their own intended recipients. This one reflected a different intention. This one was made out of gratitude from two friends, or rather an adopted brother and a sister who appreciated everything Omen has done for them. Maybe Lin might consider reworking the one she gave to Mother. She did admit it was kind of sloppy when she first gave it.

But while Sen was adding the finishing touches on the tools, Lin noticed Omen seemingly unresponsive while Sen was explaining traps to her. Appears to be more than just an overload like last night. Too many words and it appeared like she needed things broken down to the main idea. Or it might be something else. This was all new to her but it looked like Rosa knew how to handle it. She walked up to him, hoping to clear that up.

"Rosa, thanks for helping out Omen back there but how did you do it? That look with Omen about to go still after explaining something to her? It looked like you knew what was going to happen."

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

@Blitz Boom @Dji @Seamore Sandwich

Fluttershy smiled at Nerzhei's comment, about using the book, but ultimately, she was spot on. It wasn't that she was holding her anger back because of being treated like a doormat. That part was in the past. Now it was simply because she is just kindhearted in nature, being around animals meant she didn't have to exert so much effort in being angry because she didn't see the need. And for the most part, growing up in Ponyville meant she was surrounded by good-natured folk who knew a lot about decency. There didn't seem to be much in the way of being irate and losing her cool. Then Iron Will came and changed that, though her change in attitude was really attributed to her misunderstanding the point. Her friends may have thought the minotaur motivational speaker was the one behind it but it was really just her. It had to start somewhere.

"I guess it's just not knowing where being assertive ends and being a jerk begins. I always want to do the kind thing but I am not used to standing up for myself when things don't go my way, even if it is just asking for ponies to move out of the way. I once came across a pony whose cart was blocking a bridge; I lost my composure and threw the pony and her cart into the river. I just wanted to pass and they didn't seem to notice me."

Ah yes, that cart incident. Angel bunny once heard that from the birds passing by the bridge and couldn't believe it himself. A timid pony like Fluttershy flipping a cart over the side of the bridge? It was the strangest thing.

"I'm sure. Nerzhei is not like the other dragons I know. Spike grew up with ponies so he behaves more like them than actual dragons. And that cart incident Fluttershy mentioned? All true."

But on Fluttershy's end, she didn't seem to get the Nerzhei's idea. What she suggested didn't really sound like standing up and being assertive. It came off differently from saying something like "no means no" or putting her foot down and being firm with her words and actions. Snarking isn't conventional for her. For now, however, it seems as if the pegasus is becoming more comfortable and relaxed around the dragon. Certainly feels like being in the vicinity of Dragon Lord Ember when she came to visit the town.

"Nerzhei, what did you mean by that word? Snark? Is it different from being assertive or am I misunderstanding your suggestions?"

Sekel · November 2, 2018

@EQ_Theta, @Blitz Boom, @Seamore Sandwich

TWILIGHT SPARKLE

"Oh, it's another dragon," Twilight said in quiet surprise. She had finally made it back to the castle after inspecting the town to see if anything had gone amiss with its reformation from the desert. She had noticed that there had been a couple of big patches of sand left to go but other than that, everything seemed to be right as rain. She took it upon herself to make sure her subjects were cared for, which meant taking longer than she had liked to get back home. Once she did, however, she went straight for the library to sort out the books the Sphinx had left her. It didn't go well when she spotted Nerzhei, and Fluttershy. "Um ... did I miss something while I was coming back?"

@Blitz Boom

KARMIC FATE

"Yes, I do fear death. I may not have experienced it, being a sludge puddle for most of my existence, but I do know what it is," Atzy said meekly, cowering at the sight of Enzo. She may have been confident at the start but with each question posed to her, her confidence had been struck to the ground and beaten. She let out a pained growl with her hooves on either side of her face before she gasped heavily.

"Enzo? Was it? Or was it Enzio?" Karmic gasped, looking at the Sphinx with wide eyes. She got back control from how Atzy's confidence and she planned in the driver's for a long time to come yet.

@Blitz Boom

AURORA LIGHTS

"I saw a Siren, I believe. In disguise," Aurora told Onache. She didn't feel like she should have kept that information secret but in her case, secrets didn't really mean much unless she was keeping them for herself. "I don't know if that means anything for us but I thought I should tell you about it."

@FanOfManyShows

WATTS MECHANO

"I do actually find it more interesting, seeing what other ponies are up to, rather than telling them about my boring life," Watts found herself nodding and agreeing with Zealous. She was of the mind that if her life was boring enough, other ponies would seem a lot more interesting in comparison. At the very least she didn't have to say anything about her inventions to Zealous unless the topic actually came up. She looked Zealous dead in the eyes and smirked. "Let me ask you again. Would you like me to help, or am I going to force myself to be your companion and chase you to the ends of Equestria?"

Rising Dusk · November 3, 2018

@Blitz Boom

Rising Dusk was a very patient pony and didn't take any issue as the two sisters shared a moment together about the past. Plus, it gave him more to listen to and learn about the two ponies from Troy. It wasn't their words that was all the stallion listened to though, no it was also their body language that told a story. Their pasts appeared to be painted in tragedy, considering how much it had been brought up in just the few minutes he'd met the girls. Dusk wouldn't pretend to be able to relate with the two here. Sure, he'd seen some really dark things in some of the cases he'd worked, but they didn't paint his life. He even had the added benefit, if it could be called that, to not be able to forget anything about what he's seen, down to the finest detail.

A dozen or so seconds passed before the purpose of their trip to the O.M.I.'s basement was brought back to bare. It was nice enough to know though that Null would jump in if any problems happened. He did wonder through how long she'd wait until she did. Her attitude towards him had been rather icy, but at least toward her sister that heart thawed. It finally looked like the sisters were going to remove their null field from the bear now and reveal the curse to him. Here we go.

As the range of their ability moved away from the bear, Dusk blinked and reached out with his special sense. Like a pop-up book, the weave of the spell work on the bear sprang up and around the small object. Inky purple strands swirled in the air, weaving in and out to make a complex tangled mess of a tapestry. His eyes ran over the weave as if he was reading a book, taking everything in about it. The curse oozed with malicious. A lot of ponies didn't understand how much emotion played in their spell work, even down to the simplest of spells. Throwing one's rage into an energy beam for example, would increase it's power but also make it unstable. When he was younger, he always loved to look up at the Moon before bed. Looking at the most beautiful tapestry of spell work he'd ever seen. The colors, the design always awestruck him, but at the same time, it was filled with such sadness. Only later did he find out that it was the spell Princess Celestia had cast to banish Nightmare Moon long ago.

Whoever put the curse on this bear meant for it to be dangerous and to kill. Working through the spell was like trying to solve a puzzle. Different parts of the weave highlighted a different purpose, this strand here kept the curse bound to the bear, that one there strengthened the spell so that when it was devouring it wouldn't just end the curse. This one over there kept a... count of victims, and then this part was that part Void referred to, the spell work that drove the pony looking at it to want to pick it up. To make matters worse, the weave he was looking at actively moved. Twisting and turning, untangling some areas only to tangle it elsewhere. The longer he stared at it though, the more his eyes kept darting back to the bear itself. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself.

The magic circle craved into the wood of the table flared for a moment before quickly dying out. This curse was too powerful for the general protection spell. His horn ignited with an orange glow. After a few moments of him collecting his thoughts, black wisps appeared to mix in with the glow of his magic. Time to get to work. Solving these types of curses was very dangerous, which is why the O.M.I. doesn't recommended doing this for the untrained. If a pony wasn't careful, one could actually make it worse rather than better. Dispelling one area might open a flood gate of disaster if not accounted for.

A small black wisp slashed in the air near the bear, sniping on of the strands in the magic weave. Another one appeared in a different area by the bear a second later, then another and another and another. A rapid flurry of small wisps danced around the bear. While the sisters could see the black wisps, they likely couldn't see what they were actually doing. Dusk could, of course. The inky purple tapestry was being cut to ribbons, but in a very specific order. His mind raced as he kept pace with the changing and slowly shrinking curse. Unraveling the terror that corrupted the poor bear toy, playing a very dangerous game of Cat's Cradle. The further he went, the bear started to hiss and a loud scream like the steam of a tea kettle filled the basement. Seconds passed before Rising Dusk flicked his horn, followed by a loud pop and sizzle. The black wisps attacking the bear stopped and then slowly disappeared from the orange glow of his magic as well. When the last wisp left, his magic extinguished all together.

Blinking, he reached up and poked the bear toy and it tumbled over, harmless. "That was a rather nasty piece of work," he admitted.

Moonlit · November 3, 2018

@Blitz Boom @Catpone Cerberus Serenade nods, and settles down to listen to the Siren's story. "Princess Luna got me my job, and I trust her. In fact, she's the one who made my Amulet" She indicates the jewel around her neck.

Emperor Azurailo · November 4, 2018

On 10/30/2018 at 9:20 PM, Blitz Boom said:

"You just need to add some feet and locomotion to your carts. It's pretty easy, long as you set some sensors up here and there. I'll show you how to set it up later if ya want, so you can take advantage of all the passage ways."

It wasn't that Molotov were uninterested in what were shown in the lab entrance in front of him. Not in the slightest. In fact, the touch pad alone had him wandering up and taking a closer look. It was just that this were a small issue in Molotov's eyes that he knew a solution to, and he loved solutions to problems. It were the sort of thing inventors did after all. Solving issues that others hadn't figured out yet, and he could wait a few seconds to go down that route before going straight into the lab itself.

And boy howdy did he want to do that as he saw the door slide open - he had got to try and get the details on this scanner for his own workshop - and revealed a glorious space that any inventor worth his screwdrivers would be thrilled to work in.

And yes, that was a plural of screwdriver, as in his family, you weren't an inventor unless you had at least six, and that was just in the starting kit. Personally, Molotov had fourteen, not counting the ones in his travel kit. Mainly because they were duplicates, and everything else were for each their own situation.

"Now This is what I'm talking about! Oh, I have got to check out that chassis area."

Unless some kind of security system would stop him. Molotov would wander straight ahead and check out the area where the outer shell got put together. The engine was sure something he wanted to have a look at as well, no doubt about it, but a machine was only as good as it's chassis, and he wanted to see what sort of materials this guy were using to get the job done with that before checking what made it all tick. Perhaps something with Deep Iron? Sturdy stuff, albeit difficult to mine, and with a price tag on it that spoke clearly about that.

"And hey, while I remember it, you don't need to get all embarrassed about your man crush 'round me, Blue. Love's a beautiful thing, and I ain't one of them backwards hicks who gets all icky about same-sex partners. Ain't hurting anypony, so what's the point in meddling with their happiness, right? Now go ahead and tell ol' Molotov here what sweet little things goes through this beauty of a workshop, 'cause it sure looks like a place for solid construction."

"Ooh, interesting! I'd love you to show me. Hope your mechanical cart feet will be able to support heavy things though. And when I speak about heavy, I'm speaking about things weighing around ten metric tons at least. That's why I demanded an elevator in the first place."

The Pegasus chuckled when Molotov rushed straight up towards the chassis area. There indeed were security features in his lab, but since the lab AI system knew it was Azure through the touch pad recognition, these would be deactivated. The chassis' two ends had a different shape, as the front end tended to be more aerodynamical whereas the rear end was blunt. And Azure had an explanation to that. "What I'm working on right now is a sun-powered high speed train. I call it Celestial Express 125. Celestial in honor of Princess Celestia who raises the Sun, source of power for this train. Express because it's supposed to be a quick high speed train, and is supposed to run from Appleloosa all the way up to the Crystal Empire with only an intermediate stop on the way: Canterlot. And finally 125 because its maximum in-service speed is supposed to be 125 miles per hour. To make it simple, that locomotive would be fast and clean. I haven't done the cars though, they're coming after and between the two power cars, one at each end so the train will be twice as powerful as a regular train, and won't need the locomotive to go all the way around to hook up at the front when arriving at last stops, gain of time intended. That's why you can see a blunt end on the chassis. This blunt end is expected to be facing the passenger cars, while the more aerodynamical end will have to cut through the air efficiently. As you may know, air is speed's worst enemy. Trains are no exception to that. And I bet my cutie mark that you thought it was steel or iron, but no. This particular chassis is made out of aluminium. Yup, you heard me: aluminium. Pretty cool isn't it? I've chosen this material because it's way lighter than iron. And when it comes to speed, the lighter the better. The same goes for the cars I'll build after."

"Thanks for being that understanding, Molotov. It really means to me." the Pegasus replied with a thankful smile. "Yes, you're all right. Not all ponies seem to understand this though, sadly."

"Well any kind of train can be built here. This place is only for prototypes though, since it's my personal workshop. Once I've built it and got positive test results, I send it to the Equestrian Railway factories for high rate production. I've got the tools to build any kind of train except the magnetic levitation ones. I struggle more with steam engines, considering the fact that these are genuine bombs on rails. The boiler may explode if housing too much pressure. And I could speak about what I do here for days, but I think you don't want me to speak about that, do you?" The Pegasus teased, knowing of course that this was what Molotov was waiting for since they've entered the lab.

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