private Darkness over Equestria (RP)

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@HigurSan, 

 

As Radiant was following behind Red a small distance he glanced back again and realized he left the new comer to the group on the ground. He yelled at himself inside his head that he had left her behind, it was unacceptable to do such a thing. 

 

Radiant dashed back to the mare and enveloped her in his magic picking her up off the ground and levitated her to him. He set the mare on his back still shouting at himself in his head. He begun walking back after Red so she wasn't separated from the group too much. As he followed after her he glanced back at the mare on his back. "I deeply apologize for that, please accept my apology." He pleaded for her forgiveness finding his action unforgivable.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Chip Circuit

[Reaver 350]

Strider had been... dumbstruck at Amore's revelation. Or, rather, the method of her revealing herself, as he had already suspected the truth. He had been completely silent, hoping that somepony--Radiant, or Lunar--with more knowledge of the situation would have been able to sort it out. But not really, he sighed privately as Red turned away from the group, barely looking at him.

 

She has to know, he thought, painfully watching Red walk away. She has to know what Red went through. She as good as said that she did. He shook his mind away from the self-pity that had begun welling up inside him. His heart twisted. He knew Lunar was right, though some deep emotion wanted him to follow Red,  his oldest friend, and leave his new ones completely behind. She had always been such a good pony, proven more by the fact that she had walked away, just ahead of the group, rather than leave them all together, or even attempt to kill Amore.

 

He sighed, beginning to step back to help the mare that Radiant had gently let off his back, but Radiant quickly took the job from him, to his relief. He looked up ahead, watching Radiant trot a good few paces behind Red--just enough to give her a shoulder to lean on, if she needed it--and felt a pang of jealousy. He had been the one to fill that position, once upon a time. But that didn't matter now.

 

Strider had always been a trusting pony. And he had trusted Red more and for a longer time than he had almost ever trusted anypony else. He decided to trust her now. She would come back, and when she did, he would let her know that he was there for her. He wasn't going to let her attack Amore, who was harmless in her starved state, but he would stay with her.

 

Instead of catching up to Red, he stepped next to Amore. He genuinely felt sorry for the pony, who had been starving herself to keep them safe. "How long until you go..." he hesitated, searching for the proper word. "Feral, from the starvation?"

Edited June 9, 2015 by Reaver

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber put his sword away. he then turned to amore. "wait, your starving?" he asked, "do you need blood, or something?" he asked, "cause id be more then happy to lend my own. if anyone else wont." he looked at the others.

 

'why do i put myself in these positions?' he thought.

 

he looked at red, and decided he'll give her a pep talk after she'd calmed down a bit.

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

Alex was glad when the conflict stopped, the ringing in her ears slowly subsiding. The situation's ending was a fairly sour note, but it was better than resulting in any sort of bloodshed. The diamond dog wasn't quite sure what to do now though. There wasn't really anypony she could go to. She'd tried befriending Radiant, but he'd had more interest in Amoré, and now she sort of had an idea why. Either way, he was still currently trying to comfort Red while also occupied with carrying the new mare they'd encountered earlier.

 

She really wasn't interested at the moment to hang out with Lunar or Tyra no matter how well she could fake a smile or a laugh near them. Amoré was already occupied with her own problems, Strider starting up a conversation about said problem and Caliber was just... Caliber... Clearly this whole friend-making thing wasn't going well towards her favor... like always... For the time being, it felt as though she would only ever have made one friend... one who.... she missed very dearly...

 

Pulling her hood up to completely cover her face, the canine kept herself a small distance from the group, probably about six or seven feet. Her posture when she walked didn't show any signs of gloominess or sadness, just a slow, normal, walking pace. It was the closest she could get to providing herself some alone time when around these ponies now it seemed. Being under her hood gave her a small sense of loneliness, allowing her to think and not be distracted by the things going on around her. It felt very peaceful there, no conflicts, no drama, just calm, quiet, alone time...

[Unicorncob 5,681]

Tyra simply looked on as the events unfolded. It pained her to see such animosity within the group, and she did not wish for them to fall apart, especially after being together for so little time.

She hadn't seen such a large group of friendly faces since she left home, and she wanted to keep it that way.

 

She felt no hatred toward Amore or this new mare, changeling and vampony or not. They showed no signs of wanting to endangering her or the others.

 

She wanted to try mending the group together again, but none of them seemed in the mood to talk. Especially Red.

She would definitely speak to her once things had calmed down.

 

She looked over to Alex, who had her hood over her head and walked alone. She grinned, deciding she'd try to fix things up with her some more. Give her a bit of company.

She trotted toward the diamond dog and walked at her side, to her pace.

 

"We certainly have gathered a unique party, have we not?" She tried, grinning widely up to her ally.

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

...

*Lunar* @@Midnight_Aurora

 

Lunar awaited Red's reaction, well able to see the emotional strife she was experiencing. He read her like a book and could tell she wasn't going to make a move at Amore. Her sense of self preservation was much greater than her hatred of Changelings, after all she would be facing a unicorn with magic who was a trained fight all through his life.

 

Without saying a word Red stormed off from Lunar, he felt rather agitated that her chosen response was to walk away then talk out her problems. As she continued down the path Lunar took a few steps after her until he realized Radiant was going after her. Granted Lunar had a much better way with words but it may be the best interest for Red for her to talk to someone in a with a similar circumstance then someone who wouldn't be able to fully understand her past. Instead he walked up to Amore and looked at her. "I have to say, I can respect your actions and the premise behind them but... Sacrificing oneself to sate another's hatred is no way to approach a conflict. If she took you up on your offer you would of only helped her descend down a dark path, which would only lead to more pain for her." He said stretching his wings for a second and returned them to his side. "So I implore you to not do something so reckless in the future otherwise it would cause more harm than good. You are an ally of most of us and none of us would want to see you fall before you complete your goal."

Amorè thinks for a moment then shakes her head, "Damn empathy. It always makes one think irrationally. Lunar, when you understand what it is like to read the hearts and emotions of others, then you will also understand that such things can have a dangerous effect on the empath. I was affected by all the emotions the group has towards changelings."

 

She looks to red for a moment, then back to Lunar, "I have known about Red's reason for hating Changelings Sense before we meet. Her heart pings like a beacon. If we get near any changelings, they will know of her intent. Also I wanted to prove to her something. In her own heart she didn't truly mean what she said. I know now she has one of the most damaged hearts of all here. Her, Radiant and Strider all have about the same scars that have changed them.

 

...

Instead of catching up to Red, he stepped next to Amore. He genuinely felt sorry for the pony, who had been starving herself to keep them safe. "How long until you go..." he hesitated, searching for the proper word. "Feral, from the starvation?"

Amorè says to Strider, "4 weeks 6 days, as long as I don't need to maintain anything more than my current form or a new form. Most common Changelings can't last half that long. It does help being a half breed. So do you want to talk about that which hurts your heart? An empath is best for this. I just hope Red sees that as well."

 

Caliber put his sword away. he then turned to amore. "wait, you're starving?" he asked, "do you need blood, or something?" he asked, "cause id be more than happy to lend my own. if anyone else won't." he looked at the others.

 

'why do i put myself in these positions?' he thought.

 

he looked at red, and decided he'll give her a pep talk after she'd calmed down a bit.

Amorè turns to Caliber, "I hate the taste of blood, Caliber. We Emotional Vamponies feed on specific emotions. Because I never knew my father and my mother never showed love of any kind towards me, I have never truly known love of any kind. It is what is most filling for my kind. It also grants us the most power. It is a hard fact of our lives. I left to learn of the pony side of my life. And shortly after I began my mission, Tirek had to come along and ruin the whole thing. Because of him I can't be seen as my true self in front of ponies. Because of him two of my mission objectives are trapped in Tartarus. In order for me to bring the peace I hope will come, I must make amends for an incident that happened almost 101 years ago. I was born shortly after the canterlot invasion. Despite that the event having a good ending, mother was still downed about the whole thing and most of the love she feed on was taken from her."

 

@ Alex

 

Amorè could feel the emotions coming from everyone. It was making her confused. She thinks, "If this keeps up and I don't regain control if my emotions, thus will make me go feral faster. I don't want to hurt them. I don't wish to be their enemy. I need some space from these emotions for now."

 

Alex sees Amorè move away from the group a but. All can tell something isn't quite right with her.

 

She gets about 30 feet away before she slows to a steady pace.

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

Alex was just on the verge of zoning out into her own little world when suddenly a voice of one of the ponies came in and pulled her back just before she could pass through the door.

 

 

 

"We certainly have gathered a unique party, have we not?"

 

Slightly annoyed about the interruption, she glanced over to see Tyra walking beside her... great...

Pulling up a grin, she nods towards the mare, not taking down her hood to uncover her face. "Yeah." Alex replied. "I never thought I’d ever encounter such a big group like this with all these different.." ...Careful... "backgrounds, personalities, and abilities..." Yeah, that works... Of course, the statement was true, she never expected to meet such a large group. Most of them were ponies though, which she had expected to encounter the most of since leaving the Galloping Gorge... These ponies just didn't seem to fill the... expectations she had initially thought...

[Unicorncob 5,681]

Pulling up a grin, she nods towards the mare, not taking down her hood to uncover her face. "Yeah." Alex replied. "I never thought I’d ever encounter such a big group like this with all these different.." ...Careful... "backgrounds, personalities, and abilities..." Yeah, that works... Of course, the statement was true, she never expected to meet such a large group. Most of them were ponies though, which she had expected to encounter the most of since leaving the Galloping Gorge... These ponies just didn't seem to fill the... expectations she had initially thought...

 

"Aye, I agree," Tyra nodded, grinning widely up at the diamond dog, oblivious to her wanting to be left alone, "I am quite glad. To tell the truth, it is rare to find so many friendly faces in one place!"

 

Her smile waned slightly as she added, "And rarer still for them to stick with me for long."

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

The diamond dog simply nodded as Tyra spoke. Obviously, she wasn't going to be leaving her alone any time soon since she wasn't making it obvious that she wanted her to go away.... Just nod and tolerate... 'nod, and tolerate...' she thought to herself. "Yeah, most ponies and such just want to rob you of your stuff or whatever..." The canine commented, pausing again as the mare spoke again.

 

"...Oh really? How come?" Alex asked when Tyra finished talking, her voice sounding a bit curious although in all honesty she wasn't really all that interested.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

Tyra let out a sigh as memories of her travels from home flooded back to her.

 

"It is simple, really," She began, "Either their trust in me wanes for one reason or another, or they are taken by creatures. I have done my best to protect anypony I travel with, in hopes of making some friends in these lands."

 

She smirked, rather hollowly. "But, they do not either appreciate my assistance, unable to trust me to walk alongside them let alone sleep near them."

 

Her grin returned, totally legitimate. "But, I do not fret about them. They have been taken to a better place, yes? I just simply wish they would accompany me a bit longer!"

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

Alex rolled her eyes a bit under her hood. 'Boy ain't that the truth...' she thought to herself, as Tyra spoke her reasons as to why people left her... However, her reasoning of not 'fretting' about them and such irked her own views of friendship a bit. She wasn't angry about it, it just didn't suit the way she always thought about friendship.

 

"Well, if they never appreciated your assistance or trusted to sleep or walk beside you, then they weren't really ever you're friends to begin with..." The canine said. It may have come out a bit harsh, but that's how she felt about it... "Friends should have a strong connection with one another. The best of friends would be inseparable, communicate with one another, bond with one another, and trust one another. Why do you think the expression 'best friends forever' was made? Friendships are meant to last till the end of time... If that doesn't happen, then you're not really friends..."

 

She paused a moment to let that sink in, thinking about her own friend... "The ones you lost by other means, are a different case entirely... I'm sure they would have stuck beside you if they could... Death tends to cut friendships off too soon before that friendship can grow stronger..." Alex looks down, placing a hand over her chest. She takes a slow, deep breath before turning her gaze back to Tyra. "Even though this group has had a lot of... imbalances, lately... We're going to be stuck together for quite some time..." She huffed a bit, trying to sound amused. "Which means you still have a chance to bond with everyone... Lucky you right?"

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Radiant continued forward with the mare on his back trying to keep his steps steady so he didn't shake her too much. He was still a short distance behind Red in case she would be willing to talk, Radiant then scanned the area and also looked back to the group as well. From where he was he saw Alex putting her paw to her chest and she looked bothered. It seemed emotions were high among the group, most are upset and a few are angry. He then realized Amore wasn't anywhere with the group, he looked around worried she had wandered off again when he caught a sight of her a few dozen feet from the group.

 

Radiant wanted to go talk to her but he knew she mentioned how empathy can affect her seriously so she is possibly distancing herself from the negative emotions flowing among the group at the moment. It was times like this that Radiant was glad he was somewhat closed off to his emotions but at the same time he kind of wished he experienced emotional strife like the others. It did upset him however to see the many of the group so upset but on the outside he didn't show it.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"Aye, you speak the truth," Tyra agreed, nodding at Alex's words and taking them in, "Those who merely wear a mask in your presence are not worth learning the true face of."

 

She glanced down to the dirt road and nodded again. "Aye, again you are correct. I simply wish to steady Death's hand until I am able to create a strong bond...hence my hasty actions yesterday." She admitted.

 

However, a grin crossed her face at her last comment. "Aye, I hope to make as many friends as possible within our group! Not only will our goal be achieved much more swiftly, but the journey there will be much more fun, yes?"

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Amorè desides to take a risk upon hearing and feeling the emotions within the conversation. She goes over Tyra and Alex.

 

She waits for a chance to speak before saying, "Tyra you desire friendship as I desire the three True forms of love. I don't force others to give it I let them chose to. It makes it stronger. I prefer a bond be formed and the love be earned to just taking it."

 

She lets her words sink in and awaits their reply.

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

"Yes, but you need to be sure to analyze a situation before making such hasty actions." Alex said, responding to the mare's second statement. "Sometimes, yes it is called for. However, like with what happened yesterday, it could have been the action that caused such death... If Caliber really had been a bandit, he wouldn’t have cared about keeping me alive. Holding me at close quarters with a blade is supposed to be a threat that says 'do as I say or I’ll kill you', or, in the case when around allies, it's a similar statement 'don’t take another step or I kill them.' So charging in like that could have automatically meant my death."

 

Alex smiled a bit at Tyra's third statement, a genuine one this time, seeing as she was trying to accomplish the same thing, but was just finding it a bit trickier on her end. "Yeah, with dark times like these, there needs to be a bit of fun and friendship sprinkled in to hopefully rid Equestria of it's darkness... Or at least, as much of it as possible. Evil can never truly be completely wiped from existence, but goodness and light can at least keep it at bay."

 

Her ears twitch as she hears Amoré walk closer to them to speak. She nods her head in agreement. "Hmm, friendship and love do build over time, one cannot simply just take it by force. It doesn't work that way... I'm not always the most patient, but I understand that some things just take their time..."

 

'It's just so difficult for me to try to build those bonds with everypony fighting all the time...' She thought to herself. 'It's like trying to calm an adult diamond dog in the middle of a temper tantrum...' ...Which she knew all too well from experience...

Edited June 10, 2015 by Alex VanGamer

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"Aye, I know this well enough," Tyra admitted, nodding and glancing to the ground, "I am glad that was not the case, but it does not excuse my actions."

 

At Alex's next statement, she nodded with a confident smirk. "Aye, well said. We may not drive darkness from this land entirely, but we may surely keep it at bay!"

 

She perked up as Amore approached, and she nodded in agreement.

"Aye, I do not wish to force friendship onto others. I wish to merely present it, and hope I have a response in kind. Friends are not the easiest to come about around here..."

[Reaver 350]

Several hours later, Strider caught up to Red as the group of ponies crossed over the standard rocky, red hill of the Badlands and caught sight of a small town. Ponies and a couple griffins milled about in the streets, and barely glanced at them or outright avoided eye contact with them as they made their way into the village. "This is the safe place I was talking about," Strider informed his companions. "We'll restock here. It's not a bad economic zone, despite being filled to the brim with thieves and bandits hiding from judgement. Speaking of that, keep an eye on your things," he added, "or they may be filched away from you. For now, everypony gather what they need. I'm personally going to go get more medical supplies, and some alfalfa. Radiant, can you check in at the clinic, for the mare?" he said, and gestured at one of the smallest and most rundown buildings of the bunch, with a sign that said "CLIN C" in front of it. The 'I' appeared to have been kicked off and was hanging in the dirt close by. "They should have one or two good medic ponies."

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Amorè says, "I am going to look around. Maybe I can find what I am looking for here. Meet yall at the Clinic when I am done. Tell then good luck."

 

Chrysteel moves off. She checks for any form of potential to find the love of family traits she is seeking. She knows after 100 years, she has built up more then enough power for her first evolution. She just needs Familial Love to power it.

Edited June 11, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@HigurSan

 

Radiant nodded at Strider and then turned back toward the Clinic. "Honestly I think she only needs food, water, and relaxation. Never hurts to get a professional opinion though." Radiant said as he begun to walk from the group toward the clinic. He turned back to the group for a second. "I will accompany her until she's walking or has been put up in a room, so if any of you need me I'll be at the clinic... that means you Red, if you'd like to talk to a pony with a similar past." 

 

Radiant departed the group and walked down the road to the Clinic. Once there he took note of the sign, judging from its condition the clinic was poorly maintained. Radiant hoped the staff inside was better kept then the front of their clinic. He set his hoof on the door opening it inward and went inside with the mare still on his back. Once inside there was only one other pony in the waiting room who appeared to have an injured wing.

 

Radiant walked up to one of the nurses who stood at a counter. "Yes how can you today?" She Chimed at the sight of Radiant approaching the counter. 

 

"Um, yes. I was wondering if I could get her checked up on to see if she requires any medical attention?" He asked gesturing his head to the mare draped over his back.

 

"Of course, take a seat and a doctor will be out with you in a bit." She stated gesturing her hoof to some of the waiting tables.

 

Radiant nodded and walked up to a table, using his magic he gently removed the mare from his back and set her carefully on the floor beside him while they waited for the doctor to come inspect her.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

"Very well, I shall go and resupply on rations," Tyra declared, grinning proudly and trotting off to find a general store.

 

She took a look at the town while she walked. It was far different from home; the locals, while just about as mixed, were not nearly as friendly-looking. Though, she had grown used to those looks from travelling these lands.

Secondly, no walls around the town. Trotstheim was built like a stronghold, with reinforced wooden pikes going around it, and walkways for the guards to patrol across. Here, the empty horizon was easy to see from the ground.

Speaking of the ground, the most obvious difference, as a wiping of sweat from her brow reminded her; much hotter, and no sign of snow.

 

Nevertheless, she found the general store, albeit a bit run down, and trotted inside and up to the pony behind the counter.

"Good day, friend," She greeted, smiling widely, "Would you perchance have any fish, and some bottles of mead?"

[Little Red 1,529]

Red glanced out over the small village. She'd been silent since Amore's revelation. She glanced at Radiant when he spoke to her.

She... she should talk to him. At some point. She wondered briefly how Radiant didn't hate Amore, how Radiant could even defend her. Radiant really was a good pony. She would talk to him at some point.

What should she do now..? She walked down into the town and walked through the single street-- it was tiny. She ended up following Tyra into the general store just to scan and see what might be useful.

 

--

 

The pony behind the counter stared at Tyra for a very long moment. He was a young earth pony stallion, with a spiky yellow mane. "I... I'll ask." He said, in a rather faint voice, and went into the back room. There was the sound of voices. An older pony with a beard followed the younger stallion into the room.

"Why the buck do you want fish? Are you a carnivore or something?" The older stallion asked, wrinkling his nose in disgust at Tyra. The younger stallion hid behind the older, as though afraid Tyra would turn him to stone by looking at him.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

Tyra cocked her head to the side as the young pony disappeared in the back, then to the other side as the older stallion spoke to her.

 

"I am a little confused," she admitted, blinking slowly, "Is salmon not a popular food in Equestria? Perhaps tuna, or even sardines?"

 

She glanced to the younger stallion, wondering why he looked so afraid of her. She meant them no harm.

"Well, perhaps you have some mead, yes?" She tried, her smile becoming more nervous.

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber arrived in town, and immediately started doing what he did best.

 

he started wandering, and looking for cool things to do, along with a new sword that might be better then his current one. "yo!" he burst into the most weaponish looking place. "y'all got a sword better then this one?!" he put his sword onto the desk.

[Little Red 1,529]

Red stepped forward, barely hiding a smile of amusement.

"This pony is from the far north," Red explained. "She comes from a place where fishing is one of the prominent sources of food."

 

The older stallion nodded quickly. "Ah, ah, of course. That explains it. Excuse me, miss," he said, all politeness now to Tyra, "I was just taken aback. It is uncommon that ponies ask for fish." He went into the back and came back with a large salmon in his mouth. He dropped it down on the counter. The younger stallion stepped forward, a new light in his eyes, and began speaking very quickly.

"Now this salmon here, this is one fine salmon! Our local fish catcher traveled hundreds of miles just to catch such a nice looking fish! Look at how delectable it is, how big and juicy! We're selling it for the extremely generous price of... five hundred bits!" (OOC: this is supposed to be extremely over-priced.)

The two seemed to have forgotten all about the mead, staring at Tyra eagerly.

[Unicorncob 5,681]

Tyra perked up as she noticed Red walk up next to her, and nodded as she explained the situation.

 

She gave the stallion her trademark wide grin and a bow of the head. "It is no trouble at all."

 

While he was in the back, she turned to Red with a thankful smile. "My thanks, friend. I will repay you swiftly."

 

Her eyes lit up as the salmon appeared, and after the younger stallion gave her his pitch, she leaned over and inspected it, a curious look on her face. Eyeing it, sniffing at it, the lot.

 

Eventually, she nodded. "Aye, 'tis a fine specimen! Though, five-hundred seems a bit much..." She added, but nonetheless reached for her bag.