private Darkness over Equestria (RP)

[Reaver 350]

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.

The small pony who had been mashing buttons behind the desk at a Gamebox 360 jumped about fifteen feet in the air. His large minotaur-like character on the screen died in a burst of blood and guts, and the pony (barely past filly age) began swearing loudly, then took note at Caliber's statement. He beamed.

 

"You... you wanna buy a sword?" The pony said, standing up to the height of Caliber's knee and beaming at him. "Sure! I got all kinds of swords! Come with me!" he trotted into a back room, which had dozens of swords hanging from the walls (and a couple dangerously from the ceiling, as the walls appeared to be out of room). There were quite an assortment--most appeared to have been made and left hanging without being maintained, but several were in pristine condition. "All kinds of swords!" He repeated. "I make them myself! Here's one I modeled after Sephiroth's! Here's one I modeled after the Master Sword! Here's one I modeled after Kubikiribocho, but it doesn't work very well!" He continued on for a little while.

 

---

 

Strider knew that the general store would most likely not sell any medical supplies, or any worth mentioning, so he instead began looking for a specialty store. When there was none, he went to the clinic. He spotted Radiant, sitting on a chair next to the silent mare. He couldn't tell if she was unconscious, or just quiet. "Hello, Radiant," he said cheerfully. When the nurse came up to him, with an air of suspicion at his uninjured persona, he quickly excused himself.

 

"I'm a traveler," he explained. "Looking for medical supplies, just in case." He forced a list upon her of the medical supplies he required. "Do you have these?" She replied with an affirmative, nodded at Radiant briefly as an assurance of the doctor's impending appearance, and left. He promptly sat down next to Radiant and smiled at his fellow unicorn, but said nothing for the moment.

[Little Red 1,529]

(Boy, my internet is REALLY slow right now...)

Red stopped Tyra, rather wearily. "Tyra," she said, addressing her by her first name, "that is way too much for a single fish. I could buy several dozen apples for five-hundred bits in Baltimare, and one fish is not worth several dozen apples." She stared evenly at the now-sweating young stallion. Truth be told, Red had never been to Baltimare-- but she could make up a number or two.

 

The older stallion scowled at Red. "Well, we aren't too lucky here, now, are we?" he snapped gruffly. "Here isn't Baltimare, is it, now? This is one fine fish, girlie." His voice suddenly became much kinder. "But you know what, since you mares seem to have been traveling for a long time, I'll drop the price down a bit, now. Four-hundred bits." He smiled sweetly. Several of his teeth were missing.

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber froze, and looked at all the swords around him.

 

he sobbed softly. 

 

he slowly trotted up to the sephiroth sword, and touched the hilt. 

 

he looked at the 'master sword', and gave it a few swings.

 

he looked at the keyblade, looking at the keychain.

 

he looked at the kid. 

 

"TAKE MY MONEY!!!!!" he screeched, throwing various money bags he had accumulated while traveling. "I WANT THEM ALL!!"

 

(in case anyone was wondering, caliber loves games.)

[Unicorncob 5,692]

Tyra stopped at Red's command, and she took a look at the fish. Indeed, now that she thought about it, she could get one just like this for not even twenty bits back home!

 

Tyra nodded at the older stallion. "Aye, it is one fish, and it seems it is not so common a food here, from what I have seen."

She raised an eyebrow. "Why charge so much for what you may never sell? Would you not wish to be rid of it immediately? I am sure you know what happens when fish goes bad, yes?"

 

It seemed Red had helped her regain a little perception. Perhaps it was her weariness from so much travelling in intense heat.

[Little Red 1,529]

Now the older stallion was sweating slightly. He glowered.

"Now, miss," he said in a grouchy growl of a voice, "what price do you suggest, then? Since you seem to know how to run my store better than I do, now. Four hundred bits is fair, and we've got plenty of griffons 'ere that'll gladly pay that price for a fish this nice, now, don't we?" He shot suddenly at his younger companion, who nodded fiercely. The older stallion relaxed. "Now, since I'm all fair, I'll be willin' to go even lower. What price do you want? Perhaps we can be sensible ponies and..." he paused. "and... er.... corompise."

"Compromise," the younger stallion whispered.

"Yes, yes, compromise." The older stallion amended, glowering at the younger.

[Unicorncob 5,692]

Tyra raised an eyebrow, a little sceptic that locals would pay that much money for a single salmon.

 

Nonetheless, she would play along. She would see this trick in the town's marketplace every day. 'Bartering', it was called.

 

She inspected the fish once more.

"This fish, while indeed an impressive size, has been here for some time," she explained, sniffling at the scales, "I would say it has at least a day or two before it rots. And I am no merchant, but I do not think the local griffins would pay five-hundred bits for a single fish that only has around a day left, yes?"

 

She raised her chin proudly. "I will pay no more that fifty bits."

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@Reaver,

 

Radiant saw Strider enter the Clinic as he made his presence known to him. "Hello Strider." He said as the unicorn walked up to the counter passing a list of supplies to the nurse.

 

Soon Strider gestured to an approaching doctor who was looking straight at Sentinel and the mare beside him. The doctor reached the two kneeling down to get a better look at the mare. He lifted her head and inspected her closely, he opened her mouth and peered inside making sure he didn't miss any other potential signs of illness. The doctor pulled down his mask and looked to Radiant. "She appears to be fine, all she needs is sustenance and rest." He said holding out his hoof. "That'll be twenty caps." 

 

Radiant dug out the caps from his bag with his hoof, he rather not use his magic in public as to not cause a scene. He handed the caps over to the doctor and nodded his head to him. "Thank you sir." He said and looked back to Strider. "So how's it going Strider? A shame about what happened between the group earlier huh?"

 

@@Reaver, 

[Reaver 350]

@,

The foal stared at the bags of money blankly, then began howling with total exhilaration. "ERMERGERD! I'M RICH! I'M RICH, 1 1 1 1 1!" He screamed and began prancing in circles. He continued in this fashion for some time, confirming at some point that Caliber was to take as many swords as he wished, and promptly fainted from over-extension. He had, after all, not moved in twelve hours.

 

@@Chip Circuit,

"Yes," Strider agreed, "but it's better now, with the big secret out of the way. We should hopefully be able to form stronger bonds for it. I honor you, incidentally, for protecting Amore the way you did. Very admirable."

[Little Red 1,529]

The two stallions looked at each other disbelievingly, then back at Tyra.

"No," they said simultaneously.

"Two hundred and fifty bits, and that's final," snapped the older stallion at the same time the younger cried, "two hundred bits, and that's final!"

Again, the two stallions looked at each other disbelievingly.

"Two hundred bits," the older stallion snapped as the younger hollered, "two hundred and fifty bits, and that's final!"

The older stallion put a leg around the younger stallion's shoulders, shoved him unceremoniously into the back room, shut the door, went back to the counter, and said, calmly, "two hundred bits."

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@Reaver,

 

Radiant nodded and looked up at the ceiling as if in thought. "I agree, it should only serve to make us stronger... I am however still concerned about Red, I hope she doesn't do anything any pony will regret." He said turning his attention back to Strider. "Thank you, but I don't deserve praise. I was only doing what I saw fit, I can't allow an ally to be attacked... especially by another ally, it would only injure the group as a whole." 

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber spent his time looking over each and every sword, trying out each one, weighing they're pros and cons, making sure they were combat ready, thinking about how was he gonna carry these all, pretending he was link, wondering if he would be able to find a green cape, giving more thought on how was he gonna carry all these swords, wondering if the kid was alright, realizing all the iconic swords from various games was now his, decideding on a shortened form of the musamune, wondering if he could dual-weild, fawning over the elucidator, making the elucidator his new-new sword, and finally taking the elucidator, master sword, and the shortened version of the musamune.

 

he left a note saying 'ill be back for my swords. after iv killed tirek with my awesome team.'

 

he emerged, with three swords on his side, and started running about, looking for trouble so he can finally decided which is the best one to use.

[Unicorncob 5,692]

@@Little Red

 

Tyra couldn't help but smirk with glee. She was enjoying this 'bartering'.

Especially after that little display presented by the two shop-owners. It reminded her of her father and brother's banter.

 

She wasn't done though, since she'd gotten the price to two-hundred.

"One hundred, and I will pay," She declared, with a nod of finality.

[Reaver 350]

@@Chip Circuit,

Strider realized how lucky he was to have Radiant with him in the group. The unicorn, doubtlessly, would be a calming and uniting force in the days to come. "Red is strong. It is good that you gave her the option to vent, and gave her space when she needed it." Strider said.

"You're very humble," Strider added at Radiant's last statement, "but I'll accept what you say, I suppose. By the way, a question--you used... magic, in protecting Amore. I don't believe I ever really understood how you have a hold over your magic. I thought Tirek had stolen all the magic in Equestria a century ago."

 

 

 

he left a note saying 'ill be back for my swords. after iv killed tirek with my awesome team.'

When Button Mash the XVII woke up, he was a very happy foal and was stuck under the impression that he had met a superhero. He would wait many days for said superhero's return, wondering about his name, his awesome team--did one have fire power? that would be cool--and beaming that he had supplied the superhero with a glorious weapon that would doubtlessly support him for many years to come. Well, hopefully.

In the meantime, he was going to buy some chips from that stupid general store with the dumb overpriced crap, and call his teammates mature things like "N00BS" and say mysterious things with meanings that quite escaped him like "U W0T M8".

Edited June 11, 2015 by Reaver

[Little Red 1,529]

@@Unicorncob,

The older stallion snorted in disgust. He seemed totally exhausted and exasperated.

"Fine. Fine, one hundred bits," he snapped. "Fork it over, now."

 

---

 

@@Midnight_Aurora,

An elderly Pegasus walked slowly into the town. He was so old his fur turned white at the edges. He had a little grizzle of a beard at his chin.

I'm so close to her, I can feel her. He mused to himself. He clutched a bag around his shoulder closer to him as he continued slowly down the street, trying to pinpoint her exact location with his heart-sense.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@Reaver, 

 

"I may not be the most in touch with my emotions but I don't like to see others with such strife, I try to help how I can. Hopefully she will be willing to talk soon, I think I can help her get over her hatred for changelings." He said as a very faint grin appeared on his face for a second when Strider called him humble. "Thank you, it's nice to find others who actually appreciate it. Most think it a weakness." 

 

As Strider mentioned Radiant's he gestured his hoof up and down to signify to keep it down. "Please keep it down on such a topic otherwise a scene can be made and then I'll be hunted." He stated speaking in a hushed tone. "honestly I don't know how I have it when every other unicorn I've met didn't have theirs. When I first discovered it my family started thinking me as some sort of 'chosen pony', thinking i was destined to battle Tirek. That's why they thought I should join the resistance... unfortunately when I joined at the age of ten I was raised as a weapon and was always kept secret so I was never hunted... I never really got to enjoy my youth..." 

 

His attention began to wander and he turned back to Strider. "Sorry Strider, I kind of spilled more of my past on you... guess I kind of become fond of the idea of sharing such memories finding it helpful." He said looking back to the mare on the ground. "Perhaps I should go get her some food and water."

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Chrysteel could feel the trait of Family. She followed it and without noticing bumps into the elder stallion. "Oh sorry. I was following a trail. Are you ok?"

 

Chrysteel could tell he possessed Heart Sense. She had kept her pony aura covering her changeling aura.

[Little Red 1,529]

@@Midnight_Aurora,

The pegasus' head jolted up and he stared at her.

It's her, he realized.

"Come with me, please," he said softly. "I need to speak with you... Chrysteel." he said this even quieter. She probably recognized him. Her heart sense had always been powerful.

He turned away and walked a ways back down the street. He couldn't risk any pony overhearing their conversation.

[Reaver 350]

@@Chip Circuit,

Strider nodded once, knowing he'd been careless in speaking of Radiant's magic near bandit territory. He listened, trying not to express his horror at hearing of Radiant being raised as a weapon by the Baltimore Resistance. He snorted quietly. "I never approved of their methods," he said quietly, "they've practically lost sight of why they want to bring Tirek off the throne, and have resorted to cruel, if not downright evil, tactics in terrifying Tirek's supporters."

He blinked at Radiant's apology. "No, never apologize. I certainly agree with that point--pain is much easier to deal with when it is diffused." He glanced at the silent mare when Radiant did. "Alright," he said. "I'll keep watch over her. The nurses should probably have access to clean water."

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@Reaver, 

 

Radiant stood up looking back at Strider. "It is true they are monsters... some of the things I've seen... some those things being why I don't feel resentment towards changelings. Ultimately it was because of their pony extremist views that I abandoned the ranks before they promoted me to a commanding officer." He said looking back to the mare. "I was just gonna bring her with to a restaurant so I could see if I can get her to eat, since the doctor said she's fine just exhausted. Unless you think she should stay just in case, otherwise you're welcome to join." 

[HigurSan 195]

@@Chip Circuit,

Things were, from a certain perspective, looking up. There was a roof over her head. But there was the smell of stale anesthetic in the air, which she despised. She was no longer in the middle of a group ready to draw blades on a hair trigger. But now she was on the floor, and the doctor had been rougher with her than she'd have liked. She'd liked to have given him a good beating. The stallion who had carried her all this way was nearby. But he was talking to somepony else. At least she'd been given some water. Her throat felt like it'd been seared and lightly salted with a side of acacia leaves, but it wasn't as bad as it had been. She might even be able to talk if she had felt the inclination.

 

However, she did not. Right now all she wanted was to lay down in a cool room, maybe with a glass, or a jug, of cold water. That and some sleep. But she didn't seem likely to get either of those here. She could feel the stares of other ponies. Being carried into town on a stallion's back, with such a varied group, had been a spectacle apparently. She could feel them looking at her bags, and her horn, or both. They were all sizing her up, like wolves decided whether they were dealing with a poodle or a wolverine. If any of them came to close, like that damn doctor, she'd be sure to convince them of how dangerous she could be. Looking up at the stallion, she saw he was looking at her. Their eyes met. She promptly looked away, and buried one half of her head in the crook of her front-right leg. A single hooded eye looked back at him, perhaps conveying 'how long you gonna chit-chat stud?'

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@HigurSan, 

 

Radiant walked up to the mare and carefully hoisted her onto his back, he was still trying to be gentle with her just in case she had injuries beneath the surface. "Either way, I should get her out of here and somewhere where I can get her some food and drink. After that some rest, Strider I'll see you around and again you're welcome to join once you gather your supplies." He said making his way out of the clinic.

 

After leaving the clinic Radiant begun searching for a tavern. As he walked around village he glance back at the mare on his back, he hoped she didn't end up hating him for how much he has set her down and possibly shaken her up.

 

After searching around Radiant finally found a tavern and opened the creaky door inward. As soon as he set a hoof inside many of the patrons fixated their eyes on the Stallion with a presumably unconscious mare on his back. Remaining his stoic self he scanned the room looking for an open booth, he found one and headed to it many of the eyes of the room following his every movement. He lowered the mare into the booth and sat next to her so he could help her if needed.

 

Soon a waitress walked over, her coat was a pale blue with a purple mane. She set two menus down in front of them. "Can I get you two anything to drink?" She asked with a fake smile covering the fact she hated dealing with most the ponies that found their way into the tavern.

 

Radiant looked to the mare. "Anything you like, it's on me." He offered opening the menu for her.

[Reaver 350]

@@Chip Circuit, @@HigurSan,

Strider nodded once, wholeheartedly agreeing with Radiant's assessment of the Baltimore Resistance.

"I'll come with you, as soon as I've gathered the medical supplies from this place." Strider said, standing up from the chair when Radiant mentioned the restaurant. "Though I'm not sure we can find much more than hay fries in this place. But at least they'll have water." He looked down at the mare and blinked at her aggressive look back.

"Well, she's awake." he commented. But she didn't seem to want to speak, as Radiant put her back on his back. He bid Radiant goodbye. Once the nurse came back with all the supplies he needed, he followed Radiant to the restaurant.

Edited June 11, 2015 by Reaver

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

@@Midnight_Aurora,

The pegasus' head jolted up and he stared at her.

It's her, he realized.

"Come with me, please," he said softly. "I need to speak with you... Chrysteel." he said this even quieter. She probably recognized him. Her heart sense had always been powerful.

He turned away and walked a ways back down the street. He couldn't risk any pony overhearing their conversation.

Amorè says, in a low voice, "It's Amorè now. Caretaker, is that you?"

Amorè follows him. She is curious as to what he wants. She hasn't seen him in this bad of shape sense he kept the timber wolves from killing her.

 

Once they were where he wanted to go she asks, "What's wrong? You don't look so good. Also how could you tell it was me. I was using my perfect shapeshift."

[Little Red 1,529]

@@Midnight_Aurora,

The pegasus, once they were a little ways out of town, no longer could keep up his transformation. He transformed into a changeling, but somehow looked just as weak and elderly as his pony transformation had. He gave a sigh of relief, and, after a moment, responded, smiling at her in an odd, changeling way.

 

"I could recognize you in any form from the sound of your voice and the way your eyes look at things," he said, his weak voice bursting with fondness. 

 

"I.. I haven't eaten in a very long time." He admitted after a moment. "But, that doesn't matter. I came to warn you, and to give you something." He tapped at his bag. He coughed slightly again.

 

"Listen, Chry-- Amore... Amore. Times have changed. The changelings overthrew Queen Chrysalis. Your mother is dead." He let the words hang in the air for a moment. "Your sister-- we both knew she would, didn't we?-- your sister overthrew the Queen. She took over the hive-mind. She's using the changeling's outrage..." he stopped. He shook his head. He started over. "You know the changelings have been getting more and more agitated regarding he late Queen Chrysalis. They felt she was not doing her job in protecting our kind. Pupa harnessed their rage, and she killed Chrysalis herself. Now the situation is dire. She's gone through every changeling's mind, and any changeling in favor of peace she has killed. Hence why I am on the run. Pupa wants to suck all the love out of every race and then destroy it. She feels that is the only way to ensure permanent peace upon the world. She's... she's gone insane."

 

He lowered his head and lifted it back up to Amore. "Amore, we've got to stop her," he said in his soft voice, "ponies don't deserve to die. Changelings don't deserve to die, either. You can restore peace. I know you can."

[HigurSan 195]

@@Chip Circuit, @@Reaver,

Ironeye Sungazer

 

As she was carried into the tavern, she found herself unconciously taking full advantage of the support his back offered. It was... surprisingly solid, yet not hard like stone. She was even able to lift her head up a bit and look around. Immediately she wished she hadn't. Everypony in the area was staring at them, at her. For one so used to remaining hidden and alone, it was nerve wracking. It didn't terrify her exactly, but made her brain start spinning off on tangents. What if one of these crooks knew about her, or the group she was with? What if a bounty had been placed on them? Even if there wasn't, she wouldn't put it past this crowd to kill them just for the thrill.

 

Being set down in the booth hurt, but less so than the floor. There was a cushion, kind of. She was pretty sure it had been inhabited by mice, or some other vermin at some point, which was probably why she felt suspiciously knobbly bits. A bug crawled out from a ripped seam. It made her want to shudder, but that would hurt. She wasn't unused to bugs, or afraid of them. But that was when she was outside. Bugs were part of the scenery outside. Inside, they were... vermin. They weren't -supposed- to be there. She supposed that might be a little silly, but she didn't like it. The menu was providing her a similar quandry. She couldn't reach out and tap the item number desired. She couldn't speak. She -could- use magic, but that would be a bad idea. Eventually she resorted to looking at Radiant with a kind of 'I need a hoof here' expression.