private Darkness over Equestria (RP)

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Radiant stopped in his tracks looking forward at amore when she revealed a pink star shaped crystal. He narrowed his eyes at the crystal, he's eyes scanning the surface recognizing it from somewhere. "I've seen it before in illustrations, a powerful relic back in the days before Tirek correct?" He asked looking back to Amore.

[Reaver 350]

Strider was glad that Red addressed Amore. He had been about to do so, firstly, but it was also an improvement to her previous silent regard of Amore. He stopped when Amore turned around and showed them the gem. He tried to place it, and stepped back in shock as he abruptly recognized it. Radiant seemed to have almost as well.

 

"Not just a powerful relic..." Strider murmured, glancing at Radiant. "That... if I'm correct," he said sheepishly, "That's the Element of Magic, one of the six Elements of Harmony that saved Equestria repeatedly before Tirek took over. How on earth did you take possession of it, Amore? It's fascinating," he said, completely forgetting about the news he needed to share with the others. He moved forward, in awe, reaching out a hoof and lightly touching the gem. "Amazing," he repeated. "So ancient, marvelous..."

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

Alex had been pretty much blanked out from the morning's conversation, but could feel the small bit of tension in the air and so she remained just as silent as everypony else. Internally, she had to start a monologue in her head about the various video games she used to play and list all the various characters and weapons along with it, because the utter silence was starting to drive her crazy! Which is ironic, since everpony's buzzing around the other day made her seclude herself for some piece and quiet... Clearly this canine couldn't make up her mind...

 

When her thoughts were suddenly cut off by somepony speaking, she internally gave a sigh of relief. 'Thank Celestia!' She exclaimed to herself. When Amoré turned around to face everypony to show off her gem to the others, the diamond dog couldn't help but glance in awe at it once again.

 

She listened in as Radiant seemed to recognize it a little, but then Strider quickly stepped in to reveal the actual name of the gem in Amoré's hooves. The canine couldn't help but let out a gasp as she recognized the name. "For real?!" She exclaimed. "Oh my gosh! I... I've heard about them! The dogs back home would always bark up a storm about some sort of magical gem things! But with the way they talked about them I... I thought they were just a myth... a-a joke... I never would have thought that...!" Alex fell silent after that, seeming to instantly fall even more in love with the gem before her...The diamond dogs back home would probably be doubtful or possibly even jealous to know she had witnessed such a beautiful jewel as this... Course it was doubtful she'd ever tell them about it, but still... I was a nice thing to think about...

[P-Jay 1,987]

"element of magic, originally belonging to twilight, the fourth princess, one of the six elements of harmony." caliber said causally, "what about it?"

 

he played with the idea of him himself being an element, but hey. if he was a bearer, he would've been so a hundred years earlier. why would that change now? still...that WAS an element...where did she even get that?!

[HigurSan 195]

@@Little Red, @@Midnight_Aurora, @@Reaver, @, @,

 

Ironeye Sungazer

 

The instant the gem came out, she was hooked on it like a fish in the jaw. It drug her head around like gravitational force. She couldn't look away. It was all she could do to not try and hobble over to snatch it. That being said, she started shaking like a leaf in a stiff breeze. She had been told many stories when she was young. Who her ancestors had been. Why magic was dangerous. What the world was like. How it had gotten this way. Almost all of them pertained in some way to the Royal Sisters through her ancestor. She'd been told the tale of how the Elements of Harmony were the only thing that could defeat the Centaur Lord, but mysteriously didn't. In effect the gem in front of her was an integral part of her upbringing given form and spat out in front of her.

 

That and her horn was screaming in pain. The presence of the gem made it feel like it was on fire. Now matter how she tried to get it to quiet down, in spite of all the calming techniques she had learned, it was sparking and shining like someone had set off a gold-orange flare on her forehead. Raw magic was beginning to pour off of it like streamers being thrown all across a room. Where it touched the ground, the particles of dust were turned to glass. It whipped around Radiant, herself, and the others, just barely avoiding touching their skin. Then like snakes scenting their pray, they snapped around to focus on one point, zeroing in on the Element.

 

They struck from a dozen different directions at the same time. The gem would instantly begin to shake around and float away, attached almost physically to the ribbons of shining light flowing in and trying to jerk it away. Iron could see. She couldn't think. The pain inside her head was too great to bare. Her eyes were blinded with light, shining like beacons. Her mouth staunchly refused to form proper words even as she was trying to beg for someone to make it stop, causing her to babble incomprehensibly. The gem was sucking the magic out of her, dragging it like a saw blade across her brain, drinking the ocean of surplus magic she had stowed away.

 

Then like the tone of a clear bell in her mind, the magic flow began to reverse. The ribbons shifted color from gold to pink and purple, flowing back across her like a cool stream. The reserves she had had were nothing in comparison to the vast seas on the other side of the Gem. It lifted her up into the air, time for her slowing down into a crawl. Then with a snap of ionizing air it was over. She dropped back to the hard dirt in a heap, the ribbons vanishing. Sticking one hoof out, she tried to push herself over, and found that she could. Her other legs similarly responded. Though shakily, she stood to her feet. She was still sore, but that seemed mostly due to falling. Looking over at Amore, she stared her right in the eye. Her eyes glowed with inner fire. "I want that."

[P-Jay 1,987]

caliber looked at her with a confused look. "um...sorry to say, but unless amore's really generous, she ain't gonna give up an element simply because you want it. she might let ya take a look at it, and hold it, 'n stuff..."

 

he frowned deeper with all the acts of magic. "seriously, am i the only one who tirek bothered to take magic from?" he asked, annoyed. "this is just pain ridiculous..."

 

he was greatly annoyed by what just happened. to the point where his trust in that pony they saved changed from absolute to almost none. hell, she just tried to levitate the element towards her. and even then, after her magic 'failed,' she's trying to ask for it. how safe is their stuff, when she apparently takes what she wants? caliber might steal from some ponies, but stealing among friends is something he'd never do.

 

caliber's first impression of her, now that she can talk, is spoiled. wanting something thats not yours, and expecting to get just cause you 'want it'...thats not how the world works, even back in the golden age...

[Commander Tangent 861]

Lunar seemed in shock the entire time. When it was revealed to be an element, Lunar couldn't believe it ! They were a myth ! A legend ! Something of the olden days. A weapon and a tool in equal measure capable of extraordinary power. No wonder he had felt that slight tingle around him, there was a relic of major importance around him. Lunar stepped in."Caliber is right. According to legend, the elements choose their owners based on the traits they show. If one of us is worthy, then perhaps it will come to you, but we cant just simply " Use it" " he said. He had read a lot about the elements from the collections of his groups scholars. But he never thought he would ever see an element first hand.

 

Lunar smiled at the element. " This is most interesting, history has been changed by this relic alone. It's almost humbling to think about." He cracked a large smile, "Amore, thank you, at the least, for showing us this.... it is something I thought I would never see" He said, with a smile.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@HigurSan

 

Radiant noticed something in the displays of magic presented by the mare that was on his back, it was if the gem was accepting of her magic and yet at the same it wasn't. "That is strange, why would the element act in such a way. For a split moment, the two seemed to link but it was soon broken." He pondered to him when suddenly the mare slipped off his back into the dust below.

 

The mare hut the ground with a *thud* and small haze of dust erupted from her. "Aren't alright?" Radiant questioned about to assist her up onto his back.

 

Before he took the mare in his magic she was helping herself to her own four hooves, it was a first to see her have enough strength to be able to stand. As she was on all four hooves Radiant stood beside her for support if and when she needed it. He stayed quiet at her comment, rather it only made him ponder the link he noticed between her and the element even when it lasted for a split second.

Edited June 23, 2015 by Chip Circuit

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Amorè says, "Not yet, sorry. My mother's final gift. The love of a mother to evolve remains within the gem. Also this gem's power still sleeps only when the other 5 are gathered can this gem's power be awakened. As with the tale of the Nightmare, the spark will reveal the sixth. For now we need Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity and Loyalty. Without these 5 tr his gem will never become active again. I knew the six bearers themselves. We were and probably still are friends."

 

Amorè puts the gem away. "I am over 200 years old. I was there when Tirek took Equestria's magic. I watched the six fall. I couldn't do anything then by now I can. With the power my mother stored in this gem I can grow and become Stronger. I can Evolve to the next stage."

 

She then looks to strider. "The reason I came to have this gem is because my mother had my caretaker bring it to me. My sister has beaten mother and claimed the hive. Mother was bad for the hive but my sister is much worse. If you all think yhat your experiences with changelings is bad then my sister's rule will be a never ending Nightmare to you pony folk. For me it is fight and claim the throne or Die trying."

Edited June 24, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[Little Red 1,529]

Red watched the gem. She wasn't... well, she wasn't enthused at the idea of Amore holding onto the element of magic. But... it was hers. She eyed Ironeye for a moment, then turned away. She didn't know what had just happened between her and that gem, but something had. She listened to Amore as she told of her mother and sister.

 

So, her mother was Queen Chrysalis. Who was her sister, then? "What else can you tell us about your sister?" she asked.

[Reaver 350]

Strider had backed up, fearful, when The Mare's magic had surfaced. Goodness, how many ponies still possess their magic? he thought, rather jealously, then yelped as one of the stray tendrils of magic nearly touched him. All of a sudden, they changed, becoming a more purple shade, and flowing into Ironeye. Strider watched her in awe as she shakily stood up, and proclaimed her want of the gem.

 

Is... he watched her disbelievingly, not really listening to the others talk. But no, there was only really one explanation for the Element's reaction. Her magic seemed to have been wrenched out of her, and her's and it's magic had bonded, right before his eyes... Is she a bearer, of one of the Elements of Harmony? It was unbelievable. Perhaps by finally letting go of his goal to defeat Tirek and going to help other ponies by fighting the bandits that plagued Equestria, he had finally found the key to his true goal?

 

He shook himself out of his reverie when Amore addressed him. He nodded once. "So, that's another thing we'll do." Strider said gravely. "After we defeat the rogues, we'll help you take the throne. I'm sure you will be a far better ruler than your sister, or your mother before you. No offense meant," he added sheepishly. He cut off Amore's answer to Red's question for the moment, turning to The Mare as Radiant went over to help her. He was too curious at the moment--he needed to know something that had been bugging him since he had first met The Mare.

 

"What's your name?" he asked her.

[HigurSan 195]

@@Midnight_Aurora, @@Chip Circuit, @@Reaver,

Ironeye Sungazer

 

"Your mother's gift?" she growled. She really growled. It was just a step above feral. "Ridiculous. It wasn't hers any more than the love she -stole- from ponies just trying to get by." After a moment, she mastered her emotions. But during that moment, her eyes burned, her horn flaring a deep red. Snorting, she looked away. "The Elements have always been for ponies, used by ponies. A changeling has no right to use them, not for something so selfish as family politics." Looking at Radiant for a moment, she grimaced. "I'm fine. But thank you." Starting forward, she passed Amore without another glance. "Just keep the thing out of sight, lest some bandit steal it again and lose it for another two centuries.

 

Her attention turned to Strider. "My name is Ironeye Sungazer. First name is given, second is inherited. Father was named Sungazer, and his dad, and so on. Supposed to be a super powerful mage back somewhere, back before the world jumped down the toilet. Served as an attendant, adviser, something to the Sun Princess. Lot of good it ever did me. Made my ancestors hide in a hole due to magic being contraband. Got them killed for it eventually. Now its just me, with magic that only ever attracts excrement to fly my way like a superpowered magnet. And -now- when I finally find something that makes it work right for once, it's part of some super-mythically-legend-to-fight-the-dark-queen crap. Whoopee."

[Alex Van Gamer 230]

Alex raised a brow slightly at the weird light show, glancing back at the source, but still not quite understanding what was going on. She stood in silence as the others started barking over the phenomenon, a lot of information pouring out from Amoré that was quite a bit to comprehend all at once.

 

The new pony, soon identifying herself as 'Ironeye' seemed fairly demanding and rude. Especially as the mare made her way past Amoré and the others... Somepony woke up on the wrong side of the bed it seemed... Unless she was always like that, the canine wasn't too sure since this was the first time she had ever heard Ironeye speak... And although Sungazer gave a seemingly sad-sounding backstory, the way it was given had an attitude to it that didn't help Alex feel sympathy for the mare... only scrunch her nose a bit at the pony's sarcastic tone... Either way, it didn't leave a very good first impression in the diamond dog's eyes...

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

@@HigurSan

 

Radiant nodded at Ironeye as she rejected his offer to help her, he was happy to help her but her overall tone toward him made it seem she was resentful toward him. So far he hadn't taken a first impression of the mare and now that she was up and about as well as able to belittle the group, the impression she was creating was nothing but negative. Even toward himself, the one that assisted her and made sure she remained safe.

 

Radiant begun stepping forward so the group could begin moving again. "Perhaps we should continue moving before we run into trouble by lingering here in the road." He stated as he moved past some of the group not yet reaching amore.

 

His curiosity was peaked at amore's comment about an evolution of some sort but if it wasn't happening then he figured the group shouldn't delay.

Edited June 24, 2015 by Chip Circuit

[Little Red 1,529]

Red could tell the rest of the ponies felt the same way about this mare that she was feeling-- a mixture of unfriendliness, uneasiness and distrust. It was almost funny how, in one minute, the mare almost made all of them enemies. Luckily, every pony was friendly here. Luckily for Ironeye, anyway. How had she survived this long in the wilderness..?

 

Ah. Right, Ironeye had magic. Hopefully, she would be willing to use it on their side. "Yeah, let's go," she said, nudging Strider. "What did that inn-keeper tell you about the bandits, Strider?"

[Commander Tangent 861]

Lunar smiled at this Sungazer. He looked around to the others as well. The element had reacted quite strongly too her. IT was likely that it may be bonding with her, as some relics do. Then again, he only knew from his nomads spiritual artifacts.She didnt seem like the happiest of ponies, but at least she seemed like she had a heart. It was hard to find sometimes. 

 

@@HigurSan,

 

"In any case, you posess a rare gift that allows you to use magic, and there is a possible tool at hand that can help you focus it back into a much more useful form" He said softly,  " if that truely is an element, then it is the first time it has been used by a pony in a long time I feel." He said. Afterwards, he turned to Strider.

 

@@Reaver, 

 

"We should probably move to a less open area if we are going to discuss this, or head out for the ruffians later. But also.....you seem to have taken a very keen interest in the possibility of an element being in our presence. Something, possibly more than just awe" he said, tilting his head. Strider didn't seem as shocked as the rest, but rather seemed to be thinking about something. Though he could not be certain about that/

[Reaver 350]

Strider sighed at The Mare--Ironeye's--curt tone. Well, she had clearly almost recovered, and didn't seem inherently hostile. He tilted his head at her backstory. She was powerful, came from a powerful line of unicorns, and was more so if he was right about the Element. But, he could tell just by glancing around that none of the other ponies seemed to like her very much.

 

...but it would be downright cruel to leave her here, he reflected. But it might be worse to get everypony riled up about another companion. Even Alex was looking at Ironeye with a distinct air of distrust. When everypony began speaking of leaving, Strider nodded briefly. "Yes, we should head out. I'll tell about the bandits further along--it's not particularly sensitive information." He tactfully skirted Lunar's comment--he didn't want to share a theory that might get the other's hopes up for nothing.

 

"Are you coming with us?" he asked Ironeye, not allowing his own hopeful feelings to slip into his voice. "We're heading to the bandit land. We're going to stop their ruthless operations in Equestria. I have a plan. In, or out?"

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Amorè smiles and looks to Ironeye, "Actually mother's love can't be taken only given. My mother placed a soul shard inside the element. From the feeling mother left, she loved father to some degree. mother loved her children and was sorry for ignoring me. This gift is her way of apologizing. She must have learned a great lesson in her death to cause this. I will give you the gem once I can no longer keep it safe. We also have discord to worry about. I for one know if an element activates he will sense it. The same goes for my evolutions."

 

Amorè begins to move with the others. "I am no longer Chrysteel of hive Pupa. I am Amorè Crystal del Venus of Hive Harmony."

Edited June 24, 2015 by Midnight_Aurora

[HigurSan 195]

@@Reaver, @@Chip Circuit,

(I didn't have her take a petulant tone, she really is thankful to Radiant.)

Ironeye Sungazer

 

"I would like to come with you, yes," she replied quietly to Strider, trying to excise the gruffness from her voice. The presence of the Element had put a lot of strain on her, though it seemed to have healed her body somewhat.  She couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't like throwing up a bunch of flares for those hunting sources of magic. Even so, she did realize that she had over-extended, alienated herself somewhat, and figured it'd be best to pull back from the stage lights for a while, so to speak. "Though I've not made a good impression I suspect. Regardless, the bandits are a threat to everyone. Some were chasing me before we met. So I've a bit of a personal score to settle."

 

She hummed softly. "But unless you're planning to come back yearly and redo this over and over, do you have a plan to remove them more permenantly? If you wipe out one den, or even most of them, others will simply fill the void. As you saw, I can use magic. Not many complicated spells... all the lessons I got were more about hiding it and surviving hunting patrols. I specialize, if you could call it that, in brute force magic. So if you want me to cast a fireball, I can drop down the sun. But if you need me to teleport us... I can't guarantee all of us will make it through, or that all of just me or you will. Stealth magic, masking smells, body heat, and even low grade invisibility, I can do that." She paused, thinking. "That's about the range of -my- abilites. Though apparently my genetics make me good at suplementing other pony's magic. Kind of like a magic battery, or focus depending on how you look at it. Also have some ward magic based on that."

 

"So... when we get there, tell me what to blast I suppose... I'll... get back with you later about that alright?" She slowed down a bit in her pace so that she dropped back to Radiant's position in the group. "Look... thanks. Really," she said softly. "You didn't... have to carry my fat flank around. Most, even the helpful ones, probably would have ditched me back at the town... I'm thankful for that and... Ugh." She rubbed her face with her leg. "I'm sorry for acting like a tit. Probably should apologize to... Love Gem...? Amore. But that crystal..." She looked at Amore as she walked in front of them. "That crystal isn't hers, love fragment or destiny. It's not really mine either. But I feel this strong pull in my head towards it like an anchor line and..." She folded her ears back and lowered her her to torso level, looking equal parts annoyed and regretful. "I probably sound like a spoiled brat."

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Radiant continued forward with the group, he kept his chin up looking far down the path ahead to keep an eye out for potential threats with his tattered Red scarf catching every stray breeze that caressed the group.

 

As he continued walking he didn't bother to look behind him at at the group. With Red and Caliber's previous intentions whether they were theoretical or reality, caused a discontent impression on Radiant. He was soon rejoined by Ironeye who he looked down at as she began babbling to him very sincerely.

 

"Well you are helping your impression, I suppose I can understand your attitude toward the situation and after what happened with the element could cause a feeling of panic." He said gently with no tone of resentment in his voice as he kept his view forward. "You don't need to mention it, I'm sure you rather not. I've dedicated my life to helping others and I would happily carry all of you if it was needed... Besides you have no where near a fat flank, so don't go thinking you self a burden."

 

Radiant looked down to Ironeye. "To be honest I detected a link between you and the element... for the time amore needs the emotion imprint on it." He reassured Ironeye.

[Reaver 350]

"Good," Strider nodded, hiding a grin upon hearing Ironeye would be accompanying them.  "And yes, I do have a plan. While it likely won't put them out of action permanently, it should stave them off for many months. I found out from the innkeeper--I'm sure she's a reliable source," he added, "she seemed to have a personal drive against the bandits--some valuable information." He waited till Radiant and Ironeye had a break in the conversation, then continued.

 

"So, everypony, here's the plan as far as I've got it," Strider broke out. "The bandits have five leaders. I have their names with me. Each leader has their own--political party, I suppose, and they're constantly in feud with each other along with the outside world. The plan is a simple one. We need to take out these five, but all I know is their names. We're going to need to either sneak in and try and find out where they're located and their appearances, or take one of the bandits hostage and find out from them. We go in, kill them, and leave. They seem to have an iron hold over their parties respectively, as far as I've heard, and it will throw them into chaos." He breathed out, considering. "It's a good point, though, Sungazer. It won't put them out of action permanently. Do any of you have a suggestion that will make the effects of the deaths of their leaders more long lasting?"

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

Amorè says, "yea I might, but we will have to draw an outside force in."

 

Amorè walks with Strider. "We can also make it look as if the other groups made a successful assassination attempt on them by hiring a changeling to do it."

 

Amorè let's her words sink in while walking next to strider.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

As Radiant was walking along side Ironeye he glanced back at Amore who suggested a more underhanded method of dealing with the bandits. "I would have to speak against that plan, it sounds too dangerous to send only one of our members." He stated returning hus gaze forward. "These leaders will probably have guards and will cause a situation arise, so we will have to force our way to you only endangering us all as well since we will be in a rush."

[Little Red 1,529]

"We should discover as much as we can about the leaders," Red said thoughtfully. "Perhaps we can turn them against each other. Destroy them from the inside out. If they have political parties with leaders, they have rifts. If a society has rifts, they will only widen in time. We can use that against them, perhaps. Most of the ponies there probably just have no other means of survival. If the leaders of their society get busy feuding with each other, many bandits might leave under such a rule, or maybe we can step in and help repair the society when the parties destroy each other."

[Midnight_Aurora 571]

As Radiant was walking along side Ironeye he glanced back at Amore who suggested a more underhanded method of dealing with the bandits. "I would have to speak against that plan, it sounds too dangerous to send only one of our members." He stated returning hus gaze forward. "These leaders will probably have guards and will cause a situation arise, so we will have to force our way to you only endangering us all as well since we will be in a rush."

Amorè shakes her head, "I said make it look like a changeling assasinated them. I never said about going in alone. But you have a point. I was also trying to plan ahead."

 

Amorè is walking with Strider still.

Amorè thinks for a while and then says, "Soon we will need to find a place to sit for a day. It should take at most 24 hours for me to finish my Evolution. Would that be ok with you all? I just wish to be of help and feel my evolution would be the ticket in doing so."