private Whisper: The City Of Darkness

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@UnicornFilly,

 

"You're right. best we head back to the others... unless..." Trivy looked at the wall with interests. "Maybe... I can find some sort of magic spell..." Trivy said now gazing at the light that was coming from the center of the city. "I've that book with me..in my saddle bag.. I'll go grab it." She said before trotting towards Lavender and the others, the place where she left her bag. 

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@Unicorncob

@UnicornFilly

 

 

 

you notice movement out of the corner of your eye

"Get down," Bramble said to Lavender in a low voice as he threw himself flat, "Look over there," he added, pointing at the ponies, "They... don't look right, and I'd rather not meet them and find out. Right now the word springing to mind is 'quarantine,' which is about the only thing that makes any sense of this shield."

 

Bramble looked over at Marble and Trivy, and saw Marble walking back towards them. He frantically gestured that she should keep low, his mind whirring as he tried to analyse the situation.

[Unicorncob 5,679]

@@UnicornFilly @@Pucksterv

 

Lavender watched as Trivy walked toward Marble, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. She was being mean to her, and now she wants to go near her? What gives?

Then again, she was a healer and an alchemist, not a psychiatrist.

 

She watched as Trivy trotted back over to her, and she got to her hooves with an excited grin on her face.

"What'd you two find?" She asked, pattering her forehooves slightly, "Can I see?!"

 

 

"Get down," Bramble said to Lavender in a low voice as he threw himself flat, "Look over there," he added, pointing at the ponies, "They... don't look right, and I'd rather not meet them and find out. Right now the word springing to mind is 'quarantine,' which is about the only thing that makes any sense of this shield."

 

Bramble looked over at Marble and Trivy, and saw Marble walking back towards them. He frantically gestured that she should keep low, his mind whirring as he tried to analyse the situation.

 

She turned and saw Bramble frantically telling her to get down and falling flat on the ground. Looking to Trivy with a shrug, she followed suit and collapsed on the ground with him.

"Woah, what's the deal with them?!" She whispered, seeing the strange ponies at last.

Edited August 6, 2015 by Unicorncob

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@Unicorncob, @Pucksterv, @UnicornFilly

"Woah, what's the deal with them?!" She whispered, seeing the strange ponies at last.

 

After a few seconds of thought, Bramble spoke.

 

"We need to move away from the bus - heat, magic, curiosity, hope of escape, any of those could be drawing those... things. We should stay low and follow the edge of the shield, keeping away from the city. With luck, we'll find a way out and they," he gestured to the approaching ponies, "Will just examine the bus. Everyone grab your things - no light, no magic, keep low and stay out of sight of those ponies. I'll take Wilhelm - let's go."

Edited August 6, 2015 by Once In A Blue Moon

[UnicornFilly 56]

@Unicorncob

@UnicornFilly

 

 

 

"Get down," Bramble said to Lavender in a low voice as he threw himself flat, "Look over there," he added, pointing at the ponies, "They... don't look right, and I'd rather not meet them and find out. Right now the word springing to mind is 'quarantine,' which is about the only thing that makes any sense of this shield."

 

Bramble looked over at Marble and Trivy, and saw Marble walking back towards them. He frantically gestured that she should keep low, his mind whirring as he tried to analyse the situation.

 

She glanced at Bramble before glancing back at the horde of ponies. She knew she felt something sinister about the city and she was right, they looked almost like zombies, with a massive one driving the 'horde'. Straight towards them, she quickly galloped over to Bramble and the others, "looks like we are being rescued" she said as she approached.

 

"I'm not going near that shield, it can kill you instantly, you don't understand it" she said frowning, "how we going to take Wilhelm" she asked him frowning.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Trivy picked up her bag and stayed close to the others. She looked at the horde of ponies coming towards them. They was still a big distance between them but it would not take long until that distance was no more. "So uh..we walk backwards until what? What do we do when we can go back any further?"

[UnicornFilly 56]

Trivy picked up her bag and stayed close to the others. She looked at the horde of ponies coming towards them. They was still a big distance between them but it would not take long until that distance was no more. "So uh..we walk backwards until what? What do we do when we can go back any further?"

 

"lets try talking to them, maybe they are friendly" she said before putting her saddlebag back on. "no point running when we don't have to" she added. She glanced at the group, "but what do you think about that, they don't look too dangerous just more, well mutated"

[Unicorncob 5,679]

After a few seconds of thought, Bramble spoke.

 

"We need to move away from the bus - heat, magic, curiosity, hope of escape, any of those could be drawing those... things. We should stay low and follow the edge of the shield, keeping away from the city. With luck, we'll find a way out and they," he gestured to the approaching ponies, "Will just examine the bus. Everyone grab your things - no light, no magic, keep low and stay out of sight of those ponies. I'll take Wilhelm - let's go."

 

"Works for me," Lavender muttered, unable to turn her glance from the mutated ponies, "Stars, it's like a carriage crash, I wanna look away but I can't!"

 

 

"lets try talking to them, maybe they are friendly" she said before putting her saddlebag back on. "no point running when we don't have to" she added. She glanced at the group, "but what do you think about that, they don't look too dangerous just more, well mutated"

 

"I dunno if that's a good idea," She muttered to Marble, "They don't really...look friendly. I mean I'm sure they are, but they look like brain eaters. And I like my brain, it's good for stuff."

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@UnicornFilly,

 

"Oh no you don't, you are not going anywhere." Trivy said, agreeing with Lavender that they did not look friendly. She walked past Marble and then stood in front of her. "You said it yourself, we gotta stay together and I am certainly not following you." Trivy said with anger and a bit of fear. "We may started of on the wrong hoof but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you wonder into your death." Trivy said determinant, still facing Marble.

Edited August 6, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

maybe they are friendly

"Even if they are friendly, they might be contagious," warned Bramble, "And desperate ponies can do desperate and irrational things. We can't help them either way at the moment, but we can keep ourselves safe." He looked pointedly at Marble, "And the rest of us can't fly away if there's trouble."

[UnicornFilly 56]

"Even if they are friendly, they might be contagious," warned Bramble, "And desperate ponies can do desperate and irrational things. We can't help them either way at the moment, but we can keep ourselves safe." He looked pointedly at Marble, "And the rest of us can't fly away if there's trouble."

 

Marble frowned, "maybe I could scout ahead and see if they look friendly while you lot hide, and if they are not friendly then I can fly back and we run for it?" she snorted. "If these ponies are friendly and they see us running from them, then it would just make them hate us" she argued.

 

She opened her wings, "you ponies used to think bat ponies were scary, maybe these ponies just look like this for some reason" she added.

[Unicorncob 5,679]

She opened her wings, "you ponies used to think bat ponies were scary, maybe these ponies just look like this for some reason" she added.

 

"Like I said," Lavender spoke up again, looking to Marble, "I'm sure they're perfectly friendly, but I don't wanna risk my beautiful brain in case they prove otherwise!"

 

She grinned crookedly. "And on the subject, I actually always thought batponies were pretty cool. I used to see some back home."

[UnicornFilly 56]

"Like I said," Lavender spoke up again, looking to Marble, "I'm sure they're perfectly friendly, but I don't wanna risk my beautiful brain in case they prove otherwise!"

 

She grinned crookedly. "And on the subject, I actually always thought batponies were pretty cool. I used to see some back home."

 

Marble smirked and closed her wings, "well, you going to start running or what? I can fly remember" she finished, "if anyone got any binoculars we can see what they do when they reach the bus" she finished. Marble then started galloping towards the shield away from the mutated ponies. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@UnicornFilly,

 

"I..uh...I could go with you.. I think I remember some sort of invisibility spell..I mean I'm a unicorn... I'm able to do that right?" Trivy said , looking through her bag for her spell book. She concentrated, her horn started to glow. A small flash came from her horn that covered her body. "Did it work? Am I invisible?" 

[UnicornFilly 56]

@@UnicornFilly,

 

"I..uh...I could go with you.. I think I remember some sort of invisibility spell..I mean I'm a unicorn... I'm able to do that right?" Trivy said , looking through her bag for her spell book. She concentrated, her horn started to glow. A small flash came from her horn that covered her body. "Did it work? Am I invisible?" 

 

Marble blinked "er, I can't see you" she said sniffing at the invisible Trivy, "but I can sure smell you" she added blinking. "lets go, we don't need anymore ponies to join us otherwise it wont be a scouting mission" she finished before trotting away towards the party of mutant ponies.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@UnicornFilly,

 

"Yes!" Trivy cheered. "It worked! Now I only need to very quiet." Trivy said, following Marble. Truth is, Trivy was really scared but she could not let Marble go there on her own. She sneaked, not making a sound. She hoped the 'mutant' ponies would not notice her.

[UnicornFilly 56]

@@UnicornFilly,

 

"Yes!" Trivy cheered. "It worked! Now I only need to very quiet." Trivy said, following Marble. Truth is, Trivy was really scared but she could not let Marble go there on her own. She sneaked, not making a sound. She hoped the 'mutant' ponies would not notice her.

 

Marble got closer towards the ponies before standing ontop of a rock to see them, she unfolded her wings just in case they were actually hostile. She then waited for their approach, if they were friendly then they could talk, if not then she would fly away as fast as she could. 

[Unicorncob 5,679]

@@UnicornFilly @@Pucksterv

 

Lavender watched tensely as Marble and Trivy approached the mutated ponies.

"Be careful girls," she pleaded, "Wherever you are, Trivy..."

 

She blinked once and squinted her eyes, as if trying to identify something far away.

"No, really Trivy," she added, "I can't see you anywhere. That's a really good spell."

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

((Poor @Once In A Blue Moon. I for one was quite excited that you came up with an actual map and plan. Hopefully this doesn't become a theme.))

 

@@Pucksterv,@@UnicornFilly,

 

As Marble stands up on the rocks, she can see the approaching ponies more clearly- what had been mistaken for a mangled mess now appears to be a mass of thick, ropy tentacles that propel these ponies forwards. However, while the four ponies in the front are doing little more than shambling, the one in the back is very much antsy and expectant of combat- you can see he's dressed in some light armor, and he seems to have full, individual control of all of his tentacles, as he's actively using them to prop himself up and look across the plains outside of the city, as well as several other things, such as to move rocks out of the way or, on occasion, quickly move to destroy a bush that a small animal had moved in.

 

As this obvious leader notices your position, the smaller ponies, shocked back into reality from whatever daydreaming shuffle they were part of and pick up the pace considerably. As they get closer to your position, the other ponies split up, moving around apart from the leader with their nose to the ground, sniffing and searching for something. The smaller creatures also, at this point, seem to be covered in some sort of thin, clear slime that is left behind them as they move, yet it evaporates shortly afterwards.

 

At this point, the big pony creature walks up to you with a scowl. In fact, it almost looks like a Guard sergeant. "Who are you," it hisses, "and why are you here?"

[UnicornFilly 56]

((Poor @Once In A Blue Moon. I for one was quite excited that you came up with an actual map and plan. Hopefully this doesn't become a theme.))

 

@@Pucksterv,@@UnicornFilly,

 

As Marble stands up on the rocks, she can see the approaching ponies more clearly- what had been mistaken for a mangled mess now appears to be a mass of thick, ropy tentacles that propel these ponies forwards. However, while the four ponies in the front are doing little more than shambling, the one in the back is very much antsy and expectant of combat- you can see he's dressed in some light armor, and he seems to have full, individual control of all of his tentacles, as he's actively using them to prop himself up and look across the plains outside of the city, as well as several other things, such as to move rocks out of the way or, on occasion, quickly move to destroy a bush that a small animal had moved in.

 

As this obvious leader notices your position, the smaller ponies, shocked back into reality from whatever daydreaming shuffle they were part of and pick up the pace considerably. As they get closer to your position, the other ponies split up, moving around apart from the leader with their nose to the ground, sniffing and searching for something. The smaller creatures also, at this point, seem to be covered in some sort of thin, clear slime that is left behind them as they move, yet it evaporates shortly afterwards.

 

At this point, the big pony creature walks up to you with a scowl. In fact, it almost looks like a Guard sergeant. "Who are you," it hisses, "and why are you here?"

 

 

Marble studied the group as they approached, the smaller ones were all taking order from the larger tentacle pony, they were sniffing for something, Marble frowned maybe they were sniffing for Trivy. Her focus then went to the larger pony, since she didn't know anything of their culture she waited for its approach, noticing it was combat ready and seemed angry. She blinked as it talked slightly smiling, at least it didn't squash her. 

 

Since it didn't squash her this made her think of two reasons, either it wanted to know if she was a threat, or was simply curious. She decided to play it safe with this pony, rather than hope it had a conscience, which after squashing all the bushes she decided it didn't really have one.  

 

"who am I? why I am Marble, Marble the bat pony. Who is it that I am speaking too?" she asked it before adding "Were you the one that caused my party to gain access through the shield" she finished. She could have simply asked it hundreds of questions, though that would probably anger the thing, 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Trivy was not sure if the big pony or whatever creature was talking to her. She crawled behind Marble and made no sound. She listened to Marble's words with fear holding back her voice. She studied the 4 other ponies below. They seem to have fear in their eyes as well. She gulped and looked back at Marble.

[That One Techpriest You Used To Know 2,286]

Marble studied the group as they approached, the smaller ones were all taking order from the larger tentacle pony, they were sniffing for something, Marble frowned maybe they were sniffing for Trivy. Her focus then went to the larger pony, since she didn't know anything of their culture she waited for its approach, noticing it was combat ready and seemed angry. She blinked as it talked slightly smiling, at least it didn't squash her. 

 

Since it didn't squash her this made her think of two reasons, either it wanted to know if she was a threat, or was simply curious. She decided to play it safe with this pony, rather than hope it had a conscience, which after squashing all the bushes she decided it didn't really have one.  

 

"who am I? why I am Marble, Marble the bat pony. Who is it that I am speaking too?" she asked it before adding "Were you the one that caused my party to gain access through the shield" she finished. She could have simply asked it hundreds of questions, though that would probably anger the thing, 

 

The last question seemed to confuse it. "Shield? What shield? I..." and, with that, it paused, closed it's eyes, and, upon opening them, turned and issued a high-pitched screech of some sort, not unlike a seagull. The smaller ponies looked up, and, after a short, fearful glance at Marble, moved as fast as they can towards the city, while the large pony turned back towards you, eyes darkened slightly.

 

Ah!, boomed a voice in Marble's head, sounding both casual and formal at the same time... somehow. I knew there was a reason that the shield was disturbed! Yes, that's exceptionally pleasant for all parties involved. Hopefully. Hello, there, Marble the Batpony. My name is... well, it's long, so perhaps you can call me... Resh! Yes, Resh. Hello again. I'm kinda... trapped, you see. I come from... somewhere else. Another dimension, if you can comprehend it. I'm one of those 'magical spirits' that are taught about in your academy. I'm not out to steal your soul, don't worry, but I'm not exactly one of those 'helpful, healing' spirits either. I'm one for neutrality.

 

But... I kinda need your help. You see, a bunch of up-and-coming magic wielders decided to lock me in this... crystal thing. And, of course, me being not a natural spirit, began to have my influence 'leak out' into the city you see before you. Don't worry, I'm not contagious. A rather nervous chuckles comes out from this 'Resh' spirit talking through this mutated pony. The... influence I exerted caused some of these ponies some nightmares. Apparently, it caused an epidemic aaaand some demon slipped in and took advantage of it, and, between the nightmare-stricken... err, 'zombies'- not classic zombies, mind you, but they kinda act like it- and the mutants that this demon created, the ponies of the government decided to block the place off. With me still stuck in it. But now that you're here... are you getting my drift?

 

The seemingly-possessed pony continued it's dead-eyed stare into you as the spirit awaited your answer.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

Marble blinked "er, I can't see you" she said sniffing at the invisible Trivy,

 

"Yes!" Trivy cheered. "It worked! Now I only need to very quiet." Trivy said, following Marble.

 

"No plan survives contact with the enemy," Bramble thought ruefully, "Although I would hate to think of my fellow students' intellects as the enemy." He glanced over at Lavender, revising his plan.

 

@Unicorncob

 

"Can you gather up Wilhelm's things?" He hissed at her, "I'm going to try and move him somewhere a little more out of sight.... those bushes, there," He pointed to a clump of bushes two dozen paces away, "Don't use your magic; having a glowing neon arrow over your head isn't conductive to stealthy movement. Once he's safe, we'll worry about..." he sighed, seeing Marble approaching the group of mysterious ponies,  "Those two."

[Unicorncob 5,679]

"Can you gather up Wilhelm's things?" He hissed at her, "I'm going to try and move him somewhere a little more out of sight.... those bushes, there," He pointed to a clump of bushes two dozen paces away, "Don't use your magic; having a glowing neon arrow over your head isn't conductive to stealthy movement. Once he's safe, we'll worry about..." he sighed, seeing Marble approaching the group of mysterious ponies,  "Those two."

Lavender, totally flat on the ground, gave a small salute with her hoof. "On it, chief."

 

She began slinking around the ground, looking much like a large four-legged spider, toward the bus. She spotted Wilhelm's bag and grabbed it, slinging it over her shoulder and sneaking around the strange ponies as silently as she could to regroup with the others.

 

All while whispering "Sneaky sneaky sneaky..." under her breath.

[Dust and Memories 557]

At the strange, hissing voice, Wilhelm woke with a start, ice pack falling off his head and making a dent in the burnt earth. One of the first things he saw was the mutated pony, and he shied backwards, skittering up until he stood (rather unsteadily) on all four legs. He sniffed primly, obviously annoyed at his reaction- while shooting a glance at the others not to comment, and stepped forward to the front of the group, immediately projecting a well-practiced air of supreme authority and confidence.

 

"I," Wilhelm began in a calm, placating tone, "am Sergeant-Major Wilhelm de Winter, chaperon and teacher to my companions here. I can assure you that our intentions are nothing short of benign, and that we intend no malediction unto you or the ponies under your command. We were originally headed for the Crystal Empire, but our transport's guidance malfunctioned and ran us into your intriguing archmage-level psychically-nonpersuasive hemispherical shield-type construct. Or, in laypony's parlance, an advanced quarantine shield." Wilhelm's tone grew sharper, though still diplomatic. "As I said, very intriguing. Nevertheless, to the matter at hand. We have been stranded in this locale, and we would appreciate your help in any way possible that you may be able to render."

 

Wilhelm leaned forward for a closer look at the guard. "Judging by your armor, you're presumably ex-Royal Guard, or..." You killed one and took his armor. "...Or you still consider yourself active, despite your..." Wilhelm gestured vaguely at the tentacles. "Never mind. What I mean to say is that by your vows as a presumed member of the Guard, you're bound to help us. Or, if not, I hope you can summon a bit of pony kindness, eh?" Wilhelm put up his best attempt at a winning smile.