private Whisper: The City Of Darkness

[Unicorncob 5,685]

Crystal looked at Marble strangely. "Yeah... about a month. At least a couple of weeks. There aren't too many berry bushes, but there are a bunch of wooded pockets like this. None with a pond in them, though... they usually have something like some flower roots, or wild onions, or something along those lines..."

 

"Flower roots and onions," Lavender repeated, nodding once, "Yes, of course! Those are crucial ingredients to any remedy! ...well, the roots at least, I just really like onions."

 

Bramble shot an exasperated look at Lavender. "How handy. If there's one thing I hate more than being eaten by demons, it's being eaten by demons without the right seasoning and side vegetables." 

 

She snorted and stuck her nose up at Bramble. "Well perhaps demons enjoy the taste of honey-roasted Bramble with a hint of barley!" She teased.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

So.. uh.. What do we do now?

 

 

@@Unicorncob,@@Pucksterv, @, @@Orion Caelum,  

 

"Well, it sounds like if we want to escape then we will need to find the truth of the matter - if there is a crystal in the city that's producing this shield, and there is... something trapped inside it that claims that it can help us escape, then we need to go and find it. We can decide what we do then, when we know the truth." Bramble looked up at the shield, "If the crystal is in the middle of the shield bubble, then that would put it squarely in the middle of the city. If it's a pony-made device then it will probably be in the town hall or city guard headquarters, so I suggest we go and look for those. And soon - before the demons start hunting us."

[Dust and Memories 557]

@@Pucksterv, @@Unicorncob, @@Orion Caelum, @@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Marble gave a crooked grin towards Bramble before sighing. "Well, this odd being called Resh said that he's from an alternate dimension... and that he was summoned by a group of six, err... 'miscreants'? Whatever that means. Anyways, he said that he's trapped in a gem that's providing the focus for the shield, and that we break it, he'll open the shield for us and send us home. He even said he'd fix the bus for us.  On a side note, Professor Wilhelm, do extra-dimensional spirits have genders?" She shrugged. "Also, there's a demon lord sitting somewhere in the city, too. He said that between the effects of his extended stay, and the demons, they locked down the city, and he wants out."

 

Crystal looked at Marble strangely. "Yeah... about a month. At least a couple of weeks. There aren't too many berry bushes, but there are a bunch of wooded pockets like this. None with a pond in them, though... they usually have something like some flower roots, or wild onions, or something along those lines..."

 

Wilhelm started at Marble's question, and then, after thinking for a moment, replied. "I suppose so, though perhaps not genders we ponies have ever thought of." Wilhelm shrugged. "For convenience's sake, let's refer to him as a he." A bit of a smile twitched at the side of his mouth, but he then went back to reading his book. While everypony else had been doing their stuff, Wilhelm had went back to the bus and got his bag. Unfortunately, some of his books had been burnt, but none of them were too rare.

 

He had found his bow (unstrung, folded in half), and a few handy books for him to read to keep his mind off what had happened, as well as sundry survival supplies such as water and a good rope. Right now, he was working through an old book on aeronaval theory, written before Celestia's disappearance. With a bit of a sigh, he put the book down and leaned backwards, just in time to catch Bramble's theory.

 

"Your caveats may exist, but do we have any other option? If Resh is truly extradimensional, could he not have learned language simply from observing us ponies? And if this crystal was located in the town hall, there would no doubt be erudite clerks and such there he could well have learned from. As for the demon lord, well..." Wilhelm's mouth twisted in a grimace. "We'll burn that bridge when it comes around." 

 

He stood up abruptly and swung his saddlebags onto his back. "Which way should we go?" Wilhelm gestured with a swing of his head to several different paths leading to the center of the city. Two were nearly filled with rubble, three others had unusual sounds coming from deep inside, one was doused in impenetrable darkness in spite of any light which would normally touch it, and the last path seemed to be glowing with a reddish light, similar in color to blood. "None seem too appealing."

Edited August 27, 2015 by Orion Caelum

[Unicorncob 5,685]

@@Orion Caelum

 

Lavender beamed upon seeing Wilhelm rejoin the group, albeit looking a bit disoriented. Perhaps he may require more help?

 

To be sure, she trotted over to the professor, and inspected him closely.

"How're you doing, sir?" She asked, concern lilting in her voice, "I can fix you up a remedy if you're still banged up!"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

Two were nearly filled with rubble, three others had unusual sounds coming from deep inside, one was doused in impenetrable darkness in spite of any light which would normally touch it, and the last path seemed to be glowing with a reddish light, similar in color to blood.

 

@@Orion Caelum,  @,

 

"A road filled with rubble seems like it has the fewest unknowns," Bramble answered, setting off towards the city, "And our winged friend can help us over any particularly challenging obstacles," he added, glancing at Marble before returning his gaze to the surrounding landscape. "I can't see anything around, so let's try and make it to the city as quickly as possible - speed over stealth at this point."

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

@@Once In A Blue Moon, @@Unicorncob, @@Pucksterv, @@Orion Caelum,

 

Marble smirked a bit at Wilhelm's response. "Hey, the professor knows relevant information. Sweet. Maybe we'll get this done really quickly, then..." After letting loose a yawn, she turned to Bramble. "Ay, Bramble, I know you really wanna get home and... I don't know, go on a hot date or something, but I'm kinda tired. Besides, isn't that why we came to this grove, anyways? To get some rest before we all set out on our grand adventure?"

 

Crystal thought for a bit before chiming in. "Yeah... it's been a bit of a tiring day. I can keep going, though-"

 

"So, two in favor for stopping for the next few hours," she cut off, leaving Crystal blinking in confusion. "What do the three of you think? Do you wanna stop here to sleep, or wait until we're in the city, surrounded by demons, monsters, and soulless, shambling ponies?"

[Unicorncob 5,685]

Marble smirked a bit at Wilhelm's response. "Hey, the professor knows relevant information. Sweet. Maybe we'll get this done really quickly, then..." After letting loose a yawn, she turned to Bramble. "Ay, Bramble, I know you really wanna get home and... I don't know, go on a hot date or something, but I'm kinda tired. Besides, isn't that why we came to this grove, anyways? To get some rest before we all set out on our grand adventure?"

 

Crystal thought for a bit before chiming in. "Yeah... it's been a bit of a tiring day. I can keep going, though-"

 

"So, two in favor for stopping for the next few hours," she cut off, leaving Crystal blinking in confusion. "What do the three of you think? Do you wanna stop here to sleep, or wait until we're in the city, surrounded by demons, monsters, and soulless, shambling ponies?"

 

Lavender weighed the options, which were 'sleep next to a raging bus inferno where monsters had showed up' or 'go into the city which has even more monsters'.

Swallowing, she decided to pick a third option.

 

"I vote we find somewhere safe to sleep," She stated, raising her hoof, "Somewhere that's not the city and not next to a raging bus fire that could potentially kill us all in our sleep."

[Pucksterv 4,508]

 

 

"So, two in favor for stopping for the next few hours," she cut off, leaving Crystal blinking in confusion. "What do the three of you think? Do you wanna stop here to sleep, or wait until we're in the city, surrounded by demons, monsters, and soulless, shambling ponies?"

 

"I'm not tired so I don't really care where we sleep. If you want, I could keep watch for those ponies. If anything happens, I can wake you all." Trivy said smiling. "I'm glad to offer my help anyway.'' ''All I know is that I'm not going to be sleeping for some time, better do something useful in the meantime''

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

I'm kinda tired. Besides, isn't that why we came to this grove, anyways? To get some rest before we all set out on our grand adventure?

 

"...You're right." Bramble said, somewhat put out, "We should be as well rested as we can be before we set out."

 

 

 

I could keep watch for those ponies.

@@Pucksterv,@@Unicorncob,@@Orion Caelum,  

 

"That would be very generous of you. I don't suppose anyone could test the water in the pool? I have some dehydrated rations that I can share out, but I'd rather not use my bottled water until I have to. Speedi-beet isn't pleasant dry." 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

"That would be very generous of you. I don't suppose anyone could test the water in the pool? I have some dehydrated rations that I can share out, but I'd rather not use my bottled water until I have to. Speedi-beet isn't pleasant dry."

"I would touch that water if I were you.. in fact, I think it's best not to touch anything around here." Trivy said as she put her muzzle close to the pool to sniff it. She quickly took a step back and stuck out her tongue. "blehg! Not to mention the smell." She then climbed in one of the trees to have a better point of view. "Alright, I'll be watching carefully.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Unicorncob 5,685]

"I'm not tired so I don't really care where we sleep. If you want, I could keep watch for those ponies. If anything happens, I can wake you all." Trivy said smiling. "I'm glad to offer my help anyway.'' ''All I know is that I'm not going to be sleeping for some time, better do something useful in the meantime''

 

"Aww, ya don't have to do that, buddy," Lavender said, smiling at her friend, "No need to lose any sleep over our silly heads. I can try and make some sugar substitute and do it myself!"

 

 

"I would touch that water if I were you.. in fact, I think it's best not to touch anything around here." Trivy said as she put her muzzle close to the pool to sniff it. She quickly took a step back and stuck out her tongue. "blehg! Not to mention the smell." She then climbed in one of the trees to have a better point of few. "Alright, I'll be watching carefully.

 

She trotted up to the water and sniffed it herself

"Pe-ew!" She grimaced, stumbling backward and sitting down, "Smells worse than the time I tried to make soup from barley and dragonfruit juice!"

[Pucksterv 4,508]

"Aww, ya don't have to do that, buddy," Lavender said, smiling at her friend, "No need to lose any sleep over our silly heads. I can try and make some sugar substitute and do it myself!"

 

She trotted up to the water and sniffed it herself

"Pe-ew!" She grimaced, stumbling backward and sitting down, "Smells worse than the time I tried to make soup from barley and dragonfruit juice!"

"I'm already up here anyway and I'm really not tired so I'll do it with pleasure." Trivy said with a smile. When Lavender told her the wicked combo she once tried, Trivy's face turned a little green for a second. "What? Dragonfruit and barley? Ooh dear Celestia, never do that again." she chuckled, looking down at Lavender while leaning on a tree branch.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

 

 

"I would touch that water if I were you.. in fact, I think it's best not to touch anything around here."

 

 

 

 

"Pe-ew!"

 

 

"Well, bottled water it is then." So saying Bramble pulled a small bag of brown flakes, dumped them into a bowl and poured half a bottle of water over it. "It's refined and dehydrated sugar beet," he explained, "Very high energy content, but the energy's released over a long time period. A favorite survival and endurance food. It just needs a little time to soak." Looking through the feed in his bag, he did a quick calculation.

 

"That's enough for seven days of nothing but beet. Call it three weeks of high physical exertion supplemented with grazing... but nowhere near enough water to re-hydrate that much beet, especially since I need some to drink as well. Within a couple of days it'll be a choice between eating and drinking enough."

 

@@Pucksterv,@@Unicorncob, @@Orion Caelum, @,

 

"Does everyone have enough food for now? Crystal, you could probably do with some high energy food if you've been on the run for the past month - how well have you been eating?"

[Unicorncob 5,685]

"I'm already up here anyway and I'm really not tired so I'll do it with pleasure." Trivy said with a smile. When Lavender told her the wicked combo she once tried, Trivy's face turned a little green for a second. "What? Dragonfruit and barley? Ooh dear Celestia, never do that again." she chuckled, looking down at Lavender while leaning on a tree branch.

 

"Don't worry, I don't plan to," Lavender snickered, smirking back up at Trivy, "You can still kinda smell it in the hallway closet!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Well, bottled water it is then." So saying Bramble pulled a small bag of brown flakes, dumped them into a bowl and poured half a bottle of water over it. "It's refined and dehydrated sugar beet," he explained, "Very high energy content, but the energy's released over a long time period. A favorite survival and endurance food. It just needs a little time to soak." Looking through the feed in his bag, he did a quick calculation.

 

"That's enough for seven days of nothing but beet. Call it three weeks of high physical exertion supplemented with grazing... but nowhere near enough water to re-hydrate that much beet, especially since I need some to drink as well. Within a couple of days it'll be a choice between eating and drinking enough."

 

"Does everyone have enough food for now? Crystal, you could probably do with some high energy food if you've been on the run for the past month - how well have you been eating?"

 

 

"I got some water and food," She confirmed to Bramble, gesturing to her saddlebag, "And I can spruce up some remedies if anypony needs any!"

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

"Well, bottled water it is then." So saying Bramble pulled a small bag of brown flakes, dumped them into a bowl and poured half a bottle of water over it. "It's refined and dehydrated sugar beet," he explained, "Very high energy content, but the energy's released over a long time period. A favorite survival and endurance food. It just needs a little time to soak." Looking through the feed in his bag, he did a quick calculation.

 

"That's enough for seven days of nothing but beet. Call it three weeks of high physical exertion supplemented with grazing... but nowhere near enough water to re-hydrate that much beet, especially since I need some to drink as well. Within a couple of days it'll be a choice between eating and drinking enough."

 

@@Pucksterv,@@Unicorncob, @@Orion Caelum, @,

 

"Does everyone have enough food for now? Crystal, you could probably do with some high energy food if you've been on the run for the past month - how well have you been eating?"

 

 

Crystal blinked softly. "Well... I don't know. I'm kinda hungry now, I guess, but I've been doing alright. There's some days when I went hungry, but as of right now... I guess I'm alright, if someone needs it more."

 

She glanced at the water herself before continuing. "There's... a stream on the other end of the city that's pure enough to drink.... I'm not sure where it ends up, but it seems that the shield doesn't block water from moving through it. It actually seems to be doing a good job purifying it." After a moment, she walked over to the pool and, after sniffing it for herself, she dipped her hoof in before quickly removing it. "...we don't want to drink this. It's... thick...? Is this even water? It's making my hoof a bit tingly..."

 

 

 

"You can still kinda smell it in the hallway closet!"

 

Marble smirked a little bit. "That was you? I thought it was our chemistry professor using the cleaning chemicals to experiment or something. That's actually kinda funny."

[Dust and Memories 557]

Crystal blinked softly. "Well... I don't know. I'm kinda hungry now, I guess, but I've been doing alright. There's some days when I went hungry, but as of right now... I guess I'm alright, if someone needs it more."

 

She glanced at the water herself before continuing. "There's... a stream on the other end of the city that's pure enough to drink.... I'm not sure where it ends up, but it seems that the shield doesn't block water from moving through it. It actually seems to be doing a good job purifying it." After a moment, she walked over to the pool and, after sniffing it for herself, she dipped her hoof in before quickly removing it. "...we don't want to drink this. It's... thick...? Is this even water? It's making my hoof a bit tingly..."

 

 

 

 

Marble smirked a little bit. "That was you? I thought it was our chemistry professor using the cleaning chemicals to experiment or something. That's actually kinda funny."

 

Wilhelm had been quiet in the conversation so far, but when Crystal mentioned thick, tingly water, he lept up and very nearly yanked her backwards before discovering she had already removed her hoof. "Don't touch that!" Taking a empty cup from the ground, he swept it through the water, careful not to let his hoof touch the water. Setting the cup on the ground, he took a magnifying glass from his saddlebags and, gripping it in the feather-tips of one wing, peered through it at the water. After a brief paused, he tutted.

 

"Water's thick and cloudy. Faint disturbances deep down, like a lot of very small things swimming through it. Probably some sort of microorganism, and I have no idea how they may have been mutated by whatever disaster occurred here. After all, we already saw what happened to the ponies; no reason to assume it wouldn't have any affect on the smaller creatures as well. The tingling sensation Crystal felt could have been hide being stripped away."

 

He placed his materials back into his saddlebag, kicking the cup back into the stagnant pond with an almost-contemptuous kick of a hind hoof. "I would advise not drinking any of this. As for the clearer stream, we'd have to investigate it; perhaps the shield really does purify the water. Shielding magic isn't my specialty, to say the least." He shook his head. 

 

As for Lavender, Wilhelm cocked his head to the side, his expression as if he couldn't decide whether to smile or frown. "You were the one who made the closet stink? You're the one whose name I've been cursing every time I had to go in there to get supplies for class?"

Edited September 3, 2015 by Orion Caelum

[Unicorncob 5,685]

As for Lavender, he cocked his head to the side, his expression as if he couldn't decide whether to smile or frown. "You were the one who made the closet stink? You're the one whose name I've been cursing every time I had to go in there to get supplies for class?"

 

Lavender blinked, not expecting Wilhelm to overhear her little confession, and giggled sheepishly as she tapped her forehooves together.

"Um, well...yes," She admitted, grinning meekly up at her tutor, "But I did try cleaning up the stink! ...with some flower-smelling spray I found in there...it kinda just mixed together, and...I should probably stop talking."

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Unicorncob,@@Orion Caelum,  

 

The conversation trailed off into desultory small talk, and the next two hours were spent eating, sleeping, thinking or talking quietly. Occasionally the shield would crackle as a small insect flew into it, ripples of energy spreading across its surface.

 

Crystal Spark spends most of the time trying to sleep, although she is clearly nervous about something. She wakes up several times, jumping to her hooves and trying to scramble away from some perceived threat - a bush, a fish breaking the surface of the pond, her own shadow. She explains that she has become a very light sleeper, and seems grateful for the company and reassurance that the group provides.

 

 

Roughly two hours later, Trivy calls out from the tree she had been standing watch from:

"I think I can see something moving in the city... several somethings." 

[Unicorncob 5,685]

At some point, Lavender had fallen asleep herself, snuggled into her cloak and using her scarf as somewhat of a pillow. She had been woken up a few times by Crystal Spark's sudden outbursts, and both out of kindness and a longing for some good sleep, she volunteered to sleep next to her for comfort.

 

When her body and mind decided they wanted to be awake for good, Trivy had alerted the group that she could see something moving.

She sat up and wrapped her scarf around her neck before walking over to her friend, curious as to what she saw.

 

"What'd your eyes spy, buddy?" She called up to the other mare.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

"What'd your eyes spy, buddy?" She called up to the other mare.

 

"I can't make them out very clearly, but I think that there are several ponies leaving the city and heading in this direction - or maybe towards the bus." Trivy called out, leaning somewhat precariously out of the tree. "Some of them are walking kind of funny, so I think it's more of those mutated ponies."

 

"We should go, before they get too close," Bramble said.

"No, we should hide - they aren't too good at searching or remaining focused. They won't stay in one place for long, and when they leave we can move on." Crystal countered.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Unicorncob 5,685]

"I can't make them out very clearly, but I think that there are several ponies leaving the city and heading in this direction - or maybe towards the bus." Trivy called out, leaning somewhat precariously out of the tree. "Some of them are walking kind of funny, so I think it's more of those mutated ponies."

 

"We should go, before they get too close," Bramble said.

"No, we should hide - they aren't too good at searching or remaining focused. They won't stay in one place for long, and when they leave we can move on." Crystal countered.

 

Lavender tilted her head at Crystal's proposal, not seeing much sense.

"Why do we need to hide?" She questioned the newcomer, "S'not like the bus is any good to us know, being all burned and exploded and stuff. Besides, shouldn't we be heading for that big beam thingy in the city?"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Unicorncob,@@Orion Caelum,  

 

 

Besides, shouldn't we be heading for that big beam thingy in the city?

 

"I really don't think we should linger any longer," Agreed Bramble. Marble nodded in agreement, Trivy gave a shrug and then clung on to the branch as she nearly fell out of the tree and Crystal looked apprehensive.

 

"I guess we're heading for the city then," Trivy said, dropping down from the tree, "Unless you've got anything to add, professor?"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Unicorncob,@@Orion Caelum,

 

With the decision made, the group packed up their things and set out, heading away from the grove and the approaching mutants before looping back around to head towards the city.

 

@@Chip Circuit, 

 

Meanwhile, in a building on the outskirts of the city, a cloaked figure was  peering through an upstairs window at a group of mutants shamble out of the city towards a burning  wreck on the horizon. Decided that it wasn't safe to move just yet, he settled down to wait until the mutants had moved on. It wasn't long afterwards that he glanced out of the window again and saw a small group of apparently unaffected ponies heading towards the city.

Edited September 18, 2015 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Zayoh paced back and forth in front of the second story window wondering if he should approach the small group or not. He wasn't positive if these ponies were hostile or not after what he had just witnessed.

 

He decided to take a chance and hoped these sane looking ponies would not be hostile. Zayoh readjusted the hood on his head so only his muzzle was visible from under his hood and begun making his way down the stairs, the various prices of glass in his bag along with the small cauldron fixed to his back made an assortment of noise with each step.

[Unicorncob 5,685]

Lavender happily trotted along with her group, keeping close to Crystal and Trivy, who she felt the closest to. The small bottles in her bag clinked softly in her bouncy gait, a bright grin across her face.

 

"So," She began, still keeping her voice down, "When we're clear of those things...how about a song?" She asked, with some hope that she'd get somepony backing her.