private Whisper: The City Of Darkness

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@Blacklight, @@ForthEorl. 

 

 

had a look around at the square, eyes widened with intrigue. "Interesting place, not my choice for decor though."

 

 

Ponyville, or rather, the metropolis that had replaced it, had been built quickly. Steel and concrete were the dominant features, with very little that tied it to the sleepy village it had been less than half a century ago. Thatched cottages and dirt paths had been replaced by grey apartment blocks and paved roads. Dead magi-tech lights line the streets, their magic-storage crystal drained without the maintenance of lamplighter unicorns.

 

 

we began walking into a plaza. Fancy, but broken. Just like this world.

 

 

 

Sharp looked at the destruction around him. It had been a long time since he had seen such chaos, such utter ruin. The damage to the surrounding buildings was comparable to a large scale artillery bombardment.

 

 

 

Most of the concrete buildings were damaged in some way. One had a whole side ripped away, another was a burnt-out shell, yet another had been hit by a powerful blast of magical energy and had a hole going straight through it. Despite this, there were very few bodies. Aside from the apparently intact half a dozen lying in the corner of the plaza there was only a few completely charred corpse or the slight trace of a body beneath rubble; all the bodies that remained were completely destroyed in some way.

 

 

after he was safe the wind begun to slowly dissipate from around him until it was no longer present.

 

 

An sudden, unnatural gust of wind blew through several of the buildings, hiding the group in a cloud of concrete dust. Moments later, one of the large pegasus mutants flew overhead, its head moving from side to side as it scanned the ground beneath it. It flew on, apparently seeing nothing, the incredible speed it was moving at much more apparent now that the group was stationary and on the ground.

 

 

"Well, let's be about it then. Simplest way in would be the front door, eh?"

 

 

 

"I wouldn't advise that if I was you. You weren't here last time." Then again... "I've been here before," Wilhelm said thoughtfully. "Most ponies got around the facility by using key cards, and I need to check the archives. Sadly, I forgot mine." He cracked a smile, then paused for a moment.

 

 

 

"We can't be too slow, either," Bramble warned as he went to examine the bodies. Trying to roll one over, the body seemed to sag and concrete dust was blow away as gas was emitted from the corpse. Bramble jumped back, swore weakly and was promptly sick, "Gah," he spat, clearing his mouth, "Those must have been there for weeks. That one's got a blue card on a lanyard around its neck, although I suggest someone floats it off from a distance."

 

 

Wilhelm moved toward the door, intending to examine it before the team went inside.

 

 

By this point Lavender's mutant had happily trotted through the open doors, pausing only to pull something out of their saddlebag as they entered the building. The parts of the atrium that were visible from outside were also ruined, but the mutant ignored the rubble and debris and disappeared through a door marked 'Crystal Laboratories' with a white and red diamond on the door. There were several other doors, each with different combinations of diamonds on them, as well as a long desk in the centre. At one end of the desk there was a sign marked 'visitors' whilst at the other there was a sign marked 'security'. Comfortable chairs, many badly damaged, lined the walls, along with a number of pictures - a fair few were of unicorns casting magic, although there were also plenty of all ponies working with various scientific instruments. At the back of the atrium was a large framed picture, one half of which had been destroyed by a magical blast but the other showed a number of colts and fillies using Bunsen burners to heat test-tubes filled with colourful liquids.

Edited April 13, 2016 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Unicorncob 5,694]

Ponyville, or rather, the metropolis that had replaced it, had been built quickly. Steel and concrete were the dominant features, with very little that tied it to the sleepy village it had been less than half a century ago. Thatched cottages and dirt paths had been replaced by grey apartment blocks and paved roads. Dead magi-tech lights line the streets, their magic-storage crystal drained without the maintenance of lamplighter unicorns.

 

Lavender looked around the renovated Ponyville, biting her lip at how... blank, everything was. Everything was so clean and proper.

 

It was boring. "Nope. Not loving the decor."

 

 

Most of the concrete buildings were damaged in some way. One had a whole side ripped away, another was a burnt-out shell, yet another had been hit by a powerful blast of magical energy and had a hole going straight through it. Despite this, there were very few bodies. Aside from the apparently intact half a dozen lying in the corner of the plaza there was only a few completely charred corpse or the slight trace of a body beneath rubble; all the bodies that remained were completely destroyed in some way.

 

"Whoa," she muttered, looking at all the wreckage, "Party hard."

 

 

An sudden, unnatural gust of wind blew through several of the buildings, hiding the group in a cloud of concrete dust. Moments later, one of the large pegasus mutants flew overhead, its head moving from side to side as it scanned the ground beneath it. It flew on, apparently seeing nothing, the incredible speed it was moving at much more apparent now that the group was stationary and on the ground.

 

She craned her neck up and looked at the huge pegasus floating overhead. "That's a huge girl dog!"

 

 

By this point Lavender's mutant had happily trotted through the open doors, pausing only to pull something out of their saddlebag as they entered the building. The parts of the atrium that were visible from outside were also ruined, but the mutant ignored the rubble and debris and disappeared through a door marked 'Crystal Laboratories' with a yellow / blue diamonds on the door. There were several other doors, each with different combinations of diamonds on them, as well as a long desk in the centre. At one end of the desk there was a sign marked 'visitors' whilst at the other there was a sign marked 'security'. Comfortable chairs, many badly damaged, lined the walls, along with a number of pictures - a fair few were of unicorns casting magic, although there were also plenty of all ponies working with various scientific instruments. At the back of the atrium was a large framed picture, one half of which had been destroyed by a magical blast but the other showed a number of colts and fillies using Bunsen burners to heat test-tubes filled with colourful liquids.

 

She looked back and watched one of the mutants trotting off into one of the ruined buildings, and trotted after her into the atrium.

She whistled for the other mutant to follow her. "C'mon, keep close! Good girl."

 

She peeked inside and began a slow walk around, spotting the first mutant at the back. "Hey, if you're gonna wander around, tell me so I can join you!" She grinned.

[Chaton 3,765]

Ponyville, or rather, the metropolis that had replaced it, had been built quickly. Steel and concrete were the dominant features, with very little that tied it to the sleepy village it had been less than half a century ago. Thatched cottages and dirt paths had been replaced by grey apartment blocks and paved roads. Dead magi-tech lights line the streets, their magic-storage crystal drained without the maintenance of lamplighter unicorns.

 

Most of the concrete buildings were damaged in some way. One had a whole side ripped away, another was a burnt-out shell, yet another had been hit by a powerful blast of magical energy and had a hole going straight through it. Despite this, there were very few bodies. Aside from the apparently intact half a dozen lying in the corner of the plaza there was only a few completely charred corpse or the slight trace of a body beneath rubble; all the bodies that remained were completely destroyed in some way.

 

An sudden, unnatural gust of wind blew through several of the buildings, hiding the group in a cloud of concrete dust. Moments later, one of the large pegasus mutants flew overhead, its head moving from side to side as it scanned the ground beneath it. It flew on, apparently seeing nothing, the incredible speed it was moving at much more apparent now that the group was stationary and on the ground.

 

"We can't be too slow, either," Bramble warned as he went to examine the bodies. Trying to roll one over, the body seemed to sag and concrete dust was blow away as gas was emitted from the corpse. Bramble jumped back, swore weakly and was promptly sick, "Gah," he spat, clearing his mouth, "Those must have been there for weeks. That one's got a blue card on a lanyard around its neck, although I suggest someone floats it off from a distance."

 

By this point Lavender's mutant had happily trotted through the open doors, pausing only to pull something out of their saddlebag as they entered the building. The parts of the atrium that were visible from outside were also ruined, but the mutant ignored the rubble and debris and disappeared through a door marked 'Crystal Laboratories' with a yellow / blue diamonds on the door. There were several other doors, each with different combinations of diamonds on them, as well as a long desk in the centre. At one end of the desk there was a sign marked 'visitors' whilst at the other there was a sign marked 'security'. Comfortable chairs, many badly damaged, lined the walls, along with a number of pictures - a fair few were of unicorns casting magic, although there were also plenty of all ponies working with various scientific instruments. At the back of the atrium was a large framed picture, one half of which had been destroyed by a magical blast but the other showed a number of colts and fillies using Bunsen burners to heat test-tubes filled with colourful liquids.

 

I looked around at the thing that used to be ponyville. Wow, everything went to hell here didn't it. 

 

I was looking around and began to notice the piles of dead bodies. Upon seeing them, I began to feel empty inside. Desolate even. Nothing had died here recently, and that made me feel, bad?

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp picked his way through the debris inside the building, carbine in hoof, ready for any danger. It was like Tartarus had passed though, and in all likelihood, it probably had. What else could turn so many ponies into mindless zombies, bent on destruction, than the powers of evil contained there? But it was not his job to understand the fine details of the foe, only to fight them. he turned back to the rest of the group.

 

"So, where next? Security sounds sensible enough; I would have thought they'd have keys to the rest of the facility in there."

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@Blacklight, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

She peeked inside and began a slow walk around, spotting the first mutant at the back. "Hey, if you're gonna wander around, tell me so I can join you!" She grinned.

 

The mutant turned back, revealing a yellow card on a lanyard around their neck. The yellow portion of the diamond on the door was glowing slightly, as was the card, which read 'Snr. Ast. G. Apple, Crystal labs, Ponyville'.

 

 

 

I was looking around and began to notice the piles of dead bodies. Upon seeing them, I began to feel empty inside. Desolate even. Nothing had died here recently, and that made me feel, bad?

 

On closer inspection, there was something odd about the bodies - none of them bore any sign of serious injury. Most, in fact, were completely unharmed, and the entire group appeared to have dropped dead with no visible cause.

 

 

 

Security sounds sensible enough; I would have thought they'd have keys to the rest of the facility in there.

 

The end of the desk marked 'security' had a couple of chairs behind it, whilst the desk itself had a few papers on it. There were several guards' rotas, detailing the guards on duty at a given time, although not their location. The ones dated the 9th, 10th and 11th of the previous month had very few guards - fewer than a dozen at any given time, but the one dated the 12th, the day that the sun disappeared, was different. Sixty guards were on duty, including Captain Lighthoof - the head of Princess Twilight's royal guard. An official-looking memo stated that Captain Lighthoof would be escorting Miss Pie, Ms Rarity, Princss Sparkle and her number one assistant around the facility for the demonstration, and that security was to be heightened for the day. There was also another memo reminding all guards that absolutely no media presence was permitted on the day, and was to be evicted immediately without any explanation, although day visitors would be allowed in as usual. The final items of note were a couple of blue passcards, which simply read 'visitor.'

Edited April 11, 2016 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Dust and Memories 557]

Wilhelm stepped cautiously into the facility, then with greater confidence as he realized he wasn't in imminent danger. Slowly, he twirled around in the center, taking in the room he hadn't seen for years. "This was where all the publicity was. That's why there are all the pictures. The rest of the facility is a lot more serious."

 

"For example," Wilhelm said, "just take a look at... wait, what?" He stared at the picture that should have been Twilight smiling beatifically - almost Celestia-like - at the colts and fillies getting their first experience of applied chemistry. Instead, somepony - or something - carved Twilight out. Surgically, but... His hoof traced the edge of the hole where the picture was flash-vaporized. Rage. Rage, and a lot of magical talent.

 

"That's... odd." Wilhelm remarked on it no longer, then turned to the doors. "You see these diamonds? That's what doors we have access to with the accordant color keycard, if I remember properly. The visitor keycards should get us past the blue-marked doors, but who knows if the readers even work anymore?" I need a brown card. If I recall correctly, the deeper sections of the archives needed another type of card, but I can't remember the color for the life of me.

[Unicorncob 5,694]

The mutant turned back, revealing a yellow card on a lanyard around their neck. The yellow portion of the diamond on the door was glowing slightly, as was the card, which read 'Snr. Ast. G. Apple, Crystal labs, Ponyville'.

 

"What'cha got there?" Lavender asked, and used her magic to lift the yellow card to her face.

 

"...Senor Ast G. Apple?" She guessed, eyebrow furrowing with uncertainty. She lowered the card and looked the mutant in the eyes.

 

"I get it," She muttered, "This name... it was yours, wasn't it? You worked here."

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

 

Facing no immediate threat, he holstered his carbine. Carrying the thing in his hooves was uncomfortable, and in his magic tiring. Not that he wasn't used to it, of course.

 

Sharp looked over the guard rota, and his eyes were drawn to one of the names. Lighthoof. He hasn't gone by that name for a long while, Sharp thought. He dismissed the questions his wandering mind asked, as there were more important things to do. Using magic, he stashed one of the visitor cards in his pack. It would probably come in handy. He picked up the other one, and wandered over to the laboratory door.

 

"How do these things work? Is there somewhere I place it, or..?"

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Zayoh didn't know what to do, he wasn't one to dig through corpses for a needle in a haystack metaphorically speaking.

 

He simply followed the group dumbfounded by what has happened to ponyville, the overall aura of the once friendly town was dead. A few spirits were present in the area but other then that there was nothing else. The feeling was harrowing, the zebra had never felt this feeling before from any other place even areas that were only abandoned. But ponyville was tainted with death and that has created this unnerving aura.

[Chaton 3,765]

On closer inspection, there was something odd about the bodies - none of them bore any sign of serious injury. Most, in fact, were completely unharmed, and the entire group appeared to have dropped dead with no visible cause.

 

As we walked further towards the partially intact buildings, the dead bodies drew my attention more and more. There was something off about them. Not my normal off. It's almost like, they didn't die at all. It's like, oh god. "There is something off about these bodies" I said to anyone who could head. I then mumbled the rest; "It's like every part of them just lost the will to live"

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

 

His hoof traced the edge of the hole where the picture was flash-vaporized. Rage. Rage, and a lot of magical talent.

 

A faint flash of light on the floor caught his eye. A small folding pocket mirror, small enough to fit into a pony's hoof, lay open on the ground. The glass was cracked, but the 'reflection' was not of the room the group was standing in. Pictures flashed across it, and engraved on the metal shield was Princess Sparkle's cutie mark.

 

 

 

"...Senor Ast G. Apple?" She guessed, eyebrow furrowing with uncertainty. She lowered the card and looked the mutant in the eyes.   "I get it," She muttered, "This name... it was yours, wasn't it? You worked here."

 

 

"Senior assistant Gala Apple," the mutant said in a raspy voice, suddenly seeming far more animated, "Welcome to the Ponyville Laboratories!" She held out a hoof, "It is my pleasure to show you around this... to show... home of... cutting edge..." she trailed off, the expression of forlorn confusion on her face slowly sliding into expressionless as she lowered her hoof. 

 

 

 

"How do these things work? Is there somewhere I place it, or..?"

 

There were half a dozen diamond-marked doors, as well as a couple of doors without any security markings. The door that Gala Apple was standing by, marked 'Crystal Laboratories', had a red and yellow diamond, whilst another one nearby was marked 'Magi-Tech development' and had a red and white diamond on it. 'Archives' was brown, red, yellow and white; ' Visitors' Centre ' was a large double-door with blue, red, yellow and white; 'Media Rooms' were blue, brown, red, yellow and white whilst 'HRH Princess Sparkle's Laboratory' had an only-red diamond. The toilets were mercifully security-free, as was the 'Food Hall'.

 

As Sharp held the blue card up, it started to glow, as did the blue segment of the ' Visitors' Centre ' door, which swung open, revealing beyond it a large hall filled with scientific displays.

 

 

 

"There is something off about these bodies" I said to anyone who could head. I then mumbled the rest; "It's like every part of them just lost the will to live"

 

"If they've lain undisturbed for that long... either all the carrion eaters are dead as well, which wouldn't surprise me, or there is something about the bodies that repels them," Bramble said, looking back out the door. Apparently seeing something, he looked up at the ceiling above the door, "Ah, they have observation mirrors. I saw you working on that engine - I don't suppose you know about observation mirrors, do you?" 
 

Edited April 13, 2016 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Unicorncob 5,694]

"Senior assistant Gala Apple," the mutant said in a raspy voice, suddenly seeming far more animated, "Welcome to the Ponyville Laboratories!" She held out a hoof, "It is my pleasure to show you around this... to show... home of... cutting edge..." she trailed off, the expression of forlorn confusion on her face slowly sliding into expressionless as she lowered her hoof.

 

Lavender jumped a bit as the mutant spoke up in a raspy voice. "Holy Luna, you can talk! What else can you do?!"

 

She froze, and looked around herself, feeling... a presence. Like someone was sharing the room with them.

She shook her head as the feeling went away, and looked up at the mutant. She was trailing off, and looking confused.

 

Maybe she could jog her old memories?

 

"...technology?" She finished, taking the mutant's rough hoof in her own.

 

Another feeling coursed through her body - something was there, but in the guise of another. Her ear flicked irritably.

[Chaton 3,765]

"If they've lain undisturbed for that long... either all the carrion eaters are dead as well, which wouldn't surprise me, or there is something about the bodies that repels them," Bramble said, looking back out the door. Apparently seeing something, he looked up at the ceiling above the door, "Ah, they have observation mirrors. I saw you working on that engine - I don't suppose you know about observation mirrors, do you?" 

 

 

"I know a little" I said, "Well, I know a lot. What do you need?" I asked. If those came- observation mirrors caught something on what happened here, I might be able to find out what 'killed' those ponies and why. And more importantly, why it reminds me of that catalyst.

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Once In A Blue Moon,

 

Sharp gazed through the open door at all the complicated scientific displays. It didn't seem that there would be that much of use in the room, but he would look around just to make sure. he walked into the room, paying attention to the displays and models. It could give him a better idea of what they did in this place. Still, he kept an eye out for anything dangerous.

[Chip Circuit 1,842]

Zayoh followed the group inside the structure which was filled with equipment and devices that he had never before seen so all of it seemed very foreign to him. As he looked around in question of what populated the room he felt something wash over him which caught his attention so his head snapped in the direction he felt the source.

 

"I sense a wave of magic down the hall in the building's rear, it is almost as if it is consisted of hatred and fear." He said slowly walking down the hallway.

 

Eventually he came up to two doors, one with a stallions sign and the other with a mares sign. He deduced that the source was inside the stallions bathroom and as he tried to push the door open he realized it wouldn't budge. "It appears to be stuck, perhaps we can open it with a well placed buck?" He asked looking back at the group if they were okay with the idea of potentially releasing a threat locked inside.

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

"I know a little" I said, "Well, I know a lot. What do you need?" I asked.

 

"Can you tell if it's still working?" Bramble waved a hoof at a small mirror above the doorway. It looked like an ordinary mirror, although the reflected image seemed dinner than it should be, "And can you get anything from it? Or point us to where its images are stored?"

 

 

 

Sharp gazed through the open door at all the complicated scientific displays. It didn't seem that there would be that much of use in the room, but he would look around just to make sure. he walked into the room, paying attention to the displays and models. It could give him a better idea of what they did in this place. Still, he kept an eye out for anything dangerous.

 

There were two other doors in the hall - one leading to the 'display rooms' with, amongst other colours, a blue section of diamond; the other was to Twilight's Lab, again with a pure-red diamond. If his sense of direction was correct, the giant hole in the side of the building should be behind the 'display rooms' door. As for the scientific displays themselves, there were a range of magi-tech items on display, from a cross-section of an actual airship engine to a model replacement wing for a pegasus - capable of sustaining flight for up to twenty minutes, the display claimed, along with an image of a  badly-scarred wonderbolt with a replacement wing flying through the air.

 

 

 

"It appears to be stuck, perhaps we can open it with a well placed buck?"

 

"A locked or blocked door is always more interesting," Bramble remarked from across the atrium. Trotting over he looked at the door and pushed on it with a foreleg. When it gave slightly he turned around and planted both hooves just below the handle. The door cracked under the impact, the mechanism knocked out of place and leaving it slightly ajar. The second impact was rewarded by the crunch of plastic as whatever was behind the door gave way and the door flew open.

 

 

 

"...technology?" She finished, taking the mutant's rough hoof in her own.

 

The crash of the door opening distracted Gala, who looked over in alarm, and as Bramble peered through the now-open door there was a rasping war cry from something inside that lunged at him. Jumping back, Bramble pulled the door closed in front of him, holding it shut as something impacted on the far side of it with a savage cry.

 

"One mutant, has a bit of a temper," Bramble said, holding the door, "What do we want to do with it?" 

Edited April 15, 2016 by Once In A Blue Moon

[Unicorncob 5,694]

The crash of the door opening distracted Gala, who looked over in alarm, and as Bramble peered through the now-open door there was a rasping war cry from something inside that lunged at him. Jumping back, Bramble pulled the door closed in front of him, holding it shut as something impacted on the far side of it with a savage cry.

 

"One mutant, has a bit of a temper," Bramble said, holding the door, "What do we want to do with it?" 

 

Lavender jumped with a yelp as the door burst open, and bit her lip as something inside roared and tried to burst out.

 

"Somepony sounds kinda cranky," she muttered, and gingerly began a walk toward Bramble, "Maybe I can--"

 

She halted, and yelped as a voice screamed inside her head. Not her usual one - this one was vengeful. Angry beyond belief.

"Inside voices please!" She pleaded.

 

She stood there, seemingly staring at nothing as she listened for something. Or to something.

 

"Somepony's hanging around outside," she told the others, "a big mean mother who doesn't seem to like us."

 

Shaking her head, she walked up to the door Bramble held shut, and began to speak softly. "Hey, buddy. Why don't we just take a deep breath and calm down, huh?"

[Chaton 3,765]

 

 

"Can you tell if it's still working?" Bramble waved a hoof at a small mirror above the doorway. It looked like an ordinary mirror, although the reflected image seemed dinner than it should be, "And can you get anything from it? Or point us to where its images are stored?"

 

I turned to Bramble for a moment; "If you can get me from room to room, we should be fine." I turned to the mirror and started looking at it. I opened up my magic to the surrounding area and focused on the mirror. It was off, but not broken. "The mirror is deactivated. It simply needs, magic."

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

Shaking her head, she walked up to the door Bramble held shut, and began to speak softly. "Hey, buddy. Why don't we just take a deep breath and calm down, huh?"

 

 

There was another hard crash from inside again, and cracks spread across the door. Realising that it wouldn't hold, Bramble flicked his knife up into his mouth and moved away from the door, which started to open. The mutant in the doorway just stood there, twitching, but not attacking. Bramble shot a questioning look at Lavender, but did not attack either.

 

 

I turned to the mirror and started looking at it. I opened up my magic to the surrounding area and focused on the mirror. It was off, but not broken. "The mirror is deactivated. It simply needs, magic."

 

 

The image in the mirror shimmered slightly as the mirror restarted. Diagnostics started fading into view, reporting that the corresponding view-mirror was unavailable, along with a magical command prompt.

 

 

Meanwhile, in the visitors' centre, Sharp was walking past a display when a section of floor sagged beneath him, causing a display to topple towards him. He instinctively ducked, and the board caught on the display opposite, leaving it inches above his head. Moments later, while still sheltered by the collapsed display, out the window he saw a figure flying on the horizon, clearly searching, and getting closer.

[Unicorncob 5,694]

There was another hard crash from inside again, and cracks spread across the door. Realising that it wouldn't hold, Bramble flicked his knife up into his mouth and moved away from the door, which started to open. The mutant in the doorway just stood there, twitching, but not attacking. Bramble shot a questioning look at Lavender, but did not attack either.

 

Lavender blinked as the cracks formed on the door, but she didn't move away. Even when the door opened and the mutant stood there twitching, she just kept her eyes fixed on it.

 

"There you go," she cooed, offering the creature a smile, "nopony's gonna hurt you."

 

She blinked, and looked up at her forehead. "Pfft, I know right?" She smirked.

 

Her attention went back to the mutant, and her warm smile returned. "You're just scared, aren't you? You're not sure what to do with yourself?"

[Dust and Memories 557]

At the sound of the crashing display, Wilhelm stuffed the Sparkle correspondence mirror into his saddlebags before galloping in the direction of the noise, saying over his shoulder to Scarlett "I have the other mirror!" 

 

When he saw that Sharp was okay, Wilhelm slowed down, looking in the direction of the window. He narrowed his eyes at the clearly patrolling mutant, and his bow slid into his hooves like a whisper. With his teeth, he nocked an arrow to the compound bow's string, its armor-piercing head glittering in the light from the window.

 

He glanced at Sharp, and through a complicated series of Guard silent-operation head and wing gestures, asked for permission to fire. 

 

If the mutant kept on moving in the same pattern, Wilhelm could down them as the mutant moved on the closest part of its route. If it didn't... well, chances were it wouldn't notice an arrow, right?

[nolongerabout 403]

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

 

"Think you need my damn permission? Like as not the bloody thing already knows we're here, so kill it!" Sharp yelled angrily. He was not angry at Wilhelm, but at himself for wandering so brazenly through what he considered enemy territory, without a care. Distracted by the displays, but he should never have allowed himself to be.

 

He moved away from the decidedly unstable area, and into the cover of one of the displays. He drew his carbine, but the weapon was only accurate to about thirty yards or so, so he cocked it but didn't fire.

 

"If it didn't hear the floor collapsing, I'm Celestia's bloody nursemaid. And we'd best hope there aren't any about on the ground, either, or we may be in a spot of trouble. I doubt the airship above us would be able to move in time were we swarmed."

Edited April 19, 2016 by ForthEorl

[Dust and Memories 557]

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

 

"Think you need my damn permission? Like as not the bloody thing already knows we're here, so kill it!" Sharp yelled angrily. He was not angry at Wilhelm, but at himself for wandering so brazenly through what he considered enemy territory, without a care. Distracted by the displays, but he should never have allowed himself to be.

 

He moved away from the decidedly unstable area, and into the cover of one of the displays. He drew his carbine, but the weapon was only accurate to about thirty yards or so, so he cocked it but didn't fire.

 

"If it didn't hear the roof collapsing, I'm Celestia's bloody nursemaid. And we'd best hope there aren't any about on the ground, either, or we may be in a spot of trouble. I doubt the airship above us would be able to move in time were we swarmed."

 

Wilhelm shot Sharp a Look. The Look normally only practiced by your superior officer or your marefriend... which, come to think of it, came out to the same thing.

 

Quietly, Wilhelm's mind whirred, calculating ballistic trajectories. Before the integral of the curve of the arrow's parabola, he let instinct take over, and the arrow slipped out of the bow like a bolt of lightning.

 

The mutant suddenly jerked midair and fell out of the sky, the arrow safely - for purposes of not being detected -  sunk to the fletching an inch below its eye. As Wilhelm reslung the bow, he nodded once in modest triumph.

 

"Still got it," he whispered. 

[nolongerabout 403]

@@Orion Caelum,

 

Sharp watched the beast tumble from the sky, no longer holding any ideas that the bow this pony carried was for show. It may have accuracy and range, but for power and versatility, Sharp would prefer a musket. There was a reason why most modern equestrian forces no longer used bows.

 

Nonetheless, it was a creditable display. He certainly couldn't have done it. There had been some commotion in the foyer, and Sharp reckoned it was probably best that the group stood together. He spoke to Wilhelm again.

 

"Best we find out what's happening in there," gesturing back to the others, "Unless you have any way of opening Twilight's Lab. I don't want to attract any more attention by blowing it open, if that's even possible. Looks pretty sturdy."

Edited April 20, 2016 by ForthEorl

[Once In A Blue Moon 895]

@@Ethan Sawyer,@@Orion Caelum, @@Unicorncob, @@Chip Circuit, @@ForthEorl.

 

 

 

 

Her attention went back to the mutant, and her warm smile returned. "You're just scared, aren't you? You're not sure what to do with yourself?"

 

 

 

 

The mutant suddenly jerked midair and fell out of the sky, the arrow safely - for purposes of not being detected -  sunk to the fletching an inch below its eye. As Wilhelm reslung the bow, he nodded once in modest triumph.

 

The mutant in front of Lavender suddenly relaxed, a vacant half-smile appearing on its slightly misshapen face. With the tense situation defused, the lanyard with a white card on it became apparent.

 

"Ast. K Arclight, Magi-tech labs, Ponyville," Bramble read out as he sheathed his knife, although this mutant didn't react to its name.

 

 

 

"Best we find out what's happening in there," gesturing back to the others, "Unless you have any way of opening Twilight's Lab. I don't want to attract any more attention by blowing it open, if that's even possible. Looks pretty sturdy."

 

"We've got white, blue and yellow, so we can go anywhere except Her Highness' lab," Bramble said, "I reckon the magi-tech and crystal labs are the most likely have a red card in them, but the archives might have something more relevant to the demons or the magical method we're after in them. Her Highness' lab will be the best bet though, if we can find a way in, and probably the only way to track her down. The door doesn't look too sturdy, although we may need to get through a few of them," Bramble paused for a moment, clearly thinking, "Dr Wilhelm, you said you had 'the other mirror'?"