private Sombra's Shadow

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@Randimaxis,

 

"Mare with the cloak, get all your stuff inside the cart your friend is carrying and step forward." The guard said loudly. Trivy took of her cloak and saddle bag and put into the cart before walking towards the guard a bit nervous. The guard checked her every side and then pointed at the gate. "You may walk through the gate where your magic will be scanned and temporary exterminated.

 

"You there, stallion with the broken wagon. Please detach yourself from this thing of yours. Take of your clothing and all your other gear. Put them in the wagon and then step forward." 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

He gave a look back at the wagon.  If only the pouch had enough room without becoming suspicious... but it doesn't.  Can't worry about that now; just gotta do what I've been told.  

 

He looked down at his side; the scar that ran across the side of his belly looked like it had been cauterized shut long ago.  He turned back, and untied himself slowly from the cart.  For once, he actually didn't want to leave the damned thing.  After a bit of work, he piled the brown stained rope into the cart itself and turned back, harness-free.

 

He said nothing, and a scowl was set firmly into his features as he stepped forward.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Randimaxis

[Pucksterv 4,508]

"You may walk through the gate after your companion. You're magic will be scanned and temporarily exterminated." The guard said after looking at Harcourt carefully. He then told the same thing to the remaining members.

Trivy walked through the magical barrier and felt a part of her being drained away. It had a weird empty feeling, hard to describe. She waited for Harcourt and the rest to come through as well.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Randimaxis 8,652]

Harcourt knew he shouldn't say anything.  He stepped forward, watching the guard just as closely as he was being watched in turn.  He narrowed his eyes to slits, and as he passed the guard, he knew it would be a bad idea to say anything.

 

He saw the guard was busy doing his job; he figured there wasn't even a need to pay any attention to small details, and besides, it wouldn't be smart to even suggest something-

 

"I'm an earth pony; I don't HAVE magic." he muttered as he passed the gate guard.

[Count Paradox 3,548]

Psych climbed off the wagon, helping his sister climb off as well. He walked her to the gate, waiting as a few other ponies went through. He turned to her and said, "You go on through before me, ok? I'll be right behind you, but I want you in complete safety before me, ok?" He smiled and nudged her forward gently when it was their turn to go.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

After everypony had gone through the gate, one of the guards pulled the cart to the checkup while the captain guard closed the gate. "We advice to stay near the barracks, the mayor would want to see you shortly. Otherwise, enjoy your stay." The guard took a long hard look at Lilith with a little suspicion in his eyes before walking off.

Trivy turned herself around to take a first look a the city. She gave a small gasps at the sight. Everywhere. Streets were packed ponies. Nothing pleasant about the sight nor the noise. And the smell... unbearable. The majority of the ponies hadnt washed themselves in weeks or even months. Trivy held a hoof against her mouth, trying to hold back the sick feeling in her stomach.

Looking pasted the beggarly ponies, she could see the cities skyline filled with skyscrapers. It looked as if that part of the city was separated with the rest, trying to hold back all the poor refugees.

Trivy turned her head towards the other after the sight became too much. "So... We finally made it. Exciting right?" She said even though she wasn't convinced herself.

Edited September 14, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Count Paradox 3,548]

Psych, being the last one in, didn't realize what she meant until the smell hit him. It overpowered his nostrils, and very nearly brought him to retching. He closed his watering eyes and covered his nose, hoping to forcibly stop the scent from invading. "Trivy, we should... Find someplace to recouperate... Someplace perhaps a little more well airated?"

[Stardust* 3,302]

Stardust was in the main area of the town trying to get a few supplies before she flew back to her so called home. She was trying to hurry and stack up on as much as she could so she wouldn't have to come back for a while. She hated the smell, thus flew above the mobs of ponies. 

 

Bits were far and few between in this town so bartering was the way that ponies got the necessities. Stardust was a map maker and that was her source of currency for her trading for the most part. Her maps consisted of the stars, and this was incredibly helpful to those in the village and especially those who were trying to leave and get to another city to get out of the mess of ponies. 

 

Stardust had been in Baltimare for a short time, and she knew that she wasn't going to stay for much longer. She had her maps and knew the night sky like the back of her hoof. She was going to find a place where she could be free of the reign of Sombra and his shadow minions. 

 

She had heard of the tales of shards that were said would stop them if they were all together and she knew that she could find them with her stars. She has so much research and charts from older ponies that kept up the hunt that she though she was very close to finding them, and she was truly hoping that the tales were not just tales, but in fact truth. Only time would tell...

 

She was almost done with her shopping when she accidentally dropped one of her maps and it fell to the ground.  She hoped that all the ponies wouldn't stomp all over it. She darted down to the ground and she noticed that her map was in front of a group of ponies that looked like they were brand new because they all had a look of disgust, one pony looked like she was about to lose her lunch. 

 

These ponies must be new, I know that feeling, I might as well see if they need any help.

 

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice, you must have just got to the city. My name is Stardust, my map actually just dropped from my saddle bag, right there, if I could please get it back I can show you to my "home" if you would like to get away from the smell and bustle of the main part of the city. I just have to pick up a few more supplies, then we can head that way. If you want of course." 

 

Stardust flew into the air and then realized what a silly thing she did, she knew that the others had their magic taken away and they were probably tired and weak from their journeys. She flew back to the ground and put a cloth over her nose to try and block the smell and began walking down the street. 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

THAT SMELL...

 

Harcourt knew it well; it was the smell of poverty.

 

When he'd left home, the bits he had taken with him went fast.  Expensive meals and fine hotels and casino tables and fine cider... all of that ended roughly two weeks after he'd struck out on his own.  Two weeks after that, he'd ended up in a place much like this one - though not nearly as many ponies.  

 

That smell was all too familiar to someone who'd spent close to twenty years living in it.  It was the smell of failure; of hopelessness; of broken dreams and tear-stained misery.  It was absolute dejection wherever he looked, and he could hardly breathe for the press of ponies on all sides.

 

He was beginning to think that bringing their small group here was a mistake.

 

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice, you must have just got to the city. My name is Stardust, my map actually just dropped from my saddle bag, right there, if I could please get it back I can show you to my "home" if you would like to get away from the smell and bustle of the main part of the city. I just have to pick up a few more supplies, then we can head that way. If you want of course." 

 

Harcourt deftly stepped through the crowd like a professional, dipped down low enough to get the bag, and came back out with saddlebag in tow.  He gave it over to the young mare.  

 

"They told us to wait for 'processing'; will going with you mess that all up, or do you think we would be better off without it?"

[JonasDarkmane 19,784]

Rave was trudging through another forest, following the magic trail left by the orb. His eyes were twitching now. "Lilith better turn that orb back on or I swear I will lose it" he said in a desperate voice. He had been straining himself with the tracking magic at full capacity to seek out any little magical trail the orb had left, even if not activated. 

 

"Don't be a weakling. Keep on going. I--" the dark voice started to say before being interrupted.

 

"I swear if you talk again, it will be the last of you" he said in a strong voice. 

 

The voice went silent, being surprised. Rave kept on trudging through the forest, sniffing up the faint magic, sweating as he did. A bit of blood trickled down his nose. He stopped and wiped a hoof over his face and then looked at it. It had a bit of blood on it. He grew angry and kept on going. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@Randimaxis, @@Count Paradox,

 

A small Pegasus colt flew down by the group with a smirk on his face. Just a that typical street foal, filled with devilment, who seemed to know his way around. "Hey mister! Ye must be new around here. By the looks and yer talk, I can confirm that."He leaned against Harcourt with smug face. "Ye can wait all you want but no one ever gets fetched. Those stupid guards tell ye to wait, ye can do that if ye want but ye will still be standing and waiting next year." And with that the young colt flew back into the crowd of ponies.

 

"Well I guess that substantiates your remark Psych." Trivy said a bit confused. "Best we follow that mare... stardust."

Edited September 14, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Randimaxis 8,652]

He watched the kid zip away into the crowd and thought, certainly getting there.  Not bad.

 

He had felt the barest of touches against the typical places 'the rubes' would keep their hard-earned bits.  He knew what was being searched for, what had to be done to snag it, and what route to take through the crowds.  There was a flair to it, but it needed more delicacy - Harcourt shouldn't have even felt the kid trying to stealthily pick his pocket.

 

Still, he might have done Gully proud.

 

The realization that he had to try to keep his entire group safe from loss, possession or pony... he began to honestly worry if he still had the skills to keep up with today's bright young pocket-dip specialist.  

 

Then, of course, the ego kicked in.  Well, maybe they just don't know who they're dealing with...

 

Followed by reality.  ... then again, neither do I...

 

Chased by resolve.  ... but I'll need the damned suit back.  Personal priority one.  Then, a way out of here for all of us; if I have to pinch every pocket in the city, so be it.  

 

At least, I HOPE I can.

 

Just a dash of doubt.  

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

@@JonasDarkmane, @@Randimaxis, @@Pucksterv,

 

Lilith's relatively blank stare very quickly turned into a scowl as she passed through the gates. She felt... old. Creaky. She wasn't able to run, she wasn't able to jump as high as she really could. (She tried both, just in case.) With a scowl, she fell in behind the others, following them as she caused an amount of noise that she wasn't used to.

 

As she traveled amongst the streets riddled with various signs of the poverty that was all too common in cities, she paused as, beneath the hustle and bustle, her trained senses- which, fortunately, she did not lose- detected a faint growling sound coming from a nearby bush as they listened. With a soft smile, she created a rumbling sound in her throat- like a purr, almost. She stopped then and continued, knowing that, if nothing else, a fellow hunter was abound...

[Count Paradox 3,548]

@@Randimaxis, @@Count Paradox,

A small Pegasus colt flew down by the group with a smirk on his face. Just a that typical street foal, filled with devilment, who seemed to know his way around. "Hey mister! Ye must be new around here. By the looks and yer talk, I can confirm that."He leaned against Harcourt with smug face. "Ye can wait all you want but no one ever gets fetched. Those stupid guards tell ye to wait, ye can do that if ye want but ye will still be standing and waiting next year." And with that the young colt flew back into the crowd of ponies."Well I guess that substantiates your remark Psych." Trivy said a bit confused. "Best we follow that mare... stardust."

Psych nodded and turned to her. "I'll follow right behind you, Trivy. The bustle of the city, all the ponies in one place... My sight will get completely thrown off. I'll need to be right next to the group, or else I'll get lost." He stepped forward, then spread his sight out, but then became a bit uneasy. "Hey... Where is Wing? I can't seem to sense her, although, again, it seems to be the fault of the city's busyness..."

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Psych nodded and turned to her. "I'll follow right behind you, Trivy. The bustle of the city, all the ponies in one place... My sight will get completely thrown off. I'll need to be right next to the group, or else I'll get lost." He stepped forward, then spread his sight out, but then became a bit uneasy. "Hey... Where is Wing? I can't seem to sense her, although, again, it seems to be the fault of the city's busyness..."

"Uhmm she was just standing next to..." Trivy looked around in a light panic. "Wing? Lovely wing? Where are you? Wing?" She looked around again when she saw the small filly giggling while running after the colt from just moments before. Trivy smiled and sighed in relieve. "Don't worry, she'll find her way back." She chuckled. "Come in, let's get moving, follow that uh.. Stardust before we lose her out of sight."

 

Trivy started moving through the crowds, making sure the rest would be able to follow her. She especially payed attention to psych, keeping her close since his 'sight' wouldn't work properly work with all these ponies around.

Edited September 14, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Count Paradox 3,548]

"Uhmm she was just standing next to..." Trivy looked around in a light panic. "Wing? Lovely wing? Where are you? Wing?" She looked around again when she saw the small filly giggling while running after the colt from just moments before. Trivy smiled and sighed in relieve. "Don't worry, she'll find her way back." She chuckled. "Come in, let's get moving, follow that uh.. Stardust before we lose her out of sight."

Trivy started moving through the crowds, making sure the rest would be able to follow her. She especially payed attention to psych, keeping her close since his 'sight' wouldn't work properly work with all these ponies around.

Psych nodded and followed her, occasionally bumping into her or other ponies as he walked, always muttering out a "Sorry..." or an "Excuse me..." when he did. "Will we be there soon?" He stretched his neck. "I'm a bit tired of all the traveling that we've had to endure, and I'm positive some rest will be good for every pony here."

[Stardust* 3,302]

Stardust started to move at a steady pace, looking back ever so often to make sure that the group was still following her. One of them had a question. 

 

"They told us to wait for 'processing'; will going with you mess that all up, or do you think we would be better off without it?"

 

"If you had waited for their processing you would still be there next week. I know a few ways that can help get it done a bit faster. You need to rest though and get some food in you. The stronger you are when you meet the Mayor the better, she doesn't have time to waste due to the massive number of ponies seeking refuge. We should be able to go see her in a day or so as long as I can pull some strings."

 

She led them towards the end of the bustling down town and past the street ponies begging for pretty much anything. "It's best if you just look away, it is hard I know, but here you have to be good at something in order to trade, otherwise you won't last long."

 

Another pony spoke up, "Sorry...Excuse me...Will we be there soon? I'm a bit tired of all the traveling that we've had to endure, and I'm positive some rest will be good for every pony here."

 

"We are almost there, it is just over that bridge over there. You can come in my home and rest, I have enough provisions to prepare a nice meal for you all and I have lots of fresh water. All I ask is you help me gather more supplies once you regain some of your strength. I do what I can and I use my maps as a barter but if I trade too many then they won't be worth as much as they are now."

 

Stardust neared the bridge and looked back at the group, making sure they were all there. "Please be quiet as we go, not too many ponies know about my home and I would like to keep it that way. This bridge doesn't look like much but I have modified it to look that way. There aren't many Pegasus around so it is easy to detour earth ponies and unicorns with the bridge."

 

She flew into the air and landed right in the middle of the bridge to prove to the group that it was safe to cross. "Come on, nearly there."

Edited September 14, 2015 by Stardust*

[Randimaxis 8,652]

Harcourt stayed quiet; there was little reason to speak up yet, and he was busy paying attention to where they had come from.  After all, it would be a good idea to know how to get back out... just in case...

 

More to the point, he had work to do.  After observing the ponies of the area, he had already gauged how to cross the overcrowded city in the quickest amount of time and was now considering where to go from here.  He knew he'd have to tell somepony where he was headed, but he wasn't sure which one.

 

Trivy was his obvious first choice, but he was fairly certain she wouldn't want any more of the group to separate.  She'd try to either stop him, follow him, or stall him long enough to keep him occupied.

 

Lilith (Blackbird, he had to remember) might be a choice... but frankly, he was certain she'd have her hooves full just trying to gather Rangers - or replacements.  Either way, she might be busy when they wondered where he went.

 

Psych?  Well, he supposed he could tell the blind psychic.  Although he'd had a few doubts at first, he was really starting to like the pony... but then, he barely knew him.

 

And on top of all that, Harcourt had been getting that strange, sinking feeling that something was wrong within the group.  He had developed a sixth sense about many things, and now there was the unmistakable vibe of betrayal tweaking at his nerves.  Trouble was, he had no idea who it could be.

 

He was fairly certain that it wasn't any of their original group, so that cut out a swath of names.  The Ranger was a Ranger; no need to worry there.  Psych was...

 

The idea that a psychic spy could be immensely effective hadn't occurred to Harcourt before, but now that it did he felt ice rolling down his spine.  No... it couldn't be... there's no way...

 

Then again, what better spy than one who can read your mind?  He shot a tiny glance in Psych's direction, and worriedly assessed the situation.  If he truly IS the spy, then he may already have all he needs to know from our heads... and we may be walking into a carefully laid trap.  But there's no proof he's a spy!  I can't just go off and accuse somepony of such when there's no proof...

 

Harcourt began looking for a moment to break away from the group, all the while wondering who he'd tell... if anypony...

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Trivy followed the new pony through the crowds of the city. It had been such a long time since she had seen so many ponies at the same place after all those years of hiding. She quickly followed the mare but noticed some of the others were a bit behind. "Can we slow down a bit? To make sure everyone catches up?"

Trivy walked up to Harcourt who seemed to be lost in his thought. "Maybe you should take a look around the city, try to find some information about the boats to the griffon kingdom. And maybe something about this mayor." The last she whispered to him "Something isn't right about this place and we need to figure out what it is. I'll stay with the group while take a look around. Sound good?"

Edited September 15, 2015 by Pucksterv

[Randimaxis 8,652]

"Maybe you should take a look around the city, try to find some information about the boats to the griffon kingdom. And maybe something about this mayor."

 

He nodded.  "And you can find out what's going on around here while keeping things in line.  Excellent call.  Oh, and don't forget about Ranger Blackbird."  He glanced at Lilith, then back at Trivy.  Thank you, Trivy, for such a convenient out.

 

"Something isn't right about this place and we need to figure out what it is. I'll stay with the group while take a look around. Sound good?" 

 

He nodded, then looked around the group for a moment... then, he was just gone.  Simply not there.  Trivy had been looking right at him, then he just...  seemed to vanish.

 

Watching the group move on, Harcourt decided to make his way further back into town; the city was always a bit more eager to reveal her hidden charms to single stallions - even old ones.  Harcourt blended in with the crowds, and soon was no easier to spot than a single grain of wheat among the fields.

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

Lilith nodded slightly as Harcourt took off, leaving her at the back of the group. Finding an opening, she slipped into an alleyway and, after dodging several suspicious ponies, she quickly pulled out the orb and whispered (albeit half-heartedly) the command words, shoving the orb back into her bags as she quickly took off- but what waylaid along the way by a familiar, heavy-scarred face. "Welcome to Baltimare... ranger," he growled as she took up a place besides him. "I never thought I'd see you again. It's been over five years."

 

"Hello, Renius," she replied with a soft smile, guiding her conversation off towards following the group. "It is good to see you found sanctuary as well."

 

"Hmph. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. Never able to leave the city walls without a ridiculous penalty upon coming back, and it's exceptionally difficult to bring my prizes back through security. Even if my buyer is the White Lady herself."

 

Lilith blinked in surprise at this point. "Well, then. Opening a new venue, catering to the leader of bureaucrats herself?"

 

"I always have- remember that one magistrate? Ridiculous, it is at times... but, if anything, she's more eager than some of the more receptive Canterlot nobles. Sometimes I think she has her own personal den for the sheer number of Timber Wolf teeth she's bought off of me." Renius grinned, causing his entire face to twist from the amount of scar tissue. "Well, then, Ranger Li- Blackbird, I will be off. If you are able to find the Dark Horse Inn, come find me in the evenings. I'll be in town the next few days- perhaps we can share a bottle, like we did in old times." With a smile, Renius set off, leaving Lilith in a significantly better mood as she played follow-the-leader with the other ponies, making sure no one wandered too far off.

[JonasDarkmane 19,784]

As Rave was trudging through the woods, the sudden increase of magic coming from the trail nearly made him sick. He managed to get a hold on himself and suppress the nauseous feeling. He stopped in his track to think for a while. He noticed where the trail was leading him. Far off in the distance, less than a days journey for him, was a bay he was all to familiar with. A smile crept up his face. He wouldn't need the trail much more, however, just in case, he was going to keep up his link with the orb. He started to gallop again, wearing a malevolent smile. 

[Stardust* 3,302]

Stardust looked back as she heard a pony say something. 

 

"Can we slow down a bit? To make sure everyone catches up?"

 

"Oh, I'm sorry, when I get to this point I tend to speed up, we can slow down."

 

Stardust stood still waiting for the group to catch up. She thought she was miscounting due to the fact that one of the ponies was not with the rest. But maybe she was just being silly, there were a lot of ponies around the small group when she first met them, maybe she added someone that was not supposed to be in the group. 

 

"You all must have traveled far, but I must tell you, if you are on a quest, you should think about moving on quickly before you get noticed too much around here. The guards like to keep tabs to maintain order. That is why I found this place, I don't plan on staying here, once I got my flight back I knew I should leave soon. That is why I have been stocking up on provisions. I will let you stay as long as you need, but be aware I am not going to be here but a few more days to make sure that you too get your magic back, after that you are more than welcome to use my place as yours, just keep your heads down until you are ready to leave, it is very difficult to get back in, so be ready when you do go." 

 

She turned and slowly began to walk towards her "home". 

 

"This must seem strange to you all, especially with the shadow guards on such high alert, so please, feel free to ask any questions you may have about me or really anything. I can assure you all, I will not harm you or try and betray you, I am just trying to help in ways that others may not. I saw you were so lost at the gate, I felt I needed to help." 

[JonasDarkmane 19,784]

Rave was now in a distance, however, he could feel the magical energies vibrating from the city. He grinned. "So, this is where you have been hiding. I have now completed my King's mission. Your rebellion now comes to an end" he said to himself. He produced a map from his saddlebag of the area and started to scribble on it with a pen. He marked the area where the city was and then concentrated. The map disappeared. Rave looked again towards the city, feeling the city, smiling malevolently and then laughing madly. 

 

@@Pripyat Pony

A map along with a message materialized in front of Jinx. On it were orders to alert Sombra of the whereabouts of the rebels. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

"This must seem strange to you all, especially with the shadow guards on such high alert, so please, feel free to ask any questions you may have about me or really anything. I can assure you all, I will not harm you or try and betray you, I am just trying to help in ways that others may not. I saw you were so lost at the gate, I felt I needed to help."

 

"Thanks for the help. We do seem a bit lost don't we? I guess that's because we've been away from civilization for such a long time that everything was just a bit too overwhelming." Trivy said as she continued walking after Stardust. "And thanks for letting us stay at your place. Although, we don't plan to stay here very long either. We're actually planning on taking the boat to the griffon kingdom. This city won't be able protect itself and its citizens forever."

Edited September 16, 2015 by Pucksterv