private Sombra's Shadow

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@,

 

Trivy took a moment to process all the words from the stranger. "You're are right... maybe we are in need of help but that does not mean I will trust you. You act like you don't know what's been going on this past decade... but I don't know." Trivy said as she took a few steps closer to examine the stranger. "We've been at war for a very long time so it is logical for us not to trust some random pony this quickly."

 

Trivy stood in front of the pony. She seemed harmless but there was something off about her. "I don't know how you survived the troops for so long. All I know is that you can't stay here any longer. You can come with us but it will take some time to earn our trust. You can start by telling me who you are. My name is Trivy." She said as she extended her hoof to the stranger.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@JonasDarkmane, "Thank you, your praise means a lot to me," Jinx replied. She used her horn to contact the guard who had brought Bright Moon to the room. When the green pegasus appeared, after cautiously knocking at the door, Jinx said, "Take this worthless trash back to the cells for now. Afterwards, I think, you will find him no trouble at all, and he can go back to the slave quarters."

 

"Yes, Archmage," the guard replied, and pulled the unconscious form of Bright Moon away.

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

@@Pucksterv,

 

Too close for comfort. Lilith took a step back and bowed. "I fully understand that. I've spent most of my life not being trusted, so that's nothing new to me." Standing up straight, she extended her hoof towards the mare and shook her hoof. Afterwards, she said, "My name is Lilith Crow." She paused for a moment. "War?  And these... troops, you say? Are these the Shadow Beasts that have been roaming the Everfree? This bodes ill... What has happened to Equestria?"

 

As she said this, she took off one of her pair of saddlebags and opened it, first revealing a blanket and setting it out before unpacking her findings of the forest and few remaining preserved foodstuffs and slowly piling it up, from magically preserved small rolls of hay, to sealed bags of apples, as well as various other fresh produce, plucked from edible plants along her travels. There were a small variety of berries as well as a rare apple or two- mostly leafy greens, though. There were several meals worth of food, and she beckoned to the other ponies to come eat their share. "And," she added, "I can help with any injuries you all might have as well."

 

Turning back to Trivy, she maintained her emotionless expression as she tried to start up a slightly lighter conversation. "Are you a mage, miss Trivy? I've always been intrigued with magic..."

 

Had I not needed to gain their trust, she commented, I might have just helped them from the shadows without them ever knowing it was me. Either way, I should prepare myself for social interactions... despite my desire to be alone. I'll never gain their trust if I remain apart from the group.

[Randimaxis 8,658]

Harcourt watched the exchange with tightly veiled interest.  He seemed to be simply readjusting the lumpy, cracked wheel... but his ears and his attention were on the newcomer.  

 

"Your statements are lies from what I've seen, unless you have a mysterious benefactor that has evaded my notice. You all are worn and tired, with several wounds that might indicate a tussle with bandits, as well as several more inflicted by long, hard travel. From your rather strict rationing that I observed, you obviously have much less food than you would like to have, especially considering that you have both young and old ponies with you."

 

Impressive; apparently, they teach the Rangers well enough to know what they're doing... a refreshing change of pace.  He thought of Trivy, and his anger slid into thoughtfulness.  Mayhaps, since it's apparent that she isn't listening to me, she'll listen to this pony instead.  If I can't reach her anymore, perhaps a new voice is what she needs to hear.

 

He nodded to himself, pleased that at least something would be changing for the better today.  He peripherally watched the Ranger put out her spread of foodstuffs, and the other ponies nearly fell over each other to get at them.  He felt his own stomach griping, but he ignored it; the hooffull of nuts he'd eaten this morning may have been digested by now, but he knew if he had another hooffull out of his hidden pouch, he'd have nothing left for tomorrow.  He had wanted those apples, but he knew that Trivy needed them more than he-

 

The wheel came clean off the axle, and fell on Harcourt's hoof - the one with the bent shoe.  He grimaced, and a soft hiss of pain escaped his muzzle.  Looking down, he saw the blood welling up in the new gash.

 

Well, at least now they all match, he thought miserably. 

 

He picked up the wheel and shoved it back onto its axle.  Harcourt glared at the damnable cart.  "Gone too long without hurting me, and you had to catch up, eh?"  He kicked the wheel back onto the axle with a little extra oomph, just to get a little revenge.  One of the cracked spokes fell off.  He stared at it for a moment, then looked up at the cart itself.

 

"... I hate you," he muttered to it.

 

Edited August 18, 2015 by Randimaxis

[Pucksterv 4,508]

 

 

''Are you a mage, miss Trivy? I've always been intrigued with magic..."

 

 

"I can cast spells if that's what you mean... I cast a few actually... however, I do not like using my magic a lot because of multiple reasons which I'm not going to discuss with you right now." Trivy said as she looked around, seeing that most ponies had finished their snacks

 

"Alright everypony, break time is over, get your flanks moving." Trivy said loudly but not screaming. She then turned back to Lilith. "If you wanna move along with is, I suggest you start moving as well." She said before she started walking herself.

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

@@Pucksterv, @@Randimaxis,

 

Lilith nodded and stood up, packing up the little food that remained as well as the blanket and packing it away, and, as she joined the group in starting to move once again, she noticed the leader pony she was talking about muttering curses towards what appeared to be a particularly argumentative cart. She quickly walked up to him, sparing a glance at his bloodied hooves and the cart before she sighed slightly. She stretched her saddlebags and stepped forwards. "Is there any way I might lend a hoof here?" she inquired quietly. "Carts are rather... temperamental, especially in forested areas."

[Randimaxis 8,658]

"Temperamental?"  Harcourt gave a short, barking and sarcastic laugh.  "I dare say it's downright angry with me!  I have been lugging this stupid torture device disguised as a sled with wheels for a very long time, and 'temperamental' is woefully understating the fact."

 

He shut his eyes, gave a hard huff, then looked to the Ranger once again.

 

"Do forgive me; I am old enough to be somewhat cantankerous, yet still have enough of the folly of youth in my veins to believe there will be better days with this rotten cart ahead of me.  Forgive my shortness.  My name is Harcourt, and I pull the cart."

 

The evil, evil cart.

 

"I noticed your Ranger's Crest when you first arrived, and I thank you kindly for volunteering your supplies earlier - the ponies with us have been long and long without such a banquet.  Of course, many a pony in these lands have been without much for quite some time."

 

He looked tired... actually, he looked exhausted.  But the more Lilith looked him over, the more her earlier assumption of his being ready to cross Tartarus to get these ponies to safety became apparent.  There was a fire burning in him, albeit one whose embers are buried beneath miles of wear and tear.  The muscles in his back and legs may have been old, but they were far from feeble; they seemed able to kick down walls, if need be.

 

"I admire your skills of observation, by the way - they are most important to anypony who wishes to stay alive in desperate times."

 

With this, he gave a noticeable glance in the mage's direction, then looked back at the road ahead.

 

"There are others here who believe they know better... but I suppose there are many varied ways of doing such.  I, myself, have utilized a number of different tactics toward this goal.  I must be doing something right; I'm still here, pulling this damnable cart.  But I must admit... without the struggle this cursed contraption brings me, I would not remain in the state of fitness I have today.  Therefore, though I appreciate your offer of assistance, I assure you that it is hardly the issue it appears to be.  Though I thank you for your offer."

 

At least my capacity for lying hasn't waned, he mused silently.  What I wouldn't give for a strong replacement, even if only for a day... but that would show weakness, and these ponies need all the strength they can get.

 

"I am actually rather pleased to see a Ranger still stands... I had believed them to be all but wiped out when Sombra's forces took to these woods.  Tell me, Lilith - what happened to the rest of your group?  Or have Rangers simply stopped contact with each other altogether?"

 

The question was innocent enough, but Lilith got the feeling that there was far more to Harcourt's question than there seemed to be...

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

@@Randimaxis, 

 

Lilith nodded as Harcourt stated he was alright, but stopped in her tracks as he asked what had become of her coven. The memories of the nightmares flashed before her and she went deathly quiet. "I have been without my coven for many, many years, and it leaves me haunted to this day... it is not a story I neither trust you enough to give, nor that I am comfortable with giving. I would prefer a bit of tact the next time you ask a question as sensitive as that." She started to walk away, but paused and turned back. "It has been about two or three years since I have last seen a fellow ranger. Our council was either killed, captured, or forced into hiding by the Shadow Beasts, and I have stayed in these forests ever since... for all I know, I may be one of the last ones. And if I am, then almost the entire organization- an organization known for staying to the shadows and being eternally perceptive- has been slain to a mare by some evil intelligence that manifests itself through shadows..."

 

Having shared this much, her internal senses told her to go away and go mourn internally, as she always did, but she stood her ground for now, trying to stem the flow of emotions building up inside of her as she awaited a response.

[Randimaxis 8,658]

The old stallion nodded sagely.

 

"Would you believe I trust a statement of mistrust far more than you think?  After all, if your intentions were less than pure, you would no doubt have had some lame-duck excuse planned out.  However, as visible by your face, you have had your share of misery - and you are more than welcome to your own haunted past... many of us have one."

 

He gazed at her, understanding in his eyes.  

 

"As for tact... well, I had no clue as to any sensitive spots, and I can hardly be blamed for prying when I wasn't aware of the painful nature of such.  You must admit that there was no way for me to know; this being the case, I do beg your forgiveness - and the subject shall not be breached again by me... though, should you wish, we can discuss our respective pains later - after we get more comfortable with each other's hoofprints, so to speak."

 

Harcourt cleared his throat, then put his serious face on.

 

"As for the Rangers as a whole, you may indeed be the last Ranger standing... though I believe better of them.  However, as is the case, there is certainly reason enough to attempt to rebuild your organization's lot.  I know you have your responsibilities to the Everfree, but I actually would advise you to follow us to Baltimare... perhaps farther... as I feel you might be able to find others who might be worthy of recruiting into the order.  After all, if your numbers are truly as few as they may possibly be, then the best way to ensure the Ranger Order doesn't pass from this world completely would be to rebuild it, yes?"

 

He turned to face her, a serious but not unkind look on his old mug.

 

"Of course... you are free to do as you like - we hold no chains on anypony.  But, do know that I will be more than willing to accept whatever decision you make; it's your life, and nopony else can live it for you.  As you have assisted us, we will assist you as well, should you need it... though I have a feeling you're considerably more capable than a gathering of refugee ponies could ever be."

 

He turned back to the road, his eyes focused forward.  The rickety cart rattled on behind him as he pulled it along, slowly but steadily ahead.  Over his flank, he said:

 

"Should you still harbor resentment at the innocent questions of an old stallion, you are more than welcome to shun me; but conversation would be far more preferred, as there are becoming fewer and fewer of us to hold conversations with."

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

@@Randimaxis,

 

She blinked. She was not expecting that answer. "No, forgive me... it seems that whenever somebody asked that question before, they would continuously press until I walked away or, in one case, left the group entirely..." She grimaced. "I guess I'm not used to people asking questions of me..."

 

She looked at him as he requested her presence in Baltimare. Well, I got that one right, she thought to herself, but was surprised as he explained her reasons why. She remained silent as she gave some serious thought to rebuilding the rangers. After a few minutes of silence, in which her thought began to meander back to her nightmares, she decided she would think upon it later and continued. "So, why are we headed to Baltimare? Are you trying to escape the country?"

[Count Paradox 3,548]

Psych had attempted to eat when everypony else was, but to no avail. He took a few small bites, then ended up giving it to a passing filly, who looked much hungrier than he did. He sat for a moment, thinking of a way to get on a few ponies good sides, but that train of thought was interrupted with the fact that they were once again moving. He stood and followed behind again, a bit closer in hopes of somepony seeing him and striking up a conversation. The one mare he had talked to earlier had seemed to disappear, so he hoped somepony else would chat or something.

[Randimaxis 8,658]

"Can you give me any reason why we should stay, madam?"  Without waiting for a response, he continued.  "Yes, neither can we.  Once, this was a great land where ponies like ourselves could be free to do as we pleased... but we have nothing here for us now but enslavement or death.  I don't think we want to even attempt to defeat Sombra's will; between the lot of us, there may be five who can fight.  Five versus thousands is sheer suicide - and we've seen far too much blood."

 

Harcourt's facial expression soured.  "Sombra wants this land; he can have it.  The outlying lands are probably not safe from him either, but that is probably a long term goal, not a short one.  Besides," he sighed with a ragged weariness, "the foals with us have never known a moment of rest or peace... and I will be damned if I will keep them from knowing what true safety can feel like."

 

He looked back towards the group, his tired green eyes coming to rest on the two fillies on the cart.

 

"It's all we can do for them.  Nowhere to hide for us anymore.  No chance to do anything to fight any further."

 

His eyes sloughed over the others: the tired couple who supported each other, the pony with her ribs showing the most, the blind one who looked so alone, the mage who led the way grimly... and finally, those eyes, filled with both helpless anger and endless exhaustion, turned back to look at Lilith. 

 

"Not a meatball's chance in Tartarus."

[JonasDarkmane 19,789]

@@Pripyat Pony

 

Rave bowed in front of Jinx in a gentlecoltish fashion. "I take my leave, Lady Jinx". He then teleported to his own room. He looked around, checking if there was anypony nearby. There never was anyone there, but his paranoia made him check anyway. He then walked toward a shrine in his room, looking down into a pool of water. He concentrated, his horn glowing. Then suddenly from the pool floated a blue orb to him. He took it in his hooves and looked into it. It started to glow and revealed a map to him. 

 

He kept on gazing at one location in particular.... Manehattan, the place of his birth. It was his families headquarters, the base of operation for the Darkmane family. Most of the city was in ruins, however, a lot of the skyscrapers still stood tall, however, in ruin. 

 

"Nightwing?" he called out. 

 

From outside the door to his room, entered a white bat pony with pink eyes, cyan hair and a bleeding moon for a cutie mark". 

 

"You have summoned me my liege?". 

 

"I require your services. Travel to Manehattan. I need you to.... bring me some things". 

Edited August 23, 2015 by JonasDarkmane

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Trivy and the rest of the group made their way out of the forest. She counted the number of pony's again. "16...that can't be right, now that Lilith is here....who are we missing? perhaps I miss somepony" Trivy counted everyone again "Still 16.. strange." She mumbled before she caught up with the rest of group.

 

She still felt guilty about snapping to Harcourt early but he seemed busy talking to the new pony plus Trivy didn't have gather enough courage yet either. She kept on walking quietly next to the others.

 

@@JonasDarkmane, 

 

The now not so drunk guard had arrived at the crystal empire after taking the train. He trotted across the crystal roads as fast he could until he arrived at the castle. He walked into the throne room carefully, expecting King Sombra to be sitting on his throne. 

Edited August 23, 2015 by Pucksterv

[JonasDarkmane 19,789]

@@Pucksterv

 

Instead of finding Sombra on the throne, Rave is now sitting in a chair that is situated near the throne. He looks up, seeing the guard wearing armor from his house. 

 

"Ahhh, I hope to hear some good news right now, I could really use them. So tell me, what do you have to say?" he said grinning, not expecting anything bad. 

Edited August 23, 2015 by JonasDarkmane

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@Randimaxis, 

 

The group walked in the heat of the sun, something Trivy was not used to after walking in the dark all those years. Her hoof went over her forehead, whipping away the bit of sweat that was starting show. She uncloak herself, revealing her dark red mane and yellow/brown coat. She meant to put it back in her bag but she dropped it as she suddenly felt something dragging her by her back legs. She screamed and looked behind her, finding a shadow had wrapped itself around her. "HARCOURT!!!"

 

@@JonasDarkmane,

 

The guard approached the prince very slowly. "Uhm well actually... uh... the thing is...I..." He was too scared to continue and went quiet. 

[JonasDarkmane 19,789]

@@Pucksterv

Rave was listening, but was starting to get impatient with the stammering guard. He smiled warmly to the guard. "If it is bad news, then come closer and whisper them to me. I am sure you will find it more comfortable whispering than talking with a full voice" he said with a rather gentle tone. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@JonasDarkmane,

 

"Wi...with all due respect sir, I would be more comfortable keeping my distance, Sir." The guard said nervously. He kept quiet for a moment and then took a deep breath. "My tower was overrun by a large group of rebels. My situation wasn't all that nice. The leader of this group managed to pin me against the wall. She...She wanted to send me a message. A message for the King." He took another deep breath when he finished, allowing the prince to respond. 

[JonasDarkmane 19,789]

@@Pucksterv

Rave cursed inside his mind as he had meant to kill the guard after hearing the message. Since the guard was keeping a distance, he did not really feel like killing, since he didn't want to have to walk over to him to bite him with his sharp teeth... or at least that is what the dark voice wanted him to do. 

 

"I am the voice of the king, his mouth in his absence, anything that is going to him, goes through me first. Speak!" he ordered. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@JonasDarkmane,

 

"well, please, please have mercy on my soul your highness but...he..Her exact word were '"I have a message for King Sombra and his..his...his lapdog Rave Darkmane...." The guard went quiet for a moment as he could feel the room fill with anger that was coming from the prince. He quickly took a few steps back, away from Rave and towards the door. 'Tell him to leave us alone... He can have Equestria as long as he stops hurting oth..other ponies. If he stops bothering us, wwe.. we wont bother him. But if he does, we will be ready to fight back." The guard took a few steps back again, almost ready to run out of the room, he waited for his reaction.

[JonasDarkmane 19,789]

Rave was radiating with anger, however, he managed to keep his cool. He had often been delivered threats and hates from ponies who called themselves 'free'. "Very well then. It is no matter, this group is of no significance. Just some random ponies. Was there anything else?" he looked at the guard. 

[Randimaxis 8,658]

Harcourt gave a single kick, and the cart flew backwards, the harness snapping its belts and freeing him almost instantly.  He surged forward like a stallion half his age, snagging Trivy's cloak.

 

"Group up and move!  SHADOWS!  FIGHTERS!"

 

He dug into the ground beneath his hooves, and pulled with all his might.  He stared fiercely at the shadow, fearless in the face of adversity.  He gave a backward jerk on Trivy's cloak and actually leapt up, throwing a massive kick into the shade pulling on her.  He might not be able to kill it, but he could damn sure show it he meant business!

 

A full-on, double-hoofed, rock-shattering kick slammed into the shadow, sending it flying backwards.  It wasn't dead - they couldn't die - but it would certainly be a moment before it could gather its bearings, at any rate.  He gave Trivy a lightning quick once-over, then motioned towards the group.

 

"Everyone!  GET THE LEAD OUT!  MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"

 

With Trivy in tow, Harcourt ran full-tilt at the cart and slammed his powerful shoulder into it and pushed.  The cart, its supplies and the fillies within were astonished as the wooden wagon didn't just roll; it nearly flew off the road, it was going so fast.

Edited August 23, 2015 by Randimaxis

[Count Paradox 3,548]

Psych nearly jumped out of his skin at all of the shouting. And spread his sight to see what the commotion was. Upon seeing the shadow, he backed away a few steps, his breathing picking up a bit. When Harcourt knocked it unconscious and began dragging Trivy away and running with the cart, he snapped out of his stupor and quickly followed behind, not wanting to get lost.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@Count Paradox, @@Randimaxis,

 

The shadow recruit that had wrapped itself around Trivy was now hissing towards Harcourt. Many of his kind followed, surrounding the group every, whole place covered in Shadows, nowhere to run. Trivy felt herself getting towed over the ground, she saw glimpses of the shadows as she had trouble keeping her eyes open. Dark ghost/gas like body's with glowing red eyes.

 

@@JonasDarkmane,

 

"They told me to run sir and that is what I did. I didn't see anything else, you would have to see for yourself sir. I know I'm a coward for running away but you have to understand, I have family, I didn't know what else to do. Please, if you won't have mercy on me, please do have mercy on them." the guard said frightened. "My children, they need their father and my wife, I love her. She can't life without me. She would die of a broken heart. You must know the feeling, you must love somepony, sir."

Edited August 23, 2015 by Pucksterv

[JonasDarkmane 19,789]

@@Pucksterv

As soon as he mentioned 'another pony you love' he walked up to him. "I understand, I show mercy" then his voice changed and his features became darker. "But I don't". Rave bit the guard in the neck, until the guard fell lifeless to the ground and he stood over the dead body. Then slowly, Rave started to regain control and shook his head. "Another body..." he thought to himself. He called for the guards in the throne room to dispose of the body. "Always you have to meddle". "Failure is not tolerated. Cowardice even less so". 

Edited August 23, 2015 by JonasDarkmane